Association between Alcohol Drinking Status and Depressive Symptoms in Korean Adults.

We investigated the association between alcohol drinking status and depressive symptoms in a representative sample of South Korean adults using data from the 2017 Korea Community Health Survey (KCHS), which included 216,771 participants (99,845 men and 116,926 women). Depression was defined as a Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score of ≥10. Multivariate logistic regression using sampling weights was used to assess the relationship between alcohol drinking status and depression after adjusting for potential confounders. Alcohol intake was nonlinearly associated with depression; the risk of depression was the lowest in men who were moderate drinkers and women who were light drinkers. In men, heavy drinkers (odds ratio [OR] 1.41, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.19-1.67), light drinkers (OR 1.13, 95% CI 0.94-1.36), infrequent drinkers (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.00-1.73), and lifetime abstainers (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.09-1.75) were at a higher risk of depression than moderate drinkers. In women, moderate drinkers (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.02-1.40) and heavy drinkers (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.33-1.84) were at a higher risk of depression than light drinkers; however, infrequent drinkers and lifetime abstainers were not at a high risk of depression. In both men and women, former drinkers were at a higher risk of depression (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.34-1.93 and OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.09-1.43, respectively). In conclusion, the association between alcohol drinking status and depression was nonlinear in both sexes. Further investigation of age- and sex-specific factors related to the association between alcohol use and depression is needed.

Screening for Atrial Fibrillation Using a Smartphone-Based Electrocardiogram in Korean Elderly.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is responsible for 10-20% of cerebral infarctions. Several mobile devices have been developed to screen for AF and studies of AF screening have been conducted in several countries to evaluate the applicability of these mobile devices. In this tradition, we conducted a community-based AF screening using an automated single-lead electrocardiogram (SL-ECG). This survey examined 2,422 participants in a community dementia screening program who were aged 60 years or older in the preliminary study, and 5,366 participants at 9 Senior Welfare Centers aged 60 years or older in the expanded study. AF screening was conducted using an automated SL-ECG (Kardia Mobile, AliveCor, Mountain View, CA, USA). AF was confirmed with a 12-lead electrocardiogram in subjects classified as having AF on the SL-ECG. In the preliminary study, of the 2,422 subjects, 124 had AF on the SL-ECG. The prevalence of AF was 3.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.4-3.8). The positive predictive value (PPV) of SL-ECG was 58.9% (95% CI: 50.1-67.1). Of the subjects diagnosed with AF, 65.8% (95% CI: 54.3-75.6) were newly diagnosed. In an expanded study, of the 5,366 subjects, 289 had AF on SL-ECG. The prevalence was 2.6% (95% CI: 2.2-3.1) and PPV of SL-ECG was 48.8% (95% CI: 43.1-54.5). In this community-based AF screening, we found that AF is underdiagnosed and undertreated. These results suggest that the early detection of AF using mobile devices is needed in Korea.

A Split-Face, Single-Blinded, Randomized Controlled Comparison of 532 nm Picosecond Neodymium-Doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet Laser versus 532 nm Q-Switched Neodymium-Doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet Laser in the Treatment of Solar Lentigines.

BACKGROUND: Solar lentigines are the most common form of benign epidermal pigmentation and one of the major cosmetic concerns in Korea. A 532 nm Q-switched neodymium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet (QSND) laser is typically used for the treatment, but the occurrence of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) is not rare. Recently, the use of picosecond (PS) lasers has emerged in pursuit of better outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To objectively compare the efficacy and safety of 532 nm PS and QSND lasers for the treatment of solar lentigines. METHODS: Twenty patients with solar lentigines were enrolled in a prospective, randomized split-face, single-blind study. One side of each face was treated using a 532 nm PS laser, and the other side using a 532 nm QSND laser. After one treatment, all patients were followed up for evaluation after 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks. The clinical clearance was assessed by three blinded dermatologists using a 5-point quartile improvement scale (QIS). Subjective satisfaction, development of PIH, pain scale during treatment, and adverse problems were also recorded. RESULTS: Clinical clearance measured by QIS showed that the PS laser was more effective than the QSND laser. Subjective satisfaction and pain scale did not significantly differ between the two groups. The incidence of PIH was 5% in sides treated with the PS laser, and 30% with the QSND laser. CONCLUSION: Both 532 nm PS laser and QSND laser were effective for the treatment of solar lentigines, but the PS laser was more effective with less PIH development.

Association between rosacea severity and relative muscle mass: A cross-sectional study.

Rosacea is thought to be associated with factors involved in metabolic syndrome (MetS). Muscle mass has a beneficial role in preventing MetS, but its link to rosacea remains unknown. We sought to investigate the association between rosacea severity and relative skeletal muscle mass. A cross-sectional study was conducted on subjects who attended a skin check-up program at the Kangbuk Samsung Hospital Health Screening Center between 2014 and 2016. Polarized light photographs of the face were taken and evaluated by two dermatologists. Skeletal muscle mass index (SMI, [%] = total skeletal muscle mass [kg] / bodyweight [kg] × 100) was estimated using a bioelectrical impedance analyzer. A logistic regression model was used to evaluate an association between SMI and rosacea. Of 110 rosacea subjects who were finally enrolled, 17 (15.5%) and 93 (84.5%) were classified as having papulopustular and erythematotelangiectatic rosacea, respectively. Categories of SMI comprised the following tertiles: 22.86-38.40%, 38.41-43.44% and 43.45-80.65%. In severity, compared with mild rosacea (75.5%), moderate rosacea (24.5%) incrementally increased as SMI decreased (Ptrend < 0.01). Severe rosacea was not observed. After adjustment for age and sex, odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for moderate rosacea comparing SMI tertiles 1 and 2 to the highest tertile (reference) were 5.66 (1.22-26.20) and 4.43 (1.12-17.55), respectively (Ptrend = 0.03). This association was present in women with marginal significance (Ptrend = 0.06), but not in men. Relative muscle mass is negatively associated with an increased risk of more severe rosacea, suggesting that skeletal muscle can have a protective effect on rosacea exacerbation.

Association between the duration of palliative care service and survival in terminal cancer patients.

PURPOSE: Preliminary studies of early palliative care showed improved quality of life, less medical cost, and better survival time. But, most terminal cancer patients tend to be referred to palliative care late. For the proper care of terminal cancer patients, it is necessary to refer to hospice and palliative care timely. The aim of this study is to analyze the effect of the duration of palliative care services on the survival in terminal cancer patients. METHODS: We reviewed 609 patients who had died from terminal cancer between January 2010 and December 2012. We analyzed correlations of age, first Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) level, duration of palliative care service, and survival time. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was used for both univariate and multivariate analyses of survival. RESULTS: Duration of palliative care services was significantly correlated with survival time. In univariate Cox regression analysis, age, and each group of duration of palliative care service showed significant associations with survival. Final multivariate Cox regression model retained four parameters as independent prognostic factors for survival (age HR = 0.99 (p = 0.002), 1∼10 days HR = 2.64 (p < 0.001), 11∼30 days HR = 2.43 (p < 0.001), 31∼90 days HR = 1.87 (p < 0.001)). CONCLUSIONS: Shorter duration of palliative care services showed poor prognostic factor. Timely referral system from the end of chemotherapy is warranted.

The Association between Phase Angle of Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis and Survival Time in Advanced Cancer Patients: Preliminary Study.

BACKGROUND: A frequent manifestation of advanced cancer patients is malnutrition, which is correlated with poor prognosis and high mortality. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is an easy-to-use and non-invasive technique to evaluate changes in body composition and nutritional status. We investigated BIA-derived phase angle as a prognostic indicator for survival in advanced cancer patients. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients treated at the hospice center of Seoul St. Mary's Hospital underwent BIA measurements from January, 2013 to May, 2013. We also evaluated palliative prognostic index (PPI) and palliative performance scale to compare with the prognostic value of phase angle. Cox's proportional hazard models were constructed to evaluate the prognostic effect of phase angle. The Kaplan Meier method was used to calculate survival. RESULTS: Using univariate Cox analysis, phase angle (hazard ratio [HR], 0.61/per degree increase; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.42 to 0.89; P = 0.010), PPI (HR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.47; P = 0.048) were found to be significantly associated with survival. Adjusting age, PPI, body mass index, phase angle significantly showed association with survival in multivariate analysis (HR, 0.64/per degree increase; 95% CI, 0.42 to 0.95; P = 0.028). Survival time of patients with phase angle ≥ 4.4° was longer than patients with phase angle < 4.4° (log rank, 6.208; P-value = 0.013). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest BIA-derived phase angle may serve as an independent prognostic indicator in advanced cancer patients.

Sasa borealis leaves extract improves insulin resistance by modulating inflammatory cytokine secretion in high fat diet-induced obese C57/BL6J mice.

Obesity is considered a mild inflammatory state, and the secretion of inflammation-related cytokines rises as adipose tissue expands. Inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interlukin 6 (IL-6) and monocyte-chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), are modulated by adipose tissue and known to play an important role in insulin resistance which is the common characteristics of obesity related disorders. In this study we analyzed the effects of Sasa borealis leaves extract on inflammatory cytokines and insulin resistance in diet induced obese C57/BL6J mice. The obese state was induced by a high fat diet for 20 weeks and then the mice were divided into two groups; obese control group (OBC, n = 7) and experimental group (OB-SBE, n = 7). The OBC group was fed a high fat diet and the OB-SBE group was fed a high fat diet containing 5% Sasa borealis leaves extract (SBE) for 12 weeks. We also used mice fed a standard diet as a normal control (NC, n = 7). The body weight and adipose tissue weight in the OB group were significantly higher than those in the NC group. The effects of the high fat diet were reduced by SBE treatments, and the body weight and adipose tissue deposition in the OB-SBE group were significantly decreased compared to the OBC group. The OBC group showed higher serum glucose and insulin levels which resulted in a significant increase of incremental area under the curve (IAUC) and HOMA-IR than the NC group. Also, serum leptin, TNF-alpha, and IL-6 levels were significantly higher in the OBC group than in the NC group. In contrast, the OB-SBE group showed a reversal in the metabolic defects, including a decrease in glucose, insulin, IAUC, HOMA-IR, TNF-alpha, IL-6 and leptin levels. These results suggest that BSE can suppress increased weight gain and/or fat deposition induced by a high fat diet and theses effects are accompanied by modulation of the inflammatory cytokines, TNF-alpha and IL-6 secretion resulting in improved insulin resistance.

Ginsenoside Rh2 ameliorates scopolamine-induced learning deficit in mice.

To understand memory-enhancing effect of red ginseng biotransformed by Bifidobacterium longum H-1 (RGB), which more potently improved scopolamine-induced learning deficit than red ginseng in the preliminary experiment, its main constituents, ginsenosides Rb1, Rg3 and Rh2, were isolated and their memory-enhancing effects investigated in scopolamine-treated mice by using passive avoidance and Y-maze tests. Among them, ginsenoside Rh2 most potently reversed memory impairment caused by scopolamine. Ginsenoside Rh2 also significantly shortened the escape latencies prolonged by scopolamine in the Morris water maze test (p<0.001) and increased the swimming time shorten by scopolamine within the platform quadrant (p<0.05). The ginsenoside Rh2 (3 muM) reversed scopolamine (10 muM)-induced suppression of long-term potentiation. It recovered field excitatory post synaptic potential (fEPSP) amplitude potentiation to 152.3+/-8.7% of the control (p<0.05). Based on these findings, RGB and its main constituent, ginsenoside Rh2, might improve learning deficits. Also the memory-enhancing effects of RGB may be dependent on the content of ginsenoside Rh2.

Magnolol and honokiol: inhibitors against mouse passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction and scratching behaviors.

The antiallergic effects of magnolol and honokiol, isolated from the bark of Magnolia obovata (family Magnoliaceae), were investigated both in vitro and in vivo. Magnolol and honokiol potently inhibited passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reactions in mice induced by IgE-antigen complex as well as compound 48/80-induced scratching behaviors. These constituents exhibited not only potent inhibitory activity on the degranulation of RBL-2H3 cells induced by IgE-antigen complex, with IC(50) values of 45 and 55 muM, respectively, but also inhibited the protein expressions of IL-4 and TNF-alpha. Based on these findings, magnolol and honokiol may improve IgE-induced allergic diseases.