Operating a National Hotline in Korea During the COVID-19Pandemic

The importance of effective communication cannot be overestimated during a pandemic. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency national 1339 hotline has been in operation since the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus outbreak in 2016. The hotline is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, and provides accurate, reliable information based upon the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency guidelines in response to queries. During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the 1339 hotline received callers’ questions about symptoms and the implications of their actions regarding the epidemic. Through the 1339 hotline, callers received the upto-date information that enabled them to protect themselves as well as others from COVID-19. This public service may have influenced on reduced risk of virus transmission in Korea.

Operating a National Hotline in Korea During the COVID-19Pandemic

The importance of effective communication cannot be overestimated during a pandemic. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency national 1339 hotline has been in operation since the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus outbreak in 2016. The hotline is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, and provides accurate, reliable information based upon the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency guidelines in response to queries. During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the 1339 hotline received callers’ questions about symptoms and the implications of their actions regarding the epidemic. Through the 1339 hotline, callers received the upto-date information that enabled them to protect themselves as well as others from COVID-19. This public service may have influenced on reduced risk of virus transmission in Korea.

Mannosylerythritol lipids ameliorate ultraviolet A-induced aquaporin-3 downregulation by suppressing c-Jun N-terminal kinase phosphorylation in cultured human keratinocytes

Mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs) are glycolipids and have several pharmacological efficacies. MELs also show skin-moisturizing efficacy through a yet-unknown underlying mechanism. Aquaporin-3 (AQP3) is a membrane protein that contributes to the water homeostasis of the epidermis, and decreased AQP3 expression following ultraviolet (UV)-irradiation of the skin is associated with reduced skin moisture. No previous study has examined whether the skin-moisturizing effect of MELs might act through the modulation of AQP3 expression. Here, we report for the first time that MELs ameliorate the UVA-induced downregulation of AQP3 in cultured human epidermal keratinocytes (HaCaT keratinocytes). Our results revealed that UVA irradiation decreases AQP3 expression at the protein and messenger RNA (mRNA) levels, but that MEL treatment significantly ameliorated these effects. Our mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor analysis revealed that phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), but not extracellular signal-regulated kinase or p38, mediates UVA-induced AQP3 downregulation, and that MEL treatment significantly suppressed the UVA-induced phosphorylation of JNK. To explore a possible mechanism, we tested whether MELs could regulate the expression of peroxidase proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ), which acts as a potent transcription factor for AQP3 expression. Interestingly, UVA irradiation significantly inhibited the mRNA expression of PPAR-γ in HaCaT keratinocytes, whereas a JNK inhibitor and MELs significantly rescued this effect. Taken together, these findings suggest that MELs ameliorate UVA-induced AQP3 downregulation in HaCaT keratinocytes by suppressing JNK activation to block the decrease of PPAR-γ. Collectively, our findings suggest that MELs can be used as a potential ingredient that modulates AQP3 expression to improve skin moisturization following UVA irradiation-induced damage.

Postural Intraocular Pressure Change at Trendelenberg Position Measured by Rebound Tonometer

PURPOSE: This study was carried out to evaluate the postural intraocular pressure (IOP) change in Trendelenburg, reverse Trendelenburg, and supine positions in healthy young males. METHODS: We measured the IOP values of 5 healthy young male volunteers (10 eyes) using an Icare PRO rebound tonometer in sitting, Trendelenburg, reverse Trendelenburg, and supine positions. RESULTS: The mean IOP in the supine position (18.63 mm Hg) was significantly higher (p < 0.01) than in the sitting position (15.31 mm Hg). When maintaining the Trendelenburg position, IOP gradually increased. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, the Trendelenburg position significantly increased the IOP compared to that in the supine position. The effects of increased IOP should be considered in situations that require Trendelenburg positioning, such as exercise or surgery.

A Case of Emergency Extracranial-Intracranial Arterial Bypass Surgery for Acute Symptomatic ICA Occlusion

The benefits of extracranial-Intracranial bypass surgery have not yet been proven, but recent studies have showed the beneficial effects in selected patients. We report a 52-year-old man who underwent an emergency EC-IC bypass surgery to prevent further progression of neurological deficits after acute ICA occlusion. After overcoming the concerns of the high surgical risk involved in acute ischemic stroke, this case shows that emergency bypass surgery may be helpful in highly select patients by improving hemodynamic compromise.

Evaluation of the Efficacy of Sodium Hyaluronate to Degerative Osteoarthritis of the Knee

OBJECTIVE: To obtain a effect of intraarticular injection of Sodium Hyaluronate in the patient with degenerative osteoarthritis without restriction of activities of daily living. METHOD: Twenty-five patients were participated in this study. These patients are diagnosed as degenerative osteoarthritis by clinical symtoms and radiographic findings. Sodium hyaluronate, 2.5 ml, 3 mg/ampule, were injected intraarticulary without local anesthesia once a week for 5 times consecutively. For evaluation of the effectiveness of sodium hyaluronate, we assess the parameters for subjective and objective symtoms scored from 0 to 3 on 3 items, and for activities of daily living scored from 0 to 4 on 4 items. And then, we compared these data between pre-injection and at post-injection 2, 4, and 5 weeks. Changes of subjective and objective symtoms, and activities of daily living are assessed using Kellgren's X-ray grading of degenerative osteoarthritis. Improvement of the subjective pain is recorded by visual analogue scale. RESULTS: 1. Subjective and objective symtoms, and activities of daily living with time progression were significantly increased at post-injection 4, 5 weeks compared with pre-injection status (P<0.05). 2. Subjective and objective symtoms, and activities of daily living according to Kellgren's X-ray classification were significantly increased at stage II and III (P<0.05). 3. Visual analogue scale is significantly decreased after injection (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Intraarticular injection of sodium hyaluronate showed improvement of patient's subjective and objective symtoms, and activities of daily living. The improvement was pronounced in the cases of high grade of degenerative osteoarthritis (stage II, III) according to Kellgren's X-ray classification as well as low grade (Stage I).

Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome: Two cases report

Melkersson-Rosenthal (M-R) syndrome consists of a triad of (1) recurrent peripheral facial nerve paralysis which develops alternatively on both sides of face, (2) non-inflammatory facial edema, and (3) furrowed tongue. Since the cause of M-R syndrome is unknown, various forms of therapy have been tried, but there were no conclusive evidence that they altered the course of the disease. A 27-year-old female and a 44-year-old male patient with recurrent facial nerve paralysis were diagnosed with M-R syndrome. We report the two cases of M-R syndrome with the brief review of literatures.

beta-Amyloid Neurotoxicity on Basal Forebrain Cholinergic Neuron Cultures / 대한해부학회지

beta-amyloid[Abeta] peptide consisting of 40 of 42 amino acids peptide is the principal constituent of senile plaques in Alzheimer`s disease. Recently, it has been demonstrated that this peptide and its constituent fragments are toxic to neuron. Basal forebrain cholinergic neurons are preferentially damaged early in the course of Alzheimer`s disease, and the degree of cholinergic decrement correlates well with the severity of dementia. Taking into consideration of toxic properties of Abeta and the selective vulnerability of the cholinergic system, possible effects of beta-amyloid on the cultured basal forebrain cholinergic neurons were tested. Our result showed tha Abeta1-40 induced marked neurodegenerative changes including loss of cell body and dystrophic neurites in the basal forebrain neuronal cultures at 20micrometer. Immunocytochemical study showed that Abeta1-40 causes apparent loss of choline acetyltransferase[ChAT] immunoreactivity and acetycholine esterase[AchE] positive neuritic intergrity in large basal forebrain cholinegic neurons. However, the number of ChAT immunoreactive neurons was not significantly decreased as compared to other neurons in mixed culture system. These results suggest that the basal forebrain neurons are not particularly vulnearable to Abeta and that preferential injury to basal forebrain cholinergic neurons in Alzheimer`s disease may be caused by some other medchanism.

The effects of various exposure times in the detectability on the tips of the endodontic files in Digora(R) / 대한구강악안면방사선학회지

Digora(R)-an intraoral digital radiography system utilizing image plate(IP) - has a dynamic range of expo sure time which allows it to decrease the patient's exposure time and to increase diagnostic ability through imge proces sing, transmission and storage. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Digora(R) system by assessing the effects of various exposure times on the detectability on the tip of the endodontic file. Examining the root canals of 45 extracted sound premolars, K-files No. 10, 15, and 20 were placed at slightly varying distances from the apex. The teeth were glued onto resin-pla ster blocks. Five exposure times varying between 0.01 seconds and 0.25 seconds were used. Four observers were asked to m easure the distance between the tip of the file and a reduction of crown portion, and obtained mean errors (subtracting true file length from the measured file length), comparing Digora(R) monitors with E-plus films, which were bot h obtained under the same geometrical positions. The results were as follows : 1. Comparing E-plus film with Digora(R) at 0.01 seconds, the mean errors in E-plus film showed -4.453mm, -4.49 7mm, and -3.857mm, while the mean errors in Digora(R) showed 0.065mm, 0.607mm, and 0.719mm according to the fil e groups. Therefore there was a significant difference between E-plus film and Digora(R)(P<0.05). 2. By comparison of mean errors according to the various exposure times in the Digora(R) system, the mean error at standard deviation was the highest at 0.01 seconds was significantly lower than that at 0.12 and 0.25 seconds in No . 10 and 20 file group(P<0.05). and the standard deviation was the highest at 0.01 seconds. 3. Comparing E-plus film at 0.25 seconds with the Digora(R) system, the mean errors showed a significant diffe rence between E-plus at 0.25 seconds and the Digora(R) system at 0.25 seconds in No. 10 and 20 file groups (P <0.05). 4. Comparing E-plus film at 0.25 seconds with other exposure times, the mean errors showed a significant difference between E-plus film at 0.25 seconds and E-plus film at 0.01 and 0.03 seconds in 10 file group(p<0.05). In the NO. 15 and 20 file groups, there was a significant difference between E-plus film at 0.25 seconds and E-plus film at 0.01 seconds(p<0.05). In conclusion, Digora(R) was better than E-plus film in detectability on the tip of the file at the exposure time of 0.01 seconds in all file groups. And we concluded that Digora(R) can shorten exposure times up to 4% of 0.25 seconds (0.01 sec), which is adequate exposure time for premolar in E-plus film using No. 15 and 20 files.

The Trends of Urinary Tract Infection in Patients with Neurogenic Bladder

The urinary tract infection(UTI) is a very common complication of rehabilitation patients with neurogenic bladder. Proper diagnosis and early treatment are very important for the long term rehabilitation outcomes. Many reports are available in the literature on the characteristics of UTI in spinal cord injury(SCI) patients, however only few reports appear on non-SCI patients. We have done comprehensive chart reviews of 1,251 patients with neurogenic bladder who were admitted to the rehabilitation medicine department, PMC from January 1982 to August 1996. Patients were divided into 4 groups: patients with stroke, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury and other neurologic diseases, and we have studied: incidence of UTI, commonly cultured organisms, antibiotic sensitivities, urinary pH, voiding methods, and residual urine volumes. The incidences of UTI are 50.9% for all patients, 48.1% in Stroke, 72.3% in Spinal cord injury, 38.9% in Traumatic brain injury, and 34.1% in other neurologic diseases. There has been increase of Gram(+) cocci and decrease of Gram(-) rod during study period. Commonly cultured organisms are Escherichia coli(E. coli), Pseudomonas, Klebsiella. The decreased antibiotic sensitivities are noted in almost all organisms. Positive correlations are found between the incidence of UTI, high urine pH, high residual urine volumes, and use of catheters. In conclusion, despite of many variable factors, the trends of UTI in each groups show no significant difference.