• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.322-334
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify factors related to compliance with respiratory infection preventive behaviors including hand washing, cough etiquette, and oral hygiene of older adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a convenience sample of 100 older adults (mean age: $76.11{\pm}6.35$ years, female: 86.0%). Data were collected from a community senior center through face to face interviews by using instruments including measuring knowledge, perceived threat, self-efficacy, compliance with respiratory infection preventive behaviors. Results: The mean score of knowledge was 7.52 out of 13 in total. The compliance with hand washing with soap was 6.0% for 8 or more times per day. Among the participants, 12.0% adhered to the cough etiquette. Sixty-two older adults (62.0%) didn't use interdental brushes or floss at all. The stepwise linear regression indicated that age and self-efficacy for respiratory infection preventive behaviors were significant factors and explained 24.0% of the compliance with hand washing and the cough etiquette. Education level, cancer diagnosis, and self-efficacy for respiratory infection preventive behaviors were significant predictors of oral hygiene. The factor with the greatest effect was self-efficacy in the two models. Conclusion: The findings suggest that it is necessary to improve compliance with respiratory infection preventive behaviors among older adults using senior centers. In order to enhance the compliance, it is necessary to develop nursing programs based on the self-efficacy for respiratory infection preventive behaviors in the senior centers.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.237-246
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• 2016

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of preschooler obesity/overweight and to identify associated factors. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study. Data for 591 preschoolers, 432 fathers and 538 mothers from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2014 were included. Obesity/overweight was defined by 2007 Korean National Growth Charts. T-test, Rao-Scott ${\chi}^2$, multivariate logistic regression was used for the analysis. Results: Prevalence rates for preschooler obesity/overweight were 14.9% (obesity, 5.4%; overweight, 9.5%). The preschoolers with atopic dermatitis or allergic rhinitis or asthma (OR=2.78, 95% CI [1.27-6.09], p=.011) and eating more thiamine per day (OR=1.01, 95% CI [1.00-1.02], p=.001) showed higher obesity/overweight development. The only parental factor affecting preschooler obesity/overweight was parental body mass index (father, OR=1.18, 95% CI [1.09-1.28], p<.001; mother, OR=1.09, 95% CI [1.04-1.15], p<.001). Conclusion: Interventions on preventing preschooler obesity should be introduced much earlier for children with risk factors. Results from this study can be used as preliminary data to develop effective strategies to prevent obesity in Korean preschoolers.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.124-134
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• 2014

Objectives: Metabolic syndrome is considered a coronary heart disease risk factor and its prevalence rate is increasing in Korea. Because obesity is relevant to metabolic syndrome, we investigated the relationship between metabolic syndrome and the Obesity Pattern Identification Questionnaire in middle-aged health check-up examinees. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with 125 patients who visited a health promotion center of university hospital from October 2012 to January 2013. We analyzed the association of Obesity Pattern Identification Questionnaire and the diagnostic criteria of metabolic syndrome. Results: Pi deficiency (脾虛), phlegm (痰飮), liver stasis (肝鬱) and food accumulation (食積) pattern showed significantly highs score in the group with hypertriglyceridemia. Also, females demonstrated significantly high scores of liver stasis (肝鬱) and food accumulation (食積) in the group with hypertriglyceridemia. The questions of Pattern Identification that showed especially significant high score in the group of hypertriglyceridemia are as follows: 'Easily get annoyed', 'Usually worried', 'Frequently overeating or bingeing', and 'Having more after getting full'. There are positive correlations between triglyceride and the score of Pi deficiency (脾虛), phlegm (痰飮) and food accumulation (食積) pattern. Conclusions: Obesity Pattern Identification Questionnaire can be used for the management of hypertriglyceridemia in an effort to prevent metabolic syndrome.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.639-644
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• 2014

Congenital malaria is assumed to be a risk factor for infant morbidity and mortality in endemic areas like Maumere, Indonesia. Infected infants are susceptible to its impact such as premature labor, low birth weight, anemia, and other unspecified symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of congenital malaria and the influence of mother-infant paired parasite densities on the clinical outcome of the newborns at TC Hillers Hospital, Maumere. An analytical cross sectional study was carried out in newborns which showed criteria associated with congenital malaria. A thick and thin blood smear confirmed by nested PCR was performed in both mothers and infants. The association of congenital malaria with the newborn's health status was then assessed. From 112 mother-infant pairs included in this study, 92 were evaluated further. Thirty-nine infants (42.4%) were found to be infected and half of them were asymptomatic. Infected newborns had a 4.7 times higher risk in developing anemia compared to uninfected newborns (95% CI, 1.3-17.1). The hemoglobin level, erythrocyte amount, and hematocrit level were affected by the infants' parasite densities (P<0.05). Focusing on newborns at risk of congenital malaria, the prevalence is almost 3 times higher than in an unselected collective. Low birth weight, anemia, and pre-term birth were the most common features. Anemia seems to be significantly influenced by infant parasite densities but not by maternal parasitemia.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.306-314
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• 2018

Purpose: The objective of this study was to describe the clinical phenotypes of children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis (CF); and to assess the role of pancreatic insufficiency and neonatal screening in diagnosis. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, which included 77 patients attending a reference center of CF between 2014 and 2016. Epidemiological data, anthropometric measurements, and the presence of pulmonary, pancreatic, gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary manifestations were evaluated based on clinical data and complementary examinations. Results: Of the 77 patients, 51.9% were male, with a median age of 147 months (7.0-297.0 months), and the majority showed adequate nutritional status. The most common phenotype was pulmonary (92.2%), followed by pancreatic (87.0%), with pancreatic insufficiency in most cases. Gastrointestinal manifestation occurred in 46.8%, with constipation being the more common factor. Hepatobiliary disease occurred in 62.3% of patients. The group with pancreatic insufficiency was diagnosed earlier (5.0 months) when compared to the group with sufficiency (84.0 months) (p=0.01). The age of diagnosis was reduced following implementation of neonatal screening protocols for CF (6.0 months before vs. 3.0 months after, p=0.02). Conclusion: The pulmonary phenotype was the most common, although extrapulmonary manifestations were frequent and clinically relevant, and should mandate early detection and treatment. Neonatal screening for CF led to earlier diagnosis in patients with pancreatic failure, and therefore, should be adopted universally.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.41-50
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify and compare the factors influencing attitude toward one's own aging among Korean middle-aged adults and the elderly. Methods: A cross sectional study was performed with a total sample of 70 middle-aged adults and 64 elderly reside in two metropolitan areas. Data were collected from August 2015 to November 2015 using the Perceived Health Status Scale, the Health Locus of Control Scale and the Attitude Toward own Aging (ATOA) Scale. The statistics used include percentage, t-test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple regression. Results: Mean age for each age group were about 52 and 76 years old for middle-aged adults and the elderly respectively. A considerable proportion of all participants reported a negative attitude toward aging. Perceived health status was the common factor influencing attitude toward one's own aging in both age groups. Middle-aged adults identified presence of chronic illness and internal health locus of control as important factors. In contrast, the elderly reported that education and others-dependent health locus of control such as powerful others had a significant impact on ATOA. Each regression model explained 31% and 55% of the total variance of ATOA among middle-aged adults and among the elderly. Conclusion: Both middle-aged adults and the elderly with low perceived health status are at risk of negative ATOA's. The type health locus of control need to be identified and utilized based on individuals' tendency to improve positive ATOA. That is, middle-aged adults might need reinforcement of their self-will whereas the elderly might need enhancement of social support and network of family and healthcare providers.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.17
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• pp.7613-7618
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• 2015

Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is one of the most common hematologic malignancies which accounts for one fourth of all childhood cancer cases. Exposure to environmental factors around the time of conception or pregnancy can increase the risk of ALL in the offspring. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of prenatal and postnatal exposure to high voltage power lines on the incidence of childhood ALL. It also examines the role of various factors such as environmental factors and alpha-amylase as a marker in the development of leukemia.This cross-sectional case control study was carried out on 22 cases and 100 controls who born and lived in low socioeconomic families in Tehran and were hospitalized for therapeutic purposes in different hospitals ofrom 2013-2014. With regard to the underlying risk factors; familial history and parental factors were detected as risk factors of ALL but in this age, socioeonomic and zonal matched case control study, prenatal and childhood exposure to high voltage power lines was considered as the most important environmental risk factor (p=0.006, OR=3.651, CI 95% 1.692-7.878). As the population study was from low socioeconomic state, use of mobiles, computers and microwaves was negligible. Moreover prenatal and postnatal exposure to all indoor electrically charged objects were not detected as significant environmental factors in the present study. This work defined the risk of environmental especially continuous pre and postnatal exposure to high voltage power lines and living in pollutant regions through the parents or children as well as the previously described risk factors of ALL for the first time in low socioeconomic status Iranian population.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1093-1096
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• 2012

Background: Cervical cancer is common among women worldwide. A multitude of risk factors aggravate the disease. This study was conducted to: (1) determine the prevalence and (2) make a comparative analysis of the socio-demographic and behavioural risk factors of cervical cancer and knowledge, attitude and practice between rural and urban women of North Bengal, India. Study Design: Community-based cross-sectional study. Methods: A survey (first in North Bengal) was conducted among 133 women in a rural area (Kawakhali) and 88 women in an urban slum (Shaktigarh) using predesigned semi-structured questionnaires. The respondents were informed of the causes (including HPV), signs and symptoms, prevention of cervical cancer and treatment, and the procedure of the PAP test and HPV vaccination. Results: The prevalence of risk factors like multiparity, early age of marriage, use of cloth during menstruation, use of condom and OCP, early age of first intercourse was 37.2%, 82%, 83.3%, 5.4%, 15.8% and 65.6% respectively. Awareness about the cause, signs and symptoms, prevention of cervical cancer, PAP test and HPV vaccination was 3.6%, 6.3%, 3.6%, 9.5% and 14.5% respectively. Chi-square testing revealed that in the study population, significant differential at 5% exists between rural and urban residents with respect to number of children, use of cloth/sanitary napkins, family history of cancer and awareness regarding causes of cervical cancer. Regarding KAP, again using chi-square tests, surprisingly, level of education is found to be significant for each element of KAP in urban areas in contrast to complete absence of association between education and elements of KAP in rural areas. Conclusions: A large number of risk factors were present in both areas, the prevalence being higher in the rural areas. The level of awareness and role of education appears to be insignificant determinants in rural compared to urban areas. This pilot study needs to be followed up by large scale programmes to re-orient awareness campaigns, especially in rural areas.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.4357-4361
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• 2016

Background: Whether there is any relationship between human papilloma virus (HPV) and breast carcinoma is not clear. Some previous studies have indicated a possible role in oncogenesis in the breast. In this study, we therefore analyzed the presence of HPV infection in breast tissues of Iranian women from Yazd city. Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional study, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues from 87 patients with breast cancer and 84 cases with breast fibrocystic lesions (control group) were selected from a tissue archive. Grade of tumors and fibrocystic tissues were determined by two pathologists. The nested-PCR method was performed for detection of HPVs in samples. HPV genotypes were determined by sequencing and the phylogenetic tree depicted by MEGA software. Results: Of the 87 women with breast cancer, 22.9% (20 isolates) had positive results for HPV DNA. In the control group no HPV was detected. The HPV genotypes in positive samples were HPV-16 (35%) HPV-18 (15%), HPV-6 (45%) and HPV-11 (5%). The data did not approved a significant correlation between tissue pathology of breast cancer and the HPV genotype frequency. Conclusions: The data did not provide any evidence for a role of high risk HPV types in oncogenesis in the breast.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.471-486
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• 2011

1. Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) related characteristics found in each Sasang Constitutional type. 2. Methods This cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted using data from 2,842 men and women. After typing each participant into one of the four Sasang constitutional types, they were analyzed on various cardiovascular disease-related variables. 3. Results 1) The predictors of cardiovascular disease (metabolic syndrome, high risk FRS group, high risk hsCRP group) was found to show the highest prevalence in the Taeeum type. 2) In the group with metabolic syndrome, the mean hsCRP concentration in the Taeeum and Soyang types were higher than in the Soeum type. In the group without metabolic syndrome, the mean hsCRP concentration in the Taeeum type were higher than in the Soyang and Soeum types. 3) In the FRS low risk group, the mean hsCRP concentration were higher in order of Taeeum type > Soyang type > Soeum type. In the FRS high risk group, the mean hsCRP concentrations were not significantly different among the Sasang constitutional types. 4. Conclusions The results of this study suggest that the Taeeum constitutional type is a risk factor for high hsCRP and cardiovascular disease. These findings suggest that the prevention of cardiovascular disease is more important in the Taeeum type compared to other constitutional types. Moreover, preventive measures are warranted even in the Taeeum-type persons with low clinical cardiovascular risk.