PURPOSE: Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 reportedly increases neuronal survival by inhibiting the induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in astrocytes and protecting neurons after excitotoxic injury. However, the neuroprotective mechanism of TGF-beta1 on hypoxic-ischemic (HI) brain injury in neonatal rats is not clear. The aim of this study was to determine whether TGF-beta1 has neuroprotective effects via a NO-mediated mechanism and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor modulation on perinatal HI brain injury. METHODS: Cortical cells were cultured using 19-day-pregnant Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats treated with TGF-beta1 (1, 5, or 10 ng/mL) and incubated in a 1% O2 incubator for hypoxia. Seven-day-old SD rat pups were subjected to left carotid occlusion followed by 2 h of hypoxic exposure (7.5% O2). TGF-beta1 (0.5 ng/kg) was administered intracerebrally to the rats 30 min before HI brain injury. The expressions of NOS and NMDA receptors were measured. RESULTS: In the in vitro model, the expressions of endothelial NOS (eNOS) and neuronal NOS (nNOS) increased in the hypoxic group and decreased in the 1 ng/mL TGF-beta1-treated group. In the in vivo model, the expression of inducible NOS (iNOS) decreased in the hypoxia group and increased in the TGF-beta1-treated group. The expressions of eNOS and nNOS were reversed compared with the expression of iNOS. The expressions of all NMDA receptor subunits decreased in hypoxia group and increased in the TGF-beta1-treated group except NR2C. CONCLUSION: The administration of TGF-beta1 could significantly protect against perinatal HI brain injury via some parts of the NO-mediated or excitotoxic mechanism.
Animals ; Anoxia ; Astrocytes ; Brain ; Brain Injuries ; Incubators ; Ischemia ; N-Methylaspartate ; Neurons ; Neuroprotective Agents ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; Rats ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Transforming Growth Factors

PURPOSE: Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 reportedly increases neuronal survival by inhibiting the induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in astrocytes and protecting neurons after excitotoxic injury. However, the neuroprotective mechanism of TGF-beta1 on hypoxic-ischemic (HI) brain injury in neonatal rats is not clear. The aim of this study was to determine whether TGF-beta1 has neuroprotective effects via a NO-mediated mechanism and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor modulation on perinatal HI brain injury. METHODS: Cortical cells were cultured using 19-day-pregnant Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats treated with TGF-beta1 (1, 5, or 10 ng/mL) and incubated in a 1% O2 incubator for hypoxia. Seven-day-old SD rat pups were subjected to left carotid occlusion followed by 2 h of hypoxic exposure (7.5% O2). TGF-beta1 (0.5 ng/kg) was administered intracerebrally to the rats 30 min before HI brain injury. The expressions of NOS and NMDA receptors were measured. RESULTS: In the in vitro model, the expressions of endothelial NOS (eNOS) and neuronal NOS (nNOS) increased in the hypoxic group and decreased in the 1 ng/mL TGF-beta1-treated group. In the in vivo model, the expression of inducible NOS (iNOS) decreased in the hypoxia group and increased in the TGF-beta1-treated group. The expressions of eNOS and nNOS were reversed compared with the expression of iNOS. The expressions of all NMDA receptor subunits decreased in hypoxia group and increased in the TGF-beta1-treated group except NR2C. CONCLUSION: The administration of TGF-beta1 could significantly protect against perinatal HI brain injury via some parts of the NO-mediated or excitotoxic mechanism.
Animals ; Anoxia ; Astrocytes ; Brain ; Brain Injuries ; Incubators ; Ischemia ; N-Methylaspartate ; Neurons ; Neuroprotective Agents ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; Rats ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Transforming Growth Factors

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify nurses' image and its related factors to make nurses' image among academic and vocational high school teachers in Korea. METHOD: Study samples were composed of 470 teachers who were from 12 high schools in G and J city located in southwestern part of Korea. Data were collected from August 26 to October 4, 2002. The internal consistency of the total scale was Cronbach's = .940. RESULT: In order to make nurses' image, 76.4% of respondents were influenced by the experience of their hospitalization in visiting hospitals. The mean score of nurses' image in general was 3.19 0.55; in four subcategories, 3.46 0.60 for professional image, 3.28 0.69 for traditional image, 2.93 0.70 for social image, and 2.91 0.64 for vision of nursing career. The mean score of nurses' image in general was more positive significantly in the 50's age group (F=6.43, p= .002) and in male groups (t=2.92, p= .002). CONCLUSION: On the basis of these findings, nursing professionals need to improve their working conditions, aspiration in job, and autonomy of nurses in their practice fields, monitor the mass media and other publishing materials continuously, and share the appropriate information on nursing profession to the school teachers and the public.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Women's bone health status is closely related with environmental factors and lifestyle factors. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the dietary risks of osteoporosis and osteopenia for Korean postmenopausal women. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The data from 1,433 subjects from the 2010 KNHANES were used and divided into three groups: normal, osteopenia, and osteoporosis group using bone mineral density (BMD). Nutrient intakes and food intake frequency were evaluated. Logistic regression analysis was applied to determine the odds ratios for osteoporosis and osteopenia. RESULTS: The RNI percentage of each nutrient and food intake frequency from 12 food groups decreased as bone mineral density status deteriorated. Risk for osteoporosis of low calcium (Ca) intake, under the EAR, showed an odds ratio of 2.13(95% CI; 1.26-3.61, P < 0.05). Higher intake frequency showed preventive effect from osteoporosis compared to lower intake frequency in such food group as dairy products (ORs 0.40, CI 0.21-0.75), beans (ORs 0.49, CI 0.29-0.83), seaweeds (ORs 0.55, CI 0.32-0.94), fish (ORs 0.56, CI 0.32-0.98), and fruits (ORs 0.42, CI 0.23-0.79) after adjusting for age. CONCLUSION: To prevent osteoporosis in later life, sufficient Ca intake and more frequent intakes of foods containing Ca such as dairy products, beans, fish, seaweeds, and fruits, which help in Ca absorption, should be stressed for Korean postmenopausal women.
Absorption ; Bone Density ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; Calcium ; Dairy Products ; Ear ; Eating ; Fabaceae ; Female ; Fruit ; Humans ; Korea* ; Life Style ; Logistic Models ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Odds Ratio ; Osteoporosis* ; Prevalence*

Allografts or autografts of bone-tendon unit has been used widely for ligament or tendon reconstruction of ligament injuries or ligament deficiencies after limb salvage operation to treat malignant bone tumors around joints. While the remodeling process of the ligament or tendon itself after allograft or autograft and the microscopic and biomechanical changes of tendon- bone graft interface have been widely investigated, little is known about the ultrastructural and biochemical changes of the transitional zone in tendon-bone junction. This study was performed to analyze the morphological changes by microscopic (part I), and ultrastructural, and biochemical remodeling of the transitional zone after tendon-bone auto- and allo-grafting (part II). Preliminary, a microscopic studies at bone to tendon insertion site was done as control (part I). And as an experimental work (part II), a total of twenty four rabbits were divided into two group. In 12 animals (allograft group), an Achilles tendon-bone unit was taken with tenotomy 3 cm proximal to calcaneal attachment and osteotomy 5mm distal to the attachment site. This unit was preserved below -70degrees C for 2 weeks and then it was transplanted to another rabbit. In the other 12 animals (autograft group), the Achilles tendon-bone unit was harvested with the same maneuver from one side and transplanted to the other side of the rabbit. After operation, their legs were immobilized with short leg cast for 4 weeks, and then mobilized freely. Four animals in each group were sacrificed at four, eight and sixteen-weeks after transplantation, and their grafted Achilles tendon-bone interfaces were used for analysis of the ultrastrucural and biochemical changes. The following results were obtained. Part I: We conducted an experiment (part I) to investigate the histologic chronologic changes of tendon to bone fixation using the Cole's method and the role of periosteum to the tenodesis. The periosteum around the tenodesis was excised in group I, but it was incised longitudinally and sutured to tendon in group II. As a result, the tendons in the marrow cavity of tibia were firmly fixed by fibrosseous metaplasia in group I at 8 weeks after experiment, but not formed the fibrocartilagenous layer in both groups as a transitional zone of internal stress transmission from tendon to bone in normal tendon, and the group II show the firm connection between sutured periosteum and transferred tendon by external calluses after 3 weeks. These mean the periosteum should be sutured over the inserted tendon to get the early rigid fixation by the induction of external callus around the edges of the tendon to bone insertion. Part II: Histologically in part II experiment, new cartilage cells were observed at postoperative 16 weeks with locally presence of faint tidemark in the autograft group but not in the allograft group. Complete histological remodeling of the transitional zone had not restored both groups.. Ultrastructural analysis revealed no definite differences, but showed time-related restoration of fibers and fibroblasts between both groups except the slightly rapid appearance of parallelism and cross-striation of microfibrils in the autograft group. From biochemical analysis, type I collagen was increased in its concentration, and an early rapid increase of type III collagen and glycosaminoglycan was also observed. In conclusion, these data suggested that type III collagen and glycosaminoglyan are important in stabilization of grafted tendon-bone unit, especially in the transitional zone. The histological and biochemical changes in allograft group were relatively similar to that of autograft group although the allograft group showed the delayed pattern of remodeling. And so the tendon-bone allograft could be used as a good but second substitute followed by autograft.
Allografts ; Animals ; Autografts ; Bone Marrow ; Bony Callus ; Cartilage ; Collagen Type I ; Collagen Type III ; Fibroblasts ; Joints ; Leg ; Ligaments ; Limb Salvage ; Metaplasia ; Microfibrils ; Osteotomy ; Periosteum ; Rabbits* ; Tendons ; Tenodesis ; Tenotomy ; Tibia ; Transplants*

The objective of this study was to analyze the influence of socio-demographic factors on food consumption frequencies among adolescents in Korea. Data were obtained from the Seventh Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (2011 KYRBS), a nationwide representative sample of 75,643 (37,873 males and 37,770 females) middle and high school students. It was carried out as a self-administered on-line survey. The frequency of eating breakfast was 4.8 times per week for middle school students and 4.6 times per week for high school students (p < 0.001). Higher levels of perceived household economic status, family affluence scale (FAS) and education attainment of mother were associated with more frequent breakfast eating. The frequencies of consumption of vegetables and milk were higher in males than in females (p < 0.001). The frequency of consumption fruits was higher in females than in males (p < 0.01). Higher levels of perceived household economic status, FAS and education attainment of mother were associated with more frequent consumption of vegetable, fruits and milk. The frequencies of consumption of soda, fast food and instant noodls were higher in males than in females (p < 0.001). The frequency of consumption of snacks was higher in females than in males. Adolescents with lower levels of FAS and education attainment of mother were at risk for skipping breakfast and consuming of soda, fast food and instant noodls more frequently. Whereas, adolescents with higher levels of FAS, education attainment of mother were more likely to be frequent consumers of vegetable, fruits and milk. These findings demonstrated that being high school students and belonging to lower level of socio-economic status (SES) were associated with undesirable food habits.
Adolescent ; Breakfast ; Eating ; Family Characteristics ; Fast Foods ; Female ; Food Habits ; Fruit ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Milk ; Mothers ; Risk-Taking ; Snacks ; Vegetables

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between practice and infectious diseases in elementary, middle and high school students. METHODS: In 16 metropolitan cities and province of the Korea, the students who from fourth grade of elementary school to third grade of high school were surveyed by personal interviews and an web-based online survey from 5 to 25 September, 2014. We analyzed data with chi-square test and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Common cold, diarrhea, and eye infections were more prevalent among students in higher grade than lower grade. In particular, common cold was more prevalent among girls than boys, using hand sanitizer than washing with soaps, and students who wash the dorsal side of hand than not wash the dorsal side of hand. CONCLUSIONS: Higher-grade students showed low status of hand washing practice. Hand washing was determined as the fact which influences to increase the prevention of communicable disease such as common cold. Considering the fact that youth groups have higher risk of being infected due to their group life, schools are recommended to provide adequate educations regarding proper hand washing practice with soap.
Adolescent ; Common Cold ; Communicable Diseases* ; Diarrhea ; Eye Infections ; Female ; Hand ; Hand Disinfection* ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Soaps

Background: This study evaluated the relationship between guideline adherence for heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) at discharge and relevant clinical outcomes in patients with acute HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) with or without atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods: We analyzed Korean Acute Heart Failure Registry data for 707 patients with HFpEF with documented AF and 687 without AF. Guideline adherence was defined as good or poor according to the prescription of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, β-blockers, and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists. Anticoagulation adherence was also incorporated for the AF group. Results: Among patients with normal sinus rhythm, those with poor guideline adherence had a reduced prevalence of comorbidities and favorable clinical characteristics when compared with those with good guideline adherence. Using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) to address the bias of nonrandom treatment assignment, good adherence was associated with a poor 60-day composite endpoint in the multivariable Cox model (weighted hazard ratio [wHR], 1.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01–3.00; P = 0.045). For patients with AF, baseline clinical characteristics were similar according to the degree of adherence. The IPTW-adjusted analysis indicated that good adherence was significantly associated with the 60-day composite endpoint (wHR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.27–0.79; P = 0.005). In the analysis excluding warfarin, good adherence was associated with 60-day rehospitalization (wHR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.37–0.98; P = 0.040), 1-year re-hospitalization (wHR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.48–0.93; P = 0.018), and the composite endpoint (wHR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.59–0.99; P = 0.041). Conclusion Our findings indicate that good adherence to guidelines for HFrEF is associated with a better 60-day composite endpoint in patients with HFpEF with AF.

Background: This study evaluated the relationship between guideline adherence for heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) at discharge and relevant clinical outcomes in patients with acute HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) with or without atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods: We analyzed Korean Acute Heart Failure Registry data for 707 patients with HFpEF with documented AF and 687 without AF. Guideline adherence was defined as good or poor according to the prescription of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, β-blockers, and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists. Anticoagulation adherence was also incorporated for the AF group. Results: Among patients with normal sinus rhythm, those with poor guideline adherence had a reduced prevalence of comorbidities and favorable clinical characteristics when compared with those with good guideline adherence. Using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) to address the bias of nonrandom treatment assignment, good adherence was associated with a poor 60-day composite endpoint in the multivariable Cox model (weighted hazard ratio [wHR], 1.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01–3.00; P = 0.045). For patients with AF, baseline clinical characteristics were similar according to the degree of adherence. The IPTW-adjusted analysis indicated that good adherence was significantly associated with the 60-day composite endpoint (wHR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.27–0.79; P = 0.005). In the analysis excluding warfarin, good adherence was associated with 60-day rehospitalization (wHR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.37–0.98; P = 0.040), 1-year re-hospitalization (wHR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.48–0.93; P = 0.018), and the composite endpoint (wHR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.59–0.99; P = 0.041). Conclusion Our findings indicate that good adherence to guidelines for HFrEF is associated with a better 60-day composite endpoint in patients with HFpEF with AF.

Animal models for gastric ulcers produced by physical, pharmacological and surgical methods have been widely employed to evaluate therapeutic drugs and investigate the mechanism of action of this disease. ICR mice were selected to produce this model, even though several mice and rats have been widely used in studies of gastric ulcers. To compare the responses of ICR mice obtained from three different sources to gastric ulcer inducers, alterations in gastric injury, histopathological structure, and inflammation were measured in Korl:ICR (Korea NIFDS source), A:ICR (USA source) and B:ICR (Japan source) treated with three concentrations of ethanol (EtOH) (50, 70, and 90%) in 150 mM hydrochloric acid (HCl) solution. Firstly, the stomach lesion index gradually increased as the EtOH concentration increased in three ICR groups. Moreover, a significant increase in the level of mucosal injury, edema and the number of inflammatory cells was similarly detected in the EtOH/HCl treated group compared with the vehicle treated group in three ICR groups. Furthermore, the number of infiltrated mast cells and IL-1β expression were very similar in the ICR group derived from three different sources, although some differences in IL-1β expression were detected. Especially, the level of IL-1β mRNA in 50 and 90EtOH/HCl treated group was higher in Korl:ICR and A:ICR than B:ICR. Overall, the results of this study suggest that Korl:ICR, A:ICR and B:ICR derived from different sources have an overall similar response to gastric ulcer induced by EtOH/HCl administration, although there were some differences in the magnitude of their responses.
Animals ; Edema ; Ethanol ; Hydrochloric Acid ; Inflammation ; Mast Cells ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR* ; Models, Animal ; Rats ; RNA, Messenger ; Stomach ; Stomach Ulcer