• Title/Summary/Keyword: Health research and development

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Living Arrangements Affect Nutritional Status of the Elderly

  • Kim, Cho-Il;Lee, Haeng-Shin
    • Journal of Community Nutrition
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    • v.3 no.2
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    • pp.103-109
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    • 2001
  • With a continuous and steep increase in life expectancies, Korean society is expected to enter the aged society by year 2020. And as the number of elderly increases, the burden of medical and health care expenses for them becomes greater in every developed society. Hence, the preventive approach for chronic degenerative diseases remains to be the best solution for the above-mentioned problem and warranting optimal nutrition would be one of the most important approaches. We performed a nutrition survey on 585 older adults of 50 years of age and older, residing in 3 metropolitan areas including Daejun, Daeku and Kwangju. Anthropometry, including body composition analysis based on the bioelectrical impedance analysis using InBody 3.0 and dietary intake survey by semi-quantitative flood frequency questionnaires, were used in collecting data. As one of the most important factors affecting the health and nutritional status of the elderly, we focused on living arrangements. Analyses were performed on the data from 550 subjects only, after excluding statistical outliers. Three hundred and sixty-eight of them(66.9%) were female and the number of elderly(65 years of age and older) was 485. According to the statistical analyses, the female elderly were more vulnerable to malnutrition than the male elderly. And the older they befame, the less adequate they were in nutrient intake. In addition to this, the elderly living alone showed the poorest patterns of nutrient intake and anthropometry. Although the exact effect of living alone could differ among different sex-age groups, the fact that the elderly living alone is vulnerable to malnutrition would remain concrete. This raises the utmost necessity of nutrition intervention to be devised and directed to the targeted population, namely the living-alone elderly from the government level. The intervention may include nutrition education, nutrition counseling and support In forms of meal service by networking the efforts of central as well as local governments to ensure the good health of the Korean elderly.

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Health Effects of Exposure to Indoor Mold and the Levels of Mold in Facilities with Susceptible Populations in Korea (곰팡이 노출에 따른 건강영향 및 민감 시설 내 곰팡이 분포 현황)

  • Seo, SungChul
    • Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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    • v.46 no.4
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    • pp.359-367
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    • 2020
  • Objectives: Exposure to mold is strongly associated with adverse health effects (development or exacerbation of allergic diseases). We reviewed the health effects of mold exposure and explored to determine the annual distribution of indoor mold in facilities with susceptible populations. Methods: The health effects of mold exposure were mainly summarized by reviewing related papers and WHO research reports. We selected 10 facilities, including daycare centers, postpartum care centers, medical institutions, and elderly care facilities within the Seoul Metropolitan. Mold sampling was performed once every week or once every quarter from February 2016 to 2017. In addition, fungal species analyses was performed, and distribution status by month and facility was analyzed in the same manner as concentration. Results: Adverse health effects attributed to fungal exposure are largely divided into allergic symptoms, toxic effects, and infectious effects. Monthly mean concentrations of mold indoors and outdoors was 368.8 CFU/㎥ (geometric mean 213.4 CFU/㎥) and 496.0 CFU/㎥ (327.9 CFU/㎥), respectively. The indoor concentration has begun to increase in February, peaked in July, declined in August, increased again until October, and then decreased in November. About 36 genera of indoor fungal species were found in each facility. Cladosporium sp., Penicillium sp., Fusarium sp., Aspergillus sp., Alternaria sp., and Arthrinium sp. were observed as the dominant species. Conclusions: Our findings showed that the overall level of indoor mold was below the 500 CFU/㎥ level recommended by the Ministry of Environment. The development of DNA-based assessment and expanding facilities to be monitored for mold would be necessary for preventive aspects.

Making the Difference in Occupational Health: Three Original and Significant Cases Presented at ICOH Congresses in the 20th Century

  • Iavicoli, Sergio;Valenti, Antonio;Barillari, Caterina;Fortuna, Grazia;Boccuni, Valeria;Carnevale, Francesco;Riva, Michele A.;Kang, Seong-Kyu;Tomassini, Luigi
    • Safety and Health at Work
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    • v.11 no.2
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    • pp.215-221
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    • 2020
  • Background: The aim of this study is to illustrate the historical role of the International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH) congresses as an arena where national and international occupational medicine can dialogue and as the first example of scientific transferability of the research and prevention results that have had such an impact on global public health. Methods: We used the ICOH Heritage Repository, in which ICOH congress proceedings (from the first congress in Milan in 1906 to the last congress, held in Dublin in 2018), are organised in an orderly way, updated and easily accessible according to open access logic. Results: We describe studies by three physicians who submitted significant scientific work to ICOH congresses, one on the battle against ancylostomiasis (Volante, 1906), the second (Quarelli, 1928) on carbon disulphide poisoning, and the third (Viola, 1969) on the carcinogenicity of vinyl chloride monomer. Priority is given to Italian cases, on account of the authors' obvious familiarity with the issues. Conclusion: The visibility offered in ICOH conferences and their published proceedings has boosted the international spread of their findings, contributing to the scientific transferability of the research results and influencing the development of policies and prevention interventions that have had a great impact on global public health.

Effect of Lactic Acid Bacteria on D- and L-Lactic Acid Contents of Kimchi

  • Jin, Qing;Yoon, Hyang-Sik;Han, Nam-Soo;Lee, Jun-Soo;Han, Jin-Soo
    • Food Science and Biotechnology
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    • v.15 no.6
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    • pp.948-953
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    • 2006
  • The D-form of lactic acid is frequently detected in fermented foods, and an excessive dietary intake of D-lactic acid may induce metabolic stress in both infants and patients. This work was carried out to determine the prevailing microorganisms relevant to the accumulation of D-lactic acid in kimchi. Leuconostoc (Leuc.) mesenteroides and Leuc. citreum primarily synthesized D-lactate with a small quantity of L-form. Leuc. gelidum and Leuc. inhae evidenced patterns similar to this. Lactobacillus (Lb.) plantarum and Lb. brevis were shown to convert glucose into a balanced mixture of D-/L-lactic acid, whereas Lb. casei principally synthesized L-lactic acid and a very small quantity of D-lactic acid. When kimchi was incubated at 8 or $22^{\circ}C$, D-lactic acid was over-produced than L-form. Leuconostoc was determined as the primary producer between the initial to mid-phase of fermentation and Lb. plantarum or Lb. brevis seemed to boost D-lactic acid content during later stage of acid accumulation.

Comparison of D- and L-Lactic Acid Contents in Commercial Kimchi and Sauerkraut

  • Yoon, Hyang-Sik;Son, Yeo-Jin;Han, Jin-Soo;Lee, Jun-Soo;Han, Nam-Soo
    • Food Science and Biotechnology
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    • v.14 no.1
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    • pp.64-67
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    • 2005
  • Commercial kimchi and sauerkraut were analyzed for their D- and L-lactic acid contents. Ranges of D- and L-lactic acid contents in commercial kimchi were 17-57 (38.51 mean) and 25-87 (64.47 mean) mM, respectively. Ratio of D-lactic acid on L-lactic acid (D/L) was 0.50-0.80 (0.60 mean). Ranges of D- and L-lactic acid contents in commercial sauerkraut were 68.96-103.62 (88.97 mean) and 74.46-82.26 (78.91 mean) mM, respectively, with D/L of 0.90-1.26 (1.13 mean). Results reveal kimchi and sauerkraut contained a significant amount of D-lactic acid, with sauerkraut showing a higher content than kimchi, while L-lactic acid contents were not significantly different.

Long-term effects of maxillary skeletal expander treatment on functional breathing

  • Andrew Combs;Ney Paredes;Ramon Dominguez-Mompell;Martin Romero-Maroto;Boshi Zhang;Islam Elkenawy;Luca Sfogliano;Layla Fijany;Ozge Colak;Ben Wu;Won Moon
    • The korean journal of orthodontics
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    • v.54 no.1
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    • pp.59-68
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    • 2024
  • Objective: To investigate the long-term effects of maxillary skeletal expander (MSE) treatment on functional breathing. Methods: Objective measures of breathing, the peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF), and peak oral inspiratory flow (POIF), and subjective measures of breathing, the visual analog scale (VAS) and nasal obstruction symptom evaluation (NOSE) survey, were used to investigate the long-term effects of MSE in functional breathing. Seventeen patients, mean age 19.4 ± 3.9 years treated at the UCLA Orthodontics Clinic were assessed on their functional breathing at 3 timepoints: pre-expansion (T0), post-expansion (T1), and post-orthodontic treatment (T2). Results: Immediately after expansion (T1), all the objective functional breathing values were significantly increased in comparison to T0 (P < 0.05). The VAS total, VAS right and VAS left were significantly lower at T1 in comparison to T0 (P < 0.05). At 26.8 ± 3.9 months after MSE expansion (T2), PNIF total, PNIF right, PNIF left, and POIF were significantly higher when compared to T0 (P < 0.05). Also, VAS total, VAS right and VAS left were significantly lower at T2 when compared to T0 (P < 0.05). Additionally, there was a positive correlation between PNIF and the magnitude of expansion at anterior nasal spine and zygomaticomaxillary point (ZMA). There was a positive correlation between total VAS and the magnitude of expansion at the ZMA. There were no significant changes for the NOSE subjective breathing measurement at all time comparisons. Conclusions: Overall, MSE treatment produces an increased objective and subjective airway improvement that continues to remain stable in the long-term post expansion.

Genome Sequencing and Genome-Wide Identification of Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes (CAZymes) in the White Rot Fungus Flammulina fennae

  • Lee, Chang-Soo;Kong, Won-Sik;Park, Young-Jin
    • Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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    • v.46 no.3
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    • pp.300-312
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    • 2018
  • Whole-genome sequencing of the wood-rotting fungus, Flammulina fennae, was carried out to identify carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes). De novo genome assembly (31 kmer) of short reads by next-generation sequencing revealed a total genome length of 32,423,623 base pairs (39% GC). A total of 11,591 gene models in the assembled genome sequence of F. fennae were predicted by ab initio gene prediction using the AUGUSTUS tool. In a genome-wide comparison, 6,715 orthologous groups shared at least one gene with F. fennae and 10,667 (92%) of 11,591 genes for F. fennae proteins had orthologs among the Dikarya. Additionally, F. fennae contained 23 species-specific genes, of which 16 were paralogous. CAZyme identification and annotation revealed 513 CAZymes, including 82 auxiliary activities, 220 glycoside hydrolases, 85 glycosyltransferases, 20 polysaccharide lyases, 57 carbohydrate esterases, and 45 carbohydrate binding-modules in the F. fennae genome. The genome information of F. fennae increases the understanding of this basidiomycete fungus. CAZyme gene information will be useful for detailed studies of lignocellulosic biomass degradation for biotechnological and industrial applications.

Factors associated with Postpartum Depression and Its Influence on Maternal Identity (산후우울의 영향요인과 모성 정체성과의 관련성)

  • Jung, Yoen Yi;Kim, Hae Won
    • Women's Health Nursing
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    • v.20 no.1
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    • pp.29-37
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    • 2014
  • Purpose: This study aimed to examine the factors associated with postpartum depression and its influence on maternal identity of postpartum women. Methods: Research design was a cross sectional descriptive study with a total of 89 women within the six month postpartum period. Associations of eating habits, overall sleep quality and other factors with postpartum depression utilizing the Korean Beck Depression Inventory (K-BDI) were done. The influence of postpartum depression on maternal identity was analyzed. Variables yielding significant associations (p<.05) were included in an adjusted logistic regression and a stepwise multiple regression. Results: Mean scores of postpartum depression was $9.42{\pm}6.08$ and 31.5% (n=28) for mild depression, 11.2% (n=10) was moderate and 4.5% (n=4) was severe depression on the K-BDI scale. Perceived health status and overall sleep quality were predictors of postpartum depression. Postpartum depression and the husband's love were predictors of maternal identity. Conclusion: Awareness of poor health perception and sleep quality will be helpful to detect for postpartum depression. Strategies to increase maternal identity during the postpartum period would be tailored by level of depression.

A comparative study for the development of a health promotion policy through an analysis of the mortality rates in Korea and Japan, $1983{\sim}2003$ (한국과 일본의 사망률 비교 분석을 통한 건강증진정책 함의)

  • Nam, Eun-Woo;Song, Yea-Li-A;Moriyama, Masaki;Ishihara, Akiko
    • Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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    • v.24 no.5
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    • pp.39-54
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    • 2007
  • This study attempts to provide fundamental information for a health policy and health services by looking at the trends and types of the mortality rates in Korea and Japan. In this study, data of the death statistics of Korea and Japan over the 21-year period from 1983 to 2003 are analyzed. Mortality data are standardized ${\times}100,000$ to the 2003 Japan population, according to the direct method. In 2001/2003, the ranking of major causes of death in Korea and Japan has been greatly changed. In Korea, mortality rates from malignant neoplasms, diabetes mellitus, renal failure, falls and suicide have increased. In Japan, the mortality rates from pneumonia increase more than those from diabetes mellitus. In 2001/2003, the proportions of the mortality rates from chronic diseases are higher than those from acute diseases. In the Korean health promotion policy "Health Promotion 2020", a more intensive goal management is needed.

A Study on the Perception Level of Health and Safety among the Participants for Optimization of Risk Assessment in Construction Industry (건설업 위험성 평가 최적화를 위한 운영 주체간 안전보건 인식도 조사 연구)

  • Paek, Chung-Hyeun;Cho, Ur-Ryong
    • Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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    • v.17 no.3
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    • pp.23-32
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    • 2015
  • Recently, the Ministry of Labour, published clause 2 of Article 41 (Risk Assessment) of the Act "Industrial Safety and Health" dated 12 June 2013 in connection with continuous increase of accidents at construction sites in order to prevent accidents in industrial safety and health in new construction in accordance with the risk assessment on construction projects are realized after March 13, 2014. In this paper, positive method of calculating risk discussed by performing research the awareness of general contractors and sub-contractors with presenting risky situation is considered. The purpose will be a positive method of calculating risk and would be a sufficient base and give a positive direction in the development of new systems currently working in the construction and risk assessment which consider the characteristics of sufficient risk assessment system for future research.