Our Valuable Contributors: Reviewers of 2023

Park Sue K. 대한예방의학회 2024 예방의학회지 Vol.57 No.2

I would like to recognize the peer reviewers who donated their precious time and effort to reviewing the manuscripts submitted to the Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health in 2023. With an ever increasing competition to attract quality research by major journals in our field, we depend on the expertise of the reviewers to critically appraise the papers. Their comments, detailed and extensive, guide authors to polish their work and propel them to strive for excellence. Their commitment and dedication to this hard and time consuming task ensure that published research are relevant, timely, high quality, and applicable. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to each and every one of the 156 reviewers.

Cancer incidence among paraquat exposed applicators in the agricultural health study: prospective cohort study.

Park, Sue K,Kang, Daehee,Beane-Freeman, Laura,Blair, Aaron,Hoppin, Jane A,Sandler, Dale P,Lynch, Charles F,Knott, Charles,Gwak, Jin,Alavanja, Michael Hanley Belfus 2009 International journal of occupational and environm Vol.15 No.3

<P>Paraquat (1,1'-dimethyl-4, 4'-bipyridinium dichloride) is a nonselective herbicide that is extremely toxic after acute exposure. It was once widely used in North America and is still used in some countries, including the United States. Although there is little firm evidence that paraquat is a carcinogen, previous studies have suggested a potential relationship with some cancers. This prospective cohort study was performed to evaluate the association between lifetime paraquat exposure and cancer incidence among licensed pesticide applicators with 9.1 years of median follow-up. The lifetime ever-use of paraquat was evaluated in 56,224 subjects at baseline and exposure-response relationship was evaluated in 24,667 subjects (44%) who provided detailed information on total life-time paraquat exposure in a second questionnaire. Among the total subjects, the risk for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in the exposed group was marginally elevated (Relative risk [RR], 1.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.97-2.23) compared to the non-exposed group. However, among the 24,667 applicators who supplied total life-time exposure days, the highest tertile of lifetime exposure-days (LE) and intensity-weighted lifetime exposure-days (IWLE) was not significantly associated with NHL risk (RR, 1.57; 95%CI, 0.57-4.23 for LE; RR, 1.42; 95%CI, 0.40-4.71 for IWLE, respectively) and there was no significant exposure-response trend (p-trend > 0.1). There was some suggestion of a possible link between paraquat exposure and NHL risk in humans, but the inconsistency in exposure level trend suggests that this could be a chance finding.</P>

Risk Assessment and Pharmacogenetics in Molecular and Genomic Epidemiology

Park, Sue-K.,Choi, Ji-Yeob The Korean Society for Preventive Medicine 2009 예방의학회지 Vol.42 No.6

In this article, we reviewed the literature on risk assessment (RA) models with and without molecular genomic markers and the current utility of the markers in the pharmacogenetic field. Epidemiological risk assessment is applied using statistical models and equations established from current scientific knowledge of risk and disease. Several papers have reported that traditional RA tools have significant limitations in decision-making in management strategies for individuals as predictions of diseases and disease progression are inaccurate. Recently, the model added information on the genetic susceptibility factors that are expected to be most responsible for differences in individual risk. On the continuum of health care, from diagnosis to treatment, pharmacogenetics has been developed based on the accumulated knowledge of human genomic variation involving drug distribution and metabolism and the target of action, which has the potential to facilitate personalized medicine that can avoid therapeutic failure and serious side effects. There are many challenges for the applicability of genomic information in a clinical setting. Current uses of genetic markers for managing drug therapy and issues in the development of a valid biomarker in pharmacogenetics are discussed.

Reliability and Data Integration of Duplicated Test Results Using Two Bioelectrical Impedence Analysis Machines in the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study

Park, Bo-Young,Yang, Jae-Jeong,Yang, Ji-Hyun,Kim, Ji-Min,Cho, Lisa-Y.,Kang, Dae-Hee,Shin, Chol,Hong, Young-Seoub,Choi, Bo-Youl,Kim, Sung-Soo,Park, Man-Suck,Park, Sue-K. The Korean Society for Preventive Medicine 2010 Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health Vol.43 No.6

Objectives: The Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES), a multicenter-based multi-cohort study, has collected information on body composition using two different bioelectrical impedence analysis (BIA) machines. The aim of the study was to evaluate the possibility of whether the test values measured from different BIA machines can be integrated through statistical adjustment algorithm under excellent inter-rater reliability. Methods: We selected two centers to measure inter-rater reliability of the two BIA machines. We set up the two machines side by side and measured subjects' body compositions between October and December 2007. Duplicated test values of 848 subjects were collected. Pearson and intra-class correlation coefficients for inter-rater reliability were estimated using results from the two machines. To detect the feasibility for data integration, we constructed statistical compensation models using linear regression models with residual analysis and R-square values. Results: All correlation coefficients indicated excellent reliability except mineral mass. However, models using only duplicated body composition values for data integration were not feasible due to relatively low $R^2$ values of 0.8 for mineral mass and target weight. To integrate body composition data, models adjusted for four empirical variables that were age, sex, weight and height were most ideal (all $R^2$ > 0.9). Conclusions: The test values measured with the two BIA machines in the KoGES have excellent reliability for the nine body composition values. Based on reliability, values can be integrated through algorithmic statistical adjustment using regression equations that includes age, sex, weight, and height.

Risk Assessment and Pharmacogenetics in Molecular and Genomic Epidemiology

Sue K. Park,Ji-Yeob Choi 대한예방의학회 2009 예방의학회지 Vol.42 No.6

In this article, we reviewed the literature on risk assessment (RA) models with and without molecular genomic markers and the current utility of the markers in the pharmacogenetic field. Epidemiological risk assessment is applied using statistical models and equations established from current scientific knowledge of risk and disease. Several papers have reported that traditional RA tools have significant limitations in decision-making in management strategies for individuals as predictions of diseases and disease progression are inaccurate. Recently, the model added information on the genetic susceptibility factors that are expected to be most responsible for differences in individual risk. On the continuum of health care, from diagnosis to treatment, pharmacogenetics has been developed based on the accumulated knowledge of human genomic variation involving drug distribution and metabolism and the target of action, which has the potential to facilitate personalized medicine that can avoid therapeutic failure and serious side effects. There are many challenges for the applicability of genomic information in a clinical setting. Current uses of genetic markers for managing drug therapy and issues in the development of a valid biomarker in pharmacogenetics are discussed.

Transmission of Seasonal Outbreak of Childhood Enteroviral Aseptic Meningitis and Hand-foot-mouth Disease

Park, Sue K.,Park, Boyoung,Ki, Moran,Kim, Ho,Lee, Kwan,Jung, Cheoll,Sohn, Young Mo,Choi, Sung-Min,Kim, Doo-Kwun,Lee, Dong Seok,Ko, Joon Tae,Kim, Moon Kyu,Cheong, Hae-Kwan The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences 2010 JOURNAL OF KOREAN MEDICAL SCIENCE Vol.25 No.5

<P>This study was conducted to evaluate the modes of transmission of aseptic meningitis (AM) and hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) using a case-control and a case-crossover design. We recruited 205 childhood AM and 116 HFMD cases and 170 non-enteroviral disease controls from three general hospitals in Gyeongju, Pohang, and Seoul between May and August in both 2002 and 2003. For the case-crossover design, we established the hazard and non-hazard periods as week one and week four before admission, respectively. In the case-control design, drinking water that had not been boiled, not using a water purifier, changes in water quality, and contact with AM patients were significantly associated with the risk of AM (odds ratio [OR]=2.8, 2.9, 4.6, and 10.9, respectively), while drinking water that had not been boiled, having a non-water closet toilet, changes in water quality, and contact with HFMD patients were associated with risk of HFMD (OR=3.3, 2.8, 6.9, and 5.0, respectively). In the case-crossover design, many life-style variables such as contact with AM or HFMD patients, visiting a hospital, changes in water quality, presence of a skin wound, eating out, and going shopping were significantly associated with the risk of AM (OR=18.0, 7.0, 8.0, 2.2, 22.3, and 3.0, respectively) and HFMD (OR=9.0, 37.0, 11.0, 12.0, 37.0, and 5.0, respectively). Our findings suggest that person-to-person contact and contaminated water could be the principal modes of transmission of AM and HFMD.</P>

Effects of Damage Caused by Non-ionizing Energy Loss in Si Mini-Pad Sensors for the PHENIX MPC-EX

채종서,미트라게게르치,한인식,S. Y. Han,I. W. Jeong,주관식,김은주,S. G. Kim,김용균,E. Kistenev,권영일,J. G. Lajoie,Z. Li,J. H. Lee,K. S. Lim,S. H. Lim,J. M. Park,K. S. Park,S. Y. Park,H. S. Song,D. G. Sue,A. Sukhanov 한국물리학회 2014 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.65 No.11

The PHENIX MPC-EX is an W/Si pre-shower detector operating at small angles with respectto the beam in the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). The Si Mini-Pad sensors are the activeelement of the detector. The expected hadron flux to the Si Mini-Pad sensors will generate significantnon-ionizing energy loss in the sensors, which may damage the crystalline structure of thesensor’s bulk material. We investigated the nature of the hadron flux to the Si Mini-Pad sensorsthrough a full simulation and determined its effect on the sensor’s characteristics based on a beamtest. The investigation showed key issues in designing a preshower detector using silicon sensorsand operating under a large neutron fluence and offered valuable information on the operation ofthe MPC-EX detector.

Ecological study for refrigerator use, salt, vegetable, and fruit intakes, and gastric cancer.

Park, Boyoung,Shin, Aesun,Park, Sue K,Ko, Kwang-Pil,Ma, Seung Hyun,Lee, Eun-Ha,Gwack, Jin,Jung, En-Joo,Cho, Lisa Y,Yang, Jae Jeong,Yoo, Keun-Young Rapid Communications of Oxford Ltd ; Kluwer Academ 2011 Cancer causes & control Vol.22 No.11

<P>We used an ecological approach to determine the correlation between vegetable, fruit and salt intakes, refrigerator use, and gastric cancer mortality in Korean population. Information on fruit and vegetable intakes per capita from the National Health and Nutrition Survey, death certificate data from the National Statistical office, refrigerator per household data from Korean Statistical Information Service, and salt/sodium intake data from a cross-sectional survey were utilized. Correlation coefficients were calculated between vegetable and fruit intakes, refrigerator per household, and gastric cancer mortality and between salt and sodium intakes, and gastric cancer mortality and incidence in the four areas. With 5, 10, and 15?years lag time, refrigerator usage and fruit intake were negatively associated with gastric cancer mortality (p?<?0.01), but vegetable intake was not associated with gastric cancer mortality. When estimates of salt/sodium intake evaluated by 24-h urine collection in four areas of Korea were compared to the gastric cancer mortality and incidence in these regions, positive correlation was shown between salt/sodium intake, and gastric cancer incidence and mortality. Negative associations between refrigerator use, fruit intake, and gastric cancer mortality and positive associations between salt/sodium intake and gastric cancer mortality and incidence were suggested.</P>

Social and Policy Determinants of COVID-19 Infection Across 23 Countries: An Ecological Study

김경식,Sue K. Park 대한예방의학회 2022 예방의학회지 Vol.55 No.3

The Prevalence and Management of Anemia in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients: Result from the KoreaN Cohort Study for Outcomes in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease (KNOW-CKD)

류상열,Sue K. Park,정지용,김영훈,오윤규,유태현,성수아 대한의학회 2017 Journal of Korean medical science Vol.32 No.2

Anemia is a common and significant complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, its prevalence and current management status has not been studied thoroughly in Korea. We examined the prevalence of anemia, its association with clinical and laboratory factors, and utilization of iron agents and erythropoiesis stimulating agents using the baseline data from the large-scale CKD cohort in Korea. We defined anemia when hemoglobin level was lower than 13.0 g/dL in males and 12.0 g/dL in females, or received by erythropoiesis stimulating agents. Overall prevalence of anemia was 45.0% among 2,198 non-dialysis CKD patients from stage 1 to 5. Diabetic nephropathy (DN) as a cause, CKD stages, body mass index (BMI), smoking, leukocyte count, serum albumin, iron markers, calcium, and phosphorus concentration were identified as independent risk factors for anemia. Considering the current coverage of Korean National Health Insurance System, only 7.9% among applicable patients were managed by intravenous iron agents, and 42.7% were managed by erythropoiesis stimulating agents.