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Cultural heritage communication (CHCom) refers to the transfer of values that underlie heritage attributes and settings to intended audiences. Emerging digital storytelling approaches combined with advanced technologies can advance the dissemination and interpretation of information on heritage sites, particularly the intangible values essential to conveying the multifaceted complexity of sites in virtual environments. However, the holistic integration of layered heritage values into digital storytelling in heritage experience design for virtual environments remains underexplored. The present study therefore examined value-based digital storytelling as an effective CHCom method and the improvement of visitors' recognition and contextualization of heritage values. To this end, the research addressed the communication of the diverse sociocultural significance of Seonamsa Temple of Korea as the venue of interest. The findings suggest that value-based digital storytelling helps reveal interconnected sociocultural values beyond built environments and supports the formulation of strategies for deepening visitors' heritage interpretation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Motorcyclists face a higher risk of severe morbidity and mortality compared to automobile passengers. This study aimed to determine the injury characteristics of motorcyclists according to their body mass index (BMI). Methods: A retrospective observational cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the Emergency Department-based Injury In-depth Surveillance (EDIIS) registry. Motorcycle riders aged 18 or older who were injured and admitted to study hospitals between 2019 and 2020 were included. Patients were divided into three groups based on BMI cutoffs of 18.5 and 25 kg/m²: the low, optimal, and high BMI groups. The primary outcome was anatomical injury location according to the abbreviated injury scale. The secondary outcomes were the surgery and intensive care unit admission rate, and the 48-h and 30-day in-hospital mortality. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the impact of BMI on outcomes. Results: Among 1280 patients, the low and high BMI groups had higher risk of abdominal injuries (AIS ≥ 2) than the optimal BMI group, with adjusted odds ratios of 2.82 (95% CI 1.41-5.63) and 1.61 (95% CI 1.17-2.21), respectively. Only the low BMI group had a significant association with severe abdominal injury (AIS ≥ 3), with an adjusted odds ratio of 3.11 (95% CI 1.31-7.39). No significant association was found between BMI and surgery, ICU admission, or mortality. Conclusion: The low BMI group was more likely to have an abdominal injury (AIS score ≥2 or AIS score ≥3) during motorcycle injuries. BMI was not associated with surgery, ICU admission, or mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On September 12, 2016, an ML 5.8 earthquake occurred near Gyeongju City in the southeastern part of the Korean peninsula. Two representative major faults, the Yangsan Fault (YSF) and Ulsan Fault (USF), are close to the earthquake hypocenter. However, the actual location of the hypocenter was reported to be outside of these fault zones. To identify an earthquake-generating fault and analyze its precise mechanism, it is necessary to understand the deep geological structure of the fault system. In this study, an audio-magnetotelluric (AMT) survey was conducted to analyze the subsurface structure of the fault system and geological characteristics in the Gyeongju area of Korea. AMT data were acquired from 301 stations around the earthquake epicenter and processed using robust processing with the remote reference technique. Inversion profiles were designated as either parallel (N-S) or perpendicular (E-W) to the regional fault strikes. The geoelectrical structure was obtained using two-dimensional (2-D) inversions of the joint set of transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) modes. The vertical sections along the E-W and N-S profiles that passed through the epicenter distribution contain a low resistivity zone at a depth of 2–3 km. The horizontal section of the resistivity distribution confirms that a high resistivity zone is located around the epicenter distribution. In contrast, a low resistivity zone is located at the center of the epicenter distribution. The high resistivity zone is located in the Yucheon Group (pyroclastic rocks) and granites, which are located on the western part of the YSF. In contrast, the low resistivity zone was observed in the alluvium to the northwest. The Hayang Group (clastic sedimentary rocks) and granites are located between the YSF and USF, and the observed high resistivity zone is coincident with the location of the granites. Paleogene and Neogene sediments distributed on the eastern part of the USF contained low resistivity zones. Compared with a magnetic anomaly map, the pattern of the magnetic anomalies is similar to that of the resistivity. This indicates that the resistivity model presented in this study is consistent with the geological characteristics of the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is criticism that discussions surrounding games for older populations are mainly focused on practical approaches to cognitive and physical training. In addition, negative attitudes toward digital games and limited experience contribute to older populations' isolation from mainstream game culture. This study aims to examine perception changes toward digital games in adults in their 50s and older as they gain actual game experience and an appropriate game literacy program for older populations. We organized eight sessions of gameplay workshops for participants aged 50 years and over (N = 40, age range = 50–85 years) at two senior learning centers located in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do in South Korea. The workshops consisted of lectures for game literacy, co-playing of mobile games, and discussions about game experience. A thematic analysis of participants' statements and game diaries revealed their perception changes toward games. Participants engaged in a variety of mobile games and felt conflicted between their positive and negative experiences. They reported that their game experience had contributed to identifying the positive values of games, understanding diversity, and improving their understanding of the younger generation. In addition, they indicated that future directions for fostering a game culture in older age groups should include playing for connectivity, health, relaxation, and game literacy education. This study highlights games as a cultural medium that entertains and connects people. By linking theories with practice, we propose a framework for a game literacy program to support older populations' active participation in game culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity is a prevalent global health issue affecting approximately half of the world's population. Extensive scientific research highlights the urgent need for effective obesity management to mitigate health risks and prevent complications. While bariatric surgery has proven to be highly effective, providing substantial short-term and long-term weight loss and resolution of obesity-related comorbidities, it is important to recognize its limitations and associated risks. Given the global obesity epidemic and the limitations of surgical interventions, there is high demand for effective and safe anti-obesity medications (AOMs). In Korea, the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity strongly advocates for the use of pharmacotherapy in Korean adults with a body mass index of 25 kg/m² or higher who have not achieved weight reduction through non-pharmacological treatments. Currently, five AOMs have been approved for long-term weight management: orlistat, naltrexone/bupropion, phentermine/topiramate, liraglutide, and semaglutide. Tirzepatide is awaiting approval, and combination of semaglutide/cagrilintide and oral semaglutide are currently undergoing rigorous evaluation in phase 3 clinical trials. Furthermore, other promising drugs, including orforglipron, BI 456906, and retartrutide, are progressing to phase 3 studies, expanding the therapeutic options for obesity management. In personalized patient care, physicians play a crucial role in accurately identifying individuals who genuinely require pharmacotherapy and selecting appropriate AOMs based on individual patient characteristics. By integrating evidence-based interventions and considering the unique needs of patients, healthcare professionals significantly contribute to the success of obesity management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The objective of this study was to compare the virulence and antimicrobial resistance characteristics of the most prevalent Escherichia coli strains causing diarrhea in both swine and humans. Results show that the swine strains exhibited a considerably higher level of resistance compared to those from human patients, particularly against fluoroquinolones. Moreover, five sequence types (ST 100, ST 1, ST 10, ST 641, and ST 88) were identified in both swine and human isolates. Furthermore, it was confirmed that both swine and human isolates possessed comparable virulence traits and shared similar phylogenetical relationships. These results suggest that cross contamination and the transmission of antimicrobial resistance may occur between swine and humans. The aim of this study was to compare the virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance of the most common pathogenic Escherichia coli strains in swine and patients with diarrhea in Korea. We examined virulence genes and antimicrobial susceptibility in 85 and 61 E. coli strains isolated from swine and patients with diarrhea, respectively. The most prevalent pathogen in swine was enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) (47.1%), followed by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) (32.9%). Similarly, the majority of the patient isolates (50.8%) were proven to be STEC, the most common pathotype, followed by ETEC (23.0%). We found that swine isolates had significantly higher resistance than patient isolates, especially to fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin: 37.5% and 16.1%; norfloxacin: 29.7% and 16.1%, respectively). Additionally, sequence type (ST) 100 (swine: 21; patients: 4), ST 1 (swine: 21, patients: 2), ST 10 (swine: 8; patients: 6), ST 641 (swine: 3, patients: 2), and ST 88 (swine: 2, patients: 11) were detected in both swine and humans. In addition, we confirmed that isolates from swine and patients had similar virulence traits and were phylogenetically similar. According to these findings, swine and humans are susceptible to cross infection and the transfer of antimicrobial resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of the 8th edition of the Clinical Practice Guidelines for Obesity is to help primary care physician provide safe, effective care to patients with obesity by offering evidence-based recommendations to improve the quality of treatment. The Committee for Clinical Practice Guidelines comprised individuals with multidisciplinary expertise in obesity management. A steering board of seven experts oversaw the entire project. Recommendations were developed as the answers to key questions formulated in patient/problem, intervention, comparison, outcomes (PICO) format. Guidelines underwent multi-level review and cross-checking and received endorsement from relevant scientific societies. This edition of the guidelines includes criteria for diagnosing obesity, abdominal obesity, and metabolic syndrome; evaluation of obesity and its complications; weight loss goals; and treatment options such as diet, exercise, behavioral therapy, pharmacotherapy, and bariatric and metabolic surgery for Korean people with obesity. Compared to the previous edition of the guidelines, the current edition includes five new topics to keep up with the constantly evolving field of obesity: diagnosis of obesity, obesity in women, obesity in patients with mental illness, weight maintenance after weight loss, and the use of information and communication technology-based interventions for obesity treatment. This edition of the guidelines features has improved organization, more clearly linking key questions in PICO format to recommendations and key references. We are confident that these new Clinical Practice Guidelines for Obesity will be a valuable resource for all healthcare professionals as they describe the most current and evidence-based treatment options for obesity in a well-organized format. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When an infectious disease breaks out, emergency nurses are the front-line specialists. Infection control by emergency nurses is important to minimize the risk of infectious disease and to improve the infection control practices of emergency nurses. Therefore, it is crucial to identify the factors influencing infection control practice related to COVID-19. For this cross-sectional study design used survey methods for data collection, a questionnaire survey was conducted with 161 emergency nurses working in five hospitals selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected from November 10 to November 26 in 2020. Infection control practice related to COVID-19 was affected by the infection prevention environment (β = 0.24, p =. 002), monitoring of wearing Personal Protective Equipment (β = 0.19, p =. 006), knowledge about COVID-19 (β = 0.18, p =. 009), perceived severity related to COVID-19 (β = 0.18, p =. 010), and perceived barrier related to COVID-19 (β = −0.15, p =. 033). Creating safe infection prevention measures and revitalizing personal protective equipment monitoring are necessary to improve infection control practices. A systematic infection control education program is needed to improve knowledge about COVID-19, emphasize its perceived severity, and identify and eliminate perceived barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: In the Asian population, existing studies regarding the association between smoking and acute pancreatitis are few in number. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of acute pancreatitis according to smoking habits and smoking habit changes of the Korean population. Methods: We used clinical data from individuals (aged 20 years or older) who received health examinations arranged by the Korean National Health Insurance Service in 2009 (n = 4 238 822) or in 2009 and 2011 (n = 2 617 306). The incidence of acute pancreatitis was analyzed according to smoking status or smoking habit change reported by individuals during their health examination. Newly diagnosed acute pancreatitis was identified using claims data from baseline to the date of diagnosis or until December 31, 2018. Results: The risk of acute pancreatitis was significantly higher in current smokers compared with never‐smokers regardless of age or sex. The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of acute pancreatitis in current smokers increased according to the amount of smoking (HR 1.28; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12–1.45 in <10 cigarettes/day, HR 1.4; CI, 1.3–1.52 in 10–19 cigarettes/day, HR 1.66; CI, 1.55–1.78 in ≥20 cigarettes/day). The adjusted HR of acute pancreatitis in continuous smokers was 1.66 (CI, 1.53–1.8) compared with never‐smokers and was higher than smokers who quit smoking (HR 1.34; CI, 1.17–1.54). Conclusions: In this Korean population‐based cohort study, smoking increased the incidence of acute pancreatitis in a dose‐dependent manner, and smoking cessation helped decrease the incidence of acute pancreatitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pathogenic Escherichia coli are an important cause of bacterial infections in both humans and pigs and many of antimicrobials are used for the treatment of E. coli infection. The objective of this study was to investigate the characteristics and relationship between humans and pigs regarding third-generation cephalosporin resistance and CMY-2-producing E. coli in Korea. Results: All 103 third-generation cephalosporin-resistant E. coli isolates showed multidrug resistance. Also, except for β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations, all antimicrobials resistant rates were higher in pigs than in humans. A total of 36 isolates (humans: five isolates; pigs: 31 isolates) were positive for the CMY-2-encoding genes and thirty-two (88.9%) isolates detected class 1 integrons with 10 different gene cassette arrangements, and only 1 isolate detected a class 2 integron. The most common virulence genes in pigs were LT (71.0%), F18 (51.6%), and STb (51.6%), while stx2 (80.0%) was the most frequently detected gene in humans. Stx2 gene was also detected in pigs (6.5%). Interestingly, 36 CMY-2-producing E. coli isolates showed a high diversity of sequence types (ST), and ST88 was present in E. coli from both pigs (11 isolates) and humans (one isolate). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that a critical need for comprehensive surveillance of third-generation cephalosporin resistance is necessary to preserve the usefulness of third-generation cephalosporins in both humans and pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of incorporating virtual reality/augmented reality (VR/AR) programs into practical tests administered as part of the Korean Radiological Technologists Licensing Examination (KRTLE). This evaluation is grounded in a comprehensive survey that targeted enrolled students in departments of radiology across the nation. Methods: In total, 682 students from radiology departments across the nation were participants in the survey. An online survey platform was used, and the questionnaire was structured into 5 distinct sections and 27 questions. A frequency analysis for each section of the survey was conducted using IBM SPSS ver. 27.0. Results: Direct or indirect exposure to VR/AR content was reported by 67.7% of all respondents. Furthermore, 55.4% of the respondents expressed that VR/AR could be integrated into their classes, which signified a widespread acknowledgment of VR among the students. With regards to the integration of a VR/AR or mixed reality program into the practical tests for purposes of the KRTLE, a substantial amount of the respondents (57.3%) exhibited a positive inclination and recommended its introduction. Conclusion: The application of VR/AR programs within practical tests of the KRTLE will be used as an alternative for evaluating clinical examination procedures and validating job skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of obesity has been continuously increasing, especially in rural areas of South Korea. Therefore, it is important to examine various genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors associated with obesity in these rural areas. The Korean Society for the Study of Obesity commenced a community-based prospective cohort study of the Gangwon area called the Gangwon Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome (GOMS) study to investigate longitudinal changes in the status of obesity and its related factors. Methods: A total of 317 adults 40-69 years of age were recruited from Hongcheon and Inje districts, Gangwon province, as part of the first wave of this cohort study. Information on participants' demographic, behavioral, psychological, dietary, and environmental factors and past medical histories were collected by self-administered questionnaires and interviewer-administered questionnaires. Anthropometric measurements, blood tests, and a hand grip strength test were performed, and skin keratin and stool samples were collected. Among the 317 enrolled subjects, two participants who did not have anthropometric data were excluded from the data analyses, resulting in an inclusion of a total of 315 participants. Results: The mean age of the 315 participants in the GOMS initial baseline survey was 58.5 years old, 87 of them were men, and the mean body mass index was 24.7±3.7 kg/m2. Among all participants, 48.9% had hypertension, 21.4% had diabetes mellitus (DM), 55.6% had dyslipidemia, and 46.0% had metabolic syndrome (MS). Both the prevalence rates of DM and MS were significantly higher in men. Conclusion: The first baseline survey of the GOMS study was initiated, and a more detailed analysis of respondents' data is expected to be continued. Further follow-up and additional recruitment will allow the investigation of risk factors and the etiology of obesity and its comorbidities in rural areas of Gangwon province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ripe fruits of Maclura tricuspidata (MT) are used as food material and a natural colorant in Korea. Although MT fruits have a deep red color due to carotenoid-like pigments, their chemical nature has not been explored in detail so far. The present study aimed at elucidating the chemical structures and composition of carotenoids in MT fruits and changes at different maturity stages. Two carotenoids from saponified MT fruit extract were isolated using repeated silica gel column chromatography. Based on interpretations of spectroscopic data, these compounds were determined as keto-carotenoids, i.e., capsanthin (3,3′-dihydroxy-β,κ-caroten-6′-one) and cryptocapsin (3′-hydroxy-β,κ-caroten-6'-one), and the contents of individual carotenoids were quantified with HPLC based on calibration curves obtained from authentic standards. The contents of capsanthin and cryptocapsin in the sample of saponified MT fruits were 57.65 ± 1.97 µg/g and 171.66 ± 4.85 μg/g as dry weight base (dw). The majority of these keto-carotenoids in the MT fruits were present in esterified forms with lauric, myristic or palmitic acid rather than in their free forms. The results also showed that esterification of these compounds occurred starting from early stage (yellow-brownish stage) of maturation. Considering the high cryptocapsin content, MT fruits can be applied as a potentially valuable source of cryptocapsin for food and medicinal application as well as a source of provitamin A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The effect of acute pancreatitis on diabetic patients in terms of the occurrence of malignant tumors is not well understood. The main contribution of this study is to investigate the association between acute pancreatitis and gastrointestinal cancer in type 2 diabetic patients. Diabetic patients who had a history of acute pancreatitis showed a higher incidence of all gastrointestinal cancers, not only pancreatic cancer. The risk of gastrointestinal cancer in diabetic patients was increased by 1.6 to 4.5 times depending on the history of acute pancreatitis. It seems necessary to investigate the history of acute pancreatitis in diabetic patients and more actively recommend screening for gastrointestinal cancers in such patients. Results of this study suggest that proper management or prevention of acute pancreatitis might be important for diabetic patients. The association between acute pancreatitis (AP) and gastrointestinal cancers in diabetic patients is currently not well understood. The study aim was to investigate the association between AP and gastrointestinal cancers in diabetic patients. Data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database were analyzed. Participants with diabetes who underwent a health examination between 2009 and 2012 were followed up till December 2018. The primary outcome was the occurrence of gastrointestinal cancer. A total of 2,263,184 patients were included in the final analysis. Patients with a history of AP (n = 2390) were found to have a significantly higher risk of gastrointestinal cancer, except for esophageal cancer, as follows: gastric cancer (aHR = 1.637, 95% CI: 1.323–2.025), colorectal cancer (aHR = 2.183, 95% CI: 1.899–2.51), liver cancer (aHR = 2.216, 95% CI: 1.874–2.621), pancreatic cancer (aHR = 4.558, 95% CI: 4.078–5.095), bile duct cancer (aHR = 3.996, 95% CI: 3.091–5.269), and gallbladder cancer (aHR = 2.445, 95% CI: 1.459–4.099). The history of AP is associated with the increased risk of gastrointestinal cancer in diabetic patients. It is necessary to investigate the history of AP and more actively recommend screening for gastrointestinal cancers in such patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) may have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Few studies have dealt with the association between AP and the risk of CVD in diabetic patients. This study aimed to investigate the risk of CVD and mortality in patients with diabetes and AP history by analyzing a large-scale national claims database in Korea. Data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database was analyzed. A total of 2,746,988 participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus that underwent a general health examination between 2009 and 2012 were enrolled. The participants were divided into two groups according to AP history (yes or no) prior to the examination date, and follow-up data until 2018 was analyzed. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), or death. The Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between AP history and the risk of stroke, MI, and mortality. After exclusion, the included number of participants with and without AP history were 3,810 and 2,258,910, respectively. The presence of AP history showed a significantly higher incidence of stroke, MI, and mortality. The adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for the risk of stroke, MI, and mortality were 1.534 (1.342–1.753), 1.998 (1.733–2.303), and 2.353 (2.200–2.515), respectively. Age < 65, male sex, current smoking, and drinking significantly increased the risk of death in the subgroup analyses. The risk of stroke, MI, and mortality was significantly higher in diabetic participants with AP history than those without AP history at 9-year follow-up. This suggests that active management of cardiovascular risk factors is necessary in diabetic patients with AP history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sleep closely relates to emotional instability. Recent studies report an increase in young adults' poor sleep and associated mental health problems, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, depression, and so on. However, the information on related modifiable factors of these variables is still lacking. This cross-sectional study examined the association of sleep patterns and sleep quality with ADHD and depression in university students. A total of 290 participants aged 18–27 (Mean = 22.0, SD = 2.1) completed a structured questionnaire consisting of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Adult ADHD, and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scales (CES-D). Of the participants, more than half (52.7%) slept 6 to 8 h per night, and 37% slept less than 6 h. Only 10% reported they went to bed before midnight; 40% went to sleep after 2 am. The mean PSQI score was 5.9 (SD = 2.9) for total participants and significantly correlated with ADHD scores and with depression scores. After adjusting for covariates, PSQI significantly aligned with increased risk for ADHD (β = 0.29, p = 0.036) and depression (β = 0.67; p < 0.001). Late bedtime was a significant factor for depression only. Sleep quality rather than sleep pattern significantly related to ADHD scores, whereas both sleep quality and bedtime aligned with depression scores. Additional studies are needed to develop strategic interventions for university students with ADHD and depression as well as underlying mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insects have a great potential to be used as feedstocks for biodiesel production due to their intrinsic high lipid contents. In particular, biodiesel production from black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) is promising because of its advantages in engineering aspects such as a rapid proliferation, more lipid storage due to long-development time in larva stage, self-separation from organic waste. In this study, biodiesel was synthesized through (trans)esterification of BSFL grown on food waste to achieve both biofuel production from organic waste materials. In addition, all fuel properties of the biodiesel were examined to evaluate its feasibility as a potential transportation fuel in Korea. The highest yield of biodiesel obtained in this study was 86.51%. All the parameters of biodiesel produced from BSFL satisfied the Korea fuel standard (KS M 2965) except oxidation stability. The quality criterion of oxidation stability met the fuel standard with an addition of small quantity of ferf-butylhydroquinone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We can prevent climate change by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caused by fossil fuel usage through introducing alternative fuels such as bio-oil. The fast pyrolysis process used for wood materials has recently gained substantial attention as an approach to produce bio-oil worldwide and in Korea as well. Bio-oil from fast pyrolysis contains highly oxygenated compounds and phenolics, thereby requiring upgrading processes, such as deoxygenation and condensation, for high-end use. To determine an efficient upgrading method for fast pyrolysis bio-oil (FPBO), one needs to elucidate its composition and classify it into chemical groups. We analyzed the composition of fractionized FPBO toward high-end use. FPBO was separated into two layers by adding distilled water: (a) the water-soluble phase, and (b) the oil phase, whereas liquid-liquid extraction and multi-step separation were applied for fractionization, respectively. The fractions were obtained, and their chemical groups were analyzed by gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC-TOF/MS). The water phase was separated into two fractions and classified into the main chemical groups of phenolics (9%) and heterocyclics (31%). The oil phase, which was separated into four fractions, was classified into the main chemical groups of phenolics (32%) and heterocyclics (23%). Our findings can help to upgrade products for high-end use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Red pepper is enriched in antioxidant components, such as carotenoids, phenolic compounds, and vitamins. In this study, we investigated the natural variability in the content of carotenoids and phenolic acids in 11 red pepper cultivars grown in two locations in South Korea during 2016, 2017, and 2018. Seven carotenoids and six phenolic acids, including soluble and insoluble forms, were detected in the red fruit pericarps. The major carotenoids were β-carotene (40%) and capsanthin (20%). The content of insoluble phenolic acids was higher than that of soluble phenolic acids because of the large amount of insoluble p-coumaric acid. The statistical analysis of combined data showed significant differences among varieties, locations, and years for most of the measured components. The results from variance component analysis indicated that the effects of location, year and the interaction of location and year mainly accounted for the variation in carotenoids, whereas variations in phenolic acid content were attributed to year and variety. In addition, the results of principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant showed that carotenoids were well discriminated by location and year, whereas phenolic acids were distinctively separated only by year. The data from this study could explain the natural variation in the content of carotenoids and phenolic acids in red pepper fruits by genotype and environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many parts, coastal erosion is severe due to human-induced coastal zone development and storm impacts, in addition to climate change. In this study, the beach erosion risk was defined, followed by a quantitative assessment of potential beach erosion risk based on three components associated with the watershed, coastal zone development, and episodic storms. On an embayed beach, the background erosion due to development in the watershed affects sediment supply from rivers to the beach, while alongshore redistribution of sediment transport caused by construction of a harbor induces shoreline reshaping, for which the parabolic-type equilibrium bay shape model is adopted. To evaluate beach erosion during storms, the return period (frequency) of a storm occurrence was evaluated from long-term beach survey data conducted four times per year. Beach erosion risk was defined, and assessment was carried out for each component, from which the results were combined to construct a combined potential erosion risk curve to be used in the environmental impact assessment. Finally, the proposed method was applied to Bongpo–Cheonjin Beach in Gangwon-do, South Korea, with the support of a series of aerial photographs taken from 1972 to 2017 and beach survey data obtained from the period commencing in 2010. The satisfactory outcomes derived from this study are expected to benefit eroding beaches elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand the composition and community changes of benthic species by water depth (5 m, 20 m, 30 m) in the cage facilities, net substrate made of fish cages were installed at intervals of 2 months from March to September 2019, which is the main period of sessile organism recruitment. Water temperature and salinity varied in the ranges of 1~5℃ and 1~4 mg/L at 5 m from June to August, respectively, and less difference was observed according to water depth in other investigation periods. A total of 37 benthic animals were recruited, and Kamptozoa unid., Caprella scaura and Jassa slatteryi were verified during the entire study period. Mytilus galloprovincialis, a Mediterranean mussel, showed seasonality dominant only from spring to early summer (March to July). The community structure classified by temporal and spatial factors, and Bugula neritina, Kamptozoa unid., and Sertularella sp. contributed to the formation of the community. The depth of 5 m was exposed to environmental changes in water temperature and salinity temporally, so there was a seasonal variation in the composition of the sessile organism, but at depths of 20 m and 30 m, there was less significant environmental change and it showed relatively stable than 5 m. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Gram-positive, aerobic, rod-shaped bacterium, designated as strain 1605-214T, was isolated from the blood sample of a patient with cholangitis. Based on its 16S rRNA gene sequence, the strain 1605-214T belonged to the genus Cohnella and exhibited 97.9% sequence identity with Cohnella luojiensis DSM 24270T (GQ214052). DNA–DNA hybridization, digital DNA–DNA hybridization, and average nucleotide identity values between the two species were 23% ± 1.9, 21.1%, and 77.2%, respectively. The cellular fatty acids of strain 1605-214T were mainly comprised of anteiso-C15:0 (36.1%), iso-C16:0 (16.5%), and C16:0 (15.1%). The predominant quinone was menaquinone-7; predominant polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, and aminophospholipid-1. The cell wall peptidoglycan of strain 1605-214T contained meso-diaminopimelic acid. DNA G + C content of strain 1605-214T was 50.6 mol%. 5187 genes out of a total of 5413 (94.6%) were assigned putative functions using eggNOG v5.0. Based on genotypic characteristics and genomic sequence analysis results, strain 1605-214T was confirmed to represent a novel species of genus Cohnella, for which the name Cohnella cholangitidis sp. nov., was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity is a prevalent and complex disease. The prevalence of obesity in Korea increased from 29.7% in 2010 to 35.7% in 2018, with the prevalence of abdominal obesity being 23.8% in 2018. Obesity contributes to medical costs and socioeconomic burden due to associated comorbidities. The treatment and management of obesity is changing based on new clinical evidence. The 2020 Korean Society for the Study of Obesity Guideline for the Management of Obesity in Korea summarizes evidence-based recommendations and treatment guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Municipal solid waste (MSW) is regarded to be an important source of greenhouse gas emissions, which could result in a significant impact on climate change. This study conducted analyses of both cumulative energy demand (CED) and carbon footprint (CF) indicators per reference flow (RF) and identified the relationship between both the indicators, and additionally, it made some recommendations for MSW management strategies in Pyongyang, DPR Korea, based on life cycle thinking. This present study suggested using a hybrid CED indicator and the energy-related CF indicator for the analysis of the existing MSW management system, while applying system expansion for crediting the recycled materials, the energy recovery, and the compost/fertilizer. The result showed that the CED indicator in the MSW management system accounted for − 9,569.8 MJ/RF of primary energy savings in total, corresponding to the avoided emissions of − 1,522.89 kg CO2eq/RF. The recycling and composting of waste presented energy savings due to the recycled materials and the avoided production of mineral fertilizers replaced with the compost, respectively. In addition, the incineration had some potential for energy recovery from waste, and it could result in crediting energy further, while the landfill should be improved in a more sustainable way of making use of the landfill gas and/or replacing the landfill with incineration with energy recovery. The results also indicated that the CED indicator was closely related to the CF indicator, valued as global warming potential, throughout the MSW management options/processes, and both the indicators could serve as an appropriate proxy of the environmental impacts on a life cycle phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the impact of socioeconomic status (SES) on otorhinolaryngology disease severity status diagnosed at the first hospital visit. We conducted a retrospective study over 20 years (2000-2019). Otorhinolaryngological diseases included chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), oral ulcer, and malignant neoplasms. A logistic regression model was employed to assess the effect of SES on the severity of each disease at the first hospital visit. The severity of CRS increased in patients with lower SES (P =.028). The severities of SNHL (P =.032) and oral ulcer (P <.001) also associated with SES. In contrast, between the low- and high-SES groups observed no differences in cancer stage (P =.845). Patients with SNHL, oral ulcer, and CRS had a more severe disease status in the low-SES group than in the high-SES group at the first hospital visit. Efforts to increase hospital accessibility for low-SES otorhinolaryngological patients should be made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are widely present in environments, such as soil and water, and have recently been recognized as important pathogenic bacteria. The incidence of NTM-related infections is steadily increasing. As the diagnosis and treatment of NTM infection should be distinguished from tuberculosis, and the treatment should be specific to the species of NTM acquired, accurate species identification is required. Methods. In this study, two-step multiplex PCR (mPCR) and multigene sequence-based analysis were used to accurately identify NTM species in 320 clinical isolates from Gyeongsang National University Hospital (GNUH). In particular, major mycobacterial strains with a high isolation frequency as well as coinfections with multiple species were diagnosed through two-step mPCR. Multigene sequencing was performed to accurately identify other NTM species not detected by mPCR. Variable regions of the genes 16S rRNA, rpoB, hsp65, and 16S-23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer were included in the analysis. Results. Two-step mPCR identified 234 (73.1%) cases of M. intracellulare, 26 (8.1%) cases of M. avium subsp. avium, and 13 (4.1%) cases of M. avium subsp. hominissuis infection. Additionally, 9 (2.8%) M. fortuitum, 9 (2.8%) M. massiliense, 2 (0.6%) M. abscessus, and 4 (1.2%) M. kansasii isolates were identified. Coinfection was identified in 7 (2.2%) samples. The sixteen samples not classified by two-step mPCR included 6 (1.9%) cases of M. chimaera, 4 (1.3%) M. gordonae, 1 (0.3%) M. colombiense, 1 (0.3%) M. mageritense, and 1 (0.3%) M. persicum identified by sequence analysis. Conclusions. The results of this study suggest a strategy for rapid detection and accurate identification of species using two-step mPCR and multigene sequence-based analysis. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to report the identification of NTM species isolated from patients in Gyeongnam/Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesoporous metal oxides consisting of fully interconnected network structures with small pores (20–50 nm) have high surface areas and decreased ion intercalation distances, making them ideal for use in high-performance electrochromic supercapacitors (ECSs). Evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA), which combines sol–gel chemistry and molecular self-assembly, is a powerful method for the fabrication of mesoporous metal oxides through a solution phase synthesis. Herein, we introduce ultrafast sub-1 s ECSs based on an amorphous mesoporous tungsten trioxide (WO3) that is prepared by EISA. Compared to that of a compact-WO3 film-based device, the performances of an ECS with mesoporous WO3 exhibits a large optical modulation (76% at 700 nm), ultrafast switching speeds (0.8 s for coloration and 0.4 s for bleaching), and a high areal capacitance (2.57 mF/cm2), even at a high current density (1.0 mA/cm2). In addition, the excellent device stability during the coloration/bleaching and charging/discharging cycles is observed under fast response conditions. Moreover, we fabricated a patterned mesoporous WO3 for ECS displays (ECSDs) via printing-assisted EISA (PEISA). The resulting ECSDs can be used as portable energy-storage devices, and their electrochromic reflective displays change color according to their stored energy level. The ECSDs in this work have enormous potential for use in next-generation smart windows for buildings and as portable energy storage displays. Photonics: Smart windows and energy storage Networks of tiny holes improve the energy storage properties of materials that can also be used for smart windows. In electrochromic materials, the fraction of light passing through the material can be controlled using an electrical voltage. This is useful for smart windows which electrically switch from being transparent to opaque. This change is associated with the storage or release of energy, so the same materials are being investigated for energy storage. Keon-Woo Kim from Pohang University of Science and Technology, South Korea, and co-workers have developed an improved electrochromic supercapacitor made from tungsten trioxide. They used an evaporation-induced self-assembly process to deposit a film of tungsten trioxide containing pores approximately 30 nanometers across. This porous structure increased the material's switching speed and capacitance compared to a conventional tungsten trioxide thin film. Ultra-fast electrochromic supercapacitors (ECSs) are demonstrated based on mesoporous WO3 prepared by evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA). Mesoporous WO3 based ECSs show excellent electrochromic and supercapacitor performances under fast operating condition. Furthermore, printing assisted EISA is introduced to produce patterned mesoporous WO3 for ECS displays (ECSDs). The resulting ECSDs have great potential as next-generation smart electrochemical components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditionally, obesity has been regarded as protective against osteoporosis. However, recent accumulating evidences suggest that visceral obesity can increase the risk of osteoporosis and obesity-driven dysfunctional metabolic activity in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is considered as a key underlying mechanism. Visceral obesity is known to increase during menopausal transition.18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) is an established method to assess the degree of VAT metabolic activity. We aimed to investigate the association between VAT metabolic activity evaluated by 18F-FDG PET/CT and osteoporosis in healthy postmenopausal Korean women. A total of 115 postmenopausal women who underwent routine health check-up were enrolled in this study, retrospectively. They all underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and 18F-FDG PET/CT. Osteoporosis was defined as bone mineral density (BMD) T-score ≤ −2.5 at either lumbar spine or femoral neck. VAT metabolic activity was defined as the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of VAT divided by the SUVmax of subcutaneous adipose tissue (V/S ratio). The participants with osteoporosis showed significantly higher V/S ratio, age, body mass index, waist circumference, and postmenopausal period than the participants without osteoporosis. V/S ratio of 1.33 was proposed as an optimal cut-off value for identifying osteoporosis. Furthermore, V/S ratio was the most significant predictive factor for osteoporosis in postmenopausal woman by uni-and multivariate analyses. Interestingly, V/S ratio showed significant positive correlation with high sensitivity C-reactive protein, a surrogate marker for systemic inflammation. VAT metabolic activity assessed by 18F-FDG PET/CT is associated with osteoporosis in healthy postmenopausal Korean women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This study aims to test the association between the place-provider-matrix (PPM) of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Methods: Adult patients with OHCA with a cardiac etiology from 2012 to 2017 in Korea were analyzed, excluding patients who had unknown information on place, type of bystander, or outcome. The PPM was categorized into six groups by two types of places (public versus home) and three types of providers (trained responder (TR), family bystander, and layperson bystander). Outcomes were survival to discharge and good cerebral performance category (CPC) of 1 or 2. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to test the association between PPM group and outcomes with adjustment for potential confounders to calculate adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) (reference = Public-TR). Results: A total of 73,057 patients were analyzed and were categorized into Public-TR (0.6%), Home-TR (0.3%), Public-Family (1.8%), Home-Family (79.8%), Public-Layperson (9.9%), and Home-Layperson (7.6%) groups. Compared with the Public-TR group, the AORs (95% CIs) for survival to discharge were 0.61 (0.35–1.05) in the Home-TR group, 0.85 (0.62–1.17) in the Public-Family group, 0.38 (0.29–0.50) in the Home-Family group, 1.12 (0.85–1.49) in the Public-Layperson group, and 0.42 (0.31–0.57) in the Home-Layperson group. The AORs (95% CIs) for good CPC were 0.58 (0.27–1.25) in the Home-TR group, 0.88 (0.61–1.27) in the Public-Family group, 0.38 (0.28–0.52) in the Home-Family group, 1.20 (0.87–1.65) in the Public-Layperson group, and 0.42 (0.30–0.59) in the Home-Layperson group. Conclusion: The OHCA outcomes of the Home-Family and Home-Layperson groups were worse than those of the Public-TR group. This finding suggests that OHCA occurring in private places with family or layperson bystanders requires a new strategy, such as dispatching trained responders to the scene to improve CPR outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage (ERBD) is the treatment of choice for patients with malignant distal common bile duct (CBD) obstruction. Self-expandable metal stents (SEMS), which are commonly used in unresectable cases, have many clinical advantages, including longer stent patency. Although the expected patency of SEMS is around 8 months, it has recently been reported that the duration of SEMS' patency in patients using aspirin is prolonged. Our study, therefore, aims to investigate the effect of aspirin on SEMS' patency.Methods/design: This is an investigator-initiated, prospective, multicenter, double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial that will be conducted from November 2017 in four tertiary centers in South Korea. We intend to include in our study 184 adult (aged ≥ 20 years) patients with malignant distal CBD obstruction for whom ERBD with SEMS was successfully performed. The patients will be randomly allocated to two groups, which will comprise patients who have either taken 100 mg aspirin or a placebo for 6 months after index ERBD. The primary outcome will be the rate of stent dysfunction, and the secondary outcomes will be the duration of patency, the rate of reintervention, and the occurrence of adverse events.Discussion: The aspirin for metal stents in malignant distal common bile duct obstruction (AIMS) study should determine the efficacy of aspirin in maintaining metal-stent patency in patients with malignant distal CBD obstructive.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT03279809. Registered on 5 September 2017. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is a new type of energy generator first demonstrated in 2012. TENGs have shown potential as power sources for electronic devices and as sensors for detecting mechanical and chemical stimuli. To date, studies on TENGs have focused primarily on optimizing the systems and circuit designs or exploring possible applications. Even though triboelectricity is highly related to the material properties, studies on materials and material designs have been relatively less investigated. This review article introduces recent progress in TENGs, by focusing on materials and material designs to improve the electrical output and sensing performance. This article discusses the current technological issues and the future challenges in materials for TENG. Nanotechnology: Materials for harvesting energy from motion The development of materials for a technology that uses the movement of the human body to provide power has been reviewed by scientists in South Korea. A triboelectric nanogenerator converts mechanical energy into electricity by harnessing the fact that two surfaces rubbing against one another can become electrically charged. This is known as the triboelectric effect. One exciting use for these nanogenerators is in wearable electronics, where the motion of the body provides the power. Unyong Jeong and colleagues from Pohang University of Science and Technology have reviewed recent progress in material advances in the four main elements of a triboelectric nanogenerator: the charge-generating layer, the charge-trapping layer, the charge-collecting layer, and the charge-storage layer. These improvements all aim to increase the electrical output of such devices. Over the last decade, triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) has been verified to be an effective way of converting daily mechanical energy into electric power or detecting various stimuli in the external environment. To promote the material researches in TENG, we introduce recent progresses in materials and material designs to improve the power generation and sensing performance. Also, we discuss on the future challenges and suggest possible approaches to solve the challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although several studies have suggested that aspirin and statins may help prevent pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), this concept has been controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the association between use of statin or aspirin and PDAC in a nationwide large cohort. Methods: In this nested case‐control study, we used data from a 12‐year nationwide longitudinal cohort in Korea. Cases with PDAC and controls who were matched to cases by age, sex, income, and index year at a 1:5 ratio were established. We used multivariate logistic regression analyses to identify the independent risk factors of PDAC. Results: We identified a total of 827 patients with PDAC between 2007 and 2013, and included 4135 matched controls. Diabetes mellitus, chronic and acute pancreatitis, pancreatic cystic lesions, and cholelithiasis were independent risk factors for PDAC. Statin use (odds ratio [OR], 0.92; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.76‐1.11; P = .344; adjusted OR [aOR], 0.70; 95% CI 0.56‐0.87; P = .001) was associated with a reduced risk of PDAC after correction of the confounding factors, but aspirin use (OR, 0.98; 95% CI 0.84‐1.15; P = .838; aOR 0.84; 95% CI 0.70‐1.01, P = .068) was not associated with PDAC. Among the patients with risk factors, both statin use (OR, 0.50; 95% CI 0.38‐0.66; P < .001; aOR, 0.62; 95% CI 0.45‐0.84; P = .002) and aspirin use (OR, 0.48; 95% CI 0.31‐0.67; P < .001; aOR 0.67; 95% CI 0.50‐0.89, P = .006) were associated with a reduced risk of PDAC. Conclusion: This study suggests that statin use was associated with a reduced risk of PDAC incidence but aspirin use was not. Both statin use and aspirin use were associated a reduced risk of PDAC incidence for patients with risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last 5 years, the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has approved four anti-obesity drugs for long-term weight management. In this review, the mechanisms of action and clinical applications of lorcaserin, naltrexone/bupropion, liraglutide, and phentermine/topiramate have been clarified. Lorcaserin stimulates proopiomelanocortin/cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript neurons in the arcuate nucleus. Naltrexone/bupropion reduces body weight by controlling the hedonic reward system of food intake. The hypophagic effect of liraglutide depends on the direct activation of the proopiomelanocortin/cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript neurons and indirect suppression of neuropeptide Y/agouti-related peptide neurons through gamma-aminobutyric acid-dependent signaling, with an additional thermogenic effect. Phentermine/topiramate induces weight loss by elevating the norepinephrine levels in the hypothalamus, reducing energy deposition in the adipose tissue and skeletal muscle, and elevating the corticotropin-releasing hormone in the hypothalamus. In patients with high cardiovascular risks or type 2 diabetes mellitus, lorcaserin and liraglutide are appropriate. In patients with mood disorders, naltrexone/bupropion could be considered as the first choice of therapy. Notably, lorcaserin and liraglutide are neutral in the aspect of sleep disorder. In case of obese individuals with obstructive sleep apnea, liraglutide or phentermine/topiramate would be selected as the treatment option. These four drugs should be used after considering the patients' co-morbidities of obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postmicturition dribble (PMD) is a very common symptom in males with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) worldwide, but there is no adequate questionnaire to assess it. Therefore, we developed a questionnaire named the Hallym Post Micturition Dribble Questionnaire (HPMDQ) to assess PMD, and the aim of this study is to validate it. A series of consecutive male patients newly diagnosed with LUTS and over 40 years of age who visited any of 5 medical institutions were included. LUTS were assessed in all patients using the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and PMD was assessed using the HPMDQ. In total, 2134 male patients aged 40 to 91 years were included in this study. Of these patients, 1088 (51.0%) reported PMD. In the PMD group, the mean values for HPMDQ-Q1, HPMDQ-Q2, HPMDQ-Q3 and HPMDQ total score were 1.39, 1.10, 1.76 and 4.25, respectively. In the non-PMD group, the mean values of these scores were 0, 0.18, 1.52 and 1.58, respectively. The difference in HPMDQ scores between the 2 groups was statistically significant. PMD was significantly associated with the voiding symptoms of LUTS, prostate size and postvoid residual but not with storage symptoms. The HPMDQ, which consists of 5 questions (frequency, severity, bother, quality of life and response to treatment for PMD), was developed, and its use for assessing PMD is validated in this study. It may be a useful tool for further research and in clinical practice for PMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) has been performed every 3 years in Korea to help prevent cardiovascular mortality in the general population. Previous studies showed an association between blood lead levels and cardiovascular mortality. In order to assess the relationship between blood lead concentration and blood pressure in the healthy general population, we investigated whether blood lead levels were related to blood pressure in a non-smoking healthy population without any known medical diseases in the 2013 KNHANES.Methods: 896 (mean age 40.55±13.83 years; body mass index 23.06±3.33 kg/m2) subjects who had no known diseases were included among 8018 subjects. Exclusion criteria were: hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia, cerebrovascular events, renal insufficiency, liver cirrhosis, thyroid dysfunction, any cardiovascular or renal disease, and any malignancy. Blood pressures were measured three times by sphygmomanometers, 5 min apart. Blood pressures were then expressed as the average between the second and third values. Height, weight, waist circumferences and blood pressure, as well as total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), white blood cell count and blood lead levels were measured. In addition, dietary components were analysed by 24 hour recall.Results: The association between log blood lead levels and systolic/diastolic pressure was stronger after it was controlled for age, sex, education, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (p=0.048, 0.002). Furthermore, the association between log blood lead levels and systolic pressure (p=0.048) and diastolic pressure (p=0.002) was more evident when controlled for age, sex, education, BMI, waist circumference, FPG, AST and ALT.Conclusions: Blood lead levels are significant determinants of systolic and diastolic blood pressure in a healthy Korean population, irrespective of sociodemographic factors and metabolic derangements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the obesity-related complications in pregnancy and during delivery, prepregnancy central obesity may also affect pregnancy-related complications. This study aimed to assess the relationship between prepregnancy central obesity and adverse maternal outcomes in Korean women, by using the Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) cohort. In this population-based retrospective cohort study, we used data from the NHIS database, which contains information of health-care utilisation, diagnosis and prescription, and mortality for almost the whole Korean population, together with data from the NHIS health checkup database from 2005 to 2015. The NHIS health checkup data (645−280 days before childbirth) of mothers who had deliveries (total, 783,406 deliveries) from 2006 to 2015 were collected. For maternal adverse outcome data, we searched for diagnoses of maternal complications made during the period of 280 days before each delivery. The odds for maternal complications according to 8 body mass index (BMI) and 10 waist circumference (WC) categories were analysed using logistic regression. The incidence rates of eclampsia/preeclampsia, caesarean section, multiple gestation, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) increased according to the increase of BMI and WC. In contrast, the incidence rate of premature rupture of membrane (PROM) was inversely correlated with BMI and WC. In the low BMI (<17.5 and 17.5–19.9 kg/m2) and low WC (<60 and 60.0–64.0 cm) groups, the odds of threatened abortion were elevated. Prepregnancy WC was closely linked to some maternal complications, including eclampsia/preeclampsia, cesarean section, PCOS, and PROM, in a manner similar to prepregnancy BMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity increases the risks of diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases, ultimately contributing to mortality. Korean Society for the Study of Obesity (KSSO) was established to improve the management of obesity through research and education; to that end, the Committee of Clinical Practice Guidelines of KSSO reviews systemic evidence using expert panels to develop clinical guidelines. The clinical practice guidelines for obesity were revised in 2018 using National Health Insurance Service Health checkup data from 2006 to 2015. Following these guidelines, we added a category, class III obesity, which includes individuals with body mass index (BMI) =35 kg/m². Agreeing with the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders, Asian Pacific Chapter consensus, we determined that bariatric surgery is indicated for Korean patients with BMI =35 kg/m² and for Korean patients with BMI =30 kg/m² who have comorbidities. The new guidelines focus on guiding clinicians and patients to manage obesity more effectively. Our recommendations and treatment algorithms can serve as a guide for the evaluation, prevention, and management of overweight and obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Murine typhus is one of the most prevalent rickettsial infections in the world, caused by the bacterial genus Rickettsia. Though the disease manifests a relatively benign clinical course with fever, rash, and headache being the 3 classic symptoms, neurological complications may arise in patients that could become permanent. In this case study, a patient with a brain abscess caused by R typhi infection is described. Based upon the recent reemergence of arthropod-borne disease, the findings in this case are significant; R typhi can cause a brain abscess that mimics a brain tumor, which delays the diagnosis and appropriate management of the disease. Murine typhus should always be considered when performing the differential diagnosis of brain abscesses in South Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study surveyed the knowledge, attitude, and behavior regarding radiation safety of radiation managers and workers in fields of research and education in South Korea. A questionnaire based on the Haddon Matrix was prepared after expert consultation and administered on May 4, 2015. The investigation lasted 30 days and a total of 180 responses were analyzed. For statistical analysis, SPSS/WIN 15.0 was utilized to derive mean, standard deviation, and Pearson's correlation coefficient. Additionally, t-test, ANOVA, and multiple linear regression analysis were performed to determine the effect of knowledge, attitude, and behavior regarding radiation safety. The knowledge and attitude level of radiation workers was higher than the behavior level. However, the knowledge, attitude, and behavior levels differed depending on the use of radiation sources and the users. There were statistically significant differences between material and physical environment factors in the behavior variable, and the level of safety managers' behaviors was higher than that of workers. Overall, radiation workers were positive about the need for radiation safety management and appropriate environment and education systems in order to ensure safety practices. As a result of the comparison between groups according to the use of radiation sources, the level of knowledge, attitude, and behavior were all different. Behavior levels were the lowest especially in the institutions that only used opened sources. The result of multiple linear regression analysis using the behavior of radiation workers as the dependent variable showed that the level of radiation safety management behavior was affected by knowledge levels of material and human factors. The Korean legal and education systems should be supplemented to enable them to use radiation sources efficiently and practice safety. Efforts must be made to optimize radiation safety culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Everolimus is a standard treatment option for advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs). This multicenter study evaluated the efficacy and safety of everolimus in low and intermediate grade advanced pNETs.Methods: Tumors were graded according to the World Health Organization 2010 classification system. Patients with low or intermediate grade pNETs who received everolimus as first- or second-line chemotherapy between 2002 and 2014 were included.Results: A total of 40 patients with metastatic or recurrent pNETs were included in this study. The median age was 54.5 years (range 19-83 years). Twelve patients (30%) experienced recurrence. There were 11 patients (27.5%) with low grade pNETs and 29 (72.5%) with intermediate. Everolimus was administered as first-line therapy in 30 patients (75%) and as second-line therapy in 10 patients (25%). The median progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with low and intermediate grade pNETs was significantly different (median not reached vs. 11 months, P = 0.015). On multivariate analysis, tumor grade (intermediate grade; HR 6.52, 95% CI 1.31-32.27, P = 0.022) was the only independent prognostic factor for PFS in pNETs. The most common adverse events were stomatitis, skin rash, and anemia.Conclusions: World Health Organization 2010 grade is the most important determinant for PFS in patients undergoing everolimus treatment for pNETs with an acceptable incidence of adverse events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article related to Japanese encephalitis in South Korea.

Aim The purpose of the present study was to identify the sleep quality, depression, and life satisfaction between nursing home and long-term care hospital residents. Methods Data was collected through a structured questionnaire survey of 61 nursing home residents and 74 long-term care hospital residents. Descriptive statistics, t-test, χ2-test, anova, Pearson's correlation were used to analyze the data. Results The residents living in a nursing home showed higher subjective health status and sleep quality than long-term care hospital residents. Depression did not show a significant difference between them. However, there was a significant difference in depression score by subjective health status. Sleep quality and depression showed a significant negative correlation for both residents. In terms of depression and life satisfaction, nursing home residents showed a significant negative correlation, and long-term care hospital residents showed a significant positive correlation. Conclusions These results show that environmental management is essential to enhance sleep quality, thus depression and subjective health status will be improved. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 142-149. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. This study is performed to obtain objective diagnostic indicators associated with menstrual pain using pulse wave analysis. Methods. Using a pulse diagnostic device, we measured the pulse waves of 541 women aged between 19 and 30 years, placed in either an experimental group with menstrual pain (n=329) or a control group with little or no menstrual pain (n=212). Measurements were taken during both the menstrual and nonmenstrual periods, and comparative analysis was performed. Results. During the nonmenstrual period, the experimental group showed a significantly higher value in the left radial artery for the radial augmentation index (RAI) (p=0.050) but significantly lower values for pulse wave energy (p=0.021) and time to first peak from baseline (T1) (p=0.035) in the right radial artery. During the menstrual period, the experimental group showed significantly lower values in the left radial artery for cardiac diastole and pulse wave area during diastole and significantly higher values for pulse wave area during systole, ratio of systolic phase to the full heartbeat, and systolic-diastolic ratio. Conclusion. We obtained indicators of menstrual pain in women during the menstrual period, including prolonged systolic and shortened diastolic phases, increases in pulse wave energy and area of representative pulse wave, and increased blood vessel resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many Clinical Document Architecture (CDA) referrals and reply documents have been accumulated for patients since the deployment of the Health Information Exchange System (HIES) in Korea. Clinical data were scattered in many CDA documents and this took too much time for physicians to read. Physicians in Korea spend only limited time per patient as insurances in Korea follow a fee-for-service model. Therefore, physicians were not allowed sufficient time for making medical decisions, and follow-up care service was hindered. To address this, we developed CDA Integration Template (CIT) and CDA Integration System (CIS) for the HIES. The clinical items included in CIT were defined reflecting the Korean Standard for CDA Referral and Reply Letters and requests by physicians. CIS integrates CDA documents of a specified patient into a single CDA document following the format of CIT. Finally, physicians were surveyed after CIT/CIS adoption, and they indicated overall satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disorder whose etiology is incompletely understood, but likely involves environmental triggers in genetically susceptible individuals. Using an unbiased genome-wide association (GWA) scan and replication analysis, we sought to identify the genetic loci associated with SLE in a Korean population. Methods A total of 1,174 SLE cases and 4,246 population controls from Korea were genotyped and analyzed with a GWA scan to identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) significantly associated with SLE, after strict quality control measures were applied. For select variants, replication of SLE risk loci was tested in an independent data set of 1,416 SLE cases and 1,145 population controls from Korea and China. Results Eleven regions outside the HLA exceeded the genome-wide significance level ( P = 5 × 10−8). A novel SNP-SLE association was identified between FCHSD2 and P2RY2, peaking at rs11235667 ( P = 1.03 × 10−8, odds ratio [OR] 0.59) on a 33-kb haplotype upstream of ATG16L2. In the independent replication data set, the SNP rs11235667 continued to show a significant association with SLE (replication meta-analysis P = 0.001, overall meta-analysis P = 6.67 × 10−11; OR 0.63). Within the HLA region, the SNP-SLE association peaked in the class II region at rs116727542, with multiple independent effects observed in this region. Classic HLA allele imputation analysis identified HLA-DRB1*1501 and HLA-DQB1*0602, each highly correlated with one another, as most strongly associated with SLE. Ten previously established SLE risk loci were replicated: STAT1- STAT4, TNFSF4, TNFAIP3, IKZF1, HIP1, IRF5, BLK, WDFY4, ETS1, and IRAK1- MECP2. Of these loci, previously unreported, independent second risk effects of SNPs in TNFAIP3 and TNFSF4, as well as differences in the association with a putative causal variant in the WDFY4 region, were identified. Conclusion Further studies are needed to identify true SLE risk effects in other loci suggestive of a significant association, and to identify the causal variants in the regions of ATG16L2, FCHSD2, and P2RY2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Two clinical scoring systems, the status epilepticus severity score (STESS) and the epidemiology-based mortality score in status epilepticus (EMSE), are used to predict mortality in patients with status epilepticus (SE). The aim of this study was to compare the outcome-prediction function of the two scoring systems regarding in-hospital mortality using a multicenter large cohort of adult patients with SE. Moreover, we studied the potential role of these two scoring systems in predicting the functional outcome in patients with SE.Methods: The SE cohort consisted of patients from the epilepsy centers of eight academic tertiary medical centers in South Korea. The clinical and electroencephalography data for all adult patients with SE from January 2013 to December 2014 were derived from a prospective SE database. The primary outcome variable was defined as in-hospital death. The secondary outcome variable was defined as a poor functional outcome, i.e., a score of 1-3 on the Glasgow Outcome Scale, at discharge.Results: Among the 120 non-hypoxic patients with SE recruited into the study, 16 (13.3%) died in the hospital and 64 (53.3%) were discharged with a poor functional outcome. The receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve for prediction of in-hospital death based on the STESS had an area under the curve of 0.673 with an optimal cutoff value for discrimination (best match for both sensitivity (0.56) and specificity (0.70)) that was ≥ 4 points. The two combinations of elements of the EMSE system (EMSE-ALDEg and EMSE-ECLEg) predicted not only in-hospital mortality with the best match for sensitivity (more than 0.6) and specificity (more than 0.6), but also a poor functional outcome with the best match for both sensitivity (>0.7) and specificity (>0.6). STESS did not predict a poor functional outcome (area under the ROC, 0.581; P = 0.23).Conclusion: Although the EMSE is a clinical scoring system that focuses on individual mortality, we did not find differences between the EMSE and STESS in the prediction of in-hospital death. The EMSE was useful in predicting poor functional outcome, as it was significantly better than STESS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel bacterial strain THG-MM13 was isolated from rhizospheric soil sample and was characterized by using a polyphasic approach. Cells were Gram-reaction-negative, non-motile and rod-shaped. The strain was aerobic, catalase and oxidase positive, and optimum growth temperature and pH were 28 °C and 7.0, respectively. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain THG-MM13 (KM598260) belongs to the genus Pseudoxanthomonas and is most closely related to Pseudoxanthomonas wuyuanensis KCTC 23877 (97.4 %) (JN247803), followed by Pseudoxanthomonas koreensis KCTC 12208 (96.7 %) (AY550263) and Pseudoxanthomonas yeongjuensis KACC 11580 (96.7 %) (DQ438977). The DNA G + C content was 63.7 mol%, and the predominant respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-8. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. The major fatty acids were iso-C (31.3 %) and iso-C (19.3 %). The DNA-DNA relatedness value between strain THG-MM13 and P. wuyuanensis KCTC 23877 was below 50 %. The DNA-DNA hybridization result and results of the genotypic analysis in combination with chemotaxonomic and physiological data demonstrated that strain THG-MM13 represented a novel species within the genus Pseudoxanthomonas, for which the name Pseudoxanthomonas humi is proposed. The type strain is THG-MM13 (=KACC 18280 = CCTCC AB 2015122). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Laparoscopic gastric greater curvature plication (LGGCP) is an emerging, alternative form of restrictive weight loss surgery. We present our experiences of LGGCP with the primary focus on surgical techniques and weight loss. In addition, an investigation was performed on the food tolerance of LGGCP patients.Materials and Methods: This study was conducted by retrospectively reviewing the prospectively collected data of patients who underwent LGGCP from March 2013 to February 2015.Results: Of the 64 patients were eligible for the study, 59 (92.2%) were female. Mean (range) patient age was 34 (21-49) years. Mean ± standard deviation (SD) preoperative body mass index was 31.4 ± 4.3 kg/m(2). There were no mortalities or postoperative complications. Immediate postoperative nausea and vomiting occurred in 58 patients (90.6%), mean postoperative hospital stay duration was 2.3 days (range, 1-7 days), and mean percentage excess body mass index losses at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months were 34.7% (n = 64), 50.8% (n = 60), 61.1% (n = 40), 82.1% (n = 19), and 82.9% (n = 12), respectively. Follow-up endoscopy was performed at 12 months postoperatively in 19 patients, and reflux esophagitis of grade LA-M was observed in 16 patients (84.2%), LA-A in 2 patients (10.5%), and LA-B in 1 patient (5.3%). Mean ± SD satisfaction score with current eating and total food tolerance score was 4.27 ± 0.55 and 20.95 ± 4.30, respectively.Conclusions: LGGCP is an intervention that may be comparable with sleeve gastrectomy or adjustable gastric banding, especially for Class I or II obesity in an Asian population. Furthermore, quality of eating, as determined using food tolerance scores, was excellent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Background Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and even dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) are used for obesity diagnosis. However, it is not known which DXA-derived index of obesity correlates best with BMI and/or WC and it is not clear whether such an index is accurate or not. Objectives The aim of this study is to show the relationship between anthropometric measurements (BMI, WC) and body fat indices from DXA and to determine which DXA indices are strongly related to BMI and WC. Subjects This study was based on data obtained from the Fourth and Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES IV-V). DXA measurements were performed on survey subjects over 10 years old from July 2008 through to May 2011. Of these, 18 198 individuals, aged 19 years and older for whom DXA data were available, were included. Methods Weighted Pearson's correlated coefficients ( r ) were calculated among indices, according to sex, age group and menopause, and the coefficients were compared with each other. Results BMI correlates most with trunk body fat mass in kg ( r = 0.831) and then with total body fat in kg ( r = 0.774, P < 0.00043 for difference of r ). In the older age group, BMI correlates with total body fat mass ( r = 0.822) better than with trunk fat mass ( r = 0.817, P < 0.00043). WC correlates with trunk body fat mass most in both genders and all age groups (0.804 ≤ r ≤ 0.906). Correlations of BMI ( r = 0.645 for men, 0.689 for women) and WC ( r = 0.678 for men, 0.634 for women) to body fat percentages (%) were less robust than those to body fat mass. Conclusions BMI and WC reflect trunk and total body fat in kg more than body fat percentage derived by DXA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New data sources for the analysis of cancer data are rapidly supplementing the large number of gene-expression markers used for current methods of analysis. Significant among these new sources are copy number variation (CNV) datasets, which typically enumerate several hundred thousand CNVs distributed throughout the genome. Several useful algorithms allow systems-level analyses of such datasets. However, these rich data sources have not yet been analyzed as deeply as gene-expression data. To address this issue, the extensive toolsets used for analyzing expression data in cancerous and noncancerous tissue (e.g., gene set enrichment analysis and phenotype prediction) could be redirected to extract a great deal of predictive information from CNV data, in particular those derived from cancers. Here we present a software package capable of preprocessing standard Agilent copy number datasets into a form to which essentially all expression analysis tools can be applied. We illustrate the use of this toolset in predicting the survival time of patients with ovarian cancer or glioblastoma multiforme and also provide an analysis of gene- and pathway-level deletions in these two types of cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]