• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.27 no.4_2
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• pp.961-972
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• 2024

As the global elderly population rapidly increases, the mental health of the elderly, particularly depression, has emerged as a significant social issue. This study analyzes the various factors influencing depression in the elderly based on the ICF model. Utilizing data from the Korea Welfare Panel Study, the study identifies the types of changes in depression among individuals aged 65 and older and examines the factors influencing these changes. This longitudinal secondary data analysis research uses the most recent three years of data (2021-2023) from the Korea Welfare Panel. The study sample consisted of 965 elderly individuals, and a latent class growth model was applied to identify the types of depression changes, while a multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze the influencing factors. The analysis revealed that elderly depression could be categorized into four types: high-level decrease, high-level maintenance, low-level increase, and low-level maintenance. Main influencing factors included gender, age, education, poverty, social trust, social relationships, participation in economic activities, participation in religious activities, and health status. Particularly, social relationships and health status were significant factors affecting the types of depression changes. To mitigate depression in the elderly, a multifaceted approach considering both individual characteristics and social relationships and health status is required. The study suggests the development of community-based programs and trust-building activities at the community level to maintain and strengthen the social relationships of the elderly. These findings can serve as important foundational data for policies and practices aimed at improving the mental health of the elderly.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.419-432
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• 2002

This research analyzes how our people use the social position and status symbolism of the dress in focus of the Chosun Dynasty Period by analysis data of traditional folktale. This research material was analyzed social position and status symbolism of the dress with basis on Korean Oral Literature grand volumes of 82 published by The Academy of Korean Studies and whole volumes of 7 of Korean Literature Traditional , Folktale written by Kimhyunrwong. The methods of study is that first, selected part of describing social position and status of dress from the traditional Korean folktale. Second, summmarized things classified such as clothes, shape of hair and belt. Third, analyzed social position and status of dress with basis on symbol theory to be pre-studied. As a result, 1 can get the next conclusion. First, in case of the dress symbolism of social position and status, we classify as class. occupation, surreal person. Second, the changes of the social position and status showed upward position or downward position, and occupation change. Third, symbolization of position disguise was classified disguise of social position, sex, occupation.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.315-323
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Available data suggest that seasonal changes may influence the nutritional status and overall health of elderly individuals. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the effects of seasonal changes and related factors on energy and nutrient intake of older adults. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Individuals aged 65 years or over were prospectively enrolled in this single-center study (male: 11, female: 20). Data were collected between May 2013 and February 2014 during winter, spring, summer and autumn. Food consumption and biochemical parameters were taken during each season to assess the seasonal nutrition status of the elderly. Upon analysis of biochemical parameters (retinol, vitamin D and vitamin C), an high-performance liquid chromatography device was utilized whereas an Immulite 2000 device was utilized during analysis of serum folic acid and parathyroid hormone. RESULTS: Fruit, fat, egg and bread consumption varied seasonally in males and females (P < 0.05). During winter, daily energy intake was found to be greater than in other seasons in males (557 kcal) and females (330 kcal) (P < 0.05). Additionally, carbohydrates, vegetable protein, n-3 fatty acid and sodium intake increased in winter, while the n-6/n-3 ratio increased in summer among males (P < 0.05). Dietary fiber and sodium intake in winter, vitamin C, iron and zinc intake in spring, and cholesterol, retinol, vitamin D and niacin intake in autumn were found to be higher in females when compared to other seasons (P < 0.05). Serum parathyroid hormone level was higher in winter, and vitamin D level was higher in autumn in both genders (P < 0.05). In males, blood folic acid level was higher in winter, while vitamin C level was higher in females, and there was no seasonal variation in retinol concentration (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Food consumption and biochemical parameters showed significant seasonal variations in older adults. It is not clear if nutrition plans in older adults will benefit from consideration of seasonal changes in eating habits.

• 한국노년학
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.147-161
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• 2020

The purpose of this research is to investigates 10-year trajectories of cognitive functions among older adults in their 70s to understand changes in cognitive functions as a continuum until very late life. This study also examines differences in trajectories of cognitive functions by gender and by changes in marital status, especially widowhood. Among participants of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing(KLoSA), the sample of this study includes 800 older adults in their 70s during the first study wave (2006) and those who reported their cognitive functions for six consecutive study waves (2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016). The analyses were conducted in two steps. First, we conducted Latent Class Growth Analyses(LCGA) to investigated heterogeneous trajectories of cognitive functions in 10 years. Then, we performed multinomial logistic regression. Three heterogeneous trajectories of cognitive functions were identified. One group of 48.7% of older adults showed high cognitive function at baseline and maintained it over 10 years. Second group of 14.7% of older adults reported low cognitive function scores at baseline and showed continuous decline over time. Third group of 36.6% were showed mid-level cognitive functions and maintained their functions over time. We also found significant gender differences but not significant differences in marital status when we consider both in our model; however, the we found significant differences in changes in marital status when we did not consider gender in the model. The results suggest that the importance of considering dynamics of gender and changes in marital status to understand changes in cognitive functions in later life.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.25-40
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• 2003

Since Korea open her ports to the West, she had undergone a great change under the alien influences both on the macro-social and micro-social aspects. This study aims to review the korean housing, corresponding with the everyday life, during the period of transition between the 1876 - 1910 and to interpret its process of modernization and the meaning of modernity. With regards to understand the holistic human relationship and place pf living through history, this study takes the Nobert Elias' Civilization Theory as a theoretical basis. References were therefore, made to various records of foreign missionary at the time, with respect not only to macro sociological changes but also to changes of everyday life. It is of course to take physical and structural aspects of housing architecture into consideration. These works, thus, led to presuming the housing culture of said period. In order to investigate modern character of korean housing, distinctively represented by spatial structure, considerations were made to various architectural examples according to the social and residential status both in urban and rural area. As a results, this paper came to the remarks as follows; 1. It is understood, that the process of modernization is a part of the process of civilization as synthetic process. It is integrated with the change of socio-cultural aspects and everyday life. 2. Korean housing in the said period shows various different residential status and grade of civilization according to the social status as well as economical status. Modern housing was not in general yet. 3. Housing for high classes and middle classes in Seoul shows a tendency of assimilation and imitation after western model. But some examples within the housing of high classes represent its own modernity, that is based on the rationalism and equalization 4. In the housing of lower classes, it was very far from the benefits of civilization. It could analogize from the immature control of disgrace, from undevelopment of individual territory and from uncultivation of rationality in the housing space.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 2014

Objectives: The study aimed to determine changes in laboratory data for cancer patients receiving Korean medicine (KM) care, with a focus on patients' functional status, cancer-coagulation factors and cancer immunity. Methods: We conducted an observational study of various cancer patients in all stages admitted to the East-West Cancer Center (EWCC), Dunsan Korean Hospital of Daejeon University, from Mar. 2011 to Aug. 2011. All patients were under the center's multi-modality Korean-medicine-based inpatient cancer care program. The hospitalization stay at EWCC ranged from 9 to 34 days. A total of 80 patients were followed in their routine hematologic laboratory screenings performed before and after hospitalization. Patients were divided into three groups depending on the status of their treatment: prevention of recurrence and metastasis group, KM treatment only group, and combination of conventional and KM treatment group. The lab reports included natural killer cell count (CD16 + CD56), fibrinogen, white blood cell (WBC), lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophil, red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin, platelet, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status. Results: With a Focus on patients' functional status, cancer-coagulation factors and cancer immunity, emphasis was placed on the NK cell count, fibrinogen count, and ECOG scores. Data generally revealed decreased fibrinogen count, fluctuating NK cell count and decreased ECOG, meaning improved performance status in all groups. The KM treatment only group showed the largest decrease in mean fibrinogen count and the largest increase in mean NK cell count. However, the group's ECOG score showed the smallest decrease, which may be due to the concentration of late-cancer-stage patients in that particular group. Conclusions: Multi-modality KM inpatient care may have positive effect on lowering the cancer coagulation factor fibrinogen, but its correlation with the change in the NK cell count is not clear.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.771-778
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• 2006

Previous studies have suggested that delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) phenotype differently affect mineral metabolism. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of 6-month iron supplementation as syrup of NaFeEDTA in improvement of iron status according to ALAD genotype. One hundred thirty adult women living in rural areas of Asan were provided NaFeEDTA syrup once a week for 6 months at the dose of 64mg Fe/week. Three hundred control subjects were observed during the study period. Fasting blood was obtained for analyzing hemoglobin (Hb) and zinc protophorphyrin (ZPP) and serum was analyzed for ferritin, iron and total iron capacity (TIBC) levels before and after iron supplementation. Ninety percent of ALAD 1-1 (ALAD1) and 10% of ALAD 1-2 (ALAD2) genotype were observed in the control group. However in the intervention group, 98% showed ALAD1 while only 2% was ALAD2, which is significantly lower proportions of ALAD2 compared to the control group (p<0.01). The iron status of Intervention group significantly improved except for ferritin and TIBC regardless or ALAD genotype, while the control group did not show any changes in iron status except for ZPP. ZPP concentration of the control group significantly increased in both ALAD1 and 2 while the intervention group showed significantly decreased ZPP after supplementation in ALAD1. Iron supplementation in the form of NaFeEDTA seems to be effective in reduction of ZPP levels although ALAD2 did not show significant changes due to the small number. However, it is difficult to make a conclusion from these results, and more specified further investigation is needed with more participants.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.53-61
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to observe the changes of the pain, fatigue, perceived health status, disability in ADL, and depression after Tai Chi for arthritis. Method: The subjects were 19 osteoarthritis women enrolled at one primary health care post. They have agreed to participate in this study, and participated in the 12-week Tai Chi program from Dec. 2006 to Mar. 2007, and all the measurement processes in right after, 2 months later, and 4 months later after Tai Chi program. The measurement tools of this study were all self-reported questionnaires such as Numerical Rating Scale (0-100) for pain, fatigue, and perceived health status, Korean-WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis) Index for joint stiffness, Korean Health Assessment Questionnaire, and CES-Depression scale. Results: The repeated measure ANOVA revealed the significant differences on pain among the right after, 2 months later, and 4 months later the program. Especially 2 months later after program, pain was significantly increased than right after by t-test. There were no significant differences on fatigue, perceived health status, disability in ADL, and depression. Conclusion: Pain was increased after Tai Chi for arthritis program, but fatigue, perceived health status, disability in ADL, and depression were not changed until 4 months after Tai Chi program.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.309-318
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• 2021

BACKGROUD/OBJECTIVES: Data regarding the effects of poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) on sleep status are limited. This study aimed to test whether γ-PGA and vitamin B₆ (VitB6) supplements improve sleep duration and quality. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A factorial randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled crossover study included 47 adults (25 men and 22 women) who were free of chronic disease. Stratified randomized allocation considered age and gender for three interventions, group A (supplementation with γ-PGA 600 mg; n = 16), group B (supplementation with VitB6 100 mg; n = 14), and group C (dual supplementation of both γ-PGA 600 mg and VitB6 100 mg; n = 17). Participants underwent a 1-mon intervention period, followed by a 1-mon washout period, and then a second 1-mon intervention period. Differences (mean ± SD) in nighttime sleep status before and after supplementation were compared between the placebo and intervention groups using nonparametric tests. RESULTS: Significant changes in sleep duration (0.27 ± 0.98 h, P < 0.05) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index global score (-0.52 ± 1.58, P < 0.05) indicating improved sleep status were observed in the intervention compared with the placebo of group C while no significant changes were observed in groups A and B. No statistical significance was detected between the intervention and the placebo; however, there was a greater increase in the group C intervention (4.59 ± 38.5 ng/mL) in serum serotonin concentrations than the groups A and B interventions. No side effects were observed. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of these findings, the dual supplementation of γ-PGA and VitB6 may be effective as functional food components to improve nighttime sleep status.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.39-55
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• 2003

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of an uncooked powdered food(UPF) on the weight loss and changes of the biochemical nutritional status for 20 overweight and 26 obese women in Iksan area. We just replaced common breakfast and dinner of the subjects with UPF. Their dietary intake status was evaluated by 24-hour recall method. Also anthropometric and biochemical measurements before and after the UPF program were estimated. The intake of energy, lipid and protein decreased and the quality of meals improved as people started to take UPF. Due to the energy loss by taking UPF, weight and body fat decreased significantly. The percentage of the body fat was high among the weight lost, from which we judged that the process of losing weight was successful. It is hard to predict whether weight loss will occur to people who are already in shape or not, but if overweight and obesity people regularly take UPF instead of other food products, we assume that UPF will help lessening the body fat. The most positive change among biochemical changes by taking UPF was the decrease of serum lipid contents. When overweight and obesity women replaced two out of three meals with UPF for 3 month period, no significant nutritional problems occurred. It seems that the 12weeks of UPF program used in this study was effective in improving anthropometric indices without producing the deficiency of iron or other susceptible nutrients.