International Journal of Medical Toxicology and Forensic Medicine
Volume:13 Issue: 1, Winter 2023

Drug abuse is considered a global and growing problem worldwide. Emergency medical care is required for acute intoxication, which adds to the threat of COVID-19. This study aims to evaluate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the pattern of acute toxicity in drug abuse patients admitted to National Environmental and Clinical Toxicology and Research Center (NECTR), Cairo University.

This comparative study included 978 cases admitted to NECTR during 12 months before the COVID-19 pandemic (2018-2019) and 12 months during the pandemic (2020-2021).

The number of cases during the pandemic was lower than before; adults and men predominate in both periods. During the pandemic, cannabis, heroin, opium, and alcohol showed a mild increase, while the new synthetic drugs, tramadol, and pregabalin, showed a mild decrease. A significant increase in discharges and a decrease in intensive care unit (ICU) admissions were observed during the pandemic. Besides, more oxygen (O2) therapy was required, and more cases died on mechanical ventilation. The worst outcome was associated with old age, male gender, heroin and opium toxicity, and the highest score of poisoning severity.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a definite reforming effect on the pattern of intoxication by drugs of abuse in NECTR, Egypt.

Aging is a period of human life in which general health, especially happiness, and hope, may be impaired. Also, sleep quality, general health, and happiness of the elderly begin o decline at this stage of life. The present study aimed to determine the effect of crocin of saffron on sleep quality, general health, and happiness in the elderly population

In this triple-blind randomized trial, 70 elderly people referred to Kashan health center in 2020 were selected. The study samples were divided into intervention and control groups using computer-generated random numbers to receive 30 mg/d of crocin (2 plus crocin tablet, 15 mg Beck depression inventory [BID]) (n=35) or placebo (2 tablets per day, 15 mg Beck depression inventory [BID]) (n=35), one hour after taking food, for 4 weeks. The sleep quality, general health, and happiness were evaluated at the beginning of the study, 4 and 8 weeks after the intervention. Data were analyzed using Chi-square, independent t-test, and repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA).

The two groups were matched in terms of demographic characteristics (P>0.05). The independent t-test showed no significant difference between the two groups in the baseline (sleep quality P=0.55, general health P=0.060, and happiness P=0.83) while a statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups on the post-test (P=0.001) and follow-up for three variables.

The consumption of crocin by elderly individuals had useful outcomes on sleep quality, well-being, and happiness. Given that the efficacy of the psychological drugs is vital, nurses can use natural medications, such as crocin to improve the psychological disorders of elderly people.

Divorce has become a global issue that is increasing in many industrial and developing countries, including Iran. One of the significant reasons for divorce is sexual dysfunction. This study aimed to explore the perceptions and experiences of Forensic Medicine Department service recipients and providers in evaluating male sexual dysfunction following filing for divorce.

This study was a qualitative study that was analyzed through a content analysis approach. Purposive sampling was done with maximum variation until data saturation was reached. Individual interviews were used to collect data. The data were collected through in-depth quasi-structured interviews with 20 service recipients and 9 service providers of the Forensic Medicine Department in Tehran from January 2022 to March 2022.

The data analysis led to the extraction of two main categories, including existing challenges of the forensic medical system in the process of sexual assessment with 3 sub-categories (absence of the plaintiff in the assessment process, sharing a common room with other clients, the psychosocial pressure associated with a Rigi scan test) and features of desirable evaluation services with 5 sub-categories (service delivery to couples, service delivery by observing ethical principles, confidentiality and human dignity, comprehensive physical-psychological-communicative assessment, service delivery that emphasizes informing couples of the path ahead, provision of services if the authenticity of the sexual problem is proven).

Our research results indicate that the national Forensic Medical Department faces certain challenges regarding the assessment and diagnosis of sexual dysfunctions among divorce applicants. Based on these results, certain modifications should be made to the evaluation procedures of these applicants. Forensic medicine policymakers and decision-makers can utilize the results of this study to address the existent shortcomings and even prevent the increase in divorce rates due to sexual dysfunctions by developing appropriate guidelines.

Gender identification is a crucial starting point in creating a biological profile for human skeletal remains because it reduces the number of possible matches by 50%. The vertebrae (especially the chest and back) can also be some of the best-preserved skeletal elements in some areas of forensics and archeology. In the present study, gender and age were assessed based on the measurement of three-dimensional computed tomography (CT) scan indices of the Twelfth thoracic (T12) vertebrae and the first and fifth lumbar (L1 and L5) vertebrae in Iranian adults.

The present study was a descriptive study carried out on 200 participants over 18 years of age in 2020. Individuals measuring thoracic and lumbar vertebrae diameters (T12 and first and fifth lumbar vertebrae) by three-dimensional computed tomography (CT) scan (Toshiba, Japan, 16-Slice) with multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) and volume rendering were placed in two sagittal and horizontal sections.

The mean age of male and female participants was 34.62±9.63 years and 34.10±9.70 years, respectively, which were not significantly different (P=0.789). The present study showed that the mean indices for T12, L1 and L5 vertebrae were significantly higher in males (P>0.05). The results also showed that T12, L1, and L5 indices of nuts are not good predictors for age estimation.

Based on the results, the indices of the T12 vertebrae and the L1, and L5 vertebrae can be used to determine gender, but these indices are not a good criterion to estimate age and do not have the necessary accuracy to predict the age variable.

In forensic medicine, predicting the age of a victim or suspect can be a clue to solving a crime. Epigenetics has recently played a vital role in age prediction in forensic medicine. Cytosine methylation at cytosine and guanine separated by phosphate (CpG) sites is well recognized as a novel epigenetic marker for age estimation. This study aimed to summarize the information obtained from previous studies to determine age by evaluating DNA methylation in the ELOVL2 gene.

In this systematic review, all related articles published between 2012 and 2022 were extracted by searching reputable scientific databases, such as ISI Web of Science, Science Direct, PubMed, and Scopus. After selecting the appropriate articles, the full text of the articles was prepared and fully evaluated by the researchers. The protocol of this study was carried out based on the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement.

Out of 307 articles, 5 articles were eligible for review according to the study protocol. The strongest correlation between DNA methylation and age was observed at sites 11044644 and 11044634 on chromosome 6 in the living cases. The relationship between the chronological age and the age calculated through DNA methylation was above 90% with an approximate error ranging from 7.5 to 10.4. However, the relationship between the chronological age and the age calculated through DNA methylation was above 90% in the multivariate analysis of sites 11044624 and 11044634 on chromosome 6. In this case, the calculation error reached approximately 6.9 years. Hence, considering a combination of multiple cytosine and guanine separated by phosphate (CpG) sites improves the calculation accuracy and reduces the error percentage. The relationships between DNA methylation and the age at sites 11044880 and 11044640 on chromosome 6 were significantly less reported in the blood samples taken from the dead and in those taken from the living (nearly 64%–78.5%).

The results of this study indicated that DNA methylation in the ELOVL2 gene could help predict a person’s biological age.

A fatal case of drowning under the influence of etizolam is presented. Quantitative toxicological analysis revealed etizolam concentrations of 0.50 μg/mL and 0.068 μg/mL in femoral venous blood and urine, respectively. According to the autopsy findings, the results of toxicological examinations, and the investigation by the authorities, it is concluded that the cause of death is drowning under the influence of etizolam.