Integrating temporal dynamics of both microbial taxonomic and functional characteristics as a tool for forensic time since deposition estimation.

Predicting the time since deposition (TsD) of body fluid stain at a crime scene is highly valuable in forensic investigation, as it can connect a DNA-identified stain donor to a crime or estimate the post-mortem interval in forensic case involving cadaver. Previous study has demonstrated the applicability of microbial taxa for TsD prediction. In this proof-of-concept study, we explored the combined use of taxonomic and functional characteristics in human saliva microbiome for TsD prediction.

Phthalate Metabolites Were Related to the Risk of High-Frequency Hearing Loss: A Cross-Sectional Study of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Background: Phthalate metabolites are pervasive in the environment and linked to various health issues. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between phthalate metabolites and hearing loss.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study with 1713 participants based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015-2018.

Investigating the effectiveness of forensic genetics and population genetic diversity using a multi-InDel system in Chinese Hezhou and Southern Shaanxi Han populations.

Introduction: Multiple insertion-deletion (multi-InDel) has greater potential in forensic genetics than InDel, and its efficacy in kinship testing, individual identification, DNA mixture detection and ancestry inference remains to be explored.

Methods: Consequently, we designed an efficient and robust system consisting of 41 multi-InDels to evaluate its efficacy in forensic applications in Chinese Hezhou Han (HZH) and Southern Shaanxi Han (SNH) populations and explore the genetic relationships between the SNH, HZH, and 26 reference populations.

Results And Conclusion: The obtained results showed that 38 out of the 41 multi-InDels had fairly high genetic variations.

Systematic analyses of AISNPs screening and classification algorithms based on genome-wide data for forensic biogeographic ancestry inference.

Identifying the biogeographic ancestral origin of biological sample left at a crime scene can provide important evidence for judicial case, as well as clue for narrowing down suspect. Ancestry informative single nucleotide polymorphism (AISNP) has become one of the most important genetic markers in recent years for screening ancestry information loci and analyzing the population genetic background and structure due to their high number and wide distributions in the human genome. In this study, based on data from 26 populations in the 1000 Genomes Project Phase 3, a Random Forest classification model was constructed with one-vs-rest classification strategy for embedded feature selection in order to obtain a panel with a small number of efficient AISNPs.

Focus on studying the effects of different exposure durations on the microbial structures and characteristics of three types of body fluids.

Background: Body fluid traceability inferences can provide important clues to the investigation of forensic cases. Microbiome has been proven to be well applied in forensic body fluid traceability studies. Most of the specimens at crime scenes are often exposed to the external environment when collected, so it is extremely important to exploring the structure characteristics of microbial communities of body fluid samples under different exposure durations for tracing the origin of body fluids based on microorganisms.

Using two self-developed InDel panels to explore forensic traits and ancestral components in the Hui group.

To address the challenges faced by forensic examiners in degraded DNA analysis, we have developed two different panels for various forensic applications, encompassing an AIM-InDel panel for ancestry inference and a Multi-InDel panel for individual identification, respectively. Herein, the efficiencies of these two panels were tested in the Chinese Hui group. By calculating forensic parameters and simulating family relationships, we verified that the Multi-InDel panel could be an effective tool for individual identification, paternity testing, and could assist in kinship identification in the Hui group.

Developmental validation of a custom-designed Multi-InDel panel: A five-dye multiplex amplification system for challenging DNA samples.

The continual investigation of novel genetic markers has yielded promising solutions for addressing the challenges encountered in forensic DNA analysis. In this study, we have introduced a custom-designed panel capable of simultaneously amplifying 41 novel Multi-insertion/deletion (Multi-InDel) markers and an amelogenin locus using the capillary electrophoresis platform. Through a developmental validation study conducted in accordance with guidelines recommended by the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods, we demonstrated that the new Multi-InDel system exhibited the sensitivity to produce reliable genotyping profiles with as little as 62.

Targeted sequencing of high-density SNPs provides an enhanced tool for forensic applications and genetic landscape exploration in Chinese Korean ethnic group.

Background: In this study, we present a NGS-based panel designed for sequencing 1993 SNP loci for forensic DNA investigation. This panel addresses unique challenges encountered in forensic practice and allows for a comprehensive population genetic study of the Chinese Korean ethnic group. To achieve this, we combine our results with datasets from the 1000 Genomes Project and the Human Genome Diversity Panel.

Applications of 1993 single nucleotide polymorphism loci in forensic pairwise kinship identifications and inferences.

Kinship testing plays critical roles in criminal investigations, missing person searches, civil disputes, as well as identifying disaster victims. The existing commonly used short tandem repeat (STR) loci have limited effectiveness in the identification of second-degree and more distant kinships. In this study, a total of 1993 SNP loci of 119 Chinese Han individuals from eight families were sequenced on the MGISEQ-2000RS platform.

Exploration of the ancestral inference effectiveness of 126 AI-SNPs and the genetic feature of Inner Mongolian Manchu group.

In addition to the validated ancestry-informative single nucleotide polymorphisms (AI-SNPs) in classic panels, there are many new potential AI-SNPs yet to be explored. Moreover, the search for AI-SNPs with highly discriminative power for ancestry inference in inter- and intra-continental populations has become a realistic need. In this study, 126 novel AI-SNPs were selected to distinguish the African, European, Central/South Asian and East Asian populations, and a random forest model was introduced to assess the performance of the AI-SNP set.

A self-developed AIM-InDel panel designed for degraded DNA analysis: Forensic application characterization and genetic landscape investigation in the Han Chinese population.

To assist in forensic DNA investigation, we developed a new panel capable of simultaneously amplifying 56 ancestry-informative InDels, three Y-InDels and the Amelogenin locus in one PCR reaction. The fragment lengths of the InDel amplicons in this panel were restricted to <200 bp to benefit degraded DNA analysis. In this study, we explored the efficiency of this new panel for forensic applications in the Han Chinese population, and further shed light on the genetic structures of Han populations.

Systematically exploring the performance of a self-developed Multi-InDel system in forensic identification, ancestry inference and genetic structure analysis of Chinese Manchu and Mongolian groups.

The insertion/deletion (InDel) polymorphism has promising applications in forensic DNA analysis. However, the insufficient forensic efficiencies of the present InDel-based systems restrict their applications in parentage testing, due to the lower genetic polymorphism of the biallelic InDel locus and the limited number of InDel loci in a multiplex amplification system. Here, we introduced an in-house developed system which contained 41 polymorphic Multi-InDel markers (equivalent to 82 InDels in total), to serve as an efficient and reliable tool for different forensic applications in the Manchu and Mongolian groups.

Prenatal diagnosis of double aortic arch with subaortic left brachiocephalic vein and right-side ductus arteriosus using high-definition flow render mode and spatiotemporal image correlation.

Double aortic arch (DAA) with subaortic left brachiocephalic vein (LBCV) and right-side ductus arteriosus (RDA) was not reported before delivery, only in adults with anatomy course findings. We present a case of fetal DAA with subaortic LBCV and RDA using high-definition (HD) flow render mode and spatiotemporal image correlation (STIC).

Haplotypic polymorphisms and forensic applications in Chinese Hunan Han population based on a series of Y-STR loci: a perspective of paternal inheritance.

Background: Hunan, a multinational province in China, possesses more than fifty ethnic groups, such as the Han, Yao, Tujia, Miao, and so on.

Aims: To evaluate the forensic efficiency of the novel panel and investigate the genetic relationships between Hunan Han population and 12 other reference populations from China.

Subjects And Methods: Haplotypic data of 153 unrelated males of Hunan Han population were investigated using the AGCU Y SUPP Plus amplification system containing 27 Y-chromosomal short tandem repeat (STR) loci.

Forensic efficiencies of individual identification, kinship testing and ancestral inference in three Yunnan groups based on a self-developed multiple DIP panel.

Deletion/insertion polymorphism (DIP), as a short insertion/deletion sequence polymorphic genetic marker, has attracted the attention of forensic genetic scientist due to its lack of stutter, short amplicon and abundant ancestral information. In this study, based on a self-developed 43 autosomal deletion/insertion polymorphism (A-DIP) loci panel which could meet the forensic application purposes of individual identification, kinship testing and ancestral inference to some extent, we evaluated the forensic efficiencies of the above three forensic objectives in Chinese Yi, Hani and Miao groups of Yunnan province. The cumulative match probability (CPM) and combined probability of exclusion (CPE) of these three groups were 1.

Exploring the forensic effectiveness and population genetic differentiation by self-constructed 41 multi-InDel panel in Yunnan Zhuang group.

Yunnan is one of the main residences of the Zhuang group which is one of the 55 ethnic minorities in China. At present, there are relatively few researches on population genetics and forensic science of the Yunnan Zhuang group. Therefore, this study used a self-constructed panel containing 41 multi-InDel markers to analyze the genetic polymorphisms of 173 individuals from Yunnan Zhuang group.

Practices, Attitudes, and Knowledge Among Healthcare Providers and Oncologists in China Regarding Male Fertility Preservation.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to help to promote a better understanding of the male fertility preservation status in China.

Methods: In this cross-sectional survey, 1,912 healthcare providers and oncologists were surveyed anonymously using 16 questions carried out at community oncology practices in China from September 2018 to April 2021. 16 questions were designed to evaluate their knowledge on male fertility preservation in cancer patients, assess the factors they considered when deciding whether to discuss male fertility preservation with their patients.

Forensic Characteristics and Genetic Background Dissections of Chinese Manchu and Zhuang Groups Using 59 Autosomal Diallelic InDels and 2 miniSTRs.

Background: The latest development in molecular biology has offered an opportunity to construct multiplex panel with better applicability for forensic purpose, and a self-developed 64-plex panel, including 59 autosomal diallelic InDels, 2 miniSTRs, 2 Y-InDels, and an Amelogenin gene, was validated to be an effective forensic tool in the previous study.

Methods: By applying the 64-plex panel for DNA profiling, the obtained genotypes and the corresponding frequency data were used to investigate the forensic characteristics and population genetic structures of the Chinese Manchu group from the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and the Chinese Zhuang group from the Yunnan province.

Results: The 64-plex panel was qualified to perform human identification and paternity testing with the combined powers of discrimination of 0.

Systematic selections and forensic application evaluations of 111 individual identification SNPs in the Chinese Inner Mongolia Manchu group.

Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) possesses a promising application in forensic individual identification due to its wide distribution in the human genome and the ability to carry out the genotyping of degraded biological samples by designing short amplicons. Some commonly used individual identification SNPs are less polymorphic in East Asian populations. In order to improve the individual identification efficiencies in East Asian populations, SNP genetic markers with relatively higher polymorphisms were selected from the 1,000 Genome Project phase III database in East Asian populations.

Forensic Feature Exploration and Comprehensive Genetic Insights Into Yugu Ethnic Minority and Northern Han Population a Novel NGS-Based Marker Set.

The MPS technology has expanded the potential applications of DNA markers and increased the discrimination power of the targeted loci by taking variations in their flanking regions into consideration. Here, a collection of nuclear and extranuclear DNA markers (totally six kinds of nuclear genetic markers and mtDNA hypervariable region variations) were comprehensively and systematically assessed for polymorphism detections, further employed to dissect the population backgrounds in the Yugu ethnic group from Gansu province (Yugu) and Han population from the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (NMH) of China. The elevated efficiencies of the marker set in separating full sibling and challenging half sibling determination cases in parentage tests (iiSNPs), as well as predicting ancestry origins of unknown individuals from at least four continental populations (aiSNPs) and providing informative characteristic-related clues for Chinese populations (piSNPs) are highlighted in the present study.