Evaluating the effectiveness of a food literacy pilot program for university students: using a mixed-methods research approach.

Background/objectives: As awareness of climate change increases, the relevance of environmental education in dietary choices gains prominence. Although diversely defined, food literacy (FL) is increasingly recognized as the ability to make food choices with an awareness of environmental sustainability. This study aims to conduct a pilot implementation and assess the effectiveness of a program developed to improve FL among university students.

media: correlations with the dietary behavior of children and adolescents in Korea.

Background/objectives: , a trend originating in South Korea and gaining global popularity, could influence children's food choices and eating habits. This study analyzed the correlation between viewing time in children and adolescents, their meal consumption frequency, nutrition quotient (NQ), and frequency of food intake.

Subjects/methods: From July to August 2022, this cross-sectional study investigated upper elementary students (ages 9-11 yrs) and adolescents (aged 12-18 yrs) using an online survey.

Erratum: Development of a frailty prevention program including nutrition and exercise interventions for older adults in senior daycare centers in South Korea using a mixed methods research design.

[This corrects the article on p. 372 in vol. 18, PMID: 38854475.

Development of a frailty prevention program including nutrition and exercise interventions for older adults in senior daycare centers in South Korea using a mixed methods research design.

Background/objectives: The growing aging population has led to an increased utilization of senior daycare centers. This study was conducted to design a program to enhance the health of older adults in senior daycare centers in Chuncheon City, South Korea.

Subjects/methods: The study explored the health conditions and dietary patterns of older adults in senior daycare centers.

Level of happiness and its association with food literacy among Seoul citizens: results from Seoul Food Survey 2021.

Background/objectives: Happiness is an important factor in life, and food literacy (FL) has been emphasized as a core concept for a happy and healthy life. This study examined the level of happiness of Seoul citizens according to their sociodemographic factors and their association with FL.

Subjects/methods: This study used the data from the Seoul Food Survey, a cross-sectional study conducted on 4,039 Seoul citizens from September to October 2021.

Who has a high level of food literacy, and who does not?: a qualitative study of college students in South Korea.

Background/objectives: Unhealthy food choices among young adults are common globally, and the incidence of chronic diseases, such as obesity, is rising. Food literacy (FL) is important for improving and maintaining individual health in a rapidly changing food environment and can form the basis for following a sustainable diet. Therefore, it is essential to improve FL among young adults, particularly college students, who are in the formative years of their lifelong food habits.

The level of food literacy and its association with food intake and obesity status among Seoul citizens: results from Seoul Food Survey 2021.

Background/objectives: Food literacy (FL) is a crucial skill for selecting sustainable and healthy food options, necessitating the identification of vulnerable groups in the community using valid measurement tools. Identifying weak domains in FL is essential for enhancing the overall FL. This study examined the FL levels of Seoul citizens based on their sociodemographic characteristics and assessed the relationship between FL, food intake, and weight status.

Feasibility of Raman spectroscopic identification of gall bladder cancer using extracellular vesicles extracted from bile.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are heterogeneous membrane-based vesicles with bilayer cell membrane structures, could be versatile biomarkers for the identification of diverse diseases including cancers. With this potential, this study has attempted the Raman spectroscopic identification of gall bladder (GB) cancer by directly measuring the EV solution extracted from human bile without further sample drying. For this purpose, bile samples were obtained from four normal individuals and 21 GB polyp, eight hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and five GB cancer patients, and EVs were extracted from each of the bile samples.

Identification of gallbladder cancer by direct near-infrared measurement of deuterated chloroform-extracted organic phase from human bile.

A simple near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopic scheme enabling direct measurement of organic phase extracted from human bile with no spectral interference from the extraction solvent was demonstrated for identification of gallbladder (GB) cancer. This scheme is used to recognize the different lipid contents in bile samples from GB cancer patients using NIR spectroscopy for disease identification. To this end, the extraction solvent should provide an absorption-free NIR region to observe peaks of related metabolite.

Identification of gallbladder cancer by direct near-infrared measurement of raw bile combined with two-trace two-dimensional correlation analysis.

We demonstrated the utility of direct near-infrared (NIR) bile analysis for the identification of gallbladder (GB) cancer by employing two-trace two-dimensional (2T2D) correlation analysis to recognize dissimilar spectral features among diverse bile samples for potential improvement of discrimination accuracy. To represent more diverse clinical cases for reliable assessment, bile samples obtained from five normal, 44 gallstone, 25 GB polyp, six hepatocellular cancer (HCC), and eight GB cancer subjects were analyzed. Due to the altered metabolic pathways by carcinogenesis, the NIR spectral features of GB cancer samples, including intensity ratios of main peaks, were different from those of other sample groups.

Screening of gall bladder cancer through infrared analysis of bile and examination of varied bile constituent composition by the disease.

To demonstrate the infrared (IR)-based bile analysis as a reliable screening tool for gall bladder (GB) cancer, we analyzed a sample set of 37 diverse bile samples (five normal, 18 GB polyp, six hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and eight GB cancer subjects). Bile samples of normal subjects (control) and HCC patients were newly included to examine if IR-based bile analysis could be expanded to identify HCC. Concentrations of three bile acids and eight bile salts in the aqueous phase samples were determined in parallel and lipidomic analysis of nine lipid classes in the organic phase samples was performed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Feasibility for SERS-based discrimination of gallbladder cancer from polyp by indirect recognition of components in bile.

The aqueous solution extracted from raw bile juice is composed primarily of bile salts, with lower levels of bilirubin and its derivatives. Among them, the bilirubin and bilirubin-derived metabolites are the only surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-active components. An analytical scheme indirectly responsive and able to utilize all bile components, including SERS-inactive bile salts, was explored for SERS-based discrimination of gallbladder (GB) polyp and GB cancer.

Combination of LIBS-based elemental analysis and near-infrared molecular fingerprinting of bile juice to enhance identification of gallbladder cancer.

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, enabling the measurement of raw bile directly without sample pretreatment, were cooperatively combined to enhance the discrimination of gallbladder cancer (GBC) from other diseases of gallstone and gallbladder (GB) polyp. Since elemental contents and metabolite compositions of bile vary according to the pathological conditions of pancreaticobiliary patients, the use of complementary information could be synergetic to improve disease identification accuracy. The ratios of Mg and Na peak areas (/) and Na and K peak areas (/) in the LIBS spectra of GBC samples were different from those of the remaining samples.

Disruption of nucleocytoplasmic trafficking as a cellular senescence driver.

Senescent cells exhibit a reduced response to intrinsic and extrinsic stimuli. This diminished reaction may be explained by the disrupted transmission of nuclear signals. However, this hypothesis requires more evidence before it can be accepted as a mechanism of cellular senescence.

Feasibility of discrimination of gall bladder (GB) stone and GB polyp using voltage-applied SERS measurement of bile juice samples in conjunction with two-trace two-dimensional (2T2D) correlation analysis.

Voltage-applied SERS measurement of bile juice in conjunction with two-trace two-dimensional (2T2D) correlation analysis was demonstrated as a potential tool to enhance discrimination of gall bladder (GB) stone and GB polyp. When SERS spectra of the aqueous phases extracted from raw bile juice samples were measured with applying external voltage from -300 to +300 mV (100 mV intervals), subsequent spectral variations of the adsorbed components (bilirubin-containing compounds) on the SERS substrate were minute, and discrimination of the two GB diseases in a principal component score domain was difficult. Therefore, 2T2D correlation analysis, effectively identifying asynchronous (dissimilar) spectral behaviors in the voltage-induced SERS spectra, was used to improve the discrimination.

Feasibility of Voltage-Applied SERS Measurement of Bile Juice as an Effective Analytical Scheme to Enhance Discrimination between Gall Bladder (GB) Polyp and GB Cancer.

A unique surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) measurement scheme to discriminate gall bladder (GB) polyp and GB cancer by analysis of bile juice is proposed. Along with the high sensitivity of SERS, external voltage application during SERS measurement was incorporated to improve sample discriminability. For this purpose, Au nanodendrites were constructed on a screen-printed electrode (referred to as AuND@SPE), and Raman spectra of extracted aqueous phases from raw bile juice samples were acquired using the AuND@SPE at voltages from -300 to 300 mV.

Effect of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin II receptor blocker on the patients with sepsis.

Background/aims: Inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin system, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), reportedly have anti-inflammatory effects. This study assessed the association of prior use of ACE inhibitors and ARBs with sepsis-related clinical outcomes.

Methods: A population-based observational study was conducted using the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service claims data.

Feasibility study for rapid near-infrared spectroscopic identification of different gallbladder diseases by direct analysis of bile juice.

A whole-sample-covering near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy scheme has been adopted for the simple drop-and-dry measurement of raw bile juice for the identification of gallbladder (GB) diseases of stone, polyp, and cancer. For reproducible measurement, a non-NIR absorbing polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) providing a hydrophobic surface was chosen as a substrate to form bile juice droplets of a consistent shape. To ensure representative spectroscopic sampling, NIR radiation illuminated the whole area of the dried sample for spectral acquisition.

Improved infrared spectroscopic discrimination between gall bladder (GB) polyps and GB cancer using component-descriptive spectral features of separated phases from bile.

This study demonstrates a unique strategy for enhancing infrared (IR) spectroscopic discrimination between gall bladder (GB) polyps and cancer. This strategy includes the separation of raw bile juice into three sections of organic, aqueous, and amphiphilic phases and a cooperative combination of all IR spectral features of each separated phase for the discrimination. Raw bile juice is viscous and complex in composition because it contains fatty acids, cholesterol, proteins, phospholipids, bilirubin, and other components; therefore, the acquisition of IR spectra providing more component-discernible information is fundamental for improving discrimination.

Feasibility of using a bacteriophage-based structural color sensor for screening the geographical origins of agricultural products.

An M13 bacteriophage-based color sensor, which can change its structural color upon interaction with a gaseous molecule, was evaluated as a screening tool for the discrimination of the geographical origins of three different agricultural products (garlic, onion, and perilla). Exposure of the color sensor to sample odors induced the self-assembled M13 bacteriophage bundles to swell by the interaction of amino acid residues (repeating units of four glutamates) on the bacteriophage with the odor components, resulting in a change in the structural color of the sensor. When the sensor was exposed to the odors of garlic and onion samples, the RGB color changes were considerable because of the strong interactions of the odor components such as disulfides with the glutamate residues on the sensor.

A comparison of discontinuation rates of tofacitinib and biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs in rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the discontinuation rates of tofacitinib and biologics (tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi), abatacept, rituximab, and tocilizumab) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients considering inadequate responses (IRs) to previous treatment(s).

Methods: Randomised controlled trials of tofacitinib and biologics - reporting at least one total discontinuation, discontinuation due to lack of efficacy (LOE), and discontinuation due to adverse events (AEs) - were identified through systematic review. The analyses were conducted for patients with IRs to conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (cDMARDs) and for patients with biologics-IR, separately.

Comparison of benefit-risk preferences of patients and physicians regarding cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors using discrete choice experiments.

Purpose: To elucidate and compare benefit-risk preferences among Korean patients and physicians concerning cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) inhibitor treatments for arthritis.

Materials And Methods: Subjects included 100 patients with arthritis and 60 board-certified orthopedic surgeon physicians in South Korea. Through a systematic review of the literature, beneficial attributes of using Cox-2 inhibitors were defined as a decrease in the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index for pain score and improvement in physical function.

Sophoraflavanone G prevents Streptococcus mutans surface antigen I/II-induced production of NO and PGE2 by inhibiting MAPK-mediated pathways in RAW 264.7 macrophages.

Background: Sophora flavescens AITON (Leguminosae) is a typical traditional Korean medical herb considered to exhibit antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic effects, and is also used for the treatment of skin and mucosal ulcers, sores, diarrhea, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, arrhythmia, and eczema.

Objective And Design: This study examined the inhibitory effects of sophoraflavanone G (SF) of S. flavescens on the bacterial fibrillar protein, Antigen I/II (AgI/II)-N recombinant protein isolated from Streptococcus mutans(rAg I/II)-induced production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2).

Preparation of cobalt nanoparticles from polymorphic bacterial templates: A novel platform for biocatalysis.

Nanoparticles have gathered significant research attention as materials for enzyme immobilization due to their advantageous properties such as low diffusion rates, ease of manipulation, and large surface areas. Here, polymorphic cobalt nanoparticles of varied sizes and shapes were prepared using Micrococcus lylae, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Paracoccus sp., and Haloarcula vallismortis as bacterial templates.

Oral health related quality of life and it's related factors of stroke patients at home in Korea.

Objective: Due to physical impairments of stroke patients oral health tends to deteriorate, which may have an impact on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the OHRQoL and analyze its related factors among stroke patients cared for at home in Korea.

Methods: OHRQoL of 549 stroke patients aged over 50 who received care at home was assessed by Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) in a City, Korea, from May to June 2009.