• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.1053-1055
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• 2016

Background: Polycythemia rubra vera (PV), being a primary polycythemia, is caused by neoplastic proliferation of erythroid, megakaryocytic and granulocytic lineages which result in panmyelosis. PV patients have a somatic acquired mutation in the Janus kinase (JAK2) pathway, rendering cell proliferation independent of the normal regulatory mechanisms that regulate erythropoiesis. The rational of this study was to determine the prevalence of the JAK-2 V617F mutation in Pakistani patients with PV. Materials and Methods: In this cross sectional study, 26 patients with PV were enrolled from January 2010 to December 2014. Patients were diagnosed based on WHO criteria for PV. All were screened for G-T point mutation (V617F) in the JAK2 gene on chromosome 9 by an allele specific PCR. Results: The mean age was $53.4{\pm}9.31years$ (range 36-72) and the male to female ratio was 2:1. The frequency of JAK2 V617F positivity in our PV patients was found to be 92.3%. Overall 30.7% of patients were asymptomatic and remaining 69.3% presented with symptomatic disease. The mean hemoglobin was $18.1{\pm}1.9g/dl$ with the mean hematocrit of $55.6{\pm}8.3%$. The mean total leukocyte count was $12.8{\pm}7.1{\times}10^9/l$ and the platelet count was $511{\pm}341.9{\times}10^9/l$. A positive correlation of JAK2 V617F mutation was established with high TLC count (P=0.01). No correlation of JAK2 V617F could be established with age or gender (P>0.05). Conclusions: The JAK2 V617F mutation frequency in our PV patients was similar to those reported internationally. Screening for the mutation in all suspected PV cases could be beneficial in differentiating patients with reactive and clonal erythrocytosis.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.113-116
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• 2010

To determine the prevalence of Escherichia (E.) coli O157 : H7 from pigs after the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system has been applied to Korean swine farm since 2006, 291 fecal samples were tested between May and December in 2008. Four E. coli O157:non-H7 (1.4%) were isolated from 4 different non-HACCP-accredited farms and they didn't have virulent genes which can cause illness for human. Also, Clostridium (C.) perfringens, Salmonella spp. and E. coli enterotoxins were tested using multiplex PCR. The positive rate for these pathogens of non-HACCP-accredited farms was higher than that of HACCP-accredited farms, and especially in case of C. perfringens, E. coli enterotoxins LT and STa, it was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Thus, the early implementation of the HACCP program is expected to greatly contribute to the safety of livestock products as well as food hygiene.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.195-213
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• 1997

This study was carried out to investigate several effects of smoking and alcohol-drinking on the health of rural residents. The subjects were 710 people (325 males and 385 females) in rural area, Young-Duk Gun, Kyungbuk, Korea. The data were collected by medical students trained for this study during 4 days from 31 August, 1996. Questionnaire contents were general social characteristics, period of the agriculture, smoking history, alcohol-drinking history, some psychosomatic symptoms and self-evaluation for health. The results obtained are as follows : 1. Positive rates of the some psychosomatic symptoms and self-evaluation for health were higher in female than in male and were significantly increased as the as increased(p<0.05). 2. Smoking rate was 56.9% in male and 4.9% in female. In positive rates of the some psychosomatic symptoms and self-evaluation for health in male, 'insomnia' was only significantly lower in ex-smoker than in smoker and non-smoker(p<0.05). Other items were significantly not different. 3. Prevalence rate of alcohol drinker was 54.8% in male and 17.1% in female and the alcoholism was 8.3% in male and 0.8% in female. Positive rate of the some psychosomatic symptoms and self-evaluation for health in male were significantly not different. 4. The scores of self-evaluation for health was divided into two groups under two point and over three. And the analysis of multiple logistic regression shows that there were significant relationship with age and sex. This study suggests that some psychosomatic symptoms and self-evaluation for health were significant relationship with age and sex but not smoking and alcohol-drinking.

• Korean Medical Education Review
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.92-98
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• 2014

Medical education departments or offices are established in response to public expectations relating to health care, societal trends towards increased accountability, educational developments, increased interest in what to teach and how to educate doctors. However, heavy workloads and mixed feelings towards medical education departments or offices by the other members of a medical school can threaten job satisfaction and increase burnout. The authors investigated the prevalence of burnout among medical education specialists and related issues. Individual in-depth interviews with four medical education specialists were conducted to develop a questionnaire. After content analysis of the interview, the authors generated a survey form with 28 items including 6 categories: motivation to choose medical education as a career, job satisfaction, intention to leave their current position in medical education, the frequency and causes of burnout, and demographics. In September 2013, an email survey was administered to 43 faculty including non-tenure staff who were working in the department/office of medical education in 41 medical colleges in Korea. Of 43 medical education specialists, 25 (60%) returned surveys. Forty three-point-three percent of them felt encouraged when their endeavors generated a visible educational improvement in the medical school. A majority (87%) reported feeling burned out. Fifty percent of them experienced the feeling once or twice a year. The extent of burnout tended to be greater in women, those in their forties, those with non-medical doctor degrees, and in non-tenured staff. To reduce and prevent burnout among medical education specialists, the participants suggested that leadership of medical schools and a systematic approach to medical education should be established. A majority of the medical education specialists reported experiencing burnout, although they were satisfied with their jobs. To reduce their burnout and allow them to focus on their own work in medical education, the following factors are needed: perceptual changes of other members of the college about medical education; more systematic institutional strategies; networking among medical education specialists; and personal efforts for professional development.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.1779-1782
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• 2012

Background & Objectives: In patients with gastric cancer, the most frequently reported family history of cancer also involves the stomach. The aim of this study was to assess the presence of gastric precancerous lesions in first-degree relatives of patients with gastric cancer and to compare the obtained results with those of individuals with no such family history. Methods: Between 2007 and 2009, 503 consecutive persons more than 30 years old were enrolled in the study covering siblings, parents or children of patients with confirmed adenocarcinoma of stomach. The control group was made up of 592 patients who were synchronously undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for evaluation of dyspepsia without gastric cancer or any family history. All subjects were endoscopically examined. Results: The overall prevalence of Helicobacter pylori was 77.7% in the cancer relatives and in 75.7% in the control group. Chronic gastritis was found in 90.4% vs. 81.1% (P<0.001). Regarding histological findings, 37(7.4%) of the study group had atrophy vs. 12(1.7%) in the control group (P<0.001), while no difference was observed for intestinal metaplasia (20.3%vs. 21.6%, P=0.58). Dysplasia were shown in 4% of cancer relatives but only 0.4% of the control group (P<0.001). There was no gender specificity. Conclusions: Findings of our study point to great importance of screening in relatives of gastric cancer patients in Iran.

• Journal of TMJ Balancing Medicine
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• v.5 no.sup
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• pp.1-5
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• 2015

Objectives: The aim of this study was to review main symptoms of outpatient in Lee young Jun clinics who developed the functional cerebrospinal therapy and to investigate the therapeutic effects on one time application of functional cerebrospinal therapy (FCST). Methods: Patients who visited at least twice at an oriental medical clinic and treated with FCST were included. They were asked to write 216 numeric rating scale (NRS)-based questionnaire about degree of various symptoms at each visit. Prevalence and degree decrease of all reported symptoms were analyzed. Results: Total of 744 outpatients were included. There were fourteen symptoms of which more than half of all patients commonly complained. All symptoms were significantly reduced after one administration of FCST. About four to seven percent of patients reported at least five-point reduction on NRS in each symptom after FCST. Conclusions: FCST might have potential immediate effect on not only TMJ related symptoms, but also diverse kinds of pain, psychological symptoms, and fatigue-related symptoms.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.1094-1098
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• 2010

With the high prevalence of functional dyspepsia in the world, it was difficult to get objective diagnosis, treatment and assessment for the reason that there were many different symptoms and signs. The purpose of this study is to develop a standard instrument of pattern identification for functional dyspepsia which will be applied to clinical research. The items and structure of the instrument were based on review of published literature. The advisor committee on this study was organized by 11 oriental division of gastroenterology professors of oriental medical colleges nationwide. The experts discussed developing the instrument, and we also took professional advices by e-mail. We divided the symptoms and signs of functional dyspepsia into 6 pattern identification, such as disharmony of liver and stomach, retention of undigested food, damp-heat in the spleen and stomach, simultaneous occurrence of cold and heat syndromes, deficiency and cold of the spleen and the stomach, and insufficiency of stomach eum. We got the mean weights to each symptom of six pattern identification which had been scored on a 5-point scale ranging from 1 to 5 by the 11 experts. We made out the Korean instrument of the pattern identification composed of 45 questions for functional dyspepsia. Although there are some limitations in our study, the instrument is meaningful and certain worth of its own. We hope to improve the instrument through the further clinical studies and discussions.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.207-213
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• 2010

Thousands of new chemicals have been introduced to environment during last decades. Many of them and common consumer products have been shown to be the endocrine disrupting chemicals. One such chemical group is the phthalates, used in soft poly vinyl chloride (PVC) material and in a huge number of consumer products. The prevalence of these modem chemicals have a remarkable increase. Approximately 3.5 million tons of the main phthalate, di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), are produced annually worldwide and indeed, DEHP is considered a ubiquitous environmental contaminant. It has been demonstrated that high doses of phthalate can adversely affect adult and developing animals. In this review, we critically discuss the conclusions of recently original research papers and provide an overview of studies on reproductive disrupting effects of phthalates. In addition, we review the reproductive toxicity data of phthalates in some in vitro research and in both male and female reproductive systems in experimental and domestic animals. Finally, we point out some critical issues that should be addressed in order to clarify the implication of phthalates for human reproduction.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.44-52
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• 2000

Two hundred sixty six children were retrospectively surveyed from first to fifth grade to find out the status of obesity during four years. The obesity index was gained by height and weight data from student's health file and the data about eating behaviors and weight control behaviors, etc. were collected by questionnaires. Children assigned to one of the following groups : underweight, normal, overweight and obese. The results were as follows ; 1. Obese children were 18.6%(n=27) of boys and 10.8%(n=13) of girls at fifth grade. 2. Twenty eight children among forty obese children at fifth grade were also overweight or obese at first grade, and the other twelve was normal. 3. Breakfast skipping rate was significantly high among underweight and obese group of boys(p<0.01).The most children(87.6%) had prejudice for special foods. 4. The rate of agreement between obesity index and self recognition of body image was 60.7% in boys and 63.6% in girls. 5. Forty two point five percent of children have ever tried weight control as exercise(35.7%), reducing sugars and snacks(27%), fasting(23.8%), avoiding fatty foods(12.7%), taking diet food or drug(0.8%). In conclusion, the prevalence of children obesity is gradually increasing and children tried weight control without right guidances. In order to prevent progress into adulthood obesity, nutrition education should be followed with school foodservice including the right perception for obesity, proper weight control and eating behavior modification.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.613-621
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• 2019

Objectives: This study was performed to examine the relationship between health behaviors, living environment, and asthma in adolescents in Korea. Methods: Information on adolescents' characteristics, including demographic factors, health behaviors, and doctor's diagnosis of asthma was obtained from the Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (2015). In total, 68,043 middle and high school students participated. Environmental characteristics, including city park area and outdoor PM₁₀ concentrations in 2015 were obtained from the Korean Statistical Information Service. The adolescents' and environmental characteristics were merged by local information. Multiple logistic regression models were used to investigate the risk factors affecting asthma in adolescents. Results: The prevalence of asthma in adolescents in 2015 was 8.8%. In the multiple logistic regression analysis, adolescents who were male, attended middle school, suffered obesity, experienced tobacco smoking, had physical activity levels of 2 to 4 days, had higher stress levels, and lived in areas with outdoor PM₁₀ concentrations more than 47 ㎍/㎥ were more likely to have asthma, while adolescents who had middle levels of family economic status were less likely to do so. Conclusions: The fact that PM₁₀ concentration can affect asthma is an important point in this study. Risk factors identified in this study could be used as basic data for the prevention and management of asthma in Korea.