Biomechanical analysis for different mandibular total distalization methods with clear aligners: A finite element study / 대한치과교정학회지

Objective@#The purpose of this finite element method (FEM) study was to analyze the biomechanical differences and tooth displacement patterns according to the traction direction, methods, and sites for total distalization of the mandibular dentition using clear aligner treatment (CAT). @*Methods@#A finite element analysis was performed on four FEM models using different traction methods (via a precision cut hook or button) and traction sites (mandibular canine or first premolar). A distalization force of 1.5 N was applied to the traction site by changing the direction from –30 to +30° to the occlusal plane. The initial tooth displacement and von Mises stress on the clear aligners were analyzed. @*Results@#All CAT-based total distalization groups showed an overall trend of clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of the occlusal plane as the force direction varied. Mesiodistal tipping of individual teeth was more prominent than that of bodily movements. The initial displacement pattern of the mandibular teeth was more predominant based on the traction site than on the traction method. The elastic deformation of clear aligners is attributed to unintentional lingual tipping or extrusion of the mandibular anterior teeth. @*Conclusions@#The initial tooth displacement can vary according to different distalization strategies for CAT-based total distalization. Discreet application and biomechanical understanding of traction sites and directions are necessary for appropriate mandibular total distalization.

Comparison of dimensional accuracy between direct-printed and thermoformed aligners / 대한치과교정학회지

Objective@#The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the dimensional accuracy between thermoformed and direct-printed aligners. @*Methods@#Three types of aligners were manufactured from the same reference standard tessellation language (STL) file: thermoformed aligners were manufactured using Zendura FLX TM (n = 12) and Essix ACETM (n = 12), and direct-printed aligners were printed using Tera HarzTM TC-85DAP 3D Printer UV Resin (n = 12). The teeth were not manipulated with any tooth-moving software in this study. The samples were sprayed with an opaque scanning spray, scanned, imported to Geomagic® Control XTM metrology software, and superimposed on the reference STL file by using the best-fit alignment algorithm. Distances between the aligner meshes and the reference STL file were measured at nine anatomical landmarks. @*Results@#Mean absolute discrepancies in the Zendura FLXTM aligners ranged from 0.076 ± 0.057 mm to 0.260 ± 0.089 mm and those in the Essix ACETM aligners ranged from 0.188 ± 0.271 mm to 0.457 ± 0.350 mm, while in the direct-printed aligners, they ranged from 0.079 ± 0.054 mm to 0.224 ± 0.041 mm. Root mean square values, representing the overall trueness, ranged from 0.209 ± 0.094 mm for Essix ACETM , 0.188 ± 0.074 mm for Zendura FLXTM , and 0.140 ± 0.020 mm for the direct-printed aligners. @*Conclusions@#This study showed greater trueness and precision of direct-printed aligners than thermoformed aligners.

Midfacial soft tissue changes after maxillary expansion using micro-implant-supported maxillary skeletal expanders in young adults: A retrospective study / 대한치과교정학회지

Objective@#The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the midfacial soft tissue changes following maxillary expansion using micro-implantsupported maxillary skeletal expanders (MSEs) in young adults by cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT) and to evaluate the correlations between hard and soft tissue changes after MSE usage. @*Methods@#Twenty patients (mean age, 22.4 years; range, 17.6–27.1) with maxillary transverse deficiency treated with MSEs were selected. Mean expansion amount was 6.5 mm. CBCT images taken before and after expansion were superimposed to measure the changes in soft and hard tissue landmarks. Statistical analyses were performed using paired t-test and Pearson’s correlation analysis on the basis of the normality of data. @*Results@#Average lateral movement of the cheek points was 1.35 mm (right) and 1.08 mm (left), and that of the alar curvature points was 1.03 mm (right) and 1.02 mm (left). Average forward displacement of the cheek points was 0.59 mm (right) and 0.44 mm (left), and that of the alar curvature points was 0.61 mm (right) and 0.77 mm (left) (p < 0.05). Anterior nasal spine (ANS), posterior nasal spine (PNS), and alveolar bone width showed significant increments (p < 0.05). Changes in the cheek and alar curvature points on both sides significantly correlated with hard tissue changes (p < 0.05). @*Conclusions@#Maxillary expansion using MSEs resulted in significant lateral and forward movements of the soft tissues of cheek and alar curvature points on both sides in young adults and correlated with the maxillary suture opening at the ANS and PNS.

Trend of Disease Burden of North Korean Defectors in South Korea Using Disability-adjusted Life Years from 2010 to 2018

Background@#This study aimed to examine the disease burden of North Korean defectors in South Korea by sex, age, and disease from 2000 to 2018 and to study the changes in the disease burden over time. @*Methods@#Based on the incidence-based disability-adjusted life year (DALY) developed in a Korean National Burden of Disease (KNBD) study, we calculated the years of life lost (YLL), years lived with disability (YLD), and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) for approximately 22,753 North Korean defectors in South Korea whose claims data were available from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS). @*Results@#In 2018, the rates of YLL, YLD, and DALY for North Korean defectors per 100,000 population was 3,763 (male 8,491; female 2,404), 37,683 (male 27,742; female 40,539), and 41,446 (male 36,233; female 42,943), respectively. Major depressive disorders constituted the highest DALY, followed by cirrhosis of the liver and low back pain. The disease burden of North Korean defectors consistently decreased from 2010 to 2018. The decrease in YLD contributed to the overall decline in DALY per 100,000 population in 2018, which decreased by 25.2% compared to that in 2010. @*Conclusion@#This is the first study to measure the disease burden of North Korean defectors in South Korea. Given the decreasing or substantially increasing trends in disease burden, it is necessary to establish appropriate public health policies in a timely manner, and the results of this study provide a basis for the development of customized public health and healthcare policies for North Korean defectors in South Korea.

Midfacial soft tissue changes after maxillary expansion using micro-implant-supported maxillary skeletal expanders in young adults: A retrospective study / 대한치과교정학회지

Objective@#The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the midfacial soft tissue changes following maxillary expansion using micro-implantsupported maxillary skeletal expanders (MSEs) in young adults by cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT) and to evaluate the correlations between hard and soft tissue changes after MSE usage. @*Methods@#Twenty patients (mean age, 22.4 years; range, 17.6–27.1) with maxillary transverse deficiency treated with MSEs were selected. Mean expansion amount was 6.5 mm. CBCT images taken before and after expansion were superimposed to measure the changes in soft and hard tissue landmarks. Statistical analyses were performed using paired t-test and Pearson’s correlation analysis on the basis of the normality of data. @*Results@#Average lateral movement of the cheek points was 1.35 mm (right) and 1.08 mm (left), and that of the alar curvature points was 1.03 mm (right) and 1.02 mm (left). Average forward displacement of the cheek points was 0.59 mm (right) and 0.44 mm (left), and that of the alar curvature points was 0.61 mm (right) and 0.77 mm (left) (p < 0.05). Anterior nasal spine (ANS), posterior nasal spine (PNS), and alveolar bone width showed significant increments (p < 0.05). Changes in the cheek and alar curvature points on both sides significantly correlated with hard tissue changes (p < 0.05). @*Conclusions@#Maxillary expansion using MSEs resulted in significant lateral and forward movements of the soft tissues of cheek and alar curvature points on both sides in young adults and correlated with the maxillary suture opening at the ANS and PNS.

Trend of Disease Burden of North Korean Defectors in South Korea Using Disability-adjusted Life Years from 2010 to 2018

Background@#This study aimed to examine the disease burden of North Korean defectors in South Korea by sex, age, and disease from 2000 to 2018 and to study the changes in the disease burden over time. @*Methods@#Based on the incidence-based disability-adjusted life year (DALY) developed in a Korean National Burden of Disease (KNBD) study, we calculated the years of life lost (YLL), years lived with disability (YLD), and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) for approximately 22,753 North Korean defectors in South Korea whose claims data were available from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS). @*Results@#In 2018, the rates of YLL, YLD, and DALY for North Korean defectors per 100,000 population was 3,763 (male 8,491; female 2,404), 37,683 (male 27,742; female 40,539), and 41,446 (male 36,233; female 42,943), respectively. Major depressive disorders constituted the highest DALY, followed by cirrhosis of the liver and low back pain. The disease burden of North Korean defectors consistently decreased from 2010 to 2018. The decrease in YLD contributed to the overall decline in DALY per 100,000 population in 2018, which decreased by 25.2% compared to that in 2010. @*Conclusion@#This is the first study to measure the disease burden of North Korean defectors in South Korea. Given the decreasing or substantially increasing trends in disease burden, it is necessary to establish appropriate public health policies in a timely manner, and the results of this study provide a basis for the development of customized public health and healthcare policies for North Korean defectors in South Korea.

Prognostic Implication of Volumetric Quantitative CT Analysis in Patients with COVID-19: A Multicenter Study in Daegu, Korea

Objective@#Lung segmentation using volumetric quantitative computed tomography (CT) analysis may help predict outcomes of patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between CT volumetric quantitative analysis and prognosis in patients with COVID-19. @*Materials and Methods@#CT images from patients diagnosed with COVID-19 from February 18 to April 15, 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. CT with a negative finding, failure of quantitative analysis, or poor image quality was excluded. CT volumetric quantitative analysis was performed by automated volumetric methods. Patients were stratified into two risk groups according to CURB-65: mild (score of 0–1) and severe (2–5) pneumonia. Outcomes were evaluated according to the critical event-free survival (CEFS). The critical events were defined as mechanical ventilator care, ICU admission, or death.Multivariable Cox proportional hazards analyses were used to evaluate the relationship between the variables and prognosis. @*Results@#Eighty-two patients (mean age, 63.1 ± 14.5 years; 42 females) were included. In the total cohort, male sex (hazard ratio [HR], 9.264; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.021–42.457; p = 0.004), C-reactive protein (CRP) (HR, 1.080 per mg/dL;95% CI, 1.010–1.156; p = 0.025), and COVID-affected lung proportion (CALP) (HR, 1.067 per percentage; 95% CI, 1.033– 1.101;p < 0.001) were significantly associated with CEFS. CRP (HR, 1.164 per mg/dL; 95% CI, 1.006–1.347; p = 0.041) was independently associated with CEFS in the mild pneumonia group (n = 54). Normally aerated lung proportion (NALP) (HR, 0.872 per percentage; 95% CI, 0.794–0.957; p = 0.004) and NALP volume (NALPV) (HR, 1.002 per mL; 95% CI, 1.000–1.004;p = 0.019) were associated with a lower risk of critical events in the severe pneumonia group (n = 28). @*Conclusion@#CRP in the mild pneumonia group; NALP and NALPV in the severe pneumonia group; and sex, CRP, and CALP in the total cohort were independently associated with CEFS in patients with COVID-19.

Establishment of a Nationwide Korean Imaging Cohort of Coronavirus Disease 2019

Background@#The Korean Society of Thoracic Radiology (KSTR) recently constructed a nation-wide coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) database and imaging repository, referred to the Korean imaging cohort of COVID-19 (KICC-19) based on the collaborative efforts of its members. The purpose of this study was to provide a summary of the clinico-epidemiological data and imaging data of the KICC-19. @*Methods@#The KSTR members at 17 COVID-19 referral centers retrospectively collected imaging data and clinical information of consecutive patients with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction-proven COVID-19 in respiratory specimens from February 2020 through May 2020 who underwent diagnostic chest computed tomography (CT) or radiograph in each participating hospital. @*Results@#The cohort consisted of 239 men and 283 women (mean age, 52.3 years; age range, 11–97 years). Of the 522 subjects, 201 (38.5%) had an underlying disease. The most common symptoms were fever (n = 292) and cough (n = 245). The 151 patients (28.9%) had lymphocytopenia, 86 had (16.5%) thrombocytopenia, and 227 patients (43.5%) had an elevated CRP at admission. The 121 (23.4%) needed nasal oxygen therapy or mechanical ventilation (n = 38; 7.3%), and 49 patients (9.4%) were admitted to an intensive care unit.Although most patients had cured, 21 patients (4.0%) died. The 465 (89.1%) subjects underwent a low to standard-dose chest CT scan at least once during hospitalization, resulting in a total of 658 CT scans. The 497 subjects (95.2%) underwent chest radiography at least once during hospitalization, which resulted in a total of 1,475 chest radiographs. @*Conclusion@#The KICC-19 was successfully established and comprised of 658 CT scans and 1,475 chest radiographs of 522 hospitalized Korean COVID-19 patients. The KICC-19 will provide a more comprehensive understanding of the clinical, epidemiological, and radiologic characteristics of patients with COVID-19.

Years of Life Lost Attributable to COVID-19 in High-incidence Countries

Background@#The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a major public health problem of international concern. It is important to estimate its impact of COVID-19 for health policy decision-making. We estimated the years of life lost (YLLs) due to COVID-19 in high-incidence countries. @*Methods@#We collected the YLLs due to COVID-19 in 30 high-incidence countries as of April 13, 2020 and followed up as of July 14, 2020. Incidence and mortality were collected using each country's formal reports, articles, and other electronic sources. The life expectancy of Japanese females by age and the UN population data were used to calculate YLLs in total and per 100,000. @*Results@#As of April 22, 2020, there were 1,699,574 YLLs due to COVID-19 in 30 high-incidence countries. On July 14, 2020, this increased to 4,072,325. Both on April 22 and July 14, the total YLLs due to COVID-19 was highest in the USA (April 22, 534,481 YLLs; July 14, 1,199,510 YLLs), and the YLLs per 100,000 population was highest in Belgium (April 22, 868.12 YLLs/100,000;July 14, 1,593.72 YLLs/100,000). YLLs due to COVID-19 were higher among males than among females and higher in those aged ≥ 60 years than in younger individuals. Belgium had the highest proportion of YLLs attributable to COVID-19 as a proportion of the total YLLs and the highest disability-adjusted life years per 100,000 population. @*Conclusion@#This study estimated YLLs due to COVID-19 in 30 countries. COVID-19 is a high burden in the USA and Belgium, among males and the elderly. The YLLs are very closely related with the incidence as well as the mortality. This highlights the importance of the early detection of incident case that minimizes severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 fatality.

Difference in health status of Korean farmers according to gender

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to compare differences in lifestyle diseases, musculoskeletal pain, psychosocial stress, and self-health awareness according to gender in Korean farmers. METHODS: The study population comprised 436 farmers residing in rural areas in Korea. A self-administered questionnaire was used to survey demographic characteristics, health-related behaviors, and musculoskeletal pain. The psychosocial well-being index short form (PWI-SF) was used to survey psychosocial stress, and the 12-item short form health survey (SF-12) was used to survey self-health awareness. In addition, a clinical examination was performed for each participant, and lifestyle diseases were identified through a health checkup. RESULTS: Among lifestyle diseases, females showed a significantly higher proportion than males for metabolic syndrome (OR: 4.57 [95% CI, 1.67–12.51]). For musculoskeletal pain, females again showed significantly higher proportion than males for hand pain (OR: 16.79 [95% CI, 3.09–91.30]), and pain in at least one body part (OR: 2.34 [95% CI, 1.16–4.70]). For psychosocial stress, females showed a significantly higher proportion than males for high-risk stress (OR: 3.10 [95% CI, 1.17–8.24]). Among the items in self-health awareness, females showed significantly higher proportion than males for mental component score (MCS) (OR: 3.10 [95% CI, 1.52–6.31]) and total score (OR: 2.34 [95% CI, 1.11–4.90]). CONCLUSIONS: For all items that showed significant differences, females showed higher proportion than males, which indicates that female farmers tended to have poorer overall health than male farmers. Therefore, specialized programs will have to be developed to improve the health of female farmers.

Long-term stability of maxillary and mandibular arch dimensions when using rapid palatal expansion and edgewise mechanotherapy in growing patients / 대한치과교정학회지

OBJECTIVE@#The purpose of this study was to assess the long-term stability of rapid palatal expansion (RPE) followed by full fixed edgewise appliances.@*METHODS@#This study included 67 patients treated using Haas-type RPE and non-extraction edgewise appliance therapy at a single orthodontic practice. Serial dental casts were obtained at three different time points: pretreatment (T1), after expansion and fixed appliance therapy (T2), and at long-term recall (T3). The mean duration of the T1–T2 and T2–T3 periods was 4.8 ± 3.5 years and 11.0 ± 5.4 years, respectively. The dental casts were digitized, and the computed measurements were compared with untreated reference data.@*RESULTS@#The majority of treatment-related increases in the maxillary and mandibular arch measurements were statistically significant (p < 0.05) and greater than expected for the untreated controls. Although many measurements decreased postretention (T2–T3), the net gains persisted for all of the measurements evaluated.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The use of RPE therapy followed by full fixed edgewise appliances is an effective method for increasing maxillary and mandibular arch width dimensions in growing patients.

Clustering of craniofacial patterns in Korean children with snoring / 대한치과교정학회지

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the craniofacial patterns of Korean children with snoring and adenotonsillar hypertrophy (ATH) could be categorized into characteristic clusters according to age. METHODS: We enrolled 236 children with snoring and ATH (age range, 5–12 years) in this study. They were subdivided into four age groups: 5–6, 7–8, 9–10, and 11–12 years. Based on cephalometric analysis, the sagittal and vertical skeletal patterns of each individual were divided into Class I, II, and III, as well as the normodivergent, hypodivergent, and hyperdivergent patterns, respectively. Cluster analysis was performed using cephalometric principal components in addition to the age factor. RESULTS: Three heterogeneous clusters of craniofacial patterns were obtained in relation to age: cluster 1 (41.9%) included patients aged 5–8 years with a skeletal Class I or mild Class II and hyperdivergent pattern; cluster 2 (45.3%) included patients aged 9–12 years with a Class II and hyperdivergent pattern; and cluster 3 (12.8%) included patients aged 7–8 years with a Class III and hyperdivergent pattern. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that the craniofacial patterns of Korean children with snoring and ATH could be categorized into three characteristic clusters according to age groups. Although no significantly dominant sagittal skeletal discrepancy was observed, hyperdivergent vertical discrepancy was consistently evident in all clusters.

New approach of maxillary protraction using modified C-palatal plates in Class III patients / 대한치과교정학회지

Maxillary protraction is the conventional treatment for growing Class III patients with maxillary deficiency, but it has undesirable dental effects. The purpose of this report is to introduce an alternative modality of maxillary protraction in patients with dentoskeletal Class III malocclusion using a modified C-palatal plate connected with elastics to a face mask. This method improved skeletal measurements, corrected overjet, and slightly improved the profile. The patients may require definitive treatment in adolescence or adulthood. The modified C-palatal plate enables nonsurgical maxillary advancement with maximal skeletal effects and minimal dental side effects.

Correlation of Foot Posture Index With Plantar Pressure and Radiographic Measurements in Pediatric Flatfoot

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between the Foot Posture Index (FPI) (including talar head palpation, curvature at the lateral malleoli, inversion/eversion of the calcaneus, talonavicular bulging, congruence of the medical longitudinal arch, and abduction/adduction of the forefoot on the rare foot), plantar pressure distribution, and pediatric flatfoot radiographic findings. METHODS: Nineteen children with flatfoot (age, 9.32+/-2.67 years) were included as the study group. Eight segments of plantar pressure were measured with the GaitView platform pressure pad and the FPI was measured in children. The four angles were measured on foot radiographs. We analyzed the correlation between the FPI, plantar pressure characteristics, and the radiographic angles in children with flatfoot. RESULTS: The ratio of hallux segment pressure and the second through fifth toe segment pressure was correlated with the FPI (r=0.385, p=0.017). The FPI was correlated with the lateral talo-first metatarsal angle (r=0.422, p=0.008) and calcaneal pitch (r=-0.411, p=0.01). CONCLUSION: Our results show a correlation between the FPI and plantar pressure. The FPI and pediatric flatfoot radiography are useful tools to evaluate pediatric flatfoot.

Image Findings of Sarcomatous Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma Focused on Gd-EOB-DTPA Enhanced MRI: A Case Report

Sarcomatous Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is a rare but an aggressive variant of cholangiocarcinoma with a very poor prognosis. A 79-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of incidentally found liver mass. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed well-defined hypointense mass on T1WI and heterogeneous hyperintense mass on T2WI. Gd-EOB-DTPA enhanced study shows peripheral rim-like enhancement in arterial phase and progressive concentric filling of contrast in delayed phase. And mass shows significant enhancement in hepatobiliary phase. The pathologic diagnosis was intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with sarcomatous change.

Acute Hemolysis Caused by Transfusion of Overheated Blood: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

The physiologic changes produced by hypothermia include impairments in the stress response and immune system, and drug clearance, exacerbation of lactic acidosis, cardiac arrhythmias, and coagulopathies. Transfusion with cold blood is known to produce profound changes in body temperature and other metabolic responses with significant morbidity especially in infants and children. Warming blood for transfusion has been a common practice to avoid the dangers of hypothermia following cold blood transfusion. However, overheating of packed red blood cells results in hemolysis and transfusion of hemolyzed blood may cause hypotension, shock, and renal dysfunction. This case report describes an acute hemolysis due to transfusion of overheated blood.

The Efficacy of Early Analgesics for Treatment of Acute Abdomen

PURPOSE: Discouraging the use of analgesics in patients with acute abdominal pain prior to a definitive diagnosis is a common practice. Recently this viewpoint has been challenged in the field of emergency medicine. We investigated whether early analgesia in an acute abdomen improves the patient's comfort in the emergency department (ED) without any adverse effects. METHODS: From March 2004 to August 2004, we prospectively interviewed 124 patients with acute abdominal pain whose visual analog scale (VAS) was larger than 70. Shock, allergies to analgesics, pregnancy, and a traumatic abdomen were reason for patients being excluded from this study. Among the 124 patients, 57 patients were managed by conventional methods during the first 3 months (group 1), and another 67 patients were administrated analgesics within 10 minutes just after initial physical examination during the second 3 months (group 2). The VAS was used as the baseline to assess abdominal pain before administering analgesics, 30 minutes after administering analgesics, and at the time when the decision was made to admit or discharge the patient. RESULTS: The mean time of analgesics administration after ED visit was 52.2 minutes in group 1 and 10.2 minutes in group 2. The administration rate of analgesics in group 1 was 64.9%, and that of in-patients was 37.5%. The mean VAS score for pain relief was 36.7, and additional analgesics were needed when the VAS was larger than 69.3. At the one week follow up, adverse effects were noted. CONCLUSION: Although the use of early analgesics helped rapid relief of patient's pain, there were no adverse effects in diagnoses or prognoses after early administration of analgesics. Also, an acute abdomen with a VAS larger than 70 called for analgesics to be administerd.

Pneumomediastinum Following Routine Endotracheal Intubation: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Tracheobronchial rupture is considered to be a life-threatening condition and most commonly occurs after blunt trauma to the neck or chest. However, single- and double-lumen endotracheal tubes can cause serious airway injury. The recognition of this complication and a knowledge of the possible contributory factors is critical, because failure to do so could result in lethal events. We report the case of a 63-year-old male patient who developed pneumomediastinum three days after routine orotracheal intubation.

Anesthetic Management of a Patient with Congenital Long QT Syndrome: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Long QT syndrome is characterized by syncope and fatal ventricular arrhythmia or fibrillation at an young age. A 25-year-old female patient with congenital Long QT syndrome (Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome) was scheduled for cochlea implantation due to congenital deafness. During anesthetic induction, maintenance, and emergence of these patients, cardiac arrests have been reported, which may be due to asymmetrical adrenergic stimuli in the heart, especially in unrecognized cases. Beta blocker is the first-line therapeutic drug for long QT syndrome. However, there is a controversy with regard to which anesthetics are safe for the management of patients with long QT syndrome. This case report describes an anesthetic management of a patient with congenital long QT syndrome who was treated with beta blocker.

Analysis of Polymorphism of Penta E and Penta D in Korean / 대한법의학회지

A duplex PCR reactions were designed for two pentameric (Penta D, Penta E) short tandem repeats (STR) loci to study the allele frequencies and the applicability of genetic variation in these loci to forensic case works. For 323 unrelated Koreans DNA was extracted using Qiagen DNA blood kit. The fluorescently labeled amplified products were analyzed by 8M urea, 5% long range gel electrophoresis in ABI-377 sequencer and followed data analysis by Genescan Analysis and Genotyper DNA fragment analysis software. The PD, PIC and PE were above 0.92, 0.76 and 0.66, respectively. No deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was observed of Penta D locus (p=0.35, observed number>1).