• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.149-157
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• 2010

Objectives: To quantify disability level in salespeople with concurrent low back pain (LBP) and to determine the relative associations between demographic, occupational, psychosocial and clinical factors and back disability. LBP is the most common cause of work-related disability in people under 45 years of age and the most expensive cause of work-related disability, in terms of workers' compensation and medical expenses. Evidence suggests high prevalence of LBP in salespeople. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in which 184 saleswomen with a current episode of self-reported LBP working in a large up-scale department store filled out a battery of 6 self-administered questionnaires and received a standardised physical examination. Results: Saleswomen with concurrent LBP had low disability levels. Factors significantly associated with disability were pain intensity, measured by a visual analogue scale, in the past week (p < 0.001), physical and mental health status (p < 0.001, p = 0.003, respectively), fear avoidance scores for both work and physical activities (p = 0.031, p = 0.014, respectively), past history of LBP (p = 0.019), and self-reported frequency of pushing or pulling objects placed in high positions during work (p = 0.047). A significant level (45%) of the variance in disability status was explained by these variables. Conclusion: In clinical management of LBP workers who required prolonged standing, such as salespeople, clinicians should look for modifiable risk factors associated with disability. Specific measures need to be taken to prevent disability due to LBP among salespeople.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.226-234
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• 2011

We investigated the clinical effects of Korean red ginseng on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. Eighteen subjects aged between 6 and 14 diagnosed with ADHD based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition diagnosis criteria were enrolled. Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng) at 1,000 mg b.i.d. was administered to the subjects for 8 weeks. Eighteen children completed the questionnaire and clinical assessment by visiting the hospital at baseline, then in the first, fourth and eighth weeks. Clinical assessments were performed by using the ADHD Diagnostic System (ADS, a computerized attention assessment program), the abbreviated Conners' rating scale in addition to psychiatric interviews. After 8 weeks, significant differences were found in the omisssion errors of ADS ($78.56{\pm}43.33$ at baseline, $55.17{\pm}21.44$ at 8 weeks, p<0.023), Conners ADHD Rating Scale ($13.78{\pm}6.32$ at baseline, $9.50{\pm}4.80$ at 8 weeks, p<0.042) and Spielberger State Anxiety Scale ($30.94{\pm}6.25$ at baseline, $28.83{\pm}6.23$ at 8 weeks, p<0.024). In the Korean Personality Inventory for Children, a significant reduction of score was found in the physical development scale ($56.44{\pm}9.63$ at baseline, $50.94{\pm}8.91$ at 8 weeks, p<0.017) and social dysfunction scale ($56.33{\pm}6.82$ at baseline, $51.94{\pm}7.13$ at 8 weeks, p<0.025). These results suggest that Korean red ginseng may be effective in improving inattentiveness in ADHD children, but it remains uncertain if it improves the general severity of ADHD, depression, anxiety personality and behavioral changes.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.10 no.1 s.19
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• pp.46-50
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• 2004

The majority of esophageal Foreign body ingestions occur in the pediatric population. In adults, true foreign object ingestion occurs more commonly among those with psychiatric disorders, mental impairment. The management of esophageal foreign bodies is influenced by the age, clinical condition of ingested material, anatomic location and technical abilities of the endoscopist. Recently the therapeutic endoscopy is becoming wider and more rational in application. We evaluated the role of endoscopy for removal of esophageal foreign bodies during the period of 4 years from January 2000 to December 2003 at the Department of Otolaryngology and Gastroenterology, Seonam University Hospital. The results were as follow, 1) The age ranged from 21 to 74 years old (mean 50.5), most frequent age group was between 61-70 years old and male to female ratio was 1:1.4. 2) Fish bone was the most frequent foreign body in the esophagus ($47.1\%$), food material ($23.5\%$) and meats ($17.6\%$) were next frequent foreign bodies. The most frequent site of lodgement was the first ($78.4\%$), second ($17.6\%$) and third narrowing ($3.9\%$) in order. 3) The most common symptom was foreign body sensation (28.6%). the next common symptoms were chest discomfort($23.8\%$) and dysphagia($19\%$). 4) In duration of lodgement, 49cases ($96.1\%$) were lodged for less than one day. 5) The foreign bodies of esophagus were removed successfully by flexible endoscope with basket, snare, forceps, overtube and endoscopic variceal ligation cap. There were only 3 cases of minimal complications, esophageal mucosal tearing. In conclusion, endoscopic esophageal foreign body removal is useful and safe with minimal or no complications.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.127-144
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the drinking behavior of university students in Jeju for the safe campus life. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was completed by 549 students in 4 universities in Jeju. The data were analyzed by t-test, one way ANOVA, and multiple regression using SPSS Win 19.0 program. The questionnaire instruments consisted of Alcohol Use Disorders of Identification Test-Korea (AUDIT-K) and Life Stress Scale for College Students adapted by Chon. Results: The alcohol consumption rate of participants accounted for 96.2%. The binge drinking rate in female students were 33.9% and that in male students was 29.5%. The result by scoring AUDIT showed that 30.7% of participants were normal drinking group, 36.0% were hazardous drinking group, and 33.3% were estimated alcohol abuse group. The average score of stress was 1.45 by Likert 4 point scale. The female students tended to have more stresses than male. The most important influencing factors on drinking behavior were the first alcohol drinking(${\beta}=-.250$, p< .001), gender(${\beta}=.202$, p< .001), and relationship problem(${\beta}=.116$, p < .05). Conclusion: The drinking rate of university students revealed higher than that in other age groups. So the early systematic education is strongly recommended to prevent the physical and mental side effects.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.100-106
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• 2013

According to the Statistics Korea, in 2011, people over the age of 65 years old accounted for 11.8% of Korea's population. This number is expected to rise to 15.0% by 2019, making Korea an "aged society". As age increases, physical ability degrades to the point that the workload must be adjusted limitations. However, workloads are given regardless of workers' ages or abilities. In addition, a decline in work efficiency due to aging also increases the risk of work-related injuries. Furthermore, the cases of stress related diseases along with musculoskeletal disorders(MSDs) rise as main factors of industrial disasters and excessive job stress gives negative influence not only on mental health but also on physical health so that job stress becomes a hot issue as a main cause of work ability falloff and turnover. The purpose of this research is to examine how the sociodemographic characteristics, MSDs symptoms and musculoskeletal workload of workers in the manufacturing industry of automobile parts influence work ability and job stress. As a result of the research, job ability showed significant differences statistically according to age, working year, sex, marital status and musculoskeletal workload and job stress showed significant differences statistically according to age, working year, marital status and musculoskeletal workload. In addition, it showed that as the worker's job ability decreases, job stress increases.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.26
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• pp.12.1-12.7
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• 2011

Objectives: Perchlorate is an emerging contaminant that is found everywhere, including various foods. Perchlorate is known to disturb the production of thyroid hormones and leads to mental disorders in fetuses and infants, as well as metabolic problems in adults. In this study, we attempted to establish an LC-MS/MS method for measuring perchlorate in dairy products and used this developed method to investigate perchlorate levels in Korean milk and yogurt samples. Methods: The developed method of perchlorate analysis requires a shaker and 1% acetic acid/acetonitrile as the extracting solvent. Briefly, the samples were extracted and then centrifuged (4000 rpm, 1hour), and the supernatant was then passed through a $Envi^{TM}$ Carb SPE cartridge that had been prewashed sequentially with 6 mL of acetonitrile and 6 mL of 1% acetic acid in water. The final volume of the sample extract was adjusted to 40 mL with reagent water and the final sample was filtered through a 0.20-${\mu}m$ pore size PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) syringe filter prior to LC-MS/MS. Results: The average levels of perchlorate in milk and yogurt samples were $5.63{\pm}3.49\;{\mu}g/L$ and $3.65{\pm}2.42\;{\mu}g/L$, respectively. The perchlorate levels observed in milk samples in this study were similar to those reported from China, Japan, and the United States. Conclusions: The exposure of Koreans to perchlorate through the consumption of dairy products was calculated based on the results of this study. For all age groups, the calculated exposure to perchlorate was below the reference of dose (0.7 ${\mu}g/kg$-day) proposed by the National Academy of Science, USA, but the perchlorate exposure of children was higher than that of adults. Therefore, further investigation of perchlorate in other food samples is needed to enable a more exact assessment of exposure of children to perchlorate.

• The Journal of Information Technology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.21-32
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• 2006

Acrophobia is a symptom of feeling an abnormal fear of heights. Medications or cognitive-behavior methods have been mainly used to treat the acrophobia. In these days the virtua1 reality technology has been applied to treat such an anxiety disorders. In this thesis, an telemedicine assistant system for treatment of acrophobia using biomedical signals and virtual reality technique is proposed. I made two virtual reality simulations for treatment of acrophobia and telemedicine system for communication between doctor and patient using personal computer. A virtual environment provides patient with stimuli which arouses phobia, and exposition to such environment makes him have ability to overcome the fear. Recently, the patient can take diagnosis from a medical doctor in distance with the telemedicine system. Multimedia conference service, on-line questionary, signal transfer system are needed to configure such system. Virtual reality simulation system that composed of position sensor, head mount display, and audio system, is also included in this telemedicine system. I added virtual environment update system to this virtual reality telemedicine system for treatment of acrophobia. Former acrophobia treatment systems use only patient's score of the questionary to appraise. The new system developed in this thesis uses not only patient's score of the questionary but also biomedical signals such as HR, GSR amplitude, GSR RT to increase the objectivity and quantitativity. The experimental results show that HR and GSR amplitude are useful for decision of acrophobia. We will apply this system to the acrophobia patient in distance and be able to offer better medical treatment for mental illness in near future.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.162-168
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• 2007

Objectives : This prospective population-based cohort study was conducted to evaluate the risk factors of cognitive impairment and the degree of cognitive function change through a 5-year follow-up. Methods : The baseline and follow-up surveys were conducted in 1998 and 2003, respectively, Among 176 subjects who had normal cognitive function in the baseline study, 136 were followed up for 5 years. The cognitive function was investigated using the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE-K). The collected data were analyzed using SPSS and Stata. Results : Of the 136 subjects analyzed, 25 (18.4%) were cognitively impaired. Old age and low social support in the baseline survey were risk factors for cognitive impairment after 5 years. In the generalized estimating equation for 128 subjects except severe cognitive impairment about the contributing factors of cognitive function change, the interval of 5 years decreased MMSE-K score by 1.02 and the cognitive function was adversely affected with increasing age, decreasing education and decreasing social support. Conclusions : Although the study population was small, it was considered that the study results can be used to develop a community-based prevention system for cognitive impairment.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.190-194
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• 2014

Objective : Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a group of diseases that are observed in patients who had experienced a serious trauma or accident. However, some experienced it even after only a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), and they are easily ignored due to the relatively favorable course of mild TBI. Herein, the authors investigated the incidence of PTSD in mild TBI using brief neuropsychological screening test (PTSD checklist, PCL). Methods : This study was conducted on patients with mild TBI (Glasgow coma scale ${\geq}13$) who were admitted from January 2012 to December 2012. As for PCL, it was done on patients who showed no difficulties in communication upon admission and agreed to participate in this study. By using sum of PCL, the patients were divided into high-risk group and low-risk group. PTSD was diagnosed as the three major symptoms of PTSD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth-edifion. Results : A total of 314 TBI patients were admitted and 71 of them met the criteria and were included in this study. The mean age was 52.9 years-old (range : 15--94). The mean PCL score was 28.8 (range : 17--68), and 10 patients were classified as high-risk group. During follow-up, 2 patients (2.7%) of high risk group, were confirmed as PTSD and there was no patient who was suspected of PTSD in the low-risk group (p=0.017). Conclusion : PTSD is observed 2.8% in mild TBI. Although PTSD after mild TBI is rare, PCL could be considered as a useful tool for screening of PTSD after mild TBI.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.9 no.9
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• pp.268-277
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• 2009

This study seeks to promote the mental and physical efficiencies of the foreign workers working in our country through the promotion of their health, and provide help in their effective use of medical treatments and granting appropriate medical benefits, and provide the basic information helpful in managing the health of the foreign workers who are playing a role in the advancement of the industry in Korea for the companies and employers that are employing them by researching the health condition and management status centering on the foreign workers from a part of Asia and South America who are working in our country. I made a regression analysis toward 231 foreign workers who have employed in industrial workplace from Mar. 1 to Jun. 30, 2008. The result said the factors that affect significant impact on common health disorder of foreign workers in their daily circumstances were staying period in Korea($\beta$=.270),difficulty to access hospital($\beta$=.268), inferior sanitation of work place($\beta$=.218), smoking or not($\beta$=.170), actual condition of health maintenance($\beta$=-.251).($R^2$=0.501)