A sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay used to differentiate type AB specimen from a mixture of type A and type B specimens

A sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of ABO blood substances in human body fluids was devised. The ELISA plates coated with purified human anti-A or anti-B serum effectively captured the blood substances, and these were then analysed by the combination of rabbit anti-A and goat anti-B. This capture ELISA could differentiate the type AB specimen from a mixture of the type A and the type B specimens, and the method was applied to rape cases to make the ABO typing of the criminal.     

Medical confidentiality

Confidentiality in the medical relationship is an important, but by no means absolute, concept. It is a means by which the law protects the patient's privacy. But there are sometimes more important ideals than the protection of privacy. In order to determine whether confidentiality is to be recognised, the patient's interest in his privacy must be balanced with other potentially conflicting interests. Each legal system must determine for itself the weight to be given to any particular interest.     

Age estimation from the structure of adult human teeth: review of the literature.

The literature on age estimation from the structure of adult human teeth is reviewed. Several anatomic changes of teeth have been shown to be valuable in age determination, but there is still controversy concerning the accuracy of cemental annulation. It is believed that improvements in age estimation can be made using direct measurement rather than scoring systems.     

Thymus of abused/neglected children.

Forty-six cases of child abuse/neglect autopsied during the period of 1967 to 1990 were investigated. The weight and histological findings of the thymus were compared with those of control children. In most abused and/or neglected children, the weight of the thymus decreased conspicuously. Involution correlated well to the degree and period of maltreatment. In cases without weight loss of the thymus, i.e. spasmodic abuse by a mentally deranged parent or foster parent, a short history of maltreatment was noted. On the other hand, marked involution was observed in cases of prolonged physical abuse and/or neglect. Microscopically, a decrease in the number and pyknosis of lymphocytes were observed in the involuted thymus. Atrophy of the thymus was more conspicuous in the cortex than in medulla. Immunohistochemically, CD-1a positive cells (immature thymocytes) decreased in cases with thymic involution. This involution appears to be an important index of the degree and duration of child abuse/neglect. Furthermore, thymic involution in the early stage of childhood may also be related to insufficiency of the immune system.     

Toxicological findings in military aircraft fatalities from 1986-1990.

Toxicological findings in all military aircraft fatalities investigated by the Division of Forensic Toxicology at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology from 1986-1990 are presented. Carbon monoxide saturation levels greater than 10% were found in 4% of the 535 cases where appropriate specimens were collected. Positive ethanol findings were more indicative of postmortem formation than antemortem consumption. In only 1 case were abused drugs (cannabinoids in a passenger) detected. Other drugs identified included nicotine, chloroquine and over-the-counter analgesic agents, antihistamines and sympathomimetic drugs.     

Is crime scene examination science, and does it matter anyway?

This short piece aims to assess the kind of data collected by Crime Scene Examiners (CSEs), and to discuss whether this collection constitutes a scientific process. It also seeks to examine the balance of roles performed by the CSE, between data gatherer and investigator. The piece also aims to conclude on whether a clearer understanding of the structure of data collected by CSEs might be of some practical use in developing a greater understanding of the architecture of knowledge that forensic science as a whole relies upon. As a piece of work it is unapologetically theoretical in its perspective, and seeks to prompt further discussion regarding the structure of scientific knowledge, and any relevance this might have to its application in a forensic context. Ultimately, it seeks the inclusion of the processes of data gathering performed largely by CSEs within the wider processes of forensic science.