• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.551-560
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• 2014

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignancy and fourth most common cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Untreated chronic inflammation in the intestine ranks among the top three high-risk conditions for colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC). Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) protein is a member of the STAT family of transcription factors often deregulated in CRC. In this review, we try to emphasize the critical role of STAT3 in CAC as well as the crosstalk of STAT3 with inflammatory cytokines, nuclear factor (NF)-${\kappa}B$, PI3K/Akt, Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR), Notch, $Wnt/{\beta}$-catenin and microRNA (MiR) pathways. STAT3 is considered as a primary drug target to treat CAC in humans and rodents. Also we updated the findings for inhibitors of STAT3 with regard to effects on tumorigenesis. This review will hopefully provide insights on the use of STAT3 as a therapeutic target in CAC.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.179-183
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• 2002

Lycopene as a natural antioxidant may provide protection against a broad range of epithelial cancers and chronic diseases. Lycopene concentrate extracted from tomatoes can be used as functional food. Lycopene would undergo degradation via isomerization and oxidation under different processing conditions, which impact its bioactivity and reduce the fuuctionality for health benefits. Heat and light induce lycopene oxidation and isomerization of all-trans form to cis form. The effects of thermal treatment and light irradiation on the stability of lycopene were determined. Results have shown that lycopene stability depends on the extent of oxidation and isomerization. Cir-isomers are less stable than trans-isomers. The level of cis-isomers increased as treatment time increased but only for a short period during the beginning of the treatment. The major effect of thermal treatment and light irradiation was a significant decrease in the total lycopene content. A true assessment of health benefits of lycopene concentrate depends on the lycopene content and the composition of all trans-isomers and cia-isomers.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.546-552
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• 2022

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare walking speed and balance abilities according to various taping methodsin patients with stroke. Design: Cross-sectional study Methods: Twenty patients with stroke who were hospitalized at a rehabilitation hospital were allotted to the either the talus stabilization, Kinesio or sham taping, or barefoot conditions by drawing lots. Assessment tools used were the Functional Reach Test(FRT), Timed Up and Go test(TUG), One-Legged Stance Test (OLST), and the 10-Meter Walk Test(10MWT).After each test was measured three times, the mean values of each test was used for analysis. Results: Significant results were observed with thetalus stabilization and Kinesio taping groupcompared to the barefoot and sham taping method for theFRT,TUG, the OLST, and the 10MWT(p<0.05). Also, significant differences in the resultswere seen in the OLST, TUG, and the 10MWTwith the talus taping compared to the Kinesio taping method(p<0.05). Conclusions: The use oftalus stabilization taping applied to the ankle of patients with stroke was more effective for balance and walking ability improvement than Kinesio taping through the correction of an abnormal position of the talus.It is considered that these methods of taping can be applied effectively in the clinic.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.5917-5935
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• 2012

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes acute and chronic human hepatitis infection and as such is an important global health problem. The virus was discovered in the USA in 1989 and it is now known that three to four million people are infected every year, WHO estimating that 3 percent of the 7 billion people worldwide being chronically infected. Humans are the natural hosts of HCV and this virus can eventually lead to permanent liver damage and carcinoma. HCV is a member of the Flaviviridae family and Hepacivirus genus. The diameter of the virus is about 50-60 nm and the virion contains a single-stranded positive RNA approximately 10,000 nucleotides in length and consisting of one ORF which is encapsulated by an external lipid envelope and icosahedral capsid. HCV is a heterogeneous virus, classified into 6 genotypes and more than 50 subtypes. Because of the genome variability, nucleotide sequences of genotypes differ by approximately 31-34%, and by 20-23% among subtypes. Quasi-species of mixed virus populations provide a survival advantage for the virus to create multiple variant genomes and a high rate of generation of variants to allow rapid selection of mutants for new environmental conditions. Direct contact with infected blood and blood products, sexual relationships and availability of injectable drugs have had remarkable effects on HCV epidemiology. Hundreds of thousands of people die each year from hepatitis and liver cancer caused by HCV virus infection. Approximately 80% of patients with acute hepatitis C progress into a chronic disease state leading to serious hepatic disorders, 10-20% of which develop chronic liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The incubation period of HCV is 6-8 weeks and the infection is often asymptomatic so it is very hard to detect at early stages, making early treatment very difficult. Therefore, hepatitis C is called a "silent disease". Neutralizing antibodies are produced against several HCV proteins during infection but the virus mutates to escape from antibodies. Some patients with chronic hepatitis C may have some symptoms such as fatigue, muscle aches, nausea and pain. Autoimmune and immunecomplex-mediated diseases have also been reported with chronic HCV infection.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.171-182
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• 2020

Purpose: The aims of this study were to examine the salivary microbiota in conditions of periodontal health and disease and to explore microbial changes following nonsurgical periodontal treatment. Methods: Non-stimulated saliva samples were collected from 4 periodontally healthy participants at baseline and from 8 patients with chronic periodontitis at baseline and 3 months following nonsurgical periodontal therapy. The V3 and V4 regions of the 16S rRNA gene from the DNA of saliva samples were amplified and sequenced. The salivary microbial compositions of the healthy participants and patients with periodontitis prior to and following nonsurgical treatment of periodontitis were compared based on the relative abundance of various taxa. Results: On average, 299 operational taxonomic units were identified in each sample. The phylogenetic diversity in patients with periodontitis was higher than that in healthy participants and decreased following treatment. The abundance of the phylum Spirochaetes and the genus Treponema in patients with periodontitis was 143- and 134-fold higher than in the healthy control group, respectively, but decreased significantly following treatment. The species that were overabundant in the saliva of patients with periodontitis included the Peptostreptococcus stomatis group, Porphyromonas gingivalis, the Fusobacterium nucleatum group, Parvimonas micra, Porphyromonas endodontalis, Filifactor alocis, and Tannerella forsythia. The phylum Actinobacteria, the genus Streptococcaceae_uc, and the species Streptococcus salivarius group were more abundant in healthy participants than in those with periodontitis. There was a trend toward a decrease in disease-associated taxa and an increase in health-associated taxa following treatment. Conclusions: Our results revealed differences in the taxa of salivary microbiota between conditions of periodontal health and disease. The taxa found to be associated with health or disease have potential for use as salivary biomarkers for periodontal health or disease.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.477-488
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• 2007

Prevalence of an obese population has been increasing in Korea. Obesity is considered a major risk factor for chronic degenerative diseases. Specifically, prevalence of obesity is prominent for adult woman in Korea. In many weight control programs, weight change did not often show any beneficial effects for health. These facts discourage people in the program. Thus in this study, the anthropometry, blood pressure, serum biochemical indices and dietary habits were compared by percent body fat change for adult women to show the beneficial effects of the weight control program. Study subjects were 134. Measurements were done before and after the weight control program. Percent Body Fat (PBF) was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Using PBF changes, subjects were grouped as I (more than 1% increase), M (${\pm}1%$ change), and D (more than 1% decrease). Data were analyzed using SPSS 12.0 program. Among the 134 participants, 13 increased their weight and 100 decreased. For PBF, 19 increased and 59 decreased. Statistical significant differences were shown for anthropometric assessments before and after for all weight, fat mass, percent body fat, waist-hip ratio and body mass index. I had increases, and D shows decreases. But the difference of D is large than M. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures decreased in all groups (p < 0.05). Fasting blood glucose decreased in all groups but were statistically significant only in D. Also triglyceride decreased in D (p < 0.05). Thus health conditions showed desirable changes in I < M < D in order. Dietary habit changes were desirable with only D. Weight, BMI and other indicators for obesity is not the real indicator for PBF. Recently it is easy to measure PBF. Thus, for weight control programs and to show benefits of the program, PBF is a good indicator for adult women in Korea.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.249-260
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• 2013

Objectives: Previous observations propose that risk-taking behaviors such as cigarette smoking are prevailing among young people with chronic conditions including diabetes. The purpose of this study was to examine whether cigarette smoking is more prevalent among diabetics than non-diabetics and whether it differs by age at the time of diagnosis with diabetes from young adulthood (YAH) to adulthood (AH). Methods: We used US panel data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health Study) during the years 2001 to 2002 (Wave III, YAH) and 2007 to 2008 (Wave IV, AH). Multivariate logistic regression models were applied to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of cigarette use behaviors according to age at the time of diagnosis with diabetes, after adjusting for demographic and selected behavioral factors. Results: Of 12 175 study participants, 2.6% reported having been diagnosed with diabetes up to AH. Early-onset diabetics (age at diagnosis <13 years) were more likely than non-diabetics to report frequent cigarette smoking (smoking on ${\geq}20$ days during the previous 30 days) in YAH (OR, 3.34; 95% CI, 1.27 to 8.79). On the other hand, late-onset diabetics (age at diagnosis ${\geq}13$ years) were more likely than non-diabetics to report heavy cigarette smoking (smoking ${\geq}10$ cigarettes per day during the previous 30 days) in AH (OR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.03 to 2.30). Conclusions: The current study indicated that diabetics are more likely than non-diabetics to smoke cigarettes frequently and heavily in YAH and AH. Effective smoking prevention and cessation programs uniquely focused on diabetics need to be designed and implemented.

• Journal of Labour Economics
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.29-55
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• 2017

We examine the effects of the self-reported subjective and the objective health indexes on work compensations. The compensations consist of monetary factors, such as wages, and non-monetary factors reflecting job risks such as the workplace accidence. The wages and workplace injuries are clearly affected by gender and age differences as the subjective and objective health factors of elderly workers are combined with physical and systematic work environments. Mental health problems such as work depression are more serious especially for high income elderly groups. The elderly workers experienced with physical problems and chronic illnesses are led to the decrease in wages and the increase in safety accident risks at work sharply. Therefore, we need to provide supporting services, retirement planning designed by companies, supported by the government enhanced risk working conditions and the weakness on protecting jobs.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.57-66
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• 2011

In recent years, health management services have been increased according to the increase in interests on health and the development of information technology (IT) based on increases in advanced ages and chronic disease patients. Thus, it requires the monitoring of health conditions and the specialized healthcare services not only in a hospital but also their own home. This study provides the specific notification services related to the context information based on users' bio signal data and the notification services of specific patients and attempts to develop a hypertension monitoring system and a notification service system according to indexes. Because this system considers the context of users by differing it from the conventional monitoring services, it makes possible to obtain more exact measurement values. In addition, it is able to reduce certain health risks through managing specific patients and based on living indexes. Also, it can provide more customized services to users due to the exact and finely classified services.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.113-125
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• 2012

We developed a Smartphone application based on PHR(Personal Health Records) provided by a tertiary hospital to provide users personalized diet, exercise contents. It uses Relevance ratio algorithm of diet and excercise being correlated with diseases listed on PHR to provide personalized contents to management of individual diseases and record the amounts of food taken and exercise along with calories consumed through exercise. Besides, developed U-Health Service also considering users' conditions and conveniences, as a service to use contents and record suitable for the individuals who share the information on restaurants locations, their menus, and nutrition based on users' location information.