DNA degradation in human teeth exposed to thermal stress.

Human identification from burned remains poses a challenge to forensic laboratories, and DNA profiling is widely used for this purpose. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of temperature on DNA degradation in human teeth. Thirty teeth were exposed to temperatures of 100, 200, or 400 °C for 60 min.

Dental color measurement to predict DNA concentration in incinerated teeth for human identification.

Teeth exposed to thermal stress can shed light on the identification of incinerated individuals and on the circumstances of the fire. Changes in the color of burned teeth can provide information on structural changes and the temperature of exposure. The objective of this study was to correlate color modifications with the concentration of human DNA in teeth burned at different temperatures.

Spectrophotometric analysis of color changes in teeth incinerated at increasing temperatures.

Color changes produced by histological alterations in burned teeth can provide conclusive forensic information on the temperature of exposure. The objective was to correlate heat-induced color changes in incinerated teeth with increases in temperature (to 1200°C). Spectrophotometry was used to measure lightness, chromaticity (a* and b*), whiteness, and yellowness in 80 teeth heated at temperatures of 100, 200, 400, 600, 800, 1000, or 1200°C for 60 min.

Time-dependent changes in DNA stability in decomposing teeth over 18 months.

Objective: The objective was to use a dual quantitative and qualitative approach to analyze the dental DNA degradation produced by the passage of time since tooth death under controlled environmental conditions.

Materials And Methods: Sixty human teeth were stored at room temperature for 0, 1, 3, 6, 12 or 18 months post-extraction. DNA quantification was determined by real-time quantitative PCR using a Quantifiler(TM) kit.

Human genetic selection on the MTHFR 677C>T polymorphism.

Background: The prevalence of genotypes of the 677C>T polymorphism for the MTHFR gene varies among humans. In previous studies, we found changes in the genotypic frequencies of this polymorphism in populations of different ages, suggesting that this could be caused by an increase in the intake of folate and multivitamins by women during the periconceptional period. The aim was to analyze changes in the allelic frequencies of this polymorphism in a Spanish population, including samples from spontaneous abortions (SA).

Influence of gender and genetic variability on plasma angiotensin peptides.

Introduction: We analysed the influence of three polymorphisms of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) (I/D from angiotensin-converting enzyme [ACE], M235T from angiotensinogen gene [ATG] and A1166C from AT1 receptors) on plasma levels of angiotensin I (Ang I), angiotensin II (Ang II) and angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)].

Materials And Methods: The study population consisted of a homogeneous group of 93 healthy subjects (43 men and 50 women, mean age: 20.67+/-2.