• Title/Summary/Keyword: Short term effect

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Clinical Analysis of Arteriovenous Fistula in Chronic Renal Failure Patients (만성 신부전 환자에서의 동정맥루 조성술의 임상고찰)

  • Song Chang-Min;Ahn Jae-Bum;Kim In-Sub;Kim Woo-Sik;Shin Yong-Chul;Yoo Hwan-Kuk;Kim Byung-Yul
    • Journal of Chest Surgery
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    • v.39 no.9 s.266
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    • pp.692-698
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    • 2006
  • Background: Owing to the fact that the average life span has increased and the progress in medical science has been made, the number of patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) who have to take hemodialysis (HD) has been going up gradually. Accordingly, it is considered to be as a significant issue to obtain blood vessels which can be used repetitively and supply enough blood flows. Therefore, there have been various kinds of study on an inosculation rate andfactors influencing it following an arteriovenous fistula (AV fistula) and lots of studies are ongoing for the purpose of escalating the inosculation rate. The authors analyzed the effects of short-term result, age, sex, diabetes and hypertension on arteriovenous inosculations in 134 anatomical snuffbox operated subjects among the patients who have taken an AV fistula at this center. Material and Method: Based on 134 patients who underwent an AV fistula at the department of thoracic surgery of this center from July, 2000 to May, 2004, the difference in arteriovenous inosculation rate was compared and analyzed depending or age (discriminated by 65-year-old), sex and the condition of the presence or absence of diabetes and hypertension. Correlation analyses were conducted for each parameter and statistical tests were performed by using SPSS for windows Release 11.0.1, which were determined to be statistically significant if p value was below 0.05. Result: The total number of operations was 169 including 35 of re-operations. The male/female rate was 70 : 64 (52% : 48%). The average age was $56.3{\pm}12.26$ years and there were 33 (24%) old aged patients above 65-year-old; there were 103 (71%) patients with hypertension and 90 (67%) patients with diabetes. Overall arteriovenous inosculation rate was $93{\pm}2.4%,\;91{\pm}2.7%,\;89{\pm}3.0%$ at 6, 12, 24 months, respectively. The arteriovenous inosculation rate of above 65-year-old patient group was $85{\pm}4.8%,\;80{\pm}5.8%,\;80{\pm}5.8%$ and below 64-year-old patient group's was $85{\pm}4.8%,\;80{\pm}5.8%,\;80{\pm}5.8%$ at given time points, respectively, which showed higher inosculation rate in below 64-year-old patient group with a statistical significance (p=0.0034). However, no statistical significance was found between the patients with hypertension and diabetes and the patients with no complication. In addition, there was no statistical significance in inosculation rate between male and female. Conclusion: The arteriovenous inosculation ratewas higher in the treated patient below 64-year-old than in the treated patient above 65-year-old. Thus it is advantageous for increase in long-term inosculation rate to obtain hemodialysis routes at an early age. The conditions of sex and the presence or absence of diabetes and hyper- tension do not make statistically significant effect on the arteriovenous inosculation rate.

Balloon dilatation for bronchial stenosis in Endobronchial Tuberculosis (협착성 기관지 결핵의 풍선카테타요법(II))

  • Ohn, Joon-Sang;Lee, Young-Sil;Yoon, Sang-Won;Son, Hyung-Dae;Kim, Chang-Seon;Seo, Jee-Young;Park, Mi-Ran;Rheu, Nam-Soo;Cho, Dong-Ill;Kwak, Byung-Kook
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.43 no.5
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    • pp.701-708
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    • 1996
  • Background : To evaluate the effect of the balloon dilatation in tuberculous bronchial stenosis, we performed balloon dilatation in 13 cases which had airway obstruction in main bronchus with the impairment of pulmonary function. Material and Methods: Thirteen women with tuberculous bronchial stenosis(9cases : left main bronchus, 4 cases: right main bronchus) underwent fluoroscopically guided balloon dilatation under the local anesthesia. Among the these patient, 9 cases were active endobronchial tuberculosis, and 4 cases were inactive. Immediate and long term follow-up(average 15.6months) assessments were done focused on change on PIT. The increase of FVC or FEV1 more than 15% after the procedure was considered effective. Complications after dilatation were evaluated in all patients. Result : 1) There were an decrease of self-audible wheezing in 75%(6/8), improvement of dyspnea in 62.5%(5/8), improvement of cough and expectoration in 50%(3/6), and improvement of chest discomfort in 50%(1/2). 2) Significant improvement of PFT was noted in 42.9%(3/7) of which respiratory symptoms duration was below 6 months. 8m, significant improvement of PFT was noted in only 25%(1/4) of which respiratory symptoms duration was above 12 months. 3) Active stage was 69.2%(9/13) and inactive was 30.8%(4/13). There was an significant improvement of PFT in 44.4%(4/9) of active stage, but, only 25%(1/4) of inactive stage was improved. 4) In 61.5%(8/13), FVC and FEV1 were increased to 35.5%, and 22.2% at post-dilatation 7 days. After 1 month later, FVC and FEV1 were increased to 54.7%, and 31.8% in 5 cases(38.5%). 4 cases in which long-term follow-up(average 19.8months) was possible the improvement of FVC, and FEV1 were 30.5%, and 10.1%. 5) Just after balloon dilatation therapy, transient leukocytosis or fever was noted in 30.8%(4/13), and blood-tinged sputum was noted in 30.8%(4/13). However, serious complication, such as pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum or mediastinitis, was not noted. Conclusion : We conclude that tuberculous bronchial stenosis, which is on active stage, and short dulation of respiratory symptoms was more effective on balloon dilatation than inactive stage or long duration of respiratory symptoms. Furthermore, balloon dilatation is easier, much less invasive and expensive than open surgery. and cryotherapy or photoresection. Because of these advantage, we think that balloon dilatation could be the first choice for treating bronchial stenosis and could be done at first in early stage if unresponsiveness with steroid therapy is observed.

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Effect of Breed (Lean or Fat Pigs) and Sex on Performance and Feeding Behaviour of Group Housed Growing Pigs in a Tropical Climate

  • Renaudeau, D.;Giorgi, M.;Silou, F.;Weisbecker, J.L.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.19 no.4
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    • pp.593-600
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    • 2006
  • The effects of breed and sex on individual growth performance and feeding behaviour were studied between 45 and 90 kg BW in two replicates of forty group-housed pigs. The first and the second replicates were carried out during the warm season (i.e. between February and April 2003) and during the hot season (i.e. between August and October 2003), respectively. During the warm season, ambient temperature and relative humidity averaged $25.3^{\circ}C$ and 86.0%. The corresponding values for the hot season were $27.9^{\circ}C$ and 83.6%. The pigs were grouped in pens of 10 animals on the basis of breed (Creole or Large White) and sex (gilt or castrated male) and given ad libitum access to a grower diet (9.0 MJ/kg net energy and 158 g/kg crude protein) via feed intake recording equipment (Acema 48). An ear-tag transponder was inserted into each pig and this allowed the time, duration, and size of individual visits to be recorded. The growth performance and feeding pattern were significantly affected by breed, sex, and season. The Creole pigs (CR) had a lower average daily gain (ADG) (642 vs. 861 g/d, p<0.01) and carcass lean content ($LC_{90kg}$) (35.4 vs. 54.5%; p<0.01) and a higher backfat thickness at 90 kg BW ($BT_{90kg}$) (23.4 vs. 10.4 mm; p<0.01) than Large White pigs (LW) whereas the average daily feed intake (ADFI) was not affected by breed (2.34 vs. 2.22 kg/d, respectively for CR and LW pigs; p>0.10). Consequently, the food:gain ratio was higher in CR than in LW (3.65 vs. 2.58; p<0.01). CR had less frequent meals but ate more feed per meal than LW (5.9 vs. 8.8 meals/d and 431 vs. 279 g/meal; p<0.01). The rate of feed intake was lower (27.6 vs. 33.9 g/min; p<0.01) and the ingestion time per day and per meal were higher in CR than in LW (87.1 vs. 69.7 min/d and 15.8 vs. 8.4 min/meal; p<0.01). The ADFI and BT90 kg were higher (2.38 vs. 2.17 kg/d and 18.1 vs. 15.9 mm; p<0.05) and LC90 kg was lower (43.5 vs. 46.4%; p<0.01) in castrated males (CM) than in gilts (G) whereas ADG was not affected by sex (p = 0.12). The difference in lean content between CM and G was greater in CR than in LW. The ADFI and ADG were reduced during the hot season (2.18 vs.2.38 kg/d and 726 vs. 777 g/d, respectively; p<0.05) whereas feed conversion and carcass lean content were not affected by season (p>0.05). Average feeding time per meal and meal size decreased during the hot season (10.9 vs. 13.2 min/meal and 316 vs. 396 g/meal; p<0.01) whereas the rate of feed intake was not affected by season (p = 0.83). On average, 0.69 of total feed intake was consumed during the diurnal period. However, this partition of feed intake was significantly affected by breed, sex, and season. In conclusion, the breed, sex and season significantly affect performance and feeding pattern in growing pigs raised in a tropical climate. Moreover, the results obtained in the present study suggest that differences observed in BW composition between CR and LW are associated with difference in feeding behaviour, in particular, the short-term regulation of feed intake.

The Effect of Dietary Protein and Calcium on Urinary Calcium in Young Men (식이단백질(食餌蛋白質)과 칼슘이 인체(人體)의 뇨중(尿中) 칼슘양에 미치는 영향(影響))

  • Koo, Jae-Ok
    • Journal of Nutrition and Health
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    • v.15 no.4
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    • pp.235-241
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    • 1982
  • Studies were carried out on seven young, adult caucasian males to determine the short-term effects of protein(animal or plant)and calcium intakes on the excretion of urinary calcium. The subjects were studied on a self-selected diet for a period of seven days. Mean daily protein and calcium intakes were $103{\pm}31\;g$ and $1237{\pm}594mg$ respectively. Variation among subjects in the mean urinary calcium excretion per 24 hour was from $121{\pm}40$ to $258{\pm}104mg$. When the protein intake of all aubjcts was divided in to four levels : low (x=53g), medium (87g), intermediate (117g) and high(153g), The mean urinary calcium was $179{\pm}53$, $189{\pm}73$, $184{\pm}55$ and $264{\pm}84mg$, respectively. Urinary calcium increased significantly with an increase in protein intake. The calcium excretion was seriously increased with the protein intake above the intermediate level. Animal protein intake was more closely related to urinary calcium excretion than plant protein. There was a significant difference in the urinary calcium excretion when calcium intakes increased from low(x=544mg) to interne-diate levels (1232 mg). However, the difference between intermediate and high levels (1834mg) was not significant. Urinary calcium was $169{\pm}46mg$ on the low calcium diet, $196{\pm}71mg$ on the medium, and $222{\pm}21mg$ on the intermediate calcium intake, Calcium excretion was more closely related to changes in protein intake than to changes in calcium intake. Some nutritional implications can be drawn from this research. Protein intakes above the intermediate level (117g) are not recommendable. An over intake of calcium, however, may not be a serious problem for the calcium balance.

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Status of Birds and countermeasures of the crop damage by the birds at Reed Marsh of Sihwa Lake (시화호 갈대습지의 조류상 및 농작물 피해 대처방안)

  • Lee, Si-Wan;Song, Min-Jung;Kang, Tae-Han;Yoo, Seung-Hwa
    • Journal of Wetlands Research
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    • v.7 no.2
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    • pp.105-120
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    • 2005
  • This study was carried out at Reed Marsh of Sihwa Lake from July 2003 to June 2004. We observed total(sum of maximum population) 5,752 individuals of 70 species including 12 species of ducks, 10 species of egrets, 6 species of wagtails and buntings, 4 species of eagles. The most dominant species was Spotbill Duck(Anas poecilorhyncha - 3,518 individuals, 61.16%), and other species were Mallard(Anas platyrhynchos - 540 individuals, 9.39%), Great Reed-Warbler(Acrocephalus arundinaceus - 217 individuals, 3.77%). Reed Marsh of Sihwa Lake were observed many kinds of protected species such as Great Bittern(Botaurus stellaris), Mandarin Duck(Aix galericulata), Chinese Sparrow Hawk (Accipiter soloensis), Eurasian Sparrow Hawk(Accipiter nisus), Japanese Buzzard(Buteo buteo), Hen Harrier(Circus cyaneus), Eurasian Hobby(Falco subbuteo), and Common Kestrel(Falco tinnunculus). Since the Reed Marsh of Sihwa Lake arrived many individuals of waterbird, crop damage by the waterbird occurred in the surrounding rice fields. It was an area adjacent to the reed marsh of sihwa lake such as Yoopori and Samhwari Bibongmyoun, Yamokri Maesongmyoun Hwaseong City. Bird of crop damage was ducks openly. The most species was Spot-billed Duck. Crop damage types by the Spot-billed Duck were grazing, used the grain up or lower in quality with step on the rice. Crop damage size was about 560bags of rice during the one month on August 2002. In 2003, After carrying out the various crop damage reduction countermeasures, which measured crop damage size in 2002's crop damage area. It happened about 152bags of rice during the two months from on August to September 2003. Migration routes of Spot-billed Duck were that it was migrated from up the sihwa lake to reed marsh. It took a rest at reed marsh and migrated the surrounding rice fields for the feeding action. In 2002, it was migrated direct from up the sihwa lake to in surrounding rice fields. But as environment of reed marsh was improved better than 2002, it was migrated to reed marsh because of reducing the energy attrition rate. Crop damage reduction countermeasures are get on ears to use explosion machine, searchlight, start-gun and patrol at regular intervals. Which was an effect short term. Indirect method is to make a feeding area of substitution at up the sihwa lake and reed marsh of sihwa lake.

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A Study on the Awareness of the Yearly Income System among Dental Personnels (치과의료 종사자들의 연봉제 실시에 관한 의식도 조사연구)

  • Yoon, Mi-Sook;Lee, Kyung-Hee
    • Journal of dental hygiene science
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    • v.3 no.1
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    • pp.5-10
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    • 2003
  • The purpose of this study was to examine how medical personnels in the field of dentistry perceived the introduction of the yearly income system in an effort to determine some of the right directions for that and find out in which way that could be vitalized. For that purpose, literature concerned and relevant materials were reviewed, and a survey was conducted on 95 medical personnels, who were working at dental hospitals and clinics throughout the nation, for approximately five months from April through August 2002. After the collected data were analyzed, the following findings were acquired; (1) Regarding their awareness of the yearly income system by the type of institute, the workers from the dental hospitals found the yearly income system, more than the others from the dental clinics did, to enlarge their sense of involvement in management (p<.001), further work productivity(p<.01), awake their target-oriented sense of mission(p<.01) and make them feel uneasy about their future(p<.05). (2) As to differences between the dentists and dental hygienists, the former group had a higher opinion about that system(p<.01) and its effect on impartial performance appraisal(p<.01), encouraging medical personnels to deploy their abilities(p<.01), furthering work productivity(p<.001), intensifying a target-oriented sense of mission(p<.001). (3) Concerning their perception by career, those who had longer experience to work in that field considered it to strengthen work severity(p<.05) more than the others who had shorter experience did, and the former group thought that system was more likely to concentrate on a short-term achievement (p<.05). The workers who had been working for three to five years were more conscious of change in office hours (p<.01), and those who had been working for two or less years viewed that system most favorably(p<.05). (4) In order for that system to be successful, impartial performance appraisal was most widely called for(31.6%), followed by trust between labor and management(26.3%), worker's positive attitude toward that system(16.8%), CEO's firm belief in that(12.3%), and setting up a feasible target. The workers from the dental hospitals put more stress on medical personnel's favorable attitude toward that system(p<.05) than the others from the dental clinics did. And the dentists placed more stock in setting up a feasible target, which was a criteria of determining the amount of annual income, than the dental hygienists did.

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Prospective Randomized Trial for Postoperative Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Gastric Cancer without Serosal Invasion -Final Report- (장막침윤이 없는 위암환자에서 수술 후 보조적 화학 요법에 대한 전향적 연구 -최종보고-)

  • Kim Yong Jin;Kim Byung Sik;Kim Yong Ho;Yook Jung Hwan;Oh Sung Tae;Park Kun Choon
    • Journal of Gastric Cancer
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    • v.4 no.4
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    • pp.257-262
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    • 2004
  • Purpose: We reported our preliminary result in 2001. At that time, the follow-up period was too short to evaluate the survival benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy in gastric cancer without serosal invasion. Therefore, we followed those patients for 66 months to determine the long-term effects of adjuvant chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: We analyzed the recurrence pattern, the survival rate, and the disease-specific survival of 135 patients by reviewing their medical records and calling the patients or their relatives. All enrolled patients were included in the intention-to-treat analysis of efficacy. Results: The follow-up rate was $89.6\%$ (121/135), and the median follow-up duration was 66 months. Among the 135 patients, 4 relapsed in group 1 (5-FU+cisplatin), 7 in group 2 (mitomycin C+oral 5-FU), and 6 in group 3 (oral 5-FU only). The overall survival rate was $89\%$ in group 1, $84\%$ in group 2, and $82\%$ in group 3. There were no differences in the overall survival rates and the disease-specific survival rates among the three groups. Conclusion: Oral chemotherapeutic agents have an acceptable effect for adjuvant chemotherapy compared with intravenous agent. However, a large-scale, prospective, randomized study, including a control group, is needed for an exact evaluation.

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The Use of Short-term Antimicrobial Prophylaxis in Elective Surgery for Gastric Cancer (계획된 근치적 위암 수술에서 예방적 항생제의 단기 사용 가능성)

  • Si, Yoon;Hur, Hoon;Kim, Sung Keun;Jun, Kyong Hwa;Chin, Hyung Min;Kim, Wook;Park, Cho Hyun;Park, Seung Man;Lim, Keun Woo;Kim, Seung Nam;Jeon, Hae Myung
    • Journal of Gastric Cancer
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    • v.8 no.3
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    • pp.154-159
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    • 2008
  • Purpose: Although most surgeons generally administer prophylactic antibiotics for more than three days, the optimal duration of antimicrobial prophylaxis in elective gastric surgery is still open to debate. The aim of this study was to determine if the duration of prophylactic antibiotic use can affect the recovery of patients after elective gastric surgery. Materials and Methods: A total of 93 patients with gastric cancer were enrolled in this study, between January 2007 and December 2007. Patients were excluded if they had an infection at the time of surgery or they underwent an emergency operation. The first antibiotics were commonly given from just prior to the operation. The patients were divided into three groups according to the operation periods: those who received antibiotics only on the day of operation (arm A), those who received antibiotics for up to 3 days (arm B), and those who received antibiotics for more than 5 days postoperatively (arm C). The antibiotic that was used was second generation cephalosporin. Results: The rate of surgical site infection was 12.9% (n=4) in arm A, 16.1% (n=5) in arm B and 19.4% (n=6) in arm C, respectively (P=0.788). No relationship was observed between the duration of prophylaxis and the rate of fever or the neutrophil counts during postoperative 7 days (P=0.119, P=0.855). Conclusion: The prophylactic effect of antibiotics on recovery, with the antibiotics being received only on the day of the operation, is as effective as receiving antibiotics for a longer duration after gastric cancer surgery.

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A Study on the Effects of Health Behavior upon Health Status in Some Old People (일부 노인의 건강행동이 건강상태에 미치는 영향)

  • 김정원;김초강
    • Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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    • v.14 no.1
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    • pp.73-95
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    • 1997
  • Elderly problem from being aging society, especially health related problem of the elderly is very serious in many parts of this country. The reason is that most of geriatric disease are chronic and debilitating. The cause of chronic and debilitating disease are bad lifestyle and wrong health habit. Health is affected by a result of interaction of environment and human being. Because of difference of lifestyle between a city and a farm village, health behavior and health status of urban elderly and rural elderly may be dissimilar. Thus the purpose of this study was to grasp health behavior and health status, to identify the factors that effect on health status of the elderly. The subfects for this study, 488 persons aged 60 and over who live in Seoul or Cheonbuk Province. The preliminary survey was carried out from Aug. 19, to Aug. 22, 1996. With complement of questions, main survey was carried out from Sep. 29, to Oco. 10, 1996. The data was analysed by using in SPSS/PC+ program. The results were as follows. 1. General Characteristics 1) In the individual characteritics of the respondents, Seoulites aged 80 and over were 24.7%, the average age was 73.14 years old and rural residents aged 60-69 were 63.7%, the average age was 68.90 years old. In Seoul, 142 men and 101 women were respondents. In Cheonbuk Province, 101 men and 144 women were answered. In Seoul, those who graduated form elementary school were 35.4%, in farming region, illiteracy persons were 44.9%. In Seoul, 47.7% of respondents had spouse and in farming village, 66.1% of respondents had spouse. 39.0% of respondents who's imcome type was independent were Seoulite, and 66.1% of respondents who's income type was independent were rural residents. Employed persons in Seoul and in rural region were 16.9% and 62.0%. 2. Health Behavior 1) For the health behavior total score, the difference by region was not statistically significant. But the score of individual item was different and statistically significant. 2) For the Seoulites, younger person(p〈0.01), the female(p〈0.001) showed better health behavior and for the farming village residents, younger person(p〈0.01), the female(p〈0.01), independent income type(p〈0.05), employed person(p〈0.05) showed better health behavior. 3. Health Status 1) For the self-rated health status total score, the difference by region was statistically significant and individual item score was different and statistically significant. For ADL and IADL total score, the difference by region was not statistically significant, but individual item score was different and statistically significant. 2) For the Seoulites, woman(p〈0.05), lower education(p〈0.00l), independent income type(p〈0.05) showed higher score in self-rated health status. For rural residents, woman(p〈0.05), lower education(p〈0.01), independent Income type(p〈0.001) showed higher score in self-rated health status. For the Seoul residents, younger person(p〈0.001), employed(p〈0.05) showed higher score in ADL and IADL, and for the farm area residents, younger person(p〈0.001), higher education(p〈0.01), having spouse(p〈0.001), family type(p〈0.01) showed higher score In ADL and IADL. 3) For the Seoulites, drinking(p〈0.05), breakfast(p〈0.05), exercise(p〈0.05) and for the rural residents, drinking(p〈0.05), deep sleeping(p〈0.05), exercise(p〈0.01), washing hands before meal(p〈0.01) showed higher score In self-rated health status. For the Seoulites, deep sleeping(p〈0.05), exercise(p〈0.05) and for the farm village residents, fruit(p〈0.05), deep sleeping(p〈0.05), exercise(p〈0.001) showed higher score in ADL and IADL. We carried out this study to analyze the effectiveness through health education program in short term which was performed to use the special subject activities. This study was conducted on 63 students who were first grade in S Junior High School from Dec. 1995 to Feb. 1996. To analyze the effectiveness, we performed the Pretest, 1st Posttest, and 2nd Posttest for learned health knowledge. The results were as follows: 1. Most of the students(69.8%) responded that their health were good, and they got the information for health through Mass Com.. The students who had experience of health education were 15.9%, and the 77.8% of the respondents needed the health education. 2. The means of health knowledge on tests were 18.2(Pretest), 21.5(1st Posttest), and 21.4(2nd Posttest). Increase of health knowledge between Pretest and 1st Posttest was 10.9%. 3. The mean of differences between Pretest and 1st Posttest was 3.26, it was significant(p〈0.01). And the mean of differences between Pretest and 2nd Posttest was 3.19, it was significant(p〈0.01);however, the mean of differences between 1st Posttest and 2nd Posttest was not significant(p=0.2514). 4. The significant main contents were Health Facilities(d=0.42), Pregnancy and Labor(d=0.39), Hygiene(d=0.35), Safety Education(d=0.66), and Drug Abuse(d=0.60)(p〈0.01).

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Local Autonomy, National Economy and Local Public Finance (지방자치(地方自治)와 국민경제(國民經濟) 및 지방재정(地方財政))

  • Lee, Kye-sik
    • KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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    • v.13 no.2
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    • pp.41-67
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    • 1991
  • Local autonomy of Korea's lower-level local council has been reinstated following elections last March for the first time in thirty years. Last June, we had elections for the upper-level local council. Mayors, governors, and administrative chiefs of cities, provinces and other local government bodies are slated for elections in the first half of next year. The impacts of local autonomy are taking effect in not only the political sphere, but also the administrative and economic spheres. In fact, it seems that some modification of all economic policy making and administration is inevitable. Since the initiation of local autonomy, in order to make the economy work more efficiently, it has become quite important to examine the impact of local autonomy on the national economy. The areas of local autonomy include independent legislative power, administrative power, organizational power, and most important of all, the independent public financial power of the local governments. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of local autonomy on the national economy and ways of enhancing the role of local public finance to facilitate settlement and development of the local autonomy system. Local autonomy will contribute to the continuous growth of our economy, allow balanced development, and generate greater efficiency. However, local autonomy can also incur economic costs causing at times short-term price instability, inefficient resource allocation, through tax competition and tax exporting, and insolvency of local government due to abusive fiscal operation. To reduce these side effects, different alternatives must be considered. Local autonomy systems generally provide more efficient resource allocation than centralization. But in the model used in Chapter 3 of this paper, the relative efficiencies of both local autonomy and centralization are determined by comparing the elasticity of substitution between national public goods and local public goods. If the elasticity of substitution is bigger than one, centralization provides a more efficient resource allocation. The development of local autonomy could be attained through democratization of the local public finance system including the following three propositions. I) The independence of public financial power of local governments should be established over central government. Furthermore, a democratically operated scheme of intergovernmental fiscal coordination is especially necessary. 2) In the operation of local finance, direct democracy is needed to induce the voluntary participation of local residents. The residents can take part in planning both the local budget and the development of the community. To attain this goal, all the results of local finance operations should be made public. 3) Among economic ill-effects of the local autonomy system, the most serious one is the possibility of insolvency of local governments. Therefore, measures to limit abusive spending by the local governments should be introduced, such as the fiscal restraints system adopted in the United States.

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