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Background: In forensic genetics, mutation analysis for different short tandem repeat (STR) loci is important for paternity and maternity testing. The aim of this study is determining the most frequent loci with mutations in a population of 743 individuals in western Romania in 246 kinship cases. These include 240 paternity and 6 maternity tests analyzed at the Laboratory of Forensic Genetics, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania. The study was conducted between January 1, 2017, to January 1, 2020. The study aims to analyze the mutation rates for 15 autosomal markers used in this type of testing. The following loci were included in our study: D3S1358, D8S1179, D18S51, D21S11, FGA, TH01, vWA, CSF1PO, D7S820, D13S317, D16S539, D2S1338, D19S433, TPOX, D5S818., Methods: For the reference samples, we used saliva collected on buccal swabs from all individuals. Salivary DNA was quantified on the 7500 real-time PCR equipment (Thermo Scientific, USA). Further, amplification of the DNA samples was performed on a ProFlex PCR System (Thermo Scientific, USA) using Identifiler Plus PCR Am-plification kit (Thermo Scientific, USA). Fragment analysis was performed on the 3500 Genetic Analyzer (Thermo Scientific, USA). The genetic profiles were generated by GeneMapper ID-X software version 1.4 (Thermo Scientific, USA)., Results: The mutation events in paternity testing were observed in 10 out of the 15 analyzed loci: D21S11, D18S51, D16S539, D8S1179, FGA, D2S441, D19S433, D2S1338, D3S1358, D5S818 and vWA. Paternal mutations were more frequent (63%) than maternal mutations (37%)., Conclusions: The results confirm that the mutation rate in paternity tests are more frequent during paternal meiosis compared to maternal.

Background: Genetic markers are routinely used in human identification of paternity, maternity, and kinship cases. We describe a DNA paternity case with one mismatch on SE33 locus between the alleged father (AF) and the child (daughter). Because there was a father-daughter relationship to solve this case we used chromosome X-STRs markers too., Methods: As reference samples we used saliva collected from inside the cheek of each person using buccal swabs (Copan, Italy). The DNA samples were quantified on a 7500 ABI real-time PCR using the Investigator Quantiplex Pro Kit (Qiagen, Germany). Salivary DNA samples were amplified on a ProFlex PCR System (ThermoFischer, USA) using the multiplex STR markers from the AmpF/STR® NGM Select PCR Amplification Kit (Thermo-Fischer, USA) and Investigator® Argus X-12 QS kit markers (Qiagen, Germany). PCR products were run on capillary electrophoresis on an ABI 3500 Genetic Analyzer (ThermoFischer, USA)., Results: The AF was excluded from paternity on STRs markers due to one mismatch on SE33 locus. To confirm or exclude the paternity, we used the chromosome X-STRs markers, obtaining a perfect match between the AF and his daughter., Conclusions: In paternity testing, where one or two mismatches are present between the child (daughter) and the AF on different loci on STR markers, the use of chromosome X-STRs is needed for the confirmation or exclusion of paternity.

Background: Genetic information is used very frequently in human identification in civil or judicial cases. Establishing the kinship relationship between a child and his biological father involves many ethical facts. We describe a DNA paternity case with two alleged fathers and an inconsistency between alleged father-2 and the child at D3S1358 locus., Methods: As biological samples we used saliva collected from inside the cheek of each person using buccal swabs (Copan, Italy). We collected the biological samples from each of person after each person gave the consent. In order to find the concentration of salivary DNA, the DNA samples were quantified by 7500 ABI Real-time PCR using the Quantifiler Human DNA kit (Applied Biosystems, USA). The next step was the amplification of the Salivary DNA samples by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). It was performed on a ProFlex PCR System (Applied Biosystems, USA) using the multiplex STR markers from the AmpFlSTR® Identifiler Plus Amplification Kit (Applied Biosystems, USA). After amplification, the PCR products were run on capillary electrophoresis on an ABI 3500 Genetic Analyzer (Applied Biosystems, USA)., Results: AF-1 was excluded as biological father. The DNA profiles of AF-2 and the child had one mismatch at D3S1358 locus. Further, we amplified the Y-STR markers to confirm the mutation, obtaining a perfect match between the 2 persons., Conclusions: In paternity testing, where one or two inconsistencies are present between the child and the alleged father on autosomal STR markers, the use of haploid markers X-STR or Y-STRs is needed for the confirmation or exclusion of paternity.

Worldwide, oral cancers represent the 6th most common type of cancer. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), which is the most common type of oral cancer, is present in about 90% of the patients with this malignancy. OSCC presents a survival rate up to 80%, if it is detected in an early stage (T1), but if detected at later stages (T3 - T4) the survival rate decreases to 20 - 30%. Due to these survival rates, it is obvious that there is an urgent need to introduce new molecular biomarkers for the early, noninvasive diagnosis of oral cancers from saliva. These biomarkers will aid in increasing the survival rate of the patients for the long-term. MicroRNAs are part of a class of small, non-coding RNAs that contain 19 - 23 nucleotides. MicroRNAs play an important role in the regulation of biochemical mechanisms, cell proliferation, and other cellular mechanisms in the human body. Recently, due to the developments in the field of molecular genetics, salivary microRNAs became important biomarkers in early detection and monitoring of oral cancers by noninvasive methods. We want to present in this review the most important genetic and epigenetic biomarkers involved in oral carcinogenesis, focusing especially on the salivary microRNAs as biomarkers in early diagnosis of OSCC.

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) represents the most commonly diagnosed type of malignancy among men in Western European countries and the second cause of cancer-related deaths among men worldwide. Methylation of the CpG island has an important role in prostate carcinogenesis and progression. The purpose of the study was to analyse the diagnostic value of aberrant promoter hypermethylation of the gene for glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) in plasma DNA to discriminate between prostate cancer (PCa) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients by minimally invasive methods., Methods: Aberrant promoter hypermethylation was investigated in DNA isolated from plasma samples of 31 patients with diagnostic of PCa and 44 cancer-free males (control subjects). Extracted genomic DNA was bisulfite treated and analyzed using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MS-PCR) technique., Results: Hypermethylation of the GSTP1 gene was detected in plasma samples from 27 of 31 (92.86%) patients with PCa. Genomic DNA from plasma samples from the 44 controls without genitourinary cancer revealed promoter hypermethylation of GSTP1 gene in 3 (10.6%) of the 44 patients. Receiver operating curve (ROC) included clinico-pathological parameters such as: serum PSA levels, pathological stage, Gleason score, hypermethylation status of GSTP1 gene, and it gave a predictive accuracy of 93% with a sensitivity and specificity of 95% and 87%, respectively., Conclusions: In this study, we have evaluated the ability of GSTP1 gene to discriminate between PCa and BPH patients in genomic DNA from plasma samples by non-invasive methods.