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Biomedical subjects

J J Moar

Publications and source records attributed to J J Moar.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Forensic toxicology in urban South Africa.

BACKGROUND: An analysis has been made of the pattern of deaths due to poisoning in South Africa over the period 1991-1996. METHODS: The database held by the Forensic Science Service Laboratory, covering the period 1991-1996 was analyzed. RESULTS: Agricultural chemicals are a major cause of mortality. Among drugs of abuse, combinations of methaqualone/diphenhydramine and cyclizine/dipipanone contribute a disproportionately high percentage of cases. Metal poisoning is common as are cases of poisoning attributed to remedies prescribed by traditional healers.

Agrochemicals↗
PubMed1999

Findings in fatal cases of poisoning attributed to traditional remedies in South Africa.

An analysis of the Johannesburg forensic database over the years 1991-1995 revealed 206 cases in which a traditional remedy was either stated to be the cause of death or was found to be present in a case of poisoning with an unknown substance. The range of toxins detected was wide, with herbal materials being found in 43% of cases, and pharmaceutical or agri-chemicals in 20% and 33% respectively. Since there are as yet no standard methods for the detection of many herbal remedies or their metabolites, careful analysis, using methods such as HPLC/MS, are mandatory for the correct identification of the true cause in cases of poisoning ascribed to traditional remedies.

Cause of Death↗
PubMed1998

Renal adenocarcinoma with tumour thrombi in the inferior vena cava and right atrium in a pedestrian motor vehicle accident fatality: case report and medicolegal implications.

Dramatic and unexpected natural disease processes may occasionally be encountered in the course of routine forensic pathology practice. The pathophysiological consequences of these processes may carry profound medicolegal implications which may have a bearing on the liability and culpability of the various parties involved. A pedestrian-vehicular incident involving a 53-year-old woman in whom a renal adenocarcinoma with tumour extension to the inferior vena cava and right atrium was discovered at autopsy is reported. The pathophysiological and biochemical disturbances associated with this tumour are discussed and their possible medicolegal implications evaluated.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1996

Anaesthetic-associated mortality and anaesthetic contributory death: the South African medicolegal approach.

The medicolegal approach to cases of anaesthetic-associated mortality and anaesthetic contributory death (ACD) occurring in Johannesburg, South Africa is presented. The approach adopted has been found to be reasonably workable in practice and places heavy emphasis on the surgical and anaesthetic-related reasons for perioperative deaths and, in particular, on their multifactorial aetiology. It is recognised that in view of the multifactorial nature of the anaesthetic environment certain errors in clinical anaesthetic management are neither precisely quantifiable nor assessable. It is further emphasized that perioperative quality control programs as well as Inquest Court proceedings should comprise input by a team of specialists and which include clinical anaesthesiologists, surgeons and forensic pathologists.

Anesthesia↗
PubMed1988

Renal weights in the southern African black population.

Renal weights of 430 adult black subjects coming to medicolegal autopsy at the Diepkloof State Mortuary, a large urban area southwest of Johannesburg, South Africa, were analyzed. The subjects were from 10 southern African black ethnic groups-Zulu, Sotho, Tswana, Xhosa, Shangaan, Swazi, Venda, Ndebele, Kalanga, and Malawi. The aims of the study were: 1) to ascertain the anatomical "norm" as it pertains to renal weights in this diverse population group; 2) to formulate standard reference tables that might be of use to the practicing pathologist in the southern African arena; 3) to provide a range of values that take into account the variables of age, sex, race, body weight, and body height; and 4) to provide a standard of comparison with anthropological and anatomical studies conducted on North American black, North American Caucasian, Indian subcontinent, Burmese, and Jamaican population groups. In each of the 430 subjects, age, sex, ethnic group, supine body length, body weight, individual left and right renal weights, and causes of death were noted. The latter were divided into 6 categories: 1) penetrating incised wounds; 2) multiple injuries; 3) gunshot wounds; 4) craniocerebral injuries; 5) various miscellaneous nonnatural causes of death; and 6) natural causes of death. The above variables were analyzed by computer and compared with respect to renal weights. No statistically significant differences were observed between the sexes or the age groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Death from electrical arc flash burns. A report of 2 cases.

Two cases of fatal accidental electrocution involving high-tension cables are reported in which autopsy revealed the presence of flash burns and, more significantly, multiple circumscribed and cavitated lesions associated with arcing. Attention is drawn to the danger of 'near-contact' with high-tension cables. The autopsy findings of severe internal injuries, which may be associated with the blast of the electrical discharge or occur secondary to a fall are discussed. In the absence of an adequate history, the autopsy findings may help to elucidate more accurately the circumstances of death and the type of electrical injury involved in fatal electrocution.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Traumatic rupture of the cervical carotid arteries: an autopsy and histopathological study of 200 cases.

Over the 19-month period November 7th, 1984 to June 11th, 1986, 200 consecutive autopsies were conducted on victims of motor vehicle accidents. In each case, both common carotid arteries and their respective internal and external branches up to 2 cm beyond the bifurcation were examined for evidence of contusion, partial tearing or rupture. All lacerations or disruptions were excised together with a segment of surrounding arterial tissue, and processed, sectioned and examined by conventional light microscopy for the presence and extent of arterial tears. Several findings emerged: (i) in nearly one-third of subjects there was some degree of arterial disruption; (ii) dual or even triple vessel involvement in both an ipsilateral and contralateral distribution occurred in 38.6% of the 57 subjects in whom traumatic arterial lesions were found; (iii) the large number of intimal disruptions encountered, 44.7% of which showed extension of the tear to the internal elastic lamina with further longitudinal continuation of the tear along the lamina without breaching it; (iv) tears along the laminar planes of the media occurred in 52.6% of the 57 subjects and was particularly apparent at sites of subsidiary vessel bifurcation; (v) compound intimo-medial tears occurred in almost two-thirds (63.2%) of the 57 subjects, highlighting the dual involvement of these layers of the arterial wall in traumatic lesions; (vi) the occurrence of adventitial contusions in 70.2% of the 57 subjects; (vii) the occurrence of complete vessel wall transection in more than one-quarter (26.3%) of the vessels with positive findings and involving nearly one-third (31.6%) of subjects, indicating perhaps the severity of the trauma to which the victims were exposed.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1986

Tracheal rupture--an anaesthetic mishap? A case report.

We present the case of a 21-year-old primigravida who died after an uneventful caesarean section. We believe that this death was due to pre-eclamptic toxaemia rather than related to the finding of a tracheal tear at autopsy.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Stomal sepsis and fatal haemorrhage following tracheostomy.

A case of stomal sepsis and fatal haemorrhage following an emergency tracheostomy in a 28-year-old woman is presented. It is proposed that major haemorrhage can occur in the absence of a large vessel lesion as a result of local sepsis and inflammation. Infection in this setting can be predicted to be polymicrobial in origin and attention is therefore drawn to the need for early prophylactic antimicrobial therapy as well as the need for meticulous care of the stomal site.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Autopsy assessment of liver lacerations. A study of 62 cases.

The results of 127 consecutive autopsies on victims of motor vehicle, train and tractor accidents were analysed to determine the incidence, extent and severity of liver injury as well as to formulate a method of grading such injuries relevant to forensic autopsy practice. All liver lacerations noted were assigned an injury-assessment index. The features which emerge from the study are as follows: (i) almost 50% of the the victims had liver lacerations; (ii) in almost 75% of these, multiple lacerations were present; and (iii) in over 33% of those with liver lacerations severe liver injury in the form of lobal transection was present. The implementation of injury-assessment indices as a matter of routine in the grading of traumatic lesions at autopsy is suggested.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1985

Traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta. An autopsy and histopathological study.

Over the 9-month period 1 March - 30 November 1983, 118 consecutive autopsies were conducted on victims of motor vehicle and train accidents. The thoracic aorta was examined for evidence of contusion, partial tearing or rupture, particular attention being paid to the known usual sites of rupture. All lacerations or disruptions were excised together with a segment of surrounding aortic tissue, and processed, sectioned and examined by conventional light microscopy for the presence and extent of aortic tears. Several findings emerged: (i) in nearly two-thirds of cases there was some degree of aortic disruption; (ii) multiple rather than single tears occurred in 41,2% of the 51 subjects in whom aortic tears were found; (iii) tears of the media occurred in more than 60% of cases, highlighting the involvement of this layer of the aortic wall in traumatic lesions; (iv) there was a high (81,4%) incidence of concomitant multiple injuries; (v) most of the victims (75,4%) were dead on arrival at a medical facility; and (vi) positive blood alcohol levels ranging from 0,04 mg/dl to 0,42 mg/dl were found at autopsy in 80% of the subjects.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1984

Early acute fatal carbon monoxide poisoning--assessment of the survival period.

While the postmortem appearances and laboratory diagnosis of carbon monoxide poisoning are well recognized, the problem of determining the length of survival and hence the possible time of death still exists. The haematoxylin-basic fuchsin-picric acid stain for the detection of early myocardial ischaemia was applied in an attempt to assess the length of survival in early acute fatal carbon monoxide poisoning. Although the value of this stain in elucidating early ischaemia was confirmed, its application to this specific problem in forensic medicine appears limited.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning↗
PubMed1984

The value of autopsy bacteriology. A case report and review of techniques.

A case of fatal post-traumatic purulent meningitis is described. While no antemortem aetiological diagnosis was available, bacteriology yielded a pure and profuse culture of Streptococcus pneumoniae. The problem of postmortem microbial contamination is discussed and recommendations for appropriate autopsy techniques are presented.

Autopsy↗