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Abstract: Aim: This study sought to assess the association between metabolic syndrome (MS) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in the general population. Methods: We analyzed data for 4463 adults, aged 30 years or older, from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005. “EuroQol 5D”, which measures two dimensions, the EuroQol 5D index score (EQ-5D) and the EuroQol visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS), was used to evaluate HRQOL. Results: Mean scores for the EQ-5D in both sexes and EQ-VAS in women decreased with increasing number of MS components, and women''s means for both scores were significantly lower than men''s. In individual domains of HRQOL, men with more MS components tended to have higher odds ratios for decreased self-care, and women had decreased mobility, according to the EQ-5D. In men, high blood pressure led to decreased EQ-5D, and in women, abdominal obesity and high blood pressure did so. Additionally, we found that taking medication had an impact on decreased HRQOL, especially in subjects with impaired fasting glucose. Conclusions: HRQOL was negatively associated with the number of MS components and it was decreased by taking hypoglycemic medications. This association differed by gender. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A fibrinolytic enzyme has been purified from the fruiting bodies of Korean Cordyceps militaris. The molecular mass of the enzyme was estimated to be 34kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE), fibrin-zymography, and gel filtration chromatography. The 15 amino acid residues of the N-terminal sequence of the enzyme were APVEQCDAPVGLARL, which is dissimilar to those of fibrinolytic enzymes from other mushrooms. Optimal pH and temperature values of the enzyme were 7.0 and 40°C, respectively. The enzyme activity was completely inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), TPCK, 1,10-phenanthroline, Cu2+, and Ba2+. It was also significantly inhibited by aprotinin, EDTA, and EGTA. The enzyme showed a higher specificity for a synthetic substrate, N-succinyl-Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-p-nitroanilide, exhibiting that it is a chymotrypsin-like serine metalloprotease. The enzyme preferentially hydrolyzed the fibrinogen Aα-, followed by the Bβ-chains and the γ-chain. The α, β, and γ–γ chains of fibrin were also degraded by the enzyme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the associations of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components between adolescents and their parents in Korea., Research Design and Methods: We analyzed data for 4,657 subjects (1,404 fathers, 1,404 mothers, 957 sons, and 892 daughters) from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys conducted between 1998 and 2008., Results: Compared with adolescents whose parents did not have MetS, the odds ratio (95% CI) for MetS in adolescents with MetS in one parent was 4.2 (2.1-8.5) and 8.7 (3.4-22.3) in those with MetS in both parents. Among obese adolescents, the prevalence of MetS was 18.2% without parental MetS, whereas 29.2% of obese adolescents with MetS in one parent and 53.9% with MetS in both parents also had MetS (P = 0.01 for trend)., Conclusions: The risk of MetS increased significantly in adolescents with parental MetS and was especially high in those with coexisting obesity and parental MetS.