Adult Perceptions of Healthy Pregnancy: A Focus-Group Study.

The fastest aging society with the lowest fertility rate can be buffered by support for healthy pregnancies using sociocultural approaches. We aimed to address adult perceptions of a healthy pregnancy and explored their needs and concerns about childbirth across the lifespan. We conducted a qualitative study using content analysis to investigate general perceptions of a healthy pregnancy after focus-group interviews with adult men and women.

Clinical nurses' awareness and caring experiences for patients with cervical cancer: A qualitative study.

To determine the degree to which nurses are aware of cervical cancer and to describe nurses' experiences of caring for patients with cervical cancer. To promote quality of nursing care of cervical cancer, we need to explore their perceptions and nursing experience in doing cervical-cancer care. This study was a qualitative descriptive design.

Men's awareness of cervical cancer: a qualitative study.

Backgrounds: As HPV is a sexually transmitted virus, men are crucial in the prevention of cervical cancer, but research about men's awareness on cervical cancer is limited. Therefore, in this study, we investigated men's awareness toward women's cervical cancer, to thoroughly understand the viewpoints of men, and to emphasize the centrality of the role of men in the prevention of cervical cancer.

Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was chosen to explore men's awareness of women's cervical cancer.

Experiences with, perceptions of and attitudes towards traditional Korean medicine (TKM) in patients with chronic fatigue: a qualitative, one-on-one, in-depth interview study.

Objectives: To explore perceptions and experiences of patients with chronic fatigue with traditional Korean medicine (TKM) and their motivation for choosing TKM.

Design: Qualitative, one-on-one, in-depth interview study.

Setting: Primary TKM hospitals in Seoul, Incheon and Daejeon, South Korea.

Awareness of cervical cancer prevention among mothers of adolescent daughters in Korea: qualitative research.

Objectives: Korean adolescent girls are unprepared for cervical cancer prevention due to the lack of a mandatory policy regarding human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination and school health education regarding cervical cancer. The aim of this study was to determine how aware mothers are about cervical cancer prevention in their adolescent daughters, with a view to developing strategies for expanding primary cervical cancer prevention for adolescent girls through the mothers' involvement.

Design: A qualitative design was employed.

An extended leukocyte differential count (16 types of circulating leukocytes) using the CytoDiff flow cytometric system can provide information for the discrimination of sepsis severity and prediction of outcome in sepsis patients.

Background: The Beckman Coulter CytoDiff flow cytometric system (Beckman Coulter, Miami, FL) was recently developed for performing leukocyte differential counts in up to 16 leukocyte subpopulations. We compared these leukocyte subpopulation levels among patients with three stages of sepsis (uncomplicated sepsis, severe sepsis, septic shock), especially focused on the discrimination of complicated sepsis from uncomplicated sepsis.

Methods: We examined a total of 181 samples with sepsis who were admitted to the surgical intensive care unit.

An extended leukocyte differential count (16 types of circulating leukocytes) using the cytodiff flow cytometric system can provide informations for the discrimination of sepsis severity and prediction of outcome in sepsis patients.

Background: The Beckman Coulter CytoDiff flow cytometric system (Beckman Coulter, Miami, FL, USA) was recently developed for performing leukocyte differential counts in up to 16 leukocyte subpopulations. We compared these leukocyte subpopulation levels among patients with three stages of sepsis (uncomplicated sepsis, severe sepsis, septic shock), especially focused on the discrimination of complicated sepsis from uncomplicated sepsis. Methods: We examined a total of 181 samples with sepsis who were admitted to the surgical intensive care unit.

Production of ginsenoside aglycons and Rb1 deglycosylation pathway profiling by HPLC and ESI-MS/MS using Sphingobacterium multivorum GIN723.

Using enrichment culture, Sphingobacterium multivorum GIN723 (KCCM80060) was isolated as having activity for deglycosylation of compound K and ginsenoside F1 to produce ginsenoside aglycons such as S-protopanaxadiol (PPD(S)) and S-protopanaxatriol (PPT(S)). Through BLAST search, purified enzyme from S. multivorum GIN723 was revealed to be the outer membrane protein.

The first Korean case of disseminated mycetoma caused by Nocardia pseudobrasiliensis in a patient on long-term corticosteroid therapy for the treatment of microscopic polyangiitis.

Nocardia pseudobrasiliensis is predominantly associated with invasive infections in immunocompromised patients. We report a case of disseminated mycetoma caused by N. pseudobrasiliensis in a 57-yr-old woman with microscopic polyangiitis, who was treated for 3 months with corticosteroids.

A qualitative study of the experiences of patients with knee osteoarthritis undergoing moxibustion.

Objective: To explore and understand how patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) experience moxibustion.

Method: This qualitative research was conducted as part of a larger clinical trial of the effectiveness of moxibustion for the treatment of knee OA by qualitative content analysis. Sixteen patients with mild knee OA who participated in a 12-week moxibustion treatment as part of the trial were interviewed using open-ended questions.

Comparison of the Cytodiff flow cytometric leucocyte differential count system with the Sysmex XE-2100 and Beckman Coulter UniCel DxH 800.

Introduction: Routine automated haematology analysers categorize leucocytes into five types. The Cytodiff (Beckman Coulter) is a 16-part leucocyte differential analysis system that uses six markers and five colours. We compared leucocyte differential counts obtained by the Cytodiff with five-part differential counts obtained by routine automated haematology analysers.

Effects of ortho-dihydroxyisoflavone derivatives from Korean fermented soybean paste on melanogenesis in B16 melanoma cells and human skin equivalents.

In this study we investigated the inhibitory effects and possible mechanisms of action of 8'-hydroxydaidzein and 3'-hydroxydaidzein, two ortho-dihydroxyisoflavone derivatives from Korean fermented soybean paste, on melanogenesis in B16 murine melanoma cells. The two hydroxydaidzeins reduced melanin synthesis comparably to treatment with kojic acid, a proven whitening agent, in B16 melanoma cells. Furthermore, when in vitro human skin equivalents were treated with the hydroxydaidzeins, the levels of melanogenesis were significantly reduced relative to a kojic acid control.

Glucosylation of the flavonoid, astragalin by Leuconostoc mesenteroides B-512FMCM dextransucrase acceptor reactions and characterization of the products.

Astragalin (kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, Ast) glucosides were synthesized by the acceptor reaction of a dextransucrase produced by Leuconostoc mesenteroides B-512FMCM with astragalin and sucrose. Each glucoside was purified and their structures were assigned as kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-O-α-D-glucopyranoside (or kaempferol-3-O-β-D-nigeroside, Ast-G1') and kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-O-α-D-glucopyranoside (or kaempferol-3-O-β-D-isomaltoside, Ast-G1) for one glucose transferred, and kaempferol-3-O-β-D-isomaltooligosacharide (Ast-IMO or Ast-Gn; n=2-8). The astragalin glucosides exhibited 8.

Identification and characterization of the Rhizobium sp. strain GIN611 glycoside oxidoreductase resulting in the deglycosylation of ginsenosides.

Using enrichment culture, Rhizobium sp. strain GIN611 was isolated as having activity for deglycosylation of a ginsenoside, compound K (CK). The purified heterodimeric protein complex from Rhizobium sp.

Activation of LXRα induces lipogenesis in HaCaT cells.

The oxysterol nuclear receptors, LXRα (liver X receptor α; NR1H3) and LXRβ (NR1H2), coordinately regulate the expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism, anti-inflammation, and cholesterol transport. Previous studies have demonstrated that ligands of LXRα are important in the maintenance of the normal epidermal barrier function and keratinocyte differentiation. In this study, we examined whether LXRα and its ligands regulate lipid synthesis in HaCaT cells, a spontaneously transformed human keratinocyte cell line.

Evaluation of the TEST 1 erythrocyte sedimentation rate system and intra- and inter-laboratory quality control using new latex control materials.

Background: The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) test has been considered to be a simple procedure, not requiring quality control (QC). However, QC is essential for accuracy and precision. We evaluated the TEST 1 ESR system and performed QC procedures using newly developed latex control materials in three hospitals.

Natural ortho-dihydroxyisoflavone derivatives from aged Korean fermented soybean paste as potent tyrosinase and melanin formation inhibitors.

Natural o-dihydroxyisoflavone (ODI) derivatives with variable hydroxyl substituent at the aromatic ring of isoflavone and three known isoflavones were isolated from five-year-old Korean fermented soybean paste (Doenjang) and evaluated as potent inhibitors on tyrosinase activity and melanin formation in melan-a cells comparing with other known isoflavones, 7,8,4'-trihydroxyisoflavone (1) and 7,3',4'-trihydroxyisoflavone (2) inhibited tyrosinase by 50% at a concentration of 11.21+/-0.8 microM and 5.

Regioselective hydroxylation of isoflavones by Streptomyces avermitilis MA-4680.

Screening of bacterial whole cells was performed for regioselective hydroxylation of daidzein and genistein. Among the strains examined, Streptomyces avermitilis MA-4680 showed high ortho-dihydroxylation activity to produce 3',4',7-trihydroxyisoflavone and 3',4',5,7-tetrahydroxyisoflavone from daidzein (4',7-dihydroxyisoflavone) and genistein (4',5,7-trihydroxyisoflavone), respectively. Using 100 mg cells (wet wt.

Studies on depigmenting activities of dihydroxyl benzamide derivatives containing adamantane moiety.

Six diphenolic compounds containing adamantane moiety were synthesized and evaluated as potent inhibitors on tyrosinase activity and melanin formation in Melan-A cells. The inhibitory activity of 4-adamantyl resorcinol 1 was similar to that of 4-n-butyl resorcinol in both assays. However, dihydroxyl benzamide derivatives 6a-e showed different inhibitory patterns.

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate measurements by TEST 1 better reflect inflammation than do those by the Westergren method in patients with malignancy, autoimmune disease, or infection.

We compared the TEST 1 (Alifax, Padova, Italy) and Westergren methods of measuring the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) to assess inflammation. The ESR was measured by both methods in 154 blood samples from patients with malignancy (n = 69), autoimmune disease (n = 44), or infection (n = 41). Total protein, albumin, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured in each plasma sample, and albumin and alpha(1)-, alpha(2)-, beta(1)-, beta(2)-, and gamma-globulin fractions were measured by capillary electrophoresis.

ortho-dihydroxyisoflavone derivatives from aged Doenjang (Korean fermented soypaste) and its radical scavenging activity.

One new ortho-dihydroxyisoflavone, 7,3',4'-trihydroxyisoflavone (2), and two known ortho-dihydroxyisoflavone derivatives were isolated from 5-year-old Doenjang (Korean fermented soypaste), and evaluated as potent antioxidant by comparing with other known isoflavones. 7,8,4'-Trihydroxyisoflavone (1), 7,3',4'-trihydroxyisoflavone (2), and 6,7,4'-trihydroxyisoflavone (3) inhibited DPPH (Diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl) formation by 50% at a concentration of 21.5+/-0.

Transcriptional profiling in human HaCaT keratinocytes in response to kaempferol and identification of potential transcription factors for regulating differential gene expression.

Kaempferol is the major flavonol in green tea and exhibits many biomedically useful properties such as antioxidative, cytoprotective and anti-apoptotic activities. To elucidate its effects on the skin, we investigated the transcriptional profiles of kaempferol-treated HaCaT cells using cDNA microarray analysis and identified 147 transcripts that exhibited significant changes in expression. Of these, 18 were up-regulated and 129 were down-regulated.

Statistically designed enzymatic hydrolysis for optimized production of icariside II as a novel melanogenesis inhibitor.

Three kinds of prenylated flavonols, icariside I, icariside II, and icaritin, were isolated from an icariin hydrolysate and their effects on melanogenesis evaluated based on mushroom tyrosinase inhibition and quantifying the melanin contents in melanocytes. Although none of the compounds had an effect on tyrosinase activity, icariside II and icaritin both effectively inhibited the melanin contents with an IC50 of 10.53 and 11.

Biflavonoids isolated from Selaginella tamariscina regulate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase in human skin fibroblasts.

The methanol extract from Selaginella tamariscina significantly inhibited UV irradiation induced activity of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) in primary fibroblasts from human skin. Using the technique of bioassay-directed chromatographic separation, five biflavonoids were isolated from the ethyl acetate soluble fraction of S. tamariscina.

Phytosphingosine stimulates the differentiation of human keratinocytes and inhibits TPA-induced inflammatory epidermal hyperplasia in hairless mouse skin.

The binding of sphingoid bases to peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) has been detected in a solid-phase binding assay. However, sphingoid base-induced changes in PPAR transactivation activity have not been examined. In this report, we show by reporter gene analyses that phytosphingosine (PS), a natural sphingoid base, activates the transcriptional activity of PPARs in the immortalized human keratinocyte, HaCaT.