Background: Cardiovascular risk is a modifiable factor that can help prevent dementia.Given the dearth of optimal treatment options, managing dementia risk factors is crucial. We examined the association between cardiovascular risk, as measured by the Korean coronary heart disease risk score (KRS), and cognitive function in dementia-free elderly individuals. Methods: We enrolled 8,600 individuals (average age: 69.74 years; 5,206 women) who underwent a medical evaluation from the National Health Insurance Service. KRS was calculated using age, sex, blood pressure, lipid profile, diabetes, and smoking status. Cognitive function was evaluated using Korean Dementia Screening QuestionnaireCognition (KDSQ-C). Scores of ≥ 6 indicated a cognitive decline. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Weight, height, stroke history, coronary heart disease history, alcohol consumption, and physical activity engagement were adjusted. Results: The lowest, middle, and highest groups, according to the KRS, were 5,923 (68.9%), 2,343 (27.2%), and 334 (3.9%), respectively. The highest KRS group in all participants exhibited a greater risk of cognitive decline than the lowest KRS group (OR, 1.339; 95% CI, 1.034–1.734; P = 0.027). The highest KRS female group aged 71–75 years old exhibited greater cognitive decline than the corresponding lowest KRS group (OR, 1.595; 95% CI, 1.045–2.434; P = 0.031). Conclusion Individuals with high cardiovascular risk were associated with poorer cognitive function than those with low risk, especially older women. Cardiovascular risk factors should be carefully managed to promote healthy mental aging in dementia-free elderly individuals.

PURPOSE: Although the role of eosinophils in eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE) is not fully understood, they are believed to be a principal effector cell. Previous studies have demonstrated that eotaxin and its specific receptor, cysteine-cysteine chemokine receptor-3 (CCR3), play a central role in eosinophil trafficking into the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Thus, we examined the targeting of CCR3 as a potential therapeutic intervention for EGE in a mouse model. METHODS: Eight- to 10-week-old BALB/c mice were intraperitoneally sensitized and intragastrically challenged with ovalbumin (OVA). Different groups of mice were administered either an anti-CCR3 antibody or a control IgG by intraperitoneal injection 1 hour before each OVA challenge. Eosinophilic inflammation in the intestinal mucosa, mucosal injury, and severity of diarrhea were compared between different groups at 1 hour after final OVA challenge. RESULTS: Anti-CCR3 antibody reduced the number of eosinophils in peripheral blood and intestinal mucosa, but not in bone marrow. This reduction was associated with restoration of reduced villous crypt ratio, increased intestinal epithelial cell proliferation, and weight loss induced by OVA challenge. However, Anti-CCR3 antibody had no effect on the level of OVA specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) and the expression of critical chemokines or cytokines in eosinophil trafficking into the GI tract, such as eotaxin-1, interleukin (IL)-5, and IL-13. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-CCR3 antibody significantly reduced the severity of eosinophilic inflammation, mucosal injury, and diarrhea in a mouse model of food allergen-induced GI eosinophilic inflammation. CCR3 may be a novel therapeutic target for treatment of EGE and other GI eosinophil-mediated diseases.
Animals ; Bone Marrow ; Chemokine CCL11 ; Chemokines ; Cytokines ; Diarrhea ; Eosinophils* ; Epithelial Cells ; Gastroenteritis* ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulins ; Inflammation* ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Interleukin-13 ; Interleukins ; Intestinal Mucosa ; Mice* ; Ovalbumin ; Ovum ; Weight Loss

PURPOSE: Increased awareness and understanding of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an important aspect of disease management. The aim of this study was to explore COPD awareness among smokers participating in a smoking cessation program. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 289 subjects in three smoking cessation clinics, using a structured questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 68.2% of subjects had COPD-related symptoms, and 19.7% were in poor health. Only 1.0% of the subjects knew that COPD was a respiratory disease. A total of 2.4% of subjects had been diagnosed with COPD and received treatment. Television was the most common source of information about COPD, with 57.1% of the subjects receiving information in this way. After being informed about COPD, smoking-cessation willingness increased in 84.1% of the study group. It increased in 86.3% of the subjects without awareness of COPD and in 81.2% of subjects with COPD-related symptoms. CONCLUSION: We found that awareness of COPD is very poor among current smokers in Korea. Many smokers perceived their health status as good, despite the presence of COPD-related symptoms. As the level of smoking-cessation willingness was different between those with and without awareness of COPD or COPD-related symptoms, a personalized education program with various educational tools may be needed to enhance awareness of the disease and to motivate smokers to quit.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology ; *Awareness ; Female ; *Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Health Status ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Motivation ; *Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/diagnosis/etiology/prevention & control ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea ; Risk Factors ; Smoking/*adverse effects/epidemiology ; Smoking Cessation

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Cigarette smoking is the most common risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, few studies of the attitudes toward COPD of smokers, the group at risk of developing this condition, have been conducted. The purpose of this study was to explore the awareness of and attitudes toward COPD of current smokers. METHODS: The sample consisted of 502 individuals aged 45 and older from throughout Korea who smoked at least 10 packs of cigarettes per year. Telephone interviews using a structured questionnaire were conducted with respondents. RESULTS: First, we evaluated the health status of subjects, finding that 45.4% considered themselves to be in good health. We also asked about COPD-related symptoms, and 60.6% of subjects reported such symptoms. However, only 1.2% of subjects had been diagnosed with or treated for COPD, only 0.4% spontaneously mentioned COPD as a respiratory disease, and only 26.5% recognized COPD as a respiratory disease after seeing a list of such diseases. Television ranked as the top source of information about COPD. The willingness of 45.0% of subjects to stop smoking increased after being informed about COPD. CONCLUSIONS: Despite having COPD-related symptoms, most smokers did not know that COPD is a respiratory disease. The attitudes of smokers toward COPD and smoking cessation varied according to socioeconomic status. In summary, a continuous effort to increase the awareness of COPD among smokers is needed. Additionally, strategies tailored according to different socioeconomic groups will also be necessary.
Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/*psychology ; *Awareness ; Consumer Health Information ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice/*ethnology ; Health Promotion ; Health Status ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Media ; Middle Aged ; Patient Compliance/ethnology ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/diagnosis/*ethnology/psychology/therapy ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Risk Reduction Behavior ; Smoking/*adverse effects/*ethnology/prevention & control/psychology ; Smoking Cessation/ethnology ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Time Factors

PURPOSE: Recent studies show positive association of early repolarization (ER) with the risk of life-threatening arrhythmias in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). This study was to investigate the relationships of ER with myocardial scarring and prognosis in patients with CAD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of 570 consecutive CAD patients, patients with and without ER were assigned to ER group (n=139) and no ER group (n=431), respectively. Myocardial scar was evaluated using cardiac single-photon emission computed tomography. RESULTS: ER group had previous history of myocardial infarction (33% vs. 15%, p<0.001) and lower left ventricular ejection fraction (57+/-13% vs. 62+/-13%, p<0.001) more frequently than no-ER group. While 74 (53%) patients in ER group had myocardial scar, only 121 (28%) patients had in no-ER group (p<0.001). During follow up, 9 (7%) and 4 (0.9%) patients had cardiac events in ER and no-ER group, respectively (p=0.001). All patients with cardiac events had ER in inferior leads and horizontal/descending ST-segment. Patients with both ER in inferior leads and horizontal/descending ST variant and scar had an increased adjusted hazard ratio of cardiac events (hazard ratio 16.0; 95% confidence interval: 4.1 to 55.8; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: ER in inferior leads with a horizontal/descending ST variant was associated with increased risk of cardiac events. These findings suggest that ER in patients with CAD may be related to myocardial scar rather than pure ion channel problem.
Aged ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac/physiopathology ; Cicatrix/*physiopathology ; Coronary Artery Disease/*pathology/*physiopathology ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac/pathology ; Female ; Heart Conduction System/abnormalities/physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardium/*pathology ; Prognosis

The genetic alterations of vitamin D receptor (VDR) are related with the growth of long bone. There were a lot of reports regarding an association of polymorphisms in the VDR promoter with many disorders, but not with idiopathic short stature (ISS). We investigated the association of them with ISS. A total of 50 subjects, including 29 ISS patients and 21 healthy controls with their heights within the normal range was recruited. We selected two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from VDR promoter (rs11568820 at the Cdx-2 binding site upstream of exon 1e and rs4516035 at -1012 upstream of exon 1a) as candidates, respectively. In genotype analysis, the frequency of A/A genotype at the Cdx-2 binding site locus (rs11568820) upstream of exon 1e of VDR was decreased to 6.9% in ISS patients (28.6% in controls) (P = 0.027). The genetic variation at the Cdx-2 binding site of VDR promoter can be a contributing factor of growth of height.
Adolescent ; Alleles ; Binding Sites ; Child ; Dwarfism/*genetics ; Exons ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Homeodomain Proteins/metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; *Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Receptors, Calcitriol/*genetics

PURPOSE: There were a lot of reports regarding associations of polymorphisms in the estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1). with many disorders. But, those with constitutional delay of growth and puberty (CDGP) are not known. Our aim is to find out any association between CDGP and ESR1. METHODS: In a total of 27 subjects, we compared 7 CDGP patients with 20 healthy controls with their heights and sexual maturity rates were within normal range. We selected three single nucleotide polymorphisms from intron 1 of ESR1 (rs3778609, rs12665044, and rs827421) as candidates, respectively. RESULTS: In genotype analyses, the frequency of G/G genotype at rs827421 in intron 1 of ESR1 was increased in CDGP boys (P=0.03). CONCLUSION: The genetic variation of ESR1 can be a contributing factor of tempo of growth and puberty.
Cyclic N-Oxides ; Estrogen Receptor alpha ; Estrogens ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Humans ; Introns ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Puberty ; Reference Values

PURPOSE: There were a lot of reports regarding associations of polymorphisms in the estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1). with many disorders. But, those with constitutional delay of growth and puberty (CDGP) are not known. Our aim is to find out any association between CDGP and ESR1. METHODS: In a total of 27 subjects, we compared 7 CDGP patients with 20 healthy controls with their heights and sexual maturity rates were within normal range. We selected three single nucleotide polymorphisms from intron 1 of ESR1 (rs3778609, rs12665044, and rs827421) as candidates, respectively. RESULTS: In genotype analyses, the frequency of G/G genotype at rs827421 in intron 1 of ESR1 was increased in CDGP boys (P=0.03). CONCLUSION: The genetic variation of ESR1 can be a contributing factor of tempo of growth and puberty.
Cyclic N-Oxides ; Estrogen Receptor alpha ; Estrogens ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Humans ; Introns ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Puberty ; Reference Values

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It is necessary to establish the most efficient diagnostic and therapeutic method for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), which is appropriate for Korean healthcare system. We aimed to evaluate current state of Korean clinician's diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for BPPV. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 16-item survey was emailed to the members of dizziness department of Otology Research Interest Group in the Korean Otologic Society (n=68). 43 were returned and analyzed. RESULTS: All respondents (100%) used Dix-Hallpike test as a diagnostic tool for vertical canal-BPPV. Supine roll test was used for diagnosing lateral canal BPPV in nearly all the respondents (97.7%). Epley maneuver was chosen as otolith repositioning maneuver (ORM) for posterior canal BPPV in all respondents and barbecue rotation (BBQ) was used for treating lateral canal BPPV with geotropic nystagmus in 95.3% of respondents. Extreme variation was noted for therapeutic approach of lateral canal BPPV with ageotropic nystagmus BBQ, with 4 kinds of ORM and adjunctive measures to liberate otolith from cupula, while BBQ was again the most commonly used ORM (76.7%). CONCLUSION: The development of practical and efficient ORM for lateral canal BPPV with ageotropic nystagmus is necessary.
Surveys and Questionnaires ; Delivery of Health Care ; Dizziness ; Electronic Mail ; Korea ; Otolaryngology ; Otolithic Membrane ; Public Opinion ; Vertigo

The publisher wishes to apologize for incorrectly displaying the author (Jung-Ho Han) name. We correct his name from Jung-Ho Han to Joung-Ho Han.