• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.17
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• pp.7911-7916
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• 2015

Serum anti-Helicobacter pylori antibodies and pepsinogens (PGs) have been used as gastric cancer screening and gastric mucosal status markers. Nepal is a low risk country for gastric cancer. However, the mountainous populace in the northern region culturally linked to Tibet as well as Bhutan, a neighboring country, have a high risk of GC. We collected gastric biopsy specimens and sera from 146 dyspeptic patients living in Kathmandu, Nepal. We also examined the sera of 80 volunteers living in the mountainous regions of the Himalayas. The optimal cut-off was calculated for serum biomarkers against the histology. Kathmandu patients (43.8%) were serologically positive for H. pylori infection, which was significantly lower than that for the mountainous (61.3%, P = 0.01). The same results also found in the prevalence of PG-positivity, PG I levels and PG I/II ratios (P = 0.001, P<0.0001 and P = 0.03, respectively). Moreover, the PG I/II ratios were significantly, and inversely correlated with the OLGA score (r = -0.33, P<0.009). The low incidence of gastric cancer in Nepal can be attributed to low gastric mucosal atrophy. However, the mountainous subjects have high-risk gastric mucosal status, which could be considered a high-risk population in Nepal.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.220-224
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• 2004

Objectives : To investigate the sexual behavioral characteristics and HIV/AIDS knowledge among men who have sex with men(MSM), one of the HIV high risk groups. Methods : A three month survey among individuals who were able to be contacted was carried out over the entire Republic of Korea, between May and August, 2001. 348 individuals completed a self-administered question-naire. The data collected included demographic informa-tion, sexual behavior and AIDS knowledge. Results : Eighty-seven and ninety-two per cent of the 348 MSM were aged 20-39 years and had never been married, respectively. Fifty-five per cent of participants reported at least one sexual contact with women, and a quarter of the MSM surveyed had engaged in high-risk sexual behavior (more than 6 partners) during the previous year. About twenty per cent of the MSM had anal sex as their favorite way of having sex, and seventy-four per cent did not use condoms regularly due to loss of enjoyment, and were more likely to be engaged in risky behaviors. Only ten per cent had a regular HIV test history, and most had obtained knowledge or information on HIV/AIDS through the mass media. Conclusions : A large proportion of the MSM in Korea still remain at an elevated risk for contracting HIV infection. Change in high-risk sexual behaviors will prevent the spread of HIV infection among the MSM population, which requires public health education for preventive interventions, and should be culturally and socially specific in order to be effective.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.74-80
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Cardiovascular diseases is a major cause of death and is responsible for 23.8% of deaths in Korea. Clinical symptoms manifest in adulthood, but susceptibility begins in utero. Elevated homocysteine levels and adiposity might be linked to a greater risk in children as well as adults. We hypothesized that those who have simultaneous risk for folate and adiposity would be affected with elevated homocysteine levels at 3 years of age. SUBJECTS/METHODS: From the ongoing birth cohort at Ewha Womans University Mok-Dong Hospital, we compared adiposity parameters, serum homocysteine, and folate levels in 238 children (118 boys and 120 girls) at three years of age. The relationship between birth outcome, current weight and body mass index (BMI), postnatal growth, and homocysteine level were assessed using correlation and general linear model. Additionally, we assessed the combined effect between blood folate status and adiposity on current homocysteine levels. RESULTS: Birth characteristics were not correlated with homocysteine. Current weight, BMI, upper-arm circumference, skinfold thickness, waist circumference, and hip circumference were positively correlated with homocysteine at three years of age (P < 0.05). Folate level was negatively correlated with homocysteine at three years of age (P < 0.0001). A relative high anthropometric measure which is compatible with adiposity and low folate level was associated with high homocysteine levels. CONCLUSION: We found a combined effect of adiposity and folate levels with homocysteine levels at three years of age. This implicates the beneficial role of folate supplementation in the high-risk population at an early age.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.850-862
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• 2007

Background : Cerebrovascular disease is a major cause of death and disability in adults. Silent cerebral infarction (SCI) portends more severe cerebral infarction or may lead to insidious progressive brain damage resulting in vascular dementia. Known cardiovascular risk factors, such as arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, hyperlipidemia and ischemic heart disease may increase the risk of SCI. This study was designed to evaluate the risk factors of SCI in an apparently normal adult population. Methods : We divided 340 neurologically normal adults (mean age=59.90$\pm$8.30, men:women = 146:194) who underwent brain computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the Stroke Medical Center in Daejeon University Oriental Medicine Hospital in two groups, Silent inf. and Controls,and analyzed risk factors of SCI by interview, physical examination and blood test. Risk factors of SCI were assessed by interview, physical examination and blood test. We performed Pearson's chi-square test and two-sample t-test for univariate analysis and multiple logistic regressions for multivariate analysis to evaluate risk factors of SCI. Results : Old age, diabetes mellitus, and high lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels were associated with SCI on univariate analysis. Diabetes mellitus was demonstrated to be an independent risk factor for SCI on multivariate analysis. Conclusions : Advanced age, diabetes mellitus, and LDH levels are associated with SCI.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.14
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• pp.5917-5921
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• 2015

Background: Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed form of cancer and the sixth leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men in the entire world. Reported standardized incidence rates are 12.6, 61.7, 11.9 and 27.9 in Iran, developed countries, developing countries and the entire world, respectively. The present study investigated the relative risk of PC in Iran at the province level and also explored the impact of some factors by the use of Bayesian models. Materials and Methods: Our study population was all men with PC in Iran from 2005 to 2008. Considered risk factors were smoking, fruit and vegetable intake, physical activity, obesity and human development index. We used empirical and full Bayesian models to study the relative risk in Iran at province level to estimate the risk of PC more accurately. Results: In Iran from 2005 to 2008 the total number of known PC cases was 10,361 with most cases found in Fars and Tehran and the least in Ilam. In all models just human development index was found to be significantly related to PC risk Conclusions: In the unadjusted model, Fars, Semnam, Isfahan and Tehran provinces have the highest and Sistan-and-Baluchestan has the least risk of PC. In general, central provinces have high risk. After adjusting for covariates, Fars and Zanjan provinces have the highest relative risk and Kerman, Northern Khorasan, Kohgiluyeh Boyer Ahmad, Ghazvin and Kermanshah have the lowest relative risk. According to the results, the incidence of PC in provinces with higher human development index is higher.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.4017-4023
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• 2012

Background and Aim: Polymorphisms in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) are known to be associated with predisposition for certain cancers. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of lifestyle factors, family history and genetic polymorphisms in MTHFR C677T and A1298C on rectal cancer risk and possible interactions with lifestyle factors in Northeast Thailand. Methods: A hospital-based case-control study was conducted during 2002-2006 with recruitment of 112 rectal cancer cases and 242 non-rectal cancer patient controls. Information was collected using a structured-questionnaire. Blood samples were obtained for assay of MTHFR C677T and A1298C genotypes by polymerase chain reaction with restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) techniques. Associations between lifestyle factors, family history and genetic polymorphisms v.s. rectal cancer risk were assessed using logistic regression analysis. Results: Subjects with frequent and occasional constipation had a higher risk ($OR_{adj.}$=14.64; 95%CI=4.28-50.04 and $OR_{adj.}$=2.15; 95%CI=1.14-4.06), along with those who reported ever having hemorrhoids ($OR_{adj.}$=2.82; 95%CI=1.36-5.84) or a family history of cancer ($OR_{adj.}$=1.90; 95%CI=1.06-3.39). Consumption of a high level of pork was also associated with risk ($OR_{adj.}$=1.82; 95%CI=1.05-3.15). Interactions were not observed between MTHFR and other risk factors. Conclusions: This study suggested that the risk factors for rectal cancer in the Thai population are bowel habits, having had hemorrhoids, a family history of cancer and pork consumption.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.113-127
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• 2003

The purpose of this study is to identify the relationship between sexual attitude and risk behaviors, between risk behavior and sexual experiences in Korean girls high school students. The subjects for this study were 522 girls, who were samples from a target population of 63,375 11th grade students from 200 regular high schools and 70 vocational high schools in Seoul. The data were collected from June 22 to July 18, 2002. A structured questionnaire was used that included measurement of general characteristics, sexual attitudes, risk behaviors and sexual experiences. The data were processed with the SAS program, which uses descriptive statistics, t-test, and ANOVA in its an alyses. The results of this study are as follows : 1. The frequency of sexual experience is as follows ; 'holding hands' had the highest percentage, 57.4 7%, followed in order by 'arms around' 50.19%, 'act of embracing' 50.19%, 'kiss' 37.74%, 'french kiss' 30.84%, 'touch breasts' 8.62%, 'touch sexual organs' 3.26%, 'coitus' 2.30%, 'contraception' 0.77%, 'pregnancy' 0.19%, 'abortion' 0.19%, and 'prostitution' 0.19%. 2. The score of conservatives types was significantly different depending upon exposure to pornographic material and drinking. In comparison, the score of permissiveness types was significantly different depending upon exposure to pornographic material, drinking, and running away from home. But the score of pleasure seeking types was not significantly different than that of the risk behaviors types. 3. There was statistically significant difference in the sexual experience depending upon exposure to pornographic material, drinking, smoking, and running away from home. 4. In the relationship between sexual attitude types and sexual experience, there was a negative correlation between the conservatives types and sexual experiences such as 'holding hands', 'arms around', 'act of embracing', 'kiss', 'french kiss', 'touch breasts', 'touch sexual organs', and 'coitus'. There was a positive correlation between the permissiveness types and sexual experiences such as 'holding hands', 'arms around', 'act of embracing', 'kiss', 'french kiss', 'touch breasts', 'touch sexual organs', and 'coitus'. There was also a positive correlation between the pleasure-seeking types and sexual experiences such as 'touch sexual organ', 'contraceptions', 'pregnancy', and 'prostitution'. Based on the finding of this study, this society should develop a integrated program to prevent risk behaviors and sexual experiences in girls high school students.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.399-405
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• 2016

Poor subsistence farmers who live in a semi-arid area of northern Ethiopia build irrigation systems to overcome water shortages. However, there is a high risk of malaria transmission when increased standing water provides more favorable habitats for mosquito breeding. This is a serious problem because there are many barriers to malaria control measures and health care systems in the area. Using a causal loop diagram and computer simulations, the author attempted to visually illustrate positive and negative feedbacks between mosquito and human populations in the context of Simret, which is a small village located in northern Ethiopia and is generally considered a malaria-free area. The simulation results show that the number of infectious mosquitos increases to 17,215 at its peak, accounting for 3.5% of potentially dangerous mosquitos. At the same time, the number of sick people increases to 574 at its peak, accounting for 15% of local population. The malaria outbreak is controlled largely because of a fixed number of vulnerable people or local population that acts as an intermediate host.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.48-53
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• 1999

There are epidemiological evidences that the population with high fecal ${\beta}-glucuronidase$ activity has greater risk of colon cancer than the population with low fecal ${\beta}-glucuronidase$. This relationship was investigated by using the mouse-dimethylhydrazine colon carcinogenesis model and the extract of antler which was a ${\beta}-glucuronidase$ inhibitor. Mice with low fecal ${\beta}-glucuronidase$ activity induced by administration of water and Folch's fraction of antler had significantly fewer aberrant crypts after injections of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) than mice treated with DMH alone. The result supports the hypothesis that the inhibitor of ${\beta}-glucuronidase$ such as antler extract can protect an animal against the induction of colon cancer.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.12 no.sup1
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• pp.118-126
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• 2009

The incidence of childhood obesity has increased dramatically. Childhood obesity is an increasing health problem because of its strong associations with chronic health problems in children and adults. These health problems significantly contribute to the development of common chronic diseases in later life, including hypertension, type2 diabetes, hyperinsulinemia, coronary heart disease, and other psychological disorders. So it is an important issue to prevent and treat obesity during childhood and adolescent. Diet and exercise are the cornerstones of treatment for obesity and related complications. For obese children, some clinical trials have shown improvement with diet, exercise, and /or behavioral interventions. Promising interventions for high-risk individuals, such as bariatric surgery and novel pharmacological agents, also require rigorous assessment with attention to long-term patient important outcomes. There are various pharmacological approaches to the treatment of obesity in the adolescent population some of which have FDA approval. In the article we discuss pharmacological approaches to guide the treatment of obesity in the pediatric population, including risks of treatment, monitoring of potential side effects.