Objectives: This study evaluated nutritional quality of convenience store meal boxes according to store company and meal price. Methods: In May 2020, 71 meal boxes from five major convenience store companies were collected. Respective weights of all dishes and food ingredients included in each meal box were measured with a digital scale. Information on nutritional contents was collected from nutrition fact panels on packages. Food group patterns, dietary diversity scores (DDS), and dietary variety scores (DVS) were analyzed. Nutritional contents, i.e., amounts of energy, protein, and sodium, and percentages of energy from carbohydrate, sugar, fat, and saturated fat were compared with respective standards based on the 2020 Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans. Comparison was made among five companies (Company A, B, C, D, E) and three price groups ( ≤4,200 won, ≥4,300 and ≤4,500 won, ≥4,600 won). Multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the difference of nutritional contents according to company and price, respectively while holding the other variable constant. Results: DDS, but not DVS, significantly differed among companies. The percentages of meal boxes meeting the nutritional standards of sodium significantly differed among companies; the percentage was highest in companies B (75.0%) and C (73.3%). “Company” was associated with amount of energy, protein, and sodium, and percentage of energy from saturated fat. “Price” was associated with the amount of energy and percentage of energy from carbohydrate. The average number of satisfied standards was highest in companies B (5.0) and C (4.0). About two-thirds of the meal boxes provided less amount of energy than the standard; the percentage of such meal boxes was highest in meal boxes with price of 4,200 won or lower. Conclusions There were significant differences in the nutritional quality of meal boxes according to “company”. Meanwhile, higher-priced meal boxes did not necessarily ensure better nutritional quality.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of application of the draft nutritional standards for school lunches in the Republic of Korea (South Korea) from the supplier perspective. SUBJECTS/METHODS: In November 2018, a pilot operation was conducted at 104 participating schools for 2 weeks each by applying the draft standards A and B. To evaluate the ease and appropriateness of application of the standards, we analyzed the nutritional values and food cost of the school lunches for 2 weeks before and for 4 weeks under the pilot operation. We conducted an online survey of school dietitians or nutrition teachers of the participating schools to evaluate the feasibility of application of the standards in school lunch sites. RESULTS: The proportions of schools of which lunches met the reference values of the school’s own nutritional standards were 19.2% for the standards A and 21.2% for the standards B. The food cost of school lunches applying the standards A (KRW 2,880) was significantly lower than that of school lunches applying the standards B (KRW 3,030) or the existing standards (KRW 2,980). As a result of the survey, the mean score for the ease of application was significantly higher for the standards B (2.75) than for the standards A (2.24). The proportions of school dietitians or nutrition teachers reporting no problem in meeting an existing food cost standard were 72.5% for the standards A and 61.8% for the standards B, respectively. The overall appropriateness of application was higher for the standards B, because almost two-thirds (58.8%) of the respondents answered that the standards B were more appropriate than the standards A. CONCLUSION The standards B were more feasible to apply as nutritional standards for school lunches than the standards A from the supplier perspective.

Purpose: This study examines the attitude of South Korean adults toward food aid to North Korea and factors associated with it. Methods: An online survey involving 1,000 adults aged 19–69 years was conducted between September–October 2019. Throughout South Korea, the subjects were proportionally distributed with respect to gender, age, and region, to represent South Korean adults. Results: A total of 44.6% of the respondents agreed (Agreement group), 36.7% disagreed (Disagreement group), and 18.7% neither agreed nor disagreed to food aid to North Korea. Compared to the Disagreement group, the Agreement group had a higher concern of food aid to North Korea and a more positive perception on the effect of it. The Agreement group selected “direct assistance from the government” whereas the Disagreement group chose “support through international organizations” as the most appropriate channel for food aid to North Korea. Logistic regression analysis revealed that South Korean adults showing a more positive perception on the effect of food aid to North Korea were more likely to agree to the aid (odds ratio [OR], 19.32). Moreover, compared to the conservatives, the progressives were more likely to agree to food aid to North Korea (OR, 5.94). South Korean adults in their 40–50s were more likely to agree to food aid to North Korea than those in their 20–30s (OR, 2.81). South Korean adults with a higher concern of food aid to North Korea (OR, 3.93) and a greater positive perception on Korean unification (OR, 1.88) were more likely to agree to food aid to North Korea. Conclusion The most important factor associated with the attitude of South Korean adults toward food aid to North Korea was their perception on the subsequent effect. As strategies to draw social consensus on food aid to North Korea, we recommend systematizing the monitoring process on the effect of providing food aid to North Korea and informing the public of the outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) are associated with cardiovascular (CV) risk factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation of CV risk factors by cross-tabulating central obesity with multiple BMI categories in Korea. METHODS: A total of 328,789 adults aged 30–84 years who completed health assessments for National Health Insurance in 2012–2013 in Korea were examined. The participants were divided into two WC and five BMI groups to investigate CV risk factors, including metabolic syndrome (MetS), hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. RESULTS: The proportions of central obesity and obesity were 24.2% and 39.5% in men and 19.4% and 28.1% in women, respectively, according to the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity and World Health Organization Asia-Pacific Guideline criteria. The odds ratios (ORs) of CV risk factors in all sexes increased with increases in BMI and WC. Compared to the group with a normal WC and BMI, the adjusted ORs (95% confidence intervals) for having MetS and diabetes in the centrally obese and highest BMI group (BMI ≥30.0 kg/m²) were 35.95 (33.75–38.30) and 3.51 (3.26–3.77) in men and 29.22 (27.36–31.20) and 4.35 (4.02–4.70) in women, respectively. Participants who were centrally obese and obese (BMI ≥25.0 kg/m²) had the strongest correlation with all CV risk factors compared with those who were not centrally obese or obese. CONCLUSION: The presence of central obesity in multiple BMI categories may significantly identify individuals at increased risk of CV risk factors.
Adult ; Body Mass Index* ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Dyslipidemias ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Korea* ; Male ; National Health Programs ; Obesity ; Obesity, Abdominal* ; Odds Ratio ; Risk Factors* ; Waist Circumference ; World Health Organization

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine mothers’ knowledge levels on complementary foods and their perception of convenience complementary foods. Methods: An online survey was conducted with mothers aged 20–49 years who had purchased convenience complementary foods and had a preschool child aged 4 months or older. The respondents were categorized into 3 groups based on their knowledge scores:low- (0–50 points), mid- (55–65 points), and high- (70–100 points) knowledge groups. Results The average score of mothers’ knowledge on complementary foods was 58.8 out of 100 points. Working mothers were found to have lower levels of knowledge compared to mothers who were housewives. Only 1/4 of responding mothers had educational experience on complementary foods. Mothers expressed a desire for information on the types of complementary foods (72.2%) and the intake amounts (60.3%) corresponding to each phase of their child’s development. Multivariate analysis of variance revealed significant differences in health (P = 0.002), variety (P = 0.039), and hygiene (P = 0.041) among the factors taken into consideration when purchasing convenience complementary foods according to the mothers’ knowledge levels. Mothers in the high-knowledge group placed a greater importance on ‘balanced nutrition’ (P = 0.022) and ‘hygienic cooking’ (P = 0.010) compared to mothers in the low-knowledge group. The results of the modified importance-performance analysis, which compared the importance and performance of the factors taken into consideration when purchasing convenience complementary foods, highlighted the need for efforts in ‘health,’‘hygiene,’ and ‘price,’ while also indicating an excessive effort in ‘convenience.’ Conclusions: This study suggests expanding relevant education programs to enhance mothers’ knowledge on complementary foods, especially for working mothers. In the industry, marketing strategies for complementary food products could be developed that align with the needs of mothers, focusing on health, hygiene, and price.

BACKGROUND: In adults, tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) is a recommended component of routine echocardiography. However, TDI velocities are less accepted in pediatrics, due to their strong variability and age dependence in children. This study examines the distribution of myocardial tissue Doppler velocities in healthy children to assess the effect of age with cardiac growth on the various echocardiographic measurements. METHODS: Total 144 healthy children were enrolled in this study. They were recruited from the pediatric outpatient clinic for routine well-child visits. The statistical relationships between age and TDI values were analyzed. Also, the statistical relationships between body surface area (BSA) and TDI values, left ventricle end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD) and TDI values were analyzed. Also, we conducted multivariate analysis of cardiac growth parameters such as, age, BSA, LVEDD and TDI velocity data. RESULTS: All of the age, BSA, and LVEDD had positive correlations with deceleration time (DT), pressure half-time (PHT), peak early diastolic myocardial velocity, peak systolic myocardial velocity, and had negative correlations with peak late diastolic velocity (A) and the ratio of trans-mitral inflow velocity to early diastolic velocity of mitral annulus (E/E'). In the multivariate analysis, all of the age, BSA, and LVEDD had positive correlations with DT, PHT, and negative correlations with A and E/E'. CONCLUSION: The cardiac growth parameters related alterations of E/E' may suggest that diastolic myocardial velocities are cardiac growth dependent, and diastolic function has positive correlation with cardiac growth in pediatric group. This cardiac growth related myocardial functional variation would be important for assessment of cardiac involvement either in healthy and sick child.
Adult ; Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Body Surface Area ; Child* ; Deceleration ; Echocardiography ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pediatrics

A 29-year-old woman was referred to our institute for symptomatic hypoxemia. Her dyspnea was aggravated while sitting or standing and relieved while in supine position. She did not have any pulmonary disease. Transthoracic echocardiography and heart computed tomography revealed an underestimated small atrial septal defect (ASD) with a left-to-right shunt. A cardiac catheterization was performed to evaluate pulmonary hypertension. It revealed a normal pulmonary artery pressure and a large ASD with bidirectional shunt during Valsalva maneuver by intracardiac echocardiogram. Her arterial oxygen saturation decreased from 93% while supine to 79% while at a 15degrees sitting position. Thus, the patient was diagnosed with platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome. The ASD was successfully closed with Amplatzer(R) (St. Jude Medical) septal occluder and both platypnea and orthodeoxia were resolved immediately after the procedure.
Adult ; Anoxia ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Dyspnea ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Heart ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial* ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Lung Diseases ; Oxygen ; Pulmonary Artery ; Septal Occluder Device ; Supine Position ; Valsalva Maneuver

A nasal-type extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma is considered an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, with approximately half of all patients relapsing during the follow-up period, and most relapses occurring within the first 2 years of remission. Here we report an unusual case of a 42-year-old man who experienced recurrence in single pleura after 8 years of remission.
Adenosine Deaminase ; Adult ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymphoma* ; Lymphoma, Extranodal NK-T-Cell ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Pleura ; Pleural Effusion ; Recurrence*

BACKGROUND: Fascin is an actin-bundling protein that plays an important role in cellular motility. Fascin is normally expressed in the neuronal and mesenchymal cells and its expression is low or absent in the epithelia. However, an overexpression of fascin has been linked to the invasive behavior of some neoplasms such as breast, stomach and ovarian tumors. In this study, we evaluated the expression of fascin and its prognostic significance in stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining for fascin was performed on the paraffin-embeded tissue sections of 81 cases of resected NSCLC. Staining of more than 5% of the tumor cells was recorded as positive immunoreactivity. RESULTS: Fascin expression was seen in 73% (59/81) of the cases and this was more frequently seen in squamous cell carcinoma than in adenocarcinoma (93% vs 42%). There were no significant correlations of fascin immunoreactivity with tumor recurrence and overall survival. CONCLUSION: The expression rate of fascin was relatively high in NSCLC, but this was without prognostic significance. The exact clinical role of fascin should be defined through further investigations.
Adenocarcinoma ; Breast ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Carrier Proteins ; Lung Neoplasms ; Microfilament Proteins ; Neurons ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Stomach