BACKGROUND: This study was carried out to examine the trends of government-supported health promotion research projects conducted in Korea over the past 12 years. METHODS: Research type, area of interest, organization, and expense of 726 research projects conducted from 1998 to 2009 were examined and the health promotion content analyzed. RESULTS: In Korea, 361 health policy researches (HPR) and 365 general health researches (GHR) were supported by the government during the defined time period. A total of 60.5 health promotion research were conducted annually with a total amount of 27.1 billion won provided (2.26 billion won per year). With the average research project lasting 8.5 months, HPR (7.7 months) projects were completed sooner than GHR (9.2 months). Those who majored in preventive medicine completed 177 research (24.4%), the most number of research projects, followed by public health (22.5%), and family medicine (15.6%). There were 641 health promotion research projects done mostly on policies, legal systems, and grasping current conditions, and only 85 (11.7%) clinical test research on the development or effects of health promotion programs. CONCLUSIONS: HPR have been increasing annually. However, our study could not be certain of how close the studies were to the government's health promotion policies. Furthermore, the main health promotion area, 'healthy living', was not researched as often as should be. Additionally, to improve applicability of the research projects, interdisciplinary cooperation should be promoted.
Hand Strength ; Health Policy ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Korea ; Preventive Medicine ; Public Health

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether upright position is effective in labor through systematic review in randomized controlled trials. METHODS: We established the PICO (Patient-Intervention-Comparator-Outcome) strategy, and reviewed 282 literatures from national and international electronic databases, and finally selected 9 references based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. We evaluated the quality of references and carried out a meta-analysis. RESULTS: The maternal outcomes showed that the duration of their second-stage labor was 2.29 minutes shorter than that of the women in the recumbent position, and were less likely to have episiotomy. The other outcomes, including the mode of delivery, blood loss, hemoglobin level, use of oxytocin, use of analgesics, and perineal laceration, did not differ between the groups. The fetal heart rate abnormality occurred less than in the control group. The Apgar scores of the groups did not differ. CONCLUSION: There is evidence that an upright position in the second stage of labor reduces the duration of the second stage of labor, the incidence of episiotomy, and an abnormal fetal heart rate.
Analgesics ; Electronics ; Electrons ; Episiotomy ; Female ; Heart Rate, Fetal ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lacerations ; Oxytocin ; Postpartum Period ; Posture ; Pregnancy

BACKGROUND: Although malaria-specific antibody or antigen test is useful for the diagnosis of malaria infection, its cost-effectiveness has to be concerned in the area where malaria prevalence is very low. We created a panel test composed of malaria non-specific parameters, namely hematology autoanalyzer-derived results with or without addition of HDL-cholesterol data, and evaluated its usefulness in comparison with malaria-specific antibody test. METHODS: For 395 patients tested for malaria smear, the hematology parameters such as platelet count, NRBC (%) and VCS (volume, conductivity, scattering) parameters of WBC, and HDL-cholesterol data were analyzed. Statistical significance of each parameter and that of panel test with or without addition of HDL-cholesterol were evaluated. RESULTS: Malaria antibody test showed sensitivity of 97.1% and specificity of 99.1%. Each parameter of platelet count, NRBC (%), D parameter and HDL-cholesterol showed sensitivity of 86.8%, 41.2%, 81.8%, and 70.6%, and specificity of 85.9%, 96.3%, 72.3%, and 81.7%, respectively. Panel test without including HDL-cholesterol showed sensitivity of 91.2% and specificity of 81.6%, and that including HDL-cholesterol showed sensitivity of 91.2% and specificity of 86.2%. CONCLUSIONS: The malaria non-specific panel test composed of hematology autoanalyzer-derived parameters showed relatively good, but slightly lower sensitivity than that of malaria-specific antibody test. It might be used as a screening test for the diagnosis of malaria infection, and addition of HDL cholesterol improved little the usefulness of the panel test.
Animals ; Autoanalysis ; Biological Markers ; Cholesterol, HDL/*blood ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Hematologic Tests/economics/utilization ; Humans ; Malaria, Falciparum/blood/*diagnosis ; Plasmodium falciparum/isolation & purification ; ROC Curve ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ; Sensitivity and Specificity

PURPOSE: This study is to define the structural patterns of gender roles of women as perceived by co-eds. METHOD: Q-methodology was used on 174 statements collected through interviews with women aged between 20 and 50. 38 Q-samples were selected from 330 Q-population. The Q-samples were administered to 29 co-eds. RESULT: Analysis of Q-type obtained by QUANAL program revealed three types of subjectivity in the perception of gender roles. Type 1, role is characterized by the tendency to play down the female gender role and think that women's body is an essential factor in forming the female gender role. Type 2, rejects motherhood image obedience and chastity dictated by male chauvinism. Type 3, shows a tendency to believe that female gender cannot be separated from maternity and that women's basic role is housekeeping. The three types were common in believing in self-development and equal rights through economical independence.
Female ; Gender Identity* ; Housekeeping ; Human Rights ; Humans ; Male

PURPOSE: This study was performed to assess the diagnostic significance of the urine-stick test in detecting Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and to assess the clinical characteristics of adolescent diabetes. MEHTODS: A total of 926,208 middle and high school children participated. The urine-stick test was performed and those who showed glycosuria and, further studies such as evaluations of plasma glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol and C-peptide level done. We compared the clinical characteristics between the diabetes group and non-diabetes group. RESULTS: Among 926,208 students, 1,020 (0.11%) showed glycosuria. Among the 1,020 glycosuria positive subjects, 339 (33.2%) had further laboratory tests. Two hundred and sixty-eight cases (79.1%) were normal, 52 cases (15.3%) were newly diagnosed as DM, 9 cases (2.7%) were already diagnosed DM, 10 cases (2.9%) had an impaired glucose tolerance. The 52 newly diagnosed DM cases, whose postprandial 2 hour glucose level was more than 200m/dL, showed different fasting glucose levels. Thirty cases (57.7%) had a level of more than 140mg/dL, 11 cases (21.1%) were between 110 and 140mg/dL and 11 cases (21.1%) were at a level of less than 110mg/dL. Polydipsia, polyuria and polyphagia were frequent symptoms exibited by the DM group while weight loss and fatigue showed no significant difference between the DM and non-diabetes groups. Six cases were type 1 DM and 44 cases were type 2 DM. Being female, having a family history of DM and a higher BMI and higher diastolic blood pressure were significant risk factors for DM. CONCLUSION: The positive rate of glycosuria by the urine-stick test was 0.11%. Among glycosuria positive subjects 15.3% were newly diagnosed as DM. For the high risk group, an annual urine-stick test and a postprandial blood glucose test should be performed and a systematic referral system is necessary.
Adolescent ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; C-Peptide ; Child* ; Cholesterol ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Fasting ; Fatigue ; Female ; Glucose ; Glycosuria ; Humans ; Polydipsia ; Polyuria ; Referral and Consultation ; Risk Factors ; Seoul* ; Triglycerides ; Weight Loss

PURPOSE: This study was performed to assess the diagnostic significance of the urine-stick test in detecting Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and to assess the clinical characteristics of adolescent diabetes. MEHTODS: A total of 926,208 middle and high school children participated. The urine-stick test was performed and those who showed glycosuria and, further studies such as evaluations of plasma glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol and C-peptide level done. We compared the clinical characteristics between the diabetes group and non-diabetes group. RESULTS: Among 926,208 students, 1,020 (0.11%) showed glycosuria. Among the 1,020 glycosuria positive subjects, 339 (33.2%) had further laboratory tests. Two hundred and sixty-eight cases (79.1%) were normal, 52 cases (15.3%) were newly diagnosed as DM, 9 cases (2.7%) were already diagnosed DM, 10 cases (2.9%) had an impaired glucose tolerance. The 52 newly diagnosed DM cases, whose postprandial 2 hour glucose level was more than 200m/dL, showed different fasting glucose levels. Thirty cases (57.7%) had a level of more than 140mg/dL, 11 cases (21.1%) were between 110 and 140mg/dL and 11 cases (21.1%) were at a level of less than 110mg/dL. Polydipsia, polyuria and polyphagia were frequent symptoms exibited by the DM group while weight loss and fatigue showed no significant difference between the DM and non-diabetes groups. Six cases were type 1 DM and 44 cases were type 2 DM. Being female, having a family history of DM and a higher BMI and higher diastolic blood pressure were significant risk factors for DM. CONCLUSION: The positive rate of glycosuria by the urine-stick test was 0.11%. Among glycosuria positive subjects 15.3% were newly diagnosed as DM. For the high risk group, an annual urine-stick test and a postprandial blood glucose test should be performed and a systematic referral system is necessary.
Adolescent ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; C-Peptide ; Child* ; Cholesterol ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Fasting ; Fatigue ; Female ; Glucose ; Glycosuria ; Humans ; Polydipsia ; Polyuria ; Referral and Consultation ; Risk Factors ; Seoul* ; Triglycerides ; Weight Loss

No abstract available.
Body Mass Index* ; Pregnancy* ; Weight Gain*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Unlike the normal skin, cholesteatomas characterized by hyperproliferative keratinocytes exhibits up-regulation of connexins (Cxs) and gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC). Currently, there are no appropriate clinical methods that can inhibit cholesteatoma progression nor are there available optimal in vitro models of cholesteatomas. The objectives of this study were to identify the regulating materials that control GJIC using human keratinocyte cells (HaCaT) and to get preliminary information about how to inhibit cholesteatoma progression with an aim to make in vitro models. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Acetic acid (AA), H2O2, dexamethasone, retinoic acid (RA), or green tea extracts-epicatechin (EC) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) were used for this study. After HaCaT cells were cultured with chemicals for 24 hours, cytotoxicity was quantitatively analyzed by cell counting and Neutral-red uptake test. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, Western blot and immunocytochemistry were performed to analyze the change of Cx expression. GJIC was functionally evaluated with scrape-loading dye transfer (SLDT). RESULTS: After the 24-hour culture, H2O2 or EGCG (100 microM) were observed to have interfered with cell growth. In the Western blot, Cx26 and Cx30 showed higher up-regulation by EGCG or dexamethasone, but less down-regulation by AA or H2O2 than the control. In comparison with the control, immunocytochemistry (Cx26, Cx43) showed less expression and abnormal location of Cxs under AA, H2O2, or 50 microM EGCG than the control, and increased up-regulation or equal expression under 5microM EGCG, EC, RA, or dexamethasone was greater than the control. In SLDT, dye transfer was significantly lower in AA-, H2O2-, dexamethasone-, or RA-treated cells than in the control cells. EC showed higher dye transfer than the control cells. CONCLUSION: The expression of Cxs and GJIC on human HaCaT keratinocytes can be up- or down-regulated by chemicals such as AA, H2O2, dexamethasone, or EC. These results may be useful information in understanding the progression or inhibition mechanisms of cholesteatomas.
Acetic Acid ; Blotting, Western ; Catechin ; Cell Count ; Cholesteatoma ; Connexins ; Dexamethasone ; Down-Regulation ; Gap Junctions ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratinocytes ; Skin ; Tea ; Tretinoin ; Up-Regulation

Lymphadenitis is a common pediatric disease associated with infection and inflammation. Acute lymphadenitis in children is usually accompanied by systemic viral illness, and subsides within a few days to two weeks. However, chronic lymphadenopathy or lymphadenitis is a rare disease, and is due to a reactive response to infections including tuberculosis, neoplasms, and noninflammatory lesions. The diagnostic evaluation of chronic lymphadenitis may be very complicated and it is important to consider chronic infectious diseases and rare malignancies as possible etiologies. We report a 13-year old boy who was eventually diagnosed with tuberculous lymphadenitis. The patient was initially admitted for enlarged cervical, axillary, and epitrochlear lymph nodes. Biopsy of a cervical lymph node showed the findings compatible with angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia (AILD) associated with EBV infection. During treatment with prednisolone, the enlarged lymph node decreased in size. However, the lymph node enlargement resumed and we performed a second biopsy. At this time the biopsy showed tuberculous lymphadenitis and a culture of gastric juice showed M. tuberculosis. With the initiation of antituberculous treatment, the patient improved clinically.
Adolescent ; Biopsy ; Child ; Communicable Diseases ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; Gastric Juice ; Herpesvirus 4, Human* ; Humans ; Immunoblastic Lymphadenopathy ; Inflammation ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphadenitis* ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Male ; Prednisolone ; Rare Diseases ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Lymph Node*

Lymphadenitis is a common pediatric disease associated with infection and inflammation. Acute lymphadenitis in children is usually accompanied by systemic viral illness, and subsides within a few days to two weeks. However, chronic lymphadenopathy or lymphadenitis is a rare disease, and is due to a reactive response to infections including tuberculosis, neoplasms, and noninflammatory lesions. The diagnostic evaluation of chronic lymphadenitis may be very complicated and it is important to consider chronic infectious diseases and rare malignancies as possible etiologies. We report a 13-year old boy who was eventually diagnosed with tuberculous lymphadenitis. The patient was initially admitted for enlarged cervical, axillary, and epitrochlear lymph nodes. Biopsy of a cervical lymph node showed the findings compatible with angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia (AILD) associated with EBV infection. During treatment with prednisolone, the enlarged lymph node decreased in size. However, the lymph node enlargement resumed and we performed a second biopsy. At this time the biopsy showed tuberculous lymphadenitis and a culture of gastric juice showed M. tuberculosis. With the initiation of antituberculous treatment, the patient improved clinically.
Adolescent ; Biopsy ; Child ; Communicable Diseases ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; Gastric Juice ; Herpesvirus 4, Human* ; Humans ; Immunoblastic Lymphadenopathy ; Inflammation ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphadenitis* ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Male ; Prednisolone ; Rare Diseases ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Lymph Node*