• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.111-118
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• 2011

With increasing interest in health promotion and quality of life, growing attention has been focused on the beneficial effects of urban green area. However, very few evidence-based approaches have been conducted on the health-related benefits of urban greenery. Therefore, this study examined the health-related benefits of green areas using physiological and psychological indices to obtain evidence-based data on these benefits. Twenty male university students were selected as subjects. Data were collected when participants viewed landscapes in a green area or an urban area for fifteen minutes. This research was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of School of Medicine, Chungnam National University. Physiological data in the green area revealed significantly decreased heart rates, significantly increased high-frequency value of heart rate variability, an index of parasympathetic activity, and reduced salivary cortisol concentration, a stress hormone, compared to the urban area. Psychological tests showed the green area significantly reduced the negative mood state and psychological symptoms, and significantly increased the positive mood state. Our data provided evidence for the health-related benefits of green areas, and the findings of this study support that green areas can play a critical role in health promotion for urban residents, by positively affecting autonomic nervous and endocrinal activities.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.702-708
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• 1999

Background: Surgical closure of the PDA in premature infants with complications or contraindications to indomethacin use, or recurrence of symptomatic PDA is a safe and effective procedure with low operative risk and minimal complications. Material and Method: From April 1996 to August 1998, 11 premature infants with body weight under 1.5 kg at operation underwent operation for a symptomatic PDA (male:5, female: 6). Associated dise ases were congenital heart disease(7), hyaline membrane disease(6), intraventricular hemor rhage(4), pneumonia(4), pneumothorax(3), hyperbilirubinemia(2), necrotizing enterocolitis(2), renal failure(1), epilepsy(1), and hydrocephalus(1). Surgical techniques are hemoclipping(8) and ligation(3). The size of PDA was 3~6 mm (5.0$\pm$1.2). Result: Systolic and diastolic blood pressure rised and heart rates decreased after PDA closure. ABGA improved postoperatively. There were no surgical complications. Six infants with improved ABGA data were weaned from mechanical ventilatory support. The follow-up durations after discharge were 3 month to 12 month. Five deaths were not related to operation. The causes of death were hyaline membrane disease(2), bronchopulmonary dysplasia with pneumonia(1), sepsis(1), and con gestive heart failure with respiratory distress syndrome(1). Conclusion: Early operative closure is the treatment of choice in most premature infants with a hemodynamically significant shunt(PDA), recurrence of symptomatic PDA, complications of Indomethacin, or contraindi cations to Indomethacin.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.225-232
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• 2014

Underwent on modified radical mastectomy(MRM) and radiation therapy, it affects increasing rates of chronic morbidity, because of including chest wall and internal mammary nodes(IMNs). It causes the high absorbed dose on heart and ipsilateral lung. Thus in this study, we compared dose distributions through utilizing the intensity modulated radiation therapy(IMRT) and the volumetric modulated arc therapy(VMAT). We selected 10 breast cancer patients at random who took MRM and radiation therapy. Treatment plannings were done by using IMRT and VMAT from each patient ranging supraclavicular lymphnodes(SCL) and IMNs. After that we analysed the planning target volume(PTV)'s conformity and absorbed doses on heart and lungs. As a results, PTV conformities were indicated the same patten(p<0.05) in both plans. In case of Lt breast cancer patients, the dose maximum regions of the heart were more lesser in VMAT technique rather than the IMRT(p<0.05). Also, the maximum dose areas of lungs were lesser in VMAT technique rather than the IMRT(p<0.05). Therefore, it would be safe to say that it is more effective way to adapt the VMAT technique than IMRT in such cases like involve IMNs in breast cancer patients.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.21-34
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• 2007

Objectives: This study aims to examined whether physical activity prevent the negative effect of psychological stress on cardiovascular reactivity by reducing stress induced sympathetic output and preventing norepinephrine depletion negative psych-affective responses. It is assumed that physical activity reduces the magnitude of cardiovascular responses and psychological responses to stress which threaten individuals' physical and mental health. The result of investigating the effect of physical activity on reducing negative physiological and psychological responses would suggest useful information health for practitioners who want to prevent stress-induced diseases, especially coronary heart disease. Methods: participants of this study were 30 students (10 males & 20 females), whose mean age was 21.30 (SD=2.29). Fifteen students (5 males & 10 females) were assigned for in each group, treatment and control groups. They were interviewed and given a survey that included a consent form, demographics sheet and psychological tests, such as State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Before the application of psychological stress, participants in treatment group were going through with a course of physical exercise, running on treadmill 15minutes, while participants in control group were not physically active. After exercise, there was 15 minutes resting period before applying cognitive stress. During the experiment, all participants performed challenging cognitive tasks for 20minutes in situations that were designed to experience learned helplessness and measured their cardiovascular reactivity including blood pressure and heart rate every 5 minutes, until 10 minutes after finishing the application of psychological stress(recovering state). In the end of experiment, they were given some psychological test again. Results: Heart rates of exercise group were significantly higher than non-exercise group, especially, five minute after applying cognitive stress and at the end of recovery, in other word 10 minutes after stressful event. Systolic blood pressures of exercise group were lower than those of non-exercise group during the stressful event, but this differences in borderline level of significance. state anger level of exercise group decreased even experiencing stress, while those of non-exercise group increase. And state anxiety level of exercise group decreased in borderline level of significance. Conclusion: This study reiterate health benefits of physical activity and suggest that regular moderate exercise may regulate cardiovascular reactivity and psycho-affective responses from stress by reducing stress induced sympathetic output.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.205-214
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• 2006

Background : Acute exacerbations form a major component of the socioeconomic burden of COPD. As yet, little information is available about the long-term outcome of patients who have been hospitalized with acute exacerbations, although high mortality rates have been reported. The aim of this study was to determine predictors of long-term mortality after hospitalization for acute exacerbation of COPD. Methods : We performed a retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients admitted to the hospital for COPD exacerbation between 2000 through 2004. Patients who had died in hospital or within 6-months after discharge, had tuberculosis scar, pleural thickening or bronchiectasis by chest radiography or had been diagnosed with malignancy during follow-up periods were excluded. Results : Mean age of patients was 69.5 years, mean follow-up duration was 49 months, and mean $FEV_1$ was 1.00L (46% of predicted). Mortality was 35% (17/48). In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, heart rate of 100/min or more (p=0.003; relative risk [RR], 11.99; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.34-61.44) and right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) of 35mmHg or more (p=0.019; RR, 6.85; 95% CI, 1.38-34.02) were independent predictors of mortality. Conclusion : Heart rate and RVSP in stable state may be useful in predicting long-term mortality for COPD patients admitted to hospital with acute exacerbation.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.82-89
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• 2008

Objective:　We compared the prevalence of injury and poisoning in the agricultural and fishery population with that of the general population.Methods: The national health insurance data and agricultufor this study. The age-adjusted standardized morbidity ratio was used to compare the prevalence of all injuries and poisonings of the agricultural and fishery population with that of the general population for the year 2002, as well as the prevalence of certain injuries and poisonings common to the agricultural and fishery population. The age-adjusted standardized morbidity ratio and 95% confidence intervals were attained by using the general population as the standard population group.Results: The age-adjusted standardized morbidity ratio of total injuries and poisonings was significantly high in the agriculture and fishery population. The standardized morbidity ratio was 137.6 in the male agriculture and fishery population and 123.3 in the female agriculture and fishery population. In terms of injuries and poisonings common to the agriculture and fishery population, the age-adjusted standardized morbidity ratio was significantly high regarding the dislocations and strains of lumbar spine/pelvis, shoulder and neck, the fracture of rib/thoracic spine/sternum and pesticide poisoning.Conclusions: The overall prevalence of injury/poisoning was significantly higher in the agriculture and fishery population than in the general population. Various forms of research should be conducted on the injuries of the agriculture and fishery population in the future. In order to compare the differences in the prevalence rates of injuries according to time and region, standard definitions of injuries and occupation related injuries are required.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 2010

Background: Patients with vascular diseases commonly have coronary artery disease and associated cardiac problems. Therefore, their underlying heart diseases may be induced or exacerbated after vascular surgery. The effectiveness of SPECT imaging, which is a relatively simple and non-invasive imaging modality, for assessing these underlying heart diseases is still controversial. This study was performed to evaluate the clinical effect of tests and treatment based on SPECT imaging prior to vascular surgery on the development of post-operation cardiac complications. Material and Method: Sixty three patients who were treated at Inje University Pusan Paik Hospital between April 2004 and September 2007 and who underwent adenosine infusion technetium-99m (Tc-99m) tetrofosmin SPECT imaging prior to vascular surgery were selected for this study and we retrospectively reviewed their records. Result: The sensitivity and specificity of detecting a perfusion defect on SPECT to predict the development of cardiac complications was relatively low at 41.2% and 52.2%, respectively. However when coronary angiographies were done on the patients with abnormal SPECT and this was followed by aggressive treatment such as coronary artery intervention and coronary artery bypass grafting based on the angiography results, there was a tendency for lower cardiac complication rates. Conclusion: SPECT imaging shows low effectiveness as a screening test for predicting cardiac complications after vascular surgery.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.363-370
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• 2016

Noise is unwanted sound that is the reason of the stress and hearing loss. The current study attempted to estimate whether the noise of dental laboratory affected stress and pure tone audiometry (PTA) of dental laboratory technicians (DLTs) using heart rate variability, air and bone conduction audiometry. The age, heights, and weights of DLTs were resembled control. Standard deviation of normal to normal interval such as stress resistance and normalized HF of DLTs were significantly decreased, but heart rates, normalized LF, and LF/HF ratio of DLTs were significantly increased compared with control. In air conduction audiometry of DLTs, significant increments of thresholds encountered in 125, 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, and 6000 Hz in the right ears and 125, 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz in the left ears. Thresholds of bone conduction audiometry in both ears were significantly increased in 250, 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz. The findings in this study provide that stress and hearing loss observed in noise-exposed DLTs at dental laboratory. Therefore, proper safety precautions should be carried out at dental laboratory.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 2015

Background: We evaluated operative outcomes after third or more cardiac operations for valvular heart disease, and analyzed whether pericardial coverage with artificial membrane is helpful for subsequent reoperation. Methods: From 2000 to 2012, 149 patients (male : female=70 : 79; mean age at operation, $57.0{\pm}11.3$ years) underwent their third to fifth operations for valvular heart disease. Early results were compared between patients who underwent their third operation (n=114) and those who underwent fourth or fifth operation (n=35). Outcomes were also compared between 71 patients who had their pericardium open during the previous operation and 27 patients who had artificial membrane coverage. Results: Intraoperative adverse events occurred in 22 patients (14.8%). Right atrium (n=6) and innominate vein (n=5) were most frequently injured. In-hospital mortality rate was 9.4%. Total cardiopulmonary bypass time ($225{\pm}77$ minutes vs. $287{\pm}134$ minutes, p=0.012) and the time required to prepare aortic cross clamp ($209{\pm}57$ minutes vs. $259{\pm}68$ minutes, p<0.001) increased as reoperations were repeated. However, intraoperative event rate (13.2% vs. 20.0%), in-hospital mortality (9.6% vs. 8.6%) and postoperative complications were not statistically different according to the number of previous operations. Pericardial closure using artificial membrane at previous operation was not beneficial in reducing intraoperative events (25.9% vs. 18.3%) and shortening operation time preparing aortic cross clamp ($248{\pm}64$ minutes vs. $225{\pm}59$ minutes) as compared to no-closure. Conclusion: Clinical outcomes of the third or more operations for valvular heart disease were acceptable in terms of intraoperative adverse events and in-hospital mortality rates. There were no differences in the incidence of intraoperative adverse events, early mortality and postoperative complications between third cardiac operation and fourth or more.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.82 no.3
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• pp.242-250
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• 2019

Background: Data on noninvasive ventilation (NIV) use in intensive care units (ICUs) are very limited in South Korea. Methods: A prospective observational study was performed in 20 ICUs of university-affiliated hospitals from June 2017 to February 2018. Adult patients (age>18 years) who were admitted to the ICU and received NIV treatment for acute respiratory failure were included. Results: A total of 156 patients treated with NIV were enrolled (mean age, $71.9{\pm}11.6years$). The most common indications for NIV were acute hypercapnic respiratory failure (AHRF, n=89) and post-extubation respiratory failure (n=44). The main device for NIV was an invasive mechanical ventilator with an NIV module (61.5%), and the majority of patients (87.2%) used an oronasal mask. After the exclusion of 32 do-not-resuscitate patients, NIV success rate was 68.5% (85/124); ICU and hospital mortality rates were 8.9% and 15.3%, respectively. However, the success rate was lower in patients with de novo respiratory failure (27.3%) compared to that of patients with AHRF (72.8%) or post-extubation respiratory failure (75.0%). In multivariate analysis, immunocompromised state, de novo respiratory failure, post-NIV (2 hours) respiratory rate, NIV mode (i.e., non-pressure support ventilation mode), and the change of NIV device were significantly associated with a lower success rate of NIV. Conclusion: AHRF and post-extubation respiratory failure were the most common indications for NIV in Korean ICUs. Overall NIV success was achieved in 68.5% of patients, with the lowest rate in patients with de novo respiratory failure.