• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.102-110
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• 1999

Objectives : The alcohol dependence in elderly people has been prevalent because of increase in geriatric population. However, it is difficult to find out alcohol dependence in the aged, because they have less specific clinical features as compared with adult alcoholics. The aims of this study were to screen alcohol dependence among elderly Koreans and to know the clinical characteristics of Korean delerly alcoholics. Methods : The questionnaires translated into Korean such as Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test(MAST-K), the Brief MAST and the MAST-Geriatirc Version (MAST-KG) were used to screen alcohol dependence in the elderly alcoholic inpatients aged over 60(N=43), adult alcoholic inpatients within 20-59 Yrs of age(N=60), which were compared with age matched normal healthy aged(N=18) or adult controls(N=45). The demographic data such as sex, age, education, occupation, socioeconomic status, marital status, numbers of children, dwelling and religion as well as alcohol history such as duration of alcohol drinking, onset age, family history, impulsivity, somatic illness and motivation were also obtained to identify characteristic features of Korean aged alcoholics by structured interviews. Results : 1) The aged alcoholics had the charateristic features of more in males, lower age, low education levels, more in blue-collar workers, lower socioeconomic class, more in single, few babies, more living alone, having no religion without statistical significance. 2) The onset age of alcohol dependence was significantly higher in the aged alcoholics($45.3{\pm}13.6Yrs$) than in the adult alcoholics($27.7{\pm}8.7Yrs$)(p<0.0001). The duration of problematic alcohol drinking was significantly longer in the aged alcoholics($22.0{\pm}15.1Yrs$) than in adult alcoholics($14.2{\pm}8.4Yrs$)(p<0.01). Otherwise, there were no significant difference between aged and adult alcoholics in the family history, imulsivity, somatic illness and motivation. 3) The mean score of the MAST-K was significantly higher in the aged alcoholics($20.6{\pm}5.4$) than in the normal aged($6.7{\pm}4.4$)(p<0.0001), which was significantly lower than in the adult alcoholics($26.2{\pm}8.0$) and in normal adult controls($9.5{\pm}3.2$)(p<0.05). The mean score of the Brief MAST was significantly lower in the aged alcoholics($9.3{\pm}3.5$) than in the adult alcoholics($14.5{\pm}6.6$)(p<0.0001). The mean score of the MAST-KG was significantly higher in the aged alcoholics($10.6{\pm}3.5$) than in the normal aged($4.8{\pm}4.3$)(p<0.0001). The former was significantly lower than in the adult alcoholics($12.9{\pm}4.3$)(p<0.005), and the mean score was $4.5{\pm}2.8$ in normal adult controls. 4) The items which showed statistically significant differences between aged alcoholics and normal aged controls could be found in 10 items of the MAST-K(items 2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 14, 17, 21, 22 and 23), 2 items of the Brief MAST(items 2 and 9), and 7 items of the MAST-KG(items 6, 13, 18, 19, 22, 23 and 24)(p<0.01). Conclusions : The scores of the MAST-K, the Brief MAST and the MAST-KG were significantly lower in the aged alcoholics than those in the adult alcoholics (p<0.05). The statistically significant differences between aged alcoholics and normal aged controls could be found in 10 items of the MAST-K, 2 items of the Brief MAST and 7 items of the MAST-KG. Therefore, a briefer rating scales around 10 items are needed to screen alcohol dependence among Korean elderly people.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.889-898
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of the study is to investigate the oral health-related quality of life (OHIP-14) according to smoking in the male workers in Gunsan. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was completed by 460 male workers in Gunsan from April 13 to 30, 2015. Among 460 workers, smokers were 205 and nonsmokers were 255. The questionnaire included three questions of general characteristics of the subjects, four questions of subjective oral health, fourteen questions of OHIP, ten questions of sobriety test (AUDIT), and eight questions of smoking (Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence, FTND). Data were analyzed by frequency analysis, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, and multiple regression analysis using IBM SPSS(Statistical Package for the Social Science) for Windows 20.0 program. Results: In the nonsmokers, there was a negative correlation between the alcohol consumption, dental health condition, tooth pain, gum bleeding, and halitosis. The higher OHIP in the smokers had the negative correlation with nicotine dependence, alcohol consumption, tooth pain, gum bleeding, and halitosis. In order to improve OHIP, smokers are encouraged to manage gum bleeding, and non-smokers to halitosis. Conclusions: In order to improve OHIP, cessation of smoking and alcohol consumption is very important and it can lead to improve the quality of life in the workers.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.225-234
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• 2023

This study verified the effect of a combined forest/thermal therapy (FT/TT) program on participants with depressive symptoms and smoking or alcohol dependence. The participants included 20 people in the experimental group and 18 people in the control group. The experimental group participated in the FT/TT program for 2 nights and 3 days at the National Center for Forest Healing, in Hoengseong (National Hoengseong Supchewon), and a charcoal kiln operated by the Gangwon Charcoal Farming Association. The control group carried out their daily life for the same period. Psychological, physiological, and biochemical tests were conducted to determine the effect of the program. The results showed that there were significant improvements in stress, anxiety, depression, sleep quality, sleep satisfaction, and IL-6 levels. However, no significant difference was found in the cortisol, serotonin and melatonin levels between the experimental and control groups. Thus, the FT/TT therapy had psychological and biochemical effects on individuals with depression and nicotine or alcohol dependency. Further studies should be conducted to verify the effect of forest healing in various conditions.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.143-150
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• 2018

Purpose: We have implemented a multi-disciplinary Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) protocol to prevent individuals who sustained alcohol-related traumatic injuries. We therefore conducted this single-center, prospective, randomized, controlled trial (RCT) to assess its efficacy. Methods: All the enrolled patients (n=30) were randomized to either the SBIRT group or the control group. In the current RCT, the proportion of the patients who reduced the amount of alcohol consumption and those who received a specialized treatment served as primary outcome measures. Moreover, changes in a 3-item version of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test Consumption (AUDIT-C), Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) and Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K-6) scores at 3 months from baseline served as secondary outcome measures. Results: At 3 months, the proportion of the patients who reduced the amount of alcohol consumption was significantly higher in the SBIRT group as compared with the control group (86.7% vs. 57.1%, p=0.02). Moreover, the proportion of the patients who received a specialized treatment was also significantly higher as compared with the control group (26.7% vs. 1.4%, p=0.01). Furthermore, there were significant differences in changes in the AUDIT, SDS and K-6 scores at 3 months from baseline between the two groups (p<0.05). Conclusions: In conclusion, our results indicate that the SBIRT is effective in reducing hazardous and harmful levels of drinking, the degree of alcohol dependence and that of psychological distress in at-risk drinkers.

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.37-43
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• 1994

Commercial Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) filaments were treated in solvents mixtures such as benzyl alcohol/perchloroethylene(BA/PER), benzyl alcohol/trichloroethylene(BA/TRI), benzyl alcohol/ethylene chloride(BA/EC), metha nol/perchloroethylene(ME/PER), and methanol/trichloroethyle(ME/TRI). Swelling of PET in solvent mixtures showed rapidly in the middle range of mixture ratio. Contribution of swelling of each component to total swelling of binary mixtures with increasing treated time was generally showed in proportion to the mixture ratio of the each component in dependence of the extend of swelling.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.44-48
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• 1995

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.57-70
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• 2004

This is an exploratory study to describe drinking patterns and problem drinking and alcohol-related problem in college students. The major purpose of this study is to describe the prevalence of drinking styles, the quantity of alcohol getting drunken and the describe the frequency of drunkenness in the previous 12months prior to the survey, and to examine the patterns of how various drinking behaviors are different by drinking style. We used the scale for measuring problem drinking NAST(1), AUDIT, indicated that males drank more and more and more frequently, and had episodes of drunkenness and more accepting of drinking than females, the amount of alcohol becoming intoxicated, the frequency and quantity of alcohol consumed in the month, and the frequency of intoxicated were significantly different by drinking styles in both sexes. A problem drinking rate, danger drinker 49.3% dependence drinker 3.5% in ADULT and alcohol dependency 9.7% in NAST(1) It will be necessary to discuss about adequate policy and eucation protrams to be able to curb collegiate's alcohol abuse.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.5-10
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• 2006

Alcohol has extensive effects on sleep and daytime sleepiness. Alcohol has a sleep inducing effect and the effect of increased non-REM sleep and suppressed REM sleep during the first half portion of night sleep, but alcohol induces the effect of decreased non-REM sleep and increased light sleep and frequent awakenings and REM rebound during the second half portion of night sleep. Alcohol provokes chronobiological change such as the changes of amplitude or the phase shifts of hormones or core body temperature. The sleep disruption resulting from alcohol drinking may lead to daytime fatigue and sleepiness. The elderly are at particular in the increased risk of alcohol-related sleep disorders because they achieve higher levels of alcohol in the blood and brain than do younger adults after consuming an equivalent dose. Bedtime alcohol consumption among older adults may lead to unsteadiness if walking is attempted during the night, with increased risk of falls and injuries. Continued alcohol use for sleep induction often induces aggravation of insomnia, alcoholism or sleep related breathing disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea. Alcohol should not be used as substitution of sleep pill because of the dependence and tolerance for sleep inducing effect, and the sleep disruption produced by alcohol withdrawal.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.42-49
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• 2002

Objective:This study was to explore the relation of genetic polymorphisms of ALDH2 and CYP2E1 to clinical characteristics of alcoholic patients and alcohol induced liver damage. Methods:The genotype and allele frequencies of 128 male hospitalized patients who met DSM-IV criteria for alcohol dependence were compared with 128 healthy male control subjects. The genetic informations of ALDH2 and CYP2E1 were identified with the technique of polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism. The clinical characteristics of the alcoholic patients were assessed and analyzed in relation to the family history of alcoholism. For the relation of CYP2E1 genetic polymorphism to the liver damage, the blood levels of various liver function indicators such as ALT, AST, and protein were checked out. Results:1) The alcoholic patients with the family history of alcoholism had the earlier onset of age (p=0.001), the longer duration of illness(p=0.045), and higher NCA scores(p=0.018) than those without the family history of alcoholism. 2) Most alcoholic patients were homozygous for $ALDH2^*1$, compared to control subjects.(p=0.000) 3) There was no difference of CYP2E1 distribution between alcoholic patients and control subjects. However, alcoholic patients having mutant c2 allele showed higher alcoholism severity scores(p=0.004) and more hospitalizations(p=0.014) than those having c1 allele. 4) There was no relationship between CYP2E1 genotype and the functional abnormalities of the liver. Conclusion:This study suggests that $ALDH2^*1$ is highly related with alcohol dependence. Also mutant c2 allele of CYP2E1 is correlated with the severity of alcoholism and the number of hospitalization. But genetic polymorphim of CYP2E1 seems to have no relation to liver damages.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.219-226
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• 1999

Objectives : The aims of this study were to evaluate changes in plasma superoxide dismutase(SOD) activities in alcohol depedence, to find out variables to influence on the SOD activities, and finally to identify the correlation of SOD activities with the alcohol-associated cognitive disorders. Methods : For 24 male alcoholics and 21 healthy male controls, plasma SOD activities were measured by spectrophotometry on 1-2 wks after alcohol withdrawal. Structured interviews and laboratory tests were also performed. Results : 1) Upon comparing SOD activities between controls and alcoholics, the SOD activities were significantly(p<0.01) lower in alcoholics($0.308{\pm}0.140$ units/mL) than in healthy controls($0.313{\pm}0.086$ units/mL). 2) Upon comparing SOD activities according to the presence of alcohol-related cognitive disorders, the SOD activities were significantly(p<0.05) lower in alcoholics with cognitive disorders($0.247{\pm}0.049$ units/mL) than in alcoholics without cognitive disorders($0.317{\pm}0.148$ units/mL). 3) Upon comparing SOD activities according to the presence of alcoholic polyneuropathy or alcohol withdrawal seizure, the SOD activities showed no significant differences between alcoholics with polyneuropathy or epilepsy and those without. 4) Upon analyzing variables influencing on the SOD activities in alcoholics, the SOD activities had the negative correlation with hemoglobin(${\gamma}=-0.433$) and severity of alcohol withdrawal symptoms(${\gamma}=-0.375$). 5) Upon comparing variables according to the presence of alcohol-related cognitive disorders, the occurrence of alcoholic polyneuropathy(p<0.05) and blood phosphorus concentrations(p<0.01) were significantly higher in alcoholics with cognitive disorders than those without. 6) Upon analyzing an association between SOD activities and variables in alcoholics with cognitive disorders, the SOD activities were positively correlated with the onset age(${\gamma}=0.995$), and negatively correlated with the severity of alcohol withdrawal symptoms(${\gamma}=-0.996$). Conclusions : Lower SOD activities in alcohol dependence suggested alcohol-associated cognitive disorders and alcohol withdrawal symptoms might be caused by oxidative stress.