• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.198-204
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• 2022

Purpose: This paper sought to classify, analyze, and investigate domestic research papers on the physical rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy, and to suggest a direction for rehabilitation after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: A literature search was conducted from June 1 to June 30, 2022, and only papers published in domestic journals during the past 10 years were searched. The main search term was "rehabilitation for children with cerebral palsy", and "rehabilitation" such as "exercise rehabilitation," "equestrian rehabilitation", and "aquatic rehabilitation" were reviewed when they appeared in the titles and abstracts. A total of 18 books were selected according to the exclusion criteria. Results: Rehabilitation by area was divided into exercise rehabilitation, Bobath rehabilitation, equestrian rehabilitation, and aquatic rehabilitation. Analysis was undertaken based on the period of rehabilitation, area wise from 2012 to 2017, except for aquatic rehabilitation, which was studied once in 2020. The intervention effects of exercise rehabilitation were summarized as PICO (Participants, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome), and most of the studies showed improvements in the subject's physical functions. Conclusion: Research on the physical rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy is being conducted in multiple directions and through several methods. In addition to the Bobath and Vojta approaches, equestrian rehabilitation, aquatic rehabilitation using the buoyancy of water, and computer rehabilitation are conducted. For the physical rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy in the context of COVID-19, programs that are linked with families and those that incorporate Information Communications Technology (ICT) could be developed.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2022

The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor (ACE2) appears to be widely expressed in cells in the testes, predominantly in spermatogonia, Sertoli cells, and Leydig cells, and its co-expression with transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) is essential for the entry of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). For this reason, the male reproductive system could be considered a potential target for SARS-CoV-2, as well as a possible reservoir of infection. However, to date, there is very little evidence about the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in semen and testicular samples. The aim of this paper was to review the current evidence regarding the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on male fertility and sexual health, with a particular focus on reproductive hormones, the presence of the virus in seminal fluid and testis, and its impact on fertility parameters. We found very limited evidence reporting the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in semen and testicular samples, and the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on reproductive hormones and fertility parameters is unclear. The quality of the examined studies was poor due to the small sample size and several selection biases, precluding definitive conclusions. Hence, future well-designed prospective studies are needed to assess the real impact of SARS-CoV-2 on male reproductive function.

• Korean Medical Education Review
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.205-214
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was to analyze the results of a study on the psychological state, lifestyle, self-management ability, and academic adaptation of medical students, and to present examples of improvement of a student support center based on the results. A medical school in Daegu has been surveying the living conditions of students every year for 6 years since 2016. More than 60% of medical students experienced depression and more than 70% experienced stress, but these rates have significantly improved over the past 5 years. There were many cases of drinking or smoking to relieve stress, but the frequency of drinking recently decreased substantially. Some students had difficulties in emotional regulation (11.5%) and time management (16.6%), and challenges in planning and self-management increased significantly during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The satisfaction and adaptability of medical students are high, but the number of students who are not satisfied with but negative response rate is 2%-3% in every year. However, satisfaction has significantly increased in tandem with curriculum changes and COVID-19. Based on these data, the counseling system was reorganized to support psychological stability, the medical humanities curriculum was improved, and changes in actual quality of life were induced by developing and operating non-curricular programs. Furthermore, standardized questionnaires will be developed and data from many medical schools will be shared, which is expected to support medical students more effectively.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.29-39
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• 2023

Background: Breaking the chain of disease transmission from overseas is necessary to control new infectious diseases such as coronavirus disease 2019 effectively. In this study, we developed a mobile app called Self-Symptom Checker (SSC) to monitor the health of inbound travelers. Methods: SSC was developed for general users and administrators. The functions of SSC include non-repudiation using QR (quick response) codes, monitoring fever and respiratory symptoms, and requiring persons showing symptoms to undergo polymerase chain reaction tests at nearby screening stations following a review of reported symptoms by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, as well as making phone calls, via artificial intelligence or public health personnel, to individuals who have not entered symptoms to provide the necessary information. Results: From February 12 to March 27, 2020, 165,000 people who were subjected to the special entry procedure installed SSC. The expected number of public health officers and related resources needed per day would be 800 if only the phone was used to perform symptom monitoring during the above period. Conclusion: By applying SSC, more effective symptom monitoring was possible. The daily average number of health officers decreased to 100, or 13% of the initial estimate. SSC reduces the work burden on public healthcare personnel. SSC is an electronic solution conceived in response to health questionnaires completed by inbound travelers specified in the World Health Organization International Health Regulations as a requirement in the event of a pandemic.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.324-339
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to valuate the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the 5C Psychological Antecedents of Vaccination (K-5C) scale. Methods: The English version of the 5C scale was translated into Korean, following the World Health Organization guidelines. Data were collected from 316 community-dwelling adults. Content validity was evaluated using the content validity index, while construct validity was evaluated through confirmatory factor analysis. Convergent validity was examined by assessing the correlation with vaccination attitude, and concurrent validity was evaluated by examining the association with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination status. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were also evaluated. Results: Content validity results indicated an item-level content validity index ranging from .83 to 1, and scale-level content validity index, averaging method was .95. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the fit of the measurement model, comprising a five-factor structure with a 15-item questionnaire (RMSEA = .05, SRMR = .05, CFI = .97, TLI = .96). Convergent validity was acceptable with a significant correlation between each sub-scale of the 5C scale and vaccination attitude. In concurrent validity evaluation, confidence, constraints, and collective responsibility of the 5C scale were significant independent predictors of the current COVID-19 vaccination status. Cronbach's alpha for each subscale ranged from .78 to .88, and the intraclass correlation coefficient for each subscale ranged from .67 to .89. Conclusion: The Korean version of the 5C scale is a valid and reliable tool to assess the psychological antecedents of vaccination among Korean adults.

• Smart Media Journal
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.15-26
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• 2023

As face-to-face communication has become difficult due to the COVID-19 pandemic, studies have been conducted to understand the impact of non-face-to-face communication, but there is a lack of research that examines this through messenger application reviews. This study aims to identify the impact of the pandemic through Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) topic modeling by collecting review data of 메신저 applications in the Google Play Store and suggest service strategies accordingly. The study categorized the data based on when the pandemic started and the ratings given by users. The analysis showed that messenger is mainly used by middle-aged and older people, and that family communication increased after the pandemic. Users expressed frustration with the application's updates and found it difficult to adapt to the changes. This calls for a development approach that adjusts the frequency of updates and actively listens to user feedback. Also, providing an intuitive and simple user interface (UI) is expected to improve user satisfaction.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2022.05a
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• pp.392-392
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• 2022

세계적 규모의 팬데믹 감염병의 출현은 전 세계적으로 경제적, 문화적, 사회적 파급효과가 매우 강력하며 전 인류를 위협하고 있다. 최근에 발병한 중증급성 호흡기질환 코로나바이러스 2(Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2, SARS-CoV-2)는 2019년 12월 중국 우한에서 첫 보고 되었고 2022년 현재까지 종식되지 않고 있으며 바이러스의 전파력과 치명률이 높고 무증상 감염상태일 때에도 전염이 가능하여 현재 역학조사의 사후적 대응에 대한 한계가 있어 선제적 대응을 위한 수단이 필수 불가결해지고 있는 실정이다. 하수기반역학(Waste Based Epidemiology, WBE)이란 하수처리장으로 유입되기 전의 하수를 분석하여 하수 집수구역 내 도시민의 생활상을 예측하는 것으로 하수로 배출된 감염자의 분비물 및 배설물 속 바이러스를 하수관로에서 신속하게 검출함으로써 특정지역의 감염성 질환 전파 정도와 유행하는 타입(변이)등을 분석하고 기존 역학조사의 문제점을 극복할 수 있으며 선제적인 대응이 가능하다. 현재 COVID-19의 대유행과 관련하여 WBE를 기반으로 한 다양한 연구가 진행되고 있으며 실제 환자의 발생과 상관관계가 있음이 확인되고 있고 백신 접종과 새롭게 발생한 변이바이러스의 관계 속에서 발생하는 변수를 고려한 모델이 없다는 점을 들어 새로운 감염병 확산 예측 모델에 대한 필요성 또한 커지고 있다. 본 연구에서는 병원에서부터 하수처리장까지의 하수관거와 하수처리장에서의 SARS-CoV-2 검출농도 및 거동을 파악하는 것을 목적으로 하고 있으며 COVID-19의 감염규모 확산에 관한 방법론에서 수학적모델 (Euler Method, RK4 Method, Gillespie Algorithm)과 딥러닝 기반의 Nowcasting model과 Fore casting model을 살펴보고자 한다.

• Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.337-345
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• 2023

Purpose: The global fight against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has led to widespread vaccination efforts, yet the optimal dosing schedule for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines remains a subject of ongoing research. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of administering two booster doses as the third and fourth doses at different intervals to enhance vaccine protection. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted at a military regional hospital operated by the Ministry of National Defense in Taiwan. A cohort of vaccinated individuals was selected, and their vaccine potency was assessed at various time intervals following their initial vaccine administration. The study participants received booster doses as the third and fourth doses, with differing time intervals between them. The study monitored neutralizing antibody titers and other relevant parameters to assess vaccine efficacy. Results: Our findings revealed that the potency of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine exhibited a significant decline 80 days after the initial vaccine administration. However, a longer interval of 175 days between booster injections resulted in significantly higher neutralizing antibody titers. The individuals who received the extended interval boosters exhibited a more robust immune response, suggesting that a vaccine schedule with a 175-day interval between injections may provide superior protection against SARS-CoV-2. Conclusion: This study underscores the importance of optimizing vaccine booster dosing schedules to maximize protection against SARS-CoV-2. The results indicate that a longer interval of 175 days between the third and fourth doses of the vaccine can significantly enhance the neutralizing antibody response, potentially offering improved protection against the virus. These findings have important implications for vaccine distribution and administration strategies in the ongoing battle against the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Further research and largescale trials are needed to confirm and extend these findings for broader public health implications.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.55-75
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to elucidate the intention to use non-face-to-face treatment, which was temporarily allowed during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Based on the social cognitive theory, individual behavioral changes occur through the dynamic interaction of individual, environmental, and behavioral factors. Thus, we investigated the impact of personal, environmental, and behavioral factors on the acceptance of non-face-to-face treatment. Methods: A Web survey was conducted using Korea Research Panel between December 26 and 29, 2022, to examine the conceptual framework. The survey targeted adults aged 19 and older, regardless of whether they had used non-face-to-face treatment. A total of 502 responses were collected. Further, a three-step hierarchical regression analysis was conducted using SPSS Windows software version 25.0. Results: The study showed that 131 out of 502 respondents had experience using non-face-to-face treatment, while 371 did not. The factors that influenced the intention to accept non-face-to-face treatment included the general characteristics of the participants (women, underlying disease), personal factors (usefulness, cost savings, knowledge), and environmental factors (social norms, trust, perceived risk). The model demonstrated an explanatory power of 65%. Conclusion: The results of this study directly show that intention is linked to behavior through the interaction between personal and environmental factors. Further research is needed to explore additional factors influencing the intention to accept non-face-to-face treatment, enabling its effective use in preventing and treating various diseases, including infectious diseases.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.21.1-21.21
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• 2022

As far the current severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), respiratory disease is still the biggest threat to human health. In addition, infectious respiratory diseases are particularly prominent. In addition to killing and clearing the infection pathogen directly, regulating the immune responses against the pathogens is also an important therapeutic modality. Sirtuins belong to NAD+-dependent class III histone deacetylases. Among 7 types of sirtuins, silent information regulator type-1 (SIRT1) played a multitasking role in modulating a wide range of physiological processes, including oxidative stress, inflammation, cell apoptosis, autophagy, antibacterial and antiviral functions. It showed a critical effect in regulating immune responses by deacetylation modification, especially through high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), a core molecule regulating the immune system. SIRT1 was associated with many respiratory diseases, including COVID-19 infection, bacterial pneumonia, tuberculosis, and so on. Here, we reviewed the latest research progress regarding the effects of SIRT1 on immune system in respiratory diseases. First, the structure and catalytic characteristics of SIRT1 were introduced. Next, the roles of SIRT1, and the mechanisms underlying the immune regulatory effect through HMGB1, as well as the specific activators/inhibitors of SIRT1, were elaborated. Finally, the multitasking roles of SIRT1 in several respiratory diseases were discussed separately. Taken together, this review implied that SIRT1 could serve as a promising specific therapeutic target for the treatment of respiratory diseases.