The main methods of age estimation at present mostly rely on characteristic physical and chemical changes of skeleton, soft tissue, cells, biomacromolecules and the other substances. Because physiological changes of tissues and organs during growth are extremely complicated, all methods have their limitations. In practical, it is necessary to combine several methods together in order to improve the accuracy of age estimation. This article reviewed recent development on age estimation domestically and abroad and discussed advantage and disadvantage of different methods.
Age Determination by Skeleton ; Age Determination by Teeth ; DNA/genetics* ; Forensic Anthropology/methods* ; Humans

Burned bones have their unique characteristics in investigation of fire disaster/crimes, airplane disaster, explosion and other accidents. To study the morphological changes of skeletal tissue and DNA changes at different incinerating temperature might provide precise standard means to determine genera, sex, and age. Genetic locus was also applied in the above fields. The techniques to extract and detect of DNA in burning bones have been improved in recent years. In this article investigation advancement of analysis of burned bones with the morphology, histology, and molecular biology as well as the latest methods and techniques were reviewed. These results provide a new approach for further research and practice in forensic medicine.
Age Determination by Skeleton/methods* ; Animals ; Bone and Bones/pathology* ; Burns/pathology* ; DNA/analysis* ; Forensic Anthropology/methods* ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Sex Determination by Skeleton/methods* ; Tandem Repeat Sequences ; Time Factors

Individual identification by measuring the human skeleton is an important research in the field of forensic anthropology. Computed tomography （CT） technology can provide high-resolution image of skeleton. Skeleton image can be reformed by software in the post-processing workstation. Different skeleton measurement indexes of anthropology, such as diameter, angle, area and volume, can be measured on section and reformative images. Measurement process is barely affected by human factors. This paper reviews the literatures at home and abroad about the application of measuring skeleton by CT in forensic anthropology research for individual identification in four aspects, including sex determination, height infer, facial soft tissue thickness measurement and age estimation. The major technology and the application of CT in forensic anthropology research are compared and discussed, respectively.
Age Determination by Skeleton ; Bone and Bones/diagnostic imaging* ; Forensic Anthropology/trends* ; Humans ; Sex Determination Analysis ; Software ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods*

OBJECTIVE: To build an expert system for forensic bones estimation. METHODS: By using the object oriented method, employing statistical data of forensic anthropology, combining the statistical data frame knowledge representation with productions and also using the fuzzy matching and DS evidence theory method. RESULTS: Software for forensic estimation of sex, age and height with opened knowledge base was designed. CONCLUSION This system is reliable and effective, and it would be a good assistant of the forensic technician.
Age Determination by Skeleton/methods* ; Algorithms ; Anthropometry/methods* ; Computer Simulation ; Expert Systems ; Forensic Anthropology/methods* ; Forensic Medicine/methods* ; Humans ; Software Design

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Determination by Skeleton ; methods ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male

Bone development shows certain regularity with age. The regularity can be used to infer age and serve many fields such as justice, medicine, archaeology, etc. As a non-invasive evaluation method of the epiphyseal development stage, MRI is widely used in living age estimation. In recent years, the rapid development of machine learning has significantly improved the effectiveness and reliability of living age estimation, which is one of the main development directions of current research. This paper summarizes the analysis methods of age estimation by knee joint MRI, introduces the current research trends, and future application trend.
Epiphyses/diagnostic imaging* ; Age Determination by Skeleton/methods* ; Reproducibility of Results ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods* ; Knee Joint/diagnostic imaging*

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the reliability of cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) and to verify the possibility in the growth evaluation of female adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients as a helpful supplementary to the Risser sign.

METHODSCoronal and lateral full-length spine X-ray film and left hand-wrist radiographs of 77 female adolescent patients with idiopathic scoliosis were selected from January 2010 to October 2010. The interval period between lateral length of the spine and left hand-wrist radiographs did not exceed 3 months. The CVM was assessed by a method developed by Baccetti and co-workers, whereas hand-wrist maturation was assessed by Fishman's method. The results were analyzed by Spearman correlation with patients Risser sign, chronological age, and menarche period.

RESULTSThere were strong correlations between CVM and SMI or Risser sign (r = 0.862 and 0.762, P < 0.01). While in 26 patients whose Risser sign were 0-I, the correlation between CVM and SMI was more pronounced (r = 0.761, P < 0.01), compared with the correlation between Risser sign and SMI (r = 0.641, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSCVM is a valid indicator of skeletal growth evaluation and can be used as a helpful supplementary to Risser sign.

Adolescent ; Age Determination by Skeleton ; methods ; Cervical Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; growth & development ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Reproducibility of Results ; Scoliosis ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVE: To seek a exact method of age determination. METHODS: This sample consists of 73 male Chinese han individuals whose ages have been known. Eight positions were selected from their radiograms which have been divided into three or six grade and then set up a mathematical model to deduce age by multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: The standard deviation of male thyroid cartilage is 1.854 and the multiple correctation coefficient is 0.9971. CONCLUSION The observation proved that age determination by radiographic feature of thyroid cartiage may be suitable for male Chinese han population from 13 to 67 years old.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Determination by Skeleton/methods* ; Aged ; Asian People ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reference Values ; Thyroid Cartilage/diagnostic imaging*

OBJECTIVE: To seek a method of age determination. METHODS: This sample consists of 69 female Chinese han individuals whose ages been known. Five positions were selected from their radiograms which have been divided into three or six grade and then set up a mathematical model to deduce age by multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: The standard deviation of female thyroid cartilage is 1.969 and the multiple correctation coefficient is 0.984. CONCLUSION The observation proved that age determination by radiographic feature of thyroid cartilage can be used for female Chinese han population from 18 to 60 years old.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Determination by Skeleton/methods* ; Asian People ; Female ; Forensic Medicine ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Middle Aged ; Thyroid Cartilage/diagnostic imaging*

OBJECTIVE: The influence on age estimation by comparing the differences between left and right side development of osteophiphysis. METHODS: 27 osteophiphysis development indexes in the X-ray films of 6 major joints and pelvises in 130 male juveniles were observed. The positions and levels of difference between left and right side development of osteophiphysis were compared. The male juvenile age by regression equation according to left side and right side were estimated respectively. RESULTS: In 76 cases, the age estimation results are the same for both sides. In 47 cases, the difference between left and right side is less than 6 months. In 7 cases, the difference is between 6 and 12 months. The error of 94.6% age estimation is within 6 months. The differences between left and right osteophiphysis development are often found in proximal humerus, distal radius, distal ulna and crista iliaca. CONCLUSION The subtle difference between left and right osteophiphysis development has no influence on age estimation.
Adolescent ; Age Determination by Skeleton/methods* ; Forensic Medicine ; Humans ; Humerus/diagnostic imaging* ; Male ; Osteogenesis ; Radius/diagnostic imaging* ; Tibia/diagnostic imaging*