Age-specific association between meal-skipping patterns and the risk of hyperglycemia in Korean adults: a national cross-sectional study using the KNHANES data.

BACKGROUND: Glucose metabolism regulation is influenced by age and meal skipping, although research on their interplay with hyperglycemia remains limited. This study aims to explore the intricate relationship between meal-skipping patterns and hyperglycemia risk across distinct age groups in South Korean adults. METHODS: Utilizing data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANES) conducted from 2013 to 2020, comprising 28,530 individuals aged 19 years and older, this study employed multivariable logistic regression models to examine the associations between meal-skipping patterns and the risk of hyperglycemia. RESULTS: Meal-skipping patterns were categorized into three groups: no skipping (NS), skipping breakfast (SB), and skipping dinner (SD). Age groups were defined as "young" (aged 19-44), "middle-aged" (aged 45-64), and "elderly" adults (over 65 years old). Among "young" adults, SB was associated with a 1.33-fold higher risk of hyperglycemia (OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.14-1.54) compared to NS. Conversely, in "elderly" adults, SD was linked to a 0.49-fold reduced risk (95% CI = 0.29-0.82) when compared to NS. Additionally, we observed that the Korean Health Eating Index (KHEI) scores, representing the quality of diet on a scale of 0 to 100, were consistently lower in SB compared to NS across all age groups. Intriguingly, specifically among the "elderly" group, this score was higher in SD compared to NS (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates age-specific variations in the association between meal-skipping patterns and the risk of hyperglycemia.

Prediction model for cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes using machine learning derived and validated in two independent Korean cohorts.

This study aimed to develop and validate a machine learning (ML) model tailored to the Korean population with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) to provide a superior method for predicting the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD), a major chronic complication in these patients. We used data from two cohorts, namely the discovery (one hospital; n = 12,809) and validation (two hospitals; n = 2019) cohorts, recruited between 2008 and 2022. The outcome of interest was the presence or absence of CVD at 3 years. We selected various ML-based models with hyperparameter tuning in the discovery cohort and performed area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) analysis in the validation cohort. CVD was observed in 1238 (10.2%) patients in the discovery cohort. The random forest (RF) model exhibited the best overall performance among the models, with an AUROC of 0.830 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.818-0.842) in the discovery dataset and 0.722 (95% CI 0.660-0.783) in the validation dataset. Creatinine and glycated hemoglobin levels were the most influential factors in the RF model. This study introduces a pioneering ML-based model for predicting CVD in Korean patients with T2DM, outperforming existing prediction tools and providing a groundbreaking approach for early personalized preventive medicine.

The differential expression patterns of Atg9a and Atg9b in cells of the reproductive organs.

Objective: Autophagy is a major intracellular catabolic pathway governed by the sequential actions of proteins encoded by autophagy-related genes (Atg). ATG9, the only transmembrane protein involved in this process, regulates phospholipid translocation to autophagosomes during the early phases of autophagy. In mammals, two Atg9 isoforms have been reported: Atg9a and Atg9b. In this study, we examined whether the molecular and cellular characteristics of these two isoforms differed in mice. Methods: Whole uteri were collected on days 1, 4, and 8 of pregnancy and from ovariectomized mice injected with vehicle, progesterone, or 17ß-estradiol. Cells from reproductive tissues, such as granulosa cells, uterine epithelial cells (UECs), uterine stromal cells (USCs), and oocytes were collected. Two human uterine cell lines were also used in this analysis. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction tests, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence staining were performed. Serum starvation conditions were used to induce autophagy in primary cells. Results: Atg9a and Atg9b were expressed in multiple mouse tissues and reproductive cells. Neither Atg9A nor Atg9B significantly changed in response to steroid hormones. Immunofluorescence staining of the UECs and USCs showed that ATG9A was distributed in a punctate-like pattern, whereas ATG9B exhibited a pattern of elongated tubular shapes in the cytoplasm. In human cancer cell lines, ATG9B was undetectable, whereas ATG9A was found in all cell types examined. Conclusion: The Atg9 isoforms exhibited distinct subcellular localizations in UECs and may play different roles in autophagy. Notably, human uterine cells exhibited reduced ATG9B expression, suggesting that this suppression may be due to epigenetic regulation.

Syntactic structures in motion: investigating word order variations in verb-final (Korean) and verb-initial (Tongan) languages.

This study explored sentence processing in two typologically distinct languages: Korean, a verb-final language, and Tongan, a verb-initial language. The first experiment revealed that in Korean, sentences arranged in the scrambled OSV (Object, Subject, Verb) order were processed more slowly than those in the canonical SOV order, highlighting a scrambling effect. It also found that sentences with subject topicalization in the SOV order were processed as swiftly as those in the canonical form, whereas sentences with object topicalization in the OSV order were processed with speeds and accuracy comparable to scrambled sentences. However, since topicalization and scrambling in Korean use the same OSV order, independently distinguishing the effects of topicalization is challenging. In contrast, Tongan allows for a clear separation of word orders for topicalization and scrambling, facilitating an independent evaluation of topicalization effects. The second experiment, employing a maze task, confirmed that Tongan's canonical VSO order was processed more efficiently than the VOS scrambled order, thereby verifying a scrambling effect. The third experiment investigated the effects of both scrambling and topicalization in Tongan, finding that the canonical VSO order was processed most efficiently in terms of speed and accuracy, unlike the VOS scrambled and SVO topicalized orders. Notably, the OVS object-topicalized order was processed as efficiently as the VSO canonical order, while the SVO subject-topicalized order was slower than VSO but faster than VOS. By independently assessing the effects of topicalization apart from scrambling, this study demonstrates that both subject and object topicalization in Tongan facilitate sentence processing, contradicting the predictions based on movement-based anticipation.

High Compliance with the Lifestyle-Modification Program "Change 10 Habits" Is Effective for Obesity Management.

Background: Low compliance (LC) with lifestyle modification is a very common obstacle in obesity management. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effectiveness of obesity management according to compliance with a lifestyle-modification program. Methods: The "Change 10 Habits" program was administered four times over 12 weeks. Eighty-seven participants were divided into LC and high compliance (HC) groups for analysis after intervention. Then, to assess the program's effectiveness based on compliance, we conducted t-tests and linear regression modeling. Results: In week 12, the scores of two dietary habits-specifically, "eat three meals regularly, adequate amount" and "do not eat after 9:00 PM"-were significantly higher in the HC group than in the LC group. Changes in leg and total body fat percentages were significantly improved in the HC group (-0.2%±0.3% vs. 0.9%±0.3%, P<0.05; -0.1%±0.3% vs. 1.1%±0.5%, P<0.05, respectively). The body mass index was also significantly lower in the HC group than in the LC group (26.7±1.8 kg/m2 vs. 27.7±2.1 kg/m2, P<0.05) at final follow-up. Finally, the systolic blood pressure, triglyceride, and very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol values of the HC group also decreased significantly (from 117.9±12.2 to 114.3±15.0 mmHg, P<0.05; from 121.7±74.9 to 105.7±60.9 mg/dL, P<0.05; and from 24.3±15.0 to 21.1±12.2 mg/dL, P<0.05, respectively). Conclusion: HC with the study program effectively improved the dietary habits, body fat composition, blood pressure, and lipid profile of adults with mild obesity.

Dietary and other lifestyle factors and their influence on non-communicable diseases in the Western Pacific region.

The Western Pacific region is a diverse region experiencing fast economic growth and nutrition transition. We systematically examined 94 cohort studies on the associations of dietary and other lifestyle factors on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the region. These studies were mainly from China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Singapore. Patterns and changes in lifestyle risk factors for NCDs based on national surveys were examined. They showed some dietary intake improvements over the past three decades, featured as increased consumption of unsaturated oils, fruits, and vegetables, and decreased consumption of sodium and unhealthy fat. Despite a decrease in smoking rate and salt intake, the values remained higher than the global levels in 2019. The ultra-processed food intake in the region increased at a higher rate than the global estimate. National guidelines relevant to NCDs in five selected countries were highlighted. Strong future actions and policies are needed to tackle NCDs.

A phase 3, single-arm, open-label study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of a 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, V114, in a 3+1 regimen in healthy infants in South Korea (PNEU-PED-KOR).

There is an ongoing burden of pneumococcal disease in children despite the use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs). This phase 3, open-label, single-arm, multisite, descriptive study was designed to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of a 3 + 1 regimen of V114 (VAXNEUVANCE™), a 15-valent PCV, in South Korean infants and toddlers. Adverse events (AEs) were reported for 14 d following any vaccination, and throughout the study period for serious AEs. Serotype-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) response rates (proportion of participants meeting an IgG threshold value of ≥0.35 µg/mL) and geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) for the 15 serotypes at 30 d postdose 3 (PD3) and at 30 d postdose 4 (PD4) were evaluated as endpoints. Healthy infants enrolled at 42-90 d after birth were vaccinated with V114 (N = 57). The most commonly reported AEs were those solicited in the trial. The majority of reported AEs were transient and of mild or moderate intensity. Few serious AEs were reported; none were vaccine related. No participants died nor discontinued the study vaccine because of an AE. V114 was immunogenic for all 15 serotypes contained in the vaccine, as assessed by IgG response rates at 30 d PD3 and IgG GMCs at 30 d PD3 and at 30 d PD4. V114 was well tolerated and immunogenic when administered as a 3 + 1 regimen in healthy South Korean infants and toddlers.

Despite the use of pneumococcal vaccines, the burden of pneumococcal disease in children persists. V114, a 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, was immunogenic and well-tolerated in healthy South Korean infants and toddlers.

Efficacy of information and communication technology interventions for the management of diabetes mellitus: An umbrella review and evidence map.

INTRODUCTION: We validated the quality of evidence and potential benefits of information and communication technology interventions on diabetes-related health outcomes. METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Google Scholar, and CINAHL and manually searched the reference lists of the retrieved review articles from each database's inception to October 2022. Randomized controlled trials were included to determine the benefits of information and communication technology interventions on diabetes outcomes. RESULTS: Ten meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials were included, with 37 unique outcomes encompassing 379 studies and >70,000 participants across 47 countries and six continents. Information and communication technology intervention was associated with reduced HbA1c levels in patients with type 1 (moderate certainty), type 2 (moderate certainty), and gestational diabetes (low certainty) and showed potential benefits for type 2 diabetes, demonstrating a reduction in systolic blood pressure (high certainty), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (low certainty), and body weight (low certainty), whereas those for gestational diabetes demonstrated a reduction in fasting (low certainty) and 2-h postprandial blood glucose levels (low certainty). CONCLUSION: This umbrella review and evidence map revealed varying evidence on the potential benefits of information and communication technology interventions for diabetes-related outcomes. Our results demonstrate these interventions to be novel treatment options for policymakers and physicians to establish personalized health strategies.

Correction: Exploring the Effect of the Dynamics of Behavioral Phenotypes on Health Outcomes in an mHealth Intervention for Childhood Obesity: Longitudinal Observational Study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.2196/45407.].

Efficacy of Crataegus Extract Mixture on Body Fat and Lipid Profiles in Overweight Adults: A 12-Week, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

A Crataegus Extract Mixture (CEM) is a combination of extracts from Crataegus pinnatifida leaves and Citrus unshiu peels, well-known herbs used for treating obesity and dyslipidemia. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of a CEM on the body fat and lipid profiles in overweight adults. A 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial was conducted on 105 subjects aged 20-60 years with body mass indexes between 25 and 30 kg/m2. Eligible subjects were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive either a high dose of the CEM (400 mg tid), a low dose of the CEM (280 mg tid), or a placebo. Body fat was evaluated using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), and anthropometric measurements. The blood lipid and adipokine profiles were measured before and after the administration. After 12 weeks, the reductions in the fat percentages measured by DXA and BIA were significantly greater in the CEM groups than in the placebo group. The CEM also significantly decreased the body weights, body mass indexes, and blood leptin levels. An additional per-protocol analysis revealed that the high dose of the CEM also lowered the blood levels of triglycerides and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. No adverse events occurred after the CEM treatment. Our results suggest that CEMs are safe and effective for reducing the body fat and body weight and regulating the blood lipid and leptin levels in overweight or mildly obese individuals.

Effects of Multidisciplinary Health Promotion Program Among Children in Community Childcare Center.

In this study, the effects of a 12-month multidisciplinary education program on the health status, dietary quality, and eating habits of children and adolescents attending community childcare centers were investigated. A total of 88 participants aged 7 to 17 years from 7 community childcare centers in Gyeonggi-do were enrolled. The intervention consisted of 12 multidisciplinary education sessions covering topics such as nutrition, exercise, and psychological education. All participants received the same education, and the effectiveness of the program was evaluated by categorizing them into a high participation group (HPG) and a low participation group (LPG) based on their participation rates. After intervention, in physical activities, moderate-intensity exercise was significantly reduced in the LPG, and there was no significant difference in psychological parameters. However, notable differences were observed in nutritional data. After intervention, intakes of calorie, carbohydrate, protein, and fat were significantly increased in both groups, and in particular, the change was found to be greater in HPG. Additionally, dietary fiber intake compared to the 2015 Korean Dietary Reference Intakes was increased in both groups. Daily food intake also increased dietary fiber intake in HPG, and meat and fruit intake was increased in LPG. In the nutrition quotient, there was a significant difference in HPG's pre- and post-scores in the diversity category, and in nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR), the NAR of phosphorus was increased in both groups. The findings of this study suggest that multidisciplinary education implemented at community childcare centers primarily enhanced nutrition-related factors rather than physical activity or psychological aspects. Trial Registration: Clinical Research Information Service Identifier: KCT0002718.

National prevalence and trends in food labeling awareness, comprehension, usage, and COVID-19 pandemic-related factors in South Korea, 2014-2022.

Although food labeling on food packages is crucial for promoting a healthy diet, limited research has been conducted on how the COVID-19 pandemic (hereinafter "the pandemic") has affected food labeling awareness. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the changes in trends in food labeling awareness, comprehension, and usage in South Korea during the pandemic. We utilized a nationwide, large-scale, and long-term dataset provided by the Korea Community Health Survey (KCHS) from 2014 to 2022 (total = 1,756,847 participants). This allowed the researchers to assess the long-term trends in the prevalence of food labeling awareness, comprehension, and usage. Furthermore, we investigated the factors associated with awareness specifically related to the pandemic. In total, 1,756,847 adults (54.19% women) participated in this study. The upward slope in overall food labeling awareness became less pronounced and even exhibited a downward slope during the pandemic (ßdiff - 1.759; 95% CI - 1.874 to - 1.644). The upward slope in food labeling comprehension and usage became more pronounced during the pandemic (comprehension: ßdiff 0.535; 95% CI 0.436-0.634; usage: ßdiff 0.693; 95% CI 0.601-0.785). The vulnerability factors associated with lower food labeling awareness during the pandemic included older age, male, obesity, residing in rural areas, lower household income, lower educational level, smoking, and increased alcohol consumption. This study analyzed the 9-year trend in the prevalence of food labeling awareness, comprehension, and usage based on nationally representative data of adults in South Korea from 2014 to 2022. Our findings suggest that personalized nutrition strategies are needed to recognize vulnerable groups with risk factors and improve food labeling awareness among Korean adults during the pandemic.

Expanding CAR-T cell immunotherapy horizons through microfluidics.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapies have revolutionized cancer treatment, particularly in hematological malignancies. However, their application to solid tumors is limited, and they face challenges in safety, scalability, and cost. To enhance current CAR-T cell therapies, the integration of microfluidic technologies, harnessing their inherent advantages, such as reduced sample consumption, simplicity in operation, cost-effectiveness, automation, and high scalability, has emerged as a powerful solution. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the step-by-step manufacturing process of CAR-T cells, identifies existing difficulties at each production stage, and discusses the successful implementation of microfluidics and related technologies in addressing these challenges. Furthermore, this review investigates the potential of microfluidics-based methodologies in advancing cell-based therapy across various applications, including solid tumors, next-generation CAR constructs, T-cell receptors, and the development of allogeneic "off-the-shelf" CAR products.

Hydrogen-Tolerant La0.6Ca0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-d Oxygen Transport Membranes from Ultrasonic Spray Synthesis for Plasma-Assisted CO2 Conversion.

La0.6Ca0.4Co1-xFexO3-d in its various compositions has proven to be an excellent CO2-resistant oxygen transport membrane that can be used in plasma-assisted CO2 conversion. With the goal of incorporating green hydrogen into the CO2 conversion process, this work takes a step further by investigating the compatibility of La0.6Ca0.4Co1-xFexO3-d membranes with hydrogen fed into the plasma. This will enable plasma-assisted conversion of the carbon monoxide produced in the CO2 reduction process into green fuels, like methanol. This requires the La0.6Ca0.4Co1-xFexO3-d membranes to be tolerant towards reducing conditions of hydrogen. The hydrogen tolerance of La0.6Ca0.4Co1-xFexO3-d (x = 0.8) was studied in detail. A faster and resource-efficient route based on ultrasonic spray synthesis was developed to synthesise the La0.6Ca0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-d membranes. The La0.6Ca0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-d membrane developed using ultrasonic spray synthesis showed similar performance in terms of its oxygen permeation when compared with the ones synthesised with conventional techniques, such as co-precipitation, sol-gel, etc., despite using 30% less cobalt.

National and regional trends in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes and associated risk factors among Korean adults, 2009-2021.

Disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on socioeconomic and behavioral variables may have impacted the prevalence of diabetes. We utilized nationwide long-term serial study from the 2009 to 2021 Korea Community Health Survey (KCHS). We explored national and regional prevalence and trends of diabetes according to the socioeconomic and behavioral factors before and during the pandemic. Also, we interpreted which groups became more vulnerable to the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes during the pandemic. A total of 2,971,349 adults aged (19 to 39, 40 to 59, and ≥ 60 years) were included in the analysis. The prevalence of diagnosed diabetes increased slowly during the pandemic (11.6% [95% CI 11.5-11.7] in 2020 and 12.4% [95% CI 12.3-12.6] in 2021), compared to the pre-pandemic era (7.9% [95% CI 7.8-7.9] in 2009-2011 and 11.3% [95% CI 11.3-11.4] in 2018-2019). Also, women, low-income group, low-educational group, and infrequent walking group showed less prevalence of diagnosed diabetes than the others. The diabetic population increased slowly than expected during the pandemic. The pandemic seems to contribute to an unanticipated increase in under-diagnosis of diabetes among the already minority. This study may suggest reinforcing access to healthcare services among the minority during the pandemic.

Validating the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire for Children (DEBQ-C) among Korean children and adolescents with high weight.

BACKGROUND: Using reliable measurement tools is becoming increasingly important as the prevalence of obesity among children increases in Korea. The Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire for Children (DEBQ-C) measures three eating behaviors associated with overeating. This study aims to validate the DEBQ-C for use among Korean children and adolescents with high body weight. It examines the psychometric features of the Korean translation of the DEBQ-C and investigates the relationship between the subscale scores of the DEBQ-C and the weight status of participants (categorized into overweight, obese, and morbidly obese). METHODS: A total of 233 children and adolescents (mean age: 11.4 ± 1.6 years) completed the questionnaire. The study verified the factor structure of the DEBQ-C using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and estimated its internal consistency with Cronbach's alpha. For convergent validity, it employed Pearson's correlation coefficient to assess relationships between the three eating behaviors of the DEBQ-C and the number of food addiction symptoms of the Yale Food Addiction Scale for Children (YFAS-C). Lastly, it examined the relationship between DEBQ-C scores and weight status via multinomial logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The three-factor model demonstrated goodness-of-fit (χ2 = 253, df = 167, χ2/df = 1.515, p < 0.001, CFI = 0.944; TLI = 0.937; RMSEA = 0.047). The internal consistency of the three eating behaviors was also satisfactory (Cronbach's alpha = 0.707-0.890). The emotional and external eating subscales of the DEBQ-C were positively correlated with the number of symptoms of food addiction of the YFAS-C. Emotional (OR: 2.008; 95% CI 1.973-2.043) and external (OR: 2.074; 95% CI 2.029-2.119) eating were positively associated with obesity status. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the Korean version of the DEBQ-C is suitable for the examination of problematic eating behaviors in Korean children and adolescents with high body weight.

The proportion of children and adolescents with obesity in Korea is increasing. Thus, the availability of a tool that can reliably identify problematic eating behavior linked to obesity would assist with prevention and management efforts. The Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire for Children (DEBQ-C) measures three types of overeating behavior in children that influence weight gain. This study examines the suitability of the Korean translation of the DEBQ-C questionnaire for use in studies on Korean children and adolescents with high body weight. The results of a survey on 233 adolescents (average age: 11.4 ± 1.6 years) suggest that the DEBQ-C translation would be useful in investigating overeating behavior in Korean children and adolescents. In addition, the findings suggest that eating in response to emotions and external cues are likely to play a role in the development of obesity among children and adolescents.

Continuous On-Chip Cell Washing Using Viscoelastic Microfluidics.

Medium exchange of particles/cells to a clean buffer with a low background is essential for biological, chemical, and clinical research, which has been conventionally conducted using centrifugation. However, owing to critical limitations, such as possible cell loss and physical stimulation of cells, microfluidic techniques have been adopted for medium exchange. This study demonstrates a continuous on-chip washing process in a co-flow system using viscoelastic and Newtonian fluids. The co-flow system was constructed by adding a small amount of biocompatible polymer (xanthan gum, XG) to a sample containing particles or cells and introducing Newtonian fluids as sheath flows. Polymer concentration-dependent and particle size-dependent lateral migration of particles in the co-flow system were examined, and then the optimal concentration and the critical particle size for medium exchange were determined at the fixed total flow rate of 100 µL/min. For clinical applications, the continuous on-chip washing of white blood cells (WBCs) in lysed blood samples was demonstrated, and the washing performance was evaluated using a scanning spectrophotometer.

Repopulation of autophagy-deficient stromal cells with autophagy-intact cells after repeated breeding in uterine mesenchyme-specific Atg7 knockout mice.

OBJECTIVE: Autophagy is highly active in ovariectomized mice experiencing hormone deprivation, especially in the uterine mesenchyme. Autophagy is responsible for the turnover of vasoactive factors in the uterus, which was demonstrated in anti-Müllerian hormone receptor type 2 receptor (Amhr2)-Cre-driven autophagy-related gene 7 (Atg7) knockout (Amhr-Cre/Atg7f/f mice). In that study, we uncovered a striking difference in the amount of sequestosome 1 (SQSTM1) accumulation between virgin mice and breeder mice with the same genotype. Herein, we aimed to determine whether repeated breeding changed the composition of mesenchymal cell populations in the uterine stroma. METHODS: All female mice used in this study were of the same genotype. Atg7 was deleted by Amhr2 promoter-driven Cre recombinase in the uterine stroma and myometrium, except for a triangular stromal region on the mesometrial side. Amhr-Cre/Atg7f/f female mice were divided into two groups: virgin mice with no mating history and aged between 11 and 12 months, and breeder mice with at least 6-month breeding cycles with multiple pregnancies and aged around 12 months. The uteri were used for Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: SQSTM1 accumulation, representing Atg7 deletion and halted autophagy, was much higher in virgin mice than in breeders. Breeders showed reduced accumulation of several vasoconstrictive factors, which are potential autophagy targets, in the uterus, suggesting that the uterine stroma was repopulated with autophagy-intact cells during repeated pregnancies. CONCLUSION: Multiple pregnancies seem to have improved the uterine environment by replacing autophagy-deficient cells with autophagy-intact cells, providing evidence of cell mixing.

Effects of Nutrition Education with Intervention Mapping on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Women with Borderline Dyslipidemia: Analysis According to Menopausal Status.

Background: Menopause causes hormonal, physical, and psychological changes that are associated with an increase in risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study examined the effects of medical nutrition therapy (MNT) on CVD risk factors in pre- and post-menopausal women with borderline dyslipidemia in Korea. Methods: In total, 76 participants were divided into the MNT and control groups. MNT was performed for 12 weeks using intervention mapping with consideration of weight, blood lipid levels, and dietary assessment results. Anthropometric and biochemical measurements and dietary intake were analyzed. Results: The dietary energy and cholesterol intake, waist circumference (WC), blood triacylglycerol and very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and atherogenic index (AI) of the pre-menopausal MNT group decreased significantly after the intervention. Moreover, dietary cholesterol intake, WC, waist-to-hip ratio, body fat percentage, total blood cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein to high-density lipoprotein ratio, and AI decreased significantly in the post-menopausal MNT group after the intervention. Conclusion: MNT for 12 weeks is effective in decreasing risk factors associated with CVD in Korean women with borderline dyslipidemia, and the effects differ between pre- and post-menopausal women.