This study describes the characterization of 80 kDa protease showing gelationlytic property among three proteases in the excretory/secretory proteins (ESP) from Toxoplasma gondii. The protease activity was detected in the ESP but not in the somatic extract of RH tachyzoites. This protease was active only in the presence of calcium ion but not other divalent cationic ions such as Cu (2+), Zn (2+), Mg (2+), and Mn (2+), implying that Ca (2+) is critical factor for the activation of the protease. The 80 kDa protease was optimally active at pH 7.5. Its gelatinolytic activity was maximal at 37 degrees C, and significant level of enzyme activity of the protease remained after heat treatment at 56 degrees C for 30 min or 100 degrees C for 10 min. This thermostable enzyme was strongly inhibited by metal chelators, i.e., EDTA, EGTA, and 1, 10-phenanthroline. Thus, the 80 kDa protease in the ESP secreted by T. gondii was classified as a calcium dependent neutral metalloprotease.
Animals ; Calcium/metabolism ; Endopeptidases/*metabolism ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Molecular Weight ; Temperature ; Toxoplasma/*enzymology

No abstract available.
Complementary Therapies

No abstract available.
Complementary Therapies

Lumbar braces, cast jackets and lumbar corsets are commonly prescribed for the relief of low back pain or the prevention of instability of lumbar or lumbosacral vertebrae. These devices have been presumed to achive their effect by (1) decreasing movement at the involved intervertebral joints, (2) shifting a portion of the load from the spine to the rest of the trunk by compressing the abdomen, (3) decreasing lumbar lordosis and therefore, mechanical stress on the spine and (4) providing sufficient support to allow relaxation of the muscles of the trunk. But it is doubtful that lumbar braces or corsets significantly decrease movement between lumbar vertebrae. To maintain the stability of the lumbar and lumbosacral spine, abdominal muscles and intrinsic muscles of the back play an important role. When these muscles weaken the lumbar lordosis becomes exaggerated possibly bringing about degenerative changes in the articular processes and approximation of the spinous processes. In severe cases results in the so-called kissing spine which causes low back pain. The pain may be relieved by use of lumbo-sacral corsets or knight braces, which diminish lordosis. However, there has been no scientific report on adequate types of braces, duration of use or muscle weakness resulting from its use as yet. The prupose of this study is to provide a theoretical braces for, planning adequate prevention and early treatment, so that labour loss from retirement or change of job due to low back pain could be minimized, permitting early return to employment and resumption of activities of daily living. In other words, this study concentrates on the indications for use and selection of which will produce optimum results in the treatment of patients with low back pain. The EMG was taken immediately after admission, and after 3 weeks of bed rest accompanied by pelvic traction with or without heating, and also it was taken after 6 weeks of use of brace. The results obtained from this study were as follows; 1. After bed rest the EMG activities were increased in back muscles, such as longissimus dorsi, multifidus and iliocostalis lumborum and in abdominal muscles of internus abdominis while decreased in rectus abdominis. 2. There has been no significant change after use of corset in acute cases while the muscle activities. were increased after use of lumbar corset in chronic cases. 3. Rectus abdominis was most senstively influenced by bed rest or use of brace both in acute and chronic cases. And it was the last to recover probably because it does not contract in ordinary alow walking. 4. Knight brace was considered to be preferable to lumbar corset in acute cases with evidence of weakness in abdominal muscles by EMG. 5. There was no difference between bed rest and use of brace in patients who had radiculopathy with functional difficulties or not.
Abdomen ; Abdominal Muscles ; Activities of Daily Living ; Animals ; Back Muscles ; Bed Rest ; Braces ; Employment ; Heating ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Joints ; Lordosis ; Low Back Pain ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Muscle Weakness ; Muscles ; Paraspinal Muscles ; Radiculopathy ; Rectus Abdominis ; Relaxation ; Retirement ; Spine ; Stress, Mechanical ; Traction ; Walking

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the trends in qualitative research articles that from 2004 to 2013 in the Journal of Korean Academy of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing and to raise issues for the evolution of qualitative research. METHODS: Descriptive statistics and qualitative evaluation were used in analysis of fifty qualitative studies. The focus was on research methodology and techniques to establish validity of the study. RESULTS: Most frequently used methodological orientation was phenomenology (48.0%) and the analytic method was Colaizzi's. Nearly two-thirds of studies focused on general population or psychiatric patients dwelling in community settings. There were no comments on validity in fifteen studies, and in the rest of studies, the description about the techniques to enhance the validity of study were not elaborated. CONCLUSION: Although qualitative studies in health care environment have increased recently, the proportion of qualitative studies compared with quantitative studies was relatively low in the Journal of Korean Academy of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. In order to make qualitative studies useful to nursing research, practice, administration and education, authors employing qualitative research methods should exert efforts to enhance validity of studies.
Delivery of Health Care ; Education ; Evaluation Studies as Topic ; Humans ; Mental Health* ; Nursing Research ; Nursing* ; Psychiatric Nursing ; Qualitative Research* ; Research Design

We studied 600 normal lower extremities of Korean students of elementary school in order to establish normal values for the rotational profile and to define any differences between ethnic groups. Rotational profile examined at this study included medial and lateral rotation of the hip and thighfoot angle. The mean value of medial rotation of the hip was 48 degrees with a range of 35 to 64 degrees in male subjects, and 50 degrees with a range of 35 to 60 degrees in female subjects. The mean value of lateral rotation of the hip was 57 degrees with a range of 43 to 75 degrees, and 53 degrees with a range of 40 to 72 degrees in female subjects. Unlike medial rotation, lateral rotation of the hip was greater in male than in female subjects by a mean difference of 4 degrees(T-test, p<0.05). The mean value of thigh-foot angle was 10 degrees with a range of -2 to 23 degrees in male subjects, and 12 degrees with a range of 0 to 21 degrees in female subjects. The total range of hip rotation was slightly greater in Korean than in Caucasians or in Chinese, but, to conclude this, more large study by the same methods will be needed in other areas of Korea.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Ethnic Groups ; Female ; Hip ; Humans ; Korea ; Lower Extremity* ; Male ; Reference Values

PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore and describe nurses' prejudice toward foreigners. METHODS: The participants in the current study were 16 nurses who had worked in university hospitals. Data were collected using focus group interviews and an inductive content analysis was conducted with three focus groups. RESULTS: The contents with regard to prejudice toward foreigners were categorized into three themes: prejudice formation, triggers of prejudice and prejudiced behaviors. The participants' prejudice toward foreigners as instigated by appearances, attitudes, or the national economic statuses of foreigners were added to the prejudice which had been formed previously. Prejudiced behaviors included discriminative attitudes, devotion withdrawal, defensive behavior, or derision. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study indicate that nurses may have positive or negative prejudices toward certain foreigners, which can affect their nursing practice. These findings also warrant the development of programs designed to increase awareness of and reduce nurses' prejudice toward foreigners.
Emigrants and Immigrants* ; Focus Groups* ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Nursing ; Prejudice*

Catheters ; Choanal Atresia ; Diagnosis ; Emergencies ; Hand ; Membranes ; Nasal Cavity ; Nasopharynx ; Nose ; Operative Time ; Parturition ; Rubber

PURPOSE: This study was done to evaluate validity and reliability of the Korean version of the expanded nursing stress scale (ENSS). METHODS: Forward-backward translation of ENSS from English to Korean was conducted. The translated instrument was pilot-tested and administrated to 285 nurses who worked in five general hospitals in Korea. Internal consistency reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and composite reliability. Validity was evaluated through construct validity with confirmatory factor analysis, convergent and discriminant validity. RESULTS: The Korean version of ENSS showed a reliable internal consistency with Cronbach's alpha .95 and composite reliability .99. Model fit indexes for 46 items were validated by confirmatory factor analysis(goodness of fit index .82, Tucker-Lewis index .92, root mean square error of approximation .04), indicating suitable construct validity. Factor loading of the 48 items (.47~.88) and average variance extracted out of nine factors (.52~.71.) indicated satisfactory convergent validity. Some values of square of the correlation coefficient between factors (.12~.89) were higher than average variance extracted values of each factor (.52~.71) so that it partly satisfied discriminant validity. CONCLUSION: Findings show that the Korean version ENSS has good reliability and suitable validity; therefore, can be used to assess and identify Korean nurses' job stress.
Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Hospitals, General ; Korea ; Nursing* ; Reproducibility of Results* ; Stress, Psychological ; Translations

Anthocyanidins, the aglycones of anthocyanins, are natural colorants belonging to the flavonoid family. Cyanidin is one of the anthocyanidins, used for their antioxidant properties. Furthermore, previous studies have shown anthocyanidin-rich material extracts or aglycone form inhibit growth and induce apoptosis of cancer cells. But, Tumor metastasis is the most important cause of cancer death, and various treatment strategies have targeted on preventing the occurrence of metastasis. This study investigated the effects of cyanidin on metastasis processes, including motility, invasion and activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell lines. We cultured MDA-MB-231 cells in presence of various concentrations 0, 5, 10 and 20 micrometer of cyanidin. The cell motility was significantly decreased dosedependently in cells treated with cyanidin (p < 0.05) and cyanidin treatment caused the significant suppression of the invasion (p < 0.05). MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities, and MMP-9 mRNA express were not affected by anthocyanin treatment. In conclusion, cyanidin inhibits cell motility, invasion in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell lines.
Anthocyanins ; Apoptosis ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Cell Line ; Cell Movement ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; RNA, Messenger