• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.253-258
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• 2012

Dental amalgam is an alloy composed of a mixture of approximately equal parts of elemental liquid mercury and an alloy powder. Amalgam has been the most popular and effective restorative material used in dentistry. Despite the long history and popularity of dental amalgam as a restorative material, there have been periodic concerns regarding the potential adverse health effects arising from exposure to mercury in amalgam. Since children are more at risk for mercury toxicity, we aimed to assess the association between dental amalgam filling and urinary mercury concentration in children. 581 of elementary school children in grades 1st4th were conveniently recruited from two schools located in Daegu city, Korea. To obtain dental caries experience states, oral examination were conducted using the full term for DFS index, number of amalgam filling surfaces and the type of filling materials. A questionnaire was used to collect information about general characteristics and the frequencies of tooth brushing, gum chewing and fish/seafood consumption. The statistical analysis was done using the SPSS 18.0 program. The mean urinary mercury concentration in children having more surfaces was highest. As a results Urinary mercury concentration of children who have 79 teeth of amalgam filling and more than 10 is higher than without amalgam filling. The number of amalgam filling surface is closely related with urinary mercury concentration.

• 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 Digital Convergence
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.313-321
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to identify the associated factors on the metabolic syndrome among inpatients with schizophrenia. Methods: The participants were 127 inpatients with schizophrenia from G mental hospital in G city. Collected data were analized with SPSS 22.0 using descriptive statistics, ${\chi}^2$-test, t-test and logistic regression. Results: Metabolic syndrome prevalence of the participants was 46.5%. There were statistically significant differences according to physical disease (${\chi}^2=11.51$, p<.001), body mass index (${\chi}^2=13.59$, p<.001), perception of obesity (${\chi}^2=8.38$, p<.001), and taking olanzapine (${\chi}^2=6.31$, p<.05). Conclusion: Based on the study results, the nursing intervention for prevention and management of metabolic syndrome is needed to develop and provide to schizophrenia patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.78 no.4
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• pp.326-335
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• 2015

Background: Asian dust is known to have harmful effects on the respiratory system. Respiratory conditions are also influenced by environmental conditions regardless of the presence of pollutants. The same pollutant can have different effects on the airway when the air is dry compared with when it is humid. We investigated hospital visits for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma in relation to the environmental conditions. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study using the Korean National Health Insurance Service claims database of patients who visited hospitals in Chuncheon between January 2006 and April 2012. Asian dust, haze, mist, and fog days were determined using reports from the Korea Meteorological Administration. Hospital visits for asthma or COPD on the index days were compared with the comparison days. We used two-way case-crossover techniques with one to two matching. Results: The mean hospital visits for asthma and COPD were $59.37{\pm}34.01$ and $10.04{\pm}6.18$ per day, respectively. Hospital visits for asthma significantly increased at lag0 and lag1 for Asian dust (relative risk [RR], 1.10; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.19; p<0.05) and haze (RR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.06-1.22; p<0.05), but were significantly lower on misty (RR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.80-0.99; p<0.05) and foggy (RR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.84-0.93; p<0.05) days than on control days. The hospital visits for COPD also significantly increased on days with Asian dust (RR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.05-1.59; p<0.05), and were significantly lower at lag4 for foggy days, compared with days without fog (RR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.75-0.97; p<0.05). Conclusion: Asian dust showed an association with airway diseases and had effects for several days after the exposure. In contrast to Asian dust, mist and fog, which occur in humid air conditions, showed the opposite effects on airway diseases, after adjusting to the pollutants. It would require more research to investigate the effects of various air conditions on airway diseases.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.480-486
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• 2012

To evaluate of biological activity of Chambirum ($Amaranthus$ $lividus$) $in$ $vitro$ and $in$ $vivo$, we investigated the free radical scavenging activity of its extracts $in$ $vitro$ and the effect of lyophilized powder on the serum lipid profile of rats fed cholesterol. ABTS, DPPH, and NO radical scavenging activities were tested from water and 80% ethanol extracts of Chambirum, and biological activities of the ethanol extracts were significantly higher than the water extracts. The total lipid and total cholesterol content of serum, atherogenic index (AI), and cardiac risk factor (CRF) were decreased significantly for the groups fed with a 5% and 10% supplement of Chambirum powder (HCA1 and HCA2) in comparison with the group fed cholesterol (HC). Triglyceride content decreased drastically in the HCA2 group, while its content was not decreased in the other group. HDL-cholesterol content was elevated in the HCA1 and HCA2 groups, but was not significantly different to the supplemented amount of Chambirum powder. GPT and ${\gamma}$-GTP activities were decreased significantly in the groups fed with Chambirum powder compared to the HC group. And the content of the lipid peroxide level was the same trend. Therefore, these results give evidence that Chambirum might be useful in the control of induced disorders by dietary cholesterol and/or lipids.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.166-171
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• 2005

Background: Smoking effects are relatively well-documented, especially on cancers and cardiovascular diseases. However, the direction and magnitude of association between smoking and obesity remain unclear. Conflicting results so far are thought to stem from the multiple confounding structure of smoking and other obesogenic life style characteristics. Methods: Cotwin control study is a genomic epidemiology design, in which the other twin (=cotwin) serves as a control of the twin. Cotwin control study, discordant for smoking habits can provide powerful evidence of association between smoking and obesity by completely matching genomic information, intrauterine environment, and almost all environmental factors. We selected 3,697 like-sex twin pairs (2,762 male and 935 female pairs) out of 63,666 pairs of adult twins in the existing Korea Twin and Family Register, whose smoking habits are discordant. We used the information of obesity as body mass index (BMI, $kg/m^2$) blood pressure, and blood cholesterol level at the time or later than the smoking information. Paired t-test was done to compare the smoking effects. Results: Lifetime smoking rate was 80.1 % (47.9 current smoker) for men and 10% (1.7% current smoker) for women. Among 2,762 and 935 male and female like-sex twin pairs, 363 male pairs and 20 female pairs correspond to the definition of smoker-nonsmoker pair. The male smokers demonstrated increase in BMI by 0.47, while female smokers show slight decrease (by 0.13), which were not statistically significant. Diastolic and systolic blood pressure, and cholesterol level were slightly increased among smokers by 1.85 mmHg, 0.62 mmHg, and 1.28 mg/dl for men. For women, the results show increase in diastolic blood pressure (3.42mmHg) and cholesterol level (1.25 mg/dl), and systolic pressure (8.17 mmHg). Conclusion: The results refute the possibility that smoking can reduce BMI. Considering the direct adverse effect of smoking, it should be emphasized that smoking do not decrease obesity and thus increase overall metabolic syndrome.

• Perspectives in Nursing Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.88-95
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• 2016

Purpose: Gestational weight gain and prepregnancy body weight are important factors of childbirth outcomes, which further cause obesity, metabolic diseases, or psychological problems later in women's lives. Changes in diet, westernized lifestyle, traditional postpartum care, and childbirth at older age are thought to be threats to proper weight management in Korean women of reproductive age. Public health and antenatal care need to focus on the proper body weight management of women by carefully planning pregnancy to postpartum periods. Purpose: This study explored the body weight changes from pregnancy to postpartum and the related characteristics in women within 12 months after childbirth. Methods: A cross-sectional, retrospective study was conducted with 102 Korean women within 12 months after childbirth. Data were collected using an online survey system, and a structured questionnaire available for electronic self-administration was modified to include demographics, obstetrical history, and body weight at 6 time points. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire and Eating Habit Measurement instruments were also used in data collection. A professional survey agency recruited the participants, and data were automatically saved and then analyzed. Results: The average age of the participants was 33.8 years, 48% were housewives and were well-educated. Seventy-two percent of the participants were primiparas and 82% had breastfed their babies. The body mass index (BMI) ranged from 17.3 to 27.8, indicating that 21.5% of the participants were overweight or obese. The mean gestational weight gain was 11.8 kg, and weight loss was apparent during the first 3 months postpartum. The mean decline in weight was 3.4 kg at one year after childbirth. Women wanted to lose 5.6 kg (range: 3~20 kg), however 44% of them reported that they had not engaged in any weight control efforts. Further, 72% of them reported having engaged in a low level of physical activity. Body weight was not associated with women's characteristics, physical activity score, and diet. Conclusion: Women's awareness of gestational weight gain, lifestyle modification, and the risk of prolonged weight retention should be promoted through the antenatal and women's healthcare systems. As pregnancy and childbirth are critical events that affect women's health, integrative education to ensure healthy transition to life after delivery is required.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.167-189
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• 2008

This study was conducted to investigate the factors which are related to Bone Mineral Density(BMD) of female for prevention of osteoporosis. We measured the BMD of lumbar spine(L2-L4) and femoral neck in 4802 female, using dual energy X-ray absorptionmetry(DEXA; DPX-alpha. Lunar, U.S.A.). and then analysed the 9 factors-age group, body mass index(BMI), amount of smoking, drinking, exercise, sleep, and fast blood sugar-which are related to BMD of female. The following results were obtained : 1. In age group, T-score was the highest at 36－42(六七) years group in lumbar spine(L2-L4) and at 15－21(三七) years group in femoral neck. and then it was decreased rapidly after 43－49(七七) years group in both lumbar spine(L2-L4) and femoral neck. Therefore we concluded that T-score of female in lumbar spine(L2-L4) and femoral neck change according to age group in $\ll$Hwangjaenaekyong Somun; 黃帝內經 素問$\gg$. 2. In BMI, T-score of lumbar spine(L2-L4) and femoral neck were increased according to BMI increase. 3. In amount of drinking and smoking, T-score was highest in heavy groups(women who have drunk soju more than 4 bottles for a week) in both lumbar spine(L2-L4) and femoral neck. But there t was no significant difference in comparison according to age group. 4. In exercise, T-score was higher in exercising group than non exercising group. And it appeared that women who have taken proper exercise had higher T-score than women who have taken exercise daily. 5. T-score was higher in women who ordinarily sleep well in both lumbar spine(L2-L4) and femoral neck than sleep badly. And there was significant difference in 43-56 years group. 6. T-score was low in the group that exceed 110mg/dl in fast blood sugar. Conclusions : The age group in $\ll$Hwangjaenaekyong Somun; 黃帝內經 素問$\gg$ is related to BMD of women. And risk factors-BMI, exercise, sleep, fast blood sugar, thyroid disease-are related to BMD of women. Therefore we expect that this study will help for prevention of osteoporosis of women, and further study will be achieved.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.52-68
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• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the weight loss effects of auricular acupuncture in obese patients. Methods: Six databases (Research Information Sharing Service [RISS], Korean studies Information Service System [KISS], Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System [OASIS], PubMed, The Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure [CNKI]) were searched up to May 20, 2020. Eight eligible randomized controlled trials were included the present study. The quality of included studies was assessed by the Cochrane risk of bias tool and a meta-analysis was performed by Review Manager software. A meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effects model and a subgroup analysis was performed to detect the sources of heterogeneity, identify the selection of acupuncture methods and explore its contributions to the weight loss effects. Results: Among 8 trials, 5 trials used auricular acupuncture and 2 trials used auricular acupressure, 1 trial used both types of intervention. Most commonly selected acupoints were Shenmen (TF4) and stomach (CO4). Treatment duration was six to twelve weeks, and total treatment session was six to twelve. Compared to the control groups, auricular acupuncture significantly decreased body weight, body mass index (BMI), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL) and ghrelin. For the selection of acupuncture methods, both methods performed similarly in most outcome except waist circumference (WC), body fat percentage (BFP), and triglycerides (TG). Conclusions: We found that auricular acupuncture can be effective for weight loss and controlling appetite. However, the findings should be interpreted with caution due to heterogeneity. So further vigorous and well-designed studies should be conducted to strengthen the evidence of the use of auricular acupuncture for obesity.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.806-811
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• 2005

Effects of green tea-soybean paste on weight-changes and serum lipid profiles in rats fed high fat diet were investigated. Sprague-Barley male rats divided into five groups were fed five different diets for 10 weeks: B group, basal diet H group, high fat-diet containing 0.5% cholesterol+15% lard H-S group, high fat diet containing soybean paste H-0.6GS group, high fat diet containing 0.6% green tea-soybean paste H-4GS group, high fat diet containing 4% green tea-soybean paste. H group showed highest weight gain (p<0.05). Addition of green-tea soybean paste to high-fat diet significantly decreased weight gain, H-4GS group showing highest weight loss (p<0.05). No significant differences in food efficiency ratio and total food intake were found among groups. Liver weight of H group was highest. Addition of green tea-soybean paste to high fat diet significantly reduced liver weight (p<0.05, Table 2). Concentrations of glucose, uric acid, bilirubin, and total protein were similar among all group. Mean GPT values of H-4GS group were significantly different from these of H- and H-S groups (p<0.05). H-S, H-0.6GS, and H-4GS groups had significantly lower triglyceride and total cholesterol, and higher HDL than H-group (p<0,05). H-4GS group had significantly lower serum triglyceride than H-0.6GS group (p<0.05).