Identification of differentially expressed miRNAs involved in vascular aging reveals pathways associated with the endocrine hormone regulation.

Vascular aging refers to a series of processes where the elasticity of blood vessels diminishes, leading to stiffening, and deposition of fat components on the vessel walls, causing inflammation. Cardiovascular diseases, such as stroke and hypertension, play significant roles in morbidity and mortality rates among the elderly population. In this study, the Reactive Hyperemia Index (RHI) was measured to assess vascular endothelial function and aging-induced pathogenesis of vascular diseases in Korean subjects.

Is Farming a Risk Occupation for Cardio-cerebrovascular Diseases? A Scoping Review on Cardio-cerebrovascular Disease Risk in Farmers.

Objectives: In Korea, cardio-cerebrovascular disease (CCVD) is recognized as an occupational disease when sufficient evidence of a work-related burden exists. In 2021, approximately 26.8% of the payments from occupational disease insurance under the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act were allocated to CCVDs.

Estimation of Attributable Risk and Direct Medical and Non-Medical Costs of Major Mental Disorders Associated With Air Pollution Exposures Among Children and Adolescents in the Republic of Korea, 2011-2019.

Background: Recent studies have reported the burden of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD], autism spectrum disorder [ASD], and depressive disorder. Also, there is mounting evidence on the effects of environmental factors, such as ambient air pollution, on these disorders among children and adolescents. However, few studies have evaluated the burden of mental disorders attributable to air pollution exposure in children and adolescents.

Low-Dose Aspirin for Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Events Comparing East Asians With Westerners: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: East Asians have shown different risk profiles for both thrombophilia and bleeding than Western counterparts.

Objectives: The authors sought to evaluate the effect of low-dose aspirin for primary prevention between these populations.

Methods: We searched randomized clinical trials (RCTs) for intervention with low-dose aspirin (≤100 mg once daily) in participants without symptomatic cardiovascular disease until December 31, 2021.

The Effect of COVID-19 Outbreak and Incidence on the Health-Related Behaviors and Depression of Gyeongnam Residents in Republic of Korea.

: This study aimed to investigate whether the occurrence of COVID-19 brought about changes in the health behaviors and depression levels of residents in Gyeongnam in Republic of Korea, and whether the prevalence of COVID-19 was related to differences in health behaviors and depression levels among different regions. The researchers utilized raw data from the 2019-2020 Community Health Survey in Gyeongnam and conducted analyses using SPSS 25.0.

Korea Seroprevalence Study of Monitoring of SARS-COV-2 Antibody Retention and Transmission (K-SEROSMART): findings from national representative sample.

Objectives: We estimated the population prevalence of antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), including unreported infections, through a Korea Seroprevalence Study of Monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Retention and Transmission (K-SEROSMART) in 258 communities throughout Korea.

Methods: In August 2022, a survey was conducted among 10,000 household members aged 5 years and older, in households selected through two stage probability random sampling. During face-to-face household interviews, participants self-reported their health status, COVID-19 diagnosis and vaccination history, and general characteristics.

Prevalence of Sarcopenia in Africa: A Systematic Review.

Objective: The world population gradually getting older, age-related sarcopenia is becoming more frequent. Known to be highly prevalent in high income countries, relative data in Africa are still scarce. This review aims to estimate the prevalence of sarcopenia in Africa and its characteristics.

Genome-wide association study for vascular aging highlights pathways shared with cardiovascular traits in Koreans.

Vascular aging plays a pivotal role in the morbidity and mortality of older people. Reactive hyperemia index (RHI) detected by pulse amplitude tonometry (PAT) is a non-invasive measure of vascular endothelial function and aging-induced pathogenesis of both microvascular and macrovascular diseases. We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to comprehensively identify germline genetic variants associated with vascular aging in a Korean population, which revealed 60 suggestive genes underlying angiogenesis, inflammatory response in blood vessels, and cardiovascular diseases.

Daily Walking Accompanied with Intermittent Resistance Exercise Prevents Osteosarcopenia: A Large Cohort Study.

Background: This study aimed to analyze the effects of walking and resistance exercises on bone structure, bone mineral density (BMD), and skeletal muscle mass. We used data from the fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES).

Methods: A total of 3,477 participants aged ≥19 years underwent hip structural analysis (HSA), BMD, and skeletal muscle index (SMI).

Effect of High Temperature on Walking among Residents of Rural and Urban Communities.

Purpose: This study aimed to establish the association between high temperature and walking among residents of rural and urban areas.

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional study used data from the Korea Meteorological Administration and the 2018 Community Health Survey to confirm the association between temperature and walking practice. The dependent variable was walking practice.

Population attributable fraction of indicators for musculoskeletal diseases: a cross-sectional study of fishers in Korea.

Background: The musculoskeletal disease (MSD) burden is an important health problem among Korean fishers. We aimed to investigate the indicators of the prevalence of MSD and contributions of significant indicators to MSD in Korean fishers.

Methods: This cross-section study included 927 fishers (male, 371; female, 556) aged 40 to 79 years who were enrolled from 3 fishery safety and health centers.

Association between Disability and Edema Index Values in Rural Older Adult Osteosarcopenia Patients.

Purpose: This study analyzed the relationship between degree of disability and edema index [extracellular water/total body water (ECW/TBW) ratio] values in a rural population of older adult patients with osteopenia, sarcopenia, or osteosarcopenia (OS).

Materials And Methods: This study used data from the Namgaram-2 cohort. The degree of disability was measured using the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) 12, and ECW/TBW ratio was calculated using bioelectrical impedance analysis.

Residential Characteristics as Factors Related to Healthy Behavior Practices-Decision Tree Model Analysis Using a Community Health Survey from Korea.

In this study, we sought to identify relevant factors in healthy behavior practices, including not only individual-level variables but also regional and physical environments. Data from the Korea Community Health Survey (KCHS) of Gyeongsangnam-do in 2018 were used, with data from 16,519 of the 17,947 individuals (excluding 1428 individuals who had missing values) who participated in the survey. Healthy behavior practices were defined as meeting the criteria for all three modifiable healthy behaviors (non-smoking, moderate alcohol consumption, regular walking).

Psychometric Properties and Effects on Health Outcomes of the Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (PACIC) in Korean Hemodialysis Patients.

Background: The satisfaction of patients receiving integrated care with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) is widely advocated and patients with ESRD have special health needs, but few studies have investigated whether integrated care was associated with health outcomes. Our aims were to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Korean-translated patient assessment of chronic illness care (PACIC) in patients with ESRD, and to evaluate whether PACIC evaluated by patients was associated with health outcomes.

Methods: ESRD patients on hemodialysis (n = 172) at 2 dialysis centers.

Community Care for Cancer Patients in Rural Areas: An Integrated Regional Cancer Center and Public Health Center Partnership Model.

Purpose: The accessibility of medical facilities for cancer patients affects both their comfort and survival. Patients in rural areas have a higher socioeconomic burden and are more vulnerable to emergency situations than urban dwellers. This study examined the feasibility and effectiveness of a cancer care model integrating a regional cancer center (RCC) and public health center (PHC).

Spin texture induced by non-magnetic doping and spin dynamics in 2D triangular lattice antiferromagnet h-Y(Mn,Al)O.

Novel effects induced by nonmagnetic impurities in frustrated magnets and quantum spin liquid represent a highly nontrivial and interesting problem. A theoretical proposal of extended modulated spin structures induced by doping of such magnets, distinct from the well-known skyrmions has attracted significant interest. Here, we demonstrate that nonmagnetic impurities can produce such extended spin structures in h-YMnO, a triangular antiferromagnet with noncollinear magnetic order.

Disability, Frailty and Depression in the community-dwelling older adults with Osteosarcopenia.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of osteosarcopenia in the over 60-year-old community and to evaluate whether osteosarcopenia is associated with disability, frailty and depression.

Methods: This study was performed using the baseline data of Namgaram-2, among the 1010 surveyed subjects, 885 study subjects who were 60 years or older and had all necessary tests performed were selected. The Kaigo-Yobo checklist (frailty), World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) and Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form-Korean (GDSSF-K) were used.

The relationship between extracellular water-to-body water ratio and sarcopenia according to the newly revised Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia: 2019 Consensus Update.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between sarcopenia and extracellular water-to-total body water ratio (ECW/TBW), one of the results of bioimpedance that can be easily measured in communities, following the recent revision of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia.

Methods: This study data were extracted from the baseline data of Namgaram-2. Among the surveyed subjects, 885 persons aged 60 years or older were selected as study subjects.

Translation and validation of the Korean version of the Sarcopenia Quality of Life (SarQoL-K®) questionnaire and applicability with the SARC-F screening tool.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper was to translate and validate into the Korea language and setting the Sarcopenia Quality of Life (SarQoL®) questionnaire.

Methods: The participants consisted of 450 individuals in Namgaram-2 cohort who were followed up in 2019-2020. The study participants were divided into four groups: (1) SARC-F < 4, (2) SARC-F ≥ 4 and robust grip strength, (3) SARC-F ≥ 4, low grip strength, robust muscle mass, (4) SARC-F ≥ 4, low grip strength, and low muscle mass.

Individual-level Associations Between Indicators of Social Capital and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test Scores in Communities With High Mortality in Korea.

Objectives: This study examined associations among social capital indicators (social participation and generalized trust) at the individual level and alcohol use, which was quantified using Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) scores.

Methods: In total, there were 8800 participants in community health interviews, including 220 adults sampled systematically from a resident registration database of each of 40 sub-municipal administrative units of local (city or county) governments. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using polychotomous logistic regression.

Momentum-Dependent Magnon Lifetime in the Metallic Noncollinear Triangular Antiferromagnet CrB_{2}.

Noncollinear magnetic order arises for various reasons in several magnetic systems and exhibits interesting spin dynamics. Despite its ubiquitous presence, little is known of how magnons, otherwise stable quasiparticles, decay in these systems, particularly in metallic magnets. Using inelastic neutron scattering, we examine the magnetic excitation spectra in a metallic noncollinear antiferromagnet CrB_{2}, in which Cr atoms form a triangular lattice and display incommensurate magnetic order.

Determinants of Non-Adherences to Long-Term Medical Therapy after Myocardial Infarction: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Purpose: Non-adherence to medications can be classified as unintentional and intentional. The aim of this study was to establish the major determinants of each non-adherence in myocardial infarction (MI). We also evaluated the effects of non-adherences on healthy behaviors.