• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.49-62
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• 2009

Objectives: To identify factors affecting the health of male professional soldiers. Methods: Cross-sectional questionnaire data was collected from a randomly stratified sample population of 763 officers and sergeants who were employed in 34 units in the Korean military. Data were statistically analyzed using Chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: Work environment and personal health behavior were influential factors, which were differentiated by recent disease history including cardiovascular disease and self-rated health status. Sergeants in special forces/units or engaged in front-line military activities, and soldiers who were current smokers and heavy drinkers were more likely to have been diagnosed with a disease in the preceding three months. Those who were older, obese, and heavy drinkers were more likely to have cardiovascular disease than those who were less obese and more physical active. Soldiers exhibiting signs of extreme stress were more likely to poorly self-rate their health status. Conclusion: Health behaviors and characteristics of work environment significantly influence the health status among Korean professional soldiers. Health promotion strategies are needed to change individual heath behaviors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and work stress. A healthier working environment should also be promoted.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.34
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• pp.40.1-40.9
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• 2022

Background: According to the occupational accident status analysis in 2020, of 1,180 occupational deaths, 463 were caused by cardiovascular disease (CVD). Workers should be assessed for CVD risk at regular intervals to prevent work-related CVD in accordance with the rules on occupational safety and health standards. However, no previous study has addressed risk and mortality. Therefore, this longitudinal study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between 10-year cardiovascular risk of the general health checkup and mortality. Methods: The study included 545,859 participants who visited Kangbuk Samsung Total Healthcare Centers from January 1, 2002, to December 31, 2017. We performed 10-year cardiovascular risk assessment for the participants and the risk was divided into 4 groups (low, moderate, high, and very high). The study used death data from the Korea National Statistical Office for survival status as an outcome variable by December 31, 2019, and the cause of death based on the International Classification of Diseases, 10^th Revision (ICD-10) was identified. Statistical analysis was performed using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, and the sum of the periods from the first visit to the date of death or December 31, 2019, was used as a time scale. We also performed a stratified analysis for age at baseline and sex. Results: During 5,253,627.9 person-years, 4,738 overall deaths and 654 cardiovascular deaths occurred. When the low-risk group was set as a reference, in the multivariable-adjusted model, the hazard ratios (HRs) (95% confidence interval [CI]) for overall mortality were 3.36 (2.87-3.95) in the moderate-risk group, 11.08 (9.27-13.25) in the high-risk group, and 21.20 (17.42-25.79) in the very-high-risk group, all of which were statistically significant. In cardiovascular deaths, the difference according to the risk classification was more pronounced. The HRs (95% CI) were 8.57 (4.95-14.83), 38.95 (21.77-69.69), and 78.81 (42.62-145.71) in each group. As a result of a subgroup analysis by age and sex, the HRs of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality tended to be higher in the high-risk group. Conclusions: This large-scale longitudinal study confirmed that the risk of death increases with the 10-year cardiovascular risk of general health checkup.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.214-220
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• 2002

Objectives : To investigate the relationship of serum uric acid to cardiovascular risk factors in Korean male workers. Methods : We screened 522 male workers at an electrical manufacturing company by a periodic health examination and a questionnaire survey in 2000. We collected data relating to age, smoking status, alcohol drinking status, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, serum lipid, fasting blood glucose and serum uric acid. The data were analyzed using a variety of methods, including ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, and multivariate regression analyses. to examine the association between uric acid and cardiovascular risk factors with a cross-sectional study design. Results : The concentration of serum uric acid showed positive associations with BMI, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL-cholesterol; it was also significantly correlated to systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Life-style characteristics, such as smoking and alcohol drinking showed no significant association. From the multivariate regression analyses, BMI, total cholesterol and fasting blood glucose levels were found to be independent positive predictors of uric acid; while age, blood pressure and smoking status give no independent contribution explaining the variability of serum uric acid levels. Conclusions : This study demonstrates that serum uric acid level have a significant association with cardiovascular risk factors, such as BMI, total cholesterol and blood glucose in some Korean male workers.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.22-28
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• 2016

Background: Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) with selective shunting is the surgical method currently used to treat patients with carotid artery disease. We evaluated the incidence of major postoperative complications in patients who underwent CEA with selective shunting under transcranial Doppler (TCD) at our institution. Methods: The records of 45 patients who underwent CEA with TCD-based selective shunting under general anesthesia from November 2009 to June 2015 were reviewed. The risk factors for postoperative complications were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: Preoperative atrial fibrillation was observed in three patients. Plaque ulceration was detected in 10 patients (22.2%) by preoperative computed tomography imaging. High-level stenosis was observed in 16 patients (35.5%), and 18 patients had contralateral stenosis. Twenty patients (44.4%) required shunt placement due to reduced TCD flow or a poor temporal window. The 30-day mortality rate was 2.2%. No cases of major stroke were observed in the 30 days after surgery, but four cases of minor stroke were noted. Univariate analysis showed that preoperative atrial fibrillation (odds ratio [OR], 40; p=0.018) and ex-smoker status (OR, 17.5; p=0.021) were statistically significant risk factors for a minor stroke in the 30-day postoperative period. Analogously, multivariate analysis also found that atrial fibrillation (p<0.001) and ex-smoker status (p=0.002) were significant risk factors for a minor stroke in the 30-day postoperative period. No variables were identified as risk factors for 30-day major stroke or death. No wound complications were found, although one (2.2%) of the patients suffered from a hypoglossal nerve injury. Conclusion: TCD-based CEA is a safe and reliable method to treat patients with carotid artery disease. Preoperative atrial fibrillation and ex-smoker status were found to increase the postoperative risk of a small embolism leading to a minor neurologic deficit.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.881-890
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• 2022

Objectives: This study investigated the effect of complex Korean medicine treatment on decreased mental status in a progressive supranuclear palsy patient with a cerebrovascular accident. Case presentation: The patient was treated with Korean medicine composed of herbal medicine (modified Guibi-tang), acupuncture, moxibustion, and cupping combined with Western medicine (a dopamine precursor and an anticholinergic) and physical therapy. The Glasgow Coma Scale, Mini-Mental State Examination, and Hoehn and Yahr Scale were used to evaluate the effects of the treatments. After treatment, Glasgow Coma Scores increased from 9-10 to 12-13, and Mini-Mental State Examination for dementia screen scores increased from 1 to 2. The Hoehn and Yahr score remained at 5. There were no side effects of the treatment. Conclusion: This study suggests that complex Korean medicine treatments may be effective for the decreased mental status of a progressive supranuclear palsy patient with a cerebrovascular accident, but further studies are needed.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.732-737
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• 1994

From January 1983 to December 1992, There were 1441 papers in the Korean Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. Among these papers, 783[54.3%] were original article or clinical analysis and 652[45.2%] were case reports. A total of 319 papers contained some statistical analysis. In 150 cases[47.0%] of these 319 papers, the statistical description was insufficient. Of the correctly described papers, 115[68%] had more than one statistical error. Of course, in many cases the errors were not considered to be severe, but they were often sufficient to raise doubts about some inferences. We suggest that authors should be more careful when they describe and apply statistical methods. If possible, authors should interpret results with statistical specialists. And we also suggest that our society have more extensive statistical refereeing system. This would at least prevent the worst errors from appearing in print. The last suggestion is elementary instruction in statistical methods during preclinical training.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.27-38
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• 2008

Purpose: To determine the degree of cardiovascular disease risk according to socioeconomic factors among midlife women in the community and thereby provide baseline data for the development of health promotion programs. Method: A total of 200 women participated in health screenings and a health survey. The survey was performed in November and December, 2006. The survey instruments included socioeconomic factors, health behavior (smoking and exercise), and family history. Biophysical measurement included BMI and blood pressure. Blood samples were drawn for glucose and total cholesterol tests. Results: The mean age was 52.5 years, 34.0% had received education less than 6 years, 70.0% earned a monthly income of less than \1,500,000, and 61.5% were homemakers. Cardiovascular disease risk was significantly different by age (BMI, systolic BP, and exercise), education (systolic BP), monthly income (T. cholesterol), marital status (smoking), and occupation (exercise). Most women had 2 or 3 cardiovascular disease risks. Older age, lower education, and lower income were significantly associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk. Conclusion: Efforts should be made to decrease the number and severity of cardiovascular disease risk factors for midlife women in the community by developing health promotion programs targeting to modify their cardiovascular disease risk factors.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.169-172
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• 1975

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.124-136
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• 2002

As the elderly population has increased in recent years in Korea chronic degenerative diseases prevalent in the aged have garnered attention in relation to food behavior. In general, dietary intakes of elderly Koreans were inadequate in quality as well as in quantity. Especially, intakes of Ca, vitamin A, and riboflavin along with total energy were insufficient. They tended to consume high carbohydrate and low fat energy rates which may be resulted from long standing vegetable-based flood patterns. Relationships between dietary intakes and indices of cardiovascular diseases revealed that blood pressures and serum lipids patterns tended to be poor in individuals having high abdominal fat accumulations which seemed to be related with dietary consumption of high carbohydrate and insufficient intake of many nutrients. These results suggested that a nutritionally balanced diet including animal sources floods is needed in order to prevent an abdominal obesity and cardiovascular diseases. The bone health status of the Korean elderly appeared poor. It was more serious in women recording a higher prevalence rate of osteopenia and osteoporosis than in men. There were strong associations between dietary factors and bone health status. Bone mineral density was found to be higher with higher intakes of protein energy rate, the total amount of feeds, and many nutrients including Ca and p, indicating that a good quality diet is essential in maintaining healthy bone status in later life. mental health condition of the elderly as measured by cognitive function and the degree of depression was also inadequate and had strong association with dietary consumption. The positive results were obtained in individuals having an adequate dict. Therefore, it could be summarized that the physical as well as mental health in elderly Koreans are highly related with their dietary patterns. Thus, the older adults need te consume nutritionally well balanced diet in sufficient amount, which contains various flood items including significant amounts of animal source floods in a daily diet in order to maintain healthy condition.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.371-382
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• 1985

Over the past 4 decades after World War II a great deal of data and clinical experiences have been accumulated relating to the diagnosis and surgical treatment of congenital and acquired cardiovascular diseases in Korea. Clinical data on cardiovascular surgical cases performed in all 22 hospitals for open heart surgery in Korea was collected from it`s starting up to December 1984. The first recorded open heart surgery for a young adult atrial septal defect was performed by Young Kyoon Lee, M.D. on August 7, 1959, Seoul National University Hospital, Korea. And, some scattered reports on cardiovascular surgical cases in it`s early period have changed recently the number of hospitals for open heart surgery and clinical cases enormously in total amount of 13, 100 cardiovascular operations performed on 12, 990 cases up to December 1984. Of the total 13, 100 cardiovascular operations, congenital cardiovascular anomaly occupied 70%. Of the congenital cases, 6, 580 operations for acyanotic group [operative mortality 4.5%], and 2, 489 operations for cyanotic group [operative mortality 20%]. The incidence of congenital cardiovascular anomaly in order of frequency was ventricular septal defect [29%], patent ductus arteriosus [26%], Tetralogy of Fallot [22%], atrial septal defect [8, 6%], pulmonary valve stenosis [3.0%], and endocardial cushion defect [1.1%]. Of the 3, 412 valvular heart disease cases, which occupied 85% of total 4, 031 acquired cardiovascular disease, individual incidence was in mitral 2, 565 [63.5%], double valve 451 [11.1%], and simple aortic valve 351 [8.7%]. Total number of valve replaced, mechanical and tissue, was 2, 795, and 1, 884 for mitral, 808 for aortic, and 103 for tricuspid in position. Operative mortality for prosthetic valve replacement in total was 9.8%. Remained acquired cardiovascular cases chronic constrictive pericarditis [7.9%], cardiac tumor [1.9%], coronary artery bypass [1.8%], cardiac trauma [1.2%] and less than 1% of thoracic aortic aneurysm. Overall operative mortality for open and non-open cardiovascular surgical operation was 7.7% [congenital acyanotic group 3.2%, congenital cyanotic group 19.4%, and acquired group 7.8%]. In conclusion, present status of cardiovascular surgery in Korea is stabilized with accumulation of clinical cases and experiences, and the future in the field of cardiovascular surgery is promising, especially in the infant cardiac surgery and aortocoronary bypass surgery, with abrupt increase of specialized cardiac centers, trained specialists, and expanding social health insurance.