• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.312-318
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• 2023

Objectives: We reviewed the operational definitions of colorectal cancer (CRC) from studies using the Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) and compared CRC incidence derived from the commonly used operational definitions in the literature with the statistics reported by the Korea Central Cancer Registry (KCCR). Methods: We searched the MEDLINE and KoreaMed databases to identify studies containing operational definitions of CRC, published until January 15, 2021. All pertinent data concerning the study period, the utilized database, and the outcome variable were extracted. Within the NHIS-National Sample Cohort, age-standardized incidence rates (ASRs) of CRC were calculated for each operational definition found in the literature between 2005 and 2019. These rates were then compared with ASRs from the KCCR. Results: From the 62 eligible studies, 9 operational definitions for CRC were identified. The most commonly used operational definition was "C18-C20" (n=20), followed by "C18-C20 with claim code for treatment" (n=3) and "C18-C20 with V193 (code for registered cancer patients' payment deduction)" (n=3). The ASRs reported using these operational definitions were lower than the ASRs from KCCR, except for "C18-C20 used as the main diagnosis." The smallest difference in ASRs was observed for "C18-C20," followed by "C18-C20 with V193," and "C18-C20 with claim code for hospitalization or code for treatment." Conclusions: In defining CRC patients utilizing the NHIS database, the ASR derived through the operational definition of "C18-C20 as the main diagnosis" was comparable to the ASR from the KCCR. Depending on the study hypothesis, operational definitions using treatment codes may be utilized.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.267-271
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• 2013

A survey of aflatoxin $B_1$ and ochratoxin A was conducted on dried red pepper and red pepper powder. Total number of 193 samples were collected from local markets in Incheon. The presence of aflatoxin $B_1$ and ochratoxin A was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detector using immunoaffinity column clean-up. The recovery rate of aflatoxin $B_1$ and ochratoxin A were more than 80% and the limits of quantification were 0.13 ${\mu}g/kg$ for aflatoxin $B_1$ and 0.30 ${\mu}g/kg$ for ochratoxin A. Aflatoxin $B_1$ was detected in 33 samples (17.1%) with a range of 0.14~9.67 ${\mu}g/kg$ and ochratoxin A was detected in 40 samples (20.7%) with a range of 0.31~3.31 ${\mu}g/kg$. These results show that the occurrence of aflatoxin $B_1$ and ochratoxin A in dried red pepper and red pepper powder tested in this study is low compared with the standard in Korea Food Code (10 ${\mu}g/kg$ as aflatoxin $B_1$ and 7 ${\mu}g/kg$ as ochratoxin A).

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.141-169
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• 2022

Article 34 of 'Medical Service Act' of Korea provides telemedicine service between medical personnel. Telemedicine between medical personnel and patients, therefor, in principle, is not recongnized. Increasing demand for telemedicine fueled by COVID-19 pandemic and accumulation of telemedicine experience lead a change in stubborn opposition of the medical community, tenuous though it may be. This article focuses on the telemedicine legislation in France, which can be used as a reference for the telemedicine legislation premised on telemedicine between medical personnel and patients. The legislation stipulates the concept, types, and conditions of telemedicine performance through 'Code de la santé publique'. The principle that telemedicine shall be performed alternately with direct medical treatment to a patient and details relating to such telemedicine performance as telemedicine costs, medical fees, and telemedicine equipment support are stipulated through an agreement between the medical community and health insurance organizations. From this point, the implications for our legal system were presented.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.167-176
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• 2017

Background: This study aimed to analyze the impact of community health care resources on the place of death of older adults with dementia compared to those with cancer in South Korea, using public administrative big data. Methods: Based on a literature review, we selected person- and community-level variables that can affect older people's decisions about where to die. Data on place-of-death and person-level attributes were obtained from the 2013 death certification micro data from Statistics Korea. Data on the population and economic and health care resources in the community where the older deceased resided were obtained from various open public administrative big data including databases on the local tax and resident population statistics, health care resources and infrastructure statistics, and long-term care (LTC) insurance statistics. Community-level data were linked to the death certificate micro data through the town (si-gun-gu) code of the residence of the deceased. Multi-level logistic regression models were used to simultaneously estimate the impacts of community as well as individual-level factors on the place of death. Results: In both the dementia (76.1%) and cancer (87.1%) decedent groups, most older people died in the hospital. Among the older deceased with dementia, hospital death was less likely to occur when the older person resided in a community with a higher supply of LTC facility beds, but hospital death was more likely to occur in communities with a higher supply of LTC hospital beds. Similarly, among the cancer group, the likelihood of a hospital death was significantly lower in communities with a higher supply of LTC facility beds, but was higher in communities with a higher supply of acute care hospital beds. As for individual-level factors, being female and having no spouse were associated with the likelihood of hospital death among older people with dementia. Conclusion: More than three in four older people with dementia die in the hospital, while home is reported to be the place of death preferred by Koreans. To decrease this gap, an increase in the supply of end-of-life (EOL) care at home and in community-based service settings is necessary. EOL care should also be incorporated as an essential part of LTC. Changes in the perception of EOL care by older people and their families are also critical in their decisions about the place of death, and should be supported by public education and other related non-medical, social approaches.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.459-468
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• 2010

International Classification of Disease (ICD-10) is widely used as a crucial reference not only in the medical diagnosis of diseases but also within the health insurance system. It makes possible for medical personnel to make decisions systematically and for the people working in the health insurance or public health industries to better understand medical issues. However, this classification is often not enough or acceptable in a clinical setting. Many countries amend in their own way to make it more appropriate for their people. Korean Classification of Disease (KCD-5) was made by adding a 5 digit code for some diseases to clarify the conditions of the patients. The authors found problems of KCD-5 in temporomandibular disorders and several related medical problems. Medical treatment for these problems had not been covered even by public health insurance until 2000 in Korea. For the last decade, private insurance companies have introduced new items for reimbursement of the treatment fees the patients actually pay. The authors assumed that many patients with these medical problems encountered difficulties in the reimbursement from private insurance companies because KCD-5 did not classify these medical conditions appropriately. An overview of KCD-5 and suggestions for improvement are introduced in this study.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.268-278
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• 2022

Objectives: This study aimed to establish a control group based on the big data from National Health Insurance Service. We also presented presented the number of incidences for each cancer, and analyzed the cancer incidence rate among Korean workers. Methods: The cohort definition was separated by 'baseline cohort', 'dynamic cohort', and 'fixed- industry cohort' according to the definition. Cancer incidence was calculated based on the Korean Standard Classification of Disease code. Incidence rate was calculated among the group of all workers and public officials. Based on the study subjects and each cohort definition, the number of observations, incidences, and the incidence rate according to sex and age groups was calculated. The incidence rate was estimated based on the incidence per 100,000 person-year, and 95% confidence intervals calculated according to the Poisson distribution. Results: The result shows that the number of cancer cases in the all-worker group decreases after the age of 55, but the incidence rate tends to increase, which is attributed to the retirement of workers over 55 years old. Despite the specific characteristics of the workers, the trend and figures of cancer incidence revealed in this study are similar to those reported in previous studies of the overall South Korean population. When comparing the incidence rates of all workers and the control group of public officials, the incidence rate of public officials is generally observed to be higher in the age group under the age of 55. On the other hand, for workers aged 60 or older, the incidence rates were 1,065.4 per 100,000 person-year for all workers and 1,023.7 per 100,000 person-year for civil servants. Conclusions: This study analyzed through health insurance data including all workers in Korea, and analyzed the incidence of cancer of workers by sex and age. In addition, further in-depth researches are needed to determine the incidence of cancer by industry.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.556-559
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• 2006

This study was performed to investigate the levels of cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in water and rice samples taken from five sites on a stream used for agricultural water in the Jeon-buk area, Korea. The water samples were randomly collected by the recommendations of the World Health Organization, and rice samples were randomly collected from rice paddy. The water and rice samples were analyzed by the recommendations of Food Code of Korea and using inductively coupled plasma spectrometer. Although there was variation between sampling sites, the levels of the metals in rice were on average much higher than those in water. The ratios of metal levels of rice to water were: $8.0{\sim}35.4\;for\;Cd;\;2.2{\sim}7.2\;for\;Cu;\;5.9{\sim}18.3\;for\;Pb;\;and\;10.6{\sim}75.7$ for Zn. These results suggest that there were transfer and bioaccumulation of the metals from the water to the rice taken place.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.53-64
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• 2016

Objectives : The aim of this study is to assess the usage of diagnosis codes for somatic dysfunctions and the general characteristics of patients diagnosed with the code, by analyzing health insurance data provided by the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service(HIRA) of Korea. This investigation is intended to outline future and willing to contribute to further use of diagnosis code and the approach of Oriental Medicine to somatic dysfunction. Materials and Methods : By analyzing HIRA data, those diagnosed with M99 codes, a code attributed to somatic dysfunction, were selected for analysis. Patients included were assessed for the relevant general characteristics, and the specific diagnostic criteria. The current usage rates and noteworthy characteristics of diagnostic codes of somatic dysfunctions were assessed. A comparative analysis between clinical departments and subcategories, and a comparative analysis to data of 2014 was conducted. Results : Patients given M99 codes constituted a small minority of all patients diagnosed in 2011 as shown by HIRA data. The codes were more frequently to older patients, females, outpatients, and those who filed for Health Insurance compensation. Medical institutions participating in the diagnosis were mostly primary care facilities, usually specializing in orthopedic(Western medicine sector) and internal medicine (Oriental Medicine sector). The most registered code in 2011 and 2014 was M995. The same trend can be observed in Oriental/Western medicine institutions and Public health center, on the other hand, between them, have some different patterns both 2nd and 3rd. Conclusions : This investigation is that of current usage of diagnostic codes of somatic dysfunction. HIRA insurance claim data was analyzed. Based on the current results, more precise diagnostic standards of somatic dysfunction are warranted. This study will provide a foundation for future Oriental Medicine approach to somatic dysfunctions.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.185-192
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• 2019

The introduction of smart technology provides accuracy, safety, and efficiency to both physicians and patients. Although interest in a clear aligner is increasing among users worldwide, the current clear aligner requires a visit to the hospital every one or two weeks for replacement, which is a very cumbersome process. There is also confusion among dentists and patients because about 40 to 80 devices are made, and calibration is done based on the order and duration of the clear aligner. Therefore, this study designed and developed a clear aligner management system so that communication between the patient and dentist can be smoothly performed by inserting the QR code into the transparent correction device. As a result, the size of the QR code was recognized as $6{\ast}6mm^2$ which can be used in the oral and the recognition distance was 100% within 12 cm. Since the dentist can remotely manage the patient with the proposed system and improve the correction effect, it is possible to manage patients abroad, as well as domestically.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.140-151
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• 2023

This study investigated pesticide residues in 367 agricultural products from local food markets in Ulsan. Pesticide residues in these samples were analyzed using multi class pesticide multi-residue methods on the Korean Food Code for 350 pesticides using GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS. Residual pesticides were detected in 79 (21.5%) samples and exceeded maximum residual limits (MRLs) in 4 (1.1%) samples (chwinamul, narrow-head ragwort, green onion, apricot). The range of the hazard index (%) was 0.0000-63.1043%, and values for the pesticides that violated the MRLs were 63.1043 (green onion), 0.5417 (chwinamul), 0.0684 (apricot), and 0.0100 (narrow-head ragwort). This risk assessment study showed that the values of hazard index (%) were less than 100%, indicating that the consumption of these local agricultural food products was not harmful for human health.