BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Dietary supplements are popular among Korean consumers in the cross-border market. This study examined the cross-border shopping trends of dietary supplements in Korea, focusing on the major health functional foods.MATERIALS/METHODS: This study analyzed the customs clearance data provided by the Korea Customs Service, spanning 2019–2021. The term ‘health functional foods,’ which are manufactured with functional ingredients specified by law, was distinguished from the broader concept of ‘dietary supplements.’ The trends in dietary supplements and the major types of health functional foods in cross-border shopping were analyzed. The top 10 most purchased health functional foods were identified and analyzed by consumer gender and age group. RESULTS: Dietary supplements constituted 19.1% of all cross-border items, with the primary consumers being women aged 30 and 40 yrs. The most popular type of health functional foods was the ‘multi-nutrient product,’ comprising 14.5% of all health functional food items.‘Protein’ was popular among men and younger age groups, while ‘probiotics’ was favored by women. In particular, 32.3% of health functional food items were related to blood health. CONCLUSION The cross-border market for dietary supplements in Korea is experiencing growth, with consumer preferences varying by gender and age. These findings can assist in the development of regulatory policies that align with market trends and consumer needs in cross-border shopping for dietary supplements.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study examined the socio-demographic and dietary characteristics of the elderly in Seoul according to their food insecurity status and analyzed the characteristics associated with food insecurity. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The data from 513 elderly individuals aged 65 or older were analyzed using the raw data from the Seoul Food Survey 2023. The subjects were classified into food-secure or food-insecure groups. The socio-demographic and dietary characteristics of each group were analyzed. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the characteristics associated with food insecurity among the elderly in Seoul. RESULTS: The proportion of the food-insecure group was 56.9% among the total elderly in Seoul. The main reasons for experiencing food insecurity were environmental (38.0%), followed by physical (37.5%) and financial (24.5%). The food-insecure group had a higher frequency of skipping breakfast and eating alone than the food-secure group while having lower dietary literacy and food environment satisfaction. Logistic regression analysis showed that the elderly living alone were approximately four times (odds ratio [OR], 3.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.52–8.51) more likely to suffer food insecurity than those living with others. Higher digital food literacy (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.41–0.97) and food environment satisfaction (OR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.20–0.74) were associated with a lower likelihood of food insecurity. CONCLUSION These results suggest that policies aimed at improving food security for the elderly in Seoul should prioritize those living alone. Educational programs designed to enhance the ability to purchase online food, use self-service kiosks in restaurants, and use food delivery apps would effectively decrease food insecurity among the elderly in Seoul.Furthermore, policies aimed at improving the food environment may also help reduce food insecurity among this population.

Background: s/Aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cancer and second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in South Korea. This study evaluated the characteristics of Korean patients newly diagnosed with HCC in 2016-2018. Methods: Data from the Korean Primary Liver Cancer Registry (KPLCR), a representative database of patients newly diagnosed with HCC in South Korea, were analyzed. This study investigated 4,462 patients with HCC registered in the KPLCR in 2016-2018. Results: The median patient age was 63 years (interquartile range, 55-72). 79.7% of patients were male. Hepatitis B infection was the most common underlying liver disease (54.5%). The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system classified patients as follows: stage 0 (14.9%), A (28.8%), B (7.5%), C (39.0%), and D (9.8%). The median overall survival was 3.72 years (95% confidence interval, 3.47-4.14), with 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates of 71.3%, 54.1%, and 44.3%, respectively. In 2016-2018, there was a significant shift toward BCLC stage 0-A and Child-Turcotte-Pugh liver function class A (P<0.05), although survival rates did not differ by diagnosis year. In the treatment group (n=4,389), the most common initial treatments were transarterial therapy (31.7%), surgical resection (24.9%), best supportive care (18.9%), and local ablation therapy (10.5%). Conclusions Between 2016 and 2018, HCC tended to be diagnosed at earlier stages, with better liver function in later years. However, since approximately half of the patients remained diagnosed at an advanced stage, more rigorous and optimized HCC screening strategies should be implemented.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Dietary supplements are popular among Korean consumers in the cross-border market. This study examined the cross-border shopping trends of dietary supplements in Korea, focusing on the major health functional foods.MATERIALS/METHODS: This study analyzed the customs clearance data provided by the Korea Customs Service, spanning 2019–2021. The term ‘health functional foods,’ which are manufactured with functional ingredients specified by law, was distinguished from the broader concept of ‘dietary supplements.’ The trends in dietary supplements and the major types of health functional foods in cross-border shopping were analyzed. The top 10 most purchased health functional foods were identified and analyzed by consumer gender and age group. RESULTS: Dietary supplements constituted 19.1% of all cross-border items, with the primary consumers being women aged 30 and 40 yrs. The most popular type of health functional foods was the ‘multi-nutrient product,’ comprising 14.5% of all health functional food items.‘Protein’ was popular among men and younger age groups, while ‘probiotics’ was favored by women. In particular, 32.3% of health functional food items were related to blood health. CONCLUSION The cross-border market for dietary supplements in Korea is experiencing growth, with consumer preferences varying by gender and age. These findings can assist in the development of regulatory policies that align with market trends and consumer needs in cross-border shopping for dietary supplements.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study examined the socio-demographic and dietary characteristics of the elderly in Seoul according to their food insecurity status and analyzed the characteristics associated with food insecurity. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The data from 513 elderly individuals aged 65 or older were analyzed using the raw data from the Seoul Food Survey 2023. The subjects were classified into food-secure or food-insecure groups. The socio-demographic and dietary characteristics of each group were analyzed. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the characteristics associated with food insecurity among the elderly in Seoul. RESULTS: The proportion of the food-insecure group was 56.9% among the total elderly in Seoul. The main reasons for experiencing food insecurity were environmental (38.0%), followed by physical (37.5%) and financial (24.5%). The food-insecure group had a higher frequency of skipping breakfast and eating alone than the food-secure group while having lower dietary literacy and food environment satisfaction. Logistic regression analysis showed that the elderly living alone were approximately four times (odds ratio [OR], 3.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.52–8.51) more likely to suffer food insecurity than those living with others. Higher digital food literacy (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.41–0.97) and food environment satisfaction (OR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.20–0.74) were associated with a lower likelihood of food insecurity. CONCLUSION These results suggest that policies aimed at improving food security for the elderly in Seoul should prioritize those living alone. Educational programs designed to enhance the ability to purchase online food, use self-service kiosks in restaurants, and use food delivery apps would effectively decrease food insecurity among the elderly in Seoul.Furthermore, policies aimed at improving the food environment may also help reduce food insecurity among this population.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Dietary supplements are popular among Korean consumers in the cross-border market. This study examined the cross-border shopping trends of dietary supplements in Korea, focusing on the major health functional foods.MATERIALS/METHODS: This study analyzed the customs clearance data provided by the Korea Customs Service, spanning 2019–2021. The term ‘health functional foods,’ which are manufactured with functional ingredients specified by law, was distinguished from the broader concept of ‘dietary supplements.’ The trends in dietary supplements and the major types of health functional foods in cross-border shopping were analyzed. The top 10 most purchased health functional foods were identified and analyzed by consumer gender and age group. RESULTS: Dietary supplements constituted 19.1% of all cross-border items, with the primary consumers being women aged 30 and 40 yrs. The most popular type of health functional foods was the ‘multi-nutrient product,’ comprising 14.5% of all health functional food items.‘Protein’ was popular among men and younger age groups, while ‘probiotics’ was favored by women. In particular, 32.3% of health functional food items were related to blood health. CONCLUSION The cross-border market for dietary supplements in Korea is experiencing growth, with consumer preferences varying by gender and age. These findings can assist in the development of regulatory policies that align with market trends and consumer needs in cross-border shopping for dietary supplements.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study examined the socio-demographic and dietary characteristics of the elderly in Seoul according to their food insecurity status and analyzed the characteristics associated with food insecurity. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The data from 513 elderly individuals aged 65 or older were analyzed using the raw data from the Seoul Food Survey 2023. The subjects were classified into food-secure or food-insecure groups. The socio-demographic and dietary characteristics of each group were analyzed. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the characteristics associated with food insecurity among the elderly in Seoul. RESULTS: The proportion of the food-insecure group was 56.9% among the total elderly in Seoul. The main reasons for experiencing food insecurity were environmental (38.0%), followed by physical (37.5%) and financial (24.5%). The food-insecure group had a higher frequency of skipping breakfast and eating alone than the food-secure group while having lower dietary literacy and food environment satisfaction. Logistic regression analysis showed that the elderly living alone were approximately four times (odds ratio [OR], 3.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.52–8.51) more likely to suffer food insecurity than those living with others. Higher digital food literacy (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.41–0.97) and food environment satisfaction (OR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.20–0.74) were associated with a lower likelihood of food insecurity. CONCLUSION These results suggest that policies aimed at improving food security for the elderly in Seoul should prioritize those living alone. Educational programs designed to enhance the ability to purchase online food, use self-service kiosks in restaurants, and use food delivery apps would effectively decrease food insecurity among the elderly in Seoul.Furthermore, policies aimed at improving the food environment may also help reduce food insecurity among this population.

Purpose: To describe a case of posterior scleritis accompanied by optic disc edema following the surgical removal of a traumatic intraocular foreign body.Case Summary: A 32-year-old man presented to the hospital after suspecting that a foreign body had entered his left eye while nailing. Slit lamp examination revealed a 2-mm corneal laceration, iris defect, and lens opacity. Lensectomy, vitrectomy, and intraocular foreign body removal were subsequently performed. A magnetic foreign body approximately 1 mm in diameter was extracted from the vitreous cavity. One week after surgery, during an outpatient visit, optic disc swelling and retinal vessel thickening were observed. Oral steroids were initiated and tapered over 2 months. After discontinuing the medication, the patient experienced acute ocular pain and severe ciliary body hyperemia, and B-scan imaging showed thickening of the posterior ocular coat. The diagnosis was posterior scleritis with optic disc swelling, and oral steroids were prescribed and tapered over 12 weeks. Following the secondary intraocular lens scleral fixation, no recurrence of posterior scleritis was noted. Conclusions Posterior scleritis should be considered in cases presenting with ocular pain, ciliary body hyperemia, or optic nerve swelling after intraocular foreign body removal surgery.

Background: The impact of weight or weight changes on kidney function remains a matter of debate. This study aimed to investigate the association between weight fluctuation and the incidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Corporation health checkups (2009–2015). Methods: The study included 2,310,667 participants (1,546,749 men and 763,918 women), aged ≥40 years. Weight fluctuation was assessed using the average real variability (ARV) of weight and categorized into quartiles (Q1–Q4). Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals for ESRD incidence were calculated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models. Results: After adjustment for comorbidities, increased body mass index was associated with a decreased HR for ESRD. The highest quartile of weight variability (ARV Q4) demonstrated a higher probability and HR for ESRD compared to the lower variability quartiles (Q1–Q3). Among men, individuals with sustained weight, and those with weight gain, the ARV Q4 group showed significantly increased HRs for ESRD (HR of 1.372, 1.222, and 1.49, respectively). Furthermore, irrespective of changes in creatinine levels, all ARV Q4 groups exhibited increased HRs for ESRD (HR of 1.342, 1.472, and 1.299, respectively). Conclusions High weight fluctuation (ARV Q4) was associated with an increased incidence of ESRD in the general Korean population, with notable significance in men and in groups with sustained or increased weight. Clinically, individuals in the ARV Q4 category should be considered at risk for ESRD, and early interventions should be pursued for this population.

Background: s/Aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cancer and second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in South Korea. This study evaluated the characteristics of Korean patients newly diagnosed with HCC in 2016-2018. Methods: Data from the Korean Primary Liver Cancer Registry (KPLCR), a representative database of patients newly diagnosed with HCC in South Korea, were analyzed. This study investigated 4,462 patients with HCC registered in the KPLCR in 2016-2018. Results: The median patient age was 63 years (interquartile range, 55-72). 79.7% of patients were male. Hepatitis B infection was the most common underlying liver disease (54.5%). The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system classified patients as follows: stage 0 (14.9%), A (28.8%), B (7.5%), C (39.0%), and D (9.8%). The median overall survival was 3.72 years (95% confidence interval, 3.47-4.14), with 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates of 71.3%, 54.1%, and 44.3%, respectively. In 2016-2018, there was a significant shift toward BCLC stage 0-A and Child-Turcotte-Pugh liver function class A (P<0.05), although survival rates did not differ by diagnosis year. In the treatment group (n=4,389), the most common initial treatments were transarterial therapy (31.7%), surgical resection (24.9%), best supportive care (18.9%), and local ablation therapy (10.5%). Conclusions Between 2016 and 2018, HCC tended to be diagnosed at earlier stages, with better liver function in later years. However, since approximately half of the patients remained diagnosed at an advanced stage, more rigorous and optimized HCC screening strategies should be implemented.