• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.845-873
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• 2008

This study estimates the VSL(value of a statistical life) as well as the WTP(willingness to pay) for mortality risk reduction using sample selection model with data on liver cancer examination which is associated with little possibility of multi-purpose(i.e. joint production) in averting behavior. The marginal benefits of mortality risk reduction are estimated by applying for household production function model with medical expense and the time required for medical examination of liver cancer. Individuals are more likely to take liver cancer test if they are male, older, higher educated, those with spouse, smoker, more income of household, and more anxious about their health. The costs of liver cancer examination are statistically significantly affected with expected signs by size of mortality risk reduction, sex, period of eduction, those with spouse, and household income. The marginal effect of mortality risk reduction owing to taking liver cancer examination is estimated at 321,097 won. The costs of liver cancer examination are increased by 905 won with more one year of education period and by 1,743 won with more one million won in household income. On liver cancer examination, male spends more 12,310 won than female and those with spouse pay more 7,969 won than those without spouse. Therefore the VSL from mortality risk reduction due to liver cancer examination is 321.10 million won at mean size of mortality risk reduction and mean cost of liver cancer examination. The results of sensitivity tests on costs and effects of liver cancer test shows that the VSLs are estimated in a range from 160.55 million won to 642.19 million won.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.362-373
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• 2018

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between interest in smoking cessation and factors that define this interest. The study subjects were 593 male civil servants who work at D metropolitan city and were smokers at the time of the survey. The research method was a survey using a self-administered questionnaire in October 2015. Interest in smoking cessation of study subjects showed that 28.3% had no interest in smoking cessation, 45.7% were interested in smoking cessation, but had no intention to quit within six months, and 26.0% were interested in smoking cessation and intended to quit within six months. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the factors influencing interest in smoking cessation with explanatory powers of 23.6% were employment type, age when first starting smoking, number of cigarettes smoked per day, time from when you wake up until you smoke your first cigarette, recognition of susceptibility to lung cancer, and benefits to smoking cessation. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the odds ratio of recognition of susceptibility for lung cancer, benefits to smoking cessation, and barriers to smoking cessation were significantly increased in the group with interest in smoking cessation and intention to quit within six months vs. the group with no interest in smoking cessation. Taken together, these results suggest that cancer prevention due to smoking and awareness of the seriousness of health problems caused by smoking were factors increasing interest in smoking cessation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.4349-4352
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• 2014

Background: Pancreatic cancer has a high mortality rate because it is usually diagnosed late. Since little is known about this cancer in Iran, with the aim of improving this knowledge deficiency, we evaluated clinical, laboratory biomarkers, imaging findings and treatment modalities in Iranian patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Materials and Methods: 131 cases of pancreatic adenocarcinoma in 2010-2013 were obtained from the Taleghani Hospital Record Department. Cases confirmed by histopathology from CT-guided biopsy, EUS-FNA and surgery examination were included. We excluded those with incomplete medical records. Results: The study included 131 subjects between 24 and 97 years of age and a mean age of $63{\pm}13.4$ years. Eighty (61.1%) were male and 51 (38.9%) female. Previous history included diabetes mellitus in 36 (27.5%), alcohol drinking in 5 (3.9%), smoker in 28 (21.4%) and opium addiction in 13 (10%). The common presenting history included weight loss in 79 (60.3%), abdominal pain in 77 (58.8%), fever in 11 (8.4%), nausea in 30 (22.9%), jaundice in 72 (55%), pruritus in 52 (39.7) and anemia in 33 (25.2%). CA19-9 levels with cut offs of 50, 100 and 200 U/ml were increased in 81%, 72% and 66% of patients, respectively. Tumor staging was: stage I, 3 (2.3%); stage II, 10 (7.6%); stage III, 58 (44.3%); and stage IV, 60 (45.8%). From 45 patients, 17 received ERCP inserted metallic stents and 22 plastic stents, the remaining 6 failed that PTC was done. Whipple surgery and chemotherapy were conducted for 10 and 29 patients, respectively. Conclusions: This disease affected older people and there was a male preponderance. The commonest risk factors were diabetes mellitus, smoking and cholelithiasis. The majority of patients presented with loss of appetite, loss of weight, jaundice, abdominal pain and discomfort. Almost all presented at late stages of the disease so that curative surgery was impossible. Also chemotherapy was only performed in a few patients as a neoadjuant treatment.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.149-159
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• 2008

Background and Purpose : This study was to assess characteristics in acute stroke patients according to obesity and abdominal obesity. Methods : From1 Oct. 2005 to 31 Jul. 2007, 629 patients with a stroke were included. Patients were hospitalized within 30 days after the onset of stroke at Kyungwon University Incheon Oriental Hospital, DongGuk University International Hospital and Department of Cardiovascular and Neurologic Disease (Stroke Center), or Kyung Hee University Oriental Hospital. We investigated general characteristics preferences according to general obesity and abdominal obesity. Results : 629 acute stroke patients were included in the final analysis. Male, young age, hypertension, heart disease in the family history, hypertension in the past history, care of invalids or grandchildren and Taeumin in the Sasang constitution were higher among obese patients. Male, transient ischemic attack in the past history, smoker and Soyangin in the Sasangconstitution were higher among patients with abdominal obesity. The incidence of abdominal obesity corresponded to lower education level. Conclusions : In our study, we observed the general disposition of various characteristic distributions according to obesity and abdominal obesity in acute stroke patients.

• The Korean Nurse
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.91-100
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• 1998

This study aims to investigate smoking patterns in high school student and to give student smoker effective information. The sample of 250 male highschool students out of two different schools in Tae-Jon was questioned from July 10th to 15th. 1995. In analyzing these date. the statistics shows the realities by means of number of students. The results are summarized into 17 items as follows. Regarding the level of smoking. 140 students out of 250 admit that they have ever smoked. 52.1% of smoking students say that the motivation of beginning smoking is mainly curiosity. The survey shows that 22.9% of smoking students feel very good when smoking. It also shows that 30.0% of smoking students began smoking in the first grade of high school. With regard to the volume of smoking per day. 41.4% of smoking students smoke variably. 42.1% drink when smoking. 15.0% spend more than W 70.000 a month. About the question who knows the fact of their smoking. 51.5% answer that their friends know the fact of their smoking. In regard to the resaltionship between smoking and school per-formance. 18.2% of non smoking students make poor grades as compared with 40% of smoking students. 9.3% of smoking students say that they are satisfied with the school life. but 35.7% of them are not satisfied. Regarding the attitude to smoking teachers. 35% of smoking students state that they are affected by them. 69.3% of smoking students say that they will stop smoking. while the remaining 30.7% say that they will keep smoking. The reason of 63.9% to stop smoking is that smoking is bad for the health. The reason of 46. 5% to keep smoking is the acquired habit of smoking. 97.2% know the fact that the major element of cigarettes is nicotine and it is very harmful to the health. 40.8% recognize the harmful effect of smoking by TV and radio programs. 97.2% know that smoking could cause lung cancer. From the above results. I propose as follows We should make specific plan to keep smoking by simple curiosity from being developed into habitual smoking. We should teach them how harmful smoking is and make them stop smoking by themselves. It is very essential for family members and teachers to give continuous interest since childhood. As the teacher affect the students very much, they should give up smoking first. The incidence of smoking should be identified in each of the middle and high schools. smoking prohibition programs relevant to each school should be developed and implemented. The local community should ban cigarette vending machines. Cigarettes should not be sold to adolescents. By setting every place where adolescents gather including schools nonsmoking area. we should decrease their impulse to smoke. then smoking opportunities. and harmful effects to them caused by passive smoking.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.82 no.2
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• pp.118-125
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• 2019

Background: Lung cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and the incidence continues to rise. Although many prognostic factors have been identified, the clinical characteristics and outcomes in Korean lung cancer patients are not well defined. Methods: Of the 23,254 new lung cancer cases registered at the Korea Central Cancer Registry in 2013, total 489 patients from 19 hospitals were abstracted by the Korean Central Cancer Registry. The clinical data retrospectively analyzed, patients were followed up until December 2015. Results: The median age was 69 years (interquartile range, 60-74 years); 65.4% were male and 62.1% were ever-smokers. Cough was the most common initial symptom (33.5%); 13.1% of patients were asymptomatic. While squamous cell carcinoma was the most common subtype in male patients (37.2%), adenocarcinoma was the most frequent histological type in all patients (48.7%) and females (76.3%). The majority of patients received treatment (76.5%), which included surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Older age (hazard ratio [HR], 1.037), lower body mass index (HR, 0.904), ever-smoker (HR, 2.003), small cell lung cancer (HR, 1.627), and distant metastasis (HR, 3.990) were independent predictors of mortality. Patients without symptoms (HR, 0.387) and without treatment (HR, 0.364) were associated with a favorable outcome in multivariate Cox analysis. Conclusion: Lung cancer in Korea occurs predominantly in elderly patients, with adenocarcinoma being the most frequent subtype. The prognosis was poorer in ever-smokers and older, malnourished, and untreated patients with advanced lung cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.318-327
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• 2008

This study examined the cultural dietary habits as well as attitudes toward food, within other life pattern elements, of students living in Gwangju City and Chonnam Province, Korea. Questionnaires from 1,000 student respondents were analyzed. The survey consisted of questions regarding physical condition and health status, dietary consciousness, food preference, knowledge of food and nutrition, and dietary culture. The results showed that 1.6% of the students considered their own physical condition to be extremely poor, and 2.7% and 2.1% also considered their father's and mother's physical conditions as extremely poor, respectively. Among the respondents, 18.3% were smokers and consumed an average of 14.8 cigarettes per day. With regard to their dietary habits, the students answered that they preferred to eat meals with friends rather than with family members, fruit was chosen for eating over health food supplements, and there was very little participation or interest in various food and cultural festivals. The female students had a tendency to alleviate mental stresses by eating, while the male students performed more physical activity to deal with stress. The female students also preferred cereal, fruit, fast food, and sweetened foods more than the male students. Between the smokers and non-smokers, significantly more non-smokers chose fruit (p<0.01), ethnic foods (p<0.05), and sweetened foods (p<0.05) as compared to the smokers. Body mass index (BMI) had significant positive correlations with soft drink (p<0.01), health food supplement (p<0.01), and alcoholic beverage (p<0.001) consumption, while BMI was negatively correlated with cereal (p<0.01), fruit (p<0.001), and sweetened food (p<0.01) intake. The health status of students was positively correlated with their father's health status (p<0.01), mother's health status (p<0.001), and BMI (p<0.05), as well as cereal (p<0.001), high protein side dish (p<0.01), fruit (p<0.01), vegetable (p<0.01), and traditional food (p<0.001) intake. The average body weight for female students was approximately 5 kg less than the Korean Nutrition Society's standardized weight, therefore, it is strongly recommended that measures be taken to develop a systematic nutrition education program that would help those students who often unintentionally skip breakfast or go on extreme diets to improve body image.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.840-849
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• 2005

In order to investigate the relationship between intake conditions of health food and health-related factors by residence and sex in Tong-Young area, a survey was carried out from 1,303 adults. Health foods were classified 3 groups including vitamin and mineral supplements, toner foods and manufactured health food supplements. Health-related factors were stress, fatigue, smoking and drinking. The $29.5\%$ of the subjects had taken some health food for health. Especially the male took more toner foods habitually than the female did. In take of vitamin and mineral supplements by residence, there was a significant difference $(p\leq0.01)$ as follows. The subjects in island $(20.0\%)$ who took vitamin/mineral supplements were about two times as compared with the subjects in Dong $(10.8\%)$, or Eub-Myeon $(10.0\%)$. The subjects taking supplementary food replied over fair $(82.8\%)$, the subjects taking toner food replied over fair (90.3$\%$) scored higher than who replied bad or very bad in self-perceived health status. Therefore, the better the subjects felt self-perceived health status, the more they took health foods for health themselves. In self-perceived stress status, the subjects who replied a little $(50.0\%,\;45.3\%)$ or little $(19.9\%,\;26.4\%)$, took vitamin and mineral supplements or manufactured health foods a lot. In toner food there was a significant correlation $(p\leq0.05)$ as follows. The less the subjects felt stress, the more they took dietry supplement. No smoker $(12.9\%)$intake rate of vitamin and mineral supplements was higher than smoker $(8.8\%)$. Smokers $(6.5\%)$ intake rate of toner food was higher than no smoker $(4.0\%)$. It was not significant the relationship between intake condition of health food and drinking. The main motivation for taking health food were by self-decision and invitation of friends or neighbors.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 1988

In order to evaluate the effect of cigarette smoking on the pharmacokinetics of theophylline in Koreans, doses of 4.5 to 5.0 mg/kg of theophylline, as injectable aminophylline, were administered to 12 normal young volunteers (male, 22 to 35 yrs;mean, 26 yrs) through intravenous infusion over 30 minutes, and pharmacokinetics of theophylline were tested. Among subjects, six were nonsmokers and the other were smokers (range 1 to 2 packs/day). Also the correlations between plasma and saliva theophylline concentrations were investigated by determining the concentrations of theophylline in saliva simultaneously at each plasma sampling time. The total body clearances of theophylline in smokers (Mean${\pm}$SD, 0.0578${\pm}$0.0092 L/hr/kg)were appreciably higher than thoxe of nonsmokers (Mean${\pm}$SD, 0.0359${\pm}$0.0063 L/hr/kg), and the half-lives of theophylline in smokers averaged 5.36${\pm}$1.22hr, and significantly shorter than those of nonsmokers which averaged 9.14${\pm}$1.73hrs(p<0.005). But the apparent volumes of distribution of theophylline did not show any significant difference between smokers (Mean${\pm}$SD,0.44 ${\pm}$0.05L/kg) and nonsmokers (Mean${\pm}$SD, 0.46${\pm}$0.05L/kg). The average concentration ratios in saliva and plasma were 0.61 in smokers and 0.56 in nonsmokers after 2 hrs following drug administrations, and the smoker group had a slightly higher value of ratio(S/P) than the nonsmoker group (p<0.05). The correlations between saliva and plasma theophylline concentration in smokers were r=0.852(p<0.0005) within 2 hr and r=0.985(p<0.0005) after 2 hrs and also those of nonsmokers were r=0.729(p<0.0005) within 2 hrs and r=0.957(p<0.0005) after 2 hrs starting the infusion. From the results, it was found that smoking cigarettes had significantly increased the clearance of theophylline and that the relationships between saliva and plasma theophylline concentrations in all subjects were better after 2 hrs than within 2 hrs starting the infusion of aminophlline.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.69 no.4
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• pp.271-278
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• 2010

Background: Recent studies have demonstrated that the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) genotype is the most important predictive marker to EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and first-line gefitinib treatment will be approved in the near future for use in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with the EGFR mutation. Direct sequencing is known to be the standard for detecting EGFR mutations; however, it has limited sensitivity. Peptide nucleic acids (PNA)-mediated PCR clamping method is a newly introduced method for analyzing EGFR mutations with increased sensitivity and stability. Methods: A total of 71 NSCLC patients were analyzed for EGFR mutations using the PNA-mediated PCR clamping technique. Sixty-nine patients were analyzed for clinicopathologic correlation with EGFR genotype; 2 patients with indeterminate results were excluded. In order to determine EGFR-TKI drug response, 57 patients (42 gefitinib, 15 erlotinib) were included in the analysis. Results: The EGFR mutation rate was 47.8%. Being female, a non-smoker, and having adenocarcinoma were favorable clinicopathologic factors, as expected. However, more than a few smokers (33.3%), male (28.1%), and patients with non-adenocarcinoma (28.6%) had the EGFR mutation. Having a combination of favorable clinicopathologic factors did not increase the EGFR mutation rate significantly. Drug response to EGFR-TKIs showed significant differences depending on the EGFR genotype; ORR was 14.3% for wild type vs 69.0% for mutant type; DCR is 28.6% for wild type vs 96.6% for mutant type. The median EGFR-TKI treatment duration is 7.6 months for mutant type group and 1.4 months for wild type group. Conclusion: EGFR genotype determined using the PNA-mediated PCR clamping method is significantly correlated with the clinical EGFR-TKI responses and PNA-mediated PCR.