PURPOSE: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) leads to death if the patient does not receive emergency treatment. Thus it is very important to recognize the symptoms in the early stage. The purpose of this study was to identify clusters of symptoms that represent AMI in Koreans. METHODS: The study used a retrospective, descriptive design with secondary data analysis. Data were abstracted from 725 medical records of AMI patients admitted from June 1, 2006 to August 15, 2014 at a university hospital. RESULTS: Analysis of the AMI symptoms revealed five symptom clusters; Cluster 1 (n=140): middle chest pain (100%), shortness of breath, and cold sweating, Cluster 2 (n=256): substernal pain (100%), cold sweating, and shortness of breath, Cluster 3 (n=47): substernal pain (95.7%), left arm pain, shortness of breath, cold sweating, left shoulder pain, right arm pain, and the lower neck pain, Cluster 4 (n=212): shortness of breath (28.3%), left chest pain, and upper abdominal pain, and Cluster 5 (n=70): cold sweating (100%), left chest pain, shortness of breath, left shoulder pain, and upper abdominal pain. Length of hospital stay and mortality rate were significantly different according to symptom clusters (F=2.52, p=.040; F=3.62, p=.006, respectively). CONCLUSION: Symptom clusters of AMI from this study can be used for AMI patients in order to recognize their symptoms at an early stage. The study findings should be considered when developing educational prevention programs for Koreans with AMI.
Acute Disease ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Female ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction/mortality/*pathology ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Syndrome

The root bark extract of Aralia taibaiensis is used traditionally for the treatment of diabetes mellitus in China. The total saponin extracted from Aralia Taibaiensis (sAT) has effective combined antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic activities in experimental type 2 diabetic rats. However, the active compounds have not yet been fully investigated. In the present study, we examined effects of twelve triterpenoid saponins on AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation, and found that compound 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (AT12) significantly increased phosphorylation of AMPK and Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC). AT12 effectively decreased blood glucose, triglyceride (TG), free fatty acid (FFA) and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in the rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The mechanism by which AT12 activated AMPK was subsequently investigated. Intracellular ATP level and oxygen consumption were significantly reduced by AT12 treatment. The findings suggested AT12 was a novel AMPK activator, and could be useful for the treatment of metabolic diseases.
Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase ; Adenosine Triphosphate ; AMP-Activated Protein Kinases* ; Animals ; Aralia* ; Blood Glucose ; China ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Metabolic Diseases ; Models, Animal ; Oxygen Consumption ; Phosphorylation ; Rats ; Saponins ; Triglycerides

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to investigate the in vitro antioxidant and cytoprotective effects of fermented sesame sauce (FSeS) against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative damage in renal proximal tubule LLC-PK1 cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydroxyl radical (*OH), and H2O2 scavenging assay was used to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant activity of FSeS. To investigate the cytoprotective effect of FSeS against H2O2-induced oxidative damage in LLC-PK1 cells, the cellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation, and endogenous antioxidant enzymes including catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) were measured. RESULTS: The ability of FSeS to scavenge DPPH, *OH and H2O2 was greater than that of FSS and AHSS. FSeS also significantly inhibited H2O2-induced (500 microM) oxidative damage in the LLC-PK1 cells compared to FSS and AHSS (P < 0.05). Following treatment with 100 microg/mL of FSeS and FSS to prevent H2O2-induced oxidation, cell viability increased from 56.7% (control) to 83.7% and 75.6%, respectively. However, AHSS was not able to reduce H2O2-induced cell damage (viability of the AHSS-treated cells was 54.6%). FSeS more effectively suppressed H2O2-induced ROS generation and lipid peroxidation compared to FSS and AHSS (P < 0.05). Compared to the other sauces, FSeS also significantly increased cellular CAT, SOD, and GSH-px activities and mRNA expression (P < 0.05). CONCULUSIONS: These results from the present study suggest that FSeS is an effective radical scavenger and protects against H2O2-induced oxidative damage in LLC-PK1 cells by reducing ROS levels, inhibiting lipid peroxidation, and stimulating antioxidant enzyme activity.
Animals ; Catalase ; Cats ; Cell Survival ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Hydrogen* ; Hydroxyl Radical ; Lipid Peroxidation ; LLC-PK1 Cells ; Oxidative Stress ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; RNA, Messenger ; Sesamum* ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Swine

PURPOSE: This study was to develop the clinical competency evaluation, and to examine the effects of the developed evaluation by comparing it with existing evaluation on clinical competency, communication skill, and self-efficacy of nursing students. METHODS: Design was a randomized control group post-test design. The subjects were 102 senior nursing students(Experimental group: 48, Control group: 54) at K university in seoul, Korea. The experimental group took the clinical competency evaluation using standardized patients and the control group took the existing evaluation using a doll. The clinical competency and communication skills were measured by evaluators, and self-efficacy was self reported by the nursing students. RESULTS: The experimental group had higher scores in clinical competency, communication skills, and self-efficacy than those in the control group. CONCLUSION: Through these results, practice education of nursing education programs need to activate the clinical competency evaluation using standardized patients.
Education, Nursing ; Humans ; Korea ; Self Report ; Students, Nursing

PURPOSE: In this study differences in levels of performance and importance of nursing jobs were explored in relation to levels of work experience. METHOD: The sample was chosen by convenient sampling (N=363) and a cross-sectional study design was used. Frequencies and percentages were used for descriptive statistics. ANOVA was utilized to examine differences in performance and importance of nursing jobs among three groups of nurses, divided based on levels of work experience (less than 1 year, 1 to 4 years, and 5 or more years). RESULTS: Regarding performance of nursing jobs, novice nurses provided more support for patients, but provided less assessment of patients (i.e., investigation of levels of nutrition and exercise, and observation of verbal, and non-verbal behavior, and levels of cognition). Regarding the importance of nursing jobs, nursing linked to exercise and activities, and post-operative and excretion care were considered to be less important among novice nurses than among experienced nurses. CONCLUSION: Different training programs should be developed and provided to nurses according to levels of work experience. By doing so, it will be feasible to minimize differences in quality of nursing care triggered by different levels of work experience.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Employee Performance Appraisal ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Nursing Care ; Nursing Staff

Occupational hazards of firefighting and rescue works include frequent exposure to emergencies and life-threatening situations. These stressful work conditions of being constantly under pressure and exposed to potentially traumatic events put them at higher risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), compared to the general population. PTSD is a potentially debilitating mental disorder, due to persistent intrusive thoughts, negative alterations of mood and cognition, hypervigilance, avoidance of similar situations and reminders, and re-experiences of the traumatic event. Previous studies have shown a relatively high prevalence of PTSD among firefighters, indicating the need for a systematic approach of early detection and prevention. Therefore, a critical review of the current literature on PTSD in firefighters would provide valuable insights into developing effective prevention and intervention programs. Literature indicated that there are risk factors of PTSD in firefighters, such as pre-existing depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, occupational stress, physical symptoms, and binge drinking, whereas social support and adequate rewards are protective factors. Although there are differences in the prevalence of PTSD across studies, partly due to various assessment tools utilized, different sample sizes, and sample characteristics, over one tenth of the firefighters were estimated to have PTSD. The current review warrants further investigations to precisely assess PTSD and co-morbid mental disorders, functional outcomes, and associated factors, and to develop evidence-based preventive and interventional programs to help firefighters with PTSD.
Anxiety ; Binge Drinking ; Cognition ; Depression ; Emergencies ; Firefighters* ; Humans ; Mental Disorders ; Prevalence ; Protective Factors ; Rescue Work ; Reward ; Risk Factors ; Sample Size ; Sleep Wake Disorders ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic*

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The aim of this experiments was to show anti-obesity effects of Korean solar salt from different salt fields in diet-induced obese mice. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Diet-induced obesity (DIO) was induced by a high-fat diet (HFD; 45% cal from fat) in C57BL/6J mice for eight weeks. The mice were fed with the designated diets (chow diet for Normal, HFD for Control, 0.47%-salt-mixed HFD for purified salt (PS), Guerande solar salt from France (SS-G), solar salt from Y salt field (SS-Y), solar salts from T salt field (SS-T) and S salt field (SS-S)) for another eight weeks. We checked body weight, food efficiency ratio (FER) and tissue weights (liver and epididymal adipose tissue (EAT)), and observed serum concentrations of triacylglycerol (TG), total cholesterol (TC), leptin and insulin. We also evaluated gene expressions of adipogenic / lipogenic mRNAs of C/EBPα, PPARγ and FAS and beta-oxidation-related factors (PPARα and CPT-1) in liver and EAT. The mineral composition of salt samples were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). RESULTS: SS-T and SS-S significantly reduced body weight gain, FER, and weight of EAT compared to control and other samples (P < 0.05). SS-T and SS-S also significantly decreased serum levels of TG, TC, leptin and insulin (P < 0.05). SS-T and SS-S suppressed expressions of adipogenic / lipogenic mRNAs in liver and EAT, while promoting expression of beta-oxidation-related factors. The lowest sodium concentration was observed in SS-T (30.30 ± 0.59%), and the lowest sodium-to-potassium (Na/K) ratio was found in SS-S (17.81). CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that well-processed Korean solar salt may have anti-obesity effects in vivo, probably owing to its differences in mineral composition and other components, presumably resulting from the manufacturing processes. Further research is needed into the mechanism and to explore optimal manufacturing processes.
Adipose Tissue ; Animals ; Body Weight ; Cholesterol ; Diet ; Diet, High-Fat ; France ; Gene Expression ; Insulin ; Leptin ; Liver ; Mice ; Mice, Obese* ; Miners ; Obesity* ; Plasma ; RNA, Messenger ; Salts* ; Sodium ; Spectrum Analysis ; Triglycerides ; Weights and Measures

This study was undertaken to identify genetic polymorphisms that are associated with the risk of an elevated fasting glucose (FG) level using genome-wide analyses. We explored a quantitative trait locus (QTL) for FG level in a genome-wide study from a Korean twin-family cohort (the Healthy Twin Study) using a combined linkage and family-based association analysis approach. We investigated 1,754 individuals, which included 432 families and 219 pairs of monozygotic twins. Regions of chromosomes 2q23.3-2q31.1, 15q26.1-15q26.3, 16p12.1, and 20p13-20p12.2, were found to show evidence of linkage with FG level, and several markers in these regions were found to be significantly associated with FG level using family-based or general association tests. In particular, a single-nucleotide polymorphism (rs6138953) on the PTPRA gene in the 20p13 region (combined P = 1.8 x 10(-6)) was found to be associated with FG level, and the PRKCB1 gene (in 16p12.1) to be possibly associated with FG level. In conclusion, multiple regions of chromosomes 2q23.3-2q31.1, 15q26.1-15q26.3, 16p12.1, and 20p13-20p12.2 are associated with FG level in our Korean twin-family cohort. The combined approach of genome-wide linkage and family-based association analysis is useful to identify novel or known genetic regions concerning FG level in a family cohort study.
Adult ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/*genetics ; Blood Glucose/*genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 15/genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 16/genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 2/genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 20/genetics ; Cohort Studies ; Family ; Female ; *Genetic Linkage ; *Genome-Wide Association Study ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Protein Kinase C/genetics ; Quantitative Trait Loci ; Receptor-Like Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases, Class 4/*genetics ; Republic of Korea ; Twins, Monozygotic/*genetics

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Male hypogonadism is a condition where the body does not produce enough testosterone and significantly impacts health. Age, obesity, genetics, and oxidative stress are some physiological factors that may contribute to testosterone deficiency.Previous studies have shown many pharmacological benefits of Schisandra chinensis (S. chinensis) Baillon as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. However, the molecular mechanism of attenuating hypogonadism is yet to be well established. This research was undertaken to study the effects of S. chinensis extract (SCE) on testosterone deficiency.MATERIALS/METHODS: S. chinensis fruit was pulverized and extracted using 60% aqueous ethanol. HPLC analysis was performed to analyze and quantify the lignans of the SCE. RESULTS: The 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) scavenging assays confirmed that the SCE and its major lignans (schisandrol A and gomisin N) inhibit oxidative stress. Effects of SCE analysis on the testosterone level under oxidative stress conditions revealed that both schisandrol A and gomisin N were able to recover the lowered testosterone levels. Through mRNA expression of TM3 Leydig cell, we observed that the SCE lignans were able to induce the enzymes involved in testosterone biosynthesis-related genes such as 3β-HSD4 (P < 0.01 for SCE, and P < 0.001 for schisandrol A and gomisin N), 17β-HSD3 (P < 0.001 for SCE, schisandrol A and gomisin N), and 17, 20-desmolase (P < 0.01 for schisandrol A, and P < 0.001 for SCE and gomisin N). CONCLUSIONS These results support that SCE and its active components could be potential therapeutic agents for regulating and increasing testosterone production.

Ten Y chromosomal STRs (DYS434, DYS435, DYS437, DYS438, DYS439, DYS441, DYS442, DYS443, DYS444, DYS445) have been typed in 1159 Korean males for the purpose of application to male identification, population genetics and evolution study. Multiplex PCR method was used in amplifying simultaneously these loci. In each locus, 3-8 allele were observed, and no 'interallele' was observed. The gene diversity varied from 0.3131 at DYS435 to 0.7179 at DYS441. Among 610 father-son pairs, mutation was observed 2 cases in DYS434, 1 case in DYS435, 3 cases in DYS437, 1 case in DYS439, 2 cases in DYS441, 1 case in DYS442 and 4 cases in DYS444. No two or more simultaneous mutations were identified in one father-son family pair. In 1159 Korean males, 641 different haplotypes were observed, and 488 haplotypes were not shared by others. The haplotype diversity was 0.9911, Probability of Identity was 0.0098. When using the ten loci together with DYS19, DYS385, DYS388, DYS389, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393 which were already used in the Department of Forensic Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, the haplotype diversity was 0.9997, Probability of Identity was 0.0012.
Alleles ; Forensic Medicine ; Genetics, Population ; Haplotypes* ; Humans ; Male ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Seoul