• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.37
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• pp.243-266
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• 2004

This paper is based on fieldwork conducted from July 6, 2003 to July 24 of 2003 among the Tungusgroups Hezhe, Daur, Oloqun, Owenke, and Mongolian in the areas of Heilongjiang and Inner Mongolia Provinces. Recognizing the need for more in-depth study among these groups, the present research shows that the Tungus people are archeologically, historically, and linguistically different from Korean Han ethnic group and challenges the link between Korean and Tungus groups since the Bronze Age. The comparison between the "House Spirit" belief of the Tungus people and Koreans reveals certain commonalities in the "Maru," "Kitchen," and "Samshin Spirit" practices. There are two possible reasons for such commonalities. Historically, the Korean Han ethnic group and the Tungus people were geographically intimate, and contact or transmission between the two groups occurred naturally. Also, immigration of refugees from the fallen Koguryo and Puyo to the Tungus region added another dimension of cultural contact. In contrast to the common features shared between the two groups, there also exists differences between the two groups House Spirit blief. The Korean Han group's "House Spirit" belief is based on the agricultural practices that separates the inside sacred and outside secular world of the houses, whereas the Tungus ethnic group's "House Spirit" belief is based on mobile herding life style with a less distinction between in and outside of house. Additionally, each Korean "House Spirit" has its own distinctive personality, and each spirit is placed and worshipped according to its function. In the Tungus group, all the "House Spirits" are located and worshipped in "malu," and some of the spirits are non-conventional house spirits. Moreover, Korean "House Spirits" form a kinship structure, placing Songju, the highest spirit, at the center. In the Tungus practice, such structure is not found. The tight cohesive family formation among the house spirits in the Korean "House Spirit" belief is also the most distinctive feature in its comparison with Chinese belief. In China, the highest spirit is Jiang Taigong or Qiwu, and the house spirits do not have kinship relations. Korean's Outhouse Spirit and Chowangshin are related to the Han Chinese's counterpart on certain levels? however, their basic structures are different. It is clear that the correlation of "Malu" "Chowangshin" and "Samshin" between Korea and Tungus indicate important role of Tungus cultural elements within Korea's "House Spirit" belief.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.127-139
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• 2012

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of an abdominal obesity management program on dietary intake, stress index, and waist to hip ratio (WHR) in abdominally obese women. The subjects were 195 adult abdominally obese women (WHR ${\geq}$ 0.80) who had been participating in a nutrition education (total of nine times) and dietary habits and life style modification programs (total of six times) for 12 weeks. The abdominal obesity management program focused on the nutrition provided by breakfast, lunch, and dinner, proper dietary habits, and practices to improve life style. The subjects were divided into a WHR decrease group and a WHR increase group according to changes in the WHR. Daily nutrient intake was assessed with a 3-day food record, body measurements and blood vessel age, stress index, and a health index that were measured at baseline and after 12 weeks. After the intervention, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, WHR, and body mass index (BMI) decreased significantly in the WHR decrease group. Energy intake increased from 1486.2 kcal to 1541.4 kcal with a significant improvement in nutrient density for animal protein, total fat, animal fat, fiber, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, vitamin $B_6$, vitamin C, vitamin E, and saturated fatty acids in the WHR decrease group. Additionally, dietary diversity increased significantly in the WHR decrease group compared to that in the WHR increase group. The WHR decrease group showed a significant improvement in the stress and health indices. Changes in WHR were correlated with changes in nutrient intake (animal protein, total fat, animal fat, plant fat, fiber, calcium, iron, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin $B_2$, vitamin $B_6$, vitamin C, and folate) and medical index profiles (stress and indices) adjusted for age, birth status, baseline BMI, and baseline WHR. These results show that an abdominal obesity management program was effective not only for reducing the WHR but also to improve dietary intake and the stress index in abdominally obese women.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.4517-4525
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• 2016

Background: Sperm DNA damage is underlying aetiology of poor implantation and pregnancy rates but also affects health of offspring and may also result in denovo mutations in germ line and post fertilization. This may result in complex diseases, polygenic disorders and childhood cancers. Childhood cancer like retinoblastoma (RB) is more prevalent in developing countries and the incidence of RB has increased more than three fold in India in the last decade. Recent studies have documented increased incidence of cancers in children born to fathers who consume alcohol in excess and tobacco or who were conceived by assisted conception. The aetiology of childhood cancer and increased disease burden in these children is lin ked to oxidative stress (OS) and oxidative DNA damage( ODD) in sperm of their fathers. Though several antioxidants are in use to combat oxidative stress, the effect of majority of these formulations on DNA is not known. Yoga and meditation cause significant decline in OS and ODD and aid in regulating OS levels such that reactive oxygen speues meditated signal transduction, gene expression and several other physiological functions are not disrupted. Thus, this study aimed to analyze sperm ODD as a possible etiological factor in childhood cancer and role of simple life style interventions like yoga and meditation in significantly decreasing seminal oxidative stress and oxidative DNA damage and thereby decreasing incidence of childhood cancers. Materials and Methods: A total of 131 fathers of children with RB (non-familial sporadic heritable) and 50 controls (fathers of healthy children) were recruited at a tertiary center in India. Sperm parameters as per WHO 2010 guidelines and reactive oxygen species (ROS), DNA fragmentation index (DFI), 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxy guanosine (8-OHdG) and telomere length were estimated at day 0, and after 3 and 6 months of intervention. We also examined the compliance with yoga and meditation practice and smoking status at each follow-up. Results: The seminal mean ROS levels (p<0.05), sperm DFI (p<0.001), 8-OHdG (p<0.01) levels were significantly higher in fathers of children with RB, as compared to controls and the relative mean telomere length in the sperm was shorter. Levels of ROS were significantly reduced in tobacco users (p<0.05) as well as in alcoholics (p<0.05) after intervention. DFI reduced significantly (p<0.05) after 6 months of yoga and meditation practice in all groups. The levels of oxidative DNA damage marker 8-OHdG were reduced significantly after 3 months (p<0.05) and 6 months (p<0.05) of practice. Conclusions: Our results suggest that OS and ODD DNA may contribute to the development of childhood cancer. This may be due to accumulation of oxidized mutagenic base 8OHdG, and elevated MDA levels which results in MDA dimers which are also mutagenic, aberrant methylation pattern, altered gene expression which affect cell proliferation and survival through activation of transcription factors. Increased mt DNA mutations and aberrant repair of mt and nuclear DNA due to highly truncatred DNA repair mechanisms all contribute to sperm genome hypermutability and persistant oxidative DNA damage. Oxidative stress is also associated with genome wide hypomethylation, telomere shortening and mitochondrial dysfunction leading to genome hypermutability and instability. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report decline in OS and ODD and improvement in sperm DNA integrity following adoption of meditation and yoga based life style modification.This may reduce disease burden in next generation and reduce incidence of childhood cancers.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.228-240
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• 2015

This study was conducted to investigate the dietary and other factors affecting bone mineral density (BMD) in older Korean women. A total of 340 women aged 65 to 74 were recruited from the Kugoksoondam area (Kurye, Goksung, Soonchang and Damyang counties), known as the longevity-belt region in Jeonla province, Korea. They were categorized into two groups according to bone status by T-score : a nonosteoporotic group and an osteoporotic group. Demographic characteristics were collected, as well as information on physical measurements, blood tests for biochemical indicators, health status health-related life style, dietary behavior, favorite food groups, nutrient intake and mini nutrition assessment (MNA). The results are as follows: The mean age of 185 nonosteoporotic women was 69.6 years and that of 155 osteoporotic women was 70.9 years (p<0.001). The mean T-score of the nonosteoporotic group was $-1.5mg/cm^3$ and that of theosteoporotic group was $-3.2mg/cm^3$ (p<0.001). Height and body weight in the nonosteoporotic group were significantly higher than in the osteoporotic group (p<0.001, respectively). There was no significant difference in BMI, although the BMI in the nonosteoporotic group was slightly higher. Waist and hip circumferences in the nonosteoporotic group were significantly higher than in the osteoporotic group (p<0.01, respectively), and the mid upper arm and calf circumferences were also significantly higher than in the osteoporotic group (p<0.001, p<0.01, respectively). The 5 m walking ability was significantly superior compared to the osteoporotic group. Serum levels did not show any significant differences between the groups and were within normal range. The serum total protein, albumin and Insulin-like growth factor (IGFs) levels of the nonosteoporotic group were significantly higher than those of the osteoporotic group (p<0.05, p<0.05, p<0.001, respectively). IGF was 104.7 ng/mL for the nonosteoporotic group and 88.1 ng/mL for the osteoporotic group. Physical activity and appetite in the nonosteoporotic group were significantly higher (p<0.01, p<0.05, respectively). The favorite food groups of the nonosteoporotic group comprised more meats and fish than those of the osteoporotic group (p<0.05, respectively). Nutrient intake was not significantly different, with the exception of niacin intake (p<0.05), but the nutrient intake of the nonosteoporotic group was slightly higher than that of the osteoporotic group. The niacin intake of the nonosteoporotic group and the osteoporotic group were 11.4 mgNE and 10.0 mgNE, corresponding to 103.6% and 90.9% of the Korean EAR, respectively. The MNA score of the nonosteoporotic group was significantly more favorable than for the osteoporotic group. In conclusion, it is necessary to maintain adequate body weight and muscle mass. Habitual physical activity may have a beneficial effect on BMD for older women. Dietary factors, such as meat and fish, higher intake of niacin rich foods and nutrient status for older women also appear to have favorable effects on bone mineral density.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.157-174
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• 1998

A survey was conducted to study the influence of socia-demographic factors on health-related behaviors. from June 1 to July 31, 1996. The study population was 1,903 adults in Kyongju City. A questionnaire method was used to collect data. Health-related behaviors included 24 items for men and 26 items for women. The followings are summaries of findings : The compliance of health promotion activities was higher when the age was older in men, when married, when having no religion and when the education level was higher than the other groups. And it was significantly higher when the income was lower in men and higher in women, in the residents living in apartment, in white collar workers, in the chronic ill people and when the body weight was lower than the other groups. Notable differences were found in the composition of health behavior factors for socio-demographic characteristics. Men used more tobacco, coffee and tea, salt and alcohol than women. However, the practice rates of regular exercise and physical examination were higher in men than women. On the other hand, the practice rates of fruit/vegetable intake, milk drinking and regular tooth brushing were higher in women than men. When the age was old, the amount of fruit/vegetable intake, the frequency of physician visit and health check-up, and regularity of meal were increased. When the income was high, the use rate of seat-belts, the amount of coffee, milk, fruit/vegetable and red meat intake were increased. The frequency of regular exercise. tooth brushing, health check-up, pap test and breast self examination were higher in the rich than the poor. When the education level was high, the frequency of regular exercise and tooth brushing, and the use rate of seat belts were increased, and the amount of alcohol consumption and salt intake were decreased. These findings suggest that socio-demographic factors are significantly associated with the patterns of health behaviors. In conclusion public health programs and individual counseling efforts should be multifaceted and behavior-specific to encourage to practice healthy life-style.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.154-172
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• 1999

In order to analyse the prevalence rate of hypertension and the actual conditions of control, we selected five districts out of eleven eups and myuns in Chinan Country. We administered structured questionaries to 309 adults above the age of 40, computerized the data using SPSS - PC+. More than 40.1% of adults over 40 in Chinan County have health disorders ranging from high blood pressure to hypertension including alert high blood pressure at 36.2%, relatively high. Among general characteristics, differences in the rate of hypertension were influenced by age, occupation and places of residence. Over 71 who are engaged in agriculture, who don't have jobs, who reside in Sungsu, Jungchun, Chinan-eup all have higher hypertension rates than other groups. Accordingly, the control of hypertension should be focused on these people. As a result of the control of blood pressure, the survey showed 93.0% of the subjects were checked mainly at hospitals clinics, health centers subhealth centers and community health posts more than once a year, relatively high level of blood pressure management. However, the difference between their blood pressure measurements at ordinary times and the level of blood pressure at the time of research was quite considerable. Only 47.3% of the subjects diagnosed with high blood pressure and 70.3% of the subjects with normal blood pressure recognized their blood pressure accurately 52.7% of the subjects diagnosed with high blood pressure showed errors in understanding their blood pressure at normal times. Because these errors can cause problems in the control of blood pressure, proper management should be executed through a systematic examination. As a result of the high blood pressure control condition, the average period of hypertension was 74.5( ${\pm}92.8$) months, 92.3% of the subjects were diagnosed with high blood pressure at hospitals clinics, health centers subhealth centers community health posts, but only 29.5% were examined after a general check up on high blood pressure was completed. 70.5% were diagnosed with high blood pressure only after measuring their blood pressure. 14.1% of the subjects were hospitalized because of falls influenced by high blood pressure. 33.3% attended hospitals and health centers regularily for medical treatment and this shows how low the rate of the control of blood pressure. Most people did not undergo medical treatment, because they had no painful symptoms (46.7%), they didn't need to take the medicine(28.9%), or they forget to take the medicine(20.0%). These problems in the control of hypertension were discovered in the process of diagnosing high blood pressure at health medical institutions. Many people did not recognize the need for consistent control of blood pressure. That is, although the diagnosis for high blood pressures performed at hospitals clinics, health centers subhealth centers and community health posts, was 92.3%, more than 70.5% of the subjects were not examined completely with regard to blood pressure. Accordingly, heath medical institutions must diagnose high blood pressure not only by only measuring blood pressure but also by using systematic process of examination. As for the people diagnosed with high blood pressure, one should perform consistent medical approaches and help them to recognize the importance of the continuous control of blood pressure through subject-oriented education. Problems the subjects experienced were the following numbness in the limbs easily paralyzed stitches in their shoulders which felt painful, stiff necks, occiputs felt heavy, headaches when they got up in the morning, felt dizzy when standing and moving their heads and poor eyesight. The rate of knowledge related to high blood pressure was 78.7 points, comparatively low. Whether they had normal blood pressure or hypertension made no difference. These results are not desirable. Adult-oriented education forgot the prevention and management of high blood pressure should be implemented. Hypertensive-oriented education should be especially reinforced. Because there was a difference in the level of knowledge according to age, academic career, occupation or place of residence, education related to hypertension should be intensified and focused on those over the age of 71 those who did not attend school, those who do not have jobs and are engaged in agriculture and residents living in Bugui, Jungchun regions. The degree of healthy life practice in hypertensives is poor, particularly weight control, as opposed to people who have normal blood pressure. It makes no difference in smoking, the amount of daily smoking, drinking, the control of salt because each result means that they are not practicing healthy life or modifying their life-style. The development and programs to improve a healthy life should be executed.

• Journal of Ginseng Culture
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• v.2
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• pp.39-70
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• 2020

In this paper, through the mutual interpretation and verification of the ancient Korean history books with different origin that have been suspected as false documents, it proves that they could be logically real records and reveal that the substance of the legendary 'medicine for anti-aging and longevity', which also had been mentioned in Chinese old books, is Korean ginseng. Furthermore, with reference to the modern Y chromosomal map of the migratory routes of mankind corresponding to these routes recorded in 「Budoji」, the core history book, the formation of the four ethnic constitution groups (Sasang Constitution) based on the life style of each human group has been estimated. And the cause of Korean ginseng with fever problem for Southeast Asians is their pharmacogenomic constitution problem by protopanaxatriol (PPT) type ginsenosides in ginseng. It was resolved with over production of protopanaxdiol (PPD) type ginsenosides against PPT type in Korean red ginseng as historical or scientific point of view. In addition, by explaining that the processing method to Korean red ginseng could increase red ginseng acidic polysaccharides (RGAP), the RGAP, PPD type ginsenosides, and arginine which is originally abundant in Korean ginseng could increase the expression of the 'heat shock proteins' as a kind of chaperone in the body, this paper presents the theory allowing the scientific interpretation of the efficacy of Korean red ginseng as an 'adaptogen' or 'medicine for anti-aging and longevity'. Lastly, through the consideration of the growing environment of American ginseng and Korean ginseng, the differences are presented.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.319-328
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• 2013

Objectives: This study estimated the association of cardiovascular health behaviors with the risk of all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in middle-aged men in Korea. Methods: In total, 12 538 men aged 40 to 59 years were enrolled in 1993 and followed up through 2011. Cardiovascular health metrics defined the following lifestyle behaviors proposed by the American Heart Association: smoking, physical activity, body mass index, diet habit score, total cholesterol, blood pressure, and fasting blood glucose. The cardiovascular health metrics score was calculated as a single categorical variable, by assigning 1 point to each ideal healthy behavior. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to estimate the hazard ratio of cardiovascular health behavior. Population attributable risks (PARs) were calculated from the significant cardiovascular health metrics. Results: There were 1054 total and 171 CVD deaths over 230 690 person-years of follow-up. The prevalence of meeting all 7 cardiovascular health metrics was 0.67%. Current smoking, elevated blood pressure, and high fasting blood glucose were significantly associated with all-cause and CVD mortality. The adjusted PARs for the 3 significant metrics combined were 35.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 21.7 to 47.4) and 52.8% (95% CI, 22.0 to 74.0) for all-cause and CVD mortality, respectively. The adjusted hazard ratios of the groups with a 6-7 vs. 0-2 cardiovascular health metrics score were 0.42 (95% CI, 0.31 to 0.59) for all-cause mortality and 0.10 (95% CI, 0.03 to 0.29) for CVD mortality. Conclusions: Among cardiovascular health behaviors, not smoking, normal blood pressure, and recommended fasting blood glucose levels were associated with reduced risks of all-cause and CVD mortality. Meeting a greater number of cardiovascular health metrics was associated with a lower risk of all-cause and CVD mortality.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.146-161
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• 1996

This study was purposed to find health promotion and care needs of the elderly in rural area of Korea. As the rural elderly are limited in accessibility to health care resources and could not immediately solve their health care needs when they need. health promotion and care services are expected to bring better and more practical solutions of their health care needs. Thus, the type of health care services to be developed in Korea rural area is discussed to have emphasis on health care service component in addition to health promoting components. Methods of this study was based on survey data analysis : total 322 persons aged older than 55 living at one 'Kun' in Korea administrative unit were interviewed by health workers working at the region and also get trained for this study data collection. The data collection interview was continued from February till May in 1996. The interview questions were modified with adjustment to Korea situation. with basis of the WHO's health promotion program components. The collected data were analyzed using SAS program for frequency, correlation, regressions. The major findings were as follows : (1) $74.8\%$ of the surveyed were sick at the survey time point. and $95.9\%$ known the diagnosis name of the disease. The most frequently complained diseases were Muscular-Skeletal diseases $(43.7\%)$. $34\%$ of those sick had never treated or discontinued therapeutic procedures. so that shown the necessity of systematic and usual health care services with health promotion program development for the elderly. (2) The percent of those who make social participation was $95.3\%$. and the activities were visiting neighbors $(70.4\%)$ and lack of qualified social activity programs. (3) $78.1\%$ of the surveyed had health counseling and education from professional health workers. Those ceased smoking and drinking were $59.6\%,\; 60.3\%$. respectively. Those had no application of therapeutic drugs or nutrion supplements was $40.7\%\;and\;94.1\%$ had regular meals. Those practiced exercises was low remarking $17.7\%$. (4) Positive health behaviors were better carried out by sick groups than by the healthier. except smoking. regular meals. and exercise. $17.5\%$ of sick group smoke more than one case of cigarettes. in contrast to $9.5\%$ of the healthier. (5) Mental health status was heathier among positive health behavior earners. Health counseling and education shown better score of mental health than those never counseled. (6) Positive health behavior practice frequency did not show significant differences when crossed by social activity participation status. (7) Health behaviors of the rural elderly people were carried out better when they had positive 'continuency in therapeutic procedure' 'health status'. 'familial relationship'. 'Health Status' of the rural olderly were explained by 'exercise'. 'drinking'. 'familial relationship'. 'activities of daily living'. Thus, health behaviors practice mutually interact with health status. In conclusion. the health promotion and care program component are recommended to include ation on the necessity of positive health promotion active social acitivities. pleasant life style, adaption into changes on the elderly, safety in residential area. community acitivity and resource utilization. etc .. in addition to the elderly's disability and sickness caring services.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.134-145
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• 2007

Purpose: To test the effects of health education on the blood pressure, knowledge, and self-care of visiting nursing clients. Methods: The study subjects were 96 participants who had been diagnosed with hypertension or had high risk factors for hypertension among those registered at a public health center in Seoul. The education program was individualized and delivered to enhance the management of hypertension including life-style modification, medication, and complication managements. Data were collected using questionnaires from May to December 2006 and analyzed using descriptive analysis, t-test, paired t-test, and ANOVA. Results: The blood pressure of the participants after the education was significantly decreased compared to before the education. Education also significantly affected the increases of knowledge of the disease and self-care capability. However, the blood pressure and self care were not significantly improved for the age group over 85 years. Conclusions: This study proves that the individualized health education for visiting nursing clients was effective in improving blood pressure, knowledge, and self-care of hypertension. However, it is necessary to develop strategies that are specifically targeted at particular age groups in order to improve the capability of self-care of hypertension.