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Objective: This study aimed to determine whether chewing difficulty is associated with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and related functional difficulties by body mass index. Design: A population-based cross-sectional study. Setting and Participants: A nationwide sample of 54,004 individuals aged ≥65 years from the 2018 Korea Community Health Survey. Measurements: SCD and SCD-related functional difficulties were measured using the cognitive decline module of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Chewing difficulty was assessed based on a self-report questionnaire from an oral health-related behaviors interview survey. BMI was calculated from objective values by measuring height and weight through a physical meter. Results: Among the 54,004 individuals, the prevalence of SCD in underweight, overweight, and obesity group was 33.6% (n = 806), 30.3% (n = 9,691), and 28.7% (n=5,632) respectively. Chewing difficulty was associated with SCD and SCD-related functional difficulties. This association was more pronounced in underweight (BMI: <18.5 kg/m2) people [underweight: (odds ratio [OR] = 1.68, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.48–1.92); normal weight: OR = 1.13, 95% CI 1.04–1.22; obese: OR = 1.15, 95% CI 1.05–1.27]. Similar trends were demonstrated for SCD-related functional difficulties (underweight: OR = 1.53, 95% CI 1.17–2.01; normal weight: OR = 1.36, 95% CI 1.15–1.63; obese: OR = 1.50, 95% CI 1.22–1.86). Conclusions: Chewing difficulty was associated with SCD and SCD-related functional difficulties in older people. Our results suggest that underweight status may play roles in the associations between chewing difficulty and SCD and SCD-related functional difficulties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This study investigated the association between lipid profiles and insulin resistance and bone mineral content (BMC) in Korean adolescents and found that BMC was inversely associated with triglyceride (TG) and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). This association did not differ according to obesity status in either boys or girls. Introduction: To prevent future osteoporosis, it is important to identify factors that affect bone health in adolescents as well as adults. This study aimed to examine the association between lipid profiles and insulin resistance and BMC in Korean adolescents. Methods: Data from 706 boys and 621 girls, who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2008 to 2011, were analyzed. Lipid profiles were measured, and HOMA-IR was calculated to assess insulin resistance. BMC was measured for the total femur, femur neck, and lumbar spine by using whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Results: TG level and HOMA-IR were negatively correlated with BMC at all three sites in boys. In girls, TG level showed a negative correlation with BMC at the femur neck and lumbar spine, and HOMA-IR was negatively associated with BMC at the femur neck only. These inverse associations did not differ according to obesity status in either sex. Adjusted means of BMC at the three sites in boys tended to decrease in the higher tertile groups of TG and HOMA-IR, and the adjusted means of BMC for the total femur in girls tended to decrease in the higher tertile groups of TG and HOMA-IR. Conclusions: BMC was inversely associated with TG and HOMA-IR in Korean adolescents, and this association was more pronounced in boys. This association did not differ according to obesity status in either sex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Stem cell transplantation is a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of many neurological disorders. The therapeutic effects, however, are sometimes inconsistent and unpredictable. Human neural crest- derived nasal turbinate stem cells (hNTSCs) are an excellent alternative source of adult stem cells for clinical use because they can be obtained easily by minimally invasive collection procedures and expanded rapidly ex vivo for transplantation. Moreover, the characteristics of hNTSCs, including their proliferation, differentiation, and immunophenotype, are not affected by donor age or passage number (Hwang et al., 2013), while other kinds of stem cells exhibit age and passage-related reduction in multiple characteristics. Method In the present study, we validated the hypothesis that hNTSCs are a clinically promising therapeutic source of adult stem cells for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we evaluated the tprotective effect of hNTSCs against amyloid-β peptide (Aβ1-42) neurotoxic activity in culture of human brain organoid (hBO). hNTSCs were evaluated in comparison with human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs) according to the effect of transplantation on AD pathology, including PET/CT neuroimaging, immune status, and cognition, in a 5xFAD transgenic mouse model of AD. Results and Discussion Treatment of hBO with Aβ1-42 induced neuronal cell death concomitant with decreased expression of neuronal markers, which was suppressed by hNTSCs cocultured under Aβ1-42 exposure (Lim et al., 2022). Transplantation of hNTSCs greatly reduces the levels of Aβ42 and the number of microglia, concomitant with increased survival of hippocampal and cortex neurons when compared with transplantation of hBM-MSCs (Lim et al., 2021). Notably, compared with transplantation of hBM-MSCs, transplantation of hNTSCs significantly enhanced performance on the Morris water maze, with an increased level of TIMP2, which is necessary for spatial memory in young mice and neurons. These results reveal a promising therapeutic effect of hNTSCs and suggest a potential application of hNTSCs of future treatment for patients with AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective The main purpose of this study was to isolate and characterize gingival connective tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells ( GMSCs). The secondary purpose was to present a modified isolation method for the GMSCs. Material and Methods Collected healthy gingival tissue samples were de-epithelialized and minced into small fragments. The tissues were digested by dispase and collagenase IV for 30 min. The first digested cell suspension was discarded, and then additional digestion was performed to the remaining cells in the same solution for 90 min. The isolated cells from gingiva was incubated in 37°C humidified condition and observed by inverted microscope. Cytoskeletal morphology was evaluated by phalloidin immunofluorescence. Potency of the cells was tested by colony-forming unit fibroblast assay. GMSCs were characterized by osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic differentiation, and flow cytometric, immunofluorescence analysis. Results GMSCs showed spindle-shaped, fibroblast-like morphology, colony-forming abilities, adherence to plastic and multilineage differentiation (osteogenic, adipogenic, chondrogenic) potency. GMSCs expressed CD44, CD73, CD90 and CD105, but did not express CD14, CD45, CD34 and CD19 in flow cytometry. Expression of stem cell markers ( SSEA-4, STRO-1, CD146, CD166 and CD271) and a mesenchymal marker (vimentin) were observed by immunofluorescence. Conclusions In conclusion, we isolated and characterized stem cells from human gingival connective tissue with modified protocol. GMSCs showed multipotency with high proliferation and characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells. GMSCs are promising sources for tissue engineering and may be obtained during routine procedures under local anesthesia. Further research is needed to evaluate the potential of GSMCs' proliferation and cryopreservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study design:A 6-month follow-up study.Objectives:To investigate the outcome of transanal irrigation (TAI) in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) and to identify factors significantly related to clinical success.Setting:Survey for community-dwelling patients with SCI in South Korea.Methods:Between December 2010 and March 2012, TAI was initiated with 52 patients (41 men; age: 44.5±11.0 years) with neurogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD). At 1, 3 and 6 months after initiation, a telephone interview was conducted. Data were collected on patient-specific bowel management and TAI performance as a new procedure.Results:Only 18 patients (34%) used TAI for at least 6 months, which was a lower compliance rate than similar studies in some European countries. Relative to the compliant group, the noncompliant group contained a higher proportion of tetraplegia than paraplegia (P=0.031), and a higher proportion dependent on physical help (P=0.034). In all, 33 of the 52 patients (63.5%) complained of practical problems with the TAI procedure such as expulsion of the rectal catheter. Fifteen patients (28.8%) presented with adverse effects. The incidence of practical problems or adverse effects did not alter the frequency of patient-reported successful outcome.Conclusion:Korean participants showed a relatively lower compliance rate with TAI. We conclude that TAI, combined with adequate patient instruction and physical assistance, has potential as a management tool for NBD in Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The prevalence of night-eating syndrome (NES) and depression is increasing worldwide. Although nurses, in particular, are exposed to work in an environment of irregular eating, shift work, and stressful settings, limited research exist. In fact, the prevalence of NES among Korean nurses has never been reported. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of NES as well as the association between NES and severity of self-reported depressive symptoms among South Korean female nurses. Study design: The Korea Nurses' Health Study, following the protocols of the Nurses' Health Study led by the Harvard University, collected data on Korean female nurses. Survey responses from 3617 participants were included, and 404 responses were analyzed in this cross-sectional study using propensity score matching. Methods: Descriptive, Spearman's and Cramer's correlations, propensity score matching, and multivariable ordinal logistic regression were conducted as statistical analysis. Results: The prevalence of both NES and self-reported depressive symptoms among Korean female nurses were higher compared with nurses in prior studies. Nurses with NES were 1.65 times more likely to have greater severity of depressive symptoms than those without NES (95% confidence interval [1.19-2.10], odds ratio = 1.65) after adjusting for covariates including sociodemographic characteristics, health behavioural factors, and shift work. Conclusion: This study suggests significant association between NES and the severity of self-reported depressive symptoms among Korean female nurses after adjusting for covariates. Policy makers and hospital managers need to develop strategies to reduce depression and NES among nurses for enhancement of nurses' mental and physical health as well as for improvement of care quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Most of breast cancer patients survive for a long-term period. The existing assessment of survivors' prognosis has had some limitations in breast cancer because it is based on an evaluation at the time of diagnosis. Conditional survival reflects change over time after diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Conditional disease-free survival (CDFS) and conditional overall survival (COS) can provide more accurate prognosis to breast cancer patients. In this study, we aimed to determine 5-years CDFS and COS according to disease-free period after diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer in Korea. Methods We retrospectively reviewed clinical data of 5664 patients aged 16 to 86 who underwent curative surgery for breast cancer between January 2000 and December 2008 at Samsung Medical Center, a single tertiary hospital in Korea. The CDFS and COS rates were based on cumulative DFS and OS estimates up to 15 years using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results At baseline, each 5-years DFS and OS were 88.0% and 93.8%. For patients who kept disease free status from 1 to 9 years after surgery, the 5-years CDFS rates were calculated as 88.7%, 90.7%, 91.6%, 91.1%, 91.5%, 91.0%, 89.5%, 86.1% and 86.1%, respectively. The 5-year COS rates of the patients who had survived from 1 to 9 years after surgical treatment were calculated as 92.6%, 92.1%, 91.2%, 91.0%, 89.4%, 85.6%, 80.7%, 75.3%, and 73.0%, respectively. Conclusions Our study showed that 5-years CDFS and COS for most patients who have breast cancer in Korea seemed to be good prognosis for a long time. However, cancer recurrence tended to occur after a long period postoperatively. Further study is required to identify risk factors associated with recurrence after several years in Korean breast cancer patients. Legal entity responsible for the study The authors. Funding Has not received any funding. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]