• Health Policy and Management
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.20-44
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• 2004

The National Health Insurance Expenditure has been increased rapidly since the introduction of the separation of prescription and dispensing in 2000, and this trend of rapid growth in overall spendings rate has been observed predominantly among medical practitioners. This study was conducted to investigate the growth rate and distributional changes in private medical practitioners' expenses from 1999 to 2002 and its determinants using the National Health Insurance claims data. The total increasing rate of all medical practitioners' expenditure paid by the National Health Insurance between 1999 and 2002 was $41.71\%$, which exceeding that of general hospitals by $20\%$p. But the income distribution among each practitioner was improved as the changes in Gini coefficient(from 0.40 to 0.38) and decile distribution ratio(from 0.25 to 0.29) during the same period showed. However, this improvement in distributional patterns is not enough since even in 2002 it turned out that the highest $10\%$ income group earned 33times more than the lowest $10\%$ income group did. Also, higher Gini coefficient was observed in larger cities and some department like plastic surgery, obstetrics and gynecology. The major causes of this differentials in medical practitioners' expenses were factors related to medical demand like proportion of old population, residential economic status in a given area. In addition, providers' economic incentives also played an important role in determining their income distribution. The large income differentials among physicians may imply a skewed distribution of patients and thus long waiting time, inefficient utilization of resources and potential inadequate quality of care. In this sense, unreasonable distributional gaps should be reduced, so effective measures as well as ongoing monitoring would be necessary to correct current distributional problems.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.335-338
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• 2010

Maritrema spp. (Digenea: Microphallidae) are parasites of birds, but have not been found in the Republic of Korea. In this study, metacercariae of Maritrema sp. were discovered in the Asian shore crab, Hemigrapsus sanguineus, caught in the mud-flats of Jebu-do, Hwasung-gun, Gyeonggi-do, and the adult flukes were confirmed by experimental infection into mice. Based on the symmetric ribbon-like vitellarium, adult flukes of Maritrema sp. were identified, but did not belong to previously described species in terms of the following morphologic characteristics: ceca reaching to the lateral wall at the anterior border of the ovary; ventral sucker larger than oral sucker; a prominent metraterm; and vitellarium forming a complete ring. Hence, we named this microphallid M. jebuensis n. sp. after the island where the second intermediate hosts were collected. From this study, it has been shown that Maritrema sp. is distributed in Korea and transmitted by the Asian shore crab, H. sanguineus.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.62 no.4
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• pp.195-206
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• 2012

Today, people are obsessed with fashion, makeup, hair care, weight control, and plastic surgery. In order to be satisfied with their appearance and attract attention, they invest so much time and money. The core values of many people are influenced heavily by materialism and appearance. Belly dancing is effective not only in just weight loss, but it also improves the health and corrects body postures like pelvis correction, and it also gives the dancers the pleasure of dancing to exotic music. A growing number of women in their 40s or older and senior citizens have become maniacs of belly dancing. The studies suggest that the participation in belly dancing helps increase life satisfaction and self-respect of the middle aged who often suffer from depression. Belly dancing has a strong effect in the life style of the middle-aged women. The costume and accessories necessary for belly dancing class help the participants) focus on the dance. These costumes and accessories reflect the desire of the wearer to be recognized in society. It is well shown in belly dancing that "fashion and beauty related services and products are used as an indicator to tell social status and position of the wearer as external elements like clothes, accessories, and physical appearance and have a highly important effect on interactions among people in society as a means of expressing oneself". In this respect, this study aims to examine middle-aged women's involvement in fashion and beauty depending on their participation in belly dancing.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.526-535
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was done to compare clinical nurses' knowledge and visual differentiation diagnostic ability for the pressure ulcer classification system (PUCS) and incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD). Methods: A convenience sample of 602 nurses took the pressure ulcer classification system and incontinence-associated dermatitis knowledge test (PUCS & IAD KT) and completed the visual differentiation tool (VDT), consisting of 21 photographs with clinical information. Results: The overall mean score for correct answers was 14.5 (${\pm}3.2$) in PUCS & IAD KT and 11.15 (${\pm}4.9$) in PUCS & IAD VDT. Incorrect responses were most common for statements related to stage III, IAD for PUCS & IAD KT, and suspected deep tissue injury (SDTI), unstageable, and stage III for PUCS & IAD VDT. Significant correlations were found between PUCS & IAD KT and VDT (r=.48, p<.001). Factors affecting scores for PUCS & IAD VDT were PUCS & IAD KT, frequency of pressure ulcer, IAD management and participation in wound care education programs. Conclusion: Results indicate that nurses have an overall understanding of PUCS & IAD, but low visual differentiation ability regarding stage III, SDTI, and unstageable ulcers. Continuing education is needed to further improve knowledge and visual differentiation ability for PUCS & IAD.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.221-230
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• 2017

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate general characteristics, job characteristics, characteristics of hospitals, and hospital coordinators, and to investigate the factors affecting the job satisfaction of medical workers. Methods: The data was collected through a self-reported questionnaire among 435 workers in plastic surgery and dermatology clinics in metropolitan city G. We investigated general characteristics, job-related characteristics, characteristics of medical institutions and hospital coordinators, job performance of hospital coordinators, and job satisfaction of medical workers. T-tests, ANOVA, correlation, and multiple regression analyses were conducted to investigate the factors related with job satisfaction. Results: The job satisfaction of the medical workers and the perceived job performance of hospital coordinators were $3.55{\pm}0.40$ and $3.74{\pm}0.43$, respectively. In multiple regression analysis, drinking frequency, number of night shifts, number of work days, and hospital coordinator introduction years were associated with the job satisfaction of medical workers. The more the overall job performance of hospital coordinators increased, the higher was job satisfaction(B=0.458, p<0.001). In detail, the more job roles(B=0.218, p<0.001), core competency(B=0.145, p=0.005), and leadership(B=0.099, p=0.037) increased, the higher was the job satisfaction of medical workers. Conclusions: The job satisfaction of the medical institution workers was associated with the perceived job performance of the hospital coordinator. In order to increase the job satisfaction of medical institution workers, a hospital coordinator with specialized job performance will be able to improve job satisfaction by carrying out efficient work in the medical institution.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.613-618
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• 2009

Although the effect of Eucommie umoides oliver in osteoporosis has been studied, direct action of Eucommis ulmoides Oliver on osteoclasts remains unknown. Here we examined whether Eucommiae cortex inhibits osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption, a process known to be involved in bone diseases such as osteoporosis. Water extract from Eucommiae cortex (WE-EC) inhibited differentiation of bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) into osteoclasts without causing cytotoxicity. WE-EC suppressed the phosphorylation of p38, ERK, and JNK in BMMs treated with RANKL. WE EC specifically suppressed the mRNA expression of NFATc1 induced by RANKL. However, WE-EC inhibited stability of c-Fos protein induced by RANKL. Furthermore, WE-EC inhibited osteoclast survival induced by RANKL and in turn suppressed bone resorption. Taken together, our results suggest that WE-EC may be better agents for therapeutic use in bone diseases.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.125-134
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• 2002

This study was designed to investigate the process of re- or neo-vascularization in the prefabricated cutaneous flap using a skeletonized arteriovenous pedicle implantation. Fourty-eight flaps were divided into six groups of eight flaps, including control group of the conventional epigastric flap. In experimental groups, skin flap was fabricated by subcutaneous implantation of a distally ligated saphenous arteriovenous pedicle in left abdomen. At 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 weeks after, prefabricated flap was elevated as an island flap based on implanted pedicle and sutured back in place. Three days after flap repositioning, the area of flap viability was quantified, the pattern of flap vascularization was evaluated with microangiography, and the quantification of vessels was assessed histologically. There were statistically significant differences in flap viability between group 2, 3, 4, and the control (p<0.05), with increased survival area in order. But Group 5 and 6 showed higher flap viability as much as the control did. In the microangiographis study, numerous small meander vessels were newly developed in the vicinity of the implanted pedicle just only 2 weeks after pedicle implantation, but neovascularization around the tip of implanted pedicle, and its anastomosis with native vasculatures was more important for overall flap survival, which was usually developed at least 4 weeks after pedicle implantation. Histologically, vessels are evenly spread over all layers of the flap at 6 weeks after pedicle implantation. The quantification of vessels was correlated well with the improvement of flap viability (p<0.05). In conclusion, neo- and re-vascularization around the tip of implanted pedicle was an important factor for overall survival of the prefabricated flap. Therefore, skeletonized pure vascular pedicle transfer, even though it used alone without surrounding was sufficient to get higher flap viability. The optimal duration of pedicle implantation was8 weeks to obtain maximal survival.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.63 no.2
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• pp.169-174
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• 2020

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of a hypodermic injectable solution comprised of an LPM LB meso solution containing Melissa officinalis L. leaf extract (LPM) on the lipogenesis in the 3T3-L1 cells line. The lipid accumulation measured by oil red o staining in the 3T3-L1 adipocytes treated with LPM, which was reduced in a dose dependent manner and showed 91.7 to 62.9% compared to control group. Its effectiveness with a 50% solution was significantly higher than the hydroxycitric acid (positive control) treatment without showing cell cytotoxicity. In a quantitative real-time PCR, it was demonstrated that the LPM treatment appeared to upregulate the mRNA expression of the adipogenesis-related genes, which included the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (50% concentration) while down-regulating the CCAAT-enhancer binding protein alpha (50% concentration) and the sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (10, 25, and 50% concentrations). The results from the current study suggest that the LPM could be useful biomaterials that can inhibit obesity in the 3T3-L1 cells, which could possibly be by regulating the specific adipogenic gene transcription factors.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.165-182
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• 2013

This study conducts a survey based on 425 Chinese females in their twenties to thirties in order to examine the relevance between the cognitions of appearance effectiveness, ideal appearance seeking behavior and clothing image preference which have effects on their self-identity and interpersonal relations. The results of this study are as follows ; First, from the factor analysis for cognition of appearance effectiveness, and ideal appearance seeking behavior, a total of 4 factors such as psychological benefits, social benefits factors, pursuit of plastic surgery and pursuit of beauty treatment are being were drawn. As a result, there are significant correlations between heights of demographic variables and the cognition of appearance effectiveness, together with the ideal appearance seeking behavior. Respondents with higher heights represent the higher cognitions of appearance effectiveness, while the respondents with lower heights show more pursuits of beauty treatment behavior to reach the ideal image. Second, factor analysis of the clothing images are 4 factors such as classic-trendy, natural-dynamic, casual-formal, and masculine-feminine images. There are significant correlations between the four factors from clothing preference images and four factors from the cognition of appearance effectiveness, and ideal appearance seeking behavior. This suggests that higher social status such as job, income, residential district, and age among the demographic factors has greater effects on the clothing image preference.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.703-708
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• 2009

Silk fibroin scaffolds were examined as a biomaterial option for tissue-engineered cartilage-like tissue. In tissue engineering for cartilage repair using a scaffold, initial chondrocyte-material interactions are important for the following cell behaviors. In this study, the surface of nanofibrous silk fibroin (NSF) meshes was modified by a microwave-induced argon plasma treatment in order to improve the cytocompatibility of the meshes used as cartilaginous grafts. In addition, the effects of a plasma treatment on the cellular behavior of chondrocytes on NSF were examined. The plasma treatment resulted in an increase in the hydrophilicity of NSF meshes suggesting that the cytocompatibility of the mesh might be improved. Furthermore, the human articular chondrocytes showed higher viability on the surface-modified NSF meshes. These results suggest that the surface modification of NSF meshes by plasma can enhance the cellular behavior of chondrocytes and may be used in tissue engineering.