Background: This study aimed to examine the association between sitting time and handgrip strength in healthy Korean women. Methods: A total of 5,437 participants were included from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2014–2016. The overall daily sitting time was estimated using health interview surveys, and handgrip strength was assessed using a digital hand dynamometer. The relationship between sitting time and handgrip strength was calculated with a weighted analysis of covariance after adjusting for confounding variables. Results: Participants in each age group (19–39, 40–64, ≥65 years) were divided into three categories according to sitting time: ≤5, 6–9, and ≥10 h/d. The handgrip strength tended to decrease as sitting time increased after adjusting for age, body mass index, alcohol intake, cigarette smoking, resistance exercise, aerobic physical activity, household income, education level, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and depression in all age groups (all P<0.001). Conclusion We observed the inverse relationship between sitting time and handgrip strength in healthy Korean women.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate individual pretreatment serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) cutoff value for medical treatment success with single-dose and multi-dose regimen of methotrexate in tubal ectopic pregnancy. METHODS: Eighty-five women who received methotrexate for the treatment of tubal ectopic pregnancy during 2003 to 2015 were selected. Fifty-three women received a single-dose regimen and 32 women received a multi-dose regimen. Medical treatment failure was defined as necessity of surgical treatment. The medical treatment success rate was estimated in both regimens and the pretreatment serum hCG titer to predict the success was assessed by receiver operating characteristics curve analysis. RESULTS: Pretreatment clinical and laboratory parameters were similar between group of single-dose regimen and multi-dose regimen. Treatment success rate was 64.2% in the single-dose regimen group and 71.9% in the multi-dose regimen group (P>0.05). Pretreatment serum hCG titer was an independent prognostic factor for treatment success in each regimen. Serum hCG cutoff value to predict the treatment success was 3,026 IU/L in single-dose regimen group and 3,711 IU/L in multi-dose regimen group. CONCLUSION: We recommend use of single-dose regimen when pretreatment serum hCG <3,026 IU/L but multi-dose regimen may be favored when initial serum hCG level between 3,026 and 3,711 IU/L.
Chorionic Gonadotropin* ; Female ; Humans* ; Methotrexate* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic* ; Pregnancy, Tubal ; ROC Curve ; Treatment Failure

mTOR is a serine/threonine kinase composed of multiple protein components. Intracellular signaling of mTOR complexes is involved in many of physiological functions including cell survival, proliferation and differentiation through the regulation of protein synthesis in multiple cell types. During brain development, mTOR-mediated signaling pathway plays a crucial role in the process of neuronal and glial differentiation and the maintenance of the stemness of neural stem cells. The abnormalities in the activity of mTOR and its downstream signaling molecules in neural stem cells result in severe defects of brain developmental processes causing a significant number of brain disorders, such as pediatric brain tumors, autism, seizure, learning disability and mental retardation. Understanding the implication of mTOR activity in neural stem cells would be able to provide an important clue in the development of future brain developmental disorder therapies.
Autistic Disorder ; Brain Diseases ; Brain Neoplasms ; Brain* ; Cell Survival ; Intellectual Disability ; Learning Disorders ; Neural Stem Cells ; Neurogenesis ; Neurons ; Phosphotransferases ; Seizures

A rapidly aging population in Korea has led to increased attention in the field of anti-aging medicine. The purpose of anti-aging medicine is to slow, stop, or reverse the aging process and its associated effects, such as disability and frailty. Anti-aging medicine is emerging as a growing industry, but many supplements or protocols are available that do not have scientific evidence to support their claims. In this review, the mechanisms of action and the clinical implications of anti-aging interventions were examined and explained. Calorie restriction mimetics define compounds that imitate the outcome of calorie restriction, including an activator of AMP protein kinase (metformin), inhibitor of growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-1 axis (pegvisomant), inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin (rapamycin), and activator of the sirtuin pathway (resveratrol). Hormonal replacement has also been widely used in the elderly population to improve their quality of life. Manipulating healthy gut microbiota through prebiotic/probiotics or fecal microbiota transplantation has significant potential in anti-aging medicine. Vitamin D is expected to be a primary anti-aging medicine in the near future due to its numerous positive effects in the elderly population.
Aged ; Aging ; Fecal Microbiota Transplantation ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Humans ; Korea ; Protein Kinases ; Quality of Life ; Sirolimus ; Vitamin D

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper was to determine the ability of a mixture consisting of mesenchymal stem cells, beta-tricalcium phosphate β-TCP), and hydrogel, to support cells and form new tissue. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A composite was produced by adding β-TCP to hydrogel, and mesenchymal stem cells were cultivated in the composite. Then, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was conducted to measure the level of gene expression for the new bone formation in the cells. Moreover, a composite in which the mesenchymal stem cells were added was injected into the subcutaneous fat of sprague-dawley rats. After four weeks, H&E, Masson trichrome, silver nitrate staining, and osterix immunohistochemical staining were conducted by taking the tissue to evaluate whether the composite supported mesenchymal stem cells and formed new tissue. RESULTS: By using RT-PCR, we found that the level of gene expression became significantly higher in 3-dimensional gel culture with RUNX2 by 1.26 times, with osteopontin by 1.23 times, transforming growth factor-β by 2.12 times, osterix by 1.07 times, type I collagen by 1.3 times, and fibronectin by 1.3 times. In the animal experiment in which a composite was transplanted into the subcutaneous fat, newly formed tissue was observed. Also, it was found that the composite prevented mesenchymal stem cells from leaving and formed new tissue. Osteogenic differentiation cells in the tissue was observed through osterix immunostaining. CONCLUSION: It was identified that the composite prevented mesenchymal stem cells dispersal and contributed to the formation of neogenic tissue. Therefore we conclude that the composite plays a role of a scaffold to support the implanted cells and form neogenic tissue more effectively.
Animal Experimentation ; Collagen Type I ; Fibronectins ; Gene Expression ; Hydrogel ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells* ; Osteogenesis* ; Osteopontin ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reverse Transcription ; Silver Staining ; Subcutaneous Fat

The elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying the differentiation and proliferation of human adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (hADSCs) represents a critical step in the development of hADSCs-based cellular therapies. To examine the role of the microRNA-103a-3p (miR-103a-3p) in hADSCs functions, miR-103a-3p mimics were transfected into hADSCs in order to overexpress miR-103a-3p. Osteogenic differentiation was induced for 14 days in an osetogenic differentiation medium and assessed by using an Alizarin Red S stain. The regulation of the expression of CDK6 (cyclin-dependent kinase 6), a predicted target of miR-103a-3p, was determined by western blot, real-time PCR and luciferase reporter assays. Overexpression of miR-103a-3p inhibited the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of hADSCs. In addition, it downregulated protein and mRNA levels of predicted target of miR-103a-3p (CDK6 and DICER1). In contrast, inhibition of miR-103a-3p with 2'O methyl antisense RNA increased the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of hADSCs. The luciferase reporter activity of the construct containing the miR-103a-3p target site within the CDK6 and DICER1 3'-untranslated regions was lower in miR-103a-3p-transfected hADSCs than in control miRNA-transfected hADSCs. RNA interference-mediated downregulation of CDK6 and DICER1 in hADSCs inhibited their proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. The results of the current study indicate that miR-103a-3p regulates the osteogenic differentiation of hADSCs and proliferation of hADSCs by direct targeting of CDK6 and DICER1 partly. These findings further elucidate the molecular mechanisms governing the differentiation and proliferation of hADSCs.
Adipose Tissue/*cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; *Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 6/genetics ; DEAD-box RNA Helicases/genetics ; *Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; MicroRNAs/genetics/*metabolism ; *Osteogenesis ; Ribonuclease III/genetics ; Stromal Cells/cytology/metabolism

PURPOSE: This study was designed to investigate the maintenance of teeth and implants in patients with viral liver disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 316 patients without any significant systemic disease were selected as a control group. Liver disease group was consisted of 230 patients. Necessary data were collected using clinical records and panoramic radiographs. Then, the patients were subdivided into 2 groups based on the type of active dental therapy received before maintenance period (Pre-Tx). Analysis for finding statistically significant difference was performed based on the need for re-treatment of active dental therapy (Re-Tx) and change in the number of teeth (N-teeth) and implants (N-implants). RESULTS: Comparing to control group, the patients with liver disease showed higher value on N-teeth, N-implants, and Re-Tx. Statistically significant differences were found on N-teeth (P=.000) and Re-Tx (P=.000) in patients with non-surgical Pre-Tx. Analysis based on severity of liver disease showed that N-teeth and Re-Tx were directly related to severity of liver disease regardless of received type of Pre-Tx. Significant differences were found on N-teeth (P=.003) and Re-Tx (P=.044) in patients with non-surgical Pre-Tx. CONCLUSION: In this study, it was concluded that liver disease might influence the loss of teeth and cause the relapse of dental disease during maintenance period in patients. A significant positive relationship between tooth and implant loss and severity of liver disease seems to exist.
Humans ; Liver Diseases* ; Liver* ; Long-Term Care ; Recurrence ; Stomatognathic Diseases ; Tooth Loss ; Tooth*

PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate the teeth and dental implants during dental maintenance therapy over 3 years in different conditions after periodontal and dental prosthetic treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 166 patients received maintenance therapy. 59 patients were treated with 2% minocycline-HCl ointment as local drug delivery (LDD) (L group) and 107 patients were treated without LDD (NL group). Clinical data was collected in maintenance period for evaluation. Patients were classified into groups depending on the application of LDD with maintenance therapy, the type of dental treatment before maintenance period (Pre-Tx), the frequency (F-MT), and regularity (R-MT) of maintenance therapy. RESULTS: The numbers of lost teeth (N-teeth, P=.003) and newly placed dental implants (N-implants, P=.022) are significantly different according to Pre-Tx. F-MT among patients who received surgical dental treatment before maintenance period showed statistical differences in N-teeth (P=.041), but not in N-implants (P=.564). All of the patients in L group showed high F-MT (F-MT1). In NL group, there were no statistical differences in N-teeth or N-implants according to F-MT or R-MT. In F-MT1 group, application of LDD made N-teeth significantly different from both Pre-Tx groups while no significant difference could be found in N-implant. Independent t-test and one-way ANOVA were selected for statistical analysis. CONCLUSION: The regular maintenance therapy and LDD can be effective for teeth during maintenance period. It is not only pharmacological efficacy in decreasing bacterial species that makes LDD a useful adjunct. Application of LDD also motivates patients to take adequate check-ups in the aspects of both frequency and regularity.
Dental Implants* ; Humans ; Long-Term Care ; Minocycline ; Tooth Loss ; Tooth*

PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate the teeth and dental implants during dental maintenance therapy over 3 years in different conditions after periodontal and dental prosthetic treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 166 patients received maintenance therapy. 59 patients were treated with 2% minocycline-HCl ointment as local drug delivery (LDD) (L group) and 107 patients were treated without LDD (NL group). Clinical data was collected in maintenance period for evaluation. Patients were classified into groups depending on the application of LDD with maintenance therapy, the type of dental treatment before maintenance period (Pre-Tx), the frequency (F-MT), and regularity (R-MT) of maintenance therapy. RESULTS: The numbers of lost teeth (N-teeth, P=.003) and newly placed dental implants (N-implants, P=.022) are significantly different according to Pre-Tx. F-MT among patients who received surgical dental treatment before maintenance period showed statistical differences in N-teeth (P=.041), but not in N-implants (P=.564). All of the patients in L group showed high F-MT (F-MT1). In NL group, there were no statistical differences in N-teeth or N-implants according to F-MT or R-MT. In F-MT1 group, application of LDD made N-teeth significantly different from both Pre-Tx groups while no significant difference could be found in N-implant. Independent t-test and one-way ANOVA were selected for statistical analysis. CONCLUSION: The regular maintenance therapy and LDD can be effective for teeth during maintenance period. It is not only pharmacological efficacy in decreasing bacterial species that makes LDD a useful adjunct. Application of LDD also motivates patients to take adequate check-ups in the aspects of both frequency and regularity.
Dental Implants* ; Humans ; Long-Term Care ; Minocycline ; Tooth Loss ; Tooth*