• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.20
• /
• pp.8815-8822
• /
• 2014

Background: The incidence of stomach cancer in India is highest in the state of Mizoram. In this population based matched case-control study, we evaluated the relationship between CYP450 2E1 RsaI polymorphism and risk of stomach cancer taking into considering various important dietary habits along with tobacco, alcohol consumption and H. pylori infection status. Materials and Methods: A total of 105 histologically confirmed stomach cancer cases and 210 matched healthy population controls were recruited. CYP2E1 RsaI genotypes were determined by PCR-RFLP and H. pylori infection status by ELISA. Information on various dietary, tobacco and alcohol habits was recorded in a standard questionnaire. Results: Our study revealed no significant association between the CYP2E1 RsaI polymorphism and overall risk of stomach cancer in Mizoram. However, we observed a non-significant protective effect of the variant allele (A) of CYP2E1 against stomach cancer. Tobacco smokers carrying C/C genotype have three times more risk of stomach cancer, as compared to non-smokers carrying C/C genotype. Both Meiziol and cigarette current and past smokers who smoked for more than 10 times per day and carrying the (C/C) genotype are more prone to develop stomach cancer. Smoke dried fish and preserved meat (smoked/sun dried) consumers carrying C/C genotype possesses higher risk of stomach cancer. No significant association between H. pylori infection and CYP2E1 RsaI polymorphism in terms of stomach cancer was observed. Conclusions: Although no direct association between the CYP2E1 RsaI polymorphism and stomach cancer was observed, relations with different tobacco and dietary risk habits in terms of developing stomach cancer exist in this high risk population of north-eastern part of India. Further in-depth study recruiting larger population is required to shed more light on this important problem.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.7 no.6
• /
• pp.762-768
• /
• 2002

This study was conducted to evaluate the health status of elderly women who attended in a Health Promotion Program of the Seo-gu Health Center in Daegu. The study subjects were 158 elderly women (over 65 years) in an urban community. The subjects were investigated by means of individual interviews using a questionnaire, Blood tests for analyzing their biochemical status were carried out. The average age of the study subjects was 70.9 $\pm$ 2.3 years. Of the subject group 79.1% ranged in age from 65 to 74 year and 20.9% were over 75 years. With respect to health related factors, 23.4% of subjects drank alcoholic beverages and 15.2% of subjects currently smoke.The prevalence with chronic diseases was 51.9%, and 26.6% of the subjects were healthy. The diseases most frequently reported as having been or being treated were arthritis (38.1%), hypertension (21.4%), and diabetes (17.9%). The average height of subjects was below the standard established in the Korean Recommended Dietary Allowances, while the average weight was close to the standard. The means of systolic and diastolic blood pressure were 130.2 mmHg and 71.9 mmHg, respectively. The mean serum albumin level was 4.5 mg/d$\ell$ and the value of hemoglobin and hematocrit was 12.5 mg/d$\ell$ and 0.7%, respectively. The mean serum cholesterol level was 207.1 mg/d$\ell$ and the mean triglyceride level was 187.7 mg/d$\ell$. The serum lipid levels were higher then in those reported in research. The serum cholesterol levels of 71.5% of subjects were within the normal range. The GOT and GTP levels were within the moderate range. In conclusion, the health status of the elderly who attended the Health Promotion Program in the Seo-gu Health Center were very average. However, it was necessary to prepare a health management program to deal with the serum lipids so as to establish and maintain good health. When we carry out the health promotion program in a community, individual program Of adequate to health status should be developed more.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.41 no.4
• /
• pp.362-367
• /
• 2017

This study was conducted to compare the particulate removal efficiency of the developed diesel particulate filter using various measurement methods in a high-speed marine diesel engine. A four-stroke mechanical marine diesel engine is used for the test, which has a maximum output of 403 kW and is coupled to an AC dynamometer to control engine speed and load. The test was conducted based on four steady-state engine operating conditions of E3 engine test cycle for the measurement of PM and soot removal efficiency using partial dilution method considered as gravimetric method and filter smoke number method as light absorption method, respectively. As a result of the removal efficiency measurement according to the application of diesel particulate filter, particulate matter was reduced from 76% to 91% and the soot was reduced by more than 90% while meeting the permissible engine back pressure. From these results, the applicability of diesel particulate filter adopted in high-speed marine diesel engines could be confirmed. In addition, based on the result that the particulate removal efficiency varies with different measurement methods, the necessity of unification of these methods could be identified.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.20 no.5
• /
• pp.809-822
• /
• 2018

A quantitative risk assessment has been introduced to quantitatively evaluate fire risk as a means of performance based fire protection design in the design of railway tunnel disaster prevention facilities. However, there are insufficient studies to examine the effect of various risk factors on the risk. Therefore, in this study, the risk assessment was conducted on the model tunnel in order to examine the effects of the evacuation start time delay and the fire growth curve on the quantitative risk assessment. As a result of the analysis of the scenario, the fatalities occurred mainly when escapes in the same direction as the direction of the fire smoke movement. In addition, after the FED exceeded 0.3, the maximum fatalities occurred within 10 minutes. In the range of relatively low risk, distance between cross passages, evacuation delay time and fire growth curve were found to affect the risk, but they were found to have little effect on the condition that the risk reached the limit. Especially, in this study, it was evaluated that the evacuation delay time reduction, fire intensity and duration reduction effect were not observed when the distance between cross passages was more than 1500 m.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.7
• /
• pp.3483-3487
• /
• 2016

Background: Cigarette smoking is one of the leading causes of death in the world. Tobacco consumption has grave negative consequences for health so that it is important to understand the reasons and motivations towards cigarette smoking and barriers against quitting smoking among the young generation for developing effective policies to control this widespread problem. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional survey was carried out at the Faculty of Medicine, Rabigh, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A total of 438 young smokers participated from the University and the general population. Data were collected through anonymous, self-administered questionnaires in the Arabic language that contained questions about the reasons and motivations towards cigarette smoking and barriers against quitting smoking. The questionnaire also contained several questions regarding knowledge and attitude of the participants towards cigarette smoking. The data was analyzed on SPSS-16. Results: The mean age of the respondents was $22.9{\pm}3.48$, out of 438 subjects 87 (19.9%) were married, and 351 (80.1%) were unmarried, and 331 (75.6%) belonged to urban areas while 107 (24.5%) were from the rural areas. Responding to a question about a number of cigarettes smoked per day, 31% answered 11-20, 29% answered 21-30, and 25% answered 1-10. Questioned about smokers in the family, 34.5% responded more than one, with 19% for brother and 13% for father. About the reasons for not quitting smoking, 26% described lack of willpower, 25% had no reason, 22% said that people around me smoke, and 15.3% responded stress at home/work. The major motivation for smokers was smoker friends (42%), for 33.8% others, for 12% father/brother and 7.8% media. Conclusions: There are several avoidable and preventable reasons and barriers against quitting smoking. However, knowledge and attitude about smoking were good, and the majority of the smokers were well aware of the associated hazards. Therefore, there is a need to search out ways and means to help them to quit this addiction.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.55-65
• /
• 1991

The study was performed to select a adaptable tree species under stressed field conditions where there are a industrial plants operating with a number of smoke stacks emitting pollutants, such as hydrogen fluoride and sulfur dioxide. As a result of the study, a tree species selected are due to construct a forest belt in a zones near industrial plants to reduce the concentrations of air pollutants. The concentrations of atmospheric hydrogen fluoride and sulfur dioxide were very higher at experimental sites near industrial plants (air-pollution sites) than at control site. The leaves of 7 tree species grown at air pollution sites contained more sulfur and, specially, fluorine than at those control site. Among the tested tree species, Ligustrum japonicum Thunb. and Euonymus japonica Thunb. grown at air pollution sites did not at all break out a foliar injury but appeared to be healthy, as well as those grown at control site. Acer pseudo-sieboldianum Kom., Pinus virginiana Mill., Larix leptolepis Gordon., Pinus koraiensis Sieb. et Zucc., Pinus strobus L., Picea abies Karst and Ligustrum obtusifolium Sieb. et Zucc., however, showed a severe fluoride-type foliar injury such as necrosis on tip or margin of leaves, etc. Fluorine found in leaves was proved to be correlated to sulfur found in leaves whereas index of foliar injury hadn't a good correlation to pollutants found in leaves. It appears that Euonymus japonica Thunb., Ligustrum japonica Thunb., Platanus acerifolia Willd, Chamaecyparis pisifera Endl., Populus tomentiglandulosa T. Lee and Sophora japonica L. grown at both experimental sites had a high value of percent survival whereas Pinus virginiana Mill., Pinus koraiensis Sib. et Zucc., Koelreuteria paniculata Laxm. and Alnus hirsuta Rupr. had an extremely low value of that. In comparison with control site, the percent tree height increments in Chamaecyparis pisifera Endl., Ligustrum japonicum Thunb., Quercus acutissima Carruth., Populus tomentiglandulosa T. Lee, Pinus thunbergii Parl and Euonymus japonica Thunb. and the percent upmost root diameters in Populus tomentiglandulosa T. Lee, Chamaecyparis pisifera Endl., Euonymus japonica Thunb., Ligustrum japonicum Thunb., Betula platyphylla var. japonica Hara and Pinus thunbergii Parl. cultivated at air polluted sites showed very high value above 90%, respectively. A significant negative correlation (r=-0.662) was recognized between the index of foliage injury and the percent collective character, which was the mean of tree characters such as percent survival, percent tree height increment and percent upmost root diameter increment which compared to those at air polluted site with those at control site. Based on the percent collective character Ligustrum japonicum Thunb., Euonymus japonica Thunb., Chamaecyparis pisifera Endl., Populus tomentiglandlosa T. Lee, Betula platyphyla var. japonica Hara and Platanus occidentalis L. have large value about 90%, respectively. Therefore, the results indicate that this tree species are adaptable species in air polluted regions. For better understanding of the adaptable tree species, furthur studies concerning the effects of various air pollutants on the tree growth are required.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.359-369
• /
• 2013

In this study, the relationship between social support and adolescent mental health was examined. A primary aim was to investigate how family, school, and friends affect adolescent mental health including depression, stress, and anger issues. This study also intended to investigate the indirect effect of these factors through the mediator, problem drinking. The study used survey data collected from the "2010 The Study on Mental Health of Korean Adolescents" conducted by National Youth Policy Institute, and 942 subjects were selected for this study. The study hypotheses were tested using SEM (Structural Equation Modeling) analysis. Analyses revealed that the appropriate functions and roles of the family members had the effect of promoting mental health of adolescents. Inappropriate functions and roles of the family members induced problem drinking, and this eventually had a negative impact on mental health causing depression, stress, and angel problems. Results also showed that having more friends who drink alcohol or smoke cigarette had no direct effect on the mental health of adolescents; however, there was an indirect effect through the mediator variable, problem drinking. The finding of this study revealed the need and importance of appropriate social support system and environment in order to promote mental health of adolescents.

• The Journal of the Korean life insurance medical association
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.29-32
• /
• 2010

Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a progressive occlusive disease of the cerebral vasculature with particular involvement of the circle of Willis and the arteries that feed it. MMD is one of cerebrovacular accident,which is treated with sugical maeuver in pediatic neurosurgery. Moyamoya (ie, Japanese for "puff of smoke") characterizes the appearance on angiography of abnormal vascular collateral networks that develop adjacent to the stenotic vessels. The steno-occlusive areas are usually bilateral, but unilateral involvement does not exclude the diagnosis. The exact etiology of moyamoya disease is unknown. Some genetic predisposition is apparent because it is familial 10% of the time. The disease may be hereditary and multifactorial. It may occur by itself in a previously healthy individual. However, many disease states have been reported in association with moyamoya disease, including the following: 1) Immunological - Graves disease/thyrotoxicosis 2) Infections - Leptospirosis and tuberculosis 3) Hematologic disorders - Aplastic anemia, Fanconi anemia, sickle cell anemia, and lupus 4) Congenital syndromes - Apert syndrome, Down syndrome, Marfan syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, Turner syndrome, von Recklinghausen disease, and Hirschsprung disease 5) Vascular diseases - Atherosclerotic disease, coarctation of the aorta and fibromuscular dysplasia, 6)cranial trauma, radiation injury, parasellar tumors, and hypertension etc. These associations may not necessarily be causative but do warrant consideration due to impact on treatment.(Mainly neurosurgical operation.) The incidence of moyamoya disease is highest in Japan. The prevalence of MMD is 1 person per 100,000 population. The prevalence and incidence of moyamoya disease in Japan has been reported to be 3.16 cases and 0.35 case per 100,000 people, respectively. With regard to sex, the female-to-male ratio is 1.4:1. A bimodal peak of incidence is noted, with symptoms occurring either in the first decade(5-10yr) or in the third and fourth decades (30-40yr)of life. Mortality rates of moyamoya disease are approximately 10% in adults and 4.3% in children. Death is usually from hemorrhage. In aspect of life insurance, MR is 1700%, EDR is 16 per 1000 persons. Children and adults with moyamoya disease (MMD) may have different clinical presentations. The symptoms and clinical course vary widely from asymptomatic to transient events to severe neurologic deficits. Adults experience hemorrhage more commonly; cerebral ischemic events are more common in children. Children may have hemiparesis, monoparesis, sensory impairment, involuntary movements, headaches, dizziness, or seizures. Mental retardation or persistent neurologic deficits may be present. Adults may have symptoms and signs similar to those in children, but intraventricular, subarachnoid, or intracerebral hemorrhage of sudden onset is more common in adults. Recently increasing diagnosis of MMD with MRI, followed by surgical operation is noted. MMD needs to be considered as the "CI" state now in life insurance fields.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.24
• /
• pp.10937-10941
• /
• 2015

Pathogenesis of lung cancer is a complicated biological process including multiple genetic and epigenetic changes. Since cigarette smoking is confirmed as the most main risk factor of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the aim of this study was to determine whether tobacco exposure plays a role in gene methylation. Methylation of the RAR-${\beta}$ gene were detected using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction in DNA from 167 newly diagnosed cases with NSCLC and corresponding 105 controls. A significant statistical association was found in the detection rate of the promoter methylation of RAR-${\beta}$ gene between NSCLC and controls ($x^2$=166.01; p<0.01), and hypermethylation of the RAR-${\beta}$ gene was significantly associated with smoking status (p=0.038, p<0.05). No relationship was found between RAR-${\beta}$ gene methylation and pathologic staging including clinical stage, cell type, gender and drinking (p>0.05), and the methylation of RAR-${\beta}$ gene rate of NSCLC was slightly higher in stages III+IV (80.0%) than in I+II (70.8%). Similar results were obtained for methylation of the RAR-${\beta}$ gene between squamous cell carcinoma (77.9%) and other cell type lung cancer (73.9%). These results showed that the frequency of methylation increased gradually with the development of clinical stage in smoking-associated lung cancer patients, and tobacco smoke may be play a potential role in RAR-${\beta}$ gene methylation in the early pathogenesis and process in lung cancer, particularly squamous cell carcinoma. Aberrant promoter methylation is considered to be a promising marker of previous carcinogen exposure and cancer risk.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.9
• /
• pp.5415-5420
• /
• 2013

Background: Cell cycle deregulation is a major component of carcinogenesis. The p53 tumor suppressor gene plays an important role in regulating cell cycle arrest, and mouse double minute 2 (MDM2) is a key regulator of p53 activity and degradation. Abnormal expression of p53 and MDM2 occurs in various cancers including lung cancer. Methods: We investigated the distribution of the p53 Arg72Pro (rs1042522) and MDM2 SNP309 (rs2279744) genotypes in patients and healthy control subjects to assess whether these single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are associated with an increased risk of lung adenocarcinomas in Chinese female non-smokers. Genotypes of 764 patients and 983 healthy controls were determined using the TaqMan SNP genotyping assay. Results: The p53 Pro/Pro genotype (adjusted OR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.17-2.06) significantly correlated with an increased risk of lung adenocarcinoma, compared with the Arg/Arg genotype. An increased risk was also noted for MDM2 GG genotype (adjusted OR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.27-2.21) compared with the TT genotype. Combined p53 Pro/Pro and MDM2 GG genotypes (adjusted OR = 2.66, 95% CI = 1.54-4.60) had a supermultiplicative interaction with respect to lung adenocarcinoma risk. We also found that cooking oil fumes, fuel smoke, and passive smoking may increase the risk of lung adenocarcinomas in Chinese female non-smokers who carry p53 or MDM2 mutant alleles. Conclusions: P53 Arg72Pro and MDM2 SNP309 polymorphisms, either alone or in combination, are associated with an increased lung adenocarcinoma risk in Chinese female non-smokers.