The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between the levels of foodservice management activities and job satisfaction of the dietitians in elementary schools. Out of 130 questionnaires distributed to elementary school dietitians in In-cheon, 127 were returned and analyzed (98% response rate). The questionnaire included two multipleitem scales for measuring foodservice management activities and job satisfaction, respectively. All the items in the scales were coded 1 to 5 for 'certainly no', 'no', 'neutral', 'yes', and 'certainly yes' and grouped by using factor analyses. Most of the responding dietitians were working for schools in urban areas and have independently managed on-site kitchens. The 19 items on food service management activities were grouped into 6 factors and the mean scores of the levels of Personnel Hygiene Management, Education & Training, Sanitation & Safety Management, Menu Quality Management, Service Management, and Environment Management were 4.76, 4.26, 4.24, 4.05, 3.61 and 3.39, respectively. The 23 items on job satisfaction were grouped into 4 factors and the mean scores of the satisfaction levels of Systematic Environment, Job Duty, Job Condition, and Physical Environment were 3.38, 2.83, 2.53, and 2.08, respectively. Overall, the levels of food service management activities and job satisfaction were positively associated with a correlation coefficient of 0.254 (p < 0.01). In particular, satisfaction levels on job duty itself and systematic environment were positively associated with the levels of overall management activities. The results suggest that improving dietitians' job satisfaction could increase the levels of management activities of school foodservice dietitians, resulting in quality improvement of school food service.
Education ; Food Services ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Incheon ; Job Satisfaction* ; Nutritionists ; Quality Improvement ; Safety Management ; Sanitation ; Weights and Measures

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the students' levels of involvement in school lunch service and their satisfaction levels with the service. A survey was conducted with 5th and 6th grade elementary students eating school lunches. Out of 1,680 questionnaires distributed to the students from 14 schools, 1,254 complete questionnaires (74.6%) were analyzed. The questionnaire included two 5-point multi-item scales for measuring levels of involvement in and satisfaction with school lunch service, respectively. A factor analysis grouped 20 items measuring school lunch satisfaction into three factors: 'food satisfaction', 'nutrition & sanitation satisfaction', and 'service & environment satisfaction'. As a result of multiple regression analyses controlling the influence of such variables as students' grades, gender, school location, years and places of eating school lunches, students' levels of involvement in school lunch service was proven to be positively associated with levels of school lunch satisfaction overall, as well as satisfaction levels in regard to 'food', 'nutrition & sanitation', and 'service & environment', respectively. It was suggested that efforts such as nutrition education to increase students' levels of involvement in school lunches could be a useful strategy to improve students' satisfaction with school lunch service.
Eating ; Education ; Humans ; Lunch* ; Sanitation ; Weights and Measures

OBJECTIVES: This study compared the nutritional status of child-bearing age women between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the Republic of Korea (South Korea). METHODS: The data presented in the DPRK Final Report of the National Nutrition Survey 2012 was utilized for the nutritional status and food intake of North Korean women. To produce the South Korean women's data comparable to those of North Korean women, the data from the 2012 National Health and Nutrition Survey were analyzed and the data presented in the 2010 Report of the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards were utilized. RESULTS: The prevalence of maternal anemia (blood hemoglobin < 12.0 g/dL) was over 30% in all the age groups of North Korean women and 8.9%, 14.2%, 16.4% in 20-29, 30-39, 40-49 year old South Korean women, respectively. The prevalence of maternal protein-energy malnutrition (Mid-Upper Arm Circumference < 22.5 cm) was 25.2%, 21.4%, 21.8% in 20-29, 30-39, 40-49 year old North Korean women, respectively and less than 10% in all the age groups of South Korean women. Result of dietary diversity comparison showed that North Korean women consumed less food than South Korean women at all food groups: grains, fruits, vegetables, meat, and dairy. Percentage of North Korean women having consumed protein rich foods-meat and fish, eggs or dairy products-were much lower than those of South Korean women. CONCLUSIONS: The striking disparity of nutritional status between South and North Korean women indicates that nutrition support for North Korean women is essential in the process of preparation for a unified nation.
Anemia ; Arm ; Democratic People's Republic of Korea* ; Eating ; Eggs ; Female ; Fruit ; Humans ; Meat ; Nutrition Surveys ; Nutritional Status ; Ovum ; Prevalence ; Protein-Energy Malnutrition ; Republic of Korea ; Strikes, Employee ; Vegetables

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of coffee in diabetic rats in order to prevent hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia, and to improve antioxidant enzyme activity in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. METHODS: Thirty two male Sprague-Dawley rats (body weight 200 +/- 5 g) were divided into two groups; diabetic and nondiabetic groups. The groups were each randomly divided into two subgroups; fed control and coffee (5 g coffee powder/kg diet) diets. Diabetes was induced by intramuscular injection of 50 mg streptozotocin/kg body weight. Rats with blood glucose concentrations > or = 300 mg/dL were considered diabetic for these experiments. All rats were fed an experimental diet and deionized water ad libitum for 4 weeks. RESULTS: The results of this study indicate that body weight gain was significantly lower in diabetic groups than in nondiabetic groups regardless of diet. Mean food intake was significantly higher in diabetic groups than in nondiabetic groups, and significantly higher in the coffee group than in the control group in diabetic rats. Food efficiency ratio (FER) was significantly lower in diabetic groups than in nondiabetic groups regardless of diet. The fasting blood glucose of coffee supplemented groups was significantly lower compared with the control group in diabetic and nondiabetic rats. The levels of serum LDL-cholesterol and atherogenic index were significantly lower in the coffee group than in the control group in diabetic and nondiabetic rats, and serum HDL-cholesterol was significantly higher in the coffee group than in control groups. The contents of hepatic triglyceride were significantly lower in the coffee group than in the control group in diabetic and nondiabetic rats. The lipid peroxidation of malondialdehyde (MDA) contents was significantly lower in the coffee group than in the control group in diabetic and nondiabetic rats. Activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase in liver was not significantly different by experimental diets among all groups. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, effects of 0.5% coffee powder supplemented diet were beneficial on blood glucose and lipids in diabetic rats.
Animals ; Blood Glucose* ; Body Weight ; Catalase ; Coffee* ; Diet ; Eating ; Fasting ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; Hyperlipidemias ; Injections, Intramuscular ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Liver* ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Streptozocin ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Triglycerides ; Water

Potassium channels in human skin fibroblast have been studied as a possible site of Alzheimer disease pathogenesis. Fibroblasts in Alzheimer disease show alterations in signal transduction pathway such as changes in Ca2+ homeostasis and/or Ca2+-activated kinases, phosphatidylinositol cascade, protein kinase C activity, cAMP levels and absence of specific K+ channel. However, little is known so far about electrophysiological and pharmacological characteristics of large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (BKCa) channel in human fibroblast (CRL-1474). In the present study, we found Iberiotoxin- and TEA-sensitive outward rectifying oscillatory current with whole-cell recordings. Single channel analysis showed large conductance K+ channels (106 pS of chord conductance at +40 mV in physiological K+ gradient). The 106 pS channels were activated by membrane potential and [Ca2+]i, consistent with the known properties of BKCa channels. BKCa channels in CRL-1474 were positively regulated by adenylate cyclase activator (10microM forskolin), 8-Br-cyclic AMP (300microM) or 8-Br-cyclic GMP (300microM). These results suggest that human skin fibroblasts (CR-1474) have typical BKCa channel and this channel could be modulated by c-AMP and c-GMP. The electrophysiological characteristics of fibroblasts might be used as the diagnostic clues for Alzheimer disease.
Adenylyl Cyclases ; Alzheimer Disease ; Fibroblasts* ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Membrane Potentials ; Nucleotides, Cyclic* ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Phosphatidylinositols ; Phosphotransferases ; Potassium Channels ; Protein Kinase C ; Second Messenger Systems ; Signal Transduction ; Skin*

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) causes oxidative stress and is considered as an inducer of cell death in various tissues. Two-pore domain K+ (K2p) channels may mediate K+ efflux during apoptotic volume decreases (AVD) in zygotes and in mouse embryos. In the present study, we sought to elucidate linkage between K2p channels and cell death by H2O2. Thus K2p channels (TASK-1, TASK-3, TREK-1, TREK-2) were stably transfected in HEK-293 cells, and cytotoxicity assay was preformed using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8). Cell survival rates were calculated using the cytotoxicity assay data and dose-response curve was fitted to the H2O2 concentration. Ionic currents were recorded in cell-attached mode. The bath solution was the normal Ringer solution and the pipette solution was high K+ solution. In HEK-293 cells expressing TREK-1, TREK-2, TASK-3, H2O2 induced cell death did not change in comparison to non-transfected HEK-293. In HEK-293 cells expressing TASK-1, however, dose-response curve was significantly shifted to the left. It means that H2O2 induced cell death was increased. In cell attached-mode recording, application of H2O2 (300micrometer) increased activity of all K2P channels. However, a low concentration of H2O2 (50micrometer) increased only TASK-1 channel activity. These results indicate that TASK-1 might participate in K+ efflux by H2O2 at low concentration, thereby inducing AVD.
Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Baths ; Cell Count ; Cell Death ; Cell Survival ; Embryonic Structures ; Hydrogen Peroxide* ; Hydrogen* ; Mice ; Oxidative Stress ; Zygote

PURPOSE: This study examined dietary and health characteristics of the young-old and the old-old by food security status. METHODS: The study used data from the 6th (2013 ~ 2015) Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The study subjects consisted of 3,948 subjects, of whom 2,445 were the young-old (aged 65 to 74 years) and 1,503 were the old-old (aged 75 years and over). Food security status was evaluated using an 18-item questionnaire. Energy intake, nutrient densities, and prevalence of insufficient nutrient intake were assessed. Food intake was evaluated in terms of the number of food group servings. Dietary behaviors and health status were also assessed. RESULTS: The prevalence of food insecurity among the young-old and the old-old was 10.0% and 11.6%, respectively. Among the young-old, the food insecure group had a significantly higher level of prevalence of insufficient intake for all the nutrients (protein, vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin C, calcium, phosphorous, and iron) assessed in this study compared with the food secure group. In case of the old-old, significant differences were found only for four nutrients (protein, riboflavin, niacin, and phosphorus) in the prevalence of insufficient nutrient intake between the food secure and the food insecure groups. Kinds of food groups with significantly different numbers of servings by food security status were dissimilar between the two age groups. In both the age groups, the food insecure group consumed a significantly lower number of servings in meat·fish·eggs·legumes and fruits than the food secure group; grains and vegetables intake in the young-old and oils·sweets intake in the old-old differed in the number of servings by food security status. Among the young-old, the prevalence of chewing difficulties in the food insecure group was significantly higher than that of the food secure group, while among the old-old, no significant differences were found by food security status. CONCLUSION: Dietary and health characteristics of the young-old and the old-old differed by food security status. Such differences were more apparent in the young-old than the old-old. Therefore, it is suggested that food and nutrition assistant programs should be designed with consideration of the differences.
Ascorbic Acid ; Calcium ; Diet ; Eating ; Energy Intake ; Food Supply ; Fruit ; Humans ; Korea ; Mastication ; Niacin ; Nutrition Surveys ; Prevalence ; Riboflavin ; Vegetables ; Vitamin A

PURPOSE: In 2008, the Korean Oncology Nursing Society (KONS) published standards for the safe use of chemotherapy in clinical settings, including extravastion management. Although the medical environment has rapidly changed, KONS standards have not been revised since then. In 2017, the KONS planned to revise the practice guidelines on oral chemotherapy METHODS: A clinical expert group developed recommended guidelines, using officially accepted standards based on all relevant publications. The draft was discussed and accepted in a consensus conference. The final recommendations were reviewed and approved by the KONS Boards of Directors. RESULTS: There were 4 chapters and 50 recommendations in the final version of the guidelines. Recommendations include those associated with general practice, patient consent and education, order assessment and administration, and side effects and complication management. CONCLUSION: The revised KONS guidelines on oral chemotherapy will contribute to the improvement of staff and patient safety related to oral chemotherapy. KONS guidelines revisions should be carried out at regular intervals.
Consensus ; Drug Therapy* ; Education ; General Practice ; Humans ; Oncology Nursing* ; Patient Safety ; Personal Protective Equipment ; Safety Management

BACKGROUND: Steroid-responsive encephalopathy associated with subacute thyroiditis has, to our knowledge, not been reported previously. CASE REPORT: A 49-year-old woman was found collapsed and brought to our institution with decreased mentality, dysarthria, and gait disturbance. Brain magnetic resonance imaging and angiography were normal but blood tests revealed thyroid-autoantibody-negative thyrotoxicosis. Results of a (99m)technetium-pertechnetate scan were compatible with the thyrotoxic phase of subacute thyroiditis. 14-3-3 proteins were detected in cerebrospinal fluid. Her mental status began to improve from the day following steroid administration. Recurrent encephalopathy was found 2 months after the initial admission, which was also effectively treated with steroid. CONCLUSIONS:We speculate that steroid-responsive recurrent encephalopathy associated with subacute thyroiditis is a subtype of Hashimoto's encephalopathy, and consider that steroid treatment should not be delayed in suspected patients.
14-3-3 Proteins ; Angiography ; Brain ; Brain Diseases ; Dysarthria ; Female ; Gait ; Hashimoto Disease ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Thyroiditis, Subacute ; Thyrotoxicosis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The early diagnosis of acute hepatitis A (AHA) is hindered because serum IgM against hepatitis A virus (HAV) can yield false-negative results during the window period. This study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) kit for HAV RNA for the diagnosis of AHA. METHODS: Samples were collected from 136 patients with acute severe hepatitis at their admission to Asan Medical Center between June 2010 and July 2010. Samples were analyzed for serum IgM anti-HAV using an immunoassay test and for qualitative HAV RNA using the Magicplex HepaTrio PCR test kit. The diagnostic accuracies of these methods were tested on the basis of clinical and laboratory diagnoses of AHA. RESULTS: The concordance rate and kappa value between IgM anti-HAV and HAV RNA PCR were 88.2% and 0.707, respectively. For the diagnosis of AHA, the sensitivity and specificity of IgM anti-HAV were 90.7% and 100%, respectively, when an "equivocal" result was regarded as positive; and 79.1% and 100%, respectively, when an "equivocal" result was regarded as negative. The sensitivity and specificity of HAV RNA PCR were 81.4% and 100%, respectively. All four patients with negative IgM anti-HAV and positive HAV RNA PCR results and all four patients with equivocal IgM anti-HAV RNA and positive HAV RNA PCR results were eventually diagnosed with AHA. CONCLUSIONS: The qualitative HAV RNA PCR test has an equivalent diagnostic accuracy for AHA compared to IgM anti-HAV and may be more sensitive during the window period.
Acute Disease ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Hepatitis A/*diagnosis ; Hepatitis A virus/genetics/immunology ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; Immunoglobulin M/blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prospective Studies ; RNA, Viral/*blood ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ; Sensitivity and Specificity