Positive identification of charred victims is a major challenge in forensic medicine. Dental structures are resilient markers for human identification; but resin restorations may be indistinguishable from enamel on standard CT windows due to similar Hounsfield unit (HU) values, potentially compromising ante-mortem to post-mortem odontological comparison. We report a fatal motor vehicle accident involving five young adults, four of whom sustained severe charring. Post-mortem full-body CT (PMCT) scans were performed at the Institute of Legal Medicine (Toulouse, France). On standard window settings, a composite restoration on tooth 46 of victim X88 was not visible, its radiopacity being saturated within the same display range as enamel. Applying an extended HU (EHU) scale rendered the restoration visible at 10,985 HU, consistent with a highly radio-opaque composite resin, and allowed comparison with the ante-mortem odontogram; eighteen concordant elements supported positive identification. Victim X85 presented amalgam restorations and metallic crowns that were detectable on the IMAR (iterative metal artifact reduction) series displayed with a standard window but degraded by metallic streak artifacts, whereas EHU reconstructions without IMAR showed improved visualization with less conspicuous artifacts under the reconstruction conditions used, which facilitated comparison with the ante-mortem record. The extended HU scale may provide valuable additional information during PMCT dental analysis in forensic odontology, particularly when restorative materials are poorly delineated on conventional images, enabling detection of restorations otherwise invisible on standard window settings and attenuation values consistent with their likely composition; its broader diagnostic value should be evaluated in larger, systematically studied cohorts.
Postmortem CT angiography (PMCTA) is widely used in forensic medicine to evaluate the vascular system before autopsy. The contrast mixture of 3,500 ml paraffin and 210 ml Angiofil®, originally proposed by Grabherr et al. for multiphase postmortem CT angiography (MPMCTA) approach, provides reliable global vascular opacification. Recent advances in CT detector technology, image reconstruction techniques, and growing environmental concerns have encouraged the investigation of alternative contrast-agent dilutions aimed to reduce iodine consumption. The aim of this observational study was to explore whether lower Angiofil® concentrations could be used while preserving adequate vascular visualization and diagnostic image quality. Thirty cases were evaluated using four progressively diluted Angiofil®–paraffin mixtures containing 200 ml, 180 ml, 150 ml, and 120 ml of Angiofil® in 3,500 ml of paraffin. Contrast enhancement was quantified by measuring Hounsfield units (HU) within regions of interest (ROIs) placed in the ascending thoracic aorta and compared with a clinical case. Image quality was independently assessed by an experienced forensic radiologist based on opacification of the ascending thoracic aorta. In addition, a dedicated evaluation of coronary artery lumen and wall visualization was performed. The mixture containing 200 ml of Angiofil® showed no relevant improvement in image quality compared with the original dilution. A mixture containing 180 ml of Angiofil® allowed excellent vascular assessment in individuals with a BMI > 35 kg/m², whereas 150 ml of Angiofil® provided optimal image quality in individuals with a BMI ≤ 35 kg/m². The 120 ml mixture remained diagnostically acceptable in most cases but produced photon-starvation artifacts in individuals with high muscle mass or a BMI > 33 kg/m², limiting vascular assessment. Adjusting the Angiofil®–paraffin mixture according to body morphology using 180 ml of Angiofil® for individuals with a BMI > 35 kg/m² and 150 ml for those with a BMI ≤ 35 kg/m² maintains excellent vascular visualization while substantially reducing iodine consumption. This optimization supports more environmentally sustainable PMCTA practice without compromising diagnostic image quality.
Characterization of regional genetic variations is crucial for forensic genetic case studies in regions with transitional demographics, particularly in Anatolia. In this study, a comprehensive Short Tandem Repeat (STR) allele frequency database was created for the complex population of Bursa, Northwestern Türkiye, by analyzing 501 unrelated individuals using the PowerPlex® Fusion 6 C panel with 23 autosomal loci. This panel demonstrated exceptional efficiency in this cohort, achieving a combined match probability of 6.96 × 10⁻³⁰ and a combined exclusion power of 0.9999999999. All 23 loci conformed to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Additionally, 101 rare alleles (≤ 1
Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has been increasingly incorporated into forensic STR analysis, underscoring the need for resources that facilitate the conceptual transition between capillary electrophoresis (CE) profiles and sequence-based allele representation. Existing databases and tools provide population data, motif descriptions, or quality-controlled datasets, but these components are often accessed independently and rarely integrated within a single environment that serves as an educational infrastructure. STRhub is an open, multilingual web-based platform designed to integrate essential, openly available STR resources within a unified framework. The platform brings together CE mixture simulation, sequence annotation, motif and structural visualization, genomic coordinates and allele frequency panels derived from established sources such as STRidER, STRBase and other public datasets. Additional modules include the visualization of pre-aligned samples from the 1000 Genomes Project and tools such as a FASTA generator, intended to support training and exploratory learning in sequence-based STR interpretation. Rather than replacing existing databases or validated analytical software, STRhub complements them by linking components that are typically accessed separately and by reducing technical barriers associated with the initial exploration of NGS-based STR data. Overall, STRhub provides an accessible and continuously evolving environment for education, training and exploratory research in forensic genetics, supporting integrated interpretation of STR data across CE and NGS technologies. STRhub is freely accessible at https://strhub.app . STRhub integrates dispersed STR resources into a single open-access multilingual platform. CE mixture simulation and sequence-resolved NGS visualization are linked within one interface. Isoallelic variation undetectable by CE is resolved through sequence-based allele representation. An integrated locus catalog consolidates genomic, structural, and population frequency data. Educational modules and embedded IGV reduce technical barriers for NGS-transitioning users.
Accurate larval age estimation is fundamental to determining the minimum post–mortem interval (PMImin) in forensic entomology. Cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) analysis has shown promise for this task under controlled laboratory conditions. However, its reliability under outdoor conditions with fluctuating temperatures and geographically distinct populations remains poorly understood. This study evaluated CHC–based age estimation of Lucilia sericata (Meigen, 1826) larvae reared under natural environmental conditions at two European field locations, Swindon, UK (mean 20.3 °C) and Frankfurt, Germany (mean 22.0 °C), and compared performance against a controlled laboratory group (UK–indoor: 25 ± 1 °C). Daily CHC extraction and GC–MS analysis were performed throughout larval development (8–10 days), followed by a leave–one–out cross–validated (LOO–CV) principal component analysis–linear discriminant analysis (PCA–LDA) pipeline for age classification and geographic discrimination. CHC–based age estimation achieved high accuracy across all three groups: 95.0
