Purpose: This study aimed to assess dementia awareness and educational needs among elderly care facility workers and to explore their experiences in caring for older adults with dementia through a mixed-methods approach. Methods: From May 1 to 31, 2023, 311 workers from dementia-related institutions in S City participated in a survey. Following the quantitative phase, 10 individuals participated in focus group interviews to further explore their experiences and needs. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 25.0, and thematic analysis was applied to qualitative data. Results: The average dementia awareness score was 0.83±0.13 (out of 12), with the highest correct response rate (93%) in the "prevention and t reatment" category. The most requested education topics included managing "agitation and aggression" and improving "communication" skills. Qualitative analysis revealed two main themes with five subthemes, capturing staff experiences in dementia care and their perceived educational needs. Conclusion The findings highlight a strong demand for practical, structured training programs tailored to address behavioral management and communication challenges faced by facility staff.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess dementia awareness and educational needs among elderly care facility workers and to explore their experiences in caring for older adults with dementia through a mixed-methods approach. Methods: From May 1 to 31, 2023, 311 workers from dementia-related institutions in S City participated in a survey. Following the quantitative phase, 10 individuals participated in focus group interviews to further explore their experiences and needs. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 25.0, and thematic analysis was applied to qualitative data. Results: The average dementia awareness score was 0.83±0.13 (out of 12), with the highest correct response rate (93%) in the "prevention and t reatment" category. The most requested education topics included managing "agitation and aggression" and improving "communication" skills. Qualitative analysis revealed two main themes with five subthemes, capturing staff experiences in dementia care and their perceived educational needs. Conclusion The findings highlight a strong demand for practical, structured training programs tailored to address behavioral management and communication challenges faced by facility staff.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess dementia awareness and educational needs among elderly care facility workers and to explore their experiences in caring for older adults with dementia through a mixed-methods approach. Methods: From May 1 to 31, 2023, 311 workers from dementia-related institutions in S City participated in a survey. Following the quantitative phase, 10 individuals participated in focus group interviews to further explore their experiences and needs. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 25.0, and thematic analysis was applied to qualitative data. Results: The average dementia awareness score was 0.83±0.13 (out of 12), with the highest correct response rate (93%) in the "prevention and t reatment" category. The most requested education topics included managing "agitation and aggression" and improving "communication" skills. Qualitative analysis revealed two main themes with five subthemes, capturing staff experiences in dementia care and their perceived educational needs. Conclusion The findings highlight a strong demand for practical, structured training programs tailored to address behavioral management and communication challenges faced by facility staff.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess dementia awareness and educational needs among elderly care facility workers and to explore their experiences in caring for older adults with dementia through a mixed-methods approach. Methods: From May 1 to 31, 2023, 311 workers from dementia-related institutions in S City participated in a survey. Following the quantitative phase, 10 individuals participated in focus group interviews to further explore their experiences and needs. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 25.0, and thematic analysis was applied to qualitative data. Results: The average dementia awareness score was 0.83±0.13 (out of 12), with the highest correct response rate (93%) in the "prevention and t reatment" category. The most requested education topics included managing "agitation and aggression" and improving "communication" skills. Qualitative analysis revealed two main themes with five subthemes, capturing staff experiences in dementia care and their perceived educational needs. Conclusion The findings highlight a strong demand for practical, structured training programs tailored to address behavioral management and communication challenges faced by facility staff.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess dementia awareness and educational needs among elderly care facility workers and to explore their experiences in caring for older adults with dementia through a mixed-methods approach. Methods: From May 1 to 31, 2023, 311 workers from dementia-related institutions in S City participated in a survey. Following the quantitative phase, 10 individuals participated in focus group interviews to further explore their experiences and needs. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 25.0, and thematic analysis was applied to qualitative data. Results: The average dementia awareness score was 0.83±0.13 (out of 12), with the highest correct response rate (93%) in the "prevention and t reatment" category. The most requested education topics included managing "agitation and aggression" and improving "communication" skills. Qualitative analysis revealed two main themes with five subthemes, capturing staff experiences in dementia care and their perceived educational needs. Conclusion The findings highlight a strong demand for practical, structured training programs tailored to address behavioral management and communication challenges faced by facility staff.

Background: To investigate the clinical findings of choroideremia patients and perform genetic analysis by whole-exome sequencing (WES). Methods: A total of 94 patients initially diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) at another hospital, and who visited our hospital for genetic analysis by WES, were included in the study, along with 64 family members. All subjects underwent comprehensive ophthalmic evaluation, including best-corrected visual acuity, slit lamp examination, fundus photography, fundus autofluorescence (FAF), fluorescein angiography (FAG), visual field (VF), electroretinogram (ERG), and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Results: In six male patients with suspected choroideremia, extensive retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and severe loss of choroid were observed in the fundus, but not in the macula. CHM gene mutation was confirmed in five patients. A novel single nucleotide variant at a splice site was observed in one patient. OCT showed marked thinning of the outernuclear layer and choroid, except in the macula. FAF showed a small area of hyperfluorescence in the posterior pole. In addition, characteristic interlaminar bridges were observed in four patients. On FAG, hypofluorescence was seen up to the far-peripheral retina in five patients. Conclusion Of the 94 patients initially diagnosed with RP, CHM mutation was identified in five (5.3%) by WES. Choroideremia should be considered as a differential diagnosis of RP.WES would be useful for identifying the causes of hereditary retinal disease.

Background/Aims: Our study aimed to evaluate the long-term outcomes and risk factors forrelapse after anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α cessation in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients because they are not well established. Methods: A retrospective multicenter cohort study was conducted involving patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) from 10 referral hospitals in Korea who discontinued firstline anti-TNF therapy after achieving clinical remission. Results: A total of 109 IBD patients (71 CD and 38 UC) with a median follow-up duration of 56months were analyzed. The cumulative relapse rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 11.3%, 46.7%, and 62.5% for CD patients and 28.9%, 45.3%, and 60.9% for UC patients. Multivariable Coxanalysis revealed that discontinuation owing to the clinician’s decision was associated with lower risk of relapse (vs patient’s preference: hazard ratio [HR], 0.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.04 to 0.48; p=0.002) and adalimumab use was associated with higher risk of relapse (vs infliximab: HR, 4.42; 95% CI, 1.24 to 17.74; p=0.022) in CD patients. Mucosal healing was associated with lower risk of relapse (vs nonmucosal healing: HR, 0.12; 95% CI, 0.02 to 0.83; p=0.031) in UC patients. Anti-TNF re-induction was provided to 52 patients, and a response was obtained in 50 patients. However, 25 of them discontinued retreatment owing to a loss of response (n=15), the patient’s preference (n=6), and other factors (n=4). Conclusions More than 60% of IBD patients in remission under anti-TNF therapy relapsed within 5 years of treatment cessation. Anti-TNF re-induction was effective. However, half of the patients discontinued anti-TNF therapy, and 50% of these patients discontinued treatment owing to loss of response.

Background/Aims: Our study aimed to evaluate the long-term outcomes and risk factors forrelapse after anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α cessation in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients because they are not well established. Methods: A retrospective multicenter cohort study was conducted involving patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) from 10 referral hospitals in Korea who discontinued firstline anti-TNF therapy after achieving clinical remission. Results: A total of 109 IBD patients (71 CD and 38 UC) with a median follow-up duration of 56months were analyzed. The cumulative relapse rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 11.3%, 46.7%, and 62.5% for CD patients and 28.9%, 45.3%, and 60.9% for UC patients. Multivariable Coxanalysis revealed that discontinuation owing to the clinician’s decision was associated with lower risk of relapse (vs patient’s preference: hazard ratio [HR], 0.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.04 to 0.48; p=0.002) and adalimumab use was associated with higher risk of relapse (vs infliximab: HR, 4.42; 95% CI, 1.24 to 17.74; p=0.022) in CD patients. Mucosal healing was associated with lower risk of relapse (vs nonmucosal healing: HR, 0.12; 95% CI, 0.02 to 0.83; p=0.031) in UC patients. Anti-TNF re-induction was provided to 52 patients, and a response was obtained in 50 patients. However, 25 of them discontinued retreatment owing to a loss of response (n=15), the patient’s preference (n=6), and other factors (n=4). Conclusions More than 60% of IBD patients in remission under anti-TNF therapy relapsed within 5 years of treatment cessation. Anti-TNF re-induction was effective. However, half of the patients discontinued anti-TNF therapy, and 50% of these patients discontinued treatment owing to loss of response.

Purpose: This study explored nursing students’ experiences of attending clinical practicum courses in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic era, focusing on their confidence in clinical competency and job readiness. Methods: The data for this study were collected using online questionnaires that were uploaded to a free online survey website and distributed via a link to the survey to 334 nursing students attending four-year nursing colleges at four national universities. Data analysis was done with descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, and ANOVA. Results: The participants were mostly female (83.2%) college seniors (78.1%). About 60% of the participants practiced between 40% to 100% of their clinical practicum hours in alternative ways. Almost a third of the participants reported that they were not ready for a job (30.2%). However, participants’ confidence in clinical competency and job readiness was not related to the rate of alternative practice, but rather to both achievement of educational outcomes and satisfaction in the nursing practicum. Conclusion Due to COVID-19, it is evident that effective and efficient materials and ways of delivering clinical courses are constantly to be sought and developed. In particular, recently graduated nurses who experienced abrupt and considerable alterations in their clinical practicum courses due to COVID-19 are in need of attention while they strive to make clinical adaptations.

PURPOSE: Barely sprout is a well-known oriental herbal medicine with a wide range of health benefits. Recent studies have provided scientific evidence of its therapeutic effects with expanded application. This study investigated anti-melanogenic effect of barley sprout water extract (BSE) in murine melanocyte B16F10. METHODS: Various concentrations (0, 50, 125, and 250 µg/mL) of BSE and arbutin (150 ppm) were applied to B16F10 stimulated with or without alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (100 nM) for 72 hours. The whitening potency of BSE was determined altered cellular melanin contents. Activity and expression of tyrosinase and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) were also assayed. RESULTS: Experimental results revealed that treatment with BSE reduced cellular melanin production by approximately 40% compared to the control. Molecular findings supported that suppressed activity and expression of tyrosinase and MITF proteins by BSE were associated with declined cellular melanogenesis. Furthermore, anti-melanogenic effect of BSE (250 µg/mL) was similar to that of arbutin, a commonly used whitening agent. Lastly, polyphenols including p-coumaric, ferulic, and vanillic acids were identified in BSE using HPLC analyses. They might be potential active ingredients showing such melanogenesis-reducing effect. CONCLUSION: BSE was evident to possess favorable anti-melanogenic potency in an in vitro model. As a natural food sourced material, BSE could be an effective depigmentation agent with potential application in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.
Arbutin ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Herbal Medicine ; Hordeum ; In Vitro Techniques ; Insurance Benefits ; Melanins ; Melanocytes ; Melanoma ; Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor ; Monophenol Monooxygenase ; Polyphenols ; Therapeutic Uses ; Vanillic Acid ; Water