ABSTRACT
Cranial suture closure, one of the most commonly used age estimation methods, for decades, however, is often viewed with caution and its reliability is still debated. Few methods of estimating age using the skeleton, especially cranial suture, have been tested on Thais. This study aims to test the traditional aging techniques using cranial suture closure on Thai individuals in order to identify the error rate of each method when applied to a Thai sample. Meindl and Lovejoy (1985), Acsádi and Nemeskéri (1970), and Mann (1991) methods were applied to 175 Thai dry crania. Bias and inaccuracy in the Meindl and Lovejoy, Acsádi and Nemeskéri, and Mann methods resulted in overestimation in young adults and underestimation in older individuals with an inaccuracy range of approximately 13-22 years. The Mann method approached 100% in predicting age in older males, but the method did not fare as well on Thai females. The results confirm inter-population variation does exist. Additionally, differences in age composition between populations used to develop the methods and Thais may lead to an increase in error. This study indicates that these three aging methods should be used in conjunction with other techniques. Further research which develops specific methods for Thais might give better results for age estimation.
Subject(s)
Age Determination by Skeleton/methods , Cranial Sutures/anatomy & histology , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Forensic Anthropology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Thailand , Young AdultABSTRACT
Costal cartilage ossification on chest plate radiographs is one of the useful methods in age estimation for adults. This study was performed in 136 remains yielding a regression formula for age estimation in Thai male population. Eight features on chest plate imaging were scored based on Garvin's method. Composite scores were calculated by summation of all scores and analyzed to generate the regression of age as: Age=16.664×e0.161 (composite score) with a 95% prediction interval. The predicted age intervals in all composite scores were overlapping except for score 0 and 7. It could be concluded that if all features are absent/present, the person is likely to be less/more than 29years old.
Subject(s)
Age Determination by Skeleton/methods , Osteogenesis , Ribs/diagnostic imaging , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Asian People , Forensic Anthropology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Ribs/growth & development , Thailand , Young AdultABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To develop a method for human genomic DNA extraction from bone using gelatin-coated magnetic particles. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Thirty human metacarpal with the bone age ranging from 36 to 93 years were included in the present study. Genomic DNA was extracted from bones using gelatin-coated magnetic particles. The concentration and purity of DNA were analyzed in comparison with a reference method. In addition, the quality of extracted DNA was examined for sex determination by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: The average DNA concentration using gelatin coated magnetic particles exhibited approximately 15 times higher than a reference method with an insignificantly difference of the DNA purity in both methods. Twelve (40%) and fifteen (50%) samples out of thirty DNA isolated using established and reference method, respectively, could be amplified and sex correctly determined by PCR. CONCLUSION: Gelatin coated magnetic particle is rapid, simple, and well-suited for isolation of DNA from bones.
Subject(s)
Bone and Bones/metabolism , DNA/isolation & purification , Gelatin/chemistry , Magnets , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Genome, Human , Genomics , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Polymerase Chain Reaction/methodsABSTRACT
Ossification of the medial clavicular epiphysis plays an essential role in age estimation for forensic analyses. This study was designed to assess clavicular development in a Thai population using thin-slice computed tomography. Ossification status of the medial clavicular epiphysis was determined in 409 patients using a 5 stage classification by Schmeling et al. Stages 2 and 3 were further subclassified into early (stage a), intermediate (stage b), and late phases (stage c) using criteria from Kellinghaus et al. The sub-stage classification increased accuracy of age estimation particularly within stage 3. Results from this study can be used as a more accurate, Thai specific reference for estimating age. For Thai legal proceedings, we recommend using stage 4 of maturation to represent age>18 years and stage 5 occurring at >20 years.
