• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.83 no.3
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• pp.228-233
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• 2020

Background: The Bronchiectasis Health Questionnaire (BHQ) is a simple and repeatable, self-reporting health status questionnaire for bronchiectasis. We have translated the original version of the BHQ into Korean using a standardized methodology. The purpose of this study was to assess the validity of the Korean version of the BHQ (K-BHQ) with Korean patients. Methods: Stable state patients with bronchiectasis from two academic hospitals were enrolled in this study. The validity was assessed by investigating the relationship between the K-BHQ scores and the Korean version of the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Assessment Test (K-CAT) scores. We also investigated the relationship between the K-BHQ scores and other variables of the modified Medical Research Council's (mMRC) dyspnea scale, lung function, and exacerbations. Results: A total of 126 patients with bronchiectasis were enrolled. The mean age was 64.3 (standard deviation [SD], 9.7). Women comprised 53.2% of the patients. The mean forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁) was 60% of the predicted value (SD, 18.9%); the mean K-CAT score was 17.6 (SD, 9.1). The K-BHQ scores correlated strongly with the K-CAT scores (r=-0.656, p<0.001). There was significant correlation between the K-BHQ scores and the mMRC dyspnea scale (ρ=-0.409, p<0.001), FEV₁ (r=0.406, p<0.001), and number of exacerbations requiring hospitalization (ρ=-0.303, p=0.001). Conclusion: The K-BHQ is valid for assessing the health-related quality of life or health status of Korean bronchiectasis patients.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.281-289
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• 2020

Environmental fate of ionizable organic pollutants such as perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are of increasing interest but has not been well understood because of uncertain values for parameters related with atmospheric interphase partitioning behavior. In the present study, not only the values for air-water partition coefficient (K_AW) and dissociation constant (pKa) of PFAAs were induced by adjusting to in situ measurements of air-water distribution coefficient between vapor phase and rainwater but also gas-particle partition coefficients were also estimated using three-phase partitioning model of ionizable organic pollutants, in situ measurements of PFAAs in aerosol and air vapor phase, and obtained parameter values. The pKa values of PFAAs we obtained were close to the minimum values suggested in literature except for perfluorooctane sulfonic acids, and COSMOtherm-modeled K_AW values were assessed to more appropriate among suggested values. When applying parameter values we obtained, it was predicted that air particle-associated fate and transport of PFAAs could be negligible and PFAAs could distribute ubiquitously along the transection from urban to rural region by pH-dependent phase transfer in air. Our study is expected to have some implications in prediction of the environmental redistribution of other ionizable organic compounds.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.248-254
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• 2002

Single cell gel electrophoresis assay was carried out to evaluate DNA damage in T-and B-lymphocytes from rats exposed to benzene and the correlation between DNA damage and the level of t,t-muconic acids, which are urinary benzene metabolites, was investigated. In control rats, the mean values of Olive tail moments in T-and B-lymphocytes were 1.507$\pm$0.187 and 1.579$\pm$0.206 respectively. DNA damages of T-lymphocytes in rats exposed for 4 weeks showed the highest Olive tail moments at each benzene concentration examined (2.72-4.351). However this DNA damage was decreased after 6 weeks of exposure (1.74-2.09). DNA damages of B-lymphocytes did not show such differences with exposure time or benzene concentration (1.49-2.07) except at 200 ppm at 4 weeks. T-lymphocytes show significantly more damages than B-lymphocyte upon acute exposure to benzene.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.79-105
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• 2011

In-depth interview research and qualitative methodology were used to find changes in the experiences of family volunteer activities through the use of the Health Family Support Center. Ultimately, 143 items as sub-concepts, 42 items as sub-categories, and 10 items as subjects were found. I will also suggest alternative basic and primary data. First, using 10 subjects, the following points were evaluated in detail. I looked at what kind of changes in the volunteer activities these subjects experienced after working at the Health Family Support Center, and what the specific underlying reasons were for the changes in their family volunteer experience. These included 'community solidarity', 'family community', 'leisure and culture for the family', 'communication', 'personal relations', 'coping skills', 'growth', 'sympathy', 'positive thinking', 'future plans'. Second, families experienced a feeling of belonging as community members and the family realized the importance of their life, learned communication methods and coping skills. Third, families came to have new opportunities to grow as humans and learned a feeling of sympathy for others. Fourth, families found new paradigms to think positively about their daily life and to establish future plans. We will need more effort to empower family experiences of family volunteer activities that use the Health Family Support Center as well as supporting its staff. The following specific factors were the main mediating factors for using such a facility: family volunteer education, family volunteer service agency consulting, program planning, and managing family volunteers and other services.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.112-127
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to develop performance indicators for quality of public health center based home healthcare through the study the major factors of registrated weaken poorly residents in the community based home healthcare. Various literature review was conducted to study the performance indicators for quality of public health center based home healthcare of advanced countries and Korea. Mail survey was conducted from national wide PHC(public health centers), sub health centers and primary health care posts. of the surveys mailed, 2,293 centers(67%) were returned within the allotted and we included in the analysis these who completed the questionnaire. Data was analysed by SPSS for windows 12.0. The major results of the research were as follows; Firstly, major factors of registrated weaken poorly residents in the community based home healthcare in the multivariate analysis were jurisdictional families per manpower(OR:0.78, 95%CI:0.64-0.94, P=0.011), weaken poorly families per manpower(OR:0.42, 95%CI:0.35-0.50, P<0.001), business vehicles per manpower(OR:1.13, 95%CI:1.04-1.24, P=0.007) type of public health center(OR:4.42, 95%CI:3.32-5.90, P<0.001), region of public health center(OR:0.53, 95%CI:0.32-0.89, P=0.017). Secondly, performance indicators for quality of public health center based home healthcare were developed as basic investigation, registration, intervention and discharge level. Preparing for Activation of public health center based home healthcare in Korea, the result application as follows is possible. Firstly, we can conclude that the major factors of registrated weaken poorly residents in the community based home healthcare are jurisdictional families per manpower, weaken poorly families per manpower, type of public health center, region of public health center, business vehicles per manpower. Secondly, the new developed performance indicators which are divided into basic investigation, registration, intervention, discharge for public health center based home healthcare could be applied it for improving quality of home healthcare services.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.262-277
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to investigate the health status and to examine the relationship between health related variables of the clients with arthritis. This descriptive-correlational study was measured physical health status(pain, fatigue, physical disability, joint flexibility) and psycho-social health status(social function disability, self-efficacy, depression). The clients were consisted of 127 arthritis clients who were randomly selected from health center, 2 sub health center and 6 primary health care center in Wonju City. The data was collected from November 2000 to January 2001. The results of the study analyzed using a SPSS win were as follows: 1) The subjects' average age was 64.81 years old(female: 86.6%, male: 13.4%). 2) In physical health status, the average score of fatigue was 63 scores and pain was 69.77. Physical disability score was higher than total disability score. In psychosocial disability, housekeeping management disability score was higher than social function disability score. In psycho-social health status, the average score of self-efficacy was 70.86 and the subjects have higher level of depression, more than 20 scores. 3) On pain sites, almost of subjects complained of a knee joint pain. The waist, wrist, and shoulder joint pain were followed. The numbers of pain site were 8.3 per individuals. 4) The flexibility of knee and shoulder joint were lower than another joints. 5) Correlation with fatigue, pain, physical disability, social disability, self-efficacy and depression was revealed highly significant. We suggest that health promotion program considering our research results should be provided for arthritis clients in community level.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1-27
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to develop the evaluation indicator for the health promotion programs of the Community Health Centers and to test its validity. The modified logic model was used as the evaluation model based on the literature reviews. Using this model, four dimensions, eleven sub­dimensions, and forty­one individual indicators were developed. These evaluation indicators are superior in reflecting the distinctiveness of the community health promotion programs, and also flexible enough to accommodate diverse programs. These indicators also emphasize the role of process evaluation, and the diversity of outcomes. To test content validity, survey method of experts in the community health promotion field was conducted. Eleven in three expert groups(professionals, practitioners in Community Health Centers, and policy makers) generally agreed with the validity of evaluation indicators. To examine criteria and construct validity, these indicators were used to evaluate the health promotion programs conducted by the 18 Key Community Health Centers. The data came from the interview surveys of the main health promotion practitioner and 30 visitors from each center. The ranks of these eighteen Community Health Centers were computed from these data. There was no significant difference in ranking either by these indicators or by the existing indicators, which was developed by Technical Support and Evaluation Team for criteria validity. There was no statistically significant difference in ranking between input, process and outcome dimensions. Based on these study results, evaluation indicators developed in this study are valid to evaluate Community Health Center's health promotion program. It can be used both by the Community Health Center for internal evaluation, and by the stakeholders for external evaluation.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.747-752
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• 2019

Environmental pollution remains a considerable health risk source all over the world; however, hazards are usually higher in developing countries. Iraq has long been suffering from the problem of pollution and how to treat pollution. Photocatalytic degradation has turned out to be most productive process for dye degradation. In this investigation, Rhodamine B (RhB), dye has been selected for degradation under visible light illumination. To address this issue, we fabricate erbium trioxide nanoparticles (Er₂O₃/NPs). Erbium trioxide nanoparticles are prepared and utilized for photo-catalytic degradation. The characterization of Er₂O₃/NPs is described and confirmed by utilizing of XRD (X-ray diffraction) and SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy). The average size of Er₂O₃ nanoparticles is observed to be 16.00 nm. Er₂O₃/NPs is investigated for its ability of photo-catalytic degradation through certain selected parameters such as concentration and time. The methodological results show that the synthesized Er₂O₃/NPs is a good photo-catalytic for Rhodamine degradation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.1110-1119
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the inflammatory response in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 macrophages could be promoted by particulate matter 2.5 (PM_2.5) stimulation. To this end, the levels of inflammatory parameters, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammation-regulating genes were investigated in RAW 264.7 cells treated with PM_2.5 in the presence or absence of LPS. Our results showed that the production levels of pro-inflammatory mediators (nitric oxide and prostaglandin E₂) and cytokines (interleukin-6 and -1β) were significantly increased by PM_2.5 stimulation in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells, which was correlated with increased expression genes involved in their production. In addition, when LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells were exposed to PM_2.5, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) expression was further increased in the nucleus, and the expression of inhibitor of NF-κB as well as NF-κB in the cytoplasm was decreased. These results suggest that the co-treatment of PM_2.5 and LPS further increases the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway compared to each treatment alone, thereby contributing to the promotion of transcriptional activity of inflammatory genes. Furthermore, although the generation of ROS was greatly increased by PM_2.5 in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells, the NF-κB inhibitor did not reduce the generation of ROS. In addition, when the generation of ROS was artificially suppressed, the production of inflammatory mediators and the activation of NF-κB were both abolished. Therefore, our results suggest that the increase in the NF-κB-mediated inflammatory response induced by PM_2.5 in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 macrophages was a ROS generation-dependent phenomenon.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.89-98
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• 2023

Background: Organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) are a group of chemical substances used in building materials and plastic products to suppress or mitigate the combustion of materials. Although OPFRs are generally used in mixed form, information on their mixture toxicity is quite scarce. Objectives: This study aims to elucidate the toxicity and determine the types of interaction (e.g., synergistic, additive, and antagonistic effect) of OPFRs mixtures. Methods: Nine organophosphorus flame retardants, including TEHP (tris(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate) and TDCPP (tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate), were selected based on indoor dust measurement data in South Korea. Nine OPFRs were exposed to the luminescent bacteria Aliivibrio fischeri for 30 minutes and the human hepatocyte cell line HepG2 for 48 hours. Chemicals with significant toxicity were only used for mixture toxicity tests in HepG2. In addition, the observed EC_x values were compared with the predicted toxicity values in the CA (concentration addition) prediction model, and the MDR (model deviation ratio) was calculated to determine the type of interaction. Results: Only four chemicals showed significant toxicity in the luminescent bacteria assays. However, EC₅₀ values were derived for seven out of nine OPFRs in the HepG2 assays. In the HepG2 assays, the highest to lowest EC₅₀ were in the order of the molecular weight of the target chemicals. In the further mixture tests, most binary mixtures show additive interactions except for the two combinations that have TPhP (triphenyl phosphate), i.e., TPhP and TDCPP, and TPhP and TBOEP (tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate). Conclusions: Our data shows OPFR mixtures usually have additivity; however, more research is needed to find out the reason for the synergistic effect of TPhP. Also, the mixture experimental dataset can be used as a training and validation set for developing the mixture toxicity prediction model as a further step.