• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.11
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• pp.767-776
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• 2014

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is clinically characterized with progressive memory loss and cognitive decline. Synaptic dysfunction is an early pathological feature that occurs prior to neurodegeneration and memory dysfunction. Mounting evidence suggests that aggregation of amyloid-${\alpha}$ ($A{\alpha}$) and hyperphosphorylated tau leads to synaptic deficits and neurodegeneration, thereby to memory loss. Among the established genetic risk factors for AD, the ${\varepsilon}4$ allele of apolipoprotein E (APOE) is the strongest genetic risk factor. We and others previously demonstrated that apoE regulates $A{\alpha}$ aggregation and clearance in an isoform-dependent manner. While the effect of apoE on $A{\alpha}$ may explain how apoE isoforms differentially affect AD pathogenesis, there are also other underexplored pathogenic mechanisms. They include differential effects of apoE on cerebral energy metabolism, neuroinflammation, neurovascular function, neurogenesis, and synaptic plasticity. ApoE is a major carrier of cholesterols that are required for neuronal activity and injury repair in the brain. Although there are a few conflicting findings and the underlying mechanism is still unclear, several lines of studies demonstrated that apoE4 leads to synaptic deficits and impairment in long-term potentiation, memory and cognition. In this review, we summarize current understanding of apoE function in the brain, with a particular emphasis on its role in synaptic plasticity and the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms, involving low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1), syndecan, and LRP8/ApoER2.

• Journal of Information Technology Applications and Management
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.55-74
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• 2011

The growth in the use of ubiquitous computing based on mobile services as an enabler to conduct business more effectively has been phenomenal. Technology acceptance model (TAM) has been applied in different contexts to examine a wide range of information technologies (IT). As more and more companies are finding ways to utilize ubiquitous computing based on mobile services, an important issue is to understand what factors will impact the decisions of consumers in adopting the services. Based on TAM with three additional groups of external factors, i.e., service-related factors (ubiquitous access, context awareness) and technology-related factors (perceived security risk, network connectivity) that are theoretically justified as having influence on both perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use which are additionally considered, a research model for the investigated technology acceptance was developed and empirically examined, using responses from more than intended users of ubiquitous computing based on mobile services. The specific purposes of this study are as follows. Firstly, this study is to identify service beliefs considering unique characteristics for ubiquitous services such as perceived ubiquitous access and perceived context awareness. Secondly, this study is to investigate network characteristics beliefs such as perceived security and perceived connectivity. Thirdly, this paper investigates the relationship among variables such as ubiquitous characteristics, network characteristics, behavioral beliefs, and intention to use ubiquitous web services. This study uses a structural equation model to test the research model. The major results of this study are as follows. Firstly, ubiquitous access has a influence on perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. Context awareness has an influence on perceived usefulness. Secondly, User familiarity has an influence on perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use, and intention to use. User innovativeness has an influence on perceived ease of use. Thirdly, perceived security risk has an influence on perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. Network connectivity has an influence on perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. Fourth, there exist differential effects among factors in structural model among information, transaction, and entertainment services.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.15-19
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• 2021

Senecavirus A (SVA), previously known as Seneca Valley virus, can cause vesicular disease and neonatal losses in pigs that is clinically indistinguishable from foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV). After the first case report in Canada in 2007, it had been restrictively identified in North America including United States. But, since 2015, SVA emerged outside North America in Brazil, and also in several the Asian countries including China, Thailand, and Vietnam. Considering the SVA occurrence in neighboring countries, there has been a high risk that Korea can be introduced at any time. In particular, it is very important in terms of differential diagnosis in the suspected case of vesicular diseases in countries where FMD is occurring. So far, several different molecular detection methods for SVV have been published but not validated as the reference method, yet. In this study, seven different molecular methods for detecting SVA were evaluated. Among them, the method by Flowler et al, (2017) targeted to 3D gene region with the highest sensitivity and no cross reaction with other vesicular disease agents including FMDV, VSV and SVD, was selected and applied further to antigen surveillance of SVA. A total of 245 samples of 157 pigs from 61 farms submitted for animal disease diagnose nationwide during 2018 were tested all negative. In 2018, no sign of SVA occurrence have been confirmed in Korea, but the results of the surveillance for SVA needs to be continued and accumulated at a high risk of SVA in neighboring countries.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.144-151
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• 2023

A Pap smear is the most important screening test for the diagnosis of cervical cancer. However, subjective judgment by the operator cannot be excluded, and replicability may greatly be reduced if uncertain specimens are examined. Examiners often experience difficulties in differentiating atrophy with inflammatory changes and ASCUS when diagnosing squamous epithelial lesions from a pap smear. Reports often vary between cytologists and pathologists, and misdiagnosis may result in delayed follow-ups and advanced diseases. Hence, auxiliary examinations are necessary when confusing results between atrophy and ASCUS are obtained. The importance of p16^INK4a activation due to HPV infection, which is an important factor in the outbreak of cervical cancer, has been highlighted. Recent studies have reported that p16^INK4a immunocytochemical staining and HPV high-risk type tests using liquid-based cervical specimens are effective to detect the presence of lesions of grade HSIL or higher in patients with ASC-H. However, no research exists on the utility of HPV and p16^INK4a tests on the differential diagnosis of atrophy and ASCUS. This study focused on whether p16^INK4a immunocytochemical staining and HPV tests can help diagnose borderline lesions between atrophy and ASCUS. The results reported that p16^INK4a activation can significantly (P<0.001) differentiate atrophy from ASCUS in atrophic lesions infected with High risk-HPV. Therefore, it may be concluded that p16^INK4a immunocytochemical staining is an effective auxiliary test in lesions infected with HR-HPV when atrophic lesions are difficult to differentiate by morphology. Such results are expected to help decide on adequate follow-up and treatment.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.32-40
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• 2011

Objectives: This study investigated the gender and age differential effect of major chronic diseases on activity of daily living (ADL) disability. Methods: Surveyfreq and Surveylogistic regression analyses were employed on the 2005 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) with a sample of 3,609 persons aged 65 - 89. Results: After adjusting for potential covariates, stroke, among elderly men more so than women, had a 2-3 times greater odds of engendering ADL disability in the 65-69 (p < 0.05) and 70-79 age groups (p < 0.01). In comparison to elderly women, cancer, diabetes, and incontinence in elderly men was associated with a higher risk of ADL disability in the 70 - 79 age group (p < 0.05), and this association was also observed for pulmonary disease in the 80-89 age group. Among elderly women, however, a significant association between incontinence and ADL disability was identified in all three age groups. In addition, this association was found in pulmonary disease and diabetes in elderly women aged 70 - 79 years. Significant gender differences were observed in the association between stroke in the 60 - 79 age group and cancer in the 70 - 79 age group. Conclusions: Age and gender differences were observed in the effect of chronic diseases on ADL disability.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.461-468
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• 2005

The major function of immune system is to protect infections. The immune systems are composed of innate and adaptive immunity. In adaptive immunity, the cellular and humoral components interact each other. Neonates and infants are infected frequently, because immune systems are naive and easy to expose to infectious agents. The complete history and physical examination is essential to evaluate the child with recurrent infections. The environmental risk factors of recurrent infections are day care center, cigarette smoke, and air pollution. The underlying diseases such as immunodeficiency, autoimmune diseases, allergy, and disorders of anatomy or physiology increase the susceptibility to infections. In immunodeficiency, infections are characterized by severe, chronic, recurrent, and unusual microbial agents infection. The defects of antibody production are susceptible to sinopulmonary bacterial infections. T cells defects are vulerable to numerous organisms such as virus, fungi, bacteria and etc. The screening tests for immune functions are the quantitative and qualitative measurements of each immune components. A complete blood count with white blood cell, differential, and platelet provide quantitative informations of immune components. Total complement and immunoglobulin levels represent the humoral component. Antibody levels of previously injected vaccines also provide informations of the antigen specific antibody immune responses. T cell and subsets count is quantitative measurement of cell mediated immunity. Delayed hypersensitivity skin test is a crude measurement of T cell function. The long term outcome of children with recurrent infections is completely dependent on the underlying diseases, the initial time of diagnosis and therapy, continued management, and genetic counscelling.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.727-736
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the degree of attitude toward elders, cognitive level, and mood state by living arrangements of the elderly. Method: The subjects consisted of 238 elderly who divided by living arrangements(living alone, living with spouse, living with children). The data were collected by structured questionnaire that included general characteristics, attitude toward elders, MMSE-K and mood state scale, from March to December, 2005. The collected data were analyzed by Windows SPSS program including descriptive statistics, ${\chi}^2-test$, Fisher's exact test, ANCOVA, $Scheff{\grave{e}}$ test and Pearson Correlation Coefficient. Results: In MMSE-K and mood state, there were statistically significant differences among the three groups. In depression and anxiety factor of mood state, the living alone group showed higher scores than the other two groups. There was a positive correlation between attitude toward elders and MMSE-K in the elderly living with a spouse group and a negative correlation between MMSE-K and mood state in all three groups. Conclusion: It is necessary to develop a supportive program for decreasing the risk of health in the elderly and perform a differential approach according to their living arrangementa. Especially, more concern and intervention are needed to be performed for the elderly living in solitude.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.183-191
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• 2011

Although antenatal diagnostic technique has considerably improved, precise detection and proper management of the neonate with congenital heart disease (CHD) is always a great concern to pediatricians. Congenital cardiac malformations vary from benign to serious conditions such as complete transposition of the great arteries (TGA), critical pulmonary and aortic valvular stenosis/atresia, hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), obstructed total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR), which the baby needs immediate diagnosis and management for survival. Unfortunately, these life threatening heart diseases may not have obvious evidence early after birth, most of the clinical and physical findings are nonspecific and vague, which makes the diagnosis difficult. High index of suspicion and astute acumen are essential to decision making. When patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is opened Widely, many serious malformations may not be noticed easily in the early life, but would progress as severe acidosis/shock/cyanosis or even death as PDA constricts after few hours to days. Ductus dependent congenital cardiac lesions can be divided into the ductus dependent systemic or pulmonary disease, but physiologically quite different from each other and treatment strategy has to be tailored to the clinical status and cardiac malformations. Inevitably early presentation is often regarded as a medical emergency. Differential diagnosis with inborn error metabolic disorders, neonatal sepsis, persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) and other pulmonary conditions are necessary. Urgent identification of the newborn at such high risk requires timely referral to a pediatric cardiologist, and timely intervention is the key in reducing mortality and morbidity. This following review deals with the clinical presentations, investigative modalities and approach to management of congenital cardiac malformations presenting in the early life.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.951-959
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• 2003

A series of typical (chlorpromazine, haloperidol and thioridazine) and atypical (risperidone, quetiapine, clozapine and olanzapine) antipsychotics were tested for effects on integrated bioenergetic functions of isolated rat liver mitochondria. Polarographic measurement of oxygen consumption in freshly isolated mitochondria showed that electron transfer activity at respiratory complex I is inhibited by chlorpromazine, haloperidol, risperidone, and quetiapine, but not by clozapine, olanzapine, or thioridazine. Chlorpromazine and thioridazine act as modest uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation. The typical neuroleptics inhibited NADH-coenzyme Q reductase in freeze-thawed mitochondria, which is a direct measure of complex I enzyme activity. The inhibition of NADH-coenzyme Q reductase activity by the atypicals risperidone and quetiapine was 2-4 fold less than that for the typical neuroleptics. Clozapine and olanzapine had only slight effects on NADH-coenzyme Q reductase activity, even at 200 $\mu$ M. The relative potencies of these neuroleptic drugs as inhibitors of mitochondrial bioenergetic function is similar to their relative potencies as risk factors in the reported incidence of extrapyramidal symptoms, including tardive dyskinesia (TD). This suggests that compromised bioenergetic function may be involved in the cellular pathology underlying TD.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.542-545
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• 2010

Extramedullary hematopoiesis is a common compensatory mechanism of chronic anemia, but an asymptomatic posterior mediastinal mass is rarely diagnosed as an extramedullary hematopoiesis after surgical resection. The differential from neurogenic tumors is important, but fine needle aspiration biopsy is not recommended because of the difficulty of approach and risk of bleeding. Although diagnosis and treatment can involve resection via thoracotomy, video-assisted thoracic surgery may also be a useful strategy. We performed video-assisted thoracic surgery on a 59-year-old man for posterior mediastinal extramedullary hematopoiesis, with no evidence of recurrence or related hematologic diseases.