• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.957-961
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• 2014

Purpose: With regard to the protective effect of vitamin D against colorectal cancer (CRC), we evaluated genetic variants that might influence vitamin D metabolism: vitamin D receptor (VDR), vitamin D binding protein (GC), vitamin D 25-hydroxylase (CYP2R1), and vitamin D 25-hydroxy 1-alpha hydroxylase (CYP27B1). Materials and Methods: A total of 657 subjects, including 303 cases with CRC and 354 controls were enrolled in this case-control study. All 657 were genotyped for the four gene variants using PCR-RFLP methods. Results: In this study, no significant difference was observed for VDR (rs2238136), GC (rs4588), CYP2R1 (rs12794714), and CYP27B1 (rs3782130) gene variants in either genotype or allele frequencies between the cases with CRC and the controls and this lack of difference remained even after adjustment for age, BMI, sex, smoking status, NSAID use, and family history of CRC. Furthermore, no evidence for effect modification of the variants and CRC by BMI, sex, or tumor site was observed. Conclusions: Our findings do not support a role for VDR, GC, and CYP27B1 genes in CRC risk in our Iranian population. Another interesting finding, which to our knowledge has not been reported previously, was the lack of association with the CYP2R1 gene polymorphism. Nonetheless, our findings require confirmation and possible roles of vitamin D metabolism-related genes in carcinogenesis need to be further investigated.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.5145-5151
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• 2013

Background: Numerous carcinogens and reactive oxygen species (ROS) may cause DNA damage including oxidative base lesions that lead to risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Genetic susceptibility has been reported to play a key role in the development of this disease. The base excision repair (BER) pathway can effectively remove oxidative lesions, maintaining genomic stability and normal expression, with X-ray repair crosscomplementing1 (XRCC1), 8-oxoguanine glycosylase-1 (OGG1) and apurinic/apyimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1) playing important roles. Aims: To analyze polymorphisms of DNA BER genes (OOG1, XRCC1 and APE1) and explore their associations, and the combined effects of these variants, with risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Materials and Methods: We detected SNPs of XRCC1 (Arg399Gln), OGG1 (Ser326Cys), APE1 (Asp148Glu and -141T/G) using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with peripheral blood samples from 231 patients with NPC and 300 healthy people, furtherly analyzing their relations with the risk of NPC in multivariate logistic regression models. Results: After adjustment for sex and age, individuals with the XRCC1 399Gln/Gln (OR=1.96; 95%CI:1.02-3.78; p=0.04) and Arg/Gln (OR=1.87; 95%CI:1.29-2.71; p=0.001) genotype variants demonstrated a significantly increased risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma compared with those having the wild-type Arg/Arg genotype. APE1-141G/G was associated with a significantly reduced risk of NPC (OR=0.40;95%CI:0.18-0.89) in the smoking group. The OR calculated for the combination of XRCC1 399Gln and APE1 148Gln, two homozygous variants, was significantly additive for all cases (OR=2.09; 95% CI: 1.27-3.47; p=0.004). Conclusion: This is the first study to focus on the association between DNA base-excision repair genes (XRCC1, OGG1 and APE1) polymorphism and NPC risk. The XRCC1 Arg399Gln variant genotype is associated with an increased risk of NPC. APE1-141G/G may decrease risk of NPC in current smokers. The combined effects of polymorphisms within BER genes of XRCC1 399Gln and APE1 148Gln may contribute to a high risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.903-916
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to compare the ear-based rectal temperature measured with a tympanic thermometer with the rectal temperature measured with a glass mercury thermometer in order to test the accuracy of tympanic thermometer and to determine relationship among rectal, axilla, and abdominal temperature in neonates. The samples consisted of thirty four neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit and nursery at an university affiliated hospital. The mean age of the subjects was 4.9 days. The ear-based rectal temperatures were taken with a tympanic thermometer in rectal mode (First Temp Genius 3000). Rectal and axilla temperatures were taken with a glass mercury thermometer, Abdominal temperature was continuously monitored with the probe connected to the servo controller of incubator. The results of the study can be summarized as follows : 1. Intrarater comparison : Agreement between the first and the second ear-based rectal temperature was 97% within 0.1$^{\circ}C$. 2. Comparison of ear-based rectal temperature and the rectal temperature from a glass mercury thermometer : ear-based rectal temperature ranged from 36.95$^{\circ}C$d to 37.95$^{\circ}C$, with a mean of 37.58$^{\circ}C$(SD＝0.22$^{\circ}C$). Rectal temperature from a glass mercury thermometer ranged from 36.2$0^{\circ}C$ to 37.2$0^{\circ}C$, with a mean 36.75$^{\circ}C$(SD＝0.29). The mean difference between both temperatures was 0.84$^{\circ}C$. The correlation coefficient between both temperatures was r＝0.77(p＝0.00). 3. Comparison of rectal and axilla temperature : Axilla temperature ranged from 35.8$0^{\circ}C$ to 37.1$0^{\circ}C$, with a mean of 36.55$^{\circ}C$. The mean absolute difference between the rectal and axilla temperature was 0.23$^{\circ}C$. The correlation coefficient between rectal and axilla was r＝0.67. 4. Comparison of axilla and abdominal temperature : Abdominal temperature ranged from 36.2$0^{\circ}C$ to 37.0$0^{\circ}C$, with a mean of 36.58$^{\circ}C$. The mean absolute difference between axilla and abdominal temperature was only -0.03$^{\circ}C$. Findings of this study suggest that ear-based rectal temperature overestimates the actual rectal temperatures in neonates. Therefore, the interchangeble use of both temperatures in clinics seems problematic. The site offset(adjustment value) programmed in rectal mode of the tympanic thermometer needs to be readjusted. Choosing one optimal site for temperature measurement for each patient, and using the specific site consistently would result in more consistent measurements of changes in body temperature, and thus can be more effective in diagnosing fever or hypothermia.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.536-545
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• 2005

This study was conducted to investigate osteopenia and osteoporosis prevalence of radius and tibia using Quantitative Ultrasound (QUS) and to identify affecting factors of osteoporosis. A total of 4,340 women aged 40 - 69 years, living in Ansung (rural) and Ansan (mid-sized) area, and free of illnesses affecting bone metabolism participated in the community-based cohort study. Among them 4,059 subjects measured radius bone density and 4,089 measured tibia. The T-score threshold, defined as < -1.0 and $\le$-2.5, was used to identify subjects with osteopenia and osteoporosis by WHO criteria. The crude prevalence of osteoporosis in radius and tibia was $8.4\%$ and $23.3\%$ respectively; after adjustment for age, it changed $6.3\%$ and $18.8\%$. In simple logistic regression analysis, the prevalence of osteoporosis increased by aging, non-marital status, low education, low income. Otherwise, high intakes of Ca/P, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B6, and vitamin E were decreased osteoporosis prevalence. Compared to the normal BMI (body mass index) group 08.5 $\le$ BMI < 23), the odds ratio (ORs) of the low BMI group (BMI < 18.5), and high BMI groups (BMl25-30, BMI $\ge$ 30) were significantly increased. The OR of osteoporosis decreased across increasing quartiles of intakes of Ca, P and Ca/P. Therefore, maintaining normal BMI and increasing Ca intake and Ca/P ratio may have a beneficial effect on bone health of Korean women.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.415-419
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• 2005

Objectives : We wanted to evaluate the relationship between obesity and left colonic adenomatous polyps in Korean adult men. Methods : This study was conducted among 575 adults men (aged between 40 and 69), who had colonoscopy done from January to December 2002 during a routine health examination at Health Promotion Center, Ulsan University Hospital. The patients' colons were examined up to splenic flexure by using fiberoptic colonoscopy. A questionnaire survey on behavioral factors and physical measurements were also done. The body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip ratio (WHR) were used as the indices of obesity. The BMI was categorized into three levels: normal ($BMI{\leq}22.9$), overweight ($23{\leq}BMI{\leq}24.9$), and obese ($BMI{\geq}25.0$). The WHR was categorized into four levels with cutoff points at the 30th, 60th, and 90th percentile of the control group. Age, education, smoking, alcohol use and exercise were controlled for by performing multiple logistic regression analysis. Results : There were 99 cases of colonic adenomatous polyps. Four hundred seventy six subjects with normal colonoscopy findings served as the control. The BMI and WHR were associated with the adenomatous polyps (odds ratio, 1.81 [95% CI=1.02-3.19] for a $BMI{\geq}25.0$ as compared with a $BMI{\leq}22.9$, odds ratio, 3.94 [95% CI=1.77-8.77] for a $WHR{\geq}0.95$ as compared with a $WHR{\leq}0.86$). The BMI was not associated with the risk of adenomatous polyps after additional adjustment was made for the WHR, but the association between the WHR and adenomatous polyps was still positive and independent of the BMI (odds ratio, 4.15 [95% CI=1.63-10.59]). Conclusions : The results support that obesity, and particularly abdominal obesity, can be associated with an increased risk of incurring colonic adenomatous polyps.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.160-164
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• 2009

Objectives : The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between past smoking and the risk factors for metabolic syndrome. Methods : From January 2007 to December 2007, a total of 3,916 over thirty years old male health screen examinees were divided into the nonsmoking, smoking, ex-smoking groups. The diagnosis of metabolic syndrome was based on the criteria of the NCEP ATP III(Executive Summary of The Third Report of The National Cholesterol Education Program). Metabolic syndrome was defined as the presence of three or more of the following: a blood pressure $\geq$ 130/85 mmHg, a fasting glucose level $\geq$ 110 mg/dL, a HDL-C (High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol) level < 40 mg/dL, a triglyceride level $\geq$ 150 mg/dL and, a waist circumference men $\geq$ 102 cm, but a waist to hip ratio > 0.90 was used as a surrogate for the waist circumference. Results : After adjustment for age, alcohol consumption and, exercise in the smokers, for the ex-smokers compared with the nonsmokers, the odds ratio (OR) of a lower HDL cholesterol level (<40 mg/dL) was 1.29 (95% CI=1.03-1.61) in the smokers, the ORs of a higher triglyceride level were 1.35 (95% CI=1.09-1.66) in the ex-smokers and, 2.12 (95% CI=1.75-2.57) in the smokers, and the OR of a waist to hip ratio was 1.25 (95% CI=1.03-1.52) in the ex-smokers. When there were over three components of metabolic syndrome in the ex-smokers and smokers as compared with the nonsmokers, the odds ratio against the risk of metabolic syndrome were 2.39 (95% CI=1.00-6.63) and 2.37 (95% CI=1.02-6.46), respectively. Conclusions : The present study suggested that there is an association of smoking with metabolic syndrome in men.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.648-658
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between eating habits and health among adolescents in Shanghai and Heze, China. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2013 on 2,089 adolescents; 1,089 students were from Shanghai and 999 students from Heze region. Eating habits, weight, height, and nutritional knowledge were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire. Eating habits score was classified into two categories: healthy eating habits and unhealthy eating habits, based on "Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey", for statistical data analysis. Associations between eating habits, BMI, and nutritional knowledge were examined using a general linear model with adjustment of potential confounding factors such as region, gender, age, parents' education level, and pocket money. Statistical analyses were performed using the SAS (version 9.3) program. Proportions of healthy eating habits group were 90.0% for breakfast (3-7 times/wk), 29.1% for fruit (${\geq}once/d$), 12.5% for vegetable (${\geq}3times/d$), 7.3% for milk (${\geq}2times/d$), 90.0% for fast food (<3 times/wk) consumption, respectively. The average BMI score was 20.1 (Shanghai 20.5 Heze 19.6), which is in the range of normal weight. Rates of obesity and overweight were 16.5% and 8.3% in Shanghai and Heze, respectively. There were significant negative correlations between intake frequencies of breakfast, fast food, biscuits, sugar, chocolate, and BMI score. Eating habits and nutritional knowledge score showed a significant positive correlation. These results showed better eating habits regarding eating regularity and consumption of fruits and soft drinks in Chinese adolescents compared with Korean adolescents, although cultural differences were not fully considered. This study demonstrated significant associations of BMI and nutritional knowledge with dietary behavior in Chinese adolescents in two regions of China. Further studies on Chinese adolescents from other regions in China should be considered.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.101-106
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• 2005

Objectives : We conducted this study to examine the association between serum GGT levels within the normal range and the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases Methods : We examined the cross-sectional association between serum GGT and the systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLcholesterol), and uric acid among 975 subjects that participated in the health examination of a university hospital located in Daegu city. All the patients' GGT levels were within the normal range. Results : After adjustment were made for age, body mass index (BMI), smoking status, drinking frequency, exercise frequency and coffee intake, the serum GGT level was positively associated with fasting blood glucose (p<0.01), total cholesterol (p<0.01), and triglyceride (p<0.01) in men, and it was positively associated with fasting blood glucose (p<0.01), total cholesterol (p<0.05), triglyceride (p<0.01), and uric acid (p<0.01) in women. The associations were not significantly different depending on the status of alcohol drinking or obesity, except for the associations of serum GGT with diastolic blood pressure (P for interaction=0.04) and uric acid (P for interaction=0.04) between the lean and obese subjects. Conclusions : Serum GGT levels within the normal range were positively associated with fasting blood glucose, triglyceride and uric acid in most subgroups irrespective of the drinking or obesity status. These results suggest that GGT has important clinical implications as being more than just a marker of alcohol consumption and hepatobiliary disease.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.28 no.1 s.49
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• pp.175-185
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• 1995

To evaluate the neurobehavioral effects of blood lead, we performed NCTB (Neurobehavioral Core Test Battery) on 59 men who were exposed to lead occupationally. Performance on the tests was studied in relation to three ranges of blood lead $(low,\;0. Workers with high and medium blood lead concentrations showed poorer performances on digit span backward, digit symbol and Benton Visual Retention. After adjustment for age and education, high and medium group showed significantly impaired performance on Benton visual retention and slightly impaired performance on digit span backward. But it showed no different performance on tests between high and medium blood lead group.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.71 no.3
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• pp.202-209
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• 2011

Background: A tuberculous destroyed lung is sequelae of pulmonary tuberculosis and causes various respiratory symptoms and pulmonary dysfunction. The patients with a tuberculous destroyed lung account for a significant portion of those with chronic lung disease in Korea. However, few reports can be found in the literature. We investigated the computed tomography (CT) findings in a tuberculous destroyed lung and the correlation with lung function. Methods: A retrospective analysis was carried out for 44 patients who were diagnosed with a tuberculous destroyed lung at the Keimyung University Dongsan Hospital between January 2004 and December 2009. Results: A chest CT scan showed various thoracic sequelae of tuberculosis. In lung parenchymal lesions, there were cicatrization atelectasis in 37 cases (84.1%) and emphysema in 13 cases. Bronchiectasis (n=39, 88.6%) was most commonly found in airway lesions. The mean number of destroyed bronchopulmonary segments was 7.7 (range, 4~14). The most common injured segment was the apicoposterior segment of the left upper lobe (n=36, 81.8%). In the pulmonary function test, obstructive ventilatory defects were observed in 31 cases (70.5%), followed by a mixed (n=7) and restrictive ventilatory defect (n=5). The number of destroyed bronchopulmonary segments showed a significant negative correlation with forced vital capacity (FVC), % predicted (r=-0.379, p=0.001) and forced expiratory volume in one second ($FEV_1$), % predicted (r=-0.349, p=0.020). After adjustment for age and smoking status (pack-years), the number of destroyed segments also showed a significant negative correlation with FVC, % predicted (B=-0.070, p=0.014) and $FEV_1$, % predicted (B=-0.050, p=0.022). Conclusion: Tuberculous destroyed lungs commonly showed obstructive ventilatory defects, possibly due to bronchiectasis and emphysema. There was negative correlation between the extent of destruction and lung function.