• Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.193-206
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• 2008

Medical diagnosis can be considered a classification task which classifies disease types from patient's condition data represented by a set of pre-defined attributes. This study proposes a hybrid genetic algorithm based classification method to develop classifiers for multidimensional pattern classification problems related with medical decision making. The classification problem can be solved by identifying separation boundaries which distinguish the various classes in the data pattern. The proposed method fits a finite number of regional agents to the data pattern by combining genetic algorithms and local adaptive operations. The local adaptive operations of an agent include expansion, avoidance and relocation, one of which is performed according to the agent's fitness value. The classifier system has been tested with well-known medical data sets from the UCI machine learning database, showing superior performance to other methods such as the nearest neighbor, decision tree, and neural networks.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.113-121
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• 2013

The rate that women's EMTs(emergency medical technicians) in fire department occupy is increasing, but my general plan is aimed at suggesting the improving plan for the working environment of women's EMTs paying attention to the duty stresses of increasing women's EMTs, because improvement for the working environment of women's EMTs is being proceeded slowly. I suggested my improving plan for solving the working stress on the basis of a survey of the Recognition against women's EMTs as follows. Firstly, I suggested that physical strength of women's EMTs should be managed well continually via program establishment and a defined evaluation not only by employing a professional person in charge for physical strength in firehouse, but also by replenishing the suitable number for the urgent mobilization. Secondly, I suggested that the suitable number for the urgent mobilization should be increased to 3 including an ambulance driver. Thirdly, I suggested necessity such as the fruitful education and the creation of circumstances that can focus on education for improving participation rate, development of various new educational program, incentive program and penalty. finally, I suggested the fact that is related to the actual re-amendment of the concerned law and ordinance such as not only the smooth treatment of penalty for a traffic signal violation of ambulance and the legal remedy system due to aggravation of a patient's condition during a first-aid course, but also workshop and meeting among the periodical EMTs and administration of special therapy program and sufficient recess.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.294-304
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• 2020

The sacroiliac joints connect the base of the sacrum to the ilium. When inflamed, they are suspected to cause low back pain. Inflammation of the sacroiliac joints is called sacroiliitis. The severity of the pain varies and depends on the degree of inflammation. Sacroiliitis is a hallmark of seronegative spondyloarthropathies. The presence or absence of chronic sacroiliitis is an important clue in the diagnosis of low back pain. This article aims to provide a concise overview of the anatomy, physiology, and molecular biology of sacroiliitis to aid clinicians in the assessment and management of sacroiliitis. For this narrative review, we evaluated articles in English published before August 2019 in PubMed. Then, we selected articles related to the painful manifestations of the sacroiliac joint. From the retrieved articles, we found that chronic sacroiliitis may be caused by various forms of spondyloarthritis, such as ankylosing spondyloarthritis. Sacroiliitis can also be associated with inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, gout, tuberculosis, brucellosis, and osteoarthritis, indicating common underlying etiological factors. The pathophysiology of sacroiliitis is complex and may involve internal, environmental, immunological, and genetic factors. Finally, genetic factors may also play a central role in progression of the disease. Knowing the genetic pre-disposition for sacroiliitis can be useful for diagnosis and for formulating treatment regimens, and may lead to a substantial reduction in disease severity and duration and to improved patient performance.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.47 no.8
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• pp.522-533
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• 2009

Purpose: Infection with HIV-1 virus has become a critical worldwide public health problem. The oral complications of HIV infection with its progression of impairment of the host response to combat infection present unique challenges to the periodontists. Material and Methods : Medline research was carried out to find relationship of the progression of HIV infection to the occurrence of oral lesions including the HIV-related periodontal diseases. Results: The linear gingival erythema, necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis, necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis and oral candidiasis are common lesions in HIV-infected individuals. The linear gingival erythema and necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis lesions in HIV-infected subjects were found to have a similar microbiological profile. There are several general considerations in the periodontal management of the HIV-infected patient with or without periodontal disease. The altered immunity and host response in patients with HIV infection may also affect the incidence and severity of other common forms of periodontal disease not associated with HIV infection. Conclusion: Periodontal diseases in HIV-infected individuals present unique challenges in diagnosis, monitoring, treatment and maintenance. Therefore exact HIV staging, geographic location, antiviral and antimicrobial therapies and oral habits should be taken into consideration when treating HIV-infected patients.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.57-68
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• 2014

Since the introduction of National Health Insurance(NHI) in 1977, it has grown rapidly and contributed to extend patient's access to the health care services. However, limited coverage for health care services of NHI has been ongoing challenge and private health insurance(PHI) has been rising as an alternative source of enhancing coverage and saving out-of-pocket(OOP) expenditure for patients. In this study, after controlling for socio-demographic, economic, health related variables, we identified the patients' healthcare utilization and subsequent OOP expenditure depending on their PHI enrollment and their enrollment types(fixed benefit, indemnity, fixed benefit plus indemnity). Data were collected from the 2010 Korean Health Panel. The unit of analysis was a member of household(n=13,324). Of the 13,324 cases, 70.7% of patients held PHI, in detail, fixed benefit(47.0%), indemnity(3.6%), fixed benefit plus indemnity(20.1%). Major findings showd that patients who enrolled in PHI used more outpatient services(outpatient visit, number of physician visit, number of examination) and spent more OOP expenditure than non-PHI patients. There were also differences of healthcare utilization and OOP expenditure among the types of PHI. In addition, PHI patients used more inpatient services(inpatient use, number of hospitalization, LOS), but there was no significant difference between PHI and non-PHI patients with regard to the OOP expenditure. Thus, we could not find any distinct relationship between the types of PHI and patients' tertiary hospital use. Policy-makers should need careful political deliberation for monitoring the effect of PHI on health care utilization and subsequent expenditure not only to improve patients' coverage but also to save their OOP expenditures.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.7-16
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• 2012

Purpose: Cervical dislocations with locked facets account for more than 50% of all cervical injuries. Thus, investigating a suitable management of cervical locked facets is important. This study examined factors of close reduction failure in traumatically locked facets of the subaxial cervical spine patients to determine suitable surgical management. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed of the case histories of 28 patients with unilateral/bilateral cervical locked facets from Nov. 2004 to Dec. 2010. Based on MRI evaluation of disc status at the injury level, we found unilateral dislocations in 9 cases, and bilateral dislocations in 19 cases, The patients were investigated for neurologic recovery, closed reduction rate, factors of the close reduction barrier, fusion rate and period, spinal alignment, and complications. Results: The closed reduction failed in 23(82%) patients. Disc herniation was an obstacle to closed reduction (p=0.015) and was more frequent in cases involving a unilateral dislocation (p=0.041). The pedicle or facet fracture was another factor, although some patients showed aggravation of neurologic symptoms, most patients had improved by the last follow up. The kyphotic angle were statistically significant (p=0.043). Sixs patient underwent anterior decompression/fusion, and 15 patients underwent circumferential fusion, and 7 patients underwent posterior fusion. All patients were fused at 3 months after surgery. The complications were 1 case of CSF leakage and 1 case of esphageal fistula, 1 case of infection. Conclusion: We recommend closed reduction be performed as soon as possible after injury to maximize the potential for neurological recovery. Patients fot whom closed reduction of the cervical locked facets have a higher incidence of anatomic obstacles to reduction, including facet fractures and disc herniation. Immediate direct open anterior reduction or circumferential fixation/fusion of locked cervical facets is recommended as a treatment of choice for traumatic locked cervical facet patients after closed reduction failure.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.5-10
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• 2008

Objective : To evaluate the surgical outcomes of ventral interbody grafting and anterior or posterior spinal instrumentation for the treatment of advanced spondylodiscitis with patients who had failed medical management. Methods : A total of 28 patients were evaluated for associated medical illness, detected pathogen, level of involved spine, and perioperative complications. Radiological evaluation including the rate of bony union, segmental Cobb angle, graft- and instrumentation-related complications, and clinical outcomes by mean Frankel scale and VAS score were performed. Results : There are 14 pyogenic spondylodiscitis, 6 postoperative spondylodiscitis, and 8 tuberculous spondylodiscitis. There were 21 males and 7 females. Mean age was 51 years, with a range from 18 to 77. Mean follow-up period was 10.9 months. Associated medical illnesses were 6 diabetes, 3 pulmonary tuberculosis, and 4 chronic liver diseases. Staphylococcus was the most common pathogen isolated (25%), and Mycobacterium tuberculosis was found in 18% of the patients. Operative approaches, either anterior or posterior spinal instrumentation, were done simultaneously or delayed after anterior aggressive debridement, neural decompression, and structural interbody bone grafting. All patients with neurological deficits improved after operation, except only one who died from aggravation as military tuberculosis. Mean Frankel scale was changed from $3.78{\pm}0.78$ preoperatively to $4.78{\pm}0.35$ at final follow up and mean VAS score was improved from $7.43{\pm}0.54$ to $2.07{\pm}1.12$. Solid bone fusion was obtained in all patients except only one patient who died. There was no need for prolongation of duration of antibiotics and no evidence of secondary infection owing to spinal instrumentations. Conclusion : According to these results, debridement and anterior column reconstruction with ventral interbody grafting and instrumentation is effective and safe in patients who had failed medical management and neurological deficits in advanced spondylodiscitis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.723-730
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• 2015

Background: This study was performed to assess patient symptoms prevalence, frequency and severity, as well as distress and coping strategies used, and to identify the relationships between coping strategies and psychological and physical symptoms distress and demographic data of cancer patients. This cross-sectional descriptive study involved a total of 268 cancer patients with various types of cancer and chemotherapy identified in the oncology unit of an urban tertiary hospital. Materials and Methods: Data were collected using questionnaires (demographic questionnaire, Medical characteristics, Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS) and Brief COPE scales and analyzed for demographic, and disease-related variable effects on symptom prevalence, severity, distress and coping strategies. Results: Symptom prevalence was relatively high and ranged from 14.9% for swelling of arms and legs to 88.1% for lack of energy. This latter was the highest rated symptom in the study. The level of distress was found to be low in three domains. Problem-focused coping strategies were found to be more commonly employed compared to emotion-focused strategies, demonstrating significant associations with sex, age group, educational levels and race. However, there was a positive correlation between emotion-focused strategies and physical and psychological distress, indicating that patients would choose emotion-focused strategies when symptom distress increased. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that high symptom prevalence rates and coping strategies used render an improvement in current nursing management. Therefore development of symptoms management groups, encouraging the use of self-care diaries and enhancing the quality of psychooncology services provided are to be recommended.

• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.389-400
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• 2011

This study was carried out to analysis factors related to in-hospital mortality of community-acquired peumonia using administrative database. The subjects were 5,353 community-acquired pneumonia inpatients of the Korean National Hospital Discharge Injury Survey 2004-2006 data. The data were analyzed using chi-squared test and decision tree model in the data mining technique. Among the decision tree model, C4.5 had the best performance. The critical factors on in-hospital mortality of communityacquired pneumonia are admission route, respiratory failure, congenital heart failure including age, comorbidity, and bed size. This study was carried out using the administrative database including patients' characteristics and comorbidity. However further study should be extensively including hospital characteristics, regional medical resources, and patient management practice behavior.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 1991

The College entrance examination stress syndrome is a kind of anxiety disorder. The underlying cause of this disorder is not a test anxiety itself. One's hidden inner and familial conflicts are more likely attributed to this disorder. Patient's the most common complaints are various psychosomatic symptoms but in severe cases underlying psychopathology may be activated and progress to major psychosis. In a broad sense adolescent's delinguent behavior, drug abuse, school drop-out and sucide are closely related to this syndrome. In clinical management of these patients, considering the special situation of impending examination, the therapist must access to central conflict theme in a short time without severe resistance. The authors classified this syndrome into 5 clinical subtypes ; 'the anxious group', 'the exhaustion group', 'the despair group', 'the emptyness group' and 'the boredome group'. Typical case of each subtype and it's management methods were presented briefly.