• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.2973-2977
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• 2016

Opisthorchis viverrini is still a serious problem in Northeastern and Northern Thailand. Active surveillance is required to determine updated data for further prevention and control planning. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the prevalence and risk factors for O. viverrini in three provinces, Northeastern Thailand. A cross-sectional survey was conducted during October 2015 to March 2016 at Kaeng Sanam Nang district of Nakhon Ratchasima province, Waeng Noi district of Khon Kaen province, and Khon Sawan district of Chaiyaphum province, Thailand. Stool samples were examined by using a modified Kato-Katz Thick smear technique. From a total of 978 participants screened, O. viverrini infection was found in 1.74%, the majority opf positive cases being male (6.62%), age group 51-60 years old (4.21%), educated at primary school (8.43%), occupied with agriculture (9.62%),having an income <4,000 baht per month (4.82%), and living in Khon Sawan district (8.43%). Participants had a high knowledge level (42.43%), good attitude level (34.76%), and fair level (38.04%). The present study indicates the O. viverrini infection rate is low, but elderly males with primary school education involved in agriculture are still frequently effected particularly in Khon Sawan district. Therefore, this risk group requires behavior modification and continued monitoring.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.313-319
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• 2001

High serum cholesterol level is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease(CHD). Nutrition therapy of hypocholesterolemic diets with increased physical activity is the essential step in the treatment of the hypercholesterolemic patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short-term effect of intensive dietary therapy combined with regular exercise in lowering serum cholesterol level. Seventy three hypercholesterolemic outpatients(mean: 268.0$\pm$24.7mg/dL), aged 34 to 73(mean: 56$\pm$9.8yrs), who visited cardiology OPD of Yonsei Cardiovascular Center from April through October, 1998 were studied. Anthropometric measurements, usual nutrient intake survey using semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire, and daily nutrient intake analysis were performed. The nutrition counseling for the hypocholesterolemic diet and exercise therapy was performed individually. After a 4 week intensive dietary therapy, comparisons of body weight, nutrient intakes, and blood lipid concentrations were evaluated for the hypocholesterolemic effect of intensive diet therapy. After 4 weeks of intensive diet therapy, significant reductions in percent ideal body weight(p<0.01), saturated fat intake(p<0.01), and cholesterol intake(p<0.01) were observed. There were significant reductions in serum total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels after 4 weeks of therapy by 8.1%(p<0.01) and 9.7%(p<0.01), respectively. Our results showed that intensive dietary therapy was effective in reductions of serum total and LDL-cholesterol levels. The goal for this dietary modification should not be temporary but rather be permanent in eating behavior accompanied by appropriately increased physical activity.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.552-561
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• 2012

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of metabolic risk factors associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Recently, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome has increased in Korea. The aim of this study was to develop a Healthy Han-sik Nutrition Education Program (HHNEP) based on commonly recognized Korean foods in order to decrease metabolic syndrome risks. The target population of the HHNEP is adults with metabolic risk factors. The initial version of the HHNEP was developed based on a review of literature and various dietary guidelines by expert committees as well as the results of a survey on the perception of common Korean dishes and foods as Han-sik. The focus group discussion conducted of nine participants from the target population. After minor modification, the final version was developed. The contents included five sections: 1) aims, 2) introduction of Korean Food Guidance System, 3) cholesterol contents in food, 4) menu planning method using Han-sik, and 5) examples of daily Han-sik menu. The Han-sik list was selected based on the results from a Han-sik perception answered by 35 Korean adults aged 30-60 years using 517 frequently consumed Korean foods from the fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The nutrition education program was developed based on scientific evidence for the prevention of metabolic syndrome and focuses on tailoring education to an individual's dietary problems. Educational method was developed by a group of expert committees based in planned behavior theory and related research results. The education method consisted of assessment of current diet, four face-to-face nutrition education sessions over 8 weeks, and evaluation after 8 and 16 weeks. Initial version of nutrition education materials and methods was tested for feasibility by a select group of nine Korean healthy adults. Successful implementation of the program would include application by nutritional professionals at the health promotion center of the hospitals, public health center, and work sites. Intervention studies are needed to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of this program before large-scale applications.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.321-327
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between the mother's interest in weight control and its association with the preschooler's obesity and weight related concerns. This was a cross-sectional study based on 470 parents' self-reports. To score interests in weight control, mothers rated each of 6 items on a five-point Likert scale ranging from disagree (1) to agree (5). The perceptions of mothers' weights and their children's weights, mothers' Body Mass Index (BMI), preschoolers' Weight-Length Index (WLI) (%), and weight-related concerns were determined. The mothers' BMI was significantly correlated with interest scores of weight control in mothers (r=0.632, p<0.001) while their children's obesity was weakly correlated with the mothers' interest scores (r=0.133, p=0.025). Mothers with a high interest of weight control reported higher percentages of family history of obesity than mothers with lower interests (63.2% vs. 36.8%, p<0.001). Two-thirds of the mothers (65.4%) were accurate in their perceptions about their weights. Similarly, 63.7% of mothers knew exactly their children's weight-statuses. Compared with mothers with low interest in weight controls, mothers with high interest in weight control had lower correct-perceptions about their weights (p<0.05) but higher correct-perceptions about their children's weights. More than two-thirds of mothers (85%) reported not worrying about their children's obesity in the future. Only 14.3% of the mothers were satisfied with their current weight statuses. Three-fourths of mothers preferred exercise as an effective weight-control method for their children, 20% preferred diet therapy and 5.5% preferred behavior modification. More girls were overweight / obese, than boys (overweight: 16.1% (girl) vs. 12.8% (boy), obese: 5.4% (girl) vs. 4.5% (boy)). About 40% of overweight girls' mothers had low interests in their weight controls with low correct-perceptions in their children's weights, which suggests possible elevated risk of obesity, especially in girls, in the future.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.109-121
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• 2018

Background & objectives: Life style modification reduces the health risks of young people and improves their health status. Physical activity is known the effective factor to reduce health risks and health problems. This study performed to analyze health promotion behaviors related to physical activity among first-year students of university. Methods: To examine the association with physical activity and health promotion practices, health survey was conducted with 3,806 students who were first-year students in a university by self-reported questionnaire from February 26 to March 10, 2015. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the difference of health promotion behaviors by physical activities. Results: 51.4% of the first-year student was regular exercisers who had practiced on regular walking exercise or regular strength exercise or regular aerobic exercise for a week. 87.8% of students exercised one or more times within the last one week. On the other hand, 12.2% of them did not exercise. In multiple logistic regression models, it remained significantly the difference of regular exercise by gender, subjective health status, sleeping time per one day, BMI, drinking behavior, and eating habit (p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.001). Also it remained significantly the difference by physical activity type, such as walking, strengthen, and aerobic exercise (p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.001). Conclusion: To help the achievement of academic goal, it should build physical activity policies and comprehensive health promotion programs to reduce health risk factors of university students. Comprehensive university health services and customized program for university students could help to make the best of their health. In future, to enhance physical activity practice, it needs to develop various tailed messages and smart healthcare service using health information technology (IT) on campus.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.1002-1009
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• 2019

Early life stress (ELS) increases the risk of depression. ELS may be involved in the susceptibility to subsequent stress exposure during adulthood. We investigated whether epigenetic mechanisms of p11 promoter affect the vulnerability to chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) induced by the maternal separation (MS). Mice pups were separated from their dams (3 hr/day from P1-P21). When the pups reached adulthood, we applied CUS (daily for 3 weeks). The levels of hippocampal p11 expression were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR. The levels of acetylated and methylated histone H3 at p11 promoter were measured by chromatin immunoprecipitation. Depression-like behavior was measured by the forced swimming test (FST). The MS and CUS group exhibited significant decreases in p11 mRNA level and the MS plus CUS group had a greater reduction in this level than the CUS group. The MS plus CUS group also resulted in greater reduction in H3 acetylation than the CUS group. This reduction was associated with an upregulation of histone deacetylase 5. Additionally, the MS plus CUS group showed a greater decrease in H3K4met3 level and a greater increase in H3K27 met3 level than the CUS group. Consistent with the reduction of p11 expression, the MS plus CUS group displayed longer immobility times in the FST compared to the control group. Mice exposed to MS followed by CUS had much greater epigenetic alterations in the hippocampus compared to adult mice that only experienced CUS. ELS can exacerbate the effect of stress exposure during adulthood through histone modification of p11 gene.