Many of early findings regarding intestinal stem cells (ISCs) and their niche in the human intestine have relied on colorectal cancer cell lines and labor-intensive and time-consuming mouse models. However, these models cannot accurately recapitulate the physiologically relevant aspects of human ISCs. In this study, we demonstrate a reliable and robust culture method for 3D expanding intestinal spheroids (InSexp ) mainly comprising ISCs and progenitors, which can be derived from 3D human intestinal organoids (HIOs). We did functional chararcterization of InSexp derived from 3D HIOs, differentiated from human pluripotent stem cells, and optimization culture methods. Our results indicate that InSexp can be rapidly expanded and easily passaged, and show enhanced growth rates via WNT pathway activation. InSexp are capable of exponential cell expansion and cryopreservation. Furthermore, in vitro-matured HIO-derived InSexp proliferate faster than immature HIO-derived InSexp with preservation of the parental HIO characteristics. These findings may facilitate the development of scalable culture systems for the long-term maintenance of human ISCs and provide an alternative platform for studying ISC biology.

The distribution and morphology of cholecystokinin-8 (CCK 8)-, neuropeptide Y (NPY)-, Substance P (SP)- and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-immunoreactivity were examined in the cat superior colliculus (SC) by means of immunohistochemistry. Judging from this study, some neuropeptides-IR neurons may be present in the superficial layers of the sc. And these neurons and neuropeptides may be involved in the functions of the superficial layers.
Animals ; Brain* ; Cats* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Neurons* ; Neuropeptide Y ; Neuropeptides ; Substance P ; Superior Colliculi* ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant*

BACKGROUND: The usage of appropriate disinfectants is essential for infection control in a hospital. Inadequate use of disinfectants is the cause of human or environmental toxicity and is a waste of cost. The objective of this study was to describe the status of the usage of disinfectants in Korean hospitals. METHOD: One hundred and eighty three hospitals of over 300 beds were investigated by a questionnaire distributed by mall. Data collection was done on November 1999. The questionnaire was made by the Association of Infection Control Nurses in Korea, based on references and protocols of the Korean Society of Nosocomial Infection Control. Numerical and percentage data were analyzed by SPSS. RESULTS: The collection rate of the questionnaire was 43.7% (80/300). Thirty five hospitals (46.7%) had an official process in selecting disinfectants in their hospitals. Regarding skin antiseptics, 10% povidone iodine and 70% alcohol were commonly used in skin preparation for intravenous catheterization or pre-operative skin disinfection, For disinfection of mucosal membranes such as mouth and periurethral area, 3% boric acid solution or 3% H202 were used. Most of the hospitals decontaminated contaminated medical instruments manually with dodecyl diamino ethyl glycine (20.8%). glutaraldehyde (15.6%). quaternary ammonium compounds (13.8%), virkon (12.3%) and sodium hypochlorites (11.7%). Glutaraldehyde and virkon were frequently used for disinfection of endoscopes. Sodium hypochlorites (48.9%) and quaternary ammonium compounds (19.8%) were the most commonly used environmental disinfectants. Some noticeable problems in disinfectants were as follows. First, for mouth care, many hospitals (41.7%) over-used boric acid, which has cumulative toxicity for humans. Second, many hospitals had an incorrect protocol of disinfecting endoscopes. Third, for environmental decontamination and instrument cleaning, some hospitals used high level disinfectants such as glutaraldehyde, which is too costly and provides unnecessary safety problems. Fourth, after patient discharge, many hospitals did not use disinfectants at all. Considering the specific Korean medical environment of high incidence of multi-drug resistant microorganisms, use of disinfectants for discharged environments may be warranted. CONCLUSION: This study included only hospitals of over 300 beds, which has a limitation in representing the status of disinfectants usage in a country. However, significant problems from misunderstanding the basic principles of disinfectants and misusages of disinfectants were observed in this investigation. These observations will provide useful information for designing a guideline for the appropriate uses and for efficient education of disinfectants, and also for planning a national control program for proper disinfectants usage in this country.
Anti-Infective Agents, Local ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Cross Infection ; Data Collection ; Decontamination ; Disinfectants* ; Disinfection ; Education ; Endoscopes ; Glutaral ; Glycine ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infection Control ; Korea* ; Membranes ; Mouth ; Patient Discharge ; Povidone-Iodine ; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds ; Skin ; Sodium ; Surveys and Questionnaires

An increase in the dose of chemotherapy enhances the response of many experimental and clinical cancers, but the extent of chemotherapy dose escalation and repeated use is often limited by myelosuppression. The side effects of chemotherapy including bleeding and infection due to myelosuppression have resulted in delayed therapy and a reduction in the therapeutic dose, therefore it is necessary to overcome myelosuppression especially leukopenia in patients with gynecologic malignancies who recieved chemotherapy. This study is undertaken to investigate the clinical effects of rhG-CSF(recombinant human Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor) in 29 patients with gynecologic malignancy who recieved chemotherapy. It was given at a dose of 100 microgram bid/day subcutaneously until significantly increase of leukocyte count in leukopenic patient. The results showed, the rhG-CSF has significantly increased the number and function of leukocyte. The use of rhG-CSF was effective and useful to treat chemotherapy induced leukopenia and to accelerate the recovery from this complications.
Drug Therapy* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans* ; Leukocyte Count ; Leukocytes ; Leukopenia*

SUMMARY: The present study was carried out to evaluate whether the coculture system of human embryos with Vero cells can improve the quality of embryo or overcome the repetitive implantation failures in order to obtain pregnancy. From January to December 1996, a total 202 cases which patients with the problems of repetitive implantation failures (group I) or those with the poor embryonic quality in their previous cycles (group II) was analysed. The quality of cocultured embryo, pregnancy, on-going and implantation rates between coculture and control groups were compared. Of 93 cases in group I, coculture was performed in 34 cases and conventional IVF for the rest. Of 109 cases in group II, 36 for coculture and 73 for conventional IVF. In group I, pregnancy, on-going and implantation rates in coculture group (14/34 (41.2%), 9/34 (26.5%), 16/81 (19.8%), respectively) were higher than those of control (11/59 (18.6%), 8/59 (13.6%), 12/152 (7.9%), respectively). There is significance in the pregnancy and implantation rates (p=0.028 and p=0.015). In group II, pregnancy, on-going and implantation rates in coculture group (8/36 (22.2%), 5/36 (13.9%), 8/87 (9.2%), respectively) were higher than those of control (5/73 (6.8%), 3/73 (4.1%), 3/158 (1.9%), respectively). Like the result of group 1, there is significance in the pregnancy and implantation rates (p=0.028 and p=0.022). Coculture system with Vero cells works well in the groups of the two indications. Although the case of 3 day-coculture was small as 15 cases in group II, 3 day-coculture improved pregnancy rate (4/15 (26.7%)). Therefore, 3 day-coculture with assisted hatching is recommended to the patients with poor embryonic quality. In conclusion, coculture system with Vero cells can be suggested as an effective method which improves pregnancy rate in those who have repetitive implantation failures or whose embryonic quality was poor in their previous cycles.
Coculture Techniques* ; Embryonic Structures ; Humans ; Humans* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Prognosis* ; Vero Cells

Purpose: We analyzed the clinical factors and surgical outcomes of patients with intermittent exotropia exhibiting high hyperopia and emmetropia. Methods: Patients with intermittent exotropia who underwent strabismus surgery and were followed-up for at least one year between April 1999 and January 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into two groups according to their preoperative spherical equivalent refractive error (SERE): a high hyperopia group (≥+4.00 diopters [D], group 1) and an emmetropia group (+0.50 to -0.50 D, group 2). The surgical outcomes of the groups were compared. Results: We enrolled 74 patients, of whom 24 and 50 were included in groups 1 and 2, respectively. In group 1, the mean SERE was +5.00 D (+4.00 to +8.00 D) in the more affected eye and +2.81 D (+0.00 to +7.25 D) in the better eye. In group 1, the changes in SERE at one year after surgery were as follows: +1.24 D in the worse eye and +0.90 D in the better eye (both, p < 0.001). The mean exodeviation at one day postoperatively for distance and near were -1.25 prism diopters (PD) and 0.21 PD, respectively, in group 1, and -4.62 PD and -2.16 PD in group 2. Thus, group 1 exhibited less exodeviation in terms of both distance and near than did group 2 on day one postoperatively. However, no significant group difference was evident at one year postoperatively. Conclusions The surgical outcomes of intermittent exotropia patients with high hyperopia did not differ from those of patients with emmetropia.

Purpose: This qualitative study was to understand the awareness of epidemiological investigation tasks for nurses who were in charge of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemiological investigations. Methods: Before data collection, written consent was obtained from 13 participants, and the data were then collected from September 1 to December 31, 2021. Individual interviews were conducted and recorded by video interview using Zoom, and data were transcribed verbatim. Four themes were derived by using the qualitative thematic analysis method. Results: The participants perceived that epidemiological investigations were burdensome but that the field work was important, and that expertise and collaboration were required. The participants started work without preparation due to the explosive increase in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, and they recognized work conflicts, unstable employment, and exhaustion as obstacles to their work performance. On the other hand, the participants took pride in contributing to the national epidemiological investigation and control and felt a sense of responsibility as nursing professionals. Finally, participants mentioned that the training of infectious disease practitioner was important for work improvement. Conclusion Further research is needed on the development of standardized manuals for the training of nursing personnel as infectious disease specialists through the job analysis of epidemiological investigators.

Tubular apocrine adenoma (TAA) is a very rare sweat gland tumor. TAA and syringocystadenoma papilliferum (SCAP) rarely develop together in a nevus sebaceus (NS). Herein, we report on a 40-year-old Korean woman with TAA associated with SCAP that developed in a NS located on the scalp.
Adenoma ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Nevus ; Scalp ; Sweat Glands