• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.37 no.10
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• pp.908-916
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• 2004

Due to the common dietary practice of preparing foods in various ways using the same food item, in addition to rather a large number of food items that average Koreans consume, it is difficult to accurately assess the nutritional adequacy. In an effort to identify a reliable means of assessing the nutritional adequacy of Korean adults, we analyzed the association between the scores of dietary diversity (DDS) and dietary variety (DVS), and the quality of nutrient intake as assessed by Nutrient Adequacy Ratio (NAR) and Mean Adequacy Ratio (MAR). A three day-dietary record was obtained from each of 324 inhabitants, aged 40 to 69 years (mean :t SD,52.4 $\pm$ 8.7), of a rural area (Ansung) and a mid-sized city (Ansan) of Korea. These individuals were randomly selected among the participants of the Korean Health and Genome Study. The number of consumed foods and food groups were assesses by DDS (scored 1 to 5) and DVS (ranked 30 $\leq$,31 - 40, 41 - 50, 51 - 60, and 60 <) over three-day period, respectively. As DDS/DVS increased, mean daily food intakes tended to increase, and NARIMAR was improved. Thus, DDS and DVS were significantly correlated with the quality of nutrient intake. Over 95% of the subjects scored less than 2 in DDS for the first one-day period, whilst over 62% recorded 4 during the full three-day period (p < .0001). The mean number of consumed food items increased from 24.9 to 44.4 as a function of days of the record period (p < .0001). We also analyzed the association of DDS and DVS with MAR, using regression analysis, controlling age and sex as covariates. For DDS, the adjusted coefficient determination (adj $R^2$) values were 8.7%,15.8%,23.3% of MAR, also increasing as a function of the record duration, whereas they were 27.3%, 33.3%, 37.6% for DVS, respectively, demonstrating that NAR/MAR has a better correlation with DVS than DDS. Our data show that DDS, and DVS in particular, are useful parameters for evaluating nutrient intake in the Korean population. Our data also support that one day-dietary records are by no means adequate for accurately describing a wide variety of food choices offered for average Koreans, and that dietary assessment at least for 3 days or longer should be obtained for a reliable evaluation of dietary quality using DDS or DVS.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.61 no.6
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• pp.526-532
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• 2006

Backgroud: Traditionally, tuberculous pleurisy has been known to largely develop as primary tuberculosis. However, as the incidence of tuberculosis decrease, recent studies have shown reactivation tuberculosis has become the main cause of tuberculous pleurisy. Methods: 141 cases of tuberculous pleurisy, between January 2003 and February 2006, at the Dankook university hospital. were retrospectively studied. The patients were divided into primary and reactivation tuberculosis. based on the history and radiological characteristics, and the clinical, radiological characteristics at the time of diagnosis and residual pleural thickening after 6 month of chemotherapy were compared between the two groups. Results: 1. Of the 141 tuberculous pleurisy cases, in 135 it was possible to differentiate between primary and reactivation tuberculosis. 2. Of the 135 tuberculous pleurisy cases, 38 (28%) showed a primary tuberculosis pattern, and 98 (72%) showed a reactivation tuberculosis pattern. 3. There were no significant differences between primary and reactivation tuberculosis in relation to age, sex, duration of symptom, amount of pleural effusion, pleural fluid WBC, lymphocyte count, and level of protein, LDH and ADA at the time of diagnosis 4. 124 patients were followed for 6 months after diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy, and there was no significant difference in the residual pleural thickening between primary and reactivation tuberculosis. Conclusion: In South Korea, a reactivation disease is currently a more common cause of tuberculous pleurisy than a primary disease. There was no difference in the clinical characteristics between primary and reactivation tuberculosis.

• Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.249-259
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• 2023

Purpose: Since patients on hemodialysis (HD) are known to be vulnerable to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), many studies were conducted regarding the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine in HD patients in Western countries. Here, we assessed antibody response of HD patients for 6 months post-vaccination to identify the duration and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine in the Asian population. Materials and Methods: We compared antibody response of the COVID-19 vaccine in HD patients with healthy volunteers. Patient and control groups had two doses of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 and mRNA-1273, respectively. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) was measured before vaccination, 2 weeks after the first dose, 2 and 4 weeks, 3 and 6 months after the second dose. Neutralizing antibody was measured before vaccination and at 2 weeks, 3 and 6 months after second dose. Since the third dose was started in the middle of the study, we analyzed the effect of the third dose as well. Results: Although antibody production was weaker than the control group (n=22), the patient group (n=39) showed an increase in IgG and neutralizing antibody after two doses. And, 21/39 patients and 14/22 participants had a third dose (BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273 in the patient group, mRNA-1273 in the control group), and it did not affect antibody response in both group. Trend analysis showed IgG and neutralizing antibody did not decrease over time. Age, sex, and HD vintage did not affect antibody production in HD patients. Patients with higher body mass index displayed better seroresponse, while those on immunosuppressants showed poor seroresponse. Conclusion: Two doses of vaccination led to significant antibody response in HD patients, and the antibody did not wane until 6 months.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.35
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• pp.9.1-9.10
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• 2023

Background: Studies conducted so far on the link between commute time and mental health among Koreans remain insufficient. In this study, we attempted to identify the relationship between commute time and subjective mental health using the 6^th Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS). Methods: Self-reported commute time was divided into four groups: ≤ 30 (group 1), 30-60 (group 2), 60-120 (group 3), and > 120 minutes (group 4). Subjective depression was defined as a score of 50 points or less on the WHO-5 well-being index. Subjective anxiety and fatigue were defined as answering 'yes' to the questionnaire on whether they had experienced it over the past year. The analysis of variance, t-test, and χ² test was used to analyze the differences among the characteristics of the study participants according to commute time, depression, anxiety, and fatigue. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for depression, anxiety, and fatigue according to commute time were calculated using multivariate logistic regression models adjusted for sex, age, monthly income, occupation, company size, weekly working hours, and shift work status. Results: Long commute times showed increased ORs and graded increasing trends for depression, anxiety, and fatigue. The ORs for depression increased significantly in group 2 (1.06 [1.01-1.11]), group 3 (1.23 [1.13-1.33]), and group 4 (1.31 [1.09-1.57]) compared to group 1 (reference). The ORs for anxiety increased significantly in group 2 (1.17 [1.06-1.29]), group 3 (1.43 [1.23-1.65]) and group 4 (1.89 [1.42-2.53]). The ORs for fatigue increased significantly in group 2 (1.09 [1.04-1.15]), group 3 (1.32 [1.21-1.43]), and group 4 (1.51 [1.25-1.82]). Conclusions: This study highlights that the risk of depression, anxiety, and fatigue increases with commute time.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.532-546
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• 2020

Purpose: Although the number of cancer survivors is increasing because of early diagnosis and better treatment, they are worried about relapses and metastasis. This study examined the dietary safety management awareness, capacity, and behavior of cancer survivors. Methods: Data were collected from 233 cancer survivors in Daegu and Gyeongbuk areas using a self-administered 5-Likert questionnaire from March to May 2018. Frequency analysis, one-way analysis of variance, factor analysis, reliability analysis, and correlation analysis were analyzed using the SPSS. Results: The average score for each factor was as follows: importance of weight management (3.83), education requirement (3.79), unhealthy diet (reverse, 3.64), food safety anxiety (3.34), lack of awareness of over and malnutrition (reverse, 3.26), obsession (3.23), cooking capacity (3.16), health-function pursuit (3.04), balanced diet (2.93), and chronic disease anxiety (2.64). The average dietary safety competency factors were significantly lower among the male survivors, aged 60-80 years, lower economic condition, and less nutritional supplement intake. Female survivors comprised the highest proportion with high health management and cooking capacity, while men had the lowest of all the factors (p < 0.001). The group that was low in all three capacity factors had a significantly lower average score of difficulty in acquiring knowledge (reverse), lack of awareness of over- and malnutrition (reverse), importance of weight management, education requirement, knowledge, balanced diet, and health-functional pursuit compared to the other groups (p < 0.001). Conclusion: To effectively manage health, dietary safety management education should be differentiated and actively conducted according to sex, age, cancer diagnosis time, economic status, nutritional supplement intake, and the capacity cluster of cancer survivors.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.127-135
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• 1984

Personal and social characteristics, disease status, reason of delay of receiving drug from City Health Center and knowledge and attitude on the pulmonary tuberculosis were compared between the faithful group in treatment and the unfaithful group among the patients for pulmonary tuberculosis registered in a City Health Center in order to analyze the factors which influenced the faithfulness to treatment. Record as well as interview survey was done toward all patients of 247 who were registered and being cared during over 6 months in a City Health Center from April 1, 1982 to March 31, 1983, and results were as follows; 1. There was no statistically significant difference in sex and age distribution between the faithful group in treatment and the unfaithful group. 2. There was no statistically significant difference in marital status distribution between the faithful group and unfaithful group in treatment. 3. The lower education group comprised higher proportion than the higher education group among the faithful group in treatment. 4. The proportion of the emlployed was higher than unemlpoyed among the unfaithful group in treatment. 5. The proportion of mild case was higher than severe case among the unfaithful group in treatment. 6. As for the onset of delay of receiving drug, 'less than 3 month after starting treatment' was 59.5% among the unfaithful group in treatment. 7. The reasons of delay of receiving drug were 'no time' (42.2%). 'being away from home' (25.0%), 'being sick' (13.8%), and 'forgot the appointed date' (12.0%). 8. There was no statistically significant difference in the knowledge on the communicability of the tuberculosis between the faithful groups in treatment and the unfaithful group. 9. There was no statistically significant difference in the knowlege on B.C.G. as vaccination drug of tuberculosis between the faithful group and the unfaithful group in treatment. 10. There was no statistically significant difference in the satisfaction on the treatment of health center between the group of faithful and unfaithful in treatment. 11. There was no statistically significant difference in the belief on the complete recovery of tuberculosis between the faithful group and the unfaithful group in treatment. 12. The rate of consulting on tuberculosis treatment with life partner was higher among the faithful group in treatment than the unfaithful group.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.41 no.8
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• pp.718-732
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to investigate nutrients or food factors related to cognitive function of elderly having Alzheimer's disease. In this study 38 subjects who were over 65 years old have participated in dementia clinic at A medical center. After they were diagnosed to Alzheimer's Disease (AD) through blood analysis, neuropsychological test, brain image and interview by medical specialist, we examined for their general information, anthropometry, blood pressure and dietary intakes. Dietary intakes were investigated using the 24-hour recall record. Energy intake was adequate and the energy composition of carbohydrate, protein and fat was 60.8 : 16.2 : 23.0, but dietary intakes of calcium, vitamin A and folate were less than 75% of the recommended intake levels for Koreans. The multiple regression analysis adjusted with age, sex and educational level showed that cognitive function was positively related to intakes of zinc, fishes and shellfishes, beans & nuts, sugars and fats, and negatively related to intakes of plant calcium and eggs. These results indicate that intakes of specific nutrients or food groups are associated with the specific domains of cognitive function in elderly with AD.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.247-261
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• 2021

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify the association between insulin resistance and the major dietary patterns of Korean adults. Methods: This study used data from the 2015 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The subjects were 2,276 adults aged 19 to 64 years old. Based on the food frequency questionnaire data, 112 food items were reclassified into 30 food groups. The principal component analysis method was applied to identify major dietary patterns. We used homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) value as indicators of insulin resistance. The association between major dietary patterns and insulin resistance was investigated using logistic regression analysis. Results: Three major dietary patterns were identified and assigned descriptive names based on the food items with high loadings: 'healthy Korean meal pattern', 'western meal pattern', and 'white rice, alcohol, meat pattern'. As the 'white rice, alcohol, meat pattern' score increased, significant increasing trends for fasting glucose concentration and HOMA-IR and a significant decreasing trend for QUICKI were observed after adjusting for age and sex. The odds ratio of insulin resistance according to the 'healthy Korean meal pattern' and the 'western meal pattern' were not statistically significant. the 'white rice, alcohol, meat pattern' showed a significant positive association with the risk of insulin resistance after adjusting for covariates. Conclusion: These results suggest that the 'white rice, alcohol, meat pattern' is positively associated with the risk of insulin resistance. The white rice, alcohol, meat pattern was related to the high consumption of alcohol together with rice or meat. This pattern was also associated with the high intake of sodium and low intakes of vitamin C, calcium, potassium, and dietary fiber. To confirm the association, further longitudinal studies are required.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 2022

Background: We compared the safety and effectiveness of robotic anatomical resection and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of the records of 4,283 patients, in whom an attempt was made to perform minimally invasive anatomical resection for lung cancer at Seoul National University Hospital from January 2011 to July 2020. Of these patients, 138 underwent robotic surgery and 4,145 underwent VATS. Perioperative outcomes were compared after propensity score matching including age, sex, height, weight, pulmonary function, smoking status, performance status, comorbidities, type of resection, combined bronchoplasty/angioplasty, tumor size, clinical T/N category, histology, and neoadjuvant treatment. Results: In total, 137 well-balanced pairs were obtained. There were no cases of 30-day mortality in the entire cohort. Conversion to thoracotomy was required more frequently in the VATS group (VATS 6.6% vs. robotic 0.7%, p=0.008). The complete resection rate (VATS 97.8% vs. robotic 98.5%, p=1.000) and postoperative complication rate (VATS 17.5% vs. robotic 19.0%, p=0.874) were not significantly different between the 2 groups. The robotic group showed a slightly shorter hospital stay (VATS 5.8±3.9 days vs. robotic 5.0±3.6 days, p=0.052). N2 nodal upstaging (cN0/pN2) was more common in the robotic group than the VATS group, but without statistical significance (VATS 4% vs. robotic 12%, p=0.077). Conclusion: Robotic anatomical resection in lung cancer showed comparable early outcomes when compared to VATS. In particular, robotic resection presented a lower conversion-to-thoracotomy rate. Furthermore, a robotic approach might improve lymph node harvesting in the N2 station.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.14 no.1_spc
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• pp.391-407
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• 2008

In order to observe from a cross-cultural point of view, the temperament and character of German and Korean adolescents were compared. The 715 German subjects aged 12-18(M=14.70, SD=1.80) and 1411 Korean subjects of the same age(M=15.18, SD=1.69) were assessed through JTCI 12-18 as to whether there exist differences in temperament and character between the two groups. According to the outcomes of the t-test, the German and Korean adolescents show significant differences in all 6 main scales of temperament and character, with only one exception in the character scale, that of 'self-transcendence.' If we analyze the effect size, because even small differences in great samples becomes statistically significant differences, the significant outcomes appeared only in two scales, one of temperament(Harm Avoidance) and the other of character(Self-Directedness): Korean subjects showed a higher tendency of Harm Avoidance related to inhibitions and anxiety and a lower tendency of Self-Directedness, meaning self-acceptance, purposefulness etc. Sex-differences according to the effect size showed only on the scale of Reward Dependence, which was the same in both samples. The outcomes are discussed according to the concepts of individualism and collectivism which are used to divide the Western and Asian cultures. It is also suggested to view these outcomes in the education-political and social bases of each country.