• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2007

Objectives : Chronic infections with hepatitis B or C and alcoholic cirrhosis are three well-known major risk factors for liver cancer. Diabetes has also been suggested as a potential risk factor. However, the findings of previous studies have been controversial in terms of the causal association. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the association between serum glucose levels and liver cancer development in a Korean cohort. Methods : Thirty-six liver cancer cases were identified in the Korean Multi-Center Cancer Cohort (KMCC). Baseline information on lifestyle characteristics was obtained via questionnaire. Serum glucose levels were measured at the study's enrollment. Relative risks (RRs) were estimated using a Cox proportional hazard regression model. The adjusting variables included age, gender, smoking history, alcohol consumption, body mass index, and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seropositivity. Results : The RRs of serum glucose for liver caner were 1.20 (95% CI = 0.48-2.99) for the category of 100 to 125 mg/dL of serum glucose and 2.77 (95% CI = 1.24-6.18) for the >126 mg/dL serum glucose category (both compared to the <100 mg/dL category). In a subgroup analysis, the RR of serum glucose among those who were both HBsAg seronegative and non-drinkers was 4.46 (95% CI = 1.09-18.28) for those with glucose levels >100 mg/dL. Conclusions : The results of this study suggest that a high level of serum glucose can increase liver cancer risk independently of hepatitis infection and drinking history in Koreans. This study implies that glucose intolerance may be an independent risk factor for liver cancer.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.438-445
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to develop exposure factor data for the Korean child population, with a specific focus on behavior characteristics such as hand-to-mouth and object-to-mouth and an analysis of influential factors. Methods: We divided environments into two places, which were house/indoor and nursery. A total of 400 children (house/indoor) and a total of 162 children (nursery) were recruited from the cities of Seoul, Incheon, Daegu, and Gwangju. The children were divided into two groups. We conducted direct measurement by using one hour of videotaping alongside questionnaire surveys. This was performed to calculate behavior rates, such as how many children perform hand-to-mouth and object-to-mouth behaviors. Results: The respective average frequencies of hand-to-mouth and object-to-mouth were $0.8{\pm}2.23$ and $0.82{\pm}2.64contacts/hr$ for house/indoor. The respective average frequencies of hand-to-mouth and object-to-mouth were $2.87{\pm}4.63$ and $1.47{\pm}3.84contacts/hr$ in the nursery group. For the mouthing participants, the average frequencies of hand-to-mouth and object-to-mouth were 3.31 and 3.20 contacts/hr in house, and 4.80 and 3.26 in nursery. Compared to other countries such as the USA, the frequencies of hand-to-mouth and object-to-mouth behaviors found in this study were relatively lower. Conclusions: Children have the potential for exposure to toxic substances through non-dietary ingestion pathways by mouthing objects or their fingers. In this study, the mouthing frequency was relatively lower than that found in Western countries. This can be explained that mouthing behaviour may be affected by culture and lifestyle characteristics.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.348-352
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• 2009

Over the last decade, the incidence of overweight and obesity has nearly doubled in many countries and is considered a pandemic. Obesity was identified as a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease as the same level as smoking and diabetes. Visceral fat is considered one of the key contributors to outcome and certain ethnic groups such as Asians seem to be more affected than others. Weight reduction through lifestyle changes was found to be impactful to improve overall health, but weight loss and maintenance thereof is limited and difficult to sustain. Surgical intervention demonstrated a greater weight loss in the severely obese and was associated with improved all-cause mortality. Despite numerous pharmacological targets and a high medical need, only few drugs have been successfully developed. Earlier studies with amphetamine-derived compounds showed significant weight loss but their critical safety profiles led to market withdrawals and disappointment. More recent compounds; orlistat - a lipase inhibitor, rimonabant - a cannaboid-1-receptor antagonist, and sibutramine - a combined serotonin/norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitor, all demonstrated similar significant efficacy; however, they carry specific safety profiles making them unsuitable for every patient. The main limitation of pharmacotherapy is the absence of clear benefit-risk assessments through outcome studies. Such a study - the SCOUT trial - was designed to compare sibutramine versus placebo and the effect on morbidity and mortality in nearly 10,000 obese patients with additional risk factors. Such studies could provide new scientific evidence for obesity treatment and may support future pharmacological approaches.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.21-48
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• 2006

As prior studies indicate that chronic diseases are mainly attributed to health behavior, preventive health care rather than treatment for illness needs to improve health status. Since chronic conditions require long-term therapy, health care expenditures to treat chronic diseases have been substantial burden at national level. In this point of view, this study suggests that the health promotion program should be based on Knowledge Based System Using Data Mining Technique, we developed a predictive model for preventive healthcare management on diabetes mellitus. Generally, in the outbreak of diabetes mellitus there is a difference in lifestyle and the risk factors according to gender. So we developed a predictive model in accordance with gender difference and applied the Logistic Regression Model based on Data Mining process. The result of the study were as follow. The lift of the last predictive model was an average 2.23 times(male model : 2.13, female model 2.33) more improved than in the random model in upper 10% group. The health risk factors of diabetes mellitus are gender, age, a place of residence, blood pressure, glucose, smoking, drinking, exercise rate. On the basis of these factors, we suggest the program of the health promotion.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.479-486
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of 12-week physical activity intervention on obesity and metabolic syndrome risk factors and smartphone game time in children. A total of 27 children(fifth grade elementary school students) participated in this study. The subjects were divided to exercise group(n=16) and control group(n=11), and participants in exercise group performed running and jump rope(60min/day; 3days/week; 50~70% of THR) during 12-week. We analyzed measurement data using two-way ANOVA. As results, obesity indices except body weight and metabolic syndrome risk factor decreased significantly in exercise group compare with control group. And VO2max increased and smartphone game time decreased significantly in exercise group compare with control group. In conclusion, we suggest that 12-week exercise intervention in children has positive effects on obesity and metabolic syndrome and improve negative lifestyle such as smartphone game.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.287-293
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• 2012

Objectives: Metabolic syndrome has received attention as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, with particular importance attached to visceral fat accumulation, which is associated with lifestyle-related diseases and is strongly correlated with waist circumference. In this study, our aim is to propose waist circumference cut-off values that can be used as a marker for fatty liver based on a sample of workers receiving health checkups in Japan. Methods: This study was conducted in a total of 21,866 workers who underwent periodic health checkups between January 2007 and December 2007. The mean age of the subjects was 47.4 years for men (standard deviation [SD]: 8.0) and 44.7 years for women (SD: 6.9). Evaluation included abdominal ultrasound and measurement of waist circumference, body mass index, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and blood pressure. Results: Based on receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the optimal waist circumference cut-off values were shown as 85.0 cm (sensitivity 0.72, specificity 0.69) for men and 80.0 cm (sensitivity 0.75, specificity 0.78) for women. Conclusion: Abdominal ultrasound is the most efficient means of diagnosing fatty liver, but this examination seldom occurs because the test is not routinely performed at workers' health checkups. In people found to have a high risk of fatty liver, recommendations can be made for abdominal ultrasound based on the waist circumference cut-off values obtained in this study. That is, waist circumference can be used in high risk individuals as an effective marker for early detection of fatty liver.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.288-297
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• 2008

It has been reported frequently that clinical features of gallstone disease in Korean were similarly changing to those of Occidentals. This changing was thought to be due to Westernized lifestyle and dietary patterns in Korean. The purpose of this study was to investigate the nutritional risk factor among patients with gallstone. The subjects of this study were 90 gallstone group with biliary stone as confirmed by cholecystectomy and 111 control group with no biliary stone as confirmed by ultrasonography adjusted according to age and gender. Anthropometric indices and biomarkers were measured and dietary habit as well as nutrient consumption pattern were investigated using a structured checklist of health-related eating behavior and a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. The mean age was higher in GG (gallbladder stone patient group) than CG (control group). The average BMI and WHR (waisthip ratio) tended to be higher than those in CG. WC (waist circumference) and WHR of women in GG were significantly higher than in CG. GG had lower levels in TC (p < 0.01), LDL-C (p < 0.05), and HDL-C (p < 0.05), but higher FBG levels (p < 0.001). GG tended to be associated with lower physical activity and more frequent consumption of meat, meats with high fat and high sugar content food. The consumption levels of fiber (p < 0.05), vitamin C (p < 0.05), calcium (p < 0.01) in GG were significantly lower than in CG. These findings showed that the association with incidence of gallbladder stone and anthrophometric indices and dietary consumption patterns. Further study may be necessary to elucidate the dietary risk factors in the changing patterns of gallstone disease.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.106-113
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between unhealthy eating behavior and depression in adolescents, with confounding variables adjusted. Methods: This study is a secondary analysis of the data collected from the 2013 Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBWS). The analysis included 72,435 participants (36,655 male and 35,780 female). The data were analyzed by $x^2$ test, t-test, and logistic regression analysis using SPSS Version 21 by complex samples analysis. Results: Compared with male adolescents with healthy eating behavior, those who with unhealthy eating behavior were more likely to suffer depression with other factors controlled (OR=1.37, 1.07~1.75). On the other hand, female adolescents with unhealthy eating behavior were less likely to feel depressed compared with female adolescents with unhealthy eating behavior and with other factors controlled (OR=0.98, 0.64~1.50). However, it was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that healthy eating behavior may be a protective factor against depression in male adolescents, but not in female adolescents. Furthermore, our results suggest that the longitudinal associations between mental health and healthy eating behavior and other lifestyle factors are complex.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.337-345
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of type D personality on health status and health promoting behaviors in middle-aged women. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used with 220 middle aged women. All participants completed 3 measuring tools: a 14-item Type D Personality Scale, a 12-item Short Form Health Survey Questionnaire version 2, and Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile-version II. All were completed in November 2010. Results: The prevalence of type D personality was 34.5%. Type D women had significantly lower physical (p=.020) and mental health status (p<.001) compared with non-type D women. In addition Type D women reported significantly poorer performance of health responsibility (p=.015), physical activity (p=.001), nutrition (p=.027), spiritual growth (p<.001), interpersonal relations (p<.001) and stress management (p<.001) techniques in health behaviors than non-type D women. Conclusion: Type D personality is a vulnerability factor that affects health status and is associated with poor health promoting behaviors in middle aged women. Therefore, screening for Type D personality is important to detect women at risk for health status and quality of life in community settings in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.244-252
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was aimed to examine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cardiovascular risk factors among workers at small-sized companies having fewer than 50employees in Korea. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using a secondary data analysis on workers' health examination data. Data from 21,784 employed workers were analyzed, including 16,488 males (mean age 38.7years)and 5,296 females (mean age 40.5 years). Participants were newly enrolled in annual health check-ups at a professional health clinic from 2009 to 2011. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify age-adjusted gender specific predicting factors of MetS incidence. Results: The prevalence of MetS was 13.4% in male and 7.7% in female workers. Logistic regression analysis showed that, when age was adjusted for, family history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) was a predicting factor in both male and female workers. For male workers, heavy alcohol drinking and non-manual occupation (office workers/drivers) predicted MetS. Conclusion: Health care providers should screen for MetS periodically in small work places especially for those with a family history of CVD. Educational counseling needs to be given to male workers with sedentary occupations with an aim to reduce heavy drinking and encourage lifestyle modification.