• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.347-361
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• 2012

Limited studies are available concerning the effect of heavy metal exposure on cardiovascular diseases. As environmental pollution increases, food contamination, including heavy metal contamination of fish, also increases. However, researches based on the intake of heavy metals, cardiovascular disease, and fish intakes are inconclusive. We assessed an association of heavy metal exposure with cardiovascular disease and fish intake in a nationally representative group of general Korean adults. We used data from the combined 2008-2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), and analyzed the data of 5,139 Koreans who participated in KNHANES. All participants were older than 20 years, and were diagnosed with stroke, ischemic heart disease, or hypertension. The mean blood cadmium, lead concentration, and mercury concentration of subjects were $1.07{\pm}0.01{\mu}g/L$, $2.49{\pm}0.02{\mu}g/dL$, and $5.19{\pm}0.08{\mu}g/L$, respectively. We used the survey logistic regression model to account for the complex sample design of the cardiovascular disease risk in order to estimate the odds ratios (OR). After adjusting for age, education, income, alcohol, smoking, and BMI, the increase of serum cadmium in blood was associated with the increase in the prevalence of hypertension. Further, the increase in blood cadmium concentration was associated with the increase of both systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Although higher fish intakes were significantly associated with higher blood mercury concentration (p for trend < 0.0001), fish intakes did not affect either blood cadmium or lead concentration. Comparing the highest fish intake group with the lowest intake group, the OR of hypertension was 0.31 (95% CI: 0.19-0.59) in the crude model for total fish. However, these associations were no longer significant after the adjustment for potential confounding factors. In conclusion, cadmium in blood was associated with an increased risk of hypertension in the general Korean adult population. However, we found no evidence of a clear relationship between cardiovascular disease and frequency of fish consumption.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.273-281
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• 2019

The purpose of the study was to analyze smoking impact factors, knowledge about effects of smoking and effects of oral health-related quality of life. The subjects were 165 male dental clinic visitors. The survey was conducted from November to December 2018. The examinations were smoking impact factors, knowledge about effects of smoking on oral health, oral health-related quality of life, and recognition of smoking cessation support in dentistry. Survey data were analyzed using statistical programs of PASW Statistics ver. 18.0. Smoking groups were more stressful than non-smoking groups(13.0, 9.97) and drinking frequency was higher(2/week, 0.96/week)(p<0.05). Smoking had a significant correlation with stress(r= .283, p<0.001) and stress with OHIP(r= -.263, p<0.001). Regression results show that stress and frequency of drinking are significant factors(p<0.05). Smoking cessation support service was recognized by 32.9 %, but experience of service was only 19.4 %. Smoking cessation support of dentistry was answered positively by 65.5 %. The above results reveal the need for stress and drinking control, oral health education, and active support of oral health professionals for smoking cessation.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.309-316
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• 2018

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify the prevalence and related factors of metabolic syndrome in Korean adolescents. Method: Based on data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of 2015, 404 adolescents aged 12-18 years were enrolled. We used the adolescent Ford method as the diagnostic criteria for adolescent metabolic syndrome. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, $x^2$-test, and logistic regression with SPSS WINDOW 23.0 program. Results: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Korean adolescents was 6.5% (6.5% for boys and 6.4% for girls). Among metabolic syndrome components, the prevalence of elevated blood pressure (28.8%) was the highest, followed by elevated triglycerides (21.3%), increased waist circumference (14.1%), decreased high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (11.5%), and elevated fasting blood sugar (7.8%). The only factor associated with metabolic syndrome in both boys and girls was the Body Mass Index (BMI), and the likelihood of a metabolic syndrome increased by 1.6 to 2.3 times (Adjusted OR=1.552 to 2.313, p=0.001) as the BMI increased. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, an intervention program should be developed and provided to maintain the BMI in the normal range for the prevention and management of metabolic syndrome in Korean adolescents.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.473-493
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• 2012

Malaria infection is sensitively influenced by regional meteorological conditions along with global climate change. Remote sensing techniques have become an important tool for extraction of climatic and environmental factors, including rainfall, temperature, surface water, soil moisture, and land use, which are directly linked to the habitat qualities of malaria mosquitoes. Improvement of sensor fidelity with higher spatial and spectral resolution, new multinational sensor development, and decreased data cost have nurtured diverse remote sensing applications in malaria research. In 1984, eradication of endemic malaria was declared in Korea, but reemergence of malaria was reported in mid-1990s. Considering constant changes in malaria cases since 2000, the epidemiological management of the disease needs careful monitoring. Geographically, northmost counties neighboring North Korea have been ranked high in the number of malaria cases. High infection rates in these areas drew special attention and led to a hypothesis that malaria dispersion in these border counties might be caused by north-origin, malaria-bearing adult mosquitoes. Habitat conditions of malaria mosquitoes are important parameters for prediction of the vector abundance. However, it should be realized that malaria infection and transmission is a complex mechanism, where non-environmental factors, including human behavior, demographic structure, landscape structure, and spatial relationships between human residence and the vector habitats, are also significant considerations in the framework of medical geography.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.304-311
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• 2016

The study was performed to examine the metabolic syndrome risk factors in accordance with the obesity types based on body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference cutoffs. The diagnosis of metabolic syndrome closely adhered to the NCEP-ATP III criteria, and obesity was defined using the WHO Asian-Pacific criteria. We used the data from 591 elderly women, all aged over 65 years. They were divided into four groups: The normal group (n=272), the obesity group (n=124), abdominal obesity group (n=19), and obesity-abdominal obesity group (n=176). The obesity-abdominal obesity group was the most prevalent group of low HDL-cholesterol (p=0.009), hypertriglyceridemia (p=0.025), abdominal obesity (p<0.001), and metabolic syndrome (p<0.001). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the obesity-abdominal obesity group had the highest odds ratio in predicting metabolic syndrome (OR: 10.638, 95% CI: 6.053~18.697). Therefore, the obesity-abdominal obesity group was the strongest predictive factor of metabolic syndrome risk in Korean elderly women.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.336-344
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• 2015

This study evaluated the association between metabolic syndrome(MetS), its components and depression among Korean community-dwelling older adults. We analyzed data from the fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(KNHANES-V) 2010-2012. This study was a descriptive study of 3,755 Korean elderly, aged 65 years and older. A modified version of the criteria of the National Cholesterol Education Program, Adult Treatment Panel III was used to define MetS. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the questionnaire of the KNHANES-V. Multiple regression analyses performed the association between MetS, its components and depression. MetS was not statistically associated depressive symptoms, but low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C) was statistically associated depressive symptoms(Odds raio[OR]=1.26, 95%Confidence Interval [CI]=1.002-1.584) in older adults. Among elderly women, MetS(OR=1.36, 95%CI=1.029-1.792), elevated fasting glucose(OR=1.41, 95%CI=1.070-1.851), low HDL-C(OR=1.21, 95%CI=1.078-1.746) were statistically associated depressive symptoms. In conclusion, present study showed an association between MetS and depressive symptoms in Korean community dwelling elderly women but not in men.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.433-444
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• 2017

This study was conducted to identify relationships between lung function disorders and Metabolic Syndrome(MetS) that have common comorbidities such as Cardio Vascular Diseases(CVD). According to the hypothesis that there may be a significant relationship between them, analyses were conducted to identify the proper management point for those diseases. Overall, 53,829 data were taken from KNHANES 2008-2013. Included data were PFT(Pulmonary Function Test) done and age over 40. All the 14 confounders applied, only 8,137 cases (M:3,951, F:4,186) were left. Low pulmonary function was divided into two categories, obstructive and restrictive patterns, based on the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease(GOLD) criteria, while MetS was defined based on the revised NCEP-ATPIII criteria. The relationships between those diseases were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. In addition, for the prevalence rate, cross-tab analysis were conducted. There were no significant relationships observed between obstructive lung disease and MetS, but a restrictive pattern had a meaningful relationship with MetS. Specifically, MetS showed a higher prevalence rate for both obstructive and restrictive pattern patients than the control group. Restrictive pattern patients showed a higher prevalence rate to MetS than obstructive patients. Overall, restrictive lung patterns showed a meaningful association with MetS, but not with obstructive patterns. Additionally, the prevalence rate of MetS among restrictive patients was higher than among obstructive patients.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.382-390
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• 2017

This study was conducted to identify the factors affecting the quality of life of cancer patients based on demographic characteristics, health status, and mental health using the results of the 6th National Health and Nutrition Survey. The research tool used the demographic characteristics, health status, mental health, and quality of life of the KNHANES VI-2. Data analysis was conducted using SAS 9.3 version. There were significant differences in the quality of life in the study results by age, gender, economic activity, individual income quartile, subjective health status, mental health status, activity limitation, stress perception, and experience of depression symptoms. Factors influencing the quality of life of cancer patients included age, sex, income quintiles(individual), subjective health status, activity limitation, and experience of depression symptoms, which together explained 39.1% of the quality of life. To improve the quality of life of cancer patients, comprehensive management is required from diagnosis to treatment to return to society. It is also necessary to develop and apply long-term programs including multidimensional approaches and improvement of quality of life, early screening of cancer and cancer prevention education, management of depression symptoms, and social support.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.235-244
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• 2013

This research was performed to investigate the effects of participation in aqua exercise on blood composition and vascular compliance of mentally retarded persons. The targets of this research consisted of a control group of 12 people and an aqua exercise group of 12 people after selecting 24 mentally retarded males and aqua exercise group carried out an exercise program for 60 minutes per day and five days a week for 9 weeks. Weight, body fat percentage, blood composition and vascular compliance were measured in a preliminary inspection and the same items were measured in a post-inspection. The results of this measurement were as follows. Firstly, aqua exercise group showed a significant decrease in weight and body fat percentage (p<.05). Secondly, for blood composition, aqua exercise group showed a notable decrease in Total-Cholesterol, Triglyceride, and LDL-Cholesterol (p<.05) and a significant increase in HDL-Cholesterol (p<.05). Thirdly, aqua exercise group showed a notable increase in blood composition for both upper limbs and lower limbs (p<.05). Taken these results together, it was considered that a participation of mentally retarded persons in aqua exercise would prevent adult diseases and would have an affirmative influence on improvement of the quality of life.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.484-498
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• 1994

The purpose of this study was to investigate the home care needs in a rural county as a basic study to develop a Korean home care model. A stratified cluster sampling method was used to select 1, 352 household which accounted for 8.8% of Youn Cheon County population. A Standard criterias for home care subject were delineated by five nursing professors representing five different areas of nursing specialty. The developed criteria for home care subjects were as below, 1) Patients who had been discharged from hospital during the previous week. 2) Patients with special medical devices 3) Newborns and the mothers. 4) The chronically ill with poor recovery or control of disease. 5) Subjects with poor health care behavior or ability 6) Subjects with poor social support and / or family resources. 7) Subjects with health related educational needs. Three types of questionnaires were developed to screen home care subjects, one for adults, one for infants and one for the elderly. Also different questionnaire items were developed to evaluate the control and self care ability of chronically ill subjects. After training in interview methods for 2 days, 39 interviewers visited individual households for interviews. As the results of the study showed that 14.1％ of adult subjects and 76.5% of infants and child were judged as having at least one criterion related to home care need, 15.69% of adults and 53% of elderly had at least one chronic illness. The most prevalent chronic illnesses were hypertension, skeletal-neurological disease and diabetes. The prevalence of subjects with home care needs were, those with poor health care behavior(8.89%), with health-re-lated educational needs(8.71%), with poor recovery or control of disease (3.52%), and with poor social support and inadequate family resources(3.19%). There were only 0.3%, 0.37%, 0.11% who were discharged patients, patients with medical devices, or newborns respectively. Thus, the largest home care client group were those who need direct health care and health education. Seventy five percent of the subjects responded that they were willing to use and pay for home care service if it is offered in the future. It is suggested that recently discharged patients and patients with special medical devices can be cared for by hospital based home care nurses, but other home care clients can be cared for by com-munity based home care nurses.