Antimicrobial effect of alexidine and chlorhexidine against Enterococcus faecalis infection / 国际口腔科学杂志·英文版

A previous study demonstrated that alexidine has greater affinity for the major virulence factors of bacteria than chlorhexidine. The aim of this study was to compare the antimicrobial activity of 1% alexidine with that of 2% chlorhexidine using Enterococcus faecalis-infected dentin blocks. Sixty bovine dentin blocks were prepared and randomly divided into six groups of 10 each. E. faecalis was inoculated on 60 dentin blocks using the Luppens apparatus for 24 h and then the dentin blocks were soaked in 2% chlorhexidine or 1% alexidine solutions for 5 and 10 min, respectively. Sterile saline was used as a control. The antimicrobial efficacy was assessed by counting the number of bacteria adhering to the dentin surface and observing the degradation of bacterial shape or membrane rupture under a scanning electron microscope. Significantly fewer bacteria were observed in the 2% chlorhexidine- or 1% alexidine-soaked groups than in the control group (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the number of bacteria adhering to the dentinal surface between the two experimental groups or between the two soaking time groups (P>0.05). Ruptured or antiseptic-attached bacteria were more frequently observed in the 10-min-soaked chlorhexidine and alexidine groups than in the 5-min-soaked chlorhexidine and alexidine groups. In conclusion, 10-min soaking with 1% alexidine or 2% chlorhexidine can be effective against E. faecalis infection.

Psychological, Social, and Environmental Factors Associated With Utilization of Senior Centers Among Older Adults in Korea / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to examine the relationships among the psychological, social, and environmental factors influencing the utilization of senior centers among older adults in Korea. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was administered to two types of older adults who lived in Seoul, Korea: 262 older adults who used senior centers (3 places) and 156 older adults who did not use senior centers. RESULTS: Our results showed clearly that the utilization of the senior centers in Korea is affected by higher self-efficacy (odds ratio [OR], 6.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.31 to 12.32), higher perceived benefits (OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.16 to 4.36), lower perceived barriers (OR, 6.43; 95% CI, 3.07 to 11.45), higher family support (OR, 4.21; 95% CI, 2.02 to 8.77), and higher support from friends (OR, 4.08; 95% CI, 2.38 to 7.81). The results also showed that participants whose total travel time was 15 to 29 minutes (OR, 2.84; 95% CI, 1.21 to 3.64) or less than 14 minutes (OR, 4.68; 95% CI, 3.41 to 8.41) were more likely to use a senior center than those who had to travel more than 30 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the utilization of senior centers in Korea is affected by psychological, social, and environmental factors, specifically by self-efficacy, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, social support, convenience of transportation, and total travel time to the senior centers. The effects of longer-term utilization of the senior centers by non-users on health-related outcomes in a large population warrant attention.

Use of Senior Center and the Health-Related Quality of Life in Korean Older Adults / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between the use of senior center and health-related quality of life in Korean older adults. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted to two types of older adults who lived in Busan, Korea: 154 older adults who used a senior center and 137 older adults who did not use a senior center. The Korean version of short-form 36-item health survey was administered to assess the health-related quality of life. Demographic variables were obtained from a questionnaire. These were gender, age, family status, marital status, education, monthly income, present illness, body mass index and physical activity. RESULTS: The 8-domain scales of physical function and role-physical were significantly higher in the users of the senior center compared with the non-users (F=4.87, p=0.027 and F=7.02, p=0.009, respectively). The 8-domain scales of vitality was also significantly higher in the users of the senior center compared with the non-users (F=7.48, p=0.007). CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that the users of the senior center have higher physical function, role-physical and vitality compared with the non-users. These findings suggest that although the results are unable to specify causal relationships using the senior center may lead to some improvement in health-related quality of life.

A Morphological Study of the Branches of the Axillary Artery in Korean Female / 체질인류학회지

The branches of the axillary artery have been studied in 38 Korean female cadavers. 1. The superior thoracic artery arose from the first part and the second part of the axillary artery in 84% of sides. 2. The thoracoacromial artery arose from the axillary artery near the superomedial border of the axillaly artery more often (91%) than from any other source. 3. The lateral thoracic artery was found on 64% of the sides as a main axillary artery, usually arising from the second part of the axillary artery(61%). It arose from the subscapular artery in 28%. 4. The subscapular artery was seen as the lagrgest of the axillary artery. It arose from the second part (42%) and the third (58%) of the axillary artery. 5. The posterior circumflex humeral artery was a direct branch of the third part of axillary artery in 37% of sides. In 21% fo sides the posterior circumflex humeral artery arose by a common stem from the third part of the axillary artery. In 33% of sides the posterior circumflex humeral artery arose from the subscapular artery. 6. The anterior circumflex humeral artery was found more constantly at the third part of the axillary artery than the posterior circumflex humeral artery was. It arose from a direct branch of the third part of the axillary artery in 70% of sides.