1
|
Schmidt VM, Zelger P, Wöss C, Fodor M, Hautz T, Schneeberger S, Huck CW, Arora R, Brunner A, Zelger B, Schirmer M, Pallua JD. Handheld hyperspectral imaging as a tool for the post-mortem interval estimation of human skeletal remains. Heliyon 2024; 10:e25844. [PMID: 38375262 PMCID: PMC10875450 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
In forensic medicine, estimating human skeletal remains' post-mortem interval (PMI) can be challenging. Following death, bones undergo a series of chemical and physical transformations due to their interactions with the surrounding environment. Post-mortem changes have been assessed using various methods, but estimating the PMI of skeletal remains could still be improved. We propose a new methodology with handheld hyperspectral imaging (HSI) system based on the first results from 104 human skeletal remains with PMIs ranging between 1 day and 2000 years. To differentiate between forensic and archaeological bone material, the Convolutional Neural Network analyzed 65.000 distinct diagnostic spectra: the classification accuracy was 0.58, 0.62, 0.73, 0.81, and 0.98 for PMIs of 0 week-2 weeks, 2 weeks-6 months, 6 months-1 year, 1 year-10 years, and >100 years, respectively. In conclusion, HSI can be used in forensic medicine to distinguish bone materials >100 years old from those <10 years old with an accuracy of 98%. The model has adequate predictive performance, and handheld HSI could serve as a novel approach to objectively and accurately determine the PMI of human skeletal remains.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Verena-Maria Schmidt
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Muellerstraße 44, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Philipp Zelger
- University Clinic for Hearing, Voice and Speech Disorders, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Claudia Wöss
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Muellerstraße 44, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Margot Fodor
- OrganLifeTM, Department of Visceral, Transplant and Thoracic Surgery, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Theresa Hautz
- OrganLifeTM, Department of Visceral, Transplant and Thoracic Surgery, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Stefan Schneeberger
- OrganLifeTM, Department of Visceral, Transplant and Thoracic Surgery, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Christian Wolfgang Huck
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Radiochemistry, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Rohit Arora
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Andrea Brunner
- Institute of Pathology, Neuropathology, and Molecular Pathology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Muellerstrasse 44, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Bettina Zelger
- Institute of Pathology, Neuropathology, and Molecular Pathology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Muellerstrasse 44, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Michael Schirmer
- Department of Internal Medicine, Clinic II, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Johannes Dominikus Pallua
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Franceschetti L, Amadasi A, Bugelli V, Bolsi G, Tsokos M. Estimation of Late Postmortem Interval: Where Do We Stand? A Literature Review. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:783. [PMID: 37372068 PMCID: PMC10295266 DOI: 10.3390/biology12060783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Estimating time since death can be challenging for forensic experts, and is one of the most challenging activities concerning the forensic world. Various methods have been assessed to calculate the postmortem interval on dead bodies in different stages of decomposition and are currently widely used. Nowadays, the only well-recognized dating technique is carbon-14 radioisotope measurement, whereas other methods have been tested throughout the years involving different disciplines with different and sometimes not univocal results. Today, there is no precise and secure method to precisely determine time since death, and late postmortem interval estimation remains one of the most debated topics in forensic pathology. Many proposed methods have shown promising results, and it is desirable that with further studies some of them might become acknowledged techniques to resolve such a difficult and important challenge. The present review aims at presenting studies about the different techniques that have been tested in order to find a valuable method for estimating time since death for skeletal remains. By providing a comprehensive overview, the purpose of this work is to offer readers new perspectives on postmortem interval estimation and to improve current practice in the management of skeletal remains and decomposed bodies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Franceschetti
- Istituto di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, 20133 Milan, Italy;
| | - Alberto Amadasi
- Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Turmstr. 21 (Haus M), 10559 Berlin, Germany
| | - Valentina Bugelli
- South-East Tuscany Local Health Unit, Department of Legal Medicine, via Cimabue 109, 58100 Grosseto, Italy;
| | - Giulia Bolsi
- Istituto di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, 20133 Milan, Italy;
| | - Michael Tsokos
- Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Turmstr. 21 (Haus M), 10559 Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Schmidt VM, Zelger P, Woess C, Pallua AK, Arora R, Degenhart G, Brunner A, Zelger B, Schirmer M, Rabl W, Pallua JD. Application of Micro-Computed Tomography for the Estimation of the Post-Mortem Interval of Human Skeletal Remains. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11081105. [PMID: 35892961 PMCID: PMC9331256 DOI: 10.3390/biology11081105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
It is challenging to estimate the post-mortem interval (PMI) of skeletal remains within a forensic context. As a result of their interactions with the environment, bones undergo several chemical and physical changes after death. So far, multiple methods have been used to follow up on post-mortem changes. There is, however, no definitive way to estimate the PMI of skeletal remains. This research aimed to propose a methodology capable of estimating the PMI using micro-computed tomography measurements of 104 human skeletal remains with PMIs between one day and 2000 years. The present study indicates that micro-computed tomography could be considered an objective and precise method of PMI evaluation in forensic medicine. The measured parameters show a significant difference regarding the PMI for Cort Porosity p < 0.001, BV/TV p > 0.001, Mean1 p > 0.001 and Mean2 p > 0.005. Using a machine learning approach, the neural network showed an accuracy of 99% for distinguishing between samples with a PMI of less than 100 years and archaeological samples.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Verena-Maria Schmidt
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Muellerstraße 44, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (V.-M.S.); (C.W.); (W.R.)
| | - Philipp Zelger
- University Clinic for Hearing, Voice and Speech Disorders, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria;
| | - Claudia Woess
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Muellerstraße 44, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (V.-M.S.); (C.W.); (W.R.)
| | - Anton K. Pallua
- Former Institute for Computed Tomography-Neuro CT, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria;
| | - Rohit Arora
- University Hospital for Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria;
| | - Gerald Degenhart
- Department of Radiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria;
| | - Andrea Brunner
- Institute of Pathology, Neuropathology, Molecular Pathology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Muellerstrasse 44, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (A.B.); (B.Z.)
| | - Bettina Zelger
- Institute of Pathology, Neuropathology, Molecular Pathology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Muellerstrasse 44, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (A.B.); (B.Z.)
| | - Michael Schirmer
- Department of Internal Medicine, Clinic II, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria;
| | - Walter Rabl
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Muellerstraße 44, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (V.-M.S.); (C.W.); (W.R.)
| | - Johannes D. Pallua
- University Hospital for Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstraße 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria;
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Post-Mortem Interval of Human Skeletal Remains Estimated with Handheld NIR Spectrometry. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11071020. [PMID: 36101401 PMCID: PMC9312135 DOI: 10.3390/biology11071020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Estimating the post-mortem interval (PMI) of human skeletal remains is a critical issue of forensic analysis, with important limitations such as sample preparation and practicability. In this work, NIR spectroscopy (NIRONE® Sensor X; Spectral Engines, 61449, Germany) was applied to estimate the PMI of 104 human bone samples between 1 day and 2000 years. Reflectance data were repeatedly collected from eight independent spectrometers between 1950 and 1550 nm with a spectral resolution of 14 nm and a step size of 2 nm, each from the external and internal bone. An Artificial Neural Network was used to analyze the 66,560 distinct diagnostic spectra, and clearly distinguished between forensic and archaeological bone material: the classification accuracies for PMIs of 0−2 weeks, 2 weeks−6 months, 6 months−1 year, 1 year−10 years, and >100 years were 0.90, 0.94, 0.94, 0.93, and 1.00, respectively. PMI of archaeological bones could be determined with an accuracy of 100%, demonstrating the adequate predictive performance of the model. Applying a handheld NIR spectrometer to estimate the PMI of human skeletal remains is rapid and extends the repertoire of forensic analyses as a distinct, novel approach.
Collapse
|
5
|
Ortiz-Herrero L, Uribe B, Armas LH, Alonso ML, Sarmiento A, Irurita J, Alonso RM, Maguregui MI, Etxeberria F, Bartolomé L. Estimation of the post-mortem interval of human skeletal remains using Raman spectroscopy and chemometrics. Forensic Sci Int 2021; 329:111087. [PMID: 34736052 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2021.111087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
An important demand exists in the field of forensic analysis to objectively determine the post-mortem interval (PMI) when human skeletal remains are discovered. It is widely known that bones undergo different chemical and physical processes after death, mainly due to their interaction with the environment in which they are found, although it is not known exactly what these processes consist of. Multiple techniques have been used so far to follow up these and other post-mortem changes and thus establish the time elapsed since the individual's death, but they present important drawbacks in terms of reliability and accuracy. The aim of this research was to propose an analytical methodology capable of determining the PMI by using non-destructive Raman spectroscopy measurements of human skeletal remains. The recorded Raman spectra provided valuable and potentially useful information from which a multivariate study was performed by means of orthogonal partial least squares regression (OPLSR) in order to correlate the PMI with the detected spectral modifications. A collection of 53 real human skeletal remains with known PMI (15 years ≤ PMI ≤ 87 years) was analysed and used for building and validating the OPLS model. The PMI of 10 out of 14 validation samples could be determined with an accuracy error of less than 30%, demonstrating the adequate predictive performance of the OPLS model even in spite of the large inter-individual variability it handled. This opens up the possibility of applying the OPLS model in combination with non-destructive techniques to the determination of the PMI of human skeletal remains that have been buried in conditions similar or equal to those of cemetery niches and in a geographic location with a Mediterranean climate, which is an important achievement for forensic medicine and anthropology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L Ortiz-Herrero
- Analytical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena S/N, 48940 Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain.
| | - B Uribe
- Analytical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena S/N, 48940 Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain.
| | - L Hidalgo Armas
- Advances Research Facilities (SGIker), Martina Casiano Technology Platform, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena S/N, 48940 Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain.
| | - M L Alonso
- Analytical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena S/N, 48940 Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain.
| | - A Sarmiento
- Advances Research Facilities (SGIker), Coupled Multispectroscopy Singular Laboratory (Raman-LASPEA), Faculty of Medicine and Odontology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena S/N, 48940 Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain.
| | - J Irurita
- Department of Legal Medicine, Toxicology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, Parque Tecnológico de la Salud, Av. de la Investigación 11, 18016 Granada, Spain.
| | - R M Alonso
- Analytical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena S/N, 48940 Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain.
| | - M I Maguregui
- Painting Department, Faculty of Fine Arts, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena S/N, 48940 Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain.
| | - F Etxeberria
- Department of Physical Anthropology, Aranzadi Science Society, Zorroagagaina 11, 20014 Donostia, Gipuzkoa, Spain; Department of Legal and Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Paseo Dr. J. Beguiristain 105, 20014 Donostia, Gipuzkoa, Spain.
| | - L Bartolomé
- Advances Research Facilities (SGIker), Martina Casiano Technology Platform, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena S/N, 48940 Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Evaluation of Parameters for Estimating the Postmortem Interval of Skeletal Remains Using Bovine Femurs: A Pilot Study. Diagnostics (Basel) 2020; 10:diagnostics10121066. [PMID: 33317185 PMCID: PMC7764391 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics10121066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The postmortem interval (PMI) of victims is a key parameter in criminal investigations. However, effective methods for estimating the PMI of skeletal remains have not been established because it is determined by various factors, including environmental conditions. To identify effective parameters for estimating the PMI of skeletal remains, we investigated the change in bone focusing on the amount of DNA, element concentrations, and bone density that occurred in the bone samples of bovine femurs, each maintained under one of five simulated environmental conditions (seawater, freshwater, underground, outdoors, and indoors) for 1 year. The amount of extracted mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA; 404 bp fragment) decreased over time, and significant DNA degradation (p < 0.01), as estimated by a comparison with amplification results for a shorter fragment (128 bp), was detected between 1 month and 3 months. Eleven of 30 elements were detected in samples by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry, and Na and Ba showed significant quantitative differences in terms of environmental conditions and time (p < 0.01). This preliminary study suggests that the level of DNA degradation determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction and element concentrations determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission may be useful indices for estimating the PMI of victims under a wide range of environmental conditions. However, this study is a limited experimental research and not applicable to forensic cases as it is. Further studies of human bone with longer observation periods are required to verify these findings and to establish effective methods for PMI estimation.
Collapse
|
7
|
Astolphi RD, de Seixas Alves MT, Evison MP, Francisco RA, Guimarães MA, Iwamura ESM. The impact of burial period on compact bone microstructure: Histological analysis of matrix loss and cell integrity in human bones exhumed from tropical soil. Forensic Sci Int 2019; 298:384-392. [PMID: 30928778 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Revised: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Human bone histological analysis is a useful tool to assess post mortem diagenesis and to predict successful nuclear DNA typing of forensic material. This study is part of a series of studies developed by the authors intended to improve the understanding of post mortem diagenesis and to develop applications for DNA analysis of skeletal species from tropical soils, in order to optimize genetic and anthropological protocols. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of burial period on the integrity of exhumed compact bone microstructure from tropical climate. In fragments of exhumed human femora from 39 individuals from the same cemetery (exhumed group) and 5 fresh femora from routine autopsies (control group), sections stained by hematoxylin-eosin were analyzed in order to measure bone microstructural integrity. We found that bone integrity index in exhumed group was negatively influenced by the period of burial (r = -0.37, p < 0.05) and highly significantly decreased (p < 0.0001) in comparison to control group. The period of burial and nitric acid decalcification time was positively correlated (r = 0.51; p < 0.01), leading to imply a bone petrification process during inhumation. Exhumed group showed higher level of matrix bone loss (p < 0.001), as expected, and 87% of cases analyzed were "tunneled" as described by Hackett. Bone integrity index and bone matrix tend to decrease in bones buried in tropical soil between 8-14 years of inhumation. This period is short if we consider cases in which there are preserved bones interred for longer periods in other environments. These data must be considered in cases where genetic identification of exhumed skeletons from tropical environment is required. The diagenesis in these bones and the variations of results found are discussed, clarifying some challenges for forensic laboratories, especially in DNA analysis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Dias Astolphi
- Department of Pathology, Escola Paulista de Medicina - Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | - Raffaela Arrabaça Francisco
- Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto - Universidade de São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Marco Aurelio Guimarães
- Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto - Universidade de São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Edna Sadayo Miazato Iwamura
- Department of Pathology, Escola Paulista de Medicina - Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Prieto-Bonete G, Pérez-Cárceles MD, Maurandi-López A, Pérez-Martínez C, Luna A. Association between protein profile and postmortem interval in human bone remains. J Proteomics 2018; 192:54-63. [PMID: 30145274 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2018.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2017] [Revised: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Proteomic techniques in bones forensic samples are increasingly, being applied. The main aim of forensic sciences is the estimation of postmortem interval. Most current techniques are useful for the first post-mortem stages. However, in the case of osseous remains, these techniques may be difficult to use due to the high level of decomposition of the sample. Our objective was to attempt to know whether there is a protein profile in human bone remains that would enable a late postmortem. interval ranging from 5 to 20 years postmortem to be estimated. A total of 40 femur bones from 40 different cadavers (data range 5-20 years) were use. Of the 275 total proteins, we excluded the circulating ones (n = 227), leaving a total of 48 proteins (29 structural and 19 functional) were found. A multiple correspondence analysis was applied on the 48 proteins. Finally selecting 32 proteins that allowed us to discriminate between the. two groups of postmortem interval. Analysis of the protein profile present in bone permits an approximation of the date of death within the studied interval, and could be used to complement other tests for estimating the postmortem interval.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Antonio Maurandi-López
- Department of Didactics of Mathematical and Social Sciences, University of Murcia, Spain
| | | | - Aurelio Luna
- Department of Legal and Forensic Medicine, University of Murcia, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Iqbal MA, Ueland M, Forbes SL. Recent advances in the estimation of post-mortem interval in forensic taphonomy. AUST J FORENSIC SCI 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/00450618.2018.1459840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Asif Iqbal
- Centre for Forensic Science, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, Australia
| | - Maiken Ueland
- Centre for Forensic Science, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, Australia
| | - Shari L. Forbes
- Centre for Forensic Science, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Estimating the postmortem interval of human skeletal remains by analyzing their fluorescence at 365 and 490 nm. Int J Legal Med 2017; 132:933-938. [PMID: 29256137 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-017-1759-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2017] [Accepted: 12/12/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The study presented here is regarded as a continuation of the experiments of Sterzik et al., who developed a new practical method to distinguish between historical and recent human skeletal remains. Bone cross-sections were illuminated using light with wavelengths of 365 and 490 nm, causing fluorescence. The fluorescence was documented by photography and further analyzed to examine the areal extent of a certain fluorescent color. Contrary to the previous experiments of Sterzik et al., the present study focused on bones with postmortem intervals (PMIs) ≥ 50 years. Therefore, this study fills the gap created by the former study, pointing towards a correlation between the PMI and the areal extent of the fluorescent surface in both tests. The presence of blue and red fluorescent surfaces < 1% indicated a PMI ≥ 50 years. Furthermore, the presence of blue and red fluorescent surfaces > 1% can be regarded as a marker to exclude a PMI ≥ 50 years; in fact, these bones are likely to have a PMI < 30 years.
Collapse
|
11
|
Miranda GE, Melani RFH, Francisquini Júnior L, Daruge Júnior E. Use of an Alternate Light Source to Detect Tooth and Bone. Braz Dent J 2017; 28:78-81. [DOI: 10.1590/0103-6440201700892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2016] [Accepted: 10/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Resumo O objetivo desse trabalho foi identificar a combinação do comprimento de onda e filtro que melhor detecta dente e osso e verificar qual material biológico (esmalte, raiz dental ou osso) possui maior fluorescência quando exposto a uma fonte de luz alternativa (ALS). Amostras de dente e osso foram iluminadas com uma ALS e fotografadas. Os programas Adobe Photoshop™ e ImageJ™ foram usados para análise das imagens. Os dados obtidos das medidas dos pixels das fotografias foram submetidos a análise de variância. Os valores com efeitos significativos tiveram suas médias comparadas pelo teste de Tukey. Em todos os testes, o nível de significância adotado foi p≤0,05 e os valores calculados pelo sistema SAS. Os resultados mostraram que a melhor combinação para detectar dente e osso é o comprimento de onda 455 nm com o filtro laranja. A fluorescência da raiz é maior que a do esmalte que é maior do que o osso. O material biológico teve maior fluorescência que o material inerte. Esse conhecimento pode auxiliar o perito a triar e detectar esses materiais biológicos, por exemplo em situações em que dentes e pequenos ossos estiverem fragmentados, tanto na cena do crime quanto no laboratório.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Geraldo Elias Miranda
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil; Institute of Legal Medicine, Brazil; Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|