• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.30 no.3 s.58
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• pp.577-584
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• 1997

Validation and Standardization of neurobehavioral instrument in Korean occupational setting has not been studied ever. This study tried to validate the newly developed computerized psychomotor tests, Neurobehavioral Tests for Occupational Screening (NTOS). Male patients with Parkinson's disease(n=12) and male workers who never exposed to occupational neurotoxic materials and didn't have neurologic disease(n=21), performed some tests from NTOS; simple reaction time, choice reaction time(2 choice), and finger tapping(both hands). In simple analysis, difference between patient group and worker group was significantly great. Adjusted for age and education years, simple reaction time and finger tapping(both hand) were statistically significantly different between two groups(p<.05). Choice reaction time was also different(p<.1) but error frequency of choice reaction time test was not. Generally, this results showed NTOS could detect impairment of psychomotor function. But insensitive results of choice reaction time was partly due to small sample size and confounding variables and so required future study and refinement at improvement of NTOS.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.81-85
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• 2012

This study was undertaken to evaluate phenotypic and genotypic methods for detection of Metallo-Beta-Lactamases (MBLs) among nosocomial Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Of the 50 P. aeruginosa isolates from clinical specimens, 20 were evaluated for carbapenem resistance and screened for MBL by double-disk synergy test and combined-disk test. Nineteen strains (95%) were found to be MBL producers among the 20 P. aeruginosa. MBL positives were further confirmed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). For the IMP and VIM types of MBLs, PCR analysis was performed on 19 of the 20, and 10 were positive for VIM MBL type. This study reports the validation of a simple and accurate MBL detection method that can be easily incorporated into the daily routine of a clinical laboratory. Early detection of MBL-carrying organisms, including those with susceptibility to carbapenems, is of paramount clinical importance, as it allows rapid initiation of strict infection control practices as well as therapeutic guidance for confirmed infection.Key Words : Hepatitis A virus (HAV), Anti-HAV, Hospital workers, Prevalence, Vaccination

• Perinatology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2017

Objective: Human milk bank is known as best alternative option for sick infants. However, only two human milk banks (HMBs) are working in Korea. In the present study, we evaluated the awareness on the HMB in female health care provider to find out the issues that would help facilitating HMB establishment in Korea. Methods: The survey questionnaire was developed by a team composed with neonatologists, obstetricians, nurses, nutritionists, and health care specialists. The survey was performed for female health care workers in Soon Chun Hyang Cheonan Hospital between March and June in 2016. Eighty-eight of 110 questionnaires were collected and the results were analyzed. Results: Most of subjects were found to have correct knowledge on the breast milk feeding. However, only 49% of subjects had awareness of the presence of HMB. Unfortunately, less than half of them could get information about HMB by official way including mass media. In addition, 76% of subjects were found not to want to use HMB. Most important reason was found as a concern on the safety of donor milk including life style of donors, infection controls, and possible nutritional loss of banked milk. Conclusion: The purpose and function of HMB was not widely educated and it seems to be one of most important reasons why women have negative concept about HMB in Korea. Thus, further study is warranted with more numbers of subjects after active public education about the HMB.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.279-285
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• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the effects of spinal stabilization exercises using visual feedback on the gross motor function and balance of the sitting posture in children with cerebral palsy. Methods: The subjects were 18 children with cerebral palsy aged 8-15 years in the I-III stages of the Gross Motor Function Classification System. The subjects were divided into an experimental group (n=9) and control group (n=9). The experimental group was treated with 30 minutes of neurodevelopmental treatment and 20 minutes of spinal stabilization exercises using visual feedback. The control group was treated with 30 minutes of neurodevelopmental treatment and 20 minutes of spinal stabilization exercises without visual feedback. Both groups participated in the experiment twice a week for eight weeks. The Gross Motor Function Measurement was performed to evaluate the changes between pre- and the post-intervention in gross motor function. The Seated Limit of Stability Surface Area was measured to evaluate the changes in trunk balance. Results: Both experimental and control groups showed a significant increase in the gross motor function and trunk balance (p<0.05). The experimental group showed a significant increase in gross motor function compared to the control group (p<0.05). The experimental group showed a significant increase in the dynamic trunk balance in all directions when measuring the Seated Limit of Stability Surface Area (p<0.05). Conclusion: Spinal stabilization exercises using visual feedback for the neurodevelopmental treatment of children with cerebral palsy can improve their gross motor function and trunk balance when in a sitting posture more effectively.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.234-237
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• 2014

Background: Inhalation of asbestos fibers can lead to adverse health effects on the lungs. This study describes lung function profiles among individuals with nonmalignant asbestos-related disorders (ARDs). Methods: The study population was from the Workers' Compensation (Dust Diseases) Board of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. Lung function measurements were conducted in males with asbestosis (n = 26), diffuse pleural thickening (DPT; n = 129), asbestosis and DPT (n = 14), pleural plaques only (n = 160) and also apparently healthy individuals with a history of asbestos exposure (n = 248). Standardized spirometric and single-breath diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide ($DL_{CO}$) measurements were used. Results: Mean age [standard deviation (SD)] was 66.7 (10.3) years for all participants. Current and ex-smokers among all participants comprised about 9.0% and 54.8%, respectively. Median pack-years (SD) of smoking for ex- and current-smokers were 22.7 (19.9). Overall 222 participants (38.6%) and 139 participants (24.2%) had forced expiratory volume in 1 second ($FEV_1$) and forced vital capacity (FVC) measurements < 80% predicted, and 217 participants (37.7%) had $FEV_1/FVC$ results < 70%. A total of 249 individuals (43.8%) had DLCO values < 80% predicted and only 75 (13.2%) had DLCO/VA results < 80% predicted. A total of 147 participants (25.6%) had peak expiratory flow (PEF) measurements < 80% predicted. The presence of ARDs lowered the lung function measurements compared to those of healthy individuals exposed to asbestos. Conclusion: Lung function measurement differs in individuals with different ARDs. Monitoring of lung function among asbestos-exposed populations is a simple means of facilitating earlier interventions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.1057-1064
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• 2021

This study was conducted by simulating the same environmental conditions as the actual biopsy to observe the change in formaldehyde(HCHO) concentration in the indoor air during ultrasound guided biopsy. Changes in HCHO concentration in the room were measured by successively performing five steps: sealing the ultrasound room, ventilation, opening formalin containers, sealing formalin containers, and re-ventilating. Trends of measured HCHO concentration changes were visualized using graphs. As a result of analyzing the consistency of the concentration change values measured three times using the intra-class correlation coefficient, it was found to be 0.989, which was statistically significant(p<0.05). Based on the results of this study, we hope that medical workers working in the HCHO exposure environment of the field of radiology part will improve their awareness of the necessity of exposure management at work, and actively discuss the establishment of an environment for exposure control and preparation of countermeasures.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.540-548
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• 2021

Introduction: Preplacement health examination (PHE) is performed when a worker starts a certain work task which is designated as having occupational risks by the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL). All data related to health examination except PHE are reported to the MOEL by the law. This study has been performed to understand the status of PHE at certain workplaces. Methods: PHE data gathered in a university hospital were analyzed and they were followed with results of the special health examination (SHE) in 2019 and 2020. Those who were evaluated as unfit to work as it was, were interviewed directly or indirectly through an occupational health manager to follow up the management status of their recognized health problems. Results: The unfit to work (unFTW) rate of PHE was 2.8%, and was not different according to the size of workplace or having occupational health service. The major cause of unfit to work was the uncontrolled life-style diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. The rate of SHE followed by PHE was 31.1%. It was not different by the unFTW rates, however, they were different according to having a full time in-house occupational health manager. Thirty-one among 71 examinees who were evaluated as unFTW underwent SHE after controlling their health condition and were finally evaluated as fit to work. Nineteen among 31 started to take medicine and eight have been placed in the work without designated risks. Conclusion: PHE can be used for new workers, who may have unknown or uncontrolled life-style diseases, to be asked to manage life-style diseases as well as work-related risks such as shift work. In order to have a better tracking system for work-related risks, the information of PHE should be analyzed together with other data from health examination.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.9 no.12
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• pp.115-122
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• 2018

Dental environments are easily exposed to hospital microorganisms, so the risk of infection among workers is very high. Hand washing is one of the most important and basic way to reduce the risk of infection, as hands are an important medium of infection. Therefore, a convergence study was conducted between hand washing and health belief in orthodontic clinic. Analysis of differences between hand washing and health beliefs showed a significant relationship between importance of hand washing and experience in hand washing education (p=0.010) (p=0.000). Analysis of factors affecting health beliefs showed that the importance of hand washing control (p=0.014) and hands washing education experience (p=0.010) were significantly influencing factors. Infections management education is believed to be highly relevant in establishing a health when increasing interest in dental infections is expected to increase the importance of hand washing, a basic method.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1625-1630
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• 2018

In emergency situations, first aid workers are the main task of trauma evaluation and care. However, the scope of first-aid treatment is small and they are mainly carried out to the emergency room of the hospital. If a specialist who is in charge of an emergency situation is connected and emergency medical treatment through remote medical direction is performed, accurate diagnosis and appropriate care can be helped. This paper has developed an smart application(app) to support remote medical direction for emergency medical services. The developed smart app allows emergency rescuers to call a doctor at a remote location and transmit real-time status of emergency patients to vital sign and video. This will help to diagnose the patient's condition accurately. In addition, emergency care can be instructed and response in the emergency room can be made quickly.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.667-674
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• 2019

Because examination with technegas produces images through simple diffusion accumulation, the examination room can become contaminated after scan. Therefore, radiation workers and patients awaiting examination will be affected by internal exposure from technegas inhalation. Before and after gravity ventilation, I am trying to find a way to reduce the exposure dose of waiting patients according to a comparative analysis of horizontal spatial dose rates over time. Spatial dose ratio were measured for 10 minutes from various distances and angles around ventilator's location before and after gravity ventilation. Then, mean values, standard deviation and reduction ratio were calculated. The highest reduction rate of gravity ventilation was 95.31% and the highest reduction ratio was 1 to 3 minutes. Therefore, the gravity ventilation could reduce the exposure dose of radiologic technologists, waiting patients, patient guardians and nurses. In conclusion, the reduction of the exposure dose during the technegas ventilation study through gravity ventilation will play a role in optimiging the protection and it is in accordance with the recommended reduction of the medical exposure by ICRP 103.