• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.247-257
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• 2016

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between instant noodle intake and metabolic factors in Korean adults. Methods: Study subjects were 5,894 (male 2,293, female 3,601) aged 19~64 years who participated in the 2013~2014 KNHANES. Information on frequency and consumption of instant noodles was obtained by the food frequency questionnaires method in KNHANES (Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey), and subjects were classified according to age, sex, and instant noodle consumption (INC). Results: The frequency and consumption of instant noodles was 1.2 times/week and 1.2 servings in subjects. High INC group (${\geq}1$ serving/week) was significantly younger in age compared with the low INC group (< 1 serving/week). However, the high INC group had significantly higher waist circumference, metabolic factors (triglyceride, cholesterol, and HDL-cholesterol), and dietary intake (energy intake, fat, and sodium density) compared with the low INC group. Hyperglycemia showed association with higher risk of highest quartile of INC after adjustments for multiple confounding factors, including age, gender, household income, education, smoking, and alcohol compared with the lowest quartile (OR: 1.4, 95% CI: 1.1-1.8). In female, abdominal obesity showed association with higher risk of highest quartile of INC after adjustments for multiple confounding factors compared with the lowest quartile (OR: 1.6, 95% CI: 1.2-2.2). Conclusion: Consumption of instant noodles was associated with increased prevalence of abdominal obesity and hyperglycemia in women. These findings suggest an association of instant noodle consumption status with metabolic risk.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.137-146
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• 2003

Objectives : Impaired hearing is a prevalent occupational hazard, not only in industry, but also in the armed forces. In military life, noise has unusual characteristics, and constitutes a serious hazard to hearing. The aim of this study was to analyze the hearing threshold data in order to compare the hearing loss among shipyard workers, representing different workers, and a military service background. Methods : A cross-sectional audiological survey, combined with a questionnaire study, was conducted on a stratified random sample of 440 shipyard workers, with long-term exposure to noise. The employees were divided into four groups, according to their working and military service backgrounds, in relation to their exposure to noise. Results : As expected, the working and military noise exposure group (Group I) had significantly poorer hearing than the other groups. The high frequencies (2-8 kHz) showed the greatest difference in terms of poorer fearing in both ears. The prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) was highest in Group I. A logistic regression analysis was applied to determine the dependence of the NIHL in relation to age, smoking, drinking, working duration, ear protection, past history of ear diseases, and working and military sonics backgrounds, on the noise exposure The important factors found to be related to the NIHL, in relation to noise exposure were: age, work duration, and working and military service backgrounds. The adjusted odds ratio estimates for NIML in the right ear were 4.5 times greater (95% CI 1.7-11.6) for the military noise exposed group, and 7.9 times greater (95% CI 2.0-31.3) for the working noise exposed group than in the controls. The hearing thresholds at the pure-tone average and 4 kHz were significantly increased with age and work duration with both the working and military service backgrounds. Conclusions : From these results, specific preventive programs were planned, which should be assessed by epidemiological surveillance of the military noise exposed population.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.229-242
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• 1998

Face-to-face interviews were carried out to investigate the relationship between social networks and hypertension in 958 rural residents(males=440, females=518) aged 60-64 of a community-dwelling sample of Dalsung County from April to September in 1996. Eight elements of social network were measured : marital status, regular religious attendance, membership in groups, number of friends, relatives, siblings, children, grandchildren. Hypertensives were defined as meeting at least one of following criteria : hypertension history, systolic blood pressure more than 160 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure more than 95 mmHg. In univariate logistic regression for males, having 1-4 friends vs. none showed odds ratio 0.43 (95% Confidence interval CI 0.19-0.96) and having 2-3, 4 and more than 5 children had reduced prevalence of hypertension with odds ratios 0.21 (95% CI 0.06-0.72), 0.14 (95% CI 0.04-0.49), 0.24 (95% CI 0.07-0.82), respectively when compared with persons without children. In females, there was no elements of social network statistically significant. Having 5-9 grandchildren vs. none showed a marginally significant odds ratio 0.42. In multivariate logistic regression models for males with adjustment for age, education, body mass index, smoking and drinking, number of friends and children showed increased odds ratios and number of close relatives gained a statistically significant odds ratios (0.44-0.50). In females, the adjustment yielded little changes of odds ratios except number of grandchildren which gained a statistically significance. These results suggest that only a certain elements of social network may be associated with reduced risk of hypertension and they may be different between genders in rural resident aged 60-64.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.116-129
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• 2013

Objectives: This study was performed to identify the associations of social capital with suicidal thoughts and attempts in Korean communities with poor health. Methods: We used the data from community health interviews conducted at 40 administrative sections (dong, eup, or myeon) with high mortality from August to October in 2010, 2011, and 2012 as part of the Health Plus Happiness Plus Projects in Gyeongsangnam-do Province. The 8,800 study subjects composed of 220 adults systematically sampled from each administrative section were asked if they had thought about suicide or had attempted suicide within 1 year. The social participation was measured with 'participation in formal and/or informal group' and trust using responses to three questions about trust of others. Results: The prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempt within 1 year were 10.4% and 0.8%, respectively. The logistic regression analysis revealed that those who participated in only informal groups, or had highest trust level reported less suicidal ideation, or attempt after adjusting for socio-demographic factors (sex, age, marital status, occupation, and food affordability), self-rated health, and health behaviors (smoking, alcohol drinking, and exercise). Conclusions: This study suggested social capital such as social participation and trust was associated with less suicide ideation and attempt. More studies are warranted for the association of social capital with suicidal behavior.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.490-501
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• 1992

Background: Isocyanate is the most significant cause of occupational asthma in this country. The mechanism of isocyanate induced bronchoconstriction is unclear. Subjects and Method: To observe its immunologic and clinical findings, we performed methacholine bronchial challenge test (MBCT), toluene diisocyanate (TDI)-bronchoprovocation test (BPT) and RAST to TDI-, diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI)-, and hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI)-human serum albumin (HSA) conjugate in 22 isocyanate-sensitive asthmatic workers. Results: BPT revealed early (11), dual (5), and late only (6) asthmatic responses. Their latent period ranged from 3 to 120 months (mean:45.9 months). Three cases (13.6%)showed a negative response on initial MBCT, but following MBeT performed 24 hours after TDI-BPT revealed the development of airway hyperresponsivenss. Twelve (54.5%) workers had increased specific IgE to TDI-HSA, seven (31.8%) had to MDI-HSA, and nine (40.9%) had to HDI-HSA conjugate. The prevalence of specific IgE was not associated with latent period, type of asthmatic responses, smoking, and atopic status. After 3 months' avoidance from workplace, airway hyperresponsiveness was improved in 10 (38.3%), among 12 followed cases. Conclusion: It is suggested that isocyanate can induce IgE-mediated bronchoconstriction in 59.1% of isocyanate-sensitive asthmatic workers. Isocyanate-induced asthma can occur even though MBeT showed a negative result, and measurement of the changes of airway hyperresponsivenss after isocyanate-BPT could be helpful to diagnose isocyanate-sensitive asthma.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.1234-1244
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• 1997

Background : Nowadays drug resistant tuberculosis is making problems in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis and its number is increasing. Several reasons for this are considered including irregular medication, poor drug compliance and wrong regimens. But there are treatment failure cases in spite of regular medication with short-term standard regimens. We reviewed clinical data of 50 patients to find out possible causes of this. Method : Subject of this study was 50 patients who failed in the primary treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis in spite of regular medication with short-term standard regimens. All of them were under treatment with secondary regimens in National Masan Tuberculosis Hospital on Oct 1996. The patient's records were analyzed retrospectively and direct interviews with patients were done. Results : There were relatively more patients in the age of 20th. Male overwhelmed in number. There were smoking in 22 patients and drinking in 24 patients during medication. 17(34%) patients had family history of tuberculosis. Public health center was the most common site for the initial diagnosis among medical institutes. 42 patients had subjective symptoms for pulmonary tuberculosis. 38 patients got sufficient explanation from medical institute about tuberculosis and medication courses. 24 patients had bilateral lesions on chest X-ray film and 43 patients had cavitary lesions. 29 patients had past history for pulmonary tuberculosis with regular medication. The results of drug sensitivity test showed resistance in 41 patients of whom we could get the results. Conclusion : Main cause of treatment failure of pulmonary tuberculosis in spite of regular medication with short-term standard regimens was drug resistance. Several factors were considered to be related to high prevalence of drug resistance, including age of 20th, male, family history for tuberculosis, bilateral lesions or remaining cavitary lesion on chest X-ray film.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.181-188
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• 2022

Objectives: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus was approximately 16% in populations of over age 30 years, and deaths from diabetes mellitus became the sixth most prevalent cause of death by disease. To assess the relationship between HbA1c and heavy metal level in blood and urine, targeted residents were evaluated in a vast steel industrial complex. Methods: We selected 414 subjects for analysis after applying the following exclusion criterion: 18 persons with diabetes mellitus. They took part in a questionnaire survey and underwent blood and urinary assessments. HbA1c and lead (Pb) level were measured in blood and, cadmium (Cd), inorganic arsenic (iAs) and mercury (Hg) were evaluated in urine. Two subgroups were divided by HbA1c 6.5%. Each subgroup was divided by 10th, 20th, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th, 70th, 80th and 90th percentile levels of biological exposure index of the heavy metals for logistic regression. Results: Odd ratios have a tendency to increase as they go from the 90th to the 10th percentile of cadmium. However, lead, arsenic and mercury did not have significant relationships with HbA1c. In correction of age, region, gender and smoking history, a higher distribution in the subgroup with cadmium above 0.8318 ㎍/g creatinine (30th percentile) was demonstrated in the subgroup with HbA1c levels above the 6.5%, with an odds ratio of 5.26 (95% C.I. ; 1.44~19.17). Conclusion: This study found a significant correlation between urinary levels of cadmium and HbA1c in correction of several factors. It is meaningful that this outcome may be used as a basis for a study to establish the acceptable limit of urinary cadmium in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.41-52
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to identify the factors related to allergic diseases based on the health behavior of the youth in multicultural families according to the data from Tenth Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey 2014 (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention). The subjects from 712 multicultural adolescents were analyzed by the SPSS program. For the characteristics of health behavior of the multicultural youth, 267 students (37.5%) have experienced drinking alcohol, 164 students (23.0%) have experienced smoking, and 35 students (4.9%) have experienced taking drugs. Also, 198 students (27.8%) were depressed, 259 students (36.3%) are suffering from stress, and 286 students (40.2%) failed to fully relieve fatigue. In addition, 497 students (69.8%) consider themselves as healthy, 449 students (63.1%) consider themselves as happy, and 251 students (35.3%) consider themselves as overweight. Among the allergic disease of the multicultural youth, 46 middle school students (6.5%) and 35 high school students (4.9%) have asthma, 95 middle school students (13.3%) and 87 high school students (12.2%) have allergic rhinitis, and 67 middle school students (9.4%) and 53 high school students (7.4%) have atopic dermatitis. 47 male students (6.6%) and 34 female students (4.8%) have asthma, 81 male students (11.4%) and 101 female students (14.1%) have allergic rhinitis, and 53 male students (7.4%) and 67 female students (9.4%) have atopic dermatitis. Among the multicultural youth, 81 students (11.4%) have asthma, 182 students (25.5%) have allergic rhinitis, and 120 students (16.8%) have atopic dermatitis. For the allergic diseases from the health behavior of the multicultural youth, depression (p<0.001), alcohol experience (p<0.05), drug experience (p<0.05), health recognition (p<0.05), happiness recognition (p<0.05), and body type recognition (p<0.05) had a statistically significant relationship with asthma. Fatigue recovery recognition (p<0.001), health recognition (p<0.001) and stress recognition (p<0.05) had a statistically significant relationship with allergic rhinitis. Body type recognition (p<0.01), depression (p<0.05), fatigue recovery recognition (p<0.05), health recognition (p<0.05), and happiness recognition (p<0.05) had a statistically significant relationship with atopic dermatitis. Such results show that schools and society need to educate the multicultural youth about health, happiness, and body type recognition which are big factors of allergic diseases. Schools and society also need to be more systematic and continuous in order to help multicultural youth to be have correct recognition of depression, stress and fatigue recovery.