• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제41권4호
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• pp.241-248
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• 2008

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to identify a gap between consumer characteristics and utilization of health information on the Internet. Methods: A telephone survey of nationally representative samples was conducted using structured questionnaires, and 1,000 of the 1,189 responses obtained were included in our analysis. The following variables were included in the analysis as potential predictors of health information use on the Internet: predisposing factors such as gender, age, and education status; enabling factors such as region and monthly household income; consumer need for health information; and attitude to health. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between utilization rate and the potential predictors. Results: Thirty-nine percent of consumers had obtained health information on the Internet over a one-year period. The utilization rates were higher for consumers who were young, educated, worked in the office setting, had higher incomes, wanted health information, and were able to use the Internet. The utilization rate was 5.35 times higher in the younger group (20-30 years) than in the elderly group (95% CI=2.21-12.97); 2.21 times higher for office workers than for manual workers (95% CI=1.16-4.20); 3.61 times higher for college graduates than for middle school graduates and below (95% CI=1.07-11.59); 1.99 times higher for people with monthly household incomes over 3,000,000 won than for those with monthly household incomes below 1,500,000 won (95% CI=1.01-3.92). Conclusions: There needs to be a paradigm shift, with consideration of not only Internet accessibility in the digital age, but also consumer ability and attitudes toward utilization of health information.

• 생약학회지
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• 제39권3호
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• pp.165-173
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• 2008

Aldose reductase (AR), the principal enzyme of the polyol pathway, has been shown to play an important role in the diabetic complications, including diabetic cataract. The inhibitors of AR, therefore, would be potential agents for prevention of diabetic complications. As part of our ongoing project directed toward the discovery of preventive and/or treatment for diabetic complications, 48 Korean herbal medicines have been investigated with an in vitro evaluation system using aldose reductase inhibitory activities. Of these, 12 herbal medicines exhibited a significant inhibitory activity against aldose reductase. Particularly, seven herbal medicines, i.e., Eurya japonica, Chrysanthemum indicum, Akebia quinata, Saururus chinensis, Catalpa bignonioides, Lonicera japonica, Vitex rotundifolia showed two times more potent inhibitory activity than the positive control 3.3-tetramethyleneglutaric acid (TMG). In addition, Catalpa bignonioides showed the retardation of cataract-opacification of the lens of the eye under diabetic condition by xylose. Therefore, this result may provide a potential therapeutic approach for preventing and treating diabetic cataracts.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권17호
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• pp.7407-7411
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• 2014

The incidence of urban female breast cancer has been continuously increasing over the past decade with unknown etiology. One hypothesis for this increase is carcinogen exposure from tobacco. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the risk of urban female breast cancer from tobacco smoke exposure. The matched case control study was conducted among Thai females, aged 17-76 years and living in Bangkok or its surrounding areas. A total of 444 pairs of cases and controls were recruited from the Thai National Cancer Institute. Cases were newly diagnosed and histologically confirmed as breast cancer while controls were selected from healthy women who visited a patient, matched by age ${\pm}5$ years. After obtaining informed consent, tobacco smoke exposure data and information on other potential risk factors were collected by interview. The analysis was performed by conditional logistic regression, and presented with odds ratio (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals(CI). From all subjects, 3.8% of cases and 3.4% of controls were active smokers while 11.0% of cases and 6.1% of controls were passive smokers. The highest to lowest sources of passive tobacco smoke were from spouses (40.8%), the workplace (36.8%) and public areas (26.3%), respectively. After adjusting for other potential risk factors or confounders, females with frequent low-dose passive smoke exposure (${\leq}7$ hours per week) from a spouse or workplace had adjusted odds ratio 3.77 (95%CI=1.11-12.82) and 4.02 (95%CI=1.04-15.50) higher risk of breast cancer compared with non-smokers, respectively. However, this study did not find any association of breast cancer risk in high dose passive tobacco smoke exposure, or a dose response relationship in cumulative passive tobacco smoke exposure per week, or in the active smoker group. In conclusion, passive smoke exposure may be one important risk factor of urban female breast cancer, particularly, from a spouse or workplace. This risk factor highlights the importance of avoiding tobacco smoke exposure as a key measure for breast cancer prevention and control.

• 한국치위생학회지
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.657-667
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• 2017

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of dental erosion by three different types of commercial fermented milk on the enamel surface of bovine teeth. Methods: Forty bovine teeth (four groups of 10) were immersed in fermented milk (experimental groups: liquid type, condense-stirred type and condense-drink type) or mineral water (control group) for 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes. Enamel surface microhardness was measured before and after treatment with a microhardness tester, and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) was used to assess the enamel surface morphology. Results:Changes in enamel surface microhardness (before-after treatment; ${\Delta}VHN$) were significantly different among the four groups (p<0.05). ${\Delta}VHN$ was highest in the liquid type group, followed by the condense-stirred type, condense-drink type, and control groups. The ${\Delta}VHNs$ of three types of fermented milk groups were higher than that of the control group (p<0.05). The liquid type group showed higher ${\Delta}VHN$ than the other two types of condense fermented milk groups (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in ${\Delta}VHN$ between the two types of condense fermented milk (p>0.05). The results of SEM observation have shown the most severe surface damage in bovine teeth immersed in the liquid type of fermented milk. Conclusions: In this study, it appears that liquid type fermented milk causes greater development of dental erosion. The physical properties and pH of fermented milk types must be considered for prevention of dental erosion associated with ingestion of fermented milk.

• 대한예방한의학회지
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.65-74
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• 2003

Objective : The aim of present study is to evaluate the inhibitory potential of licorice extract and glycyrrhizin on cytochrome P450(CYP) in human liver microsomes. Methods : Using human liver microsomes, water extract of licorice and glycyrrhizin as an inhibitor were co-incubated with each probe drug representing selective CYP isoform activity. We measured relative metabolic activity in incubation condition compared to that with no extract of licorice using HPLC system. Results : Both water extracts of licorice and glycyrrhizin showed inhibitory effect on CYP-catalyzed reactions. CYP2C19 $(IC_{50}=126.7{\mu}g/ml)$ is most potently inhibited by water extract than other tested CYP isoforms$(IC_{50}>450{\mu}g/ml)$, but glycyrrhizin exhibited potent inhibition on CYP1A2$(IC_{50}=106.9{\mu}g/ml)$ followed by CYP2C9 and CYP2D6. Conclusion: These results indicate that water extract of licorice and glycyrrhizin have inhibitory potential on CYP-catalyzed reaction in human liver microsomes. But the mechanism of inhibition was slightly different between them Water extract of licorice mainly inhibited CYP2C19, and glycyrrhizin primarily inhibited CYP1A2. The inhibition by water extract of licorice and glycyrrhizin on CYP isoforms may cause drug interaction with co-administered drug leading to toxicity or treatment failure.

• 한국학교보건학회지
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.51-58
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• 2012

Purpose: This study aims to discover the relation between the sleep duration and quality of adolescents and their body mass index. Methods: The study used data obtained through the 2009 online survey on adolescents health behaviors, targeting a total of 75,066 middle and high school students (39,612 of male students and 35,454 of female students). We first performed t-test, ANOVA and Scheffe's test and then the potential variables which was possibly related to the body mass index are determined from the tests. Using the potential variable, we performed the multiple regression analysis to finally identify the relation between the duration and quality of sleep. Results: As a result, the 39.8% of male students and the 46.5% of female students most frequently respond that the sleep duration was less than 6 hours, and 36.4% of male students and the 45.3% of female students respond that the quality of sleep was not good enough. The body mass index of both the male and the female students portionally decreases to their sleep duration, but the better quality of sleep makes their body mass index higher. Conclusion: In conclusion, the body mass index has some notable relationship with the sleep duration and quality for adolescents. It is advised to consider the sleep duration and quality in the business plans for adolescents in order for the prevention of their body mass index.

• 한국병원경영학회지
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.37-49
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to investigate the level of competition between Public Health Centers (PHCs) and private clinics (PCs) by examining the number of patients that used PHCs vs. PCs, estimating the total amount of revenue generated from outpatient services at both PHCs and PCs, thereby analyzing the financial impacts on PCs derived from the PHCs. We utilized 2011 National Inpatient Sample data (NIS). Using the 20 table containing general information on each individual claims, we integrate it with the 40 table which contains all the diagnostic codes for each claim. Then, we disaggregate the bundled claims into the original individual claims. Overall, 3.1% of outpatient visits are made at PHCs while the rest was made at the PCs (96.9%). Among the total claim costs of 6.34 billion USD (as of 2011), PHCs occupy 2.0% (124 million USD), and 98.0% are contributed to PCs (6.21 billion USD). The estimated economic losses of PCs due to PHCs are summarized as follow; the maximum potential loss is estimated at 198 million USD in total and 7,099 USD per clinic when we include all patient types; the minimum loss is estimated at 71 million USD in total and 2,540 USD per clinic where Medical Aid recipients and the elderly (aged 65 and over) are excluded. Our results confirm the potential economic effect on PCs due to PHCs providing outpatient services. PCs and PHCs are the most important players providing primary care in Korea. Unnecessary competition between PCs and PHCs is not desirable. Health authorities should carefully examine the healthcare services currently provided by PHCs and their impacts on PCs.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.188-195
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• 2013

Antioxidants are an important group of medicinal preventive compounds as well as being food additives inhibiting detrimental changes of easily oxidizable nutrients. The present investigation has been carried out to evaluate the antioxidant properties of different solvent extracts of Agriophyllum pungens seeds by various in vitro systems. The antioxidative activities of these samples were determined using four methods: 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'- azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activity, ferric-reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP), and hydroxyl (OH) radical scavenging activities. Additionally, total flavonoids and phenolic contents (TPC) were also determined. Yield of extracts varied widely among solvents and was the highest for water extract (5.642% based on dry weight basis), while ethyl acetate extract exhibited the highest total phenolic content (0.149 mg/mL), total flavonoid content (0.111 mg/mL), and antioxidant activities (P<0.05). The ABTS radical scavenging activity of A. pungens seeds occurred in the following order: ascorbic acid (92.9157%)>BHA (90.1503%)> ${\alpha}$-tocopherol (87.7527%)>APEA (83.9887%) >APWR (75.5633%); the antioxidant activity of the extracts might be attributed to the presence of these phenolics. This suggests that A. pungens seed extract is a potential source of natural antioxidants, which could be added to dietary supplements to help prevent oxidative stress.

• 대한예방한의학회지
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.21-29
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• 2018

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to examine the lifestyle of korean medicine students based on their drinking patterns and eating attitudes. Methods : The survey was conducted on 101 korean medicine students to investigate their psychological characteristics. They were asked to complete Self-Administered Alcoholism Screening Test, Eating Attitude Test, and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2. Results : A total of 101 Korean medical students participated in the study. Non-drinker 19, drinker were 82. Unlikely to, possible and potential alcoholism 79(78.2%), 17(16.8%) and 5(5%) respectively. The mean and standard deviation of SAAST in the subjects were $3.88{\pm}3.33$ and the EAT score was $8.09{\pm}8.693$. There was a significant difference in the MMPI-2 items between non-drinker and drinker. The SAAST had an effect on the EAT score(${\beta}=0.319$). Conclusions : As a result of MMPI-2 test, in the potential alcoholism group, scale D, Mf, Si, INTR, TPA, SOD, Mt and GF were shown higher, and AAS and GM were shown lower than the normal group. In the bad eating attitude group, scale Hy, RC4, DISC and AA were shown higher than the good eating attitude group.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• 제51권4호
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• pp.341-350
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• 2021

Purpose: The use of micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) scans in biomedical and dental research is growing rapidly. This study aimed to explore the scientific literature on approaches and applications of micro-CT in restorative dentistry. Materials and Methods: An electronic search of publications from January 2009 to March 2021 was conducted using ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Google Scholar. The search included only English-language articles. Therefore, only studies that addressed recent advances and the potential uses of micro-CT in restorative and preventive dentistry were selected. Results: Micro-CT is a tool that enables 3-dimensional imaging on a small scale with very high resolution. In this method, there is no need for sample preparation or slicing. Therefore, it is possible to examine the internal structure of tissue and the internal adaptation of materials to surfaces without destroying them. Due to these advantages, micro-CT has been recommended as a standard imaging tool in dental research for many applications such as tissue engineering, endodontics, restorative dentistry, and research on the mineral density of hard tissues and bone growth. However, the high costs of micro-CT, the time necessary for scanning and reconstruction, computer expertise requirements, and the enormous volume of information are drawbacks. Conclusion: The potential of micro-CT as an emerging, accurate, non-destructive approach is clear, and the valuable research findings reported in the literature provide an impetus for researchers to perform future studies focusing on employing this method in dental research.