• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.107-122
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• 2003

Objectives: The objective of this study is to investigate the use rate and some aspect of complementary therapies used by patients with chronic illness(hypertension, diabetic mellitus and chronic arthritis). Methods: 600 patients visiting the health center for one month(Jan. 2001) were interviewed on their complementary therapies used by the subjects for the previous year. Results: About fourteen-eight percent of the respondents used therapies; 35% of patients with hypertension, 44.6% of patients with diabetic mellitus and 62.9% of patients with chronic arthritis, which shows the highest rate among patients with three chronic disease. The use rate of complementary therapies indicates few meaningful differences according to the general characteristics of the interviewees. Hypertension patients used herb medication(31.0%) acupuncture(29.6%) and most of all the other therapies. Diabetic patients used dietary therapy(57.5%) and herb medication(35.1%). Chronic arthritis patients used acupuncture(85%) and herb medication(34.7%). 36.8% of all the patients who used complementary therapies tried more than two therapies. 18.3% of hypertension patients, 24.1% of diabetic patients and 55.9% of chronic arthritis patients used more than two therapies. Acupuncture(47%) was used most frequently, followed by herb medications(26.3%), health assistance utensils(21.8%). oriental therapy(21.8%), physical therapy(9.5%), health assistance food(8.4%), herb(7.7%), Korea hand acupuncture(3.2%), abdomen respiration(1.1%), and pore therapy(0.7%) Oriental clinic was visited most frequently(42.8%), which was used to cure diseases(61.8%), and to relieve symptoms(26.0%). (p<0.001) The cost spent on complementary therapies last year was 90,000 won(40.3%) and there are some cases of more than 500,000 won(31.2%). Most of the patients(56.1%) were satisfied with the complementary therapies, with 6% of them having side effects. 74% of the patients used complementary therapies answered that they would continue them and 56.1% of them also answered that they would continue them and 56.1% of them also answered that they would advise other patients to do them. Advantages(compared with those of orthodox medical treatment) are psychological comfort(28.1%), body protection(26.0%), effectiveness(20.0%). 34% of the patients using complementary therapies wanted to have informational orientation on complementary therapies. These findings reveal that a considerable number of patients with chronic illness(47.5%) tried a variety of complementary therapies. Though 6% of the patients using therapies had side effects, most of the subjects seemed satisfied with them and they are supposed to continue them. Conclusions: In conclusion, health center personnels and medical doctors should pay more attention to the complementary therapies used by patients with chronic illness. They also have to try their best to advise more scientific and informative complementary programs with less side effects and more help to improve their conditions.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.35-39
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• 2024

Osteomyelitis of the jaw is an inflammatory process of the bone marrow that is caused by odontogenic local infection and trauma such as tooth extraction and fractures in the oral and maxillofacial region. The clinical signs include pain, swelling, pus formation, and limited mouth opening. Chronic osteomyelitis presents a diagnostic challenge because of the variability of symptoms across different disease stages and varying health conditions of the patients. This report presents a case of osteomyelitis that was misdiagnosed as a temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) after tooth extraction. The patient was treated for inflammation after tooth extraction in the early stage; however, as the osteomyelitis progressed chronically, symptoms mimicked those of a TMD. The patient was finally diagnosed with osteomyelitis 6 months after tooth extraction. A review of this case and relevant literature revealed the necessity for a differential diagnosis of chronic osteomyelitis that mimics TMD symptoms.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.40-42
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• 2024

Hyperparathyroidism (HPT) is a significant condition marked by the overproduction of parathyroid hormones, affecting both systemic health and orofacial regions. Predominantly, secondary HPT associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is critical because of its link to widespread conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. This short article highlights the vital role of dental professionals in identifying HPT through panoramic radiography, which can reveal critical orofacial signs such as brown tumors, altered dental development, and specific bone changes. With the CKD prevalence expected to increase alongside an aging population, the importance of early detection of HPT and its manifestations in dental settings cannot be overstated. Dental practitioners play a crucial role in the early detection of HPT, emphasizing the importance of being knowledgeable about its orofacial manifestations.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.1865-1871
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• 2015

While health information-seeking behavior as an indicator of health communication of patients including cancer survivors has been researched, few studies have focused on how socioeconomic position and media use combine to influence health-related information seekers. This study examined social characteristics of health information-seeking behavior taking into account an individual's socioeconomic position and their media use in Korea, a developed country. The data for this study came from a survey of 1,010 respondents drawn from a nationally representative sample in the Republic of Korea. We conducted multivariate logistic regression analyses for gender-specific effects. We found that men who reported high household income were one and half times more likely to seek health information than those with low income status. We also found that women who performed Internet searches by computer at home were almost two times more likely to seek health information than those who did not. Similar results were found for men as well. Our analyses revealed that socioeconomic position and media use are associated with health information-seeking behavior by gender. Studies on information seekers may bring us more effective health promotion and relevant intervention for people with chronic conditions including cancer survivors.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.343-351
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• 2000

The Korean government enacted the National Health Promotion Act in January, 1995 and proclaimed its regulations and rules in September 1995, which became the basis of the national health policy. The health promotion programs consist of education for health, prevention of diseases, improvement of nutrition, and practice of healthy life style as defined in that Act. The Community Health Act was amended in 1995, which included implementing nutrition services in community health centers. The purpose of this report is to summerize the nutrition services conducted in 32 community health centers. the main nutritional activities were as follows : 1) nutritional guidance by counseling and education for pregnant or lactating women, infants, preschool children, and those with chronic diseases, 2) collection, analysis, and interpretation of data collected from the community, on background conditions and target population for the assessment of community needs, 3) evaluation of nutritional status of population in the community 4) nutritional guidance for mass feeding in different institution including schools and welfare institutions. In order to meet the government's expectations and desires, the community health centers have made continuous efforts to put nutritional activities into practice in the community. However, there are constraints, such as relative staff shortages, lack of funds, and information which hampers the nutritional activities.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.78 no.2
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• pp.99-105
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• 2015

Background: Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a ligand-dependent transcription factor, binds to a wide variety of synthetic and naturally occurring compounds. AhR is involved in the regulation of inflammatory response during acute and chronic respiratory diseases. We investigated whether nuclear receptor coactivator 7 (NCOA7) could regulate transcriptional levels of AhR target genes and inflammatory cytokines in 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-treated human bronchial epithelial cells. This study was based on our previous study that NCOA7 was differentially expressed between normal and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease lung tissues. Methods: BEAS-2B and A549 cells grown under serum-free conditions were treated with or without TCDD (0.15 nM and 6.5 nM) for 24 hours after transfection of pCMV-NCOA7 isoform 4. Expression levels of cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1), IL-6, and IL-8 were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: The transcriptional activities of CYP1A1 and inflammatory cytokines were strongly induced by TCDD treatment in both BEAS-2B and A549 cell lines. The NCOA7 isoform 4 oppositely regulated the transcriptional activities of CYP1A1 and inflammatory cytokines between BEAS-2B and A549 cell lines. Conclusion: Our results suggest that NCOA7 could act as a regulator in the TCDD-AhR signaling pathway with dual roles in normal and abnormal physiological conditions.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.30-39
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• 2021

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the differences in gait and mobility according to the types of assistive device for ankle joint including ankle foot orthosis (AFO), non-elastic tape, elastic tape, and high ankle shoes in chronic hemiplegic stroke survivors. Design: A cross-over design. Methods: Twelve hemiplegic stroke survivors participated in this study, and they walked under 5 different conditions including bare feet, wearing a AFO, wearing a non-elastic tape, wearing a elastic tape, and wearing a high ankle shoes. During the participants walked, the spatio-temporal gait analysis and mobility examinations were performed. For the spatio-temporal gait analysis (gait velocity and cadence, step length, stride length, and single and double leg support time) and mobility examinations, the gait mat, TUG and TUDS were used. Results: As s results, on the AFO, non-elastic tape, elastic tape, and high ankle shoes, there were significantly differences in the all spatio-temporal gait parameters, TUG, and TUDS compared to barefoot (p<0.05). In particular, all spatio-temporal gait parameters, TUG, TUDS were significantly improved with AFO compared to barefoot. TUG was significantly improved with AFO compared to non-elastic tape, TUG and TUDS were significantly improved with AFO compared to elastic tape, gait velocity was significantly improved with non-elastic tape compared to high ankle shoes, gait velocity and TUG were significantly improved with elastic tape compared to high ankle shoes, and TUDS was significantly improved with non-elastic tape compared to elastic tape. Conclusion: The AFO, non-elastic tape, elastic tape, and high ankle shoes showed a positive effect on gait and mobility compared to barefoot, and among them, wearing AFO was most effective for improving gait and mobility of chronic hemiplegic stroke survivors.

• Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.591-613
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• 2018

Chronic cough is common in the community and causes significant morbidity. Several factors may underlie this problem, but comorbid conditions located at sensory nerve endings that regulate the cough reflex, including rhinitis, rhinosinusitis, asthma, eosinophilic bronchitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease, are considered important. However, chronic cough is frequently non-specific and accompanied by not easily identifiable causes during the initial evaluation. Therefore, there are unmet needs for developing empirical treatment and practical diagnostic approaches that can be applied in primary clinics. Meanwhile, in referral clinics, a considerable proportion of adult patients with chronic cough are unexplained or refractory to conventional treatment. The present clinical practice guidelines aim to address major clinical questions regarding empirical treatment, practical diagnostic tools for non-specific chronic cough, and available therapeutic options for chronic wet cough in children and unexplained chronic cough in adults in Korea.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.30 no.3 s.58
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• pp.530-539
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• 1997

This study was conducted to assess the health risk on the volatile organic compounds such as toluene, xylene, and styrene in painting workplace. It was monitored through personal air sampling during working time in selected 5 workplaces and analysed using gas chromatography. For the settlement of exposure situation, there were regarded working conditions such as working hours, yearly working days, and working years. Also, Monte-Carlo simulation was used for the induction of hazard index using toxicity value from IRIS(Integrated risk information system) database. The results of risk assessment were summarized as follows. 1. The air concentration of toluene was $7.096{\pm}15,644ppm,\;2.586{\pm}4.275ppm\;for\;xylene,\;1.914{\pm}5.320ppm$ for styrene in blast painting workplaces. The level of toluene was different significantly compared with the level of xylene and styrene. 2. Computated chronic daily intake values of 95th percentile on toluene, xylene and styrene treated by Monte-Carlo simulation were 9.616, 3.567, 2.782 mg/kg/day, respectively. 3. Computated hazard index values of 75th percentile on toluene, xylene and styrene treated by Monte-Carlo simulation were 3.5, 1.0 and 1.6, respectively. Adverse health effects on the toluene, xylene and styrene would be expected by working exposure in selected 5 workplaces since the hazard indices of three compounds were exceeded 1 in the surroundings of 75th percentile though having the low emerged frequency.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.201-206
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• 2022

Background: The present objective was to verify whether burnout (emotional exhaustion [EE], depersonalization [DP] and low professional efficacy [PE]) is a risk factor for long-term sickness absence (LTSA; 30 consecutive days) from the teaching role. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study with two years of follow-up that investigated 509 elementary and high-school teachers. Burnout was identified by Maslach Burnout Inventory. Poisson regression with robust variance was used to adjust for possible confounders. Results: The incidence of LTSA was 9.4%. High EE levels were associated with LTSA in the crude analysis, but the association lost statistical significance after adjustments (for sex, age, perception of work-life balance, general self-rated health, chronic pain and depression). High DP levels were associated with this outcome, even after all adjustments (relative risk = 1.80; 95% confidence interval: 1.05-3.09). Low PE levels were not related to LTSA. Conclusion: The results reinforce the need to improve teachers' work conditions to reduce burnout, particularly DP, and its consequences.