• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.327-339
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• 2018

This study aimed to provide basic data for establishing the clinical basis for dental hygienist-led dental hygiene process of care by identifying multiple risk factors for self-support program participants in Gangneung city; we also compared oral health status and behavioral changes through customized oral health care. Four dental hygienists who were evaluated for degree of conformity provided dental hygiene process of care to eight self-support program participants who were selected as having an oral health risk among people in the self-support center. The clinical indicators measured during dental hygiene assessment and evaluation and behavioral changes due to dental hygiene intervention were compared and analyzed. With respect to clinical indicators, at the time of probe, the retention rate of patients with gingival bleeding decreased from 61.4% to 14.7% after intervention (p=0.004). Furthermore, the retention rate of patients with a periodontal pocket >4 mm decreased from 15.6% to 5.8% (p=0.001). The average modified O'Leary index of the patients improved from 23 to 40 (p=0.002). Previously, all eight subjects used the vertical or horizontal method of brushing; after dental hygiene care interventions regarding method and frequency of toothbrushing, use of oral care products, and individual interventions, they started using the rolling or Bass method of toothbrushing. Four of eight subjects reported using interdental toothbrushes after intervention. As a result of applying the change model to the transtheoretical behavior change of the subject, the result of strengthening the health behavior was confirmed. For promotion of oral health by the prevention-centered incremental oral health care system, dental hygienist-led dental hygiene management and maintenance is essential. It is thought that continuous research, such as for feasibility evaluation, cost benefit analysis, and preparation of legal systems, is needed to establish and activate dental hygiene management.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.11
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• pp.1249-1259
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• 2009

Purpose:From a societal perspective, we evaluated the cost-effectiveness of a novel sustained-release injection of recombinant human growth hormone (GH) administered on a weekly basis compared with that of the present daily GH injection for the treatment of children with GH deficiency. Methods:Health-related utility for GH therapy was measured based on the visual analogue scale. During July 2008, caregivers of 149 children receiving GH therapy form 2 study sites participated in a web-based questionnaire survey. The survey required the caregivers to rate their current subjective utility with daily GH injections or expected utility of weekly GH injections. Because there was no difference in the costs of the daily and weekly therapies, for the purposes of this study, only drug acquisition costs were considered. Results:Switching from daily to weekly injection of GH increased the utility from 0.584 to 0.784 and incurred an extra cost of 4,060,811 Korean won (KW) per year. The incremental cost-utility ratio (ICUR) for a base case was 20,305,055 KW per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained. Scenario analyses showed that the ICUR ranged from 15,751,198 to 25,489,929 KW per QALY. Conclusion:The ICUR for a base case and worst case scenario analyses ranged from 0.85 to 1.37-times per capita gross domestic product of Korea, which is considered to be within the generally accepted willingness-to-pay threshold. Thus, it is concluded that switching from daily to weekly injection of GH would be cost-effective.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.446-454
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• 2017

Recently, there have been many studies on bulk-fill resin composites. However, studies on the proper materials for pediatric patients are rare. The aim of this study was to compare the cavity wall adaptation of bulk-fill resin composites with conventional resin composite in class II cavities of primary molars using microcomputed tomography (micro-CT). Standardized class II slot cavities were prepared in 80 exfoliated primary molars and randomly divided into 4 groups. The control group was restored with conventional resin composite, Filtek Z-350 XT (FZ), and the three groups were restored with bulk-fill resin composites, Filtek bulk-fill posterior (FB), Tetric N-Ceram Bulk Fill (TNC), Filtek bulk-fill flowable (FBF). All specimens were thermocycled and then immersed in 50% silver nitrate ($AgNO_3$) solution. Micro-CT was used to measure the penetration volume of the total silver nitrate and the degree of cervical marginal leakage and the number, size, and position of the voids were evaluated. The results revealed that the volume of silver nitrate were significantly different between FB and FZ (p < 0.05). The results also revealed that the penetration length of silver nitrate FBF showed statistically lower than the FZ and FB (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the groups in number and size of voids. In conventional resin composite, most of the voids were present inside the restoration (83.3%), but the voids in the bulk-fill resin composites incidence were higher in the gingivoaxial angle. The cavity wall adaptation demonstrated in class II restorations of primary molar by new bulk fill resin composites was similar to conventional incremental technique. Bulk-fill resin composites might be an clinical option for a faster restoration in deciduous teeth.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.335-340
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• 2017

Composite resin becomes an essential material in pediatric dentistry. However, incremental filling of composite resin to minimize the polymerization shrinkage takes time. To reduce the polymerization shrinkage, clinicians and researchers have focused on bulk-filling materials. Bulk-base composite resin is newly introduced as bulk-filling composite resin. The purpose of this study was to evaluate microhardness profile of bulk-base composite resin according to the depth of cure. A high flow bulk-base material and a low flow bulk-base material were used for experimental group, and a conventional composite resin was used for control group. Each group consist of 20 specimens, $3.5{\times}3.5{\times}5.0mm$ mold was used to make specimen. Specimens were sectioned at the 2 mm and the 3 mm depth with milling machine. Microhardness profile was measured at the surface, 2 mm depth, 3 mm depth, and 4 mm depth. Microhardness of control group showed statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) according to the polymerization depth. In contrast, experimental group showed no statistically significant difference, except between 0 mm and 4 mm at HFB, 0 mm and 2 mm, 0 mm and 3 mm at MFB. At the surface and the 2 mm depth, the control group showed higher microhardness than the experimental groups (p < 0.05). However, at the 4 mm depth, the experimental groups showed significantly higher microhardness (p < 0.05). The results from this study, the bulk-base composite resin showed higher microhardness at the 4 mm and lower microhardness at the surface and the 2 mm depth. Therefore, if bulk-base resin overcomes the mechanical weakness, it could be considered using in pediatric dentistry.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.6-13
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• 2018

Utilizing the heat of cooling water discharge of coal-fired power plant, pipeline investment costs for businesses that supply heat to agricultural facilities near power plants increase in proportion to installation distance. On one hand, the distance from the power plant is a factor that brings difficulties to secure economic efficiency. On the other, if the installation distance is short, there is a problem of securing the heating demands, facility houses, which causes economical efficiency to suffer. In this study, the economic efficiency of 1km length of standard heat pipeline was evaluated. The sensitivity of the heat pipe to the new length variation was analyzed at the level of government subsidy, amount of heating demand and the incremental rate of pipeline with additional government subsidy. As a result of the analysis, it was estimated that NPV 131 million won and IRR 15.73%. The sensitivity analysis showed that NPV was negative when the length of heat pipe facility exceeded 2.6 km. If the government supports 50% of the initial investment, the efficiency is secured within the estimated length of 5.3 km, and if it supports 80%, the length increases within 11.4 km. If the heat demand is reduced to less than 62% at the new length of the standard heat pipe, it is expected economic efficiency is not obtained. If the ratio of government subsidies to initial investment increases, the elasticity of the new bloc will increase, and the fixed investment, which is the cost of capital investment for one unit of heating demand, will decrease. This would result in a reduction in the cost of production per unit, and it would be possible to supply heat at a cheaper price level to the facility farming. Government subsidies will result in the increased economic availability of hot plumbing facilities and additional efficiencies due to increased demand. The greater government subsidies to initial investment, the less farms cost due to the decrease in the price per unit. The results of the study are significant in terms of the economic evaluation of the effectiveness of the government subsidy for the thermal power plant heat utilization project. The implication can be applied to any related pilot to come.