• Proceedings of The Korean Society of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology Conference
• /
• 2015.08a
• /
• pp.151-155
• /
• 2015

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.37 no.7
• /
• pp.550-556
• /
• 2004

Dietary pattern analysis is important complementary approach for identifying associations between diet and chronic disease. A case-control study was conducted in order to examine dietary patterns and the risk of colon cancer in Korea. Data were collected from both 137 cases with either colorectal cancer or large bowl adenomatous polyps and 134 controls regarding social-demographic characteristics and food intake using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. We conducted factor analysis and identified 6 major dietary patterns: 'Well-being diet' characterized by higher intakes of potatoes, yogurt, soybean paste and vegetables, 'Meat & fish', 'Milk & juice', 'Pork & alcohol', 'Rice & kimchi', and 'Coffee & cake'. We calculated factor scores for each participant and examined the associations between dietary patterns and colon cancer risk. After adjusting for potential confounders, there was a relative risk for colon cancer of 0.16 (95% confidence interval, 0.07 - 0.34) when comparing the highest with the lowest tertile of the 'Well-being' pattern. Significant trends of decreasing risk of colon cancer also emerged with the 'Milk & juice' (OR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.20 - 0.79). In contrast, inverse associations of the risk were found for 'Pork & alcohol' (OR = 1.92, 95% CI = 0.93 - 3.97), 'Coffee & cake' (OR = 2.18, 95% CI = 1.07 - 4.46). For the 'Meat & fish' pattern, the decreased risk of colon cancer was observed in the second tertile, but not in the highest tertile when comparing to the lowest. The 'Rice & kimchi' pattern had a nonsignificant association with the risk. These data suggest that major dietary patterns derived from the FFQ associated with the risk of colon cancer in Korea. Since foods are not consumed in isolation, dietary pattern research in natural eating behavior may be useful for understanding dietary causes of colon cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.6
• /
• pp.2879-2886
• /
• 2012

In order to thoroughly analyze risk factors of breast cancer (BC) in premenopausal Uruguayan women, a case-control study was carried out at the Pereira Rossell Women's Hospital, Montevideo, where 253 incident BC cases and 497 frequency-matched healthy controls were interviewed on menstrual and reproductive story, were administered a short food frequency questionnaire and undertook a series of body measurements necessary to calculate body composition and somatotype. Odds ratio (OR) coefficients were taken as estimates of relative risk derived from unconditional logistic regression. Among the classical risk factors, only the family history of BC in first degree relatives was significantly associated with risk of premenopausal BC (OR=2.20, 95% CI 1.33-3.62). Interestingly, this risk factor was found to be stronger in women of ages >40 (OR=4.05, 95% CI 2.10-7.81), late menarche (OR= 2.39, 95% CI 1.18-4.85), early age for their first delivery (OR=3.02, 95% CI 1.26-7.22), short time between menarche and first delivery (OR=3.22, 95% CI 1.29-8.07), and with high parity (OR=4.10, 95% CI 1.79-9.36), although heterogeneity was detected only for age and parity. High consumption of red meat was positively associated with the disease risk (OR=2.20, 95% CI 1.35-3.60), in the same way as fried foods (OR=1.79, 95% CI 1.12-2.84). Conversely, a high intake of plant foods displayed a protective effect (OR=0.41, 95% CI 0.26-0.65). Except for hypertension (OR=1.55, 95% CI 1.03-2.35), none of the analyzed components of metabolic syndrome were associated to BC risk. Particular increases of risk for premenopausal BC were found for family history in first degree relatives in certain subsets derived from the menstrual-reproductive history. Preventive strategies could broaden their scope if new studies confirm the present results, in view of the limited prevention measures that premenopausal BC currently has.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.57 no.2
• /
• pp.108-119
• /
• 2024

Objectives: Abrupt changes in air pollution levels associated with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak present a unique opportunity to evaluate the effects of air pollution on influenza risk, at a time when emission sources were less active and personal hygiene practices were more rigorous. Methods: This time-series study examined the relationship between influenza cases (n=22 874) and air pollutant concentrations from 2018 to 2021, comparing the timeframes before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in and around Thailand's Khon Kaen province. Poisson generalized additive modeling was employed to estimate the relative risk of hospitalization for influenza associated with air pollutant levels. Results: Before the COVID-19 outbreak, both the average daily number of influenza hospitalizations and particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 ㎛ or less (PM_2.5) concentration exceeded those later observed during the pandemic (p<0.001). In single-pollutant models, a 10 ㎍/m³ increase in PM_2.5 before COVID-19 was significantly associated with increased influenza risk upon exposure to cumulative-day lags, specifically lags 0-5 and 0-6 (p<0.01). After adjustment for co-pollutants, PM_2.5 demonstrated the strongest effects at lags 0 and 4, with elevated risk found across all cumulative-day lags (0-1, 0-2, 0-3, 0-4, 0-5, and 0-6) and significantly greater risk in the winter and summer at lag 0-5 (p<0.01). However, the PM_2.5 level was not significantly associated with influenza risk during the COVID-19 outbreak. Conclusions: Lockdown measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic could mitigate the risk of PM_2.5-induced influenza. Effective regulatory actions in the context of COVID-19 may decrease PM_2.5 emissions and improve hygiene practices, thereby reducing influenza hospitalizations.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.40-48
• /
• 2003

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between alcohol consumption, physical activity and breast cancer risk in Korean women. Newly histologically identified cases (N = 108) were selected at Hanyang and Soonchunhyang University Hospitals in Seoul, from January 1998 to August 1999. Hospital-based controls (n = 121) were the patients who visited at the same hospital in the department of plastic surgery, general surgery and opthalmology. Subjects were asked informations on demographic, reproductive, and history of breast feeding as well as physical activity, exercise habit, alcohol consumption by individual interview. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) were calculated by using unconditional logistic regression after adjusted for confounding factors. Among postmenopausal women, the risk of breast cancer increased with increasing alcohol drinking: relative risk for the highest group ( $\geq$ 150 g per week) compared with the lowest group (never drinking) was 2.05 (CI=1.74-3.79). Association of exercise and high physical activity for breast cancer appeared to be limited to women with high physical index among postmenopausal women. We observed decreasing risk of breast cancer with increasing physical activity index among postmenopausal women (OR=0.49,95% CI=0.56-0.92). Results of this study support a protective effects of physical activity during adulthood for breast cancer. (Korean J Nutrition 36(1): 40-48, 2003)

• Journal of Korean Society for Quality Management
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.543-562
• /
• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to suggest a modified approach that compensates some shortcomings of RPN with relevant strength of ASIL for Safety System and suggests systematic and logical approach for FMEA. Methods: By comparing the objectives, determination procedures, and key conceptual differences of RPN and ASIL, a refined method of risk evaluation and a new risk metric are devised. Results: While the traditional FMEA provides only rough evaluation of relative risk for each failure, the proposed method compensates its shortcomings with relevant strength of ASIL and provides a more logical and practical procedure of risk evaluation. Conclusion: The new metric RPM provides not only a comparative priority rank but also the degree of physical seriousness. Besides, it may have even more benefits for various applications if the severity can be expressed as mone tary amount of losses.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.63-70
• /
• 2016

Background: The Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS) and the Fullerton Advanced Balance (FAB) scale were used to assess balance function in patients with balance problem. These multidimensional clinical balance scales provide information about potential risk factors for falls. Objects: The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the predictive properties of the PBS and FAB scales relative to fall risk in children with cerebral palsy (CP) using a receiver operating characteristic analysis. Methods: In total, 49 children with CP (boy=21, girl=28) who were diagnosed with level 1 or 2 according to the Gross Motor Function Classification System participated in this study. The PBS and FAB were performed, and verified cut-off score, sensitivity, specificity, and the area of under the curve (AUC). Results: In this study, the PBS scale was as a predictive measure of fall risk, but the FAB was not significant in children with CP. A cut-off score of 45.5 points provided optimal sensitivity of .90 and specificity of .69 on the PBS, and a cut-off score of 21.5 points provided optimal sensitivity of .90 and specificity of .62 on the FAB. Both scales showed moderately accurate of AUC with .79 and .76, respectively. Conclusion: The PBS is a useful screening tool for predicting fall risk in children with cerebral palsy, and those who score 45.5 or lower indicate a high risk for falls and are in need of balance intervention.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.199-205
• /
• 2009

A simple and effective analysis method is presented for predicting the best infiltration area. Based on geospatial information, numerical estimation barometer for degree of infiltration risk has been derived. The dominant geospatial features influencing infiltration risk have been found to be area altitude, degree of surface gradient, relative direction of surface gradient to the surveillance line, degree of surface gradient repetition, regional forest information. Each feature has been numerically expressed corresponding to the degree of infiltration risk of that area. Four different detection probability maps of infiltration risk for the surveillance area are drawn on the actual map with respect to the numerically expressed five dominant factors of infiltration risks. By combining the four detection probability maps, the complete picture of thr best infiltration area has been drawn. By using the map and the analytic method the effectiveness of surveillance operation can be improved.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.8
• /
• pp.4097-4100
• /
• 2012

Background/Aims: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is widely considered to be associated with risk of cancer, but studies investigating the association between DM and prostate cancer in Asian countries have reported inconsistent findings. We examined this association by conducting a detailed meta-analysis of studies published on the subject. Methods: Cohort or case-control studies were identified by searching Pubmed, Embase and Wanfang databases through May 30, 2012. Pooled relative risk (RR) with its corresponding 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were calculated using the random-effects model. Subgroup analyses were performed by the study type. Results: Finally, we identified 7 studies (four cohort studies and three case-control studies) with a total of 1,751,274 subjects from Asians. DM was associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer in Asians (unadjusted RR= 2.82, 95% CI 1.73.4.58, P < 0.001; adjusted RR= 1.31, 95% CI 1.12.1.54, P = 0.001). Subgroup analyses by study design further confirmed an obvious association. Conclusion: Findings from this meta-analysis strongly support that diabetes is associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer in Asians.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.8
• /
• pp.4733-4737
• /
• 2013

Purpose: Numerous observational epidemiological studies have evaluated associations between breastfeeding and the risk of childhood Hodgkin lymphoma; however, the existing results are inconsistent. We therefore conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: Medical literature was searched in the Pubmed and Embase databases to identify all English-language relevant studies up to April 10, 2013. Reference lists were thereafter hand-searched for additional articles. Studies that reported relative risk ratios (RRs) or odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were included. This meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with the guidelines for the meta-analysis of observational studies in epidemiology. Results: We finally included 10 case-control studies in our meta-analysis, involving 1,618 childhood Hodgkin lymphoma cases and 8,181 controls. Overall, we did found a borderline significant association between breastfeeding and reduced risk of childhood Hodgkin lymphoma comparing ever breastfed children to never breastfed children (pooled OR =0.79; 95%CI, 0.58-1.08; P=0.13), with limited evidence for between-study heterogeneity (P =0.12, $I^2$ = 35.70%). Conclusion: There is limited evidence for an inverse association between breastfeeding and risk of childhood Hodgkin lymphoma.