Forensic science international最新文献

{"title":"Postmortem distribution of etizolam in various autopsy samples using the surrogate analyte approach (SAA) method","authors":"Kenta Yuyama,&nbsp;Masako Suzuki,&nbsp;Itaru Yamagishi,&nbsp;Hideki Nozawa,&nbsp;Kayoko Minakata,&nbsp;Koutaro Hasegawa","doi":"10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112438","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112438","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Etizolam, a type of anxiolytic drug, is the most commonly abused drug among hypnotic/anxiolytic medications in Japan. Although there have been reports on the postmortem identification of etizolam in the blood, the detailed distribution of etizolam among organs in an abuse case has not been reported. In this study, we examined etizolam concentrations in the blood and organs obtained from etizolam-related autopsy cases using the surrogate analyte approach (SAA) method, which can be analytically used without blank samples. Target compounds were extracted from samples using the QuEChERS method and filtrated with Captiva ND Lipids. Then, the eluates were analyzed by LC-MS/MS. Etizolam-d₃ was used as a stable isotope-labeled surrogate compound with this quantification approach. A strong linear correlation was observed for each sample, showing a correlation coefficient value at least 0.99. The right heart, left heart, and femoral vein blood etizolam concentrations ranged from 85.2 to 178.2 ng/mL, while this concentration was 592.0 ng/g in liver tissue. Here, we could determine the etizolam concentration in various autopsy samples using LC-MS/MS. In addition, this work demonstrated that the SAA method can be successfully applied to various human samples.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12341,"journal":{"name":"Forensic science international","volume":"370 ","pages":"Article 112438"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143592618","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Impact of CYP2D6 metabolizer phenotypes on the EDDP/methadone metabolic ratio: A comprehensive analysis","authors":"Verena Wilmes,&nbsp;Mattias Kettner,&nbsp;Eva Corvest,&nbsp;Marcel A. Verhoff,&nbsp;Silke Kauferstein","doi":"10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112445","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112445","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Methadone is a synthetic opioid that is often used for prevention of withdrawal symptoms and for management of chronic pain. In concentrations above the therapeutic level however, methadone can lead to detrimental side effects, such as respiratory depression. Several cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes are involved in methadone metabolism, foremost in building the main metabolite 2-ethylidene-1,5-dimethyl-3,3diphenylpyrrolidine (EDDP). It is well known that genetic polymorphisms within the CYPs can lead to an altered metabolism, affecting methadone elimination and peak concentrations. The metabolic ratio, in forensic toxicology suggested to assist in distinguishing between chronic and acute intake, can also be affected by genetic variations in CYP genes.</div><div>The aim of the study was therefor to examine, whether the metabolizer type of CYP2D6, CYP2C19 and CYP2B6 can be associated with a certain type of intoxication, methadone concentration or metabolic ratio in postmortem blood samples of methadone intakers.</div><div>The metabolic ratio of EDDP/methadone was determined in 37 blood samples from deceased methadone intakers in 2023. These cases were genotyped for CYP2D6, CYP2C19 and CYP2B6 via SNaPshot analysis. In case of CYP2D6 a copy number variations analysis was applied using qPCR. Metabolizer phenotypes were determined according to guidelines by the Dutch Pharmacogenetics Working Group (DPWG) and the Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium (CPIC).</div><div>Our results show a significantly increased metabolic ratio of EDDP/methadone in the CYP2D6 intermediate metabolizer (IM) group, compared to the CYP2D6 normal metabolizer (NM) group. Further, when separating the methadone intakers by type of intoxication, CYP2D6 IM had a significantly higher metabolic ratio in the mix intoxication and the non-intoxication group compared to NM, poor and ultrarapid metabolizers (PM, UM).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12341,"journal":{"name":"Forensic science international","volume":"370 ","pages":"Article 112445"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143611078","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effect of wrist angle and finger grip on maximum trigger pull force","authors":"Geoffrey T. Desmoulin ,&nbsp;Marc-André Nolette ,&nbsp;Kevin Gilmore ,&nbsp;Theodore E. Milner","doi":"10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112430","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112430","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A forensic investigation into a shot fired by a handgun may require analysis of the body posture of the shooter or an opinion of whether the shot was deliberate or inadvertent. Determining the amount of force which can be applied to the trigger or the direction in which the handgun was pointing could be critical to the investigation. Studies investigating the effect of arm posture on whole hand maximum grip force suggest that maximum index finger force will be highly dependent on wrist angle and finger grip. The present study was designed to quantify the effect of these factors on maximum index finger trigger pull force. We found that even under almost optimal conditions, trigger pull force is substantially reduced with wrist flexion and is significantly lower with a finger pad grip compared to a finger hook grip. Our results indicate that for wrist flexion angles greater than 60°, maximum trigger pull force dropped by 50 % for male subjects and by 38 % for female subjects compared to the neutral or extended wrist. Other studies have shown that when a firm grip cannot be established, maximum index finger force can be less than 30 % of what we measured. Thus, maximum trigger pull forces could be below 22.9 N (5.1 lb) for male subjects and 19.0 N (4.5 lb) for female subjects in certain scenarios. If a subject is unable to get a firm grip on a handgun and the arm is in an awkward posture, it is possible that the subject would not be able to exert sufficient index finger force to overcome the trigger weight of many handguns.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12341,"journal":{"name":"Forensic science international","volume":"370 ","pages":"Article 112430"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143578744","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"How to store the bone powder left after extraction for future analysis","authors":"Irena Zupanič Pajnič ,&nbsp;Tamara Leskovar","doi":"10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112436","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112436","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Proper storage conditions are important for preservation of DNA. Bones are usually stored long term at −20 °C. When isolating DNA from bones, the bone powder obtained is not fully consumed. The value of retaining bone powder left after extracting DNA for future DNA analysis has been confirmed after storing bone powder for 10 years at −20 °C. Because long-term storage in a freezer is expensive and requires significant space, we were interested in whether bone powder could also be stored at room temperature without affecting the preservation of DNA. To explore this, 21 Second World War bones that generated full short tandem repeat (STR) profiles were selected, and their bone powder was stored in a freezer and at room temperature for up to 3 years. After each year, the DNA was extracted and analyzed from the stored bone powder samples. DNA was extracted using the full demineralization method employing a commercial forensic EZ1 &amp; EZ2 DNA Investigator extraction kit (Qiagen), and automated DNA purification was performed in an EZ1 Advanced XL machine (Qiagen). Real-time PCR quantification was employed to determine the quantity and quality of DNA. The effect of different storage conditions on preservation of DNA was evaluated by determining the amount of DNA, its degradation rate, and after 3 years of storage also the success of STR genotyping. The results obtained showed no difference in the amount of DNA and degradation rate between samples stored in a freezer and at room temperature. In addition, highly informative STR profiles were obtained from all samples after 3 years of storage, regardless of whether they were stored at room temperature or were frozen. The results show no need for freezing bone powder for long-term storage, which makes it possible to save space in freezers and reduce costs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12341,"journal":{"name":"Forensic science international","volume":"369 ","pages":"Article 112436"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143534047","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) paired with LiDAR sensor to detect bodies on surface under vegetation cover: Preliminary test","authors":"P. Nègre ,&nbsp;K. Mahé ,&nbsp;J. Cornacchini","doi":"10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112411","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112411","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has become increasingly accessible, enabling their deployment in a diverse range of operational contexts. UAVs have been tested as part of search and rescue missions. Following the successful use of UAVs in the wilderness medicine literature, we questioned their ability to be used in forensic context to search for missing persons or human remains, especially under canopy cover. Subsequently, various sensors were then repurposed from their original applications to address forensic concerns. This preliminary study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of airborne Light Detection and Ranging sensors (LiDAR) in detecting a concealed human body on a surface within a densely vegetated search area. To proceed, two LiDAR sensors were tested with several modalities. A dendrometric method was used to estimate the tree density of the search area, and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was used to bring precision in the appreciation of canopy cover density. The results showed that airborne LiDAR sensors can capture body signatures in areas with dense vegetation. The ground point density reached 0.26 % in a high-vegetated area. The study highlighted the importance of refining data processing techniques, including point cloud selection and the implementation of true positive/false positive analysis, to improve detection accuracy. Furthermore, the potential integration of complementary sensors such as thermographic and multispectral sensors was discussed, which may enhance the detection of thermal anomalies and chemical markers associated with decomposition.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12341,"journal":{"name":"Forensic science international","volume":"369 ","pages":"Article 112411"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143534264","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Technical Note: Reliability of Pöch’s facial shape classification system: A morphometric approach","authors":"Jocelyn Valladares ,&nbsp;Daniel Antonio Lopez-Valdes ,&nbsp;Arodi Farrera","doi":"10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112435","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112435","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A standardized vocabulary of facial characteristics is essential in forensic anthropology for identifying both living and deceased individuals. Pöch’s facial shape classification system is widely used for this purpose, but its reliability has not been critically evaluated. This is particularly important as the system was originally developed based on European male populations, and prior research suggests that classification systems can be prone to observer inconsistencies. In this study, we evaluate the representativeness and reliability of Pöch’s system in describing face shape variation within a Mexican sample (n = 973). First, using geometric morphometrics and principal component analysis, we evaluated how well the system’s categories capture the observed facial diversity. Sixteen observers then classified 60 randomly selected faces twice using Pöch’s system, and we computed Fleiss’ Kappa and Cohen’s Kappa to assess intra- and inter-observer agreement. The level of consensus among observers was also measured by calculating the proportion of agreement for each facial shape. Our findings revealed significant morphological redundancy among most of Pöch’s categories, poor agreement within (mean Cohen’s Kappa = 0.203) and between (mean Fleiss’ Kappa = 0.112) observers, and only the round and oval categories showed high levels of consensus. Given the system’s poor performance, we conducted a post-hoc k-means clustering analysis of the Procrustes coordinates to explore a more representative classification scheme. The resulting four facial shape categories could inform the development of more representative and reliable classification systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12341,"journal":{"name":"Forensic science international","volume":"369 ","pages":"Article 112435"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143534046","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A quantitative assessment of Saw Kerf floor shape patterns using outline analysis","authors":"Alexis L. VanBaarle ,&nbsp;Heather M. Garvin","doi":"10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112434","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112434","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In dismemberment cases, forensic anthropologists evaluate bony cut surfaces and estimate saw class characteristics, which can aid in investigative and legal proceedings. Previous publications indicate that saw class characteristics, such as tooth shape, saw set, and power, can be deduced from the kerf profile shape and size. However, these studies are based on subjective visual categorizations, at times with limited statistical assessments. This study used elliptical Fourier analysis to quantitatively assess relationships between kerf shapes and saw class characteristics. Incomplete kerf profiles (n = 133) made with 19 saws in anatomically gifted, macerated human limbs (n = 19) were assessed. Kerf profiles were captured with a stereomicroscope and closed outlines were created and subjected to elliptical Fourier and principal component analyses. PerMANOVAs and Kruskal-Wallis analyses were performed on the resultant principal components to assess the effects of saw set, power, and tooth shape on kerf shape. Cross-validated stepwise discriminant function analyses (DFA) were performed to evaluate classification accuracy. There was no significant difference in entrance and exit morphology (p = 0.31). Significant results were obtained for all saw class characteristics. DFA classified tooth shape with 88.0 % accuracy. Flat and U-shaped kerfs were associated with rip saws while W-shaped kerfs were indicative of crosscut saws. DFA classified saw power with 89.5 % accuracy. On average, mechanical saws produced kerfs with larger widths compared to hand saws. Relationships between kerf floor morphology and saw set, however, were more complex. These quantitative analyses of kerf shape generally support anecdotal relationships established in the literature and its utility in forensic assessment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12341,"journal":{"name":"Forensic science international","volume":"369 ","pages":"Article 112434"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143548657","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Taphonomy and diagenesis of submerged bone: An experimental approach","authors":"Edda E. Guareschi ,&nbsp;Philip K. Nicholls ,&nbsp;Shanan S. Tobe ,&nbsp;Paola A. Magni","doi":"10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112416","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112416","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bone taphonomy and diagenesis contribute to anthropological analysis in forensic investigations by attempting to reconstruct the relationship between human cadaveric remains and their postmortem depositional environment. The rare aquatic taphonomic experiments have been delivering conflicting results on the influence of time and the environment on the decay of bone and teeth, especially considering that the main diagenetic processes can lead to fragmentation, progressive dissolution or fossilization. The aim of this experimental, quantitative, randomized and controlled 2-year study was to analyse the taphonomy and diagenesis of submerged terrestrial mammalian bones to achieve a more accurate estimation of both the post-mortem interval (PMI) and the post-mortem submersion interval (PMSI) in the short term. Three parameters of bone diagenesis, the Oxford Histological Index (OHI), the total porosity and the collagen content of cortical bone were analysed by MicroCT Scan, bright-field Light Microscopy (Picrosirius Red stain), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) on 75 sheep femurs and tibias placed in four distinct types of environment (natural saltwater, natural freshwater, an artificial seawater solution and exposed to the air) vs. non-exposed controls. LA-ICP-MS was soon discontinued because no measurable changes of the elemental profiles could be detected. Multivariate statistical analysis was applied to the collected data. The macroscopical preservation was consistently excellent (OHI=5). The total porosity and the degradation of collagen were greater underwater than in subaerial exposure, whereas demineralization zones and bioerosion tunnelling appeared after 12 months in the air-exposed samples only. Underwater, the continuous movement, the correlated abrasion by sand and sediment and the constant alkaline pH (≥ 8) can explain the progressive removal of the mineral component and the subsequent exposure of collagen to bioeroders and chemical hydrolysis. On land, the same process occurs at a slower rate on account of the seasonality of the water flow, however, the action of the more abundant and diversified species of bioeroding microorganisms appears more efficient. Despite some limitations, this study indicates that three parameters of bone diagenesis can predict the depositional environment of terrestrial mammalian bone characterized by a PMI and/or PMSI of at least 12 months.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12341,"journal":{"name":"Forensic science international","volume":"370 ","pages":"Article 112416"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143549325","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Perovskite-based photoluminescent detection of lead particles in gunshot residue","authors":"Kendra Adelberg ,&nbsp;Arno van der Weijden ,&nbsp;Lukas Helmbrecht ,&nbsp;Diede Blaauw ,&nbsp;Arian C. van Asten ,&nbsp;Willem L. Noorduin","doi":"10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112415","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112415","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Gunshot residue (GSR) analysis is crucial for forensic investigations of shooting incidents, but current methods are time-consuming, laborious, and provide limited spatial resolution. We introduce photoluminescent lead analysis (PL-Pb) for instant high-resolution GSR detection. Lead particles in GSR react into lead halide perovskite semiconductors that emit bright green light under ultraviolet irradiation. PL-Pb enables trace detection of GSR, including ricochet markings, bullet wipes, and combustion plumes. Our method visualizes fine details like rifling patterns and facilitates and extends shooting distance reconstructions. We find that PL-Pb is also suitable for rapid presumptive testing of shooting suspect’s hands, clothes, shoes, and other relevant objects. The instant results, sensitivity, and spatial resolution of perovskite-based detection of lead-containing micro-traces offer unprecedented opportunities for forensic investigations and environmental studies on lead particles.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12341,"journal":{"name":"Forensic science international","volume":"370 ","pages":"Article 112415"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143578746","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Improvement of the Forensic International Dental Database (FIDB) for adult age-at-death estimation using root dentin translucency: A simplified alternative methodology","authors":"Roberto C. Parra ,&nbsp;Gonzalo Garizoain ,&nbsp;Erika Alvarado Muñoz ,&nbsp;Claudia Aranda ,&nbsp;Raoul Bationo ,&nbsp;Karen Escalante-Flórez ,&nbsp;Leandro Luna","doi":"10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112433","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112433","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Root Dentine Translucency (RDT) has been shown to strongly correlate with adult chronological age. Since the first proposals, several methodological improvements and tests were fulfilled to reduce error and evaluate the performance of the procedure across samples from diverse populations. Recently, a Bayesian calculation model that analyzes both RDT and periodontal retraction (named Forensic International Dental Database; FIDB), was developed to improve the reliability of age estimates, and tested on a global scale. This study aims to evaluate a novel FIDB procedure that introduces a logarithmic transformation into the calculations and utilizes RDT as the sole age predictor. It was conducted on a sample of 142 intact teeth from Peruvian individuals and the lowest errors were observed in the 40–49 and 50–59 years cohorts, with biases ranging from −0.96 to 1.61 years and inaccuracies between 5.73 and 6.16 years. The other cohorts show acceptable margins of error, with biases and inaccuracies remaining below 11 years. The main contribution of this research is the finding that better accuracy can be achieved when age estimation is based solely on RDT measured from intact teeth, excluding periodontal retraction as a relevant estimator. However, these initial trends must be validated on larger, more diverse samples to determine whether this new approach can be confidently applied in worldwide forensic contexts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12341,"journal":{"name":"Forensic science international","volume":"369 ","pages":"Article 112433"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143534263","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}