• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.379-389
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• 2022

The number of public transportation users has dropped drastically due to COVID-19. In this work, my survey was conducted to uncover the factors that influence citizens' travel patterns. Data were collected and logistic regression analysis on the shifts in transportation was undertaken. Additionally, an importance-performance analysis was carried out to investigate how to effectively operate public transportation systems and improve facilities. The main research findings were as follows: First, the more individuals were concerned about COVID-19 (+) and being infected when using public transportation (+), the greater the tendency to switch to private transportation modes. Secondly, when it came to personal traits, respondents who could drive a car (+) or owned a car (+)or did more online shopping (+) or used public transportation for trips (+) tended to switch over, compared with respondents who could not drive or did not own a caror used public transportation to commute. In addition, respondents who were vaccinated (-) or had more household members tended not to switch transportation modes, compared with those who were not vaccinated or had fewer household members. Third, it is important to continue the following efforts to safeguardhygiene linked to public transportation: wearing masks, disinfecting hands, controlling diseases, and general cleaning. The conclusion was that it is important to put traffic congestion and ventilation issues first, especially in regards public transportation, which was not rated as satisfactory enough compared to its importance. The research findings can provide useful basic data when establishing countermeasures to the current COVID-19 circumstances in the areas of public transportation operation and management and in the event of an infectious disease outbreak in the future.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.624-632
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• 2000

Background : Home ventilation can decrease hospital-acquired infection, increase physical activity, improve nutritional status, enhance quality of life, and reduce medical costs. The number of patient using home ventilators has been increasing, particularly in Europe and United States. Although the number of patients with home ventilation has been increasing in Korea, the current status of these patients is not well known. This study was undertaken to obtain basic information upon these patients in addition to evaluating any problems related to patients' home care in our country. Methods : A register of 92 patients with home ventilators in Seoul and Kyunggi Province were obtained from commercial ventilator supply companies. The patients were contacted by phone and 29 of them accepted our visit. Information concerning education about home care before discharge, equipment cost, and problems related to home care were documented. The mode and preset variables of the home ventilator were checked; tidal volume (TV), peak airway pressure, and oxygen saturation were measured. Results : There were 26 males (90%) and their mean age was 48.0 (${\pm}20.1$) years. The underlying diseases were : 21 neuromuscular disorders, 2 spinal cord injuries, 6 chronic lung diseases. Among the caregivers, spouses (n=14) predominated. Education for home care before discharge was performed primarily by intensive care unit nurses and the education for ventilator management by commercial companies. Twenty-five of the 29 patients had tracheostomies. Volume targeted type (VTT ; n=20, 69%) was more frequently used than the pressure targeted type (PTT). Twenty-three of the 29 patients purchased a ventilator privately, which cost 7,450,000 (${\pm}$3,290,000) won for a PTT, and 14,280.000 (${\pm}$3,130,000) won for a VTT. Total cost for the equipment was 11,430,000 (${\pm}$634,000) won. The average cost required for home care per month was 1,120,000 (${\pm}$1,360, 000) won. Conclusion : The commonest underlying disease of the patients was neuromuscular disease. The VTT ventilator was primarily used with tracheostomy. Patients and their families considered the financial difficulties associated with purchasing and maintaining equipment for home care an urgent problem. Some patients were aided by a visiting nurse, however most patients were neglected and left without professional medical supervision.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.7
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• pp.636-642
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• 2007

Purpose : Fluconazole prophylaxis for very low birth weight (VLBW) infants has been shown to reduce invasive fungal infection and its mortality. This study aims to evaluate the effect of fluconazole prophylaxis in VLBW infants on the incidence and mortality of fungal infection. Methods : VLBW infants with endotracheal intubation and central vascular access admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Chonnam University Hospital were enrolled. Twenty eight infants of 7-month baseline period from January to July 2005 ('non-fluconazole group') were compared with 29 infants of a 7-month fluconazole period from January to July 2006 ('fluconazole group'). Results : Gestational age, birth weight, sex, mode of delivery, frequency of twin pregnancy, chorioamnionitis, antenatal steroid and rupture of membranes were similar between the fluconazole and non-fluconazole groups. The rate of extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants, frequency and duration of prophylactic antibiotics, total parenteral nutrition and umbilical catheters, duration of intralipid, mechanical ventilation and nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) were also not significant. However, frequency of percutaneous central venous catheterization (PCVC) and intralipid administration, and duration of PCVC were significant between the two groups. The overall incidence and mortality of fungal infection were not different between the two groups. Although the Malassezia infection was increased in the fluconazole group (P<0.05), candida was significantly decreased compared to the non-fluconazole group (P<0.05). Conclusion : Fluconazole prophylaxis in high risk VLBW infants decreased the candida infection significantly. Antifungal prophylaxis is recommended in terms of cost effectiveness, but further study is needed to clarify the reason for the increase of Malassezia infection.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.500-512
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• 2000

Background : To evaluate the efficacy of two methods of obtaining lung recruitment to reduce ventilator-induced lung injury(VILI). Methods : Fifteen New-Zealand white rabbits were ventilated in the pressure-controlled mode while maintaining constant tidal volume(10 ml/kg) and fixed respiration rate. Lung injury was induced by repeated saline lavage (PaO2<100 mmHg), and the pressure-volume curve was drawn to obtain Pflex. The animals were then randomly assigned to three groups and ventilated for 4 hours. In the control group(n=5), positive end-expiratory pressure(PEEP) less than that of Pflex by 3 mmHg was applied throughout the study. In the recruitment maneuver(RM) group(n=5), RM(CPAP of 22.5 mmHg, for 45 seconds) was performed every 15 minutes in addition to PEEP level less than Pflex by 3 mmHg This phrase is unclear. In the Pflex group, PEEP of Pflex was given without RM. Gas exchange, lung mechanics, and hemodynamics parameters as well as pathology were examined. Results : 1) Both the control and RM groups showed decreasing tendency in PaO2 with time. There was significantly decreased PaO2 at 4 hr compared to Ihr(p<0.05). But in the Pflex group, PaO2 did not decrease with time(p<0.05 vs other groups at 3, 4 hr). PaCO2 did not show significant difference among the three groups. 2) There was no significant difference in static compliance and plateau pressure. Mean blood pressure and heart rate also did not show any significant difference among the three groups. 3) The pathologic exam showed significantly less neutrophil infiltration in the Pflex group than in the control group(p<0.05). There was borderline significant difference in hyaline membrane score among the groups (p= 0.0532). Conclusion : Although recruitment maneuver of the injured lung may be important in decreasing VILI, it alone may not be sufficient to minimize VILI.