Molecular Identification of Necrophagous Dermestes Species in South Korea Using Cytochrome c Oxidase Subunit I Nucleotide Sequences (Genus Dermestes)

Species identification of necrophagous insects found on a dead body is an essential key in applying medicolegal entomology to the estimation of postmortem interval (PMI). Due to limited morphological identification of insect evidence, several studies have identified species using molecular information such as DNA markers. While considerable cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequence data of necrophagous fly species have been collected and annotated, those of necrophagous beetle species have not. Since necrophagous beetles such as Dermestes species have a larval period longer than that of flies, beetles are useful in even the late decomposition phase in estimating minimum PMI. To obtain the full-length COI gene sequences of six Dermestes species collected from South Korea, we designed primers for polymerase chain reaction amplification and sequencing. The obtained full COI nucleotide sequences were used for performing phylogenic analysis and comparison with previously reported sequences. The results demonstrated that the COI gene sequences could be used to identify forensically important Dermestes species in South Korea.     

CYP450在大鼠肝内氯胺酮N-去甲基代谢中的作用

目的考察细胞色素P450(CYP450)亚型酶在大鼠肝内氯胺酮N-去甲基代谢中的作用。方法选择CYP450亚型酶的专属性诱导剂β-萘黄酮、苯巴比妥钠、利福平、异烟肼和地塞米松,腹腔给药对实验大鼠肝微粒体进行诱导;考察经诱导后的各组肝微粒体氯胺酮N-去甲基代谢速率。选择CYP450专属性抑制剂α-萘黄酮、磺胺甲恶唑和奥美拉唑、硫酸奎宁和酮康唑,对大鼠空白肝微粒体进行体外抑制;考察各组氯胺酮N-去甲基代谢速率。上述结果分别与对照组进行比较。结果经苯巴比妥钠和地塞米松诱导,氯胺酮代谢速率有显著性变化(P<0.05～0.001),去甲氯胺酮的生成速率分别是对照组的2.3～4.6倍和1.4～1.9倍,其余诱导剂对氯胺酮代谢无影响。经酮康唑作用,氯胺酮的代谢产生显著抑制(P<0.001),N-去甲基活性为对照组的47.20%～28.97%,其余抑制剂对氯胺酮代谢无影响。结论CYP450亚型酶中CYP2B和CYP3A参与了氯胺酮N-去甲基代谢,氯胺酮可能在体内与上述酶底物发生相互作用。     

The Ratio of 6β‐Hydroxycortisol to Cortisol in Urine as a Measure of Cytochrome P450 3A Activity in Postmortem Cases

Poisoning can occur with chronic accumulation of a drug due to reduced metabolic capacity; conversely, under‐treatment may occur due to an increased metabolic rate. Over half of all drugs are metabolized by the cytochrome P450 3A complex (CYP3A). The activity of CYP3A can be assessed by the urinary ratio of 6β‐hydroxycortisol to cortisol. The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of this ratio as a postmortem marker for determining whether altered CYP3A enzyme activity occurred prior to death. In a series of 244 postmortem cases, this ratio ranged from 0.014 to 78.6 (median 3.50). The median was significantly higher (5.14) in a subgroup of 28 cases that exhibited the presence of CYP3A‐inducing drugs. In cirrhosis, the median ratio was 1.69. This pointed to a reduced metabolic capacity of CYP3A. Thus, the ratio may constitute a rough indicator of the CYP3A metabolic capacity, which could be of value in special cases.     

Identification of forensically important sarcophagid flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) in China, based on COI and 16S rDNA gene sequences

Insects attracted to cadavers may provide important indications of the postmortem interval (PMI). However, use of the flesh flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) for PMI estimation is limited as the species are often not morphologically distinct, especially as immatures. In this study, 23 forensically important flesh flies were collected from 13 locations in 10 Chinese provinces. Then, a 278-bp segment of the cytochrome oxidase subunits one (COI) gene and a 289-bp segment of the 16S rDNA gene of all specimens were successfully sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis of the sequenced segments showed that all sarcophagid specimens were properly assigned into four species (Boerttcherisca peregrina [Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830], Helicophagella melanura [Meigen, 1826], Parasarcophaga albiceps [Meigen, 1826], and Parasarcophaga dux [Thompson, 1869]) with relatively strong supporting values, thus indicating that the COI and 16S rDNA regions are suitable for identification of sarcophagid species. The difference between intraspecific threshold and interspecific divergence confirmed the potential of the two regions for sarcophagid species identification.     

MAO基因遗传多态性及与精神疾病相关性研究进展

单胺氧化酶(monoamine oxidase,MAO)是调控儿茶酚胺和5-羟色胺等单胺类氧化脱氨的一类重要酶,广泛分布于包括神经系统在内的人体各种组织中,具有多种生物学功能。MAO有两种类型,MAO-A和MAO-B。MAO基因具有遗传多态性,其中部分多态性位点与某些精神疾病如严重抑郁障碍、酒精中毒、反社会情感障碍及精神分裂症等有一定的相关性。MAO基因遗传多态性的研究,可能为法医学个人识别与亲权鉴定提供新的遗传标记,并为司法精神病鉴定提供参考性遗传学指标。     

A Molecular Key for the Identification of Blow Flies in Southeastern Nebraska*

Abstract: Immature blow flies (Calliphoridae) are typically the first colonizers of cadavers. Identification of the early instars using traditional, morphology‐based keys is difficult because of their small size, similarity, and simplicity in external morphology. Information derived from molecular genetic data would augment the accurate identification of immature flies. Nine species of blow flies commonly found in southeastern Nebraska were used to examine the utility of molecular‐based keys. Polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphisms (PCR–RFLP) were investigated with 10 common, inexpensive, restriction enzymes from an amplicon of approximately 1500 bp spanning the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene. A simple molecular taxonomic key, comprising RFLP from the restriction enzymes HinfI and DraI, enabled the differentiation of all species used. Further development of PCR–RFLP, including more extensive and intensive examination of blow flies, would benefit forensic laboratories in the accurate identification of evidence consisting of immature blow flies.     

Molecular Identification of Indian Crocodile Species: PCR‐RFLP Method for Forensic Authentication*

Abstract: South East Asian countries are known for illegal poaching and trade of crocodiles clandestinely, to be used in skin, medicinal, and cosmetic industries. Besides crocodiles being listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, India has its Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 for conservation of crocodile species. Hitherto, lack of any rapid and reliable technique for examinations of crocodile‐based crime exhibits such as skin, bones, etc. has been a major problem for an effective promulgation of law on illegal trade. DNA‐based identification of species using PCR‐RFLP technique for an apt identification of all the three Indian crocodile species namely, Crocodylus porosus, Crocodylus palustris and Gavialis gangeticus is presented here. A 628 bp segment of cytochrome b gene was amplified using novel primers followed by restriction digestion with three enzymes i.e., HaeIII, MboI, and MwoI, separately and in combination. The technique has produced a species‐specific pattern for identifying the three crocodile species individually, which fulfills the requirement for its forensic application. It is expected that the technique will prove handy in identification of all the three Indian crocodile species and strengthen conservation efforts.     

左归饮水提物对大鼠Cyp2b1、Cyp2c11、 Cyp2c7亚酶活性的影响

目的 采用Cocktail探针药物法评价左归饮对大鼠体内细胞色素氧化酶P450亚型酶Cyp2b1、Cyp2c11和Cyp2c7代谢活性的影响,为左归饮的开发应用提供实验依据。方法 选用阿莫地喹、安非他酮、奥美拉唑分别作为Cyp2b1、Cyp2c11和Cyp2c7的探针底物,制备成Cocktail混合溶液。将SD雄性大鼠分为实验组和空白组,实验组每日清晨灌服高、中、低剂量左归饮溶液,空白组每日清晨灌服空白溶剂,均连续给药14 d。第14天清晨尾静脉注射混合探针药物后于各时间点测定大鼠体内探针药物的血药浓度。经DAS 2.0软件计算探针药物的药物代谢动力学参数,评价左归饮对大鼠体内代谢酶活性的影响。采用LC-MS/MS法同时测定3种探针药物的血药浓度。结果 与空白组比较,高、中、低剂量左归饮连续给药对Cyp2b1、Cyp2c7和Cyp2c11酶活性的影响均无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。结论 左归饮配伍其他药物使用对代谢酶无明显影响,左归饮可在临床上广泛地配伍应用。     

脑缺氧损伤后线粒体途径神经元凋亡

脑缺氧后神经元线粒体损伤不单使细胞发生能量缺失和功能丧失,还可以介导凋亡调节信号,是缺氧损伤后神经元凋亡的一个中心环节。线粒体膜通透性转变,释放细胞色素C活化特定的caspase蛋白酶,使细胞进入不可逆的凋亡程序中;Bcl-2家族促凋亡和抑制凋亡成员之间相互作用,调控细胞色素C释放,调节线粒体介导的凋亡过程。     

STRESS,GENES, AND GENERALIZABILITY ACROSS GENDER: EFFECTS OF MAOA AND STRESS SENSITIVITY ON CRIME AND DELINQUENCY*

In the current study, we extend the gene‐by‐environment interaction (cGxE) literature by examining how a widely studied polymorphism, the MAOA upstream variable number tandem repeat (MAOA‐uVNTR) interacts with distal and proximal stressors to explain variation in crime and delinquency. Prior research findings have revealed that MAOA‐uVNTR interacts with single indicators of environmental adversity to explain criminal behavior in general‐population and incarcerated samples. Nevertheless, the genetically moderated stress sensitivity hypothesis suggests that increased risk for criminal behavior associated with variation in the MAOA‐uVNTR can be best understood in the context of both distal stress during childhood and proximal stress in adulthood. Therefore, we employed Tobit regression analyses to examine a gene–distal–proximal environment (CGxExE) interaction across gender in a sample of university students (n = 267) and with data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health; n = 1,294). The results across both sets of analyses demonstrate that variation in the MAOA‐uVNTR interacts with distal and proximal stress to lead to increased risk for criminal behavior in males. Although proximal life stress is associated with an increase in crime and delinquency, this effect is more pronounced among MAOA‐L allele carriers that have experienced distal stress.