Adequacy of the examination-based licensing system and a training-based licensing system for midwifery license according to changes in childbirth medical infrastructure in Korea: a surveybased descriptive study

PURPOSE: The number of Korean midwifery licensing examination applicants has steadily decreased due to the low birth rate and lack of training institutions for midwives. This study aimed to evaluate the adequacy of the examination-based licensing system and the possibility of a training-based licensing system. METHODS: A survey questionnaire was developed and dispatched to 230 professionals from December 28, 2022 to January 13, 2023, through an online form using Google Surveys. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the results. RESULTS: Responses from 217 persons (94.3%) were analyzed after excluding incomplete responses. Out of the 217 participants, 198 (91.2%) agreed with maintaining the current examination-based licensing system; 94 (43.3%) agreed with implementing a training-based licensing system to cover the examination costs due to the decreasing number of applicants; 132 (60.8%) agreed with establishing a midwifery education evaluation center for a training-based licensing system; 163 (75.1%) said that the quality of midwifery might be lowered if midwives were produced only by a training-based licensing system, and 197 (90.8%) said that the training of midwives as birth support personnel should be promoted in Korea. CONCLUSION: Favorable results were reported for the examination-based licensing system; however, if a training-based licensing system is implemented, it will be necessary to establish a midwifery education evaluation center to manage the quality of midwives. As the annual number of candidates for the Korean midwifery licensing examination has been approximately 10 in recent years, it is necessary to consider more actively granting midwifery licenses through a training-based licensing system.

Inhibitory effects of cranberry polyphenol and volatile extracts on nitric oxide production in LPS activated RAW 264.7 macrophages.

Cranberry volatiles have received little attention for health-promoting properties. In this study, we compared the inhibitory effects of cranberry polyphenol and volatile extracts and volatile standards on nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Polyphenols were analyzed by HPLC/HPLC-MS and volatiles were analyzed by GC/GC-MS. The inhibition of NO production of the fresh cranberry polyphenol and volatile extracts and α-terpineol, linalool, linalool oxide, and eucalyptol standards at 2, 4, and 8-fold dilutions of their original concentrations in fresh cranberries was evaluated by treating these extracts/standards for 1 h before or after LPS application for 24 h. After inducing inflammation with LPS, the polyphenol treatments (317.8 and 635.7 µg g-1) and 1.8 µg g-1 volatile treatment lowered NO levels 46-62% compared to the positive control (P < 0.05). When the cells were treated with polyphenol and volatile extracts before inducing inflammation, the 635.7 µg g-1 and 317.8 µg g-1 polyphenol treatments and 1.8 µg g-1 and 0.9 µg g-1 volatile treatments lowered NO levels (13-52%) compared to the positive control (P < 0.05). Polyphenol and volatile extracts from cranberry were effective in reducing NO production whether applied before or after the application of LPS. α-Terpineol at a concentration found in fresh cranberries (1.16 µg mL-1) was also found to be effective in reducing NO production whether cells were treated before or after application of LPS. Future studies are needed to reveal the mechanisms by which volatile compounds, especially α-terpineol act to mitigate inflammation and to determine the bioavailability of terpenes.

Impact of Grain Sorghum Polyphenols on Microbiota of Normal Weight and Overweight/Obese Subjects during In Vitro Fecal Fermentation.

The human gut microbiota is considered as a crucial mediator between diet and gut homeostasis and body weight. The unique polyphenolic profile of sorghum bran may promote gastrointestinal health by modulating the microbiota. This study evaluated gut microbiota and modulation of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) by sorghum bran polyphenols in in vitro batch fermentation derived from normal weight (NW, n = 11) and overweight/obese (OO, n = 11) subjects' fecal samples. Six separate treatments were applied on each batch fermentation: negative control (NC), fructooligosaccharides (FOS), black sorghum bran extract (BSE), sumac sorghum bran extract (SSE), FOS + BSE, or FOS + SSE; and samples were collected before and after 24 h. No significant differences in total and individual SCFA production were observed between NW and OO subjects. Differential responses to treatment according to weight class were observed in both phyla and genera. Sorghum bran polyphenols worked with FOS to enhance Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, and independently stimulated Roseburia and Prevotella (p < 0.05). Our results indicate that sorghum bran polyphenols have differential effects on gut health and may positively impact gut ecology, with responses varying depending on weight class.

Effects of phytogenic additives on meat quality traits in broiler chickens1.

Phytogenics have been reported to improve growth performances in farm animals and are thereby considered as potential key solutions for antibiotic-free livestock nutrition. Yet, their effects on meat quality are still not well defined; therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of 5 experimental phytogenic additives (3 dietary and 2 water supplements) on growth and meat quality in broilers. One-day-old broiler chicks (n = 576) were assigned to 48 floor pens and divided into 6 treatments (Control, AV/HGP/16 premix [AVHGP], Superliv concentrate premix [SCP], bacteriostatic herbal growth promotor [BHGP], AV/SSL/12 [AVSSL], and Superliv Gold [SG]) in a complete randomized design (8 pens/treatment with 12 birds/pen, and 96 birds/group). Feed intake and BW were recorded, and birds were processed at 42 d to evaluate carcass traits. Breast muscle tissues were excised to determine stress- and antioxidant-related genes expression. Both AVSSL- and SG-treated broilers produced heavier (P < 0.05) slaughter weights compared with the control-fed broilers, whereas AVSSL supplementation decreased (P < 0.05) fat pad size and increased (P < 0.05) breast weights compared with the control-fed broilers. Although pH and a* values remained unchanged, L* was decreased (P < 0.05) in all treatment and b* was reduced (P < 0.05) in SG when compared with controls. The trained sensory panelists detected more (P < 0.05) green herb flavor in the breast meat from AVHGP than SCP, SG, and control birds. The expression of superoxide dismutase 2, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, and JNK gene was upregulated in AVHGP and BHGP compared with the control (P < 0.05). Together, these results indicated that phytogenic additives might improve meat quality of broilers through modulation of stress- and antioxidant-related pathways.

Artichoke extract lowered plasma cholesterol and increased fecal bile acids in Golden Syrian hamsters.

A study was conducted in hamsters to determine if artichoke leaf extract (ALE) could lower plasma total and non-HDL cholesterol by increasing fecal excretion of neutral bile acids and sterols. Sixty-four Golden Syrian hamsters (8 week old) were fed control diet or a similar diet containing ALE (4.5 g/kg diet) for 6 weeks. No significant changes for total cholesterol, HDL, non-HDL cholesterol triglycerides or fecal neutral sterols and bile acids were found after 21 days for ALE-fed animals compared with controls. But after 42 days, ALE-fed male hamsters had significantly lower total cholesterol (15%), non-HDL cholesterol (30%) and triglycerides (22%) and female hamsters fed ALE showed reductions of 15% for total cholesterol, 29% for non-HDL cholesterol and 29% for triglycerides compared with controls. Total neutral sterol and bile acids concentrations increased significantly by 50% and 53% in fecal samples of ALE fed males, and 82.4% and 25% in ALE fed females compared with controls. The ALE lowered hamster plasma cholesterol levels by a mechanism involving the greater excretion of fecal bile acids and neutral sterols after feeding for 42 days.

Menhaden oil inhibited gamma-glutamyltransferase-positive altered hepatic foci in female Sprague-Dawley rats.

Feeding menhaden oil, high in n-3 fatty acids, or a mixture of lard and corn oil with a polyunsaturated-to-monounsaturated fatty acid ratio of 1:1 was hypothesized to inhibit promotion of hepatocarcinogenesis in rats by decreasing hepatic prostaglandin (PG) levels. Ten-day-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with diethylnitrosamine (DEN, 15 mg/kg body wt ip). At 4 wk of age, rats were fed fumonisin B1(50 mg/kg diet) for 5 wk in diets containing 14% lard + 6% corn oil, 10% lard + 10% corn oil, 14% menhaden oil + 6% corn oil, and 7% menhaden oil + 13% corn oil. Plasma alanine aminotransferase activity was 20% lower in rats fed 10% lard than in rats fed the other diets (P < 0.05). In menhaden oil-fed rats, total plasma cholesterol concentrations decreased 26% (P < 0.05) and hepatic phospholipid C20:5n-3, C22:5n-3, and C22:6n-3 fatty acid concentrations increased compared with lard-fed rats. Hepatic n-3 fatty acids were threefold greater in rats fed 10% lard than in rats fed 14% lard. The liver-associated natural killer cell activity in rats fed menhaden oil was 58% lower than in rats fed lard (P < 0.03). Rats fed lard had threefold (P < 0.05) greater area of _-glutamyltransferase-positive altered hepatic foci (AHF) than did rats fed menhaden oil. There was no significant difference in placental glutathione S-transferase-positive AHF among the groups. Hepatic PGF2alpha production was 60-80% greater in rats fed 14% lard than in rats fed the other diets (P < 0.05). Hepatic PGE2 was 48% less in rats fed 14%; menhaden oil than in rats fed 14% lard (P < 0.05). Although gamma-glutamyltransferase-positive focal area was inhibited by menhaden oil, only 14% menhaden oil inhibited PGE2. Feeding 10% lard inhibited PGF2alpha, but not the development of AHF. Therefore, decreased hepatic PGs did not explain the inhibition of carcinogenesis.