• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.43-51
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• 2015

Objectives: Socioeconomic factors are one of the significant factors explaining drinking problems in our society. From the poverty and inequality perspective, not only absolute poverty but perceived level of poverty or inequality has a direct effect on one's health and health behaviors. The purpose of the study is to explore the growth trajectories of problem drinking in Korea in relation to poverty and perceived income. Methods: Data from 13,414 adults were analyzed using 4 years of data (2010 to 2014) from the Korea Welfare Panel. Main variables included poverty status, perceived income inequality, and problem drinking. A latent growth modeling was employed for the analysis. Results: The non-poverty group had higher initial level of problem drinking; however, the poverty group showed higher rate of increase in problem drinking rate. The perceived income inequality had no significant influence on the initial level, but over time, those with higher level of perceived income inequality showed higher rate of increase in problem drinking. Conclusions: Findings showed that poverty and inequality affect changes in problem drinking. Efforts to prevent and decrease problems related to alcohol should not only focus on changing individuals' behavior but also on decreasing the inequality gap.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.399-404
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to raise the drinking rate of Arisu, the tap water in Seoul, and to propose new solution for continuous water quality management and raising awareness. The research scope was limited to point-of-use water treatment system, and based on the this contents I proceed this study how this will help to increase direct drinking rate of Arisu. Through research, Korea has provided users with the ability to filter contaminated tap water simply as water to be rinsed through water purification. Therefore, it was predicted that it would be difficult to improve tap water as drinking water. With this study, I expect that the strength of point-of-use system and the reliability of tap water quality will be raised and hope various product will be developed to improve the perception as drinking water and I also expect that this can be applied to whole country even further in the scope of Seoul city.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.40-45
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• 2005

Age-related changes in bone metabolism are well established by biochemical markers of bone matrix in serum and urine, but analysis of the residual bone matrix, which is still turning over, has not been investigated. In the present study, we measured in vivo rates of bone protein synthesis using a precursor-product method based on the exchange of ²H from ²H₂O into amino acids. Four percent ²H₂O was administered to mice in drinking water after intraperitonial (i.p) bolus injection of 99.9% ²H₂O. Mice were divided into the two groups: growing young mice were administered 4% ²H₂O for 12 weeks after an i.p bolus injection at 5 week of age, whereas weight stable adult mice started drinking 4% ²H₂O 8 weeks later than the growing group and continued 4% ²H₂O drinking for 8 weeks. Mass isotopomer abundance in alanine from bone protein was analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Body ²H₂O enrichments were in the range of 1.88-2.41% over the labeling period. The fractional synthesis rates (ks) of bone protein were 2.000±0.071%/d for growing mice and 0.243±0.014%/d for adult mice. These results demonstrate that the bone protein synthesis rate decreases with age and present direct evidence of age-related changes in bone protein synthesis.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.177-182
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• 2004

Alcohol consumption and exposure to endocrine disruptors and industrial solvents have been implicated in impaired spermatogenesis, increase in the incidence of malformed sperm and decrease in the percentage of moving sperm. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the direct effects of some organic solvents(bisphenol A; BPA, dibutyl phthalate; DBP, formaldehyde; HCHO, dimethylsulphoxide; DMSO, ethanol) on mucus penetration distance, motility and survival rate of human sperm in vitro. Semen samples from 3 health subjects were prepared using swim-up method and 0.0005-0.5% organic solvents were added to the test medium. BPA, DBP, HCHO and DMSO produced significant decreases in the motility and survival rate with a different potency. The most potent inhibition of mucus penetration distance, motility and survival rate was observed after exposure to HCHO. A concentration of 0.0005% HCHO significantly inhibited sperm motility. When ethanol m.: added directly to sperm, at concentrations equivalent to that in serum after heavy drinking, these damaging effects were lowest compared with other solvents. Present study shows that each compound has different toxic potency to human sperm and we need special caution for the use of HCHO.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.29 no.3 s.54
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• pp.657-668
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• 1996

To investigate the factors which affecting the cognitive impairment of the 60 or more age group, the authors surveyed for the subjects in some area of Kyungnam Province. 201 studied subjects were tested for cognitive function with mini-mental state examination(MMSE). Information on demographic characteristics and life style has been collected through direct interview. The concentration of Ai and Ca of subject's drinking water, which might be related with cognition, was measured by Inductively Coupled Argon Plasma Spectrometer. The main results were summarized as follows. 1. The prevalence rate of cognitive impairment was 18.4% in male and 45.2% in female and this sexual difference was statistically significant(p=0.03). And the uneducated or illiterated showed significantly high prevalence rate of cognitive impairment(p=0.02). 2. In stratified analysis by sex md education year, we can not see significant trend indicating the neurotoxic effects of aluminum and protective effects of calcium to the cognitive function(p>0.05). 3. The correlation between the concentration of aluminum in drinking water and the MMSE score in whole subjects showed weak negative relationship(r=-0.066). But there was no statistical significance(p=0.434).

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.27 no.4 s.48
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• pp.747-761
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• 1994

Workers' periodic health examination is the main tools used to manage the health problems of most workers in Korea. The most common health problem found in workers' periodic health examination is liver disorder. Liver disorder is also one of the most common health problems in general population and one of the leading causes of mortality in adult population. Regulation proposed by government (No. 207, Ministry of Labor, 1992) defines the criteria for selection of workers with the liver dysfunction for further evaluative examination and the examination items used for diagnosis of the workers with liver dysfunction. This study was designed to evaluate the proficiency of each examination items presently defined in Regulation and propose the optimal examination items for detection of the liver disorders found by workers' periodic health examination. Study subjects are 186 workers with abnormal liver function tests in screening examination of workers' periodic health examination. Questionnaire survey including past history of liver disorder, drinking history, height and weight was done. Physical examination by physician, routine test items defined by Regulation (SGOT, SGPT, $\gamma$-GTP, protein, albumin, total and direct bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, $\alpha$-feto protein, HBsAg and anti-HBs), anti-HCV antibody test and liver ultrasonography were done. Results are as follows; 1. Result of evaluative examination utilizing only the items defined in Regulation was; There were 75 workers with suspected live. disorder(40.3%), 63 with no liver dysfunction (33.9%), 13 with suspected hepatitis B(7.0%), 10 workers with hepatitis B(5.4%), 10 workers with hepatitis B carrier state(5.4%), 10 with alcoholic liver disorders(5.4%), 5 with fatty liver(2.7%). When alternative diagnostic criteria applying additional examination items (drinking history, body mass index, anti-HCV antibody and ultrasonography) diagnosability of liver disorder was increased. When all four items were included, final results were; 23 workers (17.8%) with hepatitis B (10 carriers, 13 suspects and 10 hepatitis B), 10 (5.4%) with hepatitis C(4 carriers, 5 suspects and 1 hepatitis C), 13(7.0%) with alcoholic liver disorder, 45(24.2%) with fatty liver (40 suspects, 5 fatty liver), 410%) with suspected liver disorders and 44 (23.7%) with normal liver. 2. Of examination items defined by Regulation, only SGOT, SGPT, $\gamma$-GTP and HBsAg were significantly different in abnormal rate and mean value, and all other laboratory findings did not showed significant difference between two groups. Drinking history, body mass index and anti-HCV antibody test which are the items that authors included in this study, also showed significant difference between two groups. Utilization of body mass index (BMI) for abnormal liver function group in diagnosis of fatty liver had high specificity (97.6%) but sensitivity (22.3%) was low. Therefore we suggest that SGOT, SGPT, $\gamma$-GTP, HBsAg, alcohol drinking history, BMI and anti-HCV Ab were useful for diagnosis of liver disorders among worker's periodic health examination.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.668-678
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• 2005

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to provide the basic data of a comprehensive counter-plan to promote health for people by comparing various factors related to cancer outbreak factors including general characteristics, health-related lifestyles, health promoting behaviors, perceived healthy status, life event stress and health care seeking behaviors with cancer patients and health people. Method: The study was designed to be a retrospective-comparison-survey-study and its data was collected through 5 types of questionnaires from September 2003 to December 2003. Results: Cancer patients had lower education and household income, and many of them had no occupation. Cancer patients had a higher rate of smoking and drinking periods. Exercise level was higher in healthy people. However, Cancer patients were better in sleep and rest. In comparison with health promoting behaviors, it was higher in healthy people than in cancer patients but the two groups had no significant differences statistically. The perceived health status was higher in healthy people than in cancer patients. The health care seeking behaviors were higher in healthy people than in cancer patients. Cancer patients and healthy people's life event stress had no significant differences statistically. Conclusion: As a result of comparative analysis of cancer patients and healthy people's health risk factors, smoking, drinking period, regular exercise and health care seeking behaviors were suggested as direct or indirect risk factors for cancer patients. These finding can be applied to health promoting behavior programs to keep and promote optimal health status as well as to prevent cancer disease.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.271-279
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• 2017

Purpose: Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI), a highly prevalent behavior in adolescents, refers to the direct destruction of one's body tissue without suicidal intent. To date, the prevalence of adolescent self-injury in South Korea and its associated factors remain unknown. This study aims to determine the prevalence of self-injury in Korean adolescents as well as its associated factors. Methods: We assessed 717 middle school students by means of an anonymous self-report survey. Information about demographic characteristics, lifestyle, anxiety and depression, self-esteem, and parenting behavior was obtained. Data were analyzed using $x^2$ test, t-test and multiple logistic regression. Results: NSSI was reported by 8.8% of respondents. Univariate analyses showed associations of exposure to alcohol use, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and parenting methods with self-injury. In multiple analyses, alcohol use, anxiety, and parental abuse were associated with lifetime self-injury. Conclusion: The rate of NSSI in the South Korea was found to be lower than those of other countries. As our study suggests that alcohol use, anxiety, and parental abuse are associated with lifetime self-injury, health care providers at school should take these factors into account when developing prevention and intervention programs for adolescents.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.305-313
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• 1985

There is a trend that the total number of cancer cases is steadily increasing as the population grows. It has been estimated that 85% of the cancer rate in the U.S. is attributed to environmental factors. Among the environmental factors, diet and nutrition appear to be related to the largest number of human cancers. Diet and nutrition might be related to cancer by several mechanisms. Food may contain a direct carcinogen or precursors that become carcinogens by spontanous reactions, or by host metabolism, or through the actions of microbial flora. Chemicals that cause cancers generally have reactive electrophilic centers which can combine with electron-rich atoms in nucleic acids and cause cancers by changing the genetic activity of the cells. A variety of factors in foods might be involved in the etiology of carcinogenesis. Chemicals in food that cause cancers include carcinogens of plants and animal origin and also those in drinking water. Other then these, fungal metabolites alcohol, asbestos, heavy metals, pesticides, and food additives might be included as food carcinogenesis. The method of cooking foods also might contribute to carcinogenesis. Some chemicals in foods act as promoters in carcinogenesis. Prevention of cancers by dietary practises have received much interest. Consumption of certain vegetables or cellulose can reduce carcinogenic activity of several compounds. A variety of antioxidants or micronutrients may be effective anticarciongens. Glutathione in the soluble fraction of the cells, is a major defense against oxidative and alkylating carcinogens. Recently anticarcinogenic activity of chlorophyll was demonstrated. Daily consumption of milk appears to effectively reduce stomach cancer.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.319-322
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• 2005

Porous building materials are not only sources of indoor air pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) but they are also strong sinks of these pollutants. Volatile organic compounds have been implicated in impaired spermatogenesis, increase in the incidence of malformed sperm and decrease in the percentage of moving sperm. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the direct effects of various volatile organic compounds (phenol, formaldehyde; HCHO, ethanol, toluene, styrene) on motility and survival rate of human sperm in vitro. Semen samples from 3 health subjects were prepared using swim-up method and 1-10mM volatile organic compounds were added to the test medium. HCHO and phenol produced significant decreases in the motility and survival rate with a different potency. The most potent inhibition of motility and survival rate was observed after exposure to HCHO. Less than 1mM HCHO significantly inhibited sperm motility. When ethanol is added directly to sperm, at concentrations equivalent to that in serum after heavy drinking, these damaging effects were lowest compared with other volatile organic compounds. Present study shows that each compound has differential toxic potency to human sperm and we need special caution for the use of HCHO and phenol.