• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.17
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• pp.7967-7973
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• 2015

Background: The abrupt rise of colorectal cancer in developing countries is raising concern in healthcare settings. Studies on assessing relationships with modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors in the Pakistani population have been limited. The present investigation was designed to examine associations of dietary practices, addictive behavior and bowel habits in developing colorectal cancer (CRC) among patients in a low-resource setup. Materials and Methods: An age-gender matched case control study was conducted from October 2011 to July 2015 in Karachi, Pakistan. Cases were from the surgical oncology department of a public sector tertiary care hospital, while their two pair-matched controls were recruited from the general population. A structured questionnaire was used which included questions related to demographic characteristics, family history, dietary patterns, addictive behavior and bowel habits. Results: A family history of cancer was associated with a 2.2 fold higher chance of developing CRC. Weight loss reduced the likelihood 7.6 times. Refraining from a high fat diet and consuming more vegetables showed protective effects for CRC. The risk of CRC was more than twice among smokers and those who consumed Asian specific addictive products as compared to those who avoid using these addictions (ORsmoking: 2.12, 95% CI: 1.08 - 4.17, ORpan: 2.92, 95% CI: 1.6 - 5.33, ORgutka: 2.13, 95% CI: 1.14 - 3.97). Use of NSAID attenuated risk of CRC up to 86% (OR: 0.14, 95% CI: 0.07 - 0.31). Conclusions: Most of the findings showed concordance with the literature elucidating protective effects of consuming vegetables and low fat diet while documenting adverse associations with family history, weight loss, constipation and hematochezia. Moreover, this study highlighted Asian specific indigenous addictive products as important factors. Further studies are needed to validate the findings produced by this research.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.297-303
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Understanding individual's intention, action and maintenance to increase fruit and vegetable intake is an initial step in designing nutrition or health promotion programs. This study aimed to determine stages of change to increase fruit and vegetable intake and its relationships with fruit and vegetable intake, self-efficacy, perceived benefits and perceived barriers. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 348 public university staff in Universiti Putra Malaysia. A pre-tested self-administered questionnaire and two days 24-hour diet recall were used. RESULTS: Half of the respondents (50%) were in preparation stage, followed by 43% in action/maintenance, 7% in pre-contemplation/contemplation stages. Respondents in action/maintenance stages had significantly higher self-efficacy (F = 9.17, P < 0.001) and perceived benefits (F =5.07, P < 0.01) while respondents in pre-contemplation/contemplation and preparation stages had significantly higher perceived barriers (F = 4.83, P < 0.05). Perceived benefits tend to outweigh perceived barriers pre-ceding to taking action. Self-efficacy is important in motivating individuals to increase fruit and vegetable intake as self-efficacy and perceived barriers crossed over between preparation and action/maintenance. Respondents in action/maintenance stages had the highest adjusted mean serving of fruit and vegetable intake (F = 4.52, P < 0.05) but the intake did not meet recommendation. CONCLUSION: Intervention strategies should emphasize on increasing perceived benefits and building self-efficacy by providing knowledge and skills to consume a diet high in fruits and vegetables in order to promote healthy changes in having high fruit and vegetable intake.

• Annals of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.182-195
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• 2018

Increasing prevalence of childhood obesity poses threats to the global health burden. Because this rising prevalence cannot be fully explained by traditional risk factors such as unhealthy diet and physical inactivity, early-life exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) is recognized as emerging novel risk factors for childhood obesity. EDCs can disrupt the hormone-mediated metabolic pathways, affect children's growth and mediate the development of childhood obesity. Many organic pollutants are recently classified to be EDCs. In this review, we summarized the epidemiological and laboratory evidence related to EDCs and childhood obesity, and discussed the possible mechanisms underpinning childhood obesity and early-life exposure to non-persistent organic pollutants (phthalates, bisphenol A, triclosan) and persistent organic pollutants (dichlorodip henyltrichloroethane, polychlorinated biphenyls, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). Understanding the relationship between EDCs and childhood obesity helps to raise public awareness and formulate public health policy to protect the youth from exposure to the harmful effects of EDCs.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.30 no.4 s.59
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• pp.852-869
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• 1997

This study was conducted to develop and evaluate the reliability and the validity of a questionnaire in order to determine the applicability as a screening tool for estimating environmental exposure and health effects related to air pollution. The questionnaire was developed with adopting some items of others such as ISAAC or ATS-DLD. And then we performed test-retest to 89 middle school students and their mothers at interval of three months. Cohen's Kappa values, weighted Kappa values, Spearman's correlation coefficients, and Pearson's correlation coefficients for each item were computed as reliability coefficients. The validity coefficients and validity coefficient bounds were also obtained by simply using these reliability coefficients. As results, Kappa ranged broadly from 0.10 to 0.61 of the items 'diet', $0.52\sim0.79$ of the environmental tobacco smoke, $0.39\sim0.44$ of the functional categories of surrounding environment, and $0.39\sim0.44$ of the using transportation systems; these items were regarded as confounding factors. For items related to health outcomes, Kappa ranged from -0.02 to 0.37 in the respiratory system of past medical history, and from 0.11 to 0.55 in the current health status. But Kappa of the others were over 0.60. In conclusion, if some items can be corrected or modified, the questionnaire developed in this study can be used as a tool for evaluating environmental exposure and health effects associated with air pollution.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.315-326
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• 2000

Objectives : Health behaviors that contribute to the leading cause of mortality, morbidity, and social problems among youth and adults are mostly established during youth, extend into adulthood, and are interrelated. The purpose of this study is to investigate health behavior, juvenile delinquent behavior, mental status and to understand related factor to health behavior. Methods : The study items of life style were health related habit including smoking, drinking, breakfast, regular diet, regular exercise, sleeping time and weight status. Also, sexual evidence, violence, suicidal perceptions were surveyed. Questionnaire survey was conducted from January to February, 2000 by adolescence living in Kyunggi-Do. Data were collected by self-administered questionares. The collected data were analyzed using PC-SPSS 9.0 version. Results : Most students perceived to be healthy themselves but just two thirds students had concern for health. 64.9% ever drank alcohol, 26.4% ever smoked, and also and 2.9% had attempted suicide during preceding the survey. The rate of sleeping over 8 hours is 31.8%, 65.6% had breakfast. Multiple regression analysis to find related factor with adolescents health behavior were conducted. As a results, concern for health, sex, grade, spending money and attempt to suicide were related to health behavior. Conclusion : These results showed that many efforts to improve the health-concern are necessary and suggest the need for further studies including follow-up study, intervention study on the relationship of life style.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.244-254
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• 2011

Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate adherence to self-care and identify associated factors in outpatients with Heart Failure (HF). Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, a convenience sample of 249 outpatient clinic patients were recruited at S university hospital. Between October 2009 and December 2009, data were collected through questionnaires and medical record review. Results: The total mean score of adherence to self-care was $18.07{\pm}3.56$ out of a possible 45 points. Among self-care dimensions, adherence to medication and low salt diet was high, while lower adherence was reported in contact with health professionals if symptoms such as weight gain, edema and fatigue were presented. Multivariate analysis adjusted for other socio-demographic and clinical factors showed that disease knowledge related to heart failure (p<.001) and left ventricular ejection fraction (p=.027) were independent predictors of adherence to self-care. These factors explained 23% of total variance in the adherence to self-care. Conclusion: Heart failure patients with higher disease knowledge and those who have good systolic function may be more likely to engage in adherence to self-care than those with lack of disease knowledge and low contractility. Further research is needed to confirm these results and identify other predictors of adherence to self-care.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.150-161
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• 2001

The current socioeconomic climate has meant more children spend more time alone at home even for dining. This study was performed to characterize modem Korean childrens´food ecology based on mealtime atmosphere. A total of 705 elementary school students, 347 girls and 358 boys took part in the study. They were chosen evenly from the Seoul metropolitan areas, provincial cities, or rural areas, and were asked to fill out a questionnaire. The questionnaire was categorized to determine various factors related to food ecology, life styles, and health related symptoms. The average age of the study subjects was 11.5 years. The average height, weight, body mass index, and Rohrer index were 143.2cm, 37.6kg, 18.2 and 127.2 respectively. A significant number of children(39.2%) answered their bed time was between 11 and 12 pm. Only 28.3% answered that the whole family has breakfast together, and 47.7% have dinner together. A considerable number of children, 17.8% for breakfast and 6.9% for dinner, answered they eat alone. Most of the children answered they like to have dinner with the whole family. Half of the children answered they do not feel hungry before having breakfast. Proportions of children for their favorite meal time were 66.8%, and 25.4% and 7.8% for dinner, school lunch, and breakfast respectively. The largest proportions of children, 53.3% and 68.7%, have breakfast and dinner at home. Most of the children(75.2%) never purchase their dinner. Forty two% of the children answered they like school lunch, however, 60% of children answered they leave portions of lunch uneaten occasionally or always. Only 38.0% and 46.2% of the children have nutritionally adequate diet for breakfast and dinner. Children having more meals with the whole family possessed a more positive attitude towards breakfast compared to the children who eat with the whole family less frequently. In conclusion, Korea children are exposed to different health threatening food ecology problems related to changing environments, and consistent concern and support from community nutritionists are required.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.171-183
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• 2006

This study was conducted to examine dietary factors affecting bone status in the rural aged men. Quantitative ultrasound measurements (QUS) of bone, that may reflect certain architectural aspects of bone, have been shown to be associated with bone mineral density and fracture. Information of diet and anthropometry was collected in 164 aged men. Dietary intake data were obtained by 24-hour recall method. Measurements of the speed of sound (SOS, m/s), at distal radius, mid-tibia, phalanx, were performed using Omnisense 7000S analyzer (Sunlight Ltd., Tel Aviv, Israel). T-scores for bone SOS measurements at distal radius, mid-tibia and phalanx were 0.60, 0.03 and -0.42 respectively. The prevalence of osteopenia by use of the WHO criteria was 17.7% at the mid-tibia and 25.3% of the subjects at the distal radius. Age were negative association with bone SOS at three sites. Osteopenia group of radius were significantly lower in total foods and vegetable intakes than normal group. After adjusted for age, vegetable intakes were significantly and positively related to bone SOS at the radius. The bone SOS of the tibia were significantly and positively related to vegetable protein, iron, folate and vegetable intakes, but negatively related to fat intakes. Multiple regression analysis showed that bone SOS of tibia was positively associated with folate intakes. Vegetable intakes were positively associated with the bone SOS at three sites. These results indicate that the consumption of vegetables, sources of folate, may have a effect on bone status of men.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.729-738
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• 2004

Purpose: 'Yangsaeng' is a traditional health care regimen for the promotion of health and prevention of illnesses ty means of specific principles and methods for the purpose of living a long and healthy life. The purpose of this paper was to develop a tool in measuring Yangsaeng and to verify its reliability and validity. Method: Content validity was conducted three times by 8 experts. Factor analysis was conducted to test its construct validity. Result: Thirty-one items were selected in 8 factors; Morality Yangsaeng, Mind Yangsaeng, Diet Yangsaeng, Activity & rest Yangsaeng, Exercise Yangsaeng, Seasonal Yangsaeng, Sleep Yangsaeng and Sex life Yangsaeng. The explanatory variance is 61.76%. Cronbach's alpha of the final tool is .89 and that of each factor is .68～.82. The analysis of the items shows that the item-total correlation is .40 or higher. Criterion-related validity was verified with the CMCHS V1.0 and the KoHSME V1.0. Conclusion: Since the tool developed in this study was verified in terms of its reliability and validity, it could be utilized as a tool for evaluating the extent of Yangsaeng.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.35 no.7
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• pp.779-790
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• 2002

Nutritional factors affecting bone mineral density (BMD) in the different age groups of Korean women were investigated to obtain baseline data for maintaining bone health. Information on diet and anthropometry were collected in 80 elementary school children (height 127.2 cm, weight 27.3 kg), 84 high school students (height 161.6 cm, weight 52.4 kg), 100 adults aged 25 to 35 years (height 159.4 cm, weight 52.7 kg) and 120 elderly people over 60 years of age (height 150.9 cm, weight 55.6 kg). Data for nutrient intake were obtained by 24-hour recall method. BMDs of lumbar spine (L$_2$-L$_4$) and femoral neck were measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. The relationship between BMD of femoral neck and nutritional factors were analyzed. The average BMD of femoral neck for females was 0.61 g/$\textrm{cm}^2$ in children, 0.88 g/$\textrm{cm}^2$ in adolescents, 0.90 g/$\textrm{cm}^2$ in adults, 0.64 g/$\textrm{cm}^2$ in elderly people. Among the adult subjects, 11.0% was classified as osteopenia in the femoral neck. For the elderly, the prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis were 34.2% and 47.5% of the subjects. It was shown the intake of energy, protein, plant protein, animal protein, fat, carbohydrate, Ca, P, Fe, vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin C, carbohydrate energy percent and fat energy percent influenced bone health status in all age groups. In the MAR on bone health status, children, adult and elderly subjects were significantly different among groups classified by bone health status and the MAR of the groups with good in bone health was higher. The RDA percent of each nutrient was influence factor on BMD. Nutrient intake of energy, protein, P, Fe, thiamin, niacin were lower BMD on below 75% of Korean RDA. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that several dietary factors were influence on BMD. MAR on femoral neck BMD of children and elderly subjects was the highest influence factor. Beyond this, the most influential dietary factors on BMD were the vitamin A, total Ca and vegetable Ca. The above results have confirmed that dietary factors influence BMD in various age groups. Energy, protein, Ca, P, Fe, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin C as well as MAR were important dietary factors influencing BMD. The results of this study revealed that people who received sufficient nutrients intake showed healthy bone status. The MAR mainly influenced the bone health status.