• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.293-299
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• 2023

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the potential benefits of microcurrent stimulation as a non-invasive therapeutic approach for managing pain and improving the quality of life in women suffering from primary dysmenorrhea. Design: A case study. Methods: This study was conducted, involving a cohort of 6 women diagnosed with primary dysmenorrhea, aged between 20 to 30 years. Participants were received microcurrent stimulation using low-intensity microcurrents for 30 minutes every day for 4 weeks. The intensity of microcurrent stimulation was 25 μA and the frequency was 8 Hz. The intervention was administered between the menstruations, with pain intensity and quality of life being assessed at baseline, and then at the end of menstrual cycle. Pain intensity was evaluated using a visual analog scale (VAS) and menstrual symptom questionnaire (MSQ), while the quality of life was assessed through the stress response inventory (SRI), state trait anxiety inventory (STAI), center for epidemiologic studies depression (CES-D), and menstrual distress questionnaire (MEDI-Q). Results: After the intervention, participants demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in pain intensity, as evidenced by improved VAS scores (p<0.05). However, the changes in MSQ scores did not reach statistical significance. Regarding quality of life measures, no statistically significant differences were found in the SRI, STAI, CES-D, and MEDI-Q scores after the intervention (p>0.05). Conclusions: This study suggest that microcurrent stimulation holds promise as a potential treatment option for alleviating pain associated with primary dysmenorrhea.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.29 no.2 s.53
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• pp.359-370
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• 1996

An outbreak of dermatosis occurred at a machine manufacture factory in Kyongju on Aug 1995. Authors conducted a questionnaire ,survey among 92 workers in the factory and a dermatologist examined their skin lesions. Authors also collected moths and identified them. The results are as follows; 1. Forty-two cases of dermatosis were identified with attack rate of 45.7%. Attack rate was not different by company, age, sex, educational level and duration of employment. Attack rate was 47.8% among productive workers, 25.0% among clerical workers and 100.0 % among patrolmen. 2. Two cases among 42 dermatosis cases and three subjects among 50 non-cases had a history of same dermatosis last year. Four of dermatosis cases had a history of dermatosis among their family members. 3. Skin lesions of the cases were scattered or grouped rice-sized erythematous papules or vesicles. Duration of dermatosis from the onset to the time of survey was from one day to more than 30 days. The most frequent site of skin lesion was the arms(81.0 %), and it was also observed at the neck(47.6 %), abdomen(45.2 %), chest(42.9 %), legs(38.1 %) and back(35.7 %). Skin lesion was aggravated with sweating(31.0 %), after shower(16.7 %) and with scratching(11.9 %). 4. Moths were collected and identified as Euproctis subflava (Bremer). Many poisonous stings were observed on their wngs which is harmful to human. 5. Contact with moths' wing droppings to two authors on thier forearms for provocation resulted in severe immediate pain followed by prolonged pruritus. Erythematous macules quickly appeared and succeeded by firm wheal-like red papules. Authors thought that the outbreak of dermatosis was brought about by Euproctis subflava (Bremer). Further studies on the factors contributing to the prosperity of the moths in this area are needed.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.7-15
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• 2010

Purpose: There are an insignificant number of studies done on the demographics of intoxication patients and on the characteristics of toxic exposure on a long term basis in Korea. The objective of our survey is to investigate the epidemiologic characteristics of intoxication in a metropolitan emergency department in order to more efficiently manage intoxication patients. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of intoxication patients who visited the emergency department of a high end medical facility between January, 1998 and June, 2009. We investigated the trend of the substances people became intoxicated with during the study period and we analyzed the age, gender, year and distribution of patients and the outcome of the patients. Results: There were 1544 cases of intoxication during the study period, and the cases made up 0.37% of the total visitors to our emergency department, which is a high end medical facility located in the city. Most of the patients were female (70%) in their twenties and thirties. The most commonly ingested intoxication substances were sedatives, analgesics and pesticides. Unlike in the province, antidepressant abuse is on the rise while pesticide abuse is falling. The overall admission rate was 24.8% and the mortality rate was 1.6%. Pesticides intoxication was the most common cause of death (76%). Pesticides intoxication, a male gender and old age were the most significant fatality-related factors. Conclusion: We think that there is a need to investigate the actual conditions of drug intoxication in the city and prepare measures to prevent drug intoxication.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.365-370
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• 2007

Purpose: There are many reports about facial bone fractures, but limited to retrospective data of a single hospital. Etiology and severity of the facial bone fracture have been changed and treatment method and materials have been advanced. In order to reflect those changes and provide up-to-date data of the facial bone fractures in Daegu, we gathered the data and analyzed the epidemiologic study. Methods: The medical records of 1058 fractures in 895 patients were gathered from 5 general hospitals in Daegu during last year and these data were analyzed by following parameters: age, sex, place of residence, occupation, cause of injury, time of injury, location of fracture, length of in-hospital stay, time of operation, treatment method, associated injury, complication. Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-square test. Results: Most commonly involved age group was 20s(26%) and the sex ratio was 3.4:1(male predominance). Fractures were occurred more in unban and white-color workers. Among variable etiology of injury, traffic accident was the most common cause. Time of injury was heighest at 6 to 7 P.M., on Sunday, in July. Locations of fractures were following sequence: nasal, zygoma, mandible, orbit, maxilla. Mean length of in-hospital stay and time of operation after injury were 6.3 and 3.2 days, respectively. In treatment methods, operative methods were dominant than conservative management and general anesthesia were favored than local anesthesia. Associated injuries were noticed in 188 cases(21.2%) and complications were in 94 cases(8.9%) and among them, ocular problem were common. Conclusion: Compared to previous studies, mean age of occurrence was lowered and the etiologies showed age-specific pattern and reflected the change of lifestyle. In young age groups, sports injury, violence were more dominant and the other hand, traffic accident and fall were dominant in older groups.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.28 no.1 s.49
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• pp.13-26
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• 1995

An outbreak of dermatosis occurred in a livestock fodder factory at Kyongju in May 1994. Authors conducted a questionnaire survey on 60 workers in the factory and a dermatologist examined their skin lesion. Authors also collected mites and identified them. The obtained results were summarized as follows; 1. Twenty-eight cases of dermatosis were identified with attack rate of 46.7%. Attack rate was not different by department, age, sex, educational level and employment duration. Attack rate was 67.5% in productive worker and 5.0% in clerical workers (p<0.01) but was not significantly different between departments among productive workers (p>0.05). 2. Three cases among 28 dermatosis cases and one subject among 32 non-cases had a history of same dermatosis last year. Only one of dermatosis cases had a history of dermatosis among family members. History of other skin lesion and allergy was very rare in both cases and non-cases. 3. Skin lesions of the cases were rice-sized erythematous rapules or vesicles with a central biting point. Onset date of dermatosis was between May 1 and June 10. Duration was from one day to more than 30 days. Skin lesion was most frequent at the back(75.0%), and also observed at the arms(64.3%), abdomen(60.7%), legs(57.1%), chest(32.1%) and neck (25.0%). Skin lesion was aggravated while workers are sweeping the floor(35.7%), working at the workplace(21.4%) and in bed at night(28.6%). 4. Total 1,637 mites were collected and identified into 3 suborder, 7 families and 17 species. Dermatophagoides farinae was most frequent md most of the species identified were blood sucking mites. Authors concluded that the. outbreak of dermatosis was brought about by mite-bites and grain beetle parasitizing Acarophenax tribolii was the most suspected species. Further studies to identify the specific species causing dermatosis and route of import are needed.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.289-297
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• 2000

Background: Staphylococcus aureus (s. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) are major pathogens in community and hospital. And they sometimes cause the outbreak in hospital in the immunocompromised patients. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) has been regarded as a standard method for genotyping in epidemiologic studies, but it is laborious and time-consuming. Infrequent restriction site-polymerase chain reaction (IRS-PCR), a new genotyping methods, was performed to compare the applicability with PFGE. Methods: We performed PFGE and IRS-PCR on S. aurues (n=120) and E. coli (n=117) which were collected clinically in 4 different hospitals. We assessed each method in terms of discriminatory power, quality, and efficiency. Results: In E. coli, the discriminatory power of IRS-PCR was $46.7{\sim}86.7%$, and that of PFGE was $88.9{\sim}96.7%$ according to hospital. But in S. aurues, the discriminatory power of IRS-PCR was $20{\sim}56.7%$, and that of PFGE was $40{\sim}90%$ according to hospital. The typablity and reproducibility of IRS-PCR were 100% of each. PFGE needed four days to complete the procedure, but IRS-PCR could be performed within one day, IRS-PCR showed better resolution than PFGE. Conclusion: In case of gram negative bacteria (like E. coli), IRS-PCR could be a reliable alternative for epidemiologic typing due to better efficiency and comparable discriminatory power. But in the case of gram positive bacteria (like S. aureus), IRS-PCR does not seem to be suitable for the strain-to-strain differentiation. More trials and changes of restriction enzymes or primers could reveal the efficacy of IRS-PCR in the field of molecular typing.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.295-304
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• 2002

Objectives : This study was carried out to investigate the cause, magnitude and transmission route of the cholera outbreak in 2001 Methods : The study population were those persons who ingested foods at the restaurant, were confirmed as cholera patients, had symptoms of diarrhea and sewed as workers at the restaurant. A questionnaire survey and microbiological examinations on the microbes isolated from rectal swabs were conducted. Of the cases, 316 food histories were surveyed by an analysis of the restaurant menu. Results : There were 139 confirmed cases of cholera reported in Korea in 2001. Of these, 104 were related to the restaurant. By region, Gyeongsangbuk-do had the highest incidence with 91 cases. Of these 91 cases, 74 had ingested foods at the restaurant, 2 were employees and 3 were secondary infection cases within the families. The results of the odds ratio analysis of the 316 persons having ingested foods at the restaurant were as follows: sandwiches 5.07 (95% CI, 1.85-14.59), soybean curd 2.45 (95% CI, 1.09-5.56), noodles 2.34 (95% CI, 1.24-4.42), steamed squid 2.01 (95% CI, 1.17-3.47) and vinegared rice 1.82 (95%, CI, 1.08-3.09). It was certain the restaurant in question was the cause of the 2001 outbreak. Conclusions : We suspected that more than one restaurant employee contaminated foods served at the restaurant. In addition, eating raw fishes purchased at the Pohang Fisheries infected the employees of the restaurant. There is a possibility that these raw fishes were themselves contaminated by cholera bacilli in the sea.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.497-505
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the level of quality of life and gender differences in predictors of quality of life among patients with coronary artery disease. Methods: Participants for this descriptive survey were 67 men and 65 women who signed informed consents. They were patients who had undergone coronary artery bypass graft surgery or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, or were on medication therapy after a heart attack. The Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), Personal Resource Questionnaire-part (II), and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale were used to measure quality of life, social support, and depression respectively. Gender and age were controlled because they were reported as influencing factors in previous studies. Results: There were significant differences in depression and quality of life between men and women however, social support was not significantly different by gender. In multiple regression analysis, depression was a significant predictor and explained 51.9% of quality of life for men. In women, depression and social support were significant predictors and explained 50.9% of quality of life. Conclusion: Factors influencing quality of life for men and women were different, and therefore, nurses need to consider their patients' gender and use specific strategies to improve quality of life for patients with coronary artery disease.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.434-442
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this predictive study was to identify factors affecting health related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: The participants in this study were 131 patients with RA who were recruited from the outpatient clinic of a university hospital in Seoul. Disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis was evaluated by calculating the Disease Activity Score 28. Disability in activities of daily living (ADL) was assessed with the Korean Health Assessment Questionnaire, and depression with The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. HRQoL was evaluated using The Short Form 36 Health Survey. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation, and hierarchical multiple regression. Results: Pain, disability in ADL, disease activity, and depression correlated negatively with physical and mental dimensions of HRQoL. But hierachical multiple regression analysis revealed that disability in ADL and depression were the only variables negatively influencing physical and mental QoL after adjustment for influences of sociodemographic variables. Conclusion: Results of this study suggest that disability in ADL and depression, rather than disease activity and pain have profound effects on HRQoL in patients with RA. Further studies are needed to assess the predictive ability of disease activity and pain on HRQoL in this population.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.142-148
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• 2010

The food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) has been used as an important dietary assessment tool in epidemiologic studies, but the usefulness of the FFQ has been debated in recent years. This study was performed to evaluate the relative validities of 3-day food records and the semi-quantitative FFQ. A total of 124 subjects finished 3-day food records (FRs) during each of the four seasons, as well as the FFQ from December 2002 to May 2004. The FFQ was a food based semi-quantitative FFQ including 103 items. Three-day FRs from each season and a randomly selected season were compared with the remaining 9-day FRs. The remaining 9-day FRs, as a reference measurement, were also compared with the FFQ. Pearson's correlation coefficients between the 3-day FRs and the 9-day FRs were between 0.14 and 0.56. Pearson's correlation coefficients between the FFQ and the 9-day FRs ranged between 0.07 and 0.41. Average proportions of classification into the same quartiles, adjacent quartiles, and distant quartiles between the 3-day FRs and the 9-day FRs were 35.8%, 40.5%, and 5.2%, respectively. On average, the proportions of classification into the same quartiles, adjacent quartiles, and distant quartiles between the FFQ and the 9-day FRs were 31.1%, 39.4%, and 6.9%, respectively. Three-day FRs showed higher correlations and higher agreement proportions of quartile classification with the 9-day FRs than did the FFQ, but both relative validities of 3-day FRs and the FFQ appear to be acceptable as dietary assessment tools. Further studies for validating food intake by reliable biomarkers are necessary.