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Highlights • Significant differences in oral health status were observed according to the socioeconomic status in Korean adults. • There are consistent and clear social gradients in the clinical and subjective indicators of oral health outcome. • Public health policies are needed to alleviate the steepness of the social gradient. Abstract Objectives The aim of the present study was to investigate whether clinical (severe tooth loss) and subjective (chewing difficulties) indicators of oral health outcomes are associated with socioeconomic position and to explore the age-sex differences in the magnitude of the social gradient in Korea using data from the representative national data. Methods Data were acquired from 10,939 men and women, ≥30 years of age who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys conducted from 2012 to 2014. Education and income were used as socioeconomic position. Self-rated chewing difficulties and severe tooth loss were assessed by dentists and trained interviewers. Confounding variables were demographic factors, general health behaviors, and systemic health status. Results Significant differences in oral health outcomes were observed according to the quartiles of income and education. In particular, the quartiles of education were significantly associated with oral health outcomes in the fully adjusted model with a dose-response trend. In participants aged 40–49 (OR = 2.30, 95% CI = 1.37–3.88) and 50–59 years (OR = 2.16, 95% CI = 1.49–3.14), the associations between the lowest quartiles of income and chewing difficulties were stronger than in the total population. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate a clear and distinct social gradient in clinical and subjective oral health indicators based on socioeconomic position. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crystalline anatase TiO 2 with nanosponge-like mesoporous morphologies was solvothermally synthesized following the recently reported route using random copolymer (4-vinylphenol and methyl methacrylate) as structure-directing agent. In particular, the synthesis conditions were varied over a wide range of synthesis gel compositions. Crystallinity of the titania products was checked with X-ray powder diffraction. Mesopore diameters, pore volume and specific surface area were analyzed using nitrogen adsorption. The result provided proper synthesis domains for highly mesoporous titania materials. The mesoporous materials were evaluated as supports for catalytic Pt nanoparticles to apply for alcohol-to-aldehyde partial oxidation reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Korean Healthy Index scores were shown to increase as the number of teeth increased. • The number of teeth is significantly associated with diet quality. • Better oral health may improve diet quality and, ultimately, the general health. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between the number of teeth and diet quality for Korean adult population. Eligible participants in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey during 2013–2015 were included (N = 11,461). Participants were grouped into three groups depending on the total number of teeth: 28 teeth, 20−27 teeth, and 0−19 teeth. Diet quality was defined using the Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI) by 24 -h recall methods. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were applied controlling for age, income, education, smoking, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and hypertension. In fully adjusted models, each tooth showed an increased KHEI score by 0.133 score and 0.150 score in males and females, respectively (p < 0.001 for all). The KHEI scores of participants with 0–19 and 20–27 teeth were 2.357 and 0.810 lower in males than those with 28 teeth (p = 0.001). The KHEI scores for females with 0–19 and 20–27 teeth were 3.008 and 1.223 lower than those with all teeth (p < 0.001). Considering KHEI 14 components, there was a clear association between the components and the number of teeth in females and males. The results found a positively significant association between the number of teeth and diet quality in a nationally representative sample of the Korean adult population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently in diagnostic setting for breast cancer, FFDM and DBT are performed conjunctively. However, performing two imaging modalities may increase radiation exposure by double. Two-dimensional reconstructed images created from DBT with 2DSM, has a potential to replace conventional FFDM in concerning both radiation dosage and image quality. With increasing concerns for individual radiation exposure, studies analyzing radiation dosage in breast imaging modalities are needed. This study compared radiation dosage and image quality between DBT + 2DSM versus FFDM. 374 patients (mean age 52 years) who underwent both DBT and FFDM were retrospectively reviewed. Radiation dosage data were obtained by radiation dosage scoring and monitoring program Radimetrics (Bayer HealthCare, Whippany, NJ). Entrance dose and mean glandular doses in each breast were obtained for both modalities. To compare image quality of DBT + 2DSM and FFDM, a 5-point scoring system for lesion clarity was assessed. The parameters of radiation dosage (entrance dose, mean glandular dose) and image quality (lesion clarity scoring) were compared. For entrance dose, DBT had lower mean dosage (14.8 mGy) compared with FFDM (21.8 mGy, p-value < 0.0001). Mean glandular doses for both breasts were lower in DBT (Left 1.74, Right 2.1) compared with FFDM (Left 2.85, Right 2.74, p-value < 0.0001). Lesion clarity score was higher in DBT with 2DSM (mean score 4.03) compared with FFDM (3.82, p-value < 0.0001). DBT showed lower radiation entrance dose and mean glandular doses to both breasts compared with FFDM. DBT + 2DSM had better image quality than FFDM, suggesting that DBT with 2DSM has potential as an alternative to FFDM. • Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) is used adjunctively with conventional mammography. • DBT with 2D reconstructed image benefits in image quality and radiation exposure. • DBT may have potential as an alternative to conventional mammography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solvothermal synthesis route to mesoporous TiO 2 using a vinylphenol polymer structure-directing agent (SDA) was optimized to provide a high yield of bilayer nanosheets. The resultant TiO 2 material exhibited a high BET area of 420 m 2 g −1 after the removal of SDA. Structural analysis of the nanosheets was carried out using powder X-ray diffraction, high resolution-transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and solid-state NMR. The results indicated that the TiO 2 material consisted mainly of the bilayer nanosheets with (010) facet-dominant anatase crystal structure. The thickness of the nanosheet was 0.75 nm, corresponding to two unit-cell parameters along the b-axis in the anatase crystal system. More than 10% of the surface Ti atoms were terminated with bridging O–H groups and coordinatively unsaturated Ti atoms, which acted as Brönsted and Lewis acid sites. Accordingly, the anatase nanosheets exhibited catalytic performance in the liquid-phase Friedel–Crafts alkylation of aromatic compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Sasa quelpaertensis extract (SQE) inhibits adipogenesis by attenuating the expression of key adipogenic transcription factors. [•] SQE decreases the expression of SREBP-1c via AMPK pathway during the early phase of MDI-induced differentiation. [•] p-Coumaric acid suppressed adipogenesis during the late phase of MDI-induced differentiation. [•] p-Coumaric acid promotes fatty acid β-oxidation via AMPK pathway in mature adipocytes. [•] SQE and p-coumaric acid might have the anti-obesitic effects via AMPK pathway in 3T3-L1 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We previously showed that an ethanolic extract of the edible brown algae Petalonia binghamiae promotes the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and decreases hyperglycemia in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Here, we report that a water-soluble extract of P. binghamiae thalli, prepared by enzymatic digestion, inhibits preadipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis in a dose-dependent manner. In differentiating 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, the extract (designated PBEE) decreased the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins α and β, and fatty acid-binding protein aP2. It also inhibited the mitotic clonal expansion process of adipocyte differentiation, and it inhibited insulin-stimulated uptake of glucose into mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes by reducing phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1. In rats with high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity, PBEE exhibited potent anti-obesity effects. In this animal model, increases in body weight and fat storage were suppressed by the addition of PBEE to the drinking water at 500 mg/L for 30 days. PBEE supplementation reduced serum levels of glutamic pyruvic and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminases and increased the serum level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Moreover, it significantly decreased the accumulation of lipid droplets in liver tissue, suggesting a protective effect against HFD-induced hepatic steatosis. Taken together, these data demonstrate that PBEE inhibits preadipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis in cultured cells and in rodent models of obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]