Apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 is associated with poor prognosis after curative resection followed by adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with stage III colon cancer

Purpose@#Apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1) is a key enzyme involved in the base excision repair pathway. It also has redox activity and maintains various transcription factors in an active reduced state. APE1 may be associated with chemoresistance. In the present study, we first investigated the expression level of APE1 protein and its correlation with oncologic outcomes of oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy in patients with stage III colon cancer. Further, we investigated the effects of human APE1 siRNA on the sensitivity of oxaliplatin in SNU-C2A colon cancer cells. @*Methods@#Tissue specimens from tumor and normal colon of 33 patients with stage III colon cancer were obtained from 2006 to 2009. The patients received at least eight cycles of oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy. APE1 expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting using a cultured SNU-C2A cell line. Cell viability and apoptosis were determined by Cell Counting Kit-8 and caspase-3 cleavage using Western blotting. @*Results@#All the colon cancer tissues showed APE1 staining in the nucleus, whereas all the normal colon tissues were negative for APE1 staining in the cytoplasm. The group with a higher expression of APE1 demonstrated poorer prognosis than the group with low expression (P=0.026 for overall survival and P=0.021 for disease-free survival). Treatment with oxaliplatin resulted in a dose-dependent increase in APE1 expression in SNU-C2A cells. APE1 siRNA significantly enhanced oxaliplatin-induced growth inhibition, and also increased oxaliplatin-induced apoptosis in SNU-C2A cells. @*Conclusion@#APE1 could be considered a prognostic factor in colon cancer patients treated with oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy.

The Effect of Aroma Inhalation Method on the Preoperative Anxiety of Abdominal Surgical Patients / 성인간호학회지

PURPOSE: The study was done to analyze the effects of aroma inhalation method on preoperative anxiety of abdominal surgical patients. METHODS: The research design was a nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design. The data were collected from July 25 to October 21, 2005 at C Medical Center in Seoul. The patients were divided into two group of 24 subjects each. In order for measuring the all patient's anxiety before operation and aroma inhalation, Spidlberger(1975) trait anxiety, VAS(visual analogue scale) state anxiety, blood pressure, pulse rate were taken. After experimental group was taken aroma inhalation, VAS state anxiety, blood pressure, pulse rate were measured for two group. RESULTS: After aroma inhalation, VAS state anxiety level, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pulse rate of the experimental group were decreased significantly than those of control group(p = .000, p = .000, p = .030. p = .000). CONCLUSION: The aroma inhalation method can be considered an effective nursing intervention that relieves the preoperative anxiety of abdominal surgical patients and stabilizes vital signs.

The Effect of Aroma Inhalation Method on the Preoperative Anxiety of Abdominal Surgical Patients / 성인간호학회지

PURPOSE: The study was done to analyze the effects of aroma inhalation method on preoperative anxiety of abdominal surgical patients. METHODS: The research design was a nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design. The data were collected from July 25 to October 21, 2005 at C Medical Center in Seoul. The patients were divided into two group of 24 subjects each. In order for measuring the all patient's anxiety before operation and aroma inhalation, Spidlberger(1975) trait anxiety, VAS(visual analogue scale) state anxiety, blood pressure, pulse rate were taken. After experimental group was taken aroma inhalation, VAS state anxiety, blood pressure, pulse rate were measured for two group. RESULTS: After aroma inhalation, VAS state anxiety level, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pulse rate of the experimental group were decreased significantly than those of control group(p = .000, p = .000, p = .030. p = .000). CONCLUSION: The aroma inhalation method can be considered an effective nursing intervention that relieves the preoperative anxiety of abdominal surgical patients and stabilizes vital signs.

Relationship between Cognitive Appraisal and Cardiac Risk Reduction Behavior Following Coronary Angioplasty / 성인간호학회지

PURPOSE: According to Lazarus & Folkman (1984), appraising a stressor as a threat is associated with negative psychological and physical adjustment, whereas appraising a stressor as a challenge is positive psychological and physical adjustment. This study examined how cognitive appraisal of PTCA(heart disease threat and treatment appraisal) related to the cardiac risk reduction behaviors(smoking cessation, low salt and low cholesterol diet, regular exercise and stress management) 6 weeks following discharge. METHOD: Data were collected from 50 subjects with successful primary PTCA. RESULT: Heart disease threat was negative related to treatment appraisal (r=-0.240, p=0.046). Psychological well-being was negative related to heart disease threat (r=-0.317, p=0.012) and positive related to treatment appraisal(r=0.402, p=0.002). The cardiac risk reduction behaviors score was negative related to heart disease threat(r= -0.296, p=0.018) and positive related to treatment appraisal(r=-0.291, p=0.020). CONCLUSION: More negative appraisal was related to lower the cardiac risk reduction behaviors score. But more positive appraisal was related to higher the cardiac risk reduction behaviors score. So, there is a need to develop the cognitive-behavioral intevention that increase the coping strategy to replace with positive appraisal.

Development of a Fatigue Symptom Checklist for Commercial Drivers: An Experimental Trial / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: Fatigue is a primary human factor for decreased job performance in the workplace. It is well documented that drowsiness is a typical symptom of fatigue and is closely associated with commercial drivers'safety and well-being. However, few studies have been conducted to develop or validate fatigue symptom instruments for a working population. The main purpose of this study was to develop a general fatigue checklist and a driving fatigue checklist for Korean commercial drivers. METHODS: A total of 287 bus drivers in a commercial transportation company participated in a self-administered survey that was designated Study 1. Based on the statistical results of Study 1, a focus meeting with 16 professional consultants was conducted to revise the fatigue symptom instrument for Study 2. In Study 2, 288 commercial drivers (156 bus drivers and 132 truck drivers) participated in the revised questionnaire survey. All collected responses were entered into a SPSS worksheet and the data analysis was conducted using SPSS software 11.1. The exploratory factor analysis used in this study followed the principle component factoring rule and the varimax rotation method for factor extraction. The criteria for item selection were an Eigen value of 1.0 or greater, a communality score of .50 or greater, and no 'fence rider'property over the extracted factors. RESULTS: Through Study 1, the consultant meeting, and Study 2, a general fatigue checklist was developed with a total of 3 factors and 11 items, and a driving fatigue checklist was developed with 2 factors and 10 items. The 3 factors of the general fatigue checklist were physical fatigue, psychological fatigue, and chronic tiredness. The two factors of the driving fatigue checklist were physical fatigue and perceptive and functional fatigue. CONCLUSIONS: The primary contents of general fatigue were different from those of driving fatigue according to the two fatigue instrument factors developed in this study. The primary fatigue symptoms of the commercial driving population were identified as physical fatigue and perceptive and functional fatigue.

Relationship between Manufacturing Workers'Job Conditions and Stress / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: In this study we performed an analysis of the stress associated with the working conditions of 6,764 workers based on 'A survey of healthy condition of workers on 1999'by the Korean Occupational Safety and Health Agency. The Purpose of this study was to provide basic data for health education and management for industrial workers'health promotion. METHODS: Collected data were analyzed using the t-test, ANOVA and multiple regression analysis, using the SPSS 10.0 program. RESULTS: When the degrees of stress were analyzed according to demographic characteristics, females were found to have higher levels of stress than males (p<0.001). Furthermore, as age was lowered and as the work space became larger, the degrees of a stress were also found to be higher (p<0.001 and p<0.01, respectively). When the degrees of stress were analyzed according to working conditions, longer working hours (p<0.001) and reduced break times (p<0.05), gave rise to higher degrees of stress. Also, as the work space was reduced in size and as the work intensity was augmented, the degrees of a stress were made higher (p<0.01). In terms of physical working conditions, humidity and a lack of sense of security resulted in higher degrees of stress (p<0.01). When the workers sense that their environment is noisy or dusty has poor lighting or ventilation or that the rest room and cafeteria facilities are inadequate, the degrees of stress are found to be higher. As regards the social environment, when the workers sensed that the degree of job demand or job control was higher or that the degree of social support was lower, the degrees of stress were increased (p<0.001). Among those factors which influenced physical stress in the stepwise multiple regression analysis, the primary factor was found to be the safety of the working place (5.1 %). Other factors which influenced physical stress were degree of job demand, age, work intensity, humidity, sexual discrimination, length of working hours, size of work space and the existence or not of a regular break time in this order. Total R2 due to these factors was 12%. Among those factors which influenced mental stress in the stepwise multiple regression analysis, the primary factor was the degree of job demand (4.8 %). Other factors which influenced mental stress were humidity, age, sexual discrimination, the degree of a job control, safety of the working place, degree of social support, a working site, size of the work space, quality of lighting, the existence or not of a regular break time and length of working hours in this order. Total R2 due to these factors was 13.1 %. CONCLUSIONS: The above results shows that working conditions are strongly related to stress. Furthermore, when both physical and social working conditions are continuously managed and improved, workers may not only reduce their levels of stress but also maximize their working efficiency.

Transcriptional Regulation of H2B Histone Gene Expression by Nocodazole in HL-60 Cells / 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: Nocodazole, a microtubule disrupting reagent, is known to arrest cells in the M phase, To gain insight on the regulatory mechanism of H2B histone gene expression by nocodazole in HL-60 cell, the binding pattern of nuclear proteins to cis element in the human H2B histone gene promoter has been investigated with DNase I footprinting and DNA mobility shift assay. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Northern blot hybridization was performed by the method of Virca et al. A Hinc II-Sac I fragment of pSPH28 was used as probe for Northern blot analysis of H2B histone mRNA. DNase I footprinting and DNA mobility shift assay were performed by the method of Lim et al. End labeled DNA oligomer (upper strand, 5'-CTTCACCTTATTTGCATAA GCGATTC-3') for octamer binding activity was mixed with nuclear extracts in a 20 ul reaction volume containing 60 mM KC1, 12 mM HEPES, pH 7.9, 5 mM MgCl2, 0.2 mM EDTA, 0.2 mM DTT, 12% glycerol, and 2 ug of poly [dI-dC]. RESULTS: The level of H2B histone mRNA rapidly was reduced at 24 hours in nocodazole-treated HL-60 cells and the mRNA was repressed in proportion to the concentration of nocodazole. Nocodazole-dependent repression of H2B histone gene was restored by replacement with nocodazole-free media. In DNase I footprinting analysis, one nuclear factor bound at 42 bp site (octamer motif) in the absence of nocodazole. In the presence of nocodazole, the binding of nuclear factor on octamer motif partially vanished. In DNA mobility shift assay, one DNA-protein complex (Octl) was formed when octamer motif was incubated with nuclear extract of HL-60 cell. After nocodazole treatment, Octl binding activity was reduced by time dependent manner. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that nocodazole-dependent repression of H2B histone gene is correlated with reduction of Octl binding activity in HL-60 cell.

Study on the Apoptosis in Human Prostate and Breast Cancer Cells / 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: Apoptosis is a form of cell death characterized by specific morphological changes in the dying cell including contraction of cytoplasm, chromatin condensation, and cellular fragmentation into membrane-bound bodies. A common biological marker of apoptosis is the degradation of nuclear DNA resulting in a ladder of nucleosome-sized DNA fragments when resolved by electrophoresis. The potential therapeutic implications of simultaneous activation of apoptosis in androgen-dependent and androgen-independent prostatic cells are clearly very important in the development of cancer treatment modalities for advanced prostate cancer. The efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents correlates with their ability to induce apoptosis, Therefore, quantification of experimentally induced apoptosis in cancer cell lines is likely to be a predictor of the outcome of treatment. The main objective of this study was to examine the induction of apoptosis as a new strategy for cancer therapy by cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (CDDP) or 12-0-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA) in human prostate (androgen-dependent LNCaP and androgen-independent DU-145), and breast cancer cells (MCF-7). MATERIALS AND METHODS: DNA gel electrophoresis, flow cytometry and transmission electron microscopy for morphological analysis were used to further characterize drug response in human prostate and breast cancer cells. RESULTS: Treatment of the LNCaP and DU-145 cells with CDDP or TPA resulted in dose-dependent growth inhibition and accumulation of cells in Ao (apoptotic region), and caused significant degradation of the genomic DNA into intemucleosomal-sized DNA fragments, indicating apoptosis. In contrast, MCF-7 cells showed little or no DNA fragmentation. CONCLUSION: These studies suggest that a differential susceptibility to apoptosis and chemosensitivity may be related to the efficacy of chemotherapeutic .agents. CDDP and TPA may have clinical implication in the treatment of prostate cancer. In particular, cytotoxic effects of TPA may well lead to new possibilities for improved strategy.

Role of AP-1 Transcriptional Regulation of Vimentin Gene during 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-Acetate Differentiation of HL-60 Cells / 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: To gain insight on the role of AP-1 in transcriptional regulation of vimentin gene during differentiation of HL-60 cells by 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), the levels of vimentin mRNA and AP-1 have been investigated with Northern blot hybridization and DNA mobility shift assay. MATERIALS AND METHODS: HL-60 cells were grown in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated fetal calf serum and antibiotics in a humidified 5% CO2 at 37 degree C. Total RNA was prepared by a modification of the method of Karlinsey et al. Northern blot hybridization was performed by the method of Virca et al. EcoRI fragment of pVIM-GEM was used as probe for vimentin mRNA. DNA mobility shift assay was performed by the method of Lim et al. End labeled DNA probe(Upper strand, 5'-CGCTTGATGAGTCAGCCG- 3') for AP-1 binding activity was mixed with nuclear extracts in a 20 microliter reaction volume containing 300 mM KC1, 60 mM HEPES, pH 7.9, 25 mM MgCl2, 1 mM EDTA, 1 mM DTT, 60% glycerol, and 2 microgram of poly[dI-dC]. RESULTS: TPA increased vimentin mRNA levels, with maxima1 stimulation reached at 24 hr. The level of vimentin mRNA was induced in proportion to the concentration of TPA. TPA-induced vimentin mRNA was almost reduced by actinomycin-D pretreatment. TPA- induced stimulation of vimentin gene was completely reduced by staurosporin pretreatment. In DNA mobility shift assay, AP-I newly appeared at 24 hr during TPA- induced differentiation and was almost not detected after the pretreatment of staurosporin. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the induction of vimentin mRNA during TPA- dependent differentiation in HL-60 cells may be mediated by protein kinases C signal transduction and AP-1 is important to transcriptional regulation.

Factors Affecting on Hospital Workers' Stress Symptom / 대한산업의학회지

Nowadays, stress is one of the most important factors that affect workers' chronic diseases. In the case of China, medical demands increased under the national health service system after the market economy was introduced. These socioeconomic changes have affected the hospital workers' stress in China. We surveyed 428 hospital workers in Jilin Province in China from March 18 to March 29, 1996. The results were as follows ; 1. There were more women(67.8%) than men(31.1%) and those who graduated from technical school were 54.2%. The workers whose monthly income ranged from 400 to 499 Yuen were 37.9% by Chinese currency. For occupational characteristics, there were 36.4% doctors and 30.1% were nurses among the hospital workers. 29.9% had worked for 10~20 years in the hospital and 80.1% said their workload was moderate. 25.9% were satisfied with their jobs and 33.2% had good relationships with superiors and 37.4% had good relationships with co-workers. 2. For health habits, 22.7% were current smokers and 51.2% were scarcely drank. among this subjects. Those who ate breakfast almost everyday were 87.1% and the workers who ate between meals almost everyday were 50.2%. 83.8% slept for 7~8 hours at night. Only 14.0% of the workers exercised regularly were only 14.0% and 18.5% were obese. 3. Hospital workers' stress symptom was significantly related to age and monthly income. The workers who were 19 years old or less or 40 years old or more and had higher monthly income showed higher stress symptoms than those who were between 20-39 and had lower monthly income. Higher stress symptom was also significantly related to the heavy workload, the dissatisfaction with their job an4 the bad relationship with their superiors and co-workers. 4. Higher stress symptoms were significantly related to drinking and hours of sleep among the seven health habits. The more frequently the workers' drank, the higher the stress symptoms were and the workers who slept for 7~8 hours at night had lower stress symptoms than those who slept for 6 hours or less or 9 hours or more. 5. According to the results of stepwise multiple regression analysis, the factors affecting hospital workers' stress symptoms were monthly income in personal characteristics (R2=0.0227), job satisfaction and workload (R2=0.0742) in occupational characteristics, and drinking and hours of sleep (R2=0.0446) among the seven health habits. Consequently, the most significant factors that had affected hospital workers' stress symptom in China, were job satisfaction and drinking according to the premises of the questionnaire.

The Relationship between Noise Exposure Level in Worksite and Workers' Stress symptoms / 예방의학회지

Health services on industrial noisy environment have been provided only for noise-induced hearing loss management until now. But gradually, modern diseases and death have come to be related to stress and mental health deeply, therefore noise-induced mental disorder, like a stress became very important. In this point, the purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between noise exposure level in worksite and workers' stress symptoms. This study included a survey of 786 manual workers selected from 89 worksites in 21 factories in Puchon. The results were as follows: 1. For demographic characteristics, most of the workers were males(80.8%), the 20~29 years old were 34.5% and those who graduated from high school were 65.3%. The workers whose monthly income ranged from 500,000 to 800,000 won were 37.5% and who have a religion were 47.9%. 2. For occupational characteristics, workers who had worked 1~5 years in the factories were 33.0%. Those who felt much for them workload were 43.9% and who worked more than 8 hours a day were 73.9 %. Those who were dissatisfied with their job and pay were 31.9% and 50.6%. The workers who responded ventilation condition of their worksites were bad were 51.9% and the dissatisfied with working environment of their wofksites were 45.9%. 3. Workers who were suffering from tinnitus were 53.3% and those who perceived hearing loss were 50.l%. Persons who reported they always wore earplugs at work were 35.4%. Those who felt earplugs bigger than their ears were 30.6% and those who experienced eardiseases caused by earplugs were 25.6%. 4. For the noise exposure level in worksite, workers who were exposed to 80-90dB were 30.3%, 90-100dB were 26.4% and 50~70dB were 19.2%. 5. workers' stress symptoms were significantly related to marital status and their monthly income p< 0.05). Workers who were single and had lower monthly income showed higher PSl (Psychiatric symptom Index) scores than those who were married and had higher monthly income. Higher PSl scores were also significantly related to l~2 days night-work per week, much for them workload, dissatisfaction with their job, and bad relationship with their bosses and coworkers. 6. Higher PSl scores were significantly related to severe tinnitus and perceived hearing loss p<0.001). Workers who felt the earplugs they use did not fit their ears showed significantly higher PSl scores(p<0.01). Workers who reported that they did not feel they need earplugs showed significantly higher PSl scores(p<0.05). Increased experience of eardisease caused by earplugs that did not fit were also significantly related to higher PSl scores(p<0.001). 7. The higher noise exposure level in worksite from 80dB was, the more severe stress symptoms including PSl subparts were reported; Anxiety, Anger, Depression, and cognitive disorder(p<0.001). 8. According to the results of stepwise multiple regression analysis, factors affecting workers' PSl scores were perceived hearing loss(R2=0.160), noise exposure level jn worksite(R2=0.110), relationship with coworkers, amount of workload, monthly income and relationship with bosses orderly and the total R2 of this 6 factors was 0.371. 9. The most significant factors that have impact on manual workers' stress symptoms were perceived hearing loss and noise exposure level in worksite, especially noise exposure level in the worksite was the most affective factor on the depression symptom.

The center for epidemiologic studies-depression scale: its use in Korea / 신경정신의학

No abstract available.

A Study on the Industrial Accident of Steel Workers / 대한산업의학회지

To investigate the relationship between physical health of workers and industrial accidents, a case-control study was carried out using matched samples of 87 injured steel industry workers and 87 non-injured steel industry workers. One group of people who experienced industrial accidents more than two times were case, and the other group of people who matched the type of work and duration of employment were control. We surveyed questionnaire between July 20, 1988 and July 22, 1988. The results were as follows: 1. The average age of injured workers was 39 years, and non-injured workers was 38 years. Duration of employment of injured workers was 8.4 years and non-injured workers was 8 years. 2. Visual acuity under 1.0 were 24.4 percent in injured workers and 19.5 percent in non-injured workers. Hearing threshold over 40 dB were 77.1 percent in injured workers and 60.9 percent in non-injured workers. 3. As for the Fugamachi classification method, 22.9 percent of injured workers and 20.8 percent of non-injured workers were group III(suspected neurotics). 4. As for the item of CMI(Cornell Medical Index), injured workers were higher rates than non-injured workers in the item of C(cardiovascular system), M(inadequency), O(anxiety), P(sensitivity), Q(anger), and R(tension). 5. Especially, injured workers who had more than three times were higher in the item of C(cardiovascular system), M(inadequency), N(depression), P(sensitivity), Q(anger), R(tension) than non-injured workers.

A Study on the Physical and Mental Health Factors affecting Industrial Accidents / 예방의학회지

This study examined the physical and mental health factors affecting the industrial accidents of 142 injured and 1,212 uninjured workers in the shipbuilding industry from 1986 to 1988. The results acquired from the Todai Health Index (THI) and from analysis of the health examination were as follows: 1. Among the personal characteristics of the workers, the educational level of injured workers was significantly lower than that of the uninjured workers. 2. Among the physical characteristics, vision and R hrer Index of the injured workers were lower than those of the uninjured workers, and the difference was statistically significant. On the other hand, the differences in height, weight, hearing function, hematocrit, blood pressure, urine test, and X-ray findings were not statistically significant between the injured and uninjured workers. 3. The score of the THI questionnaire on the physical and mental health of the injured workers was higher than that of the uninjured workers, and the difference was statistically significant. 4. Form the THI score, the industrial workers had complained more about mental health than physical health and there was a statistically significant relation with the industrial accidents. 5. The relative risk expressed in terms of the odds ratio was 2.9 for poorer vision, 2.7 for a lower educational level, 2.2 for a higher THI score and 1.6 for overdrinking. 6. Educational level, vision, and the THI score were selected as significant factors influencing industrial accidents based on a log-linear model. According to the results of this model by logistic analysis, the odds ratio of industrial accidents was 1.8 for a lower educational level, 1.7 for poorer vision, and 1.6 for a higher THI score. 7. By event history analysis with the dependent variable as the duration of work at the time of the industrial accident, educational level, age, R hrer Index and THI score were the statistically significant variables selected, and the hazard rate of industrial accident occurrence was 0.24 for a lower educational level, 0.92 for age, 0.99 for a lower R hrer Index and 2.72 for a higher THI score. As we have seen, educational level and THI score were the most significant factors affecting the hazard rate of industrial accidents. Vision, R hrer Index, age, and drinking behavior were also statistically significant variables influencing industrial accidents. Therefore, in order to prevent industrial accidents, it is necessary to establish a health management plan for industry which can objectively evaluate not only the physical but also the mental health of the workers. If we use this type of study as a prospective study design, we can determine the relative risk of physical and mental health factors on industrial accidents. Furthermore, it is expected that this type of study will provide workers at high risk with more precise basic data for a health management plan for industrial accident prevention.