PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to explore health behaviors, examine health behaviors in relation to demographic factors, and investigate the relationships between health risk behaviors (e.g., tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and sexual experience) among Korean adolescents. METHODS: The study used a cross-sectional descriptive relational design and a population-based data collection of 1,716 middle and high school Korean adolescents. The 72-item Korean Adolescent Health Behavior Scale was used for data collection, while descriptive statistics, t test and chi-square test were used in the data analyses. RESULTS: Females were doing better on weight control, hygiene, safety, and computer use than were males. Males were doing better on physical activity. Adolescents living in cities were more likely to be addicted to computer but were consuming alcohol and using tobacco less than adolescents in rural areas were. In addition, religion, grade level, and living area also made the adolescents' health behavior significantly different. CONCLUSION: As the result suggested, gender, religion, grade level, and region need to be considered when designing health promotion interventions among Korean adolescents.
Adolescent ; Alcohol Drinking/epidemiology ; Child ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Demography ; Female ; *Health Behavior ; Humans ; Male ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; *Risk-Taking ; Rural Health ; Sexual Behavior/statistics & numerical data ; Smoking/epidemiology ; Students ; Urban Health ; Young Adult

Cylindrocarpon destructans causes root rot disease in ginseng and can survive for a long time, producing chlamydospores. We optimized conditions to induce chlamydospore production from the conidia of C. destructans, isolated from Korean ginseng. This will provide the basis for testing the efficacy of control agents targeting these chlamydospores.
Korea* ; Panax* ; Spores, Fungal*

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study examined socio-economic differences in diverse food consumption among children 6–23 months of age in South Asia and Southeast Asian countries. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Data from Demographic and Health Surveys in four countries in South Asia (n = 15,749) and four countries in Southeast Asia (n = 10,789) were used. Survey-design adjusted proportions were estimated for the following 10 food items: grains, legumes, dark green leafy vegetables (DGLV), vitamin A-rich fruits, vitamin A-rich vegetables, other fruits and vegetables (OFV), fish, meat, dairy, and eggs. An equity gap was defined as an arithmetic difference in the proportion of each food item consumed in the past 24-hours between the wealthiest and lowest quintiles and between rural and urban areas, denoted by percentage points (pp). RESULTS: The consumption of most of the 10 food items was higher in the wealthiest quintiles and urban areas across eight countries. The size of equity gaps was greater in Southeast Asia than in South Asia, particularly for vitamin A-rich fruits (3.3–30.0 pp vs. 0.3–19.6 pp), vitamin A-rich vegetables (12.1–26.7 pp vs. 2.4–5.9 pp), meat (17.7–33.4 pp vs. 3.4–13.4 pp), and dairy (14.7–32.5 pp vs. 3.3–11.4 pp). However, the size of equity gap in egg consumption was greater in Southeast Asia than South Asia (11.2–19.8 pp vs. 11.0–26.7 pp). Relatively narrower gaps were seen in the consumption of grains (0.3–12.9 pp), DGLV (0.6–12.4 pp), and fish (0.1–16.8 pp) across all countries. CONCLUSIONS Equity gaps in food consumption differed by socio-economic status and region. Reducing equity gaps in nutrient-rich foods and utilizing regionally available food resources may increase child dietary quality.

Objective: To determine whether Sonazoid-enhanced ultrasound (SZUS) was noninferior to SonoVue-enhanced ultrasound (SVUS) in diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using the same diagnostic criteria. Materials and Methods: This prospective, single-center, noninferiority study (NCT04847726) enrolled 105 at-risk participants (71 male; mean age ± standard deviation, 63 ± 11 years; range, 26–86 years) with treatment-naïve solid hepatic nodules (≥ 1 cm). All participants underwent same-day SZUS (experimental method) and SVUS (control method) for one representative nodule per participant. Images were interpreted by three readers (the operator and two independent readers). All malignancies were diagnosed histopathologically, while the benignity of other lesions was confirmed by follow-up stability or pathology. The primary endpoint was per-lesion diagnostic accuracy for HCC pooled across three readers using the conventional contrast-enhanced ultrasound diagnostic criteria, including arterial phase hyperenhancement followed by mild (assessed within 2 minutes after contrast injection) and late (≥ 60 seconds with a delay of 5 minutes) washout. The noninferiority delta was -10%p. Furthermore, different time delays were compared as washout criteria in SZUS, including delays of 2, 5, and > 10 minutes. Results: A total of 105 lesions (HCCs [n = 61], non-HCC malignancies [n = 19], and benign [n = 25]) were evaluated. Using the 5-minutes washout criterion, per-lesion accuracy of SZUS pooled across the three readers (72.4%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 64.1%–79.3%) was noninferior to that of SVUS (71.4%; 95% CI, 63.1%–78.6%), meeting the statistical criterion for non-inferiority (difference of 0.95%p; 95% CI, -3.8%p–5.7%p). The arterial phase hyperenhancement combined with the 5-minutes washout criterion showed the same sensitivity as that of the > 10-minutes criterion (59.0% vs. 59.0%, p = 0.989), and the specificities were not significantly different (90.9% vs. 86.4%, p = 0.072). Conclusion SZUS was noninferior to SVUS for diagnosing HCC in at-risk patients using the same diagnostic criteria. No significant improvement in HCC diagnosis was observed by extending the washout time delay from 5 to 10 minutes.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study examined the association between refined grain consumption by subtype and the incidence of hypertension from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study data. SUBJECTS/METHODS: In total, 5,018 participants (2,439 men and 2,579 women) from 40 to 69 years without hypertension were recruited at the beginning (2001–2002). Blood pressure and antihypertensive medication use were assessed biennially for the incidence of hypertension during the 8-year follow-up period (2009–2010). Hypertension was diagnosed as systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg or antihypertensive medication use. Dietary intake including refined grains was assessed by a food frequency questionnaire at baseline and the follow-up (2005–2006). A multivariate Cox proportional hazard model was used to examine hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for incident hypertension according to refined-grain consumption. RESULTS: A total of 1,377 cases of hypertension (710 men and 667 women) were newly ascertained. Frequent noodle consumers (≥ 5 servings/week) among the women had a 2.3-fold higher risk of hypertension than infrequent noodle consumers after adjustment for potential confounders (HR = 2.31, 95% CI = 1.33–4.01, P for trend = 0.0001). However, no significant association was found among the men. The intake of other refined grain products such as white rice and breads was not associated with the incidence of hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: Frequent noodle consumption was positively associated with a risk of incident hypertension in South Korean women.
Blood Pressure ; Bread ; Epidemiology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Genome ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Male ; Proportional Hazards Models

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Diet quality scores or indices, based on dietary guidelines, are used to summarize dietary intake into a single numeric variable. The aim of this study was to examine the association between the modified diet quality index for Koreans (DQI-K) and mortality among Health Examinees-Gem (HEXA-G) study participants. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The DQI-K was modified from the original diet quality index. A total of 134,547 participants (45,207 men and 89,340 women) from the HEXA-G study (2004 and 2013) were included. The DQI-K is based on eight components: 1) daily protein intake, 2) percent of energy from fat, 3) percent of energy from saturated fat, 4) daily cholesterol intake, 5) daily whole-grain intake, 6) daily fruit intake, 7) daily vegetable intake, and 8) daily sodium intake. The association between all-cause mortality and the DQI-K was examined using Cox proportional hazard regression models. Hazard ratios and confidence intervals were estimated after adjusting for age, gender, income, smoking status, alcohol drinking, body mass index, and total energy intake. RESULTS: The total DQI-K score was calculated by summing the scores of the eight components (range 0–9). In the multivariable adjusted models, with good diet quality (score 0–4) as a reference, poor diet quality (score 5–9) was associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratios = 1.23, 95% confidence intervals = 1.06–1.43). Moreover, a one-unit increase in DQI-K score resulted in a 6% higher mortality risk. CONCLUSIONS: A poor diet quality DQI-K score was associated with an increased risk of mortality. The DQI-K in the present study may be used to assess the diet quality of Korean adults.
Adult ; Alcohol Drinking ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol ; Cohort Studies ; Diet* ; Energy Intake ; Fruit ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Mortality* ; Nutrition Policy ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Sodium ; Vegetables

Immune status including the immune cells and cytokine profiles has been implicated in the development of endometriosis. In this study, we analyzed Th17 cells and IL-17A in peritoneal fluid (PF) and endometrial tissues of patients with (n=10) and without (n=26) endometriosis. Our study has shown increased Th17 cell population and IL-17A level in PF with endometriosis patients. To determine the roles of IL-17A and Th17 cells in the development of endometriosis, the effect of IL-17A, major cytokine of Th17, on endometrial cells isolated from endometriotic tissues was examined. Recombinant IL-17A promoted survival of endometrial cells accompanied by increased expression of anti-apoptotic genes, including Bcl-2 and MCL1, and the activation of ERK1/2 signaling. In addition, treatment of IL-17A to endometrial cells inhibited NK cell mediated cytotoxicity and induced HLA-G expression on endometrial cells. IL-17A also promoted migration of endometrial cells. Our data suggest that Th17 cells and IL-17A play critical roles in the development of endometriosis by promoting endometrial cell survival and conferring a resistance to NK cell cytotoxicity through the activation of ERK1/2 signaling. Targeting IL-17A has potential as a new strategy for the treatment of endometriosis.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The economic recession caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic disproportionately affected poor and vulnerable populations globally. Better uunderstanding of vulnerability to shocks in food supply and demand in the Asia Pacific region is needed. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Using secondary data from rapid assessment surveys during the pandemic response (n = 10,420 in mid-2020; n = 6,004 in mid-2021) in India, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Vietnam, this study examined the risk factors for reported income reduction or job loss in mid-2021 and the temporal trend in food security status (household food availability, and market availability and affordability of essential items) from mid-2020 to mid-2021. RESULTS: The proportion of job loss/reduced household income was highest in India (60.4%) and lowest in Indonesia (39.0%). Urban residence (odds ratio [OR] range, 2.20-4.11; countries with significant results only), female respondents (OR range, 1.40–1.69), engagement in daily waged labor (OR range, 1.54–1.68), and running a small trade/business (OR range, 1.66–2.71) were significantly associated with income reduction or job loss in three out of 4 countries (allP< 0.05). Food stock availability increased significantly in 2021 compared to 2020 in all four countries (OR range, 1.91–4.45) (all P < 0.05). Availability of all essential items at markets increased in India (OR range, 1.45–3.99) but decreased for basic foods, hygiene items, and medicine in Vietnam (OR range, 0.81–0.86) in 2021 compared to 2020 (all P < 0.05). In 2021, the affordability of all essential items significantly improved in India (OR range, 1.18–3.49) while the affordability of rent, health care, and loans deteriorated in Indonesia (OR range, 0.23–0.71) when compared to 2020 (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Long-term social protection programs need to be carefully designed and implemented to address food insecurity among vulnerable groups, considering each country’s market conditions, consumer food purchasing behaviors, and financial support capacity.

At least 88 percents of ventricular aneurysms result from anterior infarction, while the remainder follow inferior infarction. Posterior infarction that produce a distinct left ventricular aneurysm is unusual. We report two operative cases of postinfarction posterobasal left ventricular aneurysms, one with a true aneurysm and the other with a false one.
Aneurysm* ; Infarction ; Myocardial Infarction

BACKGROUND: Mitral valve repair rather than replacement for mitral regurgitation (MR) offers a number of well-accepted benefits. However, the surgical results of repair for mitral valve endocarditis remain largely unknown. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Fourteen patients who underwent mitral valve repair for MR caused by mitral valve endocarditis from April 1995 through October 2001 were reviewed retrospectively. There were 9 male patients and mean age was 32+/-10 years. Four patients had previous embolism and 2 had active infections. The grade of MR were III in 6 patients and IV in 8. Operatively, mitral annuloplasty was performed in 12 patients and various valvuloplasty techniques were applied in all patients. One patient had immediate valve replacement due to residual MR after weaning of cardiopulmonary bypass. RESULT: There was no early operative death. Early postoperative transthoracic echocardiography revealed no or grade I of MR and no or mild mitral stenosis in 13 patients. After the mean follow-up of 36 months, there was no late death, and no or grade I of MR in 11 patients (84.6%) and no or mild mitral stenosis in 12 patients (92.3%). Reoperation required in one patient (7.1%). The cumulative freedom from recurrent MR and valve-related reoperation at 5 years were 91+/-9% and 75+/-22%, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that mitral valve repair for mitral regurgitation caused by endocarditis offers good early and intermediate survival and functional improvement without reinfection, and it is an attractive alternative to valve replacement in selective patients with bacterial endocariditis.
Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Echocardiography ; Embolism ; Endocarditis* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Freedom ; Humans ; Male ; Mitral Valve Annuloplasty ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Mitral Valve Stenosis ; Mitral Valve* ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies ; Weaning