• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.139-142
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• 2015

Background: Healthcare workers' practices regarding hepatitis B have an important effect on the control of this problem in workplaces. Methods: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was used to investigate the role of knowledge, cues to action, and risk perceptions as predictors of preventive behavioral intentions for hepatitis B among healthcare works in Broujen, Iran (n = 150). History of hepatitis B vaccination, hepatitis B surface antigen test, and demographic characteristics were investigated. The psychometric properties of the questionnaire were established. Results: Those who had a history of hepatitis B surface antigen test had a statistically significant higher level of risk perceptions ($30.89{\pm}4.08$ vs. $28.41{\pm}3.93$, p < 0.01) and preventive behavioral intentions ($5.05{\pm}1.43$ vs. $4.45{\pm}1.29$, p < 0.01). The mean score of cues to action was significantly correlated with age and work history (r = 0.20, p = 0.02 and r = 0.19, p = 0.02). Preventive behavioral intentions were significantly correlated with cues to action and risk perceptions but not with knowledge level. Cognitional factors were responsible for a 17% change in observed variance of preventive behavioral intentions, which was statistically significant. Conclusion: Risk perceptions were the most important determinant of preventive behavioral intentions for hepatitis B among health personnel; thus, emphasizing risk perceptions is recommended in educational programs aimed at increasing health personnel's practices regarding hepatitis B.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.344-351
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• 2020

Background: The effects of far-infrared radiation (FIR) on the treatment of rotator cuff diseases remains unknown. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of FIR after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair with regard to postoperative pain and healing. Methods: This prospective randomized comparative study included 38 patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair due to a medium-sized tear. Patients were randomly divided into the FIR or control group (n = 19 per group). In the FIR group, FIR with an FIR radiator started 1 week postoperatively for 30 minutes per session twice daily. It lasted until abduction brace weaning at 5 weeks postoperatively. We assessed pain using a pain visual analogue scale (pVAS) and measured the range of motion (ROM) of the shoulder at 5 weeks, and 3 and 6 months, postoperatively. The anatomical outcome was evaluated using magnetic resonance imaging at 6 months postoperatively. Results: At 5 weeks postoperatively, the average pVAS score was lower in the FIR group than in the control group (1.5 ± 0.8 vs. 2.7 ± 1.7; P = 0.019). At 3 months postoperatively, the average forward flexion was higher in the FIR group (151.6° ± 15.3° vs. 132.9° ± 27.8°; P = 0.045), but there was no significant difference at 6 months postoperatively. There was no significant difference in healing failure between the groups (P = 0.999). Conclusions: FIR after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair could be an effective and safe procedure to reduce postoperative pain, thereby facilitating rehabilitation and better ROM in the early postoperative period.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.305-311
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of alcohol gel according to the amount and drying time in health personnel hand hygiene and to promote in their practice adequate and effective hand hygiene. Methods: The crossover experimental study was performed with 14 volunteers. Hands were artificially contaminated with 5 mL of $10^8$ CFU/mL of Serratia marcescens (ATCC 14756) and four different alcohol gel hand hygiene methods varying by the amount of alcohol gel (2 mL vs. 1 mL) and drying time (complete vs. incomplete) were compared. Samples were collected by glove juice sampling procedures. Results: Mean log reduction values of the four different hand hygiene methods were $2.22{\pm}0.36$, $1.26{\pm}0.53$, $1.49{\pm}0.60$, $0.89{\pm}0.47$ respectively for the 4 groups: adequate amount (2mL) and complete dry (30 seconds rubbing followed by 2 min air-dry), inadequate amount (1 mL) and complete dry, adequate amount and incomplete dry (15 seconds rubbing and no air-dry), and inadequate amount and incomplete dry. The difference was statistically significant in the adequate amount and complete dry group compared to other three groups (p<.001). Conclusion: Only alcohol gel hand hygiene with adequate amount and complete drying was satisfactory by U.S. FDA-TFM efficacy requirements for antiseptic hand hygiene products.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.4703-4706
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• 2012

Objective: To compare efficacy and safety profile of vinorelbine, ifosfamide and cisplatin (NIP) with etoposide and cisplatin (EP) in the treatment of advanced combined small cell lung cancer (c-SCLC). Methods: From January 2006 to December 2010, 176 patients with advanced c-SCLC were enrolled. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS) and the secondary endpoints were progression free survival (PFS), response rate (RR) and toxicity. Results: Overall RR was 30.0% in the NIP and 38.5% in the EP group; there was no significant difference (P=0.236). The PFS in the EP group was little longer than that of NIP group, with 6.5 months for EP and 6.0 months for NIP group, but the difference was statistically non-significant (P=0.163). The median OS and one year survival rates were 10.4 months and 36.3% for NIP group, and 10.8 months and 49.0% for EP respectively, EP showing a survival benefit, although this was not statistically significant. Both groups well tolerated the adverse effects. The incidence of grade I-II leucopenia and alopecia in the NIP group was significantly higher than that of EP group (32.5% vs. 10.4% (P<0.001, 35.0% vs. 12.5%, P<0.001). Conclusion: the ORR, PFS and OS in NIP were slightly inferior to traditional regimen EP. The toxicity of NIP can be considered tolerable. The usage of three drugs combination in the treatment of mixed SCLC remains uncertain. Nevertheless, the results need to be further confirmed by large, prospective clinical trials.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.68-76
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• 1999

A formal survey was carried out in Nharira-Lancashire areas located in Chivhu to assess the calf rearing systems practiced in smallholder dairy farming areas of Zimbabwe. A total of 47 farmers, collectively owning 305 cows and 194 calves of various breeds, participated in the survey. All the farmers allowed their calves to suckle their dams all day to obtain colostrum. The colostrums intake period was significantly (p < 0.05) shorter (5.2 vs 4.1 days) in the small scale commercial area (SSCA) compared to communal area (CA). Milk was first sold to the Nharira-Lancashire Milk Centre a day after the colostrum intake period ended. Most of the CA (91.3%) and SSCA (77.8%) farmers penned their cows and calves together at night during the colostrum intake period. Thereafter the calves were penned separate from their dams. After colostrum intake, two types of calf suckling systems were practised; twice a day suckling and twice a day then changed to once a day suckling. In both systems, suckling was allowed for 30 minutes after the cows had been hand milked. There was no significant (p < 0.05) difference in the mean weaning age of calves between the CA and SSCA (5.8 vs 5.4 months). The most common weaning method was through separation of the calves from the dams. The limitaitions to calf production in Chivhu were the prohibitively high costs of calf meals, poor feed resources during the dry season, a general lack of knowledge on calf rearing diseases and inappropriate calf housing.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.491-497
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• 2016

Background Hypertrophic scarring is a pathological condition that occurs after trauma or surgery. Angiogenesis occurs more often with hypertrophic scarring than with normotrophic scarring. The regulation of angiogenesis is one of the key factors in hypertrophic scar management. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an essential factor in the angiogenetic response. This study investigated whether decreasing the level of VEGF is effective for treating hypertrophic scarring. Methods Ten 8-week-old female New Zealand white rabbits were included. Four defects were created on each ear by using a 6-mm punch. Bevacizumab (Avastin, Roche Pharma, Basel, Switzerland) was administered in one ear and normal saline was administered in the other ear. Treatment was administered starting on day 2, every 2 days, until day 14. The levels of VEGF were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay on day 10 and histologic results were analyzed on day 40. Results Bevacizumab induced-defects showed less hypertrophic scarring when compared with the control group as measured by the scar elevation index (SEI) and loose collagen arrangement. The SEI in the experimental group was $1.89{\pm}0.13$, compared to $1.99{\pm}0.13$ in the control group (n=30, P=0.005). Additionally, the VEGF level was lower ($38.72{\pm}11.03pg$ vs. $82.50{\pm}21.64pg$, n=10, P=0.001) and fewer vessels existed ($8.58{\pm}0.76$ vs. $7.2{\pm}1.20$, n=10, P=0.007). Conclusions Preventing excessive angiogenesis is effective for preventing scar formation, especially with hypertrophic scarring. Although it is not an approach that is sufficient alone for the management of scarring, it may be one of several important strategies for scar treatment.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.163-167
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• 2009

Since its first release in 2007, the National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation (NIFDS) has provided pharmacogenomic and comparative information specific to Koreans to allow regulatory reviewers and researchers to adapt their working practices to pharmacogenomics. The highlights of this year's additions include "Drug Information", "Gene Information" and "Pharmacogenomic information in the drug labels" sections. These new additions provide information on 737 genes, 719 drugs and pharmacogenomic data of the labels or relabels of 253 approved drugs as of November 2008. The latest version of the Korean Pharmacogenomic Database (KPD, release 2.0) has expanded significantly since its previous release. More SNP and haplotype information has been added to the database with the latest version of the KPD containing approximately four times as many SNPs and haplotypes than the previous version (719 vs. 152, and 30 vs. 7 respectively). Through the "SNP" and "Haplotype" sections, the KPD provides unique Korean SNP and haplotype information as well as comparative information of other populations (Japanese, Chinese, European, African) to offer a range of pharmacogenomic data that can help reviewers and the public understand pharmacogenomic information. The quality and quantity of information in the KPD has also been improved considerably. This data can be found at: http://www.nitr.go.kr/nitr/contents/m134700/view.do/.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.193-201
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• 1996

This experiment was carried out to find out the effect of packing methods on physico-chemical properties of breast and thigh meats in chicken, which was dried by air spray chilling method. The chicken carcass was cut into breast and thigh muscles, which were either vacuum packed or atmosphere packed, and stored at -2O˚C for 1, 4, 8, 12 and 16 wk after quick freezing at -45˚C for 35 min. The pH values of atmosphere-packed breast meat and vacuum-packed breast meat after one wk of storage were higher than those of atmosphere-packed thigh meat and vacuum-packed thigh meat(P< .05). The pH values increased as storage period extended, but no significant difference was detected between two packing method(vacuum vs. atmosphere). Total moisture contents of breast meats after one wk of storage were higher than those of thigh meats. The total moisture contents decreased slowly as storage period extended, but no significant difference was detected between two packing method(vacuum vs. atmosphere). The shear force value of thigh meat was higher than that of breast meat. The shear force values of both meats decreased as storage period extended, regardless of packing method. The water soluble protein extractability of thigh meats was higher than that of breast meat, and the water soluble protein extractability of all treatments decreased until 8 wk after storage, but increased gradually after 8 wk of storage period. The salt soluble protein extractability of breast meat was higher than that of thigh meat, and the salt soluble protein extractability of all treatments decreased as storage period extended. With regard to the packing method, the vacuum packing showed higher value than that of atmosphere packing method until 8 wk of storage. Total lipid contents of atmosphere- and vacuum-packed thigh meats at 1 wk of storage were higher than those of breast meats, and the total lipid contents of all of treatments decreased as storage period extended. However, no significant difference was detected between two packing methods. The fatty acid contents of breast and thigh meats were in order of o1eic(33,5~42.4), palmitic(19.7~30.8) and linoleic acid(10.8~17.4).

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.12-16
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• 2018

Purpose: To differentiate adenoviral pharyngoconjunctival fever (PCF) from acute Kawasaki disease (KD) using laboratory tests before results of virus-real time polymerase chain reaction and ophthalmologic examination are obtained. Methods: Baseline patient characteristics and laboratory measurements were compared between 40 patients with adenovirus infection and 123 patients with KD. Results: The patients with adenovirus infection were generally older than those with KD (median: 3.9 years vs. 2 years, P=0.000). White blood cell and, platelet count, and aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels showed significant differences between the 2 groups, but the C-reactive protein (CRP) levels did not ($6.8{\pm}3.0mg/dL$ vs. $8.3{\pm}5.8mg/dL$, P=0.126). In the adenovirus infection group, the CRP levels were <1, <3, <10, and ${\geq}10mg/dL$ in 2 (5%), 3 (7.5%), 30 (75%), and 5 patients (12.5%), respectively. The cutoff NT-proBNP level was 265 pg/mL. Discrepancy was defined as CRP and NT-proBNP levels of ${\geq}3$ or <3 mg/dL, and <265 or ${\geq}265pg/mL$, respectively. Among the 35 patients with adenovirus infection whose CRP levels were ${\geq}3mg/dL$, 29 (82.9%) showed a discrepancy. Conversely, of the 103 patients with KD whose CRP levels were ${\geq}3mg/dL$, 83 (80.6%) showed no discrepancy. Between the groups, a significant difference in discrepancy rate was observed (P=0.000). None of the patients with adenovirus infection had CRP and NT-proBNP levels of <3 mg/dL and ${\geq}265pg/mL$, respectively. Conclusion: With a sensitivity of 82.9% and a specificity of 80.6%, CRP and NT-proBNP levels may differentiate between adenoviral PCF and acute KD.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.11-20
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• 2015

In the present work, a basic study on the in-situ biogenic methane generation from low grade coal bed was conducted. Lignite from Indonesia was used as a sample feedstock. A series of BMP (Biochemical Methane Potential) tests were carried out under the different experimental conditions. Although nutrients and anaerobic digester sludge were added to the coal, the produced amount of methane was limited. Both temperature control and particle size reduction showed little effect on the increase of methane potential. When rice straw was added to lignite as an external carbon source, methane yield of 94.4~110.4 mL/g VS was obtained after 60 days of BMP test. The calorific value of lignite after BMP test decreased (4.5~12.1 %) as increasing the content of rice straw (12.5~50 wt % of lignite), implying that anaerobic digestion of rice straw led to partial degradation of lignite. Therefore, rice straw could be used as an external carbon source for the start-up of in-situ biogas generation from low grade coal bed.