Metric variation of the tibia in the Mediterranean: implications in forensic identification

Ancestry estimation from skeletal remains is a challenging task, but essential for the creation of a complete biological profile. As such, the study of human variation between populations is important for the fields of biological and forensic anthropology, as well as medicine. Cranial and dental morphological variation have traditionally been linked to geographic affinity resulting in several methods of ancestry estimation, while the postcranial skeleton has been systematically neglected. The current study explores metric variation of the tibia in six Mediterranean populations and its validity in estimating ancestry in the Mediterranean. The study sample includes 909 individuals (470 males and 439 females) from Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Turkey. The sample was divided in two subsamples: a reference and a validation sample. Multinomial regression models were created based on the reference sample and then applied to validation sample. The first model used three variables and resulted in 57% and 56% accuracy for the two samples respectively, while the second model (6 variables) resulted in 80% and 74% respectively. Classification between groups ranged from 28% to 95% for the reference sample and from 15% to 91% for the validation sample. The highest classification accuracy was noted for the Greek sample (95% and 90% for the reference and validation sample respectively), followed by the Turkish sample (74% and 78% respectively). The Spanish, Portuguese and Italian samples presented greater morphological overlap which resulted in lower classification accuracies. The results indicate that although the tibia presents considerable variation amongst neighbour populations is not suitable as a sole skeletal element to separate all groups successfully. A combination of different skeletal elements may be required in order to achieve the levels of reliability required for forensic applications

Safety and efficacy of ABT-089 in pediatric attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: results from two randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety and efficacy of ABT-089, a novel α(4)β(2) neuronal nicotinic receptor partial agonist, vs. placebo in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHOD: Two multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group studies of children 6 through 12 years of age were conducted. Study 1 (n = 274) assessed six treatment groups over 8 weeks: 4 once-daily (QD) ABT-089 doses (0.085-0.700 mg/kg), QD atomoxetine, and placebo. Study 2 (n = 119) assessed three treatment groups over 6 weeks: 2 QD ABT-089 doses (0.7 mg/kg, 1.4 mg/kg) and placebo. The primary efficacy variable was the investigator-administered Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale-IV: Home Version (ADHD-RS-IV [HV]) Total Score. Safety was assessed by adverse event (AE) monitoring, laboratory tests, vital signs, physical examinations, and electrocardiogram measures. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between ABT-089 and placebo in mean change from baseline to final evaluation of ADHD-RS-IV (HV) Total Score or other outcome measures at any dose in either study. In Study 1, atomoxetine showed statistically significant improvement for the primary and most secondary endpoints. ABT-089 was generally safe and well tolerated, with no statistically significant difference between any ABT-089 dose and placebo in the overall incidence of any specific AE, and no clinically significant changes in other safety measures. CONCLUSIONS: ABT-089 did not show efficacy on the primary efficacy variable, the ADHD-RS-IV (HV) Total Score, or other measures of ADHD symptomatology in children with ADHD, and had a safety profile similar to placebo. These results contrast with published reports of efficacy of nicotinic modulators in adults with ADHD

Lipid-lowering property of Clausena anisum-olens in hypercholesterolemic rats

Context: Clausena anisum-olens (Blanco) Merr. (Rutaceae) is a medicinal shrub which has been reported to have various pharmacological uses. No study regarding the effects of C. anisum-olens on cholesterol-lowering has been reported. Objective: The effects of the ethanol extract of C. anisum-olens leaves on the cholesterol level of hypercholesterolemic rats were evaluated. Materials and methods: Acute oral toxicity of the extract (175, 550 and 2000 mg/kg) was determined using female Sprague-Dawley rats, as described in OECD 425 Main test guidelines. The lipid-lowering assay utilized 30 male Sprague-Dawley rats divided into five groups (A–E). Triton X-100 was administered to induce hypercholesterolemia. After hypercholesterolemia induction, oral treatment of Atorvastatin and crude ethanol extract was given daily to the treatment groups for 14 days. The total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and LDL were determined before induction, after induction, after first week of treatment and after second week of treatment. Results: Acute oral toxicity showed the crude extract is nontoxic up to 2000 mg/kg. The lipid-lowering assay indicated reduction of serum cholesterol (87.21 ± 5.10 mg/dL), triglycerides (58.09 ± 4.10 mg/dL) and LDL (27.82 ± 4.11 mg/dL) for 200 mg/kw extract. Reduction in serum cholesterol (74.72 ± 3.64 mg/dL), triglycerides (52.79 ± 2.98 mg/dL) and LDL (12.06 ± 5.51 mg/dL) were observed for 400 mg/kg group. The result is comparable to Atorvastatin, which showed serum cholesterol (80.90 ± 9.72 mg/dL), triglycerides (55.94 ± 7.19 mg/dL) and LDL (22.09 ± 7.60 mg/dL) reduction. Discussion and conclusion: The crude extract of C. anisum-olens proved to be useful in lowering of cholesterol

Forensic odontology radiography and imaging in disaster victim identification:Positional statement of the members of the Disaster Victim Identification working group of the International Society of Forensic Radiology and Imaging

The use of radiography by forensic odontologists for the purposes of disaster victim identification (DVI) was established in 1949, when it was used to assist in the identification of the victims of the Great Lakes liner “Noronic” disaster in Toronto, Canada. Of the 119 victims of the disaster, positive identification matches were established for 24 of the most severely disfigured cases through the use of comparative odontology radiography (1-3). Today radiography is an established tool of forensic odontologists for DVI. The precise requirements for dental radiography for any given mass fatality incident will be determined by the working practices of the forensic odontologists engaged in the investigation

Forensic odontology radiography and imaging in disaster victim identification

Forensic odontology radiography and imaging in disaster victim identificatio