This study was conducted to examine and compare the characteristics in the cognitive functions of peritoneal dialysis, hemodialysis and normal kidney function groups as basic data for effectively educating dialysis patients. The data were collected from May 10 to October 30. 2000, collected from each of 20 patients with peritoneal dialysis, hemodialysis and normal Kidney function and who registered for the dialysis room at a general hospital affiliated to a university in Seoul and sampled by age and educational level through personal interviews with the researchers of this study. As a measuring tool, MMSE developed by Folstein et al.(1975) to measure cognitive function disorder was used, slightly revised for hemodialysis patients. Collected data were processed into frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation by the use of SAS. The results of this study are as follows: 1.With a maximum of 30 points for cognitive function, the mean of the peritoneal dialysis patients was 27.06+/-2.06, while that of the hemodialysis patients was 27.25+/-2.76; that of the normal Kidney function patients was 27.85+/-2.00, indicating no significant difference among those three groups. 2. As for the subjects who scored 23 points, the turning point of confirming the cognitive disorder, the percentage was 5% in the case of the peritoneal dialysis, 10% in the case of the hemodialysis and 5% in the case of the normal Kidney function group. 3.Differences between the peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis patients by gender, occupation, spouse, diabetes, hypertension, the period of dialysis, number of hospitalizations, and the use of erythropoietin were not significant in the scoring of cognitive function. 4. There was no significant correlation between the level of Hb, Hct, albumin, aluminium, PTH, BUN, Cr, dialysis adequacy and the cognitive function. Considering such results, it is clear that there is no significant difference in the cognitive functions of the sampled subjects. Therefore, the nurse in the dialysis room should continually carry out assessment and intervention against elements degrading the effect of patients' education to improve self-care.
Dialysis ; Education ; Erythropoietin ; Hospitalization ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Kidney* ; Occupations ; Peritoneal Dialysis* ; Renal Dialysis* ; Self Care ; Seoul ; Spouses

BACKGROUND: Despite considerable efforts made in recent years, the industrial accident rate and the fatality rate in the Republic of Korea are much higher than those in most developed countries in Europe and North America. Industrial safety policies and safety regulations are also known to be ineffective and inefficient in some cases. METHODS: This study focuses on the quantitative evaluation of the effectiveness of direct safety regulations such as safety certification, self-declaration of conformity, and safety inspection of industrial machines in the Republic of Korea. Implications on safety policies to restructure the industrial safety system associated with industrial machines are also explored. RESULTS: Analysis of causes in industrial accidents associated with industrial machines confirms that technical causes need to be resolved to reduce both the frequency and the severity of such industrial accidents. Statistical analysis also confirms that the indirect effects of safety device regulation on users are limited for a variety of reasons. Safety device regulation needs to be shifted to complement safety certification and self-declaration of conformity for more balanced direct regulations on manufacturers and users. An example of cost-benefit analysis on conveyor justifies such a transition. CONCLUSION: Industrial safety policies and regulations associated with industrial machines must be directed towards eliminating the sources of danger at the stage of danger creation, thereby securing the safe industrial machines. Safety inspection further secures the safety of workers at the stage of danger use. The overall balance between such safety regulations is achieved by proper distribution of industrial machines subject to such regulations and the intensity of each regulation. Rearrangement of industrial machines subject to safety certification and self-declaration of conformity to include more movable industrial machines and other industrial machines with a high level of danger is also suggested.
Accidents, Occupational ; Certification ; Complement System Proteins ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Developed Countries ; Europe ; Evaluation Studies as Topic ; North America ; Protective Devices ; Republic of Korea* ; Social Control, Formal*

BACKGROUND: Monitoring and control of PM(2.5) are being recognized as key to address health issues attributed to PM(2.5). Availability of low-cost PM(2.5) sensors made it possible to introduce a number of portable PM(2.5) monitors based on light scattering to the consumer market at an affordable price. Accuracy of light scattering–based PM(2.5) monitors significantly depends on the method of calibration. Static calibration curve is used as the most popular calibration method for low-cost PM(2.5) sensors particularly because of ease of application. Drawback in this approach is, however, the lack of accuracy.METHODS: This study discussed the calibration of a low-cost PM(2.5)-monitoring device (PMD) to improve the accuracy and reliability for practical use. The proposed method is based on construction of the PM(2.5) sensor network using Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) protocol and web query of reference measurement data available at government-authorized PM monitoring station (GAMS) in the republic of Korea. Four machine learning (ML) algorithms such as support vector machine, k-nearest neighbors, random forest, and extreme gradient boosting were used as regression models to calibrate the PMD measurements of PM(2.5). Performance of each ML algorithm was evaluated using stratified K-fold cross-validation, and a linear regression model was used as a reference.RESULTS: Based on the performance of ML algorithms used, regression of the output of the PMD to PM(2.5) concentrations data available from the GAMS through web query was effective. The extreme gradient boosting algorithm showed the best performance with a mean coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.78 and standard error of 5.0 μg/m³, corresponding to 8% increase in R² and 12% decrease in root mean square error in comparison with the linear regression model. Minimum 100 hours of calibration period was found required to calibrate the PMD to its full capacity. Calibration method proposed poses a limitation on the location of the PMD being in the vicinity of the GAMS. As the number of the PMD participating in the sensor network increases, however, calibrated PMDs can be used as reference devices to nearby PMDs that require calibration, forming a calibration chain through MQTT protocol.CONCLUSIONS: Calibration of a low-cost PMD, which is based on construction of PM(2.5) sensor network using MQTT protocol and web query of reference measurement data available at a GAMS, significantly improves the accuracy and reliability of a PMD, thereby making practical use of the low-cost PMD possible.
Calibration ; Forests ; Linear Models ; Machine Learning ; Methods ; Particulate Matter ; Republic of Korea ; Support Vector Machine ; Telemetry

The cell cycle is composed of a series of steps which can be negatively or positively regulated by various factors. p53 gene aberrations are common in human malignancies, and recent studies suggest that in cervical carcinoma p53 function is inactivated either by complex formation wilh human papilloma virus (HPV) E6 product or by gene mutation. To study the expression of p53 gene in the cervical cancer and cervical intraepithebal neoplasia, immunohistochemistry for the p53 protein was done in the 47 cases of squamous cell carcinoma, 6 cases of adenocarcinoma and 32 cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. I. The p53 protein was detected in the 31% of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (10/32 cases). 2. The p53 protein was detected in the 55% of invasive cervical cancer (29/53 cases). 3. By the histologic type of cervieal cancer, the p53 protein was detected in the 57% of squamous cell carcinoma (27/47 cases) and 33% of(2/6 cases) adenocarcinoma. The p53 protein wes more frequently detected in the squamous cell carcinoma than in the adenocarcinoma. 4. By the staging in cervical cancer, the p53 protein was detected in the 31% of stage 0, 50% of Stage Ia, 50% of stage I b, 75% of IIa and 50% of stage II b.
Adenocarcinoma ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cell Cycle ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; Genes, p53 ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry* ; Papilloma ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

BACKGROUND: Despite the recent efforts to prevent industrial accidents in the Republic of Korea, the industrial accident rate has not improved much. Industrial safety policies and safety management are also known to be inefficient. This study focused on dynamic characteristics of industrial safety systems and their effects on safety performance in the Republic of Korea. Such dynamic characteristics are particularly important for restructuring of the industrial safety system. METHODS: The effects of damping and elastic characteristics of the industrial safety system model on safety performance were examined and feedback control performance was explained in view of cost and benefit. The implications on safety policies of restructuring the industrial safety system were also explored. RESULTS: A strong correlation between the safety budget and the industrial accident rate enabled modeling of an industrial safety system with these variables as the input and the output, respectively. A more effective and efficient industrial safety system could be realized by having weaker elastic characteristics and stronger damping characteristics in it. A substantial decrease in total social cost is expected as the industrial safety system is restructured accordingly. CONCLUSION: A simple feedback control with proportional–integral action is effective in prevention of industrial accidents. Securing a lower level of elastic industrial accident-driving energy appears to have dominant effects on the control performance compared with the damping effort to dissipate such energy. More attention needs to be directed towards physical and social feedbacks that have prolonged cumulative effects. Suggestions for further improvement of the safety system including physical and social feedbacks are also made.
Accidents, Occupational ; Budgets ; Republic of Korea* ; Safety Management

Recently, computers are more and more widely used in many aspects of medicine, including education, and using computers to assist in traditional learning has many advantages. Authors developed Computer Assisted Learning (CAL) systems, which were consisted of Apple II computer and VTR controlled by the computer to present X-ray images and meticulously designed questions with computer aided feed back alternately to facilitate the understanding of the students. So authors present the one of the CAL program. "Bone and Joint Radiology", in detail to introduce the perspective of the system and discuss the benefit of the CAL system and the advantage and disadvantage of the image presentation by the VTR. With recent advance in computer technology, presentation of the better quality images and random access to the image files are enabled that CAL system vill give greater benefit to the traditional education and the development of the better designed CAL system and program is expected.
Education ; Humans ; Joints* ; Learning*

Enterovesical fistula is a relatively rare disease and usually caused by primary intestinal disease (diverticulitis, colon cancer and inflammatory bowel disease including Crohn's disease etc.). We experienced a rare case of ileocolovesical fistula caused by Crohn's disease. The 34 year old man had had chronic dysuria, lower abdominal pain and turbid urine for 3 years. Contrast studies including cystography, small bowel series, barium enema and abdominal Of showed ileocolovesical fistula. Small bowel segmental resection, Hartmann's colostomy and suprapubic cystostomy were performed. Histological examination of operative specimen showed a granulomatous inflammation caused by Crohn's disease. Our case suggests that Crohn's disease may be a rare cause of enterovesicalfistula in Korean.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Barium ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Colostomy ; Crohn Disease* ; Cystostomy ; Dysuria ; Enema ; Fistula* ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Intestinal Diseases ; Rare Diseases

Gingival fibroblasts(GF) and periodontal ligament fibroblasts(PDLF) are the major cellular components of periodontal soft connective tissues, but the precise molecular biological differences between these cells are not yet known. In the present study, we investigated the expression of S100A4, S100A2 calcium-binding protein and osteoblast-specific factor 2(OSF-2, Periostin) mRNA in GF and PDLF in vitro through the process of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and Northern blot analysis in each. Human GF and PDLF were isolated from the gingival connective tissue and the middle third of freshly extracted healthy third molars. They were cultured in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium(DMEM) containing 10% fetal bovine serum and cells in the third passage were used in the experiments. After extracting total RNA from cultured cells, RT-PCR and Northern analysis were performed using S100A4-, S100A2- and Periostin-specific oligonucleotide primers and subcloned cDNA probes in each. In RT-PCR and Northern analysis, the expression of S100A4 and Periostin mRNA in GF was slightly detectable. Interestingly, the expression of S100A4 and Periostin mRNA in PDLF was much higher than that in GF. On the other hand, S100A2 mRNA was highly expressed in both GF and PDLF. Since there was a marked difference of S100A4 and Periostin expression between GF and PDLF in vitro, these data suggest that S100A4 and Periostin could be used as a useful marker for distinguishing cultured gingival fibroblasts and periodontal ligament cells.
Blotting, Northern ; Carrier Proteins* ; Cells, Cultured ; Connective Tissue ; DNA Primers ; DNA, Complementary ; Eagles ; Fibroblasts* ; Hand ; Humans* ; Molar, Third ; Periodontal Ligament* ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger*

When free-ranging birds are accidentally killed or die, there may be greater potential for their associated ticks to detach, seek alternate hosts, and become established. We examined 711 carcasses of 95 avian species for ticks at a stopover island of migratory birds in the Republic of Korea where only Ixodes nipponensis and I. persulcatus were previously reported from local mammals and vegetation. A total of 16 ticks, I. turdus and Haemaphysalis flava, were collected from 8 fresh carcasses belonging to 5 avian species. Despite their known abundance on migratory birds and mainland Korea, these species had not colonized the isolated insular ecosystem possibly due to the low abundance and diversity of local hosts. The results imply that increasing human impact, such as the anthropogenic mortality of migratory birds and the introduction of non-native mammalian hosts, will increase the potential invasion and colonization risk of ticks. This finding also suggests that tick surveillance consisting of fresh carcasses of dead migratory birds may provide additional information, often ignored in surveillance of ticks on live birds, for the potential introduction of non-native ticks and associated pathogens affecting animal and human health.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in pregnancies with mild and severe preeclampsia. METHODS: From January 1999 to June 2001, we studied the severity for pregnant women with pregnancy induced hypertension between 28 and 40 weeks gestation. In the mild (n=46) and severe preeclamptic women (n=28), the laboratory evaluation included liver function test, platelet counts, and serum creatinine. The systolic/diastolic (S/D) ratio of the fetal umbilical artery flow for placental resistance was measured by ultrasonographic doppler velocimetry. To detect the damage of vascular endothelial cells in all preeclamptic women, serum concentrations of VEGF were measured. RESULTS: Severe preeclampsia had more elevated liver enzymes, thrombocytopenia, high creatinine than mild preeclampsia. HELLP syndrome (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets) was encountered in 8/28 (28.6%) of severe preeclampsia. Fifteen out of twenty-eight cases (53.6%) in severe preeclampsia had elevated S/D ratio from 3.0 to 4.5 including 6 cases with absent end diastolic velocity, whereas 4/46 (8.7%) was elevated SD ratio (>3.0) in mild preeclampsia. Serum concentrations of VEGF were elevated in both mild (7.5+/-4.9 ng/mL, p<0.05) and severe preeclampsia (19.3+/-8.8 ng/mL, p<0.05) compared to normal pregnancy (0.5~2.1 ng/mL). CONCLUSION: The higher serum concentration of VEGF and elevated S/D ratio of umbilical artery were responsible for the changes of the resistance of placental blood flow in severe preeclampsia. Furthermore, elevated S/D ratio of umbilical artery velocity was essential as a surveillance method of fetal health status with IUGR (Intrauterine growth restriction) by vascular declination of placenta.
Creatinine ; Endothelial Cells ; Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; HELLP Syndrome ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced ; Liver ; Liver Function Tests ; Placenta ; Platelet Count ; Pre-Eclampsia* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Rheology ; Thrombocytopenia ; Umbilical Arteries ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*