• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.217-228
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• 2013

Objective: This study was performed to identify associations between the practice of health behaviors and awareness of metabolic syndrome (MetS) among adults aged 19 to 64 years in the Gwangju-Jeonnam area. Methods: This study utilized data from the 2010 Community Health Survey (CHS). Health behaviors considered in this study were smoking, alcohol drinking, physical activity, low-salt diet, and perception of stress. The index for the health behaviors was calculated as the sum of the practice of each health behavior (range: 0-5). The analysis was weighted with a complex sampling design, and the chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to identify the association between the practice of health behaviors and awareness of MetS. Results: A total of 19.8% of the population were aware of MetS. The perception of MetS was statistically significantly associated with healthy behaviors, including nonsmoking (aOR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.14-1.56), non-high-risk drinking (aOR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.27-1.88), engagement in physical activity (aOR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.28-1.72), and a low-salt diet (aOR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.13-1.51). The ORs of the perception of MetS were significantly higher in patients with a health behavior index of 2 to 3 (aOR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.01-2.66) and in those with an index of ${\geq}4$ (aOR = 2.47, 95% CI = 1.51-4.04) than in those with an index of 0. Among all health behaviors, physical activity had the highest OR for the perception of MetS (aOR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.29-1.74). Conclusions: This study revealed associations between health behaviors, especially physical activity, and awareness of MetS. Therefore, integrated health promotion programs may be needed to enhance awareness of MetS and to effectively prevent MetS and non-communicable diseases.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.140-149
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• 2009

Purpose: Helicobacter pylori infection is probably acquired in childhood and persists as an asymptomatic infection for decades in most individuals. It is unclear why only a minority of those infected develop a clinical manifestation, even in childhood, such as peptic ulcer disease. H. pylori infection activates local immune responses and causes lymphocyte infiltration in the gastric mucosa. We have previously reported that both T and B cells in the lamina propria play important roles in the local immune response of H. pylori-infected children. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between H. pylori genotypes and gastric mucosal lymphocytes. Methods: Twenty-five H. pylori-infected children (10 with peptic ulcer disease and 15 with gastritis) were enrolled in this study. We investigated the genotypes (cagA, cagE, vacA, and babA2) and evaluated the association with clinical manifestations, histopathology, and gastric mucosal lymphocytes. Results: The prevalence of cagA, cagE, vacA s1m1, and babA2 was 80%, 60%, 84%, and 88%, respectively. The most prevalent (68%) combination of cagA, vacA, and babA2 genotypes was cagA+/vacA s1m1+/babA2+. H. pylori genotypes were not associated with clinical manifestations, histopathology, or gastric mucosal lymphocytes. Conclusion: There was no association between the cagA, cagE, vacA, or babA2 status and gastric mucosal lymphocytes. The role of the host immune response in relation to H. pylori genotypes and disease potential in children needs further studies.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.1750-1757
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of regular walking exercise on health-related parameters in the elderly with chronic diseases - apoplexy, overweight, impaired fasting glucose, and overweight + impaired fasting glucose. A total of 85 subjects, 27, 17, 21 and 20 in apoplexy (A), overweight (O), impaired fasting glucose (IFG), overweight + impaired fasting glucose group (O_IFG), respectively, completed a 12-week walking exercise. The health-related parameters were measured before and at the completion of the exercise program including anthropometric measurements, functional physical fitness levels, blood pressure, fasting glucose, blood lipid profiles and chronic inflammatory markers (CRPs). Significant improvements in body weight, BMI, %body fat, blood pressure, all blood lipid measurements and all measured physical fitness items were shown in A; those in %body fat, TC, HDL-C and LDL-C in O; those in body weight, BMI, %body fat, fasting glucose, TC, TG and HDL-C in IFG; and those in body weight, HDL-C and LDL-C in O_IFG (p<0.05). The results of the present study demonstrated that a 12-week walking exercise brought positive effects on body weight, bloody lipid profiles, fasting glucose and functional physical fitness levels in the elderly with chronic diseases. In conclusion, this study suggested that walking regularly is very effective in lowering the risks of developing chronic diseases.