No abstract available.
Polychondritis, Relapsing*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the essential structure of the lived experience of working mothers' parenting burden in Korea. METHODS: Eight working mothers with young children were interviewed. The Colaizzi analysis of phenomenological research was applied. RESULTS: Seven theme clusters were extracted: a life with constant conflict, sense of guilt, feeling anxious because of lack of information about education for their children, social stigma as a deficient mother, family relationship becoming distant, a life being exhausted, day to day struggle. CONCLUSION: These results provide an opportunity to have a better understanding of the experiences of working mothers related to parenting their young children. It would also serve as a medium for the formulation of appropriate nursing intervention relevant to burdens of parenthood.
Child ; Family Relations ; Guilt ; Humans ; Korea ; Mothers ; Parenting ; Parents ; Social Stigma

The genetic status of cagA, vacA subtype, iceA1, and babA, and the relationship to gastroduodenal diseases were assessed in Helicobacter pylori isolates in Korea. Seventy-six strains of H. pylori were isolated from the antrum and the corpus of 41 adult patients (22 with peptic ulcer and 19 with gastritis). The cagA, iceA1, and babA genes were assessed by polymerase chain reaction and the vacA subtypes were determined by reverse hybridization-line probe assay. The positive rates of 349-bp cagA, 208-bp cagA, iceA1, and babA genes were 97.4%, 96.1%, 84.2%, and 36.1%, respectively. The vacA s1a, s1b, s1c, and s2 variants were detected in 11.8%, 3.9%, 80.4%, and 1.3%, respectively. m1 (78.9%) is more prevalent than m2 (5.3%). The most common vacA genotype was s1c/m1 (61.9%), and 14 isolates (18.4%) contained mixed vacA genotypes from a single biopsy specimen. Twenty-one (60%) of 35 patients were infected with more than two strains of different cagA, iceA1, babA, and vacA genotypes. None of cagA, iceA1, babA, and vacA s1/m1 were associated with peptic ulcer. In conclusion, most H. pylori isolates in Korea carry cagA, iceA1, and vacA s1c/m1 genes, and reside with multiple strains. These genes do not correlate with the peptic ulcer in the Korean patients.
Adult ; Aged ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Helicobacter pylori/*classification/genetics/pathogenicity ; Human ; Male ; Middle Age ; Peptic Ulcer/*etiology/microbiology

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus epidermidis is the most common pathogen of chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis peritonitis. It has been believed that the activity of iron-uptake system (IUS) may play an important role in the growth of S. epidermidis in human peritoneal dialysate (HPD) solution, but there is no report using mutants with defective IUS. A streptonigrin-resistant S. epidermidis (SRSE) strain was isolated from S. epidermidis KCTC 1917 and functionally characterized. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Bacterial growth was monitored by measuring the optical densities of culture fluids obtained at appropriate intervals at a wavelength of 600 nm. CAS agar diffusion assay was used for the comparison of siderophore production, 6 M urea-gel electrophoresis for the comparison of the ability to capture iron from transferrin, and bioassay for the observation of the ability to utilize iron-siderophore complexes. RESULTS: The SRSE strain ineffectively utilized transferrin-bound iron for growth despite its ability to produce considerably larger amount of siderophores than its parental strain. The growth of the parental strain, but not the SRSE strain, was stimulated on transferrin-bound iron by its own siderophores each. The growth of the SRSE strain in the HPD solution was retarded compared to that of the parental strain. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the SRSE strain is defective in its ability to utilize the iron-siderophore complexes, rather than its ability to produce siderophores, and that the siderophore-mediated IUS plays an important role in the growth of S. epidermidis in HPD solution.
Agar ; Biological Assay ; Diffusion ; Electrophoresis ; Humans* ; Iron ; Parents ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Peritonitis ; Siderophores ; Staphylococcus epidermidis* ; Staphylococcus* ; Transferrin

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus epidermidis is the most common pathogen of chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis peritonitis. It has been believed that the activity of iron-uptake system (IUS) may play an important role in the growth of S. epidermidis in human peritoneal dialysate (HPD) solution, but there is no report using mutants with defective IUS. A streptonigrin-resistant S. epidermidis (SRSE) strain was isolated from S. epidermidis KCTC 1917 and functionally characterized. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Bacterial growth was monitored by measuring the optical densities of culture fluids obtained at appropriate intervals at a wavelength of 600 nm. CAS agar diffusion assay was used for the comparison of siderophore production, 6 M urea-gel electrophoresis for the comparison of the ability to capture iron from transferrin, and bioassay for the observation of the ability to utilize iron-siderophore complexes. RESULTS: The SRSE strain ineffectively utilized transferrin-bound iron for growth despite its ability to produce considerably larger amount of siderophores than its parental strain. The growth of the parental strain, but not the SRSE strain, was stimulated on transferrin-bound iron by its own siderophores each. The growth of the SRSE strain in the HPD solution was retarded compared to that of the parental strain. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the SRSE strain is defective in its ability to utilize the iron-siderophore complexes, rather than its ability to produce siderophores, and that the siderophore-mediated IUS plays an important role in the growth of S. epidermidis in HPD solution.
Agar ; Biological Assay ; Diffusion ; Electrophoresis ; Humans* ; Iron ; Parents ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Peritonitis ; Siderophores ; Staphylococcus epidermidis* ; Staphylococcus* ; Transferrin

PURPOSE: Previous clinical investigations of sinus floor augmentation have demonstrated repneumatization of grafted sinus. The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the height changes of sinus floor after grafting with deprotenized bovine bone mineral (DBBM) and beta tricalcium phosphate (TCP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 34 sinuses in 28 patients were augmented with 100% DBBM or 100% TCP through lateral approaches. Sinusgraft height was measured before, immediately after, and 6 months after bone graft with panoramic radiography. RESULT: After 6 months, the decreases of graft heights were 14.53% for DBBM group and 15.15% for TCP group. There was no statistically significant difference. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Long-term stability of sinus-graft height represents an important factor for implant success. After the uses of DBBM and TCP for maxillary sinus floor augmentations, acceptable graft height maintenances were observed.
Bone Transplantation ; Calcium Phosphates ; Dental Implants ; Floors and Floorcoverings ; Humans ; Maxillary Sinus ; Radiography, Panoramic ; Retrospective Studies ; Sinus Floor Augmentation ; Transplants

Animals ; Dinitrofluorobenzene ; Ear ; Electrons ; Erbium ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-1beta ; Laser Therapy ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Mice ; Skin ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

BACKGROUND/AIMS: It is well known that alcohol enhances the toxicity of CCl4. We tried to establish an alcoholic liver cirrhosis model by administration of alcohol and CCl4 to rats. We also wanted to know the hepatoprotective effect of low doses of lipopolysaccharide(LPS) in this animal model. METHODS: Of 20 female adult rats, 8 were ingested with alcohol ad libitum(group 1) Another 6 were ingested with 10% alcohol and 50% 1mL/kg CCl4 intragastrically by Sonde twice a week(group 2) The remaining 6 were ingested with 10% alcohol, CCl4, and 0.1mg/kg LPS intraperitoneally twice a week(group 3) The fibrosis was evaluated semiquantitatively on a scale of 0(none) to 3(cirrhosis). RESULTS: 1) After 10 weks, septal fibrosis or cirrhosis was produced in 9 out of 12 rats in groups 2 and 3 but there was no fibrotic change in group 1. 2) There was no significant difference in pathological grading between groups 2 and 3. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatic fibrosis or cirrhosis can be sufficiently induced by alcohol and repetitive CCl4 ingestion for 10 weeks. We can not prove the hepatoprotective effect of low dose LPS by semiquantitative evaluation of pathological grading.
Animals ; Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning/*complications ; English Abstract ; Ethanol/*toxicity ; Female ; Lipopolysaccharides/*administration & dosage ; Liver/pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic/pathology/*prevention & control ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease which may affect different organs and disclose various clinical manifestations. The clinical manifesations of central nervous system involvement in SLE are highly variable and range from mild cognitive dysfunction, movement disorder, headache, psychosis to life-threatening stroke and coma. Among neuropsychiaric disorders encountered in patients with SLE, cerebrovascular disease has relatively been rare complication. We experienced a case of subdural hematoma (SDH) occurring in a SLE patient which presented with headache. She was diagnosed as SDH by neuropsychiatric symptoms, brain CT, and brain MRI, and showed good response to medical treatment.
Autoimmune Diseases ; Brain ; Central Nervous System ; Coma ; Headache ; Hematoma, Subdural* ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Movement Disorders ; Psychotic Disorders ; Stroke

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Cholecystokinin (CCK), a hormone or neuropeptide, is secreted in response to intraluminal nutrients by enteroendocrine I-cells of the intestine and has important physiological actions related to appetite regulation and satiety. The stimulation on CCK secretion from the intestine is of potential relevance for body weight management. Naringenin (4',5,7-trihydroxyflavanone) and its glycoside naringin (naringenin 7-rhamnoglucoside) have been reported to have many biological functions. In the current study, we investigated the question of whether naringenin and naringin could stimulate CCK secretion and then examined the mechanisms involved in CCK release. MATERIALS/METHODS: STC-1 cells were used as a model of enteroendocrine cells. CCK release and changes in intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) were measured after incubation of cells with naringenin and naringin for 1 h. RESULTS: Naringenin caused significant (P < 0.05) stimulation of CCK secretion, but naringin did not. In addition, regarding the secretory mechanisms, naringenin-induced CCK secretion involved increases in [Ca2+]i, influx of extracellular Ca2+, at least in part, and activation of TRP channels, including TRPA1. CONCLUSION: Findings of this study suggest that naringenin could have a role in appetite regulation and satiety.
Appetite ; Appetite Regulation ; Body Weight ; Cholecystokinin* ; Enteroendocrine Cells ; Intestines ; Neuropeptides