Exploring the Influence of YouTube on Digital Health Literacy and Health Exercise Intentions: The Role of Parasocial Relationships.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the mediating role of digital health literacy and the moderating effect of parasocial relationships on the relationship between the viewing experience of health exercise-related YouTube content and the intention for health exercise behavior. Based on the health action process approach, this study established a foundational theoretical model to analyze how digital health literacy mediates the impact of media viewing experience on health exercise behavior intention. Additionally, this study examined the moderating effect of parasocial relationships with YouTube creators. For empirical analysis, variables were measured using a self-administration method among 409 randomly sampled consumers of YouTube health exercise content. The collected data were analyzed using a structural equation model incorporating mediation parameters, and a multigroup model analysis was conducted to understand differences based on parasocial relationships. The results revealed that increased YouTube viewing experience enhanced cognitive, skill, and evaluative components of digital health literacy, which were significant factors in increasing health exercise behavior intention. Notably, the mediating effect of cognition played a crucial role, and the strengthening effect of parasocial relationships on this relationship was confirmed. These findings can be utilized as practical foundational data for designing digital health communication strategies, particularly in developing motivational mechanisms that encourage consumers to engage voluntarily and consistently in health behaviors based on online health information.

Pre-Attentional Effects on Global Precedence Processing in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Those with Typical Development on a Tablet-Based Modified Navon's Paradigm Task.

This study aimed to characterize the pre-attentional effects on global precedence processing in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and those with typical development (TD). A sample of 17 participants, comprising eight children with ASD and nine TD children, were recruited for the study. A tablet-based assessment utilizing a global and local visual processing paradigm task was developed to investigate the participant's abilities. The task consisted of verbal instructions to locate and touch either a global or local figure, presented in five conditions: neutral, congruent, and incongruent. The percentage of correct answers and reaction time (RT) for each task were measured and analyzed statistically. Results revealed that children with ASD exhibited statistically significant differences in both the percentage of correct scores and RT among various conditions, while TD children displayed differences in RT but not in the percentage of correct answers. These findings suggest that conflicting processes affect both behavioral and cognitive processes in children with ASD, and that cognitive effort is still involved for children with TD, but does not affect behavioral processes. In children with ASD, the RT was the shortest in the congruent (report local figure) condition; in children with TD, the RT was the shortest in the congruent (report global figure) condition. This implies that children with TD exhibit a pre-attentive effect on global precedence processing, while children with ASD do not. These visual-processing-function characteristics may aid in screening for visual perception problems in children with ASD.

Association of Blood Mercury Level with Liver Enzymes in Korean Adults: An Analysis of 2015-2017 Korean National Environmental Health Survey.

Increased liver enzymes as a result of exposure to mercury and their toxic effects are not well understood in Korea at the population level. The effect of blood mercury concentration on alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was evaluated after adjusting for sex, age, obesity, alcohol consumption habit, smoking, and exercise parameters in 3712 adults. The risk of abnormal liver function was measured using a multiple logistic regression analysis. Blood mercury concentration was divided into quartiles, and liver enzyme levels were compared for each quartile. ALT and AST levels were 10-20% higher in the second, third, and fourth quartiles compared to the first quartile. The risk of liver dysfunction or elevated liver enzymes was significantly higher in the second, third, and fourth quartiles than in the first quartile. As blood mercury levels increased, liver enzymes and mercury-induced hepatotoxicity increased. The increase in liver enzymes caused by mercury was more pronounced in the low-mercury concentration range. To reduce the long-standing problem of abnormal liver enzymes and liver function in Korea and other similar settings, it is important to decrease exposure to mercury through effective implementation of specific health and environmental strategies.

Biomechanical and functional analysis of the shoulder complex and thoracic spine in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome: A case control study.

The motions of the shoulder are mainly carried out through the glenohumeral joint, but are also assisted by the scapulothoracic joint. Therefore, changes in the biomechanics of the thoracic spine and scapula affect the function of the shoulder. However, there is limited information on the biomechanical and functional characteristics of the shoulder complex and thoracic spine in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS). In this study, the biomechanical and functional characteristics of the shoulder complex and thoracic spine were analyzed in patients with SIS compared to healthy individuals. A total of 108 participants were included in this study. Participants were classified into 2 groups, the SIS (n = 55) and healthy (n = 53) groups. The shoulder and thoracic range of motion (ROM), scapular position, and isokinetic shoulder strength were measured in all participants. The shoulder ROM was significantly decreased in the SIS group compared to the healthy group (P < .001). The thoracic spine ROM showed significantly limited extension in the SIS group (P < .001). The scapular position showed significantly increased anterior tilting (P = .005), internal rotation (P = .032), protraction (P < .001), and decreased upward rotation (P = .002) in the SIS group. The isokinetic shoulder external rotation (P < .001) and abduction (P < .001) strength were significantly lower in the SIS group. Patients with SIS showed reduced shoulder ROM and end-range extension of the thoracic spine compared to healthy individuals, and the scapula was in a more anterior-tilted, protracted, and downward rotated position. In addition, it showed lower external rotation and abduction strength. These results suggest the need for interventions to improve the limited thoracic extension and altered scapular position, which may affect shoulder ROM and muscle strength in the rehabilitation of patients with SIS.

Effect of a Cognitive Function and Social Skills-Based Digital Exercise Therapy Using IoT on Motor Coordination in Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disability.

This study aimed to determine the effects of a virtual reality exercise program based on cognitive function and social skills on motor coordination in children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Thirty-five children with IDD were randomly assigned to either the cognitive function and social skills-based virtual reality exercise system (CS-VR) group or the conventional virtual reality exercise system (C-VR) group. Before and after the intervention, each participant was tested for motor coordination (extended horizontal jump, hop, stationary dribble, overarm throw) and exercise performance (standing long jump, YMCA step test). Compared with the C-VR group, the CS-VR group showed significant improvements in motor coordination in terms of extended horizontal jump, hop, and overarm throw (p < 0.01, p < 0.05, and p < 0.01, respectively). In addition, compared with the C-VR group, the CS-VR group showed a significant increase in standing long jump (p < 0.01), although no significant between-group variation was found in stationary dribble and recovery heart rate (RHR) as part of the YMCA step test (p > 0.05, and p > 0.05, respectively). These results suggest that for the development of motor skills in children with IDD, it is essential to develop an exercise program that reflects the levels of cognitive functions and social skills of these children.

Effect of Atorvastatin on Serial Changes in Coronary Physiology and Plaque Parameters.

Background: The effects of statin on coronary physiology have not been well evaluated. Objectives: The authors performed this prospective study to investigate changes in coronary flow indexes and plaque parameters, and their associations with atorvastatin therapy in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: Ninety-five patients with intermediate CAD who received atorvastatin therapy underwent comprehensive physiological assessments with fractional flow reserve (FFR), coronary flow reserve, index of microcirculatory resistance, and intravascular ultrasound at the index procedure, and underwent the same evaluations at 12-month follow-up. Optimal low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was defined as LDL-C <70 mg/dL or ≥50% reduction from the baseline. The primary endpoint was a change in the FFR. Results: Baseline FFR, minimal lumen area, and percent atheroma volume (PAV) were 0.88 ± 0.05, 3.87 ± 1.28, 55.92 ± 7.30, respectively. During 12 months, the percent change in LDL-C was -33.2%, whereas FFR was unchanged (0.87 ± 0.06 at 12 months; P = 0.694). Vessel area, lumen area, and PAV were significantly decreased (all P values <0.05). The achieved LDL-C level and the change of PAV showed significant inverse correlations with the change in FFR. In patients with optimally modified LDL-C, the FFR had increased (0.87 ± 0.06 vs 0.89 ± 0.07; P = 0.014) and the PAV decreased (56.81 ± 6.44% vs 55.18 ± 8.19%; P = 0.031), whereas in all other patients, the FFR had decreased (0.88 ± 0.05 vs 0.86 ± 0.06; P = 0.025) and the PAV remained unchanged. Conclusions: In patients with CAD, atorvastatin did not change FFR despite a decrease in the PAV. However, in patients who achieved the optimal LDL-C target level with atorvastatin, the FFR had significantly increased with decrease of the PAV. (Effect of Atorvastatin on Fractional Flow Reserve in Coronary Artery Disease [FORTE]; NCT01946815).

Development of an ICT-Based Exergame Program for Children with Developmental Disabilities.

The purpose of this study was to develop an information and communications technology (ICT)-based exergame for children with developmental disabilities (DD) and to examine its impacts on physical fitness and fundamental motor skills (FMS). The ICT-based exergame consisted of visual and auditory demonstrations of diverse locomotor movement and object manipulation activities by the virtual characters. A total of 52 children with DD participated in the present study. The participants were divided into twenty-seven children in the experimental group and 25 children with DD in the control group. The experimental group participants engaged in the exergame program for 12 weeks. All participants' muscle strength (i.e., standing long jump) and four fundamental motor skills, such as the horizontal jump, hop, overhand throw, and dribble, were assessed during the pre- and post-test process. There were significant impacts on physical fitness and FMS (p < 0.001) between the groups. Specifically, the results of three FMS (hop, overhand throw, and dribble) and standing long jump significantly improved in children with DD except for the horizontal jump skill. The results of this study is evidence that the ICT-based exergame program for children with DD may be utilized to improve physical fitness and FMS in children with DD.

Effects of Short-Term Intake of Montmorency Tart Cherry Juice on Sleep Quality after Intermittent Exercise in Elite Female Field Hockey Players: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of short-term consumption of tart cherry juice on levels of cortisol and melatonin and sleep quality after intermittent exhaustion exercise in female elite field hockey players. A total of 19 field hockey players participated in the present study for 5 days. The individuals were divided into the placebo group (PLA, n = 9) and the tart cherry juice group (TCJ, n = 10), respectively. Actigraphy devices were distributed to analyze sleep quality and participants were required to wear the device while sleeping until the study was completed. Participants consumed tart cherry juice or placebo drinks five times in a total of 48 h while double-blinded after intermittent exhaustion exercise. A significant interaction effect (group × time) between PLA and TCJ groups was not observed in the levels of melatonin and cortisol. The variables of sleep quality showed significant interaction effects with regards to the total time in bed (TTB; p = 0.015), wake after sleep onset (WASO; p = 0.044), and movement index (MI; p = 0.031) variables. As a result, our study confirmed the possibility that the short-term intake of tart cherry juice could not change the levels of melatonin and cortisol in elite female hockey players but could help improve their sleep quality.

Dispersion Stability of 14 Manufactured Nanomaterials for Ecotoxicity Tests Using Raphidocelis subcapitata.

The development of nanotechnology has increased concerns about the exposure of ecosystems to manufactured nanomaterials, the toxicities of which are now being researched. However, when manufactured nanomaterials are mixed with algae in a culture medium for ecotoxicity tests, the results are vulnerable to distortion by an agglomeration phenomenon. Here, we describe a dispersion method commonly applicable to ecotoxicity tests for the 14 types of manufactured nanomaterials specified by the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development's Sponsorship Programme, namely aluminum oxide (Al2O3), carbon black, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), cerium oxide (CeO2), dendrimers, fullerene, gold (Au), iron (Fe), nanoclays, silver (Ag), silicon dioxide (SiO2), titanium dioxide (TiO2), and zinc oxide (ZnO). The type of dispersant, sonication time, and stirring speed were carefully considered. Consequently, 1500 mg/L of gum arabic was selected as a dispersant; for sonication time, 1 h was selected for dendrimers, 2 h for SiO2, 24 h for SWCNTs and Au, and 4 h for the other nanomaterials. Dispersion stability was achieved for all materials at a stirring speed of 200 rpm. To verify the effect of this dispersion method on ecotoxicity tests, toxicity was measured through cell counts for SWCNTs and TiO2 using Raphidocelis subcapitata. The half-maximal effective concentrations (EC50) were 18.0 ± 4.6 mg/L for SWCNTs and 316.6 ± 64.7 mg/L for TiO2.

Comparative Study of Algae-Based Measurements of the Toxicity of 14 Manufactured Nanomaterials.

With the increasing use of nanomaterials in recent years, determining their comparative toxicities has become a subject of intense research interest. However, the variety of test methods available for each material makes it difficult to compare toxicities. Here, an accurate and reliable method is developed to evaluate the toxicity of manufactured nanomaterials, such as Al2O3, carbon black, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), CeO2, dendrimers, fullerene, gold, iron, nanoclays, silver, SiO2, TiO2, and ZnO. A series of 72 h chronic and 8 h acute toxicity tests was performed using cell counting, chlorophyll, and delayed fluorescence methods. Comparable toxicities using the chlorophyll and delayed fluorescence methods were impossible to determine because the EC50 of some of the nanomaterials could not be measured. All three test methods were successfully applied to the chronic toxicity tests of manufactured nanomaterials, and cell counting was the only method applicable to acute toxicity tests. The toxicity data and the proposal of measurement method for manufactured nanomaterials obtained in this study can be helpful for preparing exposure standards and investigating the toxicities of other nanomaterials in the future.

The benefits of the earlier use of sacubitril/valsartan in de novo heart failure with reduced ejection fraction patients.

AIMS: We evaluated the clinical outcomes and trajectory of cardiac reverse remodelling according to the timing of sacubitril/valsartan (Sac/Val) use in patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients with de novo HFrEF who used Sac/Val between June 2017 and October 2019 were retrospectively enrolled. Patients were grouped into the earlier use group (initiation of Sac/Val < 3 months after the first HFrEF diagnosis) and the later use group (initiation of Sac/Val ≥ 3 months after the first HFrEF diagnosis). Primary outcome was a composite of HF hospitalization and cardiac death. Secondary outcomes were HF hospitalization, cardiac death, all-cause death, significant ventricular arrhythmia (ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation), and echocardiographic evidence of cardiac reverse remodelling including left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) change during follow-up. Among 115 enrolled patients, 67 were classified in the earlier use group, and 48 were classified in the later use group. Mean period of HFrEF diagnosis to Sac/Val use was 52.1 ± 14.3 days in the earlier use group, and 201.8 ± 127.3 days in the later use group. During the median follow-up of 721 days, primary outcome occurred in 21 patients (18.3%). The earlier use group experienced significantly fewer primary outcome than the later use group (10.4% vs. 29.2%, P = 0.010). The Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed better event-free survival in the earlier use group than in the later use group (log rank = 0.017). There were no significant differences in cardiac death, all-cause death, and ventricular arrhythmia between two groups (1.5% vs. 2.1%, P = 0.811; 1.5% vs. 4.2%, P = 0.375; 3.0% vs. 0%, P = 0.227, respectively). Despite a significantly lower baseline LVEF in the earlier use group (21.3 ± 6.4% vs. 24.8 ± 7.9%, P = 0.012), an early prominent increase of LVEF was noted before 6 months (35.2 ± 11.9% vs. 27.8 ± 8.8%, P = 0.007). A delayed improvement of LVEF in the later use group resulted in similar LVEF at last follow-up in both groups (40.7 ± 13.4% vs. 39.4 ± 10.9%, P = 0.686). Although the trajectory of left ventricular remodelling showed similar pattern in two groups, left atrial (LA) reverse remodelling was less prominent in the later use group during the follow-up period (final LA volume index: 43.6 ± 14.3 mL/m2 vs. 55.2 ± 17.1 mL/m2 , P = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: Earlier use of Sac/Val was related with better clinical outcome and earlier left ventricular reverse remodelling. Remodelling of LA was less prominent in the later use group implying delayed response in diastolic function.

Recent Advances in Ovarian Cancer: Therapeutic Strategies, Potential Biomarkers, and Technological Improvements.

Aggressive and recurrent gynecological cancers are associated with worse prognosis and a lack of effective therapeutic response. Ovarian cancer (OC) patients are often diagnosed in advanced stages, when drug resistance, angiogenesis, relapse, and metastasis impact survival outcomes. Currently, surgical debulking, radiotherapy, and/or chemotherapy remain the mainstream treatment modalities; however, patients suffer unwanted side effects and drug resistance in the absence of targeted therapies. Hence, it is urgent to decipher the complex disease biology and identify potential biomarkers, which could greatly contribute to making an early diagnosis or predicting the response to specific therapies. This review aims to critically discuss the current therapeutic strategies for OC, novel drug-delivery systems, and potential biomarkers in the context of genetics and molecular research. It emphasizes how the understanding of disease biology is related to the advancement of technology, enabling the exploration of novel biomarkers that may be able to provide more accurate diagnosis and prognosis, which would effectively translate into targeted therapies, ultimately improving patients' overall survival and quality of life.

The Relationship between Body Composition and Physical Fitness and the Effect of Exercise According to the Level of Childhood Obesity Using the MGPA Model.

Childhood obesity can lead to adulthood obesity with adverse effects. Since body composition and physical fitness differ depending on the obesity degree, a systemic analysis could help classify that degree. We used three study designs based on the obesity degree (body mass index [BMI] as a reference) for our objectives. First, we identified the relationship between body composition and physical fitness. Second, we determined the effects of exercise on body composition and physical fitness. Third, we performed a path analysis of the impact of exercise on body composition and physical fitness, and verified those effects among the groups. In study 1, 164 10-year-old subjects were divided into four groups: 33 in the normal weight (NO), 34 in overweight (OV), 54 in obesity (OB), and 43 in the severe obesity (SOB) group. In study 2, 101 participants from study 1 who wished to participate in the exercise program were divided into four groups (same criteria). The exercise program (three times a week for 60 min, for 16 weeks) consisted of sports and reinforcement exercises of increasing intensity. Body composition was measured by body weight, percentage of body fat (%BF), muscle mass, skeletal muscle mass (SMM), and body mass index (BMI). In contrast, physical fitness was measured by muscular strength, flexibility, muscular endurance, agility, and balance. As a result, all body composition variables were higher in the SOB group than in the other groups. Physical fitness, muscular strength and balance, and agility were highest in the SOB, NO, and OV groups, respectively. Pearson's correlation revealed that muscular strength was associated with height and body weight across all groups. Agility showed a negative correlation with %BF in the NO, OB, and SOB groups. SMM was positively correlated in the OB and SOB groups. After the exercise intervention, BMI and the %BF of the SOB group were significantly reduced (p < 0.01, and p < 0.001, respectively), while SMM presented a significant increase (p < 0.001). Height also showed a significant increase in all groups (p < 0.001). Among physical fitness variables, muscular strength, flexibility, muscular endurance, and balance showed a significant increase in all groups, while a significant increase in power was observed in only the OB and SOB groups. As for the effects of the body composition on physical fitness after exercise intervention, the greatest impact was observed for balance, muscular strength and agility, and muscular endurance in NO, OV, and OB groups, respectively. In conclusion, the body composition, physical fitness relationship, and the effects of exercise intervention on them differed depending on the obesity degree. Furthermore, the results varied according to the obesity degree. Thus, our study highlights the importance of creating particular exercise programs for the effective prevention and treatment of childhood obesity considering the obesity degree.

Diagnosis by Volatile Organic Compounds in Exhaled Breath in Exhaled Breath from Patients with Gastric and Colorectal Cancers.

One in three cancer deaths worldwide are caused by gastric and colorectal cancer malignancies. Although the incidence and fatality rates differ significantly from country to country, the rates of these cancers in East Asian nations such as South Korea and Japan have been increasing each year. Above all, the biggest danger of this disease is how challenging it is to recognize in its early stages. Moreover, most patients with these cancers do not present with any disease symptoms before receiving a definitive diagnosis. Currently, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are being used for the early prediction of several other diseases, and research has been carried out on these applications. Exhaled VOCs from patients possess remarkable potential as novel biomarkers, and their analysis could be transformative in the prevention and early diagnosis of colon and stomach cancers. VOCs have been spotlighted in recent studies due to their ease of use. Diagnosis on the basis of patient VOC analysis takes less time than methods using gas chromatography, and results in the literature demonstrate that it is possible to determine whether a patient has certain diseases by using organic compounds in their breath as indicators. This study describes how VOCs can be used to precisely detect cancers; as more data are accumulated, the accuracy of this method will increase, and it can be applied in more fields.

Correlation between Oxidative Stress and Transforming Growth Factor-Beta in Cancers.

The downregulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) facilitates precancerous tumor development, even though increasing the level of ROS can promote metastasis. The transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-ß) signaling pathway plays an anti-tumorigenic role in the initial stages of cancer development but a pro-tumorigenic role in later stages that fosters cancer metastasis. TGF-ß can regulate the production of ROS unambiguously or downregulate antioxidant systems. ROS can influence TGF-ß signaling by enhancing its expression and activation. Thus, TGF-ß signaling and ROS might significantly coordinate cellular processes that cancer cells employ to expedite their malignancy. In cancer cells, interplay between oxidative stress and TGF-ß is critical for tumorigenesis and cancer progression. Thus, both TGF-ß and ROS can develop a robust relationship in cancer cells to augment their malignancy. This review focuses on the appropriate interpretation of this crosstalk between TGF-ß and oxidative stress in cancer, exposing new potential approaches in cancer biology.

The Relationship between Metabolic Syndrome and Smoking and Alcohol Experiences in Adolescents from Low-Income Households.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) in children and adolescents is increasing globally and the age of onset is gradually decreasing. MetS is associated with serious health problems and presents an early risk for adult morbidity and mortality. From 2014-2019, we investigated the relationship between MetS and health behaviors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and nutrition education in Korean adolescents (boys: 1235, girls: 1087, age: 13-18 years) based on household income; the relationship with hand grip strength was also evaluated. The prevalence of MetS was 8.8% in boys and 5.1% in girls; in the lowest income households, the risk increased ~1.5-fold for boys and ~4-fold for girls, whereas risks of smoking and alcohol use increased 1.81 vs. 2.34 times, and 2.34 vs. 2.37 times for boys and girls, respectively. In adolescents with the weakest grip strength, the risk of MetS increased 9.62 and 7.79 times in boys and girls, respectively. Girls lacking nutrition education exhibited a 1.67-fold increased risk of MetS, but this was not significant in boys. Low household income increased the risk of unhealthy behaviors such as smoking and alcohol consumption in both sexes, and together with low hand grip strength, was an important predictor for developing MetS.

Features and implications of higher systolic central than peripheral blood pressure in patients at very high risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Peripheral blood pressure (PBP) is usually higher than central blood pressure (CBP) due to pulse amplification; however, it is not well understood why cuff-measured PBP can be lower than CBP estimated by the late systolic pressure of radial pulse waves. We explored the implications of systolic PBP-CBP (P-CBP) differences for cardiovascular (CV) prognosis. In total, 335 patients at very high risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) underwent automated applanation tonometry and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), and they were classified into groups according to positive or negative systolic P-CBP differences. Between-group characteristics and clinical outcomes (the composite of coronary revascularization, stroke, heart failure hospitalization, and CV death) were evaluated. Patients with negative differences had significantly higher frequency of hypertension, coronary artery disease, higher ASCVD risk burden, and elevated N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide. They had higher left atrial volume index (LAVI) and lower systolic mitral septal tissue velocity (TVI-s') than those with a positive difference. These patients showed higher systolic PBP and CBP, and a higher baPWV. Multivariable analysis indicated that TVI-s', LAVI, and ASCVD risk burden were independent determinants of such systolic P-CBP differences. During a median follow-up of 12.6 months, clinical outcomes were significantly related to a negative difference (11.5% vs. 3.4%, p = 0.014), and a systolic P-CBP difference ≤ -8 mmHg was associated with a threefold higher likelihood of poor prognosis. In patients at very high risk of ASCVD, systolic P-CBP difference was associated with cardiac dysfunction and ASCVD risk burden, allowing further risk stratification.

Clinical outcomes in patients with left ventricle trabeculation or noncompaction.

Trabeculation exhibits highly varied presentations, whereas noncompaction (NC) is a specific disease entity based arithmetically on wall thickness. We aimed to evaluate the clinical implications of trabeculation and its relevance to outcomes. A total of 296 patients (age 63 ± 12 years; 64% men) with trabeculation who underwent echocardiography were retrospectively identified between January 2011 and December 2012. Analyses were conducted on distinguished trabeculation which was divided into NC (maximum noncompacted/compacted ratio ≥ 2.0) or hypertrabeculation (HT) (ratio < 2.0). We evaluated features of trabeculation and explored cardiovascular (CV) outcome events (coronary revascularization, hospitalization for worsening heart failure (HF), stroke, nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (VT), implantation of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), and CV death). Over a mean of 4.2 years, CV outcome events occurred in 122 (41%) patients who were older and exhibited an increased frequency of diabetes mellitus, stroke, implantation of ICD, HF and dilated cardiomyopathy. The frequencies of NC or HT, the trabeculation ratio and its manifestation were similar among patients with and without events. NC/HT with concomitant apical hypocontractility and worsening systolic function were univariable predictors of adverse events. On multivariable analysis, concomitant apical hypocontractility on NC/HT remained significant (hazard ratio 8.94, 95% confidence interval 2.9-27.2, p < 0.001) together with old age, HF and increased E/e' ratio. NC/HT with concomitant apical hypocontractility provided clues about the current medical illness and aided in risk stratification.

On-line Measurement of Sub-ppb Level Hydrogen Peroxide in Ultrapure Water Production Process.

An on-line H2O2 analyzer was developed for application to the ultrapure water production process, using a gasometric method. The analyzer consists of a dissolved oxygen (DO) sensor and analyzer, a catalyst that converts H2O2 to O2, and a computer that stores the DO data. H2O2 concentrations were calculated by measuring the change in DO concentration before and after the catalyst and using the calculation formula presented in this study. In order to accurately analyze a sub-ppb level of H2O2, a DO meter which can correctly measure the DO concentration at the ppb level was applied. An ion exchange resin with Pd, was selected as an appropriate catalyst since it could decompose 99% of H2O2 to O2 at a space velocity of 120/h. The minimum analysis time was 20 min, and the detection limit was observed to be 0.27 ppb. When the DO concentration of the sample was 1.5 ppb or lower, an H2O2 concentration of 1 ppb or lower was successfully measured. Good correlation, with an R2 value of 0.99, was observed between the measured and calculated H2O2 concentrations.

Prevalence of sports injuries in Korean fencers aged 14-40 years.

BACKGROUND: Although sites and types of injury frequently occurring in fencers have been well described, the type of injury caused by the use of fencing movements is still unknown. This study aimed to provide basic data for injury prevention by understanding the sports injury status in fencers. METHODS: A total of 584 South Korean fencers were included in the survey and were classified according to the injured site, cause of injury, and movement that causes injury. The collected data were analyzed using frequency analysis, χ2 tests, and logistic regression analysis to identify differences in sex, event type, age, and career. RESULTS: Female (P=0.001) and foil fencers (P=0.015) were more likely to experience injury than male and sabre and epee fencers. The incidence of injury was significantly higher according to age (P=0.001) and career (P=0.001). The ankle was the most frequently injured site (17.71%). Injuries most frequently occur during Fente movement (48.11%). Insufficient warm-up was the most common cause of injury (23.91%) in all groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that a specific warm-up program and strengthening exercises of the ankle and knee ligaments should be established to prevent injuries for fencers. Particularly, female, foil, adult, and experienced fencers should be more careful in preventing injuries.