• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.300-306
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• 2010

Purpose : Recent changes in the population structure of Korea, such as rapid decline in birth rate and exponential increase in old-aged people, prompted us to prepare a new health improvement program in children and adolescents. Methods : We reviewed current health screenings applied for children and adolescents in Korea and other developed countries. We collected and reviewed population-based data focused on mortality and morbidity, and other health-related statistical data. We generated problem lists in current systems and developed new principles. Results : Current health screening programs for children and adolescents were usually based on laboratory tests, such as blood tests, urinalysis, and radiologic tests. Almost all of these programs lacked evidence based on population data or controlled studies. In most developed countries, laboratory tests are used only very selectively, and they usually focus on primary prevention of diseases and health improvement using anticipatory guidance. In Korea, statistics on mortality and morbidity reveal that diseases related to lifestyle, such as obesity and metabolic syndrome, are increasing in all generations. Conclusion : We recommend a periodic health screening program with anticipatory guidance, which is focused on growth and developmental surveillance in infants and children. We no longer recommend old programs that are based on laboratory and radiologic examinations. School health screening programs should also be changed to meet current health issues, such as developing a healthier lifestyle to minimize risk behaviors—or example, good mental health, balanced nutrition, and more exercise.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.76-84
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• 1999

Objectives: A number of studies have shown that sleep deprivation results in reduced vigilance and increased negative affects such as tension, depression and anger. However there are few studies about effects of sleep deprivation on anxiety. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 40 hour sleep deprivation on state anxiety, affects, sleepiness and fatigue. The authors also intended to study the effect of trait-anxiety on these psychological variables after sleep deprivation. Methods: Twenty nine subjects(22 men, 7 women, $24.59{\pm}1.35$ years of age) participated in this study. Subjects had no past history of psychiatric disorders and physical illnesses, and had normal sleep-waking cycle without current sleep disturbances. All of the subjects completed sleep dairy for two weeks to exclude some who suffered from chronic sleep deprivation or sleep disturbances. Subjects were instructed to get a normal sleep as usual at night before the study. After awakening, subjects remained awake for 40 hours under continuous surveillance. They completed State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Index of General Affect, Stanford Sleepiness Scale and Fatigue Questionnaire every three hours, therefore they completed the scales 14 times totally. Subjects were dictated not to take caffeine, alcohol, or any medications on the day of the study. Heavy exercises and naps were restricted too. Results: Sleep deprivation resulted in increased state anxiety, negative general affects, and increased sleepiness and fatigue(p<.001). Dividing into high trait-anxiety group and low trait-anxiety group, there was significant sleep deprivation x traitanxiety interaction effect on general affect(p<.05). But, there was no significant sleep deprivation x trait-anxiety interaction effect on state-anxiety, sleepiness and fatigue. During sleep deprivation, the highest ratings of scales on anxiety, negative affect, sleepiness and fatigue occurred between 4 : 00AM and 7 : 00AM. Conclusions: These results show that sleep deprivation results in increased anxiety, mood state disturbance and increment of sleepiness and fatigue. These findings also suggest that trait-anxiety is a factor that influences the degree of worsening in general affect caused by sleep deprivation. During sleep deprivation, the rating curves of anxiety, affect, sleepiness and fatigue show rhythmicity that may be related to circadian rhythm.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2001

Objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is common and may produce various symptoms and serious complications. A substantial number of research articles on obstructive sleep apnea syndrome have been published in Korea. However, we found such limitations as lack of sufficient sample size and lack of polysomnography-proven cases. Therefore, we aimed at studying clinical features and sleep structure in a sufficient number of Korean patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome diagnostically confirmed with polysomnography. Methods: We studied 801 subjects referred to the Division of Sleep Studies, Seoul National University Hospital, who were diagnosed as having obstructive sleep apnea syndrome with polysomnography. Subjects were excluded if they had central sleep apnea syndrome, periodic limb movement disorder, narcolepsy or REM sleep behavior disorder. Foreign patients were also excluded. First of all, we studied the clinical features of the subjects. Secondly, we compared sleep-related parameters of the study subjects with those of age/sex-matched normal values. Thirdly, correlations of respiratory disturbance index (RDI) with each of the sleep-related parameters were calculated. Results: Among the 801 subjects, 668 were male subjects (83.4%) and 133 female subjects (16.4%). Their mean age was 46.6 years (${\pm}13.5$). The mean body mass index (BMI) was 25.8 (${\pm}3.8$) and subjects with BMI was over 28.0 accounted for 22.8% of the total. Fifty subjects (6.2%) were found to take benzodiazepines. Mean RDI and mean nocturnal oxygen saturation of all subjects was 31.2 (${\pm}24.4$) and 94.5% (${\pm}3.6$), respectively. In comparison with normal values, the subjects showed longer sleep latency, lower sleep efficiency, decreased total slow wave sleep % (TSWS %), and decreased total REM sleep % (TREM %)(p<0.01 in all). RDI had a negative correlation with each TSWS % and TREM % (p<0.01, p<0.01). However, RDI did not have significant correlation with either sleep latency or sleep efficiency. Conclusion: In this study, 6.2% of patients diagnosed as having obstructive sleep apnea syndrome were found to take benzodiazepines, although they are generally considered to be of litte benefit or even dangerous because of the respiratory suppressing effect. The proportion of obese subjects was only 22.8% and Korean patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome seem to be less obese than those described in foreign journals. This study also suggests that the severity of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome may have a more significant effect on sleep architecture defined as TSWS % and TREM % than on sleep efficiency.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.32-38
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• 2005

Objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) has drawn increasing attention as medical community has become to be aware of its co-morbidities and complications, especially cardiovascular complications and excessive daytime sleepiness with accident proneness. As of now, polysomnography is the standard tool to diagnose sleep apnea and estimate the treatment validity. However, its being rather expensive and inconvenient, alternate diagnostic tools have been proposed including wrist actigraphy. So far, actigraphies have been adopted usefully to field-survey sleep apnea prevalence. In this study, we attempted in a sleep laboratory setting to assess the supplemental value of actigraphy in diagnosing OSAS. Methods: This study was done at the Division of Sleep Studies, the Seoul National University Hospital. Thirty-seven clinically suspected cases of OSAS underwent the one-night polysomnography, simultaneously wearing an actigraphy on non-dominant wrist. We analyzed the data of 27 polysomnographically-proven OSAS patients (male：female 20： 7；age $47.6{\pm}12.9$ years old；age range 23 to 72 years) with no other sleep disorders. We calculated RDI (respiratory disturbance index) from the polysomnography data and FI (fragmentation index) from the actigraphy data. Pearson correlation was calculated in order to compare FI with RDI and to evaluate the supplemental diagnostic value of the actigraphy. Results: Mean total sleep time on polysomnography was $401.4{\pm}57.8\;min$ (range of 274.0 to 514.1 min). Mean RDI was $21.7{\pm}20.4/hour$. Mean FI was $21.9{\pm}13.0/hour$. RDI and FI showed significant correlation (r=0.55, p<0.01). Conclusions: Wrist actigraphy in OSAS patients generates a comparable outcome to polysomnography, in measuring the nocturnal sleep fragmentation. The actigraphy could be used supplementally in inpatients, outpatients, and field survey subjects, if polysomnography is unavailable or impossible. In follow-ups related with nasal CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure), upper airway surgery, and oral appliance in OSAS patients, the actigraphy might play a more dominant role in the future.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.754-759
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• 1998

Background : Lung cancer is an important public health problem because of rapidly increasing malignancy in both sexes in relation with high smoking rate in Korea. Despite advances in therapeutic modalities and supportive cares, 5-year survival rate has improved only marginally during the past 2 decades. Therefore, the early detection of lung cancer is strongly needed for better prognosis and we conducted this study to review the clinical factors resulting in delayed diagnosis of lung cancer. Method: The clinical data such as presenting symptoms, duration for diagnosis, disease entities causing misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis, were analyzed retrospectively in 154 patients with primary lung cancer diagnosed at Chungnam National university hospital from January to December in 1995. Results : 63 patients(40.9%) out of 154 patients were delayed diagnosed with the duration of 6.3 months compared with 3.6 months in patients diagnosed without delay. In delayed diagnosed group, Cough & sputum and dyspnea as presenting symptom were more critical than hemoptysis and chest pain, and doctor's delay was more critical than patient's delay. Tuberculosis(30/63) was most frequent disease entity causing delayed diagnosis, followed by pneumorua(9/63), COPD(6/63), heart diseases(5/63), etc.. Conclusion: It should be emphasized that any respiratory symptom be checked with chest X-ray to differentiate lung cancer and periodic check of chest X-ray be also needed for the longterm patients with any disease, especially with high risk group.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2010

Objective: Birth sex ratio (BSR) with human IVF-ET program is an interesting subject of social and scientific issue but very little information is available in Korea. This study was performed to assess the BSR with IVF-ET and to suggest the effective factors on the BSR. Methods: The national data from 1991~2008 were obtained from governmental Statistics Korea and the delivery data of human IVF-ET program on 2007 and 2008 were provided from the Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs. The BSR were statistically analyzed according to methods of IVF and to transferred embryos from fresh or frozen-thawed cycles. Results: The BSRs of Korean populations were over 1.10 up to 2002, and then it declined and maintained to 1.06 as balance BSR on 2007 and 2008. In human IVF-ET program, the BSRs were 1.07 on 2007 and 1.06 on 2008, respectively. Conventional IVF on 2008 showed the highest BSR as 1.10, and ICSI the lowest on 2008 as 1.01. There was no significant difference of BSRs related to the methods of in vitro fertilization and the feature of transferred embryos. Conclusion: The BSR of Korea showed 1.06~1.07 as normal and balanced state on 2007 and 2008 both general populations and human IVF-ET program. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the BSR of human IVF-ET in Korea. There is a need to expand the further studies for national statistics and influencing factors on the BSR with IVF-ET.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.574-582
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• 1997

Background : Normal humans meet the increased ventilatory need during exercise initially by the increase of tidal volume (TV) and later by the increase of respiratory frequency (Rf). And the inspiratory duty cycle (Ti/Ttot) is also increased more than 50% for the compensation of the decrease of respiratory cycle provoked by the increase of respiratory frequency. The patients with chronic airflow obstruction show rapid and shallow breathing pattern during exercise because of the decreased ventilatory capacity and the increased dead space ventilation. However, the studies about the change of inspiratory duty cycle are only a few and there is no literature about the relationship between the change of inspiratory duty cycle and the degree of airflow obstruction. Methods : The subjects were the twelve patients with chronic airflow obstruction (CAO) and ten normal people. The incremental exercise test was done. The increase of work load was 10 W in CAO group and 25 W in normal control group. The analysis of the results was done by the comparison of the parameters such as minute ventilation (VE), TV, Rf, physiologic dead space (Vd/Vt), and inspiratory duty cycle between the two groups. Each parameters were compared after transformation into % control duration base that means dividing the total exercise time into five fractions and % control duration data were obtained at rest, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and max. Statistical analysis was done by repeated measure ANOVA using SAS program. Results : The changes of VE and TV were significantly different between two groups while the change of Rf was not significant. The decrease of Vd/Vt was significantly low in CAO group. Ti/Ttot was markedly increased from 38.4 + 3.0% at rest to 48.6 + 4.5% at max in normal control group while Ti/Ttot showed little change from 40.5 + 2.2% at rest to 42.6 + 3.5% at max. And the change of inspiratory duty cycle showed highly good correlation with the degree of airflow obstruction (FEV1%). (r=0.8151, p < 0.05). Conclusions : The increase of Ti/Ttot during exercise observed in normal humans is absent in the patients with CAO and the change of Ti/Ttot is well correlated with the degree of airflow obstruction.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.311-321
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• 1998

Background: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the lung arises from submucosal gland of tracheobronchial tree. Histologically, the tumor is composed of mucin-secreting cells, squamous cells, and intermediated cells, which show no particular differentiating characteristics, in varying proportions. The tumor is divided into low grade and high grade depending on the proportion of cells, and the degree of the mitotic activity, cellular necrosis and nuclear pleomorphism. While favorable prognosis of low grade tumor, high grade tumor, which is very difficult to differentiate from adenosquamous carcinoma, has an aggressive clinical course. The tumor is rare, comprising 0.1 to 0.2% of primary lung cancers and 1 to 5% of bronchial adenomas. Method: A retrospective clinical study was done on 17 cases of mucoepidermoid carcinoma. The study investigated the clinical features, radiologic findings, bronchoscopic findings, histology and clinical courses. Results: Age ranged between second to seventh decade with a mean age of 42 years. Twelve out of 17 cases were male. Five out of 17 cases were smokers with a mean 11 pack-years. Common symptoms included dyspnea, cough, hemoptysis, and wheezing. Two out of 17 cases was asymptomatic. Atelectasis or mass was common radiologic finding. Plain chest radiography was normal in one patient whom the tumor was located in upper trachea. Bonchoscopy revealed exophytic mass in 12 cases and nodular infiltrations in 4 cases. One case having solitary pulmonary nodule in the right lower lung was normal on bronchoscopy. Histologically, ten out of 17 cases were low grade, and seven out of 17 cases were high grade. Among 10 patients with low grade tumor,9 patients were performed operation and have been alive without recurrence during a mean follow-up of 30 months. Two out of 7 patients with high grade tumor were performed pneumonectomy and have been alive during a follow-up of 3 and 8 months, respectively. Conclusion: Most of mucoepidermoid carcinoma is located at central airway and is presented symptoms by mucosal irirtation. Although atelectasis or mass is common radiologic finding. chest X -ray can be normal. The histologic grading and the extent of tumor are two most important factors for prognosis.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.107-115
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• 2007

Objective: A quality management system of international standardization organization (ISO) 9001:2000 has been proposed to properly evaluate and improve the quality of productions and services. The purpose of this article was to describe on successful introduction and application of the ISO system to human assisted reproductive technology (ART) center. Methods: Center for reproductive medicine and infertility of Cheil General Hospital started the action for ISO 9001:2000 certification at January-2004. The ISO system of our center was monitored by measuring the customer satisfaction index and periodical internal and external audit. Reports of non-conformity described corrective and preventive actions for problems and occurrences that were not consistent with the standard process and operation of our center. Continuous management and improvement were performed on the project of customer dissatisfaction. Results: Our center has got the certification of ISO 9001:2000 for "Research and development of IVF-ET program for infertility treatment" from Korean Foundation for Quality at June-2004. The policy of ISO was "To establish the best center of reproductive medicine and infertility" and "To establish the best quality management system". We found 140 cases and 7 cases of non-conformity in internal and external audit for three years, respectively, and performed corrective action. Conclusion: Improvement of customer satisfaction, systemic documentation and transparency and efficacy of working procedure were achieved by application and operation of the ISO system to our center. This ISO system could be used as a basic institutional management system for the national guideline to the human ART center.

• Journal of Legislation Research
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• no.53
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• pp.9-59
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• 2017

Recently, the aspect of regulating the legal system in North Korea has increased in quantity and shows the improvement of the evaluation of the lack of systematic consistency in the past. North Korean legislation has been negatively criticized for its lack of function and role of the legislative body and ambiguity of the legal system. In particular, the newly adopted "Legislation Law" in relation to the revision of the legislative system of North Korea contains important and clear contents to understand the legislative system and procedures of North Korea. The contents of the "Legislation Law" can be found a glimpse of the process by which the framework and procedures of the North Korean legislative process are organized more systematically. The North Korean legislation provides legal and institutional grounds for promoting internal and external policies under the Kim jong-un's regime. North Korea is focused on the nuclear issue, so there is limited information on other areas. In light of this, the purpose of this study is to examine the legislative theory and system of North Korea, and outline the theoretical basis of North Korea's emphasis on strengthening socialist judicial life, the socialist legal system, and the state theory of socialist rule of law. In addition, it can be analysed the content of actual legal reform in light of North Korea's legislative theory and system. In the study, it will examine the legislative system of North Korea and its characteristics by examining the legislative process and legislative process of North Korea. Moreover, it can be compared the contents of the Legislative Law of China with the legislative process of the DPRK and examine its characteristics. We will look at the challenges to the legislative system in North Korea and look into the future direction of the legislation. Kim jong-un's announcement of the revised legislation until recently through the publication of the 2016 Supplementary Codes is an important data for the current state of the North Korean legislation. This is because it confirms the content of the laws and regulations already known through "Democratic Chosun(a newspaper issued by North Korea Cabinet)'s statutory interpretation." However, in the case of laws and regulations related to the North Korean political system, it is still a remnant of the lagging legislation that the announcement is delayed, or it remains undisclosed or confidential. North Korean laws are developed and changed according to the changes of the times. In particular, the contents of the maintenance of foreign investment and the foreign economic law system and related internal legal system are found to change in accordance with the development direction of the socioeconomic system. If the direction of Kim jong-un's regime is to be expanded to the path of reform and opening up in the economic sector, the revision of the related laws and regulations will accelerate. Securing the transparency and objectivity of the North Korean legislative process and procedures will help to broaden the understanding of the inter-Korean legal system and to seek institutional measures for inter-Korean integration. In the future, in-depth research on the North Korean legal system will be emphasized as a basis for ultimately forming a unified Korea's legal system.