Increasing Natural Killer Cell Activity of Mineral Nanomaterial ALP1018 in Healthy Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Comparative Clinical Trial.

This randomized, double-blind, placebo comparative clinical trial aimed to determine the immune-enhancing effects and safety of a nanomaterial with iron and zinc (ALP1018) in healthy adults. Participants who met the inclusion criteria were recruited for this study ( = 80) and randomly assigned to either the test group ( = 40), which was given Alp1018 in capsule form, or the placebo group ( = 40), which was given crystal cellulose capsules of identical appearance, weight, and flavor for 8 weeks. Compared to baseline, natural killer (NK) cell activity (%) increased in the test group after 8 weeks, although there were no changes in the placebo group.

Relationship between Eating Alone and Handgrip Strength in Korean Older Adults.

Sarcopenia is defined as an age-related decline in muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance. Eating alone has been linked to various health issues in older adults. This study investigated the relationship between eating alone and handgrip strength (HGS) in older adults using data from 7278 individuals (≥65 years) who participated in the 2014-2019 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Evidence-Based Guideline for the Treatment of Smoking Cessation Provided by the National Health Insurance Service in Korea.

Although major countries, such as South Korea, have developed and disseminated national smoking cessation guidelines, these efforts have been limited to developing individual societies or specialized institution-based recommendations. Therefore, evidence-based clinical guidelines are essential for developing smoking cessation interventions and promoting effective smoking cessation treatments. This guideline targets frontline clinical practitioners involved in a smoking cessation treatment support program implemented in 2015 with the support of the National Health Insurance Service.

National Smoking Cessation Services (NSCS) enrollment and their effect on long-term tobacco cessation in Korea: Results from a 1-year prospective follow-up of NSCS participants.

Introduction: The study aimed to identify predictors associated with long-term tobacco cessation at 12-month follow-up among users of the National Smoking Cessation Services (NSCS) in Korea.

Methods: To measure the long-term effect of NSCS delivery, the target sample size of 5167 adult smokers registered in the NSCS in 2018 was enrolled with proportional random sampling. A multiple logistic regression analysis (crude, adjusted) was performed to identify the changes in smoking status at the 12-month follow-up after the last NSCS enrollment and the potential factors associated with changes in smoking status.

Relationship between heated tobacco product use and allergic rhinitis in Korean adults.

Introduction: Combustible cigarette (CC) smoking is a risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma, and some studies reported that tobacco smoking might affect the development or symptom control of allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, and atopic dermatitis. However, evidence on the health risks of heated tobacco products (HTPs) is lacking. We investigated the prevalence of respiratory and allergic diseases according to tobacco use types in Korean adults.

Strategies to Improve Smoking Cessation for Participants in Lung Cancer Screening Program: Analysis of Factors Associated with Smoking Cessation in Korean Lung Cancer Screening Project (K-LUCAS).

Purpose: Smoking cessation intervention is one of the key components of successful lung cancer screening program. We investigated the effectiveness and related factors of smoking cessation services provided to the participants in a population-based lung cancer screening trial.

Materials And Methods: The Korean Lung Cancer Screening Project (K-LUCAS) is a nationwide, multi-center lung cancer screening trial that evaluates the feasibility of implementing population-based lung cancer screening.

Association between Low-Dose Computed Tomography Results and 1-Year Smoking Cessation in a Residential Smoking Cessation Program.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a global health threat. Smoking and smoking-related lung diseases are risk factors for severe COVID-19 infection. This study investigated whether low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scan results affected the success of 1-year smoking cessation.

Relationship between Regular Green Tea Intake and Osteoporosis in Korean Postmenopausal Women: A Nationwide Study.

Mixed results have been reported regarding whether habitual tea intake affects bone health. This study investigated the relationship between green tea intake and bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal Korean women. We used data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys from 2008 to 2011 and divided the participants into three groups according to their frequency of green tea intake over the past 12 months.

Effectiveness of National Residential Smoking Cessation Program.

We aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the Korean national five-day residential smoking cessation program and the factors affecting the long-term smoking cessation of participants. The residential smoking cessation program (2017-2018) recruited smokers with a smoking duration ≥ 20 years and who have attempted to quit smoking more than twice and/or smokers with chronic morbidities. Participants underwent an intensive intervention, including individual psychological therapy, group therapy, medical counseling, and pharmacotherapy.

Effects of morbidity on smoking cessation: a national smoking cessation program.

Background: In smokers with chronic diseases, we examined the abstinence rates over 6 months and its affecting factors in the context of the Korea National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) smoking cessation program.

Methods: To identify 6-month abstinence, we extracted a sample of 15,017 participants using the multi-stage stratified cluster sampling method from the 359,047 individuals enrolled in the 2016 NHIS smoking cessation program and 1500 smokers responded to the telephone survey. From this group, 1245 individuals (48.

Effect of Additional Motivational Interviewing on Smoking Abstinence for 1-Year among Korean Adolescents: Results from A Comparative Retrospective Study in Quitline.

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of additional motivational enhancement through telephone-based counseling on short- and long-term smoking abstinence among Korean adolescents.

Methods: A comparative retrospective study was conducted based on the longitudinal follow up in Quitline from 2010 to 2017. A total of 533 and 178 adolescent smokers voluntarily participated in the 1-year quitting counseling only (group A, who were ready to quit) and the additional 4-week motivational interviewing before 1-year quitting counseling (group B, who were ambivalent about quitting), respectively.

Effect of alternate-day fasting on obesity and cardiometabolic risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background & Aims: Alternate-day fasting (ADF) is related to weight reduction, lowered risks of weight regain, and relative lean body mass preservation compared to continuous energy restriction. This meta-analysis aimed to assess the effects of ADF on obesity-related factors and cardiometabolic risk factors in adults.

Methods: Using PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane online databases, an electronic search was performed.

Dual use of electronic and conventional cigarettes is associated with higher cardiovascular risk factors in Korean men.

Most smokers who use electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) to stop smoking simultaneously use conventional cigarettes (dual users). We aimed to compare the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among dual users, cigarette-only smokers, and never smokers in Korean men. We used data acquired from Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013-2017) pertaining to 7,505 male participants aged 19 years or older.

Association between Falls and Nutritional Status of Community-Dwelling Elderly People in Korea.

Background: Malnutrition is a well-known risk factor of falls, although studies examining the association between nutritional status and falls are rare. We aimed to investigate the association between nutritional status and falls according to gender among Korean older adults.

Methods: The study included 10,675 participants (4,605 men and 6,070 women) aged 65 years and older and used data from the 2011 Survey of Living Conditions and Welfare Needs of Korean Older Persons.

Predictors of long-term abstinence rate by income level in the Korean smoking cessation programme.

Background And Aims: To assess whether predictors of success in stopping smoking vary as a function of income level in Korean smoking cessation services.

Design: Prospective study of predictors of smoking cessation up to 6 months' follow up.

Participants: A sample of 954 people (mean age 49.

Association between Physical Fitness and Cardiometabolic Risk of Children and Adolescents in Korea.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the association between physical fitness and cardiometabolic health of Korean children and adolescents.

Methods: In total, 168 participants (89 boys and 79 girls) aged 10-16 years were recruited for the Intervention for Childhood and Adolescent Obesity via Activity and Nutrition Study in 2016. The subjects were categorized into two groups using the definition of metabolic syndrome by the International Diabetes Federation: metabolically unhealthy (with at least two of the five criteria) and healthy groups (with less than one criterion).

Awareness, experience and prevalence of heated tobacco product, IQOS, among young Korean adults.

Introduction: Philip Morris International introduced 'IQOS' to the Korean market in June 2017. To monitor the use of IQOS among young Korean adults, we identified their awareness, experience and current use of IQOS.

Methods: Three months after the introduction of IQOS in Korea, we conducted an online survey with 228 general young adults, aged 19-24 years.

Sex differences in the association between obesity and albuminuria among Korean adults: a cross-sectional study using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data.

Background: The association between obesity and albuminuria in the general population remains unclear. We aimed to identify the association between obesity and albuminuria as well as sex differences regarding the associations using several obesity indices, including waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), and waist-to-height ratio (WHR).

Methods: This study included 3841 subjects (1730 males and 2111 females; age 20-80 years) who participated in the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in 2011.

Clinical Characteristics and Metabolic Health Status of Obese Korean Children and Adolescents.

Background: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of metabolically healthy and unhealthy obesity (MHO and MUO, respectively) and examine the demographic, anthropometric, and lifestyle predictors of metabolic health status in Korean children and adolescents.

Methods: This study was based on data collected from the Korean Children-Adolescent Study in 2010. A total of 1,700 children (846 boys and 854 girls) were included in the primary cohort and classified into metabolically healthy and unhealthy groups according to factors related to the metabolic syndrome.

Time to First Cigarette and Hypertension in Korean Male Smokers.

Background: Morning blood pressure surge affects to cardiovascular disease risk. Short time to first cigarette (TTFC) after waking can enhance morning blood pressure surge, and accelerate atherosclerosis.

Methods: We investigated that the relationship between TTFC and blood pressure.

Influence of maternal environmental tobacco smoke exposure assessed by hair nicotine levels on birth weight.

Background: While the perinatal outcomes of active maternal smoking are well documented, results of the effects of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure during pregnancy are inconsistent. We aimed to examine the effect of ETS exposure, assessed by maternal hair nicotine levels at 35th week of gestation, on birth weight and the risk of small for gestational age (SGA) and low birth weight (LBW).

Materials And Methods: A total of 871 non-smoking healthy pregnant women were recruited by one Korean hospital between 1 October 2006 and 31 July 2007.

Air Quality, Biomarker Levels, and Health Effects on Staff in Korean Restaurants and Pubs Before and After a Smoking Ban.

Introduction: The Korean government implemented a smoking ban at square floor area of ≥150 m(2), rather than <150 m(2), restaurants and pubs from July 2013. This study examined the effects of the smoking regulations in restaurants and pubs in terms of the air quality, biomarker levels and health effects on staff.

Methods: Particulate matter smaller than 2.

Angelica keiskei Koidzumi extracts improve some markers of liver function in habitual alcohol drinkers: a randomized double-blind clinical trial.

Alcohol induces oxidative stress and inflammatory response, which can lead to hepatitis and cirrhosis. Previous studies reported that the extracts of Angelica keiskei Koidzumi (AKE) have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, suggesting that AKE could improve abnormalities associated with alcoholic liver disease. In this study, the effectiveness of AKE supplementation was assessed in 82 habitual alcohol drinkers (male: more than 14 units per week, female: more than 7 units per week) with abnormal liver biochemistry in a placebo-controlled, randomized double-blind trial over 12 weeks.