Vol.19 Issue No.2 (2023): Journal of Indian Society of Toxicology https://jistox.in/issue/38 <p>&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><strong><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif; color: black;">Embracing artificial intelligence in toxicology and forensic science:</span></strong></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><strong style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">A paradigm shift towards enhanced efficiency and precision</span></strong><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px; padding-left: 320px;" align="center">Pramod G. Bagali</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px; padding-left: 160px;" align="center">Chief Medical Officer &amp; CEO &ndash; Witty Charman Group of Companies</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="padding-left: 200px;" align="center"><strong style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">In the modern landscape of Forensic Medicine, Science &amp;Toxicology, the utility of artificial intelligence (AI) will become a transformative force, promising extraordinary advancements in efficiency, accuracy, and decision-making processes. As we navigate the complexities of an constantly evolving technological era, it becomes imperative for us (professionals in these fields) to embrace AI-driven tools to address the multifaceted challenges we face.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">The traditional methods of toxicological analysis and forensic investigations have long relied on manual methods, subjective interpretations &amp; time-consuming procedures. With the advent of AI, we have a remarkable opportunity to modernize these practices. AI tools have proven capabilities in analysing vast datasets, finding patterns &amp; extracting meaningful insights with great speed and precision.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">One of the most notable advantages of AI adoption in toxicology and forensic science is its potential to significantly enhance the&nbsp; efficiency of data analysis and interpretation. By harnessing their power researchers and forensic experts can streamline the process of identifying toxins, analysing forensic evidence and reconstructing crime scenes. They can sift through immense volumes of data from diverse sources, ranging from chemical databases to genetic profiles, enabling researchers to uncover hidden correlations and make informed decisions with greater confidence.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">AI technologies have the ability to mitigate&nbsp;human biases and errors that may arise during the analysis and interpretation of toxicological and forensic data. Unlike human analysts, AI systems can run consistently without being influenced by subjective factors such as fatigue, cognitive biases or external pressures. This impartiality ensures the integrity of the analysis and fosters greater trust and reliability in the outcomes produced.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Nevertheless, the integration of AI in toxicology and forensic science is not without its challenges and ethical considerations. As we embrace these advanced technologies, it is paramount to address concerns about data privacy, algorithmic transparency &amp; the potential impact on human ability and employment. Additionally, efforts must be made to ensure that AI-driven solutions are accessible, inclusive, and fair for all stakeholders, regardless of their technological ability or resources.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">In conclusion, by embracing AI, forensic experts can overcome existing limitations, accelerate discoveries, and ultimately contribute to the advancement of public health and safety. However, to fully harness the potential of AI, it is essential for stakeholders to collaborate, innovate responsibly, and uphold the highest standards of ethics and integrity in their practices.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Through collective efforts and a commitment to using innovative technologies, we can usher in a new era of toxicological and forensic science, where AI serves as a powerful ally in our quest for truth, justice, and human well-being.</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> en https://jistox.in/public/uploads/issues/38/2024-06-03-19-05-02-1663158738665dc686964b94.18119485.png 2023-07-07 RELICUS 1.0.0 A case of drug facilitated sexual assault in a child – approach and challenges https://jistox.in/paper/427 <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Drug-facilitated chronic sexual assault on children presents&nbsp;significant&nbsp;challenges for medico-legal practitioners, the police, and all other stakeholders in the criminal justice system. The objective of this case report is to illustrate the&nbsp;difficulties encountered in cases of drug-facilitated child assault. In this particular case, a 12-year-old girl tragically lost her life after being sexually assaulted multiple times following the administration of a drink laced with drugs. We highlight the challenges faced in determining the cause of death in this case owing to negative toxicological findings. To be an expert in opining on matters of child abuse, thorough training in the fields of paediatric and adult gynaecology is necessary for forensic medicine practitioners. There is also a strong need to create awareness among the health fraternity about the need to be vigilant about child abuse and follow an initiative-taking approach in reporting the incidents of such abuse. By fostering professional discourse and knowledge exchange, we&nbsp;</span>can enhance the quality of our work and ensure successful prosecution in cases of child sexual abuse.</p> R. Sudha* B. Anuhya** Nishanth V.S.** M. Niharika** Kattamreddy Ananth Rupesh*** Vignesh Natarajan**** Expert testimony, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Drug facilitated rape, Cerebrovascular accident. A five years study on poisoning cases brought for medico-legal autopsy in a tertiary care centre of northeast of India https://jistox.in/paper/428 <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><strong><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Aims and Objectives:</span></strong><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> The present study aims to investigate the prevalence, patterns and trends of poisoning cases brought for medico-legal autopsy in a tertiary care centre in Northeast India over a five-year period.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><strong><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Materials and Methods:</span></strong><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> This is a retrospective hospital record-based study. The study population includes all cases of suspected poisoning brought for medico-legal autopsy to the Department of Forensic Medicine &amp; Toxicology, Assam Medical College &amp; Hospital, Dibrugarh, Assam, India during the study period from 1st January 2016 to 31st December 2020.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><strong><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Results:</span></strong><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> A total of 355 positive cases of deaths due to poisoning were studied during the study period of 5 years from 1st January 2016 to 31st December 2020. In the present study, Organophosphate was found to be the most common poison used with 162 cases (45.63%) followed by drug abuse/over dose.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><strong><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Conclusion:</span></strong><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> The findings of the study emphasize the crucial role of forensic investigations in identifying the causes of poisoning related deaths, as well as the importance of timely and accurate medical intervention in such cases. Further research is required to better understand the specific factors contributing to the high incidence of poisoning deaths in the region &amp; develop effective interventions to reduce this burden.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">&nbsp;</p> Raihan Uddin Ahmed* Nabajit Barman** Bikram Dutta Tassa*** Hiteswar Saikia**** Poisoning; insecticide; organophosphates; drug abuse; autopsy; death. An interesting case of organophosphate induced delayed polyneuropathy https://jistox.in/paper/429 <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Organophosphate induced delayed polyneuropathy is a rare clinical manifestation resulting from exposure to certain organophosphorus esters.[1] It is characterized by degeneration of both peripheral and central nervous system axons occurring 1-4 weeks after a single or short term exposure.[2] This syndrome is due to inhibition of neuropathy target esterase (NTE). It usually starts with cramping muscle pain in both lower limbs, distal numbness and paresthesia, followed by progressive weakness which may become irreversible.[2] Decreased or absent deep tendon reflexes both the lower limb is usually seen, rarely even upper limbs may be affected.[3] We report a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>rare case of organophosphorus induced delayed polyneuropathy overlapping with intermediate syndrome with<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>possible features of non compressive myelopathy.</span></p> Sree Priyankha R.S.* Vaidyanathan R.** S.P. Adarsh*** organophosphates; organophosphate induced delayed polyneuropathy; axonal degeneration; neuropathy target esterase; nerve conduction study; paraplegia The neglected aspects of pesticides management bill 2020: A review https://jistox.in/paper/430 <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The Pesticides Management Bill 2020 aims to address the issues of outdated and unscientific registration criteria, lack of stricter penalties for spurious pesticides and deceptive advertisements, inadequate regulation of pesticide pricing, and proper disposal of agrochemical substances in an environmentally-friendly manner. The proposed legislation is expected to cater to the multidimensional needs of today's agriculture sector and provide better protection to farmers from fraudulent practices in the pesticide market. The bill also proposes to incorporate measures to regulate and standardize treatment protocols for acute toxicity, particularly in cases of suicidal poisoning in the Indian rural population. It is also essential to ensure that pesticide manufacturers take up their corporate social responsibility by establishing poison control centres and antidote depots. These measures are crucial to ensure the safety and well-being of farmers, pesticide applicators, the environment, and the general public.</span></p> Kattamreddy Ananth Rupesh* Kattamreddy Divya Chaitanya Reddy LLM** pesticides; agrochemical substances; medical toxicology; ecotoxicology; occupational toxicology; insecticides. Dilemma in unknown bites: a case of scorpion sting with multiple cerebral and cerebellar infarcts https://jistox.in/paper/431 <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Scorpion stings are one of the common emergencies that can present to emergency room in tropical regions like India. Even though many of the stings only produce severe local pain and parasthesia, severe systemic envenomation can occur at times which can be life threatening. Since most of the patients are from the rural areas early diagnosis of unknown bites are usually difficult due lack of medical expertise in many areas. Here we report a case of scorpion sting with severe systematic envenomation who presented as an unknown bite with suspected neurotoxic snake bite who later developed ischemic infarcts in thalamus, frontoparietal lobes and cerebellum associated with microbleeds. Cerebrovascular complications like ischemic infarcts and intracranial hemorrhage secondary to scorpion sting are rare. Infarcts can occur due to various mechanisms like cerebral vasospasm, embolic secondary to myocarditis, disseminated intravascular coagulation etc.</span></p> Narendra S.S.* Dileep C.N.** Aravind P.K.*** Scorpion sting, myocarditis, Cerebrovascular complications, Mesobuthus tamulus