• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• 제35권
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• pp.11.1-11.17
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• 2023

Background: Studies on the relationship between organic solvent exposure and chronic kidney disease (CKD) have presented inconsistent results. Definition of CKD has changed in 2012, and other cohort studies have been newly published. Therefore, this study aimed to newly confirm the relationship between organic solvent exposure and CKD through an updated meta-analysis including additional studies. Methods: This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The search was conducted on January 2, 2023 using Embase and MEDLINE databases. Case-control and cohort studies on the relationship between organic solvent exposure and CKD were included. Two authors independently reviewed full-text. Results: Of 5,109 studies identified, a total of 19 studies (control studies: 14 and cohort studies: 5) were finally included in our meta-analysis. The pooled risk of CKD in the organic solvent exposed group was 2.44 (1.72-3.47). The risk of a low-level exposure group was 1.07 (0.77-1.49). The total risk of a high-level exposure group was 2.44 (1.19-5.00). The risk of glomerulonephritis was 2.69 (1.18-6.11). The risk was 1.46 (1.29-1.64) for worsening of renal function. The pooled risk was 2.41 (1.57-3.70) in case-control studies and 2.51 (1.34-4.70) in cohort studies. The risk of subgroup classified as 'good' by the Newcastle Ottawa scale score was 1.93 (1.43-2.61). Conclusions: This study confirmed that the risk of CKD was significantly increased in workers exposed to mixed organic solvents. Further research is needed to determine the exact mechanisms and thresholds. Surveillance for kidney damage in the group exposed to high levels of organic solvents should be conducted.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• 제42권3호
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• pp.308-322
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• 2021

Objectives: This study investigates the latest clinical studies on Korean medicine treatment of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) in China. Methods: A CNKI search investigated the last 10 years of clinical studies of Korean medicine treatments in Chinese medical journals for CSDH. The search focused on authors, publication years, types of studies, purposes of studies, methods and duration of treatment, evaluation criteria, and results of treatment. Results: In 19 studies, there were 14 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), 4 case series, and 1 case-control study. In all 19 studies, Korean medical treatment and Western treatment were combined. Herbal medicine was used in 19 studies and acupuncture treatment in 2 studies. The most frequently used prescription was Hyeolbuchukeo-tang-gagambang, and the most frequently used acupoint was PC6. In all 19 studies, the effectiveness of Korean medicine treatment performed in parallel with Western treatment was confirmed. Conclusions: In this study, Korean medicine combined with Western treatment for CSDH was effective. More clinical studies and case reports are required to develop a guided treatment for CSDH.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.507-511
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• 2022

Law enforcement officers (LEOs) often encounter rapidly changing and uncontrolled situations that expose them to various hazards. A law enforcement agency requested an evaluation by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) when multiple LEOs reported illness after executing a search warrant and taking a suspect into custody. NIOSH investigators interviewed LEOs and reviewed medical records, forensic laboratory results for collected evidence, and environmental testing results of samples taken after the operation. Two-thirds (25 of 38) of LEOs who participated in the operation reported ≥1 symptom. Eleven LEOs met a case definition for influenza-like illness (ILI). Members of one unit were more likely to have ILI than non-members (prevalence ratio (PR), 4.1; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.3-13.0; p = 0.01). Influenza vaccination was associated with a lower prevalence of ILI (PR, 0.2; 95% CI, 0.1-0.9; p = 0.02). Preventing employees from working while ill and annual influenza vaccination might prevent similar occurrences.

• Proceedings of the Korean Statistical Society Conference
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• 한국통계학회 2003년도 추계 학술발표회 논문집
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• pp.179-182
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• 2003

This study describes a new graphical method for assessing and characterizing effect modification by a matching covariate in matched case-control studies. This method to understand effect modification is based on a semiparametric model using a varying coefficient model. The method allows for nonparametric relationships between effect modification and other covariates, or can be useful in suggesting parametric models. This method can be applied to examining effect modification by any ordered categorical or continuous covariates for which cases have been matched with controls. The method applies to effect modification when causality might be reasonably assumed. An example from veterinary medicine is used to demonstrate our approach. The simulation results show that this method, when based on linear, quadratic and nonparametric effect modification, can be more powerful than both a parametric multiplicative model fit and a fully nonparametric generalized additive model fit.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• 제45권3호통권454호
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• pp.169-181
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• 2007

In this second part of series report on evidence-based dentistry, the level of evidence and the methods for critical appraisal are discussed. The epidemiologic studies, namely clinical studies have some bias per se, and the degree of bias is somewhat predetermined by the study design. The level of evidence can be defined as the reliability of the clinical study and it is dependent on the degree of bias. Thus, it is important to determine the type of the study and to understand its structure before critically appraising them. Systematic reviews of primary studies, randomized controlled trials, nonrandomized clinical trials, cohort studies, case-control studies, and case reports / series constitute the clinical studies and the level of evidence follows the order of the studies listed above. Critical appraisal is the most important procedure in evidence-based dentistry. It is done to determine the credibility of research papers and their usefulness in the clinician s own practice. Critical appraisal is consisted of multiple questions that are helpful for evaluating validity and usefulness of the studies concerning therapy, diagnosis, prognosis, and causation.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.1-10
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• 2012

Objectives : This study was performed to review the research trends in treatment for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (O.C.D) in traditional Chinese medicine. Methods : We searched articles in CNKI(China National Knowledge Infrastructure) from 1995 to 2012 with key words, "强迫症", "强迫性神经症", "强迫神经", and "强迫性恐惧", and we selected 14 studies except for non-clinical, unrelated or insufficient number of case studies. Then we performed a systematic review of them. Results : 14 studies were divided into 8 case reports and 6 control studies. Most of the studies reported that one or more of Herbal medicine, Psychotherapy, Electroacupuncture therapy, Acupoint stimulating control, and acupuncture treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder were very effective. However, the quality of these clinical studies was not high. Conclusions : It seems that the researches for obsessive-compulsive disorder have been performed actively in traditional Chinese medicine. We hope that our study can activate clinical research for this disorder in Korean traditional medicine.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권8호
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• pp.4097-4100
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• 2012

Background/Aims: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is widely considered to be associated with risk of cancer, but studies investigating the association between DM and prostate cancer in Asian countries have reported inconsistent findings. We examined this association by conducting a detailed meta-analysis of studies published on the subject. Methods: Cohort or case-control studies were identified by searching Pubmed, Embase and Wanfang databases through May 30, 2012. Pooled relative risk (RR) with its corresponding 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were calculated using the random-effects model. Subgroup analyses were performed by the study type. Results: Finally, we identified 7 studies (four cohort studies and three case-control studies) with a total of 1,751,274 subjects from Asians. DM was associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer in Asians (unadjusted RR= 2.82, 95% CI 1.73.4.58, P < 0.001; adjusted RR= 1.31, 95% CI 1.12.1.54, P = 0.001). Subgroup analyses by study design further confirmed an obvious association. Conclusion: Findings from this meta-analysis strongly support that diabetes is associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer in Asians.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권8호
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• pp.4733-4737
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• 2013

Purpose: Numerous observational epidemiological studies have evaluated associations between breastfeeding and the risk of childhood Hodgkin lymphoma; however, the existing results are inconsistent. We therefore conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: Medical literature was searched in the Pubmed and Embase databases to identify all English-language relevant studies up to April 10, 2013. Reference lists were thereafter hand-searched for additional articles. Studies that reported relative risk ratios (RRs) or odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were included. This meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with the guidelines for the meta-analysis of observational studies in epidemiology. Results: We finally included 10 case-control studies in our meta-analysis, involving 1,618 childhood Hodgkin lymphoma cases and 8,181 controls. Overall, we did found a borderline significant association between breastfeeding and reduced risk of childhood Hodgkin lymphoma comparing ever breastfed children to never breastfed children (pooled OR =0.79; 95%CI, 0.58-1.08; P=0.13), with limited evidence for between-study heterogeneity (P =0.12, $I^2$ = 35.70%). Conclusion: There is limited evidence for an inverse association between breastfeeding and risk of childhood Hodgkin lymphoma.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권14호
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• pp.5853-5860
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• 2014

Background: Methylenetetrahydrofolate (MTHFR) is the key enzyme of the folate metabolic pathway and several studies have pointed to association between the MTHFR C677T polymorphism and breast cancer risk. Although significant association was observed in some studies, in others no clear link could be established. Objective: A meta-analysis of published Asian case control studies was therefor carried out to shed further light on any C677T breast cancer association. Materials and Methods: PubMed, Springer Link, Google Scholar and Elsevier databases were searched for case control studies of associations between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and breast cancer risk. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated to assess the association. A total of 36 studies including 8,040 cases and 10,008 controls were included in the present meta-analysis. Results: Overall, a significantly elevated breast cancer risk was associated with the T allele and TT genotype in homozygote comparison and dominant genetic models when all studies were pooled into the meta-analysis (T vs C (allele contrast model): OR=1,23, 95%CI=1.13-1.37, p=0.000 ; TT vs CC(homozygote model): OR=1.38, 95%CI=1.16-1.63, p=0.0003; TT+CT vs CC (dominant model): OR=1.12, 95%CI=1.01-1.23, p=0.02). Conclusions: The present meta-analysis strongly suggested a significant association between the MTHFR C677T polymorphism and risk of breast cancer in Asian populations.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 한국지반공학회 1994년도 가을 학술발표회 논문집
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• pp.79-86
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• 1994

Two case studies on the application of Pile Driving Analyzer (PDA) are introduced. It is shown that the PDA and CAPWAP are effective tools for the construction control of pile foundations with minimum cost and time. The PDA and CAPWAP techniques are able to evaluate the performace of hammer and driving system: to check the stresses in the pile due to driving: to determine the damage of pile: to predict the ultimate bearing capacity of pile: to estimate the important soil paramaters such as the soil resistance, quake, and damping etc.: and to provide the load - displacement curve from the simulated static load test. Theoretical backgrounds of wave mechanics is briefly reviewed and the methodology of construction control using the PDA is also discussed.