Objectives: In this study, we performed comparative genomic and transcriptomic analysis of clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis collected from patients with drug-susceptible tuberculosis (DS-TB). The clinical isolates were categorized based on treatment duration: standard 6 months or >6 months. Methods: Study participants were recruited from a 2016 to 2018 tuberculosis cohort, and clinical M. tuberculosis isolates were collected from the sputum of patients with tuberculosis. We analyzed the genome and transcriptome of the isolated M. tuberculosis. Results: Genomic analysis revealed a specific non-synonymous single-nucleotide polymorphism in pe_pgrs9 and ppe34, exclusive to the group treated for >6 months. Transcriptomic analysis revealed increased expression of various virulence-associated protein family genes and decreased expression of ribosomal protein genes and ppe38 genes in the group treated for >6 months. Conclusion The identified genetic variation and gene expression patterns may influence treatment outcomes by modulating host immune responses, increasing virulence, and potentially contributing to persister cell formation in M. tuberculosis. This study provides insights into the genetic and transcriptomic factors associated with prolonged DS-TB treatment. However, our study identified molecular characteristics using a small sample size, and further detailed studies are warranted.

Objectives: In this study, we performed comparative genomic and transcriptomic analysis of clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis collected from patients with drug-susceptible tuberculosis (DS-TB). The clinical isolates were categorized based on treatment duration: standard 6 months or >6 months. Methods: Study participants were recruited from a 2016 to 2018 tuberculosis cohort, and clinical M. tuberculosis isolates were collected from the sputum of patients with tuberculosis. We analyzed the genome and transcriptome of the isolated M. tuberculosis. Results: Genomic analysis revealed a specific non-synonymous single-nucleotide polymorphism in pe_pgrs9 and ppe34, exclusive to the group treated for >6 months. Transcriptomic analysis revealed increased expression of various virulence-associated protein family genes and decreased expression of ribosomal protein genes and ppe38 genes in the group treated for >6 months. Conclusion The identified genetic variation and gene expression patterns may influence treatment outcomes by modulating host immune responses, increasing virulence, and potentially contributing to persister cell formation in M. tuberculosis. This study provides insights into the genetic and transcriptomic factors associated with prolonged DS-TB treatment. However, our study identified molecular characteristics using a small sample size, and further detailed studies are warranted.

Purpose: It is essential to regulate nursing to protect the population's health. As regulation constantly changes in response to societal trends, periodic reviews of nursing regulations become imperative. Therefore, we developed a legal framework by extracting essential elements for nursing regulation and explored its potential application. Methods: This study consisted of two parts. First, the legal framework for nursing regulation was developed through reviewing literature that mentions the content that can be included in nursing regulations, and through a content validity assessment by five experts. Second, this legal framework was applied to the nursing laws of China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Taiwan to confirm the suitability of the framework. Results: In the first part of the study, the legal framework for nursing regulation consists of seven categories (purpose, definitions, standards for practice, license acquisition and registration to practice, regulatory body, protection of the legal authority of nurses, offenses/penalties, and disciplinary procedures) and 17 items was developed. As a result of applying this framework to nursing laws in four countries, the average utilization rate for all 17 items was 68.4%. The matching scores between the framework and the law were over 60% for all four laws. Conclusion Regulations, especially in the form of legislation, must be carefully considered because laws involve enforcement and potential penalties. This study is significant for identifying essential nursing regulation elements and offering a practical reference tool, expected to be widely utilized in future nursing policy and regulatory research.

Objectives: In this study, we performed comparative genomic and transcriptomic analysis of clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis collected from patients with drug-susceptible tuberculosis (DS-TB). The clinical isolates were categorized based on treatment duration: standard 6 months or >6 months. Methods: Study participants were recruited from a 2016 to 2018 tuberculosis cohort, and clinical M. tuberculosis isolates were collected from the sputum of patients with tuberculosis. We analyzed the genome and transcriptome of the isolated M. tuberculosis. Results: Genomic analysis revealed a specific non-synonymous single-nucleotide polymorphism in pe_pgrs9 and ppe34, exclusive to the group treated for >6 months. Transcriptomic analysis revealed increased expression of various virulence-associated protein family genes and decreased expression of ribosomal protein genes and ppe38 genes in the group treated for >6 months. Conclusion The identified genetic variation and gene expression patterns may influence treatment outcomes by modulating host immune responses, increasing virulence, and potentially contributing to persister cell formation in M. tuberculosis. This study provides insights into the genetic and transcriptomic factors associated with prolonged DS-TB treatment. However, our study identified molecular characteristics using a small sample size, and further detailed studies are warranted.

Purpose: It is essential to regulate nursing to protect the population's health. As regulation constantly changes in response to societal trends, periodic reviews of nursing regulations become imperative. Therefore, we developed a legal framework by extracting essential elements for nursing regulation and explored its potential application. Methods: This study consisted of two parts. First, the legal framework for nursing regulation was developed through reviewing literature that mentions the content that can be included in nursing regulations, and through a content validity assessment by five experts. Second, this legal framework was applied to the nursing laws of China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Taiwan to confirm the suitability of the framework. Results: In the first part of the study, the legal framework for nursing regulation consists of seven categories (purpose, definitions, standards for practice, license acquisition and registration to practice, regulatory body, protection of the legal authority of nurses, offenses/penalties, and disciplinary procedures) and 17 items was developed. As a result of applying this framework to nursing laws in four countries, the average utilization rate for all 17 items was 68.4%. The matching scores between the framework and the law were over 60% for all four laws. Conclusion Regulations, especially in the form of legislation, must be carefully considered because laws involve enforcement and potential penalties. This study is significant for identifying essential nursing regulation elements and offering a practical reference tool, expected to be widely utilized in future nursing policy and regulatory research.

Objectives: In this study, we performed comparative genomic and transcriptomic analysis of clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis collected from patients with drug-susceptible tuberculosis (DS-TB). The clinical isolates were categorized based on treatment duration: standard 6 months or >6 months. Methods: Study participants were recruited from a 2016 to 2018 tuberculosis cohort, and clinical M. tuberculosis isolates were collected from the sputum of patients with tuberculosis. We analyzed the genome and transcriptome of the isolated M. tuberculosis. Results: Genomic analysis revealed a specific non-synonymous single-nucleotide polymorphism in pe_pgrs9 and ppe34, exclusive to the group treated for >6 months. Transcriptomic analysis revealed increased expression of various virulence-associated protein family genes and decreased expression of ribosomal protein genes and ppe38 genes in the group treated for >6 months. Conclusion The identified genetic variation and gene expression patterns may influence treatment outcomes by modulating host immune responses, increasing virulence, and potentially contributing to persister cell formation in M. tuberculosis. This study provides insights into the genetic and transcriptomic factors associated with prolonged DS-TB treatment. However, our study identified molecular characteristics using a small sample size, and further detailed studies are warranted.

Purpose: It is essential to regulate nursing to protect the population's health. As regulation constantly changes in response to societal trends, periodic reviews of nursing regulations become imperative. Therefore, we developed a legal framework by extracting essential elements for nursing regulation and explored its potential application. Methods: This study consisted of two parts. First, the legal framework for nursing regulation was developed through reviewing literature that mentions the content that can be included in nursing regulations, and through a content validity assessment by five experts. Second, this legal framework was applied to the nursing laws of China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Taiwan to confirm the suitability of the framework. Results: In the first part of the study, the legal framework for nursing regulation consists of seven categories (purpose, definitions, standards for practice, license acquisition and registration to practice, regulatory body, protection of the legal authority of nurses, offenses/penalties, and disciplinary procedures) and 17 items was developed. As a result of applying this framework to nursing laws in four countries, the average utilization rate for all 17 items was 68.4%. The matching scores between the framework and the law were over 60% for all four laws. Conclusion Regulations, especially in the form of legislation, must be carefully considered because laws involve enforcement and potential penalties. This study is significant for identifying essential nursing regulation elements and offering a practical reference tool, expected to be widely utilized in future nursing policy and regulatory research.

Objectives: In this study, we performed comparative genomic and transcriptomic analysis of clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis collected from patients with drug-susceptible tuberculosis (DS-TB). The clinical isolates were categorized based on treatment duration: standard 6 months or >6 months. Methods: Study participants were recruited from a 2016 to 2018 tuberculosis cohort, and clinical M. tuberculosis isolates were collected from the sputum of patients with tuberculosis. We analyzed the genome and transcriptome of the isolated M. tuberculosis. Results: Genomic analysis revealed a specific non-synonymous single-nucleotide polymorphism in pe_pgrs9 and ppe34, exclusive to the group treated for >6 months. Transcriptomic analysis revealed increased expression of various virulence-associated protein family genes and decreased expression of ribosomal protein genes and ppe38 genes in the group treated for >6 months. Conclusion The identified genetic variation and gene expression patterns may influence treatment outcomes by modulating host immune responses, increasing virulence, and potentially contributing to persister cell formation in M. tuberculosis. This study provides insights into the genetic and transcriptomic factors associated with prolonged DS-TB treatment. However, our study identified molecular characteristics using a small sample size, and further detailed studies are warranted.

Background: and Purpose The Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS) is widely used for assessing current level of sleepiness, but it has not been validated in South Korea. This study aimed to validate the KSS using the Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS), polysomnography (PSG), and electroencephalography (EEG). Methods: The sample consisted of 27 adult participants in this study aged 40.5±7.7 years (mean±standard deviation) and included 22 males. They completed questionnaires and underwent EEG recording and overnight PSG. The KSS was completed from 18:00 to 24:00 every 2 hours and following PSG (at 07:00). KSS scores changed over time and in particular increased with the time since waking, with the score peaking at 24:00. Results: Convergent validity of the KSS was verified by performing a Spearman correlation analysis between the KSS and SSS (r=0.742, p<0.01). Concurrent validity of the KSS was verified by performing a Spearman correlation analysis between the KSS administered before sleep and the sleep onset latency measured using PSG (r=-0.456, p<0.05). Alpha waves were measured 5 minutes before administering the KSS, and the KSS scores were compared with these alpha waves. There were no significant correlations observed between the KSS scores and alpha waves measured in the left occipital area (O1), left frontal area (F3), or left central area (C3). In addition, Spearman correlation analyses of the difference between KSS scores and alpha waves measured at O1, F3, and C3 produced no significant results. Conclusions This study verified the convergent validity and concurrent validity of the KSS, and confirmed the capabilities of this scale in assessing sleepiness changes over time.

Purpose: The role of registered nurses is expanding in scope as the healthcare paradigm shifts from acute, hospital-based care to community and population-based care. Given this paradigm shift, this study explores the legal aspects of the role of a registered nurse. Methods: We used document analysis for extracting laws and legal orders related to nursing from the entirety of Korean law. Using textualism approach, we examined the contents utilizing a framework that was developed based on the role classification of community nurses by Clark in this study. Results: A total of 119 items related to nursing were derived from 64 laws. Of these, 71.4 % can be performed by people in multiple types of occupations including nurses. As a result of analyzing required qualifications, 45.4% of 119 items required additional qualifications besides registered nurse license. Analysis of workplace and activity type demonstrated that 26.1% of the 119 items were related to medical institutions, with nurses performing mostly “Client-oriented role.” More than half (68.9%) were non-medical institutions, with nurses performing mostly “Delivery-oriented role.” Some, however, did not stipulate the nurse’s roles clearly. Conclusion Therefore, to match the enhanced scope and responsibilities of registered nurses and to appropriately recognize, guide, and hold these nurses accountable, laws and policy must reflect these changes. In doing so, these updated laws and policies will ultimately serve as a basis for improving the quality and safety of nursing services.