We evaluated the effect of the pregnane X receptor agonist, pregnenolone 16 alpha-carbonitrile (PCN) on the expression levels of plasma monoamine transporter (PMAT) in the intestine. Male C57/BL6 mice were divided into two 2 groups: mice in the PCN group (n=3) were administered PCN once a day for 4 days, while those in the control group (n=3) received the same volume of vehicle once a day for 4 days. After the mice were killed 24 h after administration of the last dose of PCN or vehicle, and the expression levels of PMAT in the intestine tissues were isolated and measured the expression level of PMAT using immunohistochemical and western blotting analyses. The expression level of PMAT expression levels in the small intestine increased after PCN treatment. These results suggest that the induction of PMAT may play a clinically significant role by increasing intestinal absorption of PMAT substrates such as metformin.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Membrane* ; Humans ; Intestinal Absorption ; Intestine, Small ; Intestines ; Male ; Metformin ; Mice ; Plasma ; Pregnenolone Carbonitrile

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to explore the levels of self-awareness, assertiveness, life stress, and empathy in nursing students and identify influential factors on empathy. METHODS: A predictive correlational design was used. The data was collected by questionnaires from a convenience sample of 319 nursing students in 2014 in Korea. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS: The mean items scores of self-awareness, assertiveness, life stress, and empathy were 3.49, 3.02, 2.20 and 3.58, respectively, of a possible score ranging from 1 to 5. Empathy significantly differed by gender, grade, satisfaction with nursing as a major, and clinical practice experience. Empathy was correlated with self-awareness and interpersonal relationship stress. As a result of multiple regression analysis, empathy accounted for 20.1% of the variance by self-awareness, gender, clinical practice experience and interpersonal relationship stress. The most important factor was self-awareness, which explained 11.6% of the variation. CONCLUSION: The results of the study reveal that strengthening self-awareness and relieving interpersonal relationship stress ought to be integrated in developing effective educational intervention for enhancing empathy in nursing students.
Assertiveness ; Empathy* ; Humans ; Korea ; Nursing ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Stress, Psychological ; Students, Nursing*

PURPOSE: This was a methodological study that aimed to develop a measurement scale for aging anxiety among middle-aged women. METHODS: In this study, construct factors were extracted, and a conceptual framework was established through an extensive literature review and in-depth interviews with middle-aged women. Under the conceptual framework, 44 preliminary items were constructed, and a preliminary scale of 25 items was completed after two rounds of expert validation and item review. For this study, data were collected from 201 women aged 40~59 years, and the construct validity and reliability of the preliminary scale were verified. RESULTS: To verify the construct validity, exploratory factor analysis was conducted. Four factors containing 19 items were extracted. Concurrent validity of the developed scale was verified with Pearson's correlation analysis. The final scale comprised 4 factors ("Social valueless", "Physical weakness", "Concern about changes in appearance", and "Expectations of old age") and 19 items. The Cronbach's α value was .91. CONCLUSION: The scale for measuring aging anxiety in middle-aged women developed in this study validly reflected the peculiarities of aging anxiety in middle-aged women, who experience many physical, emotional, and social changes. The scale can be said to reflect the cultural background, as it reflected real experiences gained through in-depth interviews with middle-aged women.
Aging ; Anxiety ; Female ; Humans ; Methods ; Reproducibility of Results ; Social Change

Sleep is essential to brain function and mental health. Insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are the two most common sleep disorders, and are major public health concerns. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) is a non-invasive method of quantifying neurometabolite concentrations. Therefore, 1H-MRS studies on individuals with sleep disorders may enhance our understanding of the pathophysiology of these disorders. In this article, we reviewed 1H-MRS studies in insomnia and OSA that reported changes in neurometabolite concentrations. Previous studies have consistently reported insomnia-related reductions in γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels in the frontal and occipital regions, which suggest that changes in GABA are important to the etiology of insomnia. These results may support the hyperarousal theory that insomnia is associated with increased cognitive and physiological arousal. In addition, the severity of insomnia was associated with low glutamate and glutamine levels. Previous studies of OSA have consistently reported reduced N-acetylaspartate (NAA) levels in the frontal, parietooccipital, and temporal regions. In addition, OSA was associated with increased myo-inositol levels. These results may provide evidence that intermittent hypoxia induced by OSA may result in neuronal damage in the brain, which can be related to neurocognitive dysfunction in patients with OSA. The current review summarizes findings related to neurochemical changes in insomnia and OSA. Future well-designed studies using 1H-MRS have the potential to enhance our understanding of the pathophysiology of sleep disorders including insomnia and OSA.

Sleep is essential to brain function and mental health. Insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are the two most common sleep disorders, and are major public health concerns. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) is a non-invasive method of quantifying neurometabolite concentrations. Therefore, 1H-MRS studies on individuals with sleep disorders may enhance our understanding of the pathophysiology of these disorders. In this article, we reviewed 1H-MRS studies in insomnia and OSA that reported changes in neurometabolite concentrations. Previous studies have consistently reported insomnia-related reductions in γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels in the frontal and occipital regions, which suggest that changes in GABA are important to the etiology of insomnia. These results may support the hyperarousal theory that insomnia is associated with increased cognitive and physiological arousal. In addition, the severity of insomnia was associated with low glutamate and glutamine levels. Previous studies of OSA have consistently reported reduced N-acetylaspartate (NAA) levels in the frontal, parietooccipital, and temporal regions. In addition, OSA was associated with increased myo-inositol levels. These results may provide evidence that intermittent hypoxia induced by OSA may result in neuronal damage in the brain, which can be related to neurocognitive dysfunction in patients with OSA. The current review summarizes findings related to neurochemical changes in insomnia and OSA. Future well-designed studies using 1H-MRS have the potential to enhance our understanding of the pathophysiology of sleep disorders including insomnia and OSA.

PURPOSE: This was a methodological study that aimed to develop a measurement scale for aging anxiety among middle-aged women. METHODS: In this study, construct factors were extracted, and a conceptual framework was established through an extensive literature review and in-depth interviews with middle-aged women. Under the conceptual framework, 44 preliminary items were constructed, and a preliminary scale of 25 items was completed after two rounds of expert validation and item review. For this study, data were collected from 201 women aged 40~59 years, and the construct validity and reliability of the preliminary scale were verified. RESULTS: To verify the construct validity, exploratory factor analysis was conducted. Four factors containing 19 items were extracted. Concurrent validity of the developed scale was verified with Pearson's correlation analysis. The final scale comprised 4 factors ("Social valueless", "Physical weakness", "Concern about changes in appearance", and "Expectations of old age") and 19 items. The Cronbach's α value was .91. CONCLUSION The scale for measuring aging anxiety in middle-aged women developed in this study validly reflected the peculiarities of aging anxiety in middle-aged women, who experience many physical, emotional, and social changes. The scale can be said to reflect the cultural background, as it reflected real experiences gained through in-depth interviews with middle-aged women.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the actor and partner effects of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination knowledge, health beliefs, and self-efficacy on parental intentions to vaccinate adolescent sons against HPV. Methods: The participants were 191 couples who met the eligibility criteria. Data were collected from June 2024 through internet communities in Gyeongsangnam Province. The actor-partner interdependence model was used to analyze the parent's actor and partner effects of HPV vaccination knowledge, health beliefs, and self-efficacy on parents' intentions to vaccinate their adolescent sons against HPV. Results: The actor effects of fathers' intentions to vaccinate their adolescent sons against HPV were perceived benefits and self-efficacy; however, the partner effect was not significant. The actor effects of mothers' intentions to vaccinate their adolescent sons against HPV were perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, and self-efficacy, and the partner effects were fathers' perceived severity and benefits. Conclusion This study indicates that fathers' intentions to vaccinate their adolescent sons against HPV may play an essential role in increasing HPV vaccination rates among adolescent sons.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the actor and partner effects of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination knowledge, health beliefs, and self-efficacy on parental intentions to vaccinate adolescent sons against HPV. Methods: The participants were 191 couples who met the eligibility criteria. Data were collected from June 2024 through internet communities in Gyeongsangnam Province. The actor-partner interdependence model was used to analyze the parent's actor and partner effects of HPV vaccination knowledge, health beliefs, and self-efficacy on parents' intentions to vaccinate their adolescent sons against HPV. Results: The actor effects of fathers' intentions to vaccinate their adolescent sons against HPV were perceived benefits and self-efficacy; however, the partner effect was not significant. The actor effects of mothers' intentions to vaccinate their adolescent sons against HPV were perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, and self-efficacy, and the partner effects were fathers' perceived severity and benefits. Conclusion This study indicates that fathers' intentions to vaccinate their adolescent sons against HPV may play an essential role in increasing HPV vaccination rates among adolescent sons.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the actor and partner effects of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination knowledge, health beliefs, and self-efficacy on parental intentions to vaccinate adolescent sons against HPV. Methods: The participants were 191 couples who met the eligibility criteria. Data were collected from June 2024 through internet communities in Gyeongsangnam Province. The actor-partner interdependence model was used to analyze the parent's actor and partner effects of HPV vaccination knowledge, health beliefs, and self-efficacy on parents' intentions to vaccinate their adolescent sons against HPV. Results: The actor effects of fathers' intentions to vaccinate their adolescent sons against HPV were perceived benefits and self-efficacy; however, the partner effect was not significant. The actor effects of mothers' intentions to vaccinate their adolescent sons against HPV were perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, and self-efficacy, and the partner effects were fathers' perceived severity and benefits. Conclusion This study indicates that fathers' intentions to vaccinate their adolescent sons against HPV may play an essential role in increasing HPV vaccination rates among adolescent sons.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the actor and partner effects of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination knowledge, health beliefs, and self-efficacy on parental intentions to vaccinate adolescent sons against HPV. Methods: The participants were 191 couples who met the eligibility criteria. Data were collected from June 2024 through internet communities in Gyeongsangnam Province. The actor-partner interdependence model was used to analyze the parent's actor and partner effects of HPV vaccination knowledge, health beliefs, and self-efficacy on parents' intentions to vaccinate their adolescent sons against HPV. Results: The actor effects of fathers' intentions to vaccinate their adolescent sons against HPV were perceived benefits and self-efficacy; however, the partner effect was not significant. The actor effects of mothers' intentions to vaccinate their adolescent sons against HPV were perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, and self-efficacy, and the partner effects were fathers' perceived severity and benefits. Conclusion This study indicates that fathers' intentions to vaccinate their adolescent sons against HPV may play an essential role in increasing HPV vaccination rates among adolescent sons.