• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.223-232
• /
• 2012

Objectives: The objective of this study was to identify the relationship between fish consumption and blood mercury levels in a sample of adult Koreans. Methods: The study subjects were 299 residents of Busan (male: 65, female: 234) and 185 residents of Namhae (male: 69, female: 116), South Korea. Demographic characteristics, current smoking, current drinking, fish consumption per week, past history of amalgam treatment, and residential district were recorded by trained interviewers in June and July, 2009. We considered a portion of fish to be equivalent to 70 gm weight, and calculated amounts of fish consumed per week. Using chi-square tests, t-tests, ANOVA, and multiple linear regression analysis, we estimated the relationships between blood mercury levels and amount of fish consumed per week and other factors. Results: The mean blood mercury level of our subjects was 6.61 ${\mu}g/L$, higher than the criterion defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (5.8 ${\mu}g/L$). In multiple linear regression analysis, residential district and amount of fish consumed per week were associated with blood mercury levels. However, marital status, current drinking, and gender, and age were not associated with blood mercury levels. Conclusions: In conclusion, we suggest the implementation of systematic and periodic population-based studies to decrease the risks of mercury poisoning among South Koreans who consume fish as a regular part of the diet.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.215-222
• /
• 2012

Objective: A prediabetes hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level of 5.7%-6.4% is considered a risk factor for diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the USA. In this study, we assessed the HbA1c and visceral fat levels as CVD risk factors in health check-up examinees who were not yet diagnosed with diabetes. Methods: Totally, 507 study subject were categorized as per criteria of the American Diabetes Association, depending on whether the HbA1c level was ${\geq}5.7%$ or <5.7%. Lipid levels, blood pressure, BMI (kg/$m^2$), total abdominal, and visceral fat levels were measured by computed tomography. Results: The mean of HbA1c in the male group was larger than the mean in the female group and their values were, respectively, $6.03{\pm}0.82%$ and $5.88{\pm}0.72%$(p<0.05). Only the mean values of age and visceral fat area were different between $HbA1c{\geq}5.7%$ and <5.7% in both male and female group(p<0.05). Visceral fat levels were significantly associated with HbA1c in the group of HbA1c ${\geq}5.7%$ (odds ratio=1.005, 95% CI 1.002~1.008). Conclusions: Visceral fat levels were significantly higher and correlated with the group which HbA1c level is ${\geq}5.7%$. This finding suggests that subjects who have high levels of HbA1c should be carefully monitored during prediabetes and should have chance to have health education programs.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.1-13
• /
• 2013

Objectives: This study is to investigate the prevalence and related factors of metabolic syndrome among Korean adults aged 20 years and above. Methods: From the database of the $5^{th}$ Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V) conducted in 2010, data of 5,670 adults who responded to all the questionnaires of health interview and had metabolic syndrome in the health examination were included in this analysis. SAS 9.2 was used for statistical analysis with complex sample survey modules and commands. Results: The prevalence rate of metabolic syndrome based on the criteria proposed by International Diabetes Federation (IDF) was 18.8%. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in each group was: 20.7% of women, 43.1% among elderly over 70 years old, 40.6% of the divorced or the separated, 27.6% of recipients of economic support from the government, 23.6% of people who had alcohol dependency problem, and 43.7% of overweight or obese adults. Independent risk factors based on the multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that prevalence of metabolic syndrome was associated with female (odds ratio 1.59 [95% confidence interval 1.20-2.11]), age (50s 3.95 [2.11-7.37], 60s 5.62 [2.98-10.61], 70s 10.56 [5.25-21.25]), high school education (0.52 [0.37-0.74]), clerk occupation (2.14 [1.27-3.60]), divorced marital status (1.72 [1.15-2.59]), alcohol dependency (1.86 [1.16-2.98]), higher BMI (14.08 [10.60-18.70]). Conclusions: The metabolic syndrome is prevalent among Korean adult population according to IDF criteria. Several demographic characteristics and potentially modifiable factors are associated with metabolic syndrome. Identification of this high-risk group and management of these modifiable factors are warranted to reduce the prevalence of metabolic syndrome.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.116-129
• /
• 2013

Objectives: This study was performed to identify the associations of social capital with suicidal thoughts and attempts in Korean communities with poor health. Methods: We used the data from community health interviews conducted at 40 administrative sections (dong, eup, or myeon) with high mortality from August to October in 2010, 2011, and 2012 as part of the Health Plus Happiness Plus Projects in Gyeongsangnam-do Province. The 8,800 study subjects composed of 220 adults systematically sampled from each administrative section were asked if they had thought about suicide or had attempted suicide within 1 year. The social participation was measured with 'participation in formal and/or informal group' and trust using responses to three questions about trust of others. Results: The prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempt within 1 year were 10.4% and 0.8%, respectively. The logistic regression analysis revealed that those who participated in only informal groups, or had highest trust level reported less suicidal ideation, or attempt after adjusting for socio-demographic factors (sex, age, marital status, occupation, and food affordability), self-rated health, and health behaviors (smoking, alcohol drinking, and exercise). Conclusions: This study suggested social capital such as social participation and trust was associated with less suicide ideation and attempt. More studies are warranted for the association of social capital with suicidal behavior.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.212-219
• /
• 1999

Objective：This study is designed to get clinical guidelines for management of children with TBI by examining neuropsychiatric sequelae of TBI, determining whether the severity of TBI, type of treatment, and enviornmental factors are related to those sequelae, and defining the adequacy of public psychological tests as evaluating tools for them. Method：This is chart review of 47 children, aged 5 to 14 years, referred to a psychiatric outpatient clinic for neuropsychiatric evaluation at least 6 months after TBI. Data on the initial GCS score, associated injury, treatment type, and duration of hospital stay are obtained from medical records. EEG, MRI, intelligent test, and several psychological tests are administrated at the point of assessment. Results：1) Cognitive symptoms outnumber externalizing behavioral, emotional, and somatic symptoms, with no significant differences of frequencies of those 4 categorical symptoms between mild injury group and moderate to severe group. 2) Children treated with non-surgical method(p<0.01) complain more cognitive symptoms than the others. 3) Behavioral symptoms are related to younger age(p<0.05), and to anticonvulsant medication(p<0.05). 4) Children with associated injury complain emotional symptoms more frequently(p<0.05). 5) More somatic symptoms are presented by children with no medication(p<0.05), and with higher I.Q(p<0.05). 6) Low I.Q is correlated to low GCS score (p<0.05). Cognitive impairment is confirmed in 25 in 42 children complaining cognitive symptoms though I.Q test and BGT, whose hospital stay is longer than the others(p<0.05). 7) emotional disturbance is confirmed in 22 in 25 children showing emotional problems through psychological tests, who complain cognitive symptoms more frequently(p<0.05). Conclusion：This findings suggest that even mild TBI children need to be followed-up and treated as complaining neuropsychiatric symptoms over 6 months after injury, and shorter hospital stay is recommended for cognitive and emotional status of children, and for better evaluation of neuropsychiatric sequelae of TBI, more specific tests should be included in neuropsychological test tools.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.112-122
• /
• 2003

Objectives：Considerable data indicate that diminished serotonergic activity is related to aggressive behavior. In order to understand the biological etiology in conduct disorder, we studied the relationships of plasma serotonin and 5-HIAA levels in conduct disorders to measures of aggression, violation of rules and oppositional defiant behavior. Methods：Subjects were selected from inpatients and outpatients department of the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry of Seoul National University Hospital. 41 conduct disorders(18 childhoodonset type, 23 adolescent-onset type) and 23 normal controls were included in this study. For the assessment of aggression, rule violation and oppositional behavior, parents completed the rating scale for conduct disorder and oppositional behavior based on the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria. Plasma serotonin and 5-HIAA levels were determined by HPLC with electrochemical detection. Results：1) Plasma 5-HT and 5-HIAA levels were not significantly different among childhood-onset conduct disorder, adolescent-onset conduct disorder and normal control subjects. 2) No significant correlations were found between plasma 5-HT levels and aggression or rule violation. 3) Plasma 5-HT levels showed significant positive correlations with oppositional behavior both in childhood-onset conduct disorder and adolescent-onset conduct disorder. 4) Age-related changes were not found in plasma 5-HT and 5-HIAA levles. Conclusion：Our findings do not support the hypothesis that dysregulation of serotonergic function may be associated with aggresson. Instead, our data suggest that serotonergic function is more closely related with oppositional behavior than aggression.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.299-316
• /
• 1996

This study is the descriptive survey to provide basic data for nursing intervention to pain management of cancer patients by finding more effective way to manage pain with recognize pain level and pain characteristics. To achieve the purpose of this study, the subjects of this study are 110 male or female gastro intestinal tract patients who are older than twenty, are hospitalized in Pusan University Hospital from 1995. 5. 28 to 1995. 9. 25 and have had medical treatment. The modified pain assessment of cancer patients of Cornne, H. Rosermary, M. was used as the tool of study with 16 questionaries. The pain score consists of sensory intensity score and distress score. The data was analyzed by the SPSS statistical program number, percentage, mean, standard deviation, t-test, One Way Anova and Duncan's Multiple Range Test were utilized for analysis. The results were summarized as follows : 1. In population-sociological characteristics : in the age-range of subject, the sixties are most as 32.7% and the subjects after the forties are 89.5%, in sex of subjects, male patients are 66.4% and female 33.6%, in the number of family, the subjects who has 4 or above families are 70% and the subjects who live with their spouse, sons and daughters are 54.5% 2. In the disease characteristics : stomach cancer patients were most as 39.1%. And the most of patient who had never been operated before. In time of pain, the most of subjects were intermittent. In the type of pain, the most of subjects were 'dully pain' as 31.8%. Metastatic subjects were 30.0%. In the origin of pain, nervous pressure was 50.8%. The number of complication was 46 and most of complication are obstruction as 6%. 3. In the pain level, 91subjects complained pain. And mean pain score was $287.1{\pm}116.1$ The mean pain score of female subjects was higher than that of male subjects. 4. In the pain characteristics, the pain began usually at meal time as 40.7%. The duration of pain was mostly from 1 month to 3 months as 57.1%. The appetite was mainly concerned with the pain as 31.8%. The etiology of pain was usually tumor as 69.3%. The meaning of pain was incurable disease as 14.5%, anxiety, death and suffering. 5. The 56(61%) of 91subjects were treated with Analgesic pain management. The kinds of Analgesic is usually valentac as 46.4%. The medication was usually intramuscle as 66.1% at whenever necessary, Response of Analgesic after Medication was usually 'moderate release'. The side effects of medication were nausea as 26.8%. The average amount of morphine dosage hospitalized to cancer patients with pain was 80mg in a day and metastatic cancer patients with pain was 101.9mg in a day. 6. In the relation between the disease characteristics and pain level, there is a significant statistical difference : whether subjects had been operated or not : (t=2.88, p=0.005), time of pain is(t=3.34, p=0.005), stage of metastatic(F=9.323, P=0.0002), and type of pain(F=4.013, p=0.0008). In the pain level of diagnosis, Colon cancer was $353.3{\pm}81.7$(F=2.34, p=0.049), the origin of pain, nerve pressure $316.3{\pm}98.5$(F=2.44, P=0.045), In the complication, ascites and obstruction $324.9{\pm}96.8$(T=2.60, P=0.04).

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.7-15
• /
• 2000

To assess the accuracy of blood pressure measurement in general hospital nurses, 276 nurses at four hospital in Kyungju city and Pohang city were observed during the study period 20 December 1998 to 29 December 1998. The nurses measuring the blood pressure of simulated patient's were checked by the researcher or 20 items, that are recommended for consideration when doing a blood pressure measurement. Of the six items in the preparation step for measuring blood pressure, the accuracy of 'patients shouldn't talk during the procedure' had the lowest frequency(27.1%) and the other five items were above 80%. Of the ten items on blood pressure measuring technique, the accuracy of the frequency for 'inflating the cuff until the radial or brachial artery pulse is no longer palpable and then adding 30mmHg' was 0%, 'waiting $30{\sim}60$ seconds before reinflating the cuff' was alse 0%, 'rapidly deflating the cuff', 0.3%, 'rapidly and steadily inflating the cuff to the maximal level as per above-mentioned initial systolic pressure assessment step', 0.7%, 'reading the pressure to the nearest 2mmHg mark on the manometer', 10.8%, the remaining items were above 70%. Of the four items on blood pressure recording, the accuracy of 'recording the cuff size' had a frequency of 0.3%, 'recording the patient's position such as sitting, standing or lying position', 10.8%, 'recording the arm or leg which was used for measuring the blood pressure', 53.6%, and 'recording systolic/diastolic pressure', 100%. The variables significantly related to the accuracy of the blood pressure measurement were age, career position at hospital, and qualification education for blood pressure measurement(p<0.01). In the multiple regression analysis, position and qualification education were significant variables(p<0.01). In conclusion, the accuracy of blood pressure measurement was very low, thus, qualification education for blood pressure measurement should be done immediately to improve the accuracy of measurement by nurses in general hospitals.

• Management & Information Systems Review
• /
• v.32 no.5
• /
• pp.193-231
• /
• 2013

As developed IT, Word-of-Mouth(WOM) used varied terms as buzz marketing and viral marketing, and impressed that importance. Despite introduced new marketing tool on managers and professionals, online word-of-mouth including SNS lack of study on social network what based viral in marketing. In social network, patterns of relationship between individuals influence each other individual behaviors. Therefore this research grouped friendship-network and advice-network by characteristics, studied on trust of information source that antecedents of word-of-mouth in network. This study examined that affect- and cognition based trust affect WOM acceptance as WOM behaviors and examined effect of type of product as moderating variable. Additional this literature studied that WOM acceptance affect WOM recommend. To find the Influence of Trust on Word-of-Mouth Behaviors, a survey has done 206 samples(undergraduate students). The results of this study are as following : First, type of trust different friendship network and advice network. Affect-based trust is outstanding in friendship network than in advice network, while cognition-based trust stands out in advice network than another. Second, affect- and cognition based trust positive affect WOM acceptance. Contrary to expectations, what is preconceived trust in network have a similar effect for WOM acceptance regardless of type of trust. Third, WOM acceptance positive affect WOM recommend. Fourth, affect based trust affect WOM acceptance of hedonic product rather than utilitarian product. Upon especially in friendship network terms, affect-based trust has a more effect on WOM acceptance than cognition-based trust. This study has many implications. First, it is important that trust what have an influence WOM acceptance grouped affect- and cognition based trust. Second, it confirmed that trust is antecedents of positive WOM. Third, it is important that network grouped friendship network and advice-network by trust. Fourth, it gave managerial implications that they have to supply WOM through which network by type of product. We This study classified network and trust based on previous study. Then it examined relations between WOM behaviors. Further research could do enrich various things for example various age group, valence of message, quality of information.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.126-132
• /
• 1999

Objectives: The purposes of this study were to investigate 1) the incidence of insomnia, 2) the clinical characteristics of the insomniacs, 3) the correlation of severity of insomnia with somatic complaints and psychological distresses, and 4) the beliefs and attitudes about sleep in patients with chronic renal failure on hemodialysis. Methods: The author evaluated 153 patients, receiving hemodialysis therapy at the four outpatients hemodialysis units in Pusan, Korea. The patients had completed a self-administered questionnaire package, which consisted of basic demographic findings, questions characterizing insomnia, Beck Depression Inventory(BDI), Spielburger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI), and visual analogue scales measuring quantitatively the severity of the self-perceived psychological and somatic symptoms. And several laboratory data were collected. Diagnosis of insomnia was made in the base of insomnia criteria of DSM-IV and international classification of sleep disorders. Subjects were dichotomized into those who reported any characteristics of insomnia or those who had no insomnia during the preceding two weeks. Results: Insomnia was found in 100(65.4%) of 153 patients. No statistical differences were found between the patients with and without insomnia in terms of age, gender, education, marital status, mean duration of hemodialysis and all considered laboratory findings except serum albumin. The patients with insomnia had significantly higher BDI score and predialysis systolic blood pressure, and lower serum albumin as compared to non-insomnia group. Significant differences were found between two groups in terms of self-perceived distress such as sadness, anxiety, worry, pruritus, and dysfunction of daily life. The data showed statistically significant correlation between insomnia severity and some variables such as physical dysfunction, pruritus, bone pain, sadness, anxiety, worry, dysfunction of daily life and excessive daytime sleepiness. The patients with insomnia had significantly several dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep than those without insomnia. Conclusion: These results indicate that insomnia is very common in hemodialysis patients and likely contribute to the impaired quality of life experienced by many these patients. The author suggests that physical and psychological distresses would be reduced and the quality of life could be improved if their sleep disturbances are properly ameliorated in patients on hemodialysis.