The aim of this study was to investigate in which rivers and water bodies the phenomenon of corpse damage caused by scuds occurs, whether it is related to the duration of the body’s immersion in water, and to define the common characteristics of such skin lesions. Furthermore, the frequency of its occurrence was assessed, taking into account air temperature and season.

Material and methods: The autopsy reports from the Department of Forensic Medicine at Jagiellonian University in Krakow for the years 2015-2024 were analysed. A total of 285 cases of drowning victims were selected. The occurrence and type of injuries were verified based on documentation and autopsy photographs. Histopathological examinations were performed at the Department of Forensic Medicine to confirm the presence of human proteins in the digestive system of crustaceans.

Results and conclusions: A common feature in all the cases was the punctate disruption of the epidermis. In 5 out of 285 cases, small crustaceans were found, along with epidermal lesions on exposed parts of the body. Similar damage, but without the presence of individuals of scuds, was present on 25 bodies. No typical damage caused by D. haemobaphes was found on corpses in an advanced state of decomposition. The phenomenon of scud scavenging on corpses was observed almost exclusively at positive air temperatures, with an increase during the spring-summer period. The characteristic punctate epidermal lesions on corpses retrieved from water are the result of scud scavenging, including D. haemobaphes. Such damage occurred only when the time between the victim’s death due to drowning and their retrieval from the water was short. The largest number of drowning victims with signs of scud scavenging was found in the Vistula River.

The Aim of the work: To describe autopsy findings of suicide victims who used inorganic compounds over the past five years and to attempt to explain the resurgence of these substances as a method of suicidal poisoning.

Material and Methods: The study is based on a retrospective analysis of autopsy reports from the Department of Forensic Medicine in Cracow, covering the years 2018-2023. Cases of death resulting from suicide by ingestion of inorganic compounds were collected based on toxicological analyses.

Results: Between 2018 and 2023, 23 cases were identified (19 men and 4 women at an average age of 30 years). In 15 victims, poisoning with methemoglobin-forming substances was confirmed; in 7 of these cases, toxicological tests determined the substance to be sodium nitrite. In 13 individuals from this group, livor mortis was cyanotic or grayish in color. In 7 cases, brown blood discoloration was noted. Six more victims chose potassium cyanide as the method of suicide; all displayed congestion of internal organs as well as pulmonary edema. Intensely or moderately reddened stomach mucosa was found in 3 victims. Two individuals committed suicide by ingesting sodium azide.

Conclusions: In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in suicides involving inorganic compounds. Key factors contributing to this upward trend include easy availability of these poisons and the widespread access to information online regarding their effective use. The relatively young age of the victims can be attributed to their proficiency in using this medium

The assessment of physical violence against children is an important issue in forensic medicine, particularly in the case of infants and toddlers, who, due to their stage of development, are unable to communicate the violence inflicted upon them. This case describes a two-week-old girl of Roma origin, who was transferred from a temporary to a foster family. While changing the child, the foster parents noticed bruises in the sacral area. Based on the initial assessment of these changes at the hospital, the authorities were notified and an investigation was initiated. The first court expert assessing the changes indicated that the image resembled resorbing haemorrhages resulting from trauma. Another team of experts, consisting of specialists in forensic medicine, dermatology and pathology, was appointed. Based on the analysis of medical records and a physical examination using a dermatoscope, pale-blue spots characteristic of the Mongolian spot were found in the lumbar and buttock areas. Mongolian spots are congenital developmental abnormalities classified as melanocytic naevi. In most cases, the changes appear immediately after birth or shortly thereafter. Clinically, a lesion appears as single or multiple spots on the lower back, sacrum, or buttocks. These lesions can range in colour from dark grey to blue-green and take on various shapes, such as round, oval, or irregular. Lesions on the skin of children can morphologically resemble bruises, so their evaluation requires special attention. In case of doubt as to the nature of the lesion, additional examination should be performed. Furthermore, the analysis of medical records and the evaluation by a dermatologist can be helpful.

Purpose: Forensically, the widespread use of antibiotics necessitates methods for their detection in biological materials to ascertain their role in adverse reactions or fatalities. Given the need to conduct toxicological studies on materials stored for extended periods under various temperature conditions, research on antibiotic stability in biological matrices over such durations is crucial for accurate toxicological assessments.

Methods: The stability of cefuroxime in blood and urine was determined for 278 days at three different temperatures: -15°C, +4°C, +23°C. The analyses were conducted using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple-quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry. Results: The method met all validation requirements. This study also describes the results of the thermal stability of cefuroxime. Cefuroxime showed the greatest stability at -15°C and was highly unstable at room temperature (+23°C) in all types of studied biological matrices.

Conclusions: The study confirms instability of cefuroxime in blood and urine samples. Therefore, the analysis of this antibiotic in biological matrices for purposes such as forensic toxicology should be performed as soon as possible after sampling to avoid decline in concentration. In cases of prolonged material storage, the concentrations should be cautiously interpreted in the prepared expertise.