• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.21-31
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• 2002

The aim of this study was to analyse and conduct the comprehensive geriatric assessment for the elderly in rural area. The subjects were 388 older people aged 65 years or older living in the community. Data for comprehensive assessment such as physical, mental, functional, social and environmental conditions were collected from January to February, 2001 through a person-to-person interview. Of the total 388 olders, 169(43.6%) were men and 219(56.4%) were women. Mean ages of men and women were $73.5{\pm}6.4$ and $74.0{\pm}6.2$ years respectively. Three common diseases of the elderly were arthralgia(51.6%), chronic back pain(33.2%) and hypertension(18.6%), and higher in women than in men. Impairment rate of vision, hearing and bowel or bladder control was 59.0%, 20.1%, and 28.4% respectively. But that of lover extremities 3.4%. In terms of cognitive function, short term memory loss was found in 33.7% of males and 44.7% of females. The percentage of fully independent in the six ADL items was 72.2% in men and 58.9% in women. In the social supportive system, 49.5% of the elderly were living with spouse, and 22.9% living alone, 26.3% having care giver. These results will provide basic data for the development of community-based health program, which gives appropriate health service for the elderly living in the community.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.188-198
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• 2017

Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) spears were treated with white (color temperature 4,500 k), blue (peak 450 nm), and red (peak 660 nm) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) at a photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of $200{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ for 12 h, and UV-B (280 nm) at 0.5 kJ or 1.0 kJ to determine the effect on agronomic characteristics, antioxidant phytochemicals, and antioxidant activity. The fresh weight, length, and width of spears were not affected by light quality treatments. The free sugars and chlorophyll contents were increased by 9 and 41%, respectively in the UV-0.5 kJ treatments. Among the antioxidant phytochemicals (vitamin C, total phenol, rutin, and total flavonoid), vitamin C was most greatly affected by the light treatments. Vitamin C content was significantly increased in asparagus spears subjected to the white (114%), red (137%), and UV-0.5 kJ(127%) treatments compared to the control. By contrast, rutin, total phenol, and total flavonoid content were increased only in samples subjected to the red and UV-0.5 kJ treatment. Furthermore, antioxidant activity, as measured by DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity, increased in white, red, and UV-0.5 kJ treatments by about 43, 41, and 43%, respectively, compared to the control. These results suggest that postharvest treatment of asparagus spears with red light at $200{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ for 12 h or with UV-B (280 nm) at 0.5 kJ could enhance the functional quality of the asparagus spears by increasing the content of phytochemicals like vitamin C, rutin, total phenolics, and total flavonoids.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.331-336
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• 2000

In order to examine the effect of SO$_2$, which is the major component of acid rain, on the peroxidase activity, rice (Oryza sativa) seedlings were grown on the media containing various concentrations of Na$_2$SO$_3$. Na$_2$SO$_3$ concentrations needed for the 50% inhibition of rice seed germination were determined to be 300$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml at pH 7, 8$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml at pH 5 and 2$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml at pH 3. Notably, about 8 fold and 4 fold increase of the specific activity of the enzyme were observed with the seedlings treated with 8$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml Na$_2$SO$_3$ at pH 5 and 2$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml Na$_2$SO$_3$ at pH 3, respectively. The effects of Cd and Pb on the peroxidase activities and chlorophyll contents were also examined. About 3.9 fold higher peroxidase activities were found at 0.03mM Cd, and the chlorophyll contents were reduced to 63% of the control seedlings. At 0.04mM Pb, 2.5 fold higher enzyme activities were found and the chlorophyll contents were reduced to 72%. Therefore, the increases of rice peroxidase activities might be involved in the defense mechanism of the cell against various environmental stresses such as Na$_2$SO$_3$, Cd and Pb. The effects of Cu and Fe, which are the inducers of oxidative stresses by the generations of reactive oxygen species, on the peroxidase activities were also investigated. About 57% and 65% activity losses were found at 0.5mM CuSO$_4$ and 0.5mM FeSO$_4$, respectively, and radical scavenger ethanol almost completely protected both inactivations. However, dimethyl sulfoxide, mannitol, thiourea and histidine showed different radical scavenging effects one another against Cu and Fe inactivation.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.26 no.3 s.43
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• pp.359-370
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• 1993

To identify the smoking status and its related factors in middle and high school boys in Kwanju a study was performed from 15th to loth of June 1992. Population were selected by two-stage stratified random sampling method and total 3,959 students replied to the self-administered questionnaire survey (1,574 in middle school, 1,664 in academic high school, 712 in business high school). The results were as follows ; 1. The proportion of current smokers was 1.5% in middle schools and 20.1% in high schools. And the smoking rates increased with school grade years (p<0.01). 2. For the motivation of smoking, curiosity was the most frequent factor and the next was temptation by friends. 3. The most common situation on the first experience of smoking was that middle school boys smoked a cigarette which was found in a house, through curiosity, with friends, at home. High school boys smoked a cigarette taken from friends, through curiosity, with friend, on the road or at home. 4. The proportion of smokers who smoke a cigarette regularly was 34.8% among smokers in middle school and 70.2% among smokers in high school. The most proportion of duration of smoking was less than 1 month among middle school boys (20.8%) and more than 2 years among high school boys (43.9%). The first smoking experience was in elementary school among middle school boys and the third grade of middle school in high school students. Most current smokers (73.9% in middle school boys, 65.3% in high school boys) wanted to quit smoking. 5. Smokers had significant association with intimate friend's smoking, mother's and brother's smoking, inharmonious friendships, dissatisfied with home and school life, lower school grades, generous attitude to other smokers, lack of knowledge to passive smoking and no contact to mass media (TV) (p<0.01).

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.89-95
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• 2009

Objectives : To assess the protective effects of wearing protective devices among the residents and volunteers who participated in the cleanup of the Hebei Spirit oil spill. Methods : A total of 288 residents and 724 volunteers were surveyed about symptoms, whether they were wearing protective devices and potential confounding variables. The questionnaires were administered from the second to the sixth week following the accident. Spot urine samples were collected and analyzed for metabolites of 4 volatile organic compounds(VOCs), 2 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs), and 6 heavy metals. The association between the wearing of protective devices and various symptoms was assessed using a multiple logistic regression adjusted for confounding variables. A multiple generalized linear regression model adjusted for the covariates was used to test for a difference in least-square mean concentration of urinary biomarkers between residents who wore protective devices and those who did not. Results : Thirty nine to 98% of the residents and 62-98% of volunteers wore protective devices. Levels of fatigue and fever were higher among residents not wearing masks than among those who did wear masks(odds ratio 4.5; 95% confidence interval 1.23-19.86). Urinary mercury levels were found to be significantly higher among residents not wearing work clothes or boots(p<0.05). Conclusions : Because the survey was not performed during the initial high-exposure period, no significant difference was found in metabolite levels between people who wore protective devices and those who did not, except for mercury, whose biological half-life is more than 6 weeks.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.125-148
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• 1998

Accurate vital statistics are essential for a national health planning and evaluation. Among various vital statistics, birth and death rates, and infant and matemal mortality rates together with the causes of death are the very basic ones for above purposes as well as for the maternal and child health management. These statistics are based on the birth and death reports. It is required by law to report every birth and death within one month after its occurrence. However, in case of a neonatal death occurring prior to the birth report, most of the birth and death are not reported. Thus accurate infant and maternal mortality rates are not available yet in Korea. The main objective of this study is to develop a birth and infant death reporting system via computer network. We designed a new birth report form based on the current form and data from the analysis of medical record forms of 14 hospitals. A new form is basically addition of essential medical information to the current birth report form. Since a revision of the rules and regulations related wtih the birth report is necessary to use a new form, we kept the current from intact to make it acceptable to the government office for a field trial. We also developed computer programs for data input for birth and death reports at a medical faciltiy, data processing for production of maternal and child health indices at a health center, and management of maternal and child health services including immunization and postantal care at health center. The birth certificate and birth report can be printed out at a medical facility. The computer packages were programmed by Borland Delphi 3.0 and can be run under Windows 95 system. We proposed a new birth and death reporting system via computer network after a field trial for data input, transmission, and processing. The medical and demographic data o birth and death at medical facilities will be sent to health centers directly via computer network. The health center will retain the medical data for analysis and forward only the data for birth and death reports required by current regulations to the Dong, Up, or Myun Office. Once the birth or death is reported via computer network to the Dong Office, then the Dong Office will notify the baby's mother of the birth report and request to submit the baby's name by mail. When the baby's name its submitted. the Dong Office will forward the birth reports to the Common Court and Statistics Agency in the same way as the current system, Upon the completion of birth registration of the Common Court, the court will issue the birth certificate to mother which will be used in lieu of the family record. The advantages of proposed birth and death reporting system via computer network ar as follows ; I) The accuracy, timing, and completeness of reporting will be improved and more accurate maternal and child health indices can be obtained, ii) The maternal and child health services of health center will be obtained, iii) Epidemiologic data for pregnancy and birth can be obtained, iv) Manpower for birth and death reporting will be saved.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2003

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to summarize results from 11 domestic studies about sick role behavior applied health belief model and to assess the effectiveness of components on behavior change by using meta-analysis. Methods: We collected the existing literatures by using major web search of 'pulmonary tuberculosis patients', 'health belief model', and 'sick role behavior' as key words and by reviewing content of journals. Quantitative meta-analysis was performed by SAS program. Results: Among 66 articles, 11 studies were selected for quantitative meta-analysis. The knowledge level about pulmonary tuberculosis had more effect for only sick role behavior as general characterisitcs(d=0.7870). All the components of health belief model produced significant effects on sick role behavior with the magnitude of effect size from 0.31 to 0.73. The largest effects were benefits on actions of sick role behavior. Conclusions: Overall, these investigation provide very substantial empirical evidence supporting health belief model dimensions as important contributors to the explanation and prediction of sick role behavior among the type of health related behavior in pulmonary tuberculosis patients. Strategic intervention including health education, etc. based on health belief model showed clear advantage in improvement of behavioral change.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.101-112
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• 2011

Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine arterial stiffness levels as measured by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and to identify the association between arterial stiffness and inflammatory markers, in healthy adults over 50 years old. Methods: The study population consisted of 4617 persons over the age of 50 years who participated in the baseline survey of the Dong-gu Study, which was conducted in 2007 and 2008. Arterial stiffness was measured using baPWV. A multiple regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between conventional cardiovascular risk factors and inflammatory markers, including white blood cell (WBC) counts, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT). Results: After adjustment for conventional cardiovascular risk factors including sex, age, smoking status, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, hypertension or diabetic medication, total cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid, and alanine aminotransferase, baPWV was significantly associated with WBC counts (${\beta}$=0.158, p<0.0001), hs-CRP (${\beta}$=0.244, p=0.026), and GGT (${\beta}$=0.003, p<0.0001). Conclusion: This study shows that arterial stiffness correlates with inflammatory markers. Arterial stiffness may be used as a composite risk factor to identify persons with higher risk for cardiovascular disease. Additionally, arterial stiffness may be a marker for future cardiovascular disease and a target for prevention.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.85-90
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• 2010

Purpose: To evaluate the rate of tumor response, local control, and treatment-related complications after hypofractionated radiotherapy for recurrent hepatocelluar carcinoma (HCC) less than 5 cm in size. Materials and Methods: Among the HCC patients who were treated by radiotherapy (RT) between 2006 and 2007 after the failure of previous treatment, a total of 12 patients were treated with hypofractionated RT. The criteria for hypofractionated RT was as follows: 1) HCC less than 5 cm, 2) HCC not adjacent to a critical organ, 3) HCC without portal vein tumor thrombosis, and 4) less than 15% of normal liver volume that irradiated 50% of the prescribed dose. Hypofractionated RT was performed with 50 Gy delivered in 10 fractions, at a rate of 5 fractions per week. The evaluation of tumor response was determined by CT scans performed at 3 months after the cessation of RT, followed by the evaluation of toxicity by Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 3.0. The median follow-up period after radiotherapy was 18 months. Results: A complete response (CR) was achieved in 5 of 12 lesions (41.7%) at CT performed at 3 months after the cessation, whereas the overall complete response was observed in 7 of 12 cases (58.3%). In-field local control rate was sustained in 83.3% of patients. All patients developed intra-hepatic metastases except for 2 patients. The overall survival rate was 90.0% at 1 year and 67.5% at 2 years, respectively. Three patients developed Grade 1 nausea during RT and 1 patient showed a progression of ascites after RT. There was no grade 3 or greater treatment-related toxicities. Conclusion: Hypofractionated RT for small-sized HCC as a salvage therapy showed a 58.3% CR rate and 83.3% of local control. Fifty Gy administered in 10 fractions of partial liver irradiation is considered as a tolerable dose that does not cause severe complications.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.153-159
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• 2002

Objectives : To evaluate the accuracy of the registered cause of death in a county and its related factors. Methods : The data used in this study was based on 504 cases, in a county of Chonnam province, registered between January and December 1998. Study subjects consisted of 388 of the 504 cases, and their causes of death were established by an interview survey of the next of kin or neighbor and medical record surveys. We compared the registered cause of death with the confirmed cause of death, determined by surveys and medical records, and evaluated the factors associated with the accuracy of the registered cause of death. Results : 62.6% of the deaths were concordant with 19 Chapters classification of cause of death. external causes of mortality, endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases, neoplasms and diseases of the circulatory system showed the good agreement between the registered cause of death and the confirmed cause of death. The factors relating to the accuracy of the registered cause of death were the doctors' diagnosis for the cause of death (adjusted Odds Ratio: 2.67, 95% Confidence Interval: 1.21-5.89) and the grade of the public officials in charge of the death registry (adjusted Odds Ratio: 0.30, 95% CI=0.12-0.78). Conclusions : The accuracy of the registered cause of death was not high. It could be improved by using the doctors' diagnosis for death and improving the job specification for public officials who deal with death registration.