Evaluation of the On-Campus Dining Service Using Importance-Performance Analysis

University foodservice is one of the largest sectors of the foodservice industry, and the college-student market is getting larger. Therefore, it is important that university foodservice needs to be monitored periodically and improved comprehensively in order to retain students as satisfied customers for on-campus foodservice. The objectives of the current study were to explore the importance and performance/satisfaction of on-campus dining service consumers, to investigate the importance-performance difference between patron and non-patron customers, and to examine the difference between gender groups. The study compared the respondents’ perceived importance and performance ratings of the dining service quality attributes using IPA. The IPA grid illustrated that food quality and sanitation fell into the Quadrant II (Keep up the Work); price into the Quadrant III (Low Priority); and service and environment into the Quadrant IV (Possible Overkill). However, according to IPA of comparison of patron versus non-patron groups and gender groups, the service attribute was allocated differently

Effect of Combined Therapy of Robot and Low-Frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Hemispatial Neglect in Stroke Patients

Objective To investigate the effect of upper limb rehabilitation combining robot with low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on unilateral spatial neglect in stroke patients. Methods Patients who had hemispatial neglect after right hemisphere stroke were randomly divided into rTMS only group, robot only group, and combined group. All groups received conventional neglect therapy and additional treatment for each group. rTMS group received rTMS therapy. Robot group received robot therapy, while combined group received both therapies. The effect of therapy was assessed with Motor-Free Visual Perception Test-3 (MVPT-3), line bisection test, star cancellation test, Catherine Bergego Scale (CBS), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and the Korean version of Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI). These measurements were evaluated before and after treatment. Results For each group, 10 patients were recruited. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics or initial values among the three groups. Two weeks after the therapy, all groups showed significant improvement in MVPT-3, line bisection test, star cancellation test, CBS, MMSE, and K-MBI. However, changes in measurements showed no significant differences among groups. Conclusion Treatment effect of the combined therapy of robotic therapy and low-frequency rTMS therapy for hemispatial neglect was not statistically different from that of each single treatment. Results of this study did not prove the superiority of any of the three treatments. Further study with large number of patients is needed to evaluate the superiority of these treatments

Successful Catheter Ablation of Focal Automatic Left Ventricular Tachycardia Presented with Tachycardia-Mediated Cardiomyopathy

Non-reentrant focal tachycardias occur spontaneously, facilitated by catecholamine infusion, but they cannot be initiated or terminated with programmed stimulation. These tachycardias exhibit early activation before the QRS, however, do not typically show the mid-diastolic potential that is crucial for reentrant tachycardia maintenance. Electrophysiological studies are useful for distinguishing focal from macro-reentrant ventricular tachycardia. We report herein a case of patient without a history of structural heart disease who presented with a focal Purkinje ventricular tachycardia and heart failure. The focal Purkinje ventricular tachycardia was eliminated by radiofrequency catheter ablation. All of the patien's symptoms were improved after ablation

Single- and repeated-dose toxicities of aloe fermentation products in rats

In this study, aloe fermentation products were derived from mycelia from 3 mushrooms: Ganoderma lucidum (AG), Hericium erinaceum (AH), and Phellinus linteus (AP). Levels of aloin A and B increased with fermentation time. The highest levels were measured on the fifth day of fermentation. β-Glucan levels decreased with fermentation time. The safety of aloe fermentation products were examined in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats were orally administered the three aloe fermentation products at dose levels of 1, 2 or 5 g/kg for single-dose toxicity test and 0.5, 1, or 2 g/kg for repeated-dose toxicity test. There were no significant differences in body weight gain between vehicle control and AG-, AH- or AP-treated rats. Also, significant changes in daily feed intake and water consumption were not observed. In hematological analysis, none of the parameters were affected by aloe fermentation products with mushroom mycelia. This suggests that there are no negative effects on homeostasis and immunity. In blood biochemistry analysis, none of the markers were affected by feeding rats with AG, AH or AP. Similarly, there were no significant effects on markers for liver, kidney, skeletal and heart muscle functions. No remarkable lesions were observed in these organs at histopathology. Since there were no adverse effects of AG, AH and AP in single- or repeated-dose toxicity tests, even at higher doses than normal, we conclude that the aloe fermentation products with mushroom mycelia possess long-term safety and could be candidates as multifunctional nutrients for the improvement of intestinal function and immunity

Intraoperative mild hyperoxia may be associated with improved survival after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting: a retrospective observational study

Background : The effect of hyperoxia due to supplemental oxygen administration on postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing cardiac surgery remains unclear. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the relationship between intraoperative oxygen tension and mortality after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB). Methods : The study included adult patients who underwent isolated OPCAB between July 2010 and June 2020. Patients were categorised into three groups based on their intraoperative time-weighted average arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2): normoxia/near-normoxia ( 250 mmHg). The risk of in-hospital mortality was compared using weighted logistic regression analysis. Restricted cubic spline analysis was performed to analyse intraoperative PaO2 as a continuous variable. The risk of cumulative all-cause mortality was compared using Cox regression analysis. Results : The normoxia/near-normoxia, mild hyperoxia, and severe hyperoxia groups included 229, 991, and 173 patients (n = 1393), respectively. The mild hyperoxia group had a significantly lower risk of in-hospital mortality than the normoxia/near-normoxia (odds ratio [OR], 0.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.06–0.22) and severe hyperoxia groups (OR, 0.06; 95% CI, 0.03–0.14). Intraoperative PaO2 exhibited a U-shaped relationship with in-hospital mortality in the non-hypoxic range. The risk of cumulative all-cause mortality was significantly lower in the mild hyperoxia group (hazard ratio, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.52–0.99) than in the normoxia/near-normoxia group. Conclusions : Maintaining intraoperative PaO2 at 150–250 mmHg was associated with a lower risk of mortality after OPCAB than PaO2 at 250 mmHg. Future randomised trials are required to confirm if mildly increasing arterial oxygen tension during OPCAB to 150–250 mmHg improves postoperative outcomes

Effect of Caregiver Driven Robot-Assisted In-Ward Training in Subacute Stroke Patients: A Case Series

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of caregiver driven robot-assisted in-ward training in subacute stroke patients.MethodsA retrospective evaluation was performed for patients treated with caregiver driven robot-assisted in-ward training to retain gait function from June 2014 and December 2016. All patients received more than 2 weeks of caregiver driven robot-assisted in-ward training after undergoing conventional programs. The robot was used as a sitting device, a standing frame, or a high-walker depending on functional status of the patient. Patients were evaluated before and after robot training. Patient records were assessed by Korean version of Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI), Functional Independence Measure (FIM), and Functional Ambulation Category (FAC).ResultsInitially, patients used the robot as a sitting device (n=6), a standing frame (n=7), or a partial body-weight support high-walker (n=2). As patient functions were improved, usage level of the robot was changed to the next level. At the end of the treatment, the robot was used as a sitting device (n=1), a standing frame (n=6), or high-walker (n=8). Scores of K-MBI (Δ17.47±10.72) and FIM (Δ19.80±12.34) were improved in all patients.ConclusionPatients' usage level of the robot and functional scores were improved. Therefore, performing additional caregiver driven robot-assisted in-ward training is feasible and beneficial for subacute stroke patients

Fibrinogen gamma-A chain precursor in CSF: a candidate biomarker for Alzheimer's disease

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may be valuable for exploring protein markers for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The prospect of early detection and treatment, to slow progression, holds hope for aging populations with increased average lifespan. The aim of the present study was to investigate candidate CSF biological markers in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD and compare them with age-matched normal control subjects.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We applied proteomics approaches to analyze CSF samples derived from 27 patients with AD, 3 subjects with MCI and 30 controls. The AD group was subdivided into three groups by clinical severity according to clinical dementia rating (CDR), a well known clinical scale for dementia.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We demonstrated an elevated level of fibrinogen gamma-A chain precursor protein in CSF from patients with mild cognitive impairment and AD compared to the age-matched normal subjects. Moreover, its expression was more prominent in the AD group than in the MCI and correlated with disease severity and progression. In contrast, fibrinogen gamma-A chain precursor protein was detected very low in the age-matched normal group.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These findings suggest that the CSF level of fibrinogen gamma-A chain precursor may be a candidate biomarker for AD.</p