• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2473-2476
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• 2012

Background: In papillary and follicular thyroid cancers (PTC, FTC), nodal and distant metastasis are generally considered important determinants of recurrence and survival, respectively. However, there is no consensus about the threshold primary tumour size (PTS) for these determinants. The aim of this study was to assess size relationships for developing nodal, pulmonary, bone and overall distant metastases. Methods: This prospective study covered 139 (93 females and 46 males) consecutive biopsy proven patients with PTC (114/139, mean age $41.0{\pm}15.7$ years, M: F, 35%:65%) and FTC (25/139, mean age $39.2{\pm}14.3$ years, M: F: 24%:76%). Results: Average primary tumor size was $23.4{\pm}11.1$ mm and $26.5{\pm}13.1$ mm for PTC and FTC respectively (p value=0.223). Nodal metastasis was found more common in PTC than FTC (49% vs 28%, p value <0.05), whereas overall distant metastasis was approximately the same (13% and 24%, p value=0.277); however, bone metastasis was significantly higher in FTC than PTC (24% vs 5%, p value <0.05). Cumulative risk for nodal and distant metastases for FTC and PTC starts at PTS <20 mm and may indicate an unusual aggressive tumor behavior in the studied population. Highest cumulative risk for nodal and pulmonary metastases in PTC and for bone metastasis in FTC was found to be ${\geq}50$ mm PTS. Conclusion: We conclude that a PTS of <20 mm may indicate an unusual aggressive tumor behavior with highest cumulative risk for nodal and pulmonary metastases in PTC and for bone metastasis in FTC with a cutoff of ${\geq}50$ mm.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.305-312
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• 2015

The present study showed WHtR to be significantly better than BMI and WC for prediction of metabolic-related diseases in the middle-aged and older people in Korea, based on Bayesian ordered probit model analysis. The variations of WC, BMI and WHtR were compared according to the number of metabolic-related diseases such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, stroke, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris and diabetes. It was found that the three measures showed the similar variation except a very few extreme cases for age less than 40. For subjects over the age of 40, WC was not significant and WHtR gave more influence in greater variability than BMI on the number of metabolic diseases. Also, the rate of change for WHtR was higher than for BMI as the number of metabolic-related diseases increased. Specifically, the difference of the marginal effect of WHtR between no disease and only one disease was 1.81 times higher than that of BMI. Moreover, it was pointed out that the threshold value of WHtR for obesity should be considered differently by age.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.46-54
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• 2011

Objectives : The objective of this study is to assess the prevalence and risk factors of metabolic syndrome (MS) among inpatients with schizophrenia, and to compare with general population. Methods : Nine hundreds seventy inpatients were included to assess the prevalence of MS from two mental hospitals in Yong-in city. Assessment of MS was performed based on modified American Heart Association criteria with abdominal obesity threshold of 90cm for men, 85cm for women. Comparative analysis was performed using age- and gender matched sample from Korea Health and Nutritional Examination Survey III. For evaluating risk factors, analysis included 766 inpatients taking consistent medications at least for 30 days. Results : The prevalence of MS of inpatients with schizophrenia was 26.2%, in females it was 33.2%, compared to 20.2% in males(p < 0.001). Compared to general population, the prevalence of MS was significantly lower in male and higher in female patients. In terms of criteria prevalence, who met abdominal circumference criterion were more prevalent in patient group(p < 0.001). After multivariate analysis, female gender and old age remained as risk factors of MS. Conclusions : The prevalence of MS of inpatients with schizophrenia was 26.2% and significantly low compared to general population. Female gender and old age were risk factors of MS.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.2317-2322
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• 2015

Background: Despite the increasing number of screening examinations performed for cervical cancer utilizing the Papanicolaou smear test (Pap test), few studies have examined whether this strategy is cost-effective in Korea. Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of cervical cancer screening strategies incorporating the Pap test based on age at the start and end of screening as well as screening interval. Materials and Methods: We designed four alternative screening strategies based on patient age when screening was started (20 or 30 years) and discontinued (lifetime, 79 years). Each strategy was assessed at screening intervals of 1, 2, 3, or 5 years. A Markov model was developed to determine the cost-effectiveness of the 16 possible cervical cancer screening strategies, and this was evaluated from a societal perspective. The main outcome measures were average lifetime cost, incremental quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). Results: Compared with various strategies comprising younger starting age, discontinuation age, and longer screening intervals, strategies employing annual screening for cervical cancer starting at a target age of 30 years and above were the most cost-effective, with an ICER of 21,012.98 dollars per QALY gained (with a Korean threshold of 30,000,000 KRW or US$27,272). Conclusions: We found that annual screening for cervical cancer beginning at a target age of 30 years and above is most cost-effective screening strategy. Considering the potential economic advantages, more intense screening policies for cervical cancer might be favorable among countries with high rates of cervical cancer and relatively low screening costs.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.298-306
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• 2023

Objective: Pain following the insertion of separators and archwires varies with age, sex, race, ethnicity, threshold, and health status. This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of pain in orthodontic patients after the insertion of elastomeric separators, its effects on daily life, and its association with age and sex in a population not previously studied in this regard. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 130 patients undergoing orthodontic treatment included collecting data on demographics, pain experienced following the placement of separators, time of onset, duration, characteristics, change in dietary pattern or chewing side, intake of analgesics, and severity of pain on the Wong Baker's scale. The results are reported as counts and percentages. Associations between sex and age were evaluated using Pearson's chi-square test. Results: Among the 130 patients, 56.2% were 9-20 years old, 63.8% experienced pain following the insertion of separators, 22.9% had their first episode of pain at 4 hours, 56.6% experienced intermittent pain, and 37.3% experienced discomfort; 18.1% males and 81.9% females experienced pain following the insertion of separators. Pearson's chi-square test showed a significant association between pain and sex (P = 0.04). Most patients (37.3%) reported "hurts little more" for pain intensity on Wong Baker's scale and 21.7% reported all four quadrants as sites of pain. Conclusions: The pain experienced after separator insertion was associated with sex and age. Females experienced more pain than males and patients between the age range of 21 and 36 years suffered more pain during mastication than between 9 and 20 years old.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.4768-4772
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• 2012

To prevent electric shock accidents, an experience education is more effective than indoctrination education. But an electric shock experience education system required a proper physical stimulation on human body to experience electric shock. This paper experiment threshold values of a human body by using Interferential Current Type Low Frequency Stimulator in order to apply to an electric shock experience education system. And the proper stimulation values are calculated according to age (divided child and adult) and gender. Results of this study could be applied to an electric shock experience education system.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.55-62
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• 2014

For professional drivers, there is a possibility to have musculoskeletal disorders on ankle joint due to repetitive pedaling operation. Therefore, this study have focused to examine ankle active range of motion (AROM), dorsiflexor strength, and pressure pain threshold (PPT) of tibialis anterior muscle (TA) in taxi drivers compared to a age-matched control group. Thirty male taxi drivers with at least 10 years of driving experience and thirty male sedentary workers were evaluated for ankle AROM, dorsiflexor strength, and PPT of TA. Multiple independent t-tests were used to identify significant differences between two groups. For the results, taxi drivers had significantly less AROM in dorsiflexion and greater AROM in external tibial rotation compared to the control group. Also, dorsiflexor strength and PPT of TA in taxi drivers was significantly lower than in the control group. This study indicates that the repetitive ankle movements associated with driving have an effect on ankle AROM, dorsiflexor strength, and PPT of TA and may lead to work-related musculoskeletal disorders on ankle. Professional drivers may need to be educated to prevent a potential musculoskeletal disorders associated with repetitive movement.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.94-101
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• 2010

This study was performed to examine the asymmetry of hearing loss among the noise exposed male workers. Findings of otoscopic examination, pure tone audiometry and tympanometry were evaluated for 179 male workers working in the noise exposed workplace. And also selfadministered structured questionnaires were used for each worker's work-related and general characteristics including personal health behaviors. There were significant differences of hearing threshold between right and left ears at 1,000 Hz and 3,000 Hz(p<0.05). And also significant differences of hearing threshold were noted in the age group over 50 at 3,000 Hz, the high risk drinking group either at 3,000 Hz and 4,000 Hz, the work duration group 10-19 years at 3,000 Hz, the noise exposure group under 90 dB(A) at 3,000 Hz, the noise exposure group over 90 dB(A) at 1,000 Hz, the non-wearing protective device group at 4,000 Hz, and the wearing protective device group at 3,000 Hz(p<0.05). Further study is needed to explore the extent and the related factors of the asymmetry of hearing loss in the general population and occupationally noise exposed group.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.59 no.1
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• pp.217-219
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• 2010

Spasticity is a motor disorder characterized by a velocity dependent increase in muscle tone with exaggerated tendon jerks, resulting from hyper-excitability of the stretch reflex. The aim of this study is to develop a portable system for quantifying the grade of spasticity which could calculate the biomechanical as well as neurophysiologic parameters, and for determining the relationship between the Tonic Stretch Reflex Threshold (TSRT) and Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS). Eleven patients with stroke participated in the study (6 males and 5 females, the average age of $64.5\pm16.0$ years). As a results, the mean and standard deviation values of the TSRT were $129.8\pm4.2$, $123.4\pm5.2$ and $119.1\pm2.6$ in the MAS 1, MAS 1+ and MAS 2 groups, respectively. Also, there was a negative correlation between the TSRT and MAS (rho=-0.72, p<0.05). This demonstrated that the TSRT could be made clinically available for the more objective and reliable evaluation of the spasticity, instead of using the conventional clinical scales and an isokinetic dynamometer.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.271-281
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of maternal perception of children's temperament on parenting stress. The subjects of this study were 303 mothers of four to six-year-old. Evaluations of Parent and Teacher temperament questionnaire for Children 3-7 years of age(Tomas, Chess, & Kom, 1977)(korean version) was used to measure children's temperament, and PDH(Parenting Daily Hassles) was used to measure maternal perception of parenting stress. Data were analyzed by descriptive analysis, t-test, ANOVA, Peasons's Correlation and multiple regression analysis and Duncan test for post test by SPSS WIN program. The results of this study were as follows; First, the average level of maternal perception of children's temperament was the highest in the category of adaptability and the lowest in the category of threshold of responsiveness. Second, maternal perception of children's temperament was significantly different according to children's sex. Boys were perceived higher than girls for the category of activity level. Third, the degree of daily hassles was explained by adaptability, the quality of mood, and activity level relatively, while the intensity of parenting stress could be predicted orderly by adaptability, threshold of responsiveness, attention span & persistence, regularity, and activity level. Fourth, mother's daily hassles was explained 22% valiance by children's temperament such as adaptability, the quality of mood, and activity level. Future research should be done to identify the interaction of temperamental factors.