OBJECTIVE: Exploration of the questionable Alzheimer disease is important for accurate estimation of prevalence and incidence, understanding the natural history, and evaluation of treatment strategies for the Alzheimer disease. Subjects and METHODS: We compared neuropsychological test performances among 14 nondemented controls, 14 elderly persons with questionable dementia of the Alzheimer type and 14 elderly persons with mild dementia of the Alzheimer type. The test performances analyzed were the digit span of the Korean Adult Wechsler Intelligence Scale, registration, short term memory and long term memory of the Cognitive Impairment Diagnosing Instrument, and paired association learning and logical memory of the Wechsler Memory Scale. RESULTS: There was significant difference between questionable dementia of the Alzheimer type and controls in the long-term memory, short-term memory, immediate and delayed recalls of the logical memory, and easy association. But the subjects with questionable and mild dementia of the Alzheimer type scored similarly on all tests except the long-term memory. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that questionable Alzheimer disease may be the very early Alzheimer disease.
Adult ; Aged ; Aging ; Alzheimer Disease ; Association Learning ; Cognition ; Dementia* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intelligence ; Logic ; Memory* ; Memory, Long-Term ; Memory, Short-Term ; Natural History ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Prevalence

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum levels of folic acid, vitamin B12 and homocysteine and C677T metylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) mutation in pregnant women. METHODS: DNA was extracted from whole blood of 177 pregnant women. All samples were genotyped for the C677T polymorphism in MTHFR gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR-RELP). Serum levels of homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12 were measured by high performance liquid chromatography for homocysteine, and radioassay for folate and vitamin B12. RESULTS: Serum homocysteine was higher in women with the T/T genotype than those with the C/T or the C/C genotype of the MTHFR gene (p<0.05). Serum homocysteine was negatively correlated with serum folate in all MTHFR genotypes (p<0.001). Serum homocysteine was increased in pregnant women with the T/T type of the MTHFR gene only when the serum folate fell below the median compared to those stayed above the median level (p<0.05). Serum folate was positively correlated with serum vitamin B12 in all subjects. CONCLUSION: Serum homocysteine varied significantly by the MTHFR genotype and the serum B vitamin status.
Chromatography, Liquid ; DNA ; Female ; Folic Acid ; Genotype ; Homocysteine* ; Humans ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)* ; Oxidoreductases ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pregnant Women* ; Vitamin B 12 ; Vitamins

OBJECTIVE: The injury-related disease burden in South Korea is relatively high compared to that in other nations. This study was conducted to identify the scale and causes of injury by severity, using an injury pyramid and analyzing the sex and age-dependent differences and the basic demographic characteristics. METHODS: Unintentional injury was estimated for each group after classifying injury-related deaths, hospitalizations, and outpatient department (OPD) visits based on their severity. The injury pyramid was calculated by classifying the injury outcomes into deaths, hospitalizations, and outpatient visits. RESULTS: The incidence of unintentional injury included 31.74 deaths, 1,715.27 hospitalizations, and 7,317.55 OPD visits per 100,000 persons. The incidence of injury was higher among males than that among females. There were more hospitalizations and OPD visits than deaths among females. The mortality and hospitalization rates due to injury per 100,000 persons were the highest among those ≥75 years old, and the OPD visit rate was the highest among preschool children aged 0 to 6 years. The injury mechanisms that caused most deaths and hospitalizations in South Korea were injuries related to traffic, falls, poisoning, and burns/fires. CONCLUSION: The scale of unintentional injury varies based on sex, age, and injury mechanism; additionally there are differences in the incidence of injuries between males and females depending on their age and injury mechanism. The high incidence of injury in elderly people could be a factor that increases the burden of injury in South Korea; hence, it is necessary to develop an injury prevention program that targets the elderly.
Accident Prevention ; Accidental Falls ; Aged ; Child, Preschool ; Epidemiology ; Female ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea* ; Male ; Mortality ; Outpatients ; Poisoning

This study was carried out to identify dietary risk factors for childhood obesity. The study subjects were male children, aged 2 - 6years, who were enrolled in nursery schools and kindergartens. We obtained anthropometric measurements from 949 boys and dietary questionnaires from 253 boys. The subjects were classified into two groups using the BMI criteria; normal (n = 200) group with the BMI below 85th percentile and the obese group with the BMI at 85th percentile and above (n = 53). The logistic regression analysis showed that the odds ratios (OR) for obesity were, birth weight greater than 4.0 kg (3.27), increased meal speed (4.98), the frequency of overeating more than twice a week (2.63), the consumption of cooked rice more than one bowl per meal (2.77), the consumption of milk and dairy products less than 5 times a week (2.81), and increased maternal meal speed (1.98). Stepwise multiple logistic regression analyses showed that the variables which contribute to obesity significantly were birth weight greater than 4.0 kg (OR 5.19), the frequency of overeating more than twice a week (OR 2.51), the consumption of cooked rice more than one bowl per meal (OR 2.74), and the consumption of milk and dairy products less than 5 times a week (OR 4.43)(p < 0.0001). The results of this study indicate that dietary habits of both children and of their mothers as well as child's birth weight are important variables that contribute to childhood obesity.
Birth Weight ; Body Mass Index* ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Dairy Products ; Food Habits ; Humans ; Hyperphagia ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Meals ; Milk ; Mothers ; Obesity* ; Odds Ratio ; Pediatric Obesity ; Risk Factors* ; Schools, Nursery ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Maternal nutritional status has been shown to influence pregnancy outcomes. And the elevated maternal plasma homocysteine concentrations have been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. We investigated the effects of maternal serum levels of B vitamins and homocysteine, and the C677T MTHFR (5, 10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase) polymorphism on pregnancy outcomes. In 177 pregnant women of 24-28 wks of gestation, the MTHFR gene mutation, serum B vitamins and homocysteine concentrations were measured, and their pregnancy outcomes were investigated from medical records. The birth length, and 1- and 5-min Apgar scores of neonates in the T/T mothers were 45.4+/-9.3 cm, 7.6+/-3.2 and 8.5+/-3.8, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in the C/T (48.6+/-3.3 cm, 9.0+/-0.2, 10.0+/-0.2) or the C/C mothers (49.4+/-1.9 cm, 9.0+/-0.2, 10.0+/-0.0). The birth weight, birth length and the gestational age of neonates at delivery from hyperhomocysteinemic mothers whose homocysteine levels higher than 15 micromol were 2.5+/-1.3 kg, 43.9+/-9.0 cm, 35.4+/-6.3 wk, respectively, which were significant lower than those from normohomocysteinemic mothers (3.1+/-0.6 kg, 48.8+/-3.6 cm, 38.5+/-2.5 wk). The birth weight and birth length of neonates in mothers whose PLP levels were below the median were significantly lower than those from mothers with the PLP levels above the median. The 1- and 5-min Apgar scores of neonates were lower in mothers with the T/T MTHFR genotype than those with the C/T or C/C only when the serum PLP levels were below the median. The 1-, 5 min Apgar scores and birth length of neonates were lower in mothers with the T/T MTHFR genotype than those with the C/T or C/C only when the serum FMN levels were below the median. In conclusion, maternal B vitamin status, homocysteine and the C677T MTHFR genotype seem to have played an important role on pregnancy outcomes.
Birth Weight ; Female ; Flavin Mononucleotide ; Folic Acid ; Genotype ; Gestational Age ; Homocysteine* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Medical Records ; Mothers ; Nutritional Status ; Oxidoreductases* ; Parturition ; Plasma ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome* ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Vitamin B Complex* ; Vitamins

Background: Tibial tuberosity transposition (TTT) causes caudalization of the patellar ligament insertion in canine medial patellar luxation, which can lead to increases in patellofemoral contact pressure. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to confirm the effect of patellofemoral contact mechanics after craniolateral and caudolateral transposition of tibial tuberosity in normal canine hindlimbs. Methods: Craniolateral and caudolateral transposition of tibial tuberosity was performed in 5 specimens, respectively. The pressure was measured in the specimen before TTT, and then in the same specimen after TTT. In this process, data was obtained in 10 specimens. The measurement results were output as visualization data through the manufacturer's software and numerical data through spreadsheet. Based on these 2 data and the anatomical structure of the patellofemoral joint (PFJ) surface, whole measurement area was analysed by dividing into medial, lateral and central area. Results: In craniolateralization of tibial tuberosity, total, medial, central contact pressure was decreased and lateral contact pressure was not statistically changed lateral contact pressure than normal PFJ. In caudolateralization of tibial tuberosity, total, lateral contact pressure was increased and medial contact pressure was not statistically changed than normal PFJ. Although not statistically significant changed, central contact pressure in caudolateralization of tibial tuberosity was increased in all 5 specimens. Conclusions These results imply that traditional TTT, prone to caudal shift of patellar tendon, can increase retropatellar pressure may lead to various complications and diseases of the stifle joint.

Homocysteine is a significant but modifiable risk factor for vascular diseases, including stroke. While several pathological processes may be involved, homocysteine can cause significant endothelial impairment and compromise vascular nitric oxide (NO) bioactivity. Endothelial dysfunction can be characterized not only by impaired vasoreactivity with decreased availability of NO but also abnormal inflammatory cell-endothelial interactions and increased expression of cell adhesion molecules. Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) is a transcriptional factor which plays a coordinating role in inflammation and cellular proliferation and may be involved in early atherosclerosis. Experimentally, we investigated the effects of folate supplementation on endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity in the hyperhomocysteinemic rat brain and related the changes of eNOS activity to the expression of NF-kappaB. Animals were raised on an experimental diet containing 0.3% homocystine for 4 weeks or on a 0.3% homocystine diet for 2 weeks with or without folate supplementation (8 mg/kg diet). The cerebrovascular endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity was investigated by the immunohistochemical method. Cerebral contents of eNOS and NF-kappaB were also evaluated with the western blot analysis. At 4 wks, diet- induced hyperhomocysteinemia up to 4-fold (control: 6.5+/-0.4 micromol/L, homocystine: 26.2+/-2.5 micromol/L), and a reduction in the expression of cerebral eNOS with a concomitant increase in NF-kappaB. Dietary folate supplementation caused a significant decrease in plasma homocysteine levels with a concomitant increase in hyperhomocysyeinemia-induced reduction of the cerebral eNOS and decrease in hyperhomocysyeinemia-induced NF-kappaB expression.
Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; Blotting, Western ; Brain ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; Cell Proliferation ; Diet ; Folic Acid* ; Homocysteine ; Homocystine ; Hyperhomocysteinemia* ; Inflammation ; NF-kappa B ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III* ; Pathologic Processes ; Plasma ; Rats ; Risk Factors ; Stroke ; Vascular Diseases

Currently, Korea is facing dramatic nutrition transition among children, which may increase risk of degenerative diseases due to excessive intakes of fats, sugars and sodium. Promotion of eating healthier foods among children is difficult because the present nutrition label is not easily understood. Therefore, to promote healthier foods this study was aimed at developing guidance of standard amounts of high, medium and low levels of sugars, sodium, fats and other components contained in foods or drinks that are promoted to or formulated for consumption by children. Multipronged approach was used to collecting information, including key word searches in Medline and other databases, internet searches, reports from world organization, and contact of key individuals who work in organizations. We reviewed dietary reference intakes for Koreans, nutrient reference values, nutrient content claims of nutrition labeling, guideline daily amounts of United Kingdom, dietary guidelines and consumption data of nutrients, and selected components for labeling. And we decided goals of guideline daily amounts for children and nutrient criteria to underpin the high, medium and low content of each component. Then we collected data on processed foods sold at 12 middle schools and 11 high schools in Seoul, and classified processed foods into food category. Sales per one student per day were in the order of snacks, breads, and non-carbonated drinks. One hundred forty five mostly consumed products were selected and classified into criteria of high, medium and low total fat or sodium. Eighty five (58.6%) were classified into high fat food and only 11 (7.6%) into high sodium food, in case that the base is chosen per 100 g or 100 mL. In conclusion, the nutrient criteria and choice of 100 g base, which we suggest in this study, need to be tested by simulation with more processed foods and refined in view of the practical issues suggested by stakeholders in future.
Bread ; Carbohydrates ; Child ; Commerce ; Eating ; Fats ; Food Labeling ; Great Britain ; Humans ; Internet ; Korea ; Reference Values ; Snacks ; Sodium

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH )is one the most common prostate diseases in middle aged and elderly men. This study was conducted to investigate diet and lifestyle risk factors for benign prostatic hyperplasia in a community-dwelling free-living population group. The dietary data were collected from the 601 male subjects aged 50 -79 years using the 24-hour recall method. The mean age of the BPH group (63.0 +/- 7.9 years )was significantly higher than that of the non-BPH (58.8 +/-7.4 years ). Among many nutrients, the amount of animal fat intake was increased while that of carbohydrate intake decreased in subjects with BPH compared to those with non-BPH. In BPH subjects, the proportion of energy from fat was also greater than in subjects with non-BPH. The logistic regression analysis on the food con-sumption data showed that the consumption of total animal food was increased while that of mushrooms was decreased in patients with BPH compared to the subjects with non-BPH. The age-adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidences limits for BPH incidence in subjects whose milk and milk products, beverages and alcoholic liquors intake was greater than the median were 1.796 (1.167 -2.782 )and 1.738 (1.129 -2.676 )respectively, compared to those in subjects whose intakes were below the median. These results may be applicable in the development of a nutrition intervention and education program toward a reduction in the risk for benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Agaricales ; Aged ; Alcoholics ; Animals ; Beverages ; Diet* ; Education ; Humans ; Incidence ; Life Style* ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Milk ; Odds Ratio ; Population Groups ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia* ; Risk Factors*

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common prostate disease in middle aged and elderly men. Therefore, identifying risk factors for BPH is crucial for understanding the etiology and for undertaking interventions or targeting strategies. The survey was carried out in two steps: first, pilot study was conducted prior to the main study in order to estimate baseline characteristics. Second, main study investigated prevalence and risk factors of BPH by clinical diagnostic tests and questionnaire. A total of 641 male aged 50-79 years participated in this community-based crosssectional study. Using 24 hour recall of food consumption, we found that animal fat intakes increased the risk of BPH with adjusted for age, chronic bronchitis, PSA level, drinking frequency, and excercise frequency (odds ratio 1.84, 95% confidence interval 1.10-3.06). Although BPH has been considered as unavoidable disease with advancing age, if these dietary risk factors are clearly identified, it can be prevented effectively by laying special emphasis on those at risk.
Aged ; Animals ; Bronchitis, Chronic ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Diet ; Drinking ; Humans ; Hyperplasia* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mortuary Practice ; Pilot Projects ; Prevalence ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires