Research

9 pages, 1194 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Application of Innovative TGA/Chemometric Approach for Forensic Purposes: The Estimation of the Time since Death in Contaminated Specimens

by Roberta Risoluti, Giuseppina Gullifa, Vittorio Fineschi, Paola Frati and Stefano Materazzi

Diagnostics 2021, 11(1), 121; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11010121 - 14 Jan 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2118

Abstract

Chronothanatology has always been a challenge in forensic sciences. Therefore, the importance of a multidisciplinary approach for the characterization of matrices (organs, tissues, or fluids) that respond linearly to the postmortem interval (PMI) is emerging increasingly. The vitreous humor is particularly suitable for [...] Read more.

Chronothanatology has always been a challenge in forensic sciences. Therefore, the importance of a multidisciplinary approach for the characterization of matrices (organs, tissues, or fluids) that respond linearly to the postmortem interval (PMI) is emerging increasingly. The vitreous humor is particularly suitable for studies aimed at assessing time-related modifications because it is topographically isolated and well-protected. In this work, a novel approach based on thermogravimetry and chemometrics was used to estimate the time since death in the vitreous humor and to collect a databank of samples derived from postmortem examinations after medico–legal evaluation. In this study, contaminated and uncontaminated specimens with tissue fragments were included in order to develop a classification model to predict time of death based on partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) that was as robust as possible. Results demonstrate the possibility to correctly predict the PMI even in contaminated samples, with an accuracy not lower than 70%. In addition, the correlation coefficient of the measured versus predicted outcomes was found to be 0.9978, confirming the ability of the model to extend its feasibility even to such situations involving contaminated vitreous humor. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Progress in the Forensic Diagnosis)

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14 pages, 2690 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Parameters for Estimating the Postmortem Interval of Skeletal Remains Using Bovine Femurs: A Pilot Study

by Midori Nagai, Koichi Sakurada, Kazuhiko Imaizumi, Yoshinori Ogawa, Motohiro Uo, Takeshi Funakoshi and Koichi Uemura

Diagnostics 2020, 10(12), 1066; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics10121066 - 09 Dec 2020

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1735

Abstract

The postmortem interval (PMI) of victims is a key parameter in criminal investigations. However, effective methods for estimating the PMI of skeletal remains have not been established because it is determined by various factors, including environmental conditions. To identify effective parameters for estimating [...] Read more.

The postmortem interval (PMI) of victims is a key parameter in criminal investigations. However, effective methods for estimating the PMI of skeletal remains have not been established because it is determined by various factors, including environmental conditions. To identify effective parameters for estimating the PMI of skeletal remains, we investigated the change in bone focusing on the amount of DNA, element concentrations, and bone density that occurred in the bone samples of bovine femurs, each maintained under one of five simulated environmental conditions (seawater, freshwater, underground, outdoors, and indoors) for 1 year. The amount of extracted mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA; 404 bp fragment) decreased over time, and significant DNA degradation (p < 0.01), as estimated by a comparison with amplification results for a shorter fragment (128 bp), was detected between 1 month and 3 months. Eleven of 30 elements were detected in samples by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry, and Na and Ba showed significant quantitative differences in terms of environmental conditions and time (p < 0.01). This preliminary study suggests that the level of DNA degradation determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction and element concentrations determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission may be useful indices for estimating the PMI of victims under a wide range of environmental conditions. However, this study is a limited experimental research and not applicable to forensic cases as it is. Further studies of human bone with longer observation periods are required to verify these findings and to establish effective methods for PMI estimation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Progress in the Forensic Diagnosis)

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12 pages, 2219 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Post-Mortem Cardiac Magnetic Resonance for the Diagnosis of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

by Giovanni Donato Aquaro, Benedetta Guidi, Federico Biondi, Enrica Chiti, Alessandro Santurro, Matteo Scopetti, Emanuela Turillazzi and Marco Di Paolo

Diagnostics 2020, 10(11), 981; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics10110981 - 21 Nov 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2207

Abstract

Background: Post-mortem cardiac magnetic resonance (PMCMR) is an emerging tool supporting forensic medicine for the identification of the causes of cardiac death, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). We proposed a new method of PMCMR to diagnose HCM despite myocardial rigor mortis. Methods: We [...] Read more.

Background: Post-mortem cardiac magnetic resonance (PMCMR) is an emerging tool supporting forensic medicine for the identification of the causes of cardiac death, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). We proposed a new method of PMCMR to diagnose HCM despite myocardial rigor mortis. Methods: We performed CMR in 49 HCM patients, 30 non-HCM hypertrophy, and 32 healthy controls. In cine images, rigor mortis was simulated by the analysis of the cardiac phase corresponding to 25% of diastole. Left ventricular mass, mean, and standard deviation (SD) of WT, maximal WT, minimal WT, and their difference were compared for the identification of HCM. These parameters were validated at PMCMR, evaluating eight hearts with HCM, 10 with coronary artery disease, and 10 with non-cardiac death. Results: The SD of WT with a cut-off of > 2.4 had the highest accuracy to identify HCM (AUC 0.95, 95% CI = 0.89–0.98). This was particularly evident in the female population of HCM (AUC=0.998), with 100% specificity (95% CI = 85–100%) and 96% sensitivity (95% CI = 79–99%). Using this parameter, at PMCMR, all of the eight patients with HCM were correctly identified with no false positives. Conclusions: PMCMR allows identification of HCM as the cause of sudden death using the SD of WT > 2.4 as the diagnostic parameter. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Progress in the Forensic Diagnosis)

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12 pages, 2678 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spectrophotometric Color Measurement to Assess Temperature of Exposure in Cortical and Medullar Heated Human Bones: A Preliminary Study

by Leticia Rubio, Ramona Díaz-Vico, Inés Smith-Fernández, Aníbal Smith-Fernández, Juan Suárez, Stella Martin-de-las-Heras and Ignacio Santos

Diagnostics 2020, 10(11), 979; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics10110979 - 20 Nov 2020

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 5222

Abstract

Heated-bone color changes may provide information about temperature of exposure, with interest for anthropologists and forensic experts. The aim of this study was to assess heat-induced color changes by spectrophotometry in cortical and medullar human bones heated at different temperatures and times. CIELAB [...] Read more.

Heated-bone color changes may provide information about temperature of exposure, with interest for anthropologists and forensic experts. The aim of this study was to assess heat-induced color changes by spectrophotometry in cortical and medullar human bones heated at different temperatures and times. CIELAB (International Commission on Illumination-LAB) color parameters (L*, a*, and b*) and whiteness (WI) and yellowness (YI) indexes were obtained by spectrophotometry in the cortical and medullar zones of 36 bone sections exposed at 200, 400, 600, and 800 °C for 30 and 60 min. The accuracy of color-based temperature estimations was evaluated by Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) analysis. Chromaticity a* showed the best significant discrimination power with the area under the ROC curve (AUC) values ranged from 0.9 to 1.0 in cortical zones and 0.7 to 1.0 in medullar zones for all temperatures of exposures and both time of exposures. Chromaticity b*, and WI and YI indexes showed an AUC of 1.0 at 400, 600, and 800 °C for 30 and 60 min in the cortical and medullar zones. The spectrophotometric color parameters provided a highly accurate estimation of the temperature of exposure to discriminate between temperatures and exposure times in the cortical and medullar zones. Spectrophotometric bone color measurement in cortical and medullar zones can be an objective and reproducible method to estimate the temperature of exposition, and it can be considered useful for forensic and anthropological purposes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Progress in the Forensic Diagnosis)

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11 pages, 7990 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hypo-Expression of Flice-Inhibitory Protein and Activation of the Caspase-8 Apoptotic Pathways in the Death-Inducing Signaling Complex Due to Ischemia Induced by the Compression of the Asphyxiogenic Tool on the Skin in Hanging Cases

by Aniello Maiese, Alessandra De Matteis, Giorgio Bolino, Emanuela Turillazzi, Paola Frati and Vittorio Fineschi

Diagnostics 2020, 10(11), 938; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics10110938 - 12 Nov 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1863

Abstract

The FLICE-inhibitory protein (c-FLIPL) (55 kDa) is expressed in numerous tissues and most abundantly in the kidney, skeletal muscles and heart. The c-FLIPL has a region of homology with caspase-8 at the carboxy-terminal end which allows the molecule to assume a tertiary structure [...] Read more.

The FLICE-inhibitory protein (c-FLIPL) (55 kDa) is expressed in numerous tissues and most abundantly in the kidney, skeletal muscles and heart. The c-FLIPL has a region of homology with caspase-8 at the carboxy-terminal end which allows the molecule to assume a tertiary structure similar to that of caspases-8 and -10. Consequently, c-FLIPL acts as a negative inhibitor of caspase-8, preventing the processing and subsequent release of the pro-apoptotic molecule active form. The c-FLIP plays as an inhibitor of apoptosis induced by a variety of agents, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF), T cell receptor (TCR), TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL), Fas and death receptor (DR). Increased expression of c-FLIP has been found in many human malignancies and shown to be involved in resistance to CD95/Fas and TRAIL receptor-induced apoptosis. We wanted to verify an investigative protocol using FLIP to make a differential diagnosis between skin sulcus with vitality or non-vital skin sulcus in hanged subjects and those undergoing simulated hanging (suspension of the victim after murder). The study group consisted of 21 cases who died from suicidal hanging. The control group consisted of traumatic or natural deaths, while a third group consisted of simulated hanging cases. The reactions to the Anti-FLIP Antibody (Abcam clone-8421) was scored for each section with a semi-quantitative method by means of microscopic observation carried out with confocal microscopy and three-dimensional reconstruction. The results obtained allow us to state that the skin reaction to the FLIP is extremely clear and precise, allowing a diagnosis of unequivocal vitality and a very objective differentiation with the post-mortal skin sulcus. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Progress in the Forensic Diagnosis)

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13 pages, 1649 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Proteomics in Deaths by Drowning: Diagnostic Efficacy of Apolipoprotein A1 and α-1 Antitrypsin, Pilot Study

by Diana Hernández-Romero, Encarnación Sánchez-Rodríguez, Eduardo Osuna, Agustín Sibón, Miriam Martínez-Villanueva, José A. Noguera-Velasco and María D. Pérez-Cárceles

Diagnostics 2020, 10(10), 747; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics10100747 - 24 Sep 2020

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2448

Abstract

Drowning is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The pathophysiology of drowning is complex and, sometimes, interpretation of the circumstances of death in the autopsy becomes the main source of information in its diagnosis. New advances in medical research, such as [...] Read more.

Drowning is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The pathophysiology of drowning is complex and, sometimes, interpretation of the circumstances of death in the autopsy becomes the main source of information in its diagnosis. New advances in medical research, such as proteomics, especially in forensic pathology, are still in the development. We proposed to investigate the application of Mass Spectrometry-based technologies, to identify differentially expressed proteins that may act as potential biomarkers in the postmortem diagnosis of drowning. We performed a pilot proteomic experiment with the inclusion of two drowned and two control forensic cases. After applying restrictive parameters, we identified apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) and α-1 antitrypsin as differentially expressed between the two diagnostic groups. A validation experiment, with the determination of both proteins in 25 forensic cases (16 drowned and 9 controls) was performed, and we corroborated ApoA1 higher values in the drowning group, whereas α-1 antitrypsin showed lower levels. After adjusting by confounder factors, both remained as predictive independent factors for diagnosis of drowning (p = 0.010 and p = 0.022, respectively). We constructed ROC curves for biomarkers’ levels attending at the origin of death and established an ApoA1 cut-off point of 100 mg/dL. Correct classification based on the diagnosis criteria was reached for 73.9% of the cases in a discriminant analysis. We propose apolipoprotein A1 (with our cutoff value for correct classification) and α-1 antitrypsin as valuable biomarkers of drowning. Our study, based on forensic cases, reveals our proteomic approach as a new complementary tool in the forensic diagnosis of drowning and, perhaps, in clinical future implications in drowned patients. However, this is a pilot approach, and future studies are necessary to consolidate our promising preliminary data. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Progress in the Forensic Diagnosis)

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9 pages, 539 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Both Autopsy and Computed Tomography Are Necessary for Accurately Detecting Rib Fractures Due to Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

by Kunio Hamanaka, Kei Nishiyama, Mami Nakamura, Marin Takaso and Masahito Hitosugi

Diagnostics 2020, 10(9), 697; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics10090697 - 15 Sep 2020

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3567

Abstract

Few studies have compared the sensitivities of autopsy and post mortem computed tomography (PMCT) in detecting rib fractures caused by cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). We aimed to compare the characteristics between both modalities for accurately detecting CPR-related rib fractures. This single-centre observational study included [...] Read more.

Few studies have compared the sensitivities of autopsy and post mortem computed tomography (PMCT) in detecting rib fractures caused by cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). We aimed to compare the characteristics between both modalities for accurately detecting CPR-related rib fractures. This single-centre observational study included adult patients with autopsy records and PMCT scans at our institution from January 2013 to March 2019. CPR-related rib fractures were evaluated using autopsy and PMCT findings. In 62 patients enrolled, 339 rib fractures were detected on autopsy and/or PMCT (222 fractures on both PMCT and autopsy, 69 on PMCT alone, and 50 on autopsy alone). The agreement of detection for both modalities was substantial (kappa coefficient, 0.78). In the logistic regression model, incomplete fractures detected by PMCT and age <75 years were significantly associated with findings that were negative on autopsy but positive on PMCT, while rib number (ribs 1–3 and 7–12) and fracture location (posterolateral and paravertebral) were significantly associated with negative PMCT findings but positive autopsy findings. Autopsy and PMCT showed complementary roles, and are thus necessary in accurately detecting CPR-related rib fractures. Combining both modalities may contribute to improved CPR quality and better understanding of discrepancy in characteristics between the two modalities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Progress in the Forensic Diagnosis)

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10 pages, 835 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Proposed Procedure for Discriminating between Nasal Secretion and Saliva by RT-qPCR

by Tomoko Akutsu and Ken Watanabe

Diagnostics 2020, 10(8), 519; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics10080519 - 26 Jul 2020

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2486

Abstract

In forensic casework, nasal secretion can be a good source of DNA. Moreover, saliva can prove useful in cases of sexual assault. However, discriminating between these body fluids is often difficult because of cross-reactivity between them on presumptive and confirmatory tests. Therefore, an [...] Read more.

In forensic casework, nasal secretion can be a good source of DNA. Moreover, saliva can prove useful in cases of sexual assault. However, discriminating between these body fluids is often difficult because of cross-reactivity between them on presumptive and confirmatory tests. Therefore, an RT-qPCR procedure was developed to discriminate between nasal secretion and saliva. Characteristic genes in nasal secretion and/or saliva (BPIFA1, STATH, HTN3, and PRH2) were selected as candidates. Discrimination criteria were established based on the expression levels of these markers in various body fluids. In addition, a flowchart was proposed and used to discriminate among nasal secretion, saliva, and other body fluids in various forensic samples. BPIFA1 was highly expressed in nasal secretion but was also expressed in saliva, semen, and vaginal fluid at trace levels. STATH was expressed in nasal secretion and saliva but not in other body fluids. HTN3 was specifically expressed in most of the saliva samples, as reported previously. Unexpectedly, PRH2 was expressed in only a few saliva samples. Using the proposed criteria and flowchart, nasal secretion and saliva were successfully discriminated among the various body fluids tested. The developed procedure could be useful in forensic casework. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Progress in the Forensic Diagnosis)

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7 pages, 1340 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Estimation of Cadaveric Age by Ultrasonography

by Hiroaki Ichioka, Daisuke Miyamori, Noboru Ishikawa, Risa Bandou, Nozomi Idota, Hiroki Kondou and Hiroshi Ikegaya

Diagnostics 2020, 10(7), 499; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics10070499 - 20 Jul 2020

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2141

Abstract

(1) Background: While decreasing bone mineral density (BMD) with age in living people has been well documented, a correlation between age and bone mineral density in deceased people has only been reported in a few studies. A correlation between age and BMD in [...] Read more.

(1) Background: While decreasing bone mineral density (BMD) with age in living people has been well documented, a correlation between age and bone mineral density in deceased people has only been reported in a few studies. A correlation between age and BMD in deceased people was investigated as an objective tool for age estimation of unidentified remains. (2) Methods: The Bone Area Ratio (BAR) was measured in 402 autopsy cases (143 females and 259 males over the age of 20). (3) Results: The correlation coefficient in the females was r = −0.5476, and the correlation coefficient in the males was r = −0.2166, indicating a stronger correlation in females than in males. A comparison of the BAR values in the deceased females for each age group with that in live females found no significant differences in the BAR values. BAR values in the deceased were similar to in live individuals, and this did not change with duration of the postmortem interval. (4) Conclusions: Measuring the BAR value based on bone mass using ultrasonic waves is rapid and easy, even for those lacking forensic training, and may be used to estimate the age of an individual and the likelihood of fracture due to trauma. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Progress in the Forensic Diagnosis)

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Review

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13 pages, 929 KiB

Open AccessReview

Time Flies—Age Grading of Adult Flies for the Estimation of the Post-Mortem Interval

by Jens Amendt, Valentina Bugelli and Victoria Bernhardt

Diagnostics 2021, 11(2), 152; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11020152 - 21 Jan 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3092

Abstract

The estimation of the minimum time since death is one of the main applications of forensic entomology. This can be done by calculating the age of the immature stage of necrophagous flies developing on the corpse, which is confined to approximately 2–4 weeks, [...] Read more.

The estimation of the minimum time since death is one of the main applications of forensic entomology. This can be done by calculating the age of the immature stage of necrophagous flies developing on the corpse, which is confined to approximately 2–4 weeks, depending on temperature and species of the first colonizing wave of flies. Adding the age of the adult flies developed on the dead body could extend this time frame up to several weeks when the body is in a building or closed premise. However, the techniques for accurately estimating the age of adult flies are still in their beginning stages or not sufficiently validated. Here we review the current state of the art of analysing the aging of flies by evaluating the ovarian development, the amount of pteridine in the eyes, the degree of wing damage, the modification of their cuticular hydrocarbon patterns, and the increasing number of growth layers in the cuticula. New approaches, including the use of age specific molecular profiles based on the levels of gene and protein expression and the application of near infrared spectroscopy, are introduced, and the forensic relevance of these methods is discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Progress in the Forensic Diagnosis)

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13 pages, 712 KiB

Open AccessReview

MicroRNAs as Useful Tools to Estimate Time Since Death. A Systematic Review of Current Literature

by Aniello Maiese, Andrea Scatena, Andrea Costantino, Marco Di Paolo, Raffaele La Russa, Emanuela Turillazzi, Paola Frati and Vittorio Fineschi

Diagnostics 2021, 11(1), 64; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11010064 - 03 Jan 2021

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 3684

Abstract

Estimating the time of death remains the most challenging question in forensic medicine, because post-mortem interval (PMI) estimation can be a remarkably difficult goal to achieve. The aim of this review is to analyze the potential of microRNAs (miRNAs) to evaluate PMI. MiRNAs [...] Read more.

Estimating the time of death remains the most challenging question in forensic medicine, because post-mortem interval (PMI) estimation can be a remarkably difficult goal to achieve. The aim of this review is to analyze the potential of microRNAs (miRNAs) to evaluate PMI. MiRNAs have been studied as hallmarks and biomarkers in several pathologies and have also showed interesting applications in forensic science, such as high sensible biomarkers in body fluid and tissue, for wound age determination and PMI evaluation due to their low molecular weight and tissue-specific expression. The present systematic review was carried out according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review (PRISMA) standards. We performed an electronic search of PubMed, Science Direct Scopus, and Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE) from the inception of these databases to 12 August 2020. The search terms were (“PMI miRNA” or “PMI micro RNA”) and (“miRNA” and “time of death”) in the title, abstract and keywords. Through analysis of scientific literature regarding forensic uses of miRNAs, has emerged that the intrinsic characteristics of such molecules, and their subsequent resistance to degradation, make them suitable as endogenous markers in order to determine PMI. However, further and larger studies with human samples and standardized protocols are still needed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Progress in the Forensic Diagnosis)

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21 pages, 394 KiB

Open AccessReview

MicroRNAs: An Update of Applications in Forensic Science

by Anna Rocchi, Enrica Chiti, Aniello Maiese, Emanuela Turillazzi and Isabella Spinetti

Diagnostics 2021, 11(1), 32; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11010032 - 26 Dec 2020

Cited by 40 | Viewed by 4399

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs containing 18–24 nucleotides that are involved in the regulation of many biochemical mechanisms in the human body. The level of miRNAs in body fluids and tissues increases because of altered pathophysiological mechanisms, thus they are [...] Read more.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs containing 18–24 nucleotides that are involved in the regulation of many biochemical mechanisms in the human body. The level of miRNAs in body fluids and tissues increases because of altered pathophysiological mechanisms, thus they are employed as biomarkers for various diseases and conditions. In recent years, miRNAs obtained a great interest in many fields of forensic medicine given their stability and specificity. Several specific miRNAs have been studied in body fluid identification, in wound vitality in time of death determination, in drowning, in the anti-doping field, and other forensic fields. However, the major problems are (1) lack of universal protocols for diagnostic expression testing and (2) low reproducibility of independent studies. This review is an update on the application of these molecular markers in forensic biology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Progress in the Forensic Diagnosis)

34 pages, 2115 KiB

Open AccessReview

Postmortem Protein Degradation as a Tool to Estimate the PMI: A Systematic Review

by Angela Zissler, Walter Stoiber, Peter Steinbacher, Janine Geissenberger, Fabio C. Monticelli and Stefan Pittner

Diagnostics 2020, 10(12), 1014; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics10121014 - 26 Nov 2020

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 3986

Abstract

Objectives: We provide a systematic review of the literature to evaluate the current research status of protein degradation-based postmortem interval (PMI) estimation. Special attention is paid to the applicability of the proposed approaches/methods in forensic routine practice. Method: A systematic review of the [...] Read more.

Objectives: We provide a systematic review of the literature to evaluate the current research status of protein degradation-based postmortem interval (PMI) estimation. Special attention is paid to the applicability of the proposed approaches/methods in forensic routine practice. Method: A systematic review of the literature on protein degradation in tissues and organs of animals and humans was conducted. Therefore, we searched the scientific databases Pubmed and Ovid for publications until December 2019. Additional searches were performed in Google Scholar and the reference lists of eligible articles. Results: A total of 36 studies were included. This enabled us to consider the degradation pattern of over 130 proteins from 11 different tissues, studied with different methods including well-established and modern approaches. Although comparison between studies is complicated by the heterogeneity of study designs, tissue types, methods, proteins and outcome measurement, there is clear evidence for a high explanatory power of protein degradation analysis in forensic PMI analysis. Conclusions: Although only few approaches have yet exceeded a basic research level, the current research status provides strong evidence in favor of the applicability of a protein degradation-based PMI estimation method in routine forensic practice. Further targeted research effort towards specific aims (also addressing influencing factors and exclusion criteria), especially in human tissue will be required to obtain a robust, reliable laboratory protocol, and collect sufficient data to develop accurate multifactorial mathematical decomposition models. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Progress in the Forensic Diagnosis)

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12 pages, 267 KiB

Open AccessReview

Current Methods for Body Fluid Identification Related to Sexual Crime: Focusing on Saliva, Semen, and Vaginal Fluid

by Koichi Sakurada, Ken Watanabe and Tomoko Akutsu

Diagnostics 2020, 10(9), 693; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics10090693 - 14 Sep 2020

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 6593

Abstract

Although, DNA typing plays a decisive role in the identification of persons from blood and body fluid stains in criminal investigations, clarifying the origin of extracted DNA has also been considered an essential task in proving a criminal act. This review introduces the [...] Read more.

Although, DNA typing plays a decisive role in the identification of persons from blood and body fluid stains in criminal investigations, clarifying the origin of extracted DNA has also been considered an essential task in proving a criminal act. This review introduces the importance of developing precise methods for body fluid identification. Body fluid identification has long relied on enzymatic methods as a presumptive assay and histological or serological methods as a confirmatory assay. However, because the latest DNA typing methods can rapidly obtain results from very small and even old, poorly preserved samples, the development of a novel corresponding body fluid identification method is required. In particular, an immunochromatographic method has been introduced to identify saliva and semen from sexual crimes. In addition, for vaginal fluid identification, attempts have been made in the past decade to introduce a method relying on body fluid-specific mRNA expression levels. At present, the development of molecular biological methods involving microRNA, DNA methylation, and resident bacterial DNA is ongoing. Therefore, in criminal investigations, body fluid identification is an essential task for correctly applying the results of DNA typing, although further research and development are required. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Progress in the Forensic Diagnosis)

Other

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8 pages, 348 KiB

Open AccessCommentary

New Frontiers and Old Challenges: How to Manage Incidental Findings When Forensic Diagnosis Goes Beyond

by Luciana Caenazzo, Pamela Tozzo and Kris Dierickx

Diagnostics 2020, 10(9), 731; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics10090731 - 22 Sep 2020

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2202

Abstract

Incidental findings (IFs) are well known in medical research and clinical practice as unexpected findings having potential health or reproductive importance for an individual. IFs are discovered under different contexts but do not fall within the aim of a study, and/or are unanticipated [...] Read more.

Incidental findings (IFs) are well known in medical research and clinical practice as unexpected findings having potential health or reproductive importance for an individual. IFs are discovered under different contexts but do not fall within the aim of a study, and/or are unanticipated or unintentionally revealed, and/or are not the specific focus or target of the particular research or clinical query. Today, in forensic settings, we can consider as incidental findings all the information that is neither related to the cause of death nor to the dynamic of the event or the scope of the forensic investigation. The question whether and how professionals should consider traditional values as guiding notions in the reporting of IFs in the context of forensic assessments is the focus of this article. We propose a descriptive analysis, which focuses on the forensic field, describing forensic situations in which IFs may occur, and whether and to whom they may be disclosed. Some considerations will be provided regarding forensic experts concerning their moral commitment to warn relatives about IFs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Progress in the Forensic Diagnosis)

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