• Women's Health Nursing
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.82-95
• /
• 2000

The purpose of this study is to provide a basis to recognize the health behaviors of middle-aged women that are constructive to a healthy life style. Data were collected from interview of questionnaires completed by 208 middle-aged women living in Incheon from November 1 to 30, 1999. The questionnaires used in this study were obtained from publications on health-related topics shown in literature review. These topics included : health concept, diseases, use of tobacco, alcohol, caffeine, drug, exercise and diet, cause of stress and stress management. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics using the SPSS program. The results of this study were as follows. 1. Middle-aged women though of concept of health as a doing daily living pattern(48.1%). 2. 49.5% of the middle-aged women had illness or disease, which included gastritis, arthritis, anemia, hypertension, indigestion and allergies. 3. 1.4% of the middle-aged women smoked cigarettes. Most of them began to smoke due to stress. 4. 42.3% of the middle-aged women drink alcohol. Most of them began drinking due to peer pressure. 5. 28.8% of the middle-aged women consumed caffeine-containing products 5-7 times per week. 6. 55.3% of the middle-aged women took drugs. Most of the drugs were digestant and analgesics. 7. 21.2% of the middle-aged women exercised more than 2 times per week. 8. Most of causes of stress were economic difficulties and sickness. The method of stress management were enduring and sleeping.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• v.37 no.6
• /
• pp.566-579
• /
• 2021

Ralstonia syzygii subsp. indonesiensis (Rsi, former name: Ralstonia solanacearum phylotype IV) PW1001, a causal agent of potato wilt disease, induces hypersensitive response (HR) on its non-host eggplant (Solanum melongena cv. Senryo-nigou). The disaccharide trehalose is involved in abiotic and biotic stress tolerance in many organisms. We found that trehalose is required for eliciting HR on eggplant by plant pathogen Rsi PW1001. In R. solanacearum, it is known that the OtsA/OtsB pathway is the dominant trehalose synthesis pathway, and otsA and otsB encode trehalose-6-phosphate (T6P) synthase and T6P phosphatase, respectively. We generated otsA and otsB mutant strains and found that these mutant strains reduced the bacterial trehalose concentration and HR induction on eggplant leaves compared to wild-type. Trehalose functions intracellularly in Rsi PW1001 because addition of exogenous trehalose did not affect the HR level and ion leakage. Requirement of trehalose in HR induction is not common in R. solanacearum species complex because mutation of otsA in Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum (former name: Ralstonia solanacearum phylotype I) RS1002 did not affect HR on the leaves of its non-host tobacco and wild eggplant Solanum torvum. Further, we also found that each otsA and otsB mutant had reduced ability to grow in a medium containing NaCl and sucrose, indicating that trehalose also has an important role in osmotic stress tolerance.

• Journal of Korean Dental Science
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.192-203
• /
• 2023

Purpose: This study is to investigate the distribution of natural tooth shades in the Korean elderly population to quantify the correlation and changes of tooth color with age and gender. In addition, the possible effects of habits on tooth color were assessed. Materials and Methods: The tooth color of one of the maxillary central incisors of 200 Korean individuals aged 50 to 89 years, males and female, was measured using the portable intraoral spectrophotometer (VITA Easyshade V). CIELab and CIELCh color coordinates were recorded. We conducted the survey about the tobacco smoking, chronic disease, medication, eating habits, oral health behaviors and satisfaction with tooth color. Experimental data were statistically analyzed by using the t-test (P<0.05), two-way analysis of variance and Pearson's correlation test. Result: The most frequent color in the Korean elderly population was 3M3 & A3.5 shade. L^* and h^* values decreased, whereas C^*, a^* and b^* values increased progressively with age. There was a significant interaction between age and color coordinates for b^* values (r=0.245, P<0.05). Males generally have significantly higher C^*, a^*, b^* values and lower L^*, h^* value compared to females. Individuals who consumed alcohol had a higher L^* value (P<0.05). Conclusion: Within the limitation of this study, the central incisors were getting darker, more reddish, and yellowish with age. Information on the chromatic range of natural teeth by age and gender could help to select colors for esthetic dental restorations.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.9
• /
• pp.4517-4525
• /
• 2016

Background: Sperm DNA damage is underlying aetiology of poor implantation and pregnancy rates but also affects health of offspring and may also result in denovo mutations in germ line and post fertilization. This may result in complex diseases, polygenic disorders and childhood cancers. Childhood cancer like retinoblastoma (RB) is more prevalent in developing countries and the incidence of RB has increased more than three fold in India in the last decade. Recent studies have documented increased incidence of cancers in children born to fathers who consume alcohol in excess and tobacco or who were conceived by assisted conception. The aetiology of childhood cancer and increased disease burden in these children is lin ked to oxidative stress (OS) and oxidative DNA damage( ODD) in sperm of their fathers. Though several antioxidants are in use to combat oxidative stress, the effect of majority of these formulations on DNA is not known. Yoga and meditation cause significant decline in OS and ODD and aid in regulating OS levels such that reactive oxygen speues meditated signal transduction, gene expression and several other physiological functions are not disrupted. Thus, this study aimed to analyze sperm ODD as a possible etiological factor in childhood cancer and role of simple life style interventions like yoga and meditation in significantly decreasing seminal oxidative stress and oxidative DNA damage and thereby decreasing incidence of childhood cancers. Materials and Methods: A total of 131 fathers of children with RB (non-familial sporadic heritable) and 50 controls (fathers of healthy children) were recruited at a tertiary center in India. Sperm parameters as per WHO 2010 guidelines and reactive oxygen species (ROS), DNA fragmentation index (DFI), 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxy guanosine (8-OHdG) and telomere length were estimated at day 0, and after 3 and 6 months of intervention. We also examined the compliance with yoga and meditation practice and smoking status at each follow-up. Results: The seminal mean ROS levels (p<0.05), sperm DFI (p<0.001), 8-OHdG (p<0.01) levels were significantly higher in fathers of children with RB, as compared to controls and the relative mean telomere length in the sperm was shorter. Levels of ROS were significantly reduced in tobacco users (p<0.05) as well as in alcoholics (p<0.05) after intervention. DFI reduced significantly (p<0.05) after 6 months of yoga and meditation practice in all groups. The levels of oxidative DNA damage marker 8-OHdG were reduced significantly after 3 months (p<0.05) and 6 months (p<0.05) of practice. Conclusions: Our results suggest that OS and ODD DNA may contribute to the development of childhood cancer. This may be due to accumulation of oxidized mutagenic base 8OHdG, and elevated MDA levels which results in MDA dimers which are also mutagenic, aberrant methylation pattern, altered gene expression which affect cell proliferation and survival through activation of transcription factors. Increased mt DNA mutations and aberrant repair of mt and nuclear DNA due to highly truncatred DNA repair mechanisms all contribute to sperm genome hypermutability and persistant oxidative DNA damage. Oxidative stress is also associated with genome wide hypomethylation, telomere shortening and mitochondrial dysfunction leading to genome hypermutability and instability. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report decline in OS and ODD and improvement in sperm DNA integrity following adoption of meditation and yoga based life style modification.This may reduce disease burden in next generation and reduce incidence of childhood cancers.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.150-156
• /
• 2002

Objectives: Most of human cancers may result from exposure to environmental carcinogens, and individual effectiveness in the detoxification of these chemicals will influence susceptibility to malignant disease. Glutathione S-Transferases(GSTs) enzymes are involved in the detoxification of active metabolites of many carcinogens from tobacco smoke and may be important in modulating susceptibility to smoke-related cancer. The purpose of this study is to determine the polymorphism of GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 in control group and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma group of Korean, and to investigate the effect of GSTs polymorphism on the risk of head and neck cancer. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based case-control study was performed with a group of 133 control individual and 136 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients. The polymorphisms of GSTs were analysed using polymerase chain reaction in GSTM1 and GSTTl, and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism in GSTP1. Results: The relative risk (odds ratio) of GSTM(-) genotype was 1.14(95% CI, 0.70-1.85) compared to GSTM1(+). The odds ratio of GSTTl(-) genotype was 0.91(95% CI, 0.55-1.50). In old age($65$) group, the odds ratio of GSTT1(-) genotype was 5.2(95% CI, 1.53-17.89). The GSTP1 Val/Val genotype conferred a 1.7-fold risk(95% CI, 0.40-7.34) of head and neck cancer compared with GSTP1 Ile/Ile genotype. Among the combined genotypes of GSTs, GSTM1(-)/GSTT1(+)/GSTP1 Val/Val and GSTM1(-)/GSTTl(-)/GSTP1 Ile/Val genotypes conferred a 2.6-fold and 1.3-fold risk(95% CI, 0.24-14.15 and 0.43-3.14) compared with the GSTM1(+)/GSTTl(+)/GSTP1 Ile/Ile genotype, respectively. Conclusion: Polymorphism of GSTs might modulate susceptibility to head and neck cancer in Korean population. The genotype of GSTP1 Val/Val and combined genotypes of GSTM1(-)/GSTT1(+)/GSTP1 Val/Val, and GSTM1(-)/GSTT1(-)/GSTP1 Ile/Val might be important risk factors to determine the individual susceptibility to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

• Research in Plant Disease
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.248-259
• /
• 2004

A total 115 isolates of Fusarium species from ginseng roots of 'rotted', and soils collected during 1982-1985 in Korea, were identified and classified into 11 species with the Snyder & Hansen System (with reference to Gerlach-Nirenberg's Modified System). The most dominant of these species were F. solani (55 isolates), F. oxysporum (35 isolates), and F. moniliforme (10 isolates) sensu Snyder & Hansen. The other 8 species (15 isolates) were very rarely isolated and previously identified as F. roseum sensu Snyder & Hansen (1945); these were F. equiseti, F. avenaceum, F. graminum, F. arthrosporioides, F. sambucinum, F. reticulatum, F. semitectum and F. poa. Tested for the ability to infect the roots of ginseng (3 yr. old plants) in field condition with the mycelial inoculum, only one isolate of F. solani (34 isolates tested) and one isolate of F. oxysporum (24 isolates tested) were weakly pathogenic to ginseng roots. Any of the isolates (7 isolates tested) of F. moniliforme [Liseola section] were not pathogenic to ginseng. However, all the isolates of tested of the species of Phytophthora cactorum, Pythium ultimum, and Cylindrocarpon destructans were highly pathogenic to ginseng roots. The species of Fusarium solani and Cylindrocarpon destructans were supposed to be a host dominant disease agent in ginseng plant.

• Research in Plant Disease
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.66-73
• /
• 2010

Field trials were conducted in Suwon, Andong, Bongwha and Taean to evaluate an anthracnose forecaster in the integrated pest management system (IPM) including anthracnose, Phytophthora blight and tobacco budworm for hot pepper in 2008-2009. Percentage of diseased fruits by pepper anthracnose and yield were compared among three treatments, no-fungicide, forecaster and conventional. The incidence and yield of the forecaster at Bongwha on two varieties were 3.1-3.5% and 30-33 kg/40 plants. These were little less than those of the conventional's 0.3-0.8% and 35-36 kg/40 plants and much higher than those of the no-fungicide's 23-27% and 18-24 kg/40 plants. The number of spray at the forecaster was 5 times, whereas those at the conventional was 11-19 times depending on the farmers. In addition, the results of an anthracnose forecaster at the other three field trials allowed in protecting hot pepper from anthracnose while reducing the amount of pesticides used and the total cost of the pathogen control. However, it is needed to improve for anthracnose forecaster when anthracnose pressure was high such as Taean where 60-80% of the incidence. Because the control values of the forecaster at Taean were between those of no-pesticide and conventional treatment at best. If anthracnose is severe early in the season, additional preventive control should be considered when the fruits were fully grown yet.

• Research in Plant Disease
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2009

Viruses diagnosed on crops including rice plants from farmers or agricultural extension agencies cover the country were 11 species including Broad bean wilt virus 2 (BBWV2) in 2008. Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) was the most important virus having the detection rate of 22.9%. Two viruses of Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) and Tobacco leaf curl virus (TLCV) inducing leaf yellow and curl diseases on tomatoes were occurred newly with the detection rate of 12.2% and 4.0%, respectively, in 2008. Rice stripe virus (RSV) was occurred on 869.5 ha mainly at Jindo and Haenam areas in Jeollanamdo province. At Jindo area, 12 plots were damaged severely with the infected hill rate of 83.8%. At the main production area of oriental melon at Seongju, almost all fruits from whole sale market at Seongju were infected with Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) as the detection rate of 87%. The areas occurred TSWV in Korea were 25 totally from 2003 including 7 areas newly reported in 2008 including Naju in Jeoallanamdo. TSWV could be reduced as 0.1 % from 5.3% by covering insect proof net in vinyl house after chemical soil sterilization. Tomato yellow leaf curl disease was occurred on April in 2008 at Tongyoung area in Kyeongsangnamdo, and detected continuously at 13 areas, 7 in Kyeongsangnamdo, 4 in Jeollabukdo and 2 in Jejudo. Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) was occurred abruptly in a confined space of a civil breeding greenhouse and a cultivar evaluation field followed by disuse 17.4 M/T of potato tubers. No PSTVd was detected at 17 fields cultivated the related potatoes to the bred company by RT-PCR.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.136-150
• /
• 2015

Pseudomonas syringae pathovar tabaci is a plant pathogenic bacterium that causes wildfire disease in tobacco plants. In P. syringae pv. tabaci, PsyI, a LuxI-type protein, acts as an AHL synthase, while primary and secondary sequence analysis of PsyR has revealed that it is a homolog of the LuxR-type transcriptional regulator that responds to AHL molecules. In this study, using phenotypic and genetic analyses in P. syringae pv. tabaci, we show the effect of PsyR protein as a quorum-sensing (QS) transcriptional regulator. Regulatory effects of PsyR on swarming motility and production of siderophores, tabtoxin, and N-acyl homoserine lactones were examined via phenotypic assays, and confirmed by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Further qRT-PCR showed that PsyR regulates expression of these virulence genes in response to environmental signals. However, an upstream region of the gene was not bound with purified MBP-PsyR protein; rather, PsyR was only able to shift the upstream region of psyI. These results suggested that PsyR may be indirectly controlled via intermediate-regulatory systems and that auto-regulation by PsyR does not occur.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.219-246
• /
• 1993

In 1991, Obesity rate of South Korea has reached to 18.7%. Because of economical development, the pattern of diet is exchanged from carbohydrate to rich protein and fat. The more problem is not only obesity of adult but also one of little child. Obesity is induced to diabetes mellitus, hypertension, artherosclerosis, hyperlipoidemia. heart and C.V.A disease, etc. In Woman, special important ploblem is the complex of beauty about Woman's figure. In Oriental Medicine, the factor of obesity is mainly regarded as dampness. And there are many treatments and methods to body weight loss, but obesity patients dislike to use them because of their side effects and inconvenience, intolerance. Now ear acupuncture is applied on so many disease because of its easy handly, non-side effect and high efficiency in clinics. Here obesity acupuncture is used to ear and whole body acupuncture. Because they react eachother for lack point. Therefore, in order to investigate the effect of obesity acupuncture and develop non-drug, non-starvation etc, we analyzed 453 the cases of body weight loss patients treated with ear and whole body acupuncture in Oriental Medicine Hospital of Jeon-Ju Woo-Sug University from April.1.1992. to March.17. 1993. The results were summarized as follows. 1. Distribution of sex ; male (4.4%), Female(95.6%) 2. Distribution of age in descending order ; 30s, 20s, 40s, 10s, 50s, below 10s, abowe 60s. The 20s-30s are group made up 60.7% of the group. 3. Distribution of occupation in descending order; housewife, student, service, salaried, merchant, teacher, farmer, inoccupation. 4. Distribution of human coporal constitution in descending order : Tae-Eum-In, So-Eum-In, So-Yang-In. 5. Distribution of body height and weight, 155-164cm ; 71.1%, 60-70kg, 74.6% are majority. 6. Distribution of weight variation, 2-6kg(71.0%) is majority, also 13-14kg(0.4%). 7. Distribution of duration in descending order ; 1-3 years, 3-6 years, 1-12months, above 10 years but in success, 1-12 months, 1-3 years, 3-6 years, above 10 years. Therefore, we know that the shorter duration of obesity is, the more loss of body weight. 8. Past experiences to body weight loss; Yes(69.5%), No(30.5%). The success rate accordant with the past temporary experiences shows that the cases without experience is higher than the ones with experience. 9. In distribution of times(treatments), 10 times is top. The rate of body weight loss is the highest in 14 times. Therefore, I think that one would need at least 10 times. in order lose body weight 10. Distribution of body weight variation in treatments times is at 2 times(3-4kg loss), and surprisingly is 14kg loss at above 15 times. 11. Distribution of symptoms improvement, in descending order ; heavy sense in body, dec. of appetite, inc.of exercise, lumbago, edema, knee pain, inc.of urine, inc. of fullness sense, thirsty, disease of gynecology, white tung, chest burning, heart burning, dec.of tobacco, drink taste. motion sickness, allergy, water eczema, arthma, belching. 12. Distribution of snack; Yes(87.4%), No(78.6%) 13. Distribution of exercise; Yes(21.4%), No(78.6%) 14. Distribution of sleeping times, above 7 hours(79.0%) 15. Distribution of the reason to body loss, the complex of beauty(68.7%) is top. 16. Distribution of side effect in obesity acupuncture, constipation (17.4%) is top. 17. Distribution of method in body weight loss ; dietary treatment (31.1%), sauna(26.7%), exercise(19.7%), the center of body weight loss (15.0%) herb-med and starvation treatments (5.1%), hand-finger acupuncture (hand-foot acupuncture) is 1.6%, diet pill(0.3%), etc(0.6%).