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Background: Sleep duration is associated with various health conditions, including chronic kidney disease. However, the association between sleep duration and decline in kidney function in the South Korean population remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the impact of sleep duration on kidney function decline in adult patients with hypertension.Methods: This cohort study was performed using data obtained from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study; 2,837 patients with hypertension who initially had normal kidney function were included. Glomerular filtration rates (GFRs) were estimated at baseline and throughout the 16 years of follow-up. A person was considered to have a decline in kidney function if they had a GFR 2. Sleep duration data were obtained through interviewer-assisted questionnaires. Sleep durations were classified as short (

Background: Since the era of “thyroid cancer epidemic,” many Korean academic societies discouraged the use of ultrasonography in healthy individuals and revised the Korean Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System to address the overscreening and overdiagnosis issues. This study aimed to evaluate the change in the diagnostic effectiveness of thyroid cancer screening over the last decade.Methods: This single-center, retrospective observational study analyzed the data of 125,962 thyroid nodules obtained during cancer screening at the health promotion center of Seoul National University Bundang Hospital from 2010 to 2019. Only 327 thyroid cancer cases pathologically confirmed by fine-needle aspiration (FNA) were included in the study. The strength of the association between the number of FNA and (1) the number of thyroid cancer diagnoses, (2) the positive predictive values (PPVs), and (3) the difference in PPV from the previous year were evaluated using Pearson’s correlation analysis.Results: The number of thyroid FNA biopsies as well as the thyroid cancer diagnoses decreased from 2010 to 2019 (166 to 48 [-71.1%] vs. 43 to 22 [-48.8%]). The PPV of FNA biopsies increased from 25.9% to 45.8% (+76.8%) and was negatively correlated with the number of FNA biopsies performed (R=-0.87, P

Objective Although fluid resuscitation is the cornerstone of treatment for sepsis, the role of body water status in sepsis is poorly understood. This study aimed to understand how body water and its distribution are modified in patients with sepsis and those with non-septic infection compared to healthy individuals.Methods Two groups of adults presumed to have non-septic infection (n=87) and sepsis (n=54) were enrolled in this prospective study in a single emergency department, and they were compared to sex-, age-, and height-matched (1:3 ratio) healthy controls (n=11,190) from retrospective data in a health promotion center. Total body water (TBW), intracellular water (ICW), and extracellular water (ECW), determined using direct segmental multi-frequent bioelectrical impedance analysis (InBody S10) were expressed as indices for normalization by body weight (BW). The ratio of ECW to TBW (ECW/TBW) was evaluated to determine body water distribution.Results TBW/BW, ICW/BW, and ECW/BW were significantly higher in the non-septic infection group than in the healthy group (P

Background: This study aimed to explore the relationship between fruit intake, changes in fruit intake, and changes in cardiometabolic factors in people with obesity. Methods: A total of 21,270 subjects (8,718 men, 12,552 women) aged 40 years and over, from the Korean-based Genome and Epidemiology Study, were followed up for an average of 4.4 years. Fruit intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire at baseline and the second follow-up. The beta coefficient and confidence intervals for changes in cardiometabolic risk factors according to fruit consumption were calculated using a linear regression model. Results: In men, the abdominal circumference decreased with changes in fruit intake (P=0.029). Fruit intake and increased fruit intake in men were associated with a lower systolic blood pressure (P=0.012 and P=0.02, respectively) and lower triglyceride levels (P=0.002 and P

Objective The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically affected healthcare services around Asia. The Asian National Cancer Centres Alliance and the Asia-Pacific Organisation for Cancer Prevention collaborated to assess the mid- and long- term impact of COVID-19 to cancer care in Asia. Methods The two entities organised a combined symposium and post-meeting interactions among representatives of major cancer centres from seventeen Asian countries to outlining major challenges and countermeasures. Results Participating stakeholders distilled five big questions. 1) "Will there be an explosion of late-stage cancers after the pandemic?" To address and recover from perceived delayed prevention, screening, treatment and care challenges, collaboration of key stakeholders in the region and alignment in cancer care management, policy intervention and cancer registry initiatives would be of essential value. 2) "Operations and Finance" The pandemic has resulted in significant material and financial casualties. Flagged acute challenges (shortages of supplies, imposition of lockdown) as well as longer-standing reduction of financial revenue, manpower, international collaboration, and training should also be addressed. 3) "Will telemedicine and technological innovations revolutionize cancer care?" Deploying and implementing telemedicine such as teleconsultation and virtual tumour boards were considered invaluable. These innovations could become a new regular practice, leading to expansion of tele-collaboration through collaboration of institutions in the region. 4) "Will virtual conferences continue after the pandemic?" Virtual conferences during the pandemic have opened new doors for knowledge sharing, especially for representatives of low- and middle-income countries in the region, while saving time and costs of travel. 5) "How do we prepare for the next pandemic or international emergency?" Roadmaps for action to improve access to appropriate patient care and research were identified and scrutinised. Conclusion Through addressing these five big questions, focused collaboration among members and with international organisations such as City Cancer Challenge will allow enhanced preparedness for future international emergencies. .

Objective: To describe how the Asian National Cancer Centers Alliance (ANCCA) members preserve high standards of care for cancer patients while battling the COVID-19 pandemic and to propose new strategies in the Asian Cancer Centers’ preparedness to future pandemics. Methods: A 41-question-based survey was developed using an online survey tool and conducted among 15 major Asian National Cancer Centers, including 13 ANCCA members. Direct interviews of several specialists were conducted subsequently to obtain additional answers to key questions that emerged during the survey analysis. Result: Institution/country-specific results provided a strong insight on the diverse ways of managing the pandemic around Asia, while maintaining well-balanced cancer care. Pragmatic strategies were put in place in each NCC hospital, including zoning and intensive triage depending on the pandemic impact. Distancing strategies and telemedicine were implemented in different capacity depending on the national healthcare system. In addition, there was a diverse impact on the manpower and financial aspect of cancer care across surveyed NCCs relating to magnitude of the pandemic impact on the country. Conclusion: The priorities nevertheless remain on maintaining cancer care delivery while protecting both patients and health care workers from the risk of COVID-19 infection. The role of a think-tank such as ANCCA to help share experiences in a timely manner can enhance preparedness in future pandemic scenarios.

Objectives This study sought to determine whether evaluations of breast arterial calcification (BAC) and low bone mass (LBM) could improve the ability to predict subclinical coronary artery disease (CAD) in asymptomatic women. Background An improved risk stratification strategy beyond the measurement of conventional risk factors is needed to identify women at high risk of CAD. Methods The BBC (Women Health Registry Study for Bone, Breast, and Coronary Artery Disease) enrolled 2,100 asymptomatic women who underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, digital mammography, and coronary computed tomography angiography. We assessed the predicted 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk and evaluated the presence and severity of BAC, LBM, coronary artery calcification (CAC), and coronary atherosclerotic plaque (CAP). Results CAC and CAP were found in 11.2% and 15.6% of participants, respectively. In women with CAC or CAP, increasing trends in the presence and severity of both BAC and LBM were observed. Both BAC and LBM were found to be associated with the presence of CAC (unadjusted odds ratios [OR]: 3.54 and 2.22, respectively) and CAP (unadjusted OR: 3.02 and 1.91, respectively). However, in multivariate analysis, only the presence of BAC and BAC score remained as independent predictors. For the prediction of CAC and CAP, addition of the BAC presence to the 10-year ASCVD risk significantly increased the areas under the curve (area under the curve: 0.71 to 0.72; p = 0.016; and area under the curve: 0.66 to 0.68; p = 0.010; respectively) and resulted in net reclassification index improvements (area under the curve: 0.304; p Conclusions The presence and severity of BAC and LBM were significantly associated with the risk of subclinical CAD in asymptomatic women. BAC evaluation especially provides an independent and incremental value over conventional risk algorithms. (Women Health Cohort for Breast, Bone and Coronary Artery Disease [BBC]; NCT03235622)

Improvement of dietary habits is recommended for the management of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases (CCVD). This study aimed to evaluate the dietary habits of CCVD patients and compare them with the general population by using the Diet Quality Index—International (DQI-I). Data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (2013–2016) were used. Cardiovascular diseases included myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, and heart failure, and cerebrovascular diseases included stroke, cerebral infarction, and hemorrhage. In total, 12,683 subjects over 20 years old were included, comprising 718 CCVD patients and 11,965 non-CCVD subjects. Survey-weighted multiple linear regression analyses with adjustment for covariates were used to compare DQI-I scores. The mean total DQI-I scores for the CCVD and non-CCVD groups were 66.7 ± 9.2 and 67.8 ± 9.2, respectively. After adjusting for covariates, the CCVD group had DQI-I scores significantly lower than the non-CCVD group (coefficient −1.13, p-value = 0.011). In the analysis of each DQI-I component, the CCVD group had lower scores for variety (coefficient −0.54, p-value = 0.004) and adequacy (coefficient −0.86, p-value = 0.001). In this study, using nationally representative data, dietary habits of CCVD patients were shown to be lower in quality than non-CCVD subjects. Therefore, evaluation and education of adequate dietary habits are needed in the management of CCVD patients.

Background and aims Resting heart rate is an independent predictor of colorectal cancer (CRC) development and CRC-related mortality. However, little is known about the relationship between resting heart rate and colorectal adenoma development. We aimed to investigate this association in a population who underwent screening colonoscopy. Methods Among 39,021 patients who underwent both electrocardiogram and screening colonoscopy during routine health examinations at the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Health Promotion Center, Korea from January 2014 to July 2019, 1,344 patients had advanced adenoma. We performed 1:1 propensity score (PS) matching to establish a control group that mitigated the confounding effects of age and sex. We performed multivariate logistic regression analyses to identify the independent risk factors of advanced adenoma development. Results Resting heart rate was significantly higher in the advanced adenoma group than in the control group. The prevalence of advanced polyp increased across the quartiles of resting heart rate. Patients with higher resting heart rates were more likely to be older, smokers, and have increased blood pressure and DM and less likely to engage in active exercises than those with lower resting heart rates. Patients with higher resting heart rates had higher serum glucose, triglyceride, hemoglobin A1C, and insulin levels and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Patients with resting heart rate in the highest quartile (≥71 bpm) still showed significantly increased odds ratio (OR) of advanced adenoma development (OR: 1.379, 95% confidence interval: 1.099–1.731, p = 0.006). Conclusions High resting heart rate was a meaningful independent risk factor of advanced adenoma development.

We evaluated whether breast arterial calcification (BAC) is associated with the progression of coronary atherosclerosis in asymptomatic women. This retrospective observational cohort study analysed asymptomatic women from the BBC registry. In 126 consecutive women (age, 54.5 ± 7.0 years) who underwent BAC evaluation and repeated coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) examinations, the coronary arterial calcification score (CACS) and segment stenosis score (SSS) were evaluated to assess the progression of coronary arterial calcification (CAC) and coronary atherosclerotic plaque (CAP). CAC and CAP progression were observed in 42 (33.3%) and 26 (20.6%) women, respectively (median interscan time, 4.3 years), and were associated with the presence of BAC and a higher BAC score at baseline. Women with BAC demonstrated higher CAC and CAP progression rates and showed higher chances for CAC and CAP progression during follow-up (p

Most diabetic patients experience diabetic mellitus (DM) urinary bladder dysfunction. A number of studies evaluate bladder smooth muscle contraction in DM. In this study, we evaluated the change of bladder smooth muscle contraction between normal rats and DM rats. Furthermore, we used pharmacological inhibitors to determine the differences in the signaling pathways between normal and DM rats. Rats in the DM group received an intraperitoneal injection of 65 mg/kg streptozotocin and measured blood glucose level after 14 days to confirm DM. Bladder smooth muscle contraction was induced using acetylcholine (ACh, 10-4 M). The materials such as, atropine (a muscarinic receptor antagonist), U73122 (a phospholipase C inhibitor), DPCPX (an adenosine A1 receptor antagonist), udenafil (a PDE5 inhibitor), prazosin (an α1-receptor antagonist), papaverine (a smooth muscle relaxant), verapamil (a calcium channel blocker), and chelerythrine (a protein kinase C inhibitor) were pre-treated in bladder smooth muscle. We found that the DM rats had lower bladder smooth muscle contractility than normal rats. When prazosin, udenafil, verapamil, and U73122 were pre-treated, there were significant differences between normal and DM rats. Taken together, it was concluded that the change of intracellular Ca2+ release mediated by PLC/IP3 and PDE5 activity were responsible for decreased bladder smooth muscle contractility in DM rats.

Background : Obesity is a global epidemic. Behavior change monitoring using a smartphone application (app) can support weight management in obese patients. These apps must undergo usability testing, which is an important step in mobile healthcare app development. The current study aimed to develop a mobile app for behavioral monitoring and to test its usability including technical effectiveness, user efficiency, and user satisfaction for obese adults. Methods : Development of the Dr. Youth app components included information on behavioral monitoring indicators and their obesity subtypes. The usability of the app was tested with 50 obese adults in a university hospital. Participants were asked to complete eight tasks for evaluating the technical effectiveness of the app. The time to complete each task was measured to test user efficiency. To explore user satisfaction, each participant completed the System Usability Scale (SUS). Descriptive statistics were used to examine the mean user efficiency and SUS scores. Results : Fifty adults (14 men and 36 women, aged 20–59 years) who are obese (body mass index ≥25 kg/m²) were recruited. The mean age of participants was 42.6 years (standard deviation [SD], 10.8 years); their mean body mass index was 29.6 kg/m² (SD, 5.7 kg/m²). The tasks were completed with a 99% success rate. The overall mean SUS score was 76.65 (SD, 15.43). Conclusion : The Dr. Youth app shows acceptable technical effectiveness, user efficiency, and user satisfaction. Future study is warranted to establish the app's clinical efficacy.

BACKGROUND Patient-generated health data (PGHD), especially lifelog data, are important for managing chronic diseases. Additionally, personal health records (PHRs) have been considered an effective tool to engage patients more actively in the management of their chronic diseases. However, no PHRs currently integrate PGHD directly from Samsung S-Health and Apple Health apps. OBJECTIVE The purposes of this study were (1) to demonstrate the development of an electronic medical record (EMR)–tethered PHR system (Health4U) that integrates lifelog data from Samsung S-Health and Apple Health apps and (2) to explore the factors associated with the use rate of the functions. METHODS To upgrade conventional EMR-tethered PHRs, a task-force team (TFT) defined the functions necessary for users. After implementing a new system, we enrolled adults aged 19 years and older with prior experience of accessing Health4U in the 7-month period after November 2017, when the service was upgraded. RESULTS Of the 17,624 users, 215 (1.22%) integrated daily steps data, 175 (0.99%) integrated weight data, 51 (0.29%) integrated blood sugar data, and 90 (0.51%) integrated blood pressure data. Overall, 61.95% (10,919/17,624) had one or more chronic diseases. For integration of daily steps data, 48.3% (104/215) of patients used the Apple Health app, 43.3% (93/215) used the S-Health app, and 8.4% (18/215) entered data manually. To retrieve medical documentation, 324 (1.84%) users downloaded PDF files and 31 (0.18%) users integrated their medical records into the Samsung S-Health app via the Consolidated-Clinical Document Architecture download function. We found a consistent increase in the odds ratios for PDF downloads among patients with a higher number of chronic diseases. The age groups of ≥60 years and ≥80 years tended to use the download function less frequently than the others. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study to examine the factors related to integration of lifelog data from Samsung S-Health and Apple Health apps into EMR-tethered PHRs and factors related to the retrieval of medical documents from PHRs. Our findings on the lifelog data integration can be used to design PHRs as a platform to integrate lifelog data in the future.

Background Problem drinking increases the incidence of all-cause mortality and specific cancers, and persistent drinking is associated with cardiovascular disease in certain cancer survivors. This study analyzed the cardiovascular risk factors before and after diagnosis in Korean cancer survivors. Methods Data for the period between 2002 and 2013 were collected from the National Health Insurance Service Health-Examinee Cohort Database. Among the 27,835 patients included, those with moderate alcohol consumption before and after cancer diagnosis were excluded. Problem drinking was defined as males under 65 years consuming over 14 glasses a week, and males over 65 years or females consuming over seven glasses a week. A t-test, chi-square test, and linear regression analysis were performed for differences in cardiovascular risk factors and differences according to cancer types. Results There was a difference in the body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and total cholesterol among patients who became moderate drinkers after diagnosis, but fasting blood glucose did not show any significant changes. Risk factors for cardiovascular disease were analyzed in patients with liver, stomach, rectal, and breast cancer with improved drinking behavior, and there were significant differences in body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, and total cholesterol in stomach cancer patients. Conclusion Moderate drinking can lower cardiovascular risk in cancer survivors, and among the many drinking-related cancers, stomach cancer patients demonstrated significantly reduced cardiovascular risk factors.

Bladder dysfunction is a common complication of diabetes mellitus (DM). However, there have been a few studies evaluating bladder smooth muscle contraction in DM in the presence of pharmacological inhibitors. In the present study, we compared the contractility of bladder smooth muscle from normal rats and DM rats. Furthermore, we utilized pharmacological inhibitors to delineate the mechanisms underlying bladder muscle differences between normal and DM rats. DM was established in 14 days after using a single injection of streptozotocin (65 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) in Sprague-Dawley rats. Bladder smooth muscle contraction was induced electrically using electrical field stimulation consisting of pulse trains at an amplitude of 40 V and pulse duration of 1 ms at frequencies of 2-10 Hz. In this study, the pharmacological inhibitors atropine (muscarinic receptor antagonist), U73122 (phospholipase C inhibitor), DPCPX (adenosine A1 receptor antagonist), udenafil (PDE5 inhibitor), prazosin (α1-receptor antagonist), verapamil (calcium channel blocker), and chelerythrine (protein kinase C inhibitor) were used to pretreat bladder smooth muscles. It was found that the contractility of bladder smooth muscles from DM rats was lower than that of normal rats. In addition, there were significant differences in percent change of contractility between normal and DM rats following pretreatment with prazosin, udenafil, verapamil, and U73122. In conclusion, we suggest that the decreased bladder muscle contractility in DM rats was a result of perturbations in PLC/IP3-mediated intracellular Ca2+ release and PDE5 activity.

This study sought to determine whether evaluations of breast arterial calcification (BAC) and low bone mass (LBM) could improve the ability to predict subclinical coronary artery disease (CAD) in asymptomatic women.An improved risk stratification strategy beyond the measurement of conventional risk factors is needed to identify women at high risk of CAD.The BBC (Women Health Registry Study for Bone, Breast, and Coronary Artery Disease) enrolled 2,100 asymptomatic women who underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, digital mammography, and coronary computed tomography angiography. We assessed the predicted 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk and evaluated the presence and severity of BAC, LBM, coronary artery calcification (CAC), and coronary atherosclerotic plaque (CAP).CAC and CAP were found in 11.2% and 15.6% of participants, respectively. In women with CAC or CAP, increasing trends in the presence and severity of both BAC and LBM were observed. Both BAC and LBM were found to be associated with the presence of CAC (unadjusted odds ratios [OR]: 3.54 and 2.22, respectively) and CAP (unadjusted OR: 3.02 and 1.91, respectively). However, in multivariate analysis, only the presence of BAC and BAC score remained as independent predictors. For the prediction of CAC and CAP, addition of the BAC presence to the 10-year ASCVD risk significantly increased the areas under the curve (area under the curve: 0.71 to 0.72; p = 0.016; and area under the curve: 0.66 to 0.68; p = 0.010; respectively) and resulted in net reclassification index improvements (area under the curve: 0.304; p 0.001; and area under the curve: 0.245; p 0.001; respectively).The presence and severity of BAC and LBM were significantly associated with the risk of subclinical CAD in asymptomatic women. BAC evaluation especially provides an independent and incremental value over conventional risk algorithms. (Women Health Cohort for Breast, Bone and Coronary Artery Disease [BBC]; NCT03235622).

Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fifth leading cause of death worldwide. The awareness and treatment rate of the disease are low despite its relatively high prevalence. With the added data, this study aimed to identify changes in prevalence and risk factors of COPD using the data from the 5th KNHNES. Methods The subjects of this study were 8,969 individuals aged 40 and older who satisfied suitability and reproducibility for pulmonary function tests. The prevalence, awareness and risk factors of COPD were predicted based on the questionnaires on gender, age, educational level, income level, smoking history, body mass index (BMI) and other COPD related questions. Results Diagnosis of COPD was based on the airflow limitation (forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity

BACKGROUND Personal health records (PHRs) are web based tools that help people to access and manage their personalized medical information. Although needs for PHR are increasing, current serviced PHRs are unsatisfactory and researches on them remain limited. The purpose of this study is to show the process of developing Seoul National University Bundang Hospital (SNUBH)'s own PHR system and to analyze consumer's use pattern after providing PHR service. METHODS Task force team was organized to decide service range and set the program. They made the system available on both mobile application and internet web page. The study enrolled PHR consumers who assessed PHR system between June 2013 and June 2014. We analyzed the total number of users on a monthly basis and the using pattern according to each component. RESULTS The PHR service named Health4U has been provided from June 2013. Every patient who visited SNUBH could register Health4U service and view their medical data. The PHR user has been increasing, especially they tend to approach via one way of either web page or mobile application. The most frequently used service is to check laboratory test result. CONCLUSION For paradigm shift toward patient-centered care, there is a growing interest in PHR. This study about experience of establishing and servicing the Health4U would contribute to development of interconnected PHR.

BackgroundPatient-generated health data (PGHD), especially lifelog data, are important for managing chronic diseases. Additionally, personal health records (PHRs) have been considered an effective tool to engage patients more actively in the management of their chronic diseases. However, no PHRs currently integrate PGHD directly from Samsung S-Health and Apple Health apps. ObjectiveThe purposes of this study were (1) to demonstrate the development of an electronic medical record (EMR)–tethered PHR system (Health4U) that integrates lifelog data from Samsung S-Health and Apple Health apps and (2) to explore the factors associated with the use rate of the functions. MethodsTo upgrade conventional EMR-tethered PHRs, a task-force team (TFT) defined the functions necessary for users. After implementing a new system, we enrolled adults aged 19 years and older with prior experience of accessing Health4U in the 7-month period after November 2017, when the service was upgraded. ResultsOf the 17,624 users, 215 (1.22%) integrated daily steps data, 175 (0.99%) integrated weight data, 51 (0.29%) integrated blood sugar data, and 90 (0.51%) integrated blood pressure data. Overall, 61.95% (10,919/17,624) had one or more chronic diseases. For integration of daily steps data, 48.3% (104/215) of patients used the Apple Health app, 43.3% (93/215) used the S-Health app, and 8.4% (18/215) entered data manually. To retrieve medical documentation, 324 (1.84%) users downloaded PDF files and 31 (0.18%) users integrated their medical records into the Samsung S-Health app via the Consolidated-Clinical Document Architecture download function. We found a consistent increase in the odds ratios for PDF downloads among patients with a higher number of chronic diseases. The age groups of ≥60 years and ≥80 years tended to use the download function less frequently than the others. ConclusionsThis is the first study to examine the factors related to integration of lifelog data from Samsung S-Health and Apple Health apps into EMR-tethered PHRs and factors related to the retrieval of medical documents from PHRs. Our findings on the lifelog data integration can be used to design PHRs as a platform to integrate lifelog data in the future.

Background The efficacy of two artificial tears, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and hyaluronate (HA), was compared in the treatment of patients with dry eye disease. Methods We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on randomized controlled trials in the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases. The efficacy was compared in terms of the mean change from baseline in tear break-up time. The meta-analysis was conducted using both random and fixed effect models. The quality of the selected studies was assessed for risk of bias. Results Five studies were included involving 251 participants. Random effect model meta-analysis showed no significant difference between CMC and HA in treating dry eye disease (pooled standardized mean difference [SMD]=-0.452; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.911 to 0.007; P=0.053). In contrast, fixed effect model meta-analysis revealed significant improvements in the CMC group when compared to the HA group (pooled SMD=-0.334; 95% CI, -0.588 to -0.081; P=0.010). Conclusion The efficacy of CMC appeared to be better than that of HA in treating dry eye disease, although meta-analysis results were not statistically significant. Further research is needed to better elucidate the difference in efficacy between CMC and HA in treating dry eye disease.

BACKGROUND Migrant health is becoming public health issues, as the migrant populations are increasing and their length of stay is prolonged. This study aims to analyze the differences in prevalence of chronic diseases among migrants according to length of stay and residential status. METHODS An initial population pool were 3,024 who were assessed with health screening programs by Migrant Health Association. 2,459 migrants were selected for final analysis. Via Stata 10 we conducted univariate logistic regression analysis to examine the effects of their length of stay and residential status on the prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and obesity. In the final analysis, the result of each sex was adjusted for age, nationality, length of stay, and residential status via multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS Longer length of stay tends to increase the prevalence of hypertension in male; 4-6 year stay-duration group demonstrated statistically significant excess compared to 1 year or less stay-duration group (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.39; confidence interval [CI], 1.01 to 1.92). After adjustment, male migrants stayed more than 7 year showed considerably higher dyslipidemia than male migrants stayed less than 1 year (adjusted OR, 1.95; CI, 1.05 to 3.64). Compared to the group with 1 year or less stay-duration, the prevalence of obesity in male was significantly higher among 4-6 year (adjusted OR, 1.65; CI, 1.17 to 2.32) and 7 year or more stay-duration group (adjusted OR, 1.65; CI, 1.11 to 2.45). CONCLUSION Longer length of stay correlated to higher prevalence of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and obesity among some population of migrants. So more researches and new developing policies are needed for this problem.

Korea has experienced dramatic development and has become highly industrialized and urbanized during the past 40 years, which has resulted in rapid economic growth. Due to the industrialization and urbanization, however, air pollutant emission sources have increased substantially. Rapid increases in emission sources have caused Korea to suffer from serious air pollution. An air pollutant emissions inventory is one set of essential data to help policymakers understand the current status of air pollution levels, to establish air pollution control policies and to analyze the impacts of implementation of policies, as well as for air quality studies. To accurately and realistically estimate administrative district level air pollutant emissions of Korea, we developed a Korean Emissions Inventory System named the Clean Air Policy Support System (CAPSS). In CAPSS, emissions sources are classified into four levels. Emission factors for each classification category are collected from various domestic and international research reports, and the CAPSS utilizes various national, regional and local level statistical data, compiled by approximately 150 Korean organizations. In this paper, we introduced for the first time, a Korean national emissions inventory system and release Korea’s official 2007 air pollutant emissions for five regulated air pollutants.

The purpose of this study is to analyze the concept of igneous rock textures and to uncover incorrect descriptions regarding the concept found within high school Earth Science II course seventh curriculum textbooks. Based upon this analysis suggestions will be made so as to improve descriptions regarding the concept of igneous rock texture. At least some incorrect descriptions regarding igneous rock texture were found in all the textbooks examined. Textures of volcanic rocks are described as being either fine-grained and glassy or porphyritic, while those of plutonic rocks are described as hollocrystalline, granular, coarse-grained or equigranular. These descriptions may contribute to forming and/or reinforcing misconceptions about both the classification criteria for, as well as the general concept of igneous rock textures. Therefore, some improvement schemes for the classification of igneous rock textures have been suggested. These schemes suggest that volcanic rocks be classified as either aphanitic or porphyritic, while plutonic rocks be classified as phaneritic, hollocrystalline or equigranular according to granularity, crystallinity, and both the absolute and relative sizes of the crystals within the rock.

Since mobile source is a major source of VOCs, quantifying emissions from motor vehicles is an important factor to control VOCs in atmosphere. In this study, in order to evaluate tailpipe VOCs emissions from motor vehicles, mass emissions of non-methane volatile organic compounds from 45 vehicles were determined. Measurements were made on a chassis dynamometer using CVS-75 mode and speed specific drive modes. Target VOCs are 53 compounds determined as the volatile ozone precursors. The individual VOCs composition of vehicle emission and emission rates were also determined. In case of gasoline vehicles, VOCs emission from over 80,000 km vehicles were about 46% larger than less 80,000 km vehicles. The difference in benzene and toluene according to driving mileage was 44% and 26% respectively. The composition of VOCs were different by fuel type. The order of VOCs composition was paraffins>aromatics>olefins in gasoline vehicle emissions, paraffins>olefins>aromatics in light duty diesel vehicle emissions. The VOCs emissions were decreased as vehicle speed increasing. These results will be used to calculate total VOCs emissions from automobiles in the future.

Objectives To assess the association between secondhand smoke exposure and blood lead and cadmium concentration in women in South Korea. Design Population-based cross-sectional study. Setting South Korea (Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey V). Participants 1490 non-smoking women who took part in the fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010–2012), in which blood levels of lead and cadmium were measured. Primary outcome measures The primary outcome was blood levels of lead and cadmium in accordance with the duration of secondhand smoke exposure. Results The adjusted mean level of blood cadmium in women who were never exposed to secondhand smoke was 1.21 (0.02) µg/L. Among women who were exposed less than 1 h/day, the mean cadmium level was 1.13 (0.03) µg/L, and for those exposed for more than 1 h, the mean level was 1.46 (0.06) µg/L. In particular, there was a significant association between duration of secondhand smoke exposure at the workplace and blood cadmium concentration. The adjusted mean level of blood cadmium concentration in the never exposed women9s group was less than that in the 1 h and more exposed group, and the 1 h and more at workplace exposed group: 1.20, 1.24 and 1.50 µg/L, respectively. We could not find any association between lead concentration in the blood and secondhand smoke exposure status. Conclusions This study showed that exposure to secondhand smoke and blood cadmium levels are associated. Especially, there was a significant association at the workplace. Therefore, social and political efforts for reducing the exposure to secondhand smoke at the workplace are needed in order to promote a healthier working environment for women.

BackgroundWorksite nutrition and physical activity interventions are important to help overweight and obese employees lose weight, but costs and insufficient sustained motivation prevent the majority of these programs from succeeding. Tailored text messaging in aiding weight management has been effective in several studies, but no studies have evaluated the effect of a tailored text message service on weight loss in a worksite health promotion program. ObjectiveWe studied the efficacy of a tailored text-messaging intervention for obese male participants in a worksite weight loss program of 6 months duration. MethodsThe study was an unblinded, randomized controlled trial. Men with a body mass index greater than 25 kg/m2 were recruited from the Korea District Heating Corporation, the Korea Expressway Corporation, and the Korea Gas Corporation. The participants were identified by nurse managers. Participants were randomly allocated to 1 of the following 2 groups for 24 weeks: (1) intervention group, which received tailored text message reminders every other day plus 4 offline education sessions and brief counseling with monthly weight check by nurses for weight control over 6 months and (2) control group, which received the 4 offline education sessions and brief counseling with monthly weight check by nurses about weight control over 6 months. The primary outcome was the difference in weight loss at 6 months. A mixed-model repeated-measures analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of the intervention group’s weight loss compared with the control group. ResultsA total of 205 obese men were randomized into either the intervention (n=104) or the control group (n=101). At the end of 6 months, the intervention group (n=63) had lost 1.71 kg (95% CI –2.53 to –0.88) and the control group (n=59) had lost 1.56 kg (95% CI –2.45 to –0.66); the difference between the 2 groups was not significant (mean difference –0.15, 95% CI –1.36 to 1.07). At the end of the study, 60% (34/57) of the intervention group rated the message program as helpful for weight control and 46% (26/57) would recommend the text message service to their friends. ConclusionsTailored text message reminders did not have a significant effect on weight loss in obese men as part of a worksite weight loss program. Trial RegistrationInternational Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN): 39629189; http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN39629189?q=39629189&filters=&sort=&offset=1&totalResults=1&page=1&pageSize=10&searchType=basic-search (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6VsFkwJH6).

NiO–TiO 2 /WO 3 catalysts was prepared by drying powdered Ni(OH) 2 –Ti(OH) 4 with ammonium metatungstate aqueous solution, followed by calcining in air at high temperature. The presence of NiO and WO 3 prevented the phase transition of TiO 2 from anatase to rutile forms. From 600 °C of calcination temperature, nickel titanium oxide (NiTiO 3 ) was observed due to the reaction between TiO 2 and NiO; its amount increased with increasing calcination temperature. Upon the addition of tungsten oxide to titania up to 15 wt.%, the specific surface area and acidity of catalysts increased in proportion to the tungsten oxide content, due to the interaction between tungsten oxide and titania. Since the TiO 2 stabilizes the tungsten oxide species, for the samples equal to or less than 25 wt.%, tungsten oxide was well dispersed on the surface of titania, but for the samples containing 25 wt.% or above 25 wt.%, the triclinic phase of WO 3 was observed at calcination temperature above 400 °C. The high acid strength and acidity was responsible for the W O bond nature of the complex formed by the interaction between WO 3 and TiO 2 . The catalytic activities for ethylene dimerization were correlated with the acidity of the catalysts measured by the ammonia chemisorption method. Catalysts without NiO or WO 3 were inactive as catalysts for ethylene dimerization, because the active sites of ethylene dimerization consist of low valent nickel ion and acidity.

A series of catalysts, NiO/CeO 2 -ZrO 2 /WO 3 , for ethylene dimerization was prepared by the precipitation and impregnation methods. For NiO/CeO 2 -ZrO 2 /WO 3 sample, no diffraction line of nickel oxide was observed up to 40wt%, indicating good dispersion of nickel oxide on the surface of catalyst. The hexagonal and monoclinic phases of WO 3 up to the calcination temperature of 500 °C were observed, whereas the hexagonal phase of WO 3 completely was transformed into monoclinic phase of WO 3 at 600 °C and above. The role of CeO 2 in the catalysts was to form a thermally stable solid solution with zirconia and consequently to give high surface area and acidity. The catalytic activities for ethylene dimerization were correlated with the acidity of catalysts measured by the ammonia chemisorption method. 25-NiO/5-CeO 2 -ZrO 2 /l 5-W03 containing 25 wt% NiO, 15 wt% WO 3 and 5 mol% CeO 2 , and calcined at 400 °C exhibited a maximum catalytic activity due to the effects of WO 3 modifying and CeO 2 doping.

Precisely refined Mossbauer study and nano structure observation revealed that intergranular phase formed between α-Fe and Nd₂Fe₁₄B phase in NdFeNbB alloys plays a significant role on the magnetic properties. The intergranular interaction was characterized in term of Henkel Plot (δM plot), and hyperfine field, quardrupole splitting and isomer shift were refined to predict the presence and role of the intergranular phase. By the addition of Nb into Nd_8Fe_(86)B_6 composition, coercivity was found to increase by 25% due to the refinement of average grain size of both the soft and hard magnetic phases which was decreased from 50 ㎚ of virgin Nd_8Fe_(86)B_6 to 25 ㎚ in Nd_8Fe_(85)Nb₁B_6 alloys. The role of Nb addition was confirmed to stabilize the Nd₂Fe₁₄B lattice preventing from thermal vibration of the corresponding sites substituted Fe by Nb atoms in all sites in the Nd₂Fe₁₄B lattice. The enhanced coercivity was originated from the exchange hardening of soft and amorphous phases surrounding the hard magnetic Nd₂Fe₁₄B crystal.

Magnetic properties of Nd₄Fe_(77.5)B_(18.5) compound in term of exchange coupling between Nd₂Fe₁₄B and Fe₃B magnetic nano crystals in melt spun powders were characterized by varying the quenching speed in mass production line. The exchange coupled phenomenon was characterized as functions of nano crystal size and volume fraction of each magnetic phase which was possible by employing Henkel plot (δM) and refined Mossbauer spectroscopy. The optimized magnetic properties obtained from the present volume production line were: Br = 11.73 kG, iHc = 3.082 kOe, and (BH)max = 12.28 MGOe. The volume fraction of each magnetic phase for those conditions giving the grain size of 10 ㎚ were α-Fe; 4.2%, Fe₃B; 60.1%, and Nd₂Fe₁₄B; 35.7%. The superior magnetic properties in the Nd₂Fe₁₄B+Fe₃B based nanocomposites were confirmed to be dependant on the volume fraction of Fe₃B.

The aldimines and ketimines reacted with alkenes under a rhodium catalyst [Rh(coe) 2 Cl] 2 and Cy 3 P to give mainly the double alkylated products with moderate to high yields. The aldimines bearing H, p -CH 3 O, p -CH 3 , p -Cl, p -F, p -CF 3 and o -CH 3 groups have high reactivities, but m -CH 3 O, m -Cl and m -F exhibit moderate reactivities. However, o -Cl, o -NO 2 and p -NO 2 groups did not work. The ketimine 9 gave the mono-alkylated products predominantly. 1-Naphthyl and heteroaromatic aldimines showed good regioselectivities.

A magnetic field annealing is firstly used for nanostructured Sm-Co/Co films, prepared by magnetron sputtering method. The effects of magnetic field annealing on single-layered Sm-Co films are different from those on multi-layered Sm-Co/Co films. A detailed analysis of microstructures and magnetic properties is made by means of HRTEM, Auger electron spectroscopy, XRD and Physical Property Measurement System (PPMS). From magnetic properties and microstructure analysis, it was confirmed that these differences originate from the effects of magnetic field annealing on crystallization behavior of the films. The relationship between magnetic properties and microstructures explains a different demagnetization process of single-layered and multi-layered films. For the single-layered Sm-Co films, magnetic-field-annealing makes the main phases change from CaCu_5 to Zn₂Th_(17) structure, resulting in a decrease of coercivity. The results show that the magnetic-field-annealing is useful to improve the properties of nanostructured Sm-Co(30 ㎚)/Co(10 ㎚) films, which ascribe to improving the pinning effectiveness in coercivity mechanism and decreasing the magnetostatic interaction of films. A very high coercivity about 0.7 T was obtained from nanoscaled multi-layered Sm-Co(30 ㎚)-/Co(10 ㎚) films.

Objective We developed and pilot-tested a personalized text messaging service program based on data from electronic health records (EHRs) and lifestyle questionnaires for weight control. Methods In the health promotion center of a hospital, 340 participants with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 25 were recruited and surveyed for the development of a text messaging program. After developing the interface linking the EHRs with personalized text messages for weight loss, we pilot-tested this program in 102 participants for its feasibility, acceptability and satisfaction. Results According to the needs analysis, the participants desired additional information about personalized nutrition and exercise. We selected many variables from the EHRs and questionnaires to create text messages with a more personalized program. After a 1-month trial of the text messaging program, the participants’ satisfaction score was 7.9 ± 1.5 and recommendation score was 7.5 ± 1.8. Conclusions A personalized short message service (SMS) linked with EHRs was feasible, and the pilot test showed high satisfaction and recommendation scores. Further evaluation using a well-designed trial will be needed.

Background Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic disease that commonly afflicts the elderly. This disease reduces the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and causes a significant social burden. Whether the effect of coexisting chronic conditions on HRQoL varies according to the presence of OA remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate this notion. Methods A total of 13,395 participants were identified from the 2009–2013 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for analysis. HRQoL was assessed using the European quality of life-5 dimensions (EQ-5D) index. Patients with OA were defined as those diagnosed by a physician or those who displayed both, symptoms and radiological findings consistent with OA at the time of the survey. Associations between OA and 8 chronic conditions were tested using regression analysis. Results The EQ-5D index was lower in patients with OA than in those without (mean difference, −0.145; 95% confidence interval [CI], −0.138 to −0.151; P

Background Dyslipidemia is a major risk factor contributing to cardiovascular disease and its prevalence is steadily rising. Although screening tests are readily accessible, dyslipidemia remains undertreated. Evaluating health behavior patterns after diagnosis may help improve lifestyle interventions for the management of dyslipidemia. Methods Data from the fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010–2012 were used. A total of 6,624 dyslipidemia patients over 20 years old were included according to National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines. Logistic regression analysis was completed using a weighted method to determine whether awareness of dyslipidemia was associated with health behavior. Health behavior was divided into two categories: behavioral factors (smoking, alcohol consumption, exercise) and nutritional factors (adequate intake of fiber, carbohydrate, fat, protein). Results There were no significant differences in health behavior among dyslipidemia patients according to awareness after adjustment for covariates, diabetes and hypertension. Awareness in women was associated with decreased smoking (odds ratio [OR], 0.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.32 to 0.94), but when adjusted for diabetes and hypertension the result was not significant (OR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.35 to 1.06). The same pattern applied to intake of carbohydrate in men (OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 0.99 to 1.67) and protein in women (OR, 1.22; 95% CI, 0.98 to 1.50). In subgroup analysis, awareness of dyslipidemia in men without hypertension or diabetes was associated with adequate intake of carbohydrate (OR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.06 to 2.72). Conclusion Increasing awareness alone may not be enough to improve healthy behavior in patients with dyslipidemia. Efforts including patient education and counseling through a multi-team approach may be required.

Background: Although complications of obesity are well acknowledged and managed by clinicians, management of obesity itself is often difficult, which leads to its underdiagnosis and undertreatment in hospital settings. However, tools that could improve the management of obesity, including self-monitoring, engagement with a social network, and open channels of communication between the patient and doctor, are limited in a clinic-based setting. Objective: The objective of our study was to evaluate the usability and acceptability of a newly developed mobile app linked with an accelerometer and its early effects on patient-doctor relationships. Methods: From September 2013 to February 2014, we developed a mobile app linked with an accelerometer as a supportive tool for a clinic-based weight loss program. The app used information from electronic health records and delivered tailored educational material. Personal goal setting, as well as monitoring of weight changes and physical activity combined with feedback, are key features of the app. We also incorporated an interactive message board for patients and doctors. During the period of March 2014 to May 2014, we tested our mobile app for 1 month in participants in a hospital clinic setting. We assessed the app’s usability and acceptability, as well as the patient-doctor relationship, via questionnaires and analysis of app usage data. Results: We recruited 30 individuals (18 male and 12 female) for the study. The median number of log-ins per day was 1.21, with the most frequently requested item being setting goals, followed by track physical activities and view personal health status. Scales of the depth of the patient-doctor relationship decreased from 27.6 (SD 4.8) to 25.1 (SD 4.5) by a Wilcoxon signed rank test ( P =.02). Conclusions: A mobile phone app linked with an accelerometer for a clinic-based weight loss program is useful and acceptable for weight management but exhibited less favorable early effects on patient-doctor relationships. [JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2016;4(1):e24]

BACKGROUND Allostatic load (AL) measures overall physiological wear and tear on one's body, as a preclinical marker of pathophysiologic processes that precede the onset of disease. We studied the association of dietary habits with AL. METHODS Consecutive patients visiting a tertiary hospital Health Promotion Center from September 2009 to February 2010, older than 20 years with metabolic syndrome were selected for study (n = 204). By multivariable linear regression analysis, we investigated the association of various dietary habits evaluated by questionnaires. RESULTS In male, multivariable linear regression showed a significant negative association between fat preference and AL with BMI ≥ 30 (1st quartile [Q] vs. 2Q: β = -3.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], -6.26 to -1.16), a significant negative association between salt preference and AL with BMI 25-30 (β = -1.36; 95% CI, -2.46 to -0.26), a negative association between appetite control and AL with BMI < 25 (1Q vs. 3Q: β = -1.54; 95% CI, -3.00 to -0.096), a significant positive association between appetite control and AL with BMI 25-30 (1Q vs. 3Q: β = 1.30; 95% CI, 0.12 to 2.48), and a significant positive association between eating in response to food cues and AL in males with BMI 25-30 (1Q vs. 4Q: β = 1.09; 95% CI, 0.020 to 2.15). CONCLUSION Our results suggest that metabolic syndrome patients should be discouraged from eating fat and eating in response to food cues, and should be educated about nutrition and balanced diet.

As prevalence of metabolic syndrome has rapidly increased over the past decade, lifestyle changes including dietary habits are considered as a therapeutic cornerstone for metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular complications and type 2 diabetes. We evaluated the effectiveness of a telephone-delivered nutrition education to improve metabolic parameters compared with a single-visit with a dietitian in subjects with metabolic syndrome. A total of seventy-one adults who met diagnostic criteria for the metabolic syndrome were randomly assigned to either the single-visit group or the in-depth nutrition education group during a 3-month intervention study period. The in-depth telephone-delivered nutrition education group had an initial visit with a dietitian and additional two telephone counseling during the first 4 weeks of the study periods. Sixty-six subjects completed a 3-month intervention study. The trial examined participant's anthropometric changes and dietary intakes as well as changes in the metabolic syndrome factors. At the end of the trial, the in-depth nutrition education group showed significantly higher reduction in weight, body fat and abdominal circumference compared with the other group (p < 0.05). In the in-depth nutrition groups, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was decreased to 45.5%, while 69.7% of the subjects were metabolic syndrome patients in the single-visit group (p < 0.05). These results demonstrate that the telephone-intervention counseling is a feasible mean to deliver dietary intervention in patients with metabolic syndrome.