• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.127-136
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• 2022

Objectives : The study aimed to identify factors associated with suicidal attempt in Korean adults experiencing thoughts of suicide. Methods : This study analyzed outcomes of suicidal behavior in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2015, 2017, and 2019. This survey was administered by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). The suicidal idea group was divided into individuals who had attempted suicide (n=92) and those who had not (n=831). Complex samples crosstabs analysis was conducted to compare the two groups' sociodemographic, psychiatric, and clinical characteristics. In addition, factors related to attempted suicide were investigated using complex samples logistic regression analysis. Results : The attempted suicide group had significantly higher rates of depression, recent psychiatric counseling, and suicidal plan (p<0.001) than the non-attempting group. In addition, the groups differed significantly in the frequency of binge drinking and smoking (p<0.05). Adjusted multivariate analysis revealed that the presence of a suicidal plan (Odds ratio [OR]=8.46, 95% Confidential Intervals [CI]=4.72-15.00), daily binge drinking (OR=3.14, 95% CI=1.26-7.84), psychiatric counseling within the past year (OR=3.03, 95% CI=1.75-5.23), low income level (OR=2.89, 95% CI=1.17-7.10), and history of depression (OR=2.39, 95% CI=1.29-4.42) were significantly associated with suicidal attempt. Conclusions : Factors associated with suicidal attempt among suicidal ideators in the general Korean population were identified across all sociodemographic, psychiatric, and clinical variables. Assessment of and intervention in suicidal plan, binge drinking, income level, and depression might prevent progression to suicidal attempt among those contemplating suicide.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.16
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• pp.7295-7302
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• 2015

Background: Lung cancer has been a major health problem in developed countries for several decades, and has emerged recently as the leading cause of cancer death in many developing countries. The incidence of lung cancer appears to be increasing more rapidly in rural than in urban areas of China. This paper presents the trends of lung cancer incidence and survival derived from a 40-year population-based cancer monitoring program in a rural area, Qidong, China. Materials and Methods: The Qidong cancer registration data of 1972-2011 were used to calculate the crude rate, age-standardized rate by Chinese population (CASR) and by world population (WASR), birth cohort rates, and other descriptive features. Active and passive methods were used to construct the data set, with a deadline of the latest follow-up of April 30, 2012. Results: The total number of lung cancer cases was 15,340, accounting for 16.5% of all sites combined. The crude incidence rate, CASR and WASR of this cancer were 34.1, 15.7 and 25.4 per 100,000, respectively. Males had higher crude rates than females (49.7 vs 19.0). Rapidly increasing trends were found in annual percent change resulting in lung cancer being a number one cancer site after year 2010 in Qidong. Birth cohort analysis showed incidence rates have increased for all age groups over 24 years old. The 5 year observed survival rates were 3.55% in 1973-1977, 3.92 in 1983-1987, 3.69% in 1993-1997, and 6.32% in 2003-2007. Males experienced poorer survival than did females. Conclusions: Lung cancer has become a major cancer-related health problem in this rural area. The rapid increases in incidence likely result from an increased cigarette smoking rate and evolving environmental risk factors. Lung cancer survival, while showing some improvement in prognosis, still remains well below that observed in the developed areas of the world.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.231-240
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• 2000

The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between life style and health status of the staffs of an elementary school to understand exercise practices and life styles and to analyze the self-efficacy and the factors that affect it concerning walking exercise. The subjects were m9 staff member of the 10 elementary school in Seoul and materials were collected through an organized examination table from October, 1999 to May 2000. The people health awareness table was used as a variable for life style, the 13 questionnaires made of a 5 points measure was for the self efficacy concerning walking exercise. The data was analyzed through a statistics package made of a Chisquare-test, t-test, ANOVA and a regression analysis. The major results of this study were as follows; 1) 50% of the staffs were practicing regular exercise, 3/4 of them practiced walking, jogging and mountain climbing that don't need equipment and exercise frequency was 1-2 times per week 64%. of the time and exercise span was under 30 minutes in 38%, the highest 2) The average of self-efficacy concerning walking exercise was 3.6 points but the answers "I can walk enough to be in a sweat", "I can walk according to my exercise plan" were relatively low. 3) The explanation degree of the Model was 14% in a regression analysis between self efficacy concerning walking exercise and as a dependent variable for a regular walking exercise plan, regular health examination, routine health status, and breakfast might serve as an explanation degree. According to the results of this study, the suggestions were as follows: 1) The chronic invalid was not enough in the change of life style after chronic disease, most of all, it need the awareness of change, of active health education and of public information for health promotion action practice through the prohibition of smoking, abstinence from drink, exercise and nutritional balance. 2) Concrete practice program enlargement is needed to enhance related walking exercise or of a type lecture meeting for subjects who have a positive attitude about walking exercise plans. 3) A program that can actively recommend a health promotion life style is needed when we make allowance for those who have an ordinarily healthy life style and show a high walking exercise self-efficacy.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.335-347
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• 2019

This study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between social support and depression of the elderly in care facilities. We enrolled 328 elderly people aged 65 years or older, admitted to 15 care facilities located in D metropolitan city. Data were collected through personal interviews conducted by interviewers who visited each care facility, from March 1 to May 31, 2018. Our results indicate a significantly higher distribution of depression in the group having lower social support; the score of depression was determined to be in a significant positive correlation with social support. Considering logistic regression, the adjusted odds ratio in the depressed group increased significantly by 2.7 times in the high group (Q3), 5.4 times in the middle group (Q2) and 10.1 times in the low group (Q1), which had the very high group of social support score. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the factors influencing depression include religion status, relationship with children, subjective health status, physical disabilities, smoking status, breakfast status, and social support, and the explanation power of the injected variables is 41.1%. Taken together, our findings indicate that the level of depression amongst the elderly in care facilities is significantly related to the social support available.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.528-533
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• 2004

The immune system acts to protect the host from infectious agents that exist in the environment and from other noxious insults. The immune system has two functional divisions: the innate and the acquired. Both components involve various factors such as cytokines. A number of methodologies exist to assess aspects of immune function. There are large inter-individual variations in many immune functions even among the healthy. Genetics, age, gender, smoking habits, habitual levels of exercise, alcohol consumption, diet, stage in the female menstrual cycle, stress, history of infections and vaccinations, and early life experiences are likely to be important contributors to the observed variation. While it is clear that individuals with immune responses significantly below 'normal' are more susceptible to infectious agents and exhibit increased infectious morbidity and mortality, it is not clear how the variation in immune function among healthy individuals relates to variation in susceptibility to infection. Oriental medicine is an important factor contributing to immune competence. The author investigated the immune enhancement effects of Bojungikkitanggami-bang (BITB). The forced swimming test (FST) has been used as a screening model for new immune enhancement agents. In the present study, the author investigated the effects of BITB on FST and blood biochemical parameters related to fatigue, glucose (Glc); blood urea nitrogen (BUN); lactate dehydrogenase (LDH); creatinine; and total protein (TP). The author found that BITB (1 g/kg) significantly reduced the immobility time in the FST compared to the control. In addition, the contents of Glc, LDH, BUN, TP in the blood serum were increased in BITB (1g/kg)-fed group. Also, the author investigated the effects of BITB on the production of cytokines in human T-cell line, MOLT-4 cells. BITB (1 mg/ml) significantly increased the interferon (IFN)-vproduction compared with media control (about 2.2-fold for IFN-γ) at 24 h. However, BITB has not affect the production of IL-2 and IL-4. In addition, BITB increased the protein expression level of IFN-γ in MOLT-4 cells. Thus, BITB may have therapeutic value in generating or enhancing immune function in a clinical setting.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.123-140
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• 2009

Objectives: This literature review was conducted to understand overall research trend and change in school health education during the past 20 years and to identify major outcomes and future directions of research. Methods: Descriptive literature review was conducted for school health education in Korea. A total of 117 peer-reviewed journal articles and thesis published between 1900 and 2008 (for 19 years) conducted in school were finally included in this review process. The research setting should be elementary, middle, or high schools and the major topic of the research should health education for students. Results: Research in elementary school was 38.0% which was greater than research in middle or high school setting. Surveyor intervention research was slightly increased in 2000s. General health and other review were the most frequently employed topics in 1990s' research and general health, smoking, and safety were in 2000's research, which implied that recently research specified its topics more than 1990s' research. Recently research was developed in intervention model comparing with 1990s' research. Research using experimental or quasi -experimental design seems having less intervention effects than the research using nonexperimental design. Conclusions: It is necessary that health education research in school focuses more in students' interest, participation, and factors related to intervention effects from now on.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.423-432
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to provide basic data to promote health in middle-aged Koreans (40-59 years old) by understanding health behaviors that affect high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level among various health behaviors. In a national health and nutrition survey, raw data combined on a total of 7,406 persons, IV-3 (2009), V-1 (2010), V-2 (2011), V-3 (2012), and VI-1 (2013), were selected as the final analysis subjects. HDL cholesterol was divided into two groups: less than 40 mg/dl and more than 40 mg/dl. The results of multiple logistic regression analysis were as follows: OR=3.916 for males, OR=3.439 for normal than low weight, OR=7.336 for obesity than low weight, OR=1.629 for alcohol consumption, OR=1.498 for smokers, OR=1.426 for don't practice moderate physical activity, OR=1.264 for no walking exercise, OR=1.510 for carbohydrates normal intake than low intake, OR 1.787 for carbohydrates over intake than low intake when HDL cholesterol increased from 40 mg/dl to less than 40 mg/dl. Korean middle-aged high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels should be increased to maintain proper health through aerobic exercise, smoking cessation, proper drinking habits, obesity relief, healthy eating out, and healthy food choices. This requires continuous publicity and education within the community, and a social environment should be built that enables health behavior to be practiced in daily life.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.478-482
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• 2011

Purpose: Free flap reconstruction is performed on defects including benign and malignant tumors as well as trauma in the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery, but there are few reports of free flap reconstruction cases for oral cancer in patients in Korea. Methods: This study was designed to retrospectively analyze surgical outcomes and complications of 164 free-flap reconstructions performed at the Oral Oncology Clinic, National Cancer Center, during 2002~2011. A total of 164 free flaps were performed for reconstruction of oral and maxillofacial defects which were caused by oral cancer and osteoradionecrosis in 155 patients. Results: The present study had 162 successful cases and 2 failed cases for a total of 164 cases. The study had a success rate of 98.8% for free-flap reconstructions. Flap donor sites included radial forearm free flap (n=93), fibula osteocutaneous free flap (n=25), anterolateral thigh flap (n=18), latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap (n=16) and other locations (n=12). Postoperative medical complications were generally pneumonia and delirium. Postoperative local complications occurred including partial flap necrosis, delayed wound healing of the donor site, infection of the recipient site and salivary fistula. The incidence of postoperative complications and patient-related characteristics including age, sex, smoking, history of radiotherapy, hypertension (HTN) and diabetes Mellitus (DM) were retrospectively analyzed. Patient age ($P$=0.003) and DM ($P$=0.000) and HTN ($P$=0.021) were significant risk factors for complications overall. Conclusion: The present study had no mortality and confirms that free-flap reconstructions are extremely reliable in achieving successful results.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.312-321
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• 2013

Objective: In May 2011, an interview with three United States Forces Korea veterans revealed that chemicals believed to be 'Agent Orange' were buried at Camp Carroll (situated in Waegwan, Chilgok-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea) in 1978. Many hazardous chemicals, such as perchloroethylene (PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), and organochlorines were subsequently found in a joint US-ROK environmental investigation, although dioxins or burial evidence related to 'Agent Orange' have been not uncovered. This study was carried out to investigate the relevance of hazardous chemical exposure and health effects of the residents around Camp Carroll. Methods: The authors conducted a health questionnaire survey among residents around Camp Carroll regarding Waegwan groundwater ingestion, length of residence in Waegwan, and physician-diagnosed disease history (such as cancer, hypertension, diabetes and etc.). Logistic regression was performed to identify the associations between hazardous chemical exposure and physician-diagnosed diseases. Results: Among the 5,320 residents, excluding those living outside the Waegwan area, 3,430 subjects age 30 and over were analyzed. Among females, upon correction of age, smoking history and Camp Carroll working history, a higher distribution in the Waegwan groundwater ingestion group was demonstrated for patients with physician-diagnosed cancer and hypertension. The odds ratios have a tendency to increase with increased length of Waegwan groundwater ingestion. Conclusions: This study may be limited by not adopting a cohort study for the evaluation of factors that may confound environmental exposure. Yet it is meaningful that the correlation between Waegwan groundwater ingestion and chronic diseases were found through regression analysis in female; and further, this outcome may be used as a sampling basis for a secondary epidemiologic study.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.4301-4306
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• 2013

Aim: Apoptosis has been considered as a fundamental component in cancer pathogenesis, and related genetic factors might play an important role in gastric cardiac adenocarcinoma (GCA) genesis. Methods: We conducted a hospital based case.control study to evaluate the genetic effects of functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): BCL2 rs17757541 C>G, BCL2 rs12454712 T>C, FAS rs2234767 G>A, FASL/FASLG rs763110 C>T, ERBB2 rs1136201 A>G and VEGFR2/KDR rs11941492 C>T on the development of GCA. A total of 243 GCA cases and 476 controls were recruited for the study and genotypes were determined using a custom-by-design 48-Plex SNPscan$^{TM}$ Kit. Results: The BCL2 rs17757541 C>G polymorphism was associated with increased risk of GCA. However, there was no significant associations with the other five SNPs. Stratified analyses indicated a significantly increased risk of GCA associated with the BCL2 rs17757541 C>G polymorphism among males, older patients and those with a history of smoking or drinking. Conclusion: These findings indicated that the functional polymorphism BCL2 rs17757541 C>G might contribute to GCA susceptibility. However, our results were limited by small sample size. Future larger studies are required to confirm our current findings.