• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.255-259
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• 2014

Physical activity could be considered one of the factors that affect the immune system status and function. To find the relation between exercise and cytokines, we examined the possible effects of an 8-week endurance training program on the serum levels of cytokines, including tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) and interferon-gamma (IFN-${\gamma}$) in sedentary men. A total of 30 healthy young male volunteers were randomly divided into an endurance training group and a control group. The training group followed a specific exercise protocol (running on a treadmill for 15~30 min at 50~70% maximal heart rate) for 8 weeks and the control group did not participate in any exercise program. Venous blood samples were collected from both the groups 24 h before and 24 h and 48 h after the exercise. Repeated ANOVA was used for statistical purposes. The serum levels of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IFN-${\gamma}$ were determined by ELISA. Significant (p<0.05) and non-significant (p>0.05) decreases were observed in the serum levels of IFN-${\gamma}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$, respectively, after the 8-week endurance training program. Our findings indicated that an 8-week endurance exercise may affect the serum levels of some inflammatory cytokines, suggesting the beneficial role of this training protocol in elderly population and people with certain conditions (inflammation of the vertebrae or other inflammatory diseases).

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.31-41
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• 2023

Purpose : This study was conducted to identify the common characteristics of older persons with sarcopenia and to explore the relationship between gait, balance, and stress using an integrated assessment tool. Methods : In this study, 95 people aged 65 years or older were screened using the sarcopenia diagnostic evaluation algorithm presented by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia in 2019. Skeletal muscle index, grip strength, and short physical performance battery were used as sarcopenia evaluation measurements. Based on the results of this evaluation, participants were grouped into the 'non-sarcopenia group' (41 participants) or the 'sarcopenia group' (54 participants). Participants underwent further assessment using an integrated evaluation tool capable of measuring gait, balance, and stress. Gait ability was evaluated using the timed up and go test, and balance ability was evaluated using the berg balance scale. And the stress of the last month was measured by modifying the stress index developed by a Korean researcher. Collected data were statistically analyzed using the independent t-test and Mann Whitney-U test. Results : The sarcopenia group and the non-sarcopenia group showed significant differences in all elements of the sarcopenia diagnostic evaluation. There were significant differences in all three integrated evaluation tools. For the evaluation of walking ability, the time measured in the timed up and go test was longer in the sarcopenia group, the berg balance scale score for the evaluation of balance ability was lower in the sarcopenia group, and the stress index was higher in the sarcopenia group. Conclusion : Through sarcopenia analysis using an integrated evaluation tool, it was confirmed that sarcopenia is closely related to decreased walking ability, poor balance, and increased stress. We recommend using this tool to reduce the risk of sarcopenia progression and stress exposure through the planning and implementation of an exercise program for sarcopenia prevention.

• 한국노년학
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.145-167
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to examine the solidarity types between parents-children and to verify whether the types of solidarity relationships are directly related to life satisfaction of older adults. To achieve this, 2,072 Korean elderlies from proportional stratified sample were participated, and the data was divided into urban and rural area where respondents live in. The Latent Profile Analysis(LPA), multiple regression analysis were mainly used for data analysis. The results of the study were as follows: The major findings are following. Patterns of parental bond among urban and rural elderly were classified into three(urban) and two(rural) patterns. For the effect of each parental bonding pattern on life satisfaction, positive effect of parental bond was found only in urban dwellers. In other words, for older people in rural areas, parental bond did not significantly affected on life satisfaction. However, elderly in rural area showed non-familial factor based relationship, such as social capital(community trust, social cohesion, and social support), was influenced their life satisfaction rather than relationship with children. Finding from the study highlight political and practical implications for improving life satisfaction for the elderly.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.76-86
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• 2009

Objectives: This study was conducted to find out the frequency of urinary incontinence among the rural elderly people and its related factors. Methods: Informations have been obtained through interviews from the 464 rural residents of advanced age over 65 years on September 1st through November 30th, 2007, in Chungnam Province. Results: As for the rate of experiencing urinary incontinence, the group with the experience rate of 「every day」 were 9.5% and 「occasionally」 35.5%, with the total of 45.0%. The higher rates of urinary incontinence were in the elderly women(58.5%) than in the elderly men (29.8%), in the more advanced in age, in the higher educated, and in the groups with higher monthly income. Based on life styles, the rate of experiencing urinary incontinence was significantly higher in smoking groups and non-drinking groups. Based on subjective senses of health, it was more highly associated with the groups who reported that they were not healthy, that they concerned themselves about health, that they had physical disability, that they had forgetfulness, and they needed assistance in terms of activity of daily living(ADL) and instrumental activity of daily living(IADL) than their respective counterparts. By the result of multiple logistic regression, sex, age, smoking status, anxiety, physical disability, amnesia, and IADL was indicated the affecting factors to the prevalence of urinary incontinence. Conclusions: The above results reveal that the rate of urinary incontinence was higher in the elderly women than the elderly men, and in more advanced age. Moreover, its rate increases in the groups with undesirable life styles or lower senses of subjective and physical health conditions. It is highly suggested that efforts to manage urinary incontinence of the elderly need to be narrowed to the more advanced, especially those with lower standards of health conditions.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.303-314
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• 2000

In order to evaluate prevalence and perception on the intestinal trematodes of inhabitants at Docho-island, Shinan-gun, Chollanam-do, a questionnaire survey for the epidemiological study and stool examination for the detection of the eggs of the trematodes were done on 224 individuals at the island from January to February, 2000. The results were as follows: 1. Egg positive rate of the intestinal trematodes was 21.0%. 2. The egg positive rate has revealed significantly higher in the elderly over age 70 than other ages, higher in seashore villagers than inland ones, and higher in persons who had a rural and/or marine ph than persons with other jobs, respectively(P<0.05). 3. The egg positive rate of alcoholic drinkers was higher than non-alcoholic persons, and the rate was also higher in smokers than non-smokers. It was statistically significant(P<0.05). 4. The egg positive rate was shown to be significantly higher in inhabitants who ate raw mullet that was well known to be the source of infection with the intestinal trematodes than people who did not eat the raw marine fishes(P<0.01). 5. The egg positive rate was also significantly higher in humans who had the complaints of frequent abdominal pain and diarrhea than healthy people(P<0.05). In conclusion, the prevalence of intestinal trematodes at the island located in the south and west area in Korea was too high to eradicate the parasitic infections. So a special program is necessary for the control of the trematode infections in many adjacent islands at Chollanamdo.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.95-104
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• 2021

Objective : In this study, we wanted to analyzed the current status of domestic senior center programs to collect data for the development of center programs for small and medium cities. Methods : To collect data, the researchers visited small and medium cities (Gyeonggi, Gyeongsang, Chungcheong, Jeolla and Gangwon) between July and September 2019 and conducted interpersonal surveys. The study involved 183 people. Results : The users mainly used senior centers 'because they of their friends' 55% indicated that they used centers four to five times a week. 45.9% were satisfied with their center, and 20.2% indicated that 'various programs' were needed to make the centers attractive. Of the non-users, 43.5% indicated that they did not use the centers for their lack of 'enjoyable' activities, and 46.5% indicated that 'various programs' should be developed to make the centers attractive. Programs favored by both users and non-users included exercise, hobbies and entertainment and health programs. Conclusion : The study show that the general factors influencing the use of senior centers by senior citizens living in small and medium-sized cities in Korea include the purpose of use, satisfaction with the program, and improvement points and limitations. Accordingly, the limitations of the existing center programs will be identified, and the findings can be used as the basis for the development of future programs.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.301-310
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• 2016

This is a nonequivalent control group non-synchronized experiment research to verify the effect of moxibustion therapy on efficient management of daily living disabilities and sleep patterns in elderly women with chronic low back pain. Total 12 sessions of moxibustion therapy were applied to elderly women(30 subjects in an experimental group and 30 subjects in a control group) in G City once a week for 12 weeks from March 15th to May $31^{st}$ 2015. Then the follow-up study was conducted 2 weeks after the post survey. For moxibustion, was applied to Shen-shu, Ashi point, Ta chang shu, Yang kuan and Yosu. 5 sheets of moxibustion were applied to 7 acupuncture points of Mugeukboyang moxibustion; Zu san li & Chu chi, Chung wan, Chung chi & Shui tao, Fei shu, Kao hung and Tien shu, Wijung respectively and experimental treatment was conducted. For assessing the degree of back pain, Visual Analog Scale(VAS) developed by Scott & Huskisson(1979) was used and for measuring the degree of daily living disability, Oswestry Disability Index, which was developed by Fairbank et al(1980) and translated and revised by Yim, Hyeon-sul et al.(1998), was used. For measuring sleep patterns, the sleep pattern measurement tool developed by Oh, Jin-su, Song, Mi-soon and Kim, Sin-mi(1998) was used. For data analysis, SPSS/WIN 18.0 was employed and Chi-square test, t-test and repeated measures ANOVA were performed. There were significant differences in pain score(F=2510.32, p<.001), daily living disability score(F=1937.82, p<.001) and sleep pattern score((F=15.54, p<.001) of elderly women that were provided with moxibustion therapy, compared to the control group. Therefore, it was found that moxibustion therapy made a positive contribution to reduction in pain and daily living disabilities and improvement in sleep quality. Based on this study finding, there is a need to apply moxibustion therapy to elderly people with chronic low back pain as a nursing intervention in future.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.93-99
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• 2017

The rate of traffic accidents that occurred in Korea last year is 10 out of every 100,000 people, ranking it 6th among the 35 OECD member countries. The accident rate of children with disabilities and elderly people is also high. The purpose of this study is to introduce traffic safety facilities which have been developed for the reduction of traffic accidents in non-urban areas in Korea through an analysis of the related literature, the accident factors using traffic accident analysis system data and traffic accident characteristics. Traffic safety integrated facilities for ICT-based pedestrian crossings are subject to cross-sectional coverage of child protection zones. The smart safety fence prevents vehicles from parking illegally and informs pedestrians that there is an access vehicle on the pedestrian crossing. The smart bump is designed to warn drivers who are not aware of the pedestrians. In order to standardize the appropriate form and size of the traffic safety facilities for pedestrian crossings, we constructed a standard model for each type, considering the road function, press classification, power, lane number, geometric form, etc. As a result, the rate of traffic accidents involving vulnerable people was reduced. In addition, it is anticipated that the maintenance costs will be reduced by the use of a solar power supply and their compatibility with the existing installed safety fences.

• 한국노년학
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.195-209
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• 2011

This study examined the prevalence of and factors associated with unmet care need among community-dwelling middle-aged and older people in Korea. Data were from the 2006 Korean Longitudinal Study on Ageing (KLoSA), a national survey of 10,254 non-institutionalized adults aged 45 or older. Having unmet care needs was defined as needing personal assistance with activities of daily living (ADL) or instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) but having no available helper. Weighted logistic regressions were fitted to examine factors associated with unmet care needs. Overall, 7.3%, 14.5%, and 41.8% of subjects among the middle-aged, younger old, and older old, respectively, reported care needs of these, 34%, 33%,and 24% had unmet needs. Factors associated with unmet needs differed among the three groups: Education and income level were negatively associated with unmet needs among the middle-aged, but living alone was the only factor positively associated with unmet needs in both the younger and older old. The prevalence of and factors associated with unmet care needs differ by life-stage. Needed are home- and community-based care and services to meet the need for personal assistance among the elderly living alone in a community.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.276-283
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• 2015

Pedestrians have been exposed to dangerous traffic environments, in which walking spaces in a city decrease without improved facilities even though cars increase. Such poor walking environments are deadly dangerous to the vulnerable as well as the non-vulnerable. This study analyzed the road facilities use characteristics according to a type of vulnerability in order to improve traffic safety and walking environment for vulnerable pedestrians. This study surveyed the vulnerable in terms of issues that they encountered on existing walkways and conducted the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), which took all quantitative and qualitative variables into account. The results of Level-3 analysis were showed that the elderly and the disabled were partially similar; both felt most inconvenient at enter-exit sections, steep walkway and bad paved walkway. Unlike those results, people with children and/or infants answered that overpass or underpass walkways without lifting facilities were most inconvenient walking environments.