Background: In South Korea, the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases has declined rapidly and much sooner than in other countries. South Korea is one of the most digitalized countries in the world, and YouTube may have served as a rapid delivery mechanism for increasing public awareness of COVID-19. Thus, the platform may have helped the South Korean public fight the spread of the disease. Objective: The aim of this study is to compare the reliability, overall quality, title–content consistency, and content coverage of Korean-language YouTube videos on COVID-19, which have been uploaded by different sources. Methods: A total of 200 of the most viewed YouTube videos from January 1, 2020, to April 30, 2020, were screened, searching in Korean for the terms “Coronavirus,” “COVID,” “Corona,” “Wuhan virus,” and “Wuhan pneumonia.” Non-Korean videos and videos that were duplicated, irrelevant, or livestreamed were excluded. Source and video metrics were collected. The videos were scored based on the following criteria: modified DISCERN index, Journal of the American Medical Association Score (JAMAS) benchmark criteria, global quality score (GQS), title–content consistency index (TCCI), and medical information and content index (MICI). Results: Of the 105 total videos, 37.14% (39/105) contained misleading information; independent user–generated videos showed the highest proportion of misleading information at 68.09% (32/47), while all of the government-generated videos were useful. Government agency–generated videos achieved the highest median score of DISCERN (5.0, IQR 5.0-5.0), JAMAS (4.0, IQR 4.0-4.0), GQS (4.0, IQR 3.0-4.5), and TCCI (5.0, IQR 5.0-5.0), while independent user–generated videos achieved the lowest median score of DISCERN (2.0, IQR 1.0-3.0), JAMAS (2.0, IQR 1.5-2.0), GQS (2.0, IQR 1.5-2.0), and TCCI (3.0, IQR 3.0-4.0). However, the total MICI was not significantly different among sources. “Transmission and precautionary measures” were the most commonly covered content by government agencies, news agencies, and independent users. In contrast, the most mentioned content by news agencies was “prevalence,” followed by “transmission and precautionary measures.” Conclusions: Misleading videos had more likes, fewer comments, and longer running times than useful videos. Korean-language YouTube videos on COVID-19 uploaded by different sources varied significantly in terms of reliability, overall quality, and title–content consistency, but the content coverage was not significantly different. Government-generated videos had higher reliability, overall quality, and title–content consistency than independent user–generated videos.

This cross-sectional analysis included 137 Korean subjects aged 60–79 years. All subjects underwent anthropometric measurements and laboratory tests. Scalp hair samples were obtained from each individual, the concentrations of 36 minerals and trace elements were analyzed, and 16 ratios of elements were calculated. ASCVD risk was estimated using pooled cohort ASCVD risk assessment equations for 10-year risk profiles. The 137 subjects were divided into three risk groups: low (<5%, n = 28), intermediate (5% to <7.5%, n = 21), and high (≥7.5%, n = 88) risk groups. After adjusting for obesity (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²) and sex, Na concentration (mg%) in hair was significantly lower in the low-risk (13.91 ± 7.02) than in the intermediate-risk (47.18 ± 8.08) and high-risk (36.76 ± 3.95) groups (p for trend = 0.024). The concentration of K (mg%) in hair was also positively associated with the severity of ASCVD risk (10.50 ± 8.37, 23.62 ± 9.63, 33.31 ± 4.71, respectively; p for trend = 0.017), but their differences were not statistically significant (p = 0.059). By contrast, the levels of Co, U, and Hg, and the Ca/P and Ca/Mg ratios, were negatively correlated with the severity of ASCVD risk (p for trend < 0.05). Mean Na concentration in hair was significantly lower in the low-risk than in the other risk groups. By contrast, Co, U, and Hg concentrations showed significant negative associations with risk severity. Further studies are needed to assess whether dietary modification for trace elements could lower the risk of ASCVD.

Physicians and caregivers are conflicted over whether to inform patients that their disease is terminal. Studies examining the effect of awareness of prognosis on the survival and quality of life of terminally ill cancer patients report conflicting results. This study aimed to assess the effects of prognosis awareness on the survival time and psychological health of terminally ill cancer patients. Patients in the hospice wards of two general hospitals were asked to complete a questionnaire. All were mentally alert and could express themselves clearly. Awareness of prognosis was defined as knowing both the diagnosis and exact prognosis. Survival time was defined as the time from hospital admission to death. Multiple psychological examinations were conducted to verify the effect of prognosis awareness on psychological health. Of the 98 subjects who met the inclusion criteria, 65 (66.3%) were aware of their terminal status. The patients' awareness was significantly related to survival time after adjusting for clinical variables with a hazard ratio of 1.70 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-2.86). Furthermore, the unaware group had a higher risk of cognitive impairment (Mini-Mental State Examination <24; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 3.65; 95% CI, 1.26-10.59) and a poorer quality of life (physical component summary of the Short Form 36-item Health Survey <20; aOR, 3.61; 95% CI, 1.12- 11.60) than the aware group. Knowledge of the exact prognosis might have a positive effect on the survival and quality of life of terminally ill cancer patients.

Animal-assisted therapy has positive effects on cognitive function, depression, performance ability, and social functioning in elderly patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of rearing pet insects on the cognitive function of healthy elderly participants, with fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) being used for this purpose. Community-dwelling right-handed elderly women (≥60 years) with normal cognitive function were enrolled and randomized at a 1:1 ratio into two groups: insect-rearing and control (n = 16) groups, with the insect-rearing group being further classified into two groups for analysis according to the subjects’ scores in the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, WCST) at the baseline fMRI: Insect-rearing group I with a relatively high score (n = 13), and insect-rearing group II with a relatively low score (n = 6). The insect-rearing groups received and reared crickets as pet insects for 8 weeks. The WCST consisted of two variations, a high level baseline (HLB) and semi-WCST version. There was a significant difference accuracy of the HLB–semi-WCST (p < 0.05) in insect-rearing group II after 8 weeks from the baseline test. In the fMRI analysis involving the WCST reaction test, increased activation was observed in the right dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex and parietal cortex in insect-rearing group II when the semi-WCST, rather than the HLB, was performed. Rearing pet insects showed positive effects on executive functions and performance improvement in elderly women. Further larger studies on the effects of pet insects on cognitive function are warranted.

Background: Osteoporosis is characterized by a decrease in bone mineral density (BMD) and increased risk of fragility fractures. Senun iron level may interact with bone health status. This study investigated the correlations of BMD with serum iron level, hemoglobin level, and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC). Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of data from the medical records of premenopausal women in South Korea. The women's BMDs and the Z scores of the BMDs were verified using dual-energy X-ray absorption. The participants were stratified into quartiles for analyses of the associations of BMD with serurn iron level, TIBC, and hemoglobin level. Results: A simple linear regression analysis revealed associations of changes in BMD with iron level (beta=-0.001, standard error [SE]=0.001, P<0.001), hemoglobin level (beta=0.015, SE=0.003, P<0.001), and TIBC (beta=0.001, SE=0.001, P<0.001). This pattern was also observed in a multiple linear regression analysis. A multivariate logistic regression analysis of iron level and TIBC for low BMD revealed odds ratios of 1.005 (P<0.001) and 0.995 (P<0.001), respectively. Conclusion: This study demonstrated dear relationships of changes in BMD with serum iron level and TIBC, and thus confirms the usefulness of these markers in the clinical evaluation of iron storage and BMD in younger women.

Elevated homocysteine (Hcy) levels and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We investigated the combined effects of hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) and MetS on CKD among community-dwelling adults in an urban area of South Korea. We also identified the combination of HHcy and individual MetS components associated with the maximal risk of CKD. A retrospective cross-sectional study involving 19,311 health examinees between 2 January 2011 and 31 December 2015 was conducted. The participants were divided into four groups—namely, the HHcy−/MetS−, HHcy−/MetS+, HHcy+/MetS−, and HHcy+/MetS+ groups. CKD was defined as a low eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m² or albuminuria. The HHcy+/MetS+ group had a higher risk of CKD than the HHcy−/MetS+ group (odds ratio (OR): 1.750, p = 0.002 for males; OR: 3.224, p < 0.001 for females). The HHcy+/MetS+ group had a higher CKD risk than the HHcy+/MetS− group; however, the difference was not statistically significant (OR: 1.070, p = 0.712 for males; OR: 1.847, and p < 0.074 for females). HHcy concurrent with MetS increased the CKD risk. Among the combinations of HHcy and MetS components, the coexistence of HHcy and central obesity had the greatest effect on CKD. Therefore, the timely detection and treatment of HHcy and MetS are important for preventing CKD.