Improvement of the Usability of Online Mentoring Website

The purpose of this study is to improve the usability of the current online mentoring website by deriving what should be improved through assessment and reflecting it to system improvement. The related data such as search log and Think Aloud were collected from user groups (9 users in total), and usability was tested according to the predefined test procedures. The collected data were analyzed, using quantitative methods. In terms of search log, the related items including effectiveness, efficiency, satisfaction and error were quantified according to usability testing standards. Then, descriptive statistics was performed. According to usability comparison before and after system improvement, it has mostly improved such as improved effectiveness (increase by 15 points), better efficiency (reduction by 41 seconds), increase in satisfaction (by 8 points) and decrease in error frequency (decrease by 1.2 times). Usability testing should be viewed as a process, not outcome itself. Therefore, it could be used during system prototype in addition to the current system and useful in system improvement

Black Hairy Tongue Associated with Erlotinib Treatment in a Patient with Advanced Lung Cancer

Erlotinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that acts on the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). There have been many reports of the mucocutaneous side effects related to several EGFR inhibitors (EGFRIs). However, no case of black hairy tongue (BHT) associated with EGFRI has been reported. Herein, we report the first case of erlotinib-induced BHT in a 61-year-old man with advanced lung cancer. Considering recent use of EGFRIs worldwide, dermatologists should recognize the possible occurrence of BHT associated with EGFRIs such as erlotinib

A genome-wide Asian genetic map and ethnic comparison: The GENDISCAN study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Genetic maps provide specific positions of genetic markers, which are required for performing genetic studies. Linkage analyses of Asian families have been performed with Caucasian genetic maps, since appropriate genetic maps of Asians were not available. Different ethnic groups may have different recombination rates as a result of genomic variations, which would generate misspecification of the genetic map and reduce the power of linkage analyses.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We constructed the genetic map of a Mongolian population in Asia with CRIMAP software. This new map, called the GENDISCAN map, is based on genotype data collected from 1026 individuals of 73 large Mongolian families, and includes 1790 total and 1500 observable meioses. The GENDISCAN map provides sex-averaged and sex-specific genetic positions of 1039 microsatellite markers in Kosambi centimorgans (cM) with physical positions. We also determined 95% confidence intervals of genetic distances of the adjacent marker intervals.</p> <p>Genetic lengths of the whole genome, chromosomes and adjacent marker intervals are compared with those of Rutgers Map v.2, which was constructed based on Caucasian populations (Centre d'Etudes du Polymorphisme Humain (CEPH) and Icelandic families) by mapping methods identical to those of the GENDISCAN map, CRIMAP software and the Kosambi map function. Mongolians showed approximately 1.9 fewer recombinations per meiosis than Caucasians. As a result, genetic lengths of the whole genome and chromosomes of the GENDISCAN map are shorter than those of Rutgers Map v.2. Thirty-eight marker intervals differed significantly between the Mongolian and Caucasian genetic maps.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The new GENDISCAN map is applicable to the genetic study of Asian populations. Differences in the genetic distances between the GENDISCAN and Caucasian maps could facilitate elucidation of genomic variations between different ethnic groups.</p

Reactive oxygen species and p47phox activation are essential for the Mycobacterium tuberculosis-induced pro-inflammatory response in murine microglia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Activated microglia elicits a robust amount of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which are implicated in the pathogenesis of tuberculosis in the central nervous system (CNS). However, little is known about the intracellular signaling mechanisms governing these inflammatory responses in microglia in response to <it>Mycobacterium tuberculosis </it>(Mtb).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Murine microglial BV-2 cells and primary mixed glial cells were stimulated with sonicated Mtb (s-Mtb). Intracellular ROS levels were measured by staining with oxidative fluorescent dyes [2',7'-Dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (H₂DCFDA) and dihydroethidium (DHE)]. NADPH oxidase activities were measured by lucigenin chemiluminescence assay. S-Mtb-induced MAPK activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine release in microglial cells were measured using by Western blot analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We demonstrate that s-Mtb promotes the up-regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the rapid activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), including p38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2, as well as the secretion of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-12p40 in murine microglial BV-2 cells and primary mixed glial cells. Both NADPH oxidase and mitochondrial electron transfer chain subunit I play an indispensable role in s-Mtb-induced MAPK activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine production in BV-2 cells and mixed glial cells. Furthermore, the activation of cytosolic NADPH oxidase p47phox and MAPKs (p38 and ERK1/2) is mutually dependent on s-Mtb-induced inflammatory signaling in murine microglia. Neither TLR2 nor dectin-1 was involved in s-Mtb-induced inflammatory responses in murine microglia.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These data collectively demonstrate that s-Mtb actively induces the pro-inflammatory response in microglia through NADPH oxidase-dependent ROS generation, although the specific pattern-recognition receptors involved in these responses remain to be identified.</p

Triage results of children who visited the emergency department via emergency medical service providers: an observational study in a regional emergency medical center

Purpose We aimed to investigate the triage results and the degree of agreement between prehospital and hospital stages of pediatric patients who visited the emergency department (ED) via emergency medical service providers (EMSP) in comparison with adult patients. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 8,152 pediatric patients who visited a regional emergency medical center ED via EMSP from January 2015 to December 2015. Pediatric patients were defined as younger than 15 years according to the Korean Triage and Acuity Scale (KTAS). Given the difference of the triage tools of the prehospital (EMSP) and hospital (KTAS) stages, we performed the re-triage into “critical” and “non-critical”. Comparisons of characteristics between pediatric and adult patients were made using chi-square tests. The degree of agreement between the tools was analyzed using κanalysis. Results Of 8,152 patients, 654 (8.0%) were pediatric patients. Direct medical control was more frequently performed to adult patients (P < 0.001). Critical patients were more common among adults (12.2% by KTAS, 24.8% by EMSP) than children (3.5% by KTAS, 14.1% by EMSP). The κ value of pediatric patients was lower than that of adult patients (0.09 [poor]; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.01-0.18 vs. 0.38 [fair]; 95% CI, 0.35-0.40). Conclusion Pediatric patients transferred by EMSP showed lower severity and degree of agreements of the triage results between prehospital and hospital stages than adult patients. It is necessary to pay particular attention to pediatric triage in a pre-hospital setting