• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.28-33
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• 2014

Objective : Postoperative delirium is a common complication in the elderly after surgery but few papers have reported after spinal surgery. We analyzed various risk factors for postoperative delirium after spine surgery. Methods : Between May 2012 and September 2013, 70 patients over 60 years of age were examined. The patients were divided into two groups : Group A with delirium and Group B without delirium. Cognitive function was examined with the Mini-Mental State Examination-Korea (MMSE-K), Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) and Global Deterioration Scale (GDS). Information was also obtained on the patients' education level, underlying diseases, duration of hospital stay and laboratory findings. Intraoperative assessment included Bispectral index (BIS), type of surgery or anesthesia, blood pressure, fluid balance, estimated blood loss and duration of surgery. Results : Postoperative delirium developed in 17 patients. The preoperative scores for the MMSE, CDR, and GDS in Group A were $19.1{\pm}5.4$, $0.9{\pm}0.6$, and $3.3{\pm}1.1$. These were significantly lower than those of Group B ($25.6{\pm}3.4$, $0.5{\pm}0.2$, and $2.1{\pm}0.7$) (p<0.05). BIS was lower in Group A ($30.2{\pm}6.8$ compared to $35.4{\pm}5.6$ in group B) (p<0.05). The number of BIS <40 were $5.1{\pm}3.1$ times in Group A, $2.5{\pm}2.2$ times in Group B (p<0.01). In addition, longer operation time and longer hospital stay were risk factors. Conclusion : Precise analysis of risk factors for postoperative delirium seems to be more important in spinal surgery because the surgery is not usually expected to have an effect on brain function. Although no risk factors specific to spinal surgery were identified, the BIS may represent a valuable new intraoperative predictor of the risk of delirium.

• Plant Journal
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.50-57
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• 2013

This study investigates the risks that can occur during the development stage of IPP project in developing countries. In case that ECA and MLA cannot participate due to poor credit rating of the country, the diversification of power purchaser in marginal states can be a great help to reduce both market risk and country risk at the same time. In case of thermal power plants and combined cycle power plants, the effect of performance degradation as time passed will be considered and expected profit of sponsors should be maintained. Recently, developing countries are expanding IPP projects to reduce the financing cost and Korean power companies are positively participating in IPP projects. Accordingly, the loss of Korean companies should be minimized by risk management through the risk mitigation methods of this study.

• Land and Housing Review
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2018

As the government announced Real Estate Policies on August 02, most areas except for Seoul cities face increasing business risks. Moreover, the government control over financial sectors' loan leads to the highly possible contraction of new distribution markets. The market trend could bring about the reduction of new demand in PF (Private Financing) business that large construction companies mainly concentrate on, and even the business already obtained has a high risk of being distributed, which could result in substantially low profitability. The currently unstable financial structure of most construction companies is caused by the hike of the prime cost of foreign plants except for that of a few construction companies. If PF (Private Financing) business also faces a difficult situation in such a financial condition, even large construction companies come to have the high possibility of a deficiency in credit rating. Accordingly, the major business that large construction companies concentrate on needs the sufficient business review. It is desirable to make a bid for business guaranteeing stability rather than business solely in consideration of profitability, when participating in a competition for a new construction contract.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2013

The aim of this review was to assess the effectiveness of ginseng as a treatment option for managing menopause symptoms. We searched the literature using ll databases from their inception to 26 September 2012 and included all randomised clinical trials (RCTs) that compared any type of ginseng to a placebo controls in postmenopausal women. The methodological quality of all studies was assessed using a Cochrane risk of bias tool. Four RCTs met our inclusion criteria. Most RCTs had high risk of bias. One RCT showed that Korean red ginseng (KRG) significantly improved sexual arousal and global health compared with placebo. Another RCT reported the superiority of KRG over placebo for treating menopause symptoms on Kupperman's index and menopausal rating score. The third RCT failed to show a significant effect of KRG on hot flash frequency compared to placebo. The fourth RCT found beneficial effects of ginseng compared to placebo on depression and well-being. In conclusion, the evidence on ginseng as an effective treatment for managing menopause symptoms is limited. Most of the RCTs are burdened with a high risk of bias. Thus firm conclusions cannot be drawn. Rigorous studies seem warranted.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.115-122
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• 2017

This study attempts to determine the extent to which late talkers are at the risk of delayed phonological development, in order to identify groups at risk and to find factors affecting delayed phonological development. A group of 1,452 children (51% boys, 49% girls) were recruited from the nationwide Panel Study on Korean Children. The current study collected data from 418 children who were previously identified as late-talkers (LT) at their age of three on average (Time 1: expressive vocabulary test) and three years later (Time 2: phonological test). Their phonological outcomes of the Time 2 were analyzed and then compared to those of a group of 1,056 children with typical language development (NLT: no late-talkers) at the age of three in terms of the number of incorrect consonants, and the speech sound disorders rating scores. LT showed a lower articulation score than NLT, and boys showed a lower score than girls. These findings indicate that the late onset of speech and the gender of young children could be potential risk factors of speech sound disorders.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.41-53
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• 2013

Objectives: As the size of elderly population living alone grows, socioeconomic diversity has also increased. This study examined if social risk factors of poor self-rated health were distinguishable between the low income elderly and their non-low income counterparts both living alone. Methods: The '2006 Elderly Health Interview Survey' conducted by D-gu in Seoul was utilized. We divided the elderly living alone into two groups depending on their economic status: low income and non-low income. Employing logistic regression, we analyzed the associations of poor self-rated health with socio-demographic factors, health-related factors, social support, the relations with children, social activities, welfare service use, and the perception of neighborhood safety. Results: Proportion of rating one's own health being poor was different between two populations. Social support was important for the self-rated health of the non-low income elderly, while welfare service use, the perception of neighborhood safety, and the relations with children were noticeable for the low income elderly. Conclusions: To better understand the health need of elderly population living alone, their heterogeneity in socioeconomic characteristics should be taken into account.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.681-690
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• 2014

It is known that sewer problems are the major causes of road cave-in. The objective of this study is to analyze the risk of road cave-in due to storm sewer laterals. We investigated 174 storm sewer laterals using a zoom camera at O-dong area in Seoul. The causes of road cave-in were classified into five cases: breakage of rigid pipe, deformation of flexible pipe, out of pipeline alignment, changing pipe material or changing pipe diameter, and a poor linkage between lateral and sewer. In addition, all defects were sorted into five grades based on the severity rating at storm sewer laterals. In this study, the most fragile pipe materials were found to be concrete pipe and polyethylene pipe, which recorded 2.3 and 1.69 defect rates. With regard to the causes of road cave-in, deformation of flexible pipe has a large influence on road cave-in at present. On a long-term basis, the two causes, out of pipeline alignment and a poor linkage between lateral and sewer, could have more influence on road cave-in.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.1-26
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• 2022

This paper analyzes the effects of the cut in the legal maximum interest rate (from 27.4% to 24%) that occurred in February of 2018 on loan interest rates, the default rates, and the loan approval rate of borrowers in the non-banking sector. We use the difference-in-difference identification strategy to estimate the effect of the cut in the legal maximum interest rate using micro-level data from a major credit-rating company. The legal maximum rate cut significantly lowers the loan interest rate and default rate of low-credit borrowers (i.e., high-credit-risk borrowers) in the non-banking sector. However, this effect is limited to borrowers who have not been excluded from the market despite the legal maximum interest rate cut. The loan approval rate of low-credit borrowers decreased significantly after the legal maximum interest rate cut. Meanwhile, the loan approval rate of high-credit and medium-credit (i.e., low credit risk and medium credit risk) borrowers increased. This implies that financial institutions in the non-banking sector should reduce the loan supply to low-credit borrowers who are no longer profitable while increasing the loan supply to high- and medium-credit borrowers.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.45-58
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• 2024

Objectives To evaluate the effectiveness of Manual therapy(MT) for plantar fasciitis. Methods Using nine electronic databases, we selected 10 randomized controlled trials(RCTs) that applied MT for plantar fasciitis and conducted a meta-analysis. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Results Meta-analysis showed statitically significant results for MT in terms of lower extremity functional scale(LEFS) and numeric pain rating scale(NPRS) compared to other treatment groups(p<0.005). Conclusions Findings suggest that MT is a safe and non-invasive, promising option for managing PF. Further studies such as well-designed, risk-controlled RCTs are required to support our findings.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.46-52
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• 2009

Objectives : The goal of this study was to compare the clinical characteristics of panic disorder respiratory subtype(PD-R) and non-respiratory subtype(PD-NR). Methods : 84 patients with panic disorder were enrolled and divided into 2 groups, 29 PD-R and 55 PD-NR. Diagnosis of panic disorder was evaluated using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders $4^{th}$ edition and Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. They were also measured with Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety(HAM-A), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression(HAM-D), and Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS). Results : PD-R group showed significantly higher scores in PDSS than those of PD-NR group(p=.027). After controlling for the severity of panic disorder and gender, PD-R group showed higher HAM-D and somatic anxiety subscale of HAM-A than those of PD-NR group. Furthermore, results of logistic regression analysis suggested that the somatic anxiety was a possible risk factor of PD-R(OR=1.404,p=0.009). Conclusion : These results suggest that somatic anxiety and depressive symptom would be important clinical characteristics of PD-R.