Article
Medicine, Legal
Gladys Ouedraogo, Camilla Alexander-White, Dagmar Bury, Harvey J. Clewell, Mark Cronin, Tom Cull, Matthew Dent, Bertrand Desprez, Ann Detroyer, Corie Ellison, Stefania Giammanco, Eric Hack, Nicola J. Hewitt, Gerry Kenna, Martina Klaric, Reinhard Kreiling, Cathy Lester, Catherine Mahony, Enrico Mombelli, Jorge Naciff, John O'Brien, Andreas Schepky, Sarah Tozer, Bart van der Burg, Barbara van Vugt-Lussenburg, Sharon Stuard
Summary: This article provides a practical demonstration of a 10-step read-across (RAX) framework using propylparaben (PP) as a case study. It aims to establish the value of new approach methodologies (NAMs) in RAX for next-generation risk assessment (NGRA) in assessing the safety of consumer exposure to PP-containing cosmetics. Various data, including structural and physico-chemical properties, in silico information, toxicogenomics, in vitro toxicodynamic, toxicokinetic data, and bioactivity data, are used to establish the chemical and biological similarity of PP and analogues, as well as to identify trends in potency for observed effects in vitro. The case study focuses on short-chain (C1-C4) linear alkyl parabens: methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben. The goal of this study is to demonstrate how a practical RAX framework can be used to address hypothetical data gaps in reproductive toxicity for the target chemical PP.
REGULATORY TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Legal
Zhou Liying, Shen Min, Shen Baohua, Chen Hang, Wang Xin, Deng Hongxiao, Xiang Ping, Shi Yan
Summary: This study established a fast and efficient method to simultaneously identify 29 synthetic cannabinoids and their metabolites in hair samples. The method was successfully validated in actual samples and showed good selectivity, accuracy, and precision.
FORENSIC SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Legal
Carl Westmoreland, Hans J. Bender, John E. Doe, Miriam N. Jacobs, George E. N. Kass, Federica Madia, Catherine Mahony, Irene Manou, Gavin Maxwell, Pilar Prieto, Rob Roggeband, Tomasz Sobanski, Katrin Schutte, Andrew P. Worth, Zvonimir Zvonar, Mark T. D. Cronin
Summary: New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) include in vitro, in silico, or chemistry-based methods that can provide information for chemical safety assessment. The European Union's current chemical legislation has limitations on the widespread use of NAMs, although some are considered suitable for regulatory purposes. A workshop identified key points to increase the use and regulatory acceptance of NAMs, such as changes in regulatory frameworks, education, training, stakeholder engagement, and addressing gaps in the scientific basis of NAMs.
REGULATORY TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Legal
Meihui Tian, Hongyu He, Ye Liu, Rubo Li, Baoli Zhu, Zhipeng Cao
Summary: Methanol poisoning is a major cause of high morbidity and mortality, with diagnosis depending on the variability of methanol concentration and postmortem manifestations. Various factors, including comprehensive autopsy, quantitative detection of methanol and formic acid, and genotype analysis, influence the metabolism and toxicity of methanol intoxication.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Ji Eun Lee, Jeong Min Lee, Jana Naue, Jan Fleckhaus, Ana Freire-Aradas, Jacqueline Neubauer, Ewelina Pospiech, Bruce McCord, Vivian Kalamara, Quentin Gauthier, Carly Mills, Yijian Cao, Zheng Wang, Yu Na Oh, Lei Feng, Peter M. Schneider, Christopher Phillips, Cordula Haas, Aleksandra Pisarek, Wojciech Branicki, Daniele Podini, Athina Vidaki, Nicole Fernandez Tejero, Adrian Ambroa-Conde, Ana Mosquera-Miguel, Maria Victoria Lareu, Yiping Hou, Joo Young Lee, Hwan Young Lee
Summary: DNA methylation has become an important biomarker for age prediction and body fluid identification in forensic science. SNaPshot-based assays, with their multiplex analysis capability and compatibility with existing instrumentation, show great potential for forensic laboratories. However, technical validation is necessary for successful integration into routine workflows.
FORENSIC SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL-GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Legal
Minyoul Kim, Suncheun Kim, Wonkyung Yang, Juhyun Sim
Summary: Sodium nitrite, a widely used food preservative, has become a popular method of suicide in South Korea. A quantitative analysis method using ion chromatography was developed to detect nitrite and nitrate, and successfully applied to poisoning cases.
FORENSIC SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Legal
Alejandra Trejo-Martin, Joel P. Bercu, Andrew Thresher, Rachael E. Tennant, Robert F. Thomas, Kevin Cross, Andreas Czich, Kerstin Waese, John J. Nicolette, Joel Murray, Paul Sonders, Alison Kondratiuk, Jennifer R. Cheung, Dean Thomas, Anthony Lynch, James Harvey, Susanne Glowienke, Laura Custer, Patricia A. Escobar
Summary: The Ames test showed high sensitivity in predicting the carcinogenic hazards of N-nitrosamines (NAs) in pharmaceuticals, regardless of different experimental conditions.
REGULATORY TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Criminology & Penology
Caitlyn Norman
Summary: Prisoners have higher levels of drug use compared to the general population, and reducing drug availability in prisons can help decrease drug use among prisoners. Understanding different drug smuggling routes and implementing effective security measures are necessary for achieving this. The prevalence and types of drugs used in prisons vary depending on geographical regions and countries. Examining drug use rates and types of drugs used during incarceration is crucial for informing drug treatment services and assisting prison staff in identifying drug use incidents.
WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS: FORENSIC SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Legal
Bokang Yu, Chenchao Xu, Xinru Tang, Zheng Liu, Xinyi Lin, Hang Meng, Cheng Shi, Kaijun Ma, Bi Xiao, Liliang Li
Summary: The secretory proteins LMAN2, CAPN-1, and VCP were found to be significantly increased in the serum of EMI-SCD cases compared to controls, with stable concentrations within 6 hours and higher diagnostic specificity than conventional markers such as CK-MB and cTnI. These proteins may serve as stable serological biomarkers for diagnosing EMI-SCD cases.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LEGAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
C. Xavier, M. de la Puente, A. Mosquera-Miguel, A. Freire-Aradas, V. Kalamara, A. Ralf, A. Revoir, T. E. Gross, P. M. Schneider, C. Ames, C. Hohoff, C. Phillips, M. Kayser, W. Parson
Summary: The VISAGE Consortium was founded in 2017 to develop new molecular and statistical tools for predicting appearance, ancestry, and age from DNA. The VISAGE Enhanced Tool for Appearance and Ancestry, the first forensic-driven genetic laboratory tool, includes markers for eye, hair, and skin color, as well as more recently discovered markers for other traits. Five VISAGE laboratories tested and evaluated the tool, and it was found to be robust, reproducible, and sensitive.
FORENSIC SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL-GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
A. Freire-Aradas, L. Giron-Santamaria, A. Mosquera-Miguel, A. Ambroa-Conde, C. Phillips, M. Casares de Cal, A. Gomez-Tato, J. Alvarez-Dios, E. Pospiech, A. Aliferi, D. Syndercombe Court, W. Branicki, M. V. Lareu
Summary: Forensic age estimation is an important DNA intelligence tool for criminal cases, human identification analysis, and anthropological studies. This study presents a DNA methylation-based age prediction model with high accuracy using quantile regression statistical methods.
FORENSIC SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL-GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Legal
Lorenzo Franceschetti, Andrea Palamenghi, Debora Mazzarelli, Annalisa Cappella, Daniele Maria Gibelli, Danilo De Angelis, Andrea Verzeletti, Cristina Cattaneo
Summary: This study examines the postmortem changes of drowned victims in the non-sequestered environment of the Mediterranean Sea, finding that prolonged submersion in seawater leads to increased decomposition rates from moderate decay to full disarticulation. The modified scoring system showed strong interobserver agreement and significantly correlated with the postmortem interval after drowning.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LEGAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Legal
Mehrdad Vossoughi, Najmeh Movahhedian, Alireza Ghafoori
Summary: Age mimicry bias has a negative impact on the accuracy of dental age estimation based on Kvaal's and Roh's methods. The original equations performed poorly for age estimation in the Iranian sample, but the population-specific equations showed reasonably acceptable results for the maxillary and all six teeth.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LEGAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Legal
Henry Otgaar, Antonietta Curci, Ivan Mangiulli, Fabiana Battista, Elisa Rizzotti, Giuseppe Sartori
Summary: We report on a unique criminal case in Italy, where a therapist implanted false memories of abuse in a young girl. The therapist used suggestive questions and EMDR techniques, leading the girl to gradually remember abuse and identify her father as the abuser. Our case report highlights the danger of suggestive pressure in therapeutic context and emphasizes the need to prevent the use of suggestive techniques.
JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Anastasia Aliferi, Sudha Sundaram, David Ballard, Ana Freire-Aradas, Christopher Phillips, Maria Victoria Lareu, Denise Syndercombe Court
Summary: This study introduces a DNA methylation-based age estimation method for blood that shows high accuracy and sensitivity. By analyzing and validating data from a large number of individuals, a set of 11 markers with potential for accurate age estimation from minimal DNA material was identified.
FORENSIC SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL-GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Legal
Tharacad Ramanarayanan, Arpad Szarka, Sheila Flack, Paul Hinderliter, Richard Corley, Alex Charlton, Sharlyne Pyles, Douglas Wolf
Summary: The USEPA and other regulatory authorities are using in vitro studies and in silico modeling to reduce the use of vertebrate animals in chemical risk assessment. A novel mathematical procedure was developed to estimate human equivalent concentration (HEC) for inhalation risk assessment based on aerosol characterization and respiratory dosimetry modeling using human respiratory epithelial tissue. The procedure incorporates external and internal exposure metrics along with toxicity pathways and can be applied to assess the risk for agricultural operators exposed to chlorothalonil.
REGULATORY TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Kenneth K. Kidd, Andrew J. Pakstis, Neeru Gandotra, Curt Scharfe, Daniele Podini
Summary: This article discusses a small panel of highly informative loci with potential for application in forensic casework. By comparing the A(e) and ancestry informativeness distributions of MHs with the augmented STR panel, it is found that MHs perform better in individualization and population differentiation.
FORENSIC SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL-GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Legal
J. K. Anderson, R. W. Brecher, I. T. Cousins, J. DeWitt, H. Fiedler, K. Kannan, C. R. Kirman, J. Lipscomb, B. Priestly, R. Schoeny, J. Seed, M. Verner, S. M. Hays
Summary: An expert panel discussed the challenges of grouping per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) for protecting human health and assessing the risks of PFAS mixtures. They agreed that inconsistent interpretations of PFAS human health risks and limited data pose significant challenges for risk assessment. The experts suggested that all PFAS should not be grouped together, persistence alone is not enough for grouping, and subgroup definitions should be case-specific. They also proposed a tiered approach for assessing PFAS lacking analytical and toxicological studies.
REGULATORY TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Legal
J. Becker, P. Boehme, A. Reckert, S. B. Eickhoff, B. E. Koop, J. Blum, T. Guenduez, M. Takayama, W. Wagner, S. Ritz-Timme
Summary: The study directly compared age-associated DNA methylation patterns in German and Japanese donors, finding significant differences in certain CpG sites. However, the age prediction models based on multiple robust CpG sites did not reveal relevant differences between the two populations, suggesting the need for further research to ensure high quality age estimation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LEGAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Legal
C. Bogdal, R. Schellenberg, O. Hoepli, M. Bovens, M. Lory
Summary: The study successfully developed machine learning algorithms capable of recognizing gasoline residues in fire debris, with four methods performing well, three of which correctly classified all test samples, providing a new perspective for fire investigation.
FORENSIC SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
