A systematic review of psychosocial protective factors against suicide and suicidality among older adults.

BACKGROUND: Research on suicide rarely focuses on protective factors. The goal of this systematic review was to assess the evidence of the associations between protective factors and reduced suicidality among older adults. METHOD: First, a scoping review was conducted to identify pertinent terms that refer to various protective factors against suicidality. A systematic review, following the PRISMA guidelines, was then conducted on a selection of 15 protective factors (e.g., perceived control, well-being and quality of life, life satisfaction, purpose-in-life, resilience, coping, religiosity, hope, self-regulation, sense of belonging, mattering, positive relationship, social support, social connectedness, and social participation), with separate searches performed on each factor in five databases. Empirical studies were eligible if participants were adults aged 60 years and over, and if the studies reported predictive statistical analysis. RESULTS: A total of 70 studies were retained for the review. Suicidal ideation was the main outcome measure (91%). Significant associations were consistently observed between all protective factors and reduced suicidal ideations or behaviors, particularly for purpose-in-life, resilience, and positive relationships, indicating that these are solid components for suicide prevention. Using scales, instead of a single item, to measure protective factors (e.g. life satisfaction) was more efficient to capture the associations. On the other hand, results were similar whether studies used subjective (e.g., sense of belonging) or objective (e.g., social connectedness) measures. CONCLUSION: Protective factors were inversely associated with suicidal ideation. Improving protective factors is essential for the development of late-life suicide prevention and interventions, instead of merely focusing on risk factors.

Effect of task-oriented activities on hand functions, cognitive functions and self-expression of elderly patients with dementia.

[Purpose] This study investigates the effects of task-oriented activities on hand function, cognitive function, and self-expression of the elderly with dementia, and then identify the influencing factors on self-expression in sub-factors of dependent variables. [Subjects and Methods] Forty elderly persons were divided into two groups: intervention group (n=20) and control group (n=20). The interventions were applied to the subjects 3 times a week, 50 minutes per each time, for a total of five weeks. We measured the jamar hand dynamometer test for grip strength, the jamar hydraulic pinch gauge test for prehension test, nine-hole pegboard test for coordination test, and Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment-Geriatric Population for cognitive function, and self-expression rating scale for self-expression test. [Results] The task-oriented activities promoted hand function, cognitive function (visual perception, spatial perception, visuomotor organization, attention & concentration) and self-expression of the elderly with early dementia, and the factors influencing the self-expression were cognitive function (visual perception) and hand function (coordination). The study showed that the task-oriented program enabled self-expression by improving hand function and cognitive function. [Conclusion] This study suggested that there should be provided the task-oriented program for prevention and treatment of the elderly with early dementia in the clinical settings and it was considered that results have a value as basic data that can be verified relationship of hand function, cognitive function, and self-expression.

Light extraction from surface plasmon polaritons and substrate/waveguide modes in organic light-emitting devices with silver-nanomesh electrodes.

Light out-coupling of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) with silver (Ag)-nanomesh electrodes was examined. Experimental results for the OLEDs with nine different nanomesh dimensions were compared with simulation results to elucidate the dimensional effect of the nanomesh on the light out-coupling behavior of the devices. The Ag-nanomesh electrodes did not only increase the transparency of the Ag electrode due to periodic nanoholes but also enhanced light extraction from surface plasmon polaritons and substrate/waveguide modes in the devices. The simulation results show similar trends with the experimental results for the optical transmittance, emission spectrum, and efficiency enhancement. With a nanomesh dimension of 480 nm period and 50% fill factor, the OLEDs with the Ag-nanomesh electrode showed 1.66 times higher efficiency than those with a planar Ag electrode did. Using our validated simulation, we construct an external quantum efficiency map in full ranges of the period and fill factor of the Ag-nanomesh electrode to find out the optimum nanomesh dimension.

Preventive health behaviors among people with suicide ideation using nationwide cross-sectional data in South Korea.

This study aimed to investigate the association between suicide ideation and health-related behaviors and preventive health service use behaviors. We used data from the 2017 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), a nationally representative survey. The final sample included 4486 participants aged 40 years or older. Preventive health behaviors were assessed for smoking, high-risk drinking, physical activities, regular meal intake, influenza vaccination, general health examination, and cancer screening. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between suicide ideation and preventive health behaviors with a series of adjustments for covariates. In general, suicide ideation was associated with unfavorable outcomes of preventive health behaviors, except for flu vaccination. For example, the adjusted prevalence of suicide ideation and non-suicide ideation groups were 54.3% vs. 43.7% for flu vaccination, 23.1% vs. 41.6% for physical activity, and 24.8% vs. 18.6% for high-risk alcohol drinking. After adjustment for covariates, the associations of suicide ideation with behaviors remained significant for physical activity (OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.34-0.81) and high-risk alcohol drinking (OR 2.22, 95% CI 1.34-3.69). Suicide ideation leads to the disruption of self-management of health behaviours, especially for physical activity and high-risk alcohol drinking, independently of depressive feelings.

Socioeconomic Inequalities in COVID-19 Incidence During Different Epidemic Phases in South Korea.

Objective: Area-level socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) incidence. However, the underlying mechanism of the association is context-specific, and the choice of measure is still important. We aimed to evaluate the socioeconomic gradient regarding COVID-19 incidence in Korea based on several area-level SES measures. Methods: COVID-19 incidence and area-level SES measures across 229 Korean municipalities were derived from various administrative regional data collected between 2015 and 2020. The Bayesian negative binomial model with a spatial autocorrelation term was used to estimate the incidence rate ratio (IRR) and relative index of inequality (RII) of each SES factor, with adjustment for covariates. The magnitude of association was compared between two epidemic phases: a low phase (<100 daily cases, from May 6 to August 14, 2020) and a rebound phase (>100 daily cases, from August 15 to December 31, 2020). Results: Area-level socioeconomic inequalities in COVID-19 incidence between the most disadvantaged region and the least disadvantaged region were observed for nonemployment rates [RII = 1.40, 95% credible interval (Crl) = 1.01-1.95] and basic livelihood security recipients (RII = 2.66, 95% Crl = 1.12-5.97), but were not observed for other measures in the low phase. However, the magnitude of the inequalities of these SES variables diminished in the rebound phase. A higher area-level mobility showed a higher risk of COVID-19 incidence in both the low (IRR = 1.67, 95% Crl = 1.26-2.17) and rebound phases (IRR = 1.28, 95% Crl = 1.14-1.44). When SES and mobility measures were simultaneously adjusted, the association of SES with COVID-19 incidence remained significant but only in the low phase, indicating they were mutually independent in the low phase. Conclusion: The level of basic livelihood benefit recipients and nonemployment rate showed social stratification of COVID-19 incidence in Korea. Explanation of area-level inequalities in COVID-19 incidence may not be derived only from mobility differences in Korea but, instead, from the country's own context.

Financial hardship and suicide ideation: Age and gender difference in a Korean panel study.

BACKGROUNDS: Socioeconomic factors influence suicide risk but a systematic understanding of the role of financial hardship is unclear. We examined whether financial hardship had cumulative or contemporaneous impacts on suicide ideation and any gender and age differences in a large Korean sample. METHODS: Data of 67,728 observations from 14,321 individuals were extracted from seven waves of Korean Welfare Panel Study. The association of financial hardship at baseline and its change over two years with suicide ideation was investigated using generalized estimation equation to account for repeated measurements within an individual, adjusting for other socioeconomic factors. RESULTS: Financial hardship was associated with suicide ideation but the magnitude of association varied across age and gender groups. Specifically, the impact of financial hardship was persistent over two years presenting a cumulative effect among men aged 50-64 years and ≥65 years; e.g., adjusted OR (adjusted odds ratio) = 3.87, 95 % CI = 2.71-5.54 for emergent hardship group vs adjusted OR = 4.22, 95 %CI = 3.00-5.93 for persistent group in those aged ≥65 years. Financial hardship increased the risk of suicide ideation incrementally with age, although the pattern was less clear among women. LIMITATIONS: Financial hardship was identified as having changing nature, though it was assumed to occur over two years. CONCLUSION: In general, financial hardship plays a role in amplifying suicide ideation in a contemporaneous way but also in a cumulative way, predominantly among late-middle-aged and elderly men. Monitoring and intervention for financial hardship would be a promising strategy for suicide prevention.

Association Between Health Behaviors and Family History of Cancer According to Sex in the General Population.

INTRODUCTION: Family history of cancer and modifiable risk factors are each associated with cancer development, but no studies have assessed their association with each other by sex. This study aimed to examine modifiable risk factors in individuals with a family history of cancer compared with those without a family history of cancer, according to sex. METHODS: This study recruited 166,810 participants aged 40-79 years from Korea's Health Examinee Study cohort between 2004 and 2014. Results were calculated as AORs and 95% CIs to determine the relationship between family history of cancer in first-degree relatives and modifiable risk factors. Data analyses were performed in 2018. RESULTS: The prevalence of modifiable cancer risk factors, including current smoking, drinking alcohol, physical inactivity, obesity, and abdominal obesity, were different according to the presence of a family history of cancer, cancer type of such a family history, and sex. Male participants with a family history of cancer were less likely to be current smokers or obese (AOR=0.95, 95% CI=0.91, 0.99 and AOR=0.95, 95% CI=0.92, 0.99, respectively) than those without a family history of cancer, whereas female participants with a family history of cancer were more likely to be current smokers but less likely to be physically inactive (AOR=1.13, 95% CI=1.03, 1.23 and AOR=0.96, 95% CI=0.93, 0.98, respectively) than those without a family history of cancer. CONCLUSIONS: This study's findings suggest that, in general, males with a family history of cancer show better health behaviors, whereas females with a family history of cancer demonstrate worse health behaviors.

Night-shift work and risk of breast cancer in Korean women.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the association between night-shift work (NSW) and breast cancer risk as well as subtypes of breast cancer in Korean women. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study population included 1721 female breast cancer cases and 1721 female controls matched by age. The subtypes of breast cancer were determined based on estrogen, progesterone, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 statuses by reviewing pathology reports. Odds ratios (ORs) for NSW experience, age at commencement of NSW, frequency, and duration were estimated using conditional logistic regression and were adjusted for confounders such as parity and socioeconomic status-related factors. RESULTS: Among 1721 pairs, 10.58% of cases and 9.59% of controls had ever engaged in NSW. NSW was not associated with breast cancer risk in terms of ever having night-shift exposure (adjusted OR was 1.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] =0.89-1.40), duration, frequency, or cumulative working time. The OR for >10 years of lifetime duration of NSW was 1.55 (95% CI 0.89-2.69, P=0.124). In addition, the OR for >35,000 hrs for cumulative frequency of night work was OR=1.42 (95% CI=0.73-2.74, P=0.304). There was no heterogeneity in ORs of ever having NSW and cumulative duration of NSW between four subtypes of breast cancer. CONCLUSION: NSW including long-term and heavy working exposure was not associated with breast cancer risk.

Association Between Health Behaviors and Family History of Cancer in Cancer Survivors: Data From the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study.

BACKGROUND: We compared health behaviors, including current smoking, alcohol drinking, regular exercise, obesity, and abdominal obesity, among Korean cancer survivors with and without family history of cancer. METHODS: This study included 5,247 cancer survivors with family history of cancer (1,894 with and 3,353 without), who were recruited from the Health Examinee cohort. Health behaviors were identified using questionnaire. Adjusted ORs (aORs) between health behaviors and family history of cancer were estimated by multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for sociodemographic factors. All analyses were conducted separately according to sex. RESULTS: Prevalence of current smoking, alcohol drinking, no regular exercise, obesity, and abdominal obesity was 16.3%, 48.3%, 36.0%, 31.3%, and 42.3% in male cancer survivors and 1.7%, 20.6%, 43.8%, 28.5%, and 72.5% in female, respectively. Health behaviors in male cancer survivors with and without family history of cancer were not significantly different after being adjusted for other covariates (aOR = 1.04, 95% CI = 0.75-1.44 for current smoking; aOR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.76-1.22 for current drinking; aOR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.66-1.10 for regular exercise; aOR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.73-1.25 for obesity; aOR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.75-1.25 for abdominal obesity). In female cancer survivors, there were no significant differences in health behaviors according to family history of cancer (aOR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.44-1.32; aOR = 1.11, 95% CI = 0.94-1.31; aOR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.87-1.14; aOR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.85-1.16; aOR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.80-1.10, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: We identified no significant differences in health behaviors according to family history of cancer in cancer survivors. More studies should be conducted to identify correlations between family history of cancer and prognosis in cancer survivors.

Cancer screening rate in people with diabetes in the Korean population: results from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2009.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the screening rates for gastric, breast, and cervical cancer in people with diabetes compared with people without diabetes. METHODS: Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007-2009) were used. Cancer-free men who were 40 years old and over and cancer-free women who were 30 years old and over were included. The lifetime screening rate and regular screening rate were compared in people with and without diabetes. RESULTS: Fewer people with diabetes than people without diabetes had ever received cancer screening (53.5 vs. 59.5%, p<0.001 for gastric cancer; 60.5 vs. 71.5%, p<0.001 for breast cancer; and 49.1 vs. 59.6%, p<0.001 for cervical cancer). Fewer people with diabetes than people without diabetes received the recommended screenings for gastric cancer (38.9 vs. 42.9%, p<0.001), breast cancer (38.8 vs. 44.6%, p<0.001), and cervical cancer (35.1 vs. 51.2%, p<0.001). In subgroup analyses according to socioeconomic factors, the lifetime and recommended screening rates were lower in the diabetic population in most socioeconomic subgroups. In the multivariate analysis adjusted for socioeconomic factors, people with diabetes showed lower lifetime screening rates for gastric and cervical cancer (odds ratio [OR], 0.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.7 to 0.9 and OR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.6 to 0.9), and lower regular screening rates for breast and cervical cancer (OR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.6 to 0.9 and OR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.5 to 0.9). CONCLUSIONS: The cancer screening rate in people with diabetes was lower than in people without diabetes. Considering the higher cancer risk in people with diabetes, efforts to increase the screening rate in this high-risk population should be implemented.

Electrically exploded silicon/carbon nanocomposite as anode material for lithium-ion batteries.

In this work, silicon (Si) containing carbon coated core-shell nanostructures were synthesized by electrical explosion of Si wires in ethanol solution followed by high energy mechanical milling (HEMM) process. Material characterization was carried-out using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. HEMM led to very fine and amorphous Si particles in the presence of carbon and inactive Silicon-Carbide (SiC) matrix. These Si based nanocomposites, obtained through electrical explosion followed by HEMM (milled sample), exhibited enhanced electrochemical performance than unmilled nanocomposites, when evaluated as anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). On completion of (the) 1st cycle, milled and unmilled sample(s) showed specific discharge capacities around 825 mAh/g and 717 mAh/g, respectively. Interestingly, the coulombic efficiencies of milled and unmilled samples were 98.5% and 97% after 60th cycle respectively. The enhanced electrochemical performance is attributed to fine and amorphous Si based nanocomposite obtained through HEMM process.