Program evaluation of postgraduate obstetrics and gynecology training in Lao people's democratic republic - using the CIPP model.

Background: The obstetrics and gynaecology (OB-GYN) residency training program in Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR) began in 2003 based on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and 'Reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health interventions (RMNCH) strategies and action plan'. However, the training program had not been properly evaluated previously. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the current postgraduate OB-GYN residency training program in Lao PDR by using CIPP model to identify the current problems (the strengths and weaknesses) and suggest a future plan to promote continuous improvement.

Education of History of Medicine for 80 Years: History and Current Status in Republic of Korea.

Medical history education enables the medical students to understand the humanistic aspects of medicine and also help to promote the professionalism of doctors. It makes them understand the disappearing or emerging diseases by recognizing the historical changes and trends to respond appropriately. Therefore, it is helpful to study and understand modern medicine.

Needs assessment for faculty development in dental education, at the University of Health Sciences, Lao PDR.

Due to the short history of dental education in Laos, the educational system is still incomplete, with only a few faculty development (FD) programs. This study aims to identify the needs assessment for FD, in Lao dental education. A survey was conducted, with dentists from the Faculty of Dentistry, in 2022.

Nuclear Receptor Expression and Function in Human Lung Cancer Pathogenesis.

Lung cancer is caused by combinations of diverse genetic mutations. Here, to understand the relevance of nuclear receptors (NRs) in the oncogene-associated lung cancer pathogenesis, we investigated the expression profile of the entire 48 NR members by using QPCR analysis in a panel of human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) that included precancerous and tumorigenic HBECs harboring oncogenic K-rasV12 and/or p53 alterations. The analysis of the profile revealed that oncogenic alterations accompanied transcriptional changes in the expression of 19 NRs in precancerous HBECs and 15 NRs according to the malignant progression of HBECs.

Combined therapeutic potential of nuclear receptors with receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors in lung cancer.

Cancer heterogeneity is a big hurdle in achieving complete cancer treatment, which has led to the emergence of combinational therapy. In this study, we investigated the potential use of nuclear receptor (NR) ligands for combinational therapy with other anti-cancer drugs. We first profiled all 48 NRs and 48 biological anti-cancer targets in four pairs of lung cell lines, where each pair was obtained from the same patient.

The Advent of Lifestyle Medicine.

The fact that lifestyle is closely associated with the pathogenesis of chronic diseases has been known for more than three decades. Smoking may cause lung cancer, and a lifestyle of fast food consumption and little exercise can cause metabolic diseases. The importance of lifestyle changes in terms of a new medical paradigm to solve chronic diseases is becoming popular in modern times.

Application of 'writing for healing' in premedical humanities education.

There has been a recent tendency to attach special importance to writing education. Books on 'writing to heal' are being written in or translated into Korean. According to these texts, writing is a valuable tool for internal healing, depending on the mode of application.

Functional Expression of P2Y Receptors in WERI-Rb1 Retinoblastoma Cells.

P2Y receptors are metabotropic G-protein-coupled receptors, which are involved in many important biologic functions in the central nervous system including retina. Subtypes of P2Y receptors in retinal tissue vary according to the species and the cell types. We examined the molecular and pharmacologic profiles of P2Y purinoceptors in retinoblastoma cell, which has not been identified yet.

Src family kinase potentiates the activity of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in rat autonomic ganglion innervating urinary bladder.

Src family kinases (SFKs), one of the tyrosine kinase groups, are primary regulators of signal transductions that control cellular functions such as cell proliferation, differentiation, survival, metabolism, and other important roles of the cell. One of the crucial functions of SFKs is to regulate the activities of various neuronal channels. In this study, we investigated the modulatory action of SFK on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) expressed in rat major pelvic ganglion (MPG) neurons innervating the urinary bladder.

Serum levels of angiopoietin-related growth factor are increased in metabolic syndrome.

Angiopoietin-related growth factor (AGF), a novel hepatokine, showed therapeutic implications in diabetic and obese animal models. Although the physiologic functions of human AGF have not yet been identified, serum levels of AGF displayed up-regulation in groups with diseases including preeclampsia and diabetes; and there was little association between genetic variability of AGF and metabolic syndrome-related phenotypes. We analyzed serum levels of AGF and other biochemical and anthropometric markers in 216 Korean persons--the numbers of healthy controls and those with metabolic syndrome were 138 and 78, respectively--to confirm research data from animal models.

Repression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase using artificial zinc finger transcription factors.

Telomerase activation is a key step in the development of human cancers. Expression of the catalytic subunit, human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), represents the limiting factor for telomerase activity. In this study, we have used artificial zinc finger protein (ZFP) transcription factors (TF) to repress the expression of hTERT in human cancer cell lines at the transcriptional level.

Predictive factors for interferon and ribavirin combination therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Aim: To confirm the predictive factors for interferon (IFN)-alpha and ribavirin combination therapy for chronic hepatitis patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1b.

Methods: HCV RNA from 50 patients infected with HCV genotype 1b was studied by cloning and sequencing of interferon sensitivity determining region (ISDR), PKR-eIF2alpha phosphorylation homology domain (PePHD). Patients were treated with IFN-alpha and ribavirin for 6 mo and grouped by effectiveness of the therapy.

Calcium mobilization by activation of M(3)/M(5) muscarinic receptors in the human retinoblastoma.

Activation of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChR) is one of the most important signal transduction pathways in the human body. In this study, we investigated the role of mAChR activation in relation to its subtypes in human retinoblastoma cell-lines (WERI-Rb-1) using Ca(2+) measurement, real-time PCR, and Western Blot techniques. Acetylcholine (ACh) produced prominent [Ca(2+)](i) transients in a repeated manner in WERI-Rb-1 cells.

On the role of pore helix in regulation of TRPV5 by extracellular protons.

The transient receptor potential channel TRPV5 is localized to the apical membrane of the distal renal tubule and plays an important role in the regulation of transepithelial Ca(2+) reabsorption in kidney. We have previously reported that extracellular protons inhibit TRPV5 by binding to glutamate-522 (E522) in the extracellular domain of the channel. We suggested that E522 is an extracellular "pH sensor" and its titration by extracellular protons inhibits TRPV5 via conformational change(s) of the pore helix.

Conformational changes of pore helix coupled to gating of TRPV5 by protons.

The transient receptor potential channel TRPV5 constitutes the apical entry pathway for transepithelial Ca2+ transport. We showed that TRPV5 was inhibited by both physiological intra- and extracellular acid pH. Inhibition of TRPV5 by internal protons was enhanced by extracellular acidification.

Characteristic of aromatic amino acid substitution at alpha 96 of hemoglobin.

Replacement of valine by tryptophan or tyrosine at position alpha96 of the alpha chain (alpha96Val), located in the alpha(1)beta(2) subunit interface of hemoglobin leads to low oxygen affinity hemoglobin, and has been suggested to be due to the extra stability introduced by an aromatic amino acid at the alpha96 position. The characteristic of aromatic amino acid substitution at the alpha96 of hemoglobin has been further investigated by producing double mutant r Hb (alpha42Tyr --> Phe, alpha96Val --> Trp). r Hb (alpha42Tyr --> Phe) is known to exhibit almost no cooperativity in binding oxygen, and possesses high oxygen affinity due to the disruption of the hydrogen bond between alpha42Tyr and beta99Asp in thealpha(1)beta(2) subunit interface of deoxy Hb A.

The N-terminal extracellular domain is required for polycystin-1-dependent channel activity.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is caused by mutation of polycystin-1 or polycystin-2. Polycystin-2 is a Ca(2+)-permeable cation channel. Polycystin-1 is an integral membrane protein of less defined function.

Iontophoresis and sonophoresis stimulate epidermal cytokine expression at energies that do not provoke a barrier abnormality: lamellar body secretion and cytokine expression are linked to altered epidermal calcium levels.

We performed this study to identify whether the expression of epidermal cytokines is altered by changes in epidermal calcium content, independent of skin barrier disruption. Iontophoresis and sonophoresis with the energies that do not disrupt the skin barrier, but induce changes in the epidermal calcium gradient, were applied to the skin of hairless mice. Immediately after iontophoresis and sonophoresis, immersion in a solution containing calcium was carried out, and iontophoresis in either high- or low-calcium solutions was performed.

Mechanism and molecular determinant for regulation of rabbit transient receptor potential type 5 (TRPV5) channel by extracellular pH.

The transient receptor potential type 5 (TRPV5) channel is present in kidney and intestine and important for transepithelial (re)absorption of calcium in these tissues. We report that in whole-cell patch clamp recording extracellular acidification inhibited rabbit TRPV5 with apparent pKa approximately 6.55.

Human zinc fingers as building blocks in the construction of artificial transcription factors.

We describe methods for generating artificial transcription factors capable of up- or downregulating the expression of genes whose promoter regions contain the target DNA sequences. To accomplish this, we screened zinc fingers derived from sequences in the human genome and isolated 56 zinc fingers with diverse DNA-binding specificities. We used these zinc fingers as modular building blocks in the construction of novel, sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins.

Analysis of polymorphism of the GLUT2 promoter in NIDDM patients and its functional consequence to the promoter activity.

Glucose transporter type 2 (GLUT2), along with glucokinase, has been implicated to participate in glucose-induced insulin secretion in pancreatic beta-cells. Recently, several sequence variations in the promoter of GLUT2 have been identified in patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), but the functional effects of these polymorphisms on promoter activity have not previously been studied. We compared the incidence of sequence variations in the GLUT2 promoter in 100 normal subjects and 100 NIDDM patients.

Factors predictive of response to interferon-alpha therapy in hepatitis C virus type 1b infection.

Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) has been used to treat hepatitis C Virus (HCV)-induced infection but has been effective in only about half of all patients. It is suggested that the different responses to IFN-alpha treatment in HCV infection may be influenced by HCV genotypes, HCV RNA titer at the beginning of IFN-alpha therapy, and the sequences of the interferon sensitivity determining region (ISDR). However, there have also been reports showing that these have no relation to an IFN-alpha effect.