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Although scholars have long acknowledged the importance of having effective networks in business, little is known about the role of women’s professional status in the effectiveness of their networks. Drawing on gender-status beliefs theory, we examine how a woman’s status affects levels of trust in the information that she shares with members of her professional network. We hypothesize that network members are likely to mistrust information from women because of a gender-status mismatch—a perceived mismatch between a woman’s work-related high status and her low social status, due to widely held beliefs about women’s lack of competence. By measuring three types of status and analyzing trust levels in 3,842 dyads from communication networks in a UK railway construction project from 2014 through 2015, we find that network members trust information from women who are in supervisory positions and are connected with central contacts less than information from low-status women. Our study extends the literature on gender-status beliefs and effective networks, and discusses practical implications.

Background Associations between IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and HLA-DRB1 and -DQB1 alleles have been reported in several ethnic groups. We investigated the association of HLA-DRB1 and -DQB1 alleles with the predisposition for IgAN and disease progression to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) in Korean patients. Methods We analyzed HLA-DRB1 and -DQB1 genotypes in 399 IgAN patients between January 2000 and January 2019 using a LIFECODES sequence-specific oligonucleotide (SSO) typing kit (Immucor, Stamford, CT, USA) or a LABType SSO Typing Test (One Lambda, Canoga Park, CA, USA). Alleles with a significant difference in two-digit resolution were further analyzed using in-house sequence-based typing and sequence-specific primer PCR. As controls, 613 healthy hematopoietic stem cell donors were included. Kidney survival was analyzed in 281 IgAN patients with available clinical and laboratory data using Cox regression analysis. Where needed, P-values were adjusted using Bonferroni correction. Results The allele frequencies of HLA-DRB1*04:05 (corrected P [Pc]

In the United States, transgender women are disproportionately affected by HIV. However, few evidence-based prevention interventions exist for this key population. We describe two promising, locally developed interventions that are currently being implemented and evaluated through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Combination HIV Prevention for Transgender Women Project: (a) ChiCAS, designed to promote the uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), condom use, and medically supervised hormone therapy among Spanish-speaking transgender Latinas, and (b) TransLife Care, designed to address the structural drivers of HIV risk through access to housing, employment, legal services, and medical services, including HIV preventive care (e.g., PrEP use) among racially/ethnically diverse urban transgender women. If the evaluation trials determine that these interventions are effective, they will be among the first such interventions for use with transgender women incorporating PrEP, thereby contributing to the evidence-based resources that may be used to reduce HIV risk among this population.

Young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men and transgender women with HIV, particularly those who are racial or ethnic minorities, often have poor health outcomes. They also utilize a wide array of social media. Accordingly, we developed and implemented weCare, an mHealth (mobile health) intervention where cyberhealth educators utilize established social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, texting, and GPS-based mobile applications [“apps”]) designed for social and sexual networking) to improve HIV-related care engagement and health outcomes. As part of the process evaluation of weCare, we conducted 32 interviews with intervention participants ( n = 18) and HIV clinic providers and staff ( n = 14). This article highlights three key intervention characteristics that promoted care engagement, including that weCare is (1) targeted (e.g., using existing social media platforms, similarity between intervention participants and cyberhealth educator, and implementation within a supportive clinical environment), (2) tailored (e.g., bidirectional messaging and trusting relationship between participants and cyberhealth educators to direct interactions), and (3) personalized (e.g., addressing unique care needs through messaging content and flexibility in engagement with intervention). In addition, interviewees’ recommendations for improving weCare focused on logistics, content, and the ways in which the intervention could be adapted to reach a larger audience. Quality improvement efforts to ensure that mHealth interventions are relevant for young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men and transgender women are critical to ensure care engagement and support health outcomes.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have opened up unprecedented opportunities for novel therapeutic options for precision medicine. Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) donor pools with previously determined HLA types may be ideal sources for iPSC production. Based on the HLA distribution of cryopreserved cord blood units (CBUs) and registered bone marrow (BM) donors, we estimated how much of the Korean population could be covered by HLA-homozygous iPSCs. We analyzed a total of 143,866 Korean HSC donors (27,904 CBUs and 115,962 BM donors). Each donor sample was typed for the HLA-A, -B, and -DRB1 alleles at low to intermediate resolution by DNA-based molecular techniques: PCR sequence-specific oligonucleotide (PCR-SSOP), PCR with sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP) and PCR with sequence-based typing (PCR-SBT). We also identified individuals possessing homozygous HLA haplotypes by direct counting. The matching probabilities for zero-mismatch transplantation were calculated for 143,866 Koreans and 50 million potential Korean patients. Among the HSC donor pool, 17 HLA-A alleles, 41 HLA-B alleles, and 13 HLA-DRB1 alleles, as well as 128 homozygous HLA-A-B-DRB1 haplotypes, were identified at serologic equivalents, and those haplotypes cumulatively matched 93.20% of the 143,866 Korean donors as zero HLA-mismatch iPSC sources. Among the combinations of 2,056 haplotypes with frequencies ≥ 0.001% in a population of 50 million, those 128 homozygous haplotypes can provide 93.65% coverage for potential Korean recipients. Haplobanking of a reasonable number of HLA-A, -B, and -DRB1 homozygous iPSC lines derived from CBUs and cells of registered BM donors may be an efficient option for allogenic iPSC therapy.

Recently, HLA class II loci, including HLA-DPB1, have been reported to be associated with interindividual variance in the hepatitis B (HB) vaccine response. In this study, we investigated significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for anti-HBs antibody levels in 6867 healthy Koreans using a genome-wide association study (GWAS). In GWAS, the top 20 SNPs that showed significant association with anti-HBs levels (P

The association of anti-MHC class I-related chain A (MICA) and kidney allograft rejection has been reported. However, the associations of antibodies specific to donor MICA (dsMICA) and dsMICA levels with allograft outcome have not been elucidated. From November 2009 to June 2017, 125 sera samples from renal transplantation recipients with no HLA antibodies were screened for MICA antibodies. Patients with positive MICA antibody screening results and available residual donor DNA for MICA geno-typing underwent dsMICA analysis. Among these 125 sera samples, 19 were positive for MICA antibodies. dsMICA was positive in 5 out of the 12 analyzed sera samples. Neither MICA antibodies nor dsMICA were associated with acute rejection. However, interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IFTA) was significantly associated with MICA antibody positivity (OR=3.84

In this exploratory case study based on qualitative research, we explore the perspectives and experiences of autistic self-advocates in the Netherlands regarding autism, (self-)advocacy, and consumer-run organizations. The focus of our study is a consumer-run organization by and for adult Persons on the Autism Spectrum in the Netherlands: PAS-Nederland or PAS for short. Our analysis reveals four themes relevant to the acceptance and integration of adults with autism into society and work: (1) invisibility of autistic adults; (2) diversity of the autism spectrum; (3) autistic leadership; and (4) collaboration between people with and without autism. We discuss the practical implications of our findings for the inclusion of people with autism in work and society. Our study underscores the importance of putting autistic people at the center of decision-making processes and solutions aimed at improving their outcomes in society, in general, and in the workplace specifically.

Young racial/ethnic minority men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women with HIV often have poor health outcomes. They also utilize a wide array of social media. Accordingly, we developed and implemented weCare, a social media intervention utilizing Facebook, texting, and GPS-based mobile social and sexual networking applications to improve HIV-related care engagement and health outcomes. We compared viral load suppression and clinic appointment attendance among 91 participants during the 12-month period before and after weCare implementation. McNemar's chi-square test analyses were conducted comparing the pre- and postintervention difference using paired data. Since February 2016, intervention staff and 91 intervention participants (79.1% African American and 13.2% Latino, mean age = 25) exchanged 13,830 messages during 3,758 conversations (average: 41.3 conversations per participant) across a variety of topics, including appointment reminders, medication adherence, problem solving, and reducing barriers. There were significant reductions in missed HIV care appointments (68.0% vs. 53.3%, p = 0.04) and increases in viral load suppression (61.3% vs. 88.8%, p

Among Latinos in the United States, particularly in new settlement states, racial/ethnic discrimination, violence, and immigration enforcement contribute to health disparities. These types of experiences were explored among Latino men in North Carolina through quantitative assessment data ( n = 247). Qualitative in-depth interviews were also conducted with a subsample of Latino men who completed the assessment ( n = 20) to contextualize quantitative findings. Participants reported high rates of unfair treatment, discrimination or violence, and questioning about their immigration status. Having been questioned about one’s immigration status was significantly associated with increased drug use (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.16; 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.07, 4.38]) and increased depressive symptoms (AOR = 2.87; 95% CI [1.07, 7.67]). Qualitative themes included: reports of frequent discrimination based on immigration status, race/ethnicity, and language; workplaces and police interactions as settings where reported discrimination is most common and challenging; frequent violent victimization; psychological consequences of experiences of discrimination and violence and concerns related to immigration enforcement for Latino men and their families; inter- and intra-community tensions; health-care services as safe spaces; use of coping strategies; and system-level approaches for reducing discrimination and violent victimization of Latinos. Findings point to the need to address underlying causes of discrimination and violence toward Latinos, particularly those related to immigration enforcement, to support health and well-being.

Background Following discontinuation of the recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA), the only available supplementary test for the detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT). However, the NAAT does not adequately detect past HCV. Consequently, it is hard to distinguish between past HCV infection and biological false positivity with an anti-HCV result alone. We assessed the diagnostic performance of two immunoassays: the ARCHITECT anti-HCV chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA; Abbott Diagnostics, Wiesbaden, Germany) and the Access HCV Ab PLUS chemiluminescent immunoassay (CIA; Bio-Rad, Marnes-la-Coquette, France). We also explored an optimized algorithm to determine the anti-HCV results. Methods We tested 126,919 patients and 44,556 individuals who underwent a medical checkup. RIBA and NAAT were conducted for samples that tested anti-HCV-positive using CMIA and CIA. We assessed the optimal signal-to-cutoff (S/CO) ratio in HCV-positive samples. Results In total, 1,035 blood samples tested anti-HCV-positive. Of these, RIBA was positive in 512, indeterminate in 160, and negative in 363 samples. One hundred sixty-five samples were NAAT-positive. Diagnostic sensitivity and positive predictive value (PPV) were 96.7% and 52.1%, respectively, for CMIA, and 94.7% and 72.3%, respectively, for CIA. The optimal S/CO ratio was 5.2 for CMIA and 2.6 for CIA at 95% PPV. In total, 286 samples tested positive in CMIA and 444 in CIA, while 443 samples tested positive in both assays. Conclusions It is hard to determine anti-HCV positivity based on the S/CO ratio alone. However, this study elucidated the role of the S/CO ratio by using the NAAT and RIBA.

Recently, the removal of false reaction from beads 10 (

Background Maintaining the quality of cryopreserved cord blood is crucial. In this pilot study, we describe the results of the internal quality control program for a cord blood bank thus far. Methods Donated cord blood units unsuitable for transplantation were selected for internal quality control once a month. One unit of cord blood, aliquoted into 21 capillaries, was cryopreserved and thawed annually to analyze the total nucleated cell count, CD34⁺ cell count, cell viability test, and colony-forming units assay. Results No significant differences in the variables (total nucleated cell count, cell viability, CD34⁺ cell count) were observed between samples cryopreserved for one and two years. Upon comparing the variables before cryopreservation and post thawing with the capillaries of one year of storage, cell viability and CD34⁺ cell counts decreased significantly. The use of cord blood samples in capillaries, which can be easily stored for a long period, was similar to the methods used for testing segments attached to the cord blood unit. Conclusions The results of this study may be useful for determining the period during which the quality of cryopreserved cord blood units used for transplantation is maintained.

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), the most frequent complication of varicella-zoster virus reactivation, is characterized by pain that persists for more than 3 months, often for years after healing of zoster rash. A few studies revealing the association of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) with PHN have been reported, but only in the Japanese. The aim of this study was to investigate the primary HLA locus associated with PHN susceptibility in Koreans. We compared HLA-A, -B, -C, and DRB1 genotypes of 66 PHN patients with those of 54 herpes zoster (HZ) patients without developing PHN and 235 healthy controls. Frequencies of HLA-B*13, B*44, B*15 (B75), DRB1*10:01, and DRB1*12:02 were increased, and those of HLA-C*01, C*12, and DRB1*01:01 were decreased in PHN patients compared to those in controls (each, p < 0.05). Among these alleles, only the frequency of HLA-B*44 was significantly increased in PHN patients compared to that in HZ patients and the change was due to HLA-B*44:03 (PHN vs controls, p = 0.043; PHN vs HZ, p = 0.012). The results suggest that HLA-B*44:03 or other closely linked gene of the major histocompatibility complex is associated with susceptibility to the development of PHN after HZ, but not with the onset of HZ.

Estimates suggest that only about 30% of all individuals living with HIV in the U.S. have achieved viral suppression. Men who have sex with men (MSM), particularly racial/ethnic minority young MSM, are at increased risk for HIV infection and may have even lower viral suppression rates. HIV testing rates among MSM are low, and when tested, racial/ethnic minority young MSM have disproportionately lower rates of retention in care and viral suppression compared to other subgroups. This article describes the design and development of weCare, our social media-based intervention to improve care linkage and retention and health outcomes among racially and ethnically diverse MSM, ages 13-34, living with HIV that will be implemented and evaluated beginning in late 2016. The intervention harnesses established social media that MSM between these ages commonly use, including Facebook, text messaging, and established GPS-based mobile applications (apps). We are using community-based participatory research (CBPR) to enhance the quality and validity of weCare, equitably involving community members, organization representatives, healthcare providers, clinic staff, and academic researchers.

Calculated panel reactive antibody (cPRA) (%) is percentage of donors that would be incompatible with the candidate, based on the candidate's unacceptable HLA antigens. cPRA based on antigen frequencies of HLA-A, B, and DR has been used in Korea. We developed new cPRA including HLA-Cw, DR51/52/53, and DQ. Changes in new-cPRA were evaluated.We analyzed the differences between cPRA based on HLA-A, -B, and -DR antigens (old-cPRA) from cPRA based on HLA-A, -B, -Cw, -DR, -DR51/52/53, and -DQ antigens (new-cPRA) on 125 waitlisted candidates for renal transplantation in Seoul National University Hospital. cPRA for unacceptable antigens was calculated according to 3 different cut-off values (MFI 1000, 3000, and 10000 for cPRAw, cPRAm, and cPRAs, respectively).For HLA class I, cPRAw and cPRAm were significantly increased in new-cPRA compared to old-cPRA (median 78.3% vs 71.7%, P .001; 34.0% vs 23.5%, P = .029, respectively). For HLA class II, cPRAw, cPRAm, and cPRAs were significantly increased in new-cPRA compared to old-cPRA (median 86.8% vs 42.6%; 58.0% vs 0.0%; 0.0% vs 0.0%, P .001 for all).cPRA (%) including HLA-Cw, -DR51/52/53, and -DQ showed remarkable increase, especially in HLA class II antigens. The meaning of this should be carefully interpreted through further studies considering clinical outcomes.

Objective We used community-based participatory research (CBPR) to explore barriers to healthcare access and utilization and identify potentially effective intervention strategies to increase access among members of the Korean community in North Carolina (NC). Methods Our CBPR partnership conducted 8 focus groups with 63 adult Korean immigrants in northwest NC and 15 individual in-depth interviews and conducted an empowerment-based community forum. Results We identified 20 themes that we organized into four domains, including practical barriers to health care, negative perceptions about care, contingencies for care, and provider misconceptions about local needs. Forum attendees identified four strategies to improve Korean community health. Conclusion Despite the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), many Korean community members will continue to remain uninsured, and among those who obtain insurance, many barriers will remain. It is imperative to ensure the health of this highly neglected and vulnerable community. Practice implications Potential strategies include the development of (1) low-literacy materials to educate members of the Korean community about how to access healthcare services, (2) lay health advisor programs to support navigation of service access and utilization, (3) church-based programming, and (4) provider education to reduce misconceptions about Korean community needs.

Photosynthesis in leaves, exposed to temperature change, was measured during spring to provide information for modeling of cropping systems for Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris subsp. napus var. pekinensis) and radish (Raphanus sativus) in Jeju Island. The net photosynthetic rates (A) of Chinese cabbage and radish were depressed at temperatures above approximately 25°C (corresponding to the optimum temperature for photosynthesis), due in part to high rates of respiration above 25 or 30°C. Chinese cabbage was more sensitive to high temperature than radish. Above 25°C, stomatal conductance (g s) declined steeply with a sharp increase in the vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and transpiration rate (E), suggesting that stomatal closure could not be associated with transpiration rate, particularly in Chinese cabbage. Dramatic declines in water use efficiency (WUE), instantaneous transpiration efficiency (ITE), and carboxylation efficiency (CE) above 30°C indicated that the plants could be severely affected negatively by high temperatures above 30°C. However, compared to Chinese cabbage, radish had high light use efficiency and potential to assimilate CO2, judged by their high quantum yield (φ) and maximum photosynthetic rate (A max). Radish utilized high levels of photosynthetic photon flux and strongly acclimated to the light environment, considering their high light saturation point (Q sat) and low light compensation point (Q comp). These results suggested that rising temperature might substantially alter water availability of plants by itself and/or through effects on the rate of water loss from leaves of Chinese cabbage and radish under diurnal and/or seasonal fluctuations of temperature, and/or global temperature change. To maintain the high productivity and quality of these crop species, it may be necessary to harvest them until early June, when the daily maximum temperature is below 25°C in Jeju Island.

This study assessed college student health providers' use of Motivational Interviewing (MI) with tobacco users, as well as their beliefs about the use of brief interventions to help college student tobacco users quit. MI is recommended by the United States Public Health Service to increase tobacco users' willingness to quit.Participants included 83 clinicians from health clinics at 7 different universities in North Carolina.Paper-and-pencil baseline survey from a cluster randomized trial of college student health clinicians.Twenty-two percent of respondents reported always or usually using MI during the past month for tobacco-using patients not ready to make a quit attempt. Student health providers also reported information with regards to their beliefs about tobacco cessation treatment, barriers to intervening with patients, and confidence in motivating students to consider quitting.Results highlight the need to encourage clinicians' use of motivationally focused interventions with student tobacco users. [Table: see text].

Rationale Hookah smoking continues to be a popular form of tobacco use, especially among college students. Although hookahs are commonly used to smoke tobacco, anecdotal evidence suggests other substances, including herbal shisha, marijuana and hashish may be used. However, little is known about the variety of substances smoked in hookahs, or correlates associated with different substances smoked. Methods In fall 2010, 3447 students from 8 colleges in N.C. completed an online survey. Results 44% of students reported ever smoking tobacco from a hookah. Of those ever users, 90% reported smoking flavored tobacco in a hookah, 45% marijuana, 37% herbal (non-tobacco) shisha, and 18% hashish. Latent class analysis revealed two distinct classes. The most prevalent class (77%) primarily smoked flavored tobacco, with minimal use of herbal shisha and marijuana and virtually no use of hashish. The second class (23%) primarily smoked marijuana, hashish and flavored tobacco with moderate use of herbal shisha. Logistic regression analysis adjusting for clustering within schools revealed that males, illicit drug users, daily, nondaily and former cigarette smokers and those whose mothers had higher levels of education were significantly more likely to be in the second class compared to the first. Conclusions Rates of lifetime use of hookah were high in our sample of college students. While the majority of hookah users smoked tobacco in hookahs, they also smoked other substances, notably marijuana and herbal shisha. Prevention efforts should recognize that students are using hookahs to smoke a variety of substances.

Background Nucleic acid amplification tests have allowed simultaneous detection of multiple respiratory viruses. Methods We compared the results of a liquid bead array xTAG Respiratory Virus Panel (RVP; (Luminex Corporation, Toronto, Canada) and a solid microarray Verigene Respiratory Virus Plus (RV+; Nanosphere, Northbrook, IL) for the detection of influenza A virus (INF A), influenza B virus (INF B), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in 170 respiratory specimens from hospitalized patients. Results Overall, xTAG RVP demonstrated sensitivities and specificities of 97.6 and 100% for INF A, 100 and 99.4% for INF B, and 100 and 100% for RSV, while the Verigene RV+ test sensitivities and specificities were 95.1 and 98.5%, 100.0 and 99.4%, and 97.1 and 100%, respectively. There were no significant differences in the area under the curves between the two assays for each virus (P = 0.364 for INF A, P = 1.000 for INF B, P = 0.317 for RSV). Comparing the results of two assays, discordant results were present mostly due to subtype assignments and identification of coinfections. The detection of viruses was not significantly different (P = 1.000) and the virus/subtype assignment showed good agreement with kappa coefficients of 0.908. Conclusion The xTAG RVP and Verigene RV+ showed high sensitivities and specificities, and good overall agreement in detection and identification of INF and RSV. These assays can be used in clinical settings for a reliable detection of respiratory viruses found commonly in hospitalized patients.

Background The number of aldehyde dehydrogenase-bright (ALDH(br) ) cells has been suggested as a viable marker of hematopoietic stem cell function. We evaluated the suitability of ALDH(br) cell analysis in the quality assessment of postthaw cord blood (CB) units. Study design and methods A total of 245 CB units were obtained for estimating the numbers of total nucleated cells (TNCs), CD34+ cells, ALDH(br) cells, ALDH(br) cells among CD34+ cells (CD34+ALDH(br) cells), CD34+ cells among ALDH(br) cells (ALDH(br) CD34+ cells), colony-forming unit (CFU)-granulocyte-macrophages (GMs), and CFU-granulocyte-erythrocyte-macrophage-megakaryocytes (GEMMs). Simple linear regression analysis was performed to assess the correlation between the number of TNCs and CD34+ cells before and after crypreservation and CD34+ALDH(br) cells, ALDH(br) cells, and ALDH(br) CD34+ cells after cryopreservation and the number of CFU-GEMMS and CFU-GMs. Results The number of CFU-GMs was found to be significantly correlated with the number of CD34+ cells before and after cryopreservation (r = 0.418 and r = 0.359, respectively), CD34+ALDH(br) cells, ALDH(br) cells, and ALDH(br) CD34+ cells (r = 0.426, r = 0.455, and r = 0.469, respectively). The number of CFU-GEMMs was found to be significantly correlated with the number of TNCs and CD34+ cells before and after cryopreservation (TNCs, r = 0.251 and r = 0.250, respectively; CD34+ cells, r = 0.391 and r = 0.347, respectively), CD34+ALDH(br) cells, ALDH(br) cells, and ALDH(br) CD34+ cells (r = 0.297, r = 0.297, and r = 0.252, respectively). Conclusion The high correlation found between ALDH activity and CFU-GM number supports the suitability of ALDH analysis in the quality assessment of postthaw CB units.

Background Autologous serum eye drops (ASEDs) have been used to treat many eye diseases. However, there are no standardized guidelines for the production and quality control (QC) of ASEDs in Korea. Our aim was to propose standardized guidelines for the production and QC of ASEDs. Study Design and Methods We conducted a nationwide survey consisting of questions regarding the methods used in each hospital for the production and QC of ASEDs. The survey was sent by e-mail to 89 doctors responsible for the blood banks at different hospitals. Results Thirty-two hospitals replied, and 13 hospitals reported using the ASEDs in the treatment of patients with eye diseases. The screening test for patients, amount of blood sampling, type of bottle used for blood collection, details about the production of the eye drops, and storage methods and shelf life of unopened and opened bottles of eye drops varied between hospitals. Conclusion Based on an analysis of the survey results and a review of the standard operating procedures and protocols for ASEDs used in Japan, Germany, England and Wales, and the United States, we proposed standardized guidelines for the production and QC of ASEDs in Korea. ASEDs are not cell therapy products in the strictest sense. However, because eye drops are composed of serum isolated from blood and are used in patients, we consider ASEDs to be the basis for cell therapy products. Therefore, ASEDs should be produced and stored according to standardized guidelines based on the Good Manufacturing Practice guidelines.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are known to be resistant to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Specific CSC targeting and eradication is therefore a therapeutically important challenge. CD133 is a colorectal CSC marker with unknown function(s). Assessing proteomic changes induced by CD133 may provide clues not only to new CD133 functions but also to the chemotherapy and radiation susceptibility of colon cancer cells. To identify the proteins affected by CD133, CD133-positive (CD133+), and CD133-negative (CD133-) human colon cancer cells were obtained by cell sorting. Whole proteomes were profiled from SW620/CD133+ and SW620/CD133- cells and analyzed by 2D-based proteome analysis. Nucleophosmin (NPM1) was identified as a protein regulated by CD133. CD133 protein level was not affected by NPM1, and an interaction between the two proteins was not observed. CD133 and NPM1 protein levels were positively correlated in 11 human colon cancer cell lines. The CD133+ subpopulation percentage or its value normalized against CD133 protein level was only linked to intrinsic susceptibility of human colon cancer cells to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). However, either suppression of CD133 or NPM1 significantly increased 5-FU susceptibility of SW620. The present study suggests that CD133-regulated NPM1 protein level may provide a clue to novel CD133 function(s) linked to human colon cancer cell susceptibility to chemotherapy.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate bone formation ability and bone-implant adhesion over time when microgrooves are present on the surface of cylindrical titanium implants. Eight New Zealand White rabbits with a weight of approximately 3.5 kg were used. Cylindrical titanium implants with a smooth surface (NE0), acidetched rough surface (E0), and microgroove surface (NE60/10) were placed in each rabbit’s skull, with one implant of each type placed in each skull. Experimental animals were sacrificed after 2 and 4 weeks, and tissue specimens were processed for histomorphometric analysis of bone formation by measuring bone-implant contact (BIC) and the degree of differentiation. The bone-implant contact ratio at 2 and 4 weeks was 15.9% and 29.6% (NE0), 15.6% and 34.5% (E0), and 15.3% and 52.7% (NE60/10), respectively. Good bone regeneration was observed in all experimental groups; at 4 weeks, in particular, the NE60/10 group showed high bone contact relative to the control group (p < 0.05), and other groups showed stable and mature bone. On the basis of the observed increase in bone-implant adhesion at the titanium surface, microgrooves with a width of 60 μm and depth of 10 μm are considered to promote implant osseointegration.

Social support is an important factor in predicting the physical health and psychological wellbeing of individuals across the lifespan. Social support also has been shown to buffer the physical and mental health effects of stressful life events. Moreover, individuals with higher levels of social support, compared to those with lower levels, tend to have higher levels of physical and mental health regardless of stress.1–4 Despite linkages between social support and health status, little is known about social support among immigrant populations,5,6 and most measures of social support do not incorporate the unique context of immigration.7 For immigrant populations, the challenges of homesickness, language difficulties, and unfamiliar customs and cultural expectations, may not be captured sufficiently in existing measures of social support (eg, Interpersonal Support Evaluation List;8 The Social Provisions Scale;9,10 Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support;11 and Inventory of Socially Supportive Behaviors12). Furthermore, immigrant populations, by definition, may experience immediate loss of existing social support structures while at the same time their need for social support may increase. Immigrants may need informational support such as finding a place to live and work; emotional support such as physical comfort, listening, and empathizing; tangible support such as help with childcare or a problem being faced; and esteem support such as encouragement and expressions of confidence. The Index of Sojourner Social Support (ISSS) was developed to assess social support within the context of immigration.13 Items for the ISSS were generated by English-speaking individuals (N=37 men and 17 women) who were in Singapore studying or working. All were originally from other parts of Asia, Europe, North America, or Oceania. Subsequently, a scale construction and validation study included 314 international participants for the initial establishment of the ISSS and 112 for cross-validation. Participants were in Singapore; all were originally from Africa, other parts of Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North America, or Oceania. From this scale construction and validation study, investigators identified an 18-item, two-factor structure as fitting both subsamples (n=314 and n=112). The two factors were Perceived Socio-emotional and Perceived Instrumental Support. Factor loadings for the 18 items ranged from .66 to .82, and the entire ISSS had excellent internal consistency (α=.95); each factor had excellent internal consistency (α=.93). Furthermore, greater Perceived Socio-emotional Support and greater Perceived Instrumental Support were associated with a higher sense of mastery and self-esteem and lower feelings of depression. International students (n=85 men and n=142 women) taking under- and postgraduate courses at universities in New Zealand participated in the cross-cultural adaptation study. Within this sample, the two-factor structure was validated, and the entire ISSS had excellent internal consistency (α=.95); each factor had excellent internal consistency (α=.92).13 Although the ISSS has been used in a variety of populations, including adult foreign nationals in Russia,14 Korean women living in North America with their spouses living in Korea,15 German nationals working overseas,16,17 and international students at Irish universities,18 research is needed to examine the factor structure of the ISSS among samples of immigrant Latinos, including Latino men. We sought to explore the underlying factor structure of the ISSS in a sample of recently arrived, Spanish-speaking, less-acculturated immigrant Latino men and examine the relationships between ISSS factors and variables that have been shown to be related to social support previously.

Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) is characterized by frequent recurrences of papilloma of the larynx with significant morbidity. It is caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6 and 11. Some associations of HLA genes with RRP have been reported, mainly in Caucasians. We performed HLA class II (DRB1 and DQB1) genotyping using Dynal RELI™ HLA-DRB1 SSO kit and PCR-single strand conformation polymorphism on 22 Korean patients with severe RRP and 207 healthy controls. The gene frequencies of HLA-DRB1*11:01 (18.2% vs 3.6%, p = 0.0006, p c = 0.02, odds ratio [OR] = 5.9) and DQB1*03:01 (36.4% vs 14.5%, p = 0.0009, p c = 0.01, OR = 3.4) and the haplotype frequency of DRB1*11:01-DQB1*03:01 (15.9% vs 3.6%, p = 0.003, OR = 5.0) was higher in RRP patients than controls. DRB1*11:01 and DRB1*11:01-DQB1*03:01 haplotype were strongly associated with disease susceptibility to severe RRP in Koreans.

BACKGROUND Fetal-maternal microchimerism (MC) can develop during pregnancy and may persist for decades. Pretransplantation fetal-maternal MC may be present between mother and child and between siblings; however, its effect on renal transplantation is not known. We investigated the effects of pretransplantation MC on allograft outcomes in human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-haploidentical family donor transplantation. METHODS A total of 106 cases transplanted from 1996 to 2004 were retrospectively studied, with median follow-up of 96 months. The study and control groups included 63 and 43 cases of HLA-haploidentical and HLA-identical donor transplantations, respectively. MC against mismatched donor HLA-DRB1 allele was detected in the recipient's peripheral blood using nested polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformation polymorphism method. The allograft outcomes of HLA-haploidentical MC (+) and (-) subgroups were compared with those of HLA-identical group. RESULTS Pretransplantation MC in the HLA-haploidentical recipients was detected in 22.2% (14 of 63). Compared with HLA-identical group, MC (-) subgroup showed significantly inferior allograft outcomes: higher acute rejection rate (11.6% vs. 42.9%; P=0.001), higher 5-year serum creatinine level (1.1 vs. 1.4 mg/dL; P=0.009), and lower 10-year rejection-free survival rate (83.7% vs. 54.5%; log-rank P=0.001). In contrast, MC (+) subgroup showed no significant differences from HLA-identical group in acute rejection rate (14.3%), 5-year serum creatinine level (1.1 mg/dL), and 10-year rejection-free survival rate (85.7%). Multivariate analysis revealed that pretransplantation MC is associated with a significantly lower risk of acute rejection (odds ratio=0.10; P=0.021). CONCLUSION Pretransplantation MC present in the recipient may have beneficial effects on rejection-free allograft survival in renal transplantation.

Background The clinical ladder system categorizes the degree of nursing professionalism and rewards and is an important human resource tool for managing nursing. Aim We developed a model to evaluate nursing professionalism, which determines the clinical ladder system levels, and verified its validity. Methods Data were collected using a clinical competence tool developed in this study, and existing methods such as the nursing professionalism evaluation tool, peer reviews, and face-to-face interviews to evaluate promotions and verify the presented content in a medical institution. Reliability and convergent and discriminant validity of the clinical competence evaluation tool were verified using SmartPLS software. The validity of the model for evaluating overall nursing professionalism was also analyzed. Results Clinical competence was determined by five dimensions of nursing practice: scientific, technical, ethical, aesthetic, and existential. The structural model explained 66% of the variance. Clinical competence scales, peer reviews, and face-to-face interviews directly determined nursing professionalism levels. Conclusions The evaluation system can be used for evaluating nurses' professionalism in actual medical institutions from a nursing practice perspective. Implications for nursing management A conceptual framework for establishing a human resources management system for nurses and a tool for evaluating nursing professionalism at medical institutions is provided.