• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.5671-5674
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• 2013

Incidence of breast cancer shows geographical variation, even within areas of ethnic homogeneity. Saudi Arabia has witnessed an increase in occurrence of breast cancer in its unexplored ethnic populations over the past few years. We aimed at determining whether any association exists between single nucleotide polymorphisms in breast cancer associated gene 1 (BRCA1) and breast cancer associated gene 2 (BRCA2) and the risk of breast cancer. TaqMan based Real Time Polymerase chain reaction genotyping assays were used to determine the frequency of single nucleotide polymorphisms in BRCA1 (rs799917) and BRCA2 (rs144848) in a group of 100 breast cancer patients and unaffected age matched controls of Saudi Arabian origin. The present data revealed that neither BRCA1 nor the BRCA2 studied variant show any significant association with the disease. This study failed to find any role of the concerned variants in breast cancer either as risk or as prognostic factors. The small number of patients registered was one of the limitations of this study. In summary, comparison of mutation profile with other ethnic populations and regions reflected both differences and similarities indicating co-exposure to a unique set of risk factors. The differences could be due to exposure to particular environmental carcinogens; different lifestyle, reproductive pattern; dietary or cultural practices of Saudi Arabian women that need further investigations.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.sup3
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• pp.197-200
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• 2016

On an international scale, the burden of cancer in absolute numbers continues to increase, mainly due to aging of population in many countries, the overall growth of the world population, changing lifestyle with increasing cancer-causing behavior, like cigarette smoking, changing dietary habits and sedentary life. Cancer is the second-leading cause of death and disability in the world, after only heart disease. Recently, increasing incidence and mortality of cancer have also become evident in the developing world. In Iraq and particularly in Basrah in the southern part of the country, the burden has definitely increased and deserves extensive research. The present paper is part of an extensive household survey carried out in Basrah in 2013. Among the objectives was to validate official cancer registration in the governorate. The cross-sectional survey had a retrospective component to inquire about the incidence of cancer and cancer-related deaths during the three years preceding the date of inquiry (2010-2012). A convenient sample of 6,999 households with 40,688 inhabitants using multistage cluster sampling was surveyed involving all urban and rural areas of Basrah. The official cancer registration activities in Basrah seemed to have attained a high level of registration coverage (70-80%) but the gap, represented by missed cases, is still high enough to criticize the system. Most of the missing cases were either not notified by treating facilities or they were diagnosed and treated outside Basrah. Using a set of parameters, the pattern of cancer was consistent based on data of the household survey and data of the cancer registry but a gap still existed in the coverage of incident cancer and mortality by cancer registration. Integrated serious steps are required to contain the risk of cancer and its burden on the patient through improving the registration process, improving early detection, diagnostic and management capabilities and encouraging scientific research to explore the hidden risk factors and possible causes of low registration coverage. Periodic household surveys seemed feasible and essential to support routine registration.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.883-886
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• 2014

Background: Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men worldwide. Several factors such as availability of screening tests, and dietary, other lifestyle, environmental and genetic influences contribute to worldwide disparities in prostate cancer incidence and mortality rates. Our aims were to investigate patient characteristics at the time of diagnosis, common treatment strategies employed and survival in an Iranian male population with prostate cancer. Materials and Methods: Archives of Pathology Departments of five referral centers affiliated with the School of Medicine of Shahid Sadoughi University in Yazd province were reviewed. Paraffin-embedded blocks were reviewed by two independent pathologists to confirm the diagnosis. The latest modification of the Gleason Scoring System was adopted to determine pathological grading. Following pathological evaluation, patients were contacted via telephone to acquire information regarding their current status. Results: Pathology blocks were available for 113 patients. However, upon phone contacts, we were unable to determine the survival status in 23 patients (response rate=83%). Therefore, 90 patients were enrolled in the final analysis. The median follow-up time was 6.0 years (ranging from 0.3 to 8.8 years). There were 30 death attributed to prostate cancer in the study group. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that patient age at the time of diagnosis was a significant predictor of survival. Another significant predictor of poorer survival was higher tumor grade. Conclusions: Our observations indicate that age and pathological grade can negatively affect survival of individuals with prostate cancer in Iran.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.1-12
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• 2016

Objectives : This study selected the food ingredients mainly appearing in the stomach-disease-related articles from Eumsunjungyo Singnyojaebyeong and Singnyochanyo, and investigated their effects to turn these data into references for modern people, use the food therapy of ancestors for modern life, and prevent and cure stomach diseases of modern people due to unhealthy lifestyle. Methods : This study selected the stomach-related food therapies from Eumsunjungyo and Singnyochanyo, and organized the therapies by chief virtue, effect, ingredient, and recipe. Also, this study analyzed and investigated characteristics, tastes, and target organs of the food ingredients in the recipes. Results : There are 8 stomach-related recipes among 61 recipes in Eumsunjungyo Singnyojaebyeong, and there are total 34 types of stomach-related recipes in Singnyochanyo including 27 types of BiwiBuBanui Five and 7 types of GutoBuHaeyeokByeonggyeonBiwi fifteen. Both Eumsunjungyo Singnyojaebyeong and Singnyochanyo contains food therapies for diseases due to week stomach. Most recipes in Singnyochanyo uses only food ingredients, whereas most recipes in Eumsunjungyo Singnyojaebyeong uses ingredients which can be used as medicine. Conclusions : The food therapies in Eumsunjungyo Singnyojaebyeong and Singnyochanyo proves that people in all regions have used food to cure diseases from old times. On the other words, people have clinically used the characteristics, tastes, and cooking forms of food ingredients for a long time. Thus, this study can be a reference for creating another food therapy.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nutrition Society Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.22-33
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• 2004

It has been more than three decades since the first assay assessing circulating 25(OH)D in human subjects was performed. That publication as well as several that followed it defined 'normal' nutritional vitamin D status in human populations. Recently, the wisdom by which 'normal' circulating 25(OH)D levels in human subjects were assigned in the past has come under question. It appears that sampling human subjects, who appear to be free from disease, and assessing 'normal' circulating 25(OH)D levels by plotting a Gaussian distribution is grossly inaccurate. There are many reasons why this method is inaccurate, including race, lifestyle habits, sunscreen usage, age, latitude, and inappropriately low dietary recommendations for vitamin D. For instance, a 400IU/day. AI for vitamin D is insignificant when one considers that a 10-15 minute whole body exposure to peak summer sun will generate and release up to 20,000 IU vitamin $D_3$ into the circulation. Recent studies, which orally administered up to 10,000 IU/day vitamin $D_3$ to human subjects for several months, have successfully elevated circulating 25(OH)D levels to those observed in individuals from sun-rich environments. Further, we are now able to accurately assess sufficient circulating 25(OH)D levels utilizing specific biomarkers instead of guessing what an adequate level is. These biomarkers include intact parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium absorption, bone mineral density (BMD), insulin resistance and pancreatic beta cell function. Using the data from these biomarkers, vitamin D deficiency should be defined as circulating levels of $25(OH)D{\leq}30ng/mL$. In certain cases, such as pregnancy and lactation, significantly higher circulating 25(OH)D levels would almost certainly be beneficial to both the mother and recipient fetus/infant.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.186-198
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• 2018

The Sasang constitution typology was analyzed through SCAT2 and a specialist to examine the correlation between the Sasang constitution and dietary pattern, and the difference in BMI and food preference according to Sasang constitution was determined. The Sasang constitution typology of the subjects was classified by SCAT2 and a specialist. Seventy-four subjects were screened by SCAT2 (SC), and 18 of them were judged by the specialist (SP). The results of SCAT2 and the specialist were consistent in 13 subjects (SS). BMI and food preference among these groups were compared. The concordance rate of SCAT2 and the specialist classification was 72.2%. The BMI in SC was significantly lower in the order of Taeeumin, Soyangin, and Soeumin, but no significant difference was observed between Taeeumin and Soyangin in SP and SS. To analyze the preference of food and the constitutional suitability, the 'Yin-Yang food preference index' was developed and compared with the data classified by constitutional food according to existing ideological medical theory. As a result, there were 33 food items that matched in the SP-SS, which was more than that in the SC-SP (4 items), SC-SS (6 items), and SC-SP-SS (4 items). Twenty-four of the 33 matched food items were consistent with the existing constitutional food data. In conclusion, SCAT2 is a very useful tool for Sasang constitutional research, but for more objective research, it is recommended that subjects who show consistent results by different methods be targeted.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.49-64
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• 2012

With the burden of chronic diseases mounting among the population as a result of its aging, the importance of health examination is being stressed in order to identify and manage diseases in the early stage. Health examination in Korea is divided largely into periodic health examination provided as a national health screening program and individual physical checkups. The advantages of the former include little economic burden on the examined and those of the latter include the freedom of the individual to select various examination headings depending on the individual's characteristics and preferences. With both examinations now being expanded, empirical analyses from various standpoints are needed. This study proposes to analyze traits of the examined and non-examined as shown in the facts and figures of the 1st and 2nd Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (KLoSA), thereby make the determinant factors clear leading to the acceptance of the examinations, and analyze the effects of the examinations upon maintaining or moving to healthy lifestyle. It was confirmed that demographic features such as gender and age, socioeconomic features such as the level of education, place of residence and household income, physical and mental state of health such as chronic disease and dementia, and daily living habits are significantly related with whether to accept physical examination. It is also confirmed that physical examination leads to non-smoking, regular physical exercises and regular dietary habits. It is suggested that, to enhance effects of health examinations, follow-up management programs making use of results of health examinations be further expanded, and the national health screening program be more actively put into operation for the bracket lying in the blind spot of the program.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.188-196
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of nutrition counseling on diabetes management by determining changes in anthropometry and blood components as well as knowledge and practice of diet therapy and nutrient intake in 34 (male 11, female 23) type 2 diabetes patients. The knowledge and the practice of diet therapy, drinking, smoking and exercise were analyzed by questionnaires. Dietary nutrient intake were obtained from the patients by the 1 day 24-hr recall. Blood glucose level and blood pressure were measured before and 3 months after the treatment. The results are summarized as follows: Average weight (p<0.05) and body mass index (p<0.05) were significantly lower post-counseling. Fasting blood glucose levels (p<0.01) and postprandial-2hour blood glucose levels (p<0.01) were also significantly lower post-counseling. In lifestyle changes for self-management the patients showed significantly higher exercise habits post-counseling (p<0.01). Regarding their level of diet knowledge, they showed significantly higher levels post-counseling in six items such as importance of diet therapy for diabetes (p<0.001), principles of diet therapy (p<0.001), nutrient composition of foods (p<0.01), carbohydrate composition of foods (p<0.001), the prescribed calories (p<0.001) understanding food item and exchange units of cereals, grains (p<0.001) and fruits, juices (p<0.001). Regarding their diet practices, the patients showed significantly higher levels of practice post-counseling in keeping within permitted meal size (p<0.001), using food exchange lists (p<0.001), keeping exact meal times (p<0.01), and controling sweet foods (p<0.001). Protein (p<0.05), animal lipid (p<0.05), and vitamin C (p<0.05) intakes were significantly higher post-counseling.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.376-383
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• 2008

Chungkookjang (CKJ) is a fermented soybean product and one of favorite traditional foods in Korea. In this study, the alcoholic extract from Korean fermented soybean (CKJ) and its one of major flavonoids, genistein were evaluated for their protective effect against B(a)P induced cytotoxicity and DNA damage in HepG2 cells. CKJ extract and genistein decreased B(a)P-induced cell cytotoxicity. CKJ extract inhibited DNA single strand breaks evaluated by single cell gel electrophoresis. From RT-PCR study, it was revealed that CKJ extract decrease DNA damage induced in HepG2 cells expressing CYP1A1 and 1A2 by B(a)P. The metabolizing activities of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2, as measured by the 7-alkoxy resorufin O-deethylation (AROD) assay, showed that CKJ extract and genistein inhibited CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 activities. Genistein may contribute to these biological effects of CKJ extract at least in part. All these results indicate that CKJ extract and genistein may be useful for protection against B(a)P-induced cytotoxicity and DNA damage. Therefore, the alcoholic extract of Korean fermented soybean (CKJ) is suggested to be promising functional food which can prevent the cellular genotoxicity of dietary and lifestyle related carcinogens.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.110-118
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• 2000

One-hundred thirty-six Chinese men and women who are members of the Malaysian Confucian Association from Kuala Lumpur city and suburbs were included in the study. They have been vegetarians for a mean period of about 6 years with the majority of them(91.2%) at lacto/ovo vegetarians. The average age of the male and female subjects in 33 and 34 years respectively. The mean BMI for the men and women are 22.5$\pm$2.4kg/$m^2$ respectively. The mean levels of serum total cholesterol, HDL-chol and LDL-chol for men are 4.27$\pm$0.77, 1,11$\pm$0.26 and 2.60$\pm$0.54mmol/L, while the corresponding values for women are 4.24$\pm$081, 1.34$\pm$0.29 and 2.41$\pm$0.28 mmol/L, All the respondents showed TC/HDL-chol levels within the normal cut-off point of <5.8mmol/L. Majority of the subjects showed normal range levels for serum retinol, carotenoids and $\alpha$-tocopherol. The mean systolic blood pressure for men and women are 122$\pm$16mmHg and 115$\pm$13mmHg, while their diastolic blood pressure are 82$\pm$7mmHg and 79$\pm$7mmHg respectively. Hypertension was found at a higher prevalence in men(17.6%) than among the women(7.1%). None of the respondents smoke cigarettes while approximately two-thirds of them carry out physical exercise at least once a week. their usual dietary intake includes frequent consumption of a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, nuts and legumes. In summary, Malaysian vegetarians have a low cardiovascular risk based on their health-oriented lifestyle.