Abstract: Objective　To investigate the clinical characteristics and incidence of Brucella encephalitis and meningitis in children. Methods We report the clinical data of a child with Brucella melitensis meningitis in children, and summarize the incidence, diagnosis methods and treatment of Brucella encephalitis or meningitis in children, taking into account the relevant domestic and foreign literature from January 2014 to December 2020. Results　A 4-year-old girl was admitted to the hospital with status epilepticus on March 15, 2021 because of interrupted right limb numbness for 16 hours and convulsions for 2 hours. She had 2 non-febrile convulsions three months before admission and was diagnosed with epilepsy. This incident was acute, accompanied by low fever, with epilepsy as the main manifestation. Cerebrospinal fluid test suggested central nervous system infection, but the nature of infection could not be determined by routine and biochemistry of cerebrospinal fluid.The cerebrospinal fluid next generation sequencing confirmed that the pathogen of the infection was B. melitensis, which was further verified by the peripheral blood antibody test. After effective antibiotics combined with a full course of treatment, the patient recovered after six months of treatment. A total of 60 articles were retrieved in the database, including 29 in Chinese. During this period, a total of 7 cases of brucellosis in children with nervous system involvement were reported, one of which was a case report, and the other 6 cases were mentioned in the comprehensive analysis of children with brucellosis. Conclusions　Brucella encephalitis or meningitis in children has a low incidence and various clinical features, which are easy to be misdiagnosed or missed.

Interleukin-1b (IL-1β), a proinflammatory cytokine, regulates the innate immune responses against bacterial infection. Mature IL-1β is produced from pro-IL-1β by activated caspase-1, which in turn is activated by the inflammasome complex formation. In this study, we compared the inflammasome mRNA expression induced by S. sanguinis, S. oralis, F. nucleatum and P. intermedia. Among the tested bacteria, S. sanguinis induced the highest IL-1β secretion. S. oralis, F. nucleatum and P. intermedia induced very weak IL-1β secretion. S. sanguinis mostly induced the NLRP3 mRNA expressions. Although F. nucleatum did not induce high IL-1β secretion, it induced high expression levels of AIM2, NLRP2, and NLRP3. No specific inflammasomes were induced by S. oralis and P.intermedia. Studying the inflammasome complex activation induced by oral bacteria may thus enhance our understanding of the pathogenesis of oral diseases.
Bacteria ; Bacterial Infections* ; Immunity, Innate ; Inflammasomes* ; Interleukin-1beta ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger

Xylitol is a five-carbon sugar alcohol that inhibits the growth of oral streptococci, including Streptococcus mutans. In this study, we tested xylitol sensitivity among the oral streptococci. We also compared nucleotide homology of putative fructose phosphotransferase system (PTS) and xylitol sensitivity, since xylitol is transported via the fructose PTS. Among the tested Streptococci, S. pneumonia showed the highest resistance to xylitol while S. gordonii and S. sanguinis showed the most sensitive growth inhibition. These streptococci could be grouped according to their xylitol sensitivity. S. mutans and S. salivarius showed similar bacterial growth inhibition by xylitol. S. mitis, S. oralis, S. pneumonia, S. intermedius and S. anginosus showed relatively low sensitivity to xylitol. When the genetic homologies of five fructose PTSs were compared among the tested streptococci, closely related streptococci showed similar sensitivity to xylitol. Taken together, fructose PTSs may mediate the sensitivity to xylitol in oral streptococci.
Fructose ; Pneumonia ; Streptococcus ; Streptococcus mutans ; Xylitol*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: SIRT1, a histone diacetylase, modify transactivation function of various transcription factor including p53 and NF-kappaB. p53 and NF-kappaB is involved in in vitro differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESC) into mouse embryoid body (mEB). These suggest that SIRT1 might affect in vitro differentiation of mESC into mEB by regulation of p53 and NF-kappaB. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study we analyzed the effect of SIRT1 in in vitro differentiation of mESC into mEB using wild and SIRT1 knockout mESC. To examine SIRT1-specific gene in mESC, this study conducted microarray-based differential gene expression analysis between wild and SIRT1 knockout mESC. Comparing their gene expression patterns, this study determined a list of genes regulated by SIRT1. cDNA microarray data-set analysis revealed that genes associated with transcription and signal transduction are significantly modified in SIRT1 knockout mESC. cDNA microarray data-set analysis between mESC and EB in wild and SIRT1 showed that SIRT1 inhibits p53 signaling pathway but not affect NF-kappaB signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that SIRT1 modify mESC differentiation by regulation of p53 transcriptional activity.
Animals ; Embryoid Bodies ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; Gene Expression ; Histones ; Mice ; NF-kappa B ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Signal Transduction ; Transcription Factors ; Transcriptional Activation

The term neurolymphomatosis has included infiltration of the peripheral nervous system by lymphoma. In generally, direct invasion of the peripheral nervous system is rare. The difficulty in treatment of neurolymphomatosis is due to unclassified characteristic symptoms and diagnosis. We performed excision of mass on the antebrachial cutaneous nerve with no specific symptoms. After diagnosis of diffuse large B cell lymphoma, further treatment and observation were followed. However, recurrence of the lymphoma was found in the ipsilateral forearm ulnar nerve, therefore we described a case of neurolymphomatosis with a brief review of the literature.
Animals ; Diagnosis ; Forearm ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; Marek Disease* ; Peripheral Nervous System ; Recurrence ; Ulnar Nerve

Purpose: This study aims to measure the mandibular movement using JT-3D system and provide a range of mandibular movement that can serve as a good reference for diagnosing the temporomandibular disorder. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in 60 young male and female adults. The maximum opening and closing movement was recorded using JT-3D system, and by regarding 5 times of repetitive movement as 1 cycle of movement, total 3 cycles of movement were recorded. During the maximum opening, vertical position of lower jaw, antero-posterior position, lateral deflection position, and maximum opening distance were recorded. To evaluate the reproducibility of JT-3D system, statistical analysis were conducted (α = 0.05). Results: During the maximum opening, the average value appeared at 31.56 mm vertically and 24.42 mm rearwardly, lateral deflection position 0.72 mm, and maximum opening distance 40.32 mm. There was no statistical significance in all measured values for three cycles of movement recorded with JT-3D system (P > 0.05). Conclusion During the maximum opening, the average value appeared at 0.72 mm in lateral deflection position and the maximum opening distance at 40.32 mm, and the analysis on the maximum opening of lower jaw using JT-3D system showed sufficiently reproducible results.

Purpose: This phenomenological study aimed to comprehend the altered parenting experience of nurses during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.Method: Using a qualitative approach, the research design employed a phenomenological methodology. The participants were 6 nurses with elementary school-aged children. The nurses were employed in tertiary general hospitals, working on rotating shifts during the COVID-19 pandemic. In-depth interviews were conducted to collect individual data, which were then analyzed using Colaizzi phenomenological method. Results: Analyzing the collected data led to 178 significant results, from which 13 themes were derived. These 13 themes were further integrated into 5 distinct theme clusters: (1) struggling as a nurse-mom, (2) providing a supportive presence, (3) facing challenges in facilitating children's learning activities, (4) navigating parental roles in a chaotic situation, and (5) pursuing physical safety. These clusters were subsequently categorized into four overarching categories: “suffering,” which encompassed the themes of pressure of infection and providing a supportive presence, as well as “controlling,” “parenting,” and “seeking,” representing the remaining clusters, respectively. Conclusion The parenting experiences of shift nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic encompassed various aspects, including the challenges posed by the pressure of infection, the importance of providing a supportive presence, difficulties in managing children’s learning activities, navigating parental roles amid chaotic circumstances, and the pursuit of physical safety. These experiences significantly impact the stability of shift nurses’ caregiving abilities for both their patients and their children. Therefore, it is crucial to establish a comprehensive nationallevel care support system in times of disaster situations like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Laryngeal dysfunction, previously referred to as vocal cord dysfunction or paradoxical vocal cord movement, is characterized by inappropriate, transient, and reversible narrowing of the larynx in response to external triggers, without any structural or neurological defects. This condition can manifest in various clinical ways and can be mistaken for other respiratory diseases, such as asthma. It is crucial to accurately recognize and diagnose laryngeal dysfunction to ensure the provision of appropriate treatment. Laryngoscopy with provocation, which is a standard tool for the diagnosis of laryngeal dysfunction, has been designated as a new medical technology in Korea in July 2022. In this review, we discuss the concept, epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of laryngeal dysfunction as well as introduce the diagnostic procedure using laryngoscopy with provocation.

Objective: Written exposure therapy (WET) is exposure therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Compared to evidencebased treatments for PTSD, WET requires only five sessions, has a shorter session time, and no between-session assignments. The current study examined the efficacy of WET among Korean patients with PTSD due to various traumatic events on PTSD symptoms, depressive symptoms, and global functioning levels. Methods: The study recruited 41 patients with a current primary diagnosis of PTSD in psychiatric outpatient clinics. Assessments were conducted at baseline, and at 6, 12, and 24 weeks following the first treatment session. Results: In total, 25 patients started WET. Findings showed a significant reduction in the rate of PTSD diagnosis and symptom severity scores. Fourteen of 23 (60.9%) patients at 6 weeks, 15 of 22 (68.2%) patients at 12 weeks, and 14 of 18 (77.8%) patients at 24 weeks no longer met the diagnosis of PTSD. Depressive symptoms and global function scores also improved after WET. The dropout rate was 8% (n=2). Conclusion This study suggests the feasibility of implementing WET among various types of patients with PTSD in Korea and other Asian countries.

Objective: Written exposure therapy (WET) is exposure therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Compared to evidencebased treatments for PTSD, WET requires only five sessions, has a shorter session time, and no between-session assignments. The current study examined the efficacy of WET among Korean patients with PTSD due to various traumatic events on PTSD symptoms, depressive symptoms, and global functioning levels. Methods: The study recruited 41 patients with a current primary diagnosis of PTSD in psychiatric outpatient clinics. Assessments were conducted at baseline, and at 6, 12, and 24 weeks following the first treatment session. Results: In total, 25 patients started WET. Findings showed a significant reduction in the rate of PTSD diagnosis and symptom severity scores. Fourteen of 23 (60.9%) patients at 6 weeks, 15 of 22 (68.2%) patients at 12 weeks, and 14 of 18 (77.8%) patients at 24 weeks no longer met the diagnosis of PTSD. Depressive symptoms and global function scores also improved after WET. The dropout rate was 8% (n=2). Conclusion This study suggests the feasibility of implementing WET among various types of patients with PTSD in Korea and other Asian countries.