PURPOSE: Coffee is the most frequently consumed food item in South Korea after rice and cabbage. Coffee contains various substances, including caffeine, cafestol, kahweol, chlorogenic acid, and many other known and unknown ingredients with some health benefits. Especially, cumulative evidence has shown that regular coffee use is associated with lower risk of type 2 diabetes, although limited and inconsistent data are available regarding metabolic syndrome. METHODS: This study reviewed all available scientific and epidemiologic evidence on coffee consumption, metabolic syndrome, and the association between them. Most epidemiologic research regarding this association was of a cross-sectional design, and a few case-control and cohort studies were available. We conducted meta-analysis with 11 observational studies investigated in Europe, America, and Asia. Summary odds ratios (OR) were calculated using a random-effects model. RESULTS: The overall OR of metabolic syndrome was 0.90 (95% Confidence Interval (CI), 0.81-0.99) for the highest category of coffee intake compared with the lowest intake category. These associations were stronger in populations of US and Europe (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.76-0.94), whereas no association was observed in the Asian population (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.81-1.23). CONCLUSION: The review results indicate that frequent coffee consumption may be beneficial to metabolic syndrome, but the association between coffee consumption and metabolic syndrome may differ by nations or continents.
Americas ; Asia ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Brassica ; Caffeine ; Case-Control Studies ; Chlorogenic Acid ; Coffee* ; Cohort Studies ; Europe ; Humans ; Insurance Benefits ; Korea ; Odds Ratio

This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella spp. and Escherichia (E.) coli isolated from ducks in Korea. A total of 400 cecal content samples were collected from 40 duck farms in Korea. Isolated Salmonella spp. and E. coli strains were 83 and 364 of the 400 cecal samples, respectively. The most prevalent serotype among the 83 Salmonella isolates was Salmonella Typhimurium (51 isolates: 61.45%). Resistance to the tested antimicrobial agents by Salmonella isolates was low except for erythromycin, while the resistance of the E. coli isolates to the other tested antimicrobial agents was high and 90.9% (331/364) of E. coli isolates showed multiantimicrobial resistance. Antimicrobial resistance in duck zoonotic pathogens should be of concern to the Korean duck industry, as these pathogens exhibit a high rate of antimicrobial resistance and pose a potential hazard to public health.
Agriculture ; Anti-Infective Agents ; Ducks* ; Erythromycin ; Escherichia coli* ; Escherichia* ; Korea* ; Prevalence* ; Public Health ; Salmonella typhimurium ; Salmonella* ; Serogroup

The basic graph layout technique, one of many visualization techniques, deals with the problem of positioning vertices in a way to maximize some measure of desirability in a graph. The technique is becoming critically important for further development of the field of systems biology. However, applying the appropriate automatic graph layout techniques to the genomic scale flow of metabolism requires an understanding of the characteristics and patterns of duplicate and shared vertices, which is crucial for bioinformatics software developers. In this paper, we provide the results of parsing KEGG XML files from a graph-theoretical perspective, for future research in the area of automatic layout techniques in biological pathway domains.
Computational Biology ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Systems Biology

In modern medicine the resistance to conventional antibiotics is becoming a serious concern due to high instances of mortality. Several metallic nanoparticles are suggested as promising anti-microbial agents against multidrug-resistant bacteria and some viruses. Among the nanoparticles mentioned, we review the recent finding which demonstrate the impact of silver nanoparticles on antimicrobial activities and recommend them as a potential candidate for restraining infections.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Anti-Infective Agents ; Bacteria ; History, Modern 1601- ; Metal Nanoparticles ; Nanoparticles ; Silver

Silica nanoparticles, which are applicable in many industrial fields, have been reported to induce cellular changes such as cytotoxicity in various cells and fibrosis in lungs. Because the immune system is the primary targeting organ reacting to internalized exogenous nanoparticles, we tried to figure out the immunostimulatory effect of silica nanoparticles in macrophages using differently sized silica nanoparticles. Using U937 cells we assessed cytotoxicity by CCK-8 assay, ROS generation by CM-H2DCFDA, intracellular Ca++ levels by staining with Fluo4-AM and IL-8 production by ELISA. At non-toxic concentration, the intracellular Ca++ level has increased immediately after exposure to 15 nm particles, not to larger particles. ROS generation was detected significantly in response to 15 nm particles. However, all three different sizes of silica nanoparticles induced IL-8 production. 15 nm silica nanoparticles are more stimulatory than larger particles in cytotoxicity, intracellular Ca++ increase and ROS generation. But IL-8 production was induced to same levels with 50 or 100 nm particles. Therefore, IL-8 production induced by silica nanoparticles may be dependent on other mechanisms rather than intracellular Ca++ increase and ROS generation.
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fibrosis ; Immune System ; Interleukin-8 ; Lung ; Macrophages ; Nanoparticles ; Silicon Dioxide ; Sincalide ; U937 Cells

Anti-Ma2-associated encephalitis is one of the paraneoplastic neurological syndromes. It has been shown to be associated with various neoplasms, mainly testicular, lung, and breast cancers. Most patients with anti-Ma2-associated encephalitis present limbic-diencephalic-brainstem dysfunctions such as seizure, mood disorder, excessive daytime sleepiness, and ophthalmoparesis. Some patients develop symptoms indicating the multifocal involvement of the limbic system, diencephalon, or brainstem. However, there are few case studies of anti-Ma2-associated encephalitis presenting as isolated hypersomnia. We report a case of anti-Ma2-associated encephalitis presenting as hypersomnia.
Brain Stem ; Breast ; Diencephalon ; Disorders of Excessive Somnolence* ; Encephalitis* ; Humans ; Limbic System ; Lung ; Mood Disorders ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Paraneoplastic Syndromes ; Seizures

As a nanotechnology has been actively applied to the overall areas of scientific fields, it is necessary to understand the characteristic features, physical behaviors and the potential effects of exposure to nanomaterials and their toxicity. In this article we review the immunological influences induced by several nanomaterials and emphasize establishment of the animal models to estimate the impact of these nanomaterials on development of immunological diseases.
Cytokines ; Immune System ; Immune System Diseases ; Models, Animal ; Nanostructures ; Nanotechnology

The present study was performed to evaluate the relationship between dietary quality indices including the Diet Quality Index-International (DQI-I), Alternate Healthy Eating Index (AHEI), and Healthy Diet Indicator (HDI) and glycemic status in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes. A total of 110 consecutive outpatients with type 2 diabetes who visited 2 university hospitals in Seoul and Seongnam from April 2004 to November 2006 were enrolled as subjects. At the time of enrollment, anthropometric parameters, dietary habits, experience of exercise, and metabolic parameters were obtained. Experienced registered dietitians collected one-day dietary intake using the 24-hour recall method. The mean scores for DQI-I, AHEI, and HDI were 68.9 +/- 8.2, 39.4 +/- 8.9, and 5.0 +/- 1.3, respectively. After adjustment for age, body mass index, and energy intake, DQI-I and HDI were found to have a significant correlation with hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (r = -0.21, p < 0.05; r = -0.28, p < 0.05), fasting plasma glucose (r = -0.21, p < 0.05; r = -0.23, p < 0.05), and postprandial 2-h glucose (r = -0.30, p < 0.05; r = -0.26, p < 0.05, respectively). However, AHEI did not have a significant correlation with HbA1c. In conclusion, the DQI-I and HDI may be useful tools in assessing diet quality and adherence to dietary recommendations in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes. Future research is required to determine whether the dietary quality indices have predictive validity for dietary and glycemic changes following diet education in a clinical setting.
Blood Glucose ; Body Mass Index ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diet ; Diet Therapy ; Eating ; Education ; Energy Intake ; Fasting ; Food Habits ; Glucose ; Glycemic Index ; Gyeonggi-do ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Nutritionists ; Outpatients ; Seoul

BACKGROUND: Firefighters are exposed to many dangerous working conditions. Many studies have identified the risk of disease for firefighters, but only a few studies have addressed the medical expenses of firefighters, which represents a concrete scale of disease. Our purpose in this study was to determine the medical expenditures of firefighters to assess the overall scale of disease in Korea. We focused on cancer, mental disorders, cardio-cerebrovascular disease, and musculoskeletal disease, the prevalence of which was expected to be high in firefighters. METHODS: This study utilized National Health Insurance Service data. We targeted firefighters, police officers, and government officials. We classified disease based on the 10th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems codes. We compared prevalence by the age-standardized prevalence rate, considering standard distribution of the population. Medical expenditure of disease was defined as outpatient fees, hospitalization fees, and drug costs. Total medical expenditures were calculated by the sum of those 3 categories. RESULTS: The age-standardized prevalence of cancer, mental disorders, and cardiovascular disease in firefighters was slightly higher than or similar to that of government officials and police officers (no significant difference). However, medical expenditures for stomach cancer, mental disorders, and most cardio-cerebrovascular diseases were higher in firefighters than in others. In particular, firefighters spent 12 times more money for ischemic heart disease than did government officials. Of musculoskeletal diseases, lumbar disc disorder had the highest expenditures among firefighters. CONCLUSIONS The age-standardized prevalence of most of diseases of firefighters was not as high as in the other groups, but the medical expenses of firefighters were much higher than those of government officials and police officers.

BACKGROUND: Firefighters are exposed to many dangerous working conditions. Many studies have identified the risk of disease for firefighters, but only a few studies have addressed the medical expenses of firefighters, which represents a concrete scale of disease. Our purpose in this study was to determine the medical expenditures of firefighters to assess the overall scale of disease in Korea. We focused on cancer, mental disorders, cardio-cerebrovascular disease, and musculoskeletal disease, the prevalence of which was expected to be high in firefighters. METHODS: This study utilized National Health Insurance Service data. We targeted firefighters, police officers, and government officials. We classified disease based on the 10th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems codes. We compared prevalence by the age-standardized prevalence rate, considering standard distribution of the population. Medical expenditure of disease was defined as outpatient fees, hospitalization fees, and drug costs. Total medical expenditures were calculated by the sum of those 3 categories. RESULTS: The age-standardized prevalence of cancer, mental disorders, and cardiovascular disease in firefighters was slightly higher than or similar to that of government officials and police officers (no significant difference). However, medical expenditures for stomach cancer, mental disorders, and most cardio-cerebrovascular diseases were higher in firefighters than in others. In particular, firefighters spent 12 times more money for ischemic heart disease than did government officials. Of musculoskeletal diseases, lumbar disc disorder had the highest expenditures among firefighters. CONCLUSIONS The age-standardized prevalence of most of diseases of firefighters was not as high as in the other groups, but the medical expenses of firefighters were much higher than those of government officials and police officers.