• The Korean Journal of Applied Statistics
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.769-789
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• 2011

The life table is a statistical model for life expectancy and reflects mortality experiences exposed to a particular group of people. The following three issues are prerequisite for constructing the life table : a selection of how to estimate the death probability from observed death rates, a graduation method to smooth irregularity of the death probabilities, and an extension method of the death probabilities for oldest-old ages. To construct the life table that is fittest to Korean mortality experiences, we examine five estimation methods such as Chiang's and Greville's for the death probability, three graduation techniques including Beer's and Greville's formulae, and twelve mathematical functions for the extension of death probabilities for oldest-old ages. We also propose a method to resolve the cross-over problem arising from construction the life table.

• 한국노년학
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.329-349
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• 2018

The objective of this study is to examine whether there are differences in participation in social activities and the effects of social activity types on the levels of happiness of the Korean older adults by age groups. The 5th wave(2014) of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (KLoSA) was used and a total of 3,273 elderly were selected from the 5th wave, who were 65 years old and older and who were not living with their offsprings. Chi-square test, ANOVA, and hierarchical multiple regression analysis were used. The rate of participation in economic activities declined with age and the levels of participation in leisure activities was higher in the young-old group in comparison to the middle- and the oldest- old groups. The levels of participation in family activities was higher in the middle- and the oldest-old groups in comparison to the young-old group. Socializing activities and religious activities measured by the frequencies of activities were not significantly different among the age groups. The results of a regression analysis of social activity types and their effects on happiness by age groups are the followings: 1) Leisure, socializing, religious, and family activities all (with the exception of economic activities) significantly affected the level of happiness of older persons in the young-old group. 2) However, only socializing and family activities in the middle-old age group, and only family activities in oldest-old group, had a statistically significant impact on the levels of happiness. These results support that the rates of participation in the five types of social activities and their effects on the levels of happiness were different by age groups. The implication of this study was to report that needs and the interests of older individuals are different by age groups based on empirical evidences.

• Clinical and Experimental Emergency Medicine
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.249-255
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• 2018

Objective As aging progresses, clinical characteristics of elderly patients in the emergency department (ED) vary by age. We aimed to study differences among elderly patients in the ED by age group. Methods For 2 years, patients aged 65 and older were enrolled in the study and classified into three groups: youngest-old, ages 65 to 74 years; middle-old, 75 to 84 years; and oldest-old, ${\geq}85years$. Participants' sex, reason for ED visit, transfer from another hospital, results of treatment, type of admission, admission department and length of stay were recorded. Results During the study period, a total 64,287 patients visited the ED; 11,236 (17.5%) were aged 65 and older, of whom 14.4% were 85 and older. With increased age, the female ratio (51.5% vs. 54.9% vs. 69.1%, P<0.001), medical causes (79.5% vs. 81.3% vs. 81.7%, P=0.045), and admission rate (35.3% vs. 42.8% vs. 48.5%, P<0.001) increased. Admissions to internal medicine (57.5% vs. 59.3% vs. 64.7%, P<0.001) and orthopedic surgery (8.5% vs. 11.6% vs. 13.8%, P<0.001) also increased. The ratio of admission to intensive care unit showed no statistical significance (P=0.545). Patients over age 85 years had longer stays in the ED (330.9 vs. 378.9 vs. 407.2 minutes, P<0.001), were discharged home less (84.4% vs. 78.9% vs. 71.5%, P<0.001), and died more frequently (6.3% vs. 10.4% vs. 13.0%, P<0.001). Conclusion With increased age, the proportion of female patients and medical causes increased. Rates of admission and death increased with age and older patients had longer ED and hospital stays.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.692-699
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• 1988

In 1987, we experienced 2 cases of T.A.P.V.D. corrected successfully under cardiopulmonary bypass. The first case was 28 years old male with supracardiac type drained through left innominate vein. He was oldest patient among T.A.P.V.D. which was reported in Korea. The other case was 14 years old male with cardiac type drained to right atrium directly without communication with coronary sinus. Two patients were well in postoperative 9 and 10 months and have NYHA functional class I.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.1-15
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• 2022

Objectives : This article examines the validity of the argument by Dorfer et al. that the tattoos of the 5200-year-old mummy, found in Tyrolean Alps in 1991, are the oldest remains of acupoints or meridians. Methods : Firstly, I reviewed the arguments by Dorfer et al. and the rebuttal by Ma et al. Secondly, I investigated whether the tattoo locations were in accordance with the acupoint locations and meridians documented in Chinese medical classics. Finally, I examined the alternative explanations on the reasoning of their locations by Kean et al. Results : Among the 18 groups of tattoos in total, only 3 groups coincided with classical acupoints, which accounts for 16.7% of total groups. Although 4 groups may also have been acupoints locations, this hypothesis could not be confirmed through an accurate standard of measurement. Conclusions : It is highly possible that the tattoos of the Tyrolean mummy do not have any relationship with classical acupoints and meridians. The tattoos are not decorative, but meant for medicinal purposes. They correspond to chronic musculoskeletal trauma and pain sites.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.650-655
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• 2019

The age and growth of Muraenesox cinereus collected in the South Sea of Korea by Danish seine and coastal Long-line fisheries were determined from right sagittal otoliths between May 2018 and April 2019. Otoliths of 353 fish were observed under reflected light, and the edges of the opaque zone were considered to be the otolith ring. Monthly changes in the marginal index indicated that rings (opaque zones) were formed once a year from June to July. The estimated von Bertalanffy growth equation with growth parameters estimated from non-linear regression were L_t=138.37 (1-e^{-0.18(t+0.79)}) for females and L_t=99.00 (1-e^{-0.13(t+3.99)}) for males. The oldest female M. cinereus was 12 years old, and the oldest male was 8 years old.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.174-180
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• 2018

Objective: Clostridium difficile Infection (CDI) is one of the common nosocomial infections. As elderly population increases, the proper treatment has been emphasized. We investigated the risk factors associated with CDI unimprovement in elderly patients. Furthermore, we performed drug use evaluation of old CDI patients and oldest-old CDI patients. Methods: It was a retrospective study using electronic medical record at Kangbuk Samsung Medical Center (KBSMC) from January 2016 to December 2017. Seventy three patients aged 65 years or older, diagnosed with CDI by Clostridium difficile Toxin B Gene [Xpert] were screened and they were assessed for risk factors regarding unimprovement status. We also evaluated drug use evaluation in old patients ($65{\leq}age$<80) and oldest-old patients ($80{\leq}age$) by assessing the use of initial therapy, severity, dose, route, treatment course, days of use, total days of use and treatment outcome of initial therapy. Results: Out of 73 patients aged over 65 years, four patients were excluded because they did not receive any treatment. There were 31 improved patients and 38 unimproved patients after initial therapy. We were able to find out patients with surgical comorbidity or endocrine comorbidity (especially, diabetes mellitus) had 2.885 more risk of becoming unimproved than those patients without surgical comorbidity or endocrine comorbidity. Drug use evaluation for CDI was generally fair, but vancomycin as initial therapy is more recommended than metronidazole. Conclusion: Although age, antibiotics exposure, use of antacids are all important risk factors for CDI, our result did not show statistical significance for these risk factors. However, the study is meaningful because the number of elderly population keeps increasing and recently updated guideline suggests the use of vancomycin as drug of choice for CDI.

• 한국노년학
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.699-721
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to examine and compare factors affecting the subjective life expectancy among the elderly, and to suggest health practice and social welfare service implications for later life. A total of 4,483 seniors from the 6th wave(2016) of the Korean Longitudinal Study on Aging (KLoSA) were used for analysis. The subjects were divided into three age groups: the young-old (n=2,106, 65~74 years), middle-old (n=1,803, 75~84 years), and oldest-old (n=574, 85 years and older). Control variables were sociodemographic factors and health status factors. Independent variables were health promotion behavior, cognition of public care, participating social activity, economic activity, and receiving basic pension. The data were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression. The main results were as follows. Health promotion behavior was associated with the young-old. Social activities and economic activity were associated with the young-old and middle-old. Receiving basic pension had a significant impact on all age groups. In the middle-old, significant results were focused on socio-demographic and health status factors compared to other groups. The results of this study will provide basic data for the elderly policy and welfare service and will help to find and improve the important factors for the life of the elderly.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.163-196
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• 2009

This study aimed to examine the direct impact and pathways of stress factors, internal resources(positive self-esteem and negative self-esteem) on the depressive symptoms based on stress coping theory, grouping older stage into three groups such as, the young-old, the old- old, oldest-old. This study further examined the mediating role of self-esteem in the relationships between stress factors and depressive symptoms. Data from 1st year Korea Welfare Panel Study were used for the analysis. The total number of participants was 4,338 who were over 65. Data are Analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling. Results revealed that stress factors and internal resources(positive self-esteem and negative self-esteem) directly affected depressive symptoms. The effects of stress factors on depressive symptoms were mediated by positive and negative self-esteem.. Results of multi-group structural equation modeling showed that the effects and pathways of stress factors and self-esteem on depressive symptoms were different into the three old groups. Based on the findings, the implications for policy and practice were discussed.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.603-622
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• 2012

The population aged 95 years and older in Seoul approximately increased to five-fold over the past 10 years, while nationwide rates increased to three-fold. In order to examine the dietary habit and nutritional status of oldest-old population living in Seoul, we recruited 87 subjects (25 males and 62 females) aged 95 years and older. The prevalence of underweight (BMI < 18.5 $kg/m^2$) and obesity (BMI ${\geq}25kg/m^2$) were 18.2% and 18.2% in males, and 20.8% and 9.4% in females, respectively. In self-assessment of health, only 25.3% answered to be unhealthy. More males exercised regularly and reported a wide range of activities than females. The average of %Kcal from carbohydrate, protein and fat (C : P : F) was 64.9 : 13.8 : 21.2 in males and 68.1 : 14.2 : 17.7 in females. The average daily energy intake was 1,307 kcal in males and 1,304 kcal in females. More than 75% of subjects were taking under estimated average requirements (EAR) for vitamin $B_1$, $B_2$ & C and Ca. The average of mean adequacy ratio (MAR) was 0.66 in males and 0.70 in females, and 28.8% of males and 12.9% of females were in MAR < 0.50. Based on MAR, 32.0% of males and 14.5% females were classified as normal and 16.0% of males and 25.8% of females were classified as malnourished. Our subjects were taking more animal food, especially milk and its products, compared to those living, in rural areas. However, a significant proportion did not meet the EAR for vitamin $B_1$, $B_2$ & C and Ca.