This study was performed to observe the therapeutic effects of interferon-gamma(IFN-gamma) and gamma-globulin(gamma-globulin) in experimental Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia of immune suppressed mice. After 9 weeks, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole(TMP-SMZ; 10-50 mg/mouse/day), mouse IFN-gamma(5 x 10(4) units/mouse/day) and mouse gamma-globulin(20 mg/mouse/day) were administered to the mice for 3 weeks by the experimental group. The therapeutic efficacy was evaluated by body weights, histopathologic and electron microscopic findings of the lungs, and number of P. carinii cysts by Gomori's methenamine silver stain. Body weights of the mice were significantly increased in the group of combination therapy of TMP-SMZ with IFN-gamma or gamma-globulin, and in the group of TMP-SMZ treatment (p < 0.05), however, little effect was found in the group of gamma-globulin alone. Histopathologic findings of P. carinii pneumonia were much improved in the group of combination therapy of TMP-SMZ with IFN-gamma. Treatment with either TMP-SMZ or IFN-gamma significantly reduced the number of cysts in the P. carinii pneumonia, but gamma-globulin alone was ineffective. In electron microscopic findings of P. carinii pneumonia, the number of trophozoites and cysts were reduced by treatment with either TMP-SMZ or IFN-gamma, and most of the cysts were empty or containing one or two intracystic bodies. The present results suggested, that combination therapy of TMP-SMZ with IFN-gamma had synergistic effects in treatment of P. carinii pneumonia in experimental mice.
Drug-Synergism ; Drug-Therapy,-Combination ; English-Abstract ; Gamma-Globulins-administration-and-dosage ; Interferon-Type-II-administration-and-dosage ; Mice- ; Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole-Combination-administration-and-dosage ; *Gamma-Globulins-therapeutic-use ; *Interferon-Type-II-therapeutic-use ; *Pneumonia,-Pneumocystis-carinii-therapy ; Gamma-Globulins ; Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole-Combination ; Interferon-Type-II

Purpose: This study aimed to confirm mediating effects of academic self-efficacy in the relationship between academic stress and sleep quality among academic high school students. Methods: The participants included 195 academic high school students who were attending a private educational institution in the Gwangju or Pusan metropolitan city. Data were collected from September 1 to September 30, 2019. The data were analyzed using PROCESS macro SPSS/WIN 3.2 and bootstrapping was used to test the mediating effects. Results: There were significant relationships between sleep quality and academic stress (r=-.55, p<.001), sleep quality and academic self-efficacy (r=.35, p<.001), and academic stress and academic self-efficacy (r=-.16, p<.020). Academic self-efficacy showed partial mediating effects in the relationship between academic stress and sleep quality. Conclusion These findings suggest that the development of a program that improves the academic self-efficacy of academic high school students who are experiencing academic stress is a way to improve the quality of their sleep.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the mediating effect of sleep quality in the relationship between academic stress and social network service (SNS) addiction tendency among adolescents. Methods: The participants were composed of 204 high school students who were enrolled at private schools in Incheon metropolitan city.Data were collected from August 16 to September 10, 2019. The collected data were analyzed using a regression analysis, and SPSS Process Macro was used to test the mediating effect. Results: The direct effect of academic stress on SNS addiction tendency and the indirect effect of academic stress mediated with sleep quality about SNS addiction tendency were statistically significant. Conclusion These findings suggest that positive intervention for academic stress and effective intervention program enhancing sleep quality should be provided for adolescents in order to prevent SNS addiction.

Objective: This study aimed to develop and validate a comprehensive self-report questionnaire to assess emotional and behavioral problems and psychological trauma in maltreated children. Methods: The Mental Health Scale for Maltreated Children (MHS-MC) was constructed to encompass five major symptoms (depression, anxiety, inattention/hyperactivity/impulsivity, aggression/defiance, and psychological trauma) prevalent in maltreated children. Critical items and ego-resilience subscale were also devised to increase clinical utility. After informed consent, 205 children (maltreated children, n=157, 76.6%) were recruited nationwide, and they answered a package of self-report measures, including the MHS-MC. Reliability, construct validity, concurrent validity, and criterion-related validity were examined to explore the psychometric properties. Results: The reliability was good to excellent. Confirmatory factor analysis yielded a five-factorial solution for the symptom subscales supporting construct validity. In logistic regression, the total scores of the MHS-MC predicted membership in the maltreated group. Criterion-related validity was generally satisfactory in that all subscales of the MHS-MC showed significant correlations with relevant measures in the expected direction. Conclusion This is the first attempt to develop a comprehensive psychological scale based on nationwide data collected from maltreated Korean children. We hope that the continued standardization of this scale will contribute to evidence-based clinical and policy decisionmaking for maltreated children.

No abstract available.
Occupational Diseases*

PURPOSE: This study is to evaluate the clinical significance and possible etiologies of abnormal neurosonographic findings that revealed linear or branching linear hyperechoic vascular lesions in the thalami and basal ganglia of neonates and infants. METHODS: Analysis of 2,866 cranial sonograms (US) and doppler ultrasonography obtained from 1,150 patients identified 53 patients with linear hyperechoic vascular lesions in the thalami or basal ganglia. Patients with only punctate or coarse, nonlinear lesions of echogenicity in these lesions were excluded. Clinical records in 53 patients were reviewed for documentation of congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, rubella, syphilis, toxoplasmosis, chromosomal abnormality and other major diagnoses. Brain computed tomography (CT) had been performed in 23 of the 53 patients and these images were compared with the cranial sonograms. RESULTS: There were five CMV infection, two congenital syphilis, three Down syndrome, and one Patau syndrome patients. Other major diagnoses encountered included perinatal asphyxia, ventriculomegaly, intraventricular hemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia, small-for-gestational age, prematurity with hyaline membrane disease, multiple congenital anomalies, neonatal seizure, meningitis, congenital choroid plexus cyst, neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, congenital heart disease, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and others. Brain CT found small calcification in basal ganglia from one patient. Resolution of lesions found in 5 cases with follow-up US studies. CONCLUSION: A broad etiologic basis for linear hyperechoic vascular lesions in the thalami and basal ganglia of neonates and infants indicates complete screening for possible various etiologies.
Asphyxia ; Basal Ganglia* ; Brain ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; Choroid Plexus ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Cytomegalovirus ; Diagnosis ; Down Syndrome ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hyaline Membrane Disease ; Hyperbilirubinemia, Neonatal ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn* ; Leukomalacia, Periventricular ; Mass Screening ; Meningitis ; Rubella ; Seizures ; Syphilis ; Syphilis, Congenital ; Toxoplasmosis ; Ultrasonography* ; Ultrasonography, Doppler

PURPOSE: Through a study of 3 diabetic patients who experienced decreased visual acuity due to deposit on the surface of hydrophilic acrylic IOLs which were inserted after cataract extraction, the authors attempted to examine pathological and histochemical characteristics of such undesirable deposit on the IOL surface and also evaluate whether a correlation exists between that and diabetes mellitus. METHODS: A 42 year old male patient with bilateral proliferative diabetic retinopathy who has had diabetes for 10 years, a 43 year old male with identical clinical history, and a 46 year old male with bilateral proliferative diabetic retinopathy and clinically significant macular edema who has had diabetes for 13 years were selected for the study. Cataract was extracted by phacoemulsification and after hydrophilic acrylic IOL was inserted into the bag, deposit appeared on IOL surface which caused decreased visual acuity. IOL exchange was conducted thereafter, and by studying the pathological and histochemical characteristics of deposit found on the surface of the retrieved IOL, and by examining the deposit's fine details with electron microscope, the authors attempted to identify the causative material and also evaluate whether diabetes plays a significant role in giving rise to such undesirable deposit. RESULTS: All three IOL that have been retrieved from the patients were covered with multiple deposits which took on a structure with fine circular granules, and all these deposits tested positive when 1% alizarin red staining and von Kossa staining (designed to identify calcium in a given material) were conducted. Electron microscopic study of the deposit also showed needlelike calcium crystals.
Adult ; Calcium* ; Cataract ; Cataract Extraction ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Humans ; Macular Edema ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phacoemulsification ; Visual Acuity

On July 6, 2009, an outbreak of gastroenteritis occurred among middle school students in Incheon. An investigation to identify the source and describe the extent of the outbreak was conducted. A retrospective cohort study among students, teachers, and food handlers exposed to canteen food in the middle school was performed. Using self-administered questionnaires, information was collected concerning on symptoms, days that canteen food was consumed, and food items consumed. Stool samples were collected from 66 patients and 11 food handlers. The catering kitchen was inspected and food samples were taken. Of the 791 people who ate canteen food, 92 cases became ill, representing an attack rate of 11.6%. Thirty-one (40.3%) of the 77 stool specimens were positive for Campylobacter jejuni. Interviews with kitchen staff indicated the likelihood that undercooked chicken was provided. This is the first recognized major C. jejuni outbreak associated with contaminated chicken documented in Korea.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Animals ; Campylobacter Infections/*epidemiology ; *Campylobacter jejuni ; Chickens ; Cohort Studies ; *Disease Outbreaks ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Environmental Exposure ; Female ; Food Contamination ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Water Microbiology

Takayasu's arteritis(TA) is a chronic idiopathic vasculitis mainly involving the aorta and its main branches, such as brachiocephalic, carotid, subclavian, vertebral and renal arteries, as well as coronary and pulmonary arteries. The clinical features usually reflect limb or organ ischemia resulting from gradual stenosis of involved arteries. We experienced a case of idiopathic Takayasu's arteritis with negative tuberculin test involving multiple main branch arteries at active stage without pulse. We treated this patient with combined therapy of steroid and azathioprine, with remission of disease activity.
Aorta ; Arteries ; Azathioprine ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Extremities ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Pulmonary Artery ; Renal Artery ; Takayasu Arteritis* ; Tuberculin Test ; Vasculitis

When chemotherapy is administered during pregnancy, it is important to consider the fetus chemotherapy exposure, because it may lead to fetal consequences. Paclitaxel has become widely used in the metastatic and adjuvant settings for woman with cancer including breast and ovarian cancer. Therefore, we attempted to clarify the transport mechanisms of paclitaxel through blood-placenta barrier using rat conditionally immortalized syncytiotrophoblast cell lines (TR-TBTs). The uptake of paclitaxel was time- and temperature-dependent. Paclitaxel was eliminated about 50% from the cells within 30 min. The uptake of paclitaxel was saturable with Km of 168 microM and 371 microM in TR-TBT 18d-1 and TR-TBT 18d-2, respectively. [3H]Paclitaxel uptake was markedly inhibited by cyclosporine and verapamil, well-known substrates of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) transporter. However, several MRP substrates and organic anions had no effect on [3H]paclitaxel uptake in TR-TBT cells. These results suggest that P-gp may be involved in paclitaxel transport at the placenta. TR-TBT cells expressed mRNA of P-gp. These findings are important for therapy of breast and ovarian cancer of pregnant women, and should be useful data in elucidating teratogenicity of paclitaxel during pregnancy.
Animals ; Anions ; Breast ; Cell Line ; Cyclosporine ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Fetus ; Humans ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; P-Glycoprotein* ; Paclitaxel* ; Placenta ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Rats ; RNA, Messenger ; Trophoblasts* ; Verapamil