No abstract available.
Epidermal Cyst* ; Herpes Zoster*

We reported two cases of amantadine treatment in traumatic brain injury patients and reviewed the literature of amantadine treatment of those patients. Problems with short-term memory, attention, planning, problem solving, impulsivity, disinhibition, poor motivation, and other behavioral and cognitive dificit could occur following traumatic brain injury or other types of acquired brain injury. this report described results of amantadine using in two patients with this type of symptom profile. Patients received neuropsychiatric examination as well as BPRS and Barthel index. These patients were improved, respectively from 57 point to 82 point(case 1), from 85 to 94(case 2) in Barthel index, and from 66 point to 35 point(case 1), from 55 to 32 point(case 2) in BPRS. These two patients did not reveal any other adverse effect. The rationale for using amantadine were discussed.
Amantadine* ; Brain Injuries* ; Dopamine Agonists ; Humans ; Impulsive Behavior ; Memory, Short-Term ; Motivation ; Problem Solving

Background: Nonpharmaceutical intervention strategy is significantly important to mitigate the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spread. One of the interventions implemented by the government is a school closure. The Ministry of Education decided to postpone the school opening from March 2 to April 6 to minimize epidemic size. We aimed to quantify the school closure effect on the COVID-19 epidemic. Methods: The potential effects of school opening were measured using a mathematical model considering two age groups: children (aged 19 years and younger) and adults (aged over 19). Based on susceptible-exposed-infectious-recovered model, isolation and behavior-changed susceptible individuals are additionally considered. The transmission parameters were estimated from the laboratory confirmed data reported by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from February 16 to March 22. The model was extended with estimated parameters and estimated the expected number of confirmed cases as the transmission rate increased after school opening. Results: Assuming the transmission rate between children group would be increasing 10 fold after the schools open, approximately additional 60 cases are expected to occur from March 2 to March 9, and approximately additional 100 children cases are expected from March 9 to March 23. After March 23, the number of expected cases for children is 28.4 for 7 days and 33.6 for 14 days. Conclusion The simulation results show that the government could reduce at least 200 cases, with two announcements by the Ministry of education. After March 23, although the possibility of massive transmission in the children's age group is lower, group transmission is possible to occur.

The aim of this study was to compare the current perception threshold (CPT) with a nerve conduction study (NCS) to evaluate the usefulness of CPT in the diagnosis of diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN). CPT measurement is quantitative method for assessment of peripheral sensory nerve function using electrical impulse. Enrolled in this study were 142 patients with type 2 diabetes who underwent both CPT testing and NCS between January 2013 and April 2016. DPN was diagnosed by NCS. CPT was performed on the right index finger and great toe of each patient. Patients with burning, tingling sensation and with longer history of diabetes tended to have a higher prevalence of DPN. In all frequencies tested (2000, 250, 5 Hz), CPT values of the DPN group were higher than the normal group. After classification in either the normoesthesia or hypoesthesia group according to CPT, the DPN group had a significantly higher prevalence of hypoesthesia than normal group. The receiver operating characteristics curve analysis showed that CPT had a high area under curve value for predicting the presence of DPN. In conclusion, CPT measurement is clinically valuable in detecting nerve dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Area Under Curve ; Burns ; Classification ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; Diagnosis ; Fingers ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Methods ; Neural Conduction ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases* ; Prevalence ; ROC Curve ; Sensation ; Toes

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of sustainability management (SM) at coffee houses on customers' store image and behavioral intention. In addition, customers' willingness to pay a premium for sustainable coffee houses was studied. During October 2011, a web survey was conducted via an on-line research company with customers aged 20 to 39 visiting one of the top five coffee houses in Korea at least once a month. A total of 300 targeted customers responded and all the data were analyzed. An exploratory factor analysis derived two dimensions of SM: SM in Social and Environmental Perspective and SM in Economic Perspective. The result of structural equation modeling indicated that SM in Economic Perspective at coffee houses had a significant positive effect on customers' behavioral intention with mediating effect by store image, but SM in Social and Environmental Perspective did not have such effect. Approximately one-third (31%) of the respondents were willing to pay a premium for a sustainable coffee house in a scenario. approximately 84% of the respondents unwilling to pay a premium for the sustainable coffee house chose the cost-related reasons including "Coffee price at the coffee house that they most often visit is already expensive (62.3%)" for such unwillingness. The results of this study showed that SM of coffee houses, especially that in Economic Perspective, could contribute to store image, and therefore increase customers' favorable behavioral intention, although the additional cost resulted from such SM practices might not be easily accommodated by customers.
Aged ; Coffee ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Humans ; Intention ; Korea ; Negotiating

No abstract available.
Blastocyst* ; Female ; Humans ; Oocytes* ; Parturition* ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome*

Considering the importance of institutional foodservice in modern dietary life and its influence on the environment, sustainable development in institutional foodservice industry carries great significance. The current study was conducted to investigate dietitians' perceptions of sustainable business-and-industry foodservice and their intentions to perform sustainable practices by applying a mixed methodology. For the quantitative study, an online survey was conducted on 362 dietitians who had worked at a contact foodservice company for more than 1 year. The survey was performed from December 15th, 2011 to January 30th, 2012, and 202 responses were used for the analysis. For the qualitative a study, a focus group interview was conducted during May, 2012 with representative employees of the company. According to the results, dietitians seemed to be unfamiliar with the terms "sustainability" or "sustainable development," whereas they understood related contents and practices. Dietitians' awareness and perceived need in terms of sustainable business-and-industry foodservice were not significantly different across general characteristics. Dietitians seemed to be highly aware of the impacts of business-and-industry foodservice on economy, whereas they appeared to lack understanding of its impacts on society and environment. Cost increase and levy on work in daily operations were considered as main obstacles hampering dietitians' intentions to perform sustainable practices. A total of 88.1% of responding dietitians expected that the meal price at a sustainable business-and-industry foodservice should be higher than the supposed standard price of 4,000 won, with an average reaching 5,270 won. Findings from this study could be used as baseline information for vitalizing sustainable business-and-industry foodservice in Korea.
Natural Resources ; Focus Groups ; Intention* ; Korea ; Meals ; Nutritionists

Purpose: Conditions that limit activity constitute one of the important factors that threaten the health of the elderly. This study sought to analyze the dietary habits and nutritional intake status of the Korean elderly who were faced with activity limitations. Methods: Utilizing data from the 2019 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we classified 1,383 elderly people aged 65 and over into 2 groups: those with activity limitations (n = 222, LG) and those without (n = 1,161, NG). We conducted a comparative analysis of the general characteristics, dietary habits, intake of major food groups, energy, and major nutrients. The nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR), index of nutritional quality (INQ), and healthy eating practices were also analyzed. Complex sampling analysis was utilized for all the analyses with energy intake and socio-demographic variables adjusted. Results: The average age (73.8 years) of members of the LG was higher than those of the NG (72.6 years; p = 0.010). A higher percentage of participants in the LG lived alone (28.1%) compared to those in NG (17.2%; p = 0.004). The LG participants tended to regard their health status as “bad” or “very bad” (62.7%) more often than those in the NG (19.3%; p < 0.001). The LG subjects ate breakfast less frequently (p = 0.054) and ate out significantly less often than the NG subjects (p < 0.001). The LG subjects ate more grain (p = 0.001), fewer seeds (p = 0.014) and vegetables (p = 0.039). Carbohydrate made up a large percentage of their energy intake (p = 0.026). The LG subjects had significantly lower NARs of energy (p = 0.021), protein (p = 0.031), and riboflavin (p = 0.037). The LG participants also had a significantly lower rate of healthy eating practices (22.7%) compared to those in the NG (37.8%; p < 0.001). Conclusion Activity-limited elderly, despite their need for appropriate dietary management, were poorly nourished. They were likely to live alone, thereby making it hard to provide them with social support. Hence, there is a need to provide nutrition education and policy support for the elderly bearing the burden of limited activity.

OBJECTIVES: Since the report of the first confirmed case in Daegu on February 18, 2020, local transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Korea has continued. In this study, we aimed to identify the pattern of local transmission of COVID-19 using mathematical modeling and predict the epidemic size and the timing of the end of the spread. METHODS: We modeled the COVID-19 outbreak in Korea by applying a mathematical model of transmission that factors in behavioral changes. We used the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data of daily confirmed cases in the country to estimate the nationwide and Daegu/Gyeongbuk area-specific transmission rates as well as behavioral change parameters using a least-squares method. RESULTS: The number of transmissions per infected patient was estimated to be about 10 times higher in the Daegu/Gyeongbuk area than the average of nationwide. Using these estimated parameters, our models predicts that about 13,800 cases will occur nationwide and 11,400 cases in the Daegu/Gyeongbuk area until mid-June. CONCLUSIONS We mathematically demonstrate that the relatively high per-capita rate of transmission and the low rate of changes in behavior have caused a large-scale transmission of COVID-19 in the Daegu/Gyeongbuk area in Korea. Since the outbreak is expected to continue until May, non-pharmaceutical interventions that can be sustained over the long term are required.

The COVID-19 curve seesawed and reached the fourth pandemic in July 2021. Since the first three waves, the focus has been on achieving herd immunity through vaccination while a lot of manpower is used for quarantine. However, we have not been able to prevent the fourth wave. The causes are thought to be related to people who doubt the safety of the vaccine and refuse it or violate quarantine guidelines such as social distancing. This study examined guidelines for preventing and controlling COVID-19, the accuracy of vaccination-related information, and described quarantine measures including for those who completed vaccination. In conclusion, prevention and vaccination are the most effective countermeasures against COVID-19. We recommend people vaccination with self-quarantine. Also, it is necessary to make large investments to protect and support nurses in future pandemics.