Background: Skipping breakfast is associated with an increased risk of chronic inflammatory diseases. This study aimed to examine the association between breakfast-eating habits and inflammation, using high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) as a marker. Methods: A total of 4,000 Korean adult males with no history of myocardial infarction, angina, stroke, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, or current smoking were included. Data from the 2016–2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used for analysis. The frequency of breakfast consumption was assessed through a questionnaire item in the dietary survey section asking participants about their weekly breakfast consumption routines over the past year. Participants were categorized into two groups, namely “0–2 breakfasts per week” and “3–7 breakfasts per week”; hs-CRP concentrations were measured through blood tests. Results: Comparing between the “infrequent breakfast consumption (0–2 breakfasts per week)” and “frequent breakfast consumption (3–7 breakfasts per week)” groups, the mean hs-CRP was found to be significantly higher in the “infrequent breakfast consumption” group, even after adjusting for age, body mass index, physical activity, alcohol consumption, systolic blood pressure, blood pressure medication, fasting blood glucose, and triglycerides (mean hs-CRP: frequent breakfast consumption, 1.36±0.09 mg/L; infrequent breakfast consumption, 1.17±0.05 mg/L; P-value=0.036). Conclusion Less frequent breakfast consumption was associated with elevated hs-CRP levels. Further large-scale studies incorporating adjusted measures of daily eating patterns as well as food quality and quantity are required for a deeper understanding of the role of breakfast in the primary prevention of chronic inflammatory diseases.

Background: Skipping breakfast is associated with an increased risk of chronic inflammatory diseases. This study aimed to examine the association between breakfast-eating habits and inflammation, using high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) as a marker. Methods: A total of 4,000 Korean adult males with no history of myocardial infarction, angina, stroke, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, or current smoking were included. Data from the 2016–2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used for analysis. The frequency of breakfast consumption was assessed through a questionnaire item in the dietary survey section asking participants about their weekly breakfast consumption routines over the past year. Participants were categorized into two groups, namely “0–2 breakfasts per week” and “3–7 breakfasts per week”; hs-CRP concentrations were measured through blood tests. Results: Comparing between the “infrequent breakfast consumption (0–2 breakfasts per week)” and “frequent breakfast consumption (3–7 breakfasts per week)” groups, the mean hs-CRP was found to be significantly higher in the “infrequent breakfast consumption” group, even after adjusting for age, body mass index, physical activity, alcohol consumption, systolic blood pressure, blood pressure medication, fasting blood glucose, and triglycerides (mean hs-CRP: frequent breakfast consumption, 1.36±0.09 mg/L; infrequent breakfast consumption, 1.17±0.05 mg/L; P-value=0.036). Conclusion Less frequent breakfast consumption was associated with elevated hs-CRP levels. Further large-scale studies incorporating adjusted measures of daily eating patterns as well as food quality and quantity are required for a deeper understanding of the role of breakfast in the primary prevention of chronic inflammatory diseases.

Background: Skipping breakfast is associated with an increased risk of chronic inflammatory diseases. This study aimed to examine the association between breakfast-eating habits and inflammation, using high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) as a marker. Methods: A total of 4,000 Korean adult males with no history of myocardial infarction, angina, stroke, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, or current smoking were included. Data from the 2016–2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used for analysis. The frequency of breakfast consumption was assessed through a questionnaire item in the dietary survey section asking participants about their weekly breakfast consumption routines over the past year. Participants were categorized into two groups, namely “0–2 breakfasts per week” and “3–7 breakfasts per week”; hs-CRP concentrations were measured through blood tests. Results: Comparing between the “infrequent breakfast consumption (0–2 breakfasts per week)” and “frequent breakfast consumption (3–7 breakfasts per week)” groups, the mean hs-CRP was found to be significantly higher in the “infrequent breakfast consumption” group, even after adjusting for age, body mass index, physical activity, alcohol consumption, systolic blood pressure, blood pressure medication, fasting blood glucose, and triglycerides (mean hs-CRP: frequent breakfast consumption, 1.36±0.09 mg/L; infrequent breakfast consumption, 1.17±0.05 mg/L; P-value=0.036). Conclusion Less frequent breakfast consumption was associated with elevated hs-CRP levels. Further large-scale studies incorporating adjusted measures of daily eating patterns as well as food quality and quantity are required for a deeper understanding of the role of breakfast in the primary prevention of chronic inflammatory diseases.

Background: Skipping breakfast is associated with an increased risk of chronic inflammatory diseases. This study aimed to examine the association between breakfast-eating habits and inflammation, using high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) as a marker. Methods: A total of 4,000 Korean adult males with no history of myocardial infarction, angina, stroke, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, or current smoking were included. Data from the 2016–2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used for analysis. The frequency of breakfast consumption was assessed through a questionnaire item in the dietary survey section asking participants about their weekly breakfast consumption routines over the past year. Participants were categorized into two groups, namely “0–2 breakfasts per week” and “3–7 breakfasts per week”; hs-CRP concentrations were measured through blood tests. Results: Comparing between the “infrequent breakfast consumption (0–2 breakfasts per week)” and “frequent breakfast consumption (3–7 breakfasts per week)” groups, the mean hs-CRP was found to be significantly higher in the “infrequent breakfast consumption” group, even after adjusting for age, body mass index, physical activity, alcohol consumption, systolic blood pressure, blood pressure medication, fasting blood glucose, and triglycerides (mean hs-CRP: frequent breakfast consumption, 1.36±0.09 mg/L; infrequent breakfast consumption, 1.17±0.05 mg/L; P-value=0.036). Conclusion Less frequent breakfast consumption was associated with elevated hs-CRP levels. Further large-scale studies incorporating adjusted measures of daily eating patterns as well as food quality and quantity are required for a deeper understanding of the role of breakfast in the primary prevention of chronic inflammatory diseases.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between blood levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and cognitive impairments among elderly individuals. Methods: Peripheral concentration of TNF-α and IL-6 were measured in all subjects. To assess individual cognitive function, the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease Neuropsychological Assessment Battery (CERAD-NP) was used, and standardized scores (z-scores) were calculated for each test. Cytokine levels were compared between the diagnostic groups, and correlations between blood inflammatory factor levels and z-scores were analyzed. Results: The 37 participants included 8 patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), 15 subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 14 cognitively healthy controls. TNF-α and IL-6 levels were higher in patients with AD than in healthy controls. TNF-α levels were higher in the AD group than in the MCI group. However, after adjusting for age, the associations between diagnosis and TNF-α and IL-6 were not significant. The higher the plasma IL-6 level, the lower the z-scores on the Boston Naming Test, Word List Learning, Word List Recognition, and Constructional Recall. The higher the serum TNF-α level, the lower the z-scores on the Word List Learning and Constructional Recall. Negative correlation between serum TNF-α level and the z-score on Word List Learning remained significant when age was adjusted. Conclusion The difference in the blood levels of TNF-α and IL-6 between the diagnostic groups may be associated with aging. However, elevated TNF-α levels were associated with worse immediate memory performance, even after adjusting for age.

Fluid overload is an independent risk factor of mortality in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) receiving continuous kidney replacement therapy (CKRT). However, the association between fluid status, as assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) or lung ultrasound, and survival in patients with AKI requiring CKRT has not been established. Methods: We analyzed 36 participants with sepsis-associated AKI who received CKRT at a tertiary hospital. The main exposures were volume surrogates: 1) overhydration normalized by extracellular water (OH/ECW, L/L) assessed by BIA, 2) the number of B-lines measured by lung ultrasound, and 3) weight change ([body weight at CKRT initiation – body weight at admission] × 100/body weight at admission). The primary outcome was the 28-day mortality. Results: Seventeen participants (47.2%) died within 28 days. There were no significant correlations between OH/ECW and weight change (R2 = 0.040, p = 0.24), number of B-lines and OH/ECW (R2 = 0.056, p = 0.16), or weight change and number of B-lines (R2 = 0.014, p = 0.49). Kaplan-Meier analyses revealed that patients in the highest tertile of OH/ECW showed a significantly lower cumulative 28-day survival probability than the others (the lowest + middle tertiles). The survival probability of participants in the highest tertile of the number of B-lines or weight change did not differ from that of their counterparts. In a multivariate Cox proportional hazard model, the hazard ratio for the highest tertile of OH/ECW was 3.83 (95% confidence interval, 1.04–14.03). Conclusion: Volume overload assessed using BIA (OH/ECW) was associated with the 28-day survival rate in patients with sepsis-associated AKI who received CKRT.

Background: In Korea, tests for evaluating respiratory muscle strength are based on other countries’ clinical experience or standards, which can lead to subjective evaluations. When evaluating respiratory function based on the standards of other countries, several variables, such as the race and cultures of different countries, make it difficult to apply these standards. The purpose of this study was to propose objective respiratory muscle strength standards and predicted values for healthy Korean adults based on age, height, weight, and muscle strength, by measuring maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), maximal expiratory pressure (MEP), and peak cough flow (PCF). Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed MIP, MEP, and PCF in 360 people, each group comprising 30 adult men and women aged 20–70, diagnosed as healthy after undergoing medical check-ups at a general hospital. Hand grip strength (HGS) and the five times sitto-stand test (FTSST) results were also recorded. Correlations among respiratory muscle strength, participant demographics, and overall muscle strength were evaluated using Pearson’s correlation analysis. The predicted values of respiratory muscle strength were calculated using multiple regression analysis. Results: Respiratory muscle strength differed from the values reported in studies from other countries. In the entire samples, both MIP and MEP had the highest correlations with peak HGS (r= 0.643, r = 0.693; P < 0.05), while PCF had the highest correlation with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (r = 0.753; P < 0.05). Age, body mass index, peak HGS, and FTSST results were independent variables affecting respiratory muscle strength. A predictive equation for respiratory muscle strength was developed using the multiple regression equation developed in this study. Conclusion Respiratory muscle strength index may differ by country. For more accurate diagnoses, standard values for each country are required. This study presents reference values for Korea, and a formula for estimation is proposed when no respiratory muscle strength measurement equipment is available.Trial Registration: Clinical Research Information Service Identifier: KCT0006778

Pancreatic pseudoaneurysm is a potentially life-threatening complication often associated with pancreatitis or pancreatic surgery. As the rupture of pancreatic pseudoaneurysms can lead to catastrophic bleeding and is associated with high mortality rates, clinical suspicion and early diagnosis are essential to improve patient outcomes. In the management of pseudoaneurysms, transarterial embolization (TAE) could be effective; however, there have been limited local studies on the outcomes of TAE for patients with pseudoaneurysm rupture associated with pancreatitis. Here, we describe patients who were diagnosed with pseudoaneruysm rupture associated with pancreatitis and treated with TAE.