• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.630-638
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a scale to evaluate stress in elderly patients with coronary artery diseases (CAD) and to examine validity and reliability of the scale. Methods: The development process for the preliminary scale included construction of a conceptual framework and initial items, verification of content analysis, sentence correction, and pilot study. This study was conducted using a questionnaire survey with one-to-one interviews during January and February, 2012. Participants were 240 elderly patients with CAD. Data were analyzed using item analysis, factor analysis, criterion related validity, and internal consistency. Results: The developed scale consisted of 32 items and 6 factors - aging and disease (7 items), family relations (5 items), anxiety and withdrawal (9 items), management of daily living (3 items), compliance of medical regimen (4 items), poverty and finance (4 items), and explained 68.5% of total variance. The scale had significantly positive correlation with the Korean Perceived Stress Scale (KPSS). Cronbach's alpha was .96, and Guttman split half coefficient was .91. Conclusion: Results indicate that the Stress Scale for Elderly Patients with CAD has validity and reliability, and is a suitable scale in health care settings to assess stress in elderly patients with CAD.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.485-491
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• 2010

With an increase in the number of people suffering from ageing-related diseases in our rapidly aging society, interests in natural products such as maca(Lepidium meyenii), which has properties of enhancing cognition and sexual performance, have increased. This study was conducted to assess the effects of 7 weeks of maca extract supplementation(0.5~2.0 g/kg BW) on scopolamine-induced amnesia in mice and on sperm count in male mice. All doses of maca supplementation significantly protected against scopolamine-induced amnesia as determined by a Morris water maze, but not according to passive avoidance tests. Maca supplementation did not affect acetylcholinesterase activity in the whole brain, nor the testicular sperm count of male mice. This study suggests that maca may have some neuroprotective properties in mice, which will be further examined by future studies.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.101-107
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• 2011

Aging in females is associated with a reduced metabolic function, increased incidence of neurodegenerative diseases, and cognitive dysfunction, as a result of loss in gonadal function. The change can alter the states of phosphorylation on the proteins, which cause dramatic changes in the cellular location or activity of the proteins. In this study, the differential phosphorylation of the proteins responsible for the functions related to cognition was studied using the ovariectomized adult rats. Phosphoproteomic analysis using the cerebral and hippocampal tissues could identify 51 differentially phosphorylated proteins including 12 proteins for energy metabolism, 8 cytoskeletal proteins, 6 signaling proteins, and other functional proteins in the ovariectomized rats. Further, anti-oxidative enzymes, superoxide dismutase and peroxiredoxin-2, which are known to be inactivated by phosphorylation, were found to be differentially phosphorylated in the cerebellum and hippocampus of the ovariectomized rats, respectively. Many of the deactivated proteins by differential phosphorylation identified in this study were overlapped to those of Alzheimer's disease cases. These results will provide information for neurodegenerative learning and memory impairments in women as brought about by menopause.

• BMB Reports
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.73-78
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• 2018

Vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptor (VEGF-VEGFR) system play a critical role in the regulation of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in vertebrates. Each of the VEGF has specific receptors, which it activates by binding to the extracellular domain of the receptors, and, thus, regulates the angiogenic balance in the early embryonic and adult stages. However, de-regulation of the VEGF-VEGFR implicates directly in various diseases, particularly cancer. Moreover, tumor growth needs a dedicated blood supply to provide oxygen and other essential nutrients. Tumor metastasis requires blood vessels to carry tumors to distant sites, where they can implant and begin the growth of secondary tumors. Thus, investigation of signaling systems related to the human disease, such as VEGF-VEGFR, will facilitate the development of treatments for such illnesses.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.257-267
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors of fall and to examine its results among patients aged 60 and over diagnosed with osteoporosis. Methods: A retrospective descriptive survey was conducted with 91 patients admitted in a university hospital in a city. Data were collected using an interview method with a structured questionnaire, and were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression. Results: In patients with osteoporosis, the intrinsic risk factors of falls were aging (OR = 3.742), gait disturbance (OR = 12.565), taking one or fewer medicine (OR = 7.873), and having two or more diseases (OR = 5.173). The extrinsic risk factors included the use of a bed (OR = 3.093), slippery floors (OR = 12.130), bathroom mat without anti-slip rubber backing (OR = 3.564), and presence of a night light on the passage from the bedroom to the bathroom (OR = 2.980). Conclusion: For the elderly aged over 70 who are most vulnerable to falls, screening tests such as bone mineral density (BMD) should be conducted in health examinations and the risk of fracture caused by osteoporosis should be communicated to the vulnerable elderly. Besides, development of new exercise programs combining weightbearing exercise is needed to prevent bone loss and increase functional activities.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.207-214
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• 2007

Chronic oxidative stress produced by exposure to environmental chemicals or pathophysiological states can lead animals to aging, carcinogenesis and degenerative diseases. Indirect antioxidative mechanisms, in which natural or synthetic agents are used to coordinately induce the expression of cellular antioxidant capacity, have been shown to protect cells and organisms from oxidative damages. Electrophile and free radical detoxifying enzymes, which were originally identified as the products of genes induced by cancer chemopreventive agents, are members of this protective system. The NFE2 family transcription factor Nrf2 was found to govern expression of these detoxifying enzymes, and screening for Nrf2-regulated genes has identified many gene categories involved in maintaining cellular redox potential and protection from oxidative damage as Nrf2 downstream genes. Further, studies using Nrf2-deficient mice revealed that these mutant mice showed more susceptible phenotypes towards exposure to environmental chemicals/carcinogens and in oxidative stress related disease models. With the finding that cancer chemopreventive efficacy of indirect antioxidants (enzyme inducers) is lost in the absence of Nrf2, a central role of Nrf2 in the antioxidative protective system has been firmly established. Promising results from cancer prevention clinical trials using enzyme inducers propose that pharmacological interventions that modulate Nrf2 can be an effective strategy to protect tissues from oxidative damage.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2016

Although some mutations are beneficial and are the driving force behind evolution, it is important to maintain DNA integrity and stability because it contains genetic information. However, in the oxygen-rich environment we live in, the DNA molecule is under constant threat from endogenous or exogenous insults. DNA damage could trigger the DNA damage response (DDR), which involves DNA repair, the regulation of cell cycle checkpoints, and the induction of programmed cell death or senescence. Dysregulation of these physiological responses to DNA damage causes developmental defects, neurological defects, premature aging, infertility, immune system defects, and tumors in humans. Some human syndromes are characterized by unique neurological phenotypes including microcephaly, mental retardation, ataxia, neurodegeneration, and neuropathy, suggesting a direct link between genomic instability resulting from defective DDR and neuropathology. In this review, rare human genetic disorders related to abnormal DDR and damage repair with neural defects will be discussed.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.295-302
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• 2015

Cynanchi wilfordii Radix roots have been utilized as traditional medicine for variety of diseases including diabetes mellitus, aging progression and scavenging free radicals, enhancing immunity, reducing high serum cholesterol, and anti-tumor activity. However, the mechanisms underlying this effect remain poorly understood. The principal objective of this study was to determine the effect of cynandione A on osteoclast cells. Thus, we was isolated cynandione A from Cynanchi wilfordii Radix roots and evaluated the effect of cynandione A on receptor activator of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation. We found that cynandione A significantly inhibited osteoclast differentiation stimulated-RANKL in RAW 264.7 cells. Cynandione A conspicuously inhibited the mRNA and protein expression of matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) in cynandione A treated with RANKL. Taken together, our results demonstrated that Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix may be useful treatment option of bone-related disease such as osteoporosis leads to fracture of bone and rheumatoid arthritis.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.141-146
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• 1999

This study was designed to investigate the effects of silkworm powder (SWP) on oxygen radicals and their scavenger enzymes in serum of rats. Sprague Dawley (SD) male rats (160${\pm}$10g) were fed experimental diets (SWP-200and SWP-400 groups)added 200 and 400mg/kg BW/day for 6 weeks. Triglyceride (TG)levels were significantly inhibited (10% and 25%) in SWP-200 and SWP-400 groups, but there were no singificant differences in total, LDL-and HDL-cholesterol levels in both SWP-200 and SWP-400 groups. Hydroxyl radical ($.$OH) formations resulted in a marked decreases (about 20%) in both SWP-200 and SWP-400 groups compared with control group. Superoxide radical (O2.-)and hydrogen peroxide formations resulted in a significant decreases in SWP-400 group compared with control group. Lipid peroxide (LPO)and oxidized protein(>C=O group) productions resulted in a significant decreases (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activiteies were remarkably increased (10∼25% and 40∼50%)in SWP-200 and SWP-400groups. Glutathione peroxidase(GSHPX) activities were significantly increased (about 10%) in SWP-400 groups compared with control group. These results suggest that anti-aging effect of silkworm powder (SWP) may play a pivotal role in attenuation a various chronic degenerative diseases age-related changes.

• Endocrinology and Metabolism
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.435-444
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• 2018

The prevalence of chronic diseases including osteoporosis and sarcopenia increases as the population ages. Osteoporosis and sarcopenia are commonly associated with genetics, mechanical factors, and hormonal factors and primarily associated with aging. Many older populations, particularly those with frailty, are likely to have concurrent osteoporosis and sarcopenia, further increasing their risk of disease-related complications. Because bones and muscles are closely interconnected by anatomy, metabolic profile, and chemical components, a diagnosis should be considered for both sarcopenia and osteoporosis, which may be treated with optimal therapeutic interventions eliciting pleiotropic effects on both bones and muscles. Exercise training has been recommended as a promising therapeutic strategy to encounter the loss of bone and muscle mass due to osteosarcopenia. To stimulate the osteogenic effects for bone mass accretion, bone tissues must be exposed to mechanical load exceeding those experienced during daily living activities. Of the several exercise training programs, resistance exercise (RE) is known to be highly beneficial for the preservation of bone and muscle mass. This review summarizes the mechanisms of RE for the preservation of bone and muscle mass and supports the clinical evidences for the use of RE as a therapeutic option in osteosarcopenia.