The Role of Music Education for Social Morality and Teaching Method

Asia Education Symposium 2006, Session 2: “Education Method for International Understanding”( Day Two; Sun., October 15

Staphylococcal enterotoxin sensitization in a community-based population : a potential role in adult-onset asthma

Background: Recent studies suggest that Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin sensitization is a risk factor for asthma. However, there is a paucity of epidemiologic evidence on adult-onset asthma in community-based populations. Objective: We sought to evaluate the epidemiology and the clinical significance of staphylococcal enterotoxin sensitization in community-based adult populations. Methods: The present analyses were performed using the baseline data set of Korean adult population surveys, consisting of 1080 adults (mean age=60.2years) recruited from an urban and a rural community. Questionnaires, methacholine challenge tests, and allergen skin tests were performed for defining clinical phenotypes. Sera were analysed for total IgE and enterotoxin-specific IgE using ImmunoCAP. Results: Staphylococcal enterotoxin sensitization (0.35kU/L) had a prevalence of 27.0%. Risk factors were identified as male sex, current smoking, advanced age (61years), and inhalant allergen sensitization. Current asthma was mostly adult onset (18years old) and showed independent associations with high enterotoxin-specific IgE levels in multivariate logistic regression tests. In multivariate linear regressions, staphylococcal enterotoxin-specific IgE level was identified as the major determinant factor for total IgE level. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Staphylococcal enterotoxin sensitization was independently associated with adult-onset asthma in adult community populations. Strong correlations between the enterotoxin-specific IgE and total IgE levels support the clinical significance. The present findings warrant further studies for the precise roles of staphylococcal enterotoxin sensitization in the asthma pathogenesis

Current Management and Future Strategies of Gastric Cancer

The overall prognosis of gastric cancer has gradually improved over the past decades with growing awareness of potential carcinogens, surveillance programs and early diagnosis, as well as advances in surgical techniques and multimodality treatments. Nevertheless, the outcome of advanced stage disease still remains poor with currently available treatments, and a worldwide consensus on the standard management thereof has not been established. To improve prognosis and quality of life in gastric cancer patients, both standardization and individualization of managements are imperative. Diagnostic tests and surgical procedures need to be further sophisticated and standardized based on more recent evidences from ongoing and future randomized controlled trials, while comprehensive management should be individualized to each patient. Future challenges lie with how to optimize personalized therapies by deciphering biological complexity of gastric cancer and incorporating molecular biomarkers in clinical practice to forecast prognosis and to guide targeted therapeutics in adjunct to current standards of care

(Main Section: Ecological Planning)

Transition Area, Urban BR and sanjabunsuryung The biosphere reserves (BRs) of the UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) aim at the successful coexistence of humans and nature. The existing BRs have worked with local people to create culture landscapes and conserve natural resources. The ideal BR models for areas undergoing climate change are cities within nature, and the areas that can be designated as BRs have natural and cultural landscapes. BRs comprise three areas, the core, buffer, and transition, in order to efficiently perform three functions, which are conservation, development, and logistical support. A transition area is where people earn an income from local businesses while effectively preserving their natural surroundings. When this area has a role in meeting the communal goals of residents by providing local resources and landscapes, it is appropriately managed and maintained. In addition, local products produced in BRs, which UNESCO believes are generated in excellent ecosystems, can be sold under the BR brand, contributing to residents’ incomes and local image. The Baekdudaegan mountain range (BDDG) is traditionally cherished as a symbol of the Korean peninsula and has enormous scientific value as an ecological repository. Additionally, the BDDG is considered a unique geographical recognition system referred to as sanjabunsuryung by the local area districts where Korean people have lived following a unique religious and historical culture. This study categorized types of transition areas in targeted areas with high potential for designation as a BR based on geographical characteristics. The developed index was supported by the Analytical Hierarchy Process method proposed by experts, and zoning of the BR was performed. Among the areas of the BR, the transition area was the focus of this study. This area was classified into three types, which were then subdivided. The watershed types were self-managed, neighborhood, and cooperative; the resident types were urban, relatively rural, and rural; and the local resources types were natural scenery and historical-cultural. A management plan is suggested regarding administrative districts, an urban BR, and relationships to other protected areas in the BDDG. In conclusion, the transition area of the BR was recognized as urban via the categorization process, and management of the BDDG should take a long-term approach

Nonwandering sets of maps on the circle

Let f be a continuous map of the circle S1 into itself. And let R(f),Λ(f),Γ(f), and Ω(f) denote the set of recurrent points, ω-limit points, γ-limit points, and nonwandering points of f, respectively. In this paper, we show that each point of Ω(f)\R(f)¯ is one-side isolated, and prove tha

A Surgically Treated Case of Chronic Necrotizing Aspergillosis with Pleural Invasion

Aspergillus is a ubiquitous fungus and can cause many levels of disease severity. Chronic necrotizing aspergillosis is a rare disease and few cases have been reported in Korea. We experienced a case of pleural aspergillosis that was treated successfully with medical and surgical interventions. The 52-year-old man who was diagnosed with chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis underwent surgical treatment including a lobectomy, decortication, and myoplasty. The patient was also medically treated with amphotericin B followed by voriconazole. Pleural irrigation with amphotericin B was also performed. A multi-dimensional approach should be considered for treating chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis

Inhaled corticosteroid use and risks of lung cancer and laryngeal cancer

SummaryBackgroundChronic inflammation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several cancers, including lung and laryngeal cancer. The objective of the study is to elucidate the association between ICS use and diagnosis of lung and laryngeal cancer.MethodsA nested case–control study based on the Korean national claims database included new adult users of inhaled medications between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2010. Patients diagnosed with lung cancer or laryngeal cancer after enrollment were identified as cases and up to five control individuals matched for age, sex, diagnosis of asthma or COPD, Charlson Comorbidity Index scores, number of health care visits, and initiation date were selected.ResultsFrom the 792,687 eligible cohort, 9177 individuals diagnosed with lung cancer were matched with 37,048 controls. Additionally, 408 laryngeal cancer patients and 1651 controls were matched. ICS use was associated with a decreased rate of lung cancer diagnosis [adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 0.79; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.69–0.90]. The inverse association between ICS use and lung cancer risk was dose dependent (P < 0.0001 for the trend). However, no reduction in the risk of laryngeal cancer among ICS users was identified (aOR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.62–1.18).ConclusionThe use of ICS is associated with a reduced risk of lung cancer but not of laryngeal cancer