Objectives: This study aimed to develop a NOVA-based scoring approach for evaluating ultra- processed food (UPF) intake among Korean adults and to examine its performance. Previous studies have reported that young adults have the highest levels of UPF consumption. Accordingly, this study focused on adults aged 19–40 years and developed scoring components reflecting dietary patterns specific to Korean eating habits. Methods: Using 24-hour dietary recall data from adults aged 19–40 years in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2021–2023), foods were classified according to the Korean-adapted NOVA system. The top 10 food groups accounting for ≥ 80% of cumulative UPF-derived energy were selected to construct the scoring components. The tool was operationalized using food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) data from the Gangwon cohort study (2022–2024). Intake frequencies were converted into scores ranging from 0 (“rarely or never”) to 5 (“≥ 1 time/day”), and summed to generate the NOVA–UPF score (range: 0–50). Results: Among 237 young adults (aged 20–49 years), the mean NOVA–UPF score was 22.9 ± 8.3. A positive association was observed between the NOVA–UPF score and FFQbased UPF energy intake (Spearman’s ρ = 0.629, P < 0.001). Cross-classification showed that 51.9% were classified into the same tertile and 94.9% into the same or adjacent tertiles, with a weighted kappa coefficient of 0.279. Conclusion This NOVA-based scoring approach may serve as a preliminary tool for assessing UPF intake in Korean young adults. Further refinement and rigorous validation using quantitative dietary assessment methods and more diverse populations are required before broader application.

Background: With increasing life expectancy, the number of older adults with multiple chronic conditions requiring complex medication regimens is growing, raising concerns about polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use. This study investigated trends in polypharmacy and PIM use among 66-year-olds in South Korea from 2012 to 2021, considering participant characteristics, to inform interventions and policies. Methods: A repeated cross-sectional study was conducted using the National Health Insurance Services database covering approximately 97% of Koreans. We included 3,397,044 individuals aged 66 who underwent the National Screening Program for Transitional Ages between 2012 and 2021. Polypharmacy was defined as the use of ≥5 medications for ≥90 days annually, hyper-polypharmacy as ≥10 medications, and PIM use as ≥1 PIM for ≥28 days. Trends were analyzed by sex, frailty, comorbidity, income, insurance type, and residence. Results: Polypharmacy prevalence increased from 32.0% in 2012 to 35.4% in 2021, and hyper-polypharmacy also rose. PIM use slightly decreased from 55.7% to 53.7%. Higher rates of polypharmacy and PIM use were observed among rural residents, medical aid beneficiaries, and those with lower income. Despite improvements in comorbidity and frailty, socioeconomic disparities widened, particularly among medical aid beneficiaries. Frequently prescribed PIMs included NSAIDs, PPIs, muscle relaxants, and anxiolytics/hypnotics. Conclusion While PIM use slightly decreased over the study period, it remained above 50%, and polypharmacy prevalence increased among older adults in Korea. Socioeconomic disparities in medication use persist, highlighting the need for targeted interventions and policies to promote safe medication use among vulnerable groups.

Background: Obesity and weight loss are associated with increased mortality. Understanding the association between weight change and mortality is critical and can help inform effective prevention and intervention strategies. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between weight change and mortality based on body mass index (BMI) intervals using data from a 12-year follow-up survey in Korea. Methods: We used data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging from 2006 to 2018. Individuals aged 45–69 years without a history of malignancy and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at baseline were selected. Cox regression analysis was used to compare mortality based on body mass index and weight change. Results: Compared with individuals with a body mass index of 20.0–25.0 kg/m2 and an increase in body weight of <5 kg, mortality was 3.8 times higher in the group with a body mass index of <20.0 kg/m2 and a weight loss of <5 kg, two times higher in the group with a body mass index of 20.0–25.0 kg/m2 and weight loss of >10 kg, and 4.3 times higher in the group with a body mass index of ≥25.0 kg/m2 and weight gain of ≥10 kg. Conclusions Weight loss in underweight or normal-weight individuals and weight gain in individuals with obesity increased the mortality rate compared with individuals with normal weight and less weight change. This suggests that body weight and the changes in the weight of individuals are crucial, and weight loss in patients with underweight and weight gain in patients with obesity are closely related to increased mortality.

Background: Obesity and weight loss are associated with increased mortality. Understanding the association between weight change and mortality is critical and can help inform effective prevention and intervention strategies. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between weight change and mortality based on body mass index (BMI) intervals using data from a 12-year follow-up survey in Korea. Methods: We used data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging from 2006 to 2018. Individuals aged 45–69 years without a history of malignancy and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at baseline were selected. Cox regression analysis was used to compare mortality based on body mass index and weight change. Results: Compared with individuals with a body mass index of 20.0–25.0 kg/m2 and an increase in body weight of <5 kg, mortality was 3.8 times higher in the group with a body mass index of <20.0 kg/m2 and a weight loss of <5 kg, two times higher in the group with a body mass index of 20.0–25.0 kg/m2 and weight loss of >10 kg, and 4.3 times higher in the group with a body mass index of ≥25.0 kg/m2 and weight gain of ≥10 kg. Conclusions Weight loss in underweight or normal-weight individuals and weight gain in individuals with obesity increased the mortality rate compared with individuals with normal weight and less weight change. This suggests that body weight and the changes in the weight of individuals are crucial, and weight loss in patients with underweight and weight gain in patients with obesity are closely related to increased mortality.

Background: Obesity and weight loss are associated with increased mortality. Understanding the association between weight change and mortality is critical and can help inform effective prevention and intervention strategies. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between weight change and mortality based on body mass index (BMI) intervals using data from a 12-year follow-up survey in Korea. Methods: We used data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging from 2006 to 2018. Individuals aged 45–69 years without a history of malignancy and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at baseline were selected. Cox regression analysis was used to compare mortality based on body mass index and weight change. Results: Compared with individuals with a body mass index of 20.0–25.0 kg/m2 and an increase in body weight of <5 kg, mortality was 3.8 times higher in the group with a body mass index of <20.0 kg/m2 and a weight loss of <5 kg, two times higher in the group with a body mass index of 20.0–25.0 kg/m2 and weight loss of >10 kg, and 4.3 times higher in the group with a body mass index of ≥25.0 kg/m2 and weight gain of ≥10 kg. Conclusions Weight loss in underweight or normal-weight individuals and weight gain in individuals with obesity increased the mortality rate compared with individuals with normal weight and less weight change. This suggests that body weight and the changes in the weight of individuals are crucial, and weight loss in patients with underweight and weight gain in patients with obesity are closely related to increased mortality.

Background: Obesity and weight loss are associated with increased mortality. Understanding the association between weight change and mortality is critical and can help inform effective prevention and intervention strategies. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between weight change and mortality based on body mass index (BMI) intervals using data from a 12-year follow-up survey in Korea. Methods: We used data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging from 2006 to 2018. Individuals aged 45–69 years without a history of malignancy and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at baseline were selected. Cox regression analysis was used to compare mortality based on body mass index and weight change. Results: Compared with individuals with a body mass index of 20.0–25.0 kg/m2 and an increase in body weight of <5 kg, mortality was 3.8 times higher in the group with a body mass index of <20.0 kg/m2 and a weight loss of <5 kg, two times higher in the group with a body mass index of 20.0–25.0 kg/m2 and weight loss of >10 kg, and 4.3 times higher in the group with a body mass index of ≥25.0 kg/m2 and weight gain of ≥10 kg. Conclusions Weight loss in underweight or normal-weight individuals and weight gain in individuals with obesity increased the mortality rate compared with individuals with normal weight and less weight change. This suggests that body weight and the changes in the weight of individuals are crucial, and weight loss in patients with underweight and weight gain in patients with obesity are closely related to increased mortality.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the oncologic outcomes of patients with endometrial cancer who underwent sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy without ultrastaging compared with that of those who underwent lymphadenectomy (LND). Methods: Patients with endometrial cancer who underwent staging with SLN biopsy or LND during 2006 – 2021 were analyzed using propensity score matching (PSM). SLN metastasis was examined using hematoxylin and eosin staining, without ultrastaging. Progression-free survival (PFS) was compared between the two groups before and after PSM using age, histology, and stage as covariates. Clinical variables such as recurrence patterns and lymphatic complications, were assessed. Results: After excluding 213 patients who underwent validation LND with SLN biopsy, 902 were identified. The demographics of the remaining patients differed according to histology, myometrial invasion depth, and stage. Lymph node metastasis was less frequent in the SLN group than in the LND group (9.4% vs. 3.8%, p=0.004). The recurrence rates within 2 years were lower in the SLN group. The SLN group exhibited significantly superior 2-year and overall PFS than the LND group. Among patients with uterus-confined disease, overall PFS was favorable for SLN biopsy. After matching, differences in PFS were no longer observed, although the lymphocele and lymphedema rates were significantly lower in the SLN group. Conclusion In patients with endometrial cancer, SLN biopsy without ultrastaging did not compromise survival outcomes and was associated with significantly reduced lymphatic complication rates compared with LND. Therefore, SLN biopsy can be recommended for patients with endometrial cancer without definitive preoperative evidence of distant metastasis.

The national licensing examination is used to evaluate the medical competency at the time of graduation, however no study has been performed on the validity of traditional Korean medicine license examination yet. The purpose of this study was to develop learning analytics using item response theory (IRT) to examine the validity and academic competency of the mock test of the national licensing exam. Classical test theory and IRT were used to evaluate the validity of test items, and IRT was used for test validity and competency analysis. The correlation between competency score of 12 subjects was analyzed using Pearson’s correlation. The distribution of students’ latent competencies was examined by gender and administrative group using a Kernel density map, Latent Profile Analysis, and χ2. The guessing parameter of 340 items was relatively high, and the information level of 12 subjects were relatively low. Significant correlations (r = 0.49–0.83, p < 0.05) were observed between the competency scores of total and 12 subjects. Two (high and low) latent academic competency groups were identified based on the competency score of 12 subjects. The low academic competency group requiring intensive management has a significantly higher frequency of male students with the experience of academic fail in the seven-year course. This study presented the quantitative learning analytics for the national licensing exam of traditional Korean medicine. The multifaceted item and test validities of the mock license test were provided, and an evidence-based approach to competency-based student management and national licensing exam of traditional Korean medicine was suggested.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the nutritional status of residents, to examine the perception and needs of community nutrition care service, and to compare and analyze the results of females and males living in Daejeon, Korea. Methods: The subjects were 592 adults and elderly (278 men and 314 women) residents of Daejeon. The dietary quality was assessed using the nutrition quotient (NQ), and data of the perception and needs for community nutrition care service were obtained by a questionnaire survey. Descriptive analysis was applied to analyze the demographic characteristics, perception and needs of the respondents, and independent t-test and chi-square test were performed to analyze and compare the differences between female and male participants. Results: A nutritional status that required monitoring was established in 78.9% of the respondents in this study. The balance factor (29.1 points) was much lower than the national average. In the diversity factor, the NQ score of the female group was 47.6 points, which was 8 points lower than that of males; the NQ grade was 43.9%, showing a significant difference between females and males (P < 0.001). The respondents answered that those who needed community nutrition care services were residents experiencing health care difficulties.Additionally, dietitians (35.6%) were pointed out as the most suitable service providers. The most important factor of community nutrition care service operation was securing the budget (47.0%). Conclusions The results of the present study show that Daejeon residents need overall nutrition support, and a demand for community nutrition care services exists. Our findings provide basic data and can serve as a foundation for the development and establishment of a community nutrition care service model.

Background: Topical corticosteroids (TCs) are available both as over-the-counter drugs and prescription medicines at pharmacies.Although they are generally safe drugs, inappropriate and excessive use could result in potential side effects. Thus, it is important to have appropriate knowledge regarding the use of TCs. We performed a cross-sectional survey to assess public knowledge and the potential misuse or overuse of TCs. Methods: A cross-sectional and nationwide online survey was conducted among participants who were aware of TCs. The survey items included sources of information, indications, potential side effects, and methods of application of TCs. A comparative analysis was conducted between those with (TC users) and without (TC non-users) an experience of using TCs. Results: Among 3,000 participants, 74.4% were TC users. The mass media was the most common information source of TCs, and only one-third of the surveyed people relied on pharmacists or doctors for information. Regarding indications and application methods, incorrect answer rate was high in some items, but respondents showed adequate knowledge. However, awareness of the safety of TCs was low. Overall, the TC users showed a higher knowledge of TCs than TC non-users. Conclusions Public knowledge of the use of TCs appears to be appropriate. However, we found potential misuse or overuse of some items and a lack of awareness of the side effects concerning TCs. Thus, healthcare professionals’ significant role is required.