Objectives: This study aims to suggest ways to improve the oral care competencies of caregivers by strengthening oral care services for the elderly with mobility difficulties in long-term care facilities. Methods: Through a web survey, 215 caregivers were invited, their actual situation was identified, and necessary educational tasks were listed. We developed 16 types of card news, two types of songs, and four types of video clips that can be used in the field for the listed educational topics. Several meetings with expert developers resulted in developing the components and design of an oral health management platform for caregivers in long-term care facilities. Results: As a result of the web survey, many caregivers in long-term care facilities needed education or information on oral care methods, and many people felt difficulties in oral care for the elderly. About 40% of the caregivers had no experience in oral health education, and many learned how to care through unsystematic apprenticeships. Most of the education content that caregivers prioritized were brushing teeth and denture management, but there were also needs such as management of dementia and bedridden patients, non-cooperative oral care, nutrition management, and oral auxiliary products use. Conclusions In conclusion, this study reviewed and suggested digital platforms such as strengthening caregivers’ competency in long-term care facilities, providing customized educational information, discovering oral problems of the elderly, and reporting oral difficulties to experts.

Objectives: This study aims to explore the experience of caregivers in oral health care of the elderly in long-term care facilities, identify the problems, and collect opinions, and to seek improvement directions for strengthening competency and improving services of oral health care for the elderly. Methods: Data on the experience in oral health care of the elderly were collected through focus group interviews (FGI) targeting caregivers in long-term care facilities. The grounded theory method was used. The interview content was categorized by open coding, and a paradigm model was presented by identifying the relationship between the categories through axial coding. Selective coding found core categories. Results: As a result of categorizing the caregivers’ oral care experience of the elderly, 15 categories, 40 sub-categories, and 125 concept/phenomena codes were derived. The central phenomenon was the difficulty of implementing sustainable oral health care. The deterioration of the mental and physical functions of the elderly, the work characteristics of caregivers, and the lack of linkage with internal and external resources of the facility acted as causal conditions for the central phenomenon. The caregiver’s oral health education experience acted as an intervening condition. In an effort to improve the problem, an interaction strategy was derived. Conclusions It is possible to seek delivery of sustainable oral health care services by caregivers by improving the quality of oral health education and establishing an oral health care service system for the elderly.

Staphylococcus aureus is now a major community-acquired pathogen worldwide, notably associated with skin and soft tissue infections. Staphylococci are present in the form of colonizers or environmental contaminants at home and increase the risk of recurrent infection. We are describing recurrent familial furunculosis caused by Panton-Valentine Leukocidin-positive methicillin susceptible S. aureus ST1 in Korea. An infant, his father and mother had furunculosis due to methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) infection with identical susceptibility patterns. ST1 accounted for all 3 isolates and they were confirmed of having agr group I. Both sec and seh were detected in all isolates using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays, and all isolates contained Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) genes. Risk factors for the household spread of S. aureus include skin conditions and close physical contact among household members. The relationship between S. aureus colonization of household contacts and the occurrence of S. aureus infection should be studied into more detail.
Colon ; Family Characteristics ; Fathers ; Furunculosis ; Humans ; Infant ; Korea ; Leukocidins ; Methicillin ; Mothers ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Risk Factors ; Skin ; Soft Tissue Infections ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Staphylococcus

In 2005, the International Council for Harmonization (ICH) established cardiotoxicity assessment guidelines to identify the risk of Torsade de Pointes (TdP). It is focused on the blockade of the human ether-à-go-go-related gene (hERG) channel known to cause QT/QTc prolongation and the QT/QTc prolongation shown on the electrocardiogram. However, these biomarkers are not the direct risks of TdP with low specificity as the action potential is influenced by multiple channels along with the hERG channel. Comprehensive in vitro Proarrhythmia Assay (CiPA) initiative emerged to address limitations of the current model. The objective of CiPA is to develop a standardized in silico model of a human ventricular cell to quantitively evaluate the cardiac response for the cardiac toxicity risk and to come up with a metric for the TdP risk assessment. In silico working group under CiPA developed a standardized and reliable in silico model and a metric that can quantitatively evaluate cellular cardiac electrophysiologic activity. The implementation mainly consists of hERG fitting, Hill fitting, and action potential simulation. In this review, we explained how the in silico model of CiPA works, and briefly summarized current overall CiPA studies. We hope this review helps clinical pharmacologists to understand the underlying estimation process of CiPA in silico modeling.
Action Potentials ; Biomarkers ; Cardiotoxicity ; Computer Simulation ; Electrocardiography ; Hope ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Risk Assessment ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Torsades de Pointes

Angiomyofibroblastoma is a rare, benign mesenchymal tumor of the vulva. Since it was described in 1992 by Fletcher, 15 cases have been reported in literature. We recently experienced a recurred angiomyofibroblastoma of the vulva. A 45-year-old woman was presented initially in 1991 with a mass of labium major and local excision of tumor mass had been performed. A histologic diagnosis was made of angiomyxoma, but this diagnosis was revised to angiomyofibroblastoma by the authors. The recurred mass was well circumscribed, measuring 2.5x1.6x1.5cm in dimensions. Microscopically the tumor was characterized by high cellularity, numerous blood vessels(which lack prominent hyalinization), and plump stromal cells. Immunohistochemically, the stromal cells were reactive for vimentin and desmin, but not alpha-smooth muscle actin, or S-100 protein. We thought that this case was a recurred angiomyofibrblastoma of the vulva due to incomplete surgical excision.
Female ; Humans

It has been known that the retromolar foramen is a rare anatomic variation observed in the retromolar triangle, a small triangular shaped region posterior to the mandibular third molar. Due to the neurovascular bundle passing through the retromolar foramen, this anatomical structure must be kept in mind during surgical approaches regarding the retromolar area and mandible. Therefore, the authors investigated the morphology of retromolar triangle and the existence and location of retromolar foramen in Korean. And these results were compared with that of other races. We used 308 sides of 154 Korean dry mandibles, unknown gender and age. The retromolar triangle presented predominantly a triangular shape (84.1%), and the maximum height and width were 13.7 mm and 7.1 mm, respectively. In 144 of the 308 sides, the retromolar foramen was observed (46.8%). The existence of the retromolar foramen was seen the same frequency in both sides, and based on a midsagittal line of the retromolar triangle, the retromolar foramen located in more buccal side (75%) than lingual side. The mean distance between the retromolar foramen and the distal edge of the last tooth were found to be 10.3 mm and 6.9 mm, respectively for the second and third molars. According to the present study, the northeast Asians including Korean population show the highest rate of the incidence of the retromolar foramen than other races. The findings suggest that practitioners should take the retromolar foramen into account in surgical procedures involving the retromolar area to protect the patient from the complications such as bleeding or nerve damage.
Anatomic Variation ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Continental Population Groups ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mandible* ; Molar, Third ; Tooth

Understanding of morphological structures such as the sphenoid spine and pterygoid processes is important during lateral transzygomatic infratemporal fossa approach. In addition, osseous variations such as pterygospinous and pterygoalar bridges are significant in clinical practice because they can produce various neurological disturbances or block the passage of a needle into the trigeminal ganglion through the foramen ovale. Two hundred and eighty-four sides of Korean adult dry skulls were observed to carry out morphometric analysis of the lateral plate of the pterygoid process, to investigate, for the first time among Koreans, the incidence of the pterygospinous and pterygoalar bony bridges, to compare the results with those available for other regional populations, and to discuss their clinical relevance as described on literatures. The mean of maximum widths of the left and right lateral plates of the pterygoid process were 15.99 mm and 16.27 mm, respectively. Also, the mean of maximum heights of the left and right lateral plates were 31.02 mm and 31.01 mm, respectively. The ossified pterygospinous ligament was observed in 51 sides of the skulls (28.0%). Ossification of the pterygospinous ligament was complete in four sides (1.4%). In 47 sides (16.6%), the pterygospinous bridge was incomplete. The ossified pterygoalar ligament was observed in 24 sides of the skulls (8.4%). Ossification was complete in eight sides (2.8%) and incomplete in 16 sides (5.6%). This detailed analysis of the lateral plate of the pterygoid process and related ossification of ligaments can improve the understanding of complex clinical neuralgias associated with this region.
Adult ; Foramen Ovale ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Ligaments ; Needles ; Neuralgia ; Skull* ; Spine ; Trigeminal Ganglion

Objectives: This study is an effectiveness evaluation study of an oral health education program conducted on 30 visiting nurses who participated in the “CHAT-DONG” project in a district of Seoul, Korea. The primary objective of this study is to obtain basic data for the development of an oral healthcare education program for visiting nurses. Methods: To evaluate the effectiveness of the educational program comprising lecture and small group practice training, oral health knowledge, beliefs, awareness, self-efficacy, and oral health status assessment capabilities were assessed before and after the training, using Google online surveys. Finally, data from 22 participants were used for analysis. Results: Overall oral health knowledge improved after the training, however, specific oral disease knowledge was low. There were no significant changes in oral health beliefs and awareness, but there was a significant increase in self-efficacy. The ability to assess oral health status improved a little, however, the ability to express specific oral health conditions was low. This may be owing to the limitations of a one-time training and the inexperience and unfamiliarity of the participants. The participating nurses were highly satisfied with the training program and expressed a strong desire for regular and ongoing training. Conclusions This study highlights the necessity for systematic and sustained training programs for healthcare personnel, including visiting nurses, to provide effective oral healthcare to older adults.Furthermore, the development of such training programs should consider the demographic characteristics of the target population and their level of prior knowledge and experience when designing, implementing, and evaluating training programs.

This study aimed to analyze the extent of oral health problems among elderly residents of longterm care facilities who have difficulties accessing care at dental clinics due to physical limitations and other challenges. Seventy-four elderly individuals residing in long-term care facilities in A-gu, Seoul, were screened. From these, we randomly selected three older adults (MMSE-K≥24) who were able to communicate freely in the study. Relevant information was obtained through document review, observational surveys, and one-on-one interviews to identify oral health problems and physical limitations experienced by these older adults. The elderly in long-term care facilities experienced pain and discomfort due to oral problems, and improperly fitting dentures and other prosthetics. These oral problems led to limitations in compromised oral functions and alterations in dietary patterns. Despite the need for customized oral care and treatment, the specific oral health needs of the elderly residents were not met due to barriers that hindered their access to healthcare facilities, such as restricted mobility. To alleviate oral functional limitations in elderly residents of long-term care facilities, interventions, such as necessary treatments and personalized oral care, should be implemented. Establishing a systematic approach, including timely visits to long-term care facilities by dentists and a referral system between facilities and dental services, is crucial to optimizing dental care for elderly individuals living in residential aged care.

Objectives: This study addressed longstanding issues in Korea’s public health dentist system by defining and standardizing job duties. A practical job description was drafted based on job analysis results to promote work efficiency and lay the groundwork for future educational programs. Methods: The job description elements were selected and drafted based on previous studies.These drafts were revised and refined with expert panel validation. Results: The main job duties of public health dentists encompass community oral health, dental practice, public oral health research, and special oral health, tailored for institutions such as health sub-centers, health centers, health clinics, national health organizations, and correctional facilities. For community oral health at public health subcenters involves 12 key duties including projects, education, and community engagement. Public health centers/clinics focus on 16 key duties mainly around health project planning and evaluation. Dental care across both settings has 15 main duties. Public oral health research emphasizes community surveys and epidemiology. Special oral health in correctional facilities covers 11 main duties including education and external resource linking. Conclusions It concluded that for the development of public health dentists in South Korea, it is necessary to develop public health dentist education programs to promote the performance of public health dentists and to equip them with the competencies necessary to perform such duties, focusing on job descriptions organized around the characteristics of workplaces and major tasks.