• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.257-262
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• 2000

This paper is to report our findings that vitamin B6 and folate nutritional state in the rural elderly population with alcohol dependency is poor. The present study was carried out to assess vitamin B6 and folate status in the 17 rural elderly subjects with alcohol dependency and 15 age-and sex-matched controls. Plasma and red cell folate concentrations were analyzed microbiologically, and pyridoxal-5-phosphate dependent erythrocyte alanine aspartate transminase(EAST) activity coefficients were determined using enzyme-coenzyme saturation kinetics. There was no difference in the amount of vitamin consumed between the two groups, and their intakes were 64% and 74.7%, respectively of the Korean dietary recommended allowances for vitamin B6 and folate. The mean percent activation for EAST of the total subjects was greater than 80%, suggesting an inadequate vitamin B6 status between the two groups. Folate concentrations in the red cell, but not in the plasma were significantly lower in the alcohol dependent(141.9ng/ml) subjects than that of the control(233.2ng/ml). Cigarette smokers had lower vitamin B6 and folate levels. Plasma and red cell folate levels were highest among the non-smoking, non-alcohol dependent subjects(11.7 and 257.3ng/ml, respectively) and lowest in the smoker-alcohol dependent group(6.7 and 132.9ng/ml). Finding ways to improve vitamin nutritional state such as vitamin supplementation might be necessary for the rural elderly people, especially for those with alcohol dependency.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.313-323
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate factors affecting social problem-solving ability of alcohol-dependent patients with a focus on gender differences. Methods: Participants were 250 alcohol-dependent people(men 140, women 110) who were living in B, G and Y cities. Data were collected from January 10 to March 31, 2017 using self-report questionnaires. Abstinence self-efficacy, alcohol insight, unconditional self-acceptance, and social problem-solving ability were investigated. For data analysis, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple regression were employed. Results: Factors influencing social problem-solving ability for men were unconditional self-acceptance and age. The explanatory power was 28%. Factors influencing social problem-solving ability for women were unconditional self-acceptance, stress, religiousness, age, occupation and abstinence self-efficacy and the explanatory power was 72%. Unconditional self-acceptance and age were significant variables of social problem-solving ability in both men and women. Stress, occupation, religiousness and abstinence self-efficacy were significantly associated with social problem-solving ability in women but not in men. Conclusion: The results suggest that it is necessary to consider gender characteristics in order to develop effective management programs for social problem-solving ability in alcohol-dependent people.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.65-77
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• 2020

Objectives: This study investigated the average number of drinkers in Korea, the number of high-risk drinkers, the average amount of alcohol consumed by high-risk drinkers, and the types of alcohol consumed according to the characteristics of the group of dependent drinkers. Methods: The results were obtained by analyzing the following data: The Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health; Country Profile 2014; WHO Country Profile 2014; Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2014, Korean Statistical Information Service; National Tax Statistics-Liquor Tax; Gallup Drinking Frequency Survey 2015 Results: This study found that a large proportion of drinkers in Korea are already high-risk drinkers, and even among drinkers, alcohol consumption was highly biased. It was reported that 49.8% of men in the problem, abuse, and dependence groups accounted for 92.4% of total alcohol consumption among the male population. Notably, the 9.6% of men making up the dependent group consumed more than 30% of the alcohol ingested among males. Women had significant variations within groups that were considered high-risk and exhibited a large share of alcohol consumption in the problem (10.0% of the female population), abuse (1.8% of the female population), and dependence (1.5% of the female population) groups, constituting 72.8% of total alcohol consumption. The average amount of alcohol consumed by drinkers in Korea seems to have exceeded the level of intake by high-risk groups. Alcohol-dependent groups consumed 900.7 mL of soju, 405.2 mL of table wine, and 2,043.8 mL of beer, which is very similar to the consumption average of 2,031 mL of beer and 895.2 mL of soju in the drinking group. Conclusion: It has been shown that men's dependence on alcohol is serious, and it is possible to infer that alcohol consumption in some vulnerable groups is very high. As the average alcohol intake among alcohol-dependent groups and ordinary drinkers is very similar, it is highly likely that the drinker is an alcohol-dependent consumer in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.97-114
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• 1996

Recently, attention for health promotion is rising. Alcohol is widely consumed among adults. About 1/3 of people 15 years of older enjoy drinking alcohol. Some 80% of them drink a half or more bottle of soju each time. Regular excessive drinking of alcohol may cause various problems. WHO(1990) reported that social problems such as divorce, unemployment, and financial difficulties ; psychological problems such as melancholy, suicide, and drug abuse ; physical problems such as cirrhosis, lung cancer, high blood pressure, stroke, and sterilization. The patients with liver disease are estimated to be 628,000. Approximately, 12,000 persons are dying by chronic liver disease and cirrhosis each year. Among the people of 15 years or older, persons dependent on alcohol are estimated to be 1,480,000. This study suggests policies to reduce the consumption of alcohol for planning for health promotion. Limitations of sites and times of sales and designation of sellers, designation of sites prohibiting drinking, limitation of alcohol sales promotion, and restrictions on advertisement can be inaugurated. Increase of price through the raise of tax and taxation of promotion cost. Education of high risk groups such as soldiers, pregnant women, and the youth can be introduced. Provision of alternative socialization programs instead of drinking. Some approaches on target groups were suggested.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.235-242
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• 2019

we explored the case of 'H-Community', a private organization that supports alcohol-dependent homeless people living in the Jokbang village, based on the awareness that "the key to social assistance for alcohol-dependent homeless may be an influential relationship to replace the role of their families." The data collection and analysis followed the research that Spradley presented, and the result was 'living in the balance rather than the great affection'. However, the density of the relationship and emotional bond appeared different, which had something to do with their respective life processes and their health, age and economic conditions. These differences were categorized and suggested as arguments through 'a family-alternative relationship', 'emotional bond' and 'participation'. Based on the results, the conclusions presented the implications needed for alcohol-dependent homeless people.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.221-228
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• 2006

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to shed further light on the effect of modifiable health behavior risk factors on dependence in activities of daily living, defined in a multidimensional fashion. Methods: The study participants were 10,278 middle aged Americans in a longitudinal health study, the Health and Retirement Survey (HRS). A multi-stage probability sampling design incorporating the effect of population sizes (Metropolitan and non-metropolitan), ethnicity (the non- Hispanic White, the Hispanic, and the Black), and age (age 51-61) was utilized. Basic Activities of Daily Living (ADL) were measured using five activities necessary for survival (impairment in dressing, eating, bathing, sleeping, and moving across indoor spaces). Explanatory variables were four health behavior risk factors included smoking, exercise, Body Mass Index (BMI), and alcohol consumption. Results: Most participants at baseline were ADL independent (1992). 97.8% of participants were independent in all ADL's at baseline and 78.2% were married. Approximately 27.5% were current smokers at baseline, and the subjects reported moderate or heavy exercise were 74.8%. All demographic characteristics and behavioral risk factors were significantly associated with the ADL status at Wave 4 except alcohol consumption. Risk behaviors such as current smoking, sedentary life style and high BMI at Wave 1 were associated with ADL status deterioration; however, moderate alcohol consumption tended to be more related to better ADL status than abstaining at Wave 4. ADL status at Wave 1 was the strongest factor and the next was exercise and smoking affecting ADL status at Wave 4. People who were in ADL dependent at Wave 1 were 15.17 times more likely to be ADL dependent at Wave 4 than people who were in ADL independent at Wave 1. Concerning smoking cigarettes, people who kept only light exercise or sedentary life style at Wave 1 were 1.70 times more likely to be died at Wave 4 than the people who did not smoke at Wave 1. Conclusions: All demographics and health behaviors at wave 1 had consistently similar OR trends for ADL status to each other except alcohol consumption. Smoking and exercise in health behaviors, and age and gender in demographics at Wave 1 were significant factors associated with ADL group separation at Wave 4.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.583-592
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• 2023

Background: Alcohol is one of the most commonly used psychoactive drugs. Due to its addictive characteristics, many people struggle with the side effects of alcohol. Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) is a traditional herbal medicine that is widely used to treat various health problems. However, the effects and mechanisms of KRG in alcohol-induced responses remain unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of KRG in alcohol-induced responses. Methods: We investigated two aspects: alcohol-induced addictive responses and spatial working memory impairments. To determine the effects of KRG in alcohol-induced addictive responses, we performed conditioned place preference tests and withdrawal symptom observations. To assess the effects of KRG in alcohol-induced spatial working memory impairment, Y-maze, Barnes maze, and novel object recognition tests were performed using mice after repeated alcohol and KRG exposure. To investigate the potential mechanism of KRG activity, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and western blot analysis were performed. Results: KRG-treated mice showed dose-dependent restoration of impaired spatial working memory following repeated alcohol exposure. Furthermore, withdrawal symptoms to alcohol were reduced in mice treated with KRG and alcohol. The PKA-CREB signaling pathway was activated after alcohol administration, which was reduced by KRG. However, the levels of inflammatory cytokines were increased by alcohol and decreased by KRG. Conclusion: Taken together, KRG may alleviate alcohol-induced spatial working memory impairments and addictive responses through anti-neuroinflammatory activity rather than through the PKA-CREB signaling pathway.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.332-341
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• 2019

Background: This study analyzes the effects of the individual's health behavior on the health and the medical demand for the management of health and medical expenses. Methods: This study uses the Korea Health Panel Survey data from 2010 to 2015. We utilize the panel ordered logit model and the panel Tobit model with the subjective health status and the medical expenses as the dependent variables. Results: Chronic diseases would cause the deterioration of his or her health and the increase in medical expenses. Smoking and drinking alcohol would deteriorate one's health. The total amount of cigarettes increases medical expenses. Exercises could make people healthier, whereas excessive exercise might increase medical expenses. Private health insurance would increase medical expenses. Conclusion: Since health could reduce the medical expenses, people should promote one's health by changing one's behavior for health.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.177-185
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• 2017

Background: The mental problems of the elderly are at issue as a serious social phenomenon. The purpose of this study is to identify risk factors affecting the mood disorders of the elderly. Methods: The subjects were 1,779,236 aged ${\geq}65$ and participated in health screening. Dependent variable was mood disorders. Independent variables were consisted of community level (regional deprivation index and healthcare resources) and individual level (sex, age, insurance type, disability, smoking, alcohol, physical activity, body mass index, and healthcare utilization). Multilevel logistic regression was performed. Results: At the individual level, women, employed insured, severely disabled people, heavy alcohol drinkers, high-intensity physical activity, body mass index, and patients who had chronic disease and severe disease were significantly associated with mood disorders. As the age has increased, it has let increase of mood disorders. At the community level, as the regional deprivation index has increased by 1, mood disorders has been increased by 1.005 times. The intra-class coefficient was 7.04%. Conclusion: We found individual and community level factors are associated with mood disorders. Systematic approach is essential to reduce mood disorders.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.328-344
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• 2000

YoungChu NonYong(靈樞 論勇)seems to be named as such by its explanation in detail about the brave man who can and the coward who cannot stand pain respectively. In the first chapter, it is considered that the factors of diseases are dependent upon the state of skin and flash. In the second chapter, it is put about the problem of standing pain and not. In the third chapter, about the causes of resulting in brave or unbrave man. And in the fourth chapter, about drunken frenzy(酒悖). More concretely speaking, in the first chapter, it is explained that the factors of pathogenesis are related closely with the state of skin and flash, so to speak, though the outer factors which can arouse diseases should exist, the sensitivity of skin and flash which are the first defense tissue in human body, is more important factor. Undoubtedly, the environmental factors existing in physical nature which surrounds human life, have influenced upon human health, especially in ancient times. But, this chapter exhibits some reflections that ultimately the inner conditions of human body decide the attack of diseases. However, this chapter may have some corruptions for it reveals the contents which are not fit with the headline. In the second chapter, it is written that the sensitivity to pain is not only dependent upon the character of bravery but also upon the thickness of skin, the strength of flesh and the speed of response. In this we evidence that the ancient people had the idea that human pain-feeling is more dependent upon the degree of development of sensory neuron of physical body than one's character of bravery. In the third chapter, ti is described that the differences of physical development mainly influence the differences of the degree of mental bravery. In the fourth chapter, the drunken frenzy is explained. The implication is that as civilization has been growing, the drinking culture has made both in dividual and social health affair. The alcohol has the function of pleasing mind improving the quality of human life but it can also destroy both human body and mind when abused. About the harms like this, this part wams by the examples of drunken man's abnormal behaviors.