BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The branched-chain amino acids (BCAA), including isoleucine, leucine, and valine, promote muscle protein synthesis. However, obesity may interfere with protein synthesis by dysregulating mitochondrial function in the muscles.This study aimed to examine the association between dietary intake levels of BCAA and skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) in middle-aged participants, and the effect of obesity/ abdominal obesity on this association. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The data of 3,966 men and women aged 50–64 years who participated in the 2008–2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed.Intake levels of energy-adjusted dietary amino acids were obtained using a 24-hour dietary recall. SMI was calculated by dividing the appendicular skeletal muscle mass by body weight (kg) and multiplying the result by 100%. Multivariable general linear models were used to analyze the association of dietary BCAA intake levels with SMI. RESULTS: The beneficial effects of energy-adjusted dietary BCAA intakes on SMI were greater in the non-obesityon-abdominal obesity groups; however, no significant associations were observed in the obesity/abdominal obesity groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Healthy weight and sufficient intake of dietary BCAA are recommended to maintain muscle mass.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The branched-chain amino acids (BCAA), including isoleucine, leucine, and valine, promote muscle protein synthesis. However, obesity may interfere with protein synthesis by dysregulating mitochondrial function in the muscles.This study aimed to examine the association between dietary intake levels of BCAA and skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) in middle-aged participants, and the effect of obesity/ abdominal obesity on this association. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The data of 3,966 men and women aged 50–64 years who participated in the 2008–2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed.Intake levels of energy-adjusted dietary amino acids were obtained using a 24-hour dietary recall. SMI was calculated by dividing the appendicular skeletal muscle mass by body weight (kg) and multiplying the result by 100%. Multivariable general linear models were used to analyze the association of dietary BCAA intake levels with SMI. RESULTS: The beneficial effects of energy-adjusted dietary BCAA intakes on SMI were greater in the non-obesityon-abdominal obesity groups; however, no significant associations were observed in the obesity/abdominal obesity groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Healthy weight and sufficient intake of dietary BCAA are recommended to maintain muscle mass.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the correlation between death anxiety, terminal care stress, and job satisfaction of new nurses, as well as to identify factors affecting job satisfaction using descriptive correlations.METHODS: This study included 143 new nurses who had 3 to 12 months of experience in terminal care. Data were collected from January to February 2018, and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffé́ test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and hierarchical regression analysis.RESULTS: There was a negative correlation between job satisfaction and terminal care stress (r=−.170, p=.043), while death anxiety and terminal care stress were positively correlated (r=.284, p=.001). The following findings demonstrated a significant effect on job satisfaction: lesser the clinical career experience, the lower the job load causing death anxiety and terminal care stress, and the higher the job satisfaction. Furthermore, the explanatory power of these factors was 15.1%.CONCLUSION: To assist new nurses within three months of joining in clinical adaptation, it is necessary to provide them with appropriate knowledge regarding terminal care through training, and with counseling opportunities for the psychological burdens they experience while caring for dying patients.
Anxiety ; Counseling ; Humans ; Job Satisfaction ; Terminal Care

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the correlation between death anxiety, terminal care stress, and job satisfaction of new nurses, as well as to identify factors affecting job satisfaction using descriptive correlations. METHODS: This study included 143 new nurses who had 3 to 12 months of experience in terminal care. Data were collected from January to February 2018, and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffé́ test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and hierarchical regression analysis. RESULTS: There was a negative correlation between job satisfaction and terminal care stress (r=−.170, p=.043), while death anxiety and terminal care stress were positively correlated (r=.284, p=.001). The following findings demonstrated a significant effect on job satisfaction: lesser the clinical career experience, the lower the job load causing death anxiety and terminal care stress, and the higher the job satisfaction. Furthermore, the explanatory power of these factors was 15.1%. CONCLUSION To assist new nurses within three months of joining in clinical adaptation, it is necessary to provide them with appropriate knowledge regarding terminal care through training, and with counseling opportunities for the psychological burdens they experience while caring for dying patients.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to analyze the association between dietary omega-3 fatty acid intake and depression in postmenopausal women using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) VI. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The KNHANES is a cross-sectional nationwide health and nutrition survey. Dietary data, including omega-3 fatty acids, were assessed using the 24-h recall method. Depression was evaluated using a survey questionnaire. The association between dietary omega-3 fatty acids and depression was evaluated using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Depression, according to the dietary omega-3 fatty acid intake, was expressed as the odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). A total of 4,150 postmenopausal women were included in the analysis. RESULTS: In the fully-adjusted model, the group with the highest dietary omega-3 fatty acid intake significantly showed lower prevalence of depression than the group with the lowest intake (OR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.33–0.83); a significant linear trend was detected (P for trend = 0.04). According to the dose-response analysis using cubic restricted spline regression, this association was linear and monotonic (P for non-linearity = 0.32). CONCLUSIONS In this study, the dietary omega-3 fatty acid intake in postmenopausal women was inversely proportional to depression in a dose-response manner. Large cohort studies are needed to verify the causality between omega-3 fatty acids and depression in Korean postmenopausal women.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to analyze the association between dietary omega-3 fatty acid intake and depression in postmenopausal women using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) VI. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The KNHANES is a cross-sectional nationwide health and nutrition survey. Dietary data, including omega-3 fatty acids, were assessed using the 24-h recall method. Depression was evaluated using a survey questionnaire. The association between dietary omega-3 fatty acids and depression was evaluated using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Depression, according to the dietary omega-3 fatty acid intake, was expressed as the odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). A total of 4,150 postmenopausal women were included in the analysis. RESULTS: In the fully-adjusted model, the group with the highest dietary omega-3 fatty acid intake significantly showed lower prevalence of depression than the group with the lowest intake (OR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.33–0.83); a significant linear trend was detected (P for trend = 0.04). According to the dose-response analysis using cubic restricted spline regression, this association was linear and monotonic (P for non-linearity = 0.32). CONCLUSIONS In this study, the dietary omega-3 fatty acid intake in postmenopausal women was inversely proportional to depression in a dose-response manner. Large cohort studies are needed to verify the causality between omega-3 fatty acids and depression in Korean postmenopausal women.

Radiocontrast media-induced acute severe thrombocytopenia is a very rare complication and potentially life-threatening. Here, we report the case of a 63-year-old male patient with severe acute thrombocytopenia following first exposure to intravenous non-ionic contrast media without immediate allergic reactions. His platelet count dropped from 107000/µL to 2000/µL after six hours of radiocontrast infusion. After administration of corticosteroid and transfusion of platelet concentrates, the platelet count returned gradually to normal within 5 days. To the best of our knowledge, non-ionic contrast media-induced isolated acute severe thrombocytopenia following no signs or symptoms of immediate allergic reaction has never been described.
Acute Disease ; Administration, Intravenous ; Contrast Media/administration & dosage ; Contrast Media/adverse effects ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Count ; Thrombocytopenia/etiology

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a communication course with lecture, small group activity and music therapy for nursing students, compared to a conventional lecture course. METHODS: The design of this study was a nonequivalent control group with a pre-post test. Data were collected by questionnaires from 166 nursing students from Y University, Seoul, Korea, with 92 in the experimental group and 74 in the control group. A 13 session program with lecture, small group activity and music therapy was given to the experimental group in 2008, while a conventional lecture course was given to the control group in 2007. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and independent/paired t-tests. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in interpersonal communications or relationships change between the experimental and control group. We found that which area in interpersonal communication and relationships had a positive effect in each course. CONCLUSION: The results indicate a need to consider the characteristics of students and thoroughly prepare for operational difficulties in advance of effectively administering various instructional methods in communication courses for nursing students in the second year.
Evaluation Studies as Topic ; Humans ; Interpersonal Relations ; Korea ; Music Therapy ; Music* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seoul ; Students, Nursing

OBJECTIVES: Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) is an excellent bactericidal agent, but it is detrimental to stem cell survival, whereas intracanal medicaments such as calcium hydroxide (Ca[OH]2) promote the survival and proliferation of stem cells. This study evaluated the effect of sequential NaOCl and Ca[OH]2 application on the attachment and differentiation of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: DPSCs were obtained from human third molars. All dentin specimens were treated with 5.25% NaOCl for 30 min. DPSCs were seeded on the dentin specimens and processed with additional 1 mg/mL Ca[OH]2, 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) treatment, file instrumentation, or a combination of these methods. After 7 day of culture, we examined DPSC morphology using scanning electron microscopy and determined the cell survival rate with 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. We measured cell adhesion gene expression levels after 4 day of culture and odontogenic differentiation gene expression levels after 4 wk using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: DPSCs did not attach to the dentin in the NaOCl-treated group. The gene expression levels of fibronectin-1 and secreted phosphoprotein-1 gene in both the Ca[OH]2- and the EDTA-treated groups were significantly higher than those in the other groups. All Ca[OH]2-treated groups showed higher expression levels of dentin matrix protein-1 than that of the control. The dentin sialophosphoprotein level was significantly higher in the groups treated with both Ca[OH]2 and EDTA. CONCLUSIONS: The application of Ca[OH]2 and additional treatment such as EDTA or instrumentation promoted the attachment and differentiation of DPSCs after NaOCl treatment.
Calcium Hydroxide ; Cell Adhesion ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Survival ; Dental Pulp* ; Dentin* ; Edetic Acid ; Gene Expression ; Humans* ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Molar, Third ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sodium Hypochlorite ; Stem Cells*

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the factors affecting nursing students' learning flow in COVID-19 pandemic situations through mixed-method research.Method: Of the 245 nursing students participating in the survey, 20 participated in a focus group interview. Quantitative data were analyzed using stepwise multiple regression analysis. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis. Results: The factors affecting the learning flow of nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic were their self-regulated learning ability (β = .24, p = .001); learning motivation (β = .23, p = .001); self-efficacy in clinical practice (β = .14, p = .014); and lecture type, or a mixture of recorded and real-time video lectures (β = .13, p = .022). As a result of the qualitative study, eight categories and 22 subcategories were derived. The eight categories are: a lack of preparation in the starting of virtual classes, adapting and growing in a new learning environment, enhancing nursing knowledge and skills through virtual clinical training, self-regulation difficulties when studying alone due to social distancing, difficulty concentrating when learning online, disadvantages of virtual learning, concerns about academic performance, and missing opportunities to enjoy college life. Conclusion Students attempted to discover their own learning expertise through virtual learning while concerned that they would be unable to fully establish their competence to work as actual hospital nurses due to a lack of clinical practice. In such a learning environment, systematic support and strategies are needed to increase the learning flow of nursing students.