OBJECTIVES: This study was aimed to identify the socioeconomic factors, health behavior factors and dietary patterns that have an influence on the periodontal disease in adults. METHODS: This study used data collected from the fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES V-1). The final sample included 2,386 subjects who were 30-59 years old and who had completed the necessary health examinations, the health behaviors survey and nutrition survey. RESULTS: Eleven dietary patterns emerged from the factor analysis with different factor loading. After controlling for potential confounders, multiple logistic regression analysis of the dietary patterns showed that 'legumes/mixed grains' and 'instant foods' affected the periodontal disease. Lower consumption of 'legumes/mixed grains' and higher consumption of 'instant foods' were significantly associated only with an increased risk of periodontal disease. CONCLUSIONS: In the light of the results of this study, it appears pretty likely that the risk of developing periodontal disease can be reduced by changing a person's dietary patterns.
Adult* ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Korea* ; Logistic Models ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Periodontal Diseases* ; Socioeconomic Factors

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the relationship between parent's history of allergic disease and children's atopic dermatitis. METHODS: Data from the 2011 Research on the Current Status of Atopic Disease with Elementary Schools and Kindergartens in Suwon were used for analysis. Among 20,052 persons consenting to the survey, 18,943 who had answered parent's history were included in the study. RESULTS: The prevalence of father, mother, and parent's allergic disease history were 8.5%, 9.5%, and 2.3%, respective. The children with atopic dermatitis comprised 15.1% of the study population. In multivariate analysis, gender, weight at birth, the practice of breast-feeding, father's educational level, the presence of chemical products in the inside, and the presence of mold were significant risk factors for children's atopic dermatitis. The multivariate-adjusted odds ratio for the occurrence of children's atopic dermatitis was 3.19 (95% confidence interval, 2.57-3.95) when subjects with and without parent's history were compared. CONCLUSION: When fathers have a history of allergic disease, children tend to have atopic dermatitis.
Child* ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Fathers ; Fungi ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Mothers ; Multivariate Analysis ; Odds Ratio ; Parents* ; Parturition ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the association between the frequency of food group consumption and functional disability in Korean older people. METHODS: Data are from the 2005 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Subjects were 771 people (324 men and 447 women) aged 65 and older living in the community. Information on frequency of food group consumption was obtained using a food-frequency questionnaire and functional disability was assessed using the activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental ADL (IADL) scales. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to examine the association of frequency of food group consumption with ADL and IADL. RESULTS: Adjusting for covariates, in men, frequency of milk and their products consumption was inversely associated with IADL disability [OR (95% CI): 0.29 (0.13-0.65); p for trend=0.003]. Frequencies of fish and shellfish, and beverages consumption were also inversely associated with IADL disability. In women, frequencies of vegetables, seaweeds, and beverages consumption were inversely associated with ADL disability. Frequency of legumes and their products consumption was inversely associated with IADL disability [OR (95% CI): 0.56 (0.33-0.95); p for trend=0.063]. CONCLUSION: Increased frequencies of food group consumption may be protective against functional disability in Korean older people. Further research is needed to ascertain the effect of diet on physical disability in older persons.
Activities of Daily Living ; Aged ; Beverages ; Diet ; Disability Evaluation ; Fabaceae ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Milk ; Nutrition Surveys ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Shellfish ; Vegetables ; Weights and Measures

To obtain basic information on the biochemical property of basidiospores of shiitake mushroom (Lentinula edodes), the ability of producing extracellular enzyme was assessed using a chromogenic plate-based assay. For the aim, amylase, avicelase, beta-glucosidase, CM-cellulase, pectinase, proteinase, and xylanase were tested against monokaryotic strains generated from forty basidiospores of two different parental dikaryotic strains of shiitake mushroom, Sanjo-101Ho and Sanjo-108Ho. These two parental strains showed different degree of extracellular enzyme activity. No identical patterns of the degree of enzyme activity were observed between monokaryotic strains and parental strains of the two shiitake cultivars. The degree of extracellular enzyme activity also varied among monokaryotic strains of the two shiitake cultivars. Our results showed that dikaryotic parental strains of shiitake mushroom produce monokaryotic basidiospores having very diverse biochemical properties.
Amylases ; beta-Glucosidase ; Cellulases ; Humans ; Parents ; Polygalacturonase ; Shiitake Mushrooms

Patients with cardiac rupture due to blunt trauma have more than 50% mortality rate and most of them expire before they arrive at the hospital emergency room. Since patients typically present with cardiac tamponade, the diagnosis can be easily confirmed with physical examination, echocardiography, and chest CT scan. However, in our case of the massive hemothorax on right side without evidence of cardiac tamponade, the diagnosis for cardiac rupture does not seems to be easy. Therefore, we must assume the probability of cardiac rupture if we plan an explo-thoracotomy in a patients with massive right hemothorax without rib fracture. We describe two cases of cardiac rupture combined with pericardial laceration and right massive hemothorax by blunt chest trauma. The ruptured hearts of the patients were successfully closed using cardio-pulmonary bypass or cell saver system without detrimental sequelae.
Cardiac Tamponade ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Heart ; Heart Rupture* ; Hemothorax* ; Humans ; Lacerations ; Mortality ; Physical Examination ; Rib Fractures ; Thorax* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to describe the status of mental activity participation in community-dwelling elderly and to evaluate the association between mental activity and cognitive function after adjustment for depression and anxiety. METHODS: This study was based on the Suwon Project, which was a cohort comprising of nonrandom convenience samples of ethnic Koreans aged 60 years and above. All the subjects completed the study questionnaire including their demographic characteristics, current and past illnesses history, drug history, Korean version-Mini Mental State Examination (K-MMSE), Korean version of Short Form Geriatric Depression Scale (SGDS-K), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). We checked how many hours per day are used for each items of 11 mental activities through the checklist. RESULTS: Total time spent in 11 mental activities was 237.4+/-152.4 minutes per day. On multiple regression analysis, total time spent in 11 mental activities (MA-total), and time spent by watching television and reading book/newspaper showed statistically significant association with K-MMSE score after adjustment with age, sex, education, chronic medical illness, depression and anxiety. CONCLUSION: Our result suggested that mental activity may be associated with cognitive function in the elderly without cognitive impairment in the community after adjusting age, sex, education, chronic medical illness, depression and anxiety.
Aged ; Anxiety ; Cognition ; Cohort Studies ; Depression ; Humans ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Television ; Periodicals

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate the relationship between anxiety and stroke warning signs in the elderly. METHODS: Data obtained from 1,078 subjects (256 men and 822 women) aged above 65 years was analyzed from Suwon Project, which was a cohort comprising of nonrandom convenience samples. All the subjects completed the study questionnaire including their demographic characteristics, history of current and past illnesses, drug history, Korean version-Mini Mental State Examination (K-MMSE), SGDS-K (Korean version of the Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form), BAI (Beck Anxiety Inventory). Stroke warning signs were defined as 5 stroke warning signs consistent with the American heart association public health message. RESULTS: There was significant relationship of anxiety and the number of stroke warning signs after adjusting age, sex, educational level and depression (beta=2.145, p<0.0001). On analysis of covariance, the interaction of the number of experienced stroke warning signs with sex on anxiety was observed after adjusting for the age, educational level, K-MMSE, and SGDS-K (p=0.011). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that there was significant relationship of anxiety and stroke the elderly.
Aged ; American Heart Association ; Anxiety ; Cohort Studies ; Depression ; Humans ; Male ; Public Health ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Stroke

BACKGROUND: Physical activity is considered an effective non-pharmaceutical preventive measure against cognitive impairment. This study was designed to investigate the correlation between physical activity and cognitive function. METHODS: Subjects were recruited from the Suwon Project, a cohort comprising a nonrandom convenience sample of ethnic Koreans aged 60 years or older. All participants completed study questionnaires which included questions about demographic characteristics, current and/or past medical history, and drug history. Cognitive functions were evaluated using the Korean version of Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE), Korean version of Short Form Geriatric Depression Scale and Beck Anxiety Inventory. The total time spent to complete 10 physical activities was recorded on a daily basis. RESULTS: The total amount of time spent to execute 10 physical activities was 91.9+/-98.9 minutes per day. K-MMSE score was significantly associated with the duration of physical activity after adjustment for age, sex, educational level, depression, anxiety, and underlying diseases using multiple logistic regression analysis (beta=0.002, p<0.05). Categorizing physical activities into three groups by intensity yielded an interesting result; moderate intensity group demonstrated a direct correlation with cognitive function (beta=0.002, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Although much remains to be elucidated, our results suggest that physical activity may be associated with cognitive function, after controlling for covariates.
Aged ; Anxiety ; Cognition ; Cohort Studies ; Depression ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Motor Activity ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Elevated serum levels of growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) are associated with type 2 diabetes. Therefore, the effects of atorvastatin on metabolic parameters and GDF-15 levels in patients with type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia were evaluated. METHODS: In this prospective randomized trial from February 2013 to March 2014, 50 consecutive type 2 diabetic patients with a low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels > or =100 mg/dL were enrolled. The patients were divided into two groups based on the amount of atorvastatin prescribed, 10 mg/day (n=23) or 40 mg/day (n=27). The effect of atorvastatin on metabolic parameters, including lipid profiles and GDF-15 levels, at baseline and after 8 weeks of treatment were compared. RESULTS: The baseline metabolic parameters and GDF-15 levels were not significantly different between the two groups. After 8 weeks of treatment, the total cholesterol (TC) and LDL-C levels were significantly decreased in both groups. The mean changes in TC and LDL-C levels were more significant in the 40 mg atorvastatin group. The GDF-15 level was decreased in the 10 mg atorvastatin group, from 1,460.6+/-874.8 to 1,451.0+/-770.8 pg/mL, and was increased in the 40 mg atorvastatin group, from 1,271.6+/-801.0 to 1,341.4+/-855.2 pg/mL. However, the change in the GDF-15 level was not statistically significant in the 10 or 40 mg atorvastatin group (P=0.665 and P=0.745, respectively). CONCLUSION: The GDF-15 levels were not significantly changed after an 8-week treatment with atorvastatin in type 2 diabetic patients.
Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* ; Dyslipidemias* ; Growth Differentiation Factor 15 ; Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Atorvastatin Calcium

The increasing number of persons with dementia poses a serious threat to public health in an aging society. Efforts to curb the rising prevalence of dementia have directed attention to health promotion as a viable strategy for delaying dementia onset and maintaining cognitive function in later life. For the latter purpose, public recommendations were developed based on a systematic review of the literature. Significant lifestyle variables found to predict cognitive function and dementia in later life were physical activity, non-smoking, social activity, cognitive activity, moderate alcohol consumption, normal body weight (BMI), and healthy nutrition and diet (fish, vegetables, fruits, vitamin C and E, etc.). Cognitive health recommendations were developed and named PASCAL, an acronym for (1) Physical activity, (2) Anti-smoking, (3) Social activity, (4) Cognitive activity, (5) Alcohol drinking in moderation, and (6) Lean body mass and healthy diet. These recommendations can be used to educate the public and raise awareness in health professionals to the important role a healthy lifestyle plays in maintaining cognitive health in later life.
Aging ; Alcohol Drinking ; Ascorbic Acid ; Dementia ; Diet ; Fruit ; Health Occupations ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Ideal Body Weight ; Life Style ; Motor Activity ; Prevalence ; Public Health ; Vegetables