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Objective: In this study, we aimed to analyze cost trends for the outpatient treatment of lumbar intervertebral disc herniation (LDH)., Methods: We used cross-sectional data obtained from the Korea Health Panel Survey from 2011 to 2015. We compared outpatient medical expenses for conservative treatment of LDH using traditional Korean medicine (TKM) or Western medicine (WM)., Results: This analysis revealed that the total medical expenses for outpatient treatment of LDH using WM treatment methods increased by 30% from 2011 to 2015, and self-payment expenses increased by 50%. The total medical expenses for outpatient treatment of LDH using TKM methods increased by 8%, and self-payment expenses decreased by 33%. The National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) expenditure for WM increased by 7%, and non-covered costs increased by 83%. The NHIS expenditure for TKM increased by 41%, and non-covered costs decreased by 66%., Conclusions: The total medical expenses for WM treatments are increasing in Korea, especially for non-covered treatments. The non-covered costs for TKM treatments are decreasing, suggesting a change in medical cost trends according to whether Korea's actual medical expense insurance scheme is applied.

Introduction: Obesity results from an imbalance in the intake and expenditure of calories that leads to lifestyle-related diseases. Although genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have revealed many obesity-related genetic factors, the interactions of these factors and calorie intake remain unknown. This study aimed to investigate interactions between calorie intake and the polygenic risk score (PRS) of BMI., Methods: Three cohorts, i.e., from the Korea Association REsource (KARE; n = 8,736), CArdioVAscular Disease Association Study (CAVAS; n = 9,334), and Health EXAminee (HEXA; n = 28,445), were used for this study. BMI-related genetic loci were selected from previous GWAS. Two scores, PRS, and association (a)PRS, were used; the former was determined from 193 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 5 GWAS datasets, and the latter from 62 SNPs (potentially associated) from 3 Korean cohorts (meta-analysis, p < 0.01)., Results: PRS and aPRS were significantly associated with BMI in all 3 cohorts but did not exhibit a significant interaction with total calorie intake. Similar results were obtained for obesity. PRS and aPRS were significantly associated with obesity but did not show a significant interaction with total calorie intake. We further analyzed the interaction with protein, fat, and carbohydrate intake. The results were similar to those for total calorie intake, with PRS and aPRS found to not be associated with the interaction of any of the 3 nutrition components for either BMI or obesity., Discussion: The interaction of BMI PRS with calorie intake was investigated in 3 independent Korean cohorts (total n = 35,094) and no interactions were found between PRS and calorie intake for obesity., (© 2020 The Author(s) Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Aim: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of an exercise programme that uses text messages on knee function after arthroscopic knee surgery., Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study that used the nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design. A total of 52 adult patients (25 in the experimental group and 24 in the control group). scheduled for arthroscopic knee surgery for meniscal tears were included in the study. The knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score was used to confirm the effect. The collected data were statistically analyzed using SPSS version 23.0. Repeated-measures analysis of covariance was used to analyze symptoms, activities of daily living (ADL), and knee-related quality of life (QOL). Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to analyze pain and sports and recreation function., Results: Significant differences in symptoms, ADL, sports and recreation function, and knee-related QOL were found according to time and group., Conclusion: The use of text messages was effective as a way of promoting exercise after arthroscopic knee surgery., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Given the increased concerns about the degenerative decline in the physical performance of the elderly, there is a need for developing effective strategies to suppress the age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass and functional capacity through a lifestyle intervention. This randomized controlled trial examined whether a combination of Korean mistletoe extract (KME) supplement and exercise affected muscle mass, muscle function, and targeted molecular expressions. Sixty-seven subjects aged 55-75years were assigned to placebo, low-dose (1g/d), or high-dose (2g/d) of KME for 12weeks. The body composition was significantly changed in the high-dose group during the intervention period as determined by skeletal muscle mass (P=0.040), fat free mass (P=0.042), soft lean mass (P=0.023), skeletal muscle index (P=0.041), fat-free mass index (P=0.030), percent body fat (P=0.044), and fat mass to lean mass ratio (P=0.030). Knee strength was measured by Cybex, demonstrating a significant effect in the KME groups compared to the placebo group (P=0.026 for peak torque and P=0.057 for set total work), which was more pronounced after adjusting for age, gender, protein, and energy intake (P=0.009 for peak torque and P=0.033 for set total work). The dynamic balance ability was remarkably improved in the high-dose group over a 12-week period as determined by Timed "Up and Go" (P=0.005 for fast walk test and P=0.024 for ordinary walk test). Consistent with these results, RT-PCR, multiplex analyses, and immunocytofluorescence staining revealed that a high-dose KME supplementation was effective for suppressing intracellular pathways related to muscle protein degradation, but stimulating those related to myogenesis. In particular, significant differences were found in atrogin-1 mRNA (P=0.002 at a single administration and P=0.001 at a 12-week administration), myogenin mRNA (P<0.0001 at a single administration and P=0.040 at a 12-week administration), and insulin growth factor 1 receptor phosphorylation (P=0.002 at a 12-week administration). These results suggest that KME supplementation together with resistance exercise may be useful in suppressing the age-related loss of muscle mass and strength in the elderly., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris), native to Europe, is commonly consumed fresh and sometimes inadequately washed before consumption in Korea. The objective of this study was to characterize isolates of spore-forming bacilli (SFB) in samples of fresh Shepherd's purse. Three genera were identified: Bacillus (9 species), Paenibacillus (3 species), and Brevibacillus (1 species). None of the genes of the hemolysin BL (HBL) and nonhemolytic enterotoxin (NHE) complexes, or of the emetic toxin, was detected in the 25 SFB isolates, except for 2 Bacillus pseudomycoides isolates, where all 3 genes of the HBL enterotoxin complex were detected. There were significant sequence variations between the 2 species (Bacillus cereus and B. pseudomycoides) in the 3 genes of the HBL enterotoxin complex. These findings may provide insights into the diverse characteristics of the B. pseudomycoides HBL enterotoxin complex. Antibiotic resistance was assessed using 8 antibiotics. Among the 25 SFB isolates, 11 showed resistance to antibiotics, of which 5 were multiresistant. Assessment of the spoilage potential showed that all 25 SFB isolates could produce enzymes that can cause spoilage of foods. In conclusion, our findings may serve as integrative information for food research and industrial sectors., (© 2016 Institute of Food Technologists®)

The role of atypical bacteria and the effect of antibiotic treatments in acute bronchitis are still not clear. This study was conducted at 22 hospitals (17 primary care clinics and 5 university hospitals) in Korea. Outpatients (aged ≥ 18 yr) who had an acute illness with a new cough and sputum (≤ 30 days) were enrolled in 2013. Multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect five atypical bacteria. A total of 435 patients were diagnosed as having acute bronchitis (vs. probable pneumonia, n = 75), and 1.8% (n = 8) were positive for atypical pathogens (Bordetella pertussis, n = 3; B. parapertussis, n = 0; Mycoplasma pneumoniae, n = 1; Chlamydophila pneumoniae, n = 3; Legionella pneumophila, n = 1). Among clinical symptoms and signs, only post-tussive vomiting was more frequent in patients with atypical pathogens than those without (P = 0.024). In all, 72.2% of the enrolled patients received antibiotic treatment at their first visits, and β-lactams (29.4%) and quinolones (20.5%) were the most commonly prescribed agents. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that the incidence of atypical pathogens is low in patients with acute bronchitis, and the rate of antibiotic prescriptions is high.