搜索结果：Forensic science, medicine, and pathology

This review article aims to highlight the current possibilities for applying Artificial Intelligence in modern forensic medicine and forensic dentistry and present the advantages and disadvantages of its use. For this purpose, the relevant academic literature was searched using PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus. The application of Artificial Intelligence in forensic medicine and forensic dentistry is still in its early stages. However, the possibilities are great, and the future will show what is applicable in daily practice. Artificial Intelligence will improve the accuracy and efficiency of work in forensic medicine and forensic dentistry; it can automate some tasks; and enhance the quality of evidence. Disadvantages of the application of Artificial Intelligence may be related to discrimination, transparency, accountability, privacy, security, ethics and others. Artificial Intelligence systems should be used as a support tool, not as a replacement for forensic experts.

CONTENTS: Accident Investigation (a) Aircraft. Accident Investigation (b) Motor vehicle (including biomechanics of injuries). Accident Investigation (c) Rail. Accident Investigation (d) Reconstruction. Accident Investigation (e) Airbag related injuries and deaths. Accident Investigation (f) Determination of cause. Accident Investigation (g) Driver versus passenger in motor vehicle collisions. Accident Investigation (h) Tachographs. Accreditation of Forensic Science Laboratories. Administration of Forensic Science (a) An international perspective. Administration of Forensic Science (b) Organisation of laboratories. Alcohol (a) Blood. Alcohol (b) Body fluids. Alcohol (c) Breath. Alcohol (d) Post-mortem. Alcohol (e) Interpretation. CONTENTS: Alcohol (f) Congener analysis. Analytical Techniques (a) Separation techniques. Analytical Techniques (b) Microscopy. Analytical Techniques (c) Spectroscopy. Analytical Techniques (d) Mass spectrometry. Anthropology: Archaeology. Anthropology: Skeletal Analysis (a) Overview. Anthropology: Skeletal Analysis (b) Morphological age estimation. Anthropology: Skeletal Analysis (c) Sex determination. Anthropology: Skeletal Analysis (d) Determination of racial affinity. Anthropology: Skeletal Analysis (e) Excavation/retrieval of forensic remains. Anthropology: Skeletal Analysis (f) Bone pathology and ante-mortem trauma in forensic cases. Anthropology: Skeletal Analysis (g) Skeletal trauma. Anthropology: Skeletal Analysis (h) Animal effects on human remains. Anthropology: Skeletal Analysis (i) Assessment of occupational stress. Anthropology: Skeletal Analysis (j) Stature estimation from the skeleton. Art and Antique Forgery and Fraud. Autoerotic Death. Basic Principles of Forensic Science. Biochemical Analysis (a) Capillary electrophoresis in forensic science. Biochemical Analysis (b) Capillary electrophoresis in forensic biology. Blood Identification. Blood Stain Pattern Analysis and Interpretation. Causes of Death (a) Post-mortem changes. Causes of Death (b) Sudden natural death. Causes of Death (c) Blunt injury. Causes of Death (d) Sharp injury. Causes of Death (e) Gunshot wounds. Causes of Death (f) Asphyctic deaths. Causes of Death (g) Burns and scalds. Causes of Death (h) Traffic deaths. Causes of Death (i) Systemic response to trauma. Causes of Death (j) Poisonings. Cheiloscopy. Clinical Forensic Medicine (a) Overview. Clinical Forensic Medicine (b) Defence wounds. Clinical Forensic Medicine (c) Self-inflicted injury. Clinical Forensic Medicine (d) Child abuse. Clinical Forensic Medicine (e) Sexual assault and semen persistence. Clinical Forensic Medicine (f) Evaluation of gunshot wounds. Clinical Forensic Medicine (g) Recognition of pattern injuries in domestic violence victims. Computer Crime. Credit Cards: Forgery and Fraud. Crime-Scene Investigation and Examination (a) Recording. Crime-Scene Investigation and Examination (b) Collection and chain of evidence. Crime-Scene Investigation and Examination (c) Recovery. Crime-Scene Investigation and Examination (d) Packaging. Crime-Scene Investigation and Examination (e) Preservation. Crime-Scene Investigation and Examination (f) Contamination. Crime-Scene Investigation and Examination (g) Fingerprints. Crime-Scene Investigation and Examination (h) Suspicious deaths. Crime-Scene Investigation and Examination (i) Major incident scene management. Crime-Scene Investigation and Examination (j) Serial and series crimes. Crime-Scene Investigation and Examination (k) Scene analysis/reconstruction. Crime-Scene Investigation and Examination (l) Criminal analysis. Crime-Scene Investigation and Examination (m) Decomposing and skeletonized cases. Criminal Profiling. Criminalistics. Detection of Deception. Disaster Victim Identification. DNA (a) Basic principles. DNA (b) RFLP. DNA (c) PCR. DNA (d) PCR-STR. DNA (e) Future analytical techniques. DNA (f) Paternity testing. DNA (g) Significance. DNA (h) Mitochondrial. Document Analysis (a) Handwriting. Document Analysis (b) Analytical methods. Document Analysis (c) Forgery and counterfeits. Document Analysis (d) Ink analysis. Document Analysis (e) Printer types. Document Analysis (f) Document dating. Drugs of Abuse (a) Blood. Drugs of Abuse (b) Body fluids. Drugs of Abuse (c) Ante-mortem. Drugs of Abuse (d) Post-mortem. Drugs of Abuse (e) Drugs and driving. Drugs of Abuse (f) Urine. Drugs of Abuse (g) Hair. Drugs of Abuse (h) Methods of analysis. Drugs of Abuse (i) Designer drugs. Dust. Ear Prints. Education, An International Perspective. Electronic Communication and Information. Entomology. Ethics. Evidence (a) Classification of evidence. Evidence (b)The philosophy of sequential analysis. Evidence (c) Statistical interpretation of evidence/Bayesian analysis. Expert Witnesses, Qualifications and Testimony. Explosives, Methods of Analysis. Facial Identification (a) The lineup, mugshot search and composite. Facial Identification (b) Photo image identification. Facial Identification (c) Computerized facial reconstruction. Facial Identification (d) Skull-photo superimposition. Facial Identification (e) Facial tissue thickness in facial reconstruction. Fibres (a) Types. Fibres (b) Transfer and persistence. Fibres (c) Recovery. Fibres (d) Identification and comparison. Fibres (e) Significance. Fingerprints (Dactyloscopy) (a) Visualisation. Fingerprints (Dactyloscopy) (b) Sequential treatment and enhancement. Fingerprints (Dactyloscopy) (c) Identification and classification. Fingerprints (Dactyloscopy) (d) Standards of proof. Fingerprints (Dactyloscopy) (e) Chemistry of print residue. Fire Investigation (a) Types of fire. Fire Investigation (b) Physics/Thermodynamics. Fire Investigation (c) Chemistry of fire. Fire Investigation (d) The fire scene. Fire Investigation (e) Evidence recovery. Fire Investigation (f) Fire scene patterns. Fire Investigation (g) The laboratory. Firearms (a) Types of weapons and ammunitions. Firearms (b) Range and penetration. Firearms (c) CS Gas. Firearms (df) Humane killing tools. Firearms (e) Laboratory analysis. Forensic Anthropology. Forensic Engineering. Forensic Nursing. Forensic Psycholinguistics. Forensic Toxicology (a) Overview. Forensic Toxicology (b) Methods of analysis - ante-mortem. Forensic Toxicology (c) Methods of analysis - post-mortem. Forensic Toxicology (d) Interpretation of results. Forensic Toxicology (e) Inhalants. Forensic Toxicology (f) Equine drug testing. Forgery and Fraud (a) Overview (including counterfeit currency). Forgery and Fraud (b) Auditing and accountancy. Gas Chromatography, Methodology in Forensic Sciences. Genetics (a) Serology. Genetics (b) DNA - statistical probability. Glass. Hair (a) Background. Hair (b) Hair transfer, persistence and recovery. Hair (c) Identification of human and animal hair. Hair (d) Microscopic comparison. Hair (e) Other comparison methods. Hair (f) Significance of hair evidence. Hair (g) DNA typing. Health and Safety (including Risk Assessment). History (a) Crime scene sciences. History (b) Fingerprint sciences. Identification/Individualization, Overview and Meaning. Investigative Psychology. Legal Aspects of Forensic Science. Lie Detection (Polygraph). Literature and the Forensic Sciences (a) Resources. Literature and the Forensic Sciences (b) Fiction. Microchemistry. Modus Operandi. Odontology. Offender Signature. Paints and Coatings: Commercial, Domestic and Automotive. Pathology (a) Overview. Pathology (b) Victim recovery. Pathology (c) Autopsy. Pathology (d) Preservation of evidence. Pathology (e) Post-mortem changes. Pathology (f) Post-mortem interval. Pattern Evidence (a) Footmarks (footwear). Pattern Evidence (b) Footmarks (bare footprints). Pattern Evidence (c) Shotgun ammunition on a target. Pattern Evidence (d) Tools. Pattern Evidence (e) Plastic bag striations. Pattern Evidence (f) Serial number. Pharmacology. Post-Mortem Examination, Procedures and Standards. Psychological Autopsies. Psychology and Psychiatry (a) Overview. Psychology and Psychiatry (b) Psychiatry. Psychology and Psychiatry (c) Psychology. Quality Assurance/Control. Serial Killing. Soil and Geology. Stalking. Statistical Interpretation of Evidence. Time Factor Analysis. Voice Analysis. Wildlife. Wood Analysis.

Part I. Two Sciences, One Objective Introduction to Forensic Anthropology Douglas H. Ubelaker Introduction to Forensic Medicine and Pathology Joao Pinheiro Forensic Anthropology and Forensic Pathology: The State of the Art Eugenia Cunha and Cristina Cattaneo Part II. Aging Living Young Individuals Biological vs Legal Age of Living Individuals Francesco Introna and Carlo P. Campobasso Part III. Pathophysiology of Death and Forensic Investigation: From Recovery to the Cause of Death Decay Process of a Cadaver Joao Pinheiro Understanding the Circumstances of Decomposition When the Body Is Skeletonized Henri Duday and Mark Guillon Forensic Investigation of Corpses in Various States of Decomposition: A Multidisciplinary Approach Joao Pinheiro and Eugenia Cunha Identification and Differential Diagnosis of Traumatic Lesions of the Skeleton Conrado Rodriguez-Martin Part IV. Biological Identity Methodology and Reliability of Sex Determination From the Skeleton Jaroslav Bruzek and Pascal Murail Age Assessment of Child Skeletal Remains in Forensic Contexts Mary E. Lewis and Ambika Flavel Determination of Adult Age at Death in the Forensic Context Eric Baccino and Aurore Schmitt Is It Possible to Escape Racial Typology in Forensic Identification? John Albanese and Shelley R. Saunders Estimation and Evidence in Forensic Anthropology: Determining Stature Lyle W. Konigsberg, Ann H. Ross, and William L. Jungers Pathology as a Factor of Personal Identity in Forensic Anthropology Eugenia Cunha Personal Identification of Cadavers and Human Remains Cristina Cattaneo, Danilo De Angelis, Davide Porta, and Marco Grandi Part V. Particular Contexts: Crimes Against Humanity and MassDisasters Forensic Investigations Into the Missing: Recommendations and Operational Best Practices Morris Tidball-Binz Crimes Against Humanity Dario M. Olmo Mass Disasters Cristina Cattaneo, Danilo De Angelis, and Marco Grandi Index

Pathology, a cornerstone of medical diagnostics and research, is undergoing a revolutionary transformation fueled by digital technology, molecular biology advancements, and big data analytics. Digital pathology converts conventional glass slides into high-resolution digital images, enhancing collaboration and efficiency among pathologists worldwide. Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) algorithms with digital pathology improves diagnostic accuracy, particularly in complex diseases like cancer. Molecular pathology, facilitated by next-generation sequencing (NGS), provides comprehensive genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic insights into disease mechanisms, guiding personalized therapies. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) plays a pivotal role in biomarker discovery, refining disease classification and prognostication. Precision medicine integrates pathology's molecular findings with individual genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors to customize treatment strategies, optimizing patient outcomes. Telepathology extends diagnostic services to underserved areas through remote digital pathology. Pathomics leverages big data analytics to extract meaningful insights from pathology images, advancing our understanding of disease pathology and therapeutic targets. Virtual autopsies employ non-invasive imaging technologies to revolutionize forensic pathology. These innovations promise earlier diagnoses, tailored treatments, and enhanced patient care. Collaboration across disciplines is essential to fully realize the transformative potential of these advancements in medical practice and research.

BACKGROUND: The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into various fields has ushered in a new era of multidisciplinary progress. Defined as the ability of a system to interpret external data, learn from it, and adapt to specific tasks, AI is poised to revolutionize the world. In forensic medicine and pathology, algorithms play a crucial role in data analysis, pattern recognition, anomaly identification, and decision making. This review explores the diverse applications of AI in forensic medicine, encompassing fields such as forensic identification, ballistics, traumatic injuries, postmortem interval estimation, forensic toxicology, and more. RESULTS: A thorough review of 113 articles revealed a subset of 32 papers directly relevant to the research, covering a wide range of applications. These included forensic identification, ballistics and additional factors of shooting, traumatic injuries, post-mortem interval estimation, forensic toxicology, sexual assaults/rape, crime scene reconstruction, virtual autopsy, and medical act quality evaluation. The studies demonstrated the feasibility and advantages of employing AI technology in various facets of forensic medicine and pathology. CONCLUSIONS: The integration of AI in forensic medicine and pathology offers promising prospects for improving accuracy and efficiency in medico-legal practices. From forensic identification to post-mortem interval estimation, AI algorithms have shown the potential to reduce human subjectivity, mitigate errors, and provide cost-effective solutions. While challenges surrounding ethical considerations, data security, and algorithmic correctness persist, continued research and technological advancements hold the key to realizing the full potential of AI in forensic applications. As the field of AI continues to evolve, it is poised to play an increasingly pivotal role in the future of forensic medicine and pathology.

Forensic nurse examiners (FNE) are becoming integral partners in contemporary medicolegal systems worldwide. Existing forensic services have been proven inadequate to sufficiently address the vast crimes against women and children, victims of sexual and domestic violence, sociocultural crimes, abusive religious rituals, and atrocities that accompany armed conflict. Considering that nurses comprise the largest group of healthcare providers worldwide, forensic nurse examiners represent a previously unrecognized resource in universal healthcare and embody an ideal group to advance international considerations in global healthcare and social justice. Although specific legal concerns within the healthcare communities vary from country to country, all nations struggle with issues of public health and safety. A comprehensive multidisciplinary forensic education and training program for nurses will facilitate improved management of existing interpersonal and sexual violence crises while reducing an unnecessary back log of cases for forensic physicians. The addition of a forensic specialist in nursing science will provide a valuable resource to assist in the substantiation of prosecutors’ claims or aid in the exoneration of suspects who are falsely accused. Their unique contributions increase coordination and cooperation, share medical/forensic expertise, enhance the care of victims of crimes while augmenting forensic services, and act as a liaison in applicable responsibilities between healthcare institutions and law enforcement agencies. The relevant literature indicates that once the Forensic Nurse Examiner Response Team is trained, specialists in forensic nursing science practice independently under the auspices of a Director of Clinical Forensic Medicine or Chief Medical Examiner. This new generation of health and justice professionals will produce affirmative outcomes where the science of forensic nursing is practiced. The positive treatment of victims of gender based crime, an increase in successful prosecution, and the assurance of best specimens in evidence recovery will provide confidence in the community at large that justice has been served through these combined forensic services...medicine, nursing and the law.

The advancement of technology and its developments have provided the forensic sciences with many cutting-edge tools, devices, and applications, allowing forensics a better and more accurate understanding of the crime scene, a better and optimal acquisition of data and information, and faster processing, allowing more reliable conclusions to be obtained and substantially improving the scientific investigation of crime. This article describes the technological advances, their impacts, and the challenges faced by forensic specialists in using and implementing these technologies as tools to strengthen their field and laboratory investigations. The systematic review of the scientific literature used the PRISMA® methodology, analyzing documents from databases such as SCOPUS, Web of Science, Taylor & Francis, PubMed, and ProQuest. Studies were selected using a Cohen Kappa coefficient of 0.463. In total, 63 reference articles were selected. The impact of technology on investigations by forensic science experts presents great benefits, such as a greater possibility of digitizing the crime scene, allowing remote analysis through extended reality technologies, improvements in the accuracy and identification of biometric characteristics, portable equipment for on-site analysis, and Internet of things devices that use artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques. These alternatives improve forensic investigations without diminishing the investigator’s prominence and responsibility in the resolution of cases.

A number of initiatives are underway in the United States in response to the 2009 critique of forensic science by a National Academy of Sciences committee. This article provides a broad review of activities including efforts of the White House National Science and Technology Council Subcommittee on Forensic Science and a partnership between the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to create the National Commission on Forensic Science and the Organization of Scientific Area Committees. These initiatives are seeking to improve policies and practices of forensic science. Efforts to fund research activities and aid technology transition and training in forensic science are also covered. The second portion of the article reviews standards in place or in development around the world for forensic DNA. Documentary standards are used to help define written procedures to perform testing. Physical standards serve as reference materials for calibration and traceability purposes when testing is performed. Both documentary and physical standards enable reliable data comparison, and standard data formats and common markers or testing regions are crucial for effective data sharing. Core DNA markers provide a common framework and currency for constructing DNA databases with compatible data. Recent developments in expanding core DNA markers in Europe and the United States are discussed.

Diagnoses in forensic science cover many disciplinary and technical fields, including thanatology and clinical forensic medicine, as well as all the disciplines mobilized by these two major poles: criminalistics, ballistics, anthropology, entomology, genetics, etc. A diagnosis covers three major interrelated concepts: a categorization of pathologies (the diagnosis); a space of signs or symptoms; and the operation that makes it possible to match a set of signs to a category (the diagnostic approach). The generalization of digitization in all sectors of activity-including forensic science, the acculturation of our societies to data and digital devices, and the development of computing, storage, and data analysis capacities-constitutes a favorable context for the increasing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI). AI can intervene in the three terms of diagnosis: in the space of pathological categories, in the space of signs, and finally in the operation of matching between the two spaces. Its intervention can take several forms: it can improve the performance (accuracy, reliability, robustness, speed, etc.) of the diagnostic approach, better define or separate known diagnostic categories, or better associate known signs. But it can also bring new elements, beyond the mere improvement of performance: AI takes advantage of any data (data here extending the concept of symptoms and classic signs, coming either from the five senses of the human observer, amplified or not by technical means, or from complementary examination tools, such as imaging). Through its ability to associate varied and large-volume data sources, but also its ability to uncover unsuspected associations, AI may redefine diagnostic categories, use new signs, and implement new diagnostic approaches. We present in this article how AI is already mobilized in forensic science, according to an approach that focuses primarily on improving current techniques. We also look at the issues related to its generalization, the obstacles to its development and adoption, and the risks related to the use of AI in forensic diagnostics.

Current medical school curricula predominantly facilitate early integration of basic science principles into clinical practice to strengthen diagnostic skills and the ability to make treatment decisions. In addition, they promote life-long learning and understanding of the principles of medical practice. The Pathology Competencies for Medical Education (PCME) were developed in response to a call to action by pathology course directors nationwide to teach medical students pathology principles necessary for the practice of medicine. The PCME are divided into three competencies: 1) Disease Mechanisms and Processes, 2) Organ System Pathology, and 3) Diagnostic Medicine and Therapeutic Pathology. Each of these competencies is broad and contains multiple learning goals with more specific learning objectives. The original competencies were designed to be a living document, meaning that they will be revised and updated periodically, and have undergone their first revision with this publication. The development of teaching cases, which have a classic case-based design, for the learning objectives is the next step in providing educational content that is peer-reviewed and readily accessible for pathology course directors, medical educators, and medical students. Application of the PCME and cases promotes a minimum standard of exposure of the undifferentiated medical student to pathophysiologic principles. The publication of the PCME and the educational cases will create a current educational resource and repository published through Academic Pathology.

Humans and animals lose tissues and organs due to congenital defects, trauma, and diseases. The human body has a low regenerative potential as opposed to the urodele amphibians commonly referred to as salamanders. Globally, millions of people would benefit immensely if tissues and organs can be replaced on demand. Traditionally, transplantation of intact tissues and organs has been the bedrock to replace damaged and diseased parts of the body. The sole reliance on transplantation has created a waiting list of people requiring donated tissues and organs, and generally, supply cannot meet the demand. The total cost to society in terms of caring for patients with failing organs and debilitating diseases is enormous. Scientists and clinicians, motivated by the need to develop safe and reliable sources of tissues and organs, have been improving therapies and technologies that can regenerate tissues and in some cases create new tissues altogether. Tissue engineering and/or regenerative medicine are fields of life science employing both engineering and biological principles to create new tissues and organs and to promote the regeneration of damaged or diseased tissues and organs. Major advances and innovations are being made in the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine and have a huge impact on three-dimensional bioprinting (3D bioprinting) of tissues and organs. 3D bioprinting holds great promise for artificial tissue and organ bioprinting, thereby revolutionizing the field of regenerative medicine. This review discusses how recent advances in the field of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering can improve 3D bioprinting and vice versa. Several challenges must be overcome in the application of 3D bioprinting before this disruptive technology is widely used to create organotypic constructs for regenerative medicine.

Fresh research has opened up new vistas in forensic pathology that are allowing for closer national and international cooperation between pathologists and scientists in a range of medical and scientific disciplines. At the same time, autopsy and laboratory techniques are undergoing rapid evolution, with new procedures coming on stream while existing processes yield additional—and more accurate—results.  This sixth volume of reviews in forensic pathology provides professionals working in the field with cutting-edge material on the latest key advances in the fields of traumatic death, sudden natural death and death time estimation. Now with numerous color illustrations, the book gives forensic experts across the world a fully up-to-date guide to contemporary procedures and theory in forensic science and medicine. The chapters cover an exhaustive range of aspects in the discipline, from the analysis of sudden natural deaths in infancy and childhood to the cardiac proteomics approach in the study of cases involving sudden cardiac death. Other specialist chapters deal with the forensic investigation of deaths in aviation and as a result of accidents involving all-terrain vehicles. The volume covers fresh research in the use of protein markers for the estimation of post-mortem intervals, and features a chapter telling the story of the medico-legal investigation into the deaths resulting from the 9-11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.Comprehensive and current, this fresh volume of reviews is an essential resource for professionals who need to stay ahead of the game in a fast-moving and exciting field of scientific endeavor.

Three-dimensional (3D) printing became more widely available in the past decade, its medical applications are rapidly growing. The technology has also a large potential in forensic sciences – including forensic medicine and pathology. A systematic literature search was performed using electronic databases to analyze the current applications of 3D printing in forensic medicine and to reveal the possible directions of development. The first publication regarding 3D printing in the field of forensic medicine and pathology was published in 2011, but publications were scarce until 2017. Publication numbers increased in 2017 and were constant since then. The publications reveal that 3D printing can be used in everyday forensic medical practice for various purposes including injury reconstruction, injury–weapon comparison, presentation, identification and courtroom demonstration and teaching.

Forensic anthropological knowledge has been used in disaster victim identification (DVI) for over a century, but over the past decades, there have been a number of disaster events which have seen an increasing role for the forensic anthropologist. The experiences gained from some of the latest DVI operations have provided valuable lessons that have had an effect on the role and perceived value of the forensic anthropologist as part of the team managing the DVI process. This paper provides an overview of the ways in which forensic anthropologists may contribute to DVI with emphasis on how recent experiences and developments in forensic anthropology have augmented these contributions. Consequently, this paper reviews the value of forensic anthropological expertise at the disaster scene and in the mortuary, and discusses the way in which forensic anthropologists may use imaging in DVI efforts. Tissue-sampling strategies for DNA analysis, especially in the case of disasters with a large amount of fragmented remains, are also discussed. Additionally, consideration is given to the identification of survivors; the statistical basis of identification; the challenges related to some specific disaster scenarios; and education and training. Although forensic anthropologists can play a valuable role in different phases of a DVI operation, they never practice in isolation. The DVI process requires a multidisciplinary approach and, therefore, has a close collaboration with a range of forensic specialists.

Diagnostic histological and cytological specimens are routinely stored in pathology department archives. These biobanks are a valuable research resource for many diseases, particularly if they can be linked to high quality population-based health registries, allowing large retrospective epidemiological studies to be carried out. Such studies are of significant importance, for example in the search for novel prognostic and predictive biomarkers in the era of personalized medicine. Denmark has a wealth of highly-regarded population-based registries that are ideally suited to conduct this type of epidemiological research. We describe two recent additions to these databases: the Danish National Pathology Registry (DNPR) and its underlying national online registration database, the Danish Pathology Data Bank (DPDB). The DNPR and the DPDB contain detailed nationwide records of all pathology specimens analyzed in Denmark since 1997, and an incomplete but nonetheless valuable record of specimens from some pathology departments dating back to the 1970s. The data are of high quality and completeness and are sufficient to allow precise and efficient localization of the specimens. We describe the relatively uncomplicated procedures required to use these pathology databases in clinical research and to gain access to the archived specimens.

Forensic odontology is primarily concerned with the use of teeth and oral structures for identification in a legal context. Various forensic odontology techniques help in the identification of the human remains in incidents such as terrorists' attacks, airplane, train and road accidents, fires, mass murders, and natural disasters such as tsunamis, earth quakes and floods, etc. (Disaster Victim Identification-DVI). Dental structures are the hardest and well protected structures in the body. These structures resist decomposition and high temperatures and are among the last ones to disintegrate after death. The principal basis of the dental identification lies in the fact that no two oral cavities are alike and the teeth are unique to an individual. The dental evidence of the deceased recovered from the scene of crime/occurrence is compared with the ante-mortem records for identification. Dental features such as tooth morphology, variations in shape and size, restorations, pathologies, missing tooth, wear patterns, crowding of the teeth, colour and position of the tooth, rotations and other peculiar dental anomalies give every individual a unique identity. In absence of ante-mortem dental records for comparison, the teeth can help in the determination of age, sex, race/ethnicity, habits, occupations, etc. which can give further clues regarding the identity of the individuals. This piece of writing gives an overview of dental evidence, its use in forensic identification and its limitations.

Personalized medicine (PM), included in P5 medicine (Personalized, Predictive, Preventive, Participative and Precision medicine) is an innovative approach to the patient, emerging from the need to tailor and to fit the profile of each individual. PM promises to dramatically impact also on forensic sciences and justice system in ways we are only beginning to understand. The application of omics (genomic, transcriptomics, epigenetics/imprintomics, proteomic and metabolomics) is ever more fundamental in the so called "molecular autopsy". Emerging fields of interest in forensic pathology are represented by diagnosis and detection of predisposing conditions to fatal thromboembolic and hypertensive events, determination of genetic variants related to sudden death, such as congenital long QT syndromes, demonstration of lesions vitality, identification of biological matrices and species diagnosis of a forensic trace on crime scenes without destruction of the DNA. The aim of this paper is to describe the state-of-art in the application of personalized medicine in forensic sciences, to understand the possibilities of integration in routine investigation of these procedures with classical post-mortem studies and to underline the importance of these new updates in medical examiners' armamentarium in determining cause of death or contributing factors to death.

-terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP) are widely used as diagnostic biomarkers for heart failure (HF) and cardiac dysfunction in clinical medicine. They are also used as postmortem biomarkers reflecting cardiac function of the deceased before death in forensic medicine. Several previous studies have reviewed BNP and NT-proBNP in clinical medicine, however, few articles have reviewed their application in forensic medicine. The present article reviews the biological features, the research and application status, and the future research prospects of BNP and NT-proBNP in both clinical medicine and forensic medicine, thereby providing valuable assistance for clinicians and forensic pathologists.