The 2018 California Wildfires: Integration of Rapid DNA to Dramatically Accelerate Victim Identification.

In November 2018, Butte County, California, was decimated by the Camp Fire, the deadliest wildfire in state history. Over 150,000 acres were destroyed, and at its peak, the fire consumed eighty acres per minute. The speed and intensity of the oncoming flames killed scores of people, and weeks before the fire was contained, first responders began searching through the rubble of 18,804 residences and commercial buildings. As with most mass disasters, conventional identification modalities (e.g., fingerprints, odontology, hardware) were utilized to identify victims. The intensity and duration of the fire severely degraded most of the remains, and these approaches were useful in only 22 of 84 cases. In the past, the remaining cases would have been subjected to conventional DNA analysis, which may have required months to years. Instead, Rapid DNA technology was utilized (in a rented recreational vehicle outside the Sacramento morgue) in the victim identification effort. Sixty-nine sets of remains were subjected to Rapid DNA Identification and, of these, 62 (89.9%) generated short tandem repeat profiles that were subjected to familial searching; essentially all these profiles were produced within hours of sample receipt. Samples successfully utilized for DNA identification included blood, bone, liver, muscle, soft tissue of unknown origin, and brain. In tandem with processing of 255 family reference samples, 58 victims were identified. This work represents the first use of Rapid DNA Identification in a mass casualty event, and the results support the use of Rapid DNA as an integrated tool with conventional disaster victim identification modalities.

Oral malodor prevention effect of toothpaste containing 0.5% zinc citrate and 1,450 ppm fluoride / 대한구강보건학회지

Objectives@#This study aims to verify the effect of the use of a toothpaste containing 0.5% zinc citrate and 1,450 ppm fluoride on oral malodor. @*Methods@#In this study, the experimental group using the experimental toothpaste and the control group using the standard toothpaste control toothpaste were allowed to use each toothpaste for 4 weeks and then a clinical test to measure the change in bad breath was conducted. A study was conducted to evaluate the reduction effect. Efficacy was evaluated by conducting BB checker test and Oralchroma test three times in total before the testing 2 weeks and 4 weeks after the test. @*Results@#As a result of measuring the degree of bad breath using the BB checker, before the start of the test, the experimental group was 46.3 and the control group was 47.2. After 2 weeks of the test, the experimental group was 38.5 and the control group was 44.2 and after 4 weeks the experimental group was 29.6 and the control group was 39.2. There was a significant difference between the experimental group and the control group after 4 weeks of the test (P<0.05). The volatile sulfur compounds measured by Oralchroma were 0.825 ng/10 ml for the experimental group and 0.819 ng/10 ml for the control group after 2 weeks of the test, and they were 0.705 ng/10 ml for the experimental group and 0.860 ng/10ml for the control group after 4 weeks of the test. It was confirmed that a significant index change appeared after 4 weeks of the test compared to before the test (P<0.05). @*Conclusions@#It was confirmed that an improved effect of removing bad breath can be expected when a toothpaste containing 0.5% zinc citrate and 1,450 ppm fluoride is used.

Peripheral Nerve Axon Involvement in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1, Measured Using the Automated Nerve Excitability Test

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Primary involvement of the peripheral nerves in myotonic dystrophy type I (MyD1) is controversial. We investigated whether the involvement of peripheral nerves is a primary event of MyD1 or secondary to another complication such as diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS: The subjects comprised 12 patients with MyD1, 12 with DM and no peripheral nerve involvement, and 25 healthy volunteers. We measured multiple excitability indices in the median motor axons. The strength-duration time constant was calculated from the duration-charge curve, the threshold electrotonus and current-threshold relationships were calculated from the sequential subthreshold current, and the recovery cycle was derived from double suprathreshold stimulation. RESULTS: The depolarizing and hyperpolarizing threshold electrotonus were significantly reduced and exhibited increased refractoriness in the MyD1 group compared with the DM and control groups. The SDTC, superexcitability, and subexcitability were not significantly altered in the MyD1 group. CONCLUSIONS: The MyD1 group exhibited a depolarized axonal membrane potential. The significant differences in peripheral nerve excitability between the MyD1 group and the DM and normal control groups suggest that peripheral neuropathy is a primary event in MyD1 rather than a secondary complication of DM.

Protective Effect of Vitamin C and E in Acute Cyclosporine A Nephrotoxicity in Heminephrectomized Rats / 대한신장학회잡지

No abstract available.

The relationship between grip strength and radial BMD in middle aged men

BACKGROUND: Although it has become obvious that male osteoporosis represent a public health issue, few studies has been done in Korea concerning the association between grip strength and bone mineral density(BMD) in men. This study was undertaken to enforce the necessity of muscle strengthening exercise program to improve BMD in middle-aged men by evaluate the association between grip strength and BMD. METHODS: The study was performed from January to December 1998 in the health screening center of CHA hospital with 174 men who measured both BMD and grip strength . BMD was measured at the proximal and distal radius of the dominant hand using Osteoplan p-DXA and grip strength was measured from the dominant hand using dynamometer. Daily calcium intake was measured through the interview with the diet therapist. Other datas were obtained from the questionnaire. RESULTS: We found a significant positive correlation between grip strength and BMD of distal and proximal radius(r=0.208; P<0.01, r=0.255;P<0.01)and a significant negative correlation between age and BMD of distal and proximal radius(r= -0.313; P<0.01, r= -0.190; P<0.05). There was no correlation between calcium intake and BMD. BMI was correlated significantly only with BMD of distal radius(r=0.194; P<0.05). There was no significant difference in BMD either by smoking or exercise. The multiple regression analysis showed that grip strength was independently correlated with BMD of the proximal radius significantly(beta =1.731, P<0.05), but not with BMD of the distal radius after adjusting the confounding variables. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, there is a significant correlation between grip strength and BMD in middle aged men. Therefore it can be safely concluded that it is helpful to carry out muscle strengthening program to improve muscle strength and increase BMD for preventing male osteoporosis.

A Case of Disseminated Nocardiosis in Kidney Transplant Recipient / 대한신장학회잡지

Nocardiosis is a rare infection seen most commonly in immunocompromized patients. Most patients have pulmonary involvement, but some develop disseminated infection. A 52-year-old man, treated with immunosuppressive drugs for 3 months after kidney transplantation, developed pulmonary nocardiosis and disseminated infection involving brain, skin, and both uvea. The diagnosis was made by open lung biopsy specimens showing characteristic weak acid fastness with modified Ziel-Neelsen stainig and histologic examination. Immunosuppressive therapy was continued and combination of surgical drainage of brain abscess and chemotherapy with Minocycline were successful. With the increasing number of allograft recipients and concomitant immunosuppression, the possibility of an increase in Nocardia opportunistic infections exists.