Anti-cancer effect of N-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-5-chloro-2,3-dihydronaphtho[1,2-b]furan-2-carboxamide, a novel synthetic compound.

Naphthofuran compounds have been known to regulate HNF 4α which is associated with proliferation, progression and metastasis of HCC. In this study, we investigated whether N-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-5-chloro-2,3-dihydronaphtho[1,2-b]furan-2-carboxamide (NHDC), a novel synthetic naphthofuran compound inhibits liver tumor growth through activation of HNF 4α. Treatment with different concentrations (1-10.8 µM) of NHDC for various periods (0-72 h) inhibited liver cancer cells (HepG2, Hep3B) growth as well as colony formation followed by induction of apoptosis in a concentration dependent manner. NHDC also induced expression of the apoptosis regulating genes as well as inhibiting the action of STAT3. These inhibitory effects were associated with enhancement of expression and DNA binding activity of HNF 4α. In vivo study confirmed that liver tumor growth was prevented with NHDC (5 mg/kg), and its effect was also related with inhibition of STAT3 pathway through enhancement of expression and DNA binding activity of HNF 4α. Moreover, siRNA of HNF 4α abolished NHDC-induced cell growth inhibition as well as DNA binding activity and phosphorylation of STAT3. Pull down assay docking prediction analysis proved that NHDC directly binds to hydrophobic fatty acid ligand binding site of HNF 4α. A novel naphthofuran compound, NHDC inhibited liver tumor growth by inactivating of STAT3 through direct biding to HNF 4α.

Hearing effects from intermittent and continuous noise exposure in a study of Korean factory workers and firefighters.

BACKGROUND: South Korea and surrounding countries in East Asia are believed to have the highest proportion in the world of high frequency hearing loss due to occupational noise exposure, yet there has been limited information published in international journals, and limited information for control of noise in local workplaces beyond strategies from western countries. We exploit medical surveillance information from two worker groups to enhance local knowledge about noise-induced hearing loss and explore the possible importance of shift work to risk. METHODS: Four-years of hearing data were evaluated for 81 male farm machine factory workers and 371 male firefighters who had successfully completed a health examination and questionnaires for the duration of the study period. The averages of hearing thresholds at 2, 3, and 4 kHz were used as the primary end-point for comparison. Repeat measure analysis adjusted for age, exposure duration and smoking status was used to measure the difference in hearing threshold between the two groups. RESULTS: Noise levels were measured in the factory at a mean of 82 dBA, with a range of 66-97. No concurrent measurements were taken for the firefighters, but historic comparison values showed a wider range but a similar mean of 76-79 dBA. Although losses during follow-up were negligible, the factory workers had significantly (P < 0.0001) more hearing loss at the baseline of the study than the firefighters in both ears at 2, 3, and 4 kHz, adjusted for age, duration of employment and smoking status. Among those with 10 years of employment, mean losses at these frequencies among the factory workers fell into the impairment range (> 25 dB loss). Firefighters also showed increased losses associated with longer exposure duration, but these were significantly less marked. Losses at lower frequencies (< or = 1 kHz) were negligible in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Korean work environments with continuous noise exposure in the measured range should consider implementation of a hearing conservation program. Further evaluation of hearing loss in workers exposed to irregular or intermittent high noise levels, such as firefighters, is also warranted.

Long-term outcome of canal paresis of a vascular cause.

There have been several reports on the progress of the caloric response of vestibular neuritis, but little is known about the recovery of canal paresis (CP) of a vascular cause. This study found that the caloric response normalised in 20 (67%) of 30 patients with CP associated with posterior circulation ischaemic stroke who were followed for at least 1 year (mean, 42.5 months; range, 14-85 months). The most commonly infarcted territory on brain MRI associated with CP was in the distribution of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (26/30, 87%). None of the patients who were followed for >5 years after the onset of vertigo showed persistent CP. Residual dizziness did not differ significantly between patients with or without CP at the final follow-up. These findings suggest that CP associated with posterior circulation ischaemic stroke often has a good long-term outcome. Following patients for at least 5 years increases the likelihood of normalisation of the vestibular response to caloric stimulation.

Association of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) promoter polymorphisms with overweight/obesity in a Korean population.

OBJECTIVE: Obesity is characterized by the activation of an inflammatory process leading to an increase in proinflammatory cytokines and adipokines. This study was designed to investigate the genetic association between tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) polymorphisms and the risk of obesity in the Korean population. METHODS: Three single nucleotide polymorphisms [G-238A (rs361525), C-857T (rs1799724), and C-863A (rs1800630)] in the promoter region of TNF-α gene were analyzed in 123 control [body mass index (BMI) between 18 and 23] and 208 overweight/obese (BMI ≥ 23) subjects. RESULTS: The mean values of BMI in the control and overweight/obese groups were 21.1 ± 1.4 and 25.4 ± 1.8, respectively. Of the three SNPs, G-238A presented a significant association with overweight/obesity in the codominant model; the frequency of the G/G genotype in the overweight/obese group was 9.3% higher than that in the control group (P = 0.0046). When control and overweight/obesity subjects were combined together and analyzed, the level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) was significantly higher in the C-857T C/C type SNP (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that the G allele of G-238A in TNF-α gene may be a risk factor for overweight/obesity in the Korean population and that the C allele of C-857T may be an protective factor in relation to the HDL level in the general Korean population.

Pallidal index measured with three-dimensional T1-weighted gradient echo sequence is a good predictor of manganese exposure in welders.

PURPOSE: To evaluate which T1-wieghted technique between 3D gradient-echo (FSPGR) and conventional spin-echo (SE) sequence is more sensitive predictor of neurobehavioral dysfunction found in welders with chronic manganese (Mn) acquired at 3 Tesla. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-three current male welders and 29 age- and gender-matched, nonwelding production workers (control individuals) were recruited to the present study. Each subject underwent neurological examination, blood sample collection, and neurobehavioral tests, in addition to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination. The MRI examinations were performed using a 3.0 Tesla whole-body scanner. T1-weighted axial images were obtained using SE and FSPGR with a 180 degrees inversion recovery prepared pulse, and the corresponding pallidal indices (PI), PI (SE), and PI (FSPGR), were calculated. RESULTS: Both PI (SE) and PI (FSPGR) were well correlated with blood Mn level, but only PI (FSPGR) was significantly correlated with air Mn concentration (P = 0.007). Of the neurobehavioral performance indicators, after controlling for covariates, PI (FSPGR) was significantly associated with cognitive components, such as the digit symbol score, the digit span backward score, the Stroop test score and also with the grooved pegboard (dominant hand) score, whereas PI (SE) was associated only with grooved pegboard (dominant hand) score. CONCLUSION: PI using a T1-weighted 3D FSPGR sequence shows the best correlation with neurobehavioral performance indicators and is the best measure for detection of blood and airborne Mn concentrations in welders exposed to excessive occupational Mn.

Infarction in the territory of anterior inferior cerebellar artery: spectrum of audiovestibular loss.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To define the detailed spectrum of audiovestibular dysfunction in anterior inferior cerebellar artery territory infarction. METHODS: Over 8.5 years, we prospectively identified 82 consecutive patients with anterior inferior cerebellar artery territory infarction diagnosed by MRI. Each patient completed a standardized audiovestibular questionnaire and underwent a neuro-otologic evaluation, including bithermal caloric tests and pure tone audiogram. RESULTS: All but 2 (80 of 82 [98%]) patients had acute prolonged vertigo and vestibular dysfunction of peripheral, central, or combined origin. The most common pattern of audiovestibular dysfunction was the combined loss of auditory and vestibular function (n=49 [60%]). A selective loss of vestibular (n=4 [5%]) or cochlear (n=3 [4%]) function was rarely observed. We could classify anterior inferior cerebellar artery territory infarction into 7 subgroups according to the patterns of neuro-otological presentations: (1) acute prolonged vertigo with audiovestibular loss (n=35); (2) acute prolonged vertigo with audiovestibular loss preceded by an episode(s) of transient vertigo/auditory disturbance within 1 month before the infarction (n=13); (3) acute prolonged vertigo and isolated auditory loss without vestibular loss (n=3); (4) acute prolonged vertigo and isolated vestibular loss without auditory loss (n=4); (5) acute prolonged vertigo but without documented audiovestibular loss (n=24); (6) acute prolonged vertigo and isolated audiovestibular loss without any other neurological symptoms/signs (n=1); and (7) nonvestibular symptoms with normal audiovestibular function (n=2). CONCLUSIONS: Infarction in the anterior inferior cerebellar artery territory can present with a broad spectrum of audiovestibular dysfunctions. Unlike a viral cause, labyrinthine dysfunction of a vascular cause usually leads to combined loss of both auditory and vestibular functions.

Plasma sphingomyelins increase in pre-diabetic Korean men with abdominal obesity.

Abdominal or visceral obesity is a well-known risk factor for metabolic diseases. However, whether abdominal obesity significantly affects plasma lipid profile during the development of type 2 diabetes has not been fully elucidated. We investigated the differences in plasma lipid concentrations in 63 participants categorized into six groups (middle-aged Korean men); Normal, Pre-diabetes (pre-DM), and Diabetes mellitus (DM) with or without abdominal obesity (AO or lean). The lipidomic profiles were determined by using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Sphingomyelin (SM) levels in plasma were significantly higher in the pre-DM with AO than in pre-DM with lean (p = 0.021). SM concentrations correlated positively with waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) (r = 0.256, p = 0.044), cholesteryl ester (CE) (r = 0.483, p < 0.0001), ceramide (r = 0.489, p < 0.0001) and plasmanyl phosphatidylcholine (PC) (r = 0.446, p < 0.0001). The present study found that pre-diabetic patients with AO were characterized by increased plasma concentrations of SM. Plasma SM levels in individuals with AO may be an early prognostic biomarker to better predict the progression toward type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

Proteomics approach to identify serum biomarkers associated with the progression of diabetes in Korean patients with abdominal obesity.

Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disease with a group of metabolic derangements and inflammatory reactants in the serum. Despite the substantial public health implications, markers of diabetes progression with abdominal obesity are still needed to facilitate early detection and treatment. In this study, we performed a proteomic approach to identify differential target proteins underlying diabetes progression in patients with abdominal obesity. Proteomic differences were investigated in the serum of controls and patients with prediabetes or diabetes with or without abdominal obesity by 2-DE combined with MALDI-TOF-MS. Proteomics data were validated by western blot analyses and major protein-protein interactions were assessed using a network analysis with String database. Among 245 matched protein spots, 36 exhibited marked differences in normal patients with abdominal obesity, prediabetes, and diabetes compared to levels in normal patients without abdominal obesity. Seven (Alpha-1-antichymotrypsin, Alpha-1-antitrypsin, Apolipoprotein A-I, haptoglobin, retinol-binding protein 4, transthyretin, and zinc-alpha2-glycoprotein) of these spots exhibited significant differences between normal and prediabetes/diabetes patients. After a network analysis, functional annotation using Gene Ontology indicated that most of the identified proteins were involved in lipid transport, lipid localization, and the regulation of serum lipoprotein particle levels. Our results indicated that variation in the levels of these identified protein biomarkers has been reported in normal, prediabetes and diabetic Assessment of the levels of these biomarkers may contribute to the development of biomarkers for not only early diagnosis but also in prognosis of diabetes mellitus type 2.

Matrix metalloproteinase-1 promoter is associated with body mass index in Korean population with aged greater or equal to 50 years.

BACKGROUND: Obesity leads to serious medical complications and impairment of quality of life. We investigated whether inter-individual variability in the risk of obesity was associated with a crucial fibrillar collagen-degrading enzyme matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 polymorphisms (MMP1-1607 and MMP1-519). METHODS: A population-based cohort study consisting of 530 subjects was performed. Body mass index (BMI), systolic and diastolic blood pressures, fasting blood sugar (FBS), HbA1c, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol were measured. Study subjects divided into 2 groups, one with BMI<25.0 and the other with BMI>or=25.0, were genotyped for MMP1-1607 and MMP1-519 polymorphisms by pyrosequencing analysis. RESULTS: Analyses of genotype distributions and allele frequencies revealed that both MMP1-1607 and MMP1-519 polymorphisms were associated with BMI (P=0.041 and 0.043, respectively) in individuals with age>or=50 years. We also observed significantly lower BMI and triglyceride in -519 AA individuals with age>or=50 years than in -519 G allele carriers with age>or=50 years. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the odds ratio (OR) for increase in BMI associated with the G vs. A allele in individuals with age>or=50 was 2.02 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.13-3.60, P=0.01], which strongly implicates protective role of MMP1-519 A allele against increase in BMI. CONCLUSION: The frequencies of MMP1-1607 G allele and MMP1-519 A allele are significantly higher in subjects with BMI<25.0 and age>or=50 years, suggesting protective roles of MMP1-1607 G allele and MMP1-519 A allele against increase in BMI in Korean population.

Interleukin 4 receptor is associated with an increase in body mass index in Koreans.

A body of evidence indicates obesity is an inflammatory state with chronic activation of the immune system. The interleukin 4 receptor (IL4R) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs 180275 (1902A>G) is well recognized for its association with atopy and other inflammatory diseases. We assessed the possible association of rs 180275 and rs 1805010 with obesity in Korean population. Study subject consisting of 876 Koreans were divided into three groups: subjects with 1) BMI<25, 2) BMI between 25 and 27, and 3) BMI>27. Analyses of genotype distributions and allele frequencies of study subjects revealed that rs 180275 polymorphism was associated with an increase in BMI in Korean population (P=0.009 and 0.011, respectively) while no association was found between rs 1805010 and obesity. We observed significantly lower percentage of rs 180275 G allele in subjects with BMI>27 than in subjects with BMI< or =27 (9.9% vs. 16.0%). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the odds ratio (OR) for an increase in BMI associated with the G vs. A allele was 0.57 [95% Confidence interval (CI)=0.39-0.85, p=0.002], which strongly implicates the protective role of rs 180275 G allele against an increase in BMI. Haplotype analysis revealed no association was present between rs 180275 and rs 1805010 polymorphisms. The frequency of rs 180275 G allele is significantly lower in subjects with BMI>27, suggesting the protective role of IL4R rs 180275 G allele against an increase in BMI in Korean population.

Spatial analysis between particulate matter and emergency room visits for conjunctivitis and keratitis.

BACKGROUND: The concentration of particulate matter in the air varies depending on the region because it is lightweight and generated from a variety of sources. To assess the relationship between particulate matter and eye disease, this study analyzes the concentration data obtained from spatial analysis of particulate matter and emergency visit data. METHODS: The study included 769 residents of Daegu, Korea who had visited an emergency room for the problem of conjunctivitis or keratitis. Concentrations of PM10 and other air pollutants were obtained from the Korean Ministry of the Environment. PM10 concentrations and the number of patients from each of 143 administrative dongs (sub-municipal level administrative units) of the city of Daegu were obtained using spatial analysis. The patient distribution and PM10 concentration were mapped for comparison, and their relationship was examined using scatter plot, regression analysis, and the independent sample t-test. RESULTS: The number of patients with conjunctivitis and keratitis was significantly higher in the regions of the top 20% areas than the bottom 20% areas in terms of PM10 concentration. The distribution of PM10 concentration and number of patients was visually similar on the map. The concentration of PM10 and the number of patients showed a dose-response relationship. When the concentrations of other air polluta9nts were controlled for, the numbers of conjunctivitis and keratitis patients were 0.04 per 1000 ER patients and 0.10 per 1000 ER patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: As PM10 is associated with the prevalence of conjunctivitis and keratitis, measures to reduce particulate matter through environmental methods are needed.

Relationship between postural instability and subcortical volume loss in Alzheimer's disease.

The relationship between postural instability and subcortical structure in AD has received less attention. The aims of this study were to assess whether there are differences in the ability to control balance between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and controls, and to investigate the association between subcortical gray matter volumes and postural instability in AD.We enrolled 107 consecutive AD patients and 37 controls. All participants underwent detailed neuropsychological evaluations, T1-weighted MRI at 3 T, and posture assessment using computerized dynamic posturography. We segmented the volumes of 6 subcortical structures of the amygdala, thalamus, caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus and nucleus accumbens, and of hippocampus, using the FMRIBs integrated registration and segmentation tool.All subcortical structures, except for the globus pallidus, were smaller in AD compared with controls on adjusting for age and gender. Falling frequencies in unilateral stance test (UST) and composite scores in sensory organization test (SOT) were worse in AD than in controls. The motor control test did not reveal any differences between groups. On subgroup analyses in AD, the groups with poor performance in UST or SOT exhibited significantly reduced nucleus accumbens and putamen volumes, and nucleus accumbens volume, respectively. The smaller volume of the nucleus accumbens was associated with postural instability in AD (OR [95% CI] 17.847 [2.59-122.80] for UST, 42.827[6.06-302.47] for SOT, all P < .05).AD patients exhibited reduced ability to control balance compared with controls, and this postural instability was associated with nucleus accumbens volume loss. Furthermore, cognitive dysfunction was more prominent in the group with severe postural instability.

Effectiveness of participatory training for the promotion of work-related health and safety among Korean farmers.

This study was conducted to explore the effectiveness of participatory training for promoting farmer's health and reducing agricultural work-related injuries. Candidates for this study included 595 farmers in 8 rural villages of South Korea. The one-day course participatory training was administered to 217 (36.5%) farmers and included an action-checklist, a good example presentation, and group discussion. The follow-up visit to participants' houses and farms was performed after 1 to 3 months. A direct interview survey was administered pre- and post-trainings. The total number of proposed action plans for the improvement of working condition was 620. It was observed that 61.5% of action plans (72.2% of short term and 41.3% of long term plans) were completely implemented. In regards to health and safety indices, the proportion of current smokers was reduced from 29.8% to 25.3% in the group that underwent training. The pesticide intoxication was reduced from 16.1% to 4.8% in participants that underwent training. However, the agricultural injury rate was unchanged in both groups. This study reports significant beneficial effects of participatory training in the agriculture sector in Korea.

Factors related to heart rate variability among firefighters.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate factors associated with heart rate variability in firefighters working in a metropolitan city in South Korea. METHODS: Self-administered questionnaires including Korean Occupational Stress Scale (KOSS) as well as surveys collecting socio-demographic characteristics and work-related factors were given to 962 firefighters. After exclusion for missing data, 645 firefighters were included, and analysis of covaiance adjusted for the general risk factors and job characteristics were used to assess the relationship between heart rate variability and associated factors. RESULTS: SDNN and RMSSD and were decreased in the area of occupational climate of the group with high job stress (p = 0.027, p = 0.036). HF(ln) was decreased in the area of organizational system and occupational climate of the group with high stress that statistically significant level (p = 0.034, p = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS: Occupational climate and organizational system are associated with reduction of heart rate variability. Preventive medical care plans for cardiovascular disease of firefighters through the analysis and evaluation of job stress factors are needed.

Discrepancy between frequency domain optical coherence tomography and intravascular ultrasound in human coronary arteries and in a phantom in vitro coronary model.

BACKGROUND: This purpose of this study is to evaluate, concomitantly with quantitative coronary angiography (QCA), the potential discrepancy between frequency domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) measurements in a phantom coronary model and in human coronary arteries within and outside stented segments. METHODS: FD-OCT and IVUS images sequentially obtained from a phantom coronary model and 57 stented human coronary arteries were compared between each other and with QCA. RESULTS: Lumen area (LA) by IVUS was 10.1% larger (6.43±0.09mm(2)) while by FD-OCT was similar (5.78±0.09mm(2)) to actual phantom LA (5.72mm(2)); IVUS vs. FD-OCT stent area (SA) was 4.2% larger. In human coronary artery, diameter by QCA was smaller than by IVUS and OCT in reference (by 10.5% and 3.5%, both p<0.001) and stented (3.6%, p<0.001; and 1.7%, p=0.012) segments. IVUS vs. FD-OCT distal reference LA was significantly larger (6.19±2.18mm(2) vs. 5.49±2.49mm(2), p<0.001, respectively), and SA was numerically larger (7.42±2.28mm(2) vs. 7.22±2.48mm(2), p=0.059) with larger discrepancy in reference (11.3%) than stented (2.7%) segments. IVUS vs. FD-OCT correlation for diameter was significantly higher for stented than reference segments (R(2)=0.8670 vs. 0.7351, p=0.047), while numerically higher for area (R(2)=0.8663 vs. 0.7806, p=0.157). CONCLUSIONS: In phantom model and human coronary arteries, IVUS vs. FD-OCT measurements were larger, particularly in non-stented than stented segments, and diameter was smaller by QCA vs. IVUS or FD-OCT. Despite undefined clinical significance, said discrepancy warrants consideration.

Minnesota multiphasic personality inventory as related factor for post traumatic stress disorder symptoms according to job stress level in experienced firefighters: 5-year study.

OBJECTIVES: As first responders to an increasing number of natural and manmade disasters, active-duty firefighters are at increased risk for physical and psychiatric impairment as reflected by high rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Because little is known about related factor with PTSD according to job stress level among firefighters, we assessed utility of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) using 5-year medical surveillance. METHODS: Data were analyzed from 185 male firefighters without psychiatric disease history and who at assessments in 2006 and 2011 completed all questionnaires on personal behaviors (including exercise, drinking and smoking habits) and job history (including job duration and department). MMPI, Events Scale-Revised-Korean version (IES-R-K) and Korean Occupational Stress Scale-Short Form (KOSS-SF) were used to screen for personality trait, PTSD symptom presence and job stress level, respectively. IES-R-K subgroups were compared using two-sample t- and χ2 tests, and factors influencing IES-R-K according to KOSS-SF were determined using uni- and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Mean age and job duration were higher in PTSD-positive than negative groups. In multivariate analysis, increased PTSD risk was associated with: job duration (Odds ratio (OR) = 1.064, 95 % CI 1.012-1.118) for firefighters overall; masculinity-femininity (OR = 5.304, 95 % CI 1.191-23.624) and job duration (OR = 1.126, 95 % CI 1.003-1.265) for lower job stress level; and social introversion (OR = 3.727, 95 % CI 1.096-12.673) for higher job stress level. CONCLUSIONS: MMPI relates with PTSD according to job stress level among experienced firefighters. Masculinity-femininity and social introversion were the strongest related factor for PTSD symptom development in low and high job stress levels, respectively.

Usefulness of combined intravascular ultrasound parameters to predict functional significance of coronary artery stenosis and determinants of mismatch.

AIMS: Efficacy of combined intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) parameters in functional significance prediction and discrepancy between IVUS and fractional flow reserve (FFR) have not been well defined. This study therefore aimed to: 1) evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of combined IVUS parameters, namely minimal lumen area (MLA) and percent plaque burden (%PB), in functional significance prediction of coronary artery stenosis; and 2) define factors that affect the relation between FFR value and IVUS parameters. METHODS AND RESULTS: At 11 international centres, IVUS and FFR measurements were concurrently performed in 945 major epicardial coronary artery lesions (886 patients). Functional significance was defined as FFR ≤0.8. MLA and FFR correlated weakly (r=0.289, p<0.001). Diagnostic accuracy of MLA ≤4.0 mm2, %PB >70% and their combination were 50%, 47% and 51%, respectively, with similar area under the curve (AUC) of 0.561, 0.511 and 0.516, respectively. The best cut-off values (BCV) were MLA ≤3.0 mm2 and %PB >75%, with accuracy of 60% for MLA, 50% for %PB and 56% for their combination, and AUC of 0.618, 0.511 and 0.533, respectively. MLA BCV ≤3.0 mm2 had higher predictive power than %PB BCV >75% or their combination. Independent predictors of functional significance were male gender (odds ratio 1.76 [95% confidence interval: 1.19-2.62]), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF, 0.98 [0.96-0.99]), LAD lesion (2.52 [1.73-3.67]), reference vessel diameter (0.60 [0.41-0.86]), lesion length (1.04 [1.02-1.06]) and MLA (0.79 [0.69-0.92]). False negative lesion incidence was 24.4% in association with race (for Asians, 0.391 [0.219-0.698]), LAD lesion (2.677 [1.709-4.191]) and LVEF (0.977 [0.957-0.997]). False positive lesion incidence was 17.0% in association with non-LAD lesion (2.444 [1.620-3.686]). CONCLUSIONS: Combined IVUS parameters did not improve the accuracy of functional significance prediction. Discrepancy between IVUS and FFR, which was not rare, should be taken into account in clinical decision making.

Factors Related to Sleep Disorders among Male Firefighters.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate factors associated with sleep disorders in male firefighters working in a metropolitan city in South Korea. METHODS: Self-administered questionnaires including the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, Korean Occupational Stress Scale-Short Form, Psychosocial Well-Being Index-Short Form, Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index, and Beck-Depression Inventory-2 as well as surveys collecting socio-demographic characteristics and work-related factors were given to 730 male firefighters. After exclusion for missing data, 657 male firefighters were included, and logistic regression analysis adjusted for the work-related factors, psychosocial factors, and general risk factors were used to assess the relationship between sleep disorders and associated factors. RESULTS: The prevalence of sleep disorders was 48.7%. Shift work (adjusted OR 1.58, 95% CI = 1.02-2.45), musculoskeletal symptoms (adjusted OR 2.89, 95% CI = 2.02-4.14), and depression (adjusted OR 7.04 95% CI = 4.03-12.30) were associated with sleep disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Musculoskeletal symptoms, shift work, and depression are associated with sleep disorders. Integrated health management is needed to promote good sleep quality among firefighters.

Pulmonary function decline in firefighters and non-firefighters in South Korea.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare changes to pulmonary function among firefighters and non-firefighters who were exposed to harmful substances in their work environments. METHODS: Firefighters (n = 322) and non-firefighters (n = 107) in Daegu who received a pulmonary function test in 2008 and 2011 as well as a regular health examination were included. Repeated measures ANOVA was performed to evaluate the pulmonary function of the two groups over the three-year period. RESULTS: After adjusting for age, height, body mass index, duration of exposure, physical activity, and smoking, which were statistically different between the two groups and known risk factors of pulmonary function, the forced expiratory volume in one s FEV1, forced vital capacity FVC, and FEV1/FVC% over the 3 year period were significantly lower among firefighters compared with non-firefighters. CONCLUSIONS: Evaluating the working environment of firefighters is difficult; however, our study revealed that pulmonary function declined in firefighters. Thus, more effort should be made to prevent and manage respiratory diseases early by preforming strict and consistent pulmonary function tests in firefighters.

Preclinical efficacy and mechanisms of mesenchymal stem cells in animal models of autoimmune diseases.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are present in diverse tissues and organs, including bone marrow, umbilical cord, adipose tissue, and placenta. MSCs can expand easily in vitro and have regenerative stem cell properties and potent immunoregulatory activity. They inhibit the functions of dendritic cells, B cells, and T cells, but enhance those of regulatory T cells by producing immunoregulatory molecules such as transforming growth factor-ß, hepatic growth factors, prostaglandin E2, interleukin-10, indolamine 2,3-dioxygenase, nitric oxide, heme oxygenase-1, and human leukocyte antigen-G. These properties make MSCs promising therapeutic candidates for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Here, we review the preclinical studies of MSCs in animal models for systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, and summarize the underlying immunoregulatory mechanisms.