Carcinomas of the biliary tract are known to be more common in East Asia than in Western countries, but their exact histopathological characteristics and tumorigenesis are not well elucidated. To examine the histological and immunohistochemical characteristics of the biliary tract carcinomas according to their anatomical sites and to elucidate their tumorigenesis, we performed histological review and immunohistochemical study in a total of 135 cases of biliary tract carcinomas; 24 intrahepatic bile duct, 34 gallbladder, 51 common bile duct, and 26 periampullary carcinomas. Precancerous lesions were associated with 5 (20.8%) cases of intrahepatic duct carcinomas (dysplasia 5), 7 (20.6%) cases of gallbladder carcinomas (adenoma 5, dysplasia 2), 10 (19.6%) cases of common bile duct carcinomas (adenoma 7, dysplasia 3), and 2(7.7%)cases of periampullary carcinomas (adenoma 2). Immunohistochemically, c-erbB-2 expression in gallbladder carcinoma (21/34, 62%) was significantly higher than that of intrahepatic (8/24, 33%). Ki-67 indices were higher in common bile duct carcinomas (19%) than those of intrahepatic bile duct (14%) or periampullary carcinomas (12%). Overexpression of p53 gene product in the periampullary carcinomas (20/22, 77%) was higher than that of intrahepatic (12/24, 50%) or common bile duct carcinoma (26/51, 51%). In the precancerous lesions the c-erbB-2 expression was present in 29% of the gallbladder, 20% of the intrahepatic, 10% of the common bile duct precancerous lesions and none of the 2 cases of adenomas in the periampullary region. The p53 overexpression in the precancerous lesions was frequent, ranging from 43% to 60%. These results suggest that a mechanism involving p53 gene mutation and c-erbB-2 gene activation is present in the tumorigenesis in a significant number of the biliary tract carcinomas and they may be the early events in the tumorigenesis of the biliary tract carcinomas.
Adenoma ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Biliary Tract* ; Carcinogenesis ; Common Bile Duct ; Far East ; Gallbladder ; Genes, erbB-2 ; Genes, p53

This review explores the complexities of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), primarily focusing on the significant eating challenges faced by children and adolescents with this neurodevelopmental condition. It is common for individuals with ASD to exhibit heightened sensitivity to various sensory aspects of food such as taste, texture, smell, and visual appeal, leading to restricted and less diverse diets. These dietary limitations are believed to contribute to an imbalance in the gut microbiota. This review elaborates on how these eating problems, coupled with the distinctive characteristics of ASD, might be influenced by and, in turn, influence the gut-brain axis, a bidirectional communication system between the gastrointestinal tract and the brain. This discussion aims to shed light on the multifaceted interactions and potential implications of diet, gut health, and neurological development and function in children and adolescents with ASD.

No abstract available.
Animals ; Mice* ; Uterus*

The author's affiliation should be corrected.

PURPOSE: This study was done to investigate the effects of a massage program on the growth of premature infants and on the mothers' confidence and satisfaction in the mothering role. METHODS: The participants were 29 mothers of premature infants hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit at CNU Hospital (14 in the massage program group and 15 in control group). Massage was done for 10-15 minutes, 2-3 times a day for 4 weeks. The data were using the SAS PC+ program. RESULT: Significant differences were found in the ratios of weight gain (Z=2.24, p=.013), grow in length (Z=2.50, p=.006) and increase in head circumference (Z=1.91, p=.028) between the massage program group and the control group. Confidence in the mothering role was significantly higher for mothers in the massage program group compared to those in the control group (Z=2.69, p=.004), but there was no significant difference in satisfaction with the mothering role between the two groups (Z=.88, p=.191). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the massage program enhances growth of premature infants as well as enhancing the mother's confidence in her role as mother. Therefore, the massage program for premature infants can be use as an effective nursing intervention.
Head ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Massage* ; Mothers* ; Nursing ; Weight Gain ; Child Health

This study aimed to investigate the anti-angiogenic effects of the water extract of Pulsatilla koreana (Yabe ex Nakai) Nakai ex T. Mori., Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer and Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch (WEPPG).

BACKGROUND: Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) has been detected in a number of pathologic conditions in the central nervous system. This study was investigated the patterns of iNOS expression in the neuronal PC12 cell and the effects of nitric oxide on the apoptosis of PC12 cells. METHODS: The stimulating agents for induction of iNOS expression in PC12 cells were bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-), and interferon-gamma (IFN-). RESULTS: The expression iNOS mRNA and protein in PC12 cells stimulated with LPS/TNF-/IFN- were profoundly increased. The expression of iNOS mRNA arose at 6 hours, peaked at 12 hours, and declined to 48 hours after LPS/TNF-/ IFN- treatment. iNOS protein was increased up to 24 hours in LPS/TNF-/IFN- treated PC12 cells while the expression of nNOS was unaffected. Accumulation of NO derivatives in the culture media was markedly increased at least at up to 48 hours after LPS/TNF-/IFN- treatment. The induction of iNOS expression and NO production in differentiated PC12 cells was correlated with apoptotic cell death judged by transmission electron microscopy and DNA fragmentation from the results of the Terminal deoxynucleotidyl-transferase-mediated dUDP biotin nick end-labeling (TUNEL) method. After treatment with NOS inhibitor, N-monomethylarginine (NMMA), a profound decrease in NO production by LPS/TNF-/IFN- treated PC12 cells was noted. And the LPS/TNF-/IFN- induced apoptosis was prevented by the NMMA treatment. CONCLUSIONS: From the above results it is concluded that the expression of iNOS in differentiated PC12 cells is induced by the combined application of LPS, TNF-, and IFN-. And the apoptosis of cultured PC12 cells is mediated by iNOS-derived NO.
Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Biotin ; Cell Death ; Central Nervous System ; Culture Media ; DNA Fragmentation ; Interferon-gamma ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Necrosis* ; Neurons* ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II* ; Nitric Oxide* ; PC12 Cells* ; RNA, Messenger ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of an interpersonal relationship program on interpersonal relationships, self-esteem, and depression in nursing students. METHODS: This was a quasi-experiment with a nonequivalent control group pre-posttest design. Sixty-four nursing students participated in the study with 31 in the experimental group and 33 in the control group. They were from 3 different colleges of nursing located in Seoul. The interpersonal relationship program was held 10 times over 10 weeks, taking 90 minutes per session. The interpersonal relationship change scale developed by Schlein and Guemey, Rosenberg's self-esteem scale, and CED-S for depression were the instruments used in the study. The data collection period was from January 4 to March 8, 2011, and the collected data were analyzed with SPSS 14.0 using the X2-test, t-test, and paired t-test. RESULTS: The results showed a significant difference between the experimental group and the control group in terms of the degree of interpersonal relationships, self-esteem, and depression. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that interpersonal relationship programs have positive effects for improving interpersonal relationships and self-esteem, and decreasing depression in nursing students.
Adult ; *Depression ; Female ; Humans ; *Interpersonal Relations ; Male ; Program Evaluation ; *Self Concept ; Students, Nursing/*psychology ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the mediator role of psychological empowerment in the relationship between professional self-concept and burnout in psychiatric nurses. METHODS: A cross-sectional correlational survey was conducted in S city and G province with 127 psychiatric nurses working in mental hospitals. Data were collected from March 8 to 16, 2012. The instruments used were the Psychological Empowerment Questionnaire, the Professional Self-concept of Nurses Instrument, and the Tedium Measurement. The collected data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple regression with PASW 20.0. RESULTS: Statistically significant relationships were found among professional self-concept, psychological empowerment, and burnout. Psychological empowerment functioned as a mediator between professional self-concept and burnout. CONCLUSION: The implication of the results is that interventions that focus on psychological empowerment will contribute to the reduction of burnout in psychiatric nurses. This study also contributes to knowledge about the conditions that precede burnout, and shows the important role of psychological empowerment in the relationship between professional self-concept and burnout.
Hospitals, Psychiatric ; Negotiating ; Power (Psychology) ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to investigate the prevalence of abnormal eating attitudes and to identify possible risk factors associated with these attitudes among Korean adolescent girls. METHODS: A convenience sample of 1,126 girls aged 15 to 19 years was recruited from thirteen high schools. A self-report survey was conducted including Eating Attitude Test for diagnosing abnormal eating attitudes. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression with PASW statistics 18.0. RESULTS: Of the participants, 8.3% met the criteria for abnormal eating attitudes. Misperception of body image, depression, and high or low economical status were significantly associated with abnormal eating attitudes (OR=3.50, 95% CI=1.95~6.28; OR=5.47, 95% CI=3.17~9.44; OR=2.26, 95% CI=1.14~4.47; OR=2.41, 95% CI=1.25~4.66). CONCLUSION: The current study identified the family factors as well as internal ones related to abnormal eating attitudes of Korean adolescent girls. The results indicate that the most effective prevention strategies for this population would be to correct their misperception of body image and control depression. Results also suggest that further studies are necessary to develop a predictive model that could explain the influence of family factors including parent-child interaction and family function to abnormal eating attitudes.
Adolescent ; Aged ; Body Image ; Depression ; Eating ; Feeding and Eating Disorders ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Parent-Child Relations ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors