PURPOSE: This study was conducted to analyze industrial workers' stresses from physical symptoms, PWI, JCQ and tasks in classification of Sasang constitutions. METHOD: Data were collected from industrial workers in J Province from May 2003 to June 2003. Questionnaires were distributed and collected on the day of their physical examination. Collected data were analysed through chi2-test. RESULT: Health-related characteristics showed that most of smokers and drinkers were Taeumins and this result was statistically significant. Physical symptoms related to constitutions indicated that GI and neurologic symptoms are significantly more frequent in Soeumin. The percentage of subjects with moderate risk was high in order of Soyangin, Taeumin and Soeumin while the percentage of subjects with high risk was high in order of Soeumin, Taeumin and Soyangin. CONCLUSION: Through this study, Lee Jae Ma's theory was be confirmed compatible with disease characteristics. However, research with more various subjects and variables needs to be made.
Classification ; Constitution and Bylaws* ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Physical Examination ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by selective autoimmune- mediated destruction of pancreatic islet beta- cells leading gradually to absolute insulin deficiency. T1D is under polygenic control. The HLA complex attributes 50% of the genetic risk for T1D while as many as 20 genes influence susceptibility to T1D. The autoimmune beta-cell destruction could be triggered by environmental factors. While the exact trigger of anti-islet autoimmunity remains elusive, it can lead to an imbalance between regulatory T cells and autoimmune effector T cells. During the initiation of insulitis, emerging evidences suggest that the infiltrating macrophages via toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) activation lead to induction and amplification of insulitis. Following the priming of diabetogenic T-cells, autoreactive T effector cells destroy the beta cells by direct contact- dependent cytolysis or by soluble mediators secreted from macrophages or CD4 T effector cells. The hyperglycemia occurs late in its course after 80% of the beta cells have been destroyed. Although no current cure exists, refinement of genetic studies and islet autoantibodies has improved the ability to predict the risk of T1D and aid the establishment of rationally designed preventive therapies. Other strategies involve beta-cell replacement by islet transplantation. Extensive and long-term research on the efficacy of islet transplantation and preservation of beta-cell function is keenly needed.
Apoptosis ; Autoantibodies ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Autoimmunity ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 ; Hyperglycemia ; Insulin ; Islets of Langerhans ; Islets of Langerhans Transplantation ; Macrophages ; T-Lymphocytes ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; Toll-Like Receptor 2

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by selective autoimmune- mediated destruction of pancreatic islet beta- cells leading gradually to absolute insulin deficiency. T1D is under polygenic control. The HLA complex attributes 50% of the genetic risk for T1D while as many as 20 genes influence susceptibility to T1D. The autoimmune beta-cell destruction could be triggered by environmental factors. While the exact trigger of anti-islet autoimmunity remains elusive, it can lead to an imbalance between regulatory T cells and autoimmune effector T cells. During the initiation of insulitis, emerging evidences suggest that the infiltrating macrophages via toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) activation lead to induction and amplification of insulitis. Following the priming of diabetogenic T-cells, autoreactive T effector cells destroy the beta cells by direct contact- dependent cytolysis or by soluble mediators secreted from macrophages or CD4 T effector cells. The hyperglycemia occurs late in its course after 80% of the beta cells have been destroyed. Although no current cure exists, refinement of genetic studies and islet autoantibodies has improved the ability to predict the risk of T1D and aid the establishment of rationally designed preventive therapies. Other strategies involve beta-cell replacement by islet transplantation. Extensive and long-term research on the efficacy of islet transplantation and preservation of beta-cell function is keenly needed.
Apoptosis ; Autoantibodies ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Autoimmunity ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 ; Hyperglycemia ; Insulin ; Islets of Langerhans ; Islets of Langerhans Transplantation ; Macrophages ; T-Lymphocytes ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; Toll-Like Receptor 2

No abstract available.
Pigmentation*

No abstract available.
Pigmentation*

Ticlopidine, a widely used antiplatelet agent, has been rarely reported to cause thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). To the best of our knowledge, its occurrence has never before been reported in Korea. A 69 years old female patient suffered from an acute ischemic stroke. Ticlopidine 250mg bid was started and she followed an uneventful clin-ical course. The platelet count was normal on the 1st and the 12th day of ticlopidine administration. Around the 31st day, at home, she developed purpura, dyspnea and a stuporous mental status. Under the diagnosis of TTP, a plasma exchange was performed and her condition eventually returned to the baseline status. Ticlopidine induced TTP can developed abruptly despite close monitoring of platelet count, as illustrated by this case. Physicians prescribing ticlopi-dine should be aware of this potentially dangerous complication.
Aged ; Diagnosis ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Plasma Exchange ; Platelet Count ; Purpura ; Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic* ; Stroke ; Stupor ; Ticlopidine*

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the Quality of Life in LifeThreatening Illness - Family Carer Version 3 (QOLLTI-F v3) among Korean family caregivers of patients with terminal cancers. Methods: A total of 198 family caregivers of terminal cancer patients were investigated using the Korean version of QOLLTI-F v3. Its psychometric properties were examined in terms of factor structure, convergent validity, discriminant validity, criterion validity and internal consistency. Results: The convergent validity of the Korean version of QOLLTI-F v3 showed that the standardized regression weights for each item were above .50 except for two out of 16 items, the average variance extracted was above .50 for four out of five factors, and the critical ratio ranged from .50 to .85. The discriminant validity of the items across all factors was confirmed. The value for Cronbach’s α of 16 items was .84. Conclusion The Korean version of the QOLLTI-F v3 is a reliable instrument with acceptable convergent and high discriminant validity for measuring the quality of life of families of people with life-threatening illnesses, including families of people with terminal cancers.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Drug abuse is one of the most serious problems among the Korean adolescents today and has been associated with delinquent behavior in adolescents. The number of adolescents who abuse drugs is increasing yearly. Solutions to the problem, however, have not been well developed. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a drug use prevention program which was developed by researchers. The program was a modified DARE(Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program for Korean adolescents. MEHTODS: This study used an experimental, one-group pretest-posttest design with a convenience sample of 122 middle school students who were at one middle school located in Seoul. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire where 'knowledge and attitude about drug use', 'social skill', and 'self-esteem' were measured. The program had 12 sessions to improve knowledge and attitudes towards drugs, decision making skills, social resistance skills, management of stress and self-esteem of students. Teaching strategies for each session were varied : lectures, group discussion, role-playing, question-and-answer sessions and audiovisual materials. Paired t-test was used to analyze the differences between the pre- and post-test scores on knowledge of and attitudes towards drug use, social skills, and self-esteem. RESULTS: There were significant differences in knowledge and attitudes about drug use between pretest and post-test(p<.05), but no significant differences in social skill and self-esteem(p>.05). CONCLUSION: Our results showed that the drug use prevention program was not effective in promoting social-skill and self-esteem of Korean adolescents. These findings might be due to the respondents being in the period of early adolescence(puberty) and not being good at group discussion. So, further study is needed to develop a drug use prevention program appropriate to students 9 and 10 years old, and to encourage small group discussion.
Adolescent* ; Child ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Decision Making ; Humans ; Lectures ; Seoul ; Street Drugs ; Substance-Related Disorders

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Drug abuse is one of the most serious problems among the Korean adolescents today and has been associated with delinquent behavior in adolescents. The number of adolescents who abuse drugs is increasing yearly. Solutions to the problem, however, have not been well developed. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a drug use prevention program which was developed by researchers. The program was a modified DARE(Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program for Korean adolescents. MEHTODS: This study used an experimental, one-group pretest-posttest design with a convenience sample of 122 middle school students who were at one middle school located in Seoul. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire where 'knowledge and attitude about drug use', 'social skill', and 'self-esteem' were measured. The program had 12 sessions to improve knowledge and attitudes towards drugs, decision making skills, social resistance skills, management of stress and self-esteem of students. Teaching strategies for each session were varied : lectures, group discussion, role-playing, question-and-answer sessions and audiovisual materials. Paired t-test was used to analyze the differences between the pre- and post-test scores on knowledge of and attitudes towards drug use, social skills, and self-esteem. RESULTS: There were significant differences in knowledge and attitudes about drug use between pretest and post-test(p<.05), but no significant differences in social skill and self-esteem(p>.05). CONCLUSION: Our results showed that the drug use prevention program was not effective in promoting social-skill and self-esteem of Korean adolescents. These findings might be due to the respondents being in the period of early adolescence(puberty) and not being good at group discussion. So, further study is needed to develop a drug use prevention program appropriate to students 9 and 10 years old, and to encourage small group discussion.
Adolescent* ; Child ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Decision Making ; Humans ; Lectures ; Seoul ; Street Drugs ; Substance-Related Disorders

Purpose: To compare the corneal epithelial wound healing effects of RCI001, Solcoseryl, and polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) in a rat alkali burn model. Methods: In 40 male Sprague-Dawley rats, we induced alkali burn using filter paper soaked in 0.2N sodium hydroxide. The rats were then treated with topical 0.5% RCI001, 1.0% RCI001, Solcoseryl, or PDRN twice a day for 2 weeks. Corneal epithelial integrity and epithelial healing rate were measured at day 0, 3, 5, 7, 10, and 14. Histologic and immunohistochemistry findings were also assessed. Results: Both the 0.5% and 1.0% RCI001 groups showed significantly more epithelial healing compared to the control group at day 5, 7, 10, and 14 (each p < 0.05). No statistical difference was found between the 0.5% and 1.0% RCI001 groups. Neither the Solcoseryl nor the PDRN groups showed a significant difference from the control. RCI001 treatment resulted in significantly reduced stromal edema, and a trend towards less inflammatory cell infiltration. Conclusions Topical application of RCI001 showed enhanced corneal epithelial wound healing in the murine corneal alkali burn model, presumably by suppressing inflammation. Meanwhile, Solcoseryl and PDRN did not show sufficient therapeutic effects compared to RCI001.