• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.169-176
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• 2015

This review has focused on important but less visible aspects of fibromyalgia (FM) with respect to the high impact of this disorder on patients and societies. FM is a common but challengeable illness. It is characterized by chronic widespread pain, which can be accompanied by other symptoms including fatigue, sleep disturbances, cognitive dysfunction, anxiety and depressive episodes. While our understanding of this debilitating disorder is limited, diagnosis and treatment of this condition is very difficult, even in the hands of experts. Due to the nature of disease, where patients experience invalidation by medical services, their families and societies regarding the recognition and management of disease, direct, indirect and immeasurable costs are considerable. These clinical and economic costs are comparable with other common diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension and osteoarthritis, but the latter usually receives much more attention from healthcare and non-healthcare resources. Present alarming data shows the grave and "iceberg-like" burden of FM despite the benign appearance of this disorder and highlights the urgent need both for greater awareness of the disease among medical services and societies, as well as for more research focused on easily used diagnostic methods and target specific treatment.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.167-178
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the intake status of energy drinks, knowledge of caffeine and the perception on intake of energy drinks by university students. We surveyed 351 university students from October 25, 2017 to January 25, 2018. The subjects (70.9%) consumed energy drinks more than once. Male students consumed energy drinks more frequently than the female ones. A huge portion (68.3%) of the subjects consumed energy drinks to recover from fatigue and reduce sleepiness. Moreover, they consumed most of the energy drinks at home and the university library. The main anticipated efficacy of energy drinks was the relieving drowsiness. Respondents (86.3%) perceived that energy drinks could be hazardous to the health of human beings. The main risks of consuming energy drinks were sleep disorders, addiction problems and heart beating. The main recognized effects of energy drinks were relieved drowsiness and decreased fatigue. The major side effects were heart beating, nausea, vomiting, heartburn and sleeping disorders. This study suggests that nutritional education is needed to confirm the recommendation of daily intake for caffeine and to raise awareness about the side effects of energy drinks.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.82-89
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• 2020

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in Korea remains a poorly-understood subject for both professionals and the public. Recent reports have emphasized ethnic differences in SIDS rates, suggesting that making adjustments in child-rearing practices may contribute substantially to SIDS reduction. Two of the three major risk factors for SIDS-vulnerability of the infant and exogenous factors-need to be understood in particular depth due to their broad scope and sociocultural grounding. This paper presents substantial issues regarding preterm birth and male gender on infants' vulnerability to SIDS in Korea. Practices of caring for healthy infants are addressed in the context of sleeping practices, including sleeping position, bedding arrangements, sleeping on the floor, the back-to-sleep position, high indoor temperatures and ondol floor heating, and swaddling. Professional and social awareness about how to reduce SIDS should be raised by promoting a better understanding of risk factors in the context of ethnic and cultural variations in child-rearing practices.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.288-297
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• 2024

Objectives: This study explored the prevalence and predictors of alcohol and cannabis co-use among 9263 Filipino adolescents, using data from the 2019 Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS). Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional secondary analysis of the GSHS, targeting adolescents aged 13-17 years and excluding cases with incomplete data on alcohol and cannabis use. Our analysis employed the bivariate chi-square test of independence and multivariable logistic regression using Stata version 18 to identify significant predictors of co-use, with a p-value threshold set at 0.05. Results: The weighted prevalence of co-users was 4.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.4 to 5.3). Significant predictors included male sex (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 4.50; 95% CI, 3.31 to 6.10; p<0.001) and being in a lower academic year, specifically grade 7 (aOR, 4.08; 95% CI, 2.39 to 6.99; p<0.001) and grade 8 (aOR, 2.20; 95% CI, 1.30 to 3.72; p=0.003). Poor sleep quality was also a significant predictor (aOR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.29 to 2.44; p<0.001), as was a history of attempted suicide (aOR, 5.31; 95% CI, 4.00 to 7.06; p<0.001). Physical inactivity was associated with lower odds of co-use (aOR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.33 to 0.62; p<0.001). Additionally, non-attendance of physical education classes (aOR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.06 to 2.05; p=0.021), infrequent unapproved parental checks (aOR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.80; p=0.024), and lower parental awareness of free-time activities (aOR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.45 to 0.87; p=0.005) were associated with higher odds of co-use. Factors not significantly linked to co-use included age group, being in grade 9, always feeling lonely, having no close friends, being bullied outside school, and whether a parent or guardian understood the adolescent's worries. Conclusions: The findings highlight the critical need for comprehensive interventions in the Philippines, addressing not only physical inactivity and parental monitoring but also focusing on sex, academic grade, participation in physical education classes, sleep quality, and suicide attempt history, to effectively reduce alcohol and cannabis co-use among adolescents.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.109-132
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• 2002

The study surveyed 1,127 mothers whose children aged 3 to 5 went to 25 randomly selected kindergartens, which were located in Busan Metropolitan City and the adjacent Gimhae City, and analyzed the preventive health behaviors on their children and the condition of home health education on their children. As the compulsory kindergarten education will e to be implemented within 4 years, this study aimed to draw up the rudimentary material for health education at kindergartens. The study results are summed up as follows: 1. Mothers' awareness of health-related attitude and behavioral level for their children at kindergarten: 1) The general health condition of the children, which mothers are aware of, was that they were healthy on the whole. As their children becomes older, the income level of the parents is lower, and mothers have lower level of educational standard, the health condition of the children was found a little lower. 2) In terms of mothers' recognition of the practice level of preventive health behaviors, the items such as going to bed regularly, washing hands and feet well, and having meals regularly were high in the practice level, while exercise and tooth-brushing were not practiced well. 2. The condition of mothers' health education of their children: 1) It was found that washing hands and feet, restriction of overeating and preference for specific kinds of food, guidance on regular sleep and regular meal were practiced well among items of home health education targeting kindergarten children. 2) Mothers have obtained information on family health from printed matter such as newspaper or magazine rather than the visual media. 3) From the cross analysis of mothers' health education on children and children's health behaviors, as the standard of education of mothers was higher, so was the level of preventive health behaviors of children. 3. From the result of multi regression analysis of the factors influencing the preventive hygiene of kindergarten children, it was found that as the home health education level was higher, so was the health behavior of children. On the other hand, as the mothers were older, the health behavior of children became lower.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.259-269
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• 2021

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the changes in the eating habits and lifestyle of middle-aged women in Gwangju during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A total of 428 middle-aged women aged between 40 and 60 participated in a survey relating to general information, food and lifestyle, health functional food, and menopausal symptoms. The correlation between the variables was analyzed. Results: In the positive habits, the intake of nutritional supplements for immunity enhancement increased the most, followed by the use of media to learn healthy eating tips, and diets including healthy food. Negative habits increased in the order of frequency of taking delivery orders, levels of stress or anxiety, and time spent sitting or watching movies. In the case of recommended foods, the intake increased the most in the order of eggs, fruits, vegetables, milk/dairy products, and seaweed. Non-recommended foods increased in the order of meat, bread, rice, and noodles. The awareness of health functional foods was in the increasing order of interest, knowledge, consumption experience, and purchase amount. The type of health functional food intake was in the increasing order of probiotics, multivitamin and mineral supplements, vitamin C, collagen, and omega-3. Menopausal symptoms were in the increasing order of bone and joint pain, poor sleep quality, emotional ups and downs, loneliness, and feeling of emptiness. In the correlation of major variables, positive habits showed a significant positive correlation with recommended food intake and the recognition of health functional foods. Negative habits showed a significant positive correlation with non-recommended food intake and a significant positive correlation with menopausal symptoms. Recommended food intake showed a significant positive correlation with health functional food recognition and intake and menopausal symptoms. Conclusions: This study suggests that it is necessary to establish social measures to reduce the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on middle-aged women and to ensure effective self-management through a healthy lifestyle since the pandemic has a long-term impact.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.195-205
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• 2016

Purpose: This study is to compare the difference in status between elderly individuals with and without a spouse. Methods: The study is based on the Fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(KNHAENS), between 2010 and 2012. Subjects were over the age of 65 years who participated in the survey. Chi-square test and logistic regression of complex sampling design of the KNHAENS and used the survey analysis method by SPSS (version 18). Results: Sleep time of female elders living alone was the shortest which was 2.59 times that of male elders living with a spouse. Stress awareness of female elders living with a spouse was the highest, which was 3.21 times that of male elders living with a spouse. Depression was the highest in female elders living alone, which was 2.26 times that of male elders living with a spouse. Suicidal idea was the strongest in female elders living alone, which was 2.87 times that of male elders living alone. Conclusion: Female elders living alone were weakest in regards to socio-economical aspect with the highest rate of poverty, low educational status, and unemployment. The mental health status of females was worse than that of males. In particular, the mental health status of females living alone was the worst.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.618-626
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate the intake of energy drinks and awareness of caffeine among middle school students. The subject was 313 middle school in Incheon area. The questionnaire respondents are consisted of 133 male students and 180 female students. The recognition result that allowed multiple responses to energy drink types was recognized by hot six at 28.9%, followed by red bull 24.3%, monster energy 13.8%, wolf energy 8.0% and taurine soda 6.9%, respectively. There was a significant difference in the experience of energy drink intake, intake reason, intake time and place (p<0.05), but there was no significant difference in intake frequency and place (p>0.05). There were significant differences in experience and frequency of energy drink intake (p<0.05), but there was no significant difference in intake reason, choice criteria, intake time and place (p>0.05). The result of the perception of energy drinks according to gender was 2.25 points for male students and 2.61 points for female students in the question 'caffeine is also present in tea, green tea, cola and chocolate'. There was a significant difference between male and female students (p<0.05). As a result of the recogniton of energy drinks, "the appropriate amount of caffeine is cleared and the concentration improves." When asked, "low body weight is 2.24 points, normal 2.27 points, overweight 1.89 points, obesity 2.46 points (p<0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in body mass index (BMI) between the two groups (1.95 for low body weight, 2.10 for normal body weight, 1.62 for overweight and 2.43 for obesity). Regression analysis showed that $R^2=0.007$ and F=2.798, respectively. Significant differences were found at the significance level of p<0.05. Energy drink consumption expenditure(${\beta}=0.121$, p<0.05), sleep time(${\beta}=0.130$, p<0.05), and caffeine perception(${\beta}=-0.162$, p<0.05) were significant determinants of energy drinks intake.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.31-42
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• 2021

Purpose: This study was performed to assess the level of blood glucose and to identify poor glycemic control groups among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods: Data of 1,022 Korean type 2 DM patients aged 30-64 years were extracted from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VII. Complex samples analysis and a decision-tree analysis were performed using the SPSS WIN 26.0 program. Results: The mean level of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was 7.22±0.25%, and 69.0% of the participants showed abnormal glycemic control (HbA1c≥6.5%). The characteristics of participants associated with poor glycemic control groups were presented with six different pathways by the decision-tree analysis. Poor glycemic control groups were classified according to the patients' characteristics such as period after DM diagnosis, awareness of DM, sleep duration, gender, alcohol drinking, occupation, income status, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, abdominal obesity, and number of walking days per week. Period of DM diagnosis with a cut-off point of 6 years was the most significant predictor of the poor glycemic control group. Conclusion: The findings showed the predictable characteristics of the poor glycemic control groups, and they can be used to screen the poor glycemic control groups among adults with type 2 DM.

• Journal of mucopolysaccharidosis and rare diseases
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.14-20
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• 2018

Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPSs) are a group of rare inherited metabolic disorders caused by specific lysosomal enzyme deficiencies leading to the sequential degradation of glycosaminoglycans, causing substrate accumulation in various cells and tissues and progressive multiple organ dysfunction. The rare disease medical care team at Mackay Memorial Hospital in Taiwan has been dedicated to the study of MPSs for more than 20 years. Since 1999, more than 50 academic papers focusing on MPSs have been published in international medical journals. Topics of research include the following items regarding MPSs: incidence, natural history, clinical manifestations, gene mutation characteristics, cardiac function, bone mineral density, sleep studies, pulmonary function tests, hearing assessments, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, anesthetic experience, imaging analysis, special biochemical tests, laboratory diagnostics, global expert consensus conferences, prenatal diagnosis, new drug clinical trials, newborn screening, and treatment outcomes. Of these published academic research papers, more than half were cross-domain, cross-industry, and international studies with results in cooperation with experts from European, American and other Asian countries. A cross-specialty collaboration platform was established based on high-risk population screening criteria with the acronym "BECARE" (Bone and joints, Eyes, Cardiac and central nervous system, Abdomen and appearance, Respiratory system, and Ear, nose, and throat involvement). Through this platform, orthopedic surgeons, rheumatologists, ophthalmologists, cardiologists, rehabilitation physicians, gastroenterologists, otorhinolaryngologists, and medical geneticists have been educated with regards to awareness of suspected cases of MPSs patients to allow for a further confirmative diagnosis of MPSs. Because of the progressive nature of the disease, an early diagnosis and early multidisciplinary therapeutic interventions including surgery, rehabilitation programs, symptom-based treatments, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and enzyme replacement therapy, are very important.