The Effect of Knowledge and Attitude on Fall Prevention Activities among Nursing Staff in Long-Term Care Hospitals

Background: The fall prevention activities of nursing staff are emphasized more in order to reduce the incidence of falls in elderly people in long-term care hospitals. Objectives: To examine the extent of knowledge and attitude about falls and the degree of fall prevention activities among nursing staff in long-term care hospitals, and to identify the effect of knowledge and attitude about falls on prevention activities. Design: The data collection was, in the period between July 10th, 2017 and August 10th, 2017, accumulated by constructive questionnaires targeting 138 nurses and nurse aids who are employed within five long-term care hospitals. Methods: The statistical processing was as follows: the frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation coefficients, and hierarchical regression analysis. Results: The fall prevention activities showed a significant difference statistically in the fields of age (F = 5.33, p = 0.002), working career (F = 3.98, p = 0.014), positions (t = 2.71, p = 0.008), subject’s experience with patient falls (t = 2.15, p = 0.033), fall prevention education (t = 3.32, p = 0.001). As for the correlation between knowledge and attitude towards falls and fall prevention activities, knowledge and attitude towards fall (r = 0.45, p < 0.001), knowledge and fall prevention activities (r = 0.27, p < 0.002), attitude towards falls and fall prevention activities (r = 0.42, p < 0.001) had significantly positive correlations. As for the fall prevention activities of nursing staff in long-term care hospitals, their attitude towards falls (β = 0.32, p < 0.001) had an effect on fall prevention activities. Conclusion: In order to increase fall prevention activities in long-term care hospitals, nursing staff’ attitude towards falls is important. Therefore, we need to explore diverse strategies to promote fall prevention activities of nursing.

Dietary fat-associated osteoarthritic chondrocytes gain resistance to lipotoxicity through PKCK2/STAMP2/FSP27

Free fatty acids(FFAs), which are elevated with metabolic syndrome, are considered the principal offender exerting lipotoxicity. Few previous studies have reported a causal relationship between FFAs and osteoarthritis pathogenesis. However, the molecular mechanism by which FFAs exert lipotoxicity and induce osteoarthritis remains largely unknown. We here observed that oleate at the usual clinical range does not exert lipotoxicity while oleate at high pathological ranges exerted lipotoxicity through apoptosis in articular chondrocytes. By investigating the differential effect of oleate at toxic and nontoxic concentrations, we revealed that lipid droplet(LD) accumulation confers articular chondrocytes, the resistance to lipotoxicity. Using high fat diet-induced osteoarthritis models and articular chondrocytes treated with oleate alone or oleate plus palmitate, we demonstrated that articular chondrocytes gain resistance to lipotoxicity through protein kinase casein kinase 2(PKCK2)—six-transmembrane protein of prostate 2(STAMP2)—and fat-specific protein 27(FSP27)-mediated LD accumulation. We further observed that the exertion of FFAs-induced lipotoxicity was correlated with the increased concentration of cellular FFAs freed from LDs, whether FFAs are saturated or not. In conclusion, PKCK2/STAMP2/FSP27-mediated sequestration of FFAs in LD rescues osteoarthritic chondrocytes. PKCK2/STAMP2/FSP27 should be considered for interventions against metabolic OA.

Bile acid increases expression of the histamine-producing enzyme,histidine decarboxylase,in gastric cells

AIM: To investigate the effect of bile acid on the expression of histidine decarboxylase (HDC), which is a major enzyme involved in histamine production, and gene expression of gastric transcription factors upon cooperative activation.

Paraplegia by Acute Cervical Disc Herniation after Shoulder Arthroscopic Surgery in Beach-Chair Position

Paraplegia after non-cervical spine surgery under general anesthesia is a rare devastating postoperative complication [1]. A patient with shoulder pain was scheduled for shoulder arthroscopy due to rotator cuff repair. Arthroscopic shoulder surgery was performed with the patient in the beach-chair. Postoperatively, patients complained the weakness of both lower leg and marked numbness and tingling in the both arms. MRI showed a herniated intervertebral disc between C6 and C7 with spinal cord compression. Despite urgent discectomy, the patient remained dysesthesia of both upper extremities for 6 months. The purpose of this report is to introduce our case with a paraplegia observed after arthroscopic shoulder surgery in beach-chair position because of acute cervical herniation.

The protective roles of integrin α4β7 and Amphiregulin-expressing innate lymphoid cells in lupus nephritis

Type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) have emerged as key regulators of the immune response in renal inflammatory diseases such as lupus nephritis. However, the mechanisms underlying ILC2 adhesion and migration in the kidney remain poorly understood. Here, we revealed the critical role of integrin α4β7 in mediating renal ILC2 adhesion and function. We found that integrin α4β7 enables the retention of ILC2s in the kidney by binding to VCAM-1, E-cadherin, or fibronectin on structural cells. Moreover, integrin α4β7 knockdown reduced the production of the reparative cytokine amphiregulin (Areg) by ILC2s. In lupus nephritis, TLR7/9 signaling within the kidney microenvironment downregulates integrin α4β7 expression, leading to decreased Areg production and promoting the egress of ILC2s. Notably, IL-33 treatment upregulated integrin α4β7 and Areg expression in ILC2s, thereby enhancing survival and reducing inflammation in lupus nephritis. Together, these findings highlight the potential of targeting ILC2 adhesion as a therapeutic strategy for autoimmune kidney diseases.

A Phenomenological Approach to the Korean ＂We＂： A Study in Social Intentionality

This paper explores the phenomenological concept ＂we＂ based on a pre-existing understanding of traditional phenomenology alongside a new aspect of the concept by introducing an analysis of ＂we＂ in Korean. The central questions of this paper are whether the ＂we＂ can be understood as more than a collection of individuals, whether the ＂we＂ can precede both ＂I＂ and ＂thou,＂ and whether the ＂we＂ as an extension of the ＂I＂ or an extended self should necessarily mean the plural of the ＂I.＂