• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.3377-3381
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• 2015

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the level of awareness and knowledge about signs and risk factors of oral cancer in the general population in Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information from Saudi adults aged 15 years and older. A total of 679 persons participated in the survey. Descriptive statistics were calculated and chi-square tests, t-tests, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to examine differences between groups. The significance level was set at p<0.05. Results: Only 53.6% of the participants had heard of oral cancer. Smoking and alcohol consumption were identified as the major risk factors by 81.7% and 56.3% of the participants, respectively. Only 22.2% and 18.2%, respectively, were able to correctly identify red and white lesions as early signs of oral cancer. Participants with less than high school education were significantly less aware, and had much less knowledge, of the signs and risk factors of oral cancer (p<0.05). Conclusions: This survey demonstrates a general lack of awareness among the public about oral cancer and a lack of knowledge about its signs and risk factors. There is a clear need to inform and educate the public in matters relating to the known risk factors associated with oral cancer. A media campaign informing the public about oral cancer is clearly required.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.1355-1360
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• 2015

Background: The number of cancer survivors is increasing globally and recently, higher rates of comorbidities in cancer survivors have been reported. However, no studies have investigated whether cancer survivors have a higher risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Accordingly, our study evaluated the association between cancer survivors and the risk of CKD using the 2010-2012 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Materials and Methods: A total of 11,407 participants aged 40 years and over were categorized into two groups according to cancer experience. Multiple variables were compared and the odds ratios (ORs) for CKD prevalence were calculated using a weighted logistic regression analysis between the two groups. Results: Cancer survivors were older than were those in the non-cancer group, on average, the percentages of glomerular filtration rate(GFR) lower than $60mL/min/1.73m^2$, proteinuria, and CKD were significantly higher in cancer survivors when compared to controls. Weighted logistic regression analyses demonstrated that cancer survivors had a higher risk for CKD after adjusting for multiple variables (OR (95% confidence interval), 2.88 (1.48-5.59)). Conclusions: Our study demonstrated a possible association between CKD and cancer survival in Korean adults. Identifying and correcting risk factors for cancer survivors would positively affect prevention of CKD and result in a better cancer prognosis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.2967-2971
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• 2013

Background: Extraskeletal Ewing sarcoma (EES)/primitive neuroectodermal tumours (PNET) are rare soft tissue sarcomas. Prognostic factors and optimal therapy are still unconfirmed. Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis on patients to explore the clinic characteristics and prognostic factors of this rare disease. A total of 37 patients older than 15 years referred to our institute from Jan., 2002 to Jan., 2012 were reviewed. The characteristics, treatment and outcome were collected and analyzed. Results: The median age was 28 years (range 15-65); the median size of primary tumours was 8.2 cm (range 2-19). Sixteen patients (43%) had metastatic disease at the initial presentation. Wide surgical margins were achieved in 14 cases (38%). Anthracycline or platinum-based chemotherapy was performed on 29 patients (74%). Radiotherapy was delivered in 13 (35%). At a median follow-up visit of 24 months (range 2-81), the media event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were 15.8 and 30.2 months, respectively. The 3-year EFS and OS rates were 24% and 43%, respectively. Metastases at presentation and wide surgical margins were significantly associated with OS and EFS. Tumour size was significantly associated with OS but not EFS. There were no significant differences between anthracycline and platinum based chemotherapy regarding EFS and OS. Conclusions: EES/PNET is a malignant tumour with high recurrence and frequent distant metastasis. Multimodality therapy featuring wide surgical margins, aggressive chemotherapy and adjuvant local radiotherapy is necessary for this rare disease. Platinum-based chemotherapy can be used as an adjuvant therapy.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.11 no.10
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• pp.380-387
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• 2011

This study was to investigate the effects of music-combined respiration and oral motor training on the voice of healthy elderly. 27 women attending a senior center in Seoul participated and were randomly assigned to the experimental (n = 16) and the control group (n = 11). Subjects attended music program(25 minutes per session) once a week for 4 weeks. For both groups, Fundamental Frequency (F0), Maximum Phonation Time (MPT) and Sequential Motion Rates (SMR) were measured using the Praat speech analysis program before and after the training. The results showed statistical significance in scores of intensity, F0, MPT, and SMR in the experimental group while only intensity was statistically significant in the control group. Considering that, the increasing life expectancy and growing number of older adults, their quality of life has been important. So this study suggests that the respiration and oral motor training would be effectively incorporated into training and services for this population.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.1115-1119
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• 2013

Background: Febrile neutropenia (FN) is a serious complication following chemotherapy and is associated with significant mortality and financial expenditure. The aim of this study was to evaluate risk factors for longer length of stay (LOS) and mortality and cost of treatment among hospitalized adults with cancer who developed febrile neutropenia in Thailand. Materials and Methods: Information on illness of inpatients and casualties came from hospitals nationwide and from hospital withdrawals from the 3 health insurance schemes in fiscal 2010. The data covered 96% of the population and were analyzed by age groups, hospital level, and insurance year schemes in patients with febrile neutropenia. Results: A total of 5,809 patients were identified in the study. The mortality rate was 14%. The median LOS was 8.67 days and 69% of patients stayed for longer than 5 days. On bivariate analysis, age, cancer type, and infectious complications (bacteremia/sepsis, hypotension, fungal infections, and pneumonia) were significantly associated with longer LOS and death. On multivariate analysis, acute leukemia and infectious complications were linked with longer LOS and death significantly. The median cost of hospitalized FN was THB 33,686 (USD 1,122) with the highest cost observed in acute leukemia patients. Conclusions: FN in adult patients results in significant mortality in hospitalized Thai patients. Factors associated with increased mortality include older age (>70), acute leukemia, comorbidity, and infectious complications.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.805-810
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• 2013

Increasing the rate of smoking cessation will reduce the burden of diseases related to smoking, including cancer. Understanding the process of smoking cessation is a pre-requisite to planning and developing effective programs to enhance the rate of smoking cessation.The aims of the study were to determine the demographic distribution of smokers across the initial stages of smoking cessation (the pre-contemplation and contemplation stages) and to identify the predictors of smoking cessation among Malaysian adult smokers. Data were extracted from a population-based, cross-sectional survey carried out from April 2006 to July 2006. The distribution of 2,716,743 current smokers across the pre-contemplation stage (no intention to quit smoking in the next six months) or contemplation stage (intended to quit smoking in the next six months) was described. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between socio-demographic variables and the stages of smoking cessation. Of the 2,716,743 current smokers, approximately 30% and 70% were in the pre-contemplative and contemplative stages of smoking cessation respectively. Multivariable analysis showed that male gender, low education level, older age group, married and those from higher income group and number of cigarettes smoked were associated with higher likelihood of pre-contemplation to cease smoking in the next six months. The majority of current smokers in Malaysia were in the contemplative stage of smoking cessation. Specific interventions should be implemented to ensure the pre-contemplative smokers proceed to the contemplative stage and eventually to the preparation stage.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.7034-7042
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of metabolic syndrome(MS) on quality of life(QoL) using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of 2013. We analyzed data for 4,890 adults, aged 19 year or older and provided the correct data about MS and QoL. MS was defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III with Korea-specific waist circumference cutoffs and QoL was measured by the EuroQol 5-dimension(EQ-5D). The prevalence of MS was 22.1% and high density lipoprotein(HDL)-cholesterol was the highest prevalence in MS components. The mean of EQ-5D index was significantly lower in subject with MS compared to subjects without MS. Among MS components, only higher waist circumference led to EQ-5D index decreasing and the regression coefficient was -0.018. In conclusion, we suggest the attention to QoL and intervention program for improving the QoL in subjects with MS.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.75-87
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• 2003

This study was conducted to find the number of meals skipped and the types of main meals consumed by people in Miryang and Daegu. The subjects consisted of elementary school students(ES), middle school students(MS), high school students(HS), college students(CS) and adults, divided into below the age of 40(AU) and above the age of 40(AA). Data were collected through a 7-day dietary record from 941 subjects. The definition of rice-based meal(RM) and wheat-based meal(WM) depends on the type of grain eaten in the main dish, rice or wheat flour, respectively, regardless of the menu. Out of all the meals consumed by the subjects during 7 days before the survey, 71.5% of the meals consumed were RM, 13.1 ％ of the meals consumed was WM and 12.5% of the meals was skipped. Of the meals skipped, breakfast-skipping was the highest with 27.1%. There's no difference by region and sex. But there were several differences by age. The rates of skipped meal were high for CS, AU, HS, and MS in order. Especially the breakfast-skipping for CS was highest as 47.9%. In the types of main meal, the rates of RM was highest at breakfast and lowest at lunch. The rates of RM was higher in Miryang than Daegu, and there was no difference by sex. The rates of RM was high for AA, HS, ES and AU in order. ES and HS, who had highest rates of WM, had the highest WM consumption at lunch. It is because of school food service at lunch. Since the younger population consumed more RM compared to the older population, it can be speculated that more WM will be consumed in the future. Also efforts need to be made to discourage skipping meals.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.57 no.9
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• pp.403-409
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• 2014

Purpose: Although high morning blood pressure (BP) is known to be associated with the onset of cardiovascular events in adults, data on its effects in children with hypertension are limited. Our retrospective study aimed to define the clinical characteristics of children with morning hypertension (MH) and to determine its associated factors. Methods: We reviewed 31 consecutive patients with hypertension, confirmed by the ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). We divided these patients into 2 groups: the MH group (n=21, 67.7%), morning BP above the 95th percentile for age and height (2 hours on average after waking up) and the normal morning BP group (n=10, 32.3%). We compared the clinical manifestations, laboratory results, and echocardiographic findings including left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) between the groups. Results: The early/atrial (E/A) mitral flow velocity ratio in the MH group was significantly lower than that in the normal morning BP group. In addition, LV mass was higher in the MH group than in the normal morning BP group, although the difference was not statistically significant. The age at the time of hypertension diagnosis was significantly higher in the MH group than in the normal morning BP group (P =0.003). The incidence of hyperuricemia was significantly higher in the MH group than in the normal morning BP group. Conclusion: Older patients and those with hyperuricemia are at higher risk for MH. The rise in BP in the morning is an important factor influencing the development of abnormal relaxation, as assessed by echocardiography. Clinical trials with longer follow-up periods and larger sample sizes are needed to clarify the clinical significance of MH.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.90-97
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of virtual reality-based continuous slow exercise on muscle strength and dynamic balance capacity, in older adults over 65 years of age. Methods: Twenty-six volunteers were randomly divided into two groups; a Virtual Reality (VR) exercise-group ($67.8{\pm}4.1$ yrs) and a Control group ($65.5{\pm}5.2$ yrs). The VR group participated in eight weeks of virtual reality exercise, utilizing modified Tai-Chi provided by a motion capture system, and the Control group had no intervention. The hip muscle strength and dynamic balance of the members of both the VR group and the Control group were measured at pre- and post-intervention, using a multimodal dynamometer, and backward stepping test, respectively. Results: 1. After the 8-week VR-based exercise, the VR group showed significant improvement of hip strength, compared to the control group: hip extension (p=0.00), flexion (p=0.00), abduction (p=0.00), and adduction (p=0.00). 2. After the 8-week VR-based exercise, the VR group showed significant improvement of dynamic balance capacity as ground reaction force, compared to the control group. Eyes opened backward stepping test: Fx (+) (p=0.00), Fy (-) (p=0.02), Ver (+) (p=0.02) direction. Eyes closed backward stepping test: Fx (+) (p=0.04), Fy (-) (p=0.04), Ver (+) (p=0.03) direction. Conclusion: The VR group showed improvement of their hip muscle strength, and dynamic balance capacity. Therefore VR-based continuous slow exercise would contribute to reducing the risk of falls in the elderly.