Background/Aims: To investigate if BK virus (BKV)-specific T cell immunity measured by an interferon-γ enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay can predict the outcome of BK virus infection in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). Methods: We included 68 KTRs with different viremia status (no viremia [n = 17], BK viremia [n = 27], and cleared viremia [n = 24]) and 44 healthy controls (HCs). The BK viremia group was divided into controller (< 3 months) and noncontroller (> 3 months) according to sustained duration of BKV infection. We compared BKV-ELISPOT results against five BKV peptides (large tumor antigen [LT], St, VP1-3). Results: BKV-ELISPOT results were higher in three KTRs groups with different BKV infection status than the HCs group (p < 0.05). In KTR groups, they were higher in cleared viremia group than no viremia or BK viremia group. Within the BK viremia group, controller group had higher LT-ELISPOT results compared to noncontroller group (p = 0.032). Also, KTRs without BK virus-associated nephropathy (BKVN) had higher LT, St, VP1, and VP2-ELISPOT results than those with BKVN (p < 0.05). Conclusions BKV-ELISPOT assay may be effective in predicting clinical outcomes of BKV infection in terms of clearance of BK virus and development of BKVN.

ELISAs and rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are widely used for diagnosing dengue virus (DENV) infection. Using 138 single blood samples, we compared the ability to detect non-structural (NS)-1 antigen and anti-DENV IgM/IgG antibodies among (1) DENV Detect NS1 ELISA, DENV Detect IgM capture ELISA and DENV Detect IgG ELISA (InBios International, Inc.); (2) Anti-Dengue virus IgM Human ELISA and Anti-Dengue virus IgG Human ELISA (Abcam); (3) Dengue virus NS1 ELISA, Anti-Dengue virus ELISA (IgM) and Anti-Dengue virus ELISA (IgG) (Euroimmun); (4) Asan Easy Test Dengue NS1 Ag 100 and Asan Easy Test Dengue IgG/IgM (Asan Pharm); (5) SD BIOLINE Dengue Duo (Standard Diagnostics); and (6) Ichroma Dengue NS1 and Ichroma Dengue IgG/IgM (Boditech Med). For NS1 antigen detection, InBios and Euroimmun showed higher sensitivities (100%) than the RDTs (42.9–64.3%). All tests demonstrated variable sensitivities for IgM (38.1–90.5%) and IgG (65.7–100.0%). InBios and Boditech Med demonstrated higher sensitivity (95.6% and 88.2%, respectively) than the other tests for combined NS1 antigen and IgM antibody. Five NS1 antigen tests had good agreement (92.8–98.6%) without showing positivity for chikungunya. However, all IgG tests demonstrated potential false-positivity with variable ranges. Clinical laboratories should note performance variations across tests and potential cross-reactivity.
Antibodies ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Dengue Virus ; Dengue ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the suicide ideation effects of suicide prevention program. METHODS: Using several databases, studies were collected from March, 2012 to August, 2012. For the purpose of a systematic literature review, in this study analysis was done of pretested-posttested research among non-randomized studies utilizing suicide prevention program, and having set the intervention as the independent variable suicidal idea as a dependent variable. RESULTS: The result of interventions on suicide prevention showed a moderate effect at -0.72 (96% CI: -0.96, 0.48). For intervention types, reality therapy was most effective overall, while the life cycle was found to be most effective for young people (d=-1.57, 95% CI: -2.70, -0.43). The periods for the intervention on suicide prevention was shown to be most effective when it was repeated over 20 times (d=-1.55, 95% CI:-2.75, -0.35), and also it worked better for the risk group than a general group (d=-0.89, 95% CI: -1.26, 0.52). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study support basic data for interventions to prevent future suicide and the need for further development of prevention programs.
Life Cycle Stages ; Reality Therapy ; Suicide*

PURPOSE: This study was done to identify the effects of a Self-discovery Program for elementary school students. The study consisted of two phases: Developing the program and evaluating its effectiveness. METHODS: Forty six students who were in elementary school in B city participated in a survey, which was carried out from May 25 to July 15, 2010. To test the effects of the Self-discovery Program, the participants were divided into two groups, an experimental group (n=23) and a control group (n=23). The research design used in this study was a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest research design. Data were analyzed by using chi2-test, t-test and ANCOVA with the SPSS/WIN 14.0 program. RESULTS: Significant differences were found in scores for self-esteem (t=2.60, p=.006), stress (F=18.65, p<.001) and depression (F=23.88, p<.001) between the experimental group and the control group. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that Self-discovery Program should be used with children to help them and to improve their mental health.
Child ; Depression ; Ego ; Humans ; Mental Health ; Research Design

PURPOSE: Objectives of this study were to identify factors influencing depression in patients with chronic renal failure according to patient characteristics and to provide basic data to develop nursing interventions for depression in these patients. METHODS: This descriptive correlative study was conducted using structured questionnaires with 114 patients diagnosed with chronic renal failure. Data were analyzed using t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation and multiple regression analysis with SPSS/WIN 18.0. RESULTS: 1) Level of depression was different according to the history of smoking (p<.001), past health history (p=.001), only drugs as therapy, peritoneal dialysis, hemodialysis (p=.028), and perceived health status (p<.001); 2) Significant correlations were found between depression, stress, value of life and social support; 3) multiple regression analysis showed that stress (beta=.24, t=3.41, p=.001), value of life (beta=-.46, t=-6.37, p<.001) and social support (beta=-.19, t=-2.79, p=.006) in that order contributed to depression and explained 56.4% of variance in depression. CONCLUSION: Findings from this study indicate that health professionals should provide proper management for depression for patients with chronic renal failure, as well as factors influencing depression, including stress, value of life and social support. There is also a need to implement stress management and self-help group programs for these patients.
Depression* ; Health Occupations ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Nursing ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Renal Dialysis ; Self-Help Groups ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Value of Life

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to investigate the degree of depression in Korean American immigrants according to their characteristics. METHODS: This descriptive correlation study conducted visit-surveys with organized questionnaires and sampled 330 Korean American immigrants living in Houston, Seattle and New York areas. SCL-90 was used to measure the degree of depression. Data was analyzed by t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients and multiple regression analysis using SPSS/WIN 14.0. RESULTS: Findings revealed that; 1) the degree of depression in Korean American immigrants according to their characteristics were significantly different in age, occupation, immigration life satisfaction, and health status; 2) Pearson's correlation revealed a significant association among depression, immigrant life stress, self esteem, and quality of life; 3) multi regression analysis showed immigrant life stress, self esteem, and quality of life significantly influenced depression in Korean American immigrants. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings of this study, health professionals should provide proper management of depression as well as its influencing factors, namely, immigrant life stress, self esteem, and quality of life especially for new immigrant populations.
Asian Americans* ; Depression* ; Emigrants and Immigrants* ; Emigration and Immigration ; Health Occupations ; Humans ; Occupations ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Self Concept ; Statistics as Topic ; Stress, Psychological

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to investigate the degree of depression in Korean American immigrants according to their characteristics. METHODS: This descriptive correlation study conducted visit-surveys with organized questionnaires and sampled 330 Korean American immigrants living in Houston, Seattle and New York areas. SCL-90 was used to measure the degree of depression. Data was analyzed by t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients and multiple regression analysis using SPSS/WIN 14.0. RESULTS: Findings revealed that; 1) the degree of depression in Korean American immigrants according to their characteristics were significantly different in age, occupation, immigration life satisfaction, and health status; 2) Pearson's correlation revealed a significant association among depression, immigrant life stress, self esteem, and quality of life; 3) multi regression analysis showed immigrant life stress, self esteem, and quality of life significantly influenced depression in Korean American immigrants. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings of this study, health professionals should provide proper management of depression as well as its influencing factors, namely, immigrant life stress, self esteem, and quality of life especially for new immigrant populations.
Asian Americans* ; Depression* ; Emigrants and Immigrants* ; Emigration and Immigration ; Health Occupations ; Humans ; Occupations ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Self Concept ; Statistics as Topic ; Stress, Psychological

Candida species are uncommon cause of infectious arthritis. The increasing use of potent antibiotics, immunosuppressives, artificial joints, and especially the injection of steroid into the joints predispose to the fungal arthritis. Candida arthritis occurs by hematogenous dissemination or by direct inoculation of fungus into the joint cavity. Fifty three-year-old diabetic patient, who received intra-articular steroid injection into right ankle joint several times, was hospitalized because of aggravating ankle pain and swelling. Candida parapsilosis was isolated from the joint aspiration fluid and MRI findings were compatible with septic arthritis with osteomyelitis of distal tibia, distal fibula, talus, and calcaneus. The patient was successfully treated with 3 weeks of amphotericin B and 7 months of oral fluconazole. We report this case with review of pertinent literatures, emphasizing a high index of suspicion for the fungal infection in patients with predisposing risk factors.
Amphotericin B ; Ankle Joint ; Ankle* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Arthritis* ; Arthritis, Infectious ; Calcaneus ; Candida* ; Fibula ; Fluconazole ; Fungi ; Humans ; Joints ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Osteomyelitis ; Risk Factors ; Talus ; Tibia

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a member of the herpesviridae, which shares the characteristics of latent infection and reactivation. VZV causes two distinct clinical entities; varicella (chickenpox) and herpes zoster (shingles). Varicella pneumonia is the most common complication of adult varicella, especially in patients who are immunocompromised. We present two cases of VZV pneumonia occuring in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who were being treated with cytotoxic drugs and steroid. Both patients were treated with acyclovir and responses were good.
Acyclovir ; Adult ; Chickenpox ; Herpes Zoster ; Herpesviridae ; Herpesvirus 3, Human ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Pneumonia*