• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.21 no.1 s.52
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• pp.27-34
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• 2006

Numerous studies reported the significant association between genetic polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene and various bone phenotypes such as bone mineral density (BMD) and bone quality, although conflicting results were produced. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between a TaqI RFLP in the VDR gene and calcaneal BMD in Korean vegetarian men, and its interaction with nutrition status as an environmental factor. BUA (broadband ultrasound attenuation), SOS (sound of speed) and stiffness index of the calcaneus were measured using an ultrasound bone densitometer in 266 Korean men (age: $mean{\pm}SD;\;50.9{\pm}12.0$ year), and a TaqI RFLP in the VDR gene analysed by PCR-RFLP method. In total subjects, the distribution of TT, Tt and tt genotypes occurred with frequencies of 90.8%, 8.8% and 0.4%, respectively. There were no significant associations between this polymorphism and osteopenia-osteoporosis or several bone phenotypes in our subjects irrespectively of nutrition status (P>0.05). Therefore, our results suggest that a TaqI RFLP in the vitamin D receptor gene does not contribute to the susceptibility to the calcaneal BMD in Korean men.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.2565-2571
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• 2016

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 730 participants from 4 rural districts of Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand, with a reported high incidence of liver fluke infection. This study was aimed to examine and evaluate the nutritional status in relation to Opisthorchis viverrini infection. Participants were purposive selected from Chum Phuang, Mueang Yang, Bua Yai, and Kaeng Sanam Nang districts. Stool samples were prepared by Kato Katz technique and then assessed by microscopy. Anthropometry was evaluated according to the body mass index from weight and height. Descriptive statistics and Spearman rank correlation coefficients were used to evaluate the association between the nutritional status and O. viverrini infection. Of 1.64% infected with O. viverrini the highest proportions were found in age groups ${\geq}61$ and 41-50 years old, Mueang Yang district. The majorities of participants had normal weight (32.2%), followed by class II obesity (28.1 %), class I obesity (21.8%), underweight (10.3%), and class III obesity (8.63%). Nutritional status with class II obesity (rS=0.639, p<0.01) and class I obesity (rS=0.582, p<0.05), had moderately statistical significant correlations with O. viverrini infection. Meanwhile, normal weight (rS=0.437, p<0.05) and class III obesity (rS=0.384, p<0.05) demonstrated lower statistical significance. These findings raise the possibility that infection with O. viverrini may contribute to fat deposition and thereby have long-term consequences on human health. Further studies are needed to better understand whether O. viverrini contributes directly to fat deposition and possible mechanisms.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.2205-2209
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• 2016

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a serious problem in Thailand, particularly in the northeastern region. Active surveillance in rural communities with an appropriat low-cost screening tool is required to facilitate early detection. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the population at risk of CCA in Bua Yai district, Nakhon Ratchasima province, Northeastern Thailand using the Korat-CCA verbal screening test (KCVST) during June to October 2015. Reliability of KCVST demonstrated a Cronbach alpha coefficient=0.75 Stepwise-multiple regression showed that alcohol consumption was important for CCA screened, followed by agriculture and pesticide use, under-cooked cyprinoid fish consumption, praziquantel use, naïve northeastern people, opisthorchiasis, family relatives with CCA, and cholangitis or cholecystitis or gallstones, respectively. Population at risk for CCA was classified to low risk (63.4%), moderate risk (33.7%), and high risk (1.32%) for CCA. When CCA was screened using ultrasonography, 4 of 32 high risk participants had an abnormal biliary tract with dilated bile ducts. This study indicates that KCVST is a potential useful too which decrease the cost of large scale CCA screening.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.55-65
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• 2011

In effort to estimate sustainability of the transportation sector, this study conducts a comparative analysis of methodology suggested for measuring greenhouse gas emission. There are two approaches proposed by the UN IPCC: 1) top-down approach (TDA) based on the amount oil sales, and 2) bottom-up approach (BUA) utilizing the velocity of moving source and traffic volume data. The subject areas for analysis were selected based on research results by the Korea Transportation Institute that evaluate traffic sustainability of each local government. Gwacheon-si being one of the top ranked areas in sustainability, and Anseong-si being ranked at the 7th level were analyzed. By the tier 1 methodology, Gwacheon-si and Anseong-si are estimated to create 74,813ton/yr, and 584,125ton/yr of the greenhouse gas emission, respectively. The tier 3 methodology, however, estimates Gwacheon-si and Anseong-si to create 91,462ton/yr, and 163,801ton/yr of the emission, respectively. Comparison of the two estimated emissions shows considerable differences; i.e., the tier 3 method over estimates Gwacheon-si's emission by 22.3% whereas it underestimates Anseong-si's greenhouse gas emission by the factor of about 3.5 compared to the emissions obtained from the tier 1 method. The result from this study implies that the traffic-sustainability-index based grade of each local government can be evaluated differently by the method adopted for measuring greenhouse gas emission.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.551-556
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to suggest a systematic and scientific method for measurement of children's growth development, in which the accuracy of existing diagnosis method has not been concretely examined yet. The most popular method for diagnosis of children's growth is to analyze the opening degree of growth plate in each joint by X-ray image. However, X-ray method has some disadvantages; it is impossible to measure the diagnosis of growth periodically and repeatedly due to the radiation problem. Hence, this study introduced a profile analysis and the algorithm of analyzing the image of growth plate with the BUA(Broadband Ultrasound Attenuation) of calcaneus, to verify the possibility of alternative ultrasonic method harmless to human body. We obtained the images of growth plate in proximal tibiae, phalanges, and calcanei of 269 children (7∼16 years old) with X-ray. And the image of growth plate in calcanei was also obtained front those children with ultrasound. The results showed that the time of the opening degree of growth plate in each joint was almost consistent between X-ray and ultrasonic images. Also, the images of growth plate measured by X-ray and ultrasound showed the high correlation. Therefore, it is expected that the algorithm of ultrasonic profile analysis introduced in this study can replace the existing X-ray method to measure the growth plate correctly.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.625-636
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between bone health and sodium intake in female university students using a dish frequency questionnaire (DFQ 125), anthropometric checkups, food records for 3 days, and ultrasound measurement of calcaneus bone mineral density. Subjects were divided into two groups: normal (n=196) and osteopenia (n=52). There were no significant differences in age or height between the two groups. The average weight, body mass index, and body fat in the normal group were significantly higher than in the osteopenia group. The sodium intake of DFQ was positively correlated with the sodium intake of 3 days of dietary records (p=0.0003). There were no significant differences in the sodium intake between the two groups from DFQ. The dishes were ranked by sodium intake: kimchies were 17.68%, noodles and mandu were 16.36%, stews were 13.69%, main dishes such as meat, egg, and beans were 11.47%, and fish and shellfish were 11.07%. The frequency of eating noodles and mandu (p=0.0116), stews (p=0.0008), kimchies (p=0.0482), fish and shellfish (p=0.0362), vegetables (p=0.0064) and seasoning (p=0.0347) were negatively associated with bone mineral density. Bone health was not significantly different with increasing quartiles of sodium intake. As excessive sodium intakes may indirectly affect bone mineral density, these results suggest that to prevent osteoporosis, university students needed to be more educated about diets containing less sodium through nutrition education programs.