• Journal of fish pathology
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.81-89
• /
• 2005

The toxic effects of pentachlorophenol (PCP) on haematological parameters in olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) after chronic exposure to dietary PCP (0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg diet) for 2, 4 and 6 weeks were studied. A significant decrease in total RBC count, haemoglobin concentration and hematocrit value was noted in fish exposed to PCP compared to the non-exposed fish. The PCP treatment group showed significantly lower concentration of serum total protein and albumin, and significantly higher serum chloride, magnesium and total bilirubin levels compared with those in the control group. However, PCP had no major effects on serum glucose, total cholesterol, phosphate and calcium ions in flounder. These results demonstrated that PCP have induced adverse haematological impacts in the olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus. Because we found damages in blood-forming function and disruption in blood homeostasis due to chronic exposure to PCP, it is needed to develop further experimental studies for the risk assessment of this environmental pollutant.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
• /
• v.19 no.5
• /
• pp.813-824
• /
• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of emotional labor, organizational climate, and job involvement on turnover intention in Korean dental hygienists. Methods: A total of 806 dental hygienists were enrolled in this study. A self-administered questionnaire was used to evaluate the demographic and occupational characteristics, emotional labor, organizational climate, job involvement, and turnover intention of the subjects. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed. All statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences for Windows (version 23.0) and p-values < 0.05 were considered significant. Results: Highly chronic exposure to emotional labor were more likely to increase the risk of turnover intention among dental hygienists, especially in the sub-scales of "over-load and conflict in customer service" (OR: 1.64; CI: 1.01-2.64), "organizational surveillance and monitoring" (OR: 1.76; 95% CI: 1.21-2.57), and "lack of a supportive and protective system in the organization" (OR: 1.76; 95% CI: 1.36-2.46). Job involvement (OR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.86-0.96) and organizational climate (OR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.75-0.90) were negatively associated with turnover intention among dental hygienists. Conclusions: Exposure to chronic and excessive emotional labor might be a contributing factor for turnover intention, and job involvement and a positive organizational climate contribute to protecting the negative impacts of emotional labor on turnover intention in dental hygienists.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.5-14
• /
• 2022

Background: The purpose of this study was to verify the effect of protocatechuic acid (PCA) on tendon healing and fatty degeneration in a chronic rotator cuff model. Methods: Twenty-eight Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly allocated into two groups: Saline+repair (SR) and PCA+repair (PR). The right shoulder was used for experimental interventions, and the left served as a control. PCA (30 mg/kg/day) was administered intraperitoneally at the site of infraspinatus tendon detachment in rats in the PR group, and the same volume of saline was administered to the same site in the SR group. The torn tendon was repaired 4 weeks after infraspinatus detachment. Four weeks after repair, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), S100, and CD68 stains were performed to evaluate the degree of fatty degeneration and H&E and Masson trichrome stains were performed to assess tendon healing. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) was measured to test the efficacy of PCA as an antioxidant. Results: Results from histological evaluation indicated that SOD and CD68 levels at the musculotendinous region and collagen fiber parallel to the orientation at the tendon-to-bone junction were not significantly different between the SR and PR groups. The mean load-to-failure of the PR group (20.32±9.37 N) was higher than that of the SR group (16.44±6.90 N), although this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.395). The SOD activity in the operative side infraspinatus muscle of the PR group was higher than that of the SR group, but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.053). Conclusions: The use of PCA could improve tendon healing and decrease fatty degeneration after rotator cuff repair.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.185-194
• /
• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effects of fatigue, anxiety, depression, and cognitive function on the quality of life of gastrointestinal cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Methods: Data were collected from a total of 141 participants. The measurements used were Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy for fatigue (FACIT-F), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy for cognitive function (FACT-Cog). Results: Significant correlations were found among fatigue, anxiety, depression, cognitive function, and quality of life. The mean score of quality of life was 59.60 out of 108, and 68% of the variance in QOL was explained by fatigue, anxiety, depression, and cognitive function. Cognitive function was the most influential factor (β=.30), followed by anxiety (β=-.27), depression (β=-.24), and fatigue (β=-.18). We found that the better the cognitive function, the lower the anxiety and depression, and the lower the degree of fatigue, the higher the quality of life. Conclusion: A nursing program for managing the changes in fatigue, anxiety, depression, and cognitive function should be provided to enhance maintenance and the improvement of the quality of life for gastrointestinal cancer patients who receive chemotherapy.

• Journal of Korea Society of Digital Industry and Information Management
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.97-115
• /
• 2023

In South Korea, chronic kidney disease(CKD) impacts around 4.6 million adults, leading to a high reliance on hemodialysis. For effective dialysis, vascular access is crucial, with decisions about vascular surgeries often made during dialysis sessions. Anticipating these needs could improve dialysis quality and patient comfort. This study investigates the use of Artificial Intelligence(AI) to predict the timing of surgeries for dialysis vessels, an area not extensively researched. We've developed an AI algorithm using predictive maintenance methods, transitioning from machine learning to a more advanced deep learning approach with Long Short-Term Memory(LSTM) models. The algorithm processes variables such as venous pressure, blood flow, and patient age, demonstrating high effectiveness with metrics exceeding 0.91. By shortening the data collection intervals, a more refined model can be obtained. Implementing this AI in clinical practice could notably enhance patient experience and the quality of medical services in dialysis, marking a significant advancement in the treatment of CKD.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2024

Over the past decade, there has been global expansion in the advancement of underwater cleaning technology for ship hulls. This methodology ensures both diver safety and operational efficiency. However, recent attention has been drawn to the harmful effects of ship hull-cleaning wastewater on marine animals. It is anticipated that this wastewater may have various impacts on a wide range of organisms, potentially leading to populationand ecosystem-relevant alterations. This concern is especially significant when the wastewater affects functionally important species, such as aquaculture animals and habitat-forming species living in coastal regions, where underwater cleaning platforms are commonly established. Despite this, information on the ecotoxicological effects of this wastewater remains limited. In this mini review, we discuss the adverse effects of wastewater from in-water cleaning processes, as well as the current challenges and limitations in regulating and mitigating its potential toxicity. Overall, recent findings underscore the detrimental effects posed by sublethal levels of wastewater to the health status of aquatic animals under both acute and chronic exposure.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.66 no.6
• /
• pp.726-734
• /
• 2023

Objective : Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) patients using antithrombotic agents (AT) at high risk for cardiovascular disease are increasing. The authors aimed to analyze the factors influencing outcome by targeting patients using AT and to establish a desirable treatment strategy. Methods : A retrospective analysis was performed on data from 462 patients who underwent burr hole trephination (BHT) surgery for CSDH at five hospitals from March 2010 to June 2021. Outcomes included incidence of postoperative acute bleeding, recurrence rate, and morbidity or mortality rate. Patients were divided into the following four groups based on their history of AT use : no AT. Only antiplatelet agents (AP), only anticoagulants (AC), both of AP and AC. In addition, a concurrent literature review was conducted alongside our cohort study. Results : Of 462 patients, 119 (119/462, 25.76%) were using AT. AP prescription did not significantly delay surgery (p=0.318), but AC prescription led to a significant increase in the time interval from admission to operation (p=0.048). After BHT, AP or AC intake significantly increased the period required for an in-dwelling drain (p=0.026 and p=0.037). The use of AC was significantly related to acute bleeding (p=0.044), while the use of AP was not (p=0.808). Use of AP or AC had no significant effect on CSDH recurrence (p=0.517 and p=1.000) or reoperation (p=0.924 and p=1.000). Morbidity was not statistically correlated with use of either AP or AC (p=0.795 and p=0.557, respectively), and there was no significant correlation with mortality for use of these medications (p=0.470 and p=1.000). Conclusion : Elderly CSDH patients may benefit from maintenance of AT therapy during BHT due to reduced thromboembolic risk. However, the use of AC necessitates individualized due to potential postoperative bleeding. Careful post-operative monitoring could mitigate prognosis and recurrence impacts.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.85 no.1
• /
• pp.84-95
• /
• 1996

Environmental pollution has recently been progressed in the metropolitan and industrial areas of Korea and concerns have been evolved against the chronic effects of the pollution on natural ecosystem. This study was carried out to investigate the environmental pollution impacts on ion input into forest ecosystems and soil environmental changes. Study plots were established at Seoul, Ulsan, Yeochon, and Seosan for pollution sites and at Pyungchang for a non-pollution site. Atmospheric deposition was measured with rain, throughfall, and stem flow samples collected in the forest areas. Soil chemical properties were investigated to compare the pollution impacts on the sites. Precipitation acidity in the metropolitan and industrial areas ranged from pH 4.5 to 5.5, showing the levels lower than pH 5.8 of mountain area. Ion concentrations in the precipitation had increased significantly while passing the crown layer in the metropolitan and industrial areas, showing the increase by 4 times at the maximum. Total ion input in the metropolitan and industrial areas was greater than that in mountain area by approximately 2-3 times. Soil acidification caused by acidic ion input seemed to be greatest at Seoul, showing pH 1 decrease compared to that of Pyungchang. Soil canon contents were relatively high in the metropolitan and industrial areas. Although the canon leaching loss was not apparent, soil acidification process seemed to be continued by acidic ion input. Environmental pollution in the metropolitan and industrial areas exerted changes in ion input into the forest ecosystems and soil conditions. The chronic effects of environmental pollution should be monitored and investigated further to explain the processes of ecosystem change and the impacts on plant growth.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.61 no.2
• /
• pp.121-128
• /
• 2006

Background: The "health-related quality of life" (HRQL) for patients with chronic respiratory disease has been emphasized, because chronic respiratory disease (CRD) is chronic and progressive, and it finally causes disability. HRQL instruments may be useful for monitoring patients' progress or for determining the most appropriate choice of treatment. We describe the adapting St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), which is a self-administered questionnaire developed by Jones et al. (1991), into the Korean version for covering three domains of health for the patients suffering with airways disease. Method: We obtained the original SGRQ from the author after gaining permission. For adaptation, we created an expert panel and translated the original questionnaire into Korean language. The translated questionnaire was then back-translated by bilingual experts and we compared it with the original questionnaire. After correction and feasibility testing, 74 patients with chronic respiratory disease (COPD, asthma, destroyed lung) completed the Korean version of the SGRQ. The clinical status of each patients was evaluated concurrently with measurement of their health status. Result: The Korean version of the SGRQ was acceptable and easy to understand. Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient was 0.92 for the overall scale and 0.63 for the "Symptoms", subscale, 0.87 for the "Activity", subscale, and 0.89 for the "Impacts" subscales. The correlation coefficients between the overall score and the Borg scale score, oxygen saturation, and forced expiratory volume in one second ($FEV_1$) were 0.52, -0.32 and -0.26, respectively. These results support that the Korean SGRQ was correlated with other measurements. Conclusion: The Korean SGRQ was reliable and valid for patients with chronic respiratory disease, such as COPD, asthma, and destroyed lung. The SGRQ score was well correlated with other respiratory measurements as well. Although further studies should complete the adaptation work, our results suggest that the SGRQ may be used in Korea and also for international studies involving Korean CRD patients.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.33 no.12
• /
• pp.1046-1051
• /
• 2023

Cigarette smoking is one of the major causes of preventable diseases, disability, and death in Korea and worldwide. It has been clearly linked to the most common causes of death among the elderly and contributes to morbidity and disability associated with many chronic illnesses that are common in this age group. The health benefits of smoking cessation for the elderly have been clearly demonstrated. However, few studies have analyzed the relationship between health and smoking by considering the following many factors, especially among disabled people. In this study, we discuss the impacts of many factors on smoking among disabled people. Adults with disabilities are more likely to smoke than their peers. Public health agencies and practitioners should consider what reasonable adjustments may need to be made to policies and interventions to ensure that they are effective for adults with disabilities.