• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.11-13
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• 2017

This article addresses the roles of the speech language pathologist (SLP) for singers who require prompt and effective treatment when a voice problem arises. The causes of voice problem are often vocal abuse/misuse/overuse, muscle tension dysphonia and inappropriate singing technique. The SLP should conduct voice counseling and voice assessment for maintaining healthy voice of singer constantly.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.359-365
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• 2017

Background: Computed tomography (CT) is one of the most efficient diagnostic methods for stroke patients. The number of CT scanners in South Korea, however, is higher than in other countries, and may cause the overuse of this tool in healthcare. We aim to study the relationship between using CT and various patient and hospital characteristics among patients with cerebral infarction. Methods: We analyzed nationwide health insurance claims data for patients due to cerebral infarction during the second half of 2013 for up to 3 months. We performed multilevel analysis, including both inpatient and hospital-level variables, to determine how factors affect CT spending and utilization. Results: The data used in our study consisted of 17,046 hospitalizations at 583 hospitals. Inpatients who visited more than one hospital had higher CT utilization numbers and cost (number: ${\geq}3$: ${\beta}$ hospitals, 2.27; p < 0.05; 2 hospitals: ${\beta}$, 0.70; p < 0.05; cost: ${\geq}3$ hospitals: ${\beta}$, 251,108; p < 0.05; 2 hospitals: ${\beta}$, 77,299; p < 0.05). People who visited a general hospital had higher numbers and cost of CT utilization than people who visited a smaller hospital. Conclusion: Increased sharing of records and improved continuity of care between hospitals are needed to help curb the overuse of CT.

• Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.16-21
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• 2010

The prevalence of overuse syndrome in the lower extremity including chronic compartment syndrome and stress fracture is increasing with popularity of sports activities. Chronic compartment syndrome is defined as elevation of the interstitial pressure during exertional activities in a closed osseofascial compartment that results in microvascular compromise and operative procedures can be necessary if conservative treatments fail. Stress fracture can be classified as fatigue and insufficiency fracture; stress fracture occurs by repeated strain under abnormal conditions from the patient's activity whereas insufficiency fracture does by those from a process intrinsic to the bone. Most stress fractures occur in the lower extremity, most commonly in the tibial region. Fatigue fractures begin in athletes with the change in their training programs. The radiographic findings are usually diagnostic or at least strongly suggestive and MRI has proven to be a beneficial diagnostic tool for difficult diagnostic cases. Fatigue fractures are treated with a decrease in activity, but surgical procedure may be necessary in those in anterior cortex of the tibial diaphysis.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.128-137
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• 2007

Digital cinema industry in Korea is developing very fast. It makes the structure of Korea film industry being changed with outstanding D.I process, reduction of production cost, the convenience of distribution & screening and easy transferring to other platforms. The main reason of this fast development is due to Korea film industry monopoly structure by a few companies. In addition, Huge Korea mobile communication companies are pushing Digital cinema industry to go faster with their own net work and platforms. However, Korea digital cinema industry still has problems like standardization in releasing, the lake of data in post-production and overuse in production. It is the time that we have to think about best way for the healthy development of Korea digital cinema industry more than the fast development of it.

• Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.44-49
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• 2003

Purpose: To estimate the prevalence and incidence of patellar tendinitis, to discover the patellar tendinitis in top level male volley ball players. Materials and Methods: Thirteen members of the male adult volleyball players were included in this study. From history and physical examination, 3 of the 13 players had patellar tendon pain associated with activity and were diagnosed as patellar tendinitis at the time of the study. Investigators were blinded about the injury status of the players. For all players, data such as age, volleyball experience, amount of training and competition hours were recorded. Results: Of the thirteen cases, two spikers complained pain on the lower pole of the patella, one setter on the upper pole. Conclusion: This findings suggest that patellar tendinitis in the volleyball players are influenced by the amount of the practice and their position. In most cases, the supervised control of the practice will reduce the overuse injuries in the volleyball players.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.1707-1710
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• 2014

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate baseline use and positive rates of staging images (bone scan, CT) in newly diagnosed patients with prostate cancer (PCa) and to improve staging image overuse. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study covered a consecutive series of patients with PCa who underwent stage imaging at our institution between 2006 and 2011. Various clinical and pathological variables (age, PSA, biopsy Gleason score, clinical T stage, positive biopsy core rate) were evaluated by multivariate logistic regression analysis for their ability to predict a positive staging image. All patients were stratified according to the NCCN risk stratification and positive rates were compared in each risk group. Results: 410 patients (100%) underwent a bone scan and 315 patients (76.8%) underwent a CT scan. Some 51 patients (12.4%) had a positive bone scan, clinical T3 and T4 being significant independent predictors. Positive bone scan rates for low-, intermediate-, high-, and very high-risk groups were 0%, 0%, 8.25%, and 56.6%. Some 59 (18.7%) patients had a positive CT scan, with elevated PSA and clinical T3, T4 as significant independent predictors. Low-, intermediate-, high- and very high-risk group rates were 0%, 0%, 13.8% and 80.0%. Conclusions: The incidences of positive staging image in low- and intermediate- risk group were reasonably low. Following feedback on these results, staging in low- and intermediate- risk groups could be omitted.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.20
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• pp.8749-8752
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• 2014

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the patterns of follow-up visits for cervix cancer in a national cancer center in Mexico. Materials and Methods: The National Cancer Institute of Mexico is cancer center with 119 beds that mostly cares for an underserved and socially disadvantaged population. The medical records of cases of cervical cancer that had at least one year of clinical follow-up after being in complete response at the end of primary treatment were analyzed. We recorded the numbers of total and yearly follow-up visits and these were compared with the number of follow-up visits recommended by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network 2013, version 2 for cervical cancer. Results: Between March and June 2007, the medical records of 96 consecutive patients were reviewed. Twenty (21%) of these met inclusion criteria and were selected. In the first year the median number of visits was 11 (4-20). In the ensuing years, $2^{nd}$, $3^{rd}$, $4^{th}$ and $5^{th}$, the number of analyzed patients remaining in follow-up decreased to 17, 14, 13 and 9 respectively. There were 462 follow-up visits to primary treating services (Gynecology Oncology, Radiation Oncology and Medical Oncology) as compared to 220 suggested by the NCCN guidelines ($X^2$ test p<0.0001). There were 150 additional visits to other services. Conclusions: Our results suggest that in our institution there is an overuse of oncological services by cervical cancer patients once treatment is completed.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.484-494
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• 2000

Objective : To evaluate the relative benefits and the costs associated with the introduction of the new pharmaceutical provision called 'Mandatory Prescription System' which separates the role of physicians from that of pharmacists with respect to the prescription and dispensation of from the perspective of consumers (i.e., patients). Methods : The costs of the system were measured by considering both direct and indirect costs. Direct costs included additional payments for ambulatory care and dispensing fees that occurred under the new system. indirect costs consisted of transportation expenses and costs related to time spent for physician consultation, waiting for the prescriptions to be filled, and extra traveling. Benefits identified in this study were the reduction of drug misuse and overuse, and the overall decrease in drug consumption among the Korean population. Sensitivity analysis was peformed for the inclusion of benefits for outpatients of hospitals, price elasticity, and increased fees for established patients. Results : The net benefit was estimated to be about minus 1,862 billion won and the benefit-cost ratio was 0.478. This indicates that the costs of 'Mandatory Prescription' outweigh its benefits, relative to the previous system. The sensitivity analysis results for all the variables considered in this study consistently showed the benefit-cost ratio to be less than 1. Conclusion : The results of this study suggest that implementing Mandatory Prescription System in Korea might be inefficient from the consumer's perspective. The results of this study do not coincide with the results of previous studies, presumably because of the differences in study design and in which items of costs and benefits were considered.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.31.1-31.12
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• 2021

Background: Blackened intestines in slaughtered pigs have been commonly observed in China in recent years. However, no cause has been reported. Objectives: We attempted to determine whether the blackening of the pig intestine was related to an excess of copper (Cu) in their feed. Methods: In this study, we observed and collected porcine intestines in small- and large-scale pig slaughterhouses in Shandong province from May to October 2018. Twelve types of metal ions were detected in the black intestinal samples. Results: The Cu level in the intestine samples was mostly higher than the Chinese national limit for food. Further study showed that Cu supplementation in most commercial porcine feed also exceeded the national standard. An animal model (mouse) that could mimic the intestinal blackening in pigs was established. Compared to control mice, Cu accumulated in the liver and intestines of mice fed an excessive Cu level, confirming the excessive Cu in the feed may be considered the major cause of blackened porcine intestines. Microscopic examination revealed that black intestines had many particles containing Cu in the lamina propria of the intestinal mucosa, and the intestinal mucosal epithelial cells showed degeneration and necrosis. Conclusions: In conclusion, overuse of Cu in animal feed can lead to animal poisoning and Cu accumulation in animal products. Such overuse not only harms the health of livestock but can also affect public health.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.115-125
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• 2019

Objectives: Korea has been practicing the separation of dispensary from medical practice since 2000 as a national policy to prevent misuse or overuse of medicines. This study aimed to investigate prescription patterns from except pharmacies in order to determine the appropriateness of drug usage among those patients. Methods: Thirty-two pharmacies in the Yeongdong area of Gangwon Province were examined in this study. The same simulated patient complaining of cold symptoms for 3 days visited each pharmacy to obtain a prescription for medication. Results: At pharmacies prescribing medicine, steroids (53.1%) and antibiotics (50.0%) were used to treat the common cold. Duplicate prescriptions of drugs, such as antihistamines (47.0%) and decongestants (31.3%) were common. The average number of drug prescriptions was 6.59, and 53.2% of pharmacies had prescribed more than seven drugs. The average total cost of the prescriptions was 6,093 won, and the daily cost was 2,544 won. Conclusions: Steroids and antibiotics were frequently abused among patients whose medications had been prescribed by pharmacies. Also, there were a considerable number of drugs and duplicate prescriptions. The prices of the drugs were somewhat high.