• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.943-952
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• 2022

As a test for diagnosing fatty liver, recently, ultrasound and blood exam are being performed simultaneously. In particular, in the case of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in blood exam, it is used as an index indicating the level of inflammation in various parts of the body as well as cardiovascular diseases. Thus, this study was conducted to analyze the association between metabolic syndrome components, liver function, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels according to the degree of nonalcoholic fatty liver, and use it as a clinical indicator for fatty liver diagnosis. Metabolic syndrome components, liver function and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein blood test values analyzed from 1,139 men and women over 20 years of age with nonalcoholic fatty liver in abdominal ultrasonography from March 2021 to August 2021 at the Korea Association of Health Promotion, Gwangju-Jeonnam Branch. Analyzed for all men and women, the blood test values for subjects with mild fatty liver were AST 30 U/L, ALT 32.1 U/L, γ-GTP 41.2 IU/L, and hs-CRP 0.14 mg/dL. These values were lower than the blood test values of subjects with moderate fatty liver (AST 38 U/L, ALT 47.6 U/L, γ-GTP 54.9 IU/L, hs-CRP 0.22 mg/dL) and was statistically significant (p<0.001). In this case of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein test, it is statistically significant, showing higher values in Subjects with moderate fatty liver than Subjects with mild fatty liver. thus, it is considered that hs-CRP can be used as clinical data for the prevention and management of fatty liver.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.45-54
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• 2022

This study aimed to investigate the effect of subjective factors (figure recognition and stress) and objective factors (blood biochemical parameters) on body mass index by gender difference in Korean adults. This study analyzed 3,343 subjects older than 20 years according to gender using the Sixth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database. Specifically, male subjects had higher body mass index than female subjects (p < .001) and were more frequent in the obese group. Female subjects had higher stress and platelet score than male subjects (p < .001). Male subjects had significantly higher white blood cell counts (p < .001). The factors affecting the occurrence of obesity by gender difference was highly associated with subjective figure recognition (95% CI = 0.026~0.045, p < .001), stress (95% CI = 0.487~0.925, p = .015) and white blood count (95% CI = 1.232~1.392, p < .001) in females. These findings demonstrate a gender-specific difference in recognizing subjective factors and especially the objective factors of white blood cells and platelets affecting obesity. These results can be used for obesity education or fundamental data for establishing a nursing arrangement program for Korean adults.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.8-15
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• 1995

The reliable measurement of metal in biological media in human body is one of critical indicators for the proper evaluation of its toxic effect on human health. Recently in Korea the necessity of quality assurance of measurement in occupational health and occupational hygiene fields brought out regulatory quality control program. Lead is often used as a standard metal for the program in both fields of occupational health and hygiene. During last 20 years lead poisoning was prevalent in Korea and still is one of main heavy metal poisoning and the capability of the measurement of blood lead is one of prerequisites for institute of specialized occupational health in Korea. Furthermore blood lead is most important indicator to evaluate lead burden of human exposure to lead and the reliable and accurate analysis is most needed whenever possible. To evaluate the extent of the interlaboratory differences of blood lead measurement in several well-known institute specialized in occupational health in Korea, authors prepared 68 blood samples from two storage battery industries and all samples were divided into samples with 2 ml. One set of 68 samples were analyzed by authors's laboratory(Soonchunhyang University Institute of Industrial Medicine: SIIM) and 40 samples of other set were analyzed by C University Institute of Industrial Medicine(CIIM) and the rest 28 samples of other set were analyzed by Japanese institute(K Occupational Health Center:KOHC). Authors also prepared test bovine samples which were obtained from Japanese Federation of Occupational Health Organization (JFOHO) for quality control. Authors selected 2 other well-known occupational health laboratories and one laboratory specialized for instrumental analysis. A total of 6 laboratories joined the interlaboratory comparison of blood lead measurement and the results obtained were as follows: 1. There was no significant difference in average blood lead between SIIM and CIIM in different group of blood lead concentration, and the relative standard deviation of two laboratories was less than 3.0%. On the other hand, there was also no significant difference of average blood lead between SIIM and KOHC with relative standard deviation of 6.84% as maximum. 2. Taking less than 15% difference of mean or less than 6 ug/dl difference in below 40 ug/dl in whole blood as a criteria of agreement of measurement between two laboratories, agreement rates were 87.5%(35/40) and 78.6%(22/28) between SIIM and CIIM, SIIM and KOHC respectively. 3. The correlation of blood lead between SIIM and CIIM was 0.975 (p=0.0001) and the regression equation was SIIM = 2.19 + 0.9243 ClIM, whereas the correlation between SUM and KOHC was O.965(p=0.0001) with the equation of SIIM = 1.91 + 0.9794 KOHC. 4. Taking the reference value as a dependent variable and each of 6 laboratories's measurement value as a independent variable, the determination coefficient($R^2$) of simple regression equations of blood lead measurement for bovine test samples were very high($R^2>0.99$), and the regression coefficient(${\beta}$) was between 0.972 and 1.15 which indicated fairly good agreement of measurement results.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.50-63
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• 1997

Background : A pressure sore was defined as any skin lesion caused by unrelieved pressure and resulting in damage to underlying tissue. The health care institutions in the United States were reported the incident rate of pressure sores ranging from 6 to 14 %. Intensive Care Unit needed highest quality of care has been found over 40% incidence rate of pressure sore. Also, Annual expenditures for the care of pressure sores in patients in the United States have been estimated to be $7.5 billion; furthermore, 50 percent more nursing time is required to care for patients with pressure sore in comparison to the time needed to implement preventive measures against pressure sore formation. However, In Korea, there were little reliable reports, or researches, about incidence rates of pressure sore in health care institution including intensive care unit and about the integrated approach like CQI action team for risk assessment, prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers. Therefore, this study was to develop pressure sore risk assessment tool and the protocol for prevention of pressure sore formation through CQI action team activities, to monitor incident rate of pressure sore and the length of sore formation for patients at high risk, and to approximately estimate nursing time for sore dressing during research period as the effect of CQI action team. Method : CQI action team in intensive care unit, launched since early 1996, reviewed the literature for the standardized risk assessment tool, developed the pressure sore assessment tool based on the Braden Scale, tested its validity, compared on statistics including incidence rate of pressure sore for patients at high risk. Throughout these activities, CQI action team was developed the protocol, called as St. Marys hospital Intensive Care Unit Pressure Sore Protocol, shifted the emphasis from wound treatment to wound prevention. After applied the protocol to patients at high risk, the incident rate and the period of prevention against pressure development were tested with those for patients who received care before implementation of protocol by Chi-square and Kaplan-Meier Method of Survival Analysis. Result : The CQI action team found that these was significant difference of in incidence rate of pressure sores between patients at high risk (control group) who received care before implementation of protocol and those (experimental group) who received it after implementation of protocol (p<.05). 25% possibility of pressure sore formation was shown for the patients with 6th hospital day in ICU in control group. In experimental group, the patients with 10th hospital day had 10% possibility of pressure sore. Therefore, there was significant difference(p<.05) in survival rate between two groups. Also, nursing time for dressing on pressure sore in experimental group was decreased as much as 50% of it in control group. Conclusion : The collaborative team effort led to reduced incidence, increased the length of prevention against pressure sore, and declined nursing care times for sore dressing. However, there have had several suggestions for future study. The preventive care system for pressure sore should be applied to patients at moderate, or low risk throughout continuous CQI team activities based on Bed Sore Indicator Fact Sheet. Hospital-wide supports, such as incentives, would be offered to participants for keeping strong commitment to CQI team. Also, Quality Information System monitoring incidents and estimating cost of poor quality, like workload (full time equivalence) or financial loss, regularly in a hospital has to be developed first for supporting CQI team activities as well as empowering hospital-wide QI implementation. Being several limitations, this study would be one of the report cards for the CQI team activities in intensive care unit of an acute hospital and a trial of quality improvement of health care in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.298-305
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• 2017

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin disease. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic benefits of Aronia melanocarpa (AM) and Moringa oleifera seed extract (MO) on experimental atopic dermatitis. We examined the effects of AM or MO and their combination on 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced atopic dermatitis in BALB/c mice as well as tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$ and interferon $(IFN)-{\gamma}-stimulated$ HaCaT keratinocytes. Mice were orally treated with extract during repeated application of DNCB to shaved dorsal skin. Our results show that treatment with AM and MO in combination reduced histological manifestations such as epidermal hyperplasia and inflammatory cell infiltration. Furthermore, it significantly decreased skin thickness and serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) level compared to the AM or MO alone treated group. Combined extract of AM and MO suppressed expression of $TNF-{\alpha}/IFN-{\gamma}-induced$ T helper 2 (Th2) chemokines such as thymus and activation-regulated chemokine and macrophage-derived chemokine. To sum up, combination of AM and MO suppressed the inflammatory response and serum IgE as an indicator of several allergic diseases in DNCB-induced experimental atopic dermatitis and Th2 chemokine expression in HaCaT cells. This result suggests that combination of AM and MO could be a valuable strategy to improve atopic dermatitis.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.25 no.1 s.37
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• pp.13-25
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• 1992

This study was conducted to investigate the mechanism of protective effect by sodium selenite in methylmercuric chloride neurotoxicity, increasing intracellular $Ca^{2+}$concentration of the neuron. Methylmercuric chloride of 3mg/kg of body weight was administered simultaneously with sodium selenite of 5mg/kg and pretreatment of sodium selenite via intraperitoneal injection to rats. Also, effect of methylmercuric chloride($25{\mu}M,\;50{\mu}M,\;100{\mu}M$) and sodium selenite($200{\mu}M$) on free intrasynaptosomal $Ca^{2+}$ concentration were studied using the fluorescent $Ca^{2+}$ indicator fura -2 in vitro. After the treatment, at 6, 24, and 48 hours later, mercury in the cerebral cortex, liver and kidney tissues, succlnic dehydrogenase activities, adenosin-5'-triphosphate concentration, acetylcholinesterase activities, and intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration in the cerebral cortex were determined in vivo. Cerebral synaptosomes of rats were incubated with methylmercuric chloride and sodium selenite in Hepes buffer for 10 minutes and free intrasynaptosomal $Ca^{2+}$ concentration were measured with fura-2 in vitro. The results were summarized as follows ; 1. The combined administration of $CH_3HgCl$ and $Na_2SeO_3$ and pretreatment of $Na_2SeO_3$ according to time significantly more increased in the cerebral cortex and decreased in the liver, kidney mercury concentrations compared to the administration of $CH_3HgCl$ only. 2. The combined administration of $CH_3HgCl$ and $Na_2SeO_3$ and pretreatment of $Na_2SeO_3$ increased more succinic dehydrogenase and acetylcholinesterase activities compared to the administration of $CH_3HgCl$ only. Particularly pretreatment of $Na_2SeO_3$ significantly more compared to the administration of $CH_3HgCl$ only. The concentration of adenosine-5'-triphosphate in $Na_2SeO_3$ treatment groups revealed a favourable effect compared to the administration of $CH_3HgCl$ only. 3. Intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration in administration of $CH_3HgCl$ only was increased significantly more than control group in all test hours but was increased significantly more at 48 hours only after treatment in combined administration of $CH_3HgCl$ and $Na_2SeO_3$ and pretreatment of $Na_2SeO_3$ according to time interval more decreased significantly intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration compared to the administration of $CH_3HgCl$ only. 4. Free intrasynaptosomal $Ca^{2+}$ concentration in the combined administration of $CH_3HgCl$ and $Na_2SeO_3$ was decreased ($24%{\sim}40%$) significantly more than the administration of $CH_3HgCl$ only. From the above results, the specific dosage of $Na_2SeO_3$ decreased increment of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration induced by administration of $CH_3HgCl$. These findings suggest the protective mechanism of $Na_2SeO_3$ on the neurotoxicity of $CH_3HgCl$.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.23-42
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to analyze the results of 133 studies related to patient compliance published between 1980 and 2001 and to assess the effectiveness of intervention on compliance by using meta-analysis. We collected the existing literatures by using web and manual search 'patient compliance', 'sick role behavior', 'major clinical disease', and 'intervention' as key words and by reviewing content of journals related to medicine, nursing and public health. The compliance interventions were classified by theoretical focus into educational, behavioral, and affective categories within which specific intervention strategies were further distinguished. The compliance indicators broadly represent five classes of compliance-related assessments: (1) health outcomes (eg, blood pressure and hospitalization), (2) direct indicators (eg, urine and blood tracers and weight change), (3) indirect indicators (eg, pill count and refill records), (4) subjective report (eg, patients' or others' reports), (5) utilization (appointment making and keeping, use of preventive services). Quantitative meta-analysis was performed by MetaKorea program which was developed for meta-analysis in Korea. Among the 133 articles, 10 studies were selected through the qualitative meta-analysis process, and then only 6 studies were selected for the quantitative meta-analysis finally. The interventions produced significant effects for all the compliance indicators with the magnitude of common effect size (4.1192) than the non-intervention group in a random effect model. The largest effects were each study for patient of hypertension using health outcome such as blood pressure (0.4679) and diabetes mellitus using direct indicator such as glucose level in blood and urine (0.7753). These results suggest that strategic interventions showed clear advantage for improvement of patient compliance compared with non-intervention group.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.45-49
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• 2019

Purpose Lung Ventilation Scan(LVS) images directly inhaled radiation gas to evaluate lung ventilation ability. Therefore, it is influenced by various factors related to inhalation, including number of breaths, respiratory duration, respiration rate, and breathing method. In actual LVS examinations, it is difficult for objectify the patient's ability to inhale, and there is currently no known index related to inhalation. Therefore, this study confirms the correlation between counts per second(cps) in LVS and the results of pulmonary function test(PFT) and evaluate its usefulness as an objective indicator of inhalation. Materials and Methods From October 2010 to September 2018, 36 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease(COPD) patients who had both LVS and PFT were classified by severity(Mild, Moderate, Severe). LVS was performed by creating Technegas with Vita Medical's Technegas Generator and inhaling it to the patient. LVS images were acquired with Philips's Forte equipment., and PFT used Carefusion's Vmax Encore 22. The correlation between the cps measured by setting the region of interest(ROI) of both lungs on the LVS and the forced vital capacity(FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second($FEV_1$), $FEV_1/FVC$ of the results of PFT was compared and analyzed. Results We analyzed the correlation between cps of LVS using Technegas and the results of PFT by classifying COPD patients according to severity. Correlation coefficient between $FEV_1/FVC$ and cps was Severe -0.773, Moderate -0.750, and Mild -0.437. The Severe and Modulate result values were statistically significant(P<0.05) and Mild was not significant(P=0.155). On the other hand, the correlation coefficient between FVC and cps was statistically significant only in Mild and it was 0.882(P<0.05). Conclusion According to the study, we were able to analyze correlation between cps of LVS using Technegas and the results of PFT in COPD Patients. Using this result, when performing a LVS, the results of PFT can be used as an index of inhaling capacity. In addition, it is thought that it will be more effective for the operation of the exam rooms.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.500-509
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• 2021

This study investigated the characteristics of a macrobenthos community and sediment environment and assessed the health of tidal flats along the west coast of Korea. A survey was conducted from Ganghwa-do to Mokpo, Jeollanam-do in April (spring) and August (summer) 2017, and April (spring) 2018. The sediment grain sizes in the Chungcheongnam-do region were coarser, and the sediment in the Gyeonggi-do·Incheon, Jeollanam-do, and Jeollabuk-do regions were finer. A total of 140 macrobenthic species were collected from this study and using a cluster similarity analysis of the macrobenthos community, they were divided into four groups. Group2 was associated with Manila clam farm stations, and Ruditapes phillipinarum, Nephtys polybranchia and Lumbrineris nipponica were dominant. Group4 included some sites with finer sediment composed relatively, and Eteone longa and Nemertea unid. appeared at a high frequency. From the health assessment of the western tidal flat, the ISEP and BHI indices had a "High status," and the AMBI index had a "Good status." In conclusion, the tidal flats along the west coast of Korea have good ecological health. However, pollution indicator species such as Theora lata and Capitella capitata have appeared in some areas. Therefore, periodic administration and interventions are necessary to prevent deterioration of the tidal flat environment.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.103-113
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• 1993

This study was conducted to explore the feasibility of using the lead level in the hair of children as a screening test for lead intoxication of children and as an indicator for environmental pollution. Lead concentration of hair was measured for 268 seven to nine-year-old elementary school children in Taegu city (147 children) and Gampo town(121 children). The lead level in hair was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer equipped with a graphite furnace atomizer. The following information was obtained for all children: sex, age, father's occupation and smoking habits, kinds of hair cleaner, fingernail biting habits, and status of the child's hands and clothing. The mean lead level in hair was $8.7{\pm}2.9{\mu}g/g$ in the urban area and $7.7{\pm}2.2{\mu}g/g$ in the rural area. There were significant differences between two groups(p<0.01). The difference of lead levels in hair measured by cleanliness of the child's hands(clean: $7.4{\pm}2.7{\mu}g/g$, dirty: $8.2{\pm}2.6{\mu}g/g$) and child's clothing(clean: $8.0{\pm}2.5{\mu}g/g$, dirty: $9.3{\pm}2.6{\mu}g/g$) were statistically significant, but other factors were not significant. In multiple regression analysis, difference of residency and age were significant variables for lead level in the hair of children. These findings suggest that measurement of lead level in the hair is a useful method for the screening of the lead intoxication of children and monitoring environmental conditions.