Background: Recently, single-person households have increased in Korea and this trend may have potential public health implications and affect various health behaviors. This study investigated the associations between living alone and health behaviors such as smoking and alcohol consumption among Korean adults. Methods: We used data from the 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2013 and 2015 and a total of 17,088 adults were included. We performed a multivariable logistic regression analysis and calculated odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Single-person households accounted for about 10% of the total participants. The proportions of currently smoking and heavy alcohol consumption were higher among individuals living alone than those living together among younger women and middle-aged and elderly men and women. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, living alone was associated with increased odds of currently smoking compared to living together among middle-aged men and women (OR, 7.37; 95% CI, 2.33–23.32 in men and OR, 2.36; 95% CI, 1.04–5.36 in women) after adjusting for confounding variables. Conclusion From this nationwide, population-based study, we found that living alone is associated with increased odds of currently smoking, especially in middle-aged people. Public health concerns may be warranted for middle-aged single-person households to reduce health risks related to smoking.

BACKGROUND: Eating breakfast is important for optimal growth and development in adolescence, and is associated with academic achievement as well as nutrition and health status. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between breakfast consumption frequency and high school students' academic achievement.METHODS: We used data from the 2017 Korea Youth's Risk Behavior Web-Based Study, conducted by the Korean Center for Disease Control (64,991 students). The relationship between academic achievement and breakfast consumption frequency was examined using logistic regression.RESULTS: Students who consumed breakfast frequently exhibited higher academic achievement as compared to their counterparts. There was a significant correlation between awareness of appropriate eating habits and breakfast consumption frequency. Further, students who had not received any education about eating habits exhibited low academic achievement.CONCLUSION: To improve the academic achievement of students, they should be motivated to eat breakfast every day. Additionally, appropriate education about eating habits need to be implemented at schools and at home to increase students' breakfast consumption frequency.
Adolescent ; Breakfast ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Eating ; Education ; Feeding Behavior ; Growth and Development ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Risk-Taking

PURPOSE: To report a case of Roth spots, panuveitis, and infectious mononucleosis in a healthy adult. CASE SUMMARY: An immunocompetent 30-year-old male visited our clinic complaining of reduced visual acuity and a floating sense in both eyes of 2 days. He had experienced flu-like symptoms including fever, sore throat, myalgia, and malaise for 10 days before visual acuity decreased. His best-corrected visual acuity was 20/25 in both eyes and inflammatory cells were found in both the anterior chambers and the vitreous. Funduscopy revealed multiple retinal hemorrhages and Roth spots in both eyes. We prescribed topical steroid eye drops. A peripheral blood test revealed mild leukocytosis with lymphocytosis (60%) consisted of atypical lymphocyte (7%). Serologic examinations were positive for cytomegalovirus (CMV) immunoglobulin M (IgM) Ab and Epstein-Barr virus IgM Ab. A polymerase chain reaction for blood CMV was positive. The presumptive clinical diagnosis was Roth spots and panuveitis associated with infectious mononucleosis. Three weeks later, no inflammatory cells were apparent in the anterior chamber or vitreous. Best-corrected visual acuity had recovered to 20/20 in both eyes, and the retinal hemorrhage had completely disappeared. CONCLUSIONS: Roth spots and panuveitis can be present in patients with infectious mononucleosis, which should thus be included in the differential diagnosis of Roth spots.
Adult ; Anterior Chamber ; Cytomegalovirus ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Fever ; Hematologic Tests ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M ; Infectious Mononucleosis ; Leukocytosis ; Lymphocytes ; Lymphocytosis ; Male ; Myalgia ; Ophthalmic Solutions ; Panuveitis ; Pharyngitis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Retinal Hemorrhage ; Uveitis ; Visual Acuity

OBJECTIVE: Assisted reproductive technology has been associated with an increase in multiple pregnancies. The most effective strategy for reducing multiple pregnancies is single embryo transfer. Beginning in October 2015, the National Supporting Program for Infertility in South Korea has limited the number of embryos that can be transferred per in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle depending on the patient's age. However, little is known regarding the effect of age and number of transferred embryos on the clinical outcomes of Korean patients. Thus, this study was performed to evaluate the effect of the number of transferred blastocysts on clinical outcomes. METHODS: This study was carried out in the Fertility Center of CHA Gangnam Medical Center from January 2013 to December 2014. The clinical outcomes of 514 women who underwent the transfer of one or two blastocysts on day 5 after IVF and of 721 women who underwent the transfer of one or two vitrified-warmed blastocysts were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: For both fresh and vitrified-warmed cycles, the clinical pregnancy rate and live birth or ongoing pregnancy rate were not significantly different between patients who underwent elective single blastocyst transfer (eSBT) and patients who underwent double blastocyst transfer (DBT), regardless of age. However, the multiple pregnancy rate was significantly lower in the eSBT group than in the DBT group. CONCLUSION: The clinical outcomes of eSBT and DBT were equivalent, but eSBT had a lower risk of multiple pregnancy and is, therefore, the best option.
Blastocyst* ; Embryo Transfer* ; Embryonic Structures ; Female ; Fertility ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Infertility ; Korea ; Live Birth ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Pregnancy, Multiple ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted ; Retrospective Studies ; Single Embryo Transfer

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic utility and predictors for determinate results of an enzyme-linked immunospot assay using induced sputum cells (IS ELISPOT) for a rapid diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects suspected of pulmonary TB who had either sputum acid fast bacilli smear-negative or not producing sputum spontaneously were prospectively enrolled. ELISPOT assay was performed using cells from induced sputum. RESULTS: A total of 43 subjects, including 25 with TB (TB group) and 18 with non-TB disease (non-TB group) were enrolled. Results of IS ELISPOT were determinate in only 17/43 (39%) subjects, but all of determinate results were consistent with the final diagnosis. Of the 43 sputum samples, 11 (26%) were inadequate to perform IS ELISPOT. Of 32 adequate sputum samples, the proportion of determinate results was significantly higher in the TB group (75%, 15/20) than in the non-TB group (17%, 2/12) (p=0.002). The status of active TB was a unique predictor but smear positivity was not a significant predictor for determinate results. In addition, sensitivity of IS ELISPOT (75%, 9/12) in smear negative TB was higher than that of TB-polymerase chain reaction (25%, 3/12). CONCLUSION: IS ELISPOT showed relatively high diagnostic value and accuracy in the TB group, independent of smear positivity. IS ELISPOT may provide additional diagnostic yield for microbiological tools in the rapid diagnosis of smear-negative TB.
Adult ; Aged ; *Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Immunologic Tests/*methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis/*isolation & purification ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prospective Studies ; Reproducibility of Results ; Risk Factors ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sputum/*microbiology ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/*diagnosis/microbiology

No abstract available.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) contribute to the development of a number of neuronal diseases including ischemia. DJ-1, also known to PARK7, plays an important role in transcriptional regulation, acting as molecular chaperone and antioxidant. In the present study, we investigated whether DJ-1 protein shows a protective effect against oxidative stress-induced neuronal cell death in vitro and in ischemic animal models in vivo. To explore DJ-1 protein's potential role in protecting against ischemic cell death, we constructed cell permeable Tat-DJ-1 fusion proteins. Tat-DJ-1 protein efficiently transduced into neuronal cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Transduced Tat-DJ-1 protein increased cell survival against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) toxicity and also reduced intracellular ROS. In addition, Tat-DJ-1 protein inhibited DNA fragmentation induced by H2O2. Furthermore, in animal models, immunohistochemical analysis revealed that Tat-DJ-1 protein prevented neuronal cell death induced by transient forebrain ischemia in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. These results demonstrate that transduced Tat-DJ-1 protein protects against cell death in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that the transduction of Tat-DJ-1 may be useful as a therapeutic agent for ischemic injuries related to oxidative stress.
Animals ; Blood-Brain Barrier/metabolism ; Brain Ischemia/*metabolism/pathology/prevention & control ; CA1 Region, Hippocampal/drug effects/metabolism/pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; Gerbillinae ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/*administration & dosage/biosynthesis/pharmacokinetics ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Malondialdehyde/metabolism ; Mice ; Neuroprotective Agents/*administration & dosage/pharmacokinetics ; Oncogene Proteins/*administration & dosage/biosynthesis/pharmacokinetics ; *Oxidative Stress ; Prosencephalon/drug effects/metabolism/pathology ; Rats ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins/*administration & dosage/biosynthesis/pharmacokinetics ; tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus/*administration & dosage/biosynthesis/pharmacokinetics

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Effective bowel preparation is essential for accurate diagnosis of colon disease. We investigated efficacy and safety of 2 L polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution with 90 mL sodium phosphate (NaP) solution compared with 4 L PEG method. METHODS: Between August 2009 and April 2010, 526 patients were enrolled who visited Seoul National University Bundang Hospital for colonoscopy. We allocated 249 patients to PEG 4 L group and 277 patients to PEG 2 L with NaP 90 mL group. Detailed questionnaires were performed to investigate compliance, satisfaction and preference of each method. Bowel preparation quality and segmental quality were evaluated. Success was defined as cecal intubation time less than 20 minutes without any help of supervisors. RESULTS: Both groups revealed almost the same baseline characteristics except the experience of operation. PEG 4 L group's compliance was lower than PEG 2 L with NaP 90 mL group. Success rate and cecal intubation time was not different between two groups. Overall bowel preparation quality of PEG 2 L with NaP 90 mL group was better than PEG 4 L group. Segmental bowel preparation quality of PEG 2 L with NaP 90 mL group was also better than PEG 4 L group in all segments, especially right side colon. Occurrence of hyperphosphatemia was higher in PEG 2 L with NaP 90 mL group than PEG 4 L group. However, significant adverse event was not reported. CONCLUSIONS: PEG 2 L with NaP 90 mL method seems to be more effective bowel preparation than PEG 4 L method.
Administration, Oral ; Adult ; Aged ; Colonic Diseases/diagnosis ; Colonoscopy/*methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patient Compliance ; Phosphates/*administration & dosage ; Polyethylene Glycols/*administration & dosage ; Questionnaires ; Solutions ; Therapeutic Irrigation

Carcinoma of the cystic duct remnant is a rare disease. We report a case of a remnant cystic duct carcinoma in a male patient who had undergone cholecystectomy for cholecystolithiasis 20 years previously. A 53-yr-old man visited our hospital for the evaluation of a submucosal tumor on the duodenum. During the evaluation, we detected a mass in the cystic duct remnant by the use of endoscopic ultrasonography. Based on the pathology, the mass was confirmed as a carcinoma of the cystic duct remnant by intraductal ultrasonography and an intraductal biopsy.
Biopsy ; Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystolithiasis ; Cystic Duct ; Duodenum ; Endosonography ; Humans ; Male ; Rare Diseases

BACKGOUND/AIMS: Pancreatitis is the most common and important complication of an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for post ERCP-pancreatitis in patients pretreated with nafamostat mesilate, a synthetic protease inhibitor. METHODS: A total of 247 patients who underwent an ERCP were evaluated prospectively. Potential risk factors of post-ERCP pancreatitis in patients pretreated with nafamostat mesilate were evaluated. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients (9.7%) and nine patients (3.6%) developed post-ERCP hyperamylasemia and pancreatitis, respectively. As determined by univariate analysis among the potential risk factors, we found a procedure time over 20 minutes, pancreatic duct cannulation over four times, prior post-ERCP pancreatitis and the absence of a common bile duct (CBD) stone as risk factors for post-ERCP hyperamylasemia. We also found a patient age under 60 years, a procedure time over 20 minutes, pancreatic duct cannulation over four times and the absence of a CBD stone as risk factors for post-ERCP pancreatitis (p<0.05). As determined by multivariate analysis, pancreatic cannulation over four times is independently associated with post-ERCP hyperamylasemia (p=0.038; OR, 5.165; 95% CI, 1.093~24.412) and post-ERCP pancreatitis (p=0.002; OR, 33.122; 95% CI, 3.526~311.138). CONCLUSIONS: A repeated pancreatic duct cannulation is the most important risk factor for post-ERCP pancreatitis in patients pretreated with nafamostat mesilate.
Catheterization ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Common Bile Duct ; Guanidines ; Humans ; Hyperamylasemia ; Mesylates ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Pancreatitis ; Prospective Studies ; Protease Inhibitors ; Risk Factors