Sex determination from buccal mucosa scrapes

Knowledge, Awareness, and Interest in Forensic Odontology Among the Dental Teaching Staffs in the Dental Colleges of Jharkhand

BACKGROUND

Forensic dentistry is a subspecialty of forensic science that handles, examines, and presents evidence from teeth in the most ethical manner possible. In addition to doing research, forensic odontology (FO) entails managing, examining, assessing, and presenting evidence from dentistry in civil or criminal investigations. In these circumstances, the forensic odontologist aids the court system by reviewing the dental findings.

AIM

The present investigation was carried out to assess the dental faculty member's awareness, interest, and knowledge of FO at dental educational institutions in Jharkhand, India.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

The sample size calculation assumes a simple random sampling technique and a large population size using the formula E=sqrt((Z^2*p*(1-p))/n). A total of 102 dental teaching faculty members from diverse dental specialties participated in the survey. Utilizing a validated questionnaire that was sent directly after receiving approval from the institutional ethics committee in January 2023, data were gathered in a tailored manner. The questionnaire included 12 questions to gauge the dental teaching faculty members' awareness, knowledge, and interest in FO. Closed-ended questions were included. The outcomes were computed using a percentage system.

RESULTS

In this study, 95% of study participants agreed with the fact that teeth are a possible source of DNA, while 5% were unaware of this fact. 68% of study participants said that visual examination constitutes the initial stage in the identification process for unidentified bodies while 8% of study participants said that DNA fingerprinting constitutes the initial stage in the identification process for unidentified bodies. However, 8% of study participants didn't know anything about this aspect. 72% of dental teaching faculty members agreed to the fact that Barr bodies should be used to determine sex. 89% of study participants responded positively to the question "Can teeth or enamel serve as a tool for determining age?" 11% of study participants did not know that teeth or enamel can serve as a tool for determining age. 41% of study participants had the correct information that FO instruction for bachelor of dental surgery (BDS) students takes place and, as per Dental Council of India (DCI) standards, should be given in both BDS second and third years.

CONCLUSION

The results of the current survey provided information on FO practices among Jharkhand dental institutes' dental faculty. The poll revealed that they have the necessary information, which they must have learned either while studying, participating in continuing dental education, or teaching.

Sex determination efficacy of Papanicolaou and acriflavine Schiff stains in buccal smears

BACKGROUND

Barr body is formed from random inactivation and condensation of one of the two female chromosomes in virtually all the somatic cells of female mammals. Buccal smears have been reported to be potential sources of Barr bodies.

AIM

This study was done to assess the efficacy of acriflavine (AF) Schiff and Papanicolaou (PAP) stains in sex determination by identifying Barr bodies in buccal smears of both sexes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two samples of buccal smears, collected from thirty males and thirty females in the age group of 16-60 years were used to demonstrate Barr bodies using AF Schiff and PAP stains, respectively. Hundred cells were examined for Barr body positive nucleus, and its mean percentage was calculated and statistically analyzed.

RESULTS

In females, AF Schiff stained positive cells ranged from 16% to 53% and PAP stained positive cells ranged from 9% to 38%. In males, 0-9% AF positive Barr bodies and 0-5% PAP stained Barr bodies were identified.

CONCLUSION

Sex determination using buccal smear is a simple and reliable method. AF Schiff stain is better both qualitatively and quantitatively when compared to PAP stain, thus aids in more accurate sex determination.

A questionnaire survey on forensic odontology: Are we really aware?

Introduction:

The role of a dentist is not only to examine and treat the oral diseases but also to assist the legal authorities by means of its branch—forensic odontology. Through forensic odontology, a dentist plays a very important role in crime investigation of any type.

Objective:

To analyze the knowledge, awareness, and interest of forensic odontology among the dental teaching staff who are working in the dental colleges within the Delhi NCR.

Materials and Methods:

A questionnaire of 12 questions (both open-ended and close-ended) was prepared and the survey was conducted with 200 dental teaching staff.

Results:

A sufficient knowledge but poor awareness and interest among the dental teaching staff was observed.

Conclusion:

The study highlighted that although dental teaching staff themselves have sound knowledge regarding forensic odontology, their awareness and interest need to be upgraded on a regular basis. The success of acquiring such extensive knowledge would be valid if better job opportunities in these fields would be increased.

Cytological assessment of Barr bodies using aceto-orcein and papanicolaou stains in buccal mucosal smears and their sex estimation efficacy in an Indian sample

OBJECTIVE

Buccal epithelial cells in saliva traces found at a crime scene can be used for sex determination by examining the presence of Barr bodies in the nucleus. Papanicolaou (PAP) and fluorescent stains, among others, have been used in the past. Aceto-orcein (AO) is a relatively unexplored staining technique for this purpose. This study aims to assess the efficacy of sex determination using AO and PAP stains for the detection of Barr bodies in buccal mucosal scrapes.

STUDY DESIGN

Buccal scrapings were collected from 120 healthy individuals (60 males and 60 females). They were stained with AO and PAP. Fifty cells in each sample were analyzed for identification of Barr bodies. Samples with a presence of Barr bodies ≤5% were recorded as male and those with >5% were recorded as female. The percentage accuracy in determining sex using both stains was evaluated.

RESULTS

The percentage of Barr bodies in AO-stained slides ranged from 5 to 32 among females and from 0 to 8 in males, while with PAP the ranges recorded were 4-20 in females and 0-5 in males (p < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of AO for detecting sex accurately was around 98.3 and 95% for PAP.

CONCLUSION

Sex determination using Barr bodies in the buccal cells is a simple method that provides up to 95-98% accuracy; making it a significant accessory for sex determination. AO proved to be a better stain than PAP for visualizing nuclear details, and its staining time was remarkably shorter. It also demonstrated enhanced sex estimation efficacy compared to PAP.

Determination of sex by exfoliative cytology using acridine orange confocal microscopy: A short study

Context:

Establishing individuality is an imperative aspect in any investigation procedure. Sometimes, in identifying an individual, it becomes necessary to determine the sex of that particular individual. Combining rapidity with reliability, an innovative idea has been put forward using a confocal microscope in exfoliative cytology. In the present study, we have determined the sex of the individual from buccal mucosal scrapings. The exfoliative cells were observed for Barr bodies under a confocal microscope, and the percentage of Barr-body-positive cells was determined.

Aims:

The main objective of this study is to assess confocal microscopy for the determination of sex by observing Barr bodies in the exfoliative cells of both men and women.

Settings and Design:

Samples of buccal mucosa smears were made followed by acridine orange staining. The stained slides were observed under a confocal microscope and the data obtained was subjected for statistical analysis, especially for mean and standard deviation.

Materials and Methods:

Samples of buccal mucosa smears from 20 men and 20 women were obtained by scraping with flat wooden sticks (exfoliative cytology). The smears were fixed in 100% alcohol for 15 min, followed by acridine orange (AO) staining as described by Von Bertalanffy et al. Smears stained with AO were examined under a confocal microscope and the percentage of Barr-body-positive cells was determined.

Statistical Analysis Used:

Data obtained was subjected for statistical analysis, especially for mean and standard deviation.

Results:

Two non-overlapping ranges for the percentage of Barr-body-positive cells have been obtained for men and women. It was observed that in the male samples, the percentage of Barr-body-positive cells ranged from 0-3%. In the female samples, the percentage of Barr-body-positive cells ranged from 18-72%, and all the females showed the presence of Barr bodies.

Conclusion:

The study showed that the presence of Barr body in buccal mucosal cells can be demonstrated with a fair degree of accuracy using acridine orange confocal microscopy. The sex of the individual can be determined accurately with other advantages offered, such as the rapidity of processing and screening a specimen that results in saving of time.

"GenderPlex" a PCR multiplex for reliable gender determination of degraded human DNA samples and complex gender constellations

The amelogenin test integrated in most commercial polymerase chain reaction (PCR) multiplex kits is routinely used in the forensic field for gender determination of DNA samples. It has been demonstrated that this test is not entirely reliable. Males with deletions in the homologous amelogenin part on the Y chromosome (AMELY) were erroneously typed as females due to lack of Y-specific amelogenin amplification. Also, primer binding site mutations that result in a failure to amplify the AMELY or the X-chromosomal part (AMELX) have been observed. For clarification of such phenomena, a new PCR multiplex (GenderPlex) is presented, co-amplifying two different regions of the amelogenin gene (55/58 and 106/112 bp for the AMELX and AMELY alleles, respectively), a 93-bp sequence stretch of the SRY gene and four mini-X-STR loci DXS7424, DXS8378, DXS6803 and GATA172D05 (maximum product size less than 140 bp). This strategy helps with the evaluation of samples for the presence of amelogenin-based primer site mutations and confirms a male genotype by the absence of heterozygote X-STR alleles and the presence of an SRY-related peak. The short amplicon sizes of all involved loci proved to be beneficial in a study on artificially degraded DNA. Furthermore, we demonstrate by means of sensitivity, human specificity and mixture studies that the multiplex is suitable for investigations in the forensic scene. Finally, the performance of the GenderPlex was evaluated on a west Eurasian population sample from Austria comprising 166 male and 104 female individuals.