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Twin zygosity testing for medical purposes
Journalof ClinicalForensicMedicine(1999) 6, 168-171 © APS/HarcourtPublishersLtd 1999
LITERA TURE CITATION A selection of author's abstracts of recent articles from other journals of relevance to the readership of the Journal o f Clinical Forensic Medicine. F u l l c o p i e s o f t h e s e p a p e r s a r e not a v a i l a b l e f r o m t h e Journal o f Clinical Forensic Medicine. Journal o f Clinical Forensic Medicine ( 1 9 9 9 ) 6, 1 6 8 - 1 7 1
IDENTIFICATION Utility of caffeine analysis for forensic hair discrimination N. T a n a d a , S. K a s h i m u r a , M. Kageura, K. H a r a Nippon Hoigaku Zasshi (4): 233~37, 1998 Aug
IDENTIFICATION
Prediction of height from percutaneous tibial length amongst Oriya population N. K. M o h a n t y
Japanese Journal of Legal Medicine 52
Forensic Science International 98(3): 137-141, 1998 Dec 21
Utility of caffeine analysis for the purpose of forensic hair discrimination was evaluated. Methanol extracts of each 5-era strand of scalp hair, after its incubation at 37°C for 15 h, was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). For quantitative analysis of caffeine, caffeine-d3 was added as internal standard to the methanol extract. Hair specimens were obtained from three victims and from twenty-two volunteers. The results showed that caffeine levels in hair varied according to each individual; caffeine was detected up to a maximum level of 4.19 ng/5-cm hair. The concentrations of caffeine in hair obtained from four different regions of the scalp in 22 volunteers showed a coefficient of variation not greater than 24.7% for each individual. Based on our data, it was concluded that caffeine levels give relatively high reliability for discriminating a victim's hair from others at a criminal or accidental scene, although it should be used in combination with morphological examination and ABO blood group determination.
Establishing individuality on the mutilated part of a dead body is quite a difficult work in forensic medicine. Among the factors required, to establish individuality of an unidentified dead body or any mutilated part of such dead body, height is one of them. In the present work an attempt has been made to calculate the height from the percutaneous tibial length (PCTL) as measured by surface anatomical landmarks that is between the most prominently palpable part of the medial condyle of tibia and tip of the medial malleolus. To find out the relationship of PCTL with that of the height and to evolve a regression equation formula necessary statistical evaluation has been done on the data obtained from 1000 adult individuals comprising of 500 males and 500 females. By using the regression equation formula so derived the height of an individual can be calculated by the help of PCTL, when only the mutilated ley portion is available for autopsy examination.
Use of bone trabeculae to establish positive identification
Twin zygosity testing for medical purposes D.M. St. Clair, J.B. St. Clair, O.R Swainson, E Bamforth, G.A. M a c h i n
R. W. M a n n Forensic Science International 98 (1-2): 91-99, 1998 Nov 30
American Journal of Medical Genetics 77 (5): 412-414, 1998 Jun 5
Radiographic examination of 42 adult distal left femora and 38 proximal left tibiae revealed that no two bones were identical in the pattern and appearance of the trabeculae. In each case, a minimum of four distinct osseous features was easily visible on radiograph. The results indicate that radiolucencies and radiodensities in the distal femur and proximal tibia are valid individualizing features for establishing a positive personal identification in human remains.
After being poisoned by eating the mushroom species Cortinarius speciosissimus, a twin developed interstitial nephritis with acute renal failure. He received a renal transplant from his living twin brother, who was presumed dizygotic on phenotypic grounds. Fifteen years later, the twins were zygosity tested by DNA 'fingerprint analysis' and found to be monozygotic, despite important phenotypic discordances. The recipient has discontinued immunosuppression therapy and remains well after 9 months. We suggest that, for medical and other reasons, zygosity should be determined at birth on all like-sexed twins.
Handedness identification from intertubercular sulcus of the humerus by discriminant function analysis K. G. Selvaraj, V. Selvakuhmar, I. I n d r a s i n g h , G. C h a n d i Forensic Science International 98 (1-2): 101 108, 1998 Nov 30
DRUGS
The accurate determination of skeletal handedness is a critical requirement in physical anthropology and forensic science. To differentiate handedness, discriminant function analysis is applied using the parameters of right and left intertubercnlar sulci. A total of 200 matched unpaired adult humeri (100 right and 100 left), collected from the Department of Anatomy, were used to measure four parameters of the intertubercular sulcus namely, width (X 1), depth (X2), angle of medial wall 0(3) and angle of lateral wall (X4) and to note the presence of supratubercular ridge of Meyer (X5). The discriminant function obtained with the significant variables, angle of medial wall (X3), angle of lateral wall (X4) and presence of the supratubercular Meyer (X5) is: Y = 0.093X3 + 0.056X4 + 0.775X5 - 13.46. The accuracy of correct classification using the discriminant function is 89% which is the best starting point for handedness determination approach. The methodology of using discriminant function can be crucial for medicolegal jurisprudence.
Analysis of psilocybin and psilocin in Psilocybe subcubensis Guzman by ion mobility spectrometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry T. Keller, A. Schneider, R Regenscheit, R. Dirnhofer, T. Rucker, J. Jaspers, W. Kisser Forensic Science International 99 (2): 93-105, 1999 Jan 11 A new method has been developed for the rapid analysis of psilocybin and/or psilocin in fungus material using ion mobility spectrometry. Quantitative analysis was performed by gas chromatographymass spectrometry after a simple one-step extraction involving homogenization of the dried fruit bodies of fungi in chloroform and derivatization with MSTFA. The proposed methods resulted in rapid procedures useful in analyzing psychotropic fungi for psilocybin and psilocin. 168
LITERA TURE CITATION A selection of author's abstracts of recent articles from other journals of relevance to the readership of the Journal o f Clinical Forensic Medicine. F u l l c o p i e s o f t h e s e p a p e r s a r e not a v a i l a b l e f r o m t h e Journal o f Clinical Forensic Medicine. Journal o f Clinical Forensic Medicine ( 1 9 9 9 ) 6, 1 6 8 - 1 7 1
IDENTIFICATION Utility of caffeine analysis for forensic hair discrimination N. T a n a d a , S. K a s h i m u r a , M. Kageura, K. H a r a Nippon Hoigaku Zasshi (4): 233~37, 1998 Aug
IDENTIFICATION
Prediction of height from percutaneous tibial length amongst Oriya population N. K. M o h a n t y
Japanese Journal of Legal Medicine 52
Forensic Science International 98(3): 137-141, 1998 Dec 21
Utility of caffeine analysis for the purpose of forensic hair discrimination was evaluated. Methanol extracts of each 5-era strand of scalp hair, after its incubation at 37°C for 15 h, was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). For quantitative analysis of caffeine, caffeine-d3 was added as internal standard to the methanol extract. Hair specimens were obtained from three victims and from twenty-two volunteers. The results showed that caffeine levels in hair varied according to each individual; caffeine was detected up to a maximum level of 4.19 ng/5-cm hair. The concentrations of caffeine in hair obtained from four different regions of the scalp in 22 volunteers showed a coefficient of variation not greater than 24.7% for each individual. Based on our data, it was concluded that caffeine levels give relatively high reliability for discriminating a victim's hair from others at a criminal or accidental scene, although it should be used in combination with morphological examination and ABO blood group determination.
Establishing individuality on the mutilated part of a dead body is quite a difficult work in forensic medicine. Among the factors required, to establish individuality of an unidentified dead body or any mutilated part of such dead body, height is one of them. In the present work an attempt has been made to calculate the height from the percutaneous tibial length (PCTL) as measured by surface anatomical landmarks that is between the most prominently palpable part of the medial condyle of tibia and tip of the medial malleolus. To find out the relationship of PCTL with that of the height and to evolve a regression equation formula necessary statistical evaluation has been done on the data obtained from 1000 adult individuals comprising of 500 males and 500 females. By using the regression equation formula so derived the height of an individual can be calculated by the help of PCTL, when only the mutilated ley portion is available for autopsy examination.
Use of bone trabeculae to establish positive identification
Twin zygosity testing for medical purposes D.M. St. Clair, J.B. St. Clair, O.R Swainson, E Bamforth, G.A. M a c h i n
R. W. M a n n Forensic Science International 98 (1-2): 91-99, 1998 Nov 30
American Journal of Medical Genetics 77 (5): 412-414, 1998 Jun 5
Radiographic examination of 42 adult distal left femora and 38 proximal left tibiae revealed that no two bones were identical in the pattern and appearance of the trabeculae. In each case, a minimum of four distinct osseous features was easily visible on radiograph. The results indicate that radiolucencies and radiodensities in the distal femur and proximal tibia are valid individualizing features for establishing a positive personal identification in human remains.
After being poisoned by eating the mushroom species Cortinarius speciosissimus, a twin developed interstitial nephritis with acute renal failure. He received a renal transplant from his living twin brother, who was presumed dizygotic on phenotypic grounds. Fifteen years later, the twins were zygosity tested by DNA 'fingerprint analysis' and found to be monozygotic, despite important phenotypic discordances. The recipient has discontinued immunosuppression therapy and remains well after 9 months. We suggest that, for medical and other reasons, zygosity should be determined at birth on all like-sexed twins.
Handedness identification from intertubercular sulcus of the humerus by discriminant function analysis K. G. Selvaraj, V. Selvakuhmar, I. I n d r a s i n g h , G. C h a n d i Forensic Science International 98 (1-2): 101 108, 1998 Nov 30
DRUGS
The accurate determination of skeletal handedness is a critical requirement in physical anthropology and forensic science. To differentiate handedness, discriminant function analysis is applied using the parameters of right and left intertubercnlar sulci. A total of 200 matched unpaired adult humeri (100 right and 100 left), collected from the Department of Anatomy, were used to measure four parameters of the intertubercular sulcus namely, width (X 1), depth (X2), angle of medial wall 0(3) and angle of lateral wall (X4) and to note the presence of supratubercular ridge of Meyer (X5). The discriminant function obtained with the significant variables, angle of medial wall (X3), angle of lateral wall (X4) and presence of the supratubercular Meyer (X5) is: Y = 0.093X3 + 0.056X4 + 0.775X5 - 13.46. The accuracy of correct classification using the discriminant function is 89% which is the best starting point for handedness determination approach. The methodology of using discriminant function can be crucial for medicolegal jurisprudence.
Analysis of psilocybin and psilocin in Psilocybe subcubensis Guzman by ion mobility spectrometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry T. Keller, A. Schneider, R Regenscheit, R. Dirnhofer, T. Rucker, J. Jaspers, W. Kisser Forensic Science International 99 (2): 93-105, 1999 Jan 11 A new method has been developed for the rapid analysis of psilocybin and/or psilocin in fungus material using ion mobility spectrometry. Quantitative analysis was performed by gas chromatographymass spectrometry after a simple one-step extraction involving homogenization of the dried fruit bodies of fungi in chloroform and derivatization with MSTFA. The proposed methods resulted in rapid procedures useful in analyzing psychotropic fungi for psilocybin and psilocin. 168