• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.240-246
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Folic acid supplementation before pregnancy is known to significantly reduce the risk of having a baby with neural tube defects (NTDs). Therefore, it is important for women to be aware of the effects of folic acid supplementation before pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the awareness and preconceptional use of folic acid and to assess the current knowledge about folic acid among low-income pregnant women in Korea. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted in 2012. Five hundred pregnant women were selected from the waiting list for the Nutriplus program implemented in public health centers using a multistage clustered probability sampling design. Data from 439 women were analyzed after excluding ones with incomplete answers. RESULTS: Among women who responded to the questionnaire, 65.6% had heard of folic acid before pregnancy, and 26.4% reported on the preconceptional use of folic acid. Women with a university degree or higher education were more likely to be aware of folic acid and to take folic acid in the preconception period. In a multivariate logistic regression, when age, education level, household income, employment status, gravidity, parity, and folic acid awareness were included in the model, folic acid awareness was a strong predictor of preconceptional folic acid use. As of interview, 85.4% and 77.7% of women were aware of the NTD-preventive role of folic acid and the appropriate time to take folic acid, respectively. The main sources of information on folic acid were healthcare professionals (41.2%), friends and family members (31.2%), and the media (26.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that public health strategies are needed to increase the preconceptional use of folic acid among Korean women.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.61-74
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• 2009

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of reflexology foot massage (RFM) to improve quality of life and reduce anxiety for hospitalized cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Methods: This study was conducted at the East-West Cancer Center at Daejeon University; Using an waiting list and non-treatment control research design, we compared the results of control group and to that of the experimental group. The study consisted of 14 hospitalized cancer patients being admitted to the East-West Cancer Center of Daejeon University Dunsan Oriental Hospital in Korea. We measured FACT-G (Functional Assessment Cancer Therapy-General) and STAI (Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) scale before, after and 48 hours after the intervention. The patients received 30 minute RFM 5 times a week. Results: There was an average increase on the FACT-G, Physical, total scale and decrease of STAI 1 scale in the treatment group compared with control group (P < 0.05). Anxiety in the treatment group showed significant decrease compared to control group. It suggests that RFM may alleviate cancer-related anxiety and contribute to the improvement in quality of life among cancer patients. Therefore, there was limited equivalences with experimental group. Conclusions: We concluded that RFM can be considered a supportive treatment used in combination with chemotherapy.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.87-96
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• 2011

Objectives : The aim of this study is to review clinical trials using moxibustion on hypertension and to assess their methodology and results. Methods : Electronic literature searches for clinical trials (randomized trial, non-randomized trial, before-after study) of moxibustion were performed in nine electronic databases (four international databases and five Korean databases) and handsearch. English, Korean or Chinese articles were included. Laboratory or animal studies were excluded. Results : A total of twelve studies met the inclusion criteria. Seven randomized controlled trial, three non-randomized trials and two before-after studies were included. Seven studies used direct moxibustion(two are scarring one) and five used indirect one. Five of twelve studies used moxibustion treatment just one time, except for that most frequency was once daily or 2-3 times per week for 1-2 months. Of ten randomized or non-randomized studies, three used antihypertension drug control and another three used waiting list control. Compare to baseline, change of blood pressure after moxibustion treatment was significant in all studies. However, the results of effect in blood pressure between moxibustion and controlled were not consistent. Methodological quality of clinical trials included in this review was low and has risk of bias, especially in blinding of parcitipant. Conclusions : There are little high-quality clinical trials of moxibustion for hypertension. To evaluate the effect of moxibustion, more rigorous trials are warranted. Also, methodology of clinical trials have to be descripted in detail.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.31-41
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to test the effects of self-help program offered to patients with arthritis. Method: A quasi-experimental study design with nonequivalent groups was employed for the study. The subjects in the experimental group were 19 residents of K City who visited K Health Center with chief complaints of osteoarthritis and who agreed to participate in the self-help program from January through April 2003. The subjects in the control group were 18 patients with arthritis, selected among patients on the waiting list of self-help program using random sampling method. Data related to pain, ADL, exercise self-efficacy, and knowledge about arthritis were obtained from both groups. SPSS Win 11.5 was used for the data analysis. Results: The results of this study were as follows. 1. The pain score and exercise self-efficacy of the study group were significantly higher than the control group. 2. The ADL score and knowledge about arthritis were not significantly higher than the control group. Conclusion: Based on the study results, self-help program was proved to be effective in alleviating pain, and promoting exercise self-efficacy related to arthritis.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.45-60
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• 2010

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between the effectiveness of Brief Qigong-based Stress Reduction Program(BQSRP) and personality. Methods : Twenty nine women and nine men from the community with symptoms of distress(mean age 39.4 years, SD=11.4) were randomized into a group receiving a 4-week intervention of BQSRP(n=19) or a waiting-list control group. All subjects completed the temperament and character inventory (TCI) before the intervention. Before and after the intervention period, questionnaires were completed on perceived stress scale(PSS), anxiety, and quality of life. Results : 1. Those who have higher temperament of harm avoidance or lower character of self-directedness showed higher PSS, Hwa-Byung character, Hwa-Byung symptom, STAI and lower WHOQOL-BREF scores. 2. In the BQSRP training group, a correlation analysis demonstrated an association between higher temperament of harm avoidance and greater improvement of perceived stress and an association between lower character of self-directedness and greater improvement of perceived stress. 3. Those who have high Hwa-Byung symptom scores prefer the breathing meditation and there were no differences in effects of BQSRP group by the preference Brief Qigong-based Meditation(BQM) component. Conclusions : These results suggest that a BQSRP training may be effective for those with higher harm avoidance trait and low self-directedness.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.111-122
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to develop a computer-based cognitive bias modification program (CBM-I) and to test the efficacy of CBM-I for college students with social anxiety. Forty socially anxious individuals were randomly assigned to the CBM-I(n=21) or a waiting list condition(n=19). Both groups were assessed at the beginning and the end of the program with interpretation bias and social anxiety symptoms(e.g. B=FNE=Brief-Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale, LSAS=Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale). The CBM-I modified interpretation by providing positive feedback when participants made benign interpretations and negative feedback in response to threat interpretations. Participants in CBM-I completed three computer sessions over three weeks. The CBM-I successfully decreased social anxiety symptoms compared to the control condition(t=2.35, p<.05; t=4.70, p<.001). This result suggests that interpretation modification may have clinical utility when applied as a multi-session intervention.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.185-195
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• 2015

During hospital peak times of outpatients, an effective mechanism that informs the newly receipted patient information to corresponding medical departments is lacking in current hospital reception systems. Since every department repeatedly searches entire patient reception database in sequential manner to acquire its reception information, this is a significant performance degradation factor in hospital information system. To improve hospital reception system efficiency, we developed two web socket based systems, a primary key transmitting batch system and a reception information transmitting real time system. The former reduced database access time compared to sequential search system as well as kept search time low regardless of receipted patient number. The latter effectively reduced waiting list updating time in request/response patient reception system by eliminating database access.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.216-221
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• 2014

Background: Mental health complaints are quite common in health care employees and can have adverse effects on work functioning. The aim of this study was to evaluate an e-mental health (EMH) approach to workers' health surveillance (WHS) for nurses and allied health professionals. Using the waiting-list group of a previous randomized controlled trial with high dropout and low compliance to the intervention, we studied the pre- and posteffects of the EMH approach in a larger group of participants. Methods: We applied a pretest-posttest study design. The WHS consisted of online screening on impaired work functioning and mental health followed by online automatically generated personalized feedback, online tailored advice, and access to self-help EMH interventions. The effects on work functioning, stress, and work-related fatigue after 3 months were analyzed using paired t tests and effect sizes. Results: One hundred and twenty-eight nurses and allied health professionals participated at pretest as well as posttest. Significant improvements were found on work functioning (p = 0.01) and work-related fatigue (p < 0.01). Work functioning had relevantly improved in 30% of participants. A small meaningful effect on stress was found (Cohen d = .23) in the participants who had logged onto an EMH intervention (20%, n = 26). Conclusion: The EMH approach to WHS improves the work functioning and mental health of nurses and allied health professionals. However, because we found small effects and participation in the offered EMH interventions was low, there is ample room for improvement.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.389-400
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• 2022

Objectives: Depression is a highly prevalent disease, and the market for antidepressant drugs continues to grow at a steady rate. Although current antidepressants are reported to be effective, because of their low remission rate and side effects, new antidepressants are needed. The use of Banhahubak-tang (BHT) to treat the symptoms of depression is supported by experimental evidence. The proposed study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of BHT in treating depression. Methods: A randomized, waitlist-controlled, parallel clinical trial will be conducted to assess the efficacy of BHT in depression. A total of 84 participants with depression will be randomized into the intervention group or waitlist-control group at a 1:1 ratio. Patients in the intervention group will be administered BHT three times a day for four weeks and followed up for four more weeks after therapy completion. Patients in the waitlist-control group will undergo the same intervention and follow-up after a four-week waiting period. The primary outcome is change in the Korean version of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (K-HDRS) scores for major depressive disorders after four weeks. The secondary outcomes include scores on the K-HDRS, Korean Symptom Check List 95 (KSCL-95), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Korean version (STAI-K), State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-Korean version (STAXI-K), and the Instrument on Pattern Identifications for Depression and EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ-5D). Conclusions: This trial will provide high-quality clinical evidence of the efficacy and safety of BHT in the management of depression.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.415-421
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• 2023

The revision of the Korea Organ Transplantation Act (KOTA) in 2018 included hand/arm among the organs that can be transplanted. The first hand transplantation since the revision of KOTA took place in January 2021. A 62-year-old male patient experienced hand amputation on July 13, 2018, by a catapult injury. The patient first visited our institute 3 months after the injury. After serial interviews and an overall evaluation, the patient was registered on the hand transplantation waiting list in January 2020. On January 9, 2021, the patient underwent hand transplantation at the right distal forearm level. The total operation time was 17 hours 15 minutes, and the cold ischemic time was 4 hours 9 minutes. Postoperative immunosuppression was administered based on the protocol used for kidney transplantation. Two acute rejection episodes occurred, on postoperative days 33 and 41. Both rejection episodes were reversible with rescue therapy of a higher tacrolimus trough level, steroid pulse therapy, and topical immunosuppressants. Controlled passive range of motion exercise was started on postoperative day 10. Dynamic splint was applied on postoperative day 18. At 1 year, graft maintenance and functional improvement were satisfactory, and the patient showed a Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand score of 25.8. We successfully performed the first hand transplantation surgery under the KOTA amendment. It came from the organic and effective cooperation of plastic, orthopaedic, and transplantation departments and we believe it will guarantee the future ongoing success.