Background: This study was conducted to identify the level of gender sensitivity and gender equality consciousness among dental hygiene students and to confirm the necessity of gender equality programs in the curriculum. Methods: A self-report questionnaire was conducted with some dental hygiene students using the Gender Sensitivity tool and Korean Gender Egalitarianism Scale for Adolescents (KGES-A). Results: First, the gender equality consciousness of the students who took women’s studies was high in the areas of educational life and socio-cultural life, and that of the subjects of grandparent families and Catholic was found to be high in the domestic life area. Second, the gender sensitivity of the subjects who took women’s studies was found to be high in all sub-areas. In addition, the gender sensitivity of females was higher in the areas of sexual identity, non-violence, and self-reflection than that of males. That of 4-year college students was higher in the areas of sexual identity, openness to gender roles, and non-violence than that of 3-year college students. In addition, the gender sensitivity of Catholic students was high in the areas of sexual identity and openness to gender roles. Third, gender equality consciousness was found to have an effect depending on whether subjects took women’s studies, family type, family type, and religion, and gender sensitivity was found to have an effect depending on whether subjects took women’s studies or gender. Conclusion Since dental hygienist is a profession that targets humans, education that can instill equal awareness and values of humans is important. To inspire gender sensitivity and gender equality consciousness in a prospective professional, it is necessary to conduct programs and education related to gender intelligence within dental hygiene curriculum.

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a bioactive lysophospholipid involved in numerous physiological responses. However, the expression of LPA receptors and the role of the Hippo signaling pathway in epithelial cells have remained elusive. In this experiment, we studied the functional expression of LPA receptors and the associated signaling pathway using reverse transcriptase-PCR, microspectrofluorimetry, western blotting and immunocytochemistry in salivary gland epithelial cells. We found that LPA receptors are functionally expressed and involved in activating the Hippo pathway mediated by YAP/TAZ through Lats/Mob1 and RhoA/ROCK. Upregulation of YAP/TAZ-dependent target genes, including CTGF, ANKRD1 and CYR61, has also been observed in LPA-treated cells. In addition, based on data suggesting that tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha induces cell apoptosis, LPA upregulates TNF-induced caspase-3 and cleaved Poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP). However, small interfering RNA treatment to Yes-associated protein (YAP) or transcriptional co-activator with a PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) significantly decreased TNF-alpha- and LPA-induced apoptosis, suggesting that YAP and TAZ modulate the apoptotic pathway in salivary epithelial cells.
Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/genetics/metabolism ; *Apoptosis ; Cell Line ; Epithelial Cells/*cytology/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Lysophospholipids/*metabolism ; Phosphoproteins/genetics/metabolism ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases/*metabolism ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering/genetics ; Receptors, Lysophosphatidic Acid/genetics/*metabolism ; Salivary Glands/*cytology/metabolism ; *Signal Transduction ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism ; rho-Associated Kinases/metabolism ; rhoA GTP-Binding Protein/metabolism

Primary Hyperparathyroidism is the metabolism abnormality of calcium, phosphate, and bone due to the high synthesis of parathyroid hormone, a rare endocrine disease in children. It scarcely occurs in children so that till now it was reported only 4 cases in Korea, especially with abdominal symptoms. We report this case of primary hyperparathyroidism with brief review of literatures.
Abdominal Pain ; Calcium ; Child ; Endocrine System Diseases ; Humans ; Hyperparathyroidism, Primary ; Korea ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Parathyroid Neoplasms

Vitamin E is the most important lipid-soluble antioxidant in humans. Although alpha-tocopherol is suggested that it has protective effect from many diseases, little is known about the prevention of occludin alteration in tight junction of blood-brain barrier (BBB) under pathologic insults producing reactive oxygen species (ROSs). In this study, the effects of alpha-tocopherol on H2O2-induced tight junction occludin were studied. Primary culture of rat brain microvessel endothelial cells was investigated with confocal microscopy, Western blot, and cell viability assay. Alpha-tocopherol had no apparent cytotoxicity up to 2.8 mM. The preincubation with alpha-tocopherol suppressed the H2O2-induced cytotoxicity in Alamar Blue assay and phase contrast microscopy. In confocal laser microscopy and Western blot, H2O2-induced loss of occludin was suppressed by preincubation with alpha-tocopherol. The present findings provide evidence that alpha-tocopherol may be beneficial for cellular protection from pathologic insults. Since alpha-tocopherol was demonstrated to have far fewer adverse effects, it would become a noteworthy nutrient or drug for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
alpha-Tocopherol* ; Animals ; Blood-Brain Barrier* ; Blotting, Western ; Brain ; Cell Survival ; Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Microscopy, Phase-Contrast ; Microvessels ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Occludin* ; Rats ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Tight Junctions* ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins

Prostaglandin E2(PGE2), a major product of cyclooxygenase, has been implicated in modulating angiogenesis, vascular function, and inflammatory processes, but the underlying mechanism is not clearly elucidated. We here investigated the molecular mechanism by which PGE 2 regulates angiogenesis. Treatment of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) with PGE 2 increased angiogenesis. PGE 2 increased phosphorylation of Akt and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), eNOS activity, and nitric oxide (NO) production by the activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K). Dibutyryl cAMP (DB-cAMP) mimicked the role of PGE 2 in angiogenesis and the signaling pathway, suggesting that cAMP is a down-stream mediator of PGE 2. Furthermore, PGE 2 increased endothelial cell sprouting from normal murine aortic segments, but not from eNOS-deficient ones, on Matrigel. The angiogenic effects of PGE 2 were inhibited by the inhibitors of PKA, PI3K, eNOS, and soluble guanylate cyclase, but not by phospholipase C inhibitor. These results clearly show that PGE 2 increased angiogenesis by activating the NO/cGMP signaling pathway through PKA/PI3K/Akt-dependent increase in eNOS activity.
1-Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/antagonists & inhibitors ; Animals ; Aorta ; Cell Movement/drug effects ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects ; Cyclic AMP/metabolism/pharmacology ; Cyclic GMP/biosynthesis/*metabolism ; Dinoprostone/*pharmacology ; Endothelial Cells/*drug effects/metabolism ; Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Neovascularization, Physiologic/*drug effects ; Nitric Oxide/biosynthesis/*metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III/deficiency/metabolism ; Phosphorylation/drug effects ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Signal Transduction/*drug effects ; Umbilical Veins/cytology/*drug effects/metabolism

BACKGROUND: Although acne is extremely prevalent, few studies have focused on what the patient with acne vulgaris experiences. Furthermore, despite recent advances in the accurate measurement of health outcomes, few studies have discussed the influence of acne on discrete aspects of patients' experiences such as their quality of life. OBJECT: To determine the influence of acne vulgaris on the quality of life of adult dermatology outpatients, we performed cross-sectional and longitudinal questionnaire study. METHOD: Sixty patients with acne vulgaris attending appointments with their dermatologists. Findings using Skindex, a validated 29-item instrument to measure the effects of skin disease on patients' quality of life. Results are reported as 3 scale scores (functioning, emotions, and symptoms) and a composite score (average scale score). In addition, dermatologists rated the clinical severity of patients' skin disease. Higher Skindex scores indicate greater effects on quality of life. RESULTS: Patients with acne experienced functioning and emotional effects from their skin disease comparable with those of patients with psoriasis, but experienced fewer symptoms (for patients with acne and psoriasis, respectively, Skindex functioning scores of 14.9 and 22.8 [p=0.08]; emotion scores, 39.2 and 38.9 [p=0.95]; and symptoms scores, 29.5 and 42.1 [p<0.05]). Skindex scores were higher in older patients than in younger patients, and patients aged 40 years or older were less likely to report improvement in their acne after 3 months (43% vs 85%; p<0.05). Among patients reporting no improvement in their acne, older patients reported greater effects of their acne on their quality of life. Furthermore, in multivariate analyses, older adults reported more effects of acne on their quality of life than younger adults, even after controlling for sex and acne severity as judged by the dermatologist. CONCLUSIONS: Acne vulgaris significantly affects patients' quality of life. Sex, age, severity of acne and duration of acne can effect on quality of life of acne patients.
Acne Vulgaris* ; Adult ; Appointments and Schedules ; Dermatology ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Outpatients ; Psoriasis ; Quality of Life* ; Skin Diseases ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a novel treatment modality, which produces local tissue necrosis with laser light following the prior administration of a photosensitizing agent. Radachlorin(R) has recently been shown to be a promising PDT sensitizer. In order to elucidate the antitumor effects of PDT using Radachlorin(R) on cervical cancer, growth inhibition studies on a HPV-associated tumor cell line, TC-1 cells in vitro and animals with an established TC-1 tumor in vivo were determined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: TC-1 tumor cells were exposed to various concentrations of Radachlorin(R) and PDT, with irradiation of 12.5 or 25 J/cm2 at an irradiance of 20 mW/cm2 using a Won-PDT D662 laser at 662 nm in vitro. C57BL/6 mice with TC-1 tumor were injected with Radachlorin(R) via different routes and treated with PDTin vivo. A growth suppression study was then used to evaluate the effects at various time points after PDT. RESULTS: The results showed that irradiation of TC-1 tumor cells in the presence of Radachlorin(R) induced significant cell growth inhibition. Animals with established TC-1 tumors exhibited significantly smaller tumor sizes over time when treated with Radachlorin(R) and irradiation. CONCLUSION: PDT after the application of Radachlorin(R) appears to be effective against TC-1 tumors both in vitro and in vivo.
Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Mice ; Necrosis ; Photochemotherapy ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

BACKGROUND: Most available dermatologic quality-of-life measures were written in English. So these must be translated for use in Korea. Our purpose was to translate and adapt culturally into Korean a skin-related quality-of-life measure Skindex-29, and to begin preliminary assessments of its reliability and validity. METHODS: Cross-cultural adaptation questionnaire studies were performed. Two hundred and sixty adult outpatients and healthy people responded to the Korean version of Skindex-29. Evaluations of the semantic equivalence of back-translated items, reliability, construct validity, and content validity of the Korean version were the main outcome measures. Comparison between the Korean version and other versions of Skindex-29 (Spanish and American) responses was also performed. RESULTS: Five problematic items required a second translation and back-translation to achieve satisfactory agreement with the original instrument. The final Korean version of Skindex-29 was internally reliable. The instrument demonstrated both construct and content validity. As hypothesized, scores for dermatologic patients were higher than those of healthy persons and scores for patients with inflammatory diseases were higher than those of persons with isolated skin lesions. Skindex scale scores of the Korean version and other versions of Skindex-29 were similar. CONCLUSIONS: We have developed a semantically equivalent translation of Skindex-29 in Korean. Our preliminary evaluation of its measurement properties suggests that it is a reliable and valid measure of the effects of skin disease on the quality of life in Korean patients.
Adult ; Male ; Female ; Humans

PURPOSE: In order to elucidate the antitumor effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT), using a derivative of the photosensitizing agent hematoporphyrin (Photogem) and a diode laser, the cell death of uterine cancer cell lines (CaSki, HT3, HeLa, and SKOV-3), and mice transplanted with TC-1 lung cancer cells, were evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The morphological changes, MTT assay, flow cytometry, cytotoxicity and tumor growth inhibition study were evaluated at various time intervals after the PDT. RESULTS: The results showed that the survival rates of each cell line decreased with time and dose response after performing the PDT. Also, the PDT-induced damage of cancer cells was almost entirely confined to necrosis of the tumor cells in the early time courses. The irradiation of CaSki cells in the presence of Photogem induced plasma membrane disruption and cell shrinkage, indicating the plasma membrane as the main target for Photogem. In the in vivo experiment, significantly longer survival and a significantly smaller tumor size were seen over the time courses of the Photogem with irradiation compared to the untreated control groups; resorption of the tumor was also observed after the PDT treatment. CONCLUSION: Collectively, our results indicated that Photogem possesses anti-tumor effects, and necrosis-like death, with plasma membrane damage, was postulated to be the principal mechanism of the antitumor effect of the PDT using Photogem.
Animals ; Cell Death ; Cell Line* ; Cell Membrane ; Flow Cytometry ; Hematoporphyrins ; Lasers, Semiconductor ; Lung Neoplasms ; Mice ; Necrosis* ; Photochemotherapy ; Survival Rate ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms* ; Uterine Neoplasms

Mucocele arised at the vermiform appendix is uncommon, either benign or malignancy and their clinical presentation is not specific. The preoperative diagnosis is rare,1 and their diagnosis is an incidental event. Mucocele seems to be developed due to chronic obstruction of the lumen of the appendix. Higa and Cowerkers2 classified 73 cases of "mucocele" into three clinicopathologic entities; focal or diffuse mucosal hyperplasia, mucinous cystadenoma, mucinous cystadenocarcinoma. Appendiceal mucoceles are rare lesions of the appendix, characterized by a gross enlargement of the appendix from accumulation of mucoid substance within the lumen. It is encountered in only 0.1-0.4% of all appendectomies with a female predominance and an average age at the time of diagnosis over 50 years. A case of appendiceal mucocle found during total hysterectomy is presented with a brief review of the literatures.
Appendectomy ; Appendix ; Cystadenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; Cystadenoma, Mucinous ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Hysterectomy* ; Mucocele*