A quick-solidifying, coloured silicone mixture for injecting into brains for autopsy: technical report

The injection of cadaver brains is invaluable for anatomic study, but cadavers that have been properly handled are not easy to obtain. A large number of cadavers pass through forensic departments around the world, and these cadavers could provide hundreds of research specimens, though they remain in the forensic unit for only a short time. The injection of a silicone mixture that quickly solidifies during autopsy would provide greater numbers of fresh specimens for study. The authors describe a technique for injecting a self-curing silicone mixture that can be used on autopsy specimens in a forensic unit. This technique does not interfere with routine autopsy findings. We describe the preparation of the mixture and autopsy specimens, the injection process, and the method for removing injected brains from cadavers. The solidifying process took a 1-h duration in this injection method and was in accord with autopsy procedure. The arterial bed was satisfactorily filled, and even small perforating branches and pial anastomoses were well demonstrated. Injecting autopsy specimens with the quick-solidifying silicone mixture allows anatomical studies of specimens even from cadavers admitted to forensic departments for only a short time. This method can provide neurosurgery laboratories with sufficient numbers of specimens appropriate for various studies.     

Fourteen non-CODIS autosomal short tandem repeat loci multiplex data from Taiwanese

Interest in the development of polymorphic short tandem repeat (STR) markers unlinked to the CODIS loci is growing among forensic practitioners. We developed a multiplex system in which14 autosomal STR (D3S1744, D4S2366, D8S1110, D12S1090, D13S765, D14S608, Penta E, D17S1294, D18S536, D18S1270, D20S470, D21S1437, Penta D, and D22S683) could be amplified in one single polymerase chain reaction. DNA samples from 572 unrelated Taiwanese Han subjects were analyzed using this 14 STR multiplex system. Thirty parent–child pairs of parentage testing cases with a combined paternity index (CPI) below 1,000 and 32 parent–child pairs with single-step mutations found in AmpFℓSTR Identifiler loci were also recruited for validation of the newly developed system. DNA sequencing was performed for novel STRs and novel alleles found in these subjects. The distributions of allelic frequencies for these autosomal STRs and sequence data, allele nomenclature for the STRs, and forensic parameters are presented. The discrimination power in our multiplex loci ranged from 0.6858 (D18S536) to 0.9168 (Penta E), with a combined discrimination power of 0.999999999. It provides additional power to distinguish the possible single-step mutations in parent–child pairs and improves the ability to prove parentage by increasing the CPI. The combined power of exclusion of these 14 loci in Taiwanese Han in this study was 0.9999995913. In conclusion, this 14-autosomal STRs multiplex system provides highly informative STR data and appears useful in forensic casework and parentage testing.     

Decreased myocardial free fatty acid uptake in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy: evidence of relationship with insulin resistance and left ventricular dysfunction

BackgroundResults on myocardial substrate metabolism in the failing heart have been contradictory. Insulin resistance, a common comorbidity in heart failure patients, and medical therapy may modify myocardial metabolism in complex fashions. Therefore, we characterized myocardial oxidative and free fatty acid (FFA) metabolism in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM) and investigated the contributions of insulin resistance and β-blocker therapy.Methods and ResultsNineteen patients with IDCM (age 58 ± 8 years, ejection fraction 33 ± 8.8%) and 15 healthy controls underwent examination of myocardial blood perfusion, oxidative and FFA metabolism using positron emission tomography and [¹⁵O]H₂O, [¹¹C]acetate and [¹¹C]palmitate, respectively. Echocardiography was used to assess myocardial function, work, and efficiency of forward work. Insulin resistance was calculated using the homeostasis model assessment index (HOMA index) and the degree of β-blockade was estimated with a β-adrenoceptor occupancy test. IDCM patients were characterized by decreased cardiac efficiency (35 ± 2 versus 57 ± 12 mm Hg·L·g⁻¹, P < .0001) and reduced myocardial FFA uptake (5.5 ± 2.0 versus 6.4 ± 1.2 μmol·100 g⁻¹·min⁻¹, P < .05), but the FFA β-oxidation rate constant was not changed. In the patients, myocardial FFA uptake was inversely associated with left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (r = −0.63, P < .01), indicating that further depression of LV function induces an opposite switch to greater FFA uptake. The FFA β-oxidation rate constant correlated positively with the HOMA index (r = 0.53, P < .05). In patients on β-1 selective β-blockers, β-1 adrenoceptor occupancy correlated inversely with LV work, oxidative metabolism, and FFA uptake; similar relationships were not found in patients on nonselective β-blocker.ConclusionsMyocardial FFA metabolism is reduced in patients with IDCM. However, when LV function is further depressed and insulin resistance manifested, myocardial FFA uptake and oxidation are, in turn, upregulated. These findings may partly explain the discrepancies between previous studies about cardiac metabolism in heart failure.     

A single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) multiplex system: the association of five SNPs with human eye and hair color in the Slovenian population and comparison using a Bayesian network and logistic regression model

Aim

To analyze two phenotype characteristics – eye and hair color – using single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and evaluate their prediction accuracy in Slovenian population.

Methods

Twelve SNPs (OCA2 – rs1667394, rs7170989, rs1800407, rs7495174; HERC2 – rs1129038, rs12913832; MC1R – rs1805005, rs1805008; TYR – rs1393350; SLC45A2 – rs16891982, rs26722; SLC24A5 – rs1426654) were used for the development of a single multiplex assay. The single multiplex assay was based on SNaPshot chemistry and capillary electrophoresis. In order to evaluate the accuracy of the prediction of eye and hair color, we used the logistic regression model and the Bayesian network model, and compared the parameters of both.

Results

The new single multiplex assay displayed high levels of genotyping sensitivity with complete profiles generated from as little as 62 pg of DNA. Based on a prior evaluation of all SNPs in a single multiplex, we focused on the five most statistically significant in our population in order to investigate the predictive value. The two prediction models performed reliably without prior ancestry information, and revealed very good accuracy for both eye and hair color. Both models determined the highest predictive value for rs12913832 (P < 0.0001), while the other four SNPs (rs1393350, rs1800407, rs1805008, and rs7495174) showed additional association for color prediction.

Conclusion

We developed a sensitive and reliable single multiplex genotyping assay. More samples from different populations should be analyzed before this assay could be used as one of the supplemental tools in tracing unknown individuals in more complicated crime investigations.Height, face structure, pigmentation of the eye, hair, and skin, the presence of freckles, and male baldness make up human externally visible characteristics (EVC). To be able to predict eye and hair color based solely on biological material left behind at a crime scene or obtained from dismembered missing persons, or even of disaster victims, is one of the major expectations from the routine forensic work in the near future (1). However, genetic understanding of human appearance is still in its infancy, mainly due to the fact that all EVCs are polygenic traits. This means that yields from a large number of different genes and the expression of these genes are further influenced by mutual interactions and environmental interactions (2). Above all, molecular mechanisms and functional protein assays must also be considered in order to really understand how allelic variation in pigmentation genes could result in such a diversity of phenotypes in different human populations (3). The human eye (iris) and hair color are one of the most highly polymorphic phenotypes in people of European origin. The non-brown iris colors and red hair are generally features of European origin resulting from positive selection in early European history. There are several hypotheses for positive selection that mainly occurred in the Baltic region and Northern Europe. These are most likely: UV exposure causing skin cancer, vitamin D deficiency, and even sexual selection (4,5). Most EVCs are complex traits with many genes and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variations, so the right combination of SNPs is crucial for the correct prediction of eye and hair color. Several genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for pigmentation have revealed that SNPs within the HERC2, OCA2, MC1R, SLC24A5, SLC45A2, TYR, and ASIP (4,6-16) genes were most strongly associated with eye and hair color in European populations. The latest data have shown that the main iris color variation is associated with a highly evolutionarily preserved region in the HERC2 gene or within the short sequence between the HERC2 and OCA2 genes. It is assumed that these regions represent a regulatory region controlling the constitutive expression of OCA2 (4,11,12). As for iris color, it has also been explained that red hair color is mainly associated with polymorphisms in the MC1R gene (13,17). On the other hand, the variations of genes such as SLC24A5, SLC45A, HERC2, and ASIP seem to be responsible for influencing the shades of hair color from blond to black (18,19).In order to correctly predict human eye and hair color from genetic data for the Slovenian population, we compared two alternative prediction models that are nowadays used most often in this field of forensics – the Bayesian network model and the logistic regression model. These models were developed and compared on the basis of the informative SNPs selected from our single multiplex assay.     

Predicting Change in Emotional and Behavioural Problems during Inpatient Treatment in Clients with Mild Intellectual Disability

Background Little is known about client characteristics that are related to outcome during inpatient treatment of adults with mild intellectual disability (ID) and severe behavioural problems. Method We explored variables that were related to a change in behavioural problems in 87 individuals with mild ID during inpatient treatment in facilities for adults with mild ID and severe behavioural problems. Emotional and behavioural problems were measured using the Adult Behaviour Checklist (ABCL) and relationships between a change in ABCL total scores and other variables (e.g. age, adaptive skills, and presence of personality disorder) were explored. Results For the sample as a whole, we found a decrease in emotional and behavioural problems within a 1‐year period of inpatient treatment (following a 3‐month observation and diagnostic period). Male clients, clients without a personality disorder classification, and/or clients who showed more improvement in adaptive and social functioning, showed a larger decrease in emotional and behavioural problems than other clients. Gender and personality disorder classification appeared to be the most important predictive factors. Conclusion Clients with mild ID and severe behavioural problems may benefit from inpatient treatment. Those with a personality disorder and/or female clients may benefit less from such a program. Results of such studies may have consequences for service provision and management. Limitations of this study were the lack of data on the quantity and quality of the treatment package and unknown reliability and validity of Axis‐I and personality disorder diagnoses.     

Barriers and facilitators of implementing a collaborative HPV vaccine program in an incarcerated population: A case study

BackgroundMen and women in county jails make up a population that is difficult to reach with traditional preventive health interventions. Collaborations between local health departments and county jails represent an opportunity to enhance public health by reaching a vulnerable population with services like vaccinations. The objective of this study was to coordinate planning and implementation of a collaborative program between a local health department (HD) and a county jail to offer human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations to adolescents (ages 10–17) and young adults (ages 18–26) in the jail and to identify facilitators and barriers to inform future program development.MethodsA county-municipal jail and a local HD in Kansas participated. A case study method was employed based on data collected from a focus group, telephone interviews, and site observations, September 2016 to December 2017. Data were coded using codes roughly drawn from the consolidated framework for implementation research (CFIR). Codes were then consolidated into themes related to barriers and facilitators.ResultsNo adults were vaccinated; two juveniles were vaccinated. Barriers to a collaborative program to offer HPV vaccine to young adults arose in two areas: constrained resources and divergent organizational cultures and priorities. Barriers to offering HPV vaccinations to juveniles in the jail included parental consent and the unpredictable, often brief duration of juvenile detentions. A shared commitment to offering HPV vaccination services by leaders and staff in the two agencies was a key facilitator.ConclusionFinding ways to leverage leadership and staff buy-in and address specific barriers of constrained resources and divergent culture and priorities merits close attention, since partnerships between jails and local HD have potential to increase HPV vaccination rates in an overlooked population and advance public health.     

Developmental validation of a 381 Y-chromosome SNP panel for haplogroup analysis in the Chinese populations

Y-chromosome single nucleotide polymorphism (Y-SNP) shows great variation in geographical distribution and population heterogeneity and can be used to map population genetics around the world. Massive parallel sequencing (MPS) methodology enables high-resolution Y-SNP haplogrouping for a certain male and is widely used in forensic genetics and evolutionary studies. In this present study, we used MPS to develop a customized 381 Y-SNP panel (SifaMPS 381 Y-SNP panel) to investigate the basic structure and subbranches of the haplogroup tree of the Chinese populations. The SifaMPS 381 Y-SNP panel covers all the Y-SNPs from our previously designed 183 Y-SNP panel and additional SNPs under the predominant haplogroups in the Chinese populations based on certain criteria. We also evaluated the sequencing matrix, concordance, sensitivity, repeatability of this panel and the ability to analyze mixed and case-type samples based on the Illumina MiSeq System. The results demonstrated that the novel MPS Y-SNP panel possessed good sequencing performance and generated accurate Y-SNP genotyping results. Although the recommended DNA input was greater than 1.25 ng, we observed that a lower DNA amount could still be used to analyze haplogroups correctly. In addition, this panel could handle mixed samples and common case-type samples and had higher resolution among Chinese Han males than previously reported. In conclusion, the SifaMPS 381 Y-SNP panel showed an overall good performance and offers a better choice for Y-SNP haplogrouping of the Chinese population, thereby facilitating paternal lineage classification, familial searching and other forensic applications.     

The use of 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane for the determination of nortriptyline and desipramine in tablets

A sensitive and selective spectrophotometric method is described for the assay of nortriptyline and desipramine. The method is based on the interaction of these drugs as electron donors with 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) as a π-acceptor in acetonitrile at 80°C, to give highly coloured chromogens which exhibit maximum absorption at 567 nm. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of these drugs (as salts) in sugar-coated tablets.