• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.53-63
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• 2006

The increased risk of cancer with exposure to low-dose radiation was estimated through longitudinal study for radiation workers at the nuclear power plants in Korea. The radiation dose data were collected from the Radiation Safety Management System(RSMS) of the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd(KHNP). The cancer risks with radiation exposure were evaluated in terms of relative mortality ratios(RMR) and relative incidence ratios(RIR) to the unexposed employees at the nuclear power plants, and of the standardized mortality ratios(SMR) and standardized incidence ratios(SIR). There were no significant increases of canters of all sites in the exposed group either in RIR[1.08, 95% confidence interval(CI) 0.74-1.58] or in RMR[1.21, CI 0.70-2.08]. Neither SIR[0.81, CI 0.28-0.96] nor SMR[0.86, CI 0.66-1.10] significantly deviated from 1.0 for cancers of all sites. The trend analysis did not identify evident dose-response relationship due to insufficient numbers of the cases. Consequently, it is concluded that increases in cancer risks in the radiation worker group exposed to low doses at the nuclear power plants in Korea are not identified at this time.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.51-67
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• 2008

The study analyzes divorce rates in Korea and makes suggestions for the future research of divorce rates. Based on the data from Korea Statistical Information System (KOSIS) of the National Statistics Organization, trends for divorce rates change and the relations between divorce rates and macro environmental factors are analyzed. Macro environmental factors include socioeconomic factors such as, Korean War, Vietnam War, oil shock, IMP economic crisis and gross national income (GNI), whereas demographical factors include population structure, rates of female labor participation, and geographical location. The principle characteristics of divorce rates are as follows: 1) the Crude divorce rates (CDR) and the number of divorced had been increased from 1970 to 2004, then the trend changed to a decrease; 2) the slope of the change were the highest during 1998 to 2004 after the IMP economic crisis. The relations between socioeconomic factors are as follows: 1) during the war there was a small increase of CDR for a short period of time; 2) the economic crisis of the nation tend to increase the CDR, while the IMP economic crisis had a strong impact on an increase of CDR because of the interaction effect among the population structure, women's sex role changes as well as the level of standard of living. The increase in CDR from 1990 to 2000 can be explained partly by the population of baby Boomers passing through their marriage and divorce process. The number of population residing in the rural area and the middle class households, and the mobility of population also had an impact on the divorce rates changes. The recommendations for the future research were as follows: 1) the need to develop new divorce statistics that are based on a marriage cohort or a birth cohort because family behavior is a mixture of personal, social and political responses, and because CDR is not an accurate measure of divorce rate since it was influenced by population structure; 2) the need to include micro personal factors as well as macro social factors in a model to find an interaction effect between those variables.

• Journal of KIISE:Computer Systems and Theory
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.34-43
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• 2000

Replicated data that is used for fault tolerant distributed system requires replica control protocol to maintain data consistency. The one of replica control protocols is quorum consensus method which accesses replicated data by getting majority approval. If site failure or communication link failure occurs and any one can't get quorum consensus, it degrades the availability of data managed by quorum consensus protocol. So it needs for ghost to replace the failed site. Because ghost is not full replica but process which has state information using meta data, it is important to simplify meta data. In order to maintain availability and simplify meta data, we propose a method to use cohort set as ghost's meta data. The proposed method makes it possible to organize meta data in 2N+logN bits and to have higher availability than quorum consensus only with cohort set and dynamic linear voting protocol. Using Markov model we calculate proposed method's availability to analyze availability and compare it with existing protocols.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.22
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• pp.10027-10031
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• 2014

Background: We investigated the risk of cancer mortality according to obesity status and metabolic health status using sampled cohort data from the National Health Insurance system. Materials and Methods: Data on body mass index and fasting blood glucose in the sampled cohort database (n=363,881) were used to estimate risk of cancer mortality. Data were analyzed using a Cox proportional hazard model (Model 1 was adjusted for age, sex, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol level and urinary protein; Model 2 was adjusted for Model 1 plus smoking status, alcohol intake and physical activity). Results: According to the obesity status, the mean hazard ratios were 0.82 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.75-0.89] and 0.79 (95% CI, 0.72-0.85) for the overweight and obese groups, respectively, compared with the normal weight group. According to the metabolic health status, the mean hazard ratio was 1.26 (95% CI, 1.14-1.40) for the metabolically unhealthy group compared with the metabolically healthy group. The interaction between obesity status and metabolic health status on the risk of cancer mortality was not statistically significant (p=0.31). Conclusions: We found that the risk of cancer mortality decreased according to the obesity status and increased according to the metabolic health status. Given the rise in the rate of metabolic dysfunction, the mortality from cancer is also likely to rise. Treatment strategies targeting metabolic dysfunction may lead to reductions in the risk of death from cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8513-8517
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• 2016

Background: GLOBOCAN12 recently reported high cancer mortality in Malaysia suggesting its cancer health services are under-performing. Cancer survival is a key index of the overall effectiveness of health services in the management of patients. This report focuses on Subang Jaya Medical Centre (SJMC) care performance as measured by patient survival outcome for up to 5 years. Materials and Methods: All women with breast cancer treated at SJMC between 2008 and 2012 were enrolled for this observational cohort study. Mortality outcome was ascertained through record linkage with national death register, linkage with hospital registration system and finally through direct contact by phone or home visits. Results: A total of 675 patients treated between 2008 and 2012 were included in the present survival analysis, 65% with early breast cancer, 20% with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) and 4% with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). The overall relative survival (RS) at 5 years was 88%. RS for stage I was 100% and for stage II, III and IV disease was 95%, 69% and 36% respectively. Conclusions: SJMC is among the first hospitals in Malaysia to embark on routine measurement of the performance of its cancer care services and its results are comparable to any leading centers in developed countries.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.24 no.6 s.84
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• pp.177-193
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• 2006

This study analyzes marriage and fertility rates in Korea and makes recommendations for family policy. Based on the 'The Report of Marriage & Divorce Statistics in 2005' and data from the Korea Statistical Information System (KOSIS) of the National Statistics Organization, the trends, reasons for marriage rates changes, and future expectations were critically reviewed. In addition, the relationship between marriage and fertility rates was analyzed. The principle characteristics of marriage rates are as follows: 1) the M-shape of the longitudinal crude marriage rates; 2) the increased age of individuals entering their the first marriage; 3) the increase in remarriage rates; 4) the changes in the patterns of remarriage; 5) the increased in the age at which individuals remarry and; 6) the increase in marriage to non-Koreans. The marriage and fertility rates changes are a permanent normative shift because of 1) later marriage because of women's increased education and labor force participation 2) rational choices about birth control 3) reduced population because of the aging of baby boomers 4) structural changes in the marriage market and 5) egalitarian changes in women's attitudes toward marriage and family. The recommendations for future family policy were as follows: 1) the need for a realistic, long-term family policy because the current marriage patterns will continue; 2) the need to develop new statistics such as fertility rates that are based on marriage cohort or birth cohort because family behavior is a mixture of personal, social and political responses; 3) the need for impact analysis of current family policy about increasing fertility rates; 4) the need for a new family perspective that encompasses diverse marriage and family patterns; 5) the need to focus on men's role in families because of women's changing roles and family interaction patterns and; 6) the need for preventive family policies such as family life education.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2013

Objectives This study is to investigate the related factors to contribute the metabolic syndrome according to Sasang Constitution. Methods Nine hundred twenty six persons out of 1774 persons, over 40 years old, participated in community-based cohort in Wonju City of South Korea from June 2006 to August 2009. The diagnosis of metabolic syndrome was carried out by NCEP-ATP III(National Cholesterol Education Program in Adult Treatment Panel III) and Asian Pacific Criteria for abdominal obesity. The related factors were checked using questionnaire and blood samples. Sasang Constitution was verified by a Sasang Constitution specialist using the results of PSSC(Phonetic System for Sasang Constitution), facial pictures and simplified Sasang Constitutional questionnaires. Metabolic syndrome incidence rate according to Sasang Constitution and binary logistic regression analysis were performed with SPSS 19.0. Results Metabolic syndrome incidence rate was 30.3% and the majority of newly categorized as metabolic syndrome was Taeeumin(40.7%). There were significant risk factors like systolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, triglyceride and female and a significant defense factor like HDL-cholesterol. In terms of constitutional view, there were significant risk factors like waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, triglyceride in Soyangin, female, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, triglyceride in Taeeumin, female, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, triglyceride in Soeumin. And there was a significant defense factor like HDL-cholesterol in only Taeeumin. Conclusions Regimens on metabolic syndrome were considered to be changed according to Sasang Constitution. Taeeumin female and Soeumin female should be cautious of body weight and metabolic syndrome when elderly. There are more cautious risk factors in each constitution; systolic blood pressure and triglyceride in Soyangin and fasting blood sugar and serum lipids levels in Soeumin and Taeeumin.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.81-97
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• 2013

Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between osteoporosis and cardiovascular risk factors according to Sasang constitution. Methods A total of 1773 participants, over 40 years old, were examined as part of a community-based cohort in Wonju city in Gangwon province of South Korea, from June 2006 to August 2009. We measured bone mineral density by Achilles ultrasonometer, serum levels of lipids, fasting blood sugar, insulin and other cardiovascular risk factors like blood pressure and waist circumference. Constitution was verified by a Sasang constitution specialist using the results of PSSC(Phonetic System for Sasang Constitution), facial photos and a simplified Sasang constitutional questionnaire. Results The prevalence rate was 11.2% in total participants, and 10.6% in Soyangin, 10.4% in Taeeumin and 13.9% in Soeumin. In general characteristics, educational and economic property and exercise were concerned with osteoporosis. Systolic blood pressure, pulse rate and total cholesterol were significantly high in osteoporosis group. Age and menopause were the key risk factors for osteoporosis. There was a significantly high prevalence in Soeumin for osteoporosis in men alone. Low physical activity was a major risk factor for osteoporosis. Waist circumference and hip circumference had significantly high odds ratio and weight had significantly low odds ratio. By Sasang constitution, Soyangin has the negative correlation with free fatty acid, Taeeumin has the negative correlation with waist circumference, pulse rate, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein and Soeumin has the positive correlation with body fat amount. Conclusions Regimens on osteoporosis should be considered according to Sasang constitution. Cardiovascular diseases should be considered according to Sasang constitution. Soeumin should be cautious of osteoporosis and gain weights and reasonable amount of fat food. Soyangin had better do exercise lower body and eat little food containing triglyceride. Taeeumin had better lose weights and eat little cholesterol food.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.1-20
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• 2019

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the effects of Korean Medicine Hospital Utilization (KMHU) on major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and death in hypertensive patients taking antihypertensives. Methods: Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort database, this study identified and diagnosed 68,457 hypertensive patients taking antihypertensives between 2003 and 2006. They were divided into KMHU and non-KMHU groups. The follow-up period ended with the diagnosis of myocardial infarction, stroke, or death. After propensity score matching (PSM), there were 18,242 patients each in the non-KMHU and KMHU groups. We calculated the incidence rate, hazard ratio (HR), and 95% confidence interval (CI) for MACE, myocardial infarction, stroke, and death in patients with hypertension using a stratified Cox proportional hazard model. In addition, secondary outcome analyses for stroke and cardiovascular mortality were performed. Results: After PSM, the HRs for MACE (HR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.81-0.87), all-cause mortality (HR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.72-0.79), and myocardial infarction (HR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.83-0.97) were significantly lower in the KMHU group than in the non-KMHU group. Moreover, the HRs for stroke-related mortality, haemorrhage and ischaemic stroke-related mortality, and ischaemic heart disease-related and circulatory system disease-related mortality were significantly lower in the KMHU group than in the non-KMHU group. Conclusions: On long-term follow-up observation, this study supported the effect of KMHU for managing hypertension and reducing the burden of cardiovascular diseases.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.612-624
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• 2023

The gut-brain axis encompasses a bidirectional communication pathway between the gastrointestinal microbiota and the central nervous system. There is some evidence to suggest that probiotics may have a positive effect on cognitive function, but more research is needed before any definitive conclusions can be drawn. Inflammation-induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) may affect cognitive function. To confirm the effect of probiotics on oxidative stress induced by LPS, the relative expression of antioxidant factors was confirmed, and it was revealed that the administration of probiotics had a positive effect on the expression of antioxidant-related factors. After oral administration of probiotics to mice, an intentional inflammatory response was induced through LPS i.p., and the effect on cognition was confirmed by the Morris water maze test, nitric oxide (NO) assay, and interleukin (IL)-1β enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay performed. Experimental results, levels of NO and IL-1β in the blood of LPS i.p. mice were significantly decreased, and cognitive evaluation using the Morris water maze test showed significant values in the latency and target quadrant percentages in the group that received probiotics. This proves that intake of these probiotics improves cognitive impairment and memory loss through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms.