• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.35-45
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• 1989

This study was carried out from June, 20, to October 22, 1988, for the purpose of researching on the complaint ratio of Respiratory symptoms of the dental laboratory technicians in Seoul. In this study, aiming to find out complaint ratio of respiratory symptoms of the dental laboratory, SNU-81-AL were applied, at random, to 193 dental laboratory technicians at 39 dental laboratories, as the research group, and to 178 clinical laboratory technicians at 10 general hospitals, as the control group, and above two groups were compared with each other. The following results were obtained from this research. 1. The quantity of respirable dust under 5$\mu$m measured at the dental laborartories was, on an average as well, 5$mg/m^3$-minimum 1.56$mg/m^3$), and the density of CO was, on an average as well, 5.0ppm(Mx 7.0-Mn 3.0). 2. The complaint ratio of five main respiratory symptoms(cough, phlegm, wheezing, nasal catarrh & cold, breathlessness) was, on an average, 44.3% at the dental laboratory technicians, phlegm was the major symptom complained by the greatest number of the technicians. 22.4% of the clinical laboratory technicians complained above 5 main respiratory symptoms, nassal catarrh & cold was the mostly complained symptoms among them. There showed a consideraly significant difference at the complaint ratio between the above 2 occupations(P<0.005). 3. There showed no paticular significant difference between male and female, at the complaint ratio of the dental laboratory technicians. However, there showed a considerable significant difference according to their sexuality, in case of the clinical laboratory technicians. 4. Considered from th view point of age, the highest age group was 20-29 with its average 48.5%, in case of dental laboratory technicians. The highest age group among the clinical laboratory technicians was over 40 age with its 28.7%. There showed no particular significant differences between to tow occupations. 5. Considered from the view point of work period, the highest work period group was 0-3 years with average 47.8%, in case of dental laboratory The highest work period group among the clinical laboratory technicians was 16 years with its 25.2%. There showed no particuar significant differences between the two occupations. 6. Considered from the view point of smoking, phlegm was complained by much more smokers than non-smokers, in both occupations. In case of non-smokers, many complained about nassal catarrh & cold. There showed no particular significant differences between the smokers and the non-smokers.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.261-270
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• 2008

Adjusted water fluoridation has been disputed because of its various effects on human health. Previous studies have been concerned with the difference in bone mineral density (BMD) between water fluoridated (WF) and none water fluoridated (NWF) districts. The aim of this study is to examine whether water fluoridation affects BMD. BMD was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). 386 adults(174 males and 212 females) in Ansan (WF) district and 399 adults (176 males and 223 females) in Sihwa (NWF) district, participated in this study. The Ansan and Sihwa districts are similar in residential environment and living class. The relationship between serum fluoride concentration and BMD was also examined by analysis of the serum fluoride concentrations from 402 inhabitants of the Ansan district. In females, the BMD of subjects living in Ansan ($0.457{\pm}0.008$) was a little higher than that of Sihwa subjects ($0.446{\pm}0.008$), although it is not significant, after adjusting for BMI, physical activity level, educational achievement, smoking volume, menopause status, and number of births. However, the BMD of Ansan subjects ($0.532{\pm}0.020$) in their forties was statistically higher than that of Sihwa (0.498{\pm}0.019). No relationship was found in males. In residential periods, there was significant difference (Ansan $0.467{\pm}0.013$, Sihwa $0.434{\pm}0.012$, p=0.0125) in the BMD between females of two districts, particularly in the group of over 6 year long-term inhabitants. On the contrary, there was no remarkable difference in males from the two districts. Serum fluoride concentrations in females were associated with BMD, especially in the age group of forties (p=0.0457). No relationship was observed in the male group. Analysis of adult BMD over the age of 20 in a water fluoridated and a none water fluoridated district, confirms more or less a higher BMD in the water fluoridated (WF) district, especially for females. It is assumed that the difference between two districts came somewhat from the effect of water fluoridation.

• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
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• v.8 no.11
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• pp.1785-1792
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• 2013

For patients suffering from spinal cord injuries, both of the possibility of having complications with the respiratory system and the related fatal rate are still high, while pneumonia is the most important cause of these fatalities. This research was carried out to find out what effects does a breathing exercise have on the respiratory functions and the improvement in the quality of life. The study was carried out for male patients suffering cervical spinal cord injuries for the purpose of inspiratory muscle strengthening. The objects of the study were 17 non-smoking-at-present male patients with C4 to C6 cervical spinal cord injuries. They had practiced inspiratory muscle strengthening training for three times a week for six weeks. The quality of life and the dyspnea (breathing difficulty) were self-measured before and after the training. As a result, the change in respiratory function was only significantly reduced (p<0.01) within the chronic group. In terms of the changes in the quality of life, the sub-acute group has only seen a significant improvement (p<0.05) for the VT(vitality), while the chronic group has seen significant improvements(p<0.05, p<0.01) in: GH(general health); BP(back pain); and VT(vitality). In this research, the inspiratory muscle strengthening has reduced the dyspnea (breathing difficulties) and improved the quality of life.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.19-32
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• 2004

This study was conducted to evaluated musculoskeletal subjective symptoms and the degree of stress of industrial workers to present fundamental materials of preventive oriental medicine for improving their health and quality of life. During the medical examination with oriental medicine method, presence of subjective symptoms of musculoskeletal pain, Psychosocial Well-being Index(PWI) and life style were checked by using questionnaire method in 474 industrial workers. The collected data were analyzed with crosstabs, ANOVA and T-test. The results were as follows; 1. In general differences according to musculoskeletal subjective symptoms, education level of high school graduation had significantly higher distribution than that of below middle school or above university graduation in the pain present group. 2. In the musculoskeletal subjective symptoms and the degree of stress, all of Factor1, Factor2. Factor3, Factor4. and PWI had higher score in pain present group than in pain free group and the difference was statistically significant. 3. According to degree of stress and general character of subjects, single and education level of high school graduation had high score in Factor2, Factor3 and PWI. Factor1 and Factor3 was high in income group of low 1.49 million won. Factor2, Factor4, and PWI was high significantly in income group of 1.50 - 2.99 million won. In job type, manufacturing worker group had significantly high score in Factor3. 4. In degree of stress and life style difference, there was significant difference in PWI score in the field of alcohol chinking, smoking, exercise, obesity except sleeping hours. In the present study. as a result, it is found out that musculoskeletal subjective symptoms present group had higher score in psychosocial stress across the fields than symptom-free group and it is recommended that continuous studies on the relationship of job-related musculoskeletal disorders and psychosocial stress should be performed for improvement and prevention of mental and physical health of industrial worke

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.59-74
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• 2004

We have conducted questionnaire and measured serum liver function tests on 153 patients whom have received a treatment at a local Oriental medicine clinic in Seoul from Sept. 1, 2002 to Dec. 31, 2002. Patients were categorized into the groups of control(10), decoction group(41), herbal group(5), western medicine group(45), and the group taking both herbal and western medicines(55) concurrently or separately. This study was conducted to investigate how these treatment methods can affect the liver functions. Following results were obtained : 1) Most of the research subjects were male(l03 individuals) living in large urban area, with drinking habit, highly educated, and with normal marriage. For the treatment history, 45 individuals received western medicine treatment(28.85%), 46 with Oriental medicine (29.49%), and 55 patients(35.26%) experienced both forms of treatment. 2) Measuring SD of serum liver functions for all the research subjects, T-protein was 6.95(0.73)g/dl, 4.07(0.51)g／dl for albumin, 0.44(0.19)mg／dl for T-bilirubin, 23.18(18.68)U／L for ALT, 27.42(27.43)U／L for AST, and 22l.27(64.58)mg／dl for LDH. 3) Among the research subjects with the liver functions outside of normal range were 0.64% for T-protein, 3.21% for T-bilirubin and ALT, 36.62% for AST, 0.64% for LDH, and none for Albumin. 4) Confusion variables which may affect the liver functions such as age, smoking, drinking, occupation, and residence were eliminated in calculation and no significant differences were witnessed between the control and experiment groups. 5) In measuring affects of treatment duration on the liver functions, no statistical significances were shown in multiple regression's ,${\beta}$(SE) values. 6) The values of odd ratio in the experiment groups compared to the control were in the range of $0.26(0.22){\sim}0.62(1.23)$. but T-bilirubin of the group receiving both Oriental and western medicine was 1.47(1.90) which showed statistical increase(p<0.001). 7) Factors affecting the liver functions are drinking volume per round duration of alcohol intake, western medicine treatment, gender, and age difference caused significant influences. 8) 57 individuals with serum liver functions out of normal range were mostly male, living in large urban area, median age of 38.89, with normal marriage, highly educated drinking less than once a week with less than 2 bottles per round, and with prior treatment in either western or Oriental medicine. Summarizing above results, we can carefully deduce that taking herbal medicine (both decoction and pills) or western medicine doesn't cause much affect in the liver functions. But taking two forms of medication simultaneously or altering dosage affect significant increase in the T-bilirubin level, thus one needs to take precaution when taking both. Further research is needed in this field to verify this evidence.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.355-361
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• 2009

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are environmental carcinogenic compounds that arise by several means including food processing methods such as smoking and direct drying and cooking. This study examined the concentration of PAHs in sesame oils with various roasting temperatures (190, 220 and $250^{\circ}C$), methods (direct heating vs. indirect hot air heating), and times (5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 min). The PAHs in the sesame oils were analyzed using liquid-liquid extraction and solid-phase clean up (Florisil), followed by HPLC with fluorescence detection. According to the results, mean levels of total PAHs increased when the sesame oils were roasted at increasing temperatures and times. The sesame oil roasted at $250^{\circ}C$ for 25 min had the highest mean value of total PAHs (4.66 ${\mu}g$/kg). The results of this study suggest that the indirect hot air roasting method decreased PAH formation during sesame oil processing.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.138-142
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• 2007

Background: Depression is a frequent comorbid disease of chronic pain patients. This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of depression and to correlate associated factors and depression in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. Methods: The data of this survey was collected from 97 patients that visited our pain clinic for the management of lumbar spinal stenosis. Depression was examined by a self-reported survey using the Korean version of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and the life satisfaction scale score were also obtained. Demographic and clinical characteristics (including spouse status, employment status, smoking status, the number of patients with multiple painful areas, the number of patients with combined disease, pain duration, visual analogue scale, Roland 5-point scale and walking distance) were obtained from an interview with the patient. The patients were divided into group N ($BDI{\leq}14$, n = 43) and group 0 (BDI > 14, n = 54) according to the BDI scale. Of the 97 patients, 55,7% had a high BDI score. Results: The patients in group N had a higher rate of employment (48.0%, P < 0.05) and had higher life satisfaction scale scores ($9.4{\pm}2.5$, P < 0.01) as compared to group D patients. The BDI score showed a close correlation with employment status and the life satisfaction scale. Conclusions: Many lumbar spinal stenosis patients had high BDI scores. Employment status and the life satisfaction scale were closely correlated with the BDI score.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.275-287
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• 1994

For the purpose of promotion mental health in the elderly lived small city, a personal interview was conducted for 150 elderlies aged 65 years or more in the Kyungpook Andong city between 29th of August and 9th of September, 1994. The major findings were as follows; 1. The variables related depression were chronic disease, level of physical ability, smoking habits(pack/day) and school education. 2. The variables related cognitive impairment were level of physical ability, age, sex and chronic disease. It was revealed by this study, the female elderlies who had beend not educated and had chronic disease were higher depression or cognitive impairment. so the prospective research with these variables is need.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.276-287
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• 2008

Diabetic mellitus in an older population is associated with increased basal oxidative stress and free radical accentuated by hyperglycemic challenge. Enhanced free radical in diabetic elderly can cause the oxidative damage and such damage can be protected by antioxidant defense system. It is believed that vitamin C, A and E are the most abundant and effective antioxidants in human plasma. The purpose of this study was to determine the antioxidant status in Korean diabetic elderly using the case-control study. The antioxidant status was examined by determining plasma levels of antioxidant vitamins (vitamin C, A, E, ${\beta}$-carotene), total antioxidant status (TAS) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and intakes of vitamin C, A, ${\beta}$-carotene and retiol. Fasting glucose and HbA1c levels and serum lipid profiles (triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol) were also determined. Diabetic subjects were 122 elderly persons over 60 years old, visiting public health center, and control subjects were 96 healthy elderly persons living in Ulsan, Korea and they were matched by age, gender, smoking and drinking status. The diabetic and control subjects were divided into sub-groups according to the status of using diet therapy and vitamin supplement. The subjects were interviewed to collect data on their general characteristics, disease history, vitamin supplement, diet therapy and health-related habits by questionnaires. Their dietary intakes were obtained by means of semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires (SQFFQ). Fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c levels were significantly higher in diabetes than in control subjects, and plasma total cholesterol level of diabetes was not significantly different from that of control subjects. However serum HDL cholesterol level of diabetes was significantly lower and serum TG level of diabetes was significantly higher than those of control group. The average vitamin A and ${\beta}$-carotene intakes of diabetes were significantly higher than those of control subjects. There was no significant difference in plasma vitamin C, ${\beta}$-carotene, and TBARS levels between two groups, but plasma vitamin A, E and TAS levels were significantly higher in diabetes than those in control group. Plasma vitamin A and TAS levels of diabetic subjects using diet therapy were higher than those of control using diet therapy, and plasma vitamin E, ${\beta}$-carotene and TAS levels of diabetic subjects using vitamin supplements were significantly higher than those of controls using vitamin supplements. These results suggested that diabetic mellitus could enhance antioxidant defences against reactive oxygen species and interest in healthy eating such as consumption of more antioxidant nutrients.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.142-162
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• 2014

Objectives: To evaluate the critical environmental factors on healthy-aging of Korean people, we investigated the significant factors influencing health status of septuagenarians living in rural area of Jeonla province, known to be one of the representative longevity regions in Korea. Methods: We divided subjects into healthy group (36M/25F) or poor-health group (26M/73F) based on self-reported health status, body mass index, a number of prescription, and blood test data. General characteristics, physical measurements, lifestyle, dietary behavior and nutrient intake, physical health and mental health data were statistically compared between the two groups. Results: Average age was not different between healthy group and poor-health group in men and women, respectively. In men, significantly favorable factors to health were observed to be higher education, regular exercise, higher grip strength and walking function, body mass index (${\geq}18.5kg/m^2$), moderate frequency of drinking and eating-out, non-smoking, normal red blood cell (RBC) count, higher serum dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEAS) level, good digestive function and appetite, normal hearing function, regular meals, adequate vegetable and fruit intake, diverse food intake, adequate energy and nutrients (protein, vitamin $B_1$, $B_6$, C and E, folate, niacin, P, Zn and K) intake, higher mini-nutrient status assessment (MNA) score and low level of depression. On the other hand, in women, those were literacy, living arrangement, moderate frequency of drinking, healthy teeth, higher grip strength and walking function, bone mineral density, normal RBC and white blood cell (WBC) count, higher DHEAS concentration, higher MNA score, normal cognition and memory function, having snack and adequate fruit intake. Conclusions: These results could be useful to plan effective strategies to increase health-life expectancy of Korean old people living in rural areas.