Molecular identification of human externally visible characteristic （EVC）, which is also called forensic DNA phenotyping （FDP）, can serve as a "molecular witness" when the routine investigations can not determine the identity of a criminal and the DNA database find no match after comparison. FDP could assist in investigation of cases by inferring the externally visible phenotypic characteristics from DNA obtained from the biological materials left at crime scenes, or unknown corpses. In the last few years, studies on the selection of EVC related molecular markers have been reported frequently and some of the EVCs could already be inferred with a certain accuracy, such as hair color and iris color. Further fundamental research on molecular genetics of human external phenotypic characteristics, as well as the continuous innovation on molecular biological technology would promote the rapid development of DNA molecular identification of human phenotypic characteristics.
DNA/genetics* ; Databases, Nucleic Acid ; Eye Color/genetics* ; Forensic Anthropology/trends* ; Forensic Genetics/trends* ; Hair Color/genetics* ; Humans ; Phenotype ; Physical Appearance, Body/genetics* ; Skin Pigmentation/genetics*

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Food shortage situation in North Korea has gained much interest, however food insecurity caused by the food shortage in North Korean households has not been much investigated. This study examined food security experiences and food consumption pattern of displaced North Korean households currently living in South Korea. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Food security experience among 51 North Korean households living in South Korea was examined using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) in three time points: immediately before childbirth, immediately before leaving North Korea, and immediately before entering South Korea. Meal/snack consumption frequencies and food diversity were also examined. RESULTS: Food security situation was the worst at the time of immediately before leaving North Korea with the average HFIAS score of 10.05. The households that were food insecure, they tended to be "severely" insecure. Although majority of the subjects reported having three or more meals a day, food diversity in their diet was very low with the average food diversity score of 2.17 immediately before childbirth and 1.74 immediately before leaving North Korea. Their diet appeared to heavily rely on grain and vegetable. CONCLUSIONS: This study is one of few that specifically examined food security of North Korean households with a pre-developed scale, and that demonstrated food security situation at different time points in quantified terms. Replicating this study with different groups of North Korean households for different time points would allow more complete understanding of impacts of food shortage. Food diversity score could provide a good way to examine changes of food consumption occurring to North Koreans in the process of adaptation. More attention to the changes occurring during adaption to South Korea should be given to understand the process and impact and to prepare public nutrition policy for the re-unified Korea.
Edible Grain ; Democratic People's Republic of Korea ; Diet ; Family Characteristics* ; Food Supply* ; Korea ; Meals ; Nutrition Policy ; Parturition ; Vegetables

Until now, South Korea does not have either fortification or enrichment program as intervention tools, although the addition of micronutrients to foods is for the most part not regulated. The aim of this study was to determine which scenario would most effectively reduce the proportion of the population with low iron intake while not putting other population groups at risk of excessive intakes. In order to investigate potential dietary consequences of iron fortification, we analyzed 2 day dietary record data (n=3,955) from the 2001 National Nutrition Surveys. The Proportion of the population consuming dietary iron less than the estimated average requirement (EAR) ranged from 12.4~87.5% depending upon gender and age group. Iron fortification at the level of 100% of Recommended Intake (RI) per 100g to breads and instant or dried noodles was estimated to result in a 15% decrease of proportion of those with iron less than EAR, while putting 1.4 % of the population greater than the Upper Limit (UL). Iron fortification appeared to be the most effective for the 15~19 year old age group, showing 39% reduction of iron intake insufficiency. The results suggest that carefully designed fortification or enrichment to staple foods may contribute to increase dietary iron intakes of Koreans, especially for the young population with a high prevalence of iron inadequacy. As the estimation in this study was based solely upon dietary intake data, iron intake from supplements should be considered in further studies.
Bread ; Edible Grain* ; Diet Records ; Ear ; Food Supply* ; Humans ; Iron* ; Iron, Dietary ; Korea* ; Micronutrients ; Nutrition Surveys ; Population Groups ; Prevalence

This study aimed to define a one portion size of food items frequently consumed for convenient use by Koreans in food selection, diet planning, and nutritional evaluation. We analyzed using the original data on 5,436 persons (60.87%) aged 20 ~ 64 years among 8,930 persons to whom NHANES 2005 and selected food items consumed by the intake frequency of 30 or higher among the 500 most frequently consumed food items. A total of 374 varieties of food items of regular use were selected. And the portion size of food items was set on the basis of the median (50th percentile) of the portion size for a single intake by a single person was analyzed. In cereals, the portion size of well polished rice was 80 g. In meats, the portion size of Korean beef cattle was 25 g. Among vegetable items, the portion size of Baechukimchi was 40 g. The portion size of the food items of regular use set in this study will be conveniently and effectively used by general consumers in selecting food items for a nutritionally balanced diet. In addition, these will be used as the basic data in setting the serving size in meal planning.
Adult ; Aged ; Animals ; Cattle ; Edible Grain ; Diet ; Food Preferences ; Humans ; Meals ; Meat ; Nutrition Surveys ; Single Person ; Vegetables

The purpose of this study was to define a one portion size of food frequently consumed by Korean children aged 6-11 for convenient use in food selection, diet planning, nutritional evaluation, and nutrition education. We analyzed using the original data on 889 persons (9.96%) aged 6-11 years among 8,930 persons to whom NHANES 2005 and selected food items consumed by the intake frequency of 10 or higher among the 500 most frequently consumed food items. A total of 172 varieties of food items of regular use were selected. Also the portion size of food items was set on the basis of the median (50 percentile) of the portion size for a single intake by a single person was analyzed. The portion size of cereals was 5 g for prosomillet to 120 g for hamburger. As for vegetables, it posted 1 g for red pepper to 50 g for nabakkimchi. The portion size of meats and products was 15 g for luncheon meat to 120 g for beef feet soup. In comparison of children's portion size with adults', the children's portion sizes of every food groups, with the exception of meats and eggs, were lower than those of adults. The portion size of the regular food items of children in this study will be conveniently and effectively used by children, children's diet planners and researchers in selecting food items for a nutritionally balanced diet and in assessing the children's diet intake.
Adult ; Aged ; Capsicum ; Edible Grain ; Child ; Diet ; Eggs ; Food Preferences ; Foot ; Humans ; Korea ; Meat ; Nutrition Surveys ; Ovum ; Single Person ; Vegetables

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the glycemic response of diets using estimated glycemic load (eGL), which had been developed for mixed meals for Korean adults, and examined its associations with cardiometabolic risk factors among Korean adults. METHODS: A total of 4,655 men and 6,760 women aged 19 years and above were included from the 2013 ~ 2016 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. eGL was calculated by each meal (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack) and then summed to give daily total eGL. A multiple logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association. RESULTS: Mean daily total eGL was 112.6 in men and 99.3 in women. Daily total eGL was positively associated with carbohydrate and fiber intakes, but negatively associated with protein and fat intakes in both men and women (p < 0.05 for all). Daily total eGL showed an inverse association with HDL-cholesterol level in both men and women (p = 0.0036 for men and p = 0.0008 for women). Men in the highest quintile of daily total eGL showed a 66% increased risk of hypercholesterolemia (OR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.10 ~ 2.50; p for trend = 0.0447) compared with those in the lowest quintile. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that eGL based on carbohydrate, protein, fat and fiber intakes can reflect glycemic response and therefore can be used as an index for dietary planning, nutrition education and in the food industry.
Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Diet ; Dyslipidemias ; Education ; Female ; Food Industry ; Glycemic Load ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Lunch ; Male ; Meals ; Nutrition Surveys ; Risk Factors

PURPOSE: To evaluate current complementary feeding and maternal nutritional knowledge of a multicultural family in Korea. METHODS: Foreign mothers of babies aged 9~24 months, who visited pediatric clinics or attended a meeting on a multicultural family party between December 2010 and April 2011, were asked to fill out questionnaires. Data from 146 questionnaires were analyzed. RESULTS: Complementary food was introduced at 4~7 months in 78% of babies. The following were the sources of information on complementary feeding: friends (34%), relatives (27%), books/magazines (19%), multicultural family educational support center (8%), mass media (4%), and hospitals (3%). The cases of complementary food introduction after 8 months (21% vs. 10%, p<0.001), initial use of commercial food (26% vs. 6%, P<0.001) and initial use of bottle feeding (15% vs. 3%, p<0.001) were more frequent compared to the 2009 Korean survey. Mothers agreeing with the following suggestions were relatively fewer: feeding minced meat from 6~7 months (61%), No mixed cereal powder as complementary food (61%), feeding egg white after 12 months (63%), no adding salt or sugar to the complementary food (64%), bottle weaning before 15~18 months (66%) and considering formula better than soy milk (68%). CONCLUSION: Complementary feeding practices of multicultural families showed many points of improvement compared with the 2009 Korean survey. Pediatricians should make more of an effort to consult with families of multicultural infants about nutrition and complementary feeding. Also, the government and the pediatrics academy need to institute policies to support the nutrition of multicultural infants.
Aged ; Bottle Feeding ; Edible Grain ; Egg White ; Friends ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Mass Media ; Meat ; Mothers ; Pediatrics ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Soy Milk ; Weaning

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: As aging progresses, the number of patients with cognitive impairment also increases. Cognitive function is not generally correlated with diet, and there is debate over that association. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the association between dietary intake and cognitive function among adults aged 50 years or older. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Between July 2017 and March 2018, 324 adults aged over 50 years from Gwangju Sun-Han hospital participated in a dietary survey. The frequency of food intake and related information were collected using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (SQ-FFQ) and determining the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) level for 276 participants. The association between dietary intake and cognitive function was assessed by performing logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Depending on the MMSE score, the participants' age, education level, inhabitation status, medications, alcohol consumption, sleep duration, physical activity, and short geriatric depression scale score were significantly different (P < 0.05). Moreover, those participant characteristics were associated with either decreased or increased odds ratios (OR) for the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Based on analysis of the participants' intake of 112 detailed food items, which were categorized into 20 food types, intakes of cooked white rice (< 2 times/day compared with ≥3 times/day) (P < 0.05), properly cooked rice with other grains and legumes (P < 0.001), fruits (P < 0.05), milk (low fat and normal) (P = 0.044), liquid-type yogurt (P = 0.019), and curd-type yogurt (P = 0.015) were found to significantly decrease the OR for the risk of MCI. CONCLUSIONS: Associations were significant between the risk of MCI and the intake of certain food types. Specifically, a moderate intake of cooked white rice and an adequate intake of whole grains, fruits, milk, and dairy products were associated with reduced risks of MCI among adults aged over 50 years.
Adult* ; Aging ; Alcohol Drinking ; Cognition ; Cognition Disorders ; Dairy Products ; Depression ; Diet* ; Eating ; Education ; Fabaceae ; Fruit ; Gwangju ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Mild Cognitive Impairment* ; Milk ; Motor Activity ; Odds Ratio ; Whole Grains ; Yogurt

Lipid transfer proteins can be an important cause of allergy given their stability and high degree of protein sequence homology. We describe the case of a child who developed two separate episodes of anaphylaxis after consuming apple seed and grape, with evidence that nonspecific lipid transfer proteins may have been responsible for these reactions. Lipid transfer protein allergy should be considered when anaphylaxis is inconsistent, such as in patients who can tolerate fruit pulp but react to fresh whole fruit juices.
Anaphylaxis ; Child ; Fruit ; Fruit and Vegetable Juices ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Vitis

Introduction: While the relationship between obesity and caloric intake is widely accepted, the role of glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) to body mass index (BMI) remains equivocal. This study seeks to determine the daily glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) of usual diet of rural-dwelling Filipinos, and their relationship with body mass index (BMI). Methods: This is a cross-sectional study reviewing the data of 139 adults from San Juan, Batangas. Average daily GI and GL were calculated from two-day food recall questionnaires. Spearman’s rank test was used to determine correlation of daily GI and GL with BMI; the mean BMI was compared among GI and GL tertiles using one-way ANOVA. Partial least squares regression was used to determine the contribution of food items to daily GI and GL. Results: No overall correlation was observed between daily GI or GL and BMI using Spearman’s rank. However, BMI was higher with increasing GI tertiles (p<0.0001) and GL tertiles (p=0.0108) among the males, but not females. Bread, coffeemix and sweets were major contributors to daily GI, while rice, bread/pastries and sweetened beverages were to daily GL. Leafy vegetables negatively contributed to both. Conclusion There is a positive relationship observed between daily GI and BMI, and daily GL and BMI among the men, but not women, in this population. Staple food with high GI like bread/pastries and sweetened beverages contributed most to both daily GI and GL, with the addition of rice for daily GL. Among Filipinos with marginal daily caloric intake, optimizing carbohydrate quality (low GI or GL) rather than limiting its quantity may be more appropriate. Future studies of prospective design and using objective methods of food intake reporting are recommended.
Glycemic Index ; Glycemic Load