• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.487-491
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• 2014

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan that is distributed worldwide. Recently, several tests for avidity of Toxoplasma IgG antibodies have been introduced to help discriminate between recently acquired and distant infections. The study was conducted in Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital, India from February 2011 to September 2012. Serum specimens were subjected to Toxoplasma IgM ELISA and IgG avidity ELISA test. Out of 48 patients with abortions, 17 (35.4%) were positive for IgM ELISA, and 8 (16.6%) had low IgG avidity antibodies. Out of 48 patients with other obstetric problems, 23 (47.9%) were positive for IgM ELISA, and 17 (35.4%) had low IgG avidity antibodies. Combining both groups on avidity test, only 25 of 40 (62.5 %) IgM-positive women had low-avidity IgG antibodies suggesting a recent T. gondii infection in these women. More importantly, 15 (37.5%) of the IgM-positive women had high-avidity antibodies suggesting that the infection was acquired before gestation The relation of IgM seropositivity with the following risk factors was not found to be statistically significant; contact with cats (0.13), non-vegetarian food habits (0.05), and low socio-economic status (0.49). While, for IgG avidity ELISA, only contact with cats (0.01) was significantly associated with seropositivity. All other risk factors have P-values of >0.05 (not significant). IgG avidity test when used in combination with IgM test was a valuable assay for diagnosis of ongoing or recently acquired T. gondii infection in India.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.32-39
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• 2019

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of whole body vibratory stimulation on muscle strength, balance, and fall efficacy among super-aged women. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Twenty-eight super-aged women over 80 years of age were assigned to either the experimental group (n=14) and control group (n=14). The experimental group received an exercise program that used the whole body vibratory stimulation with a frequency of 30 Hz and amplitude of 3 mm, and the control group received an exercise program without vibratory stimulation. Intervention was provided for 4 weeks, 3 sessions per week, and 30 minutes per session. In order to measure lower extremity muscle strength the 30-second chair stand test (CST) was used. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) was used to measure dynamic balance. Static balance was measured by tracking the path length, velocity, and area of the center of pressure (CoP). The Falls Efficacy Scale (FES) was used to measure the subjects' fear of falling. Results: Both the experimental and control group demonstrated statistically significant increase in muscle strength, dynamic balance, and fall efficacy (p<0.05). Only the experimental group showed significant improvements in static balance before and after the intervention (p<0.05). The experimental group showed significantly greater improvements in CST, BBS, and CoP (path length, velocity) than control group (p<0.05). Conclusions: Whole body vibratory stimulation exercise is shown to be a safe and appropriate physical therapy intervention method to enhance muscle strength, balance, and fall efficacy of super-aged women.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.2369-2378
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• 2012

Objectives: To assess knowledge of HPV and attitudes towards HPV vaccination among the general female population, government officials, and healthcare providers in China to assist the development of an effective national HPV vaccination program. Methods: A cross-sectional epidemiologic survey was conducted across 21 urban and rural sites in China using a short questionnaire. 763 government officials, 760 healthcare providers, and 11,681 women aged 15-59 years were included in the final analysis. Data were analyzed using standard descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Results: Knowledge of HPV among the general female population was low; only 24% had heard of HPV. Less than 20% of healthcare providers recognized sexually na$\ddot{i}$ve women as the most appropriate population for HPV vaccination. There was high acceptance of the HPV vaccine for all categories of respondents. Only 6% of women were willing to pay more than US $300 for the vaccine. Conclusions: Aggressive education is necessary to increase knowledge of HPV and its vaccine. Further proof of vaccine safety and efficacy and government subsidies combined with increased awareness could facilitate development and implementation of HPV vaccination in China.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.4979-4981
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• 2012

Aim: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers of women in India with high fatality rate. Over a 1 year study period 105 consecutive biopsy or fine needle aspiration cytology confirmed breast cancer patients were interviewed by direct questionnaire method regarding risk factors attending Surgery and Radiotherapy OPD of Medical College Kolkata, West Bengal while taking other 105 patients attending Surgery Department for some other disease as controls. The data were compiled in MS Excel 2007 and analyzed by Epi info 3.5.1 software. Among the cases, rural residence, illiteracy and low socio-economic status was significantly higher than controls. Late onset of menarche, late onset of menopause, ever OCP usage, breast feeding for 1-2 years and age of 1st childbirth between 20-30 years were found to be significant protective factors. People should be made aware regarding the modifiable risk factors to prevent breast cancer.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.78-88
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• 2016

Purpose: To identify the clinical characteristics of SRY-negative male patients and genes related to male sex reversal, we performed a retrospective study using cases of 46,XX testicular disorders of sex development with a review of the literature. Materials and Methods:SRY-negative cases of 46,XX testicular disorders of sex development referred for cytogenetic analysis from 1983 to 2013 were examined using clinical findings, seminal analyses, basal hormone profiles, conventional cytogenetic analysis and polymerase chain reaction. Results: Chromosome analysis of cultured peripheral blood cells of 8,386 individuals found 19 cases (0.23%) with 46,XX testicular disorders of sex development. The SRY gene was confirmed to be absent in three of these 19 cases (15.8%). Conclusion: We report three rare cases of SRY-negative 46,XX testicular disorders of sex development. Genes on autosomes and the X chromosome that may have a role in sex determination were deduced through a literature review. These genes, through differences in gene dosage variation, may have a role in sex reversal in the absence of SRY.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.259-264
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• 2016

Objectives: We evaluated and recorded post-traumatic and postoperative neurosensory deficits of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) in mandibular fracture in order to identify associated risk factors. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective cohort study composed of 60 patients treated for mandibular fracture. The primary study variable was the change between the post-traumatic IAN neurosensory examination score and the score after fracture reduction. Risk factors were categorized as demographic, anatomic, fracture displacement, and treatment. Appropriate descriptive and bivariate statistics were computed. Results: Sixty patients with unilateral mandibular fracture reported within 24 hours of injury were evaluated over a one-year period. A post-traumatic neurosensory deficit was observed in 52 patients (86.7%), the percentage of which was reduced to 23.3% over the follow-up period. Abnormal postoperative neurosensory scores were significantly higher in angle fracture cases (33.3%) compared to body fracture cases (11.1%). When recovered and non-recovered neurosensory scores were compared by fracture location, 88.9% of body fracture cases showed significant recovery compared to 66.7% of mandibular angle fracture cases. Cases with less than 5 mm fracture displacement showed statistically significantly higher neurosensory recovery scores (90.6%) compared to those with more than 5 mm fracture displacement (60.7%). Conclusion: Use of a miniplate with mono-cortical screws does not play a role in increasing IAN post-traumatic neurosensory deficit. Early management can reduce the chances of permanent neurosensory deficit. Mandibular fracture displacement of 5 mm or more and fracture location were found to be associated with an increased risk of post-traumatic IAN neurosensory score worsening.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.237-248
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• 2010

Purpose: The study assessed the effects of a 12-session empowering program to promote health quality of life, decision making self-efficacy, self-care competency, and reasonable medical care utilization among low income women households in one rural area. Methods: A quasi-experimental, one-group pre-posttest design was employed. A total of 28 women enrolled as medicaid recipients in the Public Health Center of W city agreed to participate. The empowering program consisted of 12 sessions addressing health education for self-care of disease, medication management, and counseling for psycho-social support. The intervention was delivered by five nurses and one social worker. Women completed a structured questionnaire measuring the study variables with demographic characteristic before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed by PAWS Statistics 17 utilizing descriptive statistics and paired t-test. Results: After the intervention, significant increases were evident in participant health quality of life (t=-5.83, p<.001), decision making self-efficacy (t=-4.86, p<.001), self-care competency (t=-8.16, p<.001), and reasonable medical care utilization (t=-3.97, p<.001). Conclusion: The 12-session empowering program on health quality of life as well as self-care competency was effective when delivered to low income women households. Further studies with larger numbers of participants and a control group are necessary to validate the results.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.3011-3015
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• 2014

Background: Level of midwife knowledge is particularly important because of their role in the cervical cancer prevention programme. The aim of this study was to examine differences in the level of knowledge among health care students, midwives and women in the general population of Serbia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional approach was used with health care students of the medical shool, midwives in their practice, and women visiting a chosen general practitioner as respondents. Results: In comparison with the students and midwives, women had lower level of knowledge of causative agents of the cervical cancer, genital warts, HPV types, screening for cervical cancer as well as about the target population for vaccine and its role. Differences in the numbers of right answers of respondents were statistically significant (p<0.001). Four or more correct answers were obtained from 22.7% women, 35.3% from midwives and 83.8% from students. Conclusions: Midwives should improve their own level of knowledge related to preventive practice for cervical cancer, as well as their personal compliance with recommended practices, in order to be qualified and credible promoters of cervical cancer control among women in Serbia.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.323-324
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• 2001

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.53-58
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• 2010

Purpose: To find the most effective method for extraction of cell-free DNA (cf-DNA) from maternal plasma, we compared a blood DNA extraction system (blood kit) and a viral DNA extraction system (viral kit) for non-invasive first-trimester fetal gender determination. Materials and Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted with maternal plasma collected from 44 women in the first-trimester of pregnancy. The cf-DNA was extracted from maternal plasma using a blood kit and a viral kit. Quantitative fluorescent-polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR) was used to detect the SRY gene and AMEL gene. The diagnostic accuracy of the QF-PCR results was determined based on comparison with the final delivery records. Results: A total of 44 women were tested, but the final delivery record was only obtained in 36 cases which included 16 male-bearing and 20 female-bearing pregnancies. For the blood kit and viral kit, the diagnostic accuracies for fetal gender determination were 63.9% (23/36) and 97.2% (35/36), respectively. Conclusion: In non-invasive first-trimester fetal gender determination by QF-PCR, using a viral kit for extraction of cf-DNA may result in a higher diagnostic accuracy.