The Actor Effect and the Partner Effect of Self-esteem and Mother-Adolescent Communication on Depression in Mothers and Adolescents in Kirogi Families according to Adolescent' Development Stage

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to compare the level of depression, self-esteem and mother-adolescent (M-A) communication perceived by both mothers and adolescents between the early adolescent (E-A) group and the late adolescent (L-A) group; and to examine the actor effect and the partner effect of self-esteem and M-A communication on depression in mothers and adolescents. METHODS: Participants were 107 Kirogi families who resided in the Midwest region of the U. S. Data were collected from September, 2008 to March, 2009 using the scales of Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D), Self-esteem and Parent-Adolescent Communication Inventory. RESULTS: Mothers in E-A group reported higher scores on depression than mothers in L-A group. Adolescents in L-A group reported higher scores on depression and lower scores on self-esteem than adolescents in E-A group. In the E-A group, mothers' self-esteem had big actor effect on mothers' depression and partner effect on adolescents' depression. In the L-A group, self-esteem of mothers and adolescents had actor effect on their depression respectively without partner effect. M-A communication of mothers influences mothers' depression negatively and adolescents' depression positively. In both group, M-A communication influences their depression with mediating effect of self-esteem. CONCLUSION: To promote Kirogi families' mental health, programs for mothers and adolescents should be developed differently according to adolescents' development stage.

Heat shock protein 27 interacts with vimentin and prevents insolubilization of vimentin subunits induced by cadmium

Vimentin is an intermediate filament that regulates cell attachment and subcellular organization. In this study, vimentin filaments were morphologically altered, and its soluble subunits were rapidly reduced via cadmium chloride treatment. Cadmium chloride stimulated three major mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs): extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38, and led apoptotic pathway via caspase-9 and caspase-3 activations. In order to determine whether MAPKs were involved in this cadmium-induced soluble vimentin disappearance, we applied MAPK- specific inhibitors (PD98059, SP600125, SB203580). These inhibitors did not abolish the cadmium-induced soluble vimentin disappearance. Caspase and proteosome degradation pathway were also not involved in soluble vimentin disappearance. When we observed vimentin levels in soluble and insoluble fractions, soluble vimentin subunits shifted to an insoluble fraction. As we discovered that heat- shock protein 27 (HSP27) was colocalized and physically associated with vimentin in unstressed cells, the roles of HSP27 with regard to vimentin were assessed. HSP27-overexpressing cells prevented morphological alterations of the vimentin filaments, as well as reductions of soluble vimentin, in the cadmium-treated cells. Moreover, HSP27 antisense oligonucleotide augmented these cadmium-induced changes in vimentin. These findings indicate that HSP27 prevents disruption of the vimentin intermediate filament networks and soluble vimentin disappearance, by virtue of its physical interaction with vimentin in cadmium-treated SK-N-SH cells.

Prevalence and Clinical Significance of Incidental Sinus Abnormalities on Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging in a Non-ENT Population / 대한이비인후과학회지

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence and the types of sinus abnormalities in a non-ENT population and draw any clinical correlation between the two phenomena. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively evaluated a total 120 patients who underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for suspected intracranial diseases from March to July 1997, in another department at Kang-buk Samsung Hospital. Patients who had been treated for nasal or sinus diseases and who had previous history of nasal or sinus operations were excluded. The sinus abnormalities found on MRI were classified into 6 types as follows; normal, mucosal thickening less than 3 mm and more than 3 mm, fluid collection, polyp or cyst, and others. RESULTS: Among 96 patients studied, 42 (43.7%) patients showed abnormality in one or more sinus group; 12 (20.7%) of the 58 asymptomatic patients and 30 (78.9%) of the 38 symptomatic patients. Sinus abnormalities were most commonly observed in the maxillary sinus. Most common abnormality was the mucosal thickening less than 3 mm. CONCLUSION: Incidental sinus abnormalities detected in a non-ENT population were relatively common. However, pathologic condition which demanded treatment among these abnormalities were rare. Therefore, it would be important to be careful not to overestimate these signs, and one should evaluate their clinical correlations through complete physical examinations before applying any treatment for these lesions.