With advancements in both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments, significant changes have occurred in heart failure (HF) management. The previous Korean HF registries, namely the Korea Heart Failure Registry (KorHF-registry) and Korean Acute Heart Failure Registry (KorAHF-registry), no longer accurately reflect contemporary acute heart failure (AHF) patients. Our objective is to assess contemporary AHF patients through a nationwide registry encompassing various aspects, such as clinical characteristics, management approaches, hospital course, and long-term outcomes of individuals hospitalized for AHF in Korea. This prospective observational multicenter cohort study (KorHF III) is organized by the Korean Society of Heart Failure. We aim to prospectively enroll 7,000 or more patients hospitalized for AHF at 47 tertiary hospitals in Korea starting from March 2018. Eligible patients exhibit signs and symptoms of HF and demonstrate either lung congestion or objective evidence of structural or functional cardiac abnormalities in echocardiography, or isolated right-sided HF. Patients will be followed up for up to 5 years after enrollment in the registry to evaluate long-term clinical outcomes. KorHF III represents the nationwide AHF registry that will elucidate the clinical characteristics, management strategies, and outcomes of contemporary AHF patients in Korea.

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the association between cardiovascular events and 2 different levels of elevated on-treatment diastolic blood pressures (DBP) in the presence of achieved systolic blood pressure targets (SBP). Methods: A nation-wide population-based cohort study comprised 237,592 patients with hypertension treated. The primary endpoint was a composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and stroke. Elevated DBP was defined according to the Seventh Report of Joint National Committee (JNC7; SBP <140 mmHg, DBP ≥90 mmHg) or to the 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) definitions (SBP <130 mmHg, DBP ≥80 mmHg). Results: During a median follow-up of 9 years, elevated on-treatment DBP by the JNC7 definition was associated with an increased risk of the occurrence of primary endpoint compared with achieved both SBP and DBP (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05–1.24) but not in those by the 2017 ACC/AHA definition. Elevated ontreatment DBP by the JNC7 definition was associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular mortality (aHR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.18–1.70) and stroke (aHR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.08–1.30). Elevated on-treatment DBP by the 2017 ACC/AHA definition was only associated with stroke (aHR, 1.10;95% CI, 1.04–1.16). Similar results were seen in the propensity-score-matched cohort. Conclusion Elevated on-treatment DBP by the JNC7 definition was associated a high risk of major cardiovascular events, while elevated DBP by the 2017 ACC/AHA definition was only associated with a higher risk of stroke. The result of study can provide evidence of DBP targets in subjects who achieved SBP targets.

Background and Objectives: Hypertension (HTN) is the most contributable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. May Measurement Month (MMM) is a global initiative to raise awareness of HTN and act as a temporary solution to the lack of screening programs worldwide. Methods: An opportunistic cross-sectional survey of participants aged ≥18 was carried out in May 2019. Over 10,000 participants were recruited in the MMM 2019 Korea, with a slogan of “A simple measure to save lives – #checkyourpressure.” Results: A total of 9,950 participants with valid clinical blood pressure (BP) data were used for analysis. All participants were Korean in ethnicity. The mean age was 57.2±21.2 years, 57.8% were females, and the mean body mass index was 23.4±3.3 kg/m 2 . Among the enrolled population, 20.1% were less than 30 years old, and 5.0% were 30–39 years old. 37.0% of the participants reported a previous diagnosis of HTN, and 91.3% of those diagnosed were on antihypertensive medications. Notably, more than 20% of the participants had not measured their BP during the last 12 months, and the awareness rate in the young hypertensive participants (aged <40) was less than 10%. Among hypertensive participants, the treatment rate was 69.3%, and the control rate among those taking medications was 61.2%. Conclusion MMM 2019 Korea campaign reported high BP control rates in individuals withHTN, reaching 60%. However, the awareness rate in young hypertensive participants was less than 10% along with suboptimal management status. The MMM 2019 Korea again raised the importance of regular BP measurement in the younger population.

Background and Objectives: Hypertension (HTN) is the most contributable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. May Measurement Month (MMM) is a global initiative to raise awareness of HTN and act as a temporary solution to the lack of screening programs worldwide. Methods: An opportunistic cross-sectional survey of participants aged ≥18 was carried out in May 2019. Over 10,000 participants were recruited in the MMM 2019 Korea, with a slogan of “A simple measure to save lives – #checkyourpressure.” Results: A total of 9,950 participants with valid clinical blood pressure (BP) data were used for analysis. All participants were Korean in ethnicity. The mean age was 57.2±21.2 years, 57.8% were females, and the mean body mass index was 23.4±3.3 kg/m 2 . Among the enrolled population, 20.1% were less than 30 years old, and 5.0% were 30–39 years old. 37.0% of the participants reported a previous diagnosis of HTN, and 91.3% of those diagnosed were on antihypertensive medications. Notably, more than 20% of the participants had not measured their BP during the last 12 months, and the awareness rate in the young hypertensive participants (aged <40) was less than 10%. Among hypertensive participants, the treatment rate was 69.3%, and the control rate among those taking medications was 61.2%. Conclusion MMM 2019 Korea campaign reported high BP control rates in individuals withHTN, reaching 60%. However, the awareness rate in young hypertensive participants was less than 10% along with suboptimal management status. The MMM 2019 Korea again raised the importance of regular BP measurement in the younger population.

Purpose: This study was designed to identify the influence of stress and anxiety on depression in Central Asian Koreans living in Korea. Methods: We used a cross-sectional, descriptive correlational study design, to survey 159 Central Asian Koreans between July 2 and Dec 17, 2019. To analyze the data, we used descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA with the Scheffétest, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and hierarchical multiple regression using the SPSS/WIN 23.0 program. Results: Multiple-regression analysis revealed that how long the subjects had been living in Korea (β=.07, p=.034), their active problem- solving skills (β=-.47, p=.031), and their anxiety levels (β=1.54, p<.001) were significant factors that explained approximately 44% of the variance in depression. Conclusion We concluded that long-term residence and the skills to face and cope with, anxiety and stress can help lower the rates of depression of Central Asians living in Korea.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this mixed-method study was to identify the demand for mental health nursing education and work of nurses at a private psychiatric hospital.METHODS: The survey of demand for mental nursing education was conducted by including 231 nurses at a private psychiatric hospital from November to December, 2017. Qualitative research by two focus groups was conducted from October to November, 2018.RESULTS: The mean of mental health nursing education demands according to major category were the therapeutic environment (4.27±0.76), substancerelated and addictive disorders (4.18±0.68), therapeutic relationship and communication (4.17±0.64), respect for human (4.11±0.74), and neurocognitive disorders (4.07±0.74). The qualitative research participants’ demands for mental health nursing education were classified into five categories: ‘discrimination power’, ‘communication techniques’, ‘psychiatric drugs’, ‘coping method’, and ‘legal issues’.CONCLUSION: Nurses with less psychiatric careers have strong need to learn a therapeutic environment and alcoholism, and nurses with more experience in psychiatry have education of humanities. Nurses at private psychiatric hospitals have high demand for continous education of updated mental nursing to expand their extensive experience required for becoming more professional nurses in future.
Alcoholism ; Education ; Education, Nursing ; Focus Groups ; Hospitals, Psychiatric ; Humanities ; Humans ; Mental Health ; Methods ; Neurocognitive Disorders ; Nursing ; Psychiatric Nursing ; Qualitative Research

PURPOSE: This purpose of study was to describe the adaptation process in the workplace in Korean adults with alcohol use disorder. METHODS: Twelve participants were recruited at hospital outpatients, Alcoholic Anonymous, and addiction treatment centers from October 2016 to January 2017. Inclusion criteria were Korean adults aged 18 and older who were diagnosed with alcohol use disorder and had a job for at least one year. Data were analyzed using Strauss and Corbin's grounded theory method. RESULTS: From open coding, 74 final concepts, 18 sub-categories, and 10 categories were identified. Results showed that the central phenomenon was ‘struggling to stand confidently’. The core categories were ‘withstanding life by embracing reality as an addict’, and the adaptation process appeared ‘selection stage’, ‘determination stage’, and ‘management stage’. The adaptation process of Korean adults with alcohol use disorder in the workplace was compared to ‘pearl in oyster’, which can be a process of breaking through pain. CONCLUSION: Our study findings provide an in-depth understanding of the experiences of an alcoholic's job life. Mental health nurses need to be actively involved in developing vocational rehabilitation programs for addicts.
Adult ; Alcoholics ; Anonyms and Pseudonyms ; Clinical Coding ; Grounded Theory ; Humans ; Mental Health ; Methods ; Occupations ; Outpatients ; Rehabilitation, Vocational ; Social Adjustment

OBJECTIVES: Chronic insomnia disorder is a common and one of the most distressing sleep disorders. This pilot study was conducted to compare the spatial function between insomnia disorder patients and good sleeping control. METHODS: We enrolled the 22 patients with chronic insomnia during over one year who met the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria of insomnia disorder and 27 normal sleeping controls. The Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) has been performed to compare the spatial cognitive function between insomnia disorder patients and good sleeping controls. RESULTS: The CANTAB results showed significant differences in the problems solved in minimum moves of Stockings of Cambridge test (t = −2.499, p = 0.017). The significant difference between two groups remained after controlling age, sex, and Beck Depression Index non-sleep scores (F = 5.631, p = 0.022). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the patients with insomnia disorder have poor spatial planning function.
Cognition ; Depression ; Humans ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Pilot Projects ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Sleep Wake Disorders

This study was conducted to compare the anesthetic effects of 2,2,2-tribromoethanol (TBE, Avertin®) in ICR mice obtained from three different sources. TBE (2.5%) was intraperitoneally injected at three doses: high-dose group (500 mg/kg), intermediate-dose group (250 mg/kg), and low-dose group (125 mg/kg). Anesthesia time, recovery time, end-tidal peak CO2 (ETCO₂), mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation (SpO₂), body temperature, pH, PCO₂, and PO₂ of the arterial blood were measured. Stable anesthesia was induced by all doses of TBE and the anesthesia time was maintained exhibited dose dependency. No significant differences in anesthetic duration were found among the three different strains. However, the anesthesia time was longer in female than in male mice, and the duration of anesthesia was significantly longer in female than in male mice in the high-dose group. The recovery time was significantly longer for female than male mice in the intermediate- and high-dose groups. In the ICR strains tested, there were no significant differences in the mean arterial blood pressure, SPO₂, arterial blood PCO₂, and PO₂, which decreased after TBE anesthesia, or in heart rate and ETCO₂, which increased after TBE anesthesia. In addition, body temperature, blood biochemical markers, and histopathological changes of the liver, kidney, and lung were not significantly changed by TBE anesthesia. These results suggested that ICR mice from different sources exhibited similar overall responses to a single exposure to TBE anesthesia. In conclusion, TBE is a useful drug that can induce similar anesthetic effects in three different strains of ICR mice.
Anesthesia ; Anesthetics* ; Animals ; Arterial Pressure ; Biomarkers ; Body Temperature ; Female ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Kidney ; Liver ; Lung ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR* ; Oxygen ; Sex Characteristics

No abstract available.
Parkinsonian Disorders*