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Sex estimation is the keystone for positive identification when an unidentified human body is recovered in forensic contexts. However, in complex death scenes such as mass disasters, the remains are often fleshed, mutilated, burned, and/or commingled. In situations such as these where it is not possible to analyze pelvis and/or cranium data, traditional metric and qualitative morphological methods on postcranial bones can yield unsatisfactory results. In such cases, geometric morphometric techniques offer an alternative to the analysis of both shape and size components of morphological variation that can be of great utility for sex estimation in forensic investigations. The study population consisted of 72 well-preserved adult humeri (40 males and 32 females; mean age of 62 years) that were photographed in standardized positions with landmarks located in four two-dimensional views of the humerus (anterior surface of the proximal epiphysis, and anterior, posterior and inferior surface of distal epiphysis). Principal components analysis, canonical variates analysis and discriminant analysis were applied. The data indicated that males and females were classified with low levels of accuracy (54.95-77.92% for males; 56.87-71.78% for females) based on shape variables. However, when the shape variable was combined with the centroid size, the levels of accuracy increased (81.86-94.92% for males; 84.08-94.88% for females). To obtain larger differences between males and females, it is necessary the combination of centroid size with shape variables; the shape of the humerus is insufficient to discriminate sex with accuracy.

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OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to assess the reliability, reproducibility and validity of mesiodistal and buccolingual measurements comparing these measurements collected using an electronic hand-held digital calliper, on dry dentitions and on dental casts, with measurements obtained from 3D digital models created using a portable intra-oral scanner. DESIGN: The mesiodistal and buccolingual diameter of the crown of 1304 teeth were measured on dry dentitions and on dental casts, and secondly on 3D digital models created using an intra-oral 3D scanner. Reliability, reproducibility and validity were evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and the Bland-Altman graphic method. RESULTS: The results of the intraclass correlation coefficient expressed an excellent degree of agreement in the intra- and inter-observer error analysis, as well as in the comparison of the mesiodistal and buccolingual dimensions taken with the calliper and those taken in digital 3D models. The results of the Bland-Altman method showed that the greatest differences were found in the mesiodistal diameter of the molars and in the buccolingual diameter of the upper premolars. CONCLUSIONS: Mesiodistal and buccolingual measurements obtained from digital 3D models are suitable for recording dentitions for forensic purposes.

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Se realizó un estudio descriptivo del comportamiento de los valores del hierro sérico y la hemoglobina en donantes de sangre en el banco de extracciones de sangre del Hospital Clínico Quirúrgico Docente Manuel Ascunce Domenech, de Camagüey, en un período de seis meses (entre el 1ro de enero y el 30 de junio de 1999). El universo estuvo constituido por 800 donantes de sangre voluntarios, de los cuales se obtuvo una muestra aleatoria representativa conformada por 200 de estos donantes, a los que se les determinó el valor del hierro sérico y la hemoglobina con el objetivo de correlacionarlos. Se evaluó el comportamiento del hierro sérico según el sexo y la edad y se estableció una relación entre los valores del hierro sérico y la hemoglobina con las manifestaciones clínicas encontradas y finalmente se estableció la relación entre el hierro sérico y la hemoglobina con el número de donaciones hechas en un período anterior de un año. Al procesar los datos se concluyó que el 100 % de los donantes estudiados presentaron valores bajos del hierro sérico que manifestaron síntomas clínicos en un 10 % de ellos y el 88 % presentó hemoglobina normal, al existir una relación inversa entre el aumento de las donaciones previas en un año y los valores del hierro sérico y la hemoglobina.

A descriptive study of serum iron value behavior and hemoglobin in blood donors in the blood extraction bank at Manuel Ascunce Domenech provincial hospital of Camagüey within a period of six months (from january 1 st to june 30, 1999) was carried out. The universe was composed of 800 voluntary blood donors, of which, a ramdomized representative sample formed 200 of these donors was obtained . They were determined the value serum iron and hemoglobin, with the aim of correlating them. Serum iron behavior was evaluated as to sex and age. A relationship among serum values and hemoglobin with the clinical manifestations found was established, and finally the relationship among serum iron values and hemoglobin was determined with the number of donation made in almost one year. When processing data, it was concluded that 100 % of donors studied, presented low values of serum iron which manifested clinical symptoms , 10 % of them and 88 % had normal hemoglobin, existing and inverse relationship among the increasing of previous donations during one years and serum iron values and hemoglobin.