• 디지털융복합연구
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.117-129
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• 2022

본 연구는 가치기반수용모형을 기반으로 핀테크 지급결제 서비스 사용자의 사용중단의도에 영향을 미치는 요인을 실증 검증하였다. 디지털 기기에 익숙하고 지급결제 서비스에 대한 거부감이 없고 서비스 접근성이 높은 20대 대학생을 대상으로 설문을 진행하였다. SPSS와 SmartPLS를 이용하여 총 148부의 설문지를 분석한 결과, 핀테크 지급결제 서비스 사용자의 사용중단에 영향을 미치는 요인으로 지각된 혜택, 복잡성, 보안에 대한 우려가 유의한 영향을 보였다. 이 중 지각된 혜택이 가장 큰 영향을 보였다. 본 연구결과를 바탕으로 핀테크 제공 기업들은 사용자와의 장기적인 관계 유지를 위한 노력으로 지속적인 혜택 제공, 다양한 사용 가능성 확보를 위한 시스템 개선, 보안에 대한 사용자의 부정적 인식 감소를 위한 서비스 환경을 구축할 수 있을 것이다. 최근 고령층의 서비스 사용이 증가하면서 향후 연구에서는 다양한 연령층을 대상으로 확대할 필요성이 있다.

• 한국노년학
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• 제30권4호
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• pp.1377-1392
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• 2010

본 연구는 농촌여성노인들이 체험하는 여가생활의 의미와 본질이 무엇인지 이해하고, 그들의 삶의 과정에 있어서 여가생활이 어떤 영향과 의미를 주는지 밝혀내어 건강과 관련된 간호중재 개발을 위한 기초자료를 제공하는데 목적을 두고 있다. 연구방법은 질적연구방법으로 van Manen의 해석학적 현상학적 분석방법을 사용하였다. 그 결과 농촌여성노인이 체험하는 여가생활은 '어울림을 통해 외로움 극복하기', '몸을 활용해 심신(心身)의 조화 이루기', '내 힘으로 자식(子息)의 짐 덜어주기', '무료한 세월보내기', '소소한 즐거움 찾기', '새로운 것을 익히며 뿌듯함 얻기', '세상과 소통하며 살아가기' 등의 7개의 본질적 주제를 도출하였다. 농촌여성노인이 체험하는 여가생활은 자연과 동화되면서, 건강과 사회관계를 유지하는 것으로 나타났다. 또한 농촌의 사회·경제적 특성으로 인한 외로움과 소외감 등을 연배노인들과 어울리며, 이를 극복하기 위한 시간임을 확인할 수 있었다.

• 한국노년학
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.1383-1396
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• 2009

본 연구에서는 성공적 노화이론의 생의학적 이론과 사회심리학적 이론에 대한 각각의 선행요인인 주관적 건강 및 노인차별경험을 측정하여 어느 측면이 보다 성공적 노화에 영향을 주고 있는지 살펴보고자 하였다. 주요 결과를 보면, 첫째, 노인차별경험 중 무시차별경험이 다른 차별경험 보다 높게 나타났다. 둘째, 사회인구적 변수를 가지고 주관적 건강, 노인차별경험, 성공적 노화에 대한 차이를 분석한 결과 여성에 비해 남성이 높은 노인차별경험을 하고 있었다. 연령, 경제수준, 학력에서도 주관적 건강 및 차별경험 일부에서 차이를 나타냈다. 마지막으로, 이 연구의 주요목적인 성공적 노화에 영향을 미치는 요인을 알아보기 위하여 위계적 회귀분석을 실시한 결과, 주관적 건강과 차별경험 중 재산차별이 성공적 노화에 영향을 주는 것으로 나타났다. 연구결과를 통해 우리는 성공적 노화를 위해서 주관적 건강(생의학적 측면의 선행변수)이 노인차별경험(사회심리학적 측면의 선행변수) 보다 중요한 설명력을 갖는다는 사실을 검증했다. 이를 통해 효과적인 건강증진사업 등의 정책 입안 및 시행이 우선적으로 필요하다는 것이 입증되었으며, 노인차별을 위한 방지대책도 사회적인 논의가 필요하다는 것이 입증되었다.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제17권5호
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• pp.883-898
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Probiotics have been suggested as potent modulators of age-related disorders in immunological functions, yet little is known about sex-dependent effects of probiotic supplements. Therefore, we aimed to investigate sex-dependent effects of probiotics on profiles of the gut microbiota and peripheral immune cells in healthy older adults. SUBJECTS/METHODS: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial, healthy elderly individuals ≥ 65 yrs old were administered probiotic capsules (or placebo) for 12 wk. Gut microbiota was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and bioinformatic analyses. Peripheral immune cells were profiled using flow cytometry for lymphocytes (natural killer, B, CD4⁺ T, and CD8⁺ T cells), dendritic cells, monocytes, and their subpopulations. RESULTS: Compared with placebo, phylum Firmicutes was significantly reduced in the probiotic group in women, but not in men. At the genus level, sex-specific responses included reductions in the relative abundances of pro-inflammatory gut microbes, including Catabacter and unclassified_Coriobacteriales, and Burkholderia and unclassified Enterobacteriaceae, in men and women, respectively. Peripheral immune cell profiling analysis revealed that in men, probiotics significantly reduced the proportions of dendritic cells and CD14⁺ CD16^- monocytes; however, these effects were not observed in women. In contrast, the proportion of total CD4⁺ T cells was significantly reduced in women in the probiotic group. Additionally, serum lipopolysaccharide-binding protein levels showed a decreasing tendency that were positively associated with changes in gut bacteria, including Catabacter (ρ = 0.678, P < 0.05) and Burkholderia (ρ = 0.673, P < 0.05) in men and women, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that probiotic supplementation may reduce the incidence of inflammation-related diseases by regulating the profiles of the gut microbiota and peripheral immune cells in healthy elders in a sex-specific manner.

• 한국산업정보학회논문지
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.1-13
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• 2024

본 연구는 키오스크 사용 증가로 인한 변화에 대응하기 위해 사용자 특성을 고려한 맞춤형 동적 키오스크 화면을 제공하는 것을 목표로 한다. 디지털 취약계층인 시각장애인, 노인, 어린이, 휠체어 사용자 등의 특성에 따른 화면 구성의 최적화를 위해 객체 탐지, 걸음걸이 인식, 음성발화 인식기술을 종합하여 사용자의 특성(휠체어 사용 여부, 시각 장애, 연령 등)을 실시간으로 분석하고, 이를 기반으로 9개의 카테고리로 사용자를 분류한다. 키오스크 화면은 사용자의 특성에 따라 동적으로 조정되어 효율적인 서비스 제공이 가능하다. 본 연구는 임베디드 환경에서 시스템 통신 및 운용이 이루어졌으며, 사용된 객체 탐지, 걸음걸이 인식, 음성발화 인식 기술은 각각 74%, 98.9%, 96%의 정확도를 보여준다. 제안된 기술은 프로토타입을 구현하여 그 효용성을 검증하였으며, 이를 통해 본 연구가 디지털 격차의 축소와 사용자 친화적인 "배리어 프리 키오스크" 서비스 제공의 가능성을 보였다.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제37권1호
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• pp.41-50
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• 2024

Background: Recognizing the seriousness of the misuse and abuse of medical narcotics, the South Korean government introduced the world's first narcotic management system, the Narcotics Information Management System (NIMS). This study aimed to explore the recent one-year opioid prescribing patterns in South Korea using the NIMS database. Methods: This study analyzed opioid prescription records in South Korea for the year 2022, utilizing the dispensing/administration dataset provided by NIMS. Public data from the Korean Statistical Information Service were also utilized to explore prescription trends over the past four years. The examination covered 16 different opioid analgesics, assessed by the total number of units prescribed based on routes of administration, type of institutions, and patients' sex and age group. Additionally, the disposal rate for each ingredient was computed. Results: In total, 206,941 records of 87,792,968 opioid analgesic units were analyzed. Recently, the overall quantity of prescribed opioid analgesic units has remained relatively stable. The most prescribed ingredient was oral oxycodone, followed by tapentadol and sublingual fentanyl. Tertiary hospitals had the highest number of dispensed units (49.4%), followed by community pharmacies (40.2%). The highest number of prescribed units was attributed to male patients in their 60s. The disposal rates of the oral and transdermal formulations were less than 0.1%. Conclusions: Opioid prescription in South Korea features a high proportion of oral formulations, tertiary hospital administration, pharmacy dispensing, and elderly patients. Sustained education and surveillance of patients and healthcare providers is required.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제57권3호
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• pp.255-262
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• 2024

Background: Sutureless aortic valves may enable shorter procedure times, which benefits patients with elevated surgical risk. We describe the outcomes of patients with aortic stenosis who underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR) using the sutureless Perceval aortic bioprosthesis. Methods: Data from a retrospective cohort were obtained from a clinical database. The study enrolled patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis who underwent surgical AVR with a sutureless bioprosthesis between August 2015 and December 2020. In total, 113 patients were included (mean age, 75.3±8.4 years; 57.5% women; median Society of Thoracic Surgeons score, 9.7%; mean follow-up period, 51.19±20.6 months). Of these patients, 41 were octogenarians (36.2%) and 3 were nonagenarians (2.6%). Transthoracic echocardiography was employed to assess changes in ejection fraction (EF), left ventricular mass index (LVMI), and mean pressure gradient (MPG). Results: The in-hospital mortality rate was 2.6%, and 13 patients developed new-onset atrial fibrillation. A permanent pacemaker was implanted in 3 patients (2.6%). The median intensive care unit stay was 1 day (interquartile range [IQR], 1-2 days), and the median hospital stay was 12 days (IQR, 9.5-15 days). The overall survival rate at 5 years was 95.9%. LVMI and MPG were reduced postoperatively, while EF increased over the follow-up period. No structural valve deterioration was observed, and no meaningful paravalvular leakage developed during follow-up. Conclusion: The use of a sutureless valve in the aortic position is safe and feasible, even for high-risk elderly patients requiring surgical AVR. LVMI and MPG decreased postoperatively, while EF increased over the follow-up period.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.544-553
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• 2024

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: There are concerns about the adverse health effects of behavioral changes linked to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We conducted a survey to investigate changes in lifestyle habits, including exercise and eating, during the COVID-19 pandemic and their association with changes in weight. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We conducted a survey of 5,000 people in Hakui City, Japan, to assess their lifestyles and diets during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 3,992 complete responses were received. We also obtained pre- and post-pandemic health check-up data for 704 of the respondents. These health data were combined with the results of the questionnaire survey to identify factors associated with weight changes. Data were analyzed for 704 individuals. RESULTS: The mean body mass index was 22.5 ± 3.1 kg/m² for respondents whose weight did not change and 25.1 ± 2.7 kg/m² for respondents whose weight increased. The pre-pandemic mean values for abdominal circumference in females and for gamma-glutamyl transferase in males tended to be higher in those whose weight increased. Those with decreased weight tended to be older. Respondents who were already overweight were more likely to gain weight because of COVID-19-related changes in their lifestyle. In males, alcohol consumption was directly associated with weight, and in females, abdominal circumference was more important. CONCLUSION: The study found pre-pandemic overweight individuals likely gained more weight during it, with alcohol consumption being a significant factor for males. Weight loss was more crucial for those over 70, rather than weight gain.

• International Journal of Heart Failure
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.28-33
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• 2024

Background and Objectives: Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is a form of reversible cardiomyopathy often preceded by mental or physical stressors and predominantly affects elderly women. Several cardiac and inflammatory biomarkers are involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. We aimed to investigate the correlation of C-reactive protein (CRP) level with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and clinical outcomes in patients with TTS. Methods: The study included patients with discharge-diagnosis of Takotsubo through 2017-2022 from the cardiology department. Demographic, laboratory, echocardiographic, and clinical outcomes were retrospectively obtained. We investigated the relation between CRP and LVEF, length of stay (LOS), in-hospital complications, and recurrence. Results: A total of 86 patients (93% female, mean age 68.8±12.3 years) were included in the study. The median CRP level was 17.4 (interquartile range [IQR], 6.1-40.1) mg/L, and the mean LVEF was 41.5%, (IQR, 38-50%). Complications occurred in 24 (27.9%) of the patients, and the median LOS was 3 (IQR, 3-5) days. The level of CRP was associated with lower LVEF (r=-0.39, p<0.001), longer hospital stay (r=0.25, p=0.021), and recurrence. There was no correlation between CRP and in-hospital complications. In multivariate logistic regression, poor LVEF was associated with TTS recurrence (odds ratio, 1.22; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-1.37; p=0.001). Using linear regression, only CRP was correlated with longer LOS and lower LVEF (p<0.001). Conclusions: Among patients hospitalized with TTS, CRP level was associated with poor LVEF and prolonged hospital stay but not with in-hospital complications. Poor LVEF was also associated with TTS recurrence.

• International Journal of Molecular Medicine
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• 제45권2호
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• pp.678-686
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• 2020

Use of bone marrow aspirate (BMA) is a clinically advantageous cell therapeutic that bypasses the need for elaborate ex vivo cell culturing. However, a low level of bone marrow-mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) in the BMA and weak survival rate of these cells post-transplantation entails an insufficient efficacy in vivo. Moreover, stem cell activity in BMA is impaired by age or background diseases. Thus, in order to enrich the BM-MSC pool and improve cell survival, novel cell preconditioning technologies are required. In this study, it has been revealed that the pretreatment of repetitive electromagnetic stimulation (rEMS) is capable of enhancing fibroblastic colony-forming units and cell proliferation in the BM-MSCs, possibly via transient nitric oxide production and extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2 activation. Notably, this effect was more apparent in stem cells isolated from older patients than from young patients. Furthermore, the rEMS-pretreated cells showed ~53% higher cell survival, compared with the untreated cells, after cell transplantation in mice with no signs of tumorigenesis. Collectively, transient rEMS preconditioning could be utilized to enhance the activity of stem cells and thus, application of rEMS preconditioning to stem cells isolated from older patients is expected to improve the therapeutic effect of stem cells.