• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.946-956
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• 1999

The iron nutritional status of 328(20-70 years old) women in Seoul and Puyo areas was evaluated using a dietary information and a measurement of hematological indices. The serum iron was measured by Red Blood Cell(RBC), Hemoglobin(Hb), Hematocrit(Hct), Serum Iron(S-Fe), Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC), Transferrin Saturation(TS) and Serum Ferritin(SF) and was analyzed with the information obtained by interviews which included socio-demographic variables and the dietary pattern of the subjects. The mean Hb was 12.6 $\pm$ 1.21g/dl(Seoul : 12.4 $\pm$ 1.14g/dl, Puyo : 13.2 $\pm$ 1.28g/dl), Hct was 38.7 $\pm$ 3.84%(Seoul: 37.5 $\pm$ 3.28%, Puyo: 4.19 $\pm$ 3.48%), S-Fe was 76.8 $\pm$ 31.49ug/dl(Seoul: 68.8 $\pm$ 27.3ug/dl, Puyo: 78.8 $\pm$ 32.3ug/dl) and TIBC was 277.7 $\pm$ 86.15ug/dl(Seoul: 354.1 $\pm$ 129.8ug/dl, Puyo: 259.0 $\pm$ 59.55ug/dl). The mean Ts(%) was 30.9 $\pm$ 17.9% (Seoul: 21.7 $\pm$ 10.52%, Puyo: 33.2 $\pm$ 18.68%) and the level was significantly higher in Puyo women(p<0.05). The mean SF was 45.4 $\pm$ 46.21ng/ml(Seoul: 53.6 $\pm$ 50.21ng/ml, Puyo: 36.1 $\pm$ 39.83ng/ml). The Red Blood Cell(RBC) showed a negative correlation with age and Hb, Hct showed a negative correlation with education and income level. However TIBC showed a and total energy expenditure per day. Energy, protein, carbohydrate, iron and vit.C intake showed a positive correlation with Hb and Hct. In particular, heme iron showed a positive correlation with RBC and nonheme iron of Hb, income level and iron intake affected on the level of Hct. In Seoul women, the age of menarche affected on the level of TIBC, total energy expenditure affected on the level of Hct. In Seoul women, the age of menarche affected on the level of TIBC, total energy expenditure affected on the level of S-Fe.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.65-76
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• 2008

This study was performed to identify association between nutritional status and health risks of the elderly. This was a cross-sectional study involving low income elderly women in Gwangju, Korea (${\geq}$65y, n = 92). Socio-demographics, life style characteristics, health conditions, dietary intakes based on 24h-recall method, anthropometric measures, and clinical biochemistry parameters were examined. Anthropometric and clinical parameters included wt, ht, waist, hip, body protein, body fat, abdominal fat, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, total protein, albumin, hemoglobin, hematocrit, fasting blood glucose, ferritin, IL-2, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, CRP, TAS, TBARS, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure. The subjects were divided into three groups based on age (65-74y, 75-84y, 85y${\leq}$) and were divided into two groups according to the sum of the Nutrition Screening Initiative (NSI) checklist score (adequate nutritional status, NSI score ${\leq}$3; at risk of malnutrition, NSI score >3). Mean and frequency of variables were estimated. Analysis of Variance, Tukey test, Chi-square test, and Multiple linear regression analyses were performed. Mean BMI and body fat were 25.1 $kg/m^2$ and 40.0%, respectively. However, for over 80% of subjects, the intakes of energy, fiber, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, Ca, K, and Zn were less than the Korean DRI (EAR or AI). The subjects who had lower NSI score tended to have better health status, eat meals frequently, have less depression, and exercise regularly. The subjects who had higher NSI score tended to have tooth problems, to eat alone most of time, and to be physically unable to cook or feed. Serum IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ were significantly related with nutritional status which suggested higher tendency of inflammatory response. Serum IL-2, TAS, and glucose were significantly correlated with body fat (%) or abdominal fat (%). These results suggest that improving the nutritional status, increasing regular exercise, maintaining normal weight are beneficial to health care of low income elderly women.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.559-569
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• 2001

Background : Pleural effusion is one of the most common clinical manifestations associated with a variety of pulmonary diseases such as malignancy, tuberculosis, and pneumonia. However, there are no useful laboratory tests to determine the specific cause of pleural effusion. Therefore, an attempt was made to analyze the various types of pleural effusion and search for useful laboratory tests for pleural effusion in order to differentiate between the diseases, especially between a malignant pleural effusion and a non-malignant pleural effusion. Methods : 93 patients with a pleural effusion, who visited the Severance hospital from January 1998 to August 1999, were enrolled in this study. Ultrasound-guided thoracentesis was done and a confirmational diagnosis was made by a gram stain, bacterial culture, Ziehl-Neelsen stain, a mycobacterial culture, a pleural biopsy and cytology. Results : The male to female ratio was 56 : 37 and the average age was $47.1{\pm}21.8$ years. There were 16 cases with a malignant effusion, 12 cases with a para-malignant effusion, 36 cases with tuberculosis, 22 cases with a para-pneumonic effusion, and 7 cases with transudate. The LDH2 fraction was significantly higher in the para-malignant effusion group compared to the para-pneumonic effusion group [$30.6{\pm}6.4%$ and $20.2{\pm}7.5%$, respectively (p<0.05)] and both the LDH1 and LDH2 fraction was significantly in the para-malignant effusion group compared to those with tuberculosis [$16.4{\pm}7.2%$ vs. $7.6{\pm}4.7%$, and $30.6{\pm}6.4%$ vs.$17.6{\pm}6.3%$, respectively (p<0.05)]. The pleural effusion/serum LDH4 fraction ratio was significantly lower in the malignant effusion group compared to those with tuberculosis [$1.5{\pm}0.8$ vs. $2.1{\pm}0.6$, respectively (p<0.05)]. The LDH4 fraction and the pleural effusion/serum LDH4 fraction ratio was significantly lower in the para-malignant effusion group compared to those with tuberculosis [$17.0{\pm}5.8%$ vs. $23.5{\pm}4.6%$ and $1.3{\pm}0.4$ vs. $2.1{\pm}0.6$, respectively (p<0.05)]. Conclusion : These results suggest that the LDH isoenzyme was the only useful biochemical test for a differential diagnosis of the various diseases. In particular, the most useful test was the pleural effusion/serum LDH4 fraction ratio to distinguish between a para-malignant effusion and a tuberculous effusion.