• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.17-27
• /
• 2018

Purpose: This study aims to examine spatial characteristics of emergency department Chronologically through case studies; and to consider the social implication of these spatial changes. Methods: In this study, a total of eight emergency departments, one for each period, were selected in order to analyze the spatial characteristics. The spatial maps of Space Syntax were employed for analyzing case studies. Results: The spatial configuration of emergency department has been changed from five or more emergency department specialties to four or less specialties such as psychiatric, pediatrics, emergency, and trauma. In the case of care initiation area, the concentrated arrangement mode was switched from the distributed arrangement mode. The spatial maps indicate that it can be seen that the tree structure changes to an annular structure emphasizing the connection between the spaces in the emergency department. This shows that the space efficiency, safe, visual control and flexibility in the planning of the emergency department are important factors affecting the spatial structure of the emergency department. Implications: In the future, it is expected that Korean emergency department will be more focused on efficiency, safe, visual control, and flexibility in the planning as in the case studies of the United States.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.87-92
• /
• 2014

Objectives Risk taking has been implicated in the development of various psychiatric disorders. Previous studies have indicated that risk taking behavior is associated with high levels of impulsiveness. Risk taking entail uncertain situation that outcome probability is unknown. This study tested impulsivity, intolerance of uncertainty and risk taking behavior. Methods A total of 73 participants completed a test battery comprised of the UPPS-P scale as a psychometric measurement of five dimensions of impulsivity, Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale, and Balloon Analog Risk Task (BART) as a behavioral measure of risk taking. The Pearson correlation analysis was used. Results The sensation seeking factor was positively correlated with BART measure (r = 0.27, p = 0.02). Specifically, the relationship between sensation seeking and BART was significant in females. Conclusions Among the five factors of UPPS-P, only the sensation seeking factor predicts risk taking propensity.

• Women's Health Nursing
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.283-290
• /
• 2004

Purpose: This study elicited Korean women's perceptions of the life situations that contribute to Hwabyung, a culture.bound psychiatric illness in Korea, and delineated a typology of the perceived causative factors for this illness. Method: A purposive sample of 21 Korean women was recruited from a church, a senior center in Seoul and a clinic that provides traditional Korean and westernized medical services to patients in the Gyeonggi area. Inclusion criteria were: 1) the diagnosis of Hwabyung by a traditional doctor or "stress reaction and depression" by a westernized doctor; and 2) a score greater than 40 on the Hwabyung Self.Report Instrument. Surveys using the HSRI and individual interviews using Qmethodology were used. Result: The average age of the participants was 53.7 years(range 35-84). The mean score on the HSRI was 46.2(range = 42-52). Data analysis showed that participants perceived three life situations to cause Hwabyung: vulnerable situation, lowered self.esteem, and negative life events. Conclusions: Korean women, suffering from Hwabyung, perceived at least three different causal patterns for this illness. Nursing care plans should be tailored to meet these differences.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.24
• /
• pp.10927-10932
• /
• 2015

Background: Older age is associated with an increase in the incidence of cancer cases. Diagnosis and treatment of cancer in older adults can be stressful because of health decline related to age, comorbidities and inadequate treatment for pain and other symptoms of the disease. This survey is one of the unique studies in Jordan and in the Arab world that aimed at exploring the predictors of older adult individuals awareness towards cancer. Materials and Methods: A stratified random sampling technique was followed to reach a representative sample of 753 participants. The questionnaire of the study consisted of parts regarding demographic variables, awareness about screening tests, and signs and symptoms of cancer. In addition, specific questions related to factors linked to cancer were included. Cross-sectional design was adopted with face-to-face interviews at the interviewees' households. Results: The mean age of the participants was about 63 years; around 44% of them are above the age of 65 years. 'Being convinced that having no health problem makes the individual feel safe and not at risk of getting cancer' was the major reason for not doing a routine health check-up. Conclusions: The low levels of awareness about cancer, as well as the low use of the screening methods were crucial outcomes of this study. Thus, raising the awareness among health care providers and policy makers in the country about older adults' perception of cancer is a high priority.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.47 no.4
• /
• pp.282-286
• /
• 2010

Objective : The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of lumbar disc herniation surgery for low back pain on the erectile functioning. Methods : Thirty-eight patients, with age ranging from 22 to 56 years, who had presented with pain due to herniated lumbar discs were included in the study. International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) Short Form questionnaire was used to evaluate the erectile functioning. Patient visits on the 1st week,1st month and 3rd month postoperatively were analyzed. Pain scores were also noted together with side effects and the complications of the surgery. Results : Of the 38 patients, 18 patients had reported erectile dysfunction; 10 patients mild and 8 patients moderate erectile dysfunction. Twenty patients did not report erectile problems. The herniation levels mostly were L5-S1 in 12 (31.6%). Overall, erectile dysfunction rates have improved in 31.7% of those previously with erectile dysfunction in a 3 month period after the surgery. Best results were obtained in those patients with mild erectile dysfunction preoperatively. Conclusion : Mild erectile dysfunction together with radiculopathy tends to improve after lumbosacral disc surgery. Moderate and severe erectile dysfunction may be related to a more severe nerve injury or to vascular and/or psychiatric factors. An evaluation of erectile functioning should routinely be performed in patients with lumbosacral disc disease both for data accumulation and for medico legal causes since the documentation of the correlation between erectile dysfunction and lumbosacral disc disease is still lacking.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.197-209
• /
• 1998

In mordern society, nutritional and appetite disorders occur in epidemic proportions and are serious health harzards. Obesity and diabetes affect over 30% of American population, while eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa occur in a growing number of adolescences and young adults. The changes in various sociocultural aspects with the introduction of Westernized culture have had the effect of increasing the risk of same problems in Korea. Disorderd eating patterns are a primary symptom of numerous psychiatric disorders and loss of appetite and cachexia, during illness or in the elderly, preclude proper medical treatment for restoring good health or preserving life. Increased understanding of the systems of the body and brain, related to energy and nutrient balance, may help us to treatment and ultimately prevent these commom disorders. In this review, the author highlights the psychobiological mechanisms or factors which are associated with eating behavior, especially in the view of intake psychobiology. This review would be concentrated on 1) the theoretical concepts and theories of eating behavior ; 2) the psychobiological determinants of food intake ; and 3) the psychobiological control of eating behavior.

• Journal of Korea Association of Health Promotion
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.215-230
• /
• 2004

Along with a development of medical technology, a variety of tests, such as laboratory tests, x-ray and endoscopies are being used in health screening tests. As the tests determine the quality of health screening, test items and methods should be carefully selected. This study was to get hold of the test items of major health screening programs in Korea. Most of the health screening programmes focused upon detection of risk factors and diagnosis of life-style related diseases(diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, hypercholesterolemia, overweight, drinking, smoking, cerebrovascular diseases, osteoporosis) ,cancers(stomach, cervix, lung, breast, liver, colon, prostate, ovary, pancreas, thyroid, esophagus), infectious diseases (hepatitis, tuberculosis, sexually-transmitted diseases, parasites),chronic obstructive respiratory diseases, chronic renal diseases(bacteriuria, hematuria, proteinuria), anemia, glaucoma, hearing loss, Alzheimer disease, stress, early Psychiatric diseases. The health screening tests were basic physical examination, basic laboratory tests(CBC, urinalysis, liver function tests, lipid tests, glucose, HbAlc, uric acid, electrolytes, serological tests(HBsAg, HBs-Ab, HCV-Ab, HIV-Ab, VDRL) EKG, x-ray(chest PA, CT), endoscopy (gastroscopy, colonoscopy) , sonography(abdormen, thyroid, pelvis, breast) , cytology(cervix) ,bone density, tumor markers(NMP22, alpha-FP, CEA, CA-19-9, CA12S, PSA) and eye tests. Advanced technologies, like CT, PET, MIRI, MIRI/Angio, molecular testings) were widely usedin hospital health screening programmes. In summary, a variety of were utilized by stages or programmes, however a few subjects. tests were utilized in health screening in Korea. Those tests according to sex and age in most of health screening program used tests to excess disregarding health screening subject.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.5-10
• /
• 2001

The prevalence of insomnia and the degree of impairment due to insomnia is greater than in the of young. The cause for insomnia in the elderly are various factors among the elderly is known to be high including medical, psychiatric, drug issues, circadian rhythm changes, sleep disorders, and psychosocial. So the careful evaluation to find the cause of insomnia is needed for the eldery. Treatment options for insomnia include behavior modification and pharmacotherapy. Outcome data from previous studies indicate that behavioral approaches produce reliable and durable therapeutic benefits, as evidenced by improved sleep efficiency and continuity and enhanced satisfaction with sleep patterns. Treatment methods such as stimulus control and sleep restriction, which target maladaptive sleep habits, are especially beneficial for older insomniacs, whereas relaxation-based interventions aimed at decreasing arousal, produce more limited effects. Cognitive and educational interventions are instrumental in altering age-related dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep. The choice of hypnotics is based on matching the nature of the insomnia to the hypnotic agent. The ideal agent has rapid onset, duration of action that lasts through the night but no residual daytime effects, and no adverse effects. The key for the healthcare professional is finding the appropriate treatment or treatment combination, including behavioral modification and pharmacotherapy. When hypnotics are indicated, the most appropriate short-acting agent should be considered.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.30-36
• /
• 1996

Tardive dyskinesia is a syndrome of involuntary hyperkinetic abnormal movements that occurs during or shortly after the cessation of neuroleptic drug treatment. Typically, the movements are choreoatheoid. Other movements such as tics and dystonia may be present. Nonetheless, any dyskinesia seen in a neuroleptic-treated patient is not always neuroleptic-induced tardive dyskinesia. The prevalence of tardive dyskinesia varies widely, which reflects many methodological problems, such as differential diagnosis. symptom fluctuation, masking effect of neuroleptics, validated diagnostic criteria. Of suggested risk factors, only old age has been consistently found to be associated with an increased frequency of tardive dyskinesia. Many hypotheses about the pathophysiolgy of tardive kinesia are proposeed, but time-honored ones are not present. No consistently safe and effective treatments are found. Various treatment modalities signifies the general ineffectiveness of these agents for most patients. In general, reduction or cessation of neuroleptics, if possible, is recommended. Remission or improvemets of tardive dyskinesia after neuroleptics withdrawal usually occurs among most patients within three months.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.231-238
• /
• 2017

Myelin is a specialized structure of the nervous system that both enhances electrical conductance and insulates neurons from external risk factors. In the central nervous system, polarized oligodendrocytes form myelin by wrapping processes in a spiral pattern around neuronal axons through myelin-related gene regulation. Since these events occur at a distance from the cell body, post-transcriptional control of gene expression has strategic advantage to fine-tune the overall regulation of protein contents in situ. Therefore, many research interests have been focused to identify RNA binding proteins and their regulatory mechanism in myelinating compartments. Fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) is one such RNA binding protein, regulating its target expression by translational control. Although the majority of works on FMRP have been performed in neurons, it is also found in the developing or mature glial cells including oligodendrocytes, where its function is not well understood. Here, we will review evidences suggesting abnormal translational regulation of myelin proteins with accompanying white matter problem and neurological deficits in fragile X syndrome, which can have wider mechanistic and pathological implication in many other neurological and psychiatric disorders.