• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.118-129
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• 2018

This study analyzed the recent serious disaster cases of chemical extinguishing agent poisoning and suffocation investigated by KOSHA and proposed the safe use of chemical substances, including the chemical extinguishing agent. An analysis of the statistical figures an increase in the number and variations of chemical poisoning and suffocation cases in industry between 2011~2016 increased. Unlike other physical accidents, chemical accidents are very high in severity and it is difficult to identify the chemical hazard and risk. To prevent chemical disasters, it is essential to develop and use an easy chemical risk assessment tool. For the safe use of chemical substances, in which it is difficult to carry out hazard identification and risk assessments, this thesis presents the useful chemical recognition and risk assessment tools, CHEM-i and CHARM developed by KOSHA.

• Journal of Korean Society for Quality Management
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.327-338
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• 2018

Purpose: A risk evaluation procedure is proposed for common failure causes in FMEA(Failure Mode and Effects Analysis). The conventional FMEA does not provide a proper means to compare common failure causes with other failure causes. This research aims to develop a risk evaluation procedure in FMEA where common failure causes and other failure causes exist together. Methods: For each common failure cause, the effect of each combination of its resulting failures is recommended to be reevaluated considering their interactive worsening effect. And the probability that each combination of failures is incurred by the same common cause is also considered. Based on these two factors, the severity of each common cause is determined. Other procedures are similar to the conventional method. Results: The proposed procedure enables to compare and prioritize every failure cause. Thus, the common causes, each of which incurring two or more failures, and other causes, each of which is corresponding to one failure, can be fairly compared. Conclusion: A fair and proper way of comparing the common failure causes and other causes is provided. The procedure is somewhat complicated and requires more works to do. But it is worth to do.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.155-173
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• 2018

Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) is an unwanted adverse event in any operation. It leads to functional limitations and psychological trauma for patients, and leaves the operative team with feelings of failure and humiliation. Therefore, it is crucial that preventive strategies for CPSP are considered in high-risk operations. Various techniques have been implemented to reduce the risk with variable success. Identifying the risk factors for each patient and applying a timely preventive strategy may help patients avoid the distress of chronic pain. The preventive strategies include modification of the surgical technique, good pain control throughout the perioperative period, and preoperative psychological intervention focusing on the psychosocial and cognitive risk factors. Appropriate management of CPSP patients is also necessary to reduce their suffering. CPSP usually has a neuropathic pain component; therefore, the current recommendations are based on data on chronic neuropathic pain. Hence, voltage-dependent calcium channel antagonists, antidepressants, topical lidocaine and topical capsaicin are the main pharmacological treatments. Paracetamol, NSAIDs and weak opioids can be used according to symptom severity, but strong opioids should be used with great caution and are not recommended. Other drugs that may be helpful are ketamine, clonidine, and intravenous lidocaine infusion. For patients with failed pharmacological treatment, consideration should be given to pain interventions; examples include transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, botulinum toxin injections, pulsed radiofrequency, nerve blocks, nerve ablation, neuromodulation and surgical management. Physical therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and lifestyle modifications are also useful for relieving the pain and distress experienced by CPSP patients.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.20 no.10
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• pp.326-337
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of social participation types on cognitive impairment degree(normal, mild, severe cognitive function) by urban and rural difference. The research was performed by multinomial logistic regression with the data of elderly 5,668 over 55 years of age from the sixth wave(2016) and the seventh wave(2018) of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Results show that social participation reduces the risk of cognitive impairment on both urban and rural older adults regardless of types, but the types of social participation, which are effective to reduce the risk of cognitive impairment, are different between urban and rural area. According to residential area, types of social participation, which are effective to decline the risk of being mild or severe cognitive impairment and the risk of being severe cognitive impairment relative to mild, are different. These findings suggest that, in order to prevent cognitive impairment and reduce the severity, social participation is strongly recommended and appropriate supports are required. This implies policy and intervention efforts considering the urban and rural difference are needed.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1333-1339
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• 2000

Objective : The goal of this study is to identify the significant radiologic abnormalities in patients complaining headache and to determine predictive factors for clinically significant radiological abnormalities. Method : The study population was 410 patients having underwent CT or MRI study among 1000 patients complaining headache in outpatient basis between 1996-1999. All of these patients answered self-administered questionaire about their headaches. We reviewed the patient's charts and the questionaires and examined the radiologic study results. Result : Of the 410 patients referred for CT or MRI study, male : female ratio was 1 : 1.97. Twenty-five patients(6.1%) revealed clinically significant organic lesions. Mean age was 46.1 in radiologic abnormal group and 48.4 in normal group. Short symptom duration(p<0.01), motor weakness(p<0.05), vomiting(p<0.05), cranial nerve palsy(p<0.05), and trauma history(p<0.05) were factors indicated higher incidence of radiologic abnormality. But, patients age, and severity of headache were not associated with clinically significant radiologic lesion. The ratio of radiologic abnormality was 0.8% in patients not having any risk factor. Conclusion : The results indicate that radiologic study should be done in headache patients having the risk factors such as short symptom duration, motor weakness, vomiting, cranial nerve palsy, trauma history. For patients without any such a risk factor, the radiologic study doesn't seem mandatory.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.269-278
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• 2014

Various antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) especially enzyme-inducing AEDs might be associated with increased vascular risk, through impairment of the endogenous antioxidative ability which may trigger oxygen-dependent tissue injury. Lamotrigine (LTG) a non-enzyme-inducing AED has scarce information regarding its effects on oxidative stress. The present study aimed to study the possible modulation of vascular risk factors of epileptogenesis by LTG, in a rat model of kindling seizure induced by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ). Four groups of male Wister rats were used; vehicle control group, PTZ group (alternate day PTZ, 30 mg/kg, i.p), LTG/PTZ group (LTG 20 mg/kg/day p.o and alternate day PTZ) and LTG group. The study period was 5 weeks. Lipoproteins and total homocysteine (tHcy), malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were measured. Aortic endothelial function study and histopathological examination of the rats' brains, aortas and coronaries were conducted. Serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), tHcy, MDA, GSH levels were significantly higher in epileptic rats than normal controls rats. A decrease in HDL-cholesterol with high atherosclerotic index was also demonstrated. The administration of LTG improved the PTZ-kindled seizures. It produced a significant decrease in TC, TG and LDL-cholesterol, MDA, aortic GSH and increase in HDL-cholesterol with no significant effect on serum GSH and tHcy levels. LTG improved endothelium-dependent relaxation, decreased hippocampal neurodegenerative changes and atherosclerotic changes of aortas and coronaries. LTG decreased seizures severity, hippocampal damage and improved vascular risk markers in this rat model of kindling seizures.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.143-148
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• 2008

Objective: Postoperative delirium (POD) is characterized by an acute change in cognitive function and can result in longer hospital stays, higher morbidity rates, and more frequent discharges to long-term care facilities. In this study, we investigated the incidence and risk factors of POD in 224 patients older than 70 years of age, who had undergone a neurosurgical operation in the last two years. Methods: Data related to preoperative factors (male gender, >70 years, previous dementia or delirium, alcohol abuse, serum levels of sodium, potassium and glucose, and co-morbidities), perioperative factors (type of surgery and anesthesia, and duration of surgery) and postoperative data (length of stay in recovery room, severity of pain and use of opioid analgesics) were retrospectively collected and statistically analyzed. Results: POD appeared in 48 patients (21.4%) by postoperative day 3. When we excluded 26 patients with previous dementia or delirium, 17 spontaneously recovered by postoperative day 14, while 5 patients recovered by postoperative 2 months with medication, among 22 patients with newly developed POD. The univariate risk factors for POD included previously dementic or delirious patients, abnormal preoperative serum glucose level, pre-existent diabetes, the use of local anesthesia for the operation, longer operation time (>3.2 hr) or recovery room stay (>90 mini, and severe pain (VAS>6.8) requiring opioid treatment (p<0.05). Backward regression analysis revealed that previously dementic patients with diabetes, the operation being performed under local anesthesia, and severe postoperative pain treated with opioids were independent risk factors for POD. Conclusion: Our study shows that control of blood glucose levels and management of pain during local anesthesia and in the immediate postoperative period can reduce unexpected POD and help preventing unexpected medicolegal problems and economic burdens.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.88-95
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• 2020

Purpose: The present study will identify risk factors for aspiration in severe trauma patients by comparing patients who showed a sign of aspiration lung disease on chest computed tomography (CT) and those who did not. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of the Korean Trauma Data Bank between January 2014 and December 2019 in a single regional trauma center. The inclusion criteria were patients aged ≥18 years with chest CT, and who had an Injury Severity Score ≥16. Patients with Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS)-chest score ≥1 and lack of medical records were excluded. General characteristics and patient status were analyzed. Results: 425 patients were included in the final analysis. There were 48 patients showing aspiration on CT (11.2%) and 377 patients showing no aspiration (88.7%). Aspiration group showed more endotracheal intubation in the ER (p=0.000) and a significantly higher proportion of severe Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) (p=0.000) patients than the non-aspiration group. In AIS as well, the median AIS head score was higher in the aspiration group (p=0.046). Median oxygen saturation was significantly lower in the aspiration group (p=0.002). In a logistic regression analysis, relative to the GCS mild group, the moderate group showed an odds ratio (OR) for aspiration of 2.976 (CI, 1.024-8.647), and the severe group showed an OR of 5.073 (CI, 2.442-10.539). Conclusions: Poor mental state and head injury increase the risk of aspiration. To confirm for aspiration, it would be useful to perform chest CT for severe trauma patients with a head injury.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.71-79
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• 2014

Objectives : The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety of acupuncture therapy when applied to patients who are undergoing anticoagulants / antiplatelet medication therapy combined with herbal medicine using a retrospective, case-control study. Methods : 428 charts of patients were reviewed in this study. Odds ratio between case of bleeding-related adverse event and control was calculated as main analysis. Exposures were anticoagulants / antiplatelet medication, Hwalhyeolgeoeo herbal medicine and combination of both drugs. Additionally, odds ratios were calculated according to the severity of bleeding-related adverse events. Results : The results were as following: 1. Analysis of all bleeding-related adverse events showed there was no increased risk of combined therapy compared with other exposures and control group. 2. Analysis of only clinically significant adverse events showed there was no increased risk of combined therapy compared with other exposure and control group. 3. Hwalhyeolgeoeo herbal medicine group showed a tendency of increased risk of bleeding-related adverse events in all analysis but was not statistically significant. Conclusions : The results suggest that Hwalhyeolgeoeo herbal medicine-anticoagulant / antiplatelet medication combined therapy may not increase risk of bleeding-related adverse events in acupuncture therapy. By executing various modules of analysis, it was possible to acquire useful data for possible future studies. Further research is needed to confirm such results.

• Journal of Korean Society of Disaster and Security
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.61-70
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• 2012

The range of special management target facilities is seperated by the building sector and the field of civil engineering. In the present study, the risk analysis was performed, related to fire occurred for the last five years, in the field of residential and non-residential facilities in buildings. Most of fire incidents occurred in residential and non-residential facilities was the cause of the electrical, and the resulting casualties were also very high. Therefore, based on the results, the risk evaluation index was developed, identifying the causes of fire occur and doing the fire vulnerability analysis for each facility. The result of this study can be utilized safety management to these facilities for the future, especially, inducing a more specialized and intensive safety management.