Effects of psychological symptoms on life adjustment among survivors of humidifier disinfectants.

Objectives: The humidifier disinfectant catastrophe in South Korea was a social disaster caused by toxic chemical substances. The present study aimed to examine the relationships between psychological symptoms and adaptive life functioning in survivors of humidifier disinfectants. This study examined the differential effects of psychological symptoms on life adjustment between survivors of humidifier disinfectant and the general population.

Effects of Psychotherapy on the Problem Behaviors of Humidifier Disinfectant Survivors: The Role of Individual Characteristics and Adaptive Functioning.

This study aimed to examine group differences in the survivors of humidifier damage and the effect of individual psychotherapy on the psychological symptoms of the survivor groups, using the single group pre-post study design. A series of Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney tests were conducted to investigate the level of psychological problems before and after psychotherapy, as well as the main and interaction effects of demographic characteristics and adaptive functioning on the treatment effects in 69 humidifier disinfectant survivors. The results demonstrated significant differences in problems with socioeconomic status (SES), life functioning, friendships, family relationships, and job adjustment in the survivor groups.

Multi-layer relationships between psychological symptoms and life adaptation among humidifier disinfectant survivors.

In April 2011, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the results of an epidemiological investigation that an unknown cause of lung disease that occurred throughout Korea was caused by humidifier disinfectants. The unprecedented social catastrophe caused by humidifier disinfectants, a household chemical, has so far reported 1,784 deaths and 5,984 survivors in South Korea. This study was designed to investigate the multi-layer relationships between psychological symptoms and adaptive functioning in survivors of the Humidifier disinfectants in South Korea caused by chemical toxic substances.

Exploring Socio-Demographic Factors Affecting Psychological Symptoms in Humidifier Disinfectant Survivors.

This study aimed to compare the psychological symptoms of humidifier disinfectant survivors to the general population and explore socio-demographic factors influencing survivors' psychological symptoms. A one-way Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) and a series of two-way MANCOVA were conducted with a sample of 228 humidifier disinfectant survivors and 228 controls. The results demonstrated that the survivor group displayed higher anxious/depressed symptoms, withdrawn symptoms, somatic complaints, thought problems, attention problems, aggressive behavior and rule-breaking behavior than the general group.

The Prevalence of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome in the Korean Military Compared with the General Population.

Background: Obesity and related metabolic disorders are growing health challenges worldwide and individuals at military service are not exceptions. The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome (MS) in the Korean military and to compare with the general population.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 4,803 young military participants who underwent a corporal health-screening program between October 2013 and October 2014.

Integrative analysis of mutational and transcriptional profiles reveals driver mutations of metastatic breast cancers.

Despite the explosion in the numbers of cancer genomic studies, metastasis is still the major cause of cancer mortality. In breast cancer, approximately one-fifth of metastatic patients survive 5 years. Therefore, detecting the patients at a high risk of developing distant metastasis at first diagnosis is critical for effective treatment strategy.

Erythorbyl laurate as a potential food additive with multi-functionalities: Interfacial characteristics and antioxidant activity.

The interfacial characteristics and antioxidant activities of erythorbyl laurate were investigated to provide information on practical applications as a multi-functional food additive. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) of erythorbyl laurate was 0.101mM and its foam stability was three times (half-life 24.

Evaluation of Antibacterial Activity of Titanium Surface Modified by PVD/PACVD Process.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the response of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) via crystal violet staining assay on titanium surface modified by physical vapor deposition/plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition process. Specimens were divided into the following three groups: polished titanium (control group), titanium modified by DC magnetron sputtering (group TiN-Ti), and titanium modified by plasma nitriding (group N-Ti).

Delaying diagnostic procedure significantly increases mortality in patients with invasive mucormycosis.

Invasive mucormycosis is an uncommon but increasing life-threatening fungal infection. The present study investigated clinical characteristics and mortality among patients diagnosed as invasive mucormycosis infection. We retrospectively reviewed a total of 24 histologically proven cases of invasive mucormycosis at two tertiary care referral hospitals between November 2005 and February 2014.

Genome-wide methylation profiling of ADPKD identified epigenetically regulated genes associated with renal cyst development.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a common human genetic disease characterized by the formation of multiple fluid-filled cysts in bilateral kidneys. Although mutations in polycystic kidney disease 1 (PKD1) are predominantly responsible for ADPKD, the focal and sporadic property of individual cystogenesis suggests another molecular mechanism such as epigenetic alterations. To determine the epigenomic alterations in ADPKD and their functional relevance, ADPKD and non-ADPKD individuals were analyzed by unbiased methylation profiling genome-wide and compared with their expression data.

Conversion from selective to comprehensive neck dissection: is it necessary for occult nodal metastasis? 5-year observational study.

Objectives: To compare the therapeutic results between selective neck dissection (SND) and conversion modified radical neck dissection (MRND) for the occult nodal metastasis cases in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Methods: Forty-four cases with occult nodal metastasis were enrolled in this observational cohort study. For twenty-nine cases, SNDs were done and for fifteen cases, as metastatic nodes were found in the operative field, conversion from selective to MRNDs type II were done.

Interaction between the electrical stimulation of a face-selective area and the perception of face stimuli.

We electrically stimulated the face-selective area in epileptic patients while they were performing a face-categorization task. Face categorization was interfered by electrical stimulation but was restored by increasing the visual signal. More importantly, face-categorization interference by electrical stimulation was confined to face-selective electrodes, and the amount of interference was positively correlated with the sensitivity of the face-selective electrodes.

Differential Expression of PKD2-Associated Genes in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is characterized by formation of multiple fluid-filled cysts that expand over time and destroy renal architecture. The proteins encoded by the PKD1 and PKD2 genes, mutations in which account for nearly all cases of ADPKD, may help guard against cystogenesis. Previously developed mouse models of PKD1 and PKD2 demonstrated an embryonic lethal phenotype and massive cyst formation in the kidney, indicating that PKD1 and PKD2 probably play important roles during normal renal tubular development.

A case of Hashimoto's encephalopathy presenting with seizures and psychosis.

Hashimoto's encephalopathy (HE) is a rare, poorly understood, autoimmune disease characterized by symptoms of acute or subacute encephalopathy associated with increased anti-thyroid antibody levels. Here, we report a case of a 14-year-old girl with HE and briefly review the literature. The patient presented with acute mental changes and seizures, but no evidence of infectious encephalitis.

NFIB is a potential target for estrogen receptor-negative breast cancers.

Background: The association between nuclear factor I/B (NFIB) gene and triple negative breast cancer has been previously suggested.

Methods: We investigated the relationship between NFIB mRNA and protein expression and molecular subtypes of breast cancer as well as the effect of NFIB silencing on the proliferation and apoptosis of breast cancer cells. Also, the clinical importance of NFIB expression was investigated in 163 breast cancer patients.

Reduced brain gray matter concentration in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Study Objectives: To investigate differences in brain gray matter concentrations or volumes in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) and healthy volunteers.

Designs: Optimized voxel-based morphometry, an automated processing technique for MRI, was used to characterize structural differences in gray matter in newly diagnosed male patients.

Setting: University hospital.

Contralateral hyperperfusion and ipsilateral hypoperfusion by ictal SPECT in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.

Ictal Single Proton Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) has demonstrated high levels of sensitivity in localizing seizures among patients with epilepsy of the mesial temporal lobe (mTLE). However, incorrect information on the lateralization of mTLE has also been reported. In order to investigate the causes of these incorrect localizations, the authors assessed clinical symptoms, as well as the electroencephalography (EEG) and brain SPECT scan data of five patients with mTLE experiencing ictal hyperperfusion of the contralateral temporal lobe.

Pathway analysis in HEK 293T cells overexpressing HIV-1 tat and nucleocapsid.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 protein Tat acts as a transcription transactivator that stimulates expression of the infected viral genome. It is released from infected cells and can similarly affect neighboring cells. The nucleocapsid is an important protein that has a related significant role in early mRNA expression, and which contributes to the rapid viral replication that occurs during HIV-1 infection.

Identification of apolipoproteinA1 reduction in the polycystic kidney by proteomics analysis of the Mxi1-deficient mouse.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease is one of the most common human monogenic diseases in which extensive epithelial-lined cysts develop in kidney and other organs. Affected kidneys are not only characterized by the formation of cysts, but also by changes associated with the extracellular matrix and interstitial inflammation, which can progress to fibrosis and loss of renal function. Mxi1 protein, which is a c-myc antagonist, may be essential in controlling cellular growth and differentiation.

Dual modification of BMAL1 by SUMO2/3 and ubiquitin promotes circadian activation of the CLOCK/BMAL1 complex.

Heterodimers of BMAL1 and CLOCK drive rhythmic expression of clock-controlled genes, thereby generating circadian physiology and behavior. Posttranslational modifications of BMAL1 play a key role in modulating the transcriptional activity of the CLOCK/BMAL1 complex during the circadian cycle. Recently, we demonstrated that circadian activation of the heterodimeric transcription factor is accompanied by ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis of BMAL1.

Comparison of acute responses of mice livers to short-term exposure to nano-sized or micro-sized silver particles.

Mice were fed either 13 nm silver nanoparticles or 2-3.5 mum silver microparticles. The livers were then obtained after 3 days and subjected to a histopathological analysis.

Expression profiles and pathway analysis in HEK 293 T cells overexpressing HIV-1 Tat and nucleocapsid using cDNA microarray.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infections are responsible for a substantial number of deaths annually and represent a significant threat to public health. According to the latest study, the Tat (Transactivator of transcription) protein is essential in transcription and replication of viral genes, and is among the early expression genes involved in the life cycle of HIV. The virion NC (nucleocapsid) plays an important role in early mRNA expression and contributes to the rapid viral replication that occurs during HIV-1 infection.

Surface energy heterogeneity and heterogeneous adsorption of benzene on double-walled carbon nanotubes.

We examined the adsorption properties of double walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) synthesized by using a catalytic chemical decomposition vapor method. To analyze the structural and energetical surface characteristics of the DWCNTs, nitrogen and benzene adsorption isotherms were measured. The Toth isotherm equation was used to correlate the adsorption data and evaluate the thermodynamic properties such as Henry's constant and the adsorption second virial coefficient.