• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.5-18
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• 2009

Purpose : The purpose of this survey was to investigate the health status (food intake, exercise, smoking, drinking, stress, social support) of North Korean Refugees in Gwangju metropolitan city and Jeonnam province. Method : Data were collected by self-reported questionnaire from 61 North Korean Refugees from March 20 to April 20, 2005. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics using SPSS win 12.0 programs. Results: In current health status, 42.7% of the subjects were in poor health. In exercise status, 32.8% of the subjects practiced exercise regular basis but only 13.1% did it 3-4 times per week. In smoking status, 26.2% of the subjects were current smokers and 81% were nicotine dependent. In drinking status, 37.7% of the subjects were current drinkers, 48% were problematic and 17% were alcohol dependent. In stress status, 42.7% of the subjects were in psycho-emotional, 49.2% in physical and 19.6% in behavioral stress. The mean score of social support was 24 out of 54 points showing a little low relatively. Conclusion : These findings showed that the health conditions of Saeteomins were poor relatively. Therefore, health care programs should be started for these Saeteomins in order to improve their health status.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.1-13
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• 2012

Objectives : This study aimed to analyze the living habits and results of health examinations of university students according to Sasang constitution. Methods : We measured the height, weight, body mass index, and blood pressure of 2,387 university students, performed laboratory examinations, and conducted a questionnaire survey of their eating, drinking, smoking, and exercise habits. Their Sasang constitution was diagnosed by using the Questionnaire of Sasang Constitution ClassII(QSCCII). All the data were analysed statistically by descriptive statistics, chi-square test, ANOVA, tukey's multiple comparisons Results : The Taeeumin group mostly ranged in overweight sector of the BMI, and this group showed significantly higher blood pressure and AST, ALT, GGT, LDH, CPK, Creatinine, Uric acid, total cholesterol, TG, and LDL levels than other groups, while having a lower HDL level. In the living habits survey, the Taeeumin group showed the highest proportion of "overeating", and the lowest proportion of "eating slowly". This group had the highest value of quantity of alcohol drinking, highest proportion of hazardous drinkers, and highest smoking rate of the three constitutions. Conclusions : In the results of this study, there were significant differences in the living habits behaviors, and the results of health examination, between the three constitutions. In particular, individuals of the Taeeumin group have a high possibility of getting chronic disease, such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and obesity; and need to improve their living habits.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.68-74
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• 2017

Objectives It is well known that problem drinking is associated with alterations of brain structures and functions. Brain functions related to alcohol consumption can be determined by the resting state functional connectivity in various resting state networks (RSNs). This study aims to ascertain the alcohol effect on the structures forming predetermined RSNs by assessing their cortical thickness. Methods Twenty-six abstinent male patients with alcohol dependence and the same number of age-matched healthy control were recruited from an inpatient mental hospital and community. All participants underwent a 3T MRI scan. Averaged cortical thickness of areas constituting 7 RSNs were determined by using FreeSurfer with Yeo atlas derived from cortical parcellation estimated by intrinsic functional connectivity. Results There were significant group differences of mean cortical thicknesses (Cohen's d, corrected p) in ventral attention (1.01, < 0.01), dorsal attention (0.93, 0.01), somatomotor (0.90, 0.01), and visual (0.88, 0.02) networks. We could not find significant group differences in the default mode network. There were also significant group differences of gray matter volumes corrected by head size across the all networks. However, there were no group differences of surface area in each network. Conclusions There are differences in degree and pattern of structural recovery after abstinence across areas forming RSNs. Considering the previous observation that group differences of functional connectivity were significant only in networks related to task-positive networks such as dorsal attention and cognitive control networks, we can explain recovery pattern of cognition and emotion related to the default mode network and the mechanisms for craving and relapse associated with task-positive networks.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.70-78
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• 2018

Purpose: This study investigated the predictors of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) among female teenagers in Korea who have had intercourse at least once. Methods: This study is based on the 12th Korea Youth Behavior Web-based Survey conducted in April 2016. Data were collected from 798 middle schools and high schools nationwide in Korea and 65,528 students participated. Among the participants, the subjects of this study were 537 female high school students (Grade 10~12). The data were analyzed through complex samples multiple logistic regression using SPSS statistics 22. Results: Among the 537 female adolescents, 11.9% replied they had experienced STI. The predictors of STI among the subjects were 'age at first intercourse' and 'sexual intercourse after drinking'. The risk of STI was lower in the middle (OR=0.26, 95% CI=0.10~0.64) and high school (OR=0.11, 95% CI=0.04~0.27) age groups than those who had their first sexual intercourse at an elementary school age. The sexual intercourse after drinking group had a higher risk of STI, compared to the no sexual relation after drinking group (OR=2.54, 95% CI=1.28~5.07). Conclusion: Practical sex education programs should begin from the elementary stage in order to protect more female adolescents from STI. In addition, sex education including an alcohol prevention program should be considered to lower STI among female adolescents.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.422-427
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• 2008

The effect of plum wine on lipid metabolism and lipid peroxidation in rats with chronic ethanol consumption was evaluated. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the following 4 groups; water (NC), alcohol control (AC), low concentration plum wine (LP) and plum wine (P). The alcohol content of experimental drinking water of AC, LP and P were 6%, 6% and 12%, respectively. Animals were fed AIN-76 diet and experimental drinking water for 4 weeks. LP group showed significantly decreased liver weight per 100 g body weight, the levels of total cholesterol and atherogenic index in plasma whereas the ratio of HDL-cholesterol to total cholesterol was significantly increased in comparison to that of AC group. LP and P groups showed significantly decreased total lipid, total cholesterol in liver tissue, AST and ALT activities of plasma as compared with that of AC group. LP and P groups showed a significant decrease in the level of plasma lipid peroxidation products and LP group showed a significant decrease in the level of liver lipid peroxidation products as compared with that of AC group. These results suggest that supplementation of low concentration plum wine may exert more beneficial effects than pure alcohol beverage on lipid metabolism and lipid peroxidation products in chronically alcohol-treated animals by improving lipid profiles in plasma and liver tissues and decreasing plasma and hepatic lipid peroxidation product.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.3323-3332
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigated the effects of alcohol intake on blood pressure, serum lipids, liver function tests and obesity indices in middle-aged male workers. The 2,175 male workers aged 30-59 years who examined health checkup were recruited as the study subjects during the period between January to December, 2013. We observed the relationships between the amount of alcohol intake and blood pressure, serum lipids, liver function tests and obesity indices. As a result, the mean score of SBP, DBP, LDL-C and TG were significantly higher increasing with amount of alcohol increased, but HDL-C were significantly lower increasing with amount of alcohol increased. AST, ALT, ALP and ${\gamma}$-GTP were significantly higher increasing with amount of alcohol increased, but obesity indices were not significant. Age adjusted odds ratios(ORs) increasing with abnormal levels of SBP, DBP, HDL-C, LDL-C, TG, AST and ALT were significantly increased in heavy drinking group than light drinking group. Above results suggested that the heavy drink related with blood, serum lipid levels and liver function test levels, but not find out with obesity indices.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.659-669
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• 2009

Objectives : The degree of depression in dental hygienist was analyzed to reveal the various factors related to them. Methods : The self-administered questionnaires were filled out from 202 dental hygienist in Daejeon City. The survey items included subjects' socio-demographic and job-related characteristics, health-related behaviors, depression. Chi-Square analysis and Pearson's correlation coefficient was put into survey results, in which a degree of depression was dependent variable and others were independent variable. Results : 1. The distribution for depression degree has shown the rate as 80.2% in normal range group and 19.8% in depression group. 2. As for depression, long working hours(p=0.042), poor sense satisfaction in work(p=0.000), not fit to the job(p=0.003), low personal relation with peer works or supervisors(p=0.039), without alcohol drinking(p=0.048), poor subjective condition of health(p=0.000) than their respective counterparts. 3. Concerning correlation between depression and various factors, poor sense satisfaction in work(r=-0.332, p=0.000), not fit to the job(r=-0.353, p=0.000), low personal relation with peer works or supervisors(r=-0.215, p=0.002), without alcohol drinking(r=-0183, p=0.009), poor subjective condition of health(r=-0.333, p=0.000). Conclusions : These results showed that depression state could be influenced by various factors, which include socio-demographic, job-related characteristics and health-related behaviors. Therefore, in order to reduce depression state of dental hygienists, development and application of programs to manage and research for them are required to be revitalized as well as socio-demographic and job-related characteristics and health-related behaviors.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.493-510
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• 2011

Objectives : This study aims to explore how social support and social network are related with health behavior. Methods : The target population was 12,449 people in Chungcheongbuk-do. The sample was accrued for the period of 3 months in 2008 by face to face interview of direct visiting from systematic sampling method. The instruments used in this study were social support, social network and health behavior. Results : There was significant difference in the level of social support and social network by sex, age, educational level, occupation, and monthly income(p<0.05). There was significant difference in the level of social support by alcohol drinking, physical exercise. There was significant difference in the level of social network by smoking, alcohol drinking, physical exercise, obesity(p<0.05). Multivarite analysis shows significant difference in the level of social instrumental support by smoking, physical exercise. It shows significant difference in the level of social emotional support by smoking. It also shows significant difference in the level of social network by smoking, physical exercise. Conclusion : These results suggest that social support and social network may be associated with health behavior. Because this study was cross sectional research, the order was not found between social support, social network and health behavior. Through a study on monitoring, we will obtain more information for relationship.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.222-229
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• 2019

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Aging is an imperative problem for many countries in this century, and presents several challenges for the maintenance of good nutritional status. This study aims to assess the impact of socio-demographic factors, lifestyle and health status on the nutritional status among the elderly in Taiwan. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Taiwan. Data were obtained from the Mei Jau Health Management Institution, which is a private health evaluation provider with multiple health screening centers in Taiwan and Asia. This study included 7947 adults aged 65 years or above. The data were extracted between 2001 to 2010. Nutritional status was assessed using anthropometric data, biochemical data and dietary intake information. RESULTS: Among the 7947 participants with mean age of 70.1 (SD = 4.5) years, 20.2%, 6.6%, 10.5% and 52.5% experienced underweight, protein malnutrition, anemia and inadequate dietary intake in the past month, respectively. Age was negatively correlated with body weight (r = -0.19, P = 0.02), body mass index (r = -0.41, P < 0.001), albumin level (r = -0.93, P < 0.001) and hemoglobin level (r = -0.30, P = 0.008). Age above 70 years, gender, unmarried status, retirement, lack of education, low family income, smoking, alcohol drinking, sleep duration of 6-8 hours, vegetarian diet, multiple medications, comorbidity and dysphagia were positively associated with malnutrition in older adults. CONCLUSIONS: Underweight and inadequate dietary intake are prevalent among the elderly in Taiwan. Vegetarian diet, multiple medications, comorbidity, dysphagia and lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol drinking and sleep duration of 6-8 hours are risk factors for undernutrition in older adults.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.340-351
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• 2015

To investigate male office workers' dietary habits and their perception and intake of health functional foods, 234 male employees were surveyed by questionnaire. The results were categorized into three age groups: under 35 years, 35 and 45 years, and over 45 years. The over 45 years group had significantly better dietary habits than the others (p<0.05). The most common reason for skipping breakfast was lack of time. Frequency of drinking alcohol was higher in the older group, where tiredness after drinking was lower in the younger group. The perception score of health functional foods was highest in the over 45 years group. Perception of health functional foods was more positive as the age of the groups increased (p<0.01). The number of health functional foods consumed, duration of intake, and beneficial health effects were higher in older groups. Although older people are more concerned about health than relatively younger people, they did not necessarily have reduced the amounts of smoking and drinking. Instead, they simply showed higher intakes of health functional foods to prevent and cure disease and improve their health. Therefore, older people need to receive education about their dietary and living habits instead of simply eating health functional foods. It is necessary to provide correct information about health functional foods by nutritional education.