• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.159-165
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• 2005

The Korean Twin Register (n=154,783 pairs) was reported in 2002 as the first nationwide twin study in Korea and the largest study in Asia. The Twin Register has the information of disease outcomes since 1990, and basic clinical and questionnaire data from biennial health examination provided by Korea National Health Service. The author attempted to calculate some of the genetic parameters of cancers in this population. Common cancers in Korea known to have familial aggregation (colon and breast) and cancers of which familial aggregation is unclear (stomach cancer) were examined for their familial recurrence risks. There were 699 stomach cancers, 438 breast and 491 colorectal cancers cases in the twin register between 1991 and 2003. Like-sex twins showed recurrence risks (${\lambda}_{LS}$) of 5.1 (95% CI 3.7-6.9) for stomach cancers, 15.5 (95% CI1 0.9-20.2) for female breast cancers, and 28.1 (95% CI 23.5-34.4) for colon cancers. Colorectal cancers of female like-sex twins show significantly higher familial recurrence risk 40.7 (95% CI 34.6-47.4), suggesting higher genetic contribution in women than in men. The results show increased familial risks compared with previous studies from the same register and are largely compatible with other studies. The data of the Twin Register could be used for estimating population level genetic parameters, as well as base of the various studies.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.132-138
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• 2019

Fall accident is the most frequent accident type of occupational accidents. As the age of workers increases, trip and fall accident increases more than other types of occupational accident in the middle-aged group. In this study, the gait characteristics of 25 middle-aged participants (mean ages 47.4, S.D. 5.8) were studied to analyze the trip and fall risks. The Minimum toe clearance(MTC) against the floor surface was measured in the variable conditions of gait speed by a motion capture system. In the 50s age group, the MTC decreased and the MTC tended to reduce the variation with increasing walking speed in the level walking. Therefore, the trip and fall risks for the 50s age group is higher than the 40s age group. Especially, the faster walking speed will increase the trip and fall risks even more.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.22-32
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• 2022

The domestic smart factory is being built and spread rapidly, mainly by mid-sized companies and large enterprises according to the government's active introduction and support policy. But these factories only promote production system and efficiency, so harmfulness and risk factors are not considered. Therefore, to derive harmful risk factors in terms of industrial safety for 12,983 government-supported smart factory workplaces from 2014 to 2019, industrial accident status analysis compared workplaces with automation facilities and government-supported workplaces with automation facilities. Also, to reduce risks associated with domestic smart factory processes, twenty government-supported workplaces with automation facilities underwent analysis, evaluating risks through a status survey using the process evaluation table. In addition, the status survey considered region, size, industry, construction level, and accident rate; the difference in risk according to the structure of the process was confirmed. Based on the smart factory process evaluation results, statistical analysis confirmed that serial, parallel, and hybrid structures pose different risk levels and that the risks of mixed structures are greater. Finally, safety control system application was presented for risk assessment and reduction in the smart factory process, reflecting the results of disaster analysis and actual condition investigation.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.224-233
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• 2010

Purpose: This study explored the relationships among obesity, bone mineral density, and cardiovascular risks in post-menopausal women. Methods: One hundred post-menopausal women were recruited via convenience sampling from osteoporosis prevention program participants who were living in a metropolitan city in September 2006. Obesity was evaluated by body mass index, bone mineral density measured by DEXA scan, and cardiovascular risk factors assessed by a guideline of American Heart Association. Results: Seventy-two percent of women were either in the osteopenia or osteoporosis group, while 28% were in normal range in lumbar vertebrae. Obese women had greater bone mineral density in lumbar (F=3.31, p=.040) and femur (F=4.72, p=.011). Variables for cardiovascular risks were significantly different for high density lipoprotein (F=7.51, p=.001), systolic blood pressure (F=5.21, p=.007), and in percent of 10-year cardiovascular disease risk according to obesity. Conclusion: Post-menopausal women are at risk for obesity, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular disease. In order to prevent these conditions, nursing interventions such as resistance and aerobic exercise that reduces body weight and bone loss, increases high density lipoprotein, and reduces systolic blood pressure, should be proposed continually through health promotion programs for postmenopausal women.

• Journal of Information Science Theory and Practice
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.49-63
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• 2024

Information behavior played a significant role in minimizing the risks of the COVID-19 pandemic. When faced with such a situation, an individual needs information for decision-making and in order to determine the best course of action relating to their health. This study aims to explore information behavior during each phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia, which is known for its close-knit collective culture. A sensemaking approach is used, which emphasizes the process individuals go through to understand their situation and give meaning to the information they are getting from their environment. Data was collected through in-depth interviews with 10 participants to obtain a description of their information behaviors during the pandemic. Data analysis was carried out using open, axial, and selective coding. We propose a sensemaking-based information behavior strategy framework for mitigating risk and reducing ongoing health crises. Changes in information behavior strategies, including search, prevention, and restriction of information exposure, were random at the beginning of the pandemic, but became more regular in later phases. This was influenced by the "knowledge gap fulfillment" and "use of local knowledge" among the participants throughout the pandemic. In conclusion, the participants developed a sensemaking process including an understanding of the pandemic situation and the risks that they faced. They used a number of information behavior strategies to prevent transmission, and their perception of the risks changed across the course of the pandemic, up til the situation began to be considered back to normal again in Indonesia.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1999.10a
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• pp.45-46
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• 1999

• Proceedings of the Korea Environmental Mutagen Society Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.21-26
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• 2005

[ $\cdot$ ] Occupational safety and health is a key component of responsible nanotechnology $\cdot$ Nanotechnology challenges conventional approaches to addressing occupational safety and health risk $\cdot$ Nanomaterials and devices of concern include those capable of entering the body and causing harm as a result of their nanostructure $\cdot$ Proactive risk assessment and management requires extensive strategic research $\cdot$ Current knowledge provides a staring point for addressing risk

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.624-633
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the sexual behavior, health risk related to reproductive health, and characteristics of sexual experience among college students in Korea. Methods: Six thousands college students were selected through proportional quota sampling based on region, college, and gender. Structured questionnaires were used for data collection. Descriptive statistics and chi-square test were used to describe the data. Results: Thirty eight percent (N=2,285) of the participants reported sexual intercourse. The mean age of first time sexual intercourse was 19.3 years old. Respondents reported the following health risks such as smoking, drinking, not exercising, no regular meal patterns, chronic disease status, and weight loss over 10 kg in the past three months showed significant differences by sexual intercourse experience (p<.01). Among those who had sexual intercourse experiences, 7.1% of them reported having a history of STDs and 11.6% reported a pregnancy or pregnancy of one's partner. Conclusion: The findings of this study reflect the current trends of sex behaviors among college students and correlations between health risks related to reproductive health and sexual intercourse experiences. Developing reproductive health education programs based on the findings and providing the programs to college students through a school nurse is suggested.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.272-278
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• 2023

Background: Some working conditions may pose a higher physical or psychological demand to pregnant women leading to increased risks of pregnancy complications. Objectives: We assessed the association of woman's employment status and the industrial classification with obstetric complications. Methods: We conducted a national population study using the National Health Information Service database of Republic of Korea. Our analysis encompassed 1,316,310 women who experienced first-order live births in 2010-2019. We collected data on the employment status and the industrial classification of women, as well as their diagnoses of preeclampsia (PE) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) classified as A1 (well controlled by diet) or A2 (requiring medication). We calculated odds ratios (aORs) of complications per employment, and each industrial classification was adjusted for individual risk factors. Results: Most (64.7%) were in employment during pregnancy. Manufacturing (16.4%) and the health and social (16.2%) work represented the most prevalent industries. The health and social work exhibited a higher risk of PE (aOR = 1.11, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-1.21), while the manufacturing industry demonstrated a higher risk of class A2 GDM (1.20, 95% CI: 1.03-1.41) than financial intermediation. When analyzing both classes of GDM, women who worked in public administration and defense/social security showed higher risk of class A1 GDM (1.04, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.07). When comparing high-risk industries with nonemployment, the health and social work showed a comparable risk of PE (1.02, 95% CI: 0.97, 1.07). Conclusion: Employment was associated with overall lower risks of obstetric complications. Health and social service work can counteract the healthy worker effect in relation to PE. This highlights the importance of further elucidating specific occupational risk factors within the high-risk industries.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.73-82
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• 2024

Objectives: The unsafe use of pesticides in agriculture represents a major hazard to human health. This study was conducted to investigate the association between pesticide exposure and health symptoms among chili farmers in northeast Thailand. Methods: This cross-sectional analytic study included 141 chili farmers in Sakon Nakhon Province, in northeast Thailand. Data regarding health symptoms were gathered using a self-report questionnaire. A medical technician tested blood cholinesterase activity using an erythrocyte method, and an occupational medicine specialist at Ramathibodi Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand reviewed the results. Associations between personal characteristics, pesticide exposure factors, and health symptoms were analyzed using multiple logistic regression. Results: Of the 141 chili farmers studied, 66.7% experienced pesticide poisoning, as indicated by below-normal cholinesterase levels. Fatigue was the most frequently reported symptom associated with pesticide exposure, affecting 37.6% of participants. This was followed by nausea and vomiting (31.9%), dizziness (14.9%), and dry throat (14.9%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that several factors were significantly associated with adverse symptoms: amount of work experience, volume of pesticides used, use of chemical pesticides, use of leaking containers during spraying, direct pesticide exposure while working, contact with pesticide-soaked clothing, consumption of food and drinks in the fields, and blood cholinesterase level indicating risk. Conclusions: This study suggests potential health risks for chili farmers stemming from exposure to and contamination by pesticides used in agricultural practices. To mitigate these risks, it is essential to supply personal protective equipment and to implement educational programs aimed at improving protective behaviors among farmers.