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Franceschetti L, Galante N, Ciprandi B, Benini B, Mazzarelli D, Cattaneo C. Identification issues in bodies maimed by train fatalities: The role of the forensic pathologist. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2023; 19:517-524. [PMID: 36662408 DOI: 10.1007/s12024-022-00571-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Traffic accident injuries are relevant causes of mortality in industrialized countries. Among traffic accidents, the most destructive effect on the victim's body is produced by trains, which in a very short time provoke a complete distortion of the normal anatomical profiles and extensive amputations of the body. Deaths by severe body mutilation and/or decapitation require complex forensic investigation, as the victims' identification and the recognition of their body are not often feasible. In this study, a retrospective analysis of a series of cases of railway accidents is presented, with the aim of showing potential identification strategies, including a systematic physical re-assembling of the body. Among the railway fatalities assessed at the University Institute of Legal Medicine of Milan from 2016 until 2020, 61 cases were analyzed, focusing on the collection of postmortem data to improve accuracy for the identification of the victims. The results showed that the identification could be based on elements traditionally called "secondary identifiers" which, however, are becoming more and more important for positive identification, especially when dealing with migrants, vagrants, and homeless people. However, several issues need to be considered such as the limitations of the public prosecutors to perform expensive analyses (i.e., genetic testing), and the lack of antemortem data to be compared with postmortem findings, both odontological and fingerprint. In cases where it is not possible to proceed with identification or formal recognition of victims of railroad accidents with severe mutilations, a systematic physical re-assembling of the body is critical to reaching positive identification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Franceschetti
- LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Istituto di Medicina Legale, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, Milan, 20133, Italy.
| | - Nicola Galante
- LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Istituto di Medicina Legale, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Barbara Ciprandi
- LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Istituto di Medicina Legale, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Benedetta Benini
- LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Istituto di Medicina Legale, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Debora Mazzarelli
- LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Istituto di Medicina Legale, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Cristina Cattaneo
- LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Istituto di Medicina Legale, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, Milan, 20133, Italy
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Implications of Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation in Plastic Surgery on Legal Medicine. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12062308. [PMID: 36983310 PMCID: PMC10054408 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12062308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: When a patient receives a transplant—be it classically an organ or bone marrow or, more recently, composite allotransplantations of the limb or face—it can result in artificial chimerism. Such chimerism raises considerations in forensic medicine, a field that relies on the collection and identification of biological samples from crime scenes. Beyond this chimerism, composite allotransplantations create further challenges. Methods: After screening the literature and press releases, we provide a brief history and summary of some of the technologies used in forensic identification, explaining their advantages and pitfalls in the light of transplantation and cautioning against misidentifying those who evade justice by taking advantage of such considerations. Results: With face transplantation, patients can receive the skin, hair, salivary glands, teeth, and oral and nasal mucosa of their donors, components which hold great importance in forensic science. Modern technologies such as computer-assisted facial recognition, although gradually becoming more accurate over time, also face new challenges in this post-transplantation era as facial recognition software can be misled by surgical alterations of the face or face transplantation. With limb transplantation, there is an impact on fingerprint identification. Conclusions: Both surgical transplantation techniques and forensic technologies have seen incomprehensibly great innovation in the past century. Given the growing rate of successful composite transplantation in the USA and worldwide, it is now important for law enforcement agents to be aware of the new possibility of having two sets of genetic material, hair, saliva, fingerprints, or even facial recognition data for the same individual.
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Kim YH, Ha EG, Jeon KJ, Lee C, Han SS. A fully automated method of human identification based on dental panoramic radiographs using a convolutional neural network. Dentomaxillofac Radiol 2021; 51:20210383. [PMID: 34826252 PMCID: PMC9499198 DOI: 10.1259/dmfr.20210383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aimed to develop a fully automated human identification method based on a convolutional neural network (CNN) with a large-scale dental panoramic radiograph (DPR) data set. METHODS In total, 2760 DPRs from 746 subjects who had 2-17 DPRs with various changes in image characteristics due to various dental treatments (tooth extraction, oral surgery, prosthetics, orthodontics, or tooth development) were collected. The test data set included the latest DPR of each subject (746 images) and the other DPRs (2014 images) were used for model training. A modified VGG16 model with two fully connected layers was applied for human identification. The proposed model was evaluated with rank-1, -3, and -5 accuracies, running time, and gradient-weighted class activation mapping (Grad-CAM)-applied images. RESULTS This model had rank-1, -3, and -5 accuracies of 82.84%, 89.14%, and 92.23%, respectively. All rank-1 accuracy values of the proposed model were above 80% regardless of changes in image characteristics. The average running time to train the proposed model was 60.9 s per epoch, and the prediction time for 746 test DPRs was short (3.2 s/image). The Grad-CAM technique verified that the model automatically identified humans by focusing on identifiable dental information. CONCLUSION The proposed model showed good performance in fully automatic human identification despite differing image characteristics of DPRs acquired from the same patients. Our model is expected to assist in the fast and accurate identification by experts by comparing large amounts of images and proposing identification candidates at high speed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Hyun Kim
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Eun-Gyu Ha
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Kug Jin Jeon
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Chena Lee
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sang-Sun Han
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, South Korea
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An in-field evaluation of rapid DNA instruments for disaster victim identification. Int J Legal Med 2021; 136:493-499. [PMID: 34816308 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-021-02748-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
In 2019 and 2020, disaster victim identification (DVI) simulations were conducted at the Australian Facility for Taphonomic Experimental Research. Whole and fragmented cadavers were positioned to replicate a building collapse scenario and left to decompose for up to 4 weeks. This study evaluated the utility of the ANDE™ 6C Rapid DNA System and the RapidHITTM ID System for DVI in the field and mortuary. Applying post-mortem nail and tissue biopsy samples showed promise, with the added benefit of minimally invasive collection procedures and limited preparation requirements. The preferred platform will depend on a number of factors, including its intended use and operating environment.
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Ueland M, Harris S, Forbes SL. Detecting volatile organic compounds to locate human remains in a simulated collapsed building. Forensic Sci Int 2021; 323:110781. [PMID: 33878551 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2021.110781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The occurrence of mass disasters has increased worldwide due to changing environments from global warming and a heightened threat of terrorism acts. When these disasters strike, it is imperative to rapidly locate and recover human victims, both the living and deceased. While search and rescue dogs are used to locate the living, cadaver detection dogs are typically tasked with locating the dead. This can prove challenging because commingling of victims is likely to occur during disasters in populated areas which will impact the decomposition process and the resulting odour produced. To date, there has been no research to investigate the process of human decomposition in a mass disaster scenario or to understand which compounds are detectable by cadaver detection dogs. Hence, the current study investigated the human decomposition process and subsequent volatile organic compound (VOC) production in two simulated building collapse scenarios with six human donors placed in each scenario. The human remains were only recovered after a period of one month, during which time VOC samples were collected and analysed using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry. A considerable degree of differential decomposition was observed upon recovery of the human remains, which was carried out as a part of a police disaster victim recovery training exercise. The location of the bodies in the disaster area was found to impact the decomposition process. The VOC profile was found to correlate with the decomposition process. Fifteen days following the simulated disaster, the VOC profile changed showing that a detectable change in the decomposition process had occurred. Overall, the changing VOC profile can inform the training of cadaver detection dogs for these unique scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maiken Ueland
- Centre for Forensic Science, University of Technology Sydney, P.O. Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia.
| | - Scott Harris
- CBR/DVI Unit, Crime Scene Group, Forensic Services Department, Victoria Police, Forensic Services Centre, 31 Forensic Drive, Macleod, VIC 3085, Australia
| | - Shari L Forbes
- Département de chimie, biochimie et physique, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, 3351 boul. des Forges, Trois-Rivières, G8Z 4M3 Québec, Canada
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Mohd Noor MS, Khoo LS, Zamaliana Alias WZ, Hasmi AH, Ibrahim MA, Mahmood MS. The clandestine multiple graves in Malaysia: The first mass identification operation of human skeletal remains. Forensic Sci Int 2017; 278:410.e1-410.e9. [PMID: 28698062 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2017.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2016] [Revised: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 05/13/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The first ever mass identification operation of skeletal remains conducted for the clandestine graves in Malaysia consisted of 165 individuals unearthed from 28 human trafficking transit camps located in Wang Kelian, along the Thai-Malaysia border. A DVI response was triggered in which expert teams comprising of pathologists, anthropologists, odontologists, radiologists and DNA experts were gathered at the identified operation centre. The Department of Forensic Medicine, Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Star, Kedah, located approximately 75km away from Wang Kelian, was temporarily converted into a victim identification centre (VIC) as it is the nearest available forensic facility to the mass grave site. The mortuary operation was conducted over a period of 3 months from June to September 2015, and was divided into two phases; phase 1 involving the postmortem examination of the remains of 116 suspected individuals and for phase 2 the remains of 49 suspected individuals. The fact that the graves were of unknown individuals afforded the mass identification operation a sufficient duration of 2 weeks as preparatory phase enabling procedurals and daily victim identification workflow to be established, and the setting up of a temporary body storage for the designated mortuary. The temporary body storage has proven to be a significant factor in enabling the successful conclusion of the VIC operation to the final phase of temporary controlled burials. Recognition from two international observers, Mr. Andréas Patiño Umaña, from the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) and Prof. Noel Woodford from Victoria Institute of Forensic Medicine (VIFM) had proven the mortuary operation was in compliance to the international quality and standards. The overall victim identification and mortuary operation identified a number of significant challenges, in particular the management of commingled human remains as well as the compilation of postmortem data in the absence of antemortem data for future reconciliation. CF Index in this DVI operation is 9%, indicating the primary identifications in this operation were effective. Limitations and further improvements of the mass identification operation will be discussed. This paper details the planning, preparations and management of the mass identification operation on the exhumed human remains which was also a forensic humanitarian service for the dead with dignity and respect.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lay See Khoo
- Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Malaysia; National Institute of Forensic Medicine (NIFM), Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | | | - Ahmad Hafizam Hasmi
- National Institute of Forensic Medicine (NIFM), Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | | | - Mohd Shah Mahmood
- National Institute of Forensic Medicine (NIFM), Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Dutta P, Bhosale S, Singh R, Gubrellay P, Patil J, Sehdev B, Bhagat S, Bansal T. Amelogenin Gene - The Pioneer in Gender Determination from Forensic Dental Samples. J Clin Diagn Res 2017; 11:ZC56-ZC59. [PMID: 28384982 DOI: 10.7860/jcdr/2017/22183.9407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2016] [Accepted: 10/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In the event of any mass fatality incident, DNA analysis plays a vital role in disaster victim identification. Teeth are one of the most resistant structures in the human body that resist decomposition hence making them prime choice for extracting DNA for identification of individuals. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) analysis that target regions of Amelogenin gene have become the method of choice for sex determination of biological samples. AIM Determining the sex of a given DNA sample from either dental pulp or dentin of tooth and help in identification of missing persons and disaster victims. MATERIALS AND METHODS In our study 50 teeth samples were studied and they were subjected to various environmental conditions along with freshly extracted teeth taken as control for duration of one month and three months. Pulpal tissue was retrieved from the teeth specimens by access opening of root canals and for incinerated samples, the specimens were crushed. From the DNA that was extracted from the dental pulp sample Amelogenin gene locus was used for sex determination by amplifying a segment of X-Y homologous gene locus through PCR analysis. RESULTS ANOVA test and t-test proved to be statistically significant and 100% retrieval rate was observed in samples. CONCLUSION Pulpal tissue along with degenerating odontoblastic processes yield sufficient amount of DNA for gender determination when subjected to various forensic conditions with maximum accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanjali Dutta
- Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral Pathology, R.R. Dental College and Hospital , Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Satish Bhosale
- Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral Pathology, R.R. Dental College and Hospital , Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Rajeshwar Singh
- Senior Lecturer, Department of Orthodontics, R.R. Dental College and Hospital , Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Priyanka Gubrellay
- Senior Lecturer, Department of Prosthodontics, R.R. Dental College and Hospital , Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Jitendra Patil
- Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral Pathology, MGVKBH Dental College and Hospital , Nashik, Maharashtra, India
| | - Bhumika Sehdev
- Senior Lecturer, Department of Periodontics, R.R. Dental College and Hospital , Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Sachin Bhagat
- Senior Lecturer, Department of Periodontics, Ajinknya D. Y. Patil Dental School , Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Tajinder Bansal
- Reader, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, R.R. Dental College and Hospital , Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
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Ethical Issues in DNA Identification of Human Biological Material from Mass Disasters. Prehosp Disaster Med 2013; 28:393-6. [DOI: 10.1017/s1049023x1300040x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
AbstractEach mass disaster has its own characteristics and will involve a different approach, so the safeguarding and collection of forensic evidence have to be considered as part of the field response procedure. DNA typing has played a more prominent role in the identification of human remains, and particularly so for highly decomposed and fragmented remains. Although the ultimate goal is to obtain the identification, the specific context of each application of human identity testing has its specific problems, ranging from technical approach, through statistical interpretation, to ethical issues. The preparedness plan of the forensic genetics laboratory needs to include policies for family notification, long-term sample storage, and data archiving. For this reason, DNA sample collection and a strategy for DNA-based victim identification needs to be part of the preparedness plan. In this paper, the authors seek to define three of these ethical aspects: (1) the humanitarian importance of identification; (2) resource allocation in the victims’ DNA identification; and (3) the secondary use for research of the samples initially collected for identification purposes. DNA analysis for the purpose of identifying victims of mass disasters has complex implications that demand much more rigorous examination than they have received until now.CaenazzoL, TozzoP, RodriguezD. Ethical issues in DNA identification of human biological material from mass disasters. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2013;28(4):1-4.
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Manhart J, Bittorf A, Büttner A. Disaster victim identification—experiences of the “Autobahn A19” disaster. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2012; 8:118-24. [DOI: 10.1007/s12024-011-9307-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/08/2011] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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DNA reviews: DNA identification following CBRN incidents. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2008; 4:255-8. [DOI: 10.1007/s12024-008-9066-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/20/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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