• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.442-451
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• 2013

Purpose: This descriptive study was done to develop a predictive model of depression in rural elders that will guide prevention and reduction of depression in elders. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive survey was done using face-to-face private interviews. Participants included in the final analysis were 461 elders (aged${\geq}$ 65 years). The questions were on depression, personal and environmental factors, body functions and structures, activity and participation. Decision tree analysis using the SPSS Modeler 14.1 program was applied to build an optimum and significant predictive model to predict depression in rural elders. Results: From the data analysis, the predictive model for factors related to depression in rural elders presented with 4 pathways. Predictive factors included exercise capacity, self-esteem, farming, social activity, cognitive function, and gender. The accuracy of the model was 83.7%, error rate 16.3%, sensitivity 63.3%, and specificity 93.6%. Conclusion: The results of this study can be used as a theoretical basis for developing a systematic knowledge system for nursing and for developing a protocol that prevents depression in elders living in rural areas, thereby contributing to advanced depression prevention for elders.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.118-124
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• 2015

Purpose: The symptoms and signs of urinary tract infection (UTI) in early infancy are non-specific. Prompt diagnosis of UTI is important, as untreated UTI results in renal damage. Especially, febrile UTI in young infants coexist with other serious bacterial infections. The purpose this study was to propose modified Rochester criteria to differentiate viral infection from urinary tract infection. Methods: We carried out a retrospective investigation of 168 infants less than three months old with a tympanic temperature $>38^{\circ}C$ who were admitted to Chung-Ang University Hospital between 2011 and 2014. We compared the symptoms, physical examination results, and laboratory data between viral infection and UTI groups. A modified Rochester criterion was composed of statistically significant factors. Results: A total of 76 and 92 infants with UTI and a viral infection, respectively, were included. Statistically significant differences in gender, previous admission history, neutrophil ratio, and urine WBC count were found between the two study groups. Using a cut off value of 3 points, the sensitivity and specificity of the modified Rochester criteria were 71.28% and 78.57%, respectively. Conclusion: The modified Rochester criteria may give an outline for identifying young infants with UTI.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.33-41
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• 2013

This study investigated the perceptual and cepstral/spectral characteristics of phonation and their relationships in dysarthria in connected speech. Twenty-two participants were divided into two groups; the eleven dysarthric speakers were paired with matching age and gender healthy control participants. A perceptual evaluation was performed by three speech pathologists using the GRBAS scale to measure the cepstrual/spectral characteristics of phonation between the two groups' connected speech. Correlations showed dysarthric speakers scored significantly worse (with a higher rating) with severities in G (overall dysphonia grade), B (breathiness), and S (strain), while the smoothed prominence of the cepstral peak (CPPs) was significantly lower. The CPPs were significantly correlated with the perceptual ratings, including G, B, and S. The utility of CPPs is supported by its high relationship with perceptually rated dysphonia severity in dysarthric speakers. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed that the threshold of 5.08 dB for the CPPs achieved a good classification for dysarthria, with 63.6% sensitivity and the perfect specificity (100%). Those results indicate the CPPs reliably distinguished between healthy controls and dysarthric speakers. However, the CPP frequency (CPP F0) and low-high spectral ratio (L/H ratio) were not significantly different between the two groups.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.73-80
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to analyze perceptual and spectral/cepstral measurements in patients with adductor spasmodic dysphonia(ADSD). Sixty participants with gender and age matched individuals(30 ADSD and 30 controls) were recorded in reading a sentence and sustained the vowel /a/. Acoustic data were analyzed acoustically by measuring CPP, L/H ratio, mean CPP F0 and CSID, and auditory-perceptual ratings were measured using GRBAS. The main results can be summarized as below: (a) the CSID for the connected speech was significantly higher than for the sustained vowel (b) the G, R and S for the connected speech were significantly higher than for the sustained vowel (c) Spectral/cepstral parameters were significantly correlated with the perceptual parameters, and (d) the ROC analysis showed that the threshold of 13.491 for the CSID achieved a good classification for ADSD, with 86.7% sensitivity and 96.7% specificity. Spectral and cepstral analysis for the connected speech is especially meaningful on cases where perceptual analysis and clinical evaluation alone are insufficient.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.309-317
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• 2022

It is reported that social distancing caused by the corona pandemic has resulted in a decrease in physical activity, and a decrease in muscle mass due to this increases the risk of vascular disease. Therefore, in this study, the risk of carotid intima media thickness was evaluated by measuring the thickness of CIMT, and the differences in variables according to gender were analyzed. From January 2022 to May 2022, a total of 220 people (121 males, 99 females) who performed blood tests, carotid ultrasound, and body composition analysis among those who visited the health check-up center of Busan H Hospital were included in this study. Significant differences in risk factors according to gender were analyzed using the chi-square test. The cut-off values of variables that can predict the risk of carotid intima media thickness were calculated, and the accuracy was evaluated by calculating the area under the curve, sensitivity, and specificity. As a result of the difference analysis, the higher the total cholesterol in men and the appendicular skeletal muscle index in women, the higher the risk of carotid intima media thickness. The cut-off value for predicting the risk of carotid intima media thickness was calculated to be greater than 199 mg/dL of total cholesterol in the male group and less than 5.9 kg/m² of the appendicular skeletal muscle index in the female group. As a result of this study, the higher the total cholesterol in men and the lower the appendicular skeletal muscle index in women, the higher the risk of increased CIMT. Therefore, in women, the appendicular skeletal muscle index is expected to serve as an indicator to predict and prevent vascular changes at an early stage.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.2001-2006
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• 2014

The objective of this study was to investigate the diagnostic significance of EBV antibody combined detection for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in a high incidence region of southern China. Two hundred and eleven untreated NPC patients, 203 non-NPC ENT patients, and 210 healthy controls were recruited for the study. The titers of VCA/IgA and EA/IgA were assessed by immunoenzyme assay, and the levels of Rta/IgG and EBNA1/IgA were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The levels of VCA/IgA, EA/IgA, Rta/IgG and EBNA1/IgA demonstrated no association with gender or age (p>0.05). The receiver operating characteristic curve and the area under the curve were used to evaluate the diagnostic value. The sensitivity of VCA/IgA (98.1%) and the specificity of EA/IgA (98.5%) were the highest. When a logistic regression model was used to combine the results from multiple antibodies to increase the accuracy, the combination of VCA/IgA+Rta/IgG, whose area under the curve was 0.99, had the highest diagnostic efficiency, and its sensitivity, specificity and Youden index were 94.8%, 98.0% and 0.93 respectively. The data suggest that the combination of VCA/IgA+Rta/IgG may be most suitable for NPC serodiagnosis.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.450-456
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• 2023

Background: This study aims to develop a "Predictive Model for the Possibility of Collection Delinquent Health Insurance Contributions" for the National Health Insurance Service to enhance administrative efficiency in protecting and collecting contributions from livelihood-type defaulters. Additionally, it aims to establish customized collection management strategies based on individuals' ability to pay health insurance contributions. Methods: Firstly, to develop the "Predictive Model for the Possibility of Collection Delinquent Health Insurance Contributions," a series of processes including (1) analysis of defaulter characteristics, (2) model estimation and performance evaluation, and (3) model derivation will be conducted. Secondly, using the predictions from the model, individuals will be categorized into four types based on their payment ability and livelihood status, and collection strategies will be provided for each type. Results: Firstly, the regression equation of the prediction model is as follows: phat = exp (0.4729 + 0.0392 × gender + 0.00894 × age + 0.000563 × total income - 0.2849 × low-income type enrollee - 0.2271 × delinquency frequency + 0.9714 × delinquency action + 0.0851 × reduction) / [1 + exp (0.4729 + 0.0392 × gender + 0.00894 × age + 0.000563 × total income - 0.2849 × low-income type enrollee - 0.2271 × delinquency frequency + 0.9714 × delinquency action + 0.0851 × reduction)]. The prediction performance is an accuracy of 86.0%, sensitivity of 87.0%, and specificity of 84.8%. Secondly, individuals were categorized into four types based on livelihood status and payment ability. Particularly, the "support needed group," which comprises those with low payment ability and low-income type enrollee, suggests enhancing contribution relief and support policies. On the other hand, the "high-risk group," which comprises those without livelihood type and low payment ability, suggests implementing stricter default handling to improve collection rates. Conclusion: Upon examining the regression equation of the prediction model, it is evident that individuals with lower income levels and a history of past defaults have a lower probability of payment. This implies that defaults occur among those without the ability to bear the burden of health insurance contributions, leading to long-term defaults. Social insurance operates on the principles of mandatory participation and burden based on the ability to pay. Therefore, it is necessary to develop policies that consider individuals' ability to pay, such as transitioning livelihood-type defaulters to medical assistance or reducing insurance contribution burdens.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.108-113
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• 2002

Background and Objective : Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common mononeuropathy encountered in clinical practice. No single procedure or group of procedures has demonstrated adequate sensitivity. F-wave study in CTS is very rarely reported. To determine the diagnostic usefulness of new parameters of F-wave and comparative study of F-wave parameters of median and ulnar nerves in patients with CTS. Methods : F-wave responses of median and ulnar nerves were analyzed from 27 patients with clinically diagnosed CTS and 22 age and gender-matched normal control. Conventional F-wave parameters were studied. Also, the usefulness of new parameters such as mean and maximal ulnar-median F-wave latency differences, ulnar-median F-wave persistence and chronodispersion differences, median/ulnar F-wave amplitude ratio, and F-wave conduction velocity (FCV) using mean and maximal latency were assessed. Results : Compared with controls, median F-wave minimal, maximal and mean latencies, mean F-wave amplitude/M-wave amplitude, minimal, mean and maximal ulnar-median F-wave latency differences, and FCVs using minimal, maximal and mean latency were significant (P<0.05~0.001). Median F-wave minimal, maximal and mean latencies, mean ulnar-median F-wave latency difference, and FCVs using minimal, maximal and mean latency showed high sensitivity and specificity. Mean ulnar-median F-wave latency difference and FCVs using maximal and mean latency were new parameters. Conclusion : New F-wave parameter including mean ulnar- median F-wave latency difference and FCVs using maximal and mean latency may be a useful to assess the CTS. Also, median F-wave minimal, maximal and mean latencies, and FCV using minimal latency may be included in routine diagnostic tests in CTS.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.2 s.66
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• pp.244-252
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• 2006

Objectives : To examine any potential relationships between the types of alopecia and the facial heat distribution in patients with alopecia. Methods : 183 patients with alopecia participated in this study to provide facial heat distribution measured by the Infrared Thermography Scanner (ITS, Nec San-ei Instruments Ltd, Japan). The thermography scan was used in a light- and heat-protected room after 20 minutes' of rest. 1.5m of distance was maintained between the patients and the scanner. Results : Specificity in the type of facial heat distribution was found as follow. 1. Types of facial heat distribution can be classified as T-type and diffused patterns. 2. There was a significant difference in the pattern of facial heat distribution among different types of alopecia (p=0.002): facial heat distribution appeared T-type in androgenic alopecia, alopecia areata, and telogen effluvium (71.3%, 85.7%, 70.4%), whereas diffused pattern was dominant in seborrheic alopecia (55.6%). 3. There was a significant difference in the pattern of facial heat distribution between men and women (p<0.001) : While the T-type and diffused type appeared equally in men (50.6% : 49.4%), T-type was dominant in women (88.0% vs. 12.0%). Conclusions : We conclude that the pattern of facial heat distribution differs depending on the types of alopecia and gender. These differences may provide useful information for diagnosis and clinical therapy for this population.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.1459-1463
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• 2014

Background: Urological cancers represent a major public problem associated with high mortality and morbidity. The pattern of these cancers varies markedly according to era, region and ethnic groups, but increasing incidence trends overall makes focused epidemiological studies important. The aim of the present study was to assess the incidence of most prevalent urological cancers in Iran from 2003 to 2009. Materials and Methods: The data for this study were obtained from the population-based Cancer Registry Center of the Iran Ministry of Health and Medical Education. Differences of mean age and age distributions of each cancer were compared between 2003 and 2009 in men and women. Results: Bladder cancer was the most common urologic cancer in both genders. The rate difference of age standardized ratio (ASR) of bladder and renal cell carcinoma in women were 1.54 and 2.01 percent per 100,000 population from 2003 to the 2009, respectively. In men, the rate difference of age standardized ratio of prostate, testis, kidney and bladder cancer was also 2.23, 1.2, 1.8 and 1.5 percent per 100,000 population from 2003 to 2009, respectively. The mean ages of patients in all cancers in both genders did not differ significantly through time (p value>0.05) but the distribution of ages of patients with bladder and prostate cancer changed significantly from 2003 to 2009 (p value<0.001). Conclusions: The results of present study suggest the general pattern and incidence of urological cancers in Iran are changing, the observed increase pointing to a need for urological cancer screening programs.