Radiopaque Images Resembling Obturated Root Canals,

The practice of endodontics, while not as common as today, was performed during the WWII era. Some of the materials used to fill canals during this time period include gutta‐percha, calcium hydroxide, gold foil, and silver points. In this case study, fissures and fractures were present on the exposed root surfaces of the dental remains. Radiographs of the dental remains revealed canal systems similar to those obturated with a paste or semi‐solid material. The root surface defects appear to be the access point for the radiopaque material. As demonstrated in the case presentation, the radiographic image suggestive of a treated canal may easily mislead the analyst. The analyst should be suspicious of a radiopaque artifact if no evidence of access is apparent and fissures/fractures are present on the root surfaces. The defects in the tooth structure may possibly be explained by the exposure to a wet or damp environment.     

Comparison of DNA yield after long-term storage of Second World War bone samples

Sample storage is of paramount importance in forensic genetics laboratories since only optimal storage enables successful recovery of DNA from old bones that contain very low amount of severely degraded DNA. When identification of missing persons from skeletal remains is completed, bone sample is routinely stored at -20 °C for long-term storage for retesting in future, if necessary. After molecular genetic analyses of Slovenian Second World War (WWII) victims, small fragments of femurs were stored at -20 °C. Reduction in DNA recovery has been observed in frozen liquid DNA extracts by some authors and the goal of our study was to explore how freezing of bone samples affects the preservation of DNA. To achieve this goal, the difference in DNA yield in extracts obtained from WWII bones analyzed in 2009 (data from published paper) and DNA yield in extracts obtained from the same bones (piece sampled next to the one used in 2009) taken out of the freezer after long-term storage on -20 °C for 10 years was examined, using the same extraction method and the same quantification kit. Up to 100 ng DNA/g of bone powder was obtained from 57 WWII femurs and up to 31 ng DNA/g of bone powder from the same femurs investigated after long-term storage in this study. 0,5 g of bone powder was decalcified using full demineralization extraction method. The DNA was purified in a Biorobot EZ1 device (Qiagen) and DNA quantity determined with the Human Quantifiler kit (TFS). Statistical analysis showed significant difference in DNA yield in extracts obtained from WWII bones in 2009 and extracts obtained from the same bones stored at -20 °C after 10 years. As reported for frozen liquid DNA extracts, reduction in recovery of DNA was confirmed for frozen bone samples as well.