• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.262-269
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• 2023

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare semen parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) and explore the relationship between semen parameters and SDF between 2 and 7 days of abstinence and a short abstinence period (within 4 hours) in oligozoospermic infertile patients. Methods: Two semen samples were collected from infertile oligozoospermic men (n=34) after an abstinence period of 2 to 7 days and within 4 hours, respectively. Sperm parameters were compared between the two abstinence duration groups, including semen volume, sperm concentration, total sperm count, sperm motility, total motile sperm count (TMSC), morphology, and SDF. Results: The semen volume, concentration, and total sperm count were significantly decreased after 4 hours of abstinence than after 2 to 7 days of abstinence, with median differences of 1.2 mL (p<0.001), 2×10⁶/mL (p=0.011), and 9.6×10⁶/ejaculation (p<0.001), respectively. TMSC was significantly lower after a short abstinence, with a median difference of 4.24×10⁶/ejaculate (p<0.001). However, there were no significance differences in the percentage of motility, the SDF, and the percentage of sperm with normal morphology. Interestingly, volume, concentration, total sperm count, sperm motility, and SDF, but not TMSC, exhibited significant linear correlations between the two abstinence groups in univariate regression analysis, except for TMSC. Conclusion: In oligozoospermic men, the volume, concentration, and total sperm count were significantly lower after a short abstinence period, but without adverse effects on sperm motility and SDF.

• Journal of the Korea Fashion and Costume Design Association
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.1-13
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• 2007

Black has played a more important role in the history of fashion than other colors. In general, black was regarded as a color of negative images. However, as people have recognized the aesthetic value of black color, they have expressed unique and various images of black through the medium of clothes. This study was based on both theory research and actual survey, where survey sheets were distributed to collect data. For data analysis, SPSS 10.0, a statistics software, was used, and frequency, pecentage, t-test, ANOVA test, and Duncan test were adopted and analyzed. The survey was conducted on 608 men over 20 in Seoul, Gyeonggi Province, Gangwon Province, and other areas for two months from May 20, 2005 to July 25, 2005. The analysis showed the following results. First, Dignity was the mostly cited image of black color among men followed by modernity, sorrow, feminineness, abstinence, and sensuality. Second, Men showed different responses according to their age. In sum, men more strongly recognize abstinence and sensuality in black dress as they become older. Marital status significantly affected men's recognition of black dress in terms of abstinence and sensuality. Abstinence was more strongly recognized by married men than single men. In addition, married men pointed out sensuality of black dress more frequently than single men. In short, married men tended to recognize abstinence and sensuality more easily than single men. Education level clearly affected men's recognition of dignity, modernity, and abstinence in black dress. In sum, as men got higher education, they tended to increasingly recognize dignity and modernity in black dress. In conclusion, this study has proved that black dress has unique aesthetic values and reflects various images according to age, marital status, education level.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2008

Objectives : The treatment of alcohol dependence requires maintaining abstinence. However, some previous studies have suggested that the abstinence may increase the cardiovascular risk in patients with alcohol dependence. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of alcohol abstinence on lipid profile in Korean male patients with alcohol dependence. Methods : Twenty-eight male patients with alcohol dependence were recruited from a psychiatric unit located at Gangneung Dongin Hospital. Lipid profiles of the patients were compared before and after a month of alcohol abstinence. Results : After abstinence of 1 month, high-density lipoprotein(HDL) cholesterol and triglyceride(TG) level was significantly decreased(p=0.000; p=0.0086, respectively). Low-density lipoprotein(LDL) cholesterol level showed a tendency to increase(p=0.066). Total cholesterol level also showed a tendency to decrease(p=0.074). Conclusions : These results show that acute abstinence of alcohol might paradoxically aggravate dyslipidemia in patients with alcohol dependence. Thus, this study shows that more concern associated with cardiovascular risk is needed during short-term abstinence period.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.1-14
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• 2012

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine if smoking cessation programs (SCPs) are effective for adults through a systematic review of the results of such programs in large randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Methods: The PICO (Patient, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome) strategy was established, 1,160 literature from domestic and foreign electronic databases was reviewed, and 22 references were selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The quality of each reference was evaluated using the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network tool, and meta-analysis was carried out. Results: The SCPs were significantly effective for adult smokers. Smoking cessation counseling, education, and smoking cessation medications such as nicotine patch were more effective than the other interventions. However, the results showed short-term effects (within six months), and differences were observed among the SCPs. For the outcome measures for SCPs, the abstinence rate of seven days was mainly used, but differences were identified between the CO level and the cotinine-verified abstinence rate of smoking cessation. Conclusions: For a smoking cessation program for adult smokers, the strength of the evidence of the program's effectiveness in RCTs that provide the identified intervention strategies should be considered.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.4963-4968
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• 2014

Background: We evaluated whether providing health risk appraisal for Koreans (KHRA) in terms of 'health age' during smoking cessation program would effectively help smokers quit smoking or not. Materials and Methods: A total of 332 male smokers aged between 30-65 years old, registered for a smoking cessation program in a public health center in a city, were recruited and underwent a baseline survey from January 2010 to February 2011. They were then prospectively randomized to a conventional counseling group (n=165) or a KHRA group (n=167), and received conventional counseling or KHRA-based counseling for six months. Abstinence rates were identified through carbon monoxide measurement (at the $4^{th}$ and $24^{th}$ weeks) or urinary cotinine level (at the $12^th$ week). Results: The abstinence rate confirmed by exhaled carbon monoxide was significantly higher in the KHRA group (61.1%) than the control group (49.1%) at the $4^{th}$ week (absolute difference 12.0%, 95% CI: 1.4%-22.6%). However, there was no difference in abstinence rates between the two groups at the 12th and 24th weeks. The predicting factors of 24 week's smoking cessation success were age, older than 50 years old (OR 2.02, 95% CI: 1.16-3.52), lower Fagerstr$\ddot{o}$m Test for Nicotine Dependence score less than 4 (OR 1.84, 95% CI: 1.03-3.29), and higher Self Efficacy/Temptation score (OR 1.79, 95% CI: 1.05-3.06). Conclusions: Smoking cessation counseling with KHRA could be effective compared to conventional counseling in the short period of smoking cessation. Further study is needed to evaluate the long-term efficacy of KHRA in tobacco dependence treatment and to establish the indication and target population of this tool.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.151-169
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• 2015

Objectives: The deleterious effects of air pollution on various health outcomes have been demonstrated. However, few studies have examined the effects of air pollution on liver enzyme levels. Methods: Blood samples were drawn up to three times between 2008 and 2010 from 545 elderly individuals who regularly visited a community welfare center in Seoul, Korea. Data regarding ambient air pollutants (particulate matter ${\leq}2.5{\mu}m$ [$PM_{2.5}$], nitrogen dioxide [$NO_2$], ozone [$O_3$], carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide) from monitoring stations were used to estimate air pollution exposure. The effects of the air pollutants on the concentrations of three liver enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alanine aminotransferase [ALT], and ${\gamma}$-glutamyltranspeptidase [${\gamma}$-GTP)]) were evaluated using generalized additive and linear mixed models. Results: Interquartile range increases in the concentrations of the pollutants showed significant associations of $PM_{2.5}$ with AST (3.0% increase, p=0.0052), ALT (3.2% increase, p=0.0313), and ${\gamma}$-GTP (5.0% increase, p=0.0051) levels; $NO_2$ with AST (3.5% increase, p=0.0060) and ALT (3.8% increase, p=0.0179) levels; and $O_3$ with ${\gamma}$-GTP (5.3% increase, p=0.0324) levels. Significant modification of these effects by exercise and alcohol consumption was found (p for interaction <0.05). The effects of air pollutants were greater in non-exercisers and heavy drinkers. Conclusions: Short-term exposure to air pollutants such as $PM_{2.5}$, $NO_2$, and $O_3$ is associated with increased liver enzyme levels in the elderly. These adverse effects can be reduced by exercising regularly and abstinence from alcohol.

• Journal of Creative Information Culture
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.81-94
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• 2019

This study is intended to explore the factors that affect adult women's drinking behavior. It is intended to explore positive psychological factors in particular to provide basic data for lowering adult women's drinking rates and developing programs for short-term drinking. The study conducted a online survey in May 2018 by simple collecting 340 women in their from 20s to 50s living in Korea. According to the results of this study, AUDIT was high when the lower the age, single, separated or divorced. AUDIT has shown significant positive correlation for depression and stress, significant negative correlation with Grit. Finally, AUDIT was influenced by age, appreciation, Grit and depression. To Based on the research results, we discussed that in order to prevent adult women from drinking and to maintain abstinence, the positive psychological factors such as appreciation and Grit should be enhanced.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.64-73
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• 2000

There are several candidate genes in genetic study of alcoholism. Among them, allelic associations have been reported between MAOA CA repeat polymorphism and alcohol dependence, recently. And also, several studies have been investigated genotype-phenotype relationships between MAOA CA repeat polymorphism and clinical manifestations. The authors tried to identify differences in allelic frequency of MAOA CA repeat polymorphism between alcohol dependence and controls, and in behavioral trait and clinical characteristics according to MAOA CA repeat polymorphism. We also tried to investigate genotype-phenotype relationships between MAOA CA repeat polymorphism and behavioral trait such as aggression. We examined 49 male patients with alcohol dependence(DSM-IV) who had been admitted in Yong-In Mental Hospital from June 1st 1998 to October 31th 1998. We performed semistructured interview for demographic and clinical characteristics. Self-report questionnaire for BDHI(Buss-Durkey Hostility Inventory) was given to all subject at least 4weeks later after admission. Using polymerase chain reaction and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, MAOA CA repeat polymorphism were observed in 52 male controls and 49 male patients with alcohol dependence. We devided alcoholic patients into two groups according to allelic length of MAOA CA repeat polymorphism ; alcoholics with short alleles(${\leq}$119bp, N=20) and alcoholics with long alleles(${\geq}$123bp, N=29). T-test, ${\chi}^2$-test and Fisher exact probability test were used for statistical analysis. There were no significant differences in frequency of each allele and short and long alleles of MAOA CA repeat polymorphism between alcoholics and controls. But there were significant differences in clinical symptoms and behavioral trait between alcoholics with short and long alleles. In clinical symptoms, alcoholics with long alleles used alcohol more frequently during one month before admission, had much more maximum amount of beer drinking and reported withdrawal seizure more frequently than with short alleles. In contrary, alcoholics with short alleles expressed depressed mood and guilty feeling more frequently and wanted complete abstinence as a treatment goal more frequently than with long alleles. In behavioral trait, alcoholics with long alleles had higher total aggression score and showed much more self-assertive attitude(subscale of expression of aggression) than with short alleles. Allelic length of MAOA CA repeat polymorphism was correlated with self-assertive attitude and accounted for 9% of the variance of self-assertive attitude. And also, predictable variables of allelic length of MAOA CA repeat polymorphism were drinking frequency and self-assertive attitude. Our findings suggest that MAOA CA repeat polymorphism may provide some behavior modifying role especially in self-assertive attitude and indirect symptom modifying role in Korean male alcoholics.