Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to K Botti.
The autopsy of an 18-year-old girl who had died suddenly at home revealed generalised pentastomiasis. The location of this disease in the intestines was responsible for death by hemorrhagic enterocolitis. This discovery constituted an atypical case in our daily practice of forensic medicine.
In 1982 and 1997 there were explosions of barley-containing silos in France, one in Metz (1982) and the other in Blaye (1997). There were a total of 25 victims, including 23 fatalities (12 in Metz and 11 in Blaye). In each case there was one survivor. This report is a retrospective study of 22 victims (11 at each site); all of them had multiple lesions due to the explosion and the immediate aftermath. The lesions demonstrated direct involvement of the blast effect associated with silo destruction, the heat from the explosion, the effects of toxic gases and asphyxia. The forensic pathologist is an important member of the emergency response team. This team has the responsibility for initially assessing the damage and for identifying the victims. The role of the forensic pathologist is therefore essential and they should be included in emergency planning to facilitate the initial assessment, shorten the time taken to identify the victims and improve safety procedures. Although dust explosions in agro-business plants are occurring more frequently, postmortem data are rare.
This survey presents several cases of sudden deaths in Africa, specifically in Cote d'Ivoire, where the postmortem diagnosis of human cerebral malaria was determined after autopsy followed by pathologic examination of the brain. It is thought that cerebral malaria may be the primary cause of sudden death in nonimmunized persons during or after traveling in such endemic areas of Africa. The target population is composed of tourists, business travelers, and sailors. Because death caused by cerebral malaria occurs so suddenly, it can lead to forensic issues. Therefore, in any cases involving sudden death, it is very important for the forensic scientist to do a systematic evaluation, including pathologic examination of brain tissue, to rule in or exclude cerebral malaria. This practice will reinforce and aid research in progress directed at developing a vaccine and elucidating the role of tumor necrosis factor in this disease. Furthermore, this study will alert the physician to the importance of an effective and well-followed prophylaxis.