• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.434-442
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this predictive study was to identify factors affecting health related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: The participants in this study were 131 patients with RA who were recruited from the outpatient clinic of a university hospital in Seoul. Disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis was evaluated by calculating the Disease Activity Score 28. Disability in activities of daily living (ADL) was assessed with the Korean Health Assessment Questionnaire, and depression with The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. HRQoL was evaluated using The Short Form 36 Health Survey. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation, and hierarchical multiple regression. Results: Pain, disability in ADL, disease activity, and depression correlated negatively with physical and mental dimensions of HRQoL. But hierachical multiple regression analysis revealed that disability in ADL and depression were the only variables negatively influencing physical and mental QoL after adjustment for influences of sociodemographic variables. Conclusion: Results of this study suggest that disability in ADL and depression, rather than disease activity and pain have profound effects on HRQoL in patients with RA. Further studies are needed to assess the predictive ability of disease activity and pain on HRQoL in this population.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.216-231
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• 2003

Objectives: To develop a model that predicts a death probability of acute myocardial infarction(AMI) patient, and to evaluate a performance of hospital services using the developed model. Methods: Medical records of 861 AMI patients in 7 general hospitals during 1996 and 1997 were reviewed by two trained nurses. Variables studied were risk factors which were measured in terms of severity measures. A risk model was developed by using the logistic regression, and its performance was evaluated using cross-validation and bootstrap techniques. The statistical prediction capability of the model was assessed by using c-statistic, $R^2$ as well as Hosmer-Lemeshow statistic. The model performance was also evaluated using severity-adjusted mortalities of hospitals. Results: Variables included in the model building are age, sex, ejection fraction, systolic BP, congestive heart failure at admission, cardiac arrest, EKG ischemia, arrhythmia, left anterior descending artery occlusion, verbal response within 48 hours after admission, acute neurological change within 48 hours after admission, and 3 interaction terms. The c statistics and $R^2$ were 0.887 and 0.2676. The Hosmer-Lemeshow statistic was 6.3355 (p-value=0.6067). Among 7 hospitals evaluated by the model, two hospitals showed significantly higher mortality rates, while other two hospitals had significantly lower mortality rates, than the average mortality rate of all hospitals. The remaining hospitals did not show any significant difference. Conclusion: The comparison of the qualities of hospital service using risk-adjusted mortality rates indicated significant difference among them. We therefore conclude that risk-adjusted mortality rate of AMI patients can be used as an indicator for evaluating hospital performance in Korea.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.24-47
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• 2006

Based on the findings of a study focused on medical institutions(Fama & French, 2002), this study determined possible causality between determinants of capital structure and liability level, while estimating targeted debt ratio. Moreover, it also examined hypotheses about the adjustment of targeted debt ratio and the of fundraising patterns, so that it verified the relative priority of trade-off theory and pecking order theory. First, profitability had positive(+) relationships with liability level, while investment opportunities had negative(-) relationships with liability level. This finding supported pecking order theory, and non-liability tax shield effects had negative(-) relationships with liability level as estimated in both trade-off theory and pecking order theory. Next, this study verified trade-off and pecking order theory at once by means of regression analysis about the variation of liability level in associations with disparity from targeted debt ratio and short-term fluctuation of profit and investment. As a result, it was noted that liability level became mean-reversed to targeted liability ratio but slowly, SO it was difficult to assert that such mean reverse may support trade-off theory. However, the finding that most of short-term fluctuations of profit and investment are absorbed into liabilities supported pecking order theory. On the other hand, it was found that the larger scale of medical institutions is more supportive of pecking order theory in the associations between liability level and profitability and the fundraising patterns than trade-off theory.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.34-39
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of three cognitive tasks on gait at a preferred walking speed, and at a fast speed, using dual-task methodology. A total of 29 stroke patients participated in the study. All 29 subjects performed 2 motor tasks (10-meter walk task and timed up and go task each at a preferred and a fast speed) and three cognitive tasks [Stroop, word list generation (WLG), serial subtraction (SS)] under dual-task conditions [cognitive-motor interference (CMI)] in a randomized order. Gait speeds were measured in six different conditions. A repeated-measure analysis of variance was employed to compare the results of the Stroop training, WLG, and SS tasks during preferred and fast walking. A Bonferroni adjustment use for post hoc analysis. The level of statistical significance was set at ${\alpha}=.05$. A CMI effect occurred for performance of a 10-meter walking task at two different speed and a cognitive task (p<.05). Stroop had a significantly greater effect than SS and WLG (p<.05). The timed up and go task was affected when performed with fast walking speed during Stroop cognitive task (p<.05), but was not affected if performed with preferred walking speed during a cognitive task (p>.05). This study showed that CMI of Stroop can be used as a rehabilitation program for stroke patients.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.162-168
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• 2019

PURPOSE. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of occlusal adjustments on the surface roughness of yttria-tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (Y-TZP) and wear of opposing artificial enamel. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Twenty-five Y-TZP slabs from each brand (Lava, 3M and Bruxzir, Glidewell Laboratories) with different surface conditions (Control polished - CPZ; Polished/ground - GRZ; Polished/ground/repolished - RPZ; Glazed - GZ; Porcelain-veneered - PVZ; n=5) were abraded (500,000 cycles, 80 N) against artificial enamel (6 mm diameter steatite). Y-TZP roughness (in ${\mu}m$) before and after chewing simulation (CS) and antagonist steatite volume loss (in $mm^3$) were evaluated using a contact surface profilometer. Y-TZP roughness was analyzed by three-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and steatite wear by two-way ANOVA and Tukey Honest Difference (HSD) (P=.05). RESULTS. There was no effect of Y-TZP brand on surface roughness (P=.216) and steatite loss (P=.064). A significant interaction effect (P<.001) between surface condition and CS on Y-TZP roughness was observed. GZ specimens showed higher roughness after CS (before CS - $3.7{\pm}1.8{\mu}m$; after CS - $13.54{\pm}3.11{\mu}m$), with partial removal of the glaze layer. Indenters abraded against CPZ ($0.09{\pm}0.03mm^3$) were worn more than those abraded against PVZ ($0.02{\pm}0.01mm^3$) and GZ ($0.02{\pm}0.01mm^3$). Higher wear caused by direct abrasion against zirconia was confirmed by SEM. CONCLUSION. Polishing with an intraoral polishing system did not reduce the roughness of zirconia. Wear of the opposing artificial enamel was affected by the material on the surface rather than the finishing technique applied, indicating that polished zirconia is more deleterious to artificial enamel than are glazed and porcelain-veneered restorations.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.225-229
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• 2021

Background: The socioeconomic burden of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) is significant, and kitchen work is a high-risk occupation for MSDs due to the intensive manual workload and repetitive movements that are involved. However, there are very few studies on MSDs and rest breaks as a workplace intervention among kitchen workers. This study examined the relationship between insufficient rest breaks and increased MSD risk among Korean kitchen workers. Methods: Sociodemographic and occupational factors of 1,909 kitchen workers were collected from the 3rd-4th Korean Working Conditions Survey data. Five items on rest breaks at work were categorized into two groups, "sufficient" and "insufficient." The number of MSDs and work-related MSDs (WMSDs), an outcome variable, was obtained from the sum of MSDs/WMSDs in three anatomical sites (back, neck, and upper limb, lower limb). The association between rest breaks and MSDs was estimated using zeroinflated negative binomial analyses, with adjustments for age, education level, and weekly working hours, and the analyses were stratified by sex. Results: After adjustment, significant associations were found between insufficient rest breaks and an increased risk of MSDs (odds ratio [OR] 1.68 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11-2.54) and WMSDs (OR 1.40 95% CI 1.01-1.96) among female kitchen workers. Insufficient rest breaks were significantly associated with MSDs in female kitchen workers in all three anatomical sites. Conclusion: This study emphasizes the need for rest breaks as a workplace intervention for preventing MSDs in kitchen workers. Further studies to reveal the causality of this relationship are required.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.152-164
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• 2020

Purpose: To compare long-term disease-free survival (DFS) between patients receiving tegafur/gimeracil/oteracil (S-1) or capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (CAPOX) adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) for gastric cancer (GC). Materials and Methods: This retrospective multicenter observational study enrolled 983 patients who underwent curative gastrectomy with consecutive AC with S-1 or CAPOX for stage II or III GC at 27 hospitals in Korea between February 2012 and December 2013. We conducted propensity score matching to reduce selection bias. Long-term oncologic outcomes, including DFS rate over 5 years (over-5yr DFS), were analyzed postoperatively. Results: The median and longest follow-up period were 59.0 and 87.6 months, respectively. DFS rate did not differ between patients who received S-1 and CAPOX for pathologic stage II (P=0.677) and stage III (P=0.899) GC. Moreover, hazard ratio (HR) for recurrence did not differ significantly between S-1 and CAPOX (reference) in stage II (HR, 1.846; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.693-4.919; P=0.220) and stage III (HR, 0.942; 95% CI, 0.664-1.337; P=0.738) GC. After adjustment for significance in multivariate analysis, pT (4 vs. 1) (HR, 11.667; 95% CI, 1.595-85.351; P=0.016), pN stage (0 vs. 3) (HR, 2.788; 95% CI, 1.502-5.174; P=0.001), and completion of planned chemotherapy (HR, 2.213; 95% CI, 1.618-3.028; P<0.001) were determined as independent prognostic factors for DFS. Conclusions: S-1 and CAPOX AC regimens did not show significant difference in over-5yr DFS after curative gastrectomy in patients with stage II or III GC. The pT, pN stage, and completion of planned chemotherapy were prognostic factors for GC recurrence.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.85-92
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• 2008

Strength of logs and round posts is compared and analyzed to estimate the strength of the incised Larix round posts treated with CCA in this paper. There is no significant difference in MOR of logs and round posts. However, in the incised Larix round posts treated with CCA MOE is decreased to about 9%, and there is 29% reduction in MOR as strength ratio is 0.71. When calculating the allowable bending stress of incised round type round posts, not in nominal 2-in timbers, an adjustment factor for MOE and bending strength is proposed as 0.91 and 0.71, respectively. Logs, round posts and the incised Larix round posts treated with CCA do not show significant difference in nail withdrawal load. There is almost no difference between incised Larix round posts treated with CCA and round posts in the shear strength of bolted joint. When calculating the allowable shear stress of bolted joint, it is conformed that considering the application of incising factor is not necessary.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.262-269
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the deformation of the complete denture artificial teeth arrangement after festooning over time. Materials and Methods: 10 wax dentures of equal teeth arrangement and equal gingival contour were used in this study. Festooning of the wax dentures were conducted and 3D model scans were conducted every 10 minutes for 120 minutes. Interdental transverse distances were measured with the scanned images. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS Ver. 22. 0. Results: Interdental transverse distance between teeth varied from 0.0999 mm to 0.1787 mm. Mean rate of deformation showed statistically significant change between the 40 - 50 minute interval and 50 - 60 minute interval and between the 50 - 60 minute interval and 60 - 70 minute interval. No statistically significant change of the mean rate of deformation was observed later on. Conclusion: Monitoring of the interdental transverse distance for 120 minute after festooning have shown the deformation and displacment of the artificial teeth arrangement. From after the 60 - 70 minute interval after festooning, the mean deformation showed no statistically significant change of the mean rate of deformation was observed. Within the limitations of this in vitro study results suggest that the final occlusal adjustment in wax denture before complete denture curing should be proceeded at least 60 minutes later after festooning.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.290-297
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• 1997

Background : Despite remarkable progress of understanding the pathophysiology and therapy of bronchial asthma, asthma morbidity and mortality are on the rise. Also hospitalization and attending rates of emergency department for asthma have been increasing gradually. We analyzed clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients who visited emergency room due to asthma attack in order to define clinical characteristics of these group of patients. Method : We reviewed 105 adult asthmatic patients who attended emergency department of Korea University Hospital between August 1995 and July 1996, retrospectively. Results : 103 patients(56 female, 47 males, mean age : 48.6 years) attended-68 self referral, 18 practitioner referral and 17 OPD transfer- and 86 patients(83.5%) were admitted. Attending emergncy department was clearly more frequent in December(13.6%) and May(12.6%). Time lag between onset of asthmatic attack and arrival at the hospital was $14.2{\pm}15.5$ hour and initial peak expiratory flow rate was $166.7{\pm}68.3L/min$.(43.3% predicted) The commonest cause for visiting emergency room was aggravation of asthma due to upper respiratory tract infection in mild asthmatics. About half of them had history of previous ER visits. Their prognosis was not bad, but after discharge, about half of patients escaped from OPD follow-up. Conclusion : As a group they merit detailed attention and follow up arrangement. Clinician need to monitor and review the treatment plans, the medications, the patient's management technique, and the level of asthma control. For this group, plans for longer term treatment, including asthma education program and adjustment of overall treatment plan should be made.