• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.168-173
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• 2011

Objective: To examine the association between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism and hyperhomocysteinemia in women with unexplained recurrent miscarriages (RM) and to investigate the association between MTHFR genotype variants and alloimmune activation, proportion of peripheral blood natural killer (pbNK) cells. Methods: A total of 39 patients with a history of two or more unexplained miscarriages were recruited to this study. The controls were women who had a live birth without a history of RM (n=50). The proportion of pbNK cells was measured by flow cytometry. Plasma homocysteine levels and the incidence of the MTHFR variant of the RM and control groups were compared. The proportion of pbNK cells was compared to the MTHFR variants in the RM group. Results: No differences were found between the two groups' mean plasma homocysteine levels ($7.6{\pm}1.5{\mu}mol$/L vs. $7.1{\pm}2.1{\mu}mol$/L) or incidence of the MTHFR genotype variant (CC, 35% vs. 33%; CT, 40% vs. 53%; and TT, 25% vs. 14%). In the RM group, individuals with the TT variant ($7.7{\pm}1.1{\mu}mol$/L) had higher homocysteine levels than those with the CC and CT variants ($7.4{\pm}1.9{\mu}mol$/L and $7.4{\pm}1.2{\mu}mol$/L) and those with the CT variant ($19.2{\pm}8.1%$) had a higher proportion of CD3-/CD56+ pbNK cells than those with the CC and TT variants ($17.7{\pm}6.6%$ and $17.9{\pm}7.0%$), but the results of both comparisons were statistically insignificant. Conclusion: These preliminary results show no difference in plasma homocysteine levels between the RM and control groups or among MTHFR genotype variants in the RM group, which may suggest that the plasma homocysteine level is difficult to use as a predictive marker of RM in the Korean population. A study of a larger number of patients is needed.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.11-24
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• 1976

This study was a part of large scale of a prospective study on attitudes of professional students in medicine, nursing and teaching toward population related issues in Korea. The study was first conducted in May 1974 and then in May 1975 for the 1974 class cohot using a questionaire consisted of attitude scales and other items developed by Lee. The purpose of stuay was twohold, namely, to determine the difference in students among specializations on one hand and between the first and second years in the 1974 class cohot regarding tile subject matter. A one-way analysis of variance was used for attitude scale, and absolute and relative frequency were computed for the analysis of non-attitude scale items by employing Fishers' Ratio and Duncan's multiple range test at 5% level and chi square test at 5% level as significance tests. The hypothesis 'students in health profession are more likely to have positive attitudes toward population related issues progressively as class year advances than students in teaching profession' was tested and the following results were obtained: 1) Nursing students were more likely to display favarable attitudes toward family planning than medical or teaching students although the class cohot showed slightly negative improvement in the second year. Medical and teaching students apperaed to have slightly improved attitudes in the second year. 2) Respondents in general perceived national family planning program as a means of population control and this tendency was more true among nursing students as the class year advances than two other professional groups of students. Students in teaching profession appeared to perceive it more as a means to improve individual family welfare while health students were likely to see as to improve maternal and child health. This tendency was progressively improved as the class year advanced. 3) The majority of students regardless of their respective specializations believed that family planning program should be directed toward the improvement of individual family welfare. No progressive changes in the class cohot were observed. 4) About the plan to use contraceptives in future, no singnificant differences were observes among different specializations nor in different class years. However, the majority was confirmed to have a plan to use contracepives in future. An increasing proportion of the undecided category was observed, as class year advanced among health students. 5) Students in health profession were found to be more favorable about 'more leisure opportunities' as motive for limiting number of children whereas education students indicated the reasons as 'facilitate ambitions' and 'economic base' The progressive changes toward positive direction in both groups were observed as the class years advanced. 6) Attitudes toward induced abortions of the health students were observed to be positively related to class years while an inverse relationship was found in teaching students who showed much less favor in the subject matter than health students. This phenomenon may be due to the different exposure to learning environments unique to respective specializations. 7) Health students were found to have more favorable attitudes toward population education in general than the teaching students. The teaching students appeared to have changed more to the negative direction when they became the second year while no such development was observed in health students. The teaching students seemed to hold a very conservative position with regard to sex education in schools. 8) About the equality of sexes, the nursing group was found to be most favorable while the reverse was true in the teaching group. A change in the negative direction as the class year advanced was found in the teaching group. 9) About questions related to fertility values-the 10 percent of respondents regardless of specialization indicated that they would maintain their single status in future, however no change was observed in the second year. The desired number of children was found to be two by the majority of students in nursing, medicine and teaching in order of high proportion. No changes in a different class year were observed. The childless marriage was seen by nursing students as a problem more than other students, but a slight change in positive direction was found when the nursing students became the second year. In summing, as data supported in the above, students in health profession demonstrated more favorable attitudes toward population related issues than the teaching students and this tendency became more apparent in the second year. It was noticed that health students were more conscious about the health aspect of population and family planning program while the teaching students gave more attention to the socioeconomic aspect. The sex variable seemed to have operated in the item related to the equality of sexes. In conclusion, as data presented in the above, the hypothesis of this study was accepted except in the few items. It should be noted that the limitation of this study is the short duration of the observation in measuring the possible attitude changes. It should include curriculum analysis for the respective specializations in order to indentify the area of curriculum impact on students in future study.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.1-26
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• 2006

This paper examines the interplay among changes in socioeconomic conditions, population policies, and fertility decline during $1960{\sim}2000$ in South Korea. Period-parity-progression-ratios (PPPR) are calculated using 2% samples of Population Census with the implied distribution of completed family size. The total fertility rate based on PPPR declined from 5.21 in 1960 to 2.76 in 1980, and 1.69 in 2000. The family planning programs were successful in meeting the needs of families that wanted to prevent further childbearing after having achieved the desired family size during $1960{\sim}1970$. The 1980s mark two important landmarks: achievement of replacement fertility and emergence of high sex ratio at birth. In the 1990s the "quality and welfare" approach was emphasized. In 2000s, South Korea's fertility is one of the lowest in the world. In response to this, in 2005, the Government adopted a new population policy with the goal of increasing the total fertility level to 1.6 by 2010. The results of this study indicate that proportion of women who would have no children at all throughout their reproductive life span increased substantially from 10% in 1995 to 16% in 2000, with a sharp increase since 1997. Thus, pro-natal programs need to address the problems associated with marriage and having the first child. Towards that, it is important that work and family life become more compatible.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.26 no.3 s.43
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• pp.311-320
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• 1993

This study was carried out along with the 1990 6th National Tuberculosis Prevalence Survey in order to estimate the prevalence rate of diabetes mellitus among a representative adult Korean population. Fasting blood glucose was measured by diastix (Ames) using glucometer II for seventy seven percent of the population (30 year old or above) residing in 190 enumeration districts randomly sampled from 146,944 general ED. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus of the population was estimated by projecting the ratio of ${\geq}200mg/dl\;PP_2$ of fasting blood sugar level below 120 mg/dl by sex to the study population. Fasting blood glucose and 2 hr. postprandial blood glucose were measured on about 3000 subsampled individuals, and diabetes mellitus was defined by the WHO criteria-FBG${\geq}120mg/dl\;or\;PP_2{\geq}200mg/dl$ when FBG is below 120mg/dl. The results obtained are as follows : 1. Estimated prevalence(age adjusted) of diabetes mellitus was 4.6% for male and 8.1% for female. The age adjusted mean FBG was $93.9{\pm}26.2mg/dl$ for male and $102.9{\pm}31.5mg/dl$ for female. 2. The prevalence increased as age advanced with peak in $60{\sim}69$ years old age group for both sexes. 3. The mean FBG and estimated prevalence rate of diabetes mellitus varied considerably among the populations of fifteen cities and provinces ; it vaired from $87.0{\pm}17.7\;to\;104.6{\pm}34.5mg/dl$ and 1.2% to 8.9% for males, and from $93.3{\pm}25.3\;to\;116.7{\pm}38.6mg/dl$ and 3.4% to 20.8% for females. 4. The mean FBG and prevalence rates were higher among the rural population than those residing in metropolitan areas. 5. The proportion of the people previously treated among the diabetics was estimated to be a little less than one fifth. 6. Factors strongly associated with FBG were age, sex, family history of D. M., BMI, area and educational level among eleven variables.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.21-29
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• 1981

Nationwide survey of weed population in paddy rice field was conducted from 1760 fields all around Republic of Korea in 1981. The weed species observed include 2 species of grasses, 7 species of sedges, and 18 species of broadleaf weeds, and the dominant weed species were Monochoria vaginalis, Sagitraria trifolia, Potamogeton distinstus, Sagittaria pygmea and Cyperus serotinus. More and many weeds were growing in single cropped field than double cropped field. In single cropped fields, weed population was reduced when autumn plowing was conducted. In double cropped fields, more weeds were growing in barley or wheat grown fields than vegetable gown fields. Among the five paddy soil types, more weeds were growing in saline soils and poorly drained soils than others. The proportion of annual and perennial weeds in national average was 44% and 56%, and perennials became more dominant in central part of the peninsula. Autumn plowing and double cropping appeared to reduce the perennial weed population, however, the increased perennial weed population, presumably due to continuous use of herbicides which controls mostly annuals, seemed to an urgent problem to be solved.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.25 no.3 s.39
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• pp.303-311
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• 1992

It is very important to estimate the future medical care expenditure, because medical care expenditure escalation is a big problem not only in the health industry but also in the Korean economy today. This study was designed to project the medical care expenditure in view of population age change. The data of this study were the population projection data based on National Census Data(1990) of the National Statistical Office and the Statistical Reports of the Korea Medical Insurance Corporation. The future medical care expenditure was eatimated by the regression model and the optional simulation model. The significant results are as follows : 1. The future medical care expenditure will be 3,963 billion Won in the year 2000, 4,483 billion Won in 2010, and 4,826 billion Won in 2020, based on the 1990 market price considering only the population age change. 2. The proportion of the total medical care expenditure in the elderly over 65 will be 10.4% in 2000, 13.5% in 2010, and 16.9% in 2020. 3. The future medical care expenditure will be 4,306 billion Won in the year 2000, 5,101 billion Won in 2010, and 5,699 billion Won in 2020 based on the 1990 market price considering the age structure change and the change of the case-cost estimated by the regression model. 4. When we consider the age-structure change and inflation compared with the preceding year, the future medical care expenditurein 2020 will be 21 trillion Won based on a 5% inflation rate, 42 trillion Won based on a 7.5% inflation rate, and 84 trillion Won based on a 10% inflation rate. Consideration of the aged(65 years old and over) will be essential to understand the acute increase of medical care expenditure due to changes in age structure of the population. Therefore, alternative policies and programs for the caring of the aged should be further studied.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.2429-2432
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• 2013

Background and Objectives: Yanting in Sichuan Province is one of the highest risk areas of esophageal cancer (EC) in the world. We here summarize the epidemiology of EC in Yanting using data from the national screening programme during 2006-2011. Methods: Random cluster sampling was used to select a proportion of natural villages from six towns in Yanting, and residents aged 40-69 years old were invited for screening. Participants were screened using endoscopy with iodine staining and then confirmed by histological examinations. Results: The overall detection rates of low-grade hyperplasia (LH), moderate hyperplasia (MH), high-grade hyperplasia (HH), carcinoma in situ (CIS), intramucosal carcinoma (IC) and invasive carcinoma (INC) were 5.33%, 1.28%, 0.68%, 0.15%, 0.06% and 0.29%, respectively. The detection rates of LH, MH, HH and INC increased with age, reaching the peak among those aged 60-65 years, and the prevalences of LH and MH were higher among men than among women. In addition, the detection rates of hyperplasia were much higher in mountainous than in hilly areas. Conclusions: Among the high risk population, there are a great number of people with early-stage EC or precancerous conditions who do not have presenting symptoms. In particular, the elderly, men, or those living in mountainous areas are the most vulnerable population. It is therefore important to reinforce health education and screening services among such high risk populations.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.693-698
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• 2012

Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer of women worldwide, with considerable geographic and racial/ethnic variation. Data are generally derived from population based cancer registries in the developed countries but hospital data are the most reliable source in the developing countries. Ten years data from 1st Jan 2000 to 31st Dec 2009 of a cancer hospital in Pakistan were here analyzed by descriptive statistics to evaluate the clinicopathologic profile of local breast cancer patients. Among 28,740 cancer patients, 6,718 were registered as breast cancer. The female to male ratio was 100:2. Breast cancer accounted for 23% of all and 41% of female cancers. Some 46% were residents of Lahore, with a mean age of $47{\pm}12$ years. Less than 1% were at Stage 0 and 10%, 32%, 35% and 23% were at Stage I, II, III and IV respectively. Histopathology was unknown in 4% while 91%, 2% and 1% had invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) and mucinous carcinoma respectively. Rare carcinomas accounted for the rest. Tumor grade 1, 2 and 3 was 11%, 55% and 34% among the known. Profile of breast cancer patients in Pakistan follows a pattern similar to that of other developing countries with earlier peak age and advanced disease stage at presentation. The male breast cancer accounts for higher proportion in the local population. Local women have higher frequency of IDC and lower frequency of ILC and DCIS, owing probably to a different risk profile. Use of hospital information systems and establishment of population based cancer registry is required to have accurate and detailed local data. Promotion of breast health awareness and better health care system is required to decrease the burden of advanced disease.

• 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.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.63-74
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• 1993

The ecotypic variation of Phragmites communis Trin. was studied from Aug. 1989 to March 1992 in three populations of salt marsh, estuary and fresh water areas of the western coastal regions in Korea. The length growth and aboveground total dry weight of Phragmites communis Trin. From three habitates were measured monthly and the seeds from them collected. Chlorophyll contents, bud number and width of Phragmites communis Trin. populations after their seeds were sown in seedbeds, and the growth of seedlings according to salt contents were also determined. The results lare summarized as follows: The height and basal diameter of shoot, leaf length and width, and total dry weight of Phragmites communis Trin. were very different from each other according to their natural habitats. The bud number of seeds was increased as sample sites moved from estuary to fresh water areas and salt marsh. The but the bud diameter turned out to be in reverse proportion to the bud number. The chlorophyll content of the population from fresh water was $8.6901{\mu}g/ml$, whereas that from estuary and salt marsh was $9.61801{\mu}g/ml$ and $10.3160{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. The average length growth and total dry weight of seedlings grown at different salt contents were compared. Those of fresh water area decreased at salt contents lower than 0.5% in culture solution and those of estuary at higher than 0.5%, but the population of salt marsh was shown to be capable of sustaining itself at 1.0%. All of these results suggested that the populations of Phragmites communis Trin. in the western coastal regions of Korea have undergone ecotypic variations: fresh water type, estuary type and salt marsh type.