Browsing by Author "Leković, Aleksa (57789231400)"

Anomalous papillary muscle (APM) insertion into the anterior mitral valve leaflet is often associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) but is reported in other cases as a rare finding. Mere presence does not strictly imply hemodynamic disturbance, and several types exist, with various impacts on left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction. The interpretation of isolated anomaly is challenging at autopsy because significant LVOT obstruction is dynamic. We analyzed autopsy cases with APM regarding the site of PM insertion and origin, number of PM bellies, anomalous insertions, heart weight, left ventricle (LV) thickness, LV endocardial fibrosis, subjects' age, sex, cause, and manner of death. A total of 20 cases were identified. Fourteen were identified incidentally, while in 670 systematically examined hearts, the APM was identified in six cases, indicating a prevalence of 0.9%. In eight cases, the manner of death was natural (one case with HCM), and in 12 non-natural. Type II anomaly of PM was most frequent (n = 8), followed by Type III (n = 7) and Type I (n = 5). Subjects who died of natural causes were significantly older and had heavier hearts (median 455 g vs. 330 g; p < 0.05) without difference in LV thickness (median 16 mm vs. 15 mm; p > 0.05). Histology performed in four cases showed a pattern of direct insertion of cardiomyocytes into the leaflet's thick fibrous tissue with a narrow overlapping zone. The APM is rare, can be easily overlooked, and does not imply significant pathology per se. We discussed proper assessment of the significance of this anomaly at autopsy. © 2022 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Anomalous papillary muscle (APM) insertion into the anterior mitral valve leaflet is often associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) but is reported in other cases as a rare finding. Mere presence does not strictly imply hemodynamic disturbance, and several types exist, with various impacts on left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction. The interpretation of isolated anomaly is challenging at autopsy because significant LVOT obstruction is dynamic. We analyzed autopsy cases with APM regarding the site of PM insertion and origin, number of PM bellies, anomalous insertions, heart weight, left ventricle (LV) thickness, LV endocardial fibrosis, subjects' age, sex, cause, and manner of death. A total of 20 cases were identified. Fourteen were identified incidentally, while in 670 systematically examined hearts, the APM was identified in six cases, indicating a prevalence of 0.9%. In eight cases, the manner of death was natural (one case with HCM), and in 12 non-natural. Type II anomaly of PM was most frequent (n = 8), followed by Type III (n = 7) and Type I (n = 5). Subjects who died of natural causes were significantly older and had heavier hearts (median 455 g vs. 330 g; p < 0.05) without difference in LV thickness (median 16 mm vs. 15 mm; p > 0.05). Histology performed in four cases showed a pattern of direct insertion of cardiomyocytes into the leaflet's thick fibrous tissue with a narrow overlapping zone. The APM is rare, can be easily overlooked, and does not imply significant pathology per se. We discussed proper assessment of the significance of this anomaly at autopsy. © 2022 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Hanging is one of the most common suicide methods worldwide. Neck injuries that occur upon such neck compression – fractures of the thyrohyoid complex and cervical spine, occupy forensic pathologists for a long time. However, research failed to identify particular patterns of these injuries corresponding to the force distribution a ligature applies to the neck: the issue of reconstructing the knot in a noose position persists. So far, machine learning (ML) models were not utilized to classify knot positions and reconstruct this event. We conducted a single-institutional, retrospective study on 1235 autopsy cases of suicidal hanging, developed several ML models, and assessed their classification performance in a stepwise manner to discriminate between: 1. typical (‘posterior) and atypical (‘anterior’ and ‘lateral’) hangings, 2. anterior and lateral hangings, and 3. left and right lateral hangings. The variable coding was based on the presence/absence of fractures of greater hyoid bone horns (GHH), superior thyroid cartilage horns (STH), and cervical spine. Subject age was considered. The models’ parameters were optimized by the Genetic Algorithm. The accuracy of ML models in the first step was very modest (c. 60%) but increased subsequently: Multilayer Perceptron – Artificial Neural Network and k-Nearest Neighbors performed excellently discriminating between left and right lateral hangings (accuracy 91.8% and 90.6%, respectively). The latter is of great importance for clarifying probable hanging fracture biomechanics. Alongside the conventional inferential statistical analysis we performed, our results further indicate the association of the knot position with ipsilateral GHH and contralateral STH fractures in lateral hangings. Moreover, odds for unilateral GHH fracture, simultaneous GHH and STH fractures, and cervical spine fracture were significantly higher in atypical (‘anterior’ and ‘lateral’) hangings, compared to typical (‘posterior’) hangings. © 2024 Elsevier B.V.

Introduction: The Burn Index (BI) is a significant clinical prognostic parameter for patients with burns. It simultaneously considers major mortality risk factors: age and burns extensivity. Despite the inability to distinguish between ante- and post-mortem burns, their characteristics on autopsy might indicate if a significant thermal injury occurred before the onset of death. We investigated whether autopsy BI, burn extensivity, and severity could tell whether burns were the concurrent cause of fire-related death (FRD), even if the body remained in a fire. Material and methods: Ten-year retrospective study analyzed FRD that occurred at the scene in a confined space. Soot aspiration was the main inclusion criterion. Autopsy reports were reviewed for demographic data, burn characteristics (degree, Total Body Surface Area burned- TBSA), coronary artery disease, and blood ethanol. We calculated the BI as a sum of the victim's age and percentage of TBSA affected by 2nd, 3rd and 4th-degree burns. Cases were divided into two groups: those with COHb≤ 30% and with COHb> 30%. Subjects with burned TBSA≤ 40% were analyzed separately afterward. Results: The study included 53 males (71.6%) and 21 females (28.4%). No significant difference in age was observed between groups (p > 0.05). COHb≤ 30% had 33, and COHb> 30% had 41 victims. BI and burns extensivity (TBSA) had significant negative correlation with COHb values (ρ = −0.581, p < 0.01 and ρ = −0.439, p < 0.01, respectively). Both were significantly higher in subjects with COHb≤ 30% compared to those with COHb> 30% (140.7 ± 29.57 vs. 95.49 ± 38.49, p < 0.01 and 98 (13−100) vs. 30 (0−100), p < 0.01, BI and TBSA respectively). BI had excellent and TBSA fair performance for detection of subjects with COHb≤ 30% on ROC curve analysis (AUCs 0.821, p < 0.001 and 0.765, p < 0.001), with optimal cut-off values: BI≥ 107 (sensitivity 81.3%, specificity 70.7%) and TBSA≥ 45 (sensitivity 84.8%, specificity 70.7%). On logistic regression analysis BI≥ 107 was independently associated with COHb≤ 30% values (aOR 6; 95%CI 1.55–23.37). The same holds for the presence of 3rd-degree burns (aOR 5.9; 95%CI 1.45–23.99). In the subgroup of subjects with TBSA≤ 40% burned, those with COHb≤ 50% were significantly older than victims with COHb> 50% (p < 0.05). Here BI≥ 85 was a particularly good predictor for detection of subjects with COHb≤ 50% (AUC=0.913, p < 0.001, 95% CI 0.813–1.00; sensitivity 90.9%, specificity 81%). Conclusion: The BI≥ 107, TBSA≥ 45% burned, and 3rd-degree burns observed on autopsy point to a significantly higher odds that limited CO intoxication occurred, and burns should be considered a concurrent cause of indoor FRD. When less than 40% of TBSA was affected, BI≥ 85 indicated sub-lethal CO poisoning. © 2023 Elsevier B.V.

The study aimed to determine the incidence, distribution, and relation to the knot in a noose position of the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle origin hemorrhages in hangings and to assess their occurrence regarding the subjects' major anthropometric characteristics. A retrospective study on 126 cases of suicidal hangings was conducted. Data on the subject's age, body weight and height, thyrohyoid and cervical spine fractures, and presence and distribution of SCM muscle origin hemorrhages were collected. The SCM muscle origin hemorrhage distribution regarding the knot position was analyzed by descriptive statistics and comparing characteristics between typical and atypical hangings, anterior and lateral hangings, and left and right lateral hangings. Median age was 55 years (17–94), body weight was 70.0 kg (40–125), body height was 176.0 cm (145–205). The hemorrhages were present in 108 (85.7%) cases. Bilateral hemorrhages were most common in the anterior knot position (5 of 7 cases, 71.4%), followed by the posterior knot position (N = 33, 53.2%). Unilateral SCM muscle origin hemorrhage was most common in lateral knot positions (N = 20, 35.1%). In lateral hangings, left SCM muscle origin hemorrhage (aOR = 5.76, 95% CI 1.64–20.19) and absence of right SCM muscle origin hemorrhage (aOR = 6.06 95% CI 1.48–24.78) were significantly associated with the left side of the knot. Body weight (≥67.5 kg) was a significant predictor of these hemorrhages (AUC = 0.639, p < 0.05, sensitivity 62.0%, specificity 66.7%). Hemorrhages at the origin of SCM muscles are a common autopsy finding in suicidal hangings, and knot position impacts their occurrence and distribution. © 2025 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

The study aimed to determine the incidence, distribution, and relation to the knot in a noose position of the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle origin hemorrhages in hangings and to assess their occurrence regarding the subjects' major anthropometric characteristics. A retrospective study on 126 cases of suicidal hangings was conducted. Data on the subject's age, body weight and height, thyrohyoid and cervical spine fractures, and presence and distribution of SCM muscle origin hemorrhages were collected. The SCM muscle origin hemorrhage distribution regarding the knot position was analyzed by descriptive statistics and comparing characteristics between typical and atypical hangings, anterior and lateral hangings, and left and right lateral hangings. Median age was 55 years (17–94), body weight was 70.0 kg (40–125), body height was 176.0 cm (145–205). The hemorrhages were present in 108 (85.7%) cases. Bilateral hemorrhages were most common in the anterior knot position (5 of 7 cases, 71.4%), followed by the posterior knot position (N = 33, 53.2%). Unilateral SCM muscle origin hemorrhage was most common in lateral knot positions (N = 20, 35.1%). In lateral hangings, left SCM muscle origin hemorrhage (aOR = 5.76, 95% CI 1.64–20.19) and absence of right SCM muscle origin hemorrhage (aOR = 6.06 95% CI 1.48–24.78) were significantly associated with the left side of the knot. Body weight (≥67.5 kg) was a significant predictor of these hemorrhages (AUC = 0.639, p < 0.05, sensitivity 62.0%, specificity 66.7%). Hemorrhages at the origin of SCM muscles are a common autopsy finding in suicidal hangings, and knot position impacts their occurrence and distribution. © 2025 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

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The thyrohyoid complex and cervical spine fracture distribution patterns may reflect the knot position as the force distribution by the noose to different neck regions may vary depending on it. Recently, machine learning models (MLm) were used to classify knot position through these fractures. The contribution of aging on the fracture susceptibility is better demonstrated, but data on body weight (BW) and height (BH) significance on this is more doubtful and MLm did not consider them. A retrospectively obtained autopsy data on sex, age, BW, BH and distribution of greater hyoid bone horn (GHH), superior thyroid cartilage horn (STH), and cervical spine fractures in 368 suicidal hangings were analyzed by standard statistics to determine association of the anthropometrics (age, BW, and BH) with the fracture occurrence, and by machine learning algorithms to determine if body weight and height improved MLm classification of hanging cases with typical and atypical knot positions. In the sample, unilateral GHH fracture was significantly more common in atypical hangings, while isolated STH fractures were more common in typical hangings. Age was a predictor of GHH fractures and BW of STH fractures, but BW poorly correlated with their number. BH was not a predictor of any thyrohyoid fracture. On the ROC curve analysis, the MLm that considered BW and BH did not perform statistically better than MLm that did not consider them. The study indicates that body weight and height are of no detrimental value in assessing the thyrohyoid and cervical spine fracture patterns in suicidal hangings. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2025.

The authors regret the second paragraph of the section 2.4.1. Machine learning algorithm models development and analyses (starting with: “The following ML models were assessed: Multilayer Perceptron Artificial Neural Network (MLP–ANN) [50], Decision Tree (DT) [51], K-Nearest Neighbors (k-NN) [52], and Naïve Bayes (NB)… and ending with: “…reported in the Results section.”) is misleading and incomplete, and requires a corrigendum to explain the exact machine learning models development, program use, and to enable results reproducibility. The paragraph should read as follows: “The following ML models were assessed: Multilayer Perceptron Artificial Neural Network (MLP–ANN) [50], Decision Tree (DT) [51], K-Nearest Neighbors (k-NN) [52], and Naïve Bayes (NB) [53,54]. The finetuning of the MLP-ANN algorithms hyperparameters was done in Matlab, in an evolutionary manner, by using the Genetic algorithm (GA) [55], that starts a model optimization from an initial guess of hyperparameters (initial population), which are used as inputs for the objective function (OF). The OF ensembles the model with respect to the current guess of hyperparameters and computers the model accuracy – which needs to be maximized [55–58]. The hyperparameters of MLP-ANN considered for GA optimization were similar as in our previous work [56]. MLP-ANN algorithms with similar, corresponding accuracies to previously mentioned, and DT, K-NN, and NB algorithms were then developed all by automatic or repeated manual hyperparameter adjustments in SPSS. The settings and performances of algorithms developed in SPSS are reported in the Results section.” Figure 3 should be interpreted in accordance with this. We are truly sorry and apologize for any inconvenience caused by the mistake. © 2024 Elsevier B.V.

Intravenous drug users (IDUs) eventually encounter a common problem– a need to turn to a new vessel to inject drugs. Whether it is because no other spot is available due to scarring or convenience, the groin is the preferred spot for some. Chronic puncture of femoral vessels can lead to a rare but significant complication– femoral artery pseudoaneurysm (FAP). Its fatal consequence– rupture and bleeding is well recognized, but the forensic literature on this subject is limited. We present eight cases of exsanguination due to the ruptured FAP in IDUs who share most or all the following characteristics: long-term heroin use and/or pronounced drug use stigmata, chronic groin injection-related lesions, absence of significant precipitating pseudoaneurysm trauma, and no or minimal concentrations of heroin metabolites in blood. The FAP presentation varied greatly, from palpable fist-sized mass or slight elevation under the skin defect to infundibular arterio-cutaneous fistula that ruptured through the skin induration. In some, surrounding skin or soft tissue showed signs of inflammation but without suppuration. The most prominent FAP characteristic was smooth-surface cavitation on cross-sections. We performed microscopic evaluation in two cases and verified disruption of the artery wall (i.e., pseudoaneurysm) with elements of acute and chronic inflammation and fibrosis; foci of fibrinoid necrosis were noticed on the arterial wall. All subjects were pale, with faint hypostasis and organ anemia, consistent with reported massive hemorrhage. Because such sudden, unwitnessed, and suspicious deaths may raise the question of injury infliction, proper autopsy evaluation is crucial, for which we propose guidelines. © 2022 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Intravenous drug users (IDUs) eventually encounter a common problem– a need to turn to a new vessel to inject drugs. Whether it is because no other spot is available due to scarring or convenience, the groin is the preferred spot for some. Chronic puncture of femoral vessels can lead to a rare but significant complication– femoral artery pseudoaneurysm (FAP). Its fatal consequence– rupture and bleeding is well recognized, but the forensic literature on this subject is limited. We present eight cases of exsanguination due to the ruptured FAP in IDUs who share most or all the following characteristics: long-term heroin use and/or pronounced drug use stigmata, chronic groin injection-related lesions, absence of significant precipitating pseudoaneurysm trauma, and no or minimal concentrations of heroin metabolites in blood. The FAP presentation varied greatly, from palpable fist-sized mass or slight elevation under the skin defect to infundibular arterio-cutaneous fistula that ruptured through the skin induration. In some, surrounding skin or soft tissue showed signs of inflammation but without suppuration. The most prominent FAP characteristic was smooth-surface cavitation on cross-sections. We performed microscopic evaluation in two cases and verified disruption of the artery wall (i.e., pseudoaneurysm) with elements of acute and chronic inflammation and fibrosis; foci of fibrinoid necrosis were noticed on the arterial wall. All subjects were pale, with faint hypostasis and organ anemia, consistent with reported massive hemorrhage. Because such sudden, unwitnessed, and suspicious deaths may raise the question of injury infliction, proper autopsy evaluation is crucial, for which we propose guidelines. © 2022 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

We present fatal extensive soft tissue infections, a consequence of groin heroin injection, in three subjects, who were 27, 34, and 39 years old and had a history of over 10-, 15-, and 5-years of heroin injection (cases 1, 2, and 3, respectively). In all cases, the first symptoms of the infection appeared at least a week prior, with rapid deterioration on the last day. The hallmark was a disproportion between external and internal findings in the affected thighs. The latter presented as extensively spread suppurative inflammation with soft tissue necrosis. In case 1, subtle skin erythema was present in the left groin, with a wound suggestive of a recent abscess incision and injection-related scarring. However, dissection revealed that inguinal regions and deep soft tissue (including the muscle sheets) of the left thigh, gluteal region, and lower third of the anterior abdominal wall were inflamed with pus, alongside fibrinopurulent peritonitis. Case 2 had pronounced erythema and swelling of the thigh and knee. Diffuse suppuration was observed upon dissection in the inguinal regions, which extended into the iliopsoas muscles, with soft tissue and muscle necrosis. In the abdominal cavity, we detected 150 mL of serofibrinous exudate. Only case 3 had a prominent, 4 × 3.5-cm necrotic skin defect through which pus spontaneously drained. In contrast to the other two, although extensive pus collection within predominantly necrotic thigh’s soft tissue was present, the inflammation did not expand above the inguinal ligament, and peritonitis was not observed. Toxicology analysis excluded acute heroin intoxications. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2022.

Hyposphagma or subconjunctival hemorrhage is extensive confluent bleeding located between the conjunctiva and episclera. It can develop after trauma or the Valsalva maneuver and hemorrhagic diathesis and vascular diseases, hypertension, arteriosclerosis, and diabetes are the predisposing causes. It may also appear as part of the so-called congestion syndrome of the face and neck in crush or mechanical asphyxia and ligature strangulation, as well as in head-down positional asphyxia. We present two cases of heavily intoxicated individuals who were both, at the time of death, in the position with their trunks bent at the waist over their thighs and their heads down between the legs. They both had severe facial congestion with pronounced hyposphagma. The formation of extensive subconjunctival bleeding or hyposphagma resulted in hemodynamic dysregulation, a consequence of the head-down position, with a decreased venous return of blood to the heart. Since it requires preserved circulation, this finding cannot be considered solely as a mere postmortem phenomenon. Thus, in the presented cases, and especially in other cases where the blood level of psychoactive substances alone may be insufficient to explain the death, positional asphyxia, including the head-down position, could be considered a contributing cause. In such cases, hyposphagma could prove to be a valuable marker of positional asphyxia. © 2022 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Hyposphagma or subconjunctival hemorrhage is extensive confluent bleeding located between the conjunctiva and episclera. It can develop after trauma or the Valsalva maneuver and hemorrhagic diathesis and vascular diseases, hypertension, arteriosclerosis, and diabetes are the predisposing causes. It may also appear as part of the so-called congestion syndrome of the face and neck in crush or mechanical asphyxia and ligature strangulation, as well as in head-down positional asphyxia. We present two cases of heavily intoxicated individuals who were both, at the time of death, in the position with their trunks bent at the waist over their thighs and their heads down between the legs. They both had severe facial congestion with pronounced hyposphagma. The formation of extensive subconjunctival bleeding or hyposphagma resulted in hemodynamic dysregulation, a consequence of the head-down position, with a decreased venous return of blood to the heart. Since it requires preserved circulation, this finding cannot be considered solely as a mere postmortem phenomenon. Thus, in the presented cases, and especially in other cases where the blood level of psychoactive substances alone may be insufficient to explain the death, positional asphyxia, including the head-down position, could be considered a contributing cause. In such cases, hyposphagma could prove to be a valuable marker of positional asphyxia. © 2022 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

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