• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.235-242
• /
• 2008

Purpose: Due to increasing interest in the treatment of spinal cord injuries, many histopathological studies have been conducted to prove that many neurotrophic factors including growth hormone are important for regeneration of the injured spinal cord. Growth hormone has to be given everyday, however, and this negatively affects compliance in clinical trials. Recently, the invention of sustained release growth hormone (SRGH) that can be given just once a week may both help the regeneration of injured spinal cord and, at the same time, be more compliant and convenient for clinical patients. Methods: In this study, thirty 7-week-old female Spraque-Dawley rats were subjected to a weight-driven impact spinal cord injury. They were divided into 3 groups and Group I and II were injected with SRGH once a week for 4 weeks; Group I were injected into the injured spinal cord area, while Group II were injected into the peritoneal cavity. Meanwhile, Group III were injected with normal saline solution. The functional outcome was evaluated using the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan motor rating score and the inclined plane test was done 4 weeks after the first injection. Histopathological examination was performed at the same time and the amount of residual white matter was measured in all groups. Results: After 4 weeks, Groups I and II showed greater improvement than Group III(the control group) in the functional test. In the control group, invasion of atypical phagocytes, axonal degeneration, edema and cavity formation in the posterior site of spinal cord gray matter was observed in histopatholgical examination. The rate of residual white matter in Group III was less than in the other groups. Conclusion: Data showed significant functional and histopathological improvement in the groups treated with SRGH into the spinal and peritoneal cavity compared with the control group. SRGH is therefore beneficial because it helps with regeneration of the injured spinal cord and improves the compliance and convenience of patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.11-17
• /
• 2013

'Multi-scale mass-deployable cooperative robots' is a next generation robotics paradigm where a large number of robots that vary in size cooperate in a hierarchical fashion to collect information in various environments. While this paradigm can exhibit the effective solution for exploration of the wide area consisting of various types of terrain, its technical maturity is still in its infant state and many technical hurdles should be resolved to realize this paradigm. In this paper, we propose to develop new design and manufacturing methodologies for the multi-scale mass-deployable cooperative robots. In doing so, we present various fundamental technologies in four different research fields. (1) Adaptable design methods consist of compliant mechanisms and hierarchical structures which provide robots with a unified way to overcome various and irregular terrains. (2) Soft composite materials realize the compliancy in these structures. (3) Multi-scale integrative manufacturing techniques are convergence of traditional methods for producing various sized robots assembled by such materials. Finally, (4) the control and communication techniques for the massive swarm robot systems enable multiple functionally simple robots to accomplish the complex job by effective job distribution.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.106-111
• /
• 2006

Purpose: In terminal cancer patients, pain control with narcotic analgesics and supportive care by hospice are very useful treatment modality. However, many patients and their caregivers are poorly compliant in using narcotic analgesics for fear of addiction and tolerance. And also many patients and family caregivers are reluctant to accept hospice, presuming that hospice means patient's condition is no longer reversible and progressively deteriorating. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and analyze the perception of using narcotic analgesics and hospice by family caregivers of terminal cancer patients who play a critical role in health care in Korean culture. Methods: A total of 54 terminal ranter patient's family caregivers participated in this study. Questionnaire consisted of 15 questions about narcotic analgesics and hospice. Results: The study revealed following results. 1) family caregivers who are not aware of hospice are more than half (56.7%). 2) 81.8% of family caregivers agreed that hospice care is beneficial to terminal cancer patients. 3) 85.1% of family caregivers were under financial burden. 4) 83.2% of patient complained pain in 24 hours. 3) while 88.5% of family caregivers believed that narcotic analgesics can control pair, 79.1% and 79.6% of them also believed that use of narcotic analgesics would result in addiction and tolerance, respectively. Conclusion: There still exist barriers to family caregivers in using narcotic analgesics for pain control. And also, terminal cancer patient's family caregivers have poor information about hospice. Therefore, educational intervention about narcotic analgesics by pharmacist and doctors are needed for proper pain control for terminal ranter patients. In addition, more precise information about hospice care should be provided for terminal cancer patients and their family caregivers.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.99-111
• /
• 2000

The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors related to sexual function of women with coronary artery disease, and to determine the predictors of sexual function. The study design, a descriptive correlational study, was done through structural questionnaire and interview. A total of 50 subjects from C University Hospital at Kwang-ju city who have undergone coronary angiography at department of cardiology were observed and interviewed from Feb. 22, 1999 to March. 23, 1999. The number of affected vessels, the level of total serum cholesterol, and the ejection fraction of 2-D echo cardiography were analyzed to evaluate the severity of coronary artery disease. And also type A behavior pattern, health behavior, Brief Index of Sexual Functioning for Women (BISF-W) were measured. The data obtained were analyzed using percentage, mean and standard deviation, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression analysis via SPSS PC+. The results of this study were as follows: 1. The mean age of the subjects were 58.1 and 72.0% of those have been married over 30 years. Seventy two percentage were unemployed and monthly family income of 56.6% was less than 1,000,000 won (approximately $ 840). Eighty percent were in their postmenopausal state, and the frequency of sexual intercourse of 84.0% were two to three times per month. 2. The scores of type A behavior pattern were from 16 to 38(mean 24.94) and health behavior ranged from 21 to 43(mean 31.2). Abstinence from smoking, alcohol, and caffeine were best compliant factors and weight control and exercise were least abided ones. The result of 2D-ECHO EF showed that the half of the subjects were abnormal, and 24% had more than 240mg/dl of total serum cholesterol. The coronary angiography showed that 64% of the subjects had more than one affected vessels. 3. The predictors to explain the factor score of 'orgasm' were number of health examination, the pre- or post-menopausal state, protestant, number of coronary vessel affected, level of serum total cholesterol, and comorbid group of hypertension and diabetes, and it's total variance accounted for 52.4%. The predictors to explain the factor score of 'sexual activity' were comorbid group of hypertension and diabetes and type A behavior pattern, which accounted for 22.4% of total variance. The predictors to explain the factor score of 'sexual satisfaction' were type A behavior pattern, no religion, exercise, level of serum total cholesterol, and pre or post menopausal state, which accounted for 52.1%. The predictors to explain the factor score of 'sexual desire' were the period of marriage, type A behavior, employment or unemployment, and weight control, which accounted for 43.2%. The predictors to explain the factor score of 'external force of sexual functioning' were physical overload and exercise, which accounted for 41.1%. The predictors to explain the factor score of 'sexual activity' were family monthly income, catholics, and exercise, and which accounted for 35.4%. Above results lead us to some consensus that sexual function of women with coronary artery disease is related to various factors including vasogenic factors such as total serum cholesterol level, number of coronary vessel affected, an endocrinal factor such as menopausal state, and type A behavior pattern as a sociopshychological factor. And also health behaviors such as fitness care, overwork, weight control, and emotional tension are contributed to sexual function.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.55-84
• /
• 2015

The tuberculosis is the infectious disease. Generally, the active tuberculosis patient can infect the 10 persons for one year within the daily activities like casual conversation and singing together. The infectivity of tuberculosis can continue for a life time, and infected persons can remain at risk for developing active tuberculosis. To control this contagious disease, along with the active tuberculosis patients, non-infectious but non-compliant patients who can be infectious if their immune systems become impaired have to be managed. To control the non-complaint patients, medical treatment order should be combined with the public order. Because tuberculosis is the risk of community health, the human rights like liberty and freedom of movement can be restricted for public welfare under the article 37(2) of constitution. Even when such restriction is imposed, no essential aspect of the freedom or right shall be violated. The degree of restriction on the rights of citizens is different what methods are chosen to non-complaint patients. For example, under the directly observed therapy program, the patients and medical staffs make an appointment and meet to confirm the drug intakes according to the schedule, which is the medical treatment combined with the mildest public order. If the patients break the appointments or have the history of disobedient, the involuntary detention can obtain the legitimate cause. The Tuberculosis Prevention Act has the two step programs on this involuntary detention, The admission order (Article 15) is issued when the patients are infectious. The quarantine order (Artle 15-2) is issued when the patients are infectious and non-complaint. The legal criteria for involuntary detention are discussed and published through the international conventions and covenants. For example, World Health Organization had made guidance on human rights and involuntary detention for tuberculosis control. The restrictions should be carried out in accordance with the our law and in the legitimate objective of public interest. And the restriction should be based on scientific evidence and not imposed in an unreasonable or discriminatory manner. We define and adopt these international criteria under our constitution and legal system. Least restrictive alternative principle, proportionality principle and the individual evaluation methods are explained through the reviews of United States court decisions. Habeas Corpus Act is reviewed and adopted as the procedural due process to protect the patient rights as a citizen. Along with that, what conditions and facilities which are needed to performed quarantine order are discussed.

• The Korean Journal of Archival Studies
• /
• no.11
• /
• pp.181-214
• /
• 2005

Metropolitan rapid transit system plays an essential role in the public transportation system of any large city, and its managing agency is usually charged with the responsibility of storing and managing the design drawings of the system. The drawings are important and historically valuable documents that must be kept permanently because they contain comprehensive data that is used to manage and maintain the system. However, no study has been performed in Korea on how well agencies are preserving and managing these records. Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation(SMRT) is the managing agency established by the city of Seoul to operate subway lines 5, 6, 7, and 8 more efficiently to serve its citizens. By the Act on Records Management in Public Institutions(ARMPI), SMRT should establish a records center to manage its records. Furthermore, all drawings produced by SMRT and other third party entities should be in compliance with the Act. However, SMRT, as a form of local public corporation, can establish a records center by its own way. Accordingly, the National Archives & Records Service(NARS) has very little control over SMRT. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to research and analyze the present state of storage and management of the drawings of metropolitan rapid transit in SMRT and is to find a desirable method of preservation and management for drawings of metropolitan rapid transit. In the process of the study, it was found that a records center is being considered to manage only general official documents and not to manage the drawings as required by ARMPI. SMRT does not have a records center, and the environment of management on the drawings is very poor. Although there is a plan to develop a new management system for the drawings, it will be non-compliant of ARMPI. What's happening at SMRT does not reflect the state of all other cities' metropolitan rapid transit records management systems, but the state of creation of records center of local public corporation is the almost same state as SMRT. There should be continuous education and many studies conducted in order to manage the drawings of metropolitan rapid transit efficiently by records management system. This study proposes a records center based on both professional records centers and union records centers. Although metropolitan rapid transit is constructed and managed by each local public corporation, the overall characteristics and processes of metropolitan rapid transit projects are similar in nature. In consideration of huge quantity, complexity and specialty of drawings produced and used during construction and operation of metropolitan rapid transit, and overlap of each local public corporation's effort and cost of the storage and management of the drawings, they need to be managed in a professional and united way. As an example of professional records center, there is the National Personnel Records Center(NPRC) in St. Louis, Missouri. NPRC is one of the National Archives and Records Administration's largest operations and a central repository of personnel-related records on former and present federal employees and the military. It provides extensive information to government agencies, military veterans, former federal employees, family members, as well as researchers and historians. As an example of union records center, there is the Chinese Union Dangansil. It was established by several institutions and organizations, so united management of records can be performed and human efforts and facilities can be saved. We should establish a professional and united records center which manages drawings of metropolitan rapid transit and provides service to researchers and the public as well as members of the related institutions. This study can be an impetus to improve interest on management of not only drawings of metropolitan rapid transit but also drawings of various public facilities.