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역사문화자원이 주된 관광자원으로 활용되는 지역은 방문객에게 과거에 대한 느낌을 제공해주고, 그 당시의 생활상을 경험할 수 있도록 구성되어야 한다. 더불어 관광지에 대한 긍정적인 이미지의 형성은 재방문이나 구전효과에 영향을 주게 되므로, 문화유산관광지의 이미지에 대한 관리와 고유성의 인식은 재방문에 중요하게 작용할 수 있는 요인이 된다. 본 연구는 문화유산관광지의 이미지와 행동의도 간의 관계에서 고유성 인식이 매개효과를 하는지를 파악하기 위해 백제문화유적지를 방문한 방문객을 대상으로 실증분석을 진행하였다. 분석결과 이미지의 3개 요인(관광자원, 관광시설, 접근성)과 행동의도 간 관계에서 고유성 인식(객관적 고유성, 구성적 고유성, 실존적 고유성)의 매개효과를 검증한 결과 객관적 고유성은 관광자원, 관광시설, 접근성 모든 요인에서 매개역할을 하는 것으로 나타났다. 또한, 구성적 고유성은 관광자원과 관광시설에서 매개역할을 하는 것으로 나타났으며, 실존적 고유성은 관광시설에서만 매개역할을 하는 것을 확인하였다. 결과적으로 문화유산관광지에 대한 고유성 인식은 이미지와 행동의도 간에 매개역할을 하는 요인이며 특히 객관적 고유성에 대한 인식을 높일 수 있는 전략이 필요할 것이다.

Trichomonas vaginalis causes the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection worldwide. Trichomonads have been detected in prostatic tissues from prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and prostate cancer. Chronic prostatic inflammation is known as a risk factor for prostate enlargement, benign prostatic hyperplasia symptoms, and acute urinary retention. Our aim was to investigate whether T. vaginalis could induce inflammatory responses in cells of a benign prostatic hyperplasia epithelial cell line (BPH-1). When BPH-1 cells were infected with T. vaginalis, the protein and mRNA of inflammatory cytokines, such as CXCL8, CCL2, IL-1β, and IL-6, were increased. The activities of TLR4, ROS, MAPK, JAK2/STAT3, and NF-κB were also increased, whereas inhibitors of ROS, MAPK, PI3K, NF-κB, and anti-TLR4 antibody decreased the production of the 4 cytokines although the extent of inhibition differed. However, a JAK2 inhibitor inhibited only IL-6 production. Culture supernatants of the BPH-1 cells that had been incubated with live T. vaginalis (trichomonad-conditioned medium, TCM) contained the 4 cytokines and induced the migration of human monocytes (THP-1 cells) and mast cells (HMC-1 cells). TCM conditioned by BPH-1 cells pretreated with NF-κB inhibitor showed decreased levels of cytokines and induced less migration. Therefore, it is suggested that these cytokines are involved in migration of inflammatory cells. These results suggest that T. vaginalis infection of BPH patients may cause inflammation, which may induce lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

This study explored epidemiological trends in trichomoniasis in Daegu, South Korea. Wet mount microscopy, PCR, and multiplex PCR were used to test for Trichomonas vaginalis in vaginal swab samples obtained from 621 women visiting 2 clinics in Daegu. Of the 621 women tested, microscopy detected T. vaginalis in 4 (0.6%) patients, PCR detected T. vaginalis in 19 (3.0%) patients, and multiplex PCR detected T. vaginalis in 12 (1.9%) patients. Testing via PCR demonstrated high sensitivity and high negative predictive value for T. vaginalis. Among the 19 women who tested positive for T. vaginalis according to PCR, 94.7% (18/19) reported vaginal signs and symptoms. Notably, more than 50% of T. vaginalis infections occurred in females younger than 30 years old, and 58% were unmarried. Multiplex PCR, which simultaneously detects pathogens from various sexually transmitted infections, revealed that 91.7% (11/12) of patients were infected with 2 or more pathogens. Mycoplasma hominis was the most prevalent co-infection pathogen with T. vaginalis, followed by Ureaplasma urealyticum and Chlamydia trachomatis. Our results indicate that PCR and multiplex PCR are the most sensitive tools for T. vaginalis diagnosis, rather than microscopy which has been routinely used to detect T. vaginalis infections in South Korea. Therefore, clinicians should take note of the high prevalence of T. vaginalis infections among adolescent and young women in order to prevent persistent infection and transmission of this disease.