Sex estimation in Indians by digital analysis of the gonial angle on lateral cephalographs.

OBJECTIVE: Sex estimation of skeletons is important in forensic reconstructive identification. The mandible is a durable component that is suitable to discriminate the sexes while lateral cephalometry is a standardised radiographic technique accepted as a tool in personal identification. Limited data is available for the mandibular/gonial angle as a parameter for sex assessment using lateral cephalometric radiographs. The aim of this study is to determine the gonial angle's accuracy in sexing Indians using a new digital method and statistical approach. METHOD: The sample comprised of 304 digital lateral cephalometric radiographs (155 females and 149 males, age between 18-30 years) of Indian subjects. The mandibular/gonial angle was measured on these radiographs using Adobe Photoshop software using tools available therein. The obtained angles for the sexes were subjected to logistic regression analysis (LRA), which forms a composite of weighted independent variables using a multivariate strategy. RESULTS: The average angle was 122.7° for females and 121.1°for males. LRA produced an accuracy rate of 56.3% in sex assessment, with females being more accurately identified (61.9%) than males (50.3%). CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated significant univariate sexual dimorphism among males and females in this population. However, the sex prediction value of this approach was low and thus may not be useful in sex estimation involved in human identification of Indians.

Comparison of tetrachromic VOF stain to other histochemical staining techniques for characterizing stromal soft and hard tissue components.

The components of hard tissues including dentin, enamel, cementum, bone and other calcified deposits, and mature and immature collagen pose problems for identification in routine hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) stained sections. Use of combinations of stains can demonstrate the components of hard tissues and soft tissues distinctly. We assessed the efficacy of the Verde Luz-orange G-acid fuchsin (VOF) stain for differentiating hard and soft connective tissues and compared results with other histochemical staining techniques. Eighty tissue sections comprising developing tooth (30), ossifying fibroma (30) and miscellaneous pathologies (20) expected to contain varying types of calcified tissues were stained with H & E, VOF, and Masson's trichrome (MT). In developing tooth, VOF demonstrated better differentiation of hard tissues, while it was comparable to MT for ossifying fibroma and miscellaneous pathologies. The intensity of staining was greater with VOF than with the other stains studied. VOF stains hard tissue components distinctly and gives good contrast with the surrounding connective tissue. VOF is comparable to MT, but has added advantages including single step staining, rapid and easy procedures, and it distinguishes the maturity of the tissues.