OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to observe recent changes in adolescents' dietary behavior and indirectly evaluate the effects of the government's nutritional policies in Korea. METHODS: We analyzed the secular trends in seven dietary behaviors using the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey data from 2005 to 2009. Through literature review, we included the policies implemented for the improvement of adolescents'dietary behaviors during the same periods. RESULTS: The significant linear trends were observed in all dietary behaviors (p<0.05). Overall, all behaviors except the fruit intake rate were desirably changed during five years but undesirable changes were observed between 2008 and 2009 in all behaviors. Within those periods, several policies were implemented including 'Ban on carbonated-beverages in school', 'Green Food Zone', etc. Despite confirmed evidence of their effects, the policies on individual behavior such as nutrition education didn't influence the prevalence of dietary behaviors because they were conducted to too limited persons. Polices on the school environmental improvement, such as ban on carbonated beverage in school, were more effective because they decreased the exposure of undesirable food environment. However, for effect of Green Food Zone improving community environment we couldn't come to a conclusion because of too short period after full implementation. CONCLUSIONS: Among government nutrition policies conducted from 2005 to 2009, those on environmental improvement, especially in school, were more effective than those on individual behavior. Therefore, the development and implement of policies on school environmental improvement are needed in Korea.
Adolescent ; *Adolescent Behavior ; *Environmental Policy ; Female ; *Food Habits ; *Health Behavior ; Humans ; Korea ; Linear Models ; Male ; *Nutrition Policy

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibody on the survival of retinal ganglion cell (RGC)-5 cells differentiated with staurosporine under oxidative stress. METHODS: We used real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot to confirm the expression of VEGF, VEGF receptor (VEGFR)-1 and VEGFR-2 in RGC-5 cells differentiated with staurosporine for 6 hours. The differentiated RGC-5 cells were treated with 800 µM hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) for 24 hours to induce oxidative stress. Then, the survival rate of RGC-5 was confirmed by lactate dehydrogenase assay at each concentration (0, 0.01, 0.1, and 1 mg) using bevacizumab as the anti-VEGF antibody. The expression of VEGF, VEGFR-1, and VEGFR-2 was confirmed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: VEGF, VEGFR-1, and VEGFR-2 were all expressed in differentiated RGC-5 cells. When RGC-5 cells were simultaneously treated with bevacizumab and 800 µM H₂O₂, survival of RGC-5 decreased with bevacizumab concentration. VEGF expression in RGC-5 cells increased with increasing concentration of bevacizumab. Similar patterns were observed for VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2, but the degree of increase was smaller than that for VEGF. CONCLUSIONS: When bevacizumab was administered to differentiated RGC-5 cells, the cell damage caused by oxidative stress increased. Therefore, given these in vitro study results, caution should be exercised with bevacizumab treatment.
Bevacizumab ; Blotting, Western ; Endothelial Growth Factors* ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; In Vitro Techniques ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Oxidative Stress ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor ; Retinal Ganglion Cells* ; Retinaldehyde* ; Staurosporine ; Survival Rate ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2

No abstract available.
Glaucoma* ; Humans ; Nerve Fibers* ; Photography* ; Retinaldehyde*

PURPOSE: To compare the diagnostic abilities of swept-source optical coherence tomography (OCT) [Deep Range Imaging OCT-1 (DRI-OCT)] and spectral-domain OCT (Cirrus HD-OCT) for glaucoma in Korean adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study involved measuring peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (PP-RNFL) thickness, full macular thickness, and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) thickness on two different OCT systems. We used three-dimensional optic disc scanning of DRI-OCT and included 12 clock-hour sectors for measurement of the PP-RNFL. Areas under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) were calculated and compared to determine how well each system could distinguish control and glaucomatous patients. RESULTS: Ninety-one healthy and 58 glaucomatous eyes were included. Both systems could clearly distinguish between control eyes and eyes with moderate to severe glaucoma. Among all sectors, the AUC values of areas associated with glaucoma were >0.7 for both OCTs. The PP-RNFL sector of highest AUC value on both OCTs was the inferior sector of the clock-hour map (0.968 and 0.959 in DRI-OCT and Cirrus HD-OCT, respectively). Among macular thickness sectors, AUC values were highest on both OCTs for the outer inferior sector (0.859 and 0.853 in DRI-OCT and Cirrus HD-OCT, respectively). The GC-IPL also provided high diagnostic values (DRI-OCT and Cirrus HD-OCT were the best in the average and inferior sectors, respectively). CONCLUSION: Although the two OCT systems provided different thickness measurements, DRI-OCT exhibited as good, if not better, diagnostic ability for glaucoma as Cirrus HD-OCT in Korean adults.
Adult ; Area Under Curve ; Ganglion Cysts ; Glaucoma* ; Humans ; Nerve Fibers ; Retinaldehyde ; Retrospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Tomography, Optical Coherence*

Calcification most frequently occurs in the rotator cuff insertion of the shoulder. However, calcification is known to develop in any joint, including the hip, knee, wrist and elbow. Around the knee joint, it usually occurs in the areas such as the quadriceps femoris muscle, the popliteus muscle and the medial collateral ligament with a history of trauma. But the occurrence of calcification in the lateral collateral ligament is very rare. We herein report on one case of the calcification that developed in the lateral collateral ligament, and this was treated by excision of the calcified materials and repair of the ligament. We also present the magnetic resonance imaging findings of this case.
Collateral Ligaments ; Elbow ; Hip ; Joints ; Knee ; Knee Joint ; Ligaments ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Muscles ; Quadriceps Muscle ; Rotator Cuff ; Shoulder ; Wrist

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the clinical efficacy and safety of omidenepag isopropyl (OMDI) 0.002% in Korean patients. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted involving 306 patients diagnosed with glaucoma or ocular hypertension, who were administered OMDI 0.002% from May 2021 to June 2022. The primary outcomes were the change in intraocular pressure (IOP) at months 1, 3, and 6 compared to the baseline IOP, and the reactions to the OMDI drug. Results: Out of 235 patients who met the study inclusion criteria, the mean IOP was 16.5 ± 3.4 mmHg at baseline, 14.5 ± 3.0 mmHg at month 1, 14.3 ± 2.7 mmHg at month 3, and 14.7 ± 3.1 mmHg at month 6. The mean IOP reduction at month 6 was -1.6 ± 2.8 mmHg (p < 0.001). On analyzing the IOP by types of glaucoma, the mean IOP change at the 6-month point showed statistically significant results in all types, including normal tension glaucoma, primary open-angle glaucoma, and ocular hypertension (p < 0.05). The frequency of side effects in all patients was 29.8%, with the most commonly reported adverse drug reaction being hyperemia in 18.7% of the total patients. There was one case (0.4%) of uveitis after OMDI administration, but no other systemic adverse drug reactions were reported. Conclusions Omidenepag isopropyl demonstrated a statistically significant IOP-lowering effect in Korean patients with various types of glaucoma. This suggests that OMDI could potentially serve as a first-line treatment for glaucoma.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors associated with glaucoma or ocular hypertension (OHT) in patients taking oral corticosteroids for extended periods, and to aid in managing intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with these risk factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed involving 690 patients who visited a tertiary referral hospital and had been using oral corticosteroids for more than six months. Patients' demographics, tonometry results, drug type, dosage, duration, ophthalmic history, and the use of glaucoma eye drops were analyzed to determine the risk factors associated with glaucoma or OHT. Results: In a generalized linear model analysis comparing patients' eyes diagnosed with glaucoma or ocular hypertension to those without such diagnoses, no statistical difference was observed between the two groups in terms of drug type, age, and duration of oral corticosteroid use. However, the dosage was found to be statistically significant (odds ratio 1.09, p = 0.0294). Conclusions No difference in the incidence of glaucoma or OHT was found based on the type of oral steroid, age, or duration of use. However, a higher incidence of glaucoma and OHT was observed among patients taking higher doses of oral steroids. Therefore, it is suggested that using lower doses of oral steroids may be more beneficial for managing IOP.

Stroke is the most common cause of death as single-diseases in South Korea. And it generates additional medical cost through high incidence of related disabilities and complications, which would become more important with the rapid aging process in Korean society. This study was preformed to identify stroke patients' mortality and its associated factors. Patients diagnosed as stroke (ICD-10 code I60-I63) in 2003 were identified. Their follow-up mortality rate in 5 years and related factors (stroke type, sex, age, type of first admission hospital, comorbidity score) were analyzed using national health insurance claim data and national cause of death statistics. The mortality rate peaked in early days after attack, and decreased subsequently as the survive time gets longer. The mortality rate was higher in hemorrhagic stroke than ischemic stroke, in female than male, with the older age, and with the higher comorbidity score. It is recommended that the early intervention at general hospital or tertiary referral hospital should be promoted to decrease the mortality rate in stroke patients, and related quality assurance programs have to be enforced.
Aging ; Cause of Death ; Comorbidity ; Early Intervention (Education) ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; National Health Programs ; Republic of Korea ; Stroke ; Tertiary Care Centers

OBJECTIVES: Understanding recent trends in cigarette smoking among adolescents is important in order to develop strategies to prevent cigarette smoking. The aim of this study was to compare recent trends in cigarette smoking for adolescents living in rural areas, small towns and metropolitan cities in Korea. METHODS: The raw data from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBWS) from 2005 to 2009 were used. Data were analyzed by using the method of complex survey data analysis considering complex sampling design. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate significant linear time trends in cigarette smoking. The indicators of cigarette use behaviors were 'current smoking rate', 'frequent smoking rate', 'heavy smoking rate' and 'smoking experience rate before 13 years of age'. All analyses were conducted according to gender. RESULTS: Statistically significant increasing trends in current smoking rate and frequent smoking rate were observed and borderline significant increasing trends in heavy smoking rate were shown among rural boys. Among metropolitan city boys, statistically significant increasing trends were also seen for frequent smoking. Statistically significant decreasing trends in current smoking rate were observed among small town and metropolitan city girls. Smoking experience rate before 13 years of age for rural girls decreased significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Cigarette smoking prevalence among adolescents in the rural areas has increased in the last five years especially among boys. Our findings suggest that anti-tobacco program for adolescents should be conducted primarily for those in rural areas.
Adolescent ; Adolescent Behavior/*psychology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea ; Rural Population ; Smoking/epidemiology/prevention & control/*trends ; Urban Population

Liver cirrhosis is one of the major complications of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, but the mechanisms underlying HCV-related fibrogenesis are still not clear. Although the roles of HCV core protein remain poorly understood, it is supposed to play an important role in the regulation of cellular growth and hepatocarcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to examine the role of HCV core protein on the hepatic fibrogenesis. We established an in vitro co-culture system with primary hepatic stellate cell (HSC) isolated from rats, and a stable HepG2-HCV core cell line which had been transfected with HCV core gene. The expressions of fibrosis-related molecules transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1), transforming growth factor b receptor II (TGF beta RII), alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) were analyzed via histological or molecular methods. In addition, the expression levels of matrix metaloprotinase-2 (MMP-2) and collagen type I (Col I) from the co-cultured media were measured by zymogram and ELISA, respectively. The expressions of alpha-SMA, TGF-beta1, Col I, TGF beta RII and MMP-2 were significantly increased in the co-culture of stable HepG2-HCV core with HSC. Moreover, the significant increases of CTGF and TGF-beta1 in the HCV core-expressing cells were observed by either Northern or Western blot analysis. These results suggest that HCV core protein may contribute to the hepatic fibrogenesis via up-regulation of CTGF and TGF-beta1.
Actins/metabolism ; Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cells, Cultured ; Coculture Techniques ; Collagen Type I/metabolism ; Gelatinase A/metabolism ; Immediate-Early Proteins/*biosynthesis ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/*biosynthesis ; Liver/metabolism/*pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis/*metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolism ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Transforming Growth Factor beta/*metabolism ; Up-Regulation ; Viral Core Proteins/genetics/*metabolism