The Association between Taking Dietary Supplements and Healthy Habits among Korean Adults: Results from the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (2010-2012).

Background: Recently, the number of people interested in health in South Korea has increased, and the rate of dietary supplement use is rising. Researchers have hypothesized that the rate of practicing healthy habits is higher among those who use dietary supplements than those who do not. Therefore, this study aimed to discover the association between taking dietary supplements and practicing various healthy habits in the Korean, adult population.

New reference data on bone mineral density and the prevalence of osteoporosis in Korean adults aged 50 years or older: the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008-2010.

This cross-sectional study was performed to investigate the reference values for bone mineral density (BMD) measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and the prevalence of osteoporosis in the Korean population by applying domestic reference data. In total, 25,043 Korean adults ≥20 yr of age (11,792 men and 13,251 women) participated in the study. The BMDs of the total hip, femoral neck, and lumbar spine were measured by DXA (Discovery-W, Hologic Inc.

Dose-related association between urinary cotinine-verified smoking status and dyslipidemia among Korean men: the 2008-2010 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

This cross-sectionally designed study was based on data collected during the 2008-2010 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A total 3231 South Korean men aged more than 19 years were included. Urinary cotinine concentrations were measured.

Prevalence and related risk factors of albuminuria in Korean adults: the 2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Background/aims: Albuminuria is known to be associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality even in the general population. We aimed at investigating the prevalence and related risk factors of albuminuria among Korean adults.

Methods: This study was based on data collected during the 2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Serum ferritin levels are positively associated with bone mineral density in elderly Korean men: the 2008-2010 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys.

A possible negative effect of iron overload on bone metabolism has been suggested by the fact that patients with hemochromatosis, thalassemia, and sickle cell anemia have lower bone mineral density than the general population. However, the influence of iron overload on bone health in the general population is uncertain. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum ferritin levels and bone mineral density (BMD) in elderly Koreans.

Abdominal obesity is associated with albuminuria in women: the 2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Background: The effects of obesity on the kidney, apart from diabetes or hypertension, have not drawn much attention. Moreover, only a few studies have reported the relationship between obesity status and albuminuria in Asian countries, including South Korea. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between obesity status and albuminuria in Korean adults.

Low bone mineral density is associated with dyslipidemia in South Korean men: the 2008-2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

This study examined the relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) and dyslipidemia in South Korean men. Data from 6,300 men who participated in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2008 to 2010 were analyzed, including serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglyceride (TG) after 8 hours of fasting and mean BMD measured at the lumbar spine (LS), total hip (TH), and femoral neck (FN). Dyslipidemia was defined according to the criteria of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III.

Socioeconomic status and dyslipidemia in Korean adults: the 2008-2010 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Objective: This study investigated the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and dyslipidemia and various parameters of dyslipidemia among Korean adults.

Methods: Data from the 2008-2010 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used in this study. A total of 19,041 Korean adults greater than 19years old participated in the study.

Low bone mineral density is associated with metabolic syndrome in South Korean men but not in women: The 2008-2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Unlabelled: We examined the relationships between bone mineral density (BMD) and metabolic syndrome in 6,659 men and 7,826 women from South Korean. After adjusting for age, body mass index (BMI), tobacco and alcohol use, and regular exercise, low BMD is especially associated with metabolic syndrome in South Korean men.

Purpose: This study examined the relationships between BMD and metabolic syndrome (MS) in South Korean adults.

Estimate of a predictive cut-off value for serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D reflecting abdominal obesity in Korean adolescents.

Vitamin D deficiency is a serious global issue. Although the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] test is generally the most accurate way to assess vitamin D levels, the optimal range of 25(OH)D has yet to be established. Moreover, the optimal level may vary according to race, region, and age.

An increase in serum uric acid concentrations is associated with an increase in the Framingham risk score in Korean adults.

Background: Uric acid is a novel cardiovascular disease (CVD) factor, but its use as an independent risk factor for CVD remains controversial. Here, we examined the correlation between Framingham risk score (FRS) and serum uric acid concentrations in asymptomatic Korean adults.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 8035 Korean adults.

Sensitive DNA biosensor based on a long-period grating formed on the side-polished fiber surface.

We demonstrate a sensitive DNA biosensor based on a long period grating (LPG) formed by a photolithograph process on the surface of a side-polished fiber. The biomolecules of the biosensor were immobilized on the silica surface between LPG patterns. The resonance wavelength was red-shifted after the binding of the poly-L-lysine, probe ssDNA and target ssDNA to the sensor surface.

Meshed index profile method for photonic crystal fibers with arbitrary structures.

A meshed index profile method, which is based on the localized function method, is demonstrated for analyzing modal characteristics of photonic crystal fibers with arbitrary air-hole structures. The index profile of PCF, which is expressed as a sum of meshed unit matrix, is substituted to full wave equation. By solving this full wave equation, we obtain the modal characteristics of the PCF such as the mode field distribution, the birefringence and the waveguide dispersion.

Treatment outcome of cisplatin-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy in the patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal cancer.

Purpose: The standard treatment of locally advanced nasopharyngeal cancer is a concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT), and cisplatin has been used as the most popular chemotherapeutic agent. But many different doses and schedules for cisplatin administration such as daily, weekly and 3 week cycles have been proposed. We compared and analyzed the tumor response, the overall survival, the toxicity and the chemotherapy dose intensity in the patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal cancer who were treated with CCRT.

Prognostic factors affecting the clinical outcome of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck.

Background: Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is an uncommon tumor, constituting approximately 10% of all head and neck tumors. Classically, ACC has been described as a tumor with indolent, but persistent and recurrent, growth and late onset of metastases, leading eventually to death. This study assessed the prognostic factors affecting the clinical outcome in patients with ACC in the head and neck region.

Docetaxel monotherapy as second-line treatment for pretreated advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients.

Background: Second-line chemotherapy offers advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients a small, but significant increase in survival. Docetaxel is usually administered as a 3-week schedule, yet there is significant toxicity with this therapy. Therefore, a weekly schedule has been explored in several previous trials.

Clinical characteristics of primary peritoneal carcinoma.

Purpose: The goal of this study was to determine the clinical and therapeutic characteristics of women with a primary peritoneal carcinoma (PPC).

Materials And Methods: A retrospective clinical study was conducted to evaluate 22 women diagnosed with a PPC from 1993 to 2007 at the Hospitals of The Catholic University of Korea. Diagnoses were based on the Gynecologic Oncology Group criteria and clinical data.

Characterization of tunable photonic crystal fiber directional couplers.

We present a tunable photonic crystal fiber (PCF) directional coupler fabricated by a side-polishing method. The PCF directional coupler was modeled as a typical single-mode fiber-based directional coupler and analyzed using the improved effective-index method (IEIM). The characteristics of the PCF directional coupler such as the coupling coefficient and the coupling ratio were measured and found to be in good agreement with those predicted by the theoretical model.

Pretreatment serum endostatin as a prognostic indicator in metastatic gastric carcinoma.

Endostatin is the C-terminal antiangiogenic fragment of the extracellular matrix protein collagen XVIII, and is generated by tumor-derived proteases. The presence of serum endostatin in patients with gastric cancer has not been reported. The authors assessed the serum levels of endostatin in patients with gastric carcinoma and evaluated their association with the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the clinical outcome.

Ultra-flattened-dispersion selectively liquid-filled photonic crystal fibers.

We propose a method to control the chromatic dispersion properties of photonic crystal fibers using the selective hole filling technique. The method is based on a single hole-size fiber geometry, and uses an appropriate index-matching liquid to modify the effective size of the filled holes. The dependence of dispersion properties of the fiber on the design parameters such as the refractive index of the liquid, lattice constant and hole diameter are studied numerically.

Association between cyclooxygenase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression in non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) contributes to invasiveness of cancer through activation of several matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) is a proteolytic enzyme that degrades the extracellular matrix, and has been linked to invasion and metastasis. This study aims to assess the correlation of the COX-2 expression and the MMP-2 expression in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Clinical pharmacokinetics of oxaliplatin and 5-fluorouracil administered in combination with leucovorin in Korean patients with advanced colorectal cancer.

Purpose: Oxaliplatin and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) act synergistically in colorectal cancer. Here, we evaluated the pharmacokinetics of oxaliplatin and 5-FU administered in combination with leucovorin in Korean advanced colorectal cancer patients.

Methods: Nine patients with advanced colorectal cancer were included in this study.

Irinotecan, continuous 5-fluorouracil, and low dose of leucovorin (modified FOLFIRI) as first line of therapy in recurrent or metastatic colorectal cancer.

Background: Irinotecan, in combination with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and a high dose of leucovorin (LV), known as FOLFIRI regimen, has shown activity in recurrent or metastatic colorectal cancer. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of irinotecan, 5-FU and a low dose of LV (modified FOLFIRI) as a first line of therapy for patients with relapsed or metastatic colorectal cancer.

Methods: Between January 2002 and October 2004, 44 patients with histologically confirmed recurrent or metastatic colorectal cancer were enrolled.

Survivin expression and its clinical significance in pancreatic cancer.

Background: Survivin, an inhibitor of apoptosis is expressed in several human cancers. Its expression is known to be associated with poor clinical outcome, but not widely studied in pancreatic cancer. We performed this study to determine the survivin expression in pancreatic cancer and its clinical significance as a prognostic factor.

A phase II study of epirubicin, cisplatin and uracil-tegafur for advanced gastric carcinoma.

Background: Due to its greater convenience, a combination of uracil and tegafur (referred to as UFT) taken orally is an attractive alternative to continuous intravenous (i.v.) 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) infusion.