Applications of massively parallel sequencing in forensic genetics.

Massively parallel sequencing, also referred to as next-generation sequencing, has positively changed DNA analysis, allowing further advances in genetics. Its capability of dealing with low quantity/damaged samples makes it an interesting instrument for forensics. The main advantage of MPS is the possibility of analyzing simultaneously thousands of genetic markers, generating high-resolution data. Its detailed sequence information allowed the discovery of variations in core forensic short tandem repeat loci, as well as the identification of previous unknown polymorphisms. Furthermore, different types of markers can be sequenced in a single run, enabling the emergence of DIP-STRs, SNP-STR haplotypes, and microhaplotypes, which can be very useful in mixture deconvolution cases. In addition, the multiplex analysis of different single nucleotide polymorphisms can provide valuable information about identity, biogeographic ancestry, paternity, or phenotype. DNA methylation patterns, mitochondrial DNA, mRNA, and microRNA profiling can also be analyzed for different purposes, such as age inference, maternal lineage analysis, body-fluid identification, and monozygotic twin discrimination. MPS technology also empowers the study of metagenomics, which analyzes genetic material from a microbial community to obtain information about individual identification, post-mortem interval estimation, geolocation inference, and substrate analysis. This review aims to discuss the main applications of MPS in forensic genetics.

Stability Analysis of Bitemarks in Different Conditions of Time and Temperature and Its Reliability as Evidence in Criminal Investigations.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the stability of bite marks in foods in different conditions of time and temperature and their reliability as evidenced in criminal investigations. Sampling came from 20 subjects, who were instructed to bite five pieces of cheese and five pieces of chocolate. Bites were produced by the anterior teeth, from canine to canine, and the volunteers had their dental arches molded to obtain plaster models that were used for later comparison. The samples produced by each participant were stored and analyzed according to the temperature (room and refrigerator) and time period (immediately after, three days, seven days). The linear model with mixed effects using R Core Team and SAS Statistical Software were used for the statistical analysis. The results of this study reveal that the storage temperature of these materials does not exert a significant influence. Both chocolate and cheese showed better results when measurements were made shortly after, however the chocolate showed to be more stable in longer periods of time. By means of this study, it was possible to demonstrate that the storage temperature does not exert a significant influence. However, the bite marks found in foods with greater dimensional stability and short time intervals, are more reliable and allow their use as evidence in criminal investigations. Still, due to the limitations presented, we recommend its use for the exclusion of possible suspects and not for the suspects identification.

Stability analysis of bitemarks in different conditions of time and temperature and its reliability as evidence in criminal investigations

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the stability of bite marks in foods in different conditions of time and temperature and their reliability as evidenced in criminal investigations. Sampling came from 20 subjects, who were instructed to bite five pieces of cheese and five pieces of chocolate. Bites were produced by the anterior teeth, from canine to canine, and the volunteers had their dental arches molded to obtain plaster models that were used for later comparison. The samples produced by each participant were stored and analyzed according to the temperature (room and refrigerator) and time period (immediately after, three days, seven days). The linear model with mixed effects using R Core Team and SAS Statistical Software were used for the statistical analysis. The results of this study reveal that the storage temperature of these materials does not exert a significant influence. Both chocolate and cheese showed better results when measurements were made shortly after, however the chocolate showed to be more stable in longer periods of time. By means of this study, it was possible to demonstrate that the storage temperature does not exert a significant influence. However, the bite marks found in foods with greater dimensional stability and short time intervals, are more reliable and allow their use as evidence in criminal investigations. Still, due to the limitations presented, we recommend its use for the exclusion of possible suspects and not for the suspects identification.

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a estabilidade das marcas de mordida em alimentos em diferentes condições de tempo e temperatura e sua confiabilidade como evidência em investigações criminais. A amostragem foi composta por 20 indivíduos, que foram instruídos a morder cinco pedaços de queijo e cinco pedaços de chocolate. As mordidas foram produzidas pelos dentes anteriores, de canino a canino, e os sujeitos da pesquisa tiveram seus arcos dentais moldados para obter modelos que foram usados para posterior comparação. As amostras produzidas por cada participante foram armazenadas e analisadas de acordo com a temperatura (ambiente e geladeira) e período de tempo (imediatamente, após três dias e sete dias). Para a análise estatística, utilizou-se o modelo linear com efeitos mistos, utilizando R Core Team e SAS Statistical Software. Os resultados deste estudo revelam que a temperatura de armazenamento desses materiais não exerce influência significativa. Tanto o chocolate quanto o queijo apresentaram melhores resultados quando as mensurações foram feitas logo após, porém o chocolate mostrou-se mais estável em períodos mais longos. Por meio deste estudo, foi possível demonstrar que a temperatura de armazenamento não exerce influência significativa. Entretanto, as marcas de mordida encontradas em alimentos com maior estabilidade dimensional e intervalos de tempo curtos são mais confiáveis e permitem seu uso como evidência em investigações criminais. Ainda assim, devido às limitações apresentadas, recomendamos seu uso para a exclusão de possíveis suspeitos e não para a individualização dos mesmos.

Reglamentación del ejercicio profesional en medicina y odontología en paraguay: una necesidad de salud pública / Regulation of the health care and the dental profession in Paraguay: a public health necessity

Una de las principales funciones del Estado es velar por la salud pública de sus habitantes. El Estado paraguayo desempeña esta función a través del Ministerio de Salud Pública y Bienestar Social. La mayoría de las reglamentaciones existentes en salud, fueron creadas hace varios años, encontrándose actualmente desactualizadas. Los errores en el área de la salud pueden y a menudo suelen tener como consecuencia la muerte de una persona. Es por esto que la modernización y actualización de las regulaciones del ejercicio profesional en el sector de la salud se traducen en una prioridad y una necesidad de salud pública. El objetivo de este trabajo fue exponer las problemáticas actuales existentes causadas por la falta de reglamentaciones y normativas adecuadas en el área de la salud, así como demostrar que esta reglamentación constituye una necesidad de salud pública. Fue realizada una investigación exhaustiva de las legislaciones y regulaciones locales existentes referentes al ejercicio profesional. Posteriormente, cada regulación fue analizada minuciosamente, y se procedió a una discusión sobre la aplicabilidad y las limitaciones de estas normativas para cada situación específica. A través de este trabajo, fue posible exponer la falta de regulación adecuada en el área de la salud en Paraguay, y las consecuencias negativas de esta situación, así como a concluir que la creación de un marco regulatorio actualizado y moderno es una necesidad de salud pública que promoverá los intereses de la sociedad al favorecer y facilitar la prestación de servicios de atención médica de alta calidad.

One of the State's main functions is to safeguard the health of its citizens. In Paraguay, this role is performed by the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare, which is the competent authority for the provision, regulation and supervision of all health services in the country. The majority of health care regulations were introduced years ago and are currently out of date. Medical errors can and often lead to death. This is why modernizing and updating regulations of professional practice in the health care sector is a priority and an urgent public health necessity. The purpose of this article was to reveal the existing problems caused by the lack of adequate health related regulations, as well as to establish that said regulation constitutes a public health necessity. First, comprehensive research of existing local legislations regarding professional practice was made. Next, each regulation was thoroughly analyzed, followed by a discussion about the applicability as well as the limitations of each regulation to each specific situation. Through this work, it was possible to uncover the lack of adequate regulation in the health care sector in Paraguay, and the negative consequences of this scenario, as well as to arrive to the conclusion that the creation of an updated and modern regulatory framework is an urgent public necessity that will advance the interests of society by favoring and encouraging high-quality health care services.

Mapeamento das revistas científicas nacionais e internacionais e suas produções na área da odontologia legal / Mapping of nationals and internationals scientific journals and productions in the area of Forensic Dentistry

Publicações periódicas de artigos científico-acadêmicos buscam a transferência de informação e construção do conhecimento de alta qualidade. A Odontologia Legal, apesar do amplo campo de atuação profissional, envolve vários temas referentes à legislação, bem como especificidades locais, questões essas que, muitas vezes, dificultam a publicação em revistas científicas com alto fator de impacto. Visto isso, o presente estudo objetivou mapear as revistas científicas nacionais e internacionais que apresentem publicações na área da Odontologia Legal, bem como expor as dificuldades existentes na publicação de trabalhos relacionados à área em revistas de maio relevância. Foi acessada a Plataforma Sucupira e selecionada a Odontologia como área de avaliação e, assim, obtido um arquivo de classificações. Todas as revistas que apresentaram temas relacionados à Odontologia Legal foram registradas em duas tabelas com a quantidade de artigos publicados relacionados à área em cada uma delas. Com bases nos critérios de busca, foram encontradas 191 revistas, sendo 75 nacionais e 116 internacionais. As publicações nacionais mostraram escassa produção em revistas com fator de alto impacto, enquanto que as internacionais apresentaram uma maior quantidade, apesar de ser minoria dentro da produção total. Com esse trabalho, foi possível comparar a classificação Qualis entre revistas nacionais e internacionais, destacando a distância entre tais classificações e expondo a dificuldade de publicação em revistas de alta competitividade e internacionalização.

Scientific papers look for the information transference and construction of high quality knowledge. Forensic Dentistry, although the wide field of professional activity, involves several themes related to Law that often makes it difficult to publish in international scientific journals. This study aimed to map the national and international scientific journals with publications in Forensic Dentistry, as well as to expose the difficulties to publish papers in high impact factor journals. It was accessed the Sucupira Platform (Brazil) and selected Dentistry as an evaluation area to get the classification file. All journals that presented issues related to Forensic Dentistry were recorded in two tables with the number of papers published related to the area in each of them. 191 journals were found, 75 national and 116 international. The national publications showed few productions in high impact factor journals, while the international ones presented a larger quantity, but still a minority within the total production. With this study, it was possible to compare the Qualis classification between national and international journals, highlighting the distance between such classifications and exposing the difficulty of publication in journals that present high competitiveness and internationality.

Dental and medical advertising: comparative analysis of the rules of professional conduct / Publicidade odontológica e médica: análise comparativa das normas profissionais

ABSTRACT In health care professional activities, advertising is an issue that raises serious discussions and is the cause of some ethical suits in professional entities, since every advertising should follow the provisions of the Code of Professional Responsibility. Therefore, this research study aimed at analyzing, comparing and discussing articles related to advertising and marketing, considering the current regulations from dental and medical entities. In Dentistry, this subject is ruled by the Code of Professional Conduct, Chapter XVI, 'From advertising and marketing'. In Medicine, information is found in two regulations and in several chapters of the Code of Medical Ethics and in Resolution No. 1.974/2011 of the Federal Council of Medicine, which establishes the guiding criteria for medical advertising. The three regulations present articles that refers to participation in mass media, required information in advertisements, use of sensationalism and self-promotion, and publishing of unproven specialties and titles, highlighting the importance of these topics. The medical regulation also includes participation in publishing ads of manufacturing companies and an exclusive committee to deal with advertising and marketing issues, topics that are not considered in the dental regulation.

RESUMO Analisar, comparar e discutir os artigos relacionados ao tópico sobre propaganda e publicidade nas legislações vigentes e emanadas das classes odontológica e médica, a partir da consulta a essas legislações. Na Odontologia, este assunto é regido pelo Código de Ética Odontológica, no Capítulo XVI, "Do anúncio, da propaganda e da publicidade". Na Medicina, encontram-se informações em duas legislações sobre o tema, em diversos capítulos do Código de Ética Médica e na Resolução nº 1.974/2011 do Conselho Federal de Medicina, que estabelece os critérios norteadores da propaganda médica. As três legislações apresentam artigos que dizem respeito à participação em meios de comunicação em massa, informações mínimas presentes em anúncios, utilização de sensacionalismo e autopromoção e anúncio de especialidades e títulos não comprovados, destacando a importância desses tópicos. A legislação médica traz, também, da participação em anúncios de empresas comerciais relacionadas à sua profissão e sobre uma comissão exclusiva para tratar de assuntos de divulgação, tópicos desconsiderados na legislação odontológica.

Historia y contribución de la odontología legal y forense en Paraguay en casos de identificación - análisis de la literatura odontológica y periodística / History and contribution of legal and forensic dentistry in Paraguay in identification cases - analysis of dental and journalistic literature

El proceso de identificación decir que una persona es la misma que se supone o se busca es sumamente importante sobre todo en el mundo actual, donde el número de accidentes, desastres naturales y no naturales ha ido en aumento, dejando una cifra cada vez mayor de víctimas fatales. El estado de conservación de los cuerpos, es un factor importante a considerar, ya que muchas veces este tipo de accidentes deja víctimas irreconocibles, lo que dificulta considerablemente el proceso de identificación. La comparación odontológica es establecida por la INTERPOL como método primario de identificación, debido a que puede llegar a establecer la identidad sin la utilización de otro método complementario. Particularmente la odontología legal y forense en Paraguay aún se encuentra en etapa de desarrollo, sin embargo, aun así, ha colaborado en la resolución de varios casos de gran impacto social, adquiriendo un papel fundamental dentro del departamento de criminalística y hoy es indudablemente aceptada como un método fiable de identificación. El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo, analizar la literatura odontológica y periodística acerca de la historia y contribución de la odontología legal y forense en Paraguay, en casos de identificación. Con este trabajo fue posible analizar la literatura odontológica y periodística acerca de la historia y contribución de la odontología legal y forense en Paraguay, en casos de identificación.

The identification process is to verify if a person is the same as assumed or soughed, it is extremely important, especially in today's world, where the number of accidents, natural and unnatural disasters have been increasing, leaving an increasing number of fatalities. The state of conservation of the bodies is an important factor to consider, since this type of accident often leaves unrecognizable victims, which makes the identification process considerably difficult. Dental comparison is established by INTERPOL as a primary method of identification, since it can establish identity without the use of another complementary method. Particularly legal and forensic dentistry in Paraguay is still in development stage, however it has collaborated in the resolution of several cases of great social impact, acquiring a fundamental role within the department of criminology and today is undoubtedly accepted as a method Reliable identification. The present work aims to analyze the dental and journalistic literature about the history and contribution of legal and forensic dentistry in Paraguay, in cases of identification. With this work, it was possible to analyze the dental and journalistic literature about the history and contribution of legal and forensic dentistry in Paraguay, in cases of identification.