• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.6391-6395
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• 2012

Background: Ovarian cancer is ranked as the fifth most common cause of cancer death in women. In Malaysia, it is the fourth most common cancer in females. CA125 has been the tumor marker of choice in ovarian cancer but its diagnostic specificity in early stages is only 50%. Hence, there is a critical need to identify an alternative tumor marker that is capable of detecting detect ovarian cancer at an early stage. HE4 is a new tumor marker proposed for the early diagnosis of ovarian cancer and disease recurrence. Currently, none of the normal ranges of HE4 quoted in the literature are based on data for a multiethnic Asian population. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine reference intervals for HE4 in an Asian population presenting in University Malaya Medical Centre, a tertiary reference hospital. Materials and Methods: 300 healthy women were recruited comprising 150 premenopausal and 150 postmenopausal women, aged from 20-76 years. All women were subjected to a pelvic ultrasonograph and were confirmed to be free from ovarian pathology on recruitment. Serum HE4 levels were determined by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA, Abbott Architect). The reference intervals were determined following CLSI guidelines (C28-A2) using a non-parametric method. Results: The upper limits of the $95^{th}$ percentile reference interval (90%CI) for all the women collectively were 64.6 pmol/L, and 58.4 pmol/L for premenopausal) and 69.0 pmol/L for postmenopausal. The concentration of HE4 was noted to increase with age especially in women who were more than 50 years old. We also noted that our proposed reference limit was lower compared to the level given by manufacturer Abbott Architect HE4 kit insert (58.4 vs 70 pmol/L for premenopausal group and 69.0 vs 140 pmol/L in the postmenopausal group). The study also showed a significant difference in HE4 concentrations between ethnic groups (Malays and Indians). The levels of HE4 in Indians appeared higher than in Malays (p<0.05), while no significant differences were noted between the Malays and Chinese ethnic groups. Conclusions: More data are needed to establish a reference interval that will better represent the multiethnic Malaysian population. Probably a larger sampling size of equal representation of the Malay, Chinese, Indians as well as the other native ethnic communities will give us a greater confidence on whether genetics plays a role in reference interval determination.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.1749-1755
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• 2011

This study aimed to identify the effect of make-up education on the life satisfaction of elderly women based on a make-up education session for eight weeks from May 28 to July 16, 2010 provided to elderly women aged 60 or above who visited P Seniors' Welfare Center in D city. 80 samples were divided into the experimental group of 40 people and the control group of 40 people based on age and interest in make-up. Their life satisfaction level was identified before the survey. The experimental group received an eight-week make-up education session. In order to verify effects of the make-up education, follow-up tests were conducted toward the experimental and control groups both to compare life satisfaction levels. The make-up education was divided into elegant and natural make-up, make-up to look ten years younger, face-changing make-up, seasonal (spring, summer, autumn, and winter) make-up, make-up for Korean traditional costumes, and party make-up. In each class, students practiced make-up on their face while taking a lecture on theories. After the education, the students found the education satisfactory overall. Based on the results, the life satisfaction of the experimental group who received the make-up education significantly increased (p<0.05), confirming that make-up education affects the life at old age.

• 한국노년학
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.511-530
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• 2020

The present study aimed to examine the moderating effects of marital satisfaction (MS) on the association between the number of chronic disease (CD) and depressive symptoms (DS) among ol der men and women. The 6th wave of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing was utilized and the sample was married men (N=585) and women (N=460) aged 65 and over. Multiple regression analysis using SPSS WIN 25.0 and Process Macro was used to test moderating effects of MS. Control variables were age, education, household income, parent-child relationship satisfaction, self-rated health, cognitive function, current smoking status and CD of spouse. Resul ts from elderly men showed the moderating effect of MS was significant. Specifically, those with more CD were more likely to report higher level of DS in the low MS group. However, the effect of CD on DS was not significant in the high MS group. Results from elderly women showed the moderating effect of MS was not significant. This study showed the moderating effect of MS on the association between CD and DS differed by gender in later life. It suggests practical intervention to utilize the resources of spouses is in need to promote mentally healthy aging even though having chronically ill in later life.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.136-144
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• 2017

This study analyzed the influence of Qigong exercise intervention upon a change in glucose, blood lipid, and SFT(senior fitness test) of elderly women and to closely examine the efficacy of a Qigong exercise intervention to promote the health of older women. As research subjects, 24 elderly women aged over 80 were divided into Qigong group(n=12) and control group(n=12), respectively, and the program was carried out for 60 minutes per a day, five times per week for 24 weeks. Data were analyzed using SPSS WIN 20.0, repeated measures ANOVA. The Qigong group had a significantly lower glucose level than the control group. Second, the blood lipid and neutral fat(TG) was reduced significantly in the Qigong group than the control group. The total cholesterol(TC), high-density lipoprotein(HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein(LDL-C) did not show a significant difference. Third, as for SFT, the leg strength, leg flexibility, and total body endurance were significantly higher in the Qigong group than in the control group. Therefore, Qigong has an influence on the reduction in glucose and neutral fat(TG) and upon the improvement in SFT(leg strength, leg flexibility, and total body endurance) of elderly women, and may show effectiveness as an exercise prescription program for older women.

• 한국노년학
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.835-852
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to examine the moderating effects of social support on material hardship of low-income elderly people that have been excluded from the National Basic Livelihood Security System. For this research, data of 255 persons aged 65 and over were collected using a survey conducted in 2014 by the National Human Rights Commission of Korea on the minimum living cost of low-income household. Data analysis was performed through descriptive analysis, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis with STATA13. According to the results, the average level of material hardship in low-income elderly people was 1.45 out of 6, with the most hardship shown in heating and health care. The results of multiple regression analysis showed that when low-income elderly people became excluded from the system, they suffered more than the recipients. They also showed that the social support system of low-income elderly people brought a negative impact on their material hardship when they were connected by the strong social support system. In other words, social support system reduced their material hardship caused by exclusion. Based on the results, this study suggests some practical and political means to reduce material hardship of low-income elderly people.

• 한국노년학
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.741-762
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to identify the Nutrition Quotient for Elderly(NQ-E) of the elderly living in the community and to investigate the characteristics of living conditions affecting the nutritional status of the elderly. The subjects of the survey were 1,970 elderly single elderly households aged 65 and over in the nationwide through convenience sampling method. A survey cooperative system was established with Comprehensive Support Center for Elderly Living Alone, and the 25 social welfare institutions. 385 Life Managers for Elderly Living Alone participated as a survey agent. As a result, NQ-E was 51.14 points, which is the lowest level in the NQ-E, and the explanatory power was 20.1% in multiple regression analysis. Significant variables were age, sex, subjective health status, low number of medication, non-smoker, non-alcoholic, satisfactory economic status, academic status, and the interaction with family and neighbors. Based on this result, this study explains that comprehensive measures of nutritional management for the elderly living alone needs to be sought.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.13
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• pp.5531-5536
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• 2015

Background: Increased pricing of cigarettes might be one of the most effective approaches for reducing the prevalence of smoking. This study aimed to investigate the effects of increasing cigarette prices through taxation by a tobacco intervention policy on the changes in smoking prevalence in Korean university students. Materials and Methods: The participants in this study were 23,047 healthy university students aged 18-29 years from a health examination in 2011-2015. We investigated the adjusted prevalence of daily and occasional smoking before and after increasing cigarette prices through taxation. Results: The prevalence of occasional smoking was significantly decreased in 2015 from 2014 in both male (from 10.7% in 2014 to 5.4%) and female (from 3.6% to 1.1%) students, but the prevalence of daily smoking did not decrease significantly. The frequency of individuals who had attempted smoking cessation during the past year was significantly higher among occasional smokers in male students (90.2%) compared with daily smokers (64.9%). For female students, there were no differences in experience of smoking cessation, willingness for smoking cessation, or E-cigarette experience between daily and occasional smokers. Conclusions: We found that a policy of increasing cigarette prices through taxation is associated with decreases in the prevalence of occasional smokers, who have relatively lower nicotine dependence compared with individuals who smoke daily. The results of our study suggest that social support and direct intervention for smoking cessation at the community level are needed for university students alongside the pricing policy.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.185-194
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• 2009

This research attempted to find risk factors of alcoholic liver diseases by ultrasonography at the K image medicine clinic center located in Kwangju city, Kyunggi-Do from March to May, 2007. Six risk factors were selected for this study, age, sex, frequency of alcohol drinking, body mass index(BMI), cholesterol and GPT. The data collected from 353 patients of aged between 20 and 69. This study found the relationships between liver diseases and alcohol drinking style by liver ultrasonography. The results of the analyses showed that the male were 2.12 times more likely to have liver diseases than the female. The persons drinking alcohol more than 3 times per week had 2.37 times higher likelihood of showing liver diseases than below 2 times per week or non drinking at all.. The persons with normal body mass index have 0.52 times lower probability of liver diseases than the persons with abnormal BMI. The persons with abnormal cholesterol level have 9.13 times higher probability of liver diseases. The persons with abnormal GPT have 4.66 times higher probability of liver diseases. The results of this study suggested applying ultrasonography in health promotion programs for diagnosis of liver diseases.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.935-945
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• 1999

The factors affecting bone mineral density (BMD) of 103 rural women aged 30 to 76 years were investigated. Data for food and nutrient intake was obtained by 24-hour recall method. BMD of lumbar spine(L1-L4), femoral neck, ward's triangle and trochanter was measured by XR-series x-ray bone densitometer. Serum was collected and analyzed for total Ca, P and ionized Ca (Ca++)content. Relationship between the factors and BMDs was analyzed by Pearson's correlation coefficient(r) and multiple regression analysis. The results are summarized as follows. 50% of the subjects under 50 years of age($\leq$49 yr group) and 86.4% of the subjects from 50 up($\geq$50yr group) were classified as osteopenia or osteoporosis. Mean body weight, height and BMI were 153.1cm, 59.1kg and 25.0kg/$m^2$ in $\leq$49 yr group and 151.9cm, 55.9kg, and 24.2kg/$m^2$ in $\geq$50 yr group. BMDs of lumbar spines and femurs ranged from 0.84 to 1.05g/$m^2$ and from 0.67 to 1.16g/$m^2$ in $\leq$49 yr group, and ranged from 0.67 to 0.85kg/$m^2$ and from 0.68 to 0.44g/$m^2$ in $\geq$50 yr group, respectively. On the whole, the BMDs were reduced to 83.8 to 94.2% of peck bone mass in $\leq$49 yr group and 55.2 to 78.9% of those in $\geq$50 yr group. Mean daily intake of Ca was much less than the Korean RDA, \67.2% in $\leq$49 yr group and 62.3% in $\geq$50 yr group. The average concentration of total Ca, P and Ca++ in serum were within normal range in both age group. Both age and height were significantly related with BMD in both age group but the relationship tended to be stronger in $\geq$50 yr group than in $\leq$49 yr group. Body weight was also a potent determinant of BMD only in 50 yr group. In $\leq$49 yr group, total food intake was positively related with BMDs of ward's triangle, L1 and L2 and intake of cereals and grain products, sugars and sweets, milk and dairy products was positively related with BMDs measured in this study. On the contrary, intake of eggs, oil and fats were positively related with a few BMDs in 50 yr group. The BMDs were positively affected by intake of energy, protein, carbohydrate, Ca, P and Fe in $\leq$49 yr group and those of protein, fat Ca, P, vitamin B1, vitamin B2 and vitamin C in $\geq$50 yr group. It was noteworthy that serum Ca++ concentration was positively related with BMDs of lumbar spine in boty age groups. According to multiple regression analysis, the four factors, age, body weight, height and BMI additionally accounted for 21% of the variance in BMD of trochanter in $\leq$49 yr group and only two factors, age and C a intake accounted for 38% of that of femoral neck in $\geq$50 yr group. Further investigation is necessary to make sure of the relations between BMD and serum Ca++ level.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.497-503
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• 2007

The humoral immune response of chicken vaccinated with fowl and pigeon pox virus vaccines was determined with the protective potentiality of the two vaccines in field condition of Bangladesh. Different aged Fayoumi chicks were subjected for the study. To assess the relationship with better immune response among experimental groups, the average percentage of 'take reaction' was examined and recorded to 97.77% in group A, 93.33% in group B and 100.0% in group C. The level of immune status induced by different vaccinated group was measured by passive hemagglutination (PHA) microplate test method. The mean PHA titer levels after primary vaccination were $33.06{\pm}14.13$ in group A, $32.0{\pm}14.81$ in group B, and $33.0{\pm}13.66$ in group C. Following booster vaccination, the mean PHA titer levels in prior of challenge were increased to $55.46{\pm}14.64$ in groups A and C, and $46.93{\pm}16.52$ in group B. The recorded PHA titer levels of each group at two weeks after challenge were significantly increased to $106.66{\pm}31.22$, $93.86{\pm}33.04$ and $110.93{\pm}29.29$, respectively. The PHA titer levels after vaccination and challenge were significantly increased compared to pre-vaccination titer levels (P<0.01). Although the PHA titer levels among three groups administrated different vaccine combinations in prior of challenge were significantly varied (P<0.01), it was observed that all of the vaccinated chicks were highly protected against challenge infection.