• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.125-138
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• 2007

Objectives: This retrospective study is to identify related factors of treatment success of patients with tuberculosis at community health centers. Methods: The subjects of this study were 1,417 patients with tuberculosis treated in 28 community health centers. The predictors of tuberculosis treatment success were analyzed in terms of 2 areas, which were characteristics of patients and health centers(TB control program). The characteristics of patients consist of 2 factors, such as demographic & diagnosis and treatment. The present conditions of health centers consist of 3 factors, location of centers, resources, and community activities. Data were analysed using X2- test and logistic regression methods. Results: The significant differences between success group and failure group were sex(p=0.003), age(p=0.013), job(p=0.000), type of patients(p=0.001), past history(p=0.029), BCG injection(p=0.009), sputum culture examination(p=0.017), period of treatment(p=0.000), location of center(p=0.001), population per staff(p=0.015), FTE(p=0.027), education days of staff(p=0.005), BCG injection rate(p=0.001), case detection rate (p=0.003), and health education provision rate(p=0.044). Then these variables were analysed using logistic regression analysis. Significant positive factors of treatment success were occupation(95% CI:1.3-6.1), periods of treatment(95% CI:1.5-2.2), center in large city(95% CI:1.2-16.7), center in middle city(95% CI:2.1-24.3), job education related TB(95% CI:1.02-1.3), and BCG injection rate(95% CI:1.1-303.4). Significant negative factors of treatment success were male(95% CI:0.1-0.5) and treatment after default(95% CI:0.005-0.5). Conclusions: Tuberculosis is still one of serious diseases in Korea, because it causes highest mortality rate among OECD countries. This study may provide information to improve treatment effectiveness of tuberculosis at community health centers.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.11-22
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• 2015

Objectives: This study was to examine the influences of community characteristics on the mortality rates. Community characteristics included socioeconomic environmental characteristics, health care resources, and health lifestyle practice. Methods: This study used secondary data whose units of analyses were 249 administrative districts. Mortality rates were estimated with hierarchical regression models entered in the order of (1) socioeconomic environmental characteristics, (2) health care resources, and (3) health lifestyle practice. Results: About 70% of mortality rate was explained by socioeconomic environmental characteristics, health care resources, and health lifestyle practice. In particular, socioeconomic environmental characteristics showed the strongest impact on mortality rate. Among socioeconomic characteristics, community with lower rate of households headed with college or more, lower number of inhabitants per on-premise license, higher rate of population in poverty, and rural region showed higher mortality rate. Among health care resources, community with higher number of inhabitants per doctor and lower number of inhabitants per hospital bed showed higher mortality rate. Among health lifestyle practice, community with higher current smoking rate and lower moderate physical activity practice rate showed higher mortality rate. Conclusions: The results suggest that policy makers should take into account socioeconomic environmental characteristics of community in developing community-based health promotion rather than focusing on lifestyle changes of residents.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.3031-3035
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• 2012

Background: Though open surgical biopsy is the procedure of choice for the diagnosis of bone tumors, many disadvantages are associated with this approach. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the role of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) as a diagnostic tool in cases of bony tumors and tumor-like lesions which may be conducted in centers where facilities for surgical biopsies are inadequate. Methods: The study population consisted of 51 cases presenting with a skeletal mass. After clinical evaluation, radiological correlation was done to assess the nature and extent of each lesion. Fine needle aspiration was performed aseptically and smears were prepared. Patients subsequently underwent open surgical biopsy and tissue samples were obtained for histopathological examination. Standard statistical methods were applied for analysis of data. Results: Adequate material was not obtained even after repeated aspiration in seven cases, six of which were benign. Among the remaining 44 cases, diagnosis of malignancy was correctly provided in 28 (93.3%) out of 30 cases and categorical diagnosis in 20 (66.67%). Interpretation of cytology was more difficult in cases of benign and tumor-like lesions, with a categorical opinion only possible in seven (50%) cases. Statistical analysis showed FNAC with malignant tumors to have high sensitivity (93.3%), specificity (92.9%) and positive predictive value of 96.6%, whereas the negative predictive value was 86.7%. Conclusion: FNAC should be included in the diagnostic workup of a skeletal tumor because of its simplicity and reliability. However, a definitive pathologic diagnosis heavily depends on compatible clinical and radiologic features which can only be accomplished by teamwork. The cytological technique applied in this study could detect many bone tumors and tumor-like conditions and appears particularly suitable as a diagnostic technique for rural regions of India as other developing countries.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.5053-5056
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• 2012

Background: Bladder cancer is one the most common malignancies of the genitourinary tract. The present study aimed to assess the epidemiology, of bladder cancer in Mazandaran, a large province in northern Iran as high-incidence cancer area, during a 2-year period. Methods: The data for this study were obtained from the population-based cancer registry of the Vice-Chancellory for Health Affairs of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences and Mazandaran hospitals between March 1, 2010 and March 1, 2011. Demographic data, including sex, age, residency and symptoms were investigated through careful review of medical records. Using a questionnaire protocol, several variables were assessed for these cases such as smoking, history of opium, vegetable consumption habits, and history of other cancers. Results: A total of 112 cases were analyzed, 98 (87.5%) in men and 14 (12.5%) in women (mean age of $68.0{\pm}14.6$ years). Urban and rural residence were 60.7% and 39.3%. Tobacco and opium use were found in 45.5% and 21.4% of patients, respectively. Approximately 60% consumed vegetables an average of fewer than one time per day. Hematuria was the first symptom in these cases which were mainly diagnosed as having bladder cancer by ultrasonography. Conclusion: The results showed that bladder cancer tends to be found in the elderly and the male to female ratio is high. Macroscopic hematuria is a very important symptom for indicating probably urothelial tumor that should be followed up patients with transabdominal ultrasonography as a routine modality.

• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.9
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• pp.514-519
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• 2016

Korean cattle (Hanwoo) are categorized into three breeds based on color: brown, brindle, and black. Among these breeds, brown Hanwoo has been subjected to intensive selection to improve meat traits. To identify genetic traces driven by recent selection in brown Hanwoo, we scanned the genomes of brown and brindle Hanwoo using a bovine SNP chip. We identified 17 candidate selection signatures in brown Hanwoo and sequenced four candidate regions from 10 individuals each of brown and brindle Hanwoo. In particular, non-synonymous SNPs in the ADSL gene (K88M, L189H, and R302Q) might have had mutational effects on protein structure as a result of altering the purine pathway during nucleotide breakdown. The ADSL gene was previously reported to affect meat quality and yield in livestock. Meat quality and yield are main breeding goals for brown Hanwoo, and our results support a potential causal influence of non-synonymous SNPs in the ADSL gene.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.187-210
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• 2005

The purpose of this study is to examine the spatial characteristics of the longevity phenomenon and long-live areas in Korea where a rapid aging process is undergoing. Population data from 1966 to 2000 at the county level are analyzed to understand aging process and changes of longevity degree by regions. The relationship between the degree of longevity and a region's natural environments and distance to a metropolis has been analyzed to understand regional factors of longevity. The findings from the study are summarized as follows. Firstly, the rural regions in Honam show the highest degree of longevity in the nation. Secondly, the areas of the high degree of longevity has recently shifted and/or expanded from the islands and seashore areas of southwestern region to inland mountainous areas around Soback Mountain. Southern islands and seashore regions used to show the nation's highest degree of longevity in the 1970s. Thirdly, the analysis of regional environment factors indicated that longevity has more related to a precipitation and an average altitude than temperature. Fourthly, in order to identify the longevity factors in urban areas, social and economic factors should be considered beyond the natural environmental factors.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.31-35
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• 2013

Thirteen soybean cyst nematode (SCN) (Heterodera glycines) populations collected in Korea were examined in their HG type by their reproductivity on 7 Plant Introduction indicators for the identification of HG type. Six HG types were identified, HG type 0, 2, 5, 2.5, 1.2.7, and 2.5.7. HG type 2.5 was the most frequent (4 samples, 30.8%), followed by HG type 2.5.7 (3 samples, 23.0%). About 76.9% of SCN populations were reproduced on PI 88788, followed by PI 209332 (61.5%), PI 548316 ('Cloud') (30.8%), and PI 548402 ('Peking') (7.7%). No population could reproduce on PI 90763, PI 437654, thus, they could be used for resistant source for developing SCN resistant soybean in Korea.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.487-498
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• 2015

The energy problem has occurred because of the effects of rising temperature and growing population and GDP. Prediction for the energy demand is required to respond these problems. Therefore, this study will predict heating and cooling energy consumption in residential sector to be helpful in energy demand management, particularly heating and cooling energy demand management. The AIM/end-use model was used to estimate energy consumption, and service demand was needed in the AIM/end-use model. Service demand was estimated on the basis of formula, and energy consumption was estimated using the AIM/end-use model. As a result, heating and cooling service demand tended to increase in 2050. But in energy consumption, heating decreased and cooling increased.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.219-228
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• 2017

Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate impact of increased tobacco price in 2015 on the adult smoking rate in South Korea. Methods: This study used 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2013 to 2015. Total 14,860 adults were included in the analysis. The chi-square test, univariate- and multivariate survey logistic regressions, and subgroup analysis were conducted. Results: Results show that adult smoking rate before price increase were 19.08% and after price increase were 16.69%. Adjusted by variables associated with smoking behavior and others, multivariate survey logistic regressions revealed that smoking rate decreased after introduction of increased tobacco price policy (odds ratio [OR], 0.745; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.575 to 0.967) and the impact was different by various social status (male: OR, 0.688; 95% CI, 0.523 to 0.905; age over 60: OR, 0.487; 95% CI, 0.315 to 0.754; rural area: OR, 0.531; 95% CI, 0.309 to 0.912; household income Q1: OR, 0.593; 95% CI, 0.352 to 0.999; household income Q4, OR, 0.616; 95% CI, 0.386 to 0.983). Conclusion: The study revealed decreased smoking rate after increased tobacco price policy and different trend depending on various social characteristics. We recommend that government agencies and policy makers should pursue tobacco price control policy continuously and population specific manner and concurrently non-price policy should be implemented as well.

• Journal of the Korean Regional Science Association
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.17-27
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• 2020

Baby boomers are the population group born between 1955 and 1974 in South Korea. They are the generation to grow up in the rural areas and it has been reported in the previous literature that a large part of baby boomers now hopes to return their hometowns after their retirement. The purpose of this study is to investigate factors that obstruct the baby boomers' residential relocation to their hometowns by in-depth interviews with three different types of baby boomers: returners, soon-to-be returner, and wanna-be returner. Findings of this study show that the reasons behind the hesitation to the migration may be grouped into four categories: concerns about insufficient jobs, lack of medical services, concerns about social relation network and poor cultural environment in their hometown.