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Purpose@#This systematic review aimed to investigate the effects of aromatherapy interventions on depression and anxiety in menopausal women. @*Methods@#This study adhered to PRISMA (preferred reporting items of systemic reviews and meta-analysis) guidelines. Relevant studies published between 1994 and 2002 were searched in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Google Scholar, DBPIA, KISS, and RISS databases. Search criteria included the mesh terms 'aromatherapy menopause women depression anxiety.' The review included randomized and nonrandomized studies of women who were menopausal or postmenopausal and received aromatherapy intervention for depression and anxiety associated with symptoms of menopause. The extracted literature was evaluated via quality appraisal checklists of ROB 2 (Risk of Bias 2.0) and ROBINS-1 (Risk Of Bias In Non-Randomized Studies - of Interventions) and visualized using a risk-of-bias visualization tool. @*Results@#The review included 6 randomized controlled studies and 2 quasi-experimental studies. The results showed that aromatherapy massage and inhalation therapy were effective in reducing depression and had beneficial effects in reducing anxiety, improving quality of sleep, and menopausal symptoms in menopausal women. @*Conclusion@#Interventions using aromatic essential oils to massage the hands, arms, back, and scalp or inhalation of aromatic oils from clothing, necklaces, and bedding might be beneficial for the emotional health of menopausal women. Women health professionals should consider applying aromatherapy to menopausal women to improve emotional health, sleep, and menopausal symptoms.
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Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) treated with B-cell pathway inhibitors and anti-CD20 antibodies exhibit low humoral response rate (RR) following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. To investigate the relationship between the initial transcriptional response to vaccination with ensuing B and T cell immune responses, we performed a comprehensive immune transcriptome analysis flanked by antibody and T cell assays in peripheral blood prospectively collected from 15 CLL/SLL patients vaccinated with heterologous BNT162b2/ChAdOx1 with follow up at a single institution. The two-dose antibody RR was 40% increasing to 53% after booster. Patients on BTKi, venetoclax {+/-} anti-CD20 antibody within 12 months of vaccination responded less well than those under BTKi alone. The two-dose T cell RR was 80% increasing to 93% after booster. Transcriptome studies revealed that seven patients showed interferon-mediated signaling activation within 2 days and one at 7 days after vaccination. Increasing counts of COVID-19 specific IGHV genes correlated with B-cell reconstitution and improved humoral RR. T cell responses in CLL patients appeared after vaccination regardless of treatment status. A higher humoral RR was associated with BTKi treatment and B-cell reconstitution. Boosting was particularly effective when intrinsic immune status was improved by CLL-treatment.
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Omicron is currently the dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant and several sublineages have emerged. Questions remain about the impact of previous SARS-CoV-2 exposure on cross-variant immune responses elicited by BA.2 infection compared to BA.1. Here we show that without previous history of COVID-19, BA.2 infection induces a reduced immune response against all variants of concern (VOC) compared to BA.1 infection. The absence of ACE2 binding in sera of previously naive BA.1 and BA.2 patients indicates a lack of meaningful neutralization. In contrast, anti-spike antibody levels and neutralizing activity greatly increased in the BA.1 and BA.2 patients with a previous history of COVID-19. Transcriptome analyses of peripheral immune cells showed significant differences in immune response and specific antibody generation between BA.1 and BA.2 patients as well as significant differences in expression of specific immune genes. In summary, prior infection status significantly impacts the innate and adaptive immune response against VOC following BA.2 infection.
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Antibody response following Omicron infection is reported to be less robust than that to other variants. Here we investigated how prior vaccination and/or prior infection modulates that response. Disease severity, antibody responses and immune transcriptomes were characterized in four groups of Omicron-infected outpatients (n=83): unvaccinated/no prior infection, vaccinated/no prior infection, unvaccinated/prior infection and vaccinated/prior infection. The percentage of patients with asymptomatic or mild disease was highest in the vaccinated/no prior infection group (87%) and lowest in the unvaccinated/no prior infection group (47%). Significant anti-Omicron spike antibody levels and neutralizing activity were detected in the vaccinated group immediately after infection but were not present in the unvaccinated/no prior infection group. Within two weeks, antibody levels against Omicron, increased. Omicron neutralizing activity in the vaccinated group exceeded that of the prior infection group. No increase in neutralizing activity in the unvaccinated/no prior infection group was seen. The unvaccinated/prior infection group showed an intermediate response. We then investigated the early transcriptomic response following Omicron infection in these outpatient populations and compared it to that found in unvaccinated hospitalized patients with Alpha infection. Omicron infected patients showed a gradient of transcriptional response dependent upon prior vaccination and infection status that correlated with disease severity. Vaccinated patients showed a significantly blunted interferon response as compared to both unvaccinated Omicron infected outpatients and unvaccinated Alpha infected hospitalized patients typified by the response of specific gene classes such as OAS and IFIT that control anti-viral responses and IFI27, a predictor of disease outcome.
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Heterologous ChAdOx1-BNT162b2 vaccination induces a stronger immune response than two doses of BNT162b2 or ChAdOx1. Yet, the molecular transcriptome, the germline allelic variants of immunoglobulin loci and anti-Omicron antibody levels induced by the heterologous vaccination have not been formally investigated. Moreover, there is a paucity of COVID vaccine studies including diverse genetic populations. Here, we show a robust molecular immune transcriptome and antibody repertoire in 51 office workers from the Republic of Korea after a heterologous ChAdOx1-BNT162b2 vaccination or a homologous ChAdOx1-ChAdOx1 vaccination. Anti-spike-specific IgG antibody levels in the heterologous group increased from 14,000 U/ml to 142,000 AU/ml within eight days after the BNT162b2 vaccination. In contrast, antibody levels in the homologous group increased two-fold after the second ChAdOx1 dose. Antibody titers against the Omicron spike protein as compared to the ancestral strain were reduced to a lesser extent in the heterologous group. RNA-seq conducted on immune cells demonstrated a stronger activation of interferon-induced genetic programs in the heterologous cohort. An increase of specific IGHV clonal transcripts encoding neutralizing antibodies was preferentially detected in the heterologous cohort. Enrichment of B cell and CD4+ T cell responses were observed following both heterologous and homologous vaccination using scRNA-seq, but clonally expanded memory B cells were relatively stronger in the ChAdOx1-BNT162b2 cohort. In summary, a heterologous vaccination with ChAdOx1 followed by BNT162b2 provides an innate and adaptive immune response exceeding that seen in homologous ChAdOx1 vaccinations but equivalent to that seen in homologous BNT162b2 vaccination.
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Purpose@#The purpose of this study was by understanding the correlation between the depression, social support and self-care of tuberculosis patients and by identifying the factors that influence the self-care. @*Methods@#The study subjects were 119 outpatients who were diagnosed with pulmonary and respiratory tuberculosis at a university hospital in D city. The survey questions measured depression, social support, self-care. Using the SPSS/WIN 23.0 program, the collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlations and multiple regression analysis. @*Results@#As a result of correlation analysis, there was a statistically significant negative correlation between self-care and depression (r=-.53, p<.001), and there was a significant positive correlation between self-care and social support (r=.68, p<.001). Factors affecting self-care of the subjects were social support (β=.51, p<.001), depression (β=-.32, p<.001), drug discontinuation experience (β=-.30, p<.001) and drug resistance (β=-.14, p<.001). These factors explained 62% of the variance. @*Conclusion@#In order to improve the self-care ability of tuberculosis patients, it is necessary to develop education and nursing intervention programs that can lower patients' depression and strengthen social support.
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Purpose@#The purpose of this study is to identify e-health literacy, job-esteem, self-efficacy and health promoting behaviors and to identify affecting the health promoting behaviors among of nurses in small and medium-sized hospital based on the IMB Model. @*Methods@#The research design for this study was a descriptive survey using convenience sampling. Data collection was done using online questionnaires completed by 121 nurses in small and medium-sized hospital in D,C and S cities. The data were analyzed using percentage, mean, standard deviation, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffé ́ test, Pearson correlation analysis and hierarchical multiple regression with the SPSS/WIN 23.0 Program. @*Results@#The mean score of health promoting behaviors was 3.65±0.55 out of a possible 5. Health promoting behaviors showed a significantly positive correlation with e-health literacy (r=.39, p<.001), job-esteem (r=.62, p<.001) and self-efficacy (r=.31, p=.001). In the hierarchical multiple regression analysis, job-esteem (β=.47, p<.001), self-efficacy (β=.18, p=.010) and e-health literacy (β=.15, p=.049) were significant predictors and explained 44% of health promoting behaiviors. @*Conclusion@#The results of the study showed factors that influence health promoting behaviors in nurses in small and medium-sized hospital. Based on the results of the study, health promoting behaviors improvement program need to include factors that e-health literacy, job-esteem and self-efficacy.
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Knowledge about the impact of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection of the elderly on mRNA vaccination response is needed to appropriately address the need for booster vaccination in this vulnerable population. To address this, we investigated antibody and genomic immune responses in 16 elderly (avg. 81 yrs.) individuals that had received a single booster dose of BNT162b vaccine 15 months after recovering from COVID-19. Spike-specific IgG antibody levels increased in each of the study participants from an average of 710 U/ml prior to the vaccination to more than 40,000 U/ml within ten weeks after the vaccination. In contrast, anti-spike-specific IgG antibody levels averaged 2,190 U/ml in 14 healthy SARS-CoV-2-naive individuals (avg. 58 yrs.) ten weeks after the second dose of BNT162b. RNA-seq conducted on PBMCs demonstrated the activation of interferon-activated genetic programs in both cohorts within one day. Unlike their transient induction in the younger naive population, persistent activity and the initiation of additional cell cycle regulated programs were obtained in the older COVID-19 recovered population. Here we show that the elderly, a high-risk population, can mount a strong antibody and a persistent molecular immune response upon receiving a single dose of mRNA vaccine 15 months after recovery from COVID-19.
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Fast-spreading variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) energize the COVID-19 pandemic. B.1.1.7 (VOC-202012/01) has become the predominant variant in many countries and a new lineage (VOC-202102/02) harboring the E484K escape mutation in the B.1.1.7 background emerged in February 20211. This variant is of concern due to reduced neutralizing activity by vaccine-elicited antibodies2,3. However, it is not known whether this single amino acid change leads to an altered immune response. Here, we investigate differences in the immune transcriptome in hospitalized patients infected with either B.1.1.7 (n=28) or B.1.1.7+E484K (n=12). RNA-seq conducted on PBMCs isolated within five days after the onset of COVID symptoms demonstrated elevated activation of specific immune pathways, including JAK-STAT signaling, in B.1.1.7+E484K patients as compared to B.1.1.7. Longitudinal transcriptome studies demonstrated a delayed dampening of interferon-activated pathways in B.1.1.7+E484K patients. Prior vaccination with BNT162b vaccine (n=8 one dose; n=1 two doses) reduced the transcriptome inflammatory response to B.1.1.7+E484K infection relative to unvaccinated patients. Lastly, the immune transcriptome of patients infected with additional variants (B.1.258, B.1.1.163 and B.1.7.7) displayed a reduced activation compared to patients infected with B.1.1.7. Acquisition of the E484K substitution in the B.1.1.7 background elicits an altered immune response, which could impact disease progression.
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Fast-spreading variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) energize the COVID-19 pandemic. The B.1.351 variant carrying the escape mutation E484K in the receptor binding domain is of particular concern due to reduced immunological protection following vaccination. Protection can manifest as early as 10 days following immunization with full protection two weeks following the second dose, but the course is not well-characterized for variants. Here, we investigated the immune transcriptome of six elderly individuals (average age 82 yr.) from an old peoples home, who contracted B.1.351, with four having received the first dose of BNT162b eight to 11 days prior to the onset of COVID-19 symptoms. The patients were hospitalized and received dexamethasone treatment. Immune transcriptomes were established from PBMCs approximately 10 and 35 days after the onset of COVID-19 symptomology. RNA-seq revealed a more intensive immune response in vaccinated patients as compared to unvaccinated ones. Specifically, transcription factors linked to the JAK/STAT pathway, interferon stimulated genes, and genes associated with innate antiviral immunity and COVID-19-SARS-CoV-2 infection were highly enriched in vaccinated patients. This rendered the transcriptomes of the older vaccinated group significantly different than older unvaccinated individuals infected at the same institution and more similar to the immune response of younger unvaccinated individuals (age range 48-62) following B.1.351 infection. All individuals in this study whether vaccinated or not were hospitalized due to B.1.351 infection and one vaccinated patient died illustrating that although an enhanced immune response was documented infection it was insufficient to protect from disease. This highlights the need for maintaining physical distancing and prevention measures throughout the time course of vaccination in older adults.
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Recently, a short, interferon-inducible isoform of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2), dACE2 was identified. ACE2 is a SARS-Cov-2 receptor and changes in its renal expression have been linked to several human nephropathies. These changes were never analyzed in context of dACE2, as its expression was not investigated in the kidney. We used Human Primary Proximal Tubule (HPPT) cells to show genome-wide gene expression patterns after cytokine stimulation, with emphasis on the ACE2/dACE2 locus. Putative regulatory elements controlling dACE2 expression were identified using ChIP-seq and RNA-seq. qRT-PCR differentiating between ACE2 and dACE2 revealed 300- and 600-fold upregulation of dACE2 by IFN and IFN{beta}, respectively, while full length ACE2 expression was almost unchanged. JAK inhibitor ruxolitinib ablated STAT1 and dACE2 expression after interferon treatment. Finally, with RNA-seq, we identified a set of genes, largely immune-related, induced by cytokine treatment. These gene expression profiles provide new insights into cytokine response of proximal tubule cells.
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Superficial angiomyxoma (SA) is a rare, benign, cutaneous soft tissue tumor. It is composed of myxoid matrix and blood vessels. Herein, we report a case of a solitary SA on the posterior neck of a 6-year-old boy. An analysis of the biopsied specimen showed a prominent myxoid stroma with thin-walled, branching blood vessels, revealing the presence of an SA. SA especially that originating in the posterior neck, is rarely seen and should be considered as a differential diagnosis for a solitary mass in the posterior neck.
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Acute pancreatitis is a sudden inflammatory disease that could be developed into a fatal condition. Traditional dogma was to rest the pancreas by fasting. However, evidence shows the benefits of early enteral feeding resulting in a shorter hospital stay, improved mortality, multi-organ failure, systemic infections, and the need for operative interventions. Clinicians should encourage enteral feeding as soon as possible even in severe acute pancreatitis if there are no contraindications. An immediate solid diet could be attempted. Regarding tube feeding, the nasojejunal tube did not show superiority to the nasogastric tube. Different formulas and probiotics need more investigation. Guidelines are against using prophylactic antibiotics, but Korean centers still report overuse of antibiotics. However, there is still a debate about using prophylactic antibiotics in severe acute pancreatitis. Broad-spectrum antibiotics should be initiated when an infection is suspected. In conclusion, enteral nutritional support and optimal use of antibiotics are the keys to the management of acute pancreatitis.
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Acute pancreatitis is a sudden inflammatory disease that could be developed into a fatal condition. Traditional dogma was to rest the pancreas by fasting. However, evidence shows the benefits of early enteral feeding resulting in a shorter hospital stay, improved mortality, multi-organ failure, systemic infections, and the need for operative interventions. Clinicians should encourage enteral feeding as soon as possible even in severe acute pancreatitis if there are no contraindications. An immediate solid diet could be attempted. Regarding tube feeding, the nasojejunal tube did not show superiority to the nasogastric tube. Different formulas and probiotics need more investigation. Guidelines are against using prophylactic antibiotics, but Korean centers still report overuse of antibiotics. However, there is still a debate about using prophylactic antibiotics in severe acute pancreatitis. Broad-spectrum antibiotics should be initiated when an infection is suspected. In conclusion, enteral nutritional support and optimal use of antibiotics are the keys to the management of acute pancreatitis.
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The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor is the gateway for SARS-CoV-2 to airway epithelium1,2 and the strong inflammatory response after viral infection is a hallmark in COVID-19 patients. Deciphering the regulation of the ACE2 gene is paramount for understanding the cell tropism of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here we identify candidate regulatory elements in the ACE2 locus in human primary airway cells and lung tissue. Activating histone and promoter marks and Pol II loading characterize the intronic dACE2 and define novel candidate enhancers distal to the genuine ACE2 promoter and within additional introns. dACE2, and to a lesser extent ACE2, RNA levels increased in primary bronchial cells treated with interferons and this induction was mitigated by Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors that are used therapeutically in COVID-19 patients. Our analyses provide insight into regulatory elements governing the ACE2 locus and highlight that JAK inhibitors are suitable tools to suppress interferon-activated genetic programs in bronchial cells.
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To investigate prevalence of ongoing activation of inflammation following asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection we characterized immune cell transcriptomes from 43 asymptomatic seropositive and 52 highly exposed seronegative individuals with few underlying health issues following a community superspreading event. Four mildly symptomatic seropositive individuals examined three weeks after infection as positive controls demonstrated immunological activation. Approximately four to six weeks following the event, the two asymptomatic groups showed no significant differences. Two seropositive patients with underlying genetic disease impacting immunological activation were included (Cystic Fibrosis (CF), Nuclear factor-kappa B Essential Modulator (NEMO) deficiency). CF, but not NEMO, associated with significant immune transcriptome differences including some associated with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection (IL1B, IL17A, respective receptors). All subjects remained in their usual state of health from event through five-month follow-up. Here, asymptomatic infection resolved without evidence of prolonged immunological activation. Inclusion of subjects with underlying genetic disease illustrated the pathophysiological importance of context on impact of immunological response.
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ACE2, in concert with the protease TMPRSS2, binds the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and facilitates its cellular entry. The ACE2 gene is expressed in SARS-CoV-2 target cells, including Type II Pneumocytes (Ziegler, 2020), and is activated by interferons. Viral RNA was also detected in breast milk (Wu et al., 2020), raising the possibility that ACE2 expression is under the control of cytokines through the JAK-STAT pathway. Here we show that Ace2 expression in mammary tissue is induced during pregnancy and lactation, which coincides with the establishment of a candidate enhancer. The prolactin-activated transcription factor STAT5 binds to tandem sites that coincide with activating histone enhancer marks and additional transcription components. The presence of pan JAK-STAT components in mammary alveolar cells and in Type II Pneumocytes combined with the autoregulation of both STAT1 and STAT5 suggests a prominent role of cytokine signaling pathways in cells targeted by SARS-CoV-2.
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Purpose@#This study aimed to examine the level of acculturative stress, career stress, social support and depression, and identify factors affecting depression among Korean international students in China. @*Methods@#Data were collected from 157 Korean students studying in undergraduate, graduate, students exchange programs and language training courses in G university, J university, and S university in G city, Guangdong Province, China, from September 1 to October 27, 2017. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, and multiple linear regression. @*Results@#The mean acculturative stress was 62.24±18.08 out of 165, whereas the mean career stress was 65.47±19.79 out of 125. The mean social support was 95.03±14.64 out of 125, and the mean depression score was 13.83±9.24 out of 60. The factor that had the greatest effect on depression among the participants was acculturative stress (β=.26, p=.001), followed by career stress (β=.24, p=.002), frequency of weekly phone calls with family (β=.19, p=.006), source of tuition payment (β=.18, p=.009), and self-perceived health (β=.15, p=.040). The model explained 33% of the variance. @*Conclusion@#It is necessary to develop depression prevention and management programs as well as a customized health promotion program that account for the factors identified to have an effect on depression, namely, acculturative stress, career stress, frequency of weekly phone calls with family, source of tuition payment, and self-perceived health, and increase awareness of depression among international students.
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Cholangiocarcinoma is a biliary carcinoma with a wide spectrum of imaging, histological, and clinical features. In immunocompromised patients, pyogenic abscesses are relatively common and an echinococcal hepatic cysts are very rare. The authors experienced a very rare case of cholangiocarcinoma showing multiple hypodense masses with wall enhancement mimicking pyogenic liver abscess, echinococcal hepatic cyst, and cystic metastases. An 83-year-old man, complaining of fatigue and poor oral intake, presented to our outpatient clinic. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed multiple, variable-sized hypodense masses with peripheral rim enhancement throughout the liver. Dynamic liver magnetic resonance images also showed findings similar to those of a CT scan. We performed ultrasound-guided biopsy of the mass which revealed cholangiocarcinoma.
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Purpose@#This study aimed to examine the level of acculturative stress, career stress, social support and depression, and identify factors affecting depression among Korean international students in China. @*Methods@#Data were collected from 157 Korean students studying in undergraduate, graduate, students exchange programs and language training courses in G university, J university, and S university in G city, Guangdong Province, China, from September 1 to October 27, 2017. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, and multiple linear regression. @*Results@#The mean acculturative stress was 62.24±18.08 out of 165, whereas the mean career stress was 65.47±19.79 out of 125. The mean social support was 95.03±14.64 out of 125, and the mean depression score was 13.83±9.24 out of 60. The factor that had the greatest effect on depression among the participants was acculturative stress (β=.26, p=.001), followed by career stress (β=.24, p=.002), frequency of weekly phone calls with family (β=.19, p=.006), source of tuition payment (β=.18, p=.009), and self-perceived health (β=.15, p=.040). The model explained 33% of the variance. @*Conclusion@#It is necessary to develop depression prevention and management programs as well as a customized health promotion program that account for the factors identified to have an effect on depression, namely, acculturative stress, career stress, frequency of weekly phone calls with family, source of tuition payment, and self-perceived health, and increase awareness of depression among international students.