520 research outputs found
Educational Inequalities in Self-Rated Health in Europe and South Korea
While numerous comparative works on the magnitude of health inequalities in Europe have been conducted, there is a paucity of research that encompasses non-European nations such as Asian countries. This study was conducted to compare Europe and Korea in terms of educational health inequalities, with poor self-rated health (SRH) as the outcome variable. The European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions and the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2017 were used (31 countries). Adult men and women aged 20+ years were included (207,245 men and 238,007 women). The age-standardized, sex-specific prevalence of poor SRH by educational level was computed. The slope index of inequality (SII) and relative index of inequality (RII) were calculated. The prevalence of poor SRH was higher in Korea than in other countries for both low/middle- and highly educated individuals. Among highly educated Koreans, the proportion of less healthy women was higher than that of less healthy men. Korea’s SII was the highest for men (15.7%) and the ninth-highest for women (10.4%). In contrast, Korea’s RII was the third-lowest for men (3.27), and the lowest among women (1.98). This high-SII–low-RII mix seems to have been generated by the high level of baseline poor SRH
Comparison of three small-area mortality metrics according to urbanity in Korea: the standardized mortality ratio, comparative mortality figure, and life expectancy
Abstract
Background
This study aimed to compare three small-area level mortality metrics according to urbanity in Korea: the standardized mortality ratio (SMR), comparative mortality figure (CMF), and life expectancy (LE) by urbanity.
Methods
We utilized the National Health Information Database to obtain annual small-area level age-specific numbers of population and deaths in Korea between 2013 and 2017. First, differences in the SMR by urbanity were examined, assuming the same age-specific mortality rates in all small areas. Second, we explored the differences in ranking obtained using the three metrics (SMR, CMF, and LE). Third, the ratio of CMF to SMR by population was analyzed according to urbanity.
Results
We found that the age-specific population distributions in urbanized areas were similar, but rural areas had a relatively old population structure. The age-specific mortality ratio also differed by urbanity. Assuming the same rate of age-specific mortality across all small areas, we found that comparable median values in all areas. However, areas with a high SMR showed a strong predominance of metropolitan areas. The ranking by SMR differed markedly from the rankings by CMF and LE, especially in areas of high mortality, while the latter two metrics did not differ notably. The ratio of CMF to SMR showed larger variations in small areas in rural areas, particularly in those with small populations, than in metropolitan and urban areas.
Conclusions
In a comparison of multiple SMRs, bias could exist if the study areas have large differences in population structure. The use of CMF or LE should be considered for comparisons if it is possible to acquire age-specific mortality data for each small area
Charge Transport in UV-Oxidized Graphene and Its Dependence on the Extent of Oxidation
Graphene oxides with different degrees of oxidation are prepared by controlling UV irradiation on graphene, and the charge transport and the evolution of the transport gap are investigated according to the extent of oxidation. With increasing oxygenous defect density [Formula: see text] , a transition from ballistic to diffusive conduction occurs at [Formula: see text] cm [Formula: see text] and the transport gap grows in proportion to [Formula: see text]. Considering the potential fluctuation related to the [Formula: see text] puddle, the bandgap of graphene oxide is deduced to be [Formula: see text] meV. The temperature dependence of conductivity showed metal–insulator transitions at [Formula: see text] cm [Formula: see text] , consistent with Ioffe–Regel criterion. For graphene oxides at [Formula: see text] cm [Formula: see text] , analysis indicated charge transport occurred via 2D variable range hopping conduction between localized [Formula: see text] domain. Our work elucidates the transport mechanism at different extents of oxidation and supports the possibility of adjusting the bandgap with oxygen content
Diagnostic performance of brain computed tomography to detect facial bone fractures
Objective Most patients with head trauma require brain computed tomography (CT) in the emergency department. However, the requirement for facial CT remains controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of brain CT alone for detection of facial fractures and its ability to determine the requirement for additional facial CT. Methods This retrospective multicenter study was conducted in two tertiary hospitals in Seoul, Republic of Korea, between January 2014 and December 2015. Data were collected from the medical records of adult patients (aged over 18 years) who had undergone both brain and facial CT on the same day as their presentation to the emergency department with blunt trauma to the head and face. The same radiologist analyzed all brain and facial CT images. Results Eight hundred and sixty patients (668 men, 192 women; mean age 48.60±18.2 years) were identified to have had facial fractures. There was a statistically significant predominance of men but not of any particular age group. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of brain CT were 83.72%, 98.87%, 97.17%, 92.92%, and 94.08%, respectively. Conclusion These findings suggest that brain CT has high diagnostic value for detection of upper facial bone fractures with high accuracy and can aid emergency physicians when determining the requirement for additional facial CT
Revisiting the Seasonal Variations of Sea-Air CO2 Fluxes in the Northern East China Sea
Temperature, salinity, chlorophyll a (Chl-a), nitrate, and sea-air differences of CO2 partial pressure (ΔpCO2) were extensively investigated in the northern East China Sea (ECS) during seven research cruises from 2003 to 2009. The ΔpCO2 showed large intraseasonal variation in the spring and summer. In spring, the areal mean ΔpCO2 in May 2004 was almost half of that in April 2008, probably associated with differences in sea surface temperature (SST). In summer, the areal mean ΔpCO2 in August 2003 was also twice as large as that in July 2006. In addition, ΔpCO2 exhibited large seasonal variation with positive values in autumn and negative values in other seasons. The positive ΔpCO2 in autumn was ascribed to vertical mixing with CO2-enriched subsurface waters and relatively high SST in this season. The annually integrated sea-air CO2 flux in the northern ECS was -2.2 ± 2.1 mol m-2 yr-1, indicating CO2 absorption from atmosphere to the sea, which was more than two times lower than the previous estimate (Shim et al. 2007) reported for the same region. This large difference was presumably responsible for the underestimation of winter CO2 influx by Shim et al. (2007) and the large interannual variation of CO2 flux. The CO2 influx in the ECS was twice that estimated for continental shelves worldwide, suggesting that the ECS acts as a strong sink of atmospheric CO2 compared to other continental shelves
Comparison of air pollution and the prevalence of allergy-related diseases in Incheon and Jeju City
PurposeA high level of air pollutants can increase the number of patients with allergy-related diseases such as asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR). To analyze the association between air pollution and allergic disease, we investigated 2 areas in Korea: Incheon, an industrial area, and Jeju, a non-industrialized area.MethodsSecond grade students at elementary schools (11 schools in Incheon and 45 schools in Jeju) were examined in a cross-sectional study. A questionnaire was used and a skin prick test was performed. The levels of NO2, CO2, O3, particulate matter (PM) PM10/2.5, formaldehyde, tVOCs, and dust mites in the classrooms and grounds were determined.ResultsThe levels of outdoor CO, PM10, and PM2.5 were significantly higher in Incheon (P<0.01). The levels of indoor CO, CO2, PM10, PM2.5 were significantly higher in Incheon (P<0.01). The prevalence rates of AR symptoms at any time, AR symptoms during the last 12 months, diagnosis of rhinitis at any time, and AR treatment during the last 12 months were significantly higher in Incheon (P<0.01). The prevalence rate of wheezing or whistling at any time, and wheezing during the last 12 months were significantly higher in Incheon (P<0.01).ConclusionWe found that the children living in Incheon, which was more polluted than Jeju, had a higher rate of AR and asthma symptoms compared to children in Jeju. To determine the effect of air pollution on the development of the AR and asthma, further studies are needed
Human AP endonuclease suppresses DNA mismatch repair activity leading to microsatellite instability
The multifunctional mammalian apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) endonuclease (APE) participates in the repair of AP sites in the cellular DNA as well as participating in the redox regulation of the transcription factor function. The function of APE is considered as the rate-limiting step in DNA base excision repair. Paradoxically, an unbalanced increase in APE protein leads to genetic instability. Therefore, we investigated the mechanisms of genetic instability that are induced by APE. Here, we report that the overexpression of APE protein disrupts the repair of DNA mismatches, which results in microsatellite instability (MSI). We found that expression of APE protein led to the suppression of the repair of DNA mismatches in the normal human fibroblast cells. Western blot analysis revealed that hMSH6 protein was markedly reduced in the APE-expressing cells. Moreover, the addition of purified Mutα (MSH2 and MSH6 complex) to the extracts from the APE-expressing cells led to the restoration of mismatch repair (MMR) activity. By performing MMR activity assay and MSI analysis, we found that the co-expression of hMSH6 and APE exhibited the microsatellite stability, whereas the expression of APE alone generated the MSI-high phenotype. The APE-mediated decrease in MMR activity described here demonstrates the presence of a new and highly effective APE-mediated mechanism for MSI
Sequence Variations and Haplotypes of the GJB2 Gene Revealed by Resequencing of 192 Chromosomes from the General Population in Korea
ObjectivesHearing impairment (HI) is the most common sensory deficit in human. The Gap Junction Protein, Beta-2 (GJB2) gene encodes the protein connexin 26, and this gene accounts for up to half of the cases of autosomal recessive nonsyndromic HI. This study was conducted to obtain a set of sequence variations (SVs) of the GJB2 gene among Koreans from the general population for making molecular genetic diagnoses and performing genetic counseling.MethodsWe resequenced the GJB2 gene in 192 chromosomes from 96 adult individuals of Korean descent and who were without a history of hearing difficulty. The data of the SVs was obtained and the haplotypes were reconstructed from the data.ResultsFive SVs were observed, including a novel one (c.558G>A; p.T186T), with the allele frequencies ranging from 0.5% (1/192) to 41% (79/192). The linkage disequilibrium study and haplotype construction showed that some of the SVs are in tight linkage, resulting in a limited number of haplotypes.ConclusionWe observed SVs of the GJB2 gene with different allele frequencies, and a limited number of haplotypes were constructed. The data from this study can be used as reference data for GJB2-related hearing genetic studies, including studies on the founder effect and population genetics, and this data is particularly relevant to people of East Asian decent
TCTAP A-133 Treatment Delay in Door-to-Balloon Time in South-East Asian Patients Undergoing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Key Process Analysis of Patient Factors
- …