Journal de recherche médico-légale

Introduction: There are different dental age estimation methods for children and adolescents but Anderson method for dental age estimation in later childhood and early adolescence is less known in Indian scenario.

Objectives: The aim of study was to compare the efficacy of Anderson’s method in Indian children (6-17 years) for dental age estimation.

Materials and methods: Digital Orthopantomogram of 104 subjects were collected for the assessment of maxillary teeth and mandibular teeth development using Moorrees method of staging and dental age was assessed using mean dental age given by Anderson method.

Results and discussion: Anderson’s method was found to be more accurate with mean difference age overestimation of 0.04 years for mandibular arch, underestimation of 0.43 years for maxillary arch and 0.19 years for combining both maxillary and mandibular arches.

Conclusion: This study showed significant relation between dental age and chronological age for both the sexes.

The performance of dried blood stain (DBS) versus whole blood sample (WBS) methods were evaluated using Bland-Altman analysis and mean concentration ratio for forensic toxicology cases in Malaysia. Common amphetamine-type stimulants related drugs of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDMA (3,4- Methylenedioxymethamphetamine), MDA (3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine), MDEA (3,4- Methylenedioxy-N-ethylamphetamine) and phentermine were investigated using DBS and WBS methods. The analysis was performed utilizing novel protocol consists of mass spectrometry detection technique based on a multiperiod and multi-experiment (MRM-EPI- MRM3) with library matching post liquid-liquid extraction of whole blood and corresponding DBS samples from spiked samples. The analysis was applied to 20 whole blood samples submitted for forensic and medico-legal analysis which were reported positive for the presence of the drugs. Results for both DBS and WBS were compared using Bland-Altman mean difference plots and mean concentration ratio for degree of agreement. The results showed good degree of agreements indicating no significant differences in results obtaining from DBS and WBS methods, allowing both methods to be used interchangeably. The study also demonstrated the advantage of the DBS method as an inexpensive alternative to WBS in the forensic toxicology field.

HMTD is known for its decomposition at low temperatures. The use of common techniques such as GC/MS and GC/μECD for its detection in liquid solutions or solid traces requires the control of analytical conditions. The present work proposes two sensitive methods using GC/MS and GC/μECD where the injector temperature is set at 150°C to analyse successfully the concentrations of 0.1 ng (10-4 mg/mL) and 0.05 ng (0.5-10.4 mg/mL) of HMTD in acetone solutions. The analysis of solid traces of HMTD was performed with the same methods by adopting the headspace mode using the SPME fibre. The exposure the fibre in the headspace during 10 min at ambient temperature (22°C) and the desorption in the injector at 150°C, allow the detection of HMTD without degradation. In addition, to simulate crater sample, 3 mg of HMTD are mixed to 150 g of soil (0.002%). In this case, HMTD was also successfully detected by HS-SPME-GC/MS and HS-SPMEGC/μECD after 1 h exposure of the fibre at 22°C. These results demonstrate the performance of these optimized methods for trace analysis of HMTD.

The easy access to electronic devices with high-quality cameras and the widespread use of social network have been changing the forensic dental and anthropological analysis in human identification massively, especially related to dental and facial superimposition methods. The methodology of smile superimposition consists of the comparison of ante mortem (AM) and post-mortem (PM) smile images showing dental traits especially the superior incisor and canines. These methods are an important forensic tool especially when there are no medical and or dental records. The present paper reports a case of a positive human identification using the smile line and superimposition of the teeth techniques on carbonized human dental remains.

A carbonized body of male adult found in the trunk of a car was send to the Medico-Legal Institute, where forensic dental and anthropological analysis were carried out. The family of the victim could only provide two smiling pictures of the man from social media. The dental superimposition showed concordance between the AM and PM photograph smile lines, matching dental traits such as incisive dental crowding and respective angle as well as the presence of white spots. The aim of this report is to highlight the effectiveness of the use of smile superimposition images to identify heavily carbonized human remains especially when no other data is available.

A number of evidences are found on the scene of crime, of which some prove to be the sole proof. In the present case, a steel cup found at the scene of murder proved to be the only evidence that could link the murder to the scene of crime. The steel cups were swabbed using the ‘Double-swab technique’ and profiles were generated. DNA profiles obtained from reference blood samples of suspect matched with DNA on the evidence found at the scene of crime.

Accurate, non-invasive and conservative methods for dental age estimation of unknown Individuals are an important aspect in different legal, forensic and anthropological situations. The pulp/tooth area ratio (PTR) used to estimate age by measuring the amount of decrease in the volume of the dental pulp cavity due to secondary dentin deposition. The study aims to age estimation based on PTR of canines measured in sagittal and axial planes obtained from Cone‑Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) image data. One hundred fifty CBCT images of Egyptian individuals (age range: 14-68 years) were analysed. PTR were measured by AutoCAD 2013. Linear regression analysis was used to assess the correlation between age and PTR, and to establish a mathematical model for the human age estimation. Study results revealed that the maxillary canines and sagittal sections measurements produced a higher correlation between chronological age and PTR. Therefore, maxillary canine sagittal section was the most accurate for age estimation (r=-0.919). The Standard errors of estimates (SEE) of the regression analyses for the individual canine sections and section combinations were found to be (range: ± 4.76 - 8.1 years) which an acceptable range in for forensic application (SEE ± 10 years). In conclusion, this study showed that PTR calculation of canines is a reliable parameter for human age estimation and that CBCT is an easy and conservative approach with reasonable precision and accuracy.

Objective: Present study was conducted to study association between chronological age and biological age on the basis of dental maturity.

Methodology: The study was conducted among the children belonging to the 10-11 years age group. Eruption of teeth or somatic tooth development was recorded visually and photographically. Dental formula of the respondents, dental problems and anomalies were recorded. The data was analyzed using frequency distribution and percentage for selected factors like dental hygiene, food preferences, socio-economic status etc.

Result: Teeth eruption was reported to be earlier among girls than boys; Dental anomalies, dental problems like cavities, plaque and blackening were also reported among respondents.

Conclusion: The dental maturity was reported to be relatively faster among girls as compared to boys, Association between dental maturity and chronological age were reported among boys and girls both.

In this case study, a 63-year-old male, holding with his right hand a 12 gauge, double trigger shotgun, loaded with one cartridge, was found completely carbonized inside a burnt out car. The body showed a degree of destruction by fire, consisting of a level 3 of the Crow-Glassman Scale (CGS). Toxicological analyses were performed on still available soft tissues and body fluids. Based on X-ray examination and autopsy findings, the victim was not still alive at the time of fire. The death was determined by a cranio-facial trauma due to a shotgun . The fusion of the lower right limb with the accelerator pedal suggested to the investigators an uncommon way to ignite the car. In fact, not only there was not found accelerant, but it was determined that the fire started from the engine.