An evaluation of dental methods by Lamendin and Prince and Ubelaker for estimation of adult age in a sample of modern Greeks.

Teeth can be used as accurate tools in age-at-death estimation in forensic cases. No previous data exist on estimating age from teeth in a modern Greek population. The aim of this study was to evaluate Lamendin's and Prince and Ubelaker's ageing methods on a modern Greek skeletal sample. In total, 1436 single-rooted teeth from 306 adult individuals (161 males and 145 females) were examined. Only measurements of periodontosis and translucency showed positive correlation with age. Results showed a bias - an overestimation for ages under 40 years and an underestimation over this age. However, the use of wider age groups proved to be more appropriate. Low values of error were observed for the group of middle-aged individuals. In conclusion, both methods can be considered accurate in estimating age-at-death of middle-aged individuals. This study provides more information about the accuracy and applicability of these dental methods on modern European populations.

Analysis of volatile organic compounds released from the decay of surrogate human models simulating victims of collapsed buildings by thermal desorption-comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-time of flight mass spectrometry.

Field experiments were devised to mimic the entrapment conditions under the rubble of collapsed buildings aiming to investigate the evolution of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during the early dead body decomposition stage. Three pig carcasses were placed inside concrete tunnels of a search and rescue (SAR) operational field terrain for simulating the entrapment environment after a building collapse. The experimental campaign employed both laboratory and on-site analytical methods running in parallel. The current work focuses only on the results of the laboratory method using thermal desorption coupled to comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TD-GC×GC-TOF MS). The flow-modulated TD-GC×GC-TOF MS provided enhanced separation of the VOC profile and served as a reference method for the evaluation of the on-site analytical methods in the current experimental campaign. Bespoke software was used to deconvolve the VOC profile to extract as much information as possible into peak lists. In total, 288 unique VOCs were identified (i.e., not found in blank samples). The majority were aliphatics (172), aromatics (25) and nitrogen compounds (19), followed by ketones (17), esters (13), alcohols (12), aldehydes (11), sulfur (9), miscellaneous (8) and acid compounds (2). The TD-GC×GC-TOF MS proved to be a sensitive and powerful system for resolving the chemical puzzle of above-ground "scent of death".

Sexual dimorphism of root length on a Greek population sample.

Sexual dimorphism in teeth has been an area of research for osteoarchaeologists and forensic anthropologists studying human skeletal remains. As most studies have been based on the mesiodistal and buccolingual crown measurements, sexual dimorphism from root length dimensions remains "neglected" by comparison to crown dimensions. The aim of the present study was to test the existence of sexual dimorphism in the root length of single-rooted teeth with the purpose of investigating whether maximum root length can be reliably used to determine sex. A total of 774 permanent teeth in 102 individuals (58 males and 44 females) from the Athens Collection were examined. The maximum root length of each tooth was measured on the mesial, distal, buccal, and lingual side. Almost all teeth presented a high degree of sexual dimorphism with males showing numerically higher values in root length than females. The most dimorphic teeth were the maxillary second incisors followed by maxillary canines. The percentage of sexual dimorphism reached 16.56%, with maxillary teeth showing the highest degree of dimorphism. The classification results show that the overall correctly specified group percentage ranged from 58.6% to 90.0%. The data generated from this study suggest that root length measurements offer a reliable method for determining sex and are therefore useful in osteoarchaeological studies, particularly in cases of fragmented or cremated material, but also in forensic contexts. Moreover, root length can be used to separate the remains of female and male subadult individuals with a high level of accuracy thus addressing one of the most problematic issues in human osteoarchaeology and anthropology as immature skeletons are the most difficult to sex.

Osteometric sex determination using proximal foot phalanges from a documented human skeletal collection.

Diagnosing sex is vital for developing biological profiles from human skeletal remains. For that purpose, osteometric evaluation of bone size has proven to be usually effective. The present study investigates the degree of sexual dimorphism in proximal foot phalanges from a documented human skeletal collection, known as the Athens collection. Furthermore, it utilizes the data for the development of sex-discriminant formulas in Greek population. The material used consists of 749 proximal foot phalanges (left and right), which belong to 174 adult individuals (91 males and 83 females) that lived during the 20(th) century. The degree of sexual dimorphism reached as high as 16.76 %, with the left side demonstrating higher sexual dimorphism. The 1(st) proximal foot phalanges are proven to be the most sexually dimorphic among the bones of the sample. The minimum sexual dimorphism observed was in the maximum lengths of phalanges, whereas the most sexually dimorphic measurement was the medio-lateral width at midshaft. The discriminant functions developed provide classification accuracies that ranged between 77.1 % and 90.9 % for left and between 72.2 % and 86.6 % for right proximal foot phalanges. The results of this study suggest that proximal foot phalanges are useful for sex determination in Greek population.

Physiology and biochemistry of human subjects during entrapment.

A classification of various categories of entrapped people under the ruins of collapsed buildings after earthquakes, technical failures or explosions is proposed. Type and degree of injury at the moment of building collapse and duration of entrapment are the two basic parameters in this classification. The aim is to provide sources and types of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can be used for establishing a new method for locating entrapped victims based on human chemical signatures. Potential target compounds, among others, are ammonia, acetone, isoprene, dimethylsulfide, dimethyldisulfide and trimethylamine. In this context, the possible neuroendocrine, metabolic and physical responses of potential victims during the different types of entrapment are correlated with the sources of VOCs such as expired air, urine, blood and sweat. The proposed classification scheme was developed as part of an integrated research project which investigates the use of combined audio, video and chemical methods for the early location of entrapped people under the ruins of collapsed buildings.

Visfatin serum levels are increased in women with preeclampsia: a case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: Visfatin has been implicated in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia with limited and contradictory, however, results. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential association between visfatin serum concentration and preeclampsia. METHODS: Visfatin was determined in the serum of 38 women with preeclampsia and 38 women with uncomplicated pregnancies, matched for age and gestational age. RESULTS: Similar baseline characteristics were present between the two groups in terms of age, body mass index, parity and gravidity. Serum visfatin was significantly increased in the preeclamptic women (median=10.3 ng/mL; interquartile range [IQR] =20) as opposed to their matched controls (median=2.6 ng/mL; IQR=1.4) (p<0.001). Univariate analysis revealed a strong linear correlation of visfatin levels with systolic (r=0.505, p<0.001), diastolic (r=0.467, p<0.001) and mean arterial blood pressure (r=0.497, p<0.001), as well as with uric acid concentrations in the serum (r=0.463, p<0.001). A receiver operating characteristics curve analysis illustrated that serum visfatin concentration is helpful in discriminating between preeclamptic or nonpreeclamptic women with an area under the curve of 0.887 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.794-0.948; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Visfatin serum concentration seems to be increased in preeclampsia as compared with uncomplicated pregnancy.

Combined chemical and optical methods for monitoring the early decay stages of surrogate human models.

As the body decays shortly after death, a variety of gases and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) constantly emanate. Ethical and practical reasons limit the use of human corpses in controlled, time-dependent, intervening experiments for monitoring the chemistry of body decay. Therefore the utilization of pig carcasses serves as a potential surrogate to human models. The aim of this work was to study buried body decay in conditions of entrapment in collapsed buildings. Six domestic pigs were used to study carcass decay. They were enclosed in plastic body bags after being partially buried with rubbles, resembling entrapment in collapsed buildings. Three experimental cycles were performed, employing two pig carcasses in each cycle; VOCs and inorganic gases were measured daily, along with daily visible and thermal images. VOCs were collected in standard sorbent tubes and subsequently analyzed using a Thermal Desorption/Gas Chromatograph/high sensitivity bench-top Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (TD/GC/TOF-MS). A comprehensive, stage by stage, detailed information on the decay process is being presented based on the experimental macroscopic observations, justifying thus the use of pig carcasses as surrogate material. A variety of VOCs were identified including almost all chemical classes: sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen compounds (aldehydes, alcohols, ketones, acids and esters), hydrocarbons, fluorides and chlorides. Carcasses obtained from a pig farm resulted in more sulfur and nitrogen cadaveric volatiles. Carbon dioxide was by far the most abundant inorganic gas identified along with carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide. Visual monitoring was based on video captured images allowing for macroscopic observations, while thermal camera monitoring which is mostly temperature dependent, resulted in highlighting the local micro-changes on the carcasses, as a result of the intense microbial activity. The combination of chemical and optical methods proved very useful and informative, uncovering hidden aspects of the early stages of decay and also guiding in the development of combined chemical and imaging methods for the detection of dead bodies.

Exercise training improves body composition, blood lipid profile and serum insulin levels in obese children.

AIM: Increasing prevalence of obesity and related diseases especially in children and adolescent has gained more scientific attention. The present study was conducted to determine the effects of regular exercise on childhood obesity often associated with clinical conditions such as hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes already at a young age. METHODS: The subjects were 40 obese children at 11 ± 1 years and with Body Mass Index (BMI) of at least 30 kg/m2 who volunteered to the study and randomly classified into exercising and non-exercising control group. Physical load of the exercising group was first determined by the Karvonen protocol after which to the subjects underwent a 12-week aerobic exercise training program primary consisting of walking and jogging exercise. Blood pressure, biochemical cardiovascular risk factors and body composition were assessed before and after the exercise-training period and compared to the non-exercising control group. RESULTS: In the exercising group, statistically significant changes were observed in the circumference of forearm, elbow, calf, knee, waist, chest and hip, as well as skin fold thickness of chest, subscapulae, calf, abdomen, suprailiac and leg. Similarly, total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL, VLDL and insulin levels were found to be lower and HDL levels higher than in the non-exercising control group. CONCLUSION: While treating obesity in children, a major emphasis should be directed towards increasing regular physical activity and supported with dietary interventions. By this approach the risk of other chronic diseases often associated with obesity could be minimized thereby improving the quality of life.

Moving ahead in diabetics' cancer screening; food for thought from the Hellenic experience.

Although data from literature suggest that diabetic women are frequently under screened for gynaecological cancers little is known about screening implementation for other cancers for both genders. This study investigates comprehensive cancer screening practices of diabetics as compared with non-diabetics; analyses screening patterns both by gender and level of evidence and reveals target subgroups that should be paid more attention for screening implementation. 675 diabetics vs. 5772 non-diabetic Greek individuals entered the PACMeR 02 cancer screening study. Diabetic women reported significantly lower performance for the sex-specific evidence-based cancer screening tests and digital rectal examination (DRE) as compared with non-diabetics (P < 0.05). Diabetic women older than 60 years old, of elementary education, housewives and farmers showed the lowest performance rates (P < 0.01). Prostate cancer screening was higher among diabetic men with ultrasound and DRE reaching statistical significance (P < 0.05). Subgroups analysis did not reveal a hidden relationship. Both genders of diabetics reported never performing skin examination at higher rates (P < 0.001), although screening intent is extremely low in both diabetics and non-diabetics (<1%). Evidence-based screening coverage was inconsistent in both genders independently by the diabetic status. Primary care efforts should be provided to implement presymptomatic cancer control.