• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.15-22
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• 2013

Objective: Evaluations of the in-vitro anti-bacterial activities of aqueous extracts of Acacia catechu (L.F.)Willd, Castanea sativa, Ephedra sinica stapf and Shilajita mumiyo against gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumonia) and gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) are reasonable since these ethnomedicinal plants have been used in Persian folk medicine for treating skin diseases, venereal diseases, respiratory problems and nervous disorders for ages. Methods: The well diffusion method (KB testing) with a concentration of $250{\mu}g/disc$ was used for evaluating the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC). Maximum synergistic effects of different combinations of components were also observed. Results: A particular combination of Acacia catechu (L.F.) Willd, Castanea sativa, Ephedra sinica stapf and shilajita mumiyo extracts possesses an outstanding anti-bacterial activity. It's inhibiting effect on microorganisms is significant when compared to the control group (P<0.05). Staphylococcus aureus was the most sensitive microorganism. The highest anti-bacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumonia) or gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Proteus mirabilis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) was exerted by formula number 2 (table 1). Conclusion: The results reveal the presence of anti-bacterial activities of Acacia catechu, Castanea sativa husk, Ephedra sp. and Mumiyo against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Synergistic effects in a combined formula, especially in formula number 2 (ASLAN$^{(R)}$) can lead to potential sources of new antiseptic agents for treatment of acute or chronic skin ulcers. These results considering the significant anti-bacterial effect of the present formulation, support ethnopharmacological uses against diarrheal and venereal diseases and demonstrate use of these plants to treat infectious diseases.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.69-88
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• 2010

The effective administration of hospital with innovation and human resource practices is a matter of grave concern because hospitals are becoming bigger and more specialized. Biomedical engineers who manage medical machineries and tools used to deliver healthcare services in a hospital setting play an important role in providing customers good quality services. Maintaining job satisfaction of biomedical engineers is, thus, important in the delivery of quality care. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study aiming to determine factors affecting job satisfaction of biomedical engineers working in general hospitals. The study population consisted of biomedical engineers at 79 general hospitals of 26 regions based on the registry of the Korea Medical Engineering Association (KMEA). The data were collected using a self-administerd questionnaire between May and July of 2009. Job satisfaction was assessed with 19 items covering 3 dimensions of work-external, work-internal, and organizational aspects (Cronbach's ${\alpha}=0.884$), resulting in an average summary score. Statistical analysis was conducted with SPSS for Windows version 15.0. The mean score of job satisfaction was 3.50 (${\pm}0.04$). There were statistically significant differences in job satisfaction according to age, health status, job position, duration of work as a biomedical engineer, years in the current workplace, difficulty at work, intent to change job, and the amount of support from superiors and colleagues. In multiple regression analysis, the factors affecting job satisfaction of biomedical engineers were salary, health status, and support of superiors and colleagues ($r^2=0.512$). Effective motivation-plans, taking into account organizational characteristics and the working environment of the hospital, may help to improve the job satisfaction of biomedical engineers.

• The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.151-158
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• 2010

In line with the requirement of appropriate protocol support for such mission-critical wireless sensor network (WSN) applications as patient monitoring, we investigate the framework for designing medium access control (MAC) schemes. The data traffic in medical systems comes with inherent traffic heterogeneity as well as strict requirement of reliability according to the varied extents of devise-wise criticality in separate cases. This implies that the quality-of-Service (QoS) issues are very distinctly delicate requiring specialized consideration. Besides, there are features in such systems that can be exploited during the design of a MAC scheme. In a monitoring or routine surveillance application, there are degrees of regularity or predictability in traffic as coordinated from a node of central control. The coordinator thus takes on the role of marshaling the resources in a neighborhood of nodes deployed mostly for upstream traffic; in a collision-free scheme, it schedules the time slots for each superframe based on the QoS specifications. In this preliminary study, we identify the key artifacts of such a MAC scheme. We also present basic performance issues like the impact of superframe length on delay incurred, energy efficiency achieved in the network operation as obtained in a typical simulation setup based on this framework.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.121-131
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• 2018

Objectives We analyzed the trends of government-funded research on Kampo medicine in Japan to provide advanced evidence to R&D support policy for Korean medicine, and to introduce new research fields and trends to the researchers. Methods We reviewed the researches on Kampo medicine through 'research-er.jp' and 'KAKEN' database which contain R&D status in Japan and scientific research funding project issued by the Japan Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Results Since 1976, government-funded research on Kampo medicine has been continuously announced, and now 533 tasks have been completed or are in progress. The average duration of the study is 2.54 years, but it has been prolonged to 3.52 years in recent years. 4~5 million yen was supported per project for laboratory research, and an average of 44,342 thousand yen was supported per project for specialized laboratory research and clinical research. Conclusions Despite the absence of systematically supporting departments, the researches on Kampo medicine in Japan were qualitatively superior since they focused on providing the scientific basis for clinical application. As competition in the world's traditional medicine market becomes more intense, it is necessary to improve the competitiveness of Korean medicine. Therefore, a keen interest in Korean medicine and active support from the government is needed.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.143-151
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• 2015

This study was conducted under the premise that the university library's subject specialization room is in need of major modifications in order to accommodate the needs of various majors. The subject specialization room will be able to support university library users who are inclined to use the general reading room. Therefore, the study presents spatial planning for the average university library's subject specialization room by taking into account student majors. This could be a guideline for the construction and renovation of university libraries in the future. The summary of results for this study and the conclusions are as follows: 1)Natural sciences subject specialization room should be, partially connected with the humanities/social science subject specialization room in order to provide an open-concept reference room. In the shared area connecting the two subject specialization rooms needs to be installed a staff counter and subject specialist librarian service booth for users of both subject specialization rooms. 2)For humanities/social sciences subject specialization room, partially connect with the natural sciences subject specialization room. In the connecting area between the two rooms, plan an open-concept lounge for resting and reading. 3)It is best to plan subject specialization room for art/music/physical education majors separate from the subject specification room of other majors. Structurally separate art/music/physical education major subject specialization rooms from the building or plan a separate room in an art/music/physical education building. Users of art/music/physical education majors showed a high preference for a spatially separated and specialized library structure, which proves that an art/music/physical education library need to be planed based on the specialized library structure found in law school libraries or medical school libraries. Plan the center of the room with open-concept based reading room. Use wall-sides, partitions, or shelves to create reading space separate from the shelving area.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.157-168
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• 2010

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the curriculum of Chuna manual medicine (CMM)-related subjects in oriental medicine college and to let CMM have opportunities to develope current curriculum and basic circumstance for CMM. Methods: Questionnaire was obtained from 11 oriental medicine college and 1 school of Korean medicine, Pusan National University, bye-mail. If there was any insufficient information from response, we asked more information by direct call. Results and Conclusions: The findings from our study can be summarized as follows: 1. There are three CMM-related subjects, CMM, Oriental Rehabilitation Medicine (ORM) and Neuromusculoskeletology(NMS). All curriculums of 8 colleges belonged to classification I have CMM and DRM courses. Curriculums of 4 colleges belonged to classification II, have ORM or NMS course without CMM course. 2. 10 colleges of 11 ones which have ORM course, have major compulsory courses, 1 college has a major optional course. 5 colleges of 8 ones which have CMM course, have major compulsory courses, 3 colleges have major optional courses. 2 colleges have only part-time lecturers for CMM course, other 2 college have cooperation of specialized professors and part-time lecturers, another 8 colleges have only specialized professors. 3. Most CMM-related subjects is teached at 3 or 4 grade of medical course. The units taken for CMM-related subjects is minimum 4 units to maximum 8 units in total about 160 units. 4. Total class hour for CMM-related subjects is minimum 120 hours to maximum 225 hours, and practice hours is about minimum 30 hours to maximum 75 hours. 5. The systematic regulation and financial support is needed for patients to get the best CMM treatment, because the present curriculum of CMM is insufficient for carrying out the best manual therapy for patients.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.559-567
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to investigate patients with Lou Gehrig's disease, their families, and their actual conditions of the disease, and to find the factors to alleviate caregiving burden and the needs of service. According to the study, the sociodemographic characteristics of the patients with Lou Gehrig's disease and their patients, the disease and caregiving, and activity support service didn't influence alleviation of caregiving burden. When the main caregiver of the patient was not a spouse, or graduated from high school and less, and when the disease was diagnosed initially, there was a difference in caregiving burden. Based on the results, this study suggested that it would be necessary to make medical support suitable to Lou Gehrig's disease and come up with a convergence policy to support personalized and specialized welfare service.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.407-419
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• 2024

Objectives: This study was conducted to measure financial toxicity (FT) among patients with cancer in Vietnam using the COmprehensive Score for financial Toxicity (COST) and to describe the cost management strategies employed by these patients. Methods: This comprehensive cross-sectional study enrolled 634 patients from 2 specialized oncology hospitals in Vietnam. Using COST cut-off scores, FT was classified as none/mild (≥26), moderate (14-25), or severe (≤13). Cost management strategies, or coping mechanisms, were classified into 4 groups: lifestyle changes, financial resource strategies, treatment modifications, and support seeking. Results: The prevalence of FT was 91.8%, with 51.7% of participants demonstrating severe and 40.1% exhibiting moderate FT. Severe FT was significantly associated with female, low education level, unstable employment, low household economic status, and advanced cancer stage. The most common coping strategies were as follows: among lifestyle changes, reducing spending on basic items and leisure activities (78.7%) and cutting back on essential household expenses (66.4%); among financial resource strategies, borrowing money from relatives or friends (49.1%) and withdrawing funds from retirement or savings accounts (34.1%); within treatment modifications, switching treatment facilities or doctors due to cost concerns (9.3%); and within support seeking, obtaining help from welfare or community organizations (18.8%). All strategies were significantly more likely to be used by patients with severe FT. Conclusions: FT was highly prevalent among patients with cancer. Most patients relied on lifestyle adjustments and coping strategies, underscoring the need for improved financial support systems to alleviate the economic burden associated with cancer care.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.206-225
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• 2012

General status of pediatric dentistry in Korea is to conduct vigorous academic activities and specialized medical care centering the Korean Association of Pediatric Dentistry (KAPD) that has about 1,000 pediatric dentists as members, pediatric dentistry departments of 11 Colleges of Dentistry, numbers of pediatric dentistry training institutions and private clinics specialized in children. From 1996, the accredited pediatric dentists were produced by the KAPD and from 2008, the state began to produce the accredited pediatric dentists. Since then, doctors with expertise in pediatric care had opened private clinics in addition to the university hospitals, it became the basis of a momentum to deepen the specialty of pediatric dentistry. The Dentistry community of Korea is going through rapid and profound changes recently, and the underlying reasons for such changes can be classified largely into a few categories: (1) Decreasing population and structural changes in population (2) Increase in numbers of dentists, (3) Changes in the pattern of dental diseases and (4) Changes in medical environment. In Korea, the children population in the age range of 0 ~ 14 years old had been decreased by 2 million in 2010 compared to that of 2000 due to reduction of birth rate. The current population of children in the age range of 0 ~ 4 years old in 2010 takes up 16.2% of the total population, but it is estimated that such percentage would decrease to 8.0% by 2050. Such percentage is largely behind the estimated mean global population of 19.6% by 2050. On the other hand, the number of dentists had been largely increased from 18,000 in 2000 to 25,000 in 2010. And it is estimated that the number will be increased to 41,000 by 2030. In addition, the specialized personnel of Pediatric dentistry had been shown as increased by 2.5 times during past 10 years. For the changes in the pattern of dental diseases, including dental caries, each df rate of 5 years old children and 12 years old children had been decreased by 21.9% and 16.7% respectively in 2010 compared to 2000. Each df Index also had been decreased by 2.5 teeth and 1.2 teeth respectively. The medical expenditure of Korea is less than that of OECD and more specifically, the expenditure from the National Health Plan is less than OECD but the expenditure covered by households is larger than OECD. These facts indicate that it is considered as requiring the coverage of the national health plan to be reinforced more in the future and as such reinforcement needs continuous promotion. In medical examination pattern of Pediatric dentistry, the preventive and corrective treatment were increased whereas the restorative treatment was decreased. It is considered that such change is caused from decrease of dental caries from activation of the prevention project at national level. For the restorative treatment, the restorations in use of dental amalgam, pre-existing gold crowning and endodontic treatment had been decreased in their proportion while the restorative treatment in use of composite resin had been increased. It is considered that such changes is caused by the change of demands from patients and family or guardians as they desired more aesthetic improvement along with socio-economic growth of Korean society. Due to such changes in dentistry, the pediatric dentistry in Korea also attempts to have changes in the patterns of medical examination as follows; It tends to implement early stage treatment through early diagnosis utilizing various diagnostic tools such as FOTI or QLF. The early stage dental caries so called white spot had been included in the subjects for dental care or management and in order to do so, the medical care guidelines essentially accompanied with remineralization treatment as well as minimally invasive treatment is being generalized gradually. Also, centering the Pediatric dentists, the importance of caries risk assessment is being recognized, in addition that the management of dental caries is being changed from surgical approach to internal medicinal approach. Recently, efforts began to emerge in order to increase the target patients to be managed by dentists and to expand the application scope of Pediatric dentistry along with through such changes. The interest and activities of Pediatric dentists which had been limited to the medical examination room so far, is now being expanded externally, as they put efforts for participating in the preventive policy making process of the community or the state, and to support the political theories. And also opinions are being collected into the direction that the future- oriented strategic political tasks shall be selected and researches as well as presentations on the theoretical rationale of such tasks at the association level.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.341-347
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• 2000

Background : One-quarter of Koreans are either students or school employeeS. Therefore, school health programs for them have high levels of cost-benefit. School health programs, though, are focused on services such as vaccination and physical examination according to administrational regulations without systemic planning. Futhermore, college health programs run autonomously, not under the supervision of the Ministry of Education. It is my intention to analyse the current status of college school health service centers and use the basic data so generated to model how they might operate at an optimal level of efficiency. Methods : I intended to investigate all 29 colleges in Seoul except some specialized colleges such as theological schools in the two-month period of August and September, 1999. I used the telephone interview method to ask questions relating to personal composition, medical equipment in use, annual expenditure and the provision of school health services. School health services were composed of three items; health servies, health education and a healthy school environment. Results : 27 college health service centers were surveyed. The median number of medical personal in each center was 2, the range was 1-31. 7 centers(25.9%) have only nurses with no doctors. Annual expenditures of 11 centers(50.1%) was less than 10 million won, 19 center(70.4%) were maintained by support from their college. Thirteen centers(48.1%) provided doctor's examinations, 6 centers(22.2%) provided dental care services, laboratory services were provided by seven centers(25.9%). Some 81.5% of the centers had vaccination programs and 44.5% had health education programs. There was no school environment program except insecticide provisions. College health service centers with school doctors differed from centers without school doctors in terms of medical equipment range, annual expenditures and annual case loads. Conclusion : The structure and function of college health service centers in Seoul are diverse. However, no center has a well-organized school health plan.