Bradley J. Adams

Interobserver variation of selected postcranial skeletal measurements.

Osteometric data are of great importance for analytical purposes in the field of forensic anthropology, and it is critical that interobserver concordance is high in order for the results of these analyses to be reliable. Significant interobserver variation of skeletal measurements is cause for concern since it may result in conflicting conclusions. The range of interobserver variation of selected postcranial measurements is addressed. Thirteen standard measurements familiar to most forensic anthropologists were examined, as well as nine nonstandard measurements that were unfamiliar to most participants in the study. Sixty-eight individuals participated in the study, the majority of whom considered themselves to be forensic anthropologists with various levels of experience. In general, interobserver variation of the tested standard postcranial measurements was found to be minimal, with the exception of pubis length and subtrochanteric femur measurements. The difficulties that can lead to measurement error are discussed and possible solutions are recommended.

Modulation of Pulmonary Leukotriene B4 Production by Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitors and Lipopolysaccharide

Purpose: Emerging data continue to link carcinogenesis to inflammatory events involving the eicosanoid metabolic pathways. We therefore evaluated the effects of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibition on leukotriene (LT) B4 synthesis in the lungs of active smokers, as part of a pilot lung cancer chemoprevention study with celecoxib (Celebrex), an oral COX-2 inhibitor. Experimental Design: Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed before celecoxib treatment and after 1 month of celecoxib treatment to recover alveolar macrophages (AMs) and lining fluid for study. After harvest, AMs were immediately stimulated in vitro with the calcium ionophore A23187. AMs obtained from smokers before treatment and from ex-smoker control subjects were also cultured overnight with SC58236, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, with or without lipopolysaccharide stimulation. Results: Treatment with oral celecoxib only modestly increased LTB4 levels in bronchoalveolar lavage, without increasing the mRNA transcription of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) or 5-LOX-activating protein in AMs, whereas the acute calcium ionophore-stimulated LTB4 production from smokers’ AMs was markedly increased by 10.6-fold. In addition, smokers’ AMs were twice as responsive in producing LTB4 when exposed to lipopolysaccharide compared with ex-smokers’ AMs. Concomitant COX-2 inhibition with SC58236, however, did not significantly impact these changes, whereas the 5-LOX inhibitor Zileuton blocked the generation of LTB4 in a dose-responsive manner. Finally, cycloheximide increased the production of LTB4 under all conditions, suggesting a shunting phenomenon and/or the presence of pathway inhibitors. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that whereas oral celecoxib is capable of modulating LTB4 production in the lung microenvironment, under physiologic conditions, this effect is probably not functionally significant.

Recovery, analysis, and identification of commingled human remains

Methodology in Commingling Analysis: An Historical Overview Douglas Ubelaker Spatial Analysis of Mass Grave Mapping Data to Assist in the Reassociation of Disarticulated and Commingled Human Remains Hugh Tuller, Ute Hofmeister, Sharna Daley Pieces of the Puzzle: F.B.I. Evidence Response Team Approaches to Scenes with Commingled Evidence Gary Reinecke and Michael Hochrein Commingled Remains and Human Rights Investigations: Challenges from the Field Sofia Egana, Silvan Turner, Mercedes Doretti, Patricia Bernardi, and Anahi Ginarte Anthropological Investigations of the Tri-State Crematorium Incident Dawnie Wolfe Steadman, Kris Sperry, Frederick Snow, Laura Fulginiti, and Emily Craig Approaches to Commingling Issues in Archeological Samples: A Case Study from Roman-Era Tombs in Greece Douglas Ubelaker and Joseph Rife Anthropologist Directed Triage: Three Distinct Mass Fatality Events Involving Fragmentation of Human Remains Amy Mundorff The Use of Radiology in Mass Fatality Events Mark Viner Detection of Commingling in Cremated Human Remains Michael Warren Models And Methods for Osteometric Sorting John Byrd Patterns of Epiphyseal Union and Their Use in the Detection and Sorting of Commingled Remains Maureen Schaefer How Many People? Determining the Number of Individuals Represented by Commingled Human Remains Bradley Adams and Lyle Konigsberg Assessment of Commingled Human Remains Using a GIS Based Approach Nicholas Herrmann and Joanne Bennett Devlin The Application of Traditional Anthropological Methods in a DNA-Led Identification Process Laura Yazedjian and Rifat Kesetovic Marrying Anthropology and DNA: Essential for Solving Complex Commingling Problems in Cases of Extreme Fragmentation Amy Mundorff, Robert Shaler, Erik Bieschke,and Elaine Mar-Cash Sorting and Identifying Commingled Remains of U.S. War Dead: The Collaborative Roles of JPAC and AFDIL Franklin Damann and Suni Edson Resolving Commingling Issues during the Medicolegal Investigation of Mass Fatality Incidents Elias Kontanis and Paul Sledzik Data Management and Commingled Remains at Mass Fatality Incidents (MFIs) Michael Hennessey

Celecoxib Decreases Ki-67 Proliferative Index in Active Smokers

Purpose: This study evaluated the feasibility of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibition for lung cancer chemoprevention. We hypothesized that treatment with oral Celecoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, would favorably alter the biomarkers of lung cancer risk as measured by the Ki-67 proliferative labeling index (Ki-67 LI). Experimental Design: Twenty active heavy smokers were enrolled into a pilot study and treated with Celecoxib for 6 months. Bronchoscopies with bronchial biopsies were done before and after 6 months of Celecoxib treatment. H&E stain for histologic grading and immunohistochemical examination for Ki-67 LI, COX-2, and survivin were carried out on serially matched biopsy samples to determine responses to treatment. Results: Treatment with Celecoxib significantly reduced Ki-67 LI in smokers by 35% (P = 0.016), and increased the expression of nuclear survivin by 23% (P = 0.036) without significantly changing that of cytoplasmic survivin. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that oral Celecoxib may be capable of modulating the proliferation indices and apoptotic balance in bronchial tissue of active smokers.

Estimation of Living Stature from Selected Anthropometric (Soft Tissue) Measurements: Applications for Forensic Anthropology

Abstract:  Estimation of living stature has obvious utility in the identification process. Typically, anthropologists estimate stature from the measurement of long bone length. This type of analysis is traditionally conducted on skeletonized or badly decomposed remains, so collection of the necessary bone measurements is relatively simple. As the role of anthropologists expands into medical examiner offices and mass fatality incidents, the analysis of fleshed bodies and body parts is a more common scenario. For stature estimation in these types of cases (e.g., analysis of body portions recovered from an aircraft crash site or from intentional dismemberment), the presence of soft tissue on the human remains would usually necessitate dissection to expose skeletal elements to derive metric data for stature estimation. In order to circumvent this step, this paper provides various formulae that allow for standard anthropometric (i.e., soft tissue) measurements to be used in place of skeletal measurements. Data were compiled from several anthropometric studies (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey [NHANES] and U.S. Army Anthropometric Survey [ANSUR]) and numerous regression models are presented. Results are compared between skeletal measurements and the anthropometric measurements from each study. It was found that the ANSUR models are similar to the skeletal models, while the NHANES models exhibit weaker correlation coefficients and higher standard errors. Overall, this study finds that stature estimates derived from anthropometric data provide good results and remove the necessity for dissection when working with fleshed body portions.

How Many People? Determining the Number of Individuals Represented by Commingled Human Remains

Much of the literature that deals with various quantification techniques comes from faunal analysis. Generally, these techniques have two goals when working with animal remains. The first is to quantify the deposited/recovered faunal assemblage and from this data extrapolate information about past hominid behavior. The results of such studies attempt to draw conclusions concerning human diet, animal procurement strategies, and predator–prey relationships (Lyman 1987). The second goal is directed toward quantifying the recovered faunal assemblage in order to reconstruct the living community of animals. The results of these types of studies attempt to draw conclusions concerning faunal turnover and succession, reconstruction of paleoenvironmental conditions, and geographic faunal patterns (Lyman 1987). When working with commingled human remains, the goal of quantification is obviously to estimate the total number of dead, and many of the techniques developed for faunal analysis are not appropriate. Two exceptions are the Minimum Number of Individuals (MNI) and the Lincoln Index (LI). In paleodemographic studies, estimation of the number of individuals is critical for the interpretation of past cultures, while in the forensic context it is vital for the identification process and for possible criminal trials. With few exceptions, the extent of discussions concerning commingled human remains revolves almost exclusively around the MNI. Certainly, one of the reasons for the popularity of the MNI is due to the ease of its calculation. Another reason is that most physical anthropologists are not familiar with other options. Recent research has shown that the Lincoln Index (LI) is a viable option for dealing with human remains and is not significantly more complicated than the MNI in its calculation (Adams 1996). A more statistically accurate modification of the LI has been presented called the Most Likely Number of Individuals, or MLNI (Adams and Konigsberg 2004). These alternatives to the MNI provide physical anthropologists with more analytical power when dealing with commingled remains. The key difference between the MNI and the LI or MLNI is that both the LI and MLNI estimate the original number of individuals represented by the osteological assemblage, while the MNI only estimates the recovered assemblage. In cases of taphonomic

Radiographic identification using the clavicle of an individual missing from the Vietnam conflict.

A case is reported in which radiographic comparison of a clavicle was used to establish the identification of a civilian missing from the Vietnam conflict. While the use of radiographic comparison of skeletal features is not a newly developed technique for personal identification purposes, this case outlines a unique set of circumstances surrounding the disappearance of an individual during the Vietnam conflict and his eventual identification. A radiographic comparison of a right clavicle was critical in the identification process of this individual almost 34 years after he was reported missing. The use of digital technology for radiographic comparison greatly facilitated the process.

The Utility of Forensic Anthropology in the Medical Examiner's Office

Over the past few decades, the field of forensic anthropology has seen major advancements and experienced a considerable growth of professionals in medical examiner/coroner offices. Despite this expansion, misconceptions regarding the role and utility of the anthropologist in the medicolegal setting still exist. This article brings together practitioners employed full-time in four medical examiners offices, with each practitioner providing a unique perspective and emphasis regarding their role as an anthropologist. Discussed is the history of the anthropology division in each office as well as the types of casework and ancillary duties completed by the anthropologists. Consistently, the anthropologists are involved in the search and recovery of human remains, managing long-term unidentified cases, facilitating disposition of unclaimed decedents, and developing mass disaster protocols for their respective agency. Also consistent across the four offices is the fact that the anthropologists receive far more consult requests for trauma evaluation of nonskeletonized cases than any other type of case.

Computerized Dental Comparison: A Critical Review of Dental Coding and Ranking Algorithms Used in Victim Identification.

Comparison of antemortem and postmortem dental records is a leading method of victim identification, especially for incidents involving a large number of decedents. This process may be expedited with computer software that provides a ranked list of best possible matches. This study provides a comparison of the most commonly used conventional coding and sorting algorithms used in the United States (WinID3) with a simplified coding format that utilizes an optimized sorting algorithm. The simplified system consists of seven basic codes and utilizes an optimized algorithm based largely on the percentage of matches. To perform this research, a large reference database of approximately 50,000 antemortem and postmortem records was created. For most disaster scenarios, the proposed simplified codes, paired with the optimized algorithm, performed better than WinID3 which uses more complex codes. The detailed coding system does show better performance with extremely large numbers of records and/or significant body fragmentation.

Trends in United States Mass Fatality Incidents and Recommendations for Medical Examiners and Coroners

It is imperative that medicolegal jurisdictions prepare for the occurrence of a mass fatality incident. Despite the trend to plan for catastrophic and complicated incidents, this analysis of recent mass fatality events seeks to better inform authorities regarding the scale and types of incidents that could potentially impact their jurisdiction. The guidance provided by this study serves as a tool to guide the development of plans, acquisition of appropriate resources, and training of staff. To perform this analysis, data were collected from mass fatality incidents occurring in the United States from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2016 that resulted in ten or more fatalities. Specific data points were collected for each incident including the date, location, number of fatalities, incident type (e.g., man-made or natural), incident subtype, and description (e.g., mass shooting, hurricane, aviation). A total of 137 incidents fit the criteria for inclusion in the analysis, resulting in a total of 8462 fatalities. The average number of incidents was eight per year during the study period. The analysis demonstrates that most mass fatality incidents (88.8%) result in between ten and 50 fatalities and are variable based on incident type and geographic location. This study includes several large-scale incidents, which as outliers have influenced fatality management operations and preparedness efforts on a national level. In particular, the World Trade Center attack of September 11, 2001 and subsequent remains recovery and identification operations have served to inform the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner of the capabilities required to manage a complex, protracted victim identification process involving extensive body fragmentation and commingling. While the World Trade Center attack has been shown to be outside the normal trends of mass fatality incidents, it has nonetheless offered the medicolegal community several invaluable lessons.