Extraction characteristics of dental polymer-based hand instruments / 대한치과재료학회지

The purpose of this study is to analyze hazardous substances that can be eluted from polymer instruments used in dentistry in vitro. In the study, Dental polymer based hand instruments were eluted with exaggerated conditions (4 g/20 mL, 50 ℃, 72 h) in accordance with ISO 10993-12:2021. Appearance, pH, potassium permanganate-reducible substances, UV spectrum, residue on evaporation, and heavy metals. The additional test was performed by GC/MS for Bisphenol A. As a result, the extracts of 10 types of dental polymer based hand instruments showed colorless, transparent, and no foreign substances. pH was between 0.9 to 1.7. the difference in potassium permanganate consumption was 0.1 to 0.5 mL. The absorbance (220~350 nm) was less than 0.05, and the evaporation residue was 0.5 to 0.8 mg. Concentration of Pb was less than 4 ppm, and BPA was not detected in all extracts. It was confirmed that the 10 types of polymer materials used in this study did not exceed the regulated amount of hazardous substances set by the domestic regulatory body (Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), Korea). These results suggest that these polymers could be safely used in the oral cavity as dental instruments.

Investigation of Dental Hygienists’ Practice about Rules on Dental Disputes Prevention / 치위생과학회지

Background@#This study analyzed the practice of dental medical dispute prevention rules of dental hygienists to present an improvement plan for improving perceived importance and practice and provide data for the development of effective medical dispute prevention programs. @*Methods@#A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted targeting dental hygienists who were providing assistance at dental hospitals and dental clinics in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do regions from March 22 to April 28, 2022. The questionnaire collected from 273 dental hygienists consisted of eight questions on general characteristics, 30 questions on medical dispute experience, and 14 questions on medical dispute prevention. @*Results@#Complaints showed a high experience rate in ‘Consultation & reservation’, medical disputes in ‘Patient handling (unkind) related’, and ‘Prosthesis installation and cement removal’. In both the importance and practice of medical dispute prevention rules, Preservation of medical records and other medical-related data’ was high, and ‘Management of patients on standby for a long time’was low in terms of practice. ‘Lack of time’ and ‘Lack of manpower’ were cited as reasons for not resolving dental treatment disputes. The importance of dental dispute prevention rules was found to be significant according to age and position, and it was also found to affect the level of practice. @*Conclusion@#Seventy-six-point six percent of the respondents said that education on the prevention of medical disputes was necessary, although they lacked recognition of prevention rules compared to their perceptions and experiences. This study suggested specifying prevention rules in dental hygiene subjects and expanding education, improvement of dental treatment system, revise the law on the range of work to improve the recognition and practice of prevention rules.

Myristoleic Acid Promotes Anagen Signaling by Autophagy through Activating Wnt/β-Catenin and ERK Pathways in Dermal Papilla Cells

Alopecia is a distressing condition caused by the dysregulation of anagen, catagen, and telogen in the hair cycle. Dermal papilla cells (DPCs) regulate the hair cycle and play important roles in hair growth and regeneration. Myristoleic acid (MA) increases Wnt reporter activity in DPCs. However, the action mechanisms of MA on the stimulation of anagen signaling in DPCs is not known. In this study, we evaluated the effects of MA on anagen-activating signaling pathways in DPCs. MA significantly increased DPC proliferation and stimulated the G2/M phase, accompanied by increasing cyclin A, Cdc2, and cyclin B1. To elucidate the mechanism by which MA promotes DPC proliferation, we evaluated the effect of MA on autophagy and intracellular pathways. MA induced autophagosome formation by decreasing the levels of the phospho-mammalian target of rapamycin (phospho-mTOR) and increasing autophagy-related 7 (Atg7) and microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3II (LC3II). MA also increased the phosphorylation levels of Wnt/β-catenin proteins, such as GSK3β ( Ser9 ) and β-catenin (Ser 552 and Ser675 ). Treatment with XAV939, an inhibitor of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, attenuated the MA-induced increase in β-catenin nuclear translocation. Moreover, XAV939 reduced MA-induced effects on cell cycle progression, autophagy, and DPC proliferation. On the other hand, MA increased the levels of phospho (Thr202 /Tyr204 )-extracellular signal regulated kinases (ERK). MA-induced ERK phosphorylation led to changes in the expression levels of Cdc2, Atg7 and LC3II, as well as DPC proliferation. Our results suggest that MA promotes anagen signaling via autophagy and cell cycle progression by activating the Wnt/β-catenin and ERK pathways in DPCs.

Awareness and Consumption of Energy Drinks and Associated Factors among College Students in Cheongju / 대한지역사회영양학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to investigate the awareness of energy drinks, energy drink consumption behaviors, and associated factors among college students. METHODS: A total of 536 students from three universities in Cheongju completed a self-administered questionnaire regarding awareness and consumption of energy drinks as well as general characteristics, health-related characteristics, and eating habits. RESULTS: Approximately half of the respondents reported they knew what energy drinks were, while 45.7% had heard of energy drinks but did not know what they were. However, 76.9% had experience in using energy drinks. The main reason for using energy drinks was to stay awake, and the main place that they were used was on campus or at the library. More than 70% of energy drink users did not read the caffeine contents of energy drinks. After consuming energy drinks, 31.3% experienced adverse effects, the most serious being sleep disturbance. Approximately 33% of students consumed energy drinks once a month or more frequently, and men consumed energy drinks more frequently than females. Energy drink users who consumed at least one drink each month were more likely to be natural science major or drink more milk for male students, and to have more allowances or consume less meat for female students, compared with non-users. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that 33% of students consumed at least one energy drink each month, and there were a small number of students consumed energy drinks almost every day or energy drinks mixed with alcohol. Accordingly, college students should be taught potential health hazards of energy drinks mixed with alcohol as well as energy drinks alone. In addition, reading labels about caffeine and sugar contents in energy drinks is encouraged.

Awareness and Consumption of Energy Drinks and Associated Factors among College Students in Cheongju / 대한지역사회영양학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to investigate the awareness of energy drinks, energy drink consumption behaviors, and associated factors among college students. METHODS: A total of 536 students from three universities in Cheongju completed a self-administered questionnaire regarding awareness and consumption of energy drinks as well as general characteristics, health-related characteristics, and eating habits. RESULTS: Approximately half of the respondents reported they knew what energy drinks were, while 45.7% had heard of energy drinks but did not know what they were. However, 76.9% had experience in using energy drinks. The main reason for using energy drinks was to stay awake, and the main place that they were used was on campus or at the library. More than 70% of energy drink users did not read the caffeine contents of energy drinks. After consuming energy drinks, 31.3% experienced adverse effects, the most serious being sleep disturbance. Approximately 33% of students consumed energy drinks once a month or more frequently, and men consumed energy drinks more frequently than females. Energy drink users who consumed at least one drink each month were more likely to be natural science major or drink more milk for male students, and to have more allowances or consume less meat for female students, compared with non-users. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that 33% of students consumed at least one energy drink each month, and there were a small number of students consumed energy drinks almost every day or energy drinks mixed with alcohol. Accordingly, college students should be taught potential health hazards of energy drinks mixed with alcohol as well as energy drinks alone. In addition, reading labels about caffeine and sugar contents in energy drinks is encouraged.

A Study on Factors Affecting Quality of Life in Patients on Dialysis / 기본간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was done to identify stress, fatigue, and self efficacy in patients on dialysis and identify their effect on quality of life. METHOD: The participants (n=149) who agreed to participate in the research were selected from among those who were on dialysis treatment at C University Medical Centers in Seoul and Inchon, and at C University Medical Center in Jeju. The data were collected from July, 2001 to March, 2002 using interviews. Data analysis was done with t-test, ANOVA, and multiple stepwise regression using the SAS program. RESULT: Quality of life was significantly different according to economic status, and type of dialysis. Quality of life for the group with higher economic status was better than for the group with lower economic status, and the group on peritoneal dialysis had higher quality of life scores than the group on hemodialysis. As for self-efficacy, there were significant difference according to duration of disease, type of dialysis, and duration of dialysis. Stress was significantly different according to marital status. Quality of life was significantly predicted by stress (40.02%) and fatigue (3.85%). CONCLUSION: To improve quality of life for people on dialysis, their stress should be treated positively, also multi-dimensional nursing interventions to provide emotional support and nursing interventions to diminish fatigue are required.