Hospital Staff and Patient Recognition Toward Opening of Medical Services Market, and Factors in Selecting a Foreign Hospital

PURPOSE: The objectives of this study are to compare the hospital employees' and patients' recognition and attitudes toward the opening of the medical services market, to analyze the differences between hospital employees and patients on the factors in selecting a foreign hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study collected and analyzed data using systematic questionnaires that were self-administered by employees and outpatients to compare their recognition of the opening of the medical services market and the factors involved in selecting a foreign hospital. RESULTS: Employees exhibited a higher level of recognition than the patients. Reasons for agreement were to ensure the right of selection for both the employees and patients. Reasons for disagreement, however, were split between the two groups: degraded public characteristics of medical services, for employees; and expensive medical fees, for patients. The most urgent task to prepare for the opening of the medical services market is the improvement of the diagnosis and treatment technologies for employees, and improvement of the services provided by hospital staff for patients. CONCLUSION: Korean hospitals shall need to improve their diagnosis and treatment technologies and provide medical services of high quality in order to compete with foreign hospitals.ope

Silicon Retinal Tack for the Epiretinal Fixation of the Polyimide Electrode Array

Silicon-micromachined retinal tacks were developed for the fixation of the epiretinal-type retina-stimulating microelectrode array. Silicon retinal tacks were fabricated by using the silicon on insulator (SOI) process, a method of releasing silicon structures in a SOI wafer. The dimensions of the retinal tack were substantially smaller than those of the conventional titanium tack, at 1.5 mm long, 150 lm wide, and 150 lm thick. To enhance the durability and biocompatibility of the retinal tack, 3 lm-thick parylene film was uniformly deposited on the entire surfaces. Short-term evaluation of the durability of the silicon retinal tack in vivo showed acceptable biocompatibility and firm fixation of the microelectrode array onto the retina.This paper was supported by the Nano Bioelectronics and Systems Research Center of Seoul National University, which is an ERC supported by the Korean Science and Engineering Foundation (KOSEF)

The Role of Interleukin-22 and Its Receptor in the Development and Pathogenesis of Experimental Autoimmune Uveitis

<div><p>IL-22 is a pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine that is mainly produced by T cells and NK cells. Recent studies have reported the increased number of IL-22 producing T cells in patients with autoimmune noninfectious uveitis; however, the correlation between IL-22 and uveitis remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to determine the specific role of IL-22 and its receptor in the pathogenesis of uveitis. Serum concentration of IL-22 was significantly increased in uveitis patients. IL-22Rα was expressed in the retinal pigment epithelial cell line, ARPE-19. To examine the effect of IL-22, ARPE-19 was treated with recombinant IL-22. The proliferation of ARPE-19 and the production of monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 from ARPE-19 were clearly elevated. IL-22 induced MCP-1 which facilitated the migration of inflammatory cells. Moreover, IL-22 increased the IL-22Rα expression in ARPE-19 through the activation of PI3K/Akt. Experimental animal models of uveitis induced by interphotoreceptor retinoid binding protein 1–20 (IRBP_1-20) exhibited elevation of hyperplasia RPE and IL-22 production. When CD4⁺ T cells from the uveitis patients were stimulated with IRBP_1-20, the production of IL-22 definitely increased. In addition, we examine the regulatory role of cysteamine, which has an anti-inflammatory role in the cornea, in uveitis through the down-regulation of IL-22Rα expression. Cysteamine effectively suppressed the IRBP_1-20-induced IL-22Rα expression and prevented the development of IRBP_1-20-induced uveitis in the experimental animal model. These finding suggest that IL-22 and its receptor have a crucial role in the development and pathogenesis of uveitis by facilitating inflammatory cell infiltration, and that cysteamine may be a useful therapeutic drug in treating uveitis by down-regulating IL-22Rα expression in RPE.</p></div