• Journal of the Korean Institute of Rural Architecture
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2019

The decrease in population of school age is one of major influencing factor of transformative educational environment. After the nineteen eighties, the population of South Korea has increased step by step, but the population of school age has been decreasing rapidly by low birth rate. As a result, closed school by merger and abolition of small school occurred all over the country. The closed school needed effective function as center of local community. Consequently the purpose of this study is to provide basic data for effective policy making of closed school by comparative analysis of educational environment such as number of students, schools, students per class, status of usage of closed school of the east area and the west area divided by The Tae Baek Mountains in the Gangwon-do, which has the least students in the nationwide. The results of this study are summarized as follows: 1) Gangwon-do has high decreasing rate of population, schools and students compared with other provinces. However it has significantly low number of students per class. 2) The number of students, schools of the west area in Gangwon-do outnumbers that of the east area. However the number of students per class of the east area in Gangwon-do lesser than that of the west area.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.63 no.7
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• pp.278-283
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• 2020

Background: Major questions remain regarding the agestratified trends of allergic diseases and asthma in Korea. Purpose: To identify the estimated recent prevalence and 10-year trends in asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis among the Korean population from 2008 to 2017. Methods: This nationwide cross-sectional survey (Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) over 10 years (2008-2017) examined representative samples of the Korean population (n=85,006) including 2,131 infants, 4,352 preschool children, 12,919 school-age children, 44,200 adults, and 21,404 elderly adults. Results: In the 2016 to 2017 population, the estimated prevalence of asthma was 0.9% in infants, 2.3% in preschool children, 4.1% in school-age children, 2.3% in adults, and 4.1% in the elderly. The estimated prevalence of allergic rhinitis was 9.0%, 20.2%, 27.6%, 17.1%, and 6.9%, respectively. The estimated prevalence of atopic dermatitis was 5.9%, 11.3%, 14.6%, 3.9%, and 1.6%, respectively. Ten-year trends revealed a significant decrease in asthma prevalence in infants, preschool children, and the elderly. and in atopic dermatitis prevalence in infants and preschool children (P<0.05 for all trends). Furthermore, 10-year trends demonstrated a significant increase in allergic rhinitis prevalence in school-age children, adults, and the elderly, and in atopic dermatitis prevalence in school-age children and the elderly (P<0.05 for all trends). Conclusion: These results improve our understanding of the age-stratified epidemiology of allergic diseases in Korea and suggest the need for the development of tailored and precise strategies to prevent allergic diseases in different age groups.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.1387-1390
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• 2014

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate trends in incidence of breast cancer in women less than 40 years in Asia. Materials and Methods: Registered cases of female breast cancer age less than 40 years and corresponding person years were ascertained from the CI5plus for 10 registries in Asia for the duration of 1970- 2002. Cases were categorized into three age groups: 16-40, 16-29, and 30-40. The 16-40 age group was adjusted to world age population structure. Joinpoint regression analysis was conducted to determine the annual percent of change (APC) and the average annual percent of change (AAPC) for each age group. Results: A total of 23,661 cases of breast cancer occurred in the 10 registries during the 32 years (1970-2002) of follow-up. The overall age adjusted (16-40 group) breast cancer incidence rate increased from 2.28-4.26 cases per 100,000 population corresponding to an AAPC of 2.6% (95%CI 2.1, 3.0). The trend in incidence for the age group 16-29 increased from 0.45-1.07 corresponding to an AAPC of 2.8% (95%CI 1.9, 3.7). In age group 30 to 40, the incidence ranged from 13.3 in year 1970 to 24.8 in year 2002 corresponding to an AAPC of 2.7% (95% CI 2.3, 3.1). There were two statistically significant changing points in the regression line for the age groups 30-40 and 16-40: one point in the year 1975 with an APC of 6.1 (5.1, 7.1), and the other in 1985 with an APC of 0.4% (0.01, 0.8). Conclusions: Our study proved that: 1) the incidence of breast cancer in young women has increased in Asian population during the study period; 2) the rate of increase was very high during the period of 1980-1990.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.93-98
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• 2017

PURPOSE. The purpose of this study was to compare the width ratio of maxillary anterior teeth according to age in the Korean population and to evaluate the maxillary central incisor width-to-length (W/L) ratio, given differences in age and gender. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Ninety-three Korean adults were divided into 3 groups (n = 31) by age. Group I was 20 - 39 years old, Group II was 40 - 59 years old, and Group III was over 60 years of age. After taking an impression and a cast model of the maxillary arch, the anterior teeth width ratio and central incisor W/L ratio were calculated from standard digital images of the cast models using a graph paper with a digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera. The calculated ratios were compared among all groups and central incisor W/L ratio were analyzed according to age and gender. All comparative data were statistically analyzed with one-sample t-tests, one-way ANOVAs with Tukey tests, and independent t-tests. RESULTS. No significant differences in maxillary anterior teeth ratios were found among the age groups. The maxillary central incisor W/L ratios in Group III were the greatest and were significantly higher than those in the other groups. The central incisor W/L ratio of men was higher than that of women in Group II. CONCLUSION. Maxillary anterior teeth width ratios were similar in all age groups in the Korean population. The maxillary central incisor was observed as worn teeth in the group over 60 years of age, and a significant difference between genders was found in 40 to 50 year olds.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.174-184
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• 2010

Objectives: This study shows the issues that should be considered when applying standardized rates using Community Health Survey(CHS) data. Methods: We analyzed 2008 CHS data. In order to obtain the reliability of standardized rates, we calculated z-score and rank correlation coefficients between direct standardized rate and indirect standardized rate for 31 major indices. Especially, we assessed the change of correlations according to population composition (age and sex), and characteristics of the index. We used Mantel-Haenszel chi-square to quantify the difference of population composition. Results: Among 31 major indices, 29 indices' z-score and rank correlation coefficients were over 0.9. However, regions with larger differences in population composition showed lower reliability. Low reliability was also observed for the indices specific to subgroups with small denominator such as 'permanent lesion from stroke', and the index with large regional variations in age-related differences such as 'obtaining health examinations'. Conclusions: Standardized rates may have low reliability, if comparison is made between areas with extremely large differences in population composition, or for indicies with large regional variations in age-related differences. Therefore, the special features of standardized rates should be considered when health state are compared among areas.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.15-32
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• 2013

Few public health researchers have paid research attention to the location of medical institutions in Korea. Previous studies were published in geography journals, and relied on limited data in terms of geographic regions and the type of medical institutions. This study utilized nationwide data covering 8 types of medical institutions. We obtained data from Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service and National Population and Housing Census. The correlation coefficients of resident, daytime, university-graduate population, and the population of different age groups (fewer than 15, 15~64, 65 or more) were compared to understand their relative association with the location of medical institutions. Medical clinic, dental clinic, oriental medical clinic, and pharmacy, all of which are almost completely operated by private sector, showed strong positive correlation with population. Hospital-level medical institutions, which are operated by both public and private sector, had moderate positive correlation. Daytime population and university-graduate population, rather than resident population, were more correlated with the location of medical clinics. The correlation coefficients of the population of 15~64 age group and the location of medical institutions were greater than that of other age groups. The results showed that daytime and university-graduate population are more important than resident population to explain the location of medicalrelated facilities. The results also suggests that the population of age groups (especially, 15~64) might be one of important influence factors in the location of medical institutions.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.573-583
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• 2015

Objectives: This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of noise exposure and aging on changes in hearing threshold level and the relationship between age and noise. Materials: The author selected 274 male shipyard and assembly line workers as the noise exposed group and 582 males not exposed to noise as the general population group. Data were collected from five years of consecutive annual audiometric tests performed from 2008 to 2012. Results: In the general population and noise exposed groups, there was a reverse phenomenon that hearing threshold level for 2009 was lower than that of 2008, which seemed to be due to the learning effect, but from 2010 hearing threshold level increased. In the noise exposed group, the mean hearing threshold level in the left ear was significantly higher than that for right ear. In the general population group, the older was the age, the higher was the hearing threshold level, especially at 4000 Hz. In the general population and noise exposed groups, frequency, age group and noise exposure independently affected hearing threshold level, and there was no relationship between age and noise exposure. Over all frequencies, the change of hearing threshold level was larger in the noise exposed group than in the general population group. In the noise exposed group below thirty years old, the change at 4000 Hz was remarkable. Conclusions: Age and noise exposure seem to affect hearing threshold level independently and contribute to an additive effect on hearing threshold level.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Educational Facilities
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.47-56
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• 2005

Reports on population movement(2000-2030) by the National Statistical Office show that the number of elementary school age population will be decreased by 1.4million from 2005 to 2020. It will effect both school size and the policies for school facilities, which have focused on downsizing class as the high standard of OECD nations. As the unfolding evidence is emerging that a number of schools and classes will be emptied out by 2030. This study aims at developing a model for evaluating the validity of school establishment, which would help more reasonable decision-making for new school construction and the class extension in the existing schools. It classifies two different ways in founding a new school - school establishment in a residential developing site and school establishment for solving a overcrowd class. It proposes the assesment items and the methods for evaluating its validity. In the end, it suggests an assesment model which the district educational offices can use in the course of planning the student accomodations to schools and making decisions for new school construction and the class extension in the existing schools. This study would be expected to help the reasonable expenditure for school facilities and to restrict overbuilding of surplus classes.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.280-284
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• 2000

Background : Congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) can be controlled by vaccination. Because rubella is typically a childhood disease, occurring predominantly in the 5 to 14 year age group, female school teachers nay be a high-risk population for CRS. Objectives : To determine the prevalence rate of rubella antibodies in school teachers of child bearing age. Methods : The study population consisted of primary, middle and high school teachers of child bearing age. The subjects were aged 35 years and younger, and consented to immunoglobulin (Ig) level testing using the ELISA method. Results : The positive rate of IgG was 77.9% in the study subjects (n=314). Sixty-three teachers (21.4%) were susceptible to rubella infection. Thirty-seven teachers (11.8%) had a history of rubella vaccination. Among the female teachers with no vaccination history, the proportion of negative IgM and IgG was 21.7%, and the proportion of positive IgM was 2.9%. Seventy-nine percent of the study subjects did not know that they should not become pregnant for three months after receiving the rubella vaccine. Conclusion : School teachers of child bearing age should be considered a high risk group for CRS, and should be vaccinated if they are found to be seronegative.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.3815-3817
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• 2013

Background: Breast cancer is a common cancer worldwide. With the establishment of Thailand's population-based cancer registry and availability of complete data from 2002-2011, it is of interest to investigate the epidemiologic and clinic-pathological profiles of breast cancer based on the population-based registry data. Methods: The data of all breast cancer patients in the registry for the period of 2002-2011 were included. All medical records of the patients diagnosed from documents of National Cancer Registry of Thailand were retrieved and the following information abstracted: age, clinical characteristics, and histological variables. Thailand census data for the period of 2002-2011 were used to provide the general population's statistics on age, gender, and other related demographic factors. Results: Over the 10 year-period, 7,711 breast cancer cases were included. The disease incidence under age 40 years was relatively low (4.13/$10^5$) while the incidence in the age groups 40 and older was very high (39.2/$10^5$). The vast majority of breast cancer cases (88.8%) were diagnosed by histology as primary lesions in the breast. The most common of patients with breast cancer (36.4%) had regional lymph node involvement and the most common of histopathology diagnosed in patients (84.2%) was an infiltrating duct carcinoma. Conclusions: This study showed a high incidence of breast cancer in older subjects, and high rate of breast cancer in Thailand. Future studies should explore clinical and molecular disease patterns.