Purpose: This study was conducted to develop, validate, and assess the reliability of a questionnaire for nutritional literacy among young Korean adults. Methods: The draft questionnaire contained 65 items in 7 domains (i.e., dietary guideline, nutrition and health, nutrients, 5 food groups [food bicycle], nutrition labeling, portion size, and nutrition management for disease prevention). The authors developed a draft questionnaire based on a literature review. After multiple drafts, 52 items were retained and 13 were eliminated in the 7 domains according to professional advice from 5 nutrition experts. A panel of experts (n = 20) comprised of clinical dietitians and nutrition professors completed the content validity assessment, including quantitative and qualitative feedback. As the results, all items of the portion size were eliminated from the questionnaire. A sample of 211 young adults completed the test-retest reliability assessment. Test-retest reliability was evaluated using intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and inter-item reliability by Cronbach α coefficient. Results: The final questionnaire contained 30 items with 5 questions each on the dietary guideline, nutrition and health, nutrients, 5 food groups (food bicycle), nutrition labeling, and nutrition management for disease prevention. The Lawshe content validity ratio for domains ranged from 0.60 to 1.00. The ICC scores for questions ranged from 0.64 to 0.86. Cronbach's α for domains ranged from 0.83 to 0.90 and for the overall questionnaire was 0.87. Conclusion The questionnaire showed strong content validity, test-retest reliability, and high inter-item reliability, indicating that it is a useful tool for assessing nutritional literacy of young adults.

RSK2, also known as RPS6KA3 (ribosomal protein S6 kinase, 90 kDa, polypeptide 3), is a downstream kinase of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, which is important in regulating survival, transcription, growth and proliferation. However, its biological role in mitotic progression is not well understood. In this study, we examined the potential involvement of RSK2 in the regulation of mitotic progression. Interestingly, depletion of RSK2, but not RSK1, caused the accumulation of mitotic cells. Time-lapse analysis revealed that mitotic duration, particularly the duration for metaphase-to-anaphase transition was prolonged in RSK2-depleted cells, suggesting activation of spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC). Indeed, more BubR1 (Bub1-related kinase) was present on metaphase plate kinetochores in RSK2-depleted cells, and depletion of BubR1 abolished the mitotic accumulation caused by RSK2 depletion, confirming BubR1-dependent SAC activation. Along with the shortening of inter-kinetochore distance, these data suggested that weakening of the tension across sister kinetochores by RSK2 depletion led to the activation of SAC. To test this, we analyzed the RSK2 effects on the stability of kinetochore–microtubule interactions, and found that RSK2-depleted cells formed less kinetochore–microtubule fibers. Moreover, RSK2 depletion resulted in the decrease of basal level of microtubule as well as an irregular distribution of mitotic spindles, which might lead to observed several mitotic progression defects such as increase in unaligned chromosomes, defects in chromosome congression and a decrease in pole-to-pole distance in these cells. Taken together, our data reveal that RSK2 affects mitotic progression by regulating the distribution, basal level and the stability of mitotic spindles.
Humans ; Kinetochores ; M Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Metaphase ; Microtubules ; Phosphotransferases ; Protein Kinases ; Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases ; Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 90-kDa* ; Siblings ; Spindle Apparatus*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although the thyroid cancer occurs in every one of 1000 pregnant women, the optimal timing of surgery is still uncertain. The aim of this study is to propose the timing of surgical management of papillary thyroid cancer in pregnant woman. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors reviewed the medical records of papillary thyroid cancer patients diagnosed during pregnancy in our hospital from May 1st, 2013 to April 30th, 2015. We analyzed the changes of radiologic and pathologic findings during prenatal and postpartum period. RESULTS: 17 of 4978 patients were diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer. 10 of 17 patients enrolled in this study. Each size of thyroid cancer in 1st trimester, in 2nd trimester, in 3rd trimester, and after delivery was 11.30±6.01 mm, 12.74±7.79 mm, 13.82±9.93 mm, and 13.82±8.19 mm, respectively. No patient showed the recurrence or death after surgery. CONCLUSION: There was no statistical significance on the prognosis of papillary thyroid cancer during prenatal and postpartum period. The authors propose that the surgical treatment of papillary thyroid cancer diagnosed during pregnancy could be delayed after delivery.
Female ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although the thyroid cancer occurs in every one of 1000 pregnant women, the optimal timing of surgery is still uncertain. The aim of this study is to propose the timing of surgical management of papillary thyroid cancer in pregnant woman. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors reviewed the medical records of papillary thyroid cancer patients diagnosed during pregnancy in our hospital from May 1st, 2013 to April 30th, 2015. We analyzed the changes of radiologic and pathologic findings during prenatal and postpartum period. RESULTS: 17 of 4978 patients were diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer. 10 of 17 patients enrolled in this study. Each size of thyroid cancer in 1st trimester, in 2nd trimester, in 3rd trimester, and after delivery was 11.30±6.01 mm, 12.74±7.79 mm, 13.82±9.93 mm, and 13.82±8.19 mm, respectively. No patient showed the recurrence or death after surgery. CONCLUSION: There was no statistical significance on the prognosis of papillary thyroid cancer during prenatal and postpartum period. The authors propose that the surgical treatment of papillary thyroid cancer diagnosed during pregnancy could be delayed after delivery.
Female ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms*

In this study, we evaluated the antioxidant activity of pine needle extracts prepared with hot water, ethanol, hexane, hot water-hexane (HWH), and hot water-ethanol (HWE), using the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical method. The hot water extract possessed superior antioxidant activity than the other extracts. We also compared the antioxidant activity of pine needle extracts through ROS inhibition activity in a cellular system using MC3T3 E-1 cells. The hot water extract exhibited the lowest ROS production. The pattern of HPLC analysis of each extract indicated that the hot water extract contained the highest proanthocyanidin level. The pine needle hot-water extract was then isolated and fractionated with Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography to determine the major contributor to its antioxidant activity. The No.7 and 12 fractions had high antioxidant activities, that is, the highest contents of proanthocyanidins and catechins, respectively. These results indicate that the antioxidant activity of procyanidins from the hot water extract of pine needles is positively related to not only polymeric proanthocyanidins but also to monomeric catechins. Moreover, the antioxidant activity of the pine needle hot water extract was similar to well-known antioxidants, such as vitamin C. This suggests that pine needle proanthocyanidins and catechins might be of interest for use as alternative antioxidants.
Antioxidants ; Ascorbic Acid ; Catechin ; Chromatography ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Dextrans ; Ethanol ; Needles ; Polymers ; Proanthocyanidins ; Water

BACKGROUND: The hypoglycemic drugs dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors have proven protective effects on diabetic kidney disease, including renal fibrosis. Although NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation is known to play an important role in the progression of renal fibrosis, the impact of DPP-4 inhibition on NLRP3-mediated inflammation while ameliorating renal fibrosis has not been fully elucidated. Here, we report that the renoprotective effect of gemigliptin is associated with a reduction in NLRP3-mediated inflammation in a murine model of renal fibrosis.METHODS: We examined the effects of gemigliptin on renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis induced in mice by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). Using immunohistochemical and Western blot analysis, we quantitated components of the NLRP3 inflammasome in kidneys with and without gemigliptin treatment, and in vitro in human kidney tubular epithelial human renal proximal tubule cells (HK-2) cells, we further analyzed the effect of gemigliptin on transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)-stimulated production of profibrotic proteins.RESULTS: Immunohistological examination revealed that gemigliptin ameliorated UUO-induced tubular atrophy and renal fibrosis. Gemigliptin-treated kidneys showed a reduction in levels of NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC), caspase-1, and interleukin-1β, which had all been markedly increased by UUO. In line with thein vivoresults, TGF-β markedly increased NLRP3 inflammasome markers, which were attenuated by gemigliptin treatment. Furthermore, gemigliptin treatment attenuated phosphorylated nuclear factor-κB levels, which had been increased in the UUO kidney as well as in TGF-β-treated cultured renal cells.CONCLUSION: The present study shows that activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome contributes to UUO-induced renal fibrosis and the renoprotective effect of gemigliptin is associated with attenuation of NLRP3 inflammasome activation.
Animals ; Atrophy ; Blotting, Western ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors ; Down-Regulation ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; In Vitro Techniques ; Inflammasomes ; Inflammation ; Kidney ; Mice ; Ureteral Obstruction

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Bone formation and bone resorption continuously occur in bone tissue to prevent the accumulation of old bone, this being called bone remodeling. Osteoblasts especially play a crucial role in bone formation through the differentiation and proliferation. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effects of Scytosiphon lomentaria extract (SLE) on osteoblastic proliferation and differentiation in MC3T3-E1 cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: A cell proliferation assay, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity assay, alizarin red staining and protein expression analysis of osteoblastic genes were carried out to assess the osteoblastic proliferation and differentiation. RESULTS: The results indicated that treatment of SLE promoted the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells and improved ALP activity. And, SLE treatment significantly promoted mineralized nodule formation compared with control. In addition, cells treated with SLE significantly upregulated protein expression of ALP, type 1 collagen, bone morphogenetic protein 2, runt-related transcription factor 2, osterix, and osteoprotegerin. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate that SLE promote differentiation inducement and proliferation of osteoblasts and, therefore may help to elucidate the transcriptional mechanism of bone formation and possibly lead to the development of bone-forming drugs.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Bone and Bones ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 ; Bone Remodeling ; Bone Resorption ; Cell Proliferation ; Collagen Type I ; Osteoblasts* ; Osteogenesis ; Osteoprotegerin ; Transcription Factors