• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.179-185
• /
• 2016

The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) pathway is a key signal transduction pathway involved in cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis. In dairy cows, IGF family proteins and binding receptors, including their intracellular binding partners, regulate mammary gland development. IGFs and IGF receptor interactions in mammary glands influence the early stages of mammogenesis, i.e., mammary ductal genesis until puberty. The IGF pathway includes three major components, IGFs (such as IGF-I, IGF-II, and insulin), their specific receptors, and their high-affinity binding partners (IGF binding proteins [IGFBPs]; i.e., IGFBP1-6), including specific proteases for each IGFBP. Additionally, IGFs and IGFBP interactions are critical for the bioactivities of various intracellular mechanisms, including cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis. Notably, the interactions between IGFs and IGFBPs in the IGF pathway have been difficult to characterize during specific stages of bovine mammary gland development. In this review, we aim to describe the role of the interaction between IGFs and IGFBPs in overall mammary gland development in dairy cows.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.85 no.3
• /
• pp.221-226
• /
• 2022

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by airflow limitation due to chronic airway inflammation and destruction of the alveolar structure from persistent exposure to oxidative stress. The body has various antioxidant mechanisms for efficiently coping with such oxidative stress. The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-antioxidant response element (ARE) is a representative system. Dysregulation of the Nrf2-ARE pathway is responsible for the development and promotion of COPD. Furthermore, COPD severity is also closely related to this pathway. There has been a clinical impetus to use Nrf2 for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Therefore, in this work, we systematically reviewed the clinical significance of Nrf2 in COPD patients, and discuss the value of Nrf2 as a potential COPD biomarker.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.54 no.5
• /
• pp.551-562
• /
• 2003

Background : NF-${\kappa}B$ is a characteristic transcriptional factor which has been shown to regulate production of acute inflammatory mediators and to be involved in the pathogenesis of many inflammatory lung diseases. There has been some evidence that PI3K/Akt pathway could activate NF-${\kappa}B$ in human cell lines. However, the effect of PI3K/Akt pathway on the activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ varied depending on the cell lines used in the experiments. In this study we evaluated the effect of PI3K/Akt pathway on the activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ in human respiratory epithelial cell lines. Methods : BEAS-2B, A549 and NCI-H157 cell lines were used in this experiment. To evaluate the activation of Akt activation and I${\kappa}B$ degradation, cells were analysed by western blot assay using phospho-specific Akt Ab and $I{\kappa}B$ Ab. To block PI3K/Akt pathway, cells were pretreated with wortmannin or LY294002 and transfected with dominant negative Akt (DN-Akt). For IKK activity, immune complex kinase assay was performed. To evaluate the DNA binding affinity and transcriptional activity of NF-${\kappa}B$, electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and luciferase assay were performed, respectively. Results : In BEAS-2B, A549 and NCI-H157 cell lines, Akt was activated by TNF-$\alpha$ and insulin. Activation of Akt by insulin did not induce $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation. Blocking of PI3K/Akt pathway via wortmannin/LY294002 or DN-Akt did not inhibit TNF-$\alpha$-induced $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation or IKK activation. Inhibition of PI3K/Akt did not affect TNF-$\alpha$-induced NF-${\kappa}B$ activation. Overexpression of DN-Akt did not block TNF-$\alpha$-induced transcriptional activation of NF-${\kappa}B$, but wortmannin enhanced TNF-$\alpha$-induced in NF-${\kappa}B$ transcriptional activity. Conclusion : PI3K/Akt was not involved in TNF-$\alpha$-induced $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation or transcriptional activity of NF-${\kappa}B$ in human respiratory epithelial cell lines.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
• /
• v.6 no.1_2
• /
• pp.18-31
• /
• 1999

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.117-127
• /
• 2014

Purpose: In order to provide a systematic and standardized treatment course for MVD patients, a critical pathway (CP) program was developed and the results of its long term application were analyzed. Methods: This was a methodological study. The CP was established and applied to 75 (step I) and 1,216 (step II). Another group of 56 with similar features was used as a control group. Results: The application of CP turned out to be useful in many regards: the rate of hearing loss was reduced from 1.8% to 0% (step I) and 0.5% (step II), and low cranial nerve palsy was reduced from 1.8% to 1.3% and 0.7%, respectively. The length of hospitalization decreased by 2.56 days (25.2%) for step I and 3.05 days (30.0%) for step II. Days of ICU stay were reduced by 7.9% and 1.8%. The total cost per patient was reduced by 14.8% (step I). The cost per day was increased by 13.7% and 52.4%. An increase in the patient satisfaction index was noted, as shown in the ICU information guide (p=.002). Conclusion: The development and application of CP was found to improve the quality of medical treatment and the efficacy of hospital management in MVD patients. Well organized and efficient system and multidisciplinary teamwork are the key component of the successful application of CP.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.43-47
• /
• 2002

Background: With the advances of video technology, thoracoscopic surgery has been applied to various areas of the thoracic surgical fields including major surgeries. Now a days,-thoracoscopic surgery is Performed as a procedure of choice for primary spontaneous pneumothorax. But the operative indication for the primary spontaneous pneumothorax has not been changed since the last few decades, although the procedure of choice was changed from open thoracotomy to thoracoscopy. Therefore, we thought new treatment strategy will be necessary for the management of primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Material and Method: Between January 1998 and December 1999, 149 primary spontaneous pneumothorax patients were admitted to the Kyungpook National University Hospital. Result: Of these patients, 177 were first attack pneumothoraces and the number of total attacks were 250. Conclusion: Analyzing the amount of pneumothorax, methods of treatment, number of recurrences, recurrence rate and hospital stay, we propose a critical pathway for establishing new treatment strategy for the management of primary spontaneous pneumothorax.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.51 no.6
• /
• pp.338-342
• /
• 2012

Objective : The aim of this study is to implement a critical pathway (CP) for patients undergoing lumbar laminectomy or microdiscectomy and describe the results before and after the CP in terms of length of hospital stay and cost. Methods : From March 2008 to February 2009, 61 patients underwent lumbar laminectomy or microdiscectomy due to stenosis or one- or two-level disc herniation in our department and were included in the prepathway group. After development and implementation of the CP in March 2009, 58 patients were applicable for the CP, and these were classified as the postpathway group. Results : The CP, which established a 6-day hospital stay (5 bed-days), was fulfilled by 42 patients (72.4%) in the postpathway group. The mean length of stay was 5.4 days in the postpathway group compared to 6.9 days in the prepathway group, demonstrating a 20% reduction, which was a statistically significant difference ($p{\leq}0.000$). There was a statistically significant reduction in charges for bed and nursing care (p=0.002). Conclusion : Implementation of a CP for lumbar laminectomy or microdiscectomy produced significant decreases in length of hospitalization and charges for bed and nursing care. We believe that this CP reduces the unnecessary use of hospital resources without increasing risk of adverse events.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.295-308
• /
• 2002

Purpose: The purpose of this quasi-experimental research is to develop the CP for primary THR patients and verify its effectiveness. Method: The CP is designed for both patients and medical employees to meet the 14-day-long hospitalization with an expert and clinical validity test, and the standardized orders are also created. 21 eligible subjects for the control group(with common care plan) and 27 subjects for the experimental group(with CP service) were assigned. Data were collected from questionnaires to evaluate patients' satisfaction level of nursing care and CP, investigation of physical complications, inspection of LOS(length of hospital stay) and hospital charges from April 2000 to February 2001 at K-hospital in Daegu. The collected data were analyzed by using the SAS program. Results: After implementation of CP, there was a statistically significant reduction in mean length of stay. The hospital charges have no considerable difference between two groups. Frequency of physical complications is reduced considerably. The experimental group scored much higher than the control group on the satisfaction level toward nursing care. And in the analysis of CP satisfaction questionnaires, many subjects have high satisfaction in items of 'I see the treatment process and hospital life', 'I feel that I am participating in my treatment process with health care staff'. The analysis of variances which cause a prolonged LOS supports that it's necessary to strengthen an evaluation of pre-operative outpatients' condition and link the home nursing care system in discharge for more shortening of LOS. Conclusion: The above results show that CP can have a positive impact on satisfaction level of inpatients with primary THR and the hospital.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.377-388
• /
• 2022

Objectives: For diagnosis and evaluation, evaluation tools are needed. Various tools can be used to diagnose and evaluate mental disorders. Among them, psychological tests are widely used. For Korean Standard Classification of Diseases (KCD) diagnosis, psychological tests are also required. Currently developed critical pathway (CP) presented tools for diagnosis and evaluation of mental disorders. The CP suggests the use of tools based on the Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG). Therefore, CPG-based tools should be able to be used in the clinical scene of Korean Medicine for diagnosing and evaluating mental disorders according to CP. Methods: Tools suggested by CPs are summarized. The degree of utilization of tools in CPGs is also summarized. A review was conducted by Korean Medicine neuropsychiatrist experts on tools and user's usage plan. Results: As a result, developed CPs suggested using 19 tools for anxiety disorder, 13 tools for insomnia), 12 tools for Hwabyeong, and 9 tools for dementia. In CPG, 48, 34, 44, and 44 tools were used for anxiety disorder, insomnia, Hwabyeong, and dementia, respectively. Among tools presented in CP, HAM-A, HAM-D, CGI, SAS, and TESS for anxiety disorder, CPG, ISI, and PSQI for insomnia disorder, CPG, STAI, and STAXI for Hwabyeong were frequently used in CPG. For dementia CPG, MoCA, MMSE, HDS, ADL, and ADAS-cog were frequently used. Among them, MoCA, ADL, and ADAS-cog were suggested tools in CP. Conclusions: As a result of analyzing tools suggested and used in the developed CPs and CPGs, it was verified that various tools were used in each study. Most of them were symptom and behavioral evaluation scales. Therefore, symptoms and behavior evaluation scales used more frequently should be able to be used in the clinical scene of Korean Medicine.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.337-343
• /
• 2021

Objectives: To investigate effectiveness and satisfaction of applying critical pathway (CP) to Hwa-byung outpatients. Methods: Subjects were 32 outpatients who were diagnosed with Hwa-byung between January 1 and 2021 to October 31, 2021. Among these patients, 18 patients were applied with CP and 14 patients received treatment without applying CP. Their medical records and administration records were retrospectively analyzed. Data were analyzed by mean, standard deviation, and t-test using SPSS 26.0 program. Results: Mean total treatment period significantly decreased in the CP group compared with the non-CP group. Medical expenses were classified by treatment period, per visit, and patient charges per type of visit. When analyzed specifically by detailed items, there was a decreasing tendency in total medical expenses, uncovered medical expenses, and patient charges but an increasing tendency in covered medical expenses, although some of these changes were not statistically significant. Satisfaction score increased in the CP group compared with the non-CP group in general, although not all increases were statistically significant. Conclusions: Applying CP may contribute to the reduction of medical expenses and improvement of medical service quality. Further research on the development of CP for various diseases and the application of CP under various circumstances is needed.