• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.10-26
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• 2019

Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is an emerging new technology with considerable potential to treat various neurological diseases. With refinement of ultrasound transducer technology and integration with magnetic resonance imaging guidance, transcranial sonication of precise cerebral targets has become a therapeutic option. Intensity is a key determinant of ultrasound effects. High-intensity focused ultrasound can produce targeted lesions via thermal ablation of tissue. MRgFUS-mediated stereotactic ablation is non-invasive, incision-free, and confers immediate therapeutic effects. Since the US Food and Drug Administration approval of MRgFUS in 2016 for unilateral thalamotomy in medication-refractory essential tremor, studies on novel indications such as Parkinson's disease, psychiatric disease, and brain tumors are underway. MRgFUS is also used in the context of blood-brain barrier (BBB) opening at low intensities, in combination with intravenously-administered microbubbles. Preclinical studies show that MRgFUS-mediated BBB opening safely enhances the delivery of targeted chemotherapeutic agents to the brain and improves tumor control as well as survival. In addition, BBB opening has been shown to activate the innate immune system in animal models of Alzheimer's disease. Amyloid plaque clearance and promotion of neurogenesis in these studies suggest that MRgFUS-mediated BBB opening may be a new paradigm for neurodegenerative disease treatment in the future. Here, we review the current status of preclinical and clinical trials of MRgFUS-mediated thermal ablation and BBB opening, described their mechanisms of action, and discuss future prospects.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.452-459
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation between general health condition and biopsychological traits of Sasang typology which determines the disease susceptibility and treatment responses. We had Korean Constitutional Multicenter Bank (KCMB) listed 1156 participants for measuring Sasang Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) and Body Mass Index (BMI) for biopsychological traits of each Sasang types as well as Short Form 12 (SF12) for general health status. All the analysis was performed with consideration of gender and age. We analyzed the differences in general health status between Sasang types and the correlation between general health status and biopsychological traits of Sasang typology. We also analyzed how much the selected SF12 subscales can be explained with biopsychosocial characteristics. There were no generaliszable differences among Sasang type groups in SF12, no significant correlation between biopsychological traits and SF12 Physical and Mental Component Summary. We found that there were significant correlations between SPQ-Behavior subscale and SF12 Vitality, and the regression model with SPQ-Behavior, SPQ-Emotionality, age and sex can predict 15.4% of the total variances in SF12 Vitality. We discussed the possibility that the Sasang typology is not a determinant of general health status but a moderator for the susceptibility and response. This study would contribute to the development of Sasang type-specific life nurturing program focusing on the psychological perspectives.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.103-108
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• 2019

Background: This study was designed to provide logical backgrounds for the revision of biological exposure indices (BEIs) for styrene exposure in Korea. In order to investigate the correlation between airborne styrene and biological exposure indices, we measured urinary mandelic acid (MA) and phenylglyoxylic acid (PGA) in workers exposed to styrene occupationally, as well as airborne styrene at workplaces. Methods: Surveys were conducted for 56 subjects. The concentrations of airborne styrene and urinary metabolites of styrene were measured in 36 workers who were occupationally exposed to styrene, and in 20 controls. Air samples were collected using personal air samplers and analyzed by gas chromatography. Urine samples were collected at the end of the shift and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. Results: The geometric mean concentration of airborne styrene was 9.6 ppm. The concentrations of urinary MA, PGA, and MA+PGA in the exposure group were 267.7, 143.3, and 416.8 mg/g creatinine, respectively. The correlation coefficients for correlation between airborne styrene and MA, PGA, and MA+PGA were 0.714, 0.604, and 0.769, respectively. The sum of urinary MA and PGA corresponding to an exposure of 20 ppm styrene was 603 mg/g creatinine. Conclusion: The correlation of the sum of urinary MA and PGA with airborne styrene was better than the correlation of each individual urinary determinant. It is considered appropriate to amend the concentration of urinary MA+PGA to 600 mg/g creatinine as a BEI, which corresponds to an airborne styrene concentration of 20 ppm in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.96-102
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• 1994

Factors affecting non-proficient analytical ability were compared and evaluated by rating of laboratories and round. Analyst Indices between proficient and non-proficient participants were different. Coefficients of determination($R^2$) for standard of toluene, xylene and trichloroethylene of the 4th round between some proficient and non-proficient participants were significantly different(p<0.05). But, there was no difference in the 5th round. Average desorption efficiency of non-proficient participants was 88%-98%, which was lower than 96%-100% of some randomly selected proficient participants. Also non-proficient participants have a large variance of desorption efficiency, 11.79-19.69%. In the 5th round, desorption efficiency of metyl iso-butyl ketone(MIBK) reported by all participants was lower than 90% tested by NIOSH and especially low compared to other analytes. Participants evaluated to be non-proficient in the metal part have 85%-100.84% of average recovery, which was larger variance than 98% of some proficient participants. Although it is difficult to find quantitatively factors causing non-proficiency in analytical ability, pretreatement techniques and experience of analyst seems to be more important factors to produce accurate analytical result.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.41-49
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of nurses staffing level on patient health outcomes in intensive care units (ICUs) in Korea. Methods: The study was retrospective in nature. Information on patients and their outcomes, as well as nurse cohort data, were obtained from Korea's National Health Insurance Service Database. The observation period was from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2018, and data for 2,964,991 patients were analyzed. Independent variables included patient' age and sex and hospital type, intensivist, and nurses staffing level. Results: The mortality rate in ICUs was significantly higher at tertiary hospitals with a level 3~4 (HR, 1.21; 95% confidence interval, 1.19~1.22) or level 5~9 nurse staffing (HR, 1.31; 95% confidence interval, 1.27~1.34) compare to that of tertiary hospitals with a 1~2 level. 28-day mortality rate was also higher at general hospitals with a level 3~4 (HR, 1.13; 95% confidence interval, 1.12~1.14), level 5~6 (HR. 1.34; 95% confidence interval, 1.32~1.36), level 7~9 nurse staffing (HR, 1.38; 95% confidence interval, 1.38~1.42), using level 1~2 as reference. Conclusion: Nurses staffing level is a key determinant of healthcare-associated mortality in critically ICUs patients. Policies to achieve adequate nurse staffing levels are therefore required to enhance patient outcomes.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.60-67
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• 2022

Objectives: This study investigated the determinants of undiagnosed hypertension among Indonesian adults. Methods: This study involved an analysis of secondary data from the 2014 Indonesia Family Life Survey (IFLS) on 5914 Indonesian adults (≥40 years). The determinant variables examined in this cross-sectional study were education level, monthly per capita expenditures (PCE), whether the participant experienced headaches in the morning, and other general health variables. The outcome variable was undiagnosed hypertension, which was defined as participants with hypertension who had not received a hypertension diagnosis from a health professional and had never been prescribed medication for treating hypertension. The data were analyzed using logistic regression. Results: A total of 3322 participants (56.2%) were found to have undiagnosed hypertension. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of undiagnosed hypertension were significantly higher among those who completed primary school or lower (OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.29 to 1.98), had low monthly PCE (OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.13 to 1.43), did not report experiencing headaches in the morning (OR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.76 to 2.21), and reported a general health status of healthy (OR, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.82 to 2.30) than those who had a higher education level, had high monthly PCE, experienced headaches in the morning, and were unhealthy. Conclusions: Education level, monthly PCE, the experience of headaches in the morning, and general health status were associated with undiagnosed hypertension. The monitoring system for detecting undiagnosed hypertension cases must be strengthened. Health promotion is also necessary to reduce the prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to examine what factors determined the image of dental hygienists. The subjects in this study were 396 patients and caregivers who visited 14 dental institutes in Seoul and Gyeonggi province. After a survey was conducted, the following findings were given: 1. As for what factors had a decisive impact on the image of dental hygienists, friendliness(4.53) ranked first. 2. The image of dental hygienists was decided by five different kinds of factors, which included institutional, subjective, work-related, formal and media factors. Those factors made a 57.827% prediction of the image of dental hygienists. 3. The relationship of their general characteristics to the decisive factors of dental hygienist image was as follows: 1) By age(pE0.01), marital status(pE0.01), education(pE0.01), occupation(pE0.001), were under the significantly different influence of the formal factor(pE0.01). 2) As to the type of dental institutes they visited, the subjective factor exercised a significantly different influence on the groups(pE0.01). 3) Regarding the frequency of visiting dental institutes, the institutional and work-related factors had a significantly different impact on the groups(pE0.05). 4) Concerning the experience of the caregivers, the work-related factor exercised a significantly different influence on the groups(pE0.05). 5) As to connections between their general characteristics and the decisive factors of dental hygienist image in different areas, the subjective factor mostly had the strongest impact, and the formal factor was least influential.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.786-796
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• 2001

To assess calcium and sodium and urinary excretion of preschool children in Busan and to evaluate the relationship of intakes of food and nutrient with urinary calcium excretion, calcium and sodium food frequencies of 25 common foods affecting intakes of calcium and sodium per week, nutrient intake by 24hr recall and 24hr urinary calcium and sodium excretion were measured with 97 preschool children. The mean calcium intake was 436.11mg and below RDA. The mean sodium intake was 1890.11mg. The mean urinary calcium and sodium excretion were 42.88mg and 735.25mg respectivery. The mean urinary calcium/creatinine ratio was 0.20. The urinary calcium excretion showed positive significant correlations with weight, intake frequency of pizza consumed per week and urinary sodium excretion (p<0.05, p<0.05, p<0.001). The urinary calcium excretion per milligram of creatinine showed positive significant correlations with intake frequencies of pizza and common squid consumed per week(p<0.01, p<0.05) and negative correlation with intake frequencies of pizza and common squid consumed per week(p<0.01, p<0.05) and negative correlation with age(p<0.05). No significant relations were found between urinary calcium and intakes of calcium, protein and phosphorus. Urinary sodium was found to be the most important determinant of urinary calcium excretion. Intake frequency of pizza consumed per week was found to be the most important determinant of urinary calcium excretion per milligram of creatinine. Based on the results, urinary calcium excretion was related to intake frequency of pizza consumed per week and urinary sodium excretion. Low calcium intake and increase of calcium loss in the urine potentiated by sodium intake during growth may reduce peak bone mass. So nutritional education is needed in order to increase calcium intake and decrease sodium intake, especially from food like pizza.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.161-179
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• 2015

Plant have developed sophisticated defence mechanisms against microbial pathogens. The recent accumulated information allow us to understand the nature of plant immune responses followed by recognition of microbial factors/determinants through cutting-edge genomics and multi-omics techniques. However, the practical approaches to sustain plant health using enhancement of plant immunity is yet to be fully appreciated. Here, we overviewed the general concept and representative examples on the plant immunity. The fungal, bacterial, and viral determinants that was previously reported as the triggers of plant immune responses are introduced and described as the potential protocol of biological control. Specifically, the role of chitin, glucan, lipopolysaccharides/extracellular polysaccharides, microbe/pathogen-associated molecular pattern, antibiotics, mimic-phytohormones, N-acyl homoserine lactone, harpin, vitamins, and volatile organic compounds are considered. We hope that this review stimulates scientific community and farmers to broaden their knowledge on the microbial determinant-based biological control and to apply the technology on the integrated pest management program.

• International Journal of Knowledge Content Development & Technology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.81-97
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• 2024

The study investigated computer literacy skills as a determinant of electronic reference sources utilization among selected secondary school students in Ado-Odo Ota Local Government, Ogun State, Nigeria. Four specific objectives with conforming research questions guided the study. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study comprises of SSS3 students of the three selected Community Secondary Schools in Ado Odo Ota. A sample size of 150 was used for the study. The instrument for data collection was a self-developed structured questionnaire. Data collected was analyzed using frequency and percentages. Findings of the study revealed that majority of secondary school students were not aware of the availability of electronic reference sources. It also revealed that the level of their computer literacy skills was below average. Majority of them have never used computer before and the few of them that have used computer before used it in their homes, their friend's homes or in the cyber café. It was found that lack of formal training on the use of electronic reference sources, lack of access to computer, lack of awareness of availability of electronic reference sources, lack of funds for internet subscriptions, over dependency on printed reference sources and lack of motivation to use electronic reference sources were the major hindrances to the use of electronic reference sources among secondary school students. It was recommended that the school librarians and teachers should play a role in creating awareness among secondary school students about the availability of online/ electronic reference sources among others.