Forensic science international最新文献

Accurate detection of cyanide exposure is crucial, particularly in forensic science. However, cyanide's high volatility and potential biochemical conversions in biological samples pose challenges for direct detection, complicating the determination of cause of death. Identifying alternative cyanide metabolites as markers may mitigate false negatives and positives, extending the detection window in poisoning cases. This study aimed to evaluate metabolic changes induced by cyanide exposure in forensic cases using a multi-platform approach, including metabolomics and lipidomics analyses via liquid and gas chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry. Results demonstrated clear discrimination between cyanide-exposed and control groups through OPLS-DA models. A total of 92 altered metabolites were identified in cyanide-exposed individuals compared to controls. Significant changes in metabolites primarily included glycerophospholipids (30.7 %), glycerolipids (14 %), fatty acyls (12.9 %), sphingolipids (8.0 %), amino acids and analogs (8.0 %), among others. Cyanide intoxication disrupted multiple metabolic pathways, including mitochondrial β-oxidation, acylcarnitine accumulation, a shift towards gluconeogenesis in amino acid metabolism, and ammonia homeostasis disturbance, affecting both ammonia recycling and the urea cycle. These pathways are essential for cellular energy production. The altered metabolic profiles provide insight into cyanide poisoning pathways, potentially aiding the development of new forensic diagnostic strategies. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was used to assess each model's predictive value. Findings suggest that metabolites such as phosphate and 3-hydroxybutyric acid could serve as diagnostic biomarkers in lethal cyanide poisoning cases. Future studies must evaluate these potential biomarkers' effectiveness in different fatal victim cohorts and validate the suggested panel through a targeted approach.

The paper presents the possibilities of using the ToF-SIMS technique in the examination of a range of samples as forensic evidence. These include the analysis of documents, the examination of writing media, the analysis of crossing lines, the analysis of cosmetics, hair analysis, the examination of automobile paints, and the analysis of fingerprints and their contamination with exogenous substances. The advantages and disadvantages of this method were analysed with reference to the information that any forensic investigator would wish to obtain when examining highly significant evidence.

We developed a novel next-generation sequencing-based single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping method for second- and third-degree kinship analysis, and designed 1144- and 2045-SNP panels using one (Set A) and two sets (Sets A and B) of primers. These SNP loci were analyzed in 120 Japanese individuals, and likelihood ratios (LRs) for kinship discrimination were calculated to evaluate the effect of number of SNP loci in simulated analysis. Likelihood evaluation was performed using DNA profiles from two individuals, namely, the unknown and one reference relative. Genotyping of the 1144 and 2045 SNPs was informative to discriminate aunt-nephew/niece as second-degree relatives and unrelated pairs. In third-degree relationship analysis, distributions of log₁₀LRs between the unknown and a first cousin (FC) were not separated from those of unrelated individuals even in 2045-SNP genotyping. To perform enhanced discrimination of third-degree relationships, we also evaluated the effectiveness of DNA profiles from three individuals, namely, the unknown and two first cousins (2FC). A likelihood evaluation from the 2045 SNPs using 2FC was more useful than the use of FC. Our method was applied to 12 kinship cases for second- and third-degree relationship analysis, and LRs from 1144- and 2045-SNP genotypes were markedly higher than those from conventional short tandem repeat profiles. Moreover, we evaluated the performance of the 2045 SNPs using limited or degraded DNA, compared with that with a larger amount of DNA. Using 0.1 ng of non-degraded DNA, the average concordance was higher than 97 %. In analysis with heavily degraded DNA (degradation index=32.2), we also detected high concordance (85.5 %) from 2045-SNP genotypes, compared with the lower rate (52.4 %) from 21 short tandem repeat profiles. Our method should be highly sensitive with discriminatory DNA profiles for analyzing second- and third-degree relationships.

The accurate detection, identification, and analysis of biofluids at crime scenes play a critical role in forensic investigations. Various biofluids, such as blood, semen, vaginal fluid, menstrual blood, urine, and saliva, can be crucial evidence. In a murder case involving a knife attack, for instance, bloodstains from both the victim and perpetrator might be present. Sexual assault cases often involve the analysis of semen and vaginal secretions. Biofluid analysis employs a two-tiered approach: presumptive tests for initial identification and confirmatory tests for definitive analysis. This review article focuses on six key biofluids and their forensic significance. In this review, we comprehensively explore the relevant analytical techniques, including non-spectroscopic methods like immunoassays, spot tests, and cytokine profiling, alongside spectroscopic techniques such as Infrared (IR) spectroscopy, Mass Spectrometry (MS), and Raman Spectroscopy (RS).

Autoerotic asphyxial deaths are a rare but recurring phenomenon, the most common modality of which involves neck compression. Autoerotic neck compression can involve any compression to the neck during individual sexual activity performed to heighten arousal. This retrospective study examines 72 such deaths occurring in Australia between 2000 and 2022. The study aims to provide detailed medico-legal interpretation of such deaths and recommendations for investigation within Australian contexts, and globally. Demographic analysis reveals a predominance of Caucasian males under 50 years of age, with diverse employment and health status. Pathological examination uncovers a spectrum of injuries, from superficial abrasions to rare skeletal and cartilaginous injuries, providing insights into the mechanics and characteristics of these fatalities. Contextual examination highlights sexual paraphernalia, evidence of genital stimulation, and isolation are consistent features in most autoerotic deaths within the sample. There was a wide variety of tool usage (ropes, belts, etc.), and geo-temporal features associated with autoerotic neck compression. The study provides comprehensive examination of the circumstances and characteristics of autoerotic neck compression which may assist in differentiation between suicidal and homicidal neck compression deaths such as hanging or ligature strangulation respectively. This study is an Australian first and is the first study of autoerotic asphyxial deaths to focus solely on deaths with a neck compression component. The study incorporates new variables and suggests ways these should be considered in future death investigations. The authors argue for delineation and subcategorization of autoerotic neck compression from other autoerotic asphyxial death due to their distinct injury characteristics and mechanism of injury.

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a form of gender-based violence (GBV) that may lead to adverse consequences on the physical and psychological health of survivors. Patients living with FGM have unique health needs, which have to be addressed from the perspective of human rights and sexual and reproductive health. The aim of this study was to understand the characteristics of the pool of users of two services targeting this population in Turin, given the significance this may have due to the high migratory flows from countries were FGM is performed. A retrospective review of medical records of patients who accessed FGM-C related care in two healthcare facilities in Turin was performed. The most represented type of FGM was IIb. All patients were of African origin. Many presented psychological sequelae, while a smaller group presented uro-gynaecological symptoms. A high number of survivors were subjected to other forms of GBV during their lifetime. These findings highlight the need for an integrated and multidisciplinary service for the management of survivors of FGM.

Scavenging occurs whenever a body is accessible to animals which depredate post-mortem, leading to tissue modification and consumption. In forensic investigations, the consequences of indoor scavenging are associated with the capacity of dogs to destroy or scatter body parts, creating post-mortem artefacts that pose challenges for forensic pathologists and veterinarians in determining the cause and dynamics of death and the time of death estimation. The purpose of this study is to provide a literature review on the forensic implications of indoor domestic dog scavenging, in order to discuss victim and dog characteristics, injury patterns, and identification methods. The literature search was performed using PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science from January 1950 to March 2024. Eligible studies have investigated issues of interest (forensic veterinary medicine, forensic pathology, forensic genetics). A total of 38 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review and they were organized and discussed by issue of interest (Victim risk factors, assessment of canine behavioral and physical conditions, anatomical distribution of post-mortem injuries, assessment of ante-mortem injuries and setting, identification of scavenging dog). The findings of this systematic review underscore the importance of paying particular attention to the condition of the individuals involved, especially isolated elderly individuals, as well as to the results of physical examinations and autopsies. These may provide crucial information regarding the distribution and vitality of lesions. Additionally, the potential benefits of a multidisciplinary approach are emphasized, based on close cooperation between veterinarians, crime scene personnel, medicolegal experts, and prosecutors.

Microchimerism (MC) refers to the presence of small amounts of foreign cells or DNA in the tissues or circulation of an individual. It generally occurs through mother-fetus interaction, twin pregnancies, and intergenerational transmission. MC is influenced by genetic and environmental factors such as toxic conditions, immunological suppression, and various diseases (influenza, COVID-19, etc.). Progenitor cells transferred from the fetus to the mother through fetal MC are known to differentiate into neurons in the maternal brain. Although the relationship between these cells and the brain is not fully understood, it is thought that they may play a role in the emergence of some mental illnesses. The long-term presence of microchimeric cells in the body by differentiating into various cell types such as the brain, heart, bone, liver, and lung can lead to the presence of two or more DNA sets in an individual. This can lead to confusion in forensic identification and sex determination processes. This review aims to provide a comprehensive review of the definition, transmission pathways, detection duration in the human body, associated diseases, analytical detection techniques, and the importance of MC in forensic sciences. In this context, it is aimed to draw attention to the potential dangers of MC and contribute to the justice system. Furthermore, this study emphasizes the need for scientific research on this topic by creating a starting point for future research in the field of MC.

Background: Data on the prevalence of physical injury in men who experience sexual assault are under-represented in the literature; the aim of this study is to inform this knowledge gap. It is vital that forensic examiners have access to up-to-date information regarding the prevalence of genito-anal and extra-genital injury, specific to their examination method (i.e. with or without proctoscopy), as well as any associations with injury in order to provide optimal responsive care and accurate testimony in the context of written and oral evidence.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study analysing the attendances of all males who attended the Dublin Sexual Assault Treatment Unit (SATU) for a forensic examination between 1/1/2017 and 31/12/2023.

Results: During the study period there were 2495 attendances. Of these, 199 (8.0 %) were male, with 68.8 % (n = 137/199) undergoing a forensic examination. Within this cohort, genito-anal injury was identified in 19.7 % (n = 27/137). Anal injury was present in 14.6 % (n = 20/137) and genital injury was present in 5.8 % (n = 8/137). For those who disclosed completed anal penetration (either penile-anal, digital-anal penetration or object-anal penetration) and who underwent proctoscopic examination (n = 53) the injury rate was 24.5 % (n = 13/53). Extra-genital injuries were present in 40.1 % (n = 55/137). Those who had a genito-anal injury were significantly more likely to have been the victim of a multiple perpetrator assault (OR2.72 CI1.05-6.97 p = 0.03). Those who had extra-genital injuries were significantly more likely to have attended within 24 hours of the incident (OR2.89 CI1.03-4.22 p = 0.03). No other incident detail was found to have an association with the presence of genito-anal or extra-genital injury.

Conclusions: Genital injuries and/or anal injuries were absent in a large proportion of men after sexual assault. Extra-genital injuries were found in a higher proportion of men. It is anticipated that these findings will better inform society, the police and also assist forensic examiners in providing accurate and informed prevalence rates for medico-legal evidence in the criminal justice system. These findings also underscore the importance of comprehensive medical examinations and timely medical intervention for assault victims, highlighting the need for targeted support and care strategies.

Identification of body fluid stain at crime scene is one of the important tasks of forensic evidence analysis. Currently, body fluid-specific CpGs detected by DNA methylation microarray screening, have been widely studied for forensic body fluid identification. However, some CpGs have limited ability to distinguish certain body fluid types. The ongoing need is to discover novel methylation markers and fully validate them to enhance their evidentiary strength in complex forensic scenarios. This research gathered forensic-related DNA methylation microarrays data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. A novel screening strategy for marker selection was developed, combining feature selection algorithms (elastic net, information gain ratio, feature importance based on Random Forest, and mutual information coefficient) with epigenetic pattern analysis, to identify CpG markers for body fluid identification. The selected CpGs were validated through pyrosequencing on peripheral blood, saliva, semen, vaginal secretions, and menstrual blood samples, and machine learning classification models were constructed based on the sequencing results. Pyrosequencing results revealed 14 CpGs with high specificity in five types of body fluid samples. A machine learning classification model, developed based on the pyrosequencing results, could effectively distinguish five types of body fluid samples, achieving 100 % accuracy on the test set. Utilizing six CpG markers, it was also feasible to attain ideal efficacy in identifying body fluid stains. Our research proposes a systematic and scientific strategy for screening body fluid-specific CpGs, contributing new insights and methods to forensic body fluid identification.