Perceived Alienation of, and Social Support for, Siblings of Children With Cancer.

This descriptive study was performed to identify the relationships among alienation, general social support, and nurses' support for the siblings of children with cancer. The participants were 84 siblings of children with cancer. Alienation was measured by the revised version of Dean's Alienation Scale, and general social support was quantified by the revised version of Dubow and Ullman's Social Support Appraisal Scale.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in nonsmokers by occupation and exposure: a brief review.

Purpose Of Review: This review gives an overview on recent reports of various occupations associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and exposures to associate with COPD among nonsmokers.

Recent Findings: Recent research has focused on identifying occupations with increased risk of COPD and exposures associated with COPD among nonsmokers based on national health survey data in the United States and studies in other countries. Recently reported prevalence of COPD among nonsmokers was 2.

De novo transcriptome assembly and the identification of gene-associated single-nucleotide polymorphism markers in Asian and American ginseng roots.

We performed de novo transcriptome sequencing for Panax ginseng and Panax quinquefolius accessions using the 454 GS FLX Titanium System and discovered annotation-based genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) using next-generation ginseng transcriptome data without reference genome sequence. The comprehensive transcriptome characterization with the mature roots of four ginseng accessions generated 297,170 reads for 'Cheonryang' cultivar, 305,673 reads for 'Yunpoong' cultivar, 311,861 reads for the G03080 breeding line, and 308,313 reads for P. quinquefolius.

Comparison of brush and basket cytology in differential diagnosis of bile duct stricture at endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Background: A previous report has identified a significantly higher sensitivity of cancer detection for dedicated grasping basket than brushing at endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). This study aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of Geenen brush and Dormia basket cytology in the differential diagnosis of bile duct stricture.

Method: The current study enrolled one hundred and fourteen patients who underwent ERCP with both Geenen brush and Dormia basket cytology for the differential diagnosis of bile duct stricture at our institution between January 2008 and December 2012.

Tolerability and pharmacokinetics of two formulations of megestrol acetate under fed conditions in healthy volunteers.

Purpose: Megestrol acetate oral suspension is an appetite stimulant indicated for cachexia. It is available in a conventional formulation and as a nanocrystal dispersion. The aim of this study was to compare the tolerability and pharmacokinetics of these formulations under fed conditions in healthy Korean volunteers.

[Efficacy of bisacodyl given as part of a polyethylene glycol-based bowel preparation prior to colonoscopy in hospitalized patients: a prospective ramdomized trial].

Background/aims: Inpatient status can cause inadequate bowel preparation. The majority of previous studies regarding bowel preparation have focused on comparing the effects of different purgative regimens in outpatients. However, data on bowel preparation for inpatients are lacking.

[Effects of newborn care education for first-time fathers on their knowledge and confidence in newborn care at postpartum one month].

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify the effects of newborn care education for fathers on their knowledge and confidence in newborn care at postpartum one month.

Methods: A nonequivalent control group pretest posttest design was used. The participants were 53 first-time fathers of newborns, 27 in experimental group, and 26 in control group.

Ten changes psychotherapists typically make as they mature into the role of supervisor.

Stage models have largely informed scholarship on supervisor developmental processes. We argue that understanding this development as occurring along dimensions is more useful for both supervision practitioners and educators as well as for those engaged in research on supervisor development. Building on the work of Heid () and working with a panel of 7 supervision experts, we identify 10 themes and validate their salience to supervisor development using a sample of 22 clinical supervisors.

Prevalence of blaZ gene types and the cefazolin inoculum effect among methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus blood isolates and their association with multilocus sequence types and clinical outcome.

Cefazolin treatment failures have been described for bacteraemia caused by methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) with type A β-lactamase and inoculum effect (InE). We investigated the prevalence of blaZ (β-lactamase) gene types and a cefazolin InE among MSSA blood isolates in South Korea and evaluated their association with specific genotypes. The clinical impact of the cefazolin InE was also evaluated.

Management of antiviral drug resistance in chronic hepatitis B.

Rescue antiviral treatment for patients with resistance to preexisting nucleos(t)ide analogues remains a clinical challenge. The correct choice of a first-line treatment of high potency and with a high genetic barrier to achieve sustained long-term suppression of viral replication provides the best chance of preventing treatment failure and the emergence of drug resistance. The management of treatment failure and drug resistance requires a precise and accurate clinical and virologic monitoring.

Characterization of the hemocytes in Larvae of Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis: involvement of granulocyte-mediated phagocytosis.

Hemocytes are key players in the immune response against pathogens in insects. However, the hemocyte types and their functions in the white-spotted flower chafers, Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis (Kolbe), are not known. In this study, we used various microscopes, molecular probes, and flow cytometric analyses to characterize the hemocytes in P.

Antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticle-coated fabric and leather against odor and skin infection causing bacteria.

We present a simple, eco-friendly synthesis of silver and gold nanoparticles using a natural polymer pine gum solution as the reducing and capping agent. The pine gum solution was combined with silver nitrate (AgNO3) or a chloroauric acid (HAuCl4) solution to produce silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), respectively. The reaction process was simple; formation of the nanoparticles was achieved by autoclaving the silver and gold ions with the pine gum.

A novel mathematical model to predict the severity of postoperative functional reduction before partial nephrectomy: the importance of calculating resected and ischemic volume.

Purpose: Preoperatively predicting postoperative kidney function is an essential step to achieve improved renal function and prevent chronic kidney disease. We introduce a novel formula especially to calculate resected and ischemic volume before partial nephrectomy. We examined whether resected and ischemic volume would have value for predicting postoperative renal function.

Evaluation of pharmacokinetic drug interactions between gemigliptin (dipeptidylpeptidase-4 inhibitor) and glimepiride (sulfonylurea) in healthy volunteers.

Purpose: Gemigliptin is approved for the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus. Sulfonylureas are commonly used in combination with other antidiabetic drugs to improve glycemic control. The objective of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of gemigliptin and glimepiride combination therapy compared with those of monotherapies.

Efficacy of hemocontrol biofeedback system in intradialytic hypotension-prone hemodialysis patients.

We conducted a study to determine whether the hemocontrol biofeedback system (HBS) can improve intradialytic hypotension (IDH) in hypotension-prone hemodialysis (HD) patients compared with conventional HD. In this multicenter prospective crossover study, 60 hypotension-prone patients were serially treated by conventional HD for 8 weeks (period A), by HD with hemoscan blood volume monitoring for 2 weeks (period B0), and by HBS HD for 8 weeks (period B1). The number of sessions complicated by symptomatic IDH during 24 HD sessions (14.

Molecular cloning and characterization of a lysozyme cDNA from the mole cricket Gryllotalpa orientalis (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae).

A full-length lysozyme cDNA from Gryllotalpa orientalis was cloned and sequenced. The deduced amino acid sequence of the lysozyme protein was 143 amino acids in length, with a calculated molecular mass of 15.84 kDa and an isoelectric point of 4.

Practical application of DNA markers for high-throughput authentication of Panax ginseng and Panax quinquefolius from commercial ginseng products.

Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng) and American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) are widely used medicinal plants with similar morphology but different medicinal efficacy. Roots, flowers, and processed products of Korean and American ginseng can be difficult to differentiate from each other, leading to illegal trade in which one species is sold as the other. This study was carried out to develop convenient and reliable chloroplast genome-derived DNA markers for authentication of Korean and American ginseng in commercial processed products.

Prevalence of obesity by occupation among US workers: the National Health Interview Survey 2004-2011.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of obesity and the change of prevalence of obesity between 2004-2007 and 2008-20011 by occupation among US workers in the National Health Interview Survey.

Methods: Self-reported weight and height were collected and used to assess obesity (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m). Gender-, race/ethnicity-, and occupation-specific prevalence of obesity were calculated.

Green synthesis of silver and gold nanoparticles using Zingiber officinale root extract and antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles against food pathogens.

In the present study, we synthesized silver and gold nanoparticles with a particle size of 10-20 nm, using Zingiber officinale root extract as a reducing and capping agent. Chloroauric acid (HAuCl4) and silver nitrate (AgNO3) were mixed with Z. officinale root extract for the production of silver (AgNPs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs).

The effect of rhinovirus on airway inflammation in a murine asthma model.

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to investigate the differences in lower airway inflammatory immune responses, including cellular responses and responses in terms of inflammatory mediators in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and the airway, to rhinovirus (RV) infection on asthma exacerbation by comparing a control and a murine asthma model, with or without RV infection.

Methods: BALB/c mice were intraperitoneally injected with a crude extract of Dermatophagoides farinae (Df) or phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and were subsequently intranasally treated with a crude extract of Df or PBS. Airway responsiveness and cell infiltration, differential cell counts in BALF, and cytokine and chemokine concentrations in BALF were measured 24 hours after intranasal RV1B infection.

Trichoderma virens PDR-28: a heavy metal-tolerant and plant growth-promoting fungus for remediation and bioenergy crop production on mine tailing soil.

A heavy metal-tolerant fungus, Trichoderma virens PDR-28, was isolated from rhizosphere soil and evaluated for use in remediating mine tailing soil and for plant biomass production. PDR-28 exhibited plant growth-promoting traits, including 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase, acid phosphatase and phytase activity, siderophore production, and P solubilization. HMs were more available in mine tailing soil inoculated soil with PDR-28 than in uninoculated soil; the order of HM bioleaching was Cd > As > Zn > Pb > Cu.

Diseases attributable to asbestos exposure: years of potential life lost, United States, 1999-2010.

Background: Although asbestos use has been restricted in recent decades, asbestos-associated deaths continue to occur in the United States.

Objectives: We evaluated premature mortality and loss of potentially productive years of life attributable to asbestos-associated diseases.

Methods: Using 1999-2010 National Center for Health Statistics mortality data, we identified decedents aged ≥25 years whose death certificate listed asbestosis and malignant mesothelioma as the underlying cause of death.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease prevalence among nonsmokers by occupation in the United States.

Objective: To examine the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among nonsmokers by occupation in the United States.

Methods: The 1997 to 2004 National Health Interview Survey data for working adults aged 25 years or more were used to estimate the COPD prevalence and to examine change in COPD prevalence between 1997 to 2000 and 2001 to 2004 by occupational groups.

Results: During 1997 to 2004, COPD prevalence was 2.

Characterization of a β-1,3-glucan recognition protein from the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

The β-1,3-glucan recognition protein gene from Spodoptera exigua (SeβGRP) was cloned and characterized. The cDNA of this gene is 1 644 nucleotides in length and the predicted polypeptide is 491 amino acids (aa) in length, with a calculated molecular mass of 54.8 kDa.