• Women's Health Nursing
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.217-230
• /
• 1998

The purpose of this descriptive correlational study was to define the relationship between the experience of Sanhuujori, Korean traditional non-professional postpartal care after delivery and abortion and present health status of chronic arthritis female patient who visited to outpatient clinic of rheumatic internal medicine at a hospital located in Seoul, Korea. A convenience sample of 64 women who orally agreed to be a participant and data were collected form October 1996 to May, 1997 for sis months by way of interview with semistructured questionnaire. The data were analyzed by the SPSS pc program using t-test, ANOVA and Scheffe test as a post hoc and Pearson Correlation Coefficient. The results of the study were as follows ; Mean age of participants was 53.2 years and mean number of children was 3.1. Mean frequency of abortion was 2.1 times per woman. Seventy four percentage of respondents did not have Sanhujori after abortion. The mean period of Sanhujori after delivery was 17.7, 15.2, 13.8 days from the first child to third child and shorter than that of general woman such as 20.0, 19.0, 17.3 days in the previous study. On the subjective evaluation of whether the women did Sanhujori well or not, the rate of 'did Sanhujori wrongly' was the highest rank in each child where as general woman 'did Sanhujori well' at the first child, 'moderate' at the second and third child and 'did Sanhujori wrongly' at the 4th and fifth child. The health status implies both subjective health status women perceived and the rate of complaints of physical symptom distress women are experiencing presently. The respondents of 82.5% perceived them as unhealthy or sick and 68.9% of women complained more than two symptoms. Mean number of physical symptom distress women complained was 2.33. The main sites of physical symptom distress were upper & lower extremities 69.1% including knee and hand, whole body 19.1%, neck 3.7%, waist & shoulders 2.7% respectively. The characteristics of the symptoms were mostly pain 60%, swelling 19.8%, rigidity & deformity 7.9% respectively, sensation of heat 6.8% and weakness 1.7%. Women perceived the etiology of the chronic arthritis as stress 25.8%, 'did Sanhujori wrongly' & overwork 23.4% respectively, genetic 12.9%, malnutrition, 4.8%, and aging process 3.2%. There were significant positive correlation between subjective health status and the period of Sanhujori after delivery of the second child(r=-0.22) and negative correlation with the number of child at the level of 5% of significance statistically(r=0.27). There were significant negative correlation between the rate of complaints of physical symptom distress and the subjective evaluation whether she did Sanhujori well or not at the level of 5% of significance statistically(r=-0.23). And the rate of complaints of physical symptom distress in the group of women who experienced abortion was significantly higher than that of women who did not experience it at the level of 5% significance statistically(t=2.00) In conclusion, this finding reconfirmed the possible relationship between health status of chronic arthritis female patient and the experience of Sanhujori after delivery & abortion. It provides a challenge to the professional care givers to research further on the effects of Sanhujori on the health status, health recovery after abortion or delivery from the various aspects through the crosssectional and longitudinal research for the refinement of the reality of not only as cultural phenomenon but as conceptual model for the appropriateness of intervention and quality of care for desirable health outcomes.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.113-142
• /
• 2018

In recent years, there have been opinions in which physicians are liable to the revocation of their medical license if they are sentenced to above a certain level for criminal charges regardless of the types of offenses. Accordingly, a revised bill of law was submitted in the National Assembly, and related discussions are thus expected to commence. Considering the morality and ethics or the level of the rule of law that the general public expects of physicians, as well as the license revocation system in other professional sectors, it is assessed that medical license revocation due to criminal convictions of physicians is appropriate to some degree. However, if a poorly devised system is established based on unrefined inferences or emotional judgements, unexpected side-effects are likely to arise. With regard to serious criminal acts that society generally perceives as unacceptable, it can be assessed that the revocation of physicians' licenses would appropriately protect the general public from threats. However, given the life-saving characteristics of high-risk medical practices, higher malpractice exposures, and social values, it is difficult to assess charges of professional negligence resulting in death(or in injury) and minor offences in the same manner as anti-social criminal offences are handled. Physicians need to be treated the same as any other professions. At the same time, they are engaged in administering medical treatment to patients in the face of great risks as professionals. Under the circumstances, a discussion on the introduction of a more specific and empirical system is needed by considering the intrinsic characteristics of medical treatment and the need for an equitable health and medical policy. Accordingly, based on the above judgment and perception, this study explores the code of ethics for physicians and medical license revocation related to criminal offences at home and abroad, and examines various legislative alternatives appropriate for the Republic of Korea. In doing so, the purpose of the study is to contribute to the development of a reasonable system for handling criminal offences by physicians.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.43 no.3
• /
• pp.224-232
• /
• 2010

The prevalence of heart failure (HF) is increasing globally and growing evidence has shown that dietary factors play an important role in preventing and improving prognosis of HF. However, little data on nutrient intake in Korean HF patients which are available to develop dietary guidelines for HF. The aims of this study were to estimate nutrient intake in 78 HF patients and evaluate whether the estimated nutrient intake is appropriate compared to dietary reference intake for Koreans. Data are presented as the ratio of actual intake and estimated average requirement (EAR) for each nutrient. The result showed that the average nutrient intakes including total energy and protein met EAR in total patients. However, the deficiencies in mineral and vitamin intakes were found. Moreover, the proportion of subjects with lower intake than EAR was substantial. The results showed that the proportion of male HF patients with inferior intakes to EAR in calcium, potassium (compared to adequate intake: AI), folate and vitamin $B_{12}$ were 38%, 79%, 38%, and 65%, respectively. Also, the proportion of female HF patients with inferior intakes to EAR in calcium, potassium (compared to AI), folate and vitamin $B_{12}$ were 35%, 88%, 38% and 40%, respectively. In particular, the elderly with HF ($\geq$ 70 yrs, n = 28) showed more serious deficiencies in calcium, potassium (compared to AI), folate and vitamin $B_{12}$. In summary, the intakes of potassium, calcium, folate, and vitamin B12 were not sufficient to meet EAR in HF patients. Furthermore, the proportions of subjects with lower intake than EAR in these nutrients were substantial, raising the possibility that these micronutrients may be involved in the pathogenesis of HF. Practical dietary guideline for HF patients is needed to improve prognosis of HF.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.10-17
• /
• 2001

Purpose: We measured anti-H. pylori IgG in Korean elementary school children living in Shinchon area of Seoul, Korea to evaluate the influence of environmental living standards on H. pylori infection. Methods: IgG antibodies to H. pylori were measured in plasma using a commercial ELISA kit (GAP IgG Helicobacter pylori, Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc., Hercules, CA, USA). Information on environmental status such as place of birth, parental income, type of housing, number of persons in the household, parents' occupation, family history of peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer was obtained. Statistical analysis was done by Chi-square and logistic regression test using SPSS $7.0^{TM}$ for Windows. Results: Study subjects consisted of 571 children, and the age distribution ranged from 6.0 to 13.6 years with a mean of $9.6{\pm}1.8$ years. Male-to-female ratio was 1.1:1. The seropositive rates of H. pylori infection ranged from 10.4% in children aged 6 years to 30.9% in 12 year-old group, overall 16.8%. The prevalence of H. pylori infection progressively increased with age, but there was no significant difference in seropositive rates among children in different age groups (p=0.06). Seropositive rates of anti-H. pylori IgG on the basis of gender, place of birth, parental income, type of housing, parents' occupation, family history of peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer showed no statistically significant difference. Interestingly, however, seropositive rate of anti-H. pylori IgG showed statistical significance in relation to number of persons in the household (p=0.003; Odds ratio 1.50 by logistic regression test). Conclusion: These results suggest that number of persons in the household is the most important factor among environmental living standards, and that risk of H. pylori infection increases by increment of 1.5 times as the number of persons in the household increases by one.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.25 no.6
• /
• pp.428-442
• /
• 2004

Dustfall samples were collected by the modified American dust jar (bulk type) at 5 sampling sites in the Nakdong river area from lune 2002 to May 2003. Nineteen chemical species (Al, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Si, V, Zn, $Cl^-$, $NO_3^-$, $SO_4^{2-}$, and $NH_4^+$) were analyzed via the combination of ICP/AES, AAS, IC and UV. The purposes of this study were to qualitatively evaluate the chemical composition of dustfalls by examining their regional and seasonal distribution patterns. Computation of the enrichment factor showed that well-defined anthropogenic sources, particularly in Pb were found in the order Gamjeondong (industrial area), Wondong, Silla University, Samrangiin and Mulgum. The seasonal mean of soil contribution showed its highest value (16.3%) during the winter with an annual mean of 11.2%. The concentration ratio of [$SO_4^{2-}/NO_3^-$] was found to be highest (5.12) during the winter, while the lowest ratio value (3.30) was seen during the all. fall, Also regional equivalent ratios of [$SO_4^{2-}/NO_3^-$] were found in the order: Silla University (6.78), Gamjeondong (4.98), Mulgum (3.95), Wondong (3.85), and Samrangjin (2.87). Seasonal distribution of water soluble components for total dustfall were found in the order: spring (71.6%), summer (61.2%), fall (49.2%) and winter (48.6%) with a mean ratio of 57.6%. Regional contribution of sea salts of water soluble ions were found in the order: Silla university (34.5%), Gamjeondong (28.3%), Wondong (17.3%), Samrangiin (17.2%) and Mulgum (13.8%), the total mean contribution rate was 22.1%. As for the chemical composition of dustftll on the lower Nakdong river, there is a decreased influence of sea salt and artificial anthropogenic sources and increased influence of soil particle inland. Also, the total amount of deposition on the lower Nakdong river has decreased, with the river's surface serving as a confounding factor in resuspending dusts.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.49 no.3
• /
• pp.271-278
• /
• 2017

This study was performed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of aluminum chloride ($AlCl_3$), and the protective effect of Lonicerae flos (LF) extract on $AlCl_3-induced$ cytotoxicity in the cultured C6 glioma cells. Here, the cell viability and antioxidative effects, such as DPPH-radical scavenging activity, superoxide anion scavenging activity, and lipid peroxidation (LP), were assessed. $AlCl_3$ significantly decreased the cell viability in a dose-dependent manner; the $XTT_{50}$ value was measured at $128.8{\mu}M$ of $AlCl_3$. The cytotoxicity of $AlCl_3$ was determined as highly toxic the y Borenfreund and Puerner's toxic criteria. The butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and antioxidant both significantly increased the cell viability, which was damaged by $AlCl_3-induced$ cytotoxicity in these cultures. In the protective effect of LF extract on $AlCl_3-induced$ cytotoxicity, the LF extract significantly increased the superoxide anion scavenging activity and inhibitory activity of LP, as well as the DPPH-radical scavenging activity. From these results, it is suggested that the oxidative stress may have been involved in the cytotoxicity of $AlCl_3$, and LP extract effectively protected $AlCl_3-induced$ cytotoxicity through the antioxidative effects. Conclusively, the natural resources, like LP extract, may be a putative therapeutic agent for the treatment of dementia induced by allergen like aluminum correlated with the oxidative stress.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.209-218
• /
• 1999

Objectives : The aims of this study were to discriminate the clinical differences, to measure the estrogen and homovanillic acid levels, to evaluate a correlation between estrogen and homovanillic acid, and to identify an association of cognitive deficit with estrogen and homovanillic acid among male and female schizophrenics. Methods : In addition to the structured interviews, the plasma estrogen levels by radioimmunoassay and the homovanillic acid levels by HPLC were measured in 20 male and 21 female schizophrenics as well as 10 healthy male and 9 female controls. Results : 1) The plasma estrogen levels were higher in females than males, and significantly higher in female schizophenics than female controls. The homovanillic acid levels were higher in female schizophrenics than female controls, and were lower in male schizophrenics than male controls. 2) The onset age seemed to be earlier in male schizophrenics, and the frequency of admission, duration of antipsychotic drug administration, dosage of antipsychotics and duration of illnesses were more in males. The estrogen and homovanillic acid levels were significantly higher in female schizophrenics. 3) The estrogen levels had a significant positive correlation with sex, age and onset age, while the homovanillic acid levels did with sex. However, estrogen were not correlated with homovanillic acid levels. 4) The estrogen and homovanillic acid levels were not significantly different between male and female schizophrenics with cognitive deficits. In the schizophrenic patients without cognitive deficits, the estrogen levels were significantly higher in females, while there were no significant sex differences in homovanillic acid. 5) In the male and female schizophrenics predominantly with negative symptoms, there were no significant differences in estrogen and homovanillic acid levels. In those predominantly with positive symptoms, the estrogen levels were significantly higher in females, while there were no sex differences in homovanillic acid levels. 6) In schizophrenics with undifferentiated subtype, the estrogen and homovanillic acid levels were significantly higher in females. In those with paranoid or disorganized subtypes, the estrogen levels were significantly higher in females, while there were no sex differences in the homovanillic acid levels. 7) The mean values of PANSS-negative, PANSS-total, PANSS-CF, MMSE-K and estrogen levels were significantly higher in male schizophrenics with cognitive deficits. The mean values of illness duration, CGI, PANSS-positive, PANSS-negative, PANSS-total, PANSS-CF and MMSE-K were significantly higher in female schizophrenics with cognitive deficits. 8) The variables which showed significant correlation with cognitive deficits were PANSS-negative, PANSS-total, PANSS-CF, MMSE-K and estrogen levels in male schizophrenics. The variables which showed significant correlation with cognitive deficits were subtypes, onset age, illness durataion, CGI, PANSS-positive, PANSS-negative, PANSS-total, PANMSS-CF and MMSE-K in female schizophrenics. The estrogen levels were significantly correlated with admission frequencies, history of antipsychotic administration, duration of antipsychotic administration and cognitive deficits in male schizophrenics, while age were not correlated with in females. The homovanillic acid levels had a significant correlation with subtypes and onset age in male schizophrenics, while there were no correlation among variables in females. Conclusions : Although the plasma concentrations of estrogen and homovanillic acid in female schizophrenics were significantly higher than males, we could not find an association between them. Furthermore, the various factors affecting on the cognitive deficits, estrogen and homovanillic acid levels seemed to be somewhat different according to sex.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.143-174
• /
• 2019

Our Constitution obliges the state to protect the health of the people, and the Medical Law, which embodied Constitution, sets out in detail the matters related to open the medical institution, and one of them is to prohibit the operation of multiple medical institutions. By the way, virtually multiple medical institutions could be opened and operated because the Supreme Court had interpreted that several medical institutions could be opened if medical activities were not performed directly at the additional medical institution which was opened under the another doctor's license. However, some health care providers opened the several medical institutions with another doctor's license for the purpose of the maximization of profit, and did illegal medical cares like the unfair luring of patients, over-treatment, and commission treatment. Also, realistic problems such as the infringed health rights have arisen. Accordingly, lawmakers had come to amend the Medical Law to readjust the system of opening for medical institution so that medical personnel could not open or operate more than one medical institution for any reason. For this reason, the Constitutional Court recently declared a constitutional decision through a long period of in-depth deliberation because the constitutional petition and the adjudication on the constitutionality of statutes had been filed on whether Article 33 paragraph 8 of the revised medical law is unconstitutional. The Constitutional Court acknowledged the "justice of purpose" in view of the importance of public medical institutions, of the prevention from seduction of for-profit patients and from over-treatment, and of the fact that health care should not be the object of commercial transactions. Given the risk that medical personnel might be subject to outside capital, the concern that the holder of the medical institution's opening certificate and the actual operator may be separated, the principle that the human body and life should not be just a means, and the current system's inability to identify over-treatment, it also acknowledged the 'minimum infringement'. Furthermore, The Constitutional Court judged it is constitutional in compliance with the principle of restricting fundamental rights, such as 'balance of legal interests'. In this regard, legislative complements are needed in order to effectively prevent the for-profit management and the over-treatment the Constitutional Court is concerned about. In this regard, consumer groups actively support the need for legislation, and health care providers groups also agree on the need for legislation. Therefore, the legislators should respect the recent Constitutional Court's decision and in the near future complete the complementary legislation to reflect the people's interests.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.87-111
• /
• 1998

For the newly approach of policy with the old aged era at hand, the result which examines the 1,200 students attending professional colleges and upward in three small-to-medium sized cities, for two months, from October 1, 1996 to November 30, in order to know the change of consciousness of the growing modern young intellectual age group is as follows. 1. The objects of survey consist of 72.1% of women, 40.4% of 20 to 21 age, 49.1% of atheists, and people from big cities and fishing and agrarian village occupy equally 40.2%. Concerning the long-termed residents, 49% of them dwell in big cities. In case of the parents' age is more than 55, 31.5% in fathers, and 10.9% in mothers. 2. The types of housing in which they desire to reside in their getting older are : 72.8% of them hope to live in individual houses, 16.6% in apartments or villas, and 3.4% in social welfare facilities. Out of respondents, compared with other groups, man rather than woman, those who are 20 to 21 age group and from fishing and agrarian villages and have over 7 family members and live with their parents have a higher preference for independent houses. 3. The districts in which they hope to live when they are old are : 41.6% of them, with the highest percent, hope to live in farming villages, the older they are, the more they hope to live in agricultural district, and women of 21 years and upward hope to live in big cities. On the other hand, the preferable degree for social welfare facilities is higher each in people who are 24 years and upward, buddhists, self-boarding students, and the more poorly they are off, the higher the percent is. 4. The types of preferable welfare facilities for the elderly are : 58.2% of them think silver towns desirable, 28.4% think the charged (or free) elderly welfare facilities. Compared with other groups, the percentage which prefer silver towns is higher in women, people from big cities, residents of main family, long-termed city residents, people with higher income, people having grandparents alive, and people who had experience of taking lectures on hygienics or social welfare. 5. 50.3% of the respondents insist that provision of living expenses against old age should be insured by social security system, and 42.8% by the elderly themselves. The percentage of the former shows higher in people of 21 years and upward, women, residents of fishing and agrarian villages, christians, people in more needy circumstances and people who have experience of using a medical institution. 6. Compared with other nations, 54.5% of the respondents have an opinion that elderly welfare and welfare work in Korea stays in insufficient level and most of them are women, people from farming village, residents of head family, people having younger parents and people being worse health condition, and they have a more positive attitude about the elderly welfare work. 7. 92.3% of the respondents answered that a national budget for the elderly welfare is scarce, and the percentage is higher in people who are older, residents of big cities, people in lower living condition and people in worse health condition. 8. 35.2% of the respondents answered that the proper cost of their old age must be over 220mi11ion. The more a family's total income is, the higher the percentage is. 9. The factors which have an effect on the preference of silver towns are sex(p<0.01, the type of the present residence(p<0.05), and a family's total income(p<0.05). 10. From the survey result of the above, we comes to the conclusion that, for the sake of welfare of the increasing elderly population, government authorities and parties concerned must exert their utmost for the elderly welfare by increasing a budget of it and establishing a number of facilities of the elderly welfare and silver towns located in fresh and comfortable villages. In addition, they have to set up a course of hygienics in all the colleges and instruct the contexts on hygienic welfare as well.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.147-161
• /
• 2004

Objectives: There are many habitual drinking in rural area. So it is the key point of drinking control policy in rural community to understand the drinking behavior in leisure time and to have an appropriate screening method for problem drinking. CAGE and AUDIT are famous screening tools for problem drinking and alcoholics. Even though there are some studies to validate CAGE and AUDIT which translated in Korean, they were not studied with community based population but with hospital based patients. In this study we assessed the usefulness of CAGE and AUDIT for selecting problem drinking in a rural population, and compared problem drinkers with normal group about spending leisure, Methods: The study subjects were 120 residents over 20 years old who lived in 3 districts in Dong-San Myun near Chun-chon city. We made up questionnaire by interview from Feb. 13 to 19, 2004. Results: The mean age of study population was 66.01 .26 years old. Defining the problem drinking as more than 12 score in AUDIT and more than 2 score in CAGE, the proportion of problem drinker was 30.600 and 28.9% respectively. This proportions were higher than those of other national wide studies. There were significant difference in drinking frequency per week and amount per one episode between problem drinker and normal group. Experience about driving, accident, injury, disturbance in working and quarrel after drinking were also significantly different. Problem drinker were more tolerable to the bad social culture about drinking (eg. force to drink, bad drunken habit. overdrinking, drinking relay etc.) than normal group. Watching TV and playing with neighborhood were most frequent method of spending leisure in this study population, normal male group exercised more frequently in leisure time than problem drinker. Conclusions: It may be useful to use CAGE and AUDIT score for screening problem drinking in rural community. Appropriate utilization of leisure time may he important for control of problem drinking in rural area.