Anthropological facial ‘reconstruction’ – recognizing the fallacies, ‘unembracing’ the errors, and realizing method limits

Despite being practiced for over the last 200 years, facial approximation methods remain in their infancy as the soft tissue prediction methods employed have not been tested and justified. Scientific testing is the only way forward and much of it is needed. The lack of systematic scientific tests in the past has enabled many misleading notions to become established. Many of these notions appear to have arisen and been sustained as a result of practitioner biases--this is clearly evident even in the name commonly used to describe the method of building faces from skulls, for "facial reconstruction" implies everything the method is not, e.g., technical/scientific, exact, and credible. Although facial approximation methods are useful for forensic investigation (even if they do not generate identifications through true positive recognitions of the faces), the public should beware of the marketing and political ploys employed within the profession. These ploys give rise to some impressive, but unjustifiable claims--but do not just take my word for it; evaluate the evidence for yourself with disregard to the indoctrination waged by the facial "reconstruction" field in general, including that promoted by what I have had to say here. Use your own reason and intellect and see which conclusions you reach.     

间接酶标抗体染色法检测石蜡切片中鸡肾型传染性支气管炎病毒的研究

以抗鸡肾型传染性支气管炎病毒（ＮＩＢＶ）Ｔ株的鼠源超免疫血清为一级抗体,辣根过氧化物酶（ＨＲＰ）标记的羊抗鼠ＩｇＧ为二级抗体,建立了检测石蜡切片中ＮＩＢＶ抗原的间接酶标抗体染色技术。经过特异性试验和阻断性试验,表明该方法具有高度的敏感性和特异性。应用该法对人工感染ＮＩＢＶＣ９００１株的鸡气管和肾石蜡切片中的病毒抗原进行了检测,结果：气管从感染后０．５～１１ｄ,肾从感染后１～２０ｄ,均检测到病毒抗原,阳性染色主要集中于气管粘膜上皮细胞和肾小管上皮细胞浆内。     

甲醛固定及石蜡包埋组织的DNA分型及其应用

目的：建立甲醛固定及石蜡包埋组织ＤＮＡ的基因分型方法并使之应用于实际检案。方法：用Ｃｈｅｌｅｘ和有机溶剂提取法提取ＤＮＡ,以ＰＣＲ与反向探针杂交技术作ＰＭ和ＨＬＡ－ＤＱＡ１位点分型。结果：２６份包埋组织块有２４份能得到理想的分型结果。结论：本法可用于法医学个人识别和亲子鉴定     

损伤经过时间的实验研究

作者在全身麻醉及无菌条件下,通过在大白鼠背部皮肤造成的切创创口,于伤后不同时间杀死.每组中1只于处死前8小时注射秋水仙碱以观察核分裂.取损伤处皮肤,经福尔马林固定、石蜡切片、HE染色、Gorden和Sweet染色(网状纤维)、Weigert染色(弹力纤维)、PTAH染色(纤维蛋白)和Van Gieson染色,于显微镜下观察.结果发现创口逐日缩小,但其中24小时创口较12小时创口有所扩大,伤后第6～7日创口呈突击式缩小.通过组织学变化观察,作者对创口收缩现象在判断损伤时间的意义及形成机理作了讨论.     

Forensic Analysis of Human Autopsy Tissue for the Presence of Polydimethylsiloxane (Silicone) and Volatile Cyclic Siloxanes using Macro FT‐IR,FT‐IR Spectroscopic Imaging and Headspace GC‐MS

This study describes effective and straightforward primary and secondary methods for the detection of silicone in human autopsy tissue. The primary method is polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) specific and employs either macro‐attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR‐FT‐IR) spectroscopy for samples with a high PDMS concentration (relative to that of the matrix) or micro‐FT‐IR spectroscopic imaging in a reflection/absorption modality for samples with a low PDMS concentration. Although the secondary method is not PDMS specific, it employs headspace gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (HS/GC‐MS) for the detection of low molecular weight volatile cyclic siloxanes (VCS), which are characteristic marker compounds for PDMS. Overall, the combined results from the primary and secondary analyses provide reliable evidence for the presence of silicone.     

Development and Validation of a Technique for Casting Anatomical Features and Toolmarks

Time may elapse between examination of marks inflicted on the body and comparison with a potential weapon. Two‐dimensional photographs may be inadequate for effective comparison of a three‐dimensional mark with a putative instrument. Taking a cast and producing a positive image results in a lasting three‐dimensional record. This project aimed to develop and demonstrate the accuracy of an easy technique for production of long‐lasting positive images (using plaster of Paris and dental alginate). Casts of facial features of embalmed cadavers were used to produce a positive image of the face (death mask). Measurements of distances between facial anatomical landmarks were compared with measurements of distances between the same landmarks on the death masks to assess accuracy of reproduction. There were no significant differences between cadaver and death mask in 6 of 9 measurements, indicating this technique has high accuracy with less mobile facial features, but produces deformation of pliable features.     

血痕特异性mRNA标记研究

血痕是案发现场尤其是命案中比较常见的生物物证,而血痕的正确组织来源推断是当前鉴定工作中急需解决的问题。随着法医物证学的不断发展,以mRNA(messenger RNA)为基础的体液斑迹组织来源鉴定技术作为一种不同于传统血痕免疫学检测的新型方法,已经越加显示其独特的优越性。在该技术的基础上,实现共同提取生物物证的RNA与DNA的目标,建立体液斑迹鉴定与DNA分型兼容的方法,有利于现场重建,提高生物物证的证据效力,完善证据链。本研究建立了一个包括血痕总RNA提取、逆转录、荧光特异引物扩增、遗传分析仪电泳检测分析等步骤的血痕来源推断技术平台。实验共采集制备了40份的中国人群(女性)外周血、16份月经血样本,筛选了5个外周血标记:HBA、HBB、GYPA、SPTB、ALAS2,2个月经血标记:MMP7、MMP11,构建了一个囊括外周血、月经血特异标记的荧光复合扩增体系。结果显示mRNA技术为基础的鉴定血痕来源的方法是可行的,并且建立了血痕RNA检验的遗传分析仪结果判读方法。     

Eyeball Position in Facial Approximation: Accuracy of Methods for Predicting Globe Positioning in Lateral View

This study measured the accuracy of traditional and validated newly proposed methods for globe positioning in lateral view. Eighty lateral head cephalograms of adult subjects from Central Europe were taken, and the actual and predicted dimensions were compared. The anteroposterior eyeball position was estimated as the most accurate method based on the proportion of the orbital height (SEE = 1.9 mm) and was followed by the “tangent to the iris method” showing SEE = 2.4 mm. The traditional “tangent to the cornea method” underestimated the eyeball projection by SEE = 5.8 mm. Concerning the superoinferior eyeball position, the results showed a deviation from a central to a more superior position by 0.3 mm, on average, and the traditional method of central positioning of the globe could not be rejected as inaccurate (SEE = 0.3 mm). Based on regression analyzes or proportionality of the orbital height, the SEE = 2.1 mm.     

桃红四物汤促进产后血瘀大鼠子宫修复的作用

目的 观察桃红四物汤对产后血瘀大鼠子宫修复的促进作用,探讨其与内皮素-1（endothelin-1,ET-1）、诱导型一氧化氮合酶（inducible nitric oxide synthase,iNOS）及血管内皮生长因子（vascular endothelial growth factor,VEGF）和血管内皮生长因子受体2（vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2,VEGFR-2）的关联性。方法 选取产后血瘀模型复制成功的大鼠40只,将其随机分为桃红四物汤高剂量（18.0 g/kg）、中剂量（9.0 g/kg）、低剂量（4.5 g/kg）组,阳性对照组（益母草颗粒4.3 g/kg）和模型组（蒸馏水）,另取正常雌性大鼠作为正常对照组。连续给药7 d后,腹主动脉取血,分离子宫,苏木精-伊红染色法观察子宫血瘀状态,免疫组织化学法检测子宫VEGFR-2表达情况;酶联免疫吸附法检测血清中ET-1、iNOS及VEGF水平。结果 桃红四物汤可明显改善子宫血瘀程度,促进子宫组织中VEGFR-2的表达;桃红四物汤高、中剂量组大鼠血清VEGF及iNOS水平明显升高（P＜0.05）,ET-1水平明显降低（P＜0.05）。结论 桃红四物汤可促进产后血瘀大鼠子宫修复,其修复作用可能与调节子宫血管舒缩功能及促进子宫血管新生有关。     

载黄芪多糖组织工程支架促糖尿病大鼠皮肤创伤修复研究

目的 研究载黄芪多糖（Astragalus polysaccharides,APS）组织工程支架(APS/PDLGA)对糖尿病大鼠皮肤创面愈合的影响。方法 采用高压静电纺丝技术制备APS/PDLGA超细纤维,构成三维纤维网状组织工程支架;扫描电子显微镜观察纤维形貌,并计算直径;采用苯酚-浓硫酸法检测载药量与包封率;将APS/PDLGA用于糖尿病大鼠皮肤溃疡创面修复,采用苏木精-伊红染色观察各实验组皮肤修复进程。结果 APS/PDLGA纤维表面光滑、粗细均匀、直径（2.56±0.50）μm、载药量（5.22±0.076）%、包封率（90.06±1.31）%,覆盖APS/PDLGA纤维膜组的糖尿病大鼠皮肤创面约在第18天完全愈合,新生上皮外观与结构和正常皮肤相似,愈合速度明显快于空白PDLGA纤维膜组和对照组创面（P＜0.01）。结论 APS/PDLGA纤维组织工程支架可促进糖尿病大鼠皮肤创面愈合,有望应用于糖尿病皮肤溃疡治疗。