BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Extrusion of the ossicular prosthesis into the eardrum has been a persisting a problem accompanying ossiculoplasty. There are several factors concerning extrusion of the prosthesis, for instance, eardrum retraction, infection and the figure of the prosthesis, etc. Recently, many studies have been performed to evaluate the cause of extrusion; however, there have not been any attempts to analyze the extrusion cause from the viewpoint of biomechanics. The purpose of this study is to calculate the stress and strain of the eardrum and the prosthesis and to find the ideal model that prevents extrusion. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Three kinds of the imaginary total ossicular replacement prosthesis (TORP) were designed and biomechanically analyzed using the 3 dimensional finite element method. Equivalent stress and strains were measured and compared between the each group. The distribution of equivalent stress and strain on the eardrum and TORP were also observed. RESULTS: The concave disc shows the smallest in value of the maximum equivalent stress & the maximum equivalent strain. In all eardrums, the stress was concentrated along the contact area with the disc margin, especially toward the center of the eardrum. In all TORPs, the upper 1/4 of the shaft and margin of the disc toward center of the eardrum was the most stress-concentrated area. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that concave disc could be the most suitable for preventing extrusion.

Background: Grit is a psychological factor that is defined as “perseverance and passion for the long term.” A growing interest exists in this factor because it aids in overcoming difficult tasks related to the psychological well-being of psychiatry residents to prevent burnout; however, it is still under-recognized in the Korean clinical practices. This study therefore examined the relationship between grit and the psychological well-being of psychiatry residents. Methods: In all, 77 psychiatry residents completed the study survey, and all met our study’s participation criteria. To assess these residents’ grit, burnout, and psychological well-being, the Original Grit Scale, Maslach Burnout Inventory, and Psychological Well-being Scale were employed. For the statistical comparison, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation analysis were used. Results: A significant relationship prevailed between grit and psychological well-being. The grit scores had positive and negative correlations with psychological well-being (p<0.01) and burnout (p<0.01), respectively. Thus, psychiatry residents with higher grit scores were more likely to experience less burnout and have higher psychological well-being scores. Conclusion A significant relationship existed between grit, psychological well-being, and burnout. Grit assessment thus aided in identifying psychiatry residents who were at a greater risk of quitting their training program due to poor psychological well-being or emotional exhaustion.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to provide basic data to understand the organizational culture of nurses by categorizing nurses' experience of coping with bullying in the workplace through Q methodology and analyzing the characteristics of each type, and to induce correct policy measures and interventions to create an atmosphere created in the nursing clinical field to be more advanced and positive. Methods: To form the Q population, focus group interviews were conducted with nurses working for more than six months at two general hospitals in Seoul and Gyeonggi. Interviews were conducted by 12 nurses introduced to participants who can provide researchers with a wealth of information on workplace bullying experiences without filtration. In addition, the Q population was extracted by reviewing the results. Based on the results derived from this, 38 Q statements in total were extracted. Forty clinical nurses were required to classify Q sample statements, and the data collected through this were analyzed using the pc-QUANAL program. Results: As a result of the analysis, a total of five types of clinical nurses' experiences of coping with bullying in the workplace were identified: ‘tense emotion-based tolerance response,’ ‘positive thinking-based self-effort response’, ‘individualistic thinking-based passive response’, ‘support system-based emotional expression response’ and ‘active response centered on problem-solving’. Conclusion The derived response types are expected to be guidelines for suggesting strategies to eradicate bullying in the workplace at the organizational level, individual level, prevention level, and organizational culture level.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in adipose tissue causes an inflammatory response and leads to metabolic diseases. However, the association between vitamin D and adipose ER stress remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated whether 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 (1,25(OH) 2 D 3 ) alleviates ER stress in adipocytes.MATERIALS/METHODS: 3T3-L1 cells were treated with different concentrations (i.e., 10–100 nM) of 1,25(OH)2 D 3 after or during differentiation (i.e., on day 0–7, 3–7, or 7). They were then incubated with thapsigargin (TG, 500 nM) for an additional 24 h to induce ER stress. Next, we measured the mRNA and protein levels of genes involved in unfold protein response (UPR) and adipogenesis using real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting and quantified the secreted protein levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Finally, the mRNA levels of UPR pathway genes were measured in adipocytes transfected with siRNA-targeting Vdr. RESULTS: Treatment with 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 during various stages of adipocyte differentiation significantly inhibited ER stress induced by TG. In fully differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes, 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 treatment suppressed mRNA levels of Ddit3, sXbp1, and Atf4 and decreased the secretion of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α. However, downregulation of the mRNA levels of Ddit3, sXbp1, and Atf4 following 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 administration was not observed in Vdr-knockdown adipocytes. In addition, exposure of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes to 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 inhibited transcription of Ddit3, sXbp1, Atf4, Bip, and Atf6 and reduced the p-alpha subunit of translation initiation factor 2 (eIF2α)/eIF2α and p-protein kinase RNA-like ER kinase (PERK)/PERK protein ratios. Furthermore, 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 treatment before adipocyte differentiation reduced adipogenesis and the mRNA levels of adipogenic genes. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 prevents TG-induced ER stress and inflammatory responses in mature adipocytes by downregulating UPR signaling via binding with Vdr. In addition, the inhibition of adipogenesis by vitamin D may contribute to the reduction of ER stress in adipocytes.

The incidence and mortality rate of cancer continues to gradually increase, although considerable research effort has been directed at elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying biomarkers responsible for tumorigenesis. Accumulated evidence indicates that the long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which are transcribed but not translated into functional proteins, contribute to cancer development. Recently, linc00152 (an lncRNA) was identified as a potent oncogene in various cancer types, and shown to be involved in cancer cell proliferation, invasiveness, and motility by sponging tumor-suppressive microRNAs acting as a competing endogenous RNA, binding to gene promoters acting as a transcriptional regulator, and binding to functional proteins. In this review, we focus on the oncogenic role of linc00152 in tumorigenesis and provided an overview of recent clinical studies on the effects of linc00152 expression in human cancers.
Biomarkers ; Carcinogenesis ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Incidence ; MicroRNAs ; Mortality ; Oncogenes ; RNA ; RNA, Long Noncoding

The incidence and mortality rate of cancer continues to gradually increase, although considerable research effort has been directed at elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying biomarkers responsible for tumorigenesis. Accumulated evidence indicates that the long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which are transcribed but not translated into functional proteins, contribute to cancer development. Recently, linc00152 (an lncRNA) was identified as a potent oncogene in various cancer types, and shown to be involved in cancer cell proliferation, invasiveness, and motility by sponging tumor-suppressive microRNAs acting as a competing endogenous RNA, binding to gene promoters acting as a transcriptional regulator, and binding to functional proteins. In this review, we focus on the oncogenic role of linc00152 in tumorigenesis and provided an overview of recent clinical studies on the effects of linc00152 expression in human cancers.

Adequate positioning of the hand is a critical step in hand fracture operative repair that can impact both the clinical outcome and the efficiency of the operation. In this paper, we introduce the use of a thermoplastic splint with an added thumb stabilizing component as a means to increase the surgeon’s autonomy and to streamline the patient care pathway. The thermoplastic splint is custom fabricated preoperatively by the specialist hand therapist. The splint is used prior, during, and post operation with minimal modification. The thumb component assists maintaining the forearm in a stable pronated position whilst drilling and affixing metal work. This is demonstrated in the video of removal of metal work and open reduction and internal fixation of a metacarpal fracture.

Since lung cancer is a major causative for cancer-related deaths, the investigations for discovering biomarkers to diagnose at an early stage and to apply therapeutic strategies have been continuously conducted. Recently, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) are being exponentially studied as promising biomarkers of lung cancer. Moreover, supportive evidence provides the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network between lncRNAs and miRNAs participating in lung tumorigenesis. This review introduced the oncogenic or tumor-suppressive roles of lncRNAs and miRNAs in lung cancer cells and summarized the involvement of the lncRNA/miRNA ceRNA networks in carcinogenesis and therapeutic resistance of lung cancer.

Adequate positioning of the hand is a critical step in hand fracture operative repair that can impact both the clinical outcome and the efficiency of the operation. In this paper, we introduce the use of a thermoplastic splint with an added thumb stabilizing component as a means to increase the surgeon’s autonomy and to streamline the patient care pathway. The thermoplastic splint is custom fabricated preoperatively by the specialist hand therapist. The splint is used prior, during, and post operation with minimal modification. The thumb component assists maintaining the forearm in a stable pronated position whilst drilling and affixing metal work. This is demonstrated in the video of removal of metal work and open reduction and internal fixation of a metacarpal fracture.

Since lung cancer is a major causative for cancer-related deaths, the investigations for discovering biomarkers to diagnose at an early stage and to apply therapeutic strategies have been continuously conducted. Recently, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) are being exponentially studied as promising biomarkers of lung cancer. Moreover, supportive evidence provides the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network between lncRNAs and miRNAs participating in lung tumorigenesis. This review introduced the oncogenic or tumor-suppressive roles of lncRNAs and miRNAs in lung cancer cells and summarized the involvement of the lncRNA/miRNA ceRNA networks in carcinogenesis and therapeutic resistance of lung cancer.