• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.765-771
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• 2019

Noise in skull X-ray imaging is inevitable, which reduces imaging quality and diagnostic accuracy and increases errors due to the nature of digital imaging devices. Increasing the dose can attenuate noise, but that could lead to big problems with higher exposure dose received by patients. Thus, noise reduction algorithms are actively being studied at low doses to solve dose problems and reduce noise at the same time. Wiener filter and median filter have been widely used, with the disadvantages of poor noise reduction efficiency and loss of much information about imaging boundary. The purpose of this study is to apply total variation (TV) algorithm to skull X-ray imaging that can compensate for the problems of previous noise reduction efficiency to assess quantitatively and compare them. For this study, skull X-ray imaging is obtained using various kVp and mAs using the skull phantom using the X-ray device of Siemens. In addition, contrast to noise ratio (CNR) and coefficient of variation (COV) are compared and measured when noisy image, median filter, Wiener filter and TV algorithm were applied to each phantom imaging. Experiments showed that when TV algorithms were applied, CNR and COV characteristics were excellent under all conditions. In conclusion, we've been able to see if we can use TV algorithm to improve image quality and CNR could be seen to increase due to the decrease in noise as the amount of increased mAs. On the other hand, COV decreased as the amount of increased mAs, and when kVp increased, noise was reduced and the transmittance was increased, so COV was reduced.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.94-102
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• 2020

Purposes: The purpose of this study was to analyze the trends of hospitalization and emergency room visits of asthma patients over the three years in 25 districts of Seoul. And analyzed the relationship between preventable hospital service uses and number of clinics for asthma patients. Methods: Data was collected from a customized database of the NHI(National Health Insurance) for 2016 to 2018. The number of clinics means Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Ear-Nose-Throat, and Family Medicine clinics. The hospital service means the number of adults admission for asthma and the number of total asthma emergency visits. This study used kappa analysis to assess the agreements of indicators between years, and structural equation modeling analysis was applied to analyze the relationship. Findings: The kappa value of the number of adults admission for asthma was compared between 2016 and 2017(kappa score=0.68), and was lowered when compared between 2016 and 2018(kappa score=0.26). And the value of kappa in the number of total asthma emergency visits due to asthma between 2016 and 2017(kappa score=0.51) was lower than that of between 2016 and 2018(kappa score=0.60). And the results showed that the number of clinics significantly negatively related to the uses of hospital services in asthmatic patients(β=-0.5, p=0.005). Practical Implication: This research could provide policy implications for strengthening primary care services that can contribute to the reduction of preventable hospital services.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.68-76
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• 2021

This study was attempted to understand the relationship between the attitudes toward abortion, euthanasia, and the level of perception of good death among nursing college students and related factors. The data were collected by using structured questionnaires and the subjects were selected in C and G city. The research method was a descriptive research study, and the mean, standard deviation, frequency analysis, and Pearson's correlation coefficients were analyzed for the variables. The results of this study are as follows. The degree of support for the abortion opposition was 2.51±.56 (score range 1-4), and the opposition to abortion was superior to the approval..The perception of euthanasia was 3.06±.47 points (4 point scale), which was positively recognized at a higher level than the middle, and the good death perception was 2.97±.47 points (4 point scale), which was moderate. 97.1% of the respondents said that they had abortion decisions, and 5.7% of the university students experienced abortion. The attitude toward abortion showed negative correlation with the attitude toward euthanasia (r=-.374, p<.001), showing that the more supportive the anti-abortion, the more positive the attitude toward euthanasia. Therefore, it is necessary to educate the subjects to protect and respect the human rights of patients based on the dignity of life and humanistic thinking while providing nursing services.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.479-492
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• 2020

Background: As the prevalence of hypertension is increasing in Korea, the government is seeking policy actions to manage patients with hypertension more efficiently. In this paper, we aimed to identify factors associated with the use of medical care at hospitals among outpatients with hypertension. Methods: We analyzed a total of 15,040 cases of 3,877 outpatients with hypertension obtained from the Korea Medical Panel database from 2010 to 2016. The dependent variable was whether a patient with hypertension visited a hospital or not; and independent variables were the patient's various socio-demographic, health-related, and heath-status characteristics. We conducted a generalized linear mixed model analysis with logit link for all the cases and then conducted it stratified by gender. Results: As a result of a multivariable analysis, women were less likely than to visit at a hospital (odds ratio [OR], 0.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.32-0.61) and people aged 65 years and older than those aged less than 65 years (OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.57-0.89). Residents in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam were more likely than those in than Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon, and Jeju to visit a hospital (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.05-1.86). The likelihood of visiting a hospital was high in people belonging to a group of: the highest level of annual household income (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.30-2.29); Medical care aid recipients (OR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.34-2.83); people having three or more complex chronic diseases (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.19-2.11); people having diabetes (OR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.41-2.32); or people having ischemic heart disease or cerebrovascular disease (OR, 6.80; 95% CI, 5.28-8.76). Also, we found that factors associated with the use of medical care at hospitals among outpatients with hypertension differed between genders. Conclusion: A variety of factors seem to be associated with the use of medical care at hospitals among outpatients with hypertension. Future research needs to find a way to help patients with hypertension visit an appropriate medical institution between clinics and hospitals.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.441-453
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• 2021

Recently, the untact healthcare industry due to COVID-19 has been attracting attention, and the telemedicine industry based on medical information has become a field of the healthcare industry receiving attention. However, in Korea, due to obstacles in the legal system, telemedicine is still illegal between doctors and patients. In the case of neighboring China, the reality is the opposite of the recent rapid growth of the telemedicine industry under the leadership of the government. This study looks at this from the perspective of the industrial innovation system on the grounds that telemedicine is an industry and innovative technology needs to be changed to clarify the difference between domestic and Chinese telemedicine industries. As a result of analyzing China's telemedicine industry on the seven sub-divisions of demand conditions, innovators, networks et al., Such as seizing appropriate opportunities for demand driving effects and appropriate communication between economic actors were identified as major success factors. This researcher proposes the following suggestions. first, it conforms to the current digital New Deal policy flow, and conducts a demand survey on the change in demand for medical services in the 4th Industrial Revolution and the Untact Era. For the introduction, a plan to conduct a demand survey for the public and second, second, a plan to grow and intensively foster digital high-tech medical care as a new industry was suggested.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.133-141
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• 2022

Candida is one of the most common causes of bloodstream infections and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among hospitalized patients. The purpose of this study was to provide important information for formulating empirical treatment plans for candidemia by investigating the antifungal resistance rate of Candida. Among the Candida strains (973 cases) isolated from blood culture tests at the S hospital in 2009~2018, 4.7% (N=44) comprising the Candida spp. (932 strains) showed resistance to fluconazole. The resistant strains included C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, and C. glabrata. In addition Candida spp. (947 strains) showed resistance to amphotericin B (N=6, 0.6%), flucytosine (N=23, 2.4%) and voriconazole (N=24, 3.1%). C. albicans was resistant to fluconazole (N=23, 6.9%) and voriconazole (N=21, 6.0%), The statistical analysis showed that C. albicans and non-albicans Candida species were resistant to fluconazole (P=0.039) and voriconazole (P<0.001). A monitoring system to understand the rate of candidiasis infections in a hospital setting is required. It is also important to make the right choice of the antifungal agent based on drug susceptibility patterns. Therefore, an infection surveillance policy that tracks Candida resistance through regular antifungal susceptibility tests is necessary.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.56-66
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was to investigate the job satisfaction and quality of life of nurses in a integrated nursing care service ward (INCSW) and a general ward (GW). A total of 88 nurses working in INCSW and GW were invited and followed up for 6 months over 3 times. There was no significant difference in job satisfaction between INCSW and GW for 6 months, while there was a difference in quality of life: overall quality of life (1st p=.033, 2nd p=.030), and overall general health (1st p=.049). Comparison of two groups by period in job satisfaction, there were statistically significant differences of the item 'recognition from the organization and professional achievement' (2nd versus 3rd, p=.037) and 'interpersonal interaction with respect and recognition' (1st versus 3rd, p=.005; 2nd versus 3rd, p=.006) in the INCSW. Comparison of two groups by period in quality of life, there was a statistically significant difference of the item 'overall quality of life' (1st versus 3rd, p=.025; 2nd versus 3rd, p=.010) in the INCSW. Development of various nursing strategies (such as manpower arrangement that reflects the nursing skill levels, patient needs, job training and organizational culture before placement) can be helpful for improving nurses job satisfaction and quality of life in INCSW and GW.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.550-566
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• 2022

Stroke is among the leading causes of death and long-term physical and cognitive disabilities worldwide, affecting an estimated 15 million people annually. The pathophysiological process of stroke is complicated by multiple and coordinated events. The breakdown of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in people with stroke can significantly contribute to the development of ischemic brain injury. Therefore, BBB disruption is recognized as a hallmark of stroke; thus, it is important to develop novel therapeutic strategies that can protect against BBB dysfunction in ischemic stroke. Traditional medicines are composed of natural products, which represent a promising source of new ingredients for the development of conventional medicines. Indeed, several studies have shown the effectiveness of Korean medicine on stroke, highlighting the value of Korean medicinal treatment for ischemic stroke. This review summarizes the current information and underlying mechanisms regarding the ameliorating effects of the formula, decoction, herbs, and active components of traditional Korean medicine on cerebral ischemia-induced BBB disruption. These traditional medicines were shown to have protective effects on the BBB in many cellular and animal ischemia models of stroke, and experiments in various animal species, such as mice and rats. In addition, they showed brain-protective effects by protecting the BBB through the regulation of tight junction proteins and matrix metalloproteinase-9, reducing edema, neuroinflammation, and neuronal cell death. We hope that this review will help promote further investigation into the neuroprotective effects of traditional Korean medicines and stimulate the performance of clinical trials on Korean herbal medicine-derived drugs in patients with stroke.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.60 no.4
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• pp.362-373
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• 2022

For a full-mouth fixed prosthetic treatment of the edentulous patient, it is essential to confirm the proper tooth position and thorough evaluation of the remaining alveolar bone and soft tissue before surgery. CAD-CAM dentistry and guided implant surgery have such advantages of providing simultaneous planning of surgery and prosthetic treatment to ensure pre-knowledge of the treatment. In this clinical case, using the digital technology, digital temporary denture fabrication, esthetic evaluation before fixed prostheses treatment, and guided surgery planning was possible. After the surgery, previously obtained data was used for fabricating fixed temporary prostheses. Definitive zirconia prostheses transferred from the provisional prostheses were fabricated and functionally and esthetically satisfying results were obtained.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.246-255
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• 2022

This study aimed to identify the influence of caring character and knowledge of COVID-19 on interpersonal caring behavior of clinical nurses. The subjects were nurses working at one tertiary hospital in Seoul and two general hospitals in Gyeonggi province. The data were collected from October 15 to November 5, 2021. A total of 130 nurses participated in the online survey. The collected data were analyzed by performing stepwise multiple linear regression using SPSS/Win 27.0. As a result, the factors affecting the interpersonal caring behavior of clinical nurses were caring character (β=.50, p<.001), age (β=-.24, p=.002), and job satisfaction (β=.16, p=.040), and they explained 36.0% of caring behavior (F=24.49, p<.001). Therefore, it is necessary to improve caring character and job satisfaction to enhance the interpersonal caring behavior of clinical nurses. More efforts of the hospital should be made to provide caring character building education and to increase job satisfaction of clinical nurses.