Estimating the urinary sodium excretion in patients with chronic kidney disease is not useful in monitoring the effects of a low-salt diet

BACKGROUND: Several epidemiologic studies have suggested that the urine sodium excretion (USE) can be estimated in lieu of performing 24-hour urine collection. However, this method has not been verified in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) or in an interventional study. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of estimating USE in a prospective low-salt diet education cohort (ESPECIAL). METHODS: A new formula was developed on the basis of morning fasting urine samples from 228 CKD patients in the ESPECIAL cohort. This formula was compared to the previous four formulas in the prediction of 24-hour USE after treatment with olmesartan and low-salt diet education. RESULTS: Most previously reported formulas had low predictability of the measured USE based on the ESPECIAL cohort. Only the Tanaka formula showed a small but significant bias (9.8 mEq/day, P < 0.05) with a low correlation (r = 0.34). In contrast, a new formula showed improved bias (−0.1 mEq/day) and correlation (r = 0.569) at baseline. This formula demonstrated no significant bias (−1.2 mEq/day) with the same correlation (r = 0.571) after 8 weeks of treatment with olmesartan. Intensive low-salt diet education elicited a significant decrease in the measured USE. However, none of the formulas predicted this change in the measured urine sodium after diet adjustment. CONCLUSION: We developed a more reliable formula for estimating the USE in CKD patients. Although estimating USE is applicable in an interventional study, it may be unsuitable for estimating the change of individual sodium intake in a low-salt intervention study.

Factors associated with Smartphone Overdependency in Preschool Children

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with smartphone overdependency in preschool children based on an analysis of mother, child, and their mutual dyadic relationships. METHODS: Data were collected from 171 mothers of preschool children enrolled at daycare centers and kindergartens from January to March 2018. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, the t-test, analysis of variance with Scheffé post hoc test, Pearson correlation coefficient, and hierarchical regression analysis using SPSS version 24. RESULTS: The self regulation of preschool children (β=−.358, p < .001) was the factor most closely associated with smartphone overdependency. The second most closely associated factor was children's use of a smartphone 0.5–1 hour daily (β=−.249, p=.005). Additional associated factors were mothers' use of a smartphone for 3–4 hours daily (β=.217, p=.002), children's use of a smartphone for less than 0.5 hour daily (β=−.212, p=.006), and children's use of a smartphone for 1–2 days per week (β=−.205, p=.026). CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study, it is necessary to try to develop guidelines and programs to prevent smart phone overdependency in preschool children.

Current Trends in Studies of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) Associated Gastric Carcinoma

EBV infection has been causally associated with incidence of many carcinomas. EBV-associated gastric carcinoma (EBVaGC) has been classified as a unique gastric carcinoma subset, suggesting EBV infection is related to the development of gastric cancer. In this study, general trends of EBVaGC studies for last half-decades were reviewed in several perspectives of clinical significance, virological importance and etiological interests. Throughout this comprehensive reviewing, new study trends of EBV and EBVaGC for next half-decades were suggested.

Factors Affecting Diabetic Screening Behavior of Korean Adults: A Multilevel Analysis

PURPOSE: We investigated the role of individual and community level factors on diabetes screening test behavior. METHODS: We used individual-level data from 170,193 adults aged 30 years or older who were not diagnosed with diabetes and participated in the 2009 community health survey. Community-level data includes 253 communities and were collected from various national statistics. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was conducted. RESULTS: The rate of diabetes screening within the year prior to this study was 53.2%. Community variance of Model I, Model II and Model III was 0.236, 0.252 and 0.238, respectively. The proportional change in variance of Model II and Model III was -6.8% and -1.2%. The odds ratio for participation of diabetic screening of areas with bottom financial independence compared to areas with top was 0.84 (95% confidence interval, 0.74-0.96); the odds ratio of areas with top internist compared to areas with bottom was 1.15 (95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.31). CONCLUSION: This study identified a contextual effect influencing the participation of Korean adults in diabetes screening. It is necessary to develop specific policies that consider not only individual factors, but also community factors relating to individual behaviors to increase the likelihood of diabetes screening.

Factors Affecting the Validity of Self-Reported Data on Health Services from the Community Health Survey in Korea

PURPOSE: As a follow-up for the validity study of Community Health Surveys (CHSs), the purpose of this study was to evaluate the factors affecting the accuracy of CHSs by investigating subjects' characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used data from 11,217 participants (aged 19 years or older) who had participated in the CHS, conducted by a local government in 2008 and analyzed the variables affecting the sensitivity and specificity of hospitalization and outpatient visit. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that, factors related with the sensitivity of hospitalization and outpatient visit questions were gender, age, marital status, chronic diseases, medical checkup, the subjective health status and necessary medical services. Factors related with the specificity were gender, marital status, educational background, chronic diseases, medical checkup, alcohol consumption, necessary medical services and sadness. CONCLUSION: This study revealed the subject-related factors associated with the validity of the CHS. Efforts to improve the sensitivity and the specificity from self-report questionnaires should consider how the characteristics of subjects may affect their responses.

Dietary Habits and Taste Preferences of the Korean Americans According to Self Body Image Perception and Length of Residence in US

BACKGROUND: Weight overestimation of Korean Americans may be associated with dietary habits and preferences for foods and tastes. METHODS: The subjects were 100 Korean Americans in New York City and LA and 100 Koreans in Seoul, who were 20-29 years old. Self-reported questionnaire consisted of age, height, weight, length of residence in US, preferences for 10 foods and 5 tastes, dietary habits and perception of self body image. Korean Americans were further divided into 3 groups according to length of residence in US. RESULTS: More Korean American women underestimated (27.3% vs. 5.8%), and less overestimated their body weights, than Korean women (31.8% vs. 53.8%, P=0.008). Korean Americans who overestimated their own body weights had significantly higher preference for salty taste and significantly lower dietary habit score regarding regular meals. CONCLUSIONS: Overestimation of self body size, rather than longer residence in US may be associated with the undesirable dietary habit and taste preference of Korean Americans, highlighting the importance of correct body image.

Radiopaque markers and hydrogram in feline alimentary lymphoma / 대한수의학회지

Radiography, ultrasonography with hydrogram, and contrast studies using radiopaque markers were applied to evaluate alimentary lymphoma in two cats. The hydrogram facilitated the differentiation of pseudo-thickening from true wall thickening, and enabled an evaluation of wall layering and lymph nodes. In case 1, mechanical obstruction of the duodenum was confirmed with barium-impregnated polyethylene spheres (BIPS), a radiopaque marker; however, results obtained in case 2 were not as definitive. We expect that hydrograms and BIPS can be used as valuable alternative methods to evaluate the gastrointestinal (GI) tract although further studies in cases involving GI tumors are needed.