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Sleeve gastrectomy typically leads to weight loss, including a reduction in fat-free mass (FFM). Studies have shown significant FFM loss within 1 year after the procedure but with individual variations. This study aimed to assess whether preoperative amino acid metabolite levels can predict FFM changes following sleeve gastrectomy. This study involved 42 patients. Body weight, fat mass (FM), and FFM were measured preoperatively and 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. All participants experienced weight loss, FM reduction, and FFM decrease for up to 3 months after surgery. However, the following distinct groups emerged from 3 to 6 months postoperatively: one showed FFM gain relative to weight loss, whereas the other exhibited continued FFM reduction relative to weight loss. This trend persisted for up to 12 months postoperatively and became more pronounced. The group with FFM gain had lower preoperative BMI and higher levels of indole-3-pyruvic acid (IPyA). Logistic regression and ROC curve analyses confirmed IPyA's ability to predict FFM gain between 3 and 6 months after sleeve gastrectomy, with a useful cutoff value of 20.205. Preoperative IPyA levels were associated with FFM gain relative to weight loss in the 3 to 6 months following sleeve gastrectomy. These findings suggest that IPyA may be a potential predictor for FFM changes during this period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pain in lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) patients is closely associated with psychological factors, including anxiety, stress, and depression, and is a critical determinant of patient daily functionality and overall quality of life. The present study evaluated the effects of inhalation of Pelargonium graveolens (geranium) essential oil (GEO) on pain and related psychological factors in LSS patients. Fifty-nine patients, categorized as having mild or moderate to severe pain based on pain visual analog scale (VAS) scores, were randomly assigned to inhalation of 1% GEO or placebo control (PC). No significant differences between GEO and PC were observed in patients with mild pain, whereas differences in anxiety-VAS and stress-VAS scores were observed in patients with moderate to severe pain. Anxiety-VAS and stress-VAS scores decreased significantly after GEO but not after PC inhalation. Regardless of the severity of pain, post-intervention pain-VAS scores were significantly lower in the GEO group than in the PC group. In summary, GEO reduced pain and improved anxiety and stress, particularly among patients with moderate to severe pain. These findings suggest that GEO inhalation may have potential as an adjunct therapy for improving pain management and alleviating anxiety and stress in LSS patients with insufficient responses to pharmacological pain control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammation and loss of cholinergic transmission are involved in neurodegenerative diseases, but possible interactions between them within neurons, astrocytes, and microglia have not yet been investigated. We aimed to compare store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) in neurons, astrocytes, and microglia following cholinergic dysfunction in combination with (or without) an inflammatory stimulus and to investigate the effects of linalyl acetate (LA) on this process. We used the SH-SY5Y, U373, and BV2 cell lines related to neurons, astrocytes, and microglia, respectively. Scopolamine or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to antagonize the muscarinic receptors or induce inflammatory responses, respectively. The concentration of intracellular Ca2+ was measured using Fura-2 AM. Treatment with scopolamine and LPS significantly increased SOCE in the neuron-like cells and microglia but not in the scopolamine-pretreated astrocytes. LA significantly reduced SOCE in the scopolamine-pretreated neuron-like cells and microglia exposed to LPS, which was partially inhibited by the Na+-K+ ATPase inhibitor ouabain and the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) inhibitor Ni2+. Notably, SOCE was significantly reduced in the LPS plus scopolamine-pretreated cells mixed with astrocytes and microglia, with a two-fold increase in the applied number of astrocytes. LA may be useful in protecting neurons and microglia by reducing elevated SOCE that is induced by inflammatory responses and inhibiting the muscarinic receptors via Na+-K+ ATPase and the forward mode of NCX. Astrocytes may protect microglia by reducing increased SOCE under the conditions of inflammation and a muscarinic receptor blockade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sleeve gastrectomy with proximal jejunal bypass (SG with PJB) is often preferred for patients with higher body mass index (BMI) and inadequate glycemic control. This study aimed to compare the outcomes of SG and SG with PJB, focusing on glycemic control and BMI in prediabetic and diabetic patients. Preoperative analysis revealed differences in age and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels between groups: SG with PJB patients were older (38.72±9.75 vs. 34.93±10.90 years, P=0.002) and had higher HbA1c levels (7.25±1.76 vs. 5.86±0.78%, P<0.001). Patients were stratified into prediabetic and diabetic groups. In the prediabetic group, no preoperative differences were observed between the surgical groups. However, in the diabetic group, patients in the SG with PJB had lower BMI (37.77±5.83 vs. 41.08±8.5 kg/m 2 , P=0.034) and higher HbA1c levels (7.88±1.72 vs. 6.51±1.37%, P<0.001) compared to the SG, despite stratification. Postoperatively, SG with PJB led to significantly lower BMI at 3 months compared to SG, but this difference was not sustained at 6 and 12 months in the prediabetic group. In diabetic patients, SG with PJB resulted in significantly greater reductions in HbA1c levels compared to SG, even when adjusted for BMI as a covariate. At the 12-month follow-up, although SG with PJB still showed higher HbA1c levels than SG (5.79±0.78 vs. 5.59±0.44%, P=0.031), the difference was smaller compared to the preoperative period, where SG with PJB had significantly higher levels (7.88±1.72 vs. 6.51±1.37%, P<0.001). These findings suggest that SG with PJB may offer superior glycemic control in morbidly obese diabetic patients., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: None of the authors have any conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024, The Korean Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.)

Aims: This study aimed to construct a model that describes heart health behaviors in middle-aged working women and verify the goodness-of-fit of the model based on Salutogenesis., Methods and Results: This study adopted a cross-sectional design. Participants were 330 middle-aged working women in South Korea. Data were analyzed using structural equation modelling with Sobel's Z test. In the multiple mediation model, stress coping strategy ( β  = 0.26; p  < 0.001), social support ( β  = 0.41; p  < 0.001), and health self-efficacy ( β  = 0.36; p  < 0.001) had significant direct effects on sense of coherence (SOC). SOC had a significant direct effect on occupational ( β  = -0.72; p  < 0.001) and family stress ( β  = -0.76; p  < 0.001). Additionally, SOC ( β  = 0.67; p  < 0.001), occupational stress ( β  = -0.46; p  < 0.001), and family stress ( β  = -0.28; p  < 0.001) had significant direct effects on heart health behaviors. Moreover, SOC had a significantly partial mediating effect on heart health behaviors through occupational stress ( Z  = 3.17; p  = 0.002) and family stress ( Z  = 2.26; p  = 0.024)., Conclusion: Occupational and family stress mediated the relationship between SOC and heart health behaviors in middle-aged working women., Clinical Evidence: Interventions that mitigate occupational and family stress may improve heart health behaviors among middle-aged working women., 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 Moon and Seo.)

Background: Despite hearing loss being a prevalent chronic condition, estimated to nearly 20% of the global population by the World Health Organization, the specific association with individual lifestyle factors, particularly alcohol consumption, remains unclear. In South Korea, approximately 80% of the population engages in alcohol consumption, with a notably high prevalence among males, indicating a high-risk drinking pattern. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the correlation between alcohol consumption and hearing loss in male workers, as well as to analyze additional variables such as alcohol flushing reaction, with the intention of improving worker health., Methods: The study was conducted from January 2012 to December 2019, targeting 114,114 participants who visited Kangbuk Samsung Hospital Total Healthcare Centers. Data were collected through pure-tone audiometry tests and alcohol-related questionnaire, and statistical analysis was performed using Cox regression analysis. Based on previous studies indicating a potential protective effect of light drinking on hearing loss, this group was designated as the reference. Additionally, stratified analyses were conducted based on the presence of alcohol flushing reaction and different working hours., Results: The hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) for hearing loss was higher in the heavy drinking group (1.23 [1.11-1.37]) compared to the moderate drinking group (1.09 [0.98-1.20]). Stratified analyses revealed a significantly elevated the hazard ratio of hearing loss in groups with alcohol flushing reaction compared to those without this factor., Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that moderate or heavy alcohol consumption in male workers can increase the risk of hearing loss, particularly in those with alcohol flushing reaction. These findings underscore the importance of addressing alcohol-related factors concerning hearing health among male workers., Competing Interests: Competing interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 Korean Society of Occupational & Environmental Medicine.)