BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Deficits of the aging auditory system negatively affect older listeners in terms of speech communication, resulting in limitations to their social lives. To improve their perceptual skills, the goal of this study was to investigate the effects of time alteration, selective word stress, and varying sentence lengths on the speech perception of older listeners. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Seventeen older people with normal hearing were tested for seven conditions of different time-altered sentences (i.e., +/-60%, +/-40%, +/-20%, 0%), two conditions of selective word stress (i.e., no-stress and stress), and three different lengths of sentences (i.e., short, medium, and long) at the most comfortable level for individuals in quiet circumstances. RESULTS: As time compression increased, sentence perception scores decreased statistically. Compared to a natural (or no stress) condition, the selectively stressed words significantly improved the perceptual scores of these older listeners. Long sentences yielded the worst scores under all time-altered conditions. Interestingly, there was a noticeable positive effect for the selective word stress at the 20% time compression. CONCLUSIONS: This pattern of results suggests that a combination of time compression and selective word stress is more effective for understanding speech in older listeners than using the time-expanded condition only.
Aging ; Auditory Perception ; Hearing ; Speech Perception*

Background: Protection from yellow dust and particulate matter is ensured by the use of respirators among the Korean citizens and workers. However, the manikins used to test the performance of the same were manufactured considering western facial specifications owing to which they do not represent Korean facial characteristics. Methods: Analysis of the data from the 6th 3D anthropometric survey of Koreans (Size Korea; 2010–2013) of 4,583 people aged 7 to 69 years was performed to obtain their facial dimensions. We subsequently clustered 44 facial measurements using Design X software, followed by the creation of the cluster centroid. Results: Three 3D head forms were developed—small, medium, and large, and their images were stored in “.stl” format for 3D printing. The facial widths and lengths of the three head forms were 127.1 mm × 90.6 mm, 143.2 mm × 104.0 mm, and 149.1 mm × 120.2 mm, respectively. Conclusion We developed manikin head forms according to the facial dimensions of the Korean population, which was essential in evaluating respiratory protective equipment. These head forms can be used to test the performance of respirators considering the facial dimensions of the Korean population.

This study evaluated the consistency between two quantitative fit test devices with different methods of ambient aerosol counting. Three types of respirators (N95, half mask, and full facepiece) were worn by 50 participants (male, n = 25; female, n = 25), PortaCount (Pro+ 8038) and MT (05U) were connected to one probe to one mask, and fit factors (FFs) were measured simultaneously with the original and modified protocols. As a result of comparing MT FFs with PortaCount FFs as references and by applying for the pass/fail criteria (FF = 100), the consistency between the two devices for half masks and full facepieces was very high. N95 was somewhat weaker than the two type of respirators in the consistency; however, the correlation between the two devices was very strong (p < 0.0001). The results showed that an FF of 100 as measured by PortaCount was likely to be measured as 75 by the MT. Therefore, when performing the fit test for N95 using the MT and pass level of FF 100, a certain level of adjustment is necessary, whether end-user or putting a scaling factor by manufacturer.

BACKGROUND: CD43 is a sialoglycoprotein that is highly expressed on most leukocytes, except on B lymphocytes and dendritic cells. CD43 has been reported to be involved in the adhesion and apoptosis of lymphocytes. Although the aberrant expression of CD43 antigen in non-lymphoid tissues has been reported, the expression of the CD43 antigen in gastrointestinal malignancies is not well studied. Here, we studied the expression of CD43 in colon adenocarcinoma using the anti-CD43 monoclonal antibody developed in our laboratory. METHODS: Thirty patients who had undergone surgical resection for colorectal carcinoma were recruited. The expression of CD43 molecule was determined by analyzing the formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens immunohistochemically using our newly developed anti-CD43 mAb (K06). The results obtained by the immunohistochemical analysis correlated to the clinicopatho-logical parameters. RESULTS: The expression of CD43 were found in 20 out of 30 colorectal carcinoma cases. The expression of CD43 antigen is higher in well differentiated adenocarcinomas than poorly or moderately differentiated adenocarcinomas. CONCLUSIONS: The new anti-CD43 mAb might be helpful for the detection of the expression of CD43 on colorectal carcinoma cells. Further studies are required to assess the relationship between the CD43 expression and the colorectal carcinogenesis.
Adenocarcinoma ; Antigens, CD43 ; Apoptosis ; B-Lymphocytes ; Carcinogenesis ; Colon ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Dendritic Cells ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Leukocytes ; Lymphocytes

Biobank Impact Factor (BIF), which is a very effective criterion to evaluate the activity of biobanks, can be estimated by the citation information of biobanks from scientific papers. We have developed a program, ManBIF, to investigate the citation information from PDF files in the literature. The program manages a dictionary for expressions to represent biobanks and their resources, mines the citation information by converting PDF files to text files and searching with a dictionary, and produces a statistical report file. It can be used as an important tool by biobanks.
Mining

With the increase in international human and material exchanges, contagious and infectious epidemics are occurring. One of the effective methods of epidemic inhibition is the rapid development and supply of vaccines. Considering the safety of the brain during vaccine development is very important. However, manuals for brain safety assays for new vaccines are not uniform or effective globally. Therefore, the aim of this study is to establish a positive-control protocol for an effective brain safety test to enhance rapid vaccine development. The blood-brain barrier's tight junctions provide selective defense of the brain; however, it is possible to destroy these important microstructures by administering lipopolysaccharides (LPSs), thereby artificially increasing the permeability of brain parenchyma. In this study, test conditions are established so that the degree of brain penetration or brain destruction of newly developed vaccines can be quantitatively identified. The most effective conditions were suggested by measuring time-dependent expressions of tight junction biomarkers (zonula occludens-1 [ZO-1] and occludin) in two types of mice (C57BL/6 and ICR) following exposure to two types of LPS (Salmonella and Escherichia). In the future, we hope that use of the developed positive-control protocol will help speed up the determination of brain safety of novel vaccines.
Animals ; Biomarkers ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; Brain* ; Clothing ; Emergencies* ; Hope ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Mice ; Permeability ; Tight Junctions ; Vaccines*

Background: There are various Helicobacter species colonizing the stomachs of animals. Although Helicobacter species usually cause asymptomatic infection in the hosts, clinical signs can occur due to gastritis associated with Helicobacter in animals. Among them, Helicobacter pylori is strongly associated with chronic gastritis, gastric ulcers, and gastric cancers. As the standard therapies used to treat H. pylori have proven insufficient, alternative options are needed to prevent and eradicate the diseases associated with this bacterium. Cheonwangbosim-dan (CBD), a traditional herbal formula that is popular in East Asia, has been commonly used for arterial or auricular flutter, neurosis, insomnia, and cardiac malfunction-induced disease. Objectives: The present study investigated the antimicrobial effect of CBD on H. pylori-infected human gastric carcinoma AGS cells and model mice. Methods: AGS cells were infected with H. pylori and treated with a variety of concentrations of CBD or antibiotics. Mice were given 3 oral inoculations with H. pylori and then dosed with CBD (100 or 500 mg/kg) for 4 weeks or with standard antibiotics for 1 week. One week after the last treatment, gastric samples were collected and examined by histopathological analysis, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and immunoblotting. Results: Our results showed that CBD treatment of AGS cells significantly reduced the H. pylori-induced elevations of interleukin-8, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). In the animal model, CBD treatment inhibited the colonization of H. pylori and the levels of malondialdehyde, inflammation, proinflammatory cytokines, iNOS, and COX-2 in gastric tissues. CBD also decreased the phosphorylation levels of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase family. Conclusions This study suggests that CBD might be a prospective candidate for treatingH. pylori-induced gastric injury.

Correction for incorrect control groups (A, B, and C) at a Fig. 3. and Fig. 4. respectively. NPS 2014 20(4): 251-257.

BACKGROUND: GreenGene(TM) (Green Cross Corp.) is a recombinant clotting factor VIII which is used for hemophilia A. This study aimed to investigate the pharmacokinetics and safety profiles of 25 IU/kg and 50 IU/kg of GreenGene(TM) in Korean hemophilia A patients. METHODS: A dose-block randomized, single-blind, active drug-controlled, single and multiple dose, parallel-group study was conducted with 16 hemophilia A patients (25 IU/kg: 50 IU/kg = 8:8). They received GreenGene(TM) or GreenMono(TM)(active control) intravenously on day 1 and every other day from day 4 to 10. FVIII:C (Factor VIII procoagulant activity) was measured to determine the pharmacokinetics (PK) at baseline and up to 48 hours for single and multiple administration. PK parameters were determined using noncompartmental methods. RESULTS: The maximum concentration (Cmax) and the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC0-48) of the GreenGene(TM) 25 IU/kg (mean +/- SD) were 59.00 +/- 19.26 % and 774.40 +/- 380.13 %.h respectively, while those of 50 IU/kg were 131.50 +/- 39.81 % and 1462.44 +/- 397.09 %.h after single administration. The Cmax and AUC0-48 in steady state of the GreenGene(TM) 25 IU/kg were 68.17 +/- 22.75 % and 863.30 +/- 334.40 %.h, while those of 50 IU/kg were 147.17 +/- 18.47 % and 1820.08 +/- 704.42 %.h. No serious adverse event was observed. CONCLUSION: The GreenGene(TM) to hemophilia A patients appeared to be well tolerated within range of 25-50 IU/kg. The PK parameters of factor VIII showed dose-independent manner with 25 IU/kg and 50 IU/kg dose ranges.
Factor VIII ; Hemophilia A ; Humans