0000000000002300
AUTHOR
L. Pötsch
Application of DNA techniques for identification using human dental pulp as a source of DNA
Dental pulp tissue could be obtained in most cases from materials obtained under experimental conditions and from forensic casework (air accidents, burned and putrefied bodies). Teeth extracted during dental treatment (n = 30) were stored for 6 weeks and 4 years at room temperature. In addition teeth (n = 10) extracted from jaw fragments that had been stored for 15 years at room temperature, and teeth extracted post mortem from actual identification cases (n = 8) were investigated. Following extraction from dental pulp tissue the DNA concentration was measured by fluorometry. The amount of DNA obtained from the dental pulp tissue of a single tooth varied from 6 micrograms to 50 micrograms D…
Improved section bonding using silanated glass slides--application protocol.
Silanated slides provide excellent tissue adhesion for routine histology, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization of frozen, paraffin embedded material or cell smears. An easy and inexpensive method of treating glass microscope slides with triethoxysilylpropylamine is reported.
HLA DQα Typing of Human Fingernails
In contrast to the extensive knowledge about protein biochemistry of keratinization, little is known about the fate of nuleic acids during these processes (1). It has been suggested that both DNA and RNA completely degenerate in the initial phase of keratinization. However, from electron microscopical studies it is known that nuclear remnants are present (1,3). From these findings and own observations one might expect that nucleic acids should still be available.
Traumatic lesion of the extracranial vertebral artery--a note-worthy potentially lethal injury.
The autopsy findings from routine neuropathological investigations of the cervical spine after any history of trauma emphasized the vulnerability of the extracranial vertebral arteries. In 21 cases with trauma to the head and neck, normal autopsy procedures did not succeed in revealing an obvious cause of death. Traumatic lesions of the spinal cord such as contusion or neurorrhexis were seen in 10 cases. In 15 cases we observed different degrees and stages of traumatic lesions of the extracranial vertebral arteries. Sudden death due to acute brain stem ischemia might be considered as an explanation in some of these cases. Six case reports with traumatic vertebral artery (VA) lesions after s…
Sex Determination by Genomic Dot Blot Hybridization and HLA DQα Typing by PCR from Fixed Tissues
Recent advances in molecular biology methods have significantly increased the ability to detect genetic variation at the genomic level for forensic purposes. However, the quality requirements for blood, fresh or frozen tissue as a source of DNA are a practical limitation for typing the victim in order to conduct investigations on unsolved cases. Since paraffin embedded specimens are easily obtainable the ability to study this material would be of great value in current forensic practice.