• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.49 no.1
• /
• pp.53-60
• /
• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to examine the magnitude of and the factors associated with the downward mobility of first-episode psychiatric patients. Methods: This study used the claims data from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. The study population included 19 293 first-episode psychiatric inpatients diagnosed with alcohol use disorder (International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision [ICD-10] code F10), schizophrenia and related disorders (ICD-10 codes F20-F29), and mood disorders (ICD-10 codes F30-F33) in the first half of 2005. This study included only National Health Insurance beneficiaries in 2005. The dependent variable was the occurrence of downward mobility, which was defined as a health insurance status change from National Health Insurance to Medical Aid. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess factors associated with downward drift of first-episode psychiatric patients. Results: About 10% of the study population who were National Health Insurance beneficiaries in 2005 became Medical Aid recipients in 2007. The logistic regression analysis showed that age, gender, primary diagnosis, type of hospital at first admission, regular use of outpatient clinic, and long-term hospitalization are significant predictors in determining downward drift in newly diagnosed psychiatric patients. Conclusions: This research showed that the downward mobility of psychiatric patients is affected by long-term hospitalization and medical care utilization. The findings suggest that early intensive intervention might reduce long-term hospitalization and the downward mobility of psychiatric patients.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.559-566
• /
• 2016

Objectives: This research has executed a new oral health promotion program among the elderly residents of a long-term care center, which purpose was to verify its effectiveness of oral health promotion through the improvement of their oral function. Methods: This study has selected the elderly over the age of 65, capable of communication, who use a long-term care center over the period of two months between July and September 2014. The subjects who remained until the final analysis numbered 50 excluding the dropouts during the program session (experimental: 33, control : 17). The oral stretching program was exercised two days a week, for total of two months. Each function was assessed by the standardized methods and measurement equipment. Also the sum of each function was converted into the oral health grade. Results: The oral function score of the experimental group also showed a statistically significant difference after the execution of the program, where the oral function score of experimental group increased $6.70{\pm}1.30$ from $4.95{\pm}0.89$ after the execution of the program (p<0.05), while the comparison group showed no valid statistical difference with the score result of $5.00{\pm}0.87$ down from $5.11{\pm}0.93$ after the execution of the program (p>0.05). Conclusions: Therefore if the oral health promotion program is reflected to the welfare policy in the future, it can be said that it contributes to the improved health status of the elderly who reside in the long-term care centers.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.157-160
• /
• 2005

To constrain the values of the model parameters for the cosmological models involving the time-decaying $\Lambda$ term, we have computed sets of theoretical predictions for the N-m relation of galaxies as well as the CMB angular power spectrum: three types of variation, viz., ${\Lambda}{\propto} T^{-1},\;a^{-m}$, and $H^n$ are thereby assumed following Overduin & Cooperstock (1998), although we concentrate here on the discussion of the results obtained from the first type. Our results for the N-m relation indicate that the observed excess of the galaxy counts N in the faint region beyond the blue apparent magnitude 24 can be reasonably well accounted for with the value of ${\iota}$ in the range between 0.2 and 1. Furthermore, a comparison of our computational results of the CMB spectra with the observational data shows that the models with a mild degree of the $\Lambda$ term decay, viz., with the value of ${\iota}{\le}$0.4, are favorable. In this case, the age of our universe turns out to be larger than or equal to 14 Gyr, the lower limit inferred from some Uranium datings.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
• /
• v.16 no.5 s.83
• /
• pp.659-666
• /
• 2004

In this study, for the establishment of the performance evaluation methods and the quality control standard of durability recovery method, the quantitative exposure data by long term exposure test under the coast and air environment is accumulated and analyzed. Investigating and evaluating the result of exposure test during 18 months of exposure age under the coastal and normal atmosphere environment, micro crack, swelling and spatting of surface coating material crack of repair standards of repair material and method through continuous exposure test in the future.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.39-46
• /
• 2007

In this study, for the establishment of the performance evaluation methods and the quality control standards of durability recovery method, the quantitative exposure data by long term exposure test under the coast and normal atmosphere is accumulated and analyzed. Investigating and evaluating the result of exposure test during 30 months of exposure age under the coastal and normal atmosphere environment, carbonation depth and chloride-ion penetration depth very little penetrated than cover depth. It seems reasonable to conclude that main cause of Corrosion of reinforcing bar are chloride-ion and macro cell from the result of corrosion area and corrosion velocity. Therefore, it is considered to be applied as the fundamental data on the performance evaluation and quality control standards of repair material and method through continuous exposure test in the future.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
• /
• v.7 no.3
• /
• pp.183-191
• /
• 2013

Prestress losses assumed for bridge girder design and deflection analyses are dependent on the concrete modulus of elasticity (MOE). Most design specifications, such as the American Association of State Highways and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) bridge specifications, contain a constant value for the MOE based on the unit weight of concrete and the concrete compressive strength at 28 days. It has been shown in the past that that the concrete MOE varies with the age of concrete. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a time-dependent and variable MOE on the prestress losses assumed for bridge girder design. For this purpose, three different variable MOE models from the literature were investigated: Dischinger (Der Bauingenieur 47/48(20):563-572, 1939a; Der Bauingenieur 5/6(20):53-63, 1939b; Der Bauingenieur, 21/22(20):286-437, 1939c), American Concrete Institute (ACI) 209 (Tech. Rep. ACI 209R-92, 1992) and CEB-FIP (CEB-FIP Model Code, 2010). A typical bridge layout for the Dallas, Texas, USA, area was assumed herein. A prestressed concrete beam design and analysis program from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) was utilized to determine the prestress losses. The values of the time dependent MOE and also specific prestress losses from each model were compared. The MOE predictions based on the ACI and the CEB-FIP models were close to each other; in long-term, they approach the constant AASHTO value. Dischinger's model provides for higher MOE values. The elastic shortening and the long term losses from the variable MOE models are lower than that using a constant MOE up to deck casting time. In long term, the variable MOE-based losses approach that from the constant MOE predictions. The Dischinger model would result in more conservative girder design while the ACI and the CEB-FIP models would result in designs more consistent with the AASHTO approach.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.46 no.2
• /
• pp.111-116
• /
• 2013

Background: Heart transplantation in elderly patients has raised concerns because of co-morbidities and limited life expectancy in the era of donor shortage. We examined the outcomes after heart transplantation in elderly patients. Materials and Methods: From March 1994 to December 2011, 81 patients (male:female=64:17, $49.1{\pm}14.0$ years) underwent heart transplantation. The outcomes after heart transplantation in the younger patients (<60 years; group Y, n=60) were compared with those in the elderly patients (${\geq}60$ years; group O, n=21). The follow-up duration was $51.8{\pm}62.7$ months. Results: Early mortality (${\leq}30$ days) occurred in 5.0% (3/60) and 4.8% (1/21) of groups Y and O, respectively (p>0.999). There were no differences in overall survival between the two groups (p=0.201). Freedom from rejection was higher in group O than in group Y (p=0.026). Multivariable analysis revealed that age ${\geq}60$ years was not a significant risk factor for long-term survival; postoperative renal failure was the only significant risk factor for long-term survival (p=0.011). Conclusion: Early and mid-term results of heart transplantation in elderly patients were similar to those in younger patients.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.20-26
• /
• 2020

Background: High complication rate after open reduction and internal fixation can lead to use of primary total elbow replacement (TER) in treatment of complex distal humerus fractures in elderly patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the short-term outcomes and complications after primary TER in patients with complex distal humerus fracture. Methods: Nine patients with acute complex distal humerus fracture were treated by primary TER using the semiconstrained Coonrad-Morrey prosthesis. The mean age of patients was 72.7 years (range, 63-85 years). Clinical and radiographic outcomes were evaluated over a mean follow-up of 29.0 months (range, 12-65 months) using visual analog scale (VAS) score for pain; Mayo elbow performance score (MEPS); Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (Quick-DASH) score; and serial plain radiographs. Complications were also evaluated. Results: At the final follow-up, mean VAS, MEPS, and Quick-DASH scores were 1.2, 80.5, and 20, respectively. The mean range of motion was 127.7° of flexion, 13.8° of extension, 73.3° of pronation, and 74.4° of supination. There was no evidence of bushing wear or high-grade implant loosening on serial plain radiographs. Three complications (33.3%) comprising two periprosthetic fractures and one ulnar neuropathy were observed. Conclusions: Primary TER for treatment of complex distal humerus fractures in elderly patients yielded satisfactory short-term outcomes. However, surgeons should consider the high complication rate after primary TER.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.65-70
• /
• 2012

Synaptic long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) have been studied as mechanisms of ocular dominance plasticity in the rat visual cortex. Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) inhibits the induction of LTP and LTD during the critical period of the rat visual cortex (postnatal 3~5 weeks). However, in adult rats, the increase in 5-HT level in the brain by the administration of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) fluoxetine reinstates ocular dominance plasticity and LTP in the visual cortex. Here, we investigated the effect of 5-HT on the induction of LTP in the visual cortex obtained from 3- to 10-week-old rats. Field potentials in layer 2/3, evoked by the stimulation of underlying layer 4, was potentiated by theta-burst stimulation (TBS) in 3- and 5-weekold rats, then declined to the baseline level with aging to 10 weeks. Whereas 5-HT inhibited the induction of LTP in 5-week-old rats, it reinstated the induction of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA)-dependent LTP in 8- and 10-week-old rats. Moreover, the selective SSRI citalopram reinstated LTP. The potentiating effect of 5-HT at 8 weeks of age was mediated by the activation of 5-$HT_2$ receptors, but not by the activation of either 5-$HT_{1A}$ or 5-$HT_3$ receptors. These results suggested that the effect of 5-HT on the induction of LTP switches from inhibitory in young rats to facilitatory in adult rats.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.12
• /
• pp.4839-4842
• /
• 2014

Background: Although the Cox's proportional hazard model is the popular approach for survival analysis to investigate significant risk factors of cancer patient survival, it is not appropriate in the case of log-term disease free survival. Recently, cure rate models have been introduced to distinguish between clinical determinants of cure and variables associated with the time to event of interest. The aim of this study was to use a cure rate model to determine the clinical associated factors for cure rates of patients with breast cancer (BC). Materials and Methods: This prospective cohort study covered 305 patients with BC, admitted at Shahid Faiazbakhsh Hospital, Tehran, during 2006 to 2008 and followed until April 2012. Cases of patient death were confirmed by telephone contact. For data analysis, a non-mixed cure rate model with Poisson distribution and negative binomial distribution were employed. All analyses were carried out using a developed Macro in WinBugs. Deviance information criteria (DIC) were employed to find the best model. Results: The overall 1-year, 3-year and 5-year relative survival rates were 97%, 89% and 74%. Metastasis and stage of BC were the significant factors, but age was significant only in negative binomial model. The DIC also showed that the negative binomial model had a better fit. Conclusions: This study indicated that, metastasis and stage of BC were identified as the clinical criteria for cure rates. There are limited studies on BC survival which employed these cure rate models to identify the clinical factors associated with cure. These models are better than Cox, in the case of long-term survival.