The estimation of the time elapsed since death is of paramount importance in the field of forensic sciences and criminal investigation, owing, among other factors, to the possible legal repercussions. Over the past few years various formulae have been developed to calculate this interval using a combination of different statistical methods and the concentrations of substances found in the vitreous humor. Corrective factors, such as ambient temperature, cause of death or age, which can modify the concentration of these substances and therefore the estimation of the postmortem interval, have been incorporated into models. In this paper five simple and reliable models to estimate PMI based the on the analysis of potassium, hypoxanthine and urea in the vitreous humor are presented. Corrective factors, such as body weight, rectal temperature and ambient temperature, which can influence the estimation of this interval have been incorporated into the formulae. Finally, the R2 and the mean squared error have been calculated for each model in order to select the best of the five. A free software program which calculates the PMI from the model and parameters used is available from the authors. It provides quick and reliable results as well as the error committed and R2 for each case.

Stature can be considered one of the "big four" parameters to be ascertained within the biological profile in cases of forensic anthropology. However, the most reliable available methods for stature estimation require the preservation of the long bones, but since this is very often not the case, the development of alternative methods, based on distinct bones, is mandatory. Therefore, in the present work the reliability of the first two metatarsal bones in reconstructing stature is tested. The data consist of length measurements taken from the first two metatarsals removed from documented cadavers of known stature. The sample for this study consists of 220 metatarsals, namely 110 first metatarsals and 110 second metatarsals collected during the autopsies carried out in the National Institute of Legal Medicine in Portugal. The aim was to propose regression equations for the Portuguese population and test the formulae proposed by other authors to determine adult stature using metatarsal bones. We found that when estimating stature from measurement of the metatarsals, the best correlation was that obtained from the relationship with the maximum length of the 2nd metatarsal. The corresponding regression equation is as follows: S=790.041+11.689M2.

Cerro de Pasco, Peru, has been excessively contaminated with heavy metals due to high mining activities in the region. We investigated the presence of chronic exposure to heavy metals in children living in Cerro de Pasco and its effect on health. Heavy metal concentrations were determined in hair samples collected from 78 children living in a region exposed to an open-pit mine (Paragsha region) and from other 16 children unexposed to mine activities (Carhuamayo region). Children exposed to the mine showed statistically significant higher concentration of aluminum, antimony, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, iron, lead, tin and thallium (p < 0.05) than control children. Hair samples collected from the same children in two occasions (2016 and 2018) showed that the exposure is chronic with higher levels of heavy metals observed in 2018. The concentration of heavy metals was higher in hair tip than in hair root samples. Heavy metals are associated with substantial higher risk of nosebleed (odds ratio, OR = 15.40), chronic colic (OR = 7.30), dermatologic alterations (OR = 6.16), mood alterations (OR = 7.07), presence of white lines on nails (OR = 12.10), reduced visual camp (OR = 3.97) and other symptoms (OR = 5.12). Chronic heavy metal exposure implies various negative consequences on children’s health. Preventive measures are crucial to protect children’s health.