• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.16
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• pp.6657-6663
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• 2014

Background: The present study aimed to determine the prevalence and types of sexual problems of Turkish patients receiving gynecologic cancer treatment. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional convenience sample of 168 women completed the Index of Female Sexual Function (IFSF) and a Patient Identification Form in a hospital in Ankara, Turkey. Mean IFSF scores of the patients were low ($15.7{\pm}5.72$, out of a possible 45), indicating high rates of sexual problems. Results: Women frequently reported problems with dyspareunia (97.1%), vaginal dryness (97.6%), decreased sexual desire (91.1%), and difficulties of sexual arousal (92.9%) related with the cancer treatment process. They reported increased sexual problems following the period of treatment as compared to before treatment (p<0.05). Sexual dysfunction was associated with low educational and income levels, advanced age, TAH-BSO-LND surgery (total abdominal hysterectomy-bilateral salphingoopherectomylymph node dissection), experiencing side effects of chemotherapy, receiving chemotherapy in addition to surgery and radiotherapy (CT+RT+Surgery), and having a large number of chemotherapy cycles (p<0.05). Conclusions: Patients hoped for and expected counseling from healthcare professionals about their sexual functioning in relation to cancer treatments. Nurses and physicians can help to improve the overall quality of life for gynecologic cancer patients through sexual counseling.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.53-59
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• 2023

Objectives: The most prominent microorganisms that cause hospital infections and acquire antibiotic resistance are Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The present study aimed to compare the phenolic and flavonoid compounds of various Allium ampeloprasum and Allium porrum extracts and evaluate the antibacterial effects of these extracts against these two microorganisms. Methods: The total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the acetone, methanol, aqueous, and hexane leeks extracts from A. ampeloprasum and A. porrum were measured. The antibacterial activity of these extracts against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa was tested using the disk diffusion method for 24, 48, and 72 hours. Further, the minimum inhibitory concentrations and the minimum bactericidal concentrations of these extracts for these two bacteria were evaluated and compared with those of common antibiotics. Results: The aqueous extracts showed the highest phenolic and flavonoid contents and at concentrations of 35 and 40 mg per disk, showed the most antibacterial activity against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa; P. aeruginosa showed more sensitivity to the aqueous extracts than S. aureus. Conclusion: Aqueous A. ampeloprasum and A. porrum extracts may prevent the growth of hospital pathogens, especially P. aeruginosa; our findings will aid the discovery of new antimicrobial substances against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.5-16
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• 1998

The purpose of nursing education is to prepare the professional pratictioner as nurse who will be interesteed in the health and the related aspects of community and will assume responsibility for con tributing toward the improvement of the health for the all. This means that nursing education must provide opportunities for the development of knowledge, skills, and attitudes which make this possible. Consequently, this approach has relavence for nursing education. Faculty engaged in endless debates about what is to be included, and to what de1th, and what will be given short shrift as a result. Thus, it can be seen why there is so much confusion and lack of agreement between the emphasis and objectives in nursing. This study attempted to review and identify the curriculum content of child nursing in Korea to build and develop the standard curriculum contents for national board examination for nurses and child's health needs for the coming 21st centry. The questionnaire was consisted of items for selection and organization of the knowledge components and type of unit with weigh to be attained in child nursing. Response of 34% of nursing program in university and junior college. Content analysis was done by using consensual validation of essential knowledge for curriculum content to identify what is obvious or trivial. This study pointed out that it is not yet apparent that demographic fact has greatly influenced child nursing curriculum content. In a similar vein the majority of content of child nursing devote little time and weigh to social and epidemically significant to child health. It seems to be needed that the content of child nursing may push the paradigm shift in nursing education such as health promotion and prevention for potentional roles of child and family. In conclusion, it is the time to convoke and debate for convergence of model on essential content and standarization on job analysis for national board exam for nurses in Korea.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.19
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• pp.8135-8142
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• 2014

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Iranian women and usually features delayed presentation and late diagnosis. Interpretation of symptoms, as the most important step, has a significant impact on patient delay in seeking treatment. There is a dearth of studies on symptom appraisal and the process leading to seeking help in breast cancer patients. This study explored the perceptions and experiences of Iranian women with self-detected possible breast cancer symptoms. Materials and Methods: A qualitative method was conducted involving in-depth semi-structured interviews with 27 Iranian women with self-discovered breast cancer symptoms. Participants were purposefully selected from women who attended Cancer Institute of Tehran University of Medical Sciences during June 2012 to August 2013. The audiotaped interviews were transcribed and analyzed using conventional content analysis with MAXQDA soft ware version 10. The trustworthiness of the study was verified by prolonged engagement, member validation of codes, and thick description. Results: The main concepts emerging from data analysis were categorized in four categories: symptom recognition, labeling of symptoms, interactive understanding, and confronting the fear of cancer. Symptom recognition through breast self-examination, symptom monitoring and employing prior knowledge distinguished normal from abnormal symptoms and accompanied with perception of being at risk of breast cancer led to symptom labeling. Social interaction by selective disclosure and receiving reassurance from a consultant led to confirmation or redefinition of the situation. Perceived seriousness of the situation and social meanings of breast cancer as a stigmatized and incurable illness associated with loss of femininity were reasons for patient worries and fear. Conclusions: This study emphasized that entangled cognitive, emotional and socio-cultural responses affecting understanding of symptom seriousness require further investigation. It is suggested that programs aimed at shortening patient delay in breast cancer should be focused on improving women's knowledge and self-awareness of breast cancer, in addition to correcting their social beliefs.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.1355-1364
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• 1999

Mother and infant relationship has a great influence on child's developments. In this study, nursing intervention to increase maternal sensitivity to the infant's cues was applied to 25 primiparas (Experimental Group). Mother and infant interacations of these primiparas were compared with those of 25 primiparas (Control Group) who did not receive the nursing intervention. Fifty primiparas and infants were recruited from a university hospital, a general hospital, and an OBGY clinic located in Taegu city. Mother and infant interactions were assessed at 6 weeks after birth using videotapes. Feeding situations were videotaped and two trained observers analyzed the tapes. Data were collected from March 23rd to July 27th of 1998. Mother and infant interactions during feeding were assessed by the response rating scale which was modified by the author based on NCAST feeding scale (Barnard, 1978a) and AMIS scale (Price, 1983). The validity of the modified rating scale was verified by faculty members and researchers who previously had research experience in the area. Cronbach's Alpha of the modified scale for this study was .90. The data was analyzed by SAS program, using wilcoxon rank sums test, chi square test, Fisher's exact test, and ANOVA. Findings were as follows: 1. Mothers in the experimental group were more likely to have higher scores in mother and infant interactions during feeding than mothers in the control group. 2. Mothers in the experimental group showed better sensitivity to infant's signals or cues, provided growth fostering, and had higher responsibility to the infant's distress than mothers in the control group. 3. Infants in the experimental group showed higher clarity of cues and responsibility to the mother's behaviors than infants in the control group. 4. Mothers and infants in the experimental group showed higher synchronic responses than mothers and infants in the control group. In conclusion, this study has shown that the applied nursing intervention promoted mother and infant interaction among primiparas. Therefore, this study suggests that the nursing interventions to increase maternal sensitivity to the infant's cues should be broadly applied to primiparas, which can be beneficial to the social, affective, and cognitive developments of their children.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.21-24
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• 2002

Pineal organs of poikilotherm vertebrates transform the environmental light information into a humoral message and a neuronal activity. The former is melatonin, and the latter is modulation of the impulse in ganglion cells. The ganglion cells are physiologically classified into luminosity (achromatic) type and chromatic one, as the neural activity is modulated in two ways. We attempted to classify the pineal ganglion cells with morphological characteristics by means of the three- dimensional reconstruction method. In the pineal ganglion cells of river lamprey, there are two different features, oval and spherical. For comparison of their projection region in the brain, the tracing investigation was also carried out. The application of the neural tracer near mesencephalic tegmentum showed that only oval-shaped ganglion cells were labeled in the pineal organ. These results suggest that the oval-shaped ganglion cell is functionally different from the spherical one.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.16
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• pp.6531-6534
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• 2014

Background: In Iran, breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in women and a major public health problem. Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out to determine knowledge on breast cancer and breast self-examination (BSE) practices of 384 females living in the city of Hamadan, Iran. A purposive sampling method was adopted and data were collected via face-to-face interviews based on a validated questionnaire developed for this study. Results: Among respondents 268 (69.8%) were married and 144 (37.5%) of the respondents reported having a family history of breast cancer. One hundred respondents (26.0%) claimed they practiced BSE. Level of breast cancer knowledge was significantly associated with BSE practice (p=0.000). There was no association with demographic details (p<0.05). Conclusion: The findings showed that Iranian women's knowledge regarding breast cancer and the practice of BSE is inadequate. Targeted education should be implemented to improve early detection of breast cancer.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.170-183
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• 2023

This study evaluated the effects of milk fermented with Pediococcus acidilactici strain BE and Pediococcus pentosaceus strain M103 on diabetes in rats (Rattus norvegicus). The bacteria were separately used as starter cultures for milk fermentation, and the products were then fed to diabetic rats for 15 days. Blood glucose levels, immunohistochemical and histological indicators, lipid profiles, and total lactic acid bacterium counts were evaluated before and after treatment. The administration of milk fermented with P. acidilactici strain BE reduced blood glucose levels from 410.27±51.60 to 304.07±9.88 mg/dL (p<0.05), similar to the effects of metformin (from 382.30±13.39 mg/dL to 253.33±40.66 mg/dL, p<0.05). Increased insulin production was observed in diabetic rats fed milk fermented with P. acidilactici strain BE concomitant with an increased number and percentage area of immunoreactive beta-cells. The structure of insulin-producing beta-cells was improved in diabetic rats fed milk fermented with P. acidilactici strain BE or metformin (insulin receptor substrate scores of 5.33±0.94 and 3.5±0.5, respectively). This suggests that the administration of milk fermented with P. acidilactici BE potentially reduces blood glucose levels and improves pancreatic beta-cell function in diabetic rats.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.271-279
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• 2022

Background: Inflammation is known to underlie the pathogenesis in neuropathic pain. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective mechanisms involved in antinociceptive effects of co-administration of acetaminophen and L-carnosine in chronic constriction injury (CCI)-induced peripheral neuropathy in male Wistar rats. Methods: Fifty-six male Wistar rats were randomly divided into seven experimental groups (n = 8) treated with normal saline/acetaminophen/acetaminophen + L-carnosine. CCI was used to induce neuropathic pain in rats. Hyperalgesia and allodynia were assessed using hotplate and von Frey tests, respectively. Investigation of spinal proinflammatory cytokines and antioxidant system were carried out after twenty-one days of treatment. Results: The results showed that the co-administration of acetaminophen and L-carnosine significantly (P < 0.001) increased the paw withdrawal threshold to thermal and mechanical stimuli in ligated rats compared to the ligated naïve group. There was a significant (P < 0.001) decrease in the levels of nuclear factor kappa light chain enhancer B cell inhibitor, calcium ion, interleukin-1-beta, and tumour necrotic factor-alpha in the spinal cord of the group coadministered with acetaminophen and L-carnosine compared to the ligated control group. Co-administration with acetaminophen and L-carnosine increased the antioxidant enzymatic activities and reduced the lipid peroxidation in the spinal cord. Conclusions: Co-administration of acetaminophen and L-carnosine has anti-inflammatory effects as a mechanism that mediate its antinociceptive effects in CCI-induced peripheral neuropathy in Wistar rat.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.2079-2084
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• 2013

Background: Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among Iranian women and mastectomy comprises 81% of surgeries for treatment of breast cancer. Mastectomy may create feelings such as deformation or impairment in patients, cause body-image disorder, and reduce sexuality and sexual activity which in turn may entail mental disorders. The study aimed to elaborate coping processes. Materials and Methods: A grounded theory method was used in conducting this study. Twenty Iranian participants undergoing mastectomy were recruited with purposive sampling. An open, semi-structured questionnaire were developed. Obtaining consent, conversations were recorded and immediately transcribed after each session. Data analysis was carried out with the constant comparative method using the Strauss Corbin approach. Results: Analyzing the collected data, the study came up with seven main categories which affected the coping process in patients with breast cancer, namely: reactions to mastectomy; loss and death contest; reconstruction of evaluation system; consent for undergoing mastectomy; reactions and troubles after loss; confrontation of loss and health; and reorganization and compatibility with changes. Conclusions: The results of the study indicated: when patients become informed of their breast cancer and the necessity of undergoing mastectomy as the treatment, they probably pass through seven categories to adapt after mastectomy. Having insight about them is likely to contribute medical personnel in leading patients to the highest degree of feeling healthy.