• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.26 no.1 s.41
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• pp.96-109
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• 1993

For the purposes of analyzing the distribution and the change in blood pressure according to age and determining the factors affecting the change in blood pressure, a follow-up study had been conducted for 6 years from 1986 to 1991 for 430 primary school children aged 6 years old in 1986 in Kangwha County, Korea. The mean blood pressure increased according to age. Specifically mean systolic blood pressure increased from 97.3 mmHg for male and 96.4mmHg for female (at 6 years of age) to 108.8mmHg fur male and 112.1mmHg for female (at 11 years of age). Mean diastolic blood pressure increased from 60.0mmHg for male and 61.8mmHg for female (at 6 years of age) to 72.9mmHg for male and 73.8mmHg for female (at 11 years of age). The average annual increase in blood pressure was 2.3mmHg (in systolic blood pressure) and 2.6 mmHg (in diastolic blood pressure) for male : and 3.1mmHg (in systolic blood pressure) and 2.4mmHg (in diastolic blood pressure) for female, respectively. To determine the factors affecting the change in blood pressure, the stepwise regression analysis was conducted. Children were divided into the three groups(low, middle, and upper) according to the level of systolic and diastolic blood pressure at the age of 6, and the regression analysis was performed in each group. For the change in systolic blood pressure, the changes in weight and skinfold thickness or initial skinfold thickness fer male, and the change in weight for female were selected as significant factors for children in middle and upper group. For the change of blood pressure in diastolic blood pressure, no variables was significant.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.129-134
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• 1983

The records for the tuberculosis patients who discharged from the health center during 1982 in Kangwha county were analized in order to study the characteristics and the patterns of treatments for the pulmonary tuberculosis patients with the history of previous treatment before registration and also the relationship between the previos history of treatment and the outcome at the time of discharge from the health center. The major findings are as follows. 1. Those who have a history of previous treatment were 58, 22.5% of those 258 patients who were studied. 2. There is no difference in sex however the rate of previous history of treatment was higher among middle age group (20-59) than young and old age group (under 19 or over 60). 3. The rate of previous treatment was rather higher in those lived in remote area from Eup. 4. As for the reationship with occupation, students and civil servants who easily exposured to the public relations of government's tuberculosis control program experienced lower previous treatment before registration than farmers or unemployed. 5. A total of 62.1% were previously treated less than 6 months, 29.3% between 6 and 12 months, and only 8.6% more than 12 months before registration to health center. 6. The most common used anti-tuberculosis drugs were isoniazid and ethambutol but only 13.8% used government-standardized precription and 69.0% used secondary drugs from its beginning. 7. There was no statistical difference between the previous history of treatment and the outcome at the time of discharge from the health center. However the longer the duration of treatment before registration was the lower the cure rate at health center was.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.305-316
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• 2002

Various air pollutants were measured at Tokchok Island in the Yellow Sea that is about 50 km distant from Incheon since April 1999. This study was undertaken to help understanding the level of air pollution and its distribution characteristics over the Yellow Sea. The geographical characteristics of the air pollution monitoring station and emission inventories of Tokchok Island are introduced. The mass concentrations and chemical compositions of TSP and P $M_{2.5}$ measured until March 2000 are discussed in this paper. The overall average mass concentrations are about 37.2 $\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥ for TSP and 18.7 $\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥ for P $M_{2.5}$ , respectively, which are similar to or a little lower than the values observed in other background sites at Kangwha and Taean. However, they are much lower than those observed at Qingdao in China. The low mass concentration and major anthropogenic ion concentrations in aerosols collected at Tokchok Island show that local sources are not dominant at Tokchok Island. The estimated average fractions of anthropogenic non-sea-salt sulfate to the total sulfate concentration of TSP and P $M_{2.5}$ are greater than 80% for both sizes. It hence suggests that the sulfate be mainly affected by anthropogenic sources. If we consider the average mass ratio of P $M_{2.5}$ to TSP, the mass fractions of anthropogenic species to P $M_{2.5}$ , and the molar ratio of nss S $O_4$$^{2-}$ to total N $O_{3-}$, it may be possible to infer that a part of anthropogenic species measured at Tokchok Island be transported from China. The characteristics of neutralization of nss S $O_4$$^{2-}$ and the particle size of major ions are also discussed.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.328-340
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• 2006

In Janghwa-ri of Kanghwa Island morphological changes in four transects, 112 surface, and 2 core sediments were analyzed to understand the seasonal variation of the muddy tidal-flat environment. Sedimentary of facies can be classified into four facies; sand, muddy sand, sandy mud, and silt. During winter, the coarse-grained sediment facies expanded seaward. In the subsurface part of the core sediments, poorly sorted silty sediments dominate the area. According to the Pb-210 isotope analysis, accumulation rates of the tidal flat in Jangwha-ri appear to be $5{\sim}19mm/yr$. In the study area, the result is suggestive of a rapid change in depositional environments in recent years.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.22 no.3 s.27
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• pp.303-312
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• 1989

To show the distribution and change of blood pressure according to age and to find factors affecting the level of blood pressure in primary school children, a follow-up study was conducted from 1986 to 1989 on 401 first grade children attending primary school in Kangwha County in 1986 and their parents. The blood pressure of the children was significantly increased according to age. The average annual increase was 1.8mmHg in systolic blood pressure and 2.5mmHg in diastolic blood pressure. The level of blood pressure did not show any significant difference in both sexes. Among children who were at or above the 80th percentile of blood pressure in the first grade, 35 and 30% of them have remained at the same level of systolic and diastolic blood pressure respectively in the fourth grade. But we could not find any significance in the tracking of blood pressure of children who were at or above the 90th percentile of blood pressure in the first grade. Weight and pulse rate were shown to be significant factors affecting systolic blood pressure in children of both sexes and mother's blood pressure and skinfold thickness were also affected systolic blood pressure in girls. The variables significantly affecting diastolic blood pressure were arm circumference and pulse rate for boys and height and pulse rate for girls.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.30 no.2 s.57
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• pp.308-326
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• 1997

Many studies have led to the notion that essential hypertension in adults is the result of a process that starts early in life: investigation of blood pressure(BP) in children and adolescents can therefore contribute to knowledge of the etiology of the condition. A unique longitudinal study on BP in Korea, known as Kangwha Children's Blood Pressure(KCBP) Study was initiated in 1986 to investigate changes in BP in children. This study is a part of the KCBP study. The purposes of this study are to show changes in BP and to determine factors affecting to BP level and change in Korean adolescents during age period 12 to 16 years. A total of 710 students(335 males, 375 females) who were in the first grade at junior high school(12 years old) in 1992 in Kangwha County, Korea have been followed to measure BP and related factors(anthropometric, serologic and dietary factors) annually up to 1996. A total of 562 students(242 males, 320 females) completed all five annual examinations. The main results are as follows: 1. For males, mean systolic and diastolic BP at age 12 and 16 years old were 108.7 mmHg and 118.1 mmHg(systolic), and 69.5 mmHg and 73.4 mmHg(diastolic), respectively. BP level was the highest when students were at 15 years old. For females, mean systolic and diastolic BP at age 12 and 16 years were 114.4 mmHg and 113.5 mmHg(systolic) and 75.2 mmHg and 72.1 mmHg(diastolic), respectively. BP level reached the highest point when they were 13-14 years old. 2. Anthropometric variables(height, weight and body mass index, etc) increased constantly during the study period for males. However, the rate of increase was decreased for females after age 15 years. Serum total cholesterol decreased and triglyceride increased according to age for males, but they did not show any significant trend fer females. Total fat intake increased at age 16 years compared with that at age 14 years. Compositions of carbohydrate, protein and fat among total energy intake were 66.2:12.0:19.4, 64.1:12.1:21.8 at age 14 and 16 years, respectively. 3. Most of anthropometric measures, especially, height, body mass index(BMI) and triceps skinfold thickness showed a significant correlation with BP level in both sexes. When BMI was adjusted, serum total cholesterol showed a significant negative correlation with systolic BP at age 12 years in males, but at age 14 years the direction of correlation changed to positive. In females serum total cholesterol was negatively correlated with diastolic BP at age 15 and 16 years. Triglyceride and creatinine showed positive correlation with systolic and diastolic BP in males, but they did not show any correlation in females. There was no consistent findings between nutrient intake and BP level. However, protein intake correlated positively with diastolic BP level in males. 4. Blood pressure change was positively associated with changes in BMI and serum total cholesterol in both sexes. Change in creatinine was associated with BP change positively in males and negatively in females. Students whose sodium intake was high showed higher systolic and diastolic BP in males, and students whose total fat intake was high maintained lower level of BP in females. The major determinants on BP change was BMI in both sexes.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.187-195
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• 1995

Hwamunsok(mat with flower design) is a special product of Kanghwa, which is made up of cyperus exaltatus. According to Allergy, cyperus exaltatus is one of the inhalant allergens and provokes respiratory symptoms and signs. There have been few reports about respiratory allergic disease or contact dermatitis occurring in farmers who cultivate the cyperus exaltatus or manufacture Hwamunsok with it. We studied the relationship between allergic symptoms and exposure to cyperus exaltatus. First, we questioned 141 voluntaries living in Kangwha on the symptoms of contact dermatitis, allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma. Secondly, open tests with cyperus exaltatus were done to permitted 73 voluntaries. Patch tests with the European standard series(23 antigens) were only done to exposure 49 subjects to cyperus exaltatus. The results were as follows : 1. As the manifestation rate of allergic symptoms by age, its of 60 years old over in male showed 333 per 1,000 persons. Its of 50 years old in female showed 412 per 1,000 persons. Those age groups in both genders exhibited the highest manifestation of allergic symptoms than all other age groups. Also, if age and sex were adjusted with the rural population of Kanghwagun('93 base population), the manifestation rate of allergic symptoms in male showed 283 per 1,000 persons. Its in female and totals of study populations showed which is each 206 and 234 per 1,000 persons. Specially, it showed that statistics significantly(p=0.002), exposured subjects by cultivation of cyperus exaltatus & manufacture of Hwamunsok have experienced symptoms of contact dermatitis more frequently than unexposured subjects. Secondly, it tested statistics significantly that the risk factor as manifestation of allergic symptoms was the exposure of cyperus exaltatus's allergen(p=0.024). The manifestation risk of allergic symptoms in exposure groups was 3.73 times higher than unexposured subjects. Thirdly, positive reactions in open tests with cyperus exaltatus were higher in exposured subjects than non-exposured subjects. After 72 and 96 hours, positive reactions in open tests were all 10 subjects(20.4%). Also, after 1 week, positive reactions were 8 subjects(16.4%). In conclusion there is a close relationship between contact dermatitis and exposure to cyperus exaltatus while cultivating it and manufacturing Hwamunsok. Therefore, various studies should be continued and a health education program undertaken on contact dermatitis with those who were be engaging in Hwamunsok's manufacture.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.43-51
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• 1981

The objective of the study is to measure the changes in measles infection and measles vaccination rates for the past 10 years in a rural area, Kang Wha. The study population were the entire children who were born between 1971 and 1950 in three townships (Sunwon, Naegae, Buleun) in Kangwha County. Two interview surveys were carried out during the 10 years of period, one in 1977 and the other in 1981. The data were collected by Family Health Workers through interview with structured questionnaires. The diagnosis of measles was mainly based on histories, symptoms and sighs of the disease. If a mother had reported measles history of her child, a public physician reviewed and decided the final diagnosis of the reported case. A retrospective cohort observation was done in order to see the trends of measles infections and measles vaccinations. The major findings were as follows; 1. The 5 year prevalence rate of measles vaccinations was 51.3% between 1971 and 1975 and 71.9% between 1976 and 1980 respectively. The difference between two periods was statistically significant (P<0.05). The secular trend of measles vaccinations showed increasing tendency from 1971 to 1978 and since then kept maintained. 2. In the birth cohort analysis of measles vaccinations, the vaccination rates, in general, were higher in the later cohort groups than that of earlier cohort groups. 9. The 5-year experience rates for measles infections were 24.3% between 1971 and 1975 and 17.2% between 1976 and 1980 respectively. This difference was statistically significant(P<0.05). The secular trend of experience rates for measles infections showed decreasing tendency from 1971 to 1980 except an outbreak in 1976. 4. The birth cohort analysis of experience rates for measles infections showed that the rate was higher in the later cohort groups than that of the earlier cohort groups. This decreasing tendency was prominent between $1973{\sim}1974$ and $1976{\sim}1977$. 5. The distribution of age specific incidence rates for measles infections showed unimodal curve with the peak at the age of 12 to 18 months. This findings were same in both two surveys. 6. Seasonal variations of the measles infections showed two peaks, one major peak in March through May and the another minor peak in September through December. 7. The 5-year reduction rate for measles infections among those vaccinated was 90.4% between 1971 and 1975 and 88% between 1976 and 1980.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2009

Objectives : Whilst hypertension exerts a negative effect on several organs there have been few studies regarding its effect on pulmonary function. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between hypertension and pulmonary function in rural Korean adults Methods : In 2006, 2534 people were recruited, aged 40 to 70, in Kangwha County. We selected 1454(male: 624, female: 830) participants whose pulmonary function results were repeatable. Blood pressure(BP) was measured twice and the average calculated. Participants were divided into two groups(hypertensive group and non-hypertensive group) in accordance with The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. Pulmonary function was measured by dry rolling seal spirometry. Forced expiratory volume in the one second and forced vital capacity were converted into percent-predicted values based on average pulmonary function amongst Koreans. Results : The number of hypertensive participants in the present study was 460(male: 205, female: 255) and the number of non-hypertensive participants was 994(male: 419, female: 575). Our findings have shown that the mean values for expiratory volume in the one second and forced vital capacity were significantly lower for hypertensive people than for non-hypertensive people, among women(P=0.002 for forced expiratory volume in the one second, p<0.001 for forced vital capacity volume). Odds ratio analysis revealed that hypertensive participants were more likely to have lower pulmonary function than non-hypertensive participants, again significantly among women. Conclusions : The pulmonary function of hypertensive women was significantly lower than that of non-hypertensive women aged 40-70.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.32 no.12
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• pp.1102-1110
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• 2010

Tidal mudflat is a reservoir for diverse microbial resources. Microbial diversity in tidal mudflat sediment can be easily influenced by various human activities. It is necessary to take representative samples to monitor microbial diversity in tidal mudflat sediments. In this study, we analyzed the microbial diversity and chemical characteristics of vegetation and non-vegetation tidal mudflat regions in the Kangwha tidal mudflat using geo-statistics and data-mining. According to the geo-statistical analysis, most correlation range values for the vegetation region were smaller than those for the non-vegetation region, which suggested that the shorter number and interval of sampling are required for the vegetation tidal mudflat environment due to its higher degree of chemical and biological complexity and heterogeneity. The data-mining analysis suggested that the organic content and nitrate were the major environmental factors influencing microbial diversity in the vegetation region while pH and sulfate were the major influencing factors in the non-vegetation region. Using the geo-statistical and data-mining integration approach, we proposed a guideline for determining the sampling interval and number to monitor microbial diversity in tidal mudflat.