Background: Increasing longevity has caused the very old population to become the fastest-growing segment. The number of centenarians (over 100 years old) is increasing rapidly. Fractures in the elderly lead to excessive medical costs and decreased quality of life with socioeconomic burdens. However, little research has thoroughly examined the functional outcomes and mortality of hip fractures in centenarians. Methods: This is a retrospective observational study. Sixty-eight centenarian hip fracture patients were admitted to the 10 institutions from February 2004 to December 2019. Fifty-six patients with 1-year follow-up were finally included. The following data were obtained: sex, age, body mass index, Charlson comorbidity index value on the operation day, Koval’s classification for ambulatory ability, type of fracture, the time interval from trauma to surgery, American Society of Anesthesiologists grade, surgery-related complications, and duration of hospital stay. Postoperative Koval’s classification (at 1 year after surgery) and information about death were also collected. Multivariate analysis was performed to analyze the risk factors affecting mortality 1 year after surgery. Results: Mortality rates were 26.8% at 6 months and 39.3% at 1 year. The 90-day mortality was 19.6%, and one of them (2.1%) died in the hospital. The 1-year mortality rates for the community ambulatory and non-community ambulatory groups were 29% and 52%, respectively. Only 9 (16.1%) were able to walk outdoors 1 year after surgery. The remaining 47 patients (83.9%) had to stay indoors after surgery. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the pre-injury ambulatory level (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.884; p = 0.034) was associated with the risk of mortality. Conclusions We report a 1-year mortality rate of 39.3% in centenarian patients with hip fractures. The risk factor for mortality was the pre-injury ambulatory status. This could be an important consideration in the planning of treatment for centenarian hip fracture patients.

Objectives: To obtain audiologic basic data to diagnose the noise induced hearing loss of workers in fisheries. Methods: The charts of the referred fishermen with noise induced hearing loss from November 2022 to February 2023 at a general hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Pure tone audiometry, speech audiometry, auditory brainstem response test and auditory steady state response test were conducted. Results: All of them were men over 60 years of age, and the average duration of exposure to noise was 38.9 ± 10.8 years, and the average symptom duration of hearing loss was 13.4 ± 4.3 years. Although the hearing thresholds in the high frequencies were higher than thresholds in the low frequencies, the audiogram showed a down-sloping pattern without rebound at 8 kHz. 10.5% of the cases had thresholds greater than 75 dB in high frequencies, but 57.9% had thresholds greater than 40 dB in low frequencies.Other hearing test results of fishermen were similar to those of general noise-induced hearing loss. Conclusions Although the fishermen were exposed to noise for a long time, they recognized hearing loss late. The hearing threshold in lower frequencies of the fishermen was higher than expected. Further studies will be needed to analyze the audiologic characteristics of noise-induced hearing loss of the fishermen after confirming noise exposure by conducting a survey on the working environment, such as the noise level and working hours.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have recommended a 2- to 5-year waiting time prior to kidney transplantation (KT) in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and symptomatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and no delay for incidental early-stage RCC. Data on Asian KT recipients are unavailable.METHODS: This is a Korean single-center retrospective study on 35 KT recipients with ESRD and RCC. Patients were classified into two groups: early KT (KT performed within 1 year after nephrectomy for RCC, including KT with simultaneous nephrectomy) and delayed KT (KT performed over than 1 year after nephrectomy for RCC). Patient survival, graft survival, and cancer recurrence were compared between both groups.RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in patient survival (P = 0.388), graft survival (P = 0.317), or graft rejection rate (P = 0.207) between the early and delayed KT groups. Additionally, there were no differences in pathological characteristics or RCC stage other than cancer histology: acquired cystic disease-associated RCC (47.4%) was the most common RCC type in the early KT group, whereas clear cell type (62.5%) was the most common RCC type in the delayed KT group. No RCC recurrence was observed.CONCLUSION: Patients with early-stage and asymptomatic RCC do not require a mandatory observational period prior to KT after curative nephrectomy
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; Graft Rejection ; Graft Survival ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Kidney Transplantation ; Kidney ; Nephrectomy ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplant Recipients

BACKGROUND: Although studies and interest in sarcopenia have increased, it is still a matter of debate which muscle mass index better represents the aging process. We compared 3 indices for muscle mass (appendicular skeletal muscle mass [ASM]/weight, ASM/height2, and the body mass index [BMI]-adjusted muscle mass index [ASM/BMI]) to determine which better reflected the aging process in terms of the decline in bone mineral density (BMD), visual acuity (VA), hearing power, renal function, pulmonary function, and handgrip strength. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cross-sectional study using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in the Korean population. Between 2008 and 2011, a total of 14,415 men and 17,971 women aged 10 years or older participated in the study. We plotted the changes in the 3 indices of muscle mass and compared these with changes in BMD, VA, hearing power, renal function, pulmonary function, and handgrip strength according to each age group. RESULTS: The ASM/BMI showed similar changes in terms of surrogate markers of the aging process, while the ASM/weight and ASM/height2 showed no correlation. CONCLUSIONS: Among muscle indices for sarcopenia, only the ASM/BMI represented the aging process.
Aging* ; Biomarkers ; Body Mass Index ; Bone Density ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Hearing ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Nutrition Surveys ; Retrospective Studies ; Sarcopenia ; Visual Acuity

BACKGROUND: Although bisphosphonate is effective for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, poor medication compliance is a key-limiting factor. We determined whether alarm clock could improve compliance with weekly bisphosphonate in patients with osteoporosis, by comparing with age- and gender-matched control group. METHODS: Fifty patients with osteoporosis were recruited and participated in alarm clock group. Patients were asked to take orally weekly risedronate for 1 year, and received alarm clock to inform the time of taking oral bisphosphonate weekly. Using the propensity score matching with age and gender, 50 patients were identified from patients with osteoporosis medication. We compared the compliance with bisphosphonate using medication possession ratio (MPR) between two groups. RESULTS: Although there was no significant difference of baseline characteristics between both groups, the mean MPR (0.80±0.33) of alarm clock group was higher than that (0.56±0.34) of control group (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Alarming could improve the compliance with weekly oral bisphosphonate in patients with osteoporosis.
Compliance* ; Humans ; Medication Adherence ; Osteoporosis* ; Patient Compliance ; Propensity Score ; Risedronate Sodium

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the predictive performance of a combination of self-report questionnaires, salivary hemoglobin levels, and age as a non-invasive screening method for periodontitis. METHODS: The periodontitis status of 202 adults was examined using salivary hemoglobin levels, responses to 10 questions on a self-report questionnaire, and the Community Periodontal Index (CPI). The ability of those two variables and the combination thereof with age to predict the presence of CPI scores of 3-4 and 4 was assessed using logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. RESULTS: CPI scores of 3-4 and 4 were present among 79.7% and 46.5% of the sample, respectively. The area under the ROC curves (AUROCs) of salivary hemoglobin levels for predicting prevalence of CPI scores of 3-4 and 4 were 0.63 and 0.67, respectively (with sensitivity values of 71% and 60% and specificity values of 56% and 72%, respectively). Two distinct sets of five questions were associated with CPI scores of 3-4 and 4, with AUROCs of 0.73 and 0.71, sensitivity values of 76% and 66%, and specificity values of 63% and 69%. The combined model incorporating both variables and age showed the best predictive performance, with AUROCs of 0.78 and 0.76, sensitivity values of 71% and 65%, and specificity values of 68% and 77% for CPI scores of 3-4 and 4, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of salivary hemoglobin levels and self-report questionnaires was shown to be a valuable screening method for detecting periodontitis.
Adult ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Mass Screening* ; Periodontal Diseases ; Periodontal Index ; Periodontitis* ; Prevalence ; ROC Curve ; Saliva ; Self Report ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) is one of the most important bacteria in the formation of dental plaque and dental caries. S. mutans adheres to an acquired pellicle formed on the tooth surface, and aggregates with many oral bacteria. It initiates plaque formation by synthesizing glucan from sucrose, which is catalyzed by glucosyltransferases. Propolis is a resinous mixture produced by honeybees, by mixing saliva and beeswax with secretions gathered from wood sap and flower pollen. Bees prevent pathogenic invasions by coating the propolis to the outer and inner surface of the honeycomb. Propolis has traditionally been used for the treatment of allergic rhinitis, asthma and dermatitis. We investigated the inhibitory effects of propolis ethanol extract on biofilm formation and gene expression of S. mutans. The biofilm formation of S. mutans was determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and safranin staining. We observed that the extract of propolis had an inhibitory effect on the formation of S. mutans biofilms at concentrations higher than 0.2 mg/ml. Real-time PCR analysis showed that the gene expression of biofilm formation, such as gbpB, spaP, brpA, relA and vicR of S. mutans, was significantly decreased in a dose dependent manner. The ethanol extract of propolis showed concentration dependent growth inhibition of S. mutans, and significant inhibition of acid production at concentrations of 0.025, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 mg/ml, compared to the control group. These results suggest that the ethanol extract of propolis inhibits gene expression related to biofilm formation in S. mutans
Asthma ; Bacteria ; Bees ; Biofilms* ; Dental Caries ; Dental Plaque ; Dermatitis ; Ethanol* ; Flowers ; Gene Expression ; Glucosyltransferases ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Pollen ; Propolis* ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Saliva ; Streptococcus mutans* ; Streptococcus* ; Sucrose ; Tooth ; Wood

BACKGROUND: Subclinical thyroid dysfunction might influence a bone health. We evaluated whether subclinical hypothyroidism adversely affects bone health including bone mineral density (BMD), level of vitamin D, and bone turnover status in patients with hip fracture. METHODS: We evaluated 471 patients aged 50 years or older, who underwent hip fracture surgeries. BMD, level of vitamin D, bone turnover status, and one-year mortality were compared between subclinical hypothyroidism group and control group. RESULTS: BMD of femur and the level of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25-[OH]D) were similar in the two groups. There were no significant differences in bone turnover markers according to thyroid function. No significant differences were observed between the groups in utilization of intensive care unit (ICU), length of hospital stay, mobility, and one-year mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Subclinical hypothyroidism was not associated with reduced bone health, including BMD, the level of 25-(OH)D, and bone turnover marker.
Bone Density ; Femur ; Hip Fractures ; Hip* ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism* ; Intensive Care Units ; Length of Stay ; Mortality ; Thyroid Gland ; Vitamin D

BACKGROUND: Prescribing potentially harmful drugs and omitting essential drugs to older patients is a common problem because they take so many medications. In this study, our goal was to identify potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) and potential prescribing omissions (PPOs) using Screening Tool of Older Persons' potentially inappropriate Prescriptions (STOPP) and Screening Tool to Alert doctors to the Right Treatment (START) criteria to improve proper prescription and reduce improper prescription. METHODS: Enrolled in this study were 117 patients older than 65 years old who were hospitalized at Inha University Hospital in Incheon due to pneumonia from January 2012 to March 2012. Patient data, including medical histories, current diagnoses, current medications, and biochemical data were recorded from electronic records. STOPP and START were applied to their clinical datasheets. RESULTS: STOPP criteria identified 24 patients who had 29 PIMs. Most potential inappropriate prescribing was of cardiovascular medications, followed by drugs whose primary effect is on the urogenital system and gastrointestinal system. START criteria identified 31 patients who had 46 PPOs. The cardiovascular system drugs comprised most of the PPOs. No PPOs were identified under the central nervous system criteria. CONCLUSION: Given the current Korean medical system conditions and considering the many clinically important situations when prescribing drugs, STOPP/START criteria are not absolute criteria to prevent improper prescription, but sagacious usage of these standards can help physicians to prescribe properly in clinical practice.
Cardiovascular System ; Central Nervous System ; Drugs, Essential ; Electronics ; Electrons ; Humans ; Inappropriate Prescribing ; Mass Screening ; Pneumonia ; Prescriptions ; Urogenital System

The objective of this study was to analyze quantitatively whether Weissella cibaria could affect the proliferation of five periodontopathic bacteria, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Treponema denticola, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, and Fusobacterium nucleatum, after incubation for 8~48 h. In addition, by using real-time PCR with a dual-labeled probe, each growth of bacteria was examined under different growth media conditions. The proliferation of periodontopathic bacteria was significantly inhibited by W. cibaria after incubation for 24~48 h (p < 0.05), whereas the growth of W. cibaria was not affected by these pathogenic bacteria. The growth of P. gingivalis, T. forsythia and T. denticola significantly increased in each growth media after incubation for 24 h (p < 0.05), as compared to the culture in mixed growth media. However, no differences in the growth of five periodontopathic bacteria were observed between each growth media and mixed media after incubation for 48 h. The growth and pH of W. cibaria culture significantly were changed in MRS after incubation for 24~48 h (p < 0.05), as compared to the bacterial culture in mixed growth media. The pH of P. gingivalis and F. nucleatum culture significantly was changed in both growth media and mixed media after incubation for 24~48 h (p < 0.05). Our data indicate that W. cibaria significantly inhibits the proliferation of five periodontopathic bacteria and each growth of bacteria is quantitatively analyzed under various media conditions by real-time PCR.
Bacteria ; Forsythia ; Fusobacterium nucleatum ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Porphyromonas gingivalis ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Treponema denticola ; Weissella