• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.199-202
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• 2016

Background: The aim of this study was to provide insight on dental fear amongst schoolchildren and evaluate the association between caries experience and fear of dental procedures. Methods: A sample size of 250 students (both sexes) of ages 10-14 years were enrolled in the study. Before dental examination, each participant was informed about the study and given the Children's Fear Survey Schedule - Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS) questionnaire. Children who scored greater than 38 were included in the 'with dental fear' group and those who scored less than 38 were assigned to the 'without dental fear' group. All oral check-ups were carried out on the school premises according to WHO criteria. Results: There were 105 children (42%) who experienced dental fear. As CFSS-DS scores increased, scores on the Decayed, Missing and Filled Surfaces Index (DMFS) also increased. Scores were highest on "injections" followed by "dentist drill" and "feeling of choking". Children were significantly less anxious about items of dental treatment if they had experienced that particular form of treatment. Female participants were found to be more dentally anxious than the male participants. Conclusions: The data revealed dental fear in 10-14 years old children and showed that dental fear scores decreased with increase in age and experience.

• Cross-Cultural Studies
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• v.37
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• pp.335-360
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• 2014

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether high-level(level 6) essay-writing questions in Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) have been presented appropriately so as to enable foreign test-takers to display their Korean writing ability properly, and to provide some suggestions on how those questions need to be changed. To accomplish this purpose, all the essay-writing questions were collected from the 33 TOPIK tests, from the 2nd in 1998 to the 35thin 2014, and analyzed from the perspectives of their topics and formats. The results are that high-level TOPIK essay-writing questions showed a strong tendency to take as their topics Korean sociocultural structures and phenomena, or current issues in Korea, and that they frequently employed guided writing formats by providing preset ideas or/and contexts for test-takers to write in a guided way; such tendencies were analyzed to shed a negative influence on test-takers displaying their writing ability and creativity, because those topics and preset ideas or contexts provided do not allow them to express their own opinions or positions freely. It is suggested that TOPIK essay-writing questions should be changed to deal with objective and general topics which enable test-takers to write freely and logically in Korean based on their experience, because TOPIK is not a test to check whether they have enough background knowledge about the Korean society and culture, but a test to assess their Korean proficiency.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.48-65
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• 2019

Background Several attempts have been made to accurately diagnose the Sasnag Constitution. One of these attempts is to use a questionnaire. Questionnaire for the Sasang Constitution Classification(QSCC) has been revised several times and now used as QSCC II+. This study was designed to improve the accuracy of the revised Questionnaire for the Sasang Constitution Classification(QSCC II+). Method 1,054 people were gathered for this study and analyzed to check discrimination ability of current discriminant function of QSCC II+. They were outpatients who visited the hospital and the constitution was confirmed by the specialist of Sasang Constitutional Medicine. Results Accuracy of QSCC II+ at Soeumin was improved from 74.9% to 79.3%, and there were no significant difference at Soyangin and Taeumin. Conclusion New discriminant function was constructed through discriminant analysis. And the accuracy of QSCC II+ was generally improved, especially in Soeumin.

• Journal of Korean Dental Hygiene Science
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.53-64
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• 2021

Background: The elderly in long-term care facilities tend to have a diminished oral health status, with a high prevalence of dental caries and periodontal disease, as reduced cognitive function, joint mobility, and gait ability hinder the performance of oral hygiene. To improve the oral health of the elderly at long-term care facilities, it is necessary to have precise guidelines for oral health care and assessment; however, such guidelines are not readily available. Therefore, the present study aimed to develop an oral care assessment tool with verified reliability and validity. Methods: The participants in this study were 100 elderly patients at a care facilities and 10 clinical dental hygienists. Collected data were analyzed using the descriptive statistics, content validity index, and inter-rater reliability, as well as the analyses of intra-class correlation coefficient. Results: After a review of relevant literature, a preliminary questionnaire comprised of seven questions related to the evaluation of oral health was formed. After revising and supplementing the questions through a content validity test, a total of nine questions were selected. Conclusion: The novel assessment tool developed for the present study is anticipated to allow analyses of the level of problems related to oral health care before routine and professional care. Moreover, regular oral health status check-ups will enable the early diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.2203-2211
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• 2020

Background: Backpacks are one of the most widely used accessories in modern society. However, previous studies have shown that carrying a backpack can cause various musculoskeletal problems. Objectives: To investigate the effects of a body-adhesive backpack on craniovertebral angle, sagittal shoulder angle and the muscle fatigue in the upper extremity. Design: Randomized cross-over design. Methods: For this study, 36 healthy university students participated in this study. The experiment was conducted three times using common backpack, and body-adhesive backpack condition. The angles of the cervical spine and shoulder joints of the subjects were calculated without the backpack. Electrodes were placed at upper trapezius, lower trapezius, rectus abdominis and erector spinae to check for muscle fatigue. Subjects carried a backpack and walked on a treadmill for 15 minutes at 4 km/h. The muscle fatigue signal was also measured while walking. After walking, the craniovertebral and sagittal shoulder angles were measured again while subjects carried backpack. Results: As a result of this study, body-adhesive backpack condition showed significant decrease and significant increase in craniovertebral angle and sagittal shoulder angle than common backpack (P<.05). Body-adhesive backpack condition showed significant decrease in upper trapezius, lower trapezius, erector spinae, and rectus abdominis when compared to a common backpack (P<.05). Conclusion: This study suggests that a body-adhesive backpack is more beneficial in correcting body posture than a common backpack.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.184-191
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• 2021

Background: Hearing protection devices (HPDs) are often used in the workplace to prevent hearing damage caused by noise. However, a factor that can lead to hearing loss in the workplace is improper HPD fitting, and the previous literature has shown that instructing workers on how to properly insert their HPDs can make a significant difference in the degree of attenuation. Methods: Two studies were completed on a total of 33 Hydro One workers. A FitCheck Solo field attenuation estimation system was used to measure the personal attenuation rating (PAR) before and after providing one-on-one fitting instructions. In addition, external ear canal diameters were measured, and a questionnaire with items related to frequency of use, confidence, and discomfort was administered. Results: Training led to an improvement in HPD attenuation, particularly for participants with poorer PARs before training. The questionnaire results indicated that much HPD discomfort is caused by heat, humidity, and communication difficulties. External ear canal asymmetry did not appear to significantly influence the measured PAR. Conclusion: In accordance with the previous literature, our studies suggest that one-on-one instruction is an effective training method for HPD use. Addressing discomfort issues from heat, humidity, and communication issues could help to improve the use of HPDs in the workplace. Further research into the effects of canal asymmetry on the PAR is needed.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.213-217
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• 2021

Background: Radiation exposure can occur as a result of occupational activities utilizing sources of radiation. The average level of occupational exposure is generally similar to the global average, but some workers receive more than this. In this study, the occupational exposure data for workers in Korea to check the recent trend of radiation exposure. Materials and Methods: The data collection and analysis are carried out by two separate periods based on the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) survey. One is the year 2003 to 2014 for a recent survey, and the other is 2015 to 2019. All available data were collected by annual reports from radiation dose registry organizations. Results and Discussion: The annual dose over the record level to the total workers did not change much compared with the total increasing number of workers in this period. The dose to the nuclear fuel cycle field has a tendency to decrease. It resulted from the efforts of radiation dose reduction with high technology introduced to this area. Also, it is important result that the radiation dose to the workers in radiography is remarkably reduced. Conclusion: The number of radiation workers and average doses were analyzed for occupational categories in Korea. It still needs cooperative efforts between the dose registry organizations for the efficient dose management of Korean radiation workers.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.465-473
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• 2020

Background and objective: Aronia melanocarpa, called black chokeberry, is a natural product belonging to the family rosaceae, and is known to contain polyphenolic antioxidants including cyanidin-3-galactoside, cyanidin-3-arabinoside, cyanidin-3-xyloside, and cyanidin-3-glucoside Because of the abundance of anthocyanins, Aronia has been studied to be used in various industries. Methods: Aronia melanocarpa extract was treated 24 hours a day to RAW 264.7 cells with inflammations induced by LPS. After extracting total RNA, the amount of inflammatory cytokine expression was measured using RT-PCR. After processing the Aronia liposome using Aronia extract and the layer-by-layer electrostatic deposition method in keratinocyte cells at the same time, we checked the synthesis of Hyaluronic acid enhanced through the formation of Aronia liposome using ELISA. Results: The treatment of Aronia extract in inflammation-induced RAW 264.7 cells conducted to check the anti-inflammatory efficacy of Aronia extract inhibited inflammatory cytokines including TLR4, TNF-α, IL-1β, COX-2, and iNOS and increased the mRNA expression of HAS2 genes related to moisturizing. Based on the anti-inflammatory and moisturizing effect of Aronia extract, the Aronia liposome technology was introduced to Aronia extract to produce Aronia liposome. Conclusion: The liposome formation of Aronia extract is expected to be used as a functional material in treating various inflammatory skin diseases by controlling the moisture content of the corneocytes by increasing the expression rate of genes associated with the synthesis of hyaluronic acid, while retaining the efficacy of its components.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.261-270
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• 2022

Background: The rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) is a critical region for the management of nociception. The RVM is also involved in learning and memory processes due to its relationship with the hippocampus. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms behind orexin-A signaling in the RVM and hippocampus's effects on capsaicin-induced pulpal nociception and cognitive impairments in rats. Methods: Capsaicin (100 g) was applied intradentally to male Wistar rats to induce inflammatory pulpal nociception. Orexin-A and an orexin-1 receptor antagonist (SB-334867) were then microinjected into the RVM. Immunoblotting and immunofluorescence staining were used to check the levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the RVM and hippocampus. Results: Interdental capsaicin treatment resulted in nociceptive responses as well as a reduction in spatial learning and memory. Additionally, it resulted in decreased BDNF and increased COX-2 expression levels. Orexin-A administration (50 pmol/1 µL/rat) could reverse such molecular changes. SB-334867 microinjection (80 nM/1 µL/rat) suppressed orexin's effects. Conclusions: Orexin-A signaling in the RVM and hippocampus modulates capsaicin-induced pulpal nociception in male rats by increasing BDNF expression and decreasing COX-2 expression.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 2019

Background and Objectives: Detection of auditory signals may be improved when maskers far from the frequency of the target signal are coherently amplitude-modulated. This improvement of signal detection is called comodulation masking release (CMR). In the CMR experiments, flankers have been usually arranged symmetrically. In practice, we will be confronted with a problem by using symmetric flankers due to the limited output of clinical audiometers, especially at high-frequency. We aimed to check whether flanker arrangement has any effect on the amount of CMR, especially when there is no flankers with a frequency higher than the signal. Subjects and Methods: Eighteen normal hearing listeners ranging in age from 20 to 46 years old participated. Symmetric (2-2) and asymmetric (3-1 and 4-0) flankers were used and then the amount of CMR compared among them. Results: Our results showed in the same numbers of flankers, there were no statistically CMR differences between symmetric and asymmetric arrangement. Also when we did not have a flanker at a frequency higher than the signal and all flankers were placed below the signal, there was no statistically difference with the symmetric arrangement. Conclusions: The asymmetry of the flankers and also omitting the flankers with a frequency higher than the signal, have no effect on CMR results. We concluded that CMR can be considered by using clinical audiometer.