Computer-based production of bite mark comparison overlays

Bite mark comparison protocols include measurement and analysis of the pattern, size, and shape of teeth against similar characteristics observed in an injury on skin or a mark on an object. The physical comparison of tooth position often depends upon transparent acetate overlays to detect similarities or differences between the teeth and the bite mark. Several methods are used to produce life-sized comparison overlays. The perimeter of the biting edges of the anterior teeth are usually recorded to produce facsimile images called hollow volume overlays. Some investigators hand-trace these outlines from dental study casts, or from bite exemplars produced in wax, styrofoam, or similar materials. Some use hand-traced outlines from xerographic images produced with office photocopiers that are calibrated to produce life-sized final images. Others use radiographic images and toneline photography of wax exemplars filled with radio-opaque materials, such as metal filings or barium sulfate. Dependence upon subjective input by the odontologist to trace these images manually is considered problematic. This is because the errors incorporated at any production stage are increased in the final product. The authors have developed a method to generate accurate hollow volume overlays using computer-based techniques. A PowerPC Macintosh computer, flatbed scanner, and Adobe Photoshop (a popular graphical interface application) are used to acquire, select, arrange and export detailed data from class and individual characteristics of a suspect's teeth to acetate film loaded in a high-resolution laser printer. This paper describes this technique to enable the odontologist to produce high-quality, accurate comparison overlays without subjective input.     

Photography in bite mark and patterned injury documentation--Part 1

A case involving multiple bite marks is presented. The bite marks were photographed over a 31-day period to document the injuries and preserve their evidentiary value. The evidence recovered at each photography session is discussed and photographs are presented for review. Suggestions concerning the need for more research are presented.     

Simulation of attempted homicide by dog bite in unconscious state]

It is reported on the unusual event of dog scavenging in an unconscious and intoxicated (alcohol) person. Due to the particular circumstances a case of attempted homicide was primarily suspected. Peculiarities of the case were a small dog (dachshund) as the responsible cause and the survival of the injured woman. Intensive and partly deep wounds due to scavenging were found on both shoulders/upper arms in nearly symmetrical order. Vomit from the dog could be assigned to the unconscious person by DNA typing. The typical morphological features of dog bites and injuries due to scavenging, respectively, and the possible motivation of the animal are discussed.     

A case of tick bite by a spontaneously retreated Ixodes nipponensis

A 58-year old housewife consulted us about 1 cm sized, dark-brownish, bean-like mass which was dropped spontaneously from indurated skin lesion on her abdomen. The mass was identified morphologically as an engorged female Ixodes nipponensis. Nine days earlier, she had an excursion collecting edible sprouts of wild grass. Spontaneous retreat has been unusual in clinical tick bites in Korea. Fourteen cases of tick bite described in the Korean literature were reviewed briefly in relation to Lyme borreliosis.     

Unusual presentation of a meniscal tear: a case report

Ten taxa of Stomoxyinae were tested for their ability to transmit Trypanosoma brucei, T. vivax, T. evansi and T. congolense to mice within 3 min of interrupted feeding on highly parasitaemic blood. T. brucei was the easiest parasite to transmit with an 11.5% success rate, followed by T. vivax at 3.4%, and T. evansi at 0.9%. T. congolense was not transmitted in 129 attempts. Stomoxys niger sspp. and four unstudied species (S. varipes, S. taeniatus, S. pallidus, Haematobosca squalida) were capable of transmitting trypanosomes mechanically.     

Unusual US and CT findings in hepatoblastoma: a case report

Hepatoblastoma is the most common primary hepatic tumor in young children and its radiological findings have been well described. We report ultrasound and computer tomography findings in a case of hepatoblastoma diffusely involving the entire liver and presenting as inhomogeneity and numerous cystic lesions in the hepatic parenchyma.     

Unusual case of tracheal agenesis

We describe the clinical presentation and pathological features of an unusual case of tracheal agenesis. The axial derivatives of the primitive foregut between the larynx and stomach were represented by a single structure featuring sequential segmentation into regions showing exclusively tracheal or esophageal differentiation in a pattern that is not easily classified by existing nosologic systems nor explained by the conventional hypothesis of dysontogenesis.     

Rat bite fever after a bite from a tame pet rat]

A 43-year-old woman presented with a generalized febrile illness, an exanthema with mixed maculopapulous and pustulous eruptions on the lower halves of the extremities, elbows, knees, palms and soles. There was also severe arthralgia and asymmetric arthritis. The diagnosis was rat bite fever. The disease became manifest eight days after she was bitten by a pet rat. Rat bite fever can easily be missed, even after adequate anamnesis and physical examination, while the differential diagnostic considerations are numerous. Our patient was cured completely after intravenous administration of penicillin G. Antimicrobial therapy was completed by an oral course of doxycycline.     

Boomslang (Dispholidus typus) bite: case report

A male patient was admitted to a mission hospital after having been bitten by a boomslang (Dispholidus typus). He received a Ringer's lactate infusion and polyvalent antiserum, with good results initially. Three hours after the bite serious haemorrhage started and he received 2,5 litres of blood and 1 litre of plasma. Thirty-two hours after he had been bitten specific boomslang antiserum was administered, after which the patient improved and was eventually cured and discharged.     

A case of intestinal infarction following Vipera aspis bite

1. Cantharidin is a natural defensive toxicant produced by blister beetles. 2. Cantharidin shares structural similarity with highly toxic commercial herbicides (e.g., endothall, endothall anhydride and endothall thioanhydride). 3. Cantharidin inhibits the activity of purified catalytic subunits of serine/threonine protein phosphatases (PP) type 1 and type 2A. 4. Cantharidin increases force of contraction in isolated myocardial and vascular preparations. 5. Cantharidin enhances the phosphorylation state of myocardial and vascular regulatory proteins. 6. Cantharidin is a valuable tool for studying the function of PP in regulatory phosphorylation-dephosphorylation events.     

Unusual case of metabolic bone disease in a common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus)

Metabolic bone disease was diagnosed in an 11-month-old female common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus). It was depressed, reluctant to move, and was cachectic and small for its age. Laboratory findings included anaemia, azotaemia and an inverse calcium to phosphorus ratio. The radiological findings showed simultaneous signs of osteomalacia and soft-tissue calcification. There was decreased bone density with lytic areas in the pelvis and femur, and severe bilateral nephrocalcinosis. Postmortem examination revealed marked focal dystrophic calcification of the epi- and myocardium. Calcium and vitamin D3 deficiency (nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism) was the most likely cause of the osteomalacia.     

Child homicide in Oklahoma: a continuing public health problem

Homicide is a leading manner of injury to cause death in children. To assess this phenomenon in Oklahoma, the demographic characteristics and causes of death of the victims of child homicide in Oklahoma have been reviewed. One hundred eleven consecutive cases of homicide in children less than age 13 years were reviewed and the demographic characteristics of the victims were analyzed. The majority of homicides occurred in Tulsa and Oklahoma Counties (55.8%). The ratio of male to female victims was approximately equal. The races of the victims were 66.6 percent White, 24.3 percent Black, 8.1 percent Native American and 0.9 percent Asian. The most common cause of death was head injury (45.9%). An unexpected finding was that in 23.4 percent of cases, an additional fatality occurred in the family due to family violence. This fatality involved either suicide of the perpetrator or homicide of a sibling. These findings indicate a continuing family violence problem in Oklahoma.     

Unusual case of Meckel''s diverticulum: a case report and review of an atypical form of presentation

This is a review of two children who developed acute glomerulonephritis (AGN) following acute gangrenous appendicitis (AGA) with periappendicular collections. The first patient presented with AGN during the course of appendicitis. The second patient developed AGN after appendectomy. Both patients did not have any other predisposing factors. AGN resolved in both patients after massive intravenous antibiotics. This is the first report of acute appendicitis as a predisposing factor for AGN.     

A red-back spider bite in a lymphoedematous arm

We administered a record eight ampoules of antivenom over one week to a 55-year-old woman with a red-back spider bite on her chronically lymphoedematous right arm. She had severe local signs of envenomation but relatively little systemic effect. The final antivenom dose, injected subcutaneously at the bite site, had a good effect.