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Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the improvement in lifestyle of patients with Colorectal Cancer (CRC) by examining their lifestyle before and after diagnosis, and to identify the factors influencing lifestyle improvement to prevent the recurrence of CRC. Methods: The participants were 125 patients with CRC who visited the outpatient clinic of Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital in Daegu from December 2017 to March 2018. Questionnaires consisted of items on CRC-related lifestyle, knowledge of lifestyle risks for CRC, beliefs of lifestyle improvement (perceived benefits and barriers), self-efficacy, and fear of cancer recurrence. Lifestyle improvement referred to the score given to the improved lifestyle through the score difference in the measure of lifestyle related to CRC before and after diagnosis. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 21.0 program. Results: The factors influencing lifestyle improvement were gender (β=.46, p<.001), age (β=.31, p<.001), knowledge of lifestyle risks for CRC (β=.20, p=.005), perceived benefits of lifestyle improvement (β=.19, p=.008), and number of discomforts(symptoms) that impede lifestyle improvement (β=.17, p=.016). These variables explained 38% of CRC patients' lifestyle improvement. Conclusion: These findings suggest that we need to find ways to provide knowledge of the lifestyle risks for CRC to patients with CRC and improve their perceptions of the benefits of lifestyle improvement to promote lifestyle improvement and help prevent the recurrence of CRC after CRC diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

European Medicines Agency withdrew valsartan from European market in July 2018 because it was contaminated with carcinogen, N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA). Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency also found the same contamination and withdrew it from England market. US Food and Drug Administration followed the action after confirming its contamination. Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) conducted testing all the valsartans at Korean market and withdrew some of them from market after confirming the contamination with NDMA. MFDS provided the pharmaceutical companies and laboratory institutions with the manual for testing both NDMA and NDEA and educated relevant personnels. MFDS also evaluated the health impact of the contaminated valsartan on the hypertensive patients who took the valsartan, which was shown to be very low risk of additional cancer incidence. MFDS pronounced strengthening of the safety management for the raw materials of the medicines. For guaranteeing the safety of medicines, more comprehensive drug safety management system from developing new drugs to consuming the medicines should be established. For achieving such a goal, active participation of all the stakeholders of the medicines including governmental agencies including MFDS and Ministry of Health and Welfare, the National Assembly, healthcare professionals, pharmaceutical companies, mass media, and general population including patients should be needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of skin cancer has continuously increased in Korea, probably due to sun exposure and increases in the aging population. Ultraviolet light, a well-known risk factor for skin cancer, can cause DNA damage, mutation, and immune suppression, followed by abnormal proliferation. To prevent photocarcinogenesis, the appropriate use of sunscreen should be emphasized. Using broad-spectrum sunscreens with sun protection factor values of 15 or higher and frequent reapplication are recommended. Controversy exists about whether vitamin D synthesis is inhibited by the use of sunscreen. However, considering that skin cancer most commonly develops on the head and neck area, applying it to the face and neck is reasonable in terms of balancing the risk-benefit ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incidence and prevalence of colorectal cancer is increasing worldwide. It related with Westernized life style change, easier access to endoscopic facilities and organized cancer prevention program. The pathogenesis of colorectal cancer is multifactorial, most of cases are sporadic. The risk of colorectal cancer is increasing by age, sex, previous history of colon polyps and cancer, family history of colorectal cancer, hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome, and other modifiable conditions. It is best to screen with organized colorectal cancer screening program for average risk patients at the age of 50 and modify screening strategy by risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Korea, injury is the third most common cause of death after cancer and cerebrovascular disease, but it is the major cause of death for the working age population under 40 years old. Also, the preventable trauma death rate in Korea is still higher than in developed countries. This fact has raised awareness of the need to establish a trauma system. For this reason, support services for the establishment of regional level 1 trauma centers was launched in 2012 by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The purpose of this service is to designate 17 regional level 1 trauma centers distributed evenly across the country and to provide adequate care for seriously injured patients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. As a result, the preventable trauma death rate is expected to fall to the level of the developed countries by 2020. As of November 2016, 16 regional level 1 trauma centers have been selected and 9 of them have officially opened. If the project is completed as planned, the quality of all phases of trauma care (prehospital, transport, and hospital) will be high, and the lives of seriously injured patients can more often be saved and their disabilities minimized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The age-standardized incidence and mortality rates of gastric cancer have been decreasing worldwide. However, due to the rapid increase in the aging population, the absolute number of cases is actually increasing, and some countries, including Korea, show a divergent trend in the incidence of gastric cancer in younger generations. Gastric cancer is the second most common cancer in Korea. In the present review, several epidemiologic factors associated with the risk of gastric cancer are evaluated, including family history of gastric cancer, Helicobacter pylori infection, cigarette smoking, and adverse dietary factors. The practice of and participation in gastric cancer screening are reviewed. Prevention strategies based on evidence from Korean epidemiologic studies and early detection by regular screening are important for the reduction of the burden from gastric cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to understand the worries that patients and families with a history of colorectal cancer experience. Methods: From January 2011 through January 2013, in-depth interviews and observations were conducted on 3 colorectal patients and 8 family members with a family history of colorectal cancer. The data were analyzed using a micro-ethnographic research method. Results: After colorectal cancer patients and families realized and concerned with their increased chance of getting cancer, Eventually this worry became a motivator causing them to adhere to cancer preventive behavior. Three types of cancer worries were identified: confrontation, uneasiness, and warning. Depending on the type of cancer risk, psychological responses and cancer preventive behavior were found to be varied according on the three types of cancer worries. Patients and families tried to change dietary habits and regularly exercise. To help ease their cancer worries, they started to search for information on colon cancers and attempted to follow recommendations. However, they found that neither detailed guidelines nor systematic management from health professionals existed for families with colon cancer patients. Conclusion: A cancer prevention nursing program needs to be developed based on the level of cancer risk and perceived cancer worries of clients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to provide basic data for the development of a life habit improvement program, designed to prevent occurrence of lung cancer for adults, by comparing various factors related to cancer outbreak. Methods: The study was designed to be a retrospective comparison survey study of the lung cancer patient group and healthy adult group. 91 lung cancer patients visited J university hospital and 105 conveniently-selected healthy adults were recruited from October 2011 to August 2012. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, χ² -test/t-test and logistic regression with the SPSS program. Results: Active smoking, secondhand smoking and frequency of meat consumption emerged as risk factors of lung cancer occurrence for adults. Conclusion: As a result of comparative analysis of lung cancer patients and healthy adults' various lifestyle-related cancer risk factors, non-smoking, avoiding secondhand smoke and reducing meat consumption were suggested as a means of preventing the occurrence of lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine the factors associated with HPV (Human Papillomavirus) related stigma, shame and intent to have HPV test among adult women. Methods: Data were collected from December 1, 2009 to January 31, 2010, and participants were 324 women who visited an obstetric gynecologic clinic. They anticipated testing positive for HPV. Then HPV related stigma, shame, intent to have HPV testing and HPV knowledge were measured. Descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal Wallis test and multivariate adjusted logistic regression were used for data analysis. Results: The levels of stigma and shame were higher than average. Intent to have HPV test was high and HPV knowledge was low. Women who answered that HPV is not sexually transmitted had lower HPV stigma than did women who answered they didn't know (OR=0.20, 95%CI 0.06-0.68). Women with lower stigma showed lower intent to have HPV test than women with higher stigma (OR=0.46, 95%CI 0.26-0.82). Conclusion: Basic HPV information should be fully understood for women especially prior to HPV test. Normalizing HPV stigma is necessary for women who perceive HPV as sexually transmitted and women intending to have HPV test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even in the 21st century, some working environments still expose workers to cement dust. Many people are also exposed to cement dusts particles in their living environment, such as near cement production facilities and areas under construction. The cement industry is involved in the development of the physical infrastructure of advanced industrial society but generates dust during its production. The classic type of pneumoconiosis in coal workers has decreased, but recently, adverse health effects due to exposure to cement dust has increased in construction workers. Cement dust contains fine and ultrafine particles, 0.05-5.0 μm in aerodiameter, which can penetrate into the lung parenchyma and cause toxic damage. Cement dust can cause lung function impairment, chronic obstructive lung disease, pneumoconiosis, and carcinoma of the lungs. Other studies have shown that cement dust may contain toxic heavy metals, such as hexavalent chromium, nickel, and cobalt. Cement dust may cause inflammatory changes in the skin, and often leads to skin diseases or autoimmune diseases. Therefore, close surveillance to monitor the potential toxic effects of cement dust and intervention to minimize its health risks is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People are generally exposed to radiation from natural sources. Radon is the most important radiation source among natural sources. Radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive noble gas that is odorless and tasteless. Radon is normally found at very low levels in outdoor air and in drinking water from rivers and lakes but higher levels in indoor air in homes, schools, and office buildings, and in well water. When radon undergoes radioactive decay, it expels high-energy alpha particles. The alpha particle radiation dose from long-term exposure increases the chance of developing lung cancer. Radon is the second most important cause of lung cancer after smoking. There is no known threshold concentration below which radon exposure presents no risk. Even low concentrations of radon can result in a small increase in the risk of lung cancer. No study of the radon exposure-lung cancer association has been performed in Korea. What is needed is a large-scale prospective study of the association between residential radon exposure and lung cancer. The cumulative indoor radon exposure is an important environmental health hazard (carcinogen). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]