Simultaneous identification and association of body fluids to donors can serve as a powerful tool in the criminal investigation of mixed traces. Massively parallel sequencing of mRNA targets not only identifies the origin of the body fluids but may also provide additional contextual information about the body fluid donors of a (binary) mixture using coding region SNPs (cSNPs). Within the European DNA Profiling Group (EDNAP), two consecutive collaborative exercises (3rd and 4th EDNAP exercise) were organized, with the objective to evaluate the performance of two previously published high-resolution mRNA sequencing assays. In the 3rd EDNAP exercise, the BFID-cSNP-BSS assay (cSNPs for blood, saliva, and semen) was evaluated, while in the 4th EDNAP exercise, the BFID-cSNP-6F assay (cSNPs for six fluids/tissues, including blood, saliva, semen, vaginal secretion, menstrual blood, and skin) was tested. Each RNA cSNP assay was accompanied by a genomic DNA assay for the genotyping of the cSNPs in the individual(s) or body fluid donor(s) of interest. A total of 11 laboratories participated in one or both collaborative exercises. In each exercise, the participating laboratories received a set of 16 standardized mock case stains for analysis and were encouraged to analyze additional, self-prepared stains and reference samples. Laboratories could participate using either the Ion Torrent S5™ or the Illumina MiSeq™ sequencing system. The results of the 16 mock case stains were very encouraging in both exercises, as body fluid components could be reliably identified for most of the stains. Since successful donor association depends on the number of body fluid markers covered in the sequencing results, we found that for stains consisting of blood, menstrual blood, vaginal secretion or a mixture thereof, the cSNPs provided substantial genetic discriminatory information for successful association of the respective body fluid to its donor. In mixtures, the difficulty in interpreting the cSNP genotypes might be attributed to the masking effect of the other body fluid(s) present. Body fluid identification and donor association of skin samples proved to be a significant challenge. In conclusion, body fluid identification and donor association using the BFID-cSNP-BSS and -6 F assays is a promising and effective method across laboratories and sequencing platforms.

Human singularity provides a foundation for forensic genetics, where the study of Short Tandem Repeats (STRs) is key. Furthermore, the development of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has revolutionized the field by enabling the amplification of specific DNA markers. The Investigator® 26plex QS Amplification Kit is a highly robust multiplex PCR system, for human identification. In this study, we report the results obtained from the internal validation carried out at the Portuguese National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences. The results showed that the Investigator® 26plex QS kit proved to be a robust tool for the analysis of forensic samples, offering high sensitivity and specificity.

The Portuguese DNA profile database for civil and criminal investigation was approved in 2008 and by the end of 2023, had a total of 23775 genetic profiles. Around 30% of the profiles were from samples collected as evidence for criminal investigation purposes and 2% were staff profiles. The primary objective of DNA databases is to help criminal investigations, by detecting matches between profiles from samples collected at crime scenes and profiles from convicted offenders allowing the identification of the perpetrator who left biological traces at a crime scene. Nearly 1% of the national matches in the Portuguese DNA database resulted between crimes scene samples and staff. The aim of this work is to emphasize the importance of the inclusion of the staff profiles in the national DNA database, leading to identify possible cross-contaminations.

Os perfis de ADN desempenham um papel fundamental na investigação criminal, uma vez que os vestígios biológicos encontrados em cenas de crime podem, em determinadas situações, constituir a única evidência disponível para a identificação do vestígio. Em várias instâncias, essa identificação é viabilizada pela comparação entre o perfil genético obtido a partir da amostra biológica e o perfil de um indivíduo suspeito. No entanto, nem sempre existem suspeitos previamente identificados para realizar essa análise comparativa. Nesses cenários, o perfil genético obtido a partir da amostra biológica é inserido na Base de Dados de Perfis de ADN (BDP-ADN), permitindo a sua comparação com os perfis genéticos anteriormente inseridos, nomeadamente de arguidos condenados. O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a contribuição da BDP-ADN no auxílio à investigação criminal no período compreendido entre 2019 e 2023, a partir da análise do número de coincidências obtidas entre os perfis genéticos dos indivíduos condenados e os perfis genéticos de amostras biológicas problema inseridas no âmbito da investigação criminal. Para tal, foram consultados os relatórios anuais disponibilizados pelo Conselho de Fiscalização da Base de Dados de Perfis de ADN, dos quais foram extraídos os dados pertinentes. Entre 2019 e 2022, observou-se que o número de perfis genéticos inseridos na BDP-ADN manteve-se relativamente constante, excetuando-se o ano de 2020, no qual houve um aumento na inserção de amostras problema. No que diz respeito às coincidências, verificou-se um paralelismo com o número de perfis inseridos, uma vez que os valores permaneceram estáveis nesse período, com exceção do ano de 2020, onde se registou um aumento das coincidências no âmbito das Decisões Prüm, acompanhando o crescimento da inserção de perfis. Já em 2023, constatou-se um crescimento significativo no número de perfis genéticos inseridos, sobretudo de amostras problema criminais, o que resultou num aumento substancial do número de coincidências tanto nacionais tanto no âmbito das Decisões Prüm. Esse crescimento pode ser atribuído ao incremento de perfis genéticos de indivíduos condenados e de amostras biológicas problema, bem como à entrada de produção da BDP-ADN com a Base de Dados do Reino Unido, uma das maiores bases de dados forenses da Europa. Os resultados deste estudo evidenciam que a eficiência da BDP-ADN está intimamente relacionada com a sua dimensão. Uma base de dados de ADN forense que contenha um elevado número de perfis genéticos de indivíduos condenados e de amostras problema apresenta uma maior probabilidade de coincidência entre esses perfis, potencializando assim o seu contributo para a investigação criminal e para a administração da justiça.

O crescimento do crime transnacional tem colocado novos desafios aos países, o que levou à implementação de medidas compensatórias. Neste contexto, as bases de dados de ADN desempenham um papel crucial no intercâmbio de informações ao permitir a ligação de crimes transnacionais e a identificação dos seus perpetradores O Tratado de Prüm, assinado em maio de 2005 na Alemanha, tem como objetivo reforçar a cooperação transfronteiriça no combate ao terrorismo, crimes transfronteiriços e migração ilegal. Ele promove a colaboração europeia por meio do intercâmbio de dados, incluindo informações de ADN, impressões digitais e registros de veículos. A cooperação ocorre em duas etapas: primeiro, é realizada uma busca ou comparação automatizada; e, se bemsucedida, a segunda etapa envolve a troca de informações adicionais, garantindo a proteção de dados. De acordo com as disposições transpostas do Tratado de Prüm para as Decisões 2008/615/JAI e 2008/616/JAI, do Conselho da União Europeia, Portugal foi autorizado em 2011 a participar no intercâmbio automatizado de dados de ADN a nível europeu sob as Decisões Prüm. No entanto, a implementação efetiva começou em 2015. Este estudo tem como objetivo analisar o desempenho de Portugal avaliando as coincidências obtidas com os perfis genéticos nacionais partilhados no âmbito das Decisões Prüm, particularmente no ano de 2023. Para isso, foram analisados os dados publicados pelo Conselho de Fiscalização da Base de Dados de Perfis de ADN e pelo Conselho da União Europeia. Até o final de 2023, Portugal tinha 22.901 perfis genéticos disponíveis para comparação no âmbito das Decisões Prüm. Os últimos dois países a estabelecer conexão com Portugal em 2023 foram o Reino Unido e a Grécia, totalizando 23 países. Para garantir transparência, os dados são publicados anualmente nos relatórios pelo Conselho de Fiscalização da Base de Dados de Perfis de ADN. Em 2023, houve 624 coincidências transnacionais no âmbito das Decisões Prüm, entre as quais 502 Offender Hits (coincidências entre perfis de vestígios biológicos de cena de crime e perfis de referência criminal) e 122 Forensic Hits (coincidências entre perfis vestígios biológicos de diferentes cenas de crime). A análise dessas coincidências mostra um crescimento expressivo tanto nas coincidências Offender Hits quanto nas coincidências Forensic Hits, durante esse ano.

Physical violence against children and adolescents is an issue of Global Public Health. This study aims to identify traumatic injuries and the medicolegal temporary framework of the victim’s profile in the European legal approach. Participants and setting include the following: the clinical reports of a Portuguese European Clinical Academic Center database were analysed. An observational and prospective cohort study was performed. A descriptive analysis of the variables was conducted, considering gender, bimodal age groups, place of residence, offender data, place of occurrence, aetiology, localization, type of injuries, personal injury assessment by Quantum doloris, and injury time. The statistical analysis was performed by Spearman’s rho and Kendall’s tau-b correlation tests, Pearson’s chi-square test of independence (χ2), and Mann Whitney and Kruskal–Wallis nonparametric tests (P < 0.05). The relationship between age groups and the place of occurrence was statistically significant (P = 0.001). Orofacial and non-orofacial injuries were related (P = 0.035). The General Data Protection Regulation is not a barrier to the treatment and sharing of justified data but a framework for safeguarding individuals’ fundamental rights, including the Right to Health. Meticulous reporting of the clinical situation involves the victim, the occurrence, and the potential offender. Key points: • An oral health professional’s notification of the event is a fundamental step of the judicial process. • The timeline is the core of traumatic injury assessment in a child physical abuse scenario. • Medicolegal evaluation impacts disability prevention, imputability, and notification of the crime.

The issue of older people’s maltreatment (OPM) is gaining increased attention worldwide because of its significant short and long-term severe consequences. Healthcare professionals play a crucial role in detecting, reporting, and managing these cases, but many difficulties in these procedures exist, and underreporting is very frequent. Thus, the aim of this study was to identify the extent of and difficulties in detecting and reporting suspected OPM cases by general practitioner physicians in Portugal. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among general practice physicians (GPPs) to assess their perceptions, experiences, and challenges in detecting and reporting older people maltreatment (OPM). The 13-item questionnaire explored sociodemographic factors, responsibility, confidence, reporting practices, and training needs, providing an updated insight into OPM management in primary healthcare. It was anonymous and conducted through a self-report questionnaire distributed in paper format to GPPs working in the National Health Service in the Northern of Portugal. We received 356 completed questionnaires for further analysis. The findings indicate that, on average, physicians suspect fewer than one OPM case per year; only 32% suspected at least one case in the previous year, although 55.3% and 54.5% of the physician’s revealed confidence in identifying signs of physical abuse and neglect, respectively. The ambiguity of the psychological symptoms was identified as a great challenge in detection (50.3%). Only 36.5% of the physicians were acquainted with the procedures for reporting suspected cases; however, of the 32% who suspected at least of one case in the previous year, only 39.5% reported all or at least some suspected cases; 16.9% chose not to report the case when requested by the victim or his/her caregivers. Most (91.6%) expressed a willingness to adopt protocols to assist them in managing such cases. A correlation was found between physicians’ satisfaction with OPM reporting training during undergraduate and postgraduate education and their ability to report (p=0.024), as well as with the number of reported cases (p=0.003). Thus, the detection and reporting of OPM by physicians remain major challenges that need to be overcome. Further research and greater awareness of the importance of these procedures are essential to ensure victims’ protection, safety, and health.

Multimorbid patients represent a special population of vulnerable individuals who suffer from two or more long-term conditions. They are a very prevalent group with an increased risk of death from COVID-19. The present study aimed to identify the sociodemographic and clinical determinants of multimorbidity of underlying conditions that increase the risk of severe COVID-19 in chronic adult individuals by analyzing data from the Portuguese National Health Survey 2019. The inclusion sample consisted of 7859 adult residents in Portugal who had at least one chronic condition. The health conditions considered for multimorbidity were CKD, COPD, heart conditions, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and smoking. In Portugal, approximately 6 out of every 10 individuals with chronic diseases suffer from one or more conditions that are on the list of those at increased risk of severe COVID-19 disease, and approximately 2 out of every 10 individuals have multimorbidity. Obesity and diabetes are the most frequent risk factors. Timely interventions (e.g., regular medical follow-up for preventive health services and health information) targeting multimorbidity in males and individuals with low educational levels, a poor health status, and low functionality may help to reduce the risk of severe COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 sequelae, and to improve health in a large proportion of the population.

Os laboratórios remotos são uma ferramenta tecnológica e pedagógica com uso crescente em todos os níveis de educação, e sua utilização generalizada é uma parte importante do seu próprio aperfeiçoamento e evolução. Este artigo descreve vários problemas encontrados em aulas laboratoriais, em cursos de ensino superior, na utilização de laboratórios remotos baseados em sistemas PXI, utilizando o sistema VISIR ou uma solução alternativa. São identificados e explicados três problemas que foram relatados por professores que deram apoio aos estudantes na utilização dos laboratórios remotos. O primeiro problema prende-se com a necessidade de permitir aos alunos selecionar a localização específica onde um amperímetro deve ser inserido nos circuitos elétricos, mesmo que incorreta, replicando as dificuldades do mundo real. O segundo é causado por falhas de sincronismo quando são necessárias várias medições em intervalos curtos, como no ciclo de descarga de um condensador. E o último problema é provocado pelo uso de um multímetro em modo DC na leitura de grandezas em CA, um procedimento que colide com as definições do equipamento. Todos os cenários são apresentados e discutidos, incluindo a solução encontrada para cada caso. A conclusão que se retira do trabalho descrito é que a área de laboratórios remotos é um campo em expansão, onde a sua utilização prática permite o aperfeiçoamento e a evolução das soluções disponíveis, exigindo uma cooperação e partilha de informação entre todos os intervenientes, i.e. investigadores, professores e alunos.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical importance of resilience and adaptability at both individual and organisational levels in navigating unprecedented challenges. This study introduces a novel Pandemic Resilience Competence Model, a framework that articulates eight key competences each for individuals and organisations to enhance preparedness and response in pandemic scenarios. Employing a qualitative approach, the research identifies the essential skills and organisational capacities required to mitigate the impacts of pandemics. Using 50 semi-structured interviews with professionals and managers working in healthcare services in Austria, Germany, Italy, Portugal and the United Kingdom, the model provides actionable insights for implementing processes to improve preparedness and response in pandemic scenarios for stakeholders, including policymakers, educators, and organisational leaders. Findings highlight the interdependence of individual and organisational competences, reinforcing the need for integrated strategies to build pandemic resilience. The conclusions advocate for embedding the competences within training and development initiatives, aiming to enhance collective readiness for future global health crises.