• Journal of Bone Metabolism
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.243-249
• /
• 2018

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy and error range of hand grip strength measurement using various methods. Methods: Methods used for measurement of hand grip strength in 34 epidemiologic studies on sarcopenia were analyzed. Maximum grip strength was measured in a sitting position with the elbow flexed at 90 degrees, the shoulder in 0 degrees flexion, and the wrist in neutral position (0 degrees). Maximum grip strength in standing position was measured with the shoulder in 180 degrees flexion, the elbow fully extended, and the wrist in neutral position (0 degrees). Three measurements were taken on each side at 30 sec intervals. The uncertainty of measurement was calculated. Results: The combined uncertainty in sitting position on the right and left sides was 1.14% and 0.38%, respectively, and the combined uncertainty in standing position on the right and left sides was 0.35 and 1.20, respectively. The expanded uncertainty in sitting position on the right and left sides was 2.28 and 0.79, respectively, and the expanded uncertainty in standing position on the right and left sides was 0.71 and 2.41, respectively (k=2). Conclusions: Uncertainty of hand grip strength measurement was identified in this study, and a significant difference was observed between measurement. For more precise diagnosis of sarcopenia, dynamometers need to be corrected to overcome uncertainty.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.6
• /
• pp.3815-3817
• /
• 2013

Background: Breast cancer is a common cancer worldwide. With the establishment of Thailand's population-based cancer registry and availability of complete data from 2002-2011, it is of interest to investigate the epidemiologic and clinic-pathological profiles of breast cancer based on the population-based registry data. Methods: The data of all breast cancer patients in the registry for the period of 2002-2011 were included. All medical records of the patients diagnosed from documents of National Cancer Registry of Thailand were retrieved and the following information abstracted: age, clinical characteristics, and histological variables. Thailand census data for the period of 2002-2011 were used to provide the general population's statistics on age, gender, and other related demographic factors. Results: Over the 10 year-period, 7,711 breast cancer cases were included. The disease incidence under age 40 years was relatively low (4.13/$10^5$) while the incidence in the age groups 40 and older was very high (39.2/$10^5$). The vast majority of breast cancer cases (88.8%) were diagnosed by histology as primary lesions in the breast. The most common of patients with breast cancer (36.4%) had regional lymph node involvement and the most common of histopathology diagnosed in patients (84.2%) was an infiltrating duct carcinoma. Conclusions: This study showed a high incidence of breast cancer in older subjects, and high rate of breast cancer in Thailand. Future studies should explore clinical and molecular disease patterns.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.31
• /
• pp.18.1-18.8
• /
• 2016

Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors associated with depression and suicidal ideation in a rural population. Methods A survey was conducted with 543 farmers from Chungcheongnam-do Province using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) for depression, Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS) for social support, Swedish Q16 for neurotoxicity symptoms and a survey tool for farmer's syndrome. Results After adjusting for socioeconomic factors using logistic regression analysis, poor self-rated health, low social support and neurotoxicity were positively associated with the risk of depression (odds ratio [OR], 15.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.11 to 81.97; OR, 3.14; 95% CI, 1.26 to 7.82; and OR, 3.68; 95% CI, 1.08 to 12.57, respectively). The risk of suicidal ideation significantly increased with low social support, neurotoxicity and farmer's syndrome (OR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.18 to 4.40; OR, 6.17; 95% CI, 2.85 to 13.34; and OR, 3.70; 95% CI, 1.51 to 9.07, respectively). Conclusions Given the overall results of this study, there is a need to establish programs which can improve the health and social relationships of farmers. Also, when farmers have neurological symptoms from pesticide exposure and characteristic symptoms of farmer's syndrome, a monitoring system for depression and suicide must be made available.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.263-274
• /
• 2018

Purpose: This study examined the correlation of insomnia, sleep quality, depression, and circadian rhythm in nursing students. Methods: A total of 213 subjects completed a questionnaire consisting of their general characteristics, Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D), and Composite Scale of Morningness (CSM). The collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation coefficient using the SPSS 23.0 program. Results: The subjects' mean scores were ISI 7.18; PSQI 11.18; CES-D 16.00; and CSM 30.18. In insomnia, there were significant differences according to caffeine, perceived health status and major satisfaction. In sleep quality, there were significant differences according to perceived health status and major satisfaction. Significant differences in depression were observed according to gender, caffeine, subjective health status, major satisfaction, and circadian rhythm by drinking and exercise. A significant positive correlation was observed among ISI, PSQI, and CES-D. ISI and CES-D were negatively correlated. Conclusion: Tailored health care programs should be developed and applied to prevent and manage sleep-related and emotion-related problems in nursing students by considering the health status, major satisfaction, and gender.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.48 no.2
• /
• pp.145-152
• /
• 2010

Objective : The aim of this report is to provide accurate nationwide epidemiologic data on primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors in Korea. Despite its importance, there are no accurate statistics on primary CNS tumors in Korea. We analyzed primary CNS tumors diagnosed in 2005 from the nationwide registry. Methods : Data on primary CNS tumors diagnosed in 2005 were collected from the Korean Central Cancer Registry and the Korean Brain Tumor Society. Crude and age-standardized rates were calculated in terms of gender, age, and histological type. Tumors of uncertain histology were investigated individually at the corresponding hospitals and had their diagnoses confirmed. Results : A total of 5,692 patients diagnosed with primary CNS tumors in 2005 were included in this study. CNS tumors occurred in females more often than in males (female to male, 1.43 : 1). The most common tumor was meningioma (31.2%). Glioblastoma accounted for 30.7% of all gliomas, and 19.3% of all malignant primary CNS tumors. In children under 19 years of age, both germ cell tumor and embryonal/primitive/medulloblastoma were the most common tumors. Conclusion : This article is the first nationwide primary CNS tumor epidemiology report in Korea. Data from this study should provide valuable information regarding the understanding of primary CNS tumors epidemiology in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.56-69
• /
• 2016

Purpose: The prevalence of problematic internet usage among college students is a cause for concern. There is a lack of study examining influences of cognitive protecting or buffering factors on internet addiction among college students. The purpose of this study was to examine influences of depression, ego-resilience, and active stress coping on internet addiction tendency (IAT) among college students. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive design was used. Data were collected between October and December 2013. A convenience sample of 244 students completed self-report questionnaires consisting of Ego-resiliency Scale, Ways of Coping Checklist, Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression, and Self-report Scale for Internet Use. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was performed for data analysis. Results: We found that higher levels of depression were associated with higher levels of IAT. However, an inverse association was found between active stress coping and IAT. Students who mainly used the internet for chatting showed lower levels of IAT than those who used the internet for games or blogs. These factors explained 15.1% of the variance in IAT of college students. Conclusion: The study results suggest that stress coping strategies and depression are important factors for evaluation when developing intervention programs targeting college students with problematic internet use.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.56 no.2
• /
• pp.113-119
• /
• 2018

Cryptosporidium species is an important cause of gastrointestinal infections globally. This study aimed to shed light on its role in diarrheic immunocompetent patients in Beni-Suef, Egypt and to compare three diagnostic methods. Two hundred diarrheic patients, $37{\pm}16.8year$ old, were enrolled. Stool samples were examined by light microscopy, using modified Ziehl-Neelsen stain (MZN) for Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts. Coproantigens were detected by sandwich ELISA. DNA molecular diagnosis was done by nested PCR. PCR yielded the highest detection rates (21.0%), compared to ELISA (12.5%) and MZN staining method (9.5%). The higher infection rates were in 20-40 year-old group, followed by 40-60 year-old. Association between epidemiologic factors was statistically not significant; positivity and gender, clinical manifestations, residence, source or water, or contact with animals. Cryptosporidiosis is an important enteric parasitic infection in Beni-Suef and PCR remains the gold standard for diagnosis.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.50 no.4
• /
• pp.274-277
• /
• 2017

Objectives: Legionnaires' disease (LD) is a severe type of pneumonia caused by inhalation of aerosols contaminated with Legionella. On September 22, 2016, a single case of LD was reported from a newly built apartment building in Gyeonggi province. This article describes an epidemiologic investigation of LD and identification of the possible source of infection. Methods: To identify the source of LD, we interviewed the patient's husband using a questionnaire based on the Legionella management guidelines from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Water samples from the site were collected and analyzed. An epidemiological investigation of the residents and visitors in the apartment building was conducted for 14 days before the index patient's symptoms first appeared to 14 days after the implementation of environmental control measures. Results: Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 was isolated from the heated-water samples from the patient's residence and the basement of the apartment complex. Thirty-two suspected cases were reported from the apartment building during the surveillance period, yet all were confirmed negative based on urinary antigen tests. Conclusions: The likely source of infection was the building's potable water, particularly heated water. Further study of effective monitoring systems in heated potable water should be considered.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.93-115
• /
• 2010

Objectives: This study intends to understand the difference of social support levels and the relationship between social support the health status, college adjustment and academic achievement in the college student. Methods: Data were obtained from self-administered questionnaire of 416 college student. We measured the demographic characteristics, social support (tangible support, appraisal support, belonging support, self-esteem support), health status (36-item short-form health survey(SF-36), center for epidemiologic studies-depression(CES-D), perceived stress scale(PSS)), student adaptation to college questionnaire(SACQ), average grades point. Chi-square test, t-test, ANOVA test, pearson correlation analysis were used for analysis factors relation of the social support of the college students. Results: In considering the degree of social support by the demographic characteristics in the college students, the social support was better for the female college students. In considering the relation between social support and health status, the students who get better social support, were good in health depression and perceived stress status. When they got better social support their college adjustment and academic achievement were good. The result was statistically significant. Conclusions: Social support for students has great influence on health, college adjustment and academic achievement of students. Psychological aspects of students should be included in the strategy of social support for students.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.309-320
• /
• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to examine the related factors of quality of life (QOL) among patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Methods: Patients diagnosed with COPD (N=230) were recruited from four hospitals in Kyeong-Nam province, from March 2 to November 30, 2010. The data collection instruments were the Short Form 36, perceived dyspnea measure by Modified Medical Research Council, COPD and Asthma Sleep Impact Scale, COPD Self-efficacy Scale, and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale were used. Following the completion of the data collection instruments Pulmonary function was tested. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation and simultaneous multiple regression using SPSS/WIN. Results: The mean QOL of this study was 68.24. Using a multivariate approach, the significant correlates of QOL were depression (${\beta}$=-.37), dyspnea (${\beta}$=-.28), self-efficacy (${\beta}$=.20), and a sufficient degree of household income (${\beta}$=.16). These variables explained 49% of variance in QOL. Conclusion: The study suggests that psychological aspects are an important factor in explaining QOL of the patients. Screening and minimizing depression could be effective strategies in enhancing QOL of patients with COPD and further investigation to reduce depression could warrant the improvement of QOL in patients with COPD.