• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.174-183
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• 2015

The major purpose of this study is to construct a retrospective exposure assessment for benzene through a review of literature on Korea. Airborne benzene measurements reported in 34 articles were reviewed. A total of 15,729 individual measurements were compiled. Weighted arithmetic means [AM(w)] and their variance calculated across studies were summarized according to 5-year period intervals (prior to the 1970s through the 2010s) and industry type. Industries were classified according to Korea Standard Industrial Classification (KSIC) using information provided in the literature. We estimated quantitative retrospective exposure to benzene for each cell in the matrix through a combination of time and KSIC. Analysis of the AM(w) indicated reductions in exposure levels over time, regardless of industry, with mean levels prior to the 1980-1984 period of 50.4 ppm (n = 2,289), which dropped to 2.8 ppm (n = 305) in the 1990-1994 period, and to 0.1 ppm (n = 294) in the 1995-1999 period. There has been no improvement since the 2000s, when the AM(w) of 4.3 ppm (n = 6,211) for the 2005-2009 period and 4.5 ppm (n = 3,358) for the 2010-2013 period were estimated. A comparison by industry found no consistent patterns in the measurement results. Our estimated benzene measurements can be used to determine not only the possibility of retrospective exposure to benzene, but also to estimate the level of quantitative or semiquantitative retrospective exposure to benzene.

• Clinical and Experimental Emergency Medicine
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.230-239
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• 2018

Objective The suicide rate in South Korea is very high and is expected to increase in coming years. Intoxication is the most common suicide attempt method as well as one of the common reason for presenting to an emergency medical center. We used decision tree modeling analysis to identify predictors of risk for suicide by intentional intoxication. Methods A single-center, retrospective study was conducted at our hospital using a 4-year registry of the institute from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2016. Demographic factors, such as sex, age, intentionality, therapeutic adherence, alcohol consumption, smoking status, physical disease, cancer, psychiatric disease, and toxicological factors, such as type of intoxicant and poisoning severity score were collected. Candidate risk factors based on the decision tree were used to select variables for multiple logistic regression analysis. Results In total, 4,023 patients with intoxication were enrolled as study participants, with 2,247 (55.9%) identified as cases of intentional intoxication. Reported annual percentages of intentional intoxication among patients were 628/937 (67.0%), 608/1,082 (56.2%), 536/1,017 (52.7), 475/987 (48.1%) from 2013 to 2016. Significant predictors identified based on decision tree analysis were alcohol consumption, old age, psychiatric disease, smoking, and male sex; those identified based on multiple regression analysis were alcohol consumption, smoking, male sex, psychiatric disease, old age, poor therapeutic adherence, and physical disease. Conclusion We identified important predictors of suicide risk by intentional intoxication. A specific and realistic approach to analysis using the decision tree modeling technique is an effective method to determine those groups at risk of suicide by intentional intoxication.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.71-79
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• 2014

Objectives : The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety of acupuncture therapy when applied to patients who are undergoing anticoagulants / antiplatelet medication therapy combined with herbal medicine using a retrospective, case-control study. Methods : 428 charts of patients were reviewed in this study. Odds ratio between case of bleeding-related adverse event and control was calculated as main analysis. Exposures were anticoagulants / antiplatelet medication, Hwalhyeolgeoeo herbal medicine and combination of both drugs. Additionally, odds ratios were calculated according to the severity of bleeding-related adverse events. Results : The results were as following: 1. Analysis of all bleeding-related adverse events showed there was no increased risk of combined therapy compared with other exposures and control group. 2. Analysis of only clinically significant adverse events showed there was no increased risk of combined therapy compared with other exposure and control group. 3. Hwalhyeolgeoeo herbal medicine group showed a tendency of increased risk of bleeding-related adverse events in all analysis but was not statistically significant. Conclusions : The results suggest that Hwalhyeolgeoeo herbal medicine-anticoagulant / antiplatelet medication combined therapy may not increase risk of bleeding-related adverse events in acupuncture therapy. By executing various modules of analysis, it was possible to acquire useful data for possible future studies. Further research is needed to confirm such results.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.122-135
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• 2024

Purpose: This retrospective study aimed to assess the long-term cumulative survival rate of titanium, sandblasted, large-grit, acid-etched implants over a 10-year follow-up period and investigate the factors affecting the survival rate and change in marginal bone loss (MBL). Methods: The study included 400 patients who underwent dental implant placement at the Department of Periodontology of Seoul National University Dental Hospital (SNUDH) between 2005 and 2015. Panoramic radiographic images and dental records of patients were collected and examined using Kaplan-Meier analysis, Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, and multiple regression analysis to determine the survival rates and identify any factors related to implant failure and MBL. Results: A total of 782 implants were placed with a follow-up period ranging from 0 to 16 years (mean: 8.21±3.75 years). Overall, 25 implants were lost, resulting in a cumulative survival rate of 96.8%. Comparisons of the research variables regarding cumulative survival rate mostly yielded insignificant results. The mean mesial and distal MBLs were 1.85±2.31 mm and 1.59±2.03 mm, respectively. Factors influencing these values included age, diabetes mellitus (DM), jaw location, implant diameter, bone augmentation surgery, and prosthetic unit. Conclusions: This study found that the implant survival rates at SNUDH fell within the acceptable published criteria. The patients' sex, age, DM status, implant location, implant design, implant size, surgical type, bone augmentation, and prosthetic unit had no discernible influence on long-term implant survival. Sandblasted, large-grit, acid-etched implants might offer advantages in terms of implant longevity and consistent clinical outcomes.

• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.20-27
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• 2023

There are many variations and unclear definitions of the appropriate timing of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), and there is still a lack of consistency about the appropriate timing. Inappropriate timing can be associated with serious comorbidity and can affect the patients. This meta-analysis was conducted to assess the operative outcomes and morbidity to provide a benefit to the patients based on the best timing of LC after ERCP. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and retrospective studies were identified from the PubMed and Scopus databases from inception to July 2021. A meta-analysis was performed to estimate the treatment effects on operative outcomes and morbidity. Four RCTs and four retrospective studies met our inclusion criteria. A meta-analysis indicated that patients who received LC after ERCP on the same day or within 72 hours had about 0.354 days shorter length of hospital stay with a shorter operative time of about 0.111-1.835 minutes and a lower risk of complications around 37%-73%. Our evidence suggests that the appropriate timing of LC after ERCP is either the same day or within 72 hours for treating cholelithiasis patients based on the severity of disease.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.169-180
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• 2012

The ESBs (Environmental Specimen Banks) have monitoring functions for the contemporary environmental qualities and also offer the future generation tangible information on the past environment by preserving the specimens. This entails the sampling of the representative specimen for each distinctive ecosystem, which is performed under a strict and stipulated procedure and a condition that does not allow any change in the component so that a retrospective analysis can be readily done even in the distant future. It has been more than 30 years that some developing countries started collecting a broad spectrum of specimens to vindicate the effectiveness of an environmental policy and to monitor the long-term variations of background concentrations of environmental pollutants. Though being late, the National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER), Korea, has successfully launched the National Environmental Specimen Bank (NESB) in 2009 equipped with its state-of-the-art automated cryogenic tanks. Since then, the researchers at the NESB have been doing their best to excel the existing ESBs around the world by learning and improving the expertise. To do so, they conducted a pilot study for developing and testing their own Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) based on the analysis of the examples of the other ESBs. The problems from the pilot study had been reviewed to improve the SOP to meet the requirements for an ESB, that is to say, preserving representative environmental specimens in cryogenic condition and enhancing the analytical method. Furthermore, they also need to prepare themselves to address the future challenges by providing some additional functions, which makes it distinguishable from the other ESBs. If successful, this will be a step further to be recognized as a full-fledged member of the ESB society of the world.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.1122-1135
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to conduct a clinical analysis of patients treated for dizziness with Jeoreongchajeonja-tang, evaluate the effect of Jeoreongchajeonja-tang administration, and present indications of Jeoreongchajeonja-tang in dizziness. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 63 patients who were admitted to the Oriental Hospital of Se-Myung University from August 2012 to June 2019, complaining of dizziness, so who took Jeoreongchajeonja-tang. Results: 1) As a result of the analysis of the general characteristics of patients who took Jeoreongchajeonja-tang with dizziness, women were 2.7 times more than men. The age distribution was: patients in their 70s, 36.5%; in their 50s, 20.6%; in their 60s, 15.8%; and in their 80s, 12.6%. Patients had a history of hypertension (46.0%), diabetes (22.2%), stroke (17.4%), lung disease (12.6%), and cancer (11.1%). According to the diagnosis, 48 patients (76.1%) were assigned to the peripheral dizziness group, 7 patients (11.1%) to the central dizziness group, and 8 patients (12.6%) to other dizziness groups. 2) Compared with the peripheral dizziness group, the central dizziness group was older, their history of hypertension 8.4 times greater, their history of stroke 7.8 times greater, and the duration of herbal medicine administration was longer. 3) The vertigo grade was significantly decreased after taking Jeoreongchajeonja-tang (p=0.000). 4) As age increased by one year, odds ratio of improvement in the vertigo grade decreased by 0.924 times after taking Jeoreongchajeonja-tang (p=0.010). 5) Sex, disease duration, past history, diagnosis, the duration of herbal medicine administration, whether or not Yanggyuksanhwa-tang was combined with the Jeoreongchajeonja-tang and whether or not Western medicine was used did not affect improvement in the vertigo grade after taking Jeoreongchajeonja-tang. Conclusions: In patients with dizziness, Jeoreongchajeonja-tang can be used as a treatment without side effects.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.144-152
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• 2020

Background: Hemidiaphragmatic paralysis, a frequent complication of the brachial plexus block performed above the clavicle, is rarely associated with an infraclavicular approach. The costoclavicular brachial plexus block is emerging as a promising infraclavicular approach. However, it may increase the risk of hemidiaphragmatic paralysis because the proximity to the phrenic nerve is greater than in the classical infraclavicular approach. Methods: This retrospective analysis compared the incidence of hemidiaphragmatic paralysis in patients undergoing costoclavicular and supraclavicular brachial plexus blocks. Of 315 patients who underwent brachial plexus block performed by a single anesthesiologist, 118 underwent costoclavicular, and 197 underwent supraclavicular brachial plexus block. Propensity score matching selected 118 pairs of patients. The primary outcome was the incidence of hemidiaphragmatic paralysis, defined as a postoperative elevation of the hemidiaphragm > 20 mm. Factors affecting the incidence of hemidiaphragmatic paralysis were also evaluated. Results: Hemidiaphragmatic paralysis was observed in three patients (2.5%) who underwent costoclavicular and 47 (39.8%) who underwent supraclavicular brachial plexus blocks (P < 0.001; odds ratio, 0.04; 95% confidence interval, 0.01-0.13). Both the brachial plexus block approach and the injected volume of local anesthetic were significantly associated with hemidiaphragmatic paralysis. Conclusions: The incidence of hemidiaphragmatic paralysis is significantly lower with costoclavicular than with supraclavicular brachial plexus block.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.303-312
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate severe periodontitis with tooth loss as a modifiable risk factor for Alzheimer dementia (AD), vascular dementia (VaD), and mixed dementia (MD) using the National Health Insurance Service-National Health Screening Retrospective Cohort database with long-term follow-up over 14 years. Methods: Multivariate Cox hazards regression analysis was applied to a longitudinal retrospective database, which was updated in 2018, to evaluate the association between severe periodontitis with few remaining teeth and dementia after adjusting for potential risk factors, including sociodemographic factors and comorbid diseases. Results: Among 514,866 individuals in South Korea, 237,940 (46.2%) participants satisfying the inclusion criteria were selected. A total of 10,115 age- and sex-matched participants with severe periodontitis and 10,115 periodontally healthy participants were randomly selected and evenly assigned. The results showed that the risks of AD (hazard ratio [HR], 1.08), VaD (HR, 1.24), and MD (HR, 1.16) were significantly higher in patients with severe periodontitis with 1-9 remaining teeth after adjustment for sociodemographic factors, anthropomorphic measurements, lifestyle factors, and comorbidities. Conclusions: Severe periodontitis with few remaining teeth (1-9) may be considered a modifiable risk factor for the development of AD, VaD, and MD in Korean adults.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.117-127
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• 2020

Objectives The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of herb medication based on 'Go-bang' treatment, 'Huse-bang' treatment for patients with acute neck pain caused by traffic accidents. Methods We studied 40 patients with acute neck pain after traffic accidents who had admitted to Department of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation, College of Korean Medicine, Daejeon University from November 25, 2018 to November 25, 2019. 20 patients had received Herb Medication Based on 'Go-bang' and 20 patients had received herb medication based on 'Huse-bang' three times a day. The study was conducted as a retrospective observation study which analyze the patient's medical records. We used visual analogue scale (VAS) to evaluate pain reduction and neck disability index (NDI) to evaluate function improvement twice (hospitalization day and 5 days later). Statistical analysis was performed using the IBM SPSS statistics 25 program. Result The VAS scores, NDI scores decreased statistically significantly after treatment in all patients. Both 'Go-bang' and 'Huse-bang'groups showed a statistically significant VAS reduction and improvement of NDI on the fifth day of hospitalization. In the 'Huse-bang' group, there was a statistically significant improvement of NDI than in the 'Go-bang' group. Conclusion We found that both types of herbal-medication were significantly effective on acute neck pain and neck disability after traffic accident. Further study is needed about the comparison of effectiveness between Go-bang' and 'Huse-bang'groups.