• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.36-50
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• 2002

Health industry, a knowledge based high value-added industry, is being considered as a strategic area for the 21C and many advanced countries are making every endeavors for the promotion of health industry along with information technology, new materials, and mechatronics. Korean health industry, however, has been excluded from the governmental supports as well as bound by strict regulation so far, and there is a significant gap in technology compared with advanced countries. In 21C, technology is the main factor of national competitiveness and that is why the role of R&D institutes are so important in the high level of competition to cope with the technology protection policies of advanced countries. In this article, with Directory of Korean R&D Institutes published by Korea Industry Technology Association, I reviewed the trends of R&D institute of health industry. Main findings of the research can be summarized as follows. The portion of health industry R&D institute is 3.6% of total R&D institute but the amount of R&D investment is over than 5% This means health industry are knowledge based and R&D intensified industry, meanwhile the variations of same industry R&D institutes of health industry is huge in R&D investments and other activities. Regional distributions of health industry institutes show some kind of different patterns in each industry areas. Medical devices and Medical informatics's preference of metropolitan region are distinguished with other industry areas. Many of the institutes are located in same site of it's company rather than operating separate building for R&D specific uses. It is better for transforming ideas to products and close cooperation of research body with product lines, but it is a handicap for networking and communicating with other research institutions too. It takes 18.4yrs for bearing R&D institute on the average. For a long times 'copy products' or 'me too products' policies were easy way to maintain business entities. But recently, it is recognized that research activities are essential component of sustaining it's own business firms. This means technology itself is leading power of corporation itself in the high level of competition.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.143-150
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the clinical features of methanol and ethylene glycol poisoning. Methods: This single-center retrospective observational study included patients with toxic alcohol poisoning who visited a regional emergency medical center. Patients with methanol and ethylene glycol poisoning from January 2004 to June 2023 were selected for the study using diagnostic codes. Results: Twenty-two patients with toxic alcohol poisoning visited during the study period, with 11 patients for each category. Compared to methanol poisoning, ethylene glycol poisoning patients were more likely to have consumed alcohol for suicidal purposes (n=4 [36.36%] vs. n=8 [72.73%]) and were more likely to be drowsy (n=0 vs. n=6 [54.55%], p=0.016). The anion gap (25.43±8.35 mmol/L vs. 13.22±6.23 mmol/L, p=0.001) and lactic acid levels (1.785 [1.3-2.785] mmol/L vs. 9.90 [4.20-11.81] mmol/L, p=0.007) were higher in ethylene glycol poisoning patients than in methanol poisoning patients. Among alcohol dehydrogenase blockers, oral ethanol was administered to 10 patients (45.45%) (n=4 [36.36%] vs. n=6 [54.55%]), and intravenous ethanol was administered to six patients (n=4 [36.36%] vs. n=2 [18.18%]). Fomepizole was administered to two patients (9.09%) each, and renal replacement therapy was non-significantly more common in patients with ethylene glycol poisoning (n=8 [72.73%] vs. n=3 [27.27%], p=0.128). Three patients had delays in diagnosis and treatment, and while there were no fatalities, one patient was left with permanent vision damage. Conclusion: Because these are uncommon types of poisoning and the clinical presentation is difficult to recognize early, healthcare providers should be familiar with toxic alcohol types and screen for them to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.37-49
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• 2024

Objectives: This study aimed to explore whether there are differences in smoking status between two regions of Wonju-City and Chuncheon-City, Gangwon State, and to determine whether the experience of smoking cessation programs in the region affects quit attempts. Methods: The study design was a cross-sectional study in which adults aged 19 and older living in two cities were surveyed using a pre-developed mobile app to investigate social capital for smoking cessation, and a total of 600 citizens were participated, including 310 in Wonju-City and 290 in Chuncheon-City. The statistical analysis was conducted using chi-square test and logistic regression analysis. Results: Wonju-City had a higher prevalence of current smoking than Chuncheon-City. Among smoking cessation programs operated by local public health centers, Wonju-City had a lower odds ratio for experience with smoking cessation education than Chuncheon-City (OR=0.52, 95% CI=0.33 to 0.81). When examining the effect of smoking cessation program experience on quit attempts, in Wonju-City, citizens who had completed smoking cessation education and used a smoking cessation clinic were more likely to attempt to quit than those who had not (OR=2.31 and OR=2.29, respectively). In Chuncheon-City, citizens who were aware of smoking cessation support services were 2.26 times more likely to attempt to quit smoking than those who were not, but statistical significance was not reached due to the small sample size. Conclusion: Therefore, healthcare organizations in both regions should develop more practical intervention strategies to increase smokers' quit attempts, reduce smoking rates in the community, and address regional disparities.