• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.4
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• pp.76-85
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• 1997

In modern society, the human average life span has been prolonged due to medical benefits and changes in society, which results in the rapid and world -wide increase in the population of elderly. Consequently, the field of nursing science, as well as the field of many other discipline, has shown increasing interests in issues on the elderly. In addition, to improve the quality of life for elderiy people a great deal of effort has been made. The purpose of our study is to analyze the correlation between family support and quality of life in order to develop basic data for nursing interventions to maintain life satisfaction of the elderly. The sample consists of 108 subjects residing at home whose ages are over 65 years old. The data has been collected, from November 11, 1996 to November 23, 1996, through interviewing the elderly using a questionnarie. For the family supoort we used two: 1) the 5 - point Likert scale questionnarie developed by Gallo and Warren (Family support I) and 2) the 5-point Likert scale developed by H. S. Kang(Family support II), and for the quality of life we used the 3 - point likert scale questionnarie developed by Choi, Young Hee. For data analysis we used percentages, means, Pearson Correlation Coefficient and ANOVA. The results of our study are as follows: 1. For perceived family support I & II, the minimum score is 12 & 19, the maximum score is 32 & 46, the mean score is 24.49 & 34.90, respectively. 2. For Quality of life, the minimum score is 13, the maximum score is 39, the mean score is 28.61. 3. there is a very strong correlation between the perceived family support of the subjects and Quality of life (for I r=0.35047, p<.001 and for II r= 0.60558, p<.001). 4. The relationship between the general characteristics of the elderly and our two variables. family support and Quality of life, is as follows: 1) According to age(for II F=5.32, p<.01), the amount of monthly pocket money(for II F= 3.52, p<.05), inmate(for I F=2.93, p<.05, for II F=2.84, p<.05), economics(for I F=8.99, p<.01. for II F=7.51. p<.01), supporter(for I F=4.01. p<.01. for II F=3.43, p<.01), there is a statistically significant difference in family support. 2) According to the amount of monthly pocket money(F=6.69, p<.01), inmate(F=2.24, p<.05), economics(F=15.38, p<.01), there is a statistically significant difference in Quality of life. In conclusion, it can be said that the family support is an important variable to the Quality of the elderly life.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.288-298
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• 2016

Resveratrol acts as a free radical scavenger and a potent antioxidant in the inhibition of numerous reactive oxygen species (ROS). The function of resveratrol and resveratrol-loaded nanoparticles in protecting human lung cancer cells (A549) against hydrogen peroxide was investigated in this study. The 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) assay was performed to evaluate the antioxidant properties. Resveratrol had substantially high antioxidant capacity (trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity value) compared to trolox and vitamin E since the concentration of resveratrol was more than $50{\mu}M$. Nanoparticles prepared from ${\beta}$-lactoglobulin (${\beta}$-lg) were successfully developed. The ${\beta}$-lg nanoparticle showed 60 to 146 nm diameter in size with negatively charged surface. Non-cytotoxicity was observed in Caco-2 cells treated with ${\beta}$-lg nanoparticles. Fluorescein isothiocynate-conjugated ${\beta}$-lg nanoparticles were identified into the cell membrane of Caco-2 cells, indicating that nanoparticles can be used as a delivery system. Hydrogen peroxide caused accumulation of ROS in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Resveratrol-loaded nanoparticles restored $H_2O_2$-induced ROS levels by induction of cellular uptake of resveratrol in A549 cells. Furthermore, resveratrol activated nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2-Kelch ECH associating protein 1 (Nrf2-Keap1) signaling in A549 cells, thereby accumulation of Nrf2 abundance, as demonstrated by western blotting approach. Overall, these results may have implications for improvement of oxidative stress in treatment with nanoparticles as a biodegradable and non-toxic delivery carrier of bioactive compounds.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.11
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• pp.763-772
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• 2019

Periodontitis is characterized by the loss of periodontal tissues, especially alveolar bone. Common therapies cannot satisfactorily recover lost alveolar bone. Periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) possess the capacity of self-renewal and multilineage differentiation and are likely to recover lost alveolar bone. In addition, periodontitis is accompanied by hypoxia, and hypoxia-inducible $factor-1{\alpha}$ ($HIF-1{\alpha}$) is a master transcription factor in the response to hypoxia. Thus, we aimed to ascertain how hypoxia affects runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), a key osteogenic marker, in the osteogenesis of PDLSCs. In this study, we found that hypoxia enhanced the protein expression of $HIF-1{\alpha}$, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and RUNX2 ex vivo and in situ. VEGF is a target gene of $HIF-1{\alpha}$, and the increased expression of VEGF and RUNX2 proteins was enhanced by cobalt chloride ($CoCl_2$, $100{\mu}mol/L$), an agonist of $HIF-1{\alpha}$, and suppressed by 3-(5'-hydroxymethyl-2'-furyl)-1-benzyl indazole (YC-1, $10{\mu}mol/L$), an antagonist of $HIF-1{\alpha}$. In addition, VEGF could regulate the expression of RUNX2, as RUNX2 expression was enhanced by human VEGF ($hVEGF_{165}$) and suppressed by VEGF siRNA. In addition, knocking down VEGF could decrease the expression of osteogenesis-related genes, i.e., RUNX2, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and type I collagen (COL1), and hypoxia could enhance the expression of ALP, COL1, and osteocalcin (OCN) in the early stage of osteogenesis of PDLSCs. Taken together, our results showed that hypoxia could mediate the expression of RUNX2 in PDLSCs via $HIF-1{\alpha}$-induced VEGF and play a positive role in the early stage of osteogenesis of PDLSCs.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.239-252
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• 2021

Objectives : This study is to effect of improving muscle atrophy through water extract on the solid-phase fermentation extraction with Phellinus linteus of discarded Schisandra chinensis in an atorvastatin-induced atrophy C2C12 cell. Methods : C2C12 myoblast were differentiated into myotube by 2% horse serum medium for 6 days, and then treated solid-phase fermentation(S-P) extract at different concentrations for 24h. To investigate the effect of S-P extract on the induction of muscle atrophy and expression of atrophy-related genes and apoptosis in differentiated C2C12 myotubes using a GSH, ROS, real-time PCR, western blots analysis. Results : As a result of treatment with atorvastatin at concentrations of 5, 10, and 20 uM on the 6th day of differentiation in C2C12 myotube cells, it was confirmed that the cell morphology was damaged in a concentration-dependent manner, and the length and thickness of the myotube also decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. Treatment with S-P extract (50, 100 and 200 ㎍/㎖) increased of GSH and inhibited ROS in the atorvastatin-induced muscle atrophy cell model at a concentration that did not induce toxicity. In addition, it was confirmed that it has an effect on muscle reduction by inhibiting apoptosis of muscle cells as well as being involved in protein production and degradation of muscle cells. Conclusions : Atorvastatin-induced atrophy C2C12 cell, S-P extract activates related to differentiation/generation and proteolysis, and inhibits cell death of atrophy in C2C12 cell. Based on this, it is necessary to prove its effectiveness through animal models and human application test, but it is considered to be discarded Schisandra chinensis can present the potential for development as a recycling industrial material.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.12
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• pp.899-906
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• 2014

Prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) promotes tumor-persistent inflammation, frequently resulting in cancer. Curcumin is a diphenolic turmeric that inhibits carcinogenesis and induces apoptosis. $PGE_2$ inhibits curcumin-induced apoptosis; however, the underlying inhibitory mechanisms in colon cancer cells remain unknown. The aim of the present study is to investigate the survival role of $PGE_2$ and whether addition of exogenous $PGE_2$ affects curcumininduced cell death. HCT-15 cells were treated with curcumin and $PGE_2$, and protein expression levels were investigated via Western blot. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, lipid peroxidation, and intracellular glutathione (GSH) levels were confirmed using specific dyes. The nuclear factor-kappa B ($NF-{\kappa}B$) DNA-binding was measured by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). $PGE_2$ inhibited curcumin-induced apoptosis by suppressing oxidative stress and degradation of PARP and lamin B. However, exposure of cells to the EP2 receptor antagonist, AH6809, and the PKA inhibitor, H89, before treatment with $PGE_2$ or curcumin abolished the protective effect of $PGE_2$ and enhanced curcumin-induced cell death. $PGE_2$ activates PKA, which is required for cAMP-mediated transcriptional activation of CREB. $PGE_2$ also activated the Ras/Raf/Erk pathway, and pretreatment with PD98059 abolished the protective effect of $PGE_2$. Furthermore, curcumin treatment greatly reduced phosphorylation of CREB, followed by a concomitant reduction of $NF-{\kappa}B$ (p50 and p65) subunit activation. $PGE_2$ markedly activated nuclear translocation of $NF-{\kappa}B$. EMSA confirmed the DNA-binding activities of $NF-{\kappa}B$ subunits. These results suggest that inhibition of curcumin-induced apoptosis by $PGE_2$ through activation of PKA, Ras, and $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling pathways may provide a molecular basis for the reversal of curcumin-induced colon carcinoma cell death.

• Progress in Superconductivity
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.50-54
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• 2003

We have fabricated $∂^2$$B_{z}$ /$∂x^2$ type planar gradiometers and studied their properties in operation under various field conditions. $YBa_2$$Cu_3$$O_{7}$ film was deposited on $SrTiO_3$ (100) substrate by a pulsed laser deposition (PLD) system and patterned into a device by the photolithography with ion milling technique. The device consists of 3 pickup loops designed symmetrically Inner dimension and the width of the square side loops are 3.6 mm and 1.2 mm, respectively, and the corresponding dimensions of the center loop are 2.0 mm and 1.13 mm. The length of baseline gradiometer is 5.8 mm. Step-edge junction width is 3.0 $\mu\textrm{m}$ and the hole size of the SQUID loop is 3 $\mu\textrm{m}$ ${\times}$ 52 $\mu\textrm{m}$. The SQUID inductance is estimated to be 35 pH. The device was formed on a 20 mm ${\times}$ 10 mm substrate. We have tested the behavior of the device in various field conditions. The unshielded gradiometer was stable under extremely hostile conditions on a laboratory bench. Noise level 0.45 pT/$\textrm{cm}^2$/(equation omitted)Hz and 0.84 pT/$\textrm{cm}^2$/(equation omitted)Hz at 1 Hz for the shielded and the unshielded cases, which correspond to equivalent field noises of 150 fT/(equation omitted)Hz and 280 fT/(equation omitted)Hz, respectively. In spite of the short baseline of 5.8 mm, the high common-mode-rejection-ratio of the gradiometer, $10^3$, allowed us to successfully record magnetocardiogram of a human subject, which demonstrates the feasibility of the design in biomagnetic studies.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.57-66
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• 1982

This study was undertaken to delineate the relationship between numerical score and the amount of nursing hours required in the nursing process. Score was a numerical description of the patients functional nursing needs. Therefore this study focused on standard nursing hours required by patient's self-care status. This study observed the 62 patients and 15 R.N. in H. university hospital from Aug. 7, 1982 to Aug. 13, 1982. 1. For the first time, each head nurse assessed self-care status by Schoening's self-care score-Minimal care patient (self-care score: 23, 24) was placed in Group Ⅰ, intermediate care patient (self-care score: 11∼22) was Group Ⅱ, and special care score: 0∼10) was Group Ⅲ. 2. We observed and recorded the nursing care received from nurses according to patient's group. (8AM∼4PM) 3. And, We observed and recorded the activities of nurses in order to determine standard nursing hours required. (8AM∼4PM) 4. If we apply the content of paragraph 3 to paragraph 2, we will predict the number of patient that nurse can care during day time by self-care status. The following results were obtained: 1) Patient's mean self-care score were Group I : 23.9 score Group Ⅱ：17.8 score Group Ⅲ : 1.6 score 2) Nursing hours required by patient's physical function(self-care status) status were Group I : 35 min. Group Ⅱ: 47.5 min. Group Ⅲ : 104.6 min. 3) Nurse's nursing time and distribution required in nursing activities during day duty were A.D.L. : 84.3min. (17.56％) Functional nursing activities : 279.9min. (58.31 ％) Education ＆ Emotional support : 11.3min. (2.35%) Task unrelated patients : 54min. (11.25%) Non Productive nursing care : 50. 5min. (10.52％) 4) Mean nursing hours required by each patient and the number of patient that nurse can rare during day duty by self-care status were Group I : 38.6min. 11.1 patients/1 nurse Group Ⅱ : 51.1min: 8.4 patients/1 nurse Group Ⅲ： 108.2min. 4 patients/1 nurse It seems reasonable that this could be done effectively as each-unit has an established standard for hours required, This not only allows time for planning of staff but helps to avoid the very human inclination to predict excessive staffing requirements by placing the majority of patients in high care group.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.22.1-22.25
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• 2022

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndromecoronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), has spread over the world causing a pandemic which is still ongoing since its emergence in late 2019. A great amount of effort has been devoted to understanding the pathogenesis of COVID-19 with the hope of developing better therapeutic strategies. Transcriptome analysis using technologies such as RNA sequencing became a commonly used approach in study of host immune responses to SARS-CoV-2. Although substantial amount of information can be gathered from transcriptome analysis, different analysis tools used in these studies may lead to conclusions that differ dramatically from each other. Here, we re-analyzed four RNA-sequencing datasets of COVID-19 samples including human bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, nasopharyngeal swabs, lung biopsy and hACE2 transgenic mice using the same standardized method. The results showed that common features of COVID-19 include upregulation of chemokines including CCL2, CXCL1, and CXCL10, inflammatory cytokine IL-1β and alarmin S100A8/S100A9, which are associated with dysregulated innate immunity marked by abundant neutrophil and mast cell accumulation. Downregulation of chemokine receptor genes that are associated with impaired adaptive immunity such as lymphopenia is another common feather of COVID-19 observed. In addition, a few interferon-stimulated genes but no type I IFN genes were identified to be enriched in COVID-19 samples compared to their respective control in these datasets. These features are in line with results from single-cell RNA sequencing studies in the field. Therefore, our re-analysis of the RNA-seq datasets revealed common features of dysregulated immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 and shed light to the pathogenesis of COVID-19.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.143-148
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• 2006

Finasteride $[N-(1, 1-dimethylethyl)-3-oxo-4-aza-5{\alpha}-androst-1-ene-17{\beta}-carboxamide]$ is a 4-aza-3-oxosteroidal inhibitor of human $5{\alpha}-reductase$. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the bioequivalence of two finasteride tablets, $Proscar^{\circledR}$ (MSD Korea Ltd.) and Procare (Hana Pharm. Co., Ltd.), according to the guidelines of the Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). The release of finasteride from the two finasteride formulations in vitro was tested using KP VIII Apparatus II method with various dissolution media (pH 1.2, 4.0, 6.8 buffer solution and water). Twenty six healthy male subjects, $23.7\;{\pm}\;2.24$ years in age and $67.2\;{\pm}\;8.55\;kg$ in body weight, were divided into two groups and a randomized $2\;{\time}\;2$ cross-over study was employed. After two tablets containing 5 mg as finasteride was orally administered, blood samples were taken at predetermined time intervals and the concentrations of finasteride in serum were determined using HPLC with UV detector. The dissolution profiles of two formulations were similar in all tested dissolution media. The pharmacokinetic parameters such as $AUC_t,\;C_{max},\;and\;T_{max}$ were calculated and ANOVA test was utilized for the statistical analysis of the parameters using logarithmically transformed $AUC_t,\;C_{max}$ and untransformed $T_{max}$. The results showed that the differences between two formulations based on the reference drug, $Proscar^{\circledR}$, were 6.39, 4.65 and -13.9% for $AUC_t,\;C_{max},\;and\;T_{max},$ respectively. There were no sequence effects between two formulations in these parameters. The 90% confidence intervals using logarithmically transformed data were within the acceptance range of log 0.800 to log 1.25 $(e.g.,\;log\;0.990{\sim}log\;1.14\;and\;log\;0.977{\sim}log\;1.13 for\;AUC_t\;and\;C_{max},\;respectively)$. Thus, the criteria of the KFDA bioequivalence guideline were satisfied, indicating Procare tablet was bioequivalent to $Proscar^{\circledR}$ tablet.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.392-402
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• 2017

Background: Previously, we reported that Korean Red Ginseng inhibited liver fibrosis in mice and reduced the expressions of fibrogenic genes in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). The present study was undertaken to identify the major ginsenoside responsible for reducing the numbers of HSCs and the underlying mechanism involved. Methods: Using LX-2 cells (a human immortalized HSC line) and primary activated HSCs, MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide) assays were conducted to examine the cytotoxic effects of ginsenosides. $H_2O_2$ productions, glutathione contents, lactate dehydrogenase activities, mitochondrial membrane permeabilities, apoptotic cell subpopulations, caspase-3/-7 activities, transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining, and immunoblot analysis were performed to elucidate the molecular mechanism responsible for ginsenoside-mediated cytotoxicity. Involvement of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-related signaling pathway was examined using a chemical inhibitor and small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection. Results and conclusion: Of the 11 ginsenosides tested, 20S-protopanaxadiol (PPD) showed the most potent cytotoxic activity in both LX-2 cells and primary activated HSCs. Oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis induced by 20S-PPD was blocked by N-acetyl-$\text\tiny L$-cysteine pretreatment. In addition, 20S-PPD concentration-dependently increased the phosphorylation of AMPK, and compound C prevented 20S-PPD-induced cytotoxicity and mitochondrial dysfunction. Moreover, 20S-PPD increased the phosphorylation of liver kinase B1 (LKB1), an upstream kinase of AMPK. Likewise, transfection of LX-2 cells with LKB1 siRNA reduced the cytotoxic effect of 20S-PPD. Thus, 20S-PPD appears to induce HSC apoptosis by activating LKB1-AMPK and to be a therapeutic candidate for the prevention or treatment of liver fibrosis.