The Cultural Climate of Southwest Dental Colleges: Dentistry and Dental Hygiene.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the cultural climate of southwestern dental colleges, from the perspective of dental hygiene and dental students. METHODS: The Cultural Attitudes and Climate Questionnaire was used to measure cultural climate. It contained 57 items related to campus experiences, cultural comfort, diversity awareness, racial pressures, fair treatment, respect, lack of support, patient care and overall satisfaction. The survey was administered to 508 dental and dental hygiene students at 5 dental colleges. RESULTS: The response rate was 41% (n=239/508). Students reported not experiencing racial conflict or pressures (71 to 90%), being treated fairly and with respect (86 to 90%) and being comfortable interacting with and treating other cultures (70 to 91%). They also practiced culturally appropriate behaviors (54 to 92%). Those reporting diversity training (77.8%) were more likely to engage in 3 of the 6 awareness practices (p<0.033). Although all groups agreed their educational experience was rewarding (89.5%), African-Americans reported a significantly lower level of agreement than Whites (p=0.003) and Asians (p=0.008). Among all groups, satisfaction with their educational experience was significantly correlated with fair treatment (rho=0.441 to 0.511, p<0.001) and respect for other cultures (rho=0.391 to 0.441, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The students generally reported a positive cultural climate. Improvements could be made by focusing on fair treatment, respect for cultures and the African-American experience. Cultural competence training could be key to improving cultural climate, as positive outcomes from training were identified.

Genomic characterization and regulation of CYP3a13: role of xenobiotics and nuclear receptors.

We report that CYP3a13 gene, located on mouse chromosome 5, spans 27.5 Kb and contains 13 exons. The transcription start site is 35 bp upstream of the coding region and results in a 109 bp 5' untranslated region. CYP3a13 promoter shows putative binding sites for retinoid X receptor, pregnane X receptor, and estrogen receptor. CYP3a13 shows a broad tissue distribution with predominant expression in liver. Although CYP3a13 shares 92% nucleotide identity with the female-specific rat CYP3A9, its expression does not exhibit sexual dimorphism. Ligand activation of peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor-gamma and retinoid X receptor inhibit expression of CYP3a13 at the transcription level in a tissue-specific manner. Another novel finding is hepatic induction of CYP3a13 by dexamethasone occurring only in pregnane X receptor null mice. We also report that pregnane X receptor is essential to maintain robust in vivo basal levels of CYP3a13 in contrast to CYP3a11. CYP3a13 protein expressed in vitro can metabolize clinically active drugs ethylmorphine and erythromycin, as well as benzphetamine. We conclude that CYP3a13 is regulated differentially by various nuclear receptors. In humans this may lead to altered drug metabolism, as many of the newly synthesized ligands/drugs targeted toward these nuclear receptors could influence CYP3A gene expression.