RESUMEN
DNA is present in most of the cells in our body, which is unique in each and every individual, and we leave a trail of it everywhere we go. This has become an advantage for forensic investigators who use DNA to draw conclusion in identification of victim and accused in crime scenes. This review described the use of genetic markers in forensic investigation and their limitations.
RESUMEN
Bone is a specialized form of connective tissue, which is mineralized and made up of approximately 28% type I collagen and 5% noncollagenous matrix proteins. The properties of bone are very remarkable, because it is a dynamic tissue, undergoing constant renewal in response to mechanical, nutritional, and hormonal influences. In 1978, "The International Nomenclature of Constitutional Diseases of Bone" divided bone disorders into two broad groups: osteochondrodysplasias and dysostoses. The osteochondrodysplasia group is further subdivided into two categories: dysplasias (abnormalities of bone and/or cartilage growth) and osteodystrophies (abnormalities of bone and/or cartilage texture). The dysplasias form the largest group of bone disorders, hence the loose term "skeletal dysplasia" that is often incorrectly used when referring to a condition that is in reality an osteodystrophy or dysostosis. The word "dystrophy" implies any condition of abnormal development. "Osteodystrophies," as their name implies, are disturbances in the growth of bone. It is also known as osteodystrophia. It includes bone diseases that are neither inflammatory nor neoplastic but may be genetic, metabolic, or of unknown origin. Recent studies have shown that bone influences the activity of other organs, and the bone is also influenced by other organs and systems of the body, providing new insights and evidencing the complexity and dynamic nature of bone tissue. The 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, or simply vitamin D, in association with other hormones and minerals, is responsible for mediating the intestinal absorption of calcium, which influences plasma calcium levels and bone metabolism. Diagnosis of the specific osteodystrophy type is a rather complex process and various biochemical markers and radiographic findings are used, so as to facilitate this condition. For diagnosis, we must consider the possibility of lesions related to bone metabolism altered by chronic renal failure (CRI), such as the different types of osteodystrophies, and differentiate from other possible neoplastic and/or inflammatory pathologies. It is important that the dentist must be aware of patients medical history, suffering from any systemic diseases, and identify the interference of the drugs and treatments to control them, so that we can able to perform the correct diagnosis and propose the most adequate treatment and outcomes of the individuals with bone lesions.
RESUMEN
Objectives Age estimation in forensic odontology is having a great importance in recent times because of the request by court or other government authorities so that immigrants whose real age is unknown should not suffer unfair disadvantages because of their supposed age, and so that all legal procedures to which an individual's age is relevant can be properly followed. Purpose The present study was planned to be conducted on pulp tissue and dental hard tissues derived from individuals for DNA isolation and age determination . Materials and Methods The present study was an experimental single-blinded study consisting of 30 extracted teeth categorized into three groups as follows: Group A: 10 to 20 years, Group B: 21 to 30 years, Group C: 31 to 40 years. DNA was isolated from the pulp of each tooth and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for calculating telomere length was performed. Results With increase in age, the length of telomere gets shortened which will be helpful in analyzing the age of the person when morphological and biological remnants are not available except the tooth. Conclusion The present study found that estimation of human age based on the relative TL measured by the real-time quantitative PCR may be a useful method for age prediction, especially when there is no morphologic information in the biological sample. This is the first study to accesses the age of a person by telomere length using dental pulp.
RESUMEN
Objectives While DNA profiling has become the principal technique for individualization of biological evidences, ABO blood grouping is still a useful test method in the initial stages of crime investigation. Objectives of the study were blood group determination using slide agglutination method, blood group determination from saliva using absorption inhibition method, and comparison of slide agglutination method with that of absorption inhibition method from saliva sample. Materials and Methods A total of 60 subjects were taken randomly with their age ranging from 20 to 60 years. Sixty subjects were divided in to two groups, study group and control group. 5 to 10 mL of unstimulated saliva was collected from 60 patients and Wieners agglutination test was performed to detect the secretor status of blood using absorption inhibition method and compared with that of slide agglutination method Results Out of 60 subjects, 52 subjects showed secretors of antigen in saliva with percentage value of 86.66% and eight subjects were nonsecretors (13.33%). Slightly higher percentage of secretor status was seen in males 84.6 and 88.2% in females. Conclusion Evaluation of secretor status of blood group antigen from saliva using absorption inhibition method can be useful method in identification of medicolegal cases.
RESUMEN
PURPOSE: Sex determination becomes the first priority by a forensic investigator in the process of identification of bodies mutilated beyond recognition due to mass disasters. Sex-determining region Y (SRY) gene is used as a sex-typing marker as the results are said to be 100% accurate. Therefore, an experimental study was conducted to rule out the possibility of the presence of SRY gene in tooth pulp and dentin after being exposed to various environments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty extracted teeth of known gender were taken, of which ten were male and ten were female. The tooth samples were subjected to various environmental conditions for 60 days. RESULTS: Among the total twenty samples, DNA isolation was done from all the samples of pulp and dentin. Gender determination using SRY gene was correct in all the samples of the pulp, and no interpretation of SRY was possible from the dentin though the DNA was isolated. CONCLUSION: The present study has found DNA retrieval can be done from human teeth irrespective of the storage time and environmental conditions for forensic caseworks and SRY gene to be a reliable biomarker for sex determination from the pulp tissue of teeth.
RESUMEN
Tonsilloliths are calcifications within a tonsillar crypt, involve primarily the palatine tonsil caused by dystrophic calcification as a result of chronic inflammation. Tonsilloliths are very uncommon and are microscopic. Tonsillar concretions sometimes produce symptoms which include non-specific chronic halitosis, irritable cough, dysphagia, otalgia and foreign body-like sensation or foul taste. Patients with tonsillolithiasis may also be asymptomatic, with their lesions being discovered incidentally on panoramic radiographs. This article presents an unusual case of multiple bilateral and asymptomatic tonsilloliths which were found during a routine panoramic radiographic examination.
RESUMEN
Melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy is a very rare benign but locally aggressive neoplasm of neural crest origin with a high recurrence rate. It usually affects infants of less than 1 year of age. Most commonly, the lesion affects the maxilla followed by skull, mandible, brain and other extracranial sites. We report an 11-month-old female baby with a similar tumor involving the anterior region of maxilla along with a brief review of the literature and differential diagnosis. A wide surgical excision was performed by an intraoral approach. A 2-year follow-up of the patient showed no recurrence.
RESUMEN
The tumors in which odontogenic differentiation is fully expressed are the odontomas. Odontomas are considered as hamartomas rather than a true neoplasm. These tumors are composed of enamel, dentine, cementum and pulp tissue. It is most commonly associated with the eruption of the teeth. They are usually discovered on routine radiographic examination. In exceptional cases, the odontoma erupts in to the mouth. Nine cases of erupted compound odontomas are reported in the English literature, and the present paper reports another case of an erupted compound odontoma in a 22-year-old female patient.
