No abstract available.
Korea* ; Scrub Typhus* ; Seroepidemiologic Studies*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in the states of anger, depression, resilience and self-esteem according to type of school violence involving elementary school students. METHODS: The participants were 257 elementary school students in the 4th, 5th and 6th grades. Data was collected by structured questionnaires, and analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi2-test, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficients with the SPSS/WIN 20.0 program. RESULTS: There were significant differences among the states of anger (Fs=16.66, p<.001), depression (Fs=18.04, p<.001), resilience (F=12.77, p<.001) and self-esteem (F=10.39, p<.001) according to the type of school violence. Of all the groups, bully-victim exhibited the highest score for anger and depression, and the lowest score for resilience and self-esteem. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings, developing intervention programs that consider the psychological characteristics of elementary school students is necessary. Also, the results of this study suggest that integrative programs for students that can enhance resilience and self-esteem, such as self-discovery programs, and reduce anger, such as anger control programs, need to be developed.
Anger* ; Depression* ; Humans ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Resilience, Psychological ; Violence*

The immune system maintains the integrity of our bodies by warding off intruding microorganisms, but by sustaining tolerance to our own tissues. The immunologic tolerance is established by several layers of safeguards, including physical elimination of self-reactive lymphocytes during their development in the central lymphoid organs, anergy induction in autoreactive lymphocytes before their emigration to the periphery, or production regulatory T lymphocytes that suppress the activation, proliferation, and differentiation of various effector cells. The major regulatory T lymphocytes display their phenotype as CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) and constitute about 10% of the peripheral T lymphocytes. Even with these safeguards, the immunologic tolerance sometimes fails and generates autoimmune diseases. Scientists studying the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases pay particular attention to a CD4(+) T lymphocytes subset, Th17 lymphocytes, distinct from Th1 and Th2. Th17 produces diverse proinflammatory cytokines including IL-17 and TNF-alpha. Th17 and these cytokines are causatively associated with many episodes of autoimmune diseases. Accumulated data reveal the critical role of Th17 cells in the pathology of autoimmunity and portray them as an important target in the treatment of various autoimmune diseases. In this article, we will describe the main characteristics of regulatory T cells and Th17 cells and their cellular and molecular mechanisms of protective or destructive functions, respectively.
Autoimmune Diseases ; Autoimmunity ; Cytokines ; Emigration and Immigration ; Immune System ; Interleukin-17 ; Lymphocytes ; Phenotype ; T-Lymphocytes ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; Th17 Cells ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

The immune system maintains the integrity of our bodies by warding off intruding microorganisms, but by sustaining tolerance to our own tissues. The immunologic tolerance is established by several layers of safeguards, including physical elimination of self-reactive lymphocytes during their development in the central lymphoid organs, anergy induction in autoreactive lymphocytes before their emigration to the periphery, or production regulatory T lymphocytes that suppress the activation, proliferation, and differentiation of various effector cells. The major regulatory T lymphocytes display their phenotype as CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) and constitute about 10% of the peripheral T lymphocytes. Even with these safeguards, the immunologic tolerance sometimes fails and generates autoimmune diseases. Scientists studying the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases pay particular attention to a CD4(+) T lymphocytes subset, Th17 lymphocytes, distinct from Th1 and Th2. Th17 produces diverse proinflammatory cytokines including IL-17 and TNF-alpha. Th17 and these cytokines are causatively associated with many episodes of autoimmune diseases. Accumulated data reveal the critical role of Th17 cells in the pathology of autoimmunity and portray them as an important target in the treatment of various autoimmune diseases. In this article, we will describe the main characteristics of regulatory T cells and Th17 cells and their cellular and molecular mechanisms of protective or destructive functions, respectively.
Autoimmune Diseases ; Autoimmunity ; Cytokines ; Emigration and Immigration ; Immune System ; Interleukin-17 ; Lymphocytes ; Phenotype ; T-Lymphocytes ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; Th17 Cells ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

BACKGROUND: The molecular basis of follicular dendritic cells (FDC)-germinal center (GC) B cell interaction is largely unknown, although this cellular interaction is thought to be important for the whole process of GC B cell differentiation. METHODS: Using FDC-like cells, HK, and highly purified GC B cells, we attempted to identify the molecules that play critical roles in the interactions between FDC and B cells. GC B cells were co-cultured with HK cells and soluble CD154 in the presence or absence of various function-blocking monoclonal antibodies to examine their effect on GC B cell binding to HK cells and B cell proliferation. RESULTS: Anti-CD11a and anti-CD54 antibodies inhibited GC B cell binding to HK cells while anti-CD49d and anti-CD106 antibodies did not. GC B cell proliferation was not impaired by the disruption of GC B cell-HK cell adherence. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that CD11a/CD18-CD54 interactions play an important roles in the initial binding of GC B cells to FDC and diffusible growth factors from FDC may be responsible the massive proliferation of GC B cells.
Antibodies ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; B-Lymphocytes* ; Cell Communication ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Dendritic Cells, Follicular ; Germinal Center* ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of using a social skills training program to address problem behaviors, social skill, and peer relationship in children using a community child center in a vulnerable area. METHODS: The research design was a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental study. Participants in the experimental group were 25 children, recruited from a community child center in G-city. Participants in the control group were 25 children, recruited from a community child center in S-city. Data were collected from September, 2014 to January, 2015. Outcomes were measured using the Child Problem-Behavior Screening Questionnaire (CPSQ), Social Skill Rating System (SSRS), and Peer Relational Skills Scale (PRSS). The experimental group participated in the social skills training weekly for 10 weeks. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS 18.0 program. RESULTS: Significant differences were found in problem behaviors, social skills, and peer relationship scores between the two groups. CONCLUSION: This social skills training program was found to be effective in reducing problem behaviors and improving the social skill and peer relationship of these children, and is recommended for use in community health services as an effective nursing intervention for children in vulnerable areas.
Child* ; Community Health Services ; Education* ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Nursing ; Peer Group ; Research Design ; Social Behavior*

To assess the prevalence of HIV infection in patients with sexually-transmitted diseases(STD), we screened STD patients who visited STD clinics in Seoul area during the period of April 1993-Octorber 1993. Blood samples were collected by unlinked anonymous method, and antibodies against HIV were screened. Fi-ve hundred and thirty patients with STD werescreened. Median age of the patients was 23 year. Male to female ratio was 1:2.8. None of the patients had HIV antibody. The prevalence of HIV infection in STD patients was estimated to be less than 5%.
Anonyms and Pseudonyms ; Antibodies ; Female ; HIV Infections* ; HIV* ; Humans ; Male ; Prevalence ; Seoul ; Seroepidemiologic Studies* ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases*

Since the first case of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in the Republic of Korea (ROK) was detected in 1985, 876 HIV-infected patients have been reported, as of December 1998. The male to female ratio was 6.8:1, and 87% of the patients were between 20 and 49 years of age. The major modes of transmission were sexual contacts, accounting for 86% of the cases (65% heterosexuals and 21% homosexuals). Transmission through blood and blood products accounted for 28 cases (3.2%), and vertical transmission for one case. No cases among intravenous drug abusers were reported. The seroprevalence among the blood donors was approximately one in 100,000. Subtypes A, B, C, D, E, and G of HIV-1 have been introduced into the ROK, and subtype B is the most predominant subtype. The frequency of the a deletion in the CCR5 gene, a coreceptor of HIV-1, was less than 1% among Koreans.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/transmission ; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/genetics ; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/epidemiology* ; Adolescence ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Blood Donors/statistics & numerical data ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Disease Transmission, Horizontal/statistics & numerical data ; Disease Transmission, Horizontal/prevention & control ; Female ; HIV Seroprevalence ; HIV-1/genetics ; HIV-1/classification ; Hospitalization/statistics & numerical data ; Human ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Age ; Military Personnel/statistics & numerical data ; Mutation ; Receptors, CCR5/genetics ; Sex Distribution

Evidence for immunoregulatory roles of prostaglandins (PGs) is accumulating. Since our observation of PG production by human follicular dendritic cells (FDCs), we investigated the regulatory mechanism of PG production in FDC and attempted to understand the functions of released PGs in the responses of adjacent lymphocytes. Here, using FDC-like cells, HK cells, we analyzed protein expression alterations in cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the presence of IL-4 or histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors. Both IL-4 and HDAC inhibitors suppressed COX-2 expression in dose-dependent manners. Their effect was specific to COX-2 and did not reach to COX-1 expression. Interestingly, HDAC inhibitors gave rise to an opposing effect on COX-2 expression in peripheral blood monocytes. Our results suggest that IL-4 may regulate COX-2 expression in FDCs by affecting chromatin remodeling and provide insight into the role of cellular interactions between T cells and FDC during the GC reaction. Given the growing interests in wide-spectrum HDAC inhibitors, the differential results on COX-2 expression in HK cells and monocytes raise cautions on their clinical use.
Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; Dendritic Cells, Follicular ; Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors ; Histone Deacetylases ; Histones ; Humans ; Interleukin-4 ; Lymphocytes ; Monocytes ; Prostaglandins ; Stromal Cells ; T-Lymphocytes

BACKGROUND: Treatment of diabetic foot infection remains difficult, due partly to defective neutrophil functions. Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) increases neutrophil counts in peripheral blood and enhances neutrophil functions in healthy peoples and patients with hematologic diseases. We performed this study to evaluate neutrophil functions in diabetic patients with foot infections and the effect of rhG-CSF on neutrophil functions in vitro. METHODS: Twelve patients with diabetic foot infections and 12 normal volunteers were enrolled. Venous blood was collected in heparin-containing tubes, and neutrophils were isolated immediately. The isolated neutrophils were incubated with rhG-CSF (50 ng/mL) for 20 minutes. Assays of superoxide anion production of neutrophils were based on the reduction of ferricytochrome C. Assays of phagocytosis by neutrophils were done using Staphylococcus aureus and the weighted phagocytic index (WPI) was calculated by counting the number of phagocytosing neutrophils on the slides. RESULTS: Superoxide anion production of neutrophils in diabetic patients was 4.7 (unit: nmol/2105cells/30min), which was significantly lower than that of controls (7.6) (P<0.05). rhG-CSF increased the superoxide anion production of neutrophils to 9.8 in diabetic patients and to 15.6 in the controls (P<0.05). WPI in diabetic patients was 0.77, which was not significantly different from that of the controls (0.69). WPI was increased significantly by rhG-CSF in diabetic patients (0.88) and in controls (0.79). CONCLUSION: rhG-CSF enhanced neutrophil functions in vitro, which were evaluated by superoxide anion production and phagocytosis in diabetic patients with foot infections. These results suggest that rhG-CSF can be useful in the treatment of diabetic foot infections.
Cytochromes c ; Diabetic Foot ; Foot* ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Healthy Volunteers ; Hematologic Diseases ; Humans* ; Neutrophils* ; Phagocytosis ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Superoxides