Preliminary study on mitochondrial DNA analysis from different sports items.

Criminals often attempt to conceal blood-stained weapons used in violent crimes, making forensic evidence crucial in solving cases. This study explores the recovery and extraction of trace DNA from sports equipment, including cricket bats, table tennis racquets, and hockey sticks, which are frequently implicated in such incidents. Our research evaluates various double swab collection methods for retrieving trace DNA from these sports items, emphasizing those associated with blunt force trauma. We also compare presumptive and confirmatory tests to establish a direct correlation. This research consistently demonstrated robust DNA recovery, surpassing a 50 % threshold across all tests. Specifically, DNA recovery from buried samples reached an impressive 87 %, while washed samples still yielded a substantial 80 % efficiency. We conducted a comparative analysis between presumptive and confirmatory testing methods, establishing a direct correlation between the two. Variability in DNA recovery efficiency was observed and attributed to factors like the type of surface the items contacted, and ambient humidity levels. In addition to presenting robust DNA recovery rates, statistical analyses were employed to compare methods, establishing correlations and highlighting the influence of environmental factors on DNA recovery efficiency. These findings have significant implications for forensic investigations involving silent weapons crafted from sports equipment, emphasizing the need for standardized protocols and consideration of environmental factors in DNA analysis.

In-field deployable and facile nanosensor for the detection of pesticides residues.

Local air and water should be first priority to understand the environment of any area. Different categories of contaminants behave like bottleneck situation in collection and analysis of data about abiotic factors for the understanding and resolving the environmental issues. In digital age the emerging nano technology enroll its role to meet the needs of hour. Due to increase in pesticides residues, the global health threats are on bloom because it inhibits the functionality of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme. Smart nanotechnology based system can tackle this issue and sense the pesticides residues in environment and vegetables as well. Here Au@ZnWO4 composite is reported, for accurate detection of pesticides residues in biological food and environmental samples. The fabricated unique nanocomposite was characterized by SEM, FTIR, XRD and EDX. The characterized material used for the electrochemical detection of organophosphate pesticide (chlorpyrifos), with 1 pM LoD at a signal to noise ratio of 3. The main concern of study is to help out in disease prevention, food safety and ecosystem protection.

Genetic diversity and forensic application of Y-filer STRs in four major ethnic groups of Pakistan.

17 Y-chromosomal STRs which are part of the Yfiler Amplification Kit were investigated in 493 unrelated Pakistani individuals belonging to the Punjabi, Sindhi, Baloch, and Pathan ethnic groups. We have assessed the forensic parameters and population genetic structure for each group. Among the 493 unrelated individuals from four ethnic groups (128 Baloch, 122 Pathan, 108 Punjabi, and 135 Sindhi), 82 haplotypes were observed with haplotype diversity (HD) of 0.9906 in Baloch, 102 haplotypes with HD value of 0.9957 in Pathans, 80 haplotypes with HD value of 0.9924 in Punjabi, and 105 haplotypes with HD value of 0.9945 in the Sindhi population. The overall gene diversity for Baloch, Pathan, Punjabi, and Sindhi populations was 0.6367, 0.6479, 0.6657, and 0.6112, respectively. The results had shown us that Pakistani populations do not have a unique set of genes but share the genetic affinity with regional (Central Asia and Northern India) populations. The observed low gene diversity (heterozygosity) values may be because of endogamy trends and this observation is equally supported by the results of forensic parameters which are mostly static across 4 combinations (minimal STRs, extended 11 Y-STRs, Powerplex 12 Y System, and Yfiler 17 Y-STRs) of STRs in these four populations.

Changes in thyroid function status of suicidal patients

Abstract Background This study was carried out at Punjab Institute of Mental Health and Centre for Nuclear Medicine Mayo Hospital, Lahore. It is aimed at the possible association of thyroid malfunctioning with suicide attempts of patients. Objective Determination of thyroid function status of suicidal psychiatric patients and their comparison with psychiatric patients without suicide attempt or ideation. Methods Total 54 patients with either past history of suicide attempt or current suicidal ideation were selected for analysis of their thyroid function status (age 15-55 years). Age matched 50 non-suicide psychiatric patients were included for comparison. Results Two patients with suicide attempt had overt thyroid dysfunction. Remaining patients had serum FT4, FT3 and TSH level within normal range. Suicide attempter patients had lower FT4 but increased FT3 and TSH levels compared to suicidal ideation patients. Serum FT4 and TSH levels in suicidal patients were not different from psychiatric patients. Serum FT3 in suicidal patients was lower than psychiatric patients (3.7 ± 0.8 vs. 4.3 ± 0.5; p < 0.05). Female suicidal patients had lower FT3 levels compared to male patients (3.4 ± 0.6 vs. 3.9 ± 0.8 pmol/L; p < 0.05). Discussion Local suicidal patients have higher incidence of overt thyroid disorder and lower FT3 levels compared to non-suicidal psychiatric patients.