• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.883-893
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• 2021

Clostridium difficile present in feces of food animals may contaminate their meats and act as a potential source of C. difficile infection (CDI) to humans. C. difficile resistance to antibiotics, its production of toxins and spores play major roles in the pathogenesis of CDI. This is the first study to evaluate C. difficile prevalence in retail raw animal meats, its antibiotics susceptibilities and toxigenic activities in Al-Jouf, Saudi Arabia. Totally, 240 meat samples were tested. C. difficile was identified by standard microbiological and biochemical methods. Vitek-2 compact system confirmed C. difficile isolates were 15/240 (6.3%). Toxins A/B were not detected by Xpect C. difficile toxin A/B tests. Although all isolates were susceptible to vancomycin and metronidazole, variable degrees of reduced susceptibilities to moxifloxacin, clindamycin or tetracycline antibiotics were detected by Epsilon tests. C. difficile strains with reduced susceptibility to antibiotics should be investigated. Variability between the worldwide reported C. difficile contamination levels could be due to absence of a gold standard procedure for its isolation. Establishment of a unified testing algorithm for C. difficile detection in food products is definitely essential to evaluate the inter-regional variation in its prevalence on national and international levels. Proper use of antimicrobials during animal husbandry is crucial to control the selective drug pressure on C. difficile strains associated with food animals. Investigating the protective or pathogenic potential of non-toxigenic C. difficile strains and the possibility of gene transfer from certain toxigenic/ antibiotics-resistant to non-toxigenic/antibiotics-sensitive strains, respectively, should be worthy of attention.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.282-293
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• 2024

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of hypertension is increasing, and noodles have a high sodium content, so noodle consumption might be associated with a higher prevalence of hypertension. This study aimed to analyze the association between total and types of noodle intake and the risk of hypertension among Korean adults. Subjects aged 40-69 years were selected for this study. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This study included 56,580 participants (18,246 men and 38,334 women) aged 40-69 years old from the Health Examinees study. Noodle and nutrient intakes were assessed using the food frequency questionnaire. Hypertension was diagnosed as systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg or antihypertensive medication use. Cox proportional hazard models were used to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for hypertension. RESULTS: Higher noodle consumption was associated with increased hypertension among men (HR, 1.273; 95% CI, 1.166-1.390) and women (HR, 1.116; 95% CI, 1.038-1.199). CONCLUSION: We recommended reducing noodle intake and consuming vegetables and fruits to increase potassium intake, which can prevent vascular diseases.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.182-191
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• 2006

Purpose : We studied the degree of changes in antibiotic sensitivity toward causative organisms, prevalence and clinical manifestations of extended-spectrum $\beta$-lactamase(ESBL)-producers of urinary tract infection(UTI) for a period of three years. This serves to provide useful information in selecting adequate drugs for the treatment of UTI. Methods : We recruited 137 patients who grew more than $10^5$ CFU/mL in their urine culture among 250 patients who visited and were admitted to Handong University's Sunlin Hospital for UTI treatment from January 2003 to December 2005. We retrospectively analyzed the data from the medical records. Results : The common pathogenic organisms were Escherichia coli(65.0%), Klepsiella pneumoniae(14.0%), Enterococcus faecalis(5.8%) and Proteus vulgaris(2.9%) in consecutive order. The prevalence of ESBL-producers among isolated E. coli and K. pneumoniae was 4.5%(4 cases) and 14.3%(2 cases), respectively. The antibiotic sensitivity rates of E. coli were relatively high to amikacin(100%), imipenem(100%), ceftriaxone(95.5%) and tobramycin(91.4%) while relatively low to TMP/SMZ(55.4%), ampicillin/sulbactam(29.4%) and ampicillin(24.2%). Conclusion : The use of ampicillin, ampicillin/sulbactam and TMP/SMZ, which have been the first choices in the treatment of UTI, should be reconsidered due to the low sensitivity rates towards these antibiotics. Due to the high incidence and antibiotic tolerance of ESBL that might have risen from the development of new antibiotics and increased antibiotic use, it is necessary to consider changing the standard antibiotics that have been used in the treatment of UTI.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.3839-3843
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• 2016

Background: Cigarette smoking is a major public health issue in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) in recent years, particularly among adolescents. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of cigarette smoking usage among adolescent students in the north of the country. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study investigated 305 adolescent students from the Northern KSA population, their ages ranging from 11 to 19 years old. Results: Of the 287 respondents, 56/287(19.5%) were found to be current smokers. Of the 56 current smokers, 14/52 (27%), 29/52 (55.8%), and 9/52 (17.2%) smoked 1-3, 4-10 and 11+cigarettes/day, respectively. For duration most had smoked for 26-36 months. Conclusions: The findings of the present study indicate that cigarette smoking use is still an important risk behavior among adolescent students. The findings of this study found a significant association of cigarette smoking usage and adolescents various believes and attitude for initiation of smoking and perception toward knowledge of other factors that contribute to the burden of tobacco use.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.5969-5973
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• 2012

Introduction: Andhra Pradesh (AP) is one of the largest tobacco producing states in India. About 29% of adults in AP currently use tobacco in some form. Almost 24% of males and 4% of females are smokers. The prevalence of tobacco use in the state is higher than the national average of 15% for male and 2% for female smokers. However, few attempts have been made to understand the current situation of tobacco control resources, activities and strategies in the context of such a high tobacco prevalence state. The present study aimed to identify the gaps in existing tobacco control program and areas where tobacco control efforts can be integrated. Methods: Data were collected using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with a total of 95 key officials of state health departments, program managers, and project directors in six districts to understand ongoing tobacco control efforts. To facilitate the interviews, semi-structured guides were developed. Simple descriptive statistical analysis was conducted on the quantitative data using SPSS version 17. Results: The results of the situational analysis suggest that a sufficient health workforce and infrastructure with the potential to integrate tobacco control activities is available in the surveyed districts. However, lack of integration of the tobacco control program intothe tuberculosis control program and the National Rural Health Mission was observed. Information, education and communication activities were lacking at block level health facilities. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that lack of trained health professionals, paucity of dedicated funds, lack of information, education and communication materials and low priority given to tobacco control activities are some of the factors which impede integration of tobacco control into existing health and developmental programmes in the districts of Andhra Pradesh, India.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.9 no.10
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• pp.433-439
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to analyze outpatients of glaucoma aged 20 or older about their five-year use of ophthalmology and investigate trend of prevalence in glaucoma patients. The Korea Health Panel (KHP) data from 2008 to 2012 were analyzed using frequency and chi-square tests. The outpatients of glaucoma have increased significantly from 0.43% in 2008 to 0.47% in 2009, 0.49% in 2010, 0.61% in 2011, and 0.75% in 2012 (p<0.001). The outpatients of glaucoma are in the 20's to 70's, and higher utility rate is shown in those who are older (p<0.001), and the rate of use tends to increase each year in all the age groups (p<0.001). The medical care utilization attributed to glaucoma in Korea tends to increase lately; therefore, it is a crucial task to realize early detection and management according to the characteristics of different age groups.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.1913-1918
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• 2014

Background: The study is the first of its kind to be conducted in Saudi Arabia (KSA), aiming to analyze the effectiveness of an intervention program in improving the knowledge of oral cancer among the youth. Materials and Methods: A total of 1,051 young Saudis (57% males and 43% females with a mean age of $20.4{\pm}1.98$) were selected using multi-stage cluster sampling. Knowledge assessment was accomplished using a closed-ended questionnaire which was subjected to reliability tests. Prevalence of risk factors in relation to gender was analyzed using the chi-squared test. Effectiveness was calculated by comparing the pre- and post-intervention means, using the two-tailed paired t-test. Multiple logistic regression was employed in order to determine factors associated with awareness of risk habits, signs/symptoms and prevention of oral cancer. The significance level in this study was set at 0.05. Results: Females were seen to be more into the habit of sheesha smoking (3.3% rather than the use of other forms of risk factors. Prevalence of diverse risk factors such as cigarette smoking (20%), sheesha (15.3%), khat (27%) and shamma (9%) was seen among males. Gender and the use of modifiable risk factors among the study sample were significantly (p<0.001) associated with effectiveness of the intervention. The intervention program was highly effective (p<0.001) in improving the knowledge of oral cancer among the youth in Jazan, KSA. Multivariate analysis revealed that age and gender are the most significant factors affecting knowledge. Conclusions: The study gives a direction for further public health initiatives in this oral cancer prone region.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to identify the oral care status and periodontal disease of middle aged daibetic patients in Korea. Methods: The primitive data were taken from 238 diabetic people in the 5th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(KNHANES) in 2010 - 2012. The variables included general profiles(gender, age, occupied area, education, and smoking), oral care status(brushing time, brushing time, use of oral hygienic supplies, availability of oral hygienic supplies, oral examination, and recognition of oral health state), and diabetes management(morbidity period, treatment, education, and glycosylated hemoglobin levels). Results: Most of the subjects took gargling more than twice a day and it accounted for 73.5%. Oral hygienic supply users accounted for 24.8%, and most of them used floss brush. Oral examination was done in 19.3% of the respondents and 55.0% thought that their oral health status were very poor. The prevalence rate of the periodontal diseases was 46.6%. Female tended to have a higher rate of periodontal disease than the male. Oral hygienic supply users had lower rate of periodntal disease than those who did not use. Those who had poor subjective oral health status had higher prevalence rate of periodontal disease than those who did not. Conclusions: Periodontal disease is closely related to good oral care of middle aged diabetic patients. It is necessary to develop the program for the prevention of the periodontal disease for the diabetic patients.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.63-70
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• 2019

Periodontal disease as one of oral diseases is a chronic disease that continuously worsens once it occurs. It begins with gingivitis in the late school childhood. Its prevalence rate gradually increases in adolescence and continues to rise until young and middle ages. Therefore, the preventive care for the disease in one's whole life is of very importance. Since periodontal disease can be prevented and controlled by oral health behaviors, this study focuses on the relation between adults' oral health behaviors and the disease and emphasizes its importance. Based on the data of the 2015 6th (3rd Year) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the prevalence rate of periodontal disease was compared according to study subjects' oral health behaviors. As a result, gum disease treatment, the count of gum brushing, use of dental floss use of interdental brush, and subjective oral health condition were statistically meaningful. Given that oral health behaviors are related to periodontal disease, it is necessary to conduct a systematic study for developing and performing the oral health education program to make the right habit of oral health behaviors.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.1269-1276
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• 2016

Background: Tobacco consumption continues to be the leading cause of preventable deaths globally. The objective of this study was to examine the associaton of selected socio-demographic variables with current tobacco use in five countries that participated in the Phase II Global Adult Tobacco Survey in 2011 - 2012. Materials and Methods: We analysed internationally comparable representative household survey data from 33,482 respondents aged ${\geq}15years$ in Indonesia, Malaysia, Romania, Argentina and Nigeria for determinants of tobacco use within each country. Socio-demographic variables analysed included gender, age, residency, education, wealth index and awareness of smoking health consequences. Current tobacco use was defined as smoking or use of smokeless tobacco daily or occasionally. Results: The overall prevalence of tobacco use varied from 5.5% in Nigeria to 35.7% in Indonesia and was significantly higher among males than females in all five countries. Odds ratios for current tobacco use were significantly higher among males for all countries [with the greatest odds among Indonesian men (OR=67.4, 95% CI: 51.2-88.7)] and among urban dwellers in Romania. The odds of current tobacco use decreased as age increased for all countries except Nigeria where. The reverse was true for Argentina and Nigeria. Significant trends for decreasing tobacco use with increasing educational levels and wealth index were seen in Indonesia, Malaysia and Romania. Significant negative associations between current tobacco use and awareness of adverse health consequences of smoking were found in all countries except Argentina. Conclusions: Males and the socially and economically disadvantaged populations are at the greatest risk of tobacco use. Tobacco control interventions maybe tailored to this segment of population and incorporate educational interventions to increase knowledge of adverse health consequences of smoking.