Intelligent dental identification system (IDIS) in forensic medicine

This study reports the design and development of the intelligent dental identification system (IDIS), including its efficiency and reliability. Five hundred patients were randomly selected from the Dental Department at Police General Hospital in Thailand to create a population of 3000 known subjects. From the original 500 patients, 100 were randomly selected to create a sample of 1000 unidentifiable subjects (400 subjects with completeness and possible alterations of dental information corresponding to natural occurrences and general dental treatments after the last clinical examination, such as missing teeth, dental caries, dental restorations, and dental prosthetics, 100 subjects with completeness and no alteration of dental information, 500 subjects with incompleteness and no alteration of dental information). Attempts were made to identify the unknown subjects utilizing IDIS. The use of IDIS advanced method resulted in consistent outstanding identification in the range of 82.61-100% with minimal error 0-1.19%. The results of this study indicate that IDIS can be used to support dental identification. It supports not only all types of dentitions: primary, mixed, and permanent but also for incomplete and altered dental information. IDIS is particularly useful in providing the huge quantity and redundancy of related documentation associated with forensic odontology. As a computerized system, IDIS can reduce the time required for identification and store dental digital images with many processing features. Furthermore, IDIS establishes enhancements of documental dental record with odontogram and identification codes, electrical dental record with dental database system, and identification methods and algorithms. IDIS was conceptualized based on the guidelines and standards of the American Board of Forensic Odontology (ABFO) and International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL).     

法医学中的性别鉴定

对用形态学、细胞学、性激素检测、 DNA重组技术和聚合酶链式反应（ PCR）等方法进行性别鉴定进行了概述,显示骨骼的性别鉴定以形态学方法为好;对能获得足够量基因组 DNA的人体组织,最好用 PCR检测牙釉基因。而检测性染色质因阳性率较低,检测性激素仅适用于血痕检材, DNA分子杂交技术需要复杂的仪器及放射性同位素标记的探针,这些方法目前已较少应用。     

The use of moxibustion scars in the identification of individuals in forensic medicine

The use of moxibustion today does not only take place in Eastern Asia, but recently also in Europe and the United States. Moxibustion scars are often seen in autopsy cases in Japan. However, no reports of the use of moxibustion in autopsy cases have been reported. This paper reports on an autopsy case in which moxibustion scars were used to extrapolate on the past symptoms of the deceased, date of therapy and the location of the moxibustion clinic which administered the moxibustion.     

The impact of Daubert: implications for testimony and research in forensic anthropology (and the use of frontal sinuses in personal identification)

This paper emphasizes the need for objectivity and standardized methodologies in the forensic sciences, particularly physical anthropology. To this end, a review of important events in scientific evidence admissibility law, particularly the standards set in the case of Daubert v. Merrell-Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 1993, is presented. The method of confirming a putative identification by visual comparison of antemortem and postmortem frontal sinus radiographs is examined in light of current admissibility standards. The technique is revealed to have a number of shortcomings, including a lack of empirical testing, no estimates of potential error rates, no standards controlling the technique's operation, and no objective determination standards. These shortcomings may, in some instances, prevent resulting conclusions from being admissible evidence. It is suggested that some methods (including frontal sinus comparison) may require more rigorous testing in order to meet these new and stricter standards.     

The use of scanners in forensic medicine

The paper describes usage of scanners with computer image processing for illustrations and as an independent method of clues examination in forensic medical practice.     

放射影像学在法医学同一认定中的应用

应用放射影像学进行同一认定是法医放射学重要的研究方向之一。本文通过阐述放射影像学在法医学同一认定中的应用范围、历史性回顾、可用于同一认定标志的类型、注意事项和今后发展方向，为进一步完善放射影像学在法医学同一认定中的应用提供参考。     

A DNA-based approach for the forensic identification of Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) in a traditional Asian medicine

Attempts to prevent illegal trade in bile and gallbladders from Asiatic black bears, Ursus thibetanus, are hampered by difficulties associated with identifying such items. We extracted DNA from bile crystals of unknown species origin and generated partial cytochrome b (cyt b) sequences using either universal primers (positioned in conserved regions of cyt b), or primers designed on existing U. thibetanus sequences (UT). Species origin was determined by aligning resolved sequences to reference sequence data. The universal primers were unsuitable for U. thibetanus identification when multiple species templates were present in the samples. The UT primers amplified U. thibetanus DNA from all sample extracts, including those containing mixed species templates. The amplified fragment can distinguish U. thibetanus from the most closely related species, U. americanus, a distinct advantage of DNA sequencing over the methods currently used to analyze suspected U. thibetanus bile.     

The use of orthopedic surgical devices for forensic identification

Surgically implanted devices have become increasingly common in modern skeletal material. Therefore, having the knowledge of the variety of implanted orthopedic devices, their manufacturer, and where to find and how to use identifying numbers in such implants can assist in the identification process when traditional methods are not applicable. Orthopedic device manufacturers are required by the Safe Medical Devices Act of 1990 and the FDA Modernization Act of 1997 to track permanently implanted devices. Manufacturer information on orthopedic devices associates the orthopedic surgeon who implanted the device with the patient. By providing a current list of the most common orthopedic device manufacturers in the U.S.A. and the associated contact information, investigators will have updated tools for the individuation process. Despite numerous complicating factors regarding how device data are tracked, the information presented here can assist forensic professionals with obtaining presumptive and/or positive identifications.     

Polymorphism of structural genes of human mitochondrial DNA for forensic medical personal identification

An experimental study is described, which deals with polymorphism of nucleotide sequences of three structural genes of mitochondrial genome, i.e. of the 3d, small 4th, and 6th subunits of the NADN dehydrogenase complex (ND3, ND4L and ND6) sampled from Russian population. The genetic primary structure was analyzed in 63 unrelated individuals. The investigated locuses were shown to possess a pronounced polymorphism. A total of 19 polymorphic positions were detected in the ND3, ND4L and ND6 gene region within the studied sampling. Besides, a possibility is demonstrated in the paper that the mtDNA structural genes can be used as additional identification markers in the forensic experimental typing of the mtDNA control region.     

The use of monoclonal anti-M and anti-N antibodies in forensic medicine

Anti-M and anti-N monoclonal antibodies (MA) may be useful for bloodstain analysis by absorption-elution reaction. In order to detect N antigen in bloodstains aged up to 4 weeks the material tested must be treated by methanol. The material fixation is not recommended for analysis of "aged" bloodstains as well as for M antigen detection. Anti-M MA may be used for analysis of liquid blood using agglutination reaction.     

The use of anti-A and anti-B monoclonal antibodies in forensic medicine

Anti-A and anti-B monoclonal antibodies (MCA) may be used in the analysis of liquid blood, blood and saliva traces in order to detect ABO blood group antigens A and B using common methods of evidence investigation. Use of MCA and isohaemagglutinins anti-A and anti-B in absorbtion-elution reaction during the analysis of minute saliva traces enhances the possibility of establishing the origin of the saliva at the expense of nonsecretor.     

颅脑外伤后假性癫痫的法医学鉴定

通过对2例颅脑外伤后假性癫痫的法医鉴定案例的分析,总结假性癫痫发作的临床特点及外伤后假性癫痫发作与外伤性癫痫发作的鉴别要点。其法医学鉴定应结合颅脑外伤的程度、部位、颅内有无后遗病灶及临床发作特点等综合分析。     

Exploring the forensic use of the emotional recognition test (ERT)

General "hypo-emotionality" has now become a broadly accepted concept as one of the conspicuous psychological characteristics of repetitive, violent offenders. Numerous psychophysiological studies have verified this premise. The current study sought to examine the applicability of the Emotional Recognition Test (ERT) in a sample of 85 Korean inmates in a maximum-security prison. Two additional criterion groups were included for comparison: normal controls and schizophrenic inpatients. Because the ERT consists of problem-solving items, it is relatively free from response biases and is more efficient than measuring physiological responses. Results indicated that all criterion groups scored significantly differently on the ERT total and subscale scores. Additionally, similar to the physiological emotion-specific findings, emotion-specific subscales of the ERT indicated that offenders had significantly more difficulty in recognizing negative emotional stimuli, particularly sadness.     

Validation of the barcoding gene COI for use in forensic genetic species identification

The application of forensics to wildlife crime investigation routinely involves genetic species identification based on DNA sequence similarity. This work can be hindered by a lack of authenticated reference DNA sequence data resulting in weak matches between evidence and reference samples. The introduction of DNA barcoding has highlighted the expanding use of the mtDNA gene, cytochrome c oxidase I (COI), as a genetic marker for species identification. Here, we assess the COI gene for use in forensic analysis following published human validation guidelines. Validation experiments investigated reproducibility, heteroplasmy, mixed DNA, DNA template concentration, chemical treatments, substrate variation, environmental conditions and thermocycling parameters. Sequence similarity searches using both GenBank BLASTn and BOLD search engines indicated that the COI gene consistently identifies species where authenticated reference sequence data exists. Where misidentification occurred the cause was attributable to either erroneous reference sequences from published data, or lack of primer specificity. Although amplification failure was observed under certain sample treatments, there was no evidence of environmentally induced sequence mutation in those sequences that were generated. A simulated case study compared the performance of COI and cytochrome b mtDNA genes. Findings are discussed in relation to the utility of the COI gene in forensic species identification.     

Standardization in forensic medicine

It is for the first time that an issue is raised on the need to introduce a system of standardization into the forensic medical field. A general scheme is suggested of how to do it.