• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.150-156
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• 2011

Few studies have shown the correlation between metabolic syndrome and bone mineral density (BMD). The main pathogenic mechanisms of metabolic syndrome rely on chronic low-level inflammatory status and oxidative stress. There are few studies that examine the gender-specific effects of inflammation and antioxidants on BMD. In this study, we evaluated the relative contribution of these factors in patients with metabolic syndrome. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 67 men and 46 postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome; metabolic syndrome was defined as having three or more metabolic syndrome risk factors. BMD, body fat mass, and lean body mass were evaluated. We also examined the levels of high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), adiponectin, vitamin E, and C in serum. Log-transformed hs-CRP levels were significantly higher in lumbar spine osteoporotic subjects than in normal subjects for women but not for men. There was no significant difference between the normal group and the osteoporotic group in other inflammatory markers. Stepwise regression analyses for BMD of the lumbar spine showed that lean body mass and vitamin E were significant determinants in men. Lean body mass and log-transformed hs-CRP were significant determinants in women Analysis for BMD of the femoral neck showed that lean body mass was a significant determinant for both men and women. There was no significant factor among the inflammatory markers or antioxidant vitamins affecting the femoral neck BMD for either gender. In conclusion, while hs-CRP is an independent predictor of the BMD of the lumbar spine in women, vitamin E showed profound effects on BMD in men but not women with metabolic syndrome.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.137-147
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• 2008

This study evaluated the effects of the human activity and outdoor air on concentrations of size-selective particulate matters (PM) by conducting a realtime measurement in classrooms and on roofs at 4 elementary schools, 3 middle schools and 3 high schools in Incheon City. PM concentrations featured repetitive pattern of increasing during break time (including lunch hours) and cleaning time while decreasing during class hours. This trend was more prominent with inhalable PM and PM10 than fine PMs (PM2.5, PM1.0). The indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratio of inhalable PM and PM10 exceeded 1 while that of fine PMs was close to or below 1. The PM2.5 (out)/PM10 (out) ratio stood at 0.59 (${\pm}0.16$) and the PM2.5 (in)/PM10 (in) ratio was 0.29 (${\pm}0.09$), suggesting that occupant activity had a greater effect upon coarse particles (PM10-PM2.5) than upon fine particles (PM2.5, PM1.0). The correlations between the indoor and the outdoor PM concentrations showed a stronger positive correlation for fine particles than that of coarse particles. The linear regression analysis of PM concentrations indoor and outdoor indicated a higher determinant coefficient ($r^2>0.9$), and consistency for fine particles than in case of coarse particles. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that the indoor coarse particle concentration is more attributed to occupant activity and the indoor fine particle concentration is more influenced by outdoor air pollution.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2009

Osteoporosis is characterized by impaired osteogenesis. BMD is a major determinant of bone strength. The role of the VDR gene in predisposition to primary osteoporosis has been recognized. However, population-based case-control studies have been reported controversial results for known candidate genes in an ethnically distinct group. To determine the genetic effects of VDR variants on osteoporosis and BMD, we directly sequenced the VDR gene in 24 unrelated Korean individuals and identified eighteen sequence variants. We investigated the potential involvement of eight SNPs in osteoporosis in postmenopausal women (n = 729). Two SNPs (LD) in intron 2, -5294G>C (rs2238135) and -4817G>A (rs17882443) showed the evidence of association with enhanced BMD of the femoral neck ($p_{additive}$=0.031 for rs2238135; $p_{additive}$=0.017 and $p_{dominant}$= 0.019 for 17882443). Moreover, VDR -4817G>A was significantly associated with protective effect on all fracture risk ($p_{recessive}$=0.035, OR=0.2, 95% CI=$0.05{\sim}0.89$), and tended to be higher BMD values at various proximal femur sites. Therefore, we suggest that the -4817G>A may be useful genetic marker for vitamin D-related metabolism and may have an important role in the increased BMD of the proximal femur in postmenopausal Korean women.

• 한국노년학
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.503-518
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• 2007

The intergenerational support exchange depends on elder's objective conditions and social context, and its effects are diverse. I argue that not only capacity such as health condition and economic status but also relational properties among parent(s) and adult children are important to determine their reciprocal support exchange. Seoul area is selected, and 730 elders are interviewed to be analyzed quantitatively. The survey data are collected based on the structured questionnaire. Findings are partly supportive to the arguments presented above. The relational properties, especially coresidence, the number of adult children, and contact frequency independently influence reciprocal support. The better health conditions of parent(s) are, the more support to adult children is given. The economic status is related to financial support exchange only. The types of intergenerational support exchange include dependant, balanced, and generalized reciprocity. The most important determinant of the reciprocity is the elders' health condition.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.281-291
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• 1996

458 female workers working in the small and medium scaled industries in Inchon area were surveyed to study their general characteristics, health behavior, working and environmental conditions, awareness of exposure at hazardous materials, current health status, and degree of working satisfaction. Self-administered questionnaire was distributed to the female workers with the explanation by trained interviewer on the purpose of survey and the method how to answer. The results were as follows : (1) 75.5% of the respondents are living with their families and others are living in domitary or rent house for herself. Age distribution ranges from teenagers to warren in their forties. In marital status 69.0% of workers are single and 31.0% of them have ever married. 69.4% of workers are high school graduate. The size of factory is 48.3% with less than 300 workers, 42.1% with 300~500 workers. (2) Most of the workers(86.7%) are full time workers, 52% of the respondents have working experiences in other factories. More than 65% have fewer than 5 years working experience. (3) The awareness of exposure at noise was 33% of respondents, it was significantly different by skilled status. The awareness of exposure at dust, other hazardous material was each 13.3%, 12.4% of respondents. (4) 26% of them are unsatisfied with their working cognitions and 43.7% of them are unsatisfied with their welfare in occupational system unsatisfactory rate of promotion is higher in the unmarried workers(45.6%), skilled workers(47.2%), full time workers(47.4%), long term workers(50%), and awareness group of exposure hazardous material(51.3%), compared to married women workers, unskilled workers, part-time workers, short term workers and unawareness group of exposure at hazardous materials. (5) The index of working satisfaction is rated on a scale of 1 to 10 with the higher point indicating higher satisfaction. Among the selected variables, marital status, working status, the awareness of exposure at hazardous materials, were statistically significant with the index of working satisfaction. (6) By multiple regression analysis showed that the determinant factors of index of working condition were health index, the awareness of exposure at dust, the awareness of exposure other hazardous materials, marital status and working period. In conclusion, there is a significant relationship between the awareness of exposure at hazardous material the index of working satisfaction. Therefore if the workers are less exposed to the hazardous material and are educated properly they will be more satisfied with their work thus improving their health and productivity. Finally, with the result of this study, there is a great need for the development of a health promotion program and a welfare policy for small-scale factories.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.1053-1056
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• 2013

Background: Leukemia and lymphoma demonstrate significantly incidence rates throughout the world and particularly in Iran they cause serious mortality and diagnosis and treatment expenditures for both families and the health system. Combined they account for about 11 percent of cancers in Mazandaran province, ranking number 2 in prevalent cancers. The purpose of this study was to provide a first general and specific description of leukemia and lymphoma in Mazandaran province. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive retrospective study, entire patient's data were reviewed which had confirmed diagnosis of leukemia and lymphoma with valid laboratory or pathology reports in the period 2001-2008. The data were collected by Babol health research site related to Tehran University of Medical Science. Incidence rates based on age groups, gender, city of residence and type of malignancy were calculated and analyzed. Results: In Mazandaran province, 1,146 cases of leukemia and lymphoma were encountered, 5.9 in 100,000 persons on average annually. The highest incidence rates were obtained at age of 70 or above (26.4) and the lowest at age of 0-9 (2.3).The incidence rates in males and females were 7.1 and 4.8 respectively with a ratio of 1.5. The highest incidence rate was in Babol (7.3) and the lowest was calculated in Neka and Tonekabon equally (1.5). According to the type of malignancy, non Hodgkin lymphoma, with 2.5/100,000 have the most incidence rate and myeloid leukemia with 1.8 had the lowest. Conclusions: The obtained findings indicate clear differences in incidence rates based on age, gender, residence, and type of malignancy. Therefore it's suggested that in addition to promote data collecting programs, research projects should be programmed to define leukemia and lymphoma risk factors in this province.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.27-39
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• 2009

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to examine how sex workers perceive the current STD examination service and how the perceptions are related with sex workers' intention to use the service. Methods: The data for this study came from a survey among sex workers who had an experience of using STD examination service provided by local public health centers. Sex workers' perceptions to STD examination service and their intention to use the service were measured with multiple items adapted from the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ) developed by Ware and his colleagues. Results: Most sex workers are satisfied with the current STD examination service provided by local public health centers and they have a strong intention to use the service. In predicting general satisfaction and intention to use STD examination service, few socioeconomic variables play a significant role. Among specific dimensions of STD test service, technical quality and accessibility of the service affect both general satisfaction and intention to use the service in a positive direction. The most important determinant of sex workers' intention to use STD examination service is their general satisfaction with the service. Conclusion: With the existing laws that still officially justify STD examination programs, the demand and need for STD examination service by sex workers further the current STD examination programs. Health authorities which aim at health maintenance, health promotion and health protection for the people, thus, need to continue their STD control programs actively and effectively regardless of the Special Law on Sex Trade.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.153-161
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• 2012

Wheat is a very popular crop in all over the world due to the various use of wheat flour as staple foods, such as bread. As many food products are made from wheat, the property of wheat can be a determinant of the quality of final food products. Staled bread is not harmful to health but is normally rejected by consumers due to the absence of desirable sensory attributes. The phenomena of staling can be increased hardness of bread, the migration of moisture from center of bread to the crust of bread, loss of flavor and etc. The exact mechanism of staling has not been established completely. To delay or prevent staling, either addition of anti-staling agent, such as surfactant and enzyme or modification of wheat component, such as wheat starch has been adapted. The development of waxy wheat made it possible to reconstitute the starch component in bread. When the content of amylopect in was increased in bread, the loss of moisture was decreased and the reduction in softness of bread was decreased during storage. Increased retrogradation of starch did not always accompany the staling of bread indicating that the retrogradation of starch may not be a single indicator of bread staling. To find out the exact relationship between bread staling and starch retrogradation, further research is necessary.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.113-118
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• 2006

Thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), a component of the redox control system involving thioredoxin (Trx), is implicated in defense against oxidative stress, control of cell growth and proliferation, and regulation of apoptosis. In the present study a stable transfectant was made by introducing the vector pcDNA3.0 harboring the fission yeast TrxR gene into COS-7 African green monkey kidney fibroblast cells. The exogenous TrxR gene led to an increase in TrxR activity of up to 3.2-fold but did not affect glutathione (GSH) content, or glutaredoxin and caspase-3 activities. Levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), but not those of nitric oxide (NO), were reduced. Conversely, 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobezene (CDNB), an irreversible inhibitor of mammalian TrxR, enhanced ROS levels in the COS-7 cells. After treatment with hydrogen peroxide, the level of intracellular ROS was lower in the transfectants than in the vector control cells. These results confirm that TrxR is a crucial determinant of the level of cellular ROS during oxidative stress as well as in the normal state.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.787-792
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to estimate the iron availability and to analyze dietary factors which influence hematological indices of 130 female adolescents with iron deficiency anemia. Intakes of iron and other nutrients were estimated using a self-administrated questionnaire combined with the 24-hour recall mehtod and iron availability was calculated by Monsen's method. Mean daily intakes of calorie, protein and vitamin C were 1631.0kcal(77.7% of RDA), 54.7g(84.2% of RDA) and 45.7mg(83.0% of RDA), respectively. In terms of iron, mean daily intake was 8.7mg(48.3% of RDA) and heme iron intake was 3.0mg which correspond to 34% of total iron intake. The amount of total absorbable iron was 1.5mg and the estimated bioavailability of dietary iron was 17.2%. In summary, intake of several nutrients for most of the subjects were under RDA. Dietary factors affecting hematological indices were analyzed by stepwise multiple regression. Intake of vitamin C was a major determinant of Hb level, while both intake of enhancing factor and iron availability were major determinants of serum ferritin level. In conclusion proper nutritional education and guidance for iron deficiency anemic female adoalescent needs to be developed and to improve their iron storage should be increased intakes of enhancing factors, female adoalescents.