OBJECTIVES: This study investigated whether the lower extremity muscle mass index (LMI) mediates the relationship between general obesity, central obesity, and knee osteoarthritis in middle-aged and elderly women in Korea. METHODS: Data of 2,843 women aged ≥50 years were collected from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 2009 and 2011. General obesity and central obesity were evaluated based on body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC), calculated through anthropometric measurements and body composition assessments. LMI was calculated by dividing the muscle mass in both legs—measured using the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry—by body weight. Knee osteoarthritis was defined as a Kellgren-Lawrence scale (KL) grade of ≥2 as assessed through radiographic images. RESULTS: Knee osteoarthritis prevalence, indicated by KL grades, was significantly higher in the general obesity and central obesity groups compared to the normal group, and conversely, lower with varying LMI levels. Using mediation analysis with bootstrapping and adjusting for covariates, we found that LMI mediated the relationship between BMI and KL (β, 0.005; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.000 to 0.010) and WC and KL grade (β, 0.002; 95% CI, 0.001 to 0.003), explaining 4.8% and 6.7% of the total effects of BMI and WC on KL grade, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The study suggested that LMI partially mediates the link between general obesity and/or central obesity and knee osteoarthritis, proposing that a higher proportion of lower limb muscle mass relative to body weight can alleviate the increased risk of knee osteoarthritis caused by obesity.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the role of muscle strength exercise in the association between obesity status and knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Methods: The study subjects were 1,266 elderly women aged 65 years and older who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2009 to 2011. Participants were categorized into three groups (normal, single obesity, multi-obesity) based on the presence or absence of obesity and abdominal obesity determined by body mass index and waist circumference. Additionally, they were categorized into two groups based on the presence or absence of muscle strength exercise. Logistic regression used to examine the odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for KOA according to the independent and combined levels of obesity status and participation in strength training. Results: The multi-obesity group had a significantly higher probability of being exposed to KOA compared to the normal group (OR, 2.489; 95% CI, 1.837−3.372). However, there was no significant difference between the groups with and without participation in muscle strength exercise. We also calculated ORs for KOA exposure according to muscle strength exercise participation by obesity status. The results showed that in the multi-obesity group, the probability of KOA exposure was significantly higher in the group not participating in muscle strength exercise compared to the group participating in muscle strength exercise (OR, 2.998; 95% CI, 1.312−6.853). Conclusion This study suggests that regularly participating in muscle strength exercise may play a protective role against the risk of KOA associated with obesity and abdominal obesity.

Background: and Purpose Parkinson’s disease (PD) significantly impacts the quality of life via both motor and nonmotor symptoms. Exercise is a valuable nonpharmacological intervention that can alleviate PD symptoms and slow disease progression. Understanding the factors that motivate and restrict exercise in PD patients is essential for promoting engagement.This study aimed to identify the motivators and barriers affecting exercise in PD patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed exercise habits, motivators, and barriers among PD patients with a modified Hoehn and Yahr stage of ≤2.5. Participants were categorized into non-, low-, and high-exercise groups based on the World Health Organization guidelines. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire, the Korean version of the Sport Motivation Scale, and a barriers-to-exercise questionnaire were utilized. Results: Data from 165 of 196 enrolled patients were analyzed: 28 (17.0%), 88 (53.3%), and 49 (29.7%) in the non-, low-, and high-exercise groups, respectively. The nonexercise group demonstrated higher levels of fatigue and apathy, and more-severe cardiovascular, mood, intellectual, attention, gastrointestinal, and urinary symptoms. While all groups recognized the benefit of exercise, those in the nonexercise group viewed PD symptoms and depressive mood as major barriers, whereas those in the high-exercise group were primarily motivated by personal satisfaction. Conclusions This study highlights the importance of enjoyment and personal satisfaction to the maintenance of exercise habits among PD patients. By enhancing specific motivators and overcoming barriers, particularly PD symptoms and related nonmotor symptoms, tailored interventions can be implemented to increase exercise adherence and, eventually, improve the quality of life of PD patients.

Background: and Purpose Parkinson’s disease (PD) significantly impacts the quality of life via both motor and nonmotor symptoms. Exercise is a valuable nonpharmacological intervention that can alleviate PD symptoms and slow disease progression. Understanding the factors that motivate and restrict exercise in PD patients is essential for promoting engagement.This study aimed to identify the motivators and barriers affecting exercise in PD patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed exercise habits, motivators, and barriers among PD patients with a modified Hoehn and Yahr stage of ≤2.5. Participants were categorized into non-, low-, and high-exercise groups based on the World Health Organization guidelines. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire, the Korean version of the Sport Motivation Scale, and a barriers-to-exercise questionnaire were utilized. Results: Data from 165 of 196 enrolled patients were analyzed: 28 (17.0%), 88 (53.3%), and 49 (29.7%) in the non-, low-, and high-exercise groups, respectively. The nonexercise group demonstrated higher levels of fatigue and apathy, and more-severe cardiovascular, mood, intellectual, attention, gastrointestinal, and urinary symptoms. While all groups recognized the benefit of exercise, those in the nonexercise group viewed PD symptoms and depressive mood as major barriers, whereas those in the high-exercise group were primarily motivated by personal satisfaction. Conclusions This study highlights the importance of enjoyment and personal satisfaction to the maintenance of exercise habits among PD patients. By enhancing specific motivators and overcoming barriers, particularly PD symptoms and related nonmotor symptoms, tailored interventions can be implemented to increase exercise adherence and, eventually, improve the quality of life of PD patients.

Background: and Purpose Parkinson’s disease (PD) significantly impacts the quality of life via both motor and nonmotor symptoms. Exercise is a valuable nonpharmacological intervention that can alleviate PD symptoms and slow disease progression. Understanding the factors that motivate and restrict exercise in PD patients is essential for promoting engagement.This study aimed to identify the motivators and barriers affecting exercise in PD patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed exercise habits, motivators, and barriers among PD patients with a modified Hoehn and Yahr stage of ≤2.5. Participants were categorized into non-, low-, and high-exercise groups based on the World Health Organization guidelines. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire, the Korean version of the Sport Motivation Scale, and a barriers-to-exercise questionnaire were utilized. Results: Data from 165 of 196 enrolled patients were analyzed: 28 (17.0%), 88 (53.3%), and 49 (29.7%) in the non-, low-, and high-exercise groups, respectively. The nonexercise group demonstrated higher levels of fatigue and apathy, and more-severe cardiovascular, mood, intellectual, attention, gastrointestinal, and urinary symptoms. While all groups recognized the benefit of exercise, those in the nonexercise group viewed PD symptoms and depressive mood as major barriers, whereas those in the high-exercise group were primarily motivated by personal satisfaction. Conclusions This study highlights the importance of enjoyment and personal satisfaction to the maintenance of exercise habits among PD patients. By enhancing specific motivators and overcoming barriers, particularly PD symptoms and related nonmotor symptoms, tailored interventions can be implemented to increase exercise adherence and, eventually, improve the quality of life of PD patients.

Cooking oil fumes (COFs) from cooking with hot oil may contribute to the pathogenesis of lung cancer. Since 2021, occupational lung cancer for individual cafeteria workers has been recognized in South Korea. In this study, we aimed to identify the distribution of lung-imaging reporting and data system (Lung-RADS) among cafeteria workers and to determine factors related to Lung-RADS distribution.

Cooking oil fumes (COFs) from cooking with hot oil may contribute to the pathogenesis of lung cancer. Since 2021, occupational lung cancer for individual cafeteria workers has been recognized in South Korea. In this study, we aimed to identify the distribution of lung-imaging reporting and data system (Lung-RADS) among cafeteria workers and to determine factors related to Lung-RADS distribution.

Cooking oil fumes (COFs) from cooking with hot oil may contribute to the pathogenesis of lung cancer. Since 2021, occupational lung cancer for individual cafeteria workers has been recognized in South Korea. In this study, we aimed to identify the distribution of lung-imaging reporting and data system (Lung-RADS) among cafeteria workers and to determine factors related to Lung-RADS distribution.

Hypothalamic hamartomas (HHs) are nonneoplastic mass lesions located in the hypothalamus that can cause central precocious puberty (CPP) and/or gelastic seizures. Seckel syndrome 5 (OMIM210600, SCKL5) is a rare autosomal recessive genetic spectrum disorder characterized by intrauterine growth retardation, proportionate osteodysplastic primordial dwarfism, a wide range of intellectual disability, "bird-headed" facial features, and microcephaly with various structural brain abnormalities. Two siblings presented with short stature and small head circumference and were diagnosed with SCKL 5. The younger sister had HH with CPP and experienced a slipped capital femoral epiphysis during treatment. The 2 siblings had the same genetic variant but showed different phenotypes, which has not been reported previously; this study also as presents the first cases of SCKL5 diagnosed by genetic confirmation in Korea.