Human Identification by Comparative Analysis of Frontal Sinuses: Study on Computed Tomography

ABSTRACT: Generally, primary methods of identification as the fingerprint analysis, dental analysis or DNA examination are indicated for the establishment of the identity of a corpse. In situations with poor body conservation, such as in advanced stage of putrefaction or skeletonization, imaging exams like medical and dental computed tomography can assist in the process of identification. The frontal sinuses present anatomical characteristics that allow the establishment of the identity of an in dividual. In this case report we used the technique of three-dimensional construction of the frontal sinuses through the generation of solid figures representative of the sinus morphology. After the comparative analysis of the antemortem and postmortem tomography of the alleged victim, we could establish similarities in both the variations in size, shape, symmetry and contour of borders, and the presence and number of septa, allowing us to infer that the two images described belong to the same individual, thus establishing the identity of the corpse found.

RESUMEN: Generalmente, los métodos primarios de identificación como el análisis dactiloscópico, el análisis dental o el examen de ADN están indicados para el establecimiento de la identidad de un cadáver. En situaciones de mala conservación del cuerpo, como en etapa avanzada de putrefacción o esqueletización, los exámenes de imagen como la tomografía computarizada médica y dental pueden ayudar en el proceso de identificación. Los senos frontales presentan características anatómicas que permiten establecer la identidad de un individuo. En este reporte de caso utilizamos la técnica de construcción tridimensional de los senos frontales a través de la generación de figuras sólidas representativas de la morfología sinusal. Tras el análisis comparativo de la tomografía antemortem y postmortem de la presunta víctima, pudimos establecer similitudes tanto en las variaciones de tamaño, forma, simetría y contorno de márgenes, como en la presencia y número de septos, lo que nos permite inferir que las dos imágenes descritas pertenecen al mismo individuo, estableciéndose así la identidad del cadáver encontrado.

Identificação humana pela Odontologia Legal no Instituto Médico Legal de Roraima (2014-18) / Human identification by Forensic Dentistry at Legal Medical Institute of Roraima (2014-18)

Objetivo: Trata-se de um estudo retrospectivo observacional transversal cujo objetivo foi realizar um levantamento das necropsias de corpos não identificados (íntegros, putrefeitos, esqueletizados, carbonizados ou segmentados) pela papiloscopia e odontologia legal entre o período de 2014 e 2018 no Instituto Médico Legal de Roraima. Material e método: Foi determinado o tipo de identificação: método primário (papiloscopia) ou secundário (odontologia legal); a causa jurídica da morte; a condição do corpo e o método mais utilizado para confronto. Resultados e Conclusão: 95,0% dos corpos com identidade desconhecida foram identificados pela odontologia; em 2018 a causa jurídica de morte com maior frequência foi o homicídio (54,3%), seguida dos acidentes de trânsito (18,3%) e; o prontuário odontológico ainda foi o método mais utilizado para confronto

Aim: This is a retrospective observational cross-sectional study whose objective was perform a research of unidentified bodies necropsies (integrate putrefied, skeletonized, carbonized or segmented) by papiloscopy and legal dentistry from 2014 to 2018 at Roraima Medical Legal Institute. Materials and Methods: Identification type was determined: primary method (papilloscopy) or secondary method (legal dentistry); the legal cause of death; body conditions and the most used method for confrontation. Results and Conclusion: 95.0% bodies with unknown identity were identified by dentistry; in 2018, the most frequent legal cause of death was homicide (54.3%), followed by traffic accidents (18.3%) and dental record was still the most used method for comparison

Sex dimorphism according to the nasozygomatic triangle

Sex is one of the first features to be diagnosed in human identification, composing, with age, ancestry and stature, the so called "big four". Aim: The present study aimed to metrically analyze the sexual dimorphism in skulls of known age and sex from Rio Grande do Sul ­ Brazil. Methods: This was a crosssectional study of metrical analysis, which used a sample comprised of 209 human skulls (106 male and 103 female) older than 22 years old at the time of death, undamaged and without signs of trauma or abnormalities. The point nasion and the most superior points on the zygomaticotemporal sutures from each side were connected forming a triangle. This area was calculated using Heron's formula, and the results were submitted for statistical analysis. Results: All measurements showed significant values for sexual dimorphism. Through the area of the triangle, it was possible to determine sex with an accuracy of 83.97% for males and 83.50% for females. Conclusion: This simple method requires only a caliper, and still can be reliable for forensic human identification. It must be diffused and tested on other samples, and can be used as a good and inexpensive tool for experts in day-to-day practice

Determinação do sexo por meio de medidas lineares e áreas do crânio de adultos brasileiros / Sex determination by means of linear measurements and skull areas of Brazilian adults

Introdução: A Antropologia Física Forense tem como objetivo buscar a identidade e identificação de seres humanos, buscando informações para estimar o sexo, ancestralidade, idade, estatura. Para encontrar tais dados a Antropologia Física Forense divide-se em antropometria (mensurações lineares, ângulos) e antroposcopia. Objetivo: Buscou-se o dimorfismo sexual por meio da análise de medidas lineares e de área do crânio, bem como, obter um modelo de regressão logística para a determinação do sexo em brasileiros. Metodologia Trata-se de um estudo observacional transversal de crânios secos de um Biobanco Osteológico e Tomográfico com sexo, idade, ancestralidade e causa da morte conhecidas. Realizou-se a calibração da pesquisadora em 25 crânios, em três momentos distintos, nestes foram estudas 6 medidas lineares e a soma de duas áreas. Para o estudo, foram realizadas medidas de 175 crânios (n=100%), sendo 96 do sexo masculino e 79 do feminino. Os dados foram tabulados no programa Microsoft Office Excel. Para a análise estatística utilizou-se o programa IBM® SPSS® 25 Statistics. Foram aplicados os testes de Kolmogorov-Smirnov e Teste t, para análise dos dados e regressão logística Stepwise-Forward (Wald). Resultados: Observou-se que todas as medidas foram dimórficas, sendo que duas variáveis foram definidas para a elaboração do melhor modelo para dimorfismo sexual, sendo a correlação significante com 70,3% de acurácia. Conclusão: Conclui-se que o método quantitativo desenvolvido pode ser utilizado para a determinação do sexo, como método auxiliar

Dimorfismo sexual por meio da análise forense da massa de mandíbulas edêntulas de indivíduos brasileiros / Sexual dimorphism through weight in Brazilian dried jaws

Introdução: Estudos para identificação humana baseados na antropologia visam estimar o sexo, a ancestralidade, a idade e a estatura. Dentre as características passíveis de avaliação o sexo é a que apresenta maior relevância. Objetivos: O estudo buscou verificar se o dimorfismo sexual é apontado quando se analisa a massa de mandíbulas edêntulas secas, bem como a viabilidade da construção de um modelo de regressão logística para a estimativa do sexo. Metodologia: No presente estudo observacional transversal, foram analisadas e pesadas 173 mandíbulas edêntulas provenientes de Biobanco, separadamente, com a utilização de balança digital semi-analítica. Para a calibração dos pesquisadores houve a aplicação de análise de correlação intra-classe e intra-examinador segundo Szklo e Nieto (2014). A balança utilizada, da marca Welmy modelo W3, passa por manutenção técnica na própria instituição, garantindo assim, sua precisão de pesagem. Resultados: Na avaliação da massa das mandíbulas edêntulas se mostraram dimórficas, havendo diferenças desta entre masculinas e femininas, sendo significativamente dimórficas. Também foi possível construir dois modelos de regressão logística, sendo um para a estimativa do sexo Logito = 0.454 + 0.633*Idade+ (-0.770*Mandíbula edêntula) e um para a estimativa da ancestralidade (branco e não branco) Logito = -1.776 + 0.392*Mandíbula edêntula. Conclusão: O modelo de regressão logística para estimativa do sexo obtido apresenta acurácia de 71,2%, podendo ser utilizado como método auxiliar na estimativa do sexo. Já o modelo de regressão logística para estimativa da ancestralidade obtido, apresenta acurácia de 62,7%, permitindo o seu uso como método auxiliar na estimativa da ancestralidade em brasileiros.

Craniofacial injuries by firearms projectiles: An analysis of 868 deaths in the five regions of Brazil.

Firearms injuries have a legal and medico-legal importance, and are especially lethal when they reach the craniofacial regions of the victim. The present study aims to identify the characteristics of craniofacial lesions resulting from firearm projectiles, to register the most affected craniofacial regions by this type of injury and to verify the demographic profile of the victims. A retrospective study was carried out on the autopsy records produced in the first semester of 2015, in five Institutes of Legal Medicine in Porto Velho, situated in the cities of João Pessoa, Vitória, Porto Alegre and Brasília. Data extracted included sex, skin color and age of the victim, craniofacial region reached, shooting distance, shape and size of the injuries and manner of death (homicide, suicide or accident). Based on the 868 reports analyzed, it was possible to observe 1700 entrance lesions of firearm projectiles in craniofacial regions. Among cases of known manner of death, homicides were the most frequent (97.0%). It was observed a higher frequency of male victims (93.3%), mixed race (62.0%), between the ages of 12 and 29 years (59.4%). In all cases considered as suicide or accident there was only one entrance wound, but in 82.8% of the homicides there were multiple gunshot wounds. The craniofacial most affected regions were temporal (25.2%) and occipital (19.8%). The most common sites of projectiles exit were the temporal (25.3%) and parietal (16.1%). All cases of suicide were related to contact shot (69.2%) or close-range shot (30.8%), and among the homicides the distant range shots were more frequent (54.0%). The shape of entrance wounds was mostly circular (56.8%) and oval (31.3%), and among the exit injuries, the lesions were irregular (43.3%) and starry (24.1%). The entrance wounds showed smaller sizes than the exit lesions (p < 0.0001). The data obtained are useful for guiding research that takes into account craniofacial trauma caused by firearm projectiles, makes it possible to compare this data with those of other countries and can base investigative conclusions based on the analyzes discussed in the present work.

Características Antropométricas do Palato Ósseo de uma Amostra Brasileira de Esqueletos Identificados / Anthropometric Characteristics of the Bony Palate in a Brazilian Sample of Identified Skeletons

Objetivo: Este estudo teve como objetivo descrever as carac-terísticas antropométricas do palato ósseo de uma amostra brasileira de esqueletos identificados Metodologia: Foi desen-volvido um estudo de corte transversal, por meio da análise de 178 crânios secos humanos, oriundos do Arquivo de Ossadas do Departamento de Odontologia Social da Faculdade de Odon-tologia de Piracicaba (FOP/UNICAMP), São Paulo. Utilizando paquímetro digital, foram realizadas medições lineares que incluíam forame incisivo à espinha nasal posterior (FI-ENP), forame palatino maior direito ao forame palatino maior esquer-do (FPMD-FPME), forame incisivo ao forame palatino maior direito (FI-FPMD) e forame incisivo ao forame palatino maior esquerdo (FI-FPME). Os testes t-Student, F(ANOVA), Tukey, LSD, Kruskal Wallis e Pearson, com nível de significância de 5,0%. Resultados: Do total de crânios analisados, 54,5% eram do sexo masculino, com mediana de idade de 56 anos. Todas as medidas analisadas apresentaram dimorfismo sexual, onde homens possuíram maiores dimensões do que o sexo oposto (p<0,001). Do total de palatos estudados, 104 eram pertencen-tes a indivíduos brancos, 49 a miscigenados e 25 a negros. As medidas FI-ENP, FPMD-FPME e FI-FPME apresentaram-se maiores em negros, seguidos dos miscigenados e brancos. Conclusão: Conclui-se que as características do palato ósseo podem ser aplicadas como maior confiabilidade para a estima-tiva do sexo na amostra brasileira estudada. (AU)

Objective: This study aimed to describe the anthropometric characteristics of the bony palate in a Brazilian sample of identified skeletons. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study of 178 human skulls from the Laboratory of Forensic Physical Anthropology at Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, São Paulo. A digital pachymeter was used to perform linear measurements from the incisive foramen to the posterior nasal spine (IF-PNS); right greater palatine foramen to left greater palatine foramen (RGPF-LGPF); incisive foramen to the right greater palatine foramen (IF-RGPF); and incisive foramen to the left greater palatine foramen (IF-LMPF). The data were submitted to Student's t, F (ANOVA), Tukey, LSD, Kruskal Wallis and Pearson tests, with a significance level of 5.0%. Results: Of the total skulls analyzed, 54.5% were from males, with a median age of 56 years. All the study measures presented sexual dimorphism, in which males had larger dimen-sions than females (p<0.001). Of the total palates studied, 104 were from white individuals, 49 were from mixed-race and 25 from black individuals. The IF-PNS, RGPF-LGPF and IF-LGPF measurements were greater in black individuals, followed by mixed-race and white individuals. Conclusion: In conclusion, the characteristics of the bony palate can be applied with higher reliability to estimate sex in Brazilian sample studied.(AU)

Dimorfismo sexual da vértebra áxis em uma coleção osteológica brasileira / Sex dimorphism by the axis vertebra in a Brazilian osteological collection

O objetivo desse estudo foi verificar o dimorfismo sexual por meio de medidas lineares (Comprimento do corpo e processo odontóide, Comprimento do processo odontóide, Comprimento do forame vertebral, Largura do forame vertebral, Distância dos processos transversos, Distância do processo transverso esquerdo ao processo espinhoso, Distância do processo transverso direito ao processo espinhoso) da segunda vertebra cervical denominada de áxis. Para tanto foram analisadas 181 áxis, sendo 103 masculinas e 78 femininas, na faixa de idade de 22 a 85 anos, pertencentes ao "Biobanco Tomográfico e Osteológico Prof. Eduardo Daruge da FOP/UNICAMP". Tais medidas foram feitas pelo paquímetro digital marca Stainless ­ hardned ® 150 mm Mauá ­ São Paulo, Brasil, após a calibração inter e intraoperador realizada por meio do teste de correlação intraclasse, teve como resultado o valor de 0,98 considerado excelente. Verificou-se que todas as medidas estudadas são dimórficas e foi possível estabelecer um novo modelo de regressão logística, a partir dos dados obtidos junto às ossadas. Concluiu-se que o modelo de regressão logística gerado ­ Germano Sexo = [- 22.7 + (0.16 × Comprimento do corpo) + (0.31 × Comprimento do forame vertebral) + (0.28 × Distância dos processos transversos)] ­ possui 72,4 % de acerto.

The objective of this study was to verify the sexual dimorphism through linear measurements (length of the body and dentinoid process, length of the dentinoid process, length of the vertebral foramen, width of the vertebral foramen, distance of the transverse processes, distance from the left transverse process to the spinal process , Distance from the right transverse process to the spinous process) of the second cervical vertebra known as the Áxis. For this purpose, 181 Axioms were analyzed, of which 103 were male and 78 were female, in the age range of 22 to 85 years, belonging to the "Tomographic and Osteological Biobank Prof. Eduardo Daruge of FOP / UNICAMP ". These measurements were made by the stainless - hardned ® digital pachymetro 150 mm Mauá - São Paulo, Brazil, after the inter and intra - operator calibration performed through the intraclass correlation test, resulting in a value of 0.98 considered excellent. It was verified that all the measures studied are dimorphic and it was possible to establish a new model of logistic regression, based on the data obtained from the bones. It was concluded that the logistic regression model generated Germano Gender = [- 22.7 + (0.16 × Body length) + (0.31 × Vertebral foramen length) + (0.28 × Distance of transverse processes), with 72.4% of hit.

Brazilian's dental anthropometry: Human identification.

BACKGROUND: Human stature and sex determination are significant data that can and should be used in criminal profiling in the human identification processes. Teeth are widely used in investigations because of their properties of resistance and uniqueness. AIMS: The present study aimed to verify, by means of dental anthropometry, the correlation of these with the stature and sex. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Measurements of linear (mid distal and incisor cervical) dental measurements were performed on the upper right teeth of Brazilians, aged between 18 and 30 years, being 100 male and 100 female participants. Linear dental measurements were measured with a digital caliper and stature was measured with a stadiometer. For the statistical analysis, the IBM® SPSS® 25 Statistics program was used. Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Pearson correlation, and Stepwise-Forward (Wald) logistic regression analyses were applied to sex determination and stature estimation. RESULTS: The results indicated that all measures performed are dimorphic, but that lateral incisor and canine tooth measurements are statistically significant with a P ≤ 0.001. The obtained model allows for sexing with 70.5% accuracy, being able to be used in anthropological studies in Brazilians. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that dental measurements are useful tools to identify gender and the canine measurements also showed a strong and proportional correlation with stature, but it was not possible to establish a mathematical model for this.

Application and validation of Diagnose Sexuelle Probabiliste V2 tool in a miscegenated population.

The hip bone (os coxae) is the skeletal element that presents the greatest level of sexual dimorphism. Therefore, methods involving the analysis of the os coxae provide the most accurate sex estimation, and DSP2 (Diagnose Sexuelle Probabiliste v.2) is one of the most accurate tools used in this identification. The goal of this study is to apply and validate DSP2 in the identification of 103 os coxae (53 male and 50 female) belonging to a Brazilian-identified skeletal collection. Differences between sexes were statistically significant for all measurements, except for the acetabulo-symphyseal and spino-auricular lengths. From the 103 os coxae analyzed, there was a 9.43% error in male individuals and a 14% error in females. The results revealed that DSP2 can be applied to Brazilian-mixed populations with a good index of accuracy, although at a lower accuracy than other population samples. This study also clearly demonstrates that metric variation of the os coxae is extremely useful in sex estimation and reinforces the notion that pelvic sexual dimorphism is not population-specific.

Effectiveness of three age estimation methods based on dental and skeletal development in a sample of young Brazilians.

OBJECTIVE: This study compared three methods designed for age estimation. METHODS: A sample of 468 radiographs (234 panoramic and 234 carpal radiographs) collected from patients ranging from 5 to 14 years old (mean age: 11.27years old±2.27years) was used. Three age estimation methods: were applied: one founded on dental development, one founded on hand and wrist development, and a method combining both measurements. For each method, the mean error (ME), mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE), and mean percentage of absolute error (MPAE) were quantified. The methods: were compared based on their effectiveness for estimating age in relation to sex and age range. RESULTS: The data show that the method exclusively using the development of the hand and wrist had the highest error rates (ME: 1.28M, 1.85F; MAE: 1.64M, 1.96F; RMSE: 1.94M, 2.32F) for both males (M) and females (F). In males, the method combining dental and skeletal development obtained outcomes that were slightly better than the method founded on only dental development (MPAE: 6.99% and 7.47%, respectively). In females, the opposite result was observed (MPAE: 8.48% and 6.59%, respectively). The method founded exclusively on skeletal development significantly overestimated (p=0.001) the age (mean chronological and estimated ages: 11.27 and 12.88, respectively). CONCLUSION: The methods involving dental development provided more accurate age estimates of chronological age. The method exclusively based on hand and wrist development resulted in outcomes that were highly discrepant from the chronological age.

Charred: Forensic dental identification and scanning electron microscope.

The identification of bone and dental remains to establish identity, requested by police and judicial authorities, has increased annually because criminals have been using sophisticated methods that make this identification impractical. This study reports a murder case by charring, which creates dental and bone calcination. In 2013, a completely burned car was examined by forensic experts, containing charred, calcined human bones and teeth inside its trunk, thus an identity needed to be established. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used as a supporting method and indicated the presence of restorative materials, which were compatible and consistent with the chart and radiographic shots provided by the victim's dental surgeon. The SEM examination reinforced the positive identification of the alleged victim performed by comparative radiographic examinations (antemortem and postmortem) in the dental fragments found. It is a supporting method that, even though it does not establish the identity, it helps in the process of identification.

The nasal index in brazilian human skeletons

Aim: To investigate the percentage of correctness (PC) of the Nasal Index (NI) in human skeletons for determination of sex, ancestry and estimation of age in the Brazilian population. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 173 human skulls belonging to the Piracicaba Dental School. 93 skeletons were males and 80 females; 34 were aged up to 39 years, 56 between 40 and 59 years, and 83 60 years or older; 96 were from white individuals, 49 were from mixed-race and 28 from black individuals. High-precision digital caliper was used to measure nasal height (NH=ANS-nasion) and the maximum nasal width (NW) values, which were applied into the formula NI=NW/NHx100. The data were submitted to discriminant analysis and Student's t test with equal variances, Mann-Whitney, F (ANOVA), Tukey and Kruskal Wallis, 5% significance level. Results: Dominant nasal type in the Brazilian population was the mesorine. Males showed nasal height and width values greater than those of females, with statistically significant differences in all measurements (p≤0.021) and PC of 76.6%. Similar nasal measurements were found regardless of age (p>0.05), with PC of 41.7%. Ancestral analysis revealed that black individuals have greater nasal width (26.35) and nasal index (53.67) than white ones (24.60 and 49.25), while mixed-race individuals showed intermediate values (25.36 and 52.13) (p<0.05). Nevertheless, these measurements presented an estimated PC of 54.3%. Conclusion: The Nasal Index can be better used for sex determination than for estimation of age and ancestry in the Brazilian population, as the latter showed intermediate and low percentage of correctness, respectively

Sex estimation in brazilian sample: qualitative or quantitative methodology?

Aim: This study carried out cranial measurements (in mm) [Zygion-Zygion (Zy-Zy); Zygion-Glabella-right side (Zy-Ga-right); Zygion-Glabella-left side (Zy-Ga-left); Zygion-Glabella-mean (Zy-Ga-mean); Rhinion-Anterior Nasal Spine (Rhi-ANS); Nasal Width (Na Wid); Nasion-Anterior Nasal Spine (Na-ANS); Glabella-Anterior Nasal Spine (Ga-ANS); Glabella-Prosthion (Ga-Pr)], to verify whether they are dimorphic. Methods: We used skulls from the Eduardo Daruge Laboratory of Forensic Physical Anthropometry, which did not present growth abnormalities and belonged to the age range of 18 to 100 years. Linear measurements were performed by digital caliper, properly calibrated. Inter and intra-calibrator calibration was performed by obtaining as result the value of 0.98 (considered excellent). Results: We found that all measures carried out are dimorphic, and we were able to create a logistic regression model (logit: Sex = −33.6 + (0.15 × Zy-Zy) + (0.21 × Rhi-ANS) + (0.16 × Na-ANS)) to estimation the sex. Conclusions: We concluded that the developed quantitative method results in 85.2% sensitivity, 76.2% specificity, and 81.1% accuracy, being, therefore, more effective in the prediction of sex than the mere random hit (AU)

A história da odontologia legal no Brasil. Parte 1: origem enquanto técnica e ciência / The history of forensic dentistry in Brazil. Part 1: the origin as technique and science

Ao longo das últimas décadas, a Odontologia Legal demarcou território dentre as especialidades odontológicas respaldando a Justiça e demonstrando sua importância em meio às necessidades da lei. Assim como a Odontologia moderna de Fauchard progrediu ao ponto de se fazer independente da Medicina, a Odontologia Legal de Amoedo emergiu como arte até se tornar especialidade odontológica. Registros históricos acerca da evolução desta especialidade retratam sua transformação do empirismo à consolidação científica. Como preconizada em seus primórdios no território nacional, a Odontologia Legal oferece uma vertente alternativa à prática clínica, extrapolando os limites do consultório em direção aos tribunais. O odontolegista, Cirurgião-dentista especialista em perícias ­ envolto neste contexto, aplica seus conhecimentos para a elucidação da verdade no ambiente administrativo, judiciário e legislativo. Atualmente, a Odontologia Legal desempenha papel fundamental nos exames cadavéricos e no vivo, sendo aceita mundialmente como uma ferramenta confiável para diversas modalidades periciais, como a identificação humana, a estimativa de idade e a valoração do dano corporal pós-traumático. Pelo evidente incremento nas demandas pericias dos últimos anos, a Odontologia Legal obteve maior notoriedade, destacando-se no âmbito policial e acadêmico. Consequentemente, a busca pelos conhecimentos que residem nesta especialidade foi incentivada, promovendo um acréscimo no número de profissionais que nela atuam. Cabe aos que militam nesta ciência o rastreamento das informações que permeiam o seu passado e a perpetuação destas às demais gerações que pela Odontologia Legal se dedicam. O presente trabalho fornece subsídio literário para alicerçar a história da Odontologia Legal no Brasil, salientando sua origem enquanto técnica e ciência.

During the last decades, forensic dentistry consolidated among the other specialties in dentistry supporting the justice under the needs of Law. As the modern dentistry of Fauchard progressed becoming independent from medicine, forensic dentistry of Amoedo emerged as art to become a specialty. Historical documents on the development of this specialty register its transformation from empiric knowledge to science. As initially designed in Brazil, forensic dentistry offers an alternative to the clinical practice, extrapolating the limits of the dental office towards the Courts. The forensic dentist, specialist in expertises, applies techniques to elucidate the truth in administrative, judicial and legislative scenarios. Currently, forensic dentistry plays an essential part for exams in the deceased and the living, and is accepted worldwide as a tool for several modalities of expertise, such as human identification, age estimation and quantification of bodily injury. Due to the increase in forensic expertises over the last years, forensic dentistry became more notorious and important in the police and academic fields. Consequently, the search for education in this specialty was encouraged expanding the number of professionals working in the field. Forensic dentists must track back in time information on the foundations of forensic dentistry making it available for further generations of professionals. The present study aims to provide historical information of forensic dentistry in Brazil, highlighting its origin as technique and science.

Violence against women: caracteristics of head and neck injuries / Violência contra a mulher: características das lesões de cabeça e pescoço

ABSTRACT Objective: This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of aggression in head and neck regions suffered by women who are victims of gender violence, and to analyze the variation in the number of cases before and after the enactment of the Maria da Penha Law. Methods: A survey was conducted on the records of examinations of personal injury made in the Department of Forensic Medicine in Vitória, in the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo. The study included women victims of bodily injury, referred as a result of domestic, family or conjugal violence, aged between 11 and 80. Results: The number of cases analyzed in this study exhibited an oscillation during the years studied. The results reveal that female victims are, in most cases, young, aged between 20 and 30, single and do not work outside the home. The victim's husband or partner was the main offender, mostly using parts of the body, like the hands and feet, as the means of aggression. The most frequent craniofacial injuries were ecchymosis and abrasions, more often in orbital, cervical and frontal regions. Conclusions: The characteristics related to violence against women obtained through this study are of great importance and should be highlighted and publicized, to encourage implementation of public policies and practical actions of acceptance and recognition of such violence, including the insertion of the Forensic Dentist on the staff of experts in all Institutes of Forensic Medicine in the country.

RESUMO Objetivo: O presente trabalho buscou levantar as características das agressões em regiões de cabeça e pescoço sofridas por mulheres vítimas de violência de gênero e analisar a variação do número de casos antes e depois da promulgação da Lei Maria da Penha. Métodos: Foi realizado um levantamento nos registros dos exames de lesão corporal realizados no Departamento Médico Legal de Vitória, Espírito Santo. Foram incluídas mulheres vítimas de lesões corporais, encaminhadas em decorrência de violência doméstica, familiar ou conjugal com idade entre 11 e 80 anos. Resultados: A quantidade de casos analisados nesse estudo exibiu uma oscilação durante os anos estudados. Os resultados revelam que a mulher vitimizada é, na maior parte dos casos, jovem, numa faixa etária entre 20 e 30 anos e solteira, e não trabalha fora de casa. O companheiro ou marido da vítima foi o principal agressor, utilizando principalmente segmentos do corpo, como mãos e pés, como meio de agressão. As lesões craniofaciais mais encontradas foram equimose e escoriação, mais frequentes nas regiões orbitária, cervical e frontal. Conclusão: As características relacionadas à violência contra a mulher obtidas pelo trabalho têm grande importância e devem ser evidenciadas e divulgadas, a fim de que políticas públicas sejam implantadas e ações práticas de acolhimento e reconhecimento desse tipo de violência sejam tomadas, incluindo a inserção do Odontolegista no quadro de peritos de todos os Institutos Médicos Legais do país.

Stature Estimate by the Upper Arch: Carrea´s Method Modified / Estimación de la Estatura por Medio del Arco Superior: Método de Carrea Modificado

The Carrea's index is an alternative to estimate the human stature. However, in cases when the jaw is affected, this technique becomes impracticable. Expanding the use of the Carrea's index, by extending it to the upper elements, would increase the chances of the method, especially in cases when only the skull is available for analysis. The aim of the study was to test a new denominator for Carrea's index, so that it could be used for the upper arch, aiming at a new feature to estimate human stature. Plaster models of the arch and the string of the upper arch of 107 dentistry students, aged between 18 and 30 years, previously submitted to anthropometric analysis, were measured with a digital caliper. The data found were inserted in software developed to find a denominator that would result in a higher number of correct answers to real statures, evaluating the left and the right hemiarch, and their average. For the right hemiarch, the denominator with more accuracy for the real stature was the interval from 2.573 to 2.583, with 58.9 %. For the left hemiarch, the best values were from 2.553 to 2.554 with 63.6 %. The average of hemiarchs had as ideal denominator values between 2.579 and 2.581, with 60.7 %. We found no significant statistical difference between denominators. It was possible to obtain a new denominator to apply Carrea's index for the upper arch. The new method had satisfactory accuracy rate and should be tested in other populations to verify its applicability.

El índice de Carrea constituye una alternativa para la estimación de la estatura humana. Sin embargo, esta técnica se torna inviable cuando la mandíbula se encuentra comprometida. Su aplicación a partir de elementos dentales superiores, resultaría de utilidad en los casos en que sólo se dispusiese del cráneo para examinar. El objetivo del estudio fue proponer un nuevo denominador para que el índice de Carrea pueda ser utilizado para el arco superior, en la búsqueda de otro recurso para estimar la estatura humana. El arco y la cuerda fueron medidos, con un calibre digital, sobre los respectivos modelos de yeso superiores de 107 estudiantes de Odontología, que tenían entre 18 y 30 años de edad y habían sido sometidos a análisis antropométricos previos. Los datos obtenidos fueron analizados matemáticamente mediante un programa desarrollado para encontrar un denominador, que proporcionase un mayor número de aciertos para las estaturas reales, evaluando el hemiarco derecho, izquierdo y la media de los hemiarcos. Para el hemiarco derecho, el denominador más apropiado para la estatura real correspondió al intervalo 2,573-2,583, con 58,9 % de acierto. Para el hemiarco izquierdo, los mejores valores quedaron comprendidos entre 2,553 y 2,554, con 63,6 % de acierto. La media de los hemiarcos determinó guarismos ideales, oscilantes entre 2,579 y 2,581, con 60,7 % de acierto. No hubo diferencia estadísticamente significativa entre los denominadores hallados. Se obtuvo un nuevo denominador, que permitió el empleo del índice de Carrea para el arco superior, con una tasa de acierto satisfactoria. No obstante, este método debe ser probado y validado para otras poblaciones, verificando su aplicabilidad.

Respect for the Donated Corpse in the View of Dentistry and Medicine Students / Respeto por el Cadáver Donado en la Visión de los Estudiantes de Odontología y Medicina

The teaching of human anatomy in universities in Brazil and around the world is accomplished mainly through the use of donated corpses. However, this methodology is threatened due to the progressive reduction of the number of corpses donated to educational institutions. This research aimed to investigate the ethical profile of undergraduate students of Medicine and Dentistry when working with the corpses during practical classes in anatomy, and to compare the students' knowledge of the law that regulates the donation and use of human cadavers as a means of learning in educational institutions. For this purpose, a sample of 106 students, 63 from the Faculty of Dentistry of Piracicaba - UNICAMP -, and 43 from the Faculty of Medicine of Jundiaí (both in the state of São Paulo, Brazil) filled a questionnaire. The data were statistically analyzed using the chi-square test, and there were virtually no statistically significant difference between the responses of the students of Dentistry and Medicine. Most students did not know the law, and 81 % (Dentistry) and 68 % (Medicine) would not donate their bodies to educational institutions. Although nearly 75 % of students have claimed that teachers emphasized the importance of respect to the donated body, 56 % of future dentists and 46 % of future physicians ensure they have heard some kind of joke about the cadaver during class, although only 4.76 % and 13.95 %, respectively, have confessed to have already presented this inappropriate behavior. Thus, it can be inferred that there is an urgent need for dissemination of the importance of body donation programs, and the teaching of ethical principles concerning to the corpse, to ensure continuity of quality of education offered in biomedical field.

La enseñanza de la anatomía humana en las universidades en Brasil y en el mundo se lleva a cabo principalmente a través del uso de partes de cadáveres. Sin embargo, esta metodología está amenazada debido a la reducción progresiva del número de cadáveres transferidos a las instituciones educativas. El objetivo de este trabajo fue investigar el perfil ético de los estudiantes de odontología y medicina sobre el cuerpo durante las lecciones prácticas de anatomía, y comparar el conocimiento de la ley que regula la donación y utilización de cadáveres humanos como un medio de aprendizaje en las instituciones educativas. Una muestra de 106 estudiantes, 63 del curso de Odontología de la Facultad de Odontología de Piracicaba - UNICAMP - y 43 estudiantes de medicina de la Facultad de Medicina de Jundiaí (ambas ubicadas en São Paulo ­ Brasil), respondió a un cuestionario. Los datos fueron sometidos a un análisis estadístico mediante la prueba de chi-cuadrado. Se observó que no había diferencia estadísticamente significativa entre las respuestas. La mayoría de los estudiantes no conocen la ley, y 81 % (Odontología) y 68 % (Medicina) no donarían su cuerpo a las instituciones educativas. Aunque aproximadamente 75 % de los estudiantes afirman que los profesores enfaticen el respeto por el cuerpo, 56 % de los futuros dentistas y 46 % de los futuros médicos aseguran que han escuchado chistes y comentarios desagradables sobre el cuerpo durante las clases, aunque sólo 4,76 % y 13,95 %, respectivamente, han confesado haber cometido tal práctica. Conclusiones: Por lo tanto, se puede inferir que hay una necesidad apremiante para la divulgación de las leyes que rigen la donación de órganos y la conciencia de los cadáveres de donación, así como la enseñanza de los principios éticos de respeto por el cuerpo, para asegurar la continuidad de la calidad de la educación que se ofrece en las ciencias biomédicas.

Critérios de avaliação penal por juízes, peritos e especialistas em odontologia legal ­ parte I: lesões dentais decorrentes de agressão / Criminal evaluation criteria for judges, experts and specialists in forensic dentistry - part I: dental injuries resulting of aggression

Com o passar dos anos tem se constatado um aumento da violência, e como consequência, do número de exames de corpo de delito envolvendo a face e cavidade bucal. Mesmo existindo coeficientes dos índices estético, mastigatório e fonético, nota-se uma evidente falta de padronização na avaliação e enquadramento das lesões dentais de acordo com o artigo 129 do Código Penal. Devido a este fato o presente estudo avaliou a maneira como os juízes, peritos dos Institutos Médico-Legais (IMLs), entre eles médicos e cirurgiões dentistas, e especialistas em Odontologia Legal, tipificam as lesões dentais; assim como comparou as convergências e divergências das opiniões desses profissionais e discutiu os aspectos éticos e legais pertinentes ao tema. Nesse objetivo, foi confeccionado um questionário com questões estruturadas, que foi entregue aos voluntários, juntamente com duas cópias do termo de consentimento livre e esclarecido (TCLE). O projeto da presente pesquisa foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa sob o protocolo nº 076/2009. A amostra participante da pesquisa totalizou 82 profissionais, atuantes nos Estados de São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro e Mato Grosso, que qualificaram supostas lesões dentais de acordo com o artigo 129 do Código Penal. Conclui-se que apesar da existência de uma tendência à convergência nas opiniões dos profissionais, quando observadas as porcentagens maiores, existe uma oscilação na interpretação das questões, fato que dificulta a aplicação de um critério único. Pelo contrário, se existissem parâmetros para tal fim, diminuiriam as possibilidades de variações na forma de interpretação entre profissionais diretamente ligados no processo, no tocante aos danos sofridos pela vítima.

Through the years, it has been noticed an increase of violence and forensic examination cases related to the face and oral cavity. Although there are aesthetic, phonetic and masticatory indexes, there is an obvious lack of criteria for the assessment and classification of dental injuries in accordance to 129 Article of the Penal Code. Due to this fact, this study analyzed how judges, medical and dental forensic experts, and specialists in forensic dentistry typify the dental injuries, as well as checked the convergence and divergence of opinions of these professionals and discussed the ethical and legal issues referred to this topic. In this goal, it was made a questionnaire with structured questions, which was delivered to the volunteers, along two copies of the informed consent (IC). The project of this research was approved by the Research Ethics Committee (protocol nº 076/2009). The sample consisted of 82 professionals from the States of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Mato Grosso, that qualified supposed dental injuries in accordance with 129 Article of the Penal Code. It was concluded that despite of the existence of a convergent tendency in the points of view of professionals, while observing the highest percentages, there are discrepancies in the interpretation of the questions, that difficult the application of a single criterion. Although, if there was a parameter for this purpose, it would minimize the possibility of different interpretations among the professionals directly involved in the process, when related to the damages suffered by the victim.

Computational Approach to Identify Different Injuries by Firearms.

Complications arise in the analysis of gunshot wounds to the maxillofacial region, when neither the projectile nor the gun is found at the crime scene. We simulated 5- and 15-cm firing distances at a human mandible to investigate the external morphology of entrance wounds based on fire range. The ammunition models, .40-caliber S&W, .380-caliber, and 9 × 19-mm Luger, were constructed with free-form NURBS surfaces. In a dynamic simulation, projectiles were fired against mandibular body 3D model at 5 and 15 cm. All entrance wounds presented oval aspect. Maximum diameter and von Mises stress values were 16.5 mm and 50.8 MPa, both for .40-caliber S&W fired at 5 cm. The maximum energy loss was 138.4 J for .40 S&W fired at 15 cm. In conclusion, the mandible was most affected by .40-caliber S&W and morphological differences were observable in holes caused by different incoming projectile calibers fired at different distances.