Browsing by Subject "Forensic science"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Association between protein profile and postmortem interval in human bone remains
    (Elsevier, 2018-08-23) Prieto-Bonete, Gemma; Pérez-Cárceles, María D.; Maurandi-López, Antonio; Pérez-Martínez, Cristina; Luna, Aurelio; Didáctica de las Ciencias Matemáticas y Sociales
    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.
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    Diagnosis of vitality in skin wounds in the ligature marks resulting from suicide hanging
    (Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 2017-09) Legaz Pérez, Isabel; Falcón, María; Giménez, M.; Martínez Díaz, F.; Pérez Cárceles, María Dolores; Osuna, E.; Nuno Vieira, D.; Luna, Aurelio; Ciencias Sociosanitarias
    Ascertaining the vital origin of skin wounds is one of the most challenging problems in forensic pathology. The forensic literature describes biomarkers and methods for differentiating vital and postmortem wounds, although no clear conclusions have been reached. The aim of this study was to characterize human vital wounds by analyzing the concentrations of metallic ions and the expression of P-selectin and cathepsin D in skin wounds in the ligature marks in a cohort of suicidal hangings for which vitality was previously demonstrated. A total of 71 skin wounds were analyzed within a postmortem interval of 19 to 36 hours. The concentration of Fe, Zn, Mg, and Ca and the expression of P-selectin and cathepsin D were analyzed together and separately. The majority of autopsied suicidal hangings were men (86%) with complete hanging mode (60.7%) in which there was a high frequency of subcutaneous injuries (78.3%). High concentrations of Ca and Mg compared with Fe and Zn were found. Ca and Zn concentrations decreased, and Fe concentration increased with the seriousness of the injury. A high percentage of moderately negative expression of both proteins was correlated with subcutaneous injury and low or medium concentrations of Fe. In conclusion, the joint study of metallic ions and proteins allows to characterize and to differentiate an injured vital wound of noninjured skin, especially when the damage in the tissue affects to the majority of the structures of the skin, but these results will need to be complemented with other biomarkers in time-controlled samples to further help in the differentiation of vital and postmortem wounds.
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    Estimation of human bloodstains time since deposition using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and chemometrics in simulated crime conditions
    (Elsevier, 2024-06-26) Mengual-Pujante, Miguel; Peran, Antonio J.; Ortiz, Antonio; Pérez Cárceles, María Dolores; Ciencias Sociosanitarias
    Blood in the form of stains is one of the most frequently encountered fluid in crime scene. Estimation of the time since deposition (TSD) is of great importance to guide the police investigation and the clarification of criminal offences. The time elapsed since deposition is usually estimated by modelling the physicochemical degradation of blood biomolecules over time. This work shows an ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and chemometrics study to estimate TSD of bloodstains on various surfaces and under different ambient conditions (indoor and outdoor). For a period from 0 to 212 days, a total of 960 stains were analyzed. Most of the eleven partial least squares regression (PLSR) models obtained showed a good prediction capacity, with a Residual Predictive Deviation (RPD) value higher than 3, and R2 higher than 0.90. Models for non-rigid supports showed better predictive capacity than those for rigid ones. A non-rigid surface model including the various non-rigid surfaces and ambient conditions was elaborated, which might be the most useful one from the criminalistic point of view. These results show that this technique can be a rapid, robust, and trustable tool for in situ determination of the TSD of bloodstains at crime scenes.
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    Traumatic brain injury: Estimate of the age of the injury based on neuroinflammation, endothelial activation markers and adhesion molecules
    (Universidad de Murcia, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Histiologia, 2021) dell'Aquila, Massimiliano; Maiese, Aniello; De Matteis, Alessandra; Viola, Rocco Valerio; Arcangeli, Mauro; La Russa, Raffaele; Fineschi, Vittorio
    Studies on traumatic brain injury (TBI) are applicable not only in the clinical context, but also in the forensic field. Over time, the literature has accumulated scientific evidence supporting the use of specific histopathological tests in dating traumatic brain injuries. In primary damage, cell death occurs by necrosis/apoptosis. In secondary injury, the underlying mechanisms are inflammation and ischemia. The inflammatory response of the central nervous system (CNS) follows the common steps of the innate response. In head injury, the blood brain barrier (BBB) undergoes both functional damage and, subsequently, finer structural changes. Scientific evidence has shown modifications of the junctional-endothelial system that favors the extravasation of immunocompetent cells. The histological evaluation of the subdural hematoma, of the cerebral contusions, of the diffuse axonal damage can certainly bring useful elements, with limitations, to the chronological evaluation of the lesions. Many markers have been used to better define the dating of the head injury. Several authors also analyzed the usefulness of secondary damage markers in brain tissue. The progress achieved with immunohistochemistry is significant compared to the use of routine staining. With immunohistochemistry it is possible to identify much narrower and more precise time intervals and, above all, with greater probative reliability. Recently attention has been paid to the modification of structural proteins and miRNAs. Future research is already started and entrusted to multidisciplinary teams that know how to combine their specific skills in search of a reproducible standard of known and sufficient accuracy