Ancestry estimation in forensic anthropology: accuracy of the AncesTrees software in a Brazilian sample.

The objective of this study is to analyze the accuracy and applicability of the AncesTrees software with respect to a set of cranial measurements of a Brazilian sample consisting of 114 identified skulls from two osteological collections, predominantly composed of European (n = 59), African (n = 35), and admixed individuals (n = 20). Twenty-four different craniometric measurements are performed and input to AncesTrees via two algorithms, one of which is used in three configurations, with different ancestral groups integrated in the model. The software exhibits superior performance in the estimation of European individuals, reaching 73% accuracy, compared with 66% in the African individuals. Those individuals classified as admixed produce a variety of ancestral classifications, mainly European. Overall, the most accurate combination of AncesTrees is obtained using ancestralForest with only the European and African groups integrated into the algorithm, where the accuracy reaches 70%. The applicability of this software to a specific population is fragile because of the high admixing load, making it necessary to create a more representative anthropometric database of the Brazilian people. Key points: Ancestry estimation methods are seldom validated in Brazil.AncesTrees performed poorly on our sample, with a maximum accuracy of 70%.Brazil's highly mixed population hinders ancestry estimation.Mixed individuals (pardos) are predominantly classified as Europeans.The insertion of Brazilian metric data into the AncesTrees database would produce better results.

Uso de acervos de imagens em pesquisas na Odontologia Legal: reflexões éticas, bioéticas e legais / Use of image collections in Forensic Dentistry research: ethical, bioethical and legal aspects

RESUMO: Objetivo: Realizar um levantamento dos artigos científicos que utilizaram acervos de imagem como fonte de pesquisa em Odontologia Legal e discutir essa utilização sob perspectivas éticas, bioéticas e legais. Material e Métodos: Foi realizada uma busca de artigos científicos nas bases de dados Lilacs, PubMed e Scielo entre os anos de 2015 e 2019 utilizando descritores nos idiomas português, inglês e espanhol. Foram incluídos apenas artigos da área de Odontologia Legal que utilizaram acervos de imagem como fonte de informação. Foram excluídos es-tudos laboratoriais ou clínicos, arqueológicos ou antropológicos, relatos de caso ou artigos de revisão, estudos prospectivos ou que utilizaram exames de imagem não pertencentes a acervos. Resultados: Foram selecionados 171 artigos científicos. Desses, 22,80% (n=39) foram realizados por autores vinculados a instituições brasileiras, e 77,19% (n=132) mencionaram aprovação por comitê de ética em pesquisa ou instituição correspondente com (ou sem) necessidade de Termo de Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido (TCLE). Conclusão: Os acervos de imagem compreendem uma importante fonte de informação para pesquisas em Odontologia Legal dada a quantidade de pu-blicações realizadas no período avaliado. A maioria dos artigos mencionou aprovação ética e respeito à privacidade dos participantes, conforme os requisitos estabelecidos para dispensa do TCLE. (AU)

ABSTRACT: Objective: To conduct a quantitative survey of scientific articles that used image collections as source of research in Forensic Dentistry and discuss its use from ethical, bioethical and legal perspectives. Material and Methods:A search for scientific articles published and available on Lilacs, PubMed and Scielo databases was carried out from 2015 to 2019 using keywords in Portuguese, English and Spanish. Articles in the area of Forensic Dentistry that used image collections as a source of information were included. Laboratory or clinical, archaeological or anthro-pological studies, case reports or review articles, prospective studies or that used imaging exams not belonging to collections were excluded. Results: 171 scientific articles were included. 22.80% (n = 39) were carried out by authors from Brazilian institutions, and 77.19% (n = 132) mentioned approval by a research ethics committee or corresponding institution with (or without) use of signed Informed Consent Form (ICF). Conclusion: Image col-lections are an important source of information for research in Forensic Dentistry, considering the number of publi-cations during the study period. Most of the articles mentioned ethical approval and respect for participant privacy according to the requirements established for waiver of the ICF. (AU)

Total joint prosthesis for ankylosis after multiples condylar traumas.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis is a disease commonly associated with facial trauma, especially in the condylar region. Described as a heterotopic bone growth that causes mouth opening limitation, it may occur in trauma cases misdiagnosed or mistreated. We present the case of a 37-year-old female, with decreased mouth opening after three traumas in the region of the right condyle by a motorcycle accident. We performed custom-made total joint replacement of the TMJ to rehabilitate the patient post arthroplasty. TMJ Concepts® protocol was followed to perform the patient's rehabilitation. She is being followed since then by a physical therapist to regain the pre-pathosis status of mouth opening, speech, and mastication function.

Applicability of a pre-established set of facial proportions from frontal photographs in forensic age estimation of a Brazilian population.

Child pornography on the internet is one of the crimes with highest increasing incidence worldwide. In this specific type of crime, the victim's age has important legal implications. To overcome the lack of scientifically established protocols, European researchers explored and proposed a set of facial proportions obtained from images to estimate age. Within a validation scope, the present study aimed to test the applicability of morphological proportions from frontal photographs of the face to estimate age in a Brazilian population. Standardized frontal view photographs from 800 Brazilians (400 females and 400 males) homogeneously distributed in 4 age groups (6, 10, 14 and 18 years ± 30 days) were randomly selected from a Civilian Database of the Brazilian Federal Police. The selected images were analyzed with the aid of cephalometric landmarks. After landmarking the photographs, eighteen metric relations pre-established by Cattaneo et al. (C. Cattaneo, Z. Obertová, M. Ratnayake, L. Marasciuolo, J. Tutkuviene, P. Poppa, D. Gibelli, P. Gabriel, S. Ritz-Timme, Can facial proportions taken from images be of use for ageing in cases of suspected child pornography? A pilot study, Int. J. Leg. Med. 126 2012 139-144) were assessed and analyzed through parametric statistical tests and discriminant analysis. Two indexes had a moderate correlation with age, while ten had a weak correlation and six were not correlated with age. Eleven indexes were statistically different between sexes (p < 0.05). The discriminant analysis showed that 49.6% of the pooled sample was correctly classified into the respective age group. This percentage increased when each sex was analyzed separately: 50.2% for females and 53.5% for males. The set of facial proportions from frontal images proposed by Cattaneo et al. (2012) is related to facial development. As expected, the discriminant power of this approach did not reach optimal effectiveness in the Brazilian sample. In practice, this age estimation method must be adapted for more reliable application in Brazilians.

The impact of burial period on compact bone microstructure: Histological analysis of matrix loss and cell integrity in human bones exhumed from tropical soil.

Human bone histological analysis is a useful tool to assess post mortem diagenesis and to predict successful nuclear DNA typing of forensic material. This study is part of a series of studies developed by the authors intended to improve the understanding of post mortem diagenesis and to develop applications for DNA analysis of skeletal species from tropical soils, in order to optimize genetic and anthropological protocols. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of burial period on the integrity of exhumed compact bone microstructure from tropical climate. In fragments of exhumed human femora from 39 individuals from the same cemetery (exhumed group) and 5 fresh femora from routine autopsies (control group), sections stained by hematoxylin-eosin were analyzed in order to measure bone microstructural integrity. We found that bone integrity index in exhumed group was negatively influenced by the period of burial (r = -0.37, p < 0.05) and highly significantly decreased (p < 0.0001) in comparison to control group. The period of burial and nitric acid decalcification time was positively correlated (r = 0.51; p < 0.01), leading to imply a bone petrification process during inhumation. Exhumed group showed higher level of matrix bone loss (p < 0.001), as expected, and 87% of cases analyzed were "tunneled" as described by Hackett. Bone integrity index and bone matrix tend to decrease in bones buried in tropical soil between 8-14 years of inhumation. This period is short if we consider cases in which there are preserved bones interred for longer periods in other environments. These data must be considered in cases where genetic identification of exhumed skeletons from tropical environment is required. The diagenesis in these bones and the variations of results found are discussed, clarifying some challenges for forensic laboratories, especially in DNA analysis.

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.

Registro de informações odontológicas pós morte com fins de identificação humana: descrição do protocolo utilizado no LAF-CEMEL / Post mortem dental information for human identification: description of the protocol used in LAF-CEMEL

O protocolo do Laboratório de Antropologia Forense (LAF) do Centro de Medicina Legal (CEMEL) da Universidade de São Paulo (USP) foi estruturado para a obtenção de um perfil bioantropológico de cada ossada admitida para exame pericial, no intuito de apurar as características de sexo, ancestralidade, idade e estatura, além da análise de destreza manual. Com a inserção da análise odontológica na rotina do laboratório, foi organizado um protocolo odontolegal pela Faculdade de Odontologia de Ribeirão Preto (FORP) da USP, com a finalidade de sistematização e organização dos dados odontológicos coletados no exame post mortem para subsidiar processos que sejam passiveis de identificação por meio dos arcos dentais. O objetivo desse artigo é apresentar uma descrição do referido protocolo odontolegal. Conclui-se que o referido protocolo permite a coleta de uma série de informações odontológicas que podem ser utilizadas para fins de identificação humana.

The protocol from the Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology (LAF) in the Center of Legal Medicine at the University of São Paulo (USP) was structured to obtain an anthropological profile of each skeleton admitted for evaluation, in order to assess the characteristics of sex, ancestry, age, height, and manual dexterity. With the insertion of dental examination in the laboratory routine, a Forensic Odontology protocol was organized by USP - School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto team, with the purpose of systematizing and organizing the dental data collection during the post mortem exam, to support processes for human identification through the dental information. The aim of this paper is to present the protocol's description. It was concluded that the protocol allows the collection of many dental data that can be used for human identification.

Rankings, avaliações e recursos escassos: o que fazer com a medicina e a odontologia legal? / Rankings, scientific assessments and resources: what to do with Forensic Medicine and Dentistry?

O uso de rankings para mensuração de desempenho de universidades se tornou algo frequente e com ampla divulgação no meio acadêmico. A CWRU - Center for World University Rankings ­ tornou-se um dos mais conhecidos e anualmente divulga a escala de colocação de universidades de todo o mundo, inclusive por áreas de conhecimento. O ranking referente a 2016 colocou a Universidade de São Paulo (USP) como a melhor universidade na América Latina, sendo a área de Odontologia (cirurgia oral e medicina bucal) como a 1ª colocada e a Medicina Legal em 10º. A proposta deste artigo é analisar criticamente as colocações das áreas anteriormente mencionadas neste ranking e o contraste com o recém anunciado corte de verbas para pesquisa anunciado pelo governo federal no Brasil. Além disso, propõe colocar em discussão, em um enfoque bioético, como forma de avaliação de qualidade de produção científica, a análise do custo financeiro de um trabalho publicado versus seu fator de impacto, ou seja, levar em conta a relação custo/benefício de um trabalho científico. Essa seria uma forma de tornar mais justa e equitativa a avaliação comparativa entre pesquisadores que trabalham com grandes apoios financeiros frente àqueles que trabalham com poucos recursos em relação ao impacto de suas publicações.

The use of rankings to measure university performance has become frequent and widespread in the academic world. The CWRU - Center for World University Rankings - has become one of the most well-known and annually publishes the scale of placement of universities around the world, including by areas of expertise. The ranking for 2016 ranked the University of São Paulo (USP) as the best university in Latin America. The area of Dentistry (oral surgery and oral medicine) was ranked 1st and Legal Medicine ranked 10th. The proposal of this article is to critically analyze the placements of the previously mentioned areas in this ranking and the contrast with the recently announced cut of research funds announced by the federal government in Brazil. In addition, in some bioethics focus, to discuss the analysis of the financial costs of a published work versus its impact factor, as a way of evaluating the quality of scientific production, to allow a more fair and equitable comparative evaluation between researchers working with large financial supports when facing those who work with reduced funding and the respective impact of their publications.

A forensic identification case and DPid - can it be a useful tool?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to show DPid as an important tool of potential application to solve cases with dental prosthesis, such as the forensic case reported, in which a skull, denture and dental records were received for analysis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Human identification is still challenging in various circumstances and Dental Prosthetics Identification (DPid) stores the patient's name and prosthesis information and provides access through an embedded code in dental prosthesis or an identification card. All of this information is digitally stored on servers accessible only by dentists, laboratory technicians and patients with their own level of secure access. DPid provides a complete single-source list of all dental prosthesis features (materials and components) under complete and secure documentation used for clinical follow-up and for human identification. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: If DPid tool was present in this forensic case, it could have been solved without requirement of DNA exam, which confirmed the dental comparison of antemortem and postmortem records, and concluded the case as a positive identification.

A new approach for the analysis of facial growth and age estimation: Iris ratio.

The study of facial growth is explored in many fields of science, including anatomy, genetics, and forensics. In the field of forensics, it acts as a valuable tool for combating child pornography. The present research proposes a new method, based on relative measurements and fixed references of the human face-specifically considering measurements of the diameter of the iris (iris ratio)-for the analysis of facial growth in association with age in children and sub-adults. The experimental sample consisted of digital photographs of 1000 Brazilian subjects, aged between 6 and 22 years, distributed equally by sex and divided into five specific age groups (6, 10, 14, 18, and 22 year olds ± one month). The software package SAFF-2D® (Forensic Facial Analysis System, Brazilian Federal Police, Brazil) was used for positioning 11 landmarks on the images. Ten measurements were calculated and used as fixed references to evaluate the growth of the other measurements for each age group, as well the accumulated growth (6-22 years old). The Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) was applied for the evaluation of intra-examiner and inter-examiner reliability within a specific set of images. Pearson's Correlation Coefficient was used to assess the association between each measurement taken and the respective age groups. ANOVA and Post-hoc Tukey tests were used to search for statistical differences between the age groups. The outcomes indicated that facial structures grow with different timing in children and adolescents. Moreover, the growth allometry expressed in this study may be used to understand what structures have more or less proportional variation in function for the age ranges studied. The diameter of the iris was found to be the most stable measurement compared to the others and represented the best cephalometric measurement as a fixed reference for facial growth ratios (or indices). The method described shows promising potential for forensic applications, especially as part of the armamentarium against crimes involving child pornography and child abuse.

A forensic identification case and DPid - can it be a useful tool?

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to show DPid as an important tool of potential application to solve cases with dental prosthesis, such as the forensic case reported, in which a skull, denture and dental records were received for analysis. Material and Methods Human identification is still challenging in various circumstances and Dental Prosthetics Identification (DPid) stores the patient's name and prosthesis information and provides access through an embedded code in dental prosthesis or an identification card. All of this information is digitally stored on servers accessible only by dentists, laboratory technicians and patients with their own level of secure access. DPid provides a complete single-source list of all dental prosthesis features (materials and components) under complete and secure documentation used for clinical follow-up and for human identification. Results and Conclusion If DPid tool was present in this forensic case, it could have been solved without requirement of DNA exam, which confirmed the dental comparison of antemortem and postmortem records, and concluded the case as a positive identification.

Tissue Microarray Analysis Applied to Bone Diagenesis.

Taphonomic processes affecting bone post mortem are important in forensic, archaeological and palaeontological investigations. In this study, the application of tissue microarray (TMA) analysis to a sample of femoral bone specimens from 20 exhumed individuals of known period of burial and age at death is described. TMA allows multiplexing of subsamples, permitting standardized comparative analysis of adjacent sections in 3-D and of representative cross-sections of a large number of specimens. Standard hematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid-Schiff and silver methenamine, and picrosirius red staining, and CD31 and CD34 immunohistochemistry were applied to TMA sections. Osteocyte and osteocyte lacuna counts, percent bone matrix loss, and fungal spheroid element counts could be measured and collagen fibre bundles observed in all specimens. Decalcification with 7% nitric acid proceeded more rapidly than with 0.5 M EDTA and may offer better preservation of histological and cellular structure. No endothelial cells could be detected using CD31 and CD34 immunohistochemistry. Correlation between osteocytes per lacuna and age at death may reflect reported age-related responses to microdamage. Methodological limitations and caveats, and results of the TMA analysis of post mortem diagenesis in bone are discussed, and implications for DNA survival and recovery considered.

The use of human teeth in identification: epidemiological data from an anthropology lab in Brazil / O uso de dentes humanos na identificação: dados epidemiológicos de um laboratório de antropologia no Brasil

Forensic Odontology is a branch of Dentistry that works with the Law in assisting Justice and the professional involved in this specialty helping the identification of human remains, in various situations ­ charred corpses, cadavers and unidentified bodies. The aim of this paper was to list and analyze the number and types of teeth present in cadavers submitted to the Forensic Anthropology Lab of the Forensic Medicine Center (Ribeirão Preto), from 2005 to 2010, in order to evaluate and compare the importance of each dental element in human identification. During the research, the Lab received, inserted or submitted with the cadavers, for anthropological analysis, 588 teeth, of which 303 were upper teeth and 285 lower teeth. The upper teeth mostly found were the first and second molars (n=48) and the mostly found lower teeth were canines and first bicuspids (n=44). The most absent upper tooth ante mortem was the third molar (n=25) and, on the lower arch, the first molar (n=33). In contrast, the most absent teeth post mortem on the upper dental arch were central and lateral incisors (n=23 and n=20, respectively) and on the lower arch the same dental elements (central incisors - n=37, lateral incisors ­ n=28). The techniques for estimating age, ancestry, stature and gender by analysis of dental characteristics varied according to the population. In Brazil, due to the wide population miscegenation, the techniques mentioned may not present the same level of reliability, making it necessary to associate the dental exam to the anthropological analysis, in order to reach the most scientifically reliable results. It was concluded that, due to the importance of the dental elements in the process of human identification, it is necessary the presence of a dental surgeon in the team to collect the remains and perform the identification.

A Odontologia Forense é um ramo da odontologia que trabalha com a Lei na assistência à Justiça e ao profissional envolvido nessa especialidade especialmente ajudando na identificação de restos humanos, em várias situações - corpos carbonizados, cadáveres e corpos não identificados. O objetivo deste trabalho foi o de listar e analisar o número e tipos de dentes presentes em cadáveres submetidos a exame no Laboratório de Antropologia Forense do Centro de Medicina Legal (Ribeirão Preto), de 2005 a 2010, a fim de avaliar e comparar a importância de cada elemento dental para identificação humana. Durante a pesquisa, o laboratório recebeu 588 dentes inseridos ou juntos aos cadáveres para análise antropológica, destes 303 eram dentes superiores e 285 dentes inferiores. Os dentes superiores mais encontrados foram os primeiros e segundos molares (n = 48) e os dentes inferiores mais encontrados foram os caninos e pré-molares (n = 44). O dente superior com maior ausência ante-mortem foi o terceiro molar (n = 25) e, na arcada inferior, o primeiro molar (n = 33). Em contrapartida, o dente mais ausente post-mortem na arcada dentária superior foram os incisivos centrais e laterais (n = 23 e n = 20, respectivamente) e na arcada inferior os mesmos elementos dentários (incisivos centrais - n = 37, incisivos laterais - n = 28). As técnicas para estimar a idade, ascendência, estatura e sexo através da análise das características dentárias variou de acordo com a população. No Brasil, devido à ampla miscigenação da população, as técnicas mencionadas podem não apresentar o mesmo nível de confiabilidade, tornando-se necessário associar o exame odontológico à análise antropológica, a fim de alcançar resultados mais confiáveis cientificamente. Concluiu-se que, devido à importância dos elementos dentários no processo de identificação humana, é necessária a presença de um cirurgião-dentista na equipe para recolher os restos humanos e executar a identificação.

Lipoma em região parotídea: relato de caso / Lipoma in the parotid region: case report

Introdução: O lipoma é um dos tumores benignos mais comuns de origem mesenquimal e constitui-se de gordura. São raramente encontrados na região de cabeça e pescoço, principalmente na região parotídea. Objetivo: Relato de caso clínico de paciente com lipoma em região parotídea direita. Caso clínico: Paciente A.S.L, gênero feminino, melanoderma, 32 anos, procurou atendimento odontológico referindo-se ao aumento de volume em região parotídea direita. Ao exame clínico observava-se uma massa de consistência macia e superfície lisa com aproximadamente 3 centímetros de diâmetro e ausência de queixas álgicas por parte da paciente. Ao exame tomográfico observou-se imagem radiolúcida circunscrita próxima ao arco zigomático e lóbulo superior de parótida direita. A paciente foi orientada a realizar biópsia diagnóstica. O procedimento cirúrgico foi realizado sob anestesia geral e através de acesso pré-auricular, o laudo histopatológico confirmou a hipótese diagnóstica. Nova intervenção cirúrgica não foi necessária uma vez que a biópsia realizada foi excisional. Conclusão: Como o diagnóstico clínico dos casos de lipoma são fáceis de realizar dado as suas características específicas e aos auxílios de exames de imagens, a biópsia excisional torna-se o tratamento definitivo e eficaz, sendo o material enviado ao laboratório de análises clínicas apenas para corroboração da hipótese diagnóstica... (AU)

Introduction: Lipoma is one of the most common benign tumors of mesenchymal origin and consists of fat. Are rarely found in the head and neck, especially in the parotid region. Objective: To report a case of a patient with a lipoma in the right parotid region. Case report: Patient A.S.L., female, melanoderma, 32-year-old, sought to dental care referring to the volume increase in the right parotid region. On clinical examination we observed a mass of soft consistency and smooth-surface with about 3 centimeters in diameter and no complaints of pain by the patient. The CT scan was observed circumscribed radiolucent image next to the right zygomatic arch and upper lobe of parotid gland. The patient was advised to diagnostic biopsy. The surgical procedure was performed under general anesthesia and through pre-auricular access, the histodiferenpathological report confirmed the hypothesis. New surgical intervention was not necessary as the excisional biopsy was performed. Conclusion: As the clinical diagnosis of lipoma cases are easy to perform given its specific characteristics and aid of imaging exams, excisional biopsy becomes final and effective treatment, the material was sent to the clinical laboratory only corroboration of the diagnosis... (AU)

Orthodontic use of documentation in identification of a skeletonized body in legal dental practice / Uso de documentación de ortodoncia en la identificación de un cuerpo esqueletizado en la práctica odontológica legal

The analysis of dental records is an essential tool for human identification. The present study aimed to highlight the importance of dental records for identification of skeletonized bodies. In form of conclusion, the method of dental identification using dental records represents a valid option for forensic dentistry

El análisis de los registros dentales es una herramienta esencial para la identificación humana. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo destacar la importancia de los registros dentales para la identificación de los cuerpos esqueletizados. El método de identificación dental que utiliza los registros dentales, representa una opción válida para la odontología forense

Importance of the comparative anatomy in Forensic Anthropology: case report

Introduction: In forensic sciences, reconstructive victim profile is a commonly used procedure to provide individual data in cases of complex human identifications. In forensic anthropology, valuable data are obtained from skeletal and dental analysis such as gender, age, ancestry, stature, and differentiation between human and non-human remains. Objective: To highlight the relevance of comparative anatomy analysis to differentiate human and non-human remains. Case report: Four bone fragments and one tooth were found on a potential crime scene, and were submitted to forensic examinations. The examinations revealed non-human anthropological remains. Additionally, the analyzed bones and tooth were classified as animal remains, specifically from a domestic dog (Canis lupus familiares). Conclusion: In this context, it is relevant to be trained and aware of the usefulness of comparative anatomy into the forensic anthropology routine in order to perform complete and accurate examinations.

Eminectomia: tratamento para a luxação da articulação temporomandibular recidivante / Eminectomy: a treatment option for recurrent temporomandibular joint

A luxação da Articulação Temporomandibular (ATM) ocorre quando o côndilo mandibular excursiona externamente à cavidade glenoide, permanecendo em uma condição de travamento anterior à eminência articular. Essa condição é classificada como habitual, recidivante ou recorrente, conforme a frequência em que ocorre, e a progressiva piora do quadro clínico observado. Múltiplas abordagens terapêuticas, variando de métodos conservadores a intervenções cirúrgicas complexas, têm sido propostas visando à solução dessa condição. o presente trabalho tem como objetivo promover uma discussão sobre a eminectomia e apresentar caso clínico tratado cirurgicamente por essa técnica e seu resultado.

Dislocation of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) occurs when the mandibular condyle disclocates out of the glenoid cavity, remaining in a lockout condition anterior to the articular eminence. This condition is classified as normal, recurrent or relapsing, depending on the frequency of occurrence and the progressive worsening of the clinical picture. Multiple therapeutic approaches, ranging from conservative methods to complex surgical interventions have been proposed in order to resolve this condition. This paper aims to promote a discussion on eminectomy and presents the result of a clinical case surgically treated by this technique.

Identification of a charred corpse through dental records

Introduction: Forensic Dentistry is an area of Dentistry related to Law. Among its goals is the execution of human identification, defined as the process of determining the person's identity. The forensic dentist uses, in this process, ante-mortem records and data for comparison with post-mortem information obtained from the examination of the body. Objective: To describe the process of identification of a charred corpse by using dental records. Case report: The human material remained from a charred corpse was sent to an anthropological and dental analysis for identification purposes. This employed the analysis of the corpse examination and odontological records. Conclusion: The identification of the victim in this case points out to the need of an interdisciplinary work between Forensic Medicine and Dentistry in situations which other routine identification processes cannot be applied, highlighting the importance of the Forensic dentist for the final solution of the case.

Identificação humana em odontologia legal por meio de registro fotográfico de sorriso: relato de caso / Human identification in forensic dentistry from a photographic record of smile: a case report

Os elementos dentais são os órgãos mais duráveis do corpo humano, capazes de resistir e permanecer intactos por muito tempo após decomposição e/ou incineração dos tecidos moles, denotando características valiosas na individualização. A partir desses aspectos, a Odontologia Legal desempenha um papel fundamental no processode identificação humana em casos cuja identidade é desconhecida. Dessa forma, o presente trabalho objetivou apresentar, por meio de um relato de caso pericial, um procedimento de identificação humana a partir do estudo dos dados antropológicos associados à análise do sorriso por meio de uma fotografia do suspeito. Concluiu-se que a associação entre a fotografia ante mortem e os dados antropológicos e odontolegais permitiu a identificação do indivíduo, sendo essa associação de técnicas de grande validade no processo de identificação humana.

Dental elements are the organs of the body more durable to withstand and remain intact long after decomposition or burning of soft tissue, showing valuable features of individualization. Thus, the forensic dentistry have an essential role in the process of human identification in cases whose identity is unknown. This study aimed to present, through a forensic case report, a procedure for identifying human from the study of cranial characteristics (anthropological data) associated with the analysis of the smile through a photograph of the suspect. It was concluded that theassociation between antemortem photograph and anthropological data allowed the identification of the individual. So this combination of techniques has great validity in the process of human identification.