• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.409-420
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• 2018

Objectives: An outbreak of humidifier disinfectant-related respiratory disease has not only been a massive disaster for end users, but it is also a concern for the workers of the manufacturers. This study presents the results of a questionnaire survey on the health effects among workers involved in the manufacture of humidifier disinfectants. Methods: Seven sites where humidifier disinfectants were manufactured were identified. A questionnaire survey was conducted to assess the physical symptoms experienced by workers related to humidifier disinfectants. Among a total of 177 workers, 42 subjects were available for the survey. Results: Twenty-one of the 42 respondents reported that they experienced respiratory or skin and mucosal irritation symptoms during work. Of the respondents who experienced symptoms, 14 believed that their symptoms were related to the work process and reported that the symptoms were experienced while working. However, no respondents reported ongoing symptoms or sequelae during the investigation period, and this result could not minimize selection bias due to low response rates. We then compared the characteristics of the group who experienced suspicious symptoms with those of the group without any symptoms. There was no statistically significant difference between two groups. Conclusions: We could not find significant health effects related to the humidifier disinfectant manufacturing process, although 21 respondents experienced stimulant symptoms and 14 respondents believed that the symptoms were related to the work process. Due to the long period of time after occupational exposure and the lack of data, there were many limitations to this study. However, this is one of the few follow-up investigations of workers related to this large-scale disaster in South Korea and the limitations of this study highlight the need to follow up with a nationwide database rather than an occasional survey.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.10 no.1 s.22
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• pp.137-155
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• 2007

Purpose : This study was undertaken to make a diagnosis weakness and firmness (虛實) of Dysmenorrhea patients by diagnosis questionnaires system(Diagnosis System of Oriental Medicine-DSOM) Methods : The subjects were 58 volunteers who was suffering for dysmenorrhea, employed using Measure of Menstrual Pain (MMP) questionnaire. The had agreed to take part in this experiment, with didn't take any anodyne drugs. The MMP score by using 7 questions and the Menstrual Symptom Severity List(MSSL-D) was measured before and after menstruation cycle. Results and Conclusions : The findings of this study were as follows; 1. We examined Pathogenic Factor's frequency of DSOM, Coldness(寒) was 45 persons 80.36%, Damp(濕) was 40 persons 71.43%, Heart(心) was 37 persons 66.07%, Heat syndrom(熱) was 9 persons 16.07%, insufficiency of Yang(陽虛) was 6 persons 10.71%. 2. We divided Dysmenorrhea patients into two groups(weakness and firmness) by Results of DSOM, Firmness was 25 Persons 43.1%, Weakness was 23 persons 39.7%, Unknown was 10 persons 17.2%. 3. In estimation based on Measure of Menstrual Pain (MMP) questionnaire Severe menstrual pain is weakness, Mild menstrual pain is Firmness. 4. In estimation of coldness and heat syndrom, Coldness was 40 persons 69.0%, Heat syndrom, was 2 persons 3.5%, Possess both coldness and heat syndrom was 9 persons 15.5%.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.56 no.8
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• pp.338-342
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• 2013

Purpose: Allergic disease and its comorbidities significantly influence the quality of life. Although the comorbidities of allergic diseases are well described in adult populations, little is known about them in preschool children. In the present study, we aimed to assess the prevalence and comorbidity of allergic diseases in Korean preschool children. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study comprising 615 Korean children (age, 3 to 6 years). Symptoms of allergic diseases were assessed using the Korean version of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire that was modified for preschool children. Comorbidities of allergic diseases were assessed by 'In the last 12 months, has your child had symptoms?'. Results: The prevalence of symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis as recorded using the ISAAC questionnaire, within the last 12 months was 13.8%, 40.7%, and 20.8%, respectively. The symptom rates of allergic conjunctivitis, food allergy, and drug allergy were 14.8%, 10.4%, and 0.8%, respectively. The prevalence of allergic rhinitis in children with asthma was 64.3% and that of asthma in children with allergic rhinitis was 21.6%. The prevalence of rhinitis in children with conjunctivitis was 64.8% and that of conjunctivitis in children with rhinitis was 23.6%. Conclusion: The prevalence of current rhinitis in our preschool children is shown to be higher than that previously reported. Allergic conjunctivitis is closely associated with asthma and allergic rhinitis. However, further studies are warranted to determine the prevalence and effects of these comorbidities on health outcomes in preschool children.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 2017

Background: Recently symptoms-based screening questionnaires have gained attention for screening for a neuropathic pain component (NePC) in various chronic pain conditions. The present study assessed the usefulness of four commonly used NePC screening questionnaires including the Self-completed douleur neuropathique 4 (S-DN4), the ID Pain, the painDETECT questionnaire (PDQ), and the Self-completed Leeds Assessment of neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (S-LANSS) questionnaire in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) to assess the presence of NePC. Methods: This is a single-center cross-sectional study where patients with CLBP, with or without leg pain, were included. Participants were initially screened for NePC presence by a physician according to the regular practice, and later assessed using screening questionnaires. The diagnostic accuracy of these questionnaires was compared assuming the physician-made diagnosis as the gold standard. Results: A total of 215 patients with CLBP of which 164 (76.3%, 95% CI, 70.2-81.5) had a NePC were included. S-DN4, ID Pain, and PDQ have an area under the curve (AUC) > 0.8 indicating excellent discrimination. However, S-LANSS has an AUC of 0.69 (0.62-0.75), indicating low discrimination. S-DN4 has a significantly higher AUC as compared to ID Pain (d(AUC) = 0.063, P < 0.01) and S-LANSS (d(AUC) = 0.197, P < 0.01). But the AUC of S-DN4 does not significantly differ from that of PDQ (d(AUC) = 0.013, P = 0.62). Conclusions: S-DN4, ID Pain, and PDQ, but not S-LANSS, have good discriminant validity to screen for NePCs in patients with CLBP. Despite using all the tests, 20-30% of patients with an NePC were missed. Thus, these questionnaires can only be used as an initial clue in screening for NePCs, but do not replace clinical judgment.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.27-38
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• 2016

Objectives: According to Korean Medicine theory, the skin color of LU10 serves as a diagnostic clue to dyspeptic symptoms. The aims of this study were (1) to find the difference of skin color in LU10 region between functional dyspepsia (FD) and healthy control (HC) and (2) to examine the relationship between LU10 skin color parameters and dyspeptic symptoms. Methods: 39 participants (29 FD and 10 HC) have participated in this study. They were asked to complete gastrointestinal scale (GIS), gastrointestinal symptom rating scale (GSRS), Nepean dyspepsia index (NDI), functional dyspepsia-related quality of life (FD-QoL), visual analogue scale (VAS) for dyspeptic symptoms, food retention questionnaire (FRQ) and cold heat questionnaire (CHQ). $L^*$ (luminance), $a^*$ (red-green balance) and $b^*$ (yellow-blue balance) values of LU10 region were calculated through digital images of the participant's hand. Then we evaluated test-retest reliability of $L^*$, $a^*$ and $b^*$ values of LU10 region. Additionally, we compared $L^*$, $a^*$ and $b^*$ values of LU10 between FD and HC, and examined the relationship between LU10 color parameters and seven questionnaires scores. Results: Only $L^*$ values in LU10 region were significantly higher in FD compared with HC. GIS scores and the subset scores of NDI had a positive correlation with $L^*$ values significantly. Correlation coefficients of test-retest reliability of skin color measurement of LU10 ranged from 0.871 to 0.936 representing very strongly statistically significant (P<0.001). Conclusions: We confirmed the difference of skin color in LU10 region between FD and HC, and relationship between LU10 skin color parameters and dyspeptic symptoms.

• International Journal of Contents
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.31-37
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• 2015

The objectives of this study were: 1) to determine smartphone addiction, visual display terminal syndrome (VDTS) related symptoms, and state anxiety among adolescents, and 2) to identify the relationship among these variables. Data were collected via selfadministrated questionnaire survey from May to June, 2013. The survey was carried out with 540 voluntary participants at 13 to 24 years old from middle schools, high schools, and universities in Korea. The presence and severity of smartphone addiction, VDTS symptoms, and state anxiety were measured using Korean Smartphone Addiction Proneness Scale, VDTS Questionnaire, and State Anxiety Inventory, respectively. Data were analyzed by Cohen’s Kappa coefficient, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Mann-Whitney U test. The mean score of smartphone addiction for all students was 2.17 ± 0.51. The mean scores of smartphone addiction depending on school grade were 2.12 ± 0.53, 2.03 ± 0.48, and 2.42 ± 0.43 for middle school, high school, and college students, respectively. Subjects who experienced minor level of VDTS symptoms had a score of 0.49 ± 0.49 for VDTS symptoms. The score was increased when the level of addiction was higher. There were significant differences in VDTS subjective symptoms among smartphone addiction groups (p<.001). High-risk group of smartphone addiction had the highest scores in every subdomain of VDTS symptoms. Differences were also found in state anxiety among the three groups with smartphone addiction. The findings of this study showed that approximately one out of three adolescents might be classified into problematic smartphone users. Therefore, it is important to educate problematic smartphone users about smartphone addiction and VDTS symptoms to prevent further addiction and aggravation of anxiety.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.105-119
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• 2002

This study was designed to grasp the degree of job stress affecting dental technicians and the degree of the symptoms of their job stress. With this in mind, the researcher selected a total of 170 dental technicians living in Seoul and Incheon, conducting a research in a period ranging from August 1,2001, to August 20, 2001. The researcher made use of a structured questionnaire whose reliability and feasibility are proved. The questionnaire is composed of a total of 55 questions: thirteen questions related to the subjects' general characteristics; 28 questions connected to the measurement of job stress and fourteen questions linked with the measurement of job-stress symptoms. The researcher analyzed the findings with the aid of SPSS(Statistical Package for Social Sciences). The research came to draw the following conclusions on the basis of frequency, percentage, T-test, and F-test, multiple regression. I. The analysis into the job stress of the subjects indicates that there is a significant difference in difficult questions among their work places, working hours, academic background, job satisfaction and jobs(P<.05). The job stress stands at 3.48 on the average, and the area of conflict among too much work and job performance turns out to be highly perceived. 2. The analysis into the degree of the symptoms of the job stress of the subjects shows that there is a significant difference in work place, working hours, job satisfaction and the continual maintenance of job(P<.05). The symptoms of job stress accounts for 2.65 on the average. Physical symptoms turn out to be highly perceived; The response 'My arms and legs are killing me' proves to stand for 3.03. 3. The correlation between job stress and the symptoms of job stress turns out to be significant(r=0.519, P<0.001), and there is a significant correlation between the average points of each job-stress area and the average points of the symptoms of job stress. All in all, it is necessary that dental technicians themselves should make positive efforts to control and relieve stress and that more efficient programs should be implemented with a view to dealing with stress.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.1-7
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• 2012

1. Objectives : In Sasang constitutional medicine, it has been known that diagnosing Sasang constitution correctly is mostly important. We had developed an Integrated Sasang Constitutional Analysis Tool (SCAT) ${\beta}$-version using face, voice, body shape and questionnaire before. The purpose of this study is to suggest whether SCAT ${\beta}$-version is reliable or not. 2. Methods : We collected 371 subjects from 6 oriental medical clinics. We analyzed the Sasang constitutional diagnostic results using Kappa and coincidence rates between experts in Sasang constitution and SCAT ${\beta}$-version which was developed on the basis of face, body shape, voice and characteristics and symptom questionnaire data. 3. Results : The agreement rates between SCAT ${\beta}$-version and experts was 69.3% in total, and 73.2%, in Taeeumin, 70.8% in Soeumin, and 56.9% in Soyangin in detailed. The Kappa was 0.510 (p value<.000). There was an increasing trend of agreement rates and kappa value corresponded to increasing constitutional probability. When The constitutional probabilities were changed from below 40%, to over 40%, 50%, 60%, the agreement rates corresponded from 50.8% to 79.5%, 91.4%, 95.7% respectively. 4. Conclusions : A SCAT combined with a constitutional probability seemed to help experts to diagnose a patient's Sasang constitution correctly.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.13
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• pp.5283-5286
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• 2014

Stage of cervical cancer may adversely affect the quality of life (QOL) among patients. The objective of this study was to predict the QOL among cervical cancer patients by the stage of their cancer. A cross-sectional study from September 2012 until January 2013 was conducted among cervical cancer patients who completed treatment. All patients completed a interviewer-guided questionnaire comprising four sections: (A) socio-demographic data, (B) medical history, (C) QOL measured by general health status questionnaire (QLQ-30) and (D) cervical cancer specific module CX-24 (EORTC) was used to measured patient's functional, symptom scale and their global health status. Results showed that global health status, emotional functioning and pain score were higher in stage III cervical cancer patients while role functioning was higher in stage I cervical cancer patients. Patients with stage IV cancer have a lower mean score in global health status (adjusted b-22.0, 95 CI% -35.6, -8.49) and emotional functioning (adjusted b -22.5, 95CI% -38.1, -6.69) while stage III had lower mean score in role functioning (adjusted b -14.3, 95CI% -25.4, -3.21) but higher mean score in pain (adjusted b 22.1, 95 CI% 8.56, 35.7). In conclusion, stage III and IV cervical cancers mainly affect the QOL of cervical cancer patients. Focus should be given to these subgroups to help in improving the QOL.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.4805-4809
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• 2013

Background: In this study, our aim was to investigate the effect of factors, such as radiotherapy, the dose of radiotherapy, the region of radiotherapy, the age of the patient, performance, co-morbidity, the stage of the disease and the therapy modalities on the quality of life of patients with head and neck cancer. Materials and Methods: Eighty-two patients who were treated by either chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy, at the Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology, between February 2007 and September 2010, for head and neck cancer were included. The quality of life European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer, Questionnaire module to be used in Quality of Life assessments in Head and Neck Cancer (EORTC QLQ-H&N35) questionnaire was conducted in all patients before starting the radiotherapy, in the middle, at the end, at 1 month and at 6 months after the treatment. Results: According to the questionnaires at the end and at the $6^{th}$ month after the radiotherapy, it was found that the age of the patient, co-morbidity, ECOG performance state, localization, type of treatment, the stage of the disease, the dose and the region of radiotherapy affect some of the symptom scales for quality of life. Conclusions: Quality of life was affected negatively during and after the radiotherapy. However, in the $6^{th}$ month after the therapy, a significant improvement was observed in most symptoms.