• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.190-198
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• 2013

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to investigate osseointegration around zirconia implants which had machined or alumina sandblasted surface, and to compare the results with titanium implants. Materials and methods: The study was performed on the tibia of 6 pigs. Three types of implants were investigated: group T-titanium implant, group Z-machined zirconia implant, group ZS-alumina sandblasting treated zirconia implant. Zirconia implants were manufactured from yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline (Acucera Inc., Pocheon, Korea). A total of 36 implants were installed in pigs' tibias. After 1, 4 and 12 weeks of healing period, the periotest and the histomorphometric analysis were performed. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and significance was assessed by the Scheffe test (${\alpha}=.05$). Results: In the measurement of surface roughness, highest Ra value was measured in group T with significant difference. No significant differences were found among groups regarding Periotest values. After 1 week, in comparison of bone to implant contact (BIC), group Z showed higher value with significant difference. In comparison of bone area (BA), group T and group Z showed higher value with significant difference than group ZS. After 4 weeks, in comparison of BIC, group T showed higher value with significant difference. Comparison of BA showed no significant difference among each implant. After 12 weeks, the highest mean BIC values were found in group T with significant difference. Group ZS showed higher BIC value with significant difference than group Z. In comparison of BA, group T and group ZS showed higher value with significant difference than group Z. Conclusion: Zirconia implant showed low levels of osseointegration in this experiment. Modification of surface structure should be taken into consideration in designing zirconia implants to improve the success rate.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.470-478
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• 2008

Statement of problem: Use of all-ceramic prostheses fabricated with CAD/CAM systems is increasing in the dentistry. Marginal fidelity in production of all-ceramic restoration has important clinical implications and is a key consideration issue in CAD/CAM production as well. Purpose: The objective of this study was to analyse marginal fidelities of $Procera^{(R)}$ Allceram Crown. Material and methods: On 56 patients treated with $Procera^{(R)}$ system Allceram Crown at Dankook Dental Hospital, marginal discrepancies of 101 abutments were measured by stereomicroscope at coping and final restoration stages. Paired t-test and one-way analysis of variance on marginal discrepancy data were conducted to determine the presence of significant differences between measurement and measuring point stages. Results: Marginal discrepancies of final restoration ($45.82{\pm}30.84\;{\mu}m$) were lower than alumina coping ($53.84{\pm}38.83\;{\mu}m$). Furthermore, the differences were found to be statistically significant at 95% confidence level. Anterior marginal discrepancies were lower than posterior marginal discrepancies, but they were not statistically significant. Lingual marginal discrepancies were higher than other measurement sites, and the differences were found to be statistically significant at 95% confidence level. Conclusion: Within the conditions of this study, marginal fidelities of $Procera^{(R)}$ Allceram Crown were acceptable, and after porcelain build-up, marginal fitness improved over alumina coping. More careful scanning is needed for better results.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.221-233
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• 2009

Purpose: Erythropoietin (EPO) has neuroprotective effects in many animal models of brain injury, including hypoxic-ischemic (HI) encephalopathy, trauma, and excitotoxicity. Current studies have demonstrated the neuroprotective effects of EPO, but limited data are available for the neonatal periods. Here in we investigated whether recombinant human EPO (rHuEPO) can protect the developing rat brain from HI injury via modulation of NMDA receptors. Methods: In an in vitro model, embryonic cortical neuronal cell cultures from Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats at 19-days gestation were established. The cultured cells were divided into five groups: normoxia (N), hypoxia (H), and 1, 10, and 100 IU/mL rHuEPO-treated (H+E1, H+ E10, and H+E100) groups. To estimate cell viability and growth, a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was done. In an in vivo model, left carotid artery ligation was performed on 7-day-old SD rat pups. The animals were divided into six groups; normoxia control (NC), normoxia Sham-operated (NS), hypoxia-ischemia only (H), hypoxia-ischemia+vehicle (HV), hypoxia-ischemia+rHuEPO before a HI injury (HE-B), and hypoxia-ischemia+rHuEPO after a HI injury (HE-A). The morphologic changes following brain injuries were noted using hematoxylin and eosin (H/E) staining. Real-time PCR using primers of subunits of NMDA receptors (NR1, NR2A, NR2B, NR2C and NR2D) mRNA were performed. Results: Cell viability in the H group was decreased to less than 60% of that in the N group. In the H+E1 and H+E10 groups, cell viability was increased to >80% of the N group, but cell viability in the H+E100 group did not recover. The percentage of the left hemisphere area compared the to the right hemisphere area were 98.9% in the NC group, 99.1% in the NS group, 57.1% in the H group, 57.0% in the HV group, 87.6% in the HE-B group, and 91.6% in the HE-A group. Real-time PCR analysis of the expressions of subunits of NMDA receptors mRNAs in the in vitro and in vivo neonatal HI brain injuries generally revealed that the expression in the H group was decreased compared to the N group and the expressions in the rHuEPO-treated groups was increased compared to the H group. Conclusion: rHuEPO has neuroprotective property in perinatal HI brain injury via modulation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors.

• The Journal of Korean society of community based occupational therapy
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.11-21
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• 2015

Objective : This study is aimed to examine the degree of independence in stroke patients residing in a community based on their self-efficacy and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living and also correlation between community-residing stroke patients and their guardians by figuring out the life quality of their guardians. Methods : For total two weeks between May 12th and 23rd, 2014, this researcher collected data by using a survey (K-IADL, a scale to measure self-efficacy, WHOQOL-BREF) targeting 138 stroke patients who received over 24 points in MMSE-K among the outpatients of three hospitals located in Busan Metropolitan City and two hospitals located in Geoje-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, and total 125 sheets were finally used for analysis. Results : Among the 125 patients, 70 were males, and 55 were females, and their average age was 58.72 (16 to 82). The subjects' general self-efficacy (p<0.01) and detailed self-efficacy (p<0.01) indicated significant correlation with their guardian's life quality, and there was no significant correlation found between their Instrumental Activities of Daily Living and their guardian's life quality. Conclusion : Their general self-efficacy and detailed self-efficacy indicated correlation with their guardian's life quality, and among their general characteristics, the factor of their financial situation indicated correlation with their guardian's life quality. In conclusion, when stroke patients' self-efficacy is higher, their guardian's life quality increases, too, and if their financial situation is more favorable, their guardian's life quality gets higher. However, stroke patients' Instrumental Activities of Daily Living did not indicate correlation with their guardian's life quality. When looking at the chronic trend of outpatients, therapeutical plan must be established about the self-efficient recovery for the development of those who are not satisfied.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.227-235
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• 2016

Objectives : The aims of this study were to know the frequency of cognitive dysfunction among patients with autoimmune thyroid disorders, and to reveal influencing factors on it, especially to clarify association with autoimmune thyroid antibodies. Methods : From sixty-five female patients with autoimmune thyroid disorders, demographic data were obtained by structured interview. Their cognitive funtions were measured using the MMSE-K and the MoCA-K tests. Depression was evaluated by the K-HDRS. Results : 1) Among patients with autoimmune thyroid disorders, 7.69% of them were below 24 on the MMSE-K, while 10.77% were below 22 on the MoCA-K. The frequency of cognitive deficit was not significantly different according to having positivity to antimicrosomal antibodies or not. 2) The antimicrosomal antibody-positive patients had significantly higher antithyroglobulin antibody titers, antimicrosomal antibody titers, and TSH concentration, while had significantly lower free T4 levels(p<0.05, respectively). 3) The total scores of the MMSE-K and the MoCA-K had significant correlation with age, marital status, antithyroglobulin antibody titers and K-HDRS(p<0.05, respectively). 4) The regression analysis revealed that variables such as age, education, autoimmune thyroid antibodies, thyroid function and depression did not influence on cognitive function of patients with autoimmune thyroid disorders. Conclusions : Our results could not support that cognitive function of patients with autoimmune thyroid disorders had correlation with autoimmune thyroid antibodies.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.38-55
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• 2021

Cherwon Castle is located in Pungcheonwon, Cherwon, in the center of the Korean Peninsula. Currently, it is split across the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between the two Koreas. It attracts attention as a symbol of inter-Korean reconciliation and as cultural heritage that serves as data in making important policy decisions on the DMZ. Despite its importance, however, there has not been sufficient investigation and research done on Cherwon Castle. This is due to the difficulty involved in investigation and research and is caused by the site's inaccessibility. As a solution, the current investigative methods in satellite and aerial archeology can be applied to interpret and analyze the structure of Cherwon Castle and the features of its inner space zoning. Cherwon Castle was built on the five flat hills that begin in the northern mountainous hills and stretch to the southwest. The inner and outer walls were built mainly on the hilly ridges, and the palace wall was built surrounding a flat site that was created on the middle hill. For each wall, the sites of the old gates, which were erected in various directions , have been identified. They seem to have been built to fit the direction of buildings in the castle and the features of the terrain. The castle was built in a diamond shape. The old sites of the palace and related buildings and landforms related to water drainage were identified. It was verified that the roads and the gates were built to run from east to west in the palace. In the spaces of the palace and the inner castle, flat sites were created to fit different landforms, and building sites were arranged there. Moreover, the contour of a reservoir that is believed to be the old site of a pond has been found; it lies on the vertical extension of the center line that connects the palace and the inner castle. Between the inner castle and the outer castle, few vestiges of old buildings were found, although many flat sites were discovered. Structurally, Cherwon Castle is rotated about nine degrees to the northeast, forming a planar rectangle. The planar structure derives from the castle design that mimics the hilly landform, and the bending of the southwestern wall also attests to the intention of the architects to avoid the wetland. For now, it is impossible to clearly describe the functions and characters of the building sites inside the castle. However, it is believed that the inner castle was marked out for space for the palace and government offices, while the space between the outer and inner castle was reserved as the living space for ordinary people. The presence of the hilly landform diminishes the possibility that a bangri (grid) zoning system existed. For some of the landforms, orderly zoning cannot be ruled out, as flat areas are commonly seen. As surveys have yet to be conducted on the different castles, the time when the walls were built and how they were constructed cannot be known. Still, the claim to that the castle construction and the structuring of inner spaces were inspired by the surrounding landforms is quite compelling.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.178-184
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• 2024

Background: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of drug utilization review (DUR) evaluation indicators on safe drug use by comparing the changes in DUR inspection rates and drug duplication prescription prevention rates between the pre- and post-implementation of the DUR evaluation indicators of the Healthcare Quality Evaluation Grant Initiative. Methods: This study used DUR data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service in 2018 (pre-implementation) and the evaluation results of the Healthcare Quality Evaluation Grant Initiative in 2023 (post-implementation). The dependent variables were the DUR evaluation indicators, including DUR inspection rate and drug duplicate prescription prevention rate. The independent variable was the implementation of the DUR evaluation indicators, and the control variables included medical institution characteristics such as type, establishment classification, location, DUR billing software company, and number of beds. Results: The results of the analysis of the difference in the prevention rate of drug duplicate prescriptions between the pre- and post-implementation of the DUR evaluation indicators of the Healthcare Quality Evaluation Grant Initiative showed that the prevention rate of drug duplicate prescriptions increased statistically significantly after the implementation of the DUR evaluation indicators. Conclusion: The policy implications of this study are as follows: First, ongoing evaluation of DUR systems is needed. Second, it is necessary to establish a collaborative partnership between healthcare organizations that utilize DUR system information and the organizations that manage it.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.211-221
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• 2024

Background: The public health crisis caused by coronavirus disease 2019 emphasizes the need to expand and strengthen public hospitals. However, the overall perception of public hospitals remains negative. This negative perception can hinder the roles and functions of public hospitals, so this study aims to analyze the factors affecting negative perceptions of public hospitals. Methods: We used data from a survey on the public healthcare of Chungcheongbuk-do residents conducted by the Chungcheongbuk-do Public Health Policy Institute, and 1,916 adults aged 19 or older who responded to the survey were included in the study. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the impact of experiences with public hospitals use and evaluations of public healthcare and public hospital policies on the negative perception of public hospitals. Results: The experience of not using public hospitals (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-2.74) and negative evaluations of public healthcare and public hospital policies were found to significantly impact negative perceptions of public hospitals. In public healthcare policies, negative evaluations of the provision of essential medical care (aOR, 4.14; 95% CI, 2.59-6.62), regional disparities (aOR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.02-2.49), coverage (aOR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.25-3.16), and quality of care (aOR, 2.39; 95% CI, 1.50-3.80) were significantly associated with negative perceptions of public hospitals. In public hospital policies, negative evaluations of facilities and equipment (aOR, 3.74, 95% CI, 2.36-5.94), medical specialties and services (aOR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.21-3.01), and quality of medical service (aOR, 2.71; 95% CI, 1.72-4.25) were also significantly associated with negative perceptions of public hospitals. Conclusion: This study emphasizes the need to improve perceptions of public hospitals by considering the experience with public hospitals use and evaluation of public healthcare and public hospital policies.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.153-162
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• 2001

Purpose : The mechanical insights of death of cancer cells by ionizing radiation are not of yet clearly defined. Recent evidences have demonstrated that radiation therapy may induce cell death via activation of signaling pathway for apoptosis in target cells. This study is designed whether ionizing radiation may activate the signaling cascades of apoptosis including caspase family cysteine pretenses, $Bcl_2/Bax$, cytochrome c and Fas/Fas-L in target cells. Materials and Methods : HL-60 cells were irradiated in vitro with 6 MV X-ray at dose ranges from 2 Gy to 32 Gy. The cell viability was tested by M assay and the extent of apoptosis was determined using agarose gel electrophoresis. The activities of caspase proteases were measured by proteolytic cleavages of substrates. Western blot analysis was used to monitor PARP, Caspase-3, Cytochrome-c, Bcl-2, Bax, Fas and Fas-L. Results : Ionizing radiation decreases the viability of HL-60 cells in a time and dose dependent manner. Ionizing radiation-induced death in HL-60 cells is an apoptotic death which is revealed as characteristic ladder-pattern fragmentation of genomic DNA over 16 Gy at 4 hours. ionizing radiation induces the activation of caspase-2, 3, 6, 8 and 9 of HL-60 cells in a time-dependent manner. The activation of caspase-3 pretense is also evidenced by the digestion of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase and procaspase 3 with 16Gy ionizing irradiation. Anti-apoptotic Bcl2 expression is decreased but apoptotic Bax expression is increased with mitochondrial cytochrome c release in a time- dependent manner. In addiiton, expression of Fas and Fas-L is also increased in a time dependent manner. Conclusion : These data suggest that ionizing radiation-induced apoptosis is mediated by the activation of various signaling pathways including caspase family cysteine proteases, $Bcl_2/Bax$, Fas and Fas-L in a time and dose dependent manner.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.8
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• pp.898-903
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• 2009

Purpose : This study investigated the predictive factors for identifying infection-prone febrile infants younger than three months. Methods : We conducted a retrospective study of 167 infants younger than three months with an axillary temperature >$38^{\circ}C$ who were hospitalized between 2006 and 2008. If they met any of the following criteria, positive blood culture, CSF WBC ${\geq}11/mm^3$ or positive CSF culture, urinalysis WBC ${\geq}6$/HPF and positive urine culture, WBC ${\geq}6$/HPF on microscopic stool examination or positive stool culture, they were considered at high risk for severe infection. Infants with focal infection, respiratory infection or antibiotic administration prior to admission to the hospital were excluded. We evaluated the symptoms, physical examination findings, laboratory data, and the clinical course between the high risk and low risk groups for severe infection. Results : The high-risk group included 77(46.1%) infants, and the most common diagnosis was urinary tract infection (51.9%). Factors, such as male sex, ESR and CRP were statistically different between the two groups. But, a multilinear regression analysis for severe infection showed that male and ESR factors are significant. Conclusion : We did not find the distinguishing symptoms and laboratory findings for identifying severe infection-prone febrile infants younger than three months. However, the high-risk group was male and ESR-dominated, and these can possibly be used as predictive factors for severe infection.