Recently, next generation sequencing (NGS) has received attention as the ultimate genotyping method to overcome the limitations of capillary electrophoresis (CE)-based short tandem repeat (STR) analysis, such as the limited number of STR loci that can be measured simultaneously using fluorescent-labeled primers and the maximum size of STR amplicons. In this study, we analyzed 15 autosomal STR markers via the NGS method and evaluated their effectiveness in STR analysis. Using male and female standard DNA as single-sources and their 1:1 mixture, we sequentially generated sample amplicons by the multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method, constructed DNA libraries by ligation of adapters with a multiplex identifier (MID), and sequenced DNA using the Roche GS Junior Platform. Sequencing data for each sample were analyzed via alignment with pre-built reference sequences. Most STR alleles could be determined by applying a coverage threshold of 20% for the two single-sources and 10% for the 1:1 mixture. The structure of the STR in each allele was accurately determined by examining the sequences of the target STR region. The mixture ratio of the mixed sample was estimated by analyzing the coverage ratios between assigned alleles at each locus and the reference/variant ratios from the observed sequence variations. In conclusion, the experimental method used in this study allowed the successful generation of NGS data. In addition, the NGS data analysis protocol enables accurate STR allele call and repeat structure determination at each locus. Therefore, this approach using the NGS system will be helpful to interpret and analysis the STR profiles from singe-source and even mixed samples in forensic investigation.
Alleles ; DNA ; Electrophoresis, Capillary ; Female ; Gene Library ; Humans ; Ligation ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Statistics as Topic

The p53 gene is believed to play an important role through the mutation and overexpression in the progression of various human malignant tumors. The type IV collagenase (matrix metalloproteinase: MMP-2) initiates the degradation of the extracellular matrix, and consequently may play a role in the tumor invasion and metastasis. To investigate the correlation between clinicopathologic features of the colorectal adenocarcinomas and benign tumors and expression of p53 and MMP-2 proteins, we performed an immunohistochemical study on 40 colorectal adenocarcinomas, 20 adenomas and 20 hyperplastic polyps by using the antibodies to p53 and MMP-2 proteins. The positive expression rate of the p53 protein in adenocarcinomas was 62.5% and significantly higher than in benign tumors. The positive expression rate of the MMP-2 protein was 47.5% in adenocarcinomas, but there was no expression of MMP-2 protein in benign tumors. The difference in p53 and MMP-2 expression rates between malignant and non-malignant tumors was statistically significant. The positive expression rate of p53 protein in the non-metastatic and metastatic adenocarcinomas was 59.1 and 66.7%, respectively. The positive expression rate of MMP-2 protein in the non-metastatic and metastatic adencarcinomas was 45.5 and 50.0%, respectively. The correlation between several clinicopathologic features and expression of p53 and MMP-2 protein was not statistically significant, but the rate of positive MMP-2 immunoreactivity showed a statistically significant difference between Astler-Coller stage B1 C1 group and B2 C2 group of adenocarcinoma (p=0.0431). We concluded that the expression of p53 and MMP-2 protein contributes to the cancer development and MMP-2 may play a certain role in the invasiveness of the colorectal tumor. p53 and MMP-2 protein expression is not correlated with lymph node metastasis.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Adenoma ; Antibodies ; Collagenases ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Extracellular Matrix ; Genes, p53 ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Polyps

Polyethylene wear is one of the major problems following total knee arthroplasty. Many factors affect the degree and the pattern of polyethylene wear. We experienced three cases of early catastrophic poly- ethylene wears. All cases showed flexion contracture with severe genu varum deformity and total knee arthroplasty was performed with Advantim total knee prostheses in all cases. Postoperatively, bony align- ment and ligament balancing were good in all cases. However, in 12 to 22 months later, lateral subluxa- tion and valgus instability were developed with early catastrophic polyethylene wear especially in the medial compartments. Flat surface geornetry of polyethylene might be responsible for the development of lateral subluxation and early catastrophic wears. From these experience, we concluded that the mediolat- eral as well as anteroposterior dishing is essential for the stability of the artificial joint and prevention of early rapid wear of polyethylene articular inserts following total knee arthroplasty.
Arthroplasty ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Contracture ; Genu Varum ; Joints ; Knee ; Knee Prosthesis ; Ligaments ; Polyethylene*

PURPOSE: Medical students are exposed to various interpersonal relationships with patients, faculty and colleagues. Therefore, a clear understanding of their personality types and interpersonal problems is vital in creating an appropriate educational program for medical students. This study intends to explore the characteristics of interpersonal problems based on medical students' personality types. METHODS: The Myers-Briggs type inventory(MBTI) and Korean Inventory of Interpersonal Problems were used to assess the first-year medical students at Yonsei University College of Medicine, 2006. RESULTS: The personality types focusing on the interpersonal domain showed that the medical students could be categorized into four types: analytical type(47.2%), driving type(30.3%), amiable type(12.4%), and expressive type(10.1%). The characteristics of interpersonal problems data were within normal range. The relationship between the personality indicator and the characteristics of interpersonal problems is statistically significant in extraversion-introversion. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that the personality factors of medical students are correlated to the interpersonal problems they face. Thus, educational programs that take into account personality types and characteristics of interpersonal problems are crucial in providing high-quality medical education.
Education, Medical ; Humans ; Reference Values ; Students, Medical

Purpose: This study reviewed screening and assessment tools that are used to measure delirium in patients with cancer in hospice and palliative care settings and examined their psychometric properties. Methods: Four databases were searched for studies using related search terms (delirium, tools, palliative care, cancer, and others). The inclusion criteria were a) studies that included screening/assessment tools for measuring delirium in cancer patients receiving hospice/palliative care, and b) studies published in English or Korean. The exclusion criteria were a) studies that were conducted in an intensive care setting, and b) case studies, qualitative studies, systematic reviews, or meta-analyses. Results: Out of the 81 studies identified, only 10 examined the psychometric properties of tools for measuring delirium, and 8 tools were ultimately identified. The psychometric properties of the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale (MDAS) were the most frequently examined (n=5), and the MDAS showed good reliability, concurrent validity, and diagnostic accuracy. The Delirium Rating Scale had good reliability and diagnostic accuracy. The Delirium Rating Scale-Revised 98 also showed good reliability and structural validity, but its diagnostic performance was not examined in hospice/palliative care settings. The Nursing Delirium Screening Scale showed relatively low diagnostic accuracy. Conclusion The MDAS showed evidence of being a valid assessment tool for assessing delirium in patients with cancer in palliative care. Few studies examined the diagnostic performance of delirium tools. Therefore, further studies are needed to examine the diagnostic performance of screening/assessment tools for the optimal detection of delirium in patients with cancer in hospice/palliative care.

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether nicotinic acid (NA) and nicotinamide (NAM) reduce the Alzheimer disease (AD)-related gene expression in brain tissues of amyloid beta (Aβ)-injected mice. Male Crj:CD1 (ICR) mice were divided into 6 treatment groups; 1) control, 2) Aβ control, 3) Aβ + NA 20 mg/kg/day (NA20), 4) Aβ + NA40, 5) Aβ + NAM 200 mg/kg/day (NAM200), and 6) Aβ + NAM400. After 1-week acclimation period, the mice orally received NA or NAM once a day for a total of 7 successive days. On day 7, biotinylated Aβ42 was injected into mouse tail vein. At 5 hours after the injection, blood and tissues were collected. Aβ42 injection was confirmed by Western blot analysis of Aβ42 protein in brain tissue. NAM400 pre-treatment significantly reduced the gene expression of amyloid precursor protein and presenilin 1 in brain tissues. And, NAM200 and NAM400 pre-treatments significantly increased sirtuin 1 expression in brain tissues, which is accompanied by the decreased brain expression of nuclear factor kappa B by 2 doses of NAM. Increased expression of AD-related genes was attenuated by the NAM treatment, which suggests that NAM supplementation may be a potential preventive strategy against AD-related deleterious changes.
Acclimatization ; Aging ; Alzheimer Disease ; Amyloid* ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Brain* ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Male ; Mice* ; NF-kappa B ; Niacin ; Niacinamide* ; Presenilin-1* ; Presenilins* ; Sirtuin 1 ; Tail ; Veins*

The statistical study of new outpatients of skin problems seen in dermatologic department of Seoul Red Cross Hospital from l976 to 1980 was done and the 10 most common dermatoses were analysed in detail, The results were summarized as follows: 1) Of 19,679 outpatients, males were 10,530(53.5%) and females were 9,149(46.5%). The sex ratio of male to female was 1. 15: l. 2) The most common dermatoses were atopic dermatitis/eczema(16. 9%), fungal infection(16. 2%), contact dermatitis(15. 3%), scabies(10. 7%), urticaria(10. 6%), acne(9. 5%), pyoderma(8. 3%), insect bite(5. 6%), syphilis(4. 1%) and psoriasia (2. 8%). 3) Of 10 most common dermatoses, contact dermatitis, acne, scabies and urticaria were revealed to have a tendency to increase year by year, syphilis and psoriasis were constant pattern and other common dermatoses showed irregular pattern in their incidence. 4) The sex ratio of male to female of l0 most common dermatoses was l. 23: l. Fungal infection, scabies, pyoderma, insect bite, syphilis and psoriasis wereoutnumbered in male and atopic dermatitis/eczema, contact dermatitis, urticaria and acne were outnumbered in female. 5) Atopic dermatitis/eczema & scabies were prevalent in winter, acne, fungal infection, urticaria and pyoderma in summer, and contact dermatitis in spring and summer. 6) The most frequent age groups of atopic dermatitis/eczema were 1 to 10 years, acne and fungal infection, 11 to 30 years, and contact dermatitis and fungal infection, 31 to 50 years.
Acne Vulgaris ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Insect Bites and Stings ; Insects ; Male ; Outpatients* ; Psoriasis ; Pyoderma ; Red Cross ; Scabies ; Seoul ; Sex Ratio ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Statistics as Topic* ; Syphilis ; Urticaria

A 32-year-old male patient with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus was affected with hyperlipoproteinemia type II His skin lesion showed yellowish papulsr tuberoruptive xanthoma on forearm, shoulder, elbow and knee. Besides skin eruption, he showed abnormal liver function test and right bundle branch block on EKG. The laboratory examinations revealed increase of serum cholesterol, triglycerides. and fasting blood sugar, and slight turbid color of fasting blood serum which had been kept standing at 4C for 24 hrs. On the agarose electrophoresis, bands of different densities of LDL and VLDL in beta and pre-beta position Were noted. Authors discussed here about laboratory characteristics, clinical manifestations and differential diagnosis of hyperlipoproteinemia type II and III.
Adult ; Blood Glucose ; Bundle-Branch Block ; Cholesterol ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Elbow ; Electrocardiography ; Electrophoresis ; Fasting ; Forearm ; Humans ; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II* ; Hyperlipoproteinemias* ; Knee ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Sepharose ; Serum ; Shoulder ; Skin ; Triglycerides ; Xanthomatosis

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate attention, memory and executive function in patients with narcolepsy. METHODS: This study included 23 narcoleptic patients whose diagnosis were confirmed by the International Classification of Sleep Disorders(ICSD) at Chonnam National University Hospital Sleep Disorders Clinic or an other hospital in Korea, from 2005 to 2008, as well as 23 normal controls. All participants were given an IQ test for Korean-Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale and several neuropsychological function tests (the d2 test for attention function, the Rey Complex Figure Test for nonverbal memory, the Korean-California Verbal Learning Test [K-CVLT] for verbal memory, and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test for executive function). Clinical features of narcoleptic patients, including the frequency of excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, sleep paralysis and hypnagogic hallucination, were investigated by a structured clinical interview administered by a neuropsychiatist. Excessive daytime sleepiness was evaluated by the Epworth sleepiness scale. RESULTS: Characteristic symptoms of narcolepsy observed in this study included excessive daytime sleepiness (n=23, 100.0%), cataplexy (n=19, 82.6%), hypnagogic hallucination (n=5, 21.7%) and sleep paralysis (n=12, 52.2%). In nocturnal polysomnographic findings, stage 2 sleep and REM latency were found to be significantly decreased in narcoleptic patients compared with the control group, and were accompanied by significant increases in stage 1 sleep. Narcoleptic patients had lower scores than the control group on total number, Total Number-Total Error, Concentration Performance and Fluctuation Rate on the d2 test, which measures attention. Also, there were significant differences between the performance of patient and control groups on the B list of the K-CVLT, which measures verbal memory. CONCLUSION: Narcoleptic patients showed decreased attention and verbal memory performance compared to the control group; however, in many areas, narcoleptic patients still demonstrated normal cognitive function.
Adult ; Cataplexy ; Executive Function ; Hallucinations ; Humans ; Intelligence ; Korea ; Memory ; Narcolepsy ; Sleep Paralysis ; Sleep Wake Disorders ; Verbal Learning ; Wisconsin

A 43-year-old female presented with persistent headache and dizziness which had first occurred two years earlier. The physical and neurological findings at admission were unremarkable, though plain radiography revealed the presence of a dense calcified mass in the left frontal area, and CT showed that a homogeneous high-density nodule was attached to the inner surface of the left frontal skull. The hard bony mass found and excised during surgery was shown at histopathologic examination to be a subdural osteoma. We describe the clinicopathologic findings of this entity and discuss the radiological features which suggest its subdural location.
Adult ; Case Report ; Female ; Frontal Bone/*pathology/*radiography/surgery ; Human ; Osteoma/*pathology/*radiography/surgery ; Skull Neoplasms/*pathology/*radiography/surgery ; Subdural Space/pathology/radiography/surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed