• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.453-463
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• 2021

Hearing loss is a group of clinically and genetically heterogeneous disorders characterized by congenital- to adult-onset deafness with frequent additional symptoms such as myopathy, nephropathy, and optic disorders. It is commonly divided into two types: syndromic, with no other symptoms, and nonsyndromic, with other symptoms. Autosomal recessive hearing loss is relatively frequent in Pakistan, which may be due in part to frequent consanguineous marriages. This study was performed by whole exome sequencing to determine the genetic causes in two Pakistani consanguineous families with autosomal recessive hearing loss. We identified a pathogenic homozygous variant (p.Leu326Gln in MYO7A) in a family with prelingual-onset hearing loss and two variants of uncertain significance (p.Val3094Ile in GPR98 and p.Asp56Gly in PLA2G6) in a family with early-onset hearing loss concurrent with muscular atrophy. The missense mutations in MYO7A and PLA2G6 were located in the highly conserved sites, and in silico analyses predicted pathogenicity, while the GPR98 mutation was located in the less conserved site, and most in silico analysis programs predicted its nonpathogenic effect. Homozygosity mapping showed that both alleles of the homozygous mutations identified in each family originated from a single founder; spread from this single source might be due to consanguineous marriages. This study will help provide exact molecular diagnosis and treatment for autosomal recessive hearing loss patients in Pakistan.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.12-22
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• 2021

Backgrounds: Proper distribution and supply of physicians are factors that affect national health care systems. This study investigated the payment distribution levels and the determinants that influence the salary levels of hospital hired physicians. Methods: We analyzed 4,014 job advertisements posted on an internet invitation information site about physician recruitment from May 2016 to May 2019. We used univariate analysis to determine the relationship between average monthly salary and the other related variables. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine the predictors of physician salary level. Results: The average monthly salary for the service physician was 15.4 million won, highest for orthopedic surgeons with 22.24 million won, and lowest for diagnostic laboratory physician with 11.4 million won. The factors significantly associated with average monthly salary were; non-major specialty, housing provision, no severance pay, and incentives(p<0.05). Non-major specialty, incentives, and the regions were predictors of the average standardized monthly salary(p<0.05). Conclusion: Factors associated with average monthly salary as revealed by this study were; medical specialty, hospital regional location, housing provision, payment of retirement allowance, and payment of other incentives respectively. However, this study was a cross-sectional study, and further studies will be required.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2021

Purpose This article studies the relationship between the length of a kidney measured by two scanning methods: Kidney Computed Tomography (CT) and ^99mTc-Dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) renal scan. Kidney CT provides a better anatomic assessment, while ^99mTc-DMSA renal scan is superior in the kidney function test. Materials and Methods From January to December of 2019, two hundred patients who had Kidney CT and Tc^99m-DMSA renal scan were chosen for this study. SPSS17.0 was selected for statistical analysis. Results Due to the effect of the breathing and resolution of ^99mTc-DMSA renal scan, it showed the kidney's relatively longer length than the length of Kidney CT. For the same kidney, the length comparison among different brands' Gamma cameras was negligible. The length difference within the same age group did not show a noticeable discrepancy. However, there was a length difference between the radio technologists. Kidney CT and ^99mTc-DMSA renal scan indicated a strong positive correlation between the length of the left and right kidney. Conclusion It is necessary to establish a standardized measurement method for measuring kidney length using ^99mTc-DMSA renal scan. The kidney's functional changes and length changes are indications of Kidney diseases. Especially, pediatric patients tend to use ^99mTc-DMSA renal scan for assessing the kidney's shape and the function to avoid potential radiation exposure during the Kidney CT. Therefore, it is significant to provide not only the kidney's functional information but also an anatomic analysis, including the kidney's size, length, and location through the ^99mTc-DMSA renal scan.

• 한국노년학
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.729-746
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• 2020

For the development and better use of information and communication technology(ICT) for promoting health and quality of life in older people, it is important to understand personal factors associated with ICT use. The aims of this study were to describe the pattern of ICT use according to health characteristics of elderly and to investigate significant factors related to ICT use among three age groups. The data of 2017 National Survey of Older Koreans was used for analysis and 10,058 of older adults aged 65 and over were included for study participants. As results, first, the young old(65~74) used more functions of ICT than the middle-old(75~84) and the old-old(85 and over). Second, ICT was more used among older people with good conditions in chronic disease, subjective health, cognition, depression, vision, hearing, walking and IADL. Third, higher prevalence of ICT use was significantly associated with age, education, household income, subjective health, depression, cognitive function, vision limitation and walking limitation. Fourth, factors influencing the use of ICT were a little different among three age groups. For the young-old(65~74), subjective health, depression, cognitive decline, walking limitation, and IADL disability were significant factors affecting on ICT use. For the middle-old(75-84), subjective health, depression, cognitive decline, vision, hearing, and walking limitation were related with their ICT use. For the old-old(85 and over), only cognitive function and depression were associated with their ICT use. Based on these results, this study suggested the need to consider multiple health conditions for developing and using ICT for older adults.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.1-15
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• 2021

This study considered Forest Specialists, who are nurtured by the legal system through the analysis of laws and regulations under the jurisdiction of the Korea Forest Service. In particular, the transition process of forest-related laws and laws to train forest specialists were identified. In addition, changes and characteristics regarding the cultivation of professional forestry talents according to forestry policy were investigated. As a result, it was found that Forest Specialist on policy dealt with forestry success for forestry promotion, and forestry engineers dealt with technical skills for forestry industry development. In addition, according to the revision of the laws for the sustainable use of timber, wood-structural engineers, timber grade evaluators, and timber education specialists are trained separately. Forest Specialists concerned with forest welfare policies were found to train forest experts and complete specialized training courses to provide various services for forest cultural and recreation facilities, healing forests, and forest leisure sports facilities. There is an instructor for forest leisure sports. Forest welfare experts are divided into forest education experts and forest healing instructors; forest education specialists are further divided into forest interpreters, forest guides for children, and forest trekking guides. Forest Specialists on forest protection policy were found to train arboretum and garden experts for the efficient management and exhibition of arboretums. Gardens and tree doctors and tree treatment technicians for arboretums wer also trained. A tree doctor and a tree treatment technician were found to have the necessary qualifications to run a tree hospital business, diagnosing and treating tree damage. Therefore, it is thought that the Korea Forest Service is nurturing Forest Specialists with technical capabilities for forestry promotion, forest industry development, and tree treatment; and the Forest Specialists can provide education and welfare services at culture, recreation, treatment, and conservation sites in forests.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.181-188
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• 2022

Objectives: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus was approximately 16% in populations of over age 30 years, and deaths from diabetes mellitus became the sixth most prevalent cause of death by disease. To assess the relationship between HbA1c and heavy metal level in blood and urine, targeted residents were evaluated in a vast steel industrial complex. Methods: We selected 414 subjects for analysis after applying the following exclusion criterion: 18 persons with diabetes mellitus. They took part in a questionnaire survey and underwent blood and urinary assessments. HbA1c and lead (Pb) level were measured in blood and, cadmium (Cd), inorganic arsenic (iAs) and mercury (Hg) were evaluated in urine. Two subgroups were divided by HbA1c 6.5%. Each subgroup was divided by 10th, 20th, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th, 70th, 80th and 90th percentile levels of biological exposure index of the heavy metals for logistic regression. Results: Odd ratios have a tendency to increase as they go from the 90th to the 10th percentile of cadmium. However, lead, arsenic and mercury did not have significant relationships with HbA1c. In correction of age, region, gender and smoking history, a higher distribution in the subgroup with cadmium above 0.8318 ㎍/g creatinine (30th percentile) was demonstrated in the subgroup with HbA1c levels above the 6.5%, with an odds ratio of 5.26 (95% C.I. ; 1.44~19.17). Conclusion: This study found a significant correlation between urinary levels of cadmium and HbA1c in correction of several factors. It is meaningful that this outcome may be used as a basis for a study to establish the acceptable limit of urinary cadmium in Korea.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.359-375
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• 2022

Purpose: Adult Korean men belonging to the main economically active population are known to have long sedentary hours. This study was undertaken to determine the difference and relevance of sedentary hours on the nutrition, diet, and health status of adult men, and to suggest how to prevent health risk factors. Methods: Subjects (n = 1,068) were classified into 4 groups based on their sedentary hours, ranging from the first quartile (Q1) having the least hours spent sitting, to the fourth quartile (Q4) spending the longest hours. Results: Subjects belonging to Q4 had the lowest average age, the largest waist circumference, and the highest level of education. Among those engaged in economic activities, the ratio of white-collar workers was significantly higher in Q4. Accordingly, the rate of not doing high-intensity or moderate-intensity physical activity while working was also the highest in Q4. A significant difference was obtained in the drinking frequency between groups, but this was found to be associated with the average working hours rather than sedentary hours. The proportion of not doing aerobic exercise was higher with longer sitting hours. The highest diagnosis of diabetes (8.8%) was obtained in the Q4 group. Among the factors related to cardiovascular disease, only low density lipoprotein-cholesterol showed a significant difference, with Q4 being significantly higher than Q1. Considering energy and nutrient intake, vitamin B₁ and calcium intake were the lowest in the group with the longest sitting hours, as well as the least consumption of vitamin C than the recommended estimated average requirement. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the health and nutritional status of Korean adult men are affected by sedentary hours. This should be recognized as a health risk factor and guidelines need to be developed for sedentary lifestyle management.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.318-323
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• 2020

Purpose: To examine the relationship between total fat infiltration (TFI) rate, which quantifies the reduction of muscles around the spine and is an important factor for sarcopenia, and the factors affecting osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture. Materials and Methods: Patients treated for osteoporotic compression fractures of the lumber spine from January 2012 to December 2016 were analyzed retrospectively. Among them, this study included ninety-eight patients who were 1) diagnosed with osteoporosis with a bone mineral density (BMD) T score of less than 2.5 g/cm², 2) received vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty for lumbar fractures, 3) involved one segment of the lumbar spine, and 4) were followed-up for more than one year. The TFI rate confirmed by analyzing magnetic resonance imagings with the Image J program was studied. Based on this, the relationship between the TFI of the multifidus and erector spinae muscles and the factors of osteoporosis were analyzed. Results: The mean TFI of the multifidus and erector spinae was 14.66±10.16. The spine BMD showed a positive correlation with the hip BMD, but a negative correlation with the TFI. A positive correlation was observed between the hip BMD and body mass index. In addition, vitamin D was positively correlated with both the hip and spine BMD but negatively correlated with the TFI rate. Conclusion: Muscle growth helps treat osteoporosis, and can prevent fractures that occur frequently in osteoporosis patients. Increasing the vitamin intake can also slow the progression of muscle atrophy.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.68-75
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the motion of the shoulder joint dynamically through a depth sensor-based motion analysis system for the normal group and patients group with shoulder disease and to report the results along with a review of the relevant literature. Materials and Methods: Seventy subjects participated in the study and were categorized as follows: 30 subjects in the normal group and 40 subjects in the group of patients with shoulder disease. The patients with shoulder disease were subdivided into the following four disease groups: adhesive capsulitis, impingement syndrome, rotator cuff tear, and cuff tear arthropathy. Repeating abduction and adduction three times, the angle over time was measured using a depth sensor-based motion analysis system. The maximum abduction angle (θ_max), the maximum abduction angular velocity (ω_max), the maximum adduction angular velocity (ω_min), and the abduction/adduction time ratio (t_abd/t_add) were calculated. The above parameters in the 30 subjects in the normal group and 40 subjects in the patients group were compared. In addition, the 30 subjects in the normal group and each subgroup (10 patients each) according to the four disease groups, giving a total of five groups, were compared. Results: Compared to the normal group, the maximum abduction angle (θ_max), the maximum abduction angular velocity (ω_max), and the maximum adduction angular velocity (ω_min) were lower, and abduction/adduction time ratio (t_abd/t_add) was higher in the patients with shoulder disease. A comparison of the subdivided disease groups revealed a lower maximum abduction angle (θ_max) and the maximum abduction angular velocity (ω_max) in the adhesive capsulitis and cuff tear arthropathy groups than the normal group. In addition, the abduction/adduction time ratio (t_abd/t_add) was higher in the adhesive capsulitis group, rotator cuff tear group, and cuff tear arthropathy group than in the normal group. Conclusion: Through an evaluation of the shoulder joint using the depth sensor-based motion analysis system, it was possible to measure the range of motion, and the dynamic motion parameter, such as angular velocity. These results show that accurate evaluations of the function of the shoulder joint and an in-depth understanding of shoulder diseases are possible.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.864-881
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aims is to provide a total care solution preventing disaster based on Big Data and AI technology and to service safety considered by individual situations and various risk characteristics. The purpose is to suggest a method that customized comprehensive index services to prevent and respond to safety accidents for calculating the living safety index that quantitatively represent individual safety levels in relation to daily life safety. Method: In this study, we use method of mixing AHP(Analysis Hierarchy Process) and Likert Scale that extracted from consensus formation model of the expert group. We organize evaluation items that can evaluate life safety prevention services into risk indicators, vulnerability indicators, and prevention indicators. And We made up AHP hierarchical structure according to the AHP decision methodology and proposed a method to calculate relative weights between evaluation criteria through pairwise comparison of each level item. In addition, in consideration of the expansion of life safety prevention services in the future, the Likert scale is used instead of the AHP pair comparison and the weights between individual services are calculated. Result: We obtain result that is weights for life safety prevention services and reflected them in the individual risk index calculated through the artificial intelligence prediction model of life safety prevention services, so the comprehensive index was calculated. Conclusion: In order to apply the implemented model, a test environment consisting of a life safety prevention service app and platform was built, and the efficacy of the function was evaluated based on the user scenario. Through this, the life safety index presented in this study was confirmed to support the golden time for diagnosis, response and prevention of safety risks by comprehensively indication the user's current safety level.