Background: The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to restrictions on daily living including social distancing. These restrictions had an impact on the individual's healthy lifestyle and health status. We investigated the associated factors with changes of metabolic abnormalities among general population in COVID-19. Methods: The participants were 43,639 people who received health check-ups twice in 2019 and 2021 during COVID-19 pandemic, at 16 health promotion centers. Metabolic abnormalities were identified according to the third report of the cholesterol education program criteria. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to confirm the factors related to changes of metabolic abnormalities during COVID-19. Results: Metabolic syndrome and metabolic abnormalities increased overall during the COVID-19 pandemic. This increase was mostly appeared in males. The occurrence of metabolic syndrome during COVID-19 was associated with 50s and older age (odds ratio [OR], 1.130; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.019-1.254), attempt to quit smoking (OR, 1.467; 95% CI, 1.171-1.839), start smoking (OR, 1.251; 95% CI, 1.110-1.412), decrease in aerobic exercise (OR, 1.328; 95% CI, 1.162-1.517), and increase in strength exercise (OR, 0.704; 95% CI, 0.592-0.838). Conclusions The metabolic syndrome is closely related to smoking experience and lack of exercise during COVID-19.

OBJECTIVES: Serotonin transporter (5-HTT) is a key synaptic regulator of serotonergic neurotransmission and a major site of action of serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine or paroxetine. Two PCR-fomatted polymorphisms at this locus have been described, the first of which is a repeat sequence polymorphism located in the promoter region (5-HTT gene-linked polymorphic region, 5-HTTLPR), and the second is a variable number tandem repeat located in intron2 (STin2). 5-HTTLPR insertion/deletion polymorphism with long (l) and short (s) forms affects the transcriptional efficiency of 5-HTT transporter expression. We examined the pharmacodynamic characteristic of 5-HTT gene polymorphism in the patients with major depression, which was expressed in the peripheral platelet. METHODS: 5-HTT gene polymophisms and pharmacodynamic characteristics of 5-HTT in the platelet was measured in 41 patients with major depression defined by DSM IV criteria and 35 healthy normal volunteers. 5-HTT gene polymophisms were analyzed with the primers flanking the regulatory region and the second intron from genomic DNA. Pharmacodynamic characteristics of 5-HTT in the platelet was measured with [3H]-serotonin uptake study. The uptake of [3H]-serotonin was quantified with Vmax and Km value. RESULTS: We found that the Vmax value of 5-HTT in peripheral platelet was higher in the patients with s/s genotype (2.17 pmol/10(4) platelets/min, 1.53-3.90 pmol/10(4) platelets/min) than with s/l (1.73 pmol/10(4) platelets/min, 0.83-3.40 pmol/10(4) platelets/min) or l/l (1.0(4) pmol/10(4) platelets/min, 0.88-1.31 pmol/10(4) platelets/min) genotype of 5-HTTLPR. Normal subjects with s/s genotype also had significantly higher Vmax value than those with s/l or l/l genotype. However, STin2 genotype showed no significant association with Vmax or Km in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that allelic variation of 5-HTT gene affects the phenotypic expression of 5-HTT in human platelet, and may be linked with phenotypic heterogeneity in the antidepressant responsiveness in depressed patients. This is another different finding based on ethnic variation with respect to pharmacodynamic characteristics of 5-HTT gene polymorphism.
Blood Platelets* ; Depression ; DNA ; Fluoxetine ; Genotype ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Introns ; Paroxetine ; Population Characteristics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid ; Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins* ; Serotonin* ; Synaptic Transmission ; Tandem Repeat Sequences

OBJECTIVE: S100B is a neurotrophic factor that is involved in neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity is disrupted in depression; however, treatment with antidepressants can restore neuroplasticity. S100B has previously been used as a biological marker for neuropathology and neuroplasticity; therefore, in this study, we compared serum S100B levels in depressive patients to those of normal controls. In addition, we compared the serum S100B levels of antidepressant responders to those of nonresponders. METHODS: Thirty five normal controls and 59 depressive patients were enrolled in this study. Depressive patients entered a 6 week clinical trial that included treatment with antidepressants. The serum S100B levels and clinical assessments, which included Hamilton depression rating scores, were measured at baseline and after 6 weeks of treatment with antidepressants. The difference in the serum S100B levels between depressive patients and normal controls and between antidepressant responders and nonresponders was then compared. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the serum S100B levels of normal controls and depressive patients. In addition, 30 of the depressive patients responded to antidepressant treatment while 29 did not. Finally, the responders had significantly higher baseline serum S100B levels than the nonresponders. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the baseline serum S100B level is associated with the subsequent response to antidepressants. In addition, the high baseline serum S100B level that was observed in depressive patients may enhance neuroplasticity, which results in a favorable therapeutic response to antidepressants.
Antidepressive Agents ; Biomarkers ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder, Major* ; Humans ; Neuronal Plasticity

OBJECTIVE: The molecules related with the intracellular signal transduction system are one of the main targets for the mode of mechanisms of antidepressant treatment in depressive patients. In vivo and in vitro studies have provided the evidence that the transcription factor, CREB (c-AMP response element binding protein) is the key mediator of the therapeutic response to antidepressants. We investigated the relationship between the treatment response to fluoxetine for 6 weeks and the change of CREB immunoreactivity in peripheral T lymphocyte. METHODS: CREB-expression and phosphorylation were quantified via western blot, and binding activity between transcription factor and CRE-oligonucleotide via electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) in nuclear extracts from 14 normal controls and 31 depressed patients at 0 and 6th week during fluoxetine treatment (20 mg/day). Responder was defined as the > or =50% of reduction or < or =7 of HAM-D score. We compared the changes of CREB during 6 weeks of fluoxetine treatment between drug responders and non-responders using SPSS11.0. RESULTS: After six weeks of treatment with fluoxetine, the drug responders showed a significant increase in CREB (p=0.024 by t-test) and p-CREB (p=0.045 by Mann-Whitney U test) compared with the non-responders. The change of CREB immunoreactivity was positively correlated with the change of p-CREB (r=0.770, p=0.000 by Spearman's rho), and the change of p-CREB was also positively correlated with CRE-DNA binding (r=0.753, p=0.000 by Spearman's rho). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that CREB response in peripheral lymphocyte may reflect and mediate the response to antidepressant treatment in depressed patients.
Antidepressive Agents ; Blotting, Western ; Depression ; Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay ; Fluoxetine ; Humans ; Lymphocytes* ; Phosphorylation ; Response Elements ; Signal Transduction ; Transcription Factors

OBJECTIVES: There are evidences of apoptotic neuronal cell death in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent studies suggested AD pathogenesis in the central nervous system as well as in peripheral lymphocytes. The object of this study is to compare the cell viability and the proliferation activity in AD patients with healthy normal control by using peripheral lymphocytes. METHODS: We analyzed the cell viability and the proliferation activity of phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-activated lymphocytes from 73 AD patients and 31 normal contols. The cell viability and the proliferation activity were measured at baseline (T0), 24 hours (T24), 48 hours (T48), 72 hours (T72), 96 hours (T96), by the tryphan blue method and the BrdU proliferation activity method, respectively. RESULTS: The cell viability of PHA-activated peripheral lymphocytes in AD patients was significantly decreased at T72, T96 compared with healthy controls (F=8.034, p<0.001). In AD patients, the decline of proliferation activity appeared in earlier than healthy normal controls. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that there is a decreased cell viability and the proliferation activity of peripheral lymphocytes in AD patients. These finding may be related with the increased apoptosis in Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer Disease* ; Apoptosis ; Bromodeoxyuridine ; Cell Death ; Cell Survival* ; Central Nervous System ; Humans ; Lymphocytes* ; Neurons

OBJECTIVE: Extensive neuronal death occurring in the Alzheimer's disease (AD) may be related with the apoptosis. Recent studies have suggested that regulatory failure of cell cycle appeared to be very early event of AD pathogenesis in neuronal cells as well as in peripheral lymphocytes. We compared the change of cyclin dependent kinases (Cdks), which is related with G1/S phase transition in the cell cycle, between AD patients and normal controls using peripheral lymphocytes. METHODS: We obtained Cdks from peripheral lymphocytes of 37 AD patients and 18 age-matched normal subjects. Cells in first culture were considered to be G-zero (G0) cells. We measured Cdk2, Cdk4, and Cdk6 at baseline (T0). Thereafter, we observed Cdks 24 hours later after using PHA (phytohemaglutinin) (N24). Meanwhile, we observed Cdks 24 hours later again with rapamycin treatment (T24). RESULTS: At baseline (T0), Cdk2 and Cdk6 were increased in AD patients compared to the control group (p< 0.001, p=0.038, respectively). Cdk2 was increased in AD patients more than control group after using PHA (T24, p=0.007). After rapamycin treatment for 24 hours (N24), Cdk2, Cdk4, and Cdk6 were increased in the patients compared to the controls (p=0.002, p=0.022, p=0.011, respectively). CONCLUSION: This results showed that the cell cycle regulating proteins in AD patients, which are related with G1/S phase transition, were increased in peripheral lymphocytes compared to those in normal controls. We provide the clue which demonstrate the cell cycle dysregulation in the patients with Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer Disease* ; Apoptosis ; Cell Cycle* ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinases ; Humans ; Lymphocytes* ; Neurons ; Phase Transition ; Sirolimus

Aortic dissection during cardiopulmonary bypass for aortic aneurysm surgery is a rare complication. If unrecognized in early time, it would be a fatal consequence. Neurological sequelae remain a well-recognized complication of cardiac surgery. Monitoring of cerebral oxygenation may be a useful technique for identifying vulnerable periods for the development of neurological injury. We report the experience of the decreasing left radial blood pressure and left rSO2 which caused by retrograde aortic dissection during the ascending aortic aneurysm replacement surgery.
Aortic Aneurysm ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Oxygen ; Thoracic Surgery

OBJECTIVE: Speedy surgical orthodontics (SSO), an innovative orthodontic treatment, involves the application of orthopedic forces against temporary skeletal anchorage devices following perisegmental corticotomy to induce movement of specific dental segments. Herein, we report the biological effects of SSO on the teeth and periodontal structures. METHODS: Five beagle dogs were divided into 2 groups and their 6 maxillary incisors were retracted en masse by applying 500 g orthopedic force against a single palatal mini-plate. Retraction was performed without and with perisegmental corticotomy in groups I and II, respectively. All animals were killed on the 70th day, and their periodontal structures were processed for histologic analyses and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). The linear distance between the third maxillary incisor and canine was used as a benchmark to quantify the retraction amount. RESULTS: Retraction was markedly faster and retraction amount greater in group II than in Group I. Surprisingly, Group II did not show any root resorption despite extensive retraction, while Group I showed prominent root surface irregularities. Similarly, SEM showed multiple resorption lacunae in Group I, but not in Group II. CONCLUSIONS: SSO is an effective and favorable orthodontic approach for major en masse retraction of the maxillary anterior teeth.
Animals ; Dogs ; Electronics ; Electrons ; Incisor ; Microscopy ; Orthodontics ; Orthopedics ; Root Resorption ; Tooth

BACKGROUND: Although nerve conduction study (NCS) is the method most frequently used to confirm clinical diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), ultrasonographic (US) measurement can give additional information to confirm the diagnosis and also exclude other conditions of nearby soft tissues. However, whether or not the degree of swelling of median nerve (MN) reflects clinical severity has not been proven before. This study is aimed to investigate the further clinical usefulness of US in assessing CTS severity. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-four patients (248 hands) with electrophysiologically confirmed CTS were evaluated. Clinical severity was examined by Historic and Objective (Hi-Ob) scale. Padua scale was used for the severity of electrophysiological impairment. For US study, cross-sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve was measured at the proximal inlet of the carpal tunnel and graded. RESULTS: Ninety-four patients were female (75%) and median disease duration was 19 weeks. There was a good correlation between electrophysiological impairment and CSA of median nerve (correlation coefficient=0.442, p<0.001), and CSA was graded as US severity scale by electrophysiological severity of patients. A statistically significant correlation was found among US severity scale of the MN at wrist, clinical severity scale (correlation coefficient=0.397, p<0.001), and electrophysiological severity scale (correlation coefficient=0.371, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This observation suggests MN swelling in CTS may reflect in itself the degree of nerve damage as expressed by the clinical picture. US measurement could also give additional information about severity of MN involvement above the diagnosis of CTS.
Bays ; Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Median Nerve ; Neural Conduction ; Wrist

In the treatment of esthetically important areas such as maxillary anterior teeth, they should be corresponded with surrounding tissues, and shape of the smile line, soft tissue, and hard tissue, also the anatomical shape and proportion of the teeth should be considered as well. Esthetic analysis includes facial analysis which evaluates the proper parallelism between the occlusal plane and the horizontal reference line, dentolabial analysis which assesses the position of the incisal edge and the coherence between the occlusal plane and the commissural line, tooth analysis which evaluates not only esthetics but also morphology and appearance for proper function, and gingival analysis which forms ideal outline of gingival margins. A maxillary anterior diastema can be esthetically restored through the systematic diagnostic approach and treatment planning, and orthodontic, prosthetic, and conservative treatment can be applied for the treatment.
Dental Occlusion ; Diastema ; Esthetics ; Humans ; Prostheses and Implants ; Tooth