The Protective Effect of Exclusive Breastfeeding on Overweight/Obesity in Children with High Birth Weight

BACKGROUND: A positive association between birth weight (BW) and body mass index (BMI) has been shown among children in many populations. The aim of this study was to investigate BMI trajectory according to BW status and the protective effect of breastfeeding on the prevalence of overweight/obesity in children 6 years of age. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2016 utilizing data from the National Health Information Database of Korea. The 38,049 subjects were followed until the end of 2016, providing that subjects were completely eligible for all health check-ups from birth to 6 years of age. At each check-up period, multiple logistic regressions were used to investigate the association between BW status (low birth weight [LBW], normal birth weight [NBW], high birth weight [HBW]) and growth development. RESULTS: HBW infants were highly likely to be overweight/obese compared to NBW infants (odds ratio [OR], 1.70–2.35) and LBW infants were highly likely to be underweight (OR, 1.69–2.20) through 6 years of age. The risk of overweight/obesity decreased significantly if HBW infants were breast-fed for 6 months (OR, 0.54–0.76). CONCLUSION: HBW status is associated with overweight/obesity during early childhood. Exclusive breastfeeding is a significant protective factor against overweight/obesity in children with HBW.

Systematic Review of Heavy Metal Concentrations in Fish and Shellfish in Korea / 이화의대지

OBJECTIVES: Heavy metals ingested through the consumption of aquatic products can accumulate in the human body over the long-term and cause various health problems. This study aims to present comprehensive data on the amount of heavy metals found in fish and shellfish in Korea using a systematic review of studies that report on that issue. METHODS: The study used the following databases: PubMed, Korean Studies Information Service System, and Research Information Sharing Service. The search terms for PubMed included fish OR shellfish OR seafood AND mercury OR cadmium OR lead OR heavy metal AND Korea. The search terms for Korean Studies Information Service System and Research Information Sharing Service included eoryu sueun, eoryu kadeumyum, eoryu nab, eoryu jung-geumsog, paeryu sueun, paeryu kadeumyum, paeryu nab, paeryu jung-geumsog, eopaeryu sueun, eopaeryu kadeumyum, eopaeryu nab, and eopaeryu jung-geumsog. RESULTS: A total of 32 articles were selected for review. The total mercury, lead, and cadmium concentrations in fish and shellfish reported in each of the articles are summarized, as are the species of fish and shellfish with relatively high concentrations of heavy metals. Total mercury concentrations tended to be higher in predatory fish species, such as sharks, billfishes, and tuna, while lead and cadmium concentrations tended to be higher in shellfish. CONCLUSION: This paper is the first to report a comprehensive summary of the concentrations of heavy metals in fish and shellfish. This data could be used as evidence to protect Koreans from exposure to heavy metals due to the consumption of highly polluted aquatic products.

The Effects of Smart Program for Patients Who Underwent Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (SP-PCI) on Disease-Related Knowledge, Health Behavior, and Quality of Life: A Non-Randomized Controlled Trial

PURPOSE: To identify the effects of a smart program for the patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (SP-PCI) on coronary disease-related knowledge, health behaviors, and quality of life. METHODS: A nonequivalent control group with a non-synchronized design was utilized and 48 participants (experimental=22, control=26) were recruited from a university hospital in Gyeongsang area from May to December, 2016. The 12-week SP-PCI consisted of self-study of health information using smart phone applications (1/week), walking exercise (>5/week) using smart band, feedback using Kakao talk (2/week), and telephone counseling (1/week). Patients in the control group received usual care from their primary health care providers and a brief health education with basic self-management brochure after the PCI. Data were analyzed using the SPSS 21.0 program through descriptive statistics, χ2 test, and t-test. RESULTS: After the 12-week SP-PCI, the experimental group showed higher levels of coronary disease-related knowledge (t=2.43, p=.019), heart-related health behaviors (t=5.96, p < .001), regular exercise (Z=-4.47, p < .001), and quality of life-MCS (t=3.04, p=.004) and showed lower levels of stress (Z=-3.53, p < .001) and sodium intake (t=-4.43, p < .001) than those in the control group. There were no significant group differences in medication adherence and food intake in total energy, lipids, and cholesterol. CONCLUSION: The suggested SP-PCI provided easy access and cost-effective intervention for patients after PCI and improved their knowledge of the disease, performance of health behaviors, and quality of life. Further study with a wider population is needed to evaluate the effects of SP-PCI on disease recurrence and quality of life for patients after PCI.