Sex determination is one of the basic components in victim identification. This study aims to ascertain the sex of an individual from burnt teeth samples exposed at different temperature and time through nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on the amelogenin (AMEL) sex marker, to calculate the specificity and sensitivity, and to compare with previous relevant studies. A total of 17 teeth samples was subjected to burning at different temperatures ranging from 100°C to 500°C, at 2 to 10 minutes. The whole tooth was used for deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extraction by phenol-chloroform method. All samples were quantified for DNA concentration and then analyzed with nested PCR using two pairs of AMEL primer and results of sex typing were recorded. Out of 17 samples, genomic DNA extracted from 6 samples have concentrations ranging from 27.3 – 130.6 ng/µL. Nested PCR could amplify 16 samples for AMEL gene. Sex typing using AMEL gene showed 76.47% accuracy. Sensitivity of AMEL primer was increased from 6.67% to 63.64% using nested PCR technique; specificity of both external and internal primer was reported at 100%. Nested PCR of AMEL gene proved to be a suitable method for unequivocal determination of sex from degraded DNA samples.

No abstract available.
Extracorporeal Circulation* ; Heart* ; Potassium* ; Thoracic Surgery*

As is well known, myxoma of the heart is very rare(incidence 0.03%), constituting nearly 50% of all primary cardiac tumors. It is important because it can be abolished by surgical removal but usually fatal if unrecognized or untreated. Recently a wider use of echocardiogram as the screening test of valve lesions can be expected to increase the number of myxomas found preoperatively. We have experienced a case of bilateral atrial myxoma which simulated mitral valvular disease clinically and had typical three cardinal manifestations such as obstructive, embolic and constitutional symptoms. The patients was 39 years old woman. The left atrial myxoma was diagnosed preoperatively by echocardiography and cardiac angiography and the remainder during open heart surgery under the E.C.C. Both of them were removed successfuly and confirmed as typical myxoma microscopically. This is the first case report of bilateral atrial myxoma in Korea to our knowledge.
Adult ; Angiography ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Heart ; Heart Neoplasms ; Humans ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Myxoma* ; Thoracic Surgery

Angiogenesis is an essential process in tumor growth and metastasis. VEGF has been considered a leading candidate inducing tumor angiogenesis. VEGF expression was significantly correlated with clinical stage, lymph node matastasis, and prognosis of cancers of various parts of body. However, little has been known about the correlation between VEGF expression and clinicopathologic parameters in oral squamous cell carcinoma. The aim of this study was to correlate VEGF expression with the clinicopathological parameters and microvessel density. Forty six oral squamous cell carcinomas were analyzed using immunohistochemical method with primary antibodies to VEGF and CD31. VEGF expression was detected in 33 (71.7%) of the 46 cases. The microvessel density was significantly correlated with VEGF expression (P=0.002). There was no correlation between microvessel density and tumour size, clinical stage, and lymph node metastasis, respectively. VEGF expression did not correlate with the histological grade of tumour differentiation, tumour size, and clinical stages. The VEGF-positive rate seemed to be higher in patients with cervical lymph nodal metastasis than in those without it, but it was not statistically significant. In conclusion, the overexpression of VEGF in the oral squamous cell carcinoma seemed to be associated with a more aggressive course of the disease. Further study is necessary to define the role of VEGF in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
Antibodies ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Microvessels* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

A nineteen year-old boy with progressive enlargement of the joints and distal extremities, clubbing, coarse facial features and hyperhidrosis was investigated. In physical examination, thickening of the scalp with furrowing (cutis verticis gyrata) and greasy thickening of skin (pachyderma) was prominent. His endocrine profile was normal. Radiological studies demonstrated bilateral symmetrical periosteal new bone formation with acroosteolysis and incidental microadenoma of pituitay gland. After extensive investigation to exclude systemic and endocrine causes, the patient was diagnosed as pachydermoperiostosis (PDP). PDP is a rare syndrome manifested clinically by finger clubbing, extremity enlargement, hypertrophic skin changes, and periosteal bone formation. The pathogenesis of the disorder has not been clarified though few endocrine abnormalities were seen. To aware of these clinical phenotype would help to differentiate PDP from acromegaly.
Acro-Osteolysis ; Acromegaly ; Extremities ; Fingers ; Humans ; Hyperhidrosis ; Joints ; Male* ; Osteoarthropathy, Primary Hypertrophic* ; Osteogenesis ; Phenotype ; Physical Examination ; Scalp ; Skin ; Young Adult*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Hypocalcemia* ; Infant, Newborn ; Prognosis*

PURPOSE: This study is to identify the factors that affect middle-aged workers' health promoting behaviors. METHODS: 214 middle-aged workers participated in surveys, and the data were collected from August to September 2012 and analyzed by using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple regression analysis with PASW 18.0 program. RESULTS: It was found that among the factors, the degree of job stress (t=7.69, p<.001) and depression (t=6.23, p<.001) were significantly high for type D individuals, while non type D showed meaningful degree of self-related health status (t=-3.66, p<.001) and health promoting behaviors (t=-4.71, p<.001). The notable variable that affected the health promoting behaviors of the middle-aged workers was depression for both type D (beta=-.357, p= .029) and non type D (beta=-.325, p<.001) individuals, and this variable accounted for 24.1% and 18.2% respectively. CONCLUSION: The study revealed that the middle-aged workers showed high degree of job stress and depression that influenced on their health promoting behaviors. Thus, they are recommended to receive health management programs that offer treatment through consulting considering their individual personalities.
Depression ; Health Behavior

No abstract available.
Animals ; Male ; Penile Erection* ; Rats* ; Saponins*

Acrylonitrile is most commonly used aliphatic nitrile compounds characterized by the structural formula R-C=N and used mossy to make acrylic fibers, plastics, synthetic rubber, and wall coverings. In recent, because of its extensive usage and the rapid expansion of the chemical industry, many poisonings have been reported and many studies on its health effects have been performed. Acute toxicity resembles cyanide poisoning and results mainly in effects on the nervous system. High exposure also can cause temporary damage to red blood cells and the liver and can cause lead to death. Because long-term occupational exposure to the acrylonitrile has been with cancer in humans, the U.S EPA classifies acrylonitrile as probable carcinogen. For this reason, The federal government has developed regulations and advisories to protect individuals firm the potential health effects of acylonitrile in the environment, but there are few studies, case reports and regulations of the government in our country. We experienced acute poisoning caused by acrylonitrile inhalation that occurred in an industrial accident. So, we report this case with literature reveiw.
Accidents, Occupational ; Acrylonitrile* ; Chemical Industry ; Elastomers ; Erythrocytes ; Federal Government ; Humans ; Inhalation* ; Liver ; Nervous System ; Occupational Exposure ; Plastics ; Poisoning* ; Social Control, Formal

No abstract available.
Humans