Purpose: This study aimed to explore the relationship between grit and work engagement among millennial and Generation Z (MZ generation) nurses, as well as the moderating effect of work friendships on this relationship. Methods: The study included 191 MZ generation nurses with over six months of experience, surveyed via a self-administered questionnaire at four general hospitals in Daejeon and Seoul from December 2020 to February 2021. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson’s correlation analysis, and hierarchical multiple regression were used to analyze the collected data. The PROCESS macro program with bootstrapping was employed to evaluate the significance of mediating effects. Results: Work friendships partially mediated the association between grit and work engagement, with an explanatory power of 29.9%. The significance of the indirect mediating effect using bootstrapping analysis indicated an effect size of 0.33, a lower limit confidence interval of 0.17, and an upper limit confidence interval of 0.52, which was significant as it did not include Zero. Conclusion Developing a program to improve grit is necessary to increase the work engagement of MZ generation nurses, and establishing and implementing a program to improve work friendships, along with education for individual nurses, is crucial.

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the relationship between grit and work engagement among millennial and Generation Z (MZ generation) nurses, as well as the moderating effect of work friendships on this relationship. Methods: The study included 191 MZ generation nurses with over six months of experience, surveyed via a self-administered questionnaire at four general hospitals in Daejeon and Seoul from December 2020 to February 2021. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson’s correlation analysis, and hierarchical multiple regression were used to analyze the collected data. The PROCESS macro program with bootstrapping was employed to evaluate the significance of mediating effects. Results: Work friendships partially mediated the association between grit and work engagement, with an explanatory power of 29.9%. The significance of the indirect mediating effect using bootstrapping analysis indicated an effect size of 0.33, a lower limit confidence interval of 0.17, and an upper limit confidence interval of 0.52, which was significant as it did not include Zero. Conclusion Developing a program to improve grit is necessary to increase the work engagement of MZ generation nurses, and establishing and implementing a program to improve work friendships, along with education for individual nurses, is crucial.

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the relationship between grit and work engagement among millennial and Generation Z (MZ generation) nurses, as well as the moderating effect of work friendships on this relationship. Methods: The study included 191 MZ generation nurses with over six months of experience, surveyed via a self-administered questionnaire at four general hospitals in Daejeon and Seoul from December 2020 to February 2021. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson’s correlation analysis, and hierarchical multiple regression were used to analyze the collected data. The PROCESS macro program with bootstrapping was employed to evaluate the significance of mediating effects. Results: Work friendships partially mediated the association between grit and work engagement, with an explanatory power of 29.9%. The significance of the indirect mediating effect using bootstrapping analysis indicated an effect size of 0.33, a lower limit confidence interval of 0.17, and an upper limit confidence interval of 0.52, which was significant as it did not include Zero. Conclusion Developing a program to improve grit is necessary to increase the work engagement of MZ generation nurses, and establishing and implementing a program to improve work friendships, along with education for individual nurses, is crucial.

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the relationship between grit and work engagement among millennial and Generation Z (MZ generation) nurses, as well as the moderating effect of work friendships on this relationship. Methods: The study included 191 MZ generation nurses with over six months of experience, surveyed via a self-administered questionnaire at four general hospitals in Daejeon and Seoul from December 2020 to February 2021. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson’s correlation analysis, and hierarchical multiple regression were used to analyze the collected data. The PROCESS macro program with bootstrapping was employed to evaluate the significance of mediating effects. Results: Work friendships partially mediated the association between grit and work engagement, with an explanatory power of 29.9%. The significance of the indirect mediating effect using bootstrapping analysis indicated an effect size of 0.33, a lower limit confidence interval of 0.17, and an upper limit confidence interval of 0.52, which was significant as it did not include Zero. Conclusion Developing a program to improve grit is necessary to increase the work engagement of MZ generation nurses, and establishing and implementing a program to improve work friendships, along with education for individual nurses, is crucial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Extrusion of the ossicular prosthesis into the eardrum has been a persisting a problem accompanying ossiculoplasty. There are several factors concerning extrusion of the prosthesis, for instance, eardrum retraction, infection and the figure of the prosthesis, etc. Recently, many studies have been performed to evaluate the cause of extrusion; however, there have not been any attempts to analyze the extrusion cause from the viewpoint of biomechanics. The purpose of this study is to calculate the stress and strain of the eardrum and the prosthesis and to find the ideal model that prevents extrusion. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Three kinds of the imaginary total ossicular replacement prosthesis (TORP) were designed and biomechanically analyzed using the 3 dimensional finite element method. Equivalent stress and strains were measured and compared between the each group. The distribution of equivalent stress and strain on the eardrum and TORP were also observed. RESULTS: The concave disc shows the smallest in value of the maximum equivalent stress & the maximum equivalent strain. In all eardrums, the stress was concentrated along the contact area with the disc margin, especially toward the center of the eardrum. In all TORPs, the upper 1/4 of the shaft and margin of the disc toward center of the eardrum was the most stress-concentrated area. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that concave disc could be the most suitable for preventing extrusion.

Background: Grit is a psychological factor that is defined as “perseverance and passion for the long term.” A growing interest exists in this factor because it aids in overcoming difficult tasks related to the psychological well-being of psychiatry residents to prevent burnout; however, it is still under-recognized in the Korean clinical practices. This study therefore examined the relationship between grit and the psychological well-being of psychiatry residents. Methods: In all, 77 psychiatry residents completed the study survey, and all met our study’s participation criteria. To assess these residents’ grit, burnout, and psychological well-being, the Original Grit Scale, Maslach Burnout Inventory, and Psychological Well-being Scale were employed. For the statistical comparison, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation analysis were used. Results: A significant relationship prevailed between grit and psychological well-being. The grit scores had positive and negative correlations with psychological well-being (p<0.01) and burnout (p<0.01), respectively. Thus, psychiatry residents with higher grit scores were more likely to experience less burnout and have higher psychological well-being scores. Conclusion A significant relationship existed between grit, psychological well-being, and burnout. Grit assessment thus aided in identifying psychiatry residents who were at a greater risk of quitting their training program due to poor psychological well-being or emotional exhaustion.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in adipose tissue causes an inflammatory response and leads to metabolic diseases. However, the association between vitamin D and adipose ER stress remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated whether 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 (1,25(OH) 2 D 3 ) alleviates ER stress in adipocytes.MATERIALS/METHODS: 3T3-L1 cells were treated with different concentrations (i.e., 10–100 nM) of 1,25(OH)2 D 3 after or during differentiation (i.e., on day 0–7, 3–7, or 7). They were then incubated with thapsigargin (TG, 500 nM) for an additional 24 h to induce ER stress. Next, we measured the mRNA and protein levels of genes involved in unfold protein response (UPR) and adipogenesis using real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting and quantified the secreted protein levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Finally, the mRNA levels of UPR pathway genes were measured in adipocytes transfected with siRNA-targeting Vdr. RESULTS: Treatment with 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 during various stages of adipocyte differentiation significantly inhibited ER stress induced by TG. In fully differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes, 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 treatment suppressed mRNA levels of Ddit3, sXbp1, and Atf4 and decreased the secretion of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α. However, downregulation of the mRNA levels of Ddit3, sXbp1, and Atf4 following 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 administration was not observed in Vdr-knockdown adipocytes. In addition, exposure of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes to 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 inhibited transcription of Ddit3, sXbp1, Atf4, Bip, and Atf6 and reduced the p-alpha subunit of translation initiation factor 2 (eIF2α)/eIF2α and p-protein kinase RNA-like ER kinase (PERK)/PERK protein ratios. Furthermore, 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 treatment before adipocyte differentiation reduced adipogenesis and the mRNA levels of adipogenic genes. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 prevents TG-induced ER stress and inflammatory responses in mature adipocytes by downregulating UPR signaling via binding with Vdr. In addition, the inhibition of adipogenesis by vitamin D may contribute to the reduction of ER stress in adipocytes.

Adequate positioning of the hand is a critical step in hand fracture operative repair that can impact both the clinical outcome and the efficiency of the operation. In this paper, we introduce the use of a thermoplastic splint with an added thumb stabilizing component as a means to increase the surgeon’s autonomy and to streamline the patient care pathway. The thermoplastic splint is custom fabricated preoperatively by the specialist hand therapist. The splint is used prior, during, and post operation with minimal modification. The thumb component assists maintaining the forearm in a stable pronated position whilst drilling and affixing metal work. This is demonstrated in the video of removal of metal work and open reduction and internal fixation of a metacarpal fracture.

Adequate positioning of the hand is a critical step in hand fracture operative repair that can impact both the clinical outcome and the efficiency of the operation. In this paper, we introduce the use of a thermoplastic splint with an added thumb stabilizing component as a means to increase the surgeon’s autonomy and to streamline the patient care pathway. The thermoplastic splint is custom fabricated preoperatively by the specialist hand therapist. The splint is used prior, during, and post operation with minimal modification. The thumb component assists maintaining the forearm in a stable pronated position whilst drilling and affixing metal work. This is demonstrated in the video of removal of metal work and open reduction and internal fixation of a metacarpal fracture.

The emergence of a new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has become a significant health concern worldwide. Undoubtedly, a better understanding of the innate and adaptive immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 and its relationship with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pathogenesis will be the sole basis for developing and applying therapeutics. This review will summarize the published results that relate to innate immune responses against infections with human coronaviruses including SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 in both humans and animal models. The topics encompass the innate immune sensing of the virus to the dysregulation of various innate immune cells during infection and disease progression.