• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.102-112
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• 2011

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of chronic exposure by welders to manganese (Mn) through an analysis of the degree of brain activity in different activities such as cognition and motor activities using the neuroimaging technique of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The neurotoxic effect that Mn has on the brain was examined as well as changes in the neuro-network in motor areas, and the usefulness of fMRI was evaluated as a tool to determine changes in brain function from occupational exposure to Mn. Methods: A survey was carried out from July 2010 to October 2010 targeting by means of a questionnaire 160 workers from the shipbuilding and other manufacturing industries. Among them, 14 welders with more than ten years of job-related exposure to Mn were recruited on a voluntary basis as an exposure group, and 13 workers from other manufacturing industries with corresponding gender and age were recruited as a control group. A questionnaire survey, a blood test, and an fMRI test were carried out with the study group as target. Results: Of 27 fMRI targets, blood Mn concentration of the exposure group was significantly higher than that of the control group (p<0.001), and Pallidal Index (PI) of the welder group was also significantly higher than that of the control group (p<0.001). As a result of the survey, the score of the exposure group in self-awareness of abnormal nerve symptoms and abnormal musculoskeletal symptoms was higher than those of the control group, and there was a significant difference between the two groups (p<0.05, respectively). In the correlation between PI and the results of blood tests, the correlation coefficient with blood Mn concentration was 0.893, revealing a significant amount of correlation (p<0.001). As for brain activity area within the control group, the right and the left areas of the superior frontal cortex showed significant activity, and the right area of superior parietal cortex, the left area of occipital cortex and cerebellum showed significant activity. Unlike the control group, the exposure group showed significant activity selectively on the right area of premotor cortex, at the center of supplementary motor area, and on the left side of superior temporal cortex. In the comparison of brain activity areas between the two groups, the exposure group showed a significantly higher activation state than did the control group in such areas as the right and the left superior parietal cortex, superior temporal cortex, and cerebellum including superior frontal cortex and the right area of premotor cortex. However, in nowhere did the control group show a more activated area than did the exposure group. Conclusions: Chronic exposure to Mn increased brain activity during implementation of hand motor tasks. In an identical task, activation increased in the premotor cortex, superior temporal cortex, and supplementary motor area. It was also discovered that brain activity increase in the frontal area and occipital area was more pronounced in the exposure group than in the control group. This result suggests that chronic exposure to Mn in the work environment affects brain activation neuro-networks.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.272-279
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• 2007

Purpose : We tried to find out the clinical parameters which predict the outcome of treatment in children with enuresis. Methods : Enuresis patients who visited our hospital during 2003-2007 were included. Parameters such as age, gender, height, weight, minimal voided volume, maximal voided volume, maximum functional bladder capacity, frequency of voiding, urine S,G. before and after sleep were measured and an enuresis diary was also recorded. The reduction in wetting frequencies were classified into three groups; none(<50%), partial(50-90%) and complete(90%) response groups. We also compared the 'initial responders' who showed improvement(${\ge}50%$) during the 2 weeks of evaluation and behavioral therapy to the 'initial non-responders'. Results : Parameters mentioned above showed no significant relation to the treatment out-come. The response rate during the 2 weeks of the evaluation period was 32%(49/151) [complete in 1.3% (2/151), partial in 29.6% (47/151)]. Two-months' treatment responses were complete in 14(40%), partial in 19(54.3%) and none in 2(5.9%) responders(n=35), while they were 10(13.5%), 46(62.2%) and 18(24.3%), respectively in the non-responders(n=73) (P<0.05). Conclusion : We suggest that initial 'responsiveness' can be used as a predictor for good treatment outcome in patients with enuresis.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.14-30
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• 1998

Manganese is an essential element in the body. It is mainly deposited in the liver and to a lesser degree in the basal ganglia of the brain and eliminated through the bile duct. Rapid turnover of managanese in the body makes it difficult to evaluate the manganese exposure in workers, esecially in those with irregular or intermittent exposure, like welders. Therefore, conventional biomarkers, including blood and urine manganese can provide only a limited information about the long-tern or cumulative exposure to manganese. Introduction of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) made a progress in the assessment of manganese exposure in the medical conditions related to manganese accumulation, e. g. hepatic failure and long-term total parenteral nutrition. Manganese shortens spin-lattice(T1) relaxation time on MRI due to its paramagnetic property, resulting in high signal intensity (HSI) on T1-weighted image(T1W1) of MRI. Manganese deposition in the brain, therefore, can be visualizedas an HSI in the globus pallidus, the substantia nigra, the putamen and the pituitary. clinical and epidemiologic studies regarding the MRI findings in the cases of occupational and non-occupational manganese exposure were reviewed. relationships between HSI on T1W1 of MRI and age, gender, occupational manganese exposure, and neurological dysfunction were analysed. Relationships betwen biological exposure indices and HSI on MRE werealso reviewed. Literatures were reviewed to establish the relationships between HSI, Manganese deposition in the brain, pathologic findings, and neurological dysfunction. HSI on T1W1 of MRI reflects regional manganese deposition in the brain. This relationship enables an estimation of regional manganese deposition in the brain by analysing MR signal intensity. Manganese deposition in the brain can induce a neuronal loss in the basal ganglia but functional abnormality is supposed to be related to the cumulative exposure of manganese in the brain, use of brain MRI for the assessment of exposure in a group of workers seems to be hardly rationalized, while ti can be a useful adjunct for the evaluation of manganese exposure int he cases with suspected manganese-related health problems.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.367-374
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• 2005

Background : The fact that only 10-20% of chronic cigarette smokers develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) reflects the presence of genetic factors associated with the susceptibility to COPD. Recently, it was reported that the surfactant protein A increases the secretion of matrix metalloprotease 9, which degrades extracellular matrices of the lung, through a Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2). In this context, possible role of TLR2 in the pathogenesis of COPD was postulated, and a functional dinucleotide repeat polymorphism in intron II of TLR2 was evaluated for any association with COPD. Method : Male patients with COPD and male smokers with a normal pulmonary function were enrolled in this study. The number of Guanine-Thymine repeats in intron II of the TLR2 gene were counted. Because the distributions of the repeats were trimodal, the alleles were classified into three subclasses, 12-16 repeats: short (S) alleles; 17-22 repeats: medium length (M) alleles; and 23-27 repeats: long (L) alleles. Result : 125 male patients with COPD and 144 age- and gender-matched blood donors with a normal lung function were enrolled. There were no differences in the distribution of each allele subclass (S, M and L) between the COPD and control group (p=0.75). The frequencies of the genotypes with and without each allele subclass in the COPD and control group were similar. Conclusion : A microsatellite polymorphism in intron II of TLR2 gene was not associated with the development of COPD in Koreans.

• Trans-
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• v.9
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• pp.37-66
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• 2020

Entering the 21st century, the flow of society and culture is emerging as a cultural phenomenon in which one experiences, enjoys, and experiences on one's own. This trend has emerged as community dance, which has been active since 2010. Community dances can be targeted by anyone and can be divided into children's, adult and senior citizens' dances depending on the characteristics and age of the group, allowing them to work in various age groups. It also refers to all kinds of dances for the happiness and self-achievement of everyone who can promote gender, race and religion health or meet the needs of expression and improve their physical strength at meetings by age group, from preschoolers to senior citizens. Community dance is a dance activity in which everyone takes advantage of their leisure time and voluntarily participates in joyous activities, making it expandable to lifelong education and social learning. It is a voluntary community gathering conducted by experts for the general public. The definition of community dance can be said to be the aggregate of physical activities that enrich an individual's daily life and enhance their social sense to create a bright society, while individuals achieve the goals of health promotion and aesthetic education. In the contemporary community dance, the dance experience in body and creativity as self-expression reflects the happiness perspective by exploring the positive psychological experience and influence of the participants in the process of participation, and participants have continued networking through online offline to enjoy the dance culture. Although research has been conducted in various fields for 10 years since the boom in community dance began, the actual methodology of the program has been insufficient to present the Feldenkrais Method, hoping that it will be used as a methodology necessary for local community dance, and will be used as part of the educational effects and choreography creation methods of artists that can improve the physical functional aspects of dance and give a sense of psychological stability.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.1-13
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• 2019

This study is to derive a design alternative to the FECC (Forest Experience Center for Children) that meets the preschooler's preferences. For this purpose, preschooler participation is included in each phase of the FECC, the site perception phase, the deriving design elements phase, and the deriving design alternative phase. In this study, the process of the deriving design alternative phase was carried out with kindergarteners and preschoolers (6, 7 years olds; all 41 students) at Songsan-mulbit FECC in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju. In order to derive the design alternatives, three detailed design processes (preschooler participation 2 times, researcher analysis 1 time), tool construction, and a preschooler participation workshop were conducted. The results of this study are as follows. First, as a result of the preschooler's design process, 41 designs were drawn, and an average of 7.66 spaces were drawn by each preschooler. The 6-year-old males designed the least (average 6.80 spaces) and the 7-year-old females designed the most (9.0 spaces). The physical and adventure play spaces were most common (38.9% to 48.7%) regardless of gender or age. To analyze the feasibility of the preschooler's design using a base map, the appearance of the physical environmental characteristics (7 items) in the site were analyzed in each of the 41 designs. As a result, the environmental characteristics were apparent a total 72 times overall. Similar environmental characteristics appearing more than once were apparent in 87.8% (26 designs) of designs. Second, three design alternatives were derived: APS- types (intensive planning of active play facility spaces) was presented in 15 designs, NS-types (planning focused on nature spaces) was presented in 14 designs, and SPS-types (planning focused on static play facility spaces) were presented 12 designs. Third, NS-type, which were finally selected through a preference assessment (5-point scale) and a comparative assessment of the three alternatives, has mainly natural spaces (forest space, forest path, shelter, natural exploration space, and ecological pond) and active play facility spaces, water play space and soil (sand) play spaces was appropriately designed. Therefore, the NS-type was analyzed as the design alternative that can fully accomplish all types of cognitive development through developed through play (functional play, constructive play, dramatic(symbolic) play).

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.7-21
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• 1998

An analysis of 101 stroke patients who were enrolled in 10 hospitals of Cities of Pusan, Taegu, and Andong from November 1, 1996 to April 31. 3997 was conducted using the modified Barthel Index(BI) and the adapted PULSES profile index(PS) to evaluate their function. Patients were examined at the following intervals: Initial assessment, one month after initial. at discharge, and one month after discharge. The mean BI score of patients initial assessment was 27.18, and that of PS was 17.54. There were statistically significant between initial score and one month after initial (21.39: p<0.001), at discharge(37.47: p<0.001), one month after discharge(46.49: p<0.001). PS scores were also improved .significantly(-2.62, -4.52. and -6.26(p<0.001). And the score between dischange and one month after discharge was significant (9.01: p<0.001) and in PS score(-1.73: p<0.001). Age and BE score were significantly associated with the improved in BI score between initial and discharge(T3-T1)(p<0.05). Below age forty the Bower initial BI score showed significantly higher improvement(T3-T1) after physical therapy(p<0.05). Initial Bl score, patients' attitude for physical therapy after discharge, age, and surgical operation were significantly associated with the improvement of BI score between initial and one month after discharge(T4-T1)(p<0.05). The lower initial BI score, patients' positive attitude for physical therapy after discharge, below age forty. and no surgical operation showed significantly higher improvement(p<0.05). BI score at discharge, side of hemiparesis and religion were significantly associated with the improvement of BI score between at discharge and one month after discharge(T4-T3) (p<0.05). The lower BI score at discharge. left aide of hemiparesis, with religion showed significantly higher improvement (p<0.05). Age, initial PS score were significantly associated with the improved in PS score between initial and discharge(T3-T1)(p<0.05). The higher initial PS score and below age forty showed significantly higher improvement(T3-T1)(p<0.05). Initial PS score, patient' attitude for physical therapy after discharge, age, educational level, physical therapy hour after discharge, and surgical operation were significantly associated with the improvement of PS score between initial and one month after discharge(T4-T1)(p<0.05). The higher initial PS score, patients' positive attitude for physical therapy after discharge, below age forty, higher education, the shorter physical therapy hour, and no surgical operation showed significantly higher improvement(T4-T1)(p<0.05). PS score at discharge, educational level, patient' attitude far physical therapy after discharge, physical therapy hour after discharge, and gender were significantly associated with the improvement of PS score between discharge and une month after discharge(T4-T3) (p<0.05), The higher PS non at discharge, higher education, patients' positive attitude for Physical therapy after discharge, the shorter physical therapy hour, and male showed significantly higher improvement (T4-T3)(p<0.05). In conclusion, initial BI score and age were significantly associated with BI score improvement and initial PS score, age, and educational level were also significantly associated with PS score improvement in stoke patients.