This study was carried out to figure out the dietary intake of pregnant women in Daegu area. A total of 467 pregnant women was recruited at two hospitals in this area to collect the information on dietary intakes, general characteristics, and anthropometric measurements using an interview. Forty-seven women (10.1%) were in the first trimester, 101 women (21.6%) in the second trimester, and 319 women (68.3%) in the third trimester. The mean age, prepregnant weight and height of subjects were not significantly different among the trimester groups. The mean daily nutrient intakes of energy, fat, protein, carbohydrates, phosphate, sodium, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, and vitamin C were significantly different among the trimester groups, but the other nutrients were not different. For the calcium and iron, the percentage of subjects consumed less than 75% of the Korean RDA was over 80%, and for other nutrients such as energy, vitamin B1, and vitamin B2 over 50% of subjects consumed less than 75% of the Korean RDA in the first trimester. The correlations between nutrient intakes and weight gain during pregnancy showed different patterns among the trimester groups. The mean adequacy ratio and dietary variety scores were not significantly different among the trimester groups. The amount of food intake from cereals and cereal products were higher during the second and the third trimester compared to the first trimester, but those of the other food groups were not significantly different. In conclusion, nutrient intakes of the pregnant women for iron, calcium and some vitamins were inadequate and nutritional management programs for these nutrients are necessary.
Ascorbic Acid ; Calcium ; Carbohydrates ; Edible Grain ; Daegu* ; Eating ; Female ; Humans ; Iron ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Pregnant Women* ; Riboflavin ; Sodium ; Thiamine ; Vitamins ; Weight Gain

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although cardiac troponin I is widely used as a marker for myocardial infarction (MI), minor elevations of cardiac troponin I are also observed in other clinical situations. The prognostic factors for patients with these clinical features are not well established. The aim of this study was to discover the predictors of mortality for the patients who had minor troponin elevations without acute MI. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We enrolled consecutive 154 patients from the emergency department or inpatient units who had a peak troponin I level greater than the lower limit of detectability (0.04 ng/mL), and the level was also less than the suggestive value of MI (0.6 ng/mL). They were with chest pain or nonspecific symptoms of circulatory abnormality, but they lacked the traditional features of acute MI. The endpoint was defined as death from all causes. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to test the relationship between the clinical and biochemical variables and the outcomes. RESULTS: During the follow-up period of 7.9+/-7.3 months, mortality occurred in 15 patients. Age, the creatine kinase myocardial isoform (CK-MB) level and the C-reactive protein (CRP) level as continuous variables had significant correlations with the occurrence of death. After adjusting for any possible confounders in the multivariate model, these variables remained as independent predictors of mortality: age (HR 1.07, CI 1.02-1.14, p=0.012), CK-MB level (HR 1.61, CI 1.16-2.24, p=0.005), and CRP level (HR 1.01, CI 1.00-1.01, p=0.025). CONCLUSION: Integration of the CK-MB and CRP levels, as well as age, can be used for risk-stratification in the patients showing minor troponin I elevation for reasons other than acute MI.
C-Reactive Protein ; Chest Pain ; Creatine Kinase ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Troponin ; Troponin I*

Breast Neoplasms ; Breast ; Cohort Studies ; Estrogens ; Follow-Up Studies ; Genes, BRCA1 ; Genes, BRCA2 ; Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome ; Humans ; Mastectomy, Segmental ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Prospective Studies ; Recurrence ; Risk Factors ; Unilateral Breast Neoplasms

Purpose: Breast cancer is known to be influenced by genetic and environmental factors, and several susceptibility genes have been discovered. Still, the majority of genetic contributors remain unknown. We aimed to analyze the plasma proteome of breast cancer patients in comparison to healthy individuals to identify differences in protein expression profiles and discover novel biomarkers. Methods: This pilot study was conducted using bioresources from Seoul National University Bundang Hospital’s Human Bioresource Center. Serum samples from 10 breast cancer patients and 10 healthy controls were obtained. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis was performed to identify differentially expressed proteins. Results: We identified 891 proteins; 805 were expressed in the breast cancer group and 882 in the control group. Gene set enrichment and differential expression analysis identified 30 upregulated and 100 downregulated proteins in breast cancer. Among these, 10 proteins were selected as potential biomarkers. Three proteins were upregulated in breast cancer patients, including cluster of differentiation 44, eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2-α kinase 3, and fibronectin 1. Seven proteins downregulated in breast cancer patients were also selected: glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, α-enolase, heat shock protein member 8, integrin‑linked kinase, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1, vasodilatorstimulated phosphoprotein, and 14-3-3 protein gamma. All proteins had been previously reported to be related to tumor development and progression. Conclusion The findings suggest that plasma proteome profiling can reveal potential diagnostic biomarkers for breast cancer and may contribute to early detection and personalized treatment strategies. A further validation study with a larger sample cohort of breast cancer patients is planned.

Purpose: Estrogen receptor (ER) expression in breast cancer plays an essential role in carcinogenesis and disease progression. Recently, tumors with low level (1%-10%) of ER expression have been separately defined as ER low positive (ERlow). It is suggested that ERlow tumors might be morphologically and behaviorally different from tumors with high ER expression (ERhigh). Materials and Methods: Retrospective analysis of a prospective cohort database was performed. Patients who underwent curative surgery for early breast cancer and had available medical records were included for analysis. Difference in clinicopathological characteristics, endocrine responsiveness and five-year recurrence-free survival was evaluated between different ER subgroups (ERhigh, ERlow, and ER-negative [ER–]). Results: A total of 2,162 breast cancer patients were included in the analysis, Tis and T1 stage. Among them, 1,654 (76.5%) were ERhigh, 54 (2.5%) were ERlow, and 454 (21.0%) were ER- patients. ERlow cases were associated with smaller size, higher histologic grade, positive human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, negative progesterone receptor, and higher Ki-67 expression. Recurrence rate was highest in ER– tumors and was inversely proportional to ER expression. Recurrence-free survival was not affected by hormonal therapy in the ERlow group (p=0.418). Conclusion ERlow breast cancer showed distinct clinicopathological features. ERlow tumors seemed to have higher recurrence rates compared to ERhigh tumors, and they showed no significant benefit from hormonal therapy. Future large scale prospective studies are necessary to validate the treatment options for ERlow breast cancer.