Influence of body image on quality of life in breast cancer patients undergoing breast reconstruction: Mediating of self-esteem.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is considered as a major health problem for women, and the prevalence is increasing over the world. Research to improve their quality of life is necessary. PURPOSE: This study was to examine the body image and self-esteem of breast cancer patients who underwent breast reconstruction in order to determine whether these affect their quality of life. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive design was employed. This study was conducted on 140 patients who underwent breast reconstruction following breast cancer surgery at S University Hospital in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Measures were the general characteristics list, body image scale, self-esteem scale, and the Korean version of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast Cancer Version 4 for quality of life. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient, linear regression, and process macro bootstrapping for mediation effect. Data were collected from October 2020 to March 2021. RESULTS: The path regression coefficient was 1.59 (p < .001), and the direct effect of body image on the quality of life was 1.34 (p < .001) considering the effect of self-esteem, which is a parameter. This confirmed that self-esteem mediates body image and quality of life. The explanatory power of self-esteem for quality of life was 54%. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that body image and self-esteem are important factors in the quality of life of breast cancer patients who underwent breast reconstruction. Also, the self-esteem has a mediating effect in the relationship between body image and quality of life. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: In clinical practice, nurses should focus on the body image and self-esteem of breast cancer patients who have undergone breast reconstruction in order to improve their quality of life. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: This cross-sectional descriptive design study was conducted on patients who underwent breast reconstruction following breast cancer surgery at hospital in South Korea.

Discovery of Q203, a potent clinical candidate for the treatment of tuberculosis.

New therapeutic strategies are needed to combat the tuberculosis pandemic and the spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) forms of the disease, which remain a serious public health challenge worldwide. The most urgent clinical need is to discover potent agents capable of reducing the duration of MDR and XDR tuberculosis therapy with a success rate comparable to that of current therapies for drug-susceptible tuberculosis. The last decade has seen the discovery of new agent classes for the management of tuberculosis, several of which are currently in clinical trials. However, given the high attrition rate of drug candidates during clinical development and the emergence of drug resistance, the discovery of additional clinical candidates is clearly needed. Here, we report on a promising class of imidazopyridine amide (IPA) compounds that block Mycobacterium tuberculosis growth by targeting the respiratory cytochrome bc1 complex. The optimized IPA compound Q203 inhibited the growth of MDR and XDR M. tuberculosis clinical isolates in culture broth medium in the low nanomolar range and was efficacious in a mouse model of tuberculosis at a dose less than 1 mg per kg body weight, which highlights the potency of this compound. In addition, Q203 displays pharmacokinetic and safety profiles compatible with once-daily dosing. Together, our data indicate that Q203 is a promising new clinical candidate for the treatment of tuberculosis.

Lysinibacillus chungkukjangi sp. nov., isolated from Chungkukjang, Korean fermented soybean food.

One bacterial strain 2RL3-2(T) was isolated from Chungkukjang, a traditional Korean fermented food made from soybeans, and determined to be a Gram-positive, aerobic, spore-forming rod. Growth of the novel strain was optimal at 30°C and pH 7.0. The 16S rRNA gene of strain 2RL3-2(T) showed the highest level of sequence similarity to Lysinibacillus sinduriensis BLB-1(T) (99.0%), Lysinibacillus massiliensis 4400831(T) (97.1%), Lysinibacillus xylanilyticus XDB9(T) (97.0%), and Lysinibacillus odysseyi 34hs-1(T) (96.8%). Phylogenetic analysis showed that strain 2RL3-2(T) formed a robust cluster with L. sinduriensis BLB-1(T), L. massiliensis 4400831(T), and L. odyssey 34hs-1(T). The major fatty acids were anteiso-C15:0 (47.3%), iso-C16:0 (16.3%), and anteiso-C17:0 (11.3%), and the only menaquinone was MK-7. Diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, and phosphatidylethanolamine were the major polar lipids, along with an unknown phospholipid and two unknown lipids. The peptidoglycan type was A4α, with an interpeptide bridge of l-Lys-d-Asp. DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain 2RL3-2(T) and closely related Lysinibacillus species were below 43±4%. Therefore, based on phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and phylogenetic characteristics, it was determined that strain 2RL3-2(T) represents a novel species of the genus Lysinibacillus, for which the name Lysinibacillus chungkukjangi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 2RL3-2(T) (=KACC 16626(T) =NBRC 108948(T)).

Angustibacter aerolatus sp. nov., isolated from air.

A novel actinomycete strain, 7402J-48(T), was isolated from an air sample collected from Jeju island, Republic of Korea. Cells were gram-positive, aerobic, flagellated, short rods. Strain 7402J-48(T) showed highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (98.6 %) with Angustibacter luteus TT07R-79(T), and had relatively low sequence similarities (below 95.1 %) with other members of the family Kineosporiaceae. The cell wall of strain 7402J-48(T) contained alanine, glutamic acid and 2,6-diaminopimelic acid, suggesting A1γ-type peptidoglycan. The menaquinones were MK-9(H(4)) and MK-8(H(4)). The acyl type of the cell-wall muramic acid was acetyl. Diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol mannoside and an unknown lipid were present. The cellular fatty acid profile comprised a large amount of anteiso-C(15 : 0), moderate amounts of C(16 : 0), summed feature 3 (including C(16 : 1)ω7c and/or C(16 : 1)ω6c), C(17 : 0), iso-C(15 : 0), C(16 : 0) N alcohol and C(17 : 1)ω8c, and small amounts of other fatty acids. The DNA G+C content of strain 7402J-48(T) was 73 mol%. Based on its phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, strain 7402J-48(T) ( = KACC 15527(T) = NBRC 108730(T)) is proposed as the type strain of a novel species, Angustibacter aerolatus sp. nov. An emended description of the genus Angustibacter is provided.

Rudaeicoccus suwonensis gen. nov., sp. nov., an actinobacterium isolated from the epidermal tissue of a root of a Phalaenopsis orchid.

A bacterial strain, designated HOR6-4(T), was isolated from the epidermal tissue of a root of a Phalaenopsis orchid. Strain HOR6-4(T) was characterized using a polyphasic approach. The cells were aerobic, Gram-stain-positive, non-motile coccoids. Phylogenetic analysis of its 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed a clear affiliation with the family Dermacoccaceae. Strain HOR6-4(T) showed relatively low 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (below 95.9 %) to type strains of species with validly published names, showing the highest sequence similarities to the type strains of Flexivirga alba (95.8 %) and Yimella lutea (95.5 %). The DNA G+C content of strain HOR6-4(T) was 64.7 mol%. Strain HOR6-4(T) had anteiso-C17 : 0 (19.3 %), 10-methyl C18 : 0 (tuberculostearic acid; 13.5 %) and 10-methyl C17 : 0 (11.7 %) as the major fatty acids and contained MK-8(H4) and MK-8(H6) as the predominant quinones. Polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, three aminophospholipids, two phospholipids and an aminolipid. The peptidoglycan type was A4α, with an L-Lys-L-Thr-D-Glu interpeptide bridge with a glycine residue bound to the alpha-carboxyl group of D-Glu in position 2 of the peptide subunit. Mycolic acids were not present. On the basis of comparative analysis of phenotypic and phylogenetic traits, strain HOR6-4(T) is considered to represent a novel species in a new genus in the family Dermacoccaceae, for which the name Rudaeicoccus suwonensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Rudaeicoccus suwonensis is HOR6-4(T) ( = KACC 12637(T)  = DSM 19560(T)).

Naasia aerilata gen. nov., sp. nov., a member of the family Microbacteriaceae isolated from air.

A Gram-positive, aerobic, rod-shaped bacterial strain, 5116S-4(T), was isolated from an air sample collected in Suwon city, Republic of Korea. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that this strain was a new member of the family Microbacteriaceae. The sequence similarities of this strain to the members of the family Microbacteriaceae were less than 97 %, with the highest values observed with Cryobacterium mesophilum MSL-15(T) (96.3 %), Cryobacterium roopkundense RuGl7(T) (96.2 %), Labedella gwakjiensis KSW2-17(T) (96.2 %), Cryobacterium luteum Hh15(T) (96.2 %), Cryobacterium psychrophilum DSM 4854(T) (96.2 %), Klugiella xanthotipulae 44C3(T) (96.0 %) and Amnibacterium kyonggiense KSL51201-037(T) (96.0 %). According to the phylogenetic tree, strain 5116S-4(T) formed a cluster with A. kyonggiense KSL51201-037(T), Labedella gwakjiensis KSW2-17(T) and Lysinimonas soli SGM3-12(T) (95.3 % sequence similarity) on the support of high bootstrap values. Cells were motile with single polar flagellum and showed optimum growth at 30 °C and pH 7 without NaCl. Predominant cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. Polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, dimannosyldiacylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, one unknown glycolipid, one unknown phospholipid and one unknown lipid. The acyl type of the cell-wall muramic acid was the acetyl type. Peptidoglycan was supposed to be the type B1 with 2,4-diaminobutyric acid on position 3. Strain 5116S-4(T) was clearly distinguishable from the phylogenetically related genera in the family Microbacteriaceae in terms of chemotaxonomic characteristics. On the basis of the chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic characteristics, a novel genus and species are proposed, Naasia aerilata gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain of Naasia aerilata is 5116S-4(T) ( = KACC 15517(T) = NBRC 108725(T)).

Lysinimonas soli gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from soil, and reclassification of Leifsonia kribbensis Dastager et al. 2009 as Lysinimonas kribbensis sp. nov., comb. nov.

A Gram-stain-positive, non-motile rod, designated strain SGM3-12(T), was isolated from paddy soil in Suwon, Republic of Korea. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that the strain represented a novel member of the family Microbacteriaceae. The nearest phylogenetic neighbour was Leifsonia kribbensis MSL-13(T) (97.4 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). Strain SGM3-12(T) and Leifsonia kribbensis MSL-13(T) formed a distinct cluster within the family Microbacteriaceae. Strain SGM3-12(T) contained MK-12(H2) and MK-11(H2) as the predominant menaquinones with moderate amounts of MK-12 and MK-11; anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0 as the major cellular fatty acids (>10 % of total); and diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and unidentified glycolipids as the polar lipids. The peptidoglycan type of the isolate was B1δ with L-Lys as the diagnostic cell-wall diamino acid. On the basis of these results, strain SGM3-12(T) represents a novel species within a new genus, for which the name Lysinimonas soli gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed (the type strain of the type species is SGM3-12(T) = KACC 13362(T) = NBRC 107106(T)). It is also proposed that Leifsonia kribbensis be transferred to this genus as Lysinimonas kribbensis comb. nov. (the type strain is MSL-13(T) = DSM 19272(T) = JCM 16015(T) = KACC 21108(T) = KCTC 19267(T)).

Homoserinimonas aerilata gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel member of the family Microbacteriaceae isolated from an air sample in Korea.

A bacterial strain isolated from an air sample, strain 5317J-19(T), was characterized. The isolate was an aerobic, motile, Gram-positive rod. The organism was able to grow between 4 and 35°C and between pH 6 and 9. The predominant fatty acids were anteiso-C(15:0) and iso-C(16:0). The major respiratory menaquinones were MK-12 and MK-11, and the minor ones were MK13, MK-10, and MK-9. Genomic DNA G+C content was 66 mol%. The diagnostic diamino acid of the peptidoglycan is presumably D-Orn. The peptidoglycan is supposed to be B2ß type. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that this isolate belongs to the family Microbacteriaceae and had the highest sequence similarities with Salinibacterium xinjiangense 0543(T) (97.6%), Salinibacterium amurskyense KMM 3673(T) (97.2%), and Leifsonia bigeumensis MSL-27(T) (97.2%). Phylogenetic analysis and phenotypic characteristics support the proposal of a new genus and a novel species, with the name Homoserinimonas aerilata gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain of Homoserinimonas aerilata is 5317J-19(T) (=KACC 15522(T) =NBRC 108729(T)).

Diaminobutyricimonas aerilata gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel member of the family Microbacteriaceae isolated from an air sample in Korea.

A novel isolate, designated 6408J-67(T), was isolated from an air sample collected from Jeju Island, Republic of Korea. Its phenotypic, genotypic, and chemotaxonomic properties were compared with those of members of the family Microbacteriaceae. The Gram-positive, aerobic, motile rod formed light yellow, smooth, circular and convex colonies. Optimal growth occurred at 30°C and pH 7.0. 16S rRNA gene sequence data showed that the isolate was a novel member of the family Microbacteriaceae, with the highest sequence similarity (97.4%) to Labedella gwakjiensis KSW2-17(T) and less (<97%) sequence similarity with other taxa. The major cellular fatty acids (>10% of the total) were anteiso-C(15:0), iso-C(14:0), and iso-C(16:0). The strain also contained MK-13, MK-12, and MK-14 as the major menaquinones, as well as diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, and two unknown glycolipids. Its peptidoglycan structure was B1ß with 2,4-diaminobutyric acid as a diamino acid. Mycolic acids were absent. The DNA G+C content was 68.3 mol%. Based on these phenotypic and genotypic findings, strain 6408J-67(T) represents a novel species of a new genus within the family Microbacteriaceae, for which the name Diaminobutyricimonas aerilata gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 6408J-67(T) (=KACC 15518(T) =NBRC 108726(T)).

Effects of obesity and obesity-induced stress on depressive symptoms in Korean elementary school children.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is becoming prevalent in Korean children. Because body image is becoming increasingly important, it is likely that obesity-induced stress has a significant effect on childhood depression. AIMS: To examine the correlation between obesity-induced stress and depressive symptoms in Korean elementary school students. METHODS: The study participants were 2,305 elementary school children and their parents in the districts of Jeju-si, Seogwipo-si, Namjeju-gun and Bukjeju-gun on Jeju Island, Korea, who completed questionnaires involving demographic information, an obesity-induced stress scale and the Korean form of Kovacs' Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) from September to December 2006. RESULTS: After controlling for significant independent variables that are wellknown correlates of depressive symptoms in children (e.g. age, gender, residence, family monthly income, obesity status of both parents, family history of chronic illness, and time spent with mother), obesity-induced stress had an odds ratio of 1.128 (95% CI 1.111-1.146). CONCLUSIONS: Reducing the prevalence of depressive symptoms in elementary school children in Jeju Island will require special attention, particularly the development of coping strategies to resolve obesity-induced stress in various areas including school, family and society.

Depressive symptoms in elementary school children in Jeju Island, Korea: prevalence and correlates.

We investigated the prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms in elementary school children in Jeju Island, Korea. The study participants were 2305 children enrolled in elementary schools in Jeju-si, Seogwipo-si, Namjeju-gun, and Bukjeju-gun and their parents who completed questionnaires about sociodemographics, health habits, family relationship information, and the Korean form of the Kovac's children's depression inventory (CDI) in September to December 2005. Multiple logistic regression showed that higher age (OR = 1.259, 95% CI 1.098-1.445), short time spent developing a relationship with the mother (OR = 2.770, 95% CI 1.280-5.944), and a low level of body image satisfaction (OR = 3.397, 95% CI 1.823-6.330) were correlates of depressive symptoms in children. Our results suggest that the following are essential to prevent depressive symptoms in elementary school children in Jeju, Korea: advanced education and social activity programs at home, in school, and in the community to help children have a positive self-image, and much time spent building a relationship with the mother.

Prevalence of depression and correlates of depressive symptoms for residents in the urban part of Jeju Island, Korea.

AIMS: This study examined the prevalence of depression and depressive symptoms, and the correlates of depressive symptoms, and proposes some methods for reducing risk of depression in residents of the urban part of Jeju Island in Korea. METHODS: In all, 1050 residents were selected using multiphasic cluster sampling to represent each district. Of the 981 respondents, 413 were men and 568 were women. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) was used to evaluate depression (CES-D score over 25) and depressive symptoms (CES-D score over 21). Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed for comparisons. RESULTS: The prevalence of depression in males and females was comparable, at 9.47 and 11.36%, respectively. The prevalence of depressive symptoms in men was 15.01%, while in women the level rose to 18.37%. Those with high self-assessed level of stress scores were significantly more likely to have depressive symptoms than those with low self-assessed level of stress scores (odds ratio (OR) = 5.73 (95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.29-25.36)). Residents at high risk of problem drinking (CAGE score over 3) were significantly more likely to have depressive symptoms than those with a CAGE score under 1 (OR = 3.43 95% CI, 1.77-6.66). Respondents who slept poorly had more depressive symptoms than respondents who slept well (OR = 2.11 95% CI, 1.37-3.23). Females were significantly more likely to have more depressive symptoms than males (OR = 1.70 95% CI, 1.08-2.68). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of depression and depressive symptoms in urban Jeju Island is similar to that in a nation-wide sample. By providing intensive mental health services to those who have high stress levels, problem drinking, and poor health behavior, early detection of depressive symptoms in the community will be important for improving general health status.

Polymorphism and expression of isoflavone synthase genes from soybean cultivars.

Isoflavones are synthesized by isoflavone synthases via the phenylpropanoid pathway in legumes. We have cloned two isoflavone synthase genes, IFS1 and IFS2, from a total of 18 soybean cultivars. The amino acid residues of the proteins that differed between cultivars were dispersed over the entire coding region. However, amino acid sequence variation did not occur in conserved domains such as the ERR triad region, except that one conserved amino acid was changed in the IFS2 protein of the GS12 cultivar (R374G) and the IFS1 proteins of the 99M06 and Soja99s65 cultivars (A109T, F105I). In three cultivars (99M06, 99M116, and Simheukpi), most of amino acid changes were such that the difference between the amino acid sequences of IFS1 and IFS2 was reduced. The expression profiles of three enzymes that convert naringenin to the isoflavone, genistein, chalcone isomerase (CHI), isoflavone synthase (IFS) and flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H) were examined. In general, IFS mRNA was more abundant in etiolated seedlings than mature plants whereas the levels of CHI and F3H mRNAs were similar in the two stages. During seed development, IFS was expressed a little later than CHI and F3H but expression of these three genes was barely detectable, if at all, during later seed hardening. In addition, we found that the levels of CHI, F3H, and IFS mRNAs were under circadian control. We also showed that IFS was induced by wounding and by application of methyl jasmonate to etiolated soybean seedlings.