• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.259-266
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• 2023

Today, environmental pollution has been found to be one of the causes of various diseases, including brain and nervous system diseases. In particular, neurodegenerative diseases have been found to be caused by hyperactivation of immune system cells such as microglia. Preventive and therapeutic measures are needed to suppress them. Hirudo is known as a traditional herbal medicine, based on its multiple biological activities such as anti-eczema and anti-coagulation. In the present study, the anti-neuroinflammatory potential of hirudo extract was investigated in lipopolysccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglial cells and in mice. Hirudo extract significantly inhibited LPS-stimulated nitric oxide (NO) production and cytokine (IL-1Ra, KC, MCP-5, and RANTES) expression in a dose-dependent manner without causing cytotoxicity. Pretreatment with hirudo extract suppressed LPS-induced NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation. Moreover, hirudo extract reduced LPS-stimulated microglial acitivation and improved memory impairments. The results demonstrated that hirudo extract exerts anti-neuroinflammation activities, partly through inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway. These findings suggest that hirudo extract might have therapeutic potential with respect to neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.357-371
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aims to investigate factors related to long-term length of stay (LOS) of patients with chronic diseases in Korean veterans hospitals. Methods: The subjects were 196 elderly patients with chronic disease staying in the hospital for more than 10 days, Data were collected by the survey of patients with structured questionnaires and medical records review by nurses from July 15 to August 10, 2019. Collected data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression. Results: The present and desired LOS were 37.78±32.66 days and 60.87±45.95 days, respectively. Factors affecting hospital LOS were found to be main disease (genitourinary) (p<.001), assistance in activities of daily living (p<.001), area of hospital (p<.001), payment of medical fees (p=.026), hospital satisfaction (p=.036) and the explanatory power of these variables was 26.4%. The most common health problems that need to be solved after discharge were symptom alleviation and health promotion. These problems can be solved using community-based facility services or visiting medical-welfare services (especially home care nursing). Conclusion: In order to reduce hospital LOS, the following measures are required: personalized self-management education, provision of transportation services for dialysis therapy of inactive patients, linking patients with visiting medical-welfare services including home care nursing and mobile healthcare services, operation of the case management system including the notice of the discharge date at admission, interim check of patient status, and connecting the patient with community resources or transferring the patient to long-term care facilities at discharge.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.44-54
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• 2023

Purpose: Uncertainty and restrictions on daily life have increased fear, stress, and depression during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Depression is the most common mental health problem in pregnant women. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the levels of fear and stress related to COVID-19 experienced by pregnant women, as well as their levels of depression, and to examine the factors associated with depression during pregnancy. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, correlational study conducted among 153 pregnant women who visited a maternity hospital in Busan, South Korea. A self-reported questionnaire was used for data collection from December 18, 2021 to March 8, 2022. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression. Results: Pregnant women experienced a moderate level of fear related to COVID-19, with an average score of 21.55±4.90. The average score for depression during pregnancy was 14.86±11.10, with 50.3% of the participants experiencing depression (≥13). The factors associated with depression during pregnancy were fear of COVID-19, contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, being in the third trimester of pregnancy, high stress levels due to difficulties experienced from social distancing measures, and unintended pregnancy. These five statistically significant factors explained 35.0% of variance in depression during pregnancy. Conclusion: Considering the prevalence of depression in pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is necessary to develop interventions to reduce anxiety by providing correct information and alleviating the stress of social distancing.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.56-70
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• 2023

Purpose : This study aimed to identify the effects of a multifaceted pediatric delirium education program for pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) nurses on their delirium knowledge, confidence in delirium nursing, and delirium evaluation accuracy. Methods : This study used a one-group pretest-posttest design. The participants were 50 nurses in two units of the PICU at S General Hospital in Seoul. All participants took a 1-hour lecture with case-based practice for the first two weeks, and received feedback as they applied the program to clinical practice over the next two weeks. Test measures were completed before and after the four week intervention period for all participants. The delirium evaluation accuracy was measured using the Korean version of the Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium. Data were analyzed using the chi-square and paired t-tests. Results : After the Pediatric Delirium Education Program, nurses' delirium knowledge (x²=11.65, p =.001), confidence in delirium nursing (t=9.71, p<.001), and delirium evaluation accuracy (t=6.07, p<.001) improved significantly. Conclusions : Pediatric delirium education programs for PICU nurses were effective. For active application of the program in clinical practice in the future, various cases of childhood delirium and specific strategies for each subject must be developed. To achieve this, long-term intervention and research for multiple organizations are required.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.11
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• pp.4111-4124
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• 2022

The control rod drive system is critical to the reactor's reliable operation. The performance of its control system and mechanical system will gradually deteriorate because of operational and environmental stresses, thus increasing the reactor's operational risk. Currently there are few researches on the aging-related degradation of the entire control rod drive system. Because it is difficult to quantify the effect of various environmental stresses and establish an accurate physical model when multiple mechanisms superimposed in the degradation process. Therefore, this paper investigates the aging-related degradation of a control rod drive system by integrating Dynamic Object-Oriented Bayesian Network and Hidden Markov Model. Uncertainties in the degradation of the control system and mechanical system are addressed by using fuzzy theory and the Hidden Markov Model respectively. A system which consists of eight control rod drive mechanisms divided into two groups is used to demonstrate the method. The aging-related degradation of the control rod drive system is analyzed by the Bayesian inference algorithm based on the accelerated life test data, and the impact of different operating schemes on the system performance is also investigated. Meanwhile, the components or units that have major impact on the system's performance are identified at different operational phases. Finally, several essential safety measures are suggested to mitigate the risk caused by the system degradation.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.49-60
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• 2023

Purpose : We aimed to evaluate the impact of a exercise with kinect-based mixed reality device (KMR) on physical function, upper extremity disability, fatigue, and quality of life in breast cancer survivors. We hypothesized that this exercise program would improve physical function, physical activity, fatigue, and quality of life. Methods : Thirty-nine breast cancer survivors were randomized to either the KMR exercise group (KE) or the home stretch group (HS). The KE participated in 8 weeks of exercise, exercising 3 times per week, while the HS performed 8 weeks of stretching exercises, also 3 times per week. Before and after the intervention period, participants underwent assessments of physical function, including body composition, chester step test (CST), and hand grip strength (HGS). Additionally, participants completed questionnaires including the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ), disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) questionnaire, and functional assessment of cancer therapy-breast (FACT-B) questionnaire to measure their physical activity levels, upper extremity disability, and quality of life, respectively. Results : Overall, significant improvements were observed in several shoulder movements, body weight, and physical activity, with no significant interaction effects between groups and time. Furthermore, there was a significant group by time interaction for body weight, left flexion, right flexion, right abduction, and left adduction, as well as for upper extremity disability (K-DASH) and quality of life (FACT-B). Conclusion : In conclusion, the KMR exercise program was found to be effective at improving physical function, upper extremity disability, quality of life, and overall well-being in breast cancer survivors. The significant improvements observed in multiple measures and the significant group by time interactions for various outcomes highlight the potential benefits of this KMR exercise program in promoting a better quality of life for breast cancer survivors.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.466-478
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• 2022

Purpose: Coronally advanced split-or full-thickness (CAST or CAFT) flaps in combination with subepithelial connective tissue grafts (SCTGs) are commonly used in root-coverage procedures despite postoperative pain and bleeding from the graft donor site. Therefore, the modified vestibular incision subperiosteal tunnel access procedure (VISTAX) uses a novel collagen matrix (VCMX) instead of autogenous tissue to address the limitations associated with autogenous tissue grafting. This retrospective study compared the clinical outcomes of VISTAX to the results obtained after using a CAST or CAFT flap in combination with SCTG for root coverage. Methods: Patients with single or multiple adjacent recession I/II defects were included, with 10 subjects each in the VISTAX, CAFT, and CAST groups. Defect coverage, keratinized tissue width, esthetic scores, and patients' perceived pain and dentinal hypersensitivity (visual analogue scale [VAS]) were assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Results: All surgical techniques significantly reduced gingival recession (P<0.0001). Defect coverage, esthetic appearance, and the reduction in dentinal hypersensitivity were comparable. However, the VAS scores for pain were significantly lower in the VISTAX group than in the CAFT and CAST groups, which had similar scores (P<0.05). Furthermore, the clinical results of VISTAX and CAFT/CAST generally remained stable at 6 months. Conclusions: The clinical outcomes of VISTAX, CAFT, and CAST were comparable. However, patients perceived significantly less pain after VISTAX, indicating a potentially higher patient acceptance of the procedure. A prospective trial with a longer follow-up period and a larger sample size should therefore evaluate VISTAX further.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.111-116
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• 2023

We provided general anesthesia management to a patient with advanced atrioventricular block, which was discovered in the remote period after open-heart surgery. A 21-year-old man with Noonan syndrome was scheduled to undergo excision of a median intramandibular tumor. At 2 months of age, the patient underwent endocardial repair for congenital heart disease. During our preoperative examination, an atrioventricular block was detected, which had not been previously noted. Emergency drugs were administered, and a transcutaneous pacemaker was placed. During anesthesia induction, mask ventilation was easy, and intubation was performed smoothly using a video laryngoscope. The transcutaneous pacemaker was activated in demand mode at a pacing rate of 50 cycles/min approximately throughout the anesthesia time, and the hemodynamic status remained stable. The effect of intraoperatively administered atropine was brief, lasting only a few seconds. Although body movements due to thoracoabdominal muscle spasm were observed during pacemaker activation, they did not interfere with surgery. In postoperative patients with congenital heart disease, an atrioventricular block may be identified in the remote period, and preoperative evaluation should be based on this possibility. In addition, during anesthesia management, it is important to prepare multiple measures to maintain hemodynamic status.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.174-186
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• 2022

The present study explores how the quality management rhetoric commonly used by Korean CEOs tends to be composed and perceived by the public. To this end, articles of the remarks of Lee Kun-hee, the second founder of Samsung, are analyzed. The results show a rhetorical structure of quality management where the CEO offers a persuasive theme (quality management for a super-class enterprise) and practical measures (innovation and performance-based promotion) while coping with a rhetorical situation (an economic crisis). A multiple regression analysis of the response of 308 Korean college students who watched a video of Lee's remarks indicates that the more conservative the viewers are and the more they perceive the CEO's charm and expertise, the more likely they are to support the CEO's quality management rhetoric. The conservative viewers favorably responded to the entrepreneurship in the quality management rhetoric, while the progressives recognized the rhetoric as part of Korean-style neoliberalism that alienates ordinary workers.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.92-101
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• 2023

Background: Stroke is one of the causes affecting gait and balance. Taping is considered an effective method for improving balance and gait in stroke patients. Numerous studies have confirmed the functional effects of taping in stroke patients. However, there is still no consensus regarding the use of taping to improve gait and balance. Objects: The purpose of this review was to investigate the effects of taping on the balance and gait of patients with stroke through meta-analysis of studies. Methods: PubMed, Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Review, RISS, DBPia, and Science on were used to collect articles on Kinesio and non-elastic taping. The key terms were "Stroke", "Hemiplegia", "Taping", "Tape", "Balance", and "Gait" with cut-off of October, 2022. Taping group was compared with control groups with sham, placebo, and no taping. The outcome measures included the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and gait speed (cm/s). Eighteen studies (524 patients) were selected for the meta-analysis. Results: Overall, taping improved balance and gait in stroke patients, and Kinesio and non-elastic taping had similar effect sizes. Taping improved the BBS and TUG, and was most effective on gait speed. Contrary to the expectation that a longer duration of taping would be more affective, taping was most effective when the total taping duration was shorter than 500 minutes. In addition, the effect size of taping was greater when it was simultaneously attached to multiple locations. Conclusion: This meta-analysis supports the use of taping to improve gait and balance in stroke patients, and provides guidelines for the location, duration, and type of tape to increase taping efficiency.