• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.27-50
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• 2001

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease. Although the joints are the major loci of the disease activity, fatigue is a common extraarticular symptom that exists in all gradations of rheumatoid arthritis. Fatigue is defined as a subjective sense of generalized tiredness or exhaustion and has multiple dimensions. Therefore fatigue is a common and frequent problem for those with rheumatoid arthritis. In fact, 88-100% of individuals with rheumatoid arthritis experience fatigue. Especially the degree of fatigue is higher in women than men with rheumatoid arthritis. Despite the importance of fatigue among the patients with rheumatoid arthritis, the mechanism that leads to fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis is not completely understood. This study was intended to test and validate a model to predict fatigue in women with rheumatoid arthritis. Especially it was intended to identify the direct and indirect effects of the variables of pain, disability, depression, sleep disturbance, morning stiffness, and symptom duration to fatigue. Data were collected by questionnaires including Multidimensional Assesment of Fatigue(Tack, 1991), numeric scale of pain, graphic scale of joints, Ritchie Articular Index, Korean Health Assessment Questionnaire(Bae, et al., 1998), Inventory of Function Status(Tulman, et al., 1991), Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression, and Korean Sleep Scale(Oh, et al 1998). The sample consisted of 345 women with a mean duration of rheumatoid arthritis for 10.06 years and a mean age of 49.64 years. SPSS win and Win LISREL were used for the data analysis. Structural equation modeling revealed the overall fit of the model. Pain predicted fatigue directly and indirectly through disability, depression, and sleep disturbance. Disability, sleep disturbance predicted fatigue only directly, while depression only indirectly through disability and sleep disturbance. Also morning stiffness and symptom duration predicted fatigue through disability and depression. All predictors accounted for 65% of the variance of fatigue. Depression, pain, and disability predicted sleep disturbance. Depression had reciprocal relationship with disability and they both were predicted by pain directly and indirectly. In summary, pain, depression, disability, sleep disturbance, morning stiffness, and symptom duration contributed to the fatigue of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The best predictor of fatigue was pain. This finding indicates that the modification of pain, depression, disability, sleep disturbance, morning stiffness could be nursing intervention for relief or prevention of fatigue.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.535-543
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare the effect of two fiber post systems and one metal cast post system on the fracture strength and fracture pattern of crowned, endodontically treated teeth with 2 mm-height of the reamining tooth structure. Materials and methods: A total of 36 recently extracted sound human mandibular premolars were selected Each tooth structure of the crown portion except 2mm-height of the one above the cementoenamel junction was removed. After being endodontically treated, they were randomly distributed into 3 groups: group 1, restored with quarts fiber post(D.T. Light-Post), group 2, with glass fiber post(FRC Postec), and group 3, metal cast post and core. All teeth were fully covered with nonprecious metal crowns. Each specimen was embedded in an acrylic resin block and then secured in a universal load-testing machine. A compressive load was applied at a 130 degree angle to the long axis of the tooth until fractured, at a crosshead speed 20mm/min. The highest fracture loads were measured and recorded as the fracture strength of each specimen. Fracture areas were measured on the mid-buccal and mid-lingual point from the crown margins. One-way analysis of variance and Turkey test were used to determine the statistic significance of the different fracture loads and areas among the groups (p<0.05). Results: The mean fracture loads were $1391{\pm}$425N(group 1), $1458{\pm}476N$(group 2) and $1301{\pm}319N$(group 3). The fracture loads among the three groups had no statistically signifiant difference (p>.05). The mean fracture area of the fiber post was closer to the crown margin than that of the metal cast post and core(p<.05). The metal cast post showed unrestorable and catastrophic fracture patterns. Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, fracture loads with any statistically significant difference were not recorded for endodontically treated teeth restored with two fiber posts and the metal cast post. But teeth restored with the fiber posts typically showed the fracture pattern close to the crown margin, which was almost restorable.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.343-348
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• 2006

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the bioequivalence of two zolpidem tartrate tablets, Stilnox tablet(Sanofi-aventis Korea, reference product) and Zanilo tablet(ChoDang Pharm Co., Ltd., Korea, test product), according to the guidelines of Korea Food and Drug Administration(KFDA). After adding an internal standard(cimetropium), 250 ${\mu}L$ plasma samples were extracted using 1.3 mL of ethyl acetate. Extracted compounds were analyzed by HPLC with triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry. This method for determination of zolpidem is proved accurate and reproducible with the limit of quantitation of 1 ng/mL in human plasma. Twenty-four healthy male Korean volunteers received each medicine at the zolpidem tartrate dose of 10 mg in a $2{\times}2$ crossover study. There was one-week washout period between the doses. Plasma concentrations of zolpidem were monitored for over a period of 8 hr after the administration. $AUC_{0-t}$(the area under the plasma concentration-time curve) was calculated by the linear trapezoidal rule. $C_{max}$(maximum plasma drug concentration) and $T_{max}$(time to reach $C_{max}$) were compiled from the plasma concentration-time data. Analysis of variance was carried out using logarithmically transformed $AUC_{0-t}$ and $C_{max}$. No significant sequence effect was found for all of the bio-availability parameters indicating that the crossover design was properly performed. The 90% confidence intervals for the log transformed data were acceptable range of log 0.8 to log 1.25(e.g., log 0.92-log 1.06 for $AUC_{0-t}$, log 0.96-log 1.13 for $C_{max}$). The major parameters, $AUC_{0-t}$ and $C_{max}$ met the criteria of KFDA for bioequivalence indicating that Zanilo tablet is bioequivalent to Stilnox tablet.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.209-214
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• 2004

A bioequivalence study of $Roxithrin^{TM}$ tablet (Kukje Pharma. Ind. Co., Ltd.) to $Rulid^{TM}$ tablet (Han Dok Pharma. Ind. Co., Ltd.) was conducted according to the guidelines of Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). Twenty four healthy male Korean volunteers received each medicine at the roxithromycin dose of 300 mg in a $2{\times}2$ crossover study. There was a one-week wash-out period between the doses. Plasma concentrations of roxithromycin were monitored by a high-performance liquid chromatography for over a period of 36 hours after drug administration. $AUC_t$ (the area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to 36 hr) was calculated by the linear trapezoidal rule method. $C_{max}$ (maximum plasma drug concentration) and $T_{max}$ (time to reach $C_{max}$) were compiled from the plasma concentration-time data. Analysis of variance was carried out using logarithmically transformed $AUC_t$ and $C_{max}$. No significant sequence effect was found for all of the bioavailability parameters indicating that the cross-over design was properly performed. The 90% confidence intervals of the $AUC_t$ ratio and the $C_{max}$ ratio for $Roxithrin^{TM}/Rulid^{TM}$ were 1.00 - 1.13 and 0.98 - 1.10, respectively. These values were within the acceptable bioequivalence intervals of 0.80 - 1.25. Thus, our study demonstrated the bioequivalence of $Roxithrin^{TM}$ and $Rulid^{TM}$ with respect to the rate and extent of absorption.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.470-485
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to investigate health promotion lifestyle profiles of the Korean elderly in Japan. The subjects of this study were 202 elders in Aichi prefecture. The method of this study questionnaires interviews, and a self-administered questionnaire from the 1st to the 20th of April in 2000. This study tool was based on Walker et al. (1987)'s Health Promotion lifestyle Profiles (HPLP). Analysis of the data used an SPSS/pc+ WIN 9.0 program. Data analyses were conducted by using frequency, percentage, t-test, ANOVA. Pearson correlation, Kendal tau and Stepwise Multiple Regression. The results were as follows: 1. The average score of Health Promotion Lifestyle Profiles of Korean elderly in Japan was 2.72(SD=0.40). On the sub-scale of Health Promotion Lifestyle Profiles: nutrition(M = 3. 06), self-actualization(M =2.99), interpersonal support (M=2.81), stress management (M=2.68) revealed higher scores, whereas the scores of health responsibility(M=2.52), and exercise(M=1.92) were lower. 2. Health Promotion Lifestyle Profiles were significantly different by age (F = 11. 02, p = .000), religion(F=2.96, p=.033), occupation(F=6.91, p=.000), living family status(F=13.07, p=.000), living family number(F=11.74, p=.000), monthly pocket money(F=18.79, p=.000), the source of pocket money (F=7.18, p=.000), and the length of residence(F=9.79, p=.000). 3. Health Promotion Lifestyle Profiles was significantly predicted by monthly pocket money($r^2$ change =0. 188, p=.000), sex($r^2$ change= 0.066, p= .000), the length of residence($r^2$ change = 0.059, p = .000), the source of pocket money($r^2$ change=0.036, p= .000), age ($r^2$ change=0.018, p=.000). These variables showed a positive correlation with health promotion lifestyle profiles of the Korean elderly in Japan. These variables explained 36.7% of the variance of Health Promotion Lifestyle Profiles. On the basis of the above findings, Health Promotion Lifestyle Profiles programs for Korean elderly in Japan needs be to developed with Japanese social-culture perspectives and needs to develop an intervention method to improve Health Promotion Lifestyle Profiles. It is also suggested that further research is required.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.505-511
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• 2004

A bioequivalence study of $Bestidine^{TM}$ tablets (Choong Wae Pharma. Corp., Korea) to Dong-A $Gaster^{TM}$ (Dong-A Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Korea) tablets was conducted according to the guidelines of Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). Twenty four healthy male Korean volunteers received each medicine at the famotidine dose of 40 mg in a $2{\times}2$ crossover study. There was a one-week wash out period between the doses. Plasma concentrations of famotidine were monitored by a high-performance liquid chromatography for over a period of 12 hours after the administration. $AUC_t$ (the area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to 12 hr) was calculated by the linear trapezoidal rule method. $C_{max}$ (maximum plasma drug concentration) and $T_{max}$ (time to reach $C_{max}$) were compiled from the plasma concentration-time data. Analysis of variance was carried out using logarithmically transformed $AUC_t$ and $C_{max}$. No significant sequence effect was found for all of the bioavailability parameters indicating that the crossover design was properly performed. The 90% confidence intervals of the $AUC_t$ ratio and the Cmax ratio for $Bestidine^{TM}/Gaster^{TM}$ were log 0.90-log 1.06 and log 0.98-log 1.20, respectively. These values were within the acceptable bioequivalence intervals of 0.80-1.25. Thus, our study demonstrated the bioequivalence of $Bestidine^{TM}$ and $Gaster^{TM}$ with respect to the rate and extent of absorption.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.3.1-3.14
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• 2023

Objectives: This study evaluated the effect of different nanoparticulated zinc oxide (nano-ZnO) and conventional-ZnO ratios on the physicochemical properties of calcium aluminate cement (CAC). Materials and Methods: The conventional-ZnO and nano-ZnO were added to the cement powder in the following proportions: G1 (20% conventional-ZnO), G2 (15% conventional-ZnO + 5% nano-ZnO), G3 (12% conventional-ZnO + 3% nano-ZnO) and G4 (10% conventional-ZnO + 5% nano-ZnO). The radiopacity (R_ad), setting time (S_et), dimensional change (D_c), solubility (S_ol), compressive strength (C_st), and pH were evaluated. The nano-ZnO and CAC containing conventional-ZnO were also assessed using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Radiopacity data were analyzed by the 1-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Bonferroni tests (p < 0.05). The data of the other properties were analyzed by the ANOVA, Tukey, and Fisher tests (p < 0.05). Results: The nano-ZnO and CAC containing conventional-ZnO powders presented particles with few impurities and nanometric and micrometric sizes, respectively. G1 had the highest Rad mean value (p < 0.05). When compared to G1, groups containing nano-ZnO had a significant reduction in the S_et (p < 0.05) and lower values of D_c at 24 hours (p < 0.05). The C_st was higher for G4, with a significant difference for the other groups (p < 0.05). The S_ol did not present significant differences among groups (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The addition of nano-ZnO to CAC improved its dimensional change, setting time, and compressive strength, which may be promising for the clinical performance of this cement.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.983-993
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• 2021

Objective: To investigate the image quality of ultralow-dose CT (ULDCT) of the chest reconstructed using a cycle-consistent generative adversarial network (CycleGAN)-based deep learning method in the evaluation of pulmonary tuberculosis. Materials and Methods: Between June 2019 and November 2019, 103 patients (mean age, 40.8 ± 13.6 years; 61 men and 42 women) with pulmonary tuberculosis were prospectively enrolled to undergo standard-dose CT (120 kVp with automated exposure control), followed immediately by ULDCT (80 kVp and 10 mAs). The images of the two successive scans were used to train the CycleGAN framework for image-to-image translation. The denoising efficacy of the CycleGAN algorithm was compared with that of hybrid and model-based iterative reconstruction. Repeated-measures analysis of variance and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were performed to compare the objective measurements and the subjective image quality scores, respectively. Results: With the optimized CycleGAN denoising model, using the ULDCT images as input, the peak signal-to-noise ratio and structural similarity index improved by 2.0 dB and 0.21, respectively. The CycleGAN-generated denoised ULDCT images typically provided satisfactory image quality for optimal visibility of anatomic structures and pathological findings, with a lower level of image noise (mean ± standard deviation [SD], 19.5 ± 3.0 Hounsfield unit [HU]) than that of the hybrid (66.3 ± 10.5 HU, p < 0.001) and a similar noise level to model-based iterative reconstruction (19.6 ± 2.6 HU, p > 0.908). The CycleGAN-generated images showed the highest contrast-to-noise ratios for the pulmonary lesions, followed by the model-based and hybrid iterative reconstruction. The mean effective radiation dose of ULDCT was 0.12 mSv with a mean 93.9% reduction compared to standard-dose CT. Conclusion: The optimized CycleGAN technique may allow the synthesis of diagnostically acceptable images from ULDCT of the chest for the evaluation of pulmonary tuberculosis.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.39 no.4 s.165
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• pp.299-311
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• 2006

In this paper it is outlined the methodology of estimating the parameters of water balance analysis method for calculating recharge, using ground water level rises in monitoring well when values of specific yield of aquifer are not available. This methodology is applied for two monitoring wells of the case study area in northern area of the Jeiu Island. A water balance of soil layer of plant rooting zone is computed on a daily basis in the following manner. Diect runoff is estimated by using SCS method. Potential evapotranspiration calculated with Penman-Monteith equation is multiplied by crop coefficients($K_c$) and water stress coefficient to compute actual evapotranspiration(AET). Daily runoff and AET is subtracted from the rainfall plus the soil water storage of the previous day. Soil water remaining above soil water retention capacity(SWRC) is assumed to be recharge. Parameters such as the SCS curve number, SWRC and Kc are estimated from a linear relationship between water level rise and recharge for rainfall events. The upper threshold value of specific yield($n_m$) at the monitoring well location is derived from the relationship between rainfall and the resulting water level rise. The specific yield($n_c$) and the coefficient of determination ($R^2$) are calculated from a linear relationship between observed water level rise and calculated recharge for the different simulations. A set of parameter values with maximum value of $R^2$ is selected among parameter values with calculated specific yield($n_c$) less than the upper threshold value of specific yield($n_m$). Results applied for two monitoring wells show that the 81% of variance of the observed water level rises are explained by calculated recharge with the estimated parameters. It is shown that the data of groundwater level is useful in estimating the parameter of water balance analysis method for calculating recharge.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.293-301
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• 2014

15 artificial ponds in Seoul have been examined to find out the characteristics of Odonata community according to age and size of pond. We found 6 Families 36 Species of Odonata community, and Libellulidae was the most frequent and 19 Species were observed among Libellulidae. Considering relative importance with frequency of appearance and density, Ischnura asiatica and Orthetrum albistylum was the most frequent. Also, 16 Species including Lestes temporaris, Sympetrum parvulum, and Anax nigrofasciatus were relatively rare. The result of dominant species tells that Ischnura asiatica in 1 ~ 3 year old ponds, Pantala flavescens-Orthetrum albistylum-Crocothemis servilia mariannae in order of mention in 4 ~ 6 year old ponds, Platycnemis phyllopoda-Ischnura asiatica in order of mention in 10 or more year old ponds are the dominant species. Species diversity index regarding age of pond has been researched, and species diversity index in 10 year old pond was higher than that of in 1 ~ 3 year old pond. Having done the analysis of variance for types of spawn, there are many species Endophytic egg-layers and pasting in mud or sand in 10 year old artificial ponds. The wider ponds get, the higher species diversity index gets. And, we suggest that desirable size for making artificial ponds to increase the species diversity index of Odonata is $100{\sim}300m^2$.