• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.611-620
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• 1997

Objectives : The differentiation of tuberculous effusion from the other causes of exudative pleural effusion remained difficult even with aids of biochemical analyses and pleural biopsy. As the pathophysiology of tuberculous pleural effusion is an enhanced cell mediated immunity, Adenosine deaminase(ADA) and various eytokines including Inteferon-$\gamma$, tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-$\alpha$) are considered as useful diagnostic tools in differentiating exudative pleural effusion. The author would like to demonstrate the diagnostic usefulness of TNF-$\alpha$ in the differentiation of exudative pleural effusion, and compared the discriminating ability of TNF-$\alpha$ with ADA. Methods : Pleural fluids obtained from 80 patients (tuberculous : 39, malignant : 31, parapneumonic : 10) with exudate pleural effusions were processed for cell counts and biochemical analysis including ADA and TNF-$\alpha$. Results : Tuberculous pleural fluid showed higher levels of ADA and TNF-$\alpha$, $48.7{\pm}32.7U/L$ and $184.1{\pm}214.2pg/mL$ than that of non-tuberculous effusion $26.0{\pm}41.3U/L$ and $44.1{\pm}114.2pg/mL$, respectively (ADA, TNF-$\alpha$, p < 0.05, p < 0.01). Receiver operating characteristics(ROC) curves were generated for ADA and TNF-$\alpha$ and the best cut-off value for adenosine deaminase and TNF-$\alpha$were considered as 30U/L and 15pg/ml, respectively. Comparing the area under the ROC curves, there was no significant difference between ADA and TNF-$\alpha$. Conclusion : For the differential diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion from the other causes of exudative pleural effusions, TNF-$\alpha$ as well as ADA was considered as useful diagnostic method. However adding TNF-$\alpha$ to ADA has no further diagnotic benefit than ADA alone.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.333-338
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• 2004

Antioxidant activities of water extracts of 20 medicinal plants (1 mg/mL) on peroxidation of linolic acid were evaluated by thiocyanate method, among which 11 showed strong antioxidant activity (> 70%). Higher hydroxy radical scavenging activity (> 60%) were shown in Corner officinalis, Acanthopanax sessiliflorus, and Epimedium koreanum than the other plants. Epimedium koreanum than the other plants extract showed highest superoxide radical scavenging activity (42%). Total polyphenol contents ranged from $2.6\;(Polygonatum\;odoratum){\sim}81.2(Epimedium\;koreanum)\;mg/g$. Direct correlation between the antioxidant activity and polyphenol content (r=0.8) was established through simple regression analysis. $IC_{50}$ for selected four plant extracts, showing highest polyphenol contents and antioxidant activities, were significantly higher than positive control. Total antioxidant activity of vitamin c was significantly lower than those of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus, Epimedium koreanum, and Erythrina variegata. Superoxide radical scavenging activity of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus was similar to BHA. Results suggest water extracts of some medicinal plants could be potential candidates for natural antioxidants.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.469-475
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• 1998

Purpose : To determine the role of Pelvic irradiation in stage I or IIA cervical carcinoma with pelvic nodal metastasis after hysterectomy and bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy. Materials and Methods : This is a retrospective study of 68 cervical carcinoma patients who were found to have pelvic nodal metastasis at hysterectomy and received pelvic irradiation from 1983 to 1996 at Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital. External beam radiation therapy to pelvis was delivered using 4 MeV Linac and intracavitary irradiation was given via vaginal ovoids or cylinders. Five-year survival and disease-free survival were estimated by Kaplan-Meier Method and prognostic factors related to survival were analysed by log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards regression model. Results : Median length of follow-up was 52months. Five-year overall survival and disease-free survival (DFS) were 81.8$\%$ and 81.7$\%$ respectively. Patients with endometrial invasion had a 57.1$\%$ 5-year DFS compared to 87.5$\%$ for those without endometrial invasion (p=0.0074). Multivariate analysis revealed endometrial invasion as an only statistically significant prognostic factor for 5-year DFS. Among total 15 (22$\%$) recurrences. pelvic recurrences occurred in 4 cases and distant metastases occurred in 13 cases. Conclusion : We have been able to confirm previous results demonstrating marked decrease in local recurrence after pelvic irradiation. In view of the high proportion of distant metastasis found in this study, a trial of aggressive adjuvant systemic therapy and irradiation in early stage cervical carcinoma patients with pelvic nodal metastasis, especially with endometrial invasion, appears to be warranted.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.30 no.3 s.58
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• pp.508-517
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• 1997

Hepatitis B virus(HBV) infection is one of the major health problems in Korea and HBsAg positive rate was known to be about $5\sim15%$ in general population. This study was conducted to identify the positive rates of serum HBsAg and anti-HBs among community population regarded as having hish HBV vaccination rate than in previous decade, using EIA(Enzyme immunoassay) method, in Seo-Gu, Taegu, Korea. The study subjects were 1,160 who visited Seo-Gu Health Center for check-up serologic markers of hepatitis 3. The data were obtained from the serologic test for hepatitis markers and questionnaire survey was conducted to obtain the general characteristics, vaccination history, past history of hepatitis and other liver disease, and exposure history to risk factors of hepatitis of the study subjects. The positive rates of HBsAg and anti-HBs were 5.2% and 62.4% respectively. The positive rates of HBsAg for male and female were 6.6% and 4.3% respectively. The age was divided into two groups as group I (less than 15 years old), group II (more than 16 years old) according to the hypothesis that these two groups might be different in HBV vaccination rate. HBV vaccination rates for group I and II were 83.1% and 52.3%. The positive rates of HBsAg for group I and II were 2.6% and 6.5%. The positive rates of HBsAg for the vaccinated people of the group I and II were 2.2% and 3.5%, the positive rates of anti-HBs for the vaccinated people of the group I and II were 70.1% and 71.1% respectively. The most significant factor in positive rate of HBsAg was 'hepatitis carrier in family'. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that 'hepatitis history' and 'hepatitis carrier in family' were significant variables for positivity of HBsAg, and 'hepatitis B vaccination' was only a significant variable for positivity of anti-HBs.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.540-551
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• 2019

Purpose: Dietary fiber is a component of carbohydrate that is linked closely with the carbohydrate quality, but few studies have investigated the association of high fiber intake with the cardiometabolic risk factors in Koreans. This study examined the association of high fiber and high carbohydrate intake with the cardiometabolic risk factors among Korean adults. Methods: This study included 15,095 adults aged ≥20 years, who participated in the 2013 ~ 2017 KNHANES. The dietary intake was obtained using a 24-h dietary recall method. The associations of high fiber and high carbohydrate intake with metabolic syndrome and dyslipidemia were examined by sex using multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: The median of dietary fiber was 23.6 g/day in men and 20.0 g/day in women. Dietary fiber intake increased gradually as dietary carbohydrate groups increased except for ≥80% of energy from the carbohydrate group. Women in the highest quintile of fiber intake showed a 33% lower risk of metabolic syndrome compared with those in the third quintile. When stratified into low fiber (LF) and high fiber (HF) groups using Adequate Intake of fiber for Koreans, men in the third quartile of carbohydrate intake showed a 44% and 51% higher risk of metabolic syndrome and atherogenic dyslipidemia than in the first quartile, respectively, but only in the LF group. Women in the second quartile of carbohydrate intake showed an 83% higher risk of hypercholesterolemia than in the first quartile in the LF group. On the other hand, as no significant association was observed between the carbohydrate intake and metabolic diseases among the HF groups in both sexes. Conclusion: These findings suggest that a high fiber intake might be associated with a reduced risk of metabolic syndrome and high carbohydrate intake with a low dietary fiber intake might be associated with an increased risk of several metabolic abnormalities among Korean adults. Further prospective studies will be needed to confirm the effects of high fiber and high carbohydrate intake on the cardiometabolic risk factors among Koreans.

• Journal of vocational education research
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.25-53
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to find out the improvement plan through the satisfaction survey of the trainees involved in vocational training fraud preventive education. In order to do this, we conducted a satisfaction survey(4,263 persons) of 5,939 people who participated in the prevention education conducted by group education or e-learning in 2017. Finally we collected 4,237 effective responses data. Descriptive statistics and the regression analysis were conducted. The finding of the study were as follows. First, the education service quality(4.42), satisfaction level(4.44), understanding level(4.44) and help level(4.45) were significantly higher than those of participants in the preventive education 4 and above. Second, e-learning participants' perceived level of education service quality, satisfaction, comprehension, and help was higher in all variables than collective education's. Third, all of the sub-factors of preventive education service quality influenced satisfaction, understanding, and help in collective education and e-learning, respectively. In the collective education, the contents of education had the greatest influence, and in e-learning, the data composition had the greatest influence. Fourth, desirable education contents were cases of fraud training(70.7%), disposition regulations(47.9%), NCS course operation instructions(32.8%) and training management best practices(32.4%). Additional requirements also included the establishment of an in-depth course, the provision of anti-fraud education content for trainees, and screen switching and system stability that can be focused on e-learning. Therefore, this study suggests that first, it is necessary to activate e-learning for prevention education more, reflecting satisfaction of e-learning is higher than that of collective education. Second, it is necessary to diversify the content of preventive education and to provide it more abundantly, because it has the biggest influence in common with the satisfaction, understanding and help level of the preventive education. Third, education content next, the factors that have a relatively big influence on satisfaction are shown as delivery method and education place in the collective education. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare education place considering the assignment of instructor and convenience. Fourth, constructing data next, the factor that have a relatively great influence on understanding and help are found to be operator support, and more active operator support activities are required in e-learning. Fifth, it is required to delivery prevention activity for trainees participating in vocational training. Sixth, it is necessary to analyze the educational need to construct the contents of preventive education more systematically.

• 한국노년학
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.281-291
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• 2017

The present study aimed to investigate the rate of unmet healthcare needs for elderly over the age of 65 years, as well as analyze the relevance between employment status and unmet healthcare needs due to financial reasons. With regard to the study method, a logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the correlation between employment status and unmet healthcare needs due to financial reasons, targeting 5,528 subjects over the age of 65 years. The results showed that the rate of unmet healthcare needs was 18.9%, in which the rate of unmet healthcare needs due to financial reason was 8.1%. The rate of unmet health needs was higher for temporary workers(ORs=1.75) than for retirement workers. However, the rate of unmet healthcare needs caused by financial reasons was higher among day workers(ORs=1.92). In conclusion, in order to prevent unmet healthcare needs for senior Korean patients, it is necessary to not only improve the income security system for the elderly, but also improve the occupational form and level of income of these economically active citizens, considering the increase in average life expectancy. Moreover, it is also necessary to reinforce health insurance coverage systems for settling medical expenses.

• Journal of Society of Occupational Therapy for the Aged and Dementia
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.87-95
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• 2018

Objective : Vibration stimulators are easier to obtain in clinical settings than other treatment tools, and it is advantageous that the arm activation training can be performed passively. Despite the following advantages, recent studies on vibration sense have not been activated yet. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of vibration sensation on the hands of the affected upper limb on unilateral reduction of stroke patients. Method : Patients with unilateral neglect due to stroke were enrolled in this study for about 3 weeks from October 19, 2018 to November 7, The research design used ABA design among the single-subject experimental research design, and a total of 18 circuits (4 baseline, 6 intervention, 3 baseline regression) were performed once a day on weekdays Respectively. MMES-K was used to select the subjects. Line bisection test (LBT), Albert's test and Star Cancellation Test (SCT) were used as unilateral neglect test. For the analysis, the baseline and intervention period measurements were visually analyzed using graphs and mean values were used. Result : All three evaluations showed that the number of errors missed during the training period was lower than the baseline period, and this decrease remained after training. The error was reduced by an average of $2{\pm}1.2$ omissions and an average omissions of $0.6{\pm}0.5$ omitting an average of $4.5{\pm}1$ omissions in the line break test. As a result of the Albert test, the average error decreased by $22.5{\pm}1.9$ omissions and $8{\pm}7.3$ omissions and $0.3{\pm}0.5$ omissions, respectively. In the star clearance test, the average error decreased from $26{\pm}4.6$ to $21.8{\pm}1.7$ and $20{\pm}0$, respectively. Conclusion : In this study, vibrotactile stimulation therapy showed a continuous effect on improving unilateral neglect. Based on these findings, further research should be conducted in order to improve objectivity in future studies. Further research on various arbitration methods that maximize the effect of intervention will be needed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.20-25
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• 2022

Background and Objectives Globus pharyngeus is one of the most common symptoms of patients visiting otorhinolaryngology out-patient clinic, and usually long-lasting, difficult to treat, and frequently recurrent. Mucomyst^®, N-acetyl cysteine is an inhalation agent mainly used for mucolysis and reducing inflammation in airway via antioxidative effect. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of inhaled Mucomyst^® treatment in patients with globus pharyngeus refractory to proton pump inhibitor (PPI). Materials and Method We prospectively evaluated the efficacy of Mucomyst^® in relieving symptoms of globus pharyngeus refractory to PPI in nine medical centers. Three hundred and three patients enrolled and finally 229 patients finished the inhaled Mucomyst^® therapy for 8 weeks. We analyzed the change of Reflux Symptom Index (RSI), Reflux Finding Score (RFS), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for globus, and Globus Pharyngeus Symptom Scale (GPS) after use of Mucomyst^® for 4 and 8 weeks. Results The GPS, RSI, RFS, and VAS score significantly decreased serially in patients who finished 8 week-inhalation treatment. The GPS improvement gap was significantly correlated with initial GPS (p<0.001) in multiple regression analysis. Conclusion Inhaled Mucomyst^® therapy was effective for the reduction of both subjective and objective findings in refractory globus patients. This study might suggest new treatment option for patients with globus. However, further thorough studies would be needed to assess the real effect of inhaled Mucomyst^® treatment as a standard treatment for globus.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2022

The effect of sediments in a waste dumping area on marine organisms was evaluated using sediment toxicity tests with a benthic amphipod (Monocorophium acherusicum) and bioluminescent bacterium (Vibrio fischeri) in accordance with the Korean Standard Method for Marine Wastes (KSMMW). Nine sites in the East Sea-Byeong, East Sea-Jeong, and Yellow Sea-Byeong areas were sampled from 2016 to 2019. The test results showed that the relative average survival rate (benthic amphipods) and relative luminescence inhibition rate (luminescent bacteria) were below 30%, which were judged to be "non-toxic." However, in the t-test, a total of 12 benthic amphipod samples (6, 1, 1, and 4 in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019, respectively) were significantly different (p<0.05) from the control samples. To identify the source of toxicity on benthic amphipods, a simple linear regression analysis was performed between the levels of eight heavy metals (Cr, As, Ni, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, and Hg) in sediments and the relative average survival rate. The results indicated that Cr had the highest contribution to the toxicity of benthic amphipods (p = 0.000, R2 = 0.355). In addition, Cr was detected at the highest concentration at the DB-85 station and exceeded the Marine Environment Standards every year. Although the sediments were determined as "not toxic" according to the ecotoxicity criteria of the KSMMW, the results of the statistical significance tests and toxicity identification evaluation indicated that the toxic effect was not acceptable. Therefore, revising the criteria for determining the toxic effect by deriving a reference value through quantitative risk assessment using species sensitivity distribution curves is necessary in the future.