Post-mortem Interval and Its Relation with the RNA Degradation in the Dental Pulp in Submerged Teeth

Post-mortem interval is the time between death and the discovery of the body or human remains. Teeth are the most resistant structures of the human body, able to withstand extreme conditions such as high temperature, humidity, and post-mortem degradation. The objective of this study was to evaluate...

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Main Authors: Bruna S. Borges, Thiago José Dionísio, Carlos Ferreira dos Santos, Ricardo Henrique Alves da Silva
Format: Article
Language:Arabic
Published: Naif University Publishing House 2021-03-01
Series:Arab Journal of Forensic Sciences & Forensic Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.nauss.edu.sa/index.php/AJFSFM/article/view/1256
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author Bruna S. Borges
Thiago José Dionísio
Carlos Ferreira dos Santos
Ricardo Henrique Alves da Silva
author_facet Bruna S. Borges
Thiago José Dionísio
Carlos Ferreira dos Santos
Ricardo Henrique Alves da Silva
author_sort Bruna S. Borges
collection DOAJ
description Post-mortem interval is the time between death and the discovery of the body or human remains. Teeth are the most resistant structures of the human body, able to withstand extreme conditions such as high temperature, humidity, and post-mortem degradation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the applicability of the method of quantifying degradation of RNA extracted from dental pulps to estimate the post-mortem interval, by simulating drowning conditions with teeth submerged in fresh water and exposed to different time intervals. The sample consisted of 80 human teeth (third molars), divided into eight groups, and placed in the aquatic environment, for pre-established periods of three days, and 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks respectively. After the stipulated time, the teeth were removed and the RNA was extracted form the dental pulp. Finally, the RNA was electrophoresed and its Integrity Number (RIN) was calculated for each RNA pulp sample. After the analysis, significant amount of dental pulp degradation was observed showing a RNA RIN of 6.50. The 18S/28S ribosomal RNA ratio was null (with a value of zero), and only in sample, it was extremely low (0.8). The fact that the samples were submitt to the environment associated with that the low proportion the18S/28S ribosomal RNA found in the samples, may be essential factors to justify the results obtained. RNA degradation quantification method was not applicable, since it was not possible to establish a relation between the degradation of the RNA molecule and the estimation of the post-mortem interval.
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spelling doaj.art-881ce8d6172144cd9115766252d492ec2024-03-12T12:27:58ZaraNaif University Publishing HouseArab Journal of Forensic Sciences & Forensic Medicine1658-67861658-67942021-03-0131687610.26735/QNRL3323588Post-mortem Interval and Its Relation with the RNA Degradation in the Dental Pulp in Submerged TeethBruna S. Borges0Thiago José Dionísio1Carlos Ferreira dos Santos2Ricardo Henrique Alves da Silva3USP - University de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine. Av. Bandeirantes, 3900 – Vila Virginia, Ribeirão Preto - SP, 14015-130, Brazil.University de São Paulo, Bauru Dental School.University de São Paulo, Bauru Dental School.University de São Paulo, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão PretoPost-mortem interval is the time between death and the discovery of the body or human remains. Teeth are the most resistant structures of the human body, able to withstand extreme conditions such as high temperature, humidity, and post-mortem degradation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the applicability of the method of quantifying degradation of RNA extracted from dental pulps to estimate the post-mortem interval, by simulating drowning conditions with teeth submerged in fresh water and exposed to different time intervals. The sample consisted of 80 human teeth (third molars), divided into eight groups, and placed in the aquatic environment, for pre-established periods of three days, and 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks respectively. After the stipulated time, the teeth were removed and the RNA was extracted form the dental pulp. Finally, the RNA was electrophoresed and its Integrity Number (RIN) was calculated for each RNA pulp sample. After the analysis, significant amount of dental pulp degradation was observed showing a RNA RIN of 6.50. The 18S/28S ribosomal RNA ratio was null (with a value of zero), and only in sample, it was extremely low (0.8). The fact that the samples were submitt to the environment associated with that the low proportion the18S/28S ribosomal RNA found in the samples, may be essential factors to justify the results obtained. RNA degradation quantification method was not applicable, since it was not possible to establish a relation between the degradation of the RNA molecule and the estimation of the post-mortem interval.https://journals.nauss.edu.sa/index.php/AJFSFM/article/view/1256forensic scienceforensic dentistryrna stabilitynucleic acidsmolecular biology
spellingShingle Bruna S. Borges
Thiago José Dionísio
Carlos Ferreira dos Santos
Ricardo Henrique Alves da Silva
Post-mortem Interval and Its Relation with the RNA Degradation in the Dental Pulp in Submerged Teeth
Arab Journal of Forensic Sciences & Forensic Medicine
forensic science
forensic dentistry
rna stability
nucleic acids
molecular biology
title Post-mortem Interval and Its Relation with the RNA Degradation in the Dental Pulp in Submerged Teeth
title_full Post-mortem Interval and Its Relation with the RNA Degradation in the Dental Pulp in Submerged Teeth
title_fullStr Post-mortem Interval and Its Relation with the RNA Degradation in the Dental Pulp in Submerged Teeth
title_full_unstemmed Post-mortem Interval and Its Relation with the RNA Degradation in the Dental Pulp in Submerged Teeth
title_short Post-mortem Interval and Its Relation with the RNA Degradation in the Dental Pulp in Submerged Teeth
title_sort post mortem interval and its relation with the rna degradation in the dental pulp in submerged teeth
topic forensic science
forensic dentistry
rna stability
nucleic acids
molecular biology
url https://journals.nauss.edu.sa/index.php/AJFSFM/article/view/1256
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