BACKGROUND: Obesity is linked to a wide range of respiratory diseases. Several studies have shown that body weight at baseline and weight change were related to pulmonary function. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between change in body mass index (BMI) and pulmonary function in adults. METHODS: Of those aged 40-64 years at baseline who had initially visited the health promotion center at one university-level hospital from January 2000 to December 2002, 499 (men: 309, women: 190) patients revisited the center over a 5-year period up to December 2009 and were enrolled in the study. Subjects were classified into 4 groups- group 1: normal-normal, group 2: normal-obese, group 3: obese-normal, and group 4: obese-obese, based on their BMI at baseline and follow-up. Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1/FVC were measured by spirometry. RESULTS: Change in FEV1/FVC was significantly associated with change in BMI for men in all 4 groups. Change in FEV1/FVC was significantly different between group 1 and 3 and between group 1 and 4. Changes in FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC were significantly associated with change in BMI for women in all 4 groups. Change in FEV1 was significantly different between group 3 and 4, and change in FVC was significantly different between group 1 and 3. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that a change in BMI is negatively associated with change in pulmonary function. Obesity itself can be a risk factor for pulmonary dysfunction, and a decrease in BMI through weight reduction could reduce pulmonary dysfunction or improve pulmonary function in adults.
Adult ; Aged ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; Risk Factors ; Vital Capacity ; Weight Loss

Antibiotics were reported to be able to alter bacterial surface properties in subinhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs). The effects of sub-MICs of certain antibiotics on a bacterial surface property such as hemagglutination, as well as on the cell morphology were studied using Streptococcus gordonii and Staphylococcus aureus. The effect of sub-M1Cs of antibiotics on the binding of these bacteria to immobilized fibrinogen were also investigated. The MICs of antibiotics were determined by culturing S. gordonii and S. aureus in media supplemented with serially diluted drug solutions, and one-half the MIC was used as the sub-MIC of the drugs, unless stated otherwise. Sub-MICs of antibiotics did not affect bacterial agglutination of erythrocytes. Microscopic observation of S. gordonii grown at sub-MIC concentration of 0.02 ug/ml of amoxicillin revealed cell enlargement of 1.6 times those grown without the drug. When grown in the sub-MIC amount of 0.08 ug/ml of cefazolin, most S. gordonii cells were enlarged and elongated into rod-shape, resulting in 3 times the size of the cells grown without the antibiotic. The data from the fibrinogen-binding experiments showed that the binding of S. gordonii to immobilized fibrinogen was increased with all the B-lactam drugs tested; the binding of S. aureus to immobilized fibrinogen, on the other hand, was decreased with the same drugs. The results show that low concentrations of certain B-lactam antibiotics are able to cause alterations in cellular morphology of S. gordonii and affect the binding of S. gordonii and S. aureus to immobilized fibrinogen.
Agglutination ; Amoxicillin ; Anti-Bacterial Agents* ; Bacteria ; Cefazolin ; Cell Enlargement ; Erythrocytes ; Fibrinogen ; Hand ; Hemagglutination ; Staphylococcus aureus* ; Staphylococcus* ; Streptococcus gordonii* ; Streptococcus* ; Surface Properties*

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical manifestations, contact history, and status of tuberculosis contact investigations in school-age children and adolescents with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) at two centers. METHODS: This study was conducted with 54 patients in the age ranging from 10 to 18 years, who were diagnosed with pulmonary TB at the Pusan National University Hospital and Pusan National University Children's Hospital, January 2008 to December 2012. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of the patients. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 16 years old; 11 patients were aged 10 to 14 and 43 patients were aged 15 to 18. Among 54 patients, 19 had history of contact with pulmonary TB, 10 had contact with house members (household), and remaining 9 had contact with classmates (non-household). One out of 10 patients who had household contacts and 6 out of 9 patients who had non-household contacts were evaluated with contact investigation after the exposure to pulmonary TB. Among 7 patients who were evaluated with contact investigation, 3 were diagnosed with active pulmonary TB, 1 had latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), and 3 had no evidence of TB or LTBI. The median period of diagnosis after the exposure to active pulmonary TB was 2 years in patients with household contacts and 0.23 years in patients with non-household contacts. CONCLUSION: This study suggested that if the contact investigation conducted properly, it would be helpful for early diagnosis and prevention of pulmonary TB.
Adolescent* ; Busan ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Family Characteristics ; Humans ; Latent Tuberculosis ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Tuberculosis* ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary*

T cell activation is a critical event for initiation and regulation of immune responses and inhibitors of such signaling pathways are clinically useful for the treatment of patients received allogratt and autoimmune disease. In the course of screening soil microorganisms from the forest of Cheju island in Korea for new immunosuppressive agent, one of Streptomyces species (CK-95441) was found to produce a new immunosuppressant, tautomycetin which also had antifungal activity. Tautomycetin showed the inhibition of T cell proliferation in murine mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) and T cell activation induced by concanavalin A. Tautomycetin also blocked the induction of IL-2 gene expression which was examined in Jurkat TAg cell line in which multiple NFAT-binding sites and minimal IL-2 promoter drive the production of B-galactosidase. Also, the level of inhibition in activation-induced IL-2 receptor expression by tautomycetin was greater than those by cyclosporin A measured by flow cytometry. But, Fas ligand-induced apoptosis in Jurkat cells was unaffected by tautomycetin which was measured by DNA fragmentation assay. These results suggested that tautomycetin will be able to be used as a potent immunosuppressive drug following organ transplantation.

PURPOSE: This study analyzes the relationship between work-life conflict and turnover intention among hospital nurses. Furthermore, it seeks to determine whether the relationship between the two varies depending on the shift work condition of the nurses. METHODS: A total of 435 nurses working at five tertiary hospitals were included in the study. The questionnaire included items on turnover intentions, work-life conflicts, sociodemographic factors, working conditions, and internal and external resources. RESULTS: The level of work-life conflict among shift work nurses was higher than that of non-shift work nurses. The turnover intention was also higher for shift work nurses than for non-shift work nurses. Results from the multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the work-life conflict of nurses had a positive relationship with turnover intention. The effect of work-life conflict on turnover intention was greater for shift work nurses than for non-shift work nurses. CONCLUSION Work-life conflict had a greater impact on the turnover intention of hospital nurses working under shift work conditions. Based on this study's findings, it can be suggested that, in order to reduce high turnover intention, it will be necessary to make specific efforts to balance work-life conflict and improve working conditions.

PURPOSE: This study analyzes the relationship between work-life conflict and turnover intention among hospital nurses. Furthermore, it seeks to determine whether the relationship between the two varies depending on the shift work condition of the nurses. METHODS: A total of 435 nurses working at five tertiary hospitals were included in the study. The questionnaire included items on turnover intentions, work-life conflicts, sociodemographic factors, working conditions, and internal and external resources. RESULTS: The level of work-life conflict among shift work nurses was higher than that of non-shift work nurses. The turnover intention was also higher for shift work nurses than for non-shift work nurses. Results from the multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the work-life conflict of nurses had a positive relationship with turnover intention. The effect of work-life conflict on turnover intention was greater for shift work nurses than for non-shift work nurses. CONCLUSION: Work-life conflict had a greater impact on the turnover intention of hospital nurses working under shift work conditions. Based on this study's findings, it can be suggested that, in order to reduce high turnover intention, it will be necessary to make specific efforts to balance work-life conflict and improve working conditions.
Intention ; Logistic Models ; Tertiary Care Centers

Purpose: This study examined the effects of action-observation training using the Y-Balance on the balance ability of young adults. Methods: Thirty-four healthy adults were randomized into an action-observation group (n=17) or a control group (n=17). All subjects performed the Y-Balance test before and after watching the video. The action observation group watched a video of someone performing a Y-Balance test, and the control group watched a video of scenery unrelated to the training. The subjects were measured through a Y-Balance test for both the length of the legs extended in three directions and the Y-balance composite score. Results: A significant difference in the Y-balance composite score was observed between the two groups. A part of the direction of the extended leg in the action observation group was increased significantly (posteromedial direction of the right leg, posterolateral direction of the right leg, posteromedial direction of left leg) compared to the control group. Conclusion These results suggest that action observation training only could help improve balance.

Purpose: Unilateral strength training effects on contralateral sides have been demonstrated in previous studies for lower extremity exercise, upper extremity exercise, and unilateral surface electrical stimulation. This study was performed to investigate the effects of unilateral ankle training on muscle strength and the balance of contralateral lower extremity in healthy adults. Methods: Thirty healthy subjects were randomized equally to a training or a control group. Those in the training group received unilateral ankle isokinetic strengthening training of the dominant leg (right side) for 4 weeks. Contralateral single-limb balance, including Anterio-Posterior Stability Index (APSI), Medio-Lateral Stability Index (MLSI) and Overall Stability Index (OSI), was assessed before and after intervention. Results: Comparison of pre- and post-test data revealed significant improvements in ipsi- and contralateral ankle strengths, and significant improvement in contralateral single limb balance. Conclusion These results have practical implications because they demonstrate that unilateral ankle isokinetic exercise improves ankle muscle strength and balance ability of contralateral lower extremity.

Purpose: This study examined the effects of action-observation training using the Y-Balance on the balance ability of young adults. Methods: Thirty-four healthy adults were randomized into an action-observation group (n=17) or a control group (n=17). All subjects performed the Y-Balance test before and after watching the video. The action observation group watched a video of someone performing a Y-Balance test, and the control group watched a video of scenery unrelated to the training. The subjects were measured through a Y-Balance test for both the length of the legs extended in three directions and the Y-balance composite score. Results: A significant difference in the Y-balance composite score was observed between the two groups. A part of the direction of the extended leg in the action observation group was increased significantly (posteromedial direction of the right leg, posterolateral direction of the right leg, posteromedial direction of left leg) compared to the control group. Conclusion These results suggest that action observation training only could help improve balance.

Purpose: Unilateral strength training effects on contralateral sides have been demonstrated in previous studies for lower extremity exercise, upper extremity exercise, and unilateral surface electrical stimulation. This study was performed to investigate the effects of unilateral ankle training on muscle strength and the balance of contralateral lower extremity in healthy adults. Methods: Thirty healthy subjects were randomized equally to a training or a control group. Those in the training group received unilateral ankle isokinetic strengthening training of the dominant leg (right side) for 4 weeks. Contralateral single-limb balance, including Anterio-Posterior Stability Index (APSI), Medio-Lateral Stability Index (MLSI) and Overall Stability Index (OSI), was assessed before and after intervention. Results: Comparison of pre- and post-test data revealed significant improvements in ipsi- and contralateral ankle strengths, and significant improvement in contralateral single limb balance. Conclusion These results have practical implications because they demonstrate that unilateral ankle isokinetic exercise improves ankle muscle strength and balance ability of contralateral lower extremity.