• Annals of Geriatric Medicine and Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.167-175
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• 2018

Sarcopenia, a common clinical syndrome in older adults, is defined as decreased muscle mass, strength, and physical performance. Since sarcopenia is associated with the incidence of functional decline, falls, and even mortality in older adults, researchers and health care providers have been keen to accumulate clinical evidence to advocate the screening and prevention of sarcopenia progression in older adults. The factors that may accelerate the loss of muscle mass and function include chronic diseases, inactivity, and deficiency in appropriate nutritional support. Among these, nutritional support is considered an initial step to delay the progression of muscle wasting and improve physical performance in community-dwelling older adults. However, a nationwide study suggested that most Korean older adults do not consume sufficient dietary protein to maintain their muscle mass. Furthermore, considering age-associated anabolic resistance to dietary protein, higher protein intake should be emphasized in older adults than in younger people. To develop a dietary protein recommendation for older adults in Korea, we reviewed the relevant literature, including interventional studies from Korea. From these, we recommend that older adults consume at least 1.2 g of protein per kg of body weight per day (g/kg/day) to delay the progression of muscle wasting. The amount we recommend (1.2 g/kg/day) is 31.4% higher than the previously suggested recommended daily allowance (i.e., 0.91 g/kg/day) for the general population of Korea. Also, evidence to date suggests that the combination of exercise and nutritional support may enhance the beneficial effects of protein intake in older adults in Korea. We found that the current studies are insufficient to build population-based guidelines for older adults, and we call for further researches in Korea.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.571-579
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to identify levels of hearing handicap, depression, and self-efficacy, and to determine the effect of hearing handicap on depression and self-efficacy in home-based elderly. Data were collected from August to September 2017. Two hundred and seventy eight elderly living at home in three cities participated in this study. Data were analyzed using the independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Scheffe's test, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and by multiple regression analysis using SPSS Ver. 20.0 for Windows. Mean levels of hearing handicap, depression, and self-efficacy were 10.91 (${\pm}19.83$), 4.75 (${\pm}3.90$), and 46.87 (${\pm}6.75$) respectively. A statistically significant positive correlation was observed between hearing handicap and depression (r=.228, p<.001), and significant negative correlations were found between hearing handicap and self-efficacy (r=-.284, p<.001) and between depression and self-efficacy (r=-.526, p<.001). Hearing handicap had a negative effect on self-efficacy (${\beta}=-.161$, p=.008) and its explanatory power was 27.2%. The study results suggest that the developments of multidisciplinary interventions and education programs are important to prevent or minimize hearing handicap in the elderly.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1455-1460
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• 2018

Due to a rapidly expanding aging population, the incidence of degenerative bone disease has increased, and efforts to handle the issue using regenerative medicine have become more important. In order to control various bone diseases such as osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, regenerative medicine utilizing adult stem cells has been extensively studied. And it is now clear that the mitochondrial energy metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, is important for the process of stem cell differentiation. Interestingly, a recent study reported that salicylate promotes mitochondrial biogenesis by regulating the expression of $PGC-1{\alpha}$ in murine cells. However, the possible effects of salicylate on osteogenic differentiation through increased mitochondrial biogenesis in stem cells remain unknown. Thus, here we investigated whether salicylate could influence osteogenic differentiation and mitochondrial biogenesis of periosteum-derived mesenchymal stem cells (POMSCs). We found that salicylate treatments of POMSCs undergoing osteogenic differentiation increased the activity of alkaline phosphatase, a well-known early marker of bone cell differentiation. In addition, we observed that mitochondrial mass was increased by salicylate treatments in POMSCs. Together, these results indicate that salicylate can enhance osteogenic differentiation and mitochondrial biogenesis in POMSCs. Therefore, the findings in this study suggest that small molecules augmenting mitochondrial function such as salicylate can be a novel modulator for osteogenic differentiation and regenerative medicine.

• 한국노년학
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.243-259
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to investigate the moderating effect of home-based welfare facilities for older adults on the associations between the activities of daily living (ADL) / instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and the depressive symptoms among Koreans in later life. Multilevel analysis was conducted with Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging 5th data and the public report about welfare facilities from Ministry of Health and Welfare in Korea. Samples were 4,139 older adults over 65 years old. The dependent variable was depressive symptoms, and individual level independent variables were ADL and IADL. The ratio of home-based welfare facilities out of 10,000 older adults in each city and province was the moderator. As a result, the effects of ADL on depressive symptoms vary according to the proportion of elderly welfare facilities out of the old population in the community. In specific, the older adults who live in the place where the elderly welfare facility rate was higher were less affected by ADL. Also, the more IADL people had, the more depressive symptoms they had. However, the interaction effect between IADL and the proportion of home-based welfare facilities was not significant. It suggests that delivering welfare services helping ADL through the home-based welfare facilities may be useful for decreasing depressive symptoms. Moreover, considering the proportion of facilities and older population will be helpful to make the welfare facilities efficiently work.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.67-75
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• 2019

Background: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is an involuntary leakage of urine from the urethra when intra-abdominal pressure increases, such as from sneezing, coughing, or physical exertion. It is caused by insufficient strength of the pelvic floor and sphincter muscles, resulting from vaginal delivery, obesity, hard physical work, or aging. The pelvic floor electrical stimulator is a conservative treatment generally used to relieve the symptoms of urinary incontinence. it recommended to applied before surgery is performed. Objects: The purpose of this study was to determine if the transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TCES) would be effective for the physiological symptoms and psychological satisfaction of women with SUI for an 8-weeks intervention. Methods: Easy-K is a specially designed user-friendly TCES. Five female who were diagnosed with SUI by a gynecologist but who did not require surgical intervention were included in this study. Intervention was implemented over an 8-week period. Outcome measures included vaginal ultrasonography, Levator ani muscle (LAM) contraction strength, incontinence quality of life (I-QOL), and female sexual function index (FSFI) questionnaires. Results: The bladder neck position significantly decreased across assessment time. Funneling index and urethral width significantly decreased after 8 weeks of intervention (p<.05). The bladder necksymphyseal distance and posterior rhabdosphincter thickness statistically increased and the anterior rhabdosphincter thickness showed a tendency to increase. All participants demonstrated a significant increase in the LAM contraction score across three assessment times (p<.05). Although the total score of the I-QOL did not show significant improvement, it steadily increased and among I-QOL subscales, only the "avoidance" subscale showed statistical improvements (p<.05). The total score of the FSFI statistically improved and the "desire" score significantly changed (p<.05). Conclusion: The TCES is recommended for women who want to apply conservative treatments before surgery and who have suffered from SUI in aspects of sexual function and quality of life.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.95-103
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• 2019

Lips have a defect in maintenance of moisture due to their thin layer. As aging progresses, lips lose volume and redness, and become wrinkled. Fat grafting and filler surgery have been used to achieve attractive lips, but little research has been reported to develop better materials to replace the present methods. Recently, a study suggests that the increase of adipocyte number can be enhancing the expansion endogenous fat. In previous study, we identified that the efficacy of Magnolia officinalis bark extract (MOBE) was effective on the induction of adipogenic differentiation. In this study, we confirmed that MOBE enhanced the differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells on the fat mimic 3D structure built by 3D bioprinting method From further experiments in human, we established a method to quantify the severity of lip wrinkle by measurement of standard deviation of gray value using Image J software. Finally, we found that topical treatment with 1% MOBE formulated lip balm significantly improved the lip wrinkle after using for 12 weeks. In conclusion, these findings suggest that MOBE has great potential, as a cosmetic ingredient, to reduce the lip wrinkle through the effect of promoting adipogenic differentiation.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.134-144
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• 2019

Metabolic syndrome and allergic rhinitis are two important chronic diseases that affect people all over the world. Metabolic syndrome very often induces other diseases and the prevalence of allergic rhinitis is currently increasing. Aging is known to affect the pathogenesis of various diseases such as metabolic syndrome and allergy. This study examined the effects of metabolic syndrome and the prevalence of allergic rhinitis depending on different age groups and several general characteristics. This study was conducted by using the data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th-1 (2007~2016). The data used for this study was obtained from 51,854 people. In all age groups, our studies have shown that people without metabolic syndrome have a higher prevalence of allergic rhinitis than those people with metabolic syndrome, and the younger age group had the higher prevalence of allergic rhinitis (P<0.05). Overall, the results of this study found a significant effect on the prevalence of allergic rhinitis in each category of age, general characteristics (physical activity, smoking and drinking) and the presence or absence of metabolic syndrome (P<0.05). The evidence found in this study will help to understand the correlation between metabolic syndrome and allergy, and specifically allergic rhinitis.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.81-93
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• 2021

Objectives: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is condition of cognitive decline shown in transition from normal aging to dementia. Hominis placenta pharmacopuncture (HPP) is a treatment that combines effects of medication and acupuncture by injecting Hominis placenta into acupoints. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of HPP for MCI. Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-center clinical trial. Eligible patients were randomly allocated to either the HPP group or the placebo group. HPP or saline as placebo was administered to participants for eight weeks. Changes in symptoms were observed. The primary outcome was difference in mean change of Korean Version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-K) score between the HPP group and the placebo group. Cognitive function, overall status of mood and sleep, and quality of life (QoL) were also assessed. Safety assessment and economic analysis were then conducted. Results: Thirty participants were enrolled. One participant in the placebo group dropped out. The score of MoCA-K increased after treatment. Its mean change was smaller in the HPP group than in the control group. HPP ameliorated Global Deterioration Scale and Korean Dementia Rating Scale subtests for attention, organization, and memory compared to the placebo. However, none of them was significantly different between the two groups. Mood, sleep, and QoL all improved more in the HPP group than in the placebo group, although differences between the two groups were not statistically significant. There was no adverse event probably related to the drug. HPP treatment needed KRW 345,000 more than the placebo group in improving Geriatric Quality of Life scale-Dementia score by one point for one year. Conclusions: Although HPP treatment did not significantly improve cognition, it changed behavioral and psychological symptoms in MCI.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.625-634
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• 2022

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between physical activity (PA) level and functional fitness (FF) parameters in community-dwelling older adults aged 65 or above in Korea. Subjects' (M: 1,645; F: 2,394) PA level were assessed using a questionnaire. The subjects were divided into two groups: one below the recommended level of PA(LPA) and one above the recommended level (PA). PA was further classified by intensity level into medium- and high-intensity PA (MIPA and HIPA respectively) groups. FF was assessed based on six test items representing the following fitness areas: lower and upper body strength, agility and dynamic balance, flexibility, aerobic capacity, coordination, and body composition. Of the subjects, 36% met the recommended level of PA. Both MIPA and HIPA were superior to LPA in all FF items(p<.05). The HIPA group was significantly better in terms of agility and dynamic balance, coordination, and lower body strength (only in women) than was the MIPA group(p<.05). In conclusion, PA above the recommended level is needed to maintain functional fitness. In addition, HIPA seems to promote fall-related functional fitness and should be encouraged when safe and feasible.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2020

The progression of aging and the increase in musculoskeletal diseases have led to an increase in invasive treatment methods, including various surgical methods, but conservative treatment should be attempted before surgical treatment in musculoskeletal diseases. Medication for pain control, such as acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, steroid, opioids, antidepressants, etc., is one of the most popular methods for pain control. If the pain receptors on peripheral organ are stimulated, pain is transmitted to the brain by the ascending pathway, and the brain then secretes endogenous opioids, such as endorphin, by the descending pathway for pain control. Opioids are substances that act on the opioid receptors, and there are three receptors for opioids. The affinity for each receptor varies according to the tissue and the patient's systemic status. Antidepressants work on the synapses in the central nervous system and its main mechanism is regulation of the ascending pathway. This is mainly effective in chronic pain and neuropathic pain, which is similar in effectiveness to opioids. This review focuses on the effectiveness, method of use, and side effects of opioids and antidepressants.