• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.320-328
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• 2004

Background : Pulmonary vascular changes which occur early in the course of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are prevalent manifestation and later cause pulmonary hypertension, which is a bad prognostic factor in COPD. Beraprost sodium (BPS), an orally active prostacyclin analogue, has been shown to improve survival in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension. This study investigated the effect of BPS in the patients with COPD. Methods : This is a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled, two center clinical trial. Twenty one consecutive patients with COPD were enrolled from June 2003 to June 2004 (patients treated with BPS for 3 months, BPS group, n=11; those with placebo, placebo group, n=10). The baseline demographic, pulmonary function and hemodynamic data were not significantly different between two groups. Results : On echocardiographic examination, trans tricuspid valve pressure gradient has decreased significantly after 3 months with beraprost in the BPS group [17.7(${\pm}11.4$) to 8.2(${\pm}8.9$) mm Hg, p-value<0.05], while there was no significant change in the control group. Six-minute walking distance has decreased in the control group and increased in the BPS group, but there was no statistical significance. Conclusion : In patients with COPD oral administration of BPS reduced the pulmonary arterial pressure. The clinical significance of this finding, that is improving symptoms and natural course of the disease, needs further study.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.491-499
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• 2020

Increasing impervious surfaces can cause various physical and mental illnesses as well as further problems like deterioration of the thermal environment and disconnection of the water circulation system in the downtown area. This study is intended to suggest baseline data for the future creation or remodelation of large-scaled urban parks in consideration of human health on the aspect of climate by analyzing air ions condition and correlation analysis between air ions and meteorological elements depending on distances from the center in the urban park. The study site was divided into four types by distances from the center of Olympic Park in Songpa-gu, Seoul, then classified as A and B. After selecting 80 points to record, land coverage and vegetation status were investigated, and then meteorological elements and air ions were measured. First, the green space rate by section is A section Center (90%)> Inner (70%)> Outer-inner (10%) = Outer (10%), B section Center (100%)> Inner (60%)> Outer- In order of inner (30%)> Outer (0%). Second, for weather factors, the temperature was analyzed by Outer (24.18℃) > Outer-inner (22.90℃) > Inner (22.43℃) > Center (21.719℃). For relative humidity, center (46.49%) > Inner (43.36%) > Outer-inner (42.41%) > Outer (38.53%) was analyzed. Third, In the case of cations in the air ions, Outer(435.71ea/㎤) > Outer-inner(415.16ea/㎤) > Inner (389.46ea/㎤) > Center (352.64ea/㎤). In the case of negative ions, Center (569.72ea/㎤) > Inner (499.83ea/㎤) > Outer-inner(410.58ea/㎤) > Outer (292.02ea/㎤). It was analyzed to increase toward Center, and analyzed to decrease with increasing distance from road. For the Air ion index, it was analyzed as Center (1.67) > Inner (1.31) > Outer-inner (1.08) > Outer (0.71). Negative irons was analyzed to increase when its measuring points close to the center and decrease with shortening distance to the road. Fourth, as a result of correlation analysis, positive(+) correlation is negative ions and ion index. These were measured to increase as the recording points closing to the center of the park from the road. The negative(-) correlation is temperature, solar radiation, and positive ions. These increased as getting closer to the road.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.146-151
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• 2009

Purpose : To evaluate magnetic resonance (MR) imaging features of non-surgically treated tuberculous spondylitis and to evaluate the relationships between these features and clinical outcomes. Materials and Methods : Data from ten patients (male:female=6:4, mean age=45 years) with clinically proven tuberculous spondylitis who were treated nonsurgically over three months were analyzed retrospectively from 2000 to 2007. MRI was performed at least three times for each patient, at baseline, every three or six months, and at the end of treatment. All images were analyzed by two radiologists. Results : The mean follow-up period for the MR examination was 10.1 months (range, 4-17 months). Six patients had clinically complete resolution of tuberculous spondylitis with medication treatment only. Four patients were treated with surgical management alongside medication. All ten patients were divided into two groups by clinical outcome; six patients with complete treatment and four patients with incomplete treatment. In the complete treatment group, follow-up MR findings showed a loss of subligamentous spread of abscesses, decreased size of abscesses, no interval changes in vertebral body heights, and fatty changes in spinal lesions. MR findings in the incomplete treatment group showed bone marrow edema extension to adjacent vertebra, extension of the abscesses, and decreased height of the vertebral bodies. Conclusion : During the nonsurgical management of tuberculous spondylitis, MR imaging may play a role in predicting patient response to antituberculous drug treatment.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 2016

Background: For the purpose of baseline data collection and enhancement of environmental monitoring the distribution studies of $^{137}Cs$ and $^{90}Sr$ in the soil of Uljin province was performed and the relation between surface soil activities and soil properties (pH, TOC and median of the surface soil) was analyzed. Materials and Methods: For 14 spots within 10 km from the NPP surface soil samples were collected and soils for depth profile were sampled for 3 spots in April 2011. Using ${\gamma}$-ray spectrometry with HPGe detector, the concentrations of $^{137}Cs$ were determined and the concentrations of $^{90}Sr$ were measured by counting ${\beta}$-activity of $^{90}Y$ (in equilibrium with $^{90}Sr$) in a gas flow proportional counter. Results and Discussion: The concentration ranges of $^{137}Cs$ and $^{90}Sr$ were $<0.479-39.6Bq{\cdot}(kg-dry)^{-1}$ (avg. $7.51Bq{\cdot}(kg-dry)^{-1}$) and $0.209-1.85Bq{\cdot}(kg-dry)^{-1}$ (avg. $0.74Bq{\cdot}(kg-dry)^{-1}$) which were similar to the reported values from other regions in Korea. The activity ratio of $^{137}Cs$ to $^{90}Sr$ in surface soils was around 9.67, which is much bigger than the initial value of 1.75 for worldwide fallouts because of faster downward movement of $^{90}Sr$ after fallout than that of $^{137}Cs$. For depth profile studies soils were collected down to 40 cm depth for the locations of Deokgu, Hujeong and Maehwa. The $^{137}Cs$ concentration distribution of the first two showed maximum values at top soils and decreased rapidly in exponential manner, while $^{90}Sr$ showed two local maximum values for soils near top and about 30 cm depth. Through linear fittings between the $^{137}Cs$ and $^{90}Sr$ concentrations of surface soil and pH, TOC and median of the surface soil, the only probable relationship obtained was between $^{137}Cs$ and TOC (determination coefficient $R^2=0.6$). Conclusion: The concentration ranges of $^{137}Cs$ and $^{90}Sr$ in Uljin were similar to the reported values from other regions in Korea. The only probable relationship obtained between activities and soil properties was between $^{137}Cs$ and TOC.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.144-155
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• 1997

In December 1990, Occupational Safety and Health Law was amended to reinforce employer's responsibilities on employees' health and safety. Among the amended law it was important to expand the role of an occupational health nurse to the role of an occupational health manager. An occupational health manager should take charge of coordinating periodic health examination and environmental hazard evaluation, providing primary care, monitoring employees' health status, giving the workplace walk-through, selecting safe protection equipment, providing health information, counseling and health education, independently. This position of occupational health nurse is equivalent to the role of doctors or occupational hygienists. In 1991, government made a master plan to prevent occupational disease and injury. Under the plan, Korea Industrial Nursing Association (KINA) was established in 1994 with the purpose of improving health services and upgrading career opportunities for members. Therefore, this study was designed to analyze the transition of occupational health nursing education with the changes of law and policy in Korea between 1991 and 1996. In details, it was to analyze the rate of school providing occupational health nursing practice based lecture, lecture hours, lecture contents in undergraduate curriculum, program contents of graduate school, kinds of continuing education, etc. For this purpose, we conducted survey two times. In February 1991, baseline study was conducted with all nursing programs in Korea (19 BSN programs and 43 nursing departments of junior college). From April to May in 1996, the second survey was conducted with all nursing programs (38 BSN programs and 69 junior colleges). The first response rate was 66.1% and the second was 40.6%. Structured questionnaires were mailed to the deans or the community health nursing faculties. In the case of graduate school, telephone survey was conducted with 10 school of public health or environmental health area. Data from the yearbook of Industrial Safety Training Institute (ISTI), the history of Korea Industrial Health Association, and the journals of KINA were also included in the analysis. As the results, we found that there were remarkable improvement in undergraduate and graduate programs, obligatory as well as voluntary continuing education in terms of occupational health nursing expertise between 1991 and 1996. 1) The number of school providing occupational health nursing practice-based lecture was increased with the rate from 7.3% to 25.6%. The rate of school giving over 15 class-hours was increased from 33.3% to 46.6%. 2) Content areas were composed of introduction of occupational health, occupational epidemiology, industrial hygiene, occupational disease and injury, law and policy, health education, concept of occupational health nursing, role of occupational health nurse, occupational health nursing process, etc. Of content areas, occupational health nursing process was more emphasized with the increased rate from 43.9% to 88.4%. 3) In the case of graduate school, occupational health programs were increased from 4 to 10. One of them has developed occupational health nursing program as an independent course since 1991. 4) The law increased educational hours from 28 hours to 36 hours for introductory course at the time of appointment, and from 14 hours to 24 hours every 2 years for continuing education. Course contents were Occupational safety and health law, introduction of occupational health, health education methodology, planning and evaluation, periodic health exam, occupational disease care, primary care, emergency care, management, industrial environment evaluation, etc. In 1996, Korea Industrial Nursing Association has begun to provide continuing education after Industrial Safety Training Institute. 5) Various educational programs in voluntary base were developed such as monthly seminar, CE articles, annual academic symposium, etc. It was shown that changes of law and policy led rapid growth of occupational health nursing education in various levels. From this trend, it is expected that occupational health nurse expertise be continuously to be enhanced in Korea. Legal and political supports should proceed for the development of occupational health nursing in early stage.

• The Journal of Korean society of community based occupational therapy
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.51-61
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• 2020

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of object size and reaching distance on kinematic factors of the upper limb while performing arm reaching for normal subjects. Methods : The subjects of this study were 30 university students who were in D university in Busan, and the measuring tool was CMS-70P(Zebris Medizintechnik Gmbh, Germany), a three-dimensional motion analyzer. The task had six conditions. The average velocity of motion, average acceleration, maximum velocity, and the velocity definite number of movements were measured according to changes in object size(2cm, 10cm) and reaching distance(15%, 37.5%, 60%) when they performed arm reaching. The general characteristics of the subject were technical statistics. One-way ANOVA measurement was used to compare variables when the arm reaching task was performed from two object sizes to three reaching distance, and the post-test was conducted with Tukey test. In addition, an independent t-test was used to analyze the kinematic differences according to the two object sizes at three reaching distances. A two-way ANOVA measurement (3×2 Two-way ANOVA measurement) was performed to identify the interaction of the reaching distance(15%, 37.5%, 60%) and the object size(2cm, 10cm). The statistical significance level α was set to .05. Results : When the size of the object increased, the velocity and maximum velocity also increased, but the definite number of velocity decreased. When the reaching distance increased, the velocity and maximum velocity increased, whereas the definite number of velocity decreased. Conclusion : The clinical significance of this study could be utilized as the baseline data for grading object size and reaching distances when the reaching training is implemented for patients whose central nervous system was damaged.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.7
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• pp.869-878
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to obtain baseline data on nutritional management of women's bone health. We examined the bone mineral density (BMD) by ultrasound bone densitometer, anthropometric measurement and dietary intake to assess the nutrient intakes. The subjects were 102 Korean female college students (normal=59, bone disease group [osteopenia+osteoporosis]=43) and the mean age was 21.4 yr. Mean T-score (BMD) were -0.42 and -1.52 in normal and bone disease groups, respectively. Anthropometric measurement showed that 59% of the subjects were normal weight and bone disease group had lower value than normal group in majority of anthropometric index. The average energy intake was 1539.7 kcal, which was 73% of Korean EER. The subjects had lower vitamin C, folic acid, Ca and K intake than Korean RI independent of BMD. Bone disease group (1:2.05) showed significantly lower Ca:P ratio than normal group (1:1.86). Normal group had more intake frequency of milk and milk product than bone disease group. In relation to anthropometric index with T-score, significant correlations have been found in weight, PM, BFM, MM, TBW, SLM, FFM WHR, BMI and SMM. In relation to dietary factors with T-score, significant correlations have been found relating to intake frequency of milk and milk product. Our results indicate that for nutrients, ratio and balance may be more influential than intake for bone health in young women.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.128-136
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was done to define clinical characteristics of fever without localizing signs (FWLS) in infants younger than 100 days of age with a goal of providing baseline data to establish a new diagnostic paradigm in the future. Methods: We reviewed medical records of 183 patients who admitted to Daegu Catholic University Medical Center for FWLS younger than 100 days of age from January 2013 to September 2015 retrospectively. Demographic, clinical features and laboratory findings were analyzed. Patients were divided into serious bacterial infection (SBI) and non-SBI groups, and then were compared between two groups to find risk factors for SBI. Results: Among 183 patients, lumbar puncture was performed in 98.9% and CSF pleocytosis was present in 35.9%. Sterile CSF pleocytosis was found in 43% of urinary tract infection (UTI) patients. None had concomitant bacterial meningitis in patients with UTI. As final diagnosis, febrile syndrome without source (25.7%) was most common. Among SBI, UTI was most common (99%). Birth weight, ESR, and CRP were significantly higher in SBI group compared to non-SBI group. Male sex (OR 4.93, 95% CI 1.60-15.24) and pyuria (OR 18.88, 95% CI 6.76-52.76) were identified as risk factors for SBI. Presence of sibling (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.11-0.83) was significantly lower in SBI group. Conclusions: Our results showed UTI was the most common SBI in young infants with FWLS. Though aseptic meningitis can be coexisting with UTI, lumbar puncture may not be necessary in all patients having UTI.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.452-458
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• 1999

Objectives: The authors conducted the study to evaluate bias when potentially diseased subjects were included in cohort members while analyzing risk factors of chronic liver diseases. Methods: Total of 14,529 subjects were followed up for the incidence of liver diseases from January 1993 to June 1997. We have used databases of insurance company with medical records, cancer registry, and death certificate data to identify 102 incident cases. The cohort members were classified into potentially diseased group(n=2,217) when they were HBsAg positive, serum GPT levels higher than 40 units, or had or has liver diseases in baseline surveys. Cox's model were used for potentially diseased group, other members, and total subjects, respectively. Results: The risk factors profiles were similar for total and potentially diseased subjects: HBsAg positivity, history of acute liver disease, and recent quittance of smoking or drinking increased the risk. while intake of pork and coffee decreased it. For the potentially diseased, obesity showed marginally significant protective effect. Analysis of subjects excluding the potentially diseased showed distinct profiles: obesity increased the risk, while quitting smoking or drinking had no association. For these intake of raw liver or processed fish or soybean paste stew increased risk; HBsAg positivity, higher levels of liver enzymes and history of acute liver diseases increased the risk. Conclusions: The results suggested the potential bias in risk ratio estimates when potentially diseased subjects were included in cohort study on chronic liver diseases, especially for lifestyles possibly modified after disease onset. The analytic strategy excluding potentially diseased subjects was considered appropriate for identifying risk factors for chronic liver diseases.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.287-300
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• 2010

Objectives: We identified factors associated with any participation and with "good participation" (as assessed by frequency of attendance) in health promotion programs at a public health center in Korea. Methods: The subjects included 199 women who attended a baseline examination of health promotion programs during the first half of 2009. We collected data by structured interviews and physical examinations. Participation status was quantified by the frequency of attendance to the program. We classified the subjects as non-participants (0) and participants (1+ times), and as poor participants (0-29 times) and good participants (30+ times). Results: Of the 199 subjects, there were 57 (28.6%) non-participants, while 56 (28.1%) were classified as good participants. The factors that significantly affected participation status, as identified by univariate analysis, were personal factors (age, educational level, marital status, religion, living with someone, monthly income), environmental factors (method of access, accessibility of other facilities), body mass index, hypertension, perceived barriers to health, emotional salience, affectionate domain of social support, and depression. Multiple logistic regression analyses indicated that method of access was the most significant factor affecting participation in the health promotion program, and that the factors most highly associated with good participation were emotional salience, hypertension and body mass index. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that specific factors determine and enhance participation in health promotion programs offered by public health centers. These factors should be considered during the design and evaluation of health promotion programs that are offered by public health centers.