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Forensic Science International May 2024Forensic reconstruction and scenario evaluation are crucial in investigations of suspicious deaths related to falls from a height. In such cases, distinguishing between...
Forensic reconstruction and scenario evaluation are crucial in investigations of suspicious deaths related to falls from a height. In such cases, distinguishing between accidental falls, being pushed or jumping is an important but difficult task, since objective methods to do so are currently lacking. This paper explores the possibility of repurposing a passive rigid body model of a human from commercially available crash simulation software for forensic reconstruction and scenario evaluation of humans dropping from heights. To use this approach, a prerequisite is that the human body model can produce realistic movements compared to those of a real human, given similar environmental conditions. Therefore, this study assessed the validity of the commercially available Simcenter Madymo Pedestrian Model (MPM) for simulating human fall movements. Experimental kinematic and kinetic data was collected from nine participants, who dropped from a height in three different ways: passively tilting over, getting pushed, and jumping. Next, the performance of the MPM in reproducing the kinematics of the experimental falls was assessed by comparing the orientation of the body 0.3 s after platform release. The results show that the MPM currently does not consistently reproduce the experimentally recorded falling movements across multiple falling conditions and outcome measures. The MPM must therefore be adapted if to be used for forensic reconstruction and scenario evaluation, for example by implementing active movement.
PubMed: 38850615
DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2024.112068 -
BMC Emergency Medicine Jun 2024An injury is described as any damage to the body that impairs health, and its severity can span from mild to life-threatening. On a global scale, injuries account for... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
INTRODUCTION
An injury is described as any damage to the body that impairs health, and its severity can span from mild to life-threatening. On a global scale, injuries account for approximately 4.4 million deaths annually and are anticipated to become the seventh leading cause of death by 2030. In Ethiopia, injuries account for 7% of all deaths, with one of the world's highest rates of road traffic injuries. This study, undertaken at a primary trauma centre in the capital of Ethiopia, aimed to explore the characteristics of injured patients and emergency department mortality as the patient outcome. Understanding the patterns and outcomes of injuries helps to anticipate needs, prioritize patients, and allocate resources effectively.
METHODS
A retrospective single-center observational study utilised patient records from September 2020 to August 2021 at Addis Ababa Burn Emergency and Trauma Hospital, located in Ethiopia. A structured checklist facilitated the data collection. All patients arriving in the ED from September 2020 to August 2021 were eligible for the study while incomplete records (missing > 20% of wanted data elements) were excluded.
RESULT
Of the 3502 injured patients recorded during the study period, 317 were selected. The mean patient age was 30 years, with 78.5% being male. About 8% arrived the emergency department within an hour after the injury. Ambulances transported 38.8% of patients; 58.5% of these were referred from other facilities. The predominant mechanism of injury both in and outside Addis Ababa was pedestrian road traffic injuries (31.4% and 38%). The predominant injury type was fractures (33.8%). The mortality rate was 5%, of which half were pedestrian road traffic incidents.
CONCLUSION
Pedestrian road traffic injuries were the main cause of injury in and outside of Addis Ababa. A small proportion of patients arrived at the emergency department within the first hour after an injury event. A significant proportion of ambulance-transported patients were referred from other facilities rather than directly from the scene. The overall mortality rate was high, with pedestrian road traffic injury accounting for half of the proportion.
Topics: Humans; Ethiopia; Male; Female; Retrospective Studies; Adult; Emergency Service, Hospital; Middle Aged; Wounds and Injuries; Adolescent; Child; Accidents, Traffic; Young Adult; Hospital Mortality; Child, Preschool; Aged
PubMed: 38849745
DOI: 10.1186/s12873-024-01017-7 -
The Lancet. Planetary Health Jun 2024
Topics: Climate Change; Humans; Drowning; Disasters
PubMed: 38849173
DOI: 10.1016/S2542-5196(24)00090-1 -
Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Jun 2024The present study aims to investigate the demographics and characteristics of scuba diving fatalities in the Philippines which can help in the identification of local...
The present study aims to investigate the demographics and characteristics of scuba diving fatalities in the Philippines which can help in the identification of local trends and ultimately in the development of appropriate preventive measures. Data on scuba diving-related fatalities in the Philippines from 2008 to 2022 were manually retrieved from online news media sources. Information on age, sex, nationality, certification, purpose, and causative factors, whenever possible were collected and analysed. A total of 39 fatalities were identified having a median age of 43.5 (range 20-80). Majority of victims were males (n = 30), and of foreign ethnicity (n = 26). Asphyxia was identified as the possible disabling injury in almost half of the cases (n = 17). The causes of death based on autopsies were determined only for few cases which included drowning (n = 2), heart attack (n = 1), and traumatic injuries from a dynamite blast (n = 1). Potential vulnerable groups were identified to be the ageing population and foreign tourist divers. In the absence of an existing database, this preliminary report provides the best available evidence at this time concerning scuba diving fatalities in the Philippines.
Topics: Humans; Philippines; Diving; Male; Middle Aged; Adult; Female; Aged; Young Adult; Aged, 80 and over; Cause of Death; Mass Media; Drowning; Asphyxia
PubMed: 38849159
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2024.04.004 -
JAMA Jul 2024
Topics: Humans; Drowning; United States; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; Male; Adult; Female; Adolescent; Child; Middle Aged; Child, Preschool; Infant; Young Adult; Aged
PubMed: 38848079
DOI: 10.1001/jama.2024.10327 -
MSMR May 2024Mortality surveillance is an important activity for capturing information on a population's health. This retrospective surveillance analysis utilizes administrative data...
Mortality surveillance is an important activity for capturing information on a population's health. This retrospective surveillance analysis utilizes administrative data sources to describe active duty U.S. Army soldiers who died from 2014 to 2019, and calculate mortality rates, assess trends by category of death, and identify leading causes of death within subpopulations. During the surveillance period, 2,530 soldier deaths were reported. The highest crude mortality rates observed during the 6-year surveillance period were for deaths by suicide, followed by accidental (i.e., unintentional injury) deaths. The crude mortality rates for natural deaths decreased significantly over the 6-year period, by an average of 6% annually. The leading causes of death were suicide by gunshot wound, motor vehicle accidents, suicide by hanging, neoplasms, and cardiovascular events. Significant differences were observed in the leading causes of death in relation to demographic characteristics, which has important implications for the development of focused educational campaigns to improve health behaviors and safe driving habits. Current public health programs to prevent suicide should be evaluated, with new approaches for firearm safety considered.
Topics: Humans; Military Personnel; Male; United States; Female; Adult; Population Surveillance; Cause of Death; Young Adult; Retrospective Studies; Suicide; Mortality; Middle Aged; Adolescent; Wounds, Gunshot; Accidents, Traffic
PubMed: 38847619
DOI: No ID Found -
Annals of Medicine and Surgery (2012) Jun 2024Examining the raw and standardized mortality rates is the primary strategy for improving life expectancy and human health in society through identifying risk factors and...
BACKGROUND
Examining the raw and standardized mortality rates is the primary strategy for improving life expectancy and human health in society through identifying risk factors and dealing with the factors that cause them.
OBJECTIVES
This study examined the trend of mortalities due to traffic and nontraffic accidents.
METHODS
This cross-sectional study examines the registered mortalities during the years 2016-2022 in the form of a census in the health department's death registration and classification system. Mortality was analyzed as raw and standardized mortality in each 100 000 population.
RESULTS
Out of 18 265 deaths during 2016-2022, 1305 (7.15%) were related to accidents and incidents. The age-standardized total mortality rate in the first year was 32.9, and in the final year of the study, it was 33.3 per 100 000 people; although there are fluctuations, this trend is upward (P.trend=0.021). Also, the age-standardized traffic death rate in the first year is 19, and in the final year is 12 per 100 000 people; this decreasing trend was not statistically significant (P.trend=0.061). The incidence of age-standardized intentional nontraffic deaths was 1.7 in the first year of the study interval and 9.8 in the last year in 100 000 people, which showed an upward trend (P.trend<0.001).
CONCLUSION
In light of the generally increasing trend of accidents, especially nontraffic accidents, universal and well-rounded measures are necessary for safety matters and reducing mortality.
PubMed: 38846822
DOI: 10.1097/MS9.0000000000002043 -
BMC Public Health Jun 2024This study addresses the persistent global burden of road traffic fatalities, particularly in middle-income countries like Malaysia, by exploring the impact of the...
BACKGROUND
This study addresses the persistent global burden of road traffic fatalities, particularly in middle-income countries like Malaysia, by exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Road Traffic Accident (RTA) fatalities in Perak state, Malaysia, with a secondary focus on applying Years of Life Lost (YLL) to understand the implications of these premature deaths.
METHODOLOGY
The cross-sectional study retrospectively reviewed certified RTA fatalities from 2018 to 2021, individually counting fatalities in accidents and excluding cases with incomplete death profiles. Data were collected from all Forensic Departments in the government hospitals in Perak. RTA fatalities were confirmed by medical officers/physicians following established procedures during routine procedures. A total of 2517 fatal accident and victim profiles were transcribed into data collection form after reviewing death registration records and post-mortem reports. Inferential analyses were used for comparison between pre- and during COVID-19 pandemic. The standard expected YLL was calculated by comparing the age of death to the external standard life expectancy curve taking into consideration of age and gender in Malaysia.
RESULTS
This study included 2207 (87.7%) of the RTA fatalities in Perak State. The analysis revealed a decreasing trend in RTA deaths from 2018 to 2021, with a remarkable Annual Percent Change (APC) of -25.1% in 2020 compared to the pre-pandemic year in 2019 and remained stable with lower APC in 2021. Comparison between pre-pandemic (2018-2019) and pandemic years (2020-2021) revealed a difference in the fatality distribution with a median age rise during the pandemic (37.7 (IQR: 22.96, 58.08) vs. 41.0 (IQR: 25.08, 61.00), p = 0.002). Vehicle profiles remained consistent, yet changes were observed in the involvement of various road users, where more motorcycle riders and pedestrian were killed during pandemic (p = 0.049). During pandemic, there was a decline in vehicle collisions, but slight increase of the non-collision accidents and incidents involving pedestrians/animals (p = 0.015). A shift in accident from noon till midnight were also notable during the pandemic (p = 0.028). YLL revealed differences by age and gender, indicating a higher YLL for females aged 30-34 during the pandemic.
CONCLUSION
The decline in RTA fatalities during COVID-19 pandemic underscores the influence of pandemic-induced restrictions and reduced traffic. However, demographic shifts, increased accident severity due to risky behaviors and gender-specific impacts on YLL, stress the necessity for improved safety interventions amidst evolving dynamics.
Topics: Humans; Malaysia; COVID-19; Accidents, Traffic; Female; Male; Adult; Middle Aged; Cross-Sectional Studies; Mortality, Premature; Adolescent; Retrospective Studies; Aged; Young Adult; Child; Life Expectancy; Child, Preschool; Infant; Aged, 80 and over; Pandemics; Infant, Newborn
PubMed: 38844906
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19027-2 -
PloS One 2024The South East Asian region has the world's second highest fatal drowning burden. This study reports analysis of survey data from representatives from nations within the...
The South East Asian region has the world's second highest fatal drowning burden. This study reports analysis of survey data from representatives from nations within the Association of South East Asian Nations regarding current efforts, challenges and future opportunities for drowning prevention. Twenty-two responses were received from respondents from all ASEAN nations excepting Cambodia and Myanmar. Drowning prevention initiatives varied across ASEAN nations, with most efforts focused on public education and raising awareness, including the provision of drowning data to the media. The lack of comprehensive, national level data collection was identified as a challenge, necessitating strengthened data collection capacity. Governmental involvement spanned one to six different ministries, highlighting the multi-sectoral nature of drowning prevention. However, a lead ministry could be identified in only two countries. Despite the challenges identified, there remain many opportunities to strengthen drowning prevention across ASEAN nations, addressing a significant regional public health threat.
Topics: Humans; Drowning; Asia, Southeastern; Public Health; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 38843123
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304138 -
The Journal of Endocrinology Jun 2024β-cell death contributes to β-cell loss and insulin insufficiency in type 1 diabetes (T1D), and this β-cell demise has been attributed to apoptosis and necrosis.... (Review)
Review
β-cell death contributes to β-cell loss and insulin insufficiency in type 1 diabetes (T1D), and this β-cell demise has been attributed to apoptosis and necrosis. Apoptosis has been viewed as the lone form of programmed β-cell death, and evidence indicates that β-cells also undergo necrosis, regarded as an unregulated or accidental form of cell demise. More recently, studies in non-islet cell types have identified and characterized novel forms of cell death that are biochemically and morphologically distinct from apoptosis and necrosis. Several of these mechanisms of cell death have been categorized as forms of regulated necrosis and linked to inflammation and disease pathogenesis. In this review, we revisit discoveries of β-cell death in humans with diabetes and describe studies characterizing β-cell apoptosis and necrosis. We explore literature on mechanisms of regulated necrosis including necroptosis, ferroptosis and pyroptosis, review emerging literature on the significance of these mechanisms in β-cells, and discuss experimental approaches to differentiate between various mechanisms of β-cell death. Our review of the literature leads us to conclude that more detailed experimental characterization of the mechanisms of β-cell death is warranted, along with studies to better understand the impact of various forms of β-cell demise on islet inflammation and β-cell autoimmunity in pathophysiologically relevant models. Such studies will provide insight into the mechanisms of β-cell loss in T1D and may shed light on new therapeutic approaches to protect β-cells in this disease.
PubMed: 38842911
DOI: 10.1530/JOE-23-0378