Effects of Multifactorial and Follow-up Programs Applying a Capacity Building Strategy: Focusing on Older Adults Living in a Urban-rural Complex Area

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine effects of a multifactorial program for preventing the frailty of older adults and effects of a follow-up program applying a capacity building strategy. METHODS: A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design was used for the nonequivalent control group. The follow-up group (n=75) and non-follow-up group (n=68) received the same multifactorial program comprising muscle strength exercise, cognitive training, and psychosocial programs for 12 weeks. After completion of multifactorial program, the follow-up group took follow-up programs applying the capacity building strategy for following 12 weeks. The data of physical function, cognitive function, and psychological function, and self-rated health were collected from both groups three times: before intervention, after intervention, and 12 weeks after intervention. The data were analyzed using χ2 test and t-test. RESULTS: In comparison with the non-follow-up group, the scores of Timed Up & Go Test, and physical activities energy expenditure were significantly improved in the follow-up group. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that a multifactorial program with follow-up adapting the strategies of capacity building for the older adults group is feasible to prevent the physical frailty in community.

Factors Influencing Activities-specific Balance Confidence in Community-dwelling Old Adults

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to identify factors influencing activities-specific balance confidence in community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: This is secondary analysis of data from an intervention study for improving cognitive function. The data were collected from March 2 to September 30, 2017 at a senior center. Data of 131 older adults were included for this secondary analysis, and were analyzed by using t-test, ANOVA, and multiple regression. RESULTS: The mean score of activities-specific balance confidence is 65.08 out of a possible range of 0–100. The significant factors affecting activities-specific balance confidence among old adults include ‘more than 85 years old’, ‘waist circumference’, ‘depressive symptoms’, ‘activity restriction due to fear of falling’, and ‘self-rated health’ which explained 52.8% of the variance. CONCLUSION: The study results indicate that psychologic factors as well as physical condition should be considered for interventions to increase activities-specific balance confidence.

Extensive characterization of feline intra-abdominal adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) isolated from various tissues have been well characterized for therapeutic application to clinical diseases. However, in contrast to MSCs from other animal species, the characteristics of feline MSCs have not been fully documented. In this study, we conducted extensive characterization of feline adipose tissue-derived MSCs (fAD-MSCs). Study fAD-MSCs were individually isolated from the intra-abdominal adipose tissues of six felines. The expression levels of cell surface markers and pluripotent markers were evaluated. Next, proliferation capacity was analyzed by performing cumulative population doubling level (CPDL) and doubling time (DT) calculation assays. Differentiation potentials of fAD-MSCs into mesodermal cell lineages were analyzed by examining specific staining and molecular markers. All fAD-MSCs positively expressed cell surface markers such as CD29, CD44, CD90, CD105, CD166, and MHC-I, while CD14, CD34, CD45, and CD73 were negatively expressed. The CPDL of the fAD-MSCs was maintained until passage 5 to 6 (P5 to P6), whereas DT increased after P3 to P4. Also, stem cell-specific pluripotent markers (Oct3/4, Nanog, and SSEA-4) were detected. Importantly, all fAD-MSCs demonstrated mesodermal differentiation capacity. These results suggest that fully characterized fAD-MSCs could be beneficial when considering the use of these cells in feline disease research.

The Effect of Emotional Labor for Job Stress in Bus Drivers / 한국직업건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to identify the association between emotional labor and job stress in bus drivers, as well as to propose management strategies for job stress. METHODS: The study was conducted in February 2013 and involved 182 bus drivers working in the Gyeonggi area. RESULTS: emotional labor was 9.5+/-2.34 on average, and job stress was higher than the median of the same indicator among Korea's workers in the areas of physical environment, job autonomy, and relationship conflicts. Factors that affected job stress was lower if the subjects' Higher values for emotional labor indicated a higher level of job stress. CONCLUSION: To reduce among drivers, the following measures are necessary: increase the comfort of the driver's seat within the vehicle, provide adequate rest between bus headways, provide comfortable in-house rest facilities, and establish physical training spaces to reduce musculoskeletal disorders as well as programs for reducing back pain. In addition, relationship conflicts may be relieved by increasing job autonomy as much as possible, by granting autonomous control of working hours and bus headways, as well as by banning long work hours. Moreover, various club activities, exercise programs, and counseling programs that workers can be involved in together may be beneficial. This study is significant in that it identified the relationship of the bus drivers' emotional labor and job stress, which has previously been ignored as a research topic. Through its results, this study provides baseline data for the preparation of management strategies that can address the job stress of bus drivers.

The Effect of Emotional Labor for Job Stress in Bus Drivers / 한국직업건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to identify the association between emotional labor and job stress in bus drivers, as well as to propose management strategies for job stress. METHODS: The study was conducted in February 2013 and involved 182 bus drivers working in the Gyeonggi area. RESULTS: emotional labor was 9.5+/-2.34 on average, and job stress was higher than the median of the same indicator among Korea's workers in the areas of physical environment, job autonomy, and relationship conflicts. Factors that affected job stress was lower if the subjects' Higher values for emotional labor indicated a higher level of job stress. CONCLUSION: To reduce among drivers, the following measures are necessary: increase the comfort of the driver's seat within the vehicle, provide adequate rest between bus headways, provide comfortable in-house rest facilities, and establish physical training spaces to reduce musculoskeletal disorders as well as programs for reducing back pain. In addition, relationship conflicts may be relieved by increasing job autonomy as much as possible, by granting autonomous control of working hours and bus headways, as well as by banning long work hours. Moreover, various club activities, exercise programs, and counseling programs that workers can be involved in together may be beneficial. This study is significant in that it identified the relationship of the bus drivers' emotional labor and job stress, which has previously been ignored as a research topic. Through its results, this study provides baseline data for the preparation of management strategies that can address the job stress of bus drivers.