Does group cohesion foster self-directed learning for medical students? A longitudinal study

The importance of self-directed learning (SDL) and collaborative learning has been emphasized in medical education. This study examined if there were changes in the pattern of SDL and group cohesion from the time of admission to medical school under the criterion-referenced grading system, increased group activities, and interaction of medical education curriculum. Second, it was examined whether group cohesion influences self-directed learning. The participants were 106 medical students (71 males, 35 females) who enrolled in Yonsei University College of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea in March 2014. They were asked to complete a Korean version of the self-directed learning readiness scale (SDLRS) and group cohesion scale (GCS) at the end of each semester for three years. A repeated measures ANOVA and a correlation and regression analysis were conducted. All the participants completed the questionnaires. There were differences in the SDLRS scores over the three years. A significant increase was observed one year after admission followed by stable scores until the third year. There was a significant increase in GCS scores as students progressed through medical school years. Positive relationships were found between SDLRS and GCS scores, and the regression model predicted 32% variance. SDLRS and GCS increased as medical school years progressed. In addition, GCS is a significant factor in fostering SDLRS. Medical schools should develop various curriculum activities that enhance group cohesion among medical students, which would in turn promote SDL.This study was supported by a faculty research grant of Yonsei University College of Medicine for 2012 (6–2012-0022)

Spin and Valley Polarized Multiple Fermi Surfaces of {\alpha}-RuCl3_3/Bilayer Graphene Heterostructure

We report the transport properties of ${\alpha}$-RuCl$_3$/bilayer graphene heterostructures, where carrier doping is induced by a work function difference, resulting in distinct electron and hole populations in ${\alpha}$-RuCl3 and bilayer graphene, respectively. Through a comprehensive analysis of multi-channel transport signatures, including Hall measurements and quantum oscillation, we unveil significant band modifications within the system. In particular, we observe the emergence of spin and valley polarized multiple hole-type Fermi pockets, originating from the spin-selective band hybridization between ${\alpha}$-RuCl$_3$ and bilayer graphene, breaking the spin degree of freedom. Unlike ${\alpha}$-RuCl$_3$ /monolayer graphene system, the presence of different hybridization strengths between ${\alpha}$-RuCl$_3$ and the top and bottom graphene layers leads to an asymmetric behavior of the two layers, confirmed by effective mass experiments, resulting in the manifestation of valley-polarized Fermi pockets. These compelling findings establish ${\alpha}$-RuCl$_3$ proximitized to bilayer graphene as an outstanding platform for engineering its unique low-energy band structure.Comment: accepted to AP

Safety Beliefs about Consumer Products

This study examined people's safety perceptions concerning consumer products. Participants (n=129) were asked about their overall beliefs concerning safety of consumer products sold in the U.S. Beliefs regarding government and industry policies concerning safety were also collected. Results showed that participants gave ratings indicating believing that consumer products sold in the U.S. are safe. People tended to trust U.S. government's policies towards product safety. However, participants' responses indicate skepticism about manufacturers' motivations. Implications for HF/E research in risk communication are discussed

Effects of Infrared Radiation and Heat on Human Skin Aging in vivo

Sunlight damages human skin, resulting in a wrinkled appearance. Since natural sunlight is polychromatic, its ultimate effects on the human skin are the result of not only the action of each wavelength separately, but also interactions among the many wavelengths, including UV, visible light, and infrared (IR). In direct sunlight, the temperature of human skin rises to about 40°C following the conversion of absorbed IR into heat. So far, our knowledge of the effects of IR radiation or heat on skin aging is limited. Recent work demonstrates that IR and heat exposure each induces cutaneous angiogenesis and inflammatory cellular infiltration, disrupts the dermal extracellular matrix by inducing matrix metalloproteinases, and alters dermal structural proteins, thereby adding to premature skin aging. This review provides a summary of current research on the effects of IR radiation and heat on aging in human skin in vivo

Iron Plays a Certain Role in Patterned Hair Loss

Role of iron in hair loss is not clear yet. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between iron and hair loss. Retrospective chart review was conducted on patients with female pattern hair loss (FPHL) and male pattern hair loss (MPHL). All patients underwent screening including serum ferritin, iron, and total iron binding capacity (TIBC), CBC, ESR and thyroid function test. For normal healthy controls, age-sex matched subjects who had visited the hospital for a check-up with no serious disease were selected. A total 210 patients with FPHL (n = 113) and MPHL (n = 97) with 210 healthy controls were analyzed. Serum ferritin concentration (FC) was lower in patients with FPHL (49.27 +/- 55.8 mu g/L), compared with normal healthy women (77.89 +/- 48.32 mu g/L) (P < 0.001). Premenopausal FPHL patients turned out to show much lower serum ferritin than age/sex-matched controls (P < 0.001). Among MPHL patients, 22.7% of them showed serum FC lower than 70 mu g/L, while no one had serum FC lower 70 mu g/L in healthy age matched males. These results suggest that iron may play a certain role especially in premenopausal FPHL. The initial screening of iron status could be of help for hair loss patients.OAIID:oai:osos.snu.ac.kr:snu2013-01/102/2008000790/14SEQ:14PERF_CD:SNU2013-01EVAL_ITEM_CD:102USER_ID:2008000790ADJUST_YN:YEMP_ID:A079501DEPT_CD:801CITE_RATE:1.249FILENAME:iron and hair loss 이종희.pdfDEPT_NM:의학과SCOPUS_YN:YCONFIRM:

Chromosome-level genome assembly of Patagonian moray cod (Muraenolepis orangiensis) and immune deficiency of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II

The Patagonian moray cod, Muraenolepis orangiensis, belongs to the family Muraenolepididae and is the sole order of Gadiformes that inhabits the temperate and cold waters of the southern hemisphere. One of the features of the Gadiformes order is that they have a remarkably unique immune gene repertoire that influences innate and adaptive immunity, and they lack major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II, invariant chains (CD74), and CD4 genes. In this study, a high-quality chromosome-level genome assembly was constructed, resulting in a final assembled genome of 893.75 Mb, with an N50 scaffold length of 30.07 Mb and the longest scaffold being 39.77 Mb. Twenty-five high-quality pseudochromosomes were assembled, and the complete BUSCO rate was 93.4%. A total of 34,553 genes were structurally annotated, and 27,691 genes were functionally annotated. Among the 10 primary genes involved in MHC class II, only two ERAP1 genes and one AIRE gene were identified through the genome study. Although no specific reason for the MHC class II deficiency has been identified, it has been shown that the toll-like receptors (TLRs), which are significant to the innate immune response, are significantly expanded in M. orangiensis. A total of 44 TLRs have been identified, with 32 TLR13 genes distributed evenly on six different pseudochromosomes. This study is the first to reveal the whole genome of a Muraenolepididae family and provides valuable insights into the potential rationale for the MHC class II deficiency in a Gadiformes fish species

Unilateral Psoriasis in a Woman with Ipsilateral Post-Mastectomy Lymphedema

Psoriasis is a multi-factorial disease with various clinical manifestations. We present a case of unilateral psoriasis associated with ipsilateral lymphedema that developed after mastectomy for breast cancer. A 42-year-old Korean woman was referred to our clinic with a 1-month history of multiple erythematous scaly patches on the right arm, back, and breast and was diagnosed with psoriasis by a skin biopsy. Three years previously, she had been diagnosed with breast cancer (T1N2), underwent a right quadrantectomy and axillary lymph node dissection, and completed adjuvant chemotherapy followed by high-dose adjuvant radiotherapy. She had started rehabilitation therapy on the right arm for secondary lymphedema 30 months previously. Because of the long interval between radiation and psoriasis, we speculated that changes in the local milieu caused by the lymphedema might be a causative factor. We hereby report a rare case of unilateral psoriasis following post-mastectomy lymphedema

Retrospective clinical trial of fusidic acid versus petrolatum in the postprocedure care of clean dermatologic procedures

Background: Clean dermatologic procedures create wounds with a low risk of infection (usually up to 5%). Whether the use of topical antibiotics is advocated, with regard to its efficacy and safety issues such as antibiotic resistance and sensitizing potential, is controversial. Fusidic acid, a topical antibiotic against gram-positive bacteria, is a rare sensitizer and commonly used in postprocedure care in Korea. Objective: This is a retrospective study aimed at comparing the efficacy and safety between fusidic acid and petrolatum for the postprocedure care of clean dermatologic procedures. Methods: Patients were treated with either fusidic acid or petrolatum ointment, applied on the wound created during clean dermatologic procedures such as biopsy of the punch, incisional, excisional, and shave types. The efficacy, adverse events, and subjective level of satisfaction were retrieved from medical records. Results: A total of 414 patients with a total of 429 wounds were enrolled. The overall rate of adverse events was 0.9%, and the rates of adverse events in the fusidic acid group and the petrolatum group were 1.4% and 0.5%, respectively (p=0.370). There was no wound discharge, pain, tenderness, swelling, induration, or dehiscence in both groups. The patients self-assessment of the wound was not significantly different between the two treatment groups. Conclusion: Our findings support the hypothesis that the routine prophylactic use of topical antibiotics is not indicated for clean dermatologic procedures. We recommend the use of petrolatum in the postoperative care of clean dermatologic procedures because of its equivalent efficacy and superior safety profiles.OAIID:oai:osos.snu.ac.kr:snu2015-01/102/2008000790/1SEQ:1PERF_CD:SNU2015-01EVAL_ITEM_CD:102USER_ID:2008000790ADJUST_YN:NEMP_ID:A079501DEPT_CD:801CITE_RATE:.954FILENAME:bx and fusidic acid.pdfDEPT_NM:의학과SCOPUS_YN:YCONFIRM:

'Clues' for the histological diagnosis of tinea: how reliable are they?

Dermatophyte infections of the skin surface (tinea corporis and tinea faciei) mostly present as erythematous scaly papules that gradually progress to annular or nummular red patches or plaques, frequently with central clearing and peripheral scales1. Although less common, pustules, vesicles, or large blisters may be clinical features. Many histological clues for the diagnosis of dermatophyte infection have been proposed, including neutrophils in the stratum corneum, compact orthokeratosis, papillary dermal edema, and the presence of fungal hyphae between 2 zones of cornified cells (called the sandwich sign)1,2. This study was performed to evaluate the reliability and clinical value of the clues for the histological diagnosis of tinea corporis and tinea faciei. Eighteen skin biopsy samples were retrieved from histologically confirmed cases of tinea on the body and face of patients treated between September 2010 and March 2012 in the Department of Dermatology at the SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center. The hematoxylin-eosin (H&E)-stained slides of the 18 periodic acid-Schiff stain (PAS)-positive biopsy specimens were reviewed by 2 dermatologists.OAIID:oai:osos.snu.ac.kr:snu2014-01/102/2008000790/4SEQ:4PERF_CD:SNU2014-01EVAL_ITEM_CD:102USER_ID:2008000790ADJUST_YN:NEMP_ID:A079501DEPT_CD:801CITE_RATE:.611FILENAME:clues for histo dx of tinea.pdfDEPT_NM:의학과SCOPUS_YN:YCONFIRM: