PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop an eye-health program based on social learning theory (EPST) of preschoolers and evaluate its effectiveness. METHODS: A nonequivalent control group pre-post test design was utilized and 141 six-year-old preschoolers and their parents participated (experimental group=69, control group=72) in the study. The EPST in this study included eye-health education and eye exercises. Attention, memory, replay, motivation, reinforcement, and self-efficacy were used as interventional strategies. To examine the effectiveness of EPST, proficiency in eye-health activities, refractive power, and visual acuity were measured before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed with SPSS WIN 21.0 using the Shapiro-Wilk test, χ2-test, Mann-Whitney U test and Wilcoxon signed rank test. RESULTS: Following the intervention, eye-health activities, refractive power, and visual acuity significantly improved in the experimental group compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that EPST is effective in improving eye-health activities, refractive power, and visual acuity in preschoolers, and its wider implementation in educational institutions will promise improved eye-health among preschoolers.
Child, Preschool ; Community Health Nursing ; Education ; Evaluation Studies as Topic ; Exercise ; Health Education ; Humans ; Memory ; Motivation ; Parents ; Refractive Errors ; Social Learning* ; Visual Acuity

Behçet's disease is an inflammatory disorder involving multiple organs. Its cause is still unknown, but vasculitis is the major pathologic characteristic. The common vascular lesions associated with Behçet's disease are aneurysm formation, arterial or venous occlusive diseases, and varices. Arterial aneurysms mostly occur in large arteries. Intracranial aneurysms hardly occur with Behçet's disease. We would like to present a 41-year-old female patient with Behçet's disease who showed symptoms of severe headache due to subarachnoid hemorrhage. Brain computed tomography revealed multiple aneurysms. We also present a literature review of intracranial arterial aneurysms associated with Behçet's disease.
Adult ; Aneurysm ; Arteries ; Brain ; Female ; Headache ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Varicose Veins ; Vasculitis

This study aimed to investigate the frequency of dental visits after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in children and adolescents in comparison to that of adults. The data on the number of dental visits on the basis of different classification and treatment codes for all the age groups were provided by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service from January 2017 to December 2020. To reduce the impact of the population change, dental visits per 1000 people was used. After the start of the pandemic, dental visits per 1000 people decreased in all age groups when analyzed for the diseases of pulp and periapical tissues classification code and dental visits per 1000 people decreased over 5 years age groups when analyzed for the pulp treatment code. Regarding the restorative treatment code, visits in the 0 - 19 years age group decreased after the pandemic. Based on the comparison of the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases to that of monthly dental visits by treatment codes, the change rate of pulp and restorative treatments gradually decreased after the waves of the pandemic in February and August 2020 in Korea. Furthermore, dental visits per 1000 people for gingivitis and periodontal disease classification code increased after the pandemic in all age groups. The rate of decrease in dental visits per 1000 people for restorative treatments in children and adolescents was higher than that in adults. The rate of decrease in the number of dental visits for multi-visit pulp treatments showed a rapid decrease as compared to that of 1-visit pulp treatments after the pandemic. This study identified changes in the number of dental visits of children and adolescents after COVID-19 transmission in comparison to that observed in adults.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiologic outcome of syndesmosis fixation using TightRope™ (Arthrex, Naples, FL, USA) in acute syndesmosis injuries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five consecutive patients with acute syndesmosis injuries, treated using TightRope™, were reviewed. Patients were evaluated preoperatively and at the last follow-up (at least 12 months postoperatively). Clinical outcomes were assessed using American Orthopaedics Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score and self-subjective satisfaction survey. Three radiologic parameters were evaluated two times at the preoperative and final follow up from the nonweightbearing ankle anteroposterior radiographs. RESULTS: The mean AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score was 95.5 at the final follow-up. According to the satisfaction survey, 21 patients chose excellent, and four patients chose good. All radiologic parameters, including the mean tibiofibular clear space, mean tibiofibular overlap, and mean medial clear space on nonweightbearing ankle anteroposterior view, significantly improved after surgery. Complications occurred in only one patient who experienced knot irritation with infection. CONCLUSION: The short-term surgical results of syndesmosis fixation using TightRope™ were good to excellent, both clinically and radiographically. These results suggest that the fixation using TightRope™ is a valid option for acute syndesmosis injury.
Ankle Fractures ; Ankle Joint* ; Ankle* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot ; Humans ; Orthopedic Fixation Devices

Purpose: Tumor radioresistance and dose-limiting toxicity restrict the curative potential of radiotherapy, requiring novel approaches to overcome the limitations and augment the efficacy. Here, we investigated the effects of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) activation and autophagy induction by irradiation on antiapoptotic proteins and the effectiveness of the BH3 mimetic ABT-737 as a radiosensitizer using K-ras mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells and a Kras G12D :p53 fl/fl mouse (KP mouse) model. Materials and Methods: A549 and H460 cells were irradiated, and the expression of Bcl-2 family proteins, JAK/STAT transcriptional pathway, and autophagic pathway were evaluated by immunoblotting. The radiosensitizing effects of ABT-737 were evaluated using A549 and H460 cell lines with clonogenic assays and also by a KP mouse model with microcomputed tomography and immunohistochemistry. Results: In A549 and H460 cells and mouse lung tissue, irradiation-induced overexpression of the antiapoptotic molecules BclxL, Bcl-2, Bcl-w, and Mcl-1 through JAK/STAT transcriptional signaling induced dysfunction of the autophagic pathway. After treatment with ABT-737 and exposure to irradiation, the number of surviving clones in the cotreatment group was significantly lower than that in the group treated with radiation or ABT-737 alone. In the KP mouse lung cancer model, cotreatment with ABT-737 and radiation-induced significant tumor regression; however, body weight changes in the combination group were not significantly different, suggesting that combination treatment did not cause systemic toxicity. Conclusion These findings supported the radiosensitizing activity of ABT-737 in preclinical models, and suggested that clinical trials using this strategy may be beneficial in K-ras mutant NSCLC.

BACKGROUND: Response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is commonly assessed after 6 or 12 months. We evaluated subsequent echocardiographic changes, serial QRS duration, and clinical outcomes in patients showing delayed responses to CRT after 12 months. METHODS: Among all patients who received CRT in Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, 36 one-year survivors were enrolled. Indicators of a positive CRT response were ≥ 15% reduction in left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV) or ≥ 10% increase in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) on any follow up echocardiogram. We defined the early responders as patients responding before one year, the late responders as patients responding after one year, and the non-responders as patients who did not respond on any follow-up echocardiogram. RESULTS: We identified 17 early responders, 10 late responders, and 9 non-responders. The late responders showed modest improvement in LVESV and LVEF at two years after CRT. QRS duration was shortened the day after CRT in all three groups. Narrowed QRS was maintained for two years in early and late responders, whereas it was continuously prolonged over time in non-responders. Incidence of all-cause death or heart failure hospitalization was comparable between early and late responders, while non-responders showed worst prognosis. CONCLUSION: Patients responding to CRT after one year show modest echocardiographic improvement but clinical outcome is similar to early responders. Shorter baseline QRS duration and long-term maintenance of QRS duration shortening are important features of the late responders to CRT.
Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy* ; Echocardiography* ; Electrocardiography* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Failure ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Incidence ; Prognosis ; Seoul ; Stroke Volume ; Survivors

A number of genome-wide linkage analyses have identified the 2q33.3-2q37.2 region as most likely to contain the genes that contribute to the susceptibility to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It was hypothesized that the SERPINE2 gene, which is one of the genes located at the 2q33.3-2q37.2 region, may act as a low-penetrance susceptibility gene for COPD. To test this hypothesis, the association of four SERPINE2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; rs16865421A>G, rs7583463A>C, rs729631C>G, and rs6734100C>G) with the risk of COPD was investigated in a case-control study of 311 COPD patients and 386 controls. The SNP rs16865421 was associated with a significantly decreased risk of COPD in a dominant model for the polymorphic allele (adjusted odds ratio [OR]=0.66, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.45-0.97, P=0.03). In haplotype analysis, the GACC haplotype carrying the polymorphic allele at the rs16865421 was associated with a significantly decreased risk of COPD when compared to the AACC haplotype (adjusted OR=0.58, 95% CI=0.38-0.89, P=0.01), and this effect was evident in younger individuals (adjusted OR=0.30, 95% CI=0.14-0.64, P=0.002). This study suggests that the SERPINE2 gene contributes to the susceptibility to COPD.
Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor/*genetics ; *Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Linkage (Genetics) ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/*genetics/pathology ; Questionnaires ; Receptors, Cell Surface/*genetics

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) is considered as a promising therapeutic target for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) because of its involvement in inflammatory processes. However, limited studies have reported the involvement of PI3KC2γ in RA, and the underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. Therefore, we investigated the role of PI3KC2γ as a novel therapeutic target for RA and the effect of its selective inhibitor, PBT-6. In this study, we observed that PI3KC2γ was markedly increased in the synovial fluid and tissue as well as the PBMCs of patients with RA. PBT-6, a novel PI3KC2γ inhibitor, decreased the cell growth of TNF-mediated synovial fibroblasts and LPS-mediated macrophages. Furthermore, PBT-6 inhibited the PI3KC2γ expression and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in both synovial fibroblasts and macrophages. In addition, PBT-6 suppressed macrophage migration via CCL2 and osteoclastogenesis. In CIA mice, it significantly inhibited the progression and development of RA by decreasing arthritis scores and paw swelling. Three-dimensional micro-computed tomography confirmed that PBT-6 enhanced the joint structures in CIA mice. Taken together, our findings suggest that PI3KC2γ is a therapeutic target for RA, and PBT-6 could be developed as a novel PI3KC2γ inhibitor to target inflammatory diseases including RA.

PURPOSE: The question of surgical versus non-surgical treatment for diabetic foot osteomyelitis remains subject to debate. The aims of this study were to analyse the outcome of conservative treatment (antibiotic treatment and conservative surgery) for diabetic foot osteomyelitis and identify the predictive factors of remission in conservative treatment of diabetic foot osteomyelitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-seven patients with diabetic foot osteomyelitis who initially received conservative treatment from January 2004 to July 2013 were identified, and their medical records were reviewed. Diabetic foot osteomyelitis was defined by imaging studies or histological evidence. Remission was defined as the absence of any sign of infection at the initial or contiguous site assessed at least 12 months after the end of treatment. The demographic, clinical, and therapeutic factors were analysed. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 62.7+/-12.2 years, and 47 patients (61.0%) were male. The median diabetes duration was 15.7+/-11.2 years and mean HbA1c was 8.7%+/-2.4%. Forty-eight patients (62.3%) healed with conservative treatment (antibiotic treatment and conservative surgery). Twenty-five patients (32.5%) underwent amputation. In the multivariate analysis, concomitant peripheral artery disease and inadequate antibiotic therapy were associated with failure of conservative treatment. CONCLUSION: Antibiotics alone, or with conservative surgery, were successful in treatment of diabetic foot osteomyelitis in 62.3% of the patients. Concomitant peripheral artery disease and inadequate antimicrobial therapy were risk factors for remission in conservatively treated diabetic foot osteomyelitis.
Amputation ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Diabetic Foot* ; Humans ; Male ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Osteomyelitis* ; Peripheral Arterial Disease ; Risk Factors

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the long-term results and appropriateness of radiation therapy (RT) for medulloblastoma (MB) at a single institution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the clinical outcomes of 106 patients with MB who received RT between January 1992 and October 2009. The median age was 7 years (range, 0 to 50 years), and the proportion of M0, M1, M2, and M3 stages was 60.4%, 8.5%, 4.7%, and 22.6%, respectively. The median total craniospinal irradiation (CSI) and posterior fossa tumor bed dose in 102 patients (96.2%) treated with CSI was 36 Gy and 54 Gy, respectively. RESULTS: The median follow-up period in survivors was 132 months (range, 31 to 248 months). A gradual improvement in survival outcomes was observed, with 5-year overall survival rates of 61.5% in 1990s increasing to 73.6% in 2000s. A total of 29 recurrences (27.4%) developed at the following sites: five (17.2%) in the tumor bed; five (17.2%) in the posterior fossa other than the tumor bed; nine (31%) in the supratentorium; and six (20.7%) in the spinal subarachnoid space only. The four remaining patients showed multiple site recurrences. Among 12 supratentorial recurrences, five cases recurred in the subfrontal areas. Although the frequency of posterior fossa/tumor bed recurrences was significantly high among patients treated with subtotal resection, other site (other intracranial/spinal) recurrences were more common among patients treated with gross tumor removal (p=0.016). There was no case of spinal subarachnoid space relapse from desmoplastic/extensive nodular histological subtypes. CONCLUSION: Long-term follow-up results and patterns of failure confirmed the importance of optimal RT dose and field arrangement. More tailored multimodal strategies and proper CSI technique may be the cornerstones for improving treatment outcomes in MB patients.
Combined Modality Therapy* ; Craniospinal Irradiation ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Infratentorial Neoplasms ; Medulloblastoma* ; Radiotherapy ; Recurrence ; Subarachnoid Space ; Survival Rate ; Survivors