Successful reconstruction of large-diameter blood vessel in humans has been demonstrated using the tissue engineering technique, but improvement in patency of small-diameter bioartificial vascular graft remains a great challenge. This study reports that granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) can enhance in vivo endothelialization of tissue-engineered vascular grafts, which could be used to improve patency of small-diameter vascular graft. Vascular grafts were tissue engineered with decellularized canine abdominal aortas and canine autologous bone marrow-derived cells. Prior to cell seeding onto decellularized graft matrices, bone marrow-derived cells were induced to differentiate into endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells. The cell-seeded vascular grafts were implanted into the abdominal aortas of bone marrow donor dogs. Before and after graft implantation, G-CSF was administered subcutaneously to the dogs (n = 3). The grafts implanted into the dogs not receiving G-CSF were used as controls (n = 3). Eight weeks after implantation, grafts in both groups showed regeneration of vascular tissues including endothelium and smooth muscle. Importantly, endothelium formation was more extensive in the G-CSF-treated grafts than in the control grafts, as assessed with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, western blot, and immunohistochemistry. In addition, intimal hyperplasia was significantly reduced in the G-CSF-treated grafts compared to the control grafts. This study suggests that G-CSF administration could be applied to improve patency of small-diameter tissue-engineered vascular grafts.

Background:The purpose of this study was to determine the degree of oral care, perceived halitosis, halitosis, interpersonal relationships and oral health-related quality of life and to examine the relationships among these variables. Methods: The participants were 94 elderly people. The questionnaire included questions on oral care, perceived halitosis, interpersonal relationships, and oral health-related quality of life. Halitosis was measured using odor breath tester. Results: A total of 63.8% of the elderly did not receive regular oral care. The halitosis score was 1.59, thus indicating moderate halitosis. The current perceived halitosis figure was 1.54, participants responded that they feel slight. There was no significant correlation between halitosis and perceived halitosis. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in halitosis and perceived halitosis according to the oral care. Perceived halitosis was negatively correlated with oral health-related quality of life. Interpersonal relationships were correlated with oral health-related quality of life. Conclusions: It is necessary to actively promote the need for oral care among the elderly. Moreover, older people need regular oral care to prevent halitosis and improve their oral health-related quality of life.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine and share experiences of male nurses who have been rejected during their nursing practice by their patients. Methods: The participants were 12 male nurses who have worked in several hospitals. Data were collected through personalized in-depth interviews. Collected data were analyzed with the content analysis method. Results: The results can be categorized into three main themes. 1. Rejection based on gender stereotypes of nurses' roles. 2. Nurses' reactions when nursing was rejected 3. Reestablishing the role as a nurse. The results of this study showed that male nurses were struggling to maintain their own positions as professional nurses. They were refused by their patients and they experienced a lack of skill and knowledge in nursing practice. They were harmed physically and psychologically from being turned down, and sometimes they had serious conflicts with female nurses. Meanwhile, the male nurses tried to be faithful to their role as professional nurses. Conclusion: The results of this study show the following findings. 1. The male nurses' experiences where mostly ones of understanding and cooperation with patients' caregivers. 2. The need for public relations advertising and systematic support from the media. 3. The need for improving gender equality for nurses. 4. Strengthening male nursing students' endeavors for sound nursing professionalism.

This study is aimed at grasping the benefit/effect of program promoting intention to exercise performance based theory of planned behavior in the elderly who live in the rural areas with degenerative joint diseases (DJDs). Methods: There were 2 groups; 32 people in the experimental group and 24 in the control group, all above the age of 60. Program promoting intention to exercise performance was applied to the experimental group for 12 weeks. Results: Compared to the control group, the experimental group showed a significant the increase of attitude towards exercise, subjective norm, perceived behavior control, exercising intention, and exercise performance. Also, pain as a physical function, joint stiffness, ADLs, body flexibility, parallel, perceived health state as a psychological function, and life satisfaction were significantly improved. Conclusion: We expect that program promoting intention to exercise performance is used in nursing practice for the elderly with DJDs are needed to manage lifestyle.

This study was conducted in order to closely examine the effects on bone mineral density and health promotion behaviors following the intervention of a 20-week Thera band exercise program targeting elderly women. Methods: This study is a pseudo-experimental research with a pre-and-post design in a single group that examined the effects after the intervention of Thera Band Exercise for 20 weeks targeting 31 elderly women over 60 years of age who visit a Senior Welfare Center located in K city. It analyzed subjects' general characteristics using error and percentage, health promotion behavior, and a bone density aspect using the mean and standard deviation, as well as a change in the health promotion behavior and bone density, before and after exercise with Paired ttest by using the SPSS 18.0 program. Results: The effect of the Thera band exercise program on bone mineral density was reduced (t= 8.140, p< .001) gradually after 20 weeks of exercise compared to the pre-exercise period. The health promotion behavior before and after exercise showed the significantly increasing outcomes (t= 3.26, p= .003). Conclusion: There is a limitation to a direct rise in bone mineral density with the use of Thera band exercise intervention in the elderly. A change in health promotion behavior before and after exercise increased significantly. Thus, it was confirmed that taking exercise leads to a gradual rise in health promotion behavior. Hence, it understood that continuous exercise is useful and brings about a positive change in promoting health maintenance in elderly women.