Study of Short- and Long-Term Storage of Teeth and Its Influence on DNA

Abstract:  DNA degradation can interfere with the resolution of forensic cases. Allelic dropout often reduces the opportunity for adequate comparisons between degraded and reference samples. This study analyzed DNA degradation in 24 extracted teeth after storage at room temperature for 0, 2, 5, and 10 years. DNA concentration, quantified by dot-blot hybridization, declined significantly for the first 2 years, but there was no significant further degradation from the second to the tenth year of storage. COfiler™ analysis was used and the allelic dropout ratio for the amelogenin locus relative to CSF1PO locus was also estimated. Statistically significant differences were found between fresh teeth and teeth from the 2- and 5-year groups but not from the 10-year group. Under our storage conditions most of the DNA degradation occurred during the first 2 years. Further research is needed to control for individual and external factors that could affect DNA.     

Genetic polymorphism of 14 non-CODIS STR loci for forensic use in southeast China population

We investigated 14 polymorphic STR loci (D1S2142, D2S1360, D3S1545, D7S1517, D10S2325, D12S391, D13S1492, D14S306, D15S659, D16S3253, D18S1270, D19S253, D20S470, D21S1437) which are not included in the standard sets of forensic loci (CODIS) in a sample of 216 unrelated healthy southeast Chinese individuals. The studied loci were highly informative and did not show departures from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The accumulated powers of discrimination and power of exclusion for the 14 loci were 99.9999999999 and 99.999998%, respectively. No linkage was observed between the 14 loci and the traditional set of STR markers included in commercially available kits (the AmpFLSTR IdentifilerTM 15 System loci). We thus considered the studied 14 STRs are informative and when necessary, can be used as the candidate genetic markers in the study and application in genetics and forensic practice.     

A case of fatal aconitine poisoning by Monkshood ingestion

Accidental aconitine poisoning is extremely rare in North America. This report describes the confirmation of a case of accidental aconitine poisoning using a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. The case involved a 25-year-old man who died suddenly following a recreational outing with friends where he consumed a number of wild berries and plants including one that was later identified as Monkshood (Aconitum napellus). Postmortem blood and urine samples were available for analysis. All routine urine and blood toxicology screens were negative. The LC-MS/MS method allowed sensitive quantification of aconitine, the main toxin in A. napellus, and showed 3.6 and 149 microg/L in blood and urine, respectively. These concentrations were similar to that reported in other aconitine-related deaths. This case illustrates the dangers of consuming unidentified plants, and documents concentrations of aconitine in blood and urine in a fatal case of A. napallus-related poisoning.     

Morbidity Involving the Hallucinogenic Designer Amines MDA and 2C‐I*

Abstract: A case is presented of a 39‐year‐old woman who suffered severe debilitation because of a hemorrhagic stroke in the context of substance abuse. The patient presented to the emergency room with rapidly diminishing mental status, hypertension, and vasoconstriction; her friends provided a history of ingestion of cocaine, 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and 2C‐I, a novel designer amine. A multi‐targeted LC‐MS/MS method for sympathomimetic amines and related drugs in urine detected and quantified 2C‐I and MDA, while ruling out MDMA. The cause of the stroke was determined to be an underlying cerebrovascular abnormality called Moyamoya, secondary to substance abuse. In clinical laboratories, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry or liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) confirmation of a positive amphetamine immunoassay is usually directed only towards amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDMA and MDA. This report demonstrates the utility of testing for a wider menu of compounds using LC‐MS/MS in order to better characterize the prevalence and toxicities of novel amines such as 2C‐I.     

应用常染色体STR基因座共有等位基因数判别全同胞关系

目的建立基于常染色体STR基因座共有等位基因数的全同胞关系判别标准。方法根据280对全同胞及2003对无关个体Identifiler系统15个STR基因座的分型结果,对15个STR基因座的共有等位基因数（S15）和全同胞指数（FSI）进行统计,应用SAS8.2软件包得出Fisher判别函数并与ITO法结果进行比较。结果全同胞对及无关个体对中共有等位基因数目均符合正态分布。采用Identifiler系统15个STR基因座共有等位基因数进行全同胞关系判别时,判别函数分别为：ZFS=3.26970S15-31.51174和ZUI=1.70058S15-8.52411。用上述判别函数进行全同胞/无关个体关系判别时的平均错判率为0.0298。15个STR基因座共有等位基因数法、CODIS13个STR基因座共有等位基因数法与ITO法判别结果差异无统计学意义。结论应用常染色体STR基因座的共有等位基因数判别全同胞关系简便、可信,易于掌握且不受STR基因座等位基因频率的影响。     

6个五核苷酸STR基因座荧光复合扩增体系的建立

目的 构建6个五核苷酸STR基因座荧光复合扩增体系。方法筛选6个多态性程度较高的五核苷酸STR基因座D10S2325、Penta B、Penta W、PentaX、Penta D和PentaE,按照复合扩增引物设计要求,重新设计引物并标记荧光染料,经反复调整和优化,构建6基因座荧光复合扩增体系,并用该复合扩增体系对239名武汉汉族无关个体进行分型。结果6个五核苷酸STR基因座荧光复合扩增体系分型稳定,可重复性好,与各自相应单基因座分型结果完全一致;累积个人识别率达0．999999988,累积非父排除率达0．998063807。结论本文构建的6个五核苷酸STR基因座荧光复合扩增体系具有很高的法医学实用价值,可作为商品化试剂盒的有效补充。     

略论欠缺诉讼行为能力人诉讼行为的效力

欠缺诉讼能力当事人诉讼行为效力是指具有诉讼权利能力而不具有完全诉讼能力的人所实施的诉讼行为 ,因其缺乏诉讼行为主体生效要件 ,在诉讼法上产生何种法律后果。我国应当从司法公正与程序安定、诉讼效益的平衡、对当事人保护与制裁的平衡等角度出发 ,构建我国的诉讼行为规则     

Developmental Validation of the ANDE 6C System for Rapid DNA Analysis of Forensic Casework and DVI Samples

A developmental validation was performed to demonstrate reliability, reproducibility, and robustness of the ANDE Rapid DNA Identification System for processing of crime scene and disaster victim identification (DVI) samples. A total of 1705 samples were evaluated, including blood, oral epithelial samples from drinking containers, samples on FTA and untreated paper, semen, bone, and soft tissues. This study was conducted to address the FBI’s Quality Assurance Standards on developmental validation and to accumulate data from a sufficient number of unique donors and sample types to meet NDIS submission requirements for acceptance of the ANDE Expert System for casework use. To date, no Expert System has been approved for such samples, but the results of this study demonstrated that the automated Expert System performs similarly to conventional laboratory data analysis. Furthermore, Rapid DNA analysis demonstrated accuracy, precision, resolution, concordance, and reproducibility that were comparable to conventional processing along with appropriate species specificity, limit of detection, performance in the presence of inhibitors. No lane-to-lane or run-to-run contamination was observed, and the system correctly identified the presence of mixtures. Taken together, the ANDE instrument, I-Chip consumable, FlexPlex chemistry (a 27-locus STR assay compatible with all widely used global loci, including the CODIS core 20 loci), and automated Expert System successfully processed and interpreted more than 1200 unique samples with over 99.99% concordant CODIS alleles. This extensive developmental validation data provides support for broad use of the system by agencies and accredited forensic laboratories in single-source suspect-evidence comparisons, local database searches, and DVI.     

1066例新疆汉族人群21个常染色体STR基因座遗传多态性分析

目的研究21个常染色体STR基因座(CSF1PO,D3S1358,D5S818,D7S820,D8S1179,D13S317,D16S539,D18S51,D21S11,FGA,TH01,VWA,D2S1338,D19S433,D1S1656,D12S391,D2S441,D10S1248,TPOX,D22S1045,SE33)在新疆汉族人群中的遗传多态性。方法用GlobalFiler^TM R PCR Amplification荧光标记试剂盒对1066例新疆汉族无关个体的DNA进行PCR扩增,3500遗传分析仪电泳分析,用GeneMapper■ID-X v1.4软件分析等位基因片段大小,用Modified-Powerstates和Arlequin v3.5分析软件进行等位基因频率和法医学常用参数统计分析。结果在新疆汉族人群中,21个常染色体STR基因座不存在连锁不平衡现象,基因型分布符合Hardy–Weinberg平衡,共检出282个等位基因和1147种基因型,杂合度期望值(He)范围从0.6291(TPOX)到0.9428(SE33),多态信息含量(PIC)范围从0.5648(TPOX)到0.9393(SE33),累计个体识别率(CDP)>0.99999999999999999999。结论新疆汉族人群21个常染色体STR基因座具有较高多态性,可以用于法医学亲权鉴定和个体识别,也可以用于人类学和遗传学研究。