PURPOSE: This study explored the factors influencing disaster response competency, that is, demographic and disaster-related characteristics, personal disaster (household and workplace) preparedness, disaster risk perception, and self-efficacy in handling disasters among emergency medical technicians in South Korea.METHODS: The study follows a descriptive, cross-sectional design and uses a self-reported questionnaire. Emergency medical technicians, amounting to 1,020 in all, currently working in firefighting organizations from four South Korean cities (Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, and Ulsan) participated in the study.RESULTS: Disaster risk perception, self-efficacy for disaster, participation experience in disaster education/training, and personal disaster (household and workplace) preparedness predicted the disaster response competency of emergency medical technicians in South Korea.CONCLUSION: There is a need for an antidisaster program to enhance the disaster risk perception, self-efficacy, personal disaster (household and workplace) preparedness, and the disaster education/training participation rate toward enhancing disaster response competency of emergency medical technicians in South Korea.
Daegu ; Disasters ; Emergencies ; Emergency Medical Technicians ; Humans ; Korea ; Self Efficacy

Background and Objectives: We investigated the clinical validity of and correlation between the Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire-7 (ETDQ-7) scores and the eustachian tube function test (ETFT) results in patients with a normal drum. Subjects and Methods: The study included 49 patients (93 ears) with unilateral or bilateral ear fullness over >3 months. All patients were administered the ETDQ-7 survey and underwent the ETFT on the same day. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the association between the results were statistically analyzed. Results: ETDQ-7 scores were not significantly correlated with the ETFT results or with middle ear pressure. ETDQ-7 scores in patients with eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) were significantly higher than those in patients with normal ETFT results (p=0.039) when ETD was defined as a pressure change <10 daPa on the ETFT. The area under the ROC curve was 0.631, with a sensitivity of 37.0% and specificity of 89.4%. Conclusions The ETDQ-7 has limited clinical significance in patients with ETD but a normal drum. Therefore, concomitant objective tests should be performed to diagnose patients with ETD.

The global older adult population is rapidly growing, intensifying the burden of elderly care. To alleviate this challenge of an aging society, interventions utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) technology are becoming widespread. This review aimed to examine the effects of AI robot interventions on the psychological outcomes of community-dwelling older adults through a systematic literature review. Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) method was employed to identify and select relevant studies. Seven electronic databases were thoroughly searched for eligible studies from June 1st to 30th, 2023. Methodological quality was assessed using RoB 2.0 or RoBANS 2. Results: Thirteen studies (five randomized controlled trials and eight quasi-experimental studies) were selected in the systematic review. Among the selected studies, eight provided AI robot interventions individually, whereas five used a group format, primarily addressing older adults with cognitive impairment or dementia. Depression was the most frequently addressed psychological outcome, with six of ten studies reporting significant effects. Additionally, five studies each highlighted significant effects on emotions, such as positive expressiveness and enjoyment. However, quality of life, anxiety, and loneliness revealed divergent results. Conclusion: AI robots show potential in alleviating psychological challenges for older adults. However, due to the scarcity of high-quality studies, the review recommends conducting more randomized controlled trials with rigorous designs. This review is expected to provide valuable insights for planning and executing AI robot interventions to improve psychological outcomes for community-dwelling older adults in future research.

PURPOSE: Although progenitor cells may contribute to intimal hyperplasia (IH) after arterial injury, positive contribution of IH is variable with type of injury or cells. This study was designed to examine whether differentiated muscle derived stem cells (MDSC) attenuate IH in rat. METHODS: MDSCs were retrieved using preplate techniques from rat calf muscle and MDSCs (preplate 6th culture fraction, pp6) were exposed to VEGF (50 ng/ml) for endothelial differentiation prior to injection. Male rats were divided into two groups (cell treated vs. control) and underwent carotid balloon injury with 2-Fr catheter. The virus containing Green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene was transfected into cells for monitoring. Cells (5x10(6)) were indwelled into carotid artery for 30 minutes after injury and then blood flow was restored. Arteries were harvested at various intervals (1, 2 and 4 weeks) after injury. The intima to media thickness ratio (IMTR) was calculated with morphometric analysis. RESULTS: Endothelial surface markers such as VE-CADHERIN were strongly expressed on differentiated MDSCs. At 4 weeks after injury, IH was predominantly observed in control group compared to cell treated group. The intensity of GFP was strongly observed at 1 week and declined at 4 weeks in carotid artery wall at MDSC group. CD31(+) endothelial cells were observed at MDSC group compared to control. The mean IMTR in cell treated groups were significantly lower than control at 2 weeks (P=0.005) and 4 weeks (P< or =0.001). CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that MDSCs therapy promotes re-endothelialization and leads to attenuation of IH after balloon injury in rat.
Animals ; Antigens, CD ; Arteries ; Cadherins ; Carotid Arteries ; Catheters ; Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Male ; Muscles ; Rats ; Stem Cells ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Viruses

Canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) is a neurodegenerative disease that causes cognitive and behavioral disorders and reduces the quality of life in dogs and their guardians. This study reviewed the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for CDS and compared the diagnosis and therapy of CAM between CDS in canines and dementia in humans. The evaluation tools for the diagnosis of CDS and dementia were similar in the neurological and neuropsychiatric examinations, daily life activity, cognitive tests, and neuroimaging, but the evaluation for dementia was further subdivided. In CAM, pattern identification is a diagnostic method for accurate, personalized treatment, such as herbal medicine. For herbal medicine treatment of cognitive impairment in canines and humans, a similar pattern identification classified as deficiency (Qi, blood, and Yin) and Excess (phlegm, Qi stagnation, and blood stasis) is being used. However, the veterinary clinical basis for verifying the efficacy and safety of CAM therapies for CDS is limited. Therefore, based on CAM evidence in dementia, it is necessary to establish CDS-targeted CAM diagnostic methods and therapeutic techniques considering the anatomical, physiological, and pathological characteristics of dogs.

BACKGROUND: The gradually increasing demand for coffee worldwide has prompted increased interest in the relationship between coffee and health issues as well as a need for research on metabolic syndrome in adults. METHODS: Data from 3,321 subjects (1,268 men and 2,053 women) enrolled in the 2013–2014 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed. The subjects were divided into three groups according to their daily coffee consumption. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for metabolic syndrome in the coffee-drinking groups were calculated using multiple logistic regression analysis by adjusting for confounding variables. RESULTS: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 15.5%, 10.7%, and 9.7% in men and 3.0%, 7.1%, and 6.5% in women according to their coffee consumption (less than one, one or two, or more than three cups of coffee per day), respectively. Compared with the non-coffee consumption group, the ORs (95% CIs) for metabolic syndrome in the group that consumed more than three cups of coffee was 0.638 (0.328–1.244) for men and 1.344 (0.627–2.881) for women after adjusting for age, body mass index, household income, education, smoking, alcohol, regular exercise, and daily caloric intake. CONCLUSION: The OR of metabolic syndrome was not statistically significant in both men and women.
Adult* ; Body Mass Index ; Coffee* ; Confounding Factors (Epidemiology) ; Education ; Energy Intake ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Humans ; Korea* ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Waist Circumference

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the risk indicators contributing to implant failure, and analyze the relationship between riskindicators and marginal bone loss (MBL) through long-term follow-up over 3 years. Materials and Methods: From 2003 to 2017, patients’ medical charts with a history of dental implant surgery at Chonnam National University Dental Hospital were reviewed retro-spectively. The patient’s demographic variables, and clinical variables were recorded. Periapical radiographs were used to evaluated the changes in MBL around implants. And we analyzed implant survival rates. Multiple regression analysis with backward elimina-tion was conducted to correlate the patient’s clinical variables and implant failure and Pearson correlation analysis was performed to the correlated between implant long-term survival rates and MBL and initial stability. Results: In multiple regression analysis, there was a statistically significant negative correlation between abutment connection type ( β = -.189, P < .05), with or without SPT ( β = -.163, P < .05), diabetes ( β = -.164, P < .05), osteoporosis ( β = -.211, P < .05) and MBL. Anticoagulant medication influenced the long-term success rate of implants. PTV values at the second implant surgery showed a statistically significant negative correlation with long-term implant survival (P < .05). Conclusion For the long-term success of the implant, the appropriate abutment connection type must be selected and the periodic SPT is recommended. Systemic diseases such as diabetes and osteoporosis and antico-agulant medication should be considered. Furthermore, since high PTV at the second implant surgery correlated with the long-term survival rates of the implant, initial stability should be carefully considered before undergoing the prosthetic procedure.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory condition that is difficult to diagnose, with a period of 10.0± 9.6 years from symptom onset to diagnosis. A 32-year-old Asian man presented with bilateral postauricular abscesses that first appeared 5 years previously. Despite several incisions and drainage, the symptoms only temporarily improved and continued to recur. On physical examination, chronic scars and sinus tracts were observed around the lesion. Postauricular HS was diagnosed, and surgical treatment was performed. We performed a wide excision and reconstructed the defect using a posterior auricular artery perforator-based keystone flap. Histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of HS. The reconstruction was successful, and there was no recurrence for 2 years after surgery. HS is difficult to diagnose without specific attention. Although the postauricular region is not a typical site of HS, it can occur in this area. Therefore, if a patient presents with recurrent abscesses in the postauricular region, HS should be considered. Additionally, if HS is diagnosed in the postauricular region, wide excision with reconstruction using a posterior auricular artery perforator-based keystone flap can lead to a favorable outcome.