• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.143-151
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was to investigate the relations and odds ratio between hs-CRP and the risk factors of metabolic syndrome according to glucose intolerance and diabetes among the residents of a rural community. Methods: The subjects include 1,968 adults aged from 40 to 70 who were divided into four groups and a diabetes group according to glucose intolerance to compare the relations and risk ratio between hs-CRP and the risk factors of metabolic syndrome. Results: The results reveal that the greater the subjects' glucose intolerance was, the higher their hs-CRP became and the more risk factors of metabolic syndrome they had. The impaired glucose tolerance group showed 1.7 times higher blood pressure than the control group. The diabetes group showed a high odds ratio with 2.3 times higher blood pressure, 2.2 times higher abdominal obesity, and 2.4 times higherW/Ht than the control group. And the odds ratio increased significantly by 1.7 times in the hs-CRP intermediate risk group and 2.5 times in the high risk group compared with the control group. Conclusion: Considering the study results, it is very important to monitor abdominal obesity, blood pressure and the intermediate and high risk group of hs-CRP in order to reduce the contraction of cardiovascular diseases.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.211-227
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• 2024

Introduction: Seaweed is a sustainable and underexplored source of bioactive compounds with potent anti-inflammatory activities. However, studies on the interaction between seaweed and genes on inflammation are limited. Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the relationships between seaweed consumption and the polygenic risk scores (PRS) and their interactions with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels. Methods: Information on seaweed consumption was collected using a food frequency questionnaire, which included laver, kelp, and sea mustard among the items consumed. A total of 31 hs-CRP-related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected using genome-wide association studies and clumping analysis, and the individual PRS were calculated by weighting the effect size of each allele in the selected SNPs of 39,369 middle-aged (≥40 years) Koreans using the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES)-Health Examinees (HEXA) cohort data. To investigate the interaction between seaweed intake and the PRS on hs-CRP levels >1 mg/L, hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were assessed using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models. Results: During a mean follow-up period of 4.8 years, we recorded 436 patients with elevated hs-CRP levels. Women in the highest tertile of the PRS with the lowest quartile of seaweed intake had an increased incidence of elevated hs-CRP levels compared with women in the lowest tertile of the PRS with the lowest seaweed intake quartile (HR 2.34, 95% CI 1.23-4.45). No significant association was observed among the men. Conclusion: In conclusion, we identified a new interaction between the PRS, seaweed intake, and inflammation in Korean women, and this study suggests that the interaction between the identification of genetic predisposition and dietary seaweed intake may have an impact on determining the risk of developing hyperinflammation in the future.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.617-622
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• 2006

Purpose : High-Sensitivity C-reactive protein(hs-CRP) has been recognized as a very useful and sensitive predictor of the future risk of myocardial infarction. But the clinical significance of hs-CRP in children remains uncertain. To confirm the existence of obesity-induced vascular inflammation and the association between metabolic syndromes and elevation of CRP in children, we investigated the relationship among CRP, obesity, blood pressure(BP), and serum lipids in schoolboys. Methods : Twenty-eight obese(BMI $29.61{\pm}3.29kg/m^2$) and 93 non-obese(BMI $18.99{\pm}2.21kg/m^2$) boys aged 14 years were examined. Serum CRP levels was measured by the high sensitive latex turbidimetric immunoassay and subjects with CRP levels below 0.3 mg/dL were adopted to avoid the influence of acute infection. Results : Obese children had significantly higher hs-CRP levels than their non-obese group($0.104{\pm}0.075$ vs. $0.054{\pm}0.005mg/dL$). In the obese group, BMI, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, apolipoprotein B, atherogenic index, and triglyceride were significantly higher than in nonobese. The BMI, diastolic blood pressure, apolipoprotein E, atherognic index, and triglyceride showed positive correlation with log CRP by simple regression. Multiple regression analysis indicated that BMI and apolipoprotein E were strongly related to CRP. Conclusion : This study revealed that obese children tended to have higher levels of serum hsCRP, BP elevation and dyslipidemia than the control group and that BMI and apolipoprotein E were strongly related to CRP. These results indicate that obesity related metabolic syndrome can be developed in children.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.66-71
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• 2018

Purpose: Respiratory morbidity is the most common problem among neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care units. Therefore, the aim of this study was to make a differential diagnosis between transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN), respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), and pneumonia through comparison of clinical features and test results. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in 86 infants with TTN, RDS, or pneumonia. These were infants who had respiratory distress, were born after ${\geq}34$ weeks of gestation, and transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit of Kosin University Gospel Hospital between June 1, 2011 and June 30, 2016. Results: The numbers (percentage) of infants with TTN, RDS, and pneumonia were 51 (59.3%), 20 (23.3%), and 15 (17.4%), respectively. Late-preterm and early-term newborns accounted for 65.1% of the infants. Tachypnea was observed in 74.4% of the neonates. The median age at admission was 4 hours (0 to 116) after birth. The infants with RDS had significantly lower birth weights, pH levels, base excess and oxygen saturation levels at admission, longer duration of total ventilator therapy, and hospital stay than those in the other two groups. The infants with pneumonia showed significantly high initial high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels and significant chest radiographic findings. Conclusion: Early differential diagnosis for TTN, RDS, and pneumonia is challenging because they show similar respiratory symptoms at an early stage. Clinical features and test results can be used to determine the etiology of respiratory distress and early antibiotic treatment.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.86-96
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• 2012

The high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) as one of the typical acute phase reactants is used for predictive factor of the cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus. In addition, there are claims that must be included as factors of metabolic syndrome. This research examined the relationship between the concentration of hs-CRP in blood and risk factors of the metabolic syndrome by gender, and the rates of metabolic syndrome depending on the hs-CRP level based on the general public who took the comprehensive medical check-up at Chonbuk National University Hospital in the Jeonbuk province. The subjects aged 17-87 years were participated, and 2,000 people were included as the final subjects except the persons with more than 10 mg/L of the hs-CRP of blood level. The hs-CRP concentrations increased according to the number of risk factors of metabolic syndrome in both men and women. In regards to the risk ratio of metabolic syndrome based on hs-CRP level in blood according to gender, the risk ratio increased by 3.07 times in male and 4.55 times in female intermediate risk group and 3.60 times in male and 6.15 times in female high risk group compared to hs-CRP low risk group. As a result, there was a proportional relation between hs-CRP level and the occurrence of metabolic syndrome, and it occurs more frequently among women than men.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.165-179
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• 2024

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Mushroom consumption, rich in diverse nutrients and bioactive compounds, is suggested as a potential significant contributor to preventing cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs). This systematic review aimed to explore the association between mushrooms and cardiometabolic health outcomes, utilizing data from prospective cohort studies and clinical trials focusing on the general population, with mushrooms themselves as a major exposure. SUBJECTS/METHODS: All original articles, published in English until July 2023, were identified through searches on PubMed, Ovid-Embase, and google scholar. Of 1,328 studies, we finally selected 5 prospective cohort studies and 4 clinical trials. RESULTS: Existing research is limited, typically consisting of 1 to 2 studies for each CMD and cardiometabolic condition. Examination of articles revealed suggestive associations in some cardiometabolic conditions including blood glucose (both fasting and postprandial), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol related indices, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and obesity indices (body weight, body mass index, and waist circumference). However, mushroom consumption showed no association with the mortality and morbidity of cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and type 2 diabetes, although there was a potentially beneficial connection with all cause-mortality, hyperuricemia, and metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSION: Due to the scarcity of available studies, drawing definitive conclusions is premature. Further comprehensive investigations are needed to clarify the precise nature and extent of this relationship before making conclusive recommendations for the general population.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.185-189
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• 2005

Lipids such as total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) are known as good risk factors for coronary artery diseases caused by arthrosclerosis. We measured the serum concentrations of hs-CRP, TC, and HDL-C of 6,128 persons who underwent medical examinations in the Health Screening Center at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital. We classified the subjects into normotensive and hypertensive groups according to the blood pressure measured. We investigated whether there was a difference of hs-CRP and lipids between the normotensive and hypertensive groups. There was significant difference of TC, TC/HDL-C ratio, and hs-CRP concentration between the normotensive and hypertensive groups in both men and women, but there was no significant difference of HDL-C concentration between two groups. Our results indicated that the concentrations of hs-CRP and lipids were higher in patients with hypertension and confirmed the usefulness of lipids and hs-CRP in predicting the risk for coronary artery diseases.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2014

Purpose: The objective of this study was to find the predictors and generate a prediction scoring model of nonresponse to intravenous immunoglobulin in patients with Kawasaki disease. Methods: We examined 573 children diagnosed with KD at the Severance Children's Hospital between January 2009 and december 2012. We retrospectively reviewed their medical records. These patients were divided into 2 groups; the experimental group (N=433) and the validation group (N=140). Each group were divided into 2 groups the intravenous immunoglobulin nonresponders and the responders. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified predictive factors of intravenous immunoglobulin nonresponders which make predictive scoring model. We practice internal validation and external validation. Results: Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified male, cervical lymphadenopathy, changes of the extremities, platelet, total bilirubin, alkaline phophatase, lactate dehydrogenase, C-reactive protein as significant predictors for nonresponse to intravenous immunoglobulin. We generated prediction score assigning 1 point for (1) male, (2) cervical lymphadenopathy, (3) changes of the extremities, (4) platelet (${\leq}368,000/mm^3$), (5) total bilirubin (${\geq}0.4mg/dL$), (6) alkaline phophatase (${\geq}227IU/L$), (7) lactate dehydrogenase (${\geq}268IU/L$), (8) C-reactive protein (>77.1 mg/dL). Using a cut-off point of 4 and more with this prediction score, we could identify the intravenous immunoglobulin nonresponder group. Sensitivity and specificity were 52.5% and 82.4% in experimental group and 37.8% and 81.8% in validation group, respectively. Conclusion: Our predictive scoring models had high specificity and low sensitivity in Korean patients. Therefore it is useful in predicting nonresponse to intravenous immunoglobulin with Kawasaki disease.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.997-1006
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR) are closely related and considered as allergic respiratory diseases (ARD), and their prevalence has recently increased. Data on the association of dietary antioxidant vitamin intake with asthma and AR in adults are limited. The present study aimed to investigate the associations of vitamin A and C intake with asthma, AR, and all cases of both diseases in young adults who participated in a cross-sectional national survey, with the use of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level as an effect modifier. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This study included 6,293 male and female adults aged 20-49 years from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) conducted between 2016 and 2018. The questionnaire-based reports on asthma and AR diagnosis were used to determine outcome variables. Further, 24-h recall data on dietary vitamin A and C, carotene, and retinol intake were acquired. Logistic regression analysis was performed to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: Dietary vitamin C intake was inversely associated with asthma prevalence among participants with hs-CRP levels (≥ 1 mg/L); the OR of asthma prevalence was 0.27 (95% CI, 0.08-0.84) for participants with vitamin C consumption ≥ 75 mg/day compared with those consuming < 20 mg/day. Similar association analyses limiting to non-users of dietary supplements were performed to rule out the potential effects of supplement intake on the outcomes; results showed a stronger association. However, the association between vitamin C and asthma was not significant in participants with hs-CRP levels < 1 mg/L; the OR of asthma was 1.44 (95% CI, 0.66-3.16) for participants with vitamin C consumption ≥ 75 mg/day compared with those consuming < 20 mg/day. Vitamin C intake was not associated with AR. Moreover, there was no association between vitamin A intake and neither asthma nor AR. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that higher vitamin C intake may play a potential role in reducing asthma prevalence. Nevertheless, further studies should be conducted to evaluate whether this association is causal.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.264-269
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• 2017

CREST syndrome is a form of limited cutaneous scleroderma that occurs only in certain parts of the body, such as the skin of the hands and face. CREST refers to the five main features of the syndrome: calcinosis, Raynaud's phenomenon, esophageal dysmotility, sclerodactyly, and telangiectasia. Currently, there is no standard treatment for CREST syndrome, and there have been no studies of the use of traditional Korean medicine (TKM) for this disease. This study describes the effects of Keumsuyukun-jeon on CREST syndrome. The patient in this case had typical clinical symptoms of CREST syndrome. These symptoms improved within a relatively short period of receiving the TKM treatment. The results of Anti-centromere antibody (AI) and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (mg/L) also improved.