• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.325-329
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• 2005

Objectives : This study was performed to assess the association between high sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hsCRP) and hypertension. Methods : We evaluated the relationship between hsCRP with hypertension and other cardiovascular risk factors, using a cross-sectional survey of 202 people over the age of 50, living in a rural area. A logistic regression analysis was used to study the association between hsCRP and hypertension. The hsCRP levels were divided in quartiles, and the odds ratios (OR), with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), calculated, using the lowest quartile as a reference. Results : The subjects consisted of 37.1% men and 62.9% women, with a mean (SD) hsCRP level of $1.9({\pm}3.0mg/{\ell})$ . The overall prevalence of hypertension was 61.4%. The prevalence of hypertension according to the hsCRP quartile was not statistically significant. After adjustment for confounding variables, the prevalence of hypertension according to the subjects in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th hsCRP quartiles were 1.418 (95% CI=0.554-3.628), 1.124 (95% CI=0.392-3.214) and 0.892 (95% CI=0.312-2.547) times higher, respectively, compared to those in the 1st quartile. Conclusions : The results showed that the level of hsCRP was not a risk factor for hypertension among adults aged over 50 years, living in a rural area. A further study should be performed to find the association between hsCRP and hypertension.

• The Korean Journal of Financial Management
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.33-69
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• 1989

The Purpose of this study is to test empirically the determinants of capital structure of the Korea Listed Firms. In order to accomplish the purpose of this study, both literature survey and empirical test have been made. For the empirical test, agency and asymmetric information factors as well as traditional ones have been throughly reviewed. Traditional factors tested in this study include firm-size, collateral value of the assets, business risk, tax, non-debt tax shields, and industry effects. Agency and asymmetric information factors include growth opportunities, the percentage of outstanding equity held by inside stockholders, and the number of inside stockholders. From the results of the cross-sectional regression analysis, the adjusted R-square is 1931%, and the overall F-value indicates significance. For the analysis period, the signs of the variables except business risk are as predicted. Firm-size, collateral value of the assets, and business risk significant at the.01-.05 level. In order to determine the influence of industry factors on the financial leverage, a total of 8 dummy variables are added to the regression model. The adjusted R-square inclosed by 4.2% for the first analysis period(1983-1985) and 6% for the second analysis period(1986-1987). This suggests that industry factors are significant in explaining the variations in financial leverage across firms. In order to pursue the influence of agency and asymmetric information factors on the financial leverage, again the cross-sectional regression analysis is done for the middle size firms gruop(n=40). The adjusted R-square increased by 9.8% for the first analysis period(1983-1985) and 6.1% for the total analysis period(1983-1987), and all the signs was as predicted. But both the variables except the number of inside stockholders was not significant.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.31 no.4 s.63
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• pp.770-785
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• 1998

This study describes the relation of physician's income and price of medical service and social welfare through microeconomic view, reviews the literature of influencing factor on physician's income, and it describes general distribution of physician's income, and analyzes influencing factor of physician's income. A total of 844 persons responded to the mail survey, through stratified sampling by 23 branches of medical society in Korean RBRVS study. The design of the study is cross sectional study, and the unit of analysis is a physician. To examine the change of average income per month, multiple regression was used to test the change according to physician's characteristics, demographic characteristics, scale of clinic, average intensity of ordinary work, and specialty. The major findings of this study are as follows; 1. As for self-employed physicians, the difference of average income per month among specialties was mcreased \4,850,000, but the difference was \6,020,000 under the control of control variables. 2. The number of average out-patients per month and number of nurses and nursing aides significantly positively associated, and average income per month was significantly higher for physicians who had sick-beds than physicians who had no sick-beds. In conclusion, the number of out-patient and number of nurses and nursing aides is the major influencing factor, and the difference of average income per month among specialties existed in self-employed physicians. So this study suggests basic hypothesis that the price of medical service and supply of physician by specialties are not pertinent. Being a cross-sectional study, this study can not suggest causal explanations. In the future, further study is needed for causal explanations.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.11 no.11
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• pp.405-416
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• 2020

This study was conducted to identify the factors affecting sarcopenia in middle-aged and older women in Korea. This is a cross sectional study by using 5th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. The data were analyzed by using the SPSS 26.0 program. The prevalence of sarcopenia was 10.8%. There were significant differences according to ASM, age, education, current job, marital status, perceived health status, energy intake, protein intake, BMI, body fat, alcohol drinking, menopause, central obesity, impaired fasting glucose and chronic disease. Woman with central obesity and osteoarthritis increased risk of sarcopenia each 4.15 times(p<.001), 3.06 times(p=.041) and energy intake decreased risk of sarcopenia 0.99 times(p=.043). In order to prevent and manage sarcopenia, strategies for managing central obesity and osteoarthritis in mddile-aged and older woman and adequate food intake are needed.

• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.341-348
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• 2019

Purpose: Severe burn injuries require long periods of hospitalization and treatment, which results in various physical and psychological issues. The main purpose of this study was to identify burn characteristics and psychological problems that influence Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) after discharge. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study using mobile/web or paper-based survey methods was conducted from a major burn center. A total of 145 patients completed the scar assessment, quality of life, sleep disorders, and depression scales. Results: The overall mean HRQoL and scar status scores were 2.28 out of 5 and 34.45 out of 60 points, respectively. Participants with higher burn degree, joint involvement, and emotional distress reported significantly lower HRQoL and scar status. Participants with depression and sleep problems also had lower HRQoL. Significant predictors of HRQoL included burn range, scar status, depression, and sleep issues. Conclusion: The results show that patients with severe burn injury experience high levels of physical and psychological problems. Patients with severe burn injury and psychological problems such as depression and sleep are likely to experience a reduced HRQoL. Psychological management and intervention in home care setting may improve HRQoL of burn patients.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.309-318
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• 2010

Objective: This study was performed to investigate the prevalence of impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and its related characteristics among healthy adults in some Korean rural areas. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using the data from 1352 adults who were over the age 40 and under the age 70 and who were free of diabetes mellitus (DM), cardiovascular diseases and other diseases and who participated in a survey conducted as part of the Korean Rural Genomic Cohort Study. IFG was defined as a serum fasting glucose level between 100 and 125 mg/dL. Results: The prevalence of IFG was 20.4% in men, 15.5% in women and 12.7% overall. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the independent risk factors for IFG were male gender, having a family history of DM, the quartiles of gamma glutamyltransferase and high sensitive C-reactive protein and the waist circumference. The homeostatis model assessment for insulin resistance was very strongly associated with IFG. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) and MS components was higher in the subjects with IFG then in those with normal fasting glucose (NFG). Conclusions: The result of study could supply evidence to find the high risk population and to determine a strategy for treating IFG. Further research is needed to explain the causal relationship and mechanisms of IFG.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.17
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• pp.7803-7807
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• 2015

Opisthorchis viverrini infection is a serious public health problem in Southeast Asia especially in the northeast and north of Thailand. Therefore, a cross-sectional survey using multistage sampling was conducted from the rural communities of Surin province, Thailand, during September 2013 to July 2014. O. viverrini infection was determined using Kato's thick smear technique. Socio-demographic, information resources, and history data were collected using predesigned semi-structured questionnaires. A total of 510 participants completed interviews and had stools collected. Some 32 (6.47%) participants were infected with O. viverrini. The rate was slightly higehr in males (6.61%) than females (6.32%). High frequencies were found in the age groups 61-70 (19.4%) and 71-80 years (19.4%), those involved in agriculture (10.5%), and in primary school (10.3%). The distribution of high infection was found in Tha Tum (16.7%) and Sankha district (16.7%), followed by Samrong Thap (13.3%), Si Narong (13.33%), and Buachet district (13.33%). Chi-square testing indicated that age (61-70 and 71-80 year old), education (primary school) and occupation (agriculture), were significantly associated with O. viverrini infection (p-value<0.05). Of 72.6% participants who had past histories with stool examination, 17.0% of them had been infected with O. viverrini and 43.2% treated with praziquantel. This finding confirmed that O. viverrini is still a problem in Surin province, Thailand, and therefore, interventions are urgently required for mass treatment and health education implementation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6783-6790
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• 2013

Background: Breast cancer is the commonest type of cancer among women, and in Malaysia 50-60% of the new cases are being detected at late stages. Do age, education level, income, ethnicity, relationship with breast cancer patients and knowledge of breast cancer risk factors influence breast screening practices? This study revealed interesting but significant differences. Objectives: To assess the knowledge of breast cancer risk factors and early detection measures among women in a high risk group. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional survey of one hundred and thirty one women relatives of breast cancer patients was carried out. Participants were selected through purposive sampling, during hospital visits. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Results: The majority of the respondents (71%) had poor knowledge of the risk factors for breast cancer. Income, relationship with a patient and practise of breast cancer screening predicted performance of mammography, $R^2$=0.467, F=12.568, p<0.0001. Conclusions: The finding shows inadequate knowledge of breast cancer risk factors and poor cancer screening practise among women with family history of breast cancer. Poor knowledge and practise of breast screening are likely to lead to late stage presentation of breast cancer disease. Some important predictors of breast cancer screening behaviour among women with positive family history of breast cancer were identified. An understanding of the strengths and significance of the association between these factors and breast screening behaviour is vital for developing more targeted breast health promotion.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.1515-1518
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• 2015

Background: Leukoplakia is an asymptomatic and potentially malignant change in the oral mucosa and high frequencies have been reported among smokers. The present study concerned the prevalence of tobacco use and leukoplakia and also associations between the two. Study design: This cross sectional survey was conducted amongst the Gond tribal population of Kundam Block, Jabalpur district, Madhya Pradesh state, Central India during 2007 to 2009. Screening for leukoplakia was conducted by a medical officer with two mouth mirrors. It is only based on visual inspection and oral pathology was not performed. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect information on socio-demographic and smoking habits. Prevalence of leukoplakia among users and non-users of tobacco was calculated in terms of percentages. Results: Of 1,552 individuals aged more than 12 years of age who were screened, 144 (9.3%) were found to have oral leukoplakia. The prevalence of leukoplakia was significantly elevated among tobacco users as compared to non-users (11% vs 2.5%; p<0.001). The percentage of leukoplakia was almost similar in both tobacco smokers and chewers (9% vs 11%; p=0.304). However, the percentage of leukoplakia was especially high among those chewers who also smoked tobacco (21.9%). Conclusions: The findings of the present study showed a positive effect of tobacco use and prevalence of leukoplakia. Also the prevalence was very high among Gond tribe, a marginalized population living in central India. There is a need for effective screening and treatment of leukoplakia in this area.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.873-881
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• 2000

Recent research reported health risks associate with high carbohydrates diets. Objectives of this study were to evaluate in a cross-sectional study if high carbohydrate diet is associated with coronary heart disease(CHD) risk factors: examined blood concnetration of triglyceride(TG), total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C), plasma glucose, systolic blood pressure(BP), body mas index(BMI), wasit-hip ratio(WHR) and waist-stature ratio(WSR). Using the most recent US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(IIINHANES III) data, the nationally representative US population (3772 men, 4095 women of 25-64 years of age) was divided into low vs. high carbohydrate diet groups(below 40% vs. above 60% energy intake from cab carbohydrates) and compared by the CHD risk factors. Triglyceride was higher(p<0.001) in the high carbohydrate group, whereas high density-lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)was lower(p<0.01) in the high carbohydrate diet group. In plasma glucose, there was no significant differences between high carbohydrate diet and low carbohydrate diet. In adiposity(BMI, WHR and WSR), it also showed no significant differences, After adjustment for age, ethnicity, alcohol and smoking in upper 60%-carbohydrate diet, Odds Ratio of TG and HDL-C were 1.42 and 1.23 in men and 1.22 and 1.17 in women. 50-60% carbohydrate diet was associated with decreased risk of CHD. Dietary guidelines for Koreans recommend 60-70% of total energy from carbohydrate, as Koreans traditionally consumed high carbohydrate diets. In a cross-sectional population of adults, diets containing 55-60% energy from carbohydrate were suggested as a dietary guideline of carbohydrate intake for Koreans. (Korean J Nutrition 33(8) : 873-881, 2000)