Estimated Effect of Climatic Variables on the Transmission of Plasmodium vivax Malaria in the Republic of Korea

Background: Climate change may affect Plasmodium vivax malaria transmission in a wide region including both subtropical and temperate areas.Objectives: We aimed to estimate the effects of climatic variables on the transmission of P. vivax in temperate regions.Methods: We estimated the effects of climatic factors on P. vivax malaria transmission using data on weekly numbers of malaria cases for the years 2001-2009 in the Republic of Korea. Generalized linear Poisson models and distributed lag nonlinear models (DLNM) were adopted to estimate the effects of temperature, relative humidity, temperature fluctuation, duration of sunshine, and rainfall on malaria transmission while adjusting for seasonal variation, between-year variation, and other climatic factors.Results: A 1°C increase in temperature was associated with a 17.7% [95% confidence interval (CI): 16.9, 18.6%] increase in malaria incidence after a 3-week lag, a 10% rise in relative humidity was associated with 40.7% (95% CI: -44.3, -36.9%) decrease in malaria after a 7-week lag, a 1°C increase in the diurnal temperature range was associated with a 24.1% (95% CI: -26.7, -21.4%) decrease in malaria after a 7-week lag, and a 10-hr increase in sunshine per week was associated with a 5.1% (95% CI: -8.4, -1.7%) decrease in malaria after a 2-week lag. The cumulative relative risk for a 10-mm increase in rainfall (≤ 350 mm) on P. vivax malaria was 3.61 (95% CI: 1.69, 7.72) based on a DLNM with a 10-week maximum lag.Conclusions: Our findings suggest that malaria transmission in temperate areas is highly dependent on climate factors. In addition, lagged estimates of the effect of rainfall on malaria are consistent with the time necessary for mosquito development and P. vivax incubation.     

Clinical Characteristics Associated with Suicidal Attempt and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Korean Adolescents

ObjectiveThis study evaluated the association between mood and anxiety symptoms and suicidal attempt (SA) and/or non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in adolescents seeking mental health services. We also tested predictors of SA and NSSI. MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 220 adolescents who completed psychological assessment in clinical sample. Participants did the Adolescent General Behavior Inventory (A-GBI) and Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI). SA and NSSI were assessed retrospectively by interview. The caregiver of participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) for themselves. Results17% of total participants had a history of SA, and 24% experienced NSSI. Both SA and NSSI were more common in girls. The score of depressive subscale on A-GBI was higher in adolescents with SA than those without. The participants with NSSI showed higher scores on CDI and depressive subscale on A-GBI than those without. SA was associated with maternal BDI and history of NSSI; female sex, depressive subscale on A-GBI, and history of SA with NSSI. ConclusionOur study found that NSSI and SA are strongly associated in adolescents. Female sex and depressive symptoms of the adolescents were also significantly associated with NSSI in Korean adolescent. Findings are consistent with patterns in other countries.     

Reliability of a PowerPoint Method for Wear Measurement After Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Retrieval Study Using 3-Dimensional Laser Scanning

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability of the PowerPoint (PP) (2007 Version; Microsoft, Redmond, Wash) method for measuring polyethylene liner wear after total hip arthroplasty. Seventeen retrieved polyethylene liners were included in this study. Wear volumes were calculated using the PP, the Dorr and Wan, and 3-dimensional (3D) laser scanning methods. Spearman correlation coefficients for wear volume results indicated strong correlations between the PP and 3D laser scanning methods (range, 0.89-0.93). On the other hand, Spearman correlation analysis revealed only moderate correlations between the Dorr and Wan and 3D laser scanning methods (range, 0.67-0.77). The PP method can be used to monitor linear wear after total hip arthroplasty and could serve as an alternative method when computerized methods are not available.     

Utility of tibial tubercle osteotomy in the setting of periprosthetic infection after total knee arthroplasty

Purpose

This study reports radiographic and clinical treatment outcomes of tibial tubercle osteotomy (TTO) used for two-stage revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in the setting of periprosthetic infection.

Methods

Thirty-six patients with 51 TTOs used for infected TKA were retrospectively analysed from 2000 to 2010. In 15 of 36 patients, TTO was used in a sequential manner during both first and second stage procedures. The mean follow-up period was 57?months (range seven–126?months).

Results

The mean pre-operative range of knee motion was 40° (range 10–90°), and at latest follow-up it was 92° (range 50–140°). The Knee Society knee scores and function scores were 47 and 9 pre-operatively and 82 and 72 at latest follow-up, respectively. Bony union was achieved in all cases except one nonunion of an avulsion fragment of the osteotomy segment without functional deterioration.

Conclusions

TTO can be a useful extensile surgical approach for treatment of infected TKA with satisfactory clinical and radiographic outcomes.     

The dyadic effects of coping and resilience on psychological distress for cancer survivor couples

Purpose

This study aimed to examine the actor and partner effects of coping and resilience characteristics on psychological distress in cancer survivors and their spouses and to examine the mediating role of resilience characteristics in the relationship between coping and psychological distress.

Methods

A total of 91 breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer survivor-spouse dyads were recruited from the University Hospital Registry in Cleveland, Ohio. Standardized questionnaires that assessed psychological distress, reframing and acquiring social support coping, and resilience characteristics were used.

Results

The actor-partner interdependence mediation model demonstrated that the resilience of the survivors and spouses was a strong predictor of their personal psychological distress. Survivors’ and spouses’ own resilience mediated the association between their reframing coping and psychological distress. However, only the survivor model confirmed the mediating effect of resilience characteristics in the relationship between social support coping and psychological distress. In addition, spouse psychological distress was influenced by survivor resilience, indicating a spouse-partner effect in the relationship between resilience characteristics and psychological distress.

Conclusions

Our findings provide insight into the relationships between coping, resilience characteristics, and psychological distress at the individual and dyadic levels. Enhancing cancer survivors’ and their spouses’ positive thoughts and available external resources can improve resilience and, in turn, reduce their psychological distress of couples coping with cancer.     

Effects of Shoulder Stabilization Exercise on Pain and Functional Recovery of Shoulder Impingement Syndrome Patients

[Purpose] This study examined the effects of scapular stabilization exercises immediately after surgery on pain and function in patients diagnosed with shoulder impingement syndrome. [Subjects] The subjects were assigned by random sampling to an experimental group (n=15) to which stabilization exercise was applied and a control group (n=15) to which ordinary physical treatment was applied. [Methods] To evaluate the degree of pain, a 100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS) was used. The Constant-Murley Scale (CMS) was used to evaluate the functions of the shoulder joints. To determine the range of motion, a goniometer was used to measure range of shoulder motion. The simple shoulder test (SST) was used to determine the condition of the shoulder joints of the subjects. [Results] There were significant differences in all the items of the experimental group. The results of comparison of the therapeutic effect in the experimental and control groups revealed significant differences in active abduction, passive abduction, VAS, SST, and the CMS, except for pain. [Conclusion] The results suggest that shoulder stabilization exercise positively affects pain alleviation and functional recovery in shoulder impingement patients.Key words: Shoulder, Impingement syndrome, Stabilization exercise     

Biochemical and pharmacological properties of a new proton pump inhibitor, 2-amino-4,5-dihydropyrido[1,2-a]thiazolo [5,4-g] benzimidazole (YJA20379-5)

This study was designed to determine biochemical and pharmacological properties of a newly synthesized benzimidazole derivative, 2-amino-4,5-dihydropyrido [1,2-a] thiazolo [5,4-g] benzimidazole (YJA20379-5)in vitro andin vivo. In the leaky membrane vesicles of pig gastric mucosa, YJA20379-5 inhibited the K⁺-stimulated H⁺,K⁺-ATPase activity in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, with IC₅₀ values being 43 μM and 31 μM at pH 6.4 and 7.4, respectively. YJA20379-5, given intraduodenally, had a potent inhibitory effect on the gastric acid secretion in pylorus-ligated rats. The ED₅₀ value for acid secretion was 15.4 mg/kg. YJA20379-5, administered orally, also suppressed gastric damages induced by water-immersion stress, indomethacin and ethanol, and duodenal damage induced by mepirizole in rats; the ED₅₀ values were 17.6, 4.7, 3.0 and 18.7 mg/kg, respectively. Furthermore, repeated oral administration of YJA20379-5 accelerated the spontaneous healing of acetic acid-induced gastric ulcers in rats. It is concluded that the antisecretory activity of YJA20379-5 appears to be associated with inhibition of H⁺,K⁺-ATPase, while its antigastric and antiduodenal lesion activities are primarily related to the antisecretory effect.     

Rehabilitation after the replantation on a 2-year-old girl with both amputated legs.

We had an opportunity to perform replantation of both legs on a 2-year-old girl, and our decision to perform replantation rather than amputation surgery was carefully made taking her age, degree of crushing injury, ischaemic time and level of the amputation into consideration. Painstakingly designed rehabilitation treatments were continuously performed on this girl from the early stage after the operation, and the treatments were comprised of four parts; that is, flexion and extension exercise for the ankle in order to prevent it from stiffness or contracture, functional electrical stimulation (FES) in order to prevent muscular atrophy on the lower extremities, muscle strengthening exercise for the lower extremities, and electrical stimulation to regenerate the damaged nerves and to prevent muscular atrophy from occurring. For an objective assessment of the postoperative conditions, total active motion angles of the ankle joint were measured, and also EMG and NCV were conducted at the end of the first month as well as at the end of the 6th month. Total active motion angles of the ankle joint were increased progressively as time went on, from 15 to 60 degrees on the right and from 10 to 45 degrees on the left. NCV did not show any sensation or response from motor nerves, or amplitude decreased considerably 1 month after the operation; however, at the end of the 6th month conditions improved a great deal with both amplitude and latency. And most muscles that did not show any signals on EMG or showed less than normal at the end of the first month after the operation eventually recovered at the end of the 6th month. The patient had no particular difficulties in walking after 6 months or rather she started running in small steps showing her legs functioning superbly. An infant with both of lower extremities amputated is quite a rare case. We believe that the replantation surgery was successful due to the fact that carefully selected preoperative factors were taken into consideration and well designed postoperative rehabilitation program consisted of four parts was carried out continuously.