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Abstract Background High blood pressure variability (BPV) increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and may be better prognostic factor than blood pressure. Depressive mood is a common symptom among patients visiting primary care. This study aimed to investigate the association between depressive mood and high BPV among Korean primary care patients. Methods The Family Cohort Study in Primary Care (FACTS), conducted from April 2009 to November 2017, utilized a prospective cohort of Korean primary care patients, with a median follow-up period of 7.25 years. Depressive mood was assessed as a score of 21 points or more on the Korean-type Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale. BP was measured at the initial visit and first and second follow-up visit. Visit-to visit SBP variability was analyzed using four metrics: intra-individual standard deviation, coefficient of variation, variation independent of mean, and average real variability. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the association of high BPV with depressive mood and other variables. Results Among 371 participants, 43 (11.6%) had depressive mood based on depression scores. Older age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01–1.07) were associated with high SBP variability regardless of taking antihypertensive medication. Among participants taking antihypertensive medication, those with depressive mood had twice the risk of high SBP variability compared with those who did not (OR: 2.95, 95% CI: 1.06–8.20). Conclusions Depressive mood was associated with high visit-to-visit SBP variability in primary care patients taking antihypertensive medication, potentially indicating increased cardiovascular risk. Primary care physicians should therefore closely monitor BPV in patients with depressive symptoms and provide appropriate interventions.

HT074, a multiherbal mixture containing extracts from Inula britannica flowers and Paeonia lactiflora roots, is used in Korean medicine for gastric disorders. This study investigated the protective mechanisms of HT074 against acute reflux esophagitis (RE) in rats. Nitric oxide (NO) production and mRNA expression of antioxidant-related genes (Nrf2, HO-1, SOD, CAT, and GPx2) were evaluated in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) was induced in rats, followed by HT074 (100, 300 mg/kg) or ranitidine (50 mg/kg) administration. Esophageal damage and histological changes were assessed. Gastric pH and protein expression levels of Nrf2, HO-1, SOD, CAT, and GPx-1/2 were measured. HT074 pretreatment reduced NO production and increased the expression of HO-1, CAT, and GPx2 in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. In GER-induced rats, HT074 significantly decreased esophageal lesions and increased the expression of HO-1, SOD, GPx-1/2, and Nrf2. HT074 did not affect gastric pH. These findings suggest that HT074 protects against GER-induced esophagitis by inhibiting NO production and enhancing antioxidant activity. Therefore, HT074 could be a promising therapeutic agent for GER disease.

Austenitic stainless steels used in structural applications suffer from stress corrosion cracking due to residual stresses during welding. Much research is being conducted to prevent the stress corrosion cracking of austenitic steels by inducing compressive residual stresses. One method is ultrasonic shot peening (USP), which is used to apply compressive stress by modifying the mechanical properties of the material’s surface. In this study, 304L stainless steel was butt-welded by gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) and subsequently subjected to compressive residual stress to a depth of 1 mm from the surface by a USP treatment. The influence of USP on microstructural changes in the base metal, the HAZ and weldment, and the corrosion properties was analyzed. A microstructural analysis was conducted using SEM-EDS, XRD, and EBSD methods alongside residual stress measurements. The surface and cross-sectional corrosion behavior was evaluated and analyzed using a potentiodynamic polarization test, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements, a double-loop electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation (DL-EPR) test, and an ASTM A262 Pr. C test. The surface was deformed and roughened by the USP. The deformed areas formed crevices, and the inside of the crevices contained some cracks. The crevices and internal cracks caused pitting, which reduced the resistance of the passivation film. The cross-section was subjected to compressive residual stress to a depth of 1 mm from the surface, and the outermost area of the cross-section had fine grain refinement, forming a solid passivation film that improved the corrosion resistance.

This study aimed to emphasize the importance of physical education in maintaining sufficient physical activity by examining the average BMI of fifth- and sixth-grade elementary school students in Korea over multiple years. This study investigated changes in the average BMI of fifth- and sixth-grade elementary school students in Korea. It provided foundational data to suggest the role of physical education in student health and set future directions. The 2019–2021 Physical Activity Promotion System (PAPS) of the Korean Ministry of Education was used. Data corresponding to fifth- and sixth-grade students (124,693 from 2019, 126,226 from 2020, and 117,809 from 2021) in 1208 elementary schools in Korea were collected. Repeated measures ANOVA was conducted for the data analysis. The study findings are as follows: First, the average BMI of fifth- and sixth-grade elementary school students in Korea increased significantly in 2021 compared with 2019 and 2020. Second, changes in the yearly average BMI showed a significant difference depending on gender and grade. Obesity among fifth- and sixth-grade elementary school students in Korea increased steadily during 2019–2021, which may be due to a decrease in students’ physical activity. Male students showed a steeper increase regardless of grade. During the study period, limited physical activity at school increased obesity rates. Physical education must play a role in students’ health in preparation for future changes.