Background This study aimed to investigate the recent prevalence, management, and comorbidities of diabetes among Korean adults aged ≥30 years by analyzing nationally representative data. Methods This study used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2016 to 2018, and the percentage and total number of people ≥30 years of age with diabetes and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) were estimated. Results In 2018, 13.8% of Korean adults aged ≥30 years had diabetes, and adults aged ≥65 years showed a prevalence rate of 28%. The prevalence of IFG was 26.9% in adults aged ≥30 years. From 2016 to 2018, 35% of the subjects with diabetes were not aware of their condition. Regarding comorbidities, 53.2% and 61.3% were obese and hypertensive, respectively, and 72% had hypercholesterolemia as defined by low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) ≥100 mg/dL in people with diabetes. Of the subjects with diabetes, 43.7% had both hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. With regard to glycemic control, only 28.3% reached the target level of <6.5%. Moreover, only 11.5% of subjects with diabetes met all three targets of glycosylated hemoglobin, blood pressure, and LDL-C. The percentage of energy intake from carbohydrates was higher in diabetes patients than in those without diabetes, while that from protein and fat was lower in subjects with diabetes. Conclusion The high prevalence and low control rate of diabetes and its comorbidities in Korean adults were confirmed. More stringent efforts are needed to improve the comprehensive management of diabetes to reduce diabetes-related morbidity and mortality.

BackgroundThis report presents the recent prevalence and comorbidities related to diabetes in Korea by analyzing the nationally representative data.MethodsUsing data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for 2013 to 2014, the percentages and the total number of subjects over the age of 30 years with diabetes and prediabetes were estimated and applied to the National Population Census in 2014. Diagnosis of diabetes was based on fasting plasma glucose (≥126 mg/dL), current taking of antidiabetic medication, history of previous diabetes, or glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) ≥6.5%. Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) was defined by fasting plasma glucose in the range of 100 to 125 mg/dL among those without diabetes.ResultsAbout 4.8 million (13.7%) Korean adults (≥30 years old) had diabetes, and about 8.3 million (24.8%) Korean adults had IFG. However, 29.3% of the subjects with diabetes are not aware of their condition. Of the subjects with diabetes, 48.6% and 54.7% were obese and hypertensive, respectively, and 31.6% had hypercholesterolemia. Although most subjects with diabetes (89.1%) were under medical treatment, and mostly being treated with oral hypoglycemic agents (80.2%), 10.8% have remained untreated. With respect to overall glycemic control, 43.5% reached the target of HbA1c <7%, whereas 23.3% reached the target when the standard was set to HbA1c <6.5%, according to the Korean Diabetes Association guideline.ConclusionDiabetes is a major public health threat in Korea, but a significant proportion of adults were not controlling their illness. We need comprehensive approaches to overcome the upcoming diabetes-related disease burden in Korea.

This study investigated how color stimuli that consisted of green foliage plants (Epipremnum aureum) with same sized area of Kalanchoe spp. plants with four different flower colors (white, yellow, pink, and red; Kalanchoe spp.) on a dark green background influenced the brain waves and emotions of 30 undergraduate students. Electroencephalography tests were performed in order to monitor the brain‐wave responses in the prefrontal, frontal, parietal, and occipital lobes in response to the different plant color stimuli. Fourteen pairs of adjectives on the semantic differential scale were used to measure emotional changes. A statistical analysis showed that all of the color stimuli correlated with some emotional keywords and physiological responses. Green plants (E.aureum) produced more positive attitudes, and brain functions were more active compared to those observed after the participants were exposed to white, yellow, pink, or red flowers on a green background. In addition, when participants looked at the green plants, the relative fast alpha power spectrum increased, indicating the involvement of improved concentration, creativity, and attention. However, optical stimuli from the yellow flowers had a positive effect on the parietal and occipital lobes, producing a high relative theta power spectrum and indicating that concentration was improved and that the subjects were happier. The choice of adjectives and the EEG patterns were weakly but significantly correlated. These results may have practical applications because green plants can be used in places where comfort and high concentration are required, plants with white and yellow flowers can be used to make a place more pleasant, and red flowering plants can be used to create a luxurious environment. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 39, 307–316, 2014; Published online 28 December 2012 in Wiley Online Library (http://wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/col.21788.

Illiteracy is associated with a higher risk of AD and the risk increases with age.

This study was conducted to find out the influence of plant cultivating activities program to reduce the stress of parents. Saliva cortisol salivettes system method was taken effect for this study with total 27 of parents who are 39.15±3.5 years old on average and have children attending primary school. The cortisol level was measured once a week, total 10 times, before/after 90 minutes plant cultivating activities program. As the result of this program, the total cortisol decreased after the plant cultivating activities program and there was a statistically significant difference with the total cortisol (t=14.521, p <.01). In addition to this, the final session has the most effect on decreasing the stress compare to other previous sessions. As the result of asking 8 questions on a 7 point Likert scale about preference for plants and plant-related experiences before/after the plant cultivating activities program, the score difference of "The experiences of growing plants still have an influence on my life" was highest between before and after the program at a statistically significant difference. These results imply that the plant cultivation program can boost stress-reducing effects, allow parents being familiar with plants, and provide positive influence on relieving parenting stress. In addition to this, the standardization of physiological changes can be established more easily with the saliva cortisol method as it is less stressful to the subject and a more convenient test, that can be taken anytime and anywhere, compared to the blood cortisol method.

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BackgroundIn Korea, the prevalence, complications, and mortality rate of diabetes are rapidly increasing. However, investigations on the actual condition of diabetes management are very limited due to lack of nation-wide research or multicenter study. Hence, we have minutely inquired the current status of diabetes management and achievement of glucose target goal in general hospital offering education program. That way, we are able to furnish data for policy making of diabetes education and draw up guideline which may allow us to reduce the morbidity and mortality of diabetes.MethodsThe subjects consisted of 2,610 patients with type 2 diabetes who visited the 13 general hospital in Seoul or Gyeonggi region from March 19 to May 29, 2013. General characteristics, associated diseases, complications, and management status were investigated.ResultsThe mean age was 61.0±11.6 years, body mass index was 25.0±3.3 kg/m2, and family history of diabetes was 50.5%. The mean duration of diabetes was 10.7±7.9 years and 53% received education about diabetes. The prevalence of hypertension and dyslipidemia were 59.2% and 65.5%, respectively, and 18.3% of the subjects were accompanied by liver disease. Diabetic retinopathy appeared in 31.6%, nephropathy in 28.1%, and neuropathy in 19.9% of the subjects. The mean glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level was 7.3%±1.3% and the achieving rate based on Korean Diabetes Association guideline (HbA1c <6.5%) was 24.8%, blood pressure (130/80 mm Hg or less) was 49.4%, and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (<100 mg/dL) was 63.6%. The reaching rate to the target level in four parameters (blood glucose, blood pressure, lipids, and body weight) was 7.8%.ConclusionThe blood glucose control rate was lower than other parameters, and the implementation rate of diabetes education was only 53%. Thus more appropriate glucose control and systematic diabetes education are imperative.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) may contribute to the process of autoimmune attacks on hair follicles. To investigate whether the TLR1 gene polymorphisms are associated with the development and clinical features of alopecia areata (AA), a case-control comparison of two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs4833095, Asn248Ser and rs5743557, -414C > T) of TLR1 were studied in 239 AA patients and 248 controls. Using multiple logistic regression model, odds ratios, 95% confidence intervals and corresponding p values were estimated. Clinical features were analyzed based on the age of onset, family history, type of AA, nail involvement and body hair involvement. The missense SNP rs4833095 was significantly associated with the development of AA (codominant2, p = 0.002; recessive, p = 0.001; log-additive, p = 0.0071; and allele frequency, p = 0.0066). The promoter SNP rs5743557 was weakly associated with the development of AA (codominant2, p = 0.019; recessive, p = 0.032; log-additive, p = 0.020; and allele frequency, p = 0.03). In the clinical features, rs4833095 was only weakly associated with age of onset between 15 and 50 years (codominant2, p = 0.043 and recessive, p = 0.022). The results suggest that rs4833095 of TLR1 may be associated with the susceptibility for AA in the Korean population.