Mitochondrial DNA (mt DNA) and the non-recombining region of the Y chromosome are passed down, unaltered, from generation to generation, matrilineally and patrilineally, respectively. Therefore, the Y-chromosome DNA and mtDNA are known as lineage markers, and they play important roles in studies based on human migration and evolutionary history. Y-chromosome DNA is used in forensic analysis to identify individuals involved in cases of sexual assault. In this paper, we review the methods of statistical evaluation of lineage markers used in forensic identification. We also review the combined approach of autosomal and lineage marker evidence.
DNA ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; Human Migration ; Y Chromosome

BACKGROUND: Nitric Oxide (NO) has been discovered to be an important endothelium-derived relaxing factor. The exogenous inhaled NO may diffuse from the alveoli to pulmonary vascular smooth muscle and produce pulmonary vasodilation, but any NO that diffuses into blood will be inactivated before it can produce systemic effects. To examine the effects of NO on pulmonary and systemic hemodynamics, NO was inhaled by experimental dogs in an attempt to reduce the increase in pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) induced by hypoxia in dogs. METHODS: Eight mongrel dogs were studied while inhaling 1)50% O2 (baseline), 2)12% O2 in N2 (hypoxia), 3)followed by the same hypoxic gas mixture of O2 and N2 containing 20, 40 and 80 ppm of NO, respectively. RESULTS: Breathing at FIO2 0.12 nearly doubled the pulmonary vascular resistance from 173 56dyn sec cm-5 to 407 139dyn sec cm-5 and significantly increased the mean pulmonary artery pressure from 16 3mmHg to 22 4mmHg. After adding 20~80 ppm NO to the inspired gas while maintaining the FIO2 at 0.12, the mean pulmonary artery pressure decreased (p<0.05) to the level when breathing oxygen at FIO2 0.5 while the PaO2 and PaCO2 were unchanged. The pulmonary vascular resistance decreased significantly and the right ventricular stroke work index returned to a level similar to breathing at FIO2 0.5 by addition of NO into the breathing circuit. Pulmonary hypertension resumed within 3~5 minutes of ceasing NO inhalation. In none of our studies did inhaling NO produce systemic hypotension and elevate methemoglobin levels. CONCLUSIONS: Inhalation of 20~80 ppm NO selectively induced pulmonary vasodilation and reversed hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction without causing systemic vasodilation and bronchodilation. Methemoglobin and NO2 were within normal limit during the study.
Animals ; Anoxia ; Dogs ; Endothelium-Dependent Relaxing Factors ; Hemodynamics* ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Hypotension ; Inhalation* ; Methemoglobin ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; Nitric Oxide* ; Oxygen ; Pulmonary Artery ; Respiration ; Stroke ; Vascular Resistance ; Vasoconstriction* ; Vasodilation

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of propofol and oral clonidine on bleeding and their efficacy in blunting the hemodynamic effects of epinephrine during endoscopic sinus surgery. METHODS: Informed consent was obtained from eighty patients scheduled for endoscopic sinus surgery under general anesthesia. All patients received atropine 0.5 mg IM for premedication. Group I (n = 20) received thiopental sodium 5 mg/kg and vecuronium 0.1 mg/kg followed by an isoflurane 1 - 1.5 vol% in O2/N2O 50/50. Group P (n = 20) received propofol 2 mg/kg and vecuronium 0.1 mg/kg followed by an infusion of 6 - 10 mg/kg/hour in O2/N2O 40/60. Group P + 75 (n = 20) received oral clonidine 75ng and Group P + 150 (n = 20) received oral clonidine 150ng 60 min before induction of anesthesia. In anesthetic induction and maintenance, Group P + 75 and Group P + 150 were identical to Group P. Blood pressure, heart rate, EKG and SpO2 were continuously monitored. Blood losses were collected and measured at the end of each procedure. Pre- and postoperative hematocrit were checked. The duration of heart rate to peaked level and side effects were observed in all patients after the intranasal injection of epinephrine. RESULTS: The average estimated blood losses in Group P, P + 75 and P + 150 were significantly less than that of Group I (P < 0.05). In Group P + 150, the duration of heart rate increase was significantly shorter than that of Group I (P < 0.05). In Group P + 150, mean arterial pressure and the difference between preoperative and postoperative hematocrit were significantly less than that of Group I (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: General anesthesia based on propofol infusion may have the advantage of decreased bleeding compared with conventional inhalation agents during endoscopic sinus surgery. Tachycardia inresponse to intranasal epinephrine injection was attenuated by oral clonidine.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Arterial Pressure ; Atropine ; Blood Pressure ; Clonidine* ; Electrocardiography ; Epinephrine ; Heart Rate ; Hematocrit ; Hemodynamics* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Informed Consent ; Inhalation ; Isoflurane ; Premedication ; Propofol* ; Tachycardia ; Thiopental ; Vecuronium Bromide

No abstract available.
Arthritis, Juvenile*

Occult papillary adenocarcinoma of the thyroid is known to be indolent, slow metastatic, and has a good prognosis. Occult thyroid carcinoma presenting as a blood-borne metastasis without obvious cervical lymph node involvement is extremely rare. A 65-year-old male patient was visited for hoarseness, dysphagia, and shortness of breath. Bronchoscopy with biopsy revealed a papillary carcinoma of thyroid by immunohistochemical staining. Head & neck CT revealed that involving both the upper esophagus and the posterior tracheal wall, extending into the mediastinum along the upper thoracic spine at T1-T2. We have experienced a rare case of occult papillary carcinoma which invaded the trachea, esophagus and fascia of thoracic spine. Treatment was initiated with radioactive iodine and external bean therapy.
Adenocarcinoma, Papillary ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Bronchoscopy ; Carcinoma, Papillary* ; Deglutition Disorders ; Dyspnea ; Esophagus* ; Fascia ; Head ; Hoarseness ; Humans ; Iodine ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Mediastinum ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Spine ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Trachea*

Recently studies about bi-allelic markers such as SNP, which is commonly found in about every 1.2 kb, seem to be increasing. Compared to STR marker, much have to be improved if it is to be used for individual identification. Nevertheless many researchers have interests in SNP and it 's scope is unpre-dictable. SNP may be promising as an auxiliary tool in individual identification, especially in Y chromo-somal study, in which the usefulness of conventional STR markers are restricted as the concept of haplo-type is applied. We report allelic distribution pattern in Korean for several previously known bi-allelic markers, that are SY81, M9, SRY1532, SRY2627, YAP. In three loci that are SY81, SRY1532, SRY2627, no polymorphism was noted. In M9, YAP loci, bi-allel-ic polymorphism was noted. In M9, 79.3% was G-type, and C-type was 20.7%. The YAP insertion was positive only in 6%. Remaining 94% was YAP(-). These pattern was compared with that of other popu-lation, and racial difference was evident. Several key points about SNP were discussed.
Y Chromosome*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the treatment time dependence of electroacupuncture (EA) on Neiguan (PC6) for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV).

METHODSOne hundred and seventy-eight patients, who had received intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) with Fentanyl, were assigned randomly to three groups using random numbers: a pre-operative EA group (PrEA), a post-operative EA group (PoEA), and a non-acupuncture control group (NC). An anesthetist evaluated the incidence and severity of nausea and vomiting for 48 h after surgery blindly. The main outcomes were severity and freguency of PONV, which were measured with a self-reported questionnaire and a confirmation from the anesthetist. The data were analyzed with ANOVA and Z-test.

RESULTSThe incidence of nausea and vomiting was significantly lower in the PrEA group than the NC group during 48 h after surgery (P<0.01, P<0.05). The incidence of vomiting was also significantly lower in the PrEA group than the PoEA group (P<0.05). The PoEA subjects evidenced no significant differences compared with the NC subjects in terms of the incidence of nausea and vomiting (P<0.05). The severity of nausea was significantly lower in the PrEA group than in the NC and PoEA groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSEA on PC6 is effective in the prevention of PONV, and pre-operative acupuncture is more effective than post-operative acupuncture.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Analgesics, Opioid ; adverse effects ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Laparoscopy ; adverse effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting ; epidemiology ; etiology ; prevention & control

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Primary thyroid disease is prevalent in chronic renal disease, especially in patients requiring chronic dialysis. However, the relationship between kidney function and the prevalence of primary thyroid disease has not been studied in Korea, a nation where the dietary iodine intake is excessive. METHODS: Retrospective data from 2201 consecutive adult patients who visited a health promotion center over the last 5 years were analyzed; specifically, 54 patients with chronic kidney disease not requiring hemodialysis and 64 adults treated with hemodialysis. The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was estimated using the abbreviated Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the independent association between the prevalence of primary hypothyroidism and estimated GFR. RESULTS: The prevalence of overt hypothyroidism increased from 0.5% at an estimated GFR > 90 mL/min/1.73 m2 to 6.3% in end-stage renal disease requiring chronic dialysis (p < 0.001 for trend). Compared with participants with an estimated GFR > 60 mL/min/1.73 m2, those with an estimated GFR < 60 mL/min per 1.73 m2 had an increased odds of overt hypothyroidism after adjusting for age, gender, fasting blood glucose (FBS), and the total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that overt primary hypothyroidism is relatively common (6.3%) among persons with chronic kidney disease requiring chronic dialysis, and it is independently associated with a progressively lower estimated GFR.
Adult ; Blood Glucose ; Cholesterol ; Dialysis ; Diet ; Fasting ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; Iodine ; Kidney ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Prevalence ; Renal Dialysis ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Diseases

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common skin malignancy. This report describes the case of an unusual extensive SCC involving the whole hemiface, which required reconstruction with a combination of a dual vascular free transverse rectus abdominis muscle (TRAM) flap and a skin graft. A 79-year-old woman visited our hospital with multiple large ulcerated erythematous patches on her right hemiface, including the parieto-temporal scalp, bulbar and palpebral conjunctiva, cheek, and lip. A preliminary multifocal biopsy was performed in order to determine the resection margin, and the lesion was resected en bloc. Orbital exenteration was also performed. A free TRAM flap was harvested with preserved bilateral pedicles and was anastomosed with a single superior thyroidal vessel. The entire TRAM flap survived. The final pathological examination of the resected specimen confirmed that there was no regional nodal metastasis, perineural invasion, or lymphovascular involvement. The patient was observed for 6 months, and there was no evidence of local recurrence. Usage of a TRAM flap is appropriate for hemifacial reconstruction because the skin of the abdomen matches the color and pliability of the face. Furthermore, we found that the independent attachment of two extra-flap anastomoses to a single recipient vessel can safely result in survival of the flap.

We reviewed past studies on the identification of familial relationships using 22 short tandem repeat markers. As a result, we can obtain a high discrimination power and a relatively accurate cut-off value in parent-child and full sibling relationships. However, in the case of pairs of uncle-nephew or cousin, we found a limit of low discrimination power of the likelihood ratio (LR) method. Therefore, we compare the LR ranking method and data mining techniques (e.g., logistic regression, linear discriminant analysis, diagonal linear discriminant analysis, diagonal quadratic discriminant analysis, K-nearest neighbor, classification and regression trees, support vector machines, random forest [RF], and penalized multivariate analysis) that can be applied to identify familial relationships, and provide a guideline for choosing the most appropriate model under a given situation. RF, one of the data mining techniques, was found to be more accurate than other methods. The accuracy of RF is 99.99% for parent-child, 99.44% for full siblings, 90.34% for uncle-nephew, and 79.69% for first cousins.
Classification ; Data Mining ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Forests ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Methods ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Siblings ; Support Vector Machine ; Trees