A Case Related to Identifying the Missing Person / 대한법의학회지

The application of DNA typing method after amplification by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of DNA derived from bone from two missing persons. In this case, short tandem repeats (STR) are used. The AmpFlSTR Identifiler loci (amelogenin and 15 STRs) are analysed by multiplex-PCR and automated fluorescent detection using Perkin Elmer Prism 310 DNA sequencer.

Effect of the Asian Dust Events on Respiratory Disease During the Spring

PURPOSE: In spring, dust storms originating in the deserts of Mongolia and China afflict Korea. These occurrences are known as Asian dust storm (ADS) events. The objective of this study was to assess the possible associations of Asian dust storm events with daily clinical visits for respiratory symptoms in Seoul, during the period 2001~2007. METHODS: Annually between March 1 and April 30 for the seven years 2001~2007, daily clinical visits for respiratory symptoms on the index days were compared with clinical visits on the comparison (non-ADS) days. Two non-ADS days were compared with each ADS index day, which were the days one week before and one week following the index day. RESULTS: The daily Particulate Matter (PM10) average during the Asian dust days was 409.7 microgram/m3, Which was significantly higher than during the control days(p<0.001). Other meteorological elements, however were very similar. We identified 62 dust storm episodes. The strongest estimated effect of dust storms was increased risk for respiratory disease two days after an event. The mean number of daily chronic obstructive pulmonary disease admissions was higher for the second day following ADS than for the comparison days. CONCLUSION: The Asian dust events were found to be weakly associated with the total number of patients exhibiting respiratory symptoms. However, there was a stronger association between dust events and hospital admissions due to respiratory causes, with a particularly strong association two days after an event. This suggests that persons with advanced respiratory diseases may be susceptible to Asian dust events.

Effect of Induced and Spontaneous Hypothermia on Survival Time of Uncontrolled Hemorrhagic Shock Rat Model

We examined the hypothesis that mild hypothermia (rectal temperature 34 degrees C) results in the same survival time, whether induced spontaneously or intentionally, during untreated, lethal, uncontrolled hemorrhagic shock in rats. Sixty-four Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly assigned to normothermia (Nth) (n=19), spontaneous mild hypothermia (Sp.Hth) (n=25) or controlled mild hypothermia (Con.Hth) (n=20) groups. After blood withdrawal of 3 mL/100 g over 15 minutes, followed by 75% tail amputation under spontaneous breathing and light anesthesia by i.p. injection of pentobarbital sodium, rats were observed without fluid resuscitation or hemostasis for 180 minutes or until death. The initial temperature of the Nth group was artificially maintained throughout the experiment. For the mild hypothermia groups, the Sp.Hth group was exposed to ambient temperature while the Con. Hth group was actively cooled to a target rectal temperature of 34 degrees C. In the Con.Hth group, all rats except one died before 180 minutes. All rats in the Nth group died within 38 minutes, and within 67 minutes in the Sp.Hth group. The average survival time was shortest in the Nth group at 20.3 +/- 5.3 minutes, followed by the Sp.Hth group at 30.1 +/- 13.5 minutes, and the Con.Hth group at 81.9 +/- 39.8 minutes (p 0.01). Tail bleed out volume was 0.51 +/- 0.19, 0.26 +/- 0.15 and 0.19 +/- 0.12 mL/100 g in the Nth, Sp.Hth and Con.Hth groups, respectively (p 0.05). In conclusion, spontaneous mild hypothermia did not prolong the survival time as much as controlled mild hypothermia in the rat model for untreated, lethal, uncontrolled hemorrhagic shock.

Proper Depth of Tracheal Intubation in Korean Children

PURPOSE: In pediatric intubation, it is difficult to select the correct tracheal tube size and proper depth. Children have as many different tube size as they have ages. This study was performed to evaluate the Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) guideline for intubation in Korean children. METHODS: We studied pediatric patients who were admitted with intubation from 1996 to 2001 at our hospital. We selected 33 Korean patients under 15 years of age for evaluation in this study. Their medical records and chest radiographs were compared. The distance of the tracheal tube tip from the carina on the postintubation chest X-ray was determined. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients were enrolled in the study. The depth of tracheal intubation was proper in 12 patients (36.3%), too deep in 16 patients (48.4%) and too shallow in 5 patients (15.1%). The reasons for intubation were respiratory failure (24.2%), mental change (57.6%) and status epilepticus (18.1%). CONCLUSION: We conclude that the PALS guideline for tracheal intubation is not suitable for Korean children. Determination of the proper depth of tracheal intubation for Korean children is needed through further study.