ORCID Profile
0000-0002-4671-0521
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Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 16-11-2021
DOI: 10.1186/S41935-021-00253-3
Abstract: The determination of the shooting distance using gunshot residue (GSR) analysis is crucial in the investigation and reconstruction of firearm-related crimes. However, the conventional chemographic method for GSR analysis is destructive and has limited sensitivity and selectivity. While the spectroscopic method has potential in GSR analysis for crime investigation, there is a current lack of consistency in the spectroscopic results obtained for shooting distance estimation via GSR analysis. Addressing such limitations will enhance the forensic capabilities of law enforcement and provide an added advantage to crime laboratories during an investigation. It will also reinforce the use of such spectroscopic data in a criminal investigation. We obtained all peer-reviewed articles relevant to shooting distance estimation from searching Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases. We specifically searched the databases using the keywords “shooting distance,” “range of fire,” “gunshot residue,” “firearm discharge residue,” and “firearm-related crime” and obtained 3811 records. We further filtered these records using a combination of two basic keywords “gunshot residue” and “shooting distance estimations” yielding 108 papers. Following a careful evaluation of the titles, abstracts, and full texts, 40 original peer-reviewed articles on shooting distance estimation via GSR analysis were included in the study. The forgoing included additional sources ( n = 5) we obtained from looking through the reference lists of the forensic articles we found. This paper discusses the current scope of research concerning the chemographic and spectroscopic analysis of GSR for shooting distance estimation. It also examines the challenges of these techniques and provides recommendations for future research.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 12-11-2021
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2018
DOI: 10.1016/J.BIOPHA.2017.10.100
Abstract: The standard therapy of AML for many years has been chemotherapy with or without stem transplantation. However, there has not been any tangible improvement in this treatment beyond induction through chemotherapy and consolidation with allogeneic stem cell transplantation or chemotherapy. Residual AML cells which later cause relapse mostly persist even after rigorous standard therapy. It is imperative therefore to find an alternative therapy that can take care of the residual AML cells. With a better understanding of how the immune system works to destroy tumor cells and inhibit their growth, another therapeutic option immunotherapy has emerged to address the difficulties associated with the standard therapy. Identification of leukemia-associated antigens (LAA) and the fact that T and NK cells can be activated to exert cytotoxicity on AML cells have further introduced erse immunotherapeutic development strategies. This review discusses the merits of current immunotherapeutic strategies such as the use of antibodies, adoptive T cells and alloreactive NK cell, and vaccination as against the standard therapy of AML.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 05-05-2020
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2023
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 16-06-2023
Abstract: Metals can pose challenges while conducting forensic DNA analysis. The presence of metal ions in evidence‐related DNA extracts can degrade DNA or inhibit PCR as applied to DNA quantification (real‐time PCR or qPCR) and/or STR lification, leading to low success in STR profiling. Different metal ions were spiked into 0.2 and 0.5 ng of human genomic DNA in an “inhibition study” and the impact was evaluated by qPCR using the Quantifiler™ Trio DNA Quantification Kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific) and an in‐house SYBR Green assay. This study reports on a contradictory finding specific to tin (Sn) ions, which caused at least a 38,000‐fold overestimation of DNA concentration when utilizing Quantifiler Trio. This was explained by the raw and multicomponent spectral plots, which indicated that Sn suppresses the Quantifiler Trio passive reference dye (Mustang Purple™, MP) at ion concentrations above 0.1 mM. This effect was not observed when DNA was quantified using SYBR Green with ROX™ as the passive reference, nor when DNA was extracted and purified prior to Quantifiler Trio. The results show that metal contaminants can interfere with qPCR‐based DNA quantification in unexpected ways and may be assay dependent. The results also highlight the importance of qPCR as a quality check to determine steps for s le cleanup prior to STR lification that may be similarly impacted by metal ions. Forensic workflows should recognize the risk of inaccurate DNA quantification of s les that are collected from substrates containing tin.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2019
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2020
DOI: 10.1016/J.SCIJUS.2020.01.002
Abstract: Trace evidence such as touch (also known as contact) DNA has probative value as a vital forensic investigative tool that can lead to the identification and apprehension of a criminal. While the volume of touch DNA evidence items submitted to forensic laboratories has significantly increased, recovery and lification of DNA from these items, especially from metal surfaces, remains challenging. Currently little is understood with regards to the underlying mechanisms of metal-DNA interactions in the context of forensic science and how this may impact on DNA recovery. An increased understanding of these mechanisms would allow optimisation of methods to improve outcomes when s ling these materials. This paper reviews the basis of DNA binding to metal substrates, the merits and limitations of current methods and future perspectives of improving recovery and lification of touch DNA from metal surfaces of forensic interest.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 21-10-2021
Publisher: African Journals Online (AJOL)
Date: 20-10-2009
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 28-08-2023
Abstract: Forensic DNA analysis continues to be h ered by the complex interactions between metals and DNA. Metal ions may cause direct DNA damage, inhibit DNA extraction and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) lification or both. This study evaluated the impact of metal ions on DNA extraction, quantitation, and short tandem repeat profiling using cell‐free and cellular (saliva) DNA. Of the 11 metals assessed, brass exhibited the strongest PCR inhibitory effects, for both custom and Quantifiler Trio quantitation assays. Metal ion inhibition varied across the two quantitative PCR assays and the amount of DNA template used. The Quantifiler Trio internal PCR control (IPC) only revealed evidence of PCR inhibition at higher metal ion concentrations, limiting the applicability of IPC as an indicator of the presence of metal inhibitor in a s le. Notably, ferrous ions were found to significantly decrease the extraction efficiency of the DNA‐IQ DNA extraction system. The amount of DNA degradation and inhibition in saliva s les caused by metal ions increased with a dilution of the s le, suggesting that the saliva matrix provides protection from metal ion effects.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 2021
DOI: 10.1007/S11419-020-00564-5
Abstract: This paper examines the scope of anorectics in counterfeit weight-reducing formulations and provides insight into the present state of research in determining such adulterants. Analytical techniques utilised in profiling adulterants found in slimming products, including limitations and mitigation steps of these conventional methods are also discussed. The current legal status of the anorectics and analogues routinely encountered in non-prescription slimming formulations is also explored. All reviewed literature was extracted from Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases using relevant search terms, such as, ‘counterfeit drugs’, ‘weight loss drugs’, ‘weight-reducing drugs’, ‘slimming drugs’, ‘anorectic agents’, and ‘counterfeit anorexics’. Legislation related to anorectics was obtained from the portals of various government and international agencies. Anorectics frequently profiled in counterfeit slimming formulations are mostly hetamine derivatives or its analogues. Five routinely reported pharmacological classes of adulterants, namely anxiolytics, diuretics, antidepressants, laxatives, and stimulants, are mainly utilised as coadjuvants in fake weigh-reducing formulations to increase bioavailability or to minimise anticipated side effects. Liquid and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometric detectors are predominantly used techniques for anorectic analysis due to the possibility of obtaining detailed information of adulterants. However, interference from the complex s le matrices of these fake products limits the accuracy of these methods and requires robust s le preparation methods for enhanced sensitivity and selectivity. The most common anorectics found in counterfeit slimming medicines are either completely banned or available by prescription only, in many countries. Slimming formulations doped with anorectic cocktails to boost their weight-reducing efficacy are not uncommon. Liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry remains the gold standard for counterfeit drug analysis, and requires improved preconcentration methods for rapid and quantitative identification of specific chemical constituents. Extensive method development and validation, targeted at refining existing techniques while developing new ones, is expected to improve the analytical profiling of counterfeit anorectics significantly.
No related grants have been discovered for Dan Nana Osei Amponsah Mensah Bonsu.