Background: Inflammation plays a major role in atherothrombosis, and measuring inflammatory markers such as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) may provide a novel method for identifying individuals at high risk of plaque rupture. Atherogenesis results from the oxidation of lipids in low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Vitamin E facilitates the reduction in LDL-oxidation, and increases the antioxidant defense system. Therefore, our study aimed to examine the relationship between vitamin E and hs-CRP levels in Korean adults. Methods: We used data from the Seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016–2018). The study population included healthy adults aged >20 years. We investigated age, blood pressure, glucose levels, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, body mass index, serum vitamin E, and serum hs-CRP levels. We analyzed the relationship between serum vitamin E and serum hs-CRP levels using multiple regression tests. Results: On statistical analysis, vitamin E levels showed a positive correlation with hs-CRP levels in the female group and the total of the unadjusted model. However, the R 2 value is low. After adjustment for factors that may affect hs-CRP, no significant correlation was observed between serum vitamin E and serum hs-CRP levels. Conclusion No significant correlation was observed between serum vitamin E and serum hs-CRP levels. Further research is needed on this topic.

OBJECTIVE: To report the radiological results of a pilot study for the Korean Lung Cancer Screening project conducted to evaluate the feasibility of lung cancer screening using low-dose chest computed tomography (LDCT) in Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The National Cancer Center and three regional cancer centers participated in this study. Asymptomatic current or ex-smokers aged 55–74 years with a smoking history of at least 30 pack-years who had used tobacco within the last 15 years were considered eligible. In total, 256 participants underwent LDCT November 2016 through March 2017. The American College of Radiology Lung Imaging Reporting and Data System (Lung-RADS) was used to categorize the LDCT findings. RESULTS: In total, 57%, 35.5%, 3.9%, and 3.5% participants belonged to Lung-RADS categories 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Accordingly, 7.4% participants exhibited positive findings (category 3 or 4). Lung cancer was diagnosed in one participant (stage IA, small cell lung cancer). Other LDCT findings included pulmonary emphysema (32.8%), coronary artery calcification (30.9%), old pulmonary tuberculosis (11.7%), bronchiectasis (12.9%), interstitial lung disease with a usual interstitial pneumonia pattern (1.2%), and pleural effusion (0.8%). CONCLUSION: Even though the size of our study population was small, the positive rate of 7.4% was like or lower than those in other lung cancer screening studies. Early lung cancer was detected using LDCT screening in one participant. Lung-RADS may be applicable to participants in Korea, where pulmonary tuberculosis is endemic.
Bronchiectasis ; Coronary Vessels ; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis ; Information Systems* ; Korea ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Mass Screening* ; Pilot Projects* ; Pleural Effusion ; Pulmonary Emphysema ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Thorax ; Tobacco ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

Invariant NKT (iNKT) cells are a small subset of thymus-generated T cells that produce cytokines to control both innate and adaptive immunity. Because of their very low frequency in the thymus, in-depth characterization of iNKT cells can be facilitated by their enrichment from total thymocytes. Magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) of glycolipid antigen-loaded CD1d-tetramer-binding cells is a commonly used method to enrich iNKT cells. Surprisingly, we found that this procedure also dramatically altered the subset composition of enriched iNKT cells. As such, NKT2 lineage cells that express large amounts of the transcription factor promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger were markedly over-represented, while NKT1 lineage cells expressing the transcription factor T-bet were significantly reduced. To overcome this limitation, here, we tested magnetic-activated depletion of CD24⁺ immature thymocytes as an alternative method to enrich iNKT cells. We found that the overall recovery in iNKT cell numbers did not differ between these 2 methods. However, enrichment by CD24⁺ cell depletion preserved the subset composition of iNKT cells in the thymus, and thus permitted accurate and reproducible analysis of thymic iNKT cells in further detail.
Adaptive Immunity ; Cytokines ; Leukemia ; Methods ; Natural Killer T-Cells ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell ; T-Lymphocytes ; Thymocytes ; Thymus Gland ; Transcription Factors ; Zinc Fingers

Purpose: Smoking cessation intervention is one of the key components of successful lung cancer screening program. We investigated the effectiveness and related factors of smoking cessation services provided to the participants in a population-based lung cancer screening trial. Materials and Methods: The Korean Lung Cancer Screening Project (K-LUCAS) is a nationwide, multi-center lung cancer screening trial that evaluates the feasibility of implementing population-based lung cancer screening. All 5,144 current smokers who participated in the K-LUCAS received a mandatory smoking cessation counseling. Changes in smoking status were followed up using a telephone survey in 6 months after lung cancer screening participation. The lung cancer screening’s impact on smoking cessation is analyzed by variations in the smoking cessation interventions provided in screening units. Results: Among 4,136 survey responders, participant’s motivation to quit smoking increased by 9.4% on average after lung cancer screening. After 6 months from the initial screening, 24.3% of participants stopped smoking, and 10.6% of participants had not smoked continuously for at least 6 months after screening. Over 80% of quitters stated that participation in lung cancer screening motivated them to quit smoking. Low-cost public smoking cessation program combined with lung cancer screening increased the abstinence rates. The smokers were three times more likely to quit smoking when the smoking cessation counseling was provided simultaneously with low-dose computed tomography screening results than when provided separately. Conclusion A mandatory smoking cessation intervention integrated with screening result counselling by a physician after participation in lung cancer screening could be effective for increasing smoking cessation attempts.

PURPOSE: To reduce lung cancer mortality, lung cancer screening was recommended using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) to high-risk population. A protocol for multicenter lung cancer screening pilot project was developed to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of lung cancer screening to implement National Cancer Screening Program in Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Multidisciplinary expert committee was comprised to develop a standardized protocol for Korean Lung Cancer Screening Project (K-LUCAS). K-LUCAS is a population-based single arm trial that targets high-risk population aged 55-74 years with at least 30 pack-year smoking history. LDCT results are reported by Lung-RADS suggested by American Radiology Society. Network-based system using computer-aided detection program is prepared to assist reducing diagnostic errors. Smoking cessation counselling is provided to all currently smoking participants. A small pilot test was conducted to check the feasibility and compliance of the protocols for K-LUCAS. RESULTS: In pilot test, 256 were participated. The average age of participants was 63.2 years and only three participants (1.2%) were female. The participants had a smoking history of 40.5 pack-year on average and 53.9% were current smokers. Among them, 86.3% had willing to participate in lung cancer screening again. The average willingness to quit smoking among current smokers was 12.7% higher than before screening. In Lung-RADS reports, 10 (3.9%) were grade 3 and nine (3.5%) were grade 4. One participant was diagnosed as lung cancer. CONCLUSION: The protocol developed by this study is assessed to be feasible to perform K-LUCAS in multicenter nationwide scale.
Arm ; Compliance ; Diagnostic Errors ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lung ; Mass Screening ; Mortality ; Pilot Projects ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Smoking Cessation