• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.323-330
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• 2001

Objective : To examine the association between age at menopause and mortality in a population-based sample of women in Kangwha, Korea. Methods : From the Kangwha Cohort, followed-up from 1985 to 1999, the data of the over 55 year old female group(n=3,596) was used in this study to examine the association between age at menopause and mortality. We calculated the all causes mortality risk ratio and the cancer mortality risk ratio by age at menopause grouping using the Cox Proportional Hazards Model with adjustments for age, BMI, smoking, education, chronic disease, self-rated health status, alcohol consumption and age at first birth. Result and conclusion : Compared to women who had menopause at 45-49 years, the all causes mortality risk ratio was 1.24 for women with menopause at less than 40 years(95% CI=1.01-1.53) and 1.05 for women with menopause at over 50 years(95% CI=0.92-1.20). Also, compared to women who had menopause at 45-49 years, the cancer mortality risk ratio was 1.53 for women with menopause at less than 40 years(95% CI=0.78-2.98) and 1.17 for women with menopause at over 50 years(95% CI=0.77-1.80).

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.74-80
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• 2006

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to examine the factors affecting the rate and duration of breastfeeding. Methods: We analyzed the data from the year 2000 Korea National Fertility Survey that was collected through direct interviews. In particular, the mothers who delivered their last child and the child was under 1 year of age from January 1998 to June 2000 (N=1,066) were analyzed via a logistic model to assess the factors affecting the breastfeeding rate. Among the study subjects, those who had initiated breastfeeding (N=740) were analyzed through Cox's proportional hazard model to evaluate the factors affecting the duration of breastfeeding. Results: The multivariate logistic model showed that the delivery type and the baby's birth-weight have a statistically significant influence on the breastfeeding rate. Women who delivered their babies through Cesarean section were less likely than others to breastfeed. In contrast, the women whose babies weighed 2.5Kg or more were more likely than others to breastfeed. The results obtained from the survival analysis are as follows: the higher the mother's education level, the shorter is the breastfeeding duration. The mother's work status played a significant role in the early termination of breastfeeding. Women aged 35 or older showed a longer breastfeeding duration than the younger age groups, whereas the maternal age was not a significant factor in affecting whether or not a mother would breastfeed. Conclusions: Reducing the cases of operative delivery (Cesarean section) and low weight births, enlightening young and highly educated women on breastfeeding and improving the environment for breastfeeding on the job are important strategies to encourage women to breastfeed.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.39-51
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• 2011

Purpose: This study aimed to examine postpartum depression of Vietnamese married immigrant women and Korean women, and to identify factors that affect postpartum depression. Methods: Subjects of one hundred and thirty-five women who had delivered a baby within 3 years were part of the study. Of these women, sixty were Vietnamese married immigrant women and sixty seven were Korean women living in Gangwon Province. Kim's (2005) Korean version of Cox's (1987) EPDS (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) was used to evaluate postpartum depression. The reliability of the entire subjects was Cronbach's ${\alpha}$=.677, Vietnamese women .743, and Korean women .654. Results: There were significant differences between the two groups in demographic data and obstetric history. There were significant differences in EPDS (t=-0.236, p=.814) of the type of household between the two groups. Korean women experienced more depression in the items of EPDS 1,2,5, and Vietnamese women experienced more depression in the items of EPDS 7, 8, and 10 when comparing item by item. The influencing factors of EPDS in entire subjects were marriage type, satisfaction of relationship with the husband and other household extended family members, and emotional experience during pregnancy. Conclusion: Postpartum depression has occurred regardless of ethnicity, therefore prevention programs targeted at depression, and family support programs should be developed for all childbearing women.

• Journal of Korean Medical Science
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• v.33 no.53
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• pp.341.1-341.11
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• 2018

Background: The converging epidemics of tuberculosis (TB) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have generated a significant public health burden, however, previous studies have been limited to a small number of patients. This nationwide cohort study aimed to assess the rate of developing active TB among patients receiving dialysis for ESRD. Methods: The Korean national health insurance database was used to identify patients receiving dialysis for new-onset ESRD during 2004-2013, who were propensity score matched to an equivalent number of non-dialysis subjects from the general population. The incidences of active TB in the ESRD and control cohorts were calculated for 2004-2013, and multivariable Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate the ESRD-related risk of active TB. Results: During 2004-2013, 59,584 patients received dialysis for newly diagnosed ESRD. In the dialysis and control cohorts, 457 (0.8%) and 125 (0.2%) cases of active TB were detected, respectively. Patients with ESRD were associated with a significantly higher risk of active TB compared to the controls (incidence rate ratio, 4.80). The ESRD cohort had an independently elevated risk of active TB (adjusted hazard ratio, 4.39; 95% confidence interval, 3.60-5.37). Conclusion: We found that patients receiving dialysis for ESRD had an elevated risk of active TB. These results highlight the need for detailed and well-organised guidelines for active TB screening among patients with ESRD.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.45-64
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• 2007

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate anti-thrombotic and anti-inflammatory effects of NeungaSoJeokTang water extract (NSJT). Methods: In the study of anti-inflammatory effects, NSJT was investigated using cultured cells and murine models. As for the parameters of inflammation, levels of several inflammatory cytokines and chemical mediators which are known to be related to inflammation were determined in mouse lung fibroblast cells(mLFC) and RAW 264.7 cells. Results: Prior to the experiment, we evaluated sGOT, sGPT, BUN and creatine after the treatment. As a result, NSJT was innoxious on liver and kidney. In experiment of anti-thrombotic effect, NSJT inhibited the platelet aggregation induced by ADP and epinephrine, and inhibited pulmonary embolism induced by collagen and epinephrine. NSJT did not affect significantly the blood flow rate both in vitro and in vivo. NSJT increased platelet number and fibrinogen amount, and NSJT shortened PT and APTT in thrombus model induced by dextran. In experiment of anti-inflammatory effect, NSJT inhibited $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$, COX-2 and NOS-II mRNA expression in a concentration-dependent manner in RAW 264.7 cell line, and inhibited significantly NO production at 50, 100 ${\mu}g/ml$, and also inhibited ROS production in a concentration-dependent manner. NSJT inhibited $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ production significantly in serum of acute inflammation-induced Balb/c mice, and decreased $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ production in spleen tissue, but increased $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ production in liver tissue. NSJT increased survival rate at the 3th day in ICR mice with lethal endotoxemia induced by LPS. Conclusion: These results suggest that NSJT can be used for treating diverse female diseases caused by thrombosis and inflammation such as pelvic pain, pelvic inflammatory disease as well as vulvar pain due to vulvitis, vulvar vestibulitis and so on.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.116-123
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• 2021

Purpose: The aim of this study was to estimate the effect of targeting risk factors for the control of central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) among high-risk infants in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods: Infants admitted to the NICU and diagnosed with CLABSI from January to December 2013 were eligible for inclusion to the study. The CLABSI group (n=47) was matched in a 1:2 ratio to the control group (n=94) based on gestational age, birth weight, and Score for Neonatal Acute Physiology-II. Risk factors for CLABSI were identified using the Cox proportional hazard model, and analysis of the effect of these risk factors targeting infection control was performed. Results: The risk factors associated with CLABSI were prolonged central line dwell days (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.028; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.011 to 1.045; P=0.001), use of a silicone catheter (adjusted HR, 5.895; 95% CI, 1.893 to 18.355; P=0.002), surgical treatment (adjusted HR, 3.793; 95% CI, 1.467 to 9.805; P=0.006), and less probiotic supplementation (adjusted HR, 0.254; 95% CI, 0.068 to 0.949; P=0.042). By targeting these risk factors with a quality improvement initiative, the mean CLABSI incidence rate per 1,000 catheter-days decreased from 6.6 to 3.1 (P=0.004). Conclusion: Targeting risk factors for infection control significantly reduced the rate of CLABSI among high-risk infants in the NICU.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2019.04a
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• pp.97-97
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• 2019

Chaga mushroom and Cheonggukjang have been used in alternative medicine. In this study, we determined the anti-obesity effects of fermented Chaga-Cheonggukjang (FCC), an extract prepared by secondary fermentation of a mixture of Cheonggukjang and Chaga by Lactobacillus acidophilus on highfat diet (HFD)-induced mice. Male ICR mice were fed a normal diet or HFD in the presence or absence of 3% and 5% FCC (FCC3 and FCC5). After 3 months, the mice were sacrificed, and serum and tissue samples were examined. Body weight and epididymal fat pad (EFP) weight were significantly lowered in FCC3 and FCC5 groups compared to those in the HFD control group. FCC supplementation suppressed serum triglyceride (TG) and increased serum HDL levels. Serum GOT, GPT, leptin levels and hepatic COX-2 mRNA expression were significantly higher in the HFD groups, and these increases were significantly attenuated by FCC supplementation. FCC suppressed body weight and EFP weight gain, as well as inflammatory responses in the liver in HFD-fed mice. Thus, FCC supplementation may have protective effects for obesity-related disease.

• Journal of Bone Metabolism
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.267-274
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• 2018

Background: This prospective cohort study used nationwide claims data to investigate the incidence of fall and fragility fractures in association with urinary incontinence (UI) in the elderly, and to compare mortality after fragility fractures in elderly patients with or without incontinence. Methods: A total of 39,854 Korean adults (age, 66-80 years) who participated in health examinations between 2007 and 2012 and were followed up until 2015 were analyzed. Patient and comparison groups were classified according to the presence or absence of UI. The cumulative incidence of osteoporotic fragility fractures and falls in the 2 groups was assessed and compared. Hazard ratios for fragility fractures were calculated for the risk of UI in association with falls using a Cox proportional hazards model. Results: Of 39,854 elderly participants, 5,703 were classified in the UI group, while 34,151 were placed in the comparison group. Fall rates were significantly higher (20.8%) in the incontinence group than in the comparison group (4.7%) (P<0.001). Women in the incontinence group (13.9%) showed a significantly higher incidence of all types of fragility fractures than those in the comparison group (11.8%) (P=0.005). After adjustment for confounders, UI was not a significant risk factor for fragility fractures in men (P=0.878) or women (P=0.324). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that elderly women with UI have a significantly higher incidence of osteoporotic fragility fractures. In addition, elderly women are at higher risk for falls.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.349-361
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• 2018

Socheongryong-tang (SCRT) was one of the major traditional herbal medicines wildly used in the treatment of respiratory disease. SCRT is being commercially produced in the form of mix extracts powder and soft dry extract by different extract methods in the Korean Herbal Pharmacopeia (KHP). In this study, the contents of marker components and biological activities of the SCRT mix extract powder were compared with those of the SCRT decoction. To analyze the marker components of SCRT, nine marker from eight herbal preparations were chosen. And the method using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with diode-array detector method was established for the simultaneous analysis. Method validation was accomplished by linearity, precision test, and recovery test. The contents of nine marker components in this extract was ascertained by ratio. The biological activities were examined the effect of SCRT on anti-oxidation and pro-inflammation mediated by LPS-stimulation. We confirmed that both of SCRT mix extrct powder and decoction have the similar contents on total polyphenol and flavonoid and inhibited the secretion of nitric oxide (NO), $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$ and the expression of iNOS, COX-2, $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$. These results suggest that SCRT mix extract powder and decoction have a significant correlation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.820-826
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• 2019

This study evaluated the anti-inflammatory potential of a grasshopper ketone (GK) isolated from the brown alga Sargassum fulvellum on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cell line. GK was isolated and purified from the n-hexane fraction and its structure was verified on the basis of NMR spectroscopic data. GK up to $100{\mu}g/ml$ is not cytotoxic to RAW 264.7, and is an effective inhibitor of LPS-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 cells. The production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6, $IL-1{\beta}$, and $TNF-{\alpha}$ was found significantly reduced in $0.1-100{\mu}g/ml$ dose ranges of GK treatment (p < 0.05). We confirmed the dose-dependent and significant inhibition of iNOS and COX-2 proteins expression. In addition, it has been shown that GK induces anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting MAPKs (ERK, JNK, and p38) and $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65 phosphorylation. Our results show that the anti-inflammatory properties of GK may be due to the inhibition of the $NF-{\kappa}B$ and MAPKs pathways, which are associated with the attenuation of cytokine secretion.