• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.7 no.4
• /
• pp.527-538
• /
• 2002

Body antioxidant status is an important factor in the prevention of many chronic diseases caused by oxidative stress, especially in the elderly and is affected by health-related habits, such as smoking, drinking and regular physical activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between these health-related habits and plasma antioxidant status in the elderly. Plasma antioxidant status was examined by determining plasma levels of antioxidant vitamins (vitamin C, A, E, $\beta$ -carotene), total antioxidant status (TAS) and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) . The subjects included 225 elderly persons aged over 60 yews (63 males, 162 females) living in the Ulsan area. They were interviewed to collect data on their general characteristics and health behaviors such as smoking, exercise and alcohol consumption by means of questionnaires. Their dietary intakes were obtained by means of semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) The study population was divided into two or three groups according to their smoking, drinking, and exercise status. The ratio of smoker, drinker and exerciser was 16.7%, 31.0% and 44.2% respectively. The dietary antioxidant vitamin intakes were not significantly different among groups of smoking and drinking status, but tended to be higher in non-smokers and non-drinkers than in smokers and drinkers. Plasma vitamin C and $\beta$ -carotene levels were significantly higher in non-smokers, but Plasma vitamin A and TBARS levels were significantly lower in non-smokers than in smokers. Plasma TAS was not significantly different among the smoking groups, but showed a tendency to decrease with an increase in the number of packyear. Plasma vitamin C and $\beta$ -carotene levels of the non-drinkers were higher than those of drinkers and past-drinkers, but plasma vitamin A, C, E, TAS and TBARS showed no difference among the groups of drinker. All vitamin intakes of the exercisers were slightly higher than those of the non-exercisers, but vitamin C intake was significantly higher in female exercisers than in non-exercisers. Plasma $\beta$ -carotene levels were significantly higher in male exercisers and plasma vitamin A, C, E, TAS and TBARS levels tended to be higher in exercisers than in non-exercisers. These results suggested that change to non-smoker, modulation of alcohol consumption and regular exercise could enhance antioxidant defences against reactive oxygen species and might increase the likelihood of a healthier life span.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.55 no.2
• /
• pp.263-277
• /
• 2022

Purpose: The present study examined the associations of Korean Food-based Index of Dietary Inflammatory Potential (FBDI) scores with the prevalence of diabetes and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level of diabetes patients in Korean adults. Methods: The Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES) Health Examinee baseline data, collected between 2004 and 2013 and followed up between 2012 and 2016, were used in our study. A total 56,391 participants including diabetes (n = 5,733) and non-diabetes (n = 50,658) were analyzed. The subjects were classified into quartiles of FBDI scores using the semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire developed for KoGES. The prevalence rate of diabetes under FBDI scores was assessed by Cox proportional risk models and the severity of the diabetes was analyzed by multiple regression analysis. Results: There were 775 incident cases of diabetes after a mean follow-up of 3.97 years. There was no statistically significant association between FBDI scores and incidence of diabetes. Among diabetes patients at baseline, FBDI scores were related to the risk of progression of diabetes which was represented by greater than 9% HbA1c (Q1 vs. Q4; odds ratio, 1.562 [95% confidence intervals, 1.13-2.15]; p for trend = 0.007). The stratified analysis showed a stronger association in females, irregular exercise group, and higher body mass index group. Conclusion: These results suggest that a pro-inflammatory diet is not associated with the incidence of diabetes but is related to the HbA1c level of diabetes patients. Thus, further longitudinal studies with longer periods are required to determine a relationship between dietary inflammatory index and diabetes in Korea.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.78-86
• /
• 2024

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the specialty hospital system by comparing the medical use of inpatients who had artificial joint replacement surgery in specialty hospitals and non-specialty hospitals. Methods: This study utilized 2021-2022 healthcare benefit claims data provided by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. The dependent variable is inpatient medical use which is measured in terms of charges per case and length of stay. The independent variable was whether the hospital was designated as a specialty hospital, and the control variables were patient-level variables (age, gender, insurer type, surgery type, and Charlson comorbidity index) and medical institution-level variables (establishment type, classification, location, number of orthopedic surgeons, and number of nurses). Results: The results of the multiple regression analysis between charges per case and whether a hospital is designated as a specialty hospital showed a statistically significant negative relationship between charges per case and whether a hospital is designated as a specialty hospital. This suggests a significant low in charges per case when a hospital is designated as a specialty hospital compared to a non-specialty hospital, indicating that there is a difference in medical use outcomes between specialty hospitals and non-specialty hospitals inpatients. Conclusion: The practical implications of this study are as follows. First, the criteria for designating specialty hospitals should be alleviated. In our study, the results show that specialty hospitals have significantly lower per-case costs than non-specialty hospitals. Despite the cost-effectiveness of specialty hospitals, the high barriers to be designated for specialty hospitals have gathered the specialty hospitals in metropolitan and major cities. To address the regional imbalance of specialty hospitals, it is believed that ease the criteria for designating specialty hospitals in non-metropolitan areas, such as introducing "semi-specialty hospitals (tentative name)," will lead to a reduction in health disparities between regions and reduce medical costs. Second, it is necessary to determine the appropriateness of the size of hospitals' medical staff. The study found that the number of orthopedic surgeons and nurses varied in charges per case. Therefore, it is believed that appropriately allocating hospital medical staff can maximize the cost-effectiveness of medical services and ultimately reduce medical costs.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.68-76
• /
• 2006

Anaerobic reductive dechlorination of tetrachloroethylene (PCE) to ethylene was investigated by performing laboratory experiments using semi-continuous flow two-in-series soil columns. The columns were packed with soils obtained from TCE-contaminated site in Korea. Site ground water containing lactate (as electron donor and/or carbon source) and PCE was pumped into the soil columns. During the first operation with a period of 50 days, injected mass ratio of lactate and PCE was 620:1 and incomplete reductive dechlorination of PCE to cis-DCE was observed in the columns. However, complete dechlorination of PCE to ethylene was observed when the mass ratio increased to 5,050:1 in the second operation, suggesting that the electron donor might be limited during the first operation period. Dechlorination rate of PCE to cis-DCE was $0.62{\sim}1.94\;{\mu}mol$ PCE/L pore volume/d and $2.76\;{\mu}mol$ cis-DCE/ L pore volume/d for that for cis-DCE to ethylene, resulting that net dechlorination rate in the system was 1.43 umol PCE/L pore volume/d. During the degradation of cis-DCE to ethylene, the concentration of hydrogen in column groundwater was $22{\sim}29\;mM$ and $10{\sim}64\;mM$ for the degradation of PCE to cis-DCE. These positive results indicate that the TCE-contaminated groundwater investigated in this study could be remediated through in-situ biological anaerobic reductive dechlorination processes.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.21 no.6
• /
• pp.592-602
• /
• 2020

This study examined the contribution of the risk factors that cause cardiovascular disease in Koreans. The subjects were 20,012 adults aged 30~74 years who were enrolled from the 2005~2013 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, had filled the risk factors data, and had no cardiovascular disease history. Data analysis was conducted using SAS 9.3, and a weighted composite sample design analysis was performed. The contribution was obtained by applying a squared semi-partial correlation. As a result, they were higher in the order of age (63.9%), smoking (17.3%), systolic blood pressure (7.9%), diabetes (6.9%), antihypertensive medication use (3.0%), and BMI (0.9%) in men. In women, the contributions were in the order of age (54.1%), systolic blood pressure (23.5%), diabetes (13.6%), antihypertensive medication use (5.1%), smoking (3.1%), and BMI (0.6%%). According to age bracket analysis, smoking (51.8~33.7%) was the biggest risk factor, followed in order by age (26.6%) in their 30s and systolic blood pressure (17.3~21.0%) in those older than 40 years in men. In women, the systolic blood pressure (56.2~40.5%) was the main contributor to the risk factors, followed by age (24.0%) in their 30s and diabetes (13.6~32.6%) in those older than 40 years. The contribution of the income level was similar. Therefore, to prevent cardiovascular disease, various programs that reflect the contributions of the risk factors should be developed. Moreover, it is recommended to use the results shown in this study as basic data.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.122-142
• /
• 2012

The importance of rainfed areas and animal agriculture on productivity enhancement and food security for economic rural growth in Asia is discussed in the context of opportunities for increasing potential contribution from them. The extent of the rainfed area of about 223 million hectares and the biophysical attributes are described. They have been variously referred to inter alia as fragile, marginal, dry, waste, problem, threatened, range, less favoured, low potential lands, forests and woodlands, including lowlands and uplands. Of these, the terms less favoured areas (LFAs), and low or high potential are quite widely used. The LFAs are characterised by four key features: i) very variable biophysical elements, notably poor soil quality, rainfall, length of growing season and dry periods, ii) extreme poverty and very poor people who continuously face hunger and vulnerability, iii) presence of large populations of ruminant animals (buffaloes, cattle, goats and sheep), and iv) have had minimum development attention and an unfinished wanting agenda. The rainfed humid/sub-humid areas found mainly in South East Asia (99 million ha), and arid/semi-arid tropical systems found in South Asia (116 million ha) are priority agro-ecological zones (AEZs). In India for example, the ecosystem occupies 68% of the total cultivated area and supports 40% of the human and 65% of the livestock populations. The area also produces 4% of food requirements. The biophysical and typical household characteristics, agricultural diversification, patterns of mixed farming and cropping systems are also described. Concerning animals, their role and economic importance, relevance of ownership, nomadic movements, and more importantly their potential value as the entry point for the development of LFAs is discussed. Two examples of demonstrated success concern increasing buffalo production for milk and their expanded use in semi-arid AEZs in India, and the integration of cattle and goats with oil palm in Malaysia. Revitalised development of the LFAs is justified by the demand for agricultural land to meet human needs e.g. housing, recreation and industrialisation; use of arable land to expand crop production to ceiling levels; increasing and very high animal densities; increased urbanisation and pressure on the use of available land; growing environmental concerns of very intensive crop production e.g. acidification and salinisation with rice cultivation; and human health risks due to expanding peri-urban poultry and pig production. The strategies for promoting productivity growth will require concerted R and D on improved use of LFAs, application of systems perspectives for technology delivery, increased investments, a policy framework and improved farmer-researcher-extension linkages. These challenges and their resolution in rainfed areas can forcefully impact on increased productivity, improved livelihoods and human welfare, and environmental sustainability in the future.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.20 no.1 s.21
• /
• pp.97-113
• /
• 1987

This study was carried out to know physical growth and development, physical and nutritional indices and body fat weight and so forth by semi-longitudinal research method to measure body height, body weight, chest girth and sitting height of 260 of general high school and 306 of vocational high school 3rd grade students who are living in Seoul and born from 1966 March 1st to 1967 Feb.28th. The results are as follows: 1) Physical growth and development Growth in terms of body height showed one step straight linear development, andthat of body weight showed two step straight linear development in each section in high school. The age of cross over between two sexes of general high school students was between 10.6 to 12. 3 years in body height, between 10.8 to 13 years in body weight, between 11.2 to 14.6 years in chest girth and between 10 to 13 years in sitting height. The age of cross over between two sexes of vocational high school students was between 10.5 to 12.5 years in body height, between 10.5 to 12.5 years in body weight, between 10.5 to 12.5 years in chest girth and between 10.5 to 12.5 years in sitting height. In this periods, female group was superior to male group and after that male group was superior to female group again. The growth of vocational school students was superior to that of general school students in both sexes in terms of body height and body weight significantly. 2) Physical growth and nutritional indices In all cases of relative body weight, relative chest girth and relative sitting height, it was found to be increasing thereafter with advancing ages. In cases of $R{\"{o}}hrer$ index and Kaup index, it was found to be reaching to normal state thereafter with advancing ages. In each case of Vervaeck and Pelidisi index, it was found to be increasing and reaching to normal state thereafter with advancing ages. 3) Total body fat by vital measuring method Average values of body surface area, body volume and body density are measured indirectly by using the body height and body weight as Table 12, 13 and 14. The rate of body fat weight of general high school students was from minimum $11.96{\pm}3.53%(3.33{\pm}1.10kg$) to maximum $18.25{\pm}6.46%(9.08{\pm}2.01kg$) in male and from $25.88{\pm}3.62%(7.96{\pm}0.78kg$) to $43.00{\pm}7.22%(12.91{\pm}1.21kg$) in female. The rate of body fat weight of vocational high school students was from minimum $11.20{\pm}2.88%(3.32{\pm}1.13kg$) to maximum $17.16{\pm}5.88(10.83{\pm}3.16kg$) in male and from minimum $25.11{\pm}2.26%(7.91{\pm}0.89kg$) to maximum $42.16{\pm}7.96%(13.22{\pm}1.75kg$) in female.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.22 no.5
• /
• pp.515-528
• /
• 2020

Underground concrete structures are usually designed to be used for decades, but in recent years, many of them are nearing their original life expectancy. As a result, it is necessary to promptly inspect and repair the structure, since it can cause lost of fundamental functions and bring unexpected problems. Therefore, personnel-based inspections and repairs have been underway for maintenance of underground structures, but nowadays, objective inspection technologies have been actively developed through the fusion of deep learning and image process. In particular, various researches have been conducted on developing a concrete crack detection algorithm based on supervised learning. Most of these studies requires a large amount of image data, especially, label images. In order to secure those images, it takes a lot of time and labor in reality. To resolve this problem, we introduce a method to increase the accuracy of crack area detection, improved by 0.25% on average by applying adversarial learning in this paper. The adversarial learning consists of a segmentation neural network and a discriminator neural network, and it is an algorithm that improves recognition performance by generating a virtual label image in a competitive structure. In this study, an efficient deep neural network learning method was proposed using this method, and it is expected to be used for accurate crack detection in the future.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.116-138
• /
• 2024

This study presents a new tool and protocol to assess the impact of 'Marine Invasive and Harmful Species' (MIHS) on marine environments and socio-economic aspects. It addresses shortcomings in the Marine Ecosystems Conservation and Management Act in South Korea by proposing an impact assessment framework divided into marine environmental and socio-economic groups. Six distinct evaluation categories are included in each group, and a semi-quantitative five-step scale is utilized to provide a flexible approach, addressing a variety of issues from ecological disturbances to effects on health and property. The assessment tool is applied through a systematic five-stage process based on the Delphi method. This approach posters collaboration among a diverse sets of experts and stakeholders, enabling a comprehensive evaluation that incorporates various perspectives. The study also examines strategies to effectively manage uncertainties and improve the consistency of the outcomes. The application of this assessment protocol is expected to be crucial in quantifying the ecological damage caused by MIHS and in identifying management and prevention priorities. The ultimate aim of this evaluation process is to aid decision-makers in developing strategies to preserve the marine ecosystem and mitigate socio-economic impacts.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.31-42
• /
• 2009

Purpose: As the number of domestic medical institutions installing PET/CT is increasing rapidly, the transfer of PET/CT images among medical institutions is also increasing. Thus, it is necessary to collect the comparative SUV data from several medical institutions' PET/CT systems through a phantom study which semi-quantitatively compares the SUV on one bed, the change scale of the SUV on the slices, and the time of measuring. The phantom study to find differences among the SUVs from various PET/CT offers the opportunity to obtain the reliability of the SUV in PET/CT images. Materials and Methods: Ten PET/CT systems from medical institutions in Korea were used. To obtain the accurate data, the study has been using the radiation detector of Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science to verify. The internal structures of NEMA $phantom^{TM}$ were removed and Six thousand milliliters of distilled water which has 1mCi of $^{18}F$-FDG put into the phantom. The water was properly integrated with $^{18}F$-FDG using magnetic stirrer. The images were acquired at 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110 and 120-minutes for 3 minute each. Two hundred square centimeters of region of interests were placed and analyzed. To confirm the usefulness, the correction-table came out from patients' data. Results: The coefficient of variability of the SUV from -11.0 to 9.90 % fell into the range of international standards(${\pm}10%$) along with the SUV on a bed, the change scale of the SUV on the slices, and the time of measuring, except one PET/CT system. Using the data of the differences among the SUVs, we came to withdraw the correction-table ranging from 0.803 to 1.246. The correction-table was confirmed its usefulness through Linear Regression Analysis which was applied to normal cases. Conclusions: Although studies have been made on the variation of the SUV, there is little attention on the standardization of the SUV. Based on this study of the quantitatively comparable data about the SUV accommodating the correction-table, it would help to have more corrective diagnosis.