Objective: Tacrolimus intrapatient variability (Tac IPV) has been considered a marker for post-graft risk. We investigated pre-transplant psychometric testing to predict Tac IPV after living kidney transplantation. Methods: Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) examined during pre-transplant evaluation by 102 recipients were analyzed. Subjects were divided into two groups, low IPV (L-IPV) and high IPV (H-IPV), by cutoffs of Tac IPV: median of 24 and value of 30. T-scores of MMPI-2 scales were used to analyze difference between L-IPV and H-IPV using independent t-tests. Stepwise multiple logistic regression was used to test whether MMPI-2 scales affected Tac IPV. Confusion matrix of logistic regression was used to explain statistical power. Cutoff values of significant scales for H-IPV were analyzed by constructing receiver operating characteristic curves. Results: Hysteria (Hy) and depression (D) scale scores and Tac IPV were associated in IPV 24 (odds ratio [OR]: 1.08, p<0.01 for Hy; OR: 0.93, p<0.01 for D) and IPV 30 models (OR: 1.09, p<0.01 for Hy; OR: 0.92, p<0.01 for D). Paranoia (Pa) scale scores were associated with Tac IPV in IPV 24 model (OR=1.10, p<0.01) and were significantly higher in H-IPV 24 (p<0.01). F1 scores of confusion matrix in IPV 24 and 30 models were 0.70 and 0.71, respectively. Cutoffs of Hy, D, and Pa scales were 51, 57, and 47, respectively. Conclusion MMPI-2 profile is suggested as a predictor for high Tac IPV after living kidney transplantation.

Background: Tea tree oil has antiviral, antimicrobial and antifungal effects and Mastic oil has antifungal and anticancer effects. For synergistic effects of oils, blending oil containing a mixture of two to three oils is recommended. This study aimed to determine the antibacterial effects of Tea tree oil, Mastic oil, and Blending oil containing the two oils in a mixture, to verify and suggest the potential use of these oils as a substance to prevent dental caries. Methods: Tea tree oil, Mastic oil, and Blending oil with a 1:1 blend of the two oils were diluted in liquid medium to 0% (negative control), 0.5%, 1.0%, and 2.0%. Streptococcus mutans was applied to each experimental group of the three diluted oils and after 8 h culture, the optical density (OD) was measured and the growth inhibition rate for S. mutans was estimated. Results: Tea tree oil had significantly low OD values across all concentrations (p<0.05) without significant variation among different concentrations (p>0.05). Mastic oil did not significantly vary in OD compared to the negative control across all concentrations (p>0.05) without significant variation among different concentrations (p>0.05). Blending oil, compared to the negative control, did not significantly vary in OD at 0.5% (p>0.05) but significant variation was found as the concentration increased (p<0.05). Additionally, for Tea tree oil and Mastic oil, the growth inhibition rate showed no significant variation according to concentration (p>0.05), whereas for Blending oil, the growth inhibition rate for S. mutans showed a significant difference at 1.0% (p<0.05) and at higher concentrations. Conclusion Blending oil containing a Tea tree oil and Mastic oil demonstrated a significant growth inhibition effect on S. mutans from the concentration of 1.0%, which suggested its potential use as an effective antibacterial agent for dental caries.

Purpose: This study examined the variations in nursing competence and job satisfaction across different career stages. Additionally, it explored the effect of nursing competence on job satisfaction within each career stages. Methods: Participants were 468 nurses working at a university hospital in B city. Data collection was conducted using self-report questionnaires from April 1 to 15, 2020. The data were analyzed descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, Scheffé test, and multiple regression analysis employing SPSS 23.0. Results: General nursing competence improved significantly after the proficiency stage. Care execution and critical thinking were improved as nurses progressed from the novice to the advanced beginner stage. Additionally, communication showed progress in the competent stage. Furthermore, responsibility and self-development were improved after the proficiency stage.Among the sub-competencies examined, self-development, care execution, and communication significantly influenced the job satisfaction of a nurse’s career. Moreover, self-development was influential at all stages. Conclusion This study shows that there was no substantial improvement in nursing competencies as they progressed through various career stages. Self-development was the most crucial sub-competence impacting job satisfaction, with the effects of the sub-competencies varying across career stages. These results will aid in planning clinical continuing education and formulating policies to enhance nurse competency.

Background/Aims: Anorectal functions are influenced by gender and age. This study sought to define the normal anorectal pressure values measured with conventional anorectal manometry (ARM) and to evaluate the effects of age and gender on anorectal function in asymptomatic subjects. Methods: Conventional ARM was used to measure the anorectal pressures of 164 asymptomatic healthy subjects, including 86 males and 76 females. Results: The resting anal pressures of males and females aged >60 years were significantly lower than those ≤60 years (males, 44.09±14.22 vs. 57.45±17.69, p<0.001; females, 44.09±14.22 vs. 57.45±17.69, p<0.001). The anal high-pressure zone was significantly lower in older males than in younger males (2.42±0.93 vs. 2.82±0.739, p=0.048). In both age groups (<60 and ≥60 years), the anal squeezing pressures of males were significantly higher than those of females (<60 years old, 168.40±75.94 vs. 119.15±57.53, p=0.001; ≥60 years, 149.61±64.68 vs. 101.3±54.92, p=0.006). Conclusions The normal anorectal pressure values measured with ARM in males and females were different. Older males and females had lower anal resting pressures than those of the younger subjects, but squeezing pressure was not affected by age.

Objectives: Many studies have shown that social distancing, as a non-pharmaceutical intervention (NPI) that is one of the various measures against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is an effective preventive measure to suppress the spread of infectious diseases. This study explored the relationships between traditional health-related behaviors in Korea and social distancing practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2020 Community Health Survey conducted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (n=98 149). The dependent variable was the degree of social distancing practice to cope with the COVID-19 epidemic. Independent variables included health-risk behaviors and health-promoting behaviors. The moderators were vaccination and unmet medical needs. Predictors affecting the practice of social distancing were identified through hierarchical multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: Smokers (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.924) and frequent drinkers (aOR, 0.933) were more likely not to practice social distancing. A greater degree of physical activity was associated with a higher likelihood of practicing social distancing (aOR, 1.029). People who were vaccinated against influenza were more likely to practice social distancing than those who were not (aOR, 1.150). However, people with unmet medical needs were less likely to practice social distancing than those who did not experience unmet medical needs (aOR, 0.757). Conclusions Social distancing practices were related to traditional health behaviors such as smoking, drinking, and physical activity. Their patterns showed a clustering effect of health inequality. Therefore, when establishing a strategy to strengthen social distancing, a strategy to protect the vulnerable should be considered concomitantly.

Objectives: Community Water Fluoridation (CWF) was suspended in Ansan city in 2018. The purpose of this study was to inspect the status of caries in the permanent teeth of adolescents and suggest the index as the baseline for cohort study in the CWF suspended area. Methods: Oral examinations and questionnaire surveys were conducted on adolescents aged 12 years. Of 1,479 individuals, 890 (60.2%) consented to the examinations. Frequency and logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the status of permanent dental caries by demographic, sociological, and health behavioral characteristics. The study was conducted with approval from IRB Kyung Hee University. Results: The findings reveal gaps in the prevalence of caries among the study sample according to demographic, sociological and health behavioral factors. Rates of untreated caries were higher among adolescents who stayed in the area for a lesser duration, had foreign parents, or had cariogenic drinks more often (p<0.05). Conclusions A gap in untreated caries was observed based on demographic, sociological, and health behavioral factors. The findings of the study suggest the need to monitor oral health following cessation of CWF, along with developing alternative programs in the near future.

Purpose: We aimed to assess the clinical efficacy of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) for treating hemothorax caused by chest trauma. Materials and Methods: Between 2015 and 2019, 68 patients (56 male; mean age, 58.2 years) were transferred to our interventional unit for selective TAE to treat thoracic bleeding. We retrospectively investigated their demographics, angiographic findings, embolization techniques, technical and clinical success rates, and complications. Results: Bleeding occurred mostly from the intercostal arteries (50%) and the internal mammary arteries (29.5%). Except one patient, TAE achieved technical success, defined as the immediate cessation of bleeding, in all the other patients. Four patients successfully underwent repeated TAE for delayed bleeding or increasing hematoma after the initial TAE. The clinical success rate, defined as no need for thoracotomy for hemostasis after TAE, was 92.6%. Five patients underwent post-embolization thoracotomy for hemostasis. No patient developed major TAE-related complications, such as cerebral infarction or quadriplegia. Conclusion TAE is a safe, effective and minimally invasive method for controlling thoracic wall and intrathoracic systemic arterial hemorrhage after thoracic trauma. TAE may be considered for patients with hemothorax without other concomitant injuries which require emergency sur-gery, or those who undergoing emergency TAE for abdominal or pelvic hemostasis.

Objective: Chemical exchange-dependent saturation transfer (CEST) MRI is sensitive for detecting solid-like proteins and may detect changes in the levels of mobile proteins and peptides in tissues. The objective of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of chemical exchange proton pools using the CEST MRI technique in patients with dementia. Materials and Methods: Our institutional review board approved this cross-sectional prospective study and informed consent was obtained from all participants. This study included 41 subjects (19 with dementia and 22 without dementia). Complete CEST data of the brain were obtained using a three-dimensional gradient and spin-echo sequence to map CEST indices, such as amide, amine, hydroxyl, and magnetization transfer ratio asymmetry (MTR asym) values, using six-pool Lorentzian fitting. Statistical analyses of CEST indices were performed to evaluate group comparisons, their correlations with gray matter volume (GMV) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results: Amine signals (0.029 for non-dementia, 0.046 for dementia, p = 0.011 at hippocampus) and MTR asym values at 3 ppm (0.748 for non-dementia, 1.138 for dementia, p = 0.022 at hippocampus), and 3.5 ppm (0.463 for non-dementia, 0.875 for dementia, p = 0.029 at hippocampus) were significantly higher in the dementia group than in the non-dementia group. Most CEST indices were not significantly correlated with GMV; however, except amide, most indices were significantly correlated with the MMSE scores. The classification power of most CEST indices was lower than that of GMV but adding one of the CEST indices in GMV improved the classification between the subject groups. The largest improvement was seen in the MTR asym values at 2 ppm in the anterior cingulate (area under the ROC curve = 0.981), with a sensitivity of 100 and a specificity of 90.91. Conclusion CEST MRI potentially allows noninvasive image alterations in the Alzheimer’s disease brain without injecting isotopes for monitoring different disease states and may provide a new imaging biomarker in the future.

Objective: Chemical exchange-dependent saturation transfer (CEST) MRI is sensitive for detecting solid-like proteins and may detect changes in the levels of mobile proteins and peptides in tissues. The objective of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of chemical exchange proton pools using the CEST MRI technique in patients with dementia. Materials and Methods: Our institutional review board approved this cross-sectional prospective study and informed consent was obtained from all participants. This study included 41 subjects (19 with dementia and 22 without dementia). Complete CEST data of the brain were obtained using a three-dimensional gradient and spin-echo sequence to map CEST indices, such as amide, amine, hydroxyl, and magnetization transfer ratio asymmetry (MTR asym) values, using six-pool Lorentzian fitting. Statistical analyses of CEST indices were performed to evaluate group comparisons, their correlations with gray matter volume (GMV) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results: Amine signals (0.029 for non-dementia, 0.046 for dementia, p = 0.011 at hippocampus) and MTR asym values at 3 ppm (0.748 for non-dementia, 1.138 for dementia, p = 0.022 at hippocampus), and 3.5 ppm (0.463 for non-dementia, 0.875 for dementia, p = 0.029 at hippocampus) were significantly higher in the dementia group than in the non-dementia group. Most CEST indices were not significantly correlated with GMV; however, except amide, most indices were significantly correlated with the MMSE scores. The classification power of most CEST indices was lower than that of GMV but adding one of the CEST indices in GMV improved the classification between the subject groups. The largest improvement was seen in the MTR asym values at 2 ppm in the anterior cingulate (area under the ROC curve = 0.981), with a sensitivity of 100 and a specificity of 90.91. Conclusion CEST MRI potentially allows noninvasive image alterations in the Alzheimer’s disease brain without injecting isotopes for monitoring different disease states and may provide a new imaging biomarker in the future.