• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.72 no.2
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• pp.191-196
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• 2012

While nontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) infections are recently on the rise, arthritis caused by NTM is hardly reported in Korea. NTM arthritis has no distinctive clinical characteristics from chronic arthritis. Tuberculosis of the joint specifically produces similar clinical and pathologic presentations to NTM arthritis, so it is not easy to distinguish between them. We report a case of Mycobacterium intracellulare in an arthritis patient after trauma and surgical repair of the injury. At the beginning, the patient was diagnosed as tuberculous tenosynovitis through pathology without microbiologic evidence. The final diagnosis was made after subsequent recurrences for several years. The misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis led to irreversible joint destruction and functional impairment. NTM infection must be included in the differential diagnosis of chronic arthritis at the outset.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.197-210
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• 2013

Several US veterans stationed in Korea have told the press that around 250 fifty-five gallon drums of herbicides, including Agent Orange, were buried at Camp Carroll in 1978. Joint Korean-US Agent Orange investigation and environmental and health studies were started in July 2011. Korean soldiers and military personnel who served in Vietnam during 1964-1973 or near the demilitarized zone in Korea during 1967-1970 were exposed to dioxincontaminated Agent Orange. The joint Korean-US Agent Orange investigation team found that herbicides, pesticides, solvents and other chemicals -not Agent Orange- were buried at Camp Carroll. However, there remains the possibility that Agent Orange was stored and buried at Camp Carroll or other military camps in Korea. Adverse health effects have not been clearly explained despite a number of health studies among veterans in Korea with potential Agent Orange exposure. Although the Korean government has been compensating veterans and military personnel with 18 presumptive-service-connected-diseases and their offspring with three diseases, there are many veterans, military personnel and civilians who require the government°Øs support. The environmental study on contaminated sites and health studies among veterans and civilians were initiated three or four decades after possible Agent Orange contamination and exposure. Several toxic chemicals, including dioxin-contaminated Agent Orange, could remain in the environment and could have hazardous effects on the health of exposed people for more than several decades. Further environmental investigations and health studies are needed to ensure public safety and health, and government support should be guaranteed for people potentially exposed to these toxic chemicals.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.739-746
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• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of stress symptoms, oral habits and temporomanbibular joint symptom among 20-30 ages adults. And it's also meant to investigate the direct and indirect influence of these factors by using a path model to determine their causal relationship. Methods : The subjects in this study were 287 selected 20-30 ages adults, on whom a survey was conducted from June 15 to July 10, 2014. The data were analyzed using SPSS 18.0(SPSS 18.0 K for window, SPSS Inc USA) and IBM SPSS Amos 18.0(SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA). Results : There were significant differences in oral habits, TMJ symptoms and stress according to gender. There were significant differences in oral habits, TMJ symptoms, physical and psycho-emotional symptoms according to Systemic disease. And stress, physical, psycho-emotional symptoms, oral habits and TMJ symptoms were correlated to one another. Stress exerted a direct influence on physical, psycho-emotional symptoms, and psycho-emotional symptoms had a direct impact on physical symptoms, oral habits and TMJ symptoms. Physical symptoms exercised a direct influence on oral habits and TMJ symptoms, and oral habits affected TMJ symptoms in a direct way. physical, psycho-emotional symptoms and oral habits served as parameters that produced partial mediation effects, and the two factors had an indirect impact on TMJ symptoms. Conclusions : It's found that stress exerted direct and indirect influence on oral parafunction and TMJ symptoms. Like other diseases, oral habits and TMJ symptom that stem from stress is likely to lead to chronic diseases if the two are not noticed at the right time. Therefore individual people should try to get rid of stress in a manner to be appropriate for their own characteristics in order to maintain their oral health.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.169-181
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• 2011

Purpose: This paper presents the development process and the final contents of the sellf- management education program integrated with exercise training (Healthy Aging Happy Aging, HAHA program) for community residing older adults with chronic diseases. Methods: The program evaluation methodology was applied which is an interactive program development process based on needs assessment, formative evaluation, process evaluation and outcome evaluation. The program was developed and revised while the program was implementing to 22 hypertension (HT) and 32 diabetic (DM) participants. Results: The final program has two sub-programs for HT and DM participants utilizing self-efficacy resources. They share four common components; 1) health screening of exercise risks, 2) weekly 1-hour group self-management education classes, 3) biweekly 1-hour group exercise training and 4) a mid-term individual counseling. Both sub-programs were 12-weeks long but have different education and exercise contents. Participants-rated mean satisfaction scores were 3.47/4 and 3.61/4 for HT and DM program respectively. Attendance rate were 83.1% ~ 92.3% for the classes. Conclusion: The HAHA program developed by multidisciplinary team which reflected participants needs was accepted well by participants evidenced by high attendance rate and perceived satisfaction level.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.373-382
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to compare levels of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) between fallers and non-fallers among community-dwelling elderly people. Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted with the secondary analysis of 2,067 elderly people registered in S-Gu Visiting Health Care Program in Seoul, South Korea. Participants were 206 fallers and 206 non-fallers who were age- and sex-matched with fallers. HRQOL was measured by SF-8 including physical component summary (physical HRQOL) and mental component summary (mental HRQOL). Results: There were more people in the faller group having more than or equal to three chronic diseases (p<.001), living in multiplex houses (p=.004), and being dependent by the activities of daily living (ADL) (p=.001) and instrumental ADL (IADL) levels (p<.001) than those in the non-faller group. Fallers had higher levels of depression than non-fallers (p<.001). Moreover, fallers had significantly lower levels of both physical HRQOL (p<.001) and mental HRQOL (p=.001), after adjusting for number of chronic diseases, ADL, IADL, depression, healthcare insurance, and living environment. Conclusion: Among the community-dwelling elderly people, falllers had lower levels of HRQOL than non-fallers, and such a difference remained even after the adjustment for covariates. Factors that underlie the different susceptibility to HRQOL need to be explored.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.62 no.5
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• pp.577-585
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• 2019

Objective : Comparing the effects of magnetically controlled growing rod (MCGR) and traditional growing rod (TGR) techniques on the sagittal plane in the treatment of early-onset scoliosis (EOS). Methods : Twelve patients were operated using dual MCGR technique in one center, while 15 patients were operated using dual TGR technique for EOS in another center. Patients' demographic characteristics, complications and radiological measurements such as cobb angle, thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, T1-S1 range (mm), proximal junctional angle, distal junctional angle, sagittal balance, coronal balance, pelvic incidence, sacral slope and pelvic tilt were assessed and compared in preoperative, postoperative and last follow-up period. Results : Age and sex distributions were similar in both groups. The mean number of lengthening in the MCGR group was 12 (8-15) and 4.8 (3-7) in the TGR group. Two techniques were shown to be effective in controlling the curvature and in the increase of T1-S1 distance. In TGR group, four patients had rod fractures, six patients had screw pull-out and four patients had an infection, whereas three patients had screw pull-out and one patient had infection complications in the MCGR group. Conclusion : There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of cobb angle, coronal and sagittal balance and sagittal pelvic parameters. MCGR can cause hypokyphosis and proximal junctional kyphosis in a minimum 2-year follow-up period. The implant-related complications were less in the MCGR group. However, larger case groups and longer follow-up periods are required for the better understanding of the superiority of one method on other in terms of complications.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.205-217
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the factors affecting the subjective health status (SHS) of low-income older adults living alone. Methods: This is a cross-sectional correlational study using secondary data analysis. Sociodemographic and health-related characteristics were included in this analysis. The health-related characteristics were categorized into three domains: physical, characterized by the number of chronic diseases and fall-related factors, timed up and go, and grip strength; psychological, in terms of depression and loneliness; and social, in terms of social support. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression analysis. Results: The mean SHS score was 2.46 out of five. Several factors influenced the SHS of low-income older adults living alone, including sex, age, level of education, monthly income, and the three domains. Four significant predictive factors of SHS in low-income older adults living alone were identified (42.5%): the number of chronic diseases, fear of falling, depression, and social support. Conclusion: SHS is a critical factor for older adults living alone on a low-income. Hence, evaluating SHS and developing interventions to improve it periodically is necessay. Such interventions should consider chronic disease management, screening and mediation for depression and fear of falling, and strengthening their social support systems.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.173-178
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• 2022

Streptococcus intermedius is a small, non-motile, Gram-positive, non-sporeforming, and aerotolerant anaerobic coccus. It is a part of the normal microflora in the oral cavity and upper respiratory, gastrointestinal and female urogenital tracts. It is an opportunistic pathogen that causes serious infections in patients with immunocompromised states or cardiac diseases as a result of trauma or invasive procedures. We describe a case of septic arthritis of the hip caused by S. intermedius in an immunocompetent healthy 7-year-old boy without a history of periodontal disease or invasive procedures. He had hip joint pain three weeks ago, and the fever began on the day of the visit. He had been healthy and had not undergone any invasive procedures recently. Septic arthritis of the hip was indicated in the magnetic resonance imaging of the hip. S. intermedius was identified in the hip joint fluid aspiration and blood culture. He was successfully treated with surgical intervention and antibiotic therapy with ceftriaxone followed by amoxicillin for five weeks.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.14-23
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• 2023

Purposes: The Specialty hospital designation policy had launched in 2011 and 110 designated specialty hospitals have been operating nationwide in 2022. This study was to estimate the market share of specialty hospitals for the specific diseases compared to other types of hospitals. Methodology: Data were derived from the National Health Insurance Claim data from 2018 to 2019. Subjects were all the inpatients with MDC(Major Disease Category) that specialty hospitals specialized in. A total of 34,231,387 claims were analyzed to estimate the market share. Findings: 90 specialty hospitals were responsible for 2.4 percent of inpatient care with specific diseases for specialty hospitals. There were regional variations in the market share of the specialty hospitals as the number of specialty hospitals in regions. Specialty hospitals' market shares were relatively high in burn(31.3%), ophthalmology(16.4%), obstetrics and gynecology(7.1%), alcohol(6.0%), joint(3.7%), spine(2.7%). After adjusting the number of inpatients per hospital, hospitals specialized in burn, alcohol, ophthalmology, breast, joint, obstetrics and gynecology, and hand replantation had treated more patients than tertiary hospitals. Practical Implications: Although specialty hospitals' market share was small, some types of specialty hospitals had an impact on the regional market as well as the national level market. To improve patients' accessibility to a specialty hospital, it is necessary to government supports non-specialized hospitals to change into specialty hospitals in certain fields and regions where the number of specialty hospitals is insufficient.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.50-54
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• 2014

Objectives: Digital infrared thermographic imaging (DITI) has been used widely for various inflammatory diseases, circulatory diseases, skin diseases, musculoskeletal diseases and cancers. In cases of ligament injury, obviously the temperature of the damaged area increases due to local inflammation; however, whether the temperature also increases due to DITI has not been determined. The purpose of the present study was to identify whether or not the changes of temperature in patient's with medial collateral ligament injury were really due to infrared thermography and to determine the applicability of DITI for assessing ligament injuries. Methods: Twenty patient's who underwent DITI for a medial collateral ligament injury from September 2012 to June 2014 were included in the current study. The thermographic images from the patient's knees were divided to cover seven sub-areas: the middle of the patella, and the inferomedial, the inferolateral, the superomedial, the superolateral, the medial, and the lateral regions of patella. The temperatures of the seven regions were measured, and the temperature differences between affected and unaffected regions were analyzed by using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results: The 20 patient's were composed of 14 women (70%) and 6 men (30%), with a mean age of $62.15{\pm}15.71$ (mean${\pm}$standard deviation (SD)) years. The temperature of the affected side, which included the middle of the patella, and the inferomedial, the superomedial, the superolateral, and the medial regions, showed a significant increase compared to that of the unaffected side (P < 0.05). The inferolateral and the lateral regions showed no significant changes. Conclusion: Our study results suggest that DITI can show temperature changes if a patient has a ligament injury and that it can be applied in the evaluation of a medial collateral ligament injury.