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A novel bacterial strain designated GJW-30(T) was isolated from soil of the lava forest, Gotjawal, located in Aewol, Jeju, Korea. Strain GJW-30(T) was found to be strictly aerobic, Gram-negative and to form pleomorphic, non-motile rods and white colonies on R2A agar. The major fatty acids were identified as C18:1ω7c, C16:0 and C17:0, the predominant isoprenoid quinone as Q-10, the polar lipids as diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, an unidentified aminolipid and an unidentified lipid. The cell-wall sugar pattern of strain GJW-30(T) was found to be composed of glucose, ribose and rhamnose and meso-DAP as the diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The DNA G+C content of strain GJW-30(T) is 62.2 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis, based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, showed that strain GJW-30(T) forms a deep branch within the order Rhizobiales, sharing the highest level of sequence homology with Bradyrhizobium oligotrophicum LMG 10732(T) (93.6 %). On the basis of the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic characteristics, strain GJW-30(T) is considered to represent a novel genus and species, for which the name Variibacter gotjawalensis gen. nov., sp. nov. (the type strain is GJW-30(T) = KCTC 32391(T) = CECT 8514(T) = LMG 28093(T)) is proposed.

Purpose: The Visible Human Projects, which were launched in the United States, have also been developed in Korea and China during the past decade. This article includes the new trials to promote a variety of their applications., Methods: In a Korean laboratory, whole bodies of two cadavers were serially sectioned (Visible Korean), while two Chinese institutes have sectioned nine cadavers (Chinese Visible Human and Virtual Chinese Human). For acquiring sectioned images and stereoscopic models of better quality, appropriate cadavers were chosen; equipments and techniques for embedding, sectioning, photography, and computer processing were continuously improved in the two countries. To facilitate the research, Korean and Chinese scientists have visited each other., Results: The sectioned images with thinner intervals (0.2 mm or less) and higher resolution were obtained. From the advanced data, the segmented images of comprehensive structures were prepared to construct three-dimensional models. Then, cross-sectional images and models were offered for medical education and clinical practice such as electronic anatomy atlas and virtual lumbar puncture., Conclusion: Every project has its strengths and weaknesses with regard to the image data; users in the world can choose the project that best suits their needs.

Most currently available three-dimensional surface models of human anatomic structures have been artistically created to reflect the anatomy being portrayed. We have recently undertaken, as part of our Visible Korean studies, to build objective surface models based on cross-sectional images of actual human anatomy. Objective of the present study was to elaborate surface models of the GI tract and neighboring structures that are helpful to medical simulation. The GI tract from stomach to anal canal was outlined and reconstructed from sectioned images of the Visible Korean (acomputer database containing the digitized transverse sectional images of a 33-year-old Korean man). The outlining procedure was supported by computational filtering and interpolation using commercially available software. The GI tract was divided into several parts, and each of these parts was surface reconstructed and then united with neighboring parts to produce a surface model of the complete GI tract. Surface models of about 100 neighboring structures were also prepared. The surface models produced will hopefully facilitate the development of interactive simulations for a variety of virtual abdominal surgical procedures or other educational programs. In addition, it is hoped that the improved outlining and surface reconstruction techniques described will encourage other researchers to construct similar surface models based on images obtained from different subjects., (Copyright 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Studies on gender differences in suicidal ideation and anger are limited. Furthermore, these studies focused on linear relationships, which limits the full understanding of the complex relationships and hampers identification of high-risk groups for suicidal tendencies. Hence, this study aims to assess the gender differences in: (1) the level of suicidal ideation and anger; (2) predictors for suicidal ideation; and (3) the varying association between suicidal ideation and anger. The target population for this cross-sectional, correlational study was adolescents aged 13 to 15 years living in South Korea. A total of 258 adolescents (160 boys and 98 girls) completed the Multidimensional Anger Inventory and Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, multiple linear, and spline regression analysis. Girls reported significantly higher scores in both anger and suicidal ideation. While anger was a significant predictor for suicidal ideation only in boys, both school life satisfaction and anger were significant predictors of suicidal ideation in girls. After controlling for sociodemographic factors, the spline regression revealed a significant threshold point in the relationship between anger and suicidal ideation, particularly among girls. At the threshold anger point of 117.67, 12.5% of girls belonged to the high-risk group. The gender-specific patterns of the relationship between suicidal ideation and anger and the existence of threshold points confirmed the need for targeted suicidal preventive programs focusing on controlling anger.

Hyperhomocysteinemia is known to be an independent risk factor for arteriosclerosis. However, the prognosis of functional disability in cerebrovascular disease has not been well established. Therefore, we conducted this study to determine the prognostic significance of plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels in Asian patients with functional disabilities after acute ischemic stroke. A total of 267 patients were examined within 24 h after symptom onset. Hcy was measured at admission. The correlations between plasma Hcy concentration and functional disability at 1-month, 3-months, 6-months, and 12-months after stroke onset were analyzed. In addition, the associations between each risk factor for stroke or neurological severity and plasma Hcy level were evaluated. The results of the present study showed that there was no significant correlation between Hcy level on admission and modified Rankin Scale score obtained at 1-month, 3-months, 6-months, and 12-months after stroke onset. There was also no association between plasma Hcy level and neurological severity after stroke or stroke subtype. This study showed that there is no association between Hcy levels and functional outcome after stroke. Therefore, we cautiously assert that plasma Hcy levels have no value as predictors of functional disability in Asian patients with stroke.

For the Visible Korean Human (VKH), a male cadaver was serially ground off to acquire the serially sectioned images (SSIs) of a whole human body. Thereafter, more than 700 structures in the SSIs were outlined to produce detailed segmented images; the SSIs and segmented images were volume- and surface-reconstructed to create three-dimensional models. For outlining and reconstruction, popular software (Photoshop, MRIcro, Maya, AutoCAD, 3ds max, and Rhino) was mainly used; the technique can be reproduced by other investigators for creating their own images. For refining the segmentation and volume reconstruction, the VOXEL-MAN system was used. The continuously upgraded technique was applied to a female cadaver's pelvis to produce the SSIs with 0.1mm sized intervals and 0.1mm x 0.1mm sized pixels. The VKH data, distributed worldwide, encouraged researchers to develop virtual dissection, virtual endoscopy, and virtual lumbar puncture contributing to medical education and clinical practice. In the future, a virtual image library including all the Visible Human Project data, Chinese Visible Human data, and VKH data will hopefully be established where users will be able to download one of the data sets for medical applications.

Oral health affects older adults and their quality of life. Oral care is reported to have a low priority in nursing care of older adults, and repeated assessments to detect oral health problems are seldom performed. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among level of oral health, nutrition, and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQL) and to identify predictors of OHRQL in Korean older adults. The design was a descriptive, correlational study. The level of oral pain contributed most significantly to OHRQL, followed by nutrition and number of teeth. These three predictor variables explained 46.4% of the variance in OHRQL. Older adults could benefit from oral health care, such as routine screening for oral health and nutritional status. Nurses are at the forefront in providing such services, and it is recommended they integrate oral health care into their routine nursing care plans.

The purpose of this study was to explore the residential and caregiver preferences of older Korean Americans if they were to become bedridden. The purposive sample consisted of 12 individuals from three residential settings in the Chicago area: senior housing, co-residing with adult children, and nursing homes. Data were collected using ethnographic interviews and participant observation. The older adults' preferences included nine themes in three domains. Long-term care providers should be aware of the foundations of Korean Americans' elder care preferences, which are a blend of traditional Korean beliefs about filial piety and adopted American values of independence.

This article describes the technique of semiautomatic surface reconstruction of anatomic structures using widely available commercial software. This technique would enable researchers to promptly and objectively perform surface reconstruction, creating three-dimensional anatomic images without any assistance from computer engineers. To develop the technique, we used data from the Visible Korean Human project, which produced digitalized photographic serial images of an entire cadaver. We selected 114 anatomic structures (skin [1], bones [32], knee joint structures [7], muscles [60], arteries [7], and nerves [7]) from the 976 anatomic images which were generated from the left lower limb of the cadaver. Using Adobe Photoshop, the selected anatomic structures in each serial image were outlined, creating a segmented image. The Photoshop files were then converted into Adobe Illustrator files to prepare isolated segmented images, so that the contours of the structure could be viewed independent of the surrounding anatomy. Using Alias Maya, these isolated segmented images were then stacked to construct a contour image. Gaps between the contour lines were filled with surfaces, and three-dimensional surface reconstruction could be visualized with Rhinoceros. Surface imperfections were then corrected to complete the three-dimensional images in Alias Maya. We believe that the three-dimensional anatomic images created by these methods will have widespread application in both medical education and research., (2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc)

This study investigated three aspects of health status (physical, psychological, social), fall experiences, and contributing factors to falls among 226 community-dwelling Korean women older than age 65. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t tests, and logistic regression. Four factors were statistically significant regarding falls: equilibrium impairment, gait disturbance, mobility in chair, and number of chronic diseases. Falls efficacy and equilibrium impairment were predicting factors for falls. Older women in rural areas are undertreated and have a high risk of experiencing falls and fall-related injuries. Nurses are on the front line in that they represent the initial level of care.

Two new fusicoccane diterpenes, named periconicins A (1) and B (2), with antibacterial activities have been isolated by bioassay-guided fractionation from an endophytic fungus Periconia sp., collected from small branches of Taxus cuspidata. The structures of the new compounds were determined by combined spectroscopic methods.

The inhibitory activity of Coptis chinensis rhizome-derived material was evaluated against sortase, a bacterial surface protein anchoring transpeptidase, from Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538p and compared to that of four commercially available isoquinoline alkaloids. The biologically active constituent of C. chinensis extract was characterized as the isoquinoline alkaloid, berberine chloride, by spectral analysis. The isolate was a potent inhibitor of sortase, with an IC50 value of 8.7 microg/ml and had antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in the range of 50-400 microg/ml. Among the four isoquinoline alkaloids tested, berberine chloride had strong inhibitory activity. These results indicate that berberine is a possible candidate for the development of a bacterial sortase inhibitor.