• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.34-50
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• 2018

Purpose : This study aimed to clarify attributes, antecedents, and consequences of forensic nursing competency. Method : Rodgers' evolutionary concept analysis was used to analyze twenty nine articles on forensic nursing based on a systematic review of theology, medicine, psychology, and nursing literature. Results : Forensic nursing competency consists of the following seven attributes: awareness of the medico-legal problem, multidisciplinary integrated knowledge, education and training in forensic science, professional career development, evidence based practice in forensic nursing, collaborative forensic nursing with community partner, safety and security effective communication, and supportive relationships. Finally, we could explain the consequences of forensic nursing competency on knowledge construction in nursing, enhancing professional nursing, and establishing a human rights and social justice based approach. The antecedents of forensic nursing competency were forensic science interest, forensic science experience, and nurses' view of person in forensic-works. Conclusion : Based on these results, we recommend the development of a Korean version of a scale to assess forensic nursing competency.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.241-247
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• 2014

Sudden cardiac death (SCD), which is primarily caused by lethal heart disorders resulting in structural and arrhythmogenic abnormalities, is one of the prevalent modes of death in most developed countries. Myocardial ischemia, mainly due to coronary artery disease, is the most common type of heart disease leading to SCD. However, postmortem diagnosis of SCD is frequently complicated by obscure histological evidence. Here, we show that certain mRNA species, namely those encoding hemoglobin A1/2 and B (Hba1/2 and Hbb, respectively) as well as pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (Pdk4), exhibit distinct postmortem expression patterns in the left ventricular free wall of SCD subjects when compared with their expression patterns in the corresponding tissues from control subjects with non-cardiac causes of death. Hba1/2 and Hbb mRNA expression levels were higher in ischemic SCD cases with acute myocardial infarction or ischemic heart disease without recent infarction, and even in cardiac death subjects without apparent pathological signs of heart injuries, than control subjects. By contrast, Pdk4 mRNA was expressed at lower levels in SCD subjects. In conclusion, we found that altered myocardial Hba1/2, Hbb, and Pdk4 mRNA expression patterns can be employed as molecular signatures of fatal cardiac dysfunction to forensically implicate SCD as the primary cause of death.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.71-76
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• 2017

This is the first study to report Chrysomya pinguis (Walker) and Lucilia porphyrina (Walker) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) as forensically important blow fly species from human cadavers in Thailand, in addition to Chrysomya villeneuvi (Patton) already known in Thailand. In 2016, a fully decomposed body of an unknown adult male was discovered in a high mountainous forest during winter in Chiang Mai province. The remains were infested heavily with thousands of blow fly larvae feeding simultaneously on them. Morphological identification of adults reared from the larvae, and molecular analysis based on sequencing of 1,247 bp partial mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (CO1) of the larvae and puparia, confirmed the above mentioned 3 species. The approving forensic fly evidence by molecular approach was described for the first time in Thailand. Moreover, neighbor-joining phylogenetic analysis of the CO1 was performed to compare the relatedness of the species, thereby affirming the accuracy of identification. As species of entomofauna varies among cases in different geographic and climatic circumstances, C. pinguis and L. porphyrina were added to the list of Thai forensic entomology caseworks, including colonizers of human remains in open, high mountainous areas during winter. Further research should focus on these 3 species, for which no developmental data are currently available.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.18
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• pp.7617-7623
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• 2014

Objective: The mechanism of action of fatty acid synthase (FASN) in drug tolerance of breast cancer cells with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) features was investigated. Methods: The breast cancer cell line MCF-7-MEK5 with stably occurring EMT and tumour necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) tolerance was used as the experimental model, whereas MCF-7 acted as the control. Tumour cells were implanted into nude mice for in vivo analysis, and cerulenin was used as a FASN inhibitor. RT-PCR, real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot were employed to detect the expression of FASN, TNFR-1, TNFR-2, Wnt-1, ${\beta}$-catenin and cytC at the RNA and protein levels. Results: Compared with MCF-7, TNFR-1 expression in MCF-7-MEK5 was slightly changed, TNFR-2 was decreased, and FASN, Wnt-1, ${\beta}$-catenin and cytC were increased. The expression of Wnt-1 and ${\beta}$-catenin in MCF-7-MEK5 decreased after cerulenin treatment, whereas cytC expression increased. Conclusions: The important function of FASN in the drug tolerance of breast cancer may be due to the following mechanisms: FASN downregulated TNFR-2 expression through lipid rafts to make the cells less sensitive to TNF-${\alpha}$, and simultaneously activated the Wnt-$1/{\beta}$-catenin signalling pathway. Thus, cytC expression increased, which provided cells with anti-apoptotic capacity and induced drug tolerance.

• The Korean Journal of Legal Medicine
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.61-64
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• 2016

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type IV (EDS IV) is a hereditary disorder of the connective tissue, characterized by easy bruising, thin skin with visible veins, and spontaneous rupture of the large arteries, uterus, or bowel. EDS IV is caused by mutations of the gene for type III procollagen (COL3A1), resulting in insufficient collagen production or a defect in the structure of collagen. EDS IV can have fatal complications such as the rupture of great vessels or organs, which can cause hemorrhaging and sudden unexpected death. Here, we report a case of a 43-year-old female who collapsed after a struggle with a neighbor. In this patient, the bifurcation of the bilateral common iliac artery ruptured, with no evidence of trauma, inflammation, or atherosclerosis. Genetic analysis of COL3A1 showed the presence of a c.2771G>A (p.Gly924Arg) mutation, which may be associated with EDS IV. The forensic pathologist should consider the possibility that the spontaneous visceral or arterial rupture was caused by EDS IV. Genetic analysis is not currently a routine procedure during autopsy. However, in this case, we suggest that the patient possibly had an underlying EDS IV condition, and we recommended family members of the deceased to seek genetic analysis and counseling.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.87-93
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• 2001

SOX9과 SRY 유전자는 척추동물에서 남성고환의 형성을 유도하는 요소로 알려졌다. SOX9 유전자는 SRY related HMG box gene중 하나로 유전질환의 XY성전환 및 성을 결정하는 데에 관여하며 성결정시기에 그 양에 따른 성전환 발생등 연구가 진행되고 있다. 그러나 이 유전자가 성별판정에 유용할 지는 확실치 않다. 반면 SRY 유전자는 포유동물에서의 배형성시기 고환형성을 결정하는 Y염색체 유전자로 남성에만 존재하고 여성에는 존재 않는다. 현재까지 이을 이용하여 법의학적 검체에서 남성판별에 유용하게 사용되고 있다. 본 실험에서는 X, Y와 같은 성염색체가 아닌 상동염색체상에 있으면서 SRY 유전자와 더불어 남성고환을 결정하는 또다른 요소로서의 기능을 가진 SOX9 유전자를 치아에서 검출하여 법의학적 성별판정에 유용할 수 있는지 알아보고자 본 연구를 수행하였다. 남녀각각 5개의 치아에서 치수와 상아질을 분리한 후 DNA를 추출하여 SOX9과 SRY 유전자의 특이적인 시발체를 제작하고 중합효소연쇄반응을 시행하여 증폭하고 전기영동을 시행하였다. 그 결과 SOX9 유전자는 남녀모두에서 유전자가 검출되었고, SOX9 유전자산물과 SRY 유전자를 혼합하여 사용시 남자에서만 유전자가 검출되었다. 이는 법의치과학적 성별판정에 있어 SOX9 유전자는 사람의 치아에서는 남녀 모두 존재하며 남녀 구별을 위한 성별판정에는 이용할 수 없으며 SRY 유전자와 함께 적용시 남성 특이적 SRY 유전자 검사중 발생할 수 있는 가성 음성 반응여부를 확인하는 데 유용할 것으로 사료된다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.257-263
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• 2021

Human gnathostomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by Gnathostoma nematode infection. A rapid, reliable, and practical immunoassay, named dot immuno-gold filtration assay (DIGFA), was developed to supporting clinical diagnosis of gnathostomiasis. The practical tool detected anti-Gnathostoma-specific IgG4 in human serum using crude extract of third-stage larvae as antigen. The result of the test was shown by anti-human IgG4 monoclonal antibody conjugated colloidal gold. The sensitivity and specificity of the test were both 100% for detection in human sera from patients with gnathostomiasis (13/13) and from healthy negative controls (50/50), respectively. Cross-reactivity with heterogonous serum samples from patients with other helminthiases ranged from 0 (trichinosis, paragonimiasis, clonorchiasis, schistosomiasis, and cysticercosis) to 25.0% (sparganosis), with an average of 6.3% (7/112). Moreover, specific IgG4 antibodies diminished at 6 months after treatment. This study showed that DIGFA for the detection of specific IgG4 in human sera could be a promising tool for the diagnosis of gnathostomiasis and useful for evaluating therapeutic effects.

• The Korean Journal of Legal Medicine
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.32-40
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• 2017

In addition to identifying genetic differences between target populations, it is also important to determine the impact of genetic differences with regard to the respective target populations. In recent years, there has been an increasing number of cases where this approach is needed, and thus various statistical methods must be considered. In this study, genetic data from populations of Southeast and Southwest Asia were collected, and several statistical approaches were evaluated on the Y-chromosome short tandem repeat data. In order to develop a more accurate and practical classification model, we applied gradient boosting and ensemble techniques. To infer between the Southeast and Southwest Asian populations, the overall performance of the classification models was better than that of the decision trees and regression models used in the past. In conclusion, this study suggests that additional statistical approaches, such as data mining techniques, could provide more useful interpretations for forensic analyses. These trials are expected to be the basis for further studies extending from target regions to the entire continent of Asia as well as the use of additional genes such as mitochondrial genes.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.10-19
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine factors affecting the performance of the forensic nursing role among emergency department (ED) nurses. Methods: Data collection was conducted on 125 nurses of EDs in 9 medical centers in U metropolitan city from June 20 to July 20, 2016. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression using SPSS Win 21.0 program. Results: There were statistically significant differences in the performance of the forensic nursing role according to the types of emergency medical institutions, perception of the forensic nursing and forensic nurse. Performance of the forensic nursing role had positive relationships with the awareness of the forensic nursing role and forensic nursing competency. Factors affecting the performance of forensic nursing role were forensic nursing role awareness, the types of emergency medical institutions and forensic nursing competency. These factors explained 40.8% of the total variance. Conclusion: The results suggest that awareness of the forensic nursing role, forensic nursing competency and the types of emergency medical institutions have influences on the performance of forensic nursing role. Therefore, it is necessary to design interventions suitable for the types of emergency medical institutions for ED nurses to enhance the awareness of forensic nursing role and to reinforce forensic nursing competency.

• Journal of forensic and investigative science
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.44-56
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• 2006

The reform necessity of medicolegal death investigation system is continuously issued. The problems from the current death investigation system are discussed, specially on the professionalism of the involved personnel such as policemen, doctors, prosecutors. Death investigation exists not only to prosecute the criminals but also primarily to protect the general public's health, safety, and welfare. The reform proposals of death investigation system are followed as below. Statutes require that the prosecutor be notified of certain deaths. All deaths that may reasonably result from anything other than natural disease should be investigated. A death certificate is a legal document which authenticate a death, therefore it is issued by the doctor. The postmortem examination must be rearranged on the university base and performed by the qualified doctors who are trained at least in pathology. The police officer specified in death investigation and forensic identification should be encouraged to keep doing their special work in many ways.