Comparison of Cortisol level by Shift Cycle in Korean Firefighters.

(1) Study Objectives: By investigating the change of cortisol levels during shift cycles among professional firefighters in Korea, this study aims to evaluate the difference between individuals' stress response and the recovery of their circadian rhythm after working night shifts. (2) Methods: A total of 325 shift firefighters, who were working in 3, 6, 9, or 21 day cycles, participated in the study. Their urinary and serum cortisol levels were measured during the day (09-18), during the night (18-09), and every 24 h (09-09) per shift cycle, and adjustments were made for confounding factors.

The relationship between the pattern of shift work and sleep disturbances in Korean firefighters.

Purpose: Sleep disturbances are prevalent in firefighters, but the relationship between patterns of shift work and sleep disturbances has not yet been investigated. Here, this relationship has been evaluated in Korean firefighters.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire, which captured demographic, psychosocial and work-related characteristics.

Phenotypic association of presence of a somatic GNAQ mutation with port-wine stain distribution in capillary malformation.

Background: A somatic mutation of GNAQ (c.548G>A, p.Arg183Gln) plays a key role in capillary malformation development.

Characterization of a novel LQT3 variant with a selective efficacy of mexiletine treatment.

Pathogenic variants in the human SCN5A gene encoding the a-subunit of the principle Na channel (Nav1.5) are associated with long QT syndrome (LQTS) 3. LQT3 patients display variable responses to Na channel blockers demanding for the development of variant-specific therapeutic strategies.

Sleep Assessment During Shift Work in Korean Firefighters: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: This cross-sectional study assessed the sleep quality using the ActiGraph and investigated the relationship between the parameters of sleep assessment and the type of shift work in Korean firefighters.

Methods: The participants were 359 firefighters: 65 day workers (control group) and 294 shift workers (shift work group: 77 firefighters with 3-day shift, 72 firefighters with 6-day shift, 65 firefighters with 9-day shift, and 80 firefighters with 21-day shift). Sleep assessments were performed using the ActiGraph (wGT3X-BT) for 24 hours during day shift (control and shift work group) and night shift and rest day (shift work group).

Analysis of dementia-related gene variants in APOE ε4 noncarrying Korean patients with early-onset Alzheimer's disease.

There is a genetic overlap among various neurodegenerative diseases that cause dementia. We analyzed dementia-related gene variants in 60 apolipoprotein E ε4 non-carrying Korean patients with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Thirty-one dementia-related genes were screened by exome sequencing.

Evaluation of the performance of two real-time PCR assays for detecting Mycobacterium species.

Backgrounds: Rapid discrimination between Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is critical for patient treatment and to avoid unnecessary expenditure on infection control. Because real-time PCR assays distinguish MTB from NTM, we evaluated the performance of two real-time PCR assays (AdvanSure and PowerChek).

Methods: This study used 143 DNA samples from respiratory specimens which were collected based on routine PCR results using Anyplex kit.

Interfacial Engineering of Nanoporous Architectures in GaO Film toward Self-Aligned Tubular Nanostructure with an Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity on Water Splitting.

The present work demonstrates the formation of self-aligned nanoporous architecture of gallium oxide by anodization of gallium metal film controlled at -15 °C in aqueous electrolyte consisting of phosphoric acid. SEM examination of the anodized film reveals that by adding ethylene glycol to the electrolyte and optimizing the ratio of phosphoric acid and water, chemical etching at the oxide/electrolyte interfaces can be controlled, leading to the formation of aligned nanotubular oxide structures with closed bottom. XPS analysis confirms the chemical composition of the oxide film as GaO.

Anodically Grown Binder-Free Nickel Hexacyanoferrate Film: Toward Efficient Water Reduction and Hexacyanoferrate Film Based Full Device for Overall Water Splitting.

One of the challenges in obtaining hydrogen economically by electrochemical water splitting is to identify and substitute cost-effective earth-abundant materials for the traditionally used precious-metal-based water-splitting electrocatalysts. Herein, we report the electrochemical formation of a thin film of nickel-based Prussian blue analogue hexacyanoferrate (Ni-HCF) through the anodization of a nickel substrate in ferricyanide electrolyte. As compared to the traditionally used Nafion-binder-based bulk film, the anodically obtained binder-free Ni-HCF film demonstrates superior performance in the electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), which is highly competitive with that shown by a Pt-plate electrode.

Can robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) be performed very soon after biopsy?

Purpose: To identify the perioperative and oncological impact of different intervals between biopsy and robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) for localized prostate cancer.

Methods: All consecutive patients with localized prostate cancer who underwent RALP with primary curative intent in January 2008-July 2014 in a large tertiary hospital were enrolled in this retrospective cohort study. The patients were divided into groups according to whether the biopsy-RALP interval was ≤2, ≤4, ≤6, or >6 weeks.

Risk Factor-tailored Small Group Education for Patients with First-time Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a risk factor-tailored small group education on anxiety and depressive symptoms, self-efficacy and self-care compliance in patients with first-time acute coronary syndrome (ACS) for 12-month follow-up.

Methods: A quasi-experimental pretest and post-test design was used. Patients were recruited from a national university hospital from 2010 to 2011 in Korea.

10-year risk for cardiovascular disease among male workers in small-sized industries.

Background: Health management or health promotion programs are limited, particularly for workers in small-sized industries.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the 10-year cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk using the general Framingham Risk Score and examine predictors of CVD risk adjusted for age among male workers.

Methods: Routine health screening data and self-reported questionnaires were collected from 12 933 male workers in 1041 industries from 2009 to 2011 in South Korea.

Preparation of biodegradable polymer/silver nanoparticles composite and its antibacterial efficacy.

Biodegradable poly(ethylene oxide) nanofibers containing silver nanoparticles were successfully prepared by the electrospinning without the further reduction process which could cause the damages of nanofibers. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the silver nanoparticles were dispersed in poly(ethylene oxide) nanofibers without aggregation. This facile process would be the effective method to prepare the silver nanoparticles/polymer nanocomposites.

Fabrication of biodegradable nanofibers of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) via electrospinning.

For the first time, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) nanofibrous membrane has been fabricated via electrospinning method. To improve the electrospinnability and reduce the diameter of fibers, the solvent and salt additives were used that affected on the parameters including such as the viscosity and the conductivity of the electrospinning solution for poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate). Since the additional salts should be removed, it could be inferred that the co-solvent system was predominant to prepare the nanofibrous poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) membrane.