PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate effects of welfare center's cognitive improvement program on the community elderly provided by nursing student volunteers and social welfare.METHODS: A quasi-experimental with non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design was implemented. The participants were the community elderly with or without mild cognitive impairments (experimental group: 17, control group: 15). The experimental group participated in the cognitive improvement program for four months based on the demonstration program of the special grade of dementia in long-term care insurance for the elderly.RESULTS: After the intervention, the satisfaction with perceived social support (F=9.30, p=.005) was improved statistically between the experimental group and the control group, but there was no significant difference in MMSE-K, IADL, depression, EQ-VAS, and EQ-5D variables.CONCLUSION: These results indicated that a multidisciplinary approach or a variety of manpower is needed, in order to prevent the dementia of the elderly. However, in order to provide a systematic cognitive-based intervention, it was once again recognized that the training of relevant experts and the quality planning on them were very important.
Aged ; Cognitive Therapy ; Dementia ; Depression ; Humans ; Insurance, Long-Term Care ; Mild Cognitive Impairment ; Nursing ; Social Welfare ; Students, Nursing ; Volunteers

It is well known that sex hormones are potential modulators of brain functions and women experience dynamic hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle. Previous animal studies have reported that the variations in sex hormones over the menstrual cycle may affect cognitive function, emotion, and behavior by altering structures and functional connectivity of the brain. Considering the prevalence of certain neuropsychiatric disorders such as mood and anxiety disorders is relatively high in women, as compared with men, fluctuations of sex hormones over the menstrual cycle may influence the human brain and potentially underlie sex differences in clinical features of several neuropsychiatric disorders. There is, however, little evidence regarding the exact mechanisms underlying the effects of sex hormones on the human brain. In this review, we focused on studies to examine structural and functional changes over the menstrual cycles in women and aimed to provide an up-to-date overview of neuroimaging studies regarding the effects of sex hormonal fluctuations on the brain and behaviors.

It is well known that sex hormones are potential modulators of brain functions and women experience dynamic hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle. Previous animal studies have reported that the variations in sex hormones over the menstrual cycle may affect cognitive function, emotion, and behavior by altering structures and functional connectivity of the brain. Considering the prevalence of certain neuropsychiatric disorders such as mood and anxiety disorders is relatively high in women, as compared with men, fluctuations of sex hormones over the menstrual cycle may influence the human brain and potentially underlie sex differences in clinical features of several neuropsychiatric disorders. There is, however, little evidence regarding the exact mechanisms underlying the effects of sex hormones on the human brain. In this review, we focused on studies to examine structural and functional changes over the menstrual cycles in women and aimed to provide an up-to-date overview of neuroimaging studies regarding the effects of sex hormonal fluctuations on the brain and behaviors.

Purpose: In spite of the recent application of a general infection control method, central line-associated infections is still relatively high in Korea. Central line bundle with Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) tegaderm dressing was reported to be effective in reducing catheter colonization and central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI). Therefore, this study aimed to examine the incidences of catheter colonization occurrence and CLABSI while using Tegaderm vs. CHG Tegaderm dressings. Methods: We used a descriptive design. 400 patients who had central venous catheters were selected from four hospitals in the Korean National Healthcare-associated Infections Surveillance System. Of all subjects, 200 used Tegaderm TM (Tegaderm group), and the remaining 200 used CHG Tegaderm (CHG Tegaderm group) dressing at the catheter insertion site. Data were analyzed using the c 2 test or Fisher’s exact test, t-test, and logistic regression analysis using SPSS WIN 21.0. Results: In the Tegaderm and CHG Tegaderm groups, CLABSI incidences were 5.89 and 1.79 per 1,000 catheter-days, catheter colonization incidences were 3.93 and 1.43 per 1,000 catheter-days, and central line bundle compliance rates were 26.0% and 49.0%, respectively. Catheter colonization risk factors were ‘reinsertion after failure’ and ‘Tegaderm dressing’ at the central line insertion site. CLABSI risk factors were ‘incomplete performance of 7 central line bundle items’ and ‘Tegaderm dressing’ at the central line insertion site. Conclusion A further prospective study is needed to examine the effects of central line bundle with CHG Tegaderm dressing, avoiding central line reinsertion after failure, and improving the bundle compliance in reducing catheter colonization and CLABSI.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of comorbid oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) on clinical features and neuropsychological profiles of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods: We divided the participants into three groups: the ADHD with ODD (ADHD/ODD) (n=36), ADHD without ODD (ADHDoODD) (n=307), and control groups (n=128). Parents of the participants completed the ADHD Rating Scale, Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), Korean Personality Rating Scale for Children (K-PRC), and 10-item mania scale from the Parent General Behavior Inventory (P-GBI-10M). Neuropsychological profiles were assessed using the Advanced Test of Attention (ATA), Children’s Color Trails Test, and Stroop Color and Word Test. Results: The ADHD/ODD group had more ADHD symptoms and functional impairments in relationships with teachers and peers, and self-esteem than the ADHDoODD group. The ADHD/ODD group scored higher in Social Communication (p<0.001) and Autistic Mannerisms (p<0.001) subscales of SRS, P-GBI-10M (p<0.001), and Delinquency (p<0.001) and Psychosis (p<0.001) subscales of K-PRC than the ADHDoODD group. Commission Errors (p<0.001) and Response-Time Variability (p<0.001) in Visual ATA and Commission Errors (p<0.001) in Auditory ATA were significantly higher in the ADHD/ODD group than in the ADHDoODD group. Conclusion The present study suggests that patients with ADHD with ODD experience more ADHD symptoms and neuropsychological deficits than those with ADHD without ODD. These results also imply that comorbid ODD is associated with greater social impairment and emotional dysregulation.

Purpose: Swyer-James-Macleod syndrome (SJMS) is a rare disorder characterized by the hyperlucency of a unilateral lung due to ipsilaterally arrested lung growth. No sufficient information on progressive lung function changes during growth is available in SJMS. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed SJMS cases using a clinical database from January 2000 to August 2018. Results: A total of 40 patients were enrolled in this study. The median age of the patients was 4.8 years (interquartile range [IQR], 2.7–9.0 years), boys (n = 21, 52.5%) were more affected, and left lungs (n = 27, 67.5%) were more involved. The interval between infection and diagnosis was 1.8 years (IQR, 0.7–6.4 years). Mycoplasma pneumoniae (n = 14) and adenovirus (n = 5) were most prevalent among the 21 subjects with presumably identifiable causes. Most of the 16 patients with available pulmonary function data presented moderate obstructive lung function (z-score, median; FEV 1: -4.320 [IQR, -5.955 to -3.400] and FVC: -2.600 [IQR, -3.590 to -1.570], respectively) with the more decreased median in forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of FVC (FEF 25%–75%) (z-score, -4.470; IQR, -5.330 to -3.170). Linear mixed effect models indicated that younger age at first infectious insult was significantly related to decreased FEV1 z-score (P = 0.041), and that the FEV 1/FVC and FEF 25%–75% z-scores were reduced by 0.082 (P = 0.005) and 0.069 (P ≤ 0.001) per year. Conclusion In children with SJMS, the initial infectious insult occurs in the early life with M. pneumoniae being the most common pathogen. Lung function may deteriorate with an obstructive pattern during growth. The impairment can progress slowly not in the FEV1, but in the FEV1/FVC or FEF25%–75%

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a noninvasive method that supplies pure oxygen under a pressure greater than normal atmospheric pressure to increase the partial pressure of oxygen in the plasma and tissue. Based on the potential mechanisms of HBOT, including neuroprotection and neurological recovery, HBOT has been suggested as a promising therapeutic option for neurological and psychiatric disorders. This review specifically focused on the clinical trials applying HBOT for psychiatric disorders published during the recent decade. We critically reviewed the efficacy and safety of HBOT in psychiatric disorders, and cautiously suggested the future directions for further research.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated recent trends in the prevalence of obesity among Korean adolescents and explored socioeconomic disparities in obesity. METHODS: This study used annual self-reported data on height, weight, and socioeconomic information from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey from 2006 to 2020. With a 95.8% response rate, the sample consisted of 818,210 adolescents. Obesity prevalence was calculated according to 4 socioeconomic indicators (household income, father’s educational attainment, mother’s educational attainment, and urbanicity). Socioeconomic inequality was quantified using the relative index of inequality (RII). RESULTS: The overall prevalence of obesity increased, doubling from 5.9% in 2006 to 11.7% in 2020. Boys and high school students showed a higher prevalence. The RIIs in household income and parental educational attainments significantly increased with time, indicating a growing inequality in obesity. Socioeconomic disadvantages had a greater influence on obesity among girls. The most recent RII values for boys were 1.25 for income, 1.79 for the father’s education, and 1.45 for the mother’s education, whereas the corresponding values for girls were 2.49, 3.17, and 2.62, respectively. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight growing inequalities in adolescent obesity according to household income and parental educational attainments, especially for girls and middle schoolers.