• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.216-222
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was performed to identify the symptoms and care needs of home-based cancer patients in Korea and to add to the scarce literature on this topic. Methods: Data were collected from patients who subscribed to home-based cancer care services in Jinju. Assessments were performed by nurses at the local public health center. The Edmonton Symptom Assessment System with a numeric rating scale (NRS) was used to identify symptoms, and a four-point Likert scale was used to assess psychological, social, and spiritual needs. Results: Cross-sectional data were collected in October 2013. A total of 209 patients participated and their median age was 65 years (range, 17~89 years). Most patients were diagnosed in the early stage of cancer (n=188); only 19 patients were diagnosed in the advanced stage. More than half the patients lived alone (n=115, 55.0%) and took care of themselves (n=128, 61.2%). Anorexia and fatigue were the most common symptoms (median NRS, 5 and 4, respectively). Patients needed economic support the most, whereas spiritual care was least needed (n=138 [67.3%] vs. n=128 [62.1%], respectively). Conclusion: Patients who signed up for home-based cancer care services in Jinju are struggling with a financial issue and physical symptoms. A customized approach is needed to improve the quality of the home-based care services.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.185-190
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of systemic chronic inflammatory state on dry eye syndrome as a local chronic inflammatory condition. From June 16, 2016 to December 31, 2016, 726 patients who visited the general health examination center were screened using the Schirmer's test and the metabolic syndrome screening test. A total of 214 patients who were studied for hs-CRP and HbA1c were simultaneously selected for the study as well. Dry eye syndrome significantly increased in higher age groups (p<0.001) and women (p=0.020); there was no significant relationship with fasting plasma glucose, hs-CRP. In addition, as HbA1c increased the risk for dry eye syndrome also increased (β=1.960, p=0.025). Therefore, dry eye syndrome may not caused by microvascular changes in the lacrimal gland due to chronic inflammatory conditions. In diabetic patients, long-term blood glucose control may be more important than short-term blood glucose control. The high prevalence of dry eye syndrome in diabetic patients is thought to be due to autonomic dysfunction rather than microvascular changes caused by chronic inflammation.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.373-376
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• 2003

Objectives : Peripheral blood-buffy coat fractions (N=14,956) have been stored at $-70^{\circ}C$ in the headquarter of the Korean Multicenter Cancer Cohort (KMCC), since 1993. To study the future molecular etiology of cancers using specimens of the cohort, properly stored specimens are necessary, Therefore, the DNA-viability of the bully coat samples was investigated. Methods : Buffy coat fraction samples were randomly selected from various collection areas and years (N=100). The DNA viability was evaluate from the UV-absorbent ratios at 260/280nm and the PCH for $\beta$-globin was performed with genomic DNA isolated from the buffy coat. Results : PCR products were obtained from 85 and 98% of the C and H area-samples, respectively, using 50 or $100{\mu}l$ of the buffy coat. There were significant differences in the yields of the PCR-amplifications from the C and H areas (p<0.05), which was due to differences in the homogenization of the buffy coat fractions available as aliquots. The PCR-products were obtained from all of the samples (N=7) stored at the C area-local confer, but the other aliquots stored at the headquarter were not PCR-amplified, Therefore, the PCR products in almost all the samples, even including the DNA-degraded samples, were obtained. In addition, an improvement in the DNA isolation, i,e. approx. 1.6 fold, was found after using extra RBC lysis buffer. Conclusions : PCR products for $\beta$-globin were obtained from nearly all of the samples. The regional differences in the PCR amplifications were thought to have originated from the different sample-preparation and homogenization performance. Therefore, the long term-stored buffy coat species at the KMCC can be used for future molecular studies.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 1999

Bacterial infection of the pulp results in the development of a periapical lesion with the concomitant resorption of periapical bone. The cytokines are believed to play an important role in this matter. The purpose of this study was to find the relationship among the presence of black pigmented bacteria, the levels of cytokines(TNF-${\alpha}$, -${\beta}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and TGF-${\beta}1$), and the amount of bone resorption in periapical and pulpal diseases. For the purpose, the patients were grouped into chronic apical pathosis, acute apical pathosis, acute pulpitis, and a healthy control group. Root canal samples were taken from periapical tissue exudates during routine endodontic treatment, and the venous blood was taken from each patients. The samples were processed to measure local and systemic levels of the cytokines using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Bacterial content of Porphyromonas endodontalis, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Prevotella nigrescens were measured by indirect immunofluorescence method and the size of the periapical lesions were measured from the radiographs. The following results were obtained: 1. The levels of bone resorptive cytokines(TNF-${\alpha}$, TNF-${\beta}$, and IL-$1{\beta}$) in exudates from acute and chronic apical pathoses were significantly higher than those from acute pulpitis and the normal pulps(p<0.05). 2. IL-$1{\beta}$ were the highest among the bone resorptive cytokines in apical pathoses. However, no statistical difference between acute and chronic lesions were found(p>0.05). 3. The levels of TGF-${\beta}1$ in exudates from acute pulpitis and chronic apical pathoses were significantly higher than those from acute apical pathoses and the normal pulps(p<0.05). However, there were no significant correlations among the levels of bone resorptive cytokines. 4. The levels of TNF-${\beta}$ in serum were significantly higher than those from the exudates while serum TGF-${\beta}1$ concentrations were significantly lower(p<0.05). 5. Exudates from the canals in which the P. nigrescens were detected showed significantly higher levels of IL-$1{\beta}$ than those from the canals without the microorganism(p<0.05). 6. There were no significant correlations among the levels of the cytokines, the amount of bone destruction, and the presence of acute and chronic symptoms(p>0.05).

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.584-593
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• 2017

This study provides basic data needed to improve the working environment of the first class emergency medical technicians, in order to decrease their job stress and increase their job satisfaction. Job stress and satisfaction were compared and analysed in emergency medical technicians who were working for 119 rescue and hospitals at the time when twenty-one years had passed after the initial training of emergency medical technicians in order to identify differences between 119 rescue and hospitals, and their advantages and disadvantages. The subjects of the study were 182 first-class emergency medical technicians who were working in twenty-eight 119 rescue centers and fourteen national and local emergency medical centers in Gwangju, Jeollanamdo and Jeollabukdo. The study subjects were interviewed by questionnaire. For statistical analysis, SPSS/WIN 20.0 was used, and the results were analysed with chi-square, t-test, ANOVA, and ANCOVA testing. There was no significant difference in job stress between the subjects working in 119 rescue centers (2.92) and those working in hospitals(3.01). The satisfaction score of fire-fighting workers was 2.98 and that of hospital workers was 2.54. Hospital workers' satisfaction was significantly lower (p<0.001). The score of hospital workers' pay satisfaction was the lowest($2.07{\pm}0.62$). The job stress decreased and job satisfaction increased with decreasing monthly average number of patients(p<0.001), increasing monthly income(p=0.047), and more frequent holidays they had(p<0.001), the less. For less job stress and higher job satisfaction, welfare conditions both at 119 rescue and hospitals should be improved. 119 rescue centers should develop violence prevention measures and offer resting places for emergency medical technicians. Hospitals should pay more attention to the yearly pay increase rate and stability in employment types.

• Asian Journal for Public Opinion Research
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.153-202
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• 2014

Aside from political leaders' popularity rates and the stock exchange index of business firms, ordinary people are highly interested in aspects of daily life, such as housing, income, health, family, food, human relations and work. Cross-national opinion polls on daily-life satisfaction were carried out in Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Hong Kong, Macao, the Philippines, India, Myanmar, Taiwan, China, Malaysia and Pakistan in the fall of 2013 and winter 2014. The percent difference index (PDI) is formulated as the sum of two positive responses (satisfied and somewhat satisfied) minus the sum of two negative responses (dissatisfied and somewhat dissatisfied). Percent difference indices are given according to society and daily-life aspects. For our analysis to go beneath national average and to go beyond national borders, two lines of analysis are carried out. First, the distance between the level of satisfaction of the top and bottom quartiles is given for each society and according to each of the daily-life aspects. Second, the regional sum of satisfaction of the top quartiles and bottom quartiles are shown crossed by daily-life aspects. In this article we confine ourselves to preliminary comparative description and analysis. More solid and deep comparisons will be carried out by local polling leaders of 12 Asian societies in the succeeding issue of the Asian Journal of Public Opinion Research. Nevertheless, two key threads stand out from this preliminary comparisons. First, social relations (family and human relations) stand out as most satisfied aspects of life in most of twelve societies. Second, the need to go beneath national averages and beyond national borders in analyzing cross-national surveys is confirmed. The comparability and validity of cross-national surveys with varying sampling method and survey mode are briefly discussed toward the end of the article.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.22
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• pp.9599-9602
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• 2014

Background: Postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) in the management of early stage endometrial cancer (EC) is still controversial. Here we report our institutional experience with patients who received postoperative RT for stage I-II EC over a period of 35 years and assess potential predictors of local recurrence (LR), distant metastasis (DM), and overall survival (OS). Materials and Methods: A total of 188 patients undergoing postoperative RT for stage IA-II EC between 1977 and 2012 were evaluated. Some 96 received median 46 Gy whole pelvic radiotherapy (WPRT) (range: 40-60 Gy), 37 were given WPRT with vaginal cuff therapy (VCT), and 55 received only VCT either with brachytherapy (BT) or stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). Chemotherapy was given to 5 patients with uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC). Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the effect of clinicopathological factors on LR, DM, and OS. Results: Median follow-up time was 11 years (range: 1-35 years). At the time of analysis, 34 patients were not alive. Of the 15 patients with LR, 7 (46.7%) recurred in the vaginal stump, 5 (33.3%) in the pelvic region, and 3 (20%) in the paraaortic nodal region, while 12 had distant metastasis. UPSC histology (p=0.027), sole VCT (p=0.041), high histologic grade (p=0.034), and age ${\geq}71$ (p=0.04) were poor prognostic factors on univariate analysis. Conclusions: In our patients receiving radiotherapy for early-stage EC, grade III disease and age ${\geq}71$ were associated with shorter OS whereas UPSC histology was an independent predictor for both LR and DM.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.316-322
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• 2005

In this study, the concentration of 17 dioxin congeners in the soil samples near a waste incinerator with respect to distance from incinerator and wind directions were investigated. The effect of PCB source was investigated using the cluster analysis method. The total concentration and I-TEQ concentration of dioxin ranged from 31.065 to 7,257.499 pg/g(dry weight) and from 0.099 to 35.191 pg I-TEQ/g(dry weight.), respectively. There was a weak correlation(not statistically significant) observed between soil concentration and wind direction, and the distance from the incinerator. The reason may be due to the presence of the local combustion sources other than the target incinerator. The fraction of PCDFs and PCDDs was also examined to study the effect of incinerator. The fraction of PCDFs was decreased with the distance from the incinerator. The influence of target incinerator was found within a 500-meter radius. The high concentration in the for site was due to small incinerators and the use of agricultural chemicals such as PCP. To investigate the relationship between soil near the incinerator and the sources, the cluster analysis was conducted using the congener pattern. As a result soil samples were divided into four groups and were qualitatively estimated the influence of sources such as incinerator and PCP by comparing the congener pattern of each roups. It was thought that a cluster analysis was a useful statistical method for the source estimation of dioxin.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.141-146
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• 2006

Personality characteristics of recurred TMD patients were analyzed psychologically by using the SCL-90-R. 27 recurred TMD patients, 45 new TMD patients, control I were subjected at Orofacial pain clinic, Department Of Oral Medicine and Health Promotion Center, Pusan National University Hospital during the period from 2005 to 2006. 50 general dental patients, control II were subjected at a local dental office in Pusan during the same period. The obtained results were as follows. 1. Mean values of T-scores on 9 basic scales in all the groups were within normal range. 2. The T-scores of IS, Dep, Phob, Psy in general Dental patient group were significantly higher than those in recurred TMD patient group. 3. As compared with recurred TMD patient Group & control I group by sexual subclass, there was no significant difference of the scales. 4. As compared with acute and chronic groups, there was no significant difference of the scales in recurred TMD patient group. However, the T-scores of Som, Par, Phob, Psy in chronic new TMD patient group were significantly higher than those in acute new TMD patient group, control I group.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.159-171
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• 2016

Purpose: This study investigated medical accessibility on optical stores and ophthalmic clinics of Seoul Special City and six other metropolitan cities. Methods: By using a number of households, population, optician stores, ophthalmic hospitals, and real estate (apartments) standard market price of Seoul Special City and six other metropolitan cities provided by the Commercial District Information System (2016.6) of Small Enterprise & Market Authority, we analyzed the level of healthcare accessibility and business area zones, Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS 18.0. Results: Inchon (household 2,227/population 5,723) had the highest household and population rate per optical store, and Gwangju (1,146/2,979) had the lowest. Gwangju (24,612/63,987) had the highest household and population rate per optical store, and Seoul (10,021/24,432) had the lowest. From the consumer and patient's point of view, lower household rate per optical store is a city with good accessibility to healthcare, but from an optical store and ophthalmic clinic's view, it will have great difficulty due to issues of competition. Conclusions: Consumers and patients should be the center of healthcare. A healthcare system that can provide smooth service anywhere anytime should be constructed. However, most metropolitan cities, including Seoul, have optical stores and ophthalmic clinics densely populated where profitability and liquidity are ensured and causing unbalanced distribution of healthcare. To solve such problems, we need proper distribution of optician stores according to the population proportion and industrial-educational research to find balance point of local healthcare.