• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.16
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• pp.6609-6612
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• 2014

Opisthorchis viverrini is an ongoing public health problem in Northeast Thailand. Despite continuous efforts for decades by healthcare organizations to overcome this problem, infection rates remain high. To enable related personnel to identify and address the various issues effectively, a cross-sectional study was performed to investigate prevalence and risk factors for opisthorchiasis. The target group was 3,916 Thai residents of Northeast Thailand who were 15 or over. Participants were recruited using the 30 clusters sampling technique. The data were gathered through questionnaires, focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, and stool examinations for parasite eggs (using the Modified Kato Katz method). The data were analyzed using descriptive and inference statistics; in order to ascertain the risk factors and test them using the odds ratio and multiple logistic regressions. The prevalence of opisthorchiasis was 22.7% (95%CI: 0.26 to 0.24). The province with the highest prevalence was Nakhorn Phanom (40.9%; female to male ratio =1:1.2). The age group with the highest prevalence was 40-49 year olds. All age groups had a prevalence >20%. Four of seven provinces had a prevalence >20%. The factors related to opisthorchiasis were (a) sex, (b) age (especially > 50), (c) proximity and duration living near a water body, and (d) eating raw and/or fermented fish. In order to reduce the prevalence of opisthorchiasis, the focus in populations living in upper Northeast Thailand should be changing their eating behaviors as appropriate to their tradition and context.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.719-722
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• 2016

Background: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a serious health problem in Thailand, particularly in northeastern and northern regions, but epidemiological studies are scarce and the spatial distribution of CCA remains to be determined. A database for the population at risk is required for monitoring, surveillance and organization of home health care. This study aim was to geo-visually display the distribution of CCA in northeast Thailand, using a geographic information system and Google Earth. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out in 9 sub-districts and 133 villages in Chum Phuang district, Nakhon Ratchasima province during June and October 2015. Data on demography, and the population at risk for CCA were combined with the points of villages, sub-district boundaries, district boundaries, and points of hospitals in districts, then fed into a geographical information system. After the conversion, all of the data were imported into Google Earth for geo-visualization. Results: A total of 11,960 from 83,096 population were included in this study. Females and male were 52.5%, and 47.8%, the age group 41-50 years old 33.3%. Individual risk for CCA was identifed and classified by using the Korat CCA verbal screening test as low (92.8%), followed by high risk (6.74%), and no (0.49%), respectively. Gender ($X^2$-test=1143.63, p-value= 0.001), age group ($X^2$-test==211.36, p-value=0.0001), and sub-district ($X^2$-test=1471.858, p-value=0.0001) were significantly associated with CCA risk. Spatial distribution of the population at risk for CCA in Chum Phuang district was viewed with Google Earth. Geo-visual display followed Layer 1: District, Layer 2: Sub-district, Layer 3: Number of low risk in village, Layer 4: Number of high risk in village, and Layer 5: Hospital in Chum Phuang District and their related catchment areas. Conclusions: We present the first risk geo-visual display of CCA in this rural community, which is important for spatial targeting of control efforts. Risk appears to be strongly associated with gender, age group, and sub-district. Therefor, spatial distribution is suitable for the use in the further monitoring, surveillance, and home health care for CCA.

• The Korean Journal of Applied Statistics
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.591-602
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• 2017

The concentration of fine dust has increased in Korea and people have become more concerned with respiratory diseases. This study selected risk factors for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) through demographic and clinical features and constructed a nomogram. First, logistic regression analysis was performed using demographic and clinical feature and the pulmonary function test results of the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) $6^{th}$ (2013-2015) and the nomogram was constructed to visualize the risk factors of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in order to facilitate the interpretation of the analysis results. The ROC curve and calibration plot were also used to verify the nomogram of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.145-157
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• 2018

In this study, we analyzed the effect of the income level of cancer, stroke, and myocardial infarction on mortality by using National Health Insurance Service(NHIS) Cohort 2.0 DB. Patients who newly developed the disease in 2007 were observed till 2015. The analysis used the Cox probability proportional risk model and the competing risk model. The income level used information at the time of the onset of the disease in 2007, categorized into low / mid / high. The results showed that there were differences in the risks of death and secondary disease in patients with cancer, stroke, or myocardial infarction according to the income level. In addition to the need for a social safety net to lower the incidence of early deaths in low-income families, it seems necessary to continue to strengthen universal protection for serious diseases similar to the current policy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.73-78
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• 2000

Background: this study was designed to estimate whether specific risk factors could increase the postoperative complication rate of pneumonectomy for chronic complicated inf-lammatory lung disease. Material and Method: Eighty-five patients underwent pneumon-ectomy for chronic complicated inflammatory lung disease(tuberculosis, 67 ; bronchiecasis 11; aspergio- losis, 4; others, 3) between January 1991 and August 1998. We performed a univariated statistical analysis to identify preoperative and intraoperative risk factors associated with postoperative complications, Result: There was no operative mortality. There were a total of 18 postoperative complications(22.2%) Bronchopleural fistula(BPF) and empyema occurred in 5(5.9%) and 2(2.4%) respectively. General complication rate was significantly higher in patients with right-sided pneumonectomy(p=.029) extrapleural pneu-monectomy(p=.009) and intraoperative pleural spillage due to cavity or lesion perforation (p=.004). The prevalence of BPF and empyema was higher in patients with right sided pneumonectomy(p=.007) extrapleural pneumonectomy(p=.015) and intraoperative pl- eural spillage due to cavity or lesion perforation(p=.003) which is as the same results as gen-eral complication rate. Conclusion: The postoperative complication rate of pneumone-ctomy for chronic complicated lung disease is accptably low. But it is increase in patients with right sided pneumonectomy extrapleural pneumonectomy and intraoperative pleural spillage due to cavity or lesion perforation. therefore more careful and meticulous intra-operatve management are needed in right sided extrapleural pneumonectomy without intra- pleural spillage.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.247-257
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• 2019

Objectives: The Korea Ministry of Environment regulates concentrations of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) through Atmosphere Environmental Standards to protect public health from HAPs. However, simply determining the exceedance of HAP concentrations has several limitations and more comprehensive assessment is required. In addition, integrated risk assessment is needed considering exposure in all microenvironments, including outdoor as well as indoor environments. The purpose of this study was to assess the differences in risk by sub-population groups according to time-activity patterns and reported concentrations, as well as the lifetime risk for Koreans. Methods: In this study, we calculated time-weighted average exposure concentrations for benzene and $PM_{10}$ among preschool-age children, students, housewifes, workers, and the elderly using residential time and concentrations for indoor (house, school or workplace, other), outdoor, and transport by the meta-analysis method. The risk assessments were conducted by excess cancer risk and disease death risk using 1,000,000 Monte-Carlo simulations for probabilistic analysis. Results: Preschool-age children, students, housewifes, workers, and the elderly spent 91.9, 86.0, 79.8, 82.2, and 77.3% of their day in their house, workplace, or school, respectively. The more than 99% excess cancer risk for benzene exceed 1.0E-06 in all sub-populations and lifetime. The acute disease death risk for $PM_{10}$ for housewifes and workers for lifetime were 3.35E-04 and 3.18E-04, and chronic disease death risks were 2.84E-03 and 2.70E-03, respectively. Conclusions: The risk of benzene and $PM_{10}$ by sub-population group and for the lifetime of housewifes and workers were assessed. Benzene showed risky results for this study. All disease death risks of $PM_{10}$ were higher than 1.0E-04 and showed different risks by sub-population. This study can be used as a basis for lifetime exposure and risk assessment to benzene and $PM_{10}$.

• Korean Journal of Artificial Intelligence
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.29-34
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• 2023

Recently, the rapid development of artificial intelligence technology, many studies are being conducted to predict the risk of heart disease in order to lower the mortality rate of cardiovascular diseases worldwide. This study presents exercise or dietary improvement contents in the form of a software app or web to patients with cardiovascular disease, and cardiovascular disease through digital devices such as mobile phones and PCs. LR, LDA, SVM, XGBoost for the purpose of developing "Life style Improvement Contents (Digital Therapy)" for cardiovascular disease care to help with management or treatment We compared and analyzed cardiovascular disease prediction models using machine learning algorithms. Research Results XGBoost. The algorithm model showed the best predictive model performance with overall accuracy of 80% before and after. Overall, accuracy was 80.0%, F1 Score was 0.77~0.79, and ROC-AUC was 80%~84%, resulting in predictive model performance. Therefore, it was found that the algorithm used in this study can be used as a reference model necessary to verify the validity and accuracy of cardiovascular disease prediction. A cardiovascular disease prediction analysis algorithm that can enter accurate biometric data collected in future clinical trials, add lifestyle management (exercise, eating habits, etc.) elements, and verify the effect and efficacy on cardiovascular-related bio-signals and disease risk. development, ultimately suggesting that it is possible to develop lifestyle improvement contents (Digital Therapy).

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 2008

Objectives : This study was conducted as part of the national project to standardize stroke diagnosis in Korean medicine. In this study, we assessed what categories of stroke diagnosis these three most common risk factors of cerebro-vascular attack(CVA), hypertension(HTN), diabetes mellitus(DM) and hyperlipidemia(HL) fall into. Also we looked into stroke subtypes and its diagnosis in Korean medicine. Methods : 806 patients with acute stroke from 5 universities(Kyung-Hee University oriental medical center, Kyung-Hee University East-West Neo Medical Center, Kyungwon university Incheon oriental medical center, Kyungwon university Songpa oriental medical center and DongGuk university Ilsan oriental medical center) across the country were involved from April, 2007 til August, 2008. We had data of 482 patients to be analyzed and diagnosed by a Korean medicine training doctor and a professor. Results : All three major stroke risk factors were diagnosed as being dampness-phlegm pattern, but no significant difference was observed except in hyperlipidemia patients. Stroke subtypes such as hemorrhage and infarction showed no significant difference in this study. Conclusions : This study provides evidence that hyperlipidemia can be diagnosed as dampness-phlegm by Korean medicine. Further studies with various subtypes of stroke patients are required to prove solid evidence with other stroke risk factors.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.226-231
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• 2012

The purpose of the study was to assess the effects of a 12 weeks aged garlic extract (AGE) regimen with regular exercise on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in postmenopausal women. A total of 30 postmenopausal women ($54.4{\pm}5.4$ years) were randomly divided into the following four groups: Placebo (Placebo; n = 6), AGE intake (AGEI; n = 8), exercise and placebo (Ex + Placebo; n = 8), exercise and AGE (Ex + AGE; n = 8) groups. The AGE group consume 80 mg per day, and exercise groups performed moderate exercise (aerobic and resistance) three times per week. After 12 weeks of treatment, body composition, lipid profile, and CVD risk factors were analyzed. Body weight was significantly decreased in AGEI, Ex + Placebo, and Ex + AGE groups compared to baseline. Body fat % was significantly decreased in the AGEI and Ex + Placebo groups. Body mass index (BMI) was significantly decreased in the AGEI, Ex + Placebo, and Ex + AGE groups. Fat-free mass was significantly decreased in the AGEI group. Total cholesterol (TC) was significantly lower in the Ex + Placebo compared to the Placebo group. AGE supplementation or exercise effectively reduced low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C). Triglyceride (TG) was significantly increased in the AGEI group. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly decreased in the AGEI, Ex + Placebo, and Ex + AGE compared to the placebo group. AGE supplementation reduced homocysteine levels regardless of whether the women also exercised. The present results suggest that AGE supplementation reduces cardiovascular risk factors independently of exercise in postmenopausal women.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.583-598
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• 2023

Dementia is a clinical syndrome characterized by progressive impairment of cognitive and functional abilities. As currently applied treatments for dementia can only delay the progression of dementia and cannot fundamentally cure it, much attention is being paid to reducing its incidence by preventing the associated risk factors. Cardiovascular and metabolic diseases are well-known risk factors for dementia, and many studies have attempted to prevent dementia by treating these risk factors. Growing evidence suggests that sex-based factors may play an important role in the pathogenesis of dementia. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the differences in the effects of drugs based on sex may help improve their effectiveness. In this study, we reviewed sex differences in the impact of therapeutics targeting risk factors for dementia, such as cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, to prevent the incidence and/or progression of dementia.