Subclinical vascular inflammation in subjects with normal weight obesity and its association with body Fat: an 18 F-FDG-PET/CT study

BACKGROUND: Although body mass index (BMI) is the most widely accepted parameter for defining obesity, recent studies have indicated a unique set of patients who exhibit normal BMI and excess body fat (BF), which is termed as normal weight obesity (NWO). Increased BF is an established risk factor for atherosclerosis. However, it is unclear whether NWO subjects already have a higher degree of vascular inflammation compared to normal weight lean (NWL) subjects; moreover, the association of BF with vascular inflammation in normal weight subjects is largely unknown. METHODS: NWO and NWL subjects (n = 82 in each group) without any history of significant vascular disease were identified from a 3-year database of consecutively recruited patients undergoing (18) F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ((18) F-FDG-PET/CT) at a self-referred Healthcare Promotion Program. The degree of subclinical vascular inflammation was evaluated using the mean and maximum target-to-background ratios (TBRmean and TBRmax) of the carotid artery, which were measured by (18) F-FDG-PET/CT (a noninvasive tool for assessing vascular inflammation). RESULTS: We found that metabolically dysregulation was greater in NWO subjects than in NWL subjects, with a significantly higher blood pressure, higher fasting glucose level, and worse lipid profile. Moreover, NWO subjects exhibited higher TBR than NWL subjects (TBRmean: 1.33 ± 0.16 versus 1.45 ± 0.19, p < 0.001; TBRmax: 1.52 ± 0.23 versus 1.67 ± 0.25, p < 0.001). TBR was significantly associated with total BF (TBRmean: r = 0.267, p = 0.001; TBRmax: r = 0.289, p < 0.001), age (TBRmean: r = 0.170, p = 0.029; TBRmax: r = 0.165, p = 0.035), BMI (TBRmean: r = 0.184, p = 0.018; TBRmax: r = 0.206, p = 0.008), and fasting glucose level (TBRmean: r = 0.157, p = 0.044; TBRmax: r = 0.182, p = 0.020). In multiple linear regression analysis, BF was an independent determinant of TBRmean and TBRmax, after adjusting for age, BMI, and fasting glucose level (TBRmean: regression coefficient = 0.020, p = 0.008; TBRmax: regression coefficient = 0.028, p = 0.005). Compared to NWL, NWO was also independently associated with elevated TBRmax values, after adjusting for confounding factors (odds ratio = 2.887, 95% confidence interval 1.206–6.914, p = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: NWO is associated with a higher degree of subclinical vascular inflammation, of which BF is a major contributing factor. These results warrant investigations for subclinical atherosclerosis in NWO patients

Facile and versatile ligand analysis method of colloidal quantum dot

Colloidal quantum-dots (QDs) are highly attractive materials for various optoelectronic applications owing to their easy maneuverability, high functionality, wide applicability, and low cost of mass-production. QDs usually consist of two components: the inorganic nano-crystalline particle and organic ligands that passivate the surface of the inorganic particle. The organic component is also critical for tuning electronic properties of QDs as well as solubilizing QDs in various solvents. However, despite extensive effort to understand the chemistry of ligands, it has been challenging to develop an efficient and reliable method for identifying and quantifying ligands on the QD surface. Herein, we developed a novel method of analyzing ligands in a mild yet accurate fashion. We found that oxidizing agents, as a heterogeneous catalyst in a different phase from QDs, can efficiently disrupt the interaction between the inorganic particle and organic ligands, and the subsequent simple phase fractionation step can isolate the ligand-containing phase from the oxidizer-containing phase and the insoluble precipitates. Our novel analysis procedure ensures to minimize the exposure of ligand molecules to oxidizing agents as well as to prepare homogeneous samples that can be readily analyzed by diverse analytical techniques, such as nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and gas-chromatography mass-spectrometry. © 2021, The Author(s).1

Graduate Recital, March 20, 2021

Center for the Performing ArtsMarch 20, 2021Saturday Afternoon5:00 p.m

Development and Evaluation of a Teamwork Improvement Program for Perioperative Patient Safety

Background Effective teamwork in healthcare teams improves quality of care, which positively impacts on patient safety. Teamwork is especially crucial for perioperative nurses because they provide care as a team in the operating room. Previous research on teamwork training has principally addressed the general aspects of healthcare settings and focused on interdisciplinary teamwork and has rarely considered operative settings and nursing teamwork. Purpose The aim of this study was to develop a teamwork improvement program for perioperative patient safety and to evaluate the effectiveness of this program. Methods A quasi-experimental design was applied. We developed a teamwork improvement program based on teamwork competencies that focused on the perioperative nursing practice. This research was conducted at two operating centers in a tertiary hospital in South Korea, and a total of 60 perioperative nurses participated, including 28 nurses from the cancer operating center (experimental group) and 32 nurses from the main operating center (control group). The program consisted of four sessions and was delivered to the experimental group for a period of 2 weeks. Following the intervention, the effectiveness of the intervention was measured using a self-report questionnaire, focus group interviews, and program evaluation survey. Data were analyzed using chi-square test, t test, Fisher&apos;s exact test, and content analysis. Results Nearly all (96.4%) of the participants were satisfied with the overall content of the teamwork improvement program. Statistically significant differences were found between the experimental and control groups with regard to teamwork knowledge, teamwork attitudes, communication self-efficacy, and teamwork skills and behaviors. Three themes were elicited from the qualitative analysis, including &quot;recognizing the importance and content of teamwork,&quot; &quot;improving teamwork competencies,&quot; and &quot;contributing to safe surgery.&quot; No significant difference in the incidence of surgical nursing errors was identified between the experimental and control groups within a 4-week period. Conclusions/Implications for Practice The teamwork improvement program developed in this study was demonstrated as effective in improving perioperative nurses&apos; utilization of teamwork competencies in nursing practice and positively changing teamwork. The findings of this study provide evidence that teamwork training increases nurses&apos; teamwork competencies. The clinical application of teamwork tools using competency-based teamwork training may contribute to patient safety and safe nursing practice.N

The effects of a mobile application for patient participation to improve patient safety

Abstract Background Patient participation in patient safety activities in care processes is a fundamental element of safer care. Patients play an important role in preventing patient safety incidents and improving health outcomes. Therefore, healthcare providers need to develop and provide educational materials and actionable tools for patient participation. Objectives This study aimed to develop a mobile application for health consumers' participation and evaluate the effect of the mobile application on improving health consumers' participation in patient safety. Methods A quasi‐experimental design was adopted. We developed a mobile application on the basis of a needs assessment, literature review, compilation of patient safety topics, and validity testing of the application. The target population included Korean adults aged between 30 and 65 years who had visited a medical institution more than once within the most recent 6 months. The intervention group received patient participation training by using the mobile application, Application for Patient Participation in Safety Enhancement, for 2 months. The primary outcome variables were patient safety knowledge, self‐efficacy of participation, willingness to participate and experience of patient participation in patient safety activities. End‐user satisfaction was assessed using a questionnaire. To assess participants' experiences with the intervention, qualitative data were collected through a focus group interview and open‐ended responses to an end‐user satisfaction survey. Results The intervention group (n = 60) had significantly higher overall average scores than the control group (n = 37) with regard to patient safety knowledge (p < .001), self‐efficacy of participation (p = .001), willingness to participate (p = .010) and experience of participation (p = .038) in the post‐survey. The total mean end‐user satisfaction score was 3.56 ± 0.60. The participants expressed the realization that patients could play an important role in improving patient safety. Conclusions This study demonstrated that educating health consumers through a mobile application with useful information improves patient participation in patient safety activities. Educational materials and patient participation tools could motivate health consumers' health‐related behaviours. Patient or Public Contribution Patients were involved during the programme development and evaluation

Requirement Analysis for Developing a Patient Participation Program in Patient Safety

Patients&apos; roles in preventing errors has been emphasized. Patients&apos; and families&apos; participation is one of the important strategies to improve patient safety. Therefore, it is necessary to educate patients and families who visit hospitals. Web-based educational programs can be useful tools to provide patient safety information easily and enhance patients&apos; and families&apos; knowledge. This study analyzed requirements for developing a web-based program for patient participation in patient safety.N

The effects of a mobile application for patient participation to improve patient safety

Background Patient participation in patient safety activities in care processes is a fundamental element of safer care. Patients play an important role in preventing patient safety incidents and improving health outcomes. Therefore, healthcare providers need to develop and provide educational materials and actionable tools for patient participation. Objectives This study aimed to develop a mobile application for health consumers&apos; participation and evaluate the effect of the mobile application on improving health consumers&apos; participation in patient safety. Methods A quasi-experimental design was adopted. We developed a mobile application on the basis of a needs assessment, literature review, compilation of patient safety topics, and validity testing of the application. The target population included Korean adults aged between 30 and 65 years who had visited a medical institution more than once within the most recent 6 months. The intervention group received patient participation training by using the mobile application, Application for Patient Participation in Safety Enhancement, for 2 months. The primary outcome variables were patient safety knowledge, self-efficacy of participation, willingness to participate and experience of patient participation in patient safety activities. End-user satisfaction was assessed using a questionnaire. To assess participants&apos; experiences with the intervention, qualitative data were collected through a focus group interview and open-ended responses to an end-user satisfaction survey. Results The intervention group (n = 60) had significantly higher overall average scores than the control group (n = 37) with regard to patient safety knowledge (p &lt; .001), self-efficacy of participation (p = .001), willingness to participate (p = .010) and experience of participation (p = .038) in the post-survey. The total mean end-user satisfaction score was 3.56 +/- 0.60. The participants expressed the realization that patients could play an important role in improving patient safety. Conclusions This study demonstrated that educating health consumers through a mobile application with useful information improves patient participation in patient safety activities. Educational materials and patient participation tools could motivate health consumers&apos; health-related behaviours. Patient or Public Contribution Patients were involved during the programme development and evaluation.N

Senior Recital, November 5, 2020

Kemp Recital HallNovember 5, 2020Thursday Evening7:00 p.m