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Biomedical subjects

Clotilde Rougé-Maillart

Publications and source records attributed to Clotilde Rougé-Maillart.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Contribution of the study of acetabulum for the estimation of adult subjects.

INTRODUCTION: The study of the posterior part of the pelvis is of interest in forensic anthropology since it is an anatomical region that is very often preserved. The Lovejoy technique, using the auricular surface has brought about many studies and attracted many authors, among them Buckberry and Chamberlain utilized the criteria described by Lovejoy and developed new methods. By using this research as a starting point, we have described acetabular criteria. The goal of this study was to test these criteria and to link them to auricular surface reading criteria, as described by Buckberry and Chamberlain. METHOD: The study concerned 52 pelvises of known age and sex. We studied the age correlation of various criteria read at the acetabulum level and that of the auricular surface. We then went on to draw up scores and established a correlation of these scores with age. Intra- and inter-observer variability was also studied. We used the SPSS software package for statistical analyses. DISCUSSION: We were able to isolate four acetabular criteria and four auricular surface criteria which have a correlation with age. Establishing these scores (sum of criteria) allows a better age-based correlation to be obtained. Establishing an overall score, including acetabular criteria and auricular surface criteria, allows a good level of correlation to be obtained with age, with low intra- and inter-observer variability. CONCLUSION: The study of acetabulum is of interest for the age estimation of adult subjects. The joint study of the acetabulum and the auricular surface allows a higher correlation with actual age to be obtained. This study must be broadened to include a wider sample so as to allow fine-tuning of a method.

Acetabulum↗

[Spectacular suicide associated with mefloquine].

INTRODUCTION: We present a case in which suicide was a severe neuropsychiatric reaction to treatment with mefloquine. Physicians must be aware of these serious psychiatric complications and bear them in mind when faced with atypical behavior or suspected suicide. CASE REPORT: The body of a 27-year-old man was discovered at his home, covered with multiple knife wounds. The autopsy report concluded that death was due to a craniocerebral wound from a violent blow. Homicide was initially suspected. Suicide during acute psychosis associated with mefloquine was suggested, and toxicologic analyses confirmed this hypothesis. DISCUSSION: Serious neurologic and psychiatric adverse events associated with mefloquine (Lariam) have been reported since its introduction in 1985. Mefloquine prophylaxis is recommended for travelers to high-risk areas of chloroquine-resistant plasmodium falciparum. The risk of malarial infection and the proven efficacy of mefloquine to prevent malaria should be weighed against the risk of drug-associated adverse events. Physicians must nonetheless be aware of these serious psychiatric complications, especially when faced with atypical behavior and atypical suicides. The patient's' family and friends should be asked about a possible trips abroad that might have entailed antimalaria treatment, even several months earlier. Testing for mefloquine during toxicological examinations is then essential. The World Health Organization recommendations and contraindications must be followed in prescribing mefloquine.

Adult↗

Women who kill their children.

UNLABELLED: The killing of a newborn on the day of its birth is known as neonaticide. A child aged 1 through 16 has a different role in the family, and their murder is perceived differently. We would expect mothers charged with filicide to be drawn from a slightly different population than other child-killing mothers. METHOD: Our study was carried out at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Angers over a 10-year period. All the victims were autopsied at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Angers. Information concerning the mothers was collected from forensic medical files, police reports, and legal files. Interviews and forensic psychiatric examinations were available for consultation. RESULTS: Our study concerns 17 observations of child-killing mothers and 19 child autopsies. In 2 cases, the issue was in fact a double murder, with the mother killing all the siblings. The mean age was 3.5 years for victims and 29.5 years for the women. The majority of the mothers were married or lived with their partners. They often had an occupation. Generally the economic status was average. Head trauma, strangulation, suffocation, and drowning were the most frequent means of filicide. However, some mothers used more active methods such as striking and shooting. Disturbed or disturbing behavior was documented in 15 perpetrators. Seven women tried to commit suicide. It was often possible to identify apparent motivation for the offense. DISCUSSION: In our study, we can distinguish 2 types of killer mothers. We distinguished a first group made up of 5 mothers. These 5 women killed their children in a general context of abused children and present similarities with the neonaticide mothers (young, immature). The other group of filicide mothers is different. They are generally older, married, and employed. The crime is usually premeditated, committed with the direct use of hands and sometimes very violent. To understand the motives or the source of the impulse to kill, we can use a classification such as Resnick's classification: mothers from the first group fall within the framework of accidental filicides: the risk and prevention factors are those of infanticide and ill treatment. For the other mothers, we can distinguish altruistic filicides (8 cases) and spouse revenge filicides (2 cases). Few of the mothers suffered from real psychiatric problems; however, most of them presented troubles which could have been taken into account. A lot of women showed signs of suicidal tendencies prior to the event, displaying aggressive and angry behavior. In general, suicide attempts tend to prevail. These offenders act out of an acute sensitivity to social regulation. A variety of psychosocial stresses appears to have been a major factor. These stresses include lack of social or marital support, economic difficulties, family stress, and unrealistic expectations of motherhood. The precipitating stress may have been a dispute. Prevention begins with the identification of potential perpetrators. Therefore, medical doctors have a significant role in relation to the prevention of child murder.

Adolescent↗

The determination of male adult age at death by central and posterior coxal analysis--a preliminary study.

In forensic anthropological analysis, the pelvis is of particular interest as it is often a comparatively well-preserved part of the skeleton. This study in age determination uses the acetabulum, the central element of the pelvis, as a complement to the examination of the auricular surface. The test sample consisted of 30 individuals. First, the authors studied the auricular surface using the Lovejoy criteria. Second, they isolated four criteria based on chronological changes in the acetabulum. Third, they conducted an evaluation of each of these variables. The study examines the correlation between these criteria and the age of the individuals. A significant correlation was found between the acetabular criteria and age, and between the acetabular criteria and the Lovejoy criteria of the auricular surface. For forensic purposes, the acetabulum is an effective predictor in the determination of age. This newly proposed method explores the same criteria of ageing as the Lovejoy method. The combination of the two methods produces relatively consistent results in the estimation of age.

Acetabulum↗

Liability for pharmaceutical products: a difficult attempt at harmonisation.

On the 25 July 1985, the European Community adopted a Directive on liability for defective products. Doctors are very affected by this law because an injured person will possibly be able to take action against them. This directive had several aims: to harmonise member states' legislation concerning the legal protection of victims and to subject producers to the same framework of liability and competition rules. However, this directive currently remains relatively ineffective. Several reasons can be put forward to explain this failure. First, by leaving it open to member states to decide whether to opt for one or more derogations, the Directive has made it easier for different interpretations to emerge. Secondly, several ideas proposed by the Directive have not been defined. As a result, the different legal terminology used in different states makes the interpretation of these concepts more difficult. Our paper concludes that the Directive was soundly based. However, Member States must enquire about the solutions adopted in neighbouring countries, and the ECJ (European Court of Justice) should try to impress on states the importance of a community vision. Without an adequate level of convergence, the differences between national laws will encourage 'forum shopping' on the part of a claimant and the situation will become more difficult for prescribers.

Drug Industry↗