When human remains are found, apart from helping explain the cause of death and determining the extent of any injuries, forensic pathologists are usually requested to determine the identity of the deceased and how much time has elapsed since his death. In the Czech Republic, the criminal liability for murder is set to a statute of limitations of 20 years. In our pilot study, tissue samples of human remains from two decedents were radiocarbon (14C) dated to estimate the date of death. In agreement with published literature, we have confirmed relatively short carbon turnover time in hair, nail, and bone fat. Therefore these samples are the most appropriate for determining date of death. Other samples, such as teeth (collagen and carbonate form) and collagen isolated from bone samples, which exhibit relatively long carbon turnover time, can be used to reduce ambiguity of dating results and to indicate some interfering influences. Given the possibility of processing multiple sample types, we also propose brief guidelines for comparing and interpreting the results of individual analyses.

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In this study, we present two cases of sudden deaths of people with end-stage kidney with arteriovenous fistulas for long-term hemodialysis treatment. This procedure is associated with a number of known complications. While stenosis, thrombosis, and infection are well known, lethal hemorrhage from arteriovenous fistula is much less commonly encountered. Inspection of the bodies at the scene of the death by a medical examiner suggested that the deaths were due to exsanguination. Autopsies revealed visible defects on the front wall of the arteriovenous fistulas. Microscopic examination showed wall necrosis with infiltration of various inflammatory cells. Deaths were due to exsanguination from the ulcerated arteriovenous fistulas in patients with chronic renal failure. Further investigation revealed that complications in the area around the arteriovenous fistulas were known and were being treated until a sudden rupture of the vessels and hemorrhage from the arteriovenous fistulas resulted in the deaths.

A young adult black female, known to be a prostitute and suspected of smuggling narcotics, was found dead in her apartment in a state of early decomposition. Oval-shaped gray-white masses of exogenous origin protruded from the anus. The autopsy showed dilatation of the folds of the large intestine, which were almost completely filled with these oval-shaped gray-white masses of foreign material. The uterus was enlarged with multiple large leiomyomas. Toxicological tests of blood and the foreign material revealed no toxicologically relevant substances. Kaolin was detected in a sample of the foreign material from the large intestine. The immediate cause of death was intestinal obstruction due to the formation of a kaolin bezoar with simultaneous compression of the large intestine by the enlarged myomatous uterus. Subsequent revelation of a habit the deceased had brought from her native country led to the conclusion that this exotic custom was responsible for her death.