• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.262-268
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• 2001

Objectives : To integrate the results of studies which assess an association between blood lead and blood pressure. Methods : We surveyed the existing literature using a MEDLINE search with blood lead and blood pressure as key words, including reports published from January 1980 to December 2000. The criteria for quality evaluation were as follows: 1) the study subjects must have been workers exposed to lead, and 2) both blood pressure and blood lead must have been measured and presented with sufficient details so as to estimate or calculate the size of the association as a continuous variable. Among the 129 articles retrieved, 13 studies were selected for quantitative meta-analysis. Before the integration of each regression coefficient for the association between blood pressure and blood lead, a homogeneity test was conducted. Results : As the homogeneity of studies was rejected in a fixed effect model, we used the results in a random effect model. Our quantitative meta-analysis yielded weighted regression coefficients of blood lead associated with systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure results of 0.0047 (95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.0061, 0.0155) and 0.0004 (95% CI: -0.0031, 0.0039), respectively. Conclusions : The published evidence suggested that there may be a weak positive association between blood lead and blood pressure, but the association is not significant.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.33-43
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• 2014

Purpose: To evaluate the influence of experiences of witnessing tobacco advertising and preferences of tobacco companies' social responsibility (CSR) on current and future smoking intentions in adolescents. Methods: Data were collected from 700 adolescents living in Korea representing 7 metropolitan cities and 8 provinces in the method of proportional random sampling. The Gallup's data collection system was adopted using 1:1 face to face interviews. The witness of tobacco advertising was determined by 'yes', or 'no' responses to three survey items and to four survey items for preferences of tobacco CSR. For statistical analysis, ${\chi}^2$ test, Fisher's exact test and logistic regression were used. Results: 98.4% of the adolescents had experiences of witnessing tobacco advertising. POP (OR=103.44, 95% CI: 8.22~1301.45) and magazine advertisement (OR=6.07, 95% CI: 1.34~22.58) had a significant effect on their current smoking. Also, POP (${\beta}$=.24, p<.001) and movie advertisement (${\beta}$=.42, p<.001) had a significant effect on their future smoking intentions. As for the preferences of tobacco CSR, cultural-art support activities (${\beta}$=.15, p=.025) and environmental purifying campaigns (${\beta}$=-.15, p=.034) had a significant effect on their future smoking intentions. Conclusion: Witness of tobacco advertising and positive responses to tobacco CSR are associated with current and future smoking intentions in adolescents.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.55-66
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• 2018

Objectives To evaluate the evidence supporting the effectiveness of bee venom acupuncture for ankle sprain. Methods We conducted search across 11 electronic databases (Pubmed, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL [CENTRAL], KoreaMed, Kmbase, Koreanstudies Information Service System [KISS], National Digital Science Library [NDSL], Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information [KISTI], China National Knowledge Infrastructure [CNKI], Wanfang and Chinese Scientific Journals Database [VIP] database) to find clinical trials that used bee venom acupuncture as treatment for ankle sprain. The methodological quality of randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) were assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias (RoB) tool, while non-randomized controlled clinical trials (NRCTs) were assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment tool for Non-randomized Study (RoBANS) tool. Results Four RCTs and one nRCT met our inclusion criteria. Almost studies showed that bee venom acupuncture has positive effect on ankle sprain. 4 studies of same intervention and control included in the meta-analysis. When comparing bee venom acupuncture and acupuncture with acupuncture, the effect size of standardized mean difference (SMD) was -0.19 (95% confidence interval [CI]: -1.95~1.56, Z=0.55, p=0.83). And when comparing bee venom acupuncture with acupuncture, the effect size of SMD was -0.17 (95% CI: -0.65~0.31, Z=0.71, p=0.48). Conclusions Although our systematic review found encouraging but limited evidence of bee venom acupuncture for ankle sprain, most of the studies included in the analysis were evaluated as methodologically high risk of bias. From now on further well-designed RCTs should be encouraged.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.66-75
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was conducted to measure medication adherence and perceptions of anticoagulation therapy and its relationship to patients taking warfarin. Methods: in a cross-sectional survey, 150 patients taking warfarin who had visited an outpatient clinic of a cardiovascular center in Seoul were included as research subjects. Medication adherence was measured using a visual analogue rating scale (VAS). Barriers and attitudes toward adherence, and oral anticoagulation knowledge, were measured using a structured questionnaire. Participants' medical records also were reviewed to identify clinical characteristics. Results: About one third of the participants (30.7%) reported medication adherence as 100%. The major barriers to adherence were identified as "Forgetting the time of medication" and "Not carrying their medication". Overall attitudes toward medication adherence were high, but oral anticoagulation therapy knowledge was low. To determine the relationship of medication adherence and perceptions of anticoagulation therapy, participants were stratified into three groups, based on their medication adherence levels (high adherence, moderate adherence, low adherence). Participants in the high adherent group more likely to be older (OR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.005-1.071) and to have positive attitudes toward medication adherence (OR: 1.12, 95% CI:1.013-1.229) compared to the other two groups. Conclusion: The results show that age and attitude exerts significant influence on medication adherence in patients taking warfarin.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.118-125
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• 2018

Purpose: The pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) is associated with adverse neonatal outcomes. However, studies on very low birth weight (VLBW) infants are rare. This study aimed to investigate the effect of maternal pre-pregnancy BMI on VLBW infants. Methods: This retrospective study evaluated singleton VLBW infants born at the CHA Gangnam Medical Center from 2006 to 2016. The neonates were classified into three groups according to the maternal pre-pregnancy BMI: underweight (<$18.5kg/m^2$), normal weight (${\geq}18.5$ to <$23kg/m^2$), and overweight or obese (${\geq}23kg/m^2$). Clinical characteristics and morbidities of mothers and infants were analyzed. Results: A total of 181 infants belonging to underweight (16.6%), normal weight (58.6%), and overweight or obese (24.8%) groups were enrolled. The pre-pregnancy BMI had a significant negative correlation with gestational age (r=-0.198, P=0.001) and a significant positive correlation with the z-score of the birth weight (r=0.078, P=0.001) and body length (r=0.067, P=0.008). The number of extremely preterm infants was significantly higher in the overweight or obese group. The proportion of risk of small for gestational age infants was higher in the underweight group (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 2.958; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.113 to 7.864), whereas that of infants with severe retinopathy of prematurity was higher in the overweight or obese group (adjusted OR, 9.546; 95% CI, 1.230 to 74.109). Conclusion: In our population of VLBW infants, the pre-pregnancy BMI was associated with gestational age, intrauterine growth, and adverse neonatal outcomes. Therefore, proper weight control before pregnancy is important.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.465-471
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• 2010

This study aims to investigate the relationship between air pollution exposure and the prevalence of allergic rhinitis in a young population in the Ulsan metropolitan region (UMR). Data on physician-diagnosed allergic rhinitis (past 12 months) in 1,449 infants and children aged 1-18 years who lived within 1.5 or 2 km of air quality monitoring sites were collected in a cross-sectional health interview survey conducted between January-February 2006 in the UMR. Comparisons of the spatial distribution of the prevalence rates for allergic rhinitis and annual average pollutant concentrations over the region showed that a relatively high prevalence rate occurred around the coastal industrial area, with high PM10 concentrations. A linear correlation analysis demonstrated a positive correlation relationship between them (R = 0.680, p = 0.04). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the combined effect of the PM10 and $SO_2$ variables accounts for approximately 81% of the variance (R-square: 0.81) in the prevalence rate. From the multiple logistic regression analysis after adjustment by age, sex, and air-pollutant factors, the PM10 and $SO_2$ which were mainly from industrialrelated emissions were found to be significantly associated with an increased risk of allergic rhinitis (aOR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.15-2.70 for PM10 ; aOR: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.12-2.35 for SO2).

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.11 no.8
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• pp.63-70
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• 2020

This study was designed to test the convergence effectiveness of virtual reality programs for patients with stroke by using meta-analysis. Based on the PICOS criteria, we searched domestic literature and selected the final 9 studies in relation to 'stroke' and 'virtual reality programs'. Evaluation of the risk of bias in individual studies was conducted using evaluation tools according to the design of each study. The effect size of the meta-analysis was calculated using CMA program. The mediating effect analysis was conducted by sub-group analysis and meta-regression analysis. The overall effect size of the virtual reality program on the activities of daily living ability was Hedges's g=0.302(95% CI: 0.064~0.540), Therefore, virtual reality programs can increase the activities of daily living in stroke patients and have a positive impact on the medical industry that the convergence of virtual reality industry and healthcare industry.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.789-793
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• 2003

An investigation was conducted on 729 Hariana cows maintained at Government Livestock Farm, Hisar, from 1973 to 1999, with an objective to compare the efficiency of various selection indices for attaining desired genetic gains in the index traits. The various traits included were age at first calving (AFC), service period (SP), calving interval (CI), days to first service (DFS), number of services per conception (NSPC), lactation milk yield (LY), peak yield (PY), dry period (DP). Except for LY, PY and AFC the heritabilities of all other traits were low. Desirable associations among reproductive traits are supportive of the fact that any one of these traits incorporated in simultaneous selection is expected to cause correlated response in other traits. Production traits (LY and PY) were positively correlated, while DP had low negative genetic correlation with LY, and high genetic correlation with PY. Thus, DP can be taken as additional criteria in selection index for better over all improvement. Almost all production traits except DP had low negative correlation with AFC, SP, DFS and CI meaning that reduction in reproduction traits up to certain level may increase production performance. While, the correlation of NSPC with LY and PY was moderate positive. Among four trait indices I23: incorporating PY, AFC, SP and NSPC and among three trait indices I1: incorporating LY, AFC and SP were the best as these required least number of generations (4.87 and 1.35, respectively) to attain desired goals. Next in order of preference were PY or LY along with DP and SP as the best indices (I20 and I16) of which, index with PY may be preferred instead of LY as it produced considerably high correlated response in LY and reduction in NSPC as well.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.116-121
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• 1986

869 wheat lines were selected and analyzed for protein and lysine composition. Also, high protein-high lysine wheat were evaluated by stability parameter to determine varietal response to environments. Protein content had highly significant positive correlation coefficient of $0.902^{**}$ with lysine content but negatively correlated with lysine per protein content. Bezostaya and Lancota with low regression coefficient provided relatively low response to environment in protein content, while CI 13449 and Centurk with high regression coefficients (1.0) had a relatively high response. High heritability has been formed for protein $(h^2=0.809)$ and lysine content $(h^2=0.647)$.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.63 no.5
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• pp.559-565
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• 2020

Objective : Conflicting results regarding SOX17 genes and the risk of intracranial aneurysms (IA) exist in the Korean population, although significant positive correlations were noted in genome-wide association studies in European and Japanese populations. Therefore, we aimed to investigate an association between SOX17 gene variants and IA using exome sequencing data. Methods : This study included 26 age-gender matched IA patients and 26 control subjects. The SOX17 gene variants identified from whole-exome sequencing data were examined. Genetic associations to estimate odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were performed using the software EPACTS. Results : The mean age of the IA and control groups were 51.0±9.3 years and 49.4±14.3 years, respectively (p=0.623). Seven variants of SOX17, including six single nucleotide polymorphisms and one insertion and deletion, were observed. Among these variants, rs12544958 (A>G) showed the most association with IA, but the association was not statistically significant (OR, 1.97; 95% CI, 0.81-4.74; p=0.125). Minor allele frequencies of the IA patients and controls were 0.788 and 0.653, respectively. None of the remaining variants were significantly associated with IA formation. Conclusion : No significant association between SOX17 gene variants and IA were noted in the Korean population. A large-scale exome sequencing study is necessary to investigate any Korean-specific genetic susceptibility to IA.