• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.347-361
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• 2012

Limited studies are available concerning the effect of heavy metal exposure on cardiovascular diseases. As environmental pollution increases, food contamination, including heavy metal contamination of fish, also increases. However, researches based on the intake of heavy metals, cardiovascular disease, and fish intakes are inconclusive. We assessed an association of heavy metal exposure with cardiovascular disease and fish intake in a nationally representative group of general Korean adults. We used data from the combined 2008-2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), and analyzed the data of 5,139 Koreans who participated in KNHANES. All participants were older than 20 years, and were diagnosed with stroke, ischemic heart disease, or hypertension. The mean blood cadmium, lead concentration, and mercury concentration of subjects were $1.07{\pm}0.01{\mu}g/L$, $2.49{\pm}0.02{\mu}g/dL$, and $5.19{\pm}0.08{\mu}g/L$, respectively. We used the survey logistic regression model to account for the complex sample design of the cardiovascular disease risk in order to estimate the odds ratios (OR). After adjusting for age, education, income, alcohol, smoking, and BMI, the increase of serum cadmium in blood was associated with the increase in the prevalence of hypertension. Further, the increase in blood cadmium concentration was associated with the increase of both systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Although higher fish intakes were significantly associated with higher blood mercury concentration (p for trend < 0.0001), fish intakes did not affect either blood cadmium or lead concentration. Comparing the highest fish intake group with the lowest intake group, the OR of hypertension was 0.31 (95% CI: 0.19-0.59) in the crude model for total fish. However, these associations were no longer significant after the adjustment for potential confounding factors. In conclusion, cadmium in blood was associated with an increased risk of hypertension in the general Korean adult population. However, we found no evidence of a clear relationship between cardiovascular disease and frequency of fish consumption.

• Korean Journal of Cognitive Science
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.21-31
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• 2003

This paper reports our experimental study with Korean-Chinese (=KC) bilinguals as compared with Korean monolinguals. We aim to find KC bilingual speakers' sentence processing strategies, and the interaction between the Ll and U2 grammars in bilingual development. To this end, we recruited 166 subjects of all age groups from age 3 to adult in the Korean autonomous community in Yanji, China, and did a classical subject/actor identification test, where subjects are supposed to pick out the subjects/actor of both sensical and nonsensical sentences (cf. Liu, Bates & Li, 1992). We compared our results with our previous work on monolingual Koreans, and found out that KC bilinguals rely on word order as well as anumacy; that KC bilinguals make use of morphology at age 10 as compared with age 5 for monolinguals; and that KC bilingual adults rely on animacy and word order as well as morphology, while monolingual Korean adults rely solely on morphology for sentence interpretation. Given that animacy and word order play an important role in the Chinese grammar, our finding lends support to the backward transfer which Liu, Bates & Li (1992) propose for early bilingualism.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.152-161
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• 2011

Koreans have undergone many changes in dietary patterns with economic growth. The purpose of this research was to examine changes in dietary patterns using data from the 1998, 2001, and 2005 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The study included 21,525 subjects (8,295 from 1998, 6,880 from 2001, and 6,350 from 2005) who were 20 years or older and who participated in a 24-h diet recall. The percentage energy intake from 22 food groups was calculated, and a cluster analysis was applied to identify dietary patterns. Two dietary patterns emerged; the first pattern was characterized by high intake of white rice, legumes, vegetables, kimchi, and seaweeds, the so-called "traditional" pattern (53%), whereas the other pattern was characterized by high intake of other grains, noodle dumplings, floured bread, pizza, hamburgers, cereals and snacks, potatoes, sugared sweets, nuts, fruits, meat·its products, eggs, fish, milk and dairy products, oils, beverages and seasoning, or the so-called "modified" pattern. The modified pattern comprised a higher proportion of younger aged, metropolitan residents with more education and higher incomes. However, the gender distribution was not significantly different. The modified pattern had a significantly higher intake of all nutrients except carbohydrates and had a higher proportion of energy from fat and protein. No association with a risk for metabolic syndrome was found for either dietary pattern. After age was standardized, the traditional pattern included 52% of the respondents in 1998, 54% in 2001, and 50% in 2005. However, the modified pattern was significantly more prevalent in the younger age group (20-29 yr), whereas the traditional pattern increased significantly in the older age group (${\geq}$ 65 yr). In conclusion, a secular trend was found for dietary pattern by age group, suggesting that it is necessary to monitor the changes in dietary pattern by age group and to develop appropriate dietary education and guidelines.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.7-16
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• 2014

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to target Chinese consumers of Korean agri-food through the analysis of agri-food brand identity images to set future directions for proposed agri-food exports to China. Since negotiations began for a free trade agreement (FTA) between Korea and China, some Koreans have worried about the Korean agriculture sector. The world trading system has undergone many changes in recent years. Since the start of FTA negotiations on agriculture, China and Korea have faced a heightened sense of crisis. China is trying to export agricultural products so actively that its agricultural exports could increase by more than 7% annually. China exported about one-tenth of its agricultural products to Korea in the period 2002-2010. Recently, the importance of brand identity has tended to increase, as the world becomes one unified market. In this situation, we should try to promote agri-food exports to China. It is very important to understand consumers' recognition of Korean food and the image of the Korean agri-food industry, to establish an export strategy. Research design, data, and methodology - This study targeted 2,800 adult men and women aged 25-59 years living in four major cities in China (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Qingdao) with a household income within the top 10% level in the China, using the one-to-one interview survey method. In addition, four groups by region (eight people per group) for a total of 32 groups were surveyed by using the focus group interview (FGI) research method, and impressions of imported agri-food were surveyed using 17 questions about fresh agri-food and 22 questions on processed agri-food. Factor analysis, brand positioning, biplot analysis, and so on, were carried out based on the results of these surveys. This research presents the brand identity of Korean food; according to the analyses, the brand identity is based on trust, safety, and attractiveness. Result - Factor analysis results showed that Chinese consumers expect four major qualities in imported fresh agri-food: freshness/safety, attractive appearance, premium branding, and excellent taste/quality. In the case of processed agri-food, it turned out that Chinese consumers are focused on safety/hygiene/freshness, health, and taste. In addition, in the fresh agri-food analysis by country, American foods had the upper hand; the image of American foods was also recognized as the most positive for processed agri-food. Meanwhile, according to the biplot analysis, Korean agri-food is strongly preferred for its appearance, but no country is strongly preferred as regards the level of freshness/safety that is expected by Chinese consumers. Conclusions - In this study, we analyzed the image of imported agri-food expected by Chinese consumers by reconstructing agri-food characteristics from the brand perspective. The research result shows that a Korean brand identity must be the ultimate goal for activities undertaken to enhance the image of Korean agri-food in the future. Additional research is needed because brand image can be formed through various channels.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.213-221
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• 2001

Because the intake of vitamin A had been consistently found to be low among Koreans, there has been a concern that mild vitamin A deficiency might be prevalent in the population. However, the inaccuracy of vitamin A database has long been suspected database for the nutrient. This study was performed to assess the vitamin A and E status in 208 adults over 20 years of age living in a rural area of Korea. Newly modified database for vitamin A and E was used to estimate the dietary intake of the subjects in this study. A cross sectional survey of dietary intake with 24-hour recall method was conducted. Serum retinol and $\alpha$-tocopherol levels of the subjects were analyzed in fasting samples using HPLC. For vitamin A, mean levels of dietary intake and percent of RDA were 620.3$\pm$1087RE/day and 88.6$\pm$155.4%, respectively, which were considerably higher than the levels reported in 1995 Korean national Nutrition survey(470.1RE/day and 67.2%, respectively). For vitamin E, the levels were 9.74$\pm$6.30mg/day and 97.4$\pm$63.0%, respectively. Mean concentration of serum retinol was 83.1$\pm$30.1$\mu\textrm{g}$/dl and none of the subjects was below 10$\mu\textrm{g}$/dl, or deficient level. Mean serum retinol in men, 99.8$\pm$30.4$\mu$g/dl, was significantly higher than in women, 70.7$\pm$23.4$\mu\textrm{g}$/dl (p<0.01). Mean concentration of serum $\alpha$-tocopherol was 1.17$\pm$0.52mg/dl and that of one subject was below 0.5mg/dl, or deficient level. Serum $\alpha$-tocopherol levels of the old subjects were higher than the younger subjects in both sexes(p<0.05). These data suggest that contrary to the previous reports about low intake of vitamin a, intake and serum levels of vitamin A among the subjects are not low. Also, in this study, intake and serum levels of vitamin E are not low, either. (Korean J Nutrition 34(2) : 213~221, 2001)

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.62 no.4
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• pp.193-222
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• 2010

This questionnaire study examined the processes linking complexity of self-construal to self-positivity conceptualized as taking multiple perspectives, self-acceptance and self-regulation that, in turn, affect psychological well-being among people with an experience of life-crisis during adulthood due to physical disability or divorce. Data were drawn from 359 adult Koreans residing in Seoul metropolitan area, including the physically disabled, the divorced, and their counterparts without a life-crisis experience during adulthood for comparison. On average, the life-crisis experience group(LEG) had a higher independent selfconstrual and a lower interdependent self-construal than the comparison group(CG). As predicted, complexity of self-construal contributed to taking multiple perspectives that helps searching for meaning, and this, in turn, was found to foster self-acceptance and self-regulation. Through these variables except self-regulation, complex self-construal contributed to psychological well-being as manifested by a higher level of positive emotion and a lower level of depression. As expected, while taking multiple perspectives fostered positive emotion both directly and indirectly through self-acceptance among LEG and CG, only in LEG it directly reduced depression. The comparative approach employed in this study enabled to discern that taking multiple perspectives promotes psychological well-being in LEG by contributing to both meaning making and positive attitude, whereas it promotes psychological well-being in CG primarily by fostering positive attitude. Finally implications for this study were discussed and directions for future research were suggested.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.79 no.3
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• pp.111-120
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• 2016

Asthma is a prevalent and serious health problem in Korea. Recently, the Korean Asthma Guideline has been updated by The Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases (KATRD) in an effort to improve the clinical management of asthma. This guideline focuses on adult patients with asthma and aims to deliver up to date scientific evidence and recommendations to general physicians for the management of asthma. For this purpose, this guideline was updated following systematic review and meta-analysis of recent studies and adapting some points of international guidelines (Global Initiative for Asthma [GINA] report 2014, National Asthma Education and Prevention Program [NAEPP] 2007, British Thoracic Society [BTS/SIGN] asthma guideline 2012, and Canadian asthma guideline 2012). Updated issues include recommendations derived using the population, intervention, comparison, and outcomes (PICO) model, which produced 20 clinical questions on the management of asthma. It also covers a new definition of asthma, the importance of confirming various airflow limitations with spirometry, the epidemiology and the diagnostic flow of asthma in Korea, the importance and evidence for inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and ICS/formoterol as a single maintenance and acute therapy in the stepwise management of asthma, assessment of severity of asthma and management of exacerbation, and an action plan to cope with exacerbation. This guideline includes clinical assessments, and treatment of asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap syndrome, management of asthma in specific conditions including severe asthma, elderly asthma, cough variant asthma, exercise-induced bronchial contraction, etc. The revised Korean Asthma Guideline is expected to be a useful resource in the management of asthma.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.247-254
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• 2017

ELISA has been used for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis, but it is being gradually replaced by a rapid diagnostic test (RDT). We compared and analyzed ELISA and RDT results using the sera collected during 4 consecutive years from residents of Gyodong-do (Island), Incheon-city, Korea. Sera from 921, 993, 940, and 838 adult residents were collected on a yearly basis (2010-2013). ELISA was performed by using a crude extract of T. gondii RH strain antigen and IgG/IgM RDT mounted with recombinant fragment of major surface antigen (SAG1), GST-linker-SAG1A, were applied to the sera. Comparison between groups was analyzed by the Student's t-test. The positive seroprevalence surged from 14.7% (135/921, 2010), 23.1% (231/993, 2011), 23.6% (222/940, 2012), and 32.1% (269/838, 2013) by ELISA. In contrast, RDT showed a more moderate increasing trend from 21.7% (200/921, 2010), 25.5% (253/993, 2011), 28.9% (272/940, 2012) and 33.1% (277/838, 2013). Discrepancies between ELISA and RDT were noted near the cut-off value. At the OD 0.15-0.24 range, RDT could detect 16.1% (169/1051) more positives, which suggests an early or acute toxoplasmosis, but at the OD 0.25-0.34 range, ELISA could detect 35.9% (92/256) more positives of possible chronic infections. Over the OD > 0.35 ELISA and RDT agreed in the majority of the cases. This surge in seroprevalence may be caused by the organic agriculture in addition to eating behavior or increase in pets among Koreans. These facts may be applied on a full-scale national survey using RDT to supplement ELISA to define the characteristics of the infection.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.480-487
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to examine the association between oral health status and health related quality of life (HRQoL). The study used a nationally representative sample of Koreans (2013 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) aged 19~64 years (n=3,252). Dependent variable was HRQoL, which was assessed with each component of EuroQol-5 dimension (EQ5D). Independent variable was oral health status (oral pain, chewing problem, speaking problem, and perceived oral health). After adjustment for confounders (socio-demographic factors, oral health behaviors, health behaviors, and physical conditions), the risk of having poor HRQoL was greater in adults with poor oral health status. The odds ratio (OR) of having pain/discomfort were 1.50 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.22~1.86) for respondents with oral pain, 1.72 (95% CI, 1.33~ 2.22) for respondents with chewing problem, 1.79 (95% CI, 1.22~2.62) for respondents with speaking problem, and 1.36 (95% CI, 1.09~1.70) for respondents with poor perceived oral health. The OR of having anxiety/depression were 1.74 (95% CI, 1.28~2.38) when having a chewing problem, 1.72 (95% CI, 1.12~2.64) when having a speaking problem, and 1.54 (95% CI, 1.14~2.08) when rating his/her oral health poor. Among Korean adults, two of the EQ5D components were associated with oral health status. Future study is needed to examine the detailed causal relations between oral health status and HRQoL longitudinally.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.765-772
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• 2012

Objective: The purpose of this research was to aid creating an effective sizing system for the vacation wear intended for Jeju's medical tourists, specifically females from the major countries including the USA, Japan, and Korea. Background: Medical tourism makes the gains of every year 40,000,000,000 dollar, every year 30% it is increasing. Thus the Jeju-do is propelling medical tourism. The body size each country is different. Consequently must set the body size standard for the women. Method: (1) It observed the body size of the Korean women of 2004 years and 2010 years. (2) It analyzed the body size of the women of the USA, China, Japan and Korea. (3) It set the sizing system of the women of the USA(ASTM), China (GB), Japan(JIS) and Korea(KS). Results: Korean adult females' height in 2010 has increased from 2004. The Waist Back Length, Waist Front Length, Arm Length etc has also increased along with the Height. The upper body has become slimmer at the same time; the Chest Circumference, Bust Circumference, and Underbust Circumference have decreased. The lower body on the other hand has become bigger: the Waist Circumference and Hip Circumference have increased. The BMI has decreased by 0.4 from 2004 - the Height has increased while Weight has decreased. The Chest Circumference and Under Bust Circumference of Korean women across all age groups have increased at a proportional rate to other parts of body; however, the rate of increase in Chest Circumference was far greater. American females(Caucasians) had the greatest ratio of waist to bust (Waist Circumference/Chest Circumference), smallest ratio of Neck Base Circumference to Bust Circumference (neck/bust). Korean females had smallest ratio of Waist Circumference to Underbust Circumference(waist/bust). As for the drop of Chest Circumference and Waist Circumference, American females had the highest and Koreans had the lowest. As for the drop of Hip Circumference and Chest Circumference, Japanese had the highest and Americans had the lowest, but Japanese women at the same time showed the A line body shapes. As for difference of Chest Circumference and Underbust Circumference, American females had the biggest(13.73) followed by Korean(11.1), Japanese(10.9) and Chinese(10.5). Conclusion: The women of the USA, China, Japan and Korea body size is different. Especially the value of the Bust Circumference - the Underbust Circumference is different. Thus, it set the sizing system(Table 8).