Sueshige Seta

Classification system of frontal sinus patterns by radiography. Its application to identification of unknown skeletal remains

Frontal sinuses of Japanese skulls were radiographically examined from the view point of identifying individuals. The system of classification of sinus was proposed, basing on the area size, the bilateral asymmetry, the superiority of side, the outline of upper borders, the partial septa and the supraorbital cells. Frontal sinus patterns could be divided into above 20,000 possible combinations by combining the class numbers in each classification item described above. The frontal sinus pattern of a given person was formulated as a code number which was determined by arranging the class numbers in each classification item as serial numbers. This identification system by the frontal sinus pattern should allow one to characterize each person. The application of this identification system to an actual criminal case was also described.

The modified method of two-step differential extraction of sperm and vaginal epithelial cell DNA from vaginal fluid mixed with semen

This investigation was undertaken as an efficient method for isolating sperm DNA from a mixed fluid sample which contains vaginal epithelial cells in a greater amount. The modified method of the two-step differential extraction procedure was found to be suitable for separating sperm DNA and vaginal epithelial cell DNA from the mixed stains. As the first step of digestion, vaginal epithelial cells in the mixed stains were lysed with Proteinase K and SDS, and sperm heads remaining in the lysed solution were collected by centrifugation. As the second step digestion, the sperm heads were lysed with the buffer containing Proteinase K, SDS and DTT as reducing agent. DNA fractions extracted from the two lysed solutions were enriched, one with sperm DNA and the other with vaginal epithelial cell DNA. MCT118(D1S80), ApoB VNTR and HLADQ alpha types of sperm DNA were detected and were confirmed by matching with corresponding male blood DNA. In the case of vaginal secretion mixed with semen of two males, the mixture of MCT118 types of the two males was detected in sperm DNA fraction.

Microscopical study on estimation of time since death in skeletal remains

For the purpose of estimating time since death in skeletal remains, postmortem changes in human compact bones were examined by microradiography and electron microscopy. The UV-fluorescence of the peripheral zone of compact bone was also examined by microscopic spectrophotometry. Microradiographic examination revealed no morphological changes in bones left in the open air for long periods, except one of 15 years since death. In bones left in the soil, vacuoles of 5-10 microns diameter, which contained a honeycomb-like structure formed by small vacuoles of 0.5-1 microns diameter, were found in the peripheral zone of the substantia compacta approximately 5 years since death, and in bones of 6 years or more, this change extended to the mid-zone. In bones left in the sea for 4-5 years, vacuoles of 5-10 microns diameter were observed in the outer peripheral zone of the substantia compacta. The relative intensity of UV-fluorescence in bones dwindled with time since death and the correlation coefficient was considerably high.

Histological estimation of age at death using microradiographs of humeral compact bone

The purpose of this study is to develop an age estimating method for skeletal remains using microradiographs of compact bone. Compact bones of the humerus were collected from 40 Japanese males ranging from 23 to 80 years of age. Microradiographs taken from cross-sections were histomorphometrically examined by using an image analyzer. Histological parameters used in this study included 10 items, that is, osteon number, double-zoned osteon number, type II osteon number, low-density osteon number, osteon fragment number, resorption space number, total and average osteon area, and total and average Haversian canal area. The osteon fragment number showed the highest correlation coefficient with advancing age (r = 0.786). The measurement data obtained from 10 histological parameters were subjected to multiple regression analysis for producing multiple regression equations for age estimation. In practice, 8 histological parameters were selected for the equation and its multiple correlation coefficient and standard error of estimate were 0.903 and 6.1, respectively.

Evaluation of anatomical consistency in craniofacial superimposition images

Using 52 skulls in forensic cases, the anatomical consistency of cranio-facial superimposition images was investigated for evaluating the validity in personal identification by the superimposition method. In 35 out of 52 cases the unknown skull was positively identified as the missing person by matching of the outline and anatomical relation in skull and face images taken from frontal, oblique and lateral directions. The unknown skull in two cases was exclusive of the presumed person since the outline of the skull was not anatomically consistent with that of the face. In the remaining 15 cases, the skull in question was examined using only a frontal face photograph of the missing person and matched with it because of the lack of other photographs taken from different angles, giving a probable identification. From our practical examination, it is stated that the outline from the trichion to the gnathion in the lateral or oblique view is the preferable portion for personal identification, and the cranio-facial super-imposition method is reliable for individualization when two or more facial photographs taken from different angles are used in the examination.

Impurity profiling analysis of methamphetamine seized in Japan

Abstract Impurity profiling analysis of methamphetamine seized in Japan has been investigated. The samples are extracted with ethyl acetate under basic conditions and the extracts are analyzed by capillary gas chromatography. The resultant profiles are compared and statistically analyzed using the Euclidian distance for evaluating similarity and/or dissimilarity among exhibits. The peak identification for comparison analysis and calculation of the distance are made automatically using commercially available software. These computerized procedures enabled us to compare profiles obtained in different laboratories and to develop a database on a national base.

Analysis of inorganic impurities in seized methamphetamine samples

Abstract Classification of seized methamphetamine by impurity profiling can provide very useful information on drug intelligence. In this report, the validity of inorganic impurity analysis in discriminating seized methamphetamine samples in Japan was investigated using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Triplicate sampling was carried out on 17 methamphetamine samples seized in Japan. About 20 mg of methamphetamine was taken, and was dissolved in 20 ml of water. After the qualitative analysis, Ba, Sb, Pd, Sr, Br, Zn and Cu were determined by ICP-MS, and Na was determined by AAS. Among eight elements determined in this study, most cations showed large heterogeneity in their content. On the other hand, the contents of Na which is abundant in methamphetamine samples, showed relatively small intra-sample variation, and that of Br also showed good homogeneity. On the basis of the concentration of Br and Na, 17 seized methamphetamine samples were classified into five groups. Trace elements such as Tl, Hg, Au or Cs were qualitatively detected by ICP-MS. These elements can provide useful information to impurity profiling of seized methamphetamine, because these elements are characteristically present in each sample. Application of ICP-MS and AAS to the analysis of inorganic impurities can be helpful in giving additional information to the impurity profiling of seized methamphetamine by organic impurity analysis.

Evaluation of new primers for CSF1PO

We describe new primers for the detection of the STR polymorphism at the CSF1PO locus. These primers have been designed to produce shorter amplicons (150–182 bp) than the primers in standard use (295–327 bp). The reliability of the new primers for CSF1PO typing has been demonstrated by testing on known samples and by sequence analysis. These primers are superior to the original primers with regard to electrophoretic resolution and utility for typing of severely degraded DNA.

Forensic Hair Investigation

The ultimate purpose of forensic hair comparison is to state whether a crime scene hair is of victim origin or of suspect origin. Many hair investigators have seriously devoted themselves to establishing individualizing characteristics, mainly based on morphological examinations. However, there has been a general consensus that it will never be possible to identify a hair definitely to a particular person, even in the case of hair samples showing peculiar morphology. The enhancement of the identification probalitity has been a main interest of many hair investigators. In a current situation of forensic hair comparison the accumulation of all available information for characterizing a hair is most desirable. Morphological examination should always be considered as the first step of forensic hair comparison. Analytical examinations can now be expected to give useful information due to the rapid progress of analytical instruments. Thus, a combination of morphological and analytical data can lead to the enhancement of identification probability. With this in mind, the progress of morphological examination as the traditional approach in the context of forensic hair examination is discussed. Then, the elemental analysis in the investigation of hair is reviewed. A new approach to forensic hair comparison is hair protein analysis. The current situation is described together with instrumental chemical analyses of hair, and the effective application of these techniques to forensic hair comparison is demonstrated. Moreover, the analysis of hair root isozymes is reviewed.

Sex and Age Determination of the Japanese Wild Boar (Sus scrofa leucomystax) by the Lower Teeth

本研究の目的は, ニホンイノシシの年令と性の判定基準を作成することである. 材料として, 飼育イノシシ8例と丹波産野生イノシシ122例の頭蓋標本を用い, 歯牙の肉眼および組織学的観察をおこなった. 結果は以下の5点に要約される. 1. 歯牙の萌出と咬耗の程度によって, 12月に捕獲された89例の野生イノシシ頭蓋標本は5年令群に区分された. 2. 下顎第一後臼歯の歯根岐部の象牙およびセメント質に形成ざれる年輪によって, 上記の5年令群は7力月令およびそれに1年ずつ加算した年令に対応することが確認された. 3. 年輪を構成する広帯と薄帯のうち,後者のCa含量が高いことが認められた. 4. 年令が明らかな8例の飼育イノシシ頭蓋標本における歯牙の萌出は, 野生イノシシの歯牙の萌出と一致するものであった. 5. 解剖所見によって性別が明らかな122例の頭蓋標本を用いて性判別の基準を求めた. その結果, 下顎犬歯の冠部と頚部の計測によって, Age class II (生後19～20カ月令)以降の頭蓋標本は, 100%の的中率で性の判別が可能となった. また下顎体犬歯部のX線撮影によって, 生後6力月令の性判別ができることが明らかになった.