• International Journal of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.9-20
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• 2023

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of collective efforts in promoting health preventive behaviors is accentuated, bringing sociopolitical factors into focus. To fully capture psychological drivers of health preventive behaviors in risk situations, anchored on the Model of Risk Information Seeking and Processing (RISP; Griffin, Dunwoody, and Neuwirth 1999), in retrospect of the recent COVID-19 pandemic, we explored whether and how individuals' vaccination behaviors are predicted by RISP-related variables (information insufficiency, affective responses, perceived information gathering capacity, subjective norms) and one's political identity. Findings from a survey of 705 adult participants in the U.S. showed that the effects of one's risk information insufficiency on his or her information seeking and affective response regarding the pandemic, which is also related to their risk susceptibility perceptions. More importantly, the impact of political identity on one's perceived risk susceptibility, and its association with vaccination behaviors are also identified. The findings of this study provide valuable insights for the development of effective health communication strategies for preventive health behaviors.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.116-133
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• 2001

Antifibrotic drugs could be delayed or inhibited massive collagen deposition in liver tissue or inhibited collagen synthesis. we investigated antifibrotic effects by several herbs(Schisnadra chinensis, Ganoderma japonicum, Sedum sarmentosum, Alisma canaliculatum, Plantago asiatica) extract with observations of collagen accumulation in liver tissue and collagen synthesis in sera. Rats were used for experimental animal that were devided 3 groups(sham control, BDL/S, BDL/S-ER). Rats were operated for inducing liver fibrosis(cirrhosis) by bile duct obstruction. Several herbs were prepared by water extraction and were applicated p. o. $3ml/day$ during 4 weeks. After observation period, rats were sacrificed and liver tissue and sera were collected. In result, the mortality of rats was 35% in BDL/S group and 20% in BDL/S-ER The color of bile juice in BDL/S-ER was bright yellow and murky yellow in BDL/S group. The significantly lower weight of liver($16.21g{\pm}5.3,\;20.58{\pm}2.4$) and spleen($1.96g{\pm}0.96,\;3.93{\pm}0.21$) were shown in BDL/S-ER than that of BDL/S(p<0.05) group. The value of collagen in liver tissue(25.7%) in BDL/S-ER was observed significantly lower than that of BDL/S group (Tab. 2). AST. ALT, ALP, t-bilirubin, BUN levels were low in BDL/S-ER as compared with those of BDL/S group, but the significance was not proven. The trichrome stained liver tissue in BDL/S-ER group was observed mild bile duct proliferation and fibrosis compared with BDL/S group. In conclusion, natural products inhibited new collagen synthesis and delayed massive collagen deposition in liver tissue, so that they have noticeable antifibrotic effects in experimental liver fibrosis(cirrhosis).

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral Health
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.118-123
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• 2018

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of fluoride-containing acidic tea beverages on bovine teeth surfaces. Methods: The pH values and fluoride concentrations of 11 kinds of mineral water and 23 kinds of tea were measured. The fluoride-containing Seopyenje black tea beverages with pH 3.48 were chosen for the experimental group. Distilled water that did not contain fluoride and had the same pH value as that of the Seopyenje black teas served as the positive control. The Jeju Samdasoo mineral waters with neural pH (pH 7.52) and no fluoride were chosen as the negative control. Bovine teeth in each group were submerged for 10 minutes. Thereafter, surface microhardness of each bovine teeth was measured and the results were analyzed. Results: The pH value range was 6.94-8.09 ($mean=7.37{\pm}0.08$) for the 11 kinds of mineral water and 3.48-6.74 ($5.62{\pm}0.05$) for the 23 tea beverages. Titratable acidity of the Seopyenje black tea beverages was higher than that of the distilled water mixed with citric acid, and the pH was 5.5 and 7.0, respectively. The fluoride content of the 11 kinds of mineral water was 0-1.09 ppm ($mean=0.44{\pm}0.02ppm$) that of the 23 tea beverages was and 0-0.74 ppm ($0.64{\pm}0.06ppm$). In terms of enamel microhardness reduction of the bovine teeth, the tea beverages had the largest effects. There was no significant difference in microhardness reduction between the tea beverages and distilled water mixed with citric acid (P>0.05). Conversely, a significant difference was found between the kinds of mineral water and tea beverages, and also between mineral water and distilled water mixed with citric acid (P<0.05). Conclusions: Acidic tea beverages appeared to erode the surfaces of bovine teeth. The amount of fluoride in the tea beverages was not enough to inhibit erosion. Therefore, frequent intakes of acidic tea beverage are likely to increase erosion on the surfaces of bovine teeth, by affecting the enamel microhardness of teeth.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.245-252
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• 2014

Arsenic is a unique element with distinct physical characteristics and toxicity whose importance in public health is well recognized. The toxicity of arsenic varies across its different forms. While the carcinogenicity of arsenic has been confirmed, the mechanisms behind the diseases occurring after acute or chronic exposure to arsenic are not well understood. Inorganic arsenic has been confirmed as a human carcinogen that can induce skin, lung, and bladder cancer. There are also reports of its significant association to liver, prostate, and bladder cancer. Recent studies have also suggested a relationship with diabetes, neurological effects, cardiac disorders, and reproductive organs, but further studies are required to confirm these associations. The majority of research to date has examined cancer incidence after a high exposure to high concentrations of arsenic. However, numerous studies have reported various health effects caused by chronic exposure to low concentrations of arsenic. An assessment of the health effects to arsenic exposure has never been performed in the South Korean population; thus, objective estimates of exposure levels are needed. Data should be collected on the biological exposure level for the total arsenic concentration, and individual arsenic concentration by species. In South Korea, we believe that biological exposure assessment should be the first step, followed by regular health effect assessments.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.71-81
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• 2005

Objective : To elucidate the correlates of self-rated fatigue in Korean employees. Methods : The data for 10,176 (men, 7,984; women, 2,192; mean age, 34.2; SD: 8.8) employees recruited from a nationwide sample were examined. A structured questionnaire was used to measure the participants' fatigue, sociodemographics (sex, age, education, and marital status), job-related characteristics (work duration, grade at work, work hours, shiftwork, employment type, and magnitude of workplace), and health-related habits (smoking, drinking, coffee intake, and exercise). Two types of measurement for fatigue were used to evaluate the magnitude of fatigue: self-rated question and a standardized measurement tool (Multidimensional Fatigue Scale: MFS). Results : According to the self-rated fatigue, 32% of employees reported that they felt fatigue for the past two weeks, and 9.6% of males and 8.7% of females had experienced excessive fatigue (6 months or more). Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that fatigue measured by MFS was more common in women, younger, college or more graduated, single, and employees who do not regularly exercise. Fatigue was also associated with long work hours, and the size of the workplace (<1,000 employees). Conclusions : These results suggest that fatigue has been considered as a common complaint, and that it is affected by job-related factors like work hours and the workplace size as well as sociodemographics or health-related behaviors. Further research is needed to clarify the effects of fatigue on adverse health outcomes, work performance, work disability, sick absence and medical utilization, and to examine the relationship of job characteristics (e.g.: work demand, decision latitude) to fatigue.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.37-48
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• 2020

Objective : In this article, we overviewed clinical Korean Medicine studies on dementia by analyzing papers published in Korea from 2010 to 2019. Methods : We explored research articles on dementia from 5 Korean research databases using the keyword 'dementia' and 'Korean Medicine'. We included original articles and reviews of clinical Korean Medicine and excluded single case study and experiment article of animal model. Then we analyzed them according to the published year, journal type, and research topics. Results & Conclusions : Research topics were classified into 'research trend', 'treatment', 'prevention', 'evaluation', 'medical expenses', 'collaborative practice' and 'others'. The largest number of articles were published in 2011(24.4%). 'Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry' was the journal with the most published articles(46.3%). In research topics, the analyses of research trend accounted for the largest portion(39.0%) and the articles about treatment for dementia or evaluation index in Korean medicine had the second largest proportion(14.6%). We hope that various researches for therapeutic effects, mechanisms and preventive effects of Korean Medicine in dementia would be conducted for future study.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2005

To evaluate the hypoglycemic effect of propolis, streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats were divided into 4 groups such as, diabetic control group, low dose of propolis (0.1 ml) group, medium dose of propolis (0.3 ml) group and high dose of propolis (0.9 ml) group and feeded with propolis extracts for 30 days. After experiment, oral glucose tolerance test (Oral GTT) was carried, and 16 hours fasting blood sugar levels, body weights, blood lipid levels were measured. Finally, pancreatic histopathological study was performed. In conclusion, the propolis is effective to the treatment diabetes due to the reduction of the blood sugar level and the regeneration of the damaged $\beta$-cells shown in streptozotocininduced diabetic rats.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.287-292
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• 2012

The results of this study intended to clarify the apoptotic effects of curcumin on Epstein-Barr virus transformed human B lymphoma (EBV-B) cells are summarized as follows: It was found that curcumin induced endoplasmic reticulum(ER) stress as well as apoptotic cell death in EBV-B cells, although the magnitude of action was insignificant. When EBV-B cells activated by pokeweed mitogen (PWM) were treated with the same concentrations of curcumin, it was found that higher ER stress (GRP78, P-PERK, XBP-1, ATF6, and CHOP expressed) increased unfold protein response (UPR) and thus, apoptosis attributed to ER stress, compared to non-activated EBV-B cells In conclusion, it is expected that curcumin will play an important role for leukemia treatment.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.75-83
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• 2003

In order to study the effects of Carthami Flos on the hyperlipidemia, we made hyperlipidemic model by injection of Triton WR-1339 150mg/kg to rats during 3 days. 1 hour after the final injection of Triton WR-1339, Carthami Flos extracts were administered to rats 2ml/200g(p.o.). And after 24 hours, we measured the levels of serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, phospholipid and HDL-cholesterol. The results are summarized as follows. 1) Serum total cholesterol levlel of Sample group was significantly decreased compared with Control group(p<0.05). 2) Serum triglyceride level of Sample group was significantly decreased compared with Control group(p<0.01) 3) Serum phospholipid levlel of Sample group was significantly decreased compared with Control group(p<0.05). 4) Serum HDL-cholesterol level of Sample group was significantly increased compared with Control group(p<0.05).

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.104-111
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• 2002

In order to study effects of ${\ulcorner}Palmi-Whan{\lrcorner}$ on the growth of rats, we divided the experimental rats into two groups(control&sample groups) and peformed the experimental study, Sample group was administered the extract of ${\ulcorner}Palmi-Whan{\lrcorner}$ 1.6ml／100g for 4 weeks, and control group was administered equal dose of normal saline. We measured the body weight, the length of femur and tibia, the level of serum growth hormone. The results are summarized as follows: 1. The body weight was significantly changed compared with control group(p<0.05). 2. The lengths of femur and tibia in the sample group was longer than that of control group, but it was not statistically significant. 3. The level of serum growth hormone in the sample group increased compared with control group, but it was not statistically significant.