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Problems of Forensic Sciences

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139

2024 Next

Publication date: 19.12.2024

Licence: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence icon

Editorial team

Editor-in-Chief Prof. Józef K. Gierowski

Deputy Editor-in-Chief Prof. dr hab. Dariusz Zuba

Sekretarz redakcji Anna Sałatarow-Kraciuk, Kinga Techmańska

Editors Dr Agnieszka Haś, Dr Tomasz Kupiec, Prof. Grzegorz Zadora

Issue content

ORIGINAL PAPERS

Ewa Toruńska, Piotr Engelgardt, Maciej Krzyżanowski

Problems of Forensic Sciences, 139, 2024, pp. 179-191

https://doi.org/10.4467/12307483PFS.24.011.20911
The intestinal fermentation syndrome (IFS) also known as the auto-brewery syndrome (ABS), is an extremely rare diagnosis. This syndrome involves the endogenous production of alcohol by microorganisms in the digestive system after consuming a high-carbohydrate meal. The article describes the case of a 65-year-old driver who was found to have 0.24 mg/l of alcohol during a sobriety test, which, according to Polish law, is defined as a state after consuming alcohol and is considered a misdemeanour. He explained his condition by the occurrence of the intestinal fermentation syndrome. After a thorough analysis of the documentation submitted, it was concluded that there was no basis for assuming that the ethyl alcohol found in the exhaled air resulted from the accused’s health condition, medications taken by him or meals consumed, and the presence of the discussed disease was excluded. The specificity of the intestinal fermentation syndrome encourages the use of the diagnosis as an alibi for alcohol detected in the body. Hence, in such cases, it is important to carefully conduct diagnostics, including differential diagnosis, microbiological tests and, above all, a provocation test with glucose with simultaneous monitoring of the alcohol level in the body. During diagnostics, the possibility of additional alcohol intake should also be excluded to avoid false results and misdiagnosis.
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Anna Kaczmarska, Piotr Juda, Łukasz Wójcik, Patrycja Kłaptocz, Katarzyna Łukoś-Karcz, Dawid Pajor, Milena Nowak, Tomasz Konopka

Problems of Forensic Sciences, 139, 2024, pp. 193-207

https://doi.org/10.4467/12307483PFS.24.013.20913
Introduction: According to the document from 1946, the execution of a person sentenced to death by shooting was to consist of firing into the heart of the convict. Based on these guidelines, during forensic examination of the exhumed bone remains, several gunshot injuries to the torso (especially to the chest) should be expected. However, most of the bodies of the cursed soldiers analyzed in the Department of Forensic Medicine in Kraków contained bullet holes in the bones of the skull.
Aim of the study: The study aimed to characterize and reconstruct the gunshot wounds of cursed soldiers and to compare them with the protocol describing death penalty or other documents produced by Polish communistic state institutions.
Material and methods: Retrospective analysis of autopsy protocols of cursed soldiers from the Department of Forensic Medicine in Cracow in the years 2017–2020 was conducted. After finding cases with gunshot wounds, we further analyzed the bullet inlet and outlet.
Results: After excluding subjects that did not meet our requirements, we obtained 28 cases in total. Based on the number of gunshot wounds to the head, we documented 11 skulls with a single, 6 with two, and 3 with four or five gunshot wounds. In 8 cases, the exact bullet pathway couldn’t be established. We also searched for remains with injuries in other locations, and so we documented cases with additional gunshot wounds in the area of the scapula, pelvis, ribs, tibia, and humerus.
Conclusions: In most cases, the deaths of cursed soldiers were due to craniocerebral injuries sustained by gunshots. Based on the reconstruction of the bullet track, the majority of skulls had an inlet in the area of the occipital bone, which indicates that the death penalty executors did not comply with the guidelines for its execution. This study may be used in further research in the field of forensic anthropology on the bodies of cursed soldiers exhumed.
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Sachil Kumar, Tulsidas R. Baggi

Problems of Forensic Sciences, 139, 2024, pp. 209-226

https://doi.org/10.4467/12307483PFS.24.014.20914
Flow cytometry is a laser-based technique that analyses single cells or particles suspended in a buffered salt-based solution. It has applications in multiple areas, including cancer biology, molecular biology, virology, immunology, and infectious disease monitoring. In forensic investigations, flow cytometry has been employed to analyse a variety of samples. Flow cytometry has indeed found significant applications in forensic science, particularly in determining the post-mortem interval (PMI), investigating sexual assault cases and analyzing ‘touch DNA’ for identifying perpetrators. This review is an overview of how flow cytometry has been utilized in these areas, based on studies from 1999 to 2021. Articles were retrieved using academic search systems such as Google Scholar, PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Science Direct, using keywords such as flow cytometry, forensic pathology, forensic medicine, sexual assault, touch DNA, post-mortem interval, PMI, and forensic science. A total of 86 publications were assessed, of which 52 met our criteria. Many studies have explored the use of flow cytometry for PMI estimation and perpetrator identification in sexual assault cases. Flow cytometry is particularly beneficial for accurate and non-destructive assessment of touch DNA samples that are processed simultaneously with routine casework procedures for DNA analysis. Flow cytometry is useful in forensic pathology when other techniques fail, because it detects various common genetic abnormalities in dead cells and tissues. In summary, flow cytometry is a superior alternative to other methods because it offers rapid analysis, high sensitivity, and ease of use. These benefits make it an invaluable tool in research and clinical settings, providing efficient and accurate cell analysis that can significantly enhance both diagnostic and therapeutic processes.
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Neha Badhwar, Khadija Murtala Mukaddas, Vhagyashree Neogi, Ameesha Swapna, Bill Fallah Fomba

Problems of Forensic Sciences, 139, 2024, pp. 227-244

https://doi.org/10.4467/12307483PFS.24.016.20915
Vein mapping can be used to identify possible suspects using matching learning algorithms. Since vasculature deep in the skin cannot be visualized by naked eyes, the features extracted usually by converting to near infrared images which gives best track recovery with little noise. Two decades, ago the premise for the use of vein patterns for identification emerged in the forensic field. Researchers are proposing innovative approaches and methods utilized to improve the recognition, quality, classification, and extraction of viable vein patterns from images. Deep learning algorithms such as convolution neural network (CNN ), K-nearest network, autoencoders are being used to extract venous features with ease especially when analyzing image forensic evidence. This paper provides an overview of recently proposed finger vein, dorsal hand vein, wrist vein and hybrid systems and highlights their performance and real-life application.
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Zuzanna Bura, Marcin Kunicki

Problems of Forensic Sciences, 139, 2024, pp. 245-267

https://doi.org/10.4467/12307483PFS.24.012.20912
This article presents an overview of the methods and techniques used to analyze the order in which graphic elements are applied to the surface of paper. This is one of the aspects of forensic document examination that allows to determine which handwritten entries or prints were made primarily and which were secondary. The study begins with a discussion of the microscopic methods that dominated in the 1960s, then presents spectroscopic techniques, as well as the use of the ESDa electrostatic apparatus. Finally, the latest achievements in the analysis of intersecting graphic lines using 3D modelling techniques are presented. The constant development of this field of research shows an increasing demand for finding the best methods. The results presented by many scientists are supported by numerous blind tests and attempts to identify all possible factors influencing the result. However, despite the predominance of non-destructive techniques, the most effective method has not yet been identified.
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