• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.95-102
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• 2019

Background: In a cluster-randomized trial, the Safety and Health Involvement For Truck drivers intervention produced statistically significant and medically meaningful weight loss at 6 months (-3.31 kg between-group difference). The current manuscript evaluates the relative impact of intervention components on study outcomes among participants in the intervention condition who reported for a post-intervention health assessment (n = 134) to encourage the adoption of effective tactics and inform future replications, tailoring, and enhancements. Methods: The Safety and Health Involvement For Truck drivers intervention was implemented in a Web-based computer and smartphone-accessible format and included a group weight loss competition and body weight and behavioral self-monitoring with feedback, computer-based training, and motivational interviewing. Indices were calculated to reflect engagement patterns for these components, and generalized linear models quantified predictive relationships between participation in intervention components and outcomes. Results: Participants who completed the full program-defined dose of the intervention had significantly greater weight loss than those who did not. Behavioral self-monitoring, computer-based training, and health coaching were significant predictors of dietary changes, whereas behavioral and body weight self-monitoring was the only significant predictor of changes in physical activity. Behavioral and body weight self-monitoring was the strongest predictor of weight loss. Conclusion: Web-based self-monitoring of body weight and health behaviors was a particularly impactful tactic in our mobile health intervention. Findings advance the science of behavior change in mobile health intervention delivery and inform the development of health programs for dispersed populations.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.443-456
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• 2019

Objectives: Children are exposed to various environmental pollutants through contact with children's products. We investigated the KC mark, certification number, and contained substances labeled on children's products through market research and collected the toxicological data on these substances. Methods: The environmentally hazardous substances labeled on children's products (n=6576), including toys (n=2812), personal care products (n=2212), stationary/books (n=1333), and playground equipment (n=219) were examined. For the components that could be identified by CAS number, toxicological data on oral, inhalation, and dermal routes, cancer slope factor, and reference dose were collected. Results: Among the investigated products, KC marks or certification numbers were found for 4557 products (69.3%). Except for cosmetics and cleansers, the material information was labeled on most of the products. The frequency of labeling substance information in toys and stationary/books was low since this information could be omitted if KC certification was obtained. In the target products, 617 substances were identified by CAS number, and polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, and polyester were the most frequently displayed. Chronic toxicity data was found for only 32.4% of individual components, and information on toxicity through the dermal route was also highly limited. Conclusion: Our study suggested that labeling guidelines should be required to identify the environmentally hazardous substances contained in children's products. In addition, the toxicological data on many ingredients in children's products were insufficient. The data gap for toxicity data should be filled for future risk assessment.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.299-307
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• 2020

Purpose: The diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis requires a comprehensive knowledge of the signs and symptoms of the disease and an accurate radiographic assessment. Computed tomography (CT) is the superior imaging modality for diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis. However, considering the lower dose and higher resolution of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) compared to CT, this study aimed to assess the agreement between the findings of CBCT and functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). Materials and Methods: This descriptive prospective study evaluated 49 patients with treatment-resistant chronic rhinosinusitis who were candidates for FESS. Preoperative CBCT scans were obtained before patients underwent FESS. The agreement between the CBCT findings and those of FESS was determined using the kappa correlation coefficient. The frequency of anatomical variations of the paranasal sinuses was also evaluated on CBCT scans. Results: Significant agreement existed between pathological findings on CBCT scans and those of FESS, such that the kappa correlation coefficient was 1 for mucosal thickening, 0.644 for nasal deviation, 0.750 for concha bullosa, 0.918 for nasal polyp, 0.935 for ostiomeatal complex (OMC) obstruction, and 0.552 for infundibulum thickening. Furthermore, 95.9% of patients had 1 or more and 79.6% had 2 or more anatomical variations, of which nasal deviation was the most common (67.3%). Conclusion: Considering the significant agreement between the findings of CBCT and FESS for the detection of pathological changes in the paranasal sinuses, CBCT can be used prior to FESS to detect chronic rhinosinusitis and to assess anatomical variations of the OMC.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.187-196
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• 2021

Purpose: The rising prevalence of childhood obesity in the past decades has caused non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to become the most common cause of pediatric chronic liver disease worldwide. This study was aimed at determining the effect of vitamin D (Vit D) on ultrasonography and laboratory indices of NAFLD and some blood biochemical indicators in children. Methods: In this interventional study liver ultrasonography was performed in 200 children with overweight and obesity. A 108 had fatty liver among which 101 were randomly divided into two groups of study (n=51) and control (n=50). The study group was treated with Vit D, 50000 U once a week whereas the control group received placebo with the same dose and package, both for 12 weeks. At the end of the intervention lab tests and ultrasound study was performed once again to evaluate the response to treatment. Results: It was found out that Vit D supplementation improved the fatty liver grade in the study group. The mean changes in hemoglobin (Hb), uric acid, highdensity lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), insulin, albumin and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was significantly higher in the study group compared to controls (p<0.05). After the intervention and means adjustment, a significant difference was obtained in HDL-C, insulin, LDL-C and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) between the two groups. Conclusion: Vit D supplementation in addition to improving the fatty liver grade in ultrasonography and increasing the blood Vit D level, increases the HDL and Hb level besides decreasing uric acid, LDL, HOMA-IR, insulin and ALT levels.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.17-41
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• 2021

Kazakhstan's cities experience high concentrations levels of atmospheric particulate matter (PM), which is well-known for its highly detrimental effect on the human health. A further increase in PM concentrations in the future could lead to a higher air pollution-caused morbidity and mortality, causing an increase in healthcare expenditures by the government. However, to prevent elevated PM concentrations in the future, more stringent standards could be implemented by lowering current maximum allowable PM concentration limit to Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)'s limits. Therefore, this study aims to find out what impact this change in environmental policy towards PM has on state economy in the long run. Future PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations were estimated using multiple linear regression based on gross regional product (GRP) and population growth parameters. Dose-response model was based on World Health Organization's approach for the identification of mortality, morbidity and healthcare costs due to air pollution. Analysis of concentrations revealed that only 6 out of 21 cities of Kazakhstan did not exceed the EU limit on PM10 concentration. Changing environmental standards resulted in the 71.7% decrease in mortality and 77% decrease in morbidity cases in all cities compared to the case without changes in environmental policy. Moreover, the cost of morbidity and mortality associated with air pollution decreased by $669 million in 2030 and $2183 million in 2050 in case of implementation of OECD standards. Thus, changing environmental regulations will be beneficial in terms of both of mortality reduction and state budget saving.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.93-98
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• 2022

Background: This study aims to derive the characteristics of each work type for industrial radiography based on empirical evidence through expert advice and a survey of radiation workers of various types of industrial radiography. Materials and Methods: According to a Korean report, work types of industrial radiography are classified into indoor tests, underground pipe tests, tests in a shielded room (radiographic testing [RT] room test), outdoor field tests, and outdoor large structure tests. For each work type, exposure geometry and radiation sources were mainly identified through the expert advice and workers' survey as reliable empirical evidence. Results and Discussion: The expert advice and survey results were consistent as the proportion of the work types were high in the order of RT room test, outdoor large structure test, underground pipe test, outdoor field test, and indoor test. The outdoor large structure test is the highest exposure risk work type in the industrial radiography. In most types of industrial radiography, radiation workers generally used ¹⁹²Ir as the main source. In the results of the survey, the portion of sources was high in the order of ¹⁹²Ir, X-ray generator, ⁶⁰Co, and ⁷⁵Se. As the exposure geometry, the antero-posterior geometry is dominant, and the rotational and isotropic geometry should be also considered with the work type. Conclusion: In this study, through expert advice and a survey, the external exposure characteristics for each work type of industrial radiography workers were derived. This information will be used in the reconstruction of organ dose for health effects assessment of Korean radiation workers.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2022

Persistent hiccups persist for more than 48 hours. Those can often occur in cancer patients after chemotherapy or high dose of corticosteroids. A 52-year-old male patient undergoing Non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC), recently suffered presistent hiccups and dyspnea. He was treated with herbal medicine for 56days and acupuncture for 9days. No side effects were observed during treatment. The severity of hiccups was measured in every hospital visit and psychometric symptoms were evaluated periodically through the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System(ESAS). The severity of hiccups and psychometric symptoms were alleviated and the effect persisted during the treatment. The patient took no other nervous system drugs in the end of the treatment. In conclusion, Korean medicine like Hyeongbangjihwang-tang and Jeongcheonhwadamgangki-tang can be effective for patients with persistent hiccups and dyspnea who cannot use alternative drugs or treatment because of other complications.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.228-239
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• 2022

Purpose: To compare the effectiveness, tolerability, acceptability, and safety of sodium picosulphate with magnesium citrate (PS/Mg) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) in children (≤18 years) preparing for colonoscopy. Methods: Three electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) were searched till July 2020. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. At least two authors independently selected studies and performed risk of bias assessment and data extraction. Results: Four RCTs (n=390), with overall good quality were included. A meta-analysis of two trials (n=224) found no statistically significant difference between the groups with respect to the proportion of patients who had excellent and good scores (≥6 points) according to the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (relative risk: 0.99; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.90 to 1.08). Excellent and good scores were observed in both groups in approximately 90% of children. A meta-analysis of two other trials (n=150) showed no significant difference between the groups with respect to the mean total score for the Ottawa Bowel Preparation Scale (mean difference: 0.20; 95% CI: -0.74 to 1.14). Both regimens provided a comparable safety profile; however, PS/Mg was significantly superior to high volume PEG in terms of tolerability (abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, bloating/flatulence/fullness) and acceptability (ease of formulation consumption, taste acceptance, need for nasogastric tube, compliance with full dose). Conclusion: PS/Mg provides a quality and safety profile similar to PEG for bowel cleansing; however, it has better acceptance and tolerance in children preparing for colonoscopy.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.25-39
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• 2021

Objectives: Ssanghwa-tang (SHT) is a traditional herbal formula comprising nine medicinal herbs, and it is used for reducing fatigue in Korea. SHT exerts various effects such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-aging activities, and protection against acute hepatotoxicity. However, the genotoxicity of SHT has not yet been established. Methods: Ten components were identified in SHT water extract by using high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. We assessed the genotoxicity of SHT by using bacterial reverse mutation (Ames test), chromosome aberration, and in vivo micronucleus tests. Results: The contents of paeoniflorin, glycyrrhizin, and liquiritin apioside in SHT were 15.57, 6.94, and 3.48 mg/g extract, respectively. SHT did not increase the revertant colonies of Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli strains in the presence or absence of metabolic activity. Although SHT did not induce structurally abnormal chromosomes in Chinese hamster lung (CHL) cells in the presence of metabolic activity, the number of structurally aberrated chromosomes increased dose-dependently in the absence of metabolic activity. In the in vivo micronucleus test, SHT did not affect the formation of micronuclei compared with the vehicle control. Conclusions: Genotoxicity of SHT was not observed in the Ames test and in vivo micronucleus test. However, based on the results of chromosome aberration test, it can be presumed that SHT has the potential to induce genotoxicity because it induced structurally abnormal chromosomes in the absence of metabolic activity.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2002.09a
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• pp.450-453
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• 2002

In radiotherapy treatment planning, it is critical to deliver the radiation dose to tumor and protect surrounding normal tissue. Recent developments in functional imaging and radiotherapy treatment technology have been raising chances to control tumor saving normal tissues. A brain phantom which could be used for image registration technique of CT-MR and CT-SPECT images using surface matching was developed. The brain phantom was specially designed to obtain imaging dataset of CT, MR, and SPECT. The phantom had an external frame with 4 N-shaped pipes filled with acryl rods, Pb rods for CT, MR, and SPECT imaging, respectively. 8 acrylic pipes were inserted into the empty space of the brain phantom to be imaged for geometric evaluation of the matching. For an optimization algorithm of image registration, we used Downhill simplex algorithm suggested as a fast surface matching algorithm. Accuracy of image fusion was assessed by the comparison between the center points of the section of N-shaped bars in the external frame and the inserted pipes of the phantom and minimized cost functions of the optimization algorithm. Technique with partially transparent, mixed images using color on gray was used for visual assessment of the image registration process. The errors of image registration of CT-MR and CT-SPECT were within 2mm and 4mm, respectively. Since these errors were considered within a reasonable margin from the phantom study, the phantom is expected to be used for conventional image registration between multimodal image datasets..