• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.11 no.7
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• pp.97-104
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• 2020

The Purpose of this paper was to explore the effect of hearing impairment on HRQOL in Korean elders. We carry out a cross-sectional analysis using nationally representative data from the KNHANES, 2018. A total of 528 elders who had hearing impairment were included. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 25.0, χ²-test, t-test, correlation, and regression analysis to confirm the quality of life, and the influencing factors. There were significant differences in HRQOL according to gender, age, education, marital status, income, occupation, number of household members, tinnitus, number of comorbidities, smoking status, alcohol drinking status, subjective health status, regular exercise, restriction of activity, depressive mood and perceived stress. The results indicated that age, BMI and number of comorbidities had a significant negative association with HRQOL. In addition, marital status, number of comorbidities, body mass index, subjective health status, regular exercise, restriction of activity and perceived stress were predictors of life quality in elders with Hearing Impairment and the variable in the health-related quality of life was explained by 37.3%. In order to improve the HRQOL of elders with hearing impairment, multidisciplinary efforts and development of educational programs are required.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6913-6917
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• 2013

Background: Although the PSA test has been used in Korea for over 20 years, the incidence of prostate cancer has risen, and the associated mortality has increased about 13-fold over the 20-year period. Also, several investigators have suggested that Asians in America are more likely to present with more advanced prostate cancer than Caucasians. We compared the characteristics of native Koreans and Americans (Caucasians and African-Americans) undergoing radical prostatectomies in Korea and the US. Materials and Methods: Study subjects comprised patients at Korean and US hospitals from 2004 to 2012 who had undergone radical prostatectomies. We compared the characteristics of the subjects, including age, preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, body mass index (BMI), Gleason score, and pathological T stage. Results: In total, 1,159 males (502 Koreans, 657 Americans) were included. The Korean and American patients had mean ages of $67.1{\pm}6.6$ and $59.2{\pm}6.7$ years, respectively. The mean preoperative PSAs were $15.4{\pm}17.9$ and $6.2{\pm}4.6ng/mL$ (p=0.0001) and the mean BMIs were $23.6{\pm}2.6$ and $28.7{\pm}4.4kg/m^2$ (p=0.0001), respectively. Pathological localized prostate cancer represented 71.7% of cases for Koreans and 77.6% for Americans (p=0.07). According to age, Koreans had higher T stages than Americans in their 50s (p=0.021) and higher Gleason scores than Americans in all age groups. According to PSA, Koreans had higher Gleason scores than Americans for PSA >10 ng/mL (p<0.05). According to prostate size and Gleason scores, Koreans had higher PSA values than Americans (p<0.01). Conclusions: These results show that Korean patients have elevated risk of malignant prostate cancers, as indicated by the significantly higher Gleason scores and PSAs, suggesting a need for novel prostate cancer treatment strategies in Korea.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.293-302
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• 2000

The relationship between sodium intake and stomach cancer risk has been studied much in Japan but a great portions still remain controversial. There has been few studies on relationship between sodium intake and stomach cancer in Korea. The goal of this nested case-control study is to investigate the association between sodium intake and stomach cancer risk in a rural county of Korea We estimated sodium intake indirectly by the threshold of salt-water taste of patients. This study was based on both of the data from 'Kangwha Cohort Study' which had been conducted from March 1985 and 'Kangwha Community Cancer Registry' which had been launched on July in 1982 by the College of Medicine, Department of Preventive Medicine. Yonsei University. A total of 145 patients who developed stomach cancer in Kangwha County were initially recruited as the case group. We tried to get two community-controls per stomach cancer case by matching age and gender. Finally we got information from 90 cases and 146 controls about the threshold of the salt taste and preference of salty food and so on. Some 79% of the information about ease group came from proxy respondents and 56% among controls. Risk ratios of developing stomach cancer adjusted for smoking, body mass index and self-stated health level were estimated. No statistically significant association between the threshold of salt taste and stomach cancer risk found in this study. We recommend some further studies utilizing urinary salt excretion, diet record method for better estimating of salt intake with a paticular emphasis on interaction effect between salty and spicy food in hospital-based case-control study designs.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.5877-5882
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• 2013

Background: The aim of the study was to determine breast cancer risk and early diagnosis applications in women aged ${\geq}50$. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive field study focused on a population of 4,815 in Mansuro$\breve{g}$lu with a 55.1% participation rate in screening. In the study, body mass index (BMI) was also evaluated in the calculation of breast cancer risk by the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool (BCRA) (also called the "Gail Risk Assessment Tool"). The interviewers had a three-hour training provided by the researchers, during which interactive training methods were used and applications were supported with role-plays. Results: The mean age of the women participating in the study was $60.1{\pm}8.80$. Of these women, 57.3% were in the 50-59 age group, 71.7% were married, 57.3% were primary school graduates and 61.7% were housewives. Breast-cancer development rate was 7.4% in the women participating in the study. When they were evaluated according to their relationship with those with breast cancer, it was determined that 73.0% of them had firstdegree relatives with breast cancer. According to the assessment based on the Gail method, the women's breast cancer development risk within the next 5 years was 17.6%, whereas their calculated lifetime risk was found to be as low as 0.2%. Statistically significant differences (P=0.000) were determined between performing BSE-CBE and socio-demographic factors. Conclusions: It was determined that 17.6% of the participants had breast cancer risk. There was no statistically significant difference between the women with and without breast cancer risk in terms of early diagnosis practices, which can be regarded as a remarkable finding. It was planned to provide training about the early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer for people with high-risk scores, and to conduct population-based breast cancer screening programs.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.841-848
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• 2013

Background: The incidence of various types of cancers including the non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) has increased during the recent years. Diet and lifestyle factors have been reported to play an important role in the etiology of NHL. However, no such data are available from the Middle Eastern countries, including Oman. Materials and Methods: Forty-three histologically confirmed cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) diagnosed at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) and the Royal Hospital (RH), Muscat, Oman and forty-three age and gender matched controls were the subjects of this study. Frequency matching was used to select the control population. Information on social and demographic data as well as the dietary intake was collected by personal interviews, using a 117-items semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Results: A non-significant increased risk of NHL was observed with higher body mass index (BMI) (OR=1.20, 95%CI: 0.45, 2.93), whereas a significantly decreased risk of NHL was associated with a higher educational level (OR=0.12, 95%CI: 0.03, 0.53). A significantly increased risk was observed for higher intake of energy (OR=2.67, 95%CI: 0.94, 7.57), protein (OR=1.49, 95%CI: 0.54, 4.10) and carbohydrates (OR=5.32, 95%CI: 1.78, 15.86). Higher consumption of daily servings from cereals (OR=3.25, 95%CI: 0.87, 12.09) and meat groups (OR=1.55, 95%CI: 0.58, 4.15) were also found to be associated with risk of NHL, whereas a significantly reduced risk was associated with higher consumption of vegetables (OR=0.24, 95%CI: 0.07, 0.82). The consumption of fruits, milk and dairy products however showed no significant association with the risk of developing NHL. Conclusion: The results suggest that obesity, high caloric intake, higher consumption of carbohydrate and protein are associated with increased risk of NHL, whereas a significantly reduced risk was observed with higher intake of vegetables.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.371-384
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• 2007

This study was conducted to examine nutrient intake status and iron food sources by dietary iron density of high school girls in Seoul. The subjects of 226 girls were divided into High group (${\geq}$ 6 mg/1,000 kcal, N=115) and Low group (< 6 mg/1,000 kcal, N=111) by dietary iron density. The nutrient intake data obtained by 24-hour recall method were analyzed by Can Pro 3.0 software. Mean age of all subjects was 16.4 years old, heights and weights of High group and Low group were 164.5 cm, 53.4 kg and 161.7 cm, 51.7 kg, respectively. The body mass index (BMI) of High group and Low group was 20.5 kg/m$^2$ and 19.8 kg/m$^2$, respectively. Most nutrient intakes except energy and lipid intakes of High group were higher than those of Low group. High group showed significantly higher intakes of total iron, vegetable iron and animal iron than Low group. Ca and folate intakes of High group were under 75% of the recommended intake (RI) and Ca, iron, folate and vitamin C intakes of Low group were under 65% of RI. The percentage of subjects who consumed iron less than estimated average requirements (EAR) were 40.0% in High group and 77.5% in Low group. Total food intakes of High group showed higher than that of Low group. Total animal food intakes were significantly higher and total vegetable food intakes were significantly lower in Low group than those of High group. Iron intake from meats, fishes, shell fishes and seasonings were significantly higher in High group than Low group. Iron intake from milk and dairy products were significantly lower in High group than Low group. Major food sources of iron were rice, bean curd, pork, and egg in order among both groups.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.237-246
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• 2016

Objectives: To investigate the effect of a worksite-based dietary intervention program for the management of metabolic syndrome (MS) among male employees. Methods: A dietary intervention program combining individual and environmental approach was implemented targeting white-collar employees at a worksite located in Seoul for 10 weeks. Out of 104 employees having agreed to participate in the program, those having three or more out of five components of MS and having two components, including a waist circumference component were classified into "the high risk group" (n=41) and received group nutrition education and individual nutrition counseling three times each. The rest of the study subjects were considered as "the low risk group" (n=63). The food environment at the worksite, where both the high and low risk groups were exposed, was changed to promote healthy eating. Physical data including MS components were collected and a questionnaire on dietary behaviors was administered before and after the intervention. The data from the high risk group (n=17) and the low risk group (n=20), excluding the subjects ineligible for or failed to complete the study (n=67), were analyzed. The difference before and after intervention was tested for significance by Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Results: Weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, blood pressure, HDL-cholesterol, and HbA1c and the healthy dietary practice score improved significantly after intervention in the high risk group. The median number of MS components decreased significantly from 3.0 to 1.0 in the high risk group. In the low risk group, only HbA1c significantly decreased. Conclusions: The 10-week worksite-based dietary intervention program combining individual and environmental approach was found to be effective for managing MS of male employees.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of the study is to investigate the relationship between bone mineral density and remaining teeth in Korean adults. Methods: Using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(KNHANES) 5th Year 1(2010), 1,985 adults over 50 years old having bone mineral density test were selected. Male adults were 883, and female adults were 1,102. The raw data consisted of general characteristics of the subjects, bone density data, and oral examination data. The questionnaire consisted of general health survey, laboratory examination study, and nutrition study. Data were analyzed using SPSS 18.0 program for multiple regression analysis, ANOVA, t-test. The variables included general characteristics of the subjects, health behavior, diet habit, and oral health behavior. General characteristics consisted of gender, age, residence area, education level, marital status, monthly income, and vocation. Health behavior consisted of smoking, alcohol drinking, body mass index(BMI), physical activity, and mental health. Diet habit consisted of frequency of meal, milk, coffee, and calcium ingestion. Oral health behavior consisted of frequency of tooth brushing, use of oral health care devices, and oral examination. Systemic diseases were measured by the questionnaire for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and hyperlipidemia. Bone density was measured in T-score of femoral bone, neck of femur, and lumbar vertebrae. Bone density was classified into normal($T-score{\geq}-1.0$), osteopenia(-2.5 < T-score < -1.0), and osteoporosis ($T-score{\leq}-2.5$). The remaining teeth were measured by the differences between normal teeth and missing teeth. Results: Smoking and age are the most influencing factors on the number of remaining teeth and bone density(p<0.01)(p<0.05). Those who had higher bone density, younger age, and nonsmoker significantly had more remaining teeth. Those who were men, diabetic, lowly educated women, and low birth weighted persons tended to have less number of teeth(p<0.01). Conclusions: The study suggested that there were significant differences between men and women according to the oral health management behavior and systemic disease control. Proper management of the oral health and good quality of bone mineral density can reserve the remaining teeth through the whole life.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.123-138
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify the real condition of urinary incontinence(UI), interstitial cystitis(IC), atrophic viginitis(AV) for elderly women and analyze the cognition of traditional korean medicine(TKM) for them. Methods: We utilized questionnaire from May to June, 2010. Questionnaires were taken from 125 women using senior welfare center and nursing home, aged over 65 up to 92. The data were analyzed by $X^2$-test using SPSS/PC ver 18.0 program. Results: The prevalences of UI, IC and AV symptoms were 50.4%, 40.8%, 56%, respectively. The average I-QoL score for UI was $82.62{\pm}21.16$, and the average ICSI score for IC was $8.16{\pm}2.50$. After adjustment for each of the variables considered in this study, alcohol was associated with UI and age, BMI(body mass index) were associated with IC. Most of respondents have no experience(94.4%) or don't know (79.2%) about TKM for UI, IC and AV. 44 women(37.3%) indicated that they weren't willing to use TKM for UI, IC and AV. Reasons for not taking TKM were because of 'no knowledge of TKM(34.1%)' and 'more accustomed to western treatment(34.1%)'. Conclusion: Although the prevalence of UI, IC, AV for elderly women was high, the actual percentage of treatment for these diseases was low, furthermore, patients were not aware of TKM and had very few experiences of TKM for these diseases. The development and increased promotion about TKM program for elderly women's urogenital diseases is needed.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.177-187
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• 2002

This study was done to determine the factors associated with childhood overweight in 721 sixth grade elementary school students, in Busan. The students' heights, weights, waist circumferences and triceps-skinfold thicknesses were measured using standard techniques. Other data were collected using a questionnaire that included information about physical activity, television watching, and the amount of exorcise taken during leisure times, family history of diseases related to obesity: social data including family income, parents'education and occupations, eating behaviors; parental weights and heights; and parental activity levels. Childhood overweight was defined as a body mass index at or above the 85th percentile for age and sex. The prevalence of overweight revealed no significant difference between sexes, (24.2% in boys and 22.03% in girls). The risk of childhood overweight was significantly greater if either the mother or the father were overweight. The odds ratio for childhood overweight associated with maternal overweight was 5.045 (94% CI : 3.262-7.801), and 2.727 (95% CI : 1.764-4.218) was the case for parental overweight. Children having a history of hear diseases had higher odds ratios than those who did not. The odds ratios for overweight associated with income were not different. However, a higher odds ratio for overweight was observed in children whose fathers had only an elementary or middle school education than those whore fathers had a high school or college education. Children whose fathers' occupations were service workers or shopkeepers (OR : 3.314, 95% C = 1.851-5.934) or had no occupation (OR = 3.756, 95% CI : 1.898-7.430) had a treater risk of overweight than those whose fathers'were professionals or once workers. The risk of overweight increased in children having more irregular meal times and faster eating times, rather than those having an intake pattern of high energy and sugar containing floods. The amount of exercise taken during leisure times, and daily physical activity showed no difference between overweight and non-overweight children. However, television watching time, especially on weekends, was greater in overweight children than in non-overweight children. Television watching time was positively correlated with BMI, triceps-skin(31d thickness, waist circumference and waist/height ratio. Therefore, television watching was found to be a useful predictor of overweight in children. Television watching in children was negatively related to paternal activity levels, and positively related to parental television watching time. In fact, fathers whose children were overweight were physically less active than fathers whose children were non-overweight. Parents appeared to be a strong influence on their children's physical activity levels. In conclusion, a low family social class, defined on the basis of the father's occupation or education, parental overweight, increased television watching, and unhealthy physical activity levels in parents were all considered risk factors for childhood overweight. Among these, television watching time and lack of physical activity were considered to be the most important risk factors that could be easily modified for the prevention of and intervention in, overweight in children.