INMLCF - Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal e Ciências Forenses, IP
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O Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal e Ciências Forenses, I. P., é um instituto público tutelado pelo Ministério da Justiça, tem a natureza de Laboratório do Estado e é considerado instituição nacional de referência na área da medicina legal e ciências forenses. Com sede em Coimbra, dispõe de 3 Delegações (Porto, Coimbra e Lisboa) e uma rede de gabinetes médico-legais e forenses com cobertura no território nacional.
O INMLCF tem como missão assegurar as perícias médico-legais e forenses, a coordenação científica da atividade na área da medicina legal e ciências forenses, promover a formação e investigação, superintender e orientar a atividade dos serviços médico-legais.
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Browsing INMLCF - Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal e Ciências Forenses, IP by Field of Science and Technology (FOS) "Ciências Médicas"
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- Drug related deaths (DRD) in Portugal update from the toxicological examinations) and liaison and interactions with hospitalsPublication . Castañera, Antonio; Simões, Susana
- Fatal poisoning by Hemlock water dropwort roots (Oenanthe Crocata )Publication . Costa, Suzel; Franco, João; Barroso, Mário; Carvalho, S.; Fonseca, SuzanaIntrodution : This report describes the history and investigation of a suspected plant poisoning event in Portugal, involving the death of two adult males, who have mistakenly ingested Hemlock water dropwort roots Oenanthe crocata during a 36 h resistance path in May 2017 in Santarém Portugal Six hours after beginning the path, they have called to emergency services for assistance because they suddenly become unwell reporting plants ingestion and describing that they felt nauseated, vomits, seizures and disorientation Both were found dead a few hours later in a rural area In their backpacks, in addition to food supplies, they had fennel and spearmint that were probably picked up on the route Further investigations by police authorities found that during that morning they shared several photos in social media, including screenshots of wild parsnips Pastinaca sativa.
- Forensic Microbiology: challenges in detecting sexually transmitted InfectionsPublication . Eira, Ana; Fadoni, Jennifer; Amorim, António; Cainé, LauraSexual assault crimes consist of acts committed without consent and represent a major global issue with serious implications for victims. These acts have both short- and long-term consequences on the physical, mental, and sexual health of victims, with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) being one of the direct outcomes of such crimes. Sexually transmitted infections constitute a serious global public health problem and can lead to severe consequences. These infections may be caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites and are transmitted through sexual contact. Some of the most common STIs among the general population and victims of sexual crimes include gonorrhoea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, and syphilis. In most carriers, these infections are asymptomatic, making their detection particularly challenging. Considering the importance of further research in this field, the primary objectives of this study are to review the existing literature on the incidence of major STIs in victims of sexual crimes, to identify the various risk factors associated with these infections, and to explore their public health implications. Additionally, this study aims to assess different STI detection techniques, analyzing their advantages and disadvantages. Studies on this topic are crucial for better understanding the role of sexually transmitted infections in the context of sexual crimes. However, throughout this work, it was verified that point-of-care methods are a good option to allow the diagnosis to be faster and more accurate, when compared to other methods of detecting sexually transmitted infections.
- Interactions between tramadol and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors anti depressants in post mortem casesPublication . Fonseca, Suzana; Franco, JoãoBackground & Objectives Tramadol is very often prescribed for pain management in patients with depression in treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). Serotonergic antidepressants and its concomitant use with tramadol can lead to a drug–drug interaction, resulting in a decrease in the tramadol analgesic effect and a higher risk of serotonin syndrome caused by the accumulation of serotonin in the central nervous system. These interactions can also change the post-mortem concentrations of the therapeutic drugs and its metabolites, increasing the difficulty in the interpretation of forensic toxicology results, mainly when the concentrations are higher than the therapeutic level. The aim of this study was to review a five-year period of post-mortem cases, in order to examine the prevalence of concomitant use of tramadol and SSRI and the influence in the concentrations found.
- Intraventricular brain tumor: report of three casesPublication . Costa, Margarida; Henriques de Gouveia, Rosa; Simoes da Silva, BeatrizIntroduction: Colloid cysts are considered congenital non invasive benign lesions, enlarging very slowly. They account for less than 1% of symptomatic brain tumors, being the most common tumor of the 3rd ventricle (...)
- Munchausen by Proxy with Haloperidol: A case reportPublication . Fonseca, Suzana; Dias, MárioIntroduction: An 8-year-old male child with extrapyramidal symptoms was admitted at 3 pm at the Urgency of Pediatric Hospital. Extrapyramidal syndrome (EPS), sometimes referred to as neuroleptic malignant syndrome, is a neurological side effect of antipsychotic medication characterized by a set of symptoms, that include: hyperpyrexia (an early sign of this syndrome), generalized muscle rigidity, tremors, hypersalivation, altered mental status (including catatonic signs), and evidence of autonomic dysfunction (irregular pulse or blood pressure. This child had previous Hospital admissions with similar symptoms and the possibility of a Munchausen by Proxy Syndrome (MBPS) was considered for evaluation. This syndrome is a form of child abuse in which the carer (usually the mother) simulates, manipulates or produces symptoms of illness in the victim. In most cases the detrimental effect is caused by applying foreign substances, sometimes difficult to detect in the clinical laboratories. Serum and urine samples were collected and a toxicological screening in urine was performed at the hospital by immunoassay revealing positive results for barbiturates and amphetamines. A second urine sample, collected 2 hours later, tested negative to all groups screened. The analytical results didn´t matched with clinical disturbances of the patient and further diagnosis procedures yielded no pathological findings. The serum and urine samples were sent to the Department of Chemistry and Forensic Toxicology of National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences (INMLCF) for an extensive screening for drugs and medicines.
- A silent death sentence. Traumatic vertebral artery dissectionPublication . Simón, A.; Vieira, Duarte Nuno; Simoes da Silva, BeatrizAlthough some traumatic injuries are not noticeable at the time they are produced and cause little or no symptoms, they should not be considered harmless. In fact, some of them can lead to a mortal outcome, if not perceived and treated promptly. This is the case of vertebral artery dissection. Vertebral artery dissection can occur after relatively minor head and neck injuries and precipitating events, mainly associated with minor indirect mechanisms causing hyperextension or sudden rotation of the neck such as motor vehicle accidents. It occurs in association with cervical spine fractures in almost 70% of the cases. Cerebellum and brainstem infarcts are typical findings that arouse neurological symptoms. These symptoms can be delayed in time, (...)
- Sudden death, motor vehicle accident, cerebellar tumourPublication . Simoes da Silva, Beatriz; Marques, C.; Coelho, S.; Ribeiro, O.; Vieira, Duarte NunoINTRODUCTION Portuguese forensic law determines that all the mortal victims of traffic accidents must be subjected to a forensic autopsy. In this particular case, a traffic accident with minor injury lead to unbalance a previous tumoral pathology with an unusual location (...)
- Toxicological analysis of cocaine adulterants in blood samplesPublication . Gameiro, Rui; Costa, Suzel; Barroso, Mário; Franco, João; Fonseca, SuzanaBackground & Objectives According to the European Drug Report of 2017, cocaine was the second most widely used drug in 2016, with 3.5 million consumers between 15 and 64 years old. This pattern of consumption also occurs in Portugal (2012). Adulterants are pharmacologically active substances developed for medical purposes (analgesics, local anesthetics, antihistamines, anthelmintics and others). However, there is little knowledge about their influence in the human body when there is concomitant use with cocaine, such as an increase of cocaine toxicity even in non-toxic concentrations. The objective of this work was to validate a method that allows the identification, confirmation and quantification of cocaine adulterants in blood samples collected in vivo or post-mortem. The studied substances (atropine, phenacetin, hydroxyzine, ketamine, lidocaine and tetramisole) were selected taking into account the literature review, the analytical standards and the technical conditions. It is also intended to make a retrospective study of the prevalence of these substances in cases with a positive result for cocaine or its metabolites, as well as their relative concentrations.
- Y-STR Databases-Application in Sexual Crimes.Publication . Costa, Rita; Fadoni, Jennifer; Amorim, António; Cainé, LauraBackground/objectives: The Y chromosome is a crucial tool in forensic genetics due to its unique characteristics, such as its haploid inheritance and lack of recombination. Y-STRs (short tandem repeats on the Y chromosome) are widely used for identifying male genetic profiles in DNA mixtures, especially in sexual assault cases where high levels of female DNA hinder autosomal analysis. This study evaluates the applicability of Y-STRs in forensic investigations, addressing their limitations and the impact of advanced technologies, such as rapidly mutating Y-STRs (RM Y-STRs). Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted to analyze existing knowledge on the application of Y-STRs in sexual crimes. The study also examines the role of population databases, such as YHRD, in estimating haplotype frequencies and enhancing forensic reliability. Results: Y-STR analysis proves essential for male DNA identification in complex mixtures, with RM Y-STRs enhancing discriminatory power. However, limitations persist, particularly in cases involving closely related male lineages. The population database coverage remains insufficient in regions like Cape Verde, affecting forensic reliability. Case studies demonstrate Y-STR effectiveness in solving cold cases and sexual crimes, reinforcing the need for expanded databases and methodological advancements. Conclusions: Y-STRs play a fundamental role in forensic genetics, particularly in sexual assault investigations. Their integration with advanced sequencing technologies and expanded databases is critical for improving forensic accuracy. Ethical considerations regarding genetic data privacy and potential discrimination must be addressed through clear regulations and forensic best practices.