Background: Hair drying is a routine cosmetic practice; however, excessive heat exposure and non-uniform airflow can compromise cuticle integrity, degrade hair sensory properties, and induce scalp discomfort. This study aimed to (i) identify a practical thermal window that minimizes perturbation of hair fiber surface and quantify late-stage thermal amplification during the drying process using percentage-based analysis. Methods: Temperature-dependent hair fiber surface morphology was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) after controlled exposure to 41°C, 60°C, 80°C, and 90°C using virgin and chemically damaged hair. The drying efficacy was assessed using the surface and internal moisture indices under airflow shaping (test) and uniform airflow (control) conditions. Hair fluttering (maximum angular displacement) was evaluated before and after drying under warm-cool alternating (60°C-80°C) versus constant hot airflow (80°C). Results: SEM revealed temperature-dependent cuticle disruption, with markedly greater surface perturbation at 90°C than at 80°C. Infrared thermography demonstrated pronounced late-stage thermal amplification: at 150 seconds, the surface temperature increased by 295% (from 24.2°C to 72.0°C) at 90°C, compared with 207% (from 24.2°C to 50.7°C) at 80°C. Airflow shaping promoted preferential surface moisture removal (–13.6%) while limiting internal dehydration (–9.4%), whereas the control condition exhibited minimal surface drying (–4.6%) but substantial internal moisture loss (–22.2%). Warm-cool modulation increased hair fluttering by +11.0%, whereas constant hot airflow reduced it (–3.7%). Conclusion These findings indicate that spatial and temporal control of heat delivery represents a clinically relevant design strategy beyond the nominal temperature specification in hair-drying devices.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to compare the detection ability of quality of life (QoL) changes and responsiveness of the KOrean QUality of life in Stomach cancer patients Study group (KOQUSS)-40 and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ). Materials and Methods: A multicenter prospective observational study was conducted to evaluate QoL changes after various gastrectomies between January 2021 and April 2022. Participants were instructed to complete the KOQUSS-40 and EORTC QLQ-C30/STO22 preoperatively and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. QoL changes over time and QoL responsiveness were assessed for each questionnaire. Results: Data from 491 patients who underwent curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer at 22 institutions were analyzed. The summary scores of the KOQUSS-40 and EORTC QLQ-STO22 showed significant differences between the total and proximal gastrectomy groups (p=0.044 and p=0.038, respectively), but no difference was observed for the EORTC QLQ-C30. Dysphagia on the KOQUSS-40 was significantly different between the total and proximal gastrectomy groups (p=0.031); however, dysphagia on the EORTC QLQ-STO22 did not differ. The responsiveness of the KOQUSS-40 was similar to that of the EORTC QLQ in patients who experienced ≥ 10% body weight loss, but approximately 10% less in patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy than the EORTC QLQ. Conclusion KOQUSS-40 has several advantages over EORTC QLQ-C30/STO22 when comparing QoL between the total and proximal gastrectomy groups. The findings provide information for researchers investigating the QoL of patients who have undergone curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

Purpose: This study evaluated the postoperative quality of life (QoL) after various types of gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: A multicenter prospective observational study was conducted in Korea using the Korean Quality of Life in Stomach Cancer Patients Study (KOQUSS)-40, a new QoL assessment tool focusing on postgastrectomy syndrome. Overall, 496 patients with gastric cancer were enrolled, and QoL was assessed at 5 time points: preoperatively and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Results: Distal gastrectomy (DG) and pylorus-preserving gastrectomy (PPG) showed significantly better outcomes than total gastrectomy (TG) and proximal gastrectomy (PG) with regard to total score, indigestion, and dysphagia. DG, PPG, and TG also showed significantly better outcomes than PG in terms of dumping syndrome and worry about cancer. Postoperative QoL did not differ significantly according to anastomosis type in DG, except for Billroth I anastomosis, which achieved better bowel habit change scores than the others. No domains differed significantly when comparing double tract reconstruction and esophagogastrostomy after PG. The total QoL score correlated significantly with postoperative body weight loss (more than 10%) and extent of resection (P<0.05 for both).Reflux as assessed by KOQUSS-40 did not correlate significantly with reflux observed on gastroscopy 1 year postoperatively (P=0.064). Conclusions Our prospective observation using KOQUSS-40 revealed that DG and PPG lead to better QoL than TG and PG. Further study is needed to compare postoperative QoL according to anastomosis type in DG and PG.

Purpose: This study evaluated the postoperative quality of life (QoL) after various types of gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: A multicenter prospective observational study was conducted in Korea using the Korean Quality of Life in Stomach Cancer Patients Study (KOQUSS)-40, a new QoL assessment tool focusing on postgastrectomy syndrome. Overall, 496 patients with gastric cancer were enrolled, and QoL was assessed at 5 time points: preoperatively and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Results: Distal gastrectomy (DG) and pylorus-preserving gastrectomy (PPG) showed significantly better outcomes than total gastrectomy (TG) and proximal gastrectomy (PG) with regard to total score, indigestion, and dysphagia. DG, PPG, and TG also showed significantly better outcomes than PG in terms of dumping syndrome and worry about cancer. Postoperative QoL did not differ significantly according to anastomosis type in DG, except for Billroth I anastomosis, which achieved better bowel habit change scores than the others. No domains differed significantly when comparing double tract reconstruction and esophagogastrostomy after PG. The total QoL score correlated significantly with postoperative body weight loss (more than 10%) and extent of resection (P<0.05 for both).Reflux as assessed by KOQUSS-40 did not correlate significantly with reflux observed on gastroscopy 1 year postoperatively (P=0.064). Conclusions Our prospective observation using KOQUSS-40 revealed that DG and PPG lead to better QoL than TG and PG. Further study is needed to compare postoperative QoL according to anastomosis type in DG and PG.

Purpose: This study evaluated the postoperative quality of life (QoL) after various types of gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: A multicenter prospective observational study was conducted in Korea using the Korean Quality of Life in Stomach Cancer Patients Study (KOQUSS)-40, a new QoL assessment tool focusing on postgastrectomy syndrome. Overall, 496 patients with gastric cancer were enrolled, and QoL was assessed at 5 time points: preoperatively and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Results: Distal gastrectomy (DG) and pylorus-preserving gastrectomy (PPG) showed significantly better outcomes than total gastrectomy (TG) and proximal gastrectomy (PG) with regard to total score, indigestion, and dysphagia. DG, PPG, and TG also showed significantly better outcomes than PG in terms of dumping syndrome and worry about cancer. Postoperative QoL did not differ significantly according to anastomosis type in DG, except for Billroth I anastomosis, which achieved better bowel habit change scores than the others. No domains differed significantly when comparing double tract reconstruction and esophagogastrostomy after PG. The total QoL score correlated significantly with postoperative body weight loss (more than 10%) and extent of resection (P<0.05 for both).Reflux as assessed by KOQUSS-40 did not correlate significantly with reflux observed on gastroscopy 1 year postoperatively (P=0.064). Conclusions Our prospective observation using KOQUSS-40 revealed that DG and PPG lead to better QoL than TG and PG. Further study is needed to compare postoperative QoL according to anastomosis type in DG and PG.

Background: This study examined the effects of electroporation (EP) and sonophoresis (SP) on the skin permeation of various ingredients and the resulting changes in skin properties. Methods: Twenty participants used whitening and hyaluronic ampoules as adjunctive cosmetics. The intervention group used an EP with an SP device for application while the control group used their hands, both groups over a 4-week period. The outcomes measured included skin elasticity, gloss, pores, tone, and soothing.In addition, this study determined the absorption amount, absorption rate, and skin permeation of the cosmetic ampoules 30 minutes after applying the cosmetics in a clinical test. Results: Significant improvements in skin hydration, elasticity, tone, and pigmentation were observed in the intervention group. In particular, the most pronounced effects were observed immediately after use. In addition, application with EP and SP led to a more than 200% increase in the absorption amount, absorption depth, and absorption speed of cosmetics compared to hand application. Conclusion These findings suggest that simultaneous EP and SP significantly enhance skin permeability and cosmetic absorption, improving skin properties.

Background: The delivery of desired drugs through the skin can enhance the effectiveness of cosmetic treatments and further enhance skin recovery and collagen regeneration. This study evaluated the potential of a device to achieve noninvasive transdermal drug delivery using simultaneous electroporation (EP) and lowfrequency sonophoresis (SP). Methods: The percutaneous absorption after applying the device that administered EP and SP was evaluated using an ex vivo porcine skin model. Porcine skin tissue was placed on a polyurethane foam dressing impregnated with 3% povidone-iodine (PI). Four drops of ampoule were applied, and the device was applied to the skin for 3 minutes. The reaction between the penetrated whitening agents and 3% PI, indicated by color changes, was analyzed using an Antera 3D camera. Results: The simultaneous application of EP with SP to skin tissue at a specific ratio for 3 minutes resulted in a significant increase in the area that reacted with iodine after skin penetration. The results showed that exposure to hyaluronic acid ampoule (HAA) increases type I collagen synthesis in human dermal fibroblasts in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. In addition, treatment with HAA combined with the application of EP with SP increased cell proliferation and significantly increased type I collagen levels in human dermal fibroblasts, with device-assisted synthesis showing greater efficiency. Conclusion These results suggest that simultaneous EP and SP efficiently deliver large molecules, such as hyaluronic acid, deep into the skin without causing skin damage.

Background: Excessive heat from household styling devices denatures α-keratin, damages the cuticle, and degrades overall hair quality. Conventional blow-dryer temperatures often exceed 90°C, surpassing the safety threshold for keratin fibers. To determine whether combining focused airflow with rapid thermal cycling (peak temperatures ≤60°C) attenuates multiscale hair damage compared with continuous-heat drying. Methods: Human-hair tresses were assigned either to a focused-flow dryer operating in alternating cool/warm cycles or to a continuous-heat mode. Jet characteristics were quantified using planar particle-image velocimetry, and airflow temperatures were recorded using micro-thermocouples. Post-treatment analyses included scanning electron microscopy (cuticular surface roughness, Ra), single-fiber tensile testing, crosssectional densitometry (fiber compactness), and confocal Raman spectroscopy (α-helix/disulfide bond integrity). Results: Thermal cycling with focused airflow increased the central-core flow fraction from 37% to 64% and confined hair-surface peaks to 58°C-60°C. Alternating hot-cold drying reduced cuticlar surface roughness by approximately 7.3%, whereas continuous hat air drying increased roughness by 4.9%. Ultimate tensile strength was essentially preserved (–0.4%) under cycling but fell by 9.4% with uninterrupted heat (p = 0.003).Compactness loss was limited to 33% vs. 50%, and the S-S disulfide bond (~510 cm –1 )/C-H bending vibration band (~720 cm –1 ) ratio decreased by only 11% (vs. 19% under continuous heat). Conclusion Brief cooling intervals, when paired with a confined airflow, effectively prevented α-keratindenaturation and structural collapse. These findings support a clinically relevant approach to preserving hairfiber integrity during routine hair care and styling.

Objective: To quantify the effects of midline-related landmark identification on midline deviation measurements in posteroanterior (PA) cephalograms using a cascaded convolutional neural network (CNN). Methods: A total of 2,903 PA cephalogram images obtained from 9 university hospitals were divided into training, internal validation, and test sets (n = 2,150, 376, and 377). As the gold standard, 2 orthodontic professors marked the bilateral landmarks, including the frontozygomatic suture point and latero-orbitale (LO), and the midline landmarks, including the crista galli, anterior nasal spine (ANS), upper dental midpoint (UDM), lower dental midpoint (LDM), and menton (Me). For the test, Examiner-1 and Examiner-2 (3-year and 1-year orthodontic residents) and the Cascaded-CNN models marked the landmarks. After point-to-point errors of landmark identification, the successful detection rate (SDR) and distance and direction of the midline landmark deviation from the midsagittal line (ANS-mid, UDM-mid, LDM-mid, and Me-mid) were measured, and statistical analysis was performed. Results: The cascaded-CNN algorithm showed a clinically acceptable level of point-to-point error (1.26 mm vs.1.57 mm in Examiner-1 and 1.75 mm in Examiner-2). The average SDR within the 2 mm range was 83.2%, with high accuracy at the LO (right, 96.9%; left, 97.1%), and UDM (96.9%). The absolute measurement errors were less than 1 mm for ANSmid, UDM-mid, and LDM-mid compared with the gold standard. Conclusions The cascaded-CNN model may be considered an effective tool for the auto-identification of midline landmarks and quantification of midline deviation in PA cephalograms of adult patients, regardless of variations in the image acquisition method.

Objective: This study aimed to review domestic and international literature on oral health interven-tions for pregnant women and provide basic data for the development of oral health intervention programs. Methods: We used domestic and international search databases, such as Medline, Embase, Re-search Information Sharing Service, Science On, Korea Citation Index, and DBpia. Among papers published between 2003 and 2023, 22 met the selection criteria by combining “pregnant women,” “oral hygiene,” and “oral health.” Results: Since 2007, foreign literature has steadily increased; however, domestic literature has decreased. Overseas research designs were mostly randomized control trials, whereas domestic designs were mostly non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest. The intervention methods in-cluded three preventive programs, five specialized oral care programs, and 14 oral health education programs. Conclusions In-depth research should be conducted to increase the understanding and interest of pregnant women. Systematic intervention programs that consider the effectiveness and sus-tainability of intervention methods should be developed, and policy support should be provided to strengthen the importance of oral health education by experts and institutional improvements.