Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 39 in total

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  1. Islam MN, Jesmine K, Kong Sn Molh A, Hasnan J
    Leg Med (Tokyo), 2009 Apr;11 Suppl 1:S147-50.
    PMID: 19345131 DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2009.02.035
    A small amount of Methamphetamine (MA) can produce behavioural changes such as euphoria, increased alertness, paranoia, decreased appetite and increased physical activity. In cardiovascular system, it can produce chest pain and hypertension which can result in cardiovascular collapse. In addition, MA causes accelerated heartbeat, elevated blood pressure. It can also cause irreversible damage to blood vessels in the brain. A number of sympathomimetic amines are capable of causing myocardial damage, but the cardio-toxic action of MA has been of particular interest since standardized dosage consistently produces myocardial lesions. As this drug is a choice of many teenagers and young adults, the damage to their health, as well as their future aspects could be greatly affected, therefore more evidence must be sought to convince them the negative root and show them the optimism of recovery and salvation. To clarify the effect of Methamphetamine (MA) on myocardium, 56 male Wister rats aged four weeks were divided equally into MA, Methamphetamine withdrawal (MW), Placebo (P) and Control (C) group were examined following daily intra-peritoneal administration of MA at a dose of 5 mg/kg body weight for 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks. Normal saline was similarly injected in P group. Light microscopic changes was seen in the myocardium of MA treated group including eosinophilic degeneration, atrophy, hypertrophy, disarray, edema, cellular infiltration, myolysis, granulation tissue, fibrosis and vacuolization. On the other hand, the withdrawal group showed evidence of gradual recovery of those myocardial changes. Optimism is therefore generated about possibility of returning towards normal by withdrawing of this drug by the addicts.
    Matched MeSH terms: Forensic Pathology
  2. Murty OP
    J Forensic Leg Med, 2009 May;16(4):218-23.
    PMID: 19329080 DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2008.07.010
    A case is presented where confusion arose about skin lesions and whether they were diabetic or electrical in origin. The deceased was a known diabetic and hypertensive man. A middle-aged person in early fifties was found unconscious in the cell and judicial autopsy was performed. He was facing trial for capital punishment of being allegedly involved in drug trafficking and money laundering. He had few marks over his fingers and foot which were considered to be electric marks produced in electric torture. also had fracture of skull and ischemic necrosis of right side of cerebrum; and contrecoup lesions. Findings are documented with photographs of the lesions. The article also depicts photographs of the scene where the victim had fallen and sustained skull fracture.
    Matched MeSH terms: Forensic Pathology
  3. Murty OP
    Am J Forensic Med Pathol, 2008 Sep;29(3):245-8.
    PMID: 18725781 DOI: 10.1097/PAF.0b013e318183d55f
    Giant cell myocarditis (GCM) is a rare but fatal disease of idiopathic origin. It results in focal necrosis of myocardium. This is a case report of middle aged Malaysian Indian female who died due to cardiac tamponade due to rupture myocardium and tear in the root of aorta. On naked eye examination, it simply resembled as recent as well as old fibrotic areas of myocardial infarction. She was clinically diagnosed as a case of obstructive cardiomyopathy with atrioventricular block, and was on pace maker. There was subendocardial fibrosis and left ventricular transmural infarction in the left ventricle. On histopathology, this was diagnosed as GCM, there were widespread areas of inflammatory cellular infiltration within the myocardium with multinucleated giant cells and granulomas interspersed with lymphocytes. Microscopic field showed up to 10 multinucleated giant cells. In this case, there were focal areas at multiple locations and caused uneven thickness in the left ventricle wall. Idiopathic GCM is very rare and causation of hemopericardium is the unique feature of this case. In this case the direct link of GCM with aortitis and rupture of left ventricle wall resulting in hemopericardium is shown. This case is documented through macroscopic as well as microscopic photographs in H&E, Ziel-Nelson, and GMS staining.
    Matched MeSH terms: Forensic Pathology
  4. Rashid SN, Bouwer H, O'Donnell C
    Forensic Sci Med Pathol, 2012 Dec;8(4):430-5.
    PMID: 22477359 DOI: 10.1007/s12024-012-9332-3
    Fistula formation following pelvic surgery and radiotherapy, including ureteric-arterial fistulas (UAF), is well documented, however, ureteric-arterial-enteric fistula is extremely rare. Conventional autopsy is usually required for the definitive diagnosis of pelvic vascular fistulas although an accurate diagnosis can still be complicated and challenging. The role of post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) as an adjunct to conventional autopsy is well documented in the literature. One of the limitations of PMCT is the diagnosis of vascular conditions. Post-mortem computed tomography angiography (PMCTA) is a recently introduced technique that can assist in detecting such pathology. We present a case of post-radiotherapy ureteric-arterial-enteric fistula presenting as massive rectal and vaginal bleeding diagnosed prior to autopsy on PMCTA. The role of PMCTA in the diagnosis of such a UAF has not previously been reported in the literature.
    Matched MeSH terms: Forensic Pathology
  5. Dayapala A, Kumar V
    Am J Forensic Med Pathol, 2009 Jun;30(2):171-4.
    PMID: 19465810 DOI: 10.1097/PAF.0b013e3181875a79
    Sudden deaths because of congenital heart diseases are infrequently referred to the forensic pathologist for autopsy. Many of such deaths, if already diagnosed are released directly from the hospital without autopsy. Even forensic pathologists face a few difficulties in performing the autopsy on such infrequent cases, as they are not always updated with the anatomy of anomalies. While dealing with such cases, the concerned forensic pathologist is compelled to refer literature and textbooks again to understand the nature of developmental defects. This is especially so when dealing with cases of situs inversus accompanied by transposition of great arteries and other congenital cardiac abnormalities and variants such as single ventricle, double outlet right ventricle, Taussig-Bing variety etc. In the present case also, situs inversus with transposition of great vessels and other anomalies have been noted and studied.
    Matched MeSH terms: Forensic Pathology
  6. Murty OP, Kian CK, Ari Husin MH, Nanta Kumar RK, Mohammed Yusuf WY
    Am J Forensic Med Pathol, 2009 Sep;30(3):246-51.
    PMID: 19704405 DOI: 10.1097/PAF.0b013e31819d20a4
    Lightning strike is a natural phenomenon with potentially devastating effects and represents one of the important causes of deaths from environmental phenomena. Almost every organ system may be affected as lightning current passes through the human body taking the shortest pathways between the contact points. A 10 years retrospective study (1996-2005) was conducted at University Hospital Kuala Lumpur (20 cases) also including cases during last 3 years from Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah, Klang (7 cases) from the autopsy reports at Forensic Pathology Units of these 2 hospitals. Both these hospitals are attached to University of Malaya. There were 27 fatal cases of lightning strike with male preponderance(92.59%) and male to female ratio of 12.5:1. Majority of victims of lightning strike were from the age group between 30 and 39 years old. Most of the victims were foreign workers. Indonesians workers contributed to 59.26% of overall cases. Majority of them were construction workers who attributed i.e.11 of 27 cases (40.74%). Most of the victims were brought in dead (37.04%). In majority of the cases the lightning incidence occurred in the evenings, with the frequency of 15 of 27 cases (62.5%). The month of December represented with the highest number of cases (5 cases of 23 cases); 2004 had the highest incidence of lightning strike which was 5 (19.23%). Lightning strike incidence occurred when victims had taken shelter (25.9%) under trees or shades. Lightning strike in open areas occurred in 10 of 27 cases (37.0%). Head and neck were the most commonly affected sites with the incidence of 77.78% and 74% respectively in all the victims. Only 29.63% of the cases presented with ear bleeding.
    Matched MeSH terms: Forensic Pathology
  7. Murty OP
    J Forensic Leg Med, 2009 May;16(4):224-7.
    PMID: 19329081 DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2008.12.027
    A teenager college student was fatally injured by burst tyre air pressure while waiting on a public bus stand to catch a bus to reach her college at Kuala Lumpur. She accidentally came near the wheel while boarding when tube and tyre got burst .The air pressure had blown the girl in the air and she subsequently fell on a rough surface. The iron-locking rim of the wheel acted as a missile and hit the girl. She died on her way to the hospital. A medico-legal autopsy was performed which showed extensive injuries in the cranial and chest cavity. Head had large scalp laceration with diffuse separation and gaping from in the vault region; skull bones were fractured. Chest cavity had extensive rib fractures, lacerated lungs and haemo-thorax while externally there was no obvious injury. It requires intensive care management and screening of the victims. Tyre-blast injuries are not so common. This case exposes the hazard due to burst tyre.
    Matched MeSH terms: Forensic Pathology
  8. Murty OP, Cheh LB, Bakit PA, Hui FJ, Ibrahim ZB, Jusoh NB
    Am J Forensic Med Pathol, 2008 Mar;29(1):19-22.
    PMID: 19749611 DOI: 10.1097/PAF.0b013e31815b4c57
    This article highlights methods of ending life in different ethnic groups. This inference is drawn from analysis of data from suicidal cases from the University Malaya Medical Centre mortuary. This study also looked at sex, age, social, and employment factors. Kuala Lumpur has sizeable populations of Muslims, Chinese, Indians and Indonesian, etc. This study is based on 251 cases of suicide that were reported at the University Malaya Medical Centre from 2000 to 2004. Malaysia has a population of 22,662,365 people with 3 major ethnic groups: Malay (58%), Chinese (24%), and Indians (8%) with a minority of "others" (10%), which includes foreigners, Sabahan, and Sarawakian. This research found suicides of 164 male (65%) and 87 female (35%) victims. Their age ranged from 15 to 80 years. The age group from 21 to 30 had the highest total cases of suicide (83 of 251; 33.1%). Among ethnic groups highest rate of suicide was among Chinese with a total of 120 cases (120 of 251; 47.8%). As far as lone method of suicide is concerned, hangings accounted for the highest proportion of cases (108 of 251; 43%). Among ethnic groups, jumping from height was the commonest method used by Chinese (49 of 120; 41%), Malay (9 of 16; 56%), and others (15 of 28; 53.4%); whereas, hanging was the commonest method of committing suicide by Indians (49 of 87); Muslims showed the lowest cases of suicide (18 of 251; 7.2%). In poisoning group Indian was the highest ethnic group who used this method (20 of 37; 54.1%).
    Matched MeSH terms: Forensic Pathology
  9. Carvajal-Zarrabal O, Hayward-Jones PM, Nolasco-Hipolito C, Barradas-Dermitz DM, Calderón-Garcidueñas AL, López-Amador N
    J Forensic Sci, 2017 Sep;62(5):1332-1335.
    PMID: 28111741 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.13397
    In the daily practice of forensic pathology, sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a diagnostic challenge. Our aim was to determine the usefulness of blood biomarkers [creatine kinase CK-MB, myoglobin, troponins I and T (cTn-I and T), and lactate dehydrogenase] measured by immunoassay technique, in the postmortem diagnosis of SCD. Two groups were compared, 20 corpses with SCD and 8 controls. Statistical significance was determined by variance analysis procedures, with a post hoc Tukey multiple range test for comparison of means (p < 0.05). SCD cases showed significantly higher levels (p < 0.05) of cTn-T and cTn-I compared to the control group. Although only cases within the first 8 h of postmortem interval were included, and the control group consisted mainly of violent death cases, our results suggest that blood troponin levels may be useful to support a diagnosis of SCD.
    Matched MeSH terms: Forensic Pathology
  10. Subramaniam K, Sheppard MN
    J Forensic Leg Med, 2018 Feb;54:127-129.
    PMID: 29413954 DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2018.01.005
    OBJECTIVES: Aortic dissection (AD) can be a challenging diagnosis. At autopsy, the aorta may not be dilated and intimal tears may be missed or found without obvious rupture or haemorrhage. We report our experience of AD at a tertiary referral centre with review of 32 cases and discuss 2 unusual complications.

    METHODS/RESULTS: 32 cases of which 12 females and 20 male and 18 out of 32 cases were aged below 40. All of the cases were examined macroscopically and microscopically. 30 out of 32 cases (93%) died due to rupture associated with the AD. Two unusual complications were proximal extension of AD into left coronary artery (CA) with intramural haematoma blocking the vessel and AD involving the ostium of the right CA resulting in avulsion of the right CA from the aorta. Mode of death in both these cases were myocardial ischemia. Sections of the aorta in all cases confirmed extensive cystic medial degeneration with disorganisation, fragmentation and disappearance of the elastin fibres with increased collagen and smooth muscle nuclear degeneration.

    CONCLUSION: Pathologists should be thorough when examining the aorta, the aortic valve and root in AD. When a rupture site cannot be found it is important to look for unusual complications involving the CAs. Histology plays an important role to corroborate the cause of death.

    Matched MeSH terms: Forensic Pathology
  11. Nor FM, Das S
    J Forensic Leg Med, 2011 Oct;18(7):336-9.
    PMID: 21907941 DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2011.06.013
    We hereby present a case of planned complex suicide. In this case study, we report a teen-aged girl who committed suicide by strangulating herself, and subsequently fell from the 13th floor of a housing apartment. The planned complex suicide was substantiated by the presence of a suicide note and a photograph captured in a mobile handset. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first case involving self-strangulation and fall from height, in which the photograph was stored in the handset. This is to further emphasize that objects like mobile handsets can be important in determining the cause and manner of death. The available evidence at the site of incident should be explored meticulously in order to arrive at a proper conclusion.
    Matched MeSH terms: Forensic Pathology
  12. Murty OP
    Am J Forensic Med Pathol, 2009 Jun;30(2):201-3.
    PMID: 19465820 DOI: 10.1097/PAF.0b013e31819d9af5
    Primary cystic tumors of papillary muscles of the heart are extremely rare. Here, one case of unusual cystic tumor in papillary muscle of the heart in a 37-year-old Myanmar migrant worker has been reported. He came to Malaysia 2 weeks before and one morning was found dead in sleep. Autopsy revealed cystic lesion in the papillary muscle of the mitral valve of heart, which was prolapsing into ventricular cavity. The cyst had white-jelly like sticky mucus material. The cyst was present in papillary muscle with slight invasion in septum area; it was lined by cuboidal-columnar epithelium and contained mucinous contents. There was no evidence of an inflammatory reaction in the cyst and in cardiac muscles. In addition to cystic neoplasm, the deceased also had histoplasmosis of the lungs. The case is presented with macroscopic and microscopic photographs of the cyst and histoplasmosis of the lungs. This case is reported because of its rarity, unique position, and unusual appearance.
    Matched MeSH terms: Forensic Pathology
  13. Singh MK, O'Donnell C, Woodford NW
    Forensic Sci Med Pathol, 2009;5(3):236-42.
    PMID: 19669956 DOI: 10.1007/s12024-009-9103-y
    We report the case of an 82-year-old woman with a past history of diabetes mellitus who died following blunt head injury sustained in a fall resulting in an acute subdural hematoma. Serial postmortem CT scans of the chest and abdomen performed over a 3-day period demonstrated progressive intra-hepatic and intra-cardiac gas formation whilst the deceased was stored in a standard mortuary refrigerator at a nominated temperature of 4 degrees C. Measured mortuary refrigerator temperatures over a 7 day period showed statistically significant day to day variability in temperatures above 4 degrees C as well as variations in temperature depending on location within the refrigerator space. In the absence of other known factors associated with such gas formation, putrefaction seems the likely cause despite a lack of obvious external features. This phenomenon must therefore be taken into account when interpreting the presence of visceral gas on postmortem CT and relating such gas to the cause of death.
    Matched MeSH terms: Forensic Pathology
  14. Islam MN, Khan J, Jaafar H
    Leg Med (Tokyo), 2009 Apr;11 Suppl 1:S143-6.
    PMID: 19345604 DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2009.02.045
    Series of experiments have been completed with Methamphetamine (MA). Some were with the higher, medium or lower duration of MA administration and some were with acute or chronic doses. Whatever may be the dose or duration the ultimate result came out with the further establishment of cardio-toxic effect of this drug. Cardiovascular symptoms related to MA toxicity include chest pain, palpitations, dyspnoea, hypertension, tachycardia, atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, and myocardial ischemia. MA abusers often go through a repeated pattern of frequent drug administrations followed by a period of abstinence. Previous studies have focused largely upon the chronic effect of MA intake to major organs, such as the brains and the heart, by using animal experiments. However, there is a lack of research into the effects of acute dose of MA, especially pertaining to the heart. To clarify the effect of MA on myocardium, 22 male Wister rats aged six weeks were divided into MA, Placebo (P) and Control (C) group were examined following single intraperitoneal administration of MA at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight. Normal saline was similarly injected in P group. Light microscopic changes was seen in the myocardium of MA treated group including cellular infiltration, with clusters of macrophage-like cells having large nuclei and little cytoplasm evident in the sub-endocardium region. There were presence of few macrophages, leucocytes, and spindle-like fibroblasts. Bringing in to account of cardiac changes by a single dose of MA, slogan should be voiced out to leave methamphetamine.
    Matched MeSH terms: Forensic Pathology
  15. Murty OP
    J Forensic Leg Med, 2009 Apr;16(3):162-7.
    PMID: 19239970 DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2008.07.009
    A case is presented of a fatal environmental accidental injuries of lightning. A pedestrian was struck by lightning. The macroscopic and microscopic lightning injuries are reviewed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Forensic Pathology
  16. Murty OP, Mun K, Gopinath N, Wong KT
    Am J Forensic Med Pathol, 2008 Dec;29(4):364-7.
    PMID: 19259028 DOI: 10.1097/PAF.0b013e3181859ff7
    Every body has to eat to survive but it becomes a matter of great concern, when the life provider food becomes an asphyxiating agent. In this case, a 60-year-old woman choked herself while swallowing biscuits. On autopsy examination, biscuits were found lodged in larygo-pharynx. Brain showed marked dystrophy and loosened lusterless white matter. On histopathologic examination, brain tissue had numerous eosinophilic globules representing astrocytic processes called "Rosenthal fibers"; hence, it was diagnosed as a case of Alexander dystrophy. It is a disease of white matter, where there is a progressive degeneration of the white matter of the brain because of imperfect growth or development of the myelin sheath. The histopathology of brain showed Rosenthal fibers in abundance. This is one of the rarest disease in which choking can occur because of lack of nervous and muscular coordination and weakness. Its specific relation to choking is documented in this report.
    Matched MeSH terms: Forensic Pathology
  17. Murty OP, Mun KS, Hussin H
    J Forensic Leg Med, 2008 Jan;15(1):37-41.
    PMID: 18309549
    This is a case report of 16-year-old adolescent school boy who died due to unusual calcification of coronary arteries. He died while cycling with his friends. While cycling fast he fell. He was brought dead to hospital. At times unsuspected cardiac lesions cause sudden death during extraneous physical activities in healthy persons. Sudden death in adolescents is not very common. It is an unusual case as apparently healthy adolescent boy actively participating in sports had stony hard coronary arteries. The coronaries showed advanced calcification and early bone formation. The myocardial septum had extensive fibrosis. The pathogenesis and other possible similar conditions are also discussed in the report.
    Matched MeSH terms: Forensic Pathology
  18. Murty OP, Mahinda HA
    J Forensic Leg Med, 2007 Jul;14(5):301-3.
    PMID: 16962816
    This is a case of a male in his late 30s who died due to acute myocardial ischemia. His penis was bandaged. The penis was inflamed and had infected abrasions. The possible relevances of such an incidental finding and its contribution to sudden death is explored. The case report shows photographs of the bandage in situ and its components, inflammation of frenulum, injury to the shaft, and the generalized inflamed and mildly swollen penis. These changes were considered to be caused by bites. The micro-photographic findings in the case were of acute myocardial ischemia, pulmonary oedema, and fatty liver.
    Matched MeSH terms: Forensic Pathology
  19. Abdul Hadi D, Mansharan Kaur CS, Effat O, Siew SF
    Trop Biomed, 2019 Dec 01;36(4):850-854.
    PMID: 33597457
    Tuberculosis (TB) is a highly infectious disease on the rise caused by the organism Mycobacterium tuberculosis and health care workers working in emergency departments, medical wards and autopsy rooms are in danger of contacting this disease. We present a case of a 42 year old man found dead under a pedestrian bridge with no medical history available. Post mortem computed tomography showed multiple cavities involving upper lobes of both lungs and areas of consolidation in both lung fields raising the suspicion of pulmonary tuberculosis. This was followed by a computed tomography guided lung biopsy and a limited conventional autopsy done in situ in a special high risk autopsy suite with appropriate ventilation. This case highlights the importance of cross sectional imaging which can be coupled with image guided biopsy in cases of infectious disease to reduce the risk of transmission to health care workers.
    Matched MeSH terms: Forensic Pathology
  20. Chainchel Singh MK, Abdul Rashid SN, Abdul Hamid S, Mahmood MS, Feng SS, Mohd Nawawi H, et al.
    Forensic Sci Int, 2020 Mar;308:110171.
    PMID: 32032870 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2020.110171
    BACKGROUND: Post-mortem Computed Tomography (PMCT) allows non-invasive or minimally invasive detection of findings that may or may not be visible during conventional autopsy, however, it does not allow the investigator to draw any conclusions regarding patency of the vessel's lumen. To address this deficiency, Post-mortem Computed Tomography Angiography (PMCTA) utilizing different contrast media and techniques have been introduced with various studies looking at the correlation between PMCTA, autopsy (gross) findings and coronary artery histology in diagnosing coronary artery disease.

    OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to investigate the sensitivity and specificity of PMCTA in diagnosing coronary artery stenosis using water-based contrast media introduced though the vessels of the neck, compared to the gold standard of diagnosis i.e. gross and histological evaluation of the coronary artery.

    METHOD: This was a cross sectional study of 158 arterial sections involving 37 subjects recruited from the National Institute of Forensic Medicine (IPFN), Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL). An unenhanced PMCT was performed followed by PMCTA using water-based contrast media introduced though the vessels of the neck. Coronary artery stenosis was determined using multiplanar reconstructionD while the degree of stenosis was determined by calculating the percentage of luminal diameter divided by the diameter of the vessel internal elastic.

    RESULTS: The analysis of PMCTA and histopathology examinations revealed a sensitivity of 61.5%, specificity of 91.7%; positive predictive value (PPV) of 40.0% and negative predictive value (NPV) of 96.4%.

    CONCLUSION: PMCTA utilizing water-based contrast introduced though the vessels of the neck yielded similar results as other methods and techniques of PMCTA. We would therefore conclude that PMCTA utilizing this technique could be used to assess the degree of calcification and the presence of significant stenosis.

    Matched MeSH terms: Forensic Pathology
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