• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.113-118
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• 2019

A counseling manual for the standardized management of obesity in Korean Medicine was developed. Four specialist for obesity and ten advisors participated in the development. The development process was conducted in order to investigate the needs of clinical doctors for obesity, search for related books and references, determine the contents of the manual, produce the manual, and review of the advisors. The contents of the manual were written in order of goal of obesity counseling, assessment of obesity and health risk factors, assessment of obesity-related lifestyles, counseling for weight management, and counseling for Korean Medical treatment. This manual is the first standardized counseling manual developed, and it is meaningful to provide a counseling method for comprehensive Korean Medicine obesity care. Although there were various limitations in the review of the advisory committee, it is expected that this study will be used as a basic data for the establishment of obesity-related health care policy. We hope that obesity counseling of Korean Medicine will be settled as one of the certified korean medical treatment.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.315-326
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• 2012

Objectives : The new health technology assessment system was introduced in April 2007. The purpose of new health technology assessment is assessing safety and efficacy in deciding a behavior of new health technology according to the Health Insurance Act. This study aims to understand the present status of new health technologies of Korean medicine. Methods : This research introduces new health technologies and their present status, and searches for a development direction for the new health technology of Korean medicine in the future. Results : Thirty seven cases(3%) of Korean medicine doctors who utilized new health technologies application were found. In the status about new health technologies application by technologies assortment, diagnostic test techniques were used more often than treatment skills. New medical technology that included korean medicine doctor as actual user was only one item, i.e. HCV antibody test. Conclusions : In order for the new health technology of korean medicine to settle down well, continuous interest and efforts of both government and medical community are necessary.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition Conference
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• 2001.12a
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• pp.152-160
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• 2001

The ability of microbial strains to confer health benefits to human and animal hosts is not a feature of many organisms. Lactic acid bacteria are the most commonly used bacteria applied as probiotics and there is now strong evidence that certain strains confer tangible benefits to the host. In terms of preventing infection, the ability of probiotic lactobacilli to colonize the tissue site, even temporarily, and inhibit growth and adhesion of pathogens, has been documented. Using molecular tools, such as RAPD and DGGE, probiotic organisms can be tracked through the intestine and in the vagina, and their impact on the flora assessed. Arguably, strains L. rhamnosus GG and GR-l are the most studied probiotic strains in terms of human application to the gut (GG and GR-l) and vagina (GR-1). Combined with L. fermentum RC-14, GR-l provides a two-pronged therapeutic for the intestine and urogenital tract. Care in manufacturing and distribution is essential to ensure that optimal doses of probiotics are accessible to consumers and patients.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.63-69
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• 2021

Background: This study aimed to identify the role of dental hygienists in exchanges between North and South Korea to lower gaps in the level of dental healthcare between the two countries by conducting a Delphi survey with specialists and identifying alternative policies regarding the utilization of dental hygienists in such exchanges. Methods: Two Delphi surveys were conducted with the participation of nine specialists, and descriptive statistical analyses including mean and standard deviation were performed on the collected data. Results: Among methods of exchange and cooperation regarding oral healthcare under the current North Korean medical system, the issue considered most urgent was the "establishment of oral healthcare infrastructure." The most important short-term strategy was identified as the "selection and formation of partnerships in the field of inter-Korean oral health exchange and cooperation." The mid-term strategy was identified as the "establishment of cooperation in the dental industry, centered on educational cooperation projects." The long-term strategy included "joint R&D projects, oral health surveys, and business development." In order to determine how best to use dental hygienists during inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation, the respondents placed urgency on the "establishment of joint cooperation projects for oral health promotion and early examination and the treatment of dental diseases and planning of community research projects" and "the role of oral health education and media development for residents." Conclusion: Cooperation is necessary regarding the preparation of oral healthcare exchanges that aim to encourage unity between North and South Korea and reduce the gaps between the North and South regarding oral health conditions. Therefore, continuous and reasonable discussions and research are needed regarding the utilization of dental hygienists in such exchanges.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.287-292
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• 2012

A fiber-optic radiation sensor was fabricated using a sensing probe, a plastic optical fiber, a photomultiplier tube, and a multichannel analyzer for gamma-ray spectroscopy. As an inorganic scintillator of the sensing probe, a LYSO crystal was used. In this study, we obtained the relationship between the photon counts of the fiber-optic radiation sensor and the activity of the radioactive isotope. In addition, the gamma-ray energy spectra were also measured using a fiber-optic radiation sensor to discriminate species of gamma-ray emitters.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.331-336
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• 2007

In this study, we have fabricated an infrared optical fiber based sensor which can monitor the respiration of a patient. The design of a chalcogenide optical fiber based sensor is suitable for insertion into a high electro-magnetic field environment because the sensor consists of low cost and compact mid-infrared components such as an infrared light source, a chalcogenide optical fiber and a thermopile sensor. A fiber-optic respiration sensor is capable of detecting carbon dioxide ($CO_{2}$) in exhalation of a patient using the infrared absorption characteristics of carbon gases. The modulated infrared radiation due to the presence of carbon dioxide is guided to the thermopile sensor via a chalcogenide receiving fiber. It is expected that a mid-infrared fiber-optic respiration sensor which can be developed based on the results of this study would be highly suitable for respiration measurements of a patient during the procedure of an MRI.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.31 no.2 s.161
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• pp.292-299
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• 2007

Development of portable device measuring the vital sign continuously with no limit of time and space is absolutely prerequisite for the U-health care that grafts the ubiquitous concept into medical system. Accordingly, it requires to develop a garment style apparatus for measuring vital-sign that is easy to wear on for a long time period. This study suggests a method to improve the insulation of electric cable and the skin adhesion of electrode by integrating the electric conductive material to garment, in order to develop a garment apparatus for measuring ECG for U-health care. Results of the research are as follows; In order to provide the adjacent conductive yarns with insulation, braid with narrow woven end was interlaced using polyester yarn. As a result, the direct contact between electric conductive yarns was restrained, which would be interposed into pin-tuck structured cable. Washable silicone gel applied around the electrode made of electric conductive fabric improved the adhesion, which prevents electrodes from dropping off from the skin surface during body movement. ECG signals on the human subject were tested using the garment apparatus developed by the above method. And the result was that the clear QRS wave formation in the typical form of ECG could be measured in both conditions of still and moving state as well. The result of this study is expected to contribute for the production of U-health care related medical apparatus by accelerating the practical uses of the garment measuring vital sign at a reasonable price.

• Healthcare Informatics Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.359-370
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• 2018

Objectives: We assessed the public acceptance of a health information exchange (HIE) and examined factors that influenced the acceptance and associations among constructs of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Methods: We collected data from a survey of 1,000 individuals in Korea, which was administered through a structured questionnaire. We assessed the validity and reliability of the survey instrument with exploratory factor analysis and Cronbach's alpha coefficients. We computed descriptive statistics to assess the acceptance and performed regression analyses with a structural equation model to estimate the magnitude and significance of influences among constructs of TAM. Results: Eighty-seven percent of the respondents were willing to use the technology, and the average level of agreement with the need for the technology was 4.16 on a 5-point Likert scale. The perception of ease of use of the technology significantly influenced perceptions of usefulness and attitudes about the need for HIE. Perceptions of usefulness influenced attitude and behavioral intention to use HIE, and attitude influenced intention. Age showed a wide range of influences throughout the model, and experience with offline-based information exchange and health status also showed noteworthy influences. Conclusions: The public acceptance of HIE was high, and influences posited by TAM were mostly confirmed by the study results. The study findings indicated a need for an education and communication strategy tailored by population age, health status, and prior experience with offline-based exchange to gain public buy-in for a successful introduction of the technology.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.168-175
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• 2019

Purpose: Barely sprout is a well-known oriental herbal medicine with a wide range of health benefits. Recent studies have provided scientific evidence of its therapeutic effects with expanded application. This study investigated anti-melanogenic effect of barley sprout water extract (BSE) in murine melanocyte B16F10. Methods: Various concentrations (0, 50, 125, and $250{\mu}g/mL$) of BSE and arbutin (150 ppm) were applied to B16F10 stimulated with or without alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (100 nM) for 72 hours. The whitening potency of BSE was determined altered cellular melanin contents. Activity and expression of tyrosinase and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) were also assayed. Results: Experimental results revealed that treatment with BSE reduced cellular melanin production by approximately 40% compared to the control. Molecular findings supported that suppressed activity and expression of tyrosinase and MITF proteins by BSE were associated with declined cellular melanogenesis. Furthermore, anti-melanogenic effect of BSE ($250{\mu}g/mL$) was similar to that of arbutin, a commonly used whitening agent. Lastly, polyphenols including p-coumaric, ferulic, and vanillic acids were identified in BSE using HPLC analyses. They might be potential active ingredients showing such melanogenesis-reducing effect. Conclusion: BSE was evident to possess favorable anti-melanogenic potency in an in vitro model. As a natural food sourced material, BSE could be an effective depigmentation agent with potential application in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.838-843
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• 2017

Sepsis is a major health problem worldwide, with an extremely high rate of morbidity and mortality, partly due to delayed diagnosis during early disease. Currently, sepsis diagnosis requires bacterial culturing of blood samples over several days, whereas PCR-based molecular diagnosis methods are faster but lack sensitivity. The use of biosensors containing nucleic acid aptamers that bind targets with high affinity and specificity could accelerate sepsis diagnosis. Previously, we used the systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment technique to develop the aptamers Antibac1 and Antibac2, targeting the ubiquitous bacterial peptidoglycan. Here, we show that these aptamers bind to four gram-positive and seven gram-negative bacterial sepsis agents with high binding efficiency. Thus, these aptamers could be used in combination as biological recognition elements in the development of biosensors that are an alternative to rapid bacteria detection, since they could provide culture and amplification-free tests for rapid clinical sepsis diagnosis.