DNA profiling with sets of short tandem repeat (STR) markers is the most popular method for identifying human DNA in forensics. Identification by STR typing might fail when DNA is degraded or is present in low amounts, such as in disaster victim identification (DVI) samples. In such cases, more information might be obtained by using additional markers such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Multiplex PCR and microarray are convenient techniques to analyze SNP markers. We used an AccuID(TM) Chip, SNP-based DNA chip manufactured by DNA Link Corporation, to confirm genetic relationship between two human bone samples that had been buried for more than 50 years and blood samples from the alleged descendants of the sources of the bone fragments. The chip combines an Affymetrix resequencing array with a multiplex PCR technology and can genotype hundreds of SNP markers in a single experiment. Genotyping the two bone samples yielded 90.5 and 77 SNP markers. The commonly genotyped markers (61 and 47 SNP loci) in each bone-family pair provided high paternity indices to support the genetic relationships in both cases.
Disasters ; DNA Fingerprinting ; DNA* ; Forensic Anthropology* ; Genotype ; Humans* ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis* ; Paternity ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

Objectives: . Cochlear implant (CI) users typically report impaired ability to understand speech in noise. Speech understanding in CI users decreases with noise due to reduced temporal processing ability, and speech perceptual errors involve stop consonants distinguished by voice onset time (VOT). The current study examined the effects of noise on various speech perception tests while at the same time used cortical auditory evoked potentials (CAEPs) to quantify the change of neural processing of speech sounds caused by noise. We hypothesized that the noise effects on VOT processing can be reflected in N1/P2 measures, the neural changes relate to behavioral speech perception performances. Methods: . Ten adult CI users and 15 normal-hearing (NH) people participated in this study. CAEPs were recorded from 64 scalp electrodes in both quiet and noise (signal-to-noise ratio +5 dB) and in passive and active (requiring consonant discrimination) listening. Speech stimulus was synthesized consonant-vowels with VOTs of 0 and 50 ms. N1-P2 amplitudes and latencies were analyzed as a function of listening condition. For the active condition, the P3b also was analyzed. Behavioral measures included a variety of speech perception tasks. Results: . For good performing CI users, performance in most speech test was lower in the presence of noise masking. N1 and P2 latencies became prolonged with noise masking. The P3b amplitudes were smaller in CI groups compared to NH. The degree of P2 latency change (0 vs. 50 ms VOT) was correlated with consonant perception in noise. Conclusion . The effects of noise masking on temporal processing can be reflected in cortical responses in CI users. N1/P2 latencies were more sensitive to noise masking than amplitude measures. Additionally, P2 responses appear to have a better relationship to speech perception in CI users compared to N1.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) agonists improve glucose control and insulin sensitivity, reduce concentrations of atherogenic lipoproteins, and decrease circulating levels of inflammatory mediators. PPAR activation is considered an important pharmacologic target for patients with type 2 diabetes. However, the PPAR agonists in clinical use have undesirable side effects, including weight gain, heart failure, and bone fractures. PPAR alpha/gamma dual agonists each target one or more of the key cardiometabolic risk factors of diabetic dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, and inflammation; thus, combining their benefits to provide glucose control and ameliorate cardiovascular risks has emerged as an attractive treatment option. Aleglitazar, which was designed to balance the activation of PPAR alpha/gamma, proved efficacious in improving glycemic control and lipid homeostasis and is anticipated to minimize PPAR-related side effects. Whether the effects of aleglitazar on cardiometabolic risk factors translate into improved cardiovascular outcomes, particularly in high-risk patients, is currently being evaluated by AleCardio, a large, long-term, time-, and event-driven outcome study of type 2 diabetics with recent acute coronary syndrome.
Acute Coronary Syndrome ; Dyslipidemias ; Fractures, Bone ; Glucose ; Heart Failure ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; Inflammation ; Insulin Resistance ; Lipoproteins ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors ; Peroxisomes* ; Risk Factors ; Weight Gain

We report a pair of atypical rhomboideus muscles which originated higher than normal observed in a 49-year-old Korean male. Rhomboid muscles were not paralleogram shape but trapezoid with rhomboideus tertius attached inferior to the rhomboideus major muscles. Rhomboideus minor originated as tendon from the ligamentum nuchae of fourth and sixth cervical vertebrae level. The upper end of the origin of the rhomboideus major was the ligamentum nuchae between fifth and sixth cervical vertebrae level on the left side and the ligamentum nuchae at the sixth cervical vertebra level on the right side. The lower end of the origin of the rhomboideus major was the spinous process of the fourth thoracic vertebra on the left side and the spinous process of the second thoracic vertebra on the right side. The upper end of the origin of the rhomboideus tertius were the same as the lower end of the rhomboideus major and the lower end of the origin of the rhomboideus tertius were the spinous process of the fifth thoracic vertebrae on both sides. Whole rhomboideus muscle spanned over nine vertebrae. We compared these rhomboidei with previously reported variations and discussed its embryological and clinical significance.
Cervical Vertebrae ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscles* ; Spine ; Tendons ; Thoracic Vertebrae

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) are specially manipulated cells from somatic cells by the introduction of four factors that are reprogrammed. The properties of iPSC are similar to embryonic stem cells (ESC) characteristic of self-renewal and pluripotency. The technology of reprogramming somatic cells to iPSC enables the generation of patient-specific cells that can be used as powerful tools for drug screening, in vitro models for human disease and autologous transplantation. The iPSC technology provides a priceless resource for regenerative medicine but there are still changing obstacles over the safety of iPSC in avoiding induction of tumorigenicity and maintaining high purity of re-differentiated cells from iPSC to produce more functional cells for cell therapy. A variety of methods to overcome the limitation of iPSC application applied in the clinical setting have been developed. In this review, we summarize the recent progress in iPSC generation and differentiation techniques to facilitate clinical application of iPSC with future potential in regenerative medicine.
Autografts ; Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; Humans ; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells* ; Regenerative Medicine ; Stem Cells* ; Transplantation, Autologous

The implantation process is highly complex and difficult to mimic in vitro, and a reliable experimental model of implantation has yet to be established. Many researchers have used embryo transfer (ET) to assess implantation potential; however, ET with pseudopregnant mice requires expert surgical skills and numerous sacrificial animals. To overcome those economic and ethical problems, several researchers have tried to use outgrowth models to evaluate the implantation potential of embryos. Many previous studies, as well as our experiments, have found significant correlations between blastocyst outgrowth in vitro and implantation in utero by ET. This review proposes the blastocyst outgrowth model as a possible alternative to animal experimentation involving ET in utero. In particular, the outgrowth model might be a cost- and time-effective alternative method to ET for evaluating the effectiveness of culture conditions or treatments. An advanced outgrowth model and further culture of outgrowth embryos could provide a subtle research model of peri- and postimplantation development, excluding maternal effects, and thereby could facilitate progress in assisted reproductive technologies. Recently, we found that outgrowth embryos secreted extracellular vesicles containing specific microRNAs. The function of microRNAs from outgrowth embryos should be elucidated in further researches.

PURPOSE: This study was done to investigate nurses' perceived importance of, and performance of intravenous fluid therapy. METHODS: Data were collected from a convenience sample of 234 nurses (return rate: 93%) working in 3 small-medium general hospitals. RESULTS: The score for perceived importance of intravenous fluid therapy (3.65+/-0.37) was higher than that of performance (3.45+/-0.39). There were positive correlations between perceived importance and performance (r=.576, p<.001). There were 180 (80.8%) errors in intravenous fluid therapy. Perceived importance and performance scores were higher in nurses who had not experienced medication errors in intravenous fluid therapy. CONCLUSION: The results indicate a need to develop appropriate strategies to improve perceived importance and performance and enhance safety management during intravenous fluid therapy for nurses in small-medium general hospitals.
Fluid Therapy* ; Hospitals, General* ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Medication Errors ; Safety Management

PURPOSE: To report the surgical results of unilateral pediatric cataracts from uncertain causes in relatively older children and to identify factors related to better visual outcomes. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the medical records of 39 patients who underwent surgery between the ages of 3 and 10 years for unilateral pediatric cataracts of no known cause. All patients underwent primary intraocular lens implantation and postoperative amblyopia treatment. A postoperative final visual acuity better than 20 / 30 was considered to be a good visual outcome. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 6.0 ± 1.8 years at the time of surgery. The mean preoperative visual acuity was 1.07 ± 0.71 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (range, 0.15 to 3.00), while the mean final postoperative visual acuity was 0.47 ± 0.54 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (range, 0.00 to 2.00). Of 39 patients, 18 (46.2%) achieved a good visual outcome. Only the preoperative visual acuity maintained a significant association with a good visual outcome according to our multivariate analysis (p = 0.040). A preoperative visual acuity of 20 / 100 or better was found to increase the chance of achieving a good visual outcome by 13.79-fold (95% confidence interval, 1.13 to 167.58). CONCLUSIONS: The visual outcome of unilateral pediatric cataract surgery for cataracts with no specific cause identified in patients after three years of age could be satisfactory, especially with a preoperative visual acuity of 20 / 100 or better.
Amblyopia ; Cataract* ; Child ; Humans ; Lens Implantation, Intraocular ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Phacoemulsification ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Visual Acuity

The proportion of the population aged 65 years and older has increased, and at least 20% of people in that age group have diabetes. This percentage is expected to increase rapidly in the future. Elderly people with diabetes have a higher incidence of heart disease and cerebrovascular disease, resulting in decreased quality of life and increased mortality and morbidity. It is important to manage diabetes in the elderly when it is concomitant with geriatric syndromes, such as depression, polypharmacy, cognitive dysfunction, urinary incontinence, and falling. Before determining target blood glucose levels and drug regimens, the co-morbidities, complications, and individual circumstances of each patient should be assessed. Before determining target blood glucose levels and drug regimens, the co-morbidities, complications, and individual circumstances of each patient should be assessed. In conjunction with the control of classical cardiovascular risk factors, such as blood pressure and dyslipidemia, these assessments can reduce the morbidity and mortality of diabetes further. Many clinical studies on blood glucose control are required and the results will be helpful in the management of elderly diabetic patients.
Aged* ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Depression ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Dyslipidemias ; Geriatrics ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mortality ; Polypharmacy ; Quality of Life ; Risk Factors ; Urinary Incontinence

The ultimate goal of human assisted reproductive technology is to achieve a healthy pregnancy and birth, ideally from the selection and transfer of a single competent embryo. Recently, techniques for efficiently evaluating the state and quality of preimplantation embryos using time-lapse imaging systems have been applied. Artificial intelligence programs based on deep learning technology and big data analysis of time-lapse monitoring system during in vitro culture of preimplantation embryos have also been rapidly developed. In addition, several molecular markers of the secretome have been successfully analyzed in spent embryo culture media, which could easily be obtained during in vitro embryo culture. It is also possible to analyze small amounts of cell-free nucleic acids, mitochondrial nucleic acids, miRNA, and long non-coding RNA derived from embryos using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or digital PCR, as well as next-generation sequencing. Various efforts are being made to use non-invasive evaluation of embryo quality (NiEEQ) to select the embryo with the best developmental competence. However, each NiEEQ method has some limitations that should be evaluated case by case. Therefore, an integrated analysis strategy fusing several NiEEQ methods should be urgently developed and confirmed by proper clinical trials.