• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.17-25
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• 2010

Objectives This study was performed to figure out the effects of I-razin in overweight children without any exercise or specific diet. Methods Twenty-eight children those who were diagnosed overweight have been recruited. They were randomly assigned treatment or control group under block randomization. Treatment group were treated with I-razin for 8 weeks, and control group were treated with placebo medication under same conditions. Anthropometry, fat computed tomography and blood test have been done before and after the treatment. Results Eleven subjects in treatment group and seventeen in control group were evaluated. BMI, waist circumference, glucose, total cholesterol, and triglyceride were decreased in the treatment group. And reduction of BMI, glucose, and triglyceride in the treatment group were greater than control group. But there was no statistically significance. No side effects have been notice during the study period and no adverse effect on liver has been observed. Conclusion This study could not demonstrate effect of I-razin compared with control group. However, treatment group has a tendency of weight loss without side effect. Additional studies with large population are thought to be necessary to clarify the effect of I-razin.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.60-87
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• 2021

Purpose - This study examines the role of e-commerce resulting from technological innovation as a new approach toward internationalization. We study the relationship between e-commerce export and country distance, measured in CAGE distance, which has hindered traditional internationalization. As a control variable, entrepreneurship was introduced to check the moderating effect on the relationship between country distance and e-commerce export. Design/methodology - Based on empirical analysis, e-commerce exports from the Republic of Korea to 96 countries were used as dependent variables. First, hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to test the hypothesis about each country's distance, measured by CAGE distance, and each dimension of CAGE, on e-commerce exports. Next, the hypothesis was tested through the interaction term to examine the moderating effect of entrepreneurship. Findings - The analysis showed that the hypothesis, which postulated e-commerce exports as affected negatively by the country's distance, was supported but not that all CAGE dimensions affected it. Specifically, geographical distance and economic distance have negative effects, but cultural distance and administrative distance did not affect e-commerce exports. Thus, in contrast to the expectation that distance restrictions in e-commerce would not exist, this study confirmed that distance still matters to internationalization and that entrepreneurship can mitigate the adverse effects. Originality/value - Through these results, when export firms try to enter new markets and start internationalization through e-commerce, the entrepreneurship of the importing country should be considered.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.254-259
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• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the interactions between the job strain and social support in the workplace on the development of workrelated neck pain in office workers. Methods: The participants included 62 office workers without neck pain over the last twelve months. A battery of measures evaluating the potential workplace risk factors in office settings were conducted at the baseline, and at the 12 month incidence of work-related neck pain was reported via monthly questionnaires. Survival analysis evaluated the interaction effect between job strain and social support on the development of work-related neck pain. Results: The incidence of work-related neck pain was 1.91 (95% CI: 1.06 - 3.45) per 100 person months. The interaction effect between job strain and social support found that job strain may increase the risk of developing new work-related neck pain when lower social support existed in the workplace. On the other hand, the adverse effects of job strain on the development of neck pain were not significant when workers had higher social support from their colleagues and supervisors. Conclusion: An investigation of the moderating effects of risk factors on neck pain might reveal the unexplained relationship between the risk factors for the development of neck pain in office workers. Therefore, the interest in prevention plans and treatments should involve a comprehensive understanding of the risk factors at workplace.

• CELLMED
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.10.1-10.12
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• 2022

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of Sharbat Afsantin in Polycystic Ovarian Disease. Methods: An open observational study was carried out in the Department of Ilmul Qabalat wa Amraze Niswan. Diagnosed cases(n=30) of PCOD were included in the study. Patients with thyroid dysfunction, systemic diseases, on hormonal treatment in last three months, pregnancy and lactation were excluded. Research drug (Sharbat Afsantin) was administered orally in a dose of 25ml twice daily for 15 days/cycle for three consecutive cycles. Outcome measures were, changes in subjective parameters (duration of cycle, duration and amount of flow and weight reduction) and objective parameters {pictorial blood loss assessment chart (PBAC) score, basal metabolic index (BMI), modified Ferriman Gallwey (mFG) score, acanthosis nigricans scale and pelvic ultrasonography}. Data were analyzed using paired Student 't' test. Results: Changes in duration of cycle, duration and amount of flow were achieved in 83.3%, 50% and 40% patients respectively and weight reduction in 30% patients. Changes in PBAC score and BMI were achieved in 50% and 30% patients respectively and 30% patients showed normal findings on pelvic ultrasonography. Conclusion: Sharbat Afsantin can be used as an alternate remedy in PCOD patients, as it has significant effect to regularize menstruation by reduction in BMI and probably by improving insulin resistance in PCOD. No adverse effect of Sharbat Afsantin was noted during the trial.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.99-128
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• 2008

Nearly all Koreans are insured through National Health Insurance(NHI). While NHI coverage is nearly universal, it is not complete. Coverage is largely limited to minimal level of hospital and physician expenses, and copayments are required in each case. As a result, Korea's public insurance system covers roughly 50% of overall individual health expenditures, and the remaining 50% consists of copayments for basic services, spending on services that are either not covered or poorly covered by the public system. In response to these gaps in the public system, 64% of the Korean population has supplemental private health insurance. Expansion of private health insurance raises negative externality issue. Like public financing schemes in other countries, the Korean system imposes cost-sharing on patients as a strategy for controlling utilization. Because most insurance policies reimburse patients for their out-of-pocket payments, supplemental insurance is likely to negate the impact of the policy, raising both total and public sector health spending. So far, most empirical analysis of supplemental health insurance to date has focused on the US Medigap programme. It is found that those with supplements apparently consume more health care. Two reasons for higher health care consumption by those with supplements suggest themselves. One is the moral hazard effect: by eliminating copayments and deductibles, supplements reduce the marginal price of care and induce additional consumption. The other explanation is that supplements are purchased by those who anticipate high health expenditures - adverse effect. The main issue addressed has been the separation of the moral hazard effect from the adverse selection one. The general conclusion is that the evidence on adverse selection based on observable variables is mixed. This article investigates the extent to which private supplementary insurance affect use of health care services by public health insurance enrollees, using Korean administrative data and private supplements related data collected through all relevant private insurance companies. I applied a multivariate two-part model to analyze the effects of various types of supplements on the likelihood and level of public health insurance spending and estimated marginal effects of supplements. Separate models were estimated for inpatients and outpatients in public insurance spending. The first part of the model estimated the likelihood of positive spending using probit regression, and the second part estimated the log of spending for those with positive spending. Use of a detailed information of individuals' public health insurance from administration data and of private insurance status from insurance companies made it possible to control for health status, the types of supplemental insurance owned by theses individuals, and other factors that explain spending variations across supplemental insurance categories in isolating the effects of supplemental insurance. Data from 2004 to 2006 were used, and this study found that private insurance increased the probability of a physician visit by less than 1 percent and a hospital admission by about 1 percent. However, supplemental insurance was not found to be associated with a bigger health care service utilization. Two-part models of health care utilization and expenditures showed that those without supplemental insurance had higher inpatient and outpatient expenditures than those with supplements, even after controlling for observable differences.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.37-48
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• 2004

Purpose: Population using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and the cost or it are increasing all over the world. In this study, we investigated the utilization state of CAM in the elderly people during the last 6 months of life. Methods: We found 4,210 persons in Seoul, older than 65 years who received a funeral subsidy from health insurance after death during the latter half of the year, 2001. We stratified them by age and gender and selected 301 persons and surveyed them by questionnaire. Results: 247 persons (83.1%) used at least one of CAM during their last 6 months of life. Diet and Nutrition remedy showed the highest utilatization rate (65.5%), and drug therapies also were much used (29.9%). Utilization rate was higher in female (60%) and according to the cause of death, the highest in a geriatric disease groups, and the lowest in the cancer group. Whole satisfaction to CAM was high with average 4.25 points out of total 6, and adverse effects were almost free with average 5.55 points out of total 6. Satisfaction was the highest in Diet and Nutrition remedy but the lowest in Manipulative and Body-Based methods. Adverse-effect score was best in Manipulative and Body-Based methods. According to age and the causative disease of death, there were significant differences in satisfaction and adverse effect levels. Conclusion: Majority of old people used at least one of CAM during their last 6months of life. Whole satisfaction and adverse-effect level were very excellent.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.77-85
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• 2002

The objective of this study was to evaluate the performances of the ASBR under critical conditions of solid-liquid separation, caused by extremely high solids concentration, for wider application of the ASBR to various wastes. The ASBRs and completely-mixed daily-fed control runs were operated using a municipal mixed sludge at 35$^{\circ}C$ and 55$^{\circ}C$. Conversion of completely-mixed daily-fed reactor to sequencing batch mode and changes in HRT of all ASBRs were easily achieved without adverse effect, regardless of digestion temperature. Solids accumulation was remarkable in the ASBRs, and directly affected by settleable solids concentration of the feed sludge. Noticeable difference in solids-liquid separation was that flotation thickening occurred in the mesophilic ASBRs, while gravity thickening was a predominant solid-liquid separation process in the thermophilic ASBRS. Solids profiles at the end of thickening step dramatically changed at solid-liquid interface, and slight difference in solids concentrations was observed within thickened sludge bed. Organics removals based on subnatant or supernatant after thickening always exceeded 80% in all reactors. Thickened sludge volume and gas production of the ASBRs affected mutually. Gas production increased as thickened sludge accumulated, and continuous gas evolution during thickening could cause thickened sludge to expand or resuspend. Thickened sludge volume exceeding a predetermined withdrawal level resulted in loss of organic solids as well as biomass during withdrawal step, leading to decrease in gas production ind SRT. Such an adverse mutual effect was significant in gravity thickening, while it was not sensitive in flotation thickening. Changes in organic loading had no significant effect on organic removals and gas production after build-up of solids in the ASBRs.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.11 no.12
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• pp.71-81
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• 2013

Purpose - This study investigated the effects of consumers' selection criteria for environment-friendly agricultural products on purchase intention and the effects of consumers' attitudes and the reliability of environment-friendly agricultural products on purchase intention by using the theory of planned behavior. Subjective norms of variables of behavioral intention, attitudes toward behavior and control of the behavior were used to create selection criteria, consumers' attitudes and reliability of environment-friendly agricultural products. The study investigated the effects of consumers' selection criteria, attitudes, and reliability of environment-friendly agricultural products on purchase intention constructing models and hypotheses of mediation and moderation between selection criteria for agricultural products and purchase intention by consumers' attitudes and reliability. Research design, data, and methodology - The findings were as follows: first, consumers' selection criteria for environment-friendly agricultural products had a significantly affirmative influence upon purchase intention. Health was the most important factor of selection criteria convenience was more important than quality and familiarity was next. Consumers' attitudes and trust had a significant influence on purchase intention. Second, testing showed that consumers' attitude and trust partially mediated selection criteria: sub-factors and purchase intention were important in selection criteria. Third, testing showed that consumers' attitude and trust had a significant moderation effect between selection criteria and purchase intention. In the test of the moderation effect between sub-factors of selection criteria and purchase intention, consumers' attitude had a significantly positive influence upon health, convenience, and familiarity, and had no significant influence upon quality and purchase intention. Consumers' trust had no significant influence upon health, convenience, and quality. Results - The study provided several theoretical implications: first, an empirical analysis was undertaken with selection criteria for environmental-friendly agricultural products, consumers' attitude, and trust to investigate subjective norms, attitude toward behavior and control of behavior based on the theory of planned behavior. Second, this study investigated both the mediation effect and moderation effect of consumers' subjective norms on attitudes toward behavior, the mediating effects of perceived behavior control and changes of behavioral intention depending upon size and direction of the variables. This study also provided several practical implications. Conclusions - First, consumption of environment-friendly agricultural products did not increase despite rapid increase of production therefore, promotion of consumption and distribution was needed considering the supply and demand of the products. Second, definite standards for selection criteria were suggested to build up consumers' attitude and trust. Consumers' attitude could be improved by factors including the brand of environment-friendly agricultural products, consistent quality, solving physiological problems caused by adverse effects of environmental problems, supplementary approaches, treatment of adverse effects by eating food, and the development and supply of products in accordance with changes of lifestyle. Finally, consumers' demand for sub-factors of selection criteria could be much higher than health, convenience, and quality of the products. Therefore, a process was needed that could continuously check consumers' needs for the products. Limitations were described at the end of the study.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.201-209
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• 2020

In this study, issues related to changes in base year, which have controversial effects on fees in service contracts, were reviewed. In this regard, sensitivity analysis was conducted on the effects of changes in base year on conversion factor by type. The benefits and disadvantages of each specific type of medical institution were examined. Main conclusions are as follows. First, changing the base year to be closer to the present time had a beneficial effect on the conversion factor of hospitals. Second, changing the base year to be closer to the current point of time had an adverse effect on the conversion factor of pharmacies and clinics and had a significant adverse effect on clinics. Third, assuming that a single conversion factor is collectively applied to all types, a favorable effect occurred in all cases when the base year was changed to be closer to the present time. Base year changes can bring about conflicts of interest between insurer and providers, and within providers. Therefore, changing the base year should be pursued upon mutual agreement on a reasonable basis for resource allocation. In addition, it is necessary to provide incentives for temporary compensation for the types of losses incurred.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.1 s.69
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• pp.224-236
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• 2007

Background : Chunghyul-dan is a combinatorial herbal medicine; previous studies reported it had therapeutic effects for microangiopathy, a major part in the progression of small vessel disease, as well as having anti-hypertensive, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidative, and anti-inflammatory activities. Therefor, we examined the inhibitory effect of Chunghyul-dan on stroke recurrence in patients with small vessel disease. Methods : We prescribed Chunghyul-dan at 600 mg a day to patients with small vessel disease, and monitored stroke recurrence, drug compliances, and adverse effect for 1 year. We then performed follow-up brain MRI to find new vascular lesions after 1 year of Chunghyul-dan medication. For the subjects lost to follow-up, we assessed their prognosis after 1 year by telephone. Results : There were 73 subjects treated with Chunghyul-dan for 1 year; new vascular events were found in 3. Of the 85 subjects lost to follow-up, fifty four could be contacted, and eight of them had stroke recurrence. One year of Chunghyul-dan medication reduced the odds ratio of stroke recurrence by 75% compared to the subjects lost to follow-up and the rate increased to 88%, when adjusted for other relevant risk factors for stroke recurrence. These reductions were much higher than those of aspirin and other kinds of conventional anti-platelets. There was no adverse effect in any of the study subjects. Conclusions : We suggest Chunghyul-dan could be useful for inhibition of stroke recurrence. Further study with a randomized controlled trial is needed to confirm this suggestion.