DNA typing for the identification of old skeletal remains from Korean War victims.
The identification of missing casualties of the Korean War (1950-1953) has been performed using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) profiles, but recent advances in DNA extraction techniques and approaches using smaller amplicons have significantly increased the possibility of obtaining DNA profiles from highly degraded skeletal remains. Therefore, 21 skeletal remains of Korean War victims and 24 samples from biological relatives of the supposed victims were selected based on circumstantial evidence and/or mtDNA-matching results and were analyzed to confirm the alleged relationship. Cumulative likelihood ratios were obtained from autosomal short tandem repeat, Y-chromosomal STR, and mtDNA-genotyping results, and mainly confirmed the alleged relationship with values over 10⁵. The present analysis emphasizes the value of mini- and Y-STR systems as well as an efficient DNA extraction method in DNA testing for the identification of old skeletal remains.

title: Quantitative and qualitative profiling of mitochondrial DNA length heteroplasmy.
abstract: Quantitative and qualitative analysis of mitochondrial DNA length heteroplasmy for the first hypervariable segment (HV1) and second hypervariable segment (HV2) regions were performed using size-based separation of fluorescently-labeled polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products by capillary electrophoresis. In this report, the relative proportions of length heteroplasmies in individuals were determined, and each length variant in the heteroplasmic mtDNA mixture was identified. The study demonstrated that 36% and 69% of Koreans show length heteroplasmy in the HV1 and HV2 regions, respectively. Electropherograms revealed that length heteroplasmy in the HV1 region resulted in over 5 length variants in an individual. The peak patterns of length heteroplasmy in the HV1 region were classified into five major types. In the HV2 region, length heteroplasmy resulted in 3-6 length variants in an individual, and showed seven variant peak patterns. The increased knowledge concerning mtDNA length heteroplasmy is believed to not only offer a useful means of determining genetic identity due to increased mitochondrial DNA haplotype diversity by allowing mtDNAs to be classified into several peak patterns, but also represent a promising tool for the diagnosis of several common diseases which are etiologically or prognostically associated with mtDNA polymorphisms.

title: Genetic characteristics and population study of 4 X-chromosomal STRs in Koreans: evidence for a null allele at DXS9898
abstract: The four X-chromosomal short tandem repeats (STRs), DXS9898, DXS6809, DXS7424 and DXS10011 were analyzed by single multiplex PCR in 150 male and 150 female Koreans. The loss of an allele at DXS9898 was observed in 13 out of 450 chromosomes (2.9%) and the PCR analysis showed that the X-chromosome with a null allele at DXS9898 has more than 1 kb deletion at the DXS9898 locus. Statistical analyses for these four X-STRs showed that they are highly informative for forensic application in Koreans. No linkage disequilibrium was observed among these four STRs and the previously reported five polymorphic STRs, HumARA, DXS101, GATA172D05, HPRTB and DXS8377 in Koreans. The test of homogeneity between allele frequencies revealed that there are some discrepancies in allele distributions between Koreans and Germans.

title: A modified mini-primer set for analyzing mitochondrial DNA control region sequences from highly degraded forensic samples.
abstract: To facilitate the analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region sequences from highly degraded skeletal remains, a modified mini-primer set was designed to overcome the limitations of the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) mini-primer set. This modified mini-primer set is less affected by nucleotide variability and PCR amplification conditions than the AFDIL mini-primer set, and was able to amplify the mtDNA sequences of 55-year-old skeletal remains with high efficiency, indicating that it is a useful tool for analyzing mtDNA control region sequences from highly degraded forensic samples.

title: Differential distribution of human mitochondrial DNA in somatic tissues and hairs.
abstract: To investigate mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) distribution within tissues during life, we observed length heteroplasmy in a polycytosine tract of the mitochondrial HV2 region by size-based separation of PCR products, using a mutagenic primer which was designed to avoid stutter production. Blood, brain, heart, liver, skeletal muscle and hair shaft samples were collected during autopsies of 25 individuals. Here, we demonstrate differences in the level of mtDNA length heteroplasmy both within and between individuals and tissues. We also show that mtDNA is distributed randomly in varying proportions in various somatic tissues during growth, resulting in an imbalance in the composition of mtDNA pools among tissues. This mtDNA distribution appears not to be strictly random, and can be explained by the random somatic segregation of nucleoids. On the other hand, significant qualitative/quantitative mtDNA peak pattern variations in hair shafts are thought to be a result of the different developmental origins of hairs. Each hair shaft may have a restricted or clonal set of mtDNA molecules derived from a discrete group of stem cells.

title: Rapid direct PCR for ABO blood typing.
abstract: Many different molecular typing methods have been reported to complement routine serological ABO blood typing in forensics. However, these ABO genotyping methods are often time-consuming and call for an initial DNA isolation step that requires the use of expensive kits or reagents. We report here a rapid direct ABO genotyping method that eliminates the need for DNA extraction from fresh blood, hair, and body fluid stains before PCR. Using a fast PCR instrument and an optimized polymerase, the genotyping method-which employs a multiplex allele-specific primer set for the simultaneous detection of three single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites (nucleotides 261, 526, and 803)-identifies A, B, O01/O02, O03, and cis-AB01 alleles in around 70 min from sample collection to electropherogram. Not only will this ABO genotyping method be efficiently used in forensic practice for rapid screening of samples before full-blown multilocus short tandem repeat profiling, but it will also demonstrate an example of rapid direct genotyping of SNPs that offers the advantages of time- and cost-efficiency, convenience, and reduced contamination during DNA analysis.

title: Trial of aripiprazole in the treatment of first-episode schizophrenia.
abstract: Aripiprazole is an atypical antipsychotic indicated for the treatment of adult patients with schizophrenia. It is effective and well tolerated in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. The aim of the present study was to investigate therapeutic efficacy and tolerability of aripiprazole in patients with first-episode schizophrenia.



Twenty-one patients meeting the DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia were recruited. The Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS) and the Clinical Global Impressions Scale (CGI) were completed at the beginning of the study and again after 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks of aripiprazole treatment. Side-effects were analyzed using the Udvalg for Kliniske Undersøgelser Side-Effect Rating Scale. Weight was checked at each testing session, and prolactin levels were measured at baseline and after 8 weeks of aripiprazole treatment.



Significant benefits were observed after the first week of treatment. After 1 week of aripiprazole treatment, subscale and total scores on the PANSS had decreased significantly. This significant decrease was maintained throughout the study period. The mean score of CGI severity was also significantly different after 2 weeks of aripiprazole administration when compared to baseline score, and the significance was maintained thereafter. Weight did not significantly change after aripiprazole administration. Although mean prolactin level was decreased at 8 weeks, the difference was not significant.



Aripiprazole is an effective and well-tolerated antipsychotic agent in patients with first-episode schizophrenia. Further investigations with larger samples are needed.

title: Mixed-type paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma--a case report.
abstract: Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue tumor of childhood; about 80% of cases occur before the age of 21 with the remaining 20% evenly spread throughout the remaining decades. A primary paratesticular site is considered to have a good prognosis in comparison with other RMS sites. Histologically, any subtype of RMS, including alveolar, pleomorphic, embryonal, and mixed type, may occur in the paratesticular region, but only a relatively small number of cases are mixed and this variant has a poor prognosis. We report a case of paratesticular RMS (mixed embryonal and alveolar type) in a 16-year-old boy.

title: Triquinanes from linear alkylidene carbenes via trimethylenemethane diyls.
abstract: The intramolecular [2+3] cycloaddition reaction of the trimethylenemethane diyl generated from the intramolecular cyclopropanation reaction of alkylidene carbene produced linearly fused triquinanes regio- and stereoselectively. The current tandem cycloaddition reaction was applied to a 14-step total synthesis of hirsutene from methallyl alcohol.

title: Acute oliguric renal failure associated with angiotensin II receptor antagonists.

title: Job satisfaction and trust in Health Insurance Review Agency among Korean physicians.
abstract: To measure Korean physicians' job satisfaction and to examine the relationship between trust in Health Insurance Review Agency (HIRA) and job satisfaction.



Stratified sampling was used. The sample was representative of Korean office-based physicians; 1593 office-based physicians in Korea were surveyed by mail over a 4-week period using a self-administered questionnaire. Multivariate analysis using logistic regression was performed to investigate predictors of physicians' job satisfaction and to examine whether trust in HIRA was related to job satisfaction.



Overall, the job satisfaction of physicians was very low. The payment denial rate was not related to job satisfaction. Physicians who trusted HIRA were more likely to be satisfied with their job.



Physicians who trusted in the HIRA were more likely to report satisfaction. These results emphasize that trust in the HIRA is key to physicians' job satisfaction.