Diets high in glycemic index and glycemic load are associated with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome among Korean women

Background and aimsAccurate estimation of the glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) of diets is essential when assessing health implications of dietary GI and GL. The present study aimed to estimate dietary GI and GL utilizing the updated GI tables with a large number of new, reliable GI values and assess their associations with metabolic syndrome among Korean adults.Methods and resultsWe analyzed data from 3317 men and 6191 women for this cross-sectional study. Dietary intake was assessed with a validated food frequency questionnaire. Metabolic syndrome and its components were defined based on the harmonized criteria with Korean-specific cutoffs for waist circumference. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Compared with women in the lowest quintiles of energy-adjusted dietary GI and GL, women in the highest quintiles had significantly greater risks of metabolic syndrome (GI, OR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.18–2.06; GL, OR = 1.80, 95% CI = 1.27–2.57), elevated blood pressure, reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C, both GI and GL), elevated triglycerides (GI only), elevated waist circumference, and elevated fasting glucose (GL only). Among men, no significant association was noted except for a higher risk of reduced HDL-C (OR = 1.59, 95% CI = 1.01–2.29) in the highest quintile of energy-adjusted dietary GI than in the lowest quintile.ConclusionOur findings suggest that dietary GI and GL are positively associated with metabolic syndrome risk among women, but not men, in Korea.     

Simultaneous beat-to-beat assessment of arterial blood pressure and quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in out-of-hospital and in-hospital settings

ObjectiveThe current recommendation for depth and rate of chest compression (CC) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is based on limited hemodynamic data recorded during human CPR. We have evaluated the possible association between CC depth and rate and continuously measured arterial blood pressure during adult CPR.MethodsThis prospective study included data from 104 patients resuscitated inside or outside hospital. Adequate data on continuously measured invasive arterial blood pressure (BP) and the quality of CPR from a defibrillator capable recording CPR quality parameters was successful in 39 patients. We used logistic regression and mixed effects modeling to identify CC depths and rates associated with systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥85 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥30 mmHg.ResultsWe analyzed 41,575 compression-BP pairs. The values for blood pressure varied greatly between the patients. SBP varied from 25 to 225 mmHg and DBP from 2 to 59 mmHg. CC rate 100–120/min and CC depth ≥60 mm (without mattress deflection correction) was associated with DBP ≥30 mmHg in both femoral (OR 1.14; 95% CI 1.03, 1.26; p < 0.05) and radial (OR 4.70; 95% CI 3.92, 5.63; p < 0.001) recordings. For any given subject there was a weak upward trend in blood pressure as CC depth increased.ConclusionDeeper CC does not equal higher BP in every patient. The heterogeneity of patients creates a challenge to find the optimal way to resuscitate patients individually.Clinical Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT00951704.     

Quantitative relationship between end-tidal carbon dioxide and CPR quality during both in-hospital and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

ObjectiveCardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) guidelines recommend the administration of chest compressions (CC) at a standardized rate and depth without guidance from patient physiologic output. The relationship between CC performance and actual CPR-generated blood flow is poorly understood, limiting the ability to define “optimal” CPR delivery. End-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO₂) has been proposed as a surrogate measure of blood flow during CPR, and has been suggested as a tool to guide CPR despite a paucity of clinical data. We sought to quantify the relationship between ETCO₂ and CPR characteristics during clinical resuscitation care.MethodsMulticenter cohort study of 583 in- and out-of-hospital cardiac arrests with time-synchronized ETCO₂ and CPR performance data captured between 4/2006 and 5/2013. ETCO₂, ventilation rate, CC rate and depth were averaged over 15-s epochs. A total of 29,028 epochs were processed for analysis using mixed-effects regression techniques.ResultsCC depth was a significant predictor of increased ETCO₂. For every 10 mm increase in depth, ETCO₂ was elevated by 1.4 mmHg (p < .001). For every 10 breaths/min increase in ventilation rate, ETCO₂ was lowered by 3.0 mmHg (p < .001). CC rate was not a predictor of ETCO₂ over the dynamic range of actual CC delivery. Case-averaged ETCO₂ values in patients with return of spontaneous circulation were higher compared to those who did not have a pulse restored (34.5 ± 4.5 vs 23.1 ± 12.9 mmHg, p < .001).ConclusionsETCO₂ values generated during CPR were statistically associated with CC depth and ventilation rate. Further studies are needed to assess ETCO₂ as a potential tool to guide care.     

Developing an effective therapeutic by delivery of synthetic microRNA-520e in lung cancer treatment

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can function as tumor suppressors and might provide an efficient strategy for annihilating cancer. Specific miRNAs can be reintroduced into tumor cells to complement the loss of tumor suppression activities. The “miRNA replacement therapy” is based on the concept that the reintroduction of miRNAs depleted in cancer cells reactivates cellular pathways that lead to therapeutic responses. Here, we report the development of miRNA delivery formulation using synthesized miR-520e. This formulation proved to be effective either locally or systematically. MiR-520e accumulation becomes evident in tumor cells and then exerts anti-proliferative function. Meanwhile, intravenous delivery of formulated miR-520e does not induce any deregulation in cytokine levels and liver enzymes. Taken together, our results shed new lights on the concept that systematic delivery of synthetic mimics for tumor suppressor miR-520e and provide potential implications for miRNA therapy in clinic.