• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.254-263
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• 1998

A worker employed in a serpentine mine was found developed mesothelioma as the first case of Korea in 1997. Asbestos was known as a causative agent for mesothelioma. Thus, asbestos contamination in mines could be a big health threat to those workers who were unknowingly exposed. However, there was no report that any minerals found in Korea contained asbestos. This study was carried out to find the presence of any asbestiform fibers in minerals which could be obtained in Korean mines. We examined fifteen minerals from 44 mines which were suspected contaminated with asbestiform fibers. Asbestiform analysis was done with high resolution transmission electron microscope(TEM), with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscope(EDX) and X-ray diffraction(XRD) analyses. Among asbestiform fibers, chrysotile was found in chrysotile, serpentine, talc and pyrophylite specimens from 11 mines. Tremolite was found in tremolite and talc specimens from three mines. Mordenite was found in zeolite specimens from two mines. Wallastonite and sepiolite were found in wallastonite and sepiolite specimens respectively. Crocidolite, antigorite and actinolite were found from talc specimens. But no asbestiform fiber contaminants were found in doromite, vermiculite, limestone, marble, gypsum, kaolin, and clary specimens. Thus, these asbestiform fibers such as such as chrysotile, tremolite, mordenite, crocidolite, antigorite and actinolite could be the responsible agents for the health hazards such as mesothelioma and other cancers.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2001

Objective : We wanted to examine the differences of symptoms of stroke by seasons and age groups. Methods : We recorded the symptoms of 254 stroke patients for 1 year and statistically analyzed the results. The Chi-Square test was used for the analysis.(p<0.05). Results : There was no difference of symptoms by age, but the symptoms were different by seasons. In spring and autumn, there was a large amount of Hwa. In summer, there was a large amount of Kihuh, and in winter, there was a large amount of Hwa and Dahm. Conclusions : We have concluded that these differences should be considered in the management and the prevention of stroke.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.248-254
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• 2002

Single cell gel electrophoresis assay was carried out to evaluate DNA damage in T-and B-lymphocytes from rats exposed to benzene and the correlation between DNA damage and the level of t,t-muconic acids, which are urinary benzene metabolites, was investigated. In control rats, the mean values of Olive tail moments in T-and B-lymphocytes were 1.507$\pm$0.187 and 1.579$\pm$0.206 respectively. DNA damages of T-lymphocytes in rats exposed for 4 weeks showed the highest Olive tail moments at each benzene concentration examined (2.72-4.351). However this DNA damage was decreased after 6 weeks of exposure (1.74-2.09). DNA damages of B-lymphocytes did not show such differences with exposure time or benzene concentration (1.49-2.07) except at 200 ppm at 4 weeks. T-lymphocytes show significantly more damages than B-lymphocyte upon acute exposure to benzene.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.247-254
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• 2017

Background: Hybrid coronary revascularization (HCR) was developed to combine the advantages of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, it is still controversial whether it is more optimal to perform CABG or PCI first. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of these 2 approaches. Methods: Eighty patients who underwent HCR from May 2010 to December 2015 were enrolled in this retrospective analysis. The CABG-first group comprised 12 patients and the PCI-first group comprised 68 patients. Outcomes of interest included in-hospital perioperative factors, major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs), and the incidence of repeated revascularization, especially for the target vessel lesion. Results: No significant difference was found in the amount of postoperative bleeding (p=0.239). The incidence of MACCEs was similar between the CABG-first and PCI-first groups (1 of 12 [8.3%] vs. 5 of 68 [7.4%], p>0.999). Repeated revascularization was performed on 3 patients (25%) in the CABG-first and 9 patients (13.2%) in the PCI-first group (p=0.376). Conclusion: There were no significant differences in postoperative and medium-term outcomes between the CABG-first and PCI-first groups. Based on these results, it can be inferred that it is safe to opt for either CABG or PCI as the primary procedure in 2-stage HCR.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.247-254
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• 2014

To investigate the acquisition of quinolone resistance, we examined mutations in the quinolone resistance-determining region (QRDR) of type II topoisomerase genes in ciprofloxacin (CIP)-resistant clinical isolates and in vitro mutants of Streptococcus parauberis. The CIP-resistant clinical isolates had one base change responsible for a Ser-79${\rightarrow}$Thr in the QRDR of parC. However, the CIP-resistant in vitro mutants had an altered QRDR of parC (Ser-79${\rightarrow}$Ile) that differed from that of the isolates. None of the CIP-resistant S. parauberis clinical isolates or in vitro mutants exhibited amino acid changes in gyrA or gyrB. However, even though involvement in the increased resistance was not clear, an Arg-449${\rightarrow}$Ser mutation outside of the QRDR of parE was detected in CIP-resistant mutant 2P1. These results suggest that the topoisomerase IV gene, parC (and possibly parE, as well), is the primary ciprofloxacin target in S. parauberis. Additionally we established a high-resolution melting (HRM) assay capable of detecting the dominant mutation in four type II topoisomerase genes conferring ciprofloxacin resistance. These rapid and reliable assays may provide a convenient method of surveillance for genetic mutations conferring antibiotic resistance.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.3188-3194
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• 2014

Compound K (CK) was formulated as polymeric micelles (PM) using Pluronic$^{(R)}$ F-127 to enhance the oral absorption of CK, an intestinal bacterial metabolite of ginseng protopanaxadiol saponin. The physicochemical properties of Ck-loaded PM were characterized and an in vitro transport study using the Caco-2 cell system as well as an in vivo pharmacokinetic study using SD rats was carried out. The hydrodynamic mean particle size of CK-loaded PM (CK-PM) was $254{\pm}23.45nm$ after rehydration and the drug loading efficiency was ca. 99.9%. The FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy data supported the presence of a new solid phase in the PM. The $P_{app}$ value of in vitro Caco-2 cell permeation of CK-PM and the oral absorption of CK was enhanced about 1.2-fold and 2.6-fold compared to CK suspension, respectively, showing that the present PM formulation enabled an enhancement of oral CK absorption.

• Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.241-254
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• 2004

This study reviews academic library users' information needs, use behaviors, and information literacy by examining previous literature related to academic library use study. The information academic library users want most is information about how to use library such as a circulation policy. Only about 10% of library users' information needs requires reference librarian's professional knowledge and skills. The sign and information system of the library should be improved and revised in order to reduce the redundant how-to questions. When academic library users attempt to do subject searches through online library system, they experience difficulties to find the right menu on the library's interface. The study recommends that special efforts should be made for user education for utilizing research information since user's information utilizing ability is unexpectedly low.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.245-254
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• 2010

Technology of surface investigation using X-ray is one of widely used technology nowadays. This technique has been numerously used for planetary surface investigations for both orbital and rover scientific instruments. Korea has a plan to send an orbiter and lander to the Moon by the early 2020s. Therefore, the time has come for Korean researchers to develop major scientific instruments and start to do research on basic research for the Moon. Because of this situation, we firstly investigate X-ray technology, which is essential as one of core techniques of planetary remote sensing from the orbit and ground. This paper presents the current status of planetary exploration using X-ray techniques and new development of worldwide X-ray technology which could be adapted for prospective planetary missions.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.246-254
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• 2004

Purpose: This study was to measure college students' understanding of elderly's sexual life. Method: For this study, questionnaires were distributed to 423 students in 'K' college of Chungcheongbuk-do during the period from November 17 to December 3 2003. Result: With regard to elderly's sexual life, 38.5% of the respondents answered' very important' or 'important'. With regard to disturbances of elderly's sexual life, 56.7% of the respondents answered 'because of aging', and 53.4% answered 'because of social and moral dignity'. Of the respondents, 95.0% agreed on elderly's acquaintance with the opposite sex, and 50.8% of respondents who agreed on it answered that the reason of elderly's acquaintance with the opposite sex was to get friends. The score of college students' understanding of elderly's sexual life was 2.64 out of 4 points. Among the areas in the questionnaire on understanding of elderly's sexual life, college students' attitude toward sexual life showed the highest score. The score of the necessity of education and counseling for elderly on sexuality and acquaintance with the opposite sex was 3.11 out of 4 points. Of the respondents, 84.4% agreed on education and counseling on sexuality for elderly, and 90.0% agreed on education and counseling on acquaintance with the opposite sex for elderly. There were statistically significant differences in the scores of college students' understanding of elderly's sexual life according to their grade(F=14.241, p=.000), major(t=4.751, p=.000) and sexual attitudes(F=5.395, 0=.005). Conclusion: The survey result suggests that college students have open-hearted understanding of elderly's sexual life. But to make ordinary people accept elderly's sexual life more open-heartedly, it is necessary to develop various education and counseling programs for elderly's sexual health.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.245-254
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• 2018

Background: When performing dental treatment under general anesthesia in adult patients who have difficulty cooperating due to intellectual disabilities, anesthesia induction may be difficult as well. In particular, patients who refuse to come into the dental office or sit in the dental chair may have to be forced to do so. However, for adult patients with a large physique, physical restraint may be difficult, while oral sedatives as premedication may be helpful. Here, a retrospective analysis was performed to investigate the effect of oral sedatives. Methods: A hospital-based medical information database was searched for patients who were prescribed oral midazolam or triazolam between January 2009 and December 2017. Pre-anesthesia evaluation, anesthesia, and anesthesia recovery records of all patients were analyzed, and information on disability type, reason for prescribing oral sedatives, prescribed medication and dose, cooperation level during anesthesia induction, anesthesia duration, length of recovery room stay, and complications was retrieved. Results: A total of 97 patients were identified, of whom 50 and 47 received midazolam and triazolam, respectively. The major types of disability were intellectual disabilities, autism, Down syndrome, blindness, cerebral palsy, and epilepsy. Analyses of changes in cooperation levels after drug administration showed that anesthesia induction without physical restraint was possible in 56.0% of patients in the midazolam group and in 46.8% of patients in the triazolam group (P = 0.312). Conclusions: With administration of oral midazolam or triazolam, general anesthesia induction without any physical restraint was possible in approximately 50% of patients, with no difference between the drugs.