• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.111-118
• /
• 2018

Korea is facing a surge in the aging population, showing that population aged 65 and above will be accounted for 42.5% of the total population in 2065 with the emphasis on the over-80 population consisting of 19.2%. In response to this abrupt change in population structure, the number of traffic fatality accident referring to older driver as aged 65+ years had been increasing from 605 fatalities in 2011 to 815 fatalities in 2015 resulting in increases in 34.7% in oppose to happening to decreases in 17.2% about non-older driver. With Logit analysis based on Newton-Raphson algorithm utilizing older driver's traffic fatality data for the 2011-2015 years, it was found that the likelihood of an accident resulting in a fatality for super older driver aged 80 years and above considerably increased compared to other older driver with aging classification: 2.24 times for violation of traffic lane, 2.04 times for violation of U-turn, 1.48 times for violation of safety distance, 1.35 times for violation of obstacle of passing; also average annual increase of traffic accident cost related to super older driver was fairly increased rather than other older driver groups. Hence, this study proposes that improving and amending transport safety system and Road Traffic Act for super older driver needs to be urgently in action about license management, safe driving education, etc. when considering the increase of over-80 population in the near future. Also, implementing a social agreement with all ages and social groups to apply with advanced driver assistance system for older driver groups will be able to become a critical factor to enhance safe driving over the face of the country.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
• /
• v.8 no.3
• /
• pp.106-115
• /
• 2007

The size and length of road tunnels have been gradually expanded as industry developed. Consequently, the risk has been increased. The decision making process for ventilation system for road tunnels involves a large amount of information on economic feasibility, construction methods, and safety etc. In situation where systematically structured decision making process is unavailable, almost decisions about ventilation systems are made based on engineers' private knowledge and experiences. Procedure and criteria to choose the best optimized ventilation system among many alternatives are proposed, breaking away from the economic dependency-oriented decision making. This paper presents a Multi-Attribute Utility Theory and AHP based function with which planners can calculate overall utility of each alternative. It is anticipated that the effective use of the proposed methodology for decision making on ventilation systems ould be able to reduce the likelihood of the occurrence of potential safety risks as well as increase the overall ventilation performance.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.47 no.1
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 2020

Endometriosis is a common inflammatory disease in women of reproductive age and is one of the major causes of infertility. Endometriosis causes a sustained reduction of ovarian reserve through both physical mechanisms and inflammatory reactions, which result in the production of reactive oxygen species and tissue fibrosis. The severity of endometriosis is related to ovarian reserve. With regard to infertility treatment, medical therapy as a neoadjuvant or adjuvant to surgical therapy has no definite beneficial effect. Surgical treatment of endometriosis can lead to ovarian injury during the resection of endometriotic tissue, which leads to the deterioration of ovarian reserve. To overcome this disadvantage, a multistep technique has been proposed to minimize the reduction of ovarian reserve. When considering surgical treatment of endometriosis in patients experiencing infertility, it should be kept in mind that ovarian reserve can be reduced both due to endometriosis itself and by the process of removing endometriosis. In cases of mild- to moderate-stage endometriosis, intrauterine insemination with ovarian stimulation after surgical treatment may increase the likelihood of pregnancy. In cases of severe endometriosis, the characteristics of the patient should be considered in a multidisciplinary manner to determine the prioritization of treatment modalities, including surgical treatment and assisted reproduction methods such as in vitro fertilization. The risk of cancer, complications after pregnancy, and infection during oocyte retrieval should also be considered when making treatment decisions.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.1-5
• /
• 2007

Unprecedented amount of genetic information being generated from the result of Human Genome Project (HGP) and advances in genetic research is already forcing changes in the paradigm of health and disease. The ultimate goal of genetic medicine is to use genetic information and technology to develop new ways of treatment or even prevention of the disease on an individual level for 'personalized medicine'. Genetics is play ing an increasingly important role in the diagnosis, monitoring and management of common multifactorial diseases in addition to rare single-gene disorders. While wide range of genetic testing have provided benefits to patients and family, uncertainties surrounding test interpretation, the current lack of available medical options for the diseases, and risks for discrimination and social stigmatization may remain to be resolved. However an increasing number of genetic tests are becoming commercially available, including direct to consumer genetic testing, yet public is often unaw are of their clinical and social implications. The personal nature of information generated by a genetic test, its power to affect major life decisions and family members, and its potential misuse raise important ethical considerations. Therefore appropriate genetic counseling is needed for patient to be informed with the benefits, limitations and risks of genetic tests, prior to informed consent for the tests. Physician also should be familiar with the legal and ethical issues involved in genetic testing to tell patients how w ell a particular genetic risk factor relates with likelihood of disease, and be able to provide appropriate genetic counseling. Genetic counseling become a mandatory requirement as global standard for many genetic testing such as prenatal diagnosis, presymtomatic DNA diagnostic tests and cancer susceptibility gene test for familial cancer syndrome. In oder to meet the challenge of genetic medicine of 21 century in korean health care system, professional education program and certification board for medical genetics specialist including non-MD genetic counselors should be addressed by medical society and regulatory policy of national health insurance reimbursement for genetic counseling to be in place to promote the implementation of clinical genetic service including genetic counseling for proper genetic testing.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.3 no.4
• /
• pp.609-621
• /
• 1998

Although many people initially enroll in health education programs, there are many instances of erratic participation and dropouts. Inconsistent participation in intervention programs minimizes their impact on health promotion. Therefore, a theoretical understanding of factors influencing participation in these programs can potentially enhance the effectiveness of its educational strategy. This study used the Pender's Health Promotion Model to examine specific factors influencing incentives to participate in an elderly nutrition education program. The Elderly Nutrition Counseling and Education Program was conducted with 147 volunteers (76 males, 71 females), aged 60 to 87, at 5 separate community elderly centers, by public health dietitians from February to April 1997. Some participants dropped out during the program. Overall, 61 people(18 males, 43 females) finished all 7 steps over 2 months. Pre-intervention data were collected by trained dietitians. This data included individual cognitive-perceptual factors(perceived benefits of nutrition improvement, importance of health, perceived control over health by multidimensional health locus of control, self esteem, perceived health status, concern about health, depression scale and social health scale), which were known to influence the likelihood of health behavior, and modifying factors(socioeconomic variables, biological characteristics, behavioral factors, such as smoking, alcohol drinking and exercise). Male finalists had a significantly lower chance for health locus of control, and better social health status with their children and grandchildren, compared to males who dropped out. Female finalists had a significantly higher locus of control regarding food behavior, higher self-esteem, better recognized nutritional status, worse self-recognized health status and lower concern about health than those who dropped out. There was no significant difference between the attendees and dropouts in age, BMI$(kg/m^2)$, Nutritional Risk Index, depression scale and daily nutrient intake. These results suggest that elderly nutrition intervention plans should focus on the individual cognitive and perceptual factors, with interpersonal influences, to increase participation in nutrition in nutrition improvement programs.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.5 no.4
• /
• pp.210-215
• /
• 2014

Background: The ongoing economic crisis in Greece has affected both stress and quality of life (QoL) at all socioeconomic levels, including professionals in the police force. The aim of this study was to examine perceived stress, job satisfaction, QoL, and their relationships in a sample of police officers in Greece. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during the first trimester of 2011 in 23 police stations in the greater Athens area. A total of 201 police officers agreed to participate (response rate 44.6%). The General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) was used to assess general health, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF Questionnaire and Perceived Stress Scale-14 (PSS-14) questionnaires were used to assess QoL and perceived stress, respectively. Results: The PSS and GHQ subscales and total scores exhibited strong, positive, and significant correlations coefficients (r): 0.52 for somatic disturbances, 0.56 for stress and insomnia, 0.40 for social dysfunction, and 0.37 for depression, yielding an r equal to 0.57 for the total GHQ score. A higher level of perceived stress was related to a lower likelihood of being satisfied with their job; in this regard, male participants and higher ranked officers reported lower job satisfaction. The PSS and GHQ scores were inversely, consistently, and significantly related to almost all of the QoL aspects, explaining up to 34% of their variability. Parenthood had a positive effect on QoL related to physical health, and women reported lower QoL related to psychological health. Conclusion: Higher levels of stress are related to an increased risk of reporting suboptimal job satisfaction and QoL. The magnitude of these associations varied depending on age, gender, and rank, highlighting the need for stress-management training.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.54 no.3
• /
• pp.161-165
• /
• 2021

Objectives: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spreads heterogeneously, disproportionately impacting poor and minority communities. The relationship between poverty and race is complex, with a diverse set of structural and systemic factors driving higher rates of poverty among minority populations. The factors that specifically contribute to the disproportionate rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection, however, are not clearly understood. Methods: We evaluated SARS-CoV-2 test results from community-based testing sites in Los Angeles, California, between June and December, 2020. We used tester zip code data to link those results with United States Census report data on average annual household income, rates of healthcare coverage, and employment status by zip code. Results: We analyzed 2 141 127 SARS-CoV-2 test results, of which 245 154 (11.4%) were positive. Multivariable modeling showed a higher likelihood of SARS-CoV-2 test positivity among Hispanic communities than among other races. We found an increased risk for SARS-CoV-2 positivity among individuals from zip codes with an average annual household income

• Fire Science and Engineering
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.15-22
• /
• 2019

Refrigerator and heating cabinet fires due to the dielectric breakdown of electronic components caused by leaked beverages are being reported frequently. On the other hand, there has been little interest in measuring the electrical characteristics of beverages and studying the cause of fires. In this paper, the electrical conductivity and total dissolved solids (TDS) for 32 different beverages commonly sold in South Korea were measured to study the relationship between the electrical conductivity and dielectric breakdown. Out of these 32 beverages, based on the measurements, some characteristic beverages were selected and further dielectric breakdown tests were conducted. The results showed that the probability of a fire is higher for beverages with high electrical conductivity. Interestingly, beverages with low electrical conductivity had a high likelihood of fire depending on the type of beverage. Moreover, some conditions that cause spark ignition, which lead to fires in electronic components, were identified.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.52 no.3
• /
• pp.179-187
• /
• 2019

Objectives: In the USA, certain races and ethnicities have a disproportionately higher gastric cancer burden. Selective screening might allow for earlier detection and curative resection. Among a USA-based multiracial and ethnic cohort diagnosed with non-cardia gastric cancer (NCGC), we aimed to identify factors associated with curable stage disease at diagnosis. Methods: We retrospectively identified endoscopically diagnosed and histologically confirmed cases of NCGC at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Demographic, clinical, endoscopic and histologic factors, as well as grade/stage of NCGC at diagnosis were documented. The primary outcome was the frequency of curable-stage NCGC (stage 0-1a) at diagnosis in patients with versus without an endoscopy negative for malignancy prior to their index exam diagnosing NCGC. Additional factors associated with curable-stage disease at diagnosis were determined. Results: A total of 103 racially and ethnically diverse patients were included. Nearly 38% of NCGC were stage 0-Ia, 34% stage Ib-III, and 20.3% stage IV at diagnosis. A significantly higher frequency of NCGC was diagnosed in curable stages among patients who had undergone an endoscopy that was negative for malignancy prior to their index endoscopy that diagnosed NCGC, compared to patients without a negative endoscopy prior to their index exam (69.6% vs. 28.6%, p=0.003). A prior negative endoscopy was associated with 94.0% higher likelihood of diagnosing curable-stage NCGC (p=0.003). No other factors analyzed were associated with curablestage NCGC at diagnosis. Conclusions: Endoscopic screening and surveillance in select high-risk populations might increase diagnoses of curable-stage NCGC. These findings warrant confirmation in larger, prospective studies.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.160-164
• /
• 2021

Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is a group of rare genetically heterogeneous disorders, characterized by hypopigmentation of the eyes, skin, and hair, which result in ocular abnormalities and a risk of developing skin cancer. Currently, there is no ophthalmologic procedure or drug that prevents the clinical features of OCA. Here, we report a new type of OCA in two, unrelated Korean families with the same OCA2 mutation. Affected individuals in this study are different from those of previous reports in two aspects: an inheritance pattern and clinical presentation. All reported patients with OCA have shown an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern, while our patients showed an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. Small amounts of pigment can be acquired with age in OCA, but there is no substantial variation from adolescence to adulthood in this regard. A case where the patient attained normal pigmentation levels has never been reported. However, our patients displayed completely normal pigmentation in their late twenties. Whole exome sequencing and in-silico analysis revealed a novel mutation, OCA2 c.2338G>A p.(G780S) (NM_000275) with a high likelihood of pathogenicity. Sanger sequencing of p.G780S identified the same mutation in the affected individuals, which was not found in the family members with normal phenotype. We hypothesize that OCA2 G780S not only acts as a pathogenic variant of OCA but also induces pigmentation by enhancing the melanogenesis gene expression of other modifier genes, such as SLC45A2 and TPC2. These findings may provide further understanding of melanin biosynthesis and new treatment methods for OCA.