Vestibular compensation is a recovery process from vestibular symptoms over time after unilateral loss of peripheral vestibular end organs. The aim of the present study was to observe time-dependent changes in long-term potentiation (LTP) at Schaffer collateral-CA1 synapses in the CA1 area of the hippocampus during vestibular compensation. The input-output (I/O) relationships of fEPSP amplitudes and LTP induced by theta burst stimulation to Schaffer's collateral commissural fibers were evaluated from the CA1 area of hippocampal slices at 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month after unilateral labyrinthectomy (UL). The I/O relationships of fEPSPs in the CA1 area was significantly reduced within 1 week post-op and then showed a non-significant reduction at 1 month after UL. Compared with sham-operated animals, there was a significant reduction of LTP induction in the hippocampus at 1 day and 1 week after UL. However, LTP induction levels in the CA1 area of the hippocampus also returned to those of sham-operated animals 1 month following UL. These data suggest that unilateral injury of the peripheral vestibular end organs results in a transient deficit in synaptic plasticity in the CA1 hippocampal area at acute stages of vestibular compensation.

This study was conducted to test the effect of Image Making Programs on image making efficacy, positive thinking, self-esteem, and nursing professionalism in nursing students. Methods: A non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used. Participants were 124 nursing students at two universities, and were assigned to the treatment group (n=62) or the comparison group (n=62). The treatment was the Image Making Program, which was held twice over 2 days for 120 minutes per session. Data were collected from August to September 2012, and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Kolmogorov-Smironov test, x 2-test, independent t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, one-tailed Mann-Whitney U test, independent one-tailed t-test with the SPSS/WIN 21.0 program. Results: Nursing students in the treatment group showed statistically significantly higher levels of image making efficacy, positive thinking, and nursing professionalism than those in the comparison group. Conclusion: The results indicate that the Image Making Program is an effective intervention for increasing image making efficacy, positive thinking, and nursing professionalism in nursing students. However, further research and practices are needed in this area.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of the water extract of Samultang (SMT), a Chinese herb, on apoptotic cell death by H2O2-induced oxidative stress in SK-N-MC cells. A nuclear fragmentation was observed via fluorescence imaging 12 h after exposure to 30 μM H2O2 and DNA laddering was detected via agarose electrophoresis gel. In addition, increases in sub-G1 phase and cleavage of the PARP protein were observed. However, treatment with SMT for 2 h prior to H2O2 exposure significantly reduced apoptotic cell death induced by incubation with 30 μM H2O2 in SK-N-MC cells. Pre-incubation with water extract of SMT for 2 h prevented the H2O2-induced decrease in mitochondrial transmembrane potential. SMT also attenuated the increase in caspase-3 activity and the breakdown of PARP protein caused by H2O2-induced oxidative stress. These results suggest that the water extract of SMT provides inhibition of apoptotic cell death against oxidative injury in SK-N-MC cells.