• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제13권3호
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• pp.263-268
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• 2022

Health care workers (HCWs) are more than ten times more likely to be infected with coronavirus infectious disease 2019 (COVID-19) than the general population, thus demonstrating the burden of COVID-19 among HCWs. Factors that expose HCWs to a differentially high-risk of COVID-19 acquisition are important to elucidate, enable appropriate public health interventions to mitigate against high risk and reduce adverse outcomes from the infection. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize and critically analyze the existing evidence on SARS-CoV-2 risk factors among HCWs. With no geographical limitation, we included studies, in any country, that reported (i) the PCR laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19 as an independent variable (ii) one or more COVID-19 risk factors among HCWs with risk estimates (relative risk, odds ratio, or hazard ratio) (iii) original, quantitative study design, and published in English or Mandarian. Our initial search resulted in 470 articles overall, however, only 10 studies met the inclusion criteria for this review. Out of the 10 studies included in the review, inadequate/lack of protective personal equipment, performing tracheal intubation, and gender were the most common risk factors of COVID-19. Based on the random effects adjusted pooled relative risk, HCWs who reported the use of protective personal equipment were 29% (95% CI: 16% to 41%) less likely to test positive for COVID-19. The study also revealed that HCWs who performed tracheal intubations were 34% (95% CI: 14% to 57%) more likely to test positive for COVID-19. Interestingly, this study showed that female HCWs are at 11% higher risk (RR 1.11 95% CI 1.01-1.21) of COVID-19 than their male counterparts. This article presents initial findings from a living systematic review and meta-analysis, therefore, did not yield many studies; however, it revealed a significant insight into better understanding COVID-19 risk factors among HCWs; insights important for devising preventive strategies that protect them from this infection.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권7호
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• pp.3461-3464
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• 2012

Methotrexate (MTX) is an important drug for the treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, related toxicity occurs in many organs which may cause interruption of treatment, morbidity, and mortality. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and gamma glutamyl hydrolase (GGH) are known to alter their enzymatic activity and thus affect the metabolism of MTX and influence the effectiveness. Therefore, we hypothesized that genetic variations of DHFR and GGH genes may influence the risk of toxicity after high dose MTX. The study population comprised of 105 children with ALL who were treated according to the modified St Jude Total XV protocol. The patients received 2.5 or $5g/m^2$ of MTX for 5 doses during the consolidation phase. Genotyping of DHFR 829C>T and GGH-401C>T was performed using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The GGH-401CT and TT genotypes were associated with increased risk of leukopenia and thrombocytopenia after high dose MTX (OR 2.97, 95%CI; 1.24-7.13 and OR 4.02, 95%CI; 1.58-10.26). DHFR 829C>T was not associated with toxicity. In conclusion, the GGH-401CT and TT genotypes were found to increase the risk of severe leukopenia and thrombocytopenia after exposure to high dose MTX for childhood ALL therapy.

• 보건교육건강증진학회지
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.83-93
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• 2013

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the gender differences in the relationship between alcohol use behaviors and the risk of metabolic syndrome among Korean adult population. Methods: Data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (5th, 2010) was analyzed. Using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, subjects were classified into 4 groups including non-drinking, low-risk drinking, medium-level alcohol problem, and high-level alcohol problem group. Metabolic syndrome and its components were compared among the alcohol behavior groups by gender. Results: The odds ratio vs. non-drinking group for metabolic syndrome was significantly higher in male medium and high-level alcohol problem group. In female, high-level alcohol problem group showed significantly higher odds ratio for metabolic syndrome. Blood pressure and HDL-cholesterol were likely to be higher with the excessive drinking behaviors in both men and woman. Triglyceride level in men was significantly higher in the medium and high-level alcohol problem group than non-drinking group. Although fasting glucose level did not show differences among drinking groups, the odd ratios vs. non-drinking group for the hyperglycemia (${\geq}$ 100mg/dl) were significantly higher in female drinking groups. Conclusions: Problematic alcohol drinking is likely to increase the risk of metabolic syndrome in Korean adults.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권6호
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• pp.3805-3808
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• 2013

Background: Osteosarcomas have many established risk factors, both genetic and environmental, but by themselves these explain only part of the total cancer incidence. Bisphenol A (BPA) is an environmental estrogen associated with risk of several kinds of tumour. The lysyl oxidase gene (LOX) may also contribute to risk of tumours including osteosarcomas. Here, we investigated possible interactions of BPA and a LOX polymorphism on the risk of osteosarcoma. Method: The present hospital-based case-control study included 106 cancer patients and 112 controls from a Chinese population. Internal burden of BPA exposure was assessed using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) method. Genotypes were determined using PCR-RFLP methods. Results: Compared with those in low BPA exposure group, subjects with BPA more than or equal to median value had significant increased risk of osteosarcoma among subjects who carried GC or CC genotypes. A significant interaction with BPA level and the -22G/C polymorphism was observed for osteosarcoma overall, osteosarcoma affecting knee and osteosarcoma affecting hip, as $P_{forinteraction}$ = 0.036 for osteosarcoma overall; $P_{forinteraction}$ = 0.024 for osteosarcoma affecting knee; and $P_{forinteraction}$ = 0.017 for osteosarcoma affecting hip. Conclusions: The results suggest that BPA exposure interacts with the -22G/C polymorphism of the LOX gene to increase the risk of osteosarcoma.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.183-188
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• 2013

Background: Breast cancer (BC), the most common female cancer in Pakistan, is associated with a very high mortality. However, the roles of individual risk factors for BC among Pakistani women are still controversial. To assess potential risk factors for BC, a matched case-control study was conducted in two tertiary care hospitals of Karachi, Pakistan. Materials and Methods: The study population included 297 pathologically confirmed incident cases of BC patients diagnosed between January 2009 and December 2010. 586 controls without any history of BC were matched on hospital and ${\pm}5$ years of ages. Results: Positive family history of BC (MOR=1.72; 95%CI: 1.10, 2.80 for first degree vs. none), single marital status (MOR=1.55; 95%CI: 1.10, 2.39 for single/divorced/widowed women vs. married women), older age at menopause (MOR=3.92; 95%CI: 2.52, 6.18 for menopausal women aged below 45 years, MOR=6.42; 95%CI: 3.47, 11.98 for menopausal women above 45 years of age compared with premenopausal women) conferred an increased risk of BC for women. Increasing parity decreased the risk of BC (MOR=0.90; 95%CI: 0.85, 0.97 for each live birth). Intake of Vitamin D supplements (MOR=0.30; 95%CI: 0.12, 0.81 for ${\leq}3$ years and MOR=0.27; 95%CI: 0.13, 0.56 for >3 years) was protective compared to non-users of Vitamin D. Conclusions: This study confirmed only few of the recognized risk factors in Pakistani women. The protective effect of Vitamin D is important from public health perspective and needs to be further explored through a randomized controlled trial.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권sup3호
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• pp.161-166
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• 2016

Iranian women are at high risk of low compliance with repeat mammography due to a lack of awareness about breast cancer, negative previous experiences, cultural beliefs, and no regular visits to a physician. Thus research is needed to explore factors associated with repeated mammography participation. Applying the concept of perceived risk as the guiding model, this study aimed to test the fit and strength of the relationship between perceived risk and physician recommendation in explaining repeat mammography. A total of 601 women, aged 50 years and older referred to mammography centers in region 6, were recruited via a convenience sampling method. Using path analysis, family history of breast cancer and other types of cancer were modeled as antecedent perceived risk, and physician recommendation and knowledge were modeled as an antecedent of the number of mammography visits. The model explained 49% of the variance in repeat mammography. The two factors of physician recommendation and breast self-examination had significant direct effects (P < 0.05) on repeat mammography. Perceived risk, knowledge, and family history of breast cancer had significant indirect effects on repeat mammography through physician recommendation. The results of this study provide a background for further research and interventions not only on Iranian women but also on similar cultural groups and immigrants who have been neglected to date in the mammography literature.

• 대한통합의학회지
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• 제7권3호
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• pp.127-139
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• 2019

Purpose : The lipid profile is a major predictive index for cardiovascular disease, but there have only been a few studies conducted on the relationship between lipid ratio and cardiovascular disease risk factors in the Korean population. To address this research gap, we investigated the association between three lipid ratios and cardiovascular disease risk factors among Korean adults. Methods : This study used data from the seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in 2016. Lipid ratios included triglyceride (TG)/high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), total cholesterol (TC)/HDL, and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL)/HDL. Cardiovascular risk factors included in this research were: systolic blood pressure $(SBP){\geq}140$, diastolic blood pressure $(DBP){\geq}90$, fasting blood sugar $(FBS){\geq}126$, $HbA1c{\geq}6.5$, body mass index $(BMI){\geq}25$, waist circumference (WC) $men{\geq}90$, $women{\geq}85$, and metabolic syndrome (MetS). A complex samples logistic regression test was performed to analyze the association between lipid ratios and cardiovascular disease risk factors. Results : 1) TG/HDL ratio had statistically significant relationships with DBP, FBS, HbA1c, BMI, WC and MetS. 2) TC/HDL ratio was correlated to SBP, DBP, FBS, BMI, WC, and MetS. 3) LDL/HDL ratio had association with BMI, WC, and MetS. Conclusion : We identified significant association between lipid ratios and cardiovascular disease risk factors. The three lipid ratios were particularly strongly associated with BMI, WC, and MetS.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.307-317
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• 1997

To determine the effects of endogenous and exogenous strogen on serum lipid levels, twenty nonsmoking healthy Korean women were participated in this experiment for 12 weeks. They were assigned to three groups : (1) eight women aged 22 to 30(yr) for the premenopausal(Pre) group, (2) eight, aged 49 to 60(yr) for the postmenoparusal(Pst) group, (3) four, aged 23 to 30(yr) for the oral contraceptive(OC) group which used triphasic OC formulation. Fasting blood samples representing every phase of the hormonal levels were obtained from the subjects of the Pre and the OC group. From the subjects of the Pst group, fasting blood samples were obtained once per three weeks for 12 weeks. All the serum data were adjusted for dietary effects, exercise, personality type and body mass index(BMI) by using analysis of covariation(ANCOVA). Serum lipid levels of the three groups were significantly different. While serum levels of triglycerides(TG)(p<0.0001), low density lipoprotein-chloesterol(LDL-C)/high density liporotein-cholesterol(HDL-C) ratio (LDC-C/HDL-C)(P<0.01) and total cholesterol (TC)/HDL-C ratio (TC/HDL-C)(P<0.001) were significatnly high in the Pst group, serum HDL-C(P0.001) level was significantly high in the Pre group. The OC group showed significantly low serum TC(P<0.0001) and LDL-C(P<0.0001) levels. There was no signidicant difference in the fluictuation of serum lipid levels during the menstrual cycle of the Pre group. However, in the OC group, serum TG level was significantly increased at phase 2(P<0.05) where exogenous estrogen administration was highest. Even though other serum lipid levels of the OC group were not significantly fluctuated according to the exogenous estrogen administration, there was a trend of increased levels of serum TC, LDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C and TC/HDL-C and decreased level of HDL-C during the menstruation period. Also, serum TC level was high(P<0.005) and serum TG level was low (P<0.005) at the baseline of the OC group compared with the periods of OC administration. When screening and counseling the female population at risk for coronary heart disease(CHD), the result of this study suggest that in may be desirable to divide the population into several groups according to their personal physiological characteristics, such as age, OC administration, menstrual cycle and menopause, as well as general risk factors for CHD.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권12호
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• pp.5019-5022
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• 2014

Recently, mutations in the genes involved in cell cycle control, including CHEK2, are being considered as etiological factors in different kinds of cancers. The CHEK2 protein plays an important role in protecting damaged DNA from entering mitosis. In this study the potential effects of two common mutations $IVS2+1G{\rightarrow}A$ and Ile157Thr of CHEK2 gene in differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) were evaluated. A total of 100 patients admitted to the Research Institute for Nuclear Medicine were diagnosed with DTC based on pathology reports of surgery samples. An additional 100 people were selected as a control group with no cancer history. PCR-HRM (high resolution melting) analysis was performed to deal with each of mutations in all case and control samples separately. During the analysis of $IVS2+1G{\rightarrow}A$ and Ile157Thr mutations of CHEK2 gene in the case and control groups, all the samples were identified as wild homozygote type. The finding suggests that $IVS2+1G{\rightarrow}A$ and Ile157Thr mutations of CHEK2 gene do not constitute a risk factor for DTC in the Iranian population. However, further studies with larger population are required to confirm the outcome.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.310-314
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• 2023

Pancreatic trauma from a blunt injury is fairly uncommon in the pediatric population. Furthermore, such trauma with associated disruption of the pancreatic duct (PD) is even less prevalent and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Pancreatic injuries in the pediatric population are often missed and hence require a thorough workup in children presenting with any form of abdominal injury. This case report describes a young boy who presented with abdominal pain and did not initially inform medical staff about any injury. For this reason, his initial provisional diagnosis was appendicitis, but he was later found to have transection of the pancreas with injury to the PD on imaging. The management of such injuries in pediatric patients often poses a challenge due to a lack of pediatric physicians trained to perform interventions such as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Furthermore, such interventions carry a higher risk when performed on children due to the smaller size of their pancreatic ducts. As a result, our patient had to be transferred to an adult center to undergo this procedure. Thus, maintaining a high degree of suspicion, along with a detailed history and examination, is crucial for the early diagnosis and management of pancreatic injuries.