Weight Gain, Comorbidities, and Its Associated Factors Among Korean Adults.

BACKGROUND: Weight gain in adults is associated with an increased risk of obesity-related diseases and high healthcare costs. However, there have been limited studies on weight gain in Asians. This study investigated the prevalence, comorbidities, and associated factors of weight gain in the Korean population. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of Korean adults aged 19-64 years who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey 2016-2019. We used data from 15,514 adults (subjects 1) to analyze the prevalence of weight gain. Finally, after excluding adults with suspicious debilitating conditions among them, 11,477 adults (subjects 2) were used to analyze comorbidities and associated factors. Weight changes and lifestyle factors were assessed using a self-report questionnaire. We analyzed odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals using multivariable logistic regression analysis to examine factors associated with weight gain. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of weight gain was 25.7% in men and 31.3% in women and decreased significantly with age in both sexes. Weight gain of ≥ 6 kg was evident in 10.5% of men and 9.8% of women and was more pronounced with a higher baseline body mass index (BMI). Most metabolic comorbidities worsened the greater the weight gain. Young age was the strongest associated factor for weight gain. Other factors associated with weight gain were being unmarried, blue-collar job, lower income, and alcohol consumption in men; being married in women; smoking and skipping breakfast in both sexes. CONCLUSION: Weight gain was much more pronounced in younger adults and at a higher baseline BMI in both sexes. Public education and health policies to prevent unnecessary weight gain should be strengthened by considering the associated harmful factors in Korean adults.

Experience With and Awareness of Telemedicine Among Korean Outpatients During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Introduction: Owing to the coronavirus disease 19 pandemic, the demand for telemedicine has increased. However, the awareness of and experience with telemedicine among the Korean population have not been investigated. Therefore, we examined Korean outpatients' experience with and awareness of telemedicine. Methods: From December 2020 to March 2021, we conducted a survey exploring the awareness of and experience with telemedicine of outpatients who were consecutively enrolled by family physicians from four hospitals. The participants completed questionnaires on sociodemographic characteristics and knowledge, experience, satisfaction, preference, and future considerations concerning telemedicine. We evaluated factors associated with satisfaction with telemedicine experiences using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: Among the 563 study participants, 364 participants had experience with telemedicine. More than 95% of the telemedicine visits were performed by telephone consultation, and the most common disease type for telemedicine visits was chronic diseases (67.5%). Overall, 82.4% of the participants were satisfied with telemedicine. More than 90% of the participants were satisfied with telemedicine in terms of saving time and money relative to hospital visits, no risk of infection, and convenience. According to the multivariate logistic regression analysis, adults aged ≥65 years (odds ratio [OR] 3.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.44-8.68), residents of a metropolitan city (OR 6.8, 95% CI 1.41-32.55), and those with knowledge of telemedicine (OR 2.96, 95% CI 1.21-7.26) were more likely to be satisfied with their telemedicine experience, compared with their counterparts. For chronic diseases, participants with telemedicine experience were significantly more likely to prefer telemedicine for revisits, compared with those with no telemedicine experience. Nonetheless, most respondents recognized that telemedicine requires improvement. Conclusions: Most Korean outpatients showed high satisfaction with telemedicine. Telemedicine may be considered in various medical situations in the future. Therefore, building a practical system for telemedicine and changes in the medical environment are required.

Surface urban heat island in South Korea's new towns with different urban planning.

A new town is strategically built within a short period compared to naturally developed cities. It is considered an appropriate study area for analyzing the urban climate problems such as surface urban heat islands (SUHIs) that is differently generated according to urban planning and development. In this study, we suggest comprehensive method for determining and comparing changes in surface UHI distribution during 1989-2048 in two new towns with different urban planning. First, a substantial increase in built-up areas was observed from 1989 (< 5%) to 2018 (> 40%) in both new towns. However, SUHI phenomenon-increasing patterns were different of about 12.25% depending on urban planning and urban morphology. Results also showed the importance of vertical and horizontal structures which can have a great influence on SUHI intensity and accordingly, the difference in SUHI distribution between two new towns was confirmed. Moreover, without effective mitigation, the built-up area in both new towns is estimated to increase to approximately 60%, and the SUHI intensity in most areas to increase by 4 °C in 2048. In addition, the spread and intensification of the SUHI phenomenon are predicted to be greater due to the characteristics of the building structure and the active urban expansion. Thus, these results combined with architectural assessment models can improve the understanding of thermal environmental impacts of urbanization and provide directions for sustainable urban development and renovation.

Association between lipoprotein cholesterol and future cardiovascular disease and mortality in older adults: a Korean nationwide longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Dyslipidemia is considered an independent health risk factor of cardiovascular disease (CVD), a leading cause of mortality in older adults. Despite its importance, there have been few reports on the association between lipoprotein cholesterol and future CVD and cardiovascular (CV) mortality among elderly Asians aged ≥ 65 years. This study investigated the association between lipoprotein cholesterol and future CVD and CV mortality in an elderly Korean population using a large nationwide sample. METHODS: From the cohort database of the Korean National Health Insurance Service, 62,604 adults aged ≥ 65 years (32,584 men and 30,020 women) were included. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels were categorized by quartiles. Cox proportional hazard models and linear regression analyses were used to assess the association between the quartiles of lipoprotein cholesterol and future CV events or mortality. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 3.3 years. The incidence rates of ischemic heart disease and ischemic brain disease were 0.97 and 0.61 per 1,000 person-years, respectively, and the mortality rates from these diseases were 0.22 and 0.34 per 1,000 person-years, respectively. In a completely adjusted model, high HDL-C and LDL-C levels were not associated with total CV events and CVD mortality. However, high LDL-C levels were significantly associated with a lower incidence of ischemic brain disease. Furthermore, diabetic patients with high LDL-C levels were more likely to have higher CV mortality, whereas non-smokers with high LDL-C levels were less likely to be at risk of CV events. CONCLUSIONS: Neither high LDL-C nor HDL-C levels were significantly associated with future CV mortality in older adults aged ≥ 65 years. High LDL-C levels do not seem to be a risk factor for CVD in elderly individuals, and further studies are required.

Relationship of domain-specific quality of life with body mass index and waist circumference in a Korean elderly population.

BACKGROUND: Obesity affects health-related quality of life (QoL); however, their relationship among elderly Asians is not well known. AIMS: Relationship of domain-specific QoL with body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference and the sex differences were investigated using a nationally representative sample of elderly Korean population. METHODS: In the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey phase VII (2016-2018), 3659 adults aged ≥ 65 years (1551 men and 2108 women) participated. BMI and waist circumference were classified according to Asian- and Korean-specific criteria. QoL was evaluated using the European Quality of Life Scale-Five Dimensions (EQ-5D). Multivariable logistic regressions were used to examine the relationship of QoL with BMI and waist circumference. RESULTS: Men with BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 and ≥ 25.0 kg/m2 had a significant association with poor QoL in mobility and self-care, but no relationship was found with the other domains. Women with BMI ≥ 25.0 kg/m2 had poor QoL in mobility and self-care, and those with BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m2 had poor QoL in usual activities and pain/discomfort. There was no significant association with anxiety/depression. Both elderly men and women with abdominal obesity had a significant association with poor QoL in mobility, self-care, usual activities, and pain/discomfort; however, there was no significant relationship with waist circumference and anxiety/depression. CONCLUSIONS: The association between QoL and BMI was different according to sex and the domains of QoL. Domain-specific QoL should be considered in the management of body weight of the elderly.

Effect of dietary inclusion of fermented sea mustard by-product on growth performance, blood profiles, and meat quality in broilers.

BACKGROUND: Sea mustards are traditionally consumed as human food in many Asian countries. However, owing to the large consumption of seaweed, there are a substantial number of by-products produced during processing. These by-products after fermentation can provide a good alternative nutrient source for broilers and serve as a recycled resource reducing the environmental pollution of the seaweed industry. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of fermented sea mustard by-product (FSM) supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, excreta microflora, blood profiles, relative organ weight, and meat quality in broilers. The treatments were: control (CON), basal diet; FSM, CON +2 g kg-1 FSM. RESULTS: During days 1 to 35, with the supplementation of 2 g kg-1 FSM, body weight gain (BWG) increased (P < 0.05), whereas the feed conversion ratio (FCR) decreased (P < 0.05). On day 35, with the supplementation of 2 g kg-1 FSM, excreta Lactobacillus counts increased (P < 0.05), and the excreta Escherichia coli counts decreased (P < 0.05). There were no significant effects (P > 0.05) on nutrient digestibility, blood profile, relative organ weight, and breast meat quality of broilers fed with FSM diets. CONCLUSION: Dietary supplementation of 2 g kg-1 FSM can improve growth performance, and shifted excreta microflora by increasing the proliferation of Lactobacillus counts and by decreasing E. coli counts. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Dynamically downscaling predictions for deciduous tree leaf emergence in California under current and future climate.

Models that predict the timing of deciduous tree leaf emergence are typically very sensitive to temperature. However, many temperature data products, including those from climate models, have been developed at a very coarse spatial resolution. Such coarse-resolution temperature products can lead to highly biased predictions of leaf emergence. This study investigates how dynamical downscaling of climate models impacts simulations of deciduous tree leaf emergence in California. Models for leaf emergence are forced with temperatures simulated by a general circulation model (GCM) at ~200-km resolution for 1981-2000 and 2031-2050 conditions. GCM simulations are then dynamically downscaled to 32- and 8-km resolution, and leaf emergence is again simulated. For 1981-2000, the regional average leaf emergence date is 30.8 days earlier in 32-km simulations than in ~200-km simulations. Differences between the 32 and 8 km simulations are small and mostly local. The impact of downscaling from 200 to 8 km is ~15 % smaller in 2031-2050 than in 1981-2000, indicating that the impacts of downscaling are unlikely to be stationary.

Benzophenone-1 and nonylphenol stimulated MCF-7 breast cancer growth by regulating cell cycle and metastasis-related genes via an estrogen receptor α-dependent pathway.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDC) are defined as environmental compounds that produce adverse health manifestations in mammals by disrupting the endocrine system. Benzophenone-1 (2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone, BP1) and nonylphenol (NP), which are discharged from numerous industrial products, are known EDC. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of BP1 and NP on proliferation and metastasis of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells expressing estrogen receptors (ER). Treatment with BP1 (10⁻5-10⁻7 M) and NP (10⁻6-10⁻7 M) promoted proliferation of MCF-7 cells similar to the positive control 17 -beta-estradiol (E2). When ICI 182,780, an ER antagonist, was co-incubated with E2, BP1, or NP, proliferation of MCF-7 cells returned to the level of a control. Addition of BP1 or NP markedly induced migration of MCF-7 cells similar to E2. To elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms produced by these EDC, alterations in transcriptional and translational levels of proliferation and metastasis-related markers, including cyclin D1, p21, and cathepsin D, were determined. Data showed increase in expression of cyclin D1 and cathepsin D and decrease in p21 at both transcriptional and translational levels. However, BP1- or NP-induced alterations of these genes were blocked by ICI 182,780, suggesting that changes in expression of these genes may be regulated by an ERα-dependent pathway. In conclusion, BP1 and NP may accelerate growth of MCF-7 breast cancer cells by regulating cell cycle-related genes and promote cancer metastasis through amplification of cathepsin D.

Development of a Cost-Effective Airborne Remote Sensing System for Coastal Monitoring.

Coastal lands and nearshore marine areas are productive and rapidly changing places. However, these areas face many environmental challenges related to climate change and human-induced impacts. Space-borne remote sensing systems may be restricted in monitoring these areas because of their spatial and temporal resolutions. In situ measurements are also constrained from accessing the area and obtaining wide-coverage data. In these respects, airborne remote sensing sensors could be the most appropriate tools for monitoring these coastal areas. In this study, a cost-effective airborne remote sensing system with synthetic aperture radar and thermal infrared sensors was implemented to survey coastal areas. Calibration techniques and geophysical model algorithms were developed for the airborne system to observe the topography of intertidal flats, coastal sea surface current, sea surface temperature, and submarine groundwater discharge.

Inhibitory Effect of Dried Pomegranate Concentration Powder on Melanogenesis in B16F10 Melanoma Cells; Involvement of p38 and PKA Signaling Pathways.

Plants rich in antioxidant substances may be useful for preventing skin aging. Pomegranates, containing flavonoids and other polyphenolic compounds, are widely consumed due to their beneficial properties. We examined the underlying mechanisms of dried pomegranate concentrate powder (PCP) on melanin synthesis in B16F10 melanoma cells. The antioxidant effects of PCP were determined by measuring free radical scavenging capacity and transcript levels of antioxidant enzymes. To explore the inhibitory effects of PCP on melanin synthesis, we measured tyrosinase activity and melanin content in α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH)-stimulated B16F10 cells. In addition, the levels of tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), TRP-2, tyrosinase, and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) expression were determined by Western blotting. Changes in the phosphorylation status of protein kinase A (PKA), cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), serine/threonine kinase Akt, and glycogen kinase 3ß (GSK3ß) were also examined. The free radical scavenging activity of PCP increased in a dose-dependent manner. In PCP-treated B16F10 cells, transcript levels of glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPx-1) were increased compared with α-MSH-stimulated cells. In addition, PCP led to the down-regulation of phospho-p38, phospho-PKA, phospho-CREB, phospho-GSK3ß, MITF, and TRP-1 compared with α-MSH-stimulated B16F10 cells. We believe this effect may be associated with PCP activity, which leads to the inhibition of melanin production and tyrosinase activity. These results suggest that PCP decreases tyrosinase activity and melanin production via inactivation of the p38 and PKA signaling pathways, and subsequently decreases phosphorylation of CREB, MITF, and melanogenic enzymes. These observations provided new insights on the molecular mechanisms of the skin-whitening property of PCP.