Effects of Aroma Foot Massage on Sleep Quality and Constipation Relief among the Older Adults Living in Residential Nursing Facilities.

This study focused on the effects of aroma foot massage on sleep quality and constipation relief among older adult residents in nursing facilities. This research used a non-equivalent control group and a quasi-experimental design. The participants included 40 older adults aged ≥70 years residing in two nursing facilities in Seoul City. The aroma foot massage nursing intervention consisted of a preparation stage using jojoba carrier (aroma recipe) oil and lavender oil, an aroma foot massage stage, and a finishing stage. Sleep quality scores after the experiment increased by 3.72 at post-test (M = 38.44) compared to pre-test (M = 34.72), which confirmed that sleep quality improved significantly following intervention in the experimental group as compared to the control group (F = 14.45, p = 0.001). Furthermore, the frequency of defecation in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group (Z = −3.93, p < 0.001). Similarly, the constipation assessment scores decreased at post-test significantly by 2.39 in the experimental group as compared to the control group (F = 17.87, p < 0.001). These results confirm that aroma foot massage is an effective nursing intervention for alleviating constipation symptoms and improving sleep quality. Therefore, we recommend that aroma foot massage be used as a complementary intervention in combination with drug-based treatment to improve sleep quality and relieve the constipation symptoms experienced by older adults living in nursing facilities.

Particulate Matter Exposure and the Changes in Immune Biomarkers: Effects of Biyeom-Go on the Nasal Mucosa of Patients with Allergic Rhinitis and a Particulate Matter-Treated Mouse Model.

This study was to investigate the effects of Biyeom-go (BYG, an herbal formula) on immune biomarkers present in the nasal mucosa of patients with allergic rhinitis under exposure to particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5), and on changes in goblet cells and immune biomarkers in mice under exposure to Korea diesel particulate matter (KDP20). Thirty patients showing characteristic allergic rhinitis symptoms were enrolled in Jeonju-si, Korea, and treated with BYG thrice a day for four weeks. Changes in the expression of immune biomarkers (interleukin 4 (IL-4), IL-5, IL-8, IL-13, IL-33, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) mRNA), total nasal symptom scores (TNSS), mini-rhinitis-specific quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) results, and visual analog scale scores were evaluated after 4 weeks of treatment. Additionally, the difference in PM2.5 concentrations in the air in Jeonju-si, Korea (November, 2019 ∼ March, 2020), was analyzed to determine the change in TNSS. KDP20 (100 µg/mL) was exposed to C57BL/6 mice for 10 days; 0.05% Nasonex (a positive control, mometasone furoate), or BYG was administrated for 5 days twice a day. The expression of inflammatory factors was detected via qRT-PCR using nasopharynx tissue samples of mice. BYG treatment was found to be associated with significant improvement in total nasal symptoms, especially itching and sneezing (p < 0.0001), and mini-RQLQ after 4 weeks. IL-8 (p < 0.01), IL-33 (p < 0.01), and TSLP (p < 0.001) expression levels decreased after BYG treatment. In mice, administration of BYG reduced the number of goblet cells increased through KDP20 treatment. KDP20-induced immune biomarkers (IL-33, TSLP, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and IL-8) were also significantly downregulated in the nasopharynx tissue after BYG treatment. Therefore, BYG may show therapeutic effects against allergic rhinitis in humans, and it was confirmed that the expression of PM-induced inflammatory factors in mice was decreased via BYG treatment.

Nano/Micro-Sized Morphologies of Hydroxyapatite Coatings Containing Mn and Si on an Oxidized Ti-6Al-4V Alloy Surface for Dental Implants.

To improve the surface characteristics of Ti-6Al-4V dental implants and the binding between the bone and implant surface, biocompatible oxide films were formed by plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO). The PEO treatment was performed using electrolyte solutions containing Ca (calcium acetate monohydrate), P(calcium glycerophosphate), Mn (manganese(II) acetate tetrahydrate), and Si (sodium metasilicate nonahydrate), which are the major constituents of bone, for 3 min at 280 V. The morphology and crystalline phase of the PEO-treated surfaces were characterized using field-emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. All the obtained PEO-treated samples exhibited a morphology comprising porous structures. Oval and irregular pore structures were observed as the Mn content increased. As the Si content increased, the areas occupied by the pores increased. When both, Si and Mn were used for the PEO treatment, the number of nano- to micro-sized pores gradually decreased with the increasing ratios of the constituents.

Electrochemical Analysis of Nano- and Micro-Sized Pore Formed Ti-6Al-4V Alloys in Solution Containing Ca, P, Mn, and Si Ions via Plasma Eletrolytic Oxidation for Bio-Implant Materials.

The purpose of this study was to investigate electrochemical analysis of nano- and micro-sized pore formed Ti-6Al-4V alloys in solution containing Ca, P, Mn and Si ions via plasma eletrolytic oxidation for bio-implant materials. The coatings were produced on Ti-6Al-4V alloy for dental implant using the plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) method in electrolytes with the various concentration of 0, 5, and 20% Mn and Si, respectively. Electrochemical potentiodynamic polarization and AC impedance behaviors were carried out in 0.9% NaCl solution at 36.5 ± 1 °C using potentiostat (Potentiostat, EG&G, 362) and electrochemical impedance spectroscope (EIS, EG&G, 1025). The potentiodynamic polarization test with a scan rate of 1.667 mV s-1 was carried out from -1500 mV to 2000 mV. The frequency range used for EIS was 10²-105 Hz. The amplitude of AC signal was 10 mV and 5 points per decade was used. From the potentiodynamic polarization test, PEO treated alloy in electrolyte containing Ca, P, Mn, and Si show a lower corrosion potential than that on the bulk surface. In the case of Mn and Si doped surface, the corrosion resistance increase compared to non-doped surface with Mn and Si elements, and the current density was lower than that of the bulk surface. From the AC impedance test, in the case of Mn and Si doped surface, polarization resistance values were higher than other specimens, and nano- and micro-sized pores were covered with corrosion product consisted Mn and Si elements.

Hydroxyapatite Coatings Containing Mn and Si on the Oxidized Ti-6Al-4V Alloy for Dental Applications.

The purpose of this study was to investigate hydroxyapatite coatings containing Mn and Si on the oxidized Ti-6Al-4V alloy for dental applications. Dental implant fixture and Ti-6Al-4V ELI disk were used as substrates for plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) treatment. PEO treatment was performed at 280 V for 3 min in various solutions. The surface morphologies of the specimens after PEO treatment were observed with a field-emission scanning electron microscope, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometer, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The breakdown potential for pore formation depended on the added ions in electrolytes. Rough surface with micro-pores was formed after plasma discharge in the electrolytes containing Si and Mn ions. The surface morphologies of implant fixtures were covered with manganese-silicon compounds, as Mn concentration increased. From the XRD analysis, anatase peaks decreased, as Mn and Si contents increased. From the results of FT-IR analysis, Si-HA and Mn-HA was formed on the implant surface.

The serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D for maximal suppression of parathyroid hormone in children: the relationship between 25-hydroxyvitamin D and parathyroid hormone.

PURPOSE: Serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) is considered as the most appropriate marker of vitamin D status. However, only a few studies have investigated the relationship between 25-OHD and parathyroid hormone (PTH) in children. To this end, this study was aimed at evaluating the lowest 25-OHD level that suppresses the production of parathyroid hormone in children. METHODS: A retrospective record review was performed for children aged 0.2 to 18 years (n=193; 106 boys and 87 girls) who underwent simultaneous measurements of serum 25-OHD and PTH levels between January 2010 and June 2014. RESULTS: The inflection point of serum 25-OHD level for maximal suppression of PTH was at 18.0 ng/mL (95% confidence interval, 14.3-21.7 ng/mL). The median PTH level of the children with 25-OHD levels of <18.0 ng/mL was higher than that of children with 25-OHD levels ≥ 18.0 ng/mL (P<0.0001). The median calcium level of children with 25-OHD levels<18.0 ng/mL was lower than that of children with 25-OHD levels≥18.0 ng/mL (P=0.0001). The frequency of hyperparathyroidism was higher in the children with 25-OHD levels<18.0 ng/mL than in the children with 25-OHD levels≥18.0 ng/mL (P<0.0001). Hypocalcemia was more prevalent in the children with 25-OHD levels<18.0 ng/mL than in the children with 25-OHD levels≥18.0 ng/mL (P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that a vitamin D level of 18.0 ng/mL could be the criterion for 25-OHD deficiency in children at the inflection point of the maximal suppression of PTH.