The root of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer is one of the most popular natural tonics in oriental countries. In this study, we have isolated polysaccharide fraction of Panax ginseng (ginsan) and examined its effect on the function of murine peritoneal macrophages. When macrophages were treated with ginsan, cytotoxic activity against B16 melanoma cells was significantly induced. In addition, the levels of cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), IL-6 and Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) were increased and the production of reactive oxygen/nitrogen components such as nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was enhanced. Moreover, phagocytic activity was induced in ginsan-treated macrophages compared to the control. The expression of CD14 and 1-Ab on murine peritoneal macrophages was increased by the treatment with ginsan, while the expression of CD11b was decreased. Taken together, these results suggest that ginsan has an immunopotentiating effects on macrophages and these abilities could be used clinically for the treatment of diseases such as cancer.

Fractionated microneedle RF can have a positive therapeutic effect on inflammatory acne vulgaris and related scars. In addition, this technique does not worsen active acne lesions.

There are only two longitudinal studies dealing with precarious employment and mental health in East Asia, the results of which are inconsistent with each other. We concluded that in East Asia precarious employment is associated with mental health problem.

BackgroundTo discover the association between eating alone and diet quality among Korean adults who eat alone measured by the mean adequacy ratio (MAR),MethodsThe cross-sectional study in diet quality which was measured by nutrient intakes, indicated as MAR and nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR) with the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) VI 2013–2015 data. Study population was 8523 Korean adults. Multiple linear regression was performed to identify the association between eating behaviour and MAR and further study analysed how socioeconomic factors influence the diet quality of those who eat alone.ResultsWe found that the diet quality of people who eat alone was lower than that of people who eat together in both male (β: − 0.110, p = 0.002) and female participants (β: − 0.069, p = 0.005). Among who eats alone, the socioeconomic factors that negatively influenced MAR with the living arrangement, education level, income levels, and various occupation classifications.ConclusionsPeople who eat alone have nutrition intake below the recommended amount. This could lead to serious health problems not only to those who are socially disadvantaged but also those who are in a higher social stratum. Policy-makers should develop strategies to enhance diet quality to prevent potential risk factors.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12937-018-0424-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

BackgroundThyroid hormones are known to have direct and indirect effects on metabolism. Individuals with metabolic syndrome, a disease that is growing in incidence at a rapid rate, are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. The aim of this study was to identify whether significant correlations exist between thyroid hormone levels and components of the metabolic syndrome in the general population of Korea.MethodsThe data were collected from the sixth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys from 2013 to 2015. A total of 1423 participants were tested for thyroid function. The analysis of variance and multiple linear regression were performed to analyze the relationship between thyroid hormone level and components of the metabolic syndrome.ResultsA positive association between free thyroxine and fasting glucose level was observed in patients with high free thyroxine levels (≥1.70 ng/dL, β = 15.992, p = < 0.0001), when compared with patients with normal-middle free thyroxine levels. Moreover, a negative association was observed between free thyroxine and triglyceride levels in patients with normal-high free thyroxine levels (β = − 21.145, p = 0.0054) and those with high free thyroxine levels (β = − 49.713, p = 0.0404).ConclusionFree thyroxine shows a partially positive association with fasting glucose and a partially negative association with triglycerides in the Korean population. In patients with abnormal thyroid function, follow up tests for glucose levels and lipid profiling during treatment for thyroid dysfunction would be beneficial in terms of overlooking metabolic syndrome and to prevent related diseases.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12902-018-0256-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

BackgroundPrevious evidence suggests that there is a correlation between prolonged sitting time and cardio-metabolic disease, such as metabolic syndrome (MS). Cardiovascular disease is the second-leading cause of mortality in South Korea, a country with the longest working hours among all member states of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. However, no previous study has investigated the relationships of overall sitting-time and occupation with MS in South Korea. Accordingly, the present study examined these relationships in a South Korean population.MethodsData from the sixth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), a nationally representative survey with a cross-sectional design, were used in the present study. MS diagnoses were evaluated using the International Diabetes Foundation (IDF) criteria. Participants self-reported their overall sitting times, and occupations were classified using the Korean version of the Standard Classification of Occupations (KSCO). A multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the associations of sitting time and occupation with MS.ResultsThe risk of MS was 1.21-fold higher among participants who sat for >7 h/day than among those who sat for ≤7 h/day (odds ratio [OR]: 1.21, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.00–1.46). Regarding occupation, office workers had a two-fold higher risk of MS than did agriculture, forestry, and fishery (AFF) workers (OR: 2.01, 95 % CI: 1.26–3.22). In a combined analysis of sitting time and occupation, male participants who sat for >7 h/day and reported an occupation that involves office work (OW) or machine fitting (MF) were significantly more likely to have MS when compared to those who sat for ≤7 h/day and were employed as AFF workers (>7 h/day × OW, OR: 2.41, 95 % CI: 1.05–5.51; >7 h/day × MF, OR: 2.92, 95 % CI: 1.43–5.93).ConclusionsExcessive sitting time and a sedentary occupation correlated positively with MS in South Korean adults. Accordingly, a reduction in the overall sitting time or inclusion of energy-expending activities in the workplace might improve the rate of MS.

Objectives The present study evaluated suicide risk within 1 year after discharge among older adults with stroke as a function of depression onset. Method We used the Korean National Health Insurance Service‐Senior cohort data and included first discharged patients with a stroke as the principal diagnosis. The comparison group was selected by a 1:2 case‐control propensity score matching for age, sex, Charlson comorbidity index, and diagnosis year between 2005 and 2012. Suicide deaths were measured by code for causes of death from Statistics Korea, and the main outcome was suicide death within 1 year following discharge. An adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) of suicidal risk was measured using a Cox proportional hazard model. Results In the total sample of 128 286 older adults (aged 63‐114 years), the higher suicidal risk was examined for stroke patients vs the comparison group (AHR = 1.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1‐1.8). Stroke patients with depression had an increased suicide risk (AHR = 2.9; 95% CI, 1.8‐4.8) but only for poststroke depression (AHR = 4.1; 95% CI, 1.8‐9.5). Pre and poststroke depression suicidality (AHR = 4.8; 95% CI, 2.1‐11.1) was also higher when compared to stroke patients without depression. Conclusions Poststroke patients are at increased suicidal risk during 1 year following discharge. Furthermore, patients who were diagnosed with depression after a stroke are more likely to commit suicide than stroke patients without depression. This suggests a necessity for early suicide preventive intervention for stroke patients while considering depressive symptomology.

BackgroundAlthough persons with disabilities need access to comprehensive and consistent healthcare services, a significant number of the poor with disabilities do not receive Medical-Aid due to the conditions of eligibility. We aimed to compare the financial burden of healthcare services between two groups of poor persons with disabilities: those not enrolled in Medical-Aid and Medical-Aid enrollees.MethodsThis study used the 1st–8th data (2008–2014 year) of Panel Survey of Employment for the Disabled (PSED) conducted by the Korea Employment Agency for the Disabled. We classified adults who did not exceed 100 % of the poverty level into two groups (N = 3,010). The first group consisted of enrollees in Medical-Aid (n = 1,259) and the second group comprised those not enrolled in Medical-Aid (n = 1,325). We applied generalized estimating equations (GEEs) to assess the independent effect of enrollment in Medical-Aid on catastrophic health expenditures (CHE).ResultsWe found that about 4.2 % of the poor not enrolled in the Medical-Aid experienced CHE and the poor not enrolled in Medical-Aid were 2.1 times more likely to experience CHE than Medical-Aid enrollees after applying multivariate models adjusted for several covariates.ConclusionsGiven the additional expenses for treatment and rehabilitation caused by disability-related health problems, persons with disabilities are more likely to face barriers to needed medical services. Thus, policy makers need to expand the number of people receiving Medical-Aid by loosening the strict criteria for those with disabilities.