Non-volatile resistive switching characteristics in CuS-based memristor.

Memristors have emerged as promising candidates for high-density non-volatile memory and neuromorphic computing due to their simple structure and low power operation. However, conventional memristive switching devices often require a lot of energy for fabrication processes and high operating voltages, which not only hinder integration with flexible substrates but also impose substantial limitations on overall energy efficiency. In this study, we demonstrated a memristive switching device based on copper sulfide (CuS), fabricated through a room-temperature sulfurization synthesis process.

Long-term care facility admissions according to type and duration of home- and community-based services among beneficiaries with dementia in Korea.

Background: Dementia significantly increases long-term care (LTC) facility admission. However, the impact of home- and community-based services (HCBS) type and duration on facility admissions remains unclear.

Purpose: We examined LTC facility admissions according to type (home, day, and combined care) and duration (<6 vs.

Enavogliflozin, an SGLT2 Inhibitor, Improves Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Induced by High-Fat, High-Cholesterol Diet.

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, a progressive condition caused by the accumulation of fat in the liver, begins with simple steatosis and can potentially progress to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) in the presence of inflammation and fibrosis, ultimately leading to cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. Increasing evidence indicates that sodiumglucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors effectively alleviate MASH in mouse models. However, there is a lack of research on the effects of enavogliflozin on liver disease.

Fatty Liver Index Dynamics as a Predictor of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Non-Cirrhotic Livers.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a significant risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; however, surveillance strategies for patients with T2DM, especially without cirrhosis, are inadequate. This study examined whether the fatty liver index (FLI) and its dynamic changes can effectively identify patients with T2DM at increased risk for HCC.

Methods: Data from 92,761 individuals with T2DM aged 40 to 79 who underwent two health screenings (2012 to 2015) were analyzed.

Feasibility and Effects of a Gait Assistance and Gait Resistance Training Program Using a Walking-Assist Wearable Robot for Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Single-Group, Pre-, and Posttest Study.

Background: Two-thirds of people aged 65 years and older may require help with daily activities such as eating, bathing, and getting in and out of bed or a chair. Walking-assist wearable robots have shown significant improvements in physical function in controlled settings for patients.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to assess the feasibility and the effect of a gait assistance and gait resistance training program using a walking-assist wearable robot for community-dwelling older adults.

Irisin Attenuates Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation and Liver Fibrosis in Bile Duct Ligation Mice Model and Improves Mitochondrial Dysfunction.

Backgruound: Liver fibrosis is a common outcome of chronic liver disease and is primarily driven by hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation. Irisin, a myokine released during physical exercise, is beneficial for metabolic disorders and mitochondrial dysfunction. This study aimed to explore the effects of irisin on liver fibrosis in HSCs, a bile duct ligation (BDL) mouse model, and the associated mitochondrial dysfunction.

The effectiveness of a transitional care program for frail older adults between hospital and home: A randomized controlled trial.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a transitional care program developed for frail older adults. A single-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted. Thirty-two frail older adults were enrolled in the study.

Symptom-specific non-pharmacological interventions for behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia: An umbrella review.

Background: Non-pharmacological interventions are considered the first-line treatment for managing the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. Given the heterogeneous characteristics of these symptoms, which vary for each individual and tend to fluctuate, a symptom-specific approach is necessary for providing individualized non-pharmacological interventions for people with dementia. However, clear guidelines regarding the appropriate types of interventions for individual symptoms or clusters of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia are lacking.

Symptom Burden Contributes to Sleep Problems Through Depressive Symptoms in Middle-Aged and Older Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: A Multigroup Analysis.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between symptom burden and sleep problems and the role of depressive symptoms on these relationships in middle-aged and older adults with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: The study employed a cross-sectional, correlational design with secondary analysis. De-identified data sets from three original studies were combined.

Promoting workplace retention during global crises: An international survey of the preventive role of psychological support among victims of social discrimination in long-term care facilities.

This international cross-sectional survey examined the potential role of organizational psychological support in mitigating the association between experiencing social discrimination against long-term care (LTC) facilities' healthcare professionals (HCPs) and their intention to stay in the current workplace during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants included a convenience sample of 2,143 HCPs (nurses [21.5 %], nurse aids or residential care workers [40.

A mobile app to predict and manage behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia: Development, usability, and users' acceptability.

Non-pharmacological interventions are considered the first-line treatment for behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD); however, traditional approaches have shown only small effect sizes. Mobile technology offers an opportunity to improve BPSD assessment and management in people living with dementia (PLWD). We aimed (1) to develop a mobile application (app) featuring a real-time BPSD diary, machine-learning-based BPSD prediction, and individualized non-pharmacological care programs, including therapeutic use of music and reminiscent content, and (2) to test its usability, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy among PLWD and caregivers.

Use of physical restraints on older adults in South Korean nursing homes: a multicenter study.

In this study, we aimed to examine the current status of physical restraint use and ascertain factors affecting the rate of usage of physical restraints on older adults in South Korean nursing homes. For this purpose, we conducted a secondary analysis of data from 190 registered nurses employed at 62 nursing homes. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors affecting the use of restraints in nursing homes.

Questionnaire-Based Survey of Diabetes Self-Care Activities and Barriers among Young Korean Adults with Early-Onset Diabetes.

Purpose: Self-management of diabetes is a significant challenge. This study aimed to assess diabetes self-care activities and barriers among Korean young adults with diabetes mellitus.

Materials And Methods: This study recruited 209 Korean adults with diabetes, with an onset age of 20-39 years, from four university hospitals.

Salivary Cortisol and Melatonin, Sleep, and Behavioral Patterns in Older Adults Living With Dementia.

Background: Over half of the older adults living with dementia have behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), including sleep disturbance; however, little is known about physiological markers. Salivary cortisol and melatonin have been identified as potential biomarkers of BPSD, with evidence suggesting a relationship between these biomarkers and various behavioral factors, as well as sleep and activity patterns.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the time-dependent changes in salivary cortisol and melatonin levels in older adults with dementia, their relationship with the sleep-wake cycle, and their correlation with BPSD symptoms and behavioral factors.

Unmet Needs of Patients With Chronic Urticaria: A Survey in Korea.

Chronic urticaria (CU) is a common problem with a high disease burden that has a significant negative impact on quality of life. Many patients are undertreated, and awareness of management strategies is low among clinicians. The present study aimed to improve understanding of CU from the patients' perspective, including the disease burden and current healthcare system use.

The effects of special nursing units in nursing homes on healthcare utilization and cost: A case-control study using propensity score matching.

Background: Most nursing homes in South Korea lack professional nursing services, resulting in transporting residents to hospitals for mild health problems and nursing treatment needs. While the number of nursing homes has increased, the number of registered nurses working in nursing homes has declined. In 2019, the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare and the National Health Insurance Service launched the Special Nursing Units in Nursing Homes, a pilot nurse-led model, to resolve the lack of health and nursing services in nursing homes by mandating registered nurses' minimum staffing levels and protecting their scope of practice.

The development and evaluation of a self-efficacy enhancement program for older adults with mild cognitive impairment.

Objective: The aims of this study were to develop a self-efficacy enhancement program and to evaluate its effect on cognitive function, dementia knowledge, self-efficacy, depression, and dementia preventive behaviors in older adults (age ≥ 65 years) with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Methods: This equivalent control group pretest-posttest study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Seoul, South Korea. Older adults with MCI were randomly allocated to an experimental (EG, n = 16) or control group (CG, n = 16).

Perceived Work Environment, Educational Status, Staffing Levels, and Work Outcomes in Long-Term Care Settings During COVID-19.

Objectives: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has severely affected older residents in long-term care (LTC) settings. However, care workers' perceptions of their work environment and potential impact on their work outcomes during the pandemic is not well known. This study examined associations between care staff's perceived work environment, educational status, and facility staffing levels and work outcomes of care staff in LTC settings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Phloretin Ameliorates Succinate-Induced Liver Fibrosis by Regulating Hepatic Stellate Cells.

Backgruound: Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the major cells which play a pivotal role in liver fibrosis. During injury, extracellular stimulators can induce HSCs transdifferentiated into active form. Phloretin showed its ability to protect the liver from injury, so in this research we would like to investigate the effect of phloretin on succinate-induced HSCs activation in vitro and liver fibrosis in vivo study.

Long-term care facilities' response to the COVID-19 pandemic: An international, cross-sectional survey.

Aims: To (i) assess the adherence of long-term care (LTC) facilities to the COVID-19 prevention and control recommendations, (ii) identify predictors of this adherence and (iii) examine the association between the adherence level and the impact of the pandemic on selected unfavourable conditions.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Methods: Managers (n = 212) and staff (n = 2143) of LTC facilities (n = 223) in 13 countries/regions (Brazil, Egypt, England, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Norway, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Thailand and Turkey) evaluated the adherence of LTC facilities to COVID-19 prevention and control recommendations and the impact of the pandemic on unfavourable conditions related to staff, residents and residents' families.

Machine learning-based predictive models for the occurrence of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia: model development and validation.

The behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are challenging aspects of dementia care. This study used machine learning models to predict the occurrence of BPSD among community-dwelling older adults with dementia. We included 187 older adults with dementia for model training and 35 older adults with dementia for external validation.