• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.51 no.1
• /
• pp.87-102
• /
• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a valid instrument for measuring the dietary quality and behaviors of Korean elderly. Methods: The development of the Nutrition Quotient for Elderly (NQ-E) was conducted in three steps: item generation, item reduction, and validation. The 41 items of the NQ-E checklist were derived from a systematic literature review, expert in-depth interviews, statistical analyses of the fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, and national nutrition policies and recommendations. Pearson's correlation was used to determine the level of agreement between the questionnaires and nutrient intake level, and 24 items were selected for a nationwide survey. A total of 1,000 nationwide elderly subjects completed the checklist questionnaire. The construct validity of the NQ-E was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis, LISREL. Results: The nineteen checklist items were used as final items for NQ-E. Checklist items were composed of four-factors: food behavior (6 items), balance (4 items), diversity (6 items), and moderation (3 items). The standardized path coefficients were used as the weights of the items. The NQ-E and four-factor scores were calculated according to the obtained weights of the questionnaire items. Conclusion: NQ-E would be a useful tool for assessing the food behavior and dietary quality of the elderly.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.35-43
• /
• 2022

In this study, a survey was conducted and analyzed to find out the satisfaction of online classes among students enrolled in the radiology department of a university located in Busan city. As a result, in terms of satisfaction with online classes, male scores were higher, but there was no statistically significant difference. In the interdisciplinary system, the satisfaction score of the students enrolled in Bachelor's degree was high, and there was a statistically significant difference except for the satisfaction of learning participation (p<0.001, p<0.05). For class satisfaction by grade level, Senior had higher scores, and there were statistically significant differences except for learning participation satisfaction (p<0.001, p<0.01, p<0.05). In the satisfaction survey according to the number of lectures, the scores of the students who took 4-7 lectures were found to be high except for the satisfaction of learning participation, and there was a statistically significant difference (p<0.01, p<0.05). In the method of communication with the instructor, students who used e-mail showed high scores, and there was a statistically significant difference in lecture satisfaction (p<0.05). In the correlation analysis between sub-variables for online classes, statistically significant correlations were established in all areas. Most of the students preferred class methods such as recorded classes and classes using external content such as YouTube, and when asked about the merits of online classes, many students answered that the advantages of online classes were repetitive classes and no restrictions on time and place. When asked about the shortcomings of online classes, many students answered that it was a lack of concentration and lack of communication with the instructor. This study was conducted to provide basic data to improve the satisfaction of online classes that will increase in the future. Therefore, based on the results of this study, it is expected that more quality online classes will be produced so that students' satisfaction with online classes can be improved.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.78-86
• /
• 2024

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the specialty hospital system by comparing the medical use of inpatients who had artificial joint replacement surgery in specialty hospitals and non-specialty hospitals. Methods: This study utilized 2021-2022 healthcare benefit claims data provided by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. The dependent variable is inpatient medical use which is measured in terms of charges per case and length of stay. The independent variable was whether the hospital was designated as a specialty hospital, and the control variables were patient-level variables (age, gender, insurer type, surgery type, and Charlson comorbidity index) and medical institution-level variables (establishment type, classification, location, number of orthopedic surgeons, and number of nurses). Results: The results of the multiple regression analysis between charges per case and whether a hospital is designated as a specialty hospital showed a statistically significant negative relationship between charges per case and whether a hospital is designated as a specialty hospital. This suggests a significant low in charges per case when a hospital is designated as a specialty hospital compared to a non-specialty hospital, indicating that there is a difference in medical use outcomes between specialty hospitals and non-specialty hospitals inpatients. Conclusion: The practical implications of this study are as follows. First, the criteria for designating specialty hospitals should be alleviated. In our study, the results show that specialty hospitals have significantly lower per-case costs than non-specialty hospitals. Despite the cost-effectiveness of specialty hospitals, the high barriers to be designated for specialty hospitals have gathered the specialty hospitals in metropolitan and major cities. To address the regional imbalance of specialty hospitals, it is believed that ease the criteria for designating specialty hospitals in non-metropolitan areas, such as introducing "semi-specialty hospitals (tentative name)," will lead to a reduction in health disparities between regions and reduce medical costs. Second, it is necessary to determine the appropriateness of the size of hospitals' medical staff. The study found that the number of orthopedic surgeons and nurses varied in charges per case. Therefore, it is believed that appropriately allocating hospital medical staff can maximize the cost-effectiveness of medical services and ultimately reduce medical costs.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.50
• /
• pp.275-289
• /
• 2023

Since the implementation of the Living Modified Organisms (LMOs) Act in 2008, approximately 10 million tons of genetically modified corn, soybean, potato, canola, and other crops have been imported into South Korea. The import approval procedures have been completed for approximately 191 cases that include seven crops. Of these, approximately 90 cases, excluding crossbreeds of approved LMOs, were reviewed via consultation risk evaluation in four areas: human health, crop culture, natural ecology, and marine fishery environment. LMO developers in South Korea, who are major stakeholders in the import of LMO crops produced overseas, have raised concerns regarding procedural inefficiency in consultation reviews and the need of excessive reviews that are unsuitable for food-feed processing purposes. These procedures reflect the perspective of consultation agencies that deviate from the nature of risk assessment and demand specific supplementary data that do not reflect familiarity and substantial equilibrium. Based on frequent instances of unintentional environmental release of LMO crops imported into Korea, the ministries responsible for consultation insist on a review that considers the climate and natural environment of Korea. In addition, the ministries mandate that their reviews reflect the expertise of competent ministries and are based on risk assessment principles and methods in accordance with international guidelines. In this regard, considering that traits introduced into LMO crops involving familiar agricultural crops have been considered safe for more than two decades, we have suggested reasonable alternatives to several risk assessment items for agricultural LMOs. These alternatives can mitigate conflicts of interest among key stakeholders within the scope of the current LMO regulations.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.135-143
• /
• 2009

Objectives : Low back pain(LBP) is a common disabling disease in clinical practice and loss of working hours due to this condition is huge. The aim of this study was to determine if there was an association between fat deposit of paraspinal muscles as observed on MRI scans in patients presenting with unilateral LBP. Methods : 24 patients who visiting our hospital with a clinical presentation of unilateral LBP were recruited to the study. Patients were between 20 and 30 years and had a history of unilateral LBP within 12 months. After MRI scaning, the images were saved in DICOM file format for Picture Archiving and Communication System(PACS). The percentage of fat infiltrated area was measured using a pseudocoloring technique. Data were analyzed comparing the fat deposits of the muscles on the symptomatic and asymptomatic sides. Paired t-test was used to find the difference between the measurements of fat tissue in individual patients. Results : The amount of fat in the symptomatic side was $7.6{\pm}4.51%$, asymptomatic side was $6.7{\pm}4.29%$. There were increases, statistically significant, in the fat changes of the paraspinal muscles at the L4-5 disc level(P <0.05). Also, men were likely than women to have more fat deposit in symptomatic side(men $8.5{\pm}5.1%$, women $6.5{\pm}3.6%$). Conclusions : The amount of fat in the symptomatic side shows significantly increased than asymptomatic side in the paraspinal muscles at the L4-5 disc level. It suggested that fat infiltration in the muscles associated with LBP. Further studies will be needed to confirm the relationship between the muscle fatty changes and LBP in the large sample size. In addition, the correlation of pain severity with fat infiltration needs to be addressed.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
• /
• v.50 no.1
• /
• pp.61-66
• /
• 2012

Purpose: This study was to compare the cumulative survival rate (CSR) of Br${\aa}$nemark machined surface implants and TiUnite$^{TM}$ imlants and to analyze association between risk factors and the CSR of the implants. Materials and methods: A retrospective study design was used to collect long-term follow-up clinical data from dental records of 156 patients treated with 541 Br${\aa}$nemark machined and TiUnite$^{TM}$ implants at Korea University Guro hospital in South Korea from 1993 through 2008. Machined implant and TiUnite$^{TM}$ implant were compared by CSR. Exposure variables such as gender, systemic disease, location, implant length, diameter, prosthesis type, opposing occlusion type, date of implant placement, type of edentulous space, abutment type, existence of splinting with natural teeth, and existence of cantilever were collected. Life table analysis was undertaken to examine the CSR. Cox regression method was conducted to assess the association between potential risk factors and overall CSR (${\alpha}$=.05). Results: Patient ages ranged from 16 to 75 years old (mean age, 51 years old). Implants were more frequently placed in men than women (94 men versus 63 women). Since 1993, 264 Br${\aa}$nemark machined implants were inserted in 79 patients and since 2001, 277 TiUnite$^{TM}$ implants were inserted in 77 patients. A total survival rate of 86.07% was observed in Br${\aa}$nemark and Nobel Biocare TiUnite$^{TM}$ during 15 years. A survival rate of machined implant during 15 years was 82.89% and that of TiUnite$^{TM}$ implant during 5 years was 98.74%. The implant CSR revealed lower rates association with several risk factors such as, systemic disease, other accompanied surgery, implant location, and Kennedy classification. Conclusion: Clinical performance of Br${\aa}$nemark machined and TiUnite$^{TM}$ implant demonstrated a high level of predictability. In this study, TiUnite$^{TM}$ implant was more successful than machined implant. The implant CSR was associated with several risk factors.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.252-259
• /
• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze the wear of a prosthesis for 6 months after restoration with implant-supported fixed dental prosthesis made of either zirconia or gold. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on patients requiring implant-supported fixed dental prostheses on first or second molar from January, 2015 to January, 2016. A total of 47 prostheses and antagonists were examined. Occlusal surface was recorded by impression of each prosthesis and antagonist 1 week and 6 months after prosthesis delivery. The digital files were created by impression scan. Occlusal shapes of 1 week and 6 months were compared and wear of prostheses and antagonists was analyzed. The Mann-Whitney test was used to analyzed the result data underwent normality test using SPSS (Version 23.0, IBM Corporation) Results: Mann-Whitney test revealed that there was no statistically significant difference in the median amount of mean vertical wear for 6 months in zirconia ($50.84{\mu}m$) and gold ($42.84{\mu}m$) prostheses (P > 0.05). When the opposing teeth were natural, the median amount of mean vertical wear of zirconia and gold prostheses was $47.72{\mu}m$ and $41.97{\mu}m$, respectively, and the median amount of mean vertical wear of enamel was $47.26{\mu}m$ and $44.59{\mu}m$, respectively. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Despite the short study period and the small number of experimental groups, zirconia and gold showed no significant difference in wear during the first 6 months. Opposing natural enamel also showed no significant difference in the wear.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.45 no.4
• /
• pp.482-488
• /
• 2002

Purpose : We performed this study to evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of endoscopic finding of nodular gastritis, CLO and HpKit test for H. pylori infection in children. Methods : Gastroduodenal endoscopy and mucosal biopsy were performed on 212 children who visited our hospital between Jul. 1999 and May 2000 due to abdominal pain. We performed CLO and HpKit test for H. pylori with the time interval of 15, 30 minutes, 1, 2, 3, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120 and 144 hours. Histological examination of H. pylori was made by H-E or Alcian yellow stain with biopsy specimens. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive and negative predictive value of nodular gastritis, CLO and HpKit test were calculated from the analysis of above data. Results : Sensitivity and specificity of 3 hour-CLO test was 68.4% and 100% respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of 3 hour-HpKit test was 65.8% and 100% respectively. No significant difference in sensitivity and specificity was found between in 3 hour-CLO and HpKit test(P>0.05). Sensitivity of CLO test increased as time lapsed, but corresponding specificity did not decrease as time lapsed(sensitivity and specificity at 144 hours : 89.5% and 94.8% respectively). However, sensitivity of HpKit test increased as time lapsed, but specificity markedly decreased. Sensitivity and specificity of the nodular gastritis was 78.9% and 93.7% respectively. Conclusion : Both CLO and HpKit test have relatively low sensitivity and specificity for the detection of H. pylori in 3 hours of testing in children. The endoscopic finding of nodular gastritis is another good standard in the diagnosis of H. pylori infection in children.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.52 no.2
• /
• pp.167-175
• /
• 2009

Purpose : This study has been conducted to analyze whether the biochemical nutrition indexes might be useful and effective for evaluating the nutrition states of children. Methods : We evaluated 269 children, aged 3-9 years old, who had visited Gangneung Asan Hospital for elective surgery from January 2006 to December 2007, and examined their anthropometric and preoperative laboratory data with retrospective analysis. The children were classified into underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese groups according to body mass index (BMI). The biochemical nutrition indexes (total lymphocyte count (TLC), hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum albumin, cholesterol, et al) of each group were then analyzed statistically. Results : None of the groups showed statistically significant differences in TLC. Serum albumin decreased significantly in the underweight group. Red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and serum total cholesterol in the obese group were higher than in the normal weight group. None of the groups showed statistically significant increase in mean corpuscular volume or mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and it seems that the increase of hemoglobin and RBC count in the overweight and obese groups is due to the enhancement of erythropoiesis rather than iron metabolism. However, in females, almost all nutrition indexes except albumin were statistically significantly poor. Conclusion : Serum albumin, total cholesterol, RBC count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit were useful as nutrition indexes. However, except for albumin, these indexes were significantly poor for females. More control studies are needed to confirm the effectiveness of biochemical indexes for evaluating the nutritional state of children.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.40 no.5
• /
• pp.109-118
• /
• 2012

The study is aimed to suggest a preliminary data on the improvement of children's recreational facility to enhance children's creativity at Sangsang Children Park Project(SCPP) in Seoul Metropolitan City being the case study. The book review, especially the field observation was implemented by the video recording methods for analyzing the children's play behavior with regard to the six sites of the SCPP that was constructed in March 2008 until May 2010. Because of the research, the first 21 patterns of the creative activities were shown. Second, the prime using rates of facilities were the combination of play facilities among other play facilities like swings, slides, trembling horse etc. However, more children's creative behaviors occurred on independent play facilities like swing, trembling horse, etc. than at combination play facilities. Third, children's creative behaviors diversely occurred at a moving or fluid facility like a swing, trembling horse and a spatial facility like sand field more than a fixed facility like combination play facility. Fourth, children's creative behavior could be divided and evaluated by five categories and elements of fluency: the flexibility, the creativity, the elaborateness, and the imagination. Nevertheless, it was assumed that the creative elements of the five categories were mixed together with each other instead of showing an individual characteristic. Fifth, based on this analysis, the research reached out to the conclusion that the combination play facility of imaginary children's park would be designed together with more fluid and spatial facilities to improve the children's creativity. Finally, It was proposed that the play facilities of imaginary children's park like drawing wall or board, spatial play facilities and handicraft facilities etc. would be introduced to improve sorts of creativeness on elaborateness and imagination shown less than the fluency, flexibility, and originality.