• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.35
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• pp.33.1-33.9
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• 2023

Background: Studies on the association between occupational stress and depression have been frequently reported. However, the cross-sectional designs of studies limited insight into causal associations. In this study, we investigated the longitudinal association between occupational stress and new-onset depression among employees in a single manufacturing plant. Methods: The annual health checkup data of employees at a manufacturing plant in Korea were collected. A total of 1,837 male employees without depression who completed a health checkup during two consecutive years were included. Occupational stress was measured using a short form of the Korea Occupational Stress Scale (KOSS-SF), and depression was assessed using a Patient Health Questionnaire-2. The association between occupational stress change over the two years and newly developed depression was investigated using two logistic regression models. Results: Across all sub-factors of KOSS-SF, employees who reported increased occupational stress had a higher risk of new-onset depression. Newly developed depression was significantly associated with job demand (odds ratio [OR]: 4.34; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.37-7.96), job insecurity (OR: 3.21; 95% CI: 1.89-5.48), occupational climate (OR: 3.18; 95% CI: 1.91-5.31), lack of reward (OR: 2.28; 95% CI: 1.26-4.12), interpersonal conflict (OR: 2.14; 95% CI: 1.18-3.86), insufficient job control (OR: 1.93; 95% CI: 1.05-3.56), and the organizational system (OR: 1.84; 95% CI: 1.01-3.36). Conclusions: For every sub-factor of the KOSS-SF, occupational stress increase and persistent high stress were associated with the risk of developing new-onset depression. Among the seven sub-factors, job demand had the most significant effect. Our results show that occupational stress should be managed to promote employee mental healthcare.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.34
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• pp.24.1-24.13
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• 2022

Background: In modern society, depression is serious issue that causes socioeconomic and family burden. To decrease the incidence of depression, risk factors should be identified and managed. Among many risk factors for depression, this study examined socioeconomic risk factors for depression. Methods: We utilized first (2006), second (2008), and third (2010)-wave data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA). Depressive symptom was measured with the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, Short Form (CES-D-10) in the survey in 2008 and 2010. Three risk factors including job security, employment type and monthly income were measured in the survey in 2006. The association between risk factors and depressive symptom was analyzed by Cox proportional-hazard model. Results: We analyzed data from 1,105 workers and hazard ratios (HRs) for 3 risk factors were significant entirely. In addition, regular worker with high income group is the most vulnerable group of poor job insecurity on depression among male workers (HR: 1.73; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07-2.81). Finally, HRs for 7 groups who had at least 1 risk factor had higher HRs compared to groups who had no risk factors after stratifying 3 risk factors. In the analysis, significantly vulnerable groups were total 5 groups and the group who had highest HR was temporary/daily workers with poor job security (HR: 2.51; 95% CI: 1.36-4.64). The results concerning women, regardless of job type, were non-significant. Conclusions: This study presented one or more risk factors among poor job security, low income, temporary/daily employment type increase hazard for depressive symptom in 2 or 4 years after the exposure. These results inform policy to screen for and protect against the risk of depression in vulnerable groups.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.8-17
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• 2002

Objective : Increasing in frequency and success of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and improved survival rates have led to growing concerns regarding the psychosocial aspects of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation recipients. In this study, we have examined the stress coping strategies and related psychiatric symptom in the hematopoietic stem cell transplantation recipients. Methods : In this study, we examined the psychological stress symptoms of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation recipients and differences of psychosocial variables between active coping group and passive coping group. Twenty nine recipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation were recruited prospectively and assessed at 2 weeks pretranplant and at 1-2 days posttranplant. Thirty normal controls were recruited. Assessments included a psychiatric interview, a variety of standardized questionnaires (Ways of Coping Questionnaires, Perceived Stress Scale, Hospital Depression and Anxiety Scale, Short-Form 36 Health Survey). Results : Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients showed higher degree of depression (p<0.001) and anxiety (p=0.011) symptoms than normal control group. However, no differences of depression and anxiety symptoms between pretransplant and posttransplant status were showed. And, passive coping group showed higher degree of depression (p=0.046) and anxiety symptoms (p<0.001) than active coping group. Conclusions : Our results suggested that many hematopoietic stem cell transplantation recipients would exhibit severe to moderate symptoms of anxiety and depression. Also, it seemed likely that passive coping style might influence the development of negative affect such as anxiety and depression. The implications of these findings were discussed in terms of the need to monitor the coping strategies and apply the appropriate psychiatric intervention. And, further prospective studies about long-term survival and psychological adaptive functions of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients are recommended.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.151-164
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• 2008

Objectives : This study was designed to compare the effects on Korean Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index(KWOMAC), 36-ltems Short-Form Health Survey(SF-36), Visual Analog Scale(VAS) and Nine Point Scale between 'Intramuscular Bee Venom Herbal Acupuncture' and 'Intracutaneous Bee Venom Herbal Acupuncture' in knee osteoarthritis patients for 4weeks. Methods : All the voluntary subject were diagnosed as knee osteoarthritis. Patients were randomly assigned either to two groups : Intramuscular bee venom herbal acupuncture treatment group(IM-BV group) or Intracutaneous bee venom herbal acupuncture treatment group(IC-BV group). The IM-BV group received bee venom herbal acupuncture intramuscularly on muscles closest to the pathologic site on ultrasonography. The IC-BV group received bee venom herbal acupuncture intracutaneously on $LE_{110}$, $LE_{201}$, $ST_{35}$, $ST_{36}$ and $LR_8$. Bee venom herbal acupuncture was applied twice a week for 4 weeks by an oriental medical doctor at Kyung-hee Oriental Medical Hospital. Both groups were checked of pathologic site by ultrasonography before treatment and follow up after four-week treatment. The patients were assessed by KWOMAC and SF-36 before and after four-week treatment. The changes in patients' pain was measured by VAS before treatment and after one-, two-, three- and four-week treatment. The patients' overall treatment outcome assesment was measured by Nine Point Scale after four-week treatment. Results : The results were as follows ; 1. The IM-BV group showed significant improvement on total, pain, stiffness and physical function in KWOMAC, and the IC-BV group showed significant improvement on total and physical function in KWOMAC after 4weeks compared to the pre-treatment. In KWOMAC, the IM-BV group showed more improvement on average compared to the IC-BV group, but there were no significant difference between two groups. 2. The IM-BV group showed significant improvement on VAS after one-week treatment. The IC-BV group showed significant improvement on VAS after two-week treatment. But there were no significant difference between two groups. 3. The IM-BV group showed significant improvement on physical functioning(PF) and bodily pain(BP) in SF-36, and the IC-BV group showed significant improvement on vitality(VT) and bodily pain(BP) in SF-36 after 4weeks compared to the pre-treatment. But there were no significant difference between two groups. 4. 88.2% of IM-BV group and 93.3% of IC-BV group graded their improvement as 'Fair' or better on Nine Point Scale. But there were no significant difference between two groups. Conclusions : This study suggests that in the treatment of knee osteoarthtitis patients, effects of 'Intramuscular Bee Venom Herbal Acupuncture' were not different from 'Intracutaneous Bee Venom Herbal Acupuncture' statistically. But both treatment showed effects on pain and physical function in knee osteoarthtitis patients.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.26-35
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• 2008

Objective : In the evaluation of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), most neurologists only see their patients during a limited period of their fluctuating 24-hour-a-day lives. This study aimed to assess the short-term outcome of STN stimulation for patients with advanced PD evaluated in a 24-hour monitoring unit for movement disorder (MUMD) using a prospective protocol. Methods : Forty-two patients with advanced PD consecutively treated with bilateral STN stimulation using multi-channel microelectrode recording were included in this study. All patients were evaluated using a 24-hour MUMD with a video recording/editing system and were evaluated with a prospective protocol of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, Hoehn and Yahr Staging, Schwab and England Activities of Daily Living, levodopa equivalent daily dose (LEDD), Short Form-36 Health Survey, and neuropsychological tests. Magnetic resonance (MR) images of the brain were performed prior to and six months after surgery. Results : All patients were evaluated at three and six months after surgery. There was a rapid and significant improvement of the motor symptoms, especially in tremor and rigidity, after STN stimulation with low morbidity. Dyskinesia was markedly decreased with much lowered LEDD values by 50% after STN stimulation. 1.5T MR images were safely taken according to the manufacturer's guidelines at six months after surgery without any adverse effects in 41 patients treated with STN stimulations. Conclusion : Evaluations in a 24-hour monitoring unit could reduce the dose of medication efficiently to an optimal level with patients' comfort and improve the clinical symptoms in harmony with STN stimulation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.71-77
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• 2020

Background and Objectives OperaVOXTM (Oxford Wave Research Ltd.) is a portable voice analysis software package designed for use with iOS devices. As a relatively cheap, portable and easily accessible form of acoustic analysis, OperaVOXTM may be more clinically useful than laboratory-based software in many situations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the agreement between OperaVOXTM and Multi-Dimensional Voice Program (MDVP; Computerized Speech Lab) to assess voice quality before and after laryngeal microsurgery in patient with vocal polyp. Materials and Method Twenty patients who had undergone laryngeal microsurgery for vocal polyp were enrolled in this study. Preoperative and postoperative voices were assessed by acoustic analysis using MDVP and OperaVOXTM. A five-seconds recording of vowel /a/ was used to measure fundamental frequency (F0), jitter, shimmer and noise-to-harmonic ratio (NHR). Results Several acoustic parameters of MDVP and OperaVOXTM related to short-term variability showed significant improvement. While pre-operative value of F0, jitter, shimmer, NHR was 155.75 Hz (male: 125.37 Hz, female: 183.37 Hz), 2.20%, 6.28%, 0.16, post-operative values of these parameter was 164.34 Hz (male: 129.42 Hz, female: 199.26 Hz), 2.15%, 5.18%, 0.14 Hz in MDVP. While pre-operative value of F0, jitter, shimmer, NHR was 168.26 Hz (male: 135.16 Hz, female: 201.37 Hz), 2.27%, 6.95%, 0.26, post-operative values of these parameters was 162.72 Hz (male: 128.267 Hz, female: 197.18 Hz), 1.71%, 5.36%, 0.20 in OperaVOXTM. There was high intersoftware agreement for F0, jitter, shimmer with intraclass correlation coefficient. Conclusion Our results showed that the short-term variability of acoustic parameters in both MDVP and OperaVOXTM were useful for the objective assessment of voice quality in patients who received laryngeal microsurgery. OperaVOXTM is comparable to MDVP and has high intersoftware reliability with MDVP in measuring the F0, jitter, and shimmer

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.128-135
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• 2006

Objective : In this study, we investigated the prevalence of depression and its impact on the healthrelated Quality of life (HRQoL) of the patients with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) on Hemodialysis. Method : The Quality of life (QOL) of patients was evaluated by HRQoL Questionnaire, "Medical Outcome Survey 36-Item Short Form Health Survey Korean Version (SF-36-K)". The patients on Hemodialysis in ESRD, were chosen from the hemodialytic room at Wonkwang University and Jeongeup-Asan Hospital. The number of patients was 95 (64 from Wonkwang University Hospital and 31 from Jeongeup-Asan Hospital) and all of them were above 19 years old. We performed various investigations to find a statistical correlations between HRQoL and physical & psychosocial factors such as the demographic characteristics, clinical characteristics (hemoglobin level and albumin level etc), and the score of Beck's depressive inventory (BDI). Results : The HRQoL value of patients on hemodialysis in ESRD is far poorer than the HRQoL reference value of Koreans and Americans, who are in normal healthly. The prevalence of depressive symptoms by BDI of the ESRD patients on hemodialysis is 68.6%, and age and depression have negative correlations with HRQoL of the patients. However, education level, serum albumin level, and social support have positive correlations with HRQoL. The patient group with depression has significantly poorer HRQoL than the group without depression. Conclusion : The HRQoL of ESRD patients on hemodialysis is not good in both physical and mental aspects. The prevalence of depression is very high and depression has negative impact of HRQoL of patients. Based on our study, it is essential to accompany with therapeutic Strategy to improve the HRQoL of ESRD patients on hemodialysis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.4451-4456
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• 2015

Background: The aim of our present study was to compare quality of life (QoL) between intermediate-stage (BCLC-B) HCC patients who had undergone either liver resection or transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). Materials and Methods: A total of 102 intermediate-stage HCC patients participated in our study, including 58 who had undergone liver resection and 44 who had undergone TACE. Baseline demographic characteristics, tumor characteristics, and long-term outcomes, such as tumor recurrence, were compared and analyzed. QoL was assessed using the Short Form (SF)-36 health survey questionnaire with the mental and physical component scales (SF-36 MCS and PCS). This questionnaire was filled out at HCC diagnosis and 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 months after surgery. Results: For the preoperative QoL evaluation, the 8 domains related to QoL were comparable between the two groups. The PCS and MCS scores were significantly decreased in both the TACE and resection groups at1 month after surgery, and this decrease was greater in the resection group. These scores were significantly lower in the resection group compared with the TACE group (P<0.05). However, these differences disappeared at 3 and 6 months following surgery. One year after surgery, the resection group showed much higher PCS scores than the TACE patients (P=0.018), and at 2 years after surgery, the PCS and MCS scores for the resection group were significantly higher than those for the TACE group (P<0.05). Eleven patients (19.0%) in the resection group and 17 (38.6%) in the TACE group suffered HCC recurrence (P<0.05). Univariate and multivariate analyses indicated that tumor recurrence (HR=1.211, 95%CI: 1.086-1.415, P=0.012) was a significant risk factor for poorpostoperative QoL in the HCC patients.Conclusions: Due to its effects on reducing HCC recurrence and improving long-term QoL, liver resection should be the first choice for the treatment of patients with intermediate-stage HCC.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.123-142
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• 2010

Objectives : The knee pain is the main reason of getting acupuncture treatment. In order to have confidence in the results of a study, it is necessary to establish that questionnaire is both valid and reliable in questionnaire related study. The aim of this study was to review the instruments that are currently in sue for assessing the knee joint. Methods : A literature study was performed to choose appropriate scales for assessment for pain and the function of the knee. Theoretically based scales were selected for review. Therefore, 18 scales for knee and 9 scale for pain were reviewed. the status of scales involved in knee treatment of acupuncture throughout several countries was evaluated. Results & Conclusion : Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale, Cincinnati knee rating system(CKRS) are adequate for ligament injury in knee. International Knee Documentation Committee scoring system(IKDC) may become a publication requirement for journals in view of the international standing of the committee. The available outcome measure for use in osteoarthritis are Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index(WOMAC), Lequesne Functional Severity Index(LFI) and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score(KOOS), and in rheumatoid arthritis are McMaster-Toronto Arthritis patient function preference questionnaire(MACTAR), Quality of Life-Rheumatoid Arthritis Scale(QoL-RA Scale). Visual analog scale(VAS), verbal rating scale(VRS) are commonly used for the standard pain scale. For long term follow-up study The Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36(SF-36), Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales(AIMS), Health Assessment Questionnaire(HAQ) should be included. Each measurement has its own composition and characteristics. Their validity, reliability, responsiveness and practical characteristics were already evaluated. We found 20 domestic and 28 overseas papers about knee treatment using acupuncture assessed with knee scales.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.331-338
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• 2006

A rapid, selective and sensitive reverse-phase HPLC methods for the determination of atenolol and chlorthalidone in human serum and whole blood were validated, and applied to the pharmacokinetic study of atenolol and chlorthalidone combination therapy. Atenolol and an internal standard, pindolol, were extracted from human serum by liquid-liquid extraction, and analyzed on a $\mu$-Bondapak C18 $10-{\mu}$ column in a mobile phase of methanol-0.01 M potassium dihydrogenphosphate(30:70, v/v, adjusted to pH 3.5) and fluorescence detection(emission: 300 nm, excitation: 224 nm). Chlorthalidone and an internal standard, probenecid, were extracted form human whole blood by liquid-liquid extraction, and analyzed on a Luna C18 $5-{\mu}$ column in a mobile phase of acetonitrile containing 77% 0.01 M sodium acetate and UV detection at 214 nm. These analysis were performed at three different laboratories using the same quality control(QC) samples. The chromatograms showed good resolution, sensitivity, and no interference by human serum and whole blood, respectively. The methods showed linear responses over a concentration range of 10-1,000 ng/mL for atenolol and 0.05-20 ${\mu}g/mL$ for chlorthalidone, with correlation coefficients of greater than 0.999 at all the three laboratories. Intra- and inter-day assay precision and accuracy fulfilled international requirements. Stability studies(freeze-thaw, short-, long-term, extracted sample and stock solution) showed that atenolol and chlorthalidone were stable. The lower limit of quantitation of atenolol and chlorthalidone were 10 ng/mL and 0.05 ${\mu}g/mL$, respectively, which was sensitive enough for pharmacokinetic studies. These methods were applied to the pharmacokinetic study of atenolol and chlorthalidone in human volunteers following a single oral administration of Hyundai $Tenoretic^{\circledR}$ tablet(atenolol 50 mg and chlorthalidone 12.5 mg) at three different laboratories.