PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify factors which influence the management of MultiDrug-Resistant Organisms (MDROs) by nurses in Intensive Care Units (ICUs). METHODS: Data were collected from December 8 to 20, 2013 and participants were 163 ICU nurses working in one general hospital. The Health Belief Model tool and knowledge and management of MDROs infection tools were used in the study. Descriptive statistics, t-test, analysis of variances, Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple regression were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Knowledge, perceived susceptibility, and perceived benefits had a significant influence on MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus,) and MDRAB (Multidrug Resistant Acinetobacter Baumannii) infection management when all the other variables were considered. Significant variable which had influence on VRE (Vancomycin Resistant Eenterococci) infection management were perceived susceptibility and perceived benefits. CONCLUSION: Perceived susceptibility and perceived benefits had significant influence on MDROs infection management. Emphasis needs to be on the perceived susceptibility and perceived benefits of MDROs infection management when providing an educational program for ICU nurses.
Acinetobacter ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Hospitals, General ; Infection Control ; Intensive Care Units* ; Critical Care* ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Staphylococcus

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the influences of health beliefs on fall prevention behavior among adult patients who had abdominal surgery. METHODS: Data were collected from 136 patients who had undergone an abdominal surgery within the past 5 days. The data collection period was from September 21 to October 25, 2017. The health belief measurement tool, modified and reviewed by experts, and the fall prevention guideline developed by the Korean Nurses Association and revised by Park were used. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation and stepwise multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The Health Belief Model explained 45.7% of the variance in fall prevention behavior among adult patients who had abdominal surgery. Perceived susceptibility and perceived benefits had significant influence on fall-prevention behavior. CONCLUSION: Tailored educational programs which put emphasis on the perceived susceptibility and perceived benefits of fall prevention need to be developed.
Accidental Falls ; Adult ; Data Collection ; Humans

Salmonella spp. is an important pathogen to both public and swine industry. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of Salmonella serovar and antibiotics susceptibility of the isolates from Korean swine producing systems. A total of 63 (5.28%) Salmonella spp. was isolated from 1,194 samples (977 fecal materials and 67 organ samples). The predominant Salmonella (S.) enterica serotype and serovar was group B (69.8%) and S. Typhimurium (47.6%), S. Derby (20.6%) and S. Heidelberg (1.6%). But S. Cholerasuis which is characterized host specific by septicemia and enteritis to pigs was not isolated. Antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates varies as follows: Norfloxacine (75%), Ciprofloxacin (67.5%), Amikacin (60%), Colistin (60%), Enrofloxacin (55%). All of isolates were resistant to Erythromycin, Penicillin, Tetracycline and Lincomycin. The results of this study provided useful information regarding antimicrobial susceptibility and resistance patterns to treat salmonellosis and to prevent emergence of multidrug resistance Salmonella.
Amikacin ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Ciprofloxacin ; Colistin ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Enteritis ; Erythromycin ; Fluoroquinolones ; Lincomycin ; Norfloxacin ; Penicillins ; Salmonella ; Salmonella Infections ; Sepsis ; Swine ; Tetracycline

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have tumor initiation, self-renewal, metastasis and chemo-resistance properties in various tumors including colorectal cancer. Targeting of CSCs may be essential to prevent relapse of tumors after chemotherapy. Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signals are central regulators of cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. These pathways are related to colorectal tumorigenesis. This study focused on PI3K and mTOR pathways by inhibition which initiate differentiation of SW620 derived CSCs and investigated its effect on tumor progression. By using rapamycin, LY294002, and NVP-BEZ235, respectively, PI3K and mTOR signals were blocked independently or dually in colorectal CSCs. Colorectal CSCs gained their differentiation property and lost their stemness properties most significantly in dual-blocked CSCs. After treated with anti-cancer drug (paclitaxel) on the differentiated CSCs cell viability, self-renewal ability and differentiation status were analyzed. As a result dual-blocking group has most enhanced sensitivity for anti-cancer drug. Xenograft tumorigenesis assay by using immunodeficiency mice also shows that dual-inhibited group more effectively increased drug sensitivity and suppressed tumor growth compared to single-inhibited groups. Therefore it could have potent anti-cancer effects that dual-blocking of PI3K and mTOR induces differentiation and improves chemotherapeutic effects on SW620 human colorectal CSCs.
AC133 Antigen/genetics/metabolism ; Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Cell Differentiation/*drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; Chromones/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Colorectal Neoplasms/drug therapy/metabolism/pathology ; Humans ; Imidazoles/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Morpholines/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Neoplastic Stem Cells/cytology/drug effects/metabolism ; Paclitaxel/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/*antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism ; Quinolines/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; SOXB1 Transcription Factors/genetics/metabolism ; Signal Transduction/*drug effects ; Sirolimus/pharmacology/therapeutic use ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/*antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Synthetic cannabinoids are one of most abused new psychoactive substances. The recreational use of abused drug has aroused serious concerns about the consequences of these drugs on infection. However, the effects of synthetic cannabinoid on resistance to tetanus toxin are not fully understood yet. In the present study, we aimed to determine if the administration of synthetic cannabinoids increase the susceptibility to tetanus toxin-induced motor behavioral deficit and functional changes in cerebellar neurons in mice. Furthermore, we measured T lymphocytes marker levels, such as CD8 and CD4 which against tetanus toxin. JWH-210 administration decreased expression levels of T cell activators including cluster of differentiation (CD) 3ε, CD3γ, CD74p31, and CD74p41. In addition, we demonstrated that JWH-210 induced motor impairment and decrement of vesicle-associated membrane proteins 2 levels in the cerebellum of mice treated with tetanus toxin. Furthermore, cerebellar glutamatergic neuronal homeostasis was hampered by JWH-210 administration, as evidenced by increased glutamate concentration levels in the cerebellum. These results suggest that JWH-210 may increase the vulnerability to tetanus toxin via the regulation of immune function.
Animals ; Cannabinoids ; Cerebellar Diseases* ; Cerebellum ; Glutamic Acid ; Homeostasis ; Immunosuppression* ; Mice* ; Neurons ; R-SNARE Proteins ; T-Lymphocytes ; Tetanus ; Tetanus Toxin

The first meeting of the National Control Laboratories for Vaccines and Biologicals in the Western Pacific Region was held on September 1–2, 2016 in Seoul, the Republic of Korea. The meeting objectives were to share results of current research and to promote collaboration between the National Control Laboratories. To this end, we first discussed each country’s current status of research on quality control of biologicals. Next, we reviewed quality control of snake venom and antivenom production and the progress of a collaborative study on the Korean reference standard candidate for snake venom. We also discussed the establishment of the second regional reference standard antivenom and the characterization of the Vero cell genome landscape and its application to quality control. Moreover, we also reflected on the importance of collaboration among interested parties participating in this meeting. In conclusion, the meeting initiated networking between the national control laboratories in the Western Pacific region and paved the way to continue collaboration, which will eventually improve the region’s capacity for quality control of biologicals.
Cooperative Behavior ; Genome ; Quality Control ; Republic of Korea ; Seoul ; Snake Venoms ; Vaccines* ; Vero Cells

The Korea Nurses’ Health Study (KNHS) is an ongoing, large-scale, prospective cohort study of women nurses, focusing on the effects of occupational, environmental, and lifestyle factors on the health of women. The first KNHS survey was performed in 2013-2014 (n=20,613). As of December 2023, 11 follow-up surveys have been conducted. Participants who were pregnant were asked to participate in the early pregnancy survey (n=2,179) and postpartum survey after giving birth (n=2,790). The main variables included socio-demographic, work-related, lifestyle, physical, mental, and women’s health factors. Blood, urine, and toenail samples were collected from a participant subgroup of the first survey (n=1,983). The subgroups of the second survey completed a food frequency questionnaire in 2019 (n=300) and 2021 (n=871). In 2020, a subgroup of the first survey answered a coronavirus disease 2019-related survey (n=975). To examine various health-related factors in young adults, new participants were added to the KNHS cohort in the 11th (n=1,000) and 12th (n=1,002) surveys. The KNHS cohort will help identify health and illness determinants in Korean women. Data can be accessed at https://coda.nih.go.kr/frt/index.do.