PURPOSE: This retrospective study was done to evaluate the status of nosocomial urinary tract infections and to determine the risk factors andtransmission route of causal IRPA through molecular epidemiology. METHOD: Two hundred ninety-nine of 423 patients admitted to the internal medicine and surgery ICU at a university hospital incity B had a positiveurine culture. Twelve of the 299 patients who had a urinary tract infection had IRPA strains. The data was collected from November 1, 2004 to January 31, 2005. The following results were obtained after the data was analyzed using percentile and UPGMA. RESULT: The rate of nosocomial urinary tract infections in the ICU was 10.8%. Therewere 16.8 cases of infection based on the period of hospitalization. There were 16.9 cases of infection based on the use of a foley catheter. The rate of nosocomial urinary tract infection in the ICU and urinary tract infections related to IRPA were higher in patients with the following characteristics: men, old age, admission through the emergency room, longer than seven days admission, severity of admitting causes, disturbance of consciousness, hydration less than 300cc in 24hours, a long course of antibiotics, a long period of foley catheterization and perineal care. Most of the microorganisms that caused the urinary tract infection were gram negative bacilli, among which P. aeruginosa was found in 70 patients (18.5%) and IRPA in 12 (4.0%). Among the 12 IRPA strains that were tested with PFGE, eight showed a dice coefficient higher than 80%, suggesting a genetic relationship. They were related with the period of hospitalization in the same ICU. These patients all received direct care for a urinary tract infection. CONCLUSION: Through these results, IRPA can be consideredas a contributing factors to urinary tract infections thus, active preventative measures are needed by the medical staff.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; Cross Infection/*epidemiology/etiology/microbiology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Female ; Humans ; Imipenem/*pharmacology ; Intensive Care Units ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pseudomonas Infections/drug therapy/*epidemiology ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa/classification/drug effects/*genetics ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Urinary Catheterization ; Urinary Tract Infections/*epidemiology/etiology/microbiology

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the effects of oral swab and non-swab using cold water gauze on patients’ thirst and oral status following nasal surgery under general anesthesia. Methods: A non-equivalent control group was applied. Participants were divided into a control group (n=30) that was treated by cared for with cold water gauze application without oral swab and an experimental group (n=29) that was treated cared for with oral swab using cold water gauze after nasal surgery at the G University Hospital in Korea. Data were collected from May 14, 2020, to April 30, 2021, and analyzed using descriptive statistics, a chi-squared test, independent t-test, Wilcoxon signed-ranks test, and Mann-Whitney test. Results: The results showed no significant differences between the two groups in thirst (U=-0.04, p=.693) and overall oral condition (U=-0.34, p=.813) after the intervention. However, participants’ thirst and oral condition were significantly improved in each group after intervention. Conclusions It was confirmed that both oral care methods reduced thirst and improved oral condition after nasal surgery. These findings indicate the need for intervention for patients’ thirst and oral condition after nasal surgery. Furthermore, they show that these oral care protocols can be used as a safe and effective nursing intervention for patients who undergo nasal surgery under general anesthesia.

OBJECTIVES: Mushrooms, known for their nutritious and functional components, are considered healthy and medicinal. This study investigated the prospective association between dietary mushroom consumption and the incidence of type 2 diabetes among Korean adults aged ≥40 years. METHODS: In total, 16,666 participants who were not taking anti-diabetic medication or insulin and had normal fasting blood glucose (FBG; <126 mg/dL) were included. We used the cumulative average dietary consumption of mushrooms as an exposure metric, calculated from food frequency questionnaires at every follow-up, along with covariates collected during a baseline survey. To estimate incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for type 2 diabetes, a modified Poisson regression model with a robust error estimator was applied. RESULTS: In multivariable models, dietary mushroom consumption was inversely associated with type 2 diabetes incidence in both genders (men: IRR, 0.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.47 to 0.90; plinearity=0.043 in the highest quartile (Q4) vs. the lowest quartile (Q1); women: IRR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.93; plinearity=0.114 in Q4 vs. Q1). The inverse association remained after adjustment for dietary factors instead of dietary quality index, the baseline FBG, and the exclusion of incidence within the first year. Additionally, no significant interaction was found regarding the risk of type 2 diabetes between dietary mushroom consumption and participants’ gender or other factors. CONCLUSIONS Dietary mushroom consumption was inversely linked with the risk of type 2 diabetes incidence in both genders, indicating the beneficial role of mushrooms in preventing the disease.

PURPOSE: Scopolamine is a nonselective muscarinic cholinergic receptor antagonist, which induces impairment of learning ability and memory function. Exercise is known to ameliorate brain disturbance induced by brain injuries. In the present study, we investigated the effect of treadmill exercise on short-term memory in relation to acetylcholinesterase (AChE) expression in the hippocampus, using a scopolamine-induced amnesia model in mice. METHODS: To induce amnesia, 1 mg/kg scopolamine hydrobromide was administered intraperitoneally once per day for 14 days. A step-down avoidance test for short-term memory was conducted. AChE histochemistry, immunohistochemistry for collagen IV, and doublecortin were performed. RESULTS: Short-term memory deteriorated in the mice with scopolamine-induced amnesia, concomitant with enhanced AChE expression and suppression of angiogenesis in the hippocampus. Critically, treadmill exercise ameliorated short-term memory impairment, suppressed AChE expression, and enhanced angiogenesis in the mice with scopolamine-induced amnesia. CONCLUSIONS: Overexpression of AChE is implicated in both brain and renal disease. The findings of our study indicate that treadmill exercise may be of therapeutic value in neurodegenerative and renal diseases by suppressing the effects of AChE expression.
Acetylcholinesterase ; Amnesia* ; Animals ; Brain ; Brain Injuries ; Collagen ; Exercise Test ; Hippocampus ; Immunohistochemistry ; Learning ; Memory ; Memory, Short-Term* ; Mice ; Rats* ; Scopolamine Hydrobromide

BACKGROUND: Despite of numerous researches on the mechanisms and new therapeutic methods of chronic pain, patients are still suffering even with the help of opioids. In recent years, however, with the development of molecular-biology cell transplantation gives us a new chance for treating intractable chronic pain. The major purpose of the present study was to determine if the chromaffin cells have robust analgesic effects in the spinal atlanto-occipital subarachnoid space even without nicotine stimulation. METHODS: In order to determine whether cultured bovine adrenal medullary chromaffin cells transplanted in the spinal cord can produce analgesic effects, we purified adrenal medullary chromaffin cells and implanted them into the subarachnoid space of rats' (n = 10) spinal cord without immunosuppression, and investigated the hot sensitivity of rats' hind-paw by a light-beam test. RESULTS: It was found that compared with the control group, hot response latency of the group which received adrenal medullary chromaffin cells had increased at 14 days and the analgesic efficacy was maintained for at least 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: Adrenal medullary chromaffin cells transplanted in the rats' spinal cord may provide a permanent and locally available source of neuropeptides for the relief of intractable pain. Furthermore, these kinds of analgesic effect even produced without any stimulation such as nicotine.
Analgesics, Opioid ; Animals ; Cell Transplantation ; Chromaffin Cells* ; Chronic Pain ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; Neuropeptides ; Nicotine ; Pain, Intractable ; Rats* ; Reaction Time ; Spinal Cord* ; Subarachnoid Space ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: The intrathecal grafting of adrenal chromaffin cells as a potential analgesic source, to delivery analgesic substances such as catecholamines and opioid peptides, is known to be effective at treating acute and chronic pain in several animal pain models. We tested whether the intrathecal implantation of encapsulated bovine chromaffin cells reduces cold allodynia in a rat model of neuropathic pain induced by chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve. METHODS: Bovine adrenal medullary chromaffin cells microencapsulated in sodium alginate-poly-l-lysin-alginate (APA) were implanted into the subarachnoid space of rats (n = 10) and foot cold sensitivity was investigated using an acetone test. At the end of the study, histology and capsule catecholamine production were evaluated. RESULTS: A significant reduction in cold allodynia was observed in animals implanted with chromaffin cells. In addition, the suppression of cold allodynia was reversed by naloxone. Abundant clusters of viable chromaffin cells stained with neutral red, were observed in the retrieved implants and after nicotine stimulation, and catecholamine was quantified. An ultrastructural study showed no fibrotic reaction against capsules, or disorganised capsules. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that intrathecal encapsulated chromaffin cells act as "mini pumps", which continuously deliver analgesic substances and produce analgesia in this chronic pain model of nerve injury-without immunosuppressant.
Acetone ; Analgesia ; Animals ; Capsules ; Catecholamines ; Chromaffin Cells* ; Chronic Pain ; Constriction ; Foot ; Hyperalgesia* ; Models, Animal ; Naloxone ; Neuralgia ; Neutral Red ; Nicotine ; Opioid Peptides ; Rats* ; Sciatic Nerve ; Sodium ; Spinal Cord* ; Subarachnoid Space ; Transplants

Exogenous nucleic acids induce an innate immune response in mammalian host cells through activation of the retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I). We evaluated RIG-I protein for RNA binding and ATPase stimulation with RNA ligands to investigate the correlation with the extent of immune response through RIG-I activation in cells. RIG-I protein favored blunt-ended, double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) ligands over sticky-ended dsRNA. Moreover, the presence of the 5'-triphosphate (5'-ppp) moiety in dsRNA further enhanced binding affinity to RIG-I. Two structural motifs in RNA, blunt ends in dsRNA and 5'-ppp, stimulated the ATP hydrolysis activity of RIG-I. These structural motifs also strongly induced IFN expression as an innate immune response in cells. Therefore, we suggest that IFN induction through RIG-I activation is mainly determined by structural motifs in dsRNA that increase its affinity for RIG-I protein and stimulate ATPase activity in RIG-I.
Adenosine Triphosphatases ; Adenosine Triphosphate* ; Hydrolysis* ; Immunity, Innate ; Interferon Type I* ; Ligands ; Nucleic Acids ; RNA ; RNA, Double-Stranded

PURPOSE: The spectrum of melanoma antigen gene (MAGE)-expressing tumor is very wide and the gene of MAGE express antigens that are targets for specific recognition by cytotoxic T lymphocytes derived from tumor-bearing patients. All of these characteristics represent MAGE as tumor vaccine can be useful for cancer prevention or treatment. Here, we detected MAGE-3 gene expression in cancer cell lines and evaluated recombinant MAGE-3 protein producibility of MAGE plasmid to develope MAGE DNA vaccine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MAGE-3 gene expression of cancer cell lines was evaluated by reverse transcription-polymerase chanin reaction (RT-PCR). Two kinds of MAGE-3 expressing plasmids were constructed and their MAGE-3 protein producibility was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting using monoclonal anti-MAGE-3 antibody. RESULTS: Among 13 cell lines, SNU484, AMC-HN-3, AMC-HN-4, AMC-HN-7, HeLa, NCI H1703 and HT29 expressed MAGE-3 mRNA. In order to make MAGE plasmid, cDNA that showed 100% DNA homology with MAGE-3 gene was cloned into pcDNA 3 plasmid and pSecTag plasmid. Intracytoplasmic and secretory recombinant MAGE-3 was produced by MAGE-3 containing pcDNA 3 plasmid and pSecTag plasmid, respectively. CONCLUSION: In this study, we showed high expression frequency of MAGE-3 in cancer cell line, and established two kinds of plasmid that produce recombinant MAGE-3 in cell lines. We expect these plasmids will be used in cancer treatment or MAGE-3 function study in future.
Cell Line ; Clone Cells ; DNA* ; DNA, Complementary ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Immunoblotting ; Immunohistochemistry ; Melanoma ; Plasmids* ; RNA, Messenger ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic

Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) is a life-threatening disease that primarily manifests as sleep-associated respiratory insufficiency and a markedly impaired ventilatory response to hypercarbia and hypoxemia. Paired-like homeobox 2b (PHOX2B) gene mutations are known to cause CCHS. Almost all patients with CCHS are heterozygous for a poly-alanine expansion in PHOX2B. However, some patients have other germ-line abnormalities, including missense, nonsense and frame shift mutations. CCHS combined with Hirschsprung disease (Haddad syndrome) is extremely rare. Here, we report the case of a 1-day-old male neonate with recurrent apnea and bowel distension. Genetic analysis showed that he was heterozygous for a germ-line mutation in the PHOX2B gene. Only three cases of CCHS including two with Haddad syndrome confirmed by PHOX2B gene mutations have been reported in Korea. All of these cases have been heterozygous for a poly-alanine expansion mutation. This is the first report describing Haddad syndrome with a germ-line mutation in the PHOX2B gene in a Korean neonate.
Anoxia ; Apnea ; Frameshift Mutation ; Genes, Homeobox ; Germ-Line Mutation* ; Hirschsprung Disease ; Humans ; Hypoventilation ; Infant, Newborn* ; Korea ; Male ; Respiratory Insufficiency

PURPOSE: Nonallergenic irritants can aggravate the symptoms of rhinitis. We investigated the clinical responses of children with allergic rhinitis (AR) and nonallergic rhinitis (NAR) to nonallergenic irritants, and identified factors associated with these responses. METHODS: Children with chronic rhinitis (n=208) were classified as having AR or NAR based on the presence of aeroallergen-specific IgE. Healthy controls (n=24) were recruited for comparison. The Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) guidelines were used to classify patients, and their irritant score (0-21 points) and current symptom score (5-35 points) were measured. Subjects with irritant scores ≥3 and <3 were classified as having irritant and nonirritant rhinitis, respectively. RESULTS: The mean age of enrolled subjects was 6.8 years (range: 1.8-16.0 years). The AR and NAR groups had similar irritant scores (P=0.394) and proportions of subjects with irritant scores ≥3 (P=0.105). Irritant score correlated positively with symptom score (P=0.005), and the proportion of subjects with irritant scores ≥3 was greater in children with moderate-severe rhinitis than in those with mild rhinitis (P=0.046). Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that the presence of atopic eczema increased the risk for sensitivity to a nonallergenic irritant (aOR=2.928, 95% CI 1.567-5.473, P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Response to a nonallergenic irritant was useful for gauging the severity of rhinitis, but not for differentiating AR from NAR. AR and NAR patients with atopic eczema may increase nasal sensitivity to nonallergenic irritants.
Asthma ; Child* ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Irritants* ; Logistic Models ; Rhinitis*