PURPOSE: To examine the fate of muscle-derived stem cells (MDSC) after injection into different host conditions and provide an insight for their mechanism of action. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MDSCs differentiated in vitro towards the endothelial lineage and transfected with lentivirus tagged with green fluorescent protein (GFP) were injected into two animal models mimicking vascular diseases: hindlimb ischemia and carotid injury models. Injected cells were tracked at the site of injection and in remote organs by harvesting the respective tissues at different time intervals and performing immunofluorescent histological analyses. Stem cell survival was quantified at the site of injection for up to 4 weeks. RESULTS: MDSCs were successfully tagged with fluorescent material GFP and showed successful implantation into the respective injection sites. These cells showed a higher affinity to implant in blood vessel walls as shown by double fluorescent co-stain with CD31. Quantification of stem cell survival showed a time-dependent decrease from day 3 to 4 weeks (survival rate normalized against day 3 was 72.0% at 1 week, 26.8% at 2 weeks and 2.4% at 4 weeks). Stem cells were also fo und in distant organs, especially the kidneys and liver, which survived up to 4 weeks. CONCLUSION: MDSCs were successfully tracked in different vascular disease models, and their fate was assessed in terms of cell survival and distribution. Better understanding of the donor cell properties, including their interaction with the host conditions and their mechanism of action, are needed to enhance cell survival and achieve improved outcomes.
Adult Stem Cells ; Animals ; Blood Vessels ; Cell Survival ; Hindlimb ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Kidney ; Lentivirus ; Liver ; Models, Animal ; Stem Cell Niche ; Stem Cells* ; Tissue Donors ; Vascular Diseases

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to gather information about Korean Army soldiers’ attitude towards tuberculosis to enable the development of an informed educational program and potential intervention plans. METHODS: There were 500 male soldiers serving in the Korean Army who responded to questionnaires regarding knowledge of, attitudes towards, and preventive behavior towards tuberculosis. The questionnaires were collected between September 10 until October 1, 2014. Participants’ characteristic that influenced differences in knowledge, attitudes, and preventive behavior towards tuberculosis were compared by t test. Variables that influenced preventive behavior were identified by multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The mean scores assessing knowledge of, attitude, and preventive behavior towards tuberculosis were 11.64 (± 4.03) out of 20 points, 3.21 (± 0.38) out of 4 points, and 2.88 (± 0.42) out of 4 points, respectively. Non-smokers were more knowledgeable about tuberculosis than smokers. Participants who had family or friends with tuberculosis had better knowledge and a more productive attitude to tuberculosis. Participants who were educated or obtained information about tuberculosis, received better scores in all areas of knowledge, attitude and preventive behavior compared to other participants. Non-smoking, family or friends who have had tuberculosis, obtaining information about tuberculosis, and positive attitudes towards treatment and preventive education had an explanatory power of 24.6% with regard to preventive behavior against tuberculosis. CONCLUSION: More relatable, systemized education should be provided regularly to improve soldiers’ knowledge of, attitudes towards, and prevention against tuberculosis in the Republic of Korea Army.
Education ; Friends ; Humans ; Korea* ; Male ; Military Personnel ; Republic of Korea ; Tuberculosis*

BACKGROUND: Propofol and alfentanil are frequently combined to provide total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA). The goals of this study were to determine the target plasma concentration (predicted plasma concentration) of propofol required to provide satisfactory anesthesia in the presence of nitrous oxide over a range of alfentanil infusions for analgesia and to determine the dosing rates required to achieve adequate anesthesia. METHODS: Sixty patients undergoing plastic surgery were anesthetized with 50% nitrous oxide, alfentanil (0 [A0 group] or 5ng/kg loading followed by 0.12ng/kg/min [A5 group] or 10ng/kg loading followed by 0.25ng/kg/min [A10 group] or 20ng/kg loading followed by 0.5ng/kg/min [A20 group]) and propofol using a target-controlled infusion (TCI). The mean target concentration and infusion rate of propofol, and induction and recovery time according to changes of the alfentanil regimen were checked. RESULTS: Induction and recovery time were prolonged in the A0 group more than other groups, and recovery time was shortened in the A10 group more than the other three groups (P < 0.05). The infusion rate and mean target concentration of propofol had significant impact among the groups (P < 0.05). Side effects did not differ among the groups. CONCLUSIONS: The optimal target plasma propofol concentrations and infusion rates of alfentanil, both with satisfactory intraoperative anesthetic conditions and speed of recovery, are 3.51, 3.02, 2.35ng/ml and 0.12, 0.25, 0.5ng/kg/min with 5, 10, 20ng/kg loading in plastic surgery patients. We recommand 0.25ng/kg infusion with 10ng/kg loading of alfentanil combined with 3.02ng/ml of target plasma concentration of propofol as the best combination dosage to shorten recovery time.
Alfentanil* ; Analgesia ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Intravenous ; Humans ; Nitrous Oxide ; Plasma ; Propofol* ; Surgery, Plastic*

BACKGROUND: Ketamine is a noncompetitive antagonist that blocKs the ion channel coupled to the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor. This class of drugs may be useful for treatment of acute postoperative pain due to prevention of central sensitization of nocieceptors. We examined the effect of adding Ketamine to a patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) regimen. METHODS: Sixty parturients undergoing a Cesarean section received lumbar epidural anesthesia using 0.75% ropivacaine with 50ng of fentanyl and a PCEA using 0.15% ropivacaine and 50ng/mL of butorphanol with the addition of Ketamine 50 mg (K50, n = 20), 100 mg (K100, n = 20), or without (control, n = 20). The PCEA device was programmed to deliver 4 mL of a regimen (total 300 mL of solution with 0.15% ropivacaine plus 50ng/mL of butorphanol) with a 10 minute locKout interval. Visual analogue pain score, side effects and PCEA drug consumption were checKed during 48 hours postoperatively. RESULTS: PCEA drug consumption and incidence of nausea and vomiting were decreased by 25% and 25% (K50) and 35% and 29% (K100) compared with the control group. The severity of sedation was increased in the K50, and K100 groups more than the control group (P < 0.05). There were no differences in visual analogue pain score and other side effects among the groups. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that adding low-dose Ketamine in a PCEA regimen using ropivacaine and butorphanol decreases the consumption of the PCEA drug and the incidence of nausea and vomiting and increases the severity of sedation.
Analgesia, Epidural ; Anesthesia, Epidural ; Butorphanol ; Central Nervous System Sensitization ; Cesarean Section ; Female ; Fentanyl ; Incidence ; Ion Channels ; Ketamine* ; N-Methylaspartate ; Nausea ; Pain, Postoperative ; Pregnancy ; Vomiting

Purpose: Stem cell-based therapies are considered an alternative approach for critical limb ischemia (CLI) patients with limited or exhausted options, yet their clinical use is limited by the lack of sustainability and unclear mechanism of action.In this study, a substance P-conjugated scaffold was injected with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into an animal model of CLI to verify whether angiogenesis could be enhanced. Methods: A self-assembling peptide (SAP) was conjugated with substance P, known to have the ability to recruit host stem cells into the site of action. This SAP was injected with MSCs into ischemic hindlimbs of rats, and the presence of MSCs was verified by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of MSC-specific markers at days 7, 14, and 28. The degree of angiogenesis, cell apoptosis, and fibrosis was also quantified. Results: Substance P-conjugated SAP was able to recruit intrinsic MSCs into the ischemic site of action. When injected in combination with MSCs, the presence of both injected and recruited MSCs was found in the ischemic tissues by double IHC staining. This in turn led to a higher degree of angiogenesis, less cell apoptosis, and less tissue fibrosis compared to the other groups at all time points. Conclusion The combination of substance P-conjugated SAP and MSCs was able to enhance angiogenesis and tissue repair, which was achieved by the additive effect from exogenously administered and intrinsically recruited MSCs. This scaffold-based intrinsic recruitment approach could be a viable option to enhance the therapeutic effects in patients with CLI.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore gender-role identity and cyber delinquency in high school students. METHODS: Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires and analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, and ANOVA. The data survey was conducted with 1,208 conveniently selected high school students in Seoul, Gyung-gi and Chung-chung province. RESULTS: The cyber delinquency score was 38.94 and androgyny gender role identity was most common (34.0%). There were significant differences in cyber delinquency by academic year, gender, school record, economic status, educational background of parents, experiences of smoking, drinking, runaway, and gender-role identity. According to gender-role identity, the masculinity group showed highest cyber delinquency and the undifferentiated, androgyny, and femininity groups followed respectively. CONCLUSION: These findings are expected to make a contribution to creation of ideal interventions and to help discover early stage cyber delinquency in high school students as approached by gender role identity.
Adolescent ; Child ; Drinking ; Educational Status ; Femininity ; Gender Identity ; Homeless Youth ; Humans ; Juvenile Delinquency ; Masculinity ; Parents ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seoul ; Smoke ; Smoking

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore gender-role identity and cyber delinquency in high school students. METHODS: Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires and analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, and ANOVA. The data survey was conducted with 1,208 conveniently selected high school students in Seoul, Gyung-gi and Chung-chung province. RESULTS: The cyber delinquency score was 38.94 and androgyny gender role identity was most common (34.0%). There were significant differences in cyber delinquency by academic year, gender, school record, economic status, educational background of parents, experiences of smoking, drinking, runaway, and gender-role identity. According to gender-role identity, the masculinity group showed highest cyber delinquency and the undifferentiated, androgyny, and femininity groups followed respectively. CONCLUSION: These findings are expected to make a contribution to creation of ideal interventions and to help discover early stage cyber delinquency in high school students as approached by gender role identity.
Adolescent ; Child ; Drinking ; Educational Status ; Femininity ; Gender Identity ; Homeless Youth ; Humans ; Juvenile Delinquency ; Masculinity ; Parents ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seoul ; Smoke ; Smoking

No abstract available.
Anesthesia, Spinal* ; Coronary Vasospasm* ; Epinephrine*

No abstract available.
Anesthesia, Spinal* ; Coronary Vasospasm* ; Epinephrine*

PURPOSE: We evaluated the clinical features of croup in children according to viral etiology. METHODS: This study enrolled pediatric patients with croup, who showed positive results on respiratory virus reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction performed between January 2012 and December 2017. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records. RESULTS: A total of 179 patients (119 boys and 60 girls) were enrolled with the mean age of 18.9±14.7 months. The viruses commonly identified were parainfluenza, respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus, and influenza. Among these 4 viruses, patients with rhinovirus infection showed significantly shorter fever and admission durations. Patients with parainfluenza infection showed significantly lower incidences of epinephrine nebulization and patients with influenza infections showed significantly higher incidences of steroid treatment. CONCLUSION: Clinical manifestations of croup differ according to causative viruses. Further studies should be conducted to evaluate the severity and prognosis of croup according to viral etiology.
Child* ; Croup* ; Epinephrine ; Fever ; Humans ; Incidence ; Influenza, Human ; Medical Records ; Paramyxoviridae Infections ; Prognosis ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses ; Retrospective Studies ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rhinovirus