We would like to correct the affiliation for the first author.

Gastrointestinal tract is an organ for digestion, absorption and utilization of nutrients. Also it functions as an immunological organ in the human body. Patients with gastrointestinal disease are at increased risk for nutritional problem due to dietary restriction during the treatment or diagnostic examinations, anorexia or altered nutritional requirement. Clinically, it is important for gastroenterologists to be aware of the principles of nutritional therapy and the relationship between gastrointestinal diseases and the combined nutritional abnormalities. Removal of enteral feeding causes mucosal atrophy and leads to increased mucosal permeability to bacteria and endotoxin. The intestinal endotoxemia results from the translocation of bacteria and endotoxin to systemic circulation, may triggers off systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Therefore, it is crucial in critically ill patients to maintain the gastrointestinal mucosal integrity along with the intestinal flora that enables the host immunity to be maintained or enhanced. Immunonutrition is a therapeutic approach to enhance the gastrointestinal mucosal barrier with various specific nutrients. The intestinal endotoxemia and immunonutrition will also be reviewed briefly.
English Abstract ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/immunology/*therapy ; Humans ; *Nutritional Support

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the applicability of the Korean version of Fall Efficacy scale(FES) and Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale(ABC) to Korean older adult through an examination of instrument`s internal consistency and validity METHOD: A sample of 90 Korean older adults who lived in a community completed a survey instrument which included Korean version of FES and ABC. Because of comparable data derived from each scale, fear of falling and quality of life, activity daily living were included. Concurrent validity, criterion validity and correlational validity were tested. Reliability was tested by internal consistency, test-retest method. RESULTS: Cronbach`s alpha was 0.9043 in FES, and 0.99623 in ABC. Test-retest correlations in all scales were higher than 7.0. Statistically significant association was found between fear of falling and both scales. Correlation coefficient between Quality of life(SF-8) and ABC was -0.142(p=0.049). Both FES and ABC are correlated significantly each other. CONCLUSION: The Korean version of FES and ABC appears to be a reliable and valid method for meas- uring fear of falling. These instruments may be useful in assessing the independent contribution of fear of falling. ABC scale may be more useful to detect loss of balance confidence in more highly functioning seniors.
Adult ; Humans ; Quality of Life ; Reproducibility of Results* ; Weights and Measures

BACKGROUND: The elderly ex-smokers are not free from the effect of previously exposed smoking, and have a tendency to participate in health promoting behavior eagerly. This study was designed to evaluate factors that affect pulmonary function in the elderly ex-smokers. METHODS: The ex-smokers with normal chest radiological findings who visited Seoul National University Hospital Health Promotion Center were analyzed. The effect of various factors including age, height, smoking amount, and duration of smoking cessation on pulmonary function indices were analyzed with bivariate correlation analysis. Multiple regression analysis was performed using factors indentified significant in bivariate correlation tests. RESULTS: Multiple regression analyses were done for the all age group and the elderly group. Factors significantly affecting Forced vital capacity(FVC) were height,age and duration of smoking cessation for both grroups. Smoking amount was not significant. Forced expiratory volume in 1 second(FEV1) was significantly influenced by height, age, duration of smoking cessation, and smoking amount for both group. In the all age group, peak expiratory flow(PEF) was siginificantly influenced by age, regular exercise, and duration of smoking cessation. In the elderly group, PEF was significantly affected by height, age, regular exercise, and duration of smoking cessation. The factors significantly affectiong FEV1/FVC were age, smoking amount in the all age group, and regular exercise, smoking amount in the elderly group. CONCLUSION: Smoking amount was a significant factor decreasing FEV1 in the elderly ex-smoker. Duration of smoking cessation was significant in normalization of pulmonary function indices in both the all age group and the elderly group. It is inferred that smoking cessation is beneficial in reversing the adver sely affected pulmonary function indices even in the elderly.
Aged* ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Seoul ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Smoking Cessation ; Thorax

Malnutrition among older people is a common health problem. It is well known that malnutrition is associated with a poor clinical outcome. Especially older individuals in catabolic crisis require comprehensive nutritional management to improve clinical outcome not only recovery of disease itself but also maintain physical and cognitive function. Intensive nutritional therapy in acute care is important since nutritional status is closely related to long-term clinical outcome and quality of life in the older people.
Aged ; Cognition ; Humans ; Malnutrition ; Nutritional Status ; Quality of Life

Purpose: It aims to summarizes the evidence for the association between specific individual nutrients and mental disorders, focusing on vitamin B12 and related B vitamins, vitamin D, probiotics, and zinc. Current concept: Vitamin D deficiency is linked to depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline. Vitamin D enhances serotonin synthesis, has anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects, and regulates the hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal axis and circadian rhythms. Vitamin B12 deficiency causes neurological dysfunction, mood disorders, cognitive decline, and psychotic symptoms, especially in the elderly. Vitamin B12 is involved in myelin formation, neurotransmitter synthesis, and preventing homocysteine-related neurodegeneration. Zinc deficiency affects neurotransmitters, neurogenesis, and antioxidant function, contributing to depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment. Zinc supplementation improves symptoms and increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels. The gut-brain axis involves bidirectional communication between the gut microbiome and the central nervous system via the vagus nerve, enteric nervous system, immune system, and neuroendocrine pathways. Probiotics can modulate the gut microbiome to improve depression, anxiety, stress response, and cognitive function by influencing neurotransmitter production, reducing inflammation, and supporting the gut-brain connection. Conclusion Nutritional interventions, including vitamin D, B12, zinc, and probiotics, show promise as adjunctive therapies or preventive strategies for mental disorders. These nutrients have specific mechanisms of action on brain function and the gut-brain axis. Further research is needed to establish optimal dosage, timing, and administration methods for these nutritional approaches in supporting mental health.

Purpose: It aims to summarizes the evidence for the association between specific individual nutrients and mental disorders, focusing on vitamin B12 and related B vitamins, vitamin D, probiotics, and zinc. Current concept: Vitamin D deficiency is linked to depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline. Vitamin D enhances serotonin synthesis, has anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects, and regulates the hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal axis and circadian rhythms. Vitamin B12 deficiency causes neurological dysfunction, mood disorders, cognitive decline, and psychotic symptoms, especially in the elderly. Vitamin B12 is involved in myelin formation, neurotransmitter synthesis, and preventing homocysteine-related neurodegeneration. Zinc deficiency affects neurotransmitters, neurogenesis, and antioxidant function, contributing to depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment. Zinc supplementation improves symptoms and increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels. The gut-brain axis involves bidirectional communication between the gut microbiome and the central nervous system via the vagus nerve, enteric nervous system, immune system, and neuroendocrine pathways. Probiotics can modulate the gut microbiome to improve depression, anxiety, stress response, and cognitive function by influencing neurotransmitter production, reducing inflammation, and supporting the gut-brain connection. Conclusion Nutritional interventions, including vitamin D, B12, zinc, and probiotics, show promise as adjunctive therapies or preventive strategies for mental disorders. These nutrients have specific mechanisms of action on brain function and the gut-brain axis. Further research is needed to establish optimal dosage, timing, and administration methods for these nutritional approaches in supporting mental health.

Purpose: It aims to summarizes the evidence for the association between specific individual nutrients and mental disorders, focusing on vitamin B12 and related B vitamins, vitamin D, probiotics, and zinc. Current concept: Vitamin D deficiency is linked to depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline. Vitamin D enhances serotonin synthesis, has anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects, and regulates the hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal axis and circadian rhythms. Vitamin B12 deficiency causes neurological dysfunction, mood disorders, cognitive decline, and psychotic symptoms, especially in the elderly. Vitamin B12 is involved in myelin formation, neurotransmitter synthesis, and preventing homocysteine-related neurodegeneration. Zinc deficiency affects neurotransmitters, neurogenesis, and antioxidant function, contributing to depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment. Zinc supplementation improves symptoms and increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels. The gut-brain axis involves bidirectional communication between the gut microbiome and the central nervous system via the vagus nerve, enteric nervous system, immune system, and neuroendocrine pathways. Probiotics can modulate the gut microbiome to improve depression, anxiety, stress response, and cognitive function by influencing neurotransmitter production, reducing inflammation, and supporting the gut-brain connection. Conclusion Nutritional interventions, including vitamin D, B12, zinc, and probiotics, show promise as adjunctive therapies or preventive strategies for mental disorders. These nutrients have specific mechanisms of action on brain function and the gut-brain axis. Further research is needed to establish optimal dosage, timing, and administration methods for these nutritional approaches in supporting mental health.

Purpose: It aims to summarizes the evidence for the association between specific individual nutrients and mental disorders, focusing on vitamin B12 and related B vitamins, vitamin D, probiotics, and zinc. Current concept: Vitamin D deficiency is linked to depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline. Vitamin D enhances serotonin synthesis, has anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects, and regulates the hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal axis and circadian rhythms. Vitamin B12 deficiency causes neurological dysfunction, mood disorders, cognitive decline, and psychotic symptoms, especially in the elderly. Vitamin B12 is involved in myelin formation, neurotransmitter synthesis, and preventing homocysteine-related neurodegeneration. Zinc deficiency affects neurotransmitters, neurogenesis, and antioxidant function, contributing to depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment. Zinc supplementation improves symptoms and increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels. The gut-brain axis involves bidirectional communication between the gut microbiome and the central nervous system via the vagus nerve, enteric nervous system, immune system, and neuroendocrine pathways. Probiotics can modulate the gut microbiome to improve depression, anxiety, stress response, and cognitive function by influencing neurotransmitter production, reducing inflammation, and supporting the gut-brain connection. Conclusion Nutritional interventions, including vitamin D, B12, zinc, and probiotics, show promise as adjunctive therapies or preventive strategies for mental disorders. These nutrients have specific mechanisms of action on brain function and the gut-brain axis. Further research is needed to establish optimal dosage, timing, and administration methods for these nutritional approaches in supporting mental health.

Purpose: It aims to summarizes the evidence for the association between specific individual nutrients and mental disorders, focusing on vitamin B12 and related B vitamins, vitamin D, probiotics, and zinc. Current concept: Vitamin D deficiency is linked to depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline. Vitamin D enhances serotonin synthesis, has anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects, and regulates the hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal axis and circadian rhythms. Vitamin B12 deficiency causes neurological dysfunction, mood disorders, cognitive decline, and psychotic symptoms, especially in the elderly. Vitamin B12 is involved in myelin formation, neurotransmitter synthesis, and preventing homocysteine-related neurodegeneration. Zinc deficiency affects neurotransmitters, neurogenesis, and antioxidant function, contributing to depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment. Zinc supplementation improves symptoms and increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels. The gut-brain axis involves bidirectional communication between the gut microbiome and the central nervous system via the vagus nerve, enteric nervous system, immune system, and neuroendocrine pathways. Probiotics can modulate the gut microbiome to improve depression, anxiety, stress response, and cognitive function by influencing neurotransmitter production, reducing inflammation, and supporting the gut-brain connection. Conclusion Nutritional interventions, including vitamin D, B12, zinc, and probiotics, show promise as adjunctive therapies or preventive strategies for mental disorders. These nutrients have specific mechanisms of action on brain function and the gut-brain axis. Further research is needed to establish optimal dosage, timing, and administration methods for these nutritional approaches in supporting mental health.