• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.117-129
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• 2013

Background: This study was carried out for the purpose of comprehensively evaluating the mercury exposure level of residents in several areas and the correlation between hair mercury concentration and blood mercury concentration. Method: One thousand one hundred ninety seven subjects were sampled from 30 sites using random assignment sampling. We performed a questionnaire survey and measured the level of total mercury in hair and blood samples from all subjects. Results: The geometric mean concentrations of hair and blood mercury in all subjects were 1.27 mg/kg [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.23-1.32 mg/kg] and 5.24 ${\mu}g/L$ [95% CI: 5.07-5.41 ${\mu}g/L$], respectively. Male (1.56 mg/kg in hair, 6.00 ${\mu}g/L$ in blood) was significantly higher than that of female (1.03 mg/kg in hair, 4.56 ${\mu}g/L$ in blood), and the concentrations were elevated as age increased up to the 50s. Education, smoking, alcohol drinking, and using of pesticides were also shown to influence mercury concentrations in hair and blood. The ratio of hair/ blood mercury concentration was 261.3. The total mercury concentration in hair was identified to be significantly related with total mercury concentration in blood (r=0.814, p<0.001). Conclusion: The geometric mean concentrations of hair and blood mercury were higher than the levels provided in international recommendations. The total mercury concentration in hair was positively correlated with the concentration in blood. The results of this study suggest that hair mercury be considered as a useful tool for the evaluation of mercury exposure.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.149-156
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• 2001

Objective : To elucidate risk factors for coronary heart diseases among Korean males. Methods : A nested case control study was conducted among a Korea Medical Insurance Cooperation(KMIC) cohort composed of 108,802 males. The eases included 246 male patients who were admitted to hospital due to coronary heart diseases from 1993 to 1997 (120-25 by ICD) and whose diagnosis was confirmed by the protocol by WHO MONICA Project(1994). The control group was composed of 483 patients selected by frequency matching considering age and resident area from an inpatient care group without coronary heart disease during the same period. For study cases and the controls, the results of a health check-up in 1990 and a questionnaire on life style in 1992 were received through the KMIC. Some additional information was collected by telephone interviews during October 1999. Results : Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the odds ratio(OR) of coronary heart diseases among past smokers and current smokers as compared to non-smokers were 1.94(95% CI : 1.14-3.31) and 2.20(55% CI : 1.35-3.59), respectively. The OR among persons who drank 4 cups or more of caffeinated beverages such as coffee or tea daily as compared to persons who drank one cup for 2-3 days was 2.50(95% CI : 1.07-6.12). The OR among persons with high normal BP and stage 3 hypertension against normotension were 2.51 (95% CI : 1.44-4.37) and 5.08(95% CI : 2.38-10.84). The OR among persons whose blood cholesterol were 240 mg/dL or mere against lower than 200mg/dL was 2.24(95% CI : 1.43-3.49). Conclusion : Smoking, drinking of excessive caffeinated beverages, hypertension and high blood cholesterol were proven to be significant risk factors for coronary heart diseases among Korean males.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.493-498
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• 2006

Objectives : Diabetes has been reported as a risk factor for several cancers. However, the association between diabetes and gastric cancer has been inconsistent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the fasting serum glucose level and gastric cancer risk in Korea. Methods : Among the members of the Korean Multi-Center Cancer Cohort (KMCC) from 1993 to 2004, a total of 100 incident gastric cancer cases were ascertained until December 31, 2002 and 400 controls were matched according to age, sex, and year and area of enrollment. Of the eligible subjects, those without fasting serum glucose level information were excluded, with a total of 64 cases and 236 controls finally selected. On enrollment, all subjects completed a baseline demographic and lifestyle characteristics questionnaire, and had their fasting serum glucose level measured. The Helicobacter pylori infection status was determined by an immunoblot assay using long-term stored serum. The odds ratios (ORs) were estimated using conditional and unconditional logistic regression models adjusted for the H. pylori infection status, smoking, drinking, education, follow-up period and matching variables. Results : The ORs for risk of gastric cancer according to the serum glucose level were 1.33 [95% CI=0.50-3.53] and 1.66 [95% CI=0.55-5.02] for the categories of 100-125 and 126 mg/dL or greater, respectively, compared to the category of less than 100 mg/dL. No increased risk of gastric cancer according to the serum glucose level was found (p-trend=0.337). Conclusions : This study provides no evidence for an association of the serum glucose level with gastric cancer.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.327-341
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• 2000

Objectives : This study is to evaluate the status of health promotion behaviors and life styles in rural areas. Methods : A self-administered questionnaire survey was carried out for 1,350(men 461 persons, women ; 889 persons) people in rural areas ages of 30 years and older in Buk-myun, Uljn-Gun and Kikye-myun, Pohang-City, Kyungsangbuk-Do from March 13 to 25 in 1999. We established health promoting scores by using data results. Collected data was analyzed through the chi-square trend test, Student's t-test, ANOVA and multiple comparison. The data was analyzed using a SPSS/win statistical package. Results The age-adjusted prevalence of individual health promoting behavior by sex was 39.4% in men and 94.0% in women in regard to non smoking 39.4% and 92.5% in non-drinking 17.2% and 13.1% in physical exercise on a regular basis 79.8% and 80.0% in a regular diet 81.6% and 75.6% in maintaining desirable body mass index 81.2% and 78.2% in sufficient physical rest 84.2% and 82.1% in sufficient mental rest 48.4% and 40.6% in supplemental intake for health. The age-adjusted proportion for a screening examination in stomach cancer by sex was 39.9% in men and 37.1% in women 31.8% and 28.0% in liver cancer 17.0% and 12.7% in colon cancer 37.0% and 31.0% in undergoing a medical health screening. The health promoting scores were statistically significant, higher in the younger aged women's group(p<0.01). In spite of very low health promoting scores, some men thought of themselves healthy. Conclusions : The health promoting scores showed a gradual improvement as ages in men increase. Although men in ages of 30 to 40 were found to have lower scores in their health promoting scores, they were still to believe that none of health status is problematic. However, it was shown a vice-versa effect in women. They thought of their health as in a bad condition, but in measurement scores outranked their personal beliefs. In general, as ages increase one tends to consider of his or her health status poor. Therefore the plans for health improvement are needed to be come up.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.315-322
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• 2017

The aim of this study was to explore the association between daily toothbrushing frequency and health risk behaviors of school-going adolescents in poor urban areas of Peru. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 959 school-going adolescents 11~19 years of age in poor urban areas of Peru in 2014. Health risk behaviors we assessed in the study were smoking; drinking; consuming sugar-sweetened soft drinks (more than one cup); leisure time activities including watching television, playing games, and using the Internet; and never or rarely handwashing with soap. Daily toothbrushing frequency was divided into two groups (once and twice daily). For statistical analyses, the chi-square test and hierarchical logistic regression were used at 5% level of significance. Of the total respondents, 63 (14.3%) were boys and 53 (10.3%) were girls and 116 (12.1%) engaged in toothbrushing (${\leq}1$ times daily). According to the adjusted logistic regression analysis for socio-demographic characteristics, two behaviors (leisure time use activities, including watching television, playing games, and using the Internet (odds ratio [OR], 2.29; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20~4.35), and never or rarely hand washing with soap (OR, 4.09; CI, 2.48~6.75) were statistically associated with toothbrushing frequency (${\leq}1$ times daily). We found two health risk behaviors (leisure time activities, including watching television, playing games, and using the Internet, and never or rarely handwashing with soap) associated with toothbrushing frequency among adolescents in the study area. Thus, oral health promotion programs should consider these health risk behaviors associated with toothbrushing frequency.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.93-103
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• 2020

Background: Risk assessment for pulmonary resection in patients with early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is important for minimizing postoperative morbidity. Depletion of skeletal muscle mass is closely associated with impaired nutritional status and limited physical ability. We evaluated the relationship between skeletal muscle depletion and early postoperative complications in patients with early-stage NSCLC. Methods: Patients who underwent curative lung resection between 2016 and 2018 and who were diagnosed with pathological stage I/II NSCLC were included, and their records were retrospectively analyzed. The psoas volume index (PVI, ㎤/㎥) was calculated based on computed tomography images from routine preoperative positron emission tomography-computed tomography. Early postoperative complications, defined as those occurring within 90 days of surgery, were compared between the lowest sex-specific quartile for PVI and the remaining quartiles. Results: A strong correlation was found between the volume and the cross-sectional area of the psoas muscle (R²=0.816). The overall rate of complications was 57.6% among patients with a low PVI and 32.8% among those with a normal-to-high PVI. The most common complication was prolonged air leak (low PVI, 16.9%; normal-to-high PVI, 9.6%), followed by pneumonia (low PVI, 13.6%; normal-to-high PVI, 7.9%) and recurrent pleural effusion (low PVI, 11.9%; normal-to-high PVI, 6.8%). The predictors of overall complications were low PVI (odds ratio [OR], 2.18; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07-4.09; p=0.03), low hemoglobin level (OR, 0.686; 95% CI, 0.54-0.87; p=0.002), and smoking history (OR, 3.93; 95% CI, 2.03-7.58; p<0.001). Conclusion: Low PVI was associated with a higher rate of early postoperative complications in patients with early-stage NSCLC.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.57-72
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of academic stress levels on life-style behaviors and mental health among the junior high school students in Korea. A convenient sample drawn from the 842 students from 8 junior high schools in Seoul and Kyunggi-Do area was investigated with a survey instrument. Female students showed higher academic stress levels compared to male students, especially in terms of the stress related to teachers, class time, and peer relationships. For the male students, higher stress levels were related to the higher risk factors of smoking, drinking and inhaling drug abuse. Students who had higher academic stress levels spent more time in using computer and playing digital games compared to those who had lower academic stress. In addition, higher academic stress levels were significantly related to risk of mental health, especially depression. These results suggest the urgent needs of preventive or educational program to support students with academic stress resolve in healthy manners such as playing sports or music or club activities.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.275-282
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• 2015

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most-common malignancy of women worldwide. Though there are differences among developed and developing countries, BC remains the most common cancer type of women in Turkey. Objective: This study aimed to identify the level of knowledge, awareness, and their potential predictors towards BC in Ankara, Turkey. Materials and Methods: The present descriptive study was conducted on 376 females attending a breast health outpatient clinic. A self-administered questionnaire was designed to evaluate knowledge level about BC and predictors effecting its level. Data analysis was performed using the chi-square test. A value of p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Mean age of the participants was $46.2{\pm}9.93$ (22-75). The majority (92.6 %) were married; 41.5% were educated less than nine years. Most of the women were housewives (82.7%) and, were living in an urban region (86.4%). Predictors of effecting responses to seven knowledge and awareness questions about BC varied from demographic features including older age groups, higher educational levels, being married, living in an urban area, being employee, smoking, having greater BMI to additional attributes associated breast health such as the increased number of births, applying for the purpose of control, positive family history of breast diseases, any diagnoses of breast diseases and performing BSE practice. Conclusions: It was determined that females in Turkey have better knowledge of BC than other developing countries even though it is not at the desired level. These findings revealed that females should be more informed about BC risk factors, prognosis and treatments by primary health-care providers to counteract the ascending burden of this disease.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.749-761
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• 2002

This study investigated the anthropometric and biochemical indices, and the health and nutritional factors influencing the two indices among 194 middle-aged and elderly subjects (108 middle-aged and 86 elderly) residing in a medium sized city for more than 10 years. In the examination of their dietary habits, 8.3% of the middle-aged subjects and 14.0% of the elderly subjects had two meals a day, and more female subjects had two meals per day. Of the subjects who ate meals at regular times, 75.0% were middle-aged and 79.1% were elderly, and the degree of irregularity of meals was greater for female subjects. The study of the dietary behavior of the subjects indicated that 71.3% and 66.3% of the middle-aged and elderly, respectively responded that the amount of food in each meal was sufficient. The subjects ate alone comprised 19.7% of the middle-aged females and 31.5% of the elderly females. The prevalence of smoking among the subjects was 28.1% for the middle-aged, 18.8% for the elderly male and 7.4% for the elderly females. The percentage of the subjects who drank alcohol was 34.4% of the middle-aged males and 13.2% of the middle-aged females. Slightly less than half of the subjects exercised more than once a week, with the male subjects showing a higher rate than the female subjects. The average body mass indices (BMI) were 24.5 and 24.6 for the middle-aged male and female, respectively, and 22.6 and 24.0 for the elderly male and female, respectively. BMI assessment showed that underweight subjects (BMI ＜ 20) comprised 3.7% of the middle-aged, 14.0% of the elderly, and that 40.7% of the middle-aged and 24.4% of the elderly were overweight (25 ＜ BMI ＜ 30) , and 0.9% of the middle-aged and 1.2% of the elderly were classified as obese (BMI $\geq$ 30) . A waist/hip ratio (WHR) greater than 0.8 was found in 89.5% of the middle-aged females and 90.7% of the elderly females, showing high abdominal fat deposition in the majority of females. The average systolic blood pressure of females was 121.1 $\pm$ 17.1 mmHg for the middle-aged and 129.6 $\pm$ 21.3 mmHg for the elderly subjects. The systolic blood pressures showed a significantly difference between the two age groups. Those defined as anemic subjects based on hemoglobin values comprised 13.0% of the middled-aged group and 16.3% of the elderly group. There was a tendency for higher fasting glucose levels among the elderly subjects. An increase in total plasma cholesterol levels with age was shown. The female subjects had higher cholesterol levels than the males'The study of the correlation between the daily habits and health status showed that the amount of food eaten at each meal, the frequency of eating out, and the use of dietary supplements appeared to influence BMI, WHR, the plasma triglyceride and plasma cholesterol levels; omitting one meal had a positive correlation with the systolic blood pressure and plasma cholesterol. These results suggest that desirable dietary habits and concerns for health are contributing factors for maintaining good health, as indicated by normal blood lipid levels.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.97-110
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• 2004

This study was carried out to investigate the ity, food habits and eating behavior of the college students. The responses of 1,112 students(male 468, female 644) to the questionnaire were analyzed. The results were summarized as follows: The means of height, weight were $174.1{\pm}5.1cm$, $66.0{\pm}8.1kg$ for males, respectively and were $164.3{\pm}6.0cm$, $50.7{\pm}5.3kg$ for female, respectively. The means of relative body weight(RBW) were $99.1{\pm}11.6$ for males and $91.2{\pm}10.3$ for females. Body mass index(BMI) were $21.8{\pm}2.5$ for males and $19.3{\pm}2.0$ for females. The rate of underweight, normal and obese on the basis of BMI was 19.9%, 71.5%, 8.6% for males, respectively and 68.4%, 30.4%, 1.3% for females respectively. Among underweight subjects, 59.3% answered that they had normal weight. 37.5% of normal weight subjects regarded themselves more obese or less obese than their actual body shape. Food habit score(out of a possible 50 points) was 29.4 in male and 29.3 in female, the score of self boarding students was the lowest among groups. Self boarding students had lower scores than the home-living students on the regularity of meals, eating time, protein intake, vegetable intake, lipid intake and food balance. The average meal frequency of the students was 2.46 times a day. Breakfast was skipped most frequently. Self-boarding students missed breakfast more often than other groups. The main reason of skipping breakfast was due to lack of time. The type of favorite snack was cookies and ramyun and in terms of snack time, most of the students had snack between lunch and dinner or after dinner. The rates of smoking and alcohol drinking were 29.8%, 76.7%, respectively and 25% of subjects exercised regularly. The results of this study suggest that a comprehensive nutrition education program is needed for college student to improve their eating habits about skipping meal and to maintain their health.