• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.114-120
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• 2011

Chronic inflammation has been implicated as one of the important etiological factors in insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). To investigate the role of anti-inflammatory cytokines in the development of T2DM, we conducted a case-control study to assess the association between IL4/IL4R polymorphisms and disease risk. We firstly identified single nucleotide poly-morphisms (SNP) at IL4 and IL4RA loci by sequencing the loci in Korean participants. Case-control studies were conducted by genotyping the SNPs in 474 T2DM cases and 470 non-diabetic controls recruited from community-based cohorts. Replication of the associated signals was performed in 1,216 cases and 1,352 controls. We assessed effect of IL4 -IL4RA interaction on T2DM using logistic regression method. The functional relevance of the SNP associated with disease risk was determined using a reporter expression assay. We identified a strong association between the IL4 promoter variant rs2243250 and T2DM risk (OR=0.77; 95% CI, 0.67~0.88; p=$1.65{\times}10^{－4}$ in the meta-analysis). The reporter gene expression assay demonstrated that the presence of rs2243250 might affect the gene expression level with ~1.5-fold allele difference. Our findings contribute to the identification of IL4 as a T2D susceptibility locus, further supporting the role of anti-inflammatory cytokines in T2DM disease development.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.38-44
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• 2003

This study was performed to investigate the levels of fluoride (F), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) in water samples taken from five reservoirs or direct sources on a stream used for agricultural or domestic water in the Iksan and Wanjoo areas, Jeon-buk, Korea, and to find a possible link between Ca or Mg and fluoride in water sources in theses areas. The samples were collected by the recommendation methods of the World Health Organization and analyzed by the recommendations of the Japanese Standard Methods. Statistical analyses were performed by the analysis of variance and correlation analysis. The F levels in water samples wire 0.80~2.53 ppm. In four sampling sites the water fluoride levels exceeded 1 ppm. which if the recommended level for fluorosis/caries control. The Ca levels in water samples were 6.82~12.98 ppm, and the Mg levels were 0.30~1.97 ppm, which are lower compared with the natural levels of water sources previously reported by other investigators. This study showed a positive correlation between Ca and Mg (r= 0.8779. p<0.01) and a negative correlation between F and Ca (r=-0.6974, p<0.05) and also between F and Mg (r=-0.5581) in the water samples. However, the study did not find remarkable relationships in fluoride levels between sampling sites. These results support the fact that there were epidemics of dental fluorosis in this area. The lack of significant positive correlations in fluoride levels between sampling sites suggests that there may be some pathways for the transfer of the metal to the water through other environmental media besides the water course. Long-term epidemiological studies are needed on the relationship between high F together with low Ca and Mg levels in the water, and total human health in this community. There should alto be a long-term monitoring of the water quality in this area.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.72-78
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• 2018

Objectives The high suicide rate has risen as a main concern in South Korea. Given the complexity of the mechanism resulting in complete suicide, studies targeting various populations are needed for broader understanding of its risk factors. This study aims to analyze the factors affecting the suicidal tendency in the population of the elderly living alone in Seoul depending on basic elderly-care services. Methods A total number of 415 people participated in the study. Home-visit interviews were administered by trained interviewers. Suicidal tendency was measured by the Korean version of mini international neuropsychiatric interview (K-MINI). Health-related quality of life was measured by a brief version of the World Health Organization Quality-of-life Scale (WHOQOL-BREF). Alcohol problem was assessed by the Korean version of the alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT-K). Among total subjects of 415 interviewees, the actual responses of 408 people were used for the final analysis. Results The result showed that the suicide risk was high in persons isolated from social support [odds ratio (OR) = 4.49], having depression (OR = 14.85), and having low quality of life (OR = 4.39). Conclusions We found that social support, depression and health-related quality of life are associated with suicidal tendency in the elderly living alone on basic services. Our evidence will contribute to suicide prevention policy for the elderly living alone on care services.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.1-16
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• 2011

Objectives : In spite of the importance of preparing a support system for public health programs, there is a relatively poor system to support Oriental medicine public health programs. In this regard, considerations have been made to give directions for the development of technical support organizations for Oriental medicine public health programs. Methods : The authors investigated support organizations of public health programs and compared Oriental medicine public health programs with them. Results : Technical support organizations for Oriental medicine public health programs are controlled by the National Traditional Korean Medicine Research and Development Center. However there is lack in the relevant budget, technical support, professional abilities for research and planning, connections with research institutes in the Oriental medicine field, and affiliations with the other public health programs. Conclusion : In this context, the following actions are required to systematically and technologically support Oriental medicine public health programs. Health improvement & technical support organizations whose incorporation is promoted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, should include the National Traditional Korean Medicine Research and Development Center, so as to activate the Oriental medicine public health programs. Legal provisions and the budget for the Oriental medicine public health programs should be secured so as to help identify and implement effective programs for improving the community health. A society for public health oriental medicine need be established so as to consolidate research capacities for the Oriental medicine public health programs. Programs should be developed to train professionals and supports should be intensified for activities to build capacities in technical support organizations.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.177-185
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• 2006

Soil-transmitted helminths (STH), namely Ascaris, Trichuris and hookworms (Ancylostoma and Necator), present a global health problem to about a half of the earth's population. In the Republic of Korea, STH were highly prevalent and were considered a high priority target for national control. To promote the control, a non-governmental organization named Korea Association for Parasite Eradication (currently Korea Association of Health Promotion) was founded in 1964, and mass fecal examination followed by selective mass chemotherapy with anthelmintics was performed twice a year from 1969 to 1995 targeting whole nationwide schoolchildren. Meanwhile, decreasing patterns of national STH infections have been monitored by 7 times' quinquennial national surveys targeting general population. In 1971, the overall intestinal helminth egg positive rate was 84.3% (Ascaris 58.2%, Trichuris 65.4%, and hookworms 10.7%), which became 63.2% in 1976, 41.1% in 1981, 12.9% in 1986, 3.8% in 1992, 2.4% in 1997, and 4.3% (Ascaris 0.03%, Trichuris 0.02%, and hookworms 0%) in 2004. During the control period, national economy rapidly developed, and living standards including environment, sanitation, and agricultural technology greatly improved, which undoubtedly boosted the STH control effects. Our experience indicates that social driving force to establish an eligible national control system to conduct repeated mass chemotherapy, together with improvement of environment and sanitation, is important for initiating and achieving STH control in a developing community.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.289-305
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• 2007

Library laws and code of ethics for librarians declared social responsibility ensuring equal access and available support of information resources through open services all being no discrimination due to rate, creed, gender, age or for any other reason. University libraries should accomplish the social responsibility ensuring equality of information access and intellectual freedom for all users that the cultural development of organization, community, and Nation are contributed. This study reviewed the criteria for social responsibility making such as legal, stakeholder, and information demanded approach based on Library laws, ISO 26000, and Access to Libraries for Persons with Disabilities: Checklist. This research established the basic concept for social responsibility and tried to provide the basic materials for the starting of social responsibility activities through providing of activity programs in social responsibility.

• Korean Journal of Hospice Care
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.1-20
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• 2002

The purpose of this study is to develop a management model to effectively provide hospice service of nursing home. In a method of study to achieve this purpose, a positive research and literature study have been performed at the same time. Concerning contents to be examined as a definition of notions and patterns about hospice for the aged, foreign hospice and structural elements of hospice management, a literature study to support a theoretical background has presented leading studies as an analysis form of this study through analyzing domestic and foreign literature, thesis, journal and so on. In order to attain the purpose of this study, the positive research is to carry out a survey of demand and desire of people who have already got hospice service in the first place as a fact-finding survey related to the subject of hospice service, investigate organizations to operate nursing home and hospice and relevant experts in the second place as a survey of supply system to provide hospice service, and develop an appropriate management model to connect the demand and supply of nursing home through it. Therefore, this study has developed a delivery system and a chart of the practical trend to be done minutely, presenting a model to manage a hospice of nursing home based on the above results. The management model externally has connected medical team of hospital with hospice team of home based on a community, and internally is composed centering on five elements such as administrative organization, manpower, program and contents of service, finances. In practical model of hospice management of nursing home, in order to plan a program, provide service and give a high-quality service to the aged, this study has presented a trend chart of service management on the basis of five structural elements, an analysis form of this study. In conclusion, this study could present data to develop a hospice in the field of nursing home for the aged by showing a model concerning a hospice management of nursing home, but in my opinion, a following study to be detailed and developed even more than this study should be continued.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.312-321
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• 2014

Background: To evaluate the quality of chronic care provided by public health centers located in a South Korean metropolitan city using a modified Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (ACIC). Methods: We conducted self-evaluation surveys and collected data using a modified ACIC from twenty five public health centers. Cultural validity of the original ACIC was examined by the public health and nursing science experts. Based on expert reviews, cognitive interviews, pre-test results, five items of the original ACIC that were not relevant were deleted. The response scale was changed from twelve-point Likert scale to Guttman scale but its scoring system was maintained. Results: Eighty eight percent of public health centers in this study reported that their overall quality of chronic care was at a limited or basic level. About 68% of the centers reported that the organization was as reasonably good or fully developed to provide chronic care. On the other hand, 96% of the public health centers reported that the clinical information system was at a very limited or basic support level. The decision support, the integration of Chronic Care Model components, the delivery system design, the community linkages, and the self-management support were evaluated as limited or basic level of support by more than half of the public health centers, respectively. Conclusion: In a metropolitan area of South Korea, quality of chronic care in public health centers was not found to reach acceptable levels of services. It is critical to enhance the quality of chronic care in public health centers.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.182-194
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• 2009

This study was conducted to evaluate health status and to propose health protection measures of irregular plant construction workers in Yoesu National Industrial Complex (YNIC). The status of safety and health management was examined in five areas including safety and health education, work environment monitoring, health examination, health management record, and personal protective equipment (PPE) for plant construction workers. The safety training rate for plant construction workers was reached high at 91%, The training was mostly consisted of safety accident related things, but training on hazardous materials was found to be insufficient. Workplace monitoring results showed that the compliance rate for work environment for irregular construction workers was 54% and workplace monitoring during turnaround (TA) period with high risk of exposure to hazardous agents has not been implemented. While 61.4% of irregular workers received the general health examination but only 36.8% received the special health examination. The special health examination was found to be conducted only upon welders from 2-3 years ago. The issue of health management record upon irregular construction workers was not being implemented. In case of PPE, basic safety protective equipments such as safety shoes, safety belt, safety helmet were being supplied well while the supply rate of respirator for organic vapor was relatively low at 40%. Based on this study, two suggestions to maximize the utilization of the current safety and health program were made while boosting its effectiveness in protecting workers' health. First, the role of owners (petrochemical plant) related to safety and health should be strengthened. Second, in consideration of the characteristics of construction workers who usually engage in short term employment and frequent movement, community based health management organization is suggested that can overcome such structural problem and carry out the implementation of health examination and sustained health management.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.6-11
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• 2010

Amid the rapid transitions in both local and international markets, the Korean dental industry is facing more challenges than at any time in its history. This paper tried to address some of the key issues faced by the industry as well as the policy issues and I direction of implementation that the Korean Dental Association (KDA) is expected to tackle. First, the direction of reforming the country's health insurance system was examined with emphasis on the expected changes in and improvement of the fee-for-service reimbursement system (FFSRS) and medical reimbursement system (MRS). With FFSRS, the most urgent issue would be ameliorating the current lop-sided, unreasonable reimbursement system that prevents suppliers from voicing their opinions. To help achieve that goal, the limited authority and responsibility of the president of National Health Insurance Corporation (NHIC) as one of the contract-making parties must be clarified. In addition, the functions of NHIC's Health Insurance Finance Committee must be restricted; at the same time, the panel organization of the Health Insurance Policy Review Committee needs to be reformed to embrace greater democracy. As with MRS, the government is considering a block budget bill to help promote efficiency in employing and managing the health insurance fund. Policymakers must understand that the implementation of such proposal could exacerbate an already dire situation. Improving MRS requires meeting the following preconditions: (a) the structurally vicious cycle of small charge-small salary needs to be resolved, and a certain percentage of fee raise must be guaranteed on a yearly basis to help adjust the fee system to a more realistic level; (b) the supply-and-demand balance in producing health care professionals must be improved including the prevention of oversupply of doctors, nurses, etc., and; (c) institutional strategies must be provided to enhance the quality of medical care and ensure academic advancement in health care disciplines.