• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.140-145
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• 2017

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of visual block with ankle joint fatigue on gait and dynamic balance ability. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Thirty healthy young adults (men=15, women=15) between 22 to 25 years of age voluntarily participated in this study. All subjects performed the gait and dynamic balance test successively in two conditions: the visual block and the open eyes condition. Before the gait and dynamic balance test, muscle fatigue on the ankle joint was induced to all subjects by doing ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion alternately, and then gait parameters (step length, stride length, cadence, velocity, single limb support, and double limb support) were assessed by walking on the GAITRite system (CIR Systems Inc., USA). Subjects also performed the functional reach test (FRT) for assessment of dynamic balance. This study examined gait parameters and FRT scores in each visual block and open eyes condition. Results: The results showed that FRT scores with the visual block condition significantly decreased compared to without visual blocking (p<0.01). Step length, stride length, cadence, and velocity of gait parameters decreased significantly in the visual block condition (p<0.01) while there was no significant difference for single limb support. However, double limb support increased significantly in the visual block system (p<0.01). Conclusions: Therefore, blocking of visual information with muscle fatigue of the ankle joint can affect gait and balance ability of young adults and increase the risk of falls.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.118-128
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• 2015

Purpose: Evidence suggests that some patients with breast cancer experience cognitive difficulties following chemotherapy. This longitudinal study was done to examine the prevalence of cognitive impairment and trajectory of cognitive function over time in women with breast cancer, who received adjuvant chemotherapy. Methods: Participants were 137 patients with breast cancer. They completed neuropsychological tests and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognitive Function before adjuvant therapy (pretest), toward the end of adjuvant therapy (posttest), and 6 months after the completion of adjuvant therapy (follow-up test). Of the patients, 91 were treated with adjuvant chemotherapy and 46 patients who did not receive chemotherapy made up the comparison group. A reliable-change index and repeated-measure ANOVA were used for statistical analyses. Results: At the posttest point, over 30% of patients showed complex cognitive impairment and reported greater difficulty in subjective cognitive function. At the follow-up test point, 22.0% of patients exhibited complex cognitive impairment and 30.8% of patients complained of subjective cognitive impairment. Repeated-measure ANOVA showed significant decreases after receiving chemotherapy followed by small improvements 6 months after the completion of chemotherapy in cognitive domains of change for attention and concentration, memory, executive function, and subjective cognitive function. Conclusion: These results suggest that chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer may be associated with objective and subjective cognitive impairments. Further studies are needed to explore the potential risk factors and predictor of chemotherapy-related cognitive changes. Also nursing interventions for prevention and intervention of cognitive impairments should be developed and tested.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.2559-2564
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• 2016

Purpose: To compare Ki-67 index and microvessel density MVD) in multiple myeloma and non-myeloma patients and their correlation with each other and other prognostic markers. Materials and Methods: Forty patients were enrolled in this study between 2011-2013, 30 with multiple myelomas and 10 with non-malignant disease as controls. Proliferative activity was analyzed by Ki-67 and microvessel density (MVC) was assessed by CD34 and compared between two groups. In myeloma patients, correlation between Ki-67, MVD and other prognostic factors was assessed by Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: According to Durie Salmon staging criteria, 13 patients were of stage 1, 5 of stage II and 12 of stage III. Ki-67 expression showed a positive correlation with MVD (r=0.729, p<0.001) and was significantly higher (p<0.0001) in myeloma patients (range 35-80%, mean 60.1 %) as compared to controls (range 8-25%, mean 18.1%). $MVD/mm^2$ was also significantly (p<0.0001) higher in myeloma patients (range $62-237/mm^2$, mean $178.0/mm^2$) than controls (range $5.2-50/mm^2$, mean $18.3/mm^2$). Ki-67 and MVD, both increased progressively with increasing stage of myeloma. Ki-67 showed significant positive correlation with blood urea and lactate dehydrogenase and a significant negative correlation with serum albumin. MVD showed a significant positive correlation with blood urea, lactate dehydrogenase, serum creatinine, ${\beta}2$ microglobulin and skeletal lesions. Conclusions: Ki-67 and MVD are indicators of aggressiveness and poor prognosis having significant correlation with each other and other prognostic markers of multiple myeloma. Routine assessment of these markers may help to identify high risk patients, who may benefit from with more aggressive therapy.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.98-107
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• 2017

This study examined an effective way of measuring the evacuation performance in buildings, which are applied to a double skin facade through an evaluation of the escape safety. Buildings with a double skin facade appeared to have a faster combustion expansion speed for the upper floor if a fire occurs. Moreover, a double skin facade is more difficult to escape safely than a general building construction because of the limited design standards. Accordingly, this study suggested virtual modeling including single emergency stairs and alarm systems considering the risk in each structure of buildings. These results showed that box-type double skin, corridor access type, shaft-box type, and multistory facade systems showed a 26.4%, 29.1%, 23.4%, and 26.3% increase in evacuation performance, respectively, as well as securing the safety of occupants.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.305-313
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• 2015

Objectives: The objective of this study is to identify toxicants causing acute toxicity in effluents from the aluminum rolling industry that violate the discharge limits in Korea. Methods: Whole effluent toxicity tests (WET) were conducted on effluent discharged from the aluminum rolling industry following the US EPA WET test methods. We collected effluent samples three times and evaluated acute toxicity by using Daphnia magna. We employed toxicity identification evaluation (TIE) procedures to identify toxicants causing toxicity in the effluent. Results: No specific chemical groups were identified in the seven different manipulations applied to the of wastewater effluent samples showing 1.3 toxic units (TU) according to the TIE phase I procedures. Water quality parameters for water hardness, electric conductivity and heavy metals (Mn) were 4,322 mg/l as $CaCO_3$, 11.39 mS/cm, and $5,551{\mu}g/l$, respectively. Considering water hardness and reference toxicity, high concentrations of Mn can be disqualified from the causative toxicants. Consequently, high ionic concentrations of $Na^+$(1,648 mg/l), $Ca^{2+}$(1,048 mg/l), $Mg^{2+}$(1,428 mg/l) and $SO_4{^{2-}}$(7,472 mg/l) were identified to be causative toxicants. Water hardness and electric conductivity exceed the $EC_{50}$ value obtained by biological toxicity tests using Daphnia magna. Conclusion: According to TIE procedures, high salt concentration is determined to be a major toxicant in the effluent of agro-industrial wastewater treatment plants receiving wastewater from the aluminum rolling industry.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.314-326
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• 2015

Objectives: This study was conducted to identify the ingredients used in ten consumer product categories and determine hazardous substances among these ingredients. Methods: A total of 542 commercial products in ten consumer product categories were selected. The consumer products were sticker removers, washing machine cleaners, multi-purpose cleaners, mold removers, glass cleaners, chlorinated sanitizers, air conditioner cleaners, disposal cleaners, drain cleaners and disinfectant sprays. The company list was complied from governmental records and a market survey. The respective companies were contacted for a list of ingredients found in the 542 products. Results: The corresponding companies listed 163 ingredients. According to European Union (EU) Directive 67/548/EEC, 38 of the 163 ingredients were classified as dangerous substances. Among these substances, 28 ingredients were hazardous to the skin, 15 were hazardous to the eye, and nine were hazardous if inhaled. Three ingredients were classified as CMR (carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction) substances: liquefied petroleum gases (LPG) with carcinogenicity and mutagenicity, and VM&P naphtha and ligroine with carcinogenicity. Conclusion: Various chemicals, including hazardous substances, were used in consumer products. Risk assessment of consumer products is required in order to protect the population from health risks.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.31-37
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• 2018

The distrust about chemical plant safety have been increased by occurring the major industrial accidents. Chemical plants have become more and more enlarged and sophisticated to increase production amount and decrease cost. So hazard of industrial accidents also have been increased. In this situation, quantitative risk assessment is activated by introducing OCA(Off-site Consequence Analysis). So it is possible to analyze the objective hazard of chemical plant. Currently OCA focus on the end point of hazardous area by fire/explosion/dispersion. But in this case, it is possible to analyze the industrial accident effect to near the chemical plant but hard to consider the actual hazard by frequency and population density. This study analyzes the validity about application of F-N curve to OCA by compare end point with F-N curve about accident.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.276-282
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• 2005

Objectives : To evaluate the predictive validity of three scoring systems; the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation(APACHE) III, simplified acute physiology score(SAPS) II, and mortality probability model(MPM) II systems in critically ill patients. Methods : A concurrent and retrospective study conducted by collecting data on consecutive patients admitted to the intensive care unit(ICU) including surgical, medical and coronary care unit between January 1, 2004, and March 31, 2004. Data were collected on 348 patients consecutively admitted to the ICU(aged 16 years or older, no transfer, ICU stay at least 8 hours). Three models were analyzed using logistic regression. Discrimination was assessed using receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curves, sensitivity, specificity, and correct classification rate. Calibration was assessed using the Lemeshow-Hosmer goodness of fit H-statistic. Results : For the APACHE III, SAPS II and MPM II systems, the area under the receiver operating characterist ic(ROC) curves were 0.981, 0.978, and 0.941 respectively. With a predicted risk of 0.5, the sensitivities for the APACHE III, SAPS II, and MPM II systems were 81.1, 79.2 and 71.7%, the specificities 98.3, 98.6, and 98.3%, and the correct classification rates 95.7, 95.7, and 94.3%, respectively. The SAPS II and APACHE III systems showed good calibrations(chi-squared H=2.5838 p=0.9577 for SAPS II, and chi-squared H=4.3761 p=0.8217 for APACHE III). Conclusions : The APACHE III and SAPS II systems have excellent powers of mortality prediction, and calibration, and can be useful tools for the quality assessment of intensive care units(ICUs).

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.117-124
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• 2011

Objectives : Bell's palsy is the most common acute facial paralysis but its causes still unclear. At present, one of the most widely accepted cause is viral infections, and generally socioeconomic factors influence the viral infections. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship of incidence of facial palsy with socioeconomic factors. Methods : Seventeen patients with a acute facial palsy, who volunteered and completed all of the assessment measures participated. Using data on 17 participants, we examined the independent contribution of education, income, and occupation to a risk factor of severe facial palsy. Severity of global facial impairment was assessed by the facial disability index (FDI), the house-brackmann facial nerve grading system, WHO quality of life - bref (WHOQOL-BREF) and visual analogue scale (VAS) about discomfort of life. Results : There was no correlation between severity of facial palsy and gender, marriage, education, or occupation. Age greater than 60 years (p<0.05), and low monthly income(p<0.05), poor self-rated health was associated with greater severity of idiopathic facial paralysis. Conclusions : The number of subjects with facial palsy in our study (n-17) was small, and therefore generalization to larger patient populations might be unwarranted. But according to the outcome, we suggest that socioeconomic factors, especially low monthly income influence severity of bell's palsy.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.378-387
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• 2008

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to investigate factors related to the depression of the elderly dwelling in a big city, and to explore the influence of physical health, cognitive symptom and nutritional status on the elders' depression. Methods: After the approval of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and obtaining the participants' consent form, a face to face and private interview was conducted with each participant from Mar, 2007 to Aug, 2007 by trained graduate level students. A total of 201 elders aged over 65 years participated in the study. The questionnaire consisted of K GDS, PHQ 15 and Nutritional Screening Initiative (NSI). Collected data were analyzed with the SPSS 13.0 program, which was used for frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression. Results: The major findings of this study were as follows. 1) 28.4% of the subjects belonged to the depression group, 78.1% had one or more diseases, 85.6% had experienced somatic symptoms, and 49.7% belonged to the nutritional risk group. 2) Older age, lower educational level, more pocket money a larger number of diseases, more severe cognitive symptoms and poorer nutritional status were significantly related to a higher depression score. 3) Significant factors influencing depression were nutritional status, cognitive symptoms and the number of diseases, which explained 38.1% of the variance of elderly depression, and nutritional status was the most influencing factor. Conclusion: The finding of this study gives useful information for developing assessment tools and interventions for elders' depression.