• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.98-115
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• 1994

This study is attempting to examine the possible determinants of the rise of the sex ratio at birth from 106 to 110 in past decade in Taiwan. The basic hypothesis for the sudden rise of the sex ratio at birth is due to a combination of prenatal sex determination and abortion. The reasoning for this hypothesis involves three types of considerations - motivation, norm, and access. The theory is evaluated by analyzing data from birth registration and a large and representative sampie of Taiwanese wives of childbearing age. The empirical data seem to support the theoretical preposition and the basic hypothesis that the rise of the sex ratio at birth in Taiwan is due to a combination of prenatal sex determination and abortion. There is striking evidence of son-preference in the rise of the sex ratio at birth in higher birth order. In 1990 the sex ratio was 119 for third births and 128 for fourth and fifth births compared to the expected 106. Also, the 1991 KAP data indicated that women who have only daughters but no any son are more likely to make prenatal sex screening and terminate their pregnancies in male live births at higher birth order. Obviously, genetic diagnosis through chorionic villus sampling which was available in recent years was misused for prenatal sex determination and sex selective abortion.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.167-184
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• 2023

Objectives This study was designed to assess the effectiveness of ultrasound therapy at the ST11 for regulation of sympathetic hyperactivity. Methods Forty healthy adult subjects were assigned to experimental group and control group. After taking mental stress, ultrasound therapy was applied at the ST11 in experimental group and sham-ultrasound therapy was applied in control group. The evaluation of sympathetic activity was measured by blood pressure, pulse rate, and heart rate variability at 3 times (Time 1: before the stress stimulation, Time 2: after the stress stimulation, Time 3: after the intervention). The primary end point was consisted of normalized (norm) low frequency (LF)/high frequency (HF) ratio, LF (norm), HF (norm). The secondary end point was consisted of systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pulse rate, mean heart rate, standard deviation of NN intervals, root mean square of the successive differences, total power (log). Results After the stress stimulation, all subjects showed sympathetic hyperactivity. After the intervention, the experimental group showed lower sympathetic activity than the control group. Comparing the Time 3 and Time 1, the experimental group showed no significantly differences in sympathetic activity while the control group showed higher sympathetic activity in Time 3 than Time 1. Comparing the Time 3 and Time 2, the experimental group showed lower sympathetic activity in Time 3 than Time 2 while the control group showed higher sympathetic activity in Time 3 than Time 2. Conclusions We suggest that the ultrasound therapy at ST11 can decrease sympathetic activity in sympathetic hyperactivity condition.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.102-108
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of first clinical training on stress, anxiety and changes in autonomic nervous system in nursing students. Methods: Seventy-four nursing students were assigned to the experimental group (n=36) that had two weeks of clinical training, and the control group (n=38) that had only two weeks of regular classes. Perceived stress, state anxiety and heart rate variability (HRV) were measured at the beginning and end of the experiment. Results: Perceived stress in the experimental group was significantly higher than in the control group. However, State anxiety was not significantly different between the two groups. All indices of HRV except LF/HF ratio were significantly different between the two groups. LF norm in the experimental group was significantly higher than in the control group, and HF norm in the experimental group was significantly lower than in the control group. Conclusion: Based on these results, it can be suggested that clinical training increases the perceived stress and affects the changes in autonomic nervous system in nursing students.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.298-310
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the laughter therapy program on perceived stress and psycho-neuro-endocrine-immune responses in obese women. Methods: A nonequivalent control group with a pretest-posttest design was used. The participants (n=60), whose age ranged from 30 to 50 years (pre-menopausal and body mass index of over $25kg/m^2$), were assigned to the experimental group (n=24) or control group (n=26). The experimental group was provided with the laughter therapy program (12 sessions) for 6 weeks. Results: There were significant differences in perceived stress, psychological stress response, fasting blood sugar, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha between the two groups after the program. However, there were no significant differences in normalized low frequency (norm LF), normalized high frequency (norm HF), LF/HF ratio, and cortisol between the two groups after the program. Conclusion: It was found that the laughter therapy program had positive effects on some variables in terms of perceived stress and psycho-neuro-endocrine-immuno responses. It is suggested that the laughter therapy in this study can provide the direction for developing a program for obese women.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.249-257
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of phytoncide aromatherapy on stress, symptoms of stress and heart rate variability among nursing students. Methods: This study is a randomized control-group non-synchronized design. The experimental group (n=31) underwent phytoncide aromatherapy for 2 weeks, while the control group (n=31) received placebo therapy. The data were collected using self-administration questionnaires and measurement of heart rate variability (HRV) and analyzed using SPSS WIN 18.0 program. A p value <.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Total score of stress, individual score of intrapersonal stress, and score of peripheral manifestations in symptoms of stress in the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group. All indices of HRV were significantly different between the two groups. LF norm and LF/HF ratio in the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group, and HF norm in the experimental group was significantly higher than that of in the control group. Conclusion: Based on these results, it can be suggested that phytoncide aromatherapy was effective in decreasing stress and peripheral manifestations of stress and changing in HRV among nursing students.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.566-571
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of herbs aroma on relaxation in highly stressed volunteers with heart rate variability(HRV) and SACL(stress arousal check list). 28 highly stressed volunteers participated in this study. The volunteers were examined with heart rate variability(HRV) and SACL(stress arousal check list) before and after smell herbs aroma. After smelling powder incense composed with oriental medicine herbs, mean RR, SDNN, LF, HF, TP were incresed and mean HRV, LF/HF ratio were decreased, but it was not significant. And VLF, norm HF were incresed and norm LF was decreased significantly. This results show that the powder incense composed with oriental medicine herbs effects on decresing sympathetic nervous activity and increasing parasympathetic activity and rebalancing autonomic nervous system who were under stress.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.53-57
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• 2008

1. Objectives When we give Jowiseungcheong-tang to Taeumin patients, analyzing a change of their autonomic nervous system. It is measured by the heart rate variability(HRV) analyzer. 2. Methods We give Jowiseungcheong-tang to ten Taeumin patients for three days and examine the HRV at first time and three days later. 3. Results and Conclusions We compared two HRV results. The value of RRNN(average of normal RR intervals), SDNN(the standard deviation of all normal RR intervals), RMSSD(the root mean square of successive differences between the normal heart beats) have a downward tendency. Norm HF(normalized high frequency power) have a upward tendency. norm LF (normalized low frequency power) and LHR(LF/HF ratio) have a downward tendency. It means hypofunction of autonomic nervous system. But all results are not significant. We think that restudy is needed with more patients and longer periods afterward.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.78-123
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• 1984

This study is attempting to examine the possible determinants of the rise of the sex ratio at birth from 106 to 110 in past decade in Taiwan. The basic hypothesis for the sudden rise of the sex ratio at birth is due to a combination of prenatal sex determination and abortion. The reasoning for this hypothesis involves three types of considerations - motivation, norm, and access. The theory is evaluated by analyzing data from birth registration and a large and representative sampie of Taiwanese wives of childbearing age. The empirical data seem to support the theoretical preposition and the basic hypothesis that the rise of the sex ratio at birth in Taiwan is due to a combination of prenatal sex determination and abortion. There is striking evidence of son-preference in the rise of the sex ratio at birth in higher birth order. In 1990 the sex ratio was 119 for third births and 128 for fourth and fifth births compared to the expected 106. Also, the 1991 KAP data indicated that women who have only daughters but no any son are more likely to make prenatal sex screening and terminate their pregnancies in male live births at higher birth order. Obviously, genetic diagnosis through chorionic villus sampling which was available in recent years was misused for prenatal sex determination and sex selective abortion.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.1 s.69
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• pp.249-259
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• 2007

Objectives : We performed this study to analyze correlation among hair tissue minaral ratio, autonomic function and obesity. Methods : Subjects were gathered from January 2005 to March 2007. This study was carried out on 263 subjects who had visited Garosero oriental clinic and had no previous cardiovascular disease and thyroid disease. Heart rate variability (HRV) parameters, tissue mineral ratio and obesity degree were statistically compared with correlation and T-test analysis. Results : The results of this study are summarized as follows : 1. Normal group were predominant over obesity group in HRV parameters(SDNN, RMSSD, VLF, LF, HF). 2. Ca/P, Ca/K, Na/K and Fe/Cu, Na/Mg ratio in hair tissue mineral ratio have correlation with BMR, BMI and waist circumference. 3. Ca/P ratio has correlation with LF norm in HRV, and Na/K with HF, Na/Mg with LF, equally. Conclusions : Taken together these results may suggest that there are significant relationships between hair tissue mineral analysis and HRV.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.334-341
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of aroma-necklace application on perceived stress, symptoms of stress and changes in autonomic nervous system among nursing students in clinical training. Methods: A research design for this study was a non-equivalent control group, non-synchronized pre-post test. The experimental group (n=39) underwent aroma inhalation by necklace which contains an essential oil mixture of lavender and sweet orange mixture in ratio of 2:1 for 2 weeks while the control group (n=36) received placebo therapy. The data were collected using self-administered questionnaires and measurement of heart rate variability (HRV) and analyzed using the PASW 18.0 program. Results: The perceived stress scores and scores of peripheral manifestations in the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group. All indices of HRV were significantly different between the two groups. LF norm and LF/HF ratio in the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group, and HF norm in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group. Conclusion: It can be suggested that aroma-necklace application was effective in decreasing perceived stress and peripheral manifestations of stress and in changing HRV indices among nursing students in clinical training.