Factors affecting cognitive function according to gender in community-dwelling elderly individuals / 한국역학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify the factors affecting the cognitive function of elderly people in a community by gender. METHODS: We obtained 4,878 secondary data of people aged ≥65 years in 2016 at a dementia prevention center in Gyeyang-gu, Incheon. Data were obtained through Mini-Mental Status Examination optimized for screening dementia and a questionnaire. The data were statistically analyzed using analysis of variance, analysis of covariance, and hierarchical regression. RESULTS: There were significant differences in cognitive function according to gender, and the differences were significant even when age was controlled, but gender differences disappeared when education was controlled. Age, education, social activities, number of comorbid diseases, and alcohol drinking affected cognitive function through interaction with gender, but interaction with gender disappeared when education was controlled. Regression analysis showed that depression, cohabitant, social activities etc., had a significant impact on both men and women under controlled education and age. In men, the effect of social activities was greater than that of women, and hyperlipidemia had the effect only in women. CONCLUSIONS: The differences in gender-related cognitive functions were due to differences in gender education period. The period of education is considered to have a great influence on cognitive function in relation to the economic level, occupation, and social activity.

Factors affecting cognitive function according to gender in community-dwelling elderly individuals / 한국역학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify the factors affecting the cognitive function of elderly people in a community by gender.METHODS: We obtained 4,878 secondary data of people aged ≥65 years in 2016 at a dementia prevention center in Gyeyang-gu, Incheon. Data were obtained through Mini-Mental Status Examination optimized for screening dementia and a questionnaire. The data were statistically analyzed using analysis of variance, analysis of covariance, and hierarchical regression.RESULTS: There were significant differences in cognitive function according to gender, and the differences were significant even when age was controlled, but gender differences disappeared when education was controlled. Age, education, social activities, number of comorbid diseases, and alcohol drinking affected cognitive function through interaction with gender, but interaction with gender disappeared when education was controlled. Regression analysis showed that depression, cohabitant, social activities etc., had a significant impact on both men and women under controlled education and age. In men, the effect of social activities was greater than that of women, and hyperlipidemia had the effect only in women.CONCLUSIONS: The differences in gender-related cognitive functions were due to differences in gender education period. The period of education is considered to have a great influence on cognitive function in relation to the economic level, occupation, and social activity.

Altered Expression of Sodium Transporters and Water Channels in the Submandibular Gland of Rats Treated with Nitric Oxide Synthesis Inhibitors

A role of nitric oxide (NO) in the regulation of sodium transporters and water channels in the salivary gland was investigated. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L- NAME, 100 mg/L drinking water) for 1 week. The control group was supplied with normal tap water. The expression of Na+,K+-ATPase, type 2 Na+/K+/2Cl- cotransporter (NKCC2), type 1 Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE1), alpha-subunit of epithelial sodium transporter (ENaC), and aquaporin-5 (AQP5) and aquaporin-1 (AQP1) proteins were determined in the submandibular gland by Western blot analysis. Following the treatment with L-NAME, the expression of Na+,K+-ATPase alpha1-subunit, NKCC2, NHE1, and ENaC alpha- subunit increased significantly. On the contrary, the expression of AQP5 was significantly decreased, while that of AQP1 was not significantly altered. These findings indicate that the sodium transporters and water channels may be under a tonic regulatory influence of NO in the salivary gland.

Development of Objectives in Nursing Clinical Education based on the Nursing Core Competencies / 간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to set up a Nursing Core Competencies required for staff nurses and to set up Objectives for Nursing Clinical Education based on the Nursing Core Competencies. The objectives in this study are to be achieved ultimately through clinical practice because it is a common avenue of work and the basic objective regardless of the education system and curriculum. METHOD: A nursing Core Competencies were established by literature review and verified by 15 experts. Nursing Clinical Education Objectives were established by literature review and analysis, and a survey for validity using a five point Likert scale was given to 257 nursing professors, 503 head-nurses, 509 staff nurses who had less than 3 years clinical experience in 34 general hospitals and 738 senior student nurses from 81 nursing colleges. RESULT: Nine nursing core competencies were set up. In addition 39 Objectives for each of the nursing clinical core competencies were set up. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, this study will contribute to professional nursing education to provide comprehensive nursing care by applying knowledge to nursing practice to achieve the Nursing Core Competency as a professional nurse.

Autonomic Neural Regulation of Sodium Transporters and Water Channels in Rat Submandibular Gland

The present study was undertaken to explore the role of autonomic nerves in the regulation of sodium transporters and water channels in the salivary gland. Rats were denervated of their sympathetic or parasympathetic nerves to the submandibular gland. One week later, the expression of Na,K-ATPase, epithelial sodium channels (ENaC), and aquaporins (AQP) was examined in the denervated and contralateral glands. The sympathetic denervation slightly but significantly decreased the expression of alpha1 subunit of Na,K-ATPase, whereas the parasympathetic denervation increased it. The expression of alpha-subunit of ENaC was significantly increased in both the denervated and contralateral glands either by the sympathetic or parasympathetic denervation. The sympathetic denervation significantly increased the expression of AQP5 in both the denervated and contralateral glands, whereas the parasympathetic denervation decreased it. It is suggested that the autonomic nerves have a tonic effect on the regulation of sodium transporters and AQP water channels in the salivary gland.

Effects of Percutaneous Central Venous Catheterization in very Low Birth Weight Infants

PURPOSE: The present study was aimed to investigate the clinical effects of percutaneous central venous catheterization (PCVC) such as frequency of venipuncture, duration of fluid therapy and changes of weight gain in very low birth weight infants. METHODS: The subjects were 70 very low birth weight infants, weighing from 1,000 to 1,500 g, hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit at Chonnam University Hospital during the period from January 1998 to December 1999. The control group of 35 infants was subjected to a conventional peripheral venipuncture during the first one year, and the study group of 35 infants used PCVC during the later one year. Data were analyzed using repeated measures of GLM and Student' t-test in SAS program. RESULTS: The frequency of venipuncture was significantly lower in PCVC group than in the control (P=0.0001). Duration of total parenteral nutrition was significantly longer in PCVC group than in the control (P=0.03). The weight gain after the initial weight loss was significantly greater in PCVC group than in the control (P=0.009). CONCLUSION: It is suggested that PCVC may reduce the stress of repeated venipucture. In addition, PCVC may keep the parenteral nutrition longer and may enhance the weight gain in very low birth weight infants.

Developmental changes of gustatory neurons in nucleus of solitary tract in rats

To learn the developmental changes in intrinsic electrophysiological properties of the second order taste neurons, whole cell recordings from the developing nucleus of the solitary tract neurons were done in brainstem slices of postnatal rats. Rats aged from postnatal 0 to 21 days (P0-P21) were used, being divided into 3 age groups: postnatal first week (P0-P7 days), second week (P8-P14 days), and third week P15-P21 days). Slices containing gustatory NTS were cut horizontally in the thickness of 300 micrometer. Whole cell recordings were obtained from neurons in response to a series of hyperpolarizing and depolarizing current pulses. The intrinsic electrophysiological properties of the rostral NTS (rNTS) neurons were compared among the age groups. Depolarizing current pulses evoked a train of action potentials in all neurons of all age groups. The resting membrane potential and input resistance of the neurons did not show any significant differences during the ostnatal 3 weeks. The time constant, however, decreased during the development. Duration of action potential measured at half maximum amplitude was longer in younger age groups. Both the maximum rate of rise and the maximum rate of fall in the action potential increased during the first 3 weeks postnatal. Electrophysiologically more than half neurons were type III. In summary, it is suggested that developmental changes in electrophysiological properties in rNTS occur during the first three weeks in rats.

Regulatory role of nitric oxide on atrial natriuretic peptide system in normotensive and hypertensive rats

The present study was aimed to explore an interaction between endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) systems in normotensive and hypertensive states. Rats were made two-kidney, one clip (2K1C) hypertensive and supplemented with either N-G-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 5 mg/100 ml drinking water) or L-arginine hydrochloride (400 mg/100 ml drinking water). One group supplied with normal tap water served as control. Sham-clipped rats were also divided into the L-NAME, L-arginine, and control groups. The plasma levels and atrial contents of ANP were determined at day 28 following clipping the renal artery. In 2K1C rats, the plasma level of ANP was higher and the atrial content was lower than in the sham-clipped control. L-Arginine increased the atrial content of ANP in association with a decreased plasma ANP, whereas L-NAME significantly affected neither parameter. The increase of blood pressure in 2K1C rats was not affected by L-arginine or L-NAME. In sham-clipped rats, the plasma level of ANP was significantly increased by L-NAME along with an increase in blood pressure. On the contrary, L-arginine did not affect the blood pressure or plasma ANP. The atrial content of ANP was significantly altered neither by L-arginine nor by L-NAME. These results suggest that NO plays a tonic inhibitory role on the ANP release with concomitant increases of the atrial tissue content. In addition, hypertension is suggested to modify the release and tissue storage of ANP.

Role of endogenous nitric oxide in the control salivary secretion and blood flow

The present study was designed to investigate whether endogenous nitric oxide (EDNO) is involved in submandibular vasodilation and salivation induced by parasympathetic nerve stimulation. Effects of Nw-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME) which blocks the synthesis of EDNO from L-arginine on the submandibular vasodilation and salivation induced by chorda stimulation or administration of various vasodilators were examined in anesthetized cats. Effect of L-NAME on K+ efflux induced by carbachol was also examined using the excised submandibular slice in vitro. In the submandibular slices, acetylcholine (10(-5) mol/L) or vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP, 10(-5) mol/L) increased NO2 contents, which was prevented by pretreatment with L-NAME. Salivary secretion in response to the chorda stimulation (3 V, 1 msec, 10 ~ 20 Hz) was completely blocked by treatment with atropine (1 mg/kg). Increased blood flow response to the low frequency (1, 2, 5 Hz) stimulation was significantly reduced, whereas the blood flow induced by the higher frequency (10, 20 Hz) stimulation was not affected. Lingual-arterial infusion of L-NAME (100 mg/kg) significantly diminished the vasodilatory and salivary responses to the chorda stimulation at all stimuli frequencies used. Intra-arterial infusion of L-NAME (100 mg/kg) markedly diminished the vasodilatory responses to acetylcholine (5 mug/kg), VIP (5 mug/kg) or bradykinin (5 mug/kg). In the excised submandibular slice, K+ efflux in response to carbachol (10(-5) mol/L) was significantly decrease by pretreatment with L-NAME (10(-5) mol/L). In the isolated submandibular artery precontracted with phenylephrine (10(-5) mol/L), the vasorelaxation induced by ACh (10-7 mol/L) was reversed into a contraction by methylene blue (10(-4) mol/L). These results suggest that EDNO may play an important role in vasodilation and secretion of the submandibular gland.