• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2017

Background: The purpose of this study is to assign an appropriate density to virtual phantom for 2D diode array detector with different dose calculation algorithms to guarantee the accuracy of patient-specific QA. Materials and Methods: Ten VMAT plans with 6 MV photon beam and ten VMAT plans with 15 MV photon beam were selected retrospectively. The computed tomography (CT) images of MapCHECK2 with MapPHAN were acquired to design the virtual phantom images. For all plans, dose distributions were calculated for the virtual phantoms with four different materials by AAA and AXB algorithms. The four materials were polystyrene, 455 HU, Jursinic phantom, and PVC. Passing rates for several gamma criteria were calculated by comparing the measured dose distribution with calculated dose distributions of four materials. Results and Discussion: For validation of AXB modeling in clinic, the mean percentages of agreement in the cases of dose difference criteria of 1.0% and 2.0% for 6 MV were $97.2%{\pm}2.3%$, and $99.4%{\pm}1.1%$, respectively while those for 15 MV were $98.5%{\pm}0.85%$ and $99.8%{\pm}0.2%$, respectively. In the case of 2%/2 mm, all mean passing rates were more than 96.0% and 97.2% for 6 MV and 15 MV, respectively, regardless of the virtual phantoms of different materials and dose calculation algorithms. The passing rates in all criteria slightly increased for AXB as well as AAA when using 455 HU rather than polystyrene. Conclusion: The virtual phantom which had a 455 HU values showed high passing rates for all gamma criteria. To guarantee the accuracy of patent-specific VMAT QA, each institution should fine-tune the mass density or HU values of this device.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.70-92
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• 2003

The main objective of this paper is to investigate the factors affecting organizational citizenship behavior of hospital employees, and based on the investigation, to suggest some implications for effective human resources management of hospitals. For this purpose, physical therapists were selected as the subject of the research. Using their individual characteristics, job characteristics, professionalism and group cohesiveness as the variables affecting organizational citizenship behavior, an empirical model was constructed and tested. A survey was conducted through structured and self-administered questionnaire for the physical therapists working at hospitals of Busan-Kyongnam area, and data from 240 therapists were utilized in the final analysis. Major results of the empirical analysis are as follows: First, perception on professionalism and the degree of organizational citizenship behavior were higher for male, older, relatively more-educated and higher-grade employees. It is necessary to develope some measures to educate and motivate the employees who are in lower state of professionalism and organizational citizenship behavior. Second, among the individual characteristics, need for growth was found to have significant, positive influence on professionalism and group cohesiveness, but no direct effect on organizational citizenship behavior. On the other hand, extroversion had direct, positive effect on organizational citizenship behavior, as well as on professionalism and group cohesiveness. This result suggests that personnel selection and personality education should be conducted carefully. Third, job characteristics appeared to have very large, positive effect on professionalism, but not directly on organizational citizenship behavior. Fourth, professionalism was found to have very large, positive influence on group cohesiveness and direct, positive effect on organizational citizenship behavior. This implies that enhancing professionalism of physical therapists can strengthen organizational citizenship behavior in hospitals, and hence top management should actively support the programs for job re-design, skill education and quality improvement to enhance professionalism of their employees. Fifth and last, as an intervening factor, group cohesiveness appeared to have the largest, direct, positive effect on organizational citizenship behavior. It is, therefore, important for top management to improve group cohesiveness by exploring ways toward greater harmony and solidarity among the members of physical therapy department.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.691-700
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• 2002

Interstitial therapy using biodegradable polymeric device loaded with anticancer agent can deliver the drug to the tumor site at high concentration, resulting in an increase of therapeutic efficacy. 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU, carmustine) is most commonly used as chemotherapeutic agent for brain tumors. The design of implantable device is regarded as an important factor lot the efficient delivery of antitumor agent to targeting site. In order to control the release profile of drug, the release pattern of BCNU with the changes of various dimension and additives was investigated. The PLGA wafers containing 3.85, 10, 20 and 30% of BCNU were prepared in various shape (diameter of 3, 5 and 10 mm, thickness of 0.5, 1 and 2 mm) by direct compression method. In vitro drug release profile of BCNU-loaded PLGA wafers could be controlled by changing the dimension of wafers such as initial drug content, weight, diameter, thickness, volume and surface area of wafers, as well as PLGA molecular weight and additives. Drug release from BCNU-loaded PLGA wafers was facilitated with an increase of BCNU-loading amount or presence of poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone)(PVP) or sodium chloride (NaCl). The effects of various geometric factors and additives on the BCNU release pattern were confirmed by the investigation of mass loss and morphology of BCNU-loaded PLGA wafers.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.41-51
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• 2019

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of virtual reality-based activities of daily living (ADL) training on ADL and rehabilitative motivation in patients with traumatic brain injury. Methods : This study was performed using a pre-post design with seven traumatically brain injured patients. Subjects were subjected to virtual reality-based ADL training for 30 minutes a day, 2 to 3 times a week for 4 weeks. Evaluation was conducted before and after the intervention using the Korean Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI), Cognitive Functional Independence Measure (C-FIM), and Volitional Questionnaire (VQ). Changes before and after intervention were analyzed by Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and correlations were analyzed using Spearman's coefficient. Results : After intervention, patients with traumatic brain injury showed significant improvements in K-MBI (p<.05). There was no significant change in total C-FIM score and VQ score (p>.05). Total C-FIM score correlated significantly with VQ score (p<.05, r=.755). The social cognition domain of C-FIM had a significant correlation with VQ score (p<.05, r=826). Conclusions : Virtual reality-based ADL training can improve ADL performance, but further research is needed to determine whether improvements in social cognition and rehabilitative motivation are possible.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.546-554
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• 2021

Background: Diabetes mellitus and hypertension often occur together, amplifying cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and emphasizing the need for a multitargeted treatment approach. American ginseng (AG) and Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) species could improve glycemic control via complementary mechanisms. Additionally, a KRG-inherent component, ginsenoside Rg3, may moderate blood pressure (BP). Our objective was to investigate the therapeutic potential of coadministration of Rg3-enriched Korean Red Ginseng (Rg3-KRG) and AG, added to standard of care therapy, in the management of hypertension and cardiometabolic risk factors in type-2 diabetes. Methods: Within a randomized controlled, parallel design of 80 participants with type-2 diabetes (HbA1c: 6.5-8%) and hypertension (systolic BP: 140-160 mmHg or treated), supplementation with either 2.25 g/day of combined Rg3-KRG + AG or wheat-bran control was assessed over a 12-wk intervention period. The primary endpoint was ambulatory 24-h systolic BP. Additional endpoints included further hemodynamic assessment, glycemic control, plasma lipids and safety monitoring. Results: Combined ginseng intervention generated a mean ± SE decrease in primary endpoint of 24-h systolic BP (-3.98 ± 2.0 mmHg, p = 0.04). Additionally, there was a greater reduction in HbA1c (-0.35 ± 0.1% [-3.8 ± 1.1 mmol/mol], p = 0.02), and change in blood lipids: total cholesterol (-0.50 ± 0.2 mmol/l, p = 0.01), non-HDL-C (-0.54 ± 0.2 mmol/l, p = 0.01), triglycerides (-0.40 ± 0.2 mmol/l, p = 0.02) and LDL-C (-0.35 ± 0.2 mmol/l, p = 0.06) at 12 wks, relative to control. No adverse safety outcomes were observed. Conclusion: Coadministration of Rg3-KRG + AG is an effective addon for improving BP along with attaining favorable cardiometabolic outcomes in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Ginseng derivatives may offer clinical utility when included in the polypharmacy and lifestyle treatment of diabetes. Clinical trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov identifier, NCT01578837;

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.83-95
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• 2019

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the Power Card strategy on the receptive vocabulary and expressive vocabulary in children with autism spectrum disorders. Method: Three children with autism spectrum disorder were selected for this study and the power card strategy language intervention was applied, using a multiple baseline design across individuals. The target vocabulary was selected by examining the individual preferred characters. Power cards were constructed, and intervention was applied to improve the receptive vocabulary and expressive vocabulary through the baseline stage, intervention, and maintenance. Result: The application of the power card strategy showed that the acquisition rate of receptive vocabulary in children with autism spectrum disorder was increased, and expressive vocabulary acquisition rate was also improved. Conclusion: During the intervention period using the power card strategy, the children's target receptive vocabulary and expressive vocabulary acquisition rates improved, and the acquisition rate was maintained, even after the intervention. This suggests that the power card strategy is effective in improving the vocabulary of autistic children with disabilities, of school age.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.13-37
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of Korean medicine for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We analyzed the result of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that applied Korean medicine to NAFLD patients through meta analysis and systematic review. Methods: The key question was to the effects of Korean medicine for NAFLD patients according to the PICO-SD (participants, intervention, comparison, outcome, study design) and we included only RCTs. We searched 10 databases including NDSL, KMBASE, KISS, KISTI, KoreaMed, Koreantk, OASIS, Cochrane, Pubmed, EMBASE without a language restriction. We assessed risk of bias by Cochrane group's Risk of Bias tool. Results: The finally selected 12 RCTs were analyzed. Total number of participants was 1189 (male 719, female 470) as 684 and 505 in the oriental medicine group (i.e. herbal drugs, acupuncture, acupoint embedding therapy) and control group (conventional drugs, placebo), respectively. The meta analysis results of examining 7 RCTs comparing the therapeutic efficacy of herbal medicine with that of Western medicine showed statistically significant (p<0.05) differences in the efficacy evaluation, liver function test results, blood lipids, and TNF-${\alpha}$. Furthermore, the meta analysis results of investigating 3 RCTs comparing the therapeutic efficacy of herbal medicine with that of a placebo showed statistically significant (p<0.05) differences in the liver function test results, blood lipids, and waist circumference. Conclusions: The research showed that Korean medicine for NAFLD can be effective treatment. But more studies are required to enhance the level of evidence and we should report on safety.

• Asian Journal for Public Opinion Research
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.94-112
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• 2019

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the quality of life (QOL) of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) between patients receiving hemodialysis (HD) and patients receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and to compare personal characteristic factors relating to the quality of life in patients with ESRD. Method: This study used a descriptive research design. The sample was recruited using purposive sampling that included 76 ESRD patients receiving either HD or CAPD at a dialysis clinic in Phraphutthabat Hospital, Saraburi Province, Thailand. Data was collected using the Quality of Life Questionnaire for Chronic Kidney Disease ($KDQOL-SF^{TM}$) version 1.3. Independent t-test and ANOVA procedures were used to analyze study data. Results: The results revealed that the HD patients had a moderate level of QOL. The highest scoring dimension of QOL was the encouragement of staff at the dialysis unit and patient satisfaction with the treatment (${\bar{X}}=100$, SD=.00), followed by social support (${\bar{X}}=89.29$, SD =16.88) and cognitive function (${\bar{X}}=88.57$, SD=11.82). On the other hand, the lowest scoring QOL dimension was physical problems (${\bar{X}}=50$, SD=51.89), and pain (${\bar{X}}=50$, SD=39.03), followed by work status (${\bar{X}}=53.57$, SD=45.84) and burden from kidney disease (${\bar{X}}=58.48$, SD=31.07). The CAPD patients also had a moderate QOL. The highest scoring QOL dimension was the encouragement of staff in the renal unit and patient satisfaction with the treatment (${\bar{X}}=100$, SD=.00), followed by social support (${\bar{X}}=95.61$, SD=14.20) and cognitive function (${\bar{X}}=88.83$, SD=13.52). The worst scoring QOL dimensions were work status (${\bar{X}}=44.44$, SD=42.72), general health (${\bar{X}}=53.61$, SD=39.05), and pain (${\bar{X}}=62.70$, SD=41.14). The difference overall and in each dimension of QOL in ESRD patients who were treated with HD and CAPD was not statistically significantly different. The QOL was not significantly different among patients with different personal characteristics except for income and duration of treatment; in those cases, the difference in QOL was statistically significant (p=.05). Conclusion: The overall QOL and life expectancy of patients with ESRD treated with HD and CAPD are not affected by gender, age, marital status, education, occupation, or type of health coverage. QOL was not significantly different, except for patients with different incomes and duration of renal replacement therapy, whose QOL was significantly different. The QOL of patients receiving dialysis should be studied to develop a QOL program for patients with chronic kidney disease who receive dialysis.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.27-32
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to compare the immediate effect of EMS (electrical muscle stimulation) on rectus femoris thickness during resisted knee extension exercise in healthy adults. This experiment was conducted on 20 healthy adults as pretest-posttest nonequivalent one group design. The subject's 1RM of both knee extension was measured indirectly using an elastic band, and the knee extension resistance exercise using an elastic band was applied to high intensity (80% of 1RM) on the right leg and low intensity (50% of 1RM with EMS) on the left leg, which were applied with 5 sets. Muscle measurements were performed on the rectus femoris (1/2 site, 1/4 site) using ultrasonography before and after exercise. There was a statistically significant difference on the thickness of the rectus femoris in low intensity exercise of the elastic band applied with EMS between pre-test and post-test (p<.05). The results of this study showed that elastic band low intensity exercise combined with EMS had an immediate effective in increasing the thickness of rectus femoris. Based on this result, it is also necessary to verify the effectiveness of intervention methods incorporating low-intensity resistance exercises applying EMS to elderly who cannot exercise high-intensity resistance training in the future, and to develop exercise programs for various body parts.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Sensory Integration
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2022

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of group Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) on the occupational performance and social interaction skills of children with Cerebral Palsy (CP). Methods : A single-case experimental study with an ABA design was conducted from April to June 2021, targeting three children with cerebral palsy who met the study selection criteria. The baseline period consisted of 3 intervention sessions until the data were stabilized, and the intervention period consisted of 10 sessions (once a week, 60 minutes/session). For comparison before and after the intervention, motor development, visual perception, and daily life behavior were evaluated. To evaluate the quality of each session, a performance quality evaluation scale was used. Results : In all 3 subjects, the quality of work performance in the three common goal activities improved. The evaluation scores for visual perception, large and small movements, and daily activities were also improved. Conclusion : This study provided evidence that group CO-OP can improve the pre-academic skills and occupational performance of children with CP.