Purpose: Contrast sensitivity, the ability to distinguish the relative difference in luminance of an object from its surrounding or adjacent objects, is a useful measure of visual function. In granular corneal dystrophy type 2 (GCD2), opacity of the corneal stroma causes deterioration in visual function. We compared the contrast sensitivity of GCD2 patients before and after phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) to evaluate the perioperative visual function in these patients. Methods: This study included 22 eyes of heterozygote GCD2 patients. The visual acuity and contrast sensitivity were measured before and after PTK. The contrast sensitivity was measured in mesopic and photopic background luminances, with glare (G) levels of 0-2 (G0, G1, and G2, respectively) and spatial frequencies at 1.5, 3, 6, 12, and 18 cycles per degree (cpd). Results: The contrast sensitivity increased after PTK at 1.5 and 3 cpd in mesopic and photopic conditions with G0-2 glare (p < 0.05). At 6 cpd, the contrast sensitivity increased in the mesopic condition with G1 glare, and in the photopic condition with G0-2 glare (p < 0.05). However, there was no change in contrast sensitivity at any glare level at 12 and 18 cpd after PTK. Conclusions In GCD2 patients, the contrast sensitivity increased significantly after PTK. The vision of GCD2 patients, which is decreased due to corneal opacity, is improved after PTK.

Purpose: Granular corneal dystrophy type 2 (GCD2) is a hereditary disease that features granular and lattice stromal deposits in the cornea. There are homozygotes and heterozygotes and the opacities are exacerbated by corneal trauma or surgery, such as laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). As there is individual variability in GCD2 phenotypes, we investigated various corneal features of GCD2 patients in their twenties, the main age group for refractive surgery. Methods: From genetically confirmed GCD2 patients who had an R124H mutation of the transforming growth factor β induced (TGFBI) gene at age 20 to 29 years, we chose representative patients: one homozygote; one compound heterozygote; one simple heterozygote with a severe phenotype with many granular deposits; one common heterozygote; and four heterozygotes with normal corneas. The corneas of all patients were subject to slit-lamp examination and photographed. Results: The homozygote had confluent granular deposits covering the cornea. The compound heterozygote had granular and lattice deposits covering the center of the cornea. The patient with a severe phenotype had more than 30 granular deposits in one eye, but was a simple GCD2 heterozygote, verified by full-sequencing of the TGFBI gene. In the four patients with normal corneas, a single small lesion was subsequently detected during follow-up in two, at 3 weeks and 6 months, respectively. Both corneas were judged clear at chance examinations. Conclusions Among Koreans in their twenties, GCD2 patients have various phenotypes, from clear corneas to severe confluent opacities. There are GCD2 heterozygotes with nearly clear corneas, so caution must be taken when choosing patients for refractive surgery.

Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) mutations are the most common genetic cause of Parkinson's disease (PD). LRRK2 contains a functional kinase domain and G2019S, the most prevalent LRRK2 pathogenic mutation, increases its kinase activity. LRRK2 regulates mitochondria morphology and autophagy in neurons. LPS treatment increases LRRK2 protein level and mitochondrial fission in microglia, and down-regulation of LRRK2 expression or inhibition of its kinase activity attenuates microglia activation. Here, we evaluated the direct role of LRRK2 G2019S in mitochondrial dynamics in microglia. Initial observation of microglia in G2019S transgenic mice revealed a decrease in mitochondrial area and shortage of microglial processes compared with their littermates. Next, we elucidated the molecular mechanisms of these phenotypes. Treatment of BV2 cells and primary microglia with LPS enhanced mitochondrial fission and increased Drp1, a mitochondrial fission marker, as previously reported. Importantly, both phenotypes were rescued by treatment with GSK2578215A, a LRRK2 kinase inhibitor. Finally, the protein levels of CD68, an active microglia marker, Drp1 and TNF-α were significantly higher in brain lysates of G2019S transgenic mice compared with the levels in their littermates. Taken together, our data suggest that LRRK2 could promote microglial mitochondrial alteration via Drp1 in a kinase-dependent manner, resulting in stimulation of pro-inflammatory responses. This mechanism in microglia might be a potential target to develop PD therapy since neuroinflammation by active microglia is a major symptom of PD.
Animals ; Autophagy ; Brain ; Down-Regulation ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; Microglia* ; Mitochondria ; Mitochondrial Dynamics* ; Neurons ; Parkinson Disease ; Phenotype ; Phosphotransferases*

Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a main cause of diarrhea worldwide. This study reports the investigation on the occurrence of enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) serotype O27:H7-associated foodborne gastrointestinal disease that occurred at two schools, one middle school and one high school, in Seoul, Korea in June 2015. The immediate government investigation in 1,216 students and 19 food handlers in these two schools revealed that 116 students, 32 students in the middle school and 84 students in the high school, and 2 food handlers, one from middle school and the other from high school, developed gastrointestinal illness symptoms including diarrhea. Following lab investigation identified 29 ETEC serotype O27:H7 strains, 27 from 116 students and 2 from 19 food handlers. Pattern of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis of ETEC isolates suggested that ETEC serotype O27:H7 caused the diarrheal outbreak in June 2015 in Seoul, Korea was a specific clone. In addition, these ETEC serotype O27:H7 isolates were highly resistance to the several antibiotics. The results from the present study provide the evidence that ETEC serotype O27:H7 can be an important cause of domestic foodborne outbreak in Korea.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Clone Cells ; Diarrhea ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli* ; Escherichia coli ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Humans ; Korea ; Seoul ; Serogroup

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate job satisfaction, organizational commitment and turnover intention among male nurses in South Korea. METHODS: Data were collected in May, 2013 and a total of 150 male hospital nurses participated in this study. Job satisfaction, organizational commitment and turnover intention were measured using a structured questionnaire. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 20.0 for windows. RESULTS: There were statistically significant correlations between job satisfaction and organizational commitment (r=.74, p<.001), job satisfaction and turnover intention (r=-.56, p<.001), and organizational commitment and turnover intention (r=-.69, p< .001). There was a statistically significant difference in job satisfaction of participants according to education, work unit, and salary. Organizational commitment showed significant difference according to age, education, work unit, and salary. Turnover intention was significantly different according to duration of employment in the hospital, and salary. The most influential factor for turnover intention was organizational commitment (beta=-.69, p<.001). This factor accounted for 47.8% of the variance in turnover intention. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that to reduce turnover intention for men in nursing, it is necessary to increase job satisfaction, and organizational commitment.
Education ; Employment ; Humans ; Intention* ; Job Satisfaction* ; Korea ; Male ; Nurses, Male* ; Nursing ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Salaries and Fringe Benefits

Tinea incognito (TI) is a dermatophytic infection which has lost its typical clinical appearance because of improper use of steroids or calcineurin inhibitors. The incidence of TI is increasing nowadays. We conducted retrospective review on 283 patients with TI from 25 dermatology training hospitals in Korea from 2002-2010 to investigate the demographical, clinical, and mycological characteristics of TI, and to determine the associated risk factors. More than half (59.3%) patients were previously treated by non-dermatologists or self-treated. The mean duration of TI was 15.0 +/- 25.3 months. The most common clinical manifestations were eczema-like lesion, psoriasis-like, and lupus erythematosus-like lesion. The trunk and face were frequently involved, and 91 patients (32.2%) also had coexisting fungal infections. Among 67 isolated strains, Trichophyton rubrum was the most frequently detected (73.1%). This is the largest study of TI reported to date and the first investigational report concerning TI in Korea. We suggest that doctors should consider TI when a patient has intractable eczema-like lesions accompanied by tinea pedis/unguium. Furthermore, there should be a policy change, which would make over-the-counter high-potency topical steroids less accessible in some countries, including Korea.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Demography ; Eczema/pathology ; Face/pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous/pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Psoriasis/pathology ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Tinea/*diagnosis/microbiology ; Trichophyton/isolation & purification ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Postoperative hypothermia and shivering is a frequent event in patients during cesarean section under spinal anesthesia. We assessed the effect of preoperative warming during cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia for prevention of hypothermia and shivering. METHODS: Forty five patients undergoing elective cesarean section were randomly assigned to three groups. Group F received warmed intravenous fluid (40degrees C). Group A patients were actively warmed by forced air-warming. Group C was the control group. Forced air-warming and warmed fluid was maintained for the 15 min preceding spinal anesthesia. Core temperature (tympanic membrane) and the skin temperature of arm and thigh were measured and shivering was graded simultaneously. RESULTS: The core temperature at 45 min decreased less in Groups F and A than Group C (-0.5degrees C +/- 0.3degrees C vs -0.6degrees C +/- 0.4degrees C vs -0.9degrees C +/- 0.4degrees C, respectively; P = 0.004). The arm temperature at 15 min and 30 min exhibited a greater increase in Group A than Group F and Group C (P = 0.001 and P = 0.012, respectively). Leg temperature increased similarly among the three groups. The incidence of shivering was significantly less in Group A and Group F than Group C (20%, 13.3%, and 53.3%, respectively; P = 0.035). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative forced air-warming and warmed fluid prevents hypothermia and shivering in patients undergoing elective cesarean delivery with spinal anesthesia.
Anesthesia, Spinal ; Arm ; Cesarean Section ; Female ; Humans ; Hypothermia ; Incidence ; Leg ; Pregnancy ; Shivering ; Skin Temperature ; Thigh

Animals ; Bone Density ; Fibroins ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Osteogenesis ; Rabbits ; Silk ; Substance P ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: Epidural analgesia is the most effective way of providing pain relief during labor.However, its effect on the second stage of labor is controversial.This study examined the effect of epidural analgesia combined with caudal analgesia on the second stage of labor. METHODS: Forty three multiparous women were divided into three groups, non-epidural group, epidural group and epidural with caudal group.Epidural analgesia was maintained with patient-controlled epidural analgesia (0.09375% ropivacaine with 0.0002% fentanyl) in both the epidural and epidural with caudal groups.The epidural with caudal group was injected with 0.09375% ropivacaine into the caudal epidural space after inserting the lumbar epidural catheter.The assessments made throughout labor included the visual analogue score (VAS), patient's satisfaction, motor block and duration of the second stage. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the patient's satisfaction, VAS and motor block between the epidural group and epidural with caudal group.There were no significant differences in the duration of the second stage between the non-epidural, epidural and epidural with caudal groups. No cesarean or instrumental deliveries were performed. CONCLUSIONS: Epidural with caudal analgesia offers no additional benefit during the second stage of labor.However, it carries no added risk on the maternal outcome.
Amides ; Analgesia ; Analgesia, Epidural ; Epidural Space ; Female ; Humans ; Labor Pain ; Pregnancy

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most common malignancy in Korea and the prognosis of patients with HCC is generally poor. Most patients with HCC have unresectable disease at presentation and only a small proportion of patients diagnosed early receive curative treatment. Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a widely used palliative treatment for advanced HCC and its prognostic benefit has been proven in several studies. TACE is contraindicated for patients with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVT) because it carries a potential risk of acute hepatic failure. Recently, however, a few studies have provided evidence of a survival benefit after TACE in patients with PVT if they have good hepatic reserve and collateral circulation around the portal trunk. We experienced a case of HCC with PVT, with long-term survival and no evidence of recurrence or hepatic failure after TACE, and present this case with a review of the relevant literature.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Collateral Circulation ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver Failure ; Liver Failure, Acute ; Palliative Care ; Portal Vein ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Thrombosis