T2-weighted spoiled gradient echo MRI for forensic age estimation: a study on knee growth plates.

The timing of growth plate fusion is a key indicator for age estimation and is primarily used in forensic investigations. On the other hand, non-ionizing techniques such as MRI are being developed to provide safer and more ethical evaluations in forensic casework. This study aims to evaluate the closure process of growth plates in the distal femoral and proximal tibial epiphyses using Multiple Echo Recombined Gradient Echo (MERGE) MRI sequences and provide age estimation data based on staging methods for forensic purposes.

Application of Vieth staging in forensic age estimation in the living using MRI of the distal radial epiphysis.

Forensic age estimation is crucial in various legal and civil contexts, particularly in regions experiencing significant migration and inadequate birth registration systems. This study evaluates the applicability of the Vieth staging system for forensic age estimation in the living using MRI of the distal radial epiphysis. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 620 left wrist MRI scans from individuals aged 9.

Autophagy in myocardial ischemia and ischemia/reperfusion.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a life-threatening condition that leads to loss of viable heart tissue. The best way to treat acute MI and limit the infarct size is to re-open the occluded coronary artery and restore the supply of oxygenated and nutrient-rich blood, but reperfusion can cause additional damage. Autophagy is an intracellular process that recycles damaged cytoplasmic components (molecules and organelles) by loading them into autophagosomes and degrading them in autolysosomes.

Forensic age estimation at the University Center of Legal Medicine Lausanne-Geneva: a retrospective study over 12 years.

With the undeniable increase in asylum requests from unaccompanied alleged minors, age estimation of living individuals has become an essential part of the routine work in European forensic centers. This study aims to review the forensic age estimations performed in our center since 2010, to evaluate the state-of-the-art of this practice in Switzerland with the evolution of the methodology according to upcoming recommendations. Our institute's expert reports performed between 2010 and 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.

Age Estimation Based on Computed Tomography Analysis of the Scapula.

: Age estimation from skeletal remains and in living individuals is an important issue for human identification, and also plays a critical role in judicial proceedings for migrants. Forensic analysis of ossification centers is the main evaluation method for age estimation, and ossification degree can be determined using computed tomography analysis. The purpose of this study is to investigate the applicability of CT (computed tomography) in the analysis of left scapula ossification centers, for forensic age estimation in Turkish society.

Reference values for plasma and urine trace elements in a Swiss population-based cohort.

Objectives: Trace elements (TEs) are ubiquitous. TE concentrations vary among individuals and countries, depending on factors such as living area, workplaces and diet. Deficit or excessive TEs concentrations have consequences on the proper functioning of human organism so their biomonitoring is important.

Limited associations between MHC diversity and reproductive success in a bird species with biparental care.

The selective pressure from pathogens on individuals can have direct consequences on reproduction. Genes from the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are central to the vertebrate adaptive immune system and pathogen resistance. In species with biparental care, each sex has distinct reproductive roles and levels of investment, and due to a trade-off with immunity, one can expect different selective regimes acting upon the MHC of each parent.

ESPEN practical short micronutrient guideline.

Background: Trace elements and vitamins, named together micronutrients (MNs), are essential for human metabolism. The importance of MNs in common pathologies is recognized by recent research, with deficiencies significantly impacting the outcome.

Objective: This short version of the guideline aims to provide practical recommendations for clinical practice.

Niche overlap across landscape variability in summer between two large herbivores using eDNA metabarcoding.

Understanding the relationship between a species feeding strategy and its environment (trophic ecology) is critical to assess environmental requirements and improve management policies. However, measuring trophic interactions remains challenging. Among the available methods, quantifying the plant composition of a species' diet indicates how species use their environment and their associated niche overlap.

Deep learning for acute rib fracture detection in CT data: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: To review studies on deep learning (DL) models for classification, detection, and segmentation of rib fractures in CT data, to determine their risk of bias (ROB), and to analyse the performance of acute rib fracture detection models.

Methods: Research articles written in English were retrieved from PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science in April 2023. A study was only included if a DL model was used to classify, detect, or segment rib fractures, and only if the model was trained with CT data from humans.

All insects matter: a review of 160 entomology cases from 1993 to 2007 in Switzerland-part I (Diptera).

Necrophagous Diptera are the most important group of insects used for the purposes of forensic entomology. While the most utilized fly family in this context is the family Calliphoridae, there are several other families that can be of great importance during real-case investigations. This article analyzes the necrophagous flies of all families recorded from 160 real cases in Switzerland between 1993 and 2007.

Multicentric case series of scuba diving fatalities: The role of intracardiac gaseous carbon dioxide in the forensic diagnosis.

Scuba diving fatalities post-mortem diagnosis presents a higher level of forensic complexity because of their occurrence in a non-natural human life environment. Scuba divers are equipped with diving gas to breathe underwater. It is essential for them to be fully trained in order to be able to manage their dive safely despite the varying increase of ambient pressure and temperature decrease.

Hidden lesions: a case of burnt remains.

Unlabelled: One of the many challenging cases that forensic pathologists, anthropologists, and forensic imaging experts have to face are burnt human remains. Perpetrators frequently attempt to hide/destroy evidence and make the body unidentifiable by exposing it to fire. We present a case of a partially burnt body found in an apartment after an explosion.

Association of plasma zinc levels with anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgA seropositivity in the general population: A case-control study.

Introduction: Some micronutrients have key roles in immune defence, including mucosal defence mechanisms and immunoglobulin production. Altered micronutrient status has been linked with COVID-19 infection and disease severity. We assessed the associations of selected circulating micronutrients with anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgA seropositivity in the Swiss community using early pandemic data.

Forensic age estimation in males by MRI based on the medial epiphysis of the clavicle.

Increasing cross-border migration has brought forensic age assessment into focus in recent decades. Forensic age estimation is based on the three pillars: physical and medical constitution, bone age, and tooth age. Part of the bone age examination includes the assessment of the medial end of the clavicles when the hand bones are already fully developed and a minority must be excluded.

Cannabinoids for behavioral symptoms in severe dementia: Safety and feasibility in a long-term pilot observational study in nineteen patients.

Context: The management of behavioral symptoms and rigidity in patients with dementia constitutes a significant challenge. Short-term studies suggest an interest in the use of medical cannabis, but long-term data are lacking.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility and long-term safety of administering tetrahydrocannabinol/cannabidiol (THC/CBD) treatment as an additional drug to a poly medicated population with severe dementia, evaluate clinical improvements, and collect information on the pharmacokinetics of cannabinoids and possible drug-drug interactions.

Focal vs. fecal: Seasonal variation in the diet of wild vervet monkeys from observational and DNA metabarcoding data.

Assessing the diet of wild animals reveals valuable information about their ecology and trophic relationships that may help elucidate dynamic interactions in ecosystems and forecast responses to environmental changes. Advances in molecular biology provide valuable research tools in this field. However, comparative empirical research is still required to highlight strengths and potential biases of different approaches.

Comparison of Dried Blood Spot and Microtube Techniques for Trace Element Quantification by ICP-MS.

Microsampling techniques became more popular in the last decades, and their use for common analyses such as trace element quantification by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) has been investigated. We decided to compare two of these techniques (dried blood spots and microtubes) to evaluate their potential for the analysis of 12 trace elements in human whole blood: aluminum (Al), total arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn). Signal contributions from blank filter paper and instability at room temperature for several elements in the dried blood spot samples restrained our enthusiasm for the use of this technique.

Post-mortem Computed Tomographic Angiography in Equine Distal Forelimbs: A Feasibility Study.

In-depth understanding of pathophysiological processes occurring in the vasculature of the equine distal limb is of great importance to improve both diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to diseases. To gain further insights, a model allowing high-resolution 3D-visualization of the vasculature is necessary. This pilot study evaluated the feasibility of restoring vascular perfusion in frozen-thawed distal equine cadaver limbs without prior preparation using computer tomographic imaging (CT).