Forensic Science International: Reports最新文献

Forward Spatter Bloodstain Pattern Analysis: AO Estimation Using Image Processing and Numerical Modeling 前向飞溅血迹模式分析：使用图像处理和数值模拟的AO估计

Q3 Medicine

Forensic Science International: Reports

Pub Date : 2025-04-18 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsir.2025.100416

Aylin Yalçın Sarıbey , Fatma Nida Ocak

The aim of examining the forward spatter bloodstain patterns of gunshot wounds is to accurately describe the relationship between the victim, the culprit, and the crime scene. The purpose of this study is to determine the approximate location of the blood source, i.e. the victim, at the crime scene by using an image processing and numerical modeling approach. To achieve this, an experimental setup is designed with cardstocks and a cow blood-soaked sponge. In total, twenty forward spatter patterns are obtained onto cardstocks after successful shootings. In the post-processing phase, ellipses on the cardstocks are detected by processing the forward spatters in MATLAB. To achieve this, ellipse properties are identified for calculating the impact angles. The impact angles are then utilized as inputs to the tangent method within the program to estimate the Area of Origin (AO_x). For visualization, 2D and 3D images are generated. In conclusion, it is observed that the program works the best in determining the AO_x, for the scenarios where the real AO_x distances (blood source to target distances) are 35 cm, 50 cm, and 100 cm respectively. The program’s weakness while determining AO_x for the source distance of 5 cm is also reported. It is necessary to improve the program for short blood source-to-target distances and long shooting distances. It can be concluded that image quality is also a key factor for post-processing as it might mislead the results with visible ellipses.

检查枪伤的前向飞溅血迹模式的目的是准确地描述受害者、罪犯和犯罪现场之间的关系。本研究的目的是通过使用图像处理和数值模拟方法来确定血源，即受害者在犯罪现场的大致位置。为了达到这个目的，我们设计了一个实验装置，用卡纸和牛血浸泡过的海绵。在成功射击后，总共有20种向前的飞溅图案被记录在卡片上。在后处理阶段，通过MATLAB对前向溅射进行处理，检测出卡纸上的椭圆。为了实现这一点，确定了椭圆属性来计算撞击角。然后将撞击角度用作程序内切线方法的输入，以估计原点面积（AOx）。为了可视化，生成了2D和3D图像。综上所述，可以观察到该程序在确定AOx时效果最好，因为实际AOx距离（血源到目标的距离）分别为35 cm， 50 cm和100 cm。该程序在确定源距离为5 cm时的AOx时的弱点也被报道。对于较短的血源-靶距离和较远的射击距离，有必要对程序进行改进。可以得出结论，图像质量也是后处理的关键因素，因为它可能会使可见的椭圆误导结果。

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引用次数: 0

Non-destructive sampling of poison frogs for toxin analysis in forensic casework 法医案件中毒蛙毒素分析的无损取样

Q3 Medicine

Forensic Science International: Reports

Pub Date : 2025-04-17 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsir.2025.100414

Irene Kuiper, Aleksandar Dragutinovic, Leo Peschier, Rene de Bruyn

Poison frogs is the common name for several genera of frogs which occur naturally in Central- and South-America, Australia and Madagascar and which contain a wide variety of toxins. Their colourful appearance and minute size resulted in their extraction from their natural habitat for illegal trade, threatening population sizes. In order to fight this illegal trade, the poison frog’s ability to excrete environmentally acquired toxins via their skin can be used in criminal investigations. Since the frogs are not able to produce the toxins de novo, these alkaloid toxins have ultimately originated from their environment and are excreted through the skin, especially when stressed. Due to the reliance on a toxin-containing food source, we show that the presence of toxins in poison frogs can be used to distinguish between captive breeding and wild-capture in actual forensic case work. We describe the application of a gas chromatography-mass-spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis on non-destructively derived samples from living frogs in five seizures, the biological interpretation of presence and absence of toxins and the criminalistic interpretation of the findings given propositions of both the prosecutor and the defendant.

毒蛙是几种天然存在于中南美洲、澳大利亚和马达加斯加的蛙类的统称，它们含有各种各样的毒素。它们鲜艳的外表和微小的体型导致它们从自然栖息地被非法交易，威胁到它们的种群规模。为了打击这种非法贸易，毒蛙通过皮肤分泌环境获得毒素的能力可以用于刑事调查。由于青蛙不能从头产生毒素，这些生物碱毒素最终来自它们的环境，并通过皮肤排出，尤其是在受到压力的时候。由于依赖于含毒素的食物来源，我们表明毒素在毒蛙中的存在可以用来区分圈养繁殖和野生捕获在实际的法医案件工作。我们描述了气相色谱-质谱（GC-MS）分析在五次缉获中对活青蛙的非破坏性衍生样品的应用，毒素存在和不存在的生物学解释以及检察官和被告给出的命题的调查结果的刑事解释。

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引用次数: 0

Species identification of avian feathers in Japanese Habouki using feather morphological and molecular testing 利用羽毛形态学和分子检测对日本Habouki鸟类羽毛进行种类鉴定

Q3 Medicine

Forensic Science International: Reports

Pub Date : 2025-04-11 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsir.2025.100415

Nana Ushine , Isao Nishiumi , Higuchi Aki , Aki Tanaka , Ayano Mori , Nanami Tsuchiya , Shin-ichi Hayama

Habouki is a tool used in Japanese tea ceremonies consisting of a bundle of feathers from birds of prey and waterfowl. Habouki often include feathers from avian species that are legally protected. In this study, we examined three types of Habouki (Zabaki, Tsukamibane, and Mitsubane) suspected of containing feathers from legally protected species and conducted species identification through feather morphological examination and molecular analysis. Morphological examinations and molecular biological analyses targeting cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 region were conducted using the barbs of Habouki feathers. Genetic analysis revealed that Zabaki contained feathers from Aquila chrysaetos (genetic difference between Habouki feather and the control sample; 0.02 %), Tsukamibane contained Cygnus columbianus (0.16 %), and Mitsubane contained Ciconia boyciana (0.05 %). In the morphological examinations based on shape, color, and size, the Zabaki feather was presumed to be the rectrices of the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), the Tsukamibane feather was the tertials of Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus) and Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus), and the Mitsubane feather was the secondary and tertial feathers of the Japanese White Stork (Ciconia boyciana). Habouki are currently not being produced. To safeguard the continuity of Japanese tea ceremony culture, it is crucial to protect Habouki and prevent illegal activities such as poaching. When determining whether feathers belong to rare species, it is recommended to conduct feather morphological examinations rather than molecular biological examinations, which destroy Habouki.

Habouki是日本茶道中使用的一种工具，由一束猛禽和水禽的羽毛组成。Habouki通常包括受法律保护的鸟类的羽毛。本研究对三种疑似含有法律保护物种羽毛的鸟（Zabaki、Tsukamibane和mitsubishi）进行了检测，并通过羽毛形态学检查和分子分析进行了物种鉴定。利用Habouki羽倒刺进行了细胞色素c氧化酶亚基1区的形态学检查和分子生物学分析。遗传分析表明，Zabaki含有金凤蝶羽毛（Habouki羽毛与对照样本遗传差异）；冢毒班含哥伦比亚Cygnus(0.16 %)，三菱班含白鹤Cygnus boyciana（0.05 %）。根据形状、颜色和大小的形态学检查，认为扎崎羽是金鹰（Aquila chrysaetos）的羽毛，冢冢羽是大天鹅（Cygnus Cygnus）和苔原天鹅（Cygnus columbianus）的三甲羽毛，三菱羽是日本白鹳（Ciconia boyciana）的二甲羽毛和三甲羽毛。Habouki目前还没有生产。为了维护日本茶道文化的延续性，保护好Habouki，防止偷猎等非法活动至关重要。在确定羽毛是否属于稀有物种时，建议进行羽毛形态学检查，而不是分子生物学检查，因为分子生物学检查会破坏Habouki。

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引用次数: 0

A proof-of-concept study into turmeric spice as an improvised fluorescent latent fingermark detection powder for limited resource jurisdictions 姜黄香料作为一种临时荧光潜在手印检测粉末的概念验证研究

Q3 Medicine

Forensic Science International: Reports

Pub Date : 2025-03-25 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsir.2025.100413

Thais Lópes , Maame Gyamfuah Buckman , Georgina Sauzier , Rodrigo M. Barros , Simon W. Lewis

Latent fingermarks are a crucial form of physical evidence for crime scene investigations; however, limited-resource jurisdictions, such as some states in Brazil, face challenges in identifying fingermarks due to lower access to commercial fingermark developers. The study of unconventional and alternative techniques for fingermark detection that are low-cost, easily available, and sustainable in line with the UN SDGs presents great value for under-resourced jurisdictions. Household items and easily available materials such as spices fit perfectly in such contexts as improvised fingermark powders. Turmeric is a globally accessible culinary spice which contains high levels of the fluorescent compound curcumin. This research reports for the first time the application of turmeric spice powder as fluorescent dusting powder for latent fingermark detection. Turmeric spice powders from different sources were evaluated for their performance as dusting powders and were subsequently characterised by optical microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and fluorescence spectrophotometry. All turmeric powders exhibited high fluorescence intensities and were demonstrated to be suitable as fluorescent fingermark powders without further processing, though specimens with homogeneous particle size distribution and pure turmeric composition performed better. These preliminary results indicate that turmeric is a suitable fingermark powder without further modification and is a potential alternative to commercial powders for jurisdictions with limited resources.

潜在的手印是犯罪现场调查的重要物证。然而，资源有限的司法管辖区，如巴西的一些州，在识别指纹方面面临着挑战，因为很难接触到商业指纹开发商。研究低成本、容易获得、可持续的符合联合国可持续发展目标的非常规和替代指纹检测技术，对资源不足的司法管辖区具有巨大价值。家庭用品和容易获得的材料，如香料，非常适合这种情况下，如临时手印粉。姜黄是一种全球通用的烹饪香料，它含有高水平的荧光化合物姜黄素。本研究首次报道了姜黄香料粉作为荧光粉尘粉在潜在手印检测中的应用。研究了不同来源的姜黄香料粉末的除尘性能，并用光学显微镜、傅里叶变换红外光谱和荧光分光光度法对其进行了表征。所有姜黄粉均表现出高荧光强度，无需进一步处理即可作为荧光手印粉，但粒度分布均匀且成分纯的姜黄粉表现更好。这些初步结果表明，姜黄是一种合适的手印粉，无需进一步改性，在资源有限的司法管辖区是一种潜在的商业粉末替代品。

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引用次数: 0

Establishing a system of professional self-government of forensic scientists in Ukraine 在乌克兰建立法医专家专业自治制度

Q3 Medicine

Forensic Science International: Reports

Pub Date : 2025-03-08 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsir.2025.100412

Nataliia Martynenko

The article highlights the experience of establishing and operation of the system of professional self-government of forensic scientists in the UK and France. The relevance of the issues studied in the article is due to the need to ensure strategic self-governance in the field of forensic science in Ukraine, which will involve all the main stakeholders. It is emphasized that there is a current need to reform forensic science activity. The author proposes a model of professional self-government of forensic scientists which will take into account: the system of subjects of forensic science activity operating in the state; the possibility of ensuring effective exercise of professional rights and protection of professional interests of forensic scientists, whether public or private, etc. The article substantiates the expediency of establishing the following organizational forms of self-government of forensic scientists: working groups of forensic scientists by type of forensic examination; the Council of Forensic Scientists of Ukraine; and the Congress of Forensic Scientists of Ukraine. It is proposed to name the professional self-governing organization that will unite all forensic scientists of Ukraine – the Forensic Science Academy of Ukraine. From this perspective, the author proposes amendments to the current Law of Ukraine “On Forensic Expertise”. The author concludes that organizations which exercise professional self-government of forensic scientists should lobby for the interests of their profession and perform a wide range of public functions.

本文着重介绍了英法两国法医学专家职业自治制度的建立和运行经验。本文所研究问题的相关性是由于需要确保乌克兰法医科学领域的战略自治，这将涉及所有主要利益攸关方。报告强调，目前有必要改革法医科学活动。笔者提出了一种法医学专家职业自治的模式，该模式考虑到：司法科学活动主体制度在国家范围内运作；确保公共或私人法医科学家有效行使专业权利和保护专业利益的可能性等。文章论证了建立法医学工作者自治组织形式的可行性：按鉴定类型组成法医学工作者工作小组；乌克兰法医科学家理事会；以及乌克兰法医科学家大会。建议将团结乌克兰所有法医科学家的专业自治组织命名为乌克兰法医科学院。从这一角度出发，笔者提出了对乌克兰现行《司法鉴定法》的修改建议。法医学专家职业自治组织应当为法医学专家的职业利益进行游说，并履行广泛的公共职能。

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引用次数: 0

Enhancing forensic sex identification through AI-based analysis of the foramen magnum

Q3 Medicine

Forensic Science International: Reports

Pub Date : 2025-02-07 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsir.2025.100411

Sirinart Chomean , Natipong Chatthai , Napakorn Sangchay , Chollanot Kaset

Sex estimation from skeletal remains is an essential task in forensic anthropology. Traditional morphological analysis, while effective, can be time-consuming and subject to inter-observer variability. This study evaluates artificial intelligence (AI)-based methods, specifically object detection and instance segmentation, for sex estimation using the foramen magnum (FM). A total of 600 adult dry skull images (300 males, 300 females) were labeled and augmented to create a dataset of 2280 images, which was split into training (92 %), validation (5 %), and test (3 %) sets. The models were trained using Roboflow and assessed based on sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV), with additional validation performed on 30 independent skulls. The object detection model demonstrated strong performance, achieving high precision (95.0 %) and recall (100.0 %) in training, with precision values of 93.0 % and 89.0 % in validation and test sets, respectively, while maintaining 100.0 % recall across datasets. In the independent test set, the model achieved 75.0 %specificity. The instance segmentation method yielded lower performance, with specificity of 68.75 %. The overall accuracy of the object detection method was 65.68 % (95 % CI: 46.19 % - 81.64 %), outperforming the instance segmentation method, which achieved an accuracy of 62.69 % (95 % CI: 43.22 % - 79.55 %). Although AI-based methods, particularly object detection, show potential for forensic sex estimation from foramen magnum, the results indicate that their accuracy remains lower than traditional morphometric approaches. Future research should focus on integrating additional cranial features and expanding the training dataset to enhance model reliability and generalizability.

{"title":"Enhancing forensic sex identification through AI-based analysis of the foramen magnum","authors":"Sirinart Chomean , Natipong Chatthai , Napakorn Sangchay , Chollanot Kaset","doi":"10.1016/j.fsir.2025.100411","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fsir.2025.100411","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sex estimation from skeletal remains is an essential task in forensic anthropology. Traditional morphological analysis, while effective, can be time-consuming and subject to inter-observer variability. This study evaluates artificial intelligence (AI)-based methods, specifically object detection and instance segmentation, for sex estimation using the foramen magnum (FM). A total of 600 adult dry skull images (300 males, 300 females) were labeled and augmented to create a dataset of 2280 images, which was split into training (92 %), validation (5 %), and test (3 %) sets. The models were trained using Roboflow and assessed based on sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV), with additional validation performed on 30 independent skulls. The object detection model demonstrated strong performance, achieving high precision (95.0 %) and recall (100.0 %) in training, with precision values of 93.0 % and 89.0 % in validation and test sets, respectively, while maintaining 100.0 % recall across datasets. In the independent test set, the model achieved 75.0 %specificity. The instance segmentation method yielded lower performance, with specificity of 68.75 %. The overall accuracy of the object detection method was 65.68 % (95 % CI: 46.19 % - 81.64 %), outperforming the instance segmentation method, which achieved an accuracy of 62.69 % (95 % CI: 43.22 % - 79.55 %). Although AI-based methods, particularly object detection, show potential for forensic sex estimation from foramen magnum, the results indicate that their accuracy remains lower than traditional morphometric approaches. Future research should focus on integrating additional cranial features and expanding the training dataset to enhance model reliability and generalizability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36331,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science International: Reports","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100411"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143388442","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Firearm fatalities in Dammam: A forensic retrospective study

Q3 Medicine

Forensic Science International: Reports

Pub Date : 2025-02-05 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsir.2025.100410

Magdy Kharoshah , Maram Aabdulghani AlFarayedhi , Abdullah AlBouijan , Noua AlOtaibi , AbdulRahman Waheed AlDossary , Ibrahim AlAboudi , Sahar Issa

Background

Numerous nations have released studies on lethal firearm injuries. Nonetheless, there has been little documentation of their occurrence and pattern in various parts of Saudi Arabia and other Arab Countries.

Methods

The present study was conducted to investigate fatal firearm injuries in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, during 2013–2023. All investigated victims were referred to the mortuary of the Forensic Medicine Department, Dammam.

Results

The study investigated all firearm deaths in Dammam. Most of the victims were Saudi Nationals. Homicidal victims (N = 88) surpassed the suicidal cases (N = 24). Rifled weapons were the most common weapon used in both groups. Head wounds were much more common in suicides (70.8 %) compared to homicides (34.1 %) (p = 0.001). Toxicological findings confirmed more Cannabis in homicide cases and more Ethanol in suicide cases.

Conclusions

The current findings were contradictory to the pattern seen in other countries where suicides were the predominant group.

{"title":"Firearm fatalities in Dammam: A forensic retrospective study","authors":"Magdy Kharoshah , Maram Aabdulghani AlFarayedhi , Abdullah AlBouijan , Noua AlOtaibi , AbdulRahman Waheed AlDossary , Ibrahim AlAboudi , Sahar Issa","doi":"10.1016/j.fsir.2025.100410","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fsir.2025.100410","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Numerous nations have released studies on lethal firearm injuries. Nonetheless, there has been little documentation of their occurrence and pattern in various parts of Saudi Arabia and other Arab Countries.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The present study was conducted to investigate fatal firearm injuries in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, during 2013–2023. All investigated victims were referred to the mortuary of the Forensic Medicine Department, Dammam.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The study investigated all firearm deaths in Dammam. Most of the victims were Saudi Nationals. Homicidal victims (N = 88) surpassed the suicidal cases (N = 24). Rifled weapons were the most common weapon used in both groups. Head wounds were much more common in suicides (70.8 %) compared to homicides (34.1 %) (p = 0.001). Toxicological findings confirmed more Cannabis in homicide cases and more Ethanol in suicide cases.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The current findings were contradictory to the pattern seen in other countries where suicides were the predominant group.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36331,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science International: Reports","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100410"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143377828","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Fatal poisonings in Nordic countries in 2022 among people who use drugs

Q3 Medicine

Forensic Science International: Reports

Pub Date : 2025-01-27 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsir.2025.100408

Pirkko Kriikku , Hilde Marie E. Edvardsen , Gunilla Thelander , Svava Thordardottir , Charlotte Uggerhøj Andersen , Ilkka Ojanperä , Anna K. Jönsson , Joachim Frost , Simon Kjær Hermansen , Gerd J.M. Delaveris , Kirsten Wiese Simonsen

The present study is a survey of fatal poisonings occurring in 2022 among people who use drugs (PWUD) in the Nordic countries. This is the eighth report in a series of studies on PWUD conducted about every fifth year since 1984 by a working group representing Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.Data on the number of deaths, gender, age, place of death, main intoxicant, and drugs detected in blood were recorded. National data were compared between the Nordic countries as well as with the earlier studies. The death rate (number of deaths per 100,000 inhabitants) among PWUD in 2022 was highest in Norway (8.03), followed by Iceland (7.20) and Finland (5.95), and lowest in Denmark (5.09). This rate increased in all countries compared to 2017, except in Sweden, which saw a decrease from 6.46 to 5.91. The change was only statistically significant in Norway. Most deaths occurred among men, with women accounting for 16–23 %. The median age at the time of death among PWUD was 40–43 years in Denmark, Norway and Sweden, while it was about ten years younger in Finland and Iceland (median age 33 years). Opioids were the main cause of PWUD death in all countries. The proportion of opioid deaths amounted to 73–89 % and was lowest in Denmark and highest in Iceland. New psychoactive substances (NPS) were sporadically detected in all countries but were rarely the main intoxicant. The largest diversity of NPS was detected in Finland and Sweden.

{"title":"Fatal poisonings in Nordic countries in 2022 among people who use drugs","authors":"Pirkko Kriikku , Hilde Marie E. Edvardsen , Gunilla Thelander , Svava Thordardottir , Charlotte Uggerhøj Andersen , Ilkka Ojanperä , Anna K. Jönsson , Joachim Frost , Simon Kjær Hermansen , Gerd J.M. Delaveris , Kirsten Wiese Simonsen","doi":"10.1016/j.fsir.2025.100408","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fsir.2025.100408","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The present study is a survey of fatal poisonings occurring in 2022 among people who use drugs (PWUD) in the Nordic countries. This is the eighth report in a series of studies on PWUD conducted about every fifth year since 1984 by a working group representing Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.Data on the number of deaths, gender, age, place of death, main intoxicant, and drugs detected in blood were recorded. National data were compared between the Nordic countries as well as with the earlier studies. The death rate (number of deaths per 100,000 inhabitants) among PWUD in 2022 was highest in Norway (8.03), followed by Iceland (7.20) and Finland (5.95), and lowest in Denmark (5.09). This rate increased in all countries compared to 2017, except in Sweden, which saw a decrease from 6.46 to 5.91. The change was only statistically significant in Norway. Most deaths occurred among men, with women accounting for 16–23 %. The median age at the time of death among PWUD was 40–43 years in Denmark, Norway and Sweden, while it was about ten years younger in Finland and Iceland (median age 33 years). Opioids were the main cause of PWUD death in all countries. The proportion of opioid deaths amounted to 73–89 % and was lowest in Denmark and highest in Iceland. New psychoactive substances (NPS) were sporadically detected in all countries but were rarely the main intoxicant. The largest diversity of NPS was detected in Finland and Sweden.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36331,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science International: Reports","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100408"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143136034","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

PSA is not suitable as a reliable marker for seminal fluid in rectal samples collected post-mortem

Q3 Medicine

Forensic Science International: Reports

Pub Date : 2025-01-26 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsir.2025.100409

Corine Müller, Elie Pascolo Tièche, Martin Zieger

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests are used in forensic examinations of sexual offences to indicate the presence of seminal fluid. Based on a retrospective analysis of 484 forensic samples collected in sexual assault cases, we observed a significant enrichment of potentially misleading tests for seminal fluid, for samples collected post-mortem. Reduced reliability of PSA testing for the indication of the presence of ejaculate in samples collected post-mortem has already been reported previously. However, previous studies either included only a small number of rectal samples, particularly from female cadavers, or were based on vaginal swabs. In our study, 34 female and 67 male rectal swab samples collected post-mortem were analysed. The rate of positive SERATEC® PSA Semiquant tests was 33 % for women and 67 % for men. Using male specific qPCR, male DNA was detected in only one of the female samples, indicating a high false-positive rate for both sexes when using SERATEC® PSA Semiquant tests as indicators for the presence of seminal liquid post mortem. Different degrees of decomposition showed no significant correlation with the PSA positivity rate. As expected, a significant correlation between the sex of the deceased individuals and the PSA test result could be demonstrated. The study demonstrates the very limited probative value of PSA as a marker for seminal fluid post mortem.

{"title":"PSA is not suitable as a reliable marker for seminal fluid in rectal samples collected post-mortem","authors":"Corine Müller, Elie Pascolo Tièche, Martin Zieger","doi":"10.1016/j.fsir.2025.100409","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fsir.2025.100409","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests are used in forensic examinations of sexual offences to indicate the presence of seminal fluid. Based on a retrospective analysis of 484 forensic samples collected in sexual assault cases, we observed a significant enrichment of potentially misleading tests for seminal fluid, for samples collected post-mortem. Reduced reliability of PSA testing for the indication of the presence of ejaculate in samples collected post-mortem has already been reported previously. However, previous studies either included only a small number of rectal samples, particularly from female cadavers, or were based on vaginal swabs. In our study, 34 female and 67 male rectal swab samples collected post-mortem were analysed. The rate of positive SERATEC® PSA Semiquant tests was 33 % for women and 67 % for men. Using male specific qPCR, male DNA was detected in only one of the female samples, indicating a high false-positive rate for both sexes when using SERATEC® PSA Semiquant tests as indicators for the presence of seminal liquid post mortem. Different degrees of decomposition showed no significant correlation with the PSA positivity rate. As expected, a significant correlation between the sex of the deceased individuals and the PSA test result could be demonstrated. The study demonstrates the very limited probative value of PSA as a marker for seminal fluid post mortem.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36331,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science International: Reports","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100409"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143136038","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Necrophilia a case report from Mozambique

Q3 Medicine

Forensic Science International: Reports

Pub Date : 2025-01-22 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsir.2025.100407

Katia Robledo Querol , Bonifacio Rodrigues Cebola , Susanna Caminada , Manuel González Rodríguez , Enani Rogerio Uamusse , Nolton Francisco Jeque , Justin Stebbing , Samantha Lundringan , Damiano Pizzol , Lee Smith

Necrophilia is a paraphilia in which the primary source of pleasure comes from having sex with, or sexually abusing the dead. The etiology is unknown and includes multiple social, environmental and contextual factors. Its prevalence is probably underestimated, and, especially in low-income settings, the reporting is limited. We report on a 17-year-old female cadaver characterized by generalized coldness, fixed lividity in the posterior plane, cadaveric relaxation phase, presence of a green abdominal stain in the right iliac fossa and chromatic phase of putrefaction; exhumed and sexually violated after burial. We also provide a review of the existing literature.

引用次数: 0