Factors influencing the health-related quality of life in Korean menopausal women: a cross-sectional study based on the theory of unpleasant symptoms.

Purpose: Based on the theory of unpleasant symptoms (TOUS), this study aimed to examine the direct effect of antecedent factors on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and its indirect effect via symptoms in Korean women during the late menopausal transition (MT) and early postmenopause. Methods: This cross-sectional survey employed a descriptive correlational research design. The respondents were 152 middle-aged women 40 to 60 years with an intermenstrual interval of 60 days or more (late MT) or less than 5 years from the last menstrual period (early postmenopause). The respondents were recruited through convenience sampling in Busan, Korea, from December 1, 2020, to January 31, 2021. Based on the TOUS, self-report data were collected on perceived health status, psychological distress, social support, menopausal symptoms, and HRQoL. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statics, independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and the Hayes' PROCESS macro. Results: TOUS was supported on this sample (n=152) of Korean women during the late MT and early postmenopause. Perceived health status, psychological distress, and social support had significant direct relationships with HRQoL. Menopausal symptoms had significant indirect relationships between antecedent factors (perceived health status, psychological distress, and social support) and partially mediated HRQoL. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that menopausal symptoms play an important role as an intervening factor of HRQoL in women during the late MT and early postmenopause. Therefore, women need an integrated program that manages antecedent factors and menopausal symptoms to improve HRQoL in these menopausal stages.

Ring-Shaped Baffle Effect on Separation Performance of Lithium Carbonate Micro Particles in a Centrifugal Classifier.

In this work, a centrifugal classifier for separating lithium carbonate particles, used as a cathode material for lithium-ion batteries, was investigated. This work numerically evaluates the internal flow and particle separation performance of the centrifugal classifier. The complex turbulent flow field in the classifier is key to understanding particle motion. A Reynolds stress model, to describe air flow field, and a discrete phase model, to track particle motion, were applied to a numerical simulation. Design parameters such as mass flow rate and rotor speed were investigated, and a ring-shaped baffle, in particular, was designed to investigate the effects of flow and particle separation in the centrifugal classifier. The simple geometry of the baffle changes the movement direction of unseparated particles to the rotor cage region, and increases the local air velocity in the separation zone. The numerical analysis results were verified through a baffle experiment.

Unplanned readmission of patients with heart transplantation in 1 year: A retrospective study.

AIM: To investigate readmission rate and its association with patient characteristics to identify key risk factors associated with unplanned readmission in 1 year after heart transplantation. BACKGROUND: Unplanned readmission after heart transplantation due to complications affects patients' quality of life and long-term survival rate. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. METHODS: Individual, disease-related and therapeutic characteristics were included from electronic medical records. Participants were 484 adult patients who underwent heart transplantation between 1992 - 2016 at a tertiary hospital in Korea. RESULTS: A total of 204 patients underwent unplanned readmission. The most frequent causes were infection or rejection. Multivariate analysis revealed hypertension and pre-operative estimated glomerular filtration rate to be risk factors for unplanned readmission. CONCLUSION: Early screening educational programs and interventions based on recommended risk factors are needed to reduce the unplanned readmission rate of heart transplantation patients. IMPACT: Nurses who care for heart-transplanted patients should initially assess risk factors during the postoperative and recovery periods to reduce risk of readmission following surgery. These findings may contribute to early assessment criteria and development of discharge nursing education materials.

A synthetic microbial biosensor for high-throughput screening of lactam biocatalysts.

Biocatalytic cyclization is highly desirable for efficient synthesis of biologically derived chemical substances, such as the commodity chemicals ε-caprolactam and δ-valerolactam. To identify biocatalysts in lactam biosynthesis, we develop a caprolactam-detecting genetic enzyme screening system (CL-GESS). The Alcaligenes faecalis regulatory protein NitR is adopted for the highly specific detection of lactam compounds against lactam biosynthetic intermediates. We further systematically optimize the genetic components of the CL-GESS to enhance sensitivity, achieving 10-fold improvement. Using this highly sensitive GESS, we screen marine metagenomes and find an enzyme that cyclizes ω-amino fatty acids to lactam. Moreover, we determine the X-ray crystal structure and catalytic residues based on mutational analysis of the cyclase. The cyclase is also used as a helper enzyme to sense intracellular ω-amino fatty acids. We expect this simple and accurate biosensor to have wide-ranging applications in rapid screening of new lactam-synthesizing enzymes and metabolic engineering for lactam bio-production.

Impacts of Psychological Distress, Gender Role Attitude, and Housekeeping Sharing on Quality of Life of Gynecologic Cancer Survivors.

PURPOSE: To determine impacts of psychological distress, gender role attitude, and housekeeping sharing on quality of life of gynecologic cancer survivors. METHODS: Subjects completed questionnaires consisting of four measurements: FACT-G (ver. 4) for quality of life, anxiety and depression from SCL-90-R for psychological distress, gender role attitude, and housekeeping sharing. A total of 158 completed data sets were analyzed by descriptive statistics, independent t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple regression analysis using SPSS 21.0 program. RESULTS: Quality of life was significantly and negatively correlated with psychological distress (r=-0.64, p < .001), but not with gender role attitude (r=-0.14, p=.820) or housekeeping sharing (r=0.08, p=.350). Psychological distress was significantly and positively correlated with gender role attitude (r=0.25, p < .010). Factors that significantly impacted quality of life were type of cancer (t=2.27, p=.025), number of treatment methods (t=2.58, p=.011), education level (t=3.33, p < .001), and psychological distress (t=-9.96, p < .001). CONCLUSION: Nursing interventions that can relieve psychological distress need to be developed for gynecologic cancer survivors. Nurses need to put priority on ovarian cancer survivors who have low education level with multiple treatment methods when performing nursing interventions to improve the quality of life of gynecologic cancer survivors.

Overexpression of MicA induces production of OmpC-enriched outer membrane vesicles that protect against Salmonella challenge.

Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) derived from bacteria are promising candidates for subunit vaccines. Stresses that modulate the composition of outer membrane proteins (OMPs) are important for OMV synthesis. Small RNAs (sRNAs) expressed in response to stress regulate OMPs, although the mechanism underlying sRNA-mediated OMV biogenesis and its utility for developing vaccine platforms remains to be elucidated. Here, we characterized the role of a sRNA, MicA, which regulates OmpA, a major OMP involved in both production of OMVs and reactive immunity against Salmonella challenge. A Salmonella strain overexpressing MicA generated more OMVs than a control strain. In addition, OmpC was the major component of MicA-derived OMV proteins. MicA-derived OMVs induced Th1- and Th17-type immune responses in vitro and reduced Salmonella-mediated lethality in a mouse model. Thus, OmpA-regulatory sRNA-derived OMVs may facilitate production of Salmonella-protective vaccines.

Stress-responsively modulated ymdAB-clsC operon plays a role in biofilm formation and apramycin susceptibility in Escherichia coli.

The YmdB protein, an inhibitor of biofilm formation and an inducer of apramycin susceptibility in Escherichia coli (E. coli), is part of a putative operon. However, transcription of this operon and its subsequent effects on biological pathways has not been fully studied. Here, we characterized the operon in terms of promoter activity, transcription and function. Promoter activity assays identified two new growth- and cold-shock-responsive upstream (PymdA) and inner (PclsC) promoters, respectively. Moreover, investigation of the operon-derived transcripts identified different polycistronic transcripts harboring multiple heterogeneous 3΄ ends. Overexpression of YmdA or ClsC proteins inhibited biofilm formation and affected apramycin susceptibility, a process dependent on the sucA gene, suggesting that the operon genes or their encoded proteins are functionally linked. Additional investigation of the effects of polycistronic transcripts on the response of E. coli cells to apramycin revealed that transcripts containing ymdA (-213 to +27) are required for apramycin susceptibility. Thus, ymdAB-clsC is a new stress-responsive operon that plays a role in inhibiting undesired biofilm forming and antibiotic-resistant bacterial populations.

YmdB-mediated down-regulation of sucA inhibits biofilm formation and induces apramycin susceptibility in Escherichia coli.

Antibiotic resistance associated with biofilm formation is a major concern when treating bacterial infections with drugs. The genes and pathways involved in biofilm formation have been extensively studied and are also involved in antibiotic resistance. Recent studies show that overexpression of Escherichia coli (E. coli) YmdB protein alters gene expression profiles and inhibits biofilm formation. Therefore, it is expected that YmdB and its regulated genes play a key role in development of biofilm and antibiotic resistance phenotypes. The present study screened antibiotics to identify those whose susceptibility profiles were regulated by YmdB levels. This protocol identified apramycin. Additional screening for genes negatively regulated by inactivation of RNase III activity via YmdB overexpression revealed that a gene associated with the tricarboxylic acid cycle gene, sucA, was necessary for the YmdB-like phenotype. Taken together, these data suggest that regulation of RNase III activity by trans-acting factors may be the key to identifying genes or pathways connecting biofilm and antibiotic resistance phenotypes. This information could be used to reduce the emergence of biofilm-associated multidrug-resistant bacteria.

The effect of lumbar-pelvic alignment and abdominal muscle thickness on primary dysmenorrhea.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to identify effects of malalignment of the lumbar pelvis, as a passive element, and the thicknesses of abdominal muscles, as active elements, on primary dysmenorrhea. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were divided into a primary dysmenorrhea group and normal group according to Visual Analogue Scale, and ultimately there were 28 subjects in the dysmenorrhea group and 22 subjects in the normal group. Alignment of the lumbar pelvis was measured by using a Formetric 4D analysis system, and the thicknesses of abdominal muscles were measured by using ultrasound imaging. [Result] Scoliosis was 6.7 ± 4.3° in the primary dysmenorrhea group and 3.8 ± 2.0° in the normal group, and the lordotic angles of the two groups were 0.6 ± 0.5° and 0.1 ± 0.3°, respectively. The thickness of the internal oblique was 3.8 ± 1.3 mm in the primary dysmenorrhea group and 6.0 ± 1.9 mm in the thicknesses of the transverse abdominis in the two groups were 2.6 ± 6.8 mm and 3.5 ± 6.1 mm, respectively. Furthermore, the thickness of the normal group, and the external oblique was 4.0 ± 0.8 mm in the primary dysmenorrhea group and 5.4 ± 1.4 mm in the normal group. [Conclusion] This study showed significant differences between the primary dysmenorrhea group and the normal group in lumbar-pelvic alignment and thicknesses of abdominal muscles.

The relationship between pelvic alignment and dysmenorrhea.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between pelvic alignment and dysmenorrhea in general women. [Subjects and Methods] One hundred two females participated in this study. They were divided into a dysmenorrhea group and a normal group based on the results of a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) assessment of pain and the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQ). The survey data was collecting from 5th July to 20th September, 2014. Formetric 4D was used to measure the pelvic alignment, including the values of Trunk Imbalance, Pelvic Tilt, Surface Rotation, Lateral Deviation, Kyphosis Angle, Lordosis Angle. [Results] There was a difference in the spine alignments of each group. The value of pelvic torsion was 2.4 ± 1.8 degree in those with dysmenorrhea, while it was 1.7 ± 1.1 degree in those without. [Conclusion] In conclusion, the results suggest that there is a relationship between menstrual pain and pelvic torsion.

[A study of the caregiving burden on grandmothers who raise their grandchildren: a phenomenological research].

PURPOSE: This qualitative study aimed to identify the common, lived experiences of grandmothers who cared for their grandchildren as the primary caregivers. METHODS: This study was based on the phenomenological method described by Colaizzi (1978). RESULTS: Seven theme clusters emerged from the data as follows: "grandmother caregivers accept the parenting role of the incessant responsibilities and the distrust of non-kin caregivers.", "grandmother caregivers have a double maternal roles; an instrument-oriented maternal role to their own child and relationship-oriented maternal role to their grandchild.", "grandmother caregivers are partially authorized to make decisions in the matters of their grandchild.", "grandmother caregivers suffer a deterioration in their health by an acceleration of the aging process.", "caregiving causes grandmother caregivers to feel a sense of social isolation, and pursue various coping strategies to control this feeling.", "grandmother caregivers have a greater feeling of self-esteem, but they often conflict with their adult children if they don't feel appreciated by them.", "grandmother caregivers have limited social support and their health issues are often overlooked in the family context." CONCLUSION: The results of this study can guide nurses and health care workers to understand the experiences of grandmother caregivers and to implement individualized nursing interventions suited for them.