Clinical Characteristics and Prognostic Factors in Pediatric Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Polyps / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps is an uncommon pathology in the pediatric population and a challenging problem to otolaryngologists. In this study, we aimed to assess the clinical characteristics and postoperative results of children who underwent sinus surgery due to nasal polyps. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 45 pediatric patients who had sinus surgery from 2009 to 2012. We studied the relationship between clinical parameters and postoperative results. RESULTS: Forty-five patients (18 women and 27 men with an age range of 8 to 17 years) were treated surgically in our hospital. We found statistically significant correlation between the preoperative CT scores (p=0.043), the nasal obstruction symptom scores (p=0.032) and postoperative recurrence, but not between other parameters. CONCLUSION: In this study, prognostic factors affecting the postoperative outcome were preoperative CT score and nasal obstruction symptom score.

Effects of topical application of EGCG on testosterone-induced hair loss in a mouse model.

We investigated the effect of topical epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on testosterone (T)-induced hair loss in mice. Marked hair loss was observed at the T-injected site, and topical EGCG significantly reduced the hair loss (P < 0.05). TUNEL staining showed apoptosis of follicular epithelial cells in the T-injected groups where topical EGCG was found to significantly diminish T-induced apoptosis (P < 0.05). Topical EGCG down-regulated the T-induced expression of androgen receptor but did not down-regulate 17ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD) and three ß-HSD expression. Analysis using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) on serum and tissue samples revealed no significant difference in T and dihydrotestosterone concentrations between the T-injected and T + EGCG groups. Thus, we found that T injection in a mouse model induces hair loss by apoptosis of the hair follicles rather than through the androgen metabolic pathway and also saw that T-induced apoptosis of hair follicles was reduced by topical EGCG.

Dynamic interracial/intercultural processes: the role of lay theories of race.

This paper explores how the lay theory approach provides a framework beyond previous stereotype/prejudice research to understand dynamic personality processes in interracial/ethnic contexts. The authors conceptualize theory of race within the Cognitive-Affective Personality System (CAPS), in which lay people's beliefs regarding the essential nature of race sets up a mind-set through which individuals construe and interpret their social experiences. The research findings illustrate that endorsement of the essentialist theory (i.e., that race reflects deep-seated, inalterable essence and is indicative of traits and ability) versus the social constructionist theory (i.e., that race is socially constructed, malleable, and arbitrary) are associated with different encoding and representation of social information, which in turn affect feelings, motivation, and competence in navigating between racial and cultural boundaries. These findings shed light on dynamic interracial/intercultural processes. Relations of this approach to CAPS are discussed.

Lay theory of race affects and moderates Asian Americans' responses toward American culture.

People may hold different understandings of race that might affect how they respond to the culture of groups deemed to be racially distinct. The present research tests how this process is moderated by the minority individual's lay theory of race. An essentialist lay theory of race (i.e., that race reflects deep-seated, inalterable essence and is indicative of traits and ability) would orient racial minorities to rigidly adhere to their ethnic culture, whereas a social constructionist lay theory of race (i.e., that race is socially constructed, malleable, and arbitrary) would orient racial minorities to identify and cognitively assimilate toward the majority culture. To test these predictions, the authors conducted 4 studies with Asian American participants. The first 2 studies examine the effect of one's lay theory of race on perceived racial differences and identification with American culture. The last 2 studies tested the moderating effect of lay theory of race on identification and assimilation toward the majority American culture after this culture had been primed. The results generally supported the prediction that the social constructionist theory was associated with more perceived similarity between Asians and Americans and more consistent identification and assimilation toward American culture, compared with the essentialist theory.