The aim of the study was to explore the current status as well as personal views, attitudes, and beliefs regarding daily meal consumption (DM) and food supplement use (FS) in conjunction with the improvement of health condition of the women. Eight focus group interviews were performed and the interview material was condensed systematically with the aim to extract core meanings related to DM, FS, and menopause-associated health. Participants were 40 in number and showed ages ranging from 45 and 60 years with various menopausal status. Current status and beliefs about DM, resources of purchase motivation of FS, types of FS that are currently used, and perceived effects and personal beliefs about FS are discussed. Theme content analysis revealed 3 themes for beliefs about DM, 5 themes for beliefs pertaining FS, and 4 themes for the association between DM and FS. Non-dietary factors such as positive mental attitude and exercise appeared to be also important to maintain good health. The bottom line message from this study may be that proper nutrition through daily meals is essential for good health, while food supplement are used merely to supplement the diet. Findings from this study may deepen our understanding of how women who translate their lifespan through "menopause" perceive the roles and meaning of DM and FS, suggesting health professionals need to monitor and evaluate DM and implement strategies targeting the improvement of daily meal quality of middle and older aged women.
Aged ; Climacteric ; Diet ; Dietary Supplements ; Female ; Focus Groups ; Health Occupations ; Humans ; Meals ; Motivation ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds

No abstract available.
Carboxylesterase* ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute*

No abstract available.
Colon* ; Humans* ; Substance P* ; Tetrodotoxin*

No abstract available.
Neoplasm Metastasis*

No abstract available.
Health Promotion*

The objectives of this study were to conduct preliminary research to investigate full course meals in Korean style restaurants in order: i) to analyze the nutrient contents of full course meals per servings, and ii) by analyzing the above, to examine the amount and the quality of the foods served in the full course meals by two different types of Korean style restaurants. A total of 27 restaurants participated in this study, 7 restaurants from the luxurious hotels in Seoul and 20 restaurants from the City of Changwon. A key finding was that restaurant patrons tended to overconsume nutrients as compared to the Korean Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA), and restaurants generated large amounts of food wastes due to the excess food served. Other findings were as follows: 1) Compared with 1/3 or the Korean RDA, all the nutrients were oversupplied. The average nutrient ratios were about 3.7 times higher than 113 of the Korean RDA in calories, about 9 times higher in proteins, 10 times higher in phosphorus, 7 times higher in Vitamin Bl, and 12 times higher in Vitamin E. 2) Seventy-five percent (n = 20) of the restaurants served within the range of thirty to forty dishes, whereas most of the hotel restaurants (70%) served twenty dishes or fewer. 3) The average carbohydrate: protein: fat (CPF) ratio of caloric nutrients was 40:26:34. This study concluded that: i) Korean style full course meals provide too much food, nutrients, and calories, resulting in an over- or unbalanced nutrient intake, and ii) the Korean style full course meals consisted of a high-protein, high-fat and high-caloric intake, which is similar to a westernized caloric nutrient pattern. Such over -or unbalanced nutrient intake could cause chronic degenerative problems such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. These findings indicate that restaurants serving Korean style full course meals should carefully plan their menus in order to provide their customers with balanced meals. They should also be strongly encouraged to play an active role in improving their customers' nutritional status, as well as reducing the restaurants wastage of food. Lastly, further research should be conducted to improve the quality of the menus in Korean restaurants.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Gyeongsangnam-do* ; Meals* ; Nutritional Status ; Phosphorus ; Recommended Dietary Allowances ; Restaurants* ; Seoul* ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins

Obesity may be the consequence of various environmental or genetic factors, which may be highly correlated with each other. We aimed to examine whether grandmaternal and maternal obesity and environmental risk factors are related to obesity in daughters. Daughters (n = 182) recruited from female students, their mothers (n = 147) and their grandmothers (n = 67) were included in this study. Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze the association between the daughter's obesity and maternal, grandmaternal, and environmental factors. Maternal heights of 161-175cm (OD: 8.48, 95% CI: 3.61-19.93) and 156-160 cm (2.37, 1.14-4.91) showed positive associations with a higher height of daughter, compared to those of 149-155 cm. Mothers receiving a university or a higher education had a significant OR (3.82, 1.27-11.50) for a higher height of daughter compared to those having a low education (elementary school). Mother having the heaviest weight at current time (59-80 kg, 3.78, 1.73-8.28) and the heaviest weight at 20 years of age (51-65 kg, 3.17, 1.53-6.55) had significant associations with a higher height of daughters, compared to those having the lightest weight at the same times. There was no association between the height, weight, and BMI of daughters and the characteristics and education of her grandmothers. In conclusion, although genetic factors appear to influence the daughter's height more than environmental factors, the daughter's weight appears to be more strongly associated with individual factors than the genetic factors.
Body Mass Index ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Mothers ; Nuclear Family ; Obesity ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the accuracy and the clinical utility of the Coaguchek(R) XS, a portable point-of-care coagulometer, compared to standard laboratory methods in Korean patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We included 107 patients with atrial fibrillation on long-term oral warfarin therapy. The prothrombin time as expressed by the international normalized ratio (INR) was measured by the portable Coaguchek(R) XS system as well as standard laboratory methods. Agreement between the two methods was defined as a difference of less than 0.3 between the INR values. RESULTS: The INR determined by the portable Coaguchek(R) XS had excellent correlation with the values obtained by standard methods (r=0.984, p<0.01). The INR determined by the portable Coaguchek(R) XS tended to be high among the high INR group values (standard INR>3.0). There was a 91.6% agreement between the two methods. Only nine cases (8.4%) had a difference of more than 0.3; this was mainly noted in the high INR group. CONCLUSION: The portable self-testing of the INR by the Coaguchek(R) XS might be a reliable alternative to hospital based laboratory testing in Korean patients.
Atrial Fibrillation ; Humans ; International Normalized Ratio ; Prothrombin Time ; Warfarin

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major cause of heart failure associated with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD). The prognosis of LVSD is significantly influenced by the etiology of heart failure and therefore, differentiation of significant CAD from other etiologies is important. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque are useful predictors for cardiovascular events, including stroke and CAD. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of carotid IMT and plaque for the diagnosis of CAD in LVSD patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Seventy-three (n= 73, 47 male, 67.6+/-12.4 years) patients hospitalized for heart failure with severe LVSD were retrospectively enrolled. The severity of CAD was analyzed by the Duke Jeopardy Score system, and carotid IMT and plaque were measured according to the Mannheim Carotid IMT Consensus. RESULTS: Significant CAD was found in 41 patients (56.1%, CAD group) on coronary angiography. Mean common carotid artery (CCA) IMT (0.74+/-0.05 mm vs. 1.04+/-0.04 mm, p<0.01) was significantly higher in the CAD group. Plaque in CCA (6.25% vs. 19.5%, p<0.01) and plaque in bulb (25.0% vs. 60.9%, p<0.001) were significantly higher in the CAD group. Mean CCA IMT {odds ratio (OR) 2.61, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.134-4.469, p<0.01} and plaque in bulb (OR 4.69, 95% CI 1.702-12.965, p<0.01) were significant predictors for the diagnosis of CAD according to multivariate logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSION: In patients with severe LVSD, mean CCA IMT and bulb plaque can be useful additional predictors for the diagnosis of CAD.
Carotid Artery, Common ; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stroke

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to understand the intellectual and psychological features of children with Moyamoya disease who were patients in the Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery of Severance Hospital. METHODS: From December 2010 through December 2012, 63 patients with diagnoses of Moyamoya disease and 59 children in a normal group were enrolled. This study was conducted using the Korean-Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Rey-Kim Memory Test for children, Korean Child Behavior Checklist and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory(TM)4.0. RESULTS: The results showed that the intellectual and psychological profiles of children with Moyamoya disease were lower than the average of the normal control group. The tested patients showed significantly lower scores for Performance Intelligence Quotient cognition level. Also, in terms of quality of life, children with Moyamoya disease had lower levels of physical and school functionality. The results were in line with those of previous studies involving psychological tests of children with chronic diseases. CONCLUSION: Considering the intellectual and psychological characteristics of children with Moyamoya disease, integrated psychological intervention plans including elements such as supportive therapy for patients and programs for parental education are required.
Checklist ; Child Behavior ; Child* ; Chronic Disease ; Cognition ; Diagnosis ; Education ; Humans ; Intelligence ; Memory ; Moyamoya Disease* ; Neurosurgery ; Parents ; Psychological Tests ; Quality of Life