• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.489-495
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• 2023

Radiation shielding facilities are constructed in locations where diagnostic radiation generators are installed, with the aim of preventing exposure for patients and radiation workers. The purpose of this study is seek to compare and validate the trend of attenuation thickness of lead, the primary material in these radiation shielding facilities, at different maximum tube voltages by Monte Carlo simulations and measurement. We employed the Monte Carlo N-Particle 6 simulation code. Within this simulation, we set a lead shielding arrangement, where the distance between the source and the lead sheet was set at 100 cm and the field of view was set at 10 × 10 cm². Additionally, we varied the tube voltages to encompass 80, 100, 120, and 140 kVp. We calculated energy spectra for each respective tube voltage and applied them in the simulations. Lead thicknesses corresponding to attenuation rates of 50, 70, 90, and 95% were determined for tube voltages of 80, 100, 120, and 140 kVp. For 80 kVp, the calculated thicknesses for these attenuation rates were 0.03, 0.08, 0.21, and 0.33 mm, respectively. For 100 kVp, the values were 0.05, 0.12, 0.30, and 0.50 mm. Similarly, for 120 kVp, they were 0.06, 0.14, 0.38, and 0.56 mm. Lastly, at 140 kVp, the corresponding thicknesses were 0.08, 0.16, 0.42, and 0.61 mm. Measurements were conducted to validate the calculated lead thicknesses. The radiation generator employed was the GE Healthcare Discovery XR 656, and the dosimeter used was the IBA MagicMax. The experimental results showed that at 80 kVp, the attenuation rates for different thicknesses were 43.56, 70.33, 89.85, and 93.05%, respectively. Similarly, at 100 kVp, the rates were 52.49, 72.26, 86.31, and 92.17%. For 120 kVp, the attenuation rates were 48.26, 71.18, 87.30, and 91.56%. Lastly, at 140 kVp, they were measured 50.45, 68.75, 89.95, and 91.65%. Upon comparing the simulation and experimental results, it was confirmed that the differences between the two values were within an average of approximately 3%. These research findings serve to validate the reliability of Monte Carlo simulations and could be employed as fundamental data for future radiation shielding facility construction.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.231-237
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• 2010

Objective: To evaluate whether T helper 1 (Th1) immune response is predominant in women with reproductive failures (recurrent spontaneous abortion and recurrent implantation failure) and the activation of T cell is related to Th1 propensity. Methods: Women with a history of recurrent implantation failure or recurrent spontaneous abortion comprise the study group (n=37). Controls are normal fertile women without a history of infertility or pregnancy losses (n=11). Th1/Th2 ratios of interferon (INF)-$\gamma$/interleukin (IL)-10 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$/IL-10 expression on $CD3^+/4^+$ cells, CD154, and CD69 expression on T cells are measured by flow cytometric analysis. Results: The ratios of TNF-$\alpha$ to IL-10 expressing on $CD3^+/4^+$ cells (Th1/Th2 cell ratios) are significantly higher in study group ($42.1{\pm}2.3$) as compared with that of controls ($28.7{\pm}2.7$) (p=0.002). The overall trend of CD154 and CD69 expression on T cells are elevated in study group than those of controls. The proportion (%) of $CD3^+/4^+/154^+$ cells ($1.7{\pm}0.5$ vs. $0.3{\pm}0.2$, p=0.038) and the % of $CD3^+/8^+/154^+$ cells ($0.6{\pm}0.2$ vs. $0.1{\pm}0.0$, p=0.024) are significantly higher in study group. The % of $CD3^+/69^+$ cells ($5.6{\pm}1.9$ vs. $1.3{\pm}5.4$, p=0.046) and % of $CD3^+/8^+/69^+$ cells ($4.8{\pm}1.3$ vs. $1.8{\pm}0.2$, p=0.035) among $CD3^+/8^+$ cells are significantly increased in study group. Conclusion: Women with reproductive failures have Th1 propensity with increased T cell activation. These finding means that activated T cell has a harmful effect on early pregnancy and implantation by induction of Th1 immunity.

• The Korean journal of helicobacter and upper gastrointestinal research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.247-257
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• 2018

Background/Aims: The aim of this study was to analyze the trend of the prevalences of atrophic gastritis (AG) and intestinal metaplasia (IM) from 2011 to 2016~2017 in Korea. And, the risk factors of AG and IM were compared between 2011 and 2016~2017. Materials and Methods: A total of 4,023 subjects in 2011 and 2,506 subjects in 2016~2017 were enrolled. AG and IM were diagnosed on the basis of endoscopic findings. Multivariate analysis was performed for risk factors of AG and IM. Seventeen factors were analyzed. Results: The seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori decreased from 2011 (59.8%; 2,407/4,023) to 2016~2017 (51.6%; 1,293/2,506; P<0.001). The prevalence of AG decreased from 2011 to 2016~2017 (P=0.018), but that of IM increased (P<0.001). The risk factors of AG in 2011 were male sex, old age, H. pylori immuoglobulin G (IgG) positivity, family history of gastric cancer (GC), and high-salt diet. For IM in 2011, the risk factors were male sex, old age, H. pylori IgG positivity, and family history of GC. Risk factors of AG in 2016~2017 were old age, H. pylori IgG positivity, and country of residence. For IM in 2016~2017, the risk factors were male sex, old age, family history of GC, high fasting glucose level (${\geq}126mg/dL$), H. pylori IgG positivity, and low income level. Conclusions: The difference in prevalence trends of AG and IM between 2016~2017 and 2011 could be the result of the different risk factors of AG and IM, such as decreased prevalence of H. pylori infection.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.11-21
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• 2019

Purpose: We aimed to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia in Korean children. Methods: We retrospectively collected and analyzed data from the medical records of the patients with S. aureus bacteremia ${\leq}18years$ of age in Gil Medical Center from 2002 to 2016. Results: A total of 212 SAB cases were detected. The annual incidence of SAB from 2002 to 2016 ranged from 0.77 to 1.95 per 1,000 patients hospitalized. The neonate group (<28 days of age) and the pediatric group (28-18 years of age) were 51.4% (n=109) and 48.6% (n=103), respectively. According to the origin of infection, there were 93 cases (43.9%) of community-associated (CA)-SAB and 119 cases (56.1%) of healthcare-associated (HA)-SAB. The rates of HA-SAB among the neonate group and among the pediatric group were 64.2% and 47.6%, respectively (P=0.015). There was no difference in complications between CA-SAB and HA-SAB, but mortality was higher in HA-SAB. The proportion of methicillin-resistance S. aureus (MRSA) was the highest in neonates (88.1%), decreased with age, and was 36.4%-37.5% among children aged ${\geq}5years$. The MRSA proportion was 72.2%, showing no consistent trend over the period. Conclusions: The annual incidence of SAB and the proportion of MRSA in SAB remained constant in the recent 15 years in children. Judicious decision of antimicrobial agents for treatment considering the patient's age and the origin of infection is necessary.

• Management & Information Systems Review
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.305-332
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• 2010

This study was searching for elements affecting satisfaction of customers by comparing health management service businesses such as wellbeing care, yoga, and fitness. The discovered elements were analyzed and verified to find which elements are affecting what businesses through case studies. Multidirectional analysis was implemented for each service type using program, physical environment, and provided service drawn from the previous researches with SERVQUAL criteria and measured values on customer satisfactions. According to the analysis, physical environment in forest wellbeing care, program in yoga, and provided service in fitness were the most affecting elements. Thus, each health management service business must consider the lifestyle and trend of customers, and the specialized service corresponding to its uniqueness must be provided to customers. Surely, modernized exercise equipment, personalized program, and comfortable-luxurious settings are must have in order to be competitive. In addition, the business owners have to realize that customers are moving to quality from quantity. This means exercise must be brought up to the level of social value for relationship and links rather than left at the level of simple physical and mental trainings. To achieve these, other programs to support relationship among customers and circulating system with friendly environment must be considered at the same time.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.233-240
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• 2012

This study aimed to clarify any factors that may have effect on the appropriateness of hospital admission and hospitalization with the intention of facilitating more efficient occupancy of hospital beds and better medical services in the aspect of their quality, minimizing unnecessary occupancy of beds, and ultimately helping patients requiring acute treatments to use immediately hospitals. This paper selected 154 Stroke patients who left neurology department of one general hospital from March, 1, 2006 to September, 31, 2010 as targets to meet the rate according to medical care security and to see the trend of recent 4 years. As study method, this paper analized medical treatment record with AEP to evaluate the appropriateness of hospital admission and stay and the collected data was computerized through SPSS 12.0. Based upon the results above, the conclusion was drawn that the higher appropriateness of hospital admission and the shorter length of hospital stay will lead to the higher appropriateness of hospitalization. In other words, it is required to provide hospitalized patients with all kinds of behaviors including medical treatments and nursing care service, management of pharmaceuticals, tests, rehabilitation and symptoms, as well as instructions and information for patients. Meanwhile, as it was found that the length of hospital stay may affect the appropriateness of hospitalization, the longer length of hospital stay may result in reduced bed turnover rate. In this light, it is necessary to organize a task force team responsible for evaluation and control of the appropriateness of hospitalization and hospital stay length to improve the quality of medical service in a medical center, so that patients can leave the center timely. Ultimately, governmental supports such as expansion of long-term care facilities will reduce the necessary length of hospital stay so that patients with stroke can receive rehabilitative treatments and long-term care service shortly after completion of acute treatments.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.415-424
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• 2012

According to introduction of Well-Being lifestyle and ageing society, vital sign monitoring system which can be continued measurement of vital sign has been increased their important in field of the healthcare. Under this trend, Respiration monitoring system has been studied and developed in a various way to apply continued monitoring and non-conscious monitoring system. But, Study of the respiration monitoring system based on consumer needs and usability test is insufficient. In this study, Textile capacitive pressure sensor(TCPS) of belt type was developed and tested it's utility and subjective sensibility. TCPS measures respiration signals and can be derived in real time monitoring. As a result, monitoring respiration using textile capacitive pressure sensor offers a promising possibility of convenient measurement of respiration rate (correlation (r＝0.9553, p<0.0001). In the result of usability and wearability test, all of categorizes(perceived change, wearability, movement, facility of management, usefulness) were received favorable evaluation on usability test( mean value : 3.8), and suitable location of TCPS in the clothing is deriven on the abdomen part. According to synthetical results, Basic smart clothing design based on respiration monitoring system is proposed.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.54-74
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• 2018

Objectives The purpose of this study is to investigate recent trend of diseases in Korean pediatrics and adolescent patients treated with oriental medicine. Methods Using data from the Korean statistical information service and healthcare bigdata hub, top 500 diseases pediatrics and adolescents that were treated with oriental medicine from 2012 to 2016 in admission and outpatient department was collected. Results From the inpatient study, majority of the subjects were between 15 to 19 years old (62.74%), followed by 10 to 14 years old, 5 to 9 years old and under 5 years old. In the outpatient department study, majority was 15 to 19 years old (36.51%), followed by 10 to 14 years old, under 5 years old, 5 to 9 years old. In systemic division of admission part, the most common disease was musculoskeletal related which was 72.32%, followed by brain, nerve, respiratory, dermatology and digestive related diseases. In systemic division of outpatient department, respiratory disease was the most common (41.81%), followed by digestive, dermatology, brain and nerve diseases. For under 5 years old patient group, respiratory disease was the most common, 29.86%, followed by dermatology, musculoskeletal, digestive related diseases. For 5 to 19 years old group of patients, musculoskeletal disease was most common. For the 5 to 14 years old patient group, respiratory related disease was the most common followed by dermatology and digestive diseases. For 15 to 19 years old patient group, digestive disease was the most common followed by respiratory and dermatology related diseases. For under 5 to 9 years old outpatient group, respiratory disease was the most common, and for under 5-year-old group, digestive, growth development, and dermatology disease were common. For the 5 to 9 years old group of patients, musculoskeletal related disease was the most common followed by digestive and dermatology related diseases. For the 10 to 19 years old patient group, musculoskeletal was the most common. For the 10 to 14 years old patient group, respiratory related disease was the most common followed by digestive, dermatology disease. For the 15 to 19 years old patient group, digestive related disease was the most common followed by respiratory, dermatology diseases. Musculoskeletal disease increased every year, in both inpatient and outpatient. Respiratory, brain, nerve, digestive related diseases were generally decreased. In outpatient, respiratory diseases were increased every year but brain, nerve, digestive related diseases were generally decreased. Conclusions More studies about the oriental medicine in chronic disease, such as allergy, metabolic syndrome, in Korean pediatrics and adolescents are needed.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.185-196
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• 2005

Although medical exposure from diagnostic radiology procedures such as conventional x-rays, CT and PET scans is necessary for healthcare purposes, understanding its characteristics and size of the resulting radiation dose to patients is much of worth because medical radiation constitutes the largest artificial source of exposure and the medical exposure is in a trend of fast increasing particularly in the developed society. Annual collective doses and per-caput effective doses from different radiology procedures in Korea were estimated by combining the effective dose estimates per single medical procedure and the health insurance statistics in 2002. Values of the effective dose per single procedure were compiled from different sources including NRPB reports, ICRP 80, MIRDOSE3.1 code and independent computations of the authors. The annual collective dose reaches 27440 man-Sv (diagnostic radiology: 22880 man-Sv, nuclear medicine: 4560 man-Sv) which is reduced to the annual per-caput effective dose of 0.58 mSv by dividing by the national population of 47.7 millions. The collective dose is far larger than that of occupational exposures, in the country operated 16 nuclear power plants in 2002, which is no more than 70 man-Sv in the same year. It is particularly noted that the collective dose due to CT scans amounts 9960 man-Sv. These results implies that the national policy for radiation protection should pay much more attention to optimization of patient doses in medicine.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.165-176
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• 2020

Customized medical care and services timely providing effective prevention and treatment by collecting and using individuals' biomedical data are recently possible and utilized for users' health care. They are developed as the real-time health care services and information is provided to individuals by using smart phones, PC, tablet, etc. Interactive communication is supported by informing managers of analysis data and results, through collected data. It is therefore the time for constructing health care. This study attempts to prepare for patent applications of technical development at this time, by analyzing the tendency of smart wearable health care technologies, including biological signal-based health care devices and real-time health care system. Patents regarding smart wearable health care technologies were reported to have the relatively higher concentration of research development. Korea focuses on patent activities for real-time health care systems across the intervals of analysis, while U.S and European countries actively make efforts for patent activities regarding health care devices Japan conduct patent activities across health care devices and systems, based on bio-technologies. Korea has recently dominated the market of patents for bio-technologies-based health care devices and real-time health care devices and also appears to secure patents for the technologies and the market, so entry barriers to the market of smart wearable health care technologies are determined to be higher in Korea. It is important to establish the portfolios of patents, by securing patent rights for the figures of products, manufacturing methods and other related technical systems, if technologies are planned to be commercialized.