• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.252-260
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• 2020

Background: In this study, the bleaching effect and surface damage of two types of over-the-counter home tooth bleaching agents were explored using an in vitro study of bleaching agents applied to bovine teeth specimens for 14 days. Methods: Domestic over-the-counter home tooth bleaching agents of gel and patch form that shared common active ingredients and manufacturers were selected and tested. The experiment specimens were made using composite resin with bovine tooth samples and then measured the initial microhardness. Specimens were then divided into a Gel group and a Patch group and underwent bleaching treatment once a day for two weeks for 30 to 60 minutes (recommended) or 7 hours. All specimens were coffee-stained prior to bleaching. The bleaching effect was measured using a spectrophotometer and surface damage was measured using a microhardness meter. Results: The difference in color following the bleaching procedure was positive in both the Gel and Patch group, although there were no statistically significant differences in bleaching effect between groups. There was no significant difference in bleaching effect based on duration. The microhardness test revealed that both the Gel group and the Patch group had surface damage after bleaching. The greatest surface damage was found in the Patch group that had undergone a 7-hour bleaching treatment, although the differences were not statistically significant. Conclusion: The bleaching effect of the home tooth bleaching agent was visible to the naked eye. However, longer applications than recommended did not result in greater bleaching, unlike consumers' expectations, and instead increased the chance of enamel damage. As such, there is a need for consumers to be alert and adhere to recommendations provided by each company.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.267-274
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• 2021

Background: Although the orofacial-function improvement exercise (OFIE; oral exercise) was first introduced in Korea 10 years prior, it is still not covered by medical insurance, and no detailed survey on the dissemination of related programs has been conducted. Therefore, this study investigated the actual status of the education and practice of OFIE among the elderly and at elderly welfare institutions in the Seoul and Gyeonggi Provinces. Methods: Senior citizens aged more than 65 years old, public health centers (total of 69) and elderly welfare institutions (including nursing homes and elderly welfare centers, total of 56) per administrative area in the Seoul and Gyeonggi Provinces were targeted. We analyzed 200 elderly people and 93 institutions who agreed to participate in the survey. For the elderly, general characteristics, experience and route, current practice, and necessity regarding OFIE were investigated. For institutions, the history and plan of education programs on OFIE were investigated. Results: Regardless of the general characteristics, both the rate of experience and practice for OFIE were low overall; moreover, although they felt it was necessary, they had insufficient motivation for its implementation. Moreover, only a few institutions which were operating the education about OFIE regardless of the COVID-19 situation. Conclusion: Although OFIE is necessary for the elderly, its distribution remains insufficient. Therefore, further efforts are needed to expand the education and raise the awareness of oral exercise among elderly individuals and senior welfare institutions.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.30-40
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• 2022

Background: This study analyzed the reliability of smart guides for gait analysis in patients with stroke. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: The participants of the study were 30 patients with stroke who could walk more than 10 m and had an MMSE-K test score of ≥24. Prior to the experiment, the subjects or their guardians entered their demographic characteristics including gender, age, height, weight into the prepared computer. The experiment was conducted in a quiet, comfortable, and independent location, and the patient was reminded of the equipment description, precautions, and safety rules for walking. A smart insole was inserted into the shoes of the patients and the shoes were put on before the patients walked three times on the 5-m gait analysis system mat installed in the laboratory. Results: The reliability of the equipment was compared with that of the gait analysis system, and the results of this study are as follows: among the gait analysis items, velocity had an ICC=0.982, the cadence had an ICC=0.905, the swing phase on the side of the gait cycle had an ICC=0.893, the swing phase on the side of the gait had an ICC=0.839, that on the non-affected side had an ICC=0.939, single support on the affected side had an ICC=0.812, and support on the non-affected side had an ICC=0.767. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate no statistical difference between the smart insole and the gait analysis system. Therefore, it is believed that real-time gait analysis through smart insole measurement could help patients in rehabilitation.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.457-462
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• 2021

This study is about production techniques that can improve visual immersion in VR games. First, we reviewed the theory of VR games, current status, visual and immersion through prior work, and selected samples to extract key components that can improve visual immersion in VR games. and, VR games were produced and developed by applying the concept of COVID-19, which is currently popular around the world. As a result, the resolution of technical Element's, frame rate, viewing angle, brightness of lighting, design quality, and Contextual Element's storytelling, background, directing, color, texture, interest and fun because is Significant results that can induce and improve immersion were obtained, and in the end, smooth gameplay was realized. Through this research process and results, it is expected that it will be a basic data in the field of production and development of VR games that can induce and improve users' visual immersion in the future.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.91-98
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• 2020

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to compare functional hearing with the use of a personal sound amplification product (PSAP) or a basic hearing aid (HA) among sensorineural hearing impaired listeners. Subjects and Methods: Nineteen participants with mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) (26-55 dB HL; pure-tone average, 0.5-4 kHz) were prospectively included. No participants had prior experience with HAs or PSAPs. Audiograms, speech intelligibility in both quiet and noisy environments, speech quality, and preference were assessed in three different listening conditions: unaided, with the HA, and with the PSAP. Results: The use of PSAP was associated with significant improvement in pure-tone thresholds at 1, 2, and 4 kHz compared to the unaided condition (all p<0.01). In the quiet environment, speech intelligibility was significantly improved after wearing a PSAP compared to the unaided condition (p<0.001), and this improvement was better than the result obtained with the HA. The PSAP also demonstrated similar improvement in the most comfortable levels compared to those obtained with the HA (p<0.05). However, there was no significant improvement of speech intelligibility in a noisy environment when wearing the PSAP (p=0.160). There was no significant difference in the reported speech quality produced by either device or in participant preference for the PSAP or HA. Conclusions: The current result suggests that PSAPs provide considerable benefits to speech intelligibility in a quiet environment and can be a good alternative to compensate for mild-to-moderate SNHL.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.99-107
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• 2022

Background Dermal backflow (DBF), which refers to lymphatic reflux due to lymphatic valve insufficiency, is a diagnostic finding in lymphedema. However, the three-dimensional structure of DBF remains unknown. Photoacoustic lymphangiography (PAL) is a new technique that enables the visualization of the distribution of light-absorbing molecules, such as hemoglobin or indocyanine green (ICG), and can provide three-dimensional images of superficial lymphatic vessels and the venous system. This study reports the use of PAL to visualize DBF structures in the extremities of patients with lymphedema after cancer surgery. Methods Patients with a clinical or lymphographic diagnosis of lymphedema who previously underwent surgery for cancer at one of two participating hospitals were included in this study. PAL was performed using the PAI-05 system. ICG was administered subcutaneously in the affected hand or foot, and ICG fluorescence lymphography was performed using a near-infrared camera system prior to PAL. Results Between April 2018 and January 2019, 21 patients were enrolled and examined using PAL. The DBF was composed of dense, interconnecting, three-dimensional lymphatic vessels. It was classified into three patterns according to the composition of the lymphatic vessels: a linear structure of lymphatic collectors (pattern 1), a network of lymphatic capillaries and lymphatic collectors in an underlying layer (pattern 2), and lymphatic capillaries and precollectors with no lymphatic collectors (pattern 3). Conclusions PAL showed the structure of DBF more precisely than ICG fluorescence lymphography. The use of PAL to visualize DBF assists in understanding the pathophysiology and assessing the severity of cancer-related lymphedema.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.106-111
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• 2022

Background: The use of telemedicine for postoperative visits is increasing, especially in rural areas. Few studies have investigated its use for arthroscopic shoulder patients. This study aims to evaluate patient satisfaction with telemedicine for postoperative clinic visits following arthroscopic shoulder procedures in a rural setting. Methods: Patients were prospectively enrolled using the following exclusion criteria: <18 years, open procedures, and non-compliance follow-up at 6 weeks postoperatively. All patients completed a 13-question satisfaction survey, while telemedicine patients completed an additional, separate seven-question survey. Patients who switched groups completed a four-question prompt to determine the reasons for switching. Differences between groups were evaluated by either Student t-test or Mann-Whitney U-test. Results: The study enrolled 32 patients, with five patients following up by telemedicine and 27 in person. Age and distance from clinic were similar between patients who were assigned to the telemedicine group, completed the telemedicine visit, and opted for in-person visits (all p>0.05). Patient satisfaction did not vary significantly based on care by the surgeon, concerns being addressed, thoroughness of visit, overall clinical assessment at a prior visit, and improvements in pain and physical function (all p>0.05). Among patients who opted out of telemedicine visits, the most common reason was a preference to meet in-person but these patients agreed that telemedicine visits are a good idea. Conclusions: Regardless of type of follow-up, individuals reported similar levels of satisfaction with treatment during the visit and improvements in pain and physical function.

• Korean Journal of Audiology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.35-39
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• 2020

Background and Objectives: The cortical auditory evoked potential (CAEP) is a useful objective test for diagnosing hearing loss and auditory disorders. Prior to its clinical applications in the pediatric population, the possible influences of fundamental variables on the CAEP should be studied. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of age and type of stimulus on the CAEP waveforms. Subjects and Methods: Thirty-five healthy Malaysian children aged 4 to 12 years participated in this repeated-measures study. The CAEP waveforms were recorded from each child using a 1 kHz tone burst and the speech syllable /ba/. Latencies and amplitudes of P1, N1, and P2 peaks were analyzed accordingly. Results: Significant negative correlations were found between age and speech-evoked CAEP latency for each peak (p<0.05). However, no significant correlations were found between age and tone-evoked CAEP amplitudes and latencies (p>0.05). The speech syllable /ba/ produced a higher mean P1 amplitude than the 1 kHz tone burst (p=0.001). Conclusions: The CAEP latencies recorded with the speech syllable became shorter with age. While both tone-burst and speech stimuli were appropriate for recording the CAEP, significantly bigger amplitudes were found in speech-evoked CAEP. The preliminary normative CAEP data provided in the present study may be beneficial for clinical and research applications in Malaysian children.

• Medical Lasers
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.220-228
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• 2021

Background and Objectives In designing a resistance exercise program, intensity, rest, and exercise volume are important. Many studies have been conducted to find the most suitable resistance exercise program incorporating the above, and in particular, many prior studies have been conducted on intensity. This study attempted to determine the effective volume of exercise by analyzing the number of repetitions performed at intensities of 65% one-repetition maximum (1RM) and 75% 1RM during the bench press exercise, and the electromyography (EMG) response of the agonist muscle. Materials and Methods Eight males in their 20s were selected as study subjects and they performed five sets of bench presses at two levels of intensity (65% 1RM, 75% 1RM). The following results were obtained by measuring the number of repetitions and the EMG response according to the exercise intensity and sets during the workout. Results First, the number of repetitions showed a sharp drop from the first set to the third set at 65% 1RM intensity and showed no change in the fourth and fifth sets. At 75% 1RM intensity, the intensity of hypertrophy showed a gradual decrease from the first set to the fifth set. Second, at 75% 1RM exercise intensity, the pectoralis major, anterior deltoid and triceps brachii showed high muscle activity, and the activity of the anterior deltoid continued to increase from the first set to the fourth set at 65% 1RM intensity, and from the first set to the fifth set at 75% 1RM. Conclusion It was found that during the bench press exercise, three minutes of rest at 75% 1RM intensity, five sets of five sets, one minute rest at 65% 1RM intensity, and three sets of the exercise were effective.

• Korean Journal of Audiology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.91-98
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• 2020

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to compare functional hearing with the use of a personal sound amplification product (PSAP) or a basic hearing aid (HA) among sensorineural hearing impaired listeners. Subjects and Methods: Nineteen participants with mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) (26-55 dB HL; pure-tone average, 0.5-4 kHz) were prospectively included. No participants had prior experience with HAs or PSAPs. Audiograms, speech intelligibility in both quiet and noisy environments, speech quality, and preference were assessed in three different listening conditions: unaided, with the HA, and with the PSAP. Results: The use of PSAP was associated with significant improvement in pure-tone thresholds at 1, 2, and 4 kHz compared to the unaided condition (all p<0.01). In the quiet environment, speech intelligibility was significantly improved after wearing a PSAP compared to the unaided condition (p<0.001), and this improvement was better than the result obtained with the HA. The PSAP also demonstrated similar improvement in the most comfortable levels compared to those obtained with the HA (p<0.05). However, there was no significant improvement of speech intelligibility in a noisy environment when wearing the PSAP (p=0.160). There was no significant difference in the reported speech quality produced by either device or in participant preference for the PSAP or HA. Conclusions: The current result suggests that PSAPs provide considerable benefits to speech intelligibility in a quiet environment and can be a good alternative to compensate for mild-to-moderate SNHL.