A Review of the Forensic Applications for the Analysis of Biological Fluids Using Fluorescence Spectroscopy

The use of science to compile information to assist in solving crimes is known as forensic science. Numerous bodily fluids, such as blood, semen, saliva, and vaginal fluid, are frequently discovered at crime scenes. This makes it crucial for forensic scientists to use analytical methods to examine these fluids to learn more about the crime, including the offender, victim, time since deposition, and other details. Although there are many techniques, the focus of this paper is fluorescence spectroscopy. Fluorescence spectroscopy is a rapid, inexpensive, and non-destructive technique used for forensic examination (Weber & Lednev, 2022). Fluorescence spectroscopy can be used to analyze the characteristics of the molecules and atoms in the samples, such as the presence of proteins and other biomolecules, which can help identify the type of fluid, and the time since deposition ( What Is Fluorescence Spectroscopy?” n.d.). For these reasons, it is important to analyze and compare fluorescence of all forensically relevant body fluids. In this paper, fluorescence spectroscopy techniques done on select body fluids (semen, sweat, urine, vaginal secretions, and saliva) will be discussed to determine effective techniques and possibilities for future research. Previous reviews have been done on peripheral and menstrual blood, which is why they will not be included in this review (Weber et al., 2021; Wójtowics et al., 2021)

A Study on B-HCG in Cervicovaginal Secretions as predictor of preterm delivery

AIM OF THE STUDY: To Measure Beta Human Chorionicgonadotrophin Levels In Cervicovaginal Secretions In Women Presenting With Symptoms Of Preterm Labour And Evaluate It As A Predictor Of Preterm Delivery. STUDY POPULATION: Antenatal mothers without any coexixting medical complications presenting to ISO Government Kasturba Gandhi Hospital or IOG, Egmore with previous history of preterm delivery or symptoms suggestive of threatened preterm labour between 28 to 36 weeks of gestation. SAMPLE SIZE: 108. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. METHODOLOGY: All chosen mothers will be subjected to detailed history followed by general and obstetric examination following which cervico vaginal secretions are collected for Beta HCG measurement by swab test. The beta-hcg levels of the samples were measured by an ELISA-based method using rapid EIA test. A cut off value of 25mIU/ml was considered to discriminate positive(>25mIU/ml) & negative(<25mIU/ml). The patients were followed up till delivery and based on the gestational age at delivery were classified into preterm group and term group and the relationship of B HCG with gestational age at delivery was studied. RESULTS: In our study out of the total 100 participants presenting with preterm labour 9% delivered at 25mIu/ml (p 25 IU/L ,7 delivered preterm rest had term deliveries. The sensitivity of the test was 77% with 96.7% specivicity indicating that mothers with BHCG <25 IU/L were less likely to have preterm deliveries. The positive predictive value of our study was 70% with a false positive of 3%. The negative predictive value was 97%. Of these 100 women 23% had previous history of preterm delivery. Among these 17.4% delivered at <37 weeks.(p=0.109) CONCLUSION: Thus elevated B HCG levels in cervicovaginal secretions can be used as a predictor of preterm delivery

SUMOylation in cell death: SUMO E3 ligase PIAS1 plays a critical role in determining cell survival following UV stress

SUMO modification of proteins plays an important role in many cellular processes such as DNA replication, DNA repair, stress response, transcriptional regulation, signal transduction, cell cycle regulation, differentiation and cell death. SUMO modification can have varied effects on its substrates; it may alter subcellular localization, interaction partners or activity of the target proteins. SUMO modifies its substrates by forming an isopeptide bond between its own C-terminal glycine and the ε-amino group of a preferred lysine on the target protein. The modification requires three enzymes, a SUMO activating enzyme E1, a SUMO conjugating enzyme E2, and a SUMO E3 ligase, acting in a cascade. Since all eukaryotes have only one of each of the first two enzymes involved in SUMOylation, the variability in substrate selection and the choice of SUMO paralog is often attributed to a relatively small group of the third enzymes in the SUMOylation pathway, collectively called the SUMO E3 ligases. SUMO modification is also reversible and SUMO can be cleaved off of its substrates by deSUMOylating enzymes. We hypothesized that the variability in SUMOylation substrate selection is guided by the choice of SUMO E3 ligase and each of the five different PIAS isoforms regulates distinct cellular pathways, including response to DNA damage, by SUMOylation of a unique subset of substrates. To verify our hypothesis, we ectopically expressed PIAS E3 ligases in cells and provided various stress stimuli, such as UV irradiation. We then analyzed the response dictated by the expression of each of the PIAS isoforms. We observed that both the ectopic expression of PIAS1 as well as the RNAi-mediated depletion of PIAS1 in cells leads to increased sensitivity of cells to UV irradiation and cell death. This hypersensitivity to UV irradiation is unique to PIAS1 overexpression and is not observed with overexpression of other PIAS isoforms. Each PIAS isoform shows distinct localization in cells and a unique SUMOylation profile. Our results indicate that PIAS1 induced cell death depends on the unique set of proteins it SUMOylates. Domain analysis of PIAS1 implicated the N-terminal SAP domain of PIAS1 in guiding its unique subcellular localization and the determination of substrate specificity. We identified proapoptotic protein Daxx as a mediator of PIAS1 induced apoptosis. Daxx colocalizes with PIAS1 modified SUMO foci in cells and RNAi-mediated depletion of Daxx alleviates UV-induced apoptosis in PIAS1-expresing cells. Daxx is a known transcription co-repressor and mediates its transcription repression activity by interacting with SUMOylated transcription factors, including those required for production of anti-apoptotic proteins. Daxx has two motifs, one at its N-terminus and another at the very C-terminus, called SUMO interacting motifs (SIM), that are known to be important for interaction with SUMOylated proteins. Daxx is proposed to interact with only a subset of SUMOylated proteins; however the basis for this specificity is not clear. Our data suggests that the Daxx C-terminus SIM is essential for interaction with PIAS1-mediated SUMO foci and the resulting cell death. Since cell death is regulated by a fine balance between the levels of pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins in cells, we analyzed the expression of the apoptosis mediators in cells expressing PIAS1. Results from multigene apoptotic reverse-transcription PCR arrays have revealed that the expression of a number of pro- and anti-apoptotic genes is altered in PIAS1-expressing cells. Most of these proteins appear to be targets of the NFκB family of transcription factors. We also observed a direct interaction of the NFκB transcription factor protein RelB with both PIAS1 and Daxx

A Study on Rhino-Orbital Mucormycosis Etiopathogenesis, Risk Factors and Management

BACKGROUND: Mucormycosis is a rare, potentially fatal, opportunistic fungal infection. Rhinoorbital mucormycosis is the most common manifestation. In this study, we analyse the demographic features, risk factors, etiopathogenesis, clinical features, investigations, management and outcome of the same. METHOD AND METHODOLOGY: A prospective, observational study was done including 50 patients of histologically proven rhino-orbital mucormycosis who presented to the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Madras Medical College and Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital. Detailed history and examination was done. All the patients were subjected routine investigations, diagnostic nasal endoscopy, radiological investigations and histopathology investigaitons. Both medical and surgical management was done. Outcome was measured as survival rate. The patients were followed up for 6 months. All the data was recorded and analysed. RESULTS AND ANALYSIS: Of the 50 patients, 24 presented in rhino-maxillary stage, 24 in rhino-orbital and 14 in rhino-orbito-cerebral stage. Mean age was 50.28years. 58% were male. 66% presented as an acute fulminant illness. Nasal obstruction, headache and decreased sensation were the most common complaints. Diabetes Mellitus was the most common underlying factor present in 44 patients. Diabetic ketoacidosis was present in 17 patients and electrolyte imbalance in 18. Eschar was present in 38 patients. Lack of sensation and lack of bleeding was present in 90% of the patients. In radiology, retromaxillary attenuation of soft tissue and fat plane stranding was present in 78%. Control of immunosuppressive state, antifungal therapy and Multiple Surgical therapy was the main treatment strategy. Outcome in our study was 90%. CONCLUSION: Glycemic control rather than the presence or duration of diabetes is the key factor. Reversal of immunosuppression, antifungal therapy and multiple surgical therapy are the main strategies that lead to a better survival state

Postmenopausal spontaneous rupture of pyometra

Spontaneous perforation of pyometra resulting in generalized diffuse peritonitis is extremely uncommon, ranging from 0.01% to 0.5%. Herein, we report the case of a 55 year old postmenopausal woman, presented with acute abdominal pain, distended abdomen, and inability to pass flatus and feces, and purulent vaginal discharge. In view of generalized peritonitis, laparotomy was performed on which 3000 cc pus was suctioned out and necrotic tissue was found on the surface of liver and intestines. The uterus was found to have a 2×2 cm sized perforation at fundo-posterior surface from which purulent material was seen exuding. Thus, a diagnosis of perforated uterus due to pyometra was made. A total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with thorough peritoneal lavage was done. Histopathological examination revealed perforated uterus with pyometra, but there was no evidence of malignancy, and the cervical canal was patent. The patient had burst abdomen on 6th postoperative day and subsequent resuturing was done. She was discharged on 17th postoperative day in satisfactory condition. Thus, rarely, perforation of uterus due to pyometra can cause peritonitis in postmenopausal females with signs of acute abdomen