• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.1453-1461
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• 2016

Regarding 'mate' intake (infusion of Ilex paraguariensis herb, a staple beverage in temperate South American regions), most epidemiologic studies showed positive associations with risk of some cancers, (e.g. upper aerodigestive tract), but evidence on breast cancer (BC) risk is limited to a previous multi-site study, which reported a non significant odds ratio [OR]=0.85, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.67-1.09, p for trend=0.31) for the highest quartile of intake. The present study was conducted in order to further assess associations of 'mate' intake with BC risk. We combined two databases of women belonging to public and private healthcare hospitals. The sample included 572 BC incident cases and 889 controls interviewed with a specific questionnaire featured by socio-demographic, reproductive and lifestyle variables, and a food frequency questionnaire of 64 items, also analyzing 'mate' intake (consumer status, daily intake, age at start, age at quit, duration of habit, intensity of intake). ORs and their 95%CI were calculated through unconditional logistic regression, adjusting for relevant potential confounders. The highest quartile of 'mate' intake was inversely associated with BC risk (OR=0.40, 95%CI 0.26-0.57, p for trend <0.001). Stratified analyses also displayed strong significant inverse associations for 'mate' in frequent tea drinkers (OR=0.22), high energy intake (OR=0.23), high body mass index (OR=0.29) and in postmenopausal women (OR=0.36), among other results. As conclusions, we found evidence of a significant inverse association for 'mate' intake and BC risk.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.317-326
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• 2014

Objectives: Elevated serum uric acid (UA) has been known to be associated with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, no prospective studies have examined whether serum UA levels are actually associated with the development of MetS. We performed a prospective study to evaluate the longitudinal effects of baseline serum UA levels on the development of MetS. Methods: A MetS-free cohort of 14 906 healthy Korean men, who participated in a medical check-up program in 2005, was followed until 2010. MetS was defined according to the Joint Interim Statement of the International Diabetes Federation Task Force on Epidemiology and Prevention. Cox proportional hazards models were performed. Results: During 52 466.1 person-years of follow-up, 2428 incident cases of MetS developed between 2006 and 2010. After adjusting for multiple covariates, the hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for incident MetS for the second, the third, and the fourth quartile to the first quartile of serum UA levels were 1.09 (0.92-1.29), 1.22 (1.04-1.44), and 1.48 (1.26-1.73), respectively (p for trend <0.001). These associations were also significant in the clinically relevant subgroup analyses. Conclusions: Elevated serum UA levels were independently associated with future development of MetS in Korean men during the 5-year follow-up period.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.38-46
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• 2015

Objective : This study investigated the job stress and their association with depression and anxiety among Korean employees. Method : We retrospectively studied 80,842 employees, who receive regular checkups in the Health Screening Center of a one hospital from May, 2012 to April, 2013. A total of 73,975 people were analyzed, who completed a short form of Korean Occupational Stress Scale (KOSS), Center for Epidemiologic Study-Depression (CES-D) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Results : Each of the seven subscales of KOSS was categorized into 4 quartile groups. Higher quartile of KOSS was associated with higher CES-D and BAI score an individual reported. The significantly increased odds ratios (ORs) in the higher scoring group compared to the lower scoring group for the effect of job stress on depression and anxiety remained after adjusting for age, sex, marital status, education, income, BMI, and smoking status. Conclusion : These results from a large number of respondents suggested that job stress might be related to depression and anxiety. Future investigations should design a prospective study to understand a causal relationship between job stress and psychiatric symptoms or disorders.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.177-182
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• 2009

Objectives : Both organized and opportunistic screening programs have been widely used in Korea. This paper examined the determinants of the use of opportunistic screening programs in Korea. Methods : The subjects were a national stratified random sample of 10,254 people aged 45 or older from the first wave of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing in 2006. A logit model was used to examine the determinants of the use of opportunistic screening programs in terms of the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, the type of health insurance and the health status. Results : Thirteen point seven percent of the individuals received opportunistic screening programs within 2 years from the time the survey was conducted in 2006. The individuals who graduated from college or who had even more education were 3.0 times more likely to use opportunistic screening programs compared with the individuals who were illiterate. The individuals who resided in urban areas and who had religious beliefs were more likely to receive opportunistic screening programs compared with their counterparts. Those who were in the first quartile for the total household assets were 2.6 times more likely to use opportunistic screening programs than those who were in the fourth quartile for the total household assets. Privately insured people were 1.6 times more likely to use opportunistic screening programs than those who were not insured. Finally, the individuals who self-assessed their health status as worst were 2.1 times more likely to use opportunistic screening programs compared individuals who self-assessed their health status as best. Conclusions : This study suggests that opportunistic screening programs can be an indicator for whether or not an individual is among the advantaged group in terms of their socioeconomic characteristics and type of health insurance.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.136-144
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine which factors influence the bone mineral density (BMD) of total femur (TF), femoral neck (FN) and lumbar spine (LS) of the adult men by analyzing nationally representative Korean survey data. Methods: This study was conducted based on the data of 1,770 men aged 19-64 years from the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V), 2010~2011. The BMD was analyzed by various factors (general characteristics, anthropometric data, health habits, chronic diseases, nutrient intake status). SPSS statistics for complex samples was used to analyze the data. Results: We observed that the BMD decreased significantly with aging. The BMD in each of the second lowest quartile of waist circumference (in TF & FN) and body mass index (in TF & LS) was lower than the respective BMD in the highest quartile group. The BMD in FN was higher in the group who reported the weight training. The BMD in LS was lower in hypercholesterolemia group than in the normal group. The BMD in TF, FN and LS was lower in hypertriglyceridemia group and in diabetes group than in the normal group. The BMD in TF, FN and LS was higher in the group with < Estimated Average Requirement iron intake. But there was no evidence to suggest that the BMD was related with educational level, income level, smoking, alcohol intake, anemia and nutrient intake status (except for iron). Conclusions: This study suggested that aging, waist circumference, body mass index, weight training, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglycemia, diabetes were site-specifically associated with the BMD in TF, FN and LS in the adult men. These bone site-specific factors need to be considered for the prevention of osteoporosis.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.365-382
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• 2012

Background : Public hospitals suffer worsening shortage of physicians and face great pressure of recruiting doctors. This study is aim to identify the factors associated with retention of physicians who are working in public hospitals. Methods : We conducted a cross-sectional and self-administered questionnaire survey in July, 2011. A total of 333 physicians responded from the 31 public hospitals. We analyzed the difference of job retention across the variables among doctors stratified as salaried and public health doctors. We used chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis. Results : To the salaried doctor, longer work period(OR=2.04 in 3rd quartile), professional autonomy(OR=2.69), and positive attitude toward public health(OR=2.39) affect to the higher job retention whereas complain of low income(OR=0.33) and complain of poor clinical environment(OR=0.26) affects to the lower job retention. To the public health doctors, community connections such as hometown(OR=6.27), spouse factors(OR=3.49), and positive attitude toward public health(OR=3.19) affect to the higher job retention. But longer work period(OR=0.17 in 3rd quartile) affects to the lower job retention. Conclusions : Associated factors of job retention vary across physician's status. Professional autonomy has major impact on the job retention to the salaried doctor. And familial factors as well as community relationship have greatest impact to the public health doctor. Positive attitude toward public health is associated with the higher job retention to the both of salaried and public health doctors.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.737-751
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to assess sodium and potassium intakes and urinary excretion of adults in Busan and to evaluate the relationship of urinary sodium/potassium excretion (UNa/UK) to the status of anthropometric, blood pressure, urine analysis, and nutrient intake of subjects. Nutrient intake by 24-h recall, 24-h UNa/UK were measured with 87 adults aged 20-59 yrs (42 men and 45 women). The mean intakes of sodium and potassium were 3915.4 mg and 3093.9 mg, respectively. The mean 24-h UNa/UK was 3457.0/1680.4 mg. UNa showed significant positive correlations with sodium intake (p < 0.001, p < 0.001), sodium/potassium ratio (p < 0.001, p < 0.01), UK (p < 0.001, p < 0.001), and UNa/UK ratio (p < 0.05, p < 0.01) in men and women and with age, BMI, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure in women (p < 0.05, p < 0.05, p < 0.05, p < 0.05). The UK showed significant positive correlations sodium intake (p < 0.001, p < 0.001), UNa (p < 0.001, p < 0.001) in men and women and with sodium density in men (p < 0.001) and with age, intakes of protein and potassium in women (p < 0.01, p < 0.05, p < 0.05). Mean SBP was lowest in the second quartile and highest in the fourth quartile of UNa. Mean UNa in the second, third, and fourth quartiles were 2821.1 mg, 3621.3 mg, and 5456.4 mg, respectively. Mean SBP in the second, third, and fourth quartiles were 115.8 mmHg, 120.7 mmHg, and 125.9 mmHg, respectively. Based on the results, UNa was related to sodium intake, UK, and SBP. We conclude that nutritional education for the reduction of high sodium intake is needed in the general population to prevent and control adverse blood pressure levels.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation
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• v.5 no.3 s.18
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• pp.29-39
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• 2005

The objective of this study is to analyze the relation of critical duration according to hydrologic characteristics in urban areas. RRL, ILLUDAS, SWMM, and SMADA urban runoff models were applied to the Seongnae and Banpo watershed and experiment area of the Dong-Eui University. Also, hydrologic characteristics such as temporal pattern of rainfall, rainfall intensity formula, antecedent moisture condition, return period, and urban runoff model were used to simulate the critical duration of the test areas. The results of this study are as follows; (1) The type of temporal pattern of rainfall which causes maximum peak discharge in urban area has resulted in Huff's 4th quartile distribution. (2) The critical duration in urban areas were not influenced by hydrological factors except urban runoff model. (3) Peak discharge and critical duration in urban areas were influenced by the urban runoff model, and the SWMM model using Huff's 4th quartile distribution shows maximum critical duration.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.277-285
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to develop a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (SQ-FFQ) for subjects aged 50yr and over and to evaluate the validity of this SQ-FFQ. Dietary intake was assessed using SQ-FFQ that included 98 commonly consumed flood items selected from the results of the Korean Health and Nutritional Survey, 1998. Subjects (n = 2,660) aged 50yr and over were recruited from 7 metropolitan cities and 8 small cities. Each subject was interviewed using this SQ-FFQ developed in our laboratory and 24hr-recall method. Excluding incomplete data, Data from 1,149 subjects were used in this validity study. The nutrient intakes assessed by this SQ-FFQ were validated by comparing with the results from 1 day 24-hour recalls. Pearson's correlation coefficients between two methods were 0.71, 0.64, 0.53, and 0.43 for energy, carbohydrate, protein, and fat, respectively for all subjects. Spearman's correlation coefficients were higher than those of Pearson's correlation coefficients. Kappa values for energy, carbohydrate, protein, and fat were 0.79, 0.72, 0.70, and 0.64, respectively. The percentage for misclassification of the lowest quartile into the highest quartile or vice versa was 1.25-1.39% for all nutrients. Therefore, this SQ-FFQ seems to be useful in assessing the nutritional status of the middle-aged and elderly subjects in Korea.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.165-169
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• 2010

Purpose : To survey the radiographic examination protocol for lateral cephalometric radiographic examinations and to measure their patient doses in Korea and to compare the dose according to the size of hospital, the type of image receptor system, and the installation duration. Materials and Methods : The radiographic examination protocols (kVp, mA, and exposure time) for lateral cephalometric radiography were surveyed with 61 cephalometric radiographic equipments and their patient dose-area product (DAP) measured with a DAP meter (DIAMENTOR M4-KDK, PTW, Freiburg, Germany) for 51 cephalometric radiographic equipments. The radiographic examination protocols and patient doses were compared according to the size of hospital (university dental hospital, dental hospital, and dental clinic), the type of image receptor system (film-based, DR and CR type) and the installation duration, respectively. SPSS 12.0.1 for Windows (SPSS Inc., Chicago, USA) was used for independent t-test and ANOVA test. Results : The average protocols were 77.0 kVp, 12.7 mA, 6.2 second for cephalometric radiography. The average patient dose (DAP) was $128.0mGy\;cm^2$ and 3rd quartile dose (DAP) $161.1mGy\;cm^2$ for cephalometric radiography for adult male. There was no statistically significant difference at average patient DAP according to the size of hospital, the type of image receptor system, and the installation duration, repectively. Conclusion : The average patient dose was $128.0mGy\;cm^2$ and the third quartile patient dose $161.1mGy\;cm^2$ for lateral cephalometric radiography for adult male in Korea.