Young Adults In Korea Research Articles

Serum Vitamin D status and its relations to body fatness and fitness and risk factors in young adults.

The study examined the relations of serum vitamin D levels to body fatness, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and metabolic risk factors in young adults in Korea. A total of 593 young men completed a health examination, body fatness, maximal treadmill exercise test, and assessment of metabolic risk factors. Participants were classified by serum vitamin D levels as deficient (< 20 ng/mL), insufficient (20~30 ng/mL), and sufficient (> 30 ng/mL). Body fatness, CRF, and metabolic risk factors were evaluated according to serum vitamin D classification. Significant inverse trends in body fatness and metabolic risk factors were observed, as was a significant linear trend for CRF across incremental vitamin D categories in this study population. Serum vitamin D levels were negatively associated with body fatness parameters, blood pressures, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and insulin and positively associated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and CRF. Compared to the BMI-based lean group, the obese groups had significantly higher odds ratio for serum vitamin D insufficiency before and after adjusting for age, CRF, and physical activity. Similarly, compared to percent body fat- and waist circumference-based lean groups, the obese groups had significant higher odds ratios for serum vitamin D insufficiency. In conclusion, the current findings of the study suggest that along with vitamin D intakes, body fat loss and outdoor physical activity should be promoted as non-pharmacologic means to improve metabolic risk factors in young adults.

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis A and Associated Socioeconomic Factors in Young Healthy Korean Adults

An epidemiologic shift of hepatitis A virus (HAV) seroprevalence is expected due to an improvement in socioeconomic status in young adults in Korea. We investigated the age-specific seroprevalence and socioeconomic factors associated with HAV seropositivity in young, healthy Korean adults. Between March 2009 and February 2010, a total of 5,051 persons from 20 to 49 years of age presenting for a health check-up were included and responded to a questionaire. The seroprevalence of HAV was investigated by measuring immunoglobulin G (IgG) anti-HAV. A total of 984 pairs of cases and age- and sex-matched controls were analyzed for associated socioeconomic factors. The prevalence of seropositive HAV was 6.2% in the 20 to 29 age range, 33.1% in the 30 to 39 range and 82.4% in the 40 to 49 range (p<0.001). There were no significant differences in any group according to gender. A multivariate analysis for paired cases indicated that HAV seropositivity was significantly higher in the low monthly income (below five million won, approximately 4,300 dollars) group and the Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-positive group (odds ratio [OR], 1.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.27-2.14; p<0.001; OR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.19-1.76; p<0.001, respectively). HAV seropositivity in young adults presenting for a health checkup appears to be decreasing, and the prevalence was significantly higher in the low monthly income group and the H. pylori-positive group.

The Fraction of Nitric Oxide and Influencing Factors among Healthy Young Adults in Korea

The Fraction of Nitric Oxide and Influencing Factors among Healthy Young Adults in Korea

Molecular characterization of an acute hepatitis A outbreak among healthcare workers at a Korean hospital

The seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus (HAV) antibodies is low in young adults in Korea. From May to July 2005, 17 cases of HAV were reported from healthcare workers (HCWs) in a hospital intensive care unit (ICU). We looked for the presence of anti-HAV IgM from all patients in the medical-surgical ICU with elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and screened AST and ALT levels in all HCWs who came into contact with two suspected index cases. Once the outbreak was confirmed, the molecular subtypes of HAV from the blood of HCWs were determined. Index cases and a transmission route were identified, and intervention strategies applied to control the outbreak. The 17 HCW cases included 13 nurses and four doctors aged 22-32 years, who each suffered acute HAV infection during the study period. The possible transmission of HAV was via the faecal-oral route from bedridden patients with diarrhoea. All HCWs were positive for anti-HAV IgM and eight were positive for HAV RNA. Analysis of the VP1-2A region of each isolate showed genotype IA in five strains and co-circulation of genotypes IA and IB in the others. This HAV outbreak highlights the importance of standard infection control precautions within a hospital. Molecular study of patients' blood would be useful for clarifying the epidemiology of a suspicious HAV outbreak in a hospital.