• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.46-51
• /
• 1999

Objectives: Patients with premenstrual dysphoric disorder(or PMDD) have impairments of the social, occupational or academic function due to psychological or somatic symptoms, which have the characteristic pattern of symptom exacerbation in the week before menses begin and remission shortly after the onset of menses. In the chronobiological view, many researchers have assumed that the etiology of PMDD is the advanced circadian rhythm. It has been suggested that light has a therapeutic effect on PMDD, because evening light results in phase delay of circadian rhythm through the biochemical changes including melatonin. Methods: The authors investigated the therapeutic effect of light therapy on four patients with prospectively diagnosed PMDD by DSM-IV criteria using clinical psychiatric interview, Premenstrual Assessment Form(PAF) and Daily Rating Form(or DRF). In the evening(6:30pm-8:00pm), the 2,500 lux light administered for seven consecutive days during the symptomatic late luteal phase of menstrual cycle. Beck Depression Inventory(or BDI), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression(or HAM-D), Spielberg State Anxiety Inventory(or SA), and DRF were evaluated before and after seven days of light therapy. Results: Premenstrual symptoms of PMDD could be effectively treated with the evening bright light therapy, especially in PMDD patients with atypical symptoms. In addition, the light therapy seemed to more effective on the psychologic symptoms than the somatic symptoms of PMDD. There was no significant side-effect of light therapy, except the transient and mild eye-strain in one case. Conclusions: In spite of the results of limited data from our clinical trial, the authors suggest that the potential use of light therapy as an alternative to the pharmacological management of patients with PMDD.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.58-64
• /
• 2012

Due to the influence of global oil prices, industrial productivity, which oil consumption is high, was significantly reduced. AC type of high-strength PHC piles is being manufactured through twice the steam curing process and this have resulted in a significant rise for product's manufacturing costs. NAC way other types of file manufacturing process has the advantage of reducing manufacturing costs by a turn of the steam curing. Nevertheless, because the initial strength be poor than that of AC method, shipment is being after the curing period of approximately three days. In addition, the growth of the product enhance with curing period can not be avoided, as a result, cost of inventory is acting as the rise. Piles by the AC method is immediately shipped after curing, damaging problems does not occur when they are introduced to the field site (for example, pile on-site). In the case of NAC, however, at least after the curing period of three days and after expressing the strength of 80 MPa or more, they are shipped on the scene. Therefore, NAC type has problems as follows: (1) increase in moderate inventory holding costs with type and (2) breakage in the field due to lack of strength. In this study, for NAC-typed PHC files, mixing characteristics research for the strength development at 1 day equivalent to AC method were conducted and strength characteristics with changes of original materials were evaluated were also identified.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.19 no.2 s.20
• /
• pp.213-223
• /
• 1986

Ratio analysis allows a hospital to evaluate its own performance over time and to compare its performance with that of other hospitals. For this study, three types of ratio analysis were conducted based on some data on hospitals in Massachusetts. First, Key ratios influencing financial performance were identified using discriminant analysis. Second, the financial structures of the teaching and the non-teaching hospitals were compared using ratios and multiple comparison method. Third, the effects of the prospective reimbursement law of the state on financial performance were examined using ratios and paired t-test. The purpose of the law is to reduce hospital costs by setting the revenue ceiling prior to the effective budget year. The findings of this study were as follows: 1) When hospitals were divided into three groups, according to their operating income, only profitability ratios showed a consistent difference among the groups. 2) In the discriminant analysis, five ratios were selected: current ratio, operating margin, return on assets, fixed assets turnover, and inventory turnover. They are the key ratios to be monitored periodically for the purpose of evaluating the financial performance of hospitals. 3) When teaching hospitals were compared with non-teaching hospitals, acid ratio, days of cash on hand, and inventory turnover were statistically significant before the law went into effect, whereas only fixed assets turnover and inventory turnover were significant afterward. Contrary to previous studies, profitability ratios of teaching hospitals were higher than those of non-teaching hospitals, although the differences were not statistically significant. 4) When the ratios between the two periods (before and after the law) were compared, three profitability ratios (operating margin, return on assets, and return on equity) were significant for teaching hospitals, whereas three activity ratios (total assets turnover, fixed assets turnover, current assets turnover) were significant for non-teaching hospitals. Furthermore, while both total operating revenue and expenses were decreased, net operating income was increased, due to a greater decrease in total operating expenses. This shows that the law can indeed, simultaneously, achieve both a reduction in costs as well as an improvement in the financial situation of hospitals.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.32 no.6
• /
• pp.658-666
• /
• 2018

The purpose of this study is to verify the effects of yoga and meditation-focused forest healing programs on profiles of mood states and stress reactions of adults. We tested 17 adults who agreed to participate in the experiments that were conducted for 2 nights and 3 days between September 8 to 10, 2017 in the healing forest located at Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon-do. The test used the simplified version of the inventory for the profile of mood states (K-POMS-B: Korean version of Profile of Mood States-Brief) and the stress response inventory as the measuring tools. For data analysis, we examined the differences in the profile of mood states and stress response of subjects before and after participation in the program through the paired T-tests with the SPSS 24.0 program. The analysis of the impact of the yoga and meditation-focused forest healing program on the profile of mood states of the test subjects showed the statistically significant reduction of the total score of the profile of mood states. Although the vigor among sub-level inventories increased, it was not statistically significant. But the tension, depression, anger, fatigue, and confusion showed a statistically significant reduction. The analysis of the impact of the yoga and meditation-focused forest healing program on the stress response of the test subjects showed a statistically significant reduction. Among sub-level inventories, the tension, somatization, anger, depression, fatigue, and frustration showed a statistically significant reduction, but the aggressiveness did not. It is expected that the results of this study can be utilized in the future as reference data for clarifying the effects of yoga and meditation-focused forest healing programs.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.38 no.5
• /
• pp.564-575
• /
• 2017

Objectives: This clinical report describes one patient with the clinical characteristics of burning mouth syndrome accompanied by oro-facial dyskinesia. Methods: The patient with burning mouth syndrome and jaw tremor was treated using the following Korean medicine treatments: the herbal medicines Yukgunja-tang-gami (六君子湯加味) and Sibak-tang-gami (柴朴湯加味) and acupuncture for 16 days, together with 10 Se-sim (Uncaria Ramulus et Uncus) pharmacopuncture procedures. Patient symptoms were evaluated daily using a Visual Analog Scale questionnaire and twice using the STAI (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) questionnaire. Results: After the treatments, the oro-facial dyskinesia and burning sensation on the tongue were improved by 62.5%. The mental state of anxiety, regarded as the reason for these complaints, was also improved, based on the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory results (67/61 versus 57/52). We found that the improvement was better when combining Se-sim (Uncaria Ramulus et Uncus) pharmacopuncture with the conventional herbal medicine and acupuncture used in Korean medicine. Conclusion: Korean medicine treatments may be valuable for patients with burning mouth syndrome and oro-facial dyskinesia.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.67-84
• /
• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of Yeongkyekamjo-tang on patients with menopausal disorder. Methods : We recruited 3 patients with menopausal disorder, who have been suffering from palpitation and depression. In addition, the patients had been administrated Yeongkyekamjo-tang. The patients of menopausal disorder had been estimated with Kupperman's index, Beck's Depression Inventory, The Menopause Quiz of Argosy University, visual analogue scale and Heart rate variability. We measured the Kupperman's index, Beck's Depression Inventory and The Menopause Quiz of Argosy University for every seven days. The heart rate variability was estimated twice, before and after the treatment. Results : After the treatments, symptoms of menopausal disorder were decreased. Conclusions : This study suggests that Yeongkyekamjo-tang is significantly effective on patients with menopausal disorder as well as palpitation and depression.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.43 no.6
• /
• pp.1186-1197
• /
• 2022

Objectives: A case study about the effectiveness of integrative Korean medicine treatment in a psychogenic tremor patient. Case presentation: A 36-year-old male diagnosed with psychogenic tremor with low back pain underwent 29 days of inpatient treatment and 4 weeks of outpatient treatment. His pattern identification was a psychogenic tremor of the weakness of the heart and gall bladder (SimDamHeoGup) type. The treatments were herbal medicine and acupuncture. He took Cheongshimondam-tang for 29 days and Chunwangbosim-dan for 6 weeks when he had symptoms. He also received acupuncture for 20 minutes twice a day at GB20 (Pungji), L14 (Hapgok), HT4 (Yeongdo), PC6 (Naegwan), HT7 (Sinmun), GB34 (Yangleungcheon), ST36 (Joksamni), SP6 (Sameumgyo), and LR3 (Taechung). After 8 weeks of treatment, the Fahn Tolosa Marin rating (FTM) scale of his tremor, at rest, dropped from Grade 4 on both upper extremities, trunk, and both lower extremities at the time of admission to Grade 2 in both upper extremities and trunk, and Grade 0 in both lower extremities at the time of discharge. His Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) score decreased from 38 to 7, and his numerical rating scale (NRS) decreased from 8 to 1 for low back pain and from 9 to 2 for tremor. A follow-up visit to the hospital 2 months after the end of treatment confirmed continued symptom improvements and no significant side effects. Conclusions: This study suggests the possibility of treating psychogenic tremor using only Korean medicine treatments. Further studies with control groups and long-term follow-up are needed.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.45 no.5
• /
• pp.605-612
• /
• 2013

Removal of decay heat from an operating reactor during a prolonged station blackout condition is a big concern for reactor designers, especially after the recent Fukushima accident. In the case of a prolonged station blackout condition, heat removal is possible only by passive means since no pumps or active systems are available. Keeping this in mind, the AHWR has been designed with many passive safety features. One of them is a passive means of removing decay heat with the help of Isolation Condensers (ICs) which are submerged in a big water pool called the Gravity Driven Water Pool (GDWP). The ICs have many tubes in which the steam, generated by the reactor core due to the decay heat, flows and condenses by rejecting the heat into the water pool. After condensation, the condensate falls back into the steam drum of the reactor. The GDWP tank holds a large amount of water, about 8000 $m^3$, which is located at a higher elevation than the steam drum of the reactor in order to promote natural circulation. Due to the recent Fukushima type accidents, it has been a concern to understand and evaluate the capability of the ICs to remove decay heat for a prolonged period without escalating fuel sheath temperature. In view of this, an analysis has been performed for decay heat removal characteristics over several days of an AHWR by ICs. The computer code RELAP5/MOD3.2 was used for this purpose. Results indicate that the ICs can remove the decay heat for more than 10 days without causing any bulk boiling in the GDWP. After that, decay heat can be removed for more than 40 days by boiling off the pool inventory. The pressure inside the containment does not exceed the design pressure even after 10 days by condensation of steam generated from the GDWP on the walls of containment and on the Passive Containment Cooling System (PCCS) tubes. If venting is carried out after this period, the decay heat can be removed for more than 50 days without exceeding the design limits.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.30 no.10
• /
• pp.789-802
• /
• 2021

This study analyzed the characteristics of high PM_2.5 episodes that meets the concentration criteria of Emergency Reduction Measures Plan (ERMP) in Busan during the 2015-2020, and compared with those in Seoul. As a first step, the CAPSS-2017 emission data was employed to analyze the emission differences between Busan and Seoul, and pointed out that Busan emission included the dominance of ship emissions (37.7%) among total PM_2.5 city emissions, whereas fugitive PM_2.5 emission was the highest in Seoul. These emission characteristics are indicating that the controlling action plan should be uniquely applied to cope with ERMP in each region. We selected extremely high PM_2.5 episode days that meet the criteria of ERMP levels. In Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam region, 15, 16, and 8 days of extremely high PM_2.5 cases were found, respectively, whereas Seoul showed approximately doubling of occurrences with 37 cases. However, the occurrences in summer season indicated big differences between two cities: the proportion of summer-season occurrence was 13-25% in Busan, whereas no single case have occurred in Seoul. This is suggesting the needs of comprehensive summer emission reduction plan with focusing on sulfur reduction to effectively cope with the ERMP levels in summer in the southeastern region, including Busan.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.43 no.2
• /
• pp.229-236
• /
• 2022

Objective: Jowiseunggi-tang (JWSGT) is a traditional herbal medicine commonly used for purgative activity in constipation. This study evaluates JWSGT for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation (OIC), the most common and debilitating gastrointestinal effect of opioid use. Methods: A 64-year-old man with floor of mouth cancer was hospitalized for OIC, and JWSGT was administered orally twice a day for 10 days, along with acupuncture, moxibustion, and cupping. The primary outcome measures were defecation type according to the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS) and the frequency of bowel movements. The Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) were used as secondary measures. Results: After three days of JWSGT administration, spontaneous bowel movements were observed two to three times per week with improved BSFS from type 2 to 4. A reduction in BFI score (8.7 to 2.0) and an increase in FACT-G score (44.3 to 59.0) suggested an improvement in fatigue level and quality of life. Conclusion: This is the first report to assess the efficacy of JWSGT for the management of OIC in patients with cancer, and JWSGT may be an effective option to improve symptoms and quality of life in this group.