Effects of foam roller-based combined exercise on functional fitness, balance, and gait in older women.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of a foam roller-based combined exercise program on functional fitness, balance ability, and gait in women aged 65 years and older. Using a 2×2 mixed design, the study compared variables measured before and after a 6-week foam roller-based combined exercise program. A total of 32 old women were randomly assigned to either the foam roller-based exercise group or the control group.

Antibiotic Resistance Genes and Microbiota in var. acephala Cultivated in South Korea: Potential for Resistance Transmission.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a critical global public health challenge. This study investigates the microbiome of var. (kale) to evaluate the role of food production systems, particularly plant-derived foods, in AMR dissemination.

Optimizing washing conditions for smart fabrics: a comprehensive study.

This study aimed to determine optimal washing and drying methods for maintaining the functionality of silver-coated conductive knitted fabrics, commonly used in wearable smart products. By investigating changes in the physical, chemical, and electrical properties of these fabrics under various care conditions, we sought to provide recommendations for their proper maintenance. Results showed that mechanical friction during washing, combined with the chemical effect of detergent and the effects of machine drying, led to peeling and oxidation of the silver layer, resulting in changes to the fabric's appearance, color and increased surface resistance.

Regional-level Indicators for Chronic Diseases of People with Disabilities: Findings from a Modified Delphi Study.

Maintaining health cannot be achieved individually; it is influenced by social, legal, and institutional factors surrounding the individuals. This study aimed to identify regional-level factors that may influence the occurrence of chronic diseases among people with disabilities. To achieve this, we conducted a Delphi survey with experts to identify a set of regional indicators required for studying the health status of people with disabilities, particularly for predicting the occurrence of chronic diseases.

Potential Virulence and Survival of Acid-Resistant Bacillus cereus KS100Bc Isolated from Foodservice Establishments in Korea.

Bacillus cereus is an opportunistic pathogen causing food poisoning manifested by diarrheal or emetic syndromes. This study aimed to examine the potential virulence and survival of acid-resistant B. cereus strains isolated from foodservice establishments in schools.

Comparing the economic burden of disease by physical activity levels among persons with and without disabilities in the Republic of Korea.

Introduction: The World Health Organization recommends at least 150 min of physical activity per week for persons with and without disabilities. This study compared the differences in the economic burden of diseases between persons with and without disabilities based on their physical activity. What is known in the field is that physical activity is beneficial to health, but there is a disparity between persons without disabilities and persons with disabilities, and our research aims to increase physical activity among persons with disabilities.

Development of Korean CARcinogen EXposure: occupation-based exposure matrix.

Objectives: Information systems focusing on occupational carcinogen exposure, whether categorized by industry or occupation, play a pivotal role in the prevention of occupational cancers. Recently, the Korean CARcinogen EXposure (K-CAREX) system was developed to assess carcinogen exposure by industry. However, corresponding information categorized by occupation has yet to be developed.

Performance of high-resolution diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging for detecting clinically occult early breast cancers: a multi-reader study.

Purpose: To compare mammography, breast ultrasound (US), high-resolution diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI), dynamic contrast-enhanced breast MRI (DCE-MRI), and their combinations for detecting clinically occult early breast cancers (EBCs), including ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).

Methods: Three hundred and three consecutive women with screening imaging-detected early breast cancers (60 pure DCIS, 36 DCIS with microinvasion, and 207 invasive carcinoma less than 20 mm) who underwent breast MRI at 3 T including DW-MRI (b-values of 0, 800 and 1200 s/mm; in-plane resolution, 1.1 × 1.

Assessing the association between cigarette smoking and blood C-reactive protein levels using restructured cohort data.

Introduction: Cigarette smoke exposure is known to induce inflammation, leading to elevated levels of inflammatory markers such as white blood cell (WBC) count and C-reactive protein (CRP). Despite extensive research on this relationship, longitudinal studies are limited. We aimed to explore the association between cigarette smoke exposure and WBC count and CRP levels by restructuring community cohort data.

A Study on the Job Characteristics of Police Officers and the Status of Musculoskeletal Disorders.

Musculoskeletal disorders occur frequently in industrial settings, and police officers in particular are at high risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders due to the nature of their work, but research on this is lacking. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders according to the job functions of police officers. A survey was conducted, targeting active-duty police officers, and data were collected from 4268 respondents who answered all items on the questionnaire.

Mapping tumor habitats in isocitrate dehydrogenase -wild type glioblastoma: Integrating MRI, pathologic, and RNA data from the Ivy Glioblastoma Atlas Project.

Background: The goal of the study was to spatially validate intratumoral subregions (tumor habitat) using physiologic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on the pathology of the isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-wild-type whole-glioblastoma sample.

Methods: Data from 20 patients (168 slides) were obtained from the Ivy Glioblastoma Atlas Project. On MRI, tumor habitats were defined using voxel-wise clustering of the apparent diffusion coefficient and cerebral blood volume maps for contrast-enhancing lesions (CEL) and non-enhancing lesions (NEL).

Optimization of accelerated solvent extraction of zeaxanthin from orange paprika using response surface methodology and an artificial neural network coupled with a genetic algorithm.

Unlabelled: This study aimed to optimize the accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) condition of zeaxanthin from orange paprika using a response surface methodology (RSM) or an artificial neural network (ANN) with a genetic algorithm (GA). Input variables were ethanol concentration, extraction time, and extraction temperature, while output variable was zeaxanthin. The mean squared error and regression correlation coefficient of the developed ANN model were 0.

Assessment of imaging risks for recurrence after stereotactic radiosurgery for brain metastases (IRRaS-BM).

Background: The identification of viable tumors and radiation necrosis after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is crucial for patient management. Tumor habitat analysis involving the grouping of similar voxels can identify subregions that share common biology and enable the depiction of areas of tumor recurrence and treatment-induced change. This study aims to validate an imaging biomarker for tumor recurrence after SRS for brain metastasis by conducting tumor habitat analysis using multi-parametric MRI.

Lessons From the Household Humidifier Disinfectant Tragedy (HHDT) With Focus on the Chemical Poisoning Surveillance System: Review and Recommendation.

Background: Lessons learned from the Household Humidifier Disinfectant Tragedy (HHDT) in Korea, which poisoned thousands of citizens over a period of years, necessitated an examination of national poison prevention and surveillance systems. The objectives of this study are to identify essential changes needed in chemical poisoning prevention regulations and surveillance systems for effective poison control by comparing recent trends in international poison control center (PCC) operations, and to delineate the critical elements for establishing a state-of-the-art poison control surveillance system in Korea based on recent advances in PCCs with toxicovigilance.

Methods: A comprehensive review of Korea's regulatory and surveillance systems for chemical health hazards, with a focus on household products under the HHDT, was conducted.

Information technology-supported integrated health service for older adults in long-term care settings.

Background: To examine the effectiveness and safety of a data sharing and comprehensive management platform for institutionalized older patients.

Methods: We applied information technology-supported integrated health service platform to patients who live at long-term care hospitals (LTCHs) and nursing homes (NHs) with cluster randomized controlled study. We enrolled 555 patients aged 65 or older (461 from 7 LTCHs, 94 from 5 NHs).

Predicting severe intraventricular hemorrhage or early death using machine learning algorithms in VLBWI of the Korean Neonatal Network Database.

Severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in premature infants can lead to serious neurological complications. This retrospective cohort study used the Korean Neonatal Network (KNN) dataset to develop prediction models for severe IVH or early death in very-low-birth-weight infants (VLBWIs) using machine-learning algorithms. The study included VLBWIs registered in the KNN database.

Polypharmacy and associated factors in South Korean elderly patients with dementia: An analysis using National Health Insurance claims data.

Background: Dementia is accompanied by several symptoms, including cognitive function decline, as well as behavioral and psychological symptoms. Elderly patients with dementia often experience polypharmacy, the concurrent use of multiple medications, due to chronic comorbidities. However, research on polypharmacy in patients with dementia is limited.

Assessment of Occupational Health Risks for Maintenance Work in Fabrication Facilities: Brief Review and Recommendations.

Background: This study focuses on assessing occupational risk for the health hazards encountered during maintenance works (MW) in semiconductor fabrication (FAB) facilities.

Objectives: The objectives of this study include: 1) identifying the primary health hazards during MW in semiconductor FAB facilities; 2) reviewing the methods used in evaluating the likelihood and severity of health hazards through occupational health risk assessment (OHRA); and 3) suggesting variables for the categorization of likelihood of exposures to health hazards and the severity of health effects associated with MW in FAB facilities.

Methods: A literature review was undertaken on OHRA methodology and health hazards resulting from MW in FAB facilities.

Values, challenges, and responses associated with high-priced potential cures: perspectives of diverse stakeholders in South Korea.

Background: The emergence of high-priced potential cures has sparked significant health policy discussions in South Korea, where the healthcare system is funded through a single-payer National Health Insurance model. We conducted focus group interviews (FGIs) and accompanying surveys with diverse stakeholders to comprehensively understand related issues and find better solutions to the challenges brought by these technologies.

Methods: From October to November 2022, 11 FGIs were conducted with stakeholders from various sectors, including government payers, policy and clinical experts, civic and patient organisations, and the pharmaceutical industry, involving a total of 25 participants.