Assessing the Validity of Adult-derived Prognostic Models for Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis Outcomes in Children.

Background: Natural history models for primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) are derived from adult patient data, but have never been validated in children. It is unclear how accurate such models are for children with PSC.

Methods: We utilized the pediatric PSC consortium database to assess the Revised Mayo Clinic, Amsterdam-Oxford, and Boberg models.

Female university students' menstrual-hygiene management and factors associated with genitourinary-tract infections in Korea.

This study examined female university students' menstrual-hygiene management and identified factors associated with genitourinary tract infections in this sample. This study was conducted as a descriptive survey. Participants were 383 female students from six universities in South Korea.

'I feel valued': the experience of social networking site engagement among people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in South Korea.

Previous studies have shown that participation in social networking sites (SNSs) enhances users' knowledge, social capital, and quality of life. However, people with intellectual developmental disabilities (PIDD) do not use SNSs to the same extent as the general population does. This study aimed to explore the experiences of those PIDD in South Korea who use social media.

Korean National Healthcare-Associated Infections Surveillance (KONIS): Hand hygiene surveillance.

Although hand hygiene (HH) monitoring by direct observation is considered to be a reliable method, it is labor intensive. The purpose of this study was to confirm regular HH use by collecting and analyzing HH data for Web- and mobile-application-based HH monitoring, as well as to establish a nationwide HH monitoring system. Users evaluated the Web-based report as being useful with regard to ease of access and use, data collection and analysis, and especially data comparison with other hospitals.

Novel Gene Mutations in a Child with Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis Type 1.

Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) is a group of severe genetic disorders, inherited in an autosomal recessive manner, causing cholestasis of hepatocellular origin, later progressing to biliary cirrhosis and liver failure. This is the first report of PFIC type 1 with novel compound heterozygous mutations in Korea. The patient was presented with intrahepatic cholestasis, a normal level of serum γ-glutamyl transferase, steatorrhea, and growth failure.

Metal Resistant Endophytic Bacteria Reduces Cadmium, Nickel Toxicity, and Enhances Expression of Metal Stress Related Genes with Improved Growth of Oryza Sativa, via Regulating Its Antioxidant Machinery and Endogenous Hormones.

The tolerance of plant growth-promoting endophytes (PGPEs) against various concentrations of cadmium (Cd) and nickel (Ni) was investigated. Two glutathione-producing bacterial strains ( SAK5 and SA22) were screened for Cd and Ni accumulation and tolerance in contaminated media, which showed resistance up to 1.0 mM.

Successful mitral valve repair for isolated mitral regurgitation in a child with Williams syndrome.

Williams syndrome is a genetic disorder associated with various cardiovascular abnormalities, most commonly supravalvar aortic stenosis and peripheral pulmonary stenosis. However, isolated severe mitral regurgitation necessitating surgical intervention is extremely rare. Here, we present the case of a 14-year-old child with Williams syndrome and isolated severe mitral regurgitation who underwent successful mitral valve repair.

Pharmacokinetic Study of NADPH Oxidase Inhibitor Ewha-18278, a Pyrazole Derivative.

In a previous study, the specific NOX1/2/4 inhibitor Ewha-18278 was confirmed as a possible treatment for osteoporosis both in vitro and in vivo. Here, we investigated the pharmacokinetics (PK) of the compound by intravenous (IV) and oral administrations to rats. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-based and diazepam injection-based formulations were used to dissolve the compound.

Voluntary exercise normalizes the proteomic landscape in muscle and brain and improves the phenotype of progeroid mice.

The accumulation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations is a suspected driver of aging and age-related diseases, but forestalling these changes has been a major challenge. One of the best-studied models is the prematurely aging mtDNA mutator mouse, which carries a homozygous knock-in of a proofreading deficient version of the catalytic subunit of mtDNA polymerase-γ (PolgA). We investigated how voluntary exercise affects the progression of aging phenotypes in this mouse, focusing on mitochondrial and protein homeostasis in both brain and peripheral tissues.

Relationship Between Sleep Apnea and Coronary Artery Calcium in Patients With Ischemic Stroke.

Unlabelled: Coronary artery disease is considered to be the major cause of death amongst patients with ischemic stroke. The coronary artery calcium (CAC) score is related not only to sleep-disordered breathing, but also with future risk of cardiovascular mortality. We investigated the association between the severity of sleep-disordered breathing and CAC score in patients with ischemic stroke.

Comparison of volume-controlled ventilation mode and pressure-controlled ventilation with volume-guaranteed mode in the prone position during lumbar spine surgery.

Background: During lumbar spine surgery, patients are placed in the prone position for surgical access. The prone position has various effects on cardiac and pulmonary function, including a decreased cardiac index (CI), decreased dynamic lung compliance (Cdyn), and increased peak inspiratory pressure (Ppeak). In this study, we compared the volume-controlled ventilation mode (VCV) and pressure-controlled ventilation with volume guaranteed mode (PCV-VG) based on hemodynamic and pulmonary variables in the prone position during lumbar spine surgery.

Changes in infection control policies and advancing infection control advanced practice nurse education in the Republic of Korea.

After the Middle East respiratory syndrome outbreak of 2015, the Korean government became the payer for infection control (IC) and prevention when hospitals developed IC offices and appointed IC doctors and IC advanced practice nurses. The goal was to enhance IC for all hospitalized patients to prevent the occurrence and spread of infection among them. Measures resulted in increased demand for IC personnel, especially IC advanced practice nurses.

Rebuilding Life after Burn Injuries in Korea: Using Photovoice.

This study analyzed life after injury for burn survivors using the photovoice research method. Study participants were six burn survivors who lived in the community after being discharged from the hospital. These six participants engaged in a series of photovoice workshops and activities that took place over a period of 4 months.

Cutaneous Disorders Associated with Castleman's Disease.

Castleman's disease is a rare disease of the lymph nodes and related tissues, presenting as angiofollicular or giant lymph node hyperplasia. Although various skin manifestations have been reported to occur in Castleman's disease, a comprehensive study of cutaneous disorders in Castleman's disease is lacking. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate Castleman's disease-associated cutaneous disorders.

Whole genome analysis of Aspergillus sojae SMF 134 supports its merits as a starter for soybean fermentation.

Aspergillus sojae is a koji (starter) mold that has been applied for food fermentation in Asia. The whole genome of A. sojae SMF 134, which was isolated from meju (Korean soybean fermented brick), was analyzed at the genomic level to evaluate its potential as a starter for soybean fermentation.

Comparative Analysis of Phase Lag Entropy and Bispectral Index as Anesthetic Depth Indicators in Patients Undergoing Thyroid Surgery with Nerve Integrity Monitoring.

Background: Most depth of anesthesia (DOA) monitors rely on the temporal characteristics of a single-channel electroencephalogram (EEG) and cannot provide spatial or connectivity information. Phase lag entropy (PLE) reflects DOA by calculating diverse connectivity from temporal patterns of phase relationships. The aim of this study was to compare the performance of PLE and bispectral index (BIS) monitors for assessing DOA during anesthesia induction, nerve integrity monitoring (NIM), and anesthesia emergence.

Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis in Korea: A Clinicopathological Study of Five Patients.

Background: Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) is a heterogeneous group of autosomal recessive liver diseases that present as neonatal cholestasis. Little is known of this disease in Korea.

Methods: The records of five patients histologically diagnosed with PFIC, one with PFIC1 and four with PFIC2, by liver biopsy or transplant were reviewed, and ATP8B1 and ABCB11 mutation status was analyzed by direct DNA sequencing.

Association of TRAP1 with infliximab-induced mucosal healing in Crohn's disease.

Background And Aim: Anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents, such as infliximab (IFX), have been increasingly used to induce and maintain disease remission in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). Despite a considerable non-response rate, little is known about the genetic predictors of response to anti-TNF therapy in CD. Our aim in this study was to investigate the genetic factors associated with response to anti-TNF therapy in patients with CD.

Horizontal gene transfer in human-associated microorganisms inferred by phylogenetic reconstruction and reconciliation.

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is widespread in the evolution of prokaryotes, especially those associated with the human body. Here, we implemented large-scale gene-species phylogenetic tree reconstructions and reconciliations to identify putative HGT-derived genes in the reference genomes of microbiota isolated from six major human body sites by the NIH Human Microbiome Project. Comparisons with a control group representing microbial genomes from diverse natural environments indicated that HGT activity increased significantly in the genomes of human microbiota, which is confirmatory of previous findings.

Time Transient Electrochemical Monitoring of Tetraalkylammonium Polybromide Solid Particle Formation: Observation of Ionic Liquid-to-Solid Transitions.

Energy storage systems (ESSs) using a Br/Br redox reaction such as a Zn/Br redox flow battery (RFB) or a redox-enhanced electrochemical capacitor (Redox-EC) suffer from self-discharge reactions resulting in significant Coulombic loss. To inhibit the self-discharge, quaternary ammonium (Q) and tetraalkylammonium (T) bromide are added to form ionic liquid (QBr) and solid (TBr) polybromides during the ESS charging process. The electrochemical formation of liquid QBr and its electrochemical properties have been examined.

Comparison of Pentax Airway Scope and Macintosh laryngoscope for orotracheal intubation in children: A randomised non-inferiority trial.

Background: Pentax Airway Scope (AWS) is a recently developed videolaryngoscope for use in both normal and difficult airways, yet its use in paediatric patients has not been established. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the Pentax AWS regarding intubation time, laryngeal view and ease of intubation in paediatric patients with normal airway, compared to Macintosh laryngoscope.

Method: A total of 136 paediatric patients aged 1-10 with American Society of Anaesthesiologists physical status I or II undergoing general anaesthesia were randomly allocated into two groups: Macintosh laryngoscope (n = 68) and Pentax Airway Scope (n = 68).

Testing Empirical Support for Evolutionary Models that Root the Tree of Life.

Trees of life (ToLs) can only be rooted with direct methods that seek optimization of character state information in ingroup taxa. This involves optimizing phylogenetic tree, model and data in an exercise of reciprocal illumination. Rooted ToLs have been built from a census of protein structural domains in proteomes using two kinds of models.

Anti-obesity effect in high-fat-diet-induced obese C57BL/6 mice: Study of a novel extract from mulberry () leaves fermented with .

The therapeutic effects of mulberry () leaves on lipid metabolism, including lipogenesis, lipolysis and hyperlipidemia are widely known, although their fermented products are yet to be applied. To investigate the therapeutic effects of a novel extract of mulberry leaves fermented with (EMfC) on lipid metabolism, the lipid profile of serum, lipid accumulation, lipolytic activity and lipogenesis regulation were measured in high fat diet (HFD)-induced obese C57BL/6 mice treated with EMfC for 12 weeks. Briefly, the concentrations of low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, total cholesterol and glucose significantly decreased in the serum of the HFD+EMfC treated group when compared with the HFD+Vehicle treated group, while the levels of high-density lipoprotein increased in the HFD+EMfC group.

Work-Related Perceptions, Injuries, and Musculoskeletal Symptoms: Comparison Between U.S.-Educated and Foreign-Educated Nurses.

Immigrants account for a significant proportion of the nursing workforce in the United States (U.S.).