OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association between secondhand smoke exposure (SHSE) and mental health problems among Korean adults. METHODS: We analyzed data from the 2011 Korean Community Health Survey. From the total of 229,226 participants aged 19 years or above, we excluded 48,679 current smokers, 36,612 former smokers, 3,036 participants with a history of stroke, 2,264 participants with a history of myocardial infarction, 14,115 participants who experienced at least one day in bed per month due to disability, and 855 participants for whom information regarding SHSE or mental health problems was not available. The final analysis was performed with 22,818 men and 100,847 women. Participants were classified into four groups according to the duration of SHSE: none, <1 hr/d, 1-<3 hr/d, and ≥3 hr/d. The presence of depressive symptoms, diagnosed depression, and high stress were measured by questionnaire. RESULTS: After adjusting for demographic factors, lifestyle, and chronic disease, the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of depressive symptoms with 1-<3 hr/d and ≥3 hr/d SHSE were 1.44 (95% CI, 1.14 to 1.82) and 1.59 (95% CI, 1.46 to 1.74), respectively. However, SHSE ≥3 hr/d had a higher OR of 1.37 (95% CI, 1.20 to 1.58) for diagnosed depression. SHSE was also associated with high stress (1-<3 hr/d: OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.38 to 1.76; ≥3 hr/d: OR, 1.33 95% CI, 1.28 to 1.40). However, the association between SHSE and symptoms of depression and stress did not differ significantly by region. CONCLUSIONS: SHSE may be associated with mental health problems such as depression and stress in Korean adults.
Adult* ; Chronic Disease ; Demography ; Depression ; Female ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Life Style ; Male ; Mental Health* ; Myocardial Infarction ; Odds Ratio ; Stroke ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution*

The innate immune system confers first-line defense against various pathogens including bacteria and viruses. Early detection of invading pathogens by the host depends on a limited number of specific pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that detect pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and activate signal transduction cascades that lead to activation of defense mechanisms. Among those sensors, RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs) play crucial roles in the detection of viruses by recognizing intracellular viral patterns such as viral RNAs to induce type-I interferon production. The discovery of intracellular RNA sensing mechanism by RIG-I prompted the investigations to find out intracellular DNA sensors. Recently, several proteins including DAI, AIM2, IFI16, and cGAS have been suggested as DNA sensing molecules to detect DNA viruses and bacteria, suggesting there are multiple receptors for microbial DNA. In this review, we discuss the current our understanding of sensing microbial DNA and subsequent induction of immune responses.
Bacteria ; Defense Mechanisms ; DNA ; DNA Viruses ; Immune System ; Immunity, Innate ; Interferons ; Proteins ; Receptors, Pattern Recognition ; RNA ; RNA, Viral ; Signal Transduction

The distinction of carcinomas involving periampullary region is often difficult, even in the surgically resected specimens. To examine the differences in the expressions of cytokeratin (CK) 7 and 20 in the periampullary carcinomas, we performed immunohistochemical studies on surgically resected 20 pancreatic duct adenocarcinomas (PDA), 13 distal bile duct adenocarcinomas (DBA), 10 duodenal adenocarcinomas (DA), and 18 ampulla of Vater adenocarcinomas (AVA). We analyzed the relationships between CK 7/CK 20 immunoprofile, and tumor cell differentiation and tumor size. We interpreted diffuse cytoplasmic reactivity found in > or =5% of tumor cells as positive. In the majority of cases, PDA were CK 7 /20 (95%), DBA CK 7 /20 (92.3%), DA either CK 7 /20 (40%) or CK 7 /20 (30%), AVA either CK 7 /20 (50%) or CK 7 /20 (44.4%). In DA, there was an increased CK 20 negativity in less differentiated (moderately or poorly differentiated) cases (p<0.05) and in larger (> or =5 cm) tumor size (p=0.049). In AVA, there was a tendency of increased CK 20 positivity in less differentiated cases (p=0.10). In conclusion, the CK 7/CK 20 immunophenotype is useful in the differentiation of periampullary carcinomas: the CK 7 /CK 20 immunophenotype strongly suggests DA or AVA, whereas the CK 7 /CK 20 immunophenotype suggests PDA or DBA.
Adenocarcinoma ; Ampulla of Vater ; Bile Ducts ; Cell Differentiation ; Cytoplasm ; Keratin-20 ; Keratin-7* ; Keratins* ; Pancreatic Ducts

BACKGROUND: All clinicians are aware of the difficulty of installing a dental implant in posterior maxilla because of proximate position of maxillary sinus, insufficient bone width, and lower bone density. This study is to examine which factors will make the implantation in the posterior maxilla more difficult, and which factors will affect the postoperative implant stability in this region. METHODS: Five hundred seventy-three fixtures on the maxilla posterior were included for this study from all the patients who underwent an installation of the dental implant fixture from January 2010 to December 2014 at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Pusan National University Dental Hospital (Yangsan, Korea). The postoperative implant stability quotient (ISQ) value, fixture diameter and length, presence of either bone graft or sinus lift, and graft material were included in the reviewed factors. The width and height of the bone bed was assessed via preoperative cone beam CT image analysis. The postoperative ISQ value was taken just before loading by using the OsstellTM mentor® (Integration Diagnostics AB, Gothenburg, Sweden). The t test and ANOVA methods were used in the statistical analysis of the data. RESULTS: Mean ISQ of all the included data was 79.22. Higher initial bone height, larger fixture diameter, and longer fixture length were factors that influence the implant stability on the posterior edentulous maxilla. On the other hand, the initial bone width, bone graft and sinus elevation procedure, graft material, and approach method for sinus elevation showed no significant impact associated with the implant stability on the posterior edentulous maxilla. CONCLUSIONS: It is recommended to install the fixtures accurately in a larger diameter and longer length by performing bone graft and sinus elevation.
Bone Density ; Busan ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Dental Implants* ; Hand ; Humans ; Maxilla* ; Maxillary Sinus ; Methods ; Surgery, Oral ; Survival Rate ; Transplants

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the stress response and sleep state of the new patients who visit the hospital for prosthodontic treatment due to tooth loss to make reference to further treatment direction. Materials and methods: Examinations, consultations, and surveys were conducted on 236 patients (94 males, 142 females, and 24-86 years old), who newly registered at the department of prosthodontics at Pusan national university hospital, for 2 years from 2018. The number of remaining teeth, edentulous arch, possibility of mastication, and future prosthetic treatment directions were recorded. The visual analogue scale (VAS), stress response inventory (SRI) and Insomnia severity index (ISI) were used as tools to measure patient’s subjective discomfort, stress response, and sleep status. Results: Among the entire prosthodontic patient group, the average value of ‘fatigue’ was significantly higher among the 7 items of SRI, and the value of ‘aggression’ was significantly lower (P<.001). There are a significant difference between the edentulous and full dentition in the oral discomfort value measured by VAS (P=.004). In cases where less than 20 teeth remain, mastication is impossible, and patients who are planning treatment with removable prostheses, VAS value and ‘depression’ and ‘fatigue’ values in SRI were higher than those in the reverse case (P<.05).The patients showed severe level in VAS value have high value of ‘tension’, ‘somatization’, ‘depression’, ‘fatigue’and ‘frustration’in SRI than non-serious patients (P<.05). Clinical insomnia occurred in 11.4% of all patients, and women had significantly lower sleep quality than men (P=.044). Patients with insomnia showed significantly higher scores on the VAS value and all 7 SRI items than those of normal sleepers (P<.05). Conclusion The new prosthetics had high ‘fatigue’ value among the 7 items of SRI. The oral condition, number of residual teeth and mastication function and clinical insomnia affected oral discomfort and the stress response.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the stress response and sleep state of the new patients who visit the hospital for prosthodontic treatment due to tooth loss to make reference to further treatment direction. Materials and methods: Examinations, consultations, and surveys were conducted on 236 patients (94 males, 142 females, and 24-86 years old), who newly registered at the department of prosthodontics at Pusan national university hospital, for 2 years from 2018. The number of remaining teeth, edentulous arch, possibility of mastication, and future prosthetic treatment directions were recorded. The visual analogue scale (VAS), stress response inventory (SRI) and Insomnia severity index (ISI) were used as tools to measure patient’s subjective discomfort, stress response, and sleep status. Results: Among the entire prosthodontic patient group, the average value of ‘fatigue’ was significantly higher among the 7 items of SRI, and the value of ‘aggression’ was significantly lower (P<.001). There are a significant difference between the edentulous and full dentition in the oral discomfort value measured by VAS (P=.004). In cases where less than 20 teeth remain, mastication is impossible, and patients who are planning treatment with removable prostheses, VAS value and ‘depression’ and ‘fatigue’ values in SRI were higher than those in the reverse case (P<.05).The patients showed severe level in VAS value have high value of ‘tension’, ‘somatization’, ‘depression’, ‘fatigue’and ‘frustration’in SRI than non-serious patients (P<.05). Clinical insomnia occurred in 11.4% of all patients, and women had significantly lower sleep quality than men (P=.044). Patients with insomnia showed significantly higher scores on the VAS value and all 7 SRI items than those of normal sleepers (P<.05). Conclusion The new prosthetics had high ‘fatigue’ value among the 7 items of SRI. The oral condition, number of residual teeth and mastication function and clinical insomnia affected oral discomfort and the stress response.

Background/Aims: The effects of probiotic supplementation on Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication therapy are not completely understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of continuous probiotic administration on eradication rates, recrudescence, and symptom response following completion of a course of H. pylori therapy. Methods: This prospective, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial was performed between June 2018 and 2020. Twohundred seventy patients who received a standard triple regimen for H. pylori eradication, were included in the study. Participants were randomized to receive a probiotic as adjunctive therapy (Enterococcus faecium 4.5×108 and Bacillus subtilis 5.0×107; Medilac-S®, Hanmi Pharmaceuticals, Seoul, Korea) or a placebo (one tablet thrice daily) for 28 days, following H. pylori eradication. Participants who showed successful eradication underwent a repeat 13C-urea breath test after 6 months. Results: Eradication rates in the probiotic and placebo groups were 77.1% and 72.4%, respectively (P=0.48) using per-protocol analysis. Using intention-to-treat analysis, eradication rates were 67.4% and 65.9%, respectively (P=0.43). Of 149 patients who were followed-up after 6 months, four patients had recrudescence (2.7%). Recrudescence rates did not differ between the probiotic and placebo groups. Of the 76 patients who had non-ulcer dyspepsia, 60 (78.9%) showed symptom resolution after 6 months. This beneficial effect was most pronounced in patients with postprandial distress syndrome (P=0.02). Conclusions Consecutive probiotic supplementation following H. pylori eradication therapy did not increase eradication rates or decrease recrudescence rates.

Background/Aims: Compared with other regimens, concomitant therapy (CT) used as a first-line regimen for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is associated with higher eradication rates. We compared the efficacy of tailored therapy (TT) using bismuth added to standard triple therapy (STT) with CT. Methods: This consecutive study performed between September 2020 and 2021 included 210 patients with H. pylori infection. Two participating gastroenterologists prescribed TT and CT. Multiplex PCR assays were performed before eradication therapy to identify the relevant point mutations and confirm clarithromycin resistance in the TT group (n=105). Patients who showed negative PCR results received 14-day STT and those with positive PCR results received a 14-day regimen of bismuth added to STT. The other group (n=105) received 10-day CT. Results: Based on per-protocol analysis, eradication rates in the TT and CT groups were 89.2% (91/102) and 81.6% (84/103), respectively. We observed no statistically significant intergroup differences in eradication rates (P=0.12). The frequency of estimated clarithromycin resistance confirmed using multiplex PCR assays was 32.4% (34/105), and the eradication rate associated with bismuth add-on STT was 76.5% (26/34) in patients with clarithromycin resistance. Conclusions Considering the current and emerging trends in antibiotic resistance, a therapeutic strategy using TT (bismuth add-on STT) is recommended to minimize unnecessary administration of antibiotics.

Objectives: The importance of public healthcare has been further emphasized by the arrival of the era of super-aged societies. This study investigates the landscape among oral health professionals, focusing on the concept development of the public oral health care (POHC) and essential oral health care (EOHC). Methods: A questionnaire survey of oral health professionals was conducted at six associations or societies who have an interest in POHC from December 21 to December 29, 2022. Chi-squared and logistic regression analyses were adopted to identify significant differences between the responses according to general characteristics. Significant differences were considered at a P-value of 0.05. Results: A total of 100 oral health professionals (48 dentists and 52 dental hygienists) participated in this study. The results revealed that there is a need for improvement of the POHC and the establishment of concepts related to the POHC and EOHC. The agreement rate was 90%, 85%, and 86% for the responsible organization, the target object and field, and the concept in the definition of the POHC, respectively. In the case of the construction of the EOHC, the agreement rate was 91% for “Quality of life,” and 85% for “Life and safety.” Among the community oral health programs as the POHC programs, “Oral health education program” showed the highest agreement rate. In healthcare institutions that are capable of providing the POHC services, “Oral health center in the public health center” had the highest agreement rate. Conclusions The POHC would be reasonable to define to ensure universal access to oral healthcare services for all citizens. In the case of EOHC, further research is needed to establish terminology and specific concepts in the future. This study could contribute valuable insights to the field of the POHC in an era of super-aged societies. As further research, more oral health professionals need to participate in the POHC-related policy and health care system.

This study was performed to investigate the differences in food choice, nutrition labeling perceptions, and prevalence of obesity due to meal skipping in Korean elementary school children. A national survey was performed in 2010 to collect data on food intake frequency, understanding of nutrition labeling, and body mass index from 2,335 fifth grade students in 118 elementary schools selected from 16 metropolitan local governments by stratified cluster sampling. The data were analyzed using the SAS 9.1 and SUDAAN 10.0 packages. Students who consumed three meals for 6-7 days during the past week were classified into the regular meal eating (RM) group (n = 1,476) and those who did not were placed into the meal skipping (MS) group (n = 859). The daily intake frequency of fruits, vegetables, kimchi, and milk was significantly lower in the MS group compared to that in the RM group (P < 0.001), whereas the daily intake frequency of soft drinks and instant noodles (ramyeon) was significantly higher in the MS group than that in the RM group (P < 0.05). The MS group demonstrated a significantly lower degree of understanding with regard to nutrition labeling and high calorie foods containing low nutritional value than that in the RM group. The distribution of obesity based on the percentile criteria using the Korean growth chart was different between the MS and RM groups. The MS group (8.97%) had a higher percentage of obese subjects than that in the RM group (5.38%). In conclusion, meal skipping was related to poor food choice, low perception of nutrition labeling, and a high prevalence of obesity in Korean fifth grade children.
Body Mass Index ; Carbonated Beverages ; Child ; Eating ; Food Labeling ; Fruit ; Growth Charts ; Humans ; Meals ; Milk ; Nutritive Value ; Obesity ; Phenothiazines ; Prevalence ; Vegetables