• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.293-302
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• 2019

This study systematically analyzed computer-based driving intervention programs for seniors, to provide the academic background for driving intervention for seniors. Articles published from January 2009 till December 2018 were researched and analyzed. 'PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct' were used to search articles published overseas, and 'RISS, KERIS, and KISS' searched for articles published in Korea. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, totally 359 papers were retrieved, and 10 articles were finally analyzed; 8 articles (80%) were evidence level I, and 2 articles (20%) were evidence level III. Amongst the computer-based interventions, driving simulators (70%) were the most common, followed by two video image training (20%) and one Nintendo Wii program (10%). In most studies, driving simulators trained the cognitive and visual abilities of seniors and enhanced their abilities to cope with risk situations under various simulated circumstances. Other interventions were also reported to have a positive effect. For evaluating elderly drivers, the driving performance evaluation using a driving simulator was the most common; in addition, evaluations of attention, space-time ability, cognitive function, risk perception, depression and anxiety were also commonly used. We believe that it is appropriate to employ computer-based driving intervention programs for seniors to train and evaluate various domains. We expect that these interventions can be used as an effective tool for safe driving.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.409-424
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• 2019

Objectives: This research aimed to confirm the efficacy of oriental medicine in sixth cranial nerve palsy and to evaluate the quality of the studies. Methods: Using the medical subject heading (MeSH) keywords "abducens nerve palsy", "abducens nerve paralysis", "sixth nerve palsy", "herbal medicine", "Chinese medicine", "oriental medicine" and "acupuncture", we collected the research papers through an electronic database search in Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS), National Discovery for Science Leaders (NDSL), PubMed, Cochran Library, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Results: A total of 136 papers were searched from the databases. Among these, 15 case reports and 8 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) met our criteria. 17 articles were found on the use of acupuncture as the main intervention, 11 on the use of herbal medicine as the main intervention, and 9 on the use of electroacupuncture as the main intervention. The frequently used acupoints were LI4, EX-HN5, GB1, BL2, TE23, LR3, BL1, ST2, GB20, and ST36. All 23 studies confirmed the efficacy of Korean medicine. According to the assessment using the risk of bias, the overall quality of the RCTs was low. Conclusions: Twenty-three papers suggested that Korean medicine treatment for abducens nerve palsy was effective in many cases. Analyzing the potential bias was difficult.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Sensory Integration
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.54-64
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• 2019

Objective : The purpose of this study is to study the effects of multisensory environment interventions, to provide information about clinical applications, and to aid South Korean research on the multisensory environment. Methods : PubMed, Cochrane, and Google Scholar were used to search for papers published from 2008 to 2018. The main search terms were "multisensory environment" and "snoezelen", a total of 10 foreign research articles were selected. And they were summarized according to Patient, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome (PICO). Results : Among the 10 papers, 6 included participants with dementia. The other studies examined patients with intellectual disabilities, patients with schizophrenia, and pregnant women. The study periods ranged from 3 weeks to 10 months. Most of the interventions included 2 or 3 sessions per week. The duration of each intervention session was 30 to 60 minutes. The dependent variables were psychological factors (such as anxiety and depression), social factors (such as quality of life), and cognitive and physical domains. The multisensory environment used for the interventions in the studies consisted of visual, auditory, and tactile senses, as well as additional olfactory and taste sensations, and vestibular sensations. Conclusion : In the future, the research should be applied to various target groups, especially children, who are interested in multisensory environmental intervention in South Korea.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.141-158
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• 2019

Objectives: An adverse outcome pathway is a biological pathway that disturbs homeostasis and causes toxicity. It is a conceptual framework for organizing existing biological knowledge and consists of the molecular initiating event, key event, and adverse output. The AOP concept provides intuitive risk identification that can be helpful in evaluating the carcinogenicity of chemicals and in the prevention of cancer through the assessment of chemical carcinogenicity predictions. Methods: We reviewed various papers and books related to the application of AOPs for the prevention of occupational cancer. We mainly used the internet to search for the necessary research data and information, such as via Google scholar(http://scholar.google.com), ScienceDirect(www.sciencedirect.com), Scopus(www.scopus. com), NDSL(http: //www.ndsl.kr/index.do) and PubMed(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed). The key terms searched were "adverse outcome pathway," "toxicology," "risk assessment," "human exposure," "worker," "nanoparticle," "applications," and "occupational safety and health," among others. Results: Since it focused on the current state of AOP for the prediction of toxicity from chemical exposure at work and prospects for industrial health in the context of the AOP concept, respiratory and nanomaterial hazard assessments. AOP provides an intuitive understanding of the toxicity of chemicals as a conceptual means, and it works toward accurately predicting chemical toxicity. The AOP technique has emerged as a future-oriented alternative to the existing paradigm of chemical hazard and risk assessment. AOP can be applied to the assessment of chemical carcinogenicity along with efforts to understand the effects of chronic toxic chemicals in workplaces. Based on these predictive tools, it could be possible to bring about a breakthrough in the prevention of occupational and environmental cancer. Conclusions: The AOP tool has emerged as a future-oriented alternative to the existing paradigm of chemical hazard and risk assessment and has been widely used in the field of chemical risk assessment and the evaluation of carcinogenicity at work. It will be a useful tool for prediction, and it is possible that it can help bring about a breakthrough in the prevention of occupational and environmental cancer.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1110-1118
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• 2018

Objective: To perform a meta-analysis to quantitatively assess functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of locally recurrent prostate cancer. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive search of the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews was conducted from January 1, 1995 to December 31, 2016. Diagnostic accuracy was quantitatively pooled for all studies by using hierarchical logistic regression modeling, including bivariate modeling and hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic (HSROC) curves (AUCs). The Z test was used to determine whether adding functional MRI to T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) results in significantly increased diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. Results: Meta-analysis of 13 studies involving 826 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy showed a pooled sensitivity and specificity of 91%, and the AUC was 0.96. Meta-analysis of 7 studies involving 329 patients who underwent radiotherapy showed a pooled sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 81%, and the AUC was 0.88. Meta-analysis of 11 studies reporting 1669 sextant biopsies from patients who underwent radiotherapy showed a pooled sensitivity of 54% and specificity of 91%, and the AUC was 0.85. Sensitivity after radiotherapy was significantly higher when diffusion-weighted MRI data were combined with T2WI than when only T2WI results were used. This was true when meta-analysis was performed on a per-patient basis (p = 0.027) or per sextant biopsy (p = 0.046). A similar result was found when $^1H$-magnetic resonance spectroscopy ($^1H$-MRS) data were combined with T2WI and sextant biopsy was the unit of analysis (p = 0.036). Conclusion: Functional MRI data may not strengthen the ability of T2WI to detect locally recurrent prostate cancer in patients who have undergone radical prostatectomy. By contrast, diffusion-weight MRI and $^1H$-MRS data may improve the sensitivity of T2WI for patients who have undergone radiotherapy.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.36-43
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• 2019

Objectives : Carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) laser, a high power laser has been used for pain management, dermatology, and surgery and laser acupuncture and moxibustion as well, since it had been oscillated in 1964 at Bell Telephone Laboratories in the US. The purpose of this study is to investigate the history of $CO_2$ laser acupuncture through reviewing studies published in early stage of laser medicine. Methods : To investigate the early history of $CO_2$ laser acupuncture, studies were searched in the electronic databases, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, CNKI, Wanfang, J-STAGE, CiNii, KTNP, and OASIS, since 1964. Articles in English, Chinese, Japanese and Korean were included, and there were no limitations in literature types such as reviews, essays, clinical trials, animal experiments and veterinary research. Results : We found that the first $CO_2$ laser application to acupoints was done by a research team in Shanghai in 1976. They used $CO_2$ laser for acupuncture treatment and it was also the first laser acupuncture treatment in China. Since the first case report of $CO_2$ laser for leukopenia, it has been applied to various diseases in China, Korea, Japan and other western countries. It has been widely applied in the fields of dentistry and veterinary medicine, as well as clinical applications. Conclusions : Not only $CO_2$ laser can be used as laser acupuncture by stimulating the acupoints and meridians, but also can produce moxibustion effect by using heat stimulus. Therefore, it is expected that it will be used in various clinical fields in the future.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.333-341
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• 2018

Objective: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) inhibitors are used as a treatment in various immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs). Tuberculosis (TB) risk is reported in several meta-analyses in patients treated with TNF-alpha inhibitors. The purpose of this study is to collect, review, and evaluate the TB risk in TNF-alpha inhibitors according to IMIDs indications and between soluble-receptor TNF-alpha inhibitor and monoclonal-antibody TNF-alpha inhibitors. Methods: A systematic literature search on systematic reviews and meta-analyses was performed in PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane library, and EMBASE. We identified meta-analyses that evaluated TB infection risk of TNF-alpha inhibitors in IMIDs patients. Results: Thirteen meta-analyses including 41 study results were included in this umbrella review. IMIDs patients treated with TNF-alpha inhibitors had an increased risk of TB than control group (placebo with or without standard therapy patients) (relative risk ratio (RR) 2.057, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.697 to 2.495). Among them, RA patients with TNF-alpha inhibitors had a higher risk of TB than control group (RR 1.847, 95% CI 1.385 to 2.464), and non-RA patients with TNF-alpha inhibitors had an increased risk of TB (RR 2.236, 95% CI 1.284 to 3.894). In subgroup analysis on TB risk between soluble-receptor TNF-alpha inhibitor and monoclonal-antibody TNF-alpha inhibitors in RA patients, the analysis indicated that monoclonal-antibody TNF-alpha inhibitors had higher risk of TB than soluble-receptor TNF-alpha inhibitor (RR 2.880, 95% CI 1.730 to 4.792). Conclusion: This umbrella review confirms that the risk of TB is significantly increased in TNF-alpha inhibitor treated patients compared to control group.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.202-212
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• 2021

Objectives: The reproductive health of female workers has been extensively investigated in South Korea and other countries worldwide. However, few studies have discussed the reproductive health of male workers. In this study, we reviewed the recent literature that reports on the effects of occupational exposure on the reproductive health of male workers and the health of their children. Methods: In May 2020 we used the PubMed search engine to search the literature over the last 10 years and chose case-control, cohort, and cross-sectional studies and reviews. We selected epidemiological studies that investigated the association between pre-pregnant occupational exposure and the reproductive health of male workers and the health of their children. We excluded case reports, non-epidemiological studies (animal experiments, cellular-level experiments, and similar articles), and studies that described postnatal occupational exposure. Results: We eventually selected 23 studies. The studies that included exclusively male workers reported that those employed in the agricultural sector or those exposed to pesticides showed lower blood levels of reproductive hormones and a high risk of lympho-hematopoietic system cancer in their children. Male workers exposed to complex organic solvents and organic compounds showed a high risk of poor semen quality, increased time to pregnancy, decreased blood levels of reproductive hormones, and a high risk of lympho-hematopoietic system cancer in their children. Male workers employed in occupations that involved significant social contact, or in the leather and livestock industries, and in occupations with high levels of exposure to lead and organic solvents showed a high risk of malignancies, including lympho-hematopoietic system cancer, neuroblastoma, and central nervous system tumors in their children. Studies that investigated both male and female workers reported that children of male smelters showed a high risk of premature birth, and children of male workers exposed to metals showed a high risk of hypospadias and cryptorchidism. Children of male welders and workers employed in the glass, ceramic, and tile industries showed a high risk of premature birth. Conclusion: The findings of this study will serve as basic data for further research on male workers' reproductive health and provide a scientific basis for the development of strategies to protect the reproductive health of males employed in high-risk occupations. Moreover, the results of this study may provide guidelines to improve the understanding of and knowledge on male workers' reproductive health.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.515-533
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• 2021

Purpose: A systematic review and meta-analysis of nutrition educational intervention studies was performed to assess the association between nutrition education intervention and fruit & vegetable (F&V) preferences and nutrition knowledge in preschool children. Methods: The relevant studies of nutrition education intervention and F&V preferences and nutrition knowledge published from January 2000 to June 2020 were located using PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Research Information Sharing Service, Korean Studies Information Service System databases, and lists of references. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the standardized mean difference with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Subgroup analyses were performed to identify the association between nutrition education and F&V preferences and nutrition knowledge. Results: The results show that the effect sizes (ES) of F&V preferences and nutrition knowledge of preschool children were 0.31(95% CI, 0.23, 0.39), and 1.69(95% CI, 1.27, 2.12), respectively. The result of subgroup analysis, nutrition education focused on F&V (F&V preferences, ES: 0.32; nutrition knowledge, ES: 2.09) presented a slightly larger effect than general nutrition education (F&V preferences, ES: 0.26; nutrition knowledge, ES: 1.62). As for the type of exposure to F&V, direct exposure education (F&V preferences, ES: 0.40) had a greater effect than indirect exposure (F&V preferences, ES: 0.26). This meta-analysis showed that nutrition education intervention had positive effects on the F&V preferences and nutrition knowledge in preschool children. Conclusion: In conclusion, from the meta-analysis and subsequent subgroup analysis, we found that varied types of nutrition education intervention had varying effects on F&V preferences and nutrition knowledge in preschool children.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.459-473
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• 2021

Purpose: Although numerous systematic reviews or meta-analysis have reported the hypotensive effects of garlic, the application of these results in the area of functional food is limited. This is because the trials used various garlic preparations and patients with differing hypertensive intensities. To validate the use of garlic powder as a blood pressure lowering functional food, we performed the current meta-analysis, focusing on the study of prehypertensive subjects. Methods: Literature search was carried out using various database up to July 2020, including PubMed, Cochrane, ScienceDirect and Korean studies Information Service System, and each study was screened by pre-stated inclusion/exclusion criteria. We identified nine trials that met the eligibility, of which two studies with moderate or high risk of bias were excluded. Results: Meta-analysis of the seven studies revealed that an intake of garlic powder significantly lowered the systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) by -6.0 mmHg (95% confidence interval [CI], -11.2, -0.8; p = 0.025) and -2.7 mmHg (95% CI, -5.3, -0.1; p = 0.046), respectively. Shapes of the funnel plot for both SBP and DBP seemed symmetrical, and the Egger's regression revealed no publication bias. Moreover, duration of the intervention period was inversely associated with the pooled effects of garlic powder on SBP (p = 0.019) and DBP (p = 0.019), and this result was supported by the subgroup-analysis. The daily dose of garlic powder, baseline value of each biomarker, and subject number, did not moderate the effects on SBP and DBP. Conclusion: Results of the present meta-analysis indicate that garlic powder supplements are superior to placebo for improving the BP in prehypertensive individuals.