• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.11 no.7
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• pp.319-328
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to assess the relationships of alcohol consumption patterns to mental distress and self-rated health. Data of 19,856 adult drinkers over 19 years of age and older from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were evaluated by multivariate logistic regression analysis. Risks of experiencing perceived high stress, depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts were higher in alcohol use disorder group in male, whereas the risks were higher in both alcohol use disorder and hazardous drinking groups in female, reflecting higher susceptibility to mental distress. In both male and female, former drinkers presented poor self-rated health compared with low-risk drinkers, although no difference was found in the prevalence of mental distress. Specialized mental health management measures for female drinkers are required, and former drinkers are suggested to be assessed separately from never or low-risk drinkers for their physical and mental health status.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.5-18
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• 2002

Purpose: Women have been often underdiagnosed and undertreated when they have as high mortality as men of ischemic heart disease, such as angina. One of the reasons of women's under treatment is associated with either vague, non-traditional symptoms or longer delay in seeking professional help when they experience ischemic heart disease. This study was conducted to investigate the characteristics of women's anginal pain induced by the treadmill test and to explore the potential relationship(s) between anginal pain and other psycho-physiologic factors. Methods: Of 22 female patients referred to treadmill test, 7 with positive finding participated in this study. Anginal pain in the past was analyzed by Rose questionnaire, whereas anginal pain induced by the treadmill test was identified by McGill pain scale, visual analogue scale and present pain index. Results: Women expressed more heaviness than sharp pain, and complained splitting more often than subjects in previous study that included both men and women. Pain intensity by VAS $3.64{\pm}3.94$, Pain rating index was $5.14{\pm}7.29$, present pain index was $1.57{\pm}1.81$, duration of pain was $5.14{\pm}4.8$ min. Exercise intensity was $6.0{\pm}4.63$ METs, exercise duration was $364.29{\pm}141.39$ sec, ST change was -2.0mm and rate of perceived exertion was $16.29{\pm}2.06$. The relationships between pain intensity and pain duration, ST segment changes were significant. Correlation among pain measures was significant. Conclusion: Generalization of these pilot findings may be inappropriate, and therefore, further larger study is needed.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.95-102
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• 2006

Object : Nerve growth factor(NGF) is a protein involved in neuronal survival and plasticity in the central nervous system, which might play an important role in stress, depression and suicide. This study was performed to determine whether there is an alteration in plasma NGF concentrations in depressed patients with suicidal attempt. Methods : The subjects were 32 depressed patients who attempted suicide and admitted in emergency room. Forty-four hospitalized non-suicidal depressive patients and the 30 normal controls were closely matched with the suicidal group in terms of age and sex. Individuals in all 3 groups were evaluated independently by a semi-structured interview for the purpose of establishing a DSM-IV criteria diagnosis. The severity of depressive symptoms was evaluated using Hamilton depression rating scale(HDRS). The severity of the suicidal behavior was evaluated by Weisman and Worden's risk-rescue rating(RRR) system and the Lethality Suicide Attempt Rating Scale(LSARS). Plasma NGF level was measured by the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) method. Results : There were no statistically significant differences of the plasma NGF levels among groups. LSARS and RRR did not reveal any significant correlation with ${\beta}$-NGF level in suicidal depressive patients. Conclusion : This study do not support an association between ${\beta}$-NGF and suicidal depression. However it is necessary to investigate this association through other route such as postmortem brain.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.127-152
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• 2007

Objectives : To research the trend of the study related to Chuna(推拿) and to establish the direction of further studies into the Chuna(推拿). Methods : We reviewed and analyzed all theses published by Korean research institution. And these theses were classified by research institutions, published year, field of study, subject, research methods, thesis types, illness and symptoms. Results : The following results were obtained in this study. 1. Classified by the major field of study, oriental medicine accounted for 59 papers, followed by 18 in physical education and 2 in the science of nursing and medicine. 2. Upon classifying theses according to research method and thesis types, research related to clinical trial accounted for nearly half of all theses. It was followed by consideration of documents. 3. After 1998 deals with the effects of the Chuna on variable illnesses such as: ossified posterior longitudinal ligament, chronic coccyalgia, entrapment neuropathy, low birth weight infant, Bell's palsy, stress incontinence, paramenia, Parkinson disease, Bertolloti syndrom, TMJ (because of scoliosis) etc. 4. Two most widely cured illnesses using the Chuna therapy are scoliosis and HNP of L-spine. However, when considering the fact that several clinical tests and casuistics did not include research into Lumbago (including HNP of L-spine), it can be concluded that most of the Chuna therapies have been concentrated on Lumbago. Conclusion : As it can be seen in the above results, the possibility of curing illness through Chuna and the usefulness of Chuna have been shown factually and clinically through various consideration of documents, clinical trial & casuistics. Based upon such facts, it is regarded that further scientific research along with additional clinical approaches involving the Chuna should be performed.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.81-87
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• 2020

Cognitive impairment is symptoms of dementia, a degenerative brain disease that is drawing attention in a rapidly aging society. This study was conducted to investigate the improvement of cognitive function of Leonurus japonicus on scopolamine-induced memory impairment in mice and the effect and mechanism of memory recovery. In vivo studies were conducted on mice orally pretreated with L. japonicus in doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg (p.o.) and scopolamine (1 mg/kg, i.p.) were injected 30 min before the behavioral task. Antioxidant activity was assessed by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) assay and 2,2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assay, and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition activity evaluated by Ellman's method. In behavior studies showed that L. japonicus has an improved the memory of scopolamine-treated mice in Y-maze, passive avoidance and Morris water maze test. In addition, L. japonicus was also exerted free radical scavenging activity and inhibited acetyl cholinesterase activity. These results suggest that L. japonicus improves short-term and long-term memory in scopolamine-induced memory decline model and prevents scopolamine-induced memory impairments through in reduced oxidative stress and acetyl cholinesterase inhibition effect. Thus, L. japonicus is related to functional medicinal materials for prevention and treatment of human dementia patients.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.37-46
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to determine halitosis perception status of firefighters and identify the factors related to halitosis; for this purpose, a survey was conducted in 241 firefighters in Daejeon, obtaining the following results: First. The higher level of smoking and alcohol intake, the more likely to perceive halitosis; all of those with a general disease perceived halitosis; and the more stress, the more likely to perceive halitosis. Second, The respondents who brushed their teeth three times a day, who spent 1~2 minutes in brushing their teeth, who failed to wash their tongue, and who had never received oral health education were most likely to perceive halitosis. And third. such factors as age, the amount of tongue coating, and dry mouth affected halitosis perception status. Firefighters' halitosis perception is related to several factors. For this reason, emphasis is placed on the need to develop a program for helping firefighters prevent halitosis and remove oral symptoms and to give education for good oral health management.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.77-82
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• 2017

Background: Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea (CDAD) is a leading cause of hospital-associated gastrointestinal illness. Risk factors for CDAD include advanced age, long-term admission, antibiotics, proton-pump inhibitor or $H_2$ blocker use and immunosuppression. The practice guideline of American Journal of Gastroenterology (2013) suggests metronidazole for the first-line therapy of mild-moderate CDAD as well as vancomycin for severe CDAD. MICU inpatients receiving stress ulcer prophylaxis and antibiotics are susceptible to nosocomial CDAD. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate occurrence and treatment of CDAD in MICU. Methods: Patients who were admitted to the MICU and had CDAD from August 2012 to August 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. Results: Of the 90 patients with CDAD, 20 patients (2.22%) had mild-moderate CDAD (16 received metronidazole and 4 received vancomycin therapy) and 70 patients (77.8%) had severe CDAD(54 received metronidazole and 16 received vancomycin therapy). Among the patients with mild- moderate CDAD, treatment with metronidazole or vancomycin resulted in same clinical cure in 50% of the patients (p=1.00). Among the patients with severe CDAD, treatment with metronidazole or vancomycin resulted in clinical cure in 40.7% and 50.0% of the patients, respectively (p=0.511). Clinical symptoms recurred in 7.4% of the severe CDAD patients treated with metronidazole and 6.3% of those treated with vancomycin(p=0.875). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that metronidazole and vancomycin are equally effective for the treatment of mild-moderate CDAD; however, vancomycin demonstrated higher clinical cure rate and lower recurrence rate for severe CDAD, although the difference was not statistically significant. For better clinical outcomes, appropriate medication use by disease severity is needed.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.40-47
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• 1991

Musculoskeletal disorders are a major cause of occupational disabilities. Approximately thirty percent state that the major reason for an inability to work is a musculoskeletal problem. A farm work is associated with increased stress and trauma to joints. Chronic overuse injuries are a result of stresses that exceed the body's adaptive or healing capabilities. They can occur in bone, tendons and muscle-tendon-bone junctions. The aim of the investigation was to the study the frequency of pain, ache, and discomfort in the musculoskeletal system among farmers, to find possible correlations between these symptoms and various working positions and different working actions. A questionnaire was answered by 138 farmers. Of those who answered the questionnaire 82% had pain and discomfort from back, shoulders, arms in orders, The result showed that musculoskeletal pain predominate in the farming seasons, and of those who had pain and discomfort 89% thought that farm works had a correlation with the pain and discomfort of musculoskeletal system. But only 17% of quationnaire were put to periodic medical examinations, and 50% of those who had pain and discomfort consulted a doctor. Education in effective pain treatment should therefore be intensifide to ascertain that farmers in rural areas have satisfactory knowledge of the musculoskeletal pain as a chronic overuse syndrome.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.101-107
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• 2006

Object : Since autonomic nerve system dysfunction was known as the mechanism of panic disorder, many researchers used heart rate variability (HRV) as means of measuring autonomic nerve function of patients with panic disorder. We aimed to examine the effect of paroxetine medication for 3 months on symptom improvement and change of heart rate variability of the patients with panic disorder. Methods : The subjects were patients with panic disorder who visited the psychiatric outpatient clinic of Samsung Medical Center in Seoul. We included panic disorder patients who were aged from 20 to 50 and in normal BMI range (from 18 to 30) to minimize the effect of age and weight on HRV data. We excluded the patients with EKG abnormalities, hypertension or other major psychiatric disorders. They took 20-40 mg paroxetine medication a day for 3 months. Alprazolam was used only during the first month to control the acute panic symptoms and was tapered off after that. We measured the acute panic inventory (API), Hamilton rating scale for anxiety and depression (HAM-A & HAM-D), Spielberger state-trait anxiety inventory (STAIS, STAIT), and Beck depression inventory (BDI) in order to assess clinical improvement of the patients. And we measured time and frequency domain HRV in the resting, standing and cognitive stress states to assess the change of HRV. All measurements were done before and after paroxetine treatment. Result : After paroxetine medication, patients showed significant improvement in all psychiatric scales. In time domain of HRV, standard deviations of all R-R intervals (SDNN) were significantly increased in all states. In frequency domain of HRV, the ratio of high frequency to total power (HF/TP) in the standing state was significantly increased. Conclusion : After 3 months paroxetine medication, panic disorder patients showed significant clinical improvement and change in HRV data such as SDNN in all states and HF/TP ratio in the standing state. This result suggests that paroxetine medication is effective for the improvement of autonomic nerve system dysfunction in panic disorder patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.4829-4834
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• 2013

Background: Breast self examination (BSE), performed regularly every month, is one of the most important methods in the early diagnosis of breast cancer. This study was performed with the aim of establishing the knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of women working in government hospitals within the province of Samsun regarding BSE. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between January-March 2012, on a total of 550 women (500 health personnel, and 50 general administration services (GAS) workers) from 7 government hospitals and the Cancer Early Diagnosis, Screening, and Education Centre (CEDSEC). Percentages were used for the descriptive statistics, and the chi-square test for the evaluation of statistical importance. Values of p<0.05 were accepted as significant. Results: The mean age of the participants was $36.2{\pm}15.3$, and 42.5% were in the 30-39 year old age group, 78.0% being married. Seventy-eight point four percent (78.4%) of the health personnel and 76.0% of the GAS workers performed BSE. However, the rates of performing BSE regularly every month were only 25.6% and 5.0%. Within the health personnel, 1.4% stated that they did not perform BSE because they found it unnecessary as they had no history of breast cancer in their family, 3.6% did not do so due to fear and stress, 13.2% because they forgot, and 14.6% because they had no complaints. Some 22.2% of the health personnel and 52.0% of the GAS workers had undergone mammographic evaluation, the difference being significant (p<0.05), 84.1% of the health personnel and 61.9% of the GAS workers knowing symptoms of breast cancer. Conclusions: Women in society should be brought to a certain level of awareness and knowledge regarding BSE. It is of the utmost importance that health personnel, who carry the responsibility for counseling and enlightening society, should interiorize the necessary knowledge, attitudes and behavior.