Validation process of automatic DNA extraction from bone material using a new advanced protocol for the EZ2 Connect instrument.

Identification of human remains using genetic methods is an important task of forensic science. DNA markers are proving essential in the identification of unknown human remains. However, environmental factors can lead to poor preservation of DNA, including in bone material.

Recommendations of the Polish-speaking Working Group of the International Society for Forensic Genetics (ISFG-PL) regarding the disclosure of biological traces and the handling of evidence for identification tests.

The purpose of this paper is to formulate recommendations for the disclosure of biological traces in the laboratory and the handling of forensic evidence submitted for identification tests, recommended by the Polish Speaking Working Group of the International Society for Forensic Genetics. The paper organizes the knowledge of the most relevant stages of preliminary analysis of biological traces based on both literature sources and those resulting from years of research practice. Recommendations formulated in the course of multi-stage expert consultations contained in this study should be used in the development of laboratory procedures applied during the execution.

'Quality of life' concept in Cohesion Policy evaluation in Poland, 2004-2020.

Quality of life (QoL) is a fashionable concept widely used not only in many scientific fields but also in strategic documents, political speeches, and newspaper headlines. Although QoL is a crucial element of political agendas and a goal of public policies, there is little evidence on how this concept has been incorporated in policy analysis and evaluation. This study presents how the QoL has so far been defined, contextualised, and measured in the European Union Cohesion Policy evaluation in Poland, based on the analysis of 1431 evaluation reports for the period 2004-2020.

Assessing the utility of quantitative and qualitative metrics in the DNA quantification process of skeletal remains for autosomal and Y-chromosome STR amplification purposes.

In historical cases, ancient DNA investigations and missing persons identification, teeth or bone samples are often the only and almost always the best biological material available for DNA typing. On the other hand, DNA obtained from bone material may be characterized by a high degradation index (DI) or its low content, or DNA tests cannot be repeated due to bone piece size limitation. That is often the effect of the environment in which the material was placed and the time during which exposure to unfavorable environmental factors took place.

Does evaluation quality matter? Quantitative analysis of the use of evaluation findings in the field of cohesion policy in Poland.

Numerous studies have examined the impact of evaluation quality on the use of evaluation, yet the findings are still inconclusive and only derived from examples in countries with a well-established evaluation culture. This article examines the relationship between evaluation quality and the instrumental use of evaluation in administrations with a low maturity of evaluation culture using Poland as a case study. The research method employs quantitative analysis of datasets regarding evaluation quality and recommendation use from the Polish cohesion policy evaluation system.

COVID-19 antibody seroprevalence in Santa Clara County, California.

Background: Measuring the seroprevalence of antibodies to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is central to understanding infection risk and fatality rates. We studied Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)-antibody seroprevalence in a community sample drawn from Santa Clara County.

Methods: On 3 and 4 April 2020, we tested 3328 county residents for immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 using a rapid lateral-flow assay (Premier Biotech).

Physical Compatibility of Cefiderocol with Selected Intravenous Drugs During Simulated Y-site Administration.

The physical compatibility of cefiderocol for injection (prepared as a diluted 2% cefiderocol solution) with potential co-administration drug products is presented. The compatibility of cefiderocol with a selection of 91 intravenous drugs was tested at clinically relevant concentrations using the admixed volume ratio 1:1. Compatibility of the mixtures was determined by visual observations, turbidity, and particulate-matter measurements.

Confirmation of Paternity despite Three Genetic Incompatibilities at Chromosome 2.

DNA testing in cases of disputed paternity is a routine analysis carried out in genetic laboratories. The purpose of the test is to demonstrate similarities and differences in analyzed genetic markers between the alleged father, mother, and a child. The existence of differences in the examined loci between the child and the presumed father may indicate the exclusion of biological parenthood.

Recommendations of the Polish Speaking Working Group of the International Society for Forensic Genetics on forensic Y chromosome typing.

Y chromosome typing has been performed in forensic genetic practice for more than 20 years. The latest recommendations of the DNA Commission of the International Society of Forensic Genetics (ISFG) concerning the application of Y-chromosomal markers in forensic genetics were published in 2006. The aim of this report is to recapitulate, systematise and supplement existing recommendations on the forensic analysis of polymorphism of the Y chromosome with standards already implemented in practice, new capabilities linked to the development of research techniques as well as current solutions used in statistical analysis.

Examination of LT-DNA traces - literature overview and general recommendations of the Polish Speaking Working Group of the International Society for Forensic Genetics (ISFG-PL).

The available literature on traces characterised by a suboptimal amount of DNA, as well as expert research practice, show the complex nature of LT-DNA traces: from their detection and collection, through genetic analysis, up to the interpretation of final results. The aims of this paper are to systematise the current state of knowledge on handling LT-DNA traces and develop examination guidelines, as recommended by the Polish Speaking Working Group of the International Society for Forensic Genetics (ISFG-PL). The proposed guidelines should be followed by all Polish laboratories conducting forensic genetic analyses for the purpose of judicial proceedings.

Dual amplification strategy for improved efficiency of forensic DNA analysis using NGM Detect™, NGM™ or Globalfiler™ kits.

The new generation of STR amplification kits with improved sensitivity and additional genetic markers is designed particularly for analyzing difficult traces with a high DNA degradation index, presence of inhibitors and low level of DNA. In the new NGM Detect™ kit, modifications including changing the primers' sequences and shortening of STR markers are introduced. The quality control system (IQCS, IQCL) used to detect DNA degradation and the presence of inhibitors in the sample is an additional feature.

Recommendations of the Polish Speaking Working Group of the International Society for Forensic Genetics for forensic mitochondrial DNA testing.

Although mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) testing has been used in forensic genetics only since the mid-1990s, forensic DNA laboratories have been recently increasing the range of mtDNA sequencing, employing new analytical approaches and methods of data analysis. Therefore, it seems fitting to gather and systematize existing recommendations in the field of mtDNA analysis for forensic purposes, and formulate a set of interpretative guidelines which are especially relevant in view of recent developments in the forensic casework. The starting point is the recommendations of the International Society for Forensic Genetics (ISFG) which, in the opinion of the Polish Speaking Working Group of the ISFG (ISFG- PL), should be followed by all Polish laboratories conducting forensic testing.

Serum Monitoring and Phenotype Identification of Stage I Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients.

A stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) serum profiling platform is presented which is highly efficient and accurate. Test sensitivity (0.95) for stage I NSCLC is the highest reported so far.

A case study of an unknown mass grave - Hostages killed 70 years ago by a Nazi firing squad identified thanks to genetics.

Almost 6 million people died in Poland during the Nazi occupation and about 570 thousand during the Soviet occupation. But the end of the war was not the end of the trauma. Historians estimate that at least 30 thousand people were killed during the Stalinist regime in Poland.

Genetic Identification of Communist Crimes' Victims (1944-1956) Based on the Analysis of One of Many Mass Graves Discovered on the Powazki Military Cemetery in Warsaw, Poland.

As the result of the communist terror in Poland, during years 1944-1956 more than 50,000 people died. Their bodies were buried secretly, and most places are still unknown. The research presents the results of identification of people buried in one of many mass graves, which were found at the cemetery Powązki Military in Warsaw, Poland.

Topical Metered-dosing Dispenser Performance Evaluation.

Topical metered-dosing dispensers are designed for dosing accuracy and ease-of-use by the patients while protecting the packaged products from environmental exposure and contamination. The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy, precision, and residual of available topical metered-dosing dispensers with different types of topical cream for practical application. Triplicate samples of five different dispensers were tested.

The Polish Genetic Database of Victims of Totalitarianisms.

This paper describes the creation of the Polish Genetic Database of Victims of Totalitarianism and the first research conducted under this project. On September 28th 2012, the Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin and the Institute of National Remembrance-Commission for Prosecution of Crimes against the Polish Nation agreed to support the creation of the Polish Genetic Database of Victims of Totalitarianism (PBGOT, www.pbgot.

Simultaneous Whole Mitochondrial Genome Sequencing with Short Overlapping Amplicons Suitable for Degraded DNA Using the Ion Torrent Personal Genome Machine.

Whole mitochondrial (mt) genome analysis enables a considerable increase in analysis throughput, and improves the discriminatory power to the maximum possible phylogenetic resolution. Most established protocols on the different massively parallel sequencing (MPS) platforms, however, invariably involve the PCR amplification of large fragments, typically several kilobases in size, which may fail due to mtDNA fragmentation in the available degraded materials. We introduce a MPS tiling approach for simultaneous whole human mt genome sequencing using 161 short overlapping amplicons (average 200 bp) with the Ion Torrent Personal Genome Machine.

Development of a forensically useful age prediction method based on DNA methylation analysis.

Forensic DNA phenotyping needs to be supplemented with age prediction to become a relevant source of information on human appearance. Recent progress in analysis of the human methylome has enabled selection of multiple candidate loci showing linear correlation with chronological age. Practical application in forensic science depends on successful validation of these potential age predictors.

Practical aspects of genetic identification of hallucinogenic and other poisonous mushrooms for clinical and forensic purposes.

Aim: To assess the usefulness of a DNA-based method for identifying mushroom species for application in forensic laboratory practice.

Methods: Two hundred twenty-one samples of clinical forensic material (dried mushrooms, food remains, stomach contents, feces, etc) were analyzed. ITS2 region of nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) was sequenced and the sequen-ces were compared with reference sequences collected from the National Center for Biotechnology Information gene bank (GenBank).

A new dimension of the forensic DNA expertise - the need for training experts and expertise recipients.

Forensic genetics is a rapidly developing discipline. Nowadays, human genetic identification relies on the application of complex solutions ensuring high sensitivity and resistance to the inhibition and degradation of biological traces, and revealing maximum information which has relevance for the justice system. However, recent improvements in forensic DNA identification testing are associated with problems including secondary transfer, DNA mixtures and incompleteness of DNA profiles, which were formerly less significant.

Quality Control: microbial limit tests for nonsterile pharmaceuticals, part 2.

Cases of contaminated nonsterile products have been reported in increasing numbers. Often, these contaminated products are associated with the presence of objectionable microorganisms. The major contaminants of nonsterile pharmaceutical products and ingredients are bacteria, yeasts, and molds.

Examination of DNA methylation status of the ELOVL2 marker may be useful for human age prediction in forensic science.

Age estimation in forensic investigations may complement the prediction of externally visible characteristics and the inference of biogeographical ancestry, thus allowing a better description of an unknown individual. Multiple CpG sites that show linear correlation between age and degree of DNA methylation have been identified in the human genome, providing a selection of candidates for age prediction. In this study, we optimized an assay based on bisulfite conversion and pyrosequencing of 7 CpG sites located in the ELOVL2 gene.

Quality control analytical methods: microbial limit tests for nonsterile pharmaceuticals, Part 1.

Contamination of pharmaceuticals with microorganisms may lead to deleterious effects on the therapeutic properties of the drug, and may potentially cause injuries to intended recipients. Cases of contaminated nonsterile products have been reported in increasing numbers, and often associated with the presence of objectionable microorganisms. Methods for detection of these organisms are described in three major Pharmacopeias.