• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.280-284
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• 2000

Background : Congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) can be controlled by vaccination. Because rubella is typically a childhood disease, occurring predominantly in the 5 to 14 year age group, female school teachers nay be a high-risk population for CRS. Objectives : To determine the prevalence rate of rubella antibodies in school teachers of child bearing age. Methods : The study population consisted of primary, middle and high school teachers of child bearing age. The subjects were aged 35 years and younger, and consented to immunoglobulin (Ig) level testing using the ELISA method. Results : The positive rate of IgG was 77.9% in the study subjects (n=314). Sixty-three teachers (21.4%) were susceptible to rubella infection. Thirty-seven teachers (11.8%) had a history of rubella vaccination. Among the female teachers with no vaccination history, the proportion of negative IgM and IgG was 21.7%, and the proportion of positive IgM was 2.9%. Seventy-nine percent of the study subjects did not know that they should not become pregnant for three months after receiving the rubella vaccine. Conclusion : School teachers of child bearing age should be considered a high risk group for CRS, and should be vaccinated if they are found to be seronegative.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.2537-2542
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• 2015

Background: Nutrition transition is a global health problem, especially in developing countries. It is known as an important factor for development of different types of health conditions including cancers. Objectives: We aimed to assess the pattern of nutrition transition in a high-risk area for upper gastrointestinal cancers in Northern Iran during the last decade. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on households of Golestan province, Iran. Data on household food consumption between 2001 and 2010 were obtained from the Statistical Center of Iran. The proportions of households with medium/high consumption of main foods were calculated for each year. Joint point software was used for assessing trends. Annual percent changes (APCs) and 95%CIs were calculated. Results: In total, 12,060 households were recruited. The APCs (95%CI) of the proportion of households medium/high consumption of cereals, vegetables, legumes, fish, dairy products and meats were -3.1 (-4.1 to -2.2), -2.9 (-3.8 to -2.1), -2.3 (-3.2 to -1.4), -2.8 (-3.3 to -2.4), -1.9 (-3.0 to -0.9) and 2.7 (1.2 to 4.3), respectively. Conclusions: We found significant increase in meat consumption among our population between 2001 and 2010. Our results also suggested significant decreasing trend in consumption of so-called healthy foods including, plant foods, fish, and dairy products. Regarding its correlation with health conditions including cancers, nutrition transition should be considered as a priority in health policy making in our region as well as other high-risk populations. It is recommended to conduct community level interventions to increase consumption of plant foods, fish, and dairy products.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.266-275
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influences of sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic obesity on the components of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) in adolescents. Methods: This study used the fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 2010 to 2011. The study included 859 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years. Descriptive statistics and simple and multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted using SAS 9.2. Results: Based on the results, adolescents with sarcopenic obesity had a higher risk of central obesity (AOR: 23.41, 95% CI: 12.76-43.97), high triglyceride (OR: 4.58, 95% CI: 2.69-7.79), low HDL-cholesterol (AOR: 2.66, 95% CI: 1.74-4.05), high blood pressure (AOR: 3.44, 95% CI: 1.37-8.68), and high fasting glucose (AOR: 2.37, 95% CI: 1.13-4.96) than their normal counterparts. Adolescents with non-sarcopenic obesity had a higher risk of central obesity (AOR: 19.75, 95% CI: 9.73-44.67), high triglyceride (OR: 3.09, 95% CI: 1.22-7.81), and low HDL-cholesterol (AOR: 2.73, 95% CI: 1.37-5.45) than normal youths, and these were not significantly related to high blood pressure and fasting glucose. Conclusion: Sarcopenic obesity was more related to the components of MetS than non-sarcopenic obesity. Since adolescents with sarcopenic obesity are a more vulnerable population, a prevention and management program for MetS and cardiovascular risk should be implemented in this population.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.221-233
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• 2009

Korea's aging population has been remarkably increased. They want to have not only extension of life expectancy but also improving quality of life. To maintain the quality of life, it is essential to have good nutrition. However, nutritional status of elderly in Korea has problems qualitatively and quantitatively. Risk factors for poor nutrition are advanced age, woman, living alone and low economic status. Another risk factor in rural area is season because seasonal changes can affect food intake of elderly. Thus this study surveyed the health status and dietary intakes of elderly by season in rural area. In this study, the elderly were grouped as group 1 {elderly who have one risk factor for chronic diseases (obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes)} and group 2 (elderly who have more than 2 risk factors). Can-Pro 3.0 was used for dietary data analysis and SPSS 12.0 program was used for statistical analysis. Obesity had the highest percentage 62%, followed by hypertension 59.5%, dyslipidemia 21.5% and diabetes 11.6%. Obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia were high in winter and WHR, diabetes and anemia were high in summer. Mean intakes of energy and nutrients were less than RI. Nutrients which were changed most by season were vitamin A and Vitamin C. Intakes of calcium and folic acid were less than recommended in summer. The ratio of CPF for carbohydrate was higher and fat was lower than recommended. In conclusion, the nutrient intake of Group 2 was better in quality but Group 1 was better in quantity. Nutrient intakes were poor in summer. In rural area, more careful nutritional assesment and management are needed for aged population, especially in summer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.731-736
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• 2012

Background and Aims: The National Cancer Screening Program (NCSP) for liver cancer was initiated in 2003 in Korea. The objective of this study was to evaluate the participation rate of the program and to provide preliminary information on its results based on data collected by the NCSP in 2009. Methods: The target population of the NCSP for liver cancer in 2009 was comprised of 373,590 adults aged ${\geq}40$ years at high risk for liver cancer. Participation rates and positivity rates were assessed in this population. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the factors associated with participation in the NCSP for liver cancer. Results: The overall participation rate was 37.9% and 1,126 participants were positive at screening. The highest participation rates were observed in women, those in their 60s, National Health Insurance beneficiaries, and individuals positive for hepatitis B surface antigen. Positivity rates for men, those in their 70s, Medical Aid Program recipients and individuals with liver cirrhosis were the highest in the respective categories of gender, age, health insurance type, and risk factor for liver cancer. Conclusions: The participation rates of the NCSP for liver cancer are still low, despite the fact that the program targets a high-risk group much smaller than the general population. Efforts to facilitate participation and to reduce disparities in liver cancer screening among Korean men and women are needed. These results provide essential data for evidence-based strategies for liver cancer control in Korea.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2015

The purpose of the present review is to give an overview of the association between alcohol intake and the risk of developing cancer. Two large-scale expert reports; the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF)/American Institute of Cancer Research (AICR) report from 2007, including its continuous update project, and the International Agency for Research of Cancer (IARC) monograph from 2012 have extensively reviewed this association in the last decade. We summarize and compare their findings, as well as relate these to the public health impact, with a particular focus on region-specific drinking patterns and disease tendencies. Our findings show that alcohol intake is strongly linked to the risk of developing cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, colorectum (in men), and female breast. The two expert reports diverge on the evidence for an association with liver cancer and colorectal cancer in women, which the IARC grades as convincing, but the WCRF/AICR as probable. Despite these discrepancies, there does, however, not seem to be any doubt, that the Population Attributable Fraction of alcohol in relation to cancer is large. As alcohol intake varies largely worldwide, so does, however, also the Population Attributable Fractions, ranging from 10% in Europe to almost 0% in countries where alcohol use is banned. Given the World Health Organization's prediction, that alcohol intake is increasing, especially in low- and middle-income countries, and steadily high in high-income countries, the need for preventive efforts to curb the number of alcohol-related cancers seems growing, as well as the need for taking a region- and gender-specific approach in both future campaigns as well as future research. The review acknowledges the potential beneficial effects of small doses of alcohol in relation to ischaemic heart disease, but a discussion of this lies without the scope of the present study.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.1737-1742
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• 2013

Early diagnosis has a major role in improving prognosis of breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to assess the risk status of women 35-69 years of age using risk assessment models and the prevalence of mammography in a community setting. The sample of this cross sectional study consisted of 227 women, 35-69 years of age residing in Izmir, a city located in western region of Turkey. A questionnaire was used to collect data and the Gail and Cuzick-Tyrer models were applied to assess the risk of breast cancer. In this study, 52.7% of women had mammography at least once, and 41.3% of the women over the age of 40 had mammography screening in the last two years. The five years risk for breast cancer was high in 15.8% of women according to the Gail model and ten years risk was high in 21.7% with the Cuzick-Tyrer model. In the present study, the breast cancer risk levels were assessed in a population setting for the first time in Turkey using breast cancer risk level assessment models. Being in 60-69 age group, having low education and not being in menopause were significant risk factors for not having mammography according to logistic regression analysis. Mammography utilization rate was low. Women must be educated about breast cancer screening methods and early diagnosis. The women in the high risk group should be informed on their risk status which may increase their attendance at breast cancer screening.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.67 no.1
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• pp.165-187
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• 2015

This study was designed to examine the influence of social-environment factors on high risk alcohol consumption. The study analyzed 229 local areas throughout Korea. Main variables included high risk alcohol consumption and environment factors such as population structure, liquor stores. For exploring the problem drinking, geographically weighted regression(GWR) using the geographic information system(GIS) was utilized to analysis. Major findings are rate of perceived stress, number of restaurants and bars. Especially problem drinking were influenced restaurants and bars, and the form or aim of restaurants and bars had differentiability to the problem drinking. These results have implication about the regulation policy of alcohol availability for prevention of alcohol related problems.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2023

The prevalence of Barrett's esophagus is increasing in South Korea. Several strategies have been tried to prevent its progression to esophageal adenocarcinoma. It is questionable whether the strategies being tried in the West can be applied adequately in South Korea. However, despite the incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma in the West, which is considerably higher than that in South Korea, the incidence of high-grade dysplasia/esophageal adenocarcinoma in population-based studies is as low as 0.23%/person-year. Therefore, in Korea, where the prevalence is lower than that, it is necessary to select high-risk groups more carefully for chemoprevention. The age of onset of gastroesophageal reflux disease-like symptoms at least once a week is related to the high-risk group rather than the presence or absence of chronic gastroesophageal reflux symptoms. The risk factors for esophageal adenocarcinoma include the patient's sex, age, smoking habit, and obesity. Proton pump inhibitors have a better preventive effect against esophageal adenocarcinoma compared to H2-receptor blockers, but their application to patients in Korea is limited due to the high number of individuals in need of treatment. Therefore, while considering the risk factors for the progression of esophageal adenocarcinoma, the administration of proton pump inhibitors should be considered for gastroesophageal reflux disease.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.193-204
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• 1998

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death and disability in Korea. Their risk factors can be classified as either modifiable or nonmodifiable and among modifiable factors are high bood pressure, elevated blood cholesterol, obesity and cigarette smoking. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk factors for the cardiovascular diseases in a rural community and to get basic data for the development of a community-based rick reduction intervention program. Evaluation involved population-based, cross-sectional samples of adult residents in a rurual community. We measured blood pressure, body fat percent by bioelectric impedance fatness analyzer and serum cholesterol and interviewed adult residents over 20-year-old age. Blood pressure was checked twice and hypertension was classified by the sixth report of the Joint National Committee on Detection. Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. The Cutpoints for high blood cholesterol was used National Cholesterol Treatment Guidelines and those for obesity was 25% in male. 30% in female. The results were as follows: 1. Prevalence of definitive hypertension was 59.7% in males and 54.4% in female. 2. Prevalence of hypercholesterolemia was 14.3% in male and 18.2% in female. 3. Prevalence of obese was 10.7% in male and 41.1% in female. 4. Among definitive hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and obesity 52.1% possessed one risk factor, 12.6% two risk factors and 2.5% three risk factors in males. In females 41.4% possessed one risk factor and 27.6%. 5.7% respectively. 5. The smoking rate was 65.8% in males and 5.2% in females. Our results are used effectively for the community-based intervention towards cardiovascukr diseases risk reduction. However, because of limitations in our study design, further datas are needed including other risk factors and in-person clinical datas.