Association between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and renal function in Korean adults: A sex-specific analysis of Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015 to 2018 data.

This study aimed to investigate the association between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels, as a surrogate marker of systemic inflammation, and renal function among Korean adults grouped by age, sex, and body mass index. This study analyzed data obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015 to 2018, a cross-sectional and nationally representative survey conducted by the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of the 22,451 subjects included in this study, 19,607 (87.

Effects of C-Peptide on Dexamethasone-Induced In Vitro and In Vivo Models as a Potential Therapeutic Agent for Muscle Atrophy.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of C-peptide on C2C12 myotubes and a mouse model. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to elucidate the role of C-peptide in muscle atrophy. Various concentrations (0, 0.

Analysis of the association between osteoporosis and muscle strength in Korean adults: a national cross-sectional study.

Background: This study aimed to examine the associations between osteoporosis and hand grip strength (HGS), a surrogate marker of muscular strength, among Korean adults stratified by body mass index (BMI), age, and renal function.

Methods: This study was conducted using the data obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015-2019, a cross-sectional and nationally representative survey performed by the Korea Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention.

Results: Of the 26,855 subjects included in this study, those with low muscle strength (LMS) and normal muscle strength were showed in 4,135 (15.

Analysis of the prescription trends of potentially inappropriate medications in Korean older outpatients by sex: A retrospective study using data from the health insurance review and assessment service.

This study aimed to determine the policy implications for drug management by identifying the prescription trends of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) in older outpatients. Considering the Drug Utilization Review and Korean version of the standards for PIMs based on the Beers Criteria, 141 ingredients were selected that spanned over 7 years of health insurance claims data analysis. During the study period, the number of patients and claims related to PIMs increased.

An analysis of the associations of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and uric acid with metabolic syndrome components in Korean adults by sex: a cross-sectional study using the Korea national health and nutrition examination survey 2016-2018.

Background: Low-grade inflammation plays a role in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome (MetS), and measuring levels of inflammatory molecules, such as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), may indicate Mets progression. Serum uric acid (SUA) has also been identified as an independent risk factor for MetS. This study aimed to investigate the association between MetS components and levels of serum hs-CRP and SUA using representative and reliable data for the Korean population.

Association of renal function with muscle strength in Korean adults: A population-based study using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANES) from 2014 to 2018.

Hand grip strength (HGS), a simple measure of upper limb muscle function, can be used to assess overall muscular strength, and reduced HGS in patients with poor renal functions has been observed. This study examined the associations between renal function and HGS, a surrogate marker of muscular strength, among a stratified sample of Korean adults. This study obtained data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2014 to 2018, a cross-sectional and nationally representative survey conducted by the Korea Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention.

Novel Plant Extract Ameliorates Metabolic Disorder through Activation of Brown Adipose Tissue in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice.

Obesity is characterized by excessive body fat accumulation due to unbalanced energy intake and expenditure. Potential therapeutic targets for anti-obesity include the inhibition of white adipose tissue (WAT) hypertrophy and hyperplasia and the activation of brown adipose tissue (BAT). Not only the activation of BAT but also the browning of WAT have gained increasing attention in research fields as an alternative method in the prevention and treatment of obesity.

Scalable Synthesis and Electrochemical Properties of Porous Si-CoSi-C Composites as an Anode for Li-ion Batteries.

Si-based anodes for Li-ion batteries (LIBs) are considered to be an attractive alternative to graphite due to their higher capacity, but they have low electrical conductivity and degrade mechanically during cycling. In the current study, we report on a mass-producible porous Si-CoSi-C composite as a high-capacity anode material for LIBs. The composite was synthesized with two-step milling followed by a simple chemical etching process.

The substantial clinical benefit of comprehensively considering low back pain and radiating pain caused by lumbar intervertebral disc herniation.

Background: Patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH) may experience low back pain (LBP) and radiating pain (RP). Currently, there is no substantial clinical benefit (SCB) of assessing both LBP and RP due to LDH.

Objective: To determine enhanced SCB values by simultaneously assessing LBP and RP.

Comparative Analysis Of Anticholinergics Prescribed To Elderly Patients At A Korean Long-Term Care Facility According To Beers Criteria 2003, 2012, And 2015 And Anticholinergic-Burden Rating Scales: A Cross-Sectional Retrospective Study.

Background: The Beers Criteria is used as a reference to identify potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) prescribed to older people, and anticholinergic risk measurement scales (ARMSs) have been continuously made for measuring the anticholinergic burden. This study aimed to evaluate the concordance between any anticholinergics among PIMs identified by the Beers Criteria and those assessed by 9 different ARMSs.

Methods: This study was retrospectively conducted with Korean older patients hospitalized in the long-term care facility between March 2014 and August 2015.

An analysis of the associations between gender and metabolic syndrome components in Korean adults: a national cross-sectional study.

Background: This study aimed to examine the associations between gender and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) components among Korean adults by age and body mass index (BMI) subgroups.

Methods: This study obtained data from the sixth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2015, a cross-sectional and nationally representative survey conducted by the Korean Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention.

Results: Of the 11,136 subjects included in this study, there were 4627 (41.

Comparative study of antiretroviral drug regimens and drug-drug interactions between younger and older HIV-infected patients at a tertiary care teaching hospital in South Korea.

Background: With the advent of combination antiretroviral therapy (ART), people living with HIV have lived to older age. So they have experienced age-related illnesses and have taken non-antiretroviral (ARV) medications to manage these illnesses. The aims of this study were to investigate the use patterns of ARV agents in HIV-positive patients by age and to evaluate potential or contraindicated drug-drug interactions (DDIs) between ARV and non-ARV.

Use patterns of over-the-counter (OTC) medications and perspectives on OTC medications among Korean adult patients with chronic diseases: gender and age differences.

Background: A number of symptomatic patients tend to use over-the-counter (OTC) medications and prescription medications. OTC medications can be easily obtained in pharmacies for self-treatment, but using OTC medications is not always safe and beneficial for patients. The aims of this study were to examine the use patterns of OTC medications and assess patients' perspectives regarding the use of OTC medications in Korean patients with chronic diseases.

A survey of perceptions and attitudes about direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs among college students in South Korea.

Direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) of prescription drugs can be both beneficial and harmful to healthcare consumers. Therefore, DTCA for prescription drugs is a topic that should be considered crucially, at this point, when the interests of patients as well as pharmaceutical companies in DTCA of prescription drugs are growing in South Korea. The goals of this study were to investigate Korean college students' perceptions and attitudes about DTCA of prescription drugs through a survey as well as to analyze data according to their college majors in order to identify differences in their perceptions and attitudes about prescription drug DTCAs as future health care professionals and consumers, respectively.

Renal safety of tenofovir and/or entecavir in patients with chronic HBV monoinfection.

Background: Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and entecavir (ETV) are recommended as the first-line therapy for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) due to their genetic barrier to resistance and effectiveness of virological suppression. TDF and ETV may cause renal toxicity through various mechanisms such as renal tubular injury, apoptosis, and mitochondrial toxicity. The aims of the current review were to assess the potential renal toxicity associated with the use of TDF and ETV in patients infected with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and to provide clinical perspectives on these two agents in the treatment of CHB.

Efficacy and safety outcomes of sofosbuvir-based treatment regimens for hepatitis C virus-infected patients with or without cirrhosis from phase III clinical trials.

Background: With the appearance of oral direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), the field of hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment has been dramatically changed. This evolution makes possible for all oral treatments to be available for the treatment of HCV-infected patients. The aims of this review were to report the efficacy and safety of sofosbuvir (SOF)-based regimens for the treatment of patients with chronic HCV infection and to provide our clinical perspectives on these regimens.

Optimal medical therapy for secondary prevention after an acute coronary syndrome: 18-month follow-up results at a tertiary teaching hospital in South Korea.

Background: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a fatal cardiovascular disease caused by atherosclerotic plaque erosion or rupture and formation of coronary thrombus. The latest guidelines for ACS recommend the combined drug regimen, comprising aspirin, P2Y12 inhibitor, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin II receptor blocker, β-blocker, and statin, at discharge after ACS treatment to reduce recurrent ischemic cardiovascular events. This study aimed to examine prescription patterns of secondary prevention drugs in Korean patients with ACS after hospital discharge, to access the appropriateness of secondary prevention drug therapy for ACS, and to evaluate whether to persistently use discharge medications for 18 months.

Efficacy and safety of metformin or oral contraceptives, or both in polycystic ovary syndrome.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrinopathy that affects approximately 10% of reproductive-aged women throughout their lives. Women with PCOS present with heterogeneous symptoms including ovulatory dysfunction, hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovaries. Therefore, lifelong individualized management should be considered.

Cardioprotective effect of glucose-insulin on acute propafenone toxicity in rat.

Objective: We recently observed a case of propafenone self-poisoning in which the patient was initially unresponsive to conventional therapies such as sodium bicarbonate, dopamine, and norepinephrine but recovered with intravenous glucose-insulin infusion. We raised the hypothesis that insulin may have a cardioprotective effect in acute propafenone toxicity.

Methods: We evaluated the effect of glucose-insulin infusion on mortality and electrocardiographic abnormalities during acute propafenone toxicity in rats.

Ambulatory stress monitoring with a wearable bluetooth electrocardiographic device.

We tried to monitor stress by using a wearable one channel ECG device that can send ECG signals through Bluetooth wireless communication. Noxious physical and mental arithmetic stress was given three times repeatedly to healthy adults, and cortisol and catecholamines were measured serially from peripheral blood. At the same time, time domain and frequency domain parameters of heart rate variability (HRV) were calculated by taking precordial electrocardiogram.