• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.535-542
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• 2010

Objectives: Exposure assessment is a major challenge faced by studies that evaluate the association between pesticide exposure and adverse health outcomes. The objective of this study was to investigate the reliability of information that farmers self-report regarding their pesticide use. Methods: Twenty five items based upon existing questionnaires were designed to focus on pesticide exposure. In 2009, a selfadministrated survey was conducted on two occasions four weeks apart among 205 farmers residing in Gyeonggi and Gangwon provinces. For a reliability measure, we calculated the percentage agreement, the kappa statistics and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) between the two reports according to the characteristics of the subjects. Results: Agreement for ever-never use of any pesticide was 96.4% (kappa 0.61). For both 'years used' and 'age at the first use' of overall pesticides, high agreement was obtained (ICC: 0.88 and, 0.78, respectively), whereas those of 'days used' and 'hours used' were relatively low (ICC: 0.42 and, 0.66, respectively). The kappa value for the use of personal protective equipment ranged from 0.46 to 0.59, and hygiene activities came out at 0.19 to 0.37. The agreement for individual pesticide use ranged widely and there was relatively low agreement due to the low response rates. The reliability scores did not significantly vary according to gender, age, the education level, the types of crop or the years of farming. Conclusions: Our results support that carefully designed, self-reported information on ever-never pesticide use among farmers is reliable. However, the reliability of data on individual pesticide exposure may be unstable due to low response rates and needs to be refined.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.15-27
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• 2003

Therapeutic ultrasound is commonly applied for deep heating in physical therapy setting. However, it is difficult to determine the exact application dosage and to confirm the immediate heating effect. Microwave Radio-Thermometer (MRT) can measure the temperature by the electromagnetic energy in the microwave region of the object that emits above absolute zero temperature. MRT was used for early diagnosis of breast cancer since it was not harmful, non-invasive, and non-ionizing to the human body. The purposes of this study were to investigate how accurately 1.1 GHz RTM (RES Ltd. Russia) measures the change of average temperature in the tissue, and to determine the depth of temperature change measurement. Therapeutic ultrasound was applied (continuous wave for 5 minutes, 1 MHz, intensity of 1.5 $W/cm^2$ [in vitro] and 1.0 $W/cm^2$ [in vivo]) in four different conditions: (1) 30 cases of in vitro specimen of pork, (2) 30 cases of in vitro specimen of pork ankle joint, (3) 10 cases of in vivo canine thigh, and (4) 30 cases of in vivo human body. Intraclass Correlation Coeffients (ICC[3,1]) between average needle probe thermometer below surface and MRT temperature was revealed as followed: (1) Before ultrasound application ICCs ranges above .8 in specimen of pork (15 mm underneath the skin) and above .82 in specimen of pork ankle joint (10~30 mm underneath the skin). (2) After ultrasound application ICCs ranges above .7 in both specimens of pork and pork ankle joint. (3) Before ultrasound application ICCs ranges above .8 in canine thigh (20 mm underneath the skin). (4) After ultrasound application ICCs ranges above .82 in canine thigh. The temperature of the human body increased significantly with the mean of $15^{\circ}C$ in muscle tissue and with the mean of $3.5^{\circ}C$ in joint (p<.00). It was revealed that the average depth of temperature measurement of the tissue by MRT was in between 10 and 35 mm, and determined that the proper temperature measurement band was $36.5{\sim}37.0^{\circ}C$.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.81-86
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• 2014

Objectives Total intracranial volume (TIV) is a major nuisance of neuroimaging research for interindividual differences of brain structure and function. Authors intended to prove the reliability of the atlas scaling factor (ASF) method for TIV estimation in FreeSurfer by comparing it with the results of manual tracing as reference method. Methods The TIVs of 26 normal children and 26 children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were obtained by using FreeSurfer reconstruction and manual tracing with T1-weighted images. Manual tracing performed in every 10th slice of MRI dataset from midline of sagittal plane by one researcher who was blinded from clinical data. Another reseacher performed manual tracing independently for randomly selected 20 dataset to verify interrater reliability. Results The interrater reliability was excellent (intraclass coefficient = 0.91, p < 7.1e-07). There were no significant differences of age and gender distribution between normal and ADHD groups. No significant differences were found between TIVs from ASF method and manual tracing. Strong correlation between TIVs from 2 different methods were shown (r = 0.90, p < 2.2e-16). Conclusions The ASF method for TIV estimation by using FreeSurfer showed good agreement with the reference method. We can use the TIV from ASF method for correction in analysis of structural and functional neuroimaging studies with not only elderly subjects but also children, even with ADHD.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2012

Purpose: Recently, a three dimensional approach to hard and soft tissues of the maxillofacial area has been widely used. This study was to evaluate the reproducibility and accuracy of a stereocamera compared to actual measurement methods using a digital caliper and digitizer. Methods: The stereoscopies of 7 head dummies with different sizes and shapes were obtained using a Di3D system (Dimensional Imaging, Glasgow, UK) after marking reference points on facial areas. From the obtained stereoscopy, 10 measurements representing the width, height and depth of each of the facial sections of the dummy were measured twice using a three dimensional reverse engineering software program (RapidForm$^{TM}$ 2006, Inus, Seoul, Korea). The x, y, and z coordinates of each of the three dimensional measurements were obtained and distances between two points were calculated. All procedures were repeated twice. The actual measurement method was performed twice, directly on dummies, using a digital caliper and values were compared with the previously determined values. Results: The results were as follows. In the ANOVA analysis, there were no significant statistical differences among the three measurement methods. In the Bonferroni analysis, with adjustments applied for multiple comparisons, there was no difference between actual measurement methods using a digitizer and a digital caliper. However, there was some difference between using a stereocamera and actual measurement methods using a digitizer and a digital caliper in values of $Ex_{Rt}-Ex_{Lt}$, $En_{Rt}-En_{Lt}$, $Ala_{Rt}-Ala_{Lt}$, $Ch_{Rt}-Ch_{Lt}$, G-Pg', $Ala_{Rt}$-Prn, $Ala_{Rt}$-Prn. The mean value for technical error in measurement (TEM) in Di3D (0.98 mm) was slightly higher than for a digital caliper (0.17 mm) and a digitizer (0.30 mm). In an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) there were no significant differences among the three measurement methods, but the Di3D system with the stereocamera showed relatively lower reproducibility compared to actual measurement methods using a digitizer and a digital caliper. Conclusion: These results indicate that some complementary measures may be needed to improve accuracy and reproducibility in the Di3D system with stereocamera.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.674-682
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of applying oriental music therapy and reliability of electroencephalogram(EEG) equipment. The study was approved by the critical trial judge committee from ${\bigcirc}{\bigcirc}$(IRB No. 2013-07) university. In order to measure test-retest reliability for 15 subjects, EEG for same participants were measured using same method mentioned above after 2 hours from the first measurement. Same provider implemented to each person at same time. Firstly, EEG was measured for 5 minutes after the subject with attached electrodes sat on chair comfortably for 10 minutes. Then, the subject was given mental stress using the four fundamental arithmetic operations for 5 minutes, and measured EEG for another 5 minutes. After that the subject sat on the chair comfortably listening oriental medicine music therapy for 5 minutes, and EEG was measured for 5 minutes again. There was no side effect regarding music therapy reported. Raw data, which was measured in each step, were converted through FFT(fast fourier transform) and analyzed after divided into certain frequency including ${\alpha}$ wave, ${\beta}$ wave, ${\theta}$ wave, immersion wave, stabilization wave, sef100 wave, and sef95 wave. Data were analyzed using wilcoxon signed rank test, Intraclass correlation coefficient(ICC), repeated measures ANOVA with the SPSS program. In test-retes method, there were significantly differences in ${\alpha}$ wave, ${\beta}$ wave, immersion wave, stability wave, ${\theta}$ wave, sef100 wave, sef95 wave. ICC has shown a high degree of reliability that it was ${\alpha}$ wave .877, ${\beta}$ wave .855, ${\gamma}$ wave .895, immersion wave .897, stability wave .816, ${\theta}$ wave .904, sef100 wave .910, sef95 wave .776. Also, there was a statistically significant difference in ${\alpha}$ wave after applying oriental music therapy. Based on these results, it is considered that average of the channel EEG and application of oriental music therapy would be practiced by increase of sample size using this machine.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.182-188
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• 2018

Objective: This study was performed to validate the autonomous maximal smile (AMS) as a new reference for evaluating dental and gingival exposure. Methods: Digital video clips of 100 volunteers showing posed smiles and AMS at different verbal directives were recorded for evaluation a total of three times at 1-week intervals. Lip-teeth relationship width (LTRW) and buccal corridor width (BCW) were measured. LTRW represented the vertical distance between the inferior border of the upper vermilion and the edge of the maxillary central incisors. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for reproducibility, and the m-value (minimum number of repeated measurements required for an ICC level over 0.75), were calculated. Results: LTRW and BCW of the AMS were 1.41 and 2.04 mm, respectively, greater than those of the posed smile (p < 0.05), indicating significantly larger dental and gingival exposure in the AMS. The reproducibility of the AMS (0.74 to 0.77) was excellent, and higher than that of the posed smile (0.62 to 0.65), which had fair-to-good reproducibility. Moreover, the m-value of the AMS (0.88 to 1.05) was lower than that of the posed smile (1.59 to 1.85). Conclusions: Compared to the posed smile, the AMS shows significantly larger LTRW and BCW, with significantly higher reproducibility. The AMS might serve as an adjunctive reference, in addition to the posed smile, in orthodontic and other dentomaxillofacial treatments.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.147-152
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• 2011

Objective : The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Pediatric Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Questionnaire Brain Tumor Survivor (version 2.0) Aged 13 years and older (Parent Form) (pedsFACT-BrS parent of adolescent). Methods : The pedsFACT-BrS parent of adolescent was translated and cross-culturally adapted into Korean, following standard Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) methodology. The psychometric properties of the pedsFACT-BrS parent of adolescent were evaluated in 170 brain tumor patient's mothers (mean age=43.38 years). Pretesting was performed in 30 mothers, and the results indicated good symptom coverage and overall comprehensibility. The participants also completed the Child Health Questionnaire Parent Form 50 (CHQ-PF-50), Neuroticism in Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, and Karnofsky score. Results : In validating the pedsFACT-BrS parent of adolescent, we found high internal consistency, with Cronbach's ${\alpha}$ coefficients ranging from 0.76 to 0.94. The assessment of test-retest reliability using intraclass correlation coefficient revealed satisfactory values with ICCs ranging from 0.84 to 0.93. The pedsFACT-BrS for parent of adolescent also demonstrated good convergent and divergent validities when correlated with the Child Health Questionnaire Parent Form 50 (CHQ-PF-50) and the Neuroticism in Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. The pedsFACT-BrS parent of adolescent showed good clinical validity, and effectively differentiated between clinically distinct patient groups according to the type of treatment, tumor location, shunt, and Karnofsky score of parent proxy report. Conclusion : We confirmed that this reliable and valid instrument can be used to properly evaluate the quality of life of Korean adolescent brain tumor patients by their parents' proxy report.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.25-33
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• 2013

Objectives : To assess the test-retest reliability and the intratest repeatability in measuring the cervical range of motion of healthy subjects with wireless microelectromechanical system inertial measurement unit(MEMS-IMU) system and to discuss the feasibility of this system in the clinical setting to evaluate the cervical spine musculoskeletal. Methods : 12 healthy people who were evaluated as no- or mild-disability with neck disability index were participated. Their cervical motion were measured with IMU twice in consecutive two days for the test-retest reliability study. Intratest repeatability was calculated in the two tests separately. The calculated intraclass correlation coefficients(ICC) were discussed and compared with the those of the previous studies. Results : Cervical range of motion data were acquired and statistically processed: left rotation($61.64^{\circ}$), right rotation($65.12^{\circ}$), extension($61.98^{\circ}$), flexion($52.81^{\circ}$), left bending($39.31^{\circ}$), right bending($41.08^{\circ}$). ICCs were 0.77~0.98(intratest repeatability) and 0.74~0.93 (test-retest reliability) in the primary motion. In the coupling motion, intratest repeatability ICCs were 0.93~ 0.99(transverse primary plane), 0.88~0.97(saggital primay plane), and 0.77~0.93(coronal primary plane). Test-retest reliability of coupling motion were 0.90~0.97(transverse primary plane), 0.00~0.72(saggital primary plane), and 0.04~0.76(coronal primary plane). Conclusions : Several types of range-of-motion devices are now on use in many fields including medicine, but the practicality of the devices in clinical use is questionable for the convenient and economical aspects. In this study, we presented the reliability of cervical range of motion test with the developed wireless MEMS-IMU system and discussed its potential utility in clinical use.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2020

Objectives In electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) research and practice, the precise determination of seizure duration is important in the evaluation of clinical relevance of the ECT-induced seizure. In this study, we have developed computerized algorithms to assess the duration of ECT-induced seizure. Methods Subjects included 5 males and 6 females, with the mean age of 33.1 years. Total 55 ECT sessions were included in the analysis. We analyzed the standard deviation of a finite block of electroencephalography (EEG) data and the change in the local slope of RR intervals in electrocardiography (ECG) signals during ECT-induced seizure. And then, we compared the calculated seizure durations from EEG recording (EEG algorithm) and ECG recording (ECG algorithm) with values determined by consensus of clinicians based on the recorded EEG (EEG consensus), as a gold standard criterion, in order to testify the computational validity of our algorithms. Results The mean seizure durations calculated by each method were not significantly different in sessions with abrupt flattened postictal suppression and in sessions with non-abrupt flattened postictal suppression. The intraclass correlation coefficients (95% confidence interval) of the three methods (EEG algorithm, ECG algorithm, EEG consensus) were significant in the total sessions [0.79 (0.70-0.86)], the abrupt flattened postictal suppression sessions [0.84 (0.74-0.91)], and the non-abrupt flattened postictal suppression sessions [0.67 (0.45-0.84)]. Correlations between three methods were also statistically significant, regardless of abruptness of transition. Conclusions Our proposed algorithms could reliably measure the duration of ECT-induced seizure, even in sessions with non-abrupt transitions to flat postictal suppression, in which it is typically difficult to determine the seizure duration.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.81-87
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• 2016

Purpose: To analyze the feasibility of three-dimensional (3D) diffusion-weighted (DW) PSIF (reversed FISP [fast imaging with steady-state free precession]) sequence in order to evaluate peripheral nerves in the elbow. Materials and Methods: Ten normal, asymptomatic volunteers were enrolled (6 men, 4 women, mean age 27.9 years). The following sequences of magnetic resonance images (MRI) of the elbow were obtained using a 3.0-T machine: 3D DW PSIF, 3D T2 SPACE (sampling perfection with application optimized contrasts using different flip angle evolution) with SPAIR (spectral adiabatic inversion recovery) and 2D T2 TSE (turbo spin echo) with modified Dixon (m-Dixon) sequence. Two observers used a 5-point grading system to analyze the image quality of the ulnar, median, and radial nerves. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of each nerve were measured. We compared 3D DW PSIF images with other sequences using the Wilcoxon-signed rank test and Friedman test. Inter-observer agreement was measured using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) analysis. Results: The mean 5-point scores of radial, median, and ulnar nerves in 3D DW PSIF (3.9/4.2/4.5, respectively) were higher than those in 3D T2 SPACE SPAIR (1.9/2.8/2.8) and 2D T2 TSE m-Dixon (1.7/2.8/2.9) sequences (P < 0.05). The mean SNR in 3D DW PSIF was lower than 3D T2 SPACE SPAIR, but there was no difference between 3D DW PSIF and 2D T2 TSE m-Dixon in all of the three nerves. The mean CNR in 3D DW PSIF was lower than 3D T2 SPACE SPAIR and 2D T2 TSE m-Dixon in the median and ulnar nerves, but no difference among the three sequences in the radial nerve. Conclusion: The three-dimensional DW PSIF sequence may be feasible to evaluate the peripheral nerves around the elbow in MR imaging. However, further optimization of the image quality (SNR, CNR) is required.