The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of “décollement,” traumatic lesions of subcutaneous soft tissue, among victims fatally injured because of falls from different heights. Three hundred seventy-five cases of fatalities due to injuries acquired when falling from various heights onto a solid, flat surface, in which the complete forensic autopsy was performed, were analyzed. Décollement was noted in 125 (33%) of the cases. Comparative analysis of groups with and without décollement and observed factors has shown that the height of fall and the manner of death have statistically significant influence on décollement appearance. With regard to suicidal, accidental, or undefined origin of death décollement is statistically more common in accidental deaths. Décollement provides important clues for forensic reconstruction and could be a significant indicator of the body's position at primary impact and the height from which the victim has either jumped or fallen.

Introduction. Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) has been suggested as one of alcohol abuse indicators having produced good results in forensic medicine for years. Objective. The aim of the study was to identify correlation between present methodology of alcohol abuse diagnosis at autopsy (macroscopic and microscopic findings) and CDT examination using the method of isoelectrofocusing (IEF) in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). We also analyzed if the time interval between the moment of death and blood sample collection influences CDT findings. Methods The method used for CDT analysis was IEF-PAGE. Sera of 49 males and 11 females aged 14-87 years, average age 46.85?18.53, were used in this study. Control group consisted of five patients who died after medical treatment that lasted longer than 15 days, and five patients who started Disulfiram therapy in controlled hospital environment. Results. The results obtained in CDT examination in dead bodies? sera showed sensitivity 59% and specificity 71%. A high incidence of falsely positive CDT result was noticed in liver failure and cirrhosis of non-alcoholic origin. CDT analysis is also possible to be done in samples collected postmortem up to 76 hours. Conclusion. In forensic medicine, the method of CDT determination is reliable for the diagnosis of alcohol abuse.

The injuries caused by high falls from over the seventh floor are considered mostly fatal. It is possible to survive the high fall from over 30 meters at landing on the surface of high deformity (snow or water). The Injury Severity Score (ISS) due to a high fall is influenced by the height from which the body has fallen, then, the body and surface features, and finally, the manner of body impact on to the surface. The aim of the study was determining the possibility of the height estimation that caused the fatality of the impact, considering the severity of injury expressed by ISS. A retrospective autopsy study was done on the materials of Institute of Forensic Medicine in Belgrade, during a twenty-year period: 1981-2000. The autopsy records were analyzed together with clinical medical data, of the deadly injured due to high falls on to a solid surface. ISS value was determined in each case. The height of fall was determined on the basis of police reports, i.e. death scene analysis. The results were done statistically (linear correlation). The sample included 660 cases: 469 males (71%) and 191 females (29%). The average age of the examined sample was 44.66 (SD=6.62).The number of 290 cases (44%) were accidental deaths, while 370 were suicidal ones (56%). Only few injured due to high falls up to 7 meters had ISS value below 26. Deaths in these cases were caused by complications of the injuries. The ISS value in the injured rose with the height from which the victim had fallen: ISS was 25 in all falls over 7 meters of height. In all cases were severe, critical injuries of one organic system (mostly severe head injuries). According to the analysis of our sample, we concluded that it was not possible to determine the precise height of fatal falls only on the basis of the injury severity score estimation by ISS. This determination, approximate one, was possible only in falls on to a solid surface up to 30 meters. The same determination was not possible by the analysis of the time of survival. It is obvious that determining the height of fall is more possible by types and combinations of single injuries which are, single or combined with other injuries, characteristic for single mechanisms of primar body contact with the solid surface depending on the height of fall.

Femininizing gender affirmation surgery includes the creation of external female genitalia such as a new clitoris, labia, and vagina with removal of the glans and urethral remnants and full corpora cavernosa. We evaluated the possibility of using preserved cavernosal bodies with glans and urethral remnants for potential live-donor penile transplantation. Between March 2021 and February 2023, penile microvascular dissection followed by gender-affirming vaginoplasty was performed in 41 patients aged 18 to 57 years (mean 30.5 years). The mean follow-up was 15 months (ranging from 6 to 26 months). The removed penile entities were properly measured. The corpora cavernosa were completely preserved in all cases; the length of remaining anterior urethra ranged from 12.70 cm to 16.40 cm, while the mean glans remnant volume was 85.37% of the total volume. All patients reported satisfactory results after gender-affirming vaginoplasty. Microvascular penile dissection in gender-affirming vaginoplasty is simple and safe, suggesting a good possibility of using the full corpora cavernosa, glans, and anterior urethra remnants for live-donor penile transplantation.

Introduction/Aim: Homicide-suicides (H-S) are those suicides that occur after a person commits one or more murders. This social phenomenon occurs in the context of family tragedies. The frequency is low, but due to the tragic outcome, there is a need for researchers worldwide to address this topic. The aim of this study was to analyze the forensic aspects of H-S with special reference to the demographic characteristics of the perpetrator, the way of committing murder and suicide, and the mutual relationship between the victim and the perpetrator of H-S, in order to understand the circumstances under which it occurs, as well as the risk of this social phenomena. Methods: This retrospective descriptive study covered an eight-year (2015-2022) period. The study included individuals who committed suicide after committing one or more homicides. Data were obtained from autopsy and police reports from the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Belgrade. Demographic characteristics, circumstances of the case, number and localization of wounds, hetero-amnestic data, relationships between victims and killers, motives, and toxicological analysis were analyzed. Results: 19 cases of H-S and 39 victims were observed. The majority of victims were female (80%), and the killers were male (89.5%). The killers were 4.9 years older than the victims. The highest percentage of murderers were not been highly educated (84.2%), and a lot of them had a psychiatric diagnosis (47.4%). For both components of H-S, firearms were most often used (70-73.7%). Most of them were in the family (90%), specifically in emotional relationships (60%). The leading motives were jealousy (45%), family and financial problems (25%), and mercy (15%). Conclusion: H-S occurs within the family, most often using firearms by men from the lower social class, who have previously shown critical behavior. The reasons that lead to H-S are jealousy, quarrels, and illness. By identifying some of the components of H-S, it is possible to prevent their occurrence.