The Association between Serum Lipid Levels and Tinnitus Prevalence and Severity in Korean Elderly: A Nationwide Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

PURPOSE: We aimed to investigate the association between serum lipid level and tinnitus risk in Korean older adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study used data from the 2016-2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Overall, 6021 subjects aged ≥60 years were included. Hypertriglyceridemia was defined as a serum triglyceride level of ≥200 mg/dL. The high-risk threshold of the total cholesterol (TC)/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio was defined as above 5.0. The presence of tinnitus was assessed via health interviews. Tinnitus severity was classified as "not annoying," "irritating," and "severely annoying and causing sleep problems." Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between serum lipid level and tinnitus risk. RESULTS: The odds ratio (OR) of tinnitus was 1.27-times higher in the group with hypertriglyceridemia than in the group without hypertriglyceridemia after adjusting for age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, anemia, current smoking, obesity, noise exposure, stress cognition, and depressive mood or anxiety [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04-1.56, p=0.022]. The OR of tinnitus was 1.21-times higher in the group with a high TC/HDL-C ratio than in the group without a high TC/HDL-C ratio after adjusting for the same variables as above (95% CI 1.02-1.44, p=0.025). CONCLUSION: This study revealed that hypertriglyceridemia and high TC/HDL-C ratio were significantly associated with an increased OR of tinnitus in Korean older adults.

Association between breakfast frequency and insulin resistance in Korean adults with prediabetes: A nationwide population-based cross-sectional study.

AIMS: This study aimed to investigate the association between breakfast frequency and insulin resistance using the triglyceride and glucose (TyG) index in Korean adults with prediabetes. METHODS: This study used data from the 2016-2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). A total of 16,925 participants were included in this study. Breakfast frequency was classified as 0 times, 1-4 times, and 5-7 times per week. High insulin resistance was defined as a TyG index of ≥8.5. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: Compared with the group whose breakfast frequency was 5-7 times per week, the odds ratio for high insulin resistance was 1.39 times (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.21-1.59) and 1.17 times (95% CI, 1.04-1.32) higher in the group whose breakfast frequency was 0 times and 1-4 times per week, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that a lower frequency of breakfast consumption was significantly associated with a higher risk of insulin resistance in Korean adults with prediabetes. In the future, a large-scale prospective longitudinal study is required to establish the causal relationship between breakfast frequency and insulin resistance.

Development of machine learning models for the screening of potential HSP90 inhibitors.

Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is a molecular chaperone playing a significant role in the folding of client proteins. This cellular protein is linked to the progression of several cancer types, including breast cancer, lung cancer, and gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Several oncogenic kinases are Hsp90 clients and their activity depends on this molecular chaperone. This makes HSP90 a prominent therapeutic target for cancer treatment. Studies have confirmed the inhibition of HSP90 as a striking therapeutic treatment for cancer management. In this study, we have utilized machine learning and different in silico approaches to screen the KCB database to identify the potential HSP90 inhibitors. Further evaluation of these inhibitors on various cancer cell lines showed favorable inhibitory activity. These inhibitors could serve as a basis for future development of effective HSP90 inhibitors.

Association of Duration of Smoking Cessation or Cumulative Smoking Amount with Serum hs-CRP Level in Korean Adults: A Nationwide Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

This study investigates the association between the duration of smoking cessation or cumulative smoking amount with serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels. We assessed the decreasing risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer following smoking cessation in Korean adults who were former smokers compared with current smokers. This study used data from the 2016−2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A total of 5411 participants were included. The duration of smoking cessation and cumulative smoking amount were classified into cut-offs for 6 and 17 months, and 5 and 20 pack-years, respectively, using tertile values. Elevated serum hs-CRP level was defined as ≥1 mg/L. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed. The odds ratio (OR) for elevated serum hs-CRP level was 0.73 times lower in the group whose duration of smoking cessation was 17 months or more than that in the group who were current smokers after adjusting for confounding variables (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.57−0.92; p < 0.01). The OR for elevated serum hs-CRP level was 0.71 and 0.67 times lower in the groups whose cumulative smoking amounts were less than 5 and 5−20 pack-years than that in the group who were current smokers (95% CI: 0.50−0.99 and 0.50−0.92, respectively; both p < 0.05). This study reveals that a duration of smoking cessation of more than 17 months and a cumulative smoking amount of less than 20 pack-years were significantly associated with a decreased risk of elevated serum hs-CRP levels in Korean adults who were former smokers. Therefore, quitting smoking early and a low cumulative smoking amount are a potential preventive strategy for CVD and cancer that can be easily accessible using serum hs-CRP.

Combining structure-based pharmacophore modeling and machine learning for the identification of novel BTK inhibitors.

Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) is a critical enzyme which is involved in multiple signaling pathways that regulate cellular survival, activation, and proliferation, making it a major cancer therapeutic target. We applied the novel integrated structure-based pharmacophore modeling, machine learning, and other in silico studies to screen the Korean chemical database (KCB) to identify the potential BTK inhibitors (BTKi). Further evaluation of these inhibitors on three different human cancer cell lines showed significant cell growth inhibitory activity. Among the 13 compounds shortlisted, four demonstrated consistent cell inhibition activity among breast, gastric, and lung cancer cells (IC50 below 3 µM). The selected compounds also showed significant kinase inhibition activity (IC50 below 5 µM). The current study suggests the potential of these inhibitors for targeting BTK malignant tumors.

Clinical Practice Guidelines for Managing Frailty in Community-Dwelling Korean Elderly Adults in Primary Care Settings.

Aging has become a global problem, and the interest in healthy aging is growing. Healthy aging involves a focus on the maintenance of the function and well-being of elderly adults, rather than a specific disease. Thus, the management of frailty, which is an accumulated decline in function, is important for healthy aging. The adaptation method was used to develop clinical practice guidelines on frailty management that are applicable in primary care settings. The guidelines were developed in three phases: preparation (organization of committees and establishment of the scope of development), literature screening and evaluation (selection of the clinical practice guidelines to be adapted and evaluation of the guidelines using the Korean Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II tool), and confirmation of recommendations (three rounds of Delphi consensus and internal and external reviews). A total of 16 recommendations (five recommendations for diagnosis and assessment, 11 recommendations for intervention of frailty) were made through the guideline development process. These clinical practice guidelines provide overall guidance on the identification, evaluation, intervention, and monitoring of frailty, making them applicable in primary care settings. As aging and "healthy aging" become more and more important, these guidelines are also expected to increase in clinical usefulness.

Relationship between sedentary time and central obesity in adult Korean men: Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2014.

Background: . We aimed to examine the association between sedentary time and central obesity in a nationally representative sample of adult Korean men. Methods: . We included 1269 participants from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Central obesity was defined as having a waist circumference (WC) ≥90 cm. The ORs and 95% CIs for central obesity were calculated using multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: . The mean values of WC tended to increase proportionally with increasing sedentary time quartiles. The prevalence of central obesity increased significantly in accordance with sedentary time quartiles. Compared to individuals in the lowest sedentary time quartile (≤4 hours for a day), the OR for central obesity for individuals in the highest quartile (≥11 hours for a day) was 1.81 after adjusting for confounding variables. Conclusion: . We confirmed a relationship between sedentary time and the risk prevalence of central obesity in a representative sample of adult Korean men. A public health intervention to reduce sedentary time is needed to prevent central obesity.

Association between handgrip strength asymmetry and falls in elderly Koreans: A nationwide population-based cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the association between handgrip strength (HGS) asymmetry and fall risk in elderly Koreans. METHODS: This study used data from the 2016-2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A total of 3407 participants aged ≥ 65 years were included. HGS asymmetry was defined as an HGS asymmetry ratio (nondominant HGS/dominant HGS) of ≥ 1.2 or ≤ 0.8. The presence of a fall was defined as a self-reported fall event that needed treatment at a hospital or emergency department in the previous year. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the association between HGS asymmetry and fall risk. RESULTS: The odds ratio for falls was 1.89 times higher in the group with HGS asymmetry than in the group without HGS asymmetry after adjusting for age, sex, multimorbidity, obesity, current smoking, alcohol drinking, and physical exercise (95% confidence interval, 1.03-3.49; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that HGS asymmetry is significantly associated with an increased risk of falls in the Korean elderly population. Therefore, early identification and treatment of HGS asymmetry in the elderly could reduce the incidence of falls and be a potential preventive strategy.

High-Fat-Diet-Induced Oxidative Stress Linked to the Increased Colonization of Lactobacillus sakei in an Obese Population.

Obesity is a major public health problem related to various chronic health conditions. Lactobacillus species has been reported in obese individuals; however, its role is unknown. We compared the abundance and composition of Lactobacillus species by analyzing feces from 64 healthy control subjects and 88 obese subjects. We isolated one Lactobacillus strain from the feces of a subject with obesity and further analyzed its genetic and molecular features. We found that an increased abundance and higher prevalence of Lactobacillus sakei distinguished the fecal microbiota of the obese group from that of healthy subjects and that it was related to the increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by higher fat intake. The L. sakei ob4.1 strain, isolated from the feces of a subject with obesity, showed high catalase activity, which was regulated by oxidative stress at the gene transcription level. L. sakei ob4.1 maintained colon epithelial cell adhesion ability under ROS stimulation, and treatment with saturated fatty acid increased colon epithelial ROS levels in a dose-dependent manner; however, L. sakei ob4.1 did not change the level of fat-induced colon epithelial ROS. Exposing mice to a high-fat diet revealed that high-fat-diet-induced colon ROS was associated with the increased colonization of L. sakei ob4.1 through catalase activity. Four-week supplementation with this strain in mice fed a high-fat diet did not change their body weights or ROS levels. A high-fat diet induces changes in the colon environment by increasing ROS levels, which provides a colonization benefit to an L. sakei strain with high catalase activity. IMPORTANCELactobacillus provides many health benefits; its various species are widely used as probiotics. However, an increased abundance of Lactobacillus has been reported in obesity, and the role of Lactobacillus strains in obesity remains unknown. We found a high abundance of the Lactobacillus sakei species in a group of obese subjects and examined its relationship with a high-fat diet and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the feces. To find the underlying mechanism, we analyzed and characterized an L. sakei strain isolated from a severely obese individual. We found that higher gut oxidative stress could link high-fat-diet-induced obesity and L. sakei. This translational research identifies the roles of the host gut environment in the colonization and survival of L. sakei.

Association between Daily Sunlight Exposure and Fractures in Older Korean Adults with Osteoporosis: A Nationwide Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

PURPOSE: We aimed to investigate the association between daily sunlight exposure duration and fractures in older Korean adults with osteoporosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We utilized data from the 2008-2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Osteoporosis was diagnosed based on a T-score of ≤-2.5 using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. The duration of daily sunlight exposure and fracture were assessed via intensive health interviews by trained staff using standardized health questionnaires. Fracture was defined as one or more fractures of the femur, wrist, and spine. RESULTS: A total of 638 patients with osteoporosis aged ≥65 years were included. The odds ratio (OR) of total fractures was 0.55 times lower in the group with ≥5 h of daily sunlight exposure than in the group with <5 h of exposure after adjusting for age, sex, family history of osteoporosis or fracture, body mass index, bone mineral density of the femoral neck, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, current smoking, alcohol intake, daily calcium intake, and physical activity [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.31-0.97, p=0.040]. In patients with vitamin D insufficiency, the OR of total fracture was 0.52 times lower in the group with ≥5 h of daily sunlight exposure than in the group with less exposure after adjusting the above variables (95% CI 0.28-0.97, p=0.041). CONCLUSION: Sunlight exposure for ≥5 h a day was significantly associated with a decreased OR of fracture in older Korean adults with osteoporosis. This association was also significant in patients with vitamin D insufficiency.

Association Between 10-Year Fracture Probability and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease With or Without Sarcopenia in Korean Men: A Nationwide Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and sarcopenia, which are common in elderly men, are known as risk factors of fracture. However, few studies have examined the association with fracture in these patients. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association between NAFLD with or without sarcopenia and 10-year fracture probability in Korean men aged ≥50 years. Materials and Methods: Data of 2,525 individuals from the 2010-2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed. NAFLD was defined using the fatty liver index (FLI) and comprehensive NAFLD score (CNS), and liver fibrosis using the fibrosis 4 calculator. Sarcopenia was defined as the lowest quintile for sex-specific sarcopenia index cutoff; values. The Fracture Risk Assessment (FRAX) tool was used to predict the 10-year probability of major osteoporotic and hip fractures. Results: Compared to the no NAFLD group, the 10-year major osteoporotic fracture probability was significantly associated with the FLI-defined (ß = 0.16, P = 0.002) and CNS-defined (ß = 0.20, P < 0.001) NAFLD groups with liver fibrosis. Similarly, the 10-year hip fracture probability was significantly associated with the FLI- and CNS-defined NAFLD with liver fibrosis groups compared to the group without NAFLD (FLI-defined group, ß = 0.04, P = 0.046; CNS-defined group, ß = 0.05, P = 0.048). Furthermore, in the group with sarcopenia, the 10-year major osteoporotic fracture probability was significantly associated with the FLI- and CNS-defined NAFLD with liver fibrosis groups compared to the group without NAFLD (FLI-defined group, ß = 0.29, P = 0.003; CNS-defined group, ß = 0.38, P < 0.001). Conclusions: NAFLD with liver fibrosis is significantly associated with a higher 10-year major osteoporotic and hip fracture probability in Korean men aged ≥50 years, and this positive association was more profound in patients with sarcopenia. Therefore, screening middle-aged to elderly men who have NAFLD combined with liver fibrosis and sarcopenia may help prevent fractures.

Melatonin Supplementation for Six Weeks Had No Effect on Arterial Stiffness and Mitochondrial DNA in Women Aged 55 Years and Older with Insomnia: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Study.

Melatonin is a hormone produced in the pineal gland that controls sleep and circadian rhythm. Some studies have reported antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of melatonin that could benefit cardiometabolic function; however, there is a lack of evidence to support these assertions. The aim of this study was to investigate whether melatonin has beneficial effects on arterial stiffness and mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in humans. METHODS: This study was designed as a double-blind randomized controlled study. Thirty-eight healthy women aged 55 years and older were enrolled. All had insomnia (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) ≥ 5), not treated with any medications, for at least three months before enrollment. Subjects were divided into a melatonin and a placebo group according to melatonin supplementation. The melatonin group took 2 mg melatonin every night for six weeks. The cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) was used as an indicator of arterial stiffness. After six weeks, CAVI, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number in white blood cells (WBCs), and other metabolic indices, such as homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), were checked. RESULTS: Sleep quality index using PSQI was improved in the melatonin group from a score of 11 to 8 (p = 0.01), but did not change significantly in the control group. However, there was no significant intergroup difference in PSQI. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) decreased in the melatonin group from 135 to 128 mmHg (p = 0.015), while remaining stable in the placebo group. Right CAVI, mitochondrial DNA copy number, and HOMA-IR were not altered in either group. There were no intergroup differences in CAVI, mtDNA, HOMA-IR, or SBP between baseline and week six. CONCLUSIONS: We found no evidence that melatonin supplementation improved cardiometabolic parameters like arterial stiffness, mtDNA, or insulin resistance compared to the placebo between baseline and week six. Sleep quality was improved in the melatonin group. Further research, including longer-term studies with higher doses of melatonin, is warranted.

Association between daily sunlight exposure duration and diabetic retinopathy in Korean adults with diabetes: A nationwide population-based cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the association between daily sunlight exposure duration and diabetic retinopathy in Korean adults with diabetes. METHODS: This study used data from the 2008-2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Overall, 1,089 patients with diabetes aged >40 years were included. The duration of daily sunlight exposure was assessed via health interviews. Comprehensive ophthalmic evaluations, including standard retinal fundus photography after pupil dilation, were conducted. Diabetic retinopathy was graded using the modified Airlie House Classification. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the association between daily sunlight exposure duration and the diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy and non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy. RESULTS: The risk of diabetic retinopathy was 2.66 times higher in the group with ≥5 h of daily sunlight exposure than in the group with less exposure after adjusting for risk factors such as duration of diabetes, serum hemoglobin A1c level, hypertension, and dyslipidemia (P = 0.023). Furthermore, the risk of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy was 3.13 times higher in the group with ≥5 h of daily sunlight exposure than in the group with less exposure (P = 0.009). In patients with diabetes for <10 years, the risks of diabetic retinopathy and non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy were 4.26 and 4.82 times higher in the group with ≥5 h of daily sunlight exposure than the group with less exposure, respectively (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that sunlight exposure for ≥5 h a day was significantly associated with an increased risk of diabetic retinopathy and non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy in Korean patients with diabetes. The risks were significantly higher in patients with diabetes for <10 years. Therefore, reducing daily sunlight exposure could be an early preventive strategy against diabetic retinopathy in people with diabetes.

High-Fat Diet and Antibiotics Cooperatively Impair Mitochondrial Bioenergetics to Trigger Dysbiosis that Exacerbates Pre-inflammatory Bowel Disease.

The clinical spectra of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) intersect to form a scantily defined overlap syndrome, termed pre-IBD. We show that increased Enterobacteriaceae and reduced Clostridia abundance distinguish the fecal microbiota of pre-IBD patients from IBS patients. A history of antibiotics in individuals consuming a high-fat diet was associated with the greatest risk for pre-IBD. Exposing mice to these risk factors resulted in conditions resembling pre-IBD and impaired mitochondrial bioenergetics in the colonic epithelium, which triggered dysbiosis. Restoring mitochondrial bioenergetics in the colonic epithelium with 5-amino salicylic acid, a PPAR-γ (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma) agonist that stimulates mitochondrial activity, ameliorated pre-IBD symptoms. As with patients, mice with pre-IBD exhibited notable expansions of Enterobacteriaceae that exacerbated low-grade mucosal inflammation, suggesting that remediating dysbiosis can alleviate inflammation. Thus, environmental risk factors cooperate to impair epithelial mitochondrial bioenergetics, thereby triggering microbiota disruptions that exacerbate inflammation and distinguish pre-IBD from IBS.

Medial Temporal Atrophy Alone is Insufficient to Predict Underlying Alzheimer's Disease Pathology.

BACKGROUND: The medial temporal region is the earliest affected structure in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), and its atrophy is known as the hallmark of AD. This study aimed to investigate the value of medial temporal atrophy (MTA) for detecting 18F-florbetaben positron emission tomography (PET)-proven AD pathology. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 265 subjects complaining of cognitive decline at a dementia outpatient clinic from March 2015 to December 2017. All subjects underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging, 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET, and 18F-florbetaben PET at baseline. We performed multivariable logistic regression analyses on variables including age, sex, years of education, white matter hyperintensities, apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype, and memory composite scores in various combinations to investigate whether MTA was indicative of underlying AD pathology. RESULTS: Our sample population of 265 patients comprised 121 with AD-related cognitive impairment, 42 with Lewy bodies-related cognitive impairment, 32 with vascular cognitive impairment, and 70 with other or undetermined pathologies. In the multivariable logistic regression analyses, MTA was not an independent predictor of underlying AD pathology (P>0.200). The predictive power of underlying AD-related cognitive impairment significantly increased when multiple variables including APOE genotype and memory composite scores were considered together (area under the curve >0.750). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that MTA alone may be insufficient to accurately predict the presence of AD pathology. It is necessary to comprehensively consider various other factors such as APOE genotype and a detailed memory function to determine whether the patient is at high risk of AD.

Heritability of telomere length across three generations of Korean families.

BACKGROUND: Leukocyte telomere length (LTL), an indicator of aging, is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors; however, its heritability is unknown. We determined heritability and inheritance patterns of telomere length across three generations of families. METHODS: We analyzed 287 individuals from three generations of 41 Korean families, including newborns, parents, and grandparents. LTL (the ratio of telomere repeat copy number to single gene copy number) was measured by quantitative real-time PCR. We estimated heritability using the SOLAR software maximum-likelihood variance component methods and a pedigree dataset. With adjustment for age and length of marriage, Pearson's partial correlation was performed for spousal pairs. RESULTS: Heritability of LTL was high in all participants (h2 = 0.64). There were no significant differences in correlation coefficients of telomere length between paternal and maternal lines. There was a positive LTL correlation in grandfather-grandmother pairs (r = 0.25, p = 0.03) but not in father-mother pairs. After adjusting for age and length of marriage, the relationship between telomere lengths in grandfathers and grandmothers disappeared. There were inverse correlations between spousal rank differences of telomere length and length of marriage. CONCLUSIONS: LTL is highly heritable without a sex-specific inheritance pattern and may be influenced by a shared environment.

Effects of Gelidium elegans on Weight and Fat Mass Reduction and Obesity Biomarkers in Overweight or Obese Adults: A Randomized Double-Blinded Study.

The edible seaweed Gelidium elegans (GEE) is known to inhibit adipocyte differentiation. However, there has been no report on its effects in humans. In this study, we investigated whether GEE reduces body weight or fat mass in obese or overweight individuals. A total of 78 participants were randomly assigned to the test (GEE extract 1000 mg/day) and placebo groups at a 1:1 ratio, and treated for 12 weeks. At six or 12 weeks after randomization, they were evaluated for anthropometric parameters, biomarkers, and body composition. Changes in body weight and fat mass between the two groups was significantly different, as determined using ANCOVA adjusted for baseline, calorie intake, and physical activity. Body weight and fat mass were significantly decreased by GEE after 12 weeks but increased in the placebo group. Moreover, although not significant, triglyceride levels tended to decrease after GEE intake. There was no significant difference in other laboratory biomarkers between the two groups. Taken together, these results suggested that GEE significantly reduced body weight, especially fat mass, in overweight or obese individuals.

Association between C-Reactive Protein and Metabolic Syndrome in Korean Adults.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is increasing, and obesity, insulin resistance, and inflammation are the known risk factors. However, results of previous studies regarding the relationship between MetS and inflammation have not been consistent. This study aimed to identify the associations between C-reactive protein (CRP) and MetS and its components in obese and non-obese men and women. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study based on the 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2015), and a nationally representative sample of 3,013 Korean adults aged 40-78 years were included. Those with cardiovascular disease, cancer, CRP level >10 mg/L, white blood cell count >10,000/mm3 , chronic kidney disease, and lung/liver disease were excluded. RESULTS: Approximately 11.0%, 50.0%, 8.4%, and 48.8% of non-obese men, obese men, non-obese women, and obese women presented with MetS (P<0.001), respectively. In all four groups, those who presented with MetS or its components showed a higher high-sensitivity (hs-CRP) average than those without. Multivariate regression analysis showed the increased risk of developing MetS with higher quartiles of hs-CRP level in obese (3rd and 4th quartiles: odds ratios [ORs], 3.87 and 2.57, respectively) and non-obese women (4th quartile: OR, 2.63). The different components also showed increased ORs in the four groups. However, no statistically significant trend in the relationship was found in men. CONCLUSION: Low-grade inflammation may increase the risk of MetS in Korean women independent of adiposity. However, due to the cross-sectional design of the present study, further studies must be conducted to identify the causal relationship between inflammation and metabolic disorders.

Relationships of Serum Iron Parameters and Hemoglobin with Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

BACKGROUND: Although chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a known cause of secondary polycythemia with elevated erythropoietic demands in response to hypoxemia, anemia is relatively common in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and is related to increased mortality. However, little is currently known about the relationship between various iron parameters and disease severity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. METHODS: Data from the fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a population-based epidemiologic survey conducted in 2010-2012, were used. A total of 1,129 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were examined to reveal the associations between the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and hemoglobin and iron parameters, including serum iron, ferritin, total iron binding capacity, and transferrin saturation, using Spearman correlations and multiple linear regression analyses. RESULTS: The FEV1 was positively correlated with serum hemoglobin (γ=0.37, P<0.001), iron (γ=0.20, P<0.001), transferrin saturation (γ=0.19, P<0.001), and ferritin (γ=0.22, P<0.001), and negatively correlated with age (γ=-0.40, P<0.001) and lower in female patients (γ=-0.56, P<0.001) in the Spearman correlation. The FEV1 was independently associated with serum iron (ß=0.049, P=0.035) and transferrin saturation (ß=0.049, P=0.035) after adjusting for age, sex, and body mass index in the multiple linear regression analyses. CONCLUSION: The serum iron and transferrin saturation levels were independently associated with FEV1 as a marker of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease severity.

Higher maternal vitamin D concentrations are associated with longer leukocyte telomeres in newborns.

Gestational vitamin D insufficiency is related with increased risks of various diseases and poor health outcomes later in life. Telomere length at birth or early in life is known to be a predictor of individual health. Both vitamin D and telomere length are related with various health conditions, and vitamin D concentrations are associated with leukocyte telomere lengths in women. We investigated the association between maternal vitamin D concentrations and newborn leukocyte telomere lengths. This cross-sectional study included 106 healthy pregnant women without adverse obstetric outcomes and their offspring. We examined the maternal age, weight before pregnancy, health behaviours, and nutritional intakes, along with each newborn's sex and birthweight, and we measured maternal height, telomere length, total white blood cell count, and glycosylated haemoglobin as covariates. Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated to evaluate the relationship between the baseline variables and newborn leukocyte telomere lengths. To confirm that there was an independent association between newborn leukocyte telomere lengths and maternal vitamin D concentrations, we performed a stepwise multiple linear regression analysis. Newborn leukocyte telomere lengths correlated positively with maternal leukocyte telomere lengths (r = .76, p < .01), maternal 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations (r = .72, p < .01), maternal energy intakes (r = .22, p = .03), and newborn body weights (r = .51, p < .01). In the multivariate model, newborn leukocyte telomere lengths were associated with maternal vitamin D concentrations (ß = .33, p < .01). These findings suggest that the maternal vitamin D concentration during pregnancy may be a significant determinant of the offspring's telomere length.