PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to verify the new hip protector design with respect to the comfort and mobility. The new hip protector was developed based on a pattern of draping and body shape of Korean elderly individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An wearing characteristics evaluation was conducted on 101 elderly women wearing hip protector using a questionnaire of preference and ease of wearing. Hip protectors, with existing and newly developed belt and underwear types, which were previously preferred by the Korean elderly, were evaluated. RESULTS: The newly developed belt type (65.0%) and newly developed underwear type (30.1%) hip protectors were preferred to the existing type (3.9%) and existing underwear type (1.0%) ones. The convenience of the newly developed belt type was greater than 4 out of 5 points (1 for strongly disagree and 5 for strongly agree) for all nine measures, including fit, allowance, mobility, pad placement, pad thickness, pad size, material, design, ease of dressing, and ease of undressing. The newly developed hip protectors showed less discomfort than the existing ones. In particular, the newly developed belt type and developed underwear type improved sitting convenience by 31.1% and 26.1%, respectively, compared with the existing ones. CONCLUSION: The hip protectors developed in the present study is expected to provide better fit for the body shape of Korean elderly individuals and prevent hip fracture due to fall.
Aged* ; Bandages ; Female ; Hip* ; Humans

Cesarean Section ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Parity ; Pregnancy ; Premature Birth ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Seoul ; Vacuum

Objective: To evaluate the effects of Capsosiphon fulvescens (C. fulvescens) ethanolic extract on inflammation in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW296.7 macrophages. Methods: The protective effects of C. fulvescens ethanolic extract on LPS-induced inflammation in RAW264.7 macrophages were assessed using biochemical analysis, including enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot analysis. To examine reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, flow cytometry analysis, and immunofluorescence staining were used. Furthermore, the modulatory effect of C. fulvescens ethanolic extract on NF-κB activation was investigated. Results: C. fulvescens ethanolic extract significantly attenuated LPS-induced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and notably reduced the secretion and mRNA levels of LPS-mediated matrix metalloproteinases. In addition, C. fulvescens ethanolic extract decreased ROS production and suppressed the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. Conclusions: C. fulvescens ethanolic extract alleviates inflammation as well as oxidative stress by modulating the TLR4/NF-κB signaling in LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages. C. fulvescens can be used as a potential therapeutic agent to suppress inflammation and oxidative stress-associated diseases.