• 재활복지
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.49-63
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to investigate the association of functional disability, ego integrity and depressive symptoms, and analyze the mediating effect of ego integrity among the elderly, residing in the long-term care facilities. The data were collected by using non-random purposive and convenient sampling methods and 247 elderly who reside in the nursing home care, located in Daegu city and Kyungpook provinces participated in this study. Findings of this study indicates that there are statistically significant relationships among functional disability, ego integrity and depressive symptoms of participants. In addition, the mediating effect of ego integrity on the relationship between functional disability and depressive symptoms is statistically significant and shows partial mediating effect. Based on the findings of this study, possible practice implications for improving functional and mental health of the elderly in residential care home and recommendation for further study were provided.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.135-141
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• 2024

Objective: Recently, oral antioxidants in combined forms have been used to treat men with idiopathic infertility. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of treatment with vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, zinc, arginine, L-carnitine, and coenzyme Q10 on sperm quality parameters, DNA integrity, reproductive hormones, and pregnancy rates in men with infertility and idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT). Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 420 men with infertility and idiopathic OAT who took an oral supplement of antioxidant SP-Power tablets twice daily for 6 months. Semen quality, reproductive hormones, and the DNA fragmentation index (DFI) were evaluated at baseline and at 3 and 6 months after supplementation, using the World Health Organization 2021 guidelines. Results: No significant difference was observed in volume or the percentage of typical morphology during treatment. A significant improvement in sperm concentration was observed after supplementation (8.67±1.41, 12.17±1.91, and 19.01±0.86 at baseline, 3, and 6 months respectively, p<0.01). The total motility, progressive motility, and total motile sperm count also increased significantly (p<0.01), whereas the DFI decreased after 6 months. There was an increase in normal FSH levels and testosterone levels after 6 months of supplementation of antioxidant SP-Power but these differences were not statistically significant (p=not significant and p=0.06, respectively). Conclusion: Supplementation with SP-Power tablets improved sperm quality parameters, sperm DFI, some reproductive hormones, and pregnancy rates in men with infertility and idiopathic OAT, which could be attributed to the supplement's synergistic antioxidant action. Further studies are needed to determine the effects of supplementation on oxidative stress markers.

• Journal of Family Relations
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.49-72
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• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to develop a cognitive behavioral therapy program for ego-integrity of depressed elderly women living alone, and to verify its effectiveness. Method: The subjects of this study were composed of elderly women(age 65 and older) living alone who had basic literacy skills, 24 or higher in mental state examination(MMSE-K), and 6 or higher in elderly depression(GDS). 29 women were randomly assigned into an experimental group(cognitive behavioral therapy), a comparison group(reminiscence therapy) and a control group. The experimental group and the comparison group retrospectively participated in a 90-minute therapy session twice a week for a total of 12 weeks. The effectiveness of the program was assessed through a pretest, posttest, and 2-month follow-up test. The data collected were analyzed with SPSS 22.0 statistical program. Results: The main findings of this study are as follows. First, at posttest ego-integrity and self-esteem marked higher scores in both of the experimental group and the comparison group than in the control group, but the experimental group marked comparatively higher scores than the comparison group. For dysfunctional attitude, only the experimental group showed lower scores compared to the comparison group and the control group. Second, at posttest depression marked lower scores in the experimental group compared to the comparison group and the control group. Third, at posttest problem-solving and support-seeking coping strategies marked higher scores in the experimental group compared to the comparison group and the control group. Fourth, the significant improvements remained at 2-month follow-up test. Conclusions: Cognitive behavioral therapy resulted in improvements of the ego-integrity and related symptoms of depressed elderly women living alone at posttest and 2-month follow-up test respectively.

• 한국노년학
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.1227-1248
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• 2008

In this study, death preparation was used as an independent variable, with ego integrity as successful aging used as a dependent variable while depression and death anxiety were used as mediate variables. The purpose of this study is to investigate the differences of the study variables according to the demographic characteristics of the research subjects, and to create a database for developing and improving current educational programs and welfare services to help the elderly achieve successful aging. Two hundred and eighty three elderly people above the age of sixty in Cheongju city were given standardized questionnaires, and the collected data were analyzed. The results of this study are the following. First, the differences of the study variables according to the level of education, health, economy, and social involvement of the elderly are statistically significant. Second, there exists a positive relationship between mental preparation for death and ego integrity (successful aging) while there is no such relation in case of formal preparation for death and ego integrity. Third, depression and death anxiety of the elderly partially mediate ego integrity, which leads to successful aging.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.145-178
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• 2020

This paper examines discussions surrounding cognitive liberty, neuro-privacy, and mental integrity from the perspective of Neuro-rights. The right to control one's neurological data entails self-determination of collection and usage of one's data, and the right to object to any way such data may be employed to negatively impact oneself. As innovations in neurotechnologies bear benefits and downsides, a novel concept of the neuro-rights has been suggested to protect individual liberty and rights. In Oct. 2020, the Chilean Senate presented the 'Proyecto de ley sobre neuroderechos' to promote the recognition and protection of neuro-rights. This new bill defines all data obtained from the brain as neuronal data and outlaws the commerce of this data. Neurotechnology, especially when paired with big data and artificial intelligence, has the potential to turn one's neurological state into data. The possibility of inferring one's intent, preferences, personality, memory, emotions, and so on, poses harm to individual liberty and rights. However, the collection and use of neural data may outpace legislative innovation in the near future. Legal protection of neural data and the rights of its subject must be established in a comprehensive way, to adapt to the evolving data economy and technical environment.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.652-672
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• 1996

Dysfunction of the inferior alveolar nerve may result from trauma, diseases or iatrogenic injury. The development and refinement of an objective method to evaluate this clinical problem is highly desirable and needed, especially concerning for an increasing medico-legal issue. Evoked potential techniques have attracted considerable attention as a means of assessing the function and integrity of nerve pathways. The purpose of this study was to characterize the Sensory Evoked Potentials(SEPs) and Somatosensory Evoked Potentials(SSEPs) elicited by electrical stimulation of mental nerve. SEPs and SSEPs were measured and analyzed statistically before and after needle injury on the inferior alveolar nerve of Sprague-Dawalye rats. Measuring SEPs was more sensitive in evaluation of the recovery of sensory function from inferior alveolar nerve injury then measuring SSEPs but we measured SSEPs in the hope of providing a safe, simple and objective test to check oral and facial sensibility, which is acceptable to the patient. We stimulated mental nerve after needle injury on the inferior alveolar nerve and SEPS on the level of mandibular foramen and SSEPs on the level of cerebral cortex were recorded. Threshold, amplitude, and latency of both of SEPs and SSEPs were analyzed. The results were as follows ; 1. Threshold of SEPs and SSEPs were $184{\pm}14{\mu}A$ and $164{\pm}14{\mu}A$ respectively. 2 SEPs were composed of 2 waves, i.e., N1 N2 in which N1 was conducted by II fibers and N2 was conducted by III fibers. 3. SSEPS were composed of 5 waves, of which N1 and N2 shower statistically significant changes(p<0.01, unpaired t-test). 4. SEPs and SSEPs were observed to be abolished immediately after local anesthesia and recovered 30 minutes later. 5. SEPs were abolished immediately after injury. N1 of SSEPs was abolished immediately and amplitued of N2 was decreased($20.7{\pm}12.2%$) immediately after 23G needle injury, but N3, N4 and N5 did not change significantly. Recovery of waveform delayed 30 minutes in SEPs and 45 minutes in SSEPs. 6. The degree of decrease in amplitude of SEPs and SSEPs, after 30G needle injury was smaller than those with 23G. SEPs recorded on the level of mandibular foramen were though to be reliable and useful in the assessment of the function of the inferior alveolar nerve after injury. Amplitude of SSEPs reflected the function and integrity of nerve and measuring them provided a safe, simple and abjective test to check oral and facial sensibility. These results suggest that measuring SEPs and SSEPs are meaningful methods for objective assessment in the diagnosis of nerve injury. N1 and N2 of SSEPs can be useful parameters for the evaluation of the nerve function following a needle injury.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2016

Although some mutations are beneficial and are the driving force behind evolution, it is important to maintain DNA integrity and stability because it contains genetic information. However, in the oxygen-rich environment we live in, the DNA molecule is under constant threat from endogenous or exogenous insults. DNA damage could trigger the DNA damage response (DDR), which involves DNA repair, the regulation of cell cycle checkpoints, and the induction of programmed cell death or senescence. Dysregulation of these physiological responses to DNA damage causes developmental defects, neurological defects, premature aging, infertility, immune system defects, and tumors in humans. Some human syndromes are characterized by unique neurological phenotypes including microcephaly, mental retardation, ataxia, neurodegeneration, and neuropathy, suggesting a direct link between genomic instability resulting from defective DDR and neuropathology. In this review, rare human genetic disorders related to abnormal DDR and damage repair with neural defects will be discussed.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.145-154
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• 2003

As the life-expectancy is ever-increasing, and the proportion of the elderly population is growing steadily in every society of the world, it is ever more important to establish what factors allow certain elderly people to age successfully and remain relatively independent while others grow old less successfully and require extensive intervention. However, there is no consensus yet as to what successful aging means. Researchers have defined successful aging in a variety of ways. This study attempted to define the concept of successful aging and to clarify some dimensions of it through literature review. Previous approaches of studying successful aging and related themes were examined. Early perspectives including activity, disengagement, and continuity theories, Selective Optimization with Compensation (SOC) model by Baltes and Baltes, three different conceptions of successful aging, that is, psychological well-being, physical health, and wisdom, and MacArthur research on successful aging have been reviewed for this study. The definition derived from the review is: Keeping up continuous developmental processes to achieve wisdom or ego-integrity, without suffering any major disabilities in either physical or mental functioning, while maintaining psychological well-being and employing SOC strategies, and participating in positive relationships with significant others. The dimensions of successful aging are 1) personal resources, including physical health, cognitive competences, self esteem, and social support 2) adaptation process of SOC, and 3) psychological aspects, including psychological well-being and wisdom.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.183-191
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• 2019

Some patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) present with cognitive dysfunctions. The pathophysiology underlying this complication is not well understood. Type 1 DM has been associated with a decrease in the speed of information processing, psychomotor efficiency, attention, mental flexibility, and visual perception. Longitudinal epidemiological studies of type 1 DM have indicated that chronic hyperglycemia and microvascular disease, rather than repeated severe hypoglycemia, are associated with the pathogenesis of DM-related cognitive dysfunction. However, severe hypoglycemic episodes may contribute to cognitive dysfunction in high-risk patients with DM. Type 2 DM has been associated with memory deficits, decreased psychomotor speed, and reduced frontal lobe/executive function. In type 2 DM, chronic hyperglycemia, long duration of DM, presence of vascular risk factors (e.g., hypertension and obesity), and microvascular and macrovascular complications are associated with the increased risk of developing cognitive dysfunction. The pathophysiology of cognitive dysfunction in individuals with DM include the following: (1) role of hyperglycemia, (2) role of vascular disease, (3) role of hypoglycemia, and (4) role of insulin resistance and amyloid. Recently, some investigators have proposed that type 3 DM is correlated to sporadic Alzheimer's disease. The molecular and biochemical consequences of insulin and insulin-like growth factor resistance in the brain compromise neuronal survival, energy production, gene expression, plasticity, and white matter integrity. If patients claim that their performance is worsening or if they ask about the effects of DM on functioning, screening and assessment are recommended.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.129-149
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• 1991

Circadian rhythm is entrained in the 24-hour time interval by periodic factors in the environment, known as zeitgeber. But most rotating work schedules are outside the range of the entrainment of the pacemaker timing the human circadian sleep - wake cycle. It has been postulated that physiological and emotional disturbances occur in most human functions when the circadian rhythm is disturbed. So application of circadian principles to the design of shift schedules can aid in maintaining the temporal integrity of the circadian system and thereby minimize for the shift worker any detrimental consequences of circadian disruption. This study was a quasi-experimental study to test the effect of shift intervals for the clinical nurse on the circadian rhythm. Twenty nurses newly employed in general units of two hospitals were selected as an experimental group and twelve college nursing students as a control group. Both groups were selected according to an established criteria using a purposive sampling technique. Ten subjects were assigned to a weekly shift group and another ten to a biweekly shift group engaged in a semi -continuous shift schedule(sunday off) with a backward direction, that is, morning -evening - night shift. The control group worked a morning shift for 42 days. Oral temperature rhythm, waking tim, sleep - wake cycle, fatigue, and mental performance were measured during the experimental period. The data collection period was from April 30, 1990 to June 10, 1990. MANOVA, paired t-test, ANOVA, and Student Newman Keuls method were used for statistical analysis. The results are summarized as follows. 1. Phase delay in the acrophase of temperature rhythm was shown according to the backward rotating shift. A complete adaptation to work on the night shift was achieved between the sixth and ninth day of the night shift. 2. There was no difference in either waking time or sleep- wake cycle according to the duration of the working day for every shift group. Significant difference was found in the waking time and the sleep -wake cycle for subjects on the morning, evening, and night shift in both of the shift groups(weekly shift group : λ＝0.121, p＜0.01, λ＝0.112, p＜0.01, biweekly shift group : λ＝0.116, p＜0.01, λ＝0.084, p＜0.01). 3. There was no difference in fatigue between the first working day and the last working day for the control group and for the biweekly shift group. In the weekly shift group, physical fatigue was significantly different for the first day and the sixth day of the night shift(t＝-2.28, p＜0.05). Physical fatigue and total fatigue on the first day of the night shift showed a significant difference among the control group, the weekly shift group, and the biweekly shift group(F＝5.79, p＜0.01, F＝4.56, p＜0.05). There was a significant difference between the shift groups and the control group(p＜0.05), Physical fatigue, neurosensory fatigue and total fatigue on the last day of the night shift showed a significant difference among the control group, the weekly shift group, and the biweekly shift group(F＝12.65, p＜0.01, F＝7.77, p＜0.01, F＝9.68, p＜0.01). There was a significant difference between the shift groups and the control group(p＜0.05). 4. No difference in mental performance was seen between the first day and the last day of work in each case. An arithmatic test on the first day of the night shift revealed a significant difference among the control group, the weekly shift group, and the biweekly shift group(F＝3.79, p＜0.05). There was a significant difference between the shift groups and the control group(p＜0.05) . The digital symbol substitution test and the arithmetic test on the last day of the night shift showed a significant difference among the control group, the weekly shift group, and the biweekly shift group(F＝3.68, p＜0.05, F＝5.55, p＜0.01), and both showed a significant difference between the shift groups and the control group(p＜0.05). Accordingly, this study showed that during night duty, the waking time, sleep- wake cycle, and fatigue increased and mental performance decreased compared with morning and evening duty. It was also found that the weekly shift group had a higher fatigue score on the sixth day of night duty as compared to the -first day, but the waking time, sleep- wake cycle, and mental performance revealed no difference for the duration of the night duty or between shift groups, and complete adaptation of temperature rhythm was achieved between the sixth and ninth day of night duty. It is possible to conclude from these results that for intermediate circadian type in a healthy young woman, a biweekly shift system is more compatible with the circadian timing system than weekly shift system.