Factors That Influence Educational Effectiveness and Learning Satisfaction in Biomedical Research Programs during Premedical School / 의학교육논단

Although student research programs have been implemented worldwide, research programs during premedical school have unique characteristics. The purpose of this study is to evaluate factors that influence the effects of premedical school research programs. Eighty second-year premedical students at Pusan National University were included in the study. Effect elements and influential factors were extracted through reference reviews and in-depth individual interviews. A Likert scale questionnaire was developed using the extracted elements and factors, and Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used to analyze the reliability of the survey. The mean value and the standard deviation for each question were calculated to evaluate education effectiveness and learning satisfaction, and the influence of each factor on effect was analyzed using correlation analysis. Students' research skills and knowledge were improved in the short term; however, interest in research or in a career as a researcher did not increase. Student interest, participation, and contributions were important factors. Among professors, passion, considerateness, and teaching method including the level of lesson were influential factors. Implementation of curriculum and support and guidance were influential as well, whereas evaluation system was not a factor. To improve student research programs, several factors that influence education effectiveness and learning satisfaction should be considered.

The Correlations between Cardiorespiratory Fitness Levels and Body Mass Index, Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors, Homeostasis Model Assessment-Insulin Resistance and High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein in Male High School Students

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationships between cardiorespiratory fitness and body mass index (BMI), metabolic syndrome risk factors, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in male high school students in Korea. Furthermore, the effects of the cardiorespiratory fitness levels on these four factors were examined. METHODS: The level of cardiorespiratory fitness, BMI, percent body fat, waist circumference (WC), systolic blood pressure, glucose, triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), HOMA-IR, and hsCRP of 227 male high school students were measured. Analyses of multiple correlation and simple regression were applied. RESULTS: The results showed that the level of cardiorespiratory fitness correlated negatively with BMI, percent body fat, WC, TG, and HDL-C, in addition to HOMA-IR and hsCRP, and strongly influenced BMI, percent body fat, WC, TG, HDL-C, HOMA-IR, and hsCRP. Comparative analysis of our subjects showed that higher cardiorespiratory fitness levels had positive effects on BMI, metabolic syndrome risk factors, HOMA-IR, and hsCRP. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that there are close correlations between cardiorespiratory fitness and BMI, metabolic syndrome risk factors, HOMA-IR, and hsCRP. It also showed that, compared to lower levels of cardiorespiratory fitness, higher levels had beneficial effects on BMI, metabolic syndrome risk factors, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Epidemiologic and clinical features of HIV infection/AIDS in Koreans / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: The epidemiologic and clinical features of HIV infection/AIDS are different among various races, regions, and countries. To determine the epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of HIV infection in Korea, we analyzed and compared with that of other populations. METHODS: Medical records of 176 HIV-infected persons in Severance Hospital of Yonsei University College of Medicine and Hospital of Pusan University College of Medicine from year 1985 to 2000 were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy six patients were analyzed among which 156 (88.6%) were male and 20 (11.4%) were female with a male to female ratio of 7.8:1. At the time of diagnosis, the age distribution was 78 cases (44.3%) in the thirties, 44 cases (25.0%) in the twenties, and 35 cases (19.9%) in the fourties, and the mean age was 35.9+/-9.3. Heterosexual contact was the most frequent transmission route (92 cases, 52.3%), and 42 cases (23.9%) were transmitted by homosexual contact. At initial visit, asymptomatic HIV infection constituted 75 cases (42.6%), and AIDS 72 cases (40.9%). At initial visit, mean value of CD4+ lymphocyte counts was 252/mm3 and HIV RNA 226,035 copies/mm3. One hundred and twenty one of 176 patients developed 317 cases of opportunistic diseases. At the diagnosis of HIV-related opportunistic diseases, mean CD4+ lymphocyte count was 140/mm3 and mean HIV RNA 347,403 copies/mm3. Candidiasis (50 cases, 28.4%) was the most frequent opportunistic disease followed by pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) (37 cases, 21.0%), tuberculosis (29 cases, 16.5%), cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection (21 cases, 11.9%), HIV encephalopathy (9 cases, 5.1%), and herpes zoster (9 cases, 5.1%). There were 3 cases (1.7%) of malignant lymphoma and 2 cases (1.1%) of Kaposi's sarcoma. At the diagnosis of opportunistic diseases, mean CD4+ lymphocyte counts of patients with candidiasis was 71/mm3, PCP 63/mm3, and tuberculosis 142/mm3, and the mean HIV RNA level was 338,474 copies/mm3, 281,967 copies/mm3, and 817,012 copies/mm3 respectively. Among the 317 opportunistic diseases, AIDS-defining diseases were 150 cases (47.3%), of which PCP was 37 cases (24.7%), tuberculosis 29 cases (19.3%), CMV infection 21 cases (14.0%), HIV wasting syndrome 15 cases (10.0%), and esophageal candidiasis 14 cases (9.3%). The earliest AIDS-defining diseases to manifest in AIDS patients were tuberculosis (25 cases, 33.3%), followed by PCP (17 cases, 22.6%), esophageal candidiasis (14 cases, 18.7%), CMV infection (5 cases, 6.6%), and HIV wasting syndrome (4 cases, 5.3%). Thirty five (19.9%) of 176 patients were died. The common causes of death were tuberculosis (9 cases, 25.7%), PCP (9 cases, 25.7%), bacterial pneumonia (7 cases, 20.0%) and HIV encephalopathy (3 cases, 8.5%). CONCLUSION: The epidemiologic and clinical features of HIV infection/AIDS in Korea are different from that of developing countries such as Southeast Asia and Africa as well as from that of developed countries.

The risk factors in patients with candiduria associated with candidemia / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: The early diagnosis of candidemia is critical for the management. The candidemia is known to be associated with 10% of candiduria. But the risk factors in patients with candiduria who are associated with candidemia are not known. We analyzed the risk factors in patients with candiduria who are associated with candidemia. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 164 patients with candiduria in Yonsei Medical Center from January 1998 to December 1998. Candiduria patients were divided into two groups. Candiduria patients without candidemia (Group I, 147 patients) and candiduria patients with candidemia (Group II, 17 patients). RESULTS: 1) The mean age of the patients were 57.5 years in group I and 62.5 years in group II. There were no significant differences in the sex ratio between the two groups. 2) Central venous catheter insertion (53%, 100% in group I, II), hypotension (14%, 59% in group I, II), other associated infections (64%, 100% in group I, II), intensive care (41, 76% in group I, II) and fever (46%, 82% in group I, II) were the very significant risk factors in patients with candiduria who were associated with candidemia. 3) Urinary tract procedure (11%, 88% in group I, II), urinary catheter insertion (63%, 94% in group I, II), thrombocytopenia (17%, 41% in group I, II) and DM (8%, 24% in group I, II) were the significant risk factors of candidemia. 4) Candida colony count (cfu/mL) of urine culture was not a significant risk factor. 5) Mortality rate (27%, 59% in group I, II) was significantly high in patients with candidemia. CONCLUSION: Central venous catheter insertion, hypotension, other associated infections, intensive care and fever were the very significant risk factors of candidemia in patients with candiduria.

The risk factors in patients with candiduria associated with candidemia / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: The early diagnosis of candidemia is critical for the management. The candidemia is known to be associated with 10% of candiduria. But the risk factors in patients with candiduria who are associated with candidemia are not known. We analyzed the risk factors in patients with candiduria who are associated with candidemia. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 164 patients with candiduria in Yonsei Medical Center from January 1998 to December 1998. Candiduria patients were divided into two groups. Candiduria patients without candidemia (Group I, 147 patients) and candiduria patients with candidemia (Group II, 17 patients). RESULTS: 1) The mean age of the patients were 57.5 years in group I and 62.5 years in group II. There were no significant differences in the sex ratio between the two groups. 2) Central venous catheter insertion (53%, 100% in group I, II), hypotension (14%, 59% in group I, II), other associated infections (64%, 100% in group I, II), intensive care (41, 76% in group I, II) and fever (46%, 82% in group I, II) were the very significant risk factors in patients with candiduria who were associated with candidemia. 3) Urinary tract procedure (11%, 88% in group I, II), urinary catheter insertion (63%, 94% in group I, II), thrombocytopenia (17%, 41% in group I, II) and DM (8%, 24% in group I, II) were the significant risk factors of candidemia. 4) Candida colony count (cfu/mL) of urine culture was not a significant risk factor. 5) Mortality rate (27%, 59% in group I, II) was significantly high in patients with candidemia. CONCLUSION: Central venous catheter insertion, hypotension, other associated infections, intensive care and fever were the very significant risk factors of candidemia in patients with candiduria.

Spontaneous programmed cell death of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from HIV-infected persons is decreased with interleukin-15

Interleukin 15 (IL-15) is an important regulatory cytokine in cellular immunity. In vitro replacement of IL-15 has been shown to enhance immunity in Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infected lymphocytes. We evaluated the effect of IL-15 on the survival of peripheral blood mononuclear cells of HIV patients by examining in vitro lymphocyte apoptosis, and correlated the process with Bcl-2 and Fas gene regulation. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 21 HIV-infected adults and 24 HIV-seronegative healthy individuals were isolated and cultured to determine the effect of escalating doses of IL-15 (0, 1, 10, 100, 1000 ng/mL) on apoptosis. Lymphocyte proliferation assay with (3H) TdR was measured and Bcl-2 and Fas gene regulation was observed. The results were as follows: 1) IL-15 reduced culture induced lymphocyte apoptosis in HIV patients in a dose dependent manner, and reached a plateau level at a concentration of 100 ng/ml; 2) IL-15 significantly reduced the level of apoptosis after 3 days (14%) and 5 days (15%) of culture in HIV patients, while no difference was observed in HIV (-) donors; 3) The percentage of viable cells among the total number of lymphocytes was significantly enhanced by 25% in HIV patients with IL-15; 4) Bcl-2 expression was decreased in HIV patients (53.9 +/- 12.3%) compared to HIV (-) donors (93.0 +/- 3.7%), and IL-15 increased Bcl-2 expression by 21.2 +/- 5.2% in HIV patients; 5) Fas expression was increased in HIV patients (70.2 +/- 4.6%) compared to HIV (-) donors (32.4 +/- 4.3%), and IL-15 increased Fas expression by 8.4 +/- 1.2% in HIV (-) donors. Our findings indicate that IL-15 may influence immunologic abnormalities in HIV infection, particularly its ability to prevent apoptosis of lymphocytes by suppressing the down-modulation of Bcl-2. This may provide an experimental basis for IL-15 immunotherapy.

A Case of Liposarcoma of the Spermatic Cord / 대한비뇨기과학회지

We report a case of a spermatic cord liposarcoma in a 67-year-old male. His chief complaint was painless mass in the right hemiscrotum for about two years, which was firm and solid in nature and 20 x 11 x 10 cm. in demension. The mass did not transmit light. Scrotal ultrasonography showed huge, homogenous, echogenic mass on right spermatic cord with intact testicle and epididymis. Radical inguinal orchiectomy was performed. Postoperative abdominal computerized topography (CT) excluded the presence of nodal involvement He has been free of disease, until eights months after surgery.