Results of contact tracing for SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sub-lineages (BA.4, BA.5, BA.2.75) and the household secondary attack risk.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the contact tracing outcomes of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron sub-lineages BA.4, BA.5, and BA.2.75 within Republic of Korea, and to generate foundational data for responding to future novel variants. METHODS: We conducted investigations and contact tracing for 79 confirmed BA.4 cases, 396 confirmed BA.5 cases, and 152 confirmed BA.2.75 cases. These cases were identified through random sampling of both domestically confirmed and imported cases, with the goal of evaluating the pattern of occurrence and transmissibility. RESULTS: We detected 79 instances of Omicron sub-lineage BA.4 across a span of 46 days, 396 instances of Omicron sub-lineage BA.5 in 46 days, and 152 instances of Omicron sub-lineage BA.2.75 over 62 days. One patient with severe illness was confirmed among the BA.5 cases; however, there were no reports of severe illness in the confirmed BA.4 and BA.2.75 cases. The secondary attack risk among household contacts were 19.6% for BA.4, 27.8% for BA.5, and 24.3% for BA.2.75. No statistically significant difference was found between the Omicron sub-lineages. CONCLUSION: BA.2.75 did not demonstrate a higher tendency for transmissibility, disease severity, or secondary attack risk within households when compared to BA.4 and BA.5. We will continue to monitor major SARS-CoV-2 variants, and we plan to enhance the disease control and response systems.

Urban-Rural Differences in the Prevalence of Depressive Symptoms in Korean Adults.

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of depression among Koreans living in urban and rural areas, stratified by socioeconomic status. The study included 216,765 participants from the 2017 Korean Community Health Survey. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the PHQ-9, with a score of 10 or higher indicating depressive symptoms. Residences with the words Eup and Myeon in their addresses were categorized as rural areas, and residences with Dong in their addresses as urban areas. Socioeconomic status was evaluated by household income and education level. A Poisson regression analysis with sampling weights was conducted and adjusted for demographic, lifestyle, socioeconomic status, and comorbidity. The adjusted prevalence rate of depressive symptoms was 3.33% (95% CI, 3.21-3.45) in urban areas and 2.59% (95% CI, 2.43-2.74) in rural areas. The prevalence of depressive symptoms in urban areas was 1.29 times (95% CI, 1.20-1.38) higher than in rural areas. The prevalence rate ratio for depressive symptoms in urban areas compared to rural areas sorted by monthly incomes was 1.39 (95% CI, 1.28-1.51) for less than 2 million won, 1.22 (95% CI, 1.06-1.41) for 2 to 3.99 million won, and 1.09 (95% CI, 0.90-1.32) for more than 4 million won, and the urban-rural difference was more evident in lower household income subjects (p for interaction=0.033). However, urban-rural differences did not differ according to sex, age, or education level. In conclusion, we found urban-rural differences in depressive symptoms in a representative sample of Koreans, and revealed that these differences may vary according to income level. These results suggest that mental health policy must consider the health disparities according to residence and income.

Polyaromatic hydrocarbon thin film layers on glass, dust, and polyurethane foam surfaces.

An investigation was conducted into the dynamic behavior of two polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) semi-volatile organic compound (SVOC) naphthalene (NAP) and benzo [ghi]perylene (BghiP) in air and on various surfaces including glass, dust, and polyurethane foam (PUF) to understand their interaction with different media. A confocal fluorescence microscope and an infrared microscope were employed to detect and monitor the concentration-, time-, and temperature-dependent changes of the aromatic NAP and BghiP species on the surfaces. Infrared two-dimensional mapping of the vibrational characteristic peaks was used to track the two PAHs on the surfaces. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was employed to measure the gaseous concentrations. The sorption of NAP and BghiP on the surfaces was estimated using Arizona desert sand fine (ISO 12103-1 A2) dust and organic contaminant household (SRM 2585) dust. The surface-to-air partition coefficients of NAP and BghiP were estimated on the different surfaces of glass, dust, and PUF. Molecular dynamic simulations were performed on dust surfaces based on the Hatcher model to understand the behavior of NAP and BghiP on dust surfaces. The Weschler-Nazaroff model was introduced to predictPAH film accumulation on the surfaces, providing a better understanding of PAH interaction with different environmental media. These findings could contribute to developing effective strategies to mitigate the adverse impact of PAHs on the environment and human health.

Association Between Regional Levels of Particulate Matter and Recurrent Falls in Korea.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the extent of regional disparity of recurrent falls. In addition, we examined the association between particulate matter (PM) and recurrent falls and the association between regional disparity of recurrent falls and regional PM levels. METHOD: We used data from Korea Community Health Survey 2019 that included 204,395 participants from 237 municipal districts. The independent variables were the annual average PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations measured at the air quality measuring stations in each municipal district. The outcome variable was the experience of falls more than twice in the previous year. Multilevel analyses were conducted to estimate the association between regional PM10 and PM2.5 levels and recurrent falls. RESULTS: The regional variation was greater in the young people than that in the older people. PM10 and PM2.5 levels were positively associated with recurrent falls after adjusting for individual and regional covariates. These associations were more evident in the older group than in the young. PM10 and PM2.5 explained 2.82% and 3.33% of the remaining regional variance in models with individual and regional confounders, respectively. These proportions were greater in the older group (PM10 and PM2.5; 4.73% and 5.27%) than those in the younger age group (PM10 and PM2.5, 0.80% and 1.39%). CONCLUSION: PM concentration was associated with recurrent falls even after accounting for other regional variables and individual-level differences. Moreover, there were regional differences in the occurrence of falls, and the PM concentration explained a part of the gap, but the gap was explained more in the older group than in the young.

Effects of Diabetes Quality Assessment on Diabetes Management Behaviors Based on a Nationwide Survey.

Improved diabetes management in primary care is essential for reducing the public health burden of diabetes, and various programs are being implemented in Korea for this purpose. Although the Health Insurance Review and Assessment (HIRA) evaluates the quality of type 2 diabetes management in primary care clinics and hospitals, it is unclear whether the implementation of these evaluations is related to the adequate management of complications in diabetic patients. We evaluated the association between the proportion of clinics managing diabetes well and lifestyles and uptake of screening for complications in 24,620 diabetic participants of the 2019 Korean Community Health Survey (KCHS). Multivariate multilevel logistic regression was performed to evaluate the fixed effect of the district-level variable and the heterogeneity among districts. The proportion of clinics with good diabetes management per 10,000 inhabitants was positively related to screening for diabetes complications. Furthermore, this district variable was significantly related to engaging in walking activity (Odds ratio: 1.39, 95% CI: 1.10-1.76) and sufficiently explained the heterogeneity among districts. However, current smoking and weight control were not associated with the proportion of clinics with good diabetes management. The financial incentives to primary care clinics would improve the primary prevention of diabetic complications.

The point mutation of the cholesterol trafficking membrane protein NPC1 may affect its proper function in more than a single step: Molecular dynamics simulation study.

The Niemann-Pick type C1 (NPC1) protein is one of the key players of cholesterol trafficking from the lysosome and its function is closely coupled with the Niemann-Pick type C2 (NPC2) protein. The dysfunction of one of these proteins can cause problems in the overall cholesterol homeostasis and leads to a disease, which is called the Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease. The parts of the cholesterol transport mechanism by NPC1 have begun to recently emerge, especially after the full-length NPC1 structure was determined from a cryo-EM study. However, many details about the overall cholesterol trafficking process by NPC1 still remain to be elucidated. Notably, the NPC1 could act as one of the target proteins for the control of infectious diseases due to its role as the virus entry point into the cells as well as for cancer treatment due to the inhibitory effect of tumor growth. A mutation of NPC1 can leads to dysfunctions and understanding this process can provide valuable insights into the mechanisms of the corresponding protein and the therapeutic strategies against the disease that are caused by the mutation. It has been found that patients with the point mutation R518W (or R518Q) on the NPC1 show the accumulation of lipids within the lysosomal lumen. In this paper, we report how the corresponding mutation can affect the cholesterol transport process by NPC1 in the different stages by the molecular dynamics simulations. The simulation results show that the point mutation intervenes at least at two different steps during the cholesterol transport by NPC1 and NPC2 in combination, which includes the association step of NPC2 with the NPC1, the cholesterol transfer step from NPC2 to NPC1-NTD while the cholesterol passage within the NPC1 via a channel is relatively unaffected by R518W mutation. The detailed analysis of the resulting simulation trajectories reveals the important structural features that are essential for the proper functioning of the NPC1 for the cholesterol transport, and it shows how the overall structure, which thereby includes the function, can be affected by a single mutation.

Causal Association Between Alcohol Consumption and Atrial Fibrillation: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Previous observational studies presented a positive association between alcohol and atrial fibrillation (AF). However, previous studies using genetic polymorphisms on the causal relationship between alcohol consumption and AF have reported conflicting results. This study aimed to evaluate the causality between alcohol consumption and AF using the aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) rs671 polymorphism, which is the genetic variant with the most potent effect on drinking behavior. METHODS: A total of 8,964 participants from the Dong-gu Study were included in the present study. The causal association between alcohol consumption and AF was evaluated through a Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis using the ALDH2 rs671 polymorphism as an instrumental variable. RESULTS: No significant relationship between alcohol consumption and AF was found in the observational analysis. However, the genetic analysis using the ALDH2 polymorphism showed a significant association in men. In the MR analysis, genetically predicted daily alcohol consumption was positively related to AF. CONCLUSIONS: MR analysis revealed a significant association between the amount of alcohol consumption and AF, which suggests that the association may be causal.

The relationship between body mass index and poor self-rated health in the South Korean population.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the association between body mass index (BMI) and self-rated health (SRH) in Korean adults. METHODS: The study included 214,997 adults who participated in the 2016 Korean Community Health Survey. Participants were categorized into four groups according to WHO Asian classification based on their BMI: underweight (<18.5 kg/m2), normal-weight (18.5-22.9 kg/m2), overweight (23.0‒24.9 kg/m2), obese (25.0‒29.9 kg/m2), and severely obese (≥30.0 kg/m2). Multivariate Poisson regression analysis with sampling weights and robust variance estimators was performed to evaluate the relationship between BMI categories and poor SRH. RESULTS: A J-shaped association was observed between BMI and poor SRH in both sexes. Compared to normal-weight subjects, the age, lifestyle, and comorbidities adjusted prevalence rate ratios (PRRs) in men for poor SRH were 1.73 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.60-1.88) for underweight, 0.87 (95% CI, 0.83-0.92) for overweight, 0.98 (95% CI, 0.93-1.03) for obese, and 1.79 (95% CI, 1.63-1.97) for severely obese. In women, compared to normal-weight subjects, the age, lifestyle, and comorbidities adjusted PRRs for poor SRH were 1.33 (95% CI, 1.26-1.41) for underweight, 1.02 (95% CI, 0.98-1.06) for overweight, 1.15 (95% CI, 1.10-1.19) for obese, and 1.42 (95% CI, 1.31-1.53) for severely obese. Associations between underweight and SRH were stronger at older ages than at younger ages, whereas those between high BMI and SRH were stronger at younger ages than at older ages. CONCLUSIONS: This cross-sectional study using a nationally representative survey observed a J-shaped relationship between BMI and poor SRH. This association differed depending on age and presence or absence of comorbidities.

Non-linear Relationship Between Body Mass Index and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Korean Males.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between body mass index (BMI) and severe lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in Korean males. METHODS: This study was conducted on males aged ≥50 years who participated in the 2011 Korean Community Health Survey. LUTS severity was assessed using the Korean version of the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaire, and was dichotomized as severe (IPSS >19) and non-severe (IPSS ≤19). BMI was divided into 6 categories: <18.5, 18.5-22.9, 23.0-24.9, 25.0-27.4, 27.5-29.9, and ≥30.0 kg/m2. To evaluate the relationship between BMI and LUTS, a survey-weighted multivariate Poisson regression analysis was performed to estimate prevalence rate ratios (PRRs). Age, smoking status, alcohol intake, physical activity, educational level, household income, and comorbidities were adjusted for in the multivariate model. RESULTS: A U-shaped relationship was detected between BMI and severe LUTS. Compared with a BMI of 23.0-24.9 kg/m2, the PRR for a BMI <18.5 kg/m2 was 1.65 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.35 to 2.02), that for a BMI of 18.5-22.9 kg/m2 was 1.25 (95% CI, 1.09 to 1.44), that for a BMI of 25.0-27.4 kg/m2 was 1.20 (95% CI, 1.00 to 1.45), that for a BMI of 27.5-29.9 kg/m2 was 1.11 (95% CI, 0.83 to 1.47), and that for a BMI ≥30.0 kg/m2 was 1.85 (95% CI, 1.18 to 2.88). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that both high and low BMI were associated with severe LUTS.

A highly sensitive and selective impedimetric aptasensor for interleukin-17 receptor A.

Interleukin-17 receptor A (IL-17RA) has been recognized as a valuable biomarker for diverse diseases, including autoimmune diseases. In this work, an electrochemical biosensor with great sensitivity and selectivity toward IL-17RA was fabricated using an IL-17RA aptamer (Kd=14.00nM) for the first time. The aptasensor was manufactured using electrodeposition of gold nanoparticles, and then quantitative detection of IL-17RA was performed based on impedimetry. The developed sensor exhibited a superior analytical performance for IL-17RA with a wide dynamic range of 10-10,000pg/mL in buffer and a detection limit of 2.13pg/mL, which is lower than that of commercially available ELISA kits. In addition, we validated the high specificity of the designed aptasensor to only IL-17RA, which showed good sensitivity even in human serum solution. Furthermore, the detection of the differentiated HL-60 cells expressing IL-17RA was successfully performed. Clinical applicability of the sensor was also demonstrated utilizing neutrophils separated from asthma patients. It is expected that the fabricated aptasensor will become an excellent diagnostic platform for IL-17RA-mediated diseases.