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This study verified validity and reliability of the School Function Assessment (SFA) using Rasch analysis in South Korean school-based occupational therapy sites serving children with intellectual ...

This study aimed to develop a school activity screening tool based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) using the modified Delphi technique (MDT). To coll...

The therapeutic goal in treating cerebral ischemia is to reduce the extent of brain injury and thus minimize neuro-logical impairment. We examined the effects of p-hydro-xybenzyl alcohol (HBA), an active component of Gastrodia elata Blume, on transient focal cerebral ischemia-induced brain injury with respect to the involvement of protein disulphide isomerase (PDI), nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and neurotrophic factors. All animals were ovariectomized 14 days before ischemic injury. Ischemic injury was induced for 1 h by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) followed by 24-h reperfusion. Three days before MCAO, the vehicle-treated and the HBA-treated groups received intramuscular sesame oil and HBA (25 mg/kg BW), respectively. 2,3,5-Triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining showed decreased infarct volume in the ischemic lesion of HBA-treated animals. HBA pretreatment also promoted functional recovery, as measured by the modified neurological severity score (mNSS; p < 0.05). Moreover, expression of PDI, Nrf2, BDNF, GDNF, and MBP genes increased by HBA treatment. In vitro, H2O2-induced PC12 cell death was prevented by 24 h HBA treatment, but bacitracin, a PDI inhibitor, attenuated this cytoprotective effect in a dose-dependent manner. HBA treatment for 2 h also induced nuclear translocation of Nrf2, possibly activating the intracellular antioxidative system. These results suggest that HBA protects against brain damage by modulating cytoprotective genes, such as Nrf2 and PDI, and neurotrophic factors.

The intestinal absorption of cadmium (Cd) is influenced by body iron (Fe) status in laboratory animals and humans. In this study we investigated the role of the apical Fe transporter divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) and the basolateral Fe exporter metal transporter protein 1 (MTP1) in Cd absorption. Rats were divided into the following groups; an Fe-sufficient (FeS) control group that was fed an FeS diet for 4 weeks (FeS, 4 weeks); an Fe-deficient (FeD) group that was fed an FeD diet for 4 weeks (FeD, 4 weeks); an FeS control group that was fed an FeS diet for 8 weeks (FeS, 8 weeks); an FeD/FeS group that was fed an FeD diet for 4 weeks and then an FeS diet for the following 4 weeks (FeD/FeS, 4 weeks/4 weeks); and an FeD group that was fed an FeD diet for 8 weeks (FeD, 8 weeks). After the 4- and 8-week feeding periods, rats were given a single oral gavage of Cd and were sacrificed 24 h later. The FeD (4 weeks) group developed Fe deficient anemia, but the parameters returned to control levels in the FeD/FeS group (4 weeks/4 weeks). The Cd body burden was greater in FeD (4 weeks) rats compared to FeS control (4 weeks), but returned to control Cd levels in FeD/FeS (4 weeks/4 weeks) rats. In addition, the expression of DMT1 and MTP1 was induced by Fe deficiency in the duodenum of FeD (4 weeks) rats, but was down-regulated to control values in FeD/FeS (4 weeks/4 weeks) rats. The correlation between duodenal DMT1 and MTP1 expression and Cd body burden in rats suggests an important role of DMT1 and MTP1 in Cd absorption.

갑상선호르몬으로 치료를 받던 갑상선기능저하증 환자에서 임신을 하게 되면 50-85%의 환자에서 임신 중 갑상선호르몬의 요구량이 증가하며, 임신 전 용량의 약 30-50%가 증량된다고 알려져 있다. 그러나 저자들은 임신 전에 갑상선호르몬으로 치료되었던 기능저하 증 환자에서 임신 중에 혈액 내 갑상선호르몬의 농도가 증가되어, 치료를 중지하였음에도 혈액 내 갑상선호르몬 농도가 정상으로 유지되었고, 출산 후에 다시 심한 갑상선기능저하증이 발생되어 치료를 다시 시작하였던 1예를 경험하였기에 문헌고찰과 함께 보고하는 바이다.

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify the association of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) or gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) with the development of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Subjects and Methods: This was a retrospective study of 57,009 pregnancies during 2002-2008 at Cheil General Hospital, Kwandong University. The diagnosis of VTE {deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism (PE)} was based on clot visualization via ultrasound or computed tomography. Results: In total, 27 cases (PE, 20 cases) were detected. The incidence of VTE was 0.47 per 1,000 pregnancies. To determine risk factors associated with pregnancy-induced VTE, univariate analysis using a chi-square test was performed. Cesarean (C)-section, multiple pregnancy, PIH, placenta previa, and assisted reproduction technique (ART) were statistically significant compared to the controls (all, p=0.000). However, age, premature rupture of membrane, and GDM were not statistically related to VTE. Logistic regression analysis was used to calculate the odds ratios for the risk factors. Placenta previa showed a 12.6-fold higher risk, while PIH had a 9.8-fold higher risk for the occurrence of VTE. C-section and ART procedures increased the risk of VTE by 4.2 times compared to that of the controls. Conclusion: Placenta previa and PIH were significant risk factors for VTE, whereas the known traditional risk factors of increased age and GDM were not found to be associated with VTE. (Korean Circ J 2011;41:23-27)