Numerous systemic diseases manifest with oral symptoms and signs. The molecular diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease worldwide, currently relies on invasive or expensive methods, emphasizing the imperative for easily accessible biomarkers.In this study, we explored the expression patterns of key proteins implicated in AD pathophysiology within the taste buds of mice. We detected the expression of amyloid precursor protein (APP) and tau protein in the taste buds of normal C57BL/6 mice. Phosphorylated tau was predominantly found in type II and III taste cells, while APP was located in type I taste cells. Remarkably, we observed significantly stronger immunoreactivity to phosphorylated tau in the taste buds of aged AD mouse models compared to age-matched controls. These findings underscore the oral expression of biomarkers associated with AD, highlighting the diagnostic potential of the oral cavity for neurodegenerative diseases.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and management of diabetes mellitus, risk-factor control, and comorbidities among Korean adults. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to assess the prevalence, treatment, risk factors, comorbidities, and self-management behaviors of diabetes mellitus from 2019 to 2020. We also analyzed data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service to evaluate the use of antidiabetic medications in people with diabetes mellitus from 2002 through 2018. Results: Among Korean adults aged 30 years or older, the estimated prevalence of diabetes mellitus was 16.7% in 2020. From 2019 through 2020, 65.8% of adults with diabetes mellitus were aware of the disease and treated with antidiabetic medications. The percentage of adults with diabetes mellitus who achieved glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) <6.5% was 24.5% despite the increased use of new antidiabetic medications. We found that adults with diabetes mellitus who achieved all three goals of HbA1c <6.5%, blood pressure (BP) <140/85 mm Hg, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol <100 mg/dL were 9.7%. The percentage of self-management behaviors was lower in men than women. Excess energy intake was observed in 16.7% of adults with diabetes mellitus. Conclusion The prevalence of diabetes mellitus among Korean adults remained high. Only 9.7% of adults with diabetes mellitus achieved all glycemic, BP, and lipid controls from 2019 to 2020. Continuous evaluation of national diabetes statistics and a national effort to increase awareness of diabetes mellitus and improve comprehensive diabetes care are needed.

BACKGROUND: To estimate and compare the trends of all-cause and cause-specific mortality rates for subjects with and without diabetes in South Korea, from 2003 to 2013. METHODS: Using a population-based cohort (2003 to 2013), we evaluated annual mortality rates in adults (≥30 years) with and without diabetes. The number of subjects in this analysis ranged from 585,795 in 2003 to 670,020 in 2013. RESULTS: Age- and sex-adjusted all-cause mortality rates decreased consistently in both groups from 2003 to 2013 (from 14.4 to 9.3/1,000 persons in subjects with diabetes and from 7.9 to 4.4/1,000 persons in those without diabetes). The difference in mortality rates between groups also decreased (6.61 per 1,000 persons in 2003 to 4.98 per 1,000 persons in 2013). The slope associated with the mortality rate exhibited a steeper decrease in subjects with diabetes than those without diabetes (regression coefficients of time: −0.50 and −0.33, respectively; P=0.004). In subjects with diabetes, the mortality rate from cardiovascular disease decreased by 53.5% (from 2.73 to 1.27 per 1,000 persons, P for trend < 0.001). Notably, the decrease in mortality from ischemic stroke (79.2%, from 1.20 to 0.25 per 1,000 persowns) was more profound than that from ischemic heart disease (28.3%, from 0.60 to 0.43 per 1,000 persons). CONCLUSION: All-cause and cardiovascular mortality rates decreased substantially from 2003 to 2013, and the decline in ischemic stroke mortality mainly contributed to the decreased cardiovascular mortality in Korean people with diabetes.
Adult* ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cohort Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Humans ; Korea* ; Mortality* ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Stroke

Well-established standards and specifications for medical devices not only provide clarity and consistency in licensing processes but also secure device safety and effectiveness. This study reviewed regulatory standards and specifications for veterinary medical devices in Korea based on data obtained through analyses of those medical devices. General standards for electromechanical, electromagnetic, and biological safety and individual standards for 76 electric and 70 general medical device products have been established by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. However, the first standards and specifications for veterinary medical devices were established in March 2000 for two products (disposable needle and syringe). Similar to the large number of standards for medical devices, there have been general standards for safety and individual standards for 72 veterinary medical devices (27 electric medical devices, 12 non-electric medical devices, 10 medical supplies, and 23 other types) established since 2014. These new standards considered, among other aspects, the devices' applications, usage characteristics, and industrial environment. To date, the establishment of standards and specifications for veterinary medical devices remains limited. This study suggests that improvements should be made to the regulation of general and individual standards associated with various veterinary medical instruments, supplies, and in vitro diagnostic medical reagents.
Equipment and Supplies ; Equipment Safety ; In Vitro Techniques ; Indicators and Reagents ; Korea* ; Licensure ; Magnets ; Needles

The management guideline for traumatic brain injury (TBI) recommends high-dose barbiturate therapy to control increased intracranial pressure refractory to other therapeutic options. High-dose barbiturate therapy, however, may cause many severe side effects; the commonly recognized ones include hypotension, immunosuppression, hepatic dysfunction, renal dysfunction, and prolonged decrease of cortical activity. Meanwhile, dyskalemia remains relatively uncommon. In this study, we report the case of a hypokalemic patient with severe rebound hyperkalemia, which occurred as a result of barbiturate coma therapy administered for TBI treatment.
Brain Injuries ; Coma* ; Humans ; Hyperkalemia ; Hypokalemia ; Hypotension ; Immunosuppression ; Intracranial Pressure

OBJECTIVE: The optimal threshold of the infusion volume of cement has been a continuous subject in percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP). This study verifies a causal relationship between the cement volume and the clinical outcome, and suggests the parameters of the appropriate volume of cement in PVP. METHODS: This is a retrospective study. One hundred nine patients, who underwent PVP between 2012 and 2015, were included in the study. Various factors such as patients' fracture levels, fracture types, fracture body volumes, fracture rates, bone mineral densities, and infused cement volumes were analyzed. Cement infusion ratios were calculated, using total amount of infused cement and fractured body volume. Follow up was done after one-week, one-month and three-months, postoperatively. Changes in the middle body height and the cement leakage levels were monitored and clinical outcomes were evaluated using a visual analogue scale. RESULTS: Among the variables, the infusion ratio (r=-0.320, p=0.003, Pearson's correlation) was the only index that showed a significant cause and effect relationship with favorable clinical outcome, except the group with a T-score of higher than -2.5, and the group with a upper thoracic vertebral level. The patients with a cement infusion ratio of 27.8% or more of the fractured body volume had favorable results. CONCLUSION: This study showed that high cement infusion ratio revealed favorable outcome in the vertebroplasty of the osteoporotic compression fractures. Infusion ratio of more than 27.8% to osteoporotic compressed vertebrae is optimal for rapid recovery after PVP.
Body Height ; Bone Cements ; Bone Density ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Fractures, Compression ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine ; Vertebroplasty*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The major compounds of Cochinchina momordica seed extract (SK-MS10) include momordica saponins. We report that the gastroprotective effect of SK-MS10 in an ethanol-induced gastric damage rat model is mediated by suppressing proinflammatory cytokines and downregulating cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX), and the activation of calcitonin gene-related peptide. In this study, we evaluated the gastroprotective effects of SK-MS10 in the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced gastric damage rat model. METHODS: The pretreatment effect of SK-MS10 was evaluated in the NSAID-induced gastric damage rat model using aspirin, indomethacin, and diclofenac in 7-week-old rats. Gastric damage was evaluated based on the gross ulcer index by gastroenterologists, and the damage area (%) was measured using the MetaMorph 7.0 video image analysis system. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and Western blotting was used to analyze the levels of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1, COX-2, cPLA2, and 5-LOX. RESULTS: All NSAIDs induced gastric damage based on the gross ulcer index and damage area (p<0.05). Gastric damage was significantly attenuated by SK-MS10 pretreatment compared with NSAID treatment alone (p<0.05). The SK-MS10 pretreatment group exhibited lower MPO levels than the diclofenac group. The expression of cPLA2 and 5-LOX was decreased by SK-MS10 pretreatment in each of the three NSAID treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: SK-MS10 exhibited a gastroprotective effect against NSAID-induced acute gastric damage in rats. However, its protective mechanism may be different across the three types of NSAID-induced gastric damage models in rats.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/adverse effects ; Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase/drug effects ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide/drug effects ; Cyclooxygenase 1/drug effects ; Cyclooxygenase 2/drug effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Gastric Mucosa/chemistry/drug effects ; Group IV Phospholipases A2/drug effects ; Male ; Momordica/*chemistry ; Peroxidase/drug effects ; Plant Extracts/*pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seeds/*chemistry ; Stomach Ulcer/chemically induced/*prevention & control ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Metabolic syndrome and high sodium intake are associated with frequent cardiovascular events. Few studies have estimated sodium intake in subjects with metabolic syndrome by 24-hour urine sodium excretion. We evaluated sodium intake in individuals with metabolic syndrome. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Participants were recruited by random selection and through advertisement. Twenty four-hour urine collection, ambulatory blood pressure measurements, and blood test were performed. Sodium intake was estimated by 24-hour urine sodium excretion. Participants receiving antihypertensive medications were excluded from analysis. RESULTS: Among the 463 participants recruited, subjects with metabolic syndrome had higher levels of 24-hour urine sodium excretion than subjects without metabolic syndrome (p=0.0001). There was a significant relationship between the number of metabolic syndrome factors and 24-hour urine sodium excretion (p=0.001). The proportion of subjects with metabolic syndrome was increased across the tertile groups of 24-hour urine sodium excretion (p<0.0001). The association of high sodium intake and metabolic syndrome was significant only among women. Among the factors related to metabolic syndrome, body mass index had an independent association with 24-hour urine sodium excretion (p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Women with metabolic syndrome exhibited significantly higher sodium intake, suggesting that dietary education to reduce sodium consumption should be emphasized for women with metabolic syndrome.
Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Education ; Female ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Sodium* ; Sodium, Dietary ; Urine Specimen Collection

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Microalbuminuria (MAU) and decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) are risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with hypertension. However, in hypertensive patients with normal or minimally reduced eGFR (> or =60 mL/min/1.73 m2) and with normo- or MAU, the value of combined estimation of eGFR and urine microalbumin for the risk assessment has not been widely reported. We evaluated the association between arterial stiffness and the combined estimation of eGFR and urine microalbumin. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Subjects with never treated hypertension and normal or minimally reduced eGFR were evaluated (n=491, 50.1+/-10.4 years). eGFR was calculated by the simplified Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula. Urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) was assessed with spot urine. Arterial stiffness was assessed with heart-femoral pulse wave velocity (hfPWV). All subjects were divided into four groups; group 1, eGFR > or =90 mL/min/1.73 m2 (normal eGFR) and normo-albuminuria (NAU); group 2, eGFR 89.9-60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (minimally reduced eGFR) and NAU; group 3, normal eGFR and MAU; group 4, minimally reduced eGFR and MAU. RESULTS: Group 1 had the lowest hfPWV (964.6+/-145.4; group 2, 1013.5+/-168.9; group 3, 1058.2+/-238.0; group 4, 1065.8+/-162.9 cm/sec). Analysis adjusting age, sex, body mass index, heart rate and mean arterial pressure showed significantly lower hfPWV of group 1 compared to group 2 (p=0.032) and 3 (p=0.007). Multiple regression analysis showed a significant association of hfPWV with logUACR {beta=0.096, 95% confidence interval (CI) 8.974-60.610, p=0.008} and eGFR (beta=-0.069, 95% CI -1.194 - -0.005, p=0.048). CONCLUSION: Minimally reduced eGFR or MAU is independently associated with increased arterial stiffness, indicating greater CVD risk.
Arterial Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Diet ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Pulse Wave Analysis ; Renal Insufficiency ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors ; Vascular Stiffness

PURPOSE: To investigate the chemotherapeutic effect of quercetin against cancer cells, signaling pathway of apoptosis was explored in human pancreatic cells. METHODS: Various anticancer drugs including adriamycin, cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and gemcitabine were used. Cell viability was measured by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphe-nyltetra zolium bromide assay. Apoptosis was determined by 4'-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole nuclei staining and flow cytometry in PANC-1 cells treated with 50 microg/mL quercetin for 24 hours. Expression of endoplas mic reticulum (ER) stress mediators including, Grp78/Bip, p-PERK, PERK, ATF4, ATF6 and GADD153/CHOP proteins were measured by Western blot analysis. Mitochondrial membrane potential was measured by fluorescence staining with JC-1, rhodamine 123. Quercetin induced the apoptosis of PANC-1, which was characterized as nucleic acid and genomic DNA fragmentation, chromatin condensation, and sub-G0/G1 fraction of cell cycle increase. But not adriamycin, cisplatin, gemcitabine, and 5-FU. PANC-1 cells were markedly sensitive to quercetin. RESULTS: Treatment with quercetin resulted in the increased accumulation of intracellular Ca2+ ion. Treatment with quercetin also increased the expression of Grp78/Bip and GADD153/CHOP protein and induced mitochondrial dysfunction. Quercetin exerted cytotoxicity against human pancreatic cancer cells via ER stress-mediated apoptotic signaling including reactive oxygen species production and mitochondrial dysfunction. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that quercetin may be an important modulator of chemosensitivity of cancer cells against anticancer chemotherapeutic agents.
Apoptosis* ; Benzimidazoles ; Blotting, Western ; Carbocyanines ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Survival ; Chromatin ; Cisplatin ; Deoxycytidine ; DNA Fragmentation ; Doxorubicin ; Drug Therapy ; Flow Cytometry ; Fluorescence ; Fluorouracil ; Humans ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Quercetin* ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Reticulum ; Rhodamine 123