Purpose: Sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) contains abounding phytochemicals, such as polyphenols and anthocyanins, and has antioxidative effects. Adenosine monophosphateactivated protein kinase (AMPK) is a crucial regulator in enhancing the lipid metabolism.This study hypothesized that the intake of sour cherry affects AMPK signaling. Therefore, this study examined whether sour cherry regulates AMPK to balance the hepatic lipid metabolism and exert ameliorating effects. Methods: Male C57BL/6J mice had obesity induced with a 45% fat diet. The mice were divided into four groups: control (CON), high-fat diet (HFD), low percentage sour cherry powder (LSC), and high percentage sour cherry powder (HSC). The mice in the sour cherry groups were fed 1% sour cherry or 5% sour cherry in their respective diets for 12 weeks. Results: The body weight, visceral fat weight, and lipid droplet size significantly decreased in the treatment groups. The serum and hepatic triglyceride and total cholesterol levels improved significantly in the HSC group. The low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were also reduced significantly, whereas the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were increased significantly in both treatment groups. The sterol regulator binding protein-1c and fatty acid synthase expression levels as fatty acid synthesis-related enzymes were significantly lower in the treatment groups than in the high-fat diet group. Furthermore, the adipose triglyceride lipase and hormone-sensitive lipase expression levels as lipolytic enzyme activity and AMPK/acetyl-CoA carboxylase/carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 as fatty acid β-oxidationrelated pathway were upregulated significantly in both sour cherry groups. Conclusions These results show that sour cherry intake improves hepatic lipid synthesis and chronic diseases by activating AMPK signaling. Therefore, this study suggests that phytochemical-rich sour cherry can be developed as a healthy functional food.

Breast implant insertion is one of the most commonly used methods for breast reconstruction after total mastectomy. However, infection is a common postoperative complication of implant insertion. In most cases, these infections can be managed with antibiotics and supportive therapy. However, severe septic conditions, such as toxic shock syndrome (TSS), can sometimes occur. TSS is an extremely rare but life-threatening complication, for which early diagnosis and proper management play a crucial role in determining patients’ outcome. Although only 16 cases of TSS after breast implant insertion have been reported in the literature, most of those cases involved a serious clinical course. The reason for the seriousness of the clinical course of TSS in these cases is that the initial impression and presentation of these patients are nonspecific, and patients can easily be misdiagnosed as having a simple upper respiratory infection, causing the underlying condition to be neglected. Herein, we present two patients who were diagnosed with TSS after receiving breast reconstruction surgery via a silicone implant after total mastectomy. Both patients were misdiagnosed at the initial examination since they showed no local infectious signs on the postoperative wound.

PURPOSE: This study examined and compared the associations of the iron status and food intake with the blood lead, mercury, and cadmium concentrations among Korean adolescent girls, premenopausal women, and postmenopausal women. METHODS: The data from the 2010~2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) was used. The subjects were classified into three groups: adolescent girls (n = 268), premenopausal women (n = 1,157), and postmenopausal women (n = 446). The iron status was assessed by hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum ferritin, and iron concentrations, as well as the total iron binding capacity (TIBC). The food intake was estimated by a food frequency questionnaire. RESULTS: The blood heavy metal concentrations and poisoning rate in postmenopausal women were higher than in the other groups. The iron status in the adolescent girls and postmenopausal women was higher than that in the premenopausal women. In the adolescent girls, the iron status was inversely associated with the blood cadmium concentration. The dairy food intake was inversely related to the blood lead and cadmium concentrations. In premenopausal women, the iron status was inversely associated with the cadmium concentrations. The fish and shellfish food intakes were positively associated with the mercury concentrations. In postmenopausal women, the iron status was positively associated with the mercury and cadmium concentrations. Fast foods and fried foods were inversely associated with the lead concentration. CONCLUSION: The premenopausal women showed a lower iron status than the adolescent girls and postmenopausal women. The associations of the iron status with the blood heavy metal concentrations were different among the adolescent girls, premenopausal women, and postmenopausal women. In addition, the relationships of the food intakes with the blood heavy metal concentrations differed among adolescent girls, premenopausal women, and postmenopausal women. Further studies will be needed to confirm these findings.
Adolescent* ; Cadmium ; Eating* ; Fast Foods ; Female* ; Ferritins ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Iron* ; Korea* ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Poisoning ; Shellfish

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to examine the effect of the body shape discordance, the difference between true body type based on body mass index (BMI) and self-recognized body image, on nutrient intake, weight control attempt, and mental health in Korean adults. METHODS: Subjects were persons aged 19~64 years (4,382 men and 6,226 women) who participated in the 2010~2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Subjects were categorized as RL (Group recognized as lighter than BMI criteria), RA (Group with agreement between BMI criteria and self-recognized body image), and RH (Group recognized as heavier than BMI criteria) according to the difference between actual body type based on BMI and self-recognized body image. RESULTS: Means of BMI in RH groups were lower than or equal to that of RA groups in all groups. No significant differences in total energy intake were observed among the three groups in men, but total energy intake was higher in the RL group than in the RH group in 30~49 year old women. Proportion of carbohydrate was the highest in the RL group among 30~49 year old women. RH groups paid more attention to weight control and had less weight gain than other groups. Higher proportions of depressive symptoms were reported in the RH group in 19~29 year old men, while a higher proportion of depressive symptoms were reported in the RL group in 50~64 year old men. CONCLUSION: The current findings suggest an association of perceiving body shape with energy intake, weight control attempt, or depressed mood in some age groups. Body image perception can influence eating, weight control attempt, and depressed mood, therefore proper body image perception should be established in Korean adults.
Adult* ; Body Image* ; Body Mass Index ; Depression ; Eating ; Energy Intake ; Female ; Humans ; Korea* ; Male ; Mental Health* ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Somatotypes ; Weight Gain

In removable dental prostheses, it is important to minimize impairment of residual tissue caused by wearing dentures. There are two factors that harm residual tissue. The first is functional load bearing of remaining teeth and alveolar ridges and the second is the effect of poor oral hygiene. Double crown retained removable dental prostheses provide rigid support, and it may reduce impairment caused by load bearing of alveolar ridges. Also, dental plaque and oral deposits, which are attached to outer crowns and dentures, can be easily managed extra-orally. In addition, it is beneficial to the health of the marginal gingiva because inner crowns have easy access for oral hygiene. In this case, double crown retained removable dental prostheses were used for the partially edentulous patient with severe residual alveolar bone resorption and poor oral hygiene, and the result was clinically satisfactory in terms of functional, esthetical, and oral hygiene aspects.
Bone Resorption ; Crowns* ; Dental Plaque ; Dental Prosthesis ; Dentures ; Gingiva ; Humans ; Oral Hygiene ; Tooth ; Weight-Bearing

Background: Various types of external breast tissue expanders have been found to be effective for aesthetic breast augmentation. However, their use has been limited when compared with implant-based breast augmentation due to the burdensome nature of their application. This article reports the possibility that external breast tissue expanders may be applied safely and effectively with higher pressure and shorter application time. Methods: The participants comprised patients who desired breast augmentation using the EVERA-RAPHA device between January 2020 and March 2020. A double-blinded prospective study was conducted on two groups of eight patients each, with either 60 mmHg or 100 mmHg of pressure applied. Standardized photographs were taken and blinded measurements of volume and circumference were made. The Mann-Whitney and paired t-tests were conducted. Results: Sixteen patients were evaluated after 1 month of treatment. The women in groups 1 and 2 (60 mmHg and 100 mmHg, respectively) used EVERA-RAPHA for 15.400± 0.704 and 15.300±0.477 minutes per day, respectively. The mean volume increases in groups 1 and 2 were 39.000±42.526 cc and 27.700±20.260 cc, respectively. No patients dropped out of the study. All patients reported that the device was tolerable. Mild bruising was found in 62.5% of the patients in group 2. Conclusions Breast augmentation using external tissue expanders can be a safe, effective, and practical option. Pressures of 60 mmHg or 100 mmHg can be safely applied for a shorter duration. Larger studies are needed to further confirm our findings.

Purpose: Increasing interest in maintaining a positive body image following breast cancer surgery has become an important aspect of reconstruction surgery. Volume matching of the reconstructed breast to natural breasts is the most important consideration. This study aimed to explore the feasibility of using mammography with a fully automated breast volumetric software to measure the preoperative breast volume in patients with breast cancer. Methods: We evaluated patients who underwent a total mastectomy between July 2016 and February 2021. The specimen volume following total mastectomy was compared with breast volume estimates using a fully automated volumetric software (Quantra ver. 2.1.1) and 4 other previously described mammography-based prediction methods. The association between the estimates and mastectomy specimen volume was assessed using Pearson correlation and Bland-Altman analysis. Results: Sixty-six patients were included. Compared with previously described mammography-based methods, Quantra estimates were more strongly correlated with mastectomy specimen volume in the entire, fatty, and dense breast groups (r = 0.920, 0.921, and 0.915, respectively; P < 0.001). In applying Quantra estimates for measuring preoperative breast volume, we adjusted a simple equation: mastectomy specimen volume = Quantra estimate × 0.8. Conclusion Mammography with a fully automated breast volumetric software can be useful for measuring preoperative breast volume in patients with breast cancer who undergo reconstruction surgery.

Background: This study aimed to establish a strategy to improve the poor working environment and working conditions among long-term healthcare workers in Korea. Methods: A total of 600 questionnaires with which long-term health care workers participated in the targeted base areas of each city and province nationwide were distributed directly and 525 responses were collected and 506 responses were analyzed. Surveys, on-site field visits, and in-depth interviews were also conducted to understand the working environment as well as conditions and establish a strategy for improving the working environment among long-term healthcare workers to understand the demands of working conditions and working conditions. Results: Korean long-term care workers firstly and mostly enumerated their risk factors for ill-health when lifting or moving elderly recipients directly by hand (69.9%), followed by increased physical workload with old beds, tools, and facilities (42.3%) in the workplaces, shortage of manpower (32%), and source of infection (30%). To improve the working environment as well as conditions, Korean long-term care workers considered improving low-wage structures, ergonomic improvements to solve excessive physical loads, and increasing various bonus payments as well as implementing the salary system, positive social awareness, and increasing resting time. Of 506 responses, 92.3% replied that the long-term care insurance system for the elderly should be developed to expand publicization at the national level. Conclusion This study proposes to improve the low-wage structure of Korean long-term care workers, automation and improvement of facilities, equipment, and tools to eliminate excessive physical loads (beneficiary elderly lifting), and reduction of night labor.

Purpose: Increasing interest in maintaining a positive body image following breast cancer surgery has become an important aspect of reconstruction surgery. Volume matching of the reconstructed breast to natural breasts is the most important consideration. This study aimed to explore the feasibility of using mammography with a fully automated breast volumetric software to measure the preoperative breast volume in patients with breast cancer. Methods: We evaluated patients who underwent a total mastectomy between July 2016 and February 2021. The specimen volume following total mastectomy was compared with breast volume estimates using a fully automated volumetric software (Quantra ver. 2.1.1) and 4 other previously described mammography-based prediction methods. The association between the estimates and mastectomy specimen volume was assessed using Pearson correlation and Bland-Altman analysis. Results: Sixty-six patients were included. Compared with previously described mammography-based methods, Quantra estimates were more strongly correlated with mastectomy specimen volume in the entire, fatty, and dense breast groups (r = 0.920, 0.921, and 0.915, respectively; P < 0.001). In applying Quantra estimates for measuring preoperative breast volume, we adjusted a simple equation: mastectomy specimen volume = Quantra estimate × 0.8. Conclusion Mammography with a fully automated breast volumetric software can be useful for measuring preoperative breast volume in patients with breast cancer who undergo reconstruction surgery.

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the interrupting effect of social distancing (SD) on emergency department (ED) patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD), stroke, asthma, and suicide attempts by PM 2.5 exposure in eight Korean megacities from 2017 to 2020. Materials and Methods: The study used National Emergency Department Information System and AirKorea data. A total of 469014 patients visited EDs from 2017 to 2020. Interrupted time series analysis was employed to examine changes in the level and slope of the time series, relative risk, and confidence intervals (CIs) by PM 2.5 exposure. The SD level was added to the sensitivity analysis. Results: The interrupted time series analysis demonstrated a significant increase in the ratio of relative risk (RRR) of IHD patients in Seoul (RRR=1.004, 95% CI: 1.001, 1.006) and Busan (RRR=1.007, 95% CI: 1.002, 1.012) post-SD. Regarding stroke, only patients in Seoul exhibited a significant decrease post-SD (RRR=0.995, 95% CI: 0.991, 0.999). No significant changes were observed for asthma in any of the cities. In the case of suicide attempts, Ulsan demonstrated substantial pre-SD (RR=0.827, 95% CI: 0.732, 0.935) and post-SD (RRR=1.200, 95% CI: 1.057, 1.362) differences. Conclusion While the interrupting effect of SD was not as pronounced as anticipated, this study did validate the effectiveness of SD in modifying health behaviors and minimizing avoidable visits to EDs in addition to curtailing the occurrence of infectious diseases.