• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.1747-1753
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• 2013

Background: It is projected that low and middle-income countries will bear a major burden of tobacco related morbidity and mortality, yet, only limited information is available on the determinants of smoking initiation among youth in Africa. This study aimed to assess the determinants of smoking initiation and susceptibility to future smoking among a population of high school school students in Lagos, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Baseline data from an intervention study designed to assess the effect of an anti-smoking awareness program on the knowledge, attitudes and practices of adolescents was analyzed. The survey was carried out in six randomly selected public and private secondary schools in local government areas in Lagos state, Nigeria. A total of 973 students completed self-administered questionnaires on smoking initiation, health related knowledge and attitudes towards smoking, susceptibility to future smoking and other factors associated with smoking. Results: Of the respondents, 9.7% had initiated smoking tobacco products with the predominant form being cigarettes (7.3%). Males (OR: 2.77, 95%CI: 1.65-4.66) and those with more pro-smoking attitudes (OR: 1.44, 95%CI: 1.34-1.54) were more likely to have initiated smoking. Those with parents and friends who are smokers were 3.47 (95%CI: 1.50-8.05) and 2.26 (95%CI: 1.27-4.01) times more likely to have initiated smoking. Non-smoking students, in privately owned schools (OR: 5.08), with friends who smoke (5.09), with lower knowledge (OR: 0.87) and more pro-smoking attitudes (OR 1.13) were more susceptible to future smoking. In addition, respondents who had been sent to purchase cigarettes by an older adult (OR: 3.68) were also more susceptible to future smoking. Conclusions: Being male and having parents who smoke are predictors of smoking initiation among these students. Consistent with findings in other countries, peers not only influence smoking initiation but also influence smoking susceptibility among youth in this African setting. Prevention programs designed to reduce tobacco use among in-school youth should take these factors into consideration. In line with the recommendations of article 16 of the WHO FCTC, efforts to enforce the ban on the sales of cigarettes to minors should be also emphasised.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.340-349
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a hand massage program on anxiety, vital sign and pain in clients with ischemic heart disease. The design utilized for this study was quasi-experimental with a nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design The subjects were fifty-four patients, twenty-eight for the experimental and twenty-six for the control group, who were admitted with ischemic heart diease at a cardiac intensive care unit in K medical center of K university. This study was carried out from May, 1999 to March, 2000. The level of anxiety and pain measured by Visual Analogue Scale, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and pulse rate were measured before and after hand massage, the state of Anxiety was measured by the Spielberger (1970) scale at admission and after hand massage for three days. The collected data were processed by using the SPSS PC program and analyzed using $\chi^2$-test and t-test. The result of this study are as follows : 1. The scores of VAS anxiety and State of anxiety of the experimental group were lower than those of the control group. 2. The degree of systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and pulse rate of the experimental group were lower than that of the control group. 3. The score of VAS pain of the experimental group was lower than that of the control group. The results suggested that hand massage can decrease VAS anxiety, State of anxiety, vital signs and VAS pain of patients who were admitted with ischemic heart disease at cardiac intensive care unit Therefore, it is proposed that hand massage is an appropriate nursing intervention to relieve anxiety of the patients who were admitted with ischemic heart disease at a cardiac intensive care unit.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.421-430
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• 2020

This study aimed to investigate whether mass drug administration (MDA) intervention has an equivalent effect on reducing the prevalence and intensity of Schistosoma haematobium infection regardless of the baseline values. A repeated cross-sectional survey was performed targeting students of 12 primary schools in Al Jabalain and El Salam districts of White Nile State, Sudan, at both 1 week before and 8 months after the MDA. Prior to the baseline survey, schoolaged children in Al Jabalain had received MDA interventions twice in 4 years, while those in El Salam had not. The baseline prevalence was 9.1% in Al Jabalain and 35.2% in El Salam, which were reduced to 1.8% and 5.5% at 8 months after the MDA, respectively. The corresponding reduction rates were 80.3% and 84.4%, not significant difference between both districts. However, changes in the geometric mean intensity (GMI) of egg counts were significantly different between both districts. The baseline GMIs were 14.5 eggs per 10 ml of urine (EP10) in Al Jabalain and 18.5 EP10 in El Salam, which were reduced to 7.1 and 11.2 EP10 after treatment, respectively. The corresponding reduction rates were 51.0% and 39.5%. In conclusion, MDA interventions were found to bring about similar relative reduction in prevalence regardless of the baseline value; however, the relative reduction in infection intensity was more salient in the district with a low baseline value for both prevalence and intensity. This clearly points to the importance of repeated MDA interventions in endemic areas, which will eventually contribute to schistosomiasis elimination.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.314-322
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to investigate the state projects related to psychological sentiment for child and youth in Korea, examine the current status of art treatment-related projects for child and youth, and seek ways to improve them, focusing on projects supported by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The results examined through this study were firstly, mental health promotion projects conducted in the public sector in Korea are mainly carried out on consignment to affiliated organizations, and are promoted not only for diagnosis, mediation, and therapeutic intervention but also for care and prevention. Second, psychological and emotional support projects are being attempted with various approaches such as reading, playing, gardening, and art, and art therapy is actively used as a part of art programs. In addition, it is suggested that the government should provide efficient welfare and utilize it as a common goal through linkage and cooperation with other ministries for the continuous and stable implementation of state-led psychological support projects. In addition, it is hoped that this research will be used as a research material to explore specific strategies for effectiveness of national policy projects on the overall psychological sentiment of child and youth.

• Journal of Naturopathy
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.14-23
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• 2024

Background: Binaural beats frequencies, measured in Hertz (Hz), are applied to induce optimal brainwave states and activate mental and physical relaxation through brainwave entrainment. Therefore, an exploration of the interrelation between binaural beats, brain synchronization, and the tranquility of mind and body, including meditative brainwaves, is necessary. Purposes: This study aims to investigate the mechanisms of binaural beats and brainwave resonance, along with brain synchronicity, and how sound frequencies (Hz) relate to relaxation, meditative brainwaves, and overall mental and physical tranquility. Methods: Through a literature review of existing research and materials, this study examines: first, binaural beats and the Brain-Sync process; second, the induction of relaxation through resonance and brainwaves; third, the stabilization of brainwaves and entrainment phenomena with binaural beats and sound; fourth, the relationship between binaural beats and meditative music. Results: Binaural beats facilitate the synchronization of brainwaves through the Brain-Sync process, particularly activating relaxation-related brainwaves such as alpha (α), theta (θ), and delta (δ), thereby inducing a meditative state. This is based on the mechanism where brainwaves synchronize with specific frequency vibrations, leading to deep meditation or relaxation states. Thus, specific sound frequencies play a significant intermediary role in inducing a sustained and stable meditative brainwave state, beyond mere psychological and physiological relaxation responses. Conclusion: This study explores the characteristics of binaural beats through the interaction between brainwave resonance and synchronization, examining the role of sound frequency vibrations as a significant intervention method contributing to mental and physical comfort and brainwave stability. It suggests the need for systematic intermediary processes in the healthcare domain and various research areas to verify the short-term/long-term effects and the necessity for extensive research on meditative frequency sound interventions.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.31-57
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• 1991

Korean firms of all sizes, from virtually every industry, have used and are using the term "excessive competition" to describe the state of their industry and to call for government interventions. Moreover, the Korean government has frequently responded to such calls in various ways favorable to the firms, such as controlling entry, curbing capacity investments, or allowing collusion. Despite such interventions' impact on the overall efficiency on the Korean economy as well as on the wealth distribution among diverse groups of economic agents, the term "excessive competition", the basis for the interventions, has so far escaped rigorous scrutiny. The objective of this paper is to clarify the notion of "excessive competition" and "over-investment" which usually accompanies "excessive competition", and to examine the circumstances under which they might occur. We first survey the cases where the terms are most widely used and proceed to examine those cases to determine if competition is indeed excessive, and if so, what causes "excessive competition". Our main concern deals with the case in which the firms must make investment decisions that involve large sunk costs while facing uncertain demand. In order to analyze this case, we developed a two period model of capacity precommitment and the ensuing competition. In the first period, oligopolistic firms make capacity investments that are irreversible. Demand is uncertain in period 1 and only the distribution is known. Thus, firms must make investment decisions under uncertainty. In the second period, demand is realized, and the firms compete with quantity under realized demand and capacity constraints. In the above setting, we find that there is "no over-investment," en ante, and there is "no excessive competition," ex post. As measured by the information available in period 1, expected return from investment of a firm is non-negative, overall industry capacity does not exceed the socially optimal level, and competition in the second period yields an outcome that gives each operating firm a non-negative second period profit. Thus, neither "excessive competition" nor "over-investment" is possible. This result will generally hold true if there is no externality and if the industry is not a natural monopoly. We also extend this result by examining a model in which the government is an active participant in the game with a well defined preference. Analysis of this model shows that over-investment arises if the government cannot credibly precommit itself to non-intervention when ex post idle capacity occurs, due to socio-political reasons. Firms invest in capacities that exceed socially optimal levels in this case because they correctly expect that the government will find it optimal for itself to intervene once over-investment and ensuing financial problems for the firms occur. Such planned over-investment and ensuing government intervention are the generic problems under the current system. These problems are expected to be repeated in many industries in years to come, causing a significant loss of welfare in the long run. As a remedy to this problem, we recommend a non-intervention policy by the government which creates and utilizes uncertainty. Based upon an argument which is essentially the same as that of Kreps and Wilson in the context of a chain-store game, we show that maintaining a consistent non-intervention policy will deter a planned over-investment by firms in the long run. We believe that the results obtained in this paper has a direct bearing on the public policies relating to many industries including the petrochemical industry that is currently in the center of heated debates.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.621-630
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• 2019

Objective: To study the prevalence and clinical characteristics of decreased myocardial blood flow (MBF) quantified by dynamic computed tomography (CT) myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) in symptomatic patients without in-stent restenosis. Materials and Methods: Thirty-seven (mean age, 71.3 ± 10 years; age range, 48-88 years; 31 males, 6 females) consecutive symptomatic patients with patent coronary stents and without obstructive de novo lesions were prospectively enrolled to undergo dynamic CT-MPI using a third-generation dual-source CT scanner. The shuttle-mode acquisition technique was used to image the complete left ventricle. A bolus of contrast media (50 mL; iopromide, 370 mg iodine/mL) was injected into the antecubital vein at a rate of 6 mL/s, followed by a 40-mL saline flush. The mean MBF value and other quantitative parameters were measured for each segment of both stented-vessel territories and reference territories. The MBF_ratio was defined as the ratio of the mean MBF value of the whole stent-vessel territory to that of the whole reference territory. An MBF_ratio of 0.85 was used as the cut-off value to distinguish hypoperfused from non-hypoperfused segments. Results: A total of 629 segments of 37 patients were ultimately included for analysis. The mean effective dose of dynamic CT-MPI was 3.1 ± 1.2 mSv (range, 1.7-6.3 mSv). The mean MBF of stent-vessel territories was decreased in 19 lesions and 81 segments. Compared to stent-vessel territories without hypoperfusion, the mean MBF and myocardial blood volume were markedly lower in hypoperfused stent-vessel territories (77.5 ± 16.6 mL/100 mL/min vs. 140.4 ± 24.1 mL/100 mL/min [p < 0.001] and 6.4 ± 3.7 mL/100 mL vs. 11.5 ± 4 mL/100 mL [p < 0.001, respectively]). Myocardial hypoperfusion in stentvessel territories was present in 48.6% (18/37) of patients. None of clinical parameters differed statistically significantly between hypoperfusion and non-hypoperfusion subgroups. Conclusion: Decreased MBF is commonly present in patients who are symptomatic after percutaneous coronary intervention, despite patent stents and can be detected by dynamic CT-MPI using a low radiation dose.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to identify the attributes of self-help groups, their antecedents and consequences relating to self-help groups. Methods: We used the Walker and Avant (2010) method using the key word "self-help groups" the Korea Education and Research Information Service (www.riss4u.net), Pubmed, CINAHL and ProQuest for articles on this topic published between January 2000 and March 2013 were searched. Ultimately, 64 domestic and 21 foreign papers were selected for in-depth analysis. Results: The attributes of self-help groups are as follows: 1) members share common experiences and are supportive of each other; 2) members set goals for individual change; 3) groups are self-monitoring; 4) groups learn problem-solving processes through voluntary and active participation; and 5) groups are small and meet regularly. The antecedents of self-help groups are as follows: 1) an intervention by an expert; 2) a diagnosis of their illness; 3) motivation to change individuals' state; and 4) educational desire. The consequences of self-help groups are the relief of symptoms, the improvement of physiological parameters and quality of life, the decrease in depression, stress, and anxiety, the improvement of illness-related knowledge and self-help activity, and a change in beliefs. Conclusion: Self-help groups can be used as an intervention strategy to help people with chronic illness manage their own problems.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.427-434
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• 2011

A scissors bite in the posterior teeth occurs when the upper teeth are positioned totally buccal to the lower teeth in centric occlusion, either unilaterally or bilaterally. This malocclusion can result from either excessive width of the maxilla or deficient width of the mandible, or sometimes combination of the both. Scissors bite, when left untreated without a proper dental intervention, interferes with the normal mandibular growth leading to a state where consequent disharmony in dental arch width evokes occlusal disturbances. Therefore, early preventive orthodontic treatment is necessary in patients with scissors bite. Scissors bite rarely involves anterior and posterior sites concuttently across the dental arch but usually affect single tooth. Even in the single tooth scissors bite cases, more likely to be met in the clinical fields, immediate dental intervention is indicated because continuous occlusal forces that exacerbate the already adverse axis of the posterior teeth. In this case study, patients with single tooth scissors bite, each 7, 14, 12, and 16 years old, were each treated with criss-cross elastic, fixed appliance, removable appliance, and miniscrews. With the proper selection of appliances appropriate to each specific cases, good treatment outcome can be achieved without resulting any side effects.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.441-446
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• 2014

Ursolic acid (UA), a type of pentacyclic triterpenoid carboxylic acid purified from natural plants, can promote skeletal muscle development. We measured the effect of resistance training (RT) with/without UA on skeletal muscle development and related factors in men. Sixteen healthy male participants (age, $29.37{\pm}5.14$ years; body mass index=$27.13{\pm}2.16kg/m^2$) were randomly assigned to RT (n=7) or RT with UA (RT+UA, n=9) groups. Both groups completed 8 weeks of intervention consisting of 5 sets of 26 exercises, with 10~15 repetitions at 60~80% of 1 repetition maximum and a 60~90-s rest interval between sets, performed 6 times/week. UA or placebo was orally ingested as 1 capsule 3 times/day for 8 weeks. The following factors were measured pre-and post-intervention: body composition, insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), irisin, and skeletal muscle strength. Body fat percentage was significantly decreased (p<0.001) in the RT+UA group, despite body weight, body mass index, lean body mass, glucose, and insulin levels remaining unchanged. IGF-1 and irisin were significantly increased compared with baseline levels in the RT+UA group (p<0.05). Maximal right and left extension (p<0.01), right flexion (p<0.05), and left flexion (p<0.001) were significantly increased compared with baseline levels in the RT+UA group. These findings suggest that UA-induced elevation of serum irisin may be useful as an agent for the enhancement of skeletal muscle strength during RT.