• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.466-472
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• 2011

Hazardous chemicals, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and heavy metals, are known as being harmful to human health were included in oils released by the Herbei Spirit Oil Spill accident in December 2007. To investigate changes of eating habits by the exposure to harmful substances, we conducted 5 focus group interviews for residents at Taean coast areas, who had experienced the oil spill accident. Participants included 46 women (mean age: $57.2{\pm}10.9$) who were mainly responsible for preparing family meals. Focus group discussions were audio-taped, transcribed and categorized by themes. Participants expressed more frequent illness symptoms such as dizziness, vomiting, visual loss, and skin diseases after the accident. They mentioned that their worries about economic hardship and worsened health status since the accident induced mental problems, such as depression about their children. Regarding eating habits, participants reported less intakes of fishes and meats and relatively more intakes of vegetables and kimchi due to the lack of household incomes after the accident. Although the participants had been used to collecting or catching fish or shellfish for their consumption previously, they mainly purchased these foods from local markets after the accident. Changes of eating habits induced by the accident included drinking boiled water and having steamed or fried seafood rather than raw seafood. Changes of food intakes occurred less frequently in older adults due to their longterm fixed eating habits, although they felt uncomfortable for having raw fish. The findings of this study clearly present that the exposure of hazardous substances by the oil spill accident had a significant impact on changes in eating habits besides economic, physical, and mental problems among the residents in Taean. Continuous health and nutrition monitoring and support are needed.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.99-106
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• 2007

The gait instability in the elderly has been associated with age-related deterioration in physical strength and reducing the potential for elderly falls requires regular exercise. In 2005, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control(NCIPC) reported that most elderly falls occur during activities in daily living(ADL). To better reveal biomechanic mechanisms underlying age-related degeneration in gait stability, and to enhance the assessment of falls risk, an accurate quantification of a person's balance maintenance during locomotion is needed. Instantaneous orientation of the line connecting COP and COM can characterize whole body position with respect to the supporting foot during gait and the angle between this line and the vertical line passing through the COP known as a good assessment to detect the elderly gait instability. Therefore the purpose of this study was to investigate a 6-month walking exercise effects in reducing elderly fall risk factors by using COP-COM inclination angles. Twenty-two community-dwelling elderly participated this study. The participants performed a walking exercise(3 times/week, 1 hour/visit) for 6 months. Laboratory kinematics during walking was assessed at months 0, 3 and 6. Significant increased in gait velocity was found among periods(p=.011, $1.25{\pm}.03$, $1.32{\pm}.03$, and $1.39{\pm}.04\;m/s$ in 0-, 3-, and 6-month, respectively). Also, significant differences in anterior and posteriror inclination angles were found among the periods(p<.05; posterior inclination angles: $12.8{\pm}2.2$, $11.0{\pm}2.9$, & $10.9{\pm}1.9$; anterior inclination angles: $13.7{\pm}1.7$, $14.6{\pm}3.2$, & $1.46{\pm}.21$ in 0month, 3month, & 6month, respectively). These findings provide evidence of significant reduced fall risk factors of community-living older adults associated with a systematic walking program.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.344-351
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• 2007

The purposes of this study were to analyze the consumer inclination to convenience towards HMR in order to verify the structural correlation of the actual state of consumption, and to analyze consequently, the direct or indirect effects among 'frequency of using,' 'preference', 'satisfaction', and 'intention to repurchase'. The subjects were adults in their twenties or older who had used HMRs and lived in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province in Korea. Random sampling of 550 subjects, who were distributed a questionnaire from March 12 to 30, 2005. A total of 451 questionnaires were returned (the return rates were 82%). The main results of this study were as follows : Regarding the types of HMR, 'Ready to eat' had higher preference (3.31), satisfaction (3.33) and 'intention to purchase it again' (3.38) than those of 'Ready to heat' and 'Ready to end-cook.' Consumer inclination to convenience towards HMR was analyzed in order to verify the structural correlation of the actual state of consumption, and consequently, the direct or indirect effects among 'frequency of using,' 'preference', 'satisfaction', and 'intention to repurchase' were analyzed. The gross effect of 'frequency of using' on 'intention to repurchase' was 0.435, the gross effect of preference on 'intention to purchase it again' was 0.659, and the gross effect of satisfaction on 'intention to purchase it again' was 0.772 for 'Ready to eat.' The gross effect of 'frequency of using' on 'intention to repurchase' was 0.448, the gross effect of preference on 'intention to repurchase' was 0.556, and the gross effect of satisfaction on 'intention to repurchase' was 0.654 for 'Ready to heat.' The gross effect of 'frequency of using' on 'intention to repurchase' was 0.432, the gross effect of preference on 'intention to repurchase' was 0.494, and the gross effect of satisfaction on 'intention to repurchase' was 0.608 for 'Ready to end-cook.' To summerize the above results, there was a difference of the structural correlation among component concepts of the actual state of consuming according to the criteria of HMR. Thus, it implied that differentiated sales strategies were needed according to the criteria of HMR.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.339-348
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• 2016

We investigated the gender-specific association between average volume of alcohol consumption, binge drinking, and periodontitis using representative nationwide data. In total, we included 3,549 men and 4,810 women, aged 19 years and older, who participated in the sixth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey performed in 2013~2014. According to the average volume of alcohol consumption, study participants were grouped as follows: mild drinkers (0.1~2.0 drinks/day in men and 0.1~1.0 drink/day in women), moderate drinkers (2.1~4.0 drinks/day in men and 1.1~2.0 drinks/day in women), and heavy drinkers (>4.0 drinks/day in men and >2.0 drinks/day in women). Additionally, binge drinking was categorized as never (no binge drinking), rarely (<1 time/month), occasionally (1 time/month), frequently (1 time/week), and always (almost every day/week). Periodontitis was defined as a community periodontal index equal to code 3 or greater. In men, after controlling for covariates, the association between average volume of alcohol consumption and periodontitis showed a J-shaped curve; the risk of periodontitis was significantly higher in moderate drinkers (odds ratio [OR], 1.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01~1.56) and heavy drinkers (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.04~1.87) than in mild drinkers. In contrast, no significant association between average volume of alcohol consumption and periodontitis was observed in women. In a fully adjusted analysis, which used 'never binge drinking' as a reference, a significant dose-response relationship between binge drinking and periodontitis was observed only in men: rarely (OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.16~2.34), occasionally (OR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.05~2.16), frequently (OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.07~2.33), and always (OR, 2.56; 95% CI, 1.56~4.22) (p for trend=0.005). In conclusion, unhealthy drinking patterns such as moderate or heavy alcohol consumption and binge drinking were significantly associated with periodontitis in men but not in women.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.205-217
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• 2004

This study was carried out to provide information on the effect of nutrition education program for diabetic patients at the Guri City's Public Health Center. Subjects of this study were 31 persons(male 7, female 24) who attended all courses of "2002 Diabetes Education Class". They were indicated as the 'education group'(EG). Eating and living habits of EG were investigated before the education. EG's weight and blood glucose (post prandial 2 hours, PP2) were examined as well. EG's PP2 reduction was compared with a 'control group'(CG) who didn't join any course in that class. All of the subjects were non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus(NIDDM) patients. EG's average age was 62.4$\pm$8.8. Before taking the course, EG's PP2 was 251.5$\pm$29.6mg/dl, and body mass index(BMI) was 26.3$\pm$2.3 on average. Most of them were stressed out from their daily lives and usually had no exercise. Most people of EG ate meals rapidly and liked sweet and fatty foods. After the course of training, EG's weight and BMI before the training were not decreased significantly. However, all of the EG's PP2s, which were measured 4 times(before the meal at the special lunch session, after 2 hours at this meal, after 2 weeks and 4 weeks dietary assembly), were decreased in comparison with the PP2 which was checked prior to joining the training. EG's average PP2 was more reduced than CG's one. In addition, all groups' PP2s were decreased for 8 weeks. After all, this nutritional education at the public health center was effective in glycemic control for diabetes mellitus patients. Especially, when the dietary assembly as practical training was included in the educational process, the patient's dietary intake and PP2 was improved more effectively. Therefore, this study suggests that nutrition work at public health centers is necessary for the Health Promotion Policy.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture Conference
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• 2007.10b
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• pp.78-83
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• 2007

The colors have a close to our life and there are many color names derived from plants in Japan. This study aimed to analyze relationship people and plants and investigated what the images of colors derived from plants related to the color names. Surveys on color images of abstract and concrete were conducted with adults who lived in the metropolitan area and in urban areas. The subjects were surveyed about images of similar colors derived from plants(3 type of similar two colors; pink, green and yellow) and asked to select a pair of color names(momo or pink, midori or green, yamabuki or lemon) corresponding to the color. The subjects were simultaneously presented with two similar colors and asked to give their perceptions of each color against 13 polar opposite pairs of terms or phrases using a Semantic Differential Scale, and asked to select the number of the 16 items concerned with life such as clothes and food. With the pink colors, many subjects did not feel opposite abstract images between these two similar colors and felt the same concrete images such as 'cosmetics' and 'clothes', and these color names such as momo and pink are confused. With the green colors and the yellow colors, many subjects felt opposite abstract images between these two similar colors such as 'natural - artificial' and 'rural - urban' and different concrete images such as 'plants' and 'plastics', and these two similar colors are distinguished by the color names such as 'midori - green' and 'yamabuki - lemon'. The results revealed that there are two patterns in the relationship colors derived from plants, color images and color names. In the pattern which images of colors derived from plants are connected with artificial things irrelevant to plants, the color names corresponding to the two similar colors are confused. On the other hand, in the pattern which images of colors derived from plants are connected with plants and artificial things, the two similar colors are distinguished by their color names. So demographics influenced the images of color, younger subjects compared with older tend to obviously distinguish images of colors derived from plants, and there are images of color influenced by the environment as a child. In both patterns, images of colors derived from plants are influenced by artificial things and natural colors are limited among many people. These results indicate that there are a few opportunities to see colors of plants which are full of variety. These results suggest that it is necessary to recognize colors derived from plants in relation to plants and to educate regarding the nature of plants, therefore landscape architecture focused on colors of plants is required.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.168-176
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• 2020

Objectives : Loneliness and poor sleep quality are common phenomena in old age and are associated with negative physical and mental health. However, little is known regarding the relation between loneliness and sleep quality. The aim of this study was to examine the association of loneliness and sleep quality among the elderly living alone. Methods : This is a cross-sectional study that enrolled 1,090 subjects who are the community-residing elderly living alone. Sociodemographic status, medical condition, cognition, mood disorder, sleep quality and levels of loneliness were collected using a self-administered questionnaire and a specific semi-structured interview conducted by trained nurses. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data regarding sociodemographic variable and loneliness. Univariate and Multivariate regression analyses were applied to examine the association between loneliness and sleep quality after adjustment for multiple confounding variables. Results : The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) mean score of "lonely group" (9.2±4.2) was significantly higher than that of "not lonely group" (7.3±3.7) (student-t test, p<0.001). Loneliness was significantly associated with PSQI (standardized β=0.065, p=0.025), sleep disturbance (standardized β=0.086, p=0.005), use of sleep medication (standardized β=0.065, p=0.034) after adjustment for possible confounding variables including sex and mood disorder. Conclusions : Loneliness was associated with sleep disturbance and this finding implied negative impact of loneliness on sleep quality of older adults. Public health promotion efforts to reduce loneliness may improve sleep quality and mental health in the elderly living alone.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.712-728
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• 2022

World-widely, there has never been a greater need for people to access high-quality expertise about the effective and safe use of medications. Therefore, the profession of pharmacy should meet these needs of the times, as the demographic shifts have led to a situation where older adults now outnumber children, and polypharmacy is also a commonplace. However, the reimbursement system covered by the National Health Insurance (NHI) in Korea is still limited to the traditional dispensing and compounding role of pharmacist. To provide a take-home message to Korean pharmacy reimbursement system, we aimed to review and analyze the international trends in pharmacy remuneration systems. This is a comparative study between Korea, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Comparison was conducted by reviewing each country's policy and enforcement programs, as well as the related literature. Japan, the UK and the US systems remunerate diverse patient-centered pharmaceutical care services. The Korean pharmacy service fee is, however, narrowly focused on the traditional product-oriented pharmacy services. This study discussed the future direction of improving pharmacist reimbursement systems in Korea, by expanding professional pharmacy service coverage and diversifying fee schedule.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.95-102
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• 2022

The relationship between lipoprotein(a) and dyslipidemia is not clear. This study was therefore undertaken to investigate the relationship between lipoprotein(a) and dyslipidemia in elderly patients over 60 years. From 2014 to 2020, a total of 2,580 adults aged 60 years or older (73.31±7.24 years, 1,954 males) were enrolled in the study. The patients had checked into a general hospital, and data were obtained for lipoprotein(a), LDL-C, TG, HDL-C, hs-CRP, HbA1c, sex, age, BMI, dyslipidemia diagnosis, and use of lipid-lowering agents. BMI and HbA1c showed no correlation with lipoprotein(a), but hs-CRP (r=0.138), LDL-C (r=0.097), HDL-C (r=-0.089), TG (r=-0.073), and age (r=0.072) were significantly correlated to lipoprotein(a). The partial correlation between lipoprotein(a) and LDL-C, which was adjusted for variables, was significant only in the male gender (r=0.158, P<0.001). As the odds ratio of the 4^th quartile of lipoprotein(a) (OR=1.376, 95% CI=1.038~1.822) for dyslipidemia was found to be significant in this study when the level of LDL-C, the primary target, could not be reduced even by taking lipid-lowering drugs, we propose that lipoprotein(a) should also be included among the several factors considered as secondary targets. Our results indicate that studies on various lipid factors considering the sex, age, types and use of lipid-lowering agents, are warranted.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.290-300
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• 2023

This study was understood the risk mechanism of falls in the elderly and reviewed previous research data to see if the principle of Pilates rehabilitation exercise could have a positive effect on balance ability and postural stabilization in the elderly, and the purpose of this study is to present literature-based data on the fall prevention effect of rehabilitation Pilates exercise. First, the rehabilitation Pilates exercise makes it available for strengthening the center of the body to stabilize the spine and pelvis and stimulates the nerve root, thereby having an effect on the balance and the joint stabilization. Second, a proprioceptive sensory impairment and a musculoskeletal degenerative disease due to aging increase the loss of balance ability and the instability in posture maintenance, thereby coming to raise the risk of a fall damage caused by the difficulty in performing motor functions and by the gait disturbance. Third, the rehabilitation Pilates exercise leads to improving the core muscle strength in older adults, resulting in being capable of expecting the betterment in the balance and the reaction time motor function. And there is a positive impact on the improvement in body imbalance and on the stability in movement involved in the fall prevention, resulting in being able to suggest the possibility of likely contributing to a reduction in a fall risk rate. In conclusion, the rehabilitation Pilates as the elderly exercise program showed effects on the improvement in the body's muscular strength, on the upgrade in a sense of balance, and on the stabilization of core. Thus, it was considered to diminish the risk factors for a fall damage caused by musculoskeletal degeneration and to be capable of preventing a serious disorder of activity due to a chronic senile disease.