• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.88-95
• /
• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to estimate the clinical utilization of radiation therapy (RT) in Korea between 2009 and 2013. Materials and Methods: We analyzed open claims data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. The subjects were patients who had diagnostic codes C00-C97 or D00-D48 according to the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases, with procedure codes indicating RT treatment. Results: The total number of patients who received RT in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 were 45,571, 49,593, 54,671, 59,172, and 61,485, respectively. Among them, the total numbers of male and female patients were 20,780/24,791 in 2009, 22,711/26,882 in 2010, 24,872/29,799 in 2011, 27,101/32,071 in 2012, and 27,941/33,544 in 2013. The five cancers that were most frequently treated with RT between 2009 and 2012 were breast, lung, colorectal, liver, and uterine cervical cancers. However, the fifth most common cancer treated with RT that replaced uterine cervical cancer in 2013 was prostate cancer. The three leading types of cancer among the male patients were lung, colorectal, and liver cancers, whereas in female patients, they were breast, uterine cervical, and lung cancers. The type of cancer most commonly treated by RT was cancer of the central nervous system in patients aged 20 years or less, breast cancer in patients aged 30-50 years, and lung cancer in patients aged 60 years or more. Conclusion: Data from this study provided the clinical utilization of RT in Korea between 2009 and 2013.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.62 no.5
• /
• pp.502-518
• /
• 2019

Objective : Since less invasive endovascular treatment was introduced to South Korea in 1994, a considerable proportion of endovascular treatments have been performed by neuroradiology doctors, and endovascular treatments by vascular neurosurgeons have recently increased. However, few specific statistics are known regarding how many endovascular treatments are performed by neurosurgeons. Thus, authors compared endovascular treatments collaboratively performed by vascular neurosurgeons with all cases throughout South Korea from 2013 to 2017 to elucidate the role of neurosurgeons in the field of endovascular treatment in South Korea. Methods : The Society of Korean Endovascular Neurosurgeons (SKEN) has issued annual reports every year since 2014. These reports cover statistics on endovascular treatments collaboratively or individually performed by SKEN members from 2013 to 2017. The data was requested and collected from vascular neurosurgeons in various hospitals. The study involved 77 hospitals in its first year, and 100 in its last. National statistics on endovascular treatment from all over South Korea were obtained from the Healthcare Bigdata Hub website of the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service based on the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) codes (in the case of intra-arterial (IA) thrombolysis, however, statistics were based on a combination of the EDI and I63 codes, a cerebral infarction disease code) from 2013 to 2017. These two data sets were directly compared and the ratios were obtained. Results : Regionally, during the entire study period, endovascular treatments by SKEN members were most common in Gyeonggido, followed by Seoul and Busan. Among the endovascular treatments, conventional cerebral angiography was the most common, followed by cerebral aneurysmal coiling, endovascular treatments for ischemic stroke, and finally endovascular treatments for vascular malformation and tumor embolization. The number of endovascular treatments performed by SKEN members increased every year. Conclusion : The SKEN members have been responsible for the major role of endovascular treatments in South Korea for the recent 5 years. This was achieved through the perseverance of senior members who started out in the midst of hardship, the establishment of standards for the training/certification of endovascular neurosurgery, and the enthusiasm of current SKEN members who followed. To provide better treatment to patients, we will have to make further progress in SKEN.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.461-467
• /
• 2014

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the Q-ray view, a novel optical device on reliability of assessing a tooth status by dental hygiene students in the training for dental hygiene process. Twenty patients were enrolled in this study. Oral examinations were conducted by both seventeen third-year dental hygiene students and a trained faculty member. Traditional visual inspection was performed in phase I and then re-examined with Q-ray view in phase II. Restoration codes and lesion codes for each tooth were recorded separately according to the predefined criteria. As a measure of reliability, percent agreement and Cohen's kappa were determined. Agreements for each intraoral regions and types of lesion and restoration were calculated. Paired t-test and Pearson chi-square test for two proportions were used to compare mean Cohen's kappa and percent agreement at each phase. For the lesion code, mean kappa values of phase II for intraoral regions were significantly greater than that of phase I (p=0.017). For the both of the lesion code and restoration code, percent agreements of phase II for each types of lesion and restoration were significantly greater than that of phase II (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). Especially difference of percent agreements between phase I and II for incipient caries, caries and fracture were significant for the lesion code (p=0.046, p<0.001, and p=0.029, respectively) and for not restored or sealed, tooth-colored restoration were significant for the restoration code (p<0.001 and p=0.011, respectively). The reliability of assessing a tooth status was improved when the Q-ray view used in dental hygiene student with beginner level of expertise. Q-ray view can be a promising device for conducting and educating the dental hygiene process better.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.152-158
• /
• 2012

Purpose: To understand the epidemiology of head trauma and the utilization of brain CT in Korea, we analyzed a national sampling data set, the National Patient Sample obtained from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Methods: We retrospectively collected and analyzed demographic and clinical data on enrolled patients from the National Patient Sample based on medical claims data for 2009. The data included patient's age, sex, treatment date, diagnosis codes, procedure codes related with CT, holiday or night consultation fee, and fee for emergency management services. Results: In 2009, the estimated population with head trauma was 819,059(1.8%), and the rate of brain CT utilization was 22.4%. Children ages 5 to 15 were the most commonly injured group(22.8%), but had the lowest brain CT utilization(16.5%). The mean age of the estimated population with head trauma was $34.9{\pm}0.5years$ old, and male patients accounted for 60.5% of that population. Intracranial injury was found in 8.6% of all head traumas, and the rate of intracranial injury in children was lower than it was in adults(4.1% vs. 10.9%, p<0.001). Twenty- three percent of patients with head trauma visited the emergency department (ED). More patients with head trauma visited medical facilities in the daytime on weekdays(66.5% vs. 33.5%, p<0.001), but head CT was performed more frequently at night or on weekends/holidays(16.1% vs. 34.7%, p<0.001) There is low incidence of head trauma in the winter in children (p<0.001). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, patients who were adults, female, or ED visitors were more likely to undergo brain CT (odds ratio (OR): 1.65, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.47-1.84; OR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.27-1.54; OR: 7.80, 95% CI: 6.91-8.80, respectively). Conclusion: In this study, we analyzed the national epidemiologic trend for head trauma, and the pattern of utilization of brain CT.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.20 no.9
• /
• pp.77-89
• /
• 2004

While limit states design (LSD) is currently the standard structural design practice, it is relatively new in the geotechnical design. Adoption of LSD far geotechnical design is an international trend. In the present study, various LSD codes from the United States, Canada, and Europe were reviewed. A simple first-order-second-moment (FOSM) reliability analysis was performed to determine theoretically the ranges of load and resistance factor values for representative loads and foundation bearing capacity, respectively. In order for foundation design to be consistent with current structural design practice, it would be desirable to use the same loads, load factors and load combinations. The values of load factor, obtained from the FOSM analysis, were found to be generally consistent with those given in the codes, whereas the values of resistance factor indicated overall lower ranges due to high values of coefficient of variation used in the analysis. Since the degree of uncertainties included in bearing capacity of foundations varies with the methods used to estimate the bearing capacity, different values of resistance factor should be used fur different methods. For the purpose, continuous efforts are needed to be made first to accurately identify and quantify the uncertainties in the methods.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.19-26
• /
• 2001

In order to assess the atmospheric dispersion for the accidental releases of nuclear power plants, in calculating X/Q values in the XOQAR and PAVAN codes which are based on Reg. Guide 1.145, the X/Q and frequency values are plotted on log-normal paper. Starting with the highest X/Q value of this plot, the codes compare the slope of the line drawn from this point to every other point within an increment containing ten X/Q values. If there are fewer than ten values, only the number available are used. The coefficients that produce the line with the least negative slope are saved. The end point of this line is used as the next starting point, from which slopes to the points within the next increment, containing ten X/Q values, are compared. The X/Q values corresponding to the cumulative frequency values 0.5%, 5% or 50% are calculated to search for the $0{\sim}2$ hour X/Q value that tends to be a very conservative value. In this work, a fuzzy logic inference method is used for nonlinear interpolation of the X/Q values versus the cumulative frequency. The fuzzy logic inference method is known to be a food technique for nonlinear interpolation. The proposed method was applied to a potential accidential radioactive release of the Yonggwang nuclear power plant, which gives more realistic X/Q values.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.285-294
• /
• 2014

This study investigates the effects of formative assessment utilizing mobile applications on interest and self-directedness in science instruction. The study subjects are two 6th grade classes from H elementary school located in Incheon, and the experimental group and the comparative group are composed of 21 students, respectively. The students from the experimental group have been taught with mobile devices while the comparative group has been taught in methods consistent with the current teaching standards. For the sake of research, the results of the method applied to the mobile device focus group have been edited using Google Drive Forms, entered as QR codes and stored in order for them to later be utilized for teaching and learning process. In the process, the teacher has provided the students with feedback based on their answers. The students of comparative group are to solve the same formative assessment in paper. As a result, the teacher of the mobile device focus group has been able to go through twenty-nine questions on formative assessment in the teaching and learning process, confirm the correct answers five times and provide feedback twenty-five times for additional explanation. In the inquiry about interest, the mobile device group scored 4.64 points and the standard one scored just 1.99 points (p<0.01). Fifteen students answered in the interview that and the major reason why they scored high has been because it was fun to study with mobile devices. When it comes to self-directedness over the process of teaching and learning, the mobile device focus group has answered positively but the standard group has scored relatively low (p<0.01).

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.5 no.5
• /
• pp.499-526
• /
• 2013

Seismic isolation is an effective method for the protection of buildings and their contents during strong earthquakes. This research work aims to assess the appropriateness of the linear and nonlinear models that can be used in the analysis of typical low-rise base isolated steel buildings, taking into account the inherent nonlinearities of the isolation system as well as the potential nonlinearities of the superstructure in case of strong ground motions. The accuracy of the linearization of the isolator properties according to Eurocode 8 is evaluated comparatively with the corresponding response that can be obtained through the nonlinear hysteretic Bouc-Wen constitutive model. The suitability of the linearized model in the determination of the size of the required seismic gap is assessed, under various earthquake intensities, considering relevant methods that are provided by building codes. Furthermore, the validity of the common assumption of elastic behavior for the superstructure is explored and the alteration of the structural response due to the inelastic deformations of the superstructure as a consequence of potential collision to the restraining moat wall is studied. The usage of a nonlinear model for the isolation system is found to be necessary in order to achieve a sufficiently accurate assessment of the structural response and a reliable estimation of the required width of the provided seismic gap. Moreover, the simulations reveal that the superstructure's inelasticity should be taken into account, especially if the response of the structure under high magnitude earthquakes is investigated. The consideration of the inelasticity of the superstructure is also recommended in studies of structural collision of seismically isolated structures to the surrounding moat wall, since it affects the response.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.6
• /
• pp.2917-2921
• /
• 2016

Background: To explore factors that influence quality of life (QOL) in patients receiving breast conserving therapy (BCT). Materials and Methods: In this sequential mixed methods study, 118 women from Songklanagarind Hospital were included. We used participants' characteristics, Body Image Scale (BIS), and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy with the Breast Cancer Subscale (FACT-B) for analysis. The BIS transformed into presence of body image disturbance (BID). Factors that influenced QOL were determined by stepwise multiple linear regression. Forty-one participants were selected for qualitative analysis. Our female researcher performed the semi-structured interviews with questions based on the symbolic interaction theory. Final codes were analysed using thematic analysis along with investigator triangulation methods. Results: Ninety percent had early stage breast cancer with post-completed BCT, for an average of 2.7 years. The median BIS score and FACT-B score were 2 (IQR=10) and 130 (IQR=39). In the regression analysis, an age of more than 50 years and BID were significant factors. As for the value of conserved breasts, two themes emerged: a conserved breast is an essential part of a participant's life and also the representation of her womanhood; the importance of a breast is related to age. Conclusions: Body image influenced QOL in post BCT participants. The conserved breasts also lead to positive and better impact on their body image as an essential part of their life.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.116-123
• /
• 2016

Purpose: To develop an inclusive and sustainable trauma system as the assessment of burden of injuries is very much important. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the estimates and characteristics of abdominal traumatic injuries. Methods: The data were extracted from the National Emergency Department Information System. Based on Korean Standard Classification for Disease 6th version, which is the Korean version of International Classification of Disease 10th revision, abdominal injuries were identified and abdominal surgeries were evaluated with electronic data interchange codes. Demographic factors, numbers of surgeries and clinical outcomes were also investigated. Results: From 2011 to 2014, about 24,696 patients with abdominal trauma were admitted to the hospitals annually in South Korea. The number of patients who were admitted to regional and local emergency medical centers was 8,622 (34.91%) and 15,564(63.02%), respectively. Based on National Emergency Department Information System, liver was identified as the most commonly injured abdominal solid organ (39.50%, 9,754/24,696, followed by spleen (17.57%, 4,338/24,696) and kidney (12.94%, 3,195/24,696). Conclusion: This study shows that the demand for abdominal trauma care is considerable in South Korea and most of the patients with abdominal trauma were admitted to regional or local emergency centers. The results of this study can be used as good source of information for staffs to ensure proper delivery of abdominal trauma care in trauma centers nationally.