ABSTRACT
Air pollutants are in the spotlight because the human body can easily be exposed to them. Among air pollutants, the particulate matter (PM) represents one of the most serious toxicants that can enter the human body through various exposure routes. PMs have various adverse effects and classified as severe carcinogen by International Agency for Research on Cancer. Their physical and chemical characteristics are distinguished by their size. In this review, we summarized the published information on the physicochemical characteristics and adverse effects of PMs on the skin, including carcinogenicity. Through comparisons of biological networks constructed from relationships discussed in the previous scientific publications, we show it is possible to predict skin cancers and other disorders from particle-size-specific signaling alterations of PM-responsive genes. Our review not only helps to grasp the biological association between ambient PMs and skin diseases including cancer, but also provides new approaches to interpret chemical-gene-disease associations regarding the adverse effects of these heterogeneous particles.
ABSTRACT
Air pollutants are in the spotlight because the human body can easily be exposed to them. Among air pollutants, the particulate matter (PM) represents one of the most serious toxicants that can enter the human body through various exposure routes. PMs have various adverse effects and classified as severe carcinogen by International Agency for Research on Cancer. Their physical and chemical characteristics are distinguished by their size. In this review, we summarized the published information on the physicochemical characteristics and adverse effects of PMs on the skin, including carcinogenicity. Through comparisons of biological networks constructed from relationships discussed in the previous scientific publications, we show it is possible to predict skin cancers and other disorders from particle-size-specific signaling alterations of PM-responsive genes. Our review not only helps to grasp the biological association between ambient PMs and skin diseases including cancer, but also provides new approaches to interpret chemical-gene-disease associations regarding the adverse effects of these heterogeneous particles.
ABSTRACT
As of April 18, 2020, there have been a total of 10,653 confirmed cases and 232 deaths due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Korea. The pathogen spread quickly, and the outbreak caused nationwide anxiety and shock. This study presented the anecdotal records that provided a detailed process of the multidisciplinary teamwork in mental health during the COVID-19 outbreak in the country. Psychosocial support is no less important than infection control during an epidemic, and collaboration and networking are at the core of disaster management. Thus, a multidisciplinary team of mental health professionals was immediately established and has collaborated effectively with its internal and external stakeholders for psychosocial support during the COVID-19 outbreak.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: This study was to investigate the psychiatric diagnoses of survivors of traumatic stress, i.e. torture, as a part of a large research project of a human rights survey of torture survivors. METHODS: Participants were 24 torture survivors who consented to participate, who had experienced torture during the period of 1970 through the 2000's. Participants were recruited from human rights support groups and government agencies using the snowballing technique. Data was collected by a psychiatrist and two psychologists using the MINI-International Neuropsychiatric Interview PLUS. RESULTS: The prevalence of past psychiatric diagnoses which occurred during a post-victimization period included post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD, 37.5%), depressive disorders (45.8%), panic disorder (16.6%), substance related disorders (24.9%), psychotic disorder (4.1%), and adjustment disorder (16.6%). The prevalence of current diagnoses at interview period included PTSD (33.3%), depressive disorders (41.6%), panic disorder (8.2%), generalized anxiety disorder (4.1%), substance related disorders (20.8%), psychotic disorder (4.1%), adjustment disorder (12.5%), and suicidal tendency of above mid-level (16.6%). The co-morbidity rate was 37.5% in the past, and 33.3% at present. CONCLUSION: It was revealed that torture survivors were suffering from high rates of chronic psychiatric disorders. Appropriate psychiatric treatment may be in need to support the sufferings of the survivors.