Purpose: Several studies have been conducted on the relationship between green tea intake and metabolic syndrome. However, compared to the studies carried out internationally, there is inadequate research on the relationship between domestic green tea consumption and metabolic syndrome. Therefore, in this study, the general characteristics of Koreans according to their green tea intake and its association with metabolic syndrome were examined. Methods: A total of 44,611 subjects were included in the study, and analysis was carried out using data from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES) for Korean adults aged 40 or older. Green tea consumption was estimated using 106 verified food frequency questionnaires (FFQ). Metabolic syndrome was defined using the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III) parameters. After adjusting for confounding variables by performing a Cox regression analysis, the association between green tea consumption and metabolic syndrome was confirmed through the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: The average incidence of metabolic syndrome was 18.7% (20.8% in men and 17.8% in women). Compared to those who drank almost no green tea, in subject groups consuming more than one cup of green tea a day, the metabolic syndrome incidence was significantly reduced by 15% (HR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.74–0.96; p trend = 0.0200) among men and by 19% (HR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.73–0.90; p trend < 0.0001) among women. In addition, the biomarkers related to metabolic syndrome also tended to decrease overall in these groups. Conclusion This study concluded that as the intake of green tea increased, the incidence of metabolic syndrome and related indicators decreased. Therefore, green tea intake is believed to have a positive effect on the prevention and management of the metabolic syndrome.

Kimura disease is characterized by painless subcutaneous masses, usually in the head and neck area as well as serum/tissue eosinophilia and elevated serum IgE levels. Various treatment methods, such as surgical excision, corticosteroids, and radiotherapy, have been suggested, but none of these are considered standard therapy due to high recurrence rates. Dupilumab is a human monoclonal antibody that binds to the alpha subunit of IL-4 receptor for IL-4 and IL-13 and inhibits T helper 2 (Th2) response, which plays an important role in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases, such as atopic dermatitis, asthma, and nasal polyps. Kimura disease has also been shown to increase CD4+Th2 cells and Th2 cytokines. We report a case of a 12-year-old boy who had subcutaneous neck and orbital masses of Kimura disease concurrent with allergic rhinitis, decreased lung function, and IgG subclass deficiency. The masses did not improve with omalizumab or immunomodulatory agents, but resolved with dupilumab. Considering potential side effects of steroids or immunosuppressant agents, dupilumab may be an option for initial treatment with Kimura diseases in children.

Background: Most epidemiological studies depend on the subjects' response to asthma symptom questionnaires. Questionnaire-based study for childhood asthma prevalence may overestimate the true prevalence. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of “Current asthma” using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire and methacholine challenge test in Korean children. Methods: Our survey on allergic disease included 4,791 children (age 7–12 years) from 2010 to 2014 in Korean elementary schools. Bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) was defined as provocative concentration of methacholine causing a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) (PC20) ≤ 16 mg/mL. “Current asthma symptoms” was defined as positive response to “Wheezing, current,” “Treatment, current,” or “Exercise, current.” “Current asthma” was defined when the subjects with “Current asthma symptoms” showed BHR on the methacholine challenge test or had less than 70% of predicted FEV1 value. Results: The prevalence of “Wheezing, ever,” “Wheezing, current,” “Diagnosis, ever,” “Treatment, current,” “Exercise, current,” and “Current asthma symptoms” was 19.6%, 6.9%, 10.0%, 3.3%, 3.5%, and 9.6%, respectively, in our cross-sectional study of Korean elementary school students. The prevalence of BHR in elementary school students was 14.5%. The prevalence of BHR in children with “Wheezing, ever,” “Wheezing, current,” “Diagnosis, ever,” “Treatment, current,” and “Exercise, current” was 22.3%, 30.5%, 22.4%, 28.8%, and 29.9%, respectively. BHR was 26.1% in those with “Current asthma symptoms.”The prevalence of “Current asthma” was 2.7%. Conclusions Our large-scale study provides 2.7% prevalence of current asthma in Korean elementary school children. Since approximately one third of the children who have “Current asthma symptoms” present BHR, both subjective and objective methods are required to accurately predict asthma in subjects with asthma symptoms.

Background: Most epidemiological studies depend on the subjects' response to asthma symptom questionnaires. Questionnaire-based study for childhood asthma prevalence may overestimate the true prevalence. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of “Current asthma” using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire and methacholine challenge test in Korean children. Methods: Our survey on allergic disease included 4,791 children (age 7–12 years) from 2010 to 2014 in Korean elementary schools. Bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) was defined as provocative concentration of methacholine causing a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) (PC20) ≤ 16 mg/mL. “Current asthma symptoms” was defined as positive response to “Wheezing, current,” “Treatment, current,” or “Exercise, current.” “Current asthma” was defined when the subjects with “Current asthma symptoms” showed BHR on the methacholine challenge test or had less than 70% of predicted FEV1 value. Results: The prevalence of “Wheezing, ever,” “Wheezing, current,” “Diagnosis, ever,” “Treatment, current,” “Exercise, current,” and “Current asthma symptoms” was 19.6%, 6.9%, 10.0%, 3.3%, 3.5%, and 9.6%, respectively, in our cross-sectional study of Korean elementary school students. The prevalence of BHR in elementary school students was 14.5%. The prevalence of BHR in children with “Wheezing, ever,” “Wheezing, current,” “Diagnosis, ever,” “Treatment, current,” and “Exercise, current” was 22.3%, 30.5%, 22.4%, 28.8%, and 29.9%, respectively. BHR was 26.1% in those with “Current asthma symptoms.”The prevalence of “Current asthma” was 2.7%. Conclusions Our large-scale study provides 2.7% prevalence of current asthma in Korean elementary school children. Since approximately one third of the children who have “Current asthma symptoms” present BHR, both subjective and objective methods are required to accurately predict asthma in subjects with asthma symptoms.

This study aimed to explore the status of food service outsourcing behavior of long-term care institutions (LTCIs) through a cross-sectional survey using a questionnaire administered between July 16th and August 7th, 2020. The survey respondents were either dietitians or facility managers, who worked at 731 nursing homes, 477 group homes, and 673 day-care centers. Approximately 25.9% of nursing homes, 11.7% of group homes, and 33.1% of day-care centers used a managed-services company to operate their food service units.The main reason for outsourcing food service by nursing homes was related to the staffing of dietitians and cooks, whereas group homes and day-care centers outsourced food services due to factors relating to meal costs and the cooking process. Almost all the LTCIs entered into private contracts for outsourced food services. Only a few food service contracts included the types of meals, nutrition standards such as protein and calories per meal, and the parameter or ratio of food cost. Of the respondents, 84.5% from nursing homes, 87.5% from group homes, and 87.1% from day-care centers agreed that the quality of outsourced food services of the LTCIs should be regulated. Meals are essential for maintaining the health and functional status of LTCI users. As more LTCIs outsource their food services, we suggest the following: (1) Increasing the minimum dietitian staffing standards for LTCIs as per the Welfare of Senior Citizens Act and requiring at least one dietitian for every nursing home, (2) Making it mandatory to use a standard food service contract template when drafting food service contract, and (3) Developing realistic standards for food service operations considering the size and operation type of the LTCIs.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated peripheral and central metabolites affecting depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and anger in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) patients. METHODS: Metabolite levels were determined in the right and left thalamus and insula, in 12 CRPS patients using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). RESULTS: There were positive correlations between valine (Val)/tNAA (N-acetylaspartate+N-acetylaspartylglutamate) and the anxiety, and a negative correlation between glutamine (Gln)/NAA and the depression. There were positive correlations between alanine (Ala)/Gln and the depression and suicidal ideation, between glutamate (Glu)/Gln and the depression and suicidal ideation, between N-acetylaspartylglutamate (NAAG)/Gln and the depression. There was a positive correlation between Ala/NAAG and the trait anger and a negative correlation between creatine (Cr)/N-acetylaspartate (NAA) and the trait anger. There was a negative correlation between Cr/Glx (Glu+Gln) and the trait anger. High hemoglobin and alkaline phosphatase were associated with low pain levels, but CO2 and chloride showed positive correlations with pain levels in CRPS patients. Peripheral glucose, CO2 and chloride were associated with depression, anxiety, anger and suicidal ideation. CONCLUSION: The specific central and peripheral metabolites were associated with psychological disorders including depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation and anger in CRPS patients, showing pathological interactions between a painful body and mind.
Alanine ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Anger* ; Anxiety* ; Creatine ; Depression* ; Glucose ; Glutamic Acid ; Glutamine ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy* ; Pilot Projects* ; Suicidal Ideation* ; Thalamus ; Valine