Sperm detection can be an important factor in confirming sexual assault in cases of rape. A large... more Sperm detection can be an important factor in confirming sexual assault in cases of rape. A large number of cases received in a forensic laboratory involve sexual offenses, making it necessary to examine exhibits for the presence of seminal stains. The objective of this paper is to provide an overview of the most important methods and tests used in the identification of spermatozoa or constituents of seminal fluid during the investigation of alleged sexual assault cases in forensic medical practice. Furthermore, this paper focusses on the basic knowledge that is necessary to the graduate students who wish to specialize in forensic sciences.
A large number of plants, seeds, and berries have been used for medicinal, psychotropic, or aphro... more A large number of plants, seeds, and berries have been used for medicinal, psychotropic, or aphrodisiac purposes for a thousand years. Mandragora officinarum belongs to the family of Solanaceae and is traditionally known as an aphrodisiac and is closely associated with witchcraft. In this study we report a case of an accidental poisoning after ingestion of some "aphrodisiac" berries and the contribution of the toxicological analysis in the case investigation. A 35-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with clinical signs and symptoms of an anticholinergic syndrome. The diagnosis of the poisoning was made by the toxicological analysis of the patient's urine. The cause of the poisoning was revealed by his girlfriend's disclosure that the patient had intentionally consumed some "aphrodisiac" berries to enhance his sexual performance. Subsequently, berries similar to the ones consumed were sent to the laboratory. The analysis of the urine and the berries revealed the presence of hyoscyamine and scopolamine; the berries were identified as Mandragora officinarum berries. Decontamination and symptomatic treatment were proven effective for the control of this poisoning. The patient recovered completely after hospitalization for 4 days. This case report indicates the importance of analytical toxicology in diagnosis of intoxications after the consumption of unknown plants or plant products and presents the clinical aspects of Mandragora intoxication.
The Museum of Criminology is located within the premises of the Department of Forensic Medicine a... more The Museum of Criminology is located within the premises of the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology of the Medical School of Athens University. This museum provides a concise picture of the criminal actions committed during the late 19 and the early 20 century in Greece. Its collections consist of items that testify specific violent activities that took place in the provinces of Athens, in the countryside of Greece, as well as in various prisons and often determine the perpetrators’ personality,
Introduction: The close association of dogs with humans may explain the fact that dog bites are p... more Introduction: The close association of dogs with humans may explain the fact that dog bites are possibly the most common animal bites recorded. The relevant data concerning Greece is scarce. We aimed to study this phenomenon by describing its characteristics. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of cases concerning dog attack victims, examined our Department, between 2011 and 2019. Recorded variables included sex, age, nationality, occupation, marital status, medical history, ownership status of the dog, injury anatomic location, incident time, the timing of clinical forensic examination, incapacitation time, and medical care provided. Statistical analysis was performed using Stata/MP 13 (Stata Corp., College Station, TX) and IBM SPSS Statistics Version 20 (IBM, Armonk, NY). Statistical significance was defined as a two-sided p value of <0.05. Results: Most incidents involved male victims (54.2%). The victim’s mean age was 44.9 years. The dog involved was unowned in 19.8% of cases. The most frequent anatomical site of injury was the legs (48.1%). Older victims suffered injuries in more sensitive areas of the body (head and neck), when compared to younger adults. Only 1.9% of victims required hospitalization. The mean incapacitation time was estimated at 5.39 days. Conclusions: Per our results, males tend more often to be victims of dog attacks. Typically, victims are of increased age and are attacked by a dog already known to them. Most incidents take place during late winter and spring, more specifically during February and during May. The most frequently affected anatomical sites were the legs. Older people suffered injuries in more sensitive areas of the body.
Introduction. Ground-level falls have emerged as one of the major causes of unintentional fatal i... more Introduction. Ground-level falls have emerged as one of the major causes of unintentional fatal injury in several developed countries. As older age is accompanied by deterioration on various systems and abilities of the human body, the elderly are known to be particularly vulnerable to fatal ground-level falls. Methods. Forty-three cases of fatal accidental ground-level falls, which occurred in the region of East Attica, were assigned to our Department during the years 2011-2015. Epidemiological data of the victims, the circumstances of the falls and the type/characteristics of the injuries were recorded. Results. Forty-three cases of fatal ground-level falls involving 24 male victims (55.8%) and 19 female victims (44.2%). Their ages ranged between 45 and 96 years old with the vast majority (38 cases-88.4%) of the victims being >65 years old. Almost half of the fatal ground-level fall cases (21 cases) took place inside or near the victims' residence, 11 occurred in public places, 1 in another residence, 1 in the victim's workplace and in 6 cases the place of the fall was unknown. Twenty-two of the fallers (57.9%) died within the first 24h after the fall while the rest died 2-45 days post-injury. Fatal injuries involved mainly the head with (14 cases) or without (15 cases) cranial bone fracture. In some cases, head trauma was accompanied with severe neck (3 cases), thoracolumbar spine (1 case) or pelvic (1 case) trauma. Notably, 5 people died due to post-traumatic complications during their hospitalization. Conclusion. Elderly people seem to be prone to fatal accidental ground-level falls occurring mostly inside their residence or in the surroundings. Head and neck are highlighted as the main body regions seriously injured after a ground-level fall.
Antihistamines are used widely in clinical practice to alleviate symptoms associated with allergi... more Antihistamines are used widely in clinical practice to alleviate symptoms associated with allergic reactions, or to treat insomnia and motion sickness.
In wound ballistics research there is a relationship between the data that characterize a bullet ... more In wound ballistics research there is a relationship between the data that characterize a bullet and the injury resulted after shooting when it perforates the human body. The bullet path in the human body following skin perforation as well as the damaging effect cannot always be predictable as they depend on various factors such as the bullet's characteristics (velocity, distance, type of firearm and so on) and the tissue types that the bullet passes through. The purpose of this presentation is to highlight the contribution of Computed Tomography (CT) in wound ballistics research. Using CT technology and studying virtual "slices" of specific areas on scanned human bodies, allows the evaluation of density and thickness of the skin, the subcutaneous tissue, the muscles, the vital organs and the bones. Density data taken from Hounsfield units can be converted in g/ml by using the appropriate software. By evaluating the results of this study, the anatomy of the human body utilizing ballistic gel will be reproduced in order to simulate the path that a bullet follows. The biophysical analysis in wound ballistics provides another application of CT technology, which is commonly used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in various medical disciplines.
Sperm detection can be an important factor in confirming sexual assault in cases of rape. A large... more Sperm detection can be an important factor in confirming sexual assault in cases of rape. A large number of cases received in a forensic laboratory involve sexual offenses, making it necessary to examine exhibits for the presence of seminal stains. The objective of this paper is to provide an overview of the most important methods and tests used in the identification of spermatozoa or constituents of seminal fluid during the investigation of alleged sexual assault cases in forensic medical practice. Furthermore, this paper focusses on the basic knowledge that is necessary to the graduate students who wish to specialize in forensic sciences.
A large number of plants, seeds, and berries have been used for medicinal, psychotropic, or aphro... more A large number of plants, seeds, and berries have been used for medicinal, psychotropic, or aphrodisiac purposes for a thousand years. Mandragora officinarum belongs to the family of Solanaceae and is traditionally known as an aphrodisiac and is closely associated with witchcraft. In this study we report a case of an accidental poisoning after ingestion of some "aphrodisiac" berries and the contribution of the toxicological analysis in the case investigation. A 35-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with clinical signs and symptoms of an anticholinergic syndrome. The diagnosis of the poisoning was made by the toxicological analysis of the patient's urine. The cause of the poisoning was revealed by his girlfriend's disclosure that the patient had intentionally consumed some "aphrodisiac" berries to enhance his sexual performance. Subsequently, berries similar to the ones consumed were sent to the laboratory. The analysis of the urine and the berries revealed the presence of hyoscyamine and scopolamine; the berries were identified as Mandragora officinarum berries. Decontamination and symptomatic treatment were proven effective for the control of this poisoning. The patient recovered completely after hospitalization for 4 days. This case report indicates the importance of analytical toxicology in diagnosis of intoxications after the consumption of unknown plants or plant products and presents the clinical aspects of Mandragora intoxication.
The Museum of Criminology is located within the premises of the Department of Forensic Medicine a... more The Museum of Criminology is located within the premises of the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology of the Medical School of Athens University. This museum provides a concise picture of the criminal actions committed during the late 19 and the early 20 century in Greece. Its collections consist of items that testify specific violent activities that took place in the provinces of Athens, in the countryside of Greece, as well as in various prisons and often determine the perpetrators’ personality,
Introduction: The close association of dogs with humans may explain the fact that dog bites are p... more Introduction: The close association of dogs with humans may explain the fact that dog bites are possibly the most common animal bites recorded. The relevant data concerning Greece is scarce. We aimed to study this phenomenon by describing its characteristics. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of cases concerning dog attack victims, examined our Department, between 2011 and 2019. Recorded variables included sex, age, nationality, occupation, marital status, medical history, ownership status of the dog, injury anatomic location, incident time, the timing of clinical forensic examination, incapacitation time, and medical care provided. Statistical analysis was performed using Stata/MP 13 (Stata Corp., College Station, TX) and IBM SPSS Statistics Version 20 (IBM, Armonk, NY). Statistical significance was defined as a two-sided p value of <0.05. Results: Most incidents involved male victims (54.2%). The victim’s mean age was 44.9 years. The dog involved was unowned in 19.8% of cases. The most frequent anatomical site of injury was the legs (48.1%). Older victims suffered injuries in more sensitive areas of the body (head and neck), when compared to younger adults. Only 1.9% of victims required hospitalization. The mean incapacitation time was estimated at 5.39 days. Conclusions: Per our results, males tend more often to be victims of dog attacks. Typically, victims are of increased age and are attacked by a dog already known to them. Most incidents take place during late winter and spring, more specifically during February and during May. The most frequently affected anatomical sites were the legs. Older people suffered injuries in more sensitive areas of the body.
Introduction. Ground-level falls have emerged as one of the major causes of unintentional fatal i... more Introduction. Ground-level falls have emerged as one of the major causes of unintentional fatal injury in several developed countries. As older age is accompanied by deterioration on various systems and abilities of the human body, the elderly are known to be particularly vulnerable to fatal ground-level falls. Methods. Forty-three cases of fatal accidental ground-level falls, which occurred in the region of East Attica, were assigned to our Department during the years 2011-2015. Epidemiological data of the victims, the circumstances of the falls and the type/characteristics of the injuries were recorded. Results. Forty-three cases of fatal ground-level falls involving 24 male victims (55.8%) and 19 female victims (44.2%). Their ages ranged between 45 and 96 years old with the vast majority (38 cases-88.4%) of the victims being >65 years old. Almost half of the fatal ground-level fall cases (21 cases) took place inside or near the victims' residence, 11 occurred in public places, 1 in another residence, 1 in the victim's workplace and in 6 cases the place of the fall was unknown. Twenty-two of the fallers (57.9%) died within the first 24h after the fall while the rest died 2-45 days post-injury. Fatal injuries involved mainly the head with (14 cases) or without (15 cases) cranial bone fracture. In some cases, head trauma was accompanied with severe neck (3 cases), thoracolumbar spine (1 case) or pelvic (1 case) trauma. Notably, 5 people died due to post-traumatic complications during their hospitalization. Conclusion. Elderly people seem to be prone to fatal accidental ground-level falls occurring mostly inside their residence or in the surroundings. Head and neck are highlighted as the main body regions seriously injured after a ground-level fall.
Antihistamines are used widely in clinical practice to alleviate symptoms associated with allergi... more Antihistamines are used widely in clinical practice to alleviate symptoms associated with allergic reactions, or to treat insomnia and motion sickness.
In wound ballistics research there is a relationship between the data that characterize a bullet ... more In wound ballistics research there is a relationship between the data that characterize a bullet and the injury resulted after shooting when it perforates the human body. The bullet path in the human body following skin perforation as well as the damaging effect cannot always be predictable as they depend on various factors such as the bullet's characteristics (velocity, distance, type of firearm and so on) and the tissue types that the bullet passes through. The purpose of this presentation is to highlight the contribution of Computed Tomography (CT) in wound ballistics research. Using CT technology and studying virtual "slices" of specific areas on scanned human bodies, allows the evaluation of density and thickness of the skin, the subcutaneous tissue, the muscles, the vital organs and the bones. Density data taken from Hounsfield units can be converted in g/ml by using the appropriate software. By evaluating the results of this study, the anatomy of the human body utilizing ballistic gel will be reproduced in order to simulate the path that a bullet follows. The biophysical analysis in wound ballistics provides another application of CT technology, which is commonly used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in various medical disciplines.
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Papers by Chara Spiliopoulou