• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.511-524
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• 2007

Korea has 30 years of experiences in environmental impact assessment (EIA). Although EIA includes sanitation-public health factor, considering health impacts, among 74 unit projects of 17 sections, health impacts haven't been properly considered or have been ignored in many cases. The increasing awareness on the importance of health impacts has triggered this study to seek an optimal introduction scheme of health impact assessment (HIA). The processes of EIA already include screening, scoping, analysis, impact assessment, consultation, document review, decision making and monitoring, in which they would be the essential parts of HIA. In this context, integrating HIA into the existing EIA process could be the most effective way to use the benefits in both legal and procedural processes existed and to avoid the confusion and overlapping since the close relationships between environment and health impacts might be. Furthermore, it is desirable that the existing sanitation-public health factor should be substituted by and extended to environment-health factor with sufficient determinants to properly consider health impacts. When considering the first step of HIA, the prospective and qualitative approach is suitable more than the retrospective and quantitative one due to the lack of database accumulated. Similarly, an approach based on epidemiology and toxicology could analyze the limited evidences and impacts related to human disease, whereas one based on socio-science and psychology could provide the effective means available for predicting how the people and community will act by the change of surroundings. Checklist approach with various and comprehensive health determinants focused on prospective and qualitative methods will be very useful for more convenient and progressive dissemination of HIA. Various checklist approaches of toolkits could be found from HIA documents elsewhere, for example Westminster Toolkit, and they would be helpful to figure out how to develop common procedures and health determinants for checklist, in which the unique characteristics on korean cultural and political context compared to abroad should be carefully considered since checklist would be the most basic and essential part of HIA. After the establishment of checklist and procedural processes, the pilot projects should be conducted. Main purpose of pilot projects is to apparently prove the effectiveness and profitability of HIA. Pilot projects should be implemented to decide the effectiveness and suitability of HIA for future projects, programs and policies, and should be provided as the positive cases that can be achieved through the proper implementation and progress.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.382-390
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• 2017

This study was conducted to identify the factors affecting the quality of life of cancer patients based on demographic characteristics, health status, and mental health using the results of the 6th National Health and Nutrition Survey. The research tool used the demographic characteristics, health status, mental health, and quality of life of the KNHANES VI-2. Data analysis was conducted using SAS 9.3 version. There were significant differences in the quality of life in the study results by age, gender, economic activity, individual income quartile, subjective health status, mental health status, activity limitation, stress perception, and experience of depression symptoms. Factors influencing the quality of life of cancer patients included age, sex, income quintiles(individual), subjective health status, activity limitation, and experience of depression symptoms, which together explained 39.1% of the quality of life. To improve the quality of life of cancer patients, comprehensive management is required from diagnosis to treatment to return to society. It is also necessary to develop and apply long-term programs including multidimensional approaches and improvement of quality of life, early screening of cancer and cancer prevention education, management of depression symptoms, and social support.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8365-8370
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• 2016

Background: Shammah is a traditional form of snuff dipping tobacco (a smokeless tobacco form) that is commonly used in Yemen. Oral mucosal changes due to the use of shammah can usually be observed in the mucosal surfaces that the product touches. The aim of this study was to determine the association between shammah use and oral leukoplakia-like lesions. Other associated factors were also determined. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted on 346 randomly selected adult males. Multi-stage random sampling was used to select the study location. After completing the structured questionnaire interviews, all the participants underwent clinical exanimation for screening of oral leukoplakia-like lesions Clinical features of oral leukoplakia-like lesion were characterized based on the grades of $Ax{\acute{e}}ll$ et al (1976). Univariable logistic regression and multivariable logistic regression were used to assess the potential associated factors. Results: Out of 346 male participants aged 18 years and older, 68 (19.7%) reported being current shammah users. The multivariable analysis revealed that age, non-formal or primary level of education, former shammah user, current shammah user, and frequency of shammah use per day were statistically associated with the presence of oral leukoplakia-like lesions [Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.03; 95% confidence interval (CI) : 1.01, 1.06; P=0.006], (AOR=8.65; 95% CI: 2.81, 26.57; P=0.001), (AOR=3.65; 95% CI: 1.40, 9.50; P=0.008), (AOR=12.99; 95% CI: 6.34, 26.59; P=0.001), and (AOR=1.17; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.36; P=0.026), respectively. Conclusions: The results revealed oral leukoplakia-like lesions to be significantly associated with shammah use. Therefore, it is important to develop comprehensive shammah prevention programs in Yemen.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.135-147
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop evidence-based guidelines for infection control in nursing homes in Korea (ENIK). Methods: Three steps were planned for the development which were developing a draft and testing the content validity. First, the draft was based on evidence and developed through focus group interviews with nurses in nursing homes, a comprehensive review of international guidelines and literature, and systematic reviews of interventions for infection control and outbreaks in long-term care facilities. Clinical applicability was established through reviews of nursing records and job assignments in one nursing home. The final step consisted of experts evaluating the content validity. The ENIK was revised to fit Korean nursing homes. Results: The ENIK consisted of recommendations in 9 compositions and a one-page practical algorithm. The principles of infection control were presented by statements and specific strategies were recommended in resident care programs. The infection control practical algorithm was organized into 3 steps: screening at admission, prevention, and control at the early stage. The practice to control infection was composed of a 5-step process. Conclusion: The ENIK will contribute to improving the competency of infection control practice because it provides standardized practice and is tailored to Korean nursing homes.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.58-69
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• 2017

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a highly prevalent, impairing, and comorbid disorder that persists into adulthood. ADHD should be diagnosed in the same manner as other common adult mental health disorders. The three most important components in the comprehensive evaluation of patients with ADHD are the clinical interview, medical examination, and completion and scoring of behavior rating scales. The diagnostic evaluation of ADHD should include questions about the symptoms, family history, prior evaluation and treatment of ADHD, as well as other problems including alcohol and drug use. Screening interviews or rating scales, as well as interviews, should be used. When it is feasible, clinicians may wish to supplement these components of the evaluation with the objective assessments of the ADHD symptoms, such as through psychological tests. These tests are not essential to reaching a diagnosis, however, or to treatment planning, but may yield further information about the presence and severity of cognitive impairments that could be associated with some cases of ADHD. As comorbidity is the rule rather than the exception, clinicians should carefully screen for comorbid disorders as part of a comprehensive assessment of ADHD. To receive a diagnosis of ADHD, the person must be experiencing significant distress or impairment in his or her daily functioning, and must not meet the criteria for other mental disorders which might better account for the observed symptoms, such as mental retardation, autism or other pervasive developmental disorders, mood disorders and anxiety disorders. This report aims to suggest practice guidelines for the assessment and diagnosis of children, adolescents and adults with ADHD in Korea.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.120-129
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• 2013

Purpose: Parents with a premature infant are usually confronted with difficulties in caring for their babies and need education on appropriate care. The purpose of this paper was to describe the components of caring education for parents with a premature infant based on an integrative literature review and to present strategies for future education. Methods: Four electronic databases were searched to identify studies. Sixteen articles were selected through full text screening of related research published in domestic journals from January 1990 to October 2012. Results: Through in-depth discussion and investigation of the relevant literature, three components emerged; (a) nurses as educators and parents as learners, (b) education content including caring on admission or discharge, and effects of education, and (c) education environment including timing, place and materials. Conclusion: Future education on caring for premature infant should include the nurse as educator and have diverse content including parent's role, interaction with healthcare providers, and special care for premature infants with special problems. Moreover, highly technical teaching materials should be provided, along with continuous support of institution and government to individual caregivers. Results of this study provide comprehensive prospective and basic standards for education on premature infant care.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.4647-4652
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• 2015

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is becoming one of the most complicated challenges of human health, particularly in developing countries like Iran. In this paper, we try to characterize CRC cases diagnosed < age 50 at-risk for Lynch syndrome within central Iran. Materials and Methods: We designed a descriptive retrospective study to screen all registered CRC patients within 2000-2013 in Poursina Hakim Research Center (PHRC), a referral gastroenterology clinic in central Iran, based on being early-onset (age at diagnosis ${\leq}50years$) and Amsterdam II criteria. We calculated frequencies and percentages by SPSS 19 software to describe clinical and family history characteristics of patients with early-onset CRC. Results: Overall 1,659 CRC patients were included in our study of which 413 (24.9%) were ${\leq}50years$ at diagnosis. Of 219/413 successful calls 67 persons (30.6%) were reported deceased. Family history was positive for 72/219 probands (32.9%) and 53 families (24.2%) were identified as familial colorectal cancer (FCC), with a history of at-least three affected members with any type of cancer in the family, of which 85% fulfilled the Amsterdam II Criteria as hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) families (45/219 or 20.5%). Finally, 14 families were excluded due to proband tumor tissues being unavailable or unwillingness for incorporation. The most common HNPCC-associated extracolonic-cancer among both males and females of the families was stomach, at respectively 31.8 and 32.7 percent. The most common tumor locations among the 31 probands were rectum (32.3%), sigmoid (29.0%), and ascending colon (12.9%). Conclusions: Given the high prevalence of FCC (~1/4 of early-onset Iranian CRC patients), it is necessary to establish a comprehensive cancer genetic counseling and systematic screening program for early detection and to improve cancer prognosis among high risk families.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.220-235
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• 2022

Objective: To evaluate the available evidence regarding the clinical effectiveness of different types of anchorage devices. Methods: A comprehensive literature search of different electronic databases was conducted for systematic reviews investigating different anchorage methods published up to April 15, 2021. Any ongoing systematic reviews were searched using PROSPERO, and a grey literature search was undertaken using Google Scholar and OpenGrey. No language restriction was applied. Screening, quality assessment, and data extraction were performed independently by two authors. Information was categorized and narratively synthesized for the key findings from moderate- and high-quality reviews. Results: Fourteen systematic reviews were included (11 were of moderate/high quality). Skeletal anchorage with miniscrews was associated with less anchorage loss (and sometimes with anchorage gain). Similarly, skeletal anchorage was more effective in retracting anterior teeth and intruding incisors and molars, resulting in minor vertical skeletal changes and improvements in the soft tissue profile. However, insufficient evidence was obtained for the preference of any anchorage method in terms of the duration of treatment, number of appointments, quality of treatment, patient perception, or adverse effects. The effectiveness of skeletal anchorage can be enhanced when: directly loaded, used in the mandible rather than the maxilla, used buccally rather than palatally, using dual rather than single miniscrews, used for en-masse retraction, and in adults. Conclusions: The level of evidence regarding anchorage effectiveness is moderate. Nevertheless, compared to conventional anchorage, skeletal anchorage can be used with more anchorage preservation. Further high-quality randomized clinical trials are required to confirm these findings.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.123-131
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• 2023

Breast cancer continues to pose a substantial worldwide health challenge, thereby requiring the development of innovative strategies to discover new therapeutic interventions. Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT-3) has been identified as a significant factor in the development of several types of cancer, including breast cancer. This is primarily attributed to its diverse functions in promoting tumour formation and conferring resistance to therapeutic interventions. This study presents an in silico drug repositioning approach that focuses on identifying specific inhibitors of STAT-3 for the purpose of treating breast cancer. We initially examined the structural and functional attributes of STAT-3, thereby elucidating its crucial involvement in cellular signalling cascades. A comprehensive virtual screening was performed on a diverse collection of drugs that have been approved by the FDA from zinc15 database. Various computational techniques, including molecular docking, cross docking, and cDFT analysis, were utilised in order to prioritise potential candidates. This prioritisation was based on their predicted binding energies and outer molecular orbital reactivity. The findings of our study have unveiled a Dihydroergotamine and Paritaprevir that have been approved by the FDA and exhibit considerable promise as selective inhibitors of STAT-3. In conclusion, the utilisation of our in silico drug repositioning approach presents a prompt and economically efficient method for the identification of potential compounds that warrant subsequent experimental validation as selective STAT-3 inhibitors in the context of breast cancer. The present study highlights the considerable potential of employing computational strategies to expedite the drug discovery process. Moreover, it provides valuable insights into novel avenues for targeted therapeutic interventions in the context of breast cancer treatment.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.337-344
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• 2004

Objectives : This study was performed to determine the incidence density and the prevalence of sero-positive hepatitis C from 1999 to 2002 among adults aged 20 and over residing in Seoul and the Gyeonggi province. Method : The data for period was obtained from 114,635 adults, residing in Seoul or the Gyeonggi province, who had undertaken comprehensive health screening tests from Jan 1999 to Dec 2002 in a University hospital in Seoul. Among them, subjects with sero-negative status against hepatitis C were selected (21,408 in 1999, 28,830 in 2000) and then followed up until Dec 2002 to determine the incidence of hepatitis C during this period. The serum was tested with the immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) which uses third generation HCV antibody. Age adjusted rates were estimated by direct standardization using a reference population of 2000 aged from 20 to 80 years. Results : The prevalence of anti-HCV from 1999 to 2002 was 2.1 per 1000 persons(95% CI $1.8{\sim}2.4$). Male showed 1.7 per 1000 persons (95% CI $1.4{\sim}2.1$), while female showed 2.7 per 1000 persons(95% CI $2.2{\sim}3.2$). Age?sex adjusted rate showed 2.8 per 1000 persons (95% CI $2.64{\sim}2.96$), which is lower than the results of some previous study. The prevalence showed a significantly increasing pattern with age both in males and females (p<0.05). The incidence density of anti-HCV among the population aged 20 and over was 1.1 per 104 person-years at risk (95% CI $0.6{\sim}2.4$); 1.2 (95% CI $0.6{\sim}2.7$) for males and 0.8 (95% CI $0.6{\sim}4.2$) for females. Age adjusted incidence density was 2.91 per 104 person-years at risk (95% CI $2.43{\sim}3.38$) for those aged 20 and over. It showed an increasing pattern with age (p<0.05), especially for those age over 50 years. Conclusion : The study subjects for this study were supposedly healthier than the general population so the prevalence and incidence for the general population are thought to be higher than the results of the present study.