A total of 481,414 Korean participants aged 40-79 years at enrollment were examined. The hazard ratios for all-cause, all-cancer, and head and neck cancer mortality were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models, which were adjusted for potential confounding factors. In the overall study population, the highest AST/ALT ratio level was significantly associated with risk of all-cause, all-cancer, and head and neck cancer mortality (p < 0.01). After excluding participants who died of all-cause, all-cancer, and head and neck cancer within five years of enrollment, the main results remained similar to those of the analysis of all deaths in the study population. These findings indicate that serum AST/ALT ratio is positively associated with an increased mortality risk in all-cause, all-cancer, and head and neck cancer.

Hepatic diseases are divided into two types: alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Non-alcoholic liver injury finally induces fatty liver and damages liver function. Many studies have demonstrated that Ecklonia stolonifera has antioxidative, antiinflammatory, and hepatoprotective activities. We conducted a 12-week double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial to examine the efficacy of E. stolonifera extracts (ESE) on biochemical markers of hepatic function. Sixty-five subjects with mild or moderate liver injuries were randomly allocated to receive either 420 mg/d of ESE or a placebo for 12 weeks. Fifty-five participants completed the trial. No significant adverse events were observed among the subjects during the study. The primary end points were changes in plasma levels of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and γ-glutamyltransferase (γ-GT). The secondary end points were changes in lipid profile levels, including total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), highdensity lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL). Compared with the baseline, AST and ALT levels decreased significantly in the ESE group compared to those in the placebo group (P<0.001). In addition, γ-GT levels in the ESE group were significantly lower than those in the placebo group (P=0.016). There were no differences in the TC, TG, HDL, and LDL levels between groups. In conclusion, ESE consumption for 12 weeks improved liver parameters in subjects with liver injury. Regular consumption of ESE could maintain liver health in individuals at risk of hepatic damage.

This study was to investigate an analytical method for determining dieckol content in Ecklonia stolonifera extract. According to the guidelines of International Conference on Harmonization. Method validation was performed by measuring the specificity, linearity, precision, accuracy, limit of detection (LOD), and limit of quantification (LOQ) of dieckol using high-performance liquid chromatography–photodiode array. The results showed that the correlation coefficient of calibration curve (R2) for dieckol was 0.9997. The LOD and LOQ for dieckol were 0.18 and 0.56 μg/mL, respectively. The intra- and inter-day precision values of dieckol were approximately 1.58-4.39% and 1.37-4.64%, respectively. Moreover, intra- and inter-day accuracies of dieckol were approximately 96.91- 102.33% and 98.41-105.71%, respectively. Thus, we successfully validated the analytical method for estimating dieckol content in E. stolonifera extract.

Purpose: This study developed an educational program for structured discussion-based learning, problem-based learning (PBL), and simulation for nursing students. Its effects on learning attitude, problem-solving process, and clinical competence were then analyzed. Methods: This study used a one-group pretest–posttest experimental method among 135 fourth-year nursing students taking the simulation course at a university in D city. We operated the PBL by applying the structured discussion method and simulation education based on four modules covering major diseases among adults. The data collected before and after the program were analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired t-tests. Results: The program significantly improved nursing students’ learning attitude, problem-solving process, and clinical competence. Conclusions: We verified the effects of the simulation education program for structured discussion-based learning and PBL. Further studies are needed to develop and apply simulation educational programs utilizing various devices that can improve learners’ participation and professors’ operational protocols by systematically combining them with different teaching/learning methods.

서론 : 본 연구는 미국의 운전면허 가이드라인을 고찰하여 국내 조건부면허 제도의 개선에 사용 할 수 있는 기초 자료를 제공하고자 한다. 연구 방법 : 미국의 운전면허 제도에 대한 문헌을 중심으로 고찰 하였으며, 미국의 주 마다 시행하고 있는 운전면허 제도를 확인하여 조사하였다. 결과 : 미국은 주 마다 면허 갱신제도와 시력검사, 시야검사, 제한면허의 종류, 차량 보조도구, 의료 및 운전 평가자, 면허 평가자 교육에 대해 다른 제도를 가지고 있으며, 운전 평가의 경우 많은 주에서 의사, 시력전문가 뿐만 아니라 재활전문가 또는 작업치료사에게 의뢰를 하고 있다. 결론 : 미국의 사례처럼 국내에서도 운전재활전문가로 작업치료사가 필요하며 이에 맞는 사회 제도적 방안과 교육 프로그램을 진행하여 다양한 연구가 이루어져야 할 것 이다.

Background: The Microsoft Kinect which is a low-cost gaming device has been studied as a promise clinical gait analysis tool having satisfactory reliability and validity. However, its accuracy is only guaranteed when it is properly positioned in front of a subject. Objects: The purpose of this study was to identify the error when the Kinect was positioned at a 45˚ angle to the longitudinal walking plane compare with those when the Kinect was positioned in front of a subject. Methods: Sixteen healthy adults performed two testing sessions consisting of walking toward and 45˚ obliquely the Kinect. Spatiotemporal outcome measures related to stride length, stride time, step length, step time and walking speed were examined. To assess the error between Kinect and 3D motion analysis systems, mean absolute errors (MAE) were determined and compared. Conclusion: Based on our study experience, positioning the Kinect directly in front of the person walking towards it provides the optimal spatiotemporal data. Therefore, we concluded that the Kinect should be placed carefully and adequately in clinical settings.

Antioxidants have been added to cryoprotectant or in vitro culture medium for sperm to reduce the detrimental damage, such as reactive oxygen species. However, curcumin, an antioxidant, shows dual effect on the viability and progressive motility of bovine sperm exposed to hydrogen peroxide. Low concentration of curcumin increases sperm viability and progressive motility, whereas high concentration of curcumin reduces them. This study was performed to identify whether TREK-1 channel is related to low sperm viability and motility induced by high concentration of curcumin. Curcumin reduced TREK-1 channel activity in a dose-dependent manner. TREK-1 channel was expressed in sperm obtained from Korean native bull. Treatment with TREK-1 channel blockers, such as curcumin, fluoxetine, GdCl3, and spadin, significantly reduced sperm viability and motility (p < 0.05). However, TREK-1 channel activators showed different effect; linoleic acid showed an increase in sperm viability and motility, and wogonin did not affect them. These results show that TREK-1 channel is involved in the regulation of sperm viability and motility. In particular, high concentration of curcumin might reduce sperm viability and progressive motility of Korean native bull through blockage of TREK-1 channel.

본 논문에서는 스트라우스의 성부진행공간을 음고류가 아닌 “음정적” 측면에서 재해석하였다. 이를 위하여 먼저 필자들은 두 집합류들 간의 성부진행을 음정류적 측면에서 산출할 수 있도록 음 정의 “확장-수축 측정치”를 새롭게 정의하였으며, 이를 토대로 3음군공간과 4음군공간을 재구성하였다. 이처럼 재구성된 성부진행공간은 두 집합 간의 성부진행을 음정적 확장과 수축의 개념으로 해석할 수 있으며, 또한 집합류 간의 성부진행을 -6󰀃ECM󰀃+6 안에서 수치화 시킬 수 있다는 점에 서 그 유용성이 있다고 하겠다. 마지막으로 본 논문에서는 이론적 효용성을 증명하기 위하여, 베베른의 《현악4중주를 위한 여섯 개의 바가텔 Op. 9》 중 제6곡을 분석하였다.

Although cryopreservation of sperm is routinely used for clinical requirement, it has some problems, such as high generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cold-shock. To reduce the detrimental damage in sperm, anti-oxidants were added to cryoprotectant for sperm. Curcumin is one of anti-oxidants, which are added in cryoprotectants. However, recent studies have demonstrated that curcumin decreases sperm viability and motility. This study was performed to identify the effect of curcumin on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-exposed bovine sperm, which were cryopreserved-thawed. In H2O2-exposed bovine sperm, reactive oxygen species (ROS) were significantly reduced by treatment with curcumin in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05). Among tested concentrations of curcumin (1 to 50 μM), 30 and 50 μM curcumin showed anti-oxidant effect on H2O2-induced ROS generation. On the other hand, combination of 30 or 50 μM curcumin with anti-oxidant H2O2 increased the percentage of apoptotic sperm compared to only H2O2 treatment. Sperm viability was also decreased in the combination of 30 or 50 μM curcumin with H2O2 as judged by FDA/PI staining. H2O2–induced decrease in sperm progressive motility was recovered by treatment with 1 μM curcumin. These results show that high concentration of curcumin has anti-oxidant effect, but it has also cytotoxic effect on bovine sperm. Sperm viability and motility might be more affected by cytotoxic signals of curcumin compared to antioxidant signals.

산림치유 프로그램에 대한 요구가 증가되고 있다. 효과적인 산림치유를 위해, 참가자의 특성을 파악하여 보다 표적화되고 차별화된 산림치유 프로그램을 개발, 운영할 필요가 있다. 이에, 본 연구에서는 개인의 성격에 기초한 산림치유 프로그램의 개발 및 운영을 위한 기초자료 제공을 목적으로, MBTI(Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) 성격유형 선호지표, 심리기질유형과 산림치유 프로그램의 선호도 사이의 관련성을 각각 분석하였다. 일반 성인 남·여 245명을 대상으로 MBTI 성격검사와 산림치유 프로그램에 관한 선호도 설문조사를 실시하였다. 자료분석은 SPSS 21.0 프로그램을 사용하여 분산분석(ANOVA)을 통해 MBTI 성격유형에 따른 산림치유 프로그램 선호도의 차이를 살펴본 바, 그 차이가 확인되었다. 외향(E)-내향(I)은 호흡법·호흡체조, 자유롭게 숲속 걷기(신발착용), 숲속 웃음치료, 경관보기, 삼림욕·풍욕·일광욕에 대해 통계적으로 유의한 차이가 있었다. 그리고 감각(S)-직관(N)은 물 흐르는 소리 듣기, 허브차 마시기, 숲속 잠자기에 대해, 사고(T)-감정(F)은 물속에 발과 팔 담그기, 숲속 잠자기에 대해, 판단(J)-인식(P)은 비전세우기, 경관보기에 대해 각각 통계적으로 유의한 차이가 있는 것으로 나타났다. 성격의 심리기질유형에 따라서, 허브차 마시기, 자연음식 먹기, 숲속 잠자기, 경관보기, 숲 해설 듣기에 대해 통계적으로 유의한 차이가 있는 것으로 나타났다. 본 연구 분석 결과가 산림치유 프로그램 개발과 운영을 위한 기초자료로 활용되기를 기대한다.