Stroke awareness in Korean high school students.

Public awareness is essential for the early diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of stroke. In particular, young adults represent an important avenue for increasing awareness and precluding the adoption of unhealthy, risk-increasing behaviors. This study was the first to investigate the basic knowledge of Korean adolescents about stroke and evaluate the improvement of this knowledge after an educational lecture. In total, 1269 high school students were instructed on the risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, and management of stroke. Knowledge was evaluated before education (Pre-E), immediately after the lecture (Post-E1), and during a 2-week follow-up (Post-E2), using a questionnaire. Overall, we found that students' knowledge increased after the educational session. On the questionnaire section pertaining to stroke risk factors, out of nine possible points, the mean scores were 3.97, 5.28, and 5.10, on the Pre-E, Post-E1, and Post-E2 tests, respectively, indicating a significant improvement (p < 0.001). Additionally, students who reported that they paid attention during the lecture performed better, and scored 4.29, 6.32, and 6.40, on the Pre-E, Post-E1, and Post-E2 tests, respectively, again indicating a significant improvement (p < 0.001). Our findings indicate that incorporating a stroke education program into school curriculums will enhance the knowledge of Korean adolescents. Implementing this type of program is critical as it may reduce behavior associated with increased stroke risk, and more effort is needed to develop educational methods for engaging students and increasing their concentration during these programs.

The role of insulin resistance in diabetic neuropathy in Koreans with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a 6-year follow-up study.

PURPOSE: We previously reported that insulin resistance, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and glycaemic exposure Index are independently associated with peripheral neuropathy in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. We followed the patients who participated in that study in 2006 for another 6 years to determine the relationship between insulin resistance and neuropathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study involved 48 of the original 86 Korean patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who were referred to the Neurology clinic for the assessment of diabetic neuropathy from January 2006 to December 2006. These 48 patients received management for glycaemic control and prevention of diabetic complications in the outpatient clinic up to 2012. We reviewed blood test results and the nerve conduction study findings of these patients, taken over a 6-year period. RESULTS: Low HDL cholesterol and high triglycerides significantly influenced the development of diabetic neuropathy. Kitt value (1/insulin resistance) in the previous study affected the occurrence of neuropathy, despite adequate glycaemic control with HbA1c <7%. Insulin resistance affected the development of diabetic neuropathy after 6 years: insulin resistance in 2006 showed a positive correlation with a change in sural sensory nerve action potential in 2012. CONCLUSION: Diabetic neuropathy can be affected by previous insulin resistance despite regular glycaemic control. Dyslipidaemia should be controlled in patients who show high insulin resistance because HDL cholesterol and triglycerides are strongly correlated with later development of diabetic neuropathy.