• Health Policy and Management
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.59-65
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• 2013

Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze the related factors which decide the percentage of health care expenditure of the total fiscal expenditure of local governments and to provide the basic data to contribute for the efficient allotment of healthcare budget. Methods: This study was conducted by the percentage of health care expenditure for 3 years by classifying a total of 230 local governments into the metropolitan cities (gu, 69), the counties (si, 75), and the boroughs (gun, 86) all over the country. With the collected data, the general characteristics of independent variables and the dependent variable were analysed using SPSS ver. 18.0, The correlation analysis and multivariate regression analysis were conducted for the characteristics of variables according to regions by year. Results: In correlation between health care expenditure by year and other variables, there was a significant positive correlation with unemployment rate, metropolitan cities (gu) and other regions, the percentage of health center personnel, health care expenditure in last year as a independent factors. On the other hand there was no correlation with social assistance recipients and the percentage of aging population, financial self-reliance, industrialization rate, suicide rate, cardiac disease mortality, cerebrovascular mortality on health care expenditure. Conclusion: The study clearly shows that health care expenditure of local governance was not correlated with health care need factors comparing social welfare expenditure.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.164-173
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• 1991

Clinical observations were made on 349 cases of acute drug intoxication who were visited to emergency room of Yeungnam University Hospital during recent 7 years from January 1984 to December 1990. The following results were obtained 1) Total number of cases of acute drug intoxication was 349 which was 0.39% of the total patients of the emergency room during the same period. 2) The ratio of male to female was 1.1 : 1. The age incidence was highest in the third decade(26.7%). The monthly incidence was hightest in May. Higher frequency was observed in summer season. 3) The most common drug of the intoxication was pesticides and herbicides(71.9%), the remainders were miscellaneous drugs(11.2%), sedatives(7.7%), rodenticides(6.3%) and unknown drug(3.2%) in orders. 4) The most common cause of drug intoxication was suicide(69.1%) and the others were accident, unknown cause, intention in orders. 5) Main clinical manifestations were the impairment of consciousness, nausea, vomiting and convulsion. Physical examination revealed increased pulses, increased blood pressure, miosis of the pupil and sweating. Above symptoms and signs were more prominent in pesticide intoxication. Leukocytosis, glycosuria and abnormal LFT were common findings in acute intoxications. 6) The complications were developed in 18.3% among 349 cases and the most common complication was respiratory failure, pneumonia, cardiovascular collapse and pulmonary edema in orders. 7) Overall mortality rate was 8.3% of total cases and mortality rate was highest in herbicide intoxication(22.2%).

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.61-68
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• 2010

Purpose: Poisoning is a major health problem for the elderly, and poisoning can cause fatal side effects. However, the characteristics and clinical features of elderly patients with acute poisoning have not been well studied in the previous domestic research. So, we tried to analyze the clinical characteristics and toxic substances of the patients who were 65 years old or older and who were admitted to the regional emergency medical center due to acute poisoning. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and poisoning protocols of the patients who were 65 years of age or older and who had with acute poisoning and who visited the ED in our emergency center from January 2005 to December 2009. We collected the demographic information, the gender, the underlying diseases, the causes and toxic substances, the initial presentation, the treatment and the outcomes. Results: A total of 2179 poisoned patients visited the hospital during 5 years, and among them 244 were 65 years of age or older (11.2%). The mean age was $75.6{\pm}6.9$ years and the male:female ratio was 1:1.7. The most common cause of poisoning was suicide (73.4%) and the most common source of poisonous substances was their own drugs. Of the substances used for poisoning, benzodiazepine was the most common drug (25.8%), followed by sedatives other than benzodiazepine (25.4%), insecticide (12.7%), chemical agents (12.3%) and herbicides (8.2%). The most common initial presentation was mental change (64.8%). When comparing the factors between the three elderly groups, there was no difference in gender, the cause, the substances and the underlying disease. The outcomes of treatment included ICU admission (56.1%), a good condition at discharge (12.7%) and admission to a general ward (12.7%). The overall mortality rate was 10.2% for the elderly patients. Conclusion: In this Korean study, unlike the foreign studies, the most common cause of poisoning in elderly patients was intentional poisoning. The admission rate was 68.8% and mortality rate was 10.2%.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.57-60
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• 2007

Cyanide has been well known from antiquity. Cyanide poisoning causes histotoxic hypoxia--inhibition of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase with disruption of the ability of cells to use oxygen. The mortality rate is 95% within 30 minutes. Acute cyanide poisoning is mostly the result of attempted suicide, and because of the high doses typically employed it usually is lethal within minutes. Also acute cyanide poisoning leads to a very poor prognosis because medical personnel can't detect cyanide intoxication and so many hospital haven't antidote. We report two cases of cyanide poisoning which responded well to treatment with the Taylor cyanide antidote package.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2017

Korea is experiencing unprecedented destruction of communities and crisis of mental health represented by top suicide rate among OECD countries. Its causes are manifold of various factors. One of them is lack of social support and broken communities that are closely related to social capital that is linked to other health indicators such as mortality rates. This studies looks for ways to improve social capital through spatial structure and features especially social capital related to neighborhood. Researchers conducted research literature review and observation on physical features of neighborhood streets and alleys. Review of studies show housing types can affect social capital level. High-rise apartments are related with lower neighborhood related social capital compared to single homes and low-rise multi-housing. Studies that mainly examined the physical features such as street layout showed that social encounters happened around local stores and crossings of small roads. Researchers identified actual streets that are more likely to be related with social activities in the neighborhood. Those streets were with physical elements that helped social exchange such as narrower streets, exposed stairs, street furniture of residents, parks, crossing of streets while other streets were with wider and easier access of cars.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.1036-1043
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• 1989

Seventy eight patients underwent operation for combined multiple valve disease, with an overall early mortality of 14.1 % from January, 1983 to September, 1988 in the department of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery of Pusan National University Hospital. All of the above cases had combined multiple valve procedures. There were 33 mitral valve replacements and tricuspid annuloplasties, 33 aortic and mitral valve replacements, 5 aortic and mitral valve replacements with tricuspid annuloplasties, 3 aortic valve replacements and mitral annuloplasties, 1 open mitral commissurotomy and tricuspid annuloplasty and, 1 mitral valve replacement and primary closure of tricuspid valve cleft, 1 mitral valve replacement and aortic commissurotomy, 1 mitral, aortic and tricuspid valve replacement were done. 44 were male and 34 were female and the age distribution was from 14 to 57 with mean 38 year old. According to NYHA[New York Heart Association] classification, 49 patients were class I, 19 patients were class Il and 10 were class IV. Average perfusion time was 205.3 minutes. The live patients perfusion time was 178.7 minutes while that of dead ones was 272.0 minutes. Early deaths within 30 days from operation were 11 cases, 6 of which were due to low cardiac output, 3 were acute renal failure and 2 were cardiac rupture. The 65 patients were followed up from 2 to 30 months for a total 20.6 patient years. 1 patient committed suicide because of postoperative depression 1 year after operation. All of the survivors were enjoying their daily life and their NYHA class was superior to the preoperative ones.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.116-129
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• 2013

Objectives: This study was performed to identify the associations of social capital with suicidal thoughts and attempts in Korean communities with poor health. Methods: We used the data from community health interviews conducted at 40 administrative sections (dong, eup, or myeon) with high mortality from August to October in 2010, 2011, and 2012 as part of the Health Plus Happiness Plus Projects in Gyeongsangnam-do Province. The 8,800 study subjects composed of 220 adults systematically sampled from each administrative section were asked if they had thought about suicide or had attempted suicide within 1 year. The social participation was measured with 'participation in formal and/or informal group' and trust using responses to three questions about trust of others. Results: The prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempt within 1 year were 10.4% and 0.8%, respectively. The logistic regression analysis revealed that those who participated in only informal groups, or had highest trust level reported less suicidal ideation, or attempt after adjusting for socio-demographic factors (sex, age, marital status, occupation, and food affordability), self-rated health, and health behaviors (smoking, alcohol drinking, and exercise). Conclusions: This study suggested social capital such as social participation and trust was associated with less suicide ideation and attempt. More studies are warranted for the association of social capital with suicidal behavior.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.74-82
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• 2016

Objectives : Suicide attempters have impaired decision making and are at high risk of reattempt. Therefore it is important to refer them to psychiatric treatment. Especially, People with medical comorbidity are at higher risk of suicidal attempt and mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of suicidal attempters and to analyze the influence of the medical comorbidity on decision to receive psychiatric treatment after visit to an emergency department. Methods : One hundred and thirty two patients, who visited the emergency room of a general hospital in Gyeonggi-do between January, 2012 and December, 2012 were enrolled as the subjects of this study. After reviewing each subject's medical records retrospectively, demographic and clinical factors were analyzed. Results : Regardless of the engagement type, either via admission or outpatient clinic, the determinant factors of psychiatric treatment engagement were psychiatric diagnosis, employment status, previous psychiatric treatment history, and previous attempt history. Comparison of severity of medical comorbidity(Charlson Comorbidity Index) showed that suicide attempters who received psychiatric treatment via admission or refused the treatment tended to have higher level of medical comorbidity than who received psychiatric treatment via outpatient department. Conclusions : Our findings showed that medical comorbidity of suicide attempters affected the decision to accept psychiatric treatment. All psychiatrists should evaluate the presence and the severity of medical comorbidity of the suicide attempters and consider implementing more intervention for the medically ill attempters who are willing to discharge against advice.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.315-326
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• 2000

Objectives : Health behaviors that contribute to the leading cause of mortality, morbidity, and social problems among youth and adults are mostly established during youth, extend into adulthood, and are interrelated. The purpose of this study is to investigate health behavior, juvenile delinquent behavior, mental status and to understand related factor to health behavior. Methods : The study items of life style were health related habit including smoking, drinking, breakfast, regular diet, regular exercise, sleeping time and weight status. Also, sexual evidence, violence, suicidal perceptions were surveyed. Questionnaire survey was conducted from January to February, 2000 by adolescence living in Kyunggi-Do. Data were collected by self-administered questionares. The collected data were analyzed using PC-SPSS 9.0 version. Results : Most students perceived to be healthy themselves but just two thirds students had concern for health. 64.9% ever drank alcohol, 26.4% ever smoked, and also and 2.9% had attempted suicide during preceding the survey. The rate of sleeping over 8 hours is 31.8%, 65.6% had breakfast. Multiple regression analysis to find related factor with adolescents health behavior were conducted. As a results, concern for health, sex, grade, spending money and attempt to suicide were related to health behavior. Conclusion : These results showed that many efforts to improve the health-concern are necessary and suggest the need for further studies including follow-up study, intervention study on the relationship of life style.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.112-118
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• 2007

Purpose: There have been relatively few reports of chlorophenoxy herbicide poisoning. The purpose of this study is to analyze the general characteristics and clinical aspects of the chlorophenoxy herbicide intoxicated patients in Korea. Methods: We prospectively evaluated the chlorophenoxy herbicide intoxicated patients visiting to the 38 emergency medical centers in Korea from the 1 August 2005 to the 31 July 2006. Results: 24 patients were enrolled during the study periods. Their mean age was 55.7 years old. The median amount of the chlorophenoxy herbicide intoxicated is 150 mL. The most frequent location where the patients obtained and took the chlorophenoxy herbicide was their home. Frequent compounds involving chlorophenoxy herbicide poisoning were dicamba(66.7%), MCPP(16.7%), and 2,4-D(12.5%). The most common symptom of the patients was confusion and vomiting. 16 patients(66.7%) intended to suicide. 3 patients out of 24 patients(13.0%) were died. Conclusion: There were 24 patients intoxicated by the chlorophenoxy herbicide during the study periods. The mortality rate was 13.0%. The suicidal attempts and the numbers of death involving chlorophenoxy herbicide were high in Korea.