Purpose: The aim of this study was to show the association between the childbirth experience and life satisfaction among women with disabilities and estimate the moderating effect of family strengths and social support. Methods: The target sample included disabled married women aged 20-49 years. We used the Disability and Life Dynamics Panel 2018. The total number of participants was 220. Three groups were defined based on the childbirth experience: women who had never given birth (13.6%), those who gave birth before the onset of disability (73.2%), and those who gave birth after the onset of disability (13.2%). We identified differences in general characteristics, family strengths, social support, and life satisfaction across the 3 groups and examined the moderating effect of family strengths and social support for the childbirth experience and life satisfaction. Results: Women who gave birth after the onset of disability were in better health, exhibiting longer disability retention periods. The multiple regression analysis revealed that among women who gave birth after the onset of disability, life satisfaction was significantly higher than that of women without the childbirth experience because of the moderating effect of family strengths. However, social support had no significant effect on the childbirth experience and life satisfaction. Conclusion We empirically analyzed the status of childbirth before and after the onset of disability using representative survey data. The findings indicate a positive moderating effect of family strengths on the level of life satisfaction among women with disabilities.

BACKGROUND: The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II scoring system and the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scoring system are widely used for critically ill patients. We evaluated whether APACHE II score and SOFA score predict the outcome for trauma patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed trauma patients admitted to the ICU in a single trauma center between January 2014 and December 2015. The APACHE II score was figured out based on the data acquired from the first 24 hours of admission; the SOFA score was evaluated based on the first 3 days in the ICU. A total of 241 patients were available for analysis. Injury Severity score, APACHE II score, and SOFA score were evaluated. RESULTS: The overall survival rate was 83.4%. The non-survival group had a significantly high APACHE II score (24.1 ± 8.1 vs. 12.3 ± 7.2, P < 0.001) and SOFA score (7.7 ± 1.7 vs. 4.3 ± 1.9, P < 0.001) at admission. SOFA score had the highest areas under the curve (0.904). During the first 3 days, SOFA score remained high in the non-survival group. In the non-survival group, cardiovascular system, neurological system, renal system, and coagulation system scores were significantly higher. CONCLUSIONS: In ICU trauma patients, both SOFA and APACHE II scores were good predictors of outcome, with the SOFA score being the most effective. In trauma ICU patients, the trauma scoring system should be complemented, recognizing that multi-organ failure is an important factor for mortality.
APACHE* ; Cardiovascular System ; Complement System Proteins ; Critical Care* ; Critical Illness ; Humans ; Injury Severity Score ; Intensive Care Units* ; Mortality ; Multiple Trauma ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Trauma Centers

Extracellular beta amyloid (Aβ) plaques are the neuropathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Accordingly, reducing Aβ levels is considered a promising strategy for AD prevention. 3’-O-acetyl-24-epi-7,8-didehydrocimigenol-3-O-β-D-xylopryranoside significantly decreased the Aβ production and this effect was accompanied with reduced sAPPβ production known as a soluble ectodomain APP fragment through β-secretases in HeLa cells overexpressing amyloid precursor proteins (APPs). This compound also increased the level of sAPPα, which is a proteolytic fragment of APP by α-secretases. In addition, 3’-O-acetyl-24-epi-7,8-didehydrocimigenol-3-O-β-D-xylopryranoside decreased the protein level of β-secretases, but the protein levels ofA disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM) family, especially ADAM10 and ADAM17, are increased. Thus, 3’-O-acetyl-24-epi-7,8-didehydrocimigenol-3-O-β-D-xylopryranoside could be useful in the development of AD treatment in the aspect of amyloid pathology.

Extracellular beta amyloid (Aβ) plaques are the neuropathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Accordingly, reducing Aβ levels is considered a promising strategy for AD prevention. 3’-O-acetyl-24-epi-7,8-didehydrocimigenol-3-O-β-D-xylopryranoside significantly decreased the Aβ production and this effect was accompanied with reduced sAPPβ production known as a soluble ectodomain APP fragment through β-secretases in HeLa cells overexpressing amyloid precursor proteins (APPs). This compound also increased the level of sAPPα, which is a proteolytic fragment of APP by α-secretases. In addition, 3’-O-acetyl-24-epi-7,8-didehydrocimigenol-3-O-β-D-xylopryranoside decreased the protein level of β-secretases, but the protein levels ofA disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM) family, especially ADAM10 and ADAM17, are increased. Thus, 3’-O-acetyl-24-epi-7,8-didehydrocimigenol-3-O-β-D-xylopryranoside could be useful in the development of AD treatment in the aspect of amyloid pathology.

BACKGROUND: The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II scoring system and the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scoring system are widely used for critically ill patients. We evaluated whether APACHE II score and SOFA score predict the outcome for trauma patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed trauma patients admitted to the ICU in a single trauma center between January 2014 and December 2015. The APACHE II score was figured out based on the data acquired from the first 24 hours of admission; the SOFA score was evaluated based on the first 3 days in the ICU. A total of 241 patients were available for analysis. Injury Severity score, APACHE II score, and SOFA score were evaluated. RESULTS: The overall survival rate was 83.4%. The non-survival group had a significantly high APACHE II score (24.1 ± 8.1 vs. 12.3 ± 7.2, P < 0.001) and SOFA score (7.7 ± 1.7 vs. 4.3 ± 1.9, P < 0.001) at admission. SOFA score had the highest areas under the curve (0.904). During the first 3 days, SOFA score remained high in the non-survival group. In the non-survival group, cardiovascular system, neurological system, renal system, and coagulation system scores were significantly higher. CONCLUSIONS: In ICU trauma patients, both SOFA and APACHE II scores were good predictors of outcome, with the SOFA score being the most effective. In trauma ICU patients, the trauma scoring system should be complemented, recognizing that multi-organ failure is an important factor for mortality.
APACHE ; Cardiovascular System ; Complement System Proteins ; Critical Care ; Critical Illness ; Humans ; Injury Severity Score ; Intensive Care Units ; Mortality ; Multiple Trauma ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Trauma Centers

Behcet's disease is a multisystemic, chronic relapsing inflammatory disease characterized by vasculitides, mucocutaneous lesions, thrombophlebitis, arthritis. Among them, the ocular involvement is usual (50~70%) and the most serious morbidity is blindness (20~25% of those of affected). Immunosuppressive treatment is currently the main therapy in chronic relapsing uveitis, but many patients experience recurrent sight-threatening uveitis. T lymphocytes play an important role in the pathogenesis of uveitis by releasing cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha. There are some reports that the anti-TNFalpha treatment is effective in refractory Behcet's uveitis, but it has not been reported in Korea. We report a case of refractory uveitis in Behcet's disease which is improved after anti-TNFalpha therapy.
Arthritis ; Blindness ; Cytokines ; Humans ; Korea ; T-Lymphocytes ; Thrombophlebitis ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Uveitis* ; Vasculitis ; Infliximab

Granular cell tumor is a rare disease, and it is even rarer in the male breast. Although it is typically a benign tumor, due to its features and image findings, it can be easily misdiagnosed and managed as a malignant tumor. Therefore, the extent of the surgery can inappropriately be expanded. To avoid misdiagnosis and overtreatment, surgeons must perform a careful evaluation. We describe a case of a granular cell tumor of the male breast treated with mastectomy.

Purpose: Renal tumors account for approximately 7% of all childhood cancers. These include Wilms tumor (WT), clear cell sarcoma of the kidney (CCSK), malignant rhabdoid tumor of the kidney (MRTK), renal cell carcinoma (RCC), congenital mesoblastic nephroma (CMN) and other rare tumors. We investigated the epidemiology of pediatric renal tumors in Korea. Materials and Methods: From January 2001 to December 2015, data of pediatric patients (0–18 years) newly-diagnosed with renal tumors at 26 hospitals were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Among 439 patients (male, 240), the most common tumor was WT (n=342, 77.9%), followed by RCC (n=36, 8.2%), CCSK (n=24, 5.5%), MRTK (n=16, 3.6%), CMN (n=12, 2.7%), and others (n=9, 2.1%). Median age at diagnosis was 27.1 months (range 0-225.5) and median follow-up duration was 88.5 months (range 0-211.6). Overall, 32 patients died, of whom 17, 11, 1, and 3 died of relapse, progressive disease, second malignant neoplasm, and treatment-related mortality. Five-year overall survival and event free survival were 97.2% and 84.8% in WT, 90.6% and 82.1% in RCC, 81.1% and 63.6% in CCSK, 60.3% and 56.2% in MRTK, and 100% and 91.7% in CMN, respectively (p < 0.001). Conclusion The pediatric renal tumor types in Korea are similar to those previously reported in other countries. WT accounted for a large proportion and survival was excellent. Non-Wilms renal tumors included a variety of tumors and showed inferior outcome, especially MRTK. Further efforts are necessary to optimize the treatment and analyze the genetic characteristics of pediatric renal tumors in Korea.