• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.13-22
• /
• 2009

The nursing home for the elderly has a weak point for evacuation from the fire because most of all the users are suffering from a dementia or paralysis. When it comes to night shift, it is much difficult to get them evacuated due to the lack of staffs. In addition to that, the nursing home for the elderly has such a strict control system for access that does not have a utility for escape opening. That is why they need the differentiated evacuation planning. This study is to consider the point at issues on the present conditions of law, system, and evacuation plans for the nursing home for the elderly that has some difficulties because of impaired functions of residences. This study dealt with the point at facilities and operations of the emergency evacuation system. First of all, for the point at the facilities, I found that it need to be considered on the characteristics of the elderly who has any difficulties of the self evacuation. And the established regulation did not reflect the characteristics of closed area of the nursing home for the elderly. The second, for the point at the operation of the institutions, it is pointed that there seems to be a lack of ways to manage to a emergency situation and educations on the operation staff. And the last, for the point at the operation, the requirement for the managers of fire prevention facilities are similar to that of a normal building. Furthermore there is a lack of corporation with the fire station.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.745-753
• /
• 2005

Purpose. The purposes of this study were to 1) describe the type and frequency of aggressive behavior of cognitively impaired nursing home resident, 2) develop a caregiver training program on prevention and management of aggressive behavior, 3) examine the effects of caregiver training program on the incidence of aggressive behavior of cognitively impaired nursing home resident, and 4) examine the effects of caregiver training program on nursing staff's aggressive behavior management skills. Methods. One-group, time series, quasi-experimental design with a pre-test and two post- tests was used. Data were collected from cognitively impaired home residents (N = 32) and nursing staff (N = 36) in a proprietary nursing home using Ryden Aggression Scale I, II, and Aggressive Behavior Management Scale. Data were entered and analyzed by descriptive statistics and repeated measures ANOVA. Results. Incidence of aggressive behavior was high with a mean score of 3.09 (SD = 3.11) at baseline. Caregiver training program was developed based on Progressively Lowered Stress Threshold (PLST) model and gerontological and psychiatric literature. The mean scores of aggressive behavior at baseline, Post I, and II did not differ significantly although the difference approached to the significant level (F = 2.925, p = .066). Nursing staff's aggressive behavior management skills increased at Post I, and at Post II when compared to baseline, and the difference was significant (F=12.736, p=<.00l). Conclusion. Caregiver training program showed potential impact on reduction of aggressive behavior in elders with cognitive impairment and was effective in increasing nursing staff's aggressive behavior management skills.

• Journal of Chitin and Chitosan
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.220-227
• /
• 2018

Amyloid plaque is a product of aggregation of ${\beta}$-amyloid peptide ($A{\beta}$) and is an important factor in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). $A{\beta}$ is a major component of amyloid plaque and vascular deposits in the AD brain. The enzyme ${\beta}$-secretase is required for the production of $A{\beta}$; thus, prevention of the formation of $A{\beta}$ through the inhibition of ${\beta}$-secretase is a major focus in the study of the treatment of AD. In this study, we investigated ${\beta}$-secretase inhibitory activity of an Arctoscopus japonicus peptide. An Alcalase hydrolysate had the highest ${\beta}$-secretase inhibitory activity. A ${\beta}$-secretase inhibitory activity peptide was separated using ion exchange column chromatography (carboxy-methyl: CM, quaternary methyl ammonium: QMA) and reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) on a C18 column. The $IC_{50}$ value of the purified peptide was $248.2{\pm}1.73{\mu}g/mL$. The ${\beta}$-secretase inhibitory peptide was identified as a six amino acid residue of Gly-Pro-Val-Gly-Ala-Pro (MW: 497.27 Da). In cell viability experiments, the final purified fraction, the carboxy-methyl ion exchange column fraction (CM-F1) showed no significant cytotoxic effect in SH-SY5Y cells at concentrations below $100{\mu}g/mL$ in 24 h. The results of this study suggest that peptides separated from Arctoscopus japonicus may be beneficial as ${\beta}$-secretase inhibitor compounds in functional foods.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.185-198
• /
• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify the effectiveness of Korean medicine treatment in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) among a group of community dwelling elderly. Methods: Two-hundred and twenty-nine elderly living in a community and diagnosed with MCI were recruited. Participants were evaluated with various instruments such as the Korean version of Mini-Mental State Examination for Dementia Screening (MMSE-DS) and the Korean version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-K). Korean medicine treatment consisted of herbal medicine, acupuncture, and pharmacoacupuncture. The change in cognitive ability was assessed by using the MMSE-DS and the MoCA-K. Data were analyzed by SPSS/WIN 22.0 using the paired t-test, and the ANOVA. Results: The MMSE-DS and the MoCA-K score generally increased after six months of Korean medicine treatment and the differences in both instruments were statistically significant. Additionally, some consecutive participants maintained long-term cognitive improvement. When analyzed specifically by herbal medicine group based on syndrome differentiation and pharmacoacupuncture group, most showed improvement in the MMSE-DS and the MoCA-K but not all data were statistically significant. The satisfaction score was mostly high and most participants were willing to re-participate in the program. Conclusions: Korean medicine treatment may contribute to the improvement and prevention of cognitive decline in the elderly. However, further systematic research based on large scale sample data and standardized protocols is needed to uplift the welfare and mental health of the elderly.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.134-140
• /
• 2015

The present study aims to investigate the effect of methanol extract of Korean mistletoe (KM; Viscum album var. coloratum), on amyloid $\beta$ protein ($A\beta$) (25-35), a synthetic 25-35 amyloid peptide, -induced neurotoxicity in cultured rat cerebral cortical neurons and memory impairment in mice. Exposure of cultured neurons to $10{\mu}M$ $A\beta$ (25-35) for 24 h induced a neuronal cell death, which was measured by a 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and Hoechst 33342 staining. KM (10, 30 and $50{\mu}g/ml$) significantly inhibited the $A\beta$ (25-35)-induced apoptotic neuronal death. KM ($50{\mu}g/ml$) inhibited 10 μM Aβ (25-35)-induced elevation of intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i), which was measured by a fluorescent dye, Fluo-4 AM. Glutamate release into medium and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by $10{\mu}M$ $A\beta$ (25-35) were also inhibited by KM (10, 30 and $50{\mu}g/ml$). These results suggest that KM may mitigate the $A\beta$ (25-35)-induced neurotoxicity by interfering with the increase of [Ca²⁺]_i and then inhibiting glutamate release and generation of ROS in cultured neurons. In addition, orally administered KM (25 and 50 mg/kg, 7 days) significantly prevented memory impairment induced by intracerebroventricular injection of $A\beta$ (25-35) (8 nmol). Taken together, it is suggested that anti-dementia effect of KM is due to its neuroprotective effect against $A\beta$ (25-35)-induced neurotoxicity and that KM may have therapeutic role in prevention of the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

• Journal of Mushroom
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.275-283
• /
• 2019

Sparassis latifolia is a fungus abundant in β-glucan and amino acids and is highly valued as a medicinal mushroom. Among amino acids, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a free amino acid and has biological effects, such as increase/decrease of hypertension, improvement of cerebral blood flow, and prevention of dementia. In this study, biological elicitors were used to increase bioactive substances as a biofortification method. Sodium alginate extracted from seaweed (Sargassum horneri, Sargassum fulvellum, Sargassum fusiforme) were used as the elicitor. The levels of β-glucan and GABA in the mycelium and fruiting body grown by adding the elicitor to the medium were investigated. Addition of sodium alginate positively affected GABA production and negatively affected the β-glucan production in these fungi. Sodium alginates extracted from S. fulvellum induced the highest increase in GABA in the mycelium and fruiting bodies. Moreover, we investigated the effects of the extracts from mycelium and fruiting bodies on dendrite development in primary cortical neurons. We found that the extract from the fruiting bodies of sodium alginate treated fungi with increased levels of GABA inhibited the dendrite outgrowth of excitatory neurons, but not inhibitory neurons.

• Journal of the Korean society of biological therapies in psychiatry
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.209-217
• /
• 2018

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of suicidality among community-dwelling elderly. Methods : The participants were 2,201 elderly people whose ages were over 65. The participants were asked to complete questionnaires, including Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview(MINI), module C, Short Geriatric Depression Scale of Korean version(SGDS-K), Korean Geriatric Anxiety Inventory(K-GAI), The Korean Health Status Measure for Elderly V 1.0, Korean version of Mini-Mental Status Examination for Dementia Screening(MMSE-DS). Their sociodemographic factors were investigated. The data were analyzed using the chi-square test and the logistic regression test to examine the relationship between suicidality and participants' risk factors. Results : The prevalence rate of suicidality was 23.3%. In multiple logistic regression, depressive symptoms (OR=3.301, 95% CI : 2.453-4.440), anxiety symptoms(OR=3.289, 95% CI : 2.515-4.303), low physical function (OR=1.606, 95% CI : 1.229-2.098), no spouse(OR=1.571, 95% CI : 1.037-1.690), elderly aged 80 years or older (OR=1.506, 95% CI : 1.094-1.740) were independently associated with suicidality. Conclusion : Suicidality in community-dwelling elderly was quite high, particularly related to depressive symptoms. The results of this study can be useful for development of community-based prevention and management programs for suicidality.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.39-46
• /
• 2020

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder causing dementia worldwide, and is mainly characterized by aggregated β-amyloid (Aβ). Increasing evidence has shown that plant extracts have the potential to delay AD development. The plant sterol β-Sitosterol has a potential role in inhibiting the production of platelet Aβ, suggesting that it may be useful for AD prevention. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effect and mechanism of β-Sitosterol on deficits in learning and memory in amyloid protein precursor/presenilin 1 (APP/PS1) double transgenic mice. APP/PS1 mice were treated with β-Sitosterol for four weeks, from the age of seven months. Brain Aβ metabolism was evaluated using ELISA and Western blotting. We found that β-Sitosterol treatment can improve spatial learning and recognition memory ability, and reduce plaque load in APP/PS1 mice. β-Sitosterol treatment helped reverse dendritic spine loss in APP/PS1 mice and reversed the decreased hippocampal neuron miniature excitatory postsynaptic current frequency. Our research helps to explain and support the neuroprotective effect of β-Sitosterol, which may offer a novel pharmaceutical agent for the treatment of AD. Taken together, these findings suggest that β-Sitosterol ameliorates memory and learning impairment in APP/PS1 mice and possibly decreases Aβ deposition.

• The Journal of Natural Sciences
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.45-55
• /
• 2008

Alzheimer's disease is charaterized by the acetylcholine depletion, amyloid b-protein aggregation and neurofibrillary tangles. The prevention of the breakdown of acetylcholine by acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor has the best clinically therapeutic efficacy for Alzheimer's disease patients. To develop new antidementia alternative drugs or nutraceuticals, methanol extracts of Sorghum bicolor was screened from various extracts of cereals and legumes as a potent AChE inhibitor-containing extract in previous paper. In this paper, physicochemical properties of the methanol extracts was investigated. The methanol extracts was soluble by water, methanol and DMSO and had 215 nm and 282nm of maximum absorption spectra. It was also stable at 20-$100^{\circ}C$ and pH 2.0-10.0 for 1 hr. Test product was prepared by using methanol extracts from Sorghum bicolor and changes of its quality during storge at $20^{\circ}C$ and $40^{\circ}C$ were investigated. It was very stable for 8 weeks at $40^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.471-482
• /
• 2021

We aimed to provide evidences for developing non-pharmacological intervention in older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment(MCI) by integrated literature review. The final 16 papers were selected as a result of an integrated literature analysis. All of them are focused on strengthening cognitive activities, while Korean studies have often merged emotional activities such as music therapy and laughter therapy rather than physical activities such as exercise therapy, international studies have combined physical activities rather than emotional activities. The effects of non-pharmacological intervention differed according to the outcome variables. The primary variables were cognitive function and depression, and secondary variables were found to have effects on physical function, activities of daily living (ADL), and self-efficacy. This study contributes to a multidisciplinary approach that can be applied in the clinical field through the development of various non-pharmaceutical intervention for the prevention of dementia in the older adults with MCI.