Anti-adipogenic Pregnane Steroid from a Hydractinia-associated Fungus, Cladosporium sphaerospermum SW67

A pregnane steroid, 3α-hydroxy-pregn-7-ene-6,20-dione (1), was isolated from a Hydractinia-associated Cladosporium sphaerospermum SW67 by repetitive column chromatographic separation and highperformance liquid chromatography (HPLC) purification. The planar structure of 1 was elucidated from the analysis of the spectroscopic data (1D and 2D NMR spectra) and LC-MS data. The absolute configuration of 1 was determined by interpretation of ROESY spectrum of 1, together with the comparison of reported spectroscopic values in previous studies. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the identification of the pregnane scaffold from C. sphaerospermum, a natural source. Compound 1 was evaluated for its effects on lipid metabolism and adipogenesis during adipocyte maturation and showed that compound 1 substantially inhibited lipid accumulation compared to the control. Consistently, the expression of the adipocyte marker gene (Adipsin) was reduced upon incubation with 1. Further, we evaluated the effects of 1 on lipid metabolism by measuring the transcription of lipolytic and lipogenic genes. The expression of the lipolytic gene ATGL was significantly elevated upon exposure to 1 during adipogenesis, whereas the expression of lipogenic genes FASN and SREBP1 was significantly reduced upon treatment with 1. Thus, our findings provide experimental evidence that the steroid derived from Hydractinia-associated C. sphaerospermum SW67 is a potential therapeutic agent for obesity.

Predictive Factors for Perpetrations of Dating Violence in University Students / 정신간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to identify predictive factors that influence the perpetrations of violence while dating in university students. METHODS: Self-report questionnaires were used to collect data from university students with dating experiences(N=453) attending 3 regional universities. Data were analyzed using t-test, chi2-test, ANOVA, and logistic regression. RESULTS: Prevalence rates for psychological, physical and sexual perpetration were 50.1%, 32.5%, 5.5%. In adjusted analysis, compared to non-exposed students, students with psychological dating violence perpetration were at increased risk of psychological and physical dating victimization (OR=9.84, p<.001; OR=2.31, p=.001), had experienced emotional child abuse (OR=2.23, p=.001) and depressive feeling (OR=2.09 , p=.012). Compared to non-exposed students, students with physical dating violence perpetration were at increased risk of psychological and physical dating victimization (OR=2.44, p<.001; OR=7.78, p=.001), had experienced physical child abuse (OR=2.04, p=.001), and were female (OR=2.73, p<.001). CONCLUSION: To prevent dating violence, high-risk groups should be detected by surveying variables including experience of dating violence victimization and depressive feeling. Domestic violence could be decreased through parents education and counseling from childhood. Development and implementation of dating violence prevention programs by type of dating violence should be done.

Current Status of Women's Health Nursing Practicum and Direction

PURPOSE: This study was done to examine current status of women's health nursing practicum and identify necessary core nursing skills in this practicum area. Moreover, one syllabus and evaluation sheets for women's health nursing clinical practicum at one university were reviewed. METHODS: A survey design was used with 81 educators who were teaching maternity or women's health nursing and its practicum. RESULTS: Most clinical sites for practicum were university hospitals (43.0%), women's hospitals (32.7%), or general hospitals (17.3%); but the majority (77.8%) of educators expressed difficulty in finding appropriate practicum places. Common teaching and learning methods were clinical guides for practicum (44.6%), e-learning content (30.2%), and simulation (23.6%). Core nursing skills for this practicum included assessment of stages of labor, preparation of uterine-fetal monitoring devices and interpretation of results, monitoring uterus and fetal activity, and performing Leopold's maneuver. For postpartum care, the following were included; postpartum fundal massage, assessment of breast engorgement, fundus height, and episiotomy sites, inserting urinary catheter, and teaching the use of patient-controlled analgesia. CONCLUSION: To improve the quality of clinical practicum, development of a clear course syllabus, standardized clinical guidebook, and core nursing skills is required and should be shared with all relevant nurse educators.

Parents' Drinking Behavior and Factors Related to Mental Health of their University Student Offspring / 정신간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate factors related to mental health of university student offspring according to their parents' drinking behavior. METHODS: A cross-sectional design was used in this study. A convenience sample of university students were recruited from three universities in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, Korea. Data were collected using self-report questionnaires with 547 university students. The scales used for this study were the Korean version of the Children of Alcoholics Screening Test (CAST-K), Symptom Checklist-90-Revision (SCL-90-R), Rosenberg's Self-esteem Scale, and the Way of Coping Checklist. RESULTS: Participants were classified into three groups; nondrinking-parents group (53.5%), social drinking-parents group (21.8%), and problem drinking-parents group (24.7%). Participants whose parents were problem drinkers had significantly higher scores on all the subcategories of SCL-90-R compared to those of other groups. In the participants group whose parents were problem drinkers, mental health problem had a significant positive correlation to passive coping methods and a negative correlation to self-esteem. There was a significant negative relationship between self-esteem and positive coping methods. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate the mental health of university students may be negatively affected by their parents' drinking behaviors. Special attention and early interventions are needed for university students whose parents have drinking problems.