• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.224-236
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• 1998

A study was conducted to investigate the blood lead and zinc protoporphyrin(ZPP) concentrations of the underground parking lot workers who exposed to vehicular exhaust aerosols which contained lead. The blood samples were collected from 25 study subjects of underground parking lot and from 33 controls in Taegu, from July to October, 1997. And also the related factors to the blood lead and ZPP concentrations were investigated. Blood lead concentration and ZPP concentration were measured by flameless furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer (1L.551) and hemetofluorometer, respectively. The mean blood lead concentrations of study subjects and controls were $23.10{\pm}20.77{\mu}g/dl$ and $12.99{\pm}12.71{\mu}g/dl$, respectively(p<0.05), and the mean blood ZPP concentrations of study subjects and controls were $40.72{\pm}9.46{\mu}g/dl$ and $38.21{\pm}10.97{\mu}g/dl$, respectively. No significant correlations were observed between the blood lead concentration of the study subjects and their job duration and between blood ZPP concentration of the study subjects and their job duration. There were no statistically significant differences in the blood lead concentration and the blood ZPP concentration of smokers and nonsmokers. In multiple regression analysis on blood lead concentration of the study subjects and controls, occupation was a only significant dependent variable. In case of bood ZPP concentration, age was a only significant dependent variable in the study subjects and controls.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.84-95
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• 2012

Background: In Korea, private health insurance has neglected to induce externality on national health insurance by moral hazard. Therefore, we conducted this study in order to explore the influence of private health insurance on unnecessary medical utilization among patients with cervical or lumbar sprain. Method: The study examined a population of 449 patients (admission, 384; out-patient; 85) diagnosed with simple cervical or lumbar sprain without neurological symptoms at 20 small hospitals or clinics in Gwangju and Jeollanam provinces from Jul. 1 to Aug. 31 2008. The data were collected using structured, self-administrated questionnaire which collected information such as whether or not the patient was admitted (as a dependent variable), whether or not they had private health insurance (as a independent variable), and covariates such as socio-demographic characteristics, the factors related to the sprain, and characteristics of the insurance provider. Results: From hierarchical multiple logistic regression analysis, it was found that the admission rate of patient with private health insurance was higher than that those without it (Odds ratio=3.31, 95% Confidence interval; 1.14-9.58), meaning that private health insurance was an independent factor influencing the admission of patients with these conditions. Other determinants of admission were patient age and physician referral. Conclusions: This study is the first empirical study to explore the influence of private health insurance on inducing moral hazard in admission services, specifically among patients with cervical or lumbar sprain. Regulation of benefits provided by private health insurance may be necessary, as the effect of this moral hazard may mean existence of externality.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.20-25
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• 2022

Background and Objectives Globus pharyngeus is one of the most common symptoms of patients visiting otorhinolaryngology out-patient clinic, and usually long-lasting, difficult to treat, and frequently recurrent. Mucomyst^®, N-acetyl cysteine is an inhalation agent mainly used for mucolysis and reducing inflammation in airway via antioxidative effect. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of inhaled Mucomyst^® treatment in patients with globus pharyngeus refractory to proton pump inhibitor (PPI). Materials and Method We prospectively evaluated the efficacy of Mucomyst^® in relieving symptoms of globus pharyngeus refractory to PPI in nine medical centers. Three hundred and three patients enrolled and finally 229 patients finished the inhaled Mucomyst^® therapy for 8 weeks. We analyzed the change of Reflux Symptom Index (RSI), Reflux Finding Score (RFS), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for globus, and Globus Pharyngeus Symptom Scale (GPS) after use of Mucomyst^® for 4 and 8 weeks. Results The GPS, RSI, RFS, and VAS score significantly decreased serially in patients who finished 8 week-inhalation treatment. The GPS improvement gap was significantly correlated with initial GPS (p<0.001) in multiple regression analysis. Conclusion Inhaled Mucomyst^® therapy was effective for the reduction of both subjective and objective findings in refractory globus patients. This study might suggest new treatment option for patients with globus. However, further thorough studies would be needed to assess the real effect of inhaled Mucomyst^® treatment as a standard treatment for globus.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.7
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• pp.942-952
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• 2008

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the quality of take-out services at restaurants in Chungbuk Province. A questionnaire survey by 450 customers who had experience in take-out service at the restaurants was conducted and 378 completed questionnaires were available for statistical evaluation. Statistical analyses were made of raw data by SAS V8.2. The scale for analyzing the importance and performance of the service quality was composed of 5-point Likert scales. The main results of this study are as follow: The quality attributes of take-out service were rearranged into four factors in terms of food, sanitation, access and service. The importance score was higher than performance score. IPA showed that 'freshness of food material', 'cleanliness and hygiene in food', 'sanitation of facilities', 'neatness of employees' and 'price in food' was included in 'focus here' area. There was significantly positive correlation between factors such as food, sanitation, access, service and overall customer satisfaction (p<.001); between factors and repurchasing intentions (p<.001); and between customer satisfaction and repurchasing intentions (p<.001). According to multiple regression analysis, 26.27% of the variance in respondents' overall satisfaction score and 9.21% of the variance in respondents' repurchasing intention score could be explained by factors such as food, sanitation, access and service.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.209-217
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• 2013

Adiponectin (AdipoN), brain-derived nerotrophic factor (BDNF) and leptin (LeP) are mainly secreted from adipose tissue and are known to be involved in regulation of the development of obese. However, there are not many studies on the association between abdominal fat and neuropeptides such as AdipoN, BDNF and LeP. The aim of this study was undertaken to investigate the association between abdominal fat thickness, neuropeptides and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. The participants in the study were 138 male employees without CVD. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute. Written informed consent for the participants in this study was obtained from all individuals. We obtained subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT) and visceral fat thickness (VFT) by using ultrasonography and neuropeptides levels were measured with ELISA kit according to the method suggested by kit manufacturer. The mean SFT and VFT were $1.58{\pm}0.51$ and $4.52{\pm}1.44$ cm. The mean concentrations of AdipoN, BDNF and LeP were $3.14{\pm}3.52$ ng/ml, $24.11{\pm}8.52$ pg/ml and $4.27{\pm}2.38$ ng/ml, respectively. VFT were positively correlated with total cholesterol (r=0.217, p<0.05), LDL-cholesterol (r=0.271, p<0.01), triglyceride (r=0.233, p<0.05) and insulin (r=0.338, p<0.01), but was inversely correlated with HDL-cholesterol (r=-420, p<0.01). AdipoN levels were positively correlated with HDL-cholesterol (r=0.220, p<0.05) and were inversely correlated with total cholesterol (r=-0.196, p<0.05), LDL-cholesterol (r=-0.190, p<0.05), triglyceride (r=-0.199, p<0.05), SFT (r=-0.195, p<0.05) and VFT (r=-0.412, p<0.01). However, LeP levels showed a reverse trend to AdipoN. AdipoN level was significantly higher in non-obese participants (BMI<25 kg/m), but LeP concentration was significantly higher in obese participants (BMI>25 kg/m) than in non-obese. On multiple logistic regression analysis, obese were significantly associated with AdipoN (odds ratio=0.784) and LeP (odds ratio=1.494). These results suggested that AdipoN and LeP concentrations are affected abdominal fat and that dysfunction and/or declination in the production and secretion of neuropeptides might induced ultimately obese and CVD.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.173-181
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• 1989

The effect of interpregnancy interval on birthweight of the subsequent child was investigated for the 1,347 womens of 25 to 40 years old age who visited OBGY and Pediatric department of the general hospital in Taegu city. Questions in designed questionnaire were asked by student interviewers who were trained in nursing school. Mean birth weight by interpregnancy intervals were compared by the intervals of 6 months. Mean birth weight increased from 3,250 grams for intervals of 6 months to 3,357 grams for intervals of 25-30 months, hut the difference was not statistically significant(=0.47). Correlations between the continuous variables which were suspected as con founders and interpregnancy interval and birth weight were investigated. The coefficient of correlation between maternal age and interpregnancy interval was 0.39, between gestational period and birth weight 0.30 and between prepregnant weight and birth weight 0.16 and between birth weight of first baby and birth weight(of second baby) 0.44. But maternal age, gestational period and prepregnant weight were not considered as confounder, because they were not correlated simultaneously with birth interval and birth weight. Associations between the discrete variables which were suspected as confounders, and interpregnancy interval were investigated by Chi-square test. Associations between interpregnancy interval and educational level of mothers, types of husband's occupation, types of medical security, sex were not significant(P-values were 0.59, 0.75, 0.75, 0.82 respectively), so we did not considered these variables as confounding variables. In multiple regression analysis of birth weight, significant variables were birth weight of first baby, gestational period, sex of neonate and prepregnancy body weight of mother. Of the 1,347 births, the rate of low birth weight was 2% (27 birth). The rate for interpregnancy interval 7-12 months was highest as 3.6% and that for 13-18 months was lowest as 0.6%, but there was no regular tendency related with interpregnancy interval.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.10
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• pp.1037-1041
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• 2006

Purpose : The prevalence of obesity and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH) was increased in adolescents. This study was performed to observe the prevalence of elevated aminotransferase levels in adolescents and to assess the correlations between aminotransferase levels and obesity related parameters(body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist to hip ratio and insulin level). Methods : We obtained weight, height, waist circumference and hip circumference from 2,417 male and 1,219 female adolescents. Mean age was $15.7{\pm}0.7$ years old. We measured fasting insulin, aspartate aminotransferase(AST) and alanine aminotransferase(ALT). Obese and overweight were defined as body mass indices(BMI) of more than the 95th, and 85th-94th percentiles, respectively, for age and sex. Results : The number of adolescents with obesity is 324(8.9 percent). 414(11.4 percent) subjects belonged to the overweight group. The average ALT level of obese, overweight and control groups were significantly different(obese : $32.1{\pm}34.3U/L$, overweight : $19.6{\pm}13.6U/L$, control : $12.7{\pm}6.7U/L$, P<0.001). The average AST level was also different according to group(obese : $27.8{\pm}16.5U/L$, overweight : $22.8{\pm}8.6U/L$, control : $20.8{\pm}8.5U/L$, P<0.001). AST and ALT were correlated with anthropometric parameters and insulin level. After multiple regression analysis, waist circumference was the significant predictive value for AST(r=0.234, P<0.001). Waist circumference, BMI and insulin levels were significant predictive values for ALT(r=0.435, P<0.001). Conclusion : The prevalence of abnormal aminotransferase was higher in the obese and overweight groups than control group. Waist circumference was useful to predict abnormal aminotransferase levels.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.21-31
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• 2015

Objective: This study was to evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among patients with diabetes in Korea and to compare them with the HRQoL of individuals without diabetes history. Methods: The study subjects were 17,655 adults aged over 19 who participated in the 5th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010-2012). The EuroQoL-5Dimension was used to evaluate HRQoL. Chi-square test, t-test, ANOVA and multiple regression analysis were performed to test the difference of HRQoL in diabetic subjects and controls. Results: The mobility dimension was the highest reported problem: 36.4% for diabetic subjects. The proportion of any reported problem was significantly high among diabetic subjects compared with two controls in terms of mobility [reference group: diabetic subjects, chronic controls: adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=0.77, 95% confidence interval (95% CI)=0.66-0.91, healthy controls: aOR=0.61, 95% CI=0.50-0.75], self-care [reference group: diabetic subjects, chronic controls: aOR=0.68, 95% CI=0.55-0.83, healthy controls: OR=0.69, 95% CI=0.51-0.94]. and usual activities [reference group: diabetic subjects, chronic controls: aOR=0.85, 95% CI=0.72-0.99, healthy controls: OR=0.79, 95% CI=0.62-0.98]. Also, EQ-5D index were significantly low in subjects with diabetes compared to two controls. Conclusions: Subjects with diabetes had a significantly lower HRQoL compared with two controls. To improve the quality of life of diabetics, it is necessary to study various variables related to the quality of life, and develop and manage various health programs or welfare policies reflecting socio-demographic characteristics and health related features that affect the quality of life.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.454-463
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship among the anthropometric measurements, body composition indices, biochemical indices and serum leptin level of obese school children. The study was conducted on 97 elementary school children from 4-5th grade residing in Daegu and Kyungbuk area. Obesity was defined as fat percentage that exceed 25% of body fat mass. The prevalence of obesity of subject was 58.3% for male and 54.1% for female. The mean value of height, weight, body composition indices and biochemical indices of obese group were significantly higher than those of control group. The leptin level was significantly different in obese group but showed no difference by gender. The differences of leptin level were according to adiposity and BMI in obese subjects. Multiple regression analysis data showed that the BMI and body fat mass may influence on the leptin level of subject. Also, these data revealed the leptin resistance in obese children and relationship between leptin level and various factors including anthropometric measurements, body composition and biochemical indices. Additional research should be necessary to assess the mechanism of leptin resistance in obese children.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.51 no.7
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• pp.571-583
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• 2006

To secure high yield and good quality of rice, plant growth and nitrogen (N) nutrition status should be taken into account for managing panicle N topdressing (PN). This research aimed at investigating the rice yield response to PN under different plant growth and N nutrition status that was conditioned by different rates of basal and tillering N fertilizer (BTN). Stepwise multiple regression (SMR) was used for the analysis of yield response to (i) BTN and PN, and (ii) shoot N content at PIS (BTNup) and shoot N uptake from PIS to harvest (PNup). Rice yield increased significantly as BTN and PN Increased, but there was no significant interaction between BTN and PN. Yield increased almost linearly with the increasing BTN and PN up to $10{\sim}12$ and $6{\sim}7\;kgN/10a$, and with the increasing BTNup and PNup up to $6{\sim}7$ and $5{\sim}6\;kgN/10a$, respectively. But yield increment tended to decrease above those levels. These declines resulted from the decreased ripened grain ratio and 1000 grain weight even though spikelet number per unit area increased more at above those N levels. Spikelet number per unit area had the linear relationships with the shoot N uptake until heading, and with yield. Like most yield response curves, yield response in this experiment followed the diminishing return function with BTNup, PNup, and plant N uptake from seeding to harvest. Regardless of the degree of BTNup and PNup, yield had a quadratic relationship ($R^{2}$>0.88) with whole shoot N accumulation until harvest, suggesting that the yield determination was closely related with the whole shoot N uptake until harvest regardless of the differences in seasonal shoot N uptake.