The research was conducted by center for children's foodservice management in Hanam-si. In order to improve job satisfaction, a survey was carried out by working conditions and job satisfaction in children foodservice employees working at child daycare centers registered from January to April. Ninety-five surveys out of 120 were collected, and 76 surveys were analyzed. Job satisfaction consisted of four elements, working environment, welfare, human relationships, and job-itself, analyzed by general characteristics. Pearson's correlation was carried out between job satisfaction and intention to change job by Likert 5 scales using SPSS statistic program. The percentages of child daycare centers owned by civilians was 52.6%, high school education level was 65.8%, permanent workers was 68.4%, and less than 1 year of foodservice was 34.2%. Average scores of job satisfaction were as follows: working environment scored 20.6 out of 25 points, welfare scored 10.3 out of 15 points, human relationships scored 17.5 out of 20 points, and job-itself scored 13.2 out of 15 points. The lowest job satisfaction average was 'I get paid fairly regarding the working hours and the amount of work' with a score of 3.6 points. Job satisfaction based on facility type, age, education level, and working period did not show significant differences, whereas hired status, numbers of foodservice children, and intention to change jobs showed significant differences. Hired status showed significant differences with welfare satisfaction (P<0.05). Numbers of children showed a significant difference with welfare and human relationship satisfaction (P<0.01, P<0.05). Intention to change job showed a significant difference with four elements of job satisfaction (P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.01). In conclusion, to improve job satisfaction of children foodservice employees, working conditions and welfare satisfaction should be increased.
Child Day Care Centers ; Child* ; Education ; Humans ; Intention ; Job Satisfaction* ; Weights and Measures

BACKGROUND: Parkinson disease (PD) is caused by selective cell death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. An early onset form of PD, autosomal recessive juvenile parkinsonism has been associated with a mutation in the parkin gene. The function of parkin is known to remove misfolding proteins and protect cell death. We aimed to investigate the role of parkin against oxidative stress in neuronal cells. METHODS: Parkin knockout embryonic stem cells (PKO ES cells) were differentiated into neurons by adherent monolayer culture method. Oxidative stress was induced by the treatment of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) in neurons derived from wild type and PKO ES cells, and cell viability was examined by MTT assay. After exposure to MPP+, Tuj1-positive cell population was compared between PKO and wild type cells by fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis. The activated caspase3 protein level was also measured by Western blot analysis, FACS and immunocytochemistry. RESULTS: There was no difference in the efficiency of neuronal differentiation between wild type and PKO ES cells. After exposure to MPP+, no significant differences were found in cell viability and Tuj1-positive cell population between the two groups determined by MTT assay and FACS analysis, respectively. The activated caspase3 protein levels examined by Western blot analysis, FACS and immunocytochemistry were not changed in PKO cells compared with those of wild type cells after MPP+ treatment. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that PKO neuronal cells including dopaminergic neurons are not sensitive to caspase3-dependent cell death pathway during the response against MPP+-induced oxidative stress.
1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Death ; Cell Survival ; Dopaminergic Neurons ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; Fluorescence ; Immunohistochemistry ; Neurons ; Oxidative Stress* ; Parkinson Disease ; Parkinsonian Disorders ; Substantia Nigra

BACKGROUND: Adult neural stem cells have the potential for self-renewal and differentiation into multiple cell lineages via symmetric or asymmetric cell division. Preso1 is a recently identified protein involved in the formation of dendritic spines and the promotion of axonal growth in developing neurons. Preso1 can also bind to cell polarity proteins, suggesting a potential role for Preso1 in asymmetric cell division. METHODS: To investigate the distribution of Preso1, we performed immunohistochemistry with adult mouse brain slice. Also, polarized distribution of Preso1 was assessed by immunocytochemistry in cultured neural stem cells. RESULTS: Immunoreactivity for Preso1 (Preso1-IR) was strong in the rostral migratory stream and subventricular zone, where proliferating transit-amplifying cells and neuroblasts are prevalent. In cultured neural stem cells, Preso1-IR was unequally distributed in the cell cytosol. We also observed the distribution of Preso1 in the subgranular zone of the hippocampal dentate gyrus, another neurogenic region in the adult brain. Interestingly, Preso1-IR was transiently observed in the nuclei of doublecortin-expressing neuroblasts immediately after asymmetric cell division. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that Preso1 is asymmetrically distributed in the cytosol and nuclei of neural stem/progenitor cells in the adult brain, and may play a significant role in cell differentiation via association with cell polarity machinery.
Adult* ; Animals ; Asymmetric Cell Division ; Axons ; Brain ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Lineage ; Cell Polarity ; Cytosol ; Dendritic Spines ; Dentate Gyrus ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mice ; Neural Stem Cells ; Neurons ; Rivers

Objective: The Block Design Test (BDT) is known to be an effective measure in diagnosing age-related cognitive decline of visuospatial function. The goal of this study is to investigate the effects of age, education years, and gender on the performance of the BDT and to provide normative data in Korean community-dwelling participants who are 55 to 90 years old. Methods: The participants were 432 non-demented adults aging from 55 to 90 years old. The BDT was administered to participants according to its manual. Multiple linear regressions and analyses of variance were conducted, including age, gender, and educations were used as covariates. Results: Age, educational years, and gender were found to be significantly associated with performance on the BDT. As age increased, BDT performance decreased. Educational years were associated with BDT performance. Men showed higher performance (29.9±10.3) compare to women (26.1±8.7). The BDT is influenced by age, educational years, and gender. Conclusion Unlike the previous study, the current study shows that gender has a significant influence in visuospatial ability in the old population. Present normative data will be useful for clinicians in evaluating aging participants with cognitive impairment.

Objective: The Block Design Test (BDT) is known to be an effective measure in diagnosing age-related cognitive decline of visuospatial function. The goal of this study is to investigate the effects of age, education years, and gender on the performance of the BDT and to provide normative data in Korean community-dwelling participants who are 55 to 90 years old. Methods: The participants were 432 non-demented adults aging from 55 to 90 years old. The BDT was administered to participants according to its manual. Multiple linear regressions and analyses of variance were conducted, including age, gender, and educations were used as covariates. Results: Age, educational years, and gender were found to be significantly associated with performance on the BDT. As age increased, BDT performance decreased. Educational years were associated with BDT performance. Men showed higher performance (29.9±10.3) compare to women (26.1±8.7). The BDT is influenced by age, educational years, and gender. Conclusion Unlike the previous study, the current study shows that gender has a significant influence in visuospatial ability in the old population. Present normative data will be useful for clinicians in evaluating aging participants with cognitive impairment.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Okra seed is a rich source of various nutritional and bioactive constituents, but its mechanism of action is still unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluated the effects on glucose uptake and serum lipid profiles of unsaponifiable matter (USM) from okra seed in adipocytes and diabetic animal models.MATERIALS/METHODSUSM was prepared from okra seed powder by saponification. The contents of phytosterols and vitamin E in USM were measured. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were cultured for 6 days with different concentrations of USM (0–200 μg/mL). The diabetic rats were administered with or without USM for 5 wk. RESULTS: In the USM, the contents of phytosterols and vitamin E were 394.13 mg/g USM and 31.16 mg/g USM, respectively. USM showed no cytotoxicity and led to an approximately 1.4-fold increase in glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The treatment of USM also increased the expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ and glucose transporter-4 in a dose-dependent manner in adipocytes. The body weight change was not significantly different in all diabetic rats. However, blood glucose and the weights of liver and adipose tissues were significantly reduced compared to those in the control diabetic rats. Treatment with USM decreased the levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol compared to the control group. The USM group also showed significantly decreased atherogenic indices and cardiac risk factors. CONCLUSION These results suggest that USM from okra seed improves the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects in diabetic rats, and provides valuable information for improving the functional properties of okra seed.

No abstract available.
Cervix Uteri ; Female

Objective: ：The available normative data for the phonemic fluency test in Korean older adults have concerns for its utility. The aim of the currently study is to provide the normative data that overcome the issues of the previous norms. Methods: ：Total of 443 middle- and old-aged non-demented adults participated in this study. All participants underwent comprehensive assessments conducted by trained psychiatrists and psychologists. Diagnosis was made based on formal guidelines prior to administering the phonemic fluency test. Results: ：The norms on two age groups (50-59 and 60-90 years) with different strata of the education levels for the age groups are provided. Conclusion ：The goal of the current study, which was to overcome the shortcomings of the previously published normative data and establish an updated reference for the Korean version of the phonemic fluency test, is achieved.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of black rice extract (BRE) on tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP)-induced oxidative injury in HepG2 cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: Methanolic extract from black rice was evaluated for the protective effect on TBHP-induced oxidative injury in HepG2 cells. Several biomarkers that modulate cell survival and death including reactive oxygen species (ROS), caspase-3 activity, and related cellular kinases were determined. RESULTS: TBHP induced cell death and apoptosis by a rapid increase in ROS generation and caspase-3 activity. Moreover, TBHP-induced oxidative stress resulted in a transient ERK1/2 activation and a sustained increase of JNK1/2 activation. While, BRE pretreatment protects the cells against oxidative stress by reducing cell death, caspase-3 activity, and ROS generation and also by preventing ERKs deactivation and the prolonged JNKs activation. Moreover, pretreatment of BRE increased the activation of ERKs and Akt which are pro-survival signal proteins. However, this effect was blunted in the presence of ERKs and Akt inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that activation of ERKs and Akt pathway might be involved in the cytoprotective effect of BRE against oxidative stress. Our findings provide new insights into the cytoprotective effects and its possible mechanism of black rice against oxidative stress.
Apoptosis ; Biomarkers ; Caspase 3 ; Cell Death* ; Cell Survival ; Hep G2 Cells* ; Methanol ; Oxidative Stress ; Phosphotransferases ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; tert-Butylhydroperoxide

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: In this study, we determined the anti-inflammatory activities and the underlying molecular mechanisms of the methanol extract from Erigeron Canadensis L. (ECM) in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: The potential anti-inflammatory properties of ECM were investigated by using RAW264.7 macrophages. We used western blot assays and real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction to detect protein and mRNA expression, respectively. Luciferase assays were performed to determine the transactivity of transcription factors. RESULTS: ECM significantly inhibited inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)-derived NO and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) derived PGE2 production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. These inhibitory effects of ECM were accompanied by decreases in LPS-induced nuclear translocations and transactivities of NFkappaB. Moreover, phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPKs) including extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK1/2), p38, and c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) was significantly suppressed by ECM in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Further studies demonstrated that ECM by itself induced heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) protein expression at the protein levels in dose-dependent manner. However, zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP), a selective HO-1 inhibitor, abolished the ECM-induced suppression of NO production. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that ECM-induced HO-1 expression was partly responsible for the resulting anti-inflammatory effects. These findings suggest that ECM exerts anti-inflammatory actions and help to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the potential therapeutic values of Erigeron Canadensis L.
Blotting, Western ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; Dinoprostone ; Erigeron* ; Heme Oxygenase-1* ; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; Luciferases ; Macrophages* ; Methanol* ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; Phosphorylation ; Phosphotransferases ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Protein Kinases ; RNA, Messenger ; Transcription Factors ; Up-Regulation* ; Zinc