THE PURPOSE:Of this article is to demonstrate the ambiguity of the concept of a «problem lecture» in a Medical University. This distinction is determined by the varying levels of preparation (knowledge) of the audience. This dictates different formulations of the lecture's objective and a different methodological approach to constructing its content. The presentation is based on the example of the concept of «damage».
The aim of this study was to systematize modern craniological methods for determining sex using the skull and evaluate their diagnostic effectiveness, taking into account the introduction of digital technologies and machine learning methods. Classical morphoscopic approaches (V.N. Zvyagin's method, J. Buikstra and D. Ubelaker's diagram), 3D modeling, computed tomography, and machine learning algorithms were considered. A comprehensive approach combining classical methods with modern technologies, taking into account population characteristics, is recommended.
The length of the wound channel of a stab wound is a morphological feature that can serve as a criterion for assessing the degree of force of a knife strike. A study of 412 stab wounds to the chest and abdomen in 252 homicide cases showed that clothing, bone-cartilaginous structures and the density of internal organs did not affect the depth of immersion of the knife blade in the wound. The wound channel of non-penetrating wounds with a length of less than 6 cm indicates an impact of «moderate» force. The length of the wound channel of penetrating wounds from 6 to 15 cm corresponds to an impact of «middle» force, and over 15 cm corresponds to an impact inflicted with «considerable» force.
Forensic medical examiners have their own competencies and responsibilities. An expert should only answer questions that relate to their area of expertise, such as the presence or absence of a causal relationship between injuries and death. With regard to causality, the task of a forensic medical examiner is seen as explaining the processes occurring in the human body, expressed in the terminology of cause-and-effect relationships. The introduction of a definition of the term «causal relationship» into the criminal legislation of the Russian Federation, as well as the criteria for establishing it, will ensure the unification of law enforcement practice in matters of «diagnosing» causality.
The Department of Forensic Medicine and Law at the First Saint Petersburg State Medical University named after Academician I.P. Pavlov was founded in 1901. Throughout its existence, the department has never interrupted its educational process, including its work during the siege of Leningrad. The history of the department is illustrated by the contributions of its leaders over a period of more than 100 years. The status and prospects of the department's work are briefly outlined.
Acute heat injury is one of the main triggers among exogenous factors affecting human vital functions and survival, especially in a changing climate. Despite this, the processes occurring in the human body during acute overheating remain insufficiently studied. The effects of heat exposure on the heart and lungs have been studied in experimental animals.
The article considers cases of recognition by the court of the Expert Opinion as inadmissible evidence. The reason was the involvement of freelance specialists in civil proceedings by the head of the expert organization in the production of forensic examination without the consent of the court.
Drowning represents one of the most frequent causes of accidental death; however, many submerged remains remain unrecovered or unidentified due to the challenges associated with aquatic decomposition. This process differs substantially from decomposition on land and is influenced by a complex array of factors, including temperature, oxygen availability, depth, and the presence of necrophagous organisms. In aquatic environments, decomposition follows a nonlinear trajectory and can be either slowed - under hypoxic conditions or at low temperatures - or accelerated by the activity of scavenging organisms. In marine ecosystems, key contributors to soft tissue degradation include crustaceans (such as crabs, shrimp, and lobsters), fish, and other invertebrates (e.g., polychaete worms and mollusks). Their activity leads to rapid skeletonization. Subsequently, the remains are colonized by fouling organisms (including barnacles and bivalves) and undergo bioerosion by specialized species such as the bone-devouring worms of the genus Osedax. In freshwater environments, the main participants in the process are leeches, flatworms, insects, and crustaceans. Their sequential succession ensures complete recycling of organic material. The rate of decomposition is highly variable, ranging from several days to several months, complicating the estimation of the postmortem submersion interval. Biological indicators, such as the developmental stage of barnacles, are used to address this challenge.
OBJECTIVE:A detailed cranioscopic and craniometric analysis of a skull with hypertelorism from the collection of the Department of Normal Anatomy at the S.M. Kirov Military Medical Academy. This analysis compared the forensic anthropological analysis with standard parameters and highlighted the role of museum materials in the study of craniofacial anomalies. MATERIAL AND METHODS:The object of the study was the skull of an adult male. Classic craniometric methods were used. Particular attention was paid to interorbital distance measurements and nasal parameters. A cranioscopic visual examination was performed, documenting morphological abnormalities. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The skull was found to belong to a Caucasian male aged 54.5±7.0 years. Characteristic signs of orbital hypertelorism with craniometric values exceeding standard values were identified, confirming the diagnosis of true orbital hypertelorism.
OBJECTIVE:Analysis and comparison of impedance parameters of cadaveric tissues and their dynamics depending on the number of accumulated degree-days. Materials and methods: the experiment was carried out on model objects - pig cadavers (skin flap, cartilage, tendon) under two conditions: standardized (+4 °C, humidity around 40%, condition I) and natural biocenosis (average temperature around +18.5 °C, condition II). The impedance modulus and phase shift angle θ were measured at five frequencies f (100 Hz, 120 Hz, 1 kHz, 10 kHz, 100 kHz) at different times of the postmortem interval; a Keysight U1733 device was used. Various coefficients were calculated for dispersion analysis, and time referencing was carried out by calculating the number of accumulated degree-days. Measurements were also carried out on embalmed anatomical preparations. RESULTS:The study demonstrates that calculating accumulated degree-days allows for the reconciliation and quantitative comparison of changes in the impedance characteristics of cadaveric tissues obtained under various environmental conditions. An important result is that similar values of accumulated degree-days (~300 degree-days) correspond to similar qualitative changes in tissues under standardized and natural conditions, and the θ-lgf trend equations for similar values of accumulated degree-days coincide or are close in coefficients. CONCLUSION:This confirms the predictive value of calculating the number of accumulated degree-days when interpreting impedance measurements to clarify the duration of the postmortem period and the possibility of extrapolating results obtained under certain temperature conditions to other environmental conditions. However, further research is needed to explore the mechanisms of postmortem biophysics, expand the sample size (including human cadavers), examine the influence of entomological and other factors, and validate the methodology for practical use in forensic practice.
The article is devoted to one of the current methodological problems of forensic medicine - the substantiation of the stages of development of domestic forensic medical toxicology, by evaluating the results of research work of the Department of Forensic Medicine of the First Leningrad Medical Institute (I LMI), the First Saint Petersburg State Medical University. Acad. I.P. Pavlov (SPbSMU) over the past 125 years: I stage - from the establishment of the University to the middle of the 20th century, II stage - 60-80s of the 20th century, III stage - the end of the 20th and the beginning of the 21st centuries.
An updated version of the generally accepted forensic classification of motor vehicle injuries is proposed. The general principle of the current classification, based on the relationship between the circumstances, phase, and mechanism (type of traumatic impact) of injury formation, is retained. The proposed classification takes into account the modern design diversity of automobiles and the variety of conditions under which the victim comes into contact with parts of a moving vehicle.
OBJECTIVE:Forensic histological assessment and analysis of pathomorphological changes in internal organs during generalized viral infection in infants in the first year of life. MATERIAL AND METHODS:65 forensic medical examinations performed at the Bureau of Forensic Medical Examination from 2012 to 2024; cytological examination of smears-prints stained according to Pavlovsky's method and histological examination of microspore slides of internal organs stained with hematoxylin and eosin and MSB Zerbino staining technique. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Generalization of the infectious process is an important stage in the course of a viral disease in infants in the first year of life. Generalized viral infection is accompanied by pronounced, deep structural changes in the vascular-stromal and parenchymal components of internal organs, accompanied by severe circulatory disorders in the form of extensive hemorrhages, erythrocyte stasis with sludge phenomenon and clot formation in the microcirculatory bed of internal organs. When conducting forensic medical examinations, a combination of results of the cytological and histological research methods allows us to determine viral lesions of internal organs and to assess the severity and prevalence of pathomorphological changes in internal organs that developed as a result of infectious lesions. The complete forensic histological diagnosis is based on clinical data (if available), results of virological testing and severity of pathomorphological changes that have developed in the internal organs during the generalization of the viral infection.
The article considers historical aspects of conducting medical examinations and medical evidence using forensic medical knowledge in the investigation of crimes related to the sexual inviolability of the individual in the 19th — early 20th centuries. The main criterion for establishing the fact of rape was «deprivation of virginity», i.e. the fact of anatomical rupture of the hymen or damage to the external genitalia and anus. The decisive role in recording this feature was played by the opinions of district and hospital doctors, who acted as experts. Their medical assessment directly determined further proceedings on the case, including sending materials to the courts. Historical reconstruction of the procedure for medical examinations of women and minors in the commission of sexual crimes in Tsarist Russia by district doctors is carried out on the example of the Yekaterinburg district of the Perm province. Based on the results of the work, a conclusion is made about the improvement of the procedure for medical forensic gynecological examinations throughout the 19th-20th centuries in district towns, a gradual transition to a scientific basis using the works of Russian and European scientists.
2026 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Vladimir Ivanovich Alisievich (1926—2013), Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, and Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation. His work in the field of forensic examination of gunshot wounds, as well as his research on the neuroendocrine system in extreme conditions, is well known among Russian and foreign forensic medical experts and remains significant today. These contributions have expanded our understanding of the role of this system in the body’s adaptive responses, pathogenesis, and thanatogenesis, and have played a significant role in solving issues related to the prevention of sudden death from cardiovascular disease. Under the leadership of Vladimir Ivanovich, who for many years headed the Department of Forensic Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine of the Patrice Lumumba Peoples’ Friendship University (currently, the Medical Institute of the RUDN University), the department’s staff achieved significant success in teaching, research, and educational work. This article presents biographical information about Professor V.I. Alisievich, highlighting his research, teaching, and community service.
Objective. To trace the history of the development of the Department of Forensic Medicine and Medical Law of the Russian University of Medicine. Material and methods. The material for the study was the reports of research and educational work for 55 years of the Department of Forensic Medicine and Medical Law of the Russian University of Medicine. Results. The authors traced the creative path of the Department of Forensic Medicine and Medical Law of the Russian University of Medicine from its organization to the present day. Information is given about the scientists who headed the department in different years. Information about achievements and scientific directions is presented. Conclusion. During the existence of the department, one of its significant merits was the significant contribution made by its employees to the development of forensic dentistry issues. The Department of Forensic Medicine and Medical Law of the N.A. Semashko Scientific Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of the Russian University of Medicine of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation is the base for training forensic experts for Moscow and the Moscow region.
This article is a literature review of published scientific works on the history of the development and implementation of digital photography in the work of forensic medical institutions, both worldwide and in Russia, from the late 19th century to the present day. Digital technologies, specifically digital photography, have become an important tool in forensic medicine for the documentation and analysis of various types of evidence. The review examines the stages of the development and evolution of digital photography in a historical context: the advancement of photographic technology and its use in criminalistics and forensic medicine since the late 19th century, the description of image recording methods used previously, and the role of photography in criminal investigations. The article describes the gradual implementation of digital technologies: the transition from analog to digital photography and the widespread use of digital cameras by experts. The advantages of digital cameras over film photography are highlighted. Technological advancements in the improvement of digital cameras and the development of software for image processing are also described, as well as the impact of these changes on the accuracy and reliability of forensic medical expertise results.
In 2024, the Department of Forensic Medicine at the Medical Institute of Patrice Lumumba Russian University of Friendship of Peoples—one of the oldest departments at RUDN—celebrated its 60th anniversary.
The purpose of the work is to draw parallels between lifetime and posthumous studies of the dentoalveolar apparatus during the forensic examination of personal identification. The material obtained during life on the state of the dentoalveolar system, both in aggregate and separately, is valuable for comparative analysis with bone objects of the jaws delivered for medical and forensic examination. The relevance of the study is associated with increasing cases of terrorism, hostilities, mass graves, natural disasters, when conducting a genetic study of cadaveric material presents certain difficulties (burning objects, significant putrefactive changes, insufficient amount of the studied material, etc.). In this regard, an optimized algorithm for the study of the periodontal complex is proposed.
A scientometric analysis of 3166 publications in the journals of the peer-reviewed Higher Attestation Commission on forensic medicine over a 20-year period (2005-2024) was performed using pubmed resources, mediasphera.ru, open sources. A search, sorting, and grouping of articles has been carried out that reflect topical issues of forensic medical assessment of defects (deficiencies) in the provision of medical care with a detailed analysis of publications regarding the inadequate provision of medical care in obstetrics and gynecology.
