• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.13-29
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• 2023

Objectives To evaluate the evidence supporting the effectiveness of acupuncture for facet joint syndrome. Methods We conducted search across 9 electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL (CENTRAL), KoreaMed, Kmbase, Koreanstudies Information Service System (KISS), ScienceOn, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang) to find clinical trials that used acupuncture as treatment for facet joint syndrome. The methodological quality of randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) were assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias (RoB) tool, while non-randomized controlled clinical trials (nRCTs) were assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment tool for Non-randomized Study (RoBANS) tool. Results Nine RCTs and one nRCT met our inclusion criteria. Fire needle was more effective than medial branch block in terms of visual analogue scale (VAS) after 1 month (p=0.02). Also, Fire needle was more effective than Ibuprofen in terms of VAS and oswestry disability index (ODI) (p<0.05). However, in the rest of the study results, the intervention group did not show a statistically significant difference than the control group. Conclusions Although our review found encouraging but limited evidence of acupuncture for facet joint syndrome, most of the studies included in the analysis were evaluated as methodologically high risk of bias. From now on further well-designed RCTs should be encouraged.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.1149-1161
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• 2022

Purpose: This systematic review was conducted to evaluate the clinical effects of Injinho-tang on hyperbilirubinemia in hepatobiliary disorders. Methods: We searched for randomized controlled clinical trials that had administered Injinho-tang as an intervention in the following medical databases: Public/Publisher MEDLINE (PubMed), Excerpta Medica dataBASE (EMBASE), Cochrane library, Research Information Sharing Service (RISS), ScienceON, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS), and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Among the retrieved studies, only trials that met the inclusion criteria were selected, and serum total bilirubin values were extracted and analyzed from the finally selected trials. Results: The serum total bilirubin values of 1,302 patients with various hepatobiliary diseases were synthesized through a meta-analysis, which confirmed a decrease in serum total bilirubin of 21.03 𝜇mol/L (95% CI -29.58~-12.49, p<0.01) in the group administered with Injinho-tang compared with the control group. Conclusions: Injinho-tang is effective in alleviating hyperbilirubinemia in hepatobiliary diseases when administered with conventional treatment. However, the potential risk of bias, high heterogeneity among the included trials, and differences in herbal composition are limitations of the results of this meta-analysis.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.27-38
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• 2023

Purpose: The new technological innovation caused by the Fourth Industrial Revolution will bring about a major change in the scalp healthcare market and the wig industry. This review paper is an empirical analysis focusing on the development potential of the Korean beauty tech market and the wig industry. Research design, data and methodology: This review of the wig industry and consumer experience is an important literature review. The PRISMA flow chart was used. Beauty Tech; Beauty Industry; Wig Industry; Wig; Scalp Healthcare; was used as Keywords as records verified through database screening. A total of 513 references were finally selected through major journal search sites such as PubMed, Google Scholar, RISS, Scopus, and Research Gate. Among the selected references, a total of 52 papers were selected in the final stage from 2001 to 2022. Results: For the sustainable development of wig industry management, consumers' desire for new and convenient products should be secured through technologies related to the 4th industrial revolution, and creative thinking was presented throughout manufacturing, distribution, and customer service. Conclusions: Hair loss reduces the quality of life due to mental stress and affects social life. The continuous development of wig companies, such as information on wigs and quality improvement, should be supported.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.379-388
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• 2023

This study aims to propose the implementation of innovative payment models in Korea in order to promote the financial sustainability of the national health insurance system by reviewing the current status of the payment system in Korea and examining other countries' experiences with various innovative payment models. Korea primarily uses a fee-for-service payment system and additionally uses various payment systems such as case payment, per diem, and pay-for-performance. However, each payment system has its limitations. Many OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries have pointed out the limitations of existing payment systems and have been attempting various innovative payment models (e.g., add-on payment, bundled payment, and population-based payment). Therefore, it is essential for Korea to consider innovative payment models, such as a mixed payment model that takes into account the strengths and weaknesses of each payment system, and to design and pilot these models. This process requires stakeholders to work together to build a social consensus on the implementation of innovative payment systems and to refine legal and systematic aspects, develop an integrated health information system, and establish dedicated organizations and committees. These efforts towards innovative payment models will contribute to developing a sustainable health insurance system that ensures the public's health and well-being in Korea.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.1-24
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• 2020

This study aims to analyze the export effects of Korea-Canada FTA's tariff reduction, which was launched on January 1, 2015. First, as a groundwork, this study reviewed trade creation and trade diversion by investigating all possible cases of both initial FTA and additional FTA. The review was done by using the simple model of three countries assuming FTA means elimination of tariff. The review suggested that additional FTA doesn't have any negative impact on import country's social welfare contrary to initial FTA. In additional FTA, Trade diversion could happen between FTA partner countries, but it always increases import country's social welfare. In this sense, it can be called favorable trade diversion. Second, this study analyzed the export effects of Korea-Canada FTA using Clausing's product level model based on Canadian government import data from Korea which is not open to the public. It turned out that Korea-Canada FTA's tariff reduction boosted Canadian import growth rate from Korea. On the other hand, Canadian import growth rate from rest of the world was not negatively affected by Korea-Canada FTA's tariff reduction. Rather, it increased as Canadian import growth rate from Korea was higher. These findings implied trade creation rather than trade diversion of Korea-Canada FTA when it comes to Korea's export to Canada.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.688-706
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• 2024

Austenitic stainless steels (ASS) are extensively employed in various sectors such as nuclear, power, petrochemical, oil and gas because of their excellent structural strength and resistance to corrosion. SS304 and SS316 are the predominant choices for piping, pressure vessels, heat exchangers, nuclear reactor core components and support structures, but they are susceptible to stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in chloride-rich environments. Over the course of several decades, extensive research efforts have been directed towards evaluating SCC using diverse methodologies and models, albeit some uncertainties persist regarding the precise progression of cracks. This review paper focuses on the application of Acoustic Emission Technique (AET) for assessing SCC damage mechanism by monitoring the dynamic acoustic emissions or inelastic stress waves generated during the initiation and propagation of cracks. AET serves as a valuable non-destructive technique (NDT) for in-service evaluation of the structural integrity within operational conditions and early detection of critical flaws. By leveraging the time domain and time-frequency domain techniques, various Acoustic Emission (AE) parameters can be characterized and correlated with the multi-stage crack damage phenomena. Further theories of the SCC mechanisms are elucidated, with a focus on both the dissolution-based and cleavage-based damage models. Through the comprehensive insights provided here, this review stands to contribute to an enhanced understanding of SCC damage in stainless steels and the potential AET application in nuclear industry.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.123-128
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• 2024

Background: Coal miners are highly prone to occupational health risks, such as black lung disease. This study aims to assess the prevalence of black lung disease and the factors associated with black lung disease among coal miners in Asia. Method: This systematic review, conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines, searched through the scientific literature of the following databases: EBSCO, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Scopus. We selected articles that studied black lung disease among coal miners from 48 countries in Asia and were published between 2014 and 2023. Article quality was evaluated using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program. Result: The seven articles that we review studied a total of 653,635 coal miners from various types of coal mines from three countries in Asia. Of these miners, 59,998 experienced black lung disease. Black lung disease is prevalent among 9.18% of coal miners in Asia, which is approximately four times higher than the worldwide prevalence. Common factors that influence black lung disease in Asia include age, years of dust exposure, smoking, drinking, working types, and sizes of mines, type of mines, respiratory functions, spirometry parameters, tenure, lack of attention to occupational health, inefficient surveillance, and weak occupational health service. Conclusion: Although the prevalence of black lung disease among coal miners in Asia is considerably high, it can be addressed through effective prevention measures, monitoring, control, and case reporting.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.167-181
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of genuineness, usefulness, overstatement, and assentation of the smartphone majib app on trust, perceived risk, and use intention, and thereby suggest useful information for the mobile application. A survey was conducted from May 11, 2015 to June 30, 2015 targeting smartphone majib app users through convenience sampling. A total of 300 questionnaires were distributed, of which 275 were used for analysis after excluding 25 response for negligent or inappropriate responses. The results found that, first, of the review characteristics, genuineness and usefulness, assentation had positive (+) effects on trust, while overstatement had a negative (-) effect on trust. Second, of the review characteristics, only genuineness and usefulness had significant effects on perceived risk. Third, trust had a significant effect on use intention rather than on perceived risk. Fourth, trust and perceived risk had mediating effects on the relationship between the assentation of the majib smartphone app review characteristics and use intention.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.1-14
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• 2019

Objectives : To evaluate the effectiveness of Chuna Manual Therapy for adhesive capsulitis by a systematic review manner. Methods : Five foreign electronic databases (Pubmed, Ovid-medline, Embase, Cochrane library, Chinese Academic Journals (CAJ)) and two Korean medical electronic databases (Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS) and Research Information Sharing Service (RISS)) were searched to find all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using Chuna Manual Therapy as a treatment for adhesive capsulitis. The methodological quality of each RCT was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Results : Twenty-one RCTs met our inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis showed positive results on the use of Chuna Manual Therapy combined with acupuncture or exercise therapy in terms of the efficacy rate and pain using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), compared to acupuncture or exercise alone [SMD-1.81 (95% CI & -2.54, -1.08), P<0.001, RR 1.19 (95% CI 1.14, 1.23), P<0.001)]. Positive results in terms of efficacy rate were also obtained comparing Chuna Manual Therapy to acupuncture alone [RR 1.10 (95% CI 1.02, 1.18), P=0.01]. Conclusions : Our systematic review found favorable results on the effectiveness of Chuna Manual Therapy for pain and efficacy rate of adhesive capsulitis. However, evidence was limited due to the lack of well-designed RCTs. More qualified clinical trials are needed to obtain stronger evidence.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.29-35
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• 2022

Objectives The purpose of this systematic review is to analyse randomized controlled trials about acupuncture for patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) and evaluate it's pain improvement effect. Methods Studies will be searched from ten databases (Medline/PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure [CNKI], WanFang Data, Citation Information by NII [CiNII], ScienceON, Koreanstudies Information Service System [KISS], KMBASE, and KoreaMed). Participants will be patients diagnosed with PFPS, regardless of cause, gender, age or race, and interventions will be acupuncture, electroacupuncture, dry needling, fire needle, and acupotomy. Other treatments than interventions will be the control group and the main outcome will be reviewed by visual analogue scale (VAS). Results Data will be extracted and assessed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis flow chart and Cochrane risk of bias tools. Meta-analysis will be conducted using random effect model within 95% confidence interval. Conclusions We expect this systematic review to provide useful data about the pain improvements of patellofemoral pain using acupuncture and expect to stimulate and systematize acupuncture treatment on PFPS in the future.