• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.52-61
• /
• 2009

Objectives : The aim of this study was to assess health-related quality of life and evaluate the risk factors affecting severity of menopausal symptoms in early and late postmenopausal women based on the stages of reproductive aging workshop(STRAW) paradigm. Methods : This cross-sectional study examined 497 Korean postmenopausal women aged 41-59 years in Seoul and Gyeonggi province. We divided subjects into early postmenopause group and late postmenopause group. Menopause Rating Scale(MRS) was used to measure the quality of life. MRS scores, sociodemographic variables, smoking, alcohol use, age at menopause, and risk factors such as attitude to menopause, depression, history of premenstrual dysphoric disorder were compared between early and late postmenopause groups. Multiple regression analysis was performed in each group to assess the independent contribution of several variables. Results : Early postmenopause group showed significantly higher MRS scores, more negative attitude toward menopause, higher scores of depressive symptoms than late postmenopause group. Moderate to very severe hot flush group showed significantly, more negative attitude toward menopause, higher score of depressive symptoms, and higher MRS scores than none to mild hot flush groups. Depressive symptoms and attitude toward menopause contributed to the severity of menopausal symptom in both early and late postmenopause groups. Chronological age, age at menopause, history of PMDD contributed to severity of menopausal symptoms in early postmenopause group while marital status and occupation contributed in late postmenopause group. Conclusion : Health-related quality of life in postmenopause women was significantly lower in early postmenopause group than the late. Attitude toward menopause and depressive symptoms contributed significantly to quality of life in both early and late postmenopause groups but other variables contributed differently in each group. Further studies on clinical samples of postmenopausal women in order to confirm quality of life and its risk factor are needed to be done.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.82-93
• /
• 2010

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to explore attitude and belief about menopause and severity of menopausal symptoms according to menopausal status. This study conducted a cross-sectional assessment of the effects of depressive symptoms and the severity of trait anxiety on the severity of menopausal symptoms. Methods : Participants were all outpatients at the psychiatric outpatient clinic of Korea University Guro Hospital. All participants, aged 40 to 64, had depressive or anxiety disorders and were divided into the premenopause, perimenopause, premenopause, and postmenopause groups. Menopause Rating Scale(MRS) was used to measure the severity of menopausal symptoms. The attitude toward menopause was examined by a self-report questionnaire regarding menopause. Beck Depression Inventory(BDI) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI) were used to assess depressive symptoms and anxiety. Results : The severity of menopausal symptoms was not different among the groups according to menopausal status. There was a significant correlation between a negative attitude toward menopause and the severity of menopausal symptoms. Patients with moderate to severe depressive symptoms and trait anxiety had more severe menopausal symptoms. Conclusion : Negative attitude toward menopause, depressive symptoms, and anxiety had a significantly negative impact on the severity of menopausal symptoms. The results of this study suggest that treatment to relieve depressive symptoms and anxiety and intervention to reduce negative attitude toward menopause are required. Further studies with larger sample size are needed to evaluate potentially effects of depressive symptoms and anxiety on severity of menopausal symptoms in middle-aged female psychiatric patients.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.362-371
• /
• 2004

It is essential to have adequate knowledge of the timing of root resorption of deciduous teeth for diagnosis and treatment planning in pediatric and orthodontic dentistry. Dental development is also influenced by hereditary characteristics, environmental factors, race, sex, endocrine reaction, nutrition, socioeconomic condition and secular factor. The aims of the present study were to determine the mean age of root resorption of deciduous teeth in contemporary Korean children and to compare the mean age of root resorption time of deciduous teeth between early 1990s and early 2000s. The study population was made up of Korean children attending the pediatric dentistry ward of Kyungpook National University Hospital. One thousand thirty seven children's panoramic radiograph (girls: 528 persons, boys: 509 persons) in $1990{\sim}1992$ and one thousand sixty five children's panoramic radiograph (girls: 394 persons, boys: 671 persons) in $2001{\sim}2003$ were examined. This study utilized a cross-sectional design. Due to the problems of imaging in the maxillary region and the mandibular incisor region, the mandibular deciduous canine, the mandibular deciduous first molar and the mandibular deciduous second molar were chosen for examination. The results were as follows. 1. There is a tendency for the teeth to resort earlier in the early 2000s group than the in early 1990s group. At the Res c stage, the difference of the mean age was 0.4 years. 2. At the Res c stage, the order of difference of the mean age from smaller to larger for the girls was the mandibular deciduous canine, the mandibular first deciduous molar, and the mandibular second deciduous molar. On the other hand, for the boys, the order was the mandibular second deciduous molar, the mandibular first deciduous molar, and the mandibular deciduous canine. The difference was larger with aging in girls and smaller with aging in boys. 3. There is a tendency for the teeth to resort earlier in girls in both the early 1990s group and the early 2000s group. The difference of the mean age between girls and boys was 0.3 year. 4. The commencement of root resorption of the mandibular deciduous canine was slower than that of the mandibular first deciduous molar. However, the completion of root resorption of the mandibular deciduous canine is faster than that of the mandibular first deciduous molar. The total elapsed time of root resorption from commencement to completion was shortest in the mandibular deciduous canine. 5. For each of the teeth in the early 1990s and the early 2000s groups, the speed of root resorption was in the later stage faster than in the earlier stage. In order to know about the exact timing of root resorption of deciduous teeth, periodic and longitudinal studies preferably covering the entire period of growth, is required.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.29 no.2 s.53
• /
• pp.173-186
• /
• 1996

This is a cross-sectional study to evaluate the relationships between physical fitness, leisure time physical activity, and serum lipid levels in middle-aged male workers. Physical fitness was measured by a step test score, and leisure time physical activity was self-reported on a questionnaire. Serum total cholesterol was negatively related to physical fitness(r=-0.27), and positively to obesity index(r=0.27). But leisure time physical activity was related to total cholesterol negatively(r=-0.20) only in subjects whose total cholesterol levels were above 170mg/dl. High density lipoprotein(HDL) cholesterol was positively related to physical fitness(r=0.15), negatively to obestiy index(r=-0.22), and positively to weekly alcohol consumption(r=0.14). Total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio was related to physical fitness(r=-0.23), obesity index(r=0.32), total cigarette index (r=0.13), weekly alcohol consumption(r=-0.13), and vegetable preference(r=0.13). Physical fitness was also related to leisure time physical activity(r=0.19) and obesity index(r=-0.18). In multiple linear regression models, physical fitness(beta=-0.23) and obesity index(beta=0.18) were significantly associated with total cholesterol, obesity index(beta=-0.25) with HDLcholesterol, and obesity index(beta=0.30), physical fitness(beta=-0.16) and vegetable preference (beta=0.14) with total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio. In conclusion, as physical fitness has a stronger relationship with serum lipid levels than leisure time physical activity, and the association between physical fitness and leisure time physical activity is modest, physical fitness should be added as an important variable in addition to activity in future epidemiologic studies.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.41 no.4
• /
• pp.205-216
• /
• 2016

Objectives: We compared the difference of lipid, insulin resistance and metabolic markers based on HCV RNA in Korean adults.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 222 subjects visited the health promotion center of Pusan nationaluniversity hospital from 2004 to 2007. Subjects were anti-HCV antibody positive and were performed RT-PCR for HCV RNA. The HCV RNA (+) group were 85 subjects, HCV RNA (-) control group were 115 subjects, and the HCV RNA (-) but past positive group were 22 subjects. We performed anthropometry, anti-HCV, RT-PCR, plasma concentrations of insulin, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride.Results: BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, insulin resistance such as HOMA-IR and QUICKI were not significantly different between HCV RNA positive and negative groups. The serum total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol level were significantly lower in the HCV RNA positive group than in the negative group ($186.24{\pm}37.63$ vs $197.22{\pm}37.23$ mg/dl, p=0.041, $111.66{\pm}34.06$ vs $121.38{\pm}35.50$ mg/dl, p=0.042). After adjusting age and sex, high total cholesterol (${\geq}200mg/dl$) (adjusted OR=0.51, 95%CI 0.28-0.94, p=0.03) and high LDL cholesterol (${\geq}130mg/dl$) (adjusted OR=0.46, 95%CI 0.24~0.87, p=0.02) were inversely associated with being HCV RNA positive (p<0.05). Conclusion: The serum total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol level were significantly lower in HCV RNA (+) group than in HCV RNA (-) group, but not in HCV RNA (-) but past positive group. Prospective cohort studies are needed to clarify the relationship between HCV RNA and metabolic markers.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.49 no.3
• /
• pp.179-188
• /
• 2016

Purpose: This cross-sectional study aimed to document the dietary behaviors, dietary changes, and health status of female marriage immigrants residing in Gwangju, Korea. Methods: The survey included 92 female immigrants attending Korean language class at a multi-cultural family support center. General characteristics, health status, anthropometric data, dietary behaviors, and dietary changes were collected. Results: Mean age of subjects was 31.3 years, and home countries of subjects were Vietnam (50.0%), China (26.0%), Philippines (12.0%), and others (12.0%). Frequently reported chronic diseases were digestive diseases (13.2%), anemia (12.1%), and neuropsychiatry disorder (8.9%). Seventeen percent of the subjects was obese ($BMI{\geq}25kg/m^2$). Dietary score by Mini Dietary Assessment was 3.45 out of 5 points. Dietary scores for dairy foods, meat/fish/egg/bean intake, meal regularity, and food variety were low, and those for fried foods and high fat meat intake were also low. Thirty-three percent of subjects answered that they have changed their diet and increased their consumption of fruits and vegetables after immigration. Length of residence in Korea was positively associated with BMI and waist circumference. Length of residence tends to be positively associated with dietary changes and obesity as well as inversely associated with disease prevalence. Conclusion: The study shows that length of residence is inversely related to disease prevalence. However, this association is thought to be due to the relatively short period of residence in Korea and thus the transitional phase to adapting to dietary practices. As the length of residence increases, disease patterns related to obesity are subject to change. Healthy dietary behaviors and adaptation to dietary practices in Korea in female marriage immigrants will not only benefit individuals but also their families and social structure. Therefore, varied, long-term, and target-specific studies on female marriage immigrants are highly needed.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.145-155
• /
• 2019

Purpose: Amendment to the Act on Decisions on Life-sustaining Treatment was recently enacted to designate long-term care hospitals as providers of hospice and palliative care. Despite its benefit of providing improved accessibility to end-of-life care, the amendment has raised concerns about its effect on quality of service. This study aimed to use information obtained from an expert group interview and previous studies to compare how cancer patients, family caregivers, physicians, and the general Korean population perceive the potential benefits and risks of this amendment. Methods: We conducted a multicenter cross-sectional study from July to October 2016. The included participants answered a structured questionnaire regarding the extent to which they agree or disagree with the questionnaire items indicating the potential benefits and risks of the amendment. Chi-square tests and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: Compared with the general population, physicians agreed more that long-term care hospitals are currently not adequately equipped to provide quality hospice and palliative care. Family caregivers found improved access to long-term care hospitals more favorable but were more likely to agree that these hospitals might prioritize profits, thereby threatening the philosophy of hospice care, and that families might cease to fulfill filial responsibilities. Compared with the general population, cancer patients were more concerned about the potentially decreased service quality in this setting. Conclusion: Although potential service beneficiaries and providers expected improved accessibility of hospice and palliative care services, they were also concerned whether the system can provide adequate quality of end-of-life care.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.91-100
• /
• 2011

Purpose: This study was performed to investigate patients' preferences on receiving life-sustaining treatments (LST) and to analyze the relationship between patients' characteristics and LST selection. We also examined any discrepancy between LST patients' choices regarding medical intervention and actual medical intervention given/not given within 48 hours before death. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed from March 1, 2008 to August 31, 2008 in the Palliative Care Unit of Korea University Hospital. Electric medical records (EMR) of 102 hospice cancer patients were reviewed, and 74 patients with Glasgow coma scale (GCS) ${\geq}$10 at the time of signing the advance medical directives (AMD) were selected for the first analysis. Then, patients alive at the end of this study, transferred to other hospitals or dead within 48 hours were excluded, and the remaining 42 patients were selected for the second analysis. Results: Preferred LST included antibiotics, total parenteral nutrition, tube feeding, transfusion, and laboratory and imaging studies. The relationship between patients' characteristics and LST could not be analyzed due to skewed preferences. LST chosen at the time of signing the AMD and actual medical intervention given/not given in the last 48 hours showed discrepancy in most cases. Conclusion: When making AMD in hospice cancer patients, it is important to consider the time and possibility of changing the choices. Above all, patients must fully understand the AMD. Thus, LST should always be provided with careful consideration of all possibilities, because legal and social aspects of AMD have not been established yet.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.77 no.3
• /
• pp.269-275
• /
• 1988

To investigate the cause of overflow in the torrential stream, the estimated peak flow of run-off and the maximum tarring capacity of the stream were measured at the upstream of Samsung-cheon located in Kwanak Aboretum during July, 1987. The results obtained from this study could be summarized as follows : 1. The surveyed catchment area was 477ha, which was 116 of the designed area (410ha) by the plan. 2. The maximum rainfall intensity measured was 99.5mm/hr and was almost same as the designed intensity(100mm/hr). 3. The surveyed run-off coefficient was 0.672 that was about twice as much as designed one(0.35). 4. The surveyed peak flow of run-off was $88.59m^3/sec$, 222% as large the designed one($39.9m^3/sec$). 5. The designed cross-sectional area of the stream was $17.25m^2$, which was 68% of the designed one$25.43m^2$. 6. The surveyed hydraulic mean radius was 0.94m, which was shorter than the designed one(1.28m). 7. The surveyed mean stream-bed gradient(0.998%) was almost the same as the designed one(1.00%). 8 The surveyed maximum velocity of flow passing through the stream was 2.87m/sec, 78.0 of the designed one(3.68m/sec). 9 The surveyed run-off capacity of the stream was $49.51m^3/sec$, 53% of the designed one ($93.5m^3/sec$).

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.88-102
• /
• 1998

Objectives : We attempted to study obstructive sleep apnea symptoms prevalence and sleep apnea-associated factors in Korean rural adult population. Methods : In 1,441 adult subjects of three rural communities selected by cluster sampling, we administered an epidemiologic survey using questionnaire methods from July 14, 1996 to July 28, 1996. Results : 1) In 14.1% of the subjects, snoring was reported to occur almost daily and 2.9% of the subjects reported sleep apnea symptoms occurring almost daily. 2) Snoring and sleep apnea symptoms were found more frequently in males or in mid-aged group(45 - 64 years old) than in females or in younger- and older-aged groups, respectively. Compared with the subjects who have no snoring, the subjects who have snoring or sleep apnea symptoms had greater body mass index(BMI), waist-hip ratio, hemoglobin level, RBC count, and higher diastolic blood pressure. 3) Cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking more than once a week were significantly associated with suffering from sleep apnea symptoms. 4) In multiple logistic regression analysis, being male, mid-aged, and greater BMI were independently associated with the presence of snoring and sleep apnea symptoms. Conclusion : We conclude that, in the Korean rural adult population, males or mid-aged group suffers more from snoring and sleep apnea symptoms than females or younger- and older-aged groups. In addition, being male, mid-aged, and greater BMI were significantly associated independently with the presence of snoring and sleep apnea symptoms.