OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to summarize the current conditions and implications of health inequalities in South Korea. METHODS: Through a literature review of empirical studies and supplementary analysis of the data presented in the 1998, 2001, and 2005 KNHANEs, we evaluated the extent and trends of socioeconomic inequalities in both health risk factors, such as smoking, physical activity, and obesity, and outcomes, such as total mortality, subjective poor health status by self-reports and metabolic syndrome. Relative risks and odds ratios were used to measure differences across socioeconomic groups, and the relative index of inequality was used to evaluate the changes in inequalities over time. RESULTS: We found clear inequalities to various degrees in most health indicators. While little change was observed in mortality differences over time, the socioeconomic gaps in risk factors and morbidity have been widening, with much larger differences among the younger population. CONCLUSIONS: Socioeconomic inequalities are pervasive across various health indicators, and some of them are increasing. The trends in socioeconomic inequalities in health should be carefully monitored, and comprehensive measures to alleviate health inequalities are needed, especially for young populations.
Adult ; Female ; *Health Status Disparities ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Risk-Taking ; Social Class

The first deceased donor organ (kidney) recovery and transplantation was performed in 1979. Since February 2000, deceased donor organ recovery and allocation have been performed exclusively by the direction of the Korean Network for Organ Sharing (KONOS), the governmental authority for organ transplantation in Korea. Herein, we review the annual incidence of deceased donor occurrence, transplantation statistics, and organ allocation status in the era of KONOS, and discuss about future directions for improved organ transplantation activities in Korea.
Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Organ Transplantation ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: Adipose tissues were initially introduced as energy storages, but recently they have become famous as an endocrine organ which produces and secretes various kinds of molecules to make physiologic and metabolic changes in human body. It has been studied that these molecules are secreted in abundance as the adipose tissue becomes bigger along with obesity. Furthermore, it has been found that they are mediating systemic inflammation and generation of metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis. On the basis of these, we studied previous papers which have been researched about the interaction between preadipocytes and macrophages, adipose tissues and lymph nodes, and adipose tissue secreting molecules. RESULTS: Firstly, preadipocytes and macrophages are expressing similar transcriptomes and proteins, and preadipocytes can be converted to mature macrophages which have phagocytic activity. Moreover, the monocytes, which initially located in the bone marrow, are filtrated to the adipose tissue by monocyte chemotatic protein-1 and are matured to macrophages by colony stimulating factor-1. Secondly, adipose tissues and their associated lymph nodes are interacting each other in terms of energy efficiency. Lymph nodes promote lipolysis in adipose tissues, and polyunsaturated fatty acids in adipocytes become energy sources for dendritic cells. Lastly, adipose tissues produce and secrete proinflammatory molecules such as leptin, adiponectin, TNF-alpha, IL-6, and acute phase proteins, which induce the inflammation and potentially generate metabolic diseases. CONCLUSION: According to these, we can link adipose tissues to inflammation, but we need to affirm the actual levels and roles of adipose tissue-derived proinflammatory molecules in human body.
Acute-Phase Proteins ; Adipocytes ; Adiponectin ; Adipose Tissue* ; Atherosclerosis ; Bone Marrow ; Dendritic Cells ; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated ; Human Body ; Immune System* ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-6 ; Leptin ; Lipolysis ; Lymph Nodes ; Macrophages ; Metabolic Diseases ; Monocytes ; Negotiating ; Obesity ; Transcriptome ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Even short-term treatment with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor in essential hypertension has been known to improve left ventricular (LV) diastolic function, LV hypertrophy (LVH), and aortic stiffness. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of angiotensin II receptor antagonist (Losartan) on LV diastolic function, LVH, and aortic stiffness in essential hypertension. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-three hypertensive patients who were aged over 50 years, previously untreated, and without cardiac, renal, neurologic disease, or diabetes, were studied. Before and 12 weeks after monotherapy with Losartan 50 mg q.d., (1) supine arterial blood pressure by sphygmomanometry, (2) interventricular septum and LV posterior wall thickness, and LV end-diastolic dimension by M-mode echocardiography, (3) mitral peak E and A wave velocity by doppler echocardiography, (4) pulse wave velocity (PWV) in the descending aorta from aortic arch to the bifurcation by doppler echocardiography, were done. RESULTS: Twelve weeks after treatment, systolic blood pressure was lowered from 168.2+/-3.5 mmHg to 142.9+/-2.9 mmHg (p<0.05), diastolic blood pressure from 98.52.4 mmHg to 87.51.3 mmHg (p<0.05). Peak E/A ratio was increased from 0.75+/-0.04 to 0.82+/-0.04 (p<0.05). LV mass was decreased from 267.5+/-15.8 g to 235.6+/-12.6 g (p<0.05), and LV mass index from 166.8+/-8.0 g/m2 to 146.9+/-6.0 g/m2 (p<0.05). However, there were no significant change in PWV (from 7.18+/-0.10 m/sec to 7.23+/-0.30 m/sec, p>0.05), compliance (from 1.31+/-0.04 to 1.34+/-0.12, p>0.05), and compliance index (from 0.16+/-0.01 to 0.15+/-0.01, p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Short-term treatment with Losartan decreases blood pressure, improves LV diastolic function and LVH, but not aortic stiffness.
Angiotensin II* ; Angiotensins* ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Arterial Pressure ; Blood Pressure ; Compliance ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypertrophy ; Losartan* ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; Pulse Wave Analysis ; Receptors, Angiotensin ; Vascular Stiffness* ; Ventricular Function, Left*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analysis the manuscripts rejected for publication in the Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration during the last three years six months (2012~2015 Jun). METHODS: Seventy eight rejected manuscripts were analyzed focusing on manuscripts characteristics, such as rejection rates, year of submission, occupation of first author and corresponding author, number of authors, funding, thesis or dissertation, article type, study participants, number of reviews prior to rejection, and 3rd reviewer. Also reviewers' quantitative evaluation scores and subjective comments were analyzed. Reviewers' subjective comments were analyzed using content analysis methodology. RESULTS: The mean rate for manuscript rejection was 28.9% and for quantitative research, qualitative research, and review papers the quantitative evaluation scores were 2.54+/-0.70, 2.39+/-0.69, and 2.39+/-0.69 out of 5 points, respectively. The most frequent subjective comment on rejected manuscripts was 'lack of rationale for research need'. CONCLUSION: In this study the characteristics and the reasons for rejecting manuscripts were identified. These findings can be used in developing effective strategies for researchers, reviewers and editors to improve the quality of research and research reviews of nursing administration research.
Evaluation Studies as Topic ; Financial Management ; Manuscripts as Topic ; Nursing Administration Research ; Nursing Research ; Nursing* ; Occupations ; Peer Review ; Publications ; Qualitative Research

The database that is characterized by real-time accessibility and concurrent sharing by multiple users is indispensable to large population-based clinical research. Because initial design determines the effectiveness of database, delicate and complete development is required. Understanding of research and communication between user and programmer is the first step of database development. According to the purpose of research item, the entity and attribute are determined in detail that can minimize data redundancy and maintain data consistency. The programmer should analyses the demand of final user before logical design. Also the user should provide unit information and old data to programmer. After interaction between programmer and user, the database system flow is designed by real organizational unit flow diagram. The user's view is classified by subtitle and grouped by similar data. The flow of view is concordant with real flow diagram. The active participation of final user in early phase is essential for successful development of database.
Logic

Background: The use of dental floss is associated with a reduction in dental caries and periodontal disease. According to personal preference, not only thread type but also C type and Y type floss are used. Although the effectiveness of dental floss for removing dental plaque has been proven, plaque removal effect of C type and Y type floss has not been well reported. In this study, the plaque removal effect of C type and Y type floss compared to thread type floss was experimentally verified. Methods: Thread type, C type and Y type floss were used to remove dental plaque. Ten people in each flossing group participated, and by applying dental floss to the 6 incisors of the maxilla and mandible, the degree of dental plaque was analyzed by QLF-D. To evaluate the removal degree of dental plaque before and after flossing, Simple Plaque Score (SPS), Area R30, Area R70, and Area R120 score were measured. Results: In the analysis using the Area R30 fluorescence score of the QLF-D system, the degree of plaque removal according to the application of dental floss was effective in all the thread type (p=0.018), C-type (p=0.012), and Y-type (p=0.012) floss groups compared to before the application of the floss. Among them, C type floss was more effective in removing plaque than thread type and Y type floss. However, the plaque removal effect between the three floss types was not significantly different in ∆SPS (p=0.674), ∆Area R30 (p=0.726), ∆Area R70 (p=0.504), and ∆Area R120 scores (p=0.423). Conclusion Thread type, C type, and Y type floss were all effective in removing dental plaque, but there was no significant difference in dental plaque removal effect according to the type of floss.

Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Genetic Counseling ; Humans ; Mandible ; Mass Screening ; Mothers ; Odontogenic Cysts ; Recurrence ; Siblings ; Skin ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C and VEGF-D are novel growth factors that regulate lymphatic vessel growth. This study was designed to examine whether the expression of three VEGF family members, VEGF-A, VEGF-C and VEGF-D are associated with the clinicopathologic parameters, especially with lymph node metastasis, in advanced gastric carcinomas. METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining was performed for VEGF-A, VEGF-C, and VEGF-D in the surgically resected specimens from 102 patients with advanced gastric carcinoma. The mRNA expressions of the three VEGF family members were assessed in 16 cases of tumor tissues and their corresponding non-neoplastic tissues. RESULTS: Of the 102 gastric carcinomas, 74 (73%), 82 (80%), and 34 (33%) cases showed cytoplasmic immunoreactivity for VEGF-A, VEGF-C and VEGF-D, respectively. Both VEGF-A and VEGF-C expressions were associated with lymphatic invasion and lymph node metastasis (p<0.05), but the VEGF-D expression was not associated with them (p>0.05). In the tumor tissue, VEGF-C mRNA expression was greater, while VEGF-D mRNA expression was lower than in the nonneoplatic tissue adjacent to the tumor. CONCLUSIONS: VEGF-A and VEGF-C may play important roles for the lymphatic spread of gastric carcinoma. We suggest that neutralizing both VEGF-A and VEGF-C may be reguired to block lymph node metastasis.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Cytoplasm ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Vessels ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; RNA, Messenger ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors*

PURPOSE: In the analysis of risk factors affecting the renal graft survival and graft function, time-dependent effect of each risk factor should be differentiated from net effect of risk factor. We attempted to analyze the impact of immunologic and/or non-immunologic risk factors on the graft function and survival after renal transplantation among the recipients having same immunologic risks at the time of transplantation. METHODS: Three hundred ninety recipients who underwent haplotype matched living related donor kidney transplantation and have been regularly followed-up were retrospectively evaluated in a single center. All recipients were treated with cyclosporine-based double or triple regimens. The graft function was evaluated by serum creatinine (Scr) level and 24 hours urinary excretion of protein every year until 5 years after transplantation. The donor kidney weight/ recipient body weight ratio (KW/BW), donor age/ recipient age ratio (DA/RA), donor-recipient sex (D-R sex) relationship, and episodes of acute rejection (AR) within 1 year were regarded as the potential risk factors affecting the graft survival and function in this study. Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional-hazard model were used for survival analysis. ANOVA to evaluate time-point difference of graft function, and repeated measures ANOVA to evaluate the yearly difference of graft function were used. RESULTS: Only the episode of AR was a significant risk factor affecting the graft survival. However, each non-immunologic risk factors (KW/BW, DA/RA, D-R sex) and AR episode persistently showed statistically significant impact on Scr level until 5 years after transplantation. Recipients having lowest KW/BW (1st Q KW/BW) and highest DA/RA (4th Q DA/RA) had experienced accelerated increment of Scr level from 4th year after transplantation. From 3rd year after transplantation, there is a significant correlation between the numbers of non-immunologic risk factor the recipients having had and yearly increment of Scr level. However, episode of AR didn't influence the annual slope of Scr level even 4th year after transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: Non-immunologic risk factors had an detrimental effect on renal graft function, especially from 3rd year after transplantation. To have a better long-term graft function, non-immunologic risk factors should be considered from the time of live donor evaluation for transplantation. From the early period of transplantation, the recipients should be aware of the negative impact of overweight in terms of graft function and other metabolic derangement.
Body Weight ; Creatinine ; Graft Survival* ; Haplotypes* ; Humans ; Kidney ; Kidney Transplantation ; Living Donors* ; Overweight ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Tissue Donors ; Transplantation* ; Transplants*