• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.24 no.3 s.35
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• pp.314-327
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• 1991

To evaluate the effects on health by exposure to mixed organic solvents, the author analyzed some labortory findings of blood (hemoglobin, hematocrit RBC, WBC, SGOT, SGPT) and urine (protein, blood, sugar) that were obtained from 722 workers (male:446, female:276) who worked in plywood, painting and shoes factories in Pusan area from January to December, 1990. The result were as follows ; 1. The mean values of each hematologic findings were all within normal limit but there were significant differences at hematocrit, RBC, WBC, SGOT in male and at WBC, SGPT in female at the comparison of the mean values and the distribution according to the normal criteria by type of work. 2. There were no differences in urinalysis(protein, blood, sugar) by type of work. 3. In stepwise multiple regression, analysis of hematologic findings on age, working duration and type of work, regression coefficients on age and type of work were relatively high in male and female sub1, respectively. As a result of this study, it is considered that the measurement of WBC with morphology is significant in hematologic findings and instead of spot urine and urinstix, 24 hours urine and quantitative analysis is required in urinalysis in screening test for healthy status of workers who deal with the organic solvents.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.21 no.2 s.24
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• pp.374-379
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• 1988

In order to prepare the fundamental data for preventing the hazardous effects at toluene exposure in many kinds of industry, the authors determined the level of urinary hippuric acid on 592 toluene exposed women(exposed group) and 102 unexposed women(control group) in Pusan area, from April. 1 to October 31, 1986. Hippuric acid was measured by high performance liquid chromatography. The results were summarized as follows; 1. The mean value of urinary hippuric acid concentration of the control group was $0.44{\pm}0.21g/l$(0.11-0.89g/l). The distribution of urinary hippuric acid concentration of the control group was not fit to the normal distribution. 2. The mean value of urinary hippuric acid concentration of the exposed group was $1.56{\pm}0.95g/l$(0.44-4.57g/l). The distribution of urinary hippuric acid concentration of control group was not fit to the normal distribution. 3. The urinary hippuric acid concentration by age group was not statistically significant in the control group, but in the exposed group the urinary hippuric acid concentration was highest in women between 20-29 years old($1.71{\pm}0.95g/l$) and was statistically significant(p<0.01). 4. The urinary hippuric acid concentration by duration of working hours was not statistically significant (p>0.1).

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.125-138
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• 2014

Objective : Polycan, exopolymers purified from Aureobasidium pullulans SM-2001 and calcium gluconate have been showed favorable inhibitory effects on the periodontitis and related alveolar bone losses through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, respectively. In the present study, we intended to observe the possible synergic effects of mixed formula consisted of Polycan and calcium gluconate on ligation-induced experimental periodontitis and related alveolar bone losses in rats, and to select the fittest compositions for further developing as effective agents to ameliorate periodontal diseases. Method : Experiments were conducted as two separated two tests - first is synergic effects of Polycan and calcium gluconate 1:1, 1:9 and 9:1 mixtures, and second is 1:99, 2:98, 4:96, 8:92 and 1:9 mixtures. Experimental periodontal diseases were induced by ligature placed around the cervix of upper left incisior teeth of rats. One day after ligation placements, 200mg/kg of each single or mixed formulas of Polycan or/and calcium gluconate were orally administered for 10 days. The changes on the alveolar bone loss index and maxillary bone mineral density (BMD) were observed for detecting alveolar bone losses, and for anti-inflammatory effects, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities and proinflammatory cytokine (tumor necrosis factor; TNF-${\alpha}$) contents were also evaluated in gingival tissues around ligature placed incisior teeth. The results of mixtures were compared with those of singe Polycan and calcium gluconate treated rat. Results : Each single or mixed formulas of Polycan or/and calcium gluconate favorably and significantly inhibited the inflammatory changes. The inhibitory effects of mixed formula consisted of Polycan and calcium gluconate 1:9 showed against periodontitis and related alveolar bone losses as compared with those of each Polycan and calcium gluconate single formula (p<0.05). In second experiment, Polycan and calcium gluconate 2:98, 4:96, 8:92 and 1:9 mixed formulas also showed significant increased anti-inflammatory and inhibitory effects against alveolar bone losses as compared with those of each single formula. Among them, Polycan and calcium gluconate 2:98 showed the highest efficacy against to ligation-induced experimental periodontitis and related alveolar bone losses. Conclusion : The results obtained in this study suggest that appropriated mixtures of Polycan and calcium gluconate showed synergic inhibitory effects against ligation-induced experimental periodontitis and related alveolar bone losses in rats. Moreover, Polycan and calcium gluconate 2:98 showed the highest efficacies in this experiment, suggesting the fittest composition for further developing as effective agents to ameliorate periodontal diseases.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.273-284
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• 2019

Objective: This study was performed to estimate the number of those who used humidifier disinfectants (HDs) and experienced health effects from exposure to HDs in Korea between 1994 and 2011. Methods: A nationwide interview survey was conducted for the representative sample to identify the proportion of those who used HDs among the general population (n=3,001). Another online survey was conducted for those exposed to HDs to find the proportion of those who experienced health effects among those who were exposed to HDs (n=3,993). Statistics for population size by region and year (1994-2011) were used to estimate the cumulative number of those exposed to HDs and those who experienced health effects. In terms of the proportion of those exposed to HDs, those less than 30 years of age were excluded due to an issue related to information bias. Various approaches for estimation included the capture-recapture method for estimation of those who experienced health effects. Results: The cumulative proportion of those exposed to HDs was 6.7% among the general population, and the proportion of those who experienced health effects among those who were exposed to HDs was 13.9%. Based on these factors, it was estimated that 3.5 to 4.0 million people were exposed to HDs and 350 to 400 thousand experienced health effects at least requiring visiting a hospital. Conclusion: It is suggested that a nationwide representative sample may be essential for population size estimation of those exposed to environmental risk factors and of those who experienced health effects.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.297-305
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• 1999

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate factors related to the intention of participation in a worksite smoking cessation program. Methods: To explain the health behavior of participating intention in a worksite smoking cessation program, the health belief model(HBM) was used as study model, and 144 self-administered questionnaires were completed by electronic company workers. Variables of the health belief model were composed of perceived susceptibility to smokinginduced disease, perceived severity of smoking-induced disease, economical gain as perceived benefit of smoking cessation, and nicotine dependency as perceived barrier of smoking cessation. Variables of sociodemographics, smoking status, knowledge about adverse health effects of smoking, and cues to smoking cessation were used as modifying factors. Results: Perceived severity(POR=1.99, 95% CI: 1.03-3.83), perceived benefit(POR=2.11, 95% CI: 1.07-4.17), and perceived barrier(POR=0.29, 95% CI: 0.11-0.76) were significant variables to the intention of participation in a worksite smoking cessation program in the logistic regression analysis. The perceived severity was significantly affected by knowledge about adverse health effects of smoking(POR=2.17, 95% CI: 1.23-3.84). The perceived barrier was significantly affected by education level(POR=3.66, 95% CI: 1.17-11.44), age to first cigarette (POR=0.32, 95% CI: 0.10-0.98), pack-years(POR=5.47, 95% CI: 2.37-12.61). To the Perceived benefit, the model was not fitted. Conclusion: Our results found that counterplans improving the knowledge about adverse health effects of smoking, preventing early smoking, and decreasing smoking amount should be considered for an effective smoking ban policy.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2003

Purpose : While there have been growing concerns about the effects of Asian dusts on health, there are few studies for relationship between Asian dusts and health outcome. This study was designed to examine the perceived symptoms and behavior change of children during the Asian Dust events. Methods : We surveyed 459 students at an elementary school in Seoul, Korea from November 20th to 27th 2002. Children with parents were asked to return the completed questionnaires within a week. The questionnaires included the sociodemographic factor, previous respiratory disease, and perceived symptom, hospital visits and behavior change during the Asian dusts. Results : The majority of children reported that they restrained going out and outdoor recreational activity during the Asian dusts. The rate of children who worn the mask was 49% and 47% in second grade and fifth grade, respectively. Regarding the perceived symptom during the Asian dusts, the children in 2nd were more likely to have symptom than 5th and there were significant difference between two groups in cough, asthma symptom, dry cough, phlegm and medication for allergy or asthma symptom. In addition, children who had previous disease were more likely to change behavior in order to prevent the effects of Asian dusts. Conclusions : This study suggested that the younger children and children who had past respiratory disease were susceptible to the effect of Asian dusts. There is a need for providing public information and health education to prevent the impact of Asian dusts on health.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.21 no.1 s.23
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• pp.152-162
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• 1988

Benzene and toluene, which are widely used aromatic hydrocarbons in workplace, are recently proved to cause health hazards due to their toxic effects. This study investigated the influence of toluene on the urinary excretion of benzene metabolite by administering short term exposure limit(STEL) of these compounds(i.e., 13.8mg/kg of benzene and 108.8 mg/kg of toluene) intraperitoneally into Sprague-Dawley rats. After administration, urinary phenol concentration of rat was measured by gas chromatography for every three hours. Data were analyzed by non-parametric statistical methods using Kruskal-Wallis multi-sample test and Mann-Whitney U test. The following results were obtained : 1. Administration of STEL-benzene increased urinary phenol concentration in lats. 2. Urinary phenol concentration was increased logarithmically according to the dosage of benzene. 3. Excretion of phenol in urine was decreased when benzene and toluene were administered simultaneously compared with administering benzene alone. In summary, these results reveal that administration of STEL of toluene has antagonistic effect of urinary excretion of benzene metabolite in rats.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.31-39
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• 2017

Objectives : This study was conducted to identify the effects of the program for preventing dementia on Korean medicine on the Knowledge of dementia, Preventive behavior, Depression and Hwa-Byung for elderly. Methods : A non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used with 41 elderly who were assigned to the experimental and control group. Study outcomes were measured by structured questionnaires from August to November 2016. For data analysis, the Chi-square test, the Fisher's exact probability test, t-test, the Mann-Whitney U test, were performed using SPSS version 20.0. Results : There were significant differences in Knowledge of dementia(U=112.500, p <.010), Preventive behavior (U=124.000, p =<.024), and Hwa-Byung (U=129.000, p =<.034) between the two groups in pretest and posttest. Conclusions : The findings have confirmed that the program for preventing dementia on Korean medicine is effective to improve Knowledge of dementia, Preventive behavior, and Hwa-Byung of community elderly. It can be recommended as a public health program for the elderly in communities.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.9-19
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• 2010

Objectives: This study is to identify the factors which affect children's preventive behavior for novel influenza A(H1N1) and to provide basic data to health education for children. Methods: The subject of this study were 551 children who were attending on the 4~6th grade in elementary school in Seoul. The data were collected using a self-reporting questionnaire for 5 days from October 12 through 16, 2009. Data were all digitized and analyzed using SPSS 17.0K. Results: As for relationship between preventive behavior and the other variables, correlations were observed with sensibility, self efficacy, respond efficacy and behavior intention, and it was statistically significant(p<.001). According to the result of analyzing factors affecting preventive behavior for Novel Influenza A(H1N1), it was affected by variables such as perceived threat, perceived efficacy, behavior intention. Behavior intention was the most influencing variable and has shown influence in order of self efficacy, sensibility, severity and respond efficacy as follows. Conclusion: The results showed effects on preventive behavior of perceived threat, perceived efficacy and behavior intention. It may be beneficial to improve empowerment for students to prevent influenza A(H1N1) by focusing on perceived threat, perceived efficacy, behavior intention.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.149-160
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• 2023

Purpose: Based on the health belief model and theory of planned behavior, this study investigated how age group (adolescence and emerging adulthood) moderated the relative effects of perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, and subjective norms on preventive behavior against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: This secondary data analysis utilized data from adolescents (n=272) and emerging adults (n=239). Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed to test the moderating effect of age group on the relationships among variables. Results: Higher perceived susceptibility (β=.21, p<.001), perceived severity (β=.14, p=.002), subjective norms (friends) (β=.26, p<.001), subjective norms (parents) (β=.44, p<.001), and subjective norms (schools) (β=.28, p<.001) enhanced COVID-19 preventive behaviors. Moderated regression analysis showed that subjective norms (friends and school) impacted preventive behavior in adolescents more than in emerging adults. Conclusion: Given the need to increase perceived susceptibility and severity among adolescents and emerging adults, these findings provide baseline data for designing effective COVID-19 prevention interventions that consider the developmental characteristics of different age groups. Interventions by health centers at universities can strengthen COVID-19 preventive behavior among emerging adults. As adolescents are influenced by friends, their peer roles must be strengthened to enhance adherence to COVID-19 preventive guidelines.