Chonnam Medical Journal最新文献

This study aimed to identify and assess the differences in psychological health problems between families living with stroke survivors (FwSS) and the general population without stroke families (GwoSF). A total of 4,514 cases of FwSS were selected for analysis from the 2013 Korea Community Health Survey. In order to determine control groups in GwoSF, propensity scores were generated based on the sociodemographic characteristics of age, gender, residential region, marital status, educational level, monthly household income, and employment status. Each FwSS was matched to 3 controls of GwoSF (13,542 controls) using a greedy matching algorithm with 8 to 1 digit matching. After propensity score-matching, the proportion of usual stress (30.2% vs 24.6%), depressive mood (7.1% vs 6.1%), and suicidal ideation (13.0% vs 11.1%) in FwSS were all significantly higher than those in GwoSF (Ps<0.05). Compared to GwoSF, the adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for psychological health problems in FwSS were calculated using multiple logistic regression analysis. The aORs for usual stress (aOR 1.32, 95% CI 1.21-1.42), depressive mood (aOR 1.14, 95% CI 0.99-1.31; borderline significance), and suicidal ideation (aOR 1.17, 95% CI 1.05-1.30) were significantly higher among FwSS than GwoSF. Moreover, the psychological health problems of FwSS were more evident in females than in males. This study shows that FwSS have poorer psychological health outcomes than GwoSF with similar sociodemographic characteristics. Community-based strategies and family support programs, especially for female family members of stroke survivors, are essential to improve the psychological health of stroke families.

This study aimed to examine the relationship between hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), one of the indicators of diabetes, and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), one of the indicators of inflammation. Raw data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES, 2015-2017) was analyzed. Among the patients diagnosed with diabetes, 1,479 adults were selected as subjects for our study, and their HbA1c levels, hs-CRP levels, sex, age, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, level of triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, hypertension, receipt of diagnosis, monthly average income, education, and drinking and smoking habits were recorded. Multiple regression analysis of hs-CRP was performed by dividing hs-CRP into quartiles using HbA1c as the dependent variable. In Model 1, sex, age, and BMI were adjusted, and in Model 2, sex, age, BMI, waist circumference, level of triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol, hypertension, and receipt of diagnosis were adjusted. In Model 3, Model 2 parameters along with monthly average household income, education level, and drinking and smoking habits were adjusted. HbA1c levels increased as the hs-CRP quartile increased, that is, 2^nd Quartile=0.307, p=0.003; 3^rd Quartile=0.431, p=0.001; and 4^th Quartile=0.550, p=0.001. Of the various factors related to diabetes, this study examined the relationship between inflammation and diabetes.

Many studies about Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) have been performed to determine the effectiveness of EMS. However, most studies enrolled only elderly patients. Moreover, only a few studies have verified the effect of a whole body (WB)-EMS suit on young healthy women. Thus, the main purpose of this study was to verify the physiological effects of exercise training with a WB-EMS suit in young women. During the study periods, 24 young women were randomly assigned into two groups: 1) the WB-EMS training group, and 2) the control. All participants in the two groups performed the same low-intensity resistance exercise three times a week for 6 weeks at a training center. Group 1 used an electric current for WB-EMS suit which was switched on during the exercise period. Outcome measures were body composition, body circumference of hips and abdomen, isokinetic muscle function of knees, balance functions, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)s, cardiopulmonary functions, and lipid profiles. All outcomes were measured before and after the exercise protocol over 6 weeks. A total of 23 young women (group 1, n=11; group 2, n=12) completed a 6-week exercise regimen. After exercise, we compared the differences before and after the exercise program in each group. There were significant differences (p≤0.05) in body circumference, cardiopulmonary function in group 1 and 2. In particular, group 1 that activated WB-EMS showed significant differences in the isokinetic muscle function on knee flexors and balance functions. The results of this study show that exercise with a WB-EMS suit can be considered as an effective exercise addition for young women.

Liposomes, with their flexible physicochemical and biophysical properties, continue to be studied as an important potential a critical drug delivery system. Liposomes have overcome the challenges of conventional free drug therapy by encapsulating therapeutic agents, thereby improving in vivo biodistribution and reducing systemic toxicity. New imaging modalities and interpretation techniques, as well as new techniques for targetable system formulation technique, and tumor environmental information, have affected the search for a means of overcoming the difficulties of conventional liposome formulation. In this review, we briefly discuss how liposomal formulation has been applied across the biomedical field, particularly as a therapy, and the role it may play in the future, when paired with new developments in diagnosis and theranostics. The biological challenges that still remain and the translational obstacles are discussed.