BackgroundThe aim of this study was to evaluate the time trend of seropositivity of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) over the period of 13 years in an asymptomatic Korean population, and investigate associated risk factors.MethodsThis cross-sectional nationwide multicentre study surveyed anti-H. pylori IgG antibodies in 19,272 health check-up subjects (aged [greater than and equal to]16 years) in 2011. Risk factors for H. pylori infection were investigated using logistic regression. Seropositivity in asymptomatic subjects without H. pylori eradication was compared between the years 1998 and 2005. Birth cohort effects were also evaluated.ResultsAfter exclusion of subjects with a history of H. pylori eradication therapy (n = 3,712, 19.3%) and gastric symptoms (n = 4,764, 24.7%), the seroprevalence of H. pylori infection was 54.4% in 10,796 subjects. This was significantly lower than the seroprevalence of 59.6% in 2005 and that of 66.9% in 1998, and this decrease of seropositivity of H. pylori became widespread across all ages and in most areas of the country. This decreasing trend could be explained by cohort analysis. All younger birth cohorts had a lower seroprevalence of H. pylori than older birth cohorts at the same age. Decreased seroprevalence within the same birth cohorts also accounted for this phenomenon. Clinical risk factors of H. pylori infection were higher cholesterol level ([greater than and equal to] 240 mg/dl) (OR = 1.33; 95% CI = 1.14-1.54), male gender, older age, low income, and residence in a rural area.ConclusionsA decreasing trend of H. pylori seroprevalence due to a birth cohort effect requires further studies on its related human host factors as well as socio-economic and hygienic factors. In addition, the relationship between H. pylori infection and high cholesterol level needs more investigation regarding underlying pathogenesis.

PG I/II ratio (< or = 3.0) was found to be a reliable marker for the detection of dysplasia or gastric cancer, especially of the intestinal type. This detection power of PG I/II ratio (< or = 3.0) significantly increased in the presence of H. pylori, and thus, provides a means of selecting those at high risk of developing gastric cancer in Korea.

Nonvolatile logic devices have attracted intensive research attentions recently for energy efficiency computing, where data computing and storage can be realized in the same device structure. Various approaches have been adopted to build such devices; however, the functionality and versatility are still very limited. Here, 2D van der Waals heterostructures based on direct bandgap materials black phosphorus and rhenium disulfide for the nonvolatile ternary logic operations is demonstrated for the first time with the ultrathin oxide layer from the black phosphorus serving as the charge trapping as well as band‐to‐band tunneling layer. Furthermore, an artificial electronic synapse based on this heterostructure is demonstrated to mimic trilingual synaptic response by changing the input base voltage. Besides, artificial neural network simulation based on the electronic synaptic arrays using the handwritten digits data sets demonstrates a high recognition accuracy of 91.3%. This work provides a path toward realizing multifunctional nonvolatile logic‐in‐memory applications based on novel 2D heterostructures.

In a retrospective analysis of patients with BD-IPMN followed for more than 5 years, we found most cysts to be indolent, but some rapidly grew and progressed. Surveillance protocols should therefore be individualized based on initial cyst size and rate of growth.

These results suggest that the genetic polymorphisms of these 3 inflammation-related cytokines, IL-10, IL-8, and IL-6, are associated with the development of H. pylori-associated gastroduodenal disease.

Background Osteoarthritis (OA) is common and disabling among older patients around the world. Data exploring the prevalence and risk factors of OA are of paramount importance in establishing healthcare policies. However, few studies have evaluated these topics among Asian populations. Questions/purposes This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and risk factors of radiographic OA in the spine, shoulder, hand, hip, and knee in Koreans older than age 65 years.Methods A simple random sample (N = 1118) was drawn from a roster of elderly individuals older than age 65 years in Seongnam. Of the 1118 invited subjects, 696 (males = 298, females = 398) participated in this study (a response rate of 62%). The mean age of respondents was 72 ± 5 years (range, 65-91 years). Radiographs of the lumbar spine, shoulder, hand, hip, and knee were taken and afterward evaluated for radiographic OA. The KellgrenLawrence grading system was used for all mentioned joints, and radiographic OA was defined as Grade 2 changes or higher. The association of sex, aging, and obesity with OA in each of the mentioned joints was determined with the help of multivariate logistic regression. Results The highest prevalence of radiographic OA was seen in the spine (number of subjects with OA/number of whole population = 462 of 696 [66%]) followed by the hand (415 of [CI], 3.9-8.4; p \ 0.001) and hand OA (OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.6-3.1; p \ 0.001), and male sex was associated with spine OA (OR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.5-1.0; p = 0.025). Aging was associated with radiographic OA in the spine, knee, and hand (OR per 5-year increments, 1.3 [95% CI, 1.1-1.6; p = 0.001], 1.6 [95% CI, 1.4-1.9; p \ 0.001], and 1.4 [95% CI, 1.2-1.7; p \ 0.001]), respectively) but not associated with OA in the hip and shoulder. Obesity was associated with knee OA (OR, 3.4; 95% CI, 2.4-5.0; p \ 0.001) and spine OA (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1-2.2; p = 0.014) but not with OA in other joints. Conclusions OA of the spine, hand, and knee is likely to become a major public health problem rather than shoulder and hip OA in Korea. Associations of demographic factors

IS. Effect of aging on gastric mucosal defense mechanisms: ROS, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and sensory neurons.

On univariate analysis, older age was related with poor postoperative integrity and better functional improvement in Constant score. Multivariate regression revealed that age was not an independent determinant for anatomical or functional outcome whereas the tear retraction and fatty degeneration of the infraspinatus were independent factors for the integrity of repair and the presence of the paradoxical abduction and abduction torque of the unaffected shoulder for the Constant score.