• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.315-323
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• 2022

Background: Socioeconomical disadvantaged communities are more vulnerable to environmental chemical exposure and associated health effects. However, there is limited information on chemical exposure among vulnerable populations in Korea. Objectives: This study investigated chemical exposure among underprivileged populations. We measured urinary metabolites of phthalates in urban disadvantaged communities and investigated their correlations with residential environment factors and relative socioeconomic vulnerability. Methods: Urine samples were collected from 64 residents in a disadvantaged community in Seoul. A total of eight phthalate metabolites were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy. Analytical method used by the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) was employed. Covariate variance analysis and general linear regression adjusted with age, sex and smoking were performed. Results: Several phthalate metabolites, namely monomethyl phthalate (MMP), monoethyl phthalate (MEP), mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP), and mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP) had higher levels than those reported in the adults of 4th KoNEHS. Notably, the MnBP level was higher in the lower socioeconomic group (geometric mean [GM]=47.3 ㎍/g creatinine) compared to non-recipients (GM=31.9 ㎍/g creatinine) and the national reference level (GM=22.0, 28.2 and 32.2 ㎍/g creatinine for adults, 60's and 70's, respectively.). When age, sex and smoking were adjusted, MEP and MnBP were significantly increased the lower socioeconomic group than non-recipients (p=0.014, p=0.023). The lower socioeconomic group's age of flooring were higher than non-recipients, not statistically significant. Conclusions: These results suggest that a relatively low income and aged flooring could be considered as risk factors for increased levels of phthalate metabolites in socioeconomic vulnerable populations.

• Journal of Korean Society for Geospatial Information Science
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• v.11 no.2 s.25
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• pp.17-28
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• 2003

Since 1970s, Seoul Metropolitan Area has been growing in physical and demographic aspect. A number of new urban fringes, New City, had been particularly developed from the early of 1990s. To examine the urban growth, the population density maps are generally used to the efficient urban management tool. The density maps from political boundaries, however, were traditionally used to estimate an urban concentration, there is problems to apply directly to urban management decision making due to (i) the abrupt changes between boundaries and (ii) the inclusion of green areas and forests in these areas. The mass-preserving interpolation method, the Pycnophylactic interpolation, could provide more realistic density maps. In addition, the classified urban areas from satellite images corresponding years would turn out to be more reliable results since populations were only applied to urbanized areas. Even though the Pyconophylactic method makes the density larger, it would be useful to produce a general urban growth trend at large scale. Consequently, four different density maps are compared and reviewed for this study, and the cross-sectional analysis provided to glimpse of population density around the city center.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.3077-3082
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• 2012

Aim: The incidence of biliary tract cancer (BTC) is many-fold higher for American Indians (AI) relative to non-Hispanic whites (NHW). Neither gallstones nor genetics can account for this difference. There is speculation that certain fatty acids in bile may play a role in preventing BTC. Since diet may influence composition of bile, we compared the dietary intakes of urban AI and NHW adult women in New Mexico. Methods: Design, a cross-sectional study of the diets of lactating AI and NHW women was conducted. Setting, the University of New Mexico Hospital. Participants, healthy lactating women 18 to 39 years of age were recruited. Main outcome measures, a three-day diet record for each participant was analyzed. Results: The AI women consumed less calcium (p = 0.04) and significantly less short and intermediate chain-length fatty acids (C4-C12), but nearly twice as much proinflammatory arachidonic acid as the NHWs (p <0.01). The intake of dairy products by AI women was less than NHW women (p = 0.01) while the intake of processed meat products was higher (p <0.01). Conclusion: Dietary factors may account for the difference in the risk of BTC between AI and NHW women.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.8 no.1 s.15
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• pp.41-59
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• 2002

The condition and management of land resources has become an increasing matter of concern in recent years, because of the pressure placed upon land for agricultural use by expanding populations and economic development. Pressures upon land quality can lead to various forms of land degradation, such as in soil erosion, soil fertility decline, adverse changes in water resources, salinization of irrigated areas, or decline in the biological condition of forests or rangelands. In 1992, World Bank estimates that the cost of degraded areas has been estimated as 10-50 times higher than that of measures to prevent degradation. Based upon a survey interviewed with people living in rural areas, the present study argue that it is important to establish policies for preventing changes in agricultural land use, to provide early warning of adverse trends and identification of problem areas. The present study also stresses that stewardship of agricultural land resources plays a leading role in achieving sustainable rural development not to mention agricultural and forestry production.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.589-598
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors that increase of the risk for falls in low-income elders in urban areas. Methods: The participants were elderly people registered in one of public health centers in one city. Data were collected by interviewing the elders, assessing their environmental risk factors, and surveying relevant secondary data from the public health center records. For data analysis, descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression were performed using SPSS version 14. Results: Stroke, diabetes, visual deficits, frequency of dizziness, use of assistive devices and moderate depression were statistically significant risk factors. The comorbidity of chronic diseases with other factors including depression, visual deficit, dizziness, and use of assistive devices significantly increased the risk of falls. From multiple logistic regression analysis, statistically significant predictors of falls were found to be stroke, total environmental risk scores, comorbiditiy of diabetes with visual deficits, and with depression. Conclusion: Fall prevention interventions should be multifactorial, especially for the elders with stroke or diabetes, who were identified in this study as the high risk group for falls. A fall risk assessment tool for low-income elders should include both the intrinsic factors like depression, dizziness, and use of assistive devices, and the extrinsic factors.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.461-470
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• 2021

Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of low physical activity (PA) in Peruvian adults and to identify associated factors. Methods: An analytical study was performed using data from the 2017-2018 Nutritional Food Surveillance by Life Stages survey. The outcome variable was low PA (yes or no), assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-short form. Prevalence ratios were estimated as a measure of association. Results: Among the 1045 persons included in the analysis, the age-standardized prevalence of low PA was 61.9%. The adjusted model showed that being female and migrating from a rural to an urban area in the last 5 years were associated with a higher probability of having low PA than males and individuals who had not migrated, while residing in rural highlands and jungle areas was associated with a reduced probability of having low PA compared to people residing in other geographic domains. Conclusions: Being a female and migration from a rural to an urban area in the last 5 years were associated with a higher likelihood of having low PA. Therefore, promotion and prevention strategies related to PA are required, especially in the female and migrant populations.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.140-150
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• 2023

The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) is an apex predator of the riparian ecosystem. It is a keystone and an indicator species; consequently, its presence suggests a sustainable water environment. Otter is a keystone species as a predator at the top of the food web in the aquatic environment and an indicator species representing the health of the aquatic environment. Although Eurasian otters disappeared from the Han River urban water system because of anthropogenic activities like habitat destruction, poaching, and environmental pollution in the 1980s, the species were sighted in the Cheonggye Stream, Jungrang Stream, and Seongnae Stream, which are urban sections of the Han River, in 2016 and 2021. Therefore, it is pertinent to assess the habitat potential in the area for conservation and management measures to ensure its permanent presence. However, existing studies on otter habitats focused on natural rivers and reservoirs, and there is a limit to applying them to habitats artificially confined habitats in narrow spaces such as tributaries in urban areas of the Han River. This study selected the Cheonggye Stream, an artificially restored urban stream, to evaluate its potential as a habitat for Eurasian otters in urban water environments using the habitat suitability index (HSI). The HSI was calculated with selected environment attributes, such as the cover, food, and threat, that best describe the L. lutra habitat. According to the results, the confluence area of Seongbuk Stream and Cheonggye Stream and the confluence area of Cheonggye Stream and Jungnang Stream were suitable otter habitats, requiring appropriate conservation efforts. The HSI model suggests a valuable method to assess the habitat quality of Eurasian otters in urban water environments. The study is crucial as it can help rehabilitate the species' populations by identifying and managing potential Eurasian otter habitats in highly urbanized areas of the Han River basin and its tributaries.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.7385-7393
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• 2013

Background: Only few epidemiological data on primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors in Shanghai have been reported. Methods: All cases of primary CNS tumors that were registered at Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) were collected (1973-2007: urban Shanghai; 2003-2007: whole Shanghai city). Trends were analyzed using joinpoint analysis and rates were stratified by age, gender and region. Histological data were collected from both CDC and Huashan Hospital. Results: From 1973 to 2007, the five-year average incidence rate in urban Shanghai increased in both genders, especially in the elderly population. Joinpoint analysis showed the age-adjusted incidence rate for males increased first but then plateaued, whilst rates for females continued increasing over the 35 years. For the five-year status quo (2003-2007), rural had a higher age-adjusted incidence rate than urban populations, and females higher than males, especially those with advanced age. According to CDC (2003-2007) and Huashan Hospital (1951-2011), the two most common histological subtypes were neuroepithelial tumors (with male predominance) and meningiomas (with female predominance). Conclusions: In Shanghai, a steadily increased incidence rate of primary CNS tumors was observed in general, and in the elderly and female population in particular.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.11-22
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• 2017

The purpose of the study is to come up with counter plans to the spatial change caused by an aging society. To achieve the purpose of this study, research methods are conducted in the literature survey and the census data are compared. This study focuses on an aging society, the current status of space and related problems, based on political economic spatial concepts, and then presents five countermeasures as follows. First, the planning considering the aging populations. Second, increase in total fertility rate and increase population absorption. Third, increased economic vitality of the elderly due to increased participation in the production of senior citizens. Forth, establishment and implementation of regional development plan for the elderly. Fifth, needs to transform the spatial policies of the aged to prepare a large gap in space. The result of this paper proposes the need to change the living space policies and planning to avoid mismatching between them, reducing the aging speed simultaneously. The study is expected to contribute to the establishment of a space plan for areas where the aging population is rapidly increasing.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.51-54
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• 2015

The incidence of foreign body insertion in the anorectum is rare, however, it is increasing, especially in urban populations. Foreign objects in the anorectum can be of different sizes, shapes and materials. Frangible objects like glass or beakers, and sharp foreign bodies that may easily injure the bowel mucosa are particularly dangerous. Physicians have to consider more innovative options on how to extract these foreign bodies without inciting injury; and, if injury would occur, consider different techniques to repair it, whether transanally or transabdominally, and opt for primary repair, or resection with either anastomosis or stoma creation. Here, I introduce our cases with colorectal foreign bodies and present several literatures to help physicians decide when presented with cases like these.