Friendships are essential to human function and survival and are one of the many influences affecting health, well-being, and happiness in both personal and professional life. This concept analysis aims to clarify the meaning of friendship among professional nurses by presenting the attributes, antecedents, and consequences of friendship and discussing surrogate terms and model cases.
Friends

IL-17 is produced by RAR-related orphan receptor gamma t (RORγt)-expressing cells including Th17 cells, subsets of γδT cells and innate lymphoid cells (ILCs). The biological significance of IL-17-producing cells is well-studied in contexts of inflammation, autoimmunity and host defense against infection. While most of available studies in tumor immunity mainly focused on the role of T-bet-expressing cells, including cytotoxic CD8⁺ T cells and NK cells, and their exhaustion status, the role of IL-17-producing cells remains poorly understood. While IL-17-producing T-cells were shown to be anti-tumorigenic in adoptive T-cell therapy settings, mice deficient in type 17 genes suggest a protumorigenic potential of IL-17-producing cells. This review discusses the features of IL-17-producing cells, of both lymphocytic and myeloid origins, as well as their suggested pro- and/or anti-tumorigenic functions in an organ-dependent context. Potential therapeutic approaches targeting these cells in the tumor microenvironment will also be discussed.
Animals ; Autoimmunity ; Child ; Child, Orphaned ; Friends ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-17 ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Lymphocytes ; Mice ; T-Lymphocytes ; Th17 Cells ; Tumor Microenvironment

We present the case of a 23-year-old man who suddenly collapsed during a physical altercation with his friends while in a drunken state. The post-mortem computed tomography (CT) with angiography revealed acute basal subarachnoid hemorrhage with rupture of the left middle cerebral artery. On autopsy, the head, face, mandible and neck showed multifocal hemorrhages with fracture of the hyoid bone, and the pathologic findings of the brain was consistent with CT findings. However, the vascular rupture site was not observed macroscopically. On histologic examination, a microscopic focal rupture was identified at the proximal portion of the middle cerebral artery, and possibility of arteriopathy was considered. This case illustrates that other parts of intracerebral arteries (other than the vertebral arteries) can be the culprit of rupture in the case of traumatic basal subarachnoid hemorrhage, and the post-mortem angiographic findings can be helpful in targeting the site of vascular injury. Furthermore, meticulous sampling of intracranial vessels could help find the vascular rupture site and identify any histologic findings suspicious of arteriopathy. Therefore, we suggest that post-mortem angiography can be an effective and adjunctive tool for a tailored approach in finding the vascular injury, and that histologic examination of both the intracranial and extracranial arteries be important to medicolegally ensure the death of traumatic basal subarachnoid hemorrhage and to examine presence of arteriopathy as a predisposing factor.
Angiography ; Arteries ; Autopsy ; Brain ; Causality ; Forensic Pathology ; Friends ; Head ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hyoid Bone ; Mandible ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Neck ; Rupture ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Traumatic ; Vascular System Injuries ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: This study analyzed a path through which factors influencing death anxiety in the community-dwelling elderly, assuming personal organismic factors and microsystemic factors based on the ecology model purported by Belsky (1980). METHODS: This study was performed with 189 elderly people. Data were collected through a self-report questionnaire. The data were analyzed using the SPSS and AMOS programs. RESULTS: The factors influencing death anxiety in the elderly were depression, family support, social network, and familism value, and the explanatory power of these variables was 22%. Death anxiety increased with higher depression, higher familism value, larger social network, and lower family support. Spiritual well-being and elderly discrimination experience had indirect effects on death anxiety, and these effects were mediated by depression. CONCLUSION: Depression, family support, social network, and familism value were found to influence death anxiety in the elderly, and the strongest effect came from depression. To reduce death anxiety in the elderly, it is important to improve their relationship with their family and friends. Moreover, support should be provided by establishing local systems, and intervention should be provided to alleviate depression.
Aged ; Anxiety ; Depression ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Ecology ; Friends ; Humans

BACKGROUND: Steroid injections are commonly used in pain clinics to relieve pain and treat inflammation. In Korea, these steroid injections are well known as ‘ppyeojusa’, which means to inject into the bone in Korean. Some patients often have a negative perception of this treatment method due to inaccurate information about the treatment and side effects of steroids. The purpose of this study is to investigate patients’ perception and knowledge of ppyeojusa. METHODS: A questionnaire about ppyeojusa was completed by patients who visited one of the pain clinics in nine university hospitals, from August 1 to September 10, 2017. RESULTS: Three-hundred seventy-four patients completed the survey. Eighty-five percent of patients had had ppyeojusa, and 74% of the respondents had heard of ppyeojusa from the mass media, friends or relatives. Only 39% of the patients answered that this injection was safe without side effects if properly spaced. Of the patients surveyed, 21% responded that ppyeojusa are “injections into the bone”; while 15% responded that ppyeojusa are “terrible injections that melted ‘the bone if used a lot’”. Half of the patients did not know what the active constituent is in ppyeojusa. If steroid injections are advised by the pain specialists, 89% of the patients would consent. CONCLUSIONS: Most pain clinic patients have heard of ppyeojusa. Most patients obtained information about ppyeojusa from mass media, rather than their physicians. Therefore, it is likely that most patients have inaccurate knowledge.
Friends ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Korea ; Mass Media ; Methods ; Pain Clinics ; Specialization ; Steroids ; Surveys and Questionnaires

The purpose of this study was 2-fold: 1) to investigate the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasite infection in cats reared in Daegu, Republic of Korea and 2) to assess the efficacy and safety of a topical emodepside/praziquantel formulation for cats with parasitic infections. The gastrointestinal parasite infections were examined microscopically using the flotation method. Of 407 cats, 162 (39.8%) were infected by at least one gastrointestinal parasite, including Toxocara cati (63.0%), Toxascaris leonina (31.5%), Taenia taeniaeformis (3.7%), and Cystoisospora felis (1.9%). None of the infected animals had multiple infections. When the data were analyzed according to sex, age, and type of cat, stray cats showed statistically higher prevalence than companion cats (P<0.05). On the 5th day after treatment, no parasitic eggs were detected using microscopic examination. In addition, no adverse effects, such as abnormal behaviors and clinical symptoms, were observed in the cats treated with the drug. These results quantify the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in cats in Daegu, Republic of Korea, and show that topical emodepside/praziquantel is a safe and effective choice for treating the parasitic infections in cats.
Animals ; Cats ; Daegu ; Eggs ; Felis ; Friends ; Humans ; Methods ; Ovum ; Parasites ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea ; Taenia ; Toxascaris ; Toxocara

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore psychological distress and examine the relationship between this distress and individual, family, and school factors among adolescents in four low- and middle-income countries (LAMICs) in Asia (i.e., Laos, Mongolia, Nepal, and Sri Lanka). METHODS: A total of 4,098 adolescents attending public schools in the four LAMICs were surveyed as part of the Healthy School Development Project, which aimed to develop school capacity for improving (1) health among all school members and (2) the school environment through tailored school health programs. Psychological distress, family factors (i.e., parental understanding and monitoring, and parental tobacco and alcohol use), and school factors (i.e., having close friends, not bullied, school attendance, and health education) were assessed using self-report questionnaires. Data were collected from September to November in 2012 and 2013. Data analysis comprised descriptive statistics, Chi-squared testing, and logistic regression. RESULTS: Over half of the participants were women (53.2%–64.1%), and 33.7% (in Sri Lanka) to 53.8% (in Laos) were aged older than 15 years. Approximately 32.9% reported the presence of psychological distress; moreover, 7.9%–13.2% reported suicidal ideation. Parental monitoring and being bullied were associated with psychological distress in all four countries. CONCLUSION: One-third of adolescents experience psychological distress across these four LAMICs, which poses a substantial public health issue. Adolescents can benefit from family and school-based approaches for screening, ameliorating, and preventing psychological distress.
Adolescent ; Asia ; Developing Countries ; Female ; Friends ; Humans ; Laos ; Logistic Models ; Mass Screening ; Mongolia ; Nepal ; Parents ; Public Health ; School Health Services ; Sri Lanka ; Statistics as Topic ; Stress, Psychological ; Suicidal Ideation ; Tobacco

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with career maturity among Korean high school students. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted using secondary data from the 2012 Korean Welfare Panel Study (KoWePS). The participants were 496 high school students who completed the supplemental survey for children, which included items on career maturity, self-esteem, study stress, teacher attachment, relationship with parents, peer attachment, depression and anxiety. Descriptive statistics, the chi-square-test, the t-test, and a decision tree were used for data analysis. RESULTS: The decision tree identified five final nodes predicting career maturity after forcing self-esteem as the first variable. The highest predicted rate of high career maturity was associated with high self-esteem, experience of career counseling, and high teacher attachment. The lowest predicted rate of high career maturity was associated with low self-esteem and low attachment to friends. CONCLUSION: Factors influencing career maturity were varied by levels of self-esteem in Korean high school students. Thus, it is necessary to develop different approaches to enhance career maturity according to levels of self-esteem.
Adolescent ; Anxiety ; Child ; Decision Trees ; Depression ; Friends ; Humans ; Parents ; Self Concept ; Statistics as Topic ; Vocational Guidance

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to explore Korean mothers' experiences of the development of parent-adolescent relationships. METHODS: The participants were 18 Korean parents of adolescents. Data were collected through in-depth interviews. The main question was, “Could you tell me about your experiences of developing a relationship with your adolescent child?” The data were analyzed using Strauss and Corbin's grounded theory methodology. RESULTS: The central phenomena of the experiences of parent-adolescent relationships among Korean mothers were “trying to reduce my expectations, but not being able to” and “having no idea where to go”. The major action/interaction strategies were “putting aside my desires and adapting to my child's needs” and “waiting and seeing at a distance”. The consequences included “appreciating myself and my child at the same time”. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that mothers tried to adapt to their children's needs and to keep their children at a distance. Their efforts were influenced by advice from friends and family members. The findings of this study emphasize specific aspects of how Korean mothers experienced the process of developing respectful relationships with their children.
Adolescent ; Child ; Friends ; Grounded Theory ; Humans ; Mothers ; Parent-Child Relations ; Parents ; Qualitative Research

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify the attributes of social adjustment among adolescent cancer survivors using concept analysis and to propose a definition of the concept. METHODS: In accordance with the hybrid model of concept analysis, this study employed a three-phase circular process comprising theoretical, fieldwork, and final analysis phases. A thorough literature review was conducted using MEDLINE, Embase, and Korean databases, followed by qualitative fieldwork with seven participants. The results derived from the theoretical and fieldwork phases were integrated into the final analysis phase. RESULTS: Four attributes of social adjustment were found in adolescent cancer survivors: having harmonious relationships with friends, having harmonious relationships with boy/girlfriends, fulfilling their present roles, and planning for and expecting future roles. The following definition of social adjustment of adolescent cancer survivors is proposed: “the conquering of difficulties arising from the continuum of childhood cancer and the achievement of the developmental tasks of typical adolescents.” CONCLUSION: Social adjustment of childhood cancer survivors is crucial for integrating them into society. The findings of this study provide a basis for developing an instrument to measure the social adjustment of adolescent cancer survivors and for developing of interventions that target this group.
Adolescent ; Friends ; Humans ; Social Adjustment ; Survivors