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Aim This study was conducted in order to examine the intention of mothers to vaccinate their teenaged children against human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, according to the children's sex. Based on the theory of planned behavior, the study identified the sex-specific predictors of mothers’ intention to vaccinate their teenaged children against HPV. Methods This was a descriptive survey study that included, as participants, 200 mothers whose teenaged children were not vaccinated against HPV. Results The mothers’ experience with HPV vaccination was a significant predictor of their childrens’ HPV vaccination status. For the mothers of sons, subjective norms, attitudes, and perceived behavioral control were found to be significant predictors of intention of HPV vaccination, with an explanatory power of 69.5%. For those with daughters, only attitudes and subjective norms were significant predictors, with an explanatory power of 79.6%. Conclusion The application of the theory of planned behavior is an effective method to determine the predictors of children's HPV vaccination status. In order to improve the HPV vaccination rate of teenaged children, strategies for education and effective promotion that involve mothers should be developed.

Aim To assess the level of knowledge and awareness of Ebola virus disease infection control among infection control nurses and to identify a correlation between these factors. Methods The data were collected from 125 infection control nurses by using a self-report questionnaire. The data were collected on sociodemographic and hospital characteristics, as well as the level of knowledge and awareness of Ebola virus disease infection control. Results The respondents’ mean level of knowledge (correct-answer rate) was 87.7% and their mean level of awareness was 3.86 (1 = “not important at all” to 4 = “very important”). Knowledge of Ebola virus disease infection control was significantly higher among those nurses who had received some Ebola virus disease education. There was a significant positive correlation between the level of knowledge and the level of awareness. Conclusion The development of effective education and training systems is necessary to improve infection control nurses’ knowledge and awareness of Ebola virus disease infection control. Moreover, each hospital should build effective and systematic Ebola virus disease infection control strategies.

This study was conducted to increase the frequency and level of thoroughness of hand hygiene practice by nurses, and to assess the influence of the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) acquired incidence rate and the MRSA colonization pressure in a medical intensive care unit (MICU). A total of 24 MICU nurses received hand hygiene education and individual feedback of hand hygiene frequency and method after a session of education, and two posteducation evaluations were followed. The frequency of hand hygiene (P = 0.001) and the methodology score of hand hygiene increased significantly (P = 0.001). The MRSA acquisition rate decreased significantly, from 11.1% before the education to 0% after (P = 0.014). The MRSA colonization pressure decreased significantly from 39.5% to 8.6% after the education sessions (P = 0.001). This indicates that providing individual feedback after hand hygiene education was very effective in increasing nurses' hand hygiene frequency and improving hand hygiene method; furthermore, it was expected to decrease health care-associated infections.

Infection with Helicobacter pylori leads to gastritis, peptic ulcers and gastric cancer. Moreover, when the gastric mucosa is exposed to H. pylori, gastric mucosal inflammatory cytokine interleukin-8 (Il-8) and reactive oxygen species increase. Anthocyanins have anti-oxidative, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the effect of anthocyanins in H. pylori-infected cells is not yet clear. In this study, therefore, the effect of anthocyanins on H. pylori-infected human gastric epithelial cells was examined. AGS cells were pretreated with anthocyanins for 24 hrs followed by H. pylori 26695 infection for up to 24 hrs. Cell viability and ROS production were examined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and 2′,7′–dichlorofluorescein diacetate assay, respectively. Western blot analyses and RT-PCR were performed to assess gene and protein expression, respectively. IL-8 secretion in AGS cells was measured by ELISA. It was found that anthocyanins decrease H. pylori-induced ROS enhancement. Anthocyanins also inhibited phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases, translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B and Iκβα degradation. Furthermore anthocyanins inhibited H. pylori-induced inducible nitric oxide synthases and cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA expression and inhibited IL-8 production by 45.8%. Based on the above findings, anthocyanins might have an anti-inflammatory effect in H. pylori-infected gastric epithelial cells.

Two unrecorded Phymatodes species, P. (Phymatodellus) jiangi Wang and Zheng, P. (P.) zemlinae Plavilstshikov and Anufrieva, and a known species from North Korea, P. (P.) murzini Danilevsky, are newly recognized in South Korea, as insect pests of Vitis vinifera Linnaeus (Vitaceae). In the present paper, male genitalia of P. (P.) jiangi Wang and Zheng is presented for the first time. We also provide the diagnoses and illustrations of habitus of three Phymatodes species with a revised key to Korean species.

Kwak YG, Lee S-O, Kim TH, Choo EJ, Jeon M-H, Jun J-B, Kim K-M, Jeong JS, Kim YS. International Journal of Nursing Practice 2012; 18: 77–83 The use of multidose vials and fingerstick blood sampling devices in Korean emergency departments and intensive care units This study was performed to compare compliance with standard precautions for the use of multidose vials (MDVs) and fingerstick devices in emergency departments (EDs) and intensive care units (ICUs). Between December 2007 and February 2008, 389 nurses from the EDs or ICUs of six university-affiliated hospitals in Korea were asked to complete the questionnaire. A total of 338 (86.9%) nurses completed the survey, corresponding to 159 of 184 ED and 179 of 205 ICU nurses. A comparison of MDV use in EDs and ICUs indicated a significant difference only in disinfection of the rubber septum of heparin vials; 88.1% of ED nurses and 96.6% of ICU nurses stated that they always disinfected the rubber septum of heparin vials whenever drawing medication (P = 0.003). The use of separate fingerstick devices for each patient (71.7% vs. 54.5%) and disinfection of these devices after each use (36.5% vs. 26.0%) were more common in ED nurses. The rate of good hand hygiene was lower in ED nurses, both before (43.7% vs. 74.3%) and after (64.6% vs. 91.6%) the use of fingerstick devices (P

The phosphorylation status of myosin light chain (MLC) is regulated by both MLC kinases and type 1 Ser/Thr phosphatase (PPase 1), MLC phosphatase (MLCP) activities. The activity of the catalytic subunit of MLCP (CS1β) towards myosin depends on its associated regulatory subunit, namely myosin PPase targeting subunit 1 (MYPT1). Our previously published data strongly suggested the involvement of MLCP in endothelial cell (EC) barrier regulation. In this paper, our new data demonstrates that inhibition of MLCP by either CS1β or MYPT1 siRNA-based depletion results in significant attenuation of purine nucleotide (ATP and adenosine)-induced EC barrier enhancement. Consistent with the data, thrombin-induced EC F-actin stress fiber formation and permeability increase were attenuated by the ectopic expression of constitutively active (C/A) MYPT1. The data demonstrated for the first time direct involvement of MLCP in EC barrier enhancement/protection. Cloning of MYPT1 in human pulmonary artery EC (HPAEC) revealed the presence of two MYPT1 isoforms, long and variant 2 (V2) lacking 56 amino acids from 553 to 609 of human MYPT1 long, which were previously identified in HeLa and HEK 293 cells. Our data demonstrated that in Cos-7 cells ectopically-expressed EC MYPT1 isoforms co-immunoprecipitated with intact CS1β suggesting the importance of PPase 1 activity for the formation of functional complex of MYPT1/CS1β. Interestingly, MYPT1 V2 shows decreased binding affinity compared to MYPT1 long for radixin (novel MLCP substrate and a member of ERM family proteins). These results suggest functional difference between EC MYPT1 isoforms in the regulation of MLCP activity and cytoskeleton.

A microarray-chip assay system for the fluorescence detection of phosphate-containing analytes in aqueous media has been constructed from stimuli-responsive polymerized poly(diacetylene)-liposomes for the first time. Proper combination of the liposome components (Zn(II)-dipicolylamine for phosphate binding and an amine-terminated component for anchoring the liposome onto an aldehyde-derivatized glass plate), has led to a microarray chip that selectively detects pyrophosphate, an important biomarker, over competing anions, such as phosphate and adenosine triphosphate, with nanomolar sensitivity. The chip-based assay shows advantages, such as high specificity and sensitivity, over solution-based assays that use the same liposomes, and over known homogeneous molecular sensing systems.

Background and Aims: Several attempts have been successful in liquid cultivation of Helicobaccter pylori. However, there is a need to improve the growth of H. pylori in liquid media in order to get affluent growth and a simple approach for examining bacterial properties. We introduce here a thin-layer liquid culture technique for the growth of H. pylori. Methods: A thin-layer liquid culture system was established by adding liquid media to a 90-mm diameter Petri dish. Optimal conditions for bacterial growth were investigated and then viability, growth curve, and released proteins were examined. Results: Maximal growth of H. pylori was obtained by adding 3 mL of brucella broth supplemented with 10% horse to a Petri dish. H. pylori grew in both DMEM and RPMI-1640 supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum and 0.5% yeast extract. Serum-free RPMI-1640 supported the growth of H. pylori when supplemented with dimethyl-β-cyclodextrin (200 μg/mL) and 1% yeast extract. Under optimal growth, H. pylori grew exponentially for 28 hours, reaching a density of 3.4 OD600 with a generation time of 3.3 hours. After 24 hours, cultures at a cell density of 1.0 OD600 contained 1.3 ± 0.1 × 109 CFU/mL. γ-Glutamyl transpeptidase, nuclease, superoxide dismutase, and urease were not detected in culture supernatants at 24 hours in thin-layer liquid culture, but were present at 48 hours, whereas alcohol dehydrogenase, alkylhydroperoxide reductase, catalase, and vacuolating cytotoxin were detected at 24 hours. Conclusions: Thin-layer liquid culture technique is feasible, and can serve as a versatile liquid culture technique for investigating bacterial properties of H. pylori.

Acupuncture, a common treatment modality within complementary and alternative medicine, has been widely used for Parkinson's disease (PD). Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we explored the neural mechanisms underlying the effect of specific and genuine acupuncture treatment on the motor function in patients with PD. Three fMRI scans were performed in random order in a block design, one for verum acupuncture (VA) treatment, another one for a covert placebo (CP), and the third one for an overt placebo (OP) at the motor function implicated acupoint GB34 on the left foot of 10 patients with PD. We calculated the contrast that subtracts the blood-oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) response for the acupuncture effect (VA vs. CP) and the placebo effect (CP vs. OP). We found a significant improvement in the motor function of the affected hand after acupuncture treatment. The putamen and the primary motor cortex were activated when patients with PD received the acupuncture treatment (VA vs. CP) and these activations correlated with individual enhanced motor function. Expectation towards acupuncture modality (CP vs. OP) elicited activation over the anterior cingulate gyrus, the superior frontal gyrus, and the superior temporal gyrus. These findings suggest that acupuncture treatment might facilitate improvement in the motor functioning of patients with PD via the basal ganglia-thalamocortical circuit.

A colorimetric sensing system based on gold nanoparticles functionalized with a water-soluble anion-recognition motif, an o-(carboxamido)trifluoroacetophenone analogue, has been developed. The nanoparticle system selectively senses specific isomers of dicarboxylates that are geometrically favorable for the binding-induced aggregation process; thus, it discriminates a trans-dicarboxylate fumarate from its cis-isomer maleate, and benzene-1,4-dicarboxylate from its isomeric benzene-1,2-and benzene-1,3-dicarboxylates in water, exhibiting a color change from red to blue.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of steeping conditions of waxy rice, temperatures (15, 25, and 35°C) and time periods (1, 11, and 21 days) on the expansion ratio of gangjung (a traditional Korean oil-puffed rice snack). Physicochemical properties of waxy rice flour steeped under various conditions and expansion properties of gangjung made of the steeped waxy rice flour were investigated, and multiple regression analyses were applied between those properties to identify major physicochemical factors that optimally predict the expansion ratio of gangjung. As steeping temperature and time periods of waxy rice changed from the lowest to the highest, the expansion ratio of gangjung markedly increased (from 1,022 to 2,533%). Yet, the expansion ratio of the waxy rice sample steeped for 11–21 days at 35°C was not significantly different from the sample steeped for 21 days at 25°C, indicating that the lengthy steeping process for gangjung making can be shortened by increasing the steepi...

In this paper, we propose a novel electrode structure, which exhibits high-aperture ratio, in the super in-plane switching (SIPS) liquid crystal (LC) cell for high transmittance. Generally, the transmittance of the S-IPS LC cell is not superior to other LC mode using the multi domain effect because of the low aperture ratio. To improve the aperture ratio of the S-IPS cell, we found the method to minimize the black matrix (BM) area by applying the novel electrode structure which can move the disclination from the active area. As a result, we found that the proposed electrode structure could provide higher aperture ratio than that of the conventional type by reducing the BM area, so that we could achieve the high transmittance compared to the conventional structure. We used the commercial software ‘TechWiz LCD’ for calculation of the director configuration, which applies Q-tensor method.

Colon cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in worldwide. Most colon cancer patients develop recurrence suggesting that colon cancer is driven by a subpopulation of self-renewing cancer cells, termed cancer stem cell (CSCs), which may be responsible for tumor relapse and resistance against chemotherapy. Targeting CSCs to treat colon cancer may be an important therapeutic strategy. Sasa quelpaertensis Nakai is a bamboo grass that only grows in Jeju Island in South Korea. Although the anti-obesity and anti-inflammatory effects of Sasa leaves have been reported, the anti-cancer stem cell effects of Sasa leaves remain unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Sasa quelpaertensis leaves extracts (SQE) on suppressing cancer stemness of colon cancer cell. To obtain CSCs, we isolated CD133+/CD44+ population of HT29 colon cancer cells using Flow Cytometry Cell Sorting (FACS). We found that SQE significantly suppressed CD133+ and CD44+ population using FACS analysis. SQE inhibited colony ...

Diabetes mellitus is a complex metabolic disease. Type 2 diabetes is more frequent and characterized by insulin resistance. D-xylose is a sucrose inhibitor and may be useful as a functional sugar c...

Sasa quelpaertensis Nakai is a species of bamboo grasses grown in Mt.Halla on Jeju Island in South Korea. Sasa leaves have been suggested to have anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory effects. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a disease characterized by chronic inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study is to investigate the possible protective role of Sasa quelpaertensis leaf extract (SQE) on dextran sodium sulphate (DSS)-induced colitis in mice model. We found that SQE attenuated the severity of IBD assessed by disease activity index (DAI) score, shrinkage of colon length, and histopathological changes. SQE also significantly suppressed the DSS-induced serum inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6. Furthermore, SQE down-regulates the expression of TNF- α, COX-2, iNOS, NF-kB, and PPARγ. Furthermore, SQE down-regulated ERK1/2 phosphorylation, but not p38 or JNK. These results suggest that SQE may a protective role in gut inflammation including ...

Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial solid cancer in young children and malignant NB cells possess cancer stem cells (CSCs) characteristics. The successful elimination of CSCs is a good strategy for developing effective preventive and chemotherapeutic agent. CSCs possess characteristics, including differentiation and turmorigenicity. Although β-carotene has been associated with many anticancer mechanisms, there is the lack of evidence in the efficacy β-carotene on CSCs. In the present study, we investigated the effects of β-carotene on tumor cell differentiation and tumorigenicity using xenograft model which were injected with SK-N-BE(2)C NB cells subcutaneously. We found that β-carotene supplementation significantly inhibited tumor incidence as well as growth compared to tumor control. Furthermore, β-carotene was shown to induce tumor cell differentiation by up-regulating vimentin, peripherin, and neurofilament expression. On the other hand, β-carotene significantly suppressed tumor stemnes...

We propose an optical configuration for the reflective liquid crystal (LC) cell with single polarizer that can show excellent contrast ratio by effectively eliminating phase dispersion. The proposed configuration consists of a half-wave retarder, an A-plate, a quarter-wave LC cell and a reflector. We designed this optical configuration on a Poincare sphere with the trigonometric method. From the calculation, we confirm that the proposed configuration provides high contrast ratio over than 2 times compared to the conventional configuration.