The purpose of this study is to analyze the long-term plans of the central and local governments in order to plan policy and implementing programs. Through this, the governments is find out to reduce administrative burden. Based on the national health plan, evidence and related laws were collected and analyzed. As a quantitative methodology analyzed the contents of related laws in the overall plan. The qualitative methodologies analyzed and categorized the planning status of cities and provinces in the plan and were collated. There are a total of 39 plans for long-term plans by laws. The role of the central and local governments in the public health sector, there are a total of four plans (10.3%) that need to establish long-term and annual plans for the central and local (cities, provinces) government. A total of seven plans (17.9%) were required to establish a plan by the only local government. In terms of the public health sector on the local governments, 20 plans (51.3%) by cities and 12 plans (30.8%) by provinces were established by law. And in the health sector should be established 9 plans (40.9%) by cities and 7 plans (31.8%) by provinces. The plan needs to be reformed and merged between plans so that governments can focus on the program through planning central government policies, reducing local government administration.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the difference of range of motion (ROM) of ankle according to pushing force, gender and knee position. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-eight healthy adults (55 men, 73 women) between the ages of 20 and 51, were included in the study. One examiner measured the passive range of motion (PROM) of ankle by Dualer IQ Inclinometers and Commander Muscle Testing. ROM of ankle dorsiflexion (DF) and plantarflexion (PF) according to change of pushing force and knee position were measured at prone position. RESULTS: There was significant correlation between ROM and pushing force, the more pushing force leads the more ROM at ankle DF and ankle PF. Knee flexion of 90° position showed low PF angle and high ankle DF angle, as compared to the at neutral position of knee joint. ROM of ankle DF for female was greater than for male, with no significant difference. ROM of ankle PF for female was greater than male regardless of the pushing force. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first study to assess the relationship between pushing force and ROM of ankle joint. There was significant correlation between ROM of ankle and pushing force. ROM of ankle PF for female estimated greater than male regardless of the pushing force and the number of measurement. The ROM of the ankle is measured differently according to the knee joint position. Pushing force, gender and knee joint position are required to be considered when measuring the ROM of ankle joint.
Adult ; Ankle Joint ; Ankle* ; Female ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; Knee* ; Male ; Patient Positioning ; Physical Examination ; Prone Position ; Range of Motion, Articular* ; Sex Characteristics

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated changes in hepatitis B seroprevalence from 1998 to 2013, and to identify differences in epidemiologic characteristics between hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive and HBsAg-negative people. METHODS: HBsAg seropositive rates were compared by year, sex, and age using the blood test data from the periods I to VI (1998-2013) of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Interviews and self-administered surveys were conducted to collect data on health behavior, quality of life, comorbidities, and health care utilization. RESULTS: HBsAg seropositive rates in the Republic of Korea decreased from 4.6% in 1998 to 2.9% in 2008, and then remained the same for the next five years. While seropositive rates by age were the highest at 35 to 39 years of age in 1998, it peaked at 50 to 54 years of age in 2013. HBsAg-positive people showed high values from two liver function tests, including glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, and the prevalence rates of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer were also significantly high. Indices for health behavior and quality of life showed no significant differences between HBsAg-positive and HBsAg-negative people. CONCLUSIONS: While HBsAg seropositive rates tended to decline after 1998, there have been no significant changes over the most recent five years. We should focus on treatment of existing hepatitis B patients along with immunization programmes to prevent new hepatitis B infections. In addition, it may be necessary to encourage HBsAg-positive people to follow healthier life-styles in order to prevent further progression of hepatitis B to liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Alanine Transaminase ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Comorbidity ; Delivery of Health Care ; Health Behavior ; Hematologic Tests ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Immunization ; Korea ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Function Tests ; Liver Neoplasms ; Nutrition Surveys ; Prevalence ; Quality of Life ; Republic of Korea* ; Seroepidemiologic Studies*

PURPOSE: To report the frequency, severity and various types of artifacts associated with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) based on macular pathologies. METHODS: Data was collected retrospectively from 116 eyes of 116 subjects. SD-OCT (3D-1000, Topcon Corp., Japan) imaging was performed in 40 healthy eyes, 45 eyes with intraretinal pathology (IRP) and 31 eyes with subretinal pathology (SRP). The scan protocol was 12x6 mm radial scan. The frequency and types of artifacts were investigated in each scan and were analyzed based on macular disease. Additionally, the effect of artifacts on the measurement of macular thickness was studied. RESULTS: Errors occurred in 77 eyes (66.38%). Inner retinal boundary misidentification (IRBM) was the most common error (25.86%), with the frequencies of other types of artifacts being 10.34% for off-center fixation, 15.52% for degraded image and 8.6% for outer retinal boundary misidentification (ORBM). The overall error rate of SD-OCT in the retinal pathology group was much higher than that in the normal group. Macular thickness was underestimated in the IRP group because the outer retinal boundary of the IRP group tended to be misidentified toward the inner retina (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: SD-OCT can frequently cause various types of artifacts in patients with macular disease. When interpreting OCT images, the artifacts of SD-OCT should be considered in order to obtain accurate macular thickness and to prevent erroneous clinical decisions.
Artifacts ; Eye ; Humans ; Retina ; Retinaldehyde ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Optical Coherence

PURPOSE: To report on 2 cases of Eales' disease that were successfully regressed with laser photocoagulation and intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin; Genetech, Inc, San Francisco, California, USA) injection. CASE SUMMARY: Two male patients (30 years and, 40 years of age,) with a history of recurrent vitreous hemorrhage were diagnosed with Eales' disease. The 2 patients had peripheral retina neovascularization and active phlebitis in fundus fluorescein angiography. No other findings were observed in their eyes in the general examination. Scatter laser photocoagulation and intravitreal bevacizumab injection were performed. After 1 month follow-up, neovascularization completely regressed. There was no complication or recurrent vitreous hemorrhage at the 1 year follow up. CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal bevacizumab injection, as combination treatment of laser photocoagulation, may be helpful in the regression of neovascularization due to Eales' disease.
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; California ; Eye ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Light Coagulation ; Male ; Phlebitis ; Retina ; San Francisco ; Vitreous Hemorrhage ; Bevacizumab

PURPOSE: Neural stem cells (NSCs) effectively reverse some severe central nervous system (CNS) disorders, due to their ability to differentiate into neurons. Agmatine, a biogenic amine, has cellular protective effects and contributes to cellular proliferation and differentiation in the CNS. Recent studies have elucidated the function of microRNA let-7a (let-7a) as a regulator of cell differentiation with roles in regulating genes associated with CNS neurogenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study aimed to investigate whether agmatine modulates the expression of crucial regulators of NSC differentiation including DCX, TLX, c-Myc, and ERK by controlling let-7a expression. RESULTS: Our data suggest that high levels of let-7a promoted the expression of TLX and c-Myc, as well as repressed DCX and ERK expression. In addition, agmatine attenuated expression of TLX and increased expression of ERK by negatively regulating let-7a. CONCLUSION: Our study therefore enhances the present understanding of the therapeutic potential of NSCs in CNS disorders.
Agmatine* ; Biogenic Amines ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Central Nervous System ; MicroRNAs* ; Neural Stem Cells* ; Neurogenesis ; Neurons

PURPOSE: Neural stem cells (NSCs) effectively reverse some severe central nervous system (CNS) disorders, due to their ability to differentiate into neurons. Agmatine, a biogenic amine, has cellular protective effects and contributes to cellular proliferation and differentiation in the CNS. Recent studies have elucidated the function of microRNA let-7a (let-7a) as a regulator of cell differentiation with roles in regulating genes associated with CNS neurogenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study aimed to investigate whether agmatine modulates the expression of crucial regulators of NSC differentiation including DCX, TLX, c-Myc, and ERK by controlling let-7a expression. RESULTS: Our data suggest that high levels of let-7a promoted the expression of TLX and c-Myc, as well as repressed DCX and ERK expression. In addition, agmatine attenuated expression of TLX and increased expression of ERK by negatively regulating let-7a. CONCLUSION: Our study therefore enhances the present understanding of the therapeutic potential of NSCs in CNS disorders.
Agmatine* ; Biogenic Amines ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Central Nervous System ; MicroRNAs* ; Neural Stem Cells* ; Neurogenesis ; Neurons

Purpose: Chromosomal instability (CIN) contributes to intercellular genetic heterogeneity and has been implicated in paclitaxel (PTX) resistance in breast cancer. In this study, we explored polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) as an important regulator of mitotic integrity and as a useful predictive biomarker for PTX resistance in breast cancer. Methods: We performed PTX resistance screening using the human kinome CRISPR/ Cas9 library in breast cancer cells. In vitro cell proliferation and apoptosis assays and in vivo xenograft experiments were performed to determine the effects of PLK1 on breast cancer cells. Immunofluorescence microscopy was used to measure the degree of multipolar cell division. Results: Kinome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 screening identified various kinases involved in PTX resistance in breast cancer cells; among these, PLK1 was chosen for further experiments.PLK1 knockdown inhibited the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, PLK1 silencing sensitized breast cancer cells and mouse xenograft tumor models to PTX cytotoxicity. Silencing of PLK1 induced the formation of multipolar spindles and increased the percentage of multipolar cells. In addition, PLK1 silencing resulted in the downregulation of BubR1 and Mad2 in breast cancer cells. Furthermore, PLK1 upregulation in primary breast cancer was associated with decreased overall patient survival based on the analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas and Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium databases. Conclusion PLK1 plays an important role in PTX resistance by regulating CIN in breast cancer cells. Targeting PLK1 may be an effective treatment strategy for PTX-resistant breast cancers.

Background: The hollow-fiber infection model (HFIM) is a valuable tool for evaluating pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics relationships and determining the optimal antibiotic dose in monotherapy or combination therapy, but the application for personalized precision medicine in tuberculosis treatment remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of adjusted antibiotic doses for a tuberculosis patient using HFIM. Methods: Model-based Bayesian forecasting was utilized to assess the proposed reduction of the isoniazid dose from 300 mg daily to 150 mg daily in a patient with an ultra-slowacetylation phenotype. The efficacy of the adjusted 150-mg dose was evaluated in a timeto-kill assay performed using the bacterial isolate Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) H37Ra in a HFIM that mimicked the individual pharmacokinetic profile of the patient. Results: The isoniazid concentration observed in the HFIM adequately reflected the target drug exposures simulated by the model. After 7 days of repeated dose administration, isoniazid killed 4 log 10 Mtb CFU/mL in the treatment arm, while the control arm without isoniazid increased 1.6 log 10 CFU/mL. Conclusion Our results provide an example of the utility of the HFIM for predicting the efficacy of specific recommended doses of anti-tuberculosis drugs in real clinical setting.

Most cases of gas gangrene caused by Clostridium species begin with trauma-related injuries but in rare cases, spontaneous gas gangrene (SGG) can occur when patients have conditions such as advanced malignancy, diabetes, or immunosuppression. Clostridium perfringens, a rare cause of SGG, exists as normal flora of skin and intestines of human. Adequate antibiotics with surgical debridement of infected tissue is the only curative therapeutic management. Mortality rate among adults is reported range of 67-100% and majority of deaths are occurred within 24 hours of onset. We experienced a case of SGG on the trunk, buttock and thigh in a neutropenic patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. His clinical course was rapid and fatal during pre-engraftment neutropenic period of allogeneic stem cell transplantation.
Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Buttocks ; Clostridium ; Clostridium perfringens* ; Debridement ; Gas Gangrene* ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; Intestines ; Mortality ; Neutropenia* ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Skin ; Stem Cell Transplantation* ; Thigh