Cellular profile of the peritumoral inflammatory infiltrate in squamous cells carcinoma of oral mucosa: Correlation with the expression of Ki67 and histologic grading.

BACKGROUND: Squamous cells carcinoma is the most important malignant tumor with primary site in the oral cavity and, given the great exposure of mucosa and lips to the etiologic factors of this neoplasm, its incidence is high. Investigation of the prognostic determinants is significant for the expectations of treatment proposal and cure of the patient. The local immune response represented by peritumoral inflammatory infiltrate is a possible prognostic factor. METHODS: In this study, oral mucosa samples of squamous cells carcinoma were analyzed, separated according to their histological classification as well as the phenotypical profile of the cells comprising the peritumoral inflammatory infiltrate was investigated by immunohistochemical method, in addiction, the cell proliferation index via protein Ki67 expression was determinated. RESULTS: The T lymphocytes made up most of this inflammatory infiltrate, and among these cells, there was a predominance of T CD8 lymphocytes relative to the T CD4 lymphocytes. The B lymhocytes were the second most visualized leucocyte cell type followed by macrophages and neutrophils. The immunohistochemical assessment of Ki-67 positive cells revealed a greater expression of this protein in samples of undifferentiated squamous cells carcinoma. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the cellular immune response is the main defense mechanism in squamous cells carcinoma of oral mucosa, expressed by the large number of T lymphocytes and macrophages, and that the greatest intensity of local response may be associated with the best prognosis.

Photoanthropometric face iridial proportions for age estimation: An investigation using features selected via a joint mutual information criterion.

Age assessment from images is of high interest in the forensic community because of the necessity to establish formal protocols to identify child pornography, child missing and abuses where visual evidences are the mostly admissible. Recently, photoanthropometric methods have been found useful for age estimation correlating facial proportions in image databases with samples of some age groups. Notwithstanding the advances, newer facial features and further analysis are needed to improve accuracy and establish larger applicability. In this investigation, frontal images of 1000 individuals (500 females, 500 males), equally distributed in five age groups (6, 10, 14, 18, 22 years old) were used in a 10 fold cross-validated experiment for three age thresholds classifications (<10, <14, <18 years old). A set of novel 40 features, based on a relation between landmark distances and the iris diameter, is proposed and joint mutual information is used to select the most relevant and complementary features for the classification task. In a civil image identification database with diverse ancestry, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to verify accuracy, and the resultant AUCs achieved 0.971, 0.969, and 0.903 for the age classifications (<10, <14, <18 years old), respectively. These results add support to continuing research in age assessment from images using the metric approach. Still, larger samples are necessary to evaluate reliability in extensive conditions.

The renal clearance of dextran sulfate decreases in puromycin aminonucleoside-induced glomerulosclerosis: a puzzle observation.

BACKGROUND: Puromycin aminonucleoside-induced nephrosis is characterized by increased renal excretion of plasma proteins. We employed this experimental model to study the urinary clearance of dextran sulfate. METHODS: The dextran sulfate eliminated by the urine was determined using a metachromatic assay. Polysaccharide fragments were analyzed by chromatographic and electrophoretic procedures. Disaccharide composition of the glomerular heparan sulfate was assessed using digestion with specific lyases. RESULTS: In normal rats dextran sulfate is partially degraded to lower molecular weight fragments and only then eliminated by the urine. Surprisingly, in puromycin aminonucleoside-induced glomerulosclerosis the molecular size of the fragments of dextran sulfate found in the urine is the same or even lower than in control animals in spite of the marked proteinuria. Furthermore, urinary excretion of dextran sulfate decreases in the experimentally induced nephrosis. This observation cannot be totally attributed to a reduced number of physiologically active nephrons since the glomerular filtration rate decreases approximately 32% after puromycin aminonucleoside administration while the urinary excretion of 8 kDa-dextran sulfate decreases 3-fold. The glomerular heparan sulfate shows reduced sulfation when compared with normal animals. Possibly puromycin aminonucleoside decreases the activity of kidney endoglycosidases, which reduce the molecular size of the sulfated polysaccharide, leading to a decrease in its renal clearance. Reduced sulfation of the glomerular heparan sulfate in the puromycin aminonucleoside-induced nephrosis does not alter the size of the dextran sulfate eliminated by the kidney, as suggested for protein. CONCLUSIONS: Each pathological process induces a particular modification in the kidney, which in turn can affect the renal selectivity to specific macromolecules in different ways.

Heat induced changes to dental resin composites: a reference in forensic investigations?

The objective was to investigate color change and surface damage in dental resin composites exposed to high temperatures over different time intervals for comparative purposes. Samples were prepared using two resins - Z100(R) (R1) and Charisma (R2), heated at the following temperatures: 200 degrees C, 400 degrees C, 600 degrees C, 1000 degrees C, for 15, 30 and 45 min (n = 104 for each resin sample). Color (DeltaE) and brightness (DeltaL) changes were analyzed by spectrophotometry using the CIE Lab system and surface changes by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). R1 showed more intense color changes after heat exposure than R2. DeltaL values were found to be the best parameter for evaluation of light and color change. A biphasic pattern after thermal exposure was detected, from dark brown to light white. SEM showed more intense alterations in R2 than in R1. These results indicate that the parameters observed in both resins are useful as a guide in forensic analyses.

Checklist of mammals from Goiás, central Brazil / Lista de Mamíferos de Goiás, Brasil central

Abstract: The state of Goiás, in central Brazil, is covered mainly by the Cerrado domain, with the Alto Paraná Atlantic Forest occupying its central-southern portion. Goiás is one of the 20 Brazilian federative units without a mammal checklist. In this study, we provide the first checklist of mammals from Goiás state. We recorded mammal species based primarily on the analysis of specimens housed in scientific collections as well as on literature with associated voucher material. We listed 191 mammalian species belonging to 125 genera, 31 families and 10 orders, which represents 25.2% of the mammal species occurring in Brazil. The most speciose orders were Chiroptera (90 spp.), followed by Rodentia (43 spp.), Carnivora (19 spp.) and Didelphimorphia (17 spp.). The following orders accounted for a smaller portion of the state diversity: Cetartiodactyla (7 spp.), Cingulata (7 spp.), Primates (4 spp.), Pilosa (2 spp.), Lagomorpha (1 sp.), and Perissodactyla (1 sp.). A total of 28 species (14.7%), mainly represented by medium and large-sized mammals, are nationally threatened while 12 (6.3%) are globally threatened. Our results indicate great portions of the state lacking a proper survey of mammals, especially the northwestern portion. We discuss species richness, distribution and conservation status of the mammals of Goiás state in national and regional scenarios. We highlight the need for mammal inventories based on complementary survey techniques with the collection of vouchers in order to provide karyologic, molecular, morphologic, parasitologic, and ecological data. These informations are the basis for integrative studies that lead to the understanding of current mammalian richness and diversity. Indeed, knowledge on species richness distribution in the state will guide conservation strategies, especially in areas undergoing habitat loss and fragmentation, such as the central-southern portion of Goiás.

Resumo: O estado de Goiás, no Brasil central, é coberto principalmente pelo domínio do Cerrado, com a Mata Atlântica do Alto Paraná ocupando sua porção centro-sul. Goiás é uma das 20 unidades federativas brasileiras que ainda não possui uma lista de espécies de mamíferos. Neste estudo, apresentamos a primeira lista de mamíferos para o estado. Registramos as espécies de mamíferos com base principalmente na análise de espécimes depositados em coleções científicas, bem como na literatura apresentando material testemunho associado. Listamos 191 espécies pertencentes a 125 gêneros, 31 famílias e 10 ordens, as quais representam 25,2% das espécies de mamíferos que ocorrem no Brasil. As ordens mais especiosas foram Chiroptera (90 spp.), seguida pelas ordens Rodentia (43 spp.), Carnivora (19 spp.) e Didelphimorphia (17 spp.), com as demais ordens respondendo por uma porção menor da diversidade: Cetartiodactyla (7 spp.), Cingulata (7 spp.), Primates (4 spp.), Pilosa (2 spp.), Lagomorpha (1 sp.) e Perissodactyla (1 sp.). Um total de 28 espécies (14,7%), principalmente representadas por mamíferos de médio e grande porte, estão ameaçadas nacionalmente e 12 (6,3%) encontram-se globalmente ameaçadas. Nossos resultados indicaram grandes porções do estado ainda não devidamente pesquisadas em relação aos seus mamíferos, com informações escassas e fragmentadas, principalmente no que diz respeito à sua porção noroeste. Discutimos a riqueza de espécies, a distribuição e o estado de conservação dos mamíferos do estado de Goiás nos cenários nacional e regional. Ressaltamos a importância da realização de inventários que utilizem técnicas complementares de amostragem, incluindo a coleta de material testemunho, proporcionando a obtenção de dados cariotípicos, moleculares, morfológicos, parasitológicos e ecológicos. Estas informações são a base de estudos integrativos, os quais aumentam nossa compreensão a respeito da riqueza e diversidade atual dos mamíferos. O conhecimento a respeito da distribuição da riqueza de espécies em Goiás é essencial para embasar estratégias de conservação, tão necessárias em áreas que vem sofrendo com a perda e fragmentação de seus hábitats naturais, como a porção centro-sul do estado.

Effect of Zusanli (ST.36) electroacupuncture at two frequencies on the bioavailability of (99m)Tc-sodium pertechnetate and on labeling of blood constituents in rats.

OBJECTIVES: A study was performed on the effects of stimulation at Zusanli-point (ST.36) by electroacupuncture (EA) at two frequencies on the bioavailability of (99m)Tc-sodium pertechnetate (Na(99m)TcO(4)) in rats. METHODS: Forty Wistar rats were divided into four groups: untreated control, treated by manual acupuncture at ST.36 bilaterally, treated by EA at 2 Hz at ST.36 bilaterally, and the same site at 100 Hz bilaterally. Na(99m)TcO(4) (7.4 MBq) was administrated via the ocular-plexus and, 20 minutes before sacrifice, blood was withdrawn for radiolabeling assay (BRL). In the bioavailability analysis, organs and tissues were isolated, their radioactivity determined, and the percentage of injected dose per gram of organ or tissue (%ID/g) and the %ID were calculated for each organ or tissue (%ID/ot). For BRL, the plasma and blood cells isolated, and the fractions also precipitated with 5% trichloroacetic acid to separate the soluble and insoluble fractions; these were assessed as percentage of injected dose (%ID) in blood (%ID/b). RESULTS: The results showed significant differences in the %ID/g in some organs and tissues in comparison with controls; lung (p = 0.0013), spleen (p = 0.0085), pancreas (p = 0.0167), liver (p = 0.0003), stomach (p < 0.0001), small-intestine (p = 0.0181), large-intestine (p = 0.04099), urinary-bladder (p = 0.0271), thyroid (p < 0.0001), muscle (p = 0.0187); %ID/ot in spleen (p = 0.0349); and %ID/b in blood sample (p = 0.0235). In the blood labeling analyses, EA in either frequency significantly increased insoluble fraction/blood cells (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggested that acupuncture procedures at ST.36 could modulate responses in some organs, tissues, and blood in rats. Further rigorous experimental studies to examine the effectiveness in either acupuncture therapy need to be pursued.

Anomalous fractional clearance of negatively charged Ficoll relative to uncharged Ficoll.

Recent studies, using low-temperature perfusion of rat kidneys, have claimed the existence of renal charge selectivity simply on the basis of the differential excretion rates of uncharged Ficoll and charged proteins. To test for the existence of charge selectivity in vivo, we examined the clearance of negatively charged Ficoll compared with uncharged Ficoll. A short-term approach to steady state was used to study the fractional clearances. Relative clearances were also examined using an osmotic pump technique where the tracers reach a steady-state value in conscious rats after 7 days. Carboxymethyl Ficoll was stable during filtration and renal passage, was not taken up by the kidneys, and did not bind to plasma proteins. There was no significant difference in the fractional clearance of molecules with radius of 36 A for Ficoll (fractional clearance = 0.048 +/- 0.038, n = 5) and negatively charged carboxymethyl Ficoll (fractional clearance = 0.028 +/- 0.019, n = 5). For molecules with radii greater than 36 A, carboxymethyl Ficoll had facilitated clearance with respect to uncharged Ficoll [for example, at a radius of 60 A fractional clearance for Ficoll = 0.0012 +/- 0.0005 (n = 5), whereas that for carboxymethyl Ficoll = 0.015 +/- 0.005 (n = 5)]. Renal function was not compromised by carboxymethyl Ficoll as uncharged Ficoll in urine exhibited similar hydrodynamic size profiles when studied in the presence of excess unlabeled carboxymethyl Ficoll. The facilitated clearance of negatively charged Ficoll with respect to uncharged Ficoll reveals a property of the capillary wall, which has been previously observed with other nonproteinaceous polyanions. This study demonstrates that the glomerular capillary wall is not charge selective in the form of excluding negatively charged Ficoll. However, the charge properties of the capillary wall may influence the facilitated transport of charged Ficoll compared with uncharged Ficoll.

Comparação dos padrões de atratividade de Hermetia illucens (Diptera, Stratiomyidae) associada a carcaças de Rattus norvergicus enterradas e tratadas com hormônios esteróides / Comparison of attraction patterns of Hermetia illucens (Diptera, Stratiomyidae) associated to buried Rattus norvergicus carcasses with steroid hormones treatment

Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera, Stratiomyidae) é uma espécie abundante em todo o continente americano. No entanto, ainda há poucos estudos no Brasil abordando aspectos em relação a sua biologia e ecologia, em particular associados a estudos forenses. Neste trabalho, nós observamos os efeitos de hormônios esteróides na decomposição corporal de Rattus norvergicus, variedade Wistar enterrados na atração de H. illucens. Além da presença de diversas espécies de larvas e adultos de insetos freqüentemente encontrados em carcaças nessas condições, observou-se uma grande quantidade de imaturos de H. illucens. Essa espécie representou aproximadamente 22 por cento de todos os espécimes coletados, tendo aparecido somente nos animais que receberam tratamento com esteróides sexuais dos tipos testosterona, progesterona e estradiol. Dentre esses, a maior abundância foi verificada nos que haviam recebido testosterona (68 por cento). A presença de imaturos de H. illucens, apenas nos animais que receberam o tratamento com esteróides, em experimentos realizados em dois anos consecutivos revela uma possível atração/seleção dessa espécie por corpos com quantidades aumentadas de hormônios sexuais. Esse comportamento pode ser particularmente útil para a entomologia forense no que diz respeito à estimativa do intervalo pós-morte (IPM), particularmente quando tem como base informações sobre o ciclo de vida e ecologia de insetos necrófagos.

Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera, Stratiomyidae) is an abundant species in the entire American continent. Nevertheless, there are few studies in Brazil dealing with aspects of its biology and ecology, particularly associated with forensic studies. In this study we intended to observe the effects of steroids hormones in the corporal decomposition of buried Rattus norvergicus from the Wistar variety in the attraction of H. illucens. Besides the presence of several insect species commonly found in carcasses, a great amount of immature H. illucens was observed. This species represented approximately 22 percent of all collected specimens and it was only found in the animals that have received treatment with sexual steroids, such as testosterone, progesterone and estradiol. Among the animals under treatment, the greater abundance was verified in those who had received testosterone (68 percent). The presence of immatures of H. illucens only in the animals that received hormone treatments in experiments accomplished in two consecutive years strongly suggests a possible attraction of this species for bodies with different amounts of sexual hormones. This behavior can also be relevant for the forensic entomology in regard to the post-mortem interval (PMI) estimation, particularly when the PMI is based on information about the necrophagous insect's life cycle and ecology.

Dois anos de antropologia forense no Centro de Medicina Legal (CEMEL) da Faculda de de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto-USP / Two years of Forensic Anthropology at the Medico Legal Centre (CEMEL)of the Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto-USP

A Antropologia Forense é uma área do conhecimento que busca estabelecer a identidade de um sujeito através da individualização de características intrínsecas a ele. O Centro de Medicina Legal (CEMEL) da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade deSão Paulo (FMRP-USP) possui um Laboratório de Antropologia Forense, criado em parceria com a University of Sheffield (UK), que elaborou um protocolo para análise de ossadas e esforça-separa desenvolver um trabalho mais confiável, que permita resultados sociais e científicos de alta qualidade. Após dois anos de funcionamento, constatou-se que muitas das ossadas encaminhadas ao CEMEL não possuem elementos que são de extrema importância para a realização do exame antropológico, o que pode evitar a elaboração de um perfil biológico adequado da ossada e, em virtude disso, postergar a sua identificação. Considerando-se que não há dados antropológicos recentes na literatura nacional sobre casos médico-legais de ossadas, este é o primeiro trabalho realizado a partir da análise de 42 ossadas humanas encaminhadas ao CEMEL desde sua inauguração em 1999. Os resultados mostraram como principais características antropológicas das ossadas estas estarem relacionadas a indivíduos masculinos, de origem étnica caucasiana, com idade entre 32,71 e 46,29 anos, estatura entre 1,64 e 1,73m, destros, sem achados patológicos relevantes, com elementos odontológicos informativos e sem roupas ou outros pertences. Além disso, foi constatado que 61,90% das ossadas possuíam menos de 50% dos ossos, com média de 79,64±52,40 ossos por caso...

Forensic Anthropology is an area of knowledge which works in the establishment of a person’s identity through the individualization of his or her intrinsic characteristics. The Medico Legal Centre (CEMEL) of the Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto of University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP) has a Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology, which was created in a partnership with the he University of Sheffield (UK), which elaborated a protocol for skeletons analysis and put efforts to develop a more reliable work to allow high quality social and scientific results. After two years of work, it was noticed that many skeletons forwarded to CEMEL did not have extremely important elements for the anthropological examination, which could avoid the elaboration of an adequate biological profile of the skeletons and, because of this, postpone its identification. Considering that there is no recent anthropological data in national literature about medico-legal cases of skeletons, this is the first report about the analysis of 42 human skeletons forwarded to CEMEL since its inauguration in 1999. The results showed the main anthropological characteristics of the skeletons as being related to male individuals, from Caucasian ethnic origin, age between 32.71 and 46.29 y.o., height between 1.64 and 1.73, dexterous, without any relevant pathological findings, with informative odontological elements and no clothes or other belongings. Besides, it was evidenced that 61.90% of the skeletons had less than 50% of the bones, with mean of 79.64±52.40 bones per case...

Efeitos da testosterona, estradiol ou progesterona na decomposição / Corporal de ratos castradoseffects of testosterone, estradiol or progesterone on the body decomposition of castrated rats

Resultados prévios do nosso laboratório mostraram que ratos machos e fêmeas, quando sepultados em um mesmo local e sob as mesmas condições ambientais apresentam decomposição corporal diferenciada, com os corpos dos machos atingindo esqueletização completa antes das fêmeas. Então, decidiu-se investigar se ratos machos castrados submetidos a diferentes tratamentos com esteróides sexuais desenvolveriam padrões diferentes de decomposição corporal. Cinqüenta ratos Wistar machos foram anestesiados aos 21 dias de idade e 40 deles foram castrados enquanto 10 foram submetidos à cirurgia sham. Os animais foram divididos nos seguintes grupos: Co- Controle (cirurgia sham); Ca- Castrado; T- Testosterona (castração+ propionato de testosterona); E- Estradiol (castração + cipionato de estradiol); P- Progesterona(castração + progesterona). Os animais foram mortos aos 81 dias de idade em câmara de CO2e foram sepultados no mesmo local. A exumação foi feita 120 dias após o sepultamento. A decomposição corporal estava mais avançada no grupo T, seguindo decrescentemente pelos grupos P, Co e Ca. O grupo E não foi considerado nesta análise devido à diferença significativa no peso corporal no momento da morte em relação aos outros grupos. Os resultados indicaram que os hormônios esteróides sexuais podem interferir no processo de decomposição corporal. Esse modelo biológico experimental apresenta uma importante implicação forense, uma vez que perfis hormonais podem induzir diferentes aspectos na decomposição corporal no mesmo intervalo de tempo, abrindo um precedente para justificar a investigação em material humano para evitar dúvidas na determinação do tempo desde a morte em investigações criminais.

Previous results from our laboratory showed that males and females buried in the same place and in the same environmental conditions, conduct the male bodies to reach complete skeletonization before the female ones. So, it was decided to investigate if castrated male rats submitted to different steroid treatments showed different body decomposition patterns. Fifty male Wistar rats were anesthetized at 21 days of age and 40 of them were castrated while 10 were submitted to sham surgeries. The animals were divided into the following groups: Co- Control(sham surgery); Ca- Castreted; T- Testosterone (castrated + testosterone propionate); E- Estradiol(castrated + estradiol cipionate); P- Progesterone (castrated + progesterone). The animals were killed at 81 days of age in a CO2 chamber and were buried in the same grave. Exhumation wasdone 120 days after burial. The body decomposition was more advanced in the Group T, decreasingly followed by the Groups P, Co and Ca. The Group E was not considered in the analysis because of the significant if differences in body weight in comparison to the other groups in the time of death. The results indicate that steroid sexual hormones can interfere in the processof the body decomposition. This experimental biological model raises an important implication for forensic purposes, once hormonal profiles can induce different aspects of the body decomposition in the same interval of time, opening a precedent to justify investigation of human material to avoid doubts in the determination of the time since death in criminal investigations

Efeito da testosterona no desenvolvimento dechrysomya albiceps (wiedemann) (diptera: calliphoridae) / Effect of testosterone on the development ofchrysomya albiceps (wiedemann) (diptera: calliphoridae)

A Entomologia Médico-Legal ou Forense pode ser definida como a aplicação do estudo de insetos e outros artrópodes que, em associação com procedimentos criminalísticos, têm o propósito de descobrir informações úteis para uma investigação. Atualmente, os insetos são uma alternativa confiável para análises toxicológicas, especialmente na ausência de tecidos e fluidos normalmente utilizados para esse propósito, pois estes armazenam algumas substâncias ingeridas, o que pode alterar a sua taxa de desenvolvimento, sendo este fato relevante na determinação da causa e do tempo de morte. Experimentos prévios de nosso laboratório sobre efeitos da testosterona na decomposição corporal sugeriram que este hormônio poderia interferir no desenvolvimento da fauna cadavérica. Com o objetivo de se investigar a influência da testosterona no desenvolvimento larval de Chrysomya albiceps, uma espécie comum na fauna cadavérica, um estudo experimental foi realizado a partir de ovos de uma colônia da referida espécie mantida em laboratório. Os ovos foram divididos em quatro grupos de 30 e colocados em potes de vidro com 50g de dieta artificial cada, tendo sido a dieta acrescida de testosterona em dois deles. Pesagens foram realizadas de 12 em 12 horas durante todo o intervalo de crescimento larval. As larvas analisadas não apresentaram diferença nos estadios de desenvolvimento, porém as larvas do grupo experimental estavam com cinco vezes o peso das larvas do grupo controle e com tamanho aumentado. Tal resultado evidencia uma influência significativada testosterona no crescimento de larvas de C. albiceps.

Medico-Legal or Forensic Entomology can be defined as the application of the study of insects and other arthropods which, in association with criminalistic processes, have the purpose of desovering useful information for an investigation. Nowadays, the insects are areliable alternative for toxicological analysis, especially when tissues and liquids usually requiredfor this purpose are absent, once insects store some ingested substances which can changetheir growth rate, being this a relevant fact in the determination of the cause and the time since death. Previous experiments in our laboratory on the testosterone effects on body decomposition suggested that this hormone could interfere in the cadaveric fauna development. With the objective of investigating testosterone influence on the Chrysomya albiceps larval development, a common species in cadaveric fauna, an experimental study was done from eggs of a laboratory maintained colony of this species. The eggs were divided in four groups of 30 and put in glass flasks with 50 gof artificial diet in each of them, with testosterone being added in two of them. The larvae wereweighted each 12 h during all interval of the larval growing. The studied larvae did not present any difference in the stages of development, but larvae from the experimental group had 5 times the weight of the larvae from the control group and with bigger size. This result shows a significant influence of testosterone in the growth of C. albiceps.

Dados médico-legais sobre afogamentos na região de Ribeirão Preto (SP, Brasil): um passo para a prevenção / Medico-legal data on drowning in Ribeirão Preto region (SP, brazil): a step for prevention

Este é um estudo de prevalência com a primeira descrição específica de casos de afogamento em uma área não-costeira do Brasil, em Ribeirão Preto, estado de São Paulo, uma região com padrão de vida comparável ao de países desenvolvidos, com o objetivo de estabelecer medidas preventivas para este tipo específico de trauma. Metodologia: Uma análise da documentação médico-legal de 89 casos de afogamento ocorridos entre 2001 e 2004. O padrão de mortes por afogamento foi estudado através de parâmetros como idade, sexo, características sócio-econômicas e avaliação do consumo de álcool. Resultados: um índice de 2,69 casos por 100.000 habitantes foi observado. O perfil predominante entre as vítimas de afogamento foi o do homem caucasiano em idade economicamente produtiva (15-59 anos), afogados acidentalmente em rios e represas na área rural durante o verão e o outono, sendo inviável a avaliação do consumo de álcool. Conclusão e Relevância: a observação do perfil da vítima de afogamento através dos relatórios médico-legais permitiu o desenvolvimento de um projeto piloto de sucesso na prevenção de afogamentos que pode ser expandido para outras áreas não-costeiras do Brasil, visando à redução do número de vítimas através da prevenção. As dificuldades de investigar a influência do consumo de álcool são discutidas.

This is a prevalence study with the first specific description of drowning cases ina non-coastal area of Brazil, in the locality of Ribeirão Preto, State of São Paulo—a region with standards of living comparable to those in developed countries—regarding the establishment of preventative measures for this specific kind of injury. Methodology: An analysis of the forensic documentation of 89 drowning cases occurred between 2001 and 2004. The pattern of drowning fatalities was studied in relation to parameters like age, sex, socio-economic background and evaluation of alcohol consumption. Results: rate of 2.69 cases per 100,000 habitants per year was observed. The predominant profile among drowning victims was that of the Caucasian male of economically productive age (15 to 59 years), accidentally drowned in rivers and dams in rural areas during the summer and autumn, being impossible the evaluation of alcohol consumption. Conclusion and Relevance: the observation of the victim profile through the analysis of forensic reports allowed the development of a successful pilot program of drowning prevention that can be expanded to other non-coastal areas in Brazil, regarding the reduction of the number of victims by prevention. The difficulties in alcohol consumption analysis are discussed.

Centro de Medicina Legal da FMRP-USP: relato de sete anos de prática humanitária com cadáveres humanos não-identificados / Medico Legal Centre (cemel) of the Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto-USP: report of seven years of humanitary practice with unidentified human corpses

Os autores apresentam um relato da experiência de sete anos do Centro de Medicina Legal (CEMEL) da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo (FMRP-USP), no recebimento e guarda de cadáveres não-identificados e na atenção às famílias que procuram parentes desaparecidos. No CEMEL, vítimas de morte violenta são examinadas pelos peritos do IML, as quais podem estar carbonizadas, putrefeitas ou esqueletizadas, situações nas quais a identificação é difícil e requer atenção completa dos profissionais envolvidos. O CEMEL tem como um de seus objetivos no trabalho tanatológico, o resgate da dignidade humana no trato com os cadáveres e seus familiares, através da educação continuada de seus funcionários sobre estes princípios. De dezembro de 1999 a dezembro de 2006 foram examinados 166 cadáveres sem identificação, sendo 112 de pessoas recém falecidas, 45 esqueletizados,7 em estado de putrefação avançada e 02 carbonizados. As entrevistas com as pessoas que se apresentaram como sendo familiares foram realizadas em todos os casos para conhecimento da história de vida do falecido, o que possibilitou a identificação de 25 pessoas. A obtenção de informações válidas para identificação foi proporcionalmente mais eficaz quanto maior o tempo de contato com os familiares, a disponibilidade em atendê-los, o interesse em ouvir suas queixas e o zêlo e trato na guarda do cadáver.

The authors present a report of the seven years experience of the Medico Legal Centre (CEMEL) of the Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto of the University of São Paulo (FMRPUSP) in receiving and keeping non-identified copses and in the attention to the families that search for missing relatives. In CEMEL, victims of natural, suspicious or violent deaths are examined, whose can be carbonized, putrefied or skeletonized, situations in which identification is difficult and require full attention of professionals involved. CEMEL has as priority the rescue of human dignity in dealing with corpses and their families, because of the repetitive denounces of disrespectful treatment in many mortuaries in Brazil. From December 1999 to December 2006, 166 non-identified bodies were examined, being 112 of recent deaths, 45 skeletonized, 7 inadvanced putrefaction and 2 carbonized. The interviews with those allegedly relatives was done inall cases to obtain the life history of the deceased, which allowed the identification of 25 people. Obtaining valid information for identification was proportionally more efficient to the longer timespent with the relatives, the availability in help, the interest in listening to their complaints and thecare in keeping the corpses.

Influência dos hormônios esteróiodes sexuais no tempo de esqueletização de ratos wistar / Influence of steroid sexual hormones on skeletization time of wistar rats

A estimativa do tempo de morte é um dos problemas mais complicados e difíceis da Medicina Legal devido aos diversos fatores que interferem nesse processo (temperatura, umidade, condições aeróbica e anaeróbica, presença de microrganismos e condições do solo). Fatores intrínsecos ao corpo freqüentemente não são relacionados à decomposição corporal. Para investigar se o processo de esqueletização sofre interferência dos hormônios esteróides sexuais foi realizado um trabalho experimental com ratos Wistar (30 machos e 60 fêmeas divididos em subgrupos em diferentes fases hormonais). Os animais foram cuidados até atingirem o peso entre 350 e 450g, quando foram mortos em câmara de CO2 e sepultados. A análise dos fatores ambientais (temperatura, umidade do ar e chuvas) e corporais (peso e gordura corporal) mostrou que a variação destes não interferiu no processo de esqueletização. Após as exumações, apenas o grupo de machos controles para testosterona apresentou esqueletização completa. Os machos castrados sem reposição de testosterona e os machos castrados com reposição de testosterona apresentaram esqueletização mínima. Todos os grupos das fêmeas apresentaram esqueletização parcial. A análise dos resíduos de putrefação dos grupos com esqueletização mínima e parcial evidenciou a presença de ácidos graxos característicos da composição de adipocera. Considerando-se que os dois grupos de animais (machos e fêmeas) foram sepultados no mesmo local, sob as mesmas condições ambientais e corporais, durante o mesmo intervalo de tempo, é possível concluir que os hormônios esteróides sexuais são responsáveis pela diferença observada na decomposição corpórea, sendo a testosterona o principal interveniente neste processo. Além disso, o modelo experimental também evidenciou o potencial de utilização para ser utilizado futuramente em estudos do processo de formação de adipocera.

The establishment of the postmortem interval is one of the most complicated and difficult tasks in forensic investigation because of many factors that affect this process (temperature, humidity, aerobic and anaerobic conditions, presence of microorganisms and soil conditions). Body intrinsic factors frequently not are related to de body decomposition. To investigate if the skeletonization process is under interference of sexual steroid hormones an experimental investigation with Wistar rats was done (30 male and 60 females divided in sub-groups at different hormonal phases). The animals were raised until they reach body weight between 350 and 450g, when were killed in a CO2 chamber and buried. Analysis of the environmental (temperature, humidity and rain) and corporal factors (body weight and body fat) showed that variation in these factors did not interfere on the skeletonization process. After the exhumation, only the male control group for testosterone showed complete skeletonization. The castrated males with no testosterone reposition and the castrated males with testosterone reposition showed minimum skeletonization. All female groups showed partial skeletonization. Analysis of the putrefaction residues from the groups with partial and minimum skeletonization showed the presence of the characteristic fatty acids of adipocere composition. Considering that both animal groups (males and females) were buried at the same place, under the same environmental and body conditions, during the same time interval, it is possible to conclude that sexual steroid hormones are responsible for the observed difference in body decomposition, being testosterone the main intervenient factor in this process. Besides, the experimental model also evidenced its potential use for future studies in the process of adipocere formation.

Definições de pontos craniométricos em imagens multiplanares de ressonância magnética (rm) para fins de reconstrução facial forense / Craniometric landmarks definitions from multiplanar magnetic resonanceimages (mri) regarding forensic facial reconstruction

A reconstrução facial pode ser uma ferramenta útil dentro do processo de identificação médico-legal. O método tem apresentado uma evolução contínua ao longo dos anos, tornando-se mais acurado. A sua fidelidade deve-se em parte as medidas de tecidos moles que são empregadas para se reconstituir o rosto a partir de um crânio. A proposta deste estudo foi a de investigar e conhecer dados sobre a correta localização e definição de 22 pontos craniométricos estabelecidos na literatura a partir de estruturas anatômicas e adaptá-los para imagens obtidas em exames digitais de ressonância magnética (RM), de forma a permitir a futura mensuração da espessura dos tecidos moles crânio-faciais de brasileiros vivos com alta precisão e confiabilidade. Ficou evidenciada a necessidade de mudança na forma de localizar as referências anatômicas ósseas e seus correspondentes em tecidos moles, especialmente em três pontos, onde o conhecimento detalhado de anatomia dental é requerido. O estabelecimento dessas definições poderá fundamentar as bases da elaboração de uma tabela antropomórfica contendo as espessuras de tecidos moles da face de brasileiros com vista à aplicação em reconstituição facial forense, para preencher esta lacuna do conhecimento médico-legal no Brasil.

Facial reconstruction can be a useful tool in the process of medico-legal identification. The method has presented a continuous evolution through the years, becoming more accurate. Its reliability is, in part, due to the facial soft tissues measurements that are applied to reconstruct a face from a skull. The aim of this study was investigating and knowing data about the correct localization and definitions of 22 craniometric landmarks established in the literature from anatomical structures and adapt them to images obtained from digital exams of magnetic resonance imaging(MRI), allowing the future measurements of cranio-facial soft tissues thickness of living Brazilians with high precision and reliability. It was evidenced the necessity of changing the localization methods of bone anatomical references and their soft tissues correspondents, especially in three landmarks, where detailed knowledge about dental anatomy is required. The establishment of these definitions will give support to the setting of an anthropomorphic table containing the facial soft tissues thickness of Brazilians regarding their utilization in forensic facial reconstruction, to fill this gap in the Brazilian medico-legal knowledge.

Laf 1. 0: implantação de um sistema informatizado para laboratórios de antropologia forense / Laf 1. 0: establishment of a computerized system for laboratories of forensic anthropology

Desenvolvimento de um software para cadastro e recuperação de informações em Antropologia Forense baseado no protocolo desenvolvido durante o projeto “UK –Brazil Scientific Cooperation – Forensic Anthropology and Identification of Human Remains”. Metodologia: Por se tratar de um aplicativo acessado via Browser (software que permite o acesso à Internet, como o Microsoft Internet Explorer®) foi necessária a escolha de uma linguagem de programação que se enquadrasse nesse requisito juntamente com uma aplicação servidora. A linguagem escolhida foi PHP® e a aplicação servidora foi o Apache®. Para o armazenamento dos dados foi escolhido o Sistema Gerenciador de Banco de Dados MySQL®...

A Software development for registration and recovery of information on Objective: A Software development for registration and recovery of information on Forensic Anthropology, based on the protocol developed during the project “UK – Brazil Scientific Cooperation – Forensic Anthropology and Identification of Human Remains”. Methods: Considering it is a Browser accessed application (software that allows Internet access, as Microsoft Internet Explorer®), it was necessary to choose an adequate programming language to this requirement as the server application. The chosen language was PHP® and the server application was Apache®. For data storage it was chosen the Data Bank Managing System MySQL®. Forensic Anthropology, based on the protocol developed during the project “UK – Brazil ScientificCooperation – Forensic Anthropology and Identification of Human Remains”. Methods: Considering it is a Browser accessed application (software that allows Internet access, as Microsoft InternetExplorer®), it was necessary to choose an adequate programming language to this requirement as the server application. The chosen language was PHP® and the server application was Apache®. For data storage it was chosen the Data Bank Managing System MySQL®...

Antropologia forense no Centro de Medicina Legal da FMRP/USP, estudo comparativo de casos de 1999-2009 / Forensic anthropology at Medico Legal Centre of the Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto/USP - comparative study of cases from 1999-2009

A Antropologia Forense é uma área de conhecimento que aplica os métodos da antropologia física e da arqueologia em um contexto legal. O Centro de Medicina Legal (CEMEL) da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo (FMRP-USP) possui um Laboratório de Antropologia Forense (LAF), criado em 2005, em um projeto de parceria com a University of Sheffield (UK) e financiado pelo British Foreign and Commonwealth Office Global Opportunities Fund. Como parte desse projeto, foi elaborado um protocolo para análise de ossadas com uma estrutura científica atualizada aplicável ao contexto social brasileiro. Inicialmente foram analisados os casos acumulados de 1999 a 2006, seguidos dos casos de 2007 a 2009. Este estudo revelou que a maioria das ossadas encaminhadas ao CEMEL estavam incompletas, o que dificulta a obtenção de um perfil bioantropológico. Apesar disso, um aumento estatisticamente significativo foi detectado no número médio de ossos encaminhados no grupo de 2007-2009 (112,83) em comparação com o grupo de 1999-2006 (79,57). Além disso, foi detectado um declínio estatisticamente significativo na média de idade de 38,34 anos no grupo de 1999-2006 para 35,65 anos no grupo de 2007-2009, provavelmente associado a crimes violentos...

Forensic Anthropology is an area of knowledge that applies the methods of physical anthropology and archeology within a legal context. The Medico Legal Centre (CEMEL) of the Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto of University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP) has a Forensic Anthropology Laboratory (LAF), created in2005 in a partnership project with the University of Sheffield (UK) and financed by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office Global Opportunities Fund. As part of this project, a protocol for skeletal analysis was established, supported by an upgraded scientific infrastructure, for application in a socially important context in Brazil. Accumulated cases from 1999 to 2006 were analyzed initially, followed by cases from 2007 to 2009. These analyses indicated that many skeletons forwarded to CEMEL were incomplete, making the completion of a biological profile difficult. Despite of this, a statistically significant increase was detected in the mean number of bones forwarded in the 2007-2009 group (112.83) in comparison to the 1999-2006 group (79.57). Also, a statistically significant decline in the mean age from 38.34 years in the 1999-2006 group to 35.65 years in the 2007-2009 group was detected, probably associated with violent crime...