• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.485-491
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• 2023

As an auxiliary tool for fixing the patient's posture when taking an X-ray, sponges with high radiolucencies are laminated in various thicknesses. This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of an auxiliary tool for hand oblique projection X-ray by manufacturing it with a uniform thickness by 3D printing and comparing it with existing sponge tools. In the auxiliary tool, radiolucency was measured at the stairs where each finger was located, and pixel information values were compared in the digital imaging and communications in medicine(DICOM) image. Contrast to noise ratio(CNR) and signal to noise ratio(SNR) were compared by shooting the hand phantom and the auxiliary tool together. As the thickness of the sponge tool increased, radiolucency decreased by 15.52% and pixel information value increased by 20.61%. The transmittance of the 3D printing tool increased by 0.82%, and the pixel information value differed by 5.66%. CNR and SNR increased by 20.03% and 22.42% in 3D printing compared to existing sponge tools. while taking hand oblique projection, maintaining the thickness of the auxiliary tool uniformly through 3D printing maintains high radiolucency and minimal impact on medical images, and increases CNR and SNR, making it useful as an auxiliary tool for taking hand oblique projection.

• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.989-998
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• 2023

As diseases are already increasing due to aging population and changes in eating habits, interest in digital healthcare is increasing. According to the 2020 Elderly Status Survey, 84% of South Koreans aged 65 and older suffer from at least one chronic disease, and the number and duration of drugs taken by the elderly are also increasing. Effective management that enhances compliance of chronic disease patients can prevent the onset of complications, thereby averting progression to severe illnesses. Thus, a proper medication-taking habit is crucial. This paper proposes a medication information retrieval system using OCR technology. By leveraging Google Cloud Vision API, the system detects and recognizes the names of medicines. Once recognized, the medication name is searched in a database to provide users with medication information and medication schedule management services. By providing accurate medication information through the search, it is possible to induce changes in medication methods and habits. By eliminating the inconvenience of direct input through OCR technology, we anticipate enhancing user convenience by promptly delivering information.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.59-65
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• 2024

Background: Different job strain formulations based on the Job Demand-Control model have been developed. This study evaluated longitudinal associations between job strain and psychological distress and whether associations were influenced by six formulations of job strain, including quadrant (original and simplified), subtraction, quotient, logarithm quotient, and quartile based on quotient, in randomly selected Japanese workers. Methods: Data were from waves I and II of the Survey of Midlife in Japan (MIDJA), with a 4-year followup period. The study sample consisted of 412 participants working at baseline and had complete data on variables of interest. Associations between job strain at baseline and psychological distress at follow-up were assessed via multivariable linear regression, and results were expressed as β coefficients and 95% confidence intervals including R² and Akaike information criterion (AIC) evaluation. Results: Crude models revealed that job strain formulations explained 6.93-10.30% of variance. The AIC ranged from 1475.87 to 1489.12. After accounting for sociodemographic and behavioral factors and psychological distress at baseline, fully-adjusted models indicated significant associations between all job strain formulations at baseline and psychological distress at follow-up: original quadrant (β: 1.16, 95% CI: 0.12, 2.21), simplified quadrant (β: 1.01, 95% CI: 0.18, 1.85), subtraction (β: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.09, 0.70), quotient (β: 0.37, 95% CI: 0.08, 0.67), logarithm quotient (β: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.72), and quartile based on quotient (β: 1.22, 95% CI: 0.36, 2.08). Conclusion: Six job strain formulations showed robust predictive power regarding psychological distress over 4 years among Japanese workers.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.52-62
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• 2024

Background: This study was to investigate effects of narrow squat exercise according to ankle angle of Toe in 10° and Toe out 10° on women with genu varum. Design: Randomized Controlled Trial or Cross-sectional Study. Methods: 30 adult women with genu varum participated in this study. All subjects were randomly assigned to 15 people of narrow squat exercise in ankle angle of Toe in 10° group (TI) and 15 people of narrow squat exercise in ankle angle of Toe out 10° group (TO). The narrow squat exercise program was conducted three times a week for six weeks. The distance between the knees was measured by using Digital Vernier Caliper. The quadriceps angle (Q-angle) was measured by using Goniometer. The stride length and propulsion were measured through G-Walk Results: Both TI and TO groups showed effective significant differences in distance between the knees, Q-angle, and propulsion (p<.05). There was no significant difference in stride length (p>.05). Left leg propulsion was found to be significantly more effective in TI group than in TO group (p<.05). Conclusion: These results suggested that narrow squat exercise according to ankle angle of toe in 10° and toe out 10° was effective for genu varum. However, compared to TO group, TI group was more effective in gait propulsion. It is considered that narrow squat exercise in ankle angle of Toe in 10° can be suggested as an effective intervention method for women with genu varum.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.356-362
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• 2024

Background The purpose of this study was to clarify fading, red, green, and blue values (RGB) change, and color reproducibility for nipple-areola complex (NAC) tattoos. Methods NAC tattooing was performed on 60 sites in 59 Japanese patients prospectively. The evaluation was assessed using digital photo, Casmatch standardization, and RGB and luminance values preoperatively, immediately after, 1 week, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after tattooing. RGB and luminance values changes over time, time-adjusted fading rate, and the rate of luminance at 12 months were calculated. In color reproducibility study (n = 34), RGB values after 12 months were compared with the color sample about dark/reddish and light/less reddish pigments. Results RGB varied widely from immediately after to 1 month after tattooing. For RGB and luminance, significant differences were seen between pre and immediate after, 1 and 3 months, 3 and 6 months, and 6 and 12 months. In G values, significant differences were seen between all neighboring points. The fading rate tended to decrease as time progresses, but was not significant, that is, fading continued even between 6 and 12 months. Luminance was 9% brighter than contralateral NAC at 12 months. Color reproducibility tended to be higher with dark/reddish pigments, despite no significant differences. Conclusion The fading rate of tattooed NACs tended to decrease as time progresses, but fading still occurs between 6 and 12 months. Luminance was 9% brighter than contralateral NAC at 12 months after.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.201-211
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• 2024

PURPOSE. The aim of this prospective clinical study was to compare the influence of palatal vault forms on accuracy and speed of intraoral (IO) scans in completely edentulous cases. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Based on the palatal vault form, participants were divided into three equal groups (n = 10 each); Class I: moderate; Class II: deep; Class III: flat palatal vault. A reference model was created for each patient using polyvinylsiloxane impression material. The poured models were digitized using an extraoral scanner. The resultant data were imported as a solid CAD file into 3D analysis software (GOM Inspect 2018; Gom GmbH, Braunschweig, Germany) and aligned using the software's coordinate system to determine its X, Y, and Z axes. Five digital impressions (DIs) of maxilla were captured for each patient using an intraoral scanner (TRIOS; 3Shape A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark) and the resultant Standard Tessellation Language (STL) scan files served as test models. Trueness was evaluated by calculating arithmetic mean deviation (AMD) of the vault area between reference and test files while precision was evaluated by calculating AMD between captured scans to measure repeatability of scan acquisition. The scan time taken for each participant was also recorded. RESULTS. There was no significant difference in trueness and precision among the groups (P = .806 and .950, respectively). Average scan time for Class I and III palatal vaults was 1 min 13 seconds and 1 min 37 seconds, respectively, while class II deep palatal vaults showed the highest scan time of 5 mins. CONCLUSION. Palatal vault form in edentulous cases has an influence on scan time. However, it does not have a substantial impact on the accuracy of the acquired scans.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.448-458
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• 2024

The direction of eye movement in Pleuronectiformes is species-specific. In farmed flounder, deviations in eye direction can reduce marketability. Therefore, we explored the effects of genetic and environmental factors on the direction of eye movements in the starry flounder Platichthys stellatus to address this economic challenge. Four pairs of female and male starry flounder broodstock, with eyes positioned to the right or left, were used in a mating experiment. The experimental groups were established with breeding seawater temperatures set at 10, 14, and 18℃ for the water temperature experiment. Whole-body samples of juveniles were collected to analyze the expression of genes related to eye movement and direction. The mating experiment results showed no significant differences in abnormal eye movement. In the water temperature experiment, the rate of abnormal eye movement was significantly higher at 32.19±1.33% in the 18℃ group than in the 10 and 14℃ groups. Genetic analysis of eye movement related to water temperature revealed that the expression of eye migration genes was significantly higher at 10℃. Moreover, no significant differences were observed in mating experiments. In conclusion, water temperature and not mating affected the eye movement of starry flounder.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.133-138
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• 1998

Choanal atresia may be membrane or bony, unilateral or bilateral. Approximately 90% of the choanal atresia are bony type. Unilateral choanal atresia often eludes the diagnosis because of the absence of subjective symptoms in the neonatal period. However, bilateral choanal atresia presents at birth with cyclic respiratory distress aggravated by feedings. So complete bilateral choanal atresia is considered as a neonatal emergency. Examinations for the diagnosis of chonal atresia include 1) attempt at passing a rubber catheter or probe through the patient s nose, 2) mirror examination of the nasopharynx, 3) digital examination of the nasopharynx, 4) X-ray examination after installation of radiopaque materal into the nasal cavity. But, computed tomography has become accepted method for evaluation of choanal atresia. Surgical repair of choanal atresia is accomplished via transnasal or transpalatal approach. Advantages of the transpalatal approach are improved exposure and the preservation of mucosal flap along the newly formed apertures. On the other hand, the transpalatal approach carries the risk of injury to the greater palatine neurovascular complex, and requires longer operative time. After careful physical and radiographic examinations, we accomplished the surgical repair of the complete bony bilateral choanal atresia via transpalatal approach without complications.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.143-148
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• 2001

The hand with amputation of all fingers is useless for activities of daily living and traumatic amputation of some of the fingers can result in the diminished ability to perform power grip and precision grip which is vital to maintain normal function of the hand. Precision grip is used to hold an object between the opposable thumb and flexed fingers. In power grip the object is held between the flexed fingers and the palm while the thumb applies the necessary counterpressure to maintain the grip on the object. A 35 year old male lost his right all fingers including thumb at the level of proximal phalanx from the pressure machinary accident. Thumb was reconstructed using wrap around flap and the second and third fingers were reconstructed using the second and third toe transplantation. Seven years after reconstruction, he uses the reconstructed thumb and the second and the third fingers for eating meals, writing down a paper with a pencil and putting on socks.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.63-74
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• 2008

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to compare trunk repositioning errors between subjects with and without low back pain in sitting and standing. Methods : Total 81 participants were recruited who consisted of 41 subjects with low back pain and 40 normal subjects. The subjects were instructed to replicate the predetermined target positions of the trunk toward upright and $30^{\circ}$ flexion in sitting and standing. During each of movement, digital inclinometer was used to measure the angular movement of $T_{12}$ spinal process. Repositioning error was calculated as the absolute difference between the predetermined target positions and replicated target positions. Results : In subjects with low back pain, upright repositioning error was $1.26^{\circ}{\pm}0.14^{\circ}$ in sitting and $1.55^{\circ}{\pm}0.24^{\circ}$ in standing, and $30^{\circ}$ flexion repositioning error was $3.23^{\circ}{\pm}0.33^{\circ}$ in sitting and $5.50^{\circ}{\pm}0.50^{\circ}$ in standing. In subjects without low back pain, upright repositioning error was $1.38^{\circ}{\pm}0.15^{\circ}$ in sitting and $1.67^{\circ}{\pm}0.18^{\circ}$ in standing, and flexion repositioning error was $2.61^{\circ}{\pm}0.28^{\circ}$ in sitting and $3.70^{\circ}{\pm}0.52^{\circ}$ in standing. It was demonstrated that flexion repositioning error increased significantly in standing position. In subjects with low back pain, $30^{\circ}$ flexion repositioning error was significantly higher in standing than in sitting. Conclusion : The repositioning error of subjects with low back pain increased during flexion and it implies that some aspects of proprioception are decreased in subjects with low back pain. Therefore, it will be emphasis that a clinical trial to increase the trunk flexion stability of subjects with low back pain in standing.