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Estimation of time of death is an indispensible requirement of every medico-legal autopsy, but unfortunately, there is not a single method by which it could be determined accurately. This study focused on the temperature-dependent postmortem degradation of cardiac troponin-T and its association with postmortem interval (PMI) in human. The analysis involved extraction of the protein, separation by denaturing gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and visualization by Western blot using cTnT-specific monoclonal antibodies. The area of the bands within a lane was quantified by scanning and digitizing the image using Gel Doc (Universal Hood). The results indicate a characteristic banding pattern among human cadavers (n = 6) and a pseudo-linear relationship between percentage of cTnT degradation and the log of the time since death (r > 0.95), which can be used to estimate the postmortem interval. The data presented demonstrate that this technique can provide an extended time range during which PMI can be more accurately estimated.

Aim Unclaimed homeless corpses in forensic settings constitute a big global problem. Unclaimed bodies for medico-legal autopsy have also shown an increased trend in the last few years in India. This study was done to identify the circumstances and establish a comparative pattern of death between male and female corpses based on autopsy findings. Study design Retrospective observational analytical study. Method and findings Autopsy and circumstantial-based findings of 5,542 unclaimed homeless corpses were reviewed comparatively between males and females brought to mortuaries between Jan 2004 to Dec 2013 in Lucknow, a major metropolitan city and tertiary care centre of India. Lucknow Province has a population that roughly equals that of the nation of Georgia or the US state of Louisiana. A total of 39,872 autopsy cases were registered mean time, out of which 5,542 (13.9 %) were unclaimed corpse. The majority of cases belonged to males (3,950, 71.3 %) as compared to females (1,592, 28.7 %). Most homeless unclaimed bodies in the case of the male group were in the age group of 40-49 years (23.3 %; p<0.001), while in the case of the female group it was 20-29 years (21.80 %; p<0.001). The least-affected age group in males was 0-9 years (4.8 %; p<0.001), while in the case of female it was 40-49 years (6.9 %; p<0.001). The most common cause of natural death in both males and females was chronic lung disease. Railway and road traffic accidents accounted for 15.5 % (p<0.001) deaths in males, whereas in females they accounted for only 8.7 % (p < 0.001). Violent sexual activity was present in 18.7 % (p<0.001) cases and associated with homicidal death in females. Asphyxial death was present in 10.9 % cases within the male group and was 10.6 % (p<0.001) of the cases within the female group. Cases of poisoning within the male group were 8.1 %, whereas it was 12.3 % (p < 0.001) within the female group. Poisoning was the main mode of suicide in females, while in the case of males our study reports it was asphyxial death. The majority of the cases were reported during the summer, while in the month of February the least amount of cases were reported. Conclusions This is the largest autopsy-based study of unclaimed homeless corpse from India which tries to identify the circumstances of death and to establish a comparative pattern based on factors associated with the deaths of the males and females. The age groups of 40-59 (43.6 % within gender) in males and 10-29 age groups (40.3 % within gender) in females were the most affected victims. Age, gender, weather conditions and socio-economic status played an important role.

Objectives:The aim of our study is to evaluate the incidence and etiology of maxillofacial fractures in autopsy cases of KGMU, Lucknow.Materials and Methods:The sample consisted of 444 autopsy cases with maxillofacial injuries, who were brought to the mortuary of KGMU, Lucknow, for postmortem in the last year. Parameters such as gender, age, cause, type, and site of injury are evaluated.Result:The results of this study show that road traffic accidents are the main reason for maxillofacial injuries in the deceased, followed by railway accidents. Maxillofacial injuries are more common in adult males than in females. Majority cases also involved maxilla and zygomatic along with mandible. The most common type of facial fracture was Le Fort-2 fracture.Conclusion:Maxillofacial injuries are commonly seen in adult males, due to RTA, involving maxilla, zygomatic and mandible and presenting as Le Fort-2 fracture.

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