Se-Hong Kim

Relationship between irritable bowel syndrome, worry and stress in adolescent girls.

The aim of this study is to investigate prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) among adolescents and difference in worry and stress between normal and IBS groups. Questionnaire survey was conducted at a girls middle and high school. Students from seventh to eleventh grade participated in the examination on Rome II criteria, lifestyle and dietary habits. Worry and stress were measured with the Korean version Penn State Worry Questionnaire-Children and the Korean version Brief Encounter Psychosocial Instrument. Worry score was significantly higher in the IBS group (22.07 ± 9.38, P < 0.001) than in the normal group (18.65 ± 8.99) and was higher in high school students than in middle school students (P = 0.02). Stress score also was higher in the IBS group than in the normal group (P < 0.001) and was higher in the high school girls than in the middle school ones (P = 0.04). Of all the lifestyle factors influencing IBS preference for fatty foods, preference for salty foods, drinking alcohol and sleeping for less than six hours a day were found to be significant. Worry and stress seem to be associated with IBS symptoms. The findings of this study draw a clue that less worry and stress will help decrease IBS symptoms.

Assessment of Lifestyle Effects on the Levels of Free Oxygen Radicals in the Korean Population

Background As many studies revealed that oxidative stress due to the imbalance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant capacity is related with pathologic processes such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, as well as aging and obesity, the relationship between lifestyle and oxidative stress has recently gained much medical attention. However, little information exists on the effects of lifestyle on ROS in Korea. In this study, we investigated the effects of lifestyle on free oxygen radical levels in men and women in Korea. Methods A total of 138 adults participated in this study from September 2007 to June 2010 at a health promotion center and department of family medicine. Information on the lifestyle of each participant was obtained by questionnaire. Biochemical markers and a free oxygen radical test (FORT) were also measured. Results The average age was 47.28 ± 10.85 years and 79.7% were male. High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP; r = 0.418, P = 0.012), triglycerides (r = -0.243, P = 0.008), hemoglobin (r = -0.445, P < 0.001), total protein (r = 0.210, P = 0.036), creatinine (r = -0.294, P = 0.001), fruit intake per day (P = 0.047), and smoking (P = 0.003) were related to the FORT levels in univariate analysis. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that hs-CRP (P = 0.039) was an independent predictor of serum FORT values. This statistical model can explain 78% of the variance in FORT values. Conclusion This result suggests that hs-CRP showed a statistically significant positive association with FORT values. Further studies on the relationship between lifestyle and antioxidant capacity as well as ROS seem to be warranted to evaluate the overall effect of oxidative stress.

The Relationship between Metabolic Syndrome and Cognitive Function

Background Metabolic syndrome has been reported to have adverse effects on cognitive function, although the results are conflicting. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between metabolic syndrome and cognitive function in elderly Korean participants older than 60 years. Methods We examined elderly participants who visited the health promotion center in Gyeonggi-do province. We categorized the participants into two groups based on the presence of metabolic syndrome (48 participants in the metabolic syndrome group and 45 in the control group). Cognitive function was assessed in all participants using the Korean version of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimers Disease (CERAD-K). Results Compared with those without metabolic syndrome, participants with metabolic syndrome had lower mean total CERAD-K scores (64.2 ± 11.1 vs. 69.8 ± 9.2, P = 0.010). In the comparison of CERAD-K items, significantly lower scores were observed in the verbal fluency test, the construction recall test, the word list learning test, and trail making B in the group with metabolic syndrome. After controlling age, sex, education, smoking, alcohol, physical activity and the Korean version of the Short Geriatric Depression Scale of Korean, multiple regression analysis showed that metabolic syndrome was independently associated with cognitive function (P = 0.014). Alcohol intake (P = 0.002) and education years (P = 0.001) were also contributing factors to cognitive function. Conclusion This study found a significant relationship between cognitive function and metabolic syndrome. It will be necessary to perform a prospective study to determine whether metabolic syndrome causes cognitive dysfunction or if the correction of metabolic syndrome can improve cognitive function.

Effects of zinc, magnesium, and chromium supplementation on cardiometabolic risk in adults with metabolic syndrome: A double-blind, placebo-controlled randomised trial

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been increasing rapidly worldwide. The activities of zinc, magnesium and chromium have a potential association with MetS; therefore, we investigated the effects of zinc, magnesium and chromium supplements on metabolic risk factors in adults with MetS. In this double-blind, placebo controlled randomised study, 32 adults with MetS were included in the zinc, magnesium, and chromium-administered group (n = 16) or the placebo group (n = 16) and received either 300 mg magnesium, 600 μg chromium and 36 mg zinc per day or placebo over a 24-week period. The primary endpoint was the change in the MetS components, including serum glucose, triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, blood pressure and waist circumference. Data were analysed using repeated-measures analysis of variance. The metabolic risk factors did not change post-intervention, but the serum C-reactive protein level decreased in the mineral-supplemented group compared with that in the placebo group. Further studies with stricter inclusion criteria are needed to better evaluate the potential for zinc, magnesium and chromium to improve metabolic risk in adults with MetS.

Modification of Cerebellar Afferent Pathway in the Subacute Phase of Stroke

BACKGROUND This study aims to identify the relationship between corticopontocerebellar tract (CPCT) and corticospinal tract (CST) integrity as well as motor function after stroke. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 33 patients with stroke (18 left, 15 right hemispheric lesions) who underwent diffusion tensor imaging within 2 months of stroke onset and 17 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were retrospectively enrolled. Tract volume and the asymmetry index based on tract volume (AITV) of the CST and CPCT were used to identify structural changes in individual tracts and the correlation between those tracts. Motor function was assessed using the Medical Research Council (MRC) muscle scale, manual function test (MFT), functional ambulation category, and modified Barthel index. RESULTS The volume of the affected CPCT was lower, and that of the unaffected CPCT was higher than the volumes in the control group (P < .001, P = .001, respectively). The CPCT AITV showed a strong positive correlation with the CST AITV in patients with either left or right hemispheric lesions (rs = .779, P < .001; rs = .732, P = .003, respectively). The CPCT AITV negatively correlated with the MRC muscle scale of the shoulder, wrist, and ankle muscles (r = -.490, -.490, -.416; P = .004, .004, .016, respectively). A higher unaffected CPCT volume was indicative of less affected upper extremity function, as assessed by MFT (rs = -.546, P = .029). CONCLUSIONS Modification of the CPCT depended on CST integrity and was associated with the severity of hemiplegia and hemiplegic upper extremity function. The CPCT may complement the role of the CST and help to predict the motor function.

Is Alcohol Drinking Associated with Renal Impairment in the General Population of South Korea

Background/Aims: We examined relationships between the average amount of daily alcohol intake, drinking patterns, and renal dysfunction among South Korean adultsaged ≥ 20 years. Methods: The analysis used data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), a cross-sectional survey of Korean civilians, conducted from January to December 2011. In this study, a sample of 5,251 participants was analysed. Results: Compared with abstinence, the odds ratio for a decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 0.14 (95% CI: 0.01-0.91) among heavy drinkers, and 0.42 (95% CI: 0.17-0.98) among binge drinkers and the association between the amount of mean daily alcohol intake, binge-drinking status and a likelihood of reduced eGFR value showed significant trends (p = 0.041 and p = 0.038, respectively), after adjusting for age, smoking status, amount of physical activity, morbid hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia, anaemia and body mass index. There was no significant association between alcohol consumption and the urine albumin to creatinine ratio in men, or between alcohol consumption and renal dysfunction in women. Conclusions: Alcohol consumption was inversely associated with a reduction in eGFR in Korean men. However, these findings should be interpreted cautiously, given the other harmful effects related to alcohol consumption, especially heavy and binge drinking.