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Background: Over the past several decades, there has been a rapid worldwide increase in the prevalence of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) as well as a number of changes in the clinicopathological characteristics of this disease. BRAFV600E, which is a mutation of the proto-oncogene BRAF, has become the most frequent genetic mutation associated with PTC, particularly in Korea. Thus, the present study investigated whether the prevalence of the BRAFV600E mutation has increased over the past two decades in the Korean population and whether various PTC-related clinicopathological characteristics have changed. Methods: The present study included 2,624 patients who underwent a thyroidectomy for PTC during two preselected periods; 1995 to 2003 and 2009 to 2012. The BRAFV600E mutation status of each patient was confirmed using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method or by the direct sequencing of DNA. Results: The prevalence of the BRAFV600E mutation in Korean PTC patients increased from 62.2% to 73.7% (P=0.001) over the last two decades. Additionally, there was a greater degree of extrathyroidal extension (ETE) and lymph node metastasis in 2009 to 2012 patients with the BRAFV600E mutation and a higher frequency of thyroiditis and follicular variant-PTC in 2009 to 2012 patients with wild-type BRAF. However, only the frequency of ETE was significantly higher in 1995 to 2003 patients with the BRAFV600E mutation (P=0.047). Long-term recurrence rates during a 10-year median follow-up did not differ based on BRAFV600E mutation status. Conclusion: The BRAFV600E mutation rate in Korean PTC patients has been persistently high (approximately 70%) over the past two decades and continues to increase. The present findings demonstrate that BRAFV600E-positive PTC was associated with more aggressive clinicopathological features, especially in patients who were recently diagnosed, suggesting that BRAFV600E mutation status may be a useful prognostic factor for PTC in patients recently diagnosed with this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study was done to assess the bone mineral density (BMD), biochemical bone turnover markers (BTMs), and factors associated with bone health in young Korean women. Methods: Participants were 1,298 women, ages 18-29, recruited in Korea. Measurements were BMD by calcaneus quantitative ultrasound, BTMs for Calcium, Phosphorus, Osteocalcin, and C-telopeptide cross-links (CTX), body composition by physical measurements, nutrients by food frequency questionnaire and psychosocial factors associated with bone health by self-report. Results: The mean BMD (Z-score) was -0.94. 8.7% women had lower BMD (Z-score≤ -2) and 14.3% women had higher BMD (Z-score≥ 0) than women of same age. BTMs were not significantly different between high-BMD (Z-score≥ 0) and low-BMD (Z-score<0) women. However, Osteocalcin and CTX were higher in women preferring caffeine intake, sedentary lifestyle and alcoholic drinks. Body composition and Calcium intake were significantly higher in high-BMD. Low-BMD women reported significantly higher susceptibility and barriers to exercise in health beliefs, lower bone health self-efficacy and promoting behaviors. Conclusion: Results of this study indicate that bone health of young Korean women is not good. Development of diverse strategies to intervene in factors such as exercise, nutrients, self-efficacy, health beliefs and behaviors, shown to be important, are needed to improve bone health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The age-related increase in body fat and decrease in muscle mass are associated with increased morbidity in elderly populations. Pulmonary function also decreases with age, but no study has investigated whether regional body composition is associated with pulmonary function in an older population. The Korean Longitudinal Study on Health and Aging is a community-based cohort study of people aged >65 years selected by random stratified sampling. Anthropometrics, biochemical factors, and lung function by spirometry were evaluated in 439 men (mean age of 75.9 ± 8.6 years) and 561 women (mean age of 76.0 ± 8.8 years). Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was performed to assess the whole and regional body composition. Computed tomography (CT) was also used to measure fat or muscle distribution at the abdominal and mid-thigh levels. Although pulmonary function and muscle mass were inversely related to age, fat mass was not. After adjusting for age, height, BMI, smoking and exercise status, and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), fat mass in trunk or central area was inversely associated with lung function in both sexes (P < 0.01). Men with more muscle in trunk and mid-thigh level had better lung function (P < 0.01). The results of this community-based study show that regional body composition is significantly associated with lung function. Augmentation of muscle in the trunk and low extremity in men, and reduction of fat in the trunk and upper body in men and women may be helpful in maintaining lung function in the elderly population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Several population-based studies in iodine-deficient areas have shown an association between smoking and thyroid function. There are no population-based studies about the effects of smoking in iodine-sufficient areas. We examined the effect of smoking on thyroid function and the association with iodine intake in Korea, an area with sufficient iodine intake, much more than recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Design Of 5018 subjects in a population-based cohort, we included 3399 who had no history of thyroid disease were not taking thyroid medication and whose blood samples were available for measurement of thyroid function. Measurements Thyroid function test, questionnaire about smoking status and dietary intake. Results Of 3399 subjects, 397(11·7%) had subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH). Female sex was an independent risk factor for SCH. Multivariate analysis in female subjects showed the following were independent risk factors for SCH: older age, positive antithyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) antibody status and iodine intake, whereas current smoking was inversely related with SCH. However, in male subjects, only age showed a weak association with SCH. When the interaction between smoking and other risk factors was analysed, smoking showed no association with anti-TPO antibody status, whereas it showed a significant negative interaction with iodine intake (odds ratio, 0·930; 95% CI, 0·869–0·996; P = 0·037). Furthermore, the risk for SCH was observed only in the never-smoker group; however, it was abolished in current- and ex-smoker groups. Conclusion Cigarette smoking was associated with a lower prevalence of SCH in a negative interaction with iodine intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describes the climacteric symptoms experienced by Korean women during the peri and postmenopausal periods. Relationship between levels of menopausal symptoms and life-style behavior; Categories of vasomotor symptoms; Influence of health-related risk behaviors on health status.

OBJECTIVE -- We investigated the prevalence of sarcopenic obesity (SO) and its relationship with metabolic syndrome in a community-based elderly cohort in Korea. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS -- In this study, 287 men and 278 women aged 65 or older were recruited. Sarcopenia was defined as the appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) divided by height squared (Ht²) (kg/m²) or by weight (Wt) (%) of < 1 SD below the sex-specific mean for young adults. Obesity was defined as a visceral fat area ≥100 cm². RESULTS-- The prevalence of SO was 16.7% in men and 5.7% in women with sarcopenia defined by ASM/Ht²; however, it was 35.1% in men and 48.1% in women by ASM/Wt. Using ASM/Wt, the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance of subjects with SO was higher and they were at higher risk for metabolic syndrome (odds ratio [OR] 8.28 [95% CI 4.45-15.40]) than the obese (5.51 [2.81-10.80]) or sarcopenic group (2.64 [1.08-6.44]). CONCLUSIONS-- SO defined by ASM/Wt was more closely associated with metabolic syndrome than either sarcopenia or obesity alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]