Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder and its reported pathophysiological features in the brain include the deposition of amyloid beta peptide, chronic inflammation, and cognitive impairment. The incidence of AD is increasing worldwide and researchers have studied various aspects of AD pathophysiology in order to improve our understanding of the disease. Thus far, the onset mechanisms and means of preventing AD are completely unknown. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator (PGC-1α) is a protein related to various cellular mechanisms that lead to the alteration of downstream gene regulation. It has been reported that PGC-1α could protect cells against oxidative stress and reduce mitochondrial dysfunction. Moreover, it has been demonstrated to have a regulatory role in inflammatory signaling and insulin sensitivity related to cognitive function. Here, we present further evidence of the involvement of PGC-1α in AD pathogenesis. Clarifying the relationship between PGC-1α and AD pathology might highlight PGC-1α as a possible target for therapeutic intervention in AD.
Alzheimer Disease* ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; Brain ; Incidence ; Inflammation ; Insulin Resistance ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Oxidative Stress ; Pathology ; Peroxisomes

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the related factors of insight, self-esteem, and coping skills and the relationships among them in patients with alcohol addiction. METHODS: The participants enrolled in this study were 106 patients from two alcohol treatment hospitals in Gyeonggi Province. Data were collected from May, 12 to 20, 2010 using self-report questionnaires. The instruments were the Hanil Alcohol Insight Scale, Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, and the Ways of Coping Checklist. Data were analyzed using the SPSS-Win 12.0 program. RESULTS: Among the participants, 24.5% had poor insight, 45.3% fair insight, and 30.2% good insight. Insights of participants who had experienced withdrawal symptoms (t=-3.79, p<.001) and of those not living with family (t=-2.07, p=.041) were higher than those who had not experienced the symptoms and who were not living with family. Self-esteem of participants living with family (F=3.60, p<.001) and of those with better academic backgrounds (F=3.39, p=.021) were higher than those of the other groups. Also, self-esteem showed a positive relation with active coping (r=.34, p<.001). CONCLUSION: The results of the present study suggest that mental health practitioners need to focus on insight and self-esteem enhancement, coping skill development when treating patients with alcohol addiction.
Adaptation, Psychological* ; Alcoholics* ; Checklist ; Humans ; Mental Health ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome

Motor disorders in childhood include tic disorder, developmental coordination disorder, and stereotypic movement disorder. A tic is a sudden, rapid, repetitive and nonrhythmic movement (motor tics) or phonic production (phonic or vocal tics) that can occur at any part of the body. Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is characterized by marked impairment in the acquisition and performance of motor skills. Stereotypic movement disorder is a common childhood disorder which repetitive, hard to control, aimless motor activity interrupts everyday life or causes self-infliction of a child. Despite increased attention and the growing scientific knowledge about motor disorders, there are limitations in our understanding and knowledge about the pathogenesis and the management of the disorders. Motor disorders can itself be the primary diagnosis, or can be secondarily diagnosed caused by other disorders, and accompany many neuropsychiatric disorders such as autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which in turn impairs proper learning and socializing of the children with motor disorders. Therefore comprehensive medical history taking, continuous observation of the changes in symptoms, and systematic assessment considering the child's developmental stage and current adaptive capacity are needed. Behavioral therapy and pharmacological therapy are the two most often mentioned treatments of motor disorders.
Adolescent ; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity ; Autistic Disorder ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Learning ; Medical History Taking ; Motor Activity ; Motor Skills ; Motor Skills Disorders ; Stereotypic Movement Disorder ; Tic Disorders ; Tics* ; Tourette Syndrome*

Physiological changes associated with aging affect the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs and thus therapeutic outcomes. These changes may be further amplified by interactions with nutrients. The purpose of this review was to summarize drug-nutrient interactions found in elderly patients. Mechanisms of the interactions can be categorized as ex vivo bio-inactivations, interactions in absorption and elimination phases, and physiological interactions. The goal of enteral nutrition (EN) is to maximize the therapeutic response of medication without adversely affecting EN tolerance. Therefore, to ensure safety, consistent monitoring is necessary for enteral feeding of patients receiving medication via an enteral tube. Elderly patients receiving parenteral nutrition (PN) are often treated concomitantly with medication via the parenteral route. The stability and compatibility of PN formulations infused with other additives, including medication, may be influenced. Limitation of the number of prescriptions to essential medications only during the minimum period along with periodic re-evaluations of the treatment are thus necessary to minimize undesirable drug-nutrient interactions in elderly patients.
Absorption ; Aged* ; Aging ; Enteral Nutrition ; Food-Drug Interactions ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Nutritional Support ; Parenteral Nutrition ; Prescriptions

Adiponectin is an adipocytokine released by the adipose tissue and has multiple roles in the immune system and in the metabolic syndromes such as cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, obesity and also in the neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease. Adiponectin regulates the sensitivity of insulin, fatty acid catabolism, glucose homeostasis and anti-inflammatory system through various mechanisms. Previous studies demonstrated that adiponectin modulates memory and cognitive impairment and contributes to the deregulated glucose metabolism and mitochondrial dysfunction observed in Alzheimer's disease. Here, we aim to summarize recent studies that suggest the potential correlation between adiponectin and Alzheimer's disease.
Adiponectin* ; Adipose Tissue ; Alzheimer Disease* ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Glucose ; Homeostasis ; Immune System ; Insulin ; Memory ; Metabolism ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Obesity

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ) and the hyperphosphorylation of tau protein in the brain, leading to the increase in inflammation and neuronal loss. Recently, evidences to support the association between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and AD have markedly increased by clinical researches and experimental studies. Reduced insulin action and impaired glucose metabolism in the brain leads to diabetes induced AD. Androgen, a male sex hormone, was known to regulate inflammatory response, Aβ deposition in AD, insulin signaling, and synaptic plasticity in brain. Clinical studies demonstrated that androgen deficiency results in the increased risk of AD and its severe progression in male subjects. We reviewed the significant evidences to support that low testosterone levels are linked to diabetes-induced AD based on previous studies. Thus, we highlight the therapeutic potential of androgen in diabetes induced AD.
Alzheimer Disease* ; Amyloid ; Brain ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Glucose ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Metabolism ; Neuronal Plasticity ; Neurons ; tau Proteins ; Testosterone

Vascular dementia is the most common neuropsychiatric syndrome and is characterized by synaptic dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and cognitive dysfunction. Vascular dementia is associated with various environmental, genetic, and lifestyle risk factors. Recent research has focused on the association between vascular dementia and dietary patterns, suggesting that dietary regulation leads to better control of energy metabolism, improvements in brain insulin resistance, and the suppression of neuroinflammation. Intermittent fasting is a calorie-restriction method known to be more effective in promoting fat loss and regulating the impairment of glucose metabolism as compared with other dietary restriction regimens. Herein, the authors review the effects of intermittent fasting with regard to vascular dementia based on recent evidence and propose that intermittent fasting could be a therapeutic approach for ameliorating vascular dementia pathology and preventing its onset.
Brain ; Cognition ; Dementia, Vascular ; Energy Metabolism ; Fasting ; Glucose ; Insulin Resistance ; Life Style ; Metabolism ; Methods ; Pathology ; Risk Factors

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify the factors affecting stress among resort workers. METHODS: The subjects of the study were 199 resort workers in a province of Korea. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires that were completed between November 16, 2017 and January 19, 2018. The questionnaire consisted of stress and health promoting behavior and its sub-areas such as health responsibilities, physical activity, nutrition, spiritual growth, interpersonal relations, and stress management. Using the SPSS 23.0 program, descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis were conducted. RESULTS: The mean score of the stress levels of resort workers was 2.3±0.98 out of a maximum score of 5. A multiple regression analysis revealed that gender, spiritual growth, and stress management were statistically significant factors in the model (p < .001), with an explanatory power of 35%. CONCLUSION: Stress levels were considerably high in resort workers. This study suggests that nursing interventions are needed to reduce stress levels and enhance health promoting behavior, especially spiritual growth and stress management, at both an individual and organizational level.
Health Behavior ; Health Promotion ; Health Resorts ; Interpersonal Relations ; Korea ; Motor Activity ; Nursing

Lipocalin-2 (LCN2), a secreted glycoprotein belonging to the lipocalin superfamily was reported to participate in various biological processes including cell migration, cell survival, inflammatory responses, and insulin sensitivity. LCN2 is expressed in the multiple tissues such as kidney, liver, uterus, and bone marrow. The receptors for LCN2 were additionally found in microglia, astrocytes, epithelial cells, and neurons, but the role of LCN2 in the central nervous system (CNS) has not been fully understood yet. Recently, in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies reported the association between LCN2 and the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we reviewed the significant evidences showing that LCN2 contributes to the onset and progression of AD. It may suggest that the manipulation of LCN2 in the CNS would be a crucial target for regulation of the pathogenesis and risk of AD.
Alzheimer Disease ; Astrocytes ; Biological Processes ; Bone Marrow ; Brain ; Cell Movement ; Cell Survival ; Central Nervous System ; Diagnosis ; Epithelial Cells ; Glycoproteins ; In Vitro Techniques ; Inflammation ; Insulin Resistance ; Kidney ; Lipocalins ; Liver ; Microglia ; Neurons ; Prognosis ; Uterus

We evaluated whether LIM-kinase 2 inhibitor (LIMK2i) could improve erectile function by suppressing corporal fibrosis through the normalization of the Rho-associated coiled-coil protein kinase 1 (ROCK1)/LIMK2/Cofilin pathway in a rat model of cavernous nerve crush injury (CNCI). Sixty 11-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided equally into five groups: sham surgery (S), CNCI (I), and CNCI treated with low-dose (L), medium-dose (M), and high-dose (H) LIMK2i. The L, M, and H groups were treated with a daily intraperitoneal injection of LIMK2i (2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 mg kg-1 body weight, respectively) for 1 week after surgery. The erectile response was assessed using electrostimulation at 1 week, postoperatively. Penile tissues were processed for Masson's trichrome staining, double immunofluorescence, and Western blot assay. Erectile responses in the H group improved compared with the I group, while the M group showed only partial improvement. A significantly decreased smooth muscle/collagen ratio and an increased content of fibroblasts positive for phospho-LIMK2 were noted in the I group. The M and H groups revealed significant improvements in histological alterations and the dysregulated LIMK2/Cofilin pathway, except for LIMK2 phosphorylation in the M group. The inhibition of LIMK2 did not affect the ROCK1 protein expression. The content of fibroblasts positive for phospho-LIMK2 in the H group returned to the level found in the S group, whereas it did not in the M group. However, the L group did not exhibit such improvements. Our data suggest that the inhibition of LIMK2, particularly with administration of 10.0 mg kg-1 body weight LIMK2i, can improve corporal fibrosis and erectile function by normalizing the LIMK2/Cofilin pathway.