Pub Date : 2024-11-08DOI: 10.1007/s00414-024-03363-4
Živa Miriam Geršak, Aja Golob, Pia Kravanja, Monica Concato, Tamara Leskovar, Irena Zupanič Pajnič
Analysing genetic material from skeletonised human remains has become valuable in forensic and archaeological contexts. While the petrous bone is often preferred for DNA extraction, its availability is not guaranteed, and because of destructive sampling, it is not frequently used in forensic cases. This study explores the potential of patellae as an alternative source of bone material for genetic investigations. Forty-five patellae were sampled from a post-World War II mass grave and an archaeological Christian cemetery dated from the 13th to 19th centuries. A full demineralisation extraction method was used to obtain the DNA, and real-time PCR quantification was used to determine the quantity and quality of DNA. To evaluate the suitability of patellae for forensic and archaeological analyses, short tandem repeat (STR) typing was performed using the ESI17 Fast PCR amplification kit (Promega). To explore the difference in DNA yield, DNA degradation and STR typing success between the post-World War II and archaeological patellae, statistical analysis was performed. The results revealed significantly higher DNA yield and STR typing success in WWII patellae and higher degradation of DNA in archaeological patellae, highlighting the impact of environmental exposure time on genetic material preservation. Almost all WWII patellae achieved a high success rate in STR typing with full profiles generated. More than half of the archaeological patellae showed high STR typing performance and highly informative partial profiles were obtained, indicating the suitability of patellae not only for forensic purposes but also for archaeological genetic analyses.
在法医学和考古学中,对骸骨化人类遗骸中的遗传物质进行分析已变得非常重要。虽然提取 DNA 时通常首选岩石骨,但其可用性无法保证,而且由于取样具有破坏性,因此在法医案件中并不常用。本研究探讨了髌骨作为基因调查的替代骨材料来源的潜力。研究人员从一个二战后的乱葬坑和一个 13 至 19 世纪的基督教考古墓地中采集了 45 块髌骨样本。采用完全脱矿提取法获得 DNA,并通过实时 PCR 定量来确定 DNA 的数量和质量。为了评估髌骨是否适合用于法医和考古分析,使用ESI17快速PCR扩增试剂盒(Promega)进行了短串联重复(STR)分型。为了探究二战后髌骨与考古髌骨在DNA产量、DNA降解和STR分型成功率方面的差异,我们进行了统计分析。结果显示,二战后髌骨的DNA产量和STR分型成功率明显较高,而考古髌骨的DNA降解率较高,这凸显了环境暴露时间对遗传物质保存的影响。几乎所有二战髌骨的 STR 分型成功率都很高,并生成了完整的图谱。半数以上的考古髌骨显示出很高的 STR 分型成功率,并获得了信息量很大的部分图谱,这表明髌骨不仅适用于法医目的,也适用于考古遗传分析。
{"title":"Patellae as a source of DNA in forensic and archaeological analysis.","authors":"Živa Miriam Geršak, Aja Golob, Pia Kravanja, Monica Concato, Tamara Leskovar, Irena Zupanič Pajnič","doi":"10.1007/s00414-024-03363-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-024-03363-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Analysing genetic material from skeletonised human remains has become valuable in forensic and archaeological contexts. While the petrous bone is often preferred for DNA extraction, its availability is not guaranteed, and because of destructive sampling, it is not frequently used in forensic cases. This study explores the potential of patellae as an alternative source of bone material for genetic investigations. Forty-five patellae were sampled from a post-World War II mass grave and an archaeological Christian cemetery dated from the 13th to 19th centuries. A full demineralisation extraction method was used to obtain the DNA, and real-time PCR quantification was used to determine the quantity and quality of DNA. To evaluate the suitability of patellae for forensic and archaeological analyses, short tandem repeat (STR) typing was performed using the ESI17 Fast PCR amplification kit (Promega). To explore the difference in DNA yield, DNA degradation and STR typing success between the post-World War II and archaeological patellae, statistical analysis was performed. The results revealed significantly higher DNA yield and STR typing success in WWII patellae and higher degradation of DNA in archaeological patellae, highlighting the impact of environmental exposure time on genetic material preservation. Almost all WWII patellae achieved a high success rate in STR typing with full profiles generated. More than half of the archaeological patellae showed high STR typing performance and highly informative partial profiles were obtained, indicating the suitability of patellae not only for forensic purposes but also for archaeological genetic analyses.</p>","PeriodicalId":14071,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142604451","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-11-07DOI: 10.1007/s00414-024-03364-3
Nadeem Mubarik, Masroor Ahmad Ganei, Shivani Dixit, R K Kumawat, Jaison Jeevan Sequeira, Naseer Ahmad Ahangar, Shahul Ahmad Kanth, Imtiyaz Ahmad Dar, Ishrat Mushtaq, Mohammad Mohsin, Mohammed S Mustak, Gyaneshwer Chaubey, Sania Hamid, Pankaj Shrivastava
The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has always been a point of contention among India, Pakistan, and China for various reasons. This region has great significance historically due to its geography and ethnic diversity. However, a comprehensive genetic study providing the genetic landscape of Jammu and Kashmir was lacking until now. In this study, we analysed 21 hyper-variable autosomal STR loci of 694 individuals from Jammu and Kashmir and compared them with neighbouring populations to explore the genetic implications of demographic dynamics that have taken place in this region. Our findings suggest that the population of Jammu and Kashmir is a genetic mixture of two major clines, northern and southern, that correspond with the variation in geography, linguistics, and demography of the region. Broadly, the gene flow into the southern cline appears to be in historical times perhaps as a result of the spread of Gurjars, Dogri language and invasions of Mongols. However, the arrival of ancient nomadic tribes into this region may belong to the time depth of the arrival of pastoralist communities in this region. As a future perspective, a comprehensive study including samples from individual tribes will provide fine-scale structure of the gene pool of Jammu and Kashmir.
{"title":"Exploring the genetic implications of demographic dynamics in Jammu and Kashmir using autosomal STRs.","authors":"Nadeem Mubarik, Masroor Ahmad Ganei, Shivani Dixit, R K Kumawat, Jaison Jeevan Sequeira, Naseer Ahmad Ahangar, Shahul Ahmad Kanth, Imtiyaz Ahmad Dar, Ishrat Mushtaq, Mohammad Mohsin, Mohammed S Mustak, Gyaneshwer Chaubey, Sania Hamid, Pankaj Shrivastava","doi":"10.1007/s00414-024-03364-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-024-03364-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has always been a point of contention among India, Pakistan, and China for various reasons. This region has great significance historically due to its geography and ethnic diversity. However, a comprehensive genetic study providing the genetic landscape of Jammu and Kashmir was lacking until now. In this study, we analysed 21 hyper-variable autosomal STR loci of 694 individuals from Jammu and Kashmir and compared them with neighbouring populations to explore the genetic implications of demographic dynamics that have taken place in this region. Our findings suggest that the population of Jammu and Kashmir is a genetic mixture of two major clines, northern and southern, that correspond with the variation in geography, linguistics, and demography of the region. Broadly, the gene flow into the southern cline appears to be in historical times perhaps as a result of the spread of Gurjars, Dogri language and invasions of Mongols. However, the arrival of ancient nomadic tribes into this region may belong to the time depth of the arrival of pastoralist communities in this region. As a future perspective, a comprehensive study including samples from individual tribes will provide fine-scale structure of the gene pool of Jammu and Kashmir.</p>","PeriodicalId":14071,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142604446","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-11-07DOI: 10.1007/s00414-024-03351-8
Darya Ali, Roland A H van Oorschot, Adrian Linacre, Mariya Goray
"Shedder status" describes the inherent variation between individuals to leave touch DNA on a surface through direct contact. Depending on the amount and quality of DNA or cellular deposition, individuals are typically deemed high, intermediate, or low shedders. Although many shedder tests have been described, variability in study design and categorisation criteria has limited the ability of researchers to accurately compare results, as well as accrue the necessary population data. As activity level reporting becomes more common, the need for reliable and standardised testing increases. To assess reproducibility, this study compared shedder status data generated by six participants using three different shedder tests, as modified from the literature. This involved DNA quantification and profiling of a handprint made on a glass plate, DNA quantification and profiling of a grip mark made on a plastic conical tube, and cell scoring of a Diamond™ Dye-stained fingermark. All participants washed and dried their hands fifteen minutes before each deposit. To assess the impact of behaviour on shedder designation, participants either refrained from activity or went about their daily tasks during this wait. The shedder status of participants changed between tests, as DNA-based testing often generated lower shedder statuses than cell scores. Further, when different categorisation methods were applied to a single test, intra-person variability increased as the number of shedder designations increased from two (low/high) to five (low/low-intermediate/intermediate/intermediate-high/high). Moving forward, the utilisation of a single shedder test and standardised categorisation criteria is needed to employ shedder testing in forensic casework.
"脱落者状态 "是指个体之间通过直接接触在物体表面留下接触 DNA 的固有差异。根据 DNA 或细胞沉积的数量和质量,个体通常被视为高、中或低脱落者。虽然已有许多脱落者测试方法,但研究设计和分类标准的差异限制了研究人员准确比较结果和积累必要人群数据的能力。随着活动水平报告越来越普遍,对可靠和标准化测试的需求也在增加。为了评估可重复性,本研究比较了六名参与者使用三种不同的脱落者检测方法(根据文献修改)得出的脱落者状态数据。这包括对玻璃板上的手印进行 DNA 定量和特征分析,对塑料锥形管上的抓痕进行 DNA 定量和特征分析,以及对 Diamond™ 染色指痕进行细胞评分。所有参与者都在每次存款前 15 分钟洗手并擦干双手。为了评估行为对脱落者认定的影响,参与者在等待期间要么停止活动,要么继续做日常工作。参与者的脱落细胞状态在两次检测之间会发生变化,因为基于 DNA 的检测通常会产生比细胞评分更低的脱落细胞状态。此外,在一次测试中采用不同的分类方法时,随着脱落细胞数量从两种(低/高)增加到五种(低/低-中/中/中-高/高),人与人之间的差异也随之增加。展望未来,在法医办案中采用脱落细胞检测时,需要使用单一脱落细胞检测和标准化分类标准。
{"title":"How to best assess shedder status: a comparison of popular shedder tests.","authors":"Darya Ali, Roland A H van Oorschot, Adrian Linacre, Mariya Goray","doi":"10.1007/s00414-024-03351-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-024-03351-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>\"Shedder status\" describes the inherent variation between individuals to leave touch DNA on a surface through direct contact. Depending on the amount and quality of DNA or cellular deposition, individuals are typically deemed high, intermediate, or low shedders. Although many shedder tests have been described, variability in study design and categorisation criteria has limited the ability of researchers to accurately compare results, as well as accrue the necessary population data. As activity level reporting becomes more common, the need for reliable and standardised testing increases. To assess reproducibility, this study compared shedder status data generated by six participants using three different shedder tests, as modified from the literature. This involved DNA quantification and profiling of a handprint made on a glass plate, DNA quantification and profiling of a grip mark made on a plastic conical tube, and cell scoring of a Diamond™ Dye-stained fingermark. All participants washed and dried their hands fifteen minutes before each deposit. To assess the impact of behaviour on shedder designation, participants either refrained from activity or went about their daily tasks during this wait. The shedder status of participants changed between tests, as DNA-based testing often generated lower shedder statuses than cell scores. Further, when different categorisation methods were applied to a single test, intra-person variability increased as the number of shedder designations increased from two (low/high) to five (low/low-intermediate/intermediate/intermediate-high/high). Moving forward, the utilisation of a single shedder test and standardised categorisation criteria is needed to employ shedder testing in forensic casework.</p>","PeriodicalId":14071,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142604450","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-11-06DOI: 10.1007/s00414-024-03355-4
Renato Queiroz Nogueira Lira, Luana Geovana Motta de Sousa, Maisa Luana Memoria Pinho, Renan Cesar Pinto da Silva Andrade de Lima, Pedro Garcia Freitas, Bruno Scholles Soares Dias, Andreia Cristina Breda de Souza, André Ferreira Leite
In this paper, we present a forensic perspective on classifying gunshot wound patterns using Deep Learning (DL). Although DL has revolutionized various medical specialties, such as automating tasks like medical image classification, its applications in forensic contexts have been limited despite the inherently visual nature of the field. This study investigates the application of DL techniques (59 architectures) to classify gunshot wounds in a forensic context, focusing on distinguishing between entry and exit wounds and determining the Medical-Legal Shooting Distance (MLSD), which classifies wounds as contact, close range, or distant, based on digital images from real crime scene cases. A comprehensive database was constructed with 2,551 images, including 1,883 entries and 668 exit wounds. The ResNet152 architecture demonstrated superior performance in both entry and exit wound classification and MLSD categorization. For the first task, achieved accuracy of 86.90% and an AUC of 82.09%. For MLSD, the ResNet152 showed an accuracy of 92.48% and AUC up to 94.36%, though sample imbalance affected the metrics. Our findings underscore the challenges of standardizing wound images due to varying capture conditions but reflect the practical realities of forensic work. This research highlights the significant potential of DL in enhancing forensic pathology practices, advocating for Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a supportive tool to complement human expertise in forensic investigations.
{"title":"Deep learning-based human gunshot wounds classification.","authors":"Renato Queiroz Nogueira Lira, Luana Geovana Motta de Sousa, Maisa Luana Memoria Pinho, Renan Cesar Pinto da Silva Andrade de Lima, Pedro Garcia Freitas, Bruno Scholles Soares Dias, Andreia Cristina Breda de Souza, André Ferreira Leite","doi":"10.1007/s00414-024-03355-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-024-03355-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In this paper, we present a forensic perspective on classifying gunshot wound patterns using Deep Learning (DL). Although DL has revolutionized various medical specialties, such as automating tasks like medical image classification, its applications in forensic contexts have been limited despite the inherently visual nature of the field. This study investigates the application of DL techniques (59 architectures) to classify gunshot wounds in a forensic context, focusing on distinguishing between entry and exit wounds and determining the Medical-Legal Shooting Distance (MLSD), which classifies wounds as contact, close range, or distant, based on digital images from real crime scene cases. A comprehensive database was constructed with 2,551 images, including 1,883 entries and 668 exit wounds. The ResNet152 architecture demonstrated superior performance in both entry and exit wound classification and MLSD categorization. For the first task, achieved accuracy of 86.90% and an AUC of 82.09%. For MLSD, the ResNet152 showed an accuracy of 92.48% and AUC up to 94.36%, though sample imbalance affected the metrics. Our findings underscore the challenges of standardizing wound images due to varying capture conditions but reflect the practical realities of forensic work. This research highlights the significant potential of DL in enhancing forensic pathology practices, advocating for Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a supportive tool to complement human expertise in forensic investigations.</p>","PeriodicalId":14071,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142582880","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-11-05DOI: 10.1007/s00414-024-03354-5
Edmilson Ozorio Dos Santos, Andrey Wellington Moscardini, Ivan Dieb Miziara
Sexual violence against women remains a global challenge, with Brazil exemplifying persistent issues despite legislative advancements. This study examined sexual violence within São Paulo state, Brazil's largest and economically affluent state, focusing on prevalence, patterns, forensic evidence, and health consequences. We analyzed 40,757 medical reports of alleged cases of rape against women available from the São Paulo Medical Legal Institute from 2014 to 2017. An increase in female rape cases was observed, reflecting broader societal trends, but underreporting, prevalent due to fear and stigma, underscored the need for multifaceted interventions. We also explored correlations between rape prevalence and the Human Development Index, highlighting disparities between urban and rural areas. Additionally, the study revealed concerning proportions of cases involving vulnerable victims, emphasizing the imperative for tailored interventions and legislative reforms. Furthermore, we demonstrated that only a small portion of medicolegal examinations were able to find evidence of sexual violence or recent sexual acts, necessary for conducting the criminal investigation of the alleged act. Therefore, despite challenges in forensic evidence collection, efforts to enhance medical examination protocols and awareness among professionals are crucial. Moreover, findings underscored the significant health consequences of rape, including unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, necessitating comprehensive healthcare services for survivors. In conclusion, we reinforced that addressing sexual violence demands coordinated action, including legislative reforms, community engagement, and survivor-centered approaches, to create safer and more resilient communities.
{"title":"A comprehensive epidemiological assessment of female rape in São Paulo State, Brazil: trends, patterns, and implications for public health.","authors":"Edmilson Ozorio Dos Santos, Andrey Wellington Moscardini, Ivan Dieb Miziara","doi":"10.1007/s00414-024-03354-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-024-03354-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sexual violence against women remains a global challenge, with Brazil exemplifying persistent issues despite legislative advancements. This study examined sexual violence within São Paulo state, Brazil's largest and economically affluent state, focusing on prevalence, patterns, forensic evidence, and health consequences. We analyzed 40,757 medical reports of alleged cases of rape against women available from the São Paulo Medical Legal Institute from 2014 to 2017. An increase in female rape cases was observed, reflecting broader societal trends, but underreporting, prevalent due to fear and stigma, underscored the need for multifaceted interventions. We also explored correlations between rape prevalence and the Human Development Index, highlighting disparities between urban and rural areas. Additionally, the study revealed concerning proportions of cases involving vulnerable victims, emphasizing the imperative for tailored interventions and legislative reforms. Furthermore, we demonstrated that only a small portion of medicolegal examinations were able to find evidence of sexual violence or recent sexual acts, necessary for conducting the criminal investigation of the alleged act. Therefore, despite challenges in forensic evidence collection, efforts to enhance medical examination protocols and awareness among professionals are crucial. Moreover, findings underscored the significant health consequences of rape, including unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, necessitating comprehensive healthcare services for survivors. In conclusion, we reinforced that addressing sexual violence demands coordinated action, including legislative reforms, community engagement, and survivor-centered approaches, to create safer and more resilient communities.</p>","PeriodicalId":14071,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142582876","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Biological sex estimation in forensic anthropology is a crucial topic, and the patella has shown promise in this regard due to its sexual dimorphism. This study uses 12 machine learning models for sex estimation based on three patellar measurements (maximum height, breadth, and thickness). Data was collected from 180 skeletons of a contemporary Italian population (83 males and 97 females) as well as from an independent sample of 21 forensic cases (13 males and 8 females). Statistical analyses indicated that each of the variables exhibited significant sexual dimorphism. To predict biological sex, the classifiers were built using 70% of a reference sample, then tested on the remaining 30% of the original sample and then tested again on the independent sample. The different classifiers generated accuracies varied between 0.85 and 0.91 on the reference sample and between 0.71 and 0.95 for the validation sample. SVM classifier stood out with the highest accuracy and seemed the best model for our study.This study contributes to the growing application of machine learning in forensic anthropology by being the first to apply such techniques to patellar measurements in an Italian population. It aims to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of biological sex estimation from the patella, building on promising results observed with other skeletal elements.
{"title":"Sex estimation from patellar measurements in a contemporary Italian population: a machine learning approach.","authors":"Siam Knecht, Paolo Morandini, Lucie Biehler-Gomez, Luisa Nogueira, Pascal Adalian, Cristina Cattaneo","doi":"10.1007/s00414-024-03359-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-024-03359-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Biological sex estimation in forensic anthropology is a crucial topic, and the patella has shown promise in this regard due to its sexual dimorphism. This study uses 12 machine learning models for sex estimation based on three patellar measurements (maximum height, breadth, and thickness). Data was collected from 180 skeletons of a contemporary Italian population (83 males and 97 females) as well as from an independent sample of 21 forensic cases (13 males and 8 females). Statistical analyses indicated that each of the variables exhibited significant sexual dimorphism. To predict biological sex, the classifiers were built using 70% of a reference sample, then tested on the remaining 30% of the original sample and then tested again on the independent sample. The different classifiers generated accuracies varied between 0.85 and 0.91 on the reference sample and between 0.71 and 0.95 for the validation sample. SVM classifier stood out with the highest accuracy and seemed the best model for our study.This study contributes to the growing application of machine learning in forensic anthropology by being the first to apply such techniques to patellar measurements in an Italian population. It aims to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of biological sex estimation from the patella, building on promising results observed with other skeletal elements.</p>","PeriodicalId":14071,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142568580","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Due to their unique anatomy, paranasal sinuses have been used for comparative identification between post-mortem CT (PMCT) and ante-mortem CT (AMCT). However, data security issues arise when transferring raw AMCT images of a suspected identity. The aim of this study was to derive and validate an identification score based on CT slices extracted from successive CTs for the identification of subjects. For derivation procedure, we included patients who underwent two successive AMCTs at ≥ 1-year interval (n = 98), and 4 radiologists individually assessed similarity of prespecified CT slices (centered on ethmoid, frontal sinus and Left Semi-Circular Canal). Predictive values were calculated for all combinations of number of readers and slices, and the optimal compromise, termed IDScore, was selected. For validation, we included PMCTs performed between 2018 and 2022 with available comparative head AMCTs (n = 27). For each PMCT, 5 comparison procedures were performed: 1 concordant (with corresponding AMCT) and 4 discordant (with randomly selected AMCTs). Two radiologists evaluated similarity of ethmoid and frontal CT slices with a score ranging from -2 to + 2. IDScore was defined as the sum of these slice scores, averaged between the two readers. In the 135 comparison procedures, IDScore using predetermined thresholds (positive identification for IDScore > + 2, negative identification for IDScore < -1) allowed a perfect discrimination between identical subjects (Sensitivity = 100%, Specificity = 100%). IDScore could be used for remote identification of a subject with no need to access to the complete raw AMCT images, hence helping to overcome ethical and regulatory issues to access AMCT of a suspected identity.Trial registration: F20220729161623 on Health Data Hub, registered on 29 July 2022.
{"title":"Identification score for robust and secure identification using ante- and post-mortem skull CT scans.","authors":"Marie-Edith Richard, Corentin Provost, Tania Delabarde, Pauline Iorio, Yves Menu, Ghazi Hmeydia, Bertrand Ludes, Catherine Oppenheim, Joseph Benzakoun","doi":"10.1007/s00414-024-03361-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-024-03361-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Due to their unique anatomy, paranasal sinuses have been used for comparative identification between post-mortem CT (PMCT) and ante-mortem CT (AMCT). However, data security issues arise when transferring raw AMCT images of a suspected identity. The aim of this study was to derive and validate an identification score based on CT slices extracted from successive CTs for the identification of subjects. For derivation procedure, we included patients who underwent two successive AMCTs at ≥ 1-year interval (n = 98), and 4 radiologists individually assessed similarity of prespecified CT slices (centered on ethmoid, frontal sinus and Left Semi-Circular Canal). Predictive values were calculated for all combinations of number of readers and slices, and the optimal compromise, termed IDScore, was selected. For validation, we included PMCTs performed between 2018 and 2022 with available comparative head AMCTs (n = 27). For each PMCT, 5 comparison procedures were performed: 1 concordant (with corresponding AMCT) and 4 discordant (with randomly selected AMCTs). Two radiologists evaluated similarity of ethmoid and frontal CT slices with a score ranging from -2 to + 2. IDScore was defined as the sum of these slice scores, averaged between the two readers. In the 135 comparison procedures, IDScore using predetermined thresholds (positive identification for IDScore > + 2, negative identification for IDScore < -1) allowed a perfect discrimination between identical subjects (Sensitivity = 100%, Specificity = 100%). IDScore could be used for remote identification of a subject with no need to access to the complete raw AMCT images, hence helping to overcome ethical and regulatory issues to access AMCT of a suspected identity.Trial registration: F20220729161623 on Health Data Hub, registered on 29 July 2022.</p>","PeriodicalId":14071,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142568563","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-11-01Epub Date: 2024-07-30DOI: 10.1007/s00414-024-03303-2
Arianna Giorgetti, Maria Paola Bonasoni, Elena Lacchè, Giuseppina Comitini, Costanza Migliavacca, Alice Ferretti, Carla Galeone, Alessandra Polese, Giovanna Stridi, Francesca Monari, Beatrice Melis, Susi Pelotti
Background: Stress hormones like catecholamine and cortisol are thought to reflect the magnitude of physical stress in adults and were studied in relationship to the cause of death and agony time. Intrauterine distress, intrapartum events, and modes of delivery can affect the fetal endocrine stress response, as reflected by biochemical analyses. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of catecholamines and cortisol as markers of ante-mortem fetal distress. The role of cortisol as a marker of circadian timing of delivery was also assessed.
Methods: A 2-year prospective cohort-comparison inclusion of stillbirths and newborns took place with collection of antemortem data, labor parameters, neonatal outcome, post-mortem data and blood samples. Stillbirths were classified as acute or chronic on the basis of a multidisciplinary evaluation. Heart blood of stillbirths and cord blood of newborns were analyzed by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) for adrenaline and noradrenaline and by immunoassay for cortisol determination.
Results: Fifteen stillbirths and 46 newborns, as a comparison group, delivered by spontaneous vaginal birth, elective, and emergency cesarean sections were included. Stillbirths' main cause of death was cord thrombosis. Levels of adrenaline and noradrenaline (median: 14,188 pg/ml and 230.5 pg/ml, respectively) were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in stillbirths than in newborns and were also higher in acute compared to chronic distress. Cortisol levels were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in spontaneous vaginal delivery (median: 18.2 μg/dl) compared to elective cesarean sections (median: 3.8 μg/dl). No difference in cortisol concentrations was detected between newborns delivered at morning and at afternoon/evening.
Conclusion: Our results suggest that the biochemical measurement of adrenaline and noradrenaline levels might reflect a marked physical stress response during the process of death in stillbirths. On the contrary, the elevation of cortisol levels could mirror the elevation in maternal cortisol level during vaginal delivery. For the post-mortem evaluation of stillbirths, the analysis of CA levels could provide additional data on the duration of distress, useful to integrate the forensic diagnosis.
{"title":"Biochemical analysis of catecholamine and cortisol for the evaluation of the fetal distress in third trimester stillbirths.","authors":"Arianna Giorgetti, Maria Paola Bonasoni, Elena Lacchè, Giuseppina Comitini, Costanza Migliavacca, Alice Ferretti, Carla Galeone, Alessandra Polese, Giovanna Stridi, Francesca Monari, Beatrice Melis, Susi Pelotti","doi":"10.1007/s00414-024-03303-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00414-024-03303-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Stress hormones like catecholamine and cortisol are thought to reflect the magnitude of physical stress in adults and were studied in relationship to the cause of death and agony time. Intrauterine distress, intrapartum events, and modes of delivery can affect the fetal endocrine stress response, as reflected by biochemical analyses. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of catecholamines and cortisol as markers of ante-mortem fetal distress. The role of cortisol as a marker of circadian timing of delivery was also assessed.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A 2-year prospective cohort-comparison inclusion of stillbirths and newborns took place with collection of antemortem data, labor parameters, neonatal outcome, post-mortem data and blood samples. Stillbirths were classified as acute or chronic on the basis of a multidisciplinary evaluation. Heart blood of stillbirths and cord blood of newborns were analyzed by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) for adrenaline and noradrenaline and by immunoassay for cortisol determination.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Fifteen stillbirths and 46 newborns, as a comparison group, delivered by spontaneous vaginal birth, elective, and emergency cesarean sections were included. Stillbirths' main cause of death was cord thrombosis. Levels of adrenaline and noradrenaline (median: 14,188 pg/ml and 230.5 pg/ml, respectively) were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in stillbirths than in newborns and were also higher in acute compared to chronic distress. Cortisol levels were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in spontaneous vaginal delivery (median: 18.2 μg/dl) compared to elective cesarean sections (median: 3.8 μg/dl). No difference in cortisol concentrations was detected between newborns delivered at morning and at afternoon/evening.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our results suggest that the biochemical measurement of adrenaline and noradrenaline levels might reflect a marked physical stress response during the process of death in stillbirths. On the contrary, the elevation of cortisol levels could mirror the elevation in maternal cortisol level during vaginal delivery. For the post-mortem evaluation of stillbirths, the analysis of CA levels could provide additional data on the duration of distress, useful to integrate the forensic diagnosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":14071,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"2569-2581"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11490513/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141855461","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The authors present the case of a 58-year-old man found hanging from a radiator by his shoelaces. The time of death was approximately 6 h before the body was discovered. An autopsy was performed approximately 24 h after the body was found, which revealed hemorrhages in the thoracic aorta at the junctions of the posterior intercostal arteries. Before autopsy, a routine whole-body CT scan was performed. Histologic examination of the aorta and the posterior intercostal arteries revealed a fresh hemorrhage into the tunica adventitia of the aorta. To our knowledge, there is no case description of such findings in hanged persons in the literature. Conclusion: Hemorrhages into the tunica adventitia of the junction of the posterior costal arteries may occur in association with suicidal hanging. The significance of these hemorrhages as a sign of vitality may be debated.
{"title":"A case of hemorrhage at the junctions of the posterior intercostal arteries-a vital sign?","authors":"Nicolas Lange-Herr, Joëlle Tschui, Jeremias Klaus, Manuela Baglivo, Emilie Schlottke, Wolf-Dieter Zech","doi":"10.1007/s00414-024-03261-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00414-024-03261-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The authors present the case of a 58-year-old man found hanging from a radiator by his shoelaces. The time of death was approximately 6 h before the body was discovered. An autopsy was performed approximately 24 h after the body was found, which revealed hemorrhages in the thoracic aorta at the junctions of the posterior intercostal arteries. Before autopsy, a routine whole-body CT scan was performed. Histologic examination of the aorta and the posterior intercostal arteries revealed a fresh hemorrhage into the tunica adventitia of the aorta. To our knowledge, there is no case description of such findings in hanged persons in the literature. Conclusion: Hemorrhages into the tunica adventitia of the junction of the posterior costal arteries may occur in association with suicidal hanging. The significance of these hemorrhages as a sign of vitality may be debated.</p>","PeriodicalId":14071,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"2345-2349"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11490417/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141300643","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-11-01Epub Date: 2024-06-12DOI: 10.1007/s00414-024-03268-2
Marie Epain, Sébastien Valette, Kaifeng Zou, Sylvain Faisan, Fabrice Heitz, Pierre Croisille, Tony Fracasso, Laurent Fanton
In the field of forensic anthropology, researchers aim to identify anonymous human remains and determine the cause and circumstances of death from skeletonized human remains. Sex determination is a fundamental step of this procedure because it influences the estimation of other traits, such as age and stature. Pelvic bones are especially dimorphic, and are thus the most useful bones for sex identification. Sex estimation methods are usually based on morphologic traits, measurements, or landmarks on the bones. However, these methods are time-consuming and can be subject to inter- or intra-observer bias. Sex determination can be done using dry bones or CT scans. Recently, artificial neural networks (ANN) have attracted attention in forensic anthropology. Here we tested a fully automated and data-driven machine learning method for sex estimation using CT-scan reconstructions of coxal bones. We studied 580 CT scans of living individuals. Sex was predicted by two networks trained on an independent sample: a disentangled variational auto-encoder (DVAE) alone, and the same DVAE associated with another classifier (Crecon). The DVAE alone exhibited an accuracy of 97.9%, and the DVAE + Crecon showed an accuracy of 99.8%. Sensibility and precision were also high for both sexes. These results are better than those reported from previous studies. These data-driven algorithms are easy to implement, since the pre-processing step is also entirely automatic. Fully automated methods save time, as it only takes a few minutes to pre-process the images and predict sex, and does not require strong experience in forensic anthropology.
{"title":"Sex estimation from coxal bones using deep learning in a population balanced by sex and age.","authors":"Marie Epain, Sébastien Valette, Kaifeng Zou, Sylvain Faisan, Fabrice Heitz, Pierre Croisille, Tony Fracasso, Laurent Fanton","doi":"10.1007/s00414-024-03268-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00414-024-03268-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In the field of forensic anthropology, researchers aim to identify anonymous human remains and determine the cause and circumstances of death from skeletonized human remains. Sex determination is a fundamental step of this procedure because it influences the estimation of other traits, such as age and stature. Pelvic bones are especially dimorphic, and are thus the most useful bones for sex identification. Sex estimation methods are usually based on morphologic traits, measurements, or landmarks on the bones. However, these methods are time-consuming and can be subject to inter- or intra-observer bias. Sex determination can be done using dry bones or CT scans. Recently, artificial neural networks (ANN) have attracted attention in forensic anthropology. Here we tested a fully automated and data-driven machine learning method for sex estimation using CT-scan reconstructions of coxal bones. We studied 580 CT scans of living individuals. Sex was predicted by two networks trained on an independent sample: a disentangled variational auto-encoder (DVAE) alone, and the same DVAE associated with another classifier (C<sub>recon</sub>). The DVAE alone exhibited an accuracy of 97.9%, and the DVAE + C<sub>recon</sub> showed an accuracy of 99.8%. Sensibility and precision were also high for both sexes. These results are better than those reported from previous studies. These data-driven algorithms are easy to implement, since the pre-processing step is also entirely automatic. Fully automated methods save time, as it only takes a few minutes to pre-process the images and predict sex, and does not require strong experience in forensic anthropology.</p>","PeriodicalId":14071,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"2617-2623"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141305899","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}