The authors present the case of a fatal accident of a 16-year-old skier who crashed into a tree during a downhill skiing lesson at school. Although the skier was wearing a protective helmet at the time of the accident and his condition did not appear to be too serious immediately after the accident, he later died in hospital as a result of a craniocerebral injury with cerebral contusion and intracranial haemorrhage. His life could not be saved even by immediate neurosurgery, during which fragments of the broken protective helmet were removed from his cranial cavity. By analysing the international literature, the authors identify head and brain injuries as the most common immediate cause of death in downhill skiing and provide insights into the possibilities of preventing these injuries by simple technical means on the part of ski area operators. These means are in particular protective covers for lift columns and protective nets placed in front of fixed, non-movable obstacles on the track.

• Klíčová slova
• craniocerebral injuries to skiers, fatal injuries to skiers, prevention of injuries to skiers, use of protective ski helmets,
• MeSH
• fatální výsledek MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• lyžování * zranění   MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• prostředky k ochraně hlavy MeSH
• školy MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• kazuistiky MeSH

Presented case study deals with the sudden death of a 47 years old male, shortly after a mountain bike race after reported nausea and chest pain followed by loss of consciousness and resuscitation. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was unsuccessful. An autopsy was enacted due to the sudden death in a seemingly healthy person. An acute infarction of the anterior cardiac wall on the basis of stenosis of the anterior interventricular branch of the left coronary artery with histopathological findings of eosinophilic coronary periarteritis was assessed. Sudden death during sport activities represents a complex problem which forensic physicians have to face. An external and internal examination of the body is not always sufficient. It is crucial for the forensic physician to have sufficient knowledge and enough information about the circumstances of the death and anamnestic records. Eosinophilic coronary periarteritis occurs rarely, predominantly in males and with uncertain etiology.

• Klíčová slova
• sport deaths, cardiac death, eosinophilic coronary periarteritis,
• MeSH
• cyklistika * MeSH
• infarkt myokardu * etiologie   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• náhlá srdeční smrt * etiologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• kazuistiky MeSH

OBJECTIVES: The brown adipose tissue is distributed only in specific locations of the mammalian body. Evidence has been presented that the brown fat occurs in human foetuses and new-borns. At later stages of life, most brown fat cells disappear and only persist in the perirenal and periaortic adipose tissue. However, detailed data on the occurrence of brown adipose tissue in adult humans differ among existing studies. DESIGN: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of brown adipose tissue in adult Slovak population. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The samples of periadrenal adipose tissue were taken from 379 consecutive autopsies of subjects aged between 26 and 94 years, fixed in formalin, processed by routine methods and stained with hematoxylin-eosin. The sections were examined by light microscopy. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Brown adipose tissue cells were found in 240 (63%) cases. The prevalence of brown adipose tissue decreases below the age of 50 and later slightly increases. No significant differences in the prevalence of brown adipose tissue between men and women were found. With the exception of Germany, this study is currently the first extensive morphological autopsy study of brown adipose tissue prevalence in adults in Central and Eastern Europe.

• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Investigation of fatal cases of falls from height as well as jumps from height in suicidal ideation makes up an integral part of forensic practice. In Slovakia, a method of suicide by jumping from height is after hanging the second most chosen method of ending life. In about one third of the cases, the influence of addictive substances is determined. The basic mechanism of injury is a sudden deceleration of body movement when hitting a solid surface. Several factors influence the nature, localization, severity, and frequency of injuries. In most cases, there occur multiple injuries to the skeleton and internal organs caused by blunt objects. The authors demonstrate the case of an unusual mechanism of injury in a 55-year-old man who committed suicide by jumping from the seventh floor of a block of flats. A stepped fall from height resulted in the through knee amputation of both legs by hitting posterior thigh area and knee joints on the railing of the terrace of the block of flats on the ground floor level. The body was found in the basement. In contact with the railing, the mans trousers and pants were pulled off. The autopsy determined the immediate cause of death as polytrauma. Additional toxicological-chemical examination of blood and urine samples collected at autopsy revealed ethanol at the concentration within the extent of laboratory error, caffeine, and nicotine in toxicologically insignificant concentrations and traces of acetone. Motivation of mans suicide remains unknown.

• Klíčová slova
• amputation, autopsy, fall/jump from height, mechanism of injury, suicide,
• MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• pitva MeSH
• polytrauma * MeSH
• sebevražda * MeSH
• traumatická amputace MeSH
• úrazy pádem MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• kazuistiky MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Slovenská republika MeSH

The aim of the study is to analyse causes of fatal cases of falls from height focusing on the occurrence of addictive substances. The authors performed a retrospective analysis of cases dealing with falls/jumps autopsied at the Institutes of Forensic Medicine in Bratislava in the years 2005-2014 accounting for a catchment area with approximately 1.2 m population. Selection criteria were met in 360 cases, i.e. approximately 4 % of all cases autopsied. There were 68 % of men and 32 % of women involved. The age interval ranged from 10 up to 93 years (mean age 50 years). Addictive substances were found in a total of 32 % of cases, ethanol alone in 22 % of cases. The cases were divided into groups according to the cause as follows: accidental falls (24%) also involving occupational accidents (11 %), jumps in suicidal ideation (63 %) and cases with the unspecified cause of falling (13 %). Most of the cases with detected addictive substances were in the group of suicidal jumps (35 %). In this group, 32 % of patients were treated for psychiatric disorders. The most common diagnosis was a depressive disorder and schizophrenia. In the group of occupational accidents, ethanol was found in 25 % of cases. The results of the study show that it is essential to pay more attention to psychiatric patients as not even regular psychiatric care and treatment can always prevent suicide. Accordingly, there is a need to strictly monitor the ban on alcohol consumption at work and the observance of safety regulations for working at heights, and thus to minimise the occurrence of falls with fatal outcomes.

• Klíčová slova
• fall/jump from height - addictive substances - ethanol - autopsy - toxicological analysis.,
• MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• pitva MeSH
• poruchy spojené s užíváním psychoaktivních látek * MeSH
• retrospektivní studie MeSH
• sebevražda * MeSH
• úrazy pádem * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Carbon monoxide poisonings are the most frequent among fatal gas and volatile substances intoxications. The authors present diagnostic options of fatal carbon monoxide poisoning by parallel blood investigations for the content of karbonylhaemoglobin and determining of the concentration of carbon monoxide in the alveolar air. The analysis of 160 cases of lethal poisonings with carbon monoxide over a period of 20 years was carried out. The cases were divided into subgroups according to the place of death to poisonings in flats, garages, bathrooms, in fires, road traffic accidents and mining accidents. Tabular cases were divided into poisonings with a dominant share of carbon monoxide; the lethal concentration (0.075 % volume percentage or more) in the alveolar air was found in 75 % of cases. By pairs of victims different concentrations of carbon monoxide in the alveolar air were found. It confirms the fact that the course of intoxication and time of death also depends on the state of health of an individual. In 25 % of cases composite action with other toxic substances and factors (cyanide ions, ethanol, carbon dioxide, smoke inhalation solids, burns etc.) was detected. The obtained results point to an important and irreplaceable role of the toxicological - chemical analysis of the alveolar air in the context of additional laboratory investigations at autopsy in the diagnosis of fatal carbon monoxide poisoning. Investigation of the alveolar air should be the standard methodological procedure in the diagnosis of fatal poisonings by gases and volatile substances.

• Klíčová slova
• carbon monoxide intoxication - evidence of carbon monoxide in the alveolar air - blood investigation for karbonylhaemoglobin - autopsy - toxicological analysis.,
• MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• otrava oxidem uhelnatým * krev   diagnóza   MeSH
• oxid uhelnatý MeSH
• pitva MeSH
• plicní alveoly MeSH
• popálení inhalací kouře * MeSH
• požáry * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• oxid uhelnatý MeSH

The authors present a case of a complex suicide of a 60-year-old woman found dead on her bed. A blank pistol Umarex caliber 9-mm, several blank cartridges and a lot of drug packages were discovered near the body. The woman suffered from a psychiatric depression. There were three gunshot wounds on the body: in the right temporal region, on the palatum of the mouth and on the left chest wall. The gunshot wounds in the right temporal region and in the mouth had central circle defects with the margins of stellate or star-like appearance and blackening. In the right temporal region the temporal muscle was contused but skull and intracranial tissues were without any injury. On the palatum of the mouth there was neither facial skeleton nor skull injury. The numerous small tears of lips and contusions of buccal mucosa were observed. On the left chest wall there was an abrasion with a bruise on the skin and contusion of thoracic muscles. Neither ribs nor intrathoracic organs were inflicted. At autopsy blood in the amount of 600 ml and a few tablets were found in the stomach as well as an insignificant blood aspiration into lungs. In spite of the fact that all the gunshot wounds were caused by shots fired at contact range they were not lethal. The woman died of lethal intoxication with tramadol and dibenzepin. Although this report differs from the ones published in literature, the authors believe that can contribute to the issue of gunshot wounds caused by gas weapons.

• Klíčová slova
• firearm injury - expansive gas weapon - blank cartridge - intoxication - suicide.,
• MeSH
• kůže MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• polytrauma * MeSH
• předávkování léky * MeSH
• sebevražda * MeSH
• střelné rány * MeSH
• střelné zbraně MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• kazuistiky MeSH

Exhaled air from biological materials is used for the purpose of toxicologico-chemical analysis particularly in detecting of alcohol influence in traffic or within a working process. Similarly, still a more and more actual requirement seems to be a necessity to analyse alveolar air from necroptic material. This necessity is emphasised not only by the fact, that inhalant intoxications in the form of poisoning represent their substantial part, but also a demand to evidence exactly a noxious agent both specifically and also in at least two materials. And particularly this is sometimes a subject to search for evidence in alveolar air. The authors present their authors certificates for Isolation of alveolar air from autopsy material, issued by the Office for Patents and Inventions in Prague, verified in practice, both by destruction of lung tissue, both the evacuation of alveolar air into a defined volume, hermetically closed space that is used for the toxicological analysis of gaseous and volatile xenobiotics. They propose experimentally verified procedures and conditions obtained by time-consuming examination. To isolation procedures were subjected an adequate number of lung lobes from lungs removed in 201 autopsy cases. The authors practically tested the presupposed amount of alveolar air in individuals according to gender and age. Gradually they have validated various prototypes and optimization methods and their application in solving particular inhaled lethal intoxications and deaths in the irrespirable environment.

• Klíčová slova
• autopsy material - alveolar air - the evacuation of the alveolar air - lung destruction - toxicological analysis.,
• MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• pitva * MeSH
• plicní alveoly chemie   patologie   MeSH
• soudní patologie metody   MeSH
• vzduch analýza   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

The authors of the paper give a brief historical overview of the development of experimental alcohology in the former Czechoslovakia. Enhanced attention is paid to tests of work quality control of toxicological laboratories. Information on results of control tests of blood samples using the method of gas chromatography in Slovakia and within a world-wide study "Eurotox 1990" is presented. There are pointed out the pitfalls related to objective evaluation of the analysis results interpreting alcohol concentration in biological materials and the associated need to eliminate a negative influence of the human factor. The authors recommend performing analyses of alcohol in biological materials only at accredited workplaces and in the case of samples storage to secure a mandatory inhibition of phosphorylation process. There are analysed the reasons of numerical differences of analyses while taking evidence of alcohol in blood and in exhaled air. The authors confirm analysis accuracy using the method of gas chromatography along with breath analysers of exhaled air. They highlight the need for making the analysis results more objective also through confrontation with the results of clinical examination and with examined circumstances. The authors suggest a method of elimination of the human factor, the most frequently responsible for inaccuracy, to a tolerable level (safety factor) and the need of sample analysis by two methods independent of each other or the need of analysis of two biological materials.

• Klíčová slova
• experimental alcohology - gas chromatography - analysis of exhaled air - quality control - human factor - breath analyser.,
• MeSH
• chromatografie plynová MeSH
• dechové testy metody   MeSH
• dějiny 20. století MeSH
• ethanol analýza   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• soudní lékařství dějiny   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dějiny 20. století MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• anglický abstrakt MeSH
• dopisy MeSH
• historické články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Československo MeSH
• Názvy látek
• ethanol MeSH

In the work we analyze three cases of unusual dyadic deaths when the perpetrator of homicide committed suicide shortly after the murder. In the first case a man stabbed his girlfriend with a knife and subsequently committed a car crash suicide. In the second case an apparent simultaneous hanging of a married couple turned out to be homicide-suicide act. In the last case a man shot his ex-wife while she was on a walk with their dog and in a short time turned the gun against himself.

• Klíčová slova
• dyadic death - homicide - suicide.,
• MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• sebevražda * MeSH
• soudní lékařství metody   MeSH
• vražda * MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• kazuistiky MeSH