A method for the longitudinal sectioning of single hair samples

A simple technique is presented for the longitudinal sectioning of hair samples without the need for any embedding medium. The technique applies to single hair samples that are placed in a groove of a particular depth and can either be scraped or cut to the desired level. Planar sections are obtained that reveal the internal structure of the sample and are ideal for the application of surface analytical techniques for the study of internal transverse and longitudinal distributions of xenobiotics.     

A new improved method for extraction of DNA from teeth for the analysis of hypervariable loci

A new method for better recovery of DNA suitable for amplification of hypervariable loci from fragments of teeth, consisting of two steps-scraping and aspiration, and extensive decalcification-is reported. Higher yields of high molecular weight DNA were obtained from the root, pulp, and crown of all kinds of 120 teeth, irrespective of gender, age, and source of teeth. HLA DQA1, 5 poly markers (LDLR, GYPA, HBGG, D7S8, and Gc), and other 12 short tandem repeat loci (HPRTB, F13B, LPL, D13S317, D7S820, D5S818, D21S11, D18S51, FGA, D8S1179, D3S1358, and vWA) could be successfully amplified and typed from recovered DNA.     

Fatal accident with a special automobile

The authors report on a traffic accident in which the passenger of a Light Four-wheeled Vehicle (Microcar) approved for use by a disabled person was killed after a rear collision with a compact car. The severity of the accident trauma was critically determined by the vehicle's light construction. Consideration is also given to the legal situation regarding registration and driver's license issues.     

Dental age estimation and third molars: a preliminary study

The aim of the present investigation was to reconstruct the chronological age based on the dental developmental stages of third molars evaluated on orthopantomograms. A total of 1175 orthopantomograms were assembled from patients of Caucasian origin between 16 and 22 years of age. Each third molar present was scored by two observers according to a 10-stage developmental scale. The kappa statistics measured the intra- and inter-observer reliability. The general statistical analysis was based on multiple regression analysis in order to obtain multiple regression formulas for dental age estimation based on the number of third molars present on the evaluated orthopantomogram. No regression models were statistically significant when there was only one-third molar present because of the relatively small number of orthopantomograms that fitted this criterion. A strong agreement was found between the intra- and inter-observer measurements. The statistical analysis revealed both for males and females high Pearson correlation coefficients between contralateral third molars and smaller coefficients between antimeres. The obtained multiple regression formulas are only applicable in certain specified conditions, for instance when four third molars are present the following formulas should be used in a Caucasian male "age=10.2000+0.5122UL+0.5273LL" (developmental stage of upper and lower left third molars) or in case of a female "age=13.6206+0.1933UR+0.5080LR" (developmental stage of upper and lower right third molars). This investigation revealed that the chronological age of a Caucasian individual may be estimated based on regression formulas with a S.D. of 1.52 or 1.56 years for males and females, respectively, when all four third molars are present.     

Polymorphism at fifteen hypervariable microsatellite loci in four populations of Maharashtra,India

Polymorphism at 15 microsatellite loci was studied in four predominant, endogamous populations of Maharashtra state in India. The studied population included Marathas, Desasth Brahmins, Chitpavan Brahmins and Dhangars; all of whom belong to Marathi speaking linguistic group of India. The distribution of the allele pattern at 13 tetranucleotide repeat and two pentanucleotide repeat of Powerplex 16 System portrays that these markers are highly polymorphic and thus, informative in human identification and understanding diversity in the addressed populations.     

Genetic variation at 15 autosomal microsatellite loci in the three highly endogamous tribal populations of Orissa,India

Although microsatellite diversity in autosomal chromosomes has been extensively described for many of the Indian populations, there is still a lacuna left on information about the genetic diversity of tribal populations. This paper reports the genetic data on the three tribal populations belonging to the Austroloid ethnic group from Orissa (Juang, Paroja and Saora). The 15 STR (D3S1358, THO1, D21S11, D18S51, PentaE, D5S818, D13S317, D7S820, D16S539, CSF1PO, PentaD, vWA, D8S1179, TPOX, FGA) polymorphism would help to accentuate the STR database for better understanding of population genetics and forensic applications. The microsatellites included in the system are found to be highly polymorphic, with the combined power of exclusion being greater than 0.999, in all the three investigated populations.