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This study examined preservice teachers' understanding of children's play in diverse cultures. Using digital photo essay methods, a total of 37 early childhood preservice teachers in Myanmar, Korea, and the U.S. engaged in a critical discussion on children's play in diverse cultures. The findings suggested that the participants typically showed three layers of cross-cultural awareness: distance, friction, and flow. Korean and the U.S. participants conducted critical reflections on their preconceived notion of play, as influenced by the idea of Western childhood play. Although Myanmar participants revealed a desire for Western play materials, we did not observe substantial evidence of critical reflection throughout the cross-cultural exchanges. This paper discusses the implications of investigating culturally sensitive strategies for engendering preservice teachers' implicit beliefs by exchanging digital photo essays across diverse cultures.

Objectives: The association between food insecurity and metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO) in the population with obesity is unclear. We evaluated factors associated with MUO and the relationship between food insecurity and MUO in individuals with obesity. Methods: We analyzed data from 5191 adults with obesity (body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m2) from the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2019–2021. MUO was defined when participants with obesity had any of the following: (1) triglycerides ≥ 150 mg/dL, (2) High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol < 40 mg/dL (men), <50 mg/dL (women), (3) systolic blood pressure ≥ 135 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure ≥85 mmHg or on treatment for hypertension, (4) fasting glucose ≥ 100 mg/dL, or on treatment for diabetes. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for MUO according to food security status, sociodemographic characteristics, and lifestyle factors were calculated using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: The prevalence of MUO and metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) among the participants was 85.4% and 14.6%, respectively. In the multivariate model, the OR (95% CIs) for MUO in the food insecurity group was 1.87 (1.03–3.43). The odds for MUO were higher among participants with older age, higher BMI, <12 years of education, lower fat intake, non-manual work, and moderated and low physical activity than among their counterparts. Conclusions: Food insecurity, older age, higher BMI, lower educational level, lower fat intake, non-manual workers, and lower physical activity were associated with MUO. Therefore, targeted interventions and policies are needed for vulnerable groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: We investigated the difference in the relationship between physical activity and low muscle mass resulting from the choice of diagnostic criterion for low muscle mass. Methods: Our study was cross‐sectional, using data from the 2008–2011 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Muscle mass was measured by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry. Low muscle mass was defined as height‐adjusted and weight‐adjusted low muscle mass. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of low muscle mass in relation to physical inactivity were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: Our study included 3977 older people (1698 men and 2279 women). The prevalence of height‐adjusted and weight‐adjusted low muscle mass was 4.1% and 11.8%, respectively, in the physically inactive group, and 3.9% and 7.9%, respectively, in the physically active group. The prevalence of weight‐adjusted low muscle mass increased by 48% in the physically inactive group in the fully adjusted model (OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.13–1.95) and increased by 61% in men and 50% in women (men: OR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.12–2.31 and women: OR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.20–2.20) compared with the physically active group. The risk of height‐adjusted low muscle mass in men tended to be higher in the physically inactive group than in the physically active group. However, this trend was not observed among women. Conclusions: Physical inactivity was associated with an increased prevalence of low muscle mass in weight‐adjusted measures among elderly adults in Korea. Height‐adjusted low muscle mass in women is less useful as an indicator of the relationship between low muscle mass and physical inactivity. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2023; 23: 71–77. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To develop an accurate mortality risk predictive model among patients with lung cancer., Methods: The development cohort included 96,255 patients with lung cancer aged ≥19 years, who underwent a Korean National Health Insurance Service health check-up from 2005 to 2015. The validation cohort consisted of 18,432 patients (≥19 years) with lung cancer from another region. The outcome was all-cause mortality between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2020., Results: Approximately 60.5% of the development cohort died within a median follow-up period of 2.32 (0.72-5.00) years. Risk score was highest in participants aged ≥65 years, followed by those who underwent treatment, had a history of emergency room visits, and were current smokers. Participants treated by surgery had the lowest risk score, followed by combined surgery and chemotherapy, combined surgery and radiation therapy, women, and regular exercisers. The C statistic in the development and validation cohorts was 0.78 (95% confidence interval, 0.77-0.78) and 0.81 (95% confidence interval, 0.78-0.84), respectively., Conclusion: Advanced age, lung cancer stage, and treatment type were strong risk factors of mortality in lung cancer patients, while being a woman and exercise were preventive factors. These will aid in the prediction of mortality and management of lung cancer patients., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Huh, Kim, Kim and Son.)

Context: The number of young Koreans using antidepressants and antianxiety medications is increasing., Objective: Studies evaluating the association between these medications and weight gain are limited. We investigated this association among Korean young adults., Methods: We included 792,022 participants aged 19-39 years who underwent Korean National Health Insurance Service health examinations more than twice between 2009 and 2019. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between antidepressants and antianxiety medications and weight gain., Results: The participants' average age and body mass index were 29.4±4.7 years and 23.0±3.6 kg/m2, respectively. The proportions of weight gain ≥10 kg/year were 1.7%; 2.4%; 2.9%; and 4.1% in individuals using neither antidepressants nor antianxiety medications; only antianxiety medications; only antidepressants; and both antidepressants and antianxiety medications, respectively. Compared with individuals using neither antidepressants nor antianxiety medications, the rate ratios (95% confidence intervals) for weight gain ≥10 kg/year were higher in those using only antianxiety medications; only antidepressants; and both antidepressants and antianxiety medications; at 1.77 (1.69-1.85); 2.15 (2.05-2.0); and 3.04 (2.91-3.18), respectively., Conclusions: Using antidepressants and antianxiety medications may contribute to an increased risk of weight gain among Korean young adults. The potential risk for weight gain should be considered when those medications are used and the prevention of weight gain is needed., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Endocrine Society. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com. See the journal About page for additional terms.)

Background: Evidence on the association between obesity parameters, including body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC), and osteoarthritis is limited. This study aimed to investigate these associations in Korean adults., Methods: This nationwide cross-sectional study used data from 24,101 adults aged ≥19 years who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2016-2020. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for osteoarthritis according to BMI and WC were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression analyses., Results: The prevalence of osteoarthritis was higher in individuals with general (10.0%) and abdominal obesity (12.8%) compared with those without. Greater BMI and WC were associated with a higher prevalence (P<0.001) and risk of osteoarthritis (Model 3, P for trend <0.001). Individuals with general and abdominal obesity were associated with a 1.50-fold (OR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.35-1.67) and 1.64-fold (OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.47-1.84) increased risk of osteoarthritis, compared with those without. Similar associations were observed in subgroups according to age, sex, smoking status, and presence of diabetes mellitus. The odds of osteoarthritis 1.73-fold increased (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.53-1.95) in individuals with both general and abdominal obesity compared with those without any of them., Conclusion: Greater BMI, WC, and general and abdominal obesity were associated with an increased risk of osteoarthritis in Korean adults. Appropriate management of abdominal and general obesity may be important to reduce the risk of osteoarthritis.

Purpose: The relationship between the number of chronic diseases and oral health problems is unclear. We sought to determine whether the number of chronic diseases and multimorbidity have an association with oral health problems in Korean adults., Materials and Methods: Data from 23,246 adults aged ≥ 19 years, who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2016 to 2019, were considered for our analyses. Participants with either masticatory or speech problems were defined as the oral health problems group. Individuals who reported having had dental treatment in the last year were defined as the dental treatment group. We used multivariable logistic regression analyses to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs)., Results: The proportions of oral health problems and dental treatment were higher in participants with multimorbidity than in those without multimorbidity (all p < 0.001). Moreover, ORs of oral health problems demonstrated a tendency to increase with the number of chronic diseases, even after adjustment (p for trend < 0.001). Compared to the participants without multimorbidity, the risk of having oral health problems increased by 25% (OR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.12-1.39), and that of receiving dental treatment increased by 23% (OR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.13-1.34) in patients with multimorbidity., Conclusion: The risk of oral health problems and dental treatment increased in association with the number of chronic diseases in Korean adults. The authors emphasise the risks and importance of oral health in a large population affected by multiple chronic diseases.

Background: There is limited evidence regarding the association between muscle strength and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD)., Aim: To investigate the association between muscle strength and MAFLD in the general population in Korea., Methods: This nationwide representative cross-sectional study included 31649 individuals aged ≥ 19 years who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2015 and 2018. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) for MAFLD according to sex-specific quartiles of muscle strength, defined by relative handgrip strength, were calculated using multivariable logistic regression analysis. Additionally, multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between muscle strength and probable liver fibrosis in patients with MAFLD., Results: Of all the participants, 29.3% had MAFLD. The prevalence of MAFLD was significantly higher in the lower muscle strength quartile groups for all participants, sexes, and age groups ( P < 0.001). A 1.92-fold (OR = 1.92, 95%CI: 1.70-2.16) and 3.12-fold (OR = 3.12, 95%CI: 2.64-3.69) higher risk of MAFLD was observed in the lowest quartile (Q1) group than in the other groups (Q2-Q4) and the highest quartile (Q4) group, respectively. The ORs of MAFLD were significantly increased in the lower muscle strength quartile groups in a dose-dependent manner ( P for trend < 0.001). These associations persisted in both sexes. An inverse association between muscle strength and the risk of MAFLD was observed in all subgroups according to age, obesity, and diabetes mellitus. In patients with MAFLD, the odds of severe liver fibrosis were higher in Q1 (OR = 1.83, 95%CI: 1.25-2.69) than in other groups (Q2-Q4)., Conclusion: Among Korean adults, low muscle strength was associated with an increased risk of MAFLD and liver fibrosis in patients with MAFLD., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors disclose no conflicts., (©The Author(s) 2023. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: We investigated whether low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and isolated and non-isolated low HDL-C levels are associated with the risk of cardiovascular diseases and all-cause mortality among Korean adults., Methods: We included 8,665,841 individuals aged ≥20 years who had undergone a health examination provided by the Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) in 2009 and were followed up until the end of 2018. The hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for study outcomes were calculated using multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression analysis., Results: During the 8.2 years of mean follow-up, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and all-cause mortality occurred in 81,431, 110,996, and 244,309 individuals, respectively. After adjusting for confounding variables (model 3), individuals with low HDL-C and lower HDL quartiles were associated with significantly increased risks of all three outcomes, compared to those with normal HDL-C and highest HDL-C quartile (all P<0.001), respectively. HRs for incident MI (1.28; 95% CI, 1.26 to 1.30), stroke (1.13; 95% CI, 1.11 to 1.15), and all-cause mortality (1.07; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.08) increased in the non-isolated low HDL-C group compared to the normal HDL-C group. Isolated low HDL-C also showed an increase in the HRs of incident stroke (1.06; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.08) and all-cause mortality (1.30; 95% CI, 1.28 to 1.32)., Conclusion: Low HDL-C and non-isolated low HDL-C were associated with increased risk of MI, stroke, and all-cause mortality, and isolated low HDL-C was associated with incident stroke and all-cause mortality risk.