No abstract available.
Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome*

Aim To avoid the limitation of the use of cationic polyethlenimine (PEI)-complexed plasmid DNA use for in vitro or in vivo gene delivery due to its cytotoxicity and lower efficiency in the presence of serum. Methods A polyplex with decreased positive charge on the complex surface was designed. The PEI/DNA (PD) complexes coated with an anionic biodegradable polymer, alginate were prepared and their gene delivery behavior with PD was compared. Results The alginate-coated PD polyplex, where alginate: PEI: DNA [alginate: DNA, 0. 15 (w/w); PEI: DNA, N: P = 10] showed about 10 -30 fold-increased transfection efficiency compared to corresponding non-coated complexes to C3 cells in the presence of 50% serum. The surface charge of the alginate-coated complex was approximately half of that of the alginate-lacking complex. The size of alginate-coated complex was slightly smaller than that of the corresponding complex without alginate. The former complex also showed a reduced erythrocyte aggregation activity and decreased cytotoxicities to C3 cells in comparison with PD complex. Conclusion The alginate-coated PD polyplexes as a new gene delivery system can improve transfection efficiency in high serum concentration with low cytotoxicity to C3 cells.

This study was conducted to offer basic data that give effective ways to inform the country-of-origin labeling, where the ingredients they are serving are from, at school foodservice and to reconsider the importance of the labeling origin based on the survey by the elementary school students. 96.0% of the elementary school students agreed to the regulation about the country-of-origin labeling and the older students were influenced more by media and also supported the labeling. About the tendency of ingesting food from the country the students didn't like, 69% of them disagreed to eat. In the ways to label the country-of-origin labeling at school foodservice, elementary school students recognized easily the indication of origin designed by menu items, letter type. 76% of elementary school students checked the country-of-origin labeling posted at restaurants. When the students eat out, 68% of them were unwilling to have the food using the ingredients from the country they don't like. The country-of-origin for main ingredients such as beef, pork, chicken and other meat products, rice, kimchi had high importance scores. We found that the students think about the country-of-origin for main ingredients is important. Consequently, education and public relations of the country-of-origin labeling for elementary school students would be required.
Chickens ; Humans ; Meat Products ; Public Relations ; Restaurants

Duodenal diverticula are common, but perforated duodenal diverticulum is rare. Because of the disease rarity, there is no standard management protocol for perforated duodenal diverticulum. To properly manage this rare complication, a clear preoperative diagnosis and clinical disease severity assessment are important. An abdomino-pelvic CT is an unquestionably crucial diagnostic tool. Perforation is considered a surgical emergency, although conservative treatment based on fasting and broad-spectrum antibiotics may be offered in some selected cases. Herein, we report two cases of perforated duodenal diverticulum, one case managed with surgical treatment and one with conservative treatment.
Aged ; Diverticulum/complications/*diagnosis/surgery ; Duodenal Diseases/complications/*diagnosis/surgery ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Humans ; Intestinal Perforation/*diagnosis/etiology/surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate medical school applicants' involvements in extracurricular activities including medical volunteering/community services, nonmedical community services, club activities, leadership role, and research. METHODS: Extracurricular characteristics were compared for 448 applicants (223 males and 225 females) who applied to Kangwon Medical School in 2013 to 2014. Frequency analysis, chi-square test, and simple correlation were conducted with the collected data. RESULTS: The 448 applicants participated in medical volunteer/community services (15.3%), nonmedical community services (39.8%), club activities (22.9%), club officials (10%), and research (13.4%). On average, applicants from foreign universities participated in 0.9 medical volunteer/community service, 0.8 nonmedical community service, 1.7 club activities, and 0.6 research work. On the other hand, applicants from domestic universities reported 0.2 medical volunteer/community service, 1.0 nonmedical community service, 0.7 club activity, and 0.3 research. CONCLUSION: Involvement in extracurricular activities was extensive for medical school applicants. Participation in extracurricular activities differed between applicants from foreign and domestic universities. Females consistently reported greater participation in extracurricular activities than males. The data can be helpful for admission committees to recruit well-rounded applicants and compare between applicants with similar academic backgrounds.
Female ; Gangwon-do ; Hand ; Humans ; Leadership ; Male ; Schools, Medical* ; Social Welfare

The survival rate of commotio cordis is low, and there is often associated neurological disability if return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) can be achieved. We report a case of commotio cordis treated with therapeutic hypothermia (TH) that demonstrated a favorable outcome. A 16-year-old female was transferred to our emergency department (ED) for collapse after being struck in the chest with a dodgeball. She has no history of heart problems. She was brought to our ED with pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VT), and ROSC was achieved with defibrillation. She was comatose at our ED and was treated with TH at a target temperature of 33degrees C for 24 hours. After transfer to the intensive care unit, pulseless VT occurred, and defibrillation was performed twice. She recovered to baseline neurologic status with the exception of some memory difficulties.
Adolescent ; Coma ; Commotio Cordis* ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Heart ; Humans ; Hypothermia* ; Intensive Care Units ; Memory ; Survival Rate ; Tachycardia ; Tachycardia, Ventricular* ; Thoracic Injuries ; Thorax

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate applicants' behavioral characteristics based on the evaluation of cognitive, affective and social domain shown in self introduction letter and professor's recommendation letter. METHODS: Self introduction letters and professor's recommendation letters of 109 applicants students who applied to medical school were collected. Frequency analysis and simple correlation were done in self introduction letter and professor's recommendation letter. RESULTS: Frequency analysis showed affective characteristics were most often mentioned in self introduction letter, and cognitive characteristics were most frequently described in professor's recommendation letter. There was a strong correlation between cognitive domains of self introduction letter and cognitive domain of professor's recommendation letter. There was a strong correlation between affective domain of self introduction letter and cognitive domain professor's recommendation letter. CONCLUSION: It is very important to make full use of self introduction letter and professor's recommendation letter for selecting medical students. Through the frequency analysis and simple correlation, more specific guidelines need to be suggested in order to secure fairness and objectivity in the evaluation of self-introduction letter and professor's recommendation letter.
Humans ; Schools, Medical ; Students, Medical

Street vended food (SVF) includes food and beverages prepared and sold outdoors or in public areas by street merchants for consumption on the scene or later without further preparation. Due to its low price and convenience, SVF has been popular in Korea for a long time, particularly with high school students. Beyond Korea, SVF is also popular in southeast Asia and southern Africa in the form of ready-to-eat food. This study on high school students, who are main consumers of SVF in Korea, focused on the factors that affect consumer loyalty. The study was performed by questionnaire and used AMOS software to develop a structural equation model. The results of verifying the model's fidelity were chi2 = 685.989, df = 261, GFI = 0.851, AGFI = 0.814, NFI = 0.901, CFI = 0.907, RMR = 0.048, indicating a satisfying structural model. SVF quality and service, emotional response, and the physical environment had a statistically significant effect on consumer loyalty. In contrast, SVF sanitation had no statistically significant effect on consumer loyalty. Based on these results, the sanitary management of SVF needs to be addressed immediately combined with education for SVF providers to maintain a clean environment.
Africa, Southern ; Aminopeptidases ; Asia, Southeastern ; Food and Beverages ; Humans ; Korea ; Models, Structural ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Sanitation

In adolescents, sleep deprivation problem is getting worse, and increased caffeine consumption is considered to relieve the stress caused by sleep deprivation and academic burden. In this study, immediate neurologic effects of caffeine intake on adolescents were evaluated in three high school students using the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)/creatine ratio on magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). MEGA-PRESS MRS and TE 135 ms single voxel MRS were performed in the anterior cingulate cortex before and after drinking a cup of coffee, which contained 104 mg of caffeine. GABA and creatine were measured on LCModel 6.3, respectively. In all three students, GABA/creatine ratios were decreased after caffeine intake. The GABA/creatine ratios obtained before caffeine intake were decreased after caffeine intake in all the three adolescents. In this preliminary study, caffeine intake caused an immediate decrease in the GABA/creatine ratio in the brain and it may be related to the neurologic effects of caffeine on an adolescent's brain.
Adolescent* ; Brain ; Caffeine* ; Coffee ; Creatine ; Drinking ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; Gyrus Cinguli ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Sleep Deprivation

In adolescents, sleep deprivation problem is getting worse, and increased caffeine consumption is considered to relieve the stress caused by sleep deprivation and academic burden. In this study, immediate neurologic effects of caffeine intake on adolescents were evaluated in three high school students using the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)/creatine ratio on magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). MEGA-PRESS MRS and TE 135 ms single voxel MRS were performed in the anterior cingulate cortex before and after drinking a cup of coffee, which contained 104 mg of caffeine. GABA and creatine were measured on LCModel 6.3, respectively. In all three students, GABA/creatine ratios were decreased after caffeine intake. The GABA/creatine ratios obtained before caffeine intake were decreased after caffeine intake in all the three adolescents. In this preliminary study, caffeine intake caused an immediate decrease in the GABA/creatine ratio in the brain and it may be related to the neurologic effects of caffeine on an adolescent's brain.
Adolescent* ; Brain ; Caffeine* ; Coffee ; Creatine ; Drinking ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; Gyrus Cinguli ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Sleep Deprivation