Association of intraabdominal fat with the risk of incident chronic kidney disease according to body mass index among Korean adults.

Background: The association between abdominal visceral adipose tissue and the risk of incident chronic kidney disease according to body mass index in the Asian population, remains unclear. We evaluated the impact of abdominal adiposity stratified by body mass index on the risk of incident chronic kidney disease.

Methods: A cohort study included 11,050 adult participants who underwent health check-ups and re-evaluated the follow-up medical examination at a single university-affiliated healthcare center.

Effect of antiplatelet persistence on long-term mortality and predictors of non-persistence in ischemic stroke patients 75 years and older: a nationwide cohort study.

Background: We aimed to provide real-world evidence on the benefit of persistence with antiplatelet therapy (APT) on long-term all-cause mortality (ACM) in ischemic stroke patients aged 75 years and older.

Methods: Newly diagnosed ischemic stroke patients aged 75 years and older who initiated aspirin or clopidogrel for the first time were chosen from 2003 to 2010 National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort (NHIS-NSC) of Korea (n = 887), a random cohort sample accounting for 2.2% (n = 1,017,468) of total population (n = 46,605,433).

Non-persistence with anti-platelet therapy and long-term mortality after ischemic stroke: A nationwide study.

Background: We tried to investigate the effect of non-persistence with antiplatelets after ischemic stroke on long-term all-cause mortality (ACM).

Methods And Findings: We selected newly diagnosed ischemic stroke patients aged ≥20years who were newly treated with aspirin or clopidogrel from 2003-2010 Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort, a random sample of 2.2% of total population.

Adolescent overweight and obesity and the risk of papillary thyroid cancer in adulthood: a large-scale case-control study.

This study aimed to investigate the association between adolescent overweight and obesity and PTC risk in adulthood. We conducted a case-control study in the Republic of Korea with 1,549 PTC patients and 15,490 controls individually matched for age and sex. We estimated body mass index (BMI) at age 18 years from self-reported weight at this age.

Impact of number of medications and age on adherence to antihypertensive medications: A nationwide population-based study.

This study tried to investigate the effects of number of medications and age on antihypertensive medication adherence in a real-world setting using a nationwide representative cohort.We obtained data from the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort (NHIS-NSC) of Korea, which is a sample of 2.2% (N = 1,048,061) of total population (N = 46,605,433).

Effects of combination drugs on antihypertensive medication adherence in a real-world setting: a Korean Nationwide Study.

Objectives: We tried to clarify, by using representative national data in a real-world setting, whether single-pill combinations (SPCs) of antihypertensives actually improve medication adherence.

Design: A nationwide population-based study.

Setting: We used a 2.

Etanolic Extract Controls Blood Cholesterol: A Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel Trial.

We evaluated the effects of (CW) ethanolic extract on blood cholesterol levels in adults with high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel trial, 84 subjects were recruited. Participants were randomly divided into two groups with a low-dose (300 mg/d) or high-dose (600 mg/d) of CW.

The Relationship between Electronic Cigarette Use with or without Cigarette Smoking and Alcohol Use among Adolescents: Finding from the 11th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey.

Background: Electronic cigarette (EC) consumption ('vaping') is rapidly increasing, not only in adults but also in adolescents. Little is known about the association between vaping and problem behaviors such as drinking.

Methods: We used data from the 11th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey, which was conducted in 2015 and included 68,043 participants who were Korean middle and high school students.

Cut-Off Values for Visceral Fat Area Identifying Korean Adults at Risk for Metabolic Syndrome.

Background: Cut-off values for visceral fat area (VFA) measured by computed tomography (CT) for identifying individuals at risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) have not been clearly established in Korean adults, particularly for large populations. We aimed to identify optimal VFA and waist circumference (WC) cut-off values and compare the ability of VFA and WC to predict the presence of ≥2 metabolic risk factors.

Methods: We included 36,783 subjects aged 19-79 years undergoing abdominal fat CT during regular health checkups between January 2007 and February 2015 in Seoul.

The Association between Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Thyroid Cancer.

Aim: The incidence of thyroid cancer is increasing worldwide. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is also increasing. Therefore, we aimed to analyze the effect of T2DM on thyroid cancer.

The Relationship between Metabolically Obese Non-Obese Weight and Stroke: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Objective: Both metabolic syndrome (MetS) and obesity increase the risk of stroke. However, few studies have compared the risks of stroke associated with metabolically obese non-obese weight (MONW) and metabolically healthy obesity (MHO). This study aimed to compare the prevalence of stroke in MONW and MHO individuals.

Weight Change and Associated Factors in Long-Term Breast Cancer Survivors.

Purpose: Weight gain often occurs after breast cancer diagnosis and significantly impacts the general health of cancer survivors. While the number of breast cancer survivors is increasing, few studies have reported data on weight change beyond 5 years post-diagnosis. We investigated weight change and associated factors in long-term survivors of breast cancer.

Acute High-Dose and Chronic Lifetime Exposure to Alcohol Consumption and Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: T-CALOS Korea.

Background: This study evaluated the effects of acute high-dose and chronic lifetime exposure to alcohol and exposure patterns on the development of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC).

Methods: The Thyroid Cancer Longitudinal Study (T-CALOS) included 2,258 DTC patients (449 men and 1,809 women) and 22,580 healthy participants (4,490 men and 18,090 women) who were individually matched by age, gender, and enrollment year. In-person interviews were conducted with a structured questionnaire to obtain epidemiologic data.

Annual Average Changes in Adult Obesity as a Risk Factor for Papillary Thyroid Cancer: A Large-Scale Case-Control Study.

We evaluated the association between weight change in middle-aged adults and papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) based on a large-scale case-control study. Our study included data from 1551 PTC patients (19.3% men and 80.

Physical Activity Level of Korean Adults with Chronic Diseases: The Korean National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey, 2010-2012.

Background: Proper physical activities are known to be helpful in the prevention and management of chronic diseases. However, the physical activity level of patients with chronic diseases is low. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the physical activity compliance of patients with hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia in Korea.

Abdominal Adipose Tissue was Associated with Glomerular Hyperfiltration among Non- Diabetic and Normotensive Adults with a Normal Body Mass Index.

Glomerular hyperfiltration is recognized as an early marker of progressive kidney dysfunction in the obese population. This study aimed to identify the relationship between glomerular hyperfiltration and body fat distribution measured by computed tomography (CT) in healthy Korean adults. The study population included individuals aged 20-64 years who went a routine health check-up including an abdominal CT scan.

I148M variant in PNPLA3 reduces central adiposity and metabolic disease risks while increasing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background & Aims: The I148M variant because of the substitution of C to G in PNPLA3 (rs738409) is associated with the increased risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In liver, I148M variant reduces hydrolytic function of PNPLA3, which results in hepatic steatosis; however, its association with the other clinical phenotype such as adiposity and metabolic diseases is not well established.

Methods: To identify the impact of I148M variant on clinical risk factors of NAFLD, we recruited 1363 generally healthy Korean males after excluding alcoholic and secondary causes of hepatic steatosis.

Subclinical Hypothyroidism is not a Risk Factor for Female Sexual Dysfunction in Korean Middle-Aged Women.

Background: Previous studies have suggested that subclinical hypothyroidism is associated with the risk of anxiety or depression and can affect quality of life. However, there is a paucity of information regarding the relationship between subclinical hypothyroidism and female sexual dysfunction.

Methods: The study population consisted of sexually active middle-aged women (≥40 years old) who visited the center for health promotion and optimal aging at Seoul National University Hospital for a health check-up between 2010 and 2011.

Protocol of a thyroid cancer longitudinal study (T-CALOS): a prospective, clinical and epidemiological study in Korea.

Introduction: Thyroid cancer incidence in Korea is the highest in the world and has recently increased steeply. However, factors contributing to this sudden increase have not been fully elucidated, and few studies have explored the postoperative prognosis. The Thyroid Cancer Longitudinal Study (T-CALOS) was initiated with three aims: (1) to identify factors predicting quality of life, recurrence, and incidence of other diseases after thyroid cancer treatments; (2) to investigate environmental exposure to radiation, toxicants and molecular factors in relation to tumour aggressiveness; and (3) to evaluate gene-environment interactions that increase thyroid cancer in comparison with healthy participants from a pool of nationwide population-based healthy examinees.

Alcohol is longitudinally associated with lower urinary tract symptoms partially via high-density lipoprotein.

Background: Previous studies on the association of alcohol consumption with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) have been inconsistent, and none took into account the dynamic nature of LUTS, fluctuating over time. The purpose of the study was to determine the longitudinal association of alcohol consumption with LUTS.

Methods: We used generalized estimating equations to analyze the longitudinal association of alcohol consumption with LUTS in a longitudinal study of 9,712 healthy men 30 years or older who visited our institution multiple times for routine comprehensive health evaluations, with an average follow-up period of 27.

Protective effects of vitamin E on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effects of vitamin E for preventing chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN).

Methods: A comprehensive search from 1973 through July 2011 identified randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that reported the preventive effects of vitamin E on CIPN. The relative risk (RR) of CIPN with vitamin E supplementation, compared with placebo, was assessed with the Bayesian random effect model and expressed as RR with a 95 % credible-interval (CrI).

Shared decision-making on the use of hormone therapy: a nationwide survey in the Republic of Korea.

Objective: This study aims to assess the current status of shared decision-making on instituting postmenopausal hormone therapy (HT).

Methods: Two cross-sectional nationwide surveys of postmenopausal women and primary care physicians in the Republic of Korea were conducted in 2012 via face-to-face interviews. A total of 685 women (aged 50-69 y) who with natural menopause and 250 primary care physicians were included.

The influence of lower-extremity function in elderly individuals' quality of life (QOL): an analysis of the correlation between SPPB and EQ-5D.

Background: If an association between a decline in physical performance and subjective QOL is confirmed, the SPPB could be used as a predictor for declining QOL in older people.

Objective: This study aimed to elucidate the association between the short physical performance battery (SPPB) and QOL (EQ-5D) to determine the utility of the SPPB as a predictor of declining QOL.

Methods: The SPPB and the EQ-5D test were performed with a random sample of participants nested in the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA) panel.

Metabolic effects of aloe vera gel complex in obese prediabetes and early non-treated diabetic patients: randomized controlled trial.

Objective: The metabolic effects of an aloe vera gel complex (Aloe QDM complex) on people with prediabetes or early diabetes mellitus (DM) are unknown. The goal of this study was to determine the effects of Aloe QDM complex on body weight, body fat mass (BFM), fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting serum insulin, and Homeostasis Model of Assessment - Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) in obese individuals with prediabetes or early DM who were not on diabetes medications.

Methods: Participants (n = 136) were randomly assigned to an intervention or a control group and evaluated at baseline and at 4 and 8 wk.