Three isolates belonging to the ascomycetous genus Zygotorulaspora were obtained from the fruits of Cornus officinalis and Smilax china, and flowers of Dendranthema zawadskii var. latilobum in Gongju-si, Korea. Phylogenetic Analyses of the LSU D1/D2 domain and ITS region sequences supported the recognition of two new species: Zygotorulaspora cornina sp. nov. (type strain NIBRFGC000500475 = KACC93346PPP) and Zygotorulaspora smilacis sp. nov. (type strain NIBRFGC000500476 = KACC93347PPP). The two novel species revealed no growth on D-Galactose, unlike the other six species in the genus Zygotorulaspora. They are distinguished from each other by their phylogenetic differences and phenotypic characteristics such as assimilation of xylitol, 5-keto-D-gluconate, and ethanol. All species in the genus Zygotorulaspora including the two novel species have phenotypic traits of genus Zygotorulaspora: asci are persistent, sucrose and raffinose are assimilated, and m-inositol is not required for growth, and they are mainly associated with plants.

The genus Hypomyces contains fungi that grow on mushrooms, including agarics, boletes, and Aphyllophorales. While 53 Hypomyces species have been reported worldwide, only one was in Korea. In this study, two new Korean species were identified as H. luteovirens and H. tubariicola based on morphology and internal transcribed spacer sequencing.
Agar ; Agaricales ; Ascomycota* ; Fungi ; Korea* ; Polyporales

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The body composition changes in aging increased the risk of metabolic disorder. Recent dietary studies have increasingly focused on the correlations between dietary patterns and chronic diseases to overcome the limitations of traditional single-nutrient studies because nutrients in food have complex relations that interact. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This study was conducted to classify a dietary pattern among Korean elderly using cluster analysis and to explore the relationships between dietary patterns and body composition changes in Korean elderly aged 65 years or older. The study subjects (n = 1,435) were individuals who participated in the Korean National Health Examination and Nutrition Survey (KNHANES) in 2011. RESULTS: There were three dietary patterns derived by cluster analysis in this study: 'Traditional Korean' (37.49% of total population), 'Meat and Alcohol' (19.65%) and 'Westernized Korean' (42.86%). The (1) 'Traditional Korean' pattern was characterized by high consumptions of white rice and low protein, low fat, and low milk products, while (2) 'Westernized Korean' pattern ate a Korean-style diet base with various foods such as noodles, bread, eggs and milk, (3) 'Meat and Alcohol' pattern had high consumptions of meat and alcohol. In body composition changes, compared with the 'Traditional Korean' pattern, the 'Meat & alcohol' pattern was associated with a 50% increased risk of having elevated BMI (kg/m2), 'Westernized Korean' pattern was associated with a 74% increased abnormality of ASM/Wt (kg) by logistics analysis. Most of the Korean adult population continues to follow ether a traditional Korean having beneficial effects for successful aging. However, the 'Traditional Korean' pattern showed low protein intake (0.7 g/kg), calcium intake, and vitamin D intake as well as low of appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM (kg)) among 3 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the low ASM, consumption of protein, calcium and vitamin D should be increased for Korean elderly health body composition.
Adult ; Aged* ; Aging ; Body Composition* ; Bread ; Calcium ; Chronic Disease ; Classification* ; Diet ; Eggs ; Ether ; Humans ; Meat ; Milk ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Nutrition Surveys ; Organization and Administration ; Ovum ; Vitamin D

Awareness during general anesthesia occurs in approximately 0.1–0.2% of cases; nevertheless, particular attention is required because it can lead to critical complications including insomnia, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. To prevent these complications, bispectral index (BIS) and end-tidal anesthetic gas (ETAG) concentration monitoring are commonly used to examine patient consciousness during surgery. In the present case, an 80-year-old man was scheduled for total gastrectomy. Anesthesia was maintained using desflurane 4.0–5.0% vol, oxygen, and nitrous oxide. The authors simultaneously monitored BIS, which was maintained between 37 and 43, and ETAG, which was maintained between 0.9 and 1.2 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC). After the operation, however, the authors were surprised to learn that the patient complained of awareness during anesthesia. Although BIS and ETAG concentration monitoring are useful in preventing awareness during anesthesia, they cannot be completely trusted. Even though BIS was maintained at approximately 40 and ETAG at 0.7–1.3 MAC, awareness during anesthesia occurred.
Aged, 80 and over ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Anxiety ; Consciousness ; Consciousness Monitors ; Depression ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Intraoperative Awareness ; Nitrous Oxide ; Oxygen ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

Awareness during general anesthesia occurs in approximately 0.1–0.2% of cases; nevertheless, particular attention is required because it can lead to critical complications including insomnia, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. To prevent these complications, bispectral index (BIS) and end-tidal anesthetic gas (ETAG) concentration monitoring are commonly used to examine patient consciousness during surgery. In the present case, an 80-year-old man was scheduled for total gastrectomy. Anesthesia was maintained using desflurane 4.0–5.0% vol, oxygen, and nitrous oxide. The authors simultaneously monitored BIS, which was maintained between 37 and 43, and ETAG, which was maintained between 0.9 and 1.2 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC). After the operation, however, the authors were surprised to learn that the patient complained of awareness during anesthesia. Although BIS and ETAG concentration monitoring are useful in preventing awareness during anesthesia, they cannot be completely trusted. Even though BIS was maintained at approximately 40 and ETAG at 0.7–1.3 MAC, awareness during anesthesia occurred.

We made a mistake in presenting ORCID of Chorong Kim.

PURPOSE: Changes in eating habits and malnutrition due to dysphagia are important health problems for older adults. This study investigated the effects of an educational program aimed at improving diet quality in community-dwelling older adults at risk for dysphagia in South Korea. METHODS: We assessed 27 individuals in the experimental group and 26 individuals in the control group between September and October 2015. All participants were aged 65 years or older and were at risk for dysphagia. A combined diet and exercise program was applied to the experimental group (n = 27) for six weeks. We examined changes in participants' eating habits and their knowledge and attitudes concerning dysphagia risk. The nutrition intake of all participants was measured before and after the intervention using 24-hr dietary recall. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in knowledge of dysphagia risk in the experimental group, with scores increasing from 3.7 to 7.1, out of 10 points (p < 0.001). There were also significant improvements in eating habits after the intervention in the experimental group, with scores increasing from 21.9 to 28.3, out of 36 points (p < 0.001). The attitude score of participants in the experimental group increased significantly, from 15.2 to 16.7, out of 20 points (p = 0.016). CONCLUSION: Developing educational programs can help older adults living in the community lead a healthier lifestyle and improve their ability to manage their diet.
Adult* ; Deglutition Disorders* ; Diet ; Eating ; Humans ; Korea* ; Life Style ; Malnutrition

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to develop computerized attention tasks using smart devices for preschool aged children for assessment of auditory attention, visual attention, and attention shifting abilities. We then evaluated their construct and concurrent validity of them. METHODS: Sixty-seven 5- to 7-year-old children attending kindergarten were recruited. Newly developed computerized attention tasks and existing standardized attention tests such as Advanced Test of Attention (ATA) and Children's Color Trails Test-2 (CCTT-2) were successively administered. To examine the concurrent validity of these tasks, correlation coefficients between the participants' scores on the newly developed tasks and the scores on well-known measures were calculated for assessment of each component construct. We also examined the construct validity of the tasks using the developmental trend of the auditory attention, visual attention, and attention shifting abilities with age. RESULTS: Significant correlations were observed between the scores of computerized attention tasks using smart devices and corresponding scores of ATA-auditory task, visual task, and CCTT-2. And there were significant linear increasing trends of correct scores with age from 5 to 7 years. CONCLUSION: This study provides promising evidence for the utility of computerized attention tasks using smart devices for preschool-aged children.
Child* ; Humans

Despite the potential importance of the human regulator of calcineurin 1 (RCAN-1) gene in the modulation of cell survival under stress, little is known about its role in death-inducing signal pathways. In this study, we addressed the effects of RCAN1.4 knockdown on cellular susceptibility to apoptosis and the activation of death pathway proteins. Transfection of siRNAs against RCAN1.4 resulted in enhanced Fas- and etoposide-induced apoptosis, which was associated with increased expression and translocation of Bax to mitochondria. Our results suggest that enhanced expression and activation of p53 was responsible for the upregulation of Bax and the increased sensitivity to apoptosis, which could be reversed by p53 knockdown. To explain the observed upregulation of p53, we propose a downregulation of the ubiquitin ligase HDM2, probably translationally. These findings show the importance of appropriate RCAN1.4 expression in the modulation of cell survival and reveal a link between RCAN1.4 and p53.
Aluminum Hydroxide ; Apoptosis ; Calcineurin ; Carbonates ; Cell Survival ; Down-Regulation ; Humans ; Mitochondria ; Proteins ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Signal Transduction ; Transfection ; Ubiquitin ; Up-Regulation

Background: Clinical specimens are valuable materials that require a traceable management system. Maintenance of temperature and loss prevention during transport are important for the reliability of the clinical test results. Current transportation systems can suffer from temperature changes and agitation. Quality improvement in this pre-analytic phase is required. This study acquired preliminary data from a newly developed specimen transportation system adopting a real-time temperature monitoring during transportation using temperature sensor and global positioning system to establish appropriate guidelines. Methods: Temperature preservation performance was compared between two transportation boxes (newly developed one [A] and conventional one [B]) at exterior temperatures of 35℃ and ?18℃, reflecting the extreme temperature range in Korea. Influences of the temperatures on analytical results of whole blood, serum, plasma, and urine specimens were investigated, as were the effects of vibration. Results: The interior temperature of box A measured at multiple sites was maintained within 1.0?9.0℃ at both exterior temperatures. The interior temperature of box B was outside of this range. The analyzed parameters varied comparably with the variations occurring at the recommended and published storage temperature. Vibration affected nonspecific enolase and lactate dehydrogenase. Conclusions Temperature preservation and real-time monitoring during specimen transportation are important. The present data highlight the importance of transportation conditions and indicate that laboratories should know the characteristics of temperature changes in their transportation system.