The fate of the chemical warfare agent during DNA extraction

Forensic laboratories do not have the infrastructure to process or store contaminated DNA samples that have been recovered from a crime scene contaminated with chemical or biological warfare agents. Previous research has shown that DNA profiles can be recovered from blood exposed to several chemical warfare agents after the agent has been removed. The fate of four toxic agents, sulfur mustard, sodium 2-fluoroacetate, sarin, and diazinon, in a lysis buffer used in Promega DNA IQ extraction protocol was studied to determine if extraction would render the samples safe. Two independent analytical methods were used per agent, selected from GC-MS, 1H NMR, 19F NMR, (31)P NMR, or LC-ES MS. The methods were validated before use. Determinations were carried out in a semi-quantitative way, by direct comparison to standards. Agent levels in the elution buffer were found to be below the detectable limits for mustard, sarin, sodium 2-fluoroacetate or low (<0.02 mg/mL) for diazinon. Therefore, once extracted these DNA samples could be safely processed in a forensic laboratory.     

Comparative Analysis of the Chemical Profiles of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine Based on Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography-Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (GC × GC-TOFMS)*

Abstract: The chemical profiling of illicit drugs is an important analytical tool to support the work of investigating and law enforcement authorities. In our work, comprehensive two‐dimensional gas chromatography–time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC‐TOFMS) combined with nontargeted, pixel‐based data analysis was adapted for the chemical profiling of 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). The validity and benefit of this approach was evaluated by analyzing a well‐investigated set of MDMA samples. Samples were prepared according to a harmonized extraction protocol to ensure the comparability of the chemical signatures. The nontargeted approach comprises preprocessing followed by analysis of variances as a fast filter algorithm for selection of a variable subset followed by partial least squares discriminant analysis for reduction to promising marker compounds for discrimination of the samples according to their chemical profile. Forty‐seven potential marker compounds were determined, covering most of the target impurities known from the harmonized one‐dimensional profiling as well as other compounds not previously elucidated.     

Recovery of Environmental Human DNA by Insects*,†

Abstract: We tested the hypotheses that foraging insects can acquire human DNA from the environment and that insect‐delivered human DNA is of sufficient quantity and quality to permit standard forensic analyses. Houseflies, German cockroaches, and camel crickets were exposed to dusty surfaces and then assayed for human mitochondrial and nuclear loci by conventional and qPCR, and multiplex STR amplification. Over two experiments, 100% of insect groups and 94% of dust controls tested positive for human DNA. Of 177 individuals, 33–67% tested positive and 13 yielded quantifiable human DNA (mean = 0.022 ± 0.006 ng; mean dust control = 2.448 ± 0.960 ng); four had at least one positive allele call for one or more locus; eight others showed multiple peaks at some loci. Results imply that application to routine forensic casework is limited given current detection methodology yet demonstrate the potential use of insects as environmental samplers for human DNA.     

新型手印提取器的研究

现场勘查中,技术人员对用粉末刷显的手印、灰尘加层手印拍照提取后,再用新型手印提取器提取效果更好。手印提取器使胶带与客体接触面积变小、压力均匀,从而避免在提取过程中产生气泡;同时,胶带具有粘性的一面与另一胶带紧密相粘,通过转动,能制成透明的手印检材,可直接通过印相放大、复印,或通过反差较大的衬底做背景进行比对鉴定。实践证明,运用手印提取器提取的手印具有高质量、手印特征反映好、保存时间长,而且在使用中方便简捷,提取速度快等优点。     

荧光钙血迹蓝钠试剂增强潜在多介质混合鞋印的应用

目的研究荧光钙血迹蓝钠试剂增强潜在灰尘水渍混合鞋印、灰尘尿渍混合鞋印、灰尘血渍混合鞋印的普适性。方法采用高压微雾雾化法,雾化增强常见的8种地板上的20%w/w灰尘含量的灰尘水渍、灰尘尿渍和灰尘血渍混合鞋印,并与平面扫描提取技术相比较。结果增强后的鞋印花纹清晰,呈亮蓝色,提取效果明显优于自然光下拍照提取,略优于平面扫描提取技术。结论荧光钙血迹蓝钠试剂能够有效增强潜在多介质混合鞋印,是一种便捷高效的潜在混合鞋印增强提取方法。     

关于天津市地方禁毒立法的探索

二十世纪八十年代后,毒品在中国又开始死灰复燃。针对日益严重的毒品违法犯罪,国家制定了一系列法律法规,在禁毒斗争中发挥了巨大作用。但是,由于毒品问题的特殊性和我国国情,仅全国统一禁毒立法还不够,尚需地方立法的细化和补充。本文根据对天津毒品问题的分析和对其他省、市、自治区已有地方禁毒立法的研究比较,指出了制定天津地方禁毒立法的必要性,提出了天津禁毒条例的体系设想,力求为天津的禁毒立法提供某些启示和借鉴,推动我市地方禁毒立法进程。