Perceived Stress and Frailty in Older Adults.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with frailty are susceptible to adverse events. Although a psychological correlation with frailty has been observed, few studies have investigated the link between stress and frailty. This study examined the association between perceived stress and frailty in older adults. METHODS: This cross-sectional observational study included participants recruited between September 2021 and January 2022. The Korean version of the Perceived Stress Scale-10 was used to measure stress levels, while the frailty status was assessed using the Korean Frailty Index. Loneliness, depression, and satisfaction were measured using the UCLA Loneliness Scale, Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, and Satisfaction with Life Scale, respectively. We used multinomial logistic regression to compare the variables between frail and robust participants. RESULTS: Among 862 study participants (mean age, 73.62 years; 65.5% women), the mean PSS-10 score was 15.26, 10.8% were frail, 22.4% were pre-frail, and 66.8% were robust. Perceived stress was significantly associated with pre-frailty (crude odds ratio [OR]=1.147; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.093-1.204) and frailty (crude OR=1.417; 95% CI, 1.322-1.520). After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, we examined the associations between perceived stress and prefrailty (adjusted OR=1.140; 95% CI, 1.084-1.199) and frailty (adjusted OR=1.409; 95% CI, 1.308-1.518). After adjusting for all variables, including loneliness, depression, and satisfaction, perceived stress was significantly associated with frailty (adjusted OR=1.172; 95% CI, 1.071-1.283), however, insufficient statistical evidence was observed for pre-frailty (adjusted OR=1.022; 95% CI, 0.961-1.086). CONCLUSION: Higher levels of perceived stress were associated with frailty in older adults. Stress management efforts may help improve frailty in this population.

Serum Lipid Levels and Suicidal Ideation of Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study Using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Cholesterol plays a crucial role in the brain, which suggests that changes in its concentration levels may have an impact on the central nervous system. To examine the association between serum lipid levels and suicidal ideation according to sex, we performed a cross-sectional study using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2014-2018. A total of 13,772 adults 19 years or older were analyzed. The ninth item of the Patient Health Questionnaire was used to evaluate the suicidal ideation of participants. After sorting by sex, a complex logistic regression was performed to measure the association between serum lipid indicators and suicidal ideation. The analysis adjusted for age, body mass index, smoking, heavy drinking, regular exercise, household income, education level, dyslipidemia medication, depression, and chronic diseases. Compared to the intermediated category, the lowest range of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C; <100 mg/dL) was associated with increased suicidal ideation in men (odds ratio [OR] = 1.97; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.30-3.01). The association between lipid levels and suicidal ideation was not clear in women. We found an association between lower LDL-C levels and an increased risk of suicidal ideation among Korean men aged 19 years or older.

Relationship between Dietary Habits and Control of Lipid Profiles in Patients with Dyslipidemia Using Pravastatin.

We investigated the association between dietary habits, evaluated using the modified Mini Dietary Assessment Index for Koreans (MDA), and lipid control among patients aged ≥20 years who had used pravastatin for dyslipidemia for 6 months. Participants were administered questionnaires regarding sociodemographic characteristics and lifestyle factors. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the control of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride (TG), and total cholesterol (TC) at 6 months for each category of the modified MDA items were calculated through multivariate logistic regression analysis. The odds for controlled LDL-C was higher among those who consumed cholesterol-rich foods <1 time/week (3.27, 1.25-8.57) than for those who did so ≥4 times/week. The odds for controlled TG was higher among those who always consumed dairy products (2.96, 1.36-6.44), ate protein-rich foods three times/day (2.94, 1.06-8.10), and had a regular eating schedule (3.02, 1.30-7.00) than among those who did not have any of these. The odds for controlled TC was higher among those with a regular eating schedule (3.47, 1.55-7.76) than among their counterparts. Patients with dyslipidemia should consume less cholesterols, consume more dairy and protein-rich foods, and follow a regular eating schedule to control lipid profiles.

Postthyroidectomy obesity in a Korean population: does the extent of surgery matter?

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of postthyroidectomy obesity, and the relationship between the extent of thyroidectomy and obesity. METHODS: A survey conducted at an outpatient clinic from June to October 2014 and retrospective charts for patients undergoing thyroidectomy at Konkuk University Medical Centers from June 2009 to December 2013 were reviewed. We compared clinical characteristics and pre- and postoperative obesity-related factors in 227 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy or lobectomy. RESULTS: Patients included 39 males and 188 females with a mean age of 46.0 ± 11.0 years; the mean follow-up period was 23.9 ± 16.7 months, and 90 of the 227 patients showed postthyroidectomy obesity. In effect of operative extent on postoperative obesity, patients who underwent TT (48.2 years) than those who underwent lobectomy (43.4 years). TT group had longer follow-up and the frequency of menopause was higher than in the lobectomy group. No differences in postthyroidectomy obesity, body weight change, or body mass index (BMI), change among 2 groups. The predictors of postthyroidectomy obesity were older age, female, heavy alcohol consumption (P = 0.029), higher preoperative BMI (P < 0.001), larger postoperative weight gain (P = 0.024), and larger BMI change. However, the extent of thyroidectomy did not affect postthyroidectomy obesity. Preoperative BMI (P < 0.001) and heavy alcohol consumption (P = 0.03) were independent factors of postthyroidectomy obesity. CONCLUSION: The extent of thyroidectomy does not affect postthyroidectomy obesity. Preoperative BMI and heavy alcohol consumption are risk factors for postthyroidectomy obesity. Studies are needed to suggest preoperative life style modification to prevent postthyroidectomy obesity.

Association of High-Risk Drinking with Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components in Elderly Korean Men: The Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010-2012.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have examined the association between alcohol consumption and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in adults, but studies in the elderly are lacking. We examined the relationship between high-risk alcohol consumption and MetS in elderly Korean men using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) questionnaire from the 2010-2012 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. METHODS: Among 25,534 subjects, 2,807 were men >60 years of age; after exclusions, we included 2,088 men in the final analysis. We categorized the study participants into three groups according to AUDIT score: low risk (0-7), intermediate risk (8-14), and high risk (≥15 points). RESULTS: Among the study population, 17.0% of the men were high-risk drinkers, who had the highest mean waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and triglyceride (TG) levels. The overall prevalence of MetS was 41.9% in the elderly men, and it was significantly higher in the group with high (48.3%) versus low (31.9%) AUDIT scores. The prevalence of MetS components (elevated BP, high FPG, high TG, and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) was associated with a high AUDIT score. The odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of the high-risk group for MetS, elevated BP, and high TG were 1.40 (1.03-1.89), 1.82 (1.28- 2.60), and 1.77 (1.30-2.41) after adjustment for confounding variables. CONCLUSION: AUDIT score was correlated with most MetS components in elderly Korean men.

Exertional Rhabdomyolysis after Spinning.

Any strenuous muscular exercise may trigger rhabdomyolysis. We report an episode of clinically manifested exertional rhabdomyolysis due to stationary cycling, commonly known as spinning. Reports of spinning-related rhabdomyolysis are rare in the English literature, and the current case appears to be the first such case reported in South Korea. A previously healthy 21-year-old Asian woman presented with severe thigh pain and reddish-brown urinary discoloration 24-48 hours after attending a spinning class at a local gymnasium. Paired with key laboratory findings, her symptoms were suggestive of rhabdomyolysis. She required hospital admission to sustain renal function through fluid resuscitation therapy and fluid balance monitoring. Because exertional rhabdomyolysis may occur in any unfit but otherwise healthy individual who indulges in stationary cycling, the potential health risks of this activity must be considered.

Predictors of Successful Smoking Cessation after Inpatient Intervention for Stroke Patients.

BACKGROUND: Smoking is a well-known risk factor of cancer, chronic disease, and cerebrovascular disease. Hospital admission is a good time to quit smoking but patients have little opportunity to take part in an intensive smoking cessation intervention. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors of successful smoking cessation among stroke patients who undergo an intensive cessation intervention during the hospitalization period. METHODS: Thirty-nine male smokers who were admitted with stroke were enrolled in the study. They participated in a smoking cessation intervention during hospitalization. Smoking status was followed up by telephone 3 months later. Nicotine dependence, sociodemographic factors, and other clinical characteristics were assessed. RESULTS: After 3 months post-intervention, the number of patients who stopped smoking was 27 (69.2%). In addition, there was no significant difference in nicotine dependence, sociodemographic factors, and clinical characteristics. Only the stages of readiness for smoking cessation were a significant predictor (odds ratio, 18.86; 95% confidence interval, 1.59-223.22). CONCLUSION: This study shows that a patient's willingness to quit is the most significant predictor of stopping smoking after Inpatient cessation Intervention for stroke Patients.

Establishment of feeder-free culture system for human induced pluripotent stem cell on DAS nanocrystalline graphene.

The maintenance of undifferentiated human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC) under xeno-free condition requires the use of human feeder cells or extracellular matrix (ECM) coating. However, human-derived sources may cause human pathogen contamination by viral or non-viral agents to the patients. Here we demonstrate feeder-free and xeno-free culture system for hPSC expansion using diffusion assisted synthesis-grown nanocrystalline graphene (DAS-NG), a synthetic non-biological nanomaterial which completely rule out the concern of human pathogen contamination. DAS-NG exhibited advanced biocompatibilities including surface nanoroughness, oxygen containing functional groups and hydrophilicity. hPSC cultured on DAS-NG could maintain pluripotency in vitro and in vivo, and especially cell adhesion-related gene expression profile was comparable to those of cultured on feeders, while hPSC cultured without DAS-NG differentiated spontaneously with high expression of somatic cell-enriched adhesion genes. This feeder-free and xeno-free culture method using DAS-NG will facilitate the generation of clinical-grade hPSC.

Correlation between Overactive Bladder Syndrome and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in Women.

BACKGROUND: Overactive bladder syndrome is characterized by urinary urgency, usually accompanied by Frequent urination and nocturia, with or without urgent urinary incontinence. There must be the absence of causative infection or pathological conditions. Overactive bladder syndrome is related to mental disorders, particularly depression and anxiety. However, obsessive-compulsive symptoms are investigated much less frequently. The purpose of the present study was thus to assess obsessive-compulsive symptoms in overactive bladder syndrome patients. METHODS: Fifty-seven women patients with overactive bladder syndrome and fifty-seven women without it (age matched control group) were prospectively enrolled. They completed the overactive bladder syndrome-validated 8-question screener and the Korean version of the Maudsley Obsessional-Compulsive Inventory Questionnaire at the same time they visited the clinic. Patients were compared with controls on the Korean version of the Maudsley Obsessional-Compulsive Inventory Questionnaire and its checking, tidiness, doubting, and fear of contamination components. RESULTS: Patients showed more obsessive traits than controls on the Korean version of the Maudsley Obsessional-Compulsive Inventory Questionnaire total score (P=0.006) and on the checking subscale (P=0.001). Odds ratio for the overactive bladder syndrome group's obsessive-compulsive symptoms traits (score≥14) was 5.47 (P=0.001). The Korean version of the Maudsley Obsessional-Compulsive Inventory Questionnaire total score was associated with the overactive bladder syndrome-validated 8-question screener score in patients (P=0.03). CONCLUSION: Obsessive-compulsive symptoms may constitute an important aspect of the psychiatric profile of overactive bladder syndrome patients. The severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms seems to be related to the degree of the overactive bladder syndrome severity. Clinicians may consider screening women with overactive bladder syndrome for obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

Growth of wrinkle-free graphene on texture-controlled platinum films and thermal-assisted transfer of large-scale patterned graphene.

Growth of large-scale patterned, wrinkle-free graphene and the gentle transfer technique without further damage are most important requirements for the practical use of graphene. Here we report the growth of wrinkle-free, strictly uniform monolayer graphene films by chemical vapor deposition on a platinum (Pt) substrate with texture-controlled giant grains and the thermal-assisted transfer of large-scale patterned graphene onto arbitrary substrates. The designed Pt surfaces with limited numbers of grain boundaries and improved surface perfectness as well as small thermal expansion coefficient difference to graphene provide a venue for uniform growth of monolayer graphene with wrinkle-free characteristic. The thermal-assisted transfer technique allows the complete transfer of large-scale patterned graphene films onto arbitrary substrates without any ripples, tears, or folds. The transferred graphene shows high crystalline quality with an average carrier mobility of ∼ 5500 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) at room temperature. Furthermore, this transfer technique shows a high tolerance to variations in types and morphologies of underlying substrates.

Monolithic graphene oxide sheets with controllable composition.

Graphene oxide potentially has multiple applications and is typically prepared by solution-based chemical means. To date, the synthesis of a monolithic form of graphene oxide that is crucial to the precision assembly of graphene-based devices has not been achieved. Here we report the physical approach to produce monolithic graphene oxide sheets on copper foil using solid carbon, with tunable oxygen-to-carbon composition. Experimental and theoretical studies show that the copper foil provides an effective pathway for carbon diffusion, trapping the oxygen species dissolved in copper and enabling the formation of monolithic graphene oxide sheets. Unlike chemically derived graphene oxide, the as-synthesized graphene oxide sheets are electrically active, and the oxygen-to-carbon composition can be tuned during the synthesis process. As a result, the resulting graphene oxide sheets exhibit tunable bandgap energy and electronic properties. Our solution-free, physical approach may provide a path to a new class of monolithic, two-dimensional chemically modified carbon sheets.

Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Chronic Kidney Disease in Koreans Aged 50 Years or Older.

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) share common pathogenic mechanisms and many risk factors, and both are linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the association between NAFLD and CKD according to the presence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus in Koreans aged 50 years or older. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 1,706 subjects who received their routine health examination was conducted between May 2008 and April 2010 at Konkuk University medical center. Biochemical tests for liver and abdominal ultrasonography were performed. CKD was defined as either proteinuria or glomerular filtration rate ≤60 mL/min per 1.73 m(2). RESULTS: Among the 1,706 subjects, There were 545 (31.9%) with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and 424 (24.9%) with chronic kidney disease. In univariate logistic regression analysis, NAFLD was significantly associated with CKD (odds ratio [OR], 1.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.34 to 2.12). In multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, current smoking, abdominal obesity, aspartate aminotransferases, alanine aminotransferases, γ-glutamyltransferase, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypertriglyceridemia, and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, NAFLD was associated with CKD (adjusted OR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.27 to 2.24). This relationship remained significant after classification according to the presence of hypertension or diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSION: NAFLD diagnosed by ultrasonography was significantly associated with CKD in Koreans aged 50 years or older.

In situ observations of gas phase dynamics during graphene growth using solid-state carbon sources.

A single-layer graphene has been uniformly grown on a Cu surface at elevated temperatures by thermal processing of a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) film in a rapid thermal annealing (RTA) system under vacuum. The detailed chemistry of the transition from solid-state carbon to graphene on the catalytic Cu surface was investigated by performing in situ residual gas analysis while PMMA/Cu-foil samples were being heated, in conjunction with interrupted growth studies to reconstruct ex situ the heating process. The data clearly show that the formation of graphene occurs by vaporizing hydrocarbon molecules from PMMA, such as methane and/or methyl radicals, which act as precursors, rather than by the direct graphitization of solid-state carbon. We also found that the temperature for vaporizing hydrocarbon molecules from PMMA and the length of time the gaseous hydrocarbon atmosphere is maintained, which are dependent on both the heating temperature profile and the amount of a solid carbon feedstock, are the dominant factors that determine the crystalline quality of the resulting graphene film. Under optimal growth conditions, the PMMA-derived graphene was found to have a carrier (hole) mobility as high as ∼2700 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) at room temperature, which is superior to common graphene converted from solid carbon.

One-step graphene coating of heteroepitaxial GaN films.

Today, state-of-the-art III-Ns technology has been focused on the growth of c-plane nitrides by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) using a conventional two-step growth process. Here we show that the use of graphene as a coating layer allows the one-step growth of heteroepitaxial GaN films on sapphire in a MOCVD reactor, simplifying the GaN growth process. It is found that the graphene coating improves the wetting between GaN and sapphire, and, with as little as ~0.6 nm of graphene coating, the overgrown GaN layer on sapphire becomes continuous and flat. With increasing thickness of the graphene coating, the structural and optical properties of one-step grown GaN films gradually transition towards those of GaN films grown by a conventional two-step growth method. The InGaN/GaN multiple quantum well structure grown on a GaN/graphene/sapphire heterosystem shows a high internal quantum efficiency, allowing the use of one-step grown GaN films as 'pseudo-substrates' in optoelectronic devices. The introduction of graphene as a coating layer provides an atomic playground for metal adatoms and simplifies the III-Ns growth process, making it potentially very useful as a means to grow other heteroepitaxial films on arbitrary substrates with lattice and thermal mismatch.

Preference and awareness of telemedicine in primary care patients.

BACKGROUND: The telemedicine services in Korea are expected to rapidly expand its use to the general population due to the development of digital networking, and its recent revision of related law and regulations. The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge and attitude of telemedicine in primary care patients. METHODS: We enrolled a total 243 participants, visited Family Medicine clinics and health promotion centers of university hospital in Seoul metrocity and Chungju city from April 1, 2010 to May 31, 2010. Data was collected by questionnaire, including demographic variables, knowledge and attitude of telemedicine. RESULTS: Among the total of 243 participants, 117 (49.8%) respondents were aware of telemedicine, and 178 (73.3%) respondents preferred telemedicine. The awareness showed differences according to the residence (P = 0.007), education (P = 0.03), and occupation (P = 0.02) of the respondents. The patient preference showed the differences at 50 years of age (P = 0.01) and in income of the participants (P = 0.005). CONCLUSION: Awareness of telemedicine in primary care patients was low. As for the patients more than 50 years of age who will be having difficulty manipulating the instruments, more education is crucial. Establishment of appropriate plans to increase patient preference is needed, especially for patients with low-incomes.

Near room-temperature synthesis of transfer-free graphene films.

Large-area graphene films are best synthesized via chemical vapour and/or solid deposition methods at elevated temperatures (~1,000 °C) on polycrystalline metal surfaces and later transferred onto other substrates for device applications. Here we report a new method for the synthesis of graphene films directly on SiO(2)/Si substrates, even plastics and glass at close to room temperature (25-160 °C). In contrast to other approaches, where graphene is deposited on top of a metal substrate, our method invokes diffusion of carbon through a diffusion couple made up of carbon-nickel/substrate to form graphene underneath the nickel film at the nickel-substrate interface. The resulting graphene layers exhibit tunable structural and optoelectronic properties by nickel grain boundary engineering and show micrometre-sized grains on SiO(2) surfaces and nanometre-sized grains on plastic and glass surfaces. The ability to synthesize graphene directly on non-conducting substrates at low temperatures opens up new possibilities for the fabrication of multiple nanoelectronic devices.

Diabetes mellitus and early age-related macular degeneration.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association of diabetes mellitus and early age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Korean adults 50 years and older. METHODS: This study included 3008 participants aged 50 to 87 years. Early AMD was assessed from retinal photographs based on a modified Wisconsin AMD grading system. Diabetes mellitus was defined as a fasting glucose level of 126 mg/dL or greater or the use of antidiabetic medications. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between diabetes mellitus and early AMD. RESULTS: There were 88 subjects with early AMD and 315 subjects with diabetes mellitus. After adjusting for age, sex, current smoking, obesity, and hypertension, significant association was found between diabetes mellitus and early AMD. Subjects with diabetes mellitus were more likely to have early AMD (odds ratio, 1.87; 95% confidence interval, 1.07-3.28) than were those without diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSION: There is a relationship between diabetes mellitus and early AMD in Korean adults 50 years and older. The underlying biological processes remain to be determined.

DNA microarray-based identification of bacterial and fungal pathogens in bloodstream infections.

The accurate and rapid identification of pathogens in blood is a major challenge in clinical pathogen diagnostics because of the high mortality of sepsis. Here we report the development of DNA microarray for the identification of pathogens causing bloodstream infections. Species-specific and bacteria- and fungi-broad-ranged probes were designed to identify 50 bacteria and 7 fungi. The specificities and sensitivities of the selected probes were successfully validated by applying reference strains. To assess the performance of the DNA microarray in a clinical setting, blind tests were performed using 112 blood culture specimens that showed preliminary presence of pathogenic microorganisms by culture-based method, resulting in the correct identification of pathogens in 104 samples showing the sensitivity of 93%. In addition, closely-related species could be discriminated by the distinct hybridization patterns. This DNA microarray-based pathogen diagnosis takes approximately 10 h starting from a positive blood culture, considerably reducing time required to sufficiently identify pathogens by subsequent agar-culture and biochemical tests which requires altogether at least 1-3 days. Also, the amount of sample required for the identification of pathogens is much less than that required for biochemical assays. Thus, the DNA microarray reported here should be useful for the effective identification of microbial pathogens in blood cultures from septicemic patients.