• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.62-70
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to analyze factors related to xerostomia in adults aged 30 years and over. The data were analyzed using the t-test, one-way ANOVA and multiple linear regression analysis in the SPSS version 12.0 program. The results were as follow. 1. The respondents who were older than 51 years old, unemployed and had less than 3 million won of average monthly income were more aware of xerostomia (p<0.05). 2. The respondents who answered poor and moderate for their general and oral health and the group with duplicate medication and comorbidity were more aware of xerostomia (p<0.05). 3. The respondents that had problems in chewing, communication, ordinary activities and complained of pain discomfort and suffered from anxiety depression were more aware of xerostomia (p<0.001). 4. The respondents that answered frequent dryness on their skin, eyes, lips, and nasal mucosa were more aware of xerostomia (p<0.001). 5. Xerostomia showed highest correlation with quality of life ($\beta$=0.436) followed by the number of medications ($\beta$=0.239), sense of entire body dryness ($\beta$=0.200), feeling of hopelessness ($\beta$=0.160) and number of oral mucosa disease symptoms ($\beta$=0.099) (p<0.05). According to the results of the study, xerostomia may cause deterioration in quality of life. Thus, it is advised to improve the patient management system among dental professions to prevent various complications caused by xerostomia and conduct regular health education on the cause and management method of xerostomia.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.45 no.3 s.144
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• pp.293-299
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• 2006

A survey was conducted to find out the major plant parasitic nematode in Chrysanthemum morifolium fields in Korea from May to June in 2005. A genus of Pratylenchus was determined as the most important plant parasitic nematode based on analysis of total 50 samples from 8 cities of chrysanthemum field. Pratylenchus showed 86% occurrence rate and average numbered 1,095 per 200cc soils and 1g root. Five Pratylenchus isolates, 'Muan', 'Masan', 'Tean', 'Gumi', 'Jeongup', were selected for the molecular identification of the species of Pratylenchus, and ITS and D3-28S ribosomal DNA were amplified by PCR. For the ITS, only 'Muan' isolate was differentiated by total 1 kb PCR amplification, which was 200 bp larger than all the other isolates. There was no size variation in amplified D3-28S rDNA and all isolate represented approximately 320 bp of PCR product. Sequence data of D3-28S rDNA were analysed by MegAlign program in DNASTAR software and phylogenetic tree was constructed. Sequence homology was 100% between 'Gumi' isolate and 'Tean' isolate and 'Jeongup' isolate was also close to these isolates by 99.7% sequence homology. 'Gumi', 'Tean' group and 'Jeongup' isolate were determined to be closely related to Pratylenchus vulnus by 96.7% and 96.3% similarity in respectively. D3 sequence of 'Masan' isolate was 100% identical to P. penetrans, and 'Muan' isolate showed 99.7% similarity to P. brachyurus. This result was congruent with the branch divergence pattern shown in phylogenetic tree.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.412-420
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• 2000

Background : There is increasing concern in many countries about the problem of drug-resistant tuberculosis. Prevalence of primary drug-resistant tuberculosis is the optimal epidemiological indicator for long term monitoring of national tuberculosis control program. Our purpose was The purpose of our study is to assess clinical characteristics and socioeconomic status of patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis. Method : We studied 68 cases with drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection diagnosed at the Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital from March, 1995 to February, 2000. Results : Patients with primary drug-resistant tuberculosis(PDR) were younger (39.6$\pm$16.3 years vs. 48.2$\pm$16.5 years ; p<0.05), had more population of less than more were under the age of 40 years aged -group(62.9% vs. 36.4% ; p<0.05) and were more highly educated than those with acquired drug-resistant tuberculosis(ADR)(38.9% vs. 11.1% ; p<0.05). In patients with ADR, the rates of familial history of tuberculosis and living in a rented house residence in a rented house were increased higher than compared with to those of patients with PDR. Patients with ADR had more involved lobes(2.0$\pm$0.8 vs. 1.4$\pm$0.7 ; p<0.01) and longer treatment duration than those with PDR(18.3$\pm$7.2 months vs. 10.6$\pm$6.3 months ; p<0.05). Patients with ADR showed larger numbers of resistant were resistant to more number of drugs, lower hospitalization rate and higher rate of self-interruption of medication than those with PDR. In patients with PDR, mono-drug resistance was increased, whereas poly- and multi-drug resistances were decreased compared with those with ADR. Resistance to isoniazid was the highest among antituberculosis drugs, and resistance to isoniazid in patients with ADR was higher than that in patients with PDR(90.9% vs. 71.4% ; p<0.05). Conclusions : Patients with ADR were more likely to include more population be of lower socioeconomic class, and patients with PDR seem seemed to be young and socially active population. For control of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, proper isolation and prevention of patient with drug-resistant tuberculosis are needed.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.48-60
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• 1991

In a seroepidemiological study in several areas of Korea, the ELISA technique was performed to determine prevalence of some important helminthic diseases in our nation during March $15^{th}$ to June $30^{th}$. 1991. In this survey the serum antibody positive rates of anisakiasis, toxocariasis, clonorchiasis, paragonimiasis, cysticercosis, and sparganosis were measured. Among, 6,704 cases examined, 19.7% showed positive antibody titer at least one of the six items studied. Overall positive antibody rate was 8.1% in anisakiasis, 5.6% in toxocariasis, 3.6% in clonorchiasis, 1.7% in paragonimiasis, 4.5% in cysticercosis, and 2.6% in sparganosis respectively. In Pusan port southeastern part of Korea, antibody positive rate of anisakiasis was 2.9%, and clonorchiasis was 2.8% among 450 examine. In TaeJ$\check{o}$n city, central part of Korea. toxocariasis(6.7%) and anisakiasis(3.7%) showed high serologic positive rate. Of the 875 persons in Chunche$\check{o}$n gun(=province), northern central rural area of South Korea, anisakiasis was revealed as 3.4% seropositivity. In Tonghae port, eastern coast of South Korea. 9.9% of population examined showed positive antibody titer in anisakiasis. Of the 1,122 persons examined in Southern part of Cholla-Namdo(Southwestern coastal area of Korea), anisakiasis was 16.9%, cysticerocosis was 12.7% and the paragonimiasis was 3.3% respectively. In some localized area of Cholla-Pukdo, anisakiasis was 9.3% and cysticekosis was 4.3% among 702 cases examined. In some localized area of Kyungsang-Pukdo, anisakiasis was 10.6%. and toxocariasis was 16.1% among 900 cases examined. And finally, in Cheju-do, southern island of Korea, anisakiasis showed high positive rate(6.7%). Because cross reactions between related helminth group may disturb the analysis of these data, use of further developed techniques such as EITB(enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot) was considered as a essential tools for the study. We thought that probably most of the positive cases of cysticerosis were taeniasis cases. We can't rule out taeniasis even though EITB was employed as far as crude worm extract or cystic fluid of cysticercus was used as antigen. It was well Known that toxocariasis and anisakiasis also showed cross reactivity. However, the data presented here focus on seropositive rate of several helminthic diseases in Korea, not true prevalence rate of helminthiases, and to wait for more expensive purified antigen in sufficient amount for epidemiologic use is not necessary because increased immunologic sensitivity had little effect on epidemiologic sensitivity. We, here, suggest that ELISA should be applied as soon as possible to the evaluation of prevalence of tissue invading parasitic diseases, and a review of the antibody positive rate obtained in this study would be a basic data for controlling program of parasitic diseases in Korea.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.171-182
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• 2003

Objectives: This study was conducted to analyze the dental care utilization patterns and related factors of the rural residents. Methods: The data collected by interview and self-administered questionnaire survey of 524 peoples of Seongju county in Gyeongsanbuk-do. The summarized results are as follows. Results: The rate of persons who experienced the oral disease was 52.5% during 1 year and it was at most in the age group of 40-49. The rate of persons who had experienced the oral disease were investigated according to general characteristics, perception of oral health, being of regular treatment facility. Therefore the rate of persons who had experienced the oral disease was significantly higher the younger peoples, worse oral health status and being of the regular treatment source than the other groups. During 1 year period, 64.0% of the cases had treated the perceived oral disease, 36.0% did no action at all during last year. Among respondents, 49.4% had treated their oral disease at dental clinics, 8.0% had treated at community health center or subcenter and remains did not treated at all. The results of logistic regression analysis suggested that statistically significant factors in dental health care utilization were educational level, degree of pain, oral health status and regular treatment facility. Therefore the dental health care utilization rate was higher at groups with the high educational level, serious pain, better oral health status and being of the regular treatment source than other groups. 45.5% of the rural residents did not treat their oral disease immediately due to the no identified need, limitation of time(19.2%), economic limitation(19.2%), and geographical limitation(9.0%). Conclusions: In consideration of above findings, we may conclude that oral health community program to prevent oral diseases should be intensified, oral health education to raise oral health knowledge should be performed periodically.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.23-43
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• 1997

The work-related diseases due to continuous overwork are mainly cerebro- and cardio-vascular ones, which is commonly called 'Karoshi', death from overwork. Many factors are capable for Karoshi : occupational stress in relation to technological renovation and industrial rationalization, competitive social structure, and accumulated fatigue accured to long time or irregular working. And its occurence is on the rise. The World Labor Report 1993 released by ILO, pointed out the diseases related to overwork and stress as one of the most important occupational health problem. In Korea, social awareness of Karoshi is at an infant stage, and reliable statistics for its occurence are not compiled in a convenient manner. Despite the rising Karoshi, there are no reliable clauses in workmen's compensation enough to settle down the disputes. Therefore, it is not uncommon that the Labour Ministry and Civil Court find difficulties in reaching an agreement. This study was intended to provide proper compensation and prevention program for workers by suggesting reasonable compensation clauses for the death from overwork. This study consists of two comparative reviews on the compensaton clauses for the death from overwork. One is to review legal standards of Karoshi among three countries, such as Korea, Japan and Taiwan. The other is to investigate the cases of Karoshi in Korea, 121 cases identified at the Labor Welfare Corperation and the Labour Ministrial process of examination and reexamination, and 73 leading cases at the High Court of Justice. The main findings of the study are as follows : 1. Comparisons of comperative review on compensation clauses for the death from overwork among three countries. 1) All of three countries have the same kinds of disease for compensation, which were cerebro-and cardiao-vascular diseases, while for cardiac disease group, Korea has the smaller number of diseases for compensation than Japan. 2) As for the definition of overwork, the three countries share equally that overload for one week prior to collapse is considered as an important factor, but accumulated chronic fatigue is disregarded. 3) As the basis of overwork, in Japan, there is a tendency to move from the conditions of an ordinary healthy adult to those of the individual concerned in Japan, whereas there is no such concern yet in Korea. 4) All the three countries use a common standard of medical judgement in demonstrating causal relationship between a job and a disease. However, Korea is progressive in the sense that in the case of CVA at worksite, the worker himself has no obligation to prove the cause. 2. The results of a comparative review on excutive decisions by Labor Ministry and judicial decisions by the Court in Korea : A judicial decision is based on the legalistic probability, but a excutive decision is not. Therefore, excutive decisions have such restrictions that : 1) TIA (transitory ischemic cerebral attack) and myocarditis are excluded from compensation, and there is little consistency of decision in the case of cause-unknown death. 2) There is a tendency not to compensate for the death from overwork since the work terms such as repeated long-time working, shift work or night-shift work are not considered as overloading. 3) There is a tendency to regard the conditions of a ordinary healthy adult rather than those of the individual concerned(age, existing diseases, health state, etc.) as the comparative basis of overload. 4) There remains a tendency not to compensate for the death from overwork in the case of collapse occuring out of workplace, on the ground of 'on the course of working' and 'in the cause of accident'. Through the study, the fact manifests itself that Korea's compensation clauses for work-related diseases due to overwork are very restrictive. So, it is necessary to extend the Labor Ministry's clauses of compensation for the death from overwork following to the recent changes of other countries and internal judicial decisions. This is very important in the perspective of occupational health that aims at health promotion of workers including prevention of the Karoshi.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.77-88
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• 2008

This research was carried out a to investigate the food habit and preference of parents' social and economic level with 681 children (145 of Kindergarten, 300 of Children, 236 of Adolescences) in Seoul and Gyeonggi area using question naires. The parents' income level divided into 2 groups, less than 4 million won and equal or greater than 4 million won. Most of the middle years were over-weighing but kindergarten and adolescences had standard weights. The majority of parents had Bachelor degrees, most of father were office workers, majority of mothers of kindergarten with parents' income level less than 4 million won were professional women and mothers of the rest of the groups were mostly house wives. The middle years with parents income level less than 4 million son were skipping meals most frequently, but other groups didn't show much differences in their eating habits. All age groups showed that they like meats the most and dislike vegetables the worst. All age groups also showed that they mostly eat out 1-2 times a week and the next was 3-4 times a week. All age groups preferred ice creams, fruits, juices and snacks for their desserts. The middle years with parents' income equal or greater than 4 million won also showed high preference on strawberry and chocolate flavored milk, burgers and pizzas. The food s that preferred to eat when dining out were Chinese foods (Ja-jang-myeon and sweet and sour pork) for kindergarten group, Korean foods (kalbi and bulgogi) for the middle years with parents' income level less than 4 million won, family restaurant food (steak and rib) for the middle years with parents' income level equal or greater than 4 million won and Korean foods (kalbi and bulgogi) for the adolescences. The preferred cooking methods were roast (fish and sea weeds) for the kindergarten, roasted meat for the middle years, Kimchi and bean paste pot stew for the adolescences with parents' income level less than 4 million won and roasted meats for the adolescences with parents' income level equal or greater than 4 million won. The results showed that the adolescences with higher parental income lever preferred meats.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.89-99
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• 2008

This study was conducted to investigate the main and side dish preference of food with 681 children (145 of kindergarten, 300 of children, 236 of adolescences) in Seoul and Gyeonggi area using questionnaires. Regarding preference of the staple foods, it was shown that all group had the highest preferences for boiled rice, The kindergarten period prefer Jajangmyen the most, children and adolescences like spaghetti (p<0.05). For breads, the kindergarten preferred cakes the most, the middle years and the adolescences preferred pizza. Regarding preference of soups, it represents the kindergarten liked seaweed soup, the children and adolescences liked sollongt'ang (p<0.05). For pot stew, the kindergarten preferred bean-paste pot stew the most, the children with parents' income level less than 4 million won preferred Kim-chi stew, the middle years with parents' income level equal or greater than 4 million won preferred beanpaste pot stew and all adolescences preferred Kim-chi pot stew (p<0.05). Stewed beef with soy sauce was preferred the most by all ages. For pan-fried foods, the kindergarten with parents' income level less than 4 million won preferred pan-fried spicy port the most, the kindergarten with parents' income level equal or greater than 4 million won preferred pan-fried anchovy the middle years preferred pan-fried spicy pork, the adolescences with parents' income level less than 4 million won preferred pan fried Kim-chi the most (p<0.05). And for vegetable dish, all age groups preferred seasoned bean sprouts and Chinese cabbage Kim-chi the most which they can easily see on their tables.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.1750-1757
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of regular walking exercise on health-related parameters in the elderly with chronic diseases - apoplexy, overweight, impaired fasting glucose, and overweight + impaired fasting glucose. A total of 85 subjects, 27, 17, 21 and 20 in apoplexy (A), overweight (O), impaired fasting glucose (IFG), overweight + impaired fasting glucose group (O_IFG), respectively, completed a 12-week walking exercise. The health-related parameters were measured before and at the completion of the exercise program including anthropometric measurements, functional physical fitness levels, blood pressure, fasting glucose, blood lipid profiles and chronic inflammatory markers (CRPs). Significant improvements in body weight, BMI, %body fat, blood pressure, all blood lipid measurements and all measured physical fitness items were shown in A; those in %body fat, TC, HDL-C and LDL-C in O; those in body weight, BMI, %body fat, fasting glucose, TC, TG and HDL-C in IFG; and those in body weight, HDL-C and LDL-C in O_IFG (p<0.05). The results of the present study demonstrated that a 12-week walking exercise brought positive effects on body weight, bloody lipid profiles, fasting glucose and functional physical fitness levels in the elderly with chronic diseases. In conclusion, this study suggested that walking regularly is very effective in lowering the risks of developing chronic diseases.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.25-37
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• 2005

Objective : To estimate the magnitude of psychosocial distress and examine eligible factors associated with the development of psychosocial distress in Korean employees, using a nationwide sample. Methods : A total of 6,977 workers were recruited from 245 companies. A structured questionnaire was used to assess sociodemographics, health-related behaviors, job characteristics, social support at work, personality traits (locus of control, type A behavior pattern), self-esteem, and psychosocial distress. Results : The results showed that 23 % of workers were categorized as high stress, 73% as moderate, and 5% as normal. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that psychosocial distress was more common in younger workers, both male and female. Regular exercise was negatively associated with increase of psychosocial distress. In job characteristics, as expected, low decision latitude, high job insecurity, and low social support at work were related to high psychosocial distress. Personality traits such as locus of control and type A behavior pattern, and self-esteem were more powerful predictors of psychosocial distress than general characteristics, health-related behavior, and job characteristics. There were some gender differences. While men who are less educated and single (unmarried, divorced, and separated) experienced higher levels of psychosocial distress than those who are educated and married, women who feel high job demand experienced higher levels of psychosocial distress than those who feel low job demand. Conclusions : The proportion of the high stress group was higher than expected, and psychosocial factors like social support and personality characteristics (e. g. locus of control, type A behavior pattern and self-esteem) were more significant factors for psychosocial distress than other variables. This finding suggests that some psychosocial factors, especially inadequate social support, low self-esteem and lack of internal locus of control for the development of psychosocial distress, will also operate as an intervention strategy in the worksite stress reduction program. It is strongly required that worksite stress reduction programs should be established in at both occupational and level as well as in individual levels.