• The Korean Journal of Medicine
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• v.99 no.3
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• pp.149-157
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• 2024

Background/Aims: Carbapenems are recommended for treating bacteremia caused by extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E). However, this has resulted in a significant rise in the utilization of carbapenems in cases of ESBL-E infection. We evaluated the clinical outcomes of patients with ESBL-E bacteremia treated with non-carbapenem antimicrobials. Methods: We conducted a retrospective case-control study of a cohort of patients with documented ESBL-E bacteremia from January 2021 to December 2021. The patients were divided into two groups according to whether they received non-carbapenem or carbapenem therapy. The rates of treatment failure, 30-day mortality and microbiologic failure, and the durations of hospitalization and of antimicrobial therapy were compared between the two groups. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and phenotypic identification of ESBL-E were performed using the Vitek 2 system. Results: Of 118 patients with ESBL-E bacteremia, 54 received non-carbapenem drugs (non-carbapenem group [NCG]) and 64 received carbapenems (carbapenem group [CG]). Treatment failure at 30 days occurred in 16.7% of the patients in the NCG and in 18.8% in the CG (p = 0.65). The 30-day mortality rate was 14.8% in the NCG and 17.2% in the CG (p = 0.63). Extra-urinary tract infection and prior antimicrobial therapy within 30 days were risk factors for treatment failure in patients with ESBL-E bacteremia. The clinical outcomes did not differ significantly between the two groups, challenging the prevailing preference for carbapenems in the treatment of ESBL-E bacteremia. Conclusions: Non-carbapenem antimicrobials such as piperacillin/tazobactam are recommended for patients with mild ESBL-E bacteremia in South Korea.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.102-108
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• 2020

Background: This study was performed to evaluate the effect of gastric cancer screening through analysis of screening-related data. Methods: We investigated claims data of gastric cancer from 2009 to 2015. We evaluated whether the screening was performed to prior to registration as patients with gastric cancer. The effect of gastric cancer screening was also analyzed by gender. Results: We collected total 196,293 patients with gastric cancer. 74% of them had previous experience of gastric cancer screening. In patients with screening, early gastric cancer was 33.4% and advanced gastric cancer was 17.3%. 22,548 (15.5%) patients were diagnosed with gastric cancer within 2 years after screening. In the case of patients without screening, early gastric cancer was 15.1% and advanced gastric cancer was 25.3%. In case of men, 76% of them confirmed gastric cancer through screening, and 70.2% of women confirmed the gastric cancer. In both men and women, the rate of early gastric cancer was higher among those with screening than those without screening. Conclusion: In this study, we were able to indirectly confirm the stage shift of gastric cancer screening. However, within 2 years after screening, not a few patients with gastric cancer were diagnosed. Therefore, more studies are warranted to in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.345-353
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• 2024

The purpose of this study was to suggest an appropriate collimation size and central X-ray incidence point by analyzing the correlation between the collimation size used in lumbar lateral examination and factors affecting the collimation size. the lumbar lateral examination results of 148 patients suitable for the purpose of this study were analyzed. The measurement method was to set the total horizontal width shown in the image to the size of the irradiation field(collimation) used during the examination. The distance connected vertically from the end of the dorsal field to the apophyseal joint of the third lumbar vertebra(AJD), the distance from the dorsal end of the image field to the center of the body of the third lumbar vertebra(BD), and the distance from the end of the dorsal field of the image to the center of the pedicle of the third lumbar vertebra(PD). The distance was measured. For comparative analysis of the mean values of dependent variables according to gender, age, height, weight, and body mass index, the mean values were compared using the independent samples t test and one-way ANOVA. For post hoc analysis, duncan was used. The correlation between independent and dependent variables was analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis. In this study, statistical significance was set at a p value of 0.05 or lower. The average value of the collimation size during the lumbar spine lateral examination was 252.45 mm, AJD was 102.11 mm, BD was 141.17 mm, and PD was 119.73 mm. The mean values of collimation size, AJD, BD, and PD were larger in men than in women, but statistical significance for the difference in mean values by gender was found only in BD (p<0.05). There was a slight difference in the mean value of each group according to age, but there was no statistical significance (p>0.05). The collimation size and mean values of AJD, BD, and PD according to height, weight, and body mass index differed depending on the independent variables, and the differences were all statistically significant (p<0.05). As a result of the correlation analysis, field size and AJD, BD, and PD showed no correlation with gender and age, a weak positive correlation with height, and a medium positive correlation with weight and body mass index. The results of this study showed that CS was correlated with height, weight, and BMI during lumbar lateral examination. If the entrance point of the central X-ray is moved to the appophyseal joint by considering weight and BMI when adjusting the collimation size in clinical practice, it is expected that the collimation size can be reduced bu about 5%.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.23-42
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• 2023

This study is to investigate the influence relationship between ethical management activities and organizational effectiveness of logistics companies and the regulatory role of organizational trust and self-esteem in the relationship between the two variables. An empirical study was conducted through a survey of 270 employees of a logistics company, and the results of the study are as follows. First, the hypothesis that ethical management activities of logistics companies will affect organizational effectiveness was adopted. Among the ethical management activities of logistics companies, personnel management activities influenced organizational commitment and turnover intention, and external ethical management activities affected customer orientation and organizational commitment. Second, the hypothesis that trust and pride in an organization will affect organizational effectiveness was adopted. Trust in the company influenced organizational business and intention to leave, and trust and pride in superiors affected customer orientation and organizational commitment. Third, in the relationship between ethical management activities and organizational effectiveness of logistics companies, organizational trust and self-esteem have a role in controlling. The hypothesis was partially accepted. Organizational trust and pride of workers in logistics companies have the largest moderating effect on turnover intention in the relationship between ethical management activities and organizational effectiveness. In particular, it can be confirmed that self-esteem has a moderating effect on all variables such as customer orientation, organizational commitment and turnover intention. Based on the above analysis results, logistics companies can see the effect of increasing organizational effectiveness (customer orientation, organizational commitment, turnover intention) through ethical management activities, organizational trust and pride. In relation to effectiveness, since the role of controlling the turnover intention of employees of logistics companies is the greatest, it is necessary to apply this to the organizational management program to increase the efficiency of organizational management through fair and transparent continuous operation.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.57 no.9
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• pp.633-643
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• 2024

Many coastal countries have developed and used a wide range of technologies and policy measures to protect freshwater aquifers and groundwater resources from seawater intrusion, and have established and implemented a foundation to legally and institutionally support them. This study covers coastal states in the eastern United States, the Netheland, India and Japan. The goal of this study is to analyze each country's legal and policy measures for coastal groundwater management. By introducing Jeju Island's groundwater standard level system, we aim to provide a basis for future discussions on groundwater management measures not only in Jeju Island but also in coastal areas of Korea. As a result of the analysis, despite the various contents and aspects of coastal groundwater management based on local issues and characteristics around the world, in order to achieve the common goal of securing a stable amount of groundwater withdrawal and preventing seawater intrusion and to maximize the efficiency of groundwater management, it is understood that attempts are being made to establish optimal management measures, laws, systems, and policies based on several key factors. First, considering the hydrogeological characteristics and status of coastal groundwater, a separate special management system is being established and implemented within the scope of the national groundwater management system. In addition, preventing and maintaining groundwater level decline through limiting the amount of groundwater withdrawal and preventing seawater intrusion are key policy goals and policy tools, and it is suppored by research and development. Finally, tt was found that synergy effects are being sought by using various other policy tools and measures in a complex manner.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.12-21
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• 2024

The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of gibberellin on improving seedling growth characteristics and enhancing strawberry quality in cutting propagation. Cuttings of the cultivar 'Seolhyang' were treated with GA₃ for 30 and 60 minutes at concentrations of 50, 100, and 150 mg·L^-1, with distilled water used for dipping as the control. Evaluation of seedling growth showed a positive correlation between the duration of gibberellin dipping and growth characteristics such as leaf number and SPAD value. Plant height, petiole length, leaf length and width, and leaf area varied significantly based on the interaction between dipping time and concentration. Crown diameter exhibited differences depending on the dipping time, with cuttings producing superior seedlings having a diameter of 8.0 mm or more for all treatments except the 30-minute, 100 mg·L^-1 treatment. The T/R ratio was significantly lower in the 30-minute, 50 mg·L^-1 treatment, indicating the highest plant vigor. Quantum yield was lower at a concentration of 150 mg·L^-1, showing a decreasing trend with increasing gibberellin concentration. Nonphotochemical quenching was significantly smaller in the 30-minute, 150 mg·L^-1 treatment, indicating an effective reduction of stress in the cuttings. Antioxidant content was highest in the 30-minute, 50 mg·L^-1 treatment and the 60-minute, 150 mg·L^-1 treatment. Moreover, the results of post-transplanting growth assessment showed no negative effect of gibberellin on flowering induction. Therefore, it was confirmed that gibberellin treatment during the cutting propagation of 'Seolhyang' strawberries had a positive effect on the production of high-quality seedlings. Dipping the cuttings in 50 mg·L^-1 gibberellin for 30 minutes is considered to be the most suitable method for improving growth and quality compared to the control.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.131-139
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• 2024

In Korea, mackerel is the most preferred red fish commodity and has been increasingly consumed in chillstored fresh state rather than in frozen or salted fish. Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) technology as a replacement of air with low O₂ and high CO₂ concentration gas was applied in this study to preserve its freshness. Four MAP conditions of CO₂(60):O₂(30):N₂(10), CO₂(60):O₂(5):N₂(35), CO₂(60):O₂(0):N₂(40), and CO₂(30):O₂(0):N₂(70) were compared in quality preservation effect with air package used as Control. Three hundred grams mackerel fillets packaged in gas barrier tray were stored for duration of 10 days at 5℃. Quality was assessed in total aerobic bacterial count, pH, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), peroxide value (POV), texture, and surface color. High CO₂ concentration MAPs (CO₂(60):O₂(30):N₂(10), CO₂(60):O₂(5):N₂(35), and CO₂(60):O₂(0): N₂(40)) inhibited total aerobic bacteria growth in the fish fillets. MAPs of high CO₂ concentration with O₂ containment (CO₂(60):O₂(30):N₂(10) and CO₂(60):O₂(5):N₂(35)) showed a low TVB-N content through the storage. The treatments containing O₂ above 20% (Control and CO₂(60):O₂(30):N₂(10)) showed more accelerated increases in TBARS and POV than other treatments. The visual appearance was better for fillets in the packages of CO₂(60):O₂(5):N₂(35), CO₂(60):O₂(0):N₂(40), and CO₂(30):O₂(0):N₂(70) than for those of other treatments. The MAPs of CO₂(60):O₂(5):N₂(35) and CO₂(60):O₂(0):N₂(40) are expected to be effective in keeping the freshness of mackerel fillets.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.343-352
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• 2024

This study aimed to develop probiotics with anti-periodontitic effects to help treat inflammation in the tissues surrounding the teeth. We isolated Weisiella cibaria (W. cibareia) SPM402 and Lactobacillus paracasei (L. paracasei) SPM412 from homemade kimchi and used their cell-free supernatants. At a concentration of 10 mg/mL of L. paracasei SPM412 (LP412) inhibited the formation of Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) biofilm by 95.99±0.73%. In addition, 10 mg/mL of LP412 reduced the RQ value of fimA, an adhesin gene of Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) to 0.08±0.05, and the RQ value of radD, an adhesin gene of F. nucleatum, to 0.08±0.008. When the P. gingivalis outer membrane vehicle (Pg OMV) induced inflammation in YD-38 cells, the RQ value of TNF-α was increased to 36.68±1.85, but was reduced to 4.15±0.37 in the presence of 1 mg/mL of W. cibareia SPM402 (WC402). Similarly, in Pg OMV-induced inflammation in THP-1 cells, the RQ value of IL-1β increased to 2,330.65±204.61 but was reduced to 15.19±4.57 in the presence of 15 mg/mL of WC402. In F. nucleatum-induced inflammation in YD-38 cells, the RQ value of IL-8 increased to 15.10±1.11 and was decreased to 2.67±0.50 in the presence of 1 mg/mL of LP412. In conclusion, W. cibaria SPM402 and L. paracasei SPM412 showed potent anti-inflammatory effects against oral pathogenic bacteria and hold promise as functional probiotics with anti-periodontitic activity.

• Journal of Korean Dental Hygiene Science
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2024

Background: This study aims to determine the association between the number of remaining teeth and oral health-related quality of life according to economic activity status in elderly. Methods: Data from the 9th Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (KLoSA) were used to analyze 6,004 older adults aged 59 years and older. The number of remaining teeth was categorized as less than 20 and more than 20, and the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) was used to measured the oral health-related quality of life of the elderly. Independent t-tests were performed to compare demographic, economic, sociodemographic, and health characteristics, as well as GOHAI scores, between economically active and inactive individuals. In the case of ANOVA analysis, Scheffe's post hoc analysis was performed to confirm statistical significance between groups. Linear regression analysis was conducted to determine the influence of the number of remaining teeth on GOHAI according to economic activity status. Results: Among the study population, 33.9% were economically active, which is approximately half the proportion of those were not economically active. The mean GOHAI scores were 43.32 and 40.15 for economically active and economically inactive individuals with 20 or more residual teeth, respectively (p<0.001). Simple linear regression analysis revealed that having more than 20 remaining teeth was associated with a statistically significant increase in GOHAI by approximately 4.56 times and 4.92 times compared to having fewer than 20 teeth for economically active and non-economically active individuals, respectively (p<0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis, adjusted for demographic, economic, sociodemographic, and health characteristics, showed that having more than 20 remaining teeth was associated with a statistically significant increase in GOHAI by approximately 3.62 and 2.97 times compared to having fewer than 20 teeth in economically active and non-economically active individuals, respectively (p<0.001). Conclusion: This study explored economic activity status as one of several approaches to enhance the oral health-related quality of life of the elderly. By using the number of remaining teeth as an indicator of oral health status. supporting economic activity could potentially improve both oral health and overall quality of life for older individuals. Such interventions may have positive effects on policy outcomes, including reducing economic inequality by promoting economic engagement among the elderly.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.249-260
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• 2024

Background: The Republic of Korea's aging population escalates medical and long-term care costs. While prior research has suggested that long-term care might reduce these costs, these studies had limitations in their subjects and duration, making it difficult to generalize the results. This study aims to evaluate cost changes between the long-term care group and the general older adults group after addressing these limitations. Methods: A cohort was derived from the 2015 national population using stratified sampling. Subsequently, 15,114 individuals (7,557 in each group) were identified through 1:1 propensity score matching. The study employed a difference-in-differences analysis to explore variances in medical costs and long-term care benefits post-utilization of long-term care services. Results: Compared to the general older adults group, the long-term care group experienced a reduction in monthly per capita total medical costs by 56,459 Korean won (KRW). Although costs at tertiary and general hospitals increased, those related to long-term care hospitals decreased by 90,687 KRW. Including long-term care benefits, overall expenditures increased by 948,038 KRW. Conclusion: The analysis reveals that the long-term care group faces higher medical costs in acute care than the general older adults group, emphasizing a greater need for medical services within this group. To meet the increasing medical demands of the long-term care group, a collaborative strategy linking community resources, healthcare, and long-term care facilities is imperative. Additionally, developing and implementing preventive health habit management strategies for middle-aged and older adults is essential to diminish the future requirement for long-term care.