Danshen Extracts Prevents Obesity and Activates Mitochondrial Function in Brown Adipose Tissue

Background@#Danshen has been widely used in oriental medicine to improve body function. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of water-soluble Danshen extract (DE) on weight loss and on activation proteins involved in mitochondrial biogenesis in brown adipose tissue (BAT) in obese mice. @*Methods@#BAT was isolated from 7-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats, and expression of proteins related to mitochondrial biogenesis was confirmed in both brown preadipocytes and mature brown adipocytes treated with DE. For the in vivo study, low-density lipoprotein receptor knock out mice were divided into three groups and treated for 17 weeks with: standard diet; high fat diet (HFD); HFD+DE. Body weight was measured every week, and oral glucose tolerance test was performed after DE treatment in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. To observe the changes in markers related to thermogenesis and adipogenesis in the BAT, white adipose tissue (WAT) and liver of experimental animals, tissues were removed and immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen. @*Results@#DE increased the expression of uncoupling protein 1 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha in brown preadipocytes, and also promoted the brown adipocyte differentiation and mitochondrial function in the mature brown adipocytes. Reactive oxygen species production in brown preadipocytes was increased depending on the concentration of DE. DE activates thermogenesis in BAT and normalizes increased body weight and adipogenesis in the liver due to HFD. Browning of WAT was increased in WAT of DE treatment group. @*Conclusion@#DE protects against obesity and activates mitochondrial function in BAT.

Factors associated with Intermittent and Light Smoking among Korean High School Students: Intermittent and Light Smoking among Korean Adolescents

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with intermittent and light smoking among Korean high school students. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we employed secondary data from the 2015 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey, and used the biopsychosocial model as a framework. The analysis was performed using the data of 2,851 high school students who smoked. We defined intermittent and light smoking as smoking on 1 to 29 days in a 30-day period and no more than 10 cigarettes per day. A logistic regression analysis using the complex samples procedure was conducted. RESULTS: Among all the participants, 1,231 (43.2%) were intermittent and light smokers. Factors significantly predicting intermittent and light smoking were gender and grade (biological factors); subjective stress (psychological factor); and mother's smoking, sibling's smoking and academic achievement (sociocultural factors). CONCLUSION: In smoking cessation programs, health care providers both at school and in the community should consider the unique biological, psychological, and sociocultural characteristics of intermittent and light smoking behavior among high school students.

The Effects of High Fat Diet and Resveratrol on Mitochondrial Activity of Brown Adipocytes

BACKGROUND: Resveratrol (RSV) is a polyphenolic phytoalexin that has many effects on metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity. Given the importance of brown adipose tissue (BAT) for energy expenditure, we investigated the effects of RSV on brown adipocytes. METHODS: For the in vitro study, interscapular BAT was isolated from 7-week-old male Sprague Dawley rats. For the in vivo study, 7-week-old male Otsuka Long Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats were divided into four groups and treated for 27 weeks with: standard diet (SD); SD+RSV (10 mg/kg body weight, daily); high fat diet (HFD); HFD+RSV. RSV was provided via oral gavage once daily during the in vivo experiments. RESULTS: RSV treatment of primary cultured brown preadipocytes promoted mitochondrial activity, along with over-expression of estrogen receptor α (ER-α). In OLETF rats, both HFD and RSV treatment increased the weight of BAT and the differentiation of BAT. However, only RSV increased the mitochondrial activity and ER-α expression of BAT in the HFD-fed group. Finally, RSV improved the insulin sensitivity of OLETF rats by increasing the mitochondrial activity of BAT, despite having no effects on white adipocytes and muscles in either diet group. CONCLUSION: RSV could improve insulin resistance, which might be associated with mitochondrial activity of brown adipocyte. Further studies evaluating the activity of RSV for both the differentiation and mitochondrial activity of BAT could be helpful in investigating the effects of RSV on metabolic parameters.

The Impact of Alcohol and Caffeine Intake on Body Mass Index, Alcohol Use Disorder, and Quality of Sleep among University Freshmen

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess alcohol and caffeine intake and identify the impact of alcohol and caffeine intake on body mass index, alcohol use disorder, and quality of sleep among university students. METHODS: This study design was accomplished with a cross sectional survey and conducted from May to June 2014. One hundred and twenty-four freshmen of E university in S city, Korea were selected and evaluated by self-administered questionnaires. Alcohol and caffeine intake were measured by self-reported recall. The data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, and multiple linear regression. RESULTS: The average amount of alcohol intake was 175.02 +/- 219.97 g and the proportion of freshmen who took in more than 40g per day of alcohol was 75%. The average amount of caffeine intake was 116.79 +/- 111.14 mg. Factors influencing alcohol use disorder were dwelling type (t=2.25, p=.027) and alcohol intake (t=8.11, p<.001). And, the factor influencing quality of sleep was caffeine intake (t=3.88, p<.001). CONCLUSION: In order to reduce the harmful drinking of university students, preventive activities for freshmen are required and efforts on the part of the school needed.

Latent Mean Analysis of Health Behavior between Adolescents with a Health Problem and Those without: Using the 2009 Korean Youth Health Behavior Survey

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the construct equivalence of the general five factors of health behavior and to compare the latent means between adolescents with a health problem and those without in Korea. METHODS: The 2009 KYRBS (Korean Youth Risk Behavior Survey) data were used for the analysis. Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis was performed to test whether the scale had configural, metric, and scalar invariances across the existence of health problems in adolescents. RESULTS: Configural, metric, and factor invariances were satisfied for the latent mean analysis (LMA) between adolescents with health problem and those without. Adolescents with health problem and those without were not different in the LMA of all factors. CONCLUSION: Health providers should give more interest to the group of adolescents with health problems and consider prudential school life to the same group.

Evaluation of a Community Health Practitioner Self-care Program for Rural Korean Patients with Osteoarthritis

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate a self-care program for elders with osteoarthritis managed by primary health care workers, Community Health Practitioners (CHPs), in rural Korea. METHODS: The self-care program, consisting of 7 areas, was evaluated with a randomized experimental study for patients over age 60 with osteoarthritis in which 150 participants in the experimental group and 140 in the control group were compared. The self-care program was implemented for six weeks, 2 hours per week, at community health posts by CHPs. Data were collected using an interview questionnaire given by the CHPs and laboratory tests before and after the intervention for both groups. Propensity score matching analysis was done to test effectiveness after controlling for confounding variables. RESULTS: The intervention group showed a significant decrease in the number of painful joints (p<.001) and a significant increase in self-care ability (p<.05) compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: Study results indicate that training and utilizing primary health care workers in rural areas is valuable in increasing the generalization and continuity of intervention programs. As arthritis should be managed life-long, CHP directed self-care programs are useful interventions for rural elders with arthritis to learn self-care management.

Construct Equivalence and Latent Means Analysis of Health Behaviors Between Male and Female Middle School Students

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the construct equivalence of the five general factors (subjective health, eating habits, physical activities, sedentary lifestyle, and sleeping behaviors) and to compare the latent means between male and female middle school students in Incheon, Korea. METHODS: The 2008 Korean Youth Risk Behavior Survey data was used for analysis. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis was performed to test whether the scale has configural, metric, and scalar invariance across gender. RESULTS: Configural invariance, metric invariance, and factor invariance were satisfied for latent means analysis (LMA) between genders. Male and female students were significantly different in LMA of all factors. Male students reported better subjective health, consumed more fast food and carbonated drinks, participated in more physical activities, showed less sedentary behavior, and enjoyed better quality of sleep than female students. CONCLUSION: Health providers should consider gender differences when they develop and deliver health promotion programs aimed at adolescents.

Experience of Verbal Abuse, Emotional Response, and Ways to Deal with Verbal Abuse against Nurses in Hospital / 산업간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study tries to identify experience of verbal abuse, emotional response, and ways to deal with verbal abuse against nurses in hospitals. METHODS: This study was a descriptive research and conducted from April to July 2011. One hundred and seventeen nurses with over one-year experience in general wards were selected and evaluated. The data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, independent t-tests, and one-way ANOVA. RESULTS: The nurses' experience rate of verbal abuse during the entire period of work in hospitals was 98.3%. The majority of the nurses were verbally abused by patients (70.9%), followed by patients' relatives (65.8%), physicians (61.5%), and coworkers (58.1%). Overall negative emotional response score of nurses after verbal abuse was 38.82+/-8.28. Ways to deal with verbal abuse were as follows: suppression was 74.4%, complaining of an injustice to close people, 67.5%, and ignoring, 43.6%. CONCLUSION: Nurses have significantly been exposed to verbal abuse while working in hospitals. Therefore, hospital managers and nurse managers are required to inform other staff and visitors in hospitals the real condition of verbal abuse against nurses and provide a safe work environment by developing the report and disposal system of verbal abuse.

Comparison of the Hospice Systems in the United States, Japan and Taiwan

PURPOSE: The aim of hospice care is to provide the best possible quality of life both for people approaching the end of life and for their families and carers. The Korean government has been implementing a pilot project for hospital hospice services and trying to develop the national hospice system. To assist in the development of the Korean hospice system, the Korean government supported the present study comparing the hospice systems of three countries, United States, Japan, and Taiwan, which currently have a developed hospice system. METHODS: Data from three countries were collected in the following ways: reviewing hospice related literature, searching government documents on the Internet, collecting government hospice data, surveying six hospice institutions in each country, and conducting an international workshop. RESULTS: The hospice system was evaluated by comparing hospice management systems and hospice cost systems. The comparison of the hospice management system included five items of hospice infra structures and four items of hospice services. The hospice cost system included four items: funding source, hospital hospice cost, day care hospice cost, and home hospice cost. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the comparison of three countries, the most interesting thing was that home hospice care accounted for more than 90% of all hospice services in the United States and Taiwan. The results of this study will aid the countries that are in the process of developing a hospice system including Korea, which has been implementing a pilot project only for hospital hospice services.

Identification and prevalence of Ehrlichia chaffeensis infection in Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks from Korea by PCR, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene

Genomic DNAs extracted from 1,288 Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks collected from grass vegetation and various animals from nine provinces of Korea were subjected to screening by genus-specific (Ehrlichia spp. or Anaplasma spp.) real-time TaqMan PCR and speciesspecific (E. chaffeensis) nested-PCR based on amplification of 16S rRNA gene fragments. In all, 611 (47.4%) ticks tested positive for genus-specific amplification of 116 bp fragment of 16S rRNA of Ehrlichia spp. or Anaplasma spp. Subsequently, 396 bp E. chaffeensis-specific fragment of 16S rRNA was amplified from 4.2% (26/611) tick samples. The comparison of the nucleotide sequence of 16S rRNA gene from one tick (EC-PGHL, GeneBank accession number AY35042) with the sequences of 20 E. chaffeensis strains available in the database showed that EC-PGHL was 100% identical or similar to the Arkansas (AF416764), the Sapulpa (U60476) and the 91HE17 (U23503) strains. The phylogenetic analysis also revealed that the E. chaffeensis EC-PGHL formed a single cluster with the above strains. This is the first study to report molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of E. chaffeensis from H. longicornis ticks in Korea. The implicit significance of E. chaffeensis infection in H. longicornis ticks in Korea is discussed.

Laser-Assisted versus Coblation-Assisted Partial Turbinoplasty: Comparison by Their Postoperative Outcome / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Conventional turbinoplasty and laser-assisted partial turbinoplasty (LAPT) are commonly performed to control nasal obstruction secondary to inferior turbinate hypertrophy. Coblation, one of radiofrequency electrosurgeries, has recently been introduced as a new treatment modality for turbinate surgery. The aim of the current study is to compare the postoperative outcome of Coblation-assisted partial turbinoplasty (CAPT) with that of LAPT. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Forty-one patients with nasal obstruction due to inferior turbinate hypertrophy refractory to medical therapy were prospectively evaluated with a follow-up period of 6 months. Twenty-one patients (42 sides) were treated with LAPT, and 20 patients (39 sides) with CAPT. Postoperative changes in degree of nasal obstruction, minimal cross-sectional area (MCA) and nasal volume from the nostril to 5 cm posteriorly (V5), operation time, duration of crust formation, operation-associated pain, intraoperative bleeding and episodes of delayed bleeding were compared between the two surgical methods. RESULTS: Crust was formed for a shorter postoperative period and operation-associated pain was less in the LAPT group. Nasal patency (MCA and V5) was more improved and operation time was shorter in the CAPT group. However, there were no significant differences in improvement of nasal obstruction and operation-associated bleeding between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Thorough knowledge of advantages and limitations of LAPT and CAPT is required for clinicians to make appropriate use of surgical tools for the given patient characteristics and medical environment.

Efficiency of Short-term Admission Medical Records in Patients with Common Otolaryngologic Diseases / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A more simple medical record form has been needed for a more qualified and cost-effective health care. A short-term admission medical record (SAMR) is a standard fill-in-the-blank form on the patients' conditions for common otolaryngologic diseases. The aim of this study is to determine the efficiency of the SAMRs. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Nineteen doctors who had residency training in the Department of Otolaryngology of Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital from the year 1995 through 2000 were included in this study. Questionnaires consisted of 11 comparative questions: the subjects were instructed to express their degrees of satisfaction with conventional medical records (CMRs) and SAMRs on a 100mm visual analogue scale for each question. The degrees of satisfaction with SAMRs were compared to those with CMRs. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in the degrees of satisfaction between the two types of records for accurate evaluation of patients' condition, efficient communication between medical and paramedical personnels, and the value of verified records in the medicolegal conflicts and insurance claims. However, the degrees of satisfaction with SAMRs were higher than those with CMRs for communication between doctors, the value in medical research, time-saving, simplicity, paper-saving and their convertibility into electronic medical records. CONCLUSION: SAMRs provides patients of common otolaryngologic diseases with not only the necessary conditions of medical records, but also the basis of computer-based patient records. In addition, SAMRs may be also be more cost-effective than CMRs.

Effects of External Nasal Dilators on Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Korean Adults: A Polysomnographic Study / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It was reported that external nasal dilators (ENDs) can reduce snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in white people by dilating the nasal valve area and then, improving nasal breathing. However, there are no available data on Asians, whose geometry of nasal cavities is different from that of white people. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of ENDs on snoring and OSA in Korean adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve simple snorers (3 female and 9 males, aged 19 to 44 years) and 35 OSA patients (35 males, aged 22 to 65 years) without nasal diseases were included in this study. Polysomnography including measurement of snoring intensity was performed at two separate nights, one with and the other without an END. Averaged maximum snoring intensity, apnea index (AI), respiratory disturbance index (RDI), ratio of deep sleep (stage 3 and 4) to total sleep time, and minimum arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) with and without an END were measured and compared. RESULTS: Snoring intensity was reduced in 6 (50.0%) of 12 simple snorers and 16 (45.7%) of 35 OSA patients. In overall, snoring improved significantly in both groups. In OSA patients, AI and RDI improved significantly, but ratio of deep sleep time and minimum SaO2 did not. There were no significant correlations between change of snoring intensity and change of AI or RDI in OSA patients. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that ENDs are helpful to improvement of snoring and respiration during sleep, but the sleep stages remain almost unchanged by ENDs in Korean adults with snoring and/or OSA.

A Study of Non-Convective Factor of Caloric Nystagmus in Relationship between Head Position and Maximal Slow Phase Eye Velocity / 대한이비인후과학회지

Background and OBJECTIVE: There are strong evidences that the caloric nystagmus may be due to non-convective factors in addition to the widely accepted Barany's convection theory. The influence of non-convective factor on the caloric nystagmus was interpreted by measuring the maximal slow phase eye velocity according to the head position. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 18 normal ears, the maximal slow phase eye velocity of the cold caloric nystagmus was measured at five (-15degrees, 05degrees, 305degrees, 455degrees, 605degrees) different head positions. RESULTS: The sine value of the angle of the lateral semicircular canal (LSCC) plotted against the maximal slow phase velocity showed linear relationship without crossing the zero point in linear regression analysis. CONCLUSION: Maximal slow phase eye velocity shows linear relationship with the sine value of the angle of the LSCC. Compared with the curve expected by the convective factor, the curve in this study was biased by a constant amount (about 20%), which can be attributed to non-convective factor.

Effects of External Nasal Dilators on Nasal Respiration and Patency in HealthyKorean Adults: An Acoustic Rhinometric Study / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although physiological effects of external nasal dilators (ENDs) were recently reported on white and black people, there are no available data on Asians. Nasal geometry is affected by many factors such as race, age, or sex. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of ENDs on nasal respiration and patency in healthy Korean adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred healthy Korean adults (50 females and 50 males, aged 20 to 39 years) without nasal complaints, history of sinonasal surgery, nor major structural abnormalities of the nose were recruited. All subjects were required to assess their own sensation of nasal respiration on a 100 mm visual analog scale. Minimal cross-sectional areas (MCAs) and volumes from 0 cm to 5 cm from the nostril (V5s) of both nasal cavities were measured by acoustic rhinometry and added together to obtain the total MCA and V5, respectively. All measurements before application of an END were compared with those 5 minutes after application. RESULTS: The sensation of nasal respiration improved significantly after application of an END in both female and male. The END increased MCA and V5 significantly in both sexes. These acoustic rhinometric changes resulted in 21.1% (male) and 20.5% (female) increment in MCA and 10.0% (male) and 12.5% (female) increment in V5, respectively. However, there were no significant correlations between changes in the subjective and objective parameters. CONCLUSION: ENDs significantly improve the subjective sensation of nasal respiration and increase MCA and nasal cavity volume in healthy Korean adults. However, this improvement in nasal patency does not always coincide with the improvement in the subjective feeling of nasal respiration.