• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.27-39
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to review recent findings from birth cohort studies on maternal and child environmental health. Methods: Birth cohort studies regarding environmental health outcomes for mothers and their children were investigated through a systematic review. A literature search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, Embase, and RISS to identify published studies using the keywords using a combination of the following keywords: maternal exposure, environmental exposure, health, cohort, and birth cohort. Articles were searched and a quality appraisal using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for cohort studies was done. Results: A review of the 14 selected studies revealed that prenatal and early life exposure to environmental pollutants had negative impacts on physical, cognitive, and behavioral development among mothers and children up to 12 years later. Environmental pollutants included endocrine disruptors, air pollution (e.g., particulate matter), and heavy metals. Conclusion: This systematic review demonstrated that exposure to environmental pollutants negatively influences maternal and children's environmental health outcomes from pregnancy to the early years of life. Therefore, maternal health care professionals should take steps to reduce mothers' and children's exposure to environmental pollutants.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2019

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) that are able to suppress T cell function are a heterogeneous cell population frequently observed in cancer, infection, and autoimmune disease. Immune checkpoint molecules, such as programmed death 1 (PD-1) expressed on T cells and its ligand (PD-L1) expressed on tumor cells or antigen-presenting cells, have received extensive attention in the past decade due to the dramatic effects of their inhibitors in patients with various types of cancer. In the present study, we investigated the expression of PD-1 on MDSCs in bone marrow, spleen, and tumor tissue derived from breast tumor-bearing mice. Our studies demonstrate that PD-1 expression is markedly increased in tumor-infiltrating MDSCs compared to expression in bone marrow and spleens and that it can be induced by LPS that is able to mediate $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling. Moreover, expression of PD-L1 and CD80 on $PD-1^+$ MDSCs was higher than on $PD-1^-$ MDSCs and proliferation of MDSCs in a tumor microenvironment was more strongly induced in $PD-1^+$ MDSCs than in $PD-1^-$ MDSCs. Although we could not characterize the inducer of PD-1 expression derived from cancer cells, our findings indicate that the study on the mechanism of PD-1 induction in MDSCs is important and necessary for the control of MDSC activity; our results suggest that $PD-1^+$ MDSCs in a tumor microenvironment may induce tumor development and relapse through the modulation of their proliferation and suppressive molecules.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.527-538
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was conducted in order to provide basic data for development of a nursing intervention program needed in living successfully in elderly women's later years by examining the relationship among depression, death anxiety, and quality of life of elderly women. Methods: Subjects were 115 elderly women over 65 years old who were capable of verbal/nonverbal communication and could understand/answer the questionnaire in H region. Data collection was conducted after receiving written consent using a structured questionnaire. The data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Duncan's multiple range test and Pearson's Correlation Coefficient using the SPSS 12.0/WIN program. Results: Results of this study showed that the degree of depression in elderly women was $4.14{\pm}3.22$ on average and the degrees of death anxiety and quality of life were $2.41{\pm}0.55$ and $3.72{\pm}0.59$ on average, respectively. No significant correlation was observed between depression and death anxiety however, depression showed negative correlation (r=-.448, p<.001) with quality of life and death anxiety also showed negative correlation (r=-.219, p<.05) with quality of life. Conclusion: We can predict that depression and death anxiety negatively affect quality of life of elderly women.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.131-140
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the health-related quality of life of premature menopausal women with that of normal postmenopausal women and to identify factors related to quality of life in these two groups. Methods: A secondary analysis was conducted of a sample of 5,910 postmenopausal women drawn from women aged 19-79 years, using raw data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey between 2014 and 2017. Quality of life was compared between premature menopausal women and normal postmenopausal women using the t-test and chi-square test, and factors related to quality of life were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression using SAS version 9.4. Results: There was no significant difference in quality of life between premature menopausal women and normal postmenopausal women. Subjective health status and symptoms of depression were identified as factors related to quality of life in women with premature menopause, while engaging in aerobic physical activity, subjective health status, stress, and symptoms of depression were found to be related to quality of life among normal postmenopausal women. Conclusion: It is necessary to support self-care measures for both premature and normal menopausal women to adapt to changes caused by menopause, and multidimensional strategies should be developed considering postmenopausal women's subjective health status and symptoms of depression to improve their quality of life.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.297-309
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• 2018

Purpose: To develop Pregnancy Risk symptom Perception Scale (PRPS) and evaluate its validity and reliability. Methods: A preliminary 30-item version of PRPS was developed through literature review, in-depth interview, and Content Validity. Each item was scored on a four-point Likert scale. The preliminary scale was developed based on 301 pregnant women who visited a hospital. Date were analyzed using item analysis, factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and Cronbach's ${\alpha}$ (0.90 for total item, 0.80 to 0.88 for factors). Results: The PRPS consisted of 27 items. Three factors (physical, environmental, and emotional factors) explained 55% of the total variance. Cronbach's Criterion validity was supported by comparison with the Perception of Pregnancy Risk Questionnaire (r=0.34). In reliability test, the reliability coefficient of pregnancy risk symptom perception was high at 0.90. Conclusion: These results suggest that the pregnancy risk symptom perception scale developed in this study comprises items that can assess the level of pregnant women's pregnancy risk symptom perception in Korea. Its validity and reliability were proven. PRPS can be utilized to measure pregnant women's risk symptom perception during pregnancy. PRPS will contribute to the development of systematic prenatal care and effective risk management.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.17-27
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• 2012

Objectives: The purpose of this study was an attempt to improve the major satisfaction to verify the correlation of major satisfaction according to social support types of health administration major students. Methods: The subjects were 380 students with major in the Dept. of public health administration from 2 universities and 2 colleges located in Incheon city, Gyeonggi province, and Chungcheognam province. Data were collected from June 2 to 20, 2008 using structured questionnaires. Results: The study question are following : Social support type was sorted into three groups. Types of social support were classified high-support type, low-professor type, low-support type. Major satisfaction was the highest in the high-support type. The correlation between social support type and major satisfaction was the sequence correlation, low-professor type and low-support type were the reverse correlation. Conclusions: In conclusion, Students can improve of major satisfaction through study group activities, systemic learning and career counseling. Professors and students are improve solidarity through open communication methods.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.606-618
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to provide basic data for developing a nursing intervention for climacteric women by describing a health promoting lifestyle. Also this study identified the relationship between self-efficacy and family function which are factors affecting the health promoting behaviors. The subjects of this study were 143 women from 40 to 59 years of age. The data was analyzed using SPSS program for t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation coefficients. The results of the study are as follows; 1. The average score of performance in the health promoting lifestyle was 2.82. The variable with the highest degree of performance was the sanitary environment and reconciliatory relationship(3.31), whereas the one with the lowest degree was the professional health maintenance(2.27). The average score of self-efficacy was 71.44, family function was 68.50, and menopausal symptoms was 60.30. 2. There was a statistically significant difference in performance in health promoting lifestyle according to satisfaction of marital life. Also there was a significant difference between self-efficacy, religion, and family function. 3. Performance in the health promoting lifestyle was positively related to self-efficacy, and family function and negatively related to menopausal symptoms. Self-efficacy was positively related to family function. In conclusion, performance in health promoting lifestyle was related to self-efficacy, family function and menopausal symptoms. These factors were affected by religion, family type, and satisfaction of marital life. Therefore, health promoting programs to increase climacteric women's health should be a planed program based on results of this study.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.321-331
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify factors influencing decreasing depressive mood of married women with depression. Methods: Data that integrate the Korean longitudinal survey of women and families in 2014 and 2016 were used. Subjects for this study were 974 people who participated in the fifth survey in 2014 and the sixth survey in 2016, and married women were included in the depression group in the fifth survey. The data was analyzed with $x^2$ test, t-test, and logistic multiple regression analysis using the SPSS 23.0 program. Results: The decreased-depression group's depression decreased from 11.78 points in the fifth survey to 6.31 points in the sixth survey. This study showed that main factors such as age (OR=0.96, p=.002), educational level (OR=0.54, p=.007), economical status (OR=0.62, p=.037), satisfaction with marriage life (OR=1.15, p<.001), use of medical services (OR=1.65, p=.002), and physical activity (OR=1.08, p=.019) help decrease married women's depression. Conclusion: This study findings indicate a need to develop the strategies to increase satisfaction for marriage life and physical activity and to enhance health promotion to decrease depression among depressed married women.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.195-203
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• 1997

The purpose of this study is to provide framework for understanding women's preventive dental utilization. In this paper Andersen-Newman's model is applied to the use of dental visits. This model consists of predisposing, enabling, and need components that describe a person's decision to use preventive health services. The sample consisted of 1907 women living Iksan city. Models are operationalized using stepwise multiple regression analysis and path analysis. The number of independent variables used in the analysis was 27 in total, i.e. 20 predisposing components, 6 enabling components, and 1 need component. Preventive dental utilization was measured based on the number of visits. The data collected by means of a questionnaire survey. In this study, the amount of variance by the model was 11 percent. Number of restricted activity days caused by oral disease, perceived threat of dental disease, having a regular dental care, and income were found to have significant major effects on preventive dental utilization of women. Number of restricted activity days caused by oral disease was the most important variable affecting preventive dental utilization of women.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.186-193
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was done to extend the understanding and knowledge of menopause by comparing attitudes toward menopause and menopausal symptoms of women religious and married women. Methods: The data were collected by self-report questionnaires from 126 women religious and 131 married women, between 40 and 59 years of age who lived in P city, D city and K province. A structured questionnaire was used which included demographic and health-related information, attitudes toward menopause, and menopausal symptoms. Data were analyzed by using $x^2$ test, t-test, and Pearson correlation coefficients with the SPSS/WIN 14.0 program. Results: The mean score for attitudes toward menopause of women religious and married women was $69.46{\pm}6.15$ and $66.98{\pm}6.12$ respectfully, and the difference was significant (p=.001). The mean score for menopausal symptoms of women religious and married women was $41.33{\pm}23.55$ and $55.99{\pm}30.81$ respectively, and the difference was also significant (p<.001). Attitudes toward menopause were negatively correlated with menopausal symptoms (r=-.27, p<.001).