• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.117-129
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• 2013

Background: This study was carried out for the purpose of comprehensively evaluating the mercury exposure level of residents in several areas and the correlation between hair mercury concentration and blood mercury concentration. Method: One thousand one hundred ninety seven subjects were sampled from 30 sites using random assignment sampling. We performed a questionnaire survey and measured the level of total mercury in hair and blood samples from all subjects. Results: The geometric mean concentrations of hair and blood mercury in all subjects were 1.27 mg/kg [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.23-1.32 mg/kg] and 5.24 ${\mu}g/L$ [95% CI: 5.07-5.41 ${\mu}g/L$], respectively. Male (1.56 mg/kg in hair, 6.00 ${\mu}g/L$ in blood) was significantly higher than that of female (1.03 mg/kg in hair, 4.56 ${\mu}g/L$ in blood), and the concentrations were elevated as age increased up to the 50s. Education, smoking, alcohol drinking, and using of pesticides were also shown to influence mercury concentrations in hair and blood. The ratio of hair/ blood mercury concentration was 261.3. The total mercury concentration in hair was identified to be significantly related with total mercury concentration in blood (r=0.814, p<0.001). Conclusion: The geometric mean concentrations of hair and blood mercury were higher than the levels provided in international recommendations. The total mercury concentration in hair was positively correlated with the concentration in blood. The results of this study suggest that hair mercury be considered as a useful tool for the evaluation of mercury exposure.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.311-318
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• 2019

We analyzed the preliminary survey data (2014-2016) of macrobenthic community biomass (n = 112) from the wind farm area located in the southern part of the west coast of Korea and compared this data with data from the entire west coast (n = 369; 2006-2008). Modal classes from frequency distributions were 6 times higher in the latter (5 vs. 32 g/㎡). The mean and median values of the latter were 1.3 and 1.7 times higher (mean, 20.7 vs. 27.8 g/㎡; median, 17.1 vs. 29.5 g/㎡), and the maximum value was 3.4 times higher. Mood's median test showed significant difference at p-value = 0.01. We estimated the biomass-to-depth relationships from each data set by using Akaike Information Criterion and regarded the non-overlap of the 95% confidence intervals as indicating significant difference. The biomass was different from a 10 m depth below, and 3 times higher in the west coast at around 20 m compared with the maximum depth of the wind farm area. A local event of catastrophic sedimentation ranging from 1 to 2 m was observed in the wind farm during winter surveys. This could be a probable source of the lower biomass, but information on biomass seasonality and a natural experimental approach seem to be needed for the conduct of further studies. This study is meaningful in that it provided the background to assess future changes by understanding the lower level of benthic productivity in the area. We expect this study will contribute to the preparation of measures that can remove or mitigate the source of the lower biomass and improve the productivity of fishery resources in the area.

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.1-20
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• 2004

The purpose of this study is to suggest the new way about performance assessment through analyzing about what changes are occurred on mathematical attitude and interest by performance assessment as comparing and analyzing the effect on learners' mathematical preferences and learning attitudes through the application of teaching and evaluating model utilizing portfolio products using mathematical history which is one of the various ways of performance assessment. That can satisfy the feature of performance assessment that realizes instruction and assessment simultaneously on the first grade at high school. Also, it can reduce the teachers' works, search the potential ability of students, realize level type curriculum, and draw out the learners' interests because it is a self-leading instruction that consists of student-centered learning. For the purpose of this study, the role of mathematical history and its advantage and the way of utilizing it in mathematical history by referring to sundry records were studied. Evaluation, the way of performance assessment and scoring were also considered to design portfolio teaching and evaluating model using mathematical history. To solve the another tasks for this study, mathematical preference factors and mathematical learning attitude factors are used. Mathematical preference factors divide into confidence, flexibility, will, curiosity, reflection, and value and then make 4 questions each factor. And mathematical learning attitude factors divide into self-esteem, attitude, and learning habit and then make 10 questions each factor. These factors need to be reorganized the materials which are made by Korean Education Development Institute(1992) to be agreed with the purpose of this study.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.53-61
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to assess oral health related quality of life and evaluation the risk factors in menopausal woman. The subjects of this study were 531 menopausal woman from August 5 to September 27, 2012. Data were analyzed with t-test, one-way ANOVA, and binary logistic regression analysis SPSS 12.0. The most influential factors of perceived oral symptoms was menopause symptoms (odds ratio [OR], 3.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.34~5.92), anxiety symptoms (OR, 2.14; 95% CI, 1.34~3.41), drinking (OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.04~1.81), living with a spouse (OR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.70~0.98). There are a statistically significant relationship between perceived oral symptoms and menopause, anxiety symptoms. The postmenopausal woman can be the important menopause and anxiety symptoms interventions in maintaining perceived oral health as good.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.82-90
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a CD program of applied logotherapy to improve the quality of life of older school-age children with terminal cancer. Methods: Keller's ARCS (Attention, Relevance, Confidence, Satisfaction) theory and a model for developing learning materials (Dick and Cray) were applied to develop this program which comprised four distinct phases: planning, developing, applying, and evaluation stages. Results: This program was entitled 'Finding treasures in my mind' and consisted of 5 sessions, and its educational contents were made up as follows: "Treasure One" is 'learning three natures of the human mind', "Treasure Two" is 'learning creative value as first method to find meaning of life', "Treasure Three" is 'learning experiential value as second method to find meaning of life', "Treasure Four" is 'learning attitudinal value as third method to find meaning of life', and "Treasure Five" is 'Becoming the master of my life'. The sub-menu was made up of 'Beginning', 'What is it?', 'Travelling'. 'Laughing Song', and 'End'. Conclusion: This CD program is an applied logotherapy with flash animation technique as an emotional and spiritual intervention program for easier and more scientific application in pediatric oncology and hospice area.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.67-73
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• 2006

Purpose: The arterial base deficit (BD) has proven to be useful in the evaluation and management of trauma patients. Indicators such as the Triage-Revised Trauma Score (t-RTS) and the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) score have been used as triage tools for emergency trauma patients in Korea. The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of the initial BD in predicting injury severity and outcome in the trauma population. Methods: The medical records of 308 consecutive trauma patients admitted to the Emergency Center of Masan Samsung Hospital from January 2004 to December 2004 were carefully examined prospectively and retrospectively, and 291 patients were selected as subjects for this research. The SIRS score and the t-RTS were calculated based on the records from the emergency department, and the BD was calculated based on the arterial blood gas analysis obtained within 30 minutes of admission. The efficiency of the three indicators as triage tools was evaluated by using cross tabulations in two - by - two matrices and by using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: When the mortality was used as the outcome parameter, the sensitivity and the accuracy of the initial BD were higher than those of the SIRS score (p<0.05) and were same as those of the t-RTS. The areas under the ROC curves of the initial BD, the SIRS score, and the t-RTS were $0.740{\pm}0.087$, $0.696{\pm}0.082$, and $0.871{\pm}0.072$, respectively (95% confidence interval). When emergency operation and blood transfusion requirements were used as outcome parameters, the comparisons of the sensitivities and the accuracies of the initial BD and the other two indicators showed the same pattern as mentioned above. The areas under the ROC curves of the initial BD were 0.7~0.8 and were larger than those of the SIRS score (p<0.05). Conclusion: The ability of the initial BD to predict injury severity and outcome was similar to those of the t-RTS and the SIRS score. Therefore, the authors suggest that the initial BD may be used as an alternative to previous triage tools for trauma patients.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.8-16
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• 2011

We manufactured the Vac-lok that can be applied to patient of special body shape and need to special set-up position and evaluated the usefulness in the radiation therapy. The manufacture Vac-lok, It was used EVA resin and biobeadform of a diameter 1.5 mm. carried out the test of functionality, structural and analyzed the relative reproducibility of phantoms and patients. During the total period of radiation therapy, Vacuum pressure bring variety to a very small amount in the test of functionality of the manufacture Vac-lok. But It was a negligible quantity. The manufacture Vac-lok improved the relative reproducibility of phantoms than the existing Vac-lok and tolerance has a confidence less than 4% error. Also, relative reproducibility of patient increased error than phantom in the antero-posterior and lateral plan. However, the maximum set-up error was less than ${\pm}\;2.3$ mm. In conclusion, If tolerance set-up error of radiotherapy is less than ${\pm}\;3$ mm, the manufacture Vac-lok was enough possible to use and improvement of reproducibility, considering supply with the Vac-lok made to measure of special patient that produced at a low price and without delay.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.14
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• pp.6033-6038
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• 2015

Background: Experience of lung cancer includes negative impacts on both physical and psychological health. Pain is one of the negative experiences of lung cancer. Cognitive behavioral therapy techniques are often recommended as treatments for lung cancer pain. The objective of this review was to synthesize the evidence on the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy techniques in treating lung cancer pain. This review considered studies that included lung cancer patients who were required to 1) be at least 18 years old; 2) speak and read English or Thai; 3) have a life expectancy of at least two months; 4) experience daily cancer pain requiring an opioid medication; 5) have a positive response to opioid medication; 6) have "average or usual" pain between 4 and 7 on a scale of 0-10 for the day before the clinic visit or for a typical day; and 7) able to participate in a pain evaluation and treatment program. This review considered studies to examine interventions for use in treatment of pain in lung cancer patients, including: biofeedback, cognitive/attentional distraction, imagery, hypnosis, and meditation. Any randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that examined cognitive behavioral therapy techniques for pain specifically in lung cancer patients were included. In the absence of RCTs, quasi-experimental designs were reviewed for possible conclusion in a narrative summary. Outcome measures were pain intensity before and after cognitive behavioural therapy techniques. The search strategy aimed to find both published and unpublished literature. A three-step search was utilised by using identified keywords and text term. An initial limited search of MEDLINE and CINAHL was undertaken followed by analysis of the text words contained in the title and abstract, and of the index terms used to describe the article. A second search using all the identified keywords and index terms was then undertaken across all included databases. Thirdly, the reference list of all identified reports and articles were searched for additional studies. Searches were conducted during January 1991- March 2014 limited to English and Thai languages with no date restriction. Materials and Methods: All studies that met the inclusion criteria were assessed for methodological quality by three reviewers using a standardized critical appraisal tool from the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). Three reviewers extracted data independently, using a standardized data extraction tool from the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). Ideally for quantitative data meta-analysis was to be conducted where all results were subject to double data entry. Odds ratios (for categorical data) and weighted mean differences (for continuous data) and their 95% confidence intervals were to be calculated for analysis and heterogeneity was to be assessed using the standard Chi-square. Where statistical pooling was not possible the finding were be presented in narrative form. Results: There were no studies located that met the inclusion requirements of this review. There were also no text and opinion pieces that were specific to cognitive behavioral therapy techniques pain and lung cancer patients.Conclusions: There is currently no evidence available to determine the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy techniques for pain in lung cancer patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.1935-1941
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• 2012

Introduction: Uterine sarcomas are a group of heterogenous and rare malignancies of the female genital tract and there is a lack of consensus on prognostic factors and optimal treatment. Objective and Methodology: To perform a retrospective evaluation of clinicopathological characteristics, prognostic factors and treatment outcomes of 93 patients with uterine sarcomas who were diagnosed and treated at 4 different centers from November 2000 to October 2010. Results: Of the 93 patients, 58.0% had leiomyosarcomas, 26.9% malignant mixed Mullerian tumors, 9.7% endometrial stromal sarcomas, and 5.4% other histological types. According to the last International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging, 43.0% were stage I, 20.4% were stage II, 22.6% were stage III and 14.0 % were stage IV. Median relapse free survival (RFS) was 20 months (95% confidence interval (CI), 12.4-27.6 months), RFS after 1, 2, 5 years were 66.6%, 44.1%, 16.5% respectively. Median overall survival (OS) was 56 months (95% CI, 22.5-89.5 months), and OS after 1, 2, 5 years was 84.7%, 78%, 49.4% respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that age ${\geq}60$ years and high grade tumor were significantly associated with poor OS and RFS; patients administered adjuvant treatment with sequential chemotherapy and radiotherapy had longer RFS time. Among patients with leiomyosarcoma, in addition to age and grade, adjuvant treatment with sequential chemotherapy and radiotherapy after surgery had significant effects on OS. Conclusion: Uterine sarcomas have poor progrosis even at early stages. Prognostic factors affecting OS were found to be age and grade.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3545-3549
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• 2016

Background: The incidence of bladder cancer is lower in Asian than in Western countries. However, the crude incidence and mortality of bladder cancer have recently increased in Japan because of the increased number of senior citizens. We have already reported risk factors for urothelial cancer in a large population-based cohort study in Japan (JACC study). However, we did not evaluate the cancer risk in the upper and lower urinary tract separately in our previous study. Materials and Methods: Here we evaluated the risk of cancer death in the upper and lower urinary tracts, separately, using the database of the JACC study. The analytic cohort included 46,395 males and 64,190 females aged 40 to 79 years old. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to determine hazard ratios and their 95% confidence intervals. Results: Current smoking increased the risk of both upper and lower urinary tract cancer deaths. A history of kidney disease was associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer death, even after controlling for age, sex and smoking status. Conclusions: The present study confirmed that current smoking increases the risk of both upper and lower urinary tract cancer deaths and indicated the possibility that a history of kidney disease may be a risk factor for bladder cancer death in the Japanese population.