• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to identify latent classes of socioeconomic status and to explore whether those of socioeconomic status influenced self-esteem among elderly living alone. From the data of 2009 National Elder Abuse Investigation, 1,333 older adults who were over 65 years and living alone were analyzed. Latent class analysis, one-way ANOVA, and hierarchical regression analysis were performed to test the purpose of this study. Results of this study found 5 latent classes of socioeconomic status, named as high education-low income group, low education-low income group, middle education-low income group, high education-high income group, and low education-high income group. Next, there were significant differences in self-esteem depending on 5 latent classes of socioeconomic status. Finally, compared to low education-low income group, high education-low income group, middle education-low income group, high education-high income group, and low education-high income group showed higher levels of self-esteem, even after adjusting for confounding factors. Findings from this study suggested fundamental characteristics and public policy for elderly living alone.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.563-574
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• 2007

There seems to be a consensus among most people that visibility impairment is the most obvious indicator of air pollution. While considerable evidence on the association between air pollution and health outcomes including death and disease have been established, based on industrial complex areas or huge urban cities, time-series, case-crossover and cohort studies, scarce literature exists on the direct evidence for the association between visibility and adverse health outcomes. Our study is assessed the effect of air pollution measured by visibility impairment on respiratory mortality over a period of six years. Relative risks in respiratory deaths were estimated by a Poisson regression model of daily deaths between $1999{\sim}2004$. Daily counts of respiratory deaths as dependent variable was modelled with daily 24-hr mean visibility measurements (kilometers) as independent variable by means of Poisson regression. This model is controlled for confounding factors such as day of weeks, weather variables, seasonal variables and $PM_{10}$. The results in this study is observed the statistically significant association between an inverse health effect and visibility during the study period for respiratory mortality (percentage change in the relative risk for all aged -0.57%, 95% Cl, $-1.01%{\sim}-0.12%$; for $0{\sim}15$ aged -7.12%, 95% Cl, $-13.29%{\sim}-0.51%$; for 65+ aged -0.43%, 95% Cl, $-0.93%{\sim}-0.06%$ per 1 km increased in visibility). The effect size was much reduced during warm season. Visibility impairment resulting from air pollution is strongly associated with respiratory mortality, especially for children may be spent at outdoor. Our result provides a quick and useful indicator for eliciting the contribution of air pollution to the excess risk of respiratory mortality in Seoul, Korea.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.403-415
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was conducted in order to investigate the nutrient and food intake status, and dietary quality in Korean adults according to abdominal obesity based on waist circumference. Methods: We analyzed data from the combined 2010~2012 KNHANES (Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey). The analysis included 6,974 adults aged 40 to 64 years. In this study, according to abdominal obesity based on waist circumference (male ${\geq}$ 90 cm, female ${\geq}$ 85 cm), we classified the subjects into the obesity group (male, n = 775, female, n = 1,113) and control group (male, n = 2,038, female, n = 3,048). The nutrient and food group intake, ND (nutrient density), NAR (nutrient adequacy ratio), MAR (mean adequacy ratio), INQ (index of nutritional quality), DDS (dietary diversity score), and DVS (dietary variety score) were analyzed using data from the 24-recall method. Results: For male, no significant difference in quality index of the diet was observed between the obesity group and the normal group. In female, in diet quality (ND, NAR, and INQ), vitamin $B_2$ (ND, NAR, and INQ) calcium (NAR), phosphorous (ND, INQ) and potassium (ND) of the obesity group was significantly lower than those of the control group. DDS and DVS in the obesity group (3.57, 30.95) were significantly lower than those of the control group (3.68, 32.84) (p = 0.0043, 0.0002). DVS (DVS ${\geq}$ 39.9) showed association with lower risk of waist obesity in a logistic regression model after adjustments for multiple confounding factors including age, education, income, alcohol intake frequency, smoking, physical activity, energy intake, and body mass index (OR: 0.616, 95% CI: 0.420-0.903). Conclusion: In conclusion, females with abdominal obesity had lower micronutrient intake quality, DVS than those of the control group. In Korean females, food intake variety can adversely affect waist circumference.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.313-320
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to compare the overall changes in dietary intake and metabolic syndrome risk parameters in Vietnamese marriage-based female immigrants over time. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The subjects of this study were 581 Vietnamese marriage-based female immigrants, who were recruited from local clinical centers in Korea. Baseline data were collected from 2006-2011 and the follow-up data were collected from 2012-2014. Dietary food intake was assessed by a 1-day 24-hour recall method. RESULTS: Compared to the baseline, the mean body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure increased while the fasting blood sugar, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol decreased at follow-up. The total consumption of foods such as vegetables/fruits/seaweeds/mushrooms, oil and fat, and eggs decreased during the follow-up period, whereas the consumption of sugars, beverages and meats increased. Partial correlation between the rate of change [(Follow-up - Baseline) / Baseline ${\times}100$] in metabolic syndrome risk parameters and food intake after controlling for confounding factors showed that the waist circumference was positively correlated with either the total plant food intake (r = 0.1042, P = 0.0129) or the total food intake (r = 0.0880, P = 0.0359). The plasma levels of total cholesterol (r = -0.1918, P = 0.0289) and HDL-cholesterol (r = -0.1424, P = 0.0007) were negatively correlated with the percentage of total intake from plant food, and HDL-cholesterol levels were positively correlated with the intake of total animal food (r = 0.0980, P = 0.0217). The serum C-reactive protein levels were positively correlated with the total intake of animal food (r = 0.2374, P < 0.0001) or the percentage of total intake from animal food (r = 0.1346, P = 0.0016). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the change rate of dietary intake such as total plant food or animal food is associated with the change rates of metabolic syndrome risk parameters.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.648-658
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between eating habits and health among adolescents in Shanghai and Heze, China. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2013 on 2,089 adolescents; 1,089 students were from Shanghai and 999 students from Heze region. Eating habits, weight, height, and nutritional knowledge were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire. Eating habits score was classified into two categories: healthy eating habits and unhealthy eating habits, based on "Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey", for statistical data analysis. Associations between eating habits, BMI, and nutritional knowledge were examined using a general linear model with adjustment of potential confounding factors such as region, gender, age, parents' education level, and pocket money. Statistical analyses were performed using the SAS (version 9.3) program. Proportions of healthy eating habits group were 90.0% for breakfast (3-7 times/wk), 29.1% for fruit (${\geq}once/d$), 12.5% for vegetable (${\geq}3times/d$), 7.3% for milk (${\geq}2times/d$), 90.0% for fast food (<3 times/wk) consumption, respectively. The average BMI score was 20.1 (Shanghai 20.5 Heze 19.6), which is in the range of normal weight. Rates of obesity and overweight were 16.5% and 8.3% in Shanghai and Heze, respectively. There were significant negative correlations between intake frequencies of breakfast, fast food, biscuits, sugar, chocolate, and BMI score. Eating habits and nutritional knowledge score showed a significant positive correlation. These results showed better eating habits regarding eating regularity and consumption of fruits and soft drinks in Chinese adolescents compared with Korean adolescents, although cultural differences were not fully considered. This study demonstrated significant associations of BMI and nutritional knowledge with dietary behavior in Chinese adolescents in two regions of China. Further studies on Chinese adolescents from other regions in China should be considered.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2003

Objectives : This study was performed to examine the relationship between maternal exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and pregnancy outcomes (low birth weight or preform baby) in a prospective cohort study. Methods : We made a pregnant women's cohort, and followed the pregnancy outcomes, between May 1st 2001 and August 31st 2002. We surveyed 2,250 women who visited our hospital during their 35th gestational week, with a self-administered questionnaire. The final total of mother-infant pairs analyzed in this study was 1,712. We used a multiple logistic regression analysis to analyze the effect of maternal ETS on the incidence of preform or low birth weight, and a linear regression analysis for the birth weight and gestational age. Results : Higher exposure to ETS (>=1 hours/day) during pregnancy was more negatively associated with the gestational age and birth weight, than no exposure to ETS (no or less than 1 hour). Maternal exposure to ETS was associated with preform baby(adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.7; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.9, 3.3) and low birth weight (AOR 2.3; 95% CI 0.9, 5.5). In addition, we found that maternal ETS may reduce the birth weight by 70g after adjusting for potential confounding factors. Conclusions : This study suggests that maternal exposure to ETS during pregnancy may increase the frequency of low birth weights and preform births.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.484-494
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to evaluate dietary intake according to the risk of coronary heart disease (less than 10% = low-risk group; 10~20% = middle-risk group) based on Framingham risk score (FRS), on 122 male adult subjects. The body weight and body mass index were not significantly different between the groups, while height of the low-risk group was shown to be significantly high compared to that of the middle-risk group. The daily energy intake was shown to be significantly high in the low-risk group with 1,910.88 kcal, compared to 1,606.63 kcal of the middle-risk group. As a result of analyzing nutrient intake per 1,000 kcal of energy, while the low-risk group had significantly high intake of animal protein, fat, and animal fat compared to the middle-risk group, the intake of plant protein, carbohydrate, and plant iron was found to be significantly low. The daily food intake was shown to be significantly high in the low-risk group (1,445.16 g), compared to the middle-risk group (1,075.12 g). The low-risk group was found to have significantly high intake of sugars, eggs, and beverages compared to the middle-risk group, while mushrooms intake was significantly high in the middle-risk group. Dietary variety score (DVS) was significantly high in the low-risk group with 26.42, compared to 22.66 of the middle-risk group. Dietary diversity score (DDS) was indicated to be significantly high in the low-risk group with 3.70, compared to 3.27 of the middle-risk group. The low-risk group was indicated to have significantly high score in DDS of dairy products and fruit group, compared to the middle-risk group. In the correlation between diversity index of food intake (DVS and DDS) and FRS, DDS was shown to have significantly negatively correlation with FRS after adjusting for confounding factors. To sum up these results, the adult males with low-risk of coronary heart disease had more various consumptions of fruits and milk, compared to the subjects with the middle-risk. The proportion of consuming major food groups such as cereals, meat group, milk, fruits, and vegetables more than a fixed quantity was indicated to be high. Accordingly, dietary habit for intake of various food seems to be necessary, to prevent coronary heart disease.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.175-189
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between pack-years of smoking, metabolic biomarkers, and diet quality in male adults. We analyzed data from the combined 2007-2009 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). The extent of smoking was quantified in pack-years (py), with 1 py equivalent to 20 cigarettes per day for 1 year. Subjects (n=1,318) were recruited and divided into two groups according to age (30~49 years age group, n=695; ${\geq}50$ years age group, n=623). In ach age group, subjects were divided into three groups according to the extent of smoking, which included non-smokers (30~49 years, n=156; ${\geq}50$ years, n=217), light smoker (30~49 years, n=269; py<16; ${\geq}50$ years, n=189, py<31), and moderate smoker (30~49 years, n=270; $py{\geq}16$; ${\geq}50$ years, n=217, $py{\geq}31$). The Nutrient Adequacy Ratio (NAR) and the number of foods (Dietary Variety Score, DVS) were analyzed by using the data from the 24-recall method. The results showed that moderate smokers were significantly more likely to drink alcohol compared with the other two groups. Triglyceride and cholesterol levels were significantly higher in smoker groups. The non-smoker group consumed significantly higher levels of vitamin C and potassium compared to the smoker groups. In the diet quality, vitamin C NAR of non-smoker group was significantly higher than those of smoker groups. In the ${\geq}50$ age group, the MAR of nonsmoker, light, and moderate smoker groups were 0.81, 0.78, and 0.78 respectively. The smoker group consumed significantly greate sugar and oils compared to the non-smoker group. Py showed a significantly positive relationship with serum triglyceride level, and a negative relationship with MAR after adjusting for potential confounding factors. In conclusion, male moderate smokers take too little vitamin C, partly due to low diet quality. Therefore, a well-planed diet must be used to replace the nutrients lost from excluded food groups in smoker.

• Kidney Research and Clinical Practice
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.48-57
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• 2017

Background: Hepatic steatosis measured with controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) using transient elastography predicts metabolic syndrome in the general population. We investigated whether CAP predicted metabolic syndrome in chronic kidney disease patients. Methods: CAP was measured with transient elastography in 465 predialysis chronic kidney disease patients (mean age, 57.5 years). Results: The median CAP value was 239 (202-274) dB/m. In 195 (41.9%) patients with metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus was more prevalent (105 [53.8%] vs. 71 [26.3%], P < 0.001), with significantly increased urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (184 [38-706] vs. 56 [16-408] mg/g Cr, P = 0.003), high sensitivity C-reactive protein levels (5.4 [1.4-28.2] vs. 1.7 [0.6-9.9] mg/L, P < 0.001), and CAP (248 [210-302] vs. 226 [196-259] dB/m, P < 0.001). In multiple linear regression analysis, CAP was independently related to body mass index (${\beta}=0.742$, P < 0.001), triglyceride levels (${\beta}=2.034$, P < 0.001), estimated glomerular filtration rate (${\beta}=0.316$, P = 0.001), serum albumin (${\beta}=1.386$, P < 0.001), alanine aminotransferase (${\beta}=0.064$, P = 0.029), and total bilirubin (${\beta}=-0.881$, P = 0.009). In multiple logistic regression analysis, increased CAP was independently associated with increased metabolic syndrome risk (per 10 dB/m increase; odds ratio, 1.093; 95% confidence interval, 1.009-1.183; P = 0.029) even after adjusting for multiple confounding factors. Conclusion: Increased CAP measured with transient elastography significantly correlated with and could predict increased metabolic syndrome risk in chronic kidney disease patients.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.187-195
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• 2019

The needs for precise diagnostics and farm management-decision aids have increased to reduce the risk of climate change and environmental stress. Crop simulation models have been widely used to search optimal solutions for effective cultural practices. However, limited knowledge on physiological responses to environmental variation would make it challenging to apply crop simulation models to a wide range of studies. Advanced research facilities would help investigation of plant response to the environment. In the present study, the sunlit controlled environment chambers, known as Korean SPAR (Soil-Plant-Atmosphere-Research) system, was developed by renovating existing SPAR system. The Korean SPAR system controls and monitors major environmental variables including atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration, temperature and soil moisture. Furthermore, plants are allowed to grow under natural sunlight. Key physiological and physical data such as canopy photosynthesis and respiration, canopy water and nutrient use over the whole growth period are also collected automatically. As a case study, it was shown that the Korean SPAR system would be useful for collection of data needed for understanding the growth and developmental processes of a crop, e.g., soybean. In addition, we have demonstrated that the canopy photosynthetic data of the Korean SPAR indicate the precise representation of physiological responses to environment variation. As a result, physical and physiological data obtained from the Korean SPAR are expected to be useful for development of an advanced crop simulation model minimizing errors and confounding factors that usually occur in field experiments.