• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• 제52권5호
• /
• pp.323-332
• /
• 2019

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe general practitioners (GPs)' opinions and practices of preventive care and patients' opinions, attitudes, and behaviors towards prevention. Methods: The data stemmed from a cross-sectional national survey on prevention conducted in Switzerland from 2015 to 2016. In total, 170 randomly drawn GPs and 1154 of their patients participated. The GPs answered an online questionnaire and the patients answered a questionnaire administrated by fieldworkers present at their practices. Results: Both patients and GPs agreed that delivering preventive care is the dedicated role of a GP. It appeared that beyond classical topics of prevention such as cardiovascular risk factors, other prevention areas (e.g., cannabis consumption, immunization, occupational risks) were scarcely covered by GPs and reported as little-known by patients. In addition, GPs seemed to use a selective approach to prevention, responding to the clinical context, rather than a systematic approach to health promotion. The results also highlight possibilities to improve prevention in family medicine through options such as more supportive tools and public advertising, more time and more delegated tasks and, finally, a more recognized role. Conclusions: Despite an unfavorable context of prevention within the healthcare system, preventive care in family medicine is reasonably good in Switzerland. However, some limitations appear regarding the topics and the circumstances of preventive care delivery. A global effort is needed to implement necessary changes, and the responsibility should be broadened to other stakeholders.

• 한국약용작물학회지
• /
• 제28권6호
• /
• pp.471-480
• /
• 2020

Background: The roots of Cirsium japonicum var. ussuriense (RCJ) have been used as traditional medicine in Korea for hematuria and hematemesis. These extracts exert anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects by scavenging for free radical and regulating the inflammatory response. However, the effect of RCJ on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has not been elucidated. Thus, we evaluated the water extract of RCJ (WRCJ) using type II collagen-induced RA models. Methods and Results: RA was induced by immunization with type II collagen. All experimental materials were orally administered daily for three weeks. The positive control group was administered with 0.2 mg/kg methotrexate (n = 7), while the experimental group was administered with WRCJ (100 or 500 mg/kg, n = 7). Serum levels of TNF-alpha, Interleukin 6 (IL-6), and type II collagen IgG (CII) were measured using ELISA. Administration of 500 mg/kg WRCJ decreased the levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6, and CII. Moreover, WRCJ treatment diminished swelling of hind legs and infiltration of inflammatory cells in RA models' synovial membrane. Conclusions: These results indicate that WRCJ could improve RA, reduce inflammatory indicators and synovial inflammation. However, further experiments are required to determine how WRCJ can influence the signal transduction pathway in RA.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
• /
• 제23권4호
• /
• pp.318-329
• /
• 2021

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify factors affecting COVID-19 vaccination and associated side effects among health care workers in a small and medium-sized hospital. Methods: In May 2021, 301 workers out of a total of 670 working in a small and medium-sized hospital in Gyeonggi-do, were surveyed. The small and medium-sized hospital treats patients with COVID-19. Health care workers across different medical institutions responded with self-reported internet questionnaires. Factors influencing COVID-19 vaccination were analyzed via logistic regression. Results: Out of 301 subjects, 89.0% showed an intention to inoculate, and 85.7% were vaccinated against COVID-19. The most frequent reason for vaccination was responsibility as a medical worker. The fear of adverse reactions was the most frequent reason for non-vaccination. Adverse reactions after inoculation occurred in 70.9% of cases, and 30.6% were referred for treatment of adverse reactions. The factors ultimately influencing COVID-19 vaccination were vaccination intention, previous side effects from other vaccinations, occupation, and age. Conclusion: In order to improve the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination, a systematic approach is required to determine the risk factors associated with the young age of the administrative staff/personnel, subjects with a history of side effects associated with other vaccines, and health care workers who do not intend to be vaccinated. It is important to develop strategies to improve immunization. In addition, accurate and essential information regarding the side effects of vaccination is needed, along with appropriate education and publicity.

• BMB Reports
• /
• 제55권3호
• /
• pp.142-147
• /
• 2022

Human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) have been utilized as a promising source in regenerative medicine. However, the risk of teratoma formation that comes with residual undifferentiated PSCs in differentiated cell populations is most concerning in the clinical use of PSC derivatives. Here, we report that a monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting PSCs could distinguish undifferentiated PSCs, with potential teratoma-forming activity, from differentiated PSC progeny. A panel of hybridomas generated from mouse immunization with H9 human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) was screened for ESC-specific binding using flow cytometry. A novel mAb, K312, was selected considering its high stem cell-binding activity, and this mAb could bind to several human induced pluripotent stem cells and PSC lines. Cell-binding activity of K312 was markedly decreased as hESCs were differentiated into embryoid bodies or by retinoic acid treatment. In addition, a cell population negatively isolated from undifferentiated or differentiated H9 hESCs via K312 targeting showed a significantly reduced expression of pluripotency markers, including Oct4 and Nanog. Furthermore, K312-based depletion of pluripotent cells from differentiated PSC progeny completely prevented teratoma formation. Therefore, our findings suggest that K312 is utilizable in improving stem cell transplantation safety by specifically distinguishing residual undifferentiated PSCs.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• 제35권1호
• /
• pp.14-21
• /
• 2022

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which has been rampant since the end of 2019, has evidently affected pain management in clinical practice. Fortunately, a COVID-19 vaccination program is currently in progress worldwide. There is an ongoing discussion that pain management using steroid injections can decrease COVID-19 vaccine efficacy, although currently there is no direct evidence to support this statement. As such, the feeling of pain in patients is doubled in addition to the co-existing ill-effects of social isolation associated with the pandemic. Thus, in the COVID-19 era, it has become necessary that physicians be able to provide high quality pain management without negatively impacting COVID-19 vaccine efficacy. Steroids can alter the entire process involved in the generation of adaptive immunity after vaccination. The period of hypophysis-pituitary-adrenal axis suppression is known to be 1 to 4 weeks after steroid injection, and although the exact timing for peak efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines is slightly different for each vaccine, the average is approximately 2 weeks. It is suggested to avoid steroid injections for a total of 4 weeks (1 week before and after the two vaccine doses) for the double-shot vaccines, and for 2 weeks in total (1 week before and after vaccination) for a single-shot vaccine. This review focuses on the basic concepts of the various COVID-19 vaccines, the effect of steroid injections on vaccine efficacy, and suggestions regarding an appropriate interval between the administration of steroid injections and the COVID-19 vaccine.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• 제13권1호
• /
• pp.59-65
• /
• 2022

Background: Healthcare workers' attitudes toward vaccination have been widely described in the literature, but a restricted amount of studies assessed healthcare students' knowledge, attitudes, and opinions on this issue. This study aimed to estimate the influence of a degree course on knowledge and immunization behavior among healthcare students and to compare medical students with students from other health profession degree programs to identify possible differences. Methods: A multicenter, cross-sectional study was performed in 2018 in 14 Italian Universities (3,131 students were interviewed). A validated questionnaire was used to assess knowledge, attitudes, and opinions toward vaccinations, with a specific focus on influenza vaccine and attitudes toward mandatory vaccination policies. Statistical software STATA® 14 was used. Results: Significant differences were recorded between medical students and other healthcare students. The intention to get vaccinated against influenza during the next season and having been vaccinated in the previous season was higher in the medical group (p < 0.001). In the group of students of other health professions, we registered a lower probability of identifying themselves as a high-risk group for contracting infectious diseases as a consequence of their profession and health status (aOR 0.49; CI95%: 0.40-0.60) and an increased likelihood of defining their level of knowledge on vaccine-preventable diseases and related vaccinations as "insufficient/sufficient/fair" (aOR 1.31; CI95%: 1.11-1.56). Conclusions: Results show several differences between medical students and students of other health professions when it comes to vaccination knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions, as well as a general low tendency to be vaccinated against influenza.

• 적정기술학회지
• /
• 제7권2호
• /
• pp.216-224
• /
• 2021

코로나19 확산은 전 세계 인구, 보건체계, 경제, 사회문화에 전례 없는 영향을 미치고 있으며, 국제사회는 코로나19를 극복하고자 보건의료기술 개발 및 접근성 제고를 위해 연대하고 있다. 본 고는 보건의료기술 접근성을 저해하는 장애물에 대한 이론적 틀을 기반으로 감염병 다자기구 및 코로나19 보건의료기술 접근성 제고를 위한 ACT-A 사업을 검토한다. 연구 결과, 첫째, 국제사회는 필요한 기술의 부재를 극복하기 위해 선시장공약, 백신채권, Covax Facility 등을 시행하고 있으며, 둘째, 존재하는 기술이 접근가능하지 않는 장애물을 극복하기 위해 공동조달메커니즘, 의약품특허풀 등을 시행하고 있으며, 셋째, 기술이 수용되지 않는 장애물을 극복하기 위해 인력역량 강화 등을 포함하는 보건체계 강화를 지원하고 있음을 발견하였다. 이를 바탕으로 실무적·학술적 향후 과제로써 기추진중인 한국 공적개발원조 사업과 감염병 다자기구 및 ACT-A 사업과의 연계 가능성을 검토하여 더욱 활발하게 협력할 필요가 있다.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• 제55권6호
• /
• pp.559-567
• /
• 2022

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the effect of complete coverage and content of available antenatal care (ANC) on the incidence of low birth weight (LBW) in 4 countries belonging to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Methods: Measures of complete coverage and content of ANC services included the frequency of ANC visits and the seven service components (blood pressure measurement, iron supplementation, tetanus toxoid immunization, explanations of pregnancy complications, urine sample test, blood sample test, and weight measurement). The complete coverage and content of ANC services were assessed as high if more than 4 ANC visits and all seven components were delivered. Multivariable logistic regression with complex survey designs was conducted using Demographic Health Survey data from the 4 ASEAN countries in question from 2014 to 2017. Results: The proportion of LBW infants was higher in the Philippines (13.8%) than in Indonesia (6.7%), Cambodia (6.7%), or Myanmar (7.5%). Poor ANC services were associated with a 1.30 times higher incidence of LBW than a high level of complete coverage and content of ANC services (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11 to 1.52). In addition, the risk of LBW was higher in the Philippines than in other countries (aOR, 2.25; 95% CI, 2.01 to 2.51) after adjusting for mothers' demographic/socioeconomic factors, health behaviors, and other factors. Conclusions: In sum, complete coverage and content of ANC services were significantly associated with the incidence of LBW in Indonesia, Cambodia, and Myanmar. The Philippines did not show statistically significant results for this relationship, but had a higher risk of LBW with poor ANC.

• 대한본초학회지
• /
• 제29권4호
• /
• pp.35-44
• /
• 2014

Objectives : Evodia rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth.(ER) and Chaenomeles sinensis Koehne (CS) have multiple applications and were known to have anti-inflammatory effects. In the current study, we investigated to clearly understand the mechanism of therapeutic role for CS, ER and their combination in CIA model mice. Methods : DBA/1OlaHsd mice were immunized with bovine type II collagen. After a second collagen immunization, mice were treated with CS, ER and their combination once a day for 7 weeks. Cytokine production and gene expression were assessed during CIA (collagen-induced arthritis) model mice in knee joint, lymph node (LN) using ELISA and FACS analysis. The severity of arthritis within the knee joints was evaluated by histological assessment of cartilage destruction and pannus formation. Result : Oral administration of CS, ER and their combination (150 mg/kg) significantly suppressed the progression of CIA, and significantly suppressed the progression of CIA and inhibited the production of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 in serum. The erosion of cartilage was dramatically reduced in mouse knees after treatment with CS plus ER. Conclusion : These result suggest that CS plus ER significantly suppressed the progression of CIA and that this action was characterized by the decreased production of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6 and collagen II specific antibody in serum.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
• /
• 제21권2호
• /
• pp.20.1-20.13
• /
• 2020

Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (APP) causes a form of porcine pleuropneumonia that leads to significant economic losses in the swine industry worldwide. The apxIBD gene is responsible for the secretion of the ApxI and ApxII toxins and the pnp gene is responsible for the adaptation of bacteria to cold temperature and a virulence factor. The apxIBD and pnp genes were deleted successfully from APP serotype 1 and 5 by transconjugation and sucrose counter-selection. The APP1ΔapxIBDΔpnp and APP5ΔapxIBDΔpnp mutants lost hemolytic activity and could not secrete ApxI and ApxII toxins outside the bacteria because both mutants lost the ApxI- and ApxII-secreting proteins by deletion of the apxIBD gene. Besides, the growth of these mutants was defective at low temperatures resulting from the deletion of pnp. The APP1ΔapxIBDΔpnp and APP5ΔapxIBDΔpnp mutants were significantly attenuated compared with wild-type ones. However, mice vaccinated intraperitoneally with APP5ΔapxIBDΔpnp did not provide any protection when challenged with a 10-times 50% lethal dose of virulent homologous (APP5) and heterologous (APP1) bacterial strains, while mice vaccinated with APP1ΔapxIBDΔpnp offered 75% protection against a homologous challenge. The ΔapxIBDΔpnp mutants were significantly attenuated and gave different protection rate against homologous virulent wild-type APP challenging.