Background: Many researchers have identified that adequate sleep duration is linked to the quality of life and metabolic diseases. Nowadays, it is hard to take enough sleep, so weekend catch-up sleep (CUS) may be an alternative option in modern society. To our knowledge, no previous studies reported the association between weekend CUS and metabolic syndrome, especially in the Korean population. Objective: We investigated the association between weekend CUS and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Korean adults (≥ 20 years old) with less than 6 hours of average weekday sleep. Patients and Methods: A total of 1,453 individuals were selected from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Weekend CUS was divided into four categories: ≤ 0 hour, 0– 1 hour, 1– 2 hours, and ≥ 2 hours. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were derived by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results: Participants with weekend CUS ≥ 1 hour had decreased risk of metabolic syndrome in univariate analysis (CUS 1– 2 hours: OR: 0.413, 95% CI: 0.301– 0.568; CUS ≥ 2 hours: OR: 0.382, 95% CI 0.296– 0.493). Weekend CUS 1– 2 hours reduced the risk of metabolic syndrome in multivariate logistic regression analysis (OR: 0.552, 95% CI: 0.369– 0.823). Based on the age group analysis, weekend CUS ≥ 1 hour reduced the metabolic syndrome among those aged 20– 39 and 40– 65 (20– 39: CUS 1– 2 hours OR: 0.248, 95% CI: 0.078– 0.783, CUS ≥ 2 hours OR: 0.374, 95% CI: 0.141– 0.991; 40– 65: CUS 1– 2 hours OR: 0.507, 95% CI 0.309– 0.832 CUS ≥ 2 hours OR: 0.638, 95% CI: 0.415– 0.981). Conclusion: Weekend CUS was associated with a low risk of metabolic syndrome among Korean adults with sleep restriction.

Insulin resistance contributes to the development of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Smoking leads to an increase in triglyceride levels, which, in turn, increases insulin resistance. Although the number of e-cigarette users has increased in recent years, few studies have investigated the association between ecigarette use and insulin resistance. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the association between e-cigarette use and insulin resistance using the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index in Korean adults. This study included 4,404 healthy adults aged ≥20 years who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2019 and 2020. Participants were categorized as never-smokers or ecigarette users, and the TyG index was categorized into low- and high-TyG index groups according to the median value (9.22). A logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the association between e-cigarette smoking and insulin resistance. E-cigarette users had a higher TyG index than never smokers (e-cigarette: mean=3.95; never: mean=9.18; P<0.001). The e-cigarette users had a higher risk of being in the high TyG index group than never-smokers (odds ratio [OR], 1.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-1.84). In the subgroup analysis stratified by sex, age, and body mass index, a higher OR for a high TyG index was observed in men (OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.03-2.08) and individuals aged 60 years or older (OR, 3.74; 95% CI, 1.14-12.30). Our findings suggest that e-cigarette use is significantly associated with insulin resistance.

Section Background Lipid-lowering therapies, particularly statins, have been associated with a reduced risk of cancer. However, the potential additional protective effects of ezetimibe remain unclear in real-world settings. This study investigated whether statin/ezetimibe combination therapy provided further cancer risk reduction beyond statin monotherapy. AbstractSection Methods A nationwide retrospective cohort study was conducted using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. Patients with dyslipidemia (total cholesterol ≥ 240 mg/dL) diagnosed between 2004 and 2009 were included and categorized into statin users, statin/ezetimibe users, and nonusers. Cancer incidence over 5- and 10-year follow-up periods was assessed using Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for demographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was applied to account for potential confounders, and sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the stability of the findings. AbstractSection Results Among 68,353 patients, 9,267 were statin users, 383 were statin/ezetimibe users, and 58,703 were nonusers. Statin users exhibited a reduced cancer risk at 5 years (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.80–0.89) and 10 years (aHR, 0.91; 95% CI 0.87–0.94). Statin/ezetimibe users demonstrated a greater reduction in cancer risk (5 years: aHR, 0.30; 95% CI 0.28–0.32; 10 years: aHR, 0.70; 95% CI 0.67–0.73). Trend analysis confirmed an incremental trend in cancer risk reduction with increasing lipid-lowering therapy intensity (P for trend < 0.001). AbstractSection Conclusion This real-world study suggests that ezetimibe, when combined with statins, is associated with additional cancer risk reduction beyond statin monotherapy, as observed across both overall and direct comparative analyses. Further research is warranted to confirm the independent effects of ezetimibe and its potential role in cancer prevention.

Gyu Lee Kim, M.D., Seung Hun Lee, M.D., Ph.D., Yun Jin Kim, M.D., Ph.D., Jeong Gyu Lee, M.D., Ph.D., Yu Hyeon Yi, M.D., Ph.D., Young Jin Tak, M.D., Ph.D., Young Jin Ra, M.D., Sang Yeoup Lee, M.D., Ph.D., Young Hye Cho, M.D., Ph.D., Eun Ju Park, M.D., Young In Lee, M.D., Jung In Choi, M.D., Sae Rom Lee, M.D., Ryuk Jun Kwon, M.D. and Soo Min Son, M.D.. J Hosp Palliat Care 2023;26:60-8. https://doi.org/10.14475/jhpc.2023.26.2.60

Sarcopenia, a progressive loss of muscle mass and strength, is a major health concern primarily affecting older adults worldwide. With no pharmaceutical cure for sarcopenia, dietary protein, probiotic supplementation, and physical exercise have gained increasing attention as lifestyle-based interventions. Dietary protein has shown promising effects in preventing the loss of skeletal muscle and physical strength by favorably influencing muscle protein synthesis in sarcopenic individuals. Probiotic supplementation has been associated with muscle regeneration, increased muscle protein synthesis among adults with sarcopenia, and improved exercise performance based on preliminary and emerging evidence. Multimodal or hybrid exercise programs have been shown to improve muscle strength, mobility, and overall physical function in individuals with sarcopenia. This paper reviews how combining protein, probiotics, and multimodal exercise may offer complementary strategies for sarcopenia management. Evidence from preclinical and mechanistic studies suggests that these interventions may support muscle health by activating shared intracellular pathways such as mTOR signaling, the suppression of FOXO3a, and the enhancement of mitochondrial biogenesis.

Background: Sarcopenia is defined as the loss of muscle mass and strength and low physical performance, and it is closely related to the risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. Pulse pressure (PP) is a biomarker of arterial stiffness and compliance. Elevated PP levels increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases and all-cause mortality. Nevertheless, the association between PP and sarcopenia has not yet been clearly established. Methods: Participant data were extracted from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted from 2014 to 2020. The study population was classified into three groups (PP < 40 mmHg, 40 mmHg ≤ PP < 60 mmHg, and PP ≥ 60 mmHg). PP was calculated by deducting the diastolic blood pressure from the systolic blood pressure. For handgrip strength, the maximum value measured with a grip dynamometer was adopted (weak handgrip strength: <28 kg for men, <18 kg for woman; normal handgrip strength: ≥28 kg for men, ≥18 kg for women). To determine the relationship between PP and the prevalence of weak handgrip strength, multiple logistic regression analysis was performed after adjusting for possible confounding factors. Results: The higher PP group had a higher age, body mass index; systolic blood pressure, prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and metabolic syndrome, and maximum handgrip strength. In all models, the prevalence of weak handgrip strength was significantly higher in the group with PP ≥ 60 mmHg compared to the control group (PP < 40 mmHg). Conclusions: Elevated PP was significantly associated with a higher prevalence of weak muscle strength. Thus, PP monitoring may be used to identify individuals at risk of sarcopenia and is helpful in improving health outcomes.