The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in children: a telephone-based survey in Korea.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence and patterns of CAM use in Korean children via a telephone based survey. We also investigated parent satisfaction, a proxy for their child, with CAM therapy and determined the factors affecting satisfaction with CAM use. METHODS: This study used a landline telephone-based survey to examine a random sample representative of Korean children, aged 0 to 18 years. We assigned and surveyed 2,000 subjects according to age group, gender, and geographical distributions by proportionate quota and systematic sampling of children throughout Korea in 2010. A household of 1,184 with a 18.6% response rate was projected to yield 2,077 completed data. We performed statistical analyses using sampling weight. RESULTS: The prevalence of CAM use was 65.3% for the Korean children in our sample population. The most commonly used CAM category was natural products (89.3%). More than half of CAM user's parents reported satisfaction with their therapies (52.7%), but only 29.1% among them had consulted a Western trained doctor regarding the CAM therapies used. Doctor visits were associated with lower satisfaction with CAM use but not with consultation rate with a doctor. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that CAM is widely used among children in Korea. Medical doctors should actively discuss the use of CAM therapies with their patients and provide information on the safety and efficacy of diverse CAM modalities to guide the choices of CAM users.ope

The Association between Height and Cognitive Function in Community Dwelling Old Women

BACKGROUND: There are growing evidences that structural and functional brain reserves may be crucial in cognitive function of late life. In old men, height as an important marker of growth and development, is related to late life cognitive decline or dementia. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship of height to cognitive function in community dwelling old women. METHODS: A total of 150 community dwelling old women who can carry out daily life independently were recruited in this study. We measured height, weight and blood pressure with an automatic device and investigated medical history and behavioral habits. We obtained fasting blood samples for the glucose and lipid profile tests and measured physical performance. The Korean version of Mini Mental State Examination (K-MMSE) was used for the assessment of cognitive function. RESULTS: The acceptable cognition group (K-MMSE score > or = 24) was taller than the impaired cognition group (K-MMSE score < 24) (mean height 150.9 +/- 6.1, 148.0 +/- 5.4, respectively, P-value < 0.01). In Pearson correlation analysis, height was positively associated with K-MMSE score (r = 0.342, P < 0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that height independently related to K-MMSE score after adjustment of age, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, alcohol drinking, residential district, education, gait speed (beta = 0.102, P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Height was independently associated with cognitive function in community dwelling old women. For the evaluation of the relationship between height and cognition in diverse cohorts, many studies will be necessaryope

Chiral Separation of Amino Acids by Capillary Zone Ectrophoresis

Maste

Leukocyte mitochondrial DNA content is associated with depression in older women

의학과/석사[한글]최근 노인 인구에서 우울증과 자살이 큰 사회 문제로 대두되고 있다. 인위적으로 스트레스를 가해 만든 우울증 동물 모델에서 우울증이 미토콘드리아 전자전달계에 관여하는 효소의 감소와 관련 있다는 보고가 있다. 이에 본 연구는 노인 여성에서 미토콘드리아 기능의 전반적 지표라 할 수 있는 미토콘드리아 deoxyribonucleic acid(DNA) 양과 우울증과의 관련성을 알아보고자 하였다.Yonsei Cognitive Aging Study(YCAS) 참가자 중 신경계 질환이 없고 독립생활이 가능한 60세 이상의 여성 142명을 대상으로 하였다. 백혈구 내 미토콘드리아 DNA 양은 실시간 중합효소연쇄반응을 이용해 측정하였다. 우울증 평가는 15 항목으로 구성된 축약형 노인 우울 척도를 이용하였으며, 평가 점수가 8점 이상이거나 항우울제를 복용중인 대상을 우울군으로 정의하였다. 그 밖에 인지기능과 신체활동 능력, 공복 혈당, 혈중 지질 수치, 코티솔, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate(DHEA-S) 등을 측정하였다.연구 결과 우울군이 정상군에 비해 백혈구 내 미토콘드리아 DNA 양이 적은 것으로 나타났다 (71.5(사분위수 범위 42.7~116.0) vs 107.3(사분위수 범위 51.7~202.1), p=0.028). 또한 우울군이 대조군에 비해 허리둘레가 두껍고, 간이정신상태검사 점수가 낮은 것으로 나타났으며, 신체활동능력이 떨어지는 것으로 조사되었다(각각 p=0.008, p=0.041, p=0.002). 다중 로지스틱 회귀분석 결과 나이와 허리둘레, 당뇨병 유병 여부, 혈중 코티솔, 간이정신상태검사 점수, 신체활동능력 점수, 만성통증 유무의 영향을 보정한 후에도 적은 미토콘드리아 DNA 양이 우울증과 유의한 관련성이 있는 것으로 나타났다(우도비 0.45, p=0.025).본 연구 결과 60세 이상의 노인 여성에서 적은 백혈구 미토콘드리아 DNA 양이 우울증과 관련 있는 것으로 나타났으며, 이는 미토콘드리아의 기능 부전이 노인 우울증의 한 기전이 될 수 있음을 시사한다. 향후 미토콘드리아 기능과 우울증과의 관계를 명확히 하기 위한 다양한 임상 연구가 필요하다. [영문]ope

Sex differences in the relationship between metabolic syndrome and pulmonary function: the 2007 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Pulmonary function impairment has a connection with abdominal obesity, type 2 diabetes, and insulin resistance. Sex differences in lifestyle factors, and pulmonary structure and function may affect pulmonary function in different manners. This study focused on sex differences in the relationship of MetS and its component with pulmonary function. Among 2,614 Korean adults (1,059 men; 1,555 women), pulmonary function was measured by the percentage of predicted forced vital capacity (FVC (%)) and a ratio between forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1))/FVC. FVC (%) and FEV(1)/FVC were compared according to the presence of MetS and its components. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to assess the association between FVC (%), FEV(1)/FVC and clinical variables. We found sex differences in the relationship of MetS and its components with pulmonary function. FVC (%) was significantly lower in subjects with MetS than in those without MetS in both men and women, and FEV(1)/FVC was lower in subjects with MetS only in women. Among components of MetS, waist circumference, blood pressure and fasting plasma glucose, and HDL-cholesterol were independently related to FVC (%) in men, whereas waist circumference was significantly associated with FVC (%) in women. Blood pressure was found to be an independent factor of FEV(1)/FVC in men, whereas blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose and HDL-cholesterol independently determined FEV(1)/FVC in women. These findings suggest that sex-specific association between MetS and lung function measures should be considered in clinical practice.ope

Mitochondrial DNA copy number in peripheral blood is associated with cognitive function in apparently healthy elderly women.

BACKGROUND: The identification of early markers of dementia is of increasing clinical importance. Recently, impaired mitochondrial function has emerged as a potential marker for age-related diseases and the maintenance of mtDNA copy number is essential for the preservation of mitochondrial function. We investigated the association between mtDNA copy number and cognitive function in elderly women. METHODS: A total of 107 apparently healthy elderly women were included. Cognitive abilities were assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). We measured mtDNA copy number in peripheral leukocytes using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. Additionally, cardiometabolic risk factors and physical function were measured. RESULTS: MMSE scores were negatively correlated with the homeostasis model of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) scores and positively correlated with gait speed as well as mtDNA copy number. After adjusting for age and level of education, the mean values of MMSE scores gradually increased with mtDNA copy number when divided into quartiles. Using step-wise multiple regression analysis, gait speed, mtDNA copy number, and age were determined to be the strongest predictors of MMSE score. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that reduced mtDNA content may be a possible early marker of dementia, and this finding warrants further study in large, prospective investigations.ope

Leukocyte mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content is associated with depression in old women

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content of peripheral blood leukocyte is related to depression in community-dwelling old women. A total of 142 community-dwelling women, older than 60 years, were included in the study. The mtDNA copy number, which represents the mtDNA content, was measured using real-time PCR methods. Patients with depression defined as the subjects whose 15-question geriatric depression scale (GDS) score was ≥ 8 or who were taking anti-depressant medication. We also measured cognitive function, physical performances (gait speed, chair-stand times, tandem standing times) and metabolic parameters. The depression group had a significantly lower mtDNA copy number than the control group (71.5 vs. 107.3; interquartile range (IQR) = 42.7-116.0 vs. 51.7-202.1; p = 0.028). The Korean version of the mini mental state examination (K-MMSE) score and physical performance score were significantly lower in the depression group than in the control group (p = 0.041, and p = 0.002, respectively). After adjustment for confounding factors using multiple logistic regression analysis, mtDNA copy number was significantly related to depression (p = 0.025). We demonstrated that low leukocyte mtDNA content is related to depression in community dwelling old women. This finding suggests that mitochondrial dysfunction could be a mechanism of geriatric depression.ope