• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.9-22
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• 2019

Background: The purpose of this systematic review was to investigate the effects of topical fluoride gel application on dental caries prevention in the permanent teeth of children and adolescents. Methods: We searched the EMBASE, PubMed, and Cochrane Library databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effects of self-applied or professionally applied topical fluoride gels in patients <18 years of age; the search was completed on April 1, 2018. All included trials involved an experimental group (fluoride gel application) and a control group (placebo or no treatment). The outcome measures were the D(M)FS and D(M)FT indices, which were compared between the two groups. Review Manager software was used for quantitative synthesis of the final selected articles, and a forest plot was generated via a meta-analysis conducted using a random effects model. Results: The results showed that the D(M)FS and D(M)FT indices were lower in the fluoride application group than in the control group, thus indicating that fluoride gel application was effective in dental caries prevention. We also performed a subgroup analysis to determine whether the effects of fluoride application differed if patients received oral prophylaxis (self or professional) before fluoride gel application. Therefore, the two groups showed slightly larger differences when studies without oral prophylaxis before fluoride gel application were considered; however, the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: These findings should be utilized to raise awareness about the caries-prevention effects of topical fluoride application among patients and guardians. Further RCTs should evaluate the effects of fluoride application with or without preceding oral prophylaxis, and appropriate fluoride application guidelines should be developed to maximize the effects of fluoride application in clinical practice.

• Journal of the Korean society of biological therapies in psychiatry
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.173-183
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• 2018

Objectives : The aim of study was to estimate the prevalence of poor sleep quality and depressive symptoms as well as to examine the moderating effect of positive psychology on the relationship between poor sleep quality and depressive symptoms among Korean university students. Methods : A total of 2,338(1,071 male and 1,267 female) university students at seven universities of four cities in Korea were randomly selected to participate in a survey. Data were collected by self-report questionnaires, including Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI), Beck Depression Inventory(BDI), Satisfaction with Life Scale(SWLS), Positive Psychotherapy Inventory(PPTI), and sociodemographic characteristics. Results : The prevalence was 44.8% for poor sleep quality and 14.4% for depressive symptoms among Korean university students. By moderated regression analysis, the results showed that poor sleep quality(${\beta}=0.453$, p<0.001) aggravated depressive symptoms of university students, and life satisfaction(${\beta}=-0.087$, p<0.001) and happiness(${\beta}=-0.145$, p<0.001) respectively buffered the negative effect of the poor sleep quality on depressive symptoms. Conclusion : This study showed very high prevalence of poor sleep quality and depressive symptoms among Korean university students. Overall, these findings demonstrates that positive psychology can be effective in the enhancement of subjective and psychological well-being and may help to reduce depressive symptom levels. In the context of public health, positive psychology can be used as preventive, easily accessible and non-stigmatizing tools.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.81-86
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• 2018

Purposes: The purpose of this study is to argue that the taxation system for non-for-profit medical institution in Korea should be revised and that the basic direction should be to expand tax exemption like the US. Methods: We analyzed the US context of taxation policy for non-for-profit medical institutions and compared the US and Korean situation. Findings: In the United States, for-profit or non-for-profit medical institutions eternities are the most important criteria for hospital classification. Basically, full tax-exemption has been applied for non-for-profit medical institutions. The reason why many hospitals maintain their status as non-for-profit are following. First, the American society places great importance on the social responsibility and role of non-for-profit hospitals. Second, maintaining the status of non-for profit medical institutions is financially beneficial while maintaining good social reputation. The most powerful financial incentives are tax deductions and tax deductions for donations. Practical Implications: How will the taxation system for medical institutions in Korea be reformed in the future? First, if Korean government do not allow for-profit medical institutions, Korean government should consider implementing a full tax exemption system suitable for non-profit medical institutions like the US. Second, there are many variation in taxation for non-for-profit medical institution according to their legal positions. Therefore, current taxation system should be revised. Third, the reorganization of such taxation system should be in a direction that can finally encourage community benefit activities of medical institutions of nonprofit hospitals.

• BMB Reports
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.157-162
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• 2019

Our previous study found that two novel cancer-related genes, PRR11 and SKA2, constituted a classic gene pair that was regulated by p53 and NF-Y in lung cancer. However, their role and regulatory mechanism in breast cancer remain elusive. In this study, we found that the expression levels of PRR11 and SKA2 were upregulated and have a negative prognotic value in breast cancer. Loss-of-function experiments showed that RNAi-mediated knockdown of PRR11 and/or SKA2 inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion of breast cancer cells. Mechanistic experiments revealed that knockdown of PRR11 and/or SKA2 caused dysregulation of several downstream genes, including CDK6, TPM3, and USP12, etc. Luciferase reporter assays demonstrated that wild type p53 significantly repressed the PRR11-SKA2 bidirectional promoter activity, but not NF-Y. Interestingly, NF-Y was only essential for and correlated with the expression of PRR11, but not SKA2. Consistently, adriamycin-induced (ADR) activation of endogenous p53 also caused significant repression of the PRR11 and SKA2 gene pair expression. Notably, breast cancer patients with lower expression levels of either PRR11 or SKA2, along with wild type p53, exhibited better disease-free survival compared to others with p53 mutations and/or higher expression levels of either PRR11 or SKA2. Collectively, our study indicates that the PRR11 and SKA2 transcription unit might be an oncogenic contributor and might serve as a novel diagnostic and therapeutic target in breast cancer.

• Journal of Korea Planning Association
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• v.53 no.7
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• pp.109-126
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to identify the spatial types for thermal environment improvement considering heat flux and its spatial context through empirical orthodox formulas. First, k-means clustering was used to classify values of three kinds of heat flux - latent, sensible and storage heat. Next, from the k-means clustering, we defined a type of thermal environment (type LHL) where improvement is needed for more comfortable and pleasant thermal environment in the city, among the eight types. Lastly, we compared and analyzed the characteristics of each classified thermal environmental types based on land cover types. From the study, we found that the ratio of impervious surfaces, roads, and buildings of the type LHL is higher than those of the type HLH (relatively thermal comfort environment). In order to improve the thermal environment, the following contents are proposed to urban planners and designers depending on the results of the study. a) Increase the green zone rate by 10% to reduce sensible heat; b) Reduce the percentage of impermeable surfaces and roads by 10% ; c) Latent heat increases when water and green spaces are expanded. This study will help to establish a minimum criterion for a land cover rate for the improvement of the urban thermal environment and a standard index for the thermal environmental improvement can be derived.

• International journal of advanced smart convergence
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.151-160
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• 2019

Korea has the highest suicide rate among the OECD countries, and the suicide rate is highest among young adults in their 20s, most of whom are university students. Therefore, suicide among Korean university students is a public health issue that is of interest to us. The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors affecting the suicidal ideation of university students in Korea, and to use them as a basis to establish effective intervention for university suicide prevention through it. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study using convenience sampling method. The participants were 344 university students at universities in S and G cities. Data were collected with a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive analysis, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and hierarchical regression analysis using with the SPSS/Win 23.0 program. There was a significant correlation between depression (r=.45, p<.001), drinking alcohol (r=.14, p=.008), social support (r=-.26, p<.001), quality of life (r=-.46, p<.001), and suicidal ideation. In the first step of hierarchical regression analysis, satisfaction of school life (${\beta}=.198$, p<.001) was the significant factor influencing the suicidal ideation. Explanatory power was 25.2%. In the second step of the hierarchical regression analysis, absence of parents (${\beta}=-.095$, p=.044), depression (${\beta}=.247$, p<.001), quality of life (${\beta}=-.280$, p<.001), and explanatory power were increased to 42.0%. The results of the study indicate the need to actively identify the group of university students in their 20s with high risk of suicide through continuous evaluation of depression, and to improve the quality of life as a method of preventing suicide. In addition, the effect of absence of parents on the suicidal ideation among Korean university students suggests that parental support may play an important role in suicide prevention.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.10
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• pp.309-320
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• 2019

This study was to explore the meaning and implications of nurses' representations in newspapers from the perspective of convergence. Four different Korean newspaper articles from Aug. 2003 to Sep. 2013 were analyzed by using a descriptive exploratory qualitative study, thematic analysis. Five themes were derived from the data analysis. In the newspaper, in general, professional nurses were described as patient-centered nursing provider with sense of calling for nursing. Also their positive portrayals as health professionals have noticeably emerged. Yet in contrast, nurses' negative portrayals as neglectful, lazy, and discriminating against the poor have been reported. The study findings indicate significantly enhanced nursing professionalism and nursing as a future-promising occupation. The results can be used to develop strategies to improve nursing public image in the media. For further exploratory study on the subscriber's image of nurses after reading the articles is needed.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.55-60
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• 2019

It is widely known that farmers and fishermen group is typically alienated from information. In this regards, it has become a national policy to help them get benefits from using PC. Therefore, this study investigates the effects of PC competence on their life satisfaction by using the 2017 report on the digital divide. Especially, we are focused on analyzing mediating role of Internet service usage. Empirical analysis with public database showed that PC competence has a positive effect on life satisfaction. Internet service usage also revealed a mediating role between PC competence and Internet service usage. Implication for policy makers is that government needs to exercise PC competence level of farmers and fishermen, and their ability to utilize Internet service for the sake of improving their life satisfaction level. We recommend future research with hierarchical linear model to measure the effect of regional differences.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.263-267
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• 2019

BACKGROUD/OBJECTIVES: Obesity is globally a major public health issue. Evidence suggests that elevated ferritin levels are associated with obesity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome. This study was undertaken to examine the relationship between the serum ferritin level and depression in Korean male adults with respect to classification of the prevailing obesity. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This was a case-control study; subjects were classified into obese group (${\geq}25.0kg/m^2$, 28 subjects) and normal group ($18.5-22.9kg/m^2$, 27 subjects). A survey was conducted to assess the depression levels as per the guidelines suggested by the Center program for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D). Blood was collected from each group for assessing biomarkers, and isolated plasma was evaluated for fasting glucose, insulin, quantitative insulin sensitivity check index, and ferritin levels. Data were analyzed, and groups were compared with respect to Body Mass Index (BMI), depression scale and biomarkers. RESULTS: The average depression score of the obesity group was 16.86, which was higher than the normal group (12.56). Subjects scoring more than 16 points comprised 53.6% of the population in the obese group, which was more than double that in the normal group, as assessed by the CES-D program. Furthermore, the serum ferritin level of the obesity group was 207.12 ng/mL, which was higher than that of the normal group (132.66 ng/mL). Lastly, the BMI appeared to be significantly correlated with both depression (r = 0.320, P = 0.017) and elevated ferritin levels (r = 0.352, P = 0.008). CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence of existing correlation between ferritin and depression with obesity.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.429-440
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• 2019

Several studies have attempted to identify factors associated with longevity and maintenance of health in centenarians. In this study, we analyzed and compared the gut microbiota of centenarians in longevity villages with the elderly and adults in the same region and urbanized towns. Fecal samples were collected from centenarians, elderly, and young adults in longevity villages, and the gut microbiota sequences of elderly and young adults in urbanized towns of Korea were obtained from public databases. The relative abundance of Firmicutes was found to be considerably higher in subjects from longevity villages than those from urbanized towns, whereas Bacteroidetes was lower. Age-related rearrangement of gut microbiota was observed in centenarians, such as reduced proportions of Faecalibacterium and Prevotella, and increased proportion of Escherichia, along with higher abundances of Akkermansia, Clostridium, Collinsella, and uncultured Christensenellaceae. Gut microbiota of centenarians in rehabilitation hospitals were also different to those residing at home. These differences could be due to differences in diet patterns and living environments. In addition, phosphatidylinositol signaling system, glycosphingolipid biosynthesis, and various types of N-glycan biosynthesis were predicted to be higher in the gut microbiota of centenarians (corrected p < 0.05). These three metabolic pathways of gut microbiota can be associated with the immune status and healthy gut environment of centenarians. Although further studies are necessary to validate the function of microbiota between groups, this study provides valuable information on centenarians' gut microbiota.