Validation and Reliability of the Cataract-related Visual Function Questionnaire (CVFQ)

Purpose@#To evaluate the reliability and validity of the Cataract-related Visual Function Questionnaire (CVFQ). @*Methods@#A prospective cross-sectional study of 141 cataract patients was conducted from March 2022 to June 2022. The questionnaire was created based on a literature review and advice from an expert panel. This study determined its construct validity, criterion validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability. @*Results@#The CVFQ consists of 15 items distributed among five categories: overall visual quality, overall visual function, distance vision, near vision, and glare. In the exploratory factor analysis of validity, the first three principal components explained 77.8% of the variance. The p-values in the Spearman correlation test comparing the pre- and postoperative total CVFQ score and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were 0.006 and 0.004, respectively. In the reliability analysis, Cronbach’s alpha was > 0.9 for internal consistency and the p-values of each subcategory were all significant in the analysis of test-retest reliability. @*Conclusions@#Our results indicate that the CVFQ is useful for measuring the visual quality and visual function of cataract patients in Korea.

Morus Nigra Extract Attenuates Cognition Impairment and GABAergic Interneuron Degeneration in Aged Rat Brain

Purpose@#Aging process comes with cognitive impairment due to decreased neuronal cell number, activity, and neuronal circuit. Alteration of inhibitory neurons contributes to cognitive impairment in normal aging and is responsible for disrupting the excitation/ inhibition balance by reducing the synthesis of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Morus nigra (Mulberry) is a natural physiologically active substance that has been proven to have anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, and anti-inflammatory effects through many studies. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the mulberry extract (ME) on cognitive function through anti-oxidant enzyme and GABAergic neuronal activity in aged rat brain. @*Methods@#Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned as the young group (8 weeks, n = 8), aging group (67 weeks, n = 8), and aging + mulberry extract group (67 weeks, n = 8). The aging + mulberry extract group was orally administered 500 mg/kg/d mulberry extract for 6 weeks. @*Results@#The aging + mulberry extract group improved spatial and short-term memory. The antioxidant potential of ME increased the expression of superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD-1) and decreased inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Also, the aging + mulberry extract group significantly increased the expression of GABAergic interneuron in hippocampus cornu ammonis1 (CA1) compared to the aging group. @*Conclusion@#The number of GABAergic inhibitory interneurons was deceased and memory functions in the aging process, but those symptoms were improved and restored by mulberry extract administration.

Ameliorative Effects of NXP031 on MPTP-Induced Neurotoxicity

Purpose@#The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of NXP031, an inhibitor of oxidation by specifically binding to the complex of DNA aptamer/vitamin C, on dopaminergic neurons loss and the reaction of microglia in an animal model of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced subchronic Parkinson’s disease (PD). @*Methods@#A subchronic PD mouse model was induced via an intraperitoneal (IP) injection of MPTP 30 mg/kg per day for five days. NXP031 (vitamin C/aptamer at 200 mg/4 mg/kg) and vitamin C at 200 mg/kg were administered via IP injections at one hour after performing MPTP injection. This process was performed for five days. Motor function was then evaluated with pole and rotarod tests, after which an immunohistochemical analysis was performed. @*Results@#NXP031 administration after MPTP injection significantly improved motor functions (via both pole and rotarod tests) compared to the control (MPTP injection only) (p < .001). NXP031 alleviated the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN) and striatum caused by MPTP injection. It was found to have a neuroprotective effect by reducing microglia activity. @*Conclusion@#NXP031 can improve impaired motor function, showing neuroprotective effects on dopaminergic neurons in the SN and striatum of MPTP-induced subchronic Parkinson’s disease mouse model. Results of this study suggest that NXP031 has potential in future treatments for PD and interventions for nerve recovery.

The Effects of College Students’ Dual Use of Electronic Cigarette and Conventional Cigarette on Depression

Purpose@#This study was conducted to find out the association between dual-use of the electronic cigarette (EC) and conventional cigarette (CC) and depression among undergraduate students. Methods: The participants of this study were 225 undergraduate students who were attending two universities located in Ulsan metropolitan city. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression were conducted to analyze the data. @*Results@#Nicotine dependence and depression were significantly higher in the dual-use group than in the single-use group. Dual-use of the EC and CC was significantly associated with depression among undergraduate students. In addition, quality of sleep was significantly associated with depression among undergraduate students. @*Conclusion@#In order to prevent depression among undergraduate students, it is necessary to improve the awareness of the danger of dual use of the EC and CC.

Preischemic Treadmill Exercise Ameliorates Memory Impairment and Microvasculature Damage in Rat Model of Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfusion / 대한배뇨장애요실금학회지

Purpose@#Silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) in the brain is essential for maintaining cellular homeostasis and plays a neuroprotective role in cerebral ischemia and neurodegenerative disorders. The effect of preischemic treadmill exercise on chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH)-induced spatial learning memory impairment, microvascular injury, and blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption in relation with SIRT1 expression was evaluated. @*Methods@#Prior to bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) surgery, the rats in the exercise groups performed low-intensity treadmill running for 30 minutes once daily during 8 weeks. BCCAO surgery was performed on male Wistar rats at 12 weeks of age. Spatial learning memory was measured using the Morris water maze test. Neuronal nuclear antigen, SIRT1, and rat endothelial cells antigen 1 were determined by immunohistochemistry and platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta was determined by immunofluorescence. @*Results@#Preischemic treadmill exercise ameliorated spatial learning memory impairment and enhanced SIRT1 expression in the BCCAO rats. Preischemic treadmill exercise ameliorated BCCAO-induced damage to microvasculature and pericytes that make up the BBB. The effect of preischemic treadmill exercise was lost with sirtinol treatment. @*Conclusions@#These results can apply treadmill exercise prior to cerebral ischemia as a rational preventive and therapeutic intervention strategy to improve cognitive dysfunction in CCH patients.

Ameliorative Effects of NXP031 on MPTP-Induced Neurotoxicity

Purpose@#The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of NXP031, an inhibitor of oxidation by specifically binding to the complex of DNA aptamer/vitamin C, on dopaminergic neurons loss and the reaction of microglia in an animal model of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced subchronic Parkinson’s disease (PD). @*Methods@#A subchronic PD mouse model was induced via an intraperitoneal (IP) injection of MPTP 30 mg/kg per day for five days. NXP031 (vitamin C/aptamer at 200 mg/4 mg/kg) and vitamin C at 200 mg/kg were administered via IP injections at one hour after performing MPTP injection. This process was performed for five days. Motor function was then evaluated with pole and rotarod tests, after which an immunohistochemical analysis was performed. @*Results@#NXP031 administration after MPTP injection significantly improved motor functions (via both pole and rotarod tests) compared to the control (MPTP injection only) (p < .001). NXP031 alleviated the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN) and striatum caused by MPTP injection. It was found to have a neuroprotective effect by reducing microglia activity. @*Conclusion@#NXP031 can improve impaired motor function, showing neuroprotective effects on dopaminergic neurons in the SN and striatum of MPTP-induced subchronic Parkinson’s disease mouse model. Results of this study suggest that NXP031 has potential in future treatments for PD and interventions for nerve recovery.

The Alleviating Effects of Sweet Drinks on Restraint Stress-Induced Anxiety and Depressive Behavior in Adolescent Rats

Purpose@#Some of the adolescent drinks more sugar-sweetened beverages. However, there is little evidence on the effect of eating behavior on emotional state and neurochemical changes under stress, especially on the levels of typical inhibitory neurotransmitters and gamma-aminobutyric acid. This article demonstrates that sucrose or saccharin drink reduces stress-related behavior responses and GABAergic deficits in adolescent rats. @*Methods@#We randomly assigned 7-weeks-old Sprague-Dawley male rats to three groups:control group (Control), restraint stress only group (Stress), and restraint stress with unrestricted access to saccharin solution (Saccharin) and sucrose solution (Sucrose) as a positive control. We evaluated both anxious and depressive moods using an open field test and forced swim test, respectively. Using western blot analyses, the expression of a GABA-synthesizing enzyme, glutamate decarboxylase-67 (GAD67) and GABAergic markers, including calbindin and parvalbumin was assessed in the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala. @*Results@#We found that both the drinks alleviated anxiety and depressive moods, induced significant attenuation in GAD67 level, and reduced calbindin level under stress in the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala. @*Conclusion@#The results provide an understanding of the effect of sucrose or saccharin drink on stress-related responses. We propose the consumption of sweet drinks as a plausible strategy to alleviate stress-related alterations in adolescents.

Child Abuse Awareness and Reporting Intention among Nursing and Education Students / 한국간호교육학회지

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate child abuse awareness and reporting intention among nursing and education students and correlations among the variables involved. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted by administering an online questionnaire to 70 nursing college students and 70 education college students. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, chi-squared test, the Mann-Whitney U test, and Pearson's correlation in SPSS 21.0 (IBM, Armonk, NY). RESULTS: The mean score of child abuse awareness was 3.61±0.32 for nursing students and 3.60±0.36 for education students. The mean score of reporting intention was 5.65±0.90 for nursing students and 5.38±1.03 for education students. Females presented higher scores than males in the awareness of sexual abuse. The awareness of emotional abuse was higher in students who knew of reporting obligations or who had experienced abuse. Child abuse awareness and reporting intention were significantly positively correlated. Also, the number of times having received child abuse education was correlated with reporting intention in both mild and severe cases of abuse. CONCLUSION: Reporting intention is not only related to having received education, but also to the frequency of that education. Child abuse education is important to increase reporting intention and should be delivered repeatedly.

Interventions to Reduce the Problems of Abused Children and Adolescents in Residential Facilities in South Korea: An Integrative Review

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to review the literature on intervention studies for abused children and adolescent in residential facilities in South Korea (ACARF-K). The goal was to understand the problems they experience, to evaluate the content and effectiveness of interventions applied to them, and to develop evidence-based nursing intervention programs. METHODS: We used four electronic databases to search for relevant articles. 18 studies according to Whittemore and Knafl's integrative review method to synthesize the literature. RESULTS: The ACARF-K experienced problems in biophysical, psychological, and sociocultural domains related to attachment impairment. Effective intervention strategies were building trust through empathy and fulfillment of needs, encouraging ACARF-K to express themselves and helping them to clarify emotions in an unthreatening environment, and improving their self-concept through activities in which they experienced achievement. CONCLUSION: Interventions are needed to help restore attachment damage among ACARF-K. The interventions in this study utilized emotional, cognitive, relational, and behavioral therapeutic tools to improve their psychological and social capacities. Future intervention programs for ACARF-K should include these key elements.

Effect of Environmental Factors on Depressive-like Behavior and Memory Function in Adolescent Rats

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify the effects of environmental factors on depressive-like behavior and memory function during adolescence. We performed behavior tests in adolescent rats exposed to environmental enrichment, handling, and social deprivation for eight weeks. METHODS: Wistar rats were randomly assigned to control, environmental enrichment, handling, and social deprivation groups at the age of four weeks. RESULTS: In the forced swim test, the immobility time in the environmental enrichment group was decreased than that in the control group (p=.038), while the immobility time in the social deprivation group was increased than that in the control group (p=.035), the environmental enrichment group (p<.001), and the handling group (p=.001). In the Morris water maze test, the social deprivation group had an increased latency time than the control group (p=.013) and the environmental enrichment group (p=.001). In the passive avoidance test, the environmental enrichment group had an increased latency time than the control group (p=.005). However, the social deprivation group had reduced latency time than the socially housed groups (control: p=.030; environmental enrichment: p<.001; handling: p<.001). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that environmental factors play an important role in emotion and memory function during adolescence.

A Systematic Review of Forest Therapy Programs for Elementary School Students

PURPOSE: There are many forest and outdoor programs being offered but systematic reviews of effects are lacking. This study was done to identify content, format, and strategies of forest therapy programs for elementary school students. METHODS: Literature search using keywords in English and Korean was performed using 6 electronic databases in December 2016. Search participants were elementary school students and interventions conducted in the forest. Seventeen forest therapy studies were selected for evaluation. Risk of Bias Assessment tool for non-randomized study was used for quality assessment. RESULTS: All studies were quasi-experimental designs. Forest therapy programs included various activities in forests such as experience of five senses, meditation in the forest, walking in the forest, ecological play, observation of animals and insects. All studies used psychosocial health variables and forest healing programs had positive effects on sociality, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, stress, aggression, anger, and school adjustment. Limitations of these studies were vague reporting of the study, lack of ethical review and rigorous research designs. CONCLUSION: Forest therapy for elementary school child can be an effective way to improve psychosocial health. Future studies with rigorous study designs are needed to assess long-term effects of forest therapy on physical and psychosocial health.

The Effects of Urban Forest-walking Program on Health Promotion Behavior, Physical Health, Depression, and Quality of Life: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Office-workers

PURPOSE: This study was performed to determine the physical and psychological effects of an urban forest-walking program for office workers. For many workers, sedentary lifestyles can lead to low levels of physical activity causing various health problems despite an increased interest in health promotion. METHODS: Fifty four office workers participated in this study. They were assigned to two groups (experimental group and control group) in random order and the experimental group performed 5 weeks of walking exercise based on Information-Motivation-Behavioral skills Model. The data were collected from October to November 2014. SPSS 21.0 was used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: The results showed that the urban forest walking program had positive effects on the physical activity level (U=65.00, p <.001), health promotion behavior (t= - 2.20, p =.033), and quality of life (t= - 2.42, p =.020). However, there were no statistical differences in depression, waist size, body mass index, blood pressure, or bone density between the groups. CONCLUSION: The current findings of the study suggest the forest-walking program may have positive effects on improving physical activity, health promotion behavior, and quality of life. The program can be used as an effective and efficient strategy for physical and psychological health promotion for office workers.

Effect of Saccharin Intake in Restraint-induced Stress Response Reduction in Rats

PURPOSE: Stress activates the sympathetic nervous system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and induces the release of glucocorticoids. Saccharin is 300 times sweeter than sucrose, but does not increase blood insulin levels. Thus, this study was designed to evaluate the effect of saccharin intake in restraint-induced stress response reduction in rats. METHODS: Adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats had stress induced by restraint for 2 hours/day for 1 week. Saccharin was provided in sufficient amounts to allow them to intake it voluntarily at 0.1% diluted in water. The Y-maze test and forced swim test (FST) were performed to evaluate cognitive function and the depressive behavior of the rats. The protein expression of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in hippocampal cornu ammonis (CA) 1 was investigated by using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: It was found that, the percentage of alternation in the Y-maze test was significantly (p<.01) higher in the Stress + saccharin group than in the Stress group. Immobility time in the FST was significantly (p<.01) lower in the Stress + saccharin group than in the Stress group. Also, the positive cells of GR in hippocampus CA1 were significantly (p<.05) lower in the Stress + saccharin group than in the Stress group. CONCLUSION: This study showed that there was an effect of saccharin intake in restraint-induced stress response reduction in rats.

Effect of Environmental Enrichment on Cognitive Impairment-induced by Ethanol Exposure in Adolescent Rat

PURPOSE: Adolescents who experienced the alcohol consumption have gradually increased. Adolescence is a critical period of the neural plasticity in the brain. Neural plasticity is mediated by neurotrophins and has an impact on cognitive function. Environmental enrichment ameliorates the cognitive function and increases neurotrophins. Thus, we investigated the neuroprotective effect of environmental enrichment on ethanol induced cognitive impairment in adolescent rats. METHODS: The ethanol groups and the controls groups were injected with ethanol (0.5g/kg) and phosphate buffered saline, respectively, through intraperitoneal from 28th day of birth for 11 days. The environmental enrichment groups were provided larger cages containing toys than the standard cage . Passive avoidance test and Y-maze test were performed to evaluate the spatial memory. RESULTS: Environmental enrichment+ethanol group showed higher alterations than the standard environment+ethanol group in Y-maze test (p<.05). In hippocampus, The environmental enrichment+ethanol group showed significantly higher level of the number of c-fos positive celsl and density of tropomyosin receptors kinase B receptor than the standard environment+ethanol group (p<.05). CONCLUSION: So, we suggested that the environmental enrichment played a role as a prophylaxis for prevention of memory impairment induced by ethanol exposure in adolescence.

Effects of Simulation-Based Learning in the Nursing Care of Children with Asthma / 한국간호교육학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of simulation-based learning on the knowledge about and performance confidence in the nursing care of children with asthma. METHODS: A one-group pre- and post- study design was used. A total of 70 nursing students participated in the study. In groups of five, the participants experienced simulation-based learning during their child health nursing practicum. The given scenario was about nursing care for children with asthma. The simulation learning was provided for 3 hours, and included a group discussion before the simulation and a debriefing. RESULTS: After the simulation, knowledge about and performance confidence in the nursing care of children with asthma significantly increased. The nursing students reported a high level of satisfaction with the simulation-based learning. There was a significant positive correlation between knowledge and performance confidence. CONCLUSION: Simulation-based learning was effective for nursing students in the nursing care of children with asthma. Our results suggest utilizing this new way of learning to strengthen the clinical experience of child health nursing in nursing students.

Erratum: The Palatability of Cereal Based Nutritional Supplements in Cancer Patients

We would like to correct the affiliation for the first author.

Necrotizing fasciitis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome secondary to varicella in a healthy child / 소아과

Varicella is usually considered to be a benign disease in healthy children; however, serious complications can occur such as necrotizing fasciitis and toxic shock syndrome. We describe a 38-month-old girl with necrotizing fasciitis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome following varicella. She was previously healthy and vaccinated against varicella at 12 months of age. She had been diagnosed with varicella three days prior to presenting at our facility; she developed fever, vomiting, and painful swelling on her left flank. Her skin lesions worsened, she became lethargic, and had episodes of hypotension and coagulopathy. Necrotizing fasciitis on the left abdominal wall, buttocks, and left thigh was diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging, and group A Streptococcus was isolated from a tissue culture. She was diagnosed as necrotizing fasciitis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, and successfully treated with repeated surgical debridement and fasciotomy, in addition to intensive antibiotics. Our experience suggests that necrotizing fasciitis in patients with varicella should be considered to be a rare complication even with widespread vaccine use. Early diagnosis and intensive treatment are required to prevent a fatal outcome.

The Palatability of Cereal Based Nutritional Supplements in Cancer Patients

Recently, it is reported that intervention of oral nutritional supplement improves the nutritional status of cancer patients, and the effectiveness is affected by the sensory preference of cancer patients on the oral nutritional supplement. However, the variety of oral nutritional supplement is extremely limited and the number of patient's benefits from using the products are restricted mostly due to sensory dislikes. The objective of this study was to provide sensory preference score of trial manufactured products with different accessory ingredients to maximize the use of oral nutritional supplements. Cancer patients (n = 30) and age, sex-matched healthy volunteers (n = 30) participated in the sensory assessments (taste, flavor, viscosity, color and overall preference) of three types of oral supplements (cereal base, cereal base+herb and cereal base+fruit) and a control supplement product with scorched cereal flavor, a top seller in current Korean market. Results indicate that the cancer patients' overall preference was significantly higher for the control supplement, and fruit added supplement was preferred over plain cereal and herb added products, although the difference was insignificant. However, there was no significant preference difference for the supplements among the control group for all sensory factors. These results suggest that cancer patients are more sensitive to sensory preferences compared to the control group, and the patients prefer the flavor of cooked cereal which is a staple food in Korea.

A Case of Cystitis with Bilateral Hydronephrosis Presenting with Gross Hematuria

Gross hematuria is uncommon, and rarely associated with hydronephrosis in healthy children. We describe a 3-year-old boy who complained of gross hematuria and dysuria. He was diagnosed as cystitis with bilateral hydronephrosis, and treated with antibiotics and conservative therapy. Our experience suggests that cystitis with hydronephrosis can occur in healthy children presenting with gross hematuria.

Detection of chemosensitivity using K18-Asp(396) (M30) antibody in HeLa and OVCAR-3 cell lines treated with anticancer agents / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to detect the levels of M30-antigens as a biomarker of apoptosis in cells and their culture media after treatments with anticancer drugs as a preclinical study. METHODS: After HeLa and OVCAR-3 cells were treated respectively with paclitaxel, cisplatin, and camptothecin, the harvested cells were stained sequentially with M30 monoclonal antibodies and propidium iodide (PI). Afterwards, they were analyzed using a FACScan flow cytometer and observed under an immunofluorescence microscope for M30-FITC immunofluorescences. Levels of M30 antigens were also detected in their culture media using M30-Apoptosense ELISA kit. RESULTS: The levels of M30-FITC immunofluorescences were elevated in both cell lines after each drug treatments compared with those of control cells. The levels of M30 antigens detected by ELISA in media culturing each cell line treated with each of drugs were elevated compared with those of control cells. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that M30-antigens representing chemotherapy induced apoptosis may be a useful biomarker for predicting and monitoring the response of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with gynecologic cancers.