BACKGROUND: Sedentary behavior has been shown to have deleterious effects on cardiovascular outcomes. This study aimed to examine the association between sedentary time and cardiovascular risk factors in Korean adults. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed using data from adults aged 19 years and above in the 2013 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Sedentary time was self-reported and categorized into quintiles. Cardiovascular risk factors, including blood pressure (BP), total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and fasting glucose levels, were categorized into dichotomous variables according to the Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Multivariate logistic regression was performed with adjustment for various demographic and lifestyle variables, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Complex sampling design was used, and survey weights and sample design variables were applied in analyses. RESULTS: A total of 3,301 individuals were included in the analyses, and mean sedentary time was 6.1 h/d. Prolonged sedentary time was significantly associated with high diastolic BP (top vs. bottom quintile: adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09–2.68; Ptrend=0.03) and low HDL cholesterol level (top vs. bottom quintile: adjusted OR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.02–1.98; Ptrend=0.02) after adjustment for BMI, WC, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and other variables. No significant associations were found between sedentary time and other cardiovascular risk factors. CONCLUSION: Prolonged sedentary time was significantly associated with high diastolic BP and low HDL cholesterol level in Korean adults. The associations were independent of general and abdominal obesity and moderate-to-vigorous physical activities.
Adult ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Fasting ; Glucose ; Humans ; Life Style ; Lipoproteins ; Logistic Models ; Motor Activity ; Nutrition Surveys ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Odds Ratio ; Risk Factors ; Sedentary Lifestyle ; Triglycerides ; Waist Circumference ; Weights and Measures

The paper by Huh et al. [1] was printed with an error the name and affiliation of author.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Increased consumption of instant noodles has recently been reported to be positively associated with obesity and cardiometabolic syndrome in South Korea, which has the highest per capita instant noodle consumption worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the association between instant noodle consumption and cardiometabolic risk factors among college students in Seoul. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The study subjects consisted of 3,397 college students (1,782 male; 1,615 female) aged 18-29 years who participated in a health checkup. Information on instant noodle consumption was obtained from the participants' answers to a question about their average frequency of instant noodle intake over the 1 year period prior to the survey. RESULTS: Statistical analysis using a general linear model that adjusted for age, body mass index, gender, family income, health-related behaviors, and other dietary factors important for cardiometabolic risk, showed a positive association between the frequency of instant noodle consumption and plasma triglyceride levels, diastolic blood pressure, and fasting blood glucose levels in all subjects. Compared to the group with the lowest frequency of instant noodle intake (≤ 1/month), the odds ratio for hypertriglyceridemia in the group with an intake of ≥ 3/week was 2.639 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.393–5.000] for all subjects, while it was 2.149 (95% CI, 1.045–4.419) and 5.992 (95% CI, 1.859–21.824) for male and female students, respectively. In female students, diastolic blood pressure was also higher among more frequent consumers of instant noodles. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that frequent consumption of instant noodles may be associated with increased cardiometabolic risk factors among apparently healthy college students aged 18–29 years.
Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Fasting ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertriglyceridemia ; Korea ; Linear Models ; Male ; Obesity ; Odds Ratio ; Overweight ; Plasma ; Risk Factors* ; Seoul* ; Triglycerides

OBJECTIVES: This survey was designed to conduct the first nationwide dietary exposure assessment on hazardous substances including the intakes of functional food and herbal medicine. In this paper, we introduced the survey design and the results of the dietary exposure status and internal exposure levels of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg). METHODS: We selected 4867 subjects of all ages throughout Korea. We conducted a food survey, dietary survey, biomonitoring, and health survey. RESULTS: Pb and Cd were the highest (median value) in the seaweed (94.2 mug/kg for Pb; 594 mug/kg for Cd), and Hg was the highest in the fish (46.4 mug/kg). The dietary exposure level (median value) of Pb was 0.14 mug/kg body weight (bw)/d, 0.18 mug/kg bw/d for Cd, and 0.07 mug/kg bw/d for Hg. Those with a blood Pb level of less than 5.00 mug/dL (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reference value for those 1 to 5 years of age) were 99.0% of all the subjects. Those with a blood Cd level with less than 0.30 mug/L (German Federal Environmental Agency, reference value for non-smoking children) were 24.5%. For those with a blood Hg level with less than 5.00 mug/L (human biomonitoring I, references value for children and adults, German Federal Environmental Agency) was 81.0 % of all the subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The main dietary exposure of heavy metals occurs through food consumed in a large quantity and high frequency. The blood Hg level and dietary exposure level of Hg were both higher than those in the European Union.
Adult ; Body Weight ; Cadmium ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Child ; Eating ; Environmental Monitoring ; European Union ; Food Safety* ; Functional Food ; Hazardous Substances* ; Health Surveys ; Herbal Medicine ; Humans ; Korea ; Metals, Heavy ; Reference Values ; Seaweed

OBJECTIVES: This survey was designed to conduct the first nationwide dietary exposure assessment on hazardous substances including the intakes of functional food and herbal medicine. In this paper, we introduced the survey design and the results of the dietary exposure status and internal exposure levels of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg). METHODS: We selected 4867 subjects of all ages throughout Korea. We conducted a food survey, dietary survey, biomonitoring, and health survey. RESULTS: Pb and Cd were the highest (median value) in the seaweed (94.2 mug/kg for Pb; 594 mug/kg for Cd), and Hg was the highest in the fish (46.4 mug/kg). The dietary exposure level (median value) of Pb was 0.14 mug/kg body weight (bw)/d, 0.18 mug/kg bw/d for Cd, and 0.07 mug/kg bw/d for Hg. Those with a blood Pb level of less than 5.00 mug/dL (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reference value for those 1 to 5 years of age) were 99.0% of all the subjects. Those with a blood Cd level with less than 0.30 mug/L (German Federal Environmental Agency, reference value for non-smoking children) were 24.5%. For those with a blood Hg level with less than 5.00 mug/L (human biomonitoring I, references value for children and adults, German Federal Environmental Agency) was 81.0 % of all the subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The main dietary exposure of heavy metals occurs through food consumed in a large quantity and high frequency. The blood Hg level and dietary exposure level of Hg were both higher than those in the European Union.
Adult ; Body Weight ; Cadmium ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Child ; Eating ; Environmental Monitoring ; European Union ; Food Safety* ; Functional Food ; Hazardous Substances* ; Health Surveys ; Herbal Medicine ; Humans ; Korea ; Metals, Heavy ; Reference Values ; Seaweed

Cavernous hemangiomas in the submandibular gland (SMG) are rare; therefore, there are few clinicoradiologic pathognomonic findings upon which to base a diagnosis. Thus, a preoperative diagnosis of hemangioma is rare. We reviewed all English language literature on cavernous hemangioma involving SMG published after 1990. The characteristic clinical finding of cavernous hemangiomas involving the SMG is a fluctuant swelling that is unrelated to food intake. On computed tomography, cavernous hemangiomas appear as cystic or enhancing lesions either with or without calcification; however, this is not a pathognomonic finding for diagnosis. Most cavernous hemangiomas are best treated by complete surgical excision; preoperative angiography or embolization is not always required. Cavernous hemangioma should be added to the list of the masses presented a fluctuant swelling that is not associated with postprandial swelling. The treatment of choice is surgical excision without angiography and embolization.
Angiography ; Diagnosis ; Eating ; Hemangioma ; Hemangioma, Cavernous* ; Methods* ; Submandibular Gland*

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to develop and test the effects of an elder health promotion program and apply strategies for elder health leader training sessions with elders at senior citizen halls. METHODS: A nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used. Participants were 49 elders at a senior citizen hall (intervention: 27, control: 22). The elder health promotion program consisted of health education and exercise. A professional leader led the program for 4 weeks, and then an elder health leader and research assistant led for 8 weeks (total 12 weeks). Scales for elder health promoting behaviors, perceived health status, life satisfaction and senior citizen hall capability were used and physical fitness levels were measured. Data were collected between April 21 and July 28, 2010 and analyzed using Chi-square, Fisher's exact test, t-test, and repeated measure ANOVA with SPSS/WIN 12.0. RESULTS: Health promoting behaviors, physical fitness, perceived health status, and senior citizen hall capacity were significantly better in the experimental group after the intervention compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: Study findings indicate that elder health promotion programs applying strategies of elder health leader training are effective and can be recommended as nursing interventions for health promotion of these elders.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Attitude to Health ; Exercise ; Female ; Health Education ; *Health Promotion ; Health Status ; Humans ; *Leadership ; Male ; Physical Fitness ; Program Evaluation

A 4-year-old girl with Panayiotopoulos syndrome presented with a history of 4 prolonged autonomic seizures. The clinical features of her seizures included, in order of occurrence, blank staring, pallor, vomiting, hemi-clonic movement on the right side, and unresponsiveness. A brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a slightly high T2 signal in the left hippocampus. Interictal electoencephalogram revealed spikes in the occipital area of the left hemisphere. We analyzed the current-source distribution of the spikes to examine the relationship between the current source and the high T2 signal. The current source of the occipital spikes was not only distributed in the occipital area of both cerebral hemispheres, but also extended to the posterior temporal area of the left hemisphere. These findings suggest that the left temporal lobe may be one of the hyperexcitable areas and form part of the epileptogenic area in this patient. We hypothesized that the high T2 signal in the left hippocampus of our patient may not have been an incidental lesion, but instead may be related to the underlying electroclinical diagnosis of Panayiotopoulos syndrome, and particularly seizure. This notion is important because an abnormal T2 signal in the hippocampus may represent an acute stage of hippocampal injury, although there is no previous report of hippocampal pathology in Panayiotopoulos syndrome. Therefore, long-term observation and serial follow-up MRIs may be needed to confirm the clinical significance of the T2 signal change in the hippocampus of this patient.
Brain ; Cerebrum ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsies, Partial ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hippocampus ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pallor ; Preschool Child ; Seizures ; Temporal Lobe ; Vomiting

A 4-year-old girl with Panayiotopoulos syndrome presented with a history of 4 prolonged autonomic seizures. The clinical features of her seizures included, in order of occurrence, blank staring, pallor, vomiting, hemi-clonic movement on the right side, and unresponsiveness. A brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a slightly high T2 signal in the left hippocampus. Interictal electoencephalogram revealed spikes in the occipital area of the left hemisphere. We analyzed the current-source distribution of the spikes to examine the relationship between the current source and the high T2 signal. The current source of the occipital spikes was not only distributed in the occipital area of both cerebral hemispheres, but also extended to the posterior temporal area of the left hemisphere. These findings suggest that the left temporal lobe may be one of the hyperexcitable areas and form part of the epileptogenic area in this patient. We hypothesized that the high T2 signal in the left hippocampus of our patient may not have been an incidental lesion, but instead may be related to the underlying electroclinical diagnosis of Panayiotopoulos syndrome, and particularly seizure. This notion is important because an abnormal T2 signal in the hippocampus may represent an acute stage of hippocampal injury, although there is no previous report of hippocampal pathology in Panayiotopoulos syndrome. Therefore, long-term observation and serial follow-up MRIs may be needed to confirm the clinical significance of the T2 signal change in the hippocampus of this patient.
Brain ; Cerebrum ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsies, Partial ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hippocampus ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pallor ; Preschool Child ; Seizures ; Temporal Lobe ; Vomiting

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The most common type of syncope in young adults is neurocardiogenic in origin, which is not related to organic problems and has a benign nature. Therefore, there have been few reports regarding syncope in young Korean adults. Here, we examined the causes of syncope and its clinical characteristics in young combat and auxiliary police in Korea. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of the medical records of 193 combat and auxiliary police in Korea admitted to the National Police Hospital for syncope or presyncope between January 2004 and December 2007. RESULTS: The subjects' mean age was 21+/-1.2 years, and there were 2.8+/-2.9 episodes of syncope (mean+/-SEM). The first syncope occurred after enlistment in the police in 102 patients (52.8%). Basic diagnostic studies showed two cases of elevated creatine phosphokinase and one case of anemia to be related to syncope. Syncope-related traumatic injuries occurred in 38 patients (19.7%), and syncope was more prevalent in the summer. Head-up tilt test was performed in 175 of the 193 patients, and 123 showed a positive response. Other evaluations, including brain magnetic resonance imaging, electroencephalography, and echocardiography, were not helpful for diagnosis. Syncope was neurocardiogenic in origin in the majority of cases. Other causes of syncope were exhaustion (n=2), hyperventilation syndrome (n=2), Meniere's disease (n=1), anemia (n=1), and psychiatric problems (n=5). The causes of syncope could not be identified in 59 patients (30.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Neurocardiogenic syncope was the most common type in our study population. More than half of our patients experienced their first episode after enlisting with the police. Further studies in these groups are necessary.
Adult ; Anemia ; Brain ; Creatine Kinase ; Echocardiography ; Electroencephalography ; Humans ; Hyperventilation ; Korea ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Medical Records ; Meniere Disease ; Police ; Retrospective Studies ; Syncope ; Syncope, Vasovagal ; Young Adult