• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.218-230
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• 2010

This study was conducted to survey isoflavone intake among adult women in menopause with diseases such as metabolic syndrome and osteoporosis and to analyze the relationship between each of these chronic diseases followed by isoflavone intake and the related health risk index. The average age of the subjects was 49.97 years old, while that of the pre-menopausal subjects was 45.14 years, and the post-menopausal subjects was 55.99 years. The average body mass index (BMI), waist-hip circumference, body fat percentage, blood pressure, blood sugar and blood lipid content of the post-menopausal subjects were higher in significant difference than those of the pre-menopausal subjects. The bone density of the hip and spine in post-menopausal subjects was lower in significant difference than that of the pre-menopausal subjects. After menopause, the subjects had a lower ratio of individuals at risk of anemia when compared with the subjects before menopause, but had higher health risk ratio related to each type of chronic disease, including obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol and osteoporosis than the subjects before menopause. The intake frequency of each soybean food was similar among subjects before/after menopause. The most common soybean based foods consumed by the subjects were soybean, soybean curd and soybean paste. The average daily intake level of isoflavone among subjects before menopause was 25.48 mg, while that of subjects after menopause was 32.25 mg. Evaluation of the distribution of the isoflavone level revealed that the pre-menopausal subjects consumed 3.29~78.36 mg and the post-menopausal subjects consumed 3.18~116.59 mg. The intake level by each individual varied greatly. The pre-menopausal subjects had a low BMI index and systolic blood pressure as much as their isoflavone intake level was high. Additionally, the post-menopausal subjects had a low menarche age and high menopause age when their isoflavone intake level was high, the BMI index and waist-hip circumference ratio was highest among individuals with lowest isoflavone intake level. This study showed that there was a possible relationship between soybean isoflavone intake and health problems such as obesity, high cholesterol, and osteoporosis in women after menopause with diseases such as metabolic syndrome and osteoporosis, even if this relationship was not great.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.3
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• pp.437-446
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• 2021

Objective : To investigate the radiographic characteristics of the uppermost instrumented vertebrae (UIV) and UIV+1 compression fractures that are predictive of revision surgery following long-segment spinal fixation. Methods : A total 27 patients who presented newly developed compression fracture at UIV, UIV+1 after long segment spinal fixation (minimum 5 vertebral bodies, lowest instrumented vertebra of L5 or distal) were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were divided into two groups according to following management : revisional surgery (group A, n=13) and conservative care (group B, n=14). Pre- and postoperative images, and images taken shortly before and after the occurrence of fracture were evaluated for radiologic characteristics Results : Despite similar degrees of surgical correction of deformity, the fate of the two groups with proximal junctional compression fractures differed. Immediately after the fracture, the decrement of adjacent disc height in group A (32.3±7.6 mm to 23.7±8.4 mm, Δ=8.5±6.9 mm) was greater than group B (31.0±13.9 mm to 30.1±15.5 mm, Δ=0.9±2.9 mm, p=0.003). Pre-operative magnetic resonance imaging indicated that group A patients have a higher grade of disc degeneration adjacent to fractured vertebrae compared to group B (modified Pfirrmann grade, group A : 6.10±0.99, group B : 4.08±0.90, p=0.004). Binary logistic regression analysis indicated that decrement of disc height was the only associated risk factor for future revision surgery (odds ratio, 1.891; 95% confidence interval, 1.121-3.190; p=0.017). Conclusion : Proximal junctional vertebral compression fractures with greater early-stage decrement of adjacent disc height were associated with increased risk of future neurological deterioration and necessity of revision. The condition of adjacent disc degeneration should be considered regarding severity and revision rate of proximal junctional kyphosis/proximal junction failures.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.64 no.2
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• pp.177-184
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• 2021

While veterinary antibiotics are used only in a part of the dose administered, the rest are excreted as urine or feces. Residual antibiotics enter the adjacent agricultural environments by spraying manure-based composts on farmlands and lead to secondary pollution. Therefore, it is necessary to develop the technique for post management such as regulatory levels of antibiotics in the agricultural environments. This study was conducted to compare by different matrices the amount of residual antibiotics such as tetracyclines and sulfonamides, which are known to be frequently used in Korea and to practice risk assessment by different antibiotics in soils before and after application of composts. Pre-treatment with modified typical method using buffer and solid phase extraction showed the recovery of composts and soils was more than 70% at ppb level and the limits of detection were 0.13-0.46 and 0.05-0.25 ㎍/kg, respectively. Analysis of manure-based composts revealed concentrations from 5.38 to 196.0 ㎍/kg for tetracyclines, from below the detection of limit (BDL) to 259.0 ㎍/kg for sulfonamides. In case of agricultural soils, residual concentrations of selected veterinary antibiotics were ranged 0.30-53.3 ㎍/kg, BDL-4.16 ㎍/kg respectively and the concentration level of tetracyclines, which had higher soil distribution coefficient (Kd) values, was higher than that of sulfonamides. There was a difference in human risk assessment by different antibiotics in soil before and after application of composts. But, it was indicated that detection values of all of 5 antibiotics were very safe on the basis that Hazard Quotient was safe below 1.

• Management & Information Systems Review
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.1-23
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• 2009

Prior bankruptcy studies have established that bankrupt firm's pre-filing financial ratios are different from those of healthy firms or of randomly selected going concerns. However, they may not be sufficiently different from the financial ratios of other firms in financial distress to allow the development of a ratio-based model that predicts bankruptcy with reasonable accuracy. As the result, in the multiple discriminant model, independent variables divided firms into bankrupt firms and healthy firms are retained earnings to total asset, receivable turnover, net income to sales, financial expenses, inventory turnover, owner's equity to total asset, cash flow to current liability, and current asset to current liability. Moreover four variables Retained earnings to total asset, net income to sales, total asset turnover, owner's equity to total asset indicate that these valuables classify bankrupt firms and distress firms. On the other hand, Owner's Equity to borrowed capital, Ordinary income to Net Sales, Operating Income to Total Asset, Total Asset Turnover and Inventory Turnover are selected to predict bankruptcy possibility in the Logistic regression model.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.65 no.3
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• pp.415-421
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• 2022

Objective : Seizure recurrence after the first-ever seizure in patients with a supratentorial cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM) is almost certain, so the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy is justified. The optimal method of management of these patients is still a matter of debate. The aim of our study was to identify factors associated with postoperative seizure control and assess the surgical morbidity rate. Methods : We retrospectively analysed 45 consecutive patients with a supratentorial CCM and symptomatic epilepsy in a single centre. Pre- and postoperative epidemiological data, seizure-related patient histories, neuroimaging results, surgery details and outcomes were obtained from hospital medical records. Seizure outcomes were assessed at least 12 months after surgery. Results : Thirty-five patients (77.8%) were seizure free at the long-term follow-up (Engel class I); six (13,3%) had rare, nocturnal seizures (Engel class II); and four (8.9%) showed meaningful improvement (Engel class III). In 15 patients (33%) in the Engel I group; it was possible to discontinue antiepileptic medication. Although there was not statistical significance, our results suggest that patients can benefit from early surgery. No deaths occurred in our study, and mild postoperative neurologic deficits were observed in two patients (4%) at the long-term follow-up. Conclusion : Surgical resection of CCMs should be considered in all patients with a supratentorial malformation and epilepsy due to the favourable surgical results in terms of the epileptic seizure control rate and low postoperative morbidity risk, despite the use of different predictors for the seizure outcome.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.148-157
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• 2019

Objective: To evaluate the current status of managing adverse reactions to iodinated contrast media (ICM) for computed tomography in referral hospitals in South Korea compared with hospitals in other countries. Materials and Methods: This survey investigation involved 59 Korean and 15 overseas hospitals using guideline-based questionnaires consisting of 24 items in 7 main categories related to managing adverse reactions to ICM. Results: Informed written consent with risk factor evaluation was appropriately performed in most of the Korean hospitals. There was considerable variability in assessing renal function across the hospitals; serum creatinine level was used as a reference in 76.4% of Korean hospitals. The Korean hospitals preferred a more stringent approach to determining normal renal function (p = 0.01), withholding metformin (p = 0.01), and fasting before ICM exposure (p < 0.001) compared with overseas hospitals. All the Korean hospitals had an emergency protocol and in-hospital system for adverse reactions to ICM. The Korean (87.7%) and overseas hospitals (100%) were similarly equipped with epinephrine (p = 0.332), but only 38.6% of Korean hospitals were equipped with a bronchodilator (p = 0.004). For patients with a previous hypersensitivity reaction to ICM, 62.3% of Korean hospitals pre-medicated with anti-histamine and corticosteroid according to the severity of the previous reaction, and changed the culprit ICM in 52.8%, while skin test was performed in 17%. Conclusion: In general, Korean referral hospitals were well-prepared regarding informed consent, protocol, and an in-hospital system for managing adverse reactions to ICM. Nevertheless, there was considerable variability in details and management, thus requiring standardization by reflecting current guidelines.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.24-34
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• 2014

Background: Bankrupted households have recently been increased due to excessive medical expenditure in Korea. They have not been protected from economic risk when household's member has severe diseases that need a lot of money for treatment. Purpose of this study examines policy effect by comparing unmet needs' change of policy object households and non-object groups. Methods: We used Korea Health panel 2nd 4th data collected by Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs and National Health Insurance Service. Analysis subjects were 381 households (pre-policy) and 393 households (post-policy) that had cancer and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Since it was major concern that estimates benefit strengthening policy started by certain time, we setup comparing households which had diabetes, hypertension disease. Comparison subjects were 393,247 households, respectively and we evaluated policy effect using difference in difference (DID) model. Results: Although unmet needs of policy object households were higher than non-object groups, policy execution variable affected negative direction. But interaction-term which shows pure effect of policy was not statistically significant. We utilized multi-DID model to examine factors affecting unmet needs causes. Copayment assistance policy did not significantly affect households that responded to 'economic reason,' and 'no have time to visit' for unmet needs causes. Conclusion: The second copayment assistance policy did not significantly give positive effect to beneficiary households than non-beneficiary groups. When we consider that primary purpose of public insurance guarantee high medical expenditure occurred by unexpected events, it needs to deliberate on switch of benefit strengthening policy that can assist vulnerable people. Also, we suggest that government forward a policy covering non-reimbursable medical expenses as well as switch of benefit strengthening direction because benefit policy do not affect non-covered medical cost which accounts for quarter of total health expenditure.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.69-76
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• 2024

Objectives : Hypertension (high blood pressure), one of the world's major chronic diseases, has a high mortality rate due to its high prevalence and complications, but its control rate is low. The proper management and control through appropriate exercise, diet management, and optimal drug choice can reduce the risk of death from hypertension. Although various antihypertensive drugs are used to treat hypertension, they also have numerous adverse effects. Alongside increased interest in the use of Traditional Herbal Formulas (THF) for hypertension treatment, the purpose of this study was to examine the vasodilative effects of 10 THF in the rat thoracic artery pre-contracted by potassiumchloride (KCl). Methods : THF were extracted with distilled water for 2 hours. The rat thoracic artery was suspended and contracted by KCl in the organ bath which contained 10 ml Krebs Henseleit (KH) buffer. THF extracts were added in a dose-dependent increase (10-1,000 ㎍/mL) to examine vasodilative effects. The vasodilative effects produced by THF were expressed as the percentage in response to KCl-induced contraction. Results : Among the 10 THF, Banhasasim-tang, Buhnsimgieum, Sagunja-tang, and Samul-tang showed vasodilative effects. And, Sipjeondaebo-tang, Ssanghwa-tang, Ojeok-san, Onkyung-tang, Yongdamsagan-tang, and Hyangsayukgunja-tang showed no significant vasodilative effects. Also, in co-administration with amlodipine, Banhasasim-tang showed higher vasodilative effects than amlodipine alone, and Buhnsimgieum showed greater vasodilative effects at low concentrations, but inhibited amlodipine's vasodilative effects at high concentrations. Conclusion : As a result of these studies, they will be expected to provide useful data to establish guidelines of combined administration of THF and western antihypertensive drugs for the treatment of hypertension.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.72-80
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• 2011

Recently, significance of efficiency in construction projects have been increased. So effective new delivery systems are required to improve project quality and value. Those systems could also reduce period, cost, risk and waste of the construction. Also, as current government aims 'Low carbon and Green growth', it is important to manage integrated supervision from the pre-design stage to the operation stage. In USA, AIA suggested IPD which encourages mutual cooperation among stakehklder to improve the productivity. Therefore, this study analyzes the characteristics of the IPD and deduct Present condition and Perception of Domestic Construction Environment to Introduce IPD.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.20-33
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• 2021

This study is to suggest improvements of personal information protection in South Korea, according to requiring the safety of process and protection of personal information. Accordingly, based on data collection and analysis through literature research, this study derived the issues and suitable standards of personal information for major artificial intelligence services. In addition, this cases studies were reviewed, focusing on the legal compliance and porcessing compliance for personal information proection in major countries. And it suggested the improvement plan applied in South Korea. As the results, in legal compliance, it is required reorganization of related laws, responsibility and compliance to develop and provide AI, and operation of risk management for personal information protection laws in AI services. In terms of processing compliance, first, in pre-processing and refining, it is necessary to standardize data set reference models, control data set quality, and voluntarily label AI applications. Second, in development and utilization of algorithm, it is need to establish and apply a clear regulation of the algorithm. As such, South Korea should apply suitable improvement tasks for personal information protection of safe AI service.