• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.291-299
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• 2004

As there have been growing concerns about the adverse effects of air pollution on birth outcome, studies for this area has been carried out in different populations and sites. We reviewed the epidemiologic studies that evaluated the effects of air pollution on birth outcome such as low birth weight and preterm births. We identified the air pollution exposure during pregnancy was related with low birth weight and preterm birth, although there are differences among studies for the critical period of vulnerability. The biological mechanisms whereby air pollution might influence health of fetus are not clearly established. The exposure to carbon monoxide(CO) during pregnancy could increase fetal carboxyhemoglobin and result in tissue hypoxia. On the other hand, ambient particles less than $10{\mu}m$ in aerodynamic diameter($PM_{10}$) could lead to inflammation and increase blood viscosity. Controlling for potential confounders and valid assessment of exposure are the methodological issues remained in these epidemiologic studies. In the future, more studies are needed to investigate the effect of air pollution on preterm birth or stillbirths, considering the various exposure period and the biological mechanism.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제40권6호
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• pp.439-446
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• 2007

In order to reduce the health inequalities within a society changes need to be made in broad health determinants and their distribution in the population. It has been expected that the Health impact assessment(HIA) and Healthy Cities can provide opportunities and useful means for changing social policy and environment related with the broad health determinants in developed countries. HIA is any combination of procedures or methods by which a proposed 4P(policy, plan, program, project) may be judged as to the effects it may have on the health of a population. Healthy city is one that is continually creating and improving those physical and social environments and expanding those community resources which enable people to mutually support each other in performing all the functions of life and in developing to their maximum potential. In Korea, social and academic interest regarding the HIA and Healthy Cities has been growing recently but the need of HIA and Healthy Cities in the perspective of reducing health inequality was not introduced adequately. So we reviewed the basic concepts and methods of the HIA and Healthy Cities, and its possible contribution to reducing health inequalities. We concluded that though the concepts and methods of the HIA and Healthy Cities are relatively new and still in need of improvement, they will be useful in approaching the issue of health inequality in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral Health
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• 제41권1호
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• pp.16-21
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• 2017

Objectives: Dental caries and periodontitis are major oral bacterial infections associated with dental plaque. Infection and inflammation play a role in carcinogenesis, and a significant link has been found between some highly prevalent oral and dental diseases and some types of cancer. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between cancer and oral health among Korean adults. Methods: Data from the 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used to analyze the incidence of cancer according to oral health. Demographic and socioeconomic statuses and oral behavior of the participants was analyzed using complex chi-square tests. Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between a high DMFT index and cancer by calculating the 95% confidence intervals. Results: In total, 6,450 case-control subjects were included. Significant difference was observed in the DMFT index, but not in periodontal diseases, between the cases and controls. The odds ratio for cancer was 1.80 (95% confidence interval: 1.18 to 2.73) in the high-risk group. However, no significant difference was observed after adjusting for age, education level, and income. Conclusions: The results provide potential evidence of a significant association between cancer and oral disease.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.69-81
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• 2023

Background: In order to assess the effectiveness of various analgesio-sedative combinations for pain relief and sedation in pediatric dental patients, a thorough evaluation of clinical studies and patient outcomes is necessary. Methods: A total of 128 healthy, uncooperative pediatric dental patients were randomly allocated to receive one of the four combinations of drugs via the intranasal (IN) route: Group I received midazolam-ketamine (MK), Group II received dexmedetomidine-ketamine (DK), Group III received midazolam-fentanyl (MF), and Group IV received dexmedetomidine-fentanyl (DF) in a parallel-arm study design. The efficacy and safety of the combinations were evaluated using different parameters. Results: The onset of sedation was significantly faster in the DF group than in the DK, MF, and MK groups (P < 0.001). The depth of sedation was significantly higher in the DK and DF groups than in the MK and MF groups (P < 0.01). DK and DF produced significant intra- and postoperative analgesia when compared with combinations of MK and MF. No significant adverse events were observed for any of the combinations. Conclusions: The DK and DF groups showed potential as analgesio-sedatives in view of their anxiolytic and analgesic effects.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.29-32
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• 2020

As respiratory syncytial virus(RSV) is transmitted either via directly contact with an infected case or via indirectly contaminated fomites or skin, the major preventive measures are strict hand hygiene, early detection of transmitted sources, and rapid isolation of RSV patients. Especially early detection of hidden cases is the most critical control measure when an index case was notified in a postpartum center. The Guideline of Korea Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention defines potential contacts in an epidemiologic survey as admitted newborns, parents of index cases, center's workers, and visitors for 10 days before the first diagnosis day of index case. However, it needs to classify potential contacts in more detail in order to conduct a successful survey. Authors conducted to search related literatures and appraise the evidences. Firstly, potential contacts would be classified into RSV-related symptomatic contacts(SxC) and asymptomatic contacts. And then, mother, caring workers, and visitors of the index cases among asymptomatic contacts would be defined as the asymptomatic close contacts(ASCC). Finally, the rest would be defined as the asymptomatic regular contacts(ASRC). The defined test using reverse transcription-PCR is applied to SxC and ASCC, and decision of isolation or regular activities are made according to the results. The rapid antigen detection test kits are applied to ASRC. These suggestions might be helpful to detect hidden cases earlier and prevent a further infection.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.175-179
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• 2012

The objective of the study is to investigate the success rate of quit attempts and identify factors associated with success or failure of quit attempts in a quit smoking clinic. A cohort study was conducted with 495 smokers who enrolled in a quit smoking clinic from 2005 to 2008. The factors leading to quit smoking successfully were "being Malay", "having high blood pressure" "type of Nicotine Replacement Therapy" and "duration of follow up". In contrast, clerical staff had negative association to quit smoking. People who started smoking in their teenage years had a high risk of relapse. Integration of active follow up and tailor-made support programmes for quitters appear necessary in order to maintain their non-smoking status and encourage them to be permanent quitters. Integration of quit smoking clinics and primary care clinics could be another potential step for the success of quit smoking programmes.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제38권3호
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• pp.267-275
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• 2005

Evidence on the relation of socioeconomic position (SEP) with health and illness is mounting in South Korea. Several unlinked studies and individually linked studies (longitudinal study) showed a graded inverse relationship between SEP and mortality among South Korean males and females. Based on the mortality relative ratios by occupational class reported in the published papers of South Korea and western countries, the magnitude of the socioeconomic inequality in mortality in South Korea seems to be similar to or even greater than that in western industrialized countries. A potential contribution of health related selection, health behaviors and psychosocial factors to explain this socioeconomic inequality in mortality was discussed. It was suggested that early life exposure measures would demonstrate a greater ability to explain socioeconomic inequalities in all-cause mortality than the above pathway variables in South Korea. This is based on the cause-specific structure of mortality among the South Korean population who have a relatively greater proportion of stomach cancer, hemorrhagic stroke, liver cancer and liver disease, and tuberculosis, which share early life exposures as important elements of their etiology, than western countries. However, the relative contribution of early and later life socioeconomic conditions in producing socioeconomic inequality in health may differ according to the outcome, thus remains to be investigated.

• 대한예방한의학회지
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.101-108
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• 2007

In the Study of Poem in Health-Preservation, the results were as follows : Though poetry as therapy is a relatively new development in the expressive arts, it is as old as the first chants sung around the tribal fires of primitive peoples. For many centuries the link between poetry and medicine remained obscure. The chant/song/poem is what heals the heart and soul and is used for health-Preservation and the well-being. Poetry Therapy began to flourish in the hands of professional in various disciplines, including rehabilitation, education, library science, recreation, and the creative arts. Mental health professional were exploring the therapeutic value of literary materials, especially of poetry. Their contribution to the emerging discipline was two-fold : 1) emphasis on the evocative value of literature, particularly poetry; and 2) recognition of the beneficial potential of having clients write either their response to poems written by others or original material, drawing on the clients' own experiences and emotions. Especially in Oriental Medicine, the therapy is based on controlling of Mind(心). And it is in harmony with Qi-circulation(氣-循環), so smoothing the circulation of meridians, strengthened Essential-material(精), Qi(氣), Sprit(神).

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한예방의학회 1994년도 교수 연수회(환경)
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• pp.23-56
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• 1994

Recent criticisms of the conduct and use of risk assessment by regulatory agencies have led to a wide range of proposed remedies, including changes in regulatory statutes and the development of new methods for assessing risk. The mandate to this Committee was more limited. Our objective was to examine whether alterations in institutional arrangements or procedures, particularly the organizational separation of risk assessment from regulatory decision-making and the use of uniform guidelines for inferring risk from available scientific information, can improve federal risk assessment activities. Before undertaking to determine whether organizational and procedural reforms could improve the performance and use of risk assessment in the federal government, the Committee examined the state of risk assessment and the regulatory environment in which it is performed. In this chapter, we define risk assessment and differentiate it from other elements in the regulatory process, analyze the types of judgments made in risk assessment, and examine its current government context. Because one chronic health hazard, cancer, was highlighted in the Committee's congressional mandate and has dominated public concern about public health risks in recent years, most of our report focuses on it. Furthermore, because activities in four agencies--the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)--have given rise to many of the proposals for changes in risk assessment practices, our review focuses on these four agencies. The conclusions of this report, although directed primarily at risk assessment of potential carcinogens as performed by these four agencies, may be applicable to other federal programs to reduce health risks.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제39권5호
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• pp.419-426
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• 2006

Objectives: This study was performed to determine the mental health of high school students, and specifically that of children with no siblings in urban areas, and we aimed at revealing the various potential influences of different psycho-social factors Methods: The participants were, 514 high school students who were the 1st- to 3rd-graders in Daejon City; they were, given self-administered questionnaires that required no signature during the period of March through June 2005. The analyzed items included the general character of the subjects, the symptoms of stress and depression for mental health, self-esteem as a psychological component, anxiety, dependent behavioral traits and, social support of family members and friends. Results: The study results suggested that the group of urban high school children with no siblings had a higher tendency for stress and depression than did the urban high school children with siblings. The mental health and psychosocial factors were found to be influenced by friends, a sense of satisfaction at school and home life, and emotional support as well. Conclusions: In conclusion, emotional support by the family members can improve mental health by reducing anxiety, stress and depression.