• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.31-40
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a sexuality education coaching program given to elementary school students in terms of sex-related knowledge and attitude. Methods: The participants were elementary school students in S city (Experimental group=21, Control group=23). Data were collected and the program was conducted from Feb. 15 to Apr. 15, 2013. The experimental group of 21 elementary school students in the fifth and sixth grades who received the sexuality education coaching program, 10 sessions in the three weeks. The control group of 23 elementary school students in the fifth and sixth grades from another school received, 2 sessions in the three weeks on sexuality education including physiology and sexual abuse prevention. Data were analyzed using ${\chi}^2$-test, independent t-test, repeated measures ANOVA, and utilized the SPSS program. Results: The experimental group showed significantly better sex-related knowledge and sex-related attitudes than the control group. Conclusion: Therefore, individualized approach with emphasis on the differences of their level of understanding and strengths should be considered in providing sexuality education coaching programs for elementary school students.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Health Science
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.107-118
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• 2014

Purpose. to help them find mental rest and improve school life adjustment by way of a fine art cure program. Methods. two primary schools in Gyeongsangnam-do were chosen where there are plenty of multiple-family kids. 13 children from the families between Korean husbands and foreign wives were divided into 2 groups: experimental group (7, C School), control group (6, H School). The two groups took the KSD (Kinetic School Draw), while the experimental group received a fine art cure program (40 minutes, once a week, 10 times in total). After the program, the KSD was given again to both groups. To prove the effects of this study, the picture projection test KSD was given before and after the experiment. For comparison and analysis, the changes in each individual's attitude, behavior, responses, and emotions were observed and recorded. Results. The fine art treatment program had some effects on the psychological rest of the elementary school children from multiple-culture families. In the pretest before the art cure program, the subjects shrank and cared a lot about others. According to the progress of the program, however, their worries and anxiety began to be gone. They had confidence through mental ease and self-respect. Therefore, the fine art cure program had a positive effect on the improvement of self-respect and sociality of multiple-culture family kids. Their school life was influenced by the newly-attained confidence, achievement, and peer relationship. Conclusions. This research is of some significance in that the fine art cure program was held to reveal its effects on the school life adjustment of the elementary school kids from multiple-culture families, especially because worries grow about the possibility of their maladjustment in the era of multiple-culture families. In addition, this program is expected to give some basic information about the development of programs to make friendly relations and smooth communication among the multiple-culture parents and teachers as well.

• Korean Medical Education Review
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.5-18
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• 2024

The author recommends the creation of a nationwide career guidance program at the national level through the establishment of a long-term cohort, involving collaboration among medical schools nationwide. This cohort would be constructed for the purpose of analyzing correlations from admission to medical school to post-graduate education, facilitating the development of a career guidance program. This will aid in career development through students' self-analysis and competency building. Each medical school should operate a systematic career guidance program. Career guidance for post-graduate major selection should be included in the regular curriculum. Schools are advised to operate student counseling rooms for various career guidance services. For example, medical schools can operate 1:1 career counseling, academic counseling, career guidance surveys, psychological tests, and counseling. It is advisable to establish a mentor-professor system, connect mentor professors, and build a network of experts related to majors to provide immediate support according to students' needs. Professional mentor training should be provided to mentor professors. To provide opportunities for students to experience their career paths in advance, early clinical exposure, long-term integrated clinical practice, community-based clinical practice, participation in student research programs, career fairs, and student internship programs are recommended. In South Korea, it is necessary to systematically operate the internship system and make improvements to facilitate optical career choices. Additionally, considering the significant influence of social factors on students' career choices in South Korea, efforts should be made to identify and address the issues related to these social factors.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.1626-1634
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• 2018

Ginseng (the root of Panax ginseng Meyer) fermented by Lactobacillus plantarum has been found to attenuate allergic responses in in vitro and in vivo experimental models. Ginseng has been reported to also possess various biological functions including anti-inflammatory activity. The present study was aimed at comparing the anti-allergic effect of ginseng and fermented ginseng extracts on IgE-mediated passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in vitro in a murine cell line and in vivo in mice. Fermented ginseng extract (FPG) showed higher inhibitory effect against in vitro and in vivo allergic responses when compared with ginseng extract (PG). The secretion of ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase and interleukin (IL)-4 from the IgE-DNP-stimulated RBH-2H3 mast cells were significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited by FPG treatment, and this effect was concentration-dependent. Further, MKK4 activation and subsequent JNK phosphorylation were attenuated by FPG treatment. The inhibitory effect of FPG on the in vitro allergic response was verified in vivo against IgE-DNP-induced passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in a mouse model. These data indicated that the fermentation of ginseng with L. plantarum enhanced its anti-allergic effects both in vitro and in vivo. We predict that compositional changes in the ginsenosides caused by the fermentation may contribute to the change in the anti-allergic effects of ginseng. The results of our study highlight the potential of the use of FPG as a potential anti-allergic agent.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.41-57
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• 2016

This study aimed at developing a family life education program to assist North Korean defector adolescents in their acculturation and adjustment process into South Korea. The program focused on building positive social relationships and managing healthy living, to allow them to develop appropriate skills needed to achieve social self-sufficiency. Researchers conducted interviews with defector adolescents as well as teachers of charter schools for defector students in order to identify the adolescents' needs. The contents of the program were carefully chosen to reflect the needs identified through the interviews. The program provides hands-on projects that are relevant to students' lives and consists of 10 study units that deal with different aspects of family life: food and dietary life, appearance and clothing, housing and community life, family and personal relationships, consumption, etc. The program was implemented in September through December, 2015, at Yeomyung School, which is an alternative highschool for North Korean defector adolescents. The program is expected to help North Korean defector students adopt the skills by experience and apply them in their daily life situations.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.1-16
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• 2011

This study was intended to develop and suggest 'residents-driven and citizen-participatory restoration procedures' for degraded ecosystems in BaigDooDaeGahn. With some concerns of current engineering-focused restoration approach for damaged ecosystem, the proposed procedures were designed based on the analysis of several case studies on citizen participatory projects such as the Habitat Movement, the Taean tidal wetland restoration effort in Korea, and some historical and innovative cases in Japan and the United States. The suggested procedures were considered to be a dialectical spiral model which was consisted of two goal axis, six system elements, four developmental stages, and five restoration steps. The new system and procedures were applied to damaged farmland areas (about 0.3 ha) on the top of BaigDooDaeGahn, Kangneung city with participation of more than 100 local residents and a dozen of citizen from Seoul. Both high level of possibilities and some barriers for future extended application were identified and adopted for the final version of the proposed procedures for ecological restoration.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.28-34
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• 2001

Objectives : To investigate the changing pattern of medical utilization claims following the economic crisis in Korea. Methods : The original data consisted of the claims of the 'Medical insurance program of self-employees' between 1997 and 1998. The data was selected by medical treatment day ranging between 8 January and 30 June. Medical utilizations were calculated each year by the frequency of claims, visit days for outpatients, length of stay for inpatients, total days of medication, and the sum of expenses. Results : The length of stay as an inpatient in 1998 was decreased 4.7 percent in comparison to 1997. However, inpatient expenses in 1998 increased 10.8 percent as compared to 1997. Inpatient hospital claims in 1998 increased 6.2 percent over 1997, although general hospital inpatient claims in 1998 decreased 3.3 percent in comparison to 1997. The outpatient claim frequency decreased 7.3 in 1998 percent as compared to 1997 Outpatient visit days of in 1998 were decreased 8.5 percent in comparison to that recorded in 1997. Outpatient claim frequencies of 'gu region' in 1998 decreased 10.5 percent comparison to that in 1997, but 'city and gun region' decreased less than 'gu region'. Conclusions : Medical utilization in 1998 deceased in relation to 1997 Medical utilization by outpatients decreased more than that of inpatients. Medical utilization by 'gu region' decreased mere than the other regions.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.1584-1592
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• 2006

Houttuynia cordata Thunb, well known as 'E-Sung-Cho' in Korea, is traditional medicinal plant generally used in Oriental medicine therapy. We previously reported that the water extract of H. cordata inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in human breast carcinoma cells. In the present study, we investigated the biochemical mechanisms of anti-proliferative effects by the methanol extract of H. cordata (MEHC) in human lung carcinoma A549 cells. It was found that MEHC could inhibit the cell growth in a dose-dependent manner, which was associated with morphological change and apoptotic cell death as determined by formation of apoptotic bodies, DNA fragmentation and increased populations of apoptotic-sub G1 phase cells. Apoptosis of A549 cells by MEHC was also connected with a down-regulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) expression. MEHC treatment induced the proteolytic activation of caspase-3, caspase-8 and caspase-9, and a concomitant inhibition of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), ${\beta}$-catenin and phospholipase (PLC)-${\gamma}$1 protein expression. Taken together, these findings provide important new insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer activity of H. cordata.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.451-459
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• 2020

Background: Although Korean government have been adopting several policies to expand coverage of National Health Insurance (NHI) program, the coverage rate is still below average across Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries. This study was to identify public perception on appropriateness of coinsurance rate and factors associated with coinsurance rate in National Health Insurance. Methods: For this cross-sectional study, 507 participants over aged 20 years were recruited from telephone surveys. Respondents experienced at least one and more visiting medical facilities due to medical problems in last 12 months. Demographic factors, socioeconomic positions, and experiences on medical utilization were measured in order to identify factors associated with perception appropriateness of coinsurance rate. Results: The 49.9% (n=209) of the public responded that the coinsurance rate of NHI program was appropriate. There were no differences in positive perception according to socio-demographic factors and experiences on medical utilization except for gender, residential area, and felt expensive when using medical services. People who felt burden of medical expenditure were more likely to perceive coinsurance rate inappropriate (odds ratio, 2.33; 95% confidence interval, 1.52-3.58) Conclusion: In spite of the relatively low coverage rate of NHI, this study identified that 49.9% of the public perceived the current coinsurance rate was adequate. However, people who felt the burden of medical expenditure were still had a negative perception of the coinsurance rate needed to decrease the coinsurance rate.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.132-141
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• 2021

Objective: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Gram-negative bacteria causes poor uterine receptivity by inducing excessive inflammation at the maternal-fetal interface. This study aimed to investigate the detrimental effects of LPS on the attachment and outgrowth of various types of trophoblastic spheroids on endometrial epithelial cells (ECC-1 cells) in an in vitro model of implantation. Methods: Three types of spheroids with JAr, JEG-3, and JAr mixed JEG-3 (JmJ) cells were used to evaluate the effect of LPS on early implantation events. ECC-1 cells were treated with LPS to mimic endometrial infection, and the expression of inflammatory cytokines and adhesion molecules was analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. The attachment rates and outgrowth areas were evaluated in the various trophoblastic spheroids and ECC-1 cells treated with LPS. Results: LPS treatment significantly increased the mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines (CXCL1, IL-8, and IL-33) and decreased the protein expression of adhesion molecules (ITGβ3 and ITGβ5) in ECC-1 cells. The attachment rates of JAr and JmJ spheroids on ECC-1 cells significantly decreased after treating the ECC-1 cells with 1 and 10 ㎍/mL LPS. In the outgrowth assay, JAr spheroids did not show any outgrowth areas. However, the outgrowth areas of JEG-3 spheroids were similar regardless of LPS treatment. LPS treatment of JmJ spheroids significantly decreased the outgrowth area after 72 hours of coincubation. Conclusion: An in vitro implantation model using novel JmJ spheroids was established, and the inhibitory effects of LPS on ECC-1 endometrial epithelial cells were confirmed in the early implantation process.