Implementation Processes And Impacts Of School Store Policies In South Korea

With the concern of unhealthy school food environments, the South Korean government enacted two school nutrition policies to reduce unhealthy foods in school stores. The first policy banned on soft drinks sales in school stores enacted in 2007. The second policy restricted energy-dense nutrient-poor (EDNP) food sales in school stores enacted in 2009. This study aims to examine the changes in adolescents’ food intake and foods sold in school stores due to the two policies and to understand the policy implementation processes. The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys were used to examine trends in adolescents’ energy intake from school store foods during 1998-2012. Energy intake from instant noodles consistently decreased both at home and in school stores. Energy intake from soft drinks away from home or school rapidly increased beginning in 2008. All foods sold in school stores were observed before (2006) and after (2013) the implementation of policies. The mean number of soft drinks sold in a school store significantly decreased in 2013 (0.3 items) compared to in 2006 (1.9 items, p=0.032). However, soft drinks were available in 50% of school stores observed in 2013 and all school stores observed in 2013 sold EDNP foods. In the qualitative interviews with policy actors, despite of the policy noncompliance, all interviewees perceived that school stores complied with the policy. Perspectives and values towards the policy were different for each actor group. Poor monitoring, lack of awareness of the policy, profit-seeking, and lack of interest in school stores were identified as reasons for incomplete implementation of the policy. The two school store policies in South Korea appear to have had a modest impact on overall diet of adolescents and food availability in school stores. Comprehensive policies that target diverse eating places are needed to improve adolescents’ overall diet. This study supports the needs for consideration of perspectives of various actors, especially for those who are affected by the policy, when implementing school nutrition policies. Understanding of various actors’ involvement in policy processes can inform strategies to enhance implementation and thereby reach outcomes that align with the original policy intent

SEXUAL EMPOWERMENT AND STIGMA AMONG YOUNG BLACK MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN: HEALTHMPOWERMENT.ORG, A MOBILE PHONE OPTIMIZED ONLINE INTERVENTION TO REDUCE SEXUAL RISK BEHAVIORS

Young Black men who have sex with men (YBMSM) in the United States accounted for more new HIV diagnoses than any other subgroup by race, age, and sex. Profound levels of stigma and marginalization contribute to engagement in sexual risk behaviors and HIV infection among YBMSM explains these disparities. Interventions addressing discrimination and stigma through empowerment of marginalized groups have been shown to reduce HIV infection rate among disproportionately impacted groups. Thus, investigating both empowerment and stigma and defining their relationship with sexual risk behaviors among YBMSM is an important pathway for reducing HIV among this population. These relationships will be explored using data collected from 474 YBMSM participating in randomized controlled trial of a theory-based online intervention optimized for mobile phones, healthMpowerment.org (HMP). Multiple quantitative methods, including confirmatory factor analysis, latent profile analysis (LPA), logistic analysis, and zero-inflated Poisson models were used to test hypotheses. In Aim 1, the sexual empowerment scale (SEMS) was developed. The SEMS was found to consist of six sub-constructs: emotional support, self-efficacy for condom use, negative self-esteem, positive self-esteem, self-efficacy to refuse sexual behavior, and social norms for condom use. In Aim 2, YBMSM were classified into profiles based on the SEMS using LPA. Based on four fit indices and theory, three sexual empowerment profiles were identified. Using logistic regression, a relationship between sexual empowerment profiles and stigma-related experiences was found. In Aim 3, we explored the moderating effect of the intervention on the impact of sexual empowerment profile and stigma-related experiences on sexual risk behaviors. Findings from this dissertation help elucidate the complex relationships between sexual empowerment, stigma-related experiences, and sexual risk behaviors among YBMSM. In addition, the impact of an online intervention on reducing sexual risk behaviors by the degree of stigma-related experiences was identified. Future research is needed to develop interventions specifically targeting the identified constructs of sexual empowerment and examining intervention impact on sexual empowerment, stigma and sexual risk. Results could then be more widely applied to other preventative behaviors that could potentially be improved by increasing sexual empowerment, such as HIV testing, and ART/PrEP uptake and adherence.Doctor of Philosoph

Still life with less: North Korean young adult defectors in South Korea show continued poor nutrition and physique

North Korean defectors who settle in South Korea have experienced severe food shortage and transition of food environment which could affect their health status. However, little is known about their anthropometric measurements and dietary intake after settlement in South Korea. The purpose of this study is to compare anthropometric measurements and dietary intake between North Korean young adults who defected to South Korea and those of South Koreans. We hypothesized that North Korean young adults' physiques and dietary intake would be poorer than that of South Koreans. We compared anthropometric measurements and dietary intake from 3-day food records in a cross-sectional study of 103 North Korean young adult defectors, aged 12 to 24 and 309 South Korean subjects. North Korean subjects were significantly shorter #4.9 to 10.8 cm# and lighter #6.0 to 12.5 kg# than the control group. Body mass index were significantly different between North and South Korean groups only in men. North Korean young adult defectors had lower mean daily intakes of energy and most nutrients and food groups compared to the control group, while North Korean subjects had higher nutrient density diet than that of South Koreans. The proportion of subjects who had dietary intakes of nutrients of less than the Estimated Average Requirement was higher in North Korean subjects than in controls except for in the cases of vitamin A and vitamin C. In conclusion, we recommend providing nutrition support programs for North Korean young adult defectors to secure adequate nutrient intake.OAIID:oai:osos.snu.ac.kr:snu2010-01/102/0000052039/2SEQ:2PERF_CD:SNU2010-01EVAL_ITEM_CD:102USER_ID:0000052039ADJUST_YN:YEMP_ID:A077862DEPT_CD:801FILENAME:36_Still life with less_ North Korean young adult.pdfDEPT_NM:의학과EMAIL:[email protected]_YN:NCONFIRM:

Implantable cardioverter defibrillator as a treatment for massive left ventricular fibroma-induced ventricular arrhythmia in a child

Pediatric cardiac tumors are rare. Among these, cardiac fibroma is the second most common. Its clinical manifestations depend on size and location of the tumor and include arrhythmia or obstruction to blood flow. Symptomatic cardiac fibroma is generally treated with surgical resection or cardiac transplantation. We present the case of a 12-year-old boy with a lethal ventricular arrhythmia induced by a remnant tumor that was previously partially resected. An implantable cardioverter defibrillator was inserted as the arrhythmia was resistant to medical treatment. He was discharged in stable condition with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator generator and followed up in the outpatient clinic

Patterns of engagement in digital mental health intervention for LGBTQ+ youth: a latent profile analysis

Engagement is a key metric that researchers can use to assess whether participants received the intended dose of a digital health intervention. However, the prevailing approach has predominantly focused on individual paradata metrics, resulting in a fragmented understanding of overall engagement. To address this limitation, our study utilizes person-centered approaches that allow for the simultaneous capture of multiple engagement metrics within imi–a web application specifically designed to support the mental health of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other sexual and gender minority youth (LGBTQ+ youth). This person-centered approach enabled us to explore the association between engagement patterns and stress appraisal outcomes within the imi intervention arm. Utilizing latent profile analysis, we classified users into two engagement forms: overall engagement (total number of sessions, pages visited, and external links clicked and their cumulative time spent using imi) and content engagement (number of pages viewed across imi's four core guides: gender, stress, queerness, and stigma). We identified two profiles for each form: a “high engagement” profile and an “average engagement” profile, with the majority of participants assigned to the “average engagement” profile. Our analyses revealed a significant association between overall engagement profiles and stress appraisals, with the “high engagement” profile demonstrating higher challenge appraisals and marginal improvements in threat appraisals compared to the “average engagement” profile. However, no such associations were observed for content engagement profiles and stress appraisal outcomes. The two person-centered approaches used were consistent with prior results utilizing a variable-centered approach, indicating a stronger intervention effect among individuals who exhibit higher engagement in digital health interventions. Although both methods yielded comparable findings, the person-centered approach mitigates concerns related to multi-collinearity and adds additional nuance and context to the study of digital engagement

Body Composition as a Predictor of Toxicity in Patients Receiving Anthracycline and Taxane–Based Chemotherapy for Early-Stage Breast Cancer

Poor body composition metrics (BCM) are associated with inferior cancer outcomes; however, in early breast cancer (EBC) there is a paucity of evidence regarding BCM’s impact on toxicities. This study investigates associations between BCM and treatment-related toxicity in EBC patients receiving anthracyclines-taxane based chemotherapy

Expression of Keratin 10 in Rat Organ Surface Primo-vascular Tissues

AbstractThe primo-vascular system is described as the anatomical structure corresponding to acupuncture meridians and has been identified in several tissues in the body, but its detailed anatomy and physiology are not well understood. Recently, the presence of keratin 10 (Krt10) in primo-vascular tissue was reported, but this finding has not yet been confirmed. In this study, we compared Krt10 expression in primo-vascular tissues located on the surface of rat abdominal organs with Krt10 expression on blood and lymphatic vessels. Krt10 protein (approximately 56.5 kDa) was evaluated by western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. Krt10 (IR) in the primo-node was visualized as patchy spots around each cell or as a follicle-like structure containing a group of cells. Krt10 IR was also identified in vascular and lymphatic tissues, but its distribution was diffuse over the extracellular matrix of the vessels. Thus Krt10 protein was expressed in all three tissues tested, but the expression pattern of Krt10 in primo-vascular tissue differed from those of blood and lymphatic vascular tissues, suggesting that structural and the regulatory roles of Krt10 in primo-vascular system are different from those in blood and lymphatic vessels

miR-140-5p suppresses BMP2-mediated osteogenesis in undifferentiated human mesenchymal stem cells

AbstractHuman mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have self-renewal and differentiation capabilities but the regulatory mechanisms of MSC fate determination remain poorly understood. Here, we aimed to identify microRNAs enriched in hMSCs that modulate differentiation commitments. Microarray analysis revealed that miR-140-5p is commonly enriched in undifferentiated hMSCs from various tissue sources. Moreover, bioinformatic analysis and luciferase reporter assay validated that miR-140-5p directly represses bone morphogenic protein 2 (BMP2). Furthermore, blocking miR-140-5p in hMSCs increased the expression of BMP signaling components and critical regulators of osteogenic differentiation. We propose that miR-140-5p functionally inhibits osteogenic lineage commitment in undifferentiated hMSCs

Early Bile Duct Cancer Detected by Direct Peroral Cholangioscopy with Narrow-Band Imaging after Bile Duct Stone Removal

Cholangioscopy not only enables the direct visualization of the biliary tree, but also allows for forceps biopsy to diagnosis early cholangiocarcinoma. Recently, some reports have suggested the clinical usefulness of direct peroral cholangioscopy (POC) using an ultra-slim endoscope with a standard endoscopic unit by a single operator. Enhanced endoscopy, such as narrow band imaging (NBI), can be helpful for detecting early neoplasia in the gastrointestinal tract and is easily applicable during direct POC. A 63-year-old woman with acute cholangitis had persistent bile duct dilation on the left hepatic duct after common bile duct stone removal and clinical improvement. We performed direct POC with NBI using an ultra-slim upper endoscope to examine the strictured segment. NBI examination showed an irregular surface and polypoid structure with tumor vessels. Target biopsy under direct endoscopic visualization was performed, and adenocarcinoma was documented. The patient underwent an extended left hepatectomy, and the resected specimen showed early bile duct cancer confined to the ductal mucosa

Federally Qualified Health Centers’ Capacity and Readiness for Research Collaborations: Implications for Clinical-Academic-Community Partnerships

BACKGROUND: Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) provide a health care safety net for underserved populations and contribute unique expertise to research that could further enhance quality of patient care. The purpose of this research was to assess interest in, readiness to, and capacity for conducting research in FQHCs in South Carolina (SC). METHODS: A Web-based survey was administered to 20 FQHCs across SC. Fourteen representatives of FQHCs completed the 39-item survey that assessed research experience and interest, partnerships and funding, barriers and benefits to research participation, training and technical assistance needs, and research capacity. RESULTS: FQHCs are interested in conducting research. FQHCs reported that health center leadership, organizational benefit, active engagement of staff, and clear roles for partners were important factors for successful partnerships. Inequity of budget and resources were the greatest challenges encountered. Improved patient outcomes, additional resources for the center, reduction in disparities, and academic partnerships were considered benefits for participation. FQHCs were interested in training and technical assistance opportunities for research funding and best practices for the use of research to inform programs and services. CONCLUSIONS: FQHCs are willing to collaborate on research. For successful research partnerships, collaborators should understand FQHCs\u27 challenges and barriers to participation