• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.32-45
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• 2005

1. Objectives The purpose of this study was to find out prevalence of chronic diseases according to Sasang constitutional. 2. Methods The medical records of 1,453 subjects who have taken health examinations and diagnosis of Sasang constitution from January 2003 to June 2003 at a health examination center of a university hospital in Seoul were reviewed. Sociodemographic factors and the prevalences of chronic diseases according to Sasang Constitution are compared and analyzed. 3. Results (1) Among the 1,453 subjects, 683(47.0%) were Taeumin, 421(29.0%) were Soyangin, and 349(24.0%) were Soeumin. (2) The prevalences of gastric polyp, diabetes mellitus, obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, dyslipoproteinemia, abnormal liver function and fatty liver of T aeurnin were significantly higher than those of the other constitutions (p-value<0.05). And the prevalences of hepatic cyst and gall stone disease of Taeumin were higher than those of the other constitutions(p-value<0.l). (3) The prevalences of liver cirrhosis of Soyangin was significantly higher than that of the other constirutions(p-value <0. 05). (4) The prevalences of pulmonary tuberculosis on X-ray and anemia of Soeurnin were significantly higher than those of the other constitutions (p-value<0.05). And the prevalences of gastric xanthelasma and hypothyroidism of Soeumin were higher than those of the other constitutions(p-value<0.1). 4. Conclusions There were significant differences on the prevalences of some chronic diseases according to Sasang wnstirution.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.513-522
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• 2020

Purpose: This study aimed to utilize concept analysis to obtain a better understanding of the concept of "continuity of care" in chronic diseases. Methods: The concept of continuity of care was analyzed using the Walker and Avant method. Covering literature in English from 1930 to 2018, the data sources included CINAHL Complete, Academic Search Complete, MEDLINE, PsyARTICLES, Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and the Cochrane Library. Results: A comprehensive definition of concept of continuity of care was developed based on a systematic search and synthesis. The key defining attributes were identified as (a) care over time, (b) the relationship between an individual patient and a care team, (c) information transfer, (d) coordination, and (e) meeting changing needs. The antecedents of continuity of care were having a chronic disease, inexperienced with disease management, a poorly coordinated healthcare system, and medical care limitations. The consequences of continuity of care were decreasing hospital admissions, reducing costs, reducing emergency room visits, improving the quality of life, improving patient satisfaction, and delivering good healthcare. Conclusion: The thorough concept analysis provides insight into the nature of "continuity of care" in chronic diseases and also helps ground the concept in healthcare.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.461-466
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• 2020

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite that can invade various organs in the host body, including the central nervous system. Chronic intracranial T. gondii is known to be associated with neuroprotection against neurodegenerative diseases through interaction with host brain cells in various ways. The present study investigated the neuroprotective effects of chronic T. gondii infection in mice with cerebral ischemia experimentally produced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) surgery. The neurobehavioral effects of cerebral ischemia were assessed by measurement of Garcia score and Rotarod behavior tests. The volume of brain ischemia was measured by triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. The expression levels of related genes and proteins were determined. After cerebral ischemia, corrected infarction volume was significantly reduced in T. gondii infected mice, and their neurobehavioral function was significantly better than that of the uninfection control group. Chronic T. gondii infection induced the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) in the brain before MCAO. T. gondii infection also increased the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor after the cerebral ischemia. It is suggested that chronic intracerebral infection of T. gondii may be a potential preconditioning strategy to reduce neural deficits associated with cerebral ischemia and induce brain ischemic tolerance through the regulation of HIF-1α expression.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.406-417
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• 2022

Purpose: The incidence of chronic diseases is increasing and the age of onset is decreasing in South Korea. Healthy eating habits to prevent chronic diseases are established in adolescence. This study verified the identified factors and dynamics that affect diet self-assessment for sustainable adolescent health and the prevention of chronic diseases. Methods: Data were collected from 492 middle and high school students in South Korea from June to July 2018, and the participants answered a questionnaire on dietary safety management competency for sustainable health. Results: The healthy dietary self-assessment scores of overweight/obese adolescents and adolescents who perceived their health as normal were significantly lower than those of other groups. Factor analysis verified the validity of the items that comprised each study area before a multiple regression analysis was used to investigate the factors affecting healthy dietary self-assessment. Sweet and salty diets, anxiety, food and nutrition knowledge, weight management knowledge, stress management, exercise, basic eating habits, and healthy eating habits significantly affected healthy dietary assessment among adolescents. A higher perception of one's health indicated a higher healthy dietary self-assessment, dietary safety knowledge, and health management practice scores (p < 0.01). Factors like healthy dietary self-assessment, food and nutrition knowledge, and weight management knowledge appear to have a significant correlation with other identified factors, except overeating. The adolescents' awareness, knowledge, and dietary safety practices influenced healthy dietary self-assessment, which can prevent chronic diseases and achieve sustainable health. Conclusion: This study illustrated how the adolescents' awareness, knowledge, and practices of dietary safety influenced their healthy diet self-assessment. The results indicate that diet-based health management competency education relative to the adolescents' self-perception and weight levels should be implemented.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.904-913
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• 1995

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of exercise programs on the treatment of chronic diseases. For this purpose, nine middle-aged women suffering from such chronic diseases as obesity, hypertension and coronary heart disease(CHD) were sampled to perform a 4-month-long exercise program which required the lactate threshold(LT) level corresponding to 70% of maximal oxygen uptake(VO2max). Thereupon, their physiques, physical fitness, blood components and physiological varibles were compared pre and post of exercise program. The results were summarized as follows ; 1) After the 4-month-long exercise program, %fat was significantly decreased, while such variables as grip strength, side step, trunk flexion and leg balance were significantly increased. 2) Blood components such as TG, TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, hemoglobin and hematocrit did not show and change in after exercise program. 3) Physiological varables such as HR, SBP, DBP, HR/LT, SBP/LT, DBP/LT, RPE/LT, VE/LT, VO2/LT and VO2 max showed significant increase after 4-month exercise program. These results suggest that regular aerobic exercise in a long period might help to decrease % fat and to increase aerobic capacity in middle-aged women suffering from chronic diseases.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2018.05a
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• pp.271-274
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• 2018

More than 80% of the deaths in Korea are due to chronic diseases. Mobile applications continue to emerge where IT companies and medical hospitals work together to manage chronic diseases. In recent years, the development of artificial intelligence chatbot has been under way to improve the efficiency and convenience of management. Since the chatbot process the conversation by a dialogue, users who are familiar with the GUI-based environment may not be familiar with accessibility or usage. In this paper, we analyze UI / UX of the mobile application that manages diabetes in chronic diseases, and present the UI / UX design of chatbot through this result.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.120-125
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• 2010

Dysfunction of the virus-specific T cells is a cardinal feature in chronic persistent viral infections such as one caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV). In chronic HCV infection, virus-specific dysfunctional CD8 T cells often overexpress various inhibitory receptors. Programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) was the first among these inhibitory receptors that were identified to be overexpressed in functionally impaired T cells. The roles of other inhibitory receptors such as cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) and T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing molecule 3 (Tim-3) have also been demonstrated in T-cell dysfunctions that occur in chronic HCV patients. Blocking these inhibitory receptors in vitro restores the functions of HCV-specific CD8 T cells and allows enhanced proliferation, cytolytic activity and cytokine production. Therefore, the blockade of the inhibitory receptors is considered as a novel strategy for the treatment of chronic HCV infection.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.376-383
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• 2022

Objective: This study investigated how social support and self-efficacy affect the quality of life of elderly people with chronic diseases. Design: The study consisted of descriptive survey research. Methods: A questionnaire covering social support, self-efficacy, and quality of life was distributed to 320 elderly people with chronic diseases. Pearson's correlation analysis was performed to examine the correlation between the respondents' social support (family support, friend support, medical support), self-efficacy (confidence, self-regulation efficacy, preference for task difficulty), and quality of life. Multiple regression analysis was also performed to identify the factors affecting the respondents'quality of life. Results: "Friend support" and "quality of life" (r=-636, p<0.001), had a negative correlation, "confidence" and "quality of life" (r=0.827, p<0.001), "self-regulating efficacy" and "quality of life" (r=0.736, p<0.001), and "preference for task difficulty" and "quality of life" (r=0.295, p<0.001)-had positive correlations. Friend support (𝛽=-0.164, p<0.001), confidence (𝛽=0.592, p<0.001), and self-regulation efficacy (𝛽=0.160, p<0.001) were found to affect quality of life. The independent variables showed the following degrees of influence, in order: confidence, friend support, and self-regulation efficacy. Their explanatory power was 73.3% (F=146.844, p<0.001). Conclusions: The quality of life of elderly people with chronic diseases can be improved by formulating health-promotion programs that foster a sense of community.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.237-246
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• 2023

Background: Arsenic is a metalloid of public health significance due to its unique material properties and toxicity and the widespread pollution in the environment. Arsenic exists as inorganic arsenic and organic arsenic with distinct chemical properties. Its toxicity varies depending on the properties. Objectives: Although the carcinogenicity of arsenic has been identified, the various diseases that occur after acute and chronic exposure to arsenic are not yet clearly known. Methods: Research on the effects of chronic exposure to arsenic on human health was searched and the results were summarized. Results: It has been found that cancer occurs due to exposure to high concentrations of arsenic in areas with elevated exposure to arsenic, but research results have recently been presented on health effects caused by chronic exposure to low concentrations of arsenic. Cancers have also been identified to be related to inorganic arsenic, including skin cancer, lung cancer, and bladder cancer. Significant relationships with neurological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes mellitus have been suggested as well. Conclusions: Our results suggest that it is necessary to evaluate the health impact on residents around abandoned metal mines and industrial complexes in South Korea.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 2002

Objectives : To identify the relationship between the use of medical services by workers with three types of respiratory diseases(total respiratory diseases, acute upper respiratory infections and chronic lower respiratory diseases) and exposure to hazardous agents after controlling for other factors affecting medical services use, such as characteristics of the enterprises(scale, industry type) and employee demographics (sex, age). Methods : The study population comprised 28,882 workers who had undergone general or special medical examinations at the industrial health center at least once between Jan 1995 and Dec 1997 and had possessed medical insurance during the period. We combined medical examination data with medical insurance data in order to analyze the relationship between exposure to hazardous agents and respiratory diseases, Results : Among the 28,882 study subjects, 17,454 employees(60.4%) used medical services more than once during 3-year study period, owing to more than one kind of respiratory diseases. In logistic regression analysis, sex, age and the size of the enterprises proved to be significant variables on the use of medical services for all three types of respiratory disease; The use of medical services increased with employee age. Women used more medical services than men and the employees in the large-scale enterprises used more services than employees in small-scale enterprises. However, exposure to dust or organic solvents did not affect medical service use due to total respiratory diseases or acute upper respiratory infections. Only in the case of chronic lower respiratory diseases did workers exposed to dusts(OR=1.12, 95% CI=1.01-1.24) or organic solvents(OR=1.19, 95% CI=1.05-1.35) use more medical services than those not exposed. Conclusions : Workers exposed to dusts or organic solvents are particularly apt to suffer from chronic lower respiratory diseases and use medical services more often than those not exposed. That is, chronic exposure to hazardous agents such as dusts and organic solvents is believed to be harmful and to cause respiratory symptoms and diseases.