• Asian Journal for Public Opinion Research
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.478-492
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• 2020

The COVID-19 global health crisis has affected the mental and psychological health and well-being of the people around the world. However, little is known about the impact of COVID-19 among Filipino teachers. This study was conducted to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of life (QoL) of professional teachers in the Philippines. A descriptive cross-sectional study was used involving 139 licensed professional teachers. The COVID-19 Impact on Quality of Life (COV19-QoL) was the primary measure used in this study. Descriptive statistics, t-test, and one-way ANOVA were the statistical tools employed to analyze the data. Results indicated a moderate COVID-19 impact on the QoL of the teachers. There was a significant difference in the impact of COVID-19 on QoL by degree program. However, the impact of COVID-19 on QoL did not significantly differ by age, sex, marital status, employment status, monthly salary, presence of a COVID-19 case near their residence, personal knowledge of someone who was infected or died of COVID-19, presence of a medical condition, and perceived threat. The psychological well-being and QoL of teachers must be recognized and teachers must be provided with support as they continue to adapt to the impact brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study contributes to the growing literature on the impact of the pandemic.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.392-399
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• 2024

The recurrent laryngeal nerve is a bilateral branch of the vagus nerve that is mainly associated with the motor innervation of the intrinsic muscles of the larynx. Despite its bilateral distribution, the right and left recurrent laryngeal nerves display unequal length due to embryological processes related to the development of the aortic arches. This length asymmetry leads to theories about morphological compensations to provide symmetrical functions to the intrinsic muscles of the larynx. In this study we investigated the developmental and cross-sectional morphometrics of the recurrent laryngeal nerves in human fetuses. Fifteen stillbirth fetuses donated to anatomical and medical research were used for investigation. Fetuses had intrauterine age ranging from 30 to 40 weeks estimated by biometry methods. Specialized anatomical dissection of the visceral block of the neck was performed to prepare histological samples of the recurrent laryngeal nerves in its point of contact with the larynx, and morpho-quantitative techniques were applied to evaluate the epineurium and perineural space of the recurrent laryngeal nerves. No statistical difference in the cross-sectional morphology of the epineurium and perineural space between right and left recurrent laryngeal nerves intra-individually was confirmed, however, we found evidence that these structures are under greater development in the left recurrent laryngeal nerve during 30 to 40 weeks of intrauterine life. Our data suggest that the nerves are under morphological development that possibly set the stage for accommodation of larger diameter and myelinization of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve during post-natal life.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.199-210
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• 2024

Objectives: Few studies have examined the impact of healthy sleep among general workers on individuals and society. Therefore, the status and risk factors of sleep disturbances among general workers were investigated. In addition, this study assessed the degree to which cold and heat symptoms are associated with sleep disturbances. Methods: A nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted through an online questionnaire focused on sleep disturbances of the general public in 2021. The degree of cold-heat pattern Identification (CHPI) of the general public was also surveyed. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression were used to derive the study results. Results: Data from 2,822 workers out of 3,900 valid questionnaires were analyzed. Approximately half of the respondents (49.93%) had sleep disturbances. Among the types of work, self-employed, two-shift work, and working more than 53 hours were associated with sleep disturbances. Sleep disturbances were positively associated with six cold and heat symptoms: three cold symptoms (coldness of the abdomen, coldness of body, and pale face) and three heat symptoms (body feverishness, feverishness of the limbs, and drinking cold water). Conclusion: Customized policies to maintain healthy work are needed for self-employed work, two-shift work, and long working hours, which are risk factors for workers' sleep disturbances. In addition, medical personnel can effectively diagnose and treat sleep disturbances considering the worker's cold and heat symptoms.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.60-65
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• 2020

Background: Anatomic changes in the acromion have been considered a main cause of shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS). To evaluate the relationship between SIS and the acromion process, we devised a new morphological parameter called the acromion process cross-sectional area (APA). We hypothesized that the APA could be an important morphologic diagnostic parameter in SIS. Methods: We collected APA data from 95 patients with SIS and 126 control subjects who underwent shoulder magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Then we measured the maximal cross-sectional area of the bone margin of the acromion process on MRI scans. Results: The mean of APAs were 136.50 ± 21.75 ㎟ in the male control group and 202.91 ± 31.78 ㎟ in the male SIS group; SIS patients had significantly greater APAs (P < 0.001). The average of APAs were 105.38 ± 19.07 ㎟ in the female control group and 147.62 ± 22.90 ㎟ in the female SIS group, and the SIS patients had significantly greater APAs (P < 0.001). The optimal APA cut-off in the male group was 165.14 ㎟ with 90.2% sensitivity, 91.4% specificity, and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.968. In the female group, the optimal cut-off was 122.50 ㎟ with 85.2% sensitivity, 84.9% specificity, and an AUC of 0.928. Conclusions: The newly devised APA is a sensitive parameter for assessing SIS; greater APA is associated with a higher possibility of SIS. We think that this result will be helpful for the diagnosis of SIS.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.70-78
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• 2019

Background: This study evaluated postoperative changes in the supraspinatus from time-zero to 6 months, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We hypothesized that restoration of the musculotendinous unit of the rotator cuff by tendon repair immediately improves the rotator cuff muscle status, and maintains it months after surgery. Methods: Totally, 76 patients (29 men, 47 women) with rotator cuff tears involving the supraspinatus tendon who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs were examined. MRI evaluation showed complete repair with intact integrity of the torn tendon at both time-zero and at 6 months follow-up. All patients underwent standardized MRI at our institution preoperatively, at 1 or 2 days postoperative, and at 6 months after surgery. Supraspinatus muscular (SSP) atrophy (Thomazeau grade) and fatty infiltrations (Goutallier stage) were evaluated by MRI. The cross-sectional area of SSP in the fossa was also measured. Results: As determined by MRI, the cross-sectional area of SSP significantly decreased 11.41% from time-zero (immediate repair) to 6 months post-surgery, whereas the Goutallier stage and Thomazeau grade showed no significant changes (p<0.01). Furthermore, compared to the preoperative MRI, the postoperative MRI at 6 months showed a no statistically significant increase of 8.03% in the cross-sectional area. In addition, morphological improvements were observed in patients with high grade Goutallier and Thomazeau at time-zero, whereas morphology of patients with low grade factors were almost similar to before surgery. Conclusions: Our results indicate that cross-sectional area of the initial repair appears to decrease after a few months postoperatively, possibly due to medial retraction or strained muscle.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.18.1-18.13
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• 2024

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the mechanical properties of relined and non-relined fiberglass posts when cemented to root canal dentin using a conventional dual-cure resin cement or a self-adhesive resin cement. Materials and Methods: Two types of resin cements were utilized: conventional and self-adhesive. Additionally, 2 cementation protocols were employed, involving relined and non-relined fiberglass posts. In total, 72 bovine incisors were cemented and subjected to push-out bond strength testing (n = 10) followed by failure mode analysis. The cross-sectional microhardness (n = 5) was assessed along the root canal, and interface analyses (n = 3) were conducted using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Data from the push-out bond strength and cross-sectional microhardness tests were analyzed via 3-way analysis of variance and the Bonferroni post-hoc test (α= 0.05). Results: For non-relined fiberglass posts, conventional resin cement exhibited higher pushout bond strength than self-adhesive cement. Relined fiberglass posts yielded comparable results between the resin cements. Type II failure was the most common failure mode for both resin cements, regardless of cementation protocol. The use of relined fiberglass posts improved the cross-sectional microhardness values for both cements. SEM images revealed voids and bubbles in the incisors with non-relined fiberglass posts. Conclusions: Mechanical properties were impacted by the cementation protocol. Relined fiberglass posts presented the highest push-out bond strength and cross-sectional microhardness values, regardless of the resin cement used (conventional dual-cure or self-adhesive). Conversely, for non-relined fiberglass posts, the conventional dual-cure resin cement yielded superior results to the self-adhesive resin cement.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.55-60
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• 2010

Background: The aim of this study is to identify the correlation between ultrasonographic findings of median nerve and clinical scale and electrophysiologic data in carpal tunnel syndrome. Methods: Forty three patients (79 hands) with electrophysiologically confirmed carpal tunnel syndrome were evaluated. Clinical symptoms were examined by Historical-Objective (Hi-Ob) scale. Electrophysiologic data and Padua scale were used for severity of electrophysiology. In ultrasonographic study, cross sectional area and flattening ratio of median nerve were measured at distal wrist crease level (DWC), 1cm proximal to distal wrist crease level, and 1cm distal to distal wrist crease level. The correlation between Hi-Ob scale, electrophysiologic data and ultrasonography was measured with Spearman rank test. Results: The mean Hi-Ob scale was 2.4. Mean Padua scale was 4.0. In ultrasnonographic study, cross sectional area and flattening ratio were $0.112\;cm^2{\pm}0.025$ and $3.0{\pm}0.6$ at 1cm proximal to DWC level, $0.118{\pm}0.026\;cm^2$ and $2.9{\pm}0.4$ at DWC level, and $0.107{\pm}0.032\;cm^2$ and $3.0{\pm}0.4$ at 1 cm distal to DWC level. Hi-Ob scale was not correlated with cross sectional area and flattening ratio of median nerve. Hi-Ob scale was correlated with Padua scale positively (r=0.44) and correlated with amplitudes of CMAP and SNAP, negatively (r=-0.33; r=-0.30). Cross sectional area of median nerve was significantly correlated with Padua scale, amplitudes and latencies of CMAP and amplitudes of SNAP. Conclusions: Ultrasonographic findings of median nerve and electrodiagnostic data had statistically significant correlation. Consequently, ultrasonography could be an adjunctive method in diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.157-164
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• 1989

Three-dimensional imaging and manipulation of CT data are becoming increasingly important for deterRing the complex structure and pathologies. Octree which is a hierarchical data model is used to reconstruct three- dimensional objects from CT scans. Orthogonal cross sections are displayed by traverse the octree partially. Arbitrary oblique planes are derived by intersecting the square region of plane and cubic volume of octal node. Thia method enables the display of multi-structured complex organ ann the realization by personal computer.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.233-243
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• 2010

A method is proposed of estimating Muskingum-Cunge parameters for natural streams using cross-sectional and longitudinal channel geometry and roughness coefficient data. Firstly, for various water-surface levels at a cross section cross-sectional areas and hydraulic radii are calculated. Corresponding discharges are then calculated using Manning's equation. This procedure is repeated for all cross-sections in the reach. Finally, routing parameters are estimated from the calculated cross-sectional area and discharge value pairs by regression analysis. The procedures for estimating Muskingum-Cunge parameters are applied to the South Han River. Flows calculated by Muskingum-Cunge model with estimated parameters showed much better agreement with those by dynamic wave model in peak discharge, time to peak discharge, and normalized RMS errors than those calculated by the HEC-1 Muskingum-Cunge model.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.210-228
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• 2024

Objective: Understanding the orofacial characteristics and growth patterns in children is essential for both orthodontics and research on children with orofacial abnormalities. However, a concise resource of normative data on the size and relative position of these structures in different populations is not available. Our objective was to aggregate normative data to assess the growth of the orofacial skeletal structures in children with a well-balanced face and normal occlusion. Methods: The MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus databases were searched. Inclusion criteria included longitudinal and cross-sectional studies on cephalometric measurement of skeletal tissues and a study population ≤ 18 years with a well-balanced face and normal occlusion. Key study parameters were extracted, and knowledge was synthesized. A quality appraisal was performed using a 10-point scale. Results: The final selection comprised of 12 longitudinal and 33 cross-sectional studies, the quality of which ranged from good to excellent. Our results showed that from childhood to adulthood, the length of the cranial base increased significantly while the cranial base angle remained constant; both the maxilla and mandible moved forward and downward. The profile becomes straighter with age. Conclusions: Growth patterns in children with a well-balanced face and normal occlusion follow accepted theories of growth.