• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.270-276
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• 2022

This study analyzed the epidemiological trends of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) according to age and sex among individuals aged 50 years or older in South Korea from September 2018 to December 2020. We found that the positivity rate for Gardnerella vaginalis was the highest in the study group, followed by the positivity rate for Ureaplasma parvum (UP). Interestingly, the positivity rates for Mycoplasma hominis and UP were higher in female participants than in male participants. The positivity rate for Treponema pallidum was very low in the female participants. During the study period, the positivity rate for herpes simplex virus 2 increased in the female participants, while the positivity rate for Candida increased in the male participants. These results show that the STI positivity rate varies according to age and sex, and a difference was observed in the average age of positive participants according to the type of STIs. We found a clear pattern of infection in the elderly population and according to sex. Our findings are expected to be used as baseline data for future research, education, and prevention of STIs in the elderly population.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.235-243
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• 2023

Objectives: This study compared the number of graduates in each region for the past 6 years and the number of dental hygienists working in dental clinics by region to evaluate the trend of dental hygienists moving to work areas after graduation. Methods: Health care big data open system_medical manpower statistics, resident population and household status data by year, and education statistics service were used to calculate the number of dentists and dental hygienists, admission status by region, number of dental hygienists per 100,000 population, number of dental hygienists per number of dentists, and distribution of dental hygienists by region. Results: Although the number of active dental hygienists increased in the metropolitan area, the ratio of dental hygienists to dentists did not improve significantly. In addition, the number of students enrolled in provincial universities decreased, and there were fewer active dental hygienists than graduates in provincial areas. Conclusions: Although the number of active dental hygienists increased due to increase in the number of dental hygiene departments, it was found that rural areas did not have a significant impact on the availability of dental hygienists as the graduates moved to the metropolitan area.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.353-359
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• 2014

Background: Epidural steroid injections are an accepted procedure for the conservative management of chronic backache caused by lumbar disc pathology. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the epidurographic findings for the midline, transforaminal and parasagittal approaches in lumbar epidural steroid injections, and correlating them with the clinical improvement. Methods: Sixty chronic lower back pain patients with unilateral radiculitis from a herniated/degenerated disc were enrolled. After screening the patients according to the exclusion criteria and randomly allocating them to 3 groups of 20 patients, fluoroscopic contrast enhanced epidural steroids were injected via midline (group 1), transforaminal (group 2) and parasagittal interlaminar (group 3) approaches at the level of the pathology. The fluoroscopic patterns of the three groups were studied and correlated with the clinical improvement measured by the VAS over the next 3 months; any incidences of complications were recorded. Results: The transforaminal group presented better results in terms of VAS reduction than the midline and parasagittal approach groups (P < 0.05). The epidurography showed a better ventral spread for both the transforaminal (P < 0.001) and the paramedian approaches (P < 0.05), as compared to the midline approach. The nerve root filling was greater in the transforaminal group (P < 0.001) than in the other two groups. The ventral spread of the contrast agent was associated with improvement in the VAS score and this difference was statistically significant in group 1 (P < 0.05), and highly significant in groups 2 and 3 (P < 0.001). In all the groups, any complications observed were transient and minor. Conclusions: The midline and paramedian approaches are technically easier and statistically comparable, but clinically less efficacious than the transforaminal approach. The incidence of ventral spread and nerve root delineation show a definite correlation with clinical improvement. However, an longer follow-up period is advisable for a better evaluation of the actual outcom.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.111-119
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• 2018

Objectives: To investigate the characteristics of patients diagnosed with dementia or mild cognitive impairment who are treated by means of a blend between Western and Korean medicine. Methods: We searched for outpatients with dementia or mild cognitive impairment by means of a collaboration between Western and Korean medicine from August 1, 2015, to July 31, 2017, through electronic medical records in Wonkwang Hospital. The records were retrospectively analyzed according to the patients' demographic and clinical characteristics, pathway of medical care, diagnostic tests, treatment, and medical expenses. Results: Thirteen patients were included in the analysis. Among them, six patients were diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, five with dementia, Alzheimer's type, one patient with frontotemporal dementia, and one patient with unspecified dementia. Twelve of the thirteen patients were over 60 years of age. The number of pathways from the Dept. of Neurology to the Dept. of Neuropsychiatry of Korean Medicine was almost the same as the opposite pathway. The most used diagnostic test in Korean medicine was a neuropsychological test such as SNSB, MMSE and GDS. In Western medicine, hematology and neuroimaging were frequently used for patients. Acupuncture in Korean medicine and medication in Western medicine were the most frequently used. In Korean medicine, uncovered service costs were much higher than covered service costs,. whereas, in Western medicine, covered service costs were higher than uncovered service costs. Conclusions: This study describes the basic characteristics of dementia and mild cognitive impairment patients treated by a collaboration between Western and Korean medicine. Based on these results, a clinical pathway of the collaborative practice system between Western and Korean medicine for dementia patients needs to be developed.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.130-146
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• 1994

Our medical care system is trying to diversify in order to meet the client's needs, and to adjust to a medical environment which is changing very rapidly. Because current nursing theory and practice focus on holistic care, health care management, education, and research, contrary to the traditional emphasis on only assisting a physician, more autonomy and specialization for the implementation of nursing are required. Considering these trends and actual needs, the category of clinical nurse specialist should be established as soon as possible. In order to develop strategies for implementing this new professional specialty, the authors conducted a field survey and literature review of the current system in Korea. As a result, various obstacles and constraints were discovered as follows : 1) There are few accredited educational programs for the training of CNS's. 2) Several hospitals already have staff designated as clinical nurse specialist (CNS) even though the term CNS is not yet standardized or adopted in nationwide. 3) The role of the CNS is not clearly understood by the medical societies, or even nursing societies. A nurse who works in specific nursing areas such as central supply, kidney dialysis, intensive care, coronary care, etc. for a long time, considers herself /himself a CNS. Based upon the above findings, the following alternatives are recommended. 1) The role of the CNS should be defined according to specified functions and authority : professional autonomy ; counselling and educating patients and their familes, nurses, and even other medical personnel ; research on improvement of nursing ; and management of the nursing environment including medical resources, information, and cases. 2) the qualification of CNS should be attained only by a nurse who has an RN license and clinical experience of more than 3 years in a specific nursing field: passes a qualifying examination; and contributes to the professional development of peers, colleagues, and others. A master's degree should only be optional, because of the insufficient of graduate programs which are well designed for the CNS. 3) The CNS should initially be a head nurse rather than line staff in order to deal with as wide an experience base as possible. 4) The nursing specialty could be divided into two areas such as a clinical field and a community field. The clinical field could then be categorized by the Styles' classification such as diseases and pathogenics, systems, ages, acuity, skills/techniques, and function/role ; the community field could be classified according to work site.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.144-152
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• 2019

Learning styles are the methods of gathering, processing, interpreting, organizing the information. VARK learnig inventory is instructional preference classified according to their visual(V), aural(A), read-write(R), and/or kinesthetic(K) sensory modality preferences(SMP). Learner-centered learning is emphasized, but there are few studies on VARK learning styles in Korean medical school. The purposes of this study were to assess the student' SMPs and compare those with gender, status, and academic achievement. The subjects of study were 394 students at C Medical School and Graduate School of Medicine. For the study style test, 16 questions were used in Korean version of VARK test paper© 7.0 developed by Fleming provided on the VARK website. Academic achievement was converted into a standardized score(t score). Frequency analysis, cross analysis, and variance analysis(t-test, ANOVA) were conducted to identify learning style disposition and differences between groups. The uni-modal type was 87(22.1%) and the multimodal was 307(77.9%). Regardless of gender, quasi-modal VARK was the most preferred. There was no significant difference in learning styles by gender. The first grade in medicine was the lowest in uni-modal type(8.8%) and the highest in quasi-modal VARK type(47.8%), while the fourth grade was the highest in uni-modal type(30.7%) and the lowest in quasi-modal VARK type(19.8%) and tri-modal type(19.8%). There was no difference in academic achievement by all learning types(F=1.09, p=0.37). The knowledge about students' learning styles is helpful for instructors to apply more learner-centered teaching strategies in medical education.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.208-220
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• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify factors influencing the posttraumatic growth of maritime police officers. Methods: The subjects include 293 maritime police officers that received basic and professional education at the Korea Coast Guard Academy on June 17~July 31, 2019. Data was analyzed in frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, t-test, variance analysis, Pearson's correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis with the SPSS Version 21.0 program. Results: The findings show that the maritime police officers scored mean 39.72±16.56 points in posttraumatic growth. marital status(β=.194, p=.002), smoking(β=.152, p=.010), regular exercise(β=-.185, p<.001), total duration of service(β=-.154, p=.033), resilience(β=.310, p<.001), social support (β=.250, p<.001), and collective culture(β=.158, p=.004) had impacts on their posttraumatic growth. Conclusion: The findings of the study demonstrate that the posttraumatic growth of maritime police officers was under the influence of supports from families and peers, working environment, and culture as well as their individual characteristics.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.745-753
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• 2008

Gene-manipulated mice were discovered for the first time about a quarter century ago. Since then, numerous sophisticated technologies have been developed and applied to answer key questions about the fundamental roles of the genes of interest. Functional genomics can be characterized into gain-of-function and loss-of-function, which are called transgenic and knock-out studies, respectively. To make transgenic mice, the most widely used technique is the microinjection of transgene-containing vectors into the embryonic pronucleus. However, there are critical drawbacks: namely position effects, integration of unknown copies of a foreign gene, and instability of the foreign DNA within the host genome. To overcome these problems, the ROSA26 locus was used for the knock-in site of a transgene. Usage of this locus is discussed for the gain of function study as well as for several brilliant approaches such as conditional/inducible transgenic system, reproducible/inducible knockdown system, specific cell ablation by Cre-mediated expression of DTA, Cre-ERTM mice as a useful tool for temporal gene regulation, MORE mice as a germ line delete and site specific recombinase system. Techniques to make null mutant mice include complicated steps: vector design and construction, colony selection of embryonic stem (ES) cells, production of chimera mice, confirmation of germ line transmission, and so forth. It is tedious and labor intensive work and difficult to approach. Thus, it is not readily accessible by most researchers. In order to overcome such limitations, technical breakthroughs such as reporter knock-in and gene knock-out system, production of homozygous mutant ES cells from a single targeting vector, and production of mutant mice from tetraploid embryos are developed. With these upcoming progresses, it is important to consider how we could develop these systems further and expand to other animal models such as pigs and monkeys that have more physiological similarities to humans.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.557-571
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• 1998

The purpose of the study is (i) to investigate the operating situation of physical therapy department in public health centers, (ii) to analyze the difference of elderly satisfaction from non-elderly satisfaction of physical therapy services among the public health center visitors, and finally (iii) to suggest facilitating improvement on programs that can supply the elderly health service through public health centers. A questionnaire survey was carried out 212 patients of 25 public health center in Seoul, Korea from 15 July to 10 August 1996. Major results of the study are as follows : 1. Among the respondents. the largest group was the elderly who are over 65 years old (72.6%). 2. The averge of general patients' satisfaction for physical therapy services was 3.98, especially fee of treatment(4.76), attitude of physical therapist(4.33), and reliance of physical therapist(4.20) were higher by 5-score Likert scale. 3. The correlation factors with general patients' satisfaction were process of treatment (r =.6301). results of treatment(r=. 6186), and guide facilities(r=.5999). 4. The results of multiple-regression analysis between general patients' satisfaction and affecting factors identify following variables as the statically significant determinants : general stisfaction comparing with other physical therapy services, physical therapy services using forwardly, fee of treatment. 5. There was no significant defference between elderly and non-elderly patients' satisfaction of physical therapy service, except attitude of physical therapist(t=-2.07), explanation of treatment for disease(t=-2.19), fee of treatment(t=6.29).

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.69-75
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• 2016

Objectives : The aim of this study is to introduce the Korean medicine respiratory management program in public health center and to analyze the effects of that program. Methods : The respiratory management program was targeted on 22 soldiers during March 2016. The interventions of this program were herbal medicines (Gilgyung-tang and so on), aromatherapy, peppermint tea, fine dust mask, and health education. Data were collected by retrospective reviewing medical chart and analyzed using SPSS 18.0. Results : Total symptoms scores were measured by 4-point likert scale. Total score was $5.50{\pm}4.848$ at 1st week and $3.27{\pm}3.058$ at 4th week (p=0.008). The severity of respiratory discomfort reduced by $-1.14{\pm}2.46$ compared with last year. The satisfaction score was $7.82{\pm}4.16$. The most hoping program was muscular skeletal disease management program. Conclusions : This study suggests that Korean medical world should prepare countermeasures to cope with diseases caused by air pollution.