• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제46권6호
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• pp.750-756
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• 2020

Objectives: After coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic, the South Korean government announced guidelines on wearing masks to prevent its spread. The guidelines have changed depending on the severity of the spread of COVID-19. This study aimed to identify mask-wearing behaviours to counter the spread of COVID-19 in indoor and outdoor environments. Methods: The type of mask worn and proper wearing were observed in cafés, supermarkets, underground shopping malls, and streets in Seoul. Behavioral assessment was repeated in August at social distancing levels 1 and 2, in October at social distancing level 1, and in November after the mask mandates. Results: In August, 22.1% of subjects in cafés, 90.8% in supermarkets, 91.8% in underground shopping malls, and 83.6% on outdoor streets wore masks properly. In October, the proportion of correct wearers increased in all locations. After masks became mandatory in November, about 97% of users of supermarkets, underground shopping malls, and streets wore masks properly. In cafés, the proportion of proper wearers was 61.5% with both social distancing level 2 in August and the mandate in November. The number of KF-certified mask wearers continued to increase from August to November. Conclusion: This study investigated mask-wearing behaviors to counter COVID-19 through observations in indoor and outdoor places in Seoul. Mask-wearing behavior was different depending on the place and the government guidelines in place. The results could be used for evaluation of the current guidelines for COVID-19.

• 한국병원경영학회지
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.16-33
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• 2022

연구목적: 적절한 동선 파악과 동선 추적은 코로나19 역학조사를 위해서 매우 중요하다. 동선 추적 앱 도입을 활발히 하기 위해서는 사용자들의 앱에 대한 기대, 선호 그리고 우려하는 부분에 대한 이해가 필요하다. 본 연구는 동선 추적 앱의 사용률을 높이고, 데이터 공유를 원활히 할 수 있게 해주는 자발적 앱 서비스에 대한 기본적 특징과 적절한 서비스를 찾고자 하였다. 또한 사람들이 왜 동선 추적 앱을 사용하려고 하는지에 대한 주요요인을 확인하였다. 연구방법: 이 연구는 2020년 11월 11일부터 12월 6일까지 온라인 서베이를 실시하였고, 통 1,048명의 응답 데이터를 수집하였다. 응답 데이터 중 2020년 가장 많은 코로나19 확진자가 나온 지역의 883명의 응답자 데이터를 분석에 사용하였다. 결과: 코로나 19 관련 앱을 사용해본 경험자들은 동선 추적 앱에 대한 높은 사용의도를 가지고 있는 것으로 나타났다. 응답자들은 보건소와 같은 공공기관에서(74%), 무료(93.88%)로 앱을 제공해주기를 원했다. 동선 추적 앱 사용의도에 영향을 미치는 요인으로는 예방적 가치, 기대성과, 인지된 위험, 촉진기능, 노력기대 등으로 나타났다. 또한 개인정보 보호 및 개인정보 노출에 대한 사용자들의 우려를 해결하고 자발적 앱 사용이 필요한 것으로 분석되었다. 함의: 본 연구 결과는 동선 추적 개발에 있어, 적절한 서비스와 사용자들의 니즈를 파악하는데 유용할 것이다. 사람들의 앱 참여율과 데이터 공유를 높일 수 있는 자발적 앱 개발을 위한 기반을 제공해준다. 또한 본 연구는 역학조사에 협조가 가능한 신뢰 가능한 동선 추적 앱 개발의 근간을 마련할 수 있다.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• 제55권2호
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• pp.215-225
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• 2022

Background/Aims: The Thai Association for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy published recommendations on safe endoscopy during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study aimed to assess the practicality and applicability of the recommendations and the perceptions of endoscopy personnel on them. Methods: A validated questionnaire was sent to 1290 endoscopy personnel globally. Of these, the data of all 330 responders (25.6%) from 15 countries, related to the current recommendations on proper personal protective equipment (PPE), case selection, scope cleaning, and safety perception, were analyzed. Ordinal logistic regression was used to determine the relationships between the variables. Results: Despite an overwhelming agreement with the recommendations on PPE (94.5%) and case selection (95.5%), their practicality and applicability on PPE recommendations and case selection were significantly lower (p=0.001, p=0.047, p<0.001, and p=0.032, respectively). Factors that were associated with lower sense of safety in endoscopy units were younger age (p=0.004), less working experience (p=0.008), in-training status (p=0.04), and higher national prevalence of COVID-19 (p=0.003). High prevalent countries also had more difficulty implementing the guidelines (p<0.001) and they considered the PPE recommendations less practical and showed lower agreement with them (p<0.001 and p=0.008, respectively). A higher number of in-hospital COVID-19 patients was associated with less agreement with PPE recommendations (p=0.039). Conclusions: Using appropriate PPE and case selection in endoscopic practice during a pandemic remains a challenge. Resource availability and local prevalence are critical factors influencing the adoption of the current guidelines.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제23권5호
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• pp.39.1-39.15
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• 2023

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination may non-specifically alter the host immune system. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 vaccination on hepatitis B surface Ag (HBsAg) titer and host immunity in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. Consecutive 2,797 CHB patients who had serial HBsAg measurements during antiviral treatment were included in this study. Changes in the HBsAg levels after COVID-19 vaccination were analyzed. The dynamics of NK cells following COVID-19 vaccination were also examined using serial blood samples collected prospectively from 25 healthy volunteers. Vaccinated CHB patients (n=2,329) had significantly lower HBsAg levels 1-30 days post-vaccination compared to baseline (median, -21.4 IU/ml from baseline), but the levels reverted to baseline by 91-180 days (median, -3.8 IU/ml). The velocity of the HBsAg decline was transiently accelerated within 30 days after vaccination (median velocity: -0.06, -0.39, and -0.04 log₁₀ IU/ml/year in pre-vaccination period, days 1-30, and days 31-90, respectively). In contrast, unvaccinated patients (n=468) had no change in HBsAg levels. Flow cytometric analysis showed that the frequency of NK cells expressing NKG2A, an NK inhibitory receptor, significantly decreased within 7 days after the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine (median, -13.1% from baseline; p<0.001). The decrease in the frequency of NKG2A⁺ NK cells was observed in the CD56^dimCD16⁺ NK cell population regardless of type of COVID-19 vaccine. COVID-19 vaccination leads to a rapid, transient decline in HBsAg titer and a decrease in the frequency of NKG2A⁺ NK cells.

• 한국음향학회지
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• 제43권4호
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• pp.422-435
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• 2024

본 연구의 목적은 안면 마스크가 한국어에 미치는 영향을 음향적, 공기역학적, 포먼트 매개변수 측면에서 검증하고자 하였다. 국내에서 판매되는 모든 종류의 마스크를 필터 성능과 접이식 방식을 기준으로 선택하였다. 본 연구에는 표준 한국어를 구사하는 경력 20년 이상의 한국인 전문 성우 2명(남녀)이 음성 데이터의 화자로 참여하였다. 연구 결과, 안면 마스크는 고주파수 범위를 약화시켜 Vowel Space Area(VSA) 및 Vowel Articulation Index(VAI) 점수를 감소시키고 모든 음성 샘플에서 Low-to-High spectral ratio(L/H ratio)을 증가시킨 것으로 나타났다. 이로 인해 음성 명료도가 낮아질 수 있음을 파악하였다. 그러나 음성 특성에 따라 증가 및 감소 정도가 결정되며 여성 화자의 경우 안면 마스크 두께가 증가함에 따라 Speech Level(SL)과 Cepstral Peak Prominence(CPP)가 증가하였다. 그러나 남성 화자의 경우 안면 마스크 두께가 증가함에 따라 이 두 매개변수가 감소하였다. 결론적으로, 본 연구에서는 마스크의 유무나 필터 성능이 음성 특성에 따른 음성 음향 매개변수에 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 안면 마스크는 음성 강도가 충분히 강하지 않거나 환경의 반향이 덜할 때 음성 노력에 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 마스크 착용시 음향 변형을 극복하기 위해 안면 마스크로 유도된 음성 노력에 대한 추가적인 연구가 수행되어야 함을 시사한다.

• 한국산학기술학회논문지
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.195-205
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• 2021

코로나19가 대유행이 되면서 국내 대부분의 간호학과에서는 기존의 실습방법이 아닌 온라인 비대면 실습을 시행하였다. 본 연구는 온라인 비대면 성인간호학실습 과정에서 경험하는 내용을 이해하고자 참여자들이 작성한 성찰일지를 분석한 질적연구이다. 연구 참여자는 일개대학 간호학과 졸업학년인 4학년 재학생 중 본 연구의 목적을 이해하고 참여에 동의한 45명이다. 온라인 비대면 성인간호학실습은 2학점 90시간으로, 1일 9시간씩 총 10일 운영되었다. 본 온라인 성인간호학실습은 컴퓨터 기반 시뮬레이션실습, 컴퓨터 기반 간호술기실습, 동영상 및 교육자료 제작, 실시간 온라인 퀴즈와 온라인 강의영상시청, 토론 등으로 구성되었다. 성찰일지를 분석한 결과, 6개의 범주, 13개의 주제모음, 33개의 주제가 도출되었다. 6개의 범주로는 '다양한 상황경험', '새로운 학습의 경험', '임상실습에 대한 성취감', '교수자와의 관계형성', '비대면 실습에 대한 양가감정', '예비간호사에 대한 두려움'으로 진술되었다. 본 연구는 포스트 코로나 시대를 준비하는 교육현장에서 성인간호학실습이 임상실습기관이 아닌 비대면 실습으로 진행하여 다양한 교육방법으로 운영하고 분석하였다는 데에 의의가 있다. 본 연구는 비대면 성인간호학 실습개발 및 운영의 중요한 기초자료가 될 것을 기대한다.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제56권3호
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• pp.288-299
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• 2023

본 연구는 COVID-19 유행 동안 대학생의 체중변화를 알아보고 체중증가와 관련된 생활습관 및 식생활 변화를 파악하기 위해 실시되었다. 대학생 270명을 대상으로 2021년 9월 22에서 10월 26일까지 온라인 설문조사를 실시하였다. 체중증가와 일반적 특성, 생활습관 및 식생활 변화와의 관련성이 로지스틱 회귀분석을 통해 평가되었다. 체중이 증가하였다고 응답한 비율은 남성이 42,9%, 여성이 44.7%이었다. 체중이 증가한 주요 이유로는 외부활동 제한으로 활동량 감소, 배달음식이나 인스턴트 위주의 식습관으로 조사되었다. COVID-19 유행 동안 체중증가와 일반적 특성 및 생활습관과의 관련성을 평가한 결과 체중증가는 주관적 건강상태가 나쁜 경우 (OR, 3.97, 95% CI, 1.98-7.96), 저체중 (OR, 0.19, 95% CI, 0.05-0.83)과 유의적 수준에서 관련성이 있었다. 체중증가와 식생활과의 관련성에 대하여 분석한 결과 체중증가가 아침 섭취빈도 증가(OR, 4.44, 95% CI, 1.76-11.21), 간식 섭취빈도 감소 (OR, 0.35, 95% CI, 0.16-0.77), 과일 섭취빈도 감소 (OR, 3.0, 95% CI, 1.32-6.80), 탄산음료 및 가당음료 섭취빈도 증가 (OR, 2.74, 95% CI, 1.26-5.99), 패스트푸드의 섭취빈도 증가 (OR, 2.32, 95% CI, 1.14-4.70)와 유의적 수준에서 관련이 있었다. COVID-19 유행은 체중증가와 생활습관 및 식생활 변화에 영향을 미쳤다. 향후 감염병을 대비하여 좀 더 많은 표본을 대상으로 한 조사결과를 바탕으로 구체적인 건강 및 영양관리 방안이 마련되어야 한다.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제22권11호
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• pp.1875-1885
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• 2021

Objective: Central nervous system involvement in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been increasingly reported. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the incidence of radiologically demonstrated neurologic complications and detailed neuroimaging findings associated with COVID-19. Materials and Methods: A systematic literature search of MEDLINE/PubMed and EMBASE databases was performed up to September 17, 2020, and studies evaluating neuroimaging findings of COVID-19 using brain CT or MRI were included. Several cohort-based outcomes, including the proportion of patients with abnormal neuroimaging findings related to COVID-19 were evaluated. The proportion of patients showing specific neuroimaging findings was also assessed. Subgroup analyses were also conducted focusing on critically ill COVID-19 patients and results from studies that used MRI as the only imaging modality. Results: A total of 1394 COVID-19 patients who underwent neuroimaging from 17 studies were included; among them, 3.4% of the patients demonstrated COVID-19-related neuroimaging findings. Olfactory bulb abnormalities were the most commonly observed (23.1%). The predominant cerebral neuroimaging finding was white matter abnormality (17.6%), followed by acute/subacute ischemic infarction (16.0%), and encephalopathy (13.0%). Significantly more critically ill patients had COVID-19-related neuroimaging findings than other patients (9.1% vs. 1.6%; p = 0.029). The type of imaging modality used did not significantly affect the proportion of COVID-19-related neuroimaging findings. Conclusion: Abnormal neuroimaging findings were occasionally observed in COVID-19 patients. Olfactory bulb abnormalities were the most commonly observed finding. Critically ill patients showed abnormal neuroimaging findings more frequently than the other patient groups. White matter abnormalities, ischemic infarctions, and encephalopathies were the common cerebral neuroimaging findings.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• 제35권
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• pp.50.1-50.11
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• 2023

Background: The rise in telecommuting or non-face-to-face work owing to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has fueled conversations regarding the "right to disconnect." Although evidence suggests that receiving work-related communications through telecommunication devices outside of work hours may lead to various symptoms and illnesses, limited research has been undertaken on these symptoms. This study therefore aims to investigate the correlation between receiving work communications through telecommunication devices after work hours and the occurrence of work-related headaches and eyestrain in full-time, non-shift white-collar workers. Methods: This study used data from the 6th Korean Working Conditions Survey. The frequency of using telecommunication devices for work purposes outside of working hours was divided into five categories: "Every day," "Several times a week," "Several times a month," "Rarely," and "Never." Work-related headaches and eyestrain were categorized based on a "yes" or "no" response to the survey questions. Descriptive statistics, χ² tests, and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed using SPSS 27.0. Results: After adjusting for sex, age, income level, education, occupation, workplace size, work hours, and sleep disorders, the odds ratio (OR) of work-related headaches and eyestrain based on frequency of telecommunication device usage were as follows: "rarely" (OR: 1.292; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.111-1.503), "several times a month" (OR: 1.551; 95% CI: 1.249-1.926), "several times a week" (OR: 1.474; 95% CI: 1.217-1.784), and "every day" (OR: 1.548; 95% CI: 1.321-1.813). Conclusions: Employees who use telecommunication devices for work after regular hours are more susceptible to experiencing work-related headaches and eyestrain compared to those who do not. However, there is a dearth of research examining the physical and mental health impacts of using telecommunication devices for after-hours work. Furthermore, the existing preventative measures in Korea are insufficient. Consequently, it is imperative to develop effective measures and conduct additional research to address this issue.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제87권4호
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• pp.532-542
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• 2024

Background: The sequelae of post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia on lung function, exercise capacity, and quality of life were observed in both short-term and long-term. However, the study about the respiratory and locomotor muscle strength in severe and critically ill COVID-19 survivors are still limited. Therefore, we aimed to examine long-term pulmonary function, functional capacities, and respiratory and locomotor body muscle strength in severe to critically ill post-COVID-19 survivors. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in 22 post-COVID-19 pneumonia and healthy adults. Clinical characteristics during admission, pulmonary function, functional capacity, respiratory muscles, and locomotor muscles strength were examined at 1, 3, and 6 months after discharge from the hospital. Results: The generalized linear mixed model showed that percent predicted of forced expiratory volume in the 1 second (%FEV1), percent predicted of forced vital capacity (%FVC), maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP), handgrip strength, 6-minute walk distance, and five times sit to stand (5TSTS) were significantly lower in post-COVID-19 pneumonia patients than in healthy subjects during the follow-up period. The percent predicted of maximal voluntary ventilation (%MVV), and locomotor muscle strength were not different between the two groups throughout the follow-up period. Among post-COVID-19 pneumonia patients, %FEV₁, %FVC, %MVV, 5TSTS, locomotor muscle strength significantly improved at three months compared to baseline at 1 month. Conclusion: Pulmonary function, functional capacity, respiratory, and locomotor muscle strength of survivors from COVID-19 were impaired and recovery was observed after three to six months. These emphasized the need to evaluate the long-term consequences of COVID-19.