• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• 제3권3호
• /
• pp.166-180
• /
• 2012

This review summarizes the epidemiology of cancer of the female reproductive system and associated lifestyle factors. It also assesses the available evidence for occupational factors associated with these cancers. Cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancers are relatively common, and cause significant cancer morbidity and mortality worldwide, whereas vulvar, vaginal, fallopian tube cancers, and choriocarcinomas are very rare. As several lifestyle factors are known to play a major role in the etiology of these cancers, very few published studies have investigated possible relationships with occupational factors. Some occupational exposures have been associated with increased risks of these cancers, but apart from the available evidence on the relationships between asbestos fibers and ovarian cancer, and tetrachloroethylene and cervical cancer, the data is rather scarce. Given the multifactorial nature of cancers of the female reproductive system, it is of the utmost importance to conduct occupational studies that will gather detailed data on potential individual confounding factors, in particular reproductive history and other factors that influence the body's hormonal environment, together with information on socio-economic status and lifestyle factors, including physical activity from multiple sources. Studies on the mechanisms of carcinogenesis in the female reproductive organs are also needed in order to elucidate the possible role of chemical exposures in the development of these cancers.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제13권3호
• /
• pp.897-900
• /
• 2012

Cervical cancer resulting from prior infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) is a significant public health threat against young Japanese women. A national immunization plan to vaccinate 13~16 year old female students against HPV infection has been started in Japan since 2010, and may reach almost full coverage by the end of 2012. Older age females who may already be sexually active are not targeted by this plan but should follow safer sex practices as well as periodic screening of the cervix cytology to reduce their risk of developing cervical cancer. HPV vaccination alone does not offer full protection either, because only some HPV types are covered by the vaccines and the long-term efficacy of the vaccines has not been determined yet. Therefore, we did a survey at an international university in Japan to study the knowledge and attitude of female college students towards prevention of cervical cancer, to examine the age when they start sexual activity and other related attributes that may influence the risk of cervical cancer. We discuss the results of our survey and what they imply for the possible impact of an HPV immunization plan on the risk of cervical cancer in Japan, and conclude by an emphasis on the need to increase awareness among Japanese female adolescents and to enhance the cervical screening rates among older females who are already sexually active.

• 한국자원식물학회지
• /
• 제27권3호
• /
• pp.236-241
• /
• 2014

A sex-linked random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) marker was identified from Asparagus officinalis L. and was converted into a sequence-characterized amplified regions (SCAR) marker for the large-scale screening of male and female plants. A total of 100 arbitrary decamer oligonucleotide primers were used for the RAPD analysis. Among them, the primer UBC347 amplified one female-specific 400 base pair DNA. Subsequently, the amplified RAPD fragment was cloned and sequenced. The fragment was abundant in AT and shared sequence homology with retrotransposon elements. On the basis of the sequence obtained, a pair of SCAR primer was designed. The amplification product, named F400, was the same size as the respective RAPD fragment from which it was derived. The F400 SCAR marker resulted to be female-specific in the three asparagus varieties tested in this study. This SCAR marker can be used for an early and rapid identification of female and male plants during breeding programs of asparagus.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
• /
• 제8권10호
• /
• pp.305-315
• /
• 2021

This study aims to investigate the relationship between the difference in gender of top executives and corporate investment. In addition, this study also extends to how the sensitivity of investment to cash flow varies with the gender of leaders. Finally, the effect of the gender of leaders on firm investment is also tested across firm types (state firms vs. private firms and high-growth firms vs. low-growth firms). Based on the dataset of Vietnamese listed firms over 2007-2017, the fixed-effect model is used to test the hypotheses. The results show that women as chairs of the board tend to lower corporate investment, whereas the gender of CEOs (Chief Executive Officers) does not influence the investment level. Moreover, top female executives are associated with a decrease in the sensitivity of investment to cash flow. These regression results also show that top female executives only have an impact on the rate of investment in private and low-growth firms. The findings of this study are useful for the board of directors in selecting a chairperson in line with the firm's strategies. Furthermore, the findings of this study are also meaningful for policymakers who should monitor the separate role of the CEO and chair of the board in a company.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• 제13권6호
• /
• pp.733-738
• /
• 2000

The objective of this study was to describe the nature of the inheritance of jumping as a behavioral trait and to analyze quantitatively the jumping height as a measure of vigor in two subspecies of mice. Two subspecies of mice, Yonakuni wild mouse (Y) and $CF_{{\sharp}1}$ laboratory mouse (C), were used as the parental types. Reciprocal mating between these two subspecies was made to produce subsequently the first and second generations. The first generation was $F_1$ (YC) resulting from $Y\;male{\times}C\;female$, and $F_1{^\prime}$ (CY) from $C\;male{\times}Y\;female$. The second generation $F_2$ (YCYC) was from mating $F_1{\times}F_1$ and $F_2{^\prime}$ (CYCY) from $F_1{^\prime}{\times}F_1{^\prime}$. Individuals were treated with a set of direct current shock apparatus at six weeks of age to evoke jumping. The results showed that the ratio between jumping and non jumping mice (J: NJ) for C was 0%:100% (0:1), which means that all C did not jump throughout the experiment, whereas Y was 68%:32% (2:1); and the $F_1$ and $F_2$ showed 65%:35% (2:1) and 51%:49% (1:1), respectively. All $F_1{^\prime}$ and $F_2{^\prime}$ individuals jumped as indicated by the ratio 100%:0% (1:0) for both these two genetic groups. Of the jumped mice, average height of the first three jumping observed for pooled sexes in Y, $F_1$, $F_2$, $F_1{^\prime}$ and $F_2{^\prime}$ were 19.3 cm, 19.3 cm, 18.0 cm, 19.9 cm and 16.4 cm, respectively. The distribution of jumping height showed a tendency to be a normal distribution. The jumping activity and jumping height may be affected by some major genes and polygenes, respectively.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제14권4호
• /
• pp.2599-2605
• /
• 2013

The study aimed to evaluate immune-stimulating effects of a well-known Thai folkloric remedy when used for adjuvant therapy with conventional chemotherapeutics for treatment of breast cancer. Immunostimulating influence of the remedy (215 mg/kg body weight per day) on NK cell activity and TNF-${\alpha}$ release from the monocytes/macrophages were investigated in a total of 15 healthy women and 13 female patients with breast cancer (Group 1). The effect of breast tumor surgery on NK cell activity was further investigated in 18 female patients with breast cancer (Group 2). NK cell cytotoxic activity was determined by chromium release cytotoxic assay using K562, an erythroleukemic cell line. TNF-${\alpha}$ release from monocytes/macrophages separated from blood samples was determined through a biological assay using actinomycin D-treated L929 mouse fibroblast cells in the presence and absence of LPS. Baseline NK cell activity of the monocytes/macrophages separated from Group 2 patients expressed as %cytotoxicity was significantly lower than in the healthy subjects at E:T ratios of 100:1 and 25:1. In healthy subjects, there was no change in NK cell cytotoxic activity (%cytotoxicity or LU) following 1 and 2 weeks of treatment with the remedy compared with the baseline at various E:T ratios but the binding activity (%binding) was significantly increased after 2 weeks of treatment. The addition of one or two conventional chemotherapeutic regimens did not significantly reduce the NK cytotoxic activity but did affect release of TNF-${\alpha}$ in both unstimulated and LPS-stimulated samples. Surgery produced a significant suppressive effect on NK cell activity. The use of the remedy as an adjunct therapy may improve therapeutic efficacy and safety profiles of conventional chemotherapeutic regimens through stimulation of the immune system in cancer patients.

• 보건의료산업학회지
• /
• 제6권3호
• /
• pp.29-38
• /
• 2012

The aim of this study was to examine the spouse effects on depressive symptom and suicidal thinking among the elderly aged 65 and over in Korea. The subjects selected from the database of the Fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(KNHANES IV) conducted by Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 2007 to 2009. Those who were female, older, lower educated, or poorer were more likely to live alone than their counterparts respectively. The elderly living alone experienced depressive symptom as 2.0 times(OR=2.004, 95% CI=1.433, 2.803) as, and suicidal thinking as 1.6 times(OR=1.567, 95% CI=1.111, 2.211) as the elderly couples did, adjusting for socio-economic factor, health status factors, and health behaviors factors. As for the male subgroup, the elderly living alone experienced depressive symptom as 4.0 times(OR=3.997, 95% CI=2.066, 7.732) as, and suicidal thinking as 3.2 times(OR=3.181, 95% CI=1.535, 6.592) as the elderly couples did. On the other hands, there was no significant difference in depressive symptoms and suicidal thinking between the female elderly living alone and couples. The authors suggested policy interventions to promote the mental health of the male elderly living alone.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제15권16호
• /
• pp.6669-6671
• /
• 2014

Background: We here examined the awareness of female health employees (doctors, nurses, midwives) working in primary health care service about cervical cancer and its risk factors. Additionally attitude and behavior for gynecologic examination and pap smear screening wwere researched. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive study con cerned female health employees working at primary health care services in two southern cities of Turkey, over a four month period in 2013. Participants were recently or previously sexually active research was explained and verbal informed consent was obtained face to face. The questionnaire consisted of two parts; socio-demographic characteristics and level of knowledge about cervical cancer and its risk factors. Results: The average age of the participants (midwives 43.7%, n=143; nurses 40.4%, n=132; doctors 6.4%, n=21; emergency medical technicians and others, 9.5%, n=31; total, n=327) was $30.9{\pm}6.41$ years. 64.2% (n=210) were working in Diyarbakir and 35.8% (n=117) in Batman. A large proportion reported low knowledge and inadequate screening practice Conclusions: Health employees should be better informed about the importance of screening for cancers, given their preventive roles for the general population.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• 제15권22호
• /
• pp.9649-9654
• /
• 2014

Background: Polyps are common lesions in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Colon cancer is mostly a result of progression from polyps. The present study aimed to evaluate demographic, clinical, and histological characteristics of colorectal polyps in Iran, particularly neoplastic and advanced types. Materials and Methods: Over a period of 10 years, specimens of all colorectal polyps obtained from colonoscopy were studied. The variables subjected to statistical analysis were age, sex, and the chief clinical complaint of the patients who underwent colonoscopy, their motivation, and the site, size, and histological types of detected polyps. The level of significance was set at p value <0.05. Results: Data were obtained from a total of 352 patients. No difference was seen between male and female patients regarding histological types. Only in nine patients was screening the reason for colonoscopy. Almost two-thirds (66.2%) of the polyps were neoplastic. Familial polyposis syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease were seen in 4.3% and 3.0% of the patients with neoplastic polyps, respectively. Sites of polyps were the sigmoid, rectum, and descending colon in 40.1%, 34.5%, and 17% of the cases, respectively. The advanced type made up 58.8% of neoplastic polyps. Only 3.6% of the patients undergoing colonoscopy in the study period had biopsied polyps. Discussion: No difference was observed between male and female patients in terms of overall incidence of polyps, histological and anatomical profiles, and mean age distribution. Anatomical and histological profiles agreed with the studies performed in areas with a low risk of colon cancer. The findings show that colonoscopy was not performed when it was necessary. A meaningful increase in the number polyp biopsy cases and a corresponding decrease in polyp size in the last few years of the study can be associated with the presence of more GI specialist clinicians in hospital centers, and this holds out much hope for the further improvement of the situation in the future.

• 한국어류학회지
• /
• 제18권4호
• /
• pp.355-362
• /
• 2006

본 연구에서는 2003년 4월부터 2004년 3월까지 우리나라 동해안 강원도 양양군 현남면 남애리 연안에서 어획된 참가자미의 연령과 성장에 관하여 조사하였다. 연령형질로서는 이석을 사용하였고, 윤문형성시기는 3~5월로 산란시기와 일치하였으며, 연간 1회 형성되어 윤문을 연륜으로 간주하였다. 비선형 회귀방법으로부터 추정한 참가자미의 von Bertalanffy 성장식은 암컷이 $L_t=37.2$ ($1-e^{-0.131\;(t+2.008)}$)이었고, 수컷은 $L_t=28.3$ ($1-e^{-0.177\;(t+2.135)}$)으로, 암수간에 성장의 차이가 있었다.