• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제48권5호
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• pp.249-256
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• 2015

Objectives: Epidemiological studies have reported that vitamin D deficiency is associated with inflammatory disease. Smoking is a well-known risk factor for inflammation. However, few studies have investigated the interactive effect of vitamin D deficiency and smoking on inflammation. This study aims to investigate the interaction of vitamin D and smoking with inflammatory markers in the urban elderly. Methods: We used data from the Korean Elderly Environmental Panel Study, which began in August 2008 and ended in August 2010, and included 560 Koreans ${\geq}60$ years old living in Seoul. Data was collected via questionnaires that included items about smoking status at the first visit. Vitamin D levels, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and white blood cell (WBC) counts were repeatedly measured up to three times. Results: The association of vitamin D and hs-CRP was significant after adjusting for known confounders (${\beta}=-0.080$, p=0.041). After separate analysis by smoking status, the association of vitamin D deficiency and hs-CRP in smokers was stronger than that in nonsmokers (smokers: ${\beta}=-0.375$, p=0.013; non-smokers: ${\beta}=-0.060$, p=0.150). Smoking status was an effect modifier that changed the association between vitamin D deficiency and hs-CRP (interaction estimate: ${\beta}=-0.254$, p=0.032). Vitamin D was not significantly associated with WBC count (${\beta}=0.003$, p=0.805). Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency was associated with hs-CRP in the urban elderly. Smoking status was an effect modifier of this association. Vitamin D deficiency was not significantly associated with WBC count.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.86-92
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• 1991

To test if exposure history to rifle fire or cannonade training during military duty can induce hearing loss, history of personal military service and histroy of gunshot exposure were asked to 228 male college students with self -administrative questionnaire. Otoscopic examination and Rinne's test were performed if any abnormal finding was detected by pure-tone audiometry. Average hearing threshold levels of 500 Hz, 1,000 Hz, 2,000 Hz, 4,000 Hz and threshold levels at 4,000 Hz were calculated for 112 students who were remained after exclusion of cases with history of ear disease, of ototoxic drug administration, and of neuropsychiatric disease, and mean of those were compared between group of students who have completed military duty (completed group) and group of those who have not (not-completed group), and between group exposed (exposed group) and group unexposed to gunshot sound (unexposed group). Mean of average hearing threshold level and mean of threshold levels at 4,000 Hz of completed group and those of exposed group were higher than those of not-completed group and unexposed group, respectively. Proportion of cases that average threshold level was greater than 40 dB or threshold levels at 4,000 Hz was greater than 50 dB were higher also in completed group and exposed group than in duty not-completed group and unexposed group, respectively Multiple linear regression analysis including age, duration of military service, degree of gunshot sound exposure as independant variables and average hearing threshold level as dependant variable, was performed in order to estimate the effect of age on hearing, and any considerable effect of age on hearing could not be found. In conclusion, hearing impairment can be induced by rifle fire or cannonade training.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.34-43
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• 1992

To investigate the effect of hyperoxia on EKG findings and to evaluate the applicability of EKG as noninvasive monitoring index of oxygen toxicity, 38 rabbits were continuously exposed to 6 different conditions-3 hyperbaric oxygenations (HBO-2.5, 3.5 and 5ATA, 100% $O_2$), normobaric oxygenation (NBO,100% $O_2$), hyperbaric aeration (HBA-5ATA, 21% $O_2$) and normobaric aeration (NBA, 21% $O_2$)-for 120 minutes and their EKG and time to dyspnea and convulsion were recorded. Dyspnea and death were observed in exposure conditions of HBO-3.5 and HBO-5 (Positive rate of dyspnea 10%, 100%, death : 10%, 25%, respectively) only, and convulsion in 4 oxygenation groups (NBO;20%, HBO-2.5;20%, HBO-3.5;20%, HBO-5;88%). Abnormal EKG findings included arrhythmia and ST-T changes and the incidences was increasing with doses(partial pressure of oxygen). In addition to EKG change, findings observed during exposure were dyspnea and convulsion in the order of appearance and when non specific ST-T change was accepted as positive(abnormal) finding, the frequency of abnormal EKG was statistically significant(p<0.01), but when it was excluded from positive results, the frequency of EKG change was not significant(p>0.05). These results suggest that the effect of hyperoxia on heart is myocardial ischemia and arrhythmia, that oxygenation more than 3.5ATA causes myocardial damage in 120 minutes exposure, and that EKG is valuable as monitoring index of oxygen toxicity.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제35권4호
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• pp.287-294
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• 2002

Objectives : To examine whether cumulative chronic stress influences the immune status, and to verify the effect of social support on the relationship between these two dimensions in male manufacturing workers. Methods : A total of 39 workers were recruited for this study. A structured-questionnaire was used to assess general characteristics, job characteristics (work demand and decision latitude), psychosocial distress, and social support. The serum levels of CD4 and CD8 were measured as immune markers, and were collected between 8:00 and 10:00am in order to standardize the markers. Nonparametric statistics were used to estimate the differences between job characteristics and the immune markers. Results : General characteristics, and health-related behaviors, were not associated with CD4, CD8 or CD4/CD8. No relationships were found between job characteristics and the mean levels of immune reactivity. These results were consistent, even after controlling for social support. Social support failed to modify the relationship toward work demand, decision latitude or psychosocial distress to CD4, CD8, and CD4/CD8. Conclusion : Cumulative chronic life stress might not influence the immune status, and the effects of social support on the immune function under chronic stress, may not play a crucial role in modifying the relationships. This implication supports that the effect of stress on the immune function may be determined by the characteristics of that stress. further research should effectively considers the type, magnitude and timing of a stress event, and modifiable factors, such as personality traits, coping style, and hormone excretion levels, on the alteration of immune status.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제52권6호
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• pp.366-376
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• 2019

Objectives: The relationships among discrimination, social support, and mental health have mostly been studied in minorities, and relevant studies in the general population are lacking. We aimed to investigate associations between discrimination and depressive symptoms in Korean non-minority young adults, considering the role of social support. Methods: In total, 372 participants who completed the psychological examinations conducted in the third wave of the Jangseong High School Cohort study were included. We used the Everyday Discrimination Scale to evaluate perceived discrimination and the Beck Depression Inventory-II to measure depressive symptoms. Social support was measured by the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Multivariate linear regression was conducted to investigate associations between discrimination and depression, along with the effect modification of social support. We stratified the population by gender to investigate gender differences. Results: Perceived discrimination was significantly associated with depressive symptoms (${\beta}=0.736$, p<0.001), and social support was negatively associated with depression (${\beta}=-0.245$, p<0.001). In men, support from friends was the most influential factor (${\beta}=-0.631$, p=0.011), but no significant effect modification was found. In women, support from family was the most influential factor (${\beta}=-0.440$, p=0.010), and women with higher familial support showed a significantly diminished association between discrimination and depression, unlike those with lower family support. Conclusions: Discrimination perceived by individuals can lead to depressive symptoms in Korean young adults, and this relationship can may differ by gender and social support status.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.236-241
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• 1989

The purpose of this study was to introduce the methodology of intervention analysis with time series data and to investigate the influence of the patient referral system on medical care utilization in Kangwha county. The data were obtained at the Kangwha Medical Inurance Society and we analysed the material based on the outpatient care fee. The results were as fellows: 1. The average outpatient care utilization in the hospital decreased by 41.7% due to the patient referral system. 2. The utilization of the health instituation increased by 278.8 persons per month due to the patient referral system. 3. The patient referral system did not influence the total outpatient are utilization. The methodology of intervention analysis, which detected the effect of intervention, will be helpful to the study of public health area.

• 지역사회간호학회지
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• 제14권4호
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• pp.629-638
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• 2003

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of knowledge and health belief on osteoporosis preventive health behaviors. Methods: The subjects of this study were 266 middle-aged women. Data were collected using a self-reporting questionnaire with 101 questions. The period of data collection was from the 3rd of January to the 28th of February 2003. Data were analyzed using SPSS 10.0 PC+ program. Results: The results were summarized as follows: 1. The average score of knowledge about osteoporosis was 16.93 out of 27. Particularly, middle-aged women had knowledge more about osteoporosis prevention measures than about risk factors. 2. Knowledge, self efficacy and barriers were significantly correlated with osteoporosis preventive health behaviors. 3. As for the relationship between subjects' general characteristics and their health preventive behaviors, the size of living district, economic status, BMI. family history of osteoporosis and perception of health status were found to have significant effects on health preventive behaviors. Conclusions: According to the results presented above, preventive health behaviors may be promoted by increasing knowledge and perceived self-efficacy as well as decreasing individuals' perceived barriers through health education.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.313-325
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• 1994

A cross-sectional study was conducted in an effort to investigate the effect of air pollution on respiratory symptoms. Two groups of female aged more than 20 living in the unpolluted rural area of Taebul (n=159) and urban area of Taegu (n=140) were selected. The ATS-DLD-78 questionnaire was translated into Korean and administered with minor modification. The proportion of smoker was less than 1% in both area. Exposure to smoking and higher educational level were more frequent in Taegu. Age-adjusted prevalence rates of 'chronic cough', 'chronic sputum', 'wheezing', and 'dyspnea' were higher in Taegu than in Taebul. In particular, the prevalence rate of 'chronic sputum' in Taegu was found to be higher, which was statistically significant. Exposure to smoking and education level were not concerned with all respiratory symptom prevalence rates. In conclusion, this study Indicates that an urban factor is related to the rates of respiratory symptoms in Korea.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.383-392
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• 2000

Objective : We have reviewed the potential cancer preventive and other relevant properties of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer, which has been traditionally used as a natural tonic in oriental countries. Data identification and study selection: Publications on Panax ginseng and its relation to cancer were obtained from the Medline database (1983-2000) and by checking reference lists to find earlier reports. The reports cover experimental models and human studies on cancer-preventive activity, carcinogenicity and other beneficial or adverse effects. In addition, possible mechanisms of chemoprevention by ginseng were also considered. Results : Published results from a cohort and two case-control studies in Korea suggest that the intake of ginseng may reduce the risk of several types of cancer. When ginseng was tested in animal models, a reduction in cancer incidence and multiplicity at various sites was noted. Panax ginseng and its chemical constituents have been tested for their inhibiting effect on putative carcinogenesis mechanisms (e.g., cell proliferation and apoptosis, immunosurveillance, angiogenesis); in most experiments inhibitory effects were found. Conclusion : While Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer has shown cancer preventive effects both in experimental models and in epidemiological studies, the evidence is currently not conclusive as to its cancer-preventive activity in humans. The available evidence warrants further research into the possible role of ginseng in the prevention of human cancer and carcinogenesis.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.247-254
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• 1990

짝짓기 방법은 교란변수를 통제하기 가장 좋은 방법으로 알려져 있으나, 모수추정시 그 계산방법이 복잡하고, 포함된 모든 정보를 이용할 수 없다는 단점을 갖고 있다. 그럼에도 불구하고, conditional 모델을 이용한 matched 분석법은 짝지은 자료 분석시 가장 좋은 방법으로 인정되고 있다. 그러나 명확한 confounding 현상을 통제할 목적이 아닌 상태에서 짝지워진 자료를 matched 분석법으로 모수추정하는 경우나, 올바로 짝지워진 자료를 분석법의 편이성 때문에 unmatched 분석을 시도하는 경우, 오히려 estimation bias가 야기될 수 있다. 이러한 estimation bias의 통제능력을 몇 가지 분석방법을 이용하여 비교하고자, 1:2로 대응된 한 환자-대조군 자료를 이용하여 Mantel-Haenszel 분석법, 두가지의 unconditional model을 이용한 다변량분석법의 결과를 conditional model을 이용한 matched 분석법의 결과와 비교하였다. 1. Matched 분석법의 대용방법으로 사용된 세 가지 방법들은 모수추정면에서나 가설검정능력면에서 차이를 서로 보이지 않았다. 2. 짝짓기에 사용된 변수가 분석자료내에서 confounder나 effect modifier로 작용되지 않았음이 명백한 경우에는 이들 세 가지 통제 방법과 matched 분석법간에 차이가 없었다. 3. 짝짓기에 사용된 변수가 분석자료내에서 effect modifier로 작용하지는 않았으나, Confounder로 작용한 것으로 추정되는 경우, unmatched 분석법으로 인해 야기된 estimation bias의 통제능력이 이들 세 가지 대용방안 모두에서 인정되었다. 4. 짝짓기에 사용된 변수가 분석자료내에서 effect modifier로 작용하고 있음을 직접 확인할 수 있는 경우에는, overmatching에 의한 estimation bias를 의심할 수 있었으며, 이들 세 가지 통제방법은 오히려 unmatched 분석 방법에 가까운 모수를 추정하였다.