Search

Background This study was conducted to investigate the effects of combining nutritional and physical activity (PA) factors on four different categories, according to the presence or absence of sarcopenia and central obesity. Methods From the 2008–2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2971 older adults aged ≥ 65 years were included and divided into four groups based on their sarcopenia and central obesity status: healthy control (39.3%), central obesity (28.9%), sarcopenia (27.4%), and sarcopenic obesity (4.4%). Central obesity was defined as a waist circumference of ≥ 90 cm in men and ≥ 85 cm in women. Sarcopenia was defined as an appendicular skeletal mass index of 2 in men and 2 in women, and sarcopenic obesity was defined as the coexistence of sarcopenia and central obesity. Results Participants who consumed more energy and protein than the average requirement had a lower likelihood of having sarcopenia (odds ratio (OR): 0.601, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.444–0.814) than those who did not consume enough nutrients. The likelihood of central obesity and sarcopenic obesity decreased in groups with recommended PA levels, regardless of whether energy intake met or did not meet the average requirement. Whether PA met or did not meet the recommended level, the likelihood of sarcopenia decreased in groups with energy intake that met the average requirement. However, when PA and energy requirements were met, there was a greater reduction in the likelihood of sarcopenia (OR: 0.436, 95% CI: 0.290–0.655). Conclusion These findings suggest that adequate energy intake that meets requirements is more likely to be effective as a major prevention and treatment goal for sarcopenia, whereas PA guidelines should be prioritized in the case of sarcopenic obesity.

We propose an Eulerian approach to investigate the motion of particles in turbulence under the assumption that the motion of particles remains smooth in space and time until a collision between particles occurs. When the first collision happens, particle velocity loses $$C^1$$ C 1 continuity, resulting in a finite-time blowup. The corresponding singularities in particle velocity gradient, particle number density, and particle vorticity for various Stokes numbers and gravity factors are numerically investigated for the first time in a simple two-dimensional Taylor-Green vortex flow, two-dimensional decaying turbulence, and three-dimensional isotropic turbulence. In addition to the critical Stokes number above which a collision begins to occur, the flow condition leading to collision is revealed; particles tend to collide in very thin shear layer constructed by two parallel same-signed vortical structures when Stokes number is above the critical one.

Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer is one of the cationic polymers widely used in nonviral vector-based gene therapy. As PAMAM comprises biodegradable peptide bonds, it shows biocompatibility and relatively low cytotoxicity. In comparison with polyethylenimine (PEI, 25 kDa) that shows high transfection efficiency, the native PAMAM dendrimer has limitations as a gene carrier. To improve the gene expression efficiency, we introduced KRTR peptides derived from the influenza B virus nucleoprotein, known as a nuclear localization signal (NLS), to PAMAM generation 3. We synthesized PAMAM-RTRK and PAMAM-HRTRK and evaluated the effects of the histidine residue on cytotoxicity. The transfection efficiency of PAMAM-RTRK and PAMAM-HRTRK was similar to that of PEI in HepG2 cells, while their gene expression capacities were much higher than capacity of PEI in A549 cells. PAMAM-HRTRK showed relatively lower cytotoxicity than PAMAM-RTRK in the two cell lines, but the transfection capacity was similar for the two polymers. These results imply that the combination of histidine and KRTR peptide may potentially result in a novel PAMAM-based vector that could be used for prolonged gene therapy through the reduction in cytotoxicity and enhancement of gene expression.

Background Hepatitis B is an important disease of ethnic disparity which affects Asian Americans and other minority populations disproportionately. Despite the high prevalence of hepatitis B in Asian Americans, many of them remain unscreened and untreated. A majority of the individuals chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) are not linked to care, for instance, due to a lack of culturally competent programs. There are many serious barriers preventing linkage to care (LTC), including personal, socio-cultural, and economic issues. The purpose of this study was to evaluate various barriers affecting LTC and to investigate the role and efficacy of a community-based Patient Navigator (PN) program in expediting LTC and in improving health outcomes for hepatitis B patients in a high risk population. Methods A total of 45 individuals chronically infected with HBV were identified through community screening events and were subsequently linked to patient navigators (PN), who then arranged for the patients to have a medical evaluation with a provider of their choice in their communities. The navigators kept detailed records of the patients’ progress towards goal, and planned follow up visits for each patient. A self-report questionnaire was employed to assess patients’ demographics, history of HBV infection, and barriers in accessing health care. Specifically, the levels of importance of the barriers due to language, culture, financial reasons were assessed. Results The study revealed that 38 of the 45 HBV infected individuals knew about their infection status from previous screening. Forty two out of 45 HBV infected individuals were linked to care within a 12 month period, demonstrating a high linkage rate. Most significant barriers identified were language and finance, followed by cultural barrier and others. Conclusion There are specific barriers to accessing adequate care for the patients affected by chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in Korean American community. The implementation of a PN program in conjunction with the community network of health care providers may help to overcome the barriers and facilitate LTC in hepatitis B.