Evaluation of metal contamination in brackish area sediments South Korea, using receiver operation characteristic curve.

Brackish areas are where freshwater and seawater meet and possess high geographical and biological importance. However, no unified evaluation method exists for brackish sediments. Therefore, this study applies both the fresh water-sediment quality guidelines (F-SQGs) and the marine-sediment quality guidelines (M-SQGs) to evaluate metal contamination in brackish areas of Korea.

End-of-life care practices in Korean nursing homes: A national survey.

Background: Both globally and nationally, determinants of end-of-life care practices in nursing homes, such as laws and workforce, vary widely, resulting in a huge disparity in the quality of such practices. Despite the rapid growth in the number of nursing homes and increasing social attention being paid to end-of-life care in South Korea, little is known about these practices and how they differ because of nursing home-related regulations and nurse staffing.

Objectives: To examine end-of-life care practices in nursing homes and compare them between nursing homes with 30 beds or more and those with fewer than 30 beds (the cut-point where nursing home-related regulations differ) and between nursing homes with and without registered nurses.

Effects of torrefaction on product distribution and quality of bio-oil from food waste pyrolysis in N and CO.

Waste food utilization to produce bio-oil through pyrolysis has received increasing attention. The feedstock can be utilized more efficiently as its properties are upgraded. In this work, the mixed food waste (MFW) was pretreated via torrefaction at moderate temperatures (250-275 °C) under an inert atmosphere before fast pyrolysis.

Optimal timing of percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage and subsequent laparoscopic cholecystectomy according to the severity of acute cholecystitis.

Backgrounds/aims: The optimal timing of percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD) and subsequent laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) according to the severity of acute cholecystitis (AC) has not been established yet.

Methods: This single-center, retrospective study included 695 patients with grade I or II AC without common bile duct stones who underwent PTGBD and subsequent LC between January 2010 and December 2019. Difficult surgery (DS) (open conversion, subtotal cholecystectomy, adjacent organ injury, transfusion, operation time ≥ 90 minutes, or estimated blood loss ≥ 100 mL) and poor postoperative outcome (PPO) (postoperative hospital stay ≥ 7 days or Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ II postoperative complication) were defined to comprehensively evaluate intraoperative and postoperative outcomes, respectively.

Anhedonia Relates to the Altered Global and Local Grey Matter Network Properties in Schizophrenia.

Anhedonia is one of the major negative symptoms in schizophrenia and defined as the loss of hedonic experience to various stimuli in real life. Although structural magnetic resonance imaging has provided a deeper understanding of anhedonia-related abnormalities in schizophrenia, network analysis of the grey matter focusing on this symptom is lacking. In this study, single-subject grey matter networks were constructed in 123 patients with schizophrenia and 160 healthy controls.

The relationship between ambivalence, alexithymia, and salience network dysfunction in schizophrenia.

Ambivalence in schizophrenia is worth investigating its association with salience processing and alexithymia using functional MRI. Twenty-two patients with schizophrenia and 22 healthy controls were scanned during the ambivalence task of matching picture (ambivalent, positive and negative) and word (positive and negative) stimuli, and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS) was rated. Patients exhibited decreased activity in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and insula compared to controls, and ACC activity in the ambivalent condition was negatively correlated with the TAS score in patients.

Anti-Inflammatory Effect of on Ethanol-Induced Gastric Ulcer: Analytical, In Vitro and In Vivo Studies for the Identification of Action Mechanism and Active Compounds.

is widely used as traditional medicine in East Asia. However, its effects against inflammation and gastric ulcers have not been reported yet. We analyzed anti-inflammatory activity and its molecular mechanisms of using RAW264.

Fatty Acid Derivatives Isolated from the Oil of (Avocado) Protects against Neomycin-Induced Hair Cell Damage.

Avocado oil is beneficial to human health and has been reported to have beneficial effects on sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). However, the compounds in avocado oil that affect SNHL have not been identified. In this study, we identified 20 compounds from avocado oil, including two new and 18 known fatty acid derivatives, using extensive spectroscopic analysis.

Elucidating the Functional Roles of Helper and Cytotoxic T Cells in the Cell-Mediated Immune Responses of Olive Flounder ().

In higher vertebrates, helper and cytotoxic T cells, referred to as CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes, respectively, are mainly associated with adaptive immunity. The adaptive immune system in teleosts involves T cells equivalent to those found in mammals. We previously generated monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against olive flounder () CD4 T cells, CD4-1 and CD4-2, and used these to describe the olive flounder's CD4 Tcell response during a viral infection.

Socioeconomic Costs of Dementia Based on Utilization of Health Care and Long-Term-Care Services: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

This study examined the socioeconomic costs of dementia based on the utilization of healthcare and long-term care services in South Korea. Using 2016 data from two national insurance databases and a survey study, persons with dementia were categorized into six groups based on healthcare and long-term care services used: long-term care insurance users with home- and community-based services (n = 93,346), nursing home services (n = 69,895), and combined services (n = 16,068); and long-term care insurance non-users cared for by family at home (n = 192,713), living alone (n = 19,526), and admitted to long-term-care hospitals (n = 65,976). Their direct and indirect costs were estimated.

A 12-Week, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial for Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of DKB114 on Reduction of Uric Acid in Serum.

This study sought to investigate the antihyperuricemia efficacy and safety of DKB114 (a mixture of Linn flower extract and extract) to evaluate its potential as a dietary supplement ingredient. This clinical trial was a randomized, 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. A total of 80 subjects (40 subjects with an intake of DKB114 and 40 subjects with that of placebo) who had asymptomatic hyperuricemia (7.

Anti-Obesity Effect of through the Inhibition of Pancreatic Lipase and Amylase Activity.

This study sought to evaluate the effects of var. albus Bailey extract (PM extract) and var. ferulae extract (PF extract) on the inhibition of digestive enzymes and to confirm the anti-obesity effect of DKB-117 (a mixture of PM extract and PF extract) in digestive enzyme inhibition in a mouse model of obesity induced by a high-fat diet.

Korean Medication Algorithm for Schizophrenia 2019, Second Revision: Treatment of Psychotic Symptoms.

Objective: In 2001, the Korean College of Neuropsychopharmacology and the Korean Society for Schizophrenia Research developed the Korean Medication Algorithm Project for Schizophrenia (KMAP-SPR 2001, revised 2006) through a consensus of expert opinion. The present study was carried out to support the second revision of the KMAP-SPR.

Methods: Based on clinical guidelines and studies on the treatment of psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia, the Executive committee completed a draft of KMAP-SPR 2019.

The Relationship between Neuropsychiatric Symptoms and Default-Mode Network Connectivity in Alzheimer's Disease.

Objective: Neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia are prevalent and extremely burdening for the patient and caregivers, but the underlying mechanism of these symptoms has not been investigated. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between neuropsychiatric symptoms and default-mode functional connectivity in Alzheimer's disease.

Methods: Neuropsychiatric symptoms were assessed using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory.

Effects of polluted and non-polluted suspended sediments on the oxygen consumption rate of olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus.

The potential ecological impacts of elevated suspended sediments (SS) in coastal areas due to human activities remain unclear. In particular, physiological response of benthic fish to SS exposure in polluted environment has not been documented. We determined sub-lethal toxicity of polluted and non-polluted SS to olive flounder.

Protective Mechanisms of Avocado Oil Extract Against Ototoxicity.

Despite the excellent antimicrobial activity of aminoglycoside antibiotics, permanent inner ear damage associated with the use of these drugs has resulted in the need to develop strategies to address the ototoxic risk given their widespread use. In a previous study, we showed that avocado oil protects ear hair cells from damage caused by neomycin. However, the detailed mechanism by which this protection occurs is still unclear.

Newly Identified AhR-Active Compounds in the Sediments of an Industrial Area Using Effect-Directed Analysis.

Effect-directed analysis was used to identify previously unidentified aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonists in sediments collected from a highly industrialized area of Ulsan Bay, Korea. The specific objectives were to (i) investigate potent fractions of sediment extracts using the H4IIE- bioassay, (ii) determine the concentrations of known AhR agonists (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and styrene oligomers (SOs)), (iii) identify previously unreported AhR agonists in fractions by use of GC-QTOFMS, and (iv) evaluate contributions of individual compounds to overall AhR-mediated potencies, found primarily in fractions containing aromatics with log 5-8. Greater concentrations of PAHs and SOs were also found in those fractions.

Avocado Oil Extract Modulates Auditory Hair Cell Function through the Regulation of Amino Acid Biosynthesis Genes.

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is one of the most common causes of disability, affecting over 466 million people worldwide. However, prevention or therapy of SNHL has not been widely studied. Avocado oil has shown many health benefits but it has not yet been studied in regards to SNHL.

Evaluation of residual toxicity of hypochlorite-treated water using bioluminescent microbes and microalgae: Implications for ballast water management.

Total residual oxidants (TRO) in treated ballast water can produce various disinfection by-products (DBPs) depending on local conditions, such as salinity and organic matter content in water. Because TRO and DBPs are known to be harmful to aquatic organisms and humans, ecotoxicity tests have been proposed for screening the residual toxicity before discharging treated ballast water. In the present study, we aimed to address the decay rates and toxicity changes of TRO under various conditions in salinity, initial TRO concentrations, and residence time of TRO.

Potential ecotoxicological effects of elevated bicarbonate ion concentrations on marine organisms.

Recently, a novel method for carbon capture and storage has been proposed, which converts gaseous CO into aqueous bicarbonate ions (HCO), allowing it to be deposited into the ocean. This alkalinization method could be used to dispose large amounts of CO without acidifying seawater pH, but there is no information on the potential adverse effects of consequently elevated HCO concentrations on marine organisms. In this study, we evaluated the ecotoxicological effects of elevated concentrations of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) (max 193 mM) on 10 marine organisms.

Medialis pedis flap for reconstruction of weight bearing heel.

Background: Among the various flaps available for the reconstruction of the heel, a medial plantar flap has been widely accepted as the most ideal. This flap, however, involves the medial plantar nerve and its cutaneous branches, which may lead to postoperative hyperesthesia and dual sensation. The purpose of this report was to report the outcomes of the use of the medialis pedis flap for the coverage of weight bearing heel soft tissue defect.

Periprosthetic Insufficiency Fracture around Radiographically Loose Cemented Stem: A Report of Two Cases.

As the osteoporotic patient population grows, various periprosthetic fractures that cannot be classified appropriately can occur around the femur after hip arthroplasty. We experienced two cases of periprosthetic insufficiency fractures at subtrochanteric area of the femurs around radiographically loose cemented femoral stems. The ages of the patients were 75 years and 83 years.

Comparing the Effectiveness and Safety of the Addition of and Switching to Aripiprazole for Resolving Antipsychotic-Induced Hyperprolactinemia: A Multicenter, Open-Label, Prospective Study.

Objectives: Hyperprolactinemia is an important but often overlooked adverse effect of antipsychotics. Several studies have shown that switching to or adding aripiprazole normalizes antipsychotic-induced hyperprolactinemia. However, no study has directly compared the effectiveness and safety of the 2 strategies.

The relationship between self-referential processing-related brain activity and anhedonia in patients with schizophrenia.

Despite the possible relationship between impaired self-referential processing and anhedonia, it has not yet been investigated. This study investigated an abnormality in brain activation associated with self-referential processing and its relationship with anhedonia in schizophrenia, specifically in self-related brain regions of interest. Twenty patients with schizophrenia and 25 controls underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging while rating the degree of relevance between faces (self, familiar other, or unfamiliar other) and words (positive, negative, or neutral).