• Journal of Sport and Applied Science
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.21-29
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• 2023

Purpose: This study was to investigate the effects of isometric exercise on muscle activity and body balance ability in asymmetrical walkers. Research design, data, and methodology: Twenty gait asymmetry people were divided to unilateral exercise group (UG, n=10) and bilateral exercise group (BG, n=10). UG were performed unilateral exercise for 60 minutes, three times a week, and 16 weeks, and BG were performed one side and then the other side alternately for 60 minutes, three times a week, and 16 weeks. Muscle activity and body balance ability were measured before, after 4 and 16 weeks isometric exercise. Moreover, SI (symmetry index; SI) was calculated from the measured value of SL (step length). Statistical analyses were conducted using one-way ANOVA and two-way ANOVA with repeated measures, a paired t-test, and multiple comparisons according to Scheffe. Results: In the muscle activity, ST decreased significantly in short step length(S-SL) and BG of LS compared to before isometric exercise(p<.05), and GCM decreased significantly in BG of S-SL(p<.05). As for body balance ability, the mSEBT-A difference between L-SL and S-SL was decreased significantly in UG(p<.05). And the respective total scores of L-SL and S-SL, mSEBT-PM and mSEBT-PL were increased significantly in BG(p<.05). Conclusions: As a result, in this study above, it was confirmed that isometric exercise improved muscle activity and body balance ability in asymmetrical walkers.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.13-21
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• 2019

Objectives : This clinical trial is performed to investigate the effect of improving the hypersensitivity reaction and the safety of powdered ethanol extract Codonopsis lanceolata (S. et Z.) Trautv. for allergic patients. Methods : This study was randomized, double blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial. 60 allergic rhinitis subjects were randomly assigned to Treatment group(n=30) and Control group(n=30). They were received the test substance or placebo in their $1^{st}$ and $2^{nd}$ visit, and took it once a day, 1 powder bag per 1 time, for 8 weeks. The freeze dried powder of Codonopsis lanceolata (S. et Z.) Trautv. was mixed with 30% ethanol and the filtrate was collected thrice with constant stirring of the mixture. The placebo was prepared in the same form as the test substance by replacing with corn starch. Total Nasal Symptom Score(TNSS) questionnaires and laboratory tests were performed at the screening and last visit to evaluate the efficacy. And to assess safety, vital signs and adverse events were confirmed at every visit. Statistical analysis about the result was performed using SAS 9.4. Results : In treatment group, there was a significant decrease in B cell after taking the test substance(p<0.005). And there was a statistically significant difference between groups(p<0.005). Changes in nasal symptoms were not statistically significant between groups, and both groups showed statistically significant differences before and after the test(p<0.0001). Also there were no adverse events associated with the clinical trial product. Conclusions : This clinical trial showed that Codonopsis lanceolata (S. et Z.) Trautv. extract was helpful in improving the hypersensitivity reaction in allergic patients without significant side effects.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.65 no.5
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• pp.262-268
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• 2022

Background: The delayed diagnosis of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) requires complex treatment and sometimes progresses to hip osteoarthritis. Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors and screening time for DDH in preterm infants. Methods: A total of 155 preterm infants with a gestational age <32 weeks screened for DDH with ultrasonography were enrolled in this retrospective chart review. Results: The incidence of DDH was 6.45% (10 of 155). Gestational age, birth weight, sex ratio, and breech presentation did not differ significantly between infants treated for DDH (n=10) and nontreated infants (n=145) (gestational age, 29.2±1.4 weeks vs. 29.6±2.0 weeks, P=0.583; birth weight, 1,240±237 g vs. 1,295±335 g, P=0.607; female sex, 7 of 10 (70.0%) vs. 77 of 145 (53.1%), P=0.346; and breech presentation, 5 of 10 (50.0%) vs. 43 of 145 (29.7%), P=0.286, respectively). Performing the first ultrasonography earlier than 38 weeks of postmenstrual age (PMA) increased the risk of an abnormal finding by 3.76 times compared to performing it at ≥38 weeks of PMA. These abnormal findings on ultrasonography resolved spontaneously. Breech presentation increased the risk of minor abnormal findings on the first ultrasonography by 3.11 times versus nonbreech presentation and resolved spontaneously. DDH in preterm infants did not occur predominantly on the left side or in infants born with breech presentation. Conclusion: Performing ultrasonography screening earlier than 38 weeks of PMA caused unnecessary subsequent ultrasonography and overtreatment. Breech presentation was not a risk factor for DDH in preterm infants. However, breech presentation could increase the risk of minor abnormal findings at the 1st ultrasonography compared to nonbreech presentation, which resolved spontaneously. The etiology and risk factors for DDH in preterm infants are somewhat different from those for DDH in term infants.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.191-198
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• 2022

Natural habitats of the Korean long-tailed goral (Naemorhedus caudatus) have been fragmented by anthropogenic activities in South Korea in the last decades. Here, the individual identity, genetic variation, and population differentiation of the endangered species were examined via the multiple-tube approach using a non-invasive genotyping method. The average number of alleles was 3.16 alleles/locus for the total population. The Yanggu population (1.66) showed relatively lower average number of alleles than the Inje population (3.67). Of the total 19 alleles, only seven (36.8%) alleles were shared by the two populations. Using five polymorphic out of six loci, four and six different goral individuals from the captive Yanggu (n=24) and the wild Inje (n=28) population were identified, respectively. The allele distribution was not identical between the two populations (Fisher's exact test: P<0.01). A considerably low migration rate was detected between the two populations (no. of migrants after correction for size=0.294). Additionally, the F statistics results indicated significant population differentiation between them, however, quite low (F_ST=0.327, P<0.01). The posterior probabilities indicated that the two populations originated from a single panmictic population (P=0.959) and the assignment test results designated all individuals to both populations with nearly equal likelihood. These could be resulted from moderate population differentiation between the populations. No significant evidence supported recent population bottleneck in the total Korean goral population. This study could provide us with useful population genetic information for conservation and management of the endangered species.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.61-73
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• 2023

Objectives: Prophylactic vaccines against high-risk human papillomaviruses (HR-HPVs) hold promise to prevent the development of higher grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN 2+) and cervical cancer (CC) that develop due to HR-HPV genotypes that are included in HPV vaccines, but women will continue to develop CIN 2+ and CC due to HR-HPV genotypes that are not included in the quadrivalent HPV vaccine (qHPV) and 9-valent HPV vaccine (9VHPV). Thus, the current vaccines are likely to decrease but not entirely prevent the development of CIN 2+ or CC. The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence and determinants of CIN 2+ that develop due to HR-HPVs not included in vaccines. Methods: Study population consisted of 1476 women tested for 37 HPVs and known to be negative for qHPVs (6/11/16/18, group A, n = 811) or 9VHPVs (6/11/16/18/31/33/45/52/58, group B, n = 331), but positive for other HR-HPVs. Regression models were used to determine the association between plasma concentrations of micronutrients, socio-demographic, lifestyle factors and risk of CIN 2+ due to HR-HPVs that are not included in vaccines. Results: The prevalence of infections with HPV 31, 33, 35 and 58 that contributed to CIN 2+ differed by race. In group A, African American (AA) women and current smokers were more likely to have CIN 2 (OR = 1.76, P = 0.032 and 1.79, P = 0.016, respectively) while in both groups of A and B, those with higher vitamin B12 were less likely to have similar lesions (OR = 0.62, P = 0.036 and 0.45, P = 0.035, respectively). Conclusions: We identified vitamin B12 status and smoking as independent modifiable factors and ethnicity as a factor that needs attention to reduce the risk of developing CIN 2+ in the post vaccination era. Continuation of tailored screening programs combined with non-vaccine-based approaches are needed to manage the residual risk of developing HPV-related CIN 2+ and CC in vaccinated women.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.167-175
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• 2010

Purpose: This study investigated nursing care delivery systems in 44 university affiliated hospitals and satisfactions with the systems perceived by 226 unit managers (head nurses) of general medical surgical wards. Methods: Data were collected with questionnaires consisting of checklists asking the unit managers their nursing care delivery systems and their satisfactions with the systems. Results: Four models of nursing care delivery systems (primary, modified primary, team, and functional models) were drawn from the participants' responses. Among the four key models 35% of the units adopted team model whereas 24.3% adopted primary model and 22.6% adopted modified primary model. In spite of 35% of team model being under use, 60.6% (n=137) of the unit managers answered the nursing delivery system of their units as team model and only 6.2% (n=14) answered their units having primary or modified primary models, instead of 46.9% combining both. In regard to the satisfaction, critical thinking ability of staff nurses (members in their units) was the most dissatisfactory area regardless of models of service delivery. Conclusion: Introducing team model supplemented with core concepts of primary model (primary team delivery model) into nursing practice will reform the workplace and therefore deliver safe health care services to patients.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.46-55
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the level of postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and postpartum depression (PPD) in Korean mothers with healthy babies and to explore the factors related to postpartum PTSD. Methods: This study used a longitudinal survey design to explore the levels and association of PPD and PTSD. Two hundred women were recruited during pregnancy and the data were collected via online survey from 166 mothers (84% retained) who gave birth to healthy babies, at two postpartum periods: Fear of childbirth was assessed at the 1st week; and spousal support, PPD, and postpartum PTSD were surveyed at the 4th week postpartum. Descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Chi square test, and multiple regression were done. Results: The mean age of mothers was 33.12 (±3.97) years old. Postpartum PTSD was low (8.95±6.49) with 1.8% (n=3) at risk (≥19). PPD was also low (6.68±5.28) and 30.1% (n=50) were identified at risk (≥10). The comorbid rate of PPD with PTSD was 6%. Mothers who did not have a planned pregnancy had higher scores of PPD (t=-2.78, p=.008), whereas spousal support and PPD had negative relationship (r=-.21, p=.006). The overall explanatory power for postpartum PTSD was 55.2%, of which PPD was the only significant variable (β=. 76, t=13.76, p<.001). Conclusion: While only 1.8% was at risk of postpartum PTSD at 4 weeks postpartum, PPD prevalence was 30.1% and PPD was the only influential factor of postpartum PTSD. Assessment and counseling of PPD are required as well as screening for postpartum PTSD. More research is also needed on postpartum PTSD in Korean women.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.1519-1526
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• 2023

For the first time Aluminium-BariumeZinc oxide nanocomposite (ZABONC) was synthesized by solution combustion method where calcination was carried out at low temperatures (600℃) to study the electromagnetic (EM) (X/γ) radiation shielding properties. Further for characterization purpose standard techniques like PXRD, SEM, UV-VISIBLE, FTIR were used to find phase purity, functional groups, surface morphology, and to do structural analysis and energy band gap determination. The PXRD pattern shows (hkl) planes corresponding to spinel cubic phase of ZnAl₂O4, cubic Ba(NO₃)₂, α and γ phase of Al₂O₃ which clearly confirms the formation of complex nano composite. From SEM histogram mean size of nano particles was calculated and is in the order of 17 nm. Wood and Tauc's relation direct energy band gap calculation gives energy gap of 2.9 eV. In addition, EM (X/γ) shielding properties were measured and compared with the theoretical ones using standard procedures (NaI (Tl) detector and multi channel analyzer MCA). For energy above 356 keV the measured shielding parameters agree well with the theory, while below this value slight deviation is observed, due to the influence of atomic/crystallite size of the ZABONC. Hence synthesized ZABONC can be used as a shielding material in EM (X/γ) radiation shielding.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.125-138
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• 2024

Purpose: The aim of this study was to apply suboccipital muscle inhibition combined with neck muscle stabilization exercise to 20~30s IT industry employees who suffer from chronic non-specific neck pain. Methods: This study was designed as single-blind and randomized controlled trial. The study participants were 20~30s IT industry employees with chonic non-specific neck pain (VAS 3/10) who were divided into an experimental group (n= 20) subjected to suboccipital muscle inhibition with neck muscle stabilization exercise, and control group (n= 20); suboccipital muscle inhibition only. The intervention was applied three times per week for eight weeks. The neck pain·pressure pain threshold·range of motion, and disability index were measured at the 1st, 8th, and 10th week at follow up, then analyzed with an analysis of variance(ANOVA) using the SPSS program. Results: The total number of study participants was 37 (experimental group 19, mean age 34.6±5.3, control group 18, mean age 35.7±4.9). The comparison and analysis of change in VAS, the pressure pain threshold, and the range of motion except the extension (p>.05) revealed a statistically significant decrease between groups over eight weeks and follow up measurement (p<.01). Regarding the within the group differences, the right side of the neck pressure pain threshold showed a statistically significant decrease over eight weeks in the control group (p<.01). The right and left lateral flexion, and the right and left rotation were statistically significant for the experimental group over eight weeks and follow up measurement, but only the left lateral flexion (p<.05) for the control group over eight weeks. The neck disability index showed a slight decrease but this was not satistically significant for the between-grop or the within-group differences (p>.05). Conclusion: The intervention of suboccipital muscle inhibition and a neck muscle stabilization exercise are more beneficial for neck pain and the range of motion than the application of suboccipital muscle inhibition alone.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.76-87
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• 2024

Purpose: We investigated the effects of a video-based education program for cerebral angiography on patients' state anxiety, uncertainty, nursing care satisfaction, and complications. Methods: The randomized experimental study included patients who underwent cerebral angiography at a university hospital in Bucheon, Gyeonggi-do between January 2023 and August 2023. Patients were assigned to the experimental group (n=50) and the control group (n=48). The program included video- and pamphlet-based education. The intervention included video-based education provided to the experimental group and conventional pamphlet-based education provided to the control group. Data were obtained pre-, post-, and 2-7 days post-intervention. Data were analyzed using the x²-test and the repeated measures analysis of variance test with the SPSS software, version 28.0. Results: The experimental group showed lower levels of state anxiety (x²=4.316, p=.038) and uncertainty (x²=3.974, p=.046) than the control group. However, we observed no significant intergroup differences in satisfaction with nursing care and complication rates. Conclusion: The results suggest that a video-based education program for cerebral angiography can effectively reduce state anxiety and uncertainty in patients undergoing cerebral angiography. Video-aided educational interventions can improve the quality of nursing care with regard to reducing state anxiety and uncertainty in patients who undergo cerebral angiography.