• BMB Reports
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.221-226
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• 2014

Drug-resistance and imbalance of apoptotic regulation limit chemotherapy clinical application for the human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment. The reactivation of p53 is an attractive therapeutic strategy in cancer with disrupted-p53 function. Nutlin-3, a MDM2 antagonist, has antitumor activity in various cancers. The post-translational modifications of p53 are a hot topic, but there are some controversy ideas about the function of phospho-$Ser^{392}$-p53 protein in cancer cell lines in response to Nutlin-3. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between Nutlin-3 and phospho-$Ser^{392}$-p53 protein expression levels in SMMC-7721 (wild-type TP53) and HuH-7 cells (mutant TP53). We demonstrated that Nutlin-3 induced apoptosis through down-regulation phospho-$Ser^{392}$-p53 in two HCC cells. The result suggests that inhibition of p53 phosphorylation on $Ser^{392}$ presents an alternative for HCC chemotherapy.

• The Korean Journal of Legal Medicine
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.111-125
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• 2018

Statistical analysis was performed on national forensic autopsy data collected in the Republic of Korea, with the exception of Ulsan, during 2017. A total of 8,777 cases were categorized based on the region; information was provided by the Police Agency and the Coast Guard regarding sex, age, manner of death, and cause of death. Analysis of the manner of death revealed that 3,971 cases (45.2%) were unnatural deaths, 3,679 cases (41.9%) were natural deaths, and 1,127 cases (12.8%) were unknown deaths. Among the unnatural deaths, the majority of the cases (1,740 cases, 43.8%) were accidents, 1,316 cases (33.1%) were suicide, 385 cases (9.7%) were homicide, and 530 cases (13.3%) were undetermined deaths. Among the unnatural deaths, the majority of the cases (1,575 cases, 39.7%) were trauma, followed by 793 cases (20.0%) of poisoning and 689 cases (17.4%) of asphyxia. Falling down was the major cause of death by trauma (737 cases, 46.8%). As a result of the classification of asphyxia based on previous study, strangulation was the major cause, with 538 cases (78.1%). Among the natural deaths, heart disease was the major cause (1,790 cases, 48.7%), followed by vascular disease (697 cases, 18.9%).

• The Korean Journal of Legal Medicine
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.172-175
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• 2018

Aortic dissection is an uncommon, life-threatening medical emergency that is associated with a high mortality rate, and death from aortic dissection is mainly related to secondary complications, namely cardiac tamponade, severe aortic regurgitation, acute myocardial infarction, and abdominal organ vessel obstruction. Hence, prompt and accurate diagnosis followed by proper treatment is important for patient survival. Herein, we present a rare case of sudden death after aortic dissection with concomitant acute myocardial infarction and cardiac tamponade.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.4977-4982
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• 2014

Background: Cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) might be involved in the development of bladder cancer. However, previous studies of any association between CYP2E1 RsaI/PstI polymorphism and bladder cancer risk have yielded conflicting results. In this study, we performed a more precise estimation of the relationship by a meta-analysis based on the currently available evidence from the literature. Method: To assess the effect of CYP2E1 RsaI/PstI polymorphism on bladder cancer susceptibility, a meta-analysis of 6 available studies with 1,510 cases and 1,560 controls were performed through Feb 2014. Summary odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to estimate the strength of association for CYP2E1 RsaI/PstI polymorphism under different genetic models. Results: When available studies were pooled into the meta-analysis, we found that the C1C2 and C2C2 genotypes of CYP2E1 RsaI/PstI polymorphism significantly decreased bladder cancer risk under different genetic models (heterozygote: OR=0.766, 95%CI=0.613-0.957, $P_{OR}$=0.019; homozygote: OR=0.51, 95%CI=0.303-0.858, $P_{OR}$=0.011; dominant: OR=0.733, 95%CI=0.593-0.905, $P_{OR}$=0.004; recessive: OR=0.565, 95%CI=0.337-0.947, $P_{OR}$=0.030). Subgroup analysis indicated that C2C2 genotype was significantly associated with decreased bladder cancer risk under the homozygote genetic model in Caucasians. There was no evidence of heterogeneity or publication bias. Conclusions: The current meta-analysis suggested that the CYP2E1 RsaI/PstI polymorphism might be associated with bladder cancer susceptibility, especially in Caucasians. Further studies are needed to validate the above conclusion.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.257-268
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• 2002

Chronic infection and inflammation have recently been implicated as important etiologic agents of atherosclerosis. Several agents have been suggested as possible candidates including cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex vims type 1 (HSV-1), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Chlamydia pneumoniae, and Helicobacter pylori. We evaluated the relationship between cytornegalovirus infection and atherosclerosis by in situ hybridization and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We examined 23 subjects with atherosclerosis and 10 matched control subjects without atherosclerosis. CMV was detected by in situ hybridization in 60.9% (14/23) of aorta and 42.9% (9/21) of coronary arteries in subjects with atherosclerosis. It was also detected by PCR in 65.2% (15/23) of aorta and 52.4% (11/21) of coronary arteries. CMV was detected on areas showing early or advanced atheromatous changes. Cells morphologically identical to smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, lymphocytes, fibroblasts, and Schwann cells were positively reacted with the CMV probe. However. none of the cells to which the probe hybridized contained inclusion bodies, thus strongly suggesting that the arterial wall may be a site of CMV latency. This result Indicates that CMV may potentially play a direct or indirect role in the pathogenesis of human atherosclerosis.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.24.1-24.9
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• 2024

Importance: In veterinary forensic science, accurately determining the postmortem interval (PMI) is crucial for identifying the causes of animal deaths. Autolysis, a significant postmortem process, influences PMI estimation, but its relationship with humidity is not well understood. Objective: This study aimed to improve the accuracy of PMI estimates in veterinary forensic cases by looking into how different humidity levels affect autolysis in different organs of rats. Methods: The study involved 38 male rats, examining histopathological changes in their heart, liver, and pancreas. These organs were subjected to controlled humidity levels (20%, 55%, and 80%) at a constant 22℃. Tissue samples were collected at several intervals (0 h, 12 h, 24 h, 3 days, and 8 days) for comprehensive analysis. Results: Distinct autolytic characteristics in animal organs emerged under varying humidity conditions. The low-humidity environment rapidly activated autolysis more than the high-humidity environment. In addition, it was found that lower humidity caused nuclear pyknosis, cytoplasmic disintegration, and myofiber interruption. The liver, in particular, showed portal triad aggregation and hepatocyte individuation. The pancreas experienced cell fragmentation and an enlarged intracellular space. High humidity also caused the loss of striations in cardiac tissues, and the liver showed vacuolation. Under these conditions, the pancreas changed eosinophilic secretory granules. Conclusions and Relevance: The study successfully established a clear connection between the autolytic process in PMIs and relative humidity. These findings are significant for developing a more accurate and predictable method for PMI estimation in the field of veterinary forensic science.

• The Korean Journal of Legal Medicine
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.164-167
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• 2018

Aspergillus infection is the most common cause of death due to fungi in immunocompromised hosts. Aspergillus tracheobronchitis is an uncommon but severe form of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, which is limited entirely or mainly to the tracheobronchial tree and can often be life-threatening. We report a case of a 54-year-old man who died from Aspergillus tracheobronchitis without an underlying disease. Autopsy revealed an extensive yellowish plaque adhering to the trachea and bronchial wall. The microscopic examination of the trachea and bronchus revealed septate branching hyphae of Aspergillus.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.325-333
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• 1999

최근 중합효소연쇄반응을 이용한 분자생물학적 유전자분석기술의 발달로 성염색체상의 유전좌위 증폭을 통한 성별감정이 활발히 이루어지고 있다. 그중 사람 Y염색체상에 존재하는 남성 고환의 형성을 유도하는 sex-determining region Y(SRY) gene이 규명되어 유전질환의 조기 발견이나 예방 및 태아의 성별판정 등에 응용되고 있다. 그러나, 치아는 외부 환경에 대한 저항성이 가장 높은 장기로 성별감정 등 법의치과학적 개인식별에 널리 이용되고 있음에도 불구하고, SRY 유전자를 이용하여 치아에서의 성별감정에 대한 연구는 시도된 바 없다. 따라서, 본 연구에서는 사람 치아에서 중합효소연쇄반응법을 이용한 SRY 유전자를 검출하여 성별판정에 용용하고자 하였다. 남녀 각각 20개 치아의 치수와 상아질에서 DNA를 추출하여 중합효소연쇄반응 을 시행하고 SRY 유전자를 검색한 결과, 남성에서는 치수 13개중 8개, 상아질 7개중 4개에서 SRY 유전자가 검출되었고, 여생에서는 검출되지 않았다. 이러한 결과는 중합효소연쇄반응법을 이용하여 사람 치아에서 SRY 유전자를 검색할 때, 남성판별에 유용하고 치아를 이용한 성별감정시 기존의 성별감정에 이용되고 있는 다른 유전자와 함께 SRY 유전자를 검색함으로써 성별감정의 신뢰도를 높힐 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.330-336
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• 2013

"The Act on Medication Treatment of Sexual Impulse of Sex Offenders" known as chemical castration has been effective since July 2011 in Korea. According to the law, monitoring of male sex hormone in urine is enforced to request National Forensic Service more than once a month after injection of medicine designed to reduce sex impulse. We established a rapid and sensitive method for the monitoring of testosterone (T) and epitestosterone (E) in human urine by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Three mL of urine was pretreated by solid-phase extraction for purification and performed enzymatic hydrolysis. The pretreated samples were extracted twice with 2 ml of ethyl acetate and n-hexane (2 : 3). The separation was applied on Thermo Hypersil GOLD C18 column ($1.9{\mu}m$, $100{\times}2.1mm$). A gradient elution of methanol and water of 0.1% formic acid were used as mobile phase and the retention time was less than 10 min. LC-MS/MS system coupled with an electrospray ionization source was performed in multiple reaction monitoring mode. The transitions of the analytes executed as following: m/z $289{\rightarrow}97$, 109 for T and E, m/z $292{\rightarrow}109$ for $T-d_3$ and $E-d_3$ as internal standards. The validation results of the method were satisfactory. The limits of detection were 0.05 ng/ml and the limits of quantification were 0.1 ng/ml. This method was successfully applied to real human urine sample. The developed method will be useful for monitoring T/E ratio in urine of sex offenders.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.308-314
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• 2011

It has been shown that circadian genes not only play an important role on circadian rhythms, but also participate in other physiological and pathological activities, such as drug dependence, cancer development and radiation injury. The Per2, an indispensable component of the circadian clock, not only modulates circadian oscillations, but also regulates organic function. In the present study, we applied mPER2-upregulated NIH3T3 cells to reveal the relationship of mPer2 and the cells damaged by ultraviolet C (UVC). NIH3T3 cells at the peak of the expression of mPer2 induced by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) demonstrated little damage by UVC evaluated by MTT assay, cell growth curves and cell colony-forming assay, compared with that at the nadir of the expression of mPer2. Overexpression of mPER2, accompanied p53 upregulated, also demonstrated protective effect on NIH3T3 cells damaged by UVC. These results suggest that mPer2 plays a protective effect on cells damaged by UVC, whose mechanism may be involved in upregulated p53.