• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.66-73
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• 2016

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of psychosocial factors related to functional dyspepsia(FD) and their effects on quality of life(QOL) in firefighters. Methods : This study examined data collected from 1,217 firefighters. We measured psychological symptoms by Patient Health Questionnaire-9(PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder questionnaire(GAD-7), Korean Occupational Stress Scale(KOSS), Ways of Coping checklist(WCCL), Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale(RSES) and World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale abbreviated version(WHOQOL-BREF). Chi-square test, independent t-test, Pearson's correlation test, logistic regression analysis, and hierarchical regression analysis were used as statistical analysis methods. Results : For the group with FD, the male participants showed significantly higher frequency(p=0.006) compared to the female participants. The group with FD had higher scores for depressive symptoms(p<.001), anxiety (p<.001), and occupational stress(p<.001), and did lower scores for self-esteem(p=.008), quality of life(p<.001) than those without FD. The FD risk was higher in the following KOSS subcategories: job demand(OR 1.94, 95% CI : 1.29-2.93), lack of reward(OR 2.47, 95% CI : 1.61-3.81), and occupational climate(OR 1.51, 95% CI : 1.01-2.24). In the hierarchical regression analysis, QOL was best predicted by depressive symptoms, self-esteem, and occupational stress. Three predictive variables above accounts for 42.0% variance explained of total variance. Conclusions : The psychosocial factors showed significant effects on FD, and predictive variables for QOL were identified based on regression analysis. The results suggest that the psychiatric approach should be accompanied with medical approach in future FD assessment.

• Journal of Korean Philosophical Society
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• v.145
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• pp.167-194
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• 2018

According to the result of 2017 youth statistics, the first rank of the death cause of Korean youth is suicide for nine years. The recent study on factors affecting juvenile suicide presents: family factors; character and psychological factors; mental disease factors; suicide-triggering factors; school factors; and protection factors; and so on. What is required to the youth who are vulnerable to the confusion of identity and the adjustment of emotion or impulse is not only drug treatment or mental therapy but also the support of family or society where adolescents are encouraged to be introspective and form their identity in a healthy approach in the diverse humanistic philosophical dimension. This study is going to pay attention to the aesthetic existence of Kierkegaard who provided the foundation of human existential identity centered on three stages of existence. For this purpose, we attempt to search for the philosophical basis for the understanding of juvenile identity centered on the analysis of Kierkegaard's Either / Or Volume I (Entweder - Oder Teil I). Especially, we are going to attempt the understanding of aesthetics of youth through the analysis of three stages of desire (Begierde) suggested in Chapter 2 of this book. Herewith he suggests aesthetic existence through 'desire', and aesthetic existence as the desire again through three stages of 'dreaming ($tr{\ddot{a}}umend$)' desire, 'searching (suchend)' desire, and 'desiring (begehrend)' desire. Based on this analysis of three stages, we plan to graft the roots of sociological factors presented as the cause of youth's suicide onto the analysis of existential philosophy. Through this, we attempt to grope for the diagnostic and healing discourse which Kierkegaard's existential analysis can present in the formation and recognition of youth identity and disclose a factor of the emotion or the disorder of impulse adjustment as well as depression suggested as the main contributing factor of youth's suicide and search for philosophical discourse for the prevention of juvenile suicide.

• Cross-Cultural Studies
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• v.47
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• pp.191-216
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• 2017

Among 20th century Western ideologies (Western civilization), existentialism is a spirit of the times to restore humanity as rationality and advanced technology have driven mankind to impoverishment and death, experiencing the First and Second World War, Great Depression, Fascism and the Spanish Civil War. In his literature, $Andr{\acute{e}}$ Malraux records his existential agony of how mankind lives and faces death by questioning the fateful life and death of characters. For Malraux's characters, the absurdity of existence related to the human identity means self-examination. Malraux explores existential consciousness and actions of characters in the presence of a concept known as death relative to terror, revolution, and adventure. Malraux deftly addresses the concept of death in his literary works, and it has being emphasized as a central subject for philosophical speculation. In Les $Conqu{\acute{e}}rants$(1928), La Voie Royale(1930), La Condition Humaine (1933), L'Espoir(1937), Malraux suggested a philosophical thesis of the meaning of life through characters in tragic situations, and sought out the consciousness of being and the existential meaning through how the characters control their fate. Malraux, in such a tragic perspective of the world, portrays humanity, affirmation of life, and characters' consciousness and actions in denying death. The agony of death triggers escapist behavior such as having unpredictable instinctual desires such as gambling or smoking opium, but these are desperate struggles to flee from frustration and related to the question of one's existence. What is always emphasized with respect to Malraux's existentialism is the tragic metaphysics of the inevitable destiny of the human condition eventually leading to the question of how humans ultimately confront death. But as characters unite in times of war, revolution and adventure in the novel, such cooperative actions symbolizes a keen sense of solidarity reflecting a camaraderie that transcends individualism. Fellowship among people who voluntarily gather for the common cause of philanthropy and restoring humanity is possible because of the underlying human greatness to sacrifice for such a noble cause. Therefore, Malraux's camaraderie includes the victory of existentialism in creating a world of humanism.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.747-753
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• 2019

Cognitive decline is characterized by reduced long-/short-term memory and attention span, and increased depression and anxiety. Such decline is associated with various degenerative brain disorders, especially Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). The increases in elderly populations suffering from cognitive decline create social problems and impose economic burdens, and also pose safety threats; all of these problems have been extensively researched over the past several decades. Possible causes of cognitive decline include metabolic and hormone imbalance, infection, medication abuse, and neuronal changes associated with aging. However, no treatment for cognitive decline is available. In neurodegenerative diseases, changes in the gut microbiota and gut metabolites can alter molecular expression and neurobehavioral symptoms. Changes in the gut microbiota affect memory loss in AD via the downregulation of NMDA receptor expression and increased glutamate levels. Furthermore, the use of probiotics resulted in neurological improvement in an AD model. PD and gut microbiota dysbiosis are linked directly. This interrelationship affected the development of constipation, a secondary symptom in PD. In a PD model, the administration of probiotics prevented neuron death by increasing butyrate levels. Dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) has been identified in AD and PD. Increased BBB permeability is also associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis, which led to the destruction of microtubules via systemic inflammation. Notably, metabolites of the gut microbiota may trigger either the development or attenuation of neurodegenerative disease. Here, we discuss the correlation between cognitive decline and the gut microbiota.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.23-32
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• 2019

Objectives: Insomnia is not only the most common sleep-related disorder, but also is one of the most important. Knowledge of the comorbidities of insomnia is essential for proper treatment including pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods to prevent disease chronification. This study aimed to determine sleep clinic patients' knowledge of insomnia. Methods: This study recruited 44 patients (24 males and 20 females; mean age $54.11{\pm}16.30years$) from the sleep clinic at National Center for Mental Health. All subjects were asked to complete a self-report questionnaire about their reasons for visiting a sleep clinic and about their knowledge of treatment and comorbidities of insomnia. Results: The reasons for visiting the sleep clinic were insomnia symptoms of daytime sleepiness, irregular sleeping time, nightmares, snoring, and sleep apnea, in that order. Of the responders, 72.7% had a comorbidity of insomnia, and 22.7% showed high-risk alcohol use. In addition, 70.5% of responders chose pharmacological treatment of insomnia as the first option and reported collection of information about treatment of insomnia mainly from the internet and medical staff. More than half (52.3%) of the respondents reported that they had never heard about non-pharmacological treatments of insomnia such as cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT-I) or light therapy. The response rate about comorbidities of varied, with 75% of responders reporting knowledge of the relation between insomnia and depression, but only 38.6% stating awareness of the relation between insomnia and alcohol use disorder. Of the total responders, 68.2% were worried about hypnotics for insomnia treatment, and 70% were concerned about drug dependence. Conclusion: This study showed that patients at a sleep clinic had limited knowledge about insomnia. It is necessary to develop standardized insomnia treatment guidelines and educational handbooks for those suffering from insomnia. In addition, evaluation of alcohol use disorders is essential in the initial assessment of sleep disorders.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.18-28
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• 2019

Recent studies reported that obesity upregulated the expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and regulated particular behavior patterns in animal models. They also reported that ameliorated the increase in nNOS expression and decreased depression and anxiolytic effects. Thus, exercise seems to be an effective strategy for improving brain function by downregulating nNOS. However, the immune response differs greatly, depending on the exercise intensity. The aim of the present study was to investigate differences in brain nNOS expression in obese C57BL/6 mice that performed exercise of different intensities. Obesity was induced in 6-wks-old mice (n=35) by feeding a 60%-fat diet for 6-wks. A control (CON) group (n=14) was fed a normal diet. At the end of the induction 6-wks period of obesity, seven animals in the CON group and obesity-induced group were sacrificed to confirm obesity induction (preliminary experiments and confirmation of visceral fat accumulation). The remaining animals were then used in an 8-wks exercise intervention. Other than the CON (n=7), the obesity-induced animals were divided into the following groups: high-fat diet (HFD, n=7), HFD-low intensity (HFD-LI, n=7, 12 m/min for 75 min), HFD-moderate intensity (HFD-MI, n=7, 15 m/min for 60 min), and HFD-high intensity (HFD-HI, n=7, 18 m/min for 50 min). The exercise was performed on an animal treadmill. The expression of the nNOS protein in the hippocampus was significantly higher in the HFD group as compared with that in the CON group (p<0.01). However, there was no difference in the hippocampal expression of the nNOS protein in the other exercise groups as compared with that in the CON group. In contrast, nNOS expression in the HFD-HI group was significantly lower than that in the HFD-LI group (p<0.05). The expression of phosphorylated Akt (pAkt) was significantly higher in all the exercise groups as compared with that in the CON and HFD groups. There was no difference in the expression of pAkt in the cerebral cortex among groups, and the expression of pAkt in the cerebellum was significantly higher in the HFD-HI group as compared with that in the CON group (p<0.05). There were also no between-group differences in pAkt expression in the cerebellum among the various exercise groups. In conclusion, nNOS seems to be overexpressed in response to obesity, and it appears to be downregulated by exercise. Relatively high-intensity exercise may be effective in improving brain function by downregulating nNOS.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.126-134
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• 2020

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the needs for return-to-work support of cancer survivors and related factors in patients with cancer and their caregivers. Methods : 182 patients and 114 caregivers were recruited. Distress Thermometer and Problem List and scale ranging 0~10 measuring the degree of needs for return-to-work support were utilized. The needs for return-to-work support between the patient group and caregiver group (patient's needs evaluated by the caregiver) were compared, and related factors were investigated using logistic regression analysis. Results : 34.6% and 28.1% of patients and caregivers reported return-to-work support of cancer survivors is "very necessary". The degree of needs was 6.60±3.365 points in the patient group and 6.17±3.454 points in the caregiver group, with no significant difference (p=0.282). The needs for return-to-work support evaluated by patients was high when they underwent surgery (OR=2.592, p=0.007), has fertility problems (OR=6.137, p=0.025), has appearance problems (OR=2.081, p=0.041), or has fatigue (OR=2.330, p=0.020). The needs for return-to-work support of patients evaluated by caregivers was high when patients treated with breast cancer (vs respiratory cancer, OR=13.038, p=0.022 ; vs leukemia/lymphoma, OR=4.517, p=0.025 ; vs other cancer, OR=13.102, p=0.019), has work/school problems (OR=4.578, p=0.005), or has depression (OR=3.213, p=0.022). Conclusions : The degree of needs for return-to-work support of cancer survivors was high, and factors related to the needs were different between the two groups. This suggests that return-to-work support of cancer survivors is required, and clinical characteristics, the distress of patients, and differences between patients and their caregivers should be considered in establishing a support plan.

• 한국사회정책
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.153-185
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to investigate the actual conditions and causes of the problem behaviors of Korean Chinese'left-behind'children in China in order to propose a support system to prevent problem behaviors of them. For this purpose, a questionnaire survey was conducted on 399 children who attend at three Korean Chines schools in Yonbian in China. The questionnaire consisted of general characteristics, internalizing problem behavior, social support, self-esteem, and self-resilience. This paper analysed the survey data by employing one-way ANOVA and a structural equation modeling. It verified if there is significant difference in internalizing problem behaviour, self-esteem, self-resilience, and social support between left-behind children's group and non left-behind children's group. It also identified a structural causal relationship and direct or indirect effects among problematic behaviour, self-esteem, self-resilience, and social support. The results of the analysis are as follows. First, there was a statistically significant difference in the social withdrawal and depression of internalizing problem behaviors between left-behind children's group and non left-behind children's group. Second, the left-behind children's group showed no significant difference in self-resilience and social support compared to non left-behind children's group, but showed a significant difference in self-esteem. In the positive self- esteem factor, non left-behind children's group showed much higher score whereas left-behind children's group was higher in the negative self-esteem factor. Third, social support for left-behind children's group has a statistically significant direct negative effect on internalizing problem behaviors, and indirectly negative effects on problem behavior through self-resilience. These results suggest the necessity of establishing a social support system for mitigating and preventing problem behaviors and the necessity of preparing measures to improve self-resilience. Based on the results of the study, we discussed how to establish a social support system in China to mitigate internalizing problem behaviors of Korean Chinese left-behind children.

• (The)Study of the Eastern Classic
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• no.32
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• pp.425-441
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• 2008

Most of Korea's Kyungmaedorock(auction book: 競賣圖錄) and pictorial record of exhibitions in the modern times were usually published in the 1930s. Although 1930s were periods of the Great Depression when economic slump continued because of the aftereffect of the slump in the stocks issued by the US in 1929, during this period, Japan began regular continental invasion starting from invasion of the northeastern area of China. To curio dealers, the 1930s were 'boom period of curio transaction' and in urban cultural aspects, the period is evaluated as the one when the first step of modernism was formed. Collection, photo-printing and arrangement of the data related to modern exhibitions including the Auction Book being published at that time are very important because they enable us to know characteristics of fine arts in the transition period from paintings & writings to fine arts in addition to enabling us to revert the circulation history of our paintings & writings and curios. Furthermore, these data will become important data for reconstitution of the circulation history of the Eastern Asia's modern art works. Although the pictorial record of Joseon's Exhibitions of Chinaware and Wooden Works(朝鮮陶磁木工展) is a small and thin one, it records our country's high level chinaware and wooden works. Although we can't know the exact time for 'Joseon's exhibitions of chinaware and wooden works', they are assumed to have been held in Tokyo, Japan in the 1930s and there seems to have been sale of works, too. As such, studies of the books such as the auction book and exhibitions under Japanese imperialism have the first importance in the fact that through which we can examine the course of outflow of our art works to Japan. Furthermore, they can be studies of art-sociology that examine flow and phase of recognition and taste of art works of those days. And from now on, comparative studies of auctions and exhibitions being held in Japan such as Tokyo, Osaka and etc. as well as art markets in Seoul during modern times would also be necessary.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.771-785
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• 2021

This study was performed to provide detailed and comprehensive information on inflammation-related blood indicators, joint range of motion, pain scale, and psychological indicators by patient characteristics by performing a 12-week home-based exercise program for ankylosing spondylitis patients. For the purpose of this study, 10 patients with ankylosing spondylitis were selected by age (30s vs. 40s vs. 50s), gender (male vs. female), and duration (less than 5 years vs. 5 years or more). The home-based exercise program was a combination of aerobic exercise and Pilates-based resistance exercise, and was performed 4 times a week for 12 weeks at an intensity of 50-70% of maximal heart rate (MHR). As a result, after 12 weeks of home-based exercise intervention, the blood C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration of patients with ankylosing spondylitis decreased (-35.6%, p=.002), and the blood inflammation level was improved, and each joint (hip, lumbar, cervical) improved mobility (p<.05). In addition, the bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI) was decreased by -67% (p=.001) and the visual analogue scale (VAS) was decreased by -64.8% (p=.001), stiffness and pain has been alleviated. In particular, as the degree of depression decreased by -65.5% (p=.001) and the degree of anxiety by -55.2% (p=.003), 12 weeks of home-based exercise improved not only physical changes but also psychological factors. On the other hand, there was no difference in exercise effect according to age, gender, and disease duration in ankylosing spondylitis patients (p>.05). These results suggest that the 12-week home-based exercise applied in this study can be an effective exercise program that can be universally used for ankylosing spondylitis patients regardless of patient characteristics.