• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.348-352
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• 2009

Over the last decade, the incidence of overweight and obesity has nearly doubled in many countries and is considered a pandemic. Obesity was identified as a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease as the same level as smoking and diabetes. Visceral fat is considered one of the key contributors to outcome and certain ethnic groups such as Asians seem to be more affected than others. Weight reduction through lifestyle changes was found to be impactful to improve overall health, but weight loss and maintenance thereof is limited and difficult to sustain. Surgical intervention demonstrated a greater weight loss in the severely obese and was associated with improved all-cause mortality. Despite numerous pharmacological targets and a high medical need, only few drugs have been successfully developed. Earlier studies with amphetamine-derived compounds showed significant weight loss but their critical safety profiles led to market withdrawals and disappointment. More recent compounds; orlistat - a lipase inhibitor, rimonabant - a cannaboid-1-receptor antagonist, and sibutramine - a combined serotonin/norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitor, all demonstrated similar significant efficacy; however, they carry specific safety profiles making them unsuitable for every patient. The main limitation of pharmacotherapy is the absence of clear benefit-risk assessments through outcome studies. Such a study - the SCOUT trial - was designed to compare sibutramine versus placebo and the effect on morbidity and mortality in nearly 10,000 obese patients with additional risk factors. Such studies could provide new scientific evidence for obesity treatment and may support future pharmacological approaches.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.219-225
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• 2005

The objective of the study was to define dietary patterns in the representative Korean adult population and to explore their associations with other factors. The Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey was conducted on a stratified random sample (n = 9,968) of the Korean population in 2001. This study analyzed data of 5,721 adult population aged 30 and over. Demographic and lifestyle factors were assessed by questionnaires and food consumption by a 24-h recall method. Cluster analysis identified two dietary patterns with 22 food groups: the larger group that included $85\%$ of total subjects was named as the 'traditional' pattern due to greater intakes of white rice, kimchi, and vegetables, and the smaller group was named as the 'modified' pattern which had greater intakes of noodles, bread, snack, and fast foods. The modified pattern had significantly higher proportion in younger age, higher educational level, residing in metropolitan area, and higher household income. The modified group showed significantly higher intake of all nutrients except carbohydrate. Percent of energy from fat intake, $22\%$ was significantly higher in the modified group than $14\%$ in the traditional group. There were no differences in prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its 5 components among patterns. In conclusion, there were two distinctive patterns that were associated with socio-demographic, nutrient intake, and health risk factors in Korea. It should be considered when designing nutrition policy and intervention program.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.901-911
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• 1997

The purpose of this study is to provide a basis for nursing intervention strategies to promote quality of life in cancer patients. Therefore the study is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of perceived health status, self-esteem, health locus of control, self-efficacy, perceived susceptibility /severity, health promoting behaviors, and hope for quality of life. The sample was composed of 164 stomach cancer patients who visited outpatient clinics at a university hospital in Seoul. The following instruments were used in the study after some adaptation : Lawstone and others' Health Self-rating Scale, Rosenberg's Self-esteem Scale, Wallston and others 'Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale, Sherer & Maddux's Self-efficacy Scale, Moon's Health Beliefs Scale, Walker and others' Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile, Nowotney's Hope scale and Noh's Quality of Life Scale. Data were analyzed using a SAS program for Pearson correlation coefficients, descriptive correlational statistics and stepwise multiple regression. The results are as follows : 1. The scores on the quality of life scale ranged from 115 to 243 with a mean of 177.84(SD : 25.35). The mean scores(range 1-5) on the different dimensions were : emotional state 3.37 : economic life 3.47 : physical state & function 3.52 : self-esteem 3.66 : relationship with neighbors 3.37 ; family relationships 3.80. 2. There was a significant correlation between all the predictive variables and the quality of life (r=.20-.65, p<.01). 3. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that : 1) Self-esteem was the main predictor of quality of life and accounted for 46.9% of the variance in quality of life. 2) Perceived health status, hope and perceived susceptibility/severity accounted for 11.8%, 8.3%, 1.5% of the variance in quality of life, respectively. 3) Self-esteem, perceived health status, hope & perceived susceptibility /severity combined accounted for 68.5% of the variance in quality of life. In conclusion, self-esteem, perceived health status, hope and perceived susceptibility / severity were identified as important variables in the quality of life of cancer patients.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.1-13
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• 2011

Objectives: This study investigated beliefs of Koreans on the usefulness of various resources they use to alleviate depressive symptoms and to identify factors affecting the beliefs on different approaches to depressive symptoms. Methods: A household survey was conducted on a stratified sample of adults of age 18~74 (N=1,607) in 2009. The participants were asked to read a case vignette of depression and to provide their opinion about usefulness of 39 types of resources as ways of addressing the symptoms. Factors affecting opinions on usefulness of various resources were examined with logistic regression. Results: The three approaches identified via factor analysis were believed to be useful in the order of 'psychological/relational/activity-oriented', 'lifestyle/cultural', and 'physical/medical' approaches. The logistic regression analyses revealed that correct recognition of symptoms increased the likelihood of positive opinion about psychological and physical approaches, and so did having current symptoms about physical and popular approaches. Past help-seeking experience increased the likelihood of negative opinion about physical approach, however. Conclusions: Strategies to adopt various types of resources need to be developed, including rigorous use of psychosocial methods, mechanisms to control service quality, and the integration of diverse resources into the current community mental health services.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.374-382
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• 2009

Young adults are likely to start a new life style which may cause weight gain or obesity since leaving their parents for higher education or university. Whilst young people are slim in general, it is common to see them trying to manage their weight. Few studies have been carried out in Korea to support those changes in lifestyle that can result in weight gain in early adulthood. This study aims to identify prevalence of dieting as well as factors inducing weight gain among university students under unrestricted living conditions. A total of 99 university students were enrolled and asked to complete a questionnaire over a 3-day study period from June to September, 2008. T-test and $X^2$-test were applied to compare each behavior between weight gainers and maintainers. Logistic regression was also used for further analysis. Half of the participants used 'eat less' and 'exercise' as a way of dieting, and weight gainers tried to control their weight significantly more than weight maintainers. Most participants were engaged in very little exercise and were more likely to watch TV and use a computer. The time of lunch was proven as the only factor to predict weight change in the participants. As a result of this study, an intervention to promote exercise with friends or as a group is required to makeup for the lack of exercise among young adults. Further studies are also necessary to investigate how each meal time a day relates to the amount of food eaten. (Korean J Community Nutrition 14(4) : $374{\sim}382$, 2009)

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.276-283
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• 2017

Objective: Dyslipidemia is recognized as a prominent risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases but it is manageable through therapeutic and lifestyle intervention. Interpreting the latest guidelines is essential for an application of recommendation from guidelines into clinical practice. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the most recent guidelines on dyslipidemia treatment recommendations in Korea and USA. Methods: This study analyzed and compared 2015 Korean guidelines for the management of dyslipidemia, 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guideline and 2016 supportive guidelines from ACC. Results: A comparison was made focused on the following: target patients based on cardiovascular risk assessment, target goal, and treatment strategies including statin and non-statin therapies. Four target patient groups by risk were suggested in 2015 Korean guideline and cardiovascular risk factors were also considered for initiation of lipid lowering therapy. Titrated statin regimen was recommended by Korean guideline to reach LDL cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol target level. In 2013 ACC/AHA guideline, four statin benefit group was introduced considering ASCVD risk and high intensity statin or intermediate intensity statin use were recommended without dose titration. 2016 update was to support non-statin therapy based on updated evidence and new consideration of ezetimibe, PCSK9-inhibitor and bile acid sequestrant was brought up. Conclusion: Guidelines are continuously updating as new and important clinical data are constantly released along with the advent of newly approved drugs for lipid disorder. This article provides resources that facilitates uptake of these recommendations into clinical practice.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.11 no.12
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• pp.378-385
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of job-stress, job-family conflict, and mental health according to lifestyles of married office worker. Data were collected by structured questionnaires form 185 married office worker by convenient sampling methods from May to August 2011. In our research outcomes, it found that job-stress was positively related to job-family conflict in the self-belief type, family-centralized type, heeding duty type and creative type. Job-family conflict was negatively related to mental health in the heeding duty type. And job-stress was positively related to metal health in the creative type and individual success pursuing type. These findings show that it is necessary to develop therapeutic psychosocial nursing intervention and to locate social-support-resources for reducing high job-stress, solving job-family conflict, and improving mental health in the married office worker.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.155-173
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• 2018

Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) is an unwanted adverse event in any operation. It leads to functional limitations and psychological trauma for patients, and leaves the operative team with feelings of failure and humiliation. Therefore, it is crucial that preventive strategies for CPSP are considered in high-risk operations. Various techniques have been implemented to reduce the risk with variable success. Identifying the risk factors for each patient and applying a timely preventive strategy may help patients avoid the distress of chronic pain. The preventive strategies include modification of the surgical technique, good pain control throughout the perioperative period, and preoperative psychological intervention focusing on the psychosocial and cognitive risk factors. Appropriate management of CPSP patients is also necessary to reduce their suffering. CPSP usually has a neuropathic pain component; therefore, the current recommendations are based on data on chronic neuropathic pain. Hence, voltage-dependent calcium channel antagonists, antidepressants, topical lidocaine and topical capsaicin are the main pharmacological treatments. Paracetamol, NSAIDs and weak opioids can be used according to symptom severity, but strong opioids should be used with great caution and are not recommended. Other drugs that may be helpful are ketamine, clonidine, and intravenous lidocaine infusion. For patients with failed pharmacological treatment, consideration should be given to pain interventions; examples include transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, botulinum toxin injections, pulsed radiofrequency, nerve blocks, nerve ablation, neuromodulation and surgical management. Physical therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and lifestyle modifications are also useful for relieving the pain and distress experienced by CPSP patients.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.112-121
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to define the degree of the resourcefulness and the health-promoting behavior of cancer patients, to identify the relationship between the resourcefulness and the health promoting behaviors and to provide the basis for strategic nursing intervention. This study was conducted by an exploratory survey. Data were collected by self-reported questionnaires from 97 cancer patients in a university hospital in Tae-Gu from September to December of 1998. The sample data were collected by using a convenient sampling method. The following instruments were used in the study after some adaptation : Park Chai Soon's Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile, Oh Pok Ja's instrument for health promotion behavior and the Rosenbaum self-control schedule(SCS). The reliability of instruments was tested with Chronbach'alph(.79-.89). Data was analyzed by using the SAS program. T-test, ANOVA, and Pearson's coefficients of correlation. The results of this study were as follows: First, the average score of the resourcefulness variable was 22.20; the range of the score was from -30 to +81 The average score of the performance in the health promoting behavior variable was 96.13; the range of the score was from 39 to 137 Second, the resourcefulness variable was significantly different from such demographic factors as gender and perceived health status, but there was no statistically significant difference between the demographic factors and the health promoting behavior variable, except that of perceived health status. Third, the performance in health promoting behavior of cancer patients was significantly correlated with the resourcefulness of cancer patients(r= .50) In conclusion, resourcefulness was identified to be an important variable that could contribute to promote health-promoting behavior.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.36-42
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• 2010

A cross-sectional survey was used to investigate the rates of overweight and obesity (BMI$\geq$25), and eating attitudes among college students. Data were collected at a large southeastern university. Adolescents (ages 18-25) self-reported weight and height (to calculate BMI), and, in addition to demographic information, completed the eating attitudes (EAT 26) scale to assess dieting tendencies. Significance of the mean BMI differences between gender and ethnic background were assessed by one-way analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA). Chi-square was used to determine whether the rate of those with BMI$\geq$25 between gender and ethnic background was statistically significant. While 52.7% of the students' BMI were within the normal weight category, 15.2% were underweight, 21.3% were overweight, and 10.8% were obese. The rate of BMI$\geq$25 differed by gender and ethnicity, with males and African Americans having higher rates. About 12 % of the participants reported disturbed eating behavior, which is lower than previously reported. Even so, results support the generally held belief that disturbed eating attitudes and unhealthy dieting are common among college students, especially among females. At the same time, disturbed eating attitudes are not just the domain of young female students; about 10% of college males reported disturbed eating attitudes. Findings of this study call for obesity prevention/intervention and lifestyle modification outreach programs among college students. Weight status and unhealthy eating behaviors of college. students should be a concern to health care professionals. While obese young adults will likely remain obese throughout their adult life, excessive dieting among students, which is linked to eating disorders and other health hazards, does not provide healthy and adequate alternatives for maintaining a normal BMI. Implications for obesity prevention programs are discussed.