Informatics Publishing Limited

Chandan Datta ¹, Suparna Datta ², U. B. RoyChowdhury ³

Affiliations
1 Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, IN
2 Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research, Kolkata, IN
3 Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research, Kolkata, IN

Abstract

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a monomer used to manufacture polycarbonate plastics, the resin of cans and other products with global capacity in excess of 6.4 billion pounds per year. Because ester bonds in these BPA based polymers are subjected to hydrolysis, leaching of BPA has wide spread human exposure. A recent report prepared by Harvard Center for Risk and funded by the American Plastic Council concluded that evidence for low dose effect of BPA is weak on the basis of a review of only 19 studies; the report was issued after a delay of 2.5 years. A current comprehensive literature review reveals that the opposite is true of December'2004, there were 115 published in vivo studies of low dose effect of BPA, and 94 of these report significant effects. In 31 publications of vertebrate and invertebrate animals, significant effect occurred below the predicted "safe" or Reference 50microgram/kg/day BPA. An oestrogenic mode of action of BPA is confirmed by an in vitro study which describes disruption of cell function at.23ppt. nonetheless, chemical manufacturer continue to discount these published findings because no industry funded have reported significant effects of low doses of BPA, although more than 90% of Government funded reports have noted significant effects.

Keywords

Bisphenol A, Endocrine Disruption, Plastic, Low Dose Effects, Toxicities

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S. Basak ¹, U. B. Roychowdhury ², C. Datta ³

Affiliations
1 Dept of Forensic and State Medicine, IPGMER, 244, AJC Bose Road, Kolkata 700020, IN
2 Dept of Forensic and State Medicine, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (IPGMER)
3 Senior Lecturer, Dept of Polymer Science and Technology, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, IN

Abstract

The word Surrogate is derived from the latin Subrogare means to substitute. The procedure of surrogacy is the Brain Child of ART or Assisted Reproductive Techniques which is considered as one of the bless of modem technological advancement that has given smiles to the faces of many infertile couples.

According to this technique, a surrogate mother is a woman agreeing to have an embryo generated from the sperm of a man who is not her husband and the oocyte of another woman implanted in her womb to carry the pregnancy to full term and deliver the child to its biological parents.

Unfortunately the curtain raising incidence that produced much hue and cry among the social activists about the necessity of this procedure is the delivery of a surrogate baby at Apollo Gleneagles Hospital, Kolkata on 25th of Sept'2008, where contrary to the guidelines given in the Surrogate Bill to be passed by the Parliament, the surrogate mother was a 46 years old Indian woman who was provided with Rs.3000/- per month as maintenance charge during pregnancy and Rs.3 lakhs on successful delivery of the baby and handing it over to the biological parents who were US citizens. Thus came into view out of a sudden oblivion about a nexus of Medical Tourism and surrogacy, spreading rapidly in the whole society in the name of technological advancement.

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S. Basak ¹, U. B. Roychowdhury ¹, A. K. Gupta ¹

Affiliations
1 IPGMR&R, Kolkata, IN

Abstract

This article is about one of the most toxic herbicide, the Paraquat, in the beverage Cola which resembles it in appearance. Although the sale of cola has been banned in some areas eg. in Kerala of India by a Government Order No. (Rt)No. 2396/06/II&FWD dated 10.08.2006 because of its residues of organochlorine pesticides like Chloropyrophos and Malathion, one of the most dangerous quarternary ammonium compound, the Paraquat that resembles cola has not been much mentioned. The cola is a carbonated soU drink sold in stores throughout the world after its recipe was first invented by John Pemberton originally in the name of coca wine in 1885. He intended it as a patent medicine but the patent was bought out by a businessman Asa Griggs Candler, whose marketing tactics led this cola to its dominance of the world of soft drink market throughout the 20^th and now the 21^st century. In acute toxicity studies using laboratory animals, Paraquat has been shown to be highly toxic by the inhalation route and has been placed in Toxicity Category I (the highest of four levels). However the p]PA has determined that particles used in agricultural practices (400-800 nanomicron) are well beyond the respirable range. It shows category II toxicity in the oral route and moderately toxic that is category III by the dermal route. Paraquat will cause moderate to severe eye irritation and minimal dermal irritation, and has been placed in toxicity categories II and IV (slightly toxic) for these effects.

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U. B. Roychowdhury ¹, S. Basak ², B. Sukul ³, M. Pal ⁴

Affiliations
1 Dept. of Forensic and State Medicine, Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, 244, AJC Bose Road, Kolkata- 700 020, IN
2 Dept. of Forensic and State Medicine, Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Kolkata, IN
3 Dept. of Forensic and State Medicine, N.R.S. Medical College, Kolkata, IN
4 Dept. of Pathology, Midnapore Medical College, Paschim Mediuipur, West Bengal, IN

Abstract

In contemporary criminology, with the advent of Criminal Profiling, criminal investigative procedure has changed dramatically. Various theories and methodologies of criminal profiling have been proposed e.g., FBI's Crime Scene Analysis, Brent Turve^s Behavioral Evidence Analysis, Canter's Profiling Technique etc. It is certain that in near fiiture, Criminal Profiling will play a decisive role in modem criminal investigation.

Keywords

criminal profiling, crime, behaviour, victim.

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U. B. Roychowdhury ¹, S. Basak ¹, A. K. Gupta ¹, M. Pal ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Forensic and State Medicine, Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Re­search, 244 A .J.C. Bose Road, Kolkata-20 W.B., IN
2 Department of Pathology, Midnapore Medical College, Paschim Medinipur, W.B., IN

Abstract

During the last few years, modern cross-sectional imaging techniques have appeared in Forensic Medicine. M agnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and M ultislice Computed Tomography (MSCT) are increasingly implemented in Post-mortem examination. These non-invasive techniques can augment and even partially replace traditional autopsy. With the use of these methods, a minimally invasive, objective and investigator-independent documentation of forensic cases can be realised to reach qualitative improvement in forensic pathological investigation.

Keywords

Virtual Autopsy, Computed tomography, Magnetic resonance imaging.

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