• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.124-140
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• 2023

Objectives: This study examined the changes in dietary habits, the prevalence of chronic diseases, and mental health problems in the regional areas of the Republic of Korea before and after the COVID-19 pandemic to provide evidence of the status of regional health inequalities. Methods: This study analyzed Korean adults aged 19 or older who participated in the Korea Community Health Survey (n = 686,708) and Consumer Behavior Survey for Foods (n = 19,109) from 2018 to 2020. The participants were classified according to their residence area (Seoul metropolitan area, Metropolitan cities, Provinces); 2018-2019 were defined as before COVID-19, and 2020 as after COVID-19. The dietary behaviors, chronic diseases, and mental health problems were measured using a self-report questionnaire. Results: After COVID-19, the eating-out usage rate in the Seoul metropolitan area and Provinces decreased compared to before COVID-19 (P < 0.001), and when responding that they eat out, the frequency of eating out with household members in the Seoul metropolitan area increased (P = 0.024). The deliveries/takeout usage rate in the Provinces decreased after COVID-19 compared to before (P < 0.001). After COVID-19, the prevalence of obesity decreased in all regions (P < 0.001), and the prevalence of hypertension increased significantly in the Provinces (P = 0.015). The prevalence of diabetes mellitus increased continuously before and after COVID-19 in all regions (P < 0.002). High-risk subjective stress levels increased significantly in the Seoul metropolitan area (P < 0.001), and sleep duration significantly increased in all regions (P < 0.001). Major depressive disorder was reduced significantly in Metropolitan cities (P = 0.042) and Provinces (P < 0.001). Conclusions: After the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of chronic diseases and mental health problems showed regional differences along with changes in dietary habits. It is necessary to reflect the regional differences in dietary habits in future policies resolving regional health inequalities.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.667-682
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the changes in health behavior, mental health, and nutritional status of Korean adolescents before and after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic outbreak. Methods: A total of 800 adolescents (12~18 years old) who participated in the 2019-2020 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) were included as study subjects and divided into four groups (204 middle school boys, 172 middle school girls, 219 high school boys, and 205 high school girls). The 2019 and 2020 KNHANES data were classified into data collected before and after the COVID-19 outbreak, respectively. Results: After the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, middle school boys showed an increased tendency toward becoming overweight and obese, with significantly increased levels of diastolic blood pressure and insulin. While there was no major change in the subjective health status among adolescents, the high school boys showed a significantly decreased physical activity after COVID-19 outbreak. Moreover, the proportion of middle school students feeling a little stressed significantly increased after the COVID-19 outbreak. The rate of skipping breakfast significantly increased in middle school girls, but the rate of having lunch with companions significantly increased among all adolescents after the COVID-19 outbreak. However, the intake of milk, vegetables, fruits, seaweeds, and pulses significantly decreased, although the intake of sugars, beverages, and seasonings significantly decreased as well, during this period. These changes may lead to an increased proportion of adolescents with insufficient intake of nutrients, including potassium, vitamin C, and riboflavin. Conclusion: These results highlight the impact of COVID-19 on comprehensive changes in physical and mental health status, lifestyle behavior, and nutritional status in adolescents, suggesting the need for targeted prevention and intervention for physical and mental well-being during the pandemic.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.351-359
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• 2021

Purpose: This purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of initial cognitive status on the recovery of functional status in patients with subacute stroke. Methods: The participants were 111 patients with subacute stroke, divided into two groups: mini-mental state examination (MMSE) <20 (n=49) group and MMSE ≥20 (n=62) group. Clinical evaluation scores were collected before and after rehabilitation. The repeated measurements ANOVA was used to confirm the changes in functional status before and after intervention in the two groups. Changes in functional status within the group were examined through a paired test. A Pearson correlation coefficient analysis was performed to identify the correlation between MMSE change amount and functional status score. Results: In each of the two groups, according to the initial cognitive status, the clinical evaluation score increased statistically significantly, but there was no difference between the two groups in the degree of significant increase. When examining the correlation between the MMSE change amount, according to the initial cognitive state and the functional state score change amount, it was found, only in the group with MMSE <20, that the larger the change in the MMSE score, the greater the functional state change of Berg balance scale, Rivermead Mobility Index, and motor assessment scale. This did not apply to the group with MMSE ≥20. Conclusion: Initial cognitive status should be considered when setting the patient's goal, and considering cognitive improvement when constructing a rehabilitation program is thought to have a positive effect on rehabilitation services.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.51-53
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• 2007

Ginseng shows protective and trophic effects in neurodegenerative diseases in experimental models, and showed cognitive improvement in normal population. To investigate the efficacy of ginseng in patients with Alzheimer's disease, patients, who met NINDS-ADRDA criteria for AD were studied Subjects were randomly assigned to ginseng group and control group, and ginseng group was treated with Korean white ginseng powder (4.5 g/day) for 12 weeks. Efficacy variables included changes in mini-mental status exam (MMSE) and cognitive subscales of Alzheimer's disease assessment scale (ADAS-cog) at 4 weeks and 12 weeks. Baseline MMSE and ADAS scores showed no difference between the two groups. Results showed that ginseng improved ADAS-cog compared to the control group at 12 weeks (p<0.05). MMSE was also increased by ginseng treatment compared to the control at 12 weeks (p<0.01). This study suggests the symptomatic efficacy of ginseng in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.234-236
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• 2013

A 42-year-old woman with short-term memory loss visited Gangnam Severance Hospital, and her chest X-ray and computed tomography revealed a right anterior mediastinal mass. On hospital day two, she suddenly presented personality changes and a drowsy mental status, so she required ventilator care in the intensive care unit. She underwent thymectomy, and was pathologically diagnosed with thymoma, type B1. Her mental status eventually recovered by postoperative day 90. Paraneoplastic encephalopathy associated with thymoma is very rare, and symptoms can be improved by thymectomy. We report a case of paraneoplastic encephalopathy associated with a thymoma.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.235-239
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• 2007

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is believed to be a benign disease. However, numerous studies have reported serious complications related to SIH, including subdural hematoma. In this case report, a 54-year-old male patient visited the emergency room with orthostatic headache. A brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study showed diffuse mild thickening and enhancement of pachymeninges, with a suspicious minimal amount of subdural fluid collected in the left posterior parietal area. His orthostatic headache showed no improvement with conservative treatment; but his pain was almost completely relieved after two trials of cervical epidural blood patch. On the 74th day after the onset of his pain, the patient showed a drowsy mental status and slurred speech when he visited the pain clinic. Brain computerized tomography indicated a left subdural hemorrhage, and he underwent emergency operation to drain the SDH. In conclusion, pain clinicians should pay attention to abrupt changes in mental status as well as continuous headache, for the early diagnosis of SDH in SIH patients.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.113-122
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• 2024

Objectives : To report the R/O CRPS patient after Korean medicine treatment, suffering severe buring pain and insomnia. Methods : The patient was a 56-year-old female patient and treated with herbal medicines and acupuncture in 32 days. The treatment effect was evaluated by measuring VNRS of pain, sleeping time and change in mood status. Results : The Korean Medical therapy had good effect on the patient. Especially, relaxing mental treatment is effective in improving and maintaining symptoms. Conclusions : The Korean medical treatments appeared to be effective in reducing R/O CRPS symptoms. Further clinical research of patients with CRPS is needed.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.22-30
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• 2013

Purpose: The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) model was proposed by the World Health Organization for enhancing interdisciplinary communication. The purpose of this study was to examine the functional status of acute stroke patients using ICF core sets-short form. Methods: A set of 15 ICF items on functional status was used by nurses for their daily nursing assessment on functional status in 44 acute stroke patients in a university hospital. Results: The highest level of function was "consciousness", while the lowest was "defecation". Compared with functional status on the first day, consciousness, ingestion, language (mental), and defecation functions were significantly improved on the 14th day. However, there was no significant changes in items on activity and participation or environmental functions. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the function-specific nursing interventions for acute stroke patients need to be developed. Future research needs to test the usefulness of ICF items as an measurement tool.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.293-308
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• 2024

Background: Assessing the change in mental health status of quarantined patients in community treatment centers at the time of admission and discharge, and inferring the influencing factors. Methods: The study was conducted on a sample of 1,941 quarantined patients from three community treatment centers. Changes in anxiety, psychological distress, post-traumatic stress, depression, and self-harm ideation between admission and discharge were categorized as either "improved" or "worsened." Inference was performed to determine the probability of worsening in mental health status. Results: The mental health status of quarantined patients, such as anxiety and depression, was relatively higher than that of the general population. Anxiety (84.3% improved) and psychological distress (79.0% improved) were reduced during quarantine treatment. However, some patients continued to experience moderate to severe levels of anxiety (11.2%) and psychological distress (11.0%) at discharge. As for depression, the depression of moderate or higher level was increased at the time of discharge (28.7%→36.7%) compared to admission. The deterioration of anxiety and psychological distress was found to be the most significant factor influencing the worsening of depression at discharge (odds ratio [OR] for anxiety deterioration, 2.04; OR for psychological distress deterioration, 3.56). These effects were also observed similarly in post-traumatic stress and self-injury ideation. Conclusion: Improving anxiety and psychological distress among quarantined patients in community treatment centers can reduce the worsening of post-traumatic stress, depression, and self-injury ideation at the time of discharge. These findings provide evidence for the need for active mental health management from the initial stages of quarantine treatment.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.251-259
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• 2018

This study was conducted to investigate individuals' mental health on the basis of scores for depression and self-esteem from the Korea Welfare Panel Study (KWPS) and determine their dynamic association with employment status. This study was conducted using the eighth (2013) and ninth (2014) data from the KWPS. To identify factors affecting depression, socio-demographic factors, factors related to mental health, and contents related to employment, such as changes in the employment condition and employment status, were selected and analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, and hierarchial multiple regression to determine the explanatory power. Multiple regression revealed that in Model 1, those who were female, were older, had no spouse, were in the lower income bracket, had lower total self-esteem, and scored higher for depression in the previous period tended to show higher levels of depression. Education had no significant effect and explanatory power for all variables inputted into this model was estimated to be 30.8% (p<0.001). The explanatory power for all variables input into Model 2, which was generated by inputting employment status into Model 1, was estimated to be 30.9%, which was 0.1% higher than for Model 1 (p<0.05). These results indicated that depression was significantly correlated with gender, age, income, presence of a spouse, previous depression, self-esteem, and employment status; accordingly, investigation of the factors that can narrow the gap among variables affecting depression should be conducted and socially supported.