No abstract

Various forensic techniques are used to identify a human corpse, depending on the circumstances and the state of remains. Unfortunately, the standard forensic identification methods were not sufficient in 30-35% of all victims, therefore DNA identification was necessary. We have found that a forensic autopsy does not always give reliable answers to important questions, for example: What is the amount of time lapsed between the moment of death and the skeletal remains discovery? and What is the age of the deceased? In fact, it could often cause an erroneous identification strategy choice. This paper describes the forensic application of current DNA technology to solve a missing person's case. The disappearance of a 57 year old male was reported in a town in the north of Serbia in August 2017. In January 2018, in that geographical area parts of skeletal remains, remains of clothes and a watch were found and sent to the Institute for Forensic Medicine. The age of the person was estimated to be between 75-80 years, and it was estimated that the remains had been buried for more than 10 years. This report confused the police, because they did not have a missing person of the above description on record. However, the DNA analysis of a bone sample has shown that the remains belong to the 57 year old missing person who disappeared 5 months prior and for whom the son was the reference sample donor. Complete DNA profiles obtained using AmpFℓSTR® Identifiler® Plus, AmpFℓSTR® NGM™, GlobalFiler™, Investigator® 24plex QS kit, AmpFℓSTR® Yfiler® and AmpFlSTR® Yfiler® Plus PCR Amplification kits were a match with the reference sample of the victim's son (probability 99.9995147%). This work has shown that for identification of skeletal remains and solving missing persons cases, the forensic application of the latest DNA technology is of utmost importance.

BACKGROUND: Whiplash injury is one of the most common injuries in traffic accidents. Most of the injured recover within three months, however, a significant number have symptoms much longer. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the basic epidemiological characteristics of whiplash (gender, age, collision type, the type of participants in an accident, clinical signs) on Bosnia and Herzegovina roads and identify risk factors for chronic symptoms. METHODS: The subjects of this retrospective study were traffic accident whiplash patients who were diagnosed, treated and monitored in a single hospital center. The initial examination was performed on the day or the day after the accident and follow-up examinations after four weeks, three months, and six months. RESULTS: Out of the 241 patients in this study, 14.1% had symptoms over six months after the trauma. 54.7% of the injured belong to the third and fourth decade and close to 80% were younger than 50 years. In addition to neck pain, the most common symptoms were limited neck mobility (69.7%), muscle spasms (63.5%), palpable pain of neck muscles (56%), headache (43.6%), nausea (23.7%). Statistical analysis showed a positive impact of age, Quebec Task Force (QTF) grade II, and more injury severity and cervical spine degenerative changes on prolonged recovery. CONCLUSIONS: The overwhelming majority of the injured belong to the working population. QTF2+ score is a useful indicator for prolonged recovery and chronic symptoms. Age, QTF score and degenerative changes of the cervical spine indicate an increased risk for poor recovery and chronic symptoms.

Since the beginning of our work in 2003 our laboratory has focused exclusively on STR DNA from bone, a powerful tool in missing person cases. In cases such as mass disasters or missing persons, human remains are challenging to identify as they may be fragmented, burnt, recovered from water, degraded, and/or contain inhibitory substances. To address these challenges, this study has evaluated the performance of relatively new STR kits Investigator® 24plex QS kit (Qiagen) and GlobalFiler™ PCR Amplification kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific) by comparing it with current uses of the AmpFLSTR® Identifiler® Plus kit (Applied Biosystems) to obtain genetic information from skeletal remains. We analyzed 20 bone samples of skeletal remains from routine casework submitted for body identifications by law enforcement corresponding using Investigator® 24plex QS kit and GlobalFiler™ PCR Amplification kit, previously analysed AmpFLSTR® Identifiler® Plus kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific). The data indicates that the STR profiles obtained using the GlobalFiler™ and Investigator® 24plex QS kit for analysis of skeletal remains has shown results in an increased number of reportable genetic loci, and provide greater power of discrimination in comparison to the Identifiler® Plus Kit. Advanced extraction and purification techniques, together with more sensitive and robust new amplification kits allowed us to overcome the challenges associated with processing compromised skeletal remains and ultimately obtain full STR DNA profiles in 99% of the bones.