The study presents the application of STR polymorphisms to male identification in the cases of a serial rapist in Korea. Since October 2000 a rapist from Cheongju city (a town located in central district) committed at least 36 rapes. DNA profiles obtained from semen stains, buccal cells and tongue tissue left at the scenes of crime and vaginal swabs of victims gave information that one and the same man had committed all the rapes. The Y-chromosome haplotype (12 loci) obtained was used for the identification process of rapist in mixed genotypes including victim's alleles. The crime scene data were referred from investigating police authorities described the relationship of victim to the offender, victim's age, time and place of sexual assault and rape locations. The behavioural analysis of crime scenes showed more similarities than differences for related crimes. These components were usually assessed in terms of proximity in time and space. Certain crime scene aspects of a serial rapist help identify components of offender spatial behaviour. As a result of this work, future research on the geography of rape and behavioural aspects of rapist will be directed towards those aspects of offences, which have been identified as relevant to the distance between an offender's base, and the site where he approached his victim.
Alleles ; Chungcheongbuk-do ; Coloring Agents ; Crime* ; Criminals ; DNA ; Genotype ; Geography ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Korea ; Male* ; Police ; Rape ; Semen ; Tongue

The study presents the application of STR polymorphisms to male identification in the cases of a serial rapist in Korea. Since October 2000 a rapist from Cheongju city (a town located in central district) com-mitted at least 36 rapes. DNA profiles obtained from semen stains, buccal cells and tongue tissue left at the scenes of crime and vaginal swabs of victims gave information that one and the same man had com-mitted all the rapes. The Y-chromosome haplotype (12 loci) obtained was used for the identification process of rapist in mixed genotypes including victim's alleles. The crime scene data were referred from investigating police authorities described the relationship of victim to the offender, victim's age, time and place of sexual assault and rape locations. The behavioural analysis of crime scenes showed more similarities than differences for related crimes. These components were usually assessed in terms of proximity in time and space. Certain crime scene aspects of a serial rapist help identify components of offender spatial behaviour. As a result of this work, future research on the geography of rape and behav-ioural aspects of rapist will be directed towards those aspects of offences, which have been identified as relevant to the distance between an offender's base, and the site where he approached his victim.
Alleles ; Chungcheongbuk-do ; Coloring Agents ; Crime* ; Criminals ; DNA ; Genotype ; Geography ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Korea ; Male* ; Police ; Rape ; Semen ; Tongue

Panax ginseng is a medicinal herb that is used worldwide. Its medicinal effects are primarily attributable to ginsenosides located in the root, leaf, seed, and flower. The flower buds of Panax ginseng (FBPG) are rich in various bioactive ginsenosides, which exert immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activities. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of 18 ginsenosides isolated from steamed FBPG on the transcriptional activity of NF-kappaB and the expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-stimulated target genes in liver-derived cell lines. Noticeably, the ginsenosides Rk3 and Rs4 exerted the strongest activity, inhibiting NF-kappaB in a dose-dependent manner. SF and Rg6 also showed moderately inhibitory effects. Furthermore, these four compounds inhibited the TNF-alpha-induced expression of IL8, CXCL1, iNOS, and ICAM1 genes. Consequently, ginsenosides purified from steamed FBPG have therapeutic potential in TNF-alpha-mediated diseases such as chronic hepatic inflammation.
Cell Line ; Cotyledon ; Flowers* ; Ginsenosides* ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-8 ; NF-kappa B* ; Panax* ; Plants, Medicinal ; Steam* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Panax ginseng is a medicinal herb that is used worldwide. Its medicinal effects are primarily attributable to ginsenosides located in the root, leaf, seed, and flower. The flower buds of Panax ginseng (FBPG) are rich in various bioactive ginsenosides, which exert immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activities. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of 18 ginsenosides isolated from steamed FBPG on the transcriptional activity of NF-kappaB and the expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-stimulated target genes in liver-derived cell lines. Noticeably, the ginsenosides Rk3 and Rs4 exerted the strongest activity, inhibiting NF-kappaB in a dose-dependent manner. SF and Rg6 also showed moderately inhibitory effects. Furthermore, these four compounds inhibited the TNF-alpha-induced expression of IL8, CXCL1, iNOS, and ICAM1 genes. Consequently, ginsenosides purified from steamed FBPG have therapeutic potential in TNF-alpha-mediated diseases such as chronic hepatic inflammation.
Cell Line ; Cotyledon ; Flowers* ; Ginsenosides* ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-8 ; NF-kappa B* ; Panax* ; Plants, Medicinal ; Steam* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Macrophage death plays a role in several physiological and inflammatory pathologies such as sepsis and arthritis. In our previous work, we showed that simvastatin triggers cell death in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 mouse macrophage cells through both caspase-dependent and independent apoptotic pathways. Here, we show that the nuclear orphan receptor NR4A1 is involved in a caspase-independent apoptotic process induced by LPS and simvastatin. Simvastatin-induced NR4A1 expression in RAW 264.7 macrophages and ectopic expression of a dominant-negative mutant form of NR4A1 effectively suppressed both DNA fragmentation and the disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) during LPS- and simvastatin-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, apoptosis was accompanied by Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) translocation to the mitochondria. Our findings suggest that NR4A1 expression and mitochondrial translocation of Bax are related to simvastatin-induced apoptosis in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 macrophages.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Arthritis ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; Cell Death ; Child ; Child, Orphaned* ; DNA Fragmentation ; Humans ; Macrophages* ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; Mice ; Mitochondria ; Pathology ; Sepsis ; Simvastatin*

Arthrobacter spp., which are coryneform gram-positive bacilli, are widely distributed in the environment, including soil. In humans, infection with Arthrobacter is recognized as an opportunistic infection. In particular, since the first reported case in 1996, human infection by A. woluwensis has been reported only four times. We report on a case of A. woluwensis bacteremia in a 76-year-old female patient with multiple myeloma. Performance of 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses resulted in identification of A. woluwensis. The patient was treated with teicoplanin, and the central venous port was removed. Since then, no growth has been observed on repeated blood cultures. The patient was discharged well after the fever subsided.
Aged ; Arthrobacter ; Bacteremia ; Female ; Fever ; Genes, rRNA ; Humans ; Multiple Myeloma ; Opportunistic Infections ; Sequence Analysis ; Soil ; Teicoplanin