• Title/Summary/Keyword: high risk population

Search Result 842, Processing Time 0.024 seconds

Principles and Applications of Non-Thermal Technologies for Meat Decontamination

  • Yewon Lee;Yohan Yoon
    • Food Science of Animal Resources
    • /
    • v.44 no.1
    • /
    • pp.19-38
    • /
    • 2024
  • Meat contains high-value protein compounds that might degrade as a result of oxidation and microbial contamination. Additionally, various pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms can grow in meat. Moreover, contamination with pathogenic microorganisms above the infectious dose has caused foodborne illness outbreaks. To decrease the microbial population, traditional meat preservation methods such as thermal treatment and chemical disinfectants are used, but it may have limitations for the maintenance of meat quality or the consumers acceptance. Thus, non-thermal technologies (e.g., high-pressure processing, pulsed electric field, non-thermal plasma, pulsed light, supercritical carbon dioxide technology, ozone, irradiation, ultraviolet light, and ultrasound) have emerged to improve the shelf life and meat safety. Non-thermal technologies are becoming increasingly important because of their advantages in maintaining low temperature, meat nutrition, and short processing time. Especially, pulsed light and pulsed electric field treatment induce few sensory and physiological changes in high fat and protein meat products, making them suitable for the application. Many research results showed that these non-thermal technologies may keep meat fresh and maintain heat-sensitive elements in meat products.

A Study on the Occurence Rate of HBsAg in a Dental School Population (치과대학생 및 전공 에 있어서 B형간염면항원의 발현빈도에 관한 연구)

  • 이건복;정성창
    • Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
    • /
    • v.7 no.1
    • /
    • pp.66-70
    • /
    • 1982
  • Medical personnek are one of several groups that have been reported to have a high incidence of hepatiris B. It is also thought that the occurrence rate of hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg), aserologic marker for hepatitis B virus(HBV), is expected to be high in the dental personnel who are frequently exposed to the blood and saliva of the patients. Although many studies have been done to determine the HBsAg status of virus groups, limited investigations have been performed on dental personnel, especially in this country. The main purpose of this study was to identify HBsAg positivity among dental students, interns, and residents who would be expected to be a high risk group of hepatitis B infection. Screening test for HBsAg of a dental school population was performed by indirect hemagglutination(IHA)in 1982. The results were as follows : 1. Thirty four out of a total 362 persons(9.4%)tested in the study had positive response for HBsAg in their serum samples. 2. Twenty seven out of 320 dental students(8.4%)had positive for HBsAg, and in Senior class 12 out of 82 dental students (14.6%)had positive response that was the highest incidence among dental students group. 3. Seven out of 42 interns and residents(16.7%)had positive for HBsAg, and it was the highest incidence in this dental school population.

  • PDF

Health Risk Behaviors Associated with Smoking Experiences in Adolescence (일부지역 청소년들의 흡연실태 및 흡연관련 건강위험행위)

  • Kim, Jae-Hee
    • Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
    • /
    • v.20 no.1
    • /
    • pp.77-90
    • /
    • 2007
  • Purpose : This study identified the patterns of smoking of students attending middle schools and high schools, and analyzed its related health risk behaviors. Methods: The data was based on the survey of 1,517 middle students and 911 high students residing in Kyung-Gi district. Results: The current smoking rates of male and female middle students are 5.3%, and 3.1% respectively. The rates of experiences in smoking are 21.4% and 16.0%(male/female). The current smoking rates of male and female high students are 17.9% and 8.5%, whereas the rates of experiences in smoking are 34.2% and 23.3% respectively. On the other hands, 14.1% of middle students and 12.0% of high students were exposed to smoking for at least 2 hours per day. The majority of middle and high school smokers started smoking when they were in middle or high school. And the most popular places to smoke were children's playgrounds, public open area., parks, and so on. Whether having a smoker as a friend or not and students' own perception towards smoking influenced the decisions to smoke for middle and high students. Both middle and high students, regardless of their gender, who have higher rates of drinking experiences and the hours of computer usage were found to have higher rates of smoking experiences. Meanwhile, the sleeping hours is in reverse proportion to the rate of smoking experiences. There was statistically significant difference in smoking experiences related to the degree of obesity only in the female high students: underweight and overweight students showed higher rates of smoking experiences than those falling in the normal weight range. Conclusion: For the effective prevention of adolescence smoking, it is necessary to adopt a comprehensive approach, which classifies the target population according to their age and sex and cover all health risk behaviors.

A Study of Variables related to Breast Self-examination Practice in Adult Women (일 지역 여성의 유방자기검진(BSE)과 관련 변인에 관한 연구)

  • Choi, Yeon-Hee
    • Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
    • /
    • v.8 no.1
    • /
    • pp.89-101
    • /
    • 1997
  • Breast cancer ranks as one of the major health problems in adult women. The purpose of this study is to determine relationships among the practice of Breast Self-Examination(BSE) and the variables of cancer risk and other genernal factors. This knowledge may be helpful in designing a BSE educational program to promote breast self-examination on a regular basis. The study population included 205 women who live in K city. Personal interviews were conducted to determine the individual's breast self-examination behavior, the level of Breast Cancer Risk according to general factors as well as her reasons for not doing a breast self-examination. The collected data was analyzed with an SAS program The results were summarized as follows : 1. The level of Breast Cancer Risk of the subjects is as follows: high risk(9%), moderate risk(11%), boderline risk(12%), no increased risk (68%). 2. There was no difference in the practice of BSE between women who were at high cancer risk and at no increased cancer risk. 3. BSE practice levels according to general foctors were significantly related to the residence and the level of education of the subjects. The performing of regular breast self-examination in urban areas was 7% and in rural areas was 0%. Regularly practiced breast self-examination in women with a low education was 5% and in college educated women, it was 29%. 4. BSE education was significantly related to the residence and the level of education of the subjects. The majority learned BSE through 'a magazine or journal'. 5. The reason of the majority of women did not perform a regular breast self-examination was, 'Didn't know the BSE technique'. On the basis of this study it can be concluded that the development of a BSE education program is needed to help women perform the examination correctly.

  • PDF

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of HPV Vaccination: Comparing the General Population with Socially Vulnerable Individuals

  • Han, Kyu-Tae;Kim, Sun Jung;Lee, Seo Yoon;Park, Eun-Cheol
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
    • /
    • v.15 no.19
    • /
    • pp.8503-8508
    • /
    • 2014
  • Background: After the WHO recommended HPV vaccination of the general population in 2009, government support of HPV vaccination programs was increased in many countries. However, this policy was not implemented in Korea due to perceived low cost-effectiveness. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze the cost-utility of HPV vaccination programs targeted to high risk populations as compared to vaccination programs for the general population. Materials and Methods: Each study population was set to 100,000 people in a simulation study to determine the incremental cost-utility ratio (ICUR), then standard prevalence rates, cost, vaccination rates, vaccine efficacy, and the Quality-Adjusted Life-Years (QALYs) were applied to the analysis. In addition, sensitivity analysis was performed by assuming discounted vaccination cost. Results: In the socially vulnerable population, QALYs gained through HPV vaccination were higher than that of the general population (General population: 1,019, Socially vulnerable population: 5,582). The results of ICUR showed that the cost of HPV vaccination was higher for the general population than the socially vulnerable population. (General population: 52,279,255 KRW, Socially vulnerable population: 9,547,347 KRW). Compared with 24 million KRW/QALYs as the social threshold, vaccination of the general population was not cost-effective. In contrast, vaccination of the socially vulnerable population was strongly cost-effective. Conclusions: The results suggest the importance and necessity of government support of HPV vaccination programs targeted to socially vulnerable populations because a targeted approach is much more cost-effective. The implementation of government support for such vaccination programs is a critical strategy for decreasing the burden of HPV infection in Korea.

Overview of Risk-Sharing Schemes: Focusing on Anticancer Drugs (위험분담제도에 대한 고찰: 항암제 사례를 중심으로)

  • Sohn, Hyun Soon;Shin, Hyun Taek
    • Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
    • /
    • v.23 no.2
    • /
    • pp.89-96
    • /
    • 2013
  • This article aimed to introduce 'risk sharing' schemes for pharmaceuticals between drug manufacturers and healthcare payer. Published literature review was undertaken to summarize risk sharing concepts and collect information on existing scheme examples in other countries focusing on new anticancer drugs. Risk sharing schemes could be categorized into health outcomes-based and non-outcomes (financial) based ones. Outcome-based schemes could be broken down into performance-linked reimbursement and conditional coverage. Performance-linked reimbursement can be further broken into outcomes guarantee and pattern or process of care and conditional coverage included coverage with evidence development and conditional treatment continuation schemes. Non-outcome based schemes included market share and price volume at population level, and utilization caps and manufacturer funded treatment initiation at patient level. We reviewed the fifteen examples for anticancer drugs that risk sharing agreements in response to the inherent uncertainties and increased costs of eleven anticancer drugs. Of them, eight cases were coverage with evidence development schemes. The anticancer drugs except bevacizumab and cetuximab were all listed on the national health insurance formulary in Korea, with reimbursement criteria defined on the basis of approved indications and administrations. Risk sharing approach may be a useful tool to ensure values for drug expenditure, but there are a number of concerns such as high administration costs, lack of transparency and conflicts of interest, especially for performance-based health outcomes reimbursement schemes.

Association of Risk of Gastric Cancer and Consumption of Tobacco, Alcohol and Tea in the Chinese Population

  • Tong, Gui-Xian;Liang, Han;Chai, Jing;Cheng, Jing;Feng, Rui;Chen, Peng-Lai;Geng, Qing-Qing;Shen, Xing-Rong;Wang, De-Bin
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
    • /
    • v.15 no.20
    • /
    • pp.8765-8774
    • /
    • 2014
  • This study aimed at summarizing epidemiological research findings on associations between tobacco, alcohol and tea consumption and risk of gastric cancer (GC) in the Chinese population. The review searched PubMed, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and China Biology Medicine (CBM) databases and reference lists of review papers for all studies published in English or Chinese languages. Information extracted, via two independent researchers, from retrieved articles included first author, year of publication, study design, sample size, source of controls and adjusted odds ratio (OR) or relative risk (RR) with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each category. Statistical analyses used software STATA version 12.0. The systematic search found 89 articles containing 25,821 GC cases and 135,298 non-cases. The overall random effects in terms of pooled OR and 95%CI for tobacco, alcohol and tea consumption were 1.62 (95%CI: 1.50-1.74), 1.57 (95%CI: 1.41-1.76) and 0.67 (95%CI: 0.59-0.76) respectively; while the heterogeneity among included studies ranged from 80.1% to 87.5%. The majority of subgroup analyses revealed consistent results with the overall analyses. All three behavioral factors showed statistically significant dose-dependent effects on GC (P<0.05). The study revealed that tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking were associated with over 1/2 added risk of GC, while tea drinking conferred about 1/3 lower risk of GC in the Chinese population. However, these results should be interpreted with caution given the fact that most of the included studies were based on a retrospective design and heterogeneity among studies was relatively high.

Seismic risk investigation for reinforced concrete buildings in Antalya, Turkey

  • Kepenek, Engin;Korkmaz, Kasim A.;Gencel, Ziya
    • Computers and Concrete
    • /
    • v.26 no.3
    • /
    • pp.203-211
    • /
    • 2020
  • Turkey is located in one of the most seismically active regions of in Europe. The majority of the population living in big cities are at high seismic risk due to insufficient structural resistance of the existing buildings. Such a seismic risk brings the need for a comprehensive seismic evaluation based on the risk analysis in Turkey. Determining the seismic resistance level of existing building stock against the earthquakes is the first step to reduce the damages in a possible earthquake. Recently in January 2020, the Elazig earthquake brought the importance of the issue again in the public. However, the excessive amount of building stock, labor, and resource problems made the implementation phase almost impossible and revealed the necessity to carry out alternative studies on this issue. This study aims for a detailed investigation of residential buildings in Antalya, Turkey. The approach proposed here can be considered an improved state of building survey methods previously identified in Turkey's Design Code. Antalya, Turkey's fifth most populous city, with a population over 2.5 Million, was investigated as divided into sub-regions to understand the vulnerability, and a threshold value found for the study area. In this study, 26,610 reinforced concrete buildings between 1 to 7 stories in Antalya were examined by using the rapid visual assessment method. A specific threshold value for the city of Antalya was determined with the second level examination and statistical methods carried out in the determined sub-region. With the micro zonation process, regions below the threshold value are defined as the priority areas that need to be examined in detail. The developed methodology can be easily calibrated for application in other cities and can be used to determine new threshold values for those cities.

Prevalence of the Metabolic Syndrome and Associated Factors in Korean Cancer Survivors

  • Lee, Jung-Yun;Park, Noh Hyun;Song, Yong-Sang;Park, Sang Min;Lee, Hae-Won;Kim, Kyae Hyung;Choi, Kyung-Hyun
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
    • /
    • v.14 no.3
    • /
    • pp.1773-1780
    • /
    • 2013
  • Background: This study was designed to evaluate prevalence of the metabolic syndrome among cancer survivors compared to non-cancer controls from a population-based sample and to identify associated risk factors. Materials and Methods: Data from the fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed to compare the prevalence of metabolic syndrome, as defined by 2009 consensus criteria. Associated factors with were identified using multiple logistic regression analysis among cancer survivors. Results: The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in cancer survivors (n = 335) was similar to that in the non-cancer population (n = 10,671). However, gastric cancer survivors showed lower risk of metabolic syndrome than non-cancer controls (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.20-0.86). Age of more than 60 years (aOR 4.83, 95% CI 1.94-12.03), BMI between 23 and 25 (aOR 6.71, 95% CI 2.90-15.6), BMI more than 25 (aOR 12.23, 95% CI 5.20-28.77) were significantly associated with the metabolic syndrome in cancer survivors. Conclusions: Cancer survivors are unlikely to have a higher risk of the metabolic syndrome than non-cancer controls in Korea. This finding may be due to a relatively high proportion of gastric cancer survivors in Korea than in Western countries. The risk for metabolic syndrome among cancer survivors would appear to vary according to oncological and non-oncological factors.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus as a Risk Factor for Female Breast Cancer in the Population of Northern Pakistan

  • Tabassum, Ifrah;Mahmood, Humera;Faheem, Mohammad
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
    • /
    • v.17 no.7
    • /
    • pp.3255-3258
    • /
    • 2016
  • Background: There has been much research work in the past to ascertain the association between type 2 diabetes mellitus and breast cancer, but definitive evidence has been scanty. The present study was carried out to determine the association of type 2 diabetes mellitus with breast cancer in the female population of Northern Pakistan. Materials and Methods: This case-control study was carried out in the Oncology Department of NORI Hospital. A total of 400 patients were included. Data were entered into PSPP 0.8.1. Two-tailed significance tests were used and a p-value of 0.05 was considered significant. Results: There were a higher percentage of postmenopausal women in the diabetic breast cancer patients' group as compared to the non-diabetic subset. The odds ratio for the association between diabetes and risk of developing breast cancer was elevated with statistical significance (OR = 2.96; 95 % CI =1.3-6.3; p-value=0.004). The results of our study showed that diabetes is associated with a risk of developing breast cancer, especially in postmenopausal women (OR = 4.928; 95 % CI = 2.1-11.3; p-value=0.001). The association was particularly marked in obese subjects (OR = 31.49; 95 % CI = 1.8-536; p- value=0.01), as compared to non-obese subjects (OR = 0.642; 95 % CI = 0.2-1.7). Conclusions: Diabetes is strongly associated with obesity and it tends to increase the risk of breast Cancer, especially in postmenopausal women. A high-risk subset for breast cancer comprised postmenopausal, diabetic and overweight women.