European Council of Legal Medicine (ECLM) on-site inspection forms for forensic pathology, anthropology, odontology, genetics, entomology and toxicology for forensic and medico-legal scene and corpse investigation: the Parma form

Further to a previous publication by the European Council of Legal Medicine (ECLM) concerning on-site forensic and medico-legal scene and corpse investigation, this publication provides guidance for forensic medical specialists, pathologists and, where present, coroners' activity at a scene of death inspection and to harmonize the procedures for a correct search, detection, collection, sampling and storage of all elements which may be useful as evidence, and ensure documentation of all these steps. This ECLM's inspection form provides a checklist to be used on-site for the investigation of a corpse present at a crime or suspicious death scene. It permits the collection of all relevant data not only for the pathologist, but also for forensic anthropologists, odontologists, geneticists, entomologists and toxicologists, thus supporting a collaborative work approach. Detailed instructions for the completion of forms are provided.

[Unusual case of suicide with multiple cut injuries]

A case is presented about the suicide committed by a 27-year-old male through multiple cut injuries in four distinct body regions (throat, left forearm, right wrist, right groin). The high number of injuries and the "non-typical" site of the lethal wound (groin) make this case relevant.

[Characterization of the HUMTPOX and HUMCSF1PO polymorphic systems in a sample of the Parma population]

A population study in a sample from the Province of Parma was carried out to investigate the polymorphic systems HUMTPOX and HUMCSF1PO. Separation of duplex PCR co-amplified fragments was performed by denaturing PAGE followed by silver staining; seven and six allelic variants respectively were found and frequency distribution was in good agreement with previous studies on Caucasian. The power of Discrimination (PD) was 0.82 and 0.88 respectively and the chance of exclusion (MEC) 0.401 and 0.502; the robustness of the polymorphic systems and informative strength, though not particularly high, suggest the use of these polymorphisms in forensic investigations.

[Allelic distribution of the HUMCD4 polymorphic system in the Province of Parma]

Allele frequencies of polymorphic system HUMCD4 were determined in a sample from the Province of Parma. Good separation of PCR amplified fragments was performed by non denaturing PAGE; seven allelic variants were found and frequency distribution was in good agreement with previous studies on Caucasian. The statistic tests (Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium -H-W-., Power of Discrimination -PD- and Mean Exclusion Chance -MEC-) and the robustness of the technique suggest the use of this polymorphism in forensic investigations.

Italian population data on the loci LDLR, GYPA, HBGG, D7S8 and GC

Allele and genotype frequencies for the five loci LDLR, GYPA, HBGG, D7S8 and GC were determined for 374 unrelated Italians using a multiplex PCR-amplification and typing commercial kit. The distribution of the genotype frequencies showed no deviations from Hardy-Weinberg expectations. The combined power of discrimination and chance of exclusion for all five loci were 0.999 and 0.702, respectively. A test for homogeneity was performed and no significant differences were observed among the Caucasian population samples.

PCR analysis of the short tandem repeat (STR) system HUMVWA31. Allele and genotype frequencies in an Italian population sample

A population study in a sample of 211 unrelated individuals from 2 cities in North and Central Italy was carried out to investigate the short tandem repeat (STR) system HUMVWA31. Separation of PCR- amplified DNA fragments was performed by high-resolution horizontal denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) followed by silver staining. The 7 common alleles were found, together with a new smaller allele. Distribution of the observed genotypes did not deviate from Hardy-Weinberg (H-W) equilibrium. The power of discrimination for this locus was 0.93 and the chance of exclusion was 0.61. Good agreement was found between the allele frequencies in 2 Italian population samples and previous studies on Caucasians. The results of this study suggest that this STR system may be a useful tool in forensic investigations.

PCR typing of the locus D17S30 (YNZ22 VNTR) in an Italian population sample

A sample of 202 subjects living in 2 Italian provinces (Ancona and Parma) was tested for YNZ22 polymorphism by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). After amplification, the phenotypes were separated by agarose gel electrophoresis, stained with ethidium bromide and identified by comparison with a molecular weight marker. No heterogeneity was found between the 2 populations. Alleles, pooled in 4 groups to calculate the Hardy-Weinberg (H-W) equilibrium, showed good accordance between observed and expected values. The power of discrimination (PD) was 0.95 and the chance of exclusion was 0.69. The allele comparison with previous studies on Caucasians showed no significant difference.