Tumor necrosis factor-n (TNF - alpha) involved in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis and contribute to the degeneration of oligodendrocytes as well as neurons. TNF - alpha is produced by miocroglia and astrocytes, which also produce hormones and cytokines that influence its biological activity. Astrocytes, the major glial cells in the CNS, are capable of producing TNF - alpha at both the mRNA and protein levels in response to interleukine-1 (IL-1) or TNF - alpha. Two immunosuppressive cytokines, transforming growth factor - beta (TGF - beta) and IL-10, have been shown to influence glial cell function. TGF - beta can modulate the activity of glial cells by inhibiting interferon-gamma (IFN - gamma) induced expression of class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules on astrocytes and microglia. To explore the role of astrocytes in the production of TNF - alpha, astrocytes were pretreated with IL-10 or TGF - beta and then stimulated with IL-1p to determine their effects on TNF - alpha production. The secretion of TNF - alpha by human fetal astrocytes was markedly inhibited by TGF - beta at a low concentration. In contrast IL-10 had no effect on TNF - alpha mRNA level. These results show that TGF - beta may regulate the expression of TNF - alpha in activated human fetal astrocytes.
Astrocytes* ; Cytokines ; Gene Expression* ; Humans* ; Interferon-gamma ; Interleukin-10 ; Major Histocompatibility Complex ; Microglia ; Multiple Sclerosis ; Necrosis ; Neuroglia ; Neurons ; Oligodendroglia ; RNA, Messenger ; Transforming Growth Factors

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate influencing factors on recovery among alcoholics. METHODS: The participants were 123 hospitalized patients with alcohol use disorder in two hospitals in Gyeonggi province. The data were collected from May 16 to June 4, 2012 using self-report questionnaires including Hanil Alcohol Insight Scale, Alcohol Abstinence Self-Efficacy Scale, and Recovery Scale. The data were analyzed using the SPSS/Win 18.0 program with descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficient and regression analysis. RESULTS: Recovery is positively related to abstinence self-efficacy and duration of abstinence. Recovery differed by insight type, gender, and occupation. Insight, duration of abstinence, gender, and occupation accounted for 59.1% of the variance in recovery of the alcoholics. CONCLUSION: The influencing factors on recovery among alcoholics were insight, duration of abstinence, gender, and occupation. Programs focusing on insight, abstinence self-efficacy, and abstinence maintenance should be developed and provided. When developing the programs, the environmental context in which the alcoholics work should be considered.
Alcoholics ; Humans ; Occupations ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Recovery of Function

PURPOSE: This study was done to examine the association among irrational belief, mental health, and self-efficacy, and explored the mediation of self-efficacy in the relationship between irrational belief and mental health of Korean soldiers. METHODS: A cross sectional study design was employed. The participants were 118 soldiers who signed consent forms. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: Irrational beliefs were positively correlated with mental health problems, and self-efficacy was negatively correlated with irrational beliefs and mental health problems. Self-efficacy acted as a mediator in the relationship between irrational beliefs and mental health problems. CONCLUSION: The study results suggest that effective interventions to reduce mental health problems of soldiers should apply strategies to change irrational belief and increase self efficacy. These results also provide more empirical support to the hypothesis that self-efficacy serves as a mediator in a mental health.
Consent Forms ; Humans ; Mental Health* ; Military Personnel* ; Negotiating* ; Self Efficacy

PURPOSE: This study was to explore the effects of breast cancer education for college students on their mother's breast cancer screening promotion. METHODS: This study used a one-group pretest and posttest design. Data were collected from September to November, 2007 from a sample of 80 college students and their mothers using a survey questionnaire, which asked about demographic variables, concerns over health and breast cancer, communication, stage of change and attitude (pros and cons) related to breast cancer, and confidence in breast self-examination. The college students received education about breast cancer for 50 minutes and then they educated their mothers about breast cancer. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and paired t-test. RESULTS: The mean age of the college students was 22.0 years, and that of their mothers 49.4 years with a range from 43 to 58 years. After receiving education on breast cancer, there were significant changes in the mean scores of concerns about health and breast cancer, communication, pros in mammography, and confidence in practicing breast self-examination. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that education on breast cancer to mothers through their college-age daughters is effective and can be utilized to promote breast cancer screening for women.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast Self-Examination ; Breast* ; Education ; Female ; Health Education* ; Humans ; Mammography ; Mass Screening* ; Mothers ; Nuclear Family ; Students, Nursing ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Astrocytes* ; Gene Expression* ; Humans* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction*

No abstract available.
Astrocytes* ; Humans*

Recovery in substance abuse has been simplistically measured; a more comprehensive understanding of recovery outcomes is needed. This study therefore explored recovery outcomes of Korean adolescents with substance abuse by qualitative research. The recovery was found to occur in several domains; they included reconciliation with the self, hope for the future, reconciliation with family, self-liberation, socialization, conventional norm pursuit, and a struggle for realistic independence. An understanding of the recovery process and recovery outcomes may provide guidance for clinical interventions with substance abuse adolescents.
Adolescent* ; Hope ; Humans ; Qualitative Research ; Socialization ; Substance-Related Disorders*

No abstract available.
Porokeratosis*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influencing factors on externalized and internalized problem behaviors among high school students. METHODS: The subjects for this study were 707 students in two high schools in K province. The data were collected during the period from October to November, 2014 by use of questionnaires. The instruments used were the Korean Youth Self-report, Daily Hassles Questionnaire, State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory, and Ego Resiliency Scale. The data were analyzed using SPSS. RESULTS: Significant predictors to explain externalized problem behaviors comprised anger-out, anger-in, anger-control, relation with parents, daily stress, and religion. It was found that these factors explained 46% of externalized problem behavior. Ego resiliency, anger-in, daily stress, gender, relation with parent, and anger-out were significant predictors to explain internalized problem behaviors. It was found that these factors explained 45% of internalized problem behaviors. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the influencing factors on problem behaviors differ from externalized and internalized problem behaviors. So these findings will provide the basic data to develop a program that is differentiated by problem behavior type.
Adolescent* ; Anger ; Ego ; Humans ; Parents ; Problem Behavior* ; Stress, Psychological

No abstract available.
Centrifugation, Density Gradient* ; Humans* ; Spermatozoa*