• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.183-190
• /
• 2009

In mammals, puberty is a dynamic transition process from infertile immature state to fertile adult state. The neuroendocrine aspect of puberty is started with functional activation of hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal hormone axis. The timing of puberty can be altered by many factors including hormones and/or hormone-like materials, social cues and metabolic signals. For a long time, attainment of a particular body weight or percentage of body fat has been thought as crucial determinant of puberty onset. However, the precise effect of high-fat (HF) diet on the regulation of hypothalamic GnRH neuron during prepubertal period has not been fully elucidated yet. The present study was undertaken to test the effect of a HF diet on the puberty onset and hypothalamic gene expressions in immature female rats. The HF diet (45% energy from fat, HF group) was applied to female rats from weaning to around puberty onset (postnatal days, PND 22-40). Body weight and vaginal opening (VO) were checked daily during the entire feeding period. In the second experiment, all animals were sacrificed on PND 36 to measure the weights of reproductive tissues. Histological studies were performed to assess the effect of HF diet feeding on the structural alterations in the reproductive tissues. To determine the transcriptional changes of reproductive hormone-related genes in hypothalamus, total RNAs were extracted and applied to the semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Body weights of HF group animals tend to be higher than those of control animals between PND 22 and PND 31, and significant differences were observed PND 32, PND 34, PND 35 and PND 36 (p<0.05). Advanced VO was shown in the HF group (PND $32.8{\pm}0.37$ p<0.001) compared to the control (PND $38.25{\pm}0.25$). The weight of ovaries (p<0.01) and uteri (p<0.05) from HF group animals significantly increased when compared to those from control animals. Corpora lutea were observed in the ovaries from the HF group animals but not in control ovaries. Similarly, hypertrophy of luminal and glandular uterine epithelia was found only in the HF group animals. In the semi-quantitative RT-PCR studies, the transcriptional activities of KiSS-1 in HF group animals were significantly higher than those from the control animals (p<0.001). Likewise, the mRNA levels of GnRH (p<0.05) were significantly elevated in HF group animals. The present study indicated that the feeding HF diet during the post-weaning period activates the upstream modulators of gonadotropin such as GnRH and KiSS-1 in hypothalamus, resulting early onset of puberty in immature female rats.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.10-22
• /
• 2018

Purpose: This study was performed to establish the role and to analyze the job of MFICU (Maternal Fetal Intensive Care Unit) nurses using DACUM (Developing a curriculum). Methods: A DACUM workshop was held to define MFICU nurses' role and identify their duties and tasks. A DACUM committee was consisted of 7 nurses, 2 nursing professors and 1 medical doctor and as a result, a survey was developed which contained duties and tasks of MFICU nurse. Pre-test was carried out for the validity, finally collected the data from 97 nurses who worked at 7 MFICU and 10 delivery room. Results: A total of 60 duties, 115 tasks and 822 elements of tasks were defined on the DACUM chart and survey. The importance, frequency and difficulty of the tasks were presented the determinant coefficient (DC), the highest DC duty was 'Manage maternal ventilator' (15.09) and the lowest DC was 'Provide nursing care for leisure to gestation extension mother' (6.52). Twenty-eight tasks were differentiated between MFICU and delivery nurses significantly. And the most important, frequently, difficulty task perceived by MFICU nurse was 'Check fetal heartbeat with electronic fetal heart monitor'. Conclusion: The organized educational program and policy was needed to develop for MFICU nurses.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.22 no.6
• /
• pp.85-90
• /
• 2010

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between social support and quality of life (QOL) in elderly people and to examine potential cross-cultural differences. Methods: The author surveyed 82 elderly people, over the age of 65, residing in a nursing home in a Korean rural area and 73 Korean immigrants living in Houston Texas USA who were also elderly. The degree of social support was measured with 20 questions that were answered using a 5 grade scale. The quality of life was measured in 5 fields (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression, each scored using a 3 grade scale) with EUROQOL EQ-5D. Results: The mean score of social support was 65.43 for domestic Korean elderly people (range: 26 to 98); it was 73.43 for elderly Korean Americans (range: 26 to 100). The score was lower for domestic Koreans despite the traditional environment (p<0.05). Regarding QOL, 61% of domestic Korean elderly people complained of pain/discomfort and 47.5% appeared to have anxiety/depression, 30.5% complained of limitations in mobility, 20.7% reported limitations in usual activities, and 14.6% had limitations in basic self.care activity such as washing or dressing. A similar proportion of Korean American elderly had limitations in usual activities (19.2%) and self care activity (9.5%). But significantly fewer complained of anxiety/depression (16.5%, p<0.01) or pain/discomfort (38.3%, p<0.01). The major differences in psychological domains of QOL may be related to the degree of social support and the difference in the socio.cultural environment. Conclusion: Social support is a major determinant of QOL, especially for psychological domains, and these relationships are under the influence of the socio.cultural environment.

• Korean Medical Education Review
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.90-98
• /
• 2016

Assessment tools for non-academic qualities such as ethics frequently employ hypothetical scenarios to lay out a contextual framework underlying the corresponding criteria of assessment. Due to the context-specific nature of the assessment criteria, details of the scenarios become very important in obtaining accurate results. This study aims to explore how medical school applicants differ in ethical decision making depending on the types of ethical dilemma scenarios, and how they correlate with academic achievements after admission. In 2014, all 82 applicants invited for an admission interview for a graduate-entry program were asked to complete a questionnaire comprised of 13 hypothetical scenarios. There were three domains (unethical business decisions, unethical academic decisions, and sexual quid pro quos) and participants were made to choose between the profitable-but-unethical choice or the unprofitable-but-ethical choice, using a four-point Likert-type scale. On average, tendencies toward unethical decisions were lowest for sexual favors ($1.34{\pm}0.46$), and highest for gaining academic advantages ($2.22{\pm}0.56$). Unethical decisions for academic advantages and sexual benefits showed significant correlation respectively with the female gender and those who graduated from overseas universities. In addition, the propensity for choosing unethical academic decisions was significantly correlated with high academic achievements in medical school (r=0.396). Not only does this study demonstrate that different levels of ethical decision making depend on the scenarios, but also those differences may be a determinant factor in subsequent academic performances in medical school. In conclusion, given the possible influence of the details of the hypothetical scenarios to the applicant's responses, careful consideration must be given during their development.

• The Korean Journal of Financial Management
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.1-36
• /
• 2005

In this study, we analyzed determinant factors of leverage ratio and debt maturity for Korean firms in the simultaneous equation system using 2SLS (two stage least square) method under assumption that two variables are jointly determined in the capital structure decision. As a result of the analysis, we found that leverage ratio and debt maturity are positively related. Also, as for determinant factors of debt maturity, agency cost hypothesis, asset maturity matching hypothesis, signalling and liquidity risk hypothesis are all generally supported, and further leverage ratio are significantly positively related with firm size, but negatively related with default risk. However, when we divided samples into groups according to bank debt level and Chaebul affiliation, with contrast to existing study which worked on similar issues with OLS, we found no evidence supporting the argument that the information asymmetry problem is less severe in firms with more bank debt, whereas information asymmetry and financial constraint problems are more severe in non-Chaebul affiliated firms.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.12
• /
• pp.4957-4961
• /
• 2014

Background: Head and neck cancer without distant metastases is amenable to various modalities of treatment. However, the stage at presentation is a very important determinant for treatment success. The present study was conducted to determine the stage-wise presentation of non-metastatic head and neck cancer patients from the hilly regions in Kumaon division of Uttarakhand, India. Materials and Methods: The hospital records for non-metastatic head and neck cancer patients from the only functional cancer centre of the region for the period of two-years (January 2012-December 2013) were included. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma was excluded due to its staging system being different. Non-squamous histopathologies were also excluded. Patients hailing from nearby regions of Uttar Pradesh and Nepal were excluded, as were patients from non-hilly regions of Kumaon. Results: Of the 271 patients of head and neck cancer, 27 with distant metastases at diagnosis were excluded from the analysis. Of the 244 eligible patient records, 90.1% (n=222) were male, and 9.9% (n=22) were female. The proportions of patients with carcinoma of the larynx, oropharynx, oral cavity, hypopharynx and maxillary antrum were 31.9% (n=78), 27.9% (n=68), 20.5% (n=50), 12.7% (n=31) and 1.2% (n=3). A further 5.7% (n=14) were diagnosed as having secondary involvement of neck nodes with unknown primaries. The proportion of patients presenting in stages I, II, III, IVA and IVB were 0.8% (n=2), 2.5% (n=6), 9.4% (n=23), 51.6% (n=126) and 35.7% (n=87) respectively. Conclusions: An abysmally low proportion (3.3%) of non-metastatic head and neck cancer patients presented in the early stages (I and II). A vast majority of the patients (88.1%) presented with stages IVA and IVB. Not only does this reflect a poor therapeutic outlook, but also exposes the dire need for programmes focusing on cancer awareness and early detection in the region.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.41-49
• /
• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of nurses staffing level on patient health outcomes in intensive care units (ICUs) in Korea. Methods: The study was retrospective in nature. Information on patients and their outcomes, as well as nurse cohort data, were obtained from Korea's National Health Insurance Service Database. The observation period was from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2018, and data for 2,964,991 patients were analyzed. Independent variables included patient' age and sex and hospital type, intensivist, and nurses staffing level. Results: The mortality rate in ICUs was significantly higher at tertiary hospitals with a level 3~4 (HR, 1.21; 95% confidence interval, 1.19~1.22) or level 5~9 nurse staffing (HR, 1.31; 95% confidence interval, 1.27~1.34) compare to that of tertiary hospitals with a 1~2 level. 28-day mortality rate was also higher at general hospitals with a level 3~4 (HR, 1.13; 95% confidence interval, 1.12~1.14), level 5~6 (HR. 1.34; 95% confidence interval, 1.32~1.36), level 7~9 nurse staffing (HR, 1.38; 95% confidence interval, 1.38~1.42), using level 1~2 as reference. Conclusion: Nurses staffing level is a key determinant of healthcare-associated mortality in critically ICUs patients. Policies to achieve adequate nurse staffing levels are therefore required to enhance patient outcomes.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.108-114
• /
• 2018

Background: The purpose of this survey study was to understand how utilization of X-rays as an adjunct to Chuna manual therapy (CT) supports treatment, as assessed by Korean medicine doctors (KMDs). Methods: A survey was emailed to all 18,289 members of the Association of Korean Oriental Medicine (AKOM)to determine the implications of X-ray use in CT. Surveys were collected from September 22, 2017 to October 15, 2017. Results: Of the 18,289 KMDs 562 completed the survey. The implications of a radiological diagnosis (X-ray) with CT was assessed using 5 items in a questionnaire: time to diagnosis, accuracy of treatment, patient comprehension and satisfaction, CT effect, and safety of CT. Survey participants identified improvement in patient comprehension and satisfaction as the most important factor for X-ray use with CT, followed by increased safety of CT. From the determinant factors for selection of CT intensity and specific techniques, severity of clinical symptoms was shown to be the most influential factor. Degenerative changes of the spine and degree of spinal malposition were also reported to be highly influential. Conclusion: The KMDs' that participated in this study indicated that utilization of X-rays in conjunction with CT administration improved patient comprehension and satisfaction, and CT safety. Installation of radiological equipment in Korean medicine clinics where CT is provided may increase safety and patients' satisfaction.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.53-59
• /
• 2003

The present study was conducted to analyze the vegetational difference in fellowed fields at the different seral stages. Plant species were surveyed on the fields having different cropping history, soil moisture conditions, and the duration of set-aside. Effects of soil moisture condition and fellowing duration on the vegetational profiles of fellowed fields in the course of different seral stages. In the fields fellowed for more than three years, a conspicuous feature of vegetation was the dominance of perennial species, which was less dominant in the fields fellowed for less than 3 years. The floristic composition of fellowed fields was dependent on the soil moisture condition. However, the influence of fallow-history on vegetational composition was less than that of the soil moisture conditions. The dominant species occurred in fellowed upland (dry) fields were changed from Glycine soja, Persicaria thunbergiana, and Artemisia princeps at 2-year-fellowed to Persicaria thunbergiana, Miscanthus sinensis, and Glycine soja at 6-year-fellowed. In wet fellowed paddy fields, annual Mosla punctulata, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, and Setaria viridis, the dominant species at 3-year-fellowed, were substituted by perennial Miscanthus sinensis, Aster pilosus, and Hemarthria sibirica at 7-year-fellowed. When the succession continued for 11 years in wet fields, the vegetation was characterized by the domination of perennials such as Phragmites communis, Zizania latifolia, and Typha orientalis. It was suggested that the soil moisture condition was a strong determinant of the dominant species on early seral conditions. In the fellowed paddy fields, the species diversity was relatively higher in the fields set-asided as wet condition compared to the fields fellowed as dry condition.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
• /
• v.34 no.4 s.105
• /
• pp.313-324
• /
• 2004

The Purpose of this study was to investigate the predictors of relapse in orthodontic treatment of skeletal Class III malocclusion in growing patients. A total of 55 patients were studied and all subjects were divided into two groups according to their stability in the post-treatment stage. Of the sample, 33 patients were included in the stable group and the remaining 22 were assigned to the relapse group. Cephalometric data of the pre-treatment stage was taken and compared between the stable and relapse group. The following results were obtained through t-test: 1. This study presented statistical evidence to show that the major skeletal determinant of prognosis in Class III orthodontic treatment was not anteroposterior discrepancy .but vertical discrepancy, especially within the AB-maxillo mandibular triangle. Vertical angular measurements that showed statistically significant differences were AB-MP and ODI(P<0.01) and the vortical ratio measurements were MP-P/AL and PP-P/AL(P<0.05). 2. Relapse tendency increased with the steep occlusal Plane, especially the steep lower occlusal plane. As to occlusal plane, there were statistically significant differences in OP(L)-PP, OP-PP, AB-OP(L) and Wits appraisal(P<0.05). This study claimed that anteroposterior discrepancy was not necessarily the proper criteria to predict relapse. Vertical discrepancy had a significant effect on post-treatment stability.