1.Translation and psychometric evaluation of the Korean version of the fertility awareness and attitudes towards parenthood questionnaire
Hyewon SHIN ; Minjoo HONG ; Minjeong JO ; Jungmin LEE
Child Health Nursing Research 2021;27(3):256-265
Purpose:
This study presents a translation, cultural adaptation, and psychometric evaluation of two instruments of the Fertility Awareness and Attitudes Towards Parenthood (FAAP) questionnaire (Conditions and Life changes) for use in South Korea.
Methods:
This methodological study included 166 university students for psychometric evaluation in the sixth step. The first five steps included forward translation, backward translation, committee review, assessment of content validity, and a pre-test. In the sixth step, psychometric properties, including internal consistency, construct validity, and criterion validity, were evaluated. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were conducted to identify the structure of the tool and to assess its validity.
Results:
The Korean version showed acceptable internal consistency. Cronbach's ⍺ was .73 for FAAPC-conditions and .83 for FAAP-Life changes. FAAP-Conditions showed a four-factor structure (social conditions, relationship with partner, external environment, and child-rearing support) and FAAP-Life changes had a two-factor structure (reward and burden). In the confirmatory analysis, CMIN/DF, TLI, IFI, SRMR, CFI, and RMSEA were satisfactory.
Conclusion
This study provided preliminary evidence of the acceptability, reliability, and validity of the Korean version of the FAAP questionnaire in university students in South Korea. Nonetheless, further evaluation among Korean young adults is warranted to validate this instrument.
2.Attitudes towards Parenthood and Fertility Awareness in Female and Male University Students in South Korea
Hyewon SHIN ; Jungmin LEE ; Shin Jeong KIM ; Minjeong JO
Child Health Nursing Research 2020;26(3):329-337
Purpose:
This study investigated intentions and attitudes towards future parenthood and awareness of fertility among university students in South Korea.
Methods:
The participants comprised 166 female and male undergraduate students enrolled at five universities. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from May to July 2019 using the Korean version of the Fertility Awareness Questionnaire and Attitudes of Parenthood. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics based on participants' general characteristics, the x2 test to identify differences in intentions, and the t-test to evaluate attitudes towards parenthood and awareness of fertility in female and male students.
Results:
Both female and male students desired to have two children, but they lacked awareness about fertility. The possibility of combining work and having children, along with the availability of childcare resources, impacted the desire for parenthood. Male students tended to consider parenthood as less impactful on their lives and careers than female students. Social structures might also impact the decision to have children.
Conclusion
It is important to provide health education emphasizing fertility awareness and parenthood in young adulthood so participants can consider these facts in advance. In addition, the government should provide resources for couples making parenthood decisions.
3.Genetic heterogeneity of liver cancer stem cells
Minjeong KIM ; Kwang-Woo JO ; Hyojin KIM ; Myoung-Eun HAN ; Sae-Ock OH
Anatomy & Cell Biology 2023;56(1):94-108
Cancer cell heterogeneity is a serious problem in the control of tumor progression because it can cause chemoresistance and metastasis. Heterogeneity can be generated by various mechanisms, including genetic evolution of cancer cells, cancer stem cells (CSCs), and niche heterogeneity. Because the genetic heterogeneity of CSCs has been poorly characterized, the genetic mutation status of CSCs was examined using Exome-Seq and RNA-Seq data of liver cancer.Here we show that different surface markers for liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs) showed a unique propensity for genetic mutations. Cluster of differentiation 133 (CD133)-positive cells showed frequent mutations in the IRF2, BAP1, and ERBB3 genes. However, leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 5-positive cells showed frequent mutations in the CTNNB1, RELN, and ROBO1 genes. In addition, some genetic mutations were frequently observed irrespective of the surface markers for LCSCs. BAP1 mutations was frequently observed in CD133-, CD24-, CD13-, CD90-, epithelial cell adhesion molecule-, or keratin 19-positive LCSCs. ASXL2, ERBB3, IRF2, TLX3, CPS1, and NFATC2 mutations were observed in more than three types of LCSCs, suggesting that common mechanisms for the development of these LCSCs. The present study provides genetic heterogeneity depending on the surface markers for LCSCs. The genetic heterogeneity of LCSCs should be considered in the development of LCSC-targeting therapeutics.
4.Benzydamine inhibits osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption down-regulation of interleukin-1 expression.
Han Saem SON ; Jiae LEE ; Hye In LEE ; Narae KIM ; You-Jin JO ; Gong-Rak LEE ; Seong-Eun HONG ; Minjeong KWON ; Nam Young KIM ; Hyun Jin KIM ; Jin Ha PARK ; Soo Young LEE ; Woojin JEONG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2020;10(3):462-474
Bone diseases such as osteoporosis and periodontitis are induced by excessive osteoclastic activity, which is closely associated with inflammation. Benzydamine (BA) has been used as a cytokine-suppressive or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that inhibits the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines or prostaglandins. However, its role in osteoclast differentiation and function remains unknown. Here, we explored the role of BA in regulating osteoclast differentiation and elucidated the underlying mechanism. BA inhibited osteoclast differentiation and strongly suppressed interleukin-1 (IL-1) production. BA inhibited osteoclast formation and bone resorption when added to bone marrow-derived macrophages and differentiated osteoclasts, and the inhibitory effect was reversed by IL-1 treatment. The reporter assay and the inhibitor study of IL-1 transcription suggested that BA inhibited nuclear factor-B and activator protein-1 by regulating IB kinase, extracellular signal regulated kinase and P38, resulting in the down-regulation of IL-1 expression. BA also promoted osteoblast differentiation. Furthermore, BA protected lipopolysaccharide- and ovariectomy-induced bone loss in mice, suggesting therapeutic potential against inflammation-induced bone diseases and postmenopausal osteoporosis.