Impact of Sexual Attitude and Marital Intimacy on Sexual Satisfaction in Pregnant Couples: An Application of the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate actor and partner effects of sexual attitude and marital intimacy on sexual satisfaction in pregnant couples. METHODS: Data were collected from 176 pairs of the pregnant couples visiting for prenatal care at hospitals from June 18 to September 24, 2016. The collected data were analyzed by paired t-test and Pearson's correlation coefficients using SPSS 18.0 and interdependent effect (Actor-Partner Interdependence Model analysis) through AMOS 18.0. RESULTS: The sexual attitude and marital intimacy of the pregnant woman did not have a partner effect on the sexual satisfaction of her husband, respectively (β=.12, p=.141), (β=.01, p=.938). The sexual attitude of the husband had a partner effect on the sexual satisfaction of the pregnant woman (β=.13, p=.021), but the marital intimacy of the husband did not show a partner effect (β=.07, p=.202). CONCLUSION: Study suggests that the sexual attitude and marital intimacy of pregnant couples should be considered as factors when developing an intervention to improve sexual satisfaction in couples. Moreover, pregnant couples should participate in intervention together because the sexual satisfaction has conceptual view of interdependence in two-person relationships.

Diagnostic accuracy of a combination of salivary hemoglobin levels, self-report questionnaires, and age in periodontitis screening

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the predictive performance of a combination of self-report questionnaires, salivary hemoglobin levels, and age as a non-invasive screening method for periodontitis. METHODS: The periodontitis status of 202 adults was examined using salivary hemoglobin levels, responses to 10 questions on a self-report questionnaire, and the Community Periodontal Index (CPI). The ability of those two variables and the combination thereof with age to predict the presence of CPI scores of 3-4 and 4 was assessed using logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. RESULTS: CPI scores of 3-4 and 4 were present among 79.7% and 46.5% of the sample, respectively. The area under the ROC curves (AUROCs) of salivary hemoglobin levels for predicting prevalence of CPI scores of 3-4 and 4 were 0.63 and 0.67, respectively (with sensitivity values of 71% and 60% and specificity values of 56% and 72%, respectively). Two distinct sets of five questions were associated with CPI scores of 3-4 and 4, with AUROCs of 0.73 and 0.71, sensitivity values of 76% and 66%, and specificity values of 63% and 69%. The combined model incorporating both variables and age showed the best predictive performance, with AUROCs of 0.78 and 0.76, sensitivity values of 71% and 65%, and specificity values of 68% and 77% for CPI scores of 3-4 and 4, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of salivary hemoglobin levels and self-report questionnaires was shown to be a valuable screening method for detecting periodontitis.

Efficacy of dentifrices containing policresulen in controlling dental plaque and gingivitis formation / 대한구강보건학회지

OBJECTIVES: This clinical study aimed to investigate if dentifrices containing policresulen would help to control dental plaque and gingivitis. METHODS: Seventy-eight eligible adults participated in this double-blind and randomized clinical study after an initial oral examination, calculus removal, and tooth prophylaxis. Two weeks after the procedure, the participants were assigned to three groups using the following dentifrices: (1) a dentifrice containing 0.22% NaF (control group); (2) a dentifrice containing 0.22% NaF and 100 ppm policresulen (policresulen group); and (3) a dentifrice containing 0.22% NaF, 100 ppm policresulen, and 1.00% bamboo salt (policresulen/bamboo group). The participants used only the provided dentifrice (for 1 min, twice a day, over 8 weeks) when brushing their teeth and followed their normal brushing habits. Dental plaque accumulation and gingivitis measurements were conducted using the Turesky modification of the Quigley-Hein plaque index (PI), the Loe and Silness gingival index (GI), and the percent bleeding on probing (%BOP) to obtain baseline data and 4- and 8-week data after grouping. RESULTS: A total of 73 participants aged 35.92+/-11.46 years (mean+/-SD) completed the study. The results after 8 weeks demonstrated statistically significant group-by-time interactions for PI, GI, and %BOP (P<0.001). The PI observed in the control groups increased over time up to 6%, while that observed in the dentifrice groups containing policresulen decreased by 5% (P<0.001). For GI and %BOP, the control group exhibited significantly higher values after 8 weeks, while the policresulen and the policresulen/bamboo groups revealed similar index values as the baseline after 4 and 8 weeks. The changes in all indices were significantly different between the control and the two experimental groups. There were no significant differences in the results obtained from the policresulen/bamboo group and the results obtained from the policresulen group. CONCLUSIONS: Use of dentifrices containing policresulen over 8 weeks demonstrated anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis efficacy compared to a control dentifrice.

The relationship between role stress and turnover among dental hygienists: mediating effects of commitment / 대한구강보건학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study analyzes the effect of role stress on turnover and examines the mediating effects of organizational, career, and job commitment. METHODS: This study involved a questionnaire survey on socio-demographic characteristics, working environment, role stress, commitment, and turnover. This was administered to 272 clinical dental hygienists from February 1, 2014, to February 28, 2014, and data were analyzed using t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis, and hierarchical multiple regression. RESULTS: Turnover among dental hygienists increased when their role stress was high and the latter was significantly correlated with organizational, career, and job commitment. In the relationship between role stress and turnover, organizational and career commitment worked as the mediating factors with organizational commitment showing the biggest effect. CONCLUSIONS: In order to reduce role stress, the causes of role conflict and role overload should be systematically monitored. Improvement of the wage and working system along with expansion of specific tasks of dental hygienists to enhance their organizational and career commitment is required.

Interactions between secreted GRA proteins and host cell proteins across the paratitophorous vacuolar membrane in the parasitism of Toxoplasma gondii

Interactions between GRA proteins of dense granules in Toxoplasma gondii and host cell proteins were analyzed by yeast two-hybrid technique. The cMyc-GRA fusion proteins expressed from pGBKT7 plasmid in Y187 yeast were bound to host cell proteins from pGADT7-Rec-HeLa cDNA library transformed to AH109 yeast by mating method. By the selection procedures, a total of 939 colonies of the SD/-AHLT culture, 348 colonies of the X-alpha-gal positive and PCR, 157 colonies of the X-beta-gal assay were chosen for sequencing the cDNA and finally 90 colonies containing ORF were selected to analyze the interactions. GRA proteins interacted with a variety of host cell proteins such as enzymes, structural and functional proteins of organellar proteins of broad spectrum. Several specific bindings of each GRA protein to host proteins were discussed presumptively the role of GRA proteins after secreting into the parasitophorous vacuoles (PV) and the PV membrane in the parasitism of this parasite.

Shade analysis of anterior teeth using digital shade analysis system / 대한치과보철학회지

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: A scientific examination and understanding of overall aspects of the natural dentition is the first step involved in making a satisfactory selection in the shade of an aesthetic prosthesis. Proper natural shade selection of the prosthetic restoration that is in harmony with the remaining dentition is as important aesthetically, as harmony of form and function in the anterior dentition. Clinically, the most commonly applied method of shade selection has been visual, but because of the subjective nature inherent to this method, shade selection results are variable and can be influenced by such factors as the technician, the type of shade guide used, and the type and intensity of the lighting. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop a more objective and scientific approach to examining and understanding the shade of teeth, which has in turn lead to the development of a number of shade analysis devices that present a more objective method of shade analysis. MATERIAL AND METHOD: In this study, the shades of healthy anterior teeth were examined and analyzed using the recently developed digital shade analysis of the ShadeScan(TM) System. The study examined 80 individuals in their twenties, 40 males and 40 females, presenting 6 healthy, unrestored maxillary anterior teeth. Tooth brushing and oral prophylaxis were performed prior to evaluation. The ShadeScan handpiece was used to acquire images of the 6 maxillary anterior teeth. These images were analyzed using the Vita/Classical mode of the ShadeScan(TM) Software, and shade maps of each tooth were acquired and divided into cervical, middle, and incisal thirds. The shade distribution of each third, left and right symmetry, and gender differences were investigated and analyzed. RESULTS: The results of the study are as follows: 1. An overwhelming majority of the examined teeth were found to possess shades belong to Group A, with the greatest variations occurring at the middle and cervical thirds of the maxillary central and lateral incisors, in both male and female subjects. 2. Canines of both male and female subjects showed left and right symmetry with uniform shade distribution of A4 and C4, while the lateral and central incisors showed left-right symmetry of the incisal 1/3 with a uniform shade distribution of A2 and A3 shades. 3. No significant differences in shade distribution were seen between genders in maxillary canines, whereas maxillary central and lateral incisors showed differences at the middle and cervical thirds between male and female subjects. The results of this study show that with the exception of maxillary canines, maxillary anterior teeth display a diverse shade distribution as well as gender differences. CONCLUSION: Clinically, when making a shade selection using the existing shade guide, one must consider the fact that even a single tooth consists of a variety of shades. The results of this study show that when selecting a shade from a number of groups is difficult, shades from A group are the most consistent with the natural shade of maxillary anterior teeth.