Barriers, Attitudes, and Dietary Behaviors Regarding Sodium Reduction in the Elderly Korean–Chinese Population in Yanbian, China

OBJECTIVES: This research investigated the barriers, attitudes, and dietary behaviors related to sodium reduction among the elderly Korean–Chinese population in Yanbian, China. METHODS: We conducted this pilot study using both descriptive research and a focus group interview at the elderly community center in Yanbian. RESULTS: In total, 21 elderly Korean–Chinese (average age, 71 years) were examined. The findings showed that the top three barriers to sodium reduction were 1) the difficulties associated with having meals with others, 2) a preference for liquid based-dishes, and 3) the lack of taste in low-sodium dishes. Although the participants strongly believed that a reduced-sodium diet would improve their health, they were poorly aware of the amount of sodium in various foods and dishes. In particular, the focus group interviews with eight participants (mean age, 67 years) revealed that salt-preserved foods (e.g., Korean pickled cabbage called ‘kimchi’ and soybean paste) were frequently consumed as part of their food culture, and that very salty dishes were served at restaurants, both of which lead to a high sodium intake. CONCLUSION: This study provides useful preliminary data to help design a nutrition intervention program for sodium reduction that targets the elderly Korean–Chinese population in China.

Body-related Perspectives and Weight Control Methods of Korean-Chinese Nursing School Students in Yanbian, China: A Pilot Study

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed at identifying the current nutrition knowledge, body-related perspectives, and weight control behaviors of Korean-Chinese college students. METHODS: We conducted a pilot study by employing a healthy weight education program targeting Korean-Chinese nursing school students at the Yanbian University of Science and Technology in Yanbian, China. RESULTS: This pilot study included 40 participants (38 women and 2 men; mean age, 20.5 years). The current weight status of the participants was as follows: 7.9% underweight, 78.9% normal weight, 7.9% overweight, and 5.3% obese. However, nearly two-thirds of the participants were dissatisfied with their current body size (43.6% a little dissatisfied; 20.5% very dissatisfied). Fifty percent of the participants perceived their current body size as being either slightly fat (35.0%) or very fat (15.0%). The following unhealthy weight control methods were commonly used among the 24 participants who practiced weight control: (1) laxatives or diuretics (91.7%), (2) saunas or spas (87.5%), and (3) a one-food diet (79.2%). In addition, the nutrition knowledge of the participants increased by 24 points from 117 points (pretest) to 141 points (posttest) through the healthy weight education program. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study indicate an urgent need to educate Korean-Chinese college students on healthy weight control methods and body-related perspectives.

Impact of visit-to-visit variability in blood pressure on renal function of stage 3-4 chronic kidney diseases patients with hypertension / 中华肾脏病杂志

Objective To clarify the clinical significance of visit-to-visit variability in blood pressure (BP) of stage 3-4 chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients with hypertension.Methods One hundred and fifty-two cases of stage 3-4 CKD patients with hypertension were enrolled in the study.Variability in BP was defined as the standard deviation (SD) in BP.For each patient,SD and mean BP from BP measurements were calculated at all the visits.Correlations between the decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and SD in BP were analyzed by multivariable regression.Results Visit-to-visit variability in BP was significantly associated with renal function decline (P ＜ 0.05),in addition,baseline eGFR,baseline albuminuria and mean SBP during follow-up were significantly associated with renal function decline as well (all P ＜ 0.05).The percentage of CCBs used in low SD of the SBP group was higher than that in high SD of the SBP (76.1％ vs 58.2％,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Visit-to-visit variability in BP is significantly associated with renal function decline.Drugs which can decrease the variability of blood pressure should be the first choice in the treatment of hypertension.

Effect of acute cardiovascular disease on the healthcare costs associated with chronic kidney disease / 中华肾脏病杂志

Objective To evaluate the effect of cardiovascular disease (CVD) on the healthcare costs associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD).Methods A total of 96 patients with stage 3-4 CKD treated at CKD clinic of Beijing Friendship Hospital,Capital Medical University were enrolled in the study.Their mean age was (61.6±9.5) years including 65 male and 31 female patients.A retrospective analysis of clinical material and health claims between January 2010 and October 2010 was conducted.Firstly,patients were grouped according to median CKD-associated healthcare cost and clinical characteristics were compared between two groups.Secondly,patients were stratified into three categories based on CVD prevalence (with acute cardiovascular events,with CVD but no acute events,and without CVD),and CKD-associated healthcare costs were assessed among the groups.Finally,the potential factors influencing CKD-associated healthcare costs were evaluated by optimal scaling regression analysis.Results During January to October in 2010,median CKD-associated healthcare costs was 13960.5 yuan (interquartile range 10226.5,19667.2 yuan).In the group with higher healthcare costs,more females,greater urine albumin-creatinine ratio,more emergency observations and/or hospitalizations caused by acute cardiovascular events,higher diabetes mellitus prevalence and calcium-phosphorus products,and lower eGFR and hemoglobin levels were found (P＜0.05,respectively).In contrast,the total prevalence of CVD was not significantly different between the groups (P=0.386).When grouping by CVD prevalence,significant differences of CKD-associated healthcare costs were observed only between patients with acute cardiovascular events and the other two groups (P＜0.01,respectively).The median healthcare cost of the former was approximately twice as higher as that of the other two groups,and the maximal cost was also found in the acute-cardiovascular-event group.For the optimal scaling regression analysis,both emergency observations and/or hospitalizations caused by acute cardiovascular events and diabetes mellitus entered the equation,and standardized coefficients were -0.538 and -0.217 respectively (P＜0.01 and P＜0.05).Conclusions Emergency observations and/or hospitalizations caused by acute cardiovascular events are important factors inducing high CKD-associated healthcare costs in patients with stage 3-4 CKD.Therefore,the prevention of acute cardiovascular events may be favorable to reduce CKD-associated healthcare costs.Larger and longer-time perspective studies are required to confirm it.In addition,diabetes mellitus also influences CKD-associated healthcare costs.

Clinical study on biocompatibility of four dialyzers with different membranes / 中华肾脏病杂志

Objective To elucidate the biocompatibility differences of 4 dialyzers with different membranes in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD)patients. Methods A total of 60 MHD patients were enrolled in the prospective,randomized,control,cohort study.In baseline,synthetic polysulfone(PS)membrane dialyzer was used in all the patients for at least 3 months.Then the patients were randomly divided into three groups:ployethersulfone(PES)membrane group,cellulose triacetate (CTA)membrane group,and synthetic polymethylmethacrylate(PMMA)membrane group.Study duration was 6 months.No dialyzer was reused.The biocompatibility markers were detected repeatedly at different time points and compared with each other in different dialyzer groups. Results The blood levels of high sensitive C reactive protein,interleukin-1β and interleukin-13 were not significantly different among different groups on every time point.However,the blood complements levels and WBC count were significantly different among four kinds of dialyzer.When the dialyzers changed from PS to PMMA membrane,C3a levels and WBC count changed significantly(P＜0.05).Moreover,the change of C5a level was significantly different between PES group and PMMA group on month 3(P＜0.05). Conclusion There are some differences of biocompatibiliy among different dialyzer membranes.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Adolescents Smoking: Difference Between Korean and Korean-Chinese

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare smoking prevalence and risk factors of smoking between Korean and Korean-Chinese middle school students. METHODS: Data was collected from seventh and eighth grade students from 12 schools in Korea and 6 schools in China. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, and t test were performed. RESULTS: For data analysis 10,002 usable surveys were utilized. The smoking prevalence was higher in Korean-Chinese students than in Korean students. Risk factors, such as father smoking, friends smoking, gender, grade, academic achievement, alcohol use, and family income were associated with current smoking, and the differences in the two samples were significant. Korean-Chinese students were more likely than Korean students to have friends who smoked and a father who smoked. Smokers had a significantly higher rate of friends smoking, father smoking, and alcohol use. Korean-Chinese male students smoking prevalence was more than three times higher than Korean students. Korean students could sense a more anti-tobacco atmosphere in their environment. Korean-Chinese students were more likely than Korean students to perceive that it was easy to buy cigarettes and to smoke cigarettes in a public computer room. CONCLUSION: These results highlight the differences of smoking prevalence and risk factors between Korean-Chinese students and Korean students. The findings may help health educators and researchers to better understand adolescent smoking and risk factors cross culturally and aid in the development of more effective education programs, which could lead to preventing tobacco use among these populations.