• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.86-92
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• 2017

As the elderly population increases, real-time personal health monitoring is gaining new ground with advances in wireless communications. Such an approach is particularly beneficial to elderly and physically challenged people, as well as those who live alone and are not be able to seek help in case of medical emergencies. The aim of this study is to implement a wearable band which monitors personal vital signs, such as the body temperature and heart rate, and assists with healthcare decisions using a fuzzy logic based decision support system. Since the vital sign data measured from sensors are imprecise and their normal variation with age is nonlinear and not crisp, a fuzzy system is employed to deal with this imprecise or uncertain information. The proposed wearable band is designed to continuously capture and transmit vital signs and healthcare decisions to suitable apps developed for smartphones. In this way, health alerts can be sent to the guardian or caregiver who is registered in the apps.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.156-172
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• 1993

The purpose of this study was to evaluate for the cytotoxicity of root canal sealers - Tubliseal, N2, AH26, and Sealapex - on fibroblasts cultivated from human periodontal ligament. Succinate dehydrogenase activity test and $^{51}Cr$ release test were performed to evaluate the shortterm cytotoxicity. According to l,3 and 6 days vital cell count and $^{14}C$-leucine incorporation rate to fibroblasts were evaluated. The results of this study were as follows: 1. In the test of SDH activity by millipore filter method, Sealapex showed mild cytotoxicity but Tubliseal, N2 and AH26 showed severe cytotoxicity. 2. In $^{51}Cr$ release test, Tubliseal was the most cytotoxic sealer tested, and rank ordered the relative cytotoxicity of the other sealers tested as follows: AH26, N2, Sealapex. 3. In the test of viable cell count, cytotoxicity in Tubliseal was continued because vital cell number reduced with time. Because vital cell was not showed in N2 and AH26 at 1 day, it was recognized that N2 and AH26 exhibited severe cytotoxicity. In Sealapex, vital cell number increased remarkably with time, so it showed that cytotoxicity decreased with time. 4. In $^{14}C$-leucine incorporation rate test, protein sythesis was not produced in Tubliseal, N2 and AH26 after 3 days, it showed that cytotoxicity in Tubliseal, N2 and AH26 was severe. Although protein synthesis in Sealapex decreased with time, it continued after 6 days. Therefore Sealapex has been exhibited mild cytotoxicity.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.19-29
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• 2015

Impaired respiratory function is common in patients with stroke. The purpose of this study were to investigate the effectiveness of exercises and to assess forced vital capacity and peak cough flow after completion of neck stabilizing and respiratory reeducation exercises (combining diaphragmatic breathing and pursed-lip breathing exercises). The 45 participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group 1 ($n_1=15$), experimental group 2 ($n_2=15$), and a control group ($n_3=15$). All subjects performed conservative physical therapy for 30 minutes. Experimental group 1 undertook the neck stabilizing exercise and the respiratory reeducation exercise. Experimental group 2 undertook the respiratory reeducation exercise. Additional exercise did not exceed 30 minutes, five times a week for six weeks. The subjects were assessed for deep neck flexor thickness and breathing function (forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume at one second, forced expiratory volume at one second/forced vital capacity, peak expiratory flow, and manual assisted peak cough flow) at pre-post value. The results of this study were as follows. Experimental group 1 showed a significant increase only in deep neck flexor thickness change rate (p<.05). All groups showed significant increases in forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume at one second, and peak expiratory flow in pre-post measurement (p<.05). Experimental groups 1 and 2 showed an increase in manual assisted peak cough flow in pre-post measurement (p<.05). There was no significant difference between experimental group 1 and experimental group 2, but experimental group 1 improved more than experimental group 2 in respiratory function as a whole. In conclusion, these findings suggest that the neck stabilizing exercise in combination with the respiratory reeducation exercise can improve forced vital capacity and peak cough flow in patients with stroke.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.286-296
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• 2021

Purpose: This study compared infant mortality and its associated factors between Korean and immigrant women using vital statistics gathered by Statistics Korea. Methods: Birth and death statistics from the period between 2009 and 2019 were extracted from the census of population dynamics data of the Microdata Integrated Service, Korea. Statistical data were derived from a complete survey and infant mortality was analyzed from mortality statistics data. Descriptive statistics were used for comparison. Results: The average infant mortality rate (IMR) of Korean women was 2.7 in Korea, which did not change significantly between 2009 and 2019; however, the IMR of immigrant women increased significantly in 2018 to 4.2 and subsequently decreased to 2.6 in 2019. Moreover, the age of Korean and immigrant women at the time of infant death gradually increased from 31.1 years and 25.9 years in 2009 to 32.8 years and 30.9 years in 2019, respectively. The gestational age was lower for deceased infants born to immigrant women (mean, 31.04 weeks; standard deviation [SD], 6.42; median, 30.00) compared to infants born to Korean women (mean, 31.71 weeks; SD, 6.48; median, 32.00). Immigrant women (91.7%) received slightly fewer antenatal care visits compared to Korean women (93.1%). Conclusion: It is vital to devise a plan to lower the IMR of immigrant women in Korea. Moreover, it is necessary to explore the factors related to infant mortality among immigrant women within the context of Korean societal situation, culture, and home environment.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.16-26
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• 2002

Purpose: This study was done to investigate the effect of foot reflexology on vital signs, general fatigue, mood and foot fatigue in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Method: Data were collected from a convenience sample of 11 patients who were admitted at S and E University Hospital. Changes in systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure(DBP), pulse rate(PR), general fatigue, mood status, and foot fatigue between pre and post foot reflexology were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed rank test and Friedman test at 0.05 level of significance. Results: There were significant differences in the SBP(p= .009), DBP(p=.014), PR(p=.015), general fatigue (p=.015) mood status(p=.007), and foot fatigue(p= .007) between pre and post foot reflexology. Conclusion: Foot reflexology can improve vital signs, general/foot fatigue and mood status, therefore we recommend to use foot reflexology as an effective nursing intervention in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.

• Journal of electromagnetic engineering and science
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.234-239
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• 2012

This paper presents a compact K-band Doppler radar sensor for human vital signal detection that uses a radar configuration with only single coupler. The proposed radar front-end configuration can reduce the chip size and the additional RF power loss. The radar front-end IC is composed of a Lange coupler, VCO, and single balanced mixer. The oscillation frequency of the VCO is from 27.3 to 27.8 GHz. The phase noise of the VCO is -91.2 dBc/Hz at a 1 MHz offset frequency, and the output power is -4.8 dBm. The conversion gain of the mixer is about 11 dB. The chip size is $0.89{\times}1.47mm^2$. The compact Ka-band Doppler radar system was developed in order to demonstrate remote human vital signal detection. The radar system consists of a Ka-band Doppler radar module with a $2{\times}2$ patch array antenna, baseband signal conditioning block, DAQ system, and signal processing program. The front-end module size is $2.5{\times}2.5cm^2$. The proposed radar sensor can properly capture a human heartbeat and respiration rate at the distance of 50 cm.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.105-113
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• 2009

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of listening to music on the level of anxiety, sedation, and vital signs of patients undergoing surgery with spinal anesthesia. Methods: A convenience sample of 70 adult patients, ASA physical status I-II, scheduled for elective urologic or orthopedic surgery with spinal anesthesia, was included in this study. They were assigned to either an experimental group (n=35), listening to music during surgery, or a control group (n=35), not listening to music. Their anxiety was measured with the Spielberg's Trait and State Anxiety Inventory (STAI-KYZ). Sedation level was monitored with the Bispectral Index, and the vital signs at beginning, 10, 20, 30, and 45 min after operation. Results: The music group reported significantly lower state anxiety level during surgery as compared with the control group (t=3.91, p<.001). Repeated measures of ANOVA indicated a significant by group interaction on BIS index scores of sedation (F=4.23, p=.006). Among the vital signs, only heart rate was a significant by group interaction (F=5.529, p=.004). Conclusion: These findings indicate that listening to music during surgery with spinal anesthesia is a useful and effective nursing intervention to reduce anxiety and to maintain proper sedation.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.348-356
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• 2023

Objectives: We investigated trends in the incidence rate of macrosomia and its association with parental nationalities using Vital Statistics data in Japan. Methods: We used singleton birth data every 5 years from 1995 to 2020. The incidence rate of macrosomia was calculated according to specific attributes (maternal age, infant's sex, parental nationalities, parity, and household occupation) over time (years). In addition, a log-binomial model was used to investigate the relationship between the incidence of macrosomia and the attributes. This study compared Korea, China, the Philippines, Brazil, and other countries with Japan in terms of parental nationalities. "Other countries" indicates countries except for Japan, Korea, China, the Philippines, and Brazil. Results: The study included 6 180 787 births. The rate of macrosomia in Japan decreased from 1.43% in 1995 to 0.88% in 2020, and the decrease was observed across all parental nationalities. The rates for Japanese parents were the lowest values among parental nationalities during the timespan investigated. Multivariate regression analysis showed that mothers from Korea, China, the Philippines, Brazil, and other countries had a significantly higher risk of macrosomia than those from Japan (risk ratio, 1.91, 2.82, 1.59, 1.74, and 1.64, respectively). Furthermore, fathers from China, the Philippines, Brazil, and other countries had a significantly higher risk of macrosomia than those from Japan (risk ratio, 1.66, 1.38, 1.88, and 3.02, respectively). Conclusions: The rate of macrosomia decreased from 1995 to 2020 in Japan for parents of all nationalities, and the risk of macrosomia incidence was associated with parental nationality.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.348-356
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aims to analyze the number of suicide deaths in women, trends in suicide mortality, characteristics of suicide by age, and outcomes of suicide means over the past decade (2011-2021) in South Korea. Methods: Using cause of death data from Statistics Korea, an in-depth analysis of Korean women's suicide trends was conducted for the period of 2011-2021. Results: In 2021, women's suicide death in Korea was 4,159, a rate of 16.2 per 100,000 population. The rate increased by 1.4% from the previous year. Since 2011, women's suicide rate has been on a steady downward trend, but since 2018, it has been on the rise again. Suicide rates among women in their 20s and 30s have increased, especially since the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, and suicide rates among women over 70 years remain high. As compared to 2011, pesticide poisoning and hanging among the means of suicide have decreased significantly, while drug and carbon monoxide continue to increase. Conclusion: Suicide rates for Korean women in their 20s and 30s have increased significantly in recent years, and those for women over 70 years remain high. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the causes and establish national policies for targeted management of these age groups, which contributes significantly to the rising suicide rate among Korean women.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.201-205
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• 2015

Background: This prospective, randomized, double-blind, clinical study was conducted to compare the effects of 4% articaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine (A100) and 4% articaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine (A200) on the vital signs and onset and duration of anesthesia in an inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB). Methods: In the first appointment, an IANB was performed by injecting A100 or A200 in 1 side of the mouth (right or left) randomly in patients referred for extraction of both their first mandibular molars. In the second appointment, the protocol was repeated and the other anesthetic solution was injected in the side that had not received the block in the previous session. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures (SBP and DBP) and pulse rate were measured during and 5 min after the injection. The onset and duration of anesthesia were also evaluated. Data were analyzed using t-test and Mann-Whitney U-test, and p-value was set at 0.05. Results: SBP and pulse rate changes were slightly more with A100; however, DBP changes were more with A200, although the differences were not significant (P > 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the parameters evaluated in this study. The onset and duration of anesthesia, and the changes in SBP, DBP, and pulse rate during and 5 min after the injection were the same in both the groups. Conclusions: For an IANB, A200 and A100 were equally efficient and successful in producing the block. Epinephrine concentration did not influence the effects of 4% articaine.