The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey is a nationwide health survey in Korea. This survey is composed of three parts: the Health Interview Survey, the Health Examination Survey, and the Nutrition Survey. The aim of this study was to refine the nutrition survey system in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Based on the literature review, we summarized international survey systems and the limitations of the current system in Korea and proposed an improved system. We suggested the following: 1) A government agency which will be exclusively responsible for KNHANES overall is needed. 2) The current short-term nutrition survey should be a year-round survey. 3) The objectives of this survey should be written with more clarity and detail. 4) Biochemical measures in relation to nutritional status should be added. 5) The budget to set up various databases in the nutrition survey should be increased. 6) Various other issues should be addressed, including the definition of raw data (i.e., whether nutrient intake data per day is raw data), ethical issues in survey techniques, and strategies to produce evidence for the public using this survey data. Not all suggestions could be adopted in the short-term, but should be integrated into long-term goals for survey system improvement.
Budgets ; Ethics ; Government Agencies ; Health Surveys ; Korea ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Nutritional Status

The gastrointestinal mesenchymal tumors (GIMTs) form a heterogenous group with controversy centering on both the cell of origin and the prediction of clinical behavior. They include a small group of tumors with mature smooth muscle or Schwann cell differentiation and a larger group with inconsistent or no evidence of differentiation. Tumors in the latter are now referred to as gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). A clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical study was performed on 53 cases of GIMTs to identify cellular differentiation and predictors of clinical behavior. Fifty three cases of GIMTs could be histologically and immunophenotypically divided into three categories, 6 leiomyomas (11.3%), 4 schwannomas (7.6%), and 43 GISTs (81.1%). All leiomyomas (SMA desmin ) and schwannomas (S-100 ) were located in stomach and negative for CD34 and CD117. Thirty nine cases of GISTs were either CD34 (n=26) or CD117 (n=23) immunoreactive. Of these 39 GISTs, 26 were negative for myoid (SMA, desmin) and neural marker (S-100), 10 SMA desmin-S-100-, two SMA-desmin-S-100 , and one SMA desmin-S-100 . Two out of 4 GISTs, which were negative for CD34 and CD117, were immunohistochemically considered leiomyosarcoma (SMA desmin ). GISTs of small intestine had a tendency to be malignant than those of stomach. Pathologic grade of GISTs was not correlated with cellular differentiation. In 29 GISTs with clinical follow-up information, tumor size, mitotic counts, Ki-67 labelling index, tumor necrosis, mucosal invasion, and CD34 expression were significantly correlated with metastasis/recurrence.
Cell Differentiation ; Desmin ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; Intestine, Small ; Leiomyoma ; Leiomyosarcoma ; Muscle, Smooth ; Necrosis ; Neurilemmoma ; Stomach

BACKGROUND: In a health examination program, advice from physician for change of health-related behavior and distribution of health educational pamphlets is routine. This study was done prospectively to analyze factors such as personal general characteristics, results of health examination, health examination satisfaction that relate to change of health promotion attitudes and compliance towards overweight, smoking, heavy drinking, elevated blood pressure, dyslipidemia, chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension. METHODS: The subject population was 689 cases from May 1997 to June 1997 in a general hospital health examination center. After health examination, 60.2%(415 cases) showed personal satisfaction by questionnaire. Three to four months later 78.4%(540 cases) responded to the telephone survey on change of health beliefs, health-related attitudes and compliance. RESULTS: In the telephone survey, 239 cases(46.0%) comprised high compliance group that had positive attitudes toward abnormal health examination results, 145 cases(27.9%) were mid compliance group, and 135cases(26.0%) were low compliance group. In males there was higher frequency of high compliance group than females(p<0.05). According to age, the older, the higher frequencies of high compliance group(p<0.05). In educational level group, the higher the educational level, the lower the frequencies of high compliance group(p<0.01). There was no difference in frequency of each compliance group between symptom motive and non-symptom motive group with each satisfaction group(p>0.05). In positive responders to the correspond advice of physician or health educational pamphlets, the frequencies for quit smoking, reduction of drinking amount, regular exercise, Compliance with taking antihypertensives, blood sugar control, diet control for dyslipidemia, taking antihyperlipidemics were higher(p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Health examination service includirg advice of physician and education changed health belief and influenced positively to health promotion attitudes. Health examination is not only important for early detection of disease but also to promote positive change of health-related behavior. Further studies are needed to understand the changing process of management of health and disease.
Antihypertensive Agents ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Chronic Disease ; Compliance ; Diet ; Drinking ; Dyslipidemias ; Early Diagnosis ; Education ; Health Education ; Health Promotion ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; Male ; Overweight ; Pamphlets ; Personal Satisfaction ; Prospective Studies ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Telephone ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: The accidental swallowing of foreign body is a common problem in the children. Ingested foreign bodies may be managed by endoscopy, observation, or surgery. So we analyzed the methods of removal, type, location and complications of foreign bodies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This report reviewed 37 cases of ingested foreign body in the gastrointestinal tract at the Department of Pediatrics, Yeungnam University Hospital between January 1997 and April 2001. RESULTS: The age ranged from 8 months to 8 years. The most prevalent age group was between 1 year and 2 years of age(19%). The male to female ratio was 2.1:1 with 25 male and 12 female patients. The type of foreign bodies were coins in 20 cases(54%), nail in 4 cases(11%), key in 4 cases(11%), pin in 2 cases(5.5%), necklace in 2 cases(5.5%) and others. The locations of foreign bodies were upper esophagus in 12 cases(32.5%), lower esophagus in 4 cases(10.8%), stomach in 16 cases(43.2%), small bowel in 5 cases(13.5%). 4. Presenting symptoms were variable with asymptomatic (59. 4%) , vomiting (19. 0%) , epigastric pain (8.1%), dysphagia (5. 4%) and others. The methods for removal of foreign bodies included 20 cases of endoscopic removal(54.0%), 3 cases of spontaneous removal(8.1%) and there was no surgical removal. 14 cases(37.9%) did not confirmed removal of foreign body because of no revisit of our hospital. Endoscopic finding of patients were normal(15 cases), ulceration(2 cases), erosion(1 case), inflammation(l case), mucosal scratch(l case). CONCLUSION: It appears that the endoscopic approach is the preferable method for the removal of upper gastrointestinal foreign bodies in the children.
Child* ; Deglutition ; Deglutition Disorders ; Endoscopy ; Esophagus ; Female ; Foreign Bodies* ; Gastrointestinal Tract* ; Humans ; Male ; Numismatics ; Pediatrics ; Stomach ; Vomiting

The development of food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) is based on food use and/or dish use. Regardless of potential effect of oils and seasonings on chronic diseases, most of food-based FFQs do not include oils and seasonings in calculation of nutrient intake. This study examined the effect of added (seasoning) oils and seasonings on the distribution of subjects by relative nutrient intake using a dish-based FFQ. The subjects were 1,303 persons (men 478, women 825) aged over 20 years old, who completed FFQ composed of 121 items. Three types of daily nutrient intake were calculated; 1) total nutrient intake with oils and seasonings, 2) nutrient intake without oils, and 3) nutrient intake without oils and seasonings. The correlation and agreement of classification of subjects by relative nutrient intake were examined. All analyses were performed using absolute nutrient intakes and total energy-adjusted nutrient intakes by residual method. Comparing total nutrient intake with the nutrient intake without oils, energy, vegetable fat and vitamin E intake were significantly decreased and kappa values were 0.95 (kappa w = 0.98), 0.64 (kappa w = 0.81), and 0.59 (kappa w = 0.79), respectively. Comparing total nutrient intake with the nutrient intake without oils and seasonings, most of nutrients intake except animal fat, animal protein, retinol and cholesterol were significantly decreased, and kappa values of vegetable fat (kappa = 0.64, kappa w = 0.81), vitamin E (kappa = 0.59, kappa w = 0.79) and sodium (kappa = 0.61, kappa w = 0.80) were under 0.80. After total energy was adjusted, agreement was lower than before total energy adjustment. Excluding oils and seasonings to assess nutrient intake underestimated vegetable fat, vitamin E and sodium intake and affected the distribution of subjects by their relative nutrient intake. Therefore, we suggest that research focused on these nutrients need to be cautious about the interpretation of the results.
Aged ; Animals ; Cholesterol ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Oils ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seasons ; Sodium ; Vegetables ; Vitamin A ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins

The purpose of this study was to develop a dental communication course in dental hygiene schools that included theory, practice, and skill for effective dental communication. Thirty-six senior dental hygiene students in a dental hygiene school took a dental communication course and responded to a questionnaire. The instrument used in the study was a modified form of Kim's communication skill self-assessment sheet. The self-assessment questionnaire about communication competencies was administered before and after the class, and the difference between scores at each time point was analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed rank sum test. Among seven elements of dental communication competencies, the competency of “information gathering” was significantly improved (p=0.008). Students' scores on perception of the importance (p=0.019) and necessity (0.016) of a communication course significantly increased after the course. Competencies in communication are essential requirement for dental hygienists. This study showed the possibility of communication skill training. An objective evaluation tool regarding students' communication competencies should be developed. Further studies with larger samples size are needed to develop a standardized comprehensive communication course in dental hygiene schools.
Curriculum ; Dental Hygienists ; Health Communication ; Health Education ; Humans ; Learning* ; Oral Hygiene* ; Self-Assessment

This study was performed to evaluate the semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire used to obtain information about. dietary patterns of adults in a rural county, Yang-pyeung Gun. The study population was 1311 adults aged 17~85 years. And well-trained interviewers interviewed subjects in 1990, 1992, 1993. The results are as follows. 1) Nutrients intake calculated from each questionnaire showed significant difference, because the number of question was not same(fifty questions in 1990, eighty questions in 1992, 1993). 2) Estimated nutrients intake from separate food items was significantly different when food items are combined in one question. 3) The agreement of nutrients intake level except vit C were high when the subjects are cross-classified by their ranks on the nutrients intake level from items in both questionnaires and on the nutrient intake level from items in each questionnaire. 4) And analysing this study data by multiple stepwise regression, we selected twenty seven food items whic could explained over 85% of inter-individual variation of nutrients(energy, carbohydrate, fat, protein, vit A, vit B1, vit B2, vit C, Ca). From above results, we suggested that it is neccessary to standardize questionnaire and perform validity studies.
Adult ; Humans ; Korea* ; Rural Population* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

In a study of intacranial metastases, 46 cases having satisfactory clinical, operative and histological proofswere analyzed by computerized tomography at Presbyterian Medical Center from May, 1982 to February, 1986. Theresults were as follows: 1. The male to female ratio of itracranial metastases were 67:33. The 5th decade group(34.8%) was the most prevalent age group, followed by the 6th decade(21.7%) and 7th decade(21.7%). 2. The numberof lesions was found to be: single-25 cases(54.3%); multiple-21 cases(45.7%). 3. The source of intracranialmetastases found to be: lung 15 cases(32.6%); unknown 12 cases(26.0%); chorioca 3 cases(6.5%); liver 3cases(6.5%); liver 3 cases(6.5%); stomach 2 cases(4.3%); parotid, breast, kidney, prostate, melanoma, rectal ca.rhabdomyosarcoma, nasal ca. lymphoma, testicular ca, cervix, each 1 case(2.2%). 4. The locations of theintracranial metastases were as follows: Cerebral hemisphere 37.7% in parietal region Cerebra hemisphere 15.9% inin frontal region Cerebral hemisphere 13.4% in occipital region Cerebra hemisphere 10.5% in temporal regionCerebellar hemisphere 3.2% Cerebellopontine angle 3.2% Intraventricular 4.8% Meninges 4.8% Skull vault 6.5% 5.Peritumor edema was found to be: Grade II-17 cases(37.0%): Grade III-14 cases(30.4%); Grade I-8 cases(17.4%);Grade 0–7 cases(15.2%) in that order. 6. The chief complaints of intracranial metastases on admission, were asfollows: Headache 30 cases(65.2%); Vomiting 11 casees(23.9%); deteriorated mental state 10 cases(21.6%);Hemiplegia 7 cases(15.2%); visual disturbance 6 cases(13.0%); hemiparesis 4 cases(8.7%); seizure 4 cases(8.7%);other symptoms were less frequent. 7. On pre-contrast scan, hyperdense lesions were present in 18 cases(39.1%);hypodense lesions in 15 cases(32.6%); mixed density in 8 cases(17.4%); isodenisty was present in 5 cases(10.9%).On post-contrast scan, ring enhancement was seen in 19 cases(41.3%); nodular enhancement in 17 cases(37%); mixedring-nodular enhancement in 8 cases(17.4%); only hypodense 2 cases(4.3%).
Breast ; Cerebellopontine Angle ; Cerebrum ; Cervix Uteri ; Edema ; Female ; Headache ; Humans ; Kidney ; Liver ; Lung ; Lymphoma ; Male ; Melanoma ; Meninges ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Occipital Lobe ; Paresis ; Parietal Lobe ; Prostate ; Protestantism ; Seizures ; Skull ; Stomach ; Vomiting

BACKGROUND: Both left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and microalbuminuria (MA) are well described markers or surrogate for cardiovascular outcome. Many factors are known to be related to the two markers which are encountered together in some patients. But the epidemiological backgrounds for the two markers are not clearly demonstrated so far. METHODS: Measurements of echocardiographic left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and MA were introduced to the population survey in Yangpyeong County, Korea in 2005 and 2006 for 1,767 among 2,028 subjects. The criteria for MA were 17-250 mg/g of albumin creatinine ratio (ACR) in male and 25-355 mg/g in female. 1,636 data were analyzed. RESULTS: Age was 60.9 +/- 10.4 years and the proportion of female was 59.4% (972). Body mass index (BMI) was 24.7 +/- 3.21 kg/m2 and blood pressure were 124.1 +/- 17.3 mm Hg/80.0 +/- 10.5 mm Hg. LVMI was 45.3 +/- 11.6 g/m2.7 and ACR was 23.9 +/- 150.9 mg/g. Prevalence of LVH and MA were 23.5% and 12.2%, respectively. In male/female, odds ratios for MA were 1.035 (range, 1.010-1.061)/1.01 (range, 0.988-1.032) for age, 0.962 (range, 0.882-1.049)/0.941 (range, 0.881-1.006) for BMI, 1.754 (range, 1.097-2.804)/2.158 (range, 1.413-3.298) for hypertension (HTN), 4.87 (range, 2.883-8.226)/2.154 (range, 1.311-3.539) for diabetes, 1.005 (range, 0.999-1.012)/1.007 (range, 1.002-1.012) for cholesterol, and 1.011 (range, 0.987-1.035)/1.011 (range, 0.994-1.029) for LVH. CONCLUSIONS: In a population level, even if diabetes was strongest factor for MA, HTN is also independent factor for MA in both genders.
Albuminuria ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol ; Creatinine ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypertrophy ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; Korea ; Male ; Obesity ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea