Archival, paleopathological and aDNA-based techniques in leprosy research and the case of Father Petrus Donders at the Leprosarium 'Batavia', Suriname.

Objective: We assessed whether Petrus Donders (died 1887), a Dutch priest who for 27 years cared for people with leprosy in the leprosarium Batavia, Suriname, had evidence of Mycobacterium (M.) leprae infection. A positive finding of M.

DNA identification of human remains in Disaster Victim Identification (DVI): An efficient sampling method for muscle, bone, bone marrow and teeth.

In disaster victim identification (DVI), DNA profiling is considered to be one of the most reliable and efficient means to identify bodies or separated body parts. This requires a post mortem DNA sample, and an ante mortem DNA sample of the presumed victim or their biological relative(s). Usually the collection of an adequate ante mortem sample is technically simple, but the acquisition of a good quality post mortem sample under unfavourable DVI circumstances is complicated due to the variable degree of preservation of the human remains and the high risk of DNA (cross) contamination.

Classification criteria for diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis: a lack of consensus.

Objectives: DISH is a condition characterized by flowing ossifications of the spine with or without ossifications of entheses elsewhere in the body. Studies on the prevalence and pathogenesis of DISH use a variety of partly overlapping combinations of classification criteria, making meaningful comparisons across the literature difficult. The aim of this study was to systematically summarize the available criteria to support the development of a more uniform set of diagnostic/classification criteria.

[Identifying victims of a disaster].

Identifying the victims of a disaster is important for the next of kin, to issue a death certificate and, if necessary, for forensic investigations. In the Netherlands victims are identified by the Dutch disaster victim identification team, which is part of the national forensic investigation team ('Landelijk Team Forensische Opsporing'). Ante-mortem data are collected during the identification process; these include the victim's specific medical characteristics and the DNA profile of the victim and their family members.

Are the alleged remains of Johann Sebastian Bach authentic?

A skeleton alleged to be that of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) was exhumed from a graveyard in Leipzig, Germany, in 1894, but its authenticity is not established. In 1895, anatomist Wilhelm His concluded from his examination of the skeleton and reconstruction of the face that it most likely belonged to Bach. In 1949, surgeon Wolfgang Rosenthal noticed exostoses on the skeleton and on x-rays of 11 living organists and proposed a condition, Organistenkrankheit, which he interpreted as evidence that the skeleton was Bach's.

Femur, rib, and tooth sample collection for DNA analysis in disaster victim identification (DVI) : a method to minimize contamination risk.

Although much literature is available on DNA extraction from tissue samples to obtain the best possible genotyping results, to the best of our knowledge no written recommendations exist on how to excise or extract bone and tooth samples from a victim to facilitate this. Because the possibility of cross-contamination is high, especially when excising numerous samples under disaster conditions, it is important to minimize this risk and to keep samples in optimum condition. In this paper a standard operating procedure is proposed for collection of femur, rib, and tooth samples to aid victim identification both after mass disasters and in (single) forensic investigations.

Variables affecting the probability of complete fusion of the medial clavicular epiphysis.

In this study, we have combined data on clavicle fusion from different studies and applied a binomial logistic regression analysis. As such, we aimed to assess whether or not variables such as sex, socioeconomic status, and ethnicity influence the probability of having mature, i.e.

Cross-sectional anthropometric study of the external ear.

This cross-sectional anthropometric study was aimed at estimating expansion of the external ear during adult life, in order to evaluate the extent to which anatomical features appearing in earprints may vary with time. A review of the literature was provided. Data extracted from photographed ears of 1353 subjects were analyzed.

Histological age prediction from the femur in a contemporary Dutch sample. The decrease of nonremodeled bone in the anterior cortex.

This paper presents an uncomplicated and minimally invasive method for age-at-death determination in a contemporary Dutch (West European) population, by modifying the approach of assessment based on the age-related remodeling of bone tissue. In contrast to the usual "osteon count," a "non-remodeled tissue count" is undertaken. To optimize the method, proper zeroing of the polarization filter set of the microscope is essential.

Improving the visibility of tooth cementum annulations by adjustment of the cutting angle of microscopic sections.

Age at death assessments by counting tooth cementum annulations (TCAs) in unstained undecalcified microscopic ground sections of (single rooted) teeth is, amongst others, problematic because of the unclear distinction between the bright and darker annulations. Counting is hampered by optical superimposition of the tangentially positioned layers of cementum in the section since 'regular transverse sections' run perpendicular to the axis of a cone-shaped root with its yearly deposited cone-shaped layers of cementum. This study demonstrates that to improve the visibility of the annulations, the cutting angle should be perpendicular to the exterior of a root, not perpendicular to its axis.

Individualization of earprints : Variation in prints of monozygotic twins.

This article presents a study of the variation in the appearance of earprints from six pairs of monozygotic (MZ) twins, applying different methods with varying degrees of objectivity. By analyzing prints of MZ twins, we purposely select pairs of individuals for whom the degree of interindividual variation is low. We first provide an account of the corresponding characteristics and the differences that occur between prints from the individual members.

Earprints in forensic investigations.

This article provides an overview of the theoretical and practical issues surrounding the use of earprints in forensic research. In the first section, we provide a limited account of the history of earprints in forensic investigations and their use as evidence in court. Criticism of the use of earprints for individualization is addressed and fundamental questions that require attention are summarized.

Exploring the effect of the occurrence of sound on force applied by the ear when listening at a surface.

In this article, we explore the effect of the occurrence of a target sound on the force that is applied by the ear when listening at a surface because differences in applied force induce variation in carprints of a single ear. Forty two subjects each listened four times at a surface. During two of these listening efforts there was silence.

Exploratory study on classification and individualisation of earprints.

The FearID research project is aimed at the individualisation of earprints for the purpose of forensic research. The study presented here was carried out within the framework of this project. It intends to combine a review of what is known from literature on the classification and individualisation of earprints with results from a preliminary study of earprints.