Gender Difference in the Association of Hyperuricemia with Insulin Resistance and beta-cell Function in Nondiabetic Korean Adults: The 2019 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

AIMS: This study was conducted to assess the association of uric acid (UA) with the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and beta-cell function (HOMA-B) by gender in nondiabetic Korean adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried out using data from the 2019 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and included nondiabetic Korean men, premenopausal women, and postmenopausal women aged 20 years or older. RESULTS: First, after adjusted for the related variables (excluding obesity), the prevalence of hyperuricemia (UA ≥ 7.0 mg/dL in men or UA ≥ 6.0 mg/dL in women) was positively associated with the quartiles of HOMA-IR and HOMA-B in men, premenopausal women, and postmenopausal women. Second, when further adjusted for obesity, hyperuricemia was positively associated with the quartiles of HOMA-IR and HOMA-B in men and postmenopausal women but not in premenopausal women. Third, after adjusted for the related variables (including obesity), UA level was positively associated with the quartiles of HOMA-IR and HOMA-B in men and postmenopausal women but not in premenopausal women. CONCLUSIONS: hyperuricemia is positively associated with insulin resistance and beta-cell function in nondiabetic Korean men and postmenopausal women but not in premenopausal women.

Changes in the Perceptions of Oral Symptoms Due to COVID-19 in Korean Adolescents.

This study investigated the oral symptoms and subjective health perceptions of Korean adolescents due to COVID-19. Data from the 17th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey (KYRBS; 2021) were analyzed, and 54,848 Korean middle and high school students were included in the study. Frequency, cross-tabulation, and logistic regression analyses were performed using IBM SPSS (v. 22.0; IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. The survey results on subjective health perception showed that 64.8% considered themselves "healthy", 26.1% rated themselves "moderate" in health, and 9.26% rated themselves "unhealthy." When asked about brushing their teeth after lunch at school, students answered "no" more frequently than "yes". Participants provided significantly different responses to questions related to receiving "sealant treatment", "having broken teeth", "experiencing tooth pain when eating", "having throbbing tooth pain", and "having pain and bleeding in gums". Regarding the relationship between oral symptoms and subjective health perceptions due to COVID-19, students perceived themselves as healthy when they had no throbbing tooth pain, risk of pain, bleeding in the gums, or symptoms of toothache when eating. Results reveal a relationship between oral symptoms and subjective health perceptions due to COVID-19. Thus, appropriate oral health management for adolescents is needed in response to the COVID-related changes.

Effects of the Occupational Ethics of Health Workers on Job Satisfaction-Focusing on Dental Technicians and Dental Hygienists.

This study investigates the effects of professional ethics on the job satisfaction of dental technicians and dental hygienists among health and medical personnel. From 1 July to 30 September 2021, a survey was conducted with 178 dental technicians and dental hygienists. Frequency analysis, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis were performed. The collected data were processed using SPSS version 22.0 statistical program (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA). The significance level was set to 0.05. As factors influencing the professional ethics of dental technicians and dental hygienists, diligence, reduced leisure, work orientation, and time saving were found to affect job satisfaction. In addition to morality, various elements of professional ethics and their causal relationships with job satisfaction were investigated. In the future, in preparation for the increasing ethical problems in the medical environment, education on professional ethics should be standardized and conducted more systematically.

Gender difference in the relationship between anemia and vitamin D in Korean adults: the fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

This study was conducted to assess the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and anemia, by gender, in Korean adults. The data of 16,060 adults were analyzed (men, 6,840; premenopausal women, 4,916; postmenopausal women, 4,340) from the fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V) (2010-2012). There were several key findings. First, after adjusting for related variables, the odds ratio (OR) of anemia [hemoglobin (Hb) <13 g/dl in men or Hb <12 g/dl in women] using the vitamin D normal group {25-hydroxyvitamin [25(OH)D] ≥15.0 ng/ml} as reference, was significant for the vitamin D deficient group [25(OH)D <15.0 ng/ml] in the overall population [OR, 1.310; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.168-1.470]. Second, the OR of anemia, using the vitamin D normal group as reference, was significant for the vitamin D deficient group in premenopausal women (OR, 1.293; 95% CI, 1.105-1.513). However, vitamin D deficiency in the vitamin D normal group in men (OR, 1.093; 95% CI, 0.806-1.484) and postmenopausal women (OR, 1.130; 95% CI, 0.906-1.409) was not significant. In conclusion, Vitamin D deficiency is positively associated with anemia in premenopausal women, but not in men and postmenopausal women.

Gender Difference in the Relationship Between Pulse Pressure and Visceral Adiposity Index in Korean Adults.

Background: This study was conducted to assess the association of pulse pressure (PP) and visceral adiposity index (VAI) by gender in Korean adults. Methods: This study used the data of 4960 adults at age ≥20 years, from the 2015 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Results: In the overall population (n = 4960), after adjustment for related variables and with quartile 1 of VAI as a reference, the odds ratios of high PP (PP >60 mmHg) was significantly higher in quartile 3 [1.32 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-1.71)] and quartile 4 of VAI [1.40 (95% CI, 1.07-1.83)]. In women (n = 2784), the OR of high PP, with quartile 1 of VAI as a reference, was significantly higher in quartile 3 [2.36 (95% CI, 1.55-3.61)] and quartile 4 of VAI [2.70 (95% CI, 1.77-4.12)]. In men (n = 2176), high PP was not associated with the quartiles of VAI. In addition, after adjustment for related variables, the PP level was positively associated with the quartiles of VAI in the overall population (P < 0.001) and women (P < 0.001), but not in men (P = 0.316). Conclusions: VAI was positively associated with PP in Korean women, but not in Korean men.

Gender difference in the association of chronic kidney disease with visceral adiposity index and lipid accumulation product index in Korean adults: Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to assess gender difference in the association of chronic kidney disease (CKD) with visceral adiposity index (VAI) and lipid accumulation product index (LAP) in Korean adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was performed using data from the 2015 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and included 4947 adults aged 20 years or older. RESULTS: There were several key findings in the present study. First, overall, after adjusting for related variables (including age), CKD (estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2) was positively associated with the quartiles of VAI and LAP. Second, when analyzed separately for gender, the results in men and women were different. After adjusting for the related variables (except age), CKD was positively associated with the quartiles of VAI and LAP in both men and women. After further adjustment for age, CKD was still positively associated with the quartiles of VAI and LAP in men. However, in women, the relationships between CKD and the quartiles of VAI and LAP were no longer significant. CONCLUSIONS: The VAI and LAP index were positively associated with CKD in Korean men but not in women.

Relationship between uric acid and lipid accumulation product index by gender in Korean adults: The 2016 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

AIMS: The present study assesses the relationship between uric acid (UA) and lipid accumulation product index (LAP) by gender among Korean adults. METHODS: Data from 5670 subjects (2463 men and 3207 women) in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES VII-1) 2016 were analyzed. LAP was divided into four quartiles (Q1-Q4). RESULTS: There were several key findings. Compared with Q1, in the overall population, the odds ratios (ORs) of hyperuricemia (UA ≥ 7.0 mg/dL in men or UA ≥ 6.0 mg/dL in women) were significantly higher in Q2 [1.847 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.325-2.575)], Q3 [3.050 (95% CI, 2.216-4.198)], and Q4 of LAP [6.367 (95% CI, 4.658-8.704)]. In men, the ORs of hyperuricemia were significantly higher in Q2 [1.658 (95% CI, 1.162-2.367)], Q3 [2.341 (95% CI, 1.656-3.308)], and Q4 [4.633 (95% CI, 3.290-6.525)] than Q1. In women, the ORs of hyperuricemia were significantly higher in Q2 [2.254 (95% CI, 1.085-4.680)], Q3 [5.402 (95% CI, 2.735-10.668)], and Q4 [11.025 (95% CI, 5.620-21.628)] than Q1. In addition, UA levels were positively associated with LAP level in men (r = 0.218; p < 0.001), women (r = 0.261; p < 0.001), and the overall population (r = 0.260; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Hyperuricemia was positively associated with LAP in Korean men and women.

The association of the visceral adiposity index with insulin resistance and beta-cell function in Korean adults with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus.

This study was conducted to assess the association of the visceral adiposity index (VAI) with insulin resistance and beta cell function in Korean adults with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus. The study was carried out using data from the 2015 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES VI-3) and included 4,922 adults, aged 20 or older. There were several key findings in the present study. First, in subjects without type 2 diabetes mellitus, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (p < 0.001) and beta cell function (HOMA-B) (p < 0.001), insulin (p < 0.001), fasting blood glucose (FBG) (p < 0.001), and metabolic syndrome (MetS) score (p < 0.001) were positively associated with quartiles of VAI. Second, in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus, HOMA-IR (p = 0.038), FBG (p = 0.007), and MetS score (p < 0.001) were positively associated with quartiles of VAI, but associations with HOMA-B (p = 0.879) and insulin (p = 0.104) were not significant. In conclusions, the visceral adiposity index is positively associated with insulin resistance and beta cell function in Korean adults without type 2 diabetes mellitus. The visceral adiposity index is positively associated with insulin resistance but not beta cell function in Korean adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Relationship Between Metabolic Syndrome and Beta-Cell Function in Nondiabetic Korean Premenopausal and Postmenopausal Women: 2015 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Background: This study was conducted to assess the relationship between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and beta-cell function in nondiabetic Korean women. Methods: This study included 2,507 women (premenopausal women, 1,359; postmenopausal women, 1,148) who were aged ≥20 and used 2015 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) data. Results: Key study results were as follows: first, in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women, after adjusting for related variables [except body mass index (BMI)], MetS (P < 0.001) and metabolic syndrome score (MSS; P < 0.001) were positively associated with the homeostasis model assessment of beta-cell function (HOMA-B) levels. Second, in premenopausal women, when further adjusted for BMI, MetS (P = 0.002) and MSS (P < 0.001) were also positively associated with HOMA-B levels. However, in postmenopausal women, when further adjusting for BMI, the associations of MetS (P = 0.322) or MSS (P = 0.855) and HOMA-B levels were no longer significant. Conclusions: Metabolic syndrome was positively associated with beta-cell function in nondiabetic Korean premenopausal women, but not in Korean postmenopausal women.

Relationship between metabolic syndrome and metabolic syndrome score with ß-cell function by gender in non-diabetic Korean populations.

Aims: The present study was conducted to assess the association of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and the MetS score (MSS) with ß-cell function by gender in Korean non-diabetic populations. Methods: This study used the data from the 2015 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey including 4380 adults, aged 20 or older. Results: After adjusting for related variables (with exception of body mass index [BMI]), MetS (p < 0.001) and MSS (p < 0.001) were positively associated with homeostasis model assessment of ß-cell function (HOMA-B), in both men and women. When further adjusting for BMI, MetS (p = 0.002) and MSS (p = 0.006) were positively associated with HOMA-B in women, whereas the association of MetS (p = 0.140) or MSS (p = 0.697) and HOMA-B was no longer significant in men. Conclusion: MetS and MSS increases were positively associated with ß-cell function in non-diabetic Korean women, but not in non-diabetic Korean men.

Gender difference in the relationship between the ferritin and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance in non-diabetic Korean adults.

BACKGROUND: The present study was conducted to assess gender difference in the relationship between the ferritin and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and beta cell function (HOMA-B) in non-diabetic Korean adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A sample including 5,414 adults (2,279 men, 1,529 postmenopausal women, and 1,606 premenopausal women) aged ≥ 20 years from the fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V-1, 2010) was analyzed. RESULTS: There were several key findings in the present study. First, in men, HOMA-IR (ß = 0.119, 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.304 to 8.003) constituted the independent factor determining ferritin, but this was not the case for HOMA-B (ß = -0.042, 95% CI, -0.100 to 0.011). Second, in postmenopausal women, HOMA-IR (ß = 0.087, 95% CI, 0.899 to 5.238) was the independent factor determining ferritin, but this was not the case for HOMA-B (ß = -0.043, 95% CI, -0.065 to 0.010). Third, in premenopausal women, neither HOMA-IR (ß = -0.050, 95% CI, -3.056 to 0.364) nor HOMA-B (ß = -0.009, 95% CI, -0.028 to 0.020) constituted the independent factors determining ferritin. CONCLUSIONS: Ferritin was positively associated with insulin resistance in non-diabetic Korean men and postmenopausal women, but not in non-diabetic Korean premenopausal women.

Antiviral Activity of Itraconazole against Echovirus 30 Infection In Vitro.

OBJECTIVES: Echovirus 30 is a major cause of meningitis in children and adults. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the antifungal drug itraconazole could exhibit antiviral activity against echovirus 30. METHODS: The cytopathic effect and viral RNA levels were assessed in RD cells as indicators of viral replication. The effects of itraconazole were compared to those of two known antiviral drugs, rupintrivir and pleconaril. The time course and time-of-addition assays were used to approximate the time at which itraconazole exerts its activity in the viral cycle. RESULTS: Itraconazole and rupintrivir demonstrated the greatest potency against echovirus 30, demonstrating concentration-dependent activity, whereas pleconaril showed no antiviral activity. Itraconazole did not directly inactivate echovirus 30 particles or impede viral uptake into RD cells, but did affect the initial stages of echovirus 30 infection through interference with viral replication. CONCLUSION: Itraconazole can be considered a lead candidate for the development of antiviral drugs against echovirus 30 that may be used during the early stages of echovirus 30 replication.

The Relationship Between Pulse Pressure, the Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate, and Urine Microalbumin/Creatinine Ratio in Korean Adults.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Pulse pressure (PP) is a predictor of adverse outcomes in patients on haemodialysis. Thus, the present study was conducted to assess the relationship between PP, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and urine microalbumin/creatinine ratio (uACR) in Korean adults. METHODS: Data of 9,409 adults (4,206 men and 5,203 women) aged ≥ 20 years from the Sixth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013-2014) were analyzed. RESULTS: A multivariate analysis revealed that systolic blood pressure (SBP) (ß = -0.170, 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.216 to -0.159), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (ß = 0.088, 95% CI 0.108-0.200; p < 0.001), and PP (ß = -0.134, 95% CI -0.215 to -0.157) were significant factors determining eGFR. In contrast, SBP (ß = 0.152, 95% CI, 0.985-1.456; p < 0.001), DBP (ß = -0.062, 95% CI -1.141 to -0.442; p < 0.001), and PP (ß = 0.118, 95% CI 0.965-1.436; p < 0.001) were the significant factors determining uACR. The odds ratios (ORs) of a high PP (PP ≥ 60 mmHg) with a normal group [eGFR ≥ 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 and uACR < 30 mg/g] as a reference were significant for decreased eGFR [eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2, 1.484 (95% CI, 1.003-2.196)], elevated uACR [uACR ≥ 30 mg/g, 2.592 (95% CI, 2.085-3.223)], and decreased eGFR plus elevated uACR [eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 and uACR ≥ 30 mg/g, 3.889 (95% CI, 2.519-6.004)]. CONCLUSION: Enhanced PP was associated with a decreased eGFR and an increase in uACR in Korean adults. In addition, the PP increased greatly when a decrease in eGFR and an increase in uACR appeared simultaneously.

Gender difference in relationship between serum ferritin and 25-hydroxyvitamin D in Korean adults.

BACKGROUND: The present study was conducted to assess the gender difference in the relationship between serum ferritin and 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] in Korean adults. METHODS: A total of 5,147 adults (2,162 men, 1,563 premenopausal women, and 1,422 postmenopausal women) aged ≥ 20 years from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) data (2012) were analyzed. A covariance test adjusted for covariates was performed for serum ferritin levels in relation to vitamin D status (vitamin D deficiency, 25(OH)D < 10.0 ng/mL; vitamin D insufficiency, 25(OH)D ≥ 10.0, < 20.0 ng/mL; vitamin D sufficiency, 25(OH)D ≥ 20.0 ng/mL). RESULTS: The key study results were as follows: First, in men, in terms of serum ferritin levels by serum 25(OH)D level after adjusting for age, smoking, alcohol drinking, regular exercise, SBP, DBP, WM. TC, TGs, HDL-C, FPG, Hb, Hct, MCV, and Fe, serum ferritin levels were inversely increased with the increasing of serum 25(OH)D level (P = 0.012). Second, in premenopausal women, after adjusting for related variables, serum ferritin levels were increased with the increasing of serum 25(OH)D level (P = 0.003). Third, in postmenopausal women, after adjusting for related variables, serum ferritin levels were not significantly increased with the increasing of serum 25(OH)D level (P = 0.456). CONCLUSION: Serum 25(OH)D level was inversely associated with the serum ferritin levels in men, but was positively associated with the serum ferritin levels in premenopausal women, and was not associated with the serum ferritin levels in postmenopausal women.

Stem cells in bone tissue engineering.

Bone tissue engineering has been one of the most promising areas of research, providing a potential clinical application to cure bone defects. Recently, various stem cells including embryonic stem cells (ESCs), bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs), umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UCB-MSCs), adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs), muscle-derived stem cells (MDSCs) and dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) have received extensive attention in the field of bone tissue engineering due to their distinct biological capability to differentiate into osteogenic lineages. The application of these stem cells to bone tissue engineering requires inducing in vitro differentiation of these cells into bone forming cells, osteoblasts. For this purpose, efficient in vitro differentiation towards osteogenic lineage requires the development of well-defined and proficient protocols. This would reduce the likelihood of spontaneous differentiation into divergent lineages and increase the available cell source for application to bone tissue engineering therapies. This review provides a critical examination of the various experimental strategies that could be used to direct the differentiation of ESC, BM-MSC, UCB-MSC, ADSC, MDSC and DPSC towards osteogenic lineages and their potential applications in tissue engineering, particularly in the regeneration of bone.