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Forensic dentistry identifies deceased individuals by comparing postmortem dental charts, oral-cavity pictures and dental X-ray images with antemortem records. However, conventional forensic dentistry methods are time-consuming and thus unable to rapidly identify large numbers of victims following a large-scale disaster. Our goal is to automate the dental filing process by using intraoral scanner images. In this study, we generated and evaluated an artificial intelligence-based algorithm that classified images of individual molar teeth into three categories: (1) full metallic crown (FMC); (2) partial metallic restoration (In); or (3) sound tooth, carious tooth or non-metallic restoration (CNMR). A pre-trained model was created using oral-cavity pictures from patients. Then, the algorithm was generated through transfer learning and training with images acquired from cadavers by intraoral scanning. Cross-validation was performed to reduce bias. The ability of the model to classify molar teeth into the three categories (FMC, In or CNMR) was evaluated using four criteria: precision, recall, F-measure and overall accuracy. The average value (variance) was 0.952 (0.000140) for recall, 0.957 (0.0000614) for precision, 0.952 (0.000145) for F-measure, and 0.952 (0.000142) for overall accuracy when the algorithm was used to classify images of molar teeth acquired from cadavers by intraoral scanning. We have created an artificial intelligence-based algorithm that analyzes images acquired with an intraoral scanner and classifies molar teeth into one of three types (FMC, In or CNMR) based on the presence/absence of metallic restorations. Furthermore, the accuracy of the algorithm reached about 95%. This algorithm was constructed as a first step toward the development of an automated system that generates dental charts from images acquired by an intraoral scanner. The availability of such a system would greatly increase the efficiency of personal identification in the event of a major disaster.

•Correlation among colour of post-mortem lividity, control skin and blood was studied.•Within blood colour, left heart blood influenced post-mortem lividity the most.•A new equation for estimating colour of post-mortem lividity was proposed.•A new equation for estimating post-mortem interval was proposed. The colour of post-mortem lividity and control skin of 86 cadavers was measured spectrophotometrically to obtain L* (value), a* (chroma) and b* (hue) values. In addition, left heart blood (n = 58), right heart blood (n = 57) and blood from the femoral vein (n = 21) were measured. Using these data, we analysed the relationship between post-mortem lividity, control skin and blood colours. L* of post-mortem lividity (L*p) and control skin (L*c) were strongly correlated ( r = 0.64). a* and b* of post-mortem lividity (a*p and b*p) significantly increased with an increasing post-mortem interval (PMI) but r2 values were low (0.11 and 0.070, respectively). Predictive equations for post-mortem lividity colour (L*p, a*p and b*p) were developed using control skin colour (L*c, a*c and b*c) and autopsy findings for the first time. The predictive equation for L*p explained almost 65% of the observed L*p. We created predictive equations for PMI with and without blood colour values, and the most accurate equation, which did not use blood colour values, made it possible to estimate PMI within ± 10.29 h. Further study of these equations will help us to understand the factors that affect post-mortem lividity colour and increase the accuracy of equations for predicting post-mortem lividity colour and PMI.

Aims/Introduction Preprandial metformin administration significantly reduces postprandial plasma triglyceride levels in animal studies by reducing intestinal absorption through delayed gastric emptying. However, this effect has not been shown in a clinical study. Therefore, we planned to investigate the efficacy of preprandial metformin administration on postprandial hypertriglyceridemia and the related gastrointestinal effects in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Materials and Methods A total of 11 patients taking single‐dose metformin at 500–1,000 mg, with non‐fasting plasma triglyceride levels of 150–1,000 mg/dL, were recruited at a single university hospital. The difference between preprandial and postprandial metformin administration on postprandial hypertriglyceridemia was examined by a meal test. The gastrointestinal effects of metformin, including stomach heaviness, heartburn and satiety, were also assessed using a visual analog scale. Results The mean bodyweight of patients was 80.6 kg (body mass index 27.9 kg/m2), and the mean non‐fasting plasma triglyceride level was 275.9 ± 57.0 mg/dL. The area under the curve of triglyceride during the meal test was significantly lower in the preprandial protocol than in the postprandial protocol (P < 0.05). Compared with postprandial administration, preprandial administration of metformin increased satiety (P = 0.036) without stomach heaviness or heartburn. Conclusions Preprandial metformin administration significantly reduced plasma triglyceride level during meal testing without marked exacerbation of gastrointestinal adverse effects. The present results suggest that a simple change in the timing of metformin administration represents a novel approach for enhancing triglyceride‐lowering strategies in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and postprandial hypertriglyceridemia. Preprandial metformin administration significantly reduced postprandial plasma triglyceride levels compared with postprandial administration. Filled circle: pre‐Met protocol; open circle: post‐Met protocol.

We present a rapid procedure for simultaneous extraction of a wide range of acidic and basic drugs from whole blood samples for reliable semi-quantitative NAGINATA drug screening by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). To extract a wide range of drugs, the partition/extraction procedure used for the QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, Safe) method was employed as the initial step. Various procedures were tested as the second step for the removal of whole blood impurities, including the use of primary secondary amine and C 18 for the dispersive solid-phase extraction of the QuEChERS method, four kinds of silica-based C 18 columns, alumina columns, and protein–lipid removal filter cartridges (Captiva ND Lipids). Subsequent GC–MS screening used the NAGINATA software with a constructed calibration-locking database for detection of acidic and basic drugs; drug detection ability, accuracy of tentative concentrations, and drug recoveries were examined and compared. We also examined the applicability of our established method in an actual forensic case. Our results showed that the number of drugs detectable at low concentrations was greatly increased by the use of the partition/extraction procedure of the QuEChERS method as the initial step and the protein–lipid removal filter cartridge as the second step. These combined steps provided notably clean extracts. Recoveries carefully measured with each reference standard were largely more than 60 %, and tentative concentrations obtained by the established screening method without reference standards were in the range of 48–310 % of the expected values for 65 acidic and basic drugs. Therefore, relatively reliable semi-quantitative values were obtained at the screening step without the need for each reference standard. We also experienced significant time savings for the extraction and in obtaining tentative concentrations at the screening step in an actual forensic case, indicating that the method is useful for rapid diagnosis of drug intoxication. Our proposed method should prove useful for semi-quantitative screening of a wide range of drugs and poisons in whole blood samples in clinical and forensic cases.

Patterns of poisoning are known to be different in different countries, because of the local environmental, cultural, and religious situations. Therefore, in Japan, it is important to know the pattern of poisoning in our own country and to prepare for every poisoning case by establishing an efficient systematic toxicological analysis system in forensic practice. We conducted a retrospective study of the kinds of compounds causing poisonings and the frequency of their use based on two series of reports dealing with poisoning cases in Japan prepared by the National Research Institute of Police Science and the Japanese Society of Legal Medicine for 2003 to 2006. From these reports, 459 and 177 compounds, respectively, were extracted as poisonous compounds over the study period. After data analysis, we selected 314 drugs and poisons as important target compounds for systematic drug analysis in Japan; they included 36 volatile compounds, 14 abused drugs, 170 medical drugs, 60 pesticides, 13 natural toxins, and 21 others. This is the first study to show the toxic drugs and poisons to be analyzed in Japan based on frequency of use, and as such the list will be useful in establishing the most efficient screening system in forensic practice.

Voltage-gated Ca(2+) (Ca(v)) channels control neuronal functions including neurotransmitter release and gene expression. The Cacna1a gene encodes the α1 subunit of the pore-forming Ca(v)2.1 channel. Mice with mutations in this gene form useful tools for defining channel functions. The recessive ataxic tottering-6j strain that was generated in the Neuroscience Mutagenesis Facility at The Jackson Laboratory has a mutation in the Cacna1a gene. However, the effect of this mutation has not been investigated in detail. In this study, mutation analysis shows a base substitution (C-to-A) in the consensus splice acceptor sequence linked to exon 5, which results in the skipping of exon 5 and the splicing of exon 4 directly to exon 6. The effect of this mutation is expected to be severe as the expressed α1 subunit protein lacks a significant part of the S4-S5 linker, S5, and part of S5-S6 linker in domain I. Tottering-6j mice display motor dysfunctions in the footprint, rotating rod, and hind-limb extension tests. Although cytoarchitecture of the mutant brains appears normal, tyrosine hydroxylase was persistently expressed in cerebellar Purkinje cells in the adult mutant mice. These results indicate that tottering-6j is a useful model for functional studies of the Ca(v)2.1 channel.

Unique calibration-locking databases were constructed for rapid and semiquantitative drug screening by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS). In addition to the free-drug database of 127 drugs, a drug database with acetylating reagents was constructed to increase the number of detectable compounds in the analysis by GC-MS; 156 drugs, including 30 drugs of abuse, 42 hypnotics and their metabolites, 18 antipsychotic drugs, 15 antidepressants, and 12 antipyretic analgesic agents, were registered with parameters, such as the mass spectrum, retention time, qualifier ion/target ion percentage, and calibration curve using the novel GC-MS software NAGINATA. Diazepam- d 5 was used as internal standard for construction of each calibration curve in the range of 0.01–5.0 μg/ml for most drugs. We examined the applicability of the constructed database to analyzing whole blood samples spiked with 40 drugs most commonly encountered in toxicological cases in Japan. The drugs in blood were extracted using enhanced polymer columns (Focus), subjected to GC-MS after incubation with acetylating reagents, and screened by the drug database. Among the 40 drugs examined, 38 and 30 drugs were successfully identifi ed at the level of 1 and 0.1 μg/ml, respectively, without using standard compounds. The time required for data analysis was less than 1 min, and semiquantitative data were also obtained simultaneously. Because new drugs and metabolites can easily be added to the databases, we can recommend them as useful tools in clinical and forensic toxicological screening.

To estimate age using DNA based on telomere shortening, we determined the terminal restriction fragment (TRF) length, as telomere length, using Southern blot analysis of peripheral human blood and blood stains. All blood stains had been stored at room temperature for 5 months. The average TRF length clearly showed a tendency to shortening with aging. The formula for age estimation was based on a correlation between average TRF length and age of the subjects. The estimated age calculated from TRF length widely depends on environmental and genetic factors. However, as long as the DNA is well preserved, use of our method is feasible regardless of age of the subject and can give a rough estimation of age of subjects in forensic samples that carry no morphological information.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been widely used as both over-the-counter and prescription drugs for the treatment of headache and cold symptoms. Therefore, NSAIDs have a high possibility becoming causative substances in poisoning cases and are often submitted for analysis in clinical and forensic practice. Because the majority of NSAIDs contain a carboxyl group, it is difficult to analyze them in their free form by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Therefore, we attempted detection of 18 NSAIDs as trimethylsilyl derivatives, and constructed a unique calibration-locking database using NAGINATA™ software with parameters such as the mass spectrum, retention time, and qualifier ion/target ion ratio (QT ratio) and a calibration curve. Diazepam- d 5 was used as an internal standard for construction of each calibration curve in the range of 0.05–10.0 μg/ml. We examined the applicability of the constructed database by analyzing whole blood samples spiked with 1 μg/ml each of the 18 NSAIDs. The drugs were extracted with dichloromethane or on a mixed-mode anion-exchange column (OASIS MAX™), subjected to GC-MS after incubation with N -methyl- N -(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (MSTFA), and screened by the database. Among the 18 drugs examined, 15 and 17 drugs were successfully identified, respectively, and the absolute recoveries were 1.5–55.5% and 25.2–86.4%, respectively. The method was also applied to a case of suspected ibuprofen poisoning. Given that the established method showed significant improvement in the time required for data analysis, and qualitative and semiquantitative data were obtained without standard substances, we expect this new screening method using NAGINATA™to be very useful in confirming the presence of NSAIDs in blood in clinical and forensic cases.

We performed an autopsy on a 3-month-old baby boy who had only one area severe and extensive wound to his head and face. Three unrelated miniature dachshunds were in the house. After our investigation, we were able to confirm that the wound had in fact been caused by a dog attack, and we were able to identify the offending dog among the three dogs using both human and canine short tandem repeat obtained from samples taken from the suspected dog and from the scene of the attack.