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Journal of Forensic Medicine

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    28 August 2020, Volume 36 Issue 4 Previous Issue    Next Issue
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    Formation and Development of Environmental Forensics System in China
    GUO Xue-yan, YANG Xu, GU Xiao-ruo, et al
    2020, 36(4): 437-444.  DOI: 10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2020.04.002
    Abstract ( 545 )   PDF (1205KB) ( 1235 )  
    With the growing attention on ecological environment problems and gradual realization of ecological environment value, environmental damage has jumped from administrative penalty to a new stage, judicial penalty, and environmental damage appraisal has provided a legal weapon to safeguard ecological security. As a new forensic category of China with high comprehensiveness and technical difficulty, environmental damage appraisal involves diversified and complex subjects, fields and appraisal objects, and is still in an early stage in terms of theory and practice. This study aims to provide an important reference for the improvement of the Chinese environmental damage appraisal system of environmental damage by summarizing advanced international experience in areas such as laws and regulations, working mechanism and technical system, and putting forward targeted countermeasures and suggestions based on the problems existing in the development and practice of environmental damage appraisal in China.
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    Biological Toxicity Effects of Soil Pollution Caused by Galvanized Wastewater Based on Vibrio Qinghaiensis sp.-Q67
    CHEN Su-min, ZHANG Yuan-xun, SHANG Jing, et al
    2020, 36(4): 445-452.  DOI: 10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2020.04.003
    Abstract ( 233 )   PDF (3698KB) ( 981 )  
    Objective To establish a rapid diagnosis method for the biological toxicity of soil, accurately and rapidly evaluate the toxicity of contaminated sites and identify the dominant pollutants. Methods Take the soil pollution of a galvanized factory as an example, while the metal concentration level was analyzed and detected, a rapid biological toxicity detection method based on the acute toxicity test of luminescent bacteria （Vibrio qinghaiensis sp.-Q67） was established, and the dominant pollutants were identified by stepwise multiple regression. Results The pollutants came from wastewater and metal plating fragments directly discharged from the manufacturing line of the factory. The concentration of those pollutants was correlated with the acute toxicity of Vibrio qinghaiensis sp.-Q67. The dominant pollutants in the study were zinc （Zn）, aluminum （Al） and copper （Cu）. Conclusion The luminescent bacteria toxicity test method based on Vibrio qinghaiensis sp.-Q67 can conveniently and rapidly assess the degree of toxic damage of polluted soil and identify the dominant pollutants and can be applied to the acute toxicity evaluation of polluted soil.
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    Effects of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers on the Human Body Exposure in E-Waste Dismantling Region
    ZHOU Yan, Lü Shao-min, XIAO Jian-peng, et al
    2020, 36(4): 453-460.  DOI: 10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2020.04.004
    Abstract ( 295 )   PDF (1276KB) ( 870 )  
    Objective To discuss the effects of polybrominated diphenyl ethers （PBDEs） exposure in e-waste dismantling region on the human body and provide data support for the identification of environmental health damage to residents in the e-waste dismantling region. Methods Adults in an e-waste dismantling region （exposed group, 54 participants） and a control region （control group, 58 participants） were selected, questionnaires were carried out and blood and urine samples were collected. Blood PBDEs, blood lipids, blood routine, blood lead, urine cadmium, urine chromium and urine nickel were detected. T-test was utilized to compare the differences of PBDEs between the two groups. Multivariate analysis were utilized to compare the differences between the two groups in blood routine indexes. Linear regression was used to analyze the relationship between PBDEs and blood routine. Results Exposure levels of PBDEs were significantly higher in the exposed group （240.00 ng/g, adjusted mass fraction of blood lipids, thereafter） than in the control group （93.00 ng/g, P<0.05）. There was no statistical significance in the differences in most blood routine indexes of the two groups （P>0.05）, and their reference values were all within normal ranges. Mean platelet volume, plateletcrit, basophils percentage, absolute value of basophils, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration were higher in the exposed group than in the control group （P<0.05）. Platelet distribution widths were lower in the exposed group than in the control group and below the normal reference range （P<0.05）. Conclusion PBDEs exposure in e-waste dismantling region tend to change platelet morphology, the number of basophils, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and may pose potential health hazards to local residents.
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    Bibliometric Analysis of Research Hotspots Related to Marine Oil Spill Accidents in the Environmental Field Based on Web of Science
    WU Jian, WANG Min, YE Chun-mei, et al
    2020, 36(4): 461-469.  DOI: 10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2020.04.005
    Abstract ( 242 )   PDF (2196KB) ( 994 )  
    Objective To conduct bibliometric analysis of the relevant literature in the environmental field published from 1982 to 2018 collected by the Web of Science citation database and further explore the frontier research dynamics and hotspots in the environmental field. Methods The word “oil spill*” was used as the subject term for retrieval. A knowledge map of hotspots in oil spill research was built through software VOSviewer and the clustering relations between them were explored. The frequency and relevance of the keywords in the corresponding literature were obtained by the matrix of keywords built through the Thomson Data Analyzer （TDA） software. Results The four main research hotspots of marine oil spill pollution were oil spill numerical simulation and model prediction, oil spill exposure toxicity and risk assessment, oil spill component and source analysis and oil spill pollution characteristics and treatment. Conclusion The study analyzes the main content of the four research hotspots and the current research progress and provides scientific basis for further understanding of the mechanism of marine oil spill occurrence, migration and transformation, implementation of oil spill treatment and repair as well as more accurate assessment of eco-environment damage.
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    Cardiac Disease Associated Genetic Variants in Yi Nationality in Regions with High Incidence of Yunnan Sudden Unexplained Death
    LIU Kai, WANG Yue-bing, DU Jin-liang,et al
    2020, 36(4): 497-501.  DOI: 10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2020.04.013
    Abstract ( 318 )   PDF (3262KB) ( 1029 )  
    Objective To explore the association of cardiac disease associated genetic variants and the high incidence of Yunnan sudden unexplained death （YNSUD） in Yi nationality. Methods The genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples collected from 205 Yi villagers from YNSUD aggregative villages （inpatient group） and 197 healthy Yi villagers from neighboring villages （control group）. Fifty-two single nucleotide variants （SNVs） of 25 cardiac disease associated genes were genotyped using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry （MALDI-TOF-MS）. The SPSS 17.0 was used to analyze data. The pathogenicities of variants with differences between the two groups that have statistical significance were predicted by protein function prediction software PolyPhen-2 and SIFT. All villagers from inpatient group were given electrocardiogram （ECG） examination using a 12-lead electrocardiograph. Results The allele frequency and the genotype frequency of missense mutation DSG2 （rs2278792, c.2318G>A, p.R773K） of pathogenic genes of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy （ARVC） in inpatient group was higher than that in control group （P<0.05）. Abnormal ECG changes were detected in 71 individuals （34.6%） in the inpatient group, among which 54 individuals carried R773K mutation, including clockwise （counterclockwise） rotation, left （right） axis deviation, ST segment and T wave alteration and heart-blocking. Conclusion Definite pathogenic mutations have not been found in the 52 cardiac disease genes associated SNVs detected in Yi nationality in regions with high incidence of YNSUD. The cause of high incidence of YNSUD in Yi nationality needs further study.
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    Differential Expression of Integrin β1 in Two Brain Injury Models of Rats
    WU Mao-wang, SU Li, HE Fang, et al
    2020, 36(4): 502-506.  DOI: 10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2020.04.014
    Abstract ( 198 )   PDF (4619KB) ( 848 )  
    Objective To study the characteristics of positive expression of integrin β1 in the rat brain tissue of two kinds of traumatic brain injury models and to explore the feasibility of inferring the mode of traumatic brain injury using the positive expression of integrin β1. Methods The occipital region of rats was hit by hydraulic impact method and pendulum striking method to produce two closed brain injury models of linear and rotation acceleration respectively, then 120 SD rats were randomly divided into linear acceleration injury group, rotation acceleration injury group, sham operation group and normal control group. Immunohistochemistry staining and Western blotting method were used to detect the positive expression of integrin β1 in different parts of the brain tissue at 30 min, 3 h, 6 h, 12 h, 3 d and 7 d after rat injury. The data was processed statistically by SPSS 18.0 software. Results The positive expression of integrin β1 was detected 30 min after brain injury and reached the peak 6 h after brain injury. With the extension of injury time, the expression tended to enhance. At the same time points after injury, the differences in the positive expression of integrin β1 between the linear acceleration injury group and the rotation acceleration injury group in the occipital strike point and thalamus had no statistical significance （P>0.05）, but the differences in the expression of integrin β1 in the frontal lobe and brain stem had statistical significance （P<0.05）. Conclusion The characteristics of positive expression of integrin β1 in brain tissue can be used to infer the strike point and the manner of injury and has application value for the reconstruction of craniocerebral injury process.
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    Age Estimation in Han Adults by Thin-Layer CT Scan of Cranial Sutures
    QIU Shi-wen, TU Meng, FAN Fei, et al
    2020, 36(4): 507-513.  DOI: 10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2020.04.015
    Abstract ( 350 )   PDF (1481KB) ( 1032 )  
     Objective To explore the value of degree of cranial suture closure in forensic adult age estimation by thin-layer CT scan and establish an adult age estimation model of the Han nationality. Methods Thin-layer CT scan samples of the heads of 220 healthy Sichuan Han adults （110 males, 110 females） aged 20 to 70 were collected, of which 20 samples （10 males, 10 females） were randomly selected as test samples. The sagittal suture, coronal suture （both left and right） and lambdoid suture （both left and right） were respectively and equally divided into 2 segments, and every segment was equally divided into 10 layers and the corresponding multiplanar reformation （MPR） images were selected. The closure of cranial sutures on MPR images was classified into the grades 1-7. The correlations between cranial sutures and age were analyzed to build regression equation for age estimation. Results The degree of closure of sagittal suture, coronal suture （both left and right） and lambdoid suture （both left and right） was positively correlated with age. The coefficient of determination （R2） of regression equation was 0.419 in males, 0.589 in females, and 0.522 in all samples. The results of the verification test showed that the mean absolute error （MAE） was 6.39 years in males, 6.16 years in females, and 6.29 years in all samples. Conclusion There was a higher accuracy in adult age estimation by thin-layer CT scan of cranial sutures. The age of Han nationality adults can be estimated by the degree of cranial sutures closure.
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    Identification of Peripheral Blood and Menstrual Blood Based on the Expression Level of MicroRNAs and Discriminant Analysis
    HE Hong-xia, JI An-quan, HAN Na, et al
    2020, 36(4): 514-518，524.  DOI: 10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2020.04.016
    Abstract ( 331 )   PDF (1216KB) ( 998 )  
    Objective To construct a discriminant analysis model based on the differential expression of multiple microRNAs （miRNAs） in two kinds of blood samples （peripheral blood and menstrual blood） and three non-blood samples （saliva, semen and vaginal secretion）, to form an identification solution for peripheral blood and menstrual blood. Methods Six kinds of miRNA （miR-451a, miR-144-3p, miR-144-5p, miR-214-3p, miR-203-3p and miR-205-5p） were selected from literature, the samples of five kinds of body fluids commonly seen in forensic practice （peripheral blood, menstrual blood, saliva, semen, vaginal secretion） were collected, then the samples were divided into training set and testing set and detected by SYBR Green real-time qPCR. A discriminant analysis model was set up based on the expression data of training set and the expression data of testing set was used to examine the accuracy of the model. Results A discriminant analysis statistical model that could distinguish blood samples from non-blood samples and distinguish peripheral blood samples from menstrual blood samples at the same time was successfully constructed. The identification accuracy of the model was over 99%. Conclusion This study provides a scientific and accurate identification strategy for forensic fluid identification of peripheral blood and menstrual blood samples and could be used in forensic practice.
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    Determination of Escitalopram in Biological Samples by Dispersive Liquid-Liquid Microextraction Combined with GC-MS/MS
    GUAN Qing-lin, XIE Wen-kai, Lü Chen-xi, et al
    2020, 36(4): 519-524.  DOI: 10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2020.04.017
    Abstract ( 254 )   PDF (1346KB) ( 797 )  
    Objective To establish a method for determination of escitalopram in biological samples by ultrasound-assisted ionic liquid-dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction combined with gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry （GC-MS/MS） and provide evidences for forensic determination of cases related to escitalopram. Methods The 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate （[C6MIM][PF6]） was selected as an extract solvent to process biological samples. Ultrasound-assisted extraction was used on the samples. Then the samples were detected by GC-MS/MS. Results The linear range of escitalopram in blood and liver were 5.56-1 111.10 ng/mL and 0.025-5.00 mg/g, respectively. The correlation coefficient （r） were greater than 0.999, limit of detection （LOD） were 4.00 ng/mL and 2.00 μg/g, limit of quantitation （LOQ） were 14.00 ng/mL and 6.00 μg/g, respectively. The extraction recovery rates were all greater than 50%, the interday and intraday precision were less than 20%. Escitalopram was detected in blood and liver samples from the actual poisoning case by this method with a content of 1.26 μg/mL and 0.44 mg/g, respectively. Conclusion The ultrasound-assisted ionic liquid-dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction combined with GC-MS/MS is environment friendly, rapid, has good enriching effect and consumes less organic solvent and can be used for forensic determination of escitalopram related cases.
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    Forensic Analysis of 72 Cases with Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome Caused by Traffic Accidents
    WANG Yao-bin, GONG Dao-yin, WANG Li-li
    2020, 36(4): 525-530.  DOI: 10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2020.04.018
    Abstract ( 346 )   PDF (1194KB) ( 1044 )  
    Objective To investigate the epidemiological and forensic characteristics of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome （MODS） after severe trauma and explore the reference indexes for determining traumatic MODS. Methods In terms of the number of organs or systems involved in MODS, the number of failures of each organ or system, the first failing organ and the survival time after organ failure, 72 cases of MODS death caused by traffic accidents were retrospectively analyzed. The cases were divided into two groups according to the mean injury severity score （ISS）. The t test was used to analyze the differences in the number of organs or systems involved in MODS in the two groups. Chi-square test was used to analyze the differences in the types of first failing organs and the differences between the two groups in the number of cases of organ or system failure involved in MODS. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to analyze the differences between the two groups in survival time of MODS after trauma. Kaplan-Meier survival curve was drawn and Log-Rank test was performed. Results The number of MODS involved organs or systems after trauma in ISS≤35 group was 3-5, and 2-4 in the ISS>35 group （P<0.05）. The cases of MODS organ or system failure after trauma occurred more in brain and lung in the two groups. The first failing organ after trauma was mainly the lung or kidney. The median time of first organ failure after trauma was 2.00 d, the median survival time of MODS after trauma in ISS≤35 group was 6.00 d, and 2.33 d in ISS>35 group （P<0.05）. The survival curve of ISS≤35 group was relatively high and declined gradually, while the survival curve of ISS>35 group was relatively low and the decline was steep （P<0.05）. Conclusion The epidemiological and forensic characteristics of MODS caused by traffic accidents have certain specificity. The ISS and the forensic characteristics of MODS at ISS>35 can be used as reliable reference indexes for evaluation of the causal relationship among trauma, MODS and death.
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    Genetic Polymorphism and Forensic Application of 47 Autosomal InDel Loci in 5 Chinese Ethnic Groups
    PAN Xi-yong, LIU Chang-hui, DU Wei-an, et al
    2020, 36(4): 531-537.  DOI: 10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2020.04.019
    Abstract ( 454 )   PDF (1248KB) ( 970 )  
    Objective To investigate the population genetic data of 47 autosomal insertion/deletion （InDel） polymorphism genetic markers involved in AGCU InDel 50 kit in Guangdong Han, Guangxi Zhuang, Guangxi Yao, Guangxi Jing, and Guangxi Mulam, and to evaluate their application in forensic DNA identification. Methods Multiplex amplification of the 768 unrelated individuals from the 5 ethnic groups mentioned above was performed with the AGCU InDel 50 kit. Genotyping was carried out by 3500xL gene analyzer, population genetic parameters were gathered and polymorphism analysis was performed. Results No linkage disequilibrium was found among 47 autosomal InDel loci in the 5 ethnic groups. The distribution of genotype frequency of 47 autosomal InDel loci confirmed to the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in Guangdong Han and Guangxi Zhuang. Except for rs139934789, the other 46 loci confirmed to the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in Guangxi Yao, Guangxi Jing, and Guangxi Mulam. The results of genetic variation analysis among the populations showed that 1.12% of genetic variation was caused by ethnic group differences. The cumulative discrimination power of 47 autosomal InDel loci for the 5 ethnic groups were all above 0.999 999 999 999 999. The cumulative probability of exclusion for each ethnic group was less than 0.999 9. The two Y-InDels were identified in all male individuals and were absent in all female individuals. Conclusion Except for rs139934789, the other 46 InDel loci have a relatively good genetic polymorphism in the 5 Chinese ethnic groups, and can be used for forensic individual identification and as effective supplements for paternity testing.
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    Genetic Structure Analysis of Y Chromosome STR and SNP in Population of Changshu
    TANG Xiao, TIAN Jun-zhe, ZHANG Yi-wei, et al
    2020, 36(4): 538-544.  DOI: 10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2020.04.020
    Abstract ( 356 )   PDF (1346KB) ( 955 )  
    Objective To provide a theoretical basis for building a Y chromosome database in specific regions by analyzing the pedigree specific core haplogroup and region specific genetic structure in Changshu. Methods One thousand seven hundred and two samples from unrelated Han male individuals in Changshu were collected. Then 27 Y-STR were genotyped through YfilerTM Plus PCR Amplification Kit, Y-SNP haplogroup of each sample was speculated using Y-Predictor software and some samples were verified by amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction （ARMS-PCR）. Results A total of 1 556 haplotypes were found on the 27 Y-STR genetic markers of the 1 702 samples. The haplotype diversity （HD） value was 0.999 827. DYS385 （0.933） had the highest gene diversity （GD） value while DYS438 （0.409） had the lowest. By the Y-Predictor software, all samples were confirmed to be from 162 sub-haplogroups of C, D, N, O, Q and R. Samples were randomly selected to verify the prediction results by the software and the prediction accuracy of Y-Predictor software was as high as 95.74%. Conclusion This study found that 27 Y-STR genetic markers have relatively high polymorphisms in the Changshu population, and have good forensic individual identification and paternity testing ability.
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    Research Progress on Multiple Organ Damage and Mechanism of Cantharidin Poisoning
    ZHANG You-you, YU Ya-lei, ZHANG Jie,et al
    2020, 36(4): 545-548.  DOI: 10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2020.04.021
    Abstract ( 495 )   PDF (1130KB) ( 1095 )  
    Cantharidin poisoning has been proven to cause multiple organ damage. Acute circulatory failure, acute renal failure, and multiple organ failure resulting from cantharidin poisoning are the main causes of death for patients with cantharidin poisoning. However, research on the damage of main target organs and mechanism of cantharidin poisoning is not clear. This paper reviews the latest toxicological and pathological research literatures at home and abroad related to cantharidin poisoning and comprehensively summarizes the latest research progress on the toxicological and pathological damage and mechanism of the digestive system, circulatory system, respiratory system, urinary system, reproductive system, skin mucosa, immune system, and nervous system after cantharidin poisoning, to provide reference for improving the molecular toxicological mechanism of cantharidin poisoning and decision-making in the clinical intervention of cantharidin poisoning.
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    Research Progress on the Forensic Age Estimation in Living Individuals Using MRI
    LU Ting, FAN Fei, SHI Lei, et al
    2020, 36(4): 549-558.  DOI: 10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2020.04.022
    Abstract ( 419 )   PDF (1195KB) ( 1086 )  
    One of the major tasks in the forensic field is age estimation in living individuals, especially in adolescents and young adults. The X-ray examination of left hand, panoramic radiograph and CT scan of the sternal end of clavicles are mature means that are widely used. However, the X-ray technique has great radiation on the human body, and imaging radiation for non-diagnosis and treatment purposes does not conform to the current mainstream medical ethics. MRI is nonradioactive tomographic imaging and is one of the research and development directions in forensic age estimation in living individuals now. This paper summarizes the common indicators and analysis methods of MRI in previous research of age estimation, in order to get better understanding of its trends and provide a clue for future relevant studies.
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    DNA Barcode Technology and Its Application Prospects in Forensic Medicine
    WU Jian, GAO Hong-yan, LUO Li, et al
    2020, 36(4): 559-564.  DOI: 10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2020.04.023
    Abstract ( 656 )   PDF (1128KB) ( 1280 )  
    Traditional species identification has gone through five stages -- morphology, cytology, biochemistry, immunology and molecular biology. At present, the use of DNA technology for species identification has become a research hotspot. In the use of DNA for species identification, the presentation and application of DNA barcode is of epoch-making significance. With the successful application of new technology in species identification, forensic species identification has also made corresponding development, and is expected to play an important role in forensic related fields. This paper briefly describes the general situation and principles of DNA barcode technology as well as its advantages and limitations when applied to biological classification, and discusses the future significance and feasibility of DNA barcode technology in forensic applications, in order to provide new ideas for future forensic identification.
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