• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.111-117
• /
• 2004

Objectives: To investigate the effect of LH receptor in folliculogenesis, we confirm the expression level of LH receptor (LH-R) mRNA in human granulosa cells (GCs) and its expression levels were analyzed by comparison to embryo developmental rate and pregnancy rate. Materials and Methods: GCs were obtained at the time of oocyte retrieval from the patients undergoing IVF-ET program. The patients were divided into two groups: Group I (n=20) is poor responder (retrieved oocyte(s)$\leq$3ea), Group II (n=80) is normal responder (retrieved oocytes>3ea). After the extraction of total RNA, semiquantitative RT-PCR was performed and the expression level of LH-R mRNA was normalized by $\beta$-actin. Statistical analysis was performed by using $X^2$ test, Student's t-test and Pearson correlation. Results: In Group II, the relative values of LH-R mRNA (0.680 vs. 0.463, p<0.005) and pregnancy rate (54.7% vs. 23.1%, p<0.05) were significantly higher than in Group I. Number of retrieved oocyte(s) was gradually increased when the expression of LH-R mRNA was increased (p<0.05). But the quality of retrieved oocyte and transferred embryo were not related with the expression of LH-R mRNA. When the pregnancy rate was compared with FSH only group and FSH combined with hMG group in the ovarian stimulation protocol, FSH combined with hMG group was significantly higher than FSH only group in Group I (37.5% vs. 0%), and the expression of LH-R mRNA was significantly higher in hMG combined group than FSH only group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Expression level of LH-R mRNA has important role in ovarian function related with the response to gonadotrophin in human folliculogenesis. Furthermore these data might provide the evidence that additional use of hMG is helpful to poor responders.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.64 no.4
• /
• pp.562-574
• /
• 2021

Objective : This study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of demineralized bone matrix (DBM) gel versus DBM gel with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) used in transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF). Methods : This study was designed as a prospective, multi-center, double-blind method, randomized study. All randomized subjects underwent TLIF with DBM gel with rhBMP-2 group (40 patients) as an experimental group or DBM gel group (36 patients) as a control group. Post-operative observations were performed at 12, 24, and 48 weeks. The spinal fusion rate on computed tomography scans and X-rays films, Visual analog scale pain scores, Oswestry disability index and SF-36 quality of life (QOL) scores were used for the efficacy evaluation. The incidence rate of adverse device effects (ADEs) and serious adverse device effects (SADEs) were used for safety evaluation. Results : The spinal fusion rate at 12 weeks for the DBM gel with rhBMP-2 group was higher with 73.68% compared to 58.82% for the DBM gel group. The 24 and 48 weeks were 72.22% and 82.86% for the DBM gel with rhBMP-2 group and 78.79% and 78.13%, respectively, for the DBM gel group. However, there were no significant differences between two groups in the spinal fusion rate at 12, 24, and 48 weeks post-treatment (p=0.1817, p=0.5272, p=0.6247). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the incidence rate of ADEs (p=0.3836). For ADEs in the experimental group, 'Pyrexia' (5.00%) was the most common ADE, followed by 'Hypesthesia', 'Paresthesia', 'Transient peripheral paralysis', 'Spondylitis' and 'Insomnia' (2.50%, respectively). ADEs reported in control group included 'Pyrexia', 'Chest discomfort', 'Pain', 'Osteoarthritis', 'Nephropathy toxic', 'Neurogenic bladder', 'Liver function analyses' and 'Urticaria' (2.86%, respectively). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the incidence rate of SADEs (p=0.6594). For SADE in the experimental group, ''Pyrexia' and 'Spondylitis' were 2.50%. SADE reported in the control group included 'Chest discomfort', 'Osteoarthritis' and 'Neurogenic bladder'. All SADEs described above were resolved after medical treatment. Conclusion : This study demonstrated that the spinal fusion rates of DBM gel group and DBM gel with rhBMP-2 group were not significantly different. But, this study provides knowledge regarding the earlier postoperative effect of rhBMP-2 containing DBM gel and also supports the idea that the longer term follow-up results are essential to confirm the safety and effectiveness.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.63-74
• /
• 2023

This study considered allocating and balancing time use as an important factor that determines the quality of life, and attempted to analyze the happiness of married women through the perspective of satisfaction with time use. We investigated the structure of time use, and analyzed the factors that affect happiness in the perspective of time use through the Time Use Survey data. Analyzing the happiness of married women, we found out that the level of happiness and the factors affecting happiness varied by generation. In the case of economically active women, the happiness of baby boomers and Generation X was mostly impacted by mandatory work hours, while the happiness of Generation Y was mostly impacted by the presence of care-dependent people. However, in the case of economically unactive women, the happiness of baby boomers and Generation X was mostly impacted by leisure and volunteering time that could be used freely, while the happiness of Generation Y was mostly impacted by the attitude toward gender roles. Therefore, through the perspective of time use, the happiness and the factors determining the happiness of married women differs by generation and economic activeness. This study has significant implications for the establishment of family policies for married women.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.41-50
• /
• 2018

Spirituality is an essential part of human beings. Spiritual care, designed to meet the spiritual needs of terminally ill patients and their families, is one of the most important aspects of hospice and palliative care (HPC). This study reviewed and analyzed literature utilizing the most commonly used Korean and international healthcare databases to identify care models that adequately address the spiritual needs of terminally ill patients and their families in practice. The results of this study show that spirituality is an intrinsic part of humans, meaning that people are holistic beings. The literature has provided ten evidence-based theories that can be used as models in HPC. Three of the models focus on how the spiritual care outcomes of viewing spiritual health, quality of life, and coping, are important outcomes. The remaining seven models focus on implementation of spiritual care. The "whole-person care model" addresses the multidisciplinary collaboration within HPC. The "existential functioning model" emphasizes the existential needs of human beings. The "open pluralism view" considers the cultural diversity and other types of diversity of care recipients. The "spiritual-relational view" and "framework of systemic organization" models focus on the relationship between hospital palliative care teams and terminally ill patients. The "principal components model" and "actioning spirituality and spiritual care in education and training model" explain the overall dynamics of the spiritual care process. Based on these models, continuous clinical research efforts are needed to establish an optimal spiritual care model for HPC.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.11 no.10
• /
• pp.3688-3699
• /
• 2010

The purpose of this study is to understand attributes, stress and burnout related to job environment of healthcare facilities workers for the aged, care-givers, analyze the effect of these factors on job satisfaction, and improve their organizational task to help advance the quality of life and the healthcare facilities for the aged. A survey was made on 129 care-givers working in the healthcare facilities for the aged(care facilities, in-home facilities for the aged) located in Jeonbuk Gunsan area. This study showed that sub-factors of care-givers' job environment such as human environment, compensation system and job expertise have a significant effect on the job burnout, stress and satisfaction. This means that a well-organized compensation system, which is proportionate to the job expertise and ability for human environment, and achievement of innovative thinking, will make a positive relationship, reduce the job burnout and stress, and improve the job satisfaction at the same time. Compared to the rapid increase of old aged patients for long-term care and care-givers' real role and job in the facilities, the job specialization has to be guaranteed to improve job environment of care-givers as various beneficial workers for welfare - professional workers - and the compensation system needs to be properly systematized according to their job capacity. Consequently, the production and participation of professionals with high self-esteem may raise organizational commitment through the maximization of job satisfaction by the participation and devotion to the organization of more professionals by removing factors, which can reduce the frequent job burn-out and stress of care-givers.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.31
• /
• pp.22.1-22.7
• /
• 2016

Objectives This study analyzed the associations between mobile phone call frequency and duration with non-specific symptoms. Methods This study was conducted with a population group including 532 non-patient adults established by the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study. The pattern of phone call using a mobile phone was investigated through face-to-face interview. Structured methods applied to quantitatively assess health effects are Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6), Psychosocial Well-being Index-Short Form, Beck Depression Inventory, Korean-Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and 12-item Short Form Health Survey where a higher score represents a higher greater health effect. Results The average daily phone call frequency showed a significant correlation with the PSS score in female subjects. Increases in the average duration of one phone call were significantly correlated with increases in the severity of headaches in both sexes. The mean (standard deviation) HIT-6 score in the subgroup of subjects whose average duration of one phone call was five minutes or longer was 45.98 (8.15), as compared with 42.48 (7.20) in those whose average duration of one phone call was <5 minutes. The severity of headaches was divided into three levels according to the HIT-6 score (little or no impact/moderate impact/substantial or severe impact), and a logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the association between an increased phone call duration and the headache severity. When the average duration of one phone call was five minutes or longer, the odds ratio (ORs) and the 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the moderate impact group were 2.22 and 1.18 to 4.19, respectively. The OR and 95% CI for the substantial or severe impact group were 4.44 and 2.11 to 8.90, respectively. Conclusions Mobile phone call duration was not significantly associated with stress, sleep, cognitive function, or depression, but was associated with the severity of headaches.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.1-16
• /
• 2024

To achieve carbon neutrality and restore the national environment, there is growing interest in policies to transform national land areas into green space, such as expanding nature-based solutions, increasing biodiversity, and improving ecosystem service functions. In addition to complying with international agreements such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity, it is necessary to expand green spaces to achieve the 2050 Carbon Neutrality goal, which can be achieved by restoring the damaged land in an ecological way. However, it is challenging to implement green restoration in a systematic and active way due to conflicts of interest among landowners and lack of institutional support and advanced technology. Therefore, this study aims to develop a strategy to expand green restoration and implement it smoothly and systematically. This study examined the current status of green restoration in South Korea by investigating green restoration laws and systems and overseas trends, and by surveying the perceptions of 1,000 people selected from a pool of the public. The results of this study show that it is difficult to implement the green restoration efficiently because the laws related to restoration are scattered. According to the relevant legal plans, the perception and direction of restoration is to pursue a sustainable national land environment, allow people to benefit from nature, improve the quality of life, and nurture related industries and human resources. In the international community, it is mentioned that green restoration contributes to achieving the 2050 Carbon Neutrality goal, revitalizing green industries, developing and applying advanced technologies, maintaining consistency in restoration-related policies, expanding citizens' access to green spaces, and adopting nature-based solutions. Both experts and the public are aware of the seriousness of the damage to the natural environment and prefer restoration with human use rather than focusing on natural recovery. It is expected that this study will contribute to the future direction of green restoration and the implementation of tasks for the sustainable restoration of the national land environment and the zero-carbon era.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.119-129
• /
• 2020

Intellectual disability affects all spheres of the lives of people can be who suffer from it. Unfortunately, modern medicine cannot cure intellectual disability. However, the quality of life improved by means of physical exercise. In this study, we compared the health-related physical fitness, metabolic syndrome index and mental health between a game biking group(5 participants) and a brisk walking group(4 participants). This study used a between-subject design and verified by non-parametric test. The participants performed an exercise program with warm up and resistance training for 12 weeks. A game bike was used for the physically impaired, where the individual looked at a screen and pedaled. The fasters he pedaled the faster the object on the screen movies. We measured health-related physical fitness, metabolic syndrome index and mental health. We also measured their perceived exertion and interest during the exercise by a visual analog scale. The results before and after the exercise program showed that health-related physical fitness, metabolic risk factors, mental health level were improved in both groups. As we hypothesized before the study, the game biking group showed a statistically significantly different level on the Rating of Perceived Exertion than the brisk walking group and a higher level on the Rating of Exercise Interest during the exercise program. Our results lead to a conclusion that an exercise program with the use of a game bike improve motivation for exercise participation in intellectually handicapped participants.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.51 no.1
• /
• pp.72-84
• /
• 2023

The Rural Revitalization Strategy (2018-2022), published by the Chinese State Council in 2018, represents a new period of rural development in China. Suburban areas are more convenient than other rural areas in integrated urban-rural development but are under greater pressure from construction and industrial pollution. As a rural area with a high proportion of rural areas, it would be valuable for Henan province to gain a comprehensive grasp of rural human settlementst while identifying problems and proposing solutions. The purpose of this study is to analyze the satisfaction of the evaluation items based on the usage status and life perception of the residents of Tai Nan village, a suburb-type rural village in Henan province. The study proposes improvement programs based on the evaluation results. As a result of the study, 24 evaluation items were derived and divided into five categories: "Living Service Facilities", "Housing Environment, "Road Environment", "Health & Ecology Environment", and "Social & Cultural Environment". The Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation Method was used to find the overall satisfaction level of the human living environment in Tai Nan village, which was "average", among which "Living Service Facilities" was the most important "Health & Ecology Environment" was the least satisfied. Based on these results, an improvement plan is proposed in three stages. First, the living service will be improved while strengthening the facility management of the hygiene and the ecological environment. Second, reasonable improvement of housing and the road environment will be applied. Third, programs will be introduced to cultivate residents' ability to build their own and improve the social and cultural environment. This study provides basic data for the future improvement of rural settlements in the suburban areas of Henan province and is of great significance in gradually improving the the residents' quality of life.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.27 no.9
• /
• pp.1064-1069
• /
• 2017

This study compared the cytotoxic effect of extracts from four different sea bream species (Pagrus major, Acanthopagus schlegeli, Oplegnathus fasciatus, and Girella punctata) in human cancer cell lines. Cytotoxic activity against the growth of human gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS) and HT-29 human colon cancer cell lines was determined using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Treatment with acetone/methylene chloride (A+M) and methanol (MeOH) extracts from the four sea bream species dose-dependently increased cytotoxicity against the growth of AGS and HT-29 cancer cells (p < 0.05). As shown by a cell viability assay, treatment with A+M and MeOH extracts from red sea bream (P. major) had the highest cytotoxic effect (p < 0.05) among the sea bream species. The IC50 values of an 85% aqueous methanol (85% aq. MeOH) fraction from red sea bream (P. major) against AGS and HT-29 cancer cells was 0.33 and 1.58 mg/ml, respectively, suggesting that the 85% aq. MeOH fraction had the highest cytotoxic effect among the fractions (p < 0.05). Our results demonstrate that four different sea bream species exhibited cytotoxic activity, as well as high-quality amino acids and fatty acids. Among the sea bream species, red sea bream (P. major) showed the greatest cytotoxic effect. The results could be used to improve nutrition information available to consumers.