• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.135-144
• /
• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze the medical cost for patients with vertigo and to examine associations between chronic vertigo and mental disorder using 2014 Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service-National Patients Sample (HIRA-NPS). Methods: We analyzed sociodemographic characteristics, medical cost and medical care use pattern for vertigo patients. We used hierarchical multiple logistic regression analysis to examine odds ratio between chronic vertigo and mental disorder. Results: A total of 46,502 people and 118,504 claims data were identified for vertigo cases. Characteristics of vertigo patients have significant differences on proportion of female patients (68.36%), patients' average age (54.98) and proportion of medical assistance (5.76%) compared with non-vertigo patients. Results revealed that Korean medicine are one of frequent methods among total treatments for vertigo patients. Total days of medical care and total costs are 2.78 days and 111,362 won, respectively, and days for outpatients in Korean medical care (mean: 2.26 days) are more than those (mean: 5.05 days) in Western medical care. There is significant difference relative to sex between acute vertigo and chronic vertigo. The odds ratio between chronic vertigo and mental disorder is estimated as 1.34, that means risk of becoming chronic is 34% higher for vertigo patients with mental disorder. Conclusions: This study assessed socio-demographic characteristics, medical care use and expenses related to vertigo, and estimated associations between chronic vertigo and mental disorder. Findings provide a basis for economic evaluation studies on vertigo patients and development of clinical practice guidelines for vertigo patients with mental disorder.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.64 no.2
• /
• pp.312-329
• /
• 2022

Feed cost is the main factor affecting the economic benefits of pig industry. Improving the feed efficiency (FE) can reduce the feed cost and improve the economic benefits of pig breeding enterprises. Liver is a complex metabolic organ which affects the distribution of nutrients and regulates the efficiency of energy conversion from nutrients to muscle or fat, thereby affecting feed efficiency. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that can regulate feed efficiency through the modulation of gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. In this study, we analyzed miRNA profiling of liver tissues in High-FE and Low-FE pigs for the purpose of identifying key miRNAs related to feed efficiency. A total 212~221 annotated porcine miRNAs and 136~281 novel miRNAs were identified in the pig liver. Among them, 188 annotated miRNAs were co-expressed in High-FE and Low-FE pigs. The 14 miRNAs were significantly differentially expressed (DE) in the livers of high-FE pigs and low-FE pigs, of which 5 were downregulated and 9 were upregulated. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis of liver DE miRNAs in high-FE pigs and low-FE pigs indicated that the target genes of DE miRNAs were significantly enriched in insulin signaling pathway, Gonadotropin-releasing hormone signaling pathway, and mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway. To verify the reliability of sequencing results, 5 DE miRNAs were randomly selected for quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The qRT-PCR results of miRNAs were confirmed to be consistent with sequencing data. DE miRNA data indicated that liver-specific miRNAs synergistically acted with mRNAs to improve feed efficiency. The liver miRNAs expression analysis revealed the metabolic pathways by which the liver miRNAs regulate pig feed efficiency.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.55 no.4
• /
• pp.339-352
• /
• 2022

As environmental criteria items are increased or strengthened, cases of heavy metal contamination by geogenic origin are increasing, and the need to distinguish between natural and anthropogenic origins in soil or groundwater exceeding the standard is increasing. In this study, geochemical occurrences of geogenic heavy metals were identified through statistical processing of the national geochemical map data and evaluation of geochemical characteristics of regions with high geoaccumulation indices. Cobalt, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn were targeted for which the national geochemical maps were prepared, and Co, Cr, Ni, and V derived from ultrabasic or ultramafic rocks were classified as factor 1. Copper, Pb and Zn of non-ferrous sulfide origin were classified as factor 2. In particular, enrichment of heavy metals by factor 1 occurs mainly in the serpentine distribution areas of the Chungcheong region, and there is a risk of contamination in neighboring areas. In the case of factor 2, geogenic occurrence is concerned not only in non-ferrous metal mineralization areas such as Taebacksan and Gyeongnam mineralization zones, but also in Au-Ag mineralization areas distributed nationwide.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.170-184
• /
• 2008

Objectives: The aim of this analysis was to investigate factors associated with dental visits in terms of getting diagnosis and receiving care for diagnosed dental diseases among Korean adults. Methods: Data used in this analysis were from the 2005 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey which involved a representative sample of 25,487 adults nineteen years of age and older who resided in Korea. This analysis used data of adults who had completed health interview survey (n = 25,215). Uni- and bi-variate analysis, Chi-square test, and logistic regression analyses. were conducted using SAS. Results: The percentages of people diagnosed (treated) dental canes, periodontal disease. and temporomandibular joint disorder were 70.4(77.1), 16.1 (55.7), and 0.6(37.4), respectively. The reception of treatment for diagnosed dental caries and periodontal disease was significantly associated with older age, high monthly household income, and high education attainment. Logistic regression model indicated that age, monthly household income, education attainment, type of health insurance, and chewing problem were significantly associated with getting diagnosis and treatments of dental diseases. Most frequently answered reason for non - or delayed treatments of diagnosed dental diseases during the last one year was cost of treatments. Conclusions: The findings indicated that socio-economic-status still significantly affected reception of needed dental treatments among Korean adults despite the national health insurance system. Oral health policy and programs should be augmented to provide further support to adults of low socio-economic-status who are more prone to dental diseases yet lack resources for needed dental treatments.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.171-183
• /
• 1998

Early Tertiary volcanics, volcanoclastics and granodiorite occur in the Barton Peninsula, King George Island, Antarctica. In the granodioritic stock and volcanic rocks, propylitic alteration characterized by actinolite, epidote, chlorite and calcite is widespread, and disseminations and veinlets of sulfide minerals such as pyrite, chalcopyrite and bornite are ubiquitious. The study on the hydrothermal alteration near granodioritic stock can be summarized as follows; (1) granodiorite intrusion is a small, high level stock associated with calc-alkaline volcanism, and have high copper content, (2) high temperature type of propylitic alteration and common occurrence of copper sulfides in and around granodiorite intrusion, (3) low ${\delta}^{34}S$ values of pyrites by oxidational conditions of sulfide deposition, (4) low ${\delta}^{34}S$ values of quartz and feldspar in the granodiorite, and isotopic non-equilibrium by hydrothermal alteration. It suggest that hyrothermal alteration and mineralization near granodioritc stock should be genetically related to granodiorite intrusion in the Barton Peninsula.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.47 no.5
• /
• pp.497-505
• /
• 2014

This study is for discrimination between asbestiform and non-asbestiform based on size characteristics of tremolite-actinolite fibers in soils from a closed asbestos mine, Jecheon, Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea. Soils and tremolite asbestos rocks were collected from a closed asbestos mine area. The dimensions of fibers with minimum $5{\mu}m$ in length and 3:1 in aspect ratio were measured using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and compared to the known tremolite populations ranging from asbestiform to non-asbestiform. The geometric means of width of soils, asbestos rocks and National Institute for Standard and Technology (NIST) and Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL) reference samples were $1.2{\mu}m$, $0.3-0.6{\mu}m$, $1.3{\mu}m$ and $0.2{\mu}m$, respectively. The geometric means of aspect ratio of soils, asbestos rocks and NIST and HSL reference samples were 7.3, 13.7-30.1, 7.2 and 37.8, respectively. The population of tremolite-actinolite fibers from soils compared to known asbestiform and non-asbestiform tremolite was lack of thin and high aspect ratio fibers. Upper results suggest that tremolite-actinolite fibers in soils cannot be classified into a commercial grade asbestos. The tremolite-actinolite fibers do not mainly appear to be the result of contamination from distance asbestos sources by wind. For the management and control of asbestos in soils, size distributions of amphiboles should be incorporated into asbestos survey results of soils.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.49-83
• /
• 2011

Ever since the UN Summit agreed on the MDGs in 2000, OECD/DAC member countries have taken poverty reduction as the main goal of their aid. To achieve this goal, all donors and recipient countries agreed on the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness in 2005. To monitor and evaluate the progress in the targets of the Declaration, all donors and recipients got together periodically, and the 2011 conference was held in Busan, Korea. As part of this effort, this paper aims to assess the extent to which DAC donors have allocated their aid to achieve the MDGs during the latest millennium era: 2005-2009. In addition, to compare the aid allocation performance between DAC members and non-DAC emerging donors, this paper also assesses the aid allocation performance of Korea (KOICA) for the same period. The analysis of this paper shows evidence contrary to the recent literature findings that donors tended to select, as their aid recipients, those countries that warranted more aid on account of their acute development needs, and good policies and institutions. The difference between the recent literature and this paper is attributed to the different sample periods and/or the weaknesses of the estimation models and methods adopted in the literature. This paper shows why a different estimation method is adopted and why its estimation results are more reliable and convincing. This paper also shows the difference between DAC and non-DAC donors in the aid allocation performance by analyzing aid allocations by the representative aid agency of Korea (KOICA), and recommends some policy measures to be taken by both DAC and non-DAC donors.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.417-422
• /
• 2001

Sutfactants may be used in remediation of subsoil and aquifer contaminated with hydrophobic compounds. The objectives of this study were to select potentially suitable sUlfactants that solubilize toluene present as a contaminant and to determine the effectiveness of toluene removal from Ottawa sand by the selected surfactants. Material used as the model soil was Ottawa sand and the organic used as model contaminant was toluene. Used experimental methods were separatory funnel experiment and shaker table agitation/centrifugation experiments. Based on the experimental results, the following conclusions were drawn; t) In the surfactant selection, six different surfactants were chosen based on surfactant types, toxicity, and water solubility. These six were focused into two on the basis of HLB and surface tension study, separatory funnel experiment, shaker table and centrifugation experiments. The two most suitable surfactants were Sandopan JA36 (an anionic surfactant), and Pluronic L44 (a non-ionic surfactant). 2) In the shaker table agitation and centrifugation experiments, the highest recovery of the toluene was 96% which was obtained with one surfactant wash plus two water rinses using an anionic surfactant (Sandopan JA36).

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.46 no.6
• /
• pp.300-308
• /
• 2013

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to classify determinants of cost increases into two categories, negotiable factors and non-negotiable factors, in order to identify the determinants of health care expenditure increases and to clarify the contribution of associated factors selected based on a literature review. Methods: The data in this analysis was from the statistical yearbooks of National Health Insurance Service, the Economic Index from Statistics Korea and regional statistical yearbooks. The unit of analysis was the annual growth rate of variables of 16 cities and provinces from 2003 to 2010. First, multiple regression was used to identify the determinants of health care expenditures. We then used hierarchical multiple regression to calculate the contribution of associated factors. The changes of coefficients ($R^2$) of predictors, which were entered into this analysis step by step based on the empirical evidence of the investigator could explain the contribution of predictors to increased medical cost. Results: Health spending was mainly associated with the proportion of the elderly population, but the Medicare Economic Index (MEI) showed an inverse association. The contribution of predictors was as follows: the proportion of elderly in the population (22.4%), gross domestic product (GDP) per capita (4.5%), MEI (-12%), and other predictors (less than 1%). Conclusions: As Baby Boomers enter retirement, an increasing proportion of the population aged 65 and over and the GDP will continue to increase, thus accelerating the inflation of health care expenditures and precipitating a crisis in the health insurance system. Policy makers should consider providing comprehensive health services by an accountable care organization to achieve cost savings while ensuring high-quality care.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.44 no.1
• /
• pp.22-31
• /
• 2011

Objectives: We examined gender differential changes in employment-related health inequalities according to occupational position (professional/nonprofessional) in South Korea during the last decade. Methods: Data were taken from four rounds of Social Statistical Surveys of South Korea (1995, 1999, 2003, and 2006) from the Korean National Statistics Office. The total study population was 55435 male and 33913 female employees aged 25-64. Employment arrangements were divided into permanent, fixed-term, and daily employment. Results: After stratification according to occupational position (professional/nonprofessional) and gender, different patterns in employment - related health inequalities were observed. In the professional group, the gaps in absolute and relative employment inequalities for poor self-rated health were more likely to widen following Korea's 1997 economic downturn. In the nonprofessional group, during the study period, graded patterns of employment-related health inequalities were continuously observed in both genders. Absolute health inequalities by employment status, however, decreased among men but increased among women. In addition, a remarkable increase in relative health inequalities was found among female temporary and daily employees (p = 0.009, < 0.001, respectively), but only among male daily employees (p = 0.001). Relative employment-related health inequalities had clearly widened for female daily workers between 2003 and 2006 (p = 0.047). The 1997 Korean economic downturn, in particular, seemingly stimulated a widening gap in employment health inequalities. Conclusions: Our study revealed that whereas absolute health inequalities in relation to employment status increased in the professional group, relative employment-related health inequalities increased in the nonprofessional group, especially among women. In view of the high concentration of female nonstandard employees, further monitoring of inequality should consider gender specific patterns according to employee's occupational and employment status.