• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.327-336
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• 2021

It is important to prevent progression of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to Alzheimer's disease or other dementia. This study was conducted to investigate cognitive-based intervention and its effectiveness for the older patients with MCI through systematic review. Data search was conducted in September 2020, using the Korea Research Information Service (Riss) and KoreaMed. After selection of literatures according to the predefined inclusion criteria, a total of 12 articles were included. It is revealed that the cognitive-based intervention for the older adults with MCI was found to have a positive effect on the various factors including cognitive function, depression, physical health status, quality of life, and communication. However, it is difficult to draw a definite conclusion due to the various intervention strategies and instruments used. Thus, based on the results of this study, we suggest more studies to verify the effectiveness of such programs.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.11
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• pp.547-552
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• 2022

Sorafenib, originally identified as an inhibitor of multiple oncogenic kinases, induces ferroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. Several pathways that mitigate sorafenib-induced ferroptosis confer drug resistance; thus strategies that enhance ferroptosis increase sorafenib efficacy. Orphan nuclear receptor estrogen-related receptor γ (ERRγ) is upregulated in human HCC tissues and plays a role in cancer cell proliferation. The aim of this study was to determine whether inhibition of ERRγ with DN200434, an orally available inverse agonist, can overcome resistance to sorafenib through induction of ferroptosis. Sorafenib-resistant HCC cells were less sensitive to sorafenibinduced ferroptosis and showed significantly higher ERRγ levels than sorafenib-sensitive HCC cells. DN200434 induced lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis in sorafenib-resistant HCC cells. Mechanistically, DN200434 increased mitochondrial ROS generation by reducing glutathione/glutathione disulfide levels, which subsequently reduced mTOR activity and GPX4 levels. DN200434 induced amplification of the antitumor effects of sorafenib was confirmed in a tumor xenograft model. The present results indicate that DN200434 may be a novel therapeutic strategy to re-sensitize HCC cells to sorafenib.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.389-399
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• 2022

Background: This study aimed to analyze changes in medical utilization and cost before and after long-term care (LTC) implementation. Methods: We used the National Health Information Database from National Health Insurance Service. The participants were selected who had a new LTC grade (grade 1-5) for 2015. Medical utilization was analyzed before and after LTC implementation. Segmented regression analysis of interrupted time series was conducted to evaluate the overall effect of the LTC implementation on medical costs. Results: The total number of participants was 41,726. A major reason for hospitalization in grade 1 was cerebrovascular diseases, and dementia was the top priority in grade 5. The proportion of hospitalization in grade 1 increased sharply before LTC implementation and then decreased. In grade 5, it increased before LTC implementation, but there was no significant difference after LTC implementation. As for medical cost, in grades 1 to 4, the total cost increased sharply before the LTC implementation, but thereafter, changes in level and trend tended to decrease statistically, and for grade 5, immediately after LTC implementation, the level change was decreasing, but thereafter, the trend change was increasing. Conclusion: Long-term care grades showed different medical utilization and cost changes. Long-term care beneficiaries would improve their quality of life by adequately resolving their medical needs by their grades.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.185-192
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• 2022

Early detection of mild cognitive impairment can help prevent the progression of dementia. The purpose of this study was to design and validate a machine learning model that automatically differential diagnosed patients with mild cognitive impairment and identified cognitive decline characteristics compared to a control group with normal cognition using resting-state quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) with eyes closed. In the first step, a rectified signal was obtained through a preprocessing process that receives a quantitative EEG signal as an input and removes noise through a filter and independent component analysis (ICA). Frequency analysis and non-linear features were extracted from the rectified signal, and the 3067 extracted features were used as input of a linear support vector machine (SVM), a representative algorithm among machine learning algorithms, and classified into mild cognitive impairment patients and normal cognitive adults. As a result of classification analysis of 58 normal cognitive group and 80 patients in mild cognitive impairment, the accuracy of SVM was 86.2%. In patients with mild cognitive impairment, alpha band power was decreased in the frontal lobe, and high beta band power was increased in the frontal lobe compared to the normal cognitive group. Also, the gamma band power of the occipital-parietal lobe was decreased in mild cognitive impairment. These results represented that quantitative EEG can be used as a meaningful biomarker to discriminate cognitive decline.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.49-57
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• 2023

Purpose : This study aimed to systematically review the correlation between hand dexterity and cognitive function in the elderly, and summarize various evaluation tests and results analysis methods for manual dexterity tests applied to this population. Methods : We searched published studies in the Korean Studies Information Service System and PubMed databases from January 2013 to March 2023. The main keywords used were "dexterity," "fine motor," "elderly," "cognitive function," and "correlation." A total of 10 studies were selected for analysis from the 1,524 searched articles. The included studies consisted of a cohort study, a longitudinal study, and eight cross-sectional studies which were analyzed for patients, intervention, comparison, and outcomes. Results : Analyzing the qualitative level of 10 studies, 8 articles (80%) were non-randomized two-group studies that provided level II evidence whereas the remaining 2 studies (20%) were non-randomized single-group studies (level III evidence). Therefore, these results indicated that the level of evidence in this field is generally high. The Purdue pegboard test was the most commonly used evaluation test for manual dexterity, and velocity speed was the most frequently employed analysis method. Results indicated that there were significant differences in manual dexterity test between the normal elderly, those with mild cognitive impairment, or dementia. Conclusions : These results can be used as a basis for selecting dexterity test evaluation items and methods to analyze it in the elderly while screening for cognitive impairment. In addition, this study highlights potential areas for future research on the development of manual dexterity evaluation tools and techniques for analysis and the need for more reliable and valid methods for assessing cognitive function in the elderly.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.441-448
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• 2019

The purpose of this is to investigate the factors of hospital selection in patients with mild cognitive impairment and to provide information to clinicians and medical institutions in preparation for the ongoing admission of patients with mild cognitive impairment. This study was carried out on 36 participants who agreed to participate in the study from May 1st, 2018 to September 30th, 2018. Data collection was performed using K-MMSE and hospital selection factor tool was modified and supplemented according to the study. The results of this study suggest that the distance from the residence or work place shall be closer to that of the hospital, with the easy of transportation, easy administrative procedure, hospital reputation, new services, service or physical therapy and occupation therapy(p <.05). The conclusion of this study is to inform the clinician about the selection factors of patients with mild cognitive impairment and change the marketing strategy of medical institutions prepare to mild cognitive impairment

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.81-98
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• 2023

Objectives : This study aimed to analyze the trends in research and development projects related to herbal medicine and natural products in the field of traditional Korean medicine (TKM) over the past 20 years. Methods : Research projects were identified using "Korean medicine" as the subject heading in the National Science and Technology Information Service. The included projects investigated Korean medicine, natural products, or were related to the TKM industry. Data pre-processing and network analysis were performed using Python and Networkx package, and the network was visualized using the ForceAtlas2 visualization algorithm. Results : 1. Over the study period, 4,020 projects were conducted with a research budget of KRW 835.2 billion. Seven institutions performed over 100 projects each, accounting for 2.4% of all participating institutions, and the top 10 institutions accounted for 58.9% of total projects. 2. Obesity was the most frequently mentioned disease-related keyword. Chronic or age-related diseases such as diabetes, osteoporosis, dementia, parkinson's disease, cancer, inflammation, and asthma were also frequent research topics. Clinical research, safety, and standardization were also frequently mentioned. 3. Centrality analysis found that obesity was the only disease-related keyword identified, alongside TKM-related keywords. Standardization, safety, and clinical trials were identified as central keywords. Conclusions : The study found that research projects in TKM have focused on standardizing and ensuring the safety of herbal medicine, as well as on chronic and age-related diseases. Clinical studies aimed at verifying the effectiveness of herbal medicine were also frequent. These findings can guide future research and development in herbal medicine.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.14 no.1_4
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• pp.25-36
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• 2007

The results of researching on duties of physical therapist, understanding of elderly diseases and policies related with elderly welfare came out from the survey before beginning of education to physical therapists who attended National Elderly Welfare Physical Therapist Workshop during Sep. 11th to 14th, 2007. They have already understood about long-term elderly care insurance from the policy, and responded that those policies will bring more advantage to elders. On contrary, negative response had reason of low service quality. About elderly care system, there were positive answer of appropriate alternatives to support them, but also other critics had opinion of inevitable choice for living conservation. About understanding of elderly diseases, there were more comprehension of diseases as age gets higher, but most did not understand dementia and paralysis. Past experience and process of medical treatment for their disease were such arthritis, paralysis, broken bone, and dislocation of joint. Prognosis of technical training was mostly answered positively, but linking with other related disease programs were not welcomed. Most respondents thought that professional training were needed. The results of understanding diseases during senescent had high percentage of understanding as age and education was high, and it had eye upon statistics of the survey (p < 0.05) Most of those questioned responded that it is appropriate to have six working days per week and eight hours of daily work, however, present wage is not reasonable. Most of those questioned had negative response of work independence, and had an-swered that there should be certificates needed in related fields. For difficulties during work period, they had hardship instituting direction of treatment by lack of program, level of wage, and physical difficulties. Physical therapists averagely wished to have fewer than thirty patients per therapist. After the research, physical therapists who work in those facilities of elderly care systems agreed on policies, though it should not lower service quality. In addition, they were pros to have elderly care system, yet they are still inevitable option to maintain living. For work environment, the period of work was appropriate, but had different opinions for work independence and regular number of patients. Therefore, there should be more organized treatment program that also should be linked to other practical programs at this beginning point of the policy enforcement and the time that many therapists hope to work in elderly care system.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.200-217
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• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess energy and nutritional intake and investigate the preference for food and cooking methods of the residents in elderly care facilities. Methods: Data were collected from 72 residents (10 males and 62 females) aged ${\geq}70$ years in elderly care facilities using questionnaires, food photographs for estimating dietary intake and records for daily physical activity. Results: Average age of the study participants was 85.0 years and 41, 36 and 8 had dementia, hypertension and diabetes mellitus, respectively. 15%, 65% and 19% of subjects were physically mobile, enervated, and immobile, respectively. Daily energy intake was 1360.2 kcal in men and 1378.0 kcal in women, which were 68.0% and 86.1% of the estimated energy requirement (EER) of dietary reference intake for Koreans (KDRI) for ${\geq}75$ year old individuals, respectively. Estimated energy expenditure (EEE) of subjects calculated using formula from KDRI was 1361.9 kcal and EER calculated using estimated daily physical activity (EDPA) was 1232.9 kcal. Energy intake and EEE from KDRI were higher than EER from EDPA. Dietary intake of dietary fiber, calcium, potassium, zinc, vitamin $B_2$, niacin, vitamin C were lower, and protein, phosphorous, iron, sodium, vitamin A, vitamin $B_1$, vitamin $B_6$, vitamin E were higher than the corresponding ones of KDRI. Subjects liked meats, fishes and shellfish, and fruits, while subjects disliked milk, seaweeds and salted fish and salted vegetables. Cooked rice, soybean paste soup, beef, cooked sliced radish strip, and yogurt were favorite foods, with steam being a favorite cooking method. Subjects considered nutrition as the most important factor for improving food service quality. Conclusions: Results of this study could be utilized for improving food-service for the residents in elderly care facilities, and provide a basis for setting reference intake of energy and nutrients of the elderly having very low activity levels.

• 한국사회정책
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.67-95
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• 2017

This study compared policies of elderly abuse of long-term care facilities on WHO, Main countries for improvement of Korean policy. So, This study reviewed policies of elderly abuse of long-term care facilities on WHO, Main countries. So, This study reviewed risk factors that may increase the potential for abuse of an older person can be identified at individual level, care-woker levels, socio-cultural levels and facilities levels. The results of the study were as follows: First, The openness of long-term care facilities are emphasized on many countries. There are a need for a policy considerations such as policies of Ombudsman, Adult guardianship for visiting facilities, external monitoring. Second, There was a difference of facilities infrastructure and workers of treatment condition long-term care facilities each other countries. So It is important to improve facilities infrastructure and workers of treatment condition. Third, It is necessary to consider traits of elderly in long-term care facilities. Especially, it is required to manage dementia elderly and elderly on night time in long-term care facilities. Finally, implications and future directions of policies of elderly abuse of long-term care facilities were discussed based on the finding of the study.