• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.236-244
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• 2020

Objectives: Although the World Health Organization (WHO) initiative "My 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene" has been lauded as effective in preventing hospital-associated infections, little is known about healthcare workers (HCWs)' hand hygiene behavior. In this study, we sought to assess knowledge and attitudes towards the concepts in this initiative, as well as associated factors, among Vietnamese HCWs at a general hospital. Methods: A structured questionnaire was administered to HCWs at a central Vietnamese general hospital in 2015. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with HCWs' knowledge and attitudes towards hand hygiene. Results: Of 120 respondents, 65.8% and 67.5% demonstrated appropriate knowledge and a positive attitude, respectively, regarding all 5 hand hygiene moments. Logistic regression indicated better knowledge of hand hygiene in workers who were over 30 years old, who were direct HCWs (rather than managers), who had frequent access to clinical information, and who received their clinical information from training. Those who worked in infectious and tropical disease wards, who had frequent access to clinical information, and who received information from training were more likely to have a positive attitude towards hand hygiene than their counterparts. Conclusions: Although many Vietnamese HCWs displayed moderate knowledge and positive attitudes towards the WHO hand hygiene guidelines, a key gap remained. Regular education and training programs are needed to increase knowledge and to improve attitudes and practices towards hand hygiene. Furthermore, a combination of multimodal strategies and locally-adapted interventions is needed for sustainable hand hygiene adherence.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.146-153
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the association between physical activity and vitamin D deficiency status among Korean adolescents. Methods: This is cross-sectional analysis of Korean adolescents aged 10-18 years from the 5th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(KNHANES 2010-2012; n=2,384). We estimated the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and identified the correlations with the strength of physical activity. $x^2$ test, t-test, and multiple logistic regression using complex sample analysis were done. The odds ratio of vitamin D deficiency by physical activity was calculated using complex sample multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 78.2%. The mean serum 25 (OH) D level in deficiency group and non-deficiency group was 14.4ng/mL, 23.7ng/mL respectively. Differences by age strata (the prevalence ranging from 68.5% to 86.3%) and gender (78.6% for boy and 84.5% for girl) were identified. Among adolescents aged 16-18 or girl in vigorous physical activity, a significant correlation between vitamin D deficiency and physical activity was observed, whereas no significant correlation were found among adolescents in moderate physical activity. Conclusion: In conclusion, vigorous physical activity was associated with vitamin D deficit in Korean adolescents. Thus, intervention programs enhancing vigorous activity than moderate activity need to be developed in schools and community.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.133-137
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• 2017

Periodontitis is the major causation of tooth loss in the elderly population. Multiple risk factors include oral microorganisms, smoking, metabolic syndrome, and genetic factors influence periodontitis development. In this study, we conducted a replication study of using previous Korean GWAS results by examining an independent population. The study population was recruited from Mir Dental Clinic, Daegu, Korea. In total, 93 samples were evaluated from July 2016 to January 2017. The sample groups include relatively older patients (>60 years) with no periodontitis (n = 31) and relatively younger patients (range 40~60 years) with severe periodontitis (n = 62). A total of seven markers which were previously reported to be associated with periodontitis were genotyped. Among the seven SNPs, rs16846206 and rs2392510 showed a significant association by logistic regression analysis and Chi square test, respectively. The former SNP showed significant association with severe periodontitis, whereas this study also showed same tendency in which individuals with the minor allele are significantly more frequent in cases than those in controls. The SNP is located on a coding gene (SLC9C2), where the alanine residue 505 is replaced by glycine (Ala505Gly). The later SNP was significant when differed between case and control groups, but there was no significance by logistic regression analysis when controlled for age and sex as covariant. Although the study population size examined in the current study was relatively smaller compared to previous studies, our results implicated that at least the two SNPs (rs16846206 and rs2392510) might be important candidates for the further genetic study.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.73-83
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• 2015

The objective of this study is to establish implications for forest restoration planning in North Korea by analyzing spatio-temporal forest changes and detecting bio-physical factors driving forest degraded. We measured the relationship and spatial distribution between shifting cultivation and sparse forest. We also analyzed between degraded forest land and ecological variables by binary logistic regression to find biophysical drivers of forest degradation and deforestation in North Korea. Between the sparse forest and the shifting cultivation, a positive relationship is found (r=0.91) and scattered discontinuously throughout the country (Moran's I = -1, Z score = -13.46 (p=0.000)). The sparse forest showed a negative relationship with the warmest month(bio 9), the coldest month(bio10), and the minimum of soil water contents (swc_min), while the shifting cultivation had a negative relationship with the warmest month(bio 9) and the minimum of soil water contents(swc_min). However, the most critical drivers convert forests into sloping farmland were the three months rainfall in summer(bio8) and the yearly mean of soil water contents. Such results reflect the growth period of crops which overlaps with the rainy season in North Korea and the recent land reclamation of uplands where the soil water contents are maintained with a dense forest. When South Korea aids forest restoration projects in North Korea, in consideration of food shortage due to North Korea's cropland deficiency, terrace farmlands where soil water contents can be maintained should be excluded from the priority restoration area. In addition, an evaluation method for selecting a potential restoration area must be modified and applied based on multiple criteria including altitude and socio-economic factors in the respective regions.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.53-62
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• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to analyze the association between dyslipidemia and periodontitis in Korean adults aged 30 and older. Methods: We examined 3,992 subjects participating in the 2015 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Periodontal status was evaluated using the community periodontal index (CPI). People with 3 or 4 CPI codes were classified as the periodontitis group. For statistical analyses, chi-square test and logistic multiple regression were used. Results: The prevalence of periodontitis was higher in men, people aged 70 and over, people whose income status was among the lower 25%, and people whose educational level was high school or lower (p<0.001). The prevalence of periodontitis was higher in people who brushed their teeth twice or less, those who did not use interdental cleaning devices, those who did not have a dental checkup in the last 12 months, and those who had not drunk or smoked (p<0.05). The prevalence of periodontitis was increased with individuals whose BMI was ≥25 kg/㎡, those whose glycated hemoglobin was ≥6.5%, and whose lipid levels were higher or lower than the normal range. In the logistic regression model, an increase in triglyceride was found to increase the prevalence of periodontitis (p<0.05). Conclusions: The study suggests that dyslipidemia, especially hypertriglyceridemia, is a predictor of periodontitis.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.328-333
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• 2015

Objective : The goal of this study was to assess the effect of high-dose simvastatin on cerebral vasospasm and its clinical outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in Korean patients. Methods : This study was designed as a prospective observational cohort study. Its subjects were aneurysmal SAH patients who had undergone aneurysm clipping or coiling. They were assigned to 1 of 3 groups : the 20 mg, 40 mg, and 80 mg simvastatin groups. The primary end-point was the occurrence of symptomatic vasospasm. The clinical outcome was assessed with the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score after 1 month and 3 months. The risk factors of the development of vasospasm were assessed by logistic regression analysis. Results : Ninety nine patients with aneurysmal SAH were treated and screened. They were sequentially assigned to the 20 mg (n=22), 40 mg (n=34), and 80 mg (n=31) simvastatin groups. Symptomatic vasospasm occurred in 36.4% of the 20 mg group, 8.8% of the 40 mg group, and 3.2% of the 80 mg group (p=0.003). The multiple logistic regression analysis showed that poor Hunt-Hess grades (OR=5.4 and 95% CI=1.09-26.62) and high-dose (80 mg) simvastatin (OR=0.09 and 95% CI=0.1-0.85) were independent factors of symptomatic vasospasm. The clinical outcomes did not show a significant difference among the three groups. Conclusion : This study demonstrated that 80 mg simvastatin treatment was effective in preventing cerebral vasospasm after aneurysmal SAH, but did not improve the clinical outcome in Korean patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.857-862
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• 2016

Background: The prevalence of infection by the liver fluke, Opisthorchis viverrini (O. viverrini), has remained high in Northeast Thailand where it is a major risk factor for the eventual development of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). The infection is acquired by the consumption of dishes containing unsafely prepared freshwater fish, a dietary tradition which has proved resistant to change. Since many people are aware that dosing with praziquantel (PZQ) is a successful treatment for an episode of the infection, there is a risk that, to avoid the long term consequences, they will engage in a cycle of infection, dosing and reinfection. Objectives: There is a dearth of studies of reinfection by O. viverrini, and the aims of this study were to assess re-infection rates in a typical province of Northeastern Thailand where O. viverrini infection is likely and to investigate factors associated with reinfection. Materials and Methods: A total of infected 607 villagers were treated with PZQ, and those found to be no longer infected were followed up at six-monthly intervals over 12 months. Results: At the end of this period data on 457 subjects were available for analysis using descriptive statistics and logistic regression, and 50 were found to have become reinfected, giving a cumulative reinfection rate of 10.9%. The results of a multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the only factor found to be associated with reinfection was past use of PZQ. Conclusions: Recommendations are made for future larger scale and better designed reinfection studies in the light of limitations of the current study. Further efforts are needed to discourage people from eating fish dishes likely to contain viable metacariae.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.7283-7288
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• 2013

Background: Tobacco use among adolescents is a major public health concern, and identifying predictors of smoking is necessary for planning prevention programs. The present study examined the relationship between refusal self efficacy, self esteem, smoking refusal skills and water pipe (hookah) smoking among Iranian male adolescents. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 380 Iranian male adolescents aged between 15-19 years selected by multistage sampling. The participants completed an anonymous, voluntary, self-report questionnaire. Variables independently associated with water pipe (WP) smoking were identified by multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: The mean age of the participants was $16.7{\pm}1.3$ years. The prevalence of WP smoking was 17.3%. Logistic regression analysis revealed that knowledge (OR=0.56; 95% CI: (0.37-0.79), attitude (OR=0.69; 95% CI: (0.52-0.89), self esteem (OR=0.67; 95% CI: (0.55-0.82), smoking refusal skills (OR=0.73; 95% CI: (0.55-0.87), and self efficacy (OR=.82; 95% CI: (0.61-0.93) were all signifcant prediting facotrs for adolescents WP smoking. Conclusions: The findings have implications for public health interventions. Indeed, self efficacy and smoking refusal skills should be considered when developing tailored measures for the prevention of WP smoking among adolescents.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.425-432
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Food insecurity has been suggested as being negatively associated with healthy behaviors and health status. This study was performed to identify the associations between food insecurity and healthy behaviors among Korean adults. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The data used were the 2011 Community Health Survey, cross-sectional representative samples of 253 communities in Korea. Food insecurity was defined as when participants reported that their family sometimes or often did not get enough food to eat in the past year. Healthy behaviors were considered as non-smoking, non-high risk drinking, participation in physical activities, eating a regular breakfast, and maintaining a normal weight. Multiple logistic regression and multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to identify the association between food insecurity and healthy behaviors. RESULTS: The prevalence of food insecurity was 4.4% (men 3.9%, women 4.9%). Men with food insecurity had lower odds ratios (ORs) for non-smoking, 0.75 (95% CI: 0.68-0.82), participation in physical activities, 0.82 (95% CI: 0.76-0.90), and eating a regular breakfast, 0.66 (95% CI: 0.59-0.74), whereas they had a higher OR for maintaining a normal weight, 1.19 (95% CI: 1.09-1.30), than men with food security. Women with food insecurity had lower ORs for non-smoking, 0.77 (95% CI: 0.66-0.89), and eating a regular breakfast, 0.79 (95% CI: 0.72-0.88). For men, ORs for obesity were 0.78 (95% CI: 0.70-0.87) for overweight and 0.56 (95% CI: 0.39-0.82) for mild obesity. For women, the OR for moderate obesity was 2.04 (95% CI: 1.14-3.63) as compared with normal weight. CONCLUSIONS: Food insecurity has a different impact on healthy behaviors. Provision of coping strategies for food insecurity might be critical to improve healthy behaviors among the population.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.265-273
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• 2009

A cross-sectional survey was undertaken to identify risk factors and clinical signs associated with parasitic helminth infections of cattle in Mymensignh district of Bangladesh. A nonrandom convenience sampling method was used to select 138 animals from 40 farmers/herds. The eggs per gram of faeces (epg) for nematodes and trematodes were determined by McMaster and Stoll's methods respectively. Animal-level and herd-level data were recorded by means of a questionnaire. Multi-collinearity amongst explanatory variables were assessed using $2{\times}2{\times}\;X^2$ test and one variable in a pair was dropped if $P{\leq}0.05$ formultiple logistic regression models. Association study between outcome and explanatory variables was conducted using classification tree, random forests and multiple logistic regression. A positive epg was considered as infected. Analyses were performed using $STATA^{(R)}$, version 8.0/Intercooled and $R^{(R)}$, Version 2.3.0. Seventy eight percent of the cattle were found to be infected with at least one type of helminth. Twenty four pairs of combinations of explanatory variables showed significant associations. Male animals (OR=3.3, P=.006, 95% CI=1.4, 7.7) were associated with significantly increased prevalence of nematode infection. Female cattle of the study area are mostly cross-breed, kept indoor, fed relatively good diet and not used for draught purpose. Males are used for draught purpose thereby more exposed to nematode infective stage and provided with relatively poor diet. So stressed male cattle may become more susceptible to nematode infection. All of the three statistical techniques selected gender and lumen motility as most important variables in association with nematode infection in cattle. The result of this survey can only be extrapolated to the periurban cattle population of traditional management system.