Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the suffering experienced by the primary caregiver of people with mental disabilities in community dwellings to explain the fundamental structure thereof. Methods: The Giorgi’s phenomenological research methodology was used. Three male subjects and five female subjects participated in this study. The data were collected September-December, 2019 through in-depth individual interviews, and analysis based on the Giorgi’s method. Results: Four clusters of themes were identified. They are: “Mental disability came as a burden of pain”, “Painful time from caring due to being mentally recoiled and being hurtful”, “My life is broken by illness”, and “Hope discovered in the midst of pain”. Conclusion The findings provide deeper understanding and insight into the suffering experienced by primary caregivers for people with mental disabilities in community dwellings. A comprehensive program encompassing psychological and social aspects must be developed to facilitate resolving the problem of the suffering experienced by the primary caregiver for people with mental disabilities.

OBJECTIVES: Anhedonia, defined as an inability to experience pleasure, has been considered to be a core feature of schizophrenia and depression. The purpose of the present study was to compare the specific characteristics of anhedonia in patients with the two illnesses by examining hedonic capacity during phased hedonic experience. METHODS: Hedonic rating tasks, using the film clips of physical and social hedonic stimuli and neutral stimuli, were performed by 29 patients with schizophrenia, 20 patients with depression, and 29 normal controls. Each task consisted of 'preview phase' with insufficient emotional information, and a subsequent 'theme phase' with sufficient emotional information. RESULTS: In normal controls, the mean hedonic score was increased in the theme phase compared with the preview phase, suggesting an appropriate augmentation of the hedonic response. In patients with schizophrenia, hedonic scores in the preview phase were comparable with those in normal controls, but showed deficient augmentation in the theme phase. In patients with depressive disorder, the range of increments in scores between the preview and theme phases was normal, but the scores themselves were lower in both phases than in the other two groups. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that patients with schizophrenia show a deficient augmentation of the hedonic response, whereas patients with depressive disorder have a pervasive lack of hedonic capacity.
Anhedonia ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder ; Humans ; Pleasure ; Schizophrenia

In spite of frequent usage of primary human foreskin keratinocytes (HFKs) in the study of skin biology, senescence-induced blockage of in vitro proliferation has been a big hurdle for their effective utilization. In order to overcome this passage limitation, we first isolated ten HFK lines from circumcision patients and successfully immortalized four of them via a retroviral transduction of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) E6 and E7 oncogenes. We confirmed expression of a keratinocyte marker protein, keratin 14 and two viral oncoproteins in these immortalized HFKs. We also observed their robust responsiveness to various exogenous stimuli, which was evidenced by increased mRNA expression of epithelial differentiation markers and pro-inflammatory genes in response to three reactive chemicals. In addition, their applicability to cytotoxicity assessment turned out to be comparable to that of HaCaT cells. Finally, we confirmed their differentiation capacity by construction of well-stratified three dimensional skin cultures. These newly established immortalized HFKs will be valuable tools not only for generation of in vitro skin disease models but also for prediction of potential toxicities of various cosmetic chemicals.
Antigens, Differentiation ; Biology ; Foreskin* ; Humans* ; In Vitro Techniques ; Keratin-14 ; Keratinocytes* ; Oncogene Proteins ; Oncogenes ; RNA, Messenger ; Skin Diseases ; Skin* ; Zidovudine

We aimed to investigate the role of bone scintigraphy (BS) in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as a supplement to the 2010 American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) criteria. A total of 156 patients who underwent BS with screening laboratory to confirm RA were enrolled. We divided them into two groups according to the presence of arthritis upon the first physical examination, and evaluated the diagnostic validity of BS as an independent (BS only) or assistant diagnostic tool using the 2010 criteria (BS-assisted). Seventy-five patients had active arthritis (Group I), while the remaining 81 patients did not (Group II). Among them, 56 patients in group I and 5 patients in group II were finally classified as RA. In the group I patients who were eligible for application of the 2010 criteria, the sensitivity of the BS only and BS-assisted diagnosis was not superior to that of the 2010 criteria. However, BS-assisted diagnosis showed high positive prediction values in group I patients with 2010 criteria score < 6 and group II patients. Therefore, BS is still helpful to detect RA even after the introduction of the 2010 criteria, especially among patients who do not satisfy the 2010 criteria as well as those who are ineligible for the 2010 criteria due to dubitable arthritis at clinical presentation.
Aged ; Area Under Curve ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/classification/*diagnosis/radionuclide imaging ; Demography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; ROC Curve ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Severity of Illness Index ; Technetium/chemistry/diagnostic use ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

We aimed to investigate the significance of microalbuminuria and its relationship with subclinical atherosclerosis in nonhypertensive and nondiabetic patients, by using coronary artery computed tomography (CT). A total of 1,318 nonhypertensive and nondiabetic subjects who had taken coronary artery CT and measured spot urine albumin to creatinine ratio (UACR) were evaluated. The atherosclerotic changes of coronary arteries were greater in subjects with microalbuminuria, reflected by coronary artery calcium score (CACS) and significant coronary artery stenosis (CACS > or = 100 in 15.3% vs 7.6% and stenosis > or = 50% in 11.5% vs 4.9% of patients with vs without microalbuminuria, P = 0.008 and P = 0.011, respectively). Among various parameters that are known as a risk factor or possible biomarkers of coronary artery disease, presence of microalbuminuria, age and Framingham risk score were significantly related to coronary artery stenosis. Among them the presence of microalbuminuria showed stronger correlation than others to the coronary artery stenosis detected by CT, even after adjusting confounding factors (OR 3.397, 95% confidence interval 1.138 to 10.140, P = 0.028). The presence of microalbuminuria by UACR was significantly associated with presence of coronary artery stenosis > or = 50% in asymptomatic, nonhypertensive and nondiabetic general population. Our study suggests that the presence of microalbuminuria may imply subclinical coronary artery disease, even in asymptomatic population.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Albuminuria/*complications ; Blood Pressure ; Calcium/analysis ; Coronary Artery Disease/complications/*radiography ; Coronary Stenosis/complications ; Coronary Vessels/chemistry ; Creatinine/urine ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease involving the synovial membrane of peripheral joints. T cells specific for self antigens may play a critical role. Identification of T cell receptors (TCR) of such specific T cell clones is very important for treatment, prevention and identification of relevant autoantigens. To identify specific T cells, TCR V beta family repertoire and the clonal expansion of T cells were analyzed in this study. The percentage of V beta 5+ or V beta 8+ cells in the synovial fluid mononuclear cells (SFMCs) was similar to that in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). However, the percentage of DR+ T cells in the SFMCs was higher (p< 0.01). Analyzing the clonality of T cells in 8 V beta families (V beta 1, V beta 5, V beta 8, V beta 14, V beta 16, V beta 17, V beta 18, V beta 20), clonal expansions in CD8+ T cells from the SFMCs were found more frequently than in the PBMCs. The patterns of clonal expansions were discrepant between the SFMCs and the PBMCs even in the same patient, which suggests several inflamed tissue specific T cell clonal expansions in the SFMCs. These T cell clones might be activated by autoantigens which are not identified yet and responsible for the RA pathogenesis.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid/*metabolism/pathology ; Base Sequence ; Blood Cells/*metabolism ; Clone Cells ; Female ; Human ; Male ; Molecular Probes ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/genetics/*metabolism ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Synovial Fluid/cytology/*metabolism ; T-Lymphocytes/*metabolism

Objective: This study analyzed the characteristics and accident patterns of electric scooter accidents using in-depth survey data from 23 hospital emergency rooms (ER) in Korea. The characteristics of accident types were examined depending on alcohol consumption. Methods: An in-depth investigation was conducted on ER patients involved in electric scooter accidents between 2014 and 2021. The research focused on variables such as age, time of ER visit, alcohol use, emergency room discharge outcome, injury severity, and areas of injury. Results: One thousand nine hundred and sixty-two electric scooter injuries were examined. The riders belonged predominantly to the 20-39 years age group (60.40%), and most were males (69.67%). Visits to the ER peaked between 6 pm and 12 am (36.29%). Alcohol was implicated in 24.52% of the accidents. Head and neck injuries occurred commonly (60.70%). The number of accidents increased from 4 to 843. Moreover, alcohol-related incidents surged annually, except during 2014-2015. The alcohol use group comprised more males than the non-alcohol use group (79.42% vs. 66.51%). Accidents occurred more commonly in the 20-39 years age group (76.92% vs. 55.03%), and a higher proportion of emergency room visits occurred between 0 am and 6 am (58.84% vs. 39.43%). Cases with severe Excess Mortality Ratio-adjusted Injury Severity Scores were more frequent (29.29% vs. 12.97%), and head and neck injuries were more common (83.78% vs. 53.21%). Conclusion The regulations for licensing, alcohol use, and helmet compliance should be enforced to reduce the incidence of alcohol-related electric scooter accidents in the younger population.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to understand the employment experiences of female Mongolian migrant workers in Korea and identify their meanings. Methods: Data were collected through individual in-depth interviews with eight such women using the phenomenological Colaizzi qualitative research approach. Results: Six categories were drawn from the research: “Facing a dilemma when hitting the wall,” “Foreigners’ lives disrespected,” “Physically filled with wounds,” “Lonely, laborious, and sad,“ “Growing stronger and knowledgeable,” and “Happiness found in the workplace.” Conclusion The results of this study revealed the substantial meaning of the employment experience of female Mongolian migrant workers in Korea. The results of the study could provide basic data for offering such women various kinds of programs to support them psychologically and in their adjustment to their jobs. These programs would enhance their ability to adapt to both working and in Korea.

Objective: This study analyzed the characteristics and accident patterns of electric scooter accidents using in-depth survey data from 23 hospital emergency rooms (ER) in Korea. The characteristics of accident types were examined depending on alcohol consumption. Methods: An in-depth investigation was conducted on ER patients involved in electric scooter accidents between 2014 and 2021. The research focused on variables such as age, time of ER visit, alcohol use, emergency room discharge outcome, injury severity, and areas of injury. Results: One thousand nine hundred and sixty-two electric scooter injuries were examined. The riders belonged predominantly to the 20-39 years age group (60.40%), and most were males (69.67%). Visits to the ER peaked between 6 pm and 12 am (36.29%). Alcohol was implicated in 24.52% of the accidents. Head and neck injuries occurred commonly (60.70%). The number of accidents increased from 4 to 843. Moreover, alcohol-related incidents surged annually, except during 2014-2015. The alcohol use group comprised more males than the non-alcohol use group (79.42% vs. 66.51%). Accidents occurred more commonly in the 20-39 years age group (76.92% vs. 55.03%), and a higher proportion of emergency room visits occurred between 0 am and 6 am (58.84% vs. 39.43%). Cases with severe Excess Mortality Ratio-adjusted Injury Severity Scores were more frequent (29.29% vs. 12.97%), and head and neck injuries were more common (83.78% vs. 53.21%). Conclusion The regulations for licensing, alcohol use, and helmet compliance should be enforced to reduce the incidence of alcohol-related electric scooter accidents in the younger population.

Objective: This study analyzed the characteristics and accident patterns of electric scooter accidents using in-depth survey data from 23 hospital emergency rooms (ER) in Korea. The characteristics of accident types were examined depending on alcohol consumption. Methods: An in-depth investigation was conducted on ER patients involved in electric scooter accidents between 2014 and 2021. The research focused on variables such as age, time of ER visit, alcohol use, emergency room discharge outcome, injury severity, and areas of injury. Results: One thousand nine hundred and sixty-two electric scooter injuries were examined. The riders belonged predominantly to the 20-39 years age group (60.40%), and most were males (69.67%). Visits to the ER peaked between 6 pm and 12 am (36.29%). Alcohol was implicated in 24.52% of the accidents. Head and neck injuries occurred commonly (60.70%). The number of accidents increased from 4 to 843. Moreover, alcohol-related incidents surged annually, except during 2014-2015. The alcohol use group comprised more males than the non-alcohol use group (79.42% vs. 66.51%). Accidents occurred more commonly in the 20-39 years age group (76.92% vs. 55.03%), and a higher proportion of emergency room visits occurred between 0 am and 6 am (58.84% vs. 39.43%). Cases with severe Excess Mortality Ratio-adjusted Injury Severity Scores were more frequent (29.29% vs. 12.97%), and head and neck injuries were more common (83.78% vs. 53.21%). Conclusion The regulations for licensing, alcohol use, and helmet compliance should be enforced to reduce the incidence of alcohol-related electric scooter accidents in the younger population.