• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제46권5호
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• pp.657-665
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• 2022

Background: Sarcopenia is a new and emerging risk factor aggravating the quality of life of elderly population. Because Korean Red Ginseng (RG) is known to have a great effect on relieving fatigue and enhancing physical performance, it is invaluable to examine its potential as an anti-sarcopenic drug. Methods: Anti-sarcopenic effect of non-saponin fraction of Korean Red Ginseng (RGNS) was evaluated in C2C12 myoblasts treated with C2-ceramide to induce senescence phenotypes, and 22-month-old mice fed with chow diet containing 2% RGNS (w/w) for 4 further months. Results: The RGNS treatment significantly alleviated cellular senescence indicated by intracellular lipid accumulation, increased amount of lysosomal β-galactosidase, and reduced proliferative capacity in C2C12 myoblasts. This effect was not observed with saponin fraction. In an aged mouse, the 4-month-RGNS diet significantly improved aging-associated loss of muscle mass and strength, assessed by the weights of hindlimb skeletal muscles such as tibialis anterior (TA), extensor digitorum longus (EDL), gastrocnemius (GN) and soleus (SOL), and the cross-sectional area (CSA) of SOL muscle, and the behaviors in grip strength and hanging wire tests, respectively. During the same period, an aging-associated shift of fast-to slow-twitch muscle in SOL muscle was also retarded by the RGNS treatment. Conclusions: These findings suggested that the long-term diet of RGNS significantly prevented aging-associated muscle atrophy and reduced physical performance, and thus RGNS has a strong potential to be developed as a drug that prevents or improves sarcopenia.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제45권6호
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• pp.744-753
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• 2021

Background: Gintonin-enriched fraction (GEF) is a new non-saponin component glycolipoprotein isolated from ginseng root. This study examined the effect of GEF on age-related sarcopenia in old C57BL/6J mice. Methods: Young (3-6 months) and old (20-24 months) C57BL/6J mice received oral GEF (50 mg/kg/day or 150 mg/kg/day) daily for 5 weeks. During the oral administration period, body weight and grip strength were measured weekly. After sacrifice, muscles from the hindlimb were excised and used for hematoxylin and eosin staining and western blotting to determine the effects of GEF on sarcopenia. The thymus was photographed to compare size, and flow cytometry was performed to examine the effect of GEF on immune homeostasis in the thymus and spleen. Blood samples were collected, and the concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines and IGF-1 were measured. Results: GEF caused a significant increase in muscle strength, mass, and fiber size in old mice. GEF restored age-related disruption of immune homeostasis by maintaining T cell compartments and regulating inflammatory biomarkers. Thus, GEF reduced common low-grade chronic inflammatory parameters, which are the main cause of muscle loss. Conclusion: GEF maintained immune homeostasis and inhibited markers of chronic inflammation, resulting in anti-sarcopenia effects in aged C57BL/6J mice. Thus, GEF is a potential therapeutic agent that slows sarcopenia in the elderly.

• 한국임상약학회지
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• 제32권3호
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• pp.260-269
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• 2022

Background: Comprehensive medication management is essential to achieve safe and optimal drug use for the elderly in long-term care facilities (LTCF). This study aimed to develop eligibility criteria for "Comprehensive medication management program in LTCF" using the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method (RAM). Furthermore, we attempted to estimate the number of beneficiaries who met the criteria by analyzing the National Health Insurance claims data. Methods: Twelve criteria were selected initially. We composed a panel of 14 experts with expertise in long-term care. We conducted two survey rounds to reach a consensus. Rating for appropriateness and decision regarding agreement were applied per RAM. We analyzed the National Health Insurance data to estimate the number of LTCF residents who met each eligibility criterion. Results: Of the 11 items agreed upon, ten items were determined to be appropriate. In 2018, 83.6% of 165,994 residents of LTCF met one or more eligibility criteria. The largest number of subjects met the "New residents of LTCF" criterion, followed by "Take high-alert drugs" and "Chronic excessive polypharmacy." Since the items evaluated as most appropriate by the expert panel and those with a large number of subjects were similar, we confirmed the external validity of our criteria. Conclusion: It is worth noting that this is the first attempt to establish the eligibility criteria for medication management in LTCF. Further preliminary research is needed to identify the selected subjects' drug-related problems and revise the criteria according to the results.

• 한국정보시스템학회지:정보시스템연구
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.47-65
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• 2022

Purpose With the recent development of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence technology, self-driving technology has developed into three stages (partial self-driving) or four stages (conditional self-driving), it is expected to bring a new paradigm to transportation in the city. Although many researchers are researching related technologies, there is no research on self-driving for disabled persons. In this study, the basic research was conducted based on the assumption that the shared self-driving car used by the disabled person is similar to the special transportation currently driving. Design In this study, data analysis and machine learning techniques were utilized to analyze the mobility patterns of disabled persons by type and to search for leading factors affecting the traffic volume of special transportation. Findings The study found that external physical disorders and developmental disorders often visit general welfare centers, internal organ disorders often visit general hospitals, and the elderly and mental disorders have various destinations. In addition, machine learning analysis showed that the main transportation routes for the disabled person use arterial roads and auxiliary arterial roads and that the ratio of building usage-related variables affecting the use of special transportation for a disabled person is high. In addition, the distance to the subway and bus stops was also mentioned as a meaningful variable. Based on these analysis results, it is expected that the necessary infrastructure for shared self-driving cars for disability person traffic will be used as meaningful research data in the future.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제46권7호
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• pp.420-429
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• 2023

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of blindness in elderly individuals. However, the currently used intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor are invasive, and repetitive injections are also accompanied by a risk of intraocular infection. The pathogenic mechanism of AMD is still not completely understood, but a multifactorial mechanism that combines genetic predisposition and environmental factors, including cellular senescence, has been suggested. Cellular senescence refers to the accumulation of cells that stop dividing due to the presence of free radicals and DNA damage. Characteristics of senescent cells include nuclear hypertrophy, increased levels of cell cycle inhibitors such as p16 and p21, and resistance to apoptosis. Senolytic drugs remove senescent cells by targeting the main characteristics of these cells. One of the senolytic drugs, ABT-263, which inhibits the antiapoptotic functions of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, may be a new treatment for AMD patients because it targets senescent retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. We proved that it selectively kills doxorubicin (Dox)-induced senescent ARPE-19 cells by activating apoptosis. By removing senescent cells, the expression of inflammatory cytokines was reduced, and the proliferation of the remaining cells was increased. When ABT-263 was orally administered to the mouse model of senescent RPE cells induced by Dox, we confirmed that senescent RPE cells were selectively removed and retinal degeneration was alleviated. Therefore, we suggest that ABT-263, which removes senescent RPE cells through its senolytic effect, has the potential to be the first orally administered senolytic drug for the treatment of AMD.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.103-108
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• 2022

In 2021,the incidence of newly notified tuberculosis in Jeju Province decreased by 23.0% compared to that in the previous year. This was the largest decline among the 18 municipalities studied. This study aimed to examine trends in the incidence of tuberculosis among different age and sex groups in Jeju Province between 2017 and 2021. This study observed the number of new cases in the annual report from 2017 to 2021, published by the Jeju Center for Infectious Diseases Control and Prevention. The average annual percentage change (AAPC; %) was calculated to determine the trend in crude incidence rates over the past 5 years by sex and age. While a P-value of <0.1 was considered marginally significant, aP-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. The AAPC of all age groups in Jeju Province had negative values. In men,there was a statistically significant decrease in ages 30-34, 40-44, 45-49, and 50-54 years and a marginally significant decrease in ages 35-59, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 75-79, and ≥80 years. In women, a statistically significant decrease was observed among patients aged 30-34, 35-39, and ≥80 years, and a marginally significant decrease was observed among patients aged 45-49, 50-54, 60-64, 65-69, and 75-79 years. A statistically significant decrease in tuberculosis was observed among patients in their 30s and 40s, and elderly patients aged ≥80 years comprised the group vulnerable to tuberculosis. Based on these findings, tuberculosis prevention and screening programs conducted in Jeju Province were effective.

• 대한의료기공학회지
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.28-71
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• 2023

Objective : From March 2018 to July 2022, H Korean Medicine Hospital conducted a guidance on Gigong training using the Moosim Gigong Doinbeop and Moosim Gigong Walking. This report intends to report the results and share the specific methods of a guidance on Gigong training used in the process of implementation, thereby helping the research of a guidance on Gigong training later. Methods : The methods and results of the implementation of Moosim Gigong Doinbeop and Moosim Gigong Walking implemented by H Korean Medicine Hospital were reported. For the movements of Doinbeop, the posture and movements, the precautions to be taken when guiding, the alternative movements, and the meaning of the movements were summarized. For Moosim Gigong Walking, the method of progress, the method of motion, precautions to be taken, and replaceable movements were summarized. The method of implementing the guidance on Gigong training for severely ill and elderly patients was introduced. The application cases that were applied to some diseases and effective were recorded. Results : At H Korean Medicine Hospital, Moosim Gigong Doinbeop and Moosim Gigong Walking were conducted in the form of an open lecture, and 4,682 patients attended the Doinbeop class and 3,373 patients attended the Walking class. There is no restriction on the type of disease of the participating patients. The attending physician recommends and the patient wishes, the patient participates in the course. Conclusions : Curing technology is a long-standing treatment method of Korean Medicine, but it has not yet been activated in the modern Korean Medicine system. Research on the guidance on Gigong training can be conducted to establish itself as a new treatment method for Korean Medicine.

• 한국노년학
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.935-951
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• 2009

이 논문은 노인교육에 대한 정부의 정책지원이 이루어진 시점부터 현재까지, 그 전개과정과 특징을 확인하는 것을 목적으로 한다. 이는 기존 노인교육정책 관련 연구들이 현재의 정책현황에 대한 상황기술과 이를 바탕으로 한 향후제언 성격의 담론 논의에 중심을 둠에 따라, 현재의 모습으로 발현되기까지의 정책과정에 대한 분석이 소홀히 다루어진 것에 대한 문제의식에서 출발한다. 연구자는 '한국노인교육정책은 어떻게 진행되었는가'라는 질문을 제기하며, 관련 문서에 기초하여 정책의 전개 과정과 특징을 찾는데 주목하였다. 분석을 통해 노인교육에 대한 정책지원은 1970년대 후반 새마을운동의 대중화를 위한 국민교육의 일환으로 시작·강화되었고, 현재에는 노인 인적자원양성을 위한 정책 지원으로 이어지고 있음을 확인할 수 있었다. 이 과정에서 시기에 따라 정부의 정책지원은 그 목표와 대상, 그리고 지원체계가 변화되는 특징을 보인다. 또한 1990년대 후반 다각적으로 수립된 노인교육정책들은 대부분 집행으로 이어지지 못하고, 정책 수립과 집행 사이의 상당한 불일치를 보여주고 있음을 확인할 수 있었다.

• 한국노년학
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• 제30권4호
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• pp.1377-1392
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• 2010

본 연구는 농촌여성노인들이 체험하는 여가생활의 의미와 본질이 무엇인지 이해하고, 그들의 삶의 과정에 있어서 여가생활이 어떤 영향과 의미를 주는지 밝혀내어 건강과 관련된 간호중재 개발을 위한 기초자료를 제공하는데 목적을 두고 있다. 연구방법은 질적연구방법으로 van Manen의 해석학적 현상학적 분석방법을 사용하였다. 그 결과 농촌여성노인이 체험하는 여가생활은 '어울림을 통해 외로움 극복하기', '몸을 활용해 심신(心身)의 조화 이루기', '내 힘으로 자식(子息)의 짐 덜어주기', '무료한 세월보내기', '소소한 즐거움 찾기', '새로운 것을 익히며 뿌듯함 얻기', '세상과 소통하며 살아가기' 등의 7개의 본질적 주제를 도출하였다. 농촌여성노인이 체험하는 여가생활은 자연과 동화되면서, 건강과 사회관계를 유지하는 것으로 나타났다. 또한 농촌의 사회·경제적 특성으로 인한 외로움과 소외감 등을 연배노인들과 어울리며, 이를 극복하기 위한 시간임을 확인할 수 있었다.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제57권3호
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• pp.255-262
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• 2024

Background: Sutureless aortic valves may enable shorter procedure times, which benefits patients with elevated surgical risk. We describe the outcomes of patients with aortic stenosis who underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR) using the sutureless Perceval aortic bioprosthesis. Methods: Data from a retrospective cohort were obtained from a clinical database. The study enrolled patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis who underwent surgical AVR with a sutureless bioprosthesis between August 2015 and December 2020. In total, 113 patients were included (mean age, 75.3±8.4 years; 57.5% women; median Society of Thoracic Surgeons score, 9.7%; mean follow-up period, 51.19±20.6 months). Of these patients, 41 were octogenarians (36.2%) and 3 were nonagenarians (2.6%). Transthoracic echocardiography was employed to assess changes in ejection fraction (EF), left ventricular mass index (LVMI), and mean pressure gradient (MPG). Results: The in-hospital mortality rate was 2.6%, and 13 patients developed new-onset atrial fibrillation. A permanent pacemaker was implanted in 3 patients (2.6%). The median intensive care unit stay was 1 day (interquartile range [IQR], 1-2 days), and the median hospital stay was 12 days (IQR, 9.5-15 days). The overall survival rate at 5 years was 95.9%. LVMI and MPG were reduced postoperatively, while EF increased over the follow-up period. No structural valve deterioration was observed, and no meaningful paravalvular leakage developed during follow-up. Conclusion: The use of a sutureless valve in the aortic position is safe and feasible, even for high-risk elderly patients requiring surgical AVR. LVMI and MPG decreased postoperatively, while EF increased over the follow-up period.