BACKGROUND: Lonocyte-derived multipotential cells (MOMCs) include progenitors capable of differentiation into multiple cell lineages and thus represent an ideal autologous transplantable cell source for regenerative medicine. In this study, we cultured MOMCs, generated from mononuclear cells of peripheral blood, on the surface of nanocomposite thin films. METHODS: For this purpose, nanocomposite Poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL)-based thin films containing either 2.5 wt% silica nanotubes (SiO2ntbs) or strontium hydroxyapatite nanorods (SrHAnrds), were prepared using the spin-coating method. The induced differentiation capacity of MOMCs, towards bone and endothelium, was estimated using flow cytometry, real-time polymerase chain reaction, scanning electron microscopy and fluorescence microscopy after cells' genetic modification using the Sleeping Beauty Transposon System aiming their observation onto the scaffolds. Moreover, Wharton's Jelly Mesenchymal Stromal Cells were cultivated as a control cell line, while Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells were used to strengthen and accelerate the differentiation procedure in semi-permeable culture systems. Finally, the cytotoxicity of the studied materials was checked with MTT assay. RESULTS: The highest differentiation capacity of MOMCs was observed on PCL/SiO2ntbs 2.5 wt% nanocomposite film, as they progressively lost their native markers and gained endothelial lineage, in both protein and transcriptional level. In addition, the presence of SrHAnrds in the PCL matrix triggered processes related to osteoblast bone formation. CONCLUSION: To conclude, the differentiation of MOMCs was selectively guided by incorporating SiO2ntbs or SrHAnrds into a polymeric matrix, for the first time.
Autografts ; Beauty ; Cell Line ; Cell Lineage ; Durapatite ; Endothelium ; Flow Cytometry ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Methods ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Nanocomposites ; Nanotubes ; Osteoblasts ; Osteogenesis ; Polymers ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Regenerative Medicine ; Silicon Dioxide ; Strontium ; Wharton Jelly

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive material that is formed as the decay product of uranium and thorium, and is estimated to contribute to approximately half of the average annual natural background radiation. When inhaled, it damages the lungs during radioactive decay and affects the human body. Through many epidemiological studies regarding occupational exposure among miners and residential exposure among the general population, radon has been scientifically proven to cause lung cancer, and radon exposure is the second most common cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking. However, it is unclear whether radon exposure causes diseases other than lung cancer. Media reports have often dealt with radon exposure in relation to health problems, although public attention has been limited to a one-off period. However, recently in Korea, social interest and concern about radon exposure and its health effects have increased greatly due to mass media reports of high concentrations of radon being released from various close-to-life products, such as mattresses and beauty masks. Accordingly, this review article is intended to provide comprehensive scientific information regarding the health effects of radon exposure.
Background Radiation ; Beauty ; Beds ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Human Body ; Inhalation Exposure ; Korea ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Masks ; Mass Media ; Miners ; Occupational Exposure ; Radon ; Smoking ; Thorium ; Uranium

The nose is an important landmark of the face and its shape and beauty is of significant concern. The columella is the subunit between the two nostrils that provides support and projection to the nasal tip and has functional role in nostrils, as well as aesthetic. Ethiology for columellar absence or deficiency is diverse, and it is one of the most complex nasal subunits to reconstruct because of its narrow horizontal dimension, its tenuous vascularity and limited availability of adjacent tissue. We present a patient with columellar, membranous septum and upper lip defect, due to oncological resection. The lip reconstruction was designed using advancement of two upper lip edges with the technique of webster perialar/nasocheek advancement. However, the perialar/nasocheek tissue which is usually discarded was used as inferiorly based skin flaps to reconstruct the membranous septum, columellar skin and nasal vestibule lining. Rib cage cartilage graft was used as columellar strut for support. At 1-year follow-up, the patient has good nasal contour and projection. Scaring of the columella is very subtle. This is a versatile way for successful reconstruction of a columella and large central facial defect in one-stage operation. It is a method which provides very satisfactory aesthetic result with minimum patient morbidity and discomfort.
Beauty ; Cartilage ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lip ; Methods ; Nose ; Ribs ; Skin ; Transplants

In recent years, as interest in maintaining beauty and a youthful appearance has grown, filler procedures such as soft tissue augmentation have become more popular. These fillers are sometimes seen as radiopaque shadows on radiographic images, either due to the fillers themselves or because of secondary reactions; such findings may present a diagnostic challenge to dentists. The present report describes 3 cases of dermal fillers observed in panoramic and cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT) images. All 3 elderly female patients had filler injected into their cheeks and chin area for cosmetic purposes decades ago. On panoramic images, multiple symmetric radiopacities were observed in the facial area; on CBCT, these calcifications were seen in the subcutaneous tissue in various shapes and with varying density. In conclusion, dentists should be aware of the imaging characteristics of dermal filler, and should be able to differentiate dermal filler from other pathological findings.
Adolescent ; Aged ; Beauty ; Cheek ; Chin ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Dentists ; Dermal Fillers ; Female ; Humans ; Radiography, Panoramic ; Subcutaneous Tissue

BACKGROUND: In the absence of clear guidelines for facial aesthetic surgery, most surgeons rely on expert intuitive judgement when planning aesthetic and reconstructive surgery. One of the most famous theories regarding “ideal” facial proportions is that of the golden proportion. However, there are conflicting opinions as to whether it can be used to assess facial attractiveness. The aim of this investigation was to assess facial ratios of professional black models and to compare the ratios with the golden proportion. METHODS: Forty photographs of male and female professional black models were collected. Observers were asked to assign a score from 1 to 10 (1 = not very attractive, 10 = very attractive). A total of 287 responses were analysed for grading behaviour according to various demographic factors by two groups of observers. The best graded photographs were compared with the least well-graded photographs to identify any differences in their facial ratios. The models’ facial ratios were calculated and compared with the golden proportion. RESULTS: Differences in grading behaviour were observed amongst the two assessment groups. Only one out of the 12 facial ratios was not significantly different from the golden proportion. CONCLUSIONS: Only one facial ratio was observed to be similar to the golden proportion in professional model facial photographs. No correlation was found between facial ratios in professional black models with the golden proportion. It is proposed that an individualistic treatment for each ratio is a rather better method to guide future practice.
Beauty ; Demography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Methods ; Surgeons

BACKGROUND: Previous research has related obesity to body dissatisfaction and low self-esteem. This study aimed to evaluate this relation between obesity and distress about appearance. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study using data from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey for 288,390 participants assessed from 2009 to 2012. The participants were categorized according to body mass index; obese, overweight, healthy weight, and underweight. The relation between obesity and distress was analyzed using simple and multiple logistic regression with complex sampling adjusted for age, sex, region of residence, economic level, parental education level, alcohol consumption, and smoking habits as confounders. RESULTS: The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) was higher for participants with obesity (AOR for healthy weight = 1.15 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.08–1.22]; AOR for overweight = 1.85 [95% CI, 1.72–1.98]; AOR for obese = 2.45 [95% CI, 2.27–2.64]; reference = underweight, P < 0.001). In males, healthy weight was associated with an AOR below 1 (AOR for healthy weight = 0.92 [95% CI, 0.85–0.99]; AOR for overweight = 1.26 [95% CI, 1.14–1.38]; AOR for obese = 1.66 [95% CI, 1.50–1.84], P < 0.001). In females, higher AORs were associated with obesity (AOR for healthy weight = 1.44 [95% CI, 1.33–1.57]; AOR for overweight = 2.71 [95% CI, 2.45–2.99]; AOR for obese = 3.71 [95% CI, 3.32–4.14], P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Obesity is related to distress about appearance, and the relation is stronger in girls than in boys.
Adolescent* ; Alcohol Drinking ; Beauty ; Body Mass Index ; Body, Physical Appearance ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Obesity* ; Odds Ratio ; Overweight ; Parents ; Risk-Taking ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stress, Psychological ; Thinness

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the neural activity of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) patients is different from that of normal individuals when performing aesthetic judgments. METHODS: We recruited typical ASD patients without savant skills (ASD group, n=17) and healthy controls (HC group, n=19) for an functional magnetic resonance imaging study. All subjects were scanned while performing aesthetic judgment tasks on two kinds of artwork (magnificent landscape images and fractal images). Differences in brain activation between the two groups were assessed by contrasting neural activity during the tasks. RESULTS: The aesthetic judgment score for all images was significantly lower in the ASD group than in the HC group. During the aesthetic judgment tasks, the ASD group showed less activation than the HC group in the anterior region of the superior frontal gyrus, and more activation in the temporoparietal area and insula, regardless of the type of images being judged. In addition, during the aesthetic judgment task for the fractal images, the ASD group exhibited greater neural activity in the amygdala and the posterior region of the middle/inferior temporal gyrus (Brodmann area 37) than the HC group. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the brain activation patterns associated with aesthetic experiences in ASD patients may differ from those of normal individuals.
Amygdala ; Autism Spectrum Disorder* ; Autistic Disorder* ; Beauty* ; Brain ; Fractals ; Humans ; Judgment ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Prefrontal Cortex ; Temporal Lobe

Recently, increasing interest has emerged in contouring of the lower leg. Harmonious legs are considered one of the most important elements of women's beauty. Calf augmentation is routinely performed using silicone implants or autologous fat grafting. However, such surgical options may be unsuitable for some patients with specific medical conditions or preferences. Herein, we report a rare case of a 36-year-old woman who selected the use of a free deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap to correct a left calf contour deformity caused by a previous gunshot injury. The free DIEP flap procedure was carried out successfully without any postoperative complications. Moreover, the patient obtained good aesthetic improvements and was satisfied with the outcome. We therefore recommend the free DIEP flap as an option for the correction of large and irregularly shaped atrophic scars in the lower leg, whether caused by injury, illness, or congenital conditions.
Adult ; Beauty ; Cicatrix* ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Female ; Free Tissue Flaps ; Humans ; Leg ; Perforator Flap* ; Postoperative Complications ; Silicon ; Silicones ; Transplants

In the binary of gender, women and femininity came to be associated with motherhood, nurturing, and beauty whilst men and masculinity were associated with productivity, protection, and strength. No longer are we to systematically categorize an individual's gender in terms of polar opposite of femininity and masculinity, but instead we must acknowledge all that resides in between those two poles and allow for identity terms that best express their sense of self. The term ‘transgender has become an umbrella term for a broader and more encompassing array of gender narratives outside of the binary norm of gender. Gender dysphoria is managed and treatable through psychotherapy and through the social and medical transition of gender. The support of transgender individuals' preferred gender through social acknowledgment, gender expression, hormone therapy, and surgery has been proven to alleviate symptoms of gender dysphoria in transgender people, enabling them to incorporate back into society.
Beauty ; Efficiency ; Female ; Femininity ; Gender Dysphoria ; Gender Identity ; Humans ; Male ; Masculinity ; Psychotherapy ; Transgender Persons*

Care for the human spirit is a core component of quality end-of-life care. Logotherapy, based on the premise that the primary motivation of human beings is to find meaning and purpose in life, can be helpful in providing care for patients, families, and loved ones in hospice care. The use of Socratic dialog in posing questions about one's life experiences, values, and attitudes is a useful method of evoking reflection. Guidance for finding meaning, even until one's last moments, can be found in the three categories: (a) tasks or deeds, (b) experiences of love and beauty, and (c) attitudes chosen in spite of a fate that cannot be changed. Self-transcendence, defined as getting outside the self for the good of others, can add meaning to life. A growing body of research concerning meaning-centered therapy is promising for improving spiritual well-being and a sense of meaning and purpose in life.
Beauty ; Hospice Care* ; Hospices* ; Humans ; Life Change Events ; Love ; Methods ; Motivation ; Psychotherapy ; Spirituality ; Stress, Psychological