• Mycobiology
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.161-170
• /
• 2009

Cryptococcus neoformans is a basidiomycete human fungal pathogen that causes meningoencephalitis in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals. The ability to sense and respond to diverse extracellular signals is essential for the pathogen to infect and cause disease in the host. Four major stress-activated signaling (SAS) pathways have been characterized in C. neoformans, including the HOG (high osmolarity glycerol response), PKC/Mpk1 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase), calcium-dependent calcineurin, and RAS signaling pathways. The HOG pathway in C. neoformans not only controls responses to diverse environmental stresses, including osmotic shock, UV irradiation, oxidative stress, heavy metal stress, antifungal drugs, toxic metabolites, and high temperature, but also regulates ergosterol biosynthesis. The PKC(protein kinase C)/Mpk1 pathway in C. neoformans is involved in a variety of stress responses, including osmotic, oxidative, and nitrosative stresses and breaches of cell wall integrity. The $Ca^{2+}$/calmodulin- and Ras-signaling pathways also play critical roles in adaptation to certain environmental stresses, such as high temperature and sexual differentiation. Perturbation of the SAS pathways not only impairs the ability of C. neoformans to resist a variety of environmental stresses during host infection, but also affects production of virulence factors, such as capsule and melanin. A drug(s) capable of targeting signaling components of the SAS pathway will be effective for treatment of cryptococcosis.

• Child Health Nursing Research
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.22-34
• /
• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to build and test a theoretical model that could be used to explain and predict health promoting behavior in school children in Korea. Method: Participants for this study included a total of 423 students, all of whom were enrolled in either the 5th or 6th grade of one of 3 elementary schools in Seoul and Gyunggi Province, Korea. A questionnaire was used to collect the data and the collection period was from September 22 to 30, 2006. The data were analyzed using the SAS Program and Lisrel Windows Program. The instruments for this study were developed to include a health promotion behavior scale, self-esteem scale, self-efficacy scale, perceived benefit and barriers scale, social support scale, health status scale, academic stress scale, and previous health-related behavior scale. Results: The hypothetical model for this study consisted of 3 intrinsic and 6 extrinsic variables, and 27 pathways. As a result of hypotheses testing, as many as 11 pathways were found to be statistically significant. Conclusion: The development of health promotion programs based on the factors found in this study will be very effective in promoting the health of Korea's school children.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.7-24
• /
• 2020

Purpose: Emergency medical service (EMS) personnel are at high risk of spreading infection. In this study, we used the PRECEDE model to identify the knowledge, status, and barriers to infection control among Korean paramedics to provide basic infection control data. Methods: A total of 164 respondents were analyzed for the study. A questionnaire was administered and collected through an online self-response platform. Descriptive analysis, t-test, ANOVA, multiple regression, and logistic regression analyses were performed to determine infection control practices and associated factors using SAS 9.4. To identify the pathways and direct, indirect, total effects based on the PRECEDE model, we used AMOS 26.0. Results: Highly rated self-efficacy (OR 8.82, 95% CI: 3.23-24.09), awareness (OR 6.05, 95% CI: 2.06-17.72), and enabling factors (OR 3.23, 95% CI: 1.18-8.78) led to superior infection control. As a result of the structural model analysis, the highly rated enabling factors and awareness led to superior practice patterns. Conclusion: Practice is related to self-efficacy, awareness, and enabling factors; however, further research is needed to develop strategies for infection control. In particular, institutional arrangements are needed to improve the enabling factors. Improving infection control performance may lead to better infection control and enhanced protection of EMS personnel and patients against infection risks.