Objectives: The study aims to investigate the influence of oral health service experience on oral health behavior of North Korean defectors and contribute to the development and implementation of oral health education among this population. Methods: A self-reporting questionnaire survey was conducted with 161 North Korean defectors in Hanawon from April, 2015 to September, 2015. Of these participants, 50 were excluded owing to insufficient questionnaire data. The questionnaire was developed based on the WHO’s Oral Health Survey (OHS) and the Korean National Oral Health Survey (KNOHS). Three categories were included in the questionnaire: demographic characteristics, dental service experience in North Korea, and oral health behavior. Results: Males had higher levels of perceived oral health compared to females, with differences according to the region they are from in North Korea. Those who received tooth brushing instruction in North Korea showed a greater tendency to practice tooth brushing after lunch, while those who received oral health examination showed a higher level of use of oral rinses. Further, the experience of dental scaling significantly influenced both practicing tooth brushing after lunch and use of oral rinses. Conclusions This study confirmed that the previous experience of oral health service in North Korea positively influenced current oral health behavior of North Korean defectors. Continued oral health education can enhance their oral health behavior, oral health, and quality of life. Thus, it is suggested that policies and oral health education should be developed according to their characteristics and oral health service experience in North Korea.

Background: With the development of the information technology industry and the increasing importance of health information, there is a need to analyze the current certification system for health information management education. This study compared and analyzed the health information management education accreditation system between the Republic of Korea and the United States. Methods: Descriptive analysis and quantitative methodologies were used to compare the education accreditation system and understand the current status of health information management curriculum run by universities in the Republic of Korea and the United States. Results: Regardless of the academic year, the Republic of Korea had one certification system based on subject-based criteria. However, the United States had a certification system for associate, baccalaureate, and master’s degree programs with competency-based criteria. The accreditation system was different in terms of the way the curriculum is certified and the options for the different levels of university degree programs. Conclusion Accordingly, it is necessary to consider improving the quality of health information management personnel at different levels by improving the current accreditation system and differentiating the curriculum according to the degree program levels in the Republic of Korea.

OBJECTIVES: According to previous studies, the Chromogranin B (CHGB) gene could be an important candidate gene for schizophrenia which is located on chromosome 20p12.3. Some studies have linked the polymorphism in CHGB gene with the risk of schizophrenia. Meanwhile, smooth pursuit eye movement (SPEM) abnormality has been regarded as one of the most consistent endophenotype of schizophrenia. In this study, we investigated the association between the polymorphisms in CHGB gene and SPEM abnormality in Korean patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: We measured SPEM function in 24 Korean patients with schizophrenia (16 male, 8 female) and they were divided according to SPEM function into two groups, good and poor SPEM function groups. We also investigated genotypes of polymorphisms in CHGB gene in each group. A logistic regression analysis was performed to find the association between SPEM abnormality and the number of polymorphism. RESULTS: The natural logarithm value of signal/noise ratio (Ln S/N ratio) of good SPEM function group was 4.19 ± 0.19 and that of poor SPEM function group was 3.17 ± 0.65. In total, 15 single nucleotide polymorphisms of CHGB were identified and the genotypes were divided into C/C, C/R, and R/R. Statistical analysis revealed that two genetic variants (rs16991480, rs76791154) were associated with SPEM abnormality in schizophrenia (p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the limitations including a small number of samples and lack of functional study, our results suggest that genetic variants of CHGB may be associated with SPEM abnormality and provide useful preliminary information for further study.
Chromogranin B* ; Endophenotypes ; Eye Movements* ; Genetic Variation* ; Genotype ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Pursuit, Smooth* ; Schizophrenia*

OBJECTIVE: Endovascular treatment is one of the most important treatments along with open craniotomy for cerebrovascular surgery. The successful treatment of endovascular disease relies on appropriate instruments and the surgeon's skill. Endovascular treatment needs to provide safe and stable access to the catheter cavity. Additionally, it is important to maintain a round shape without changing to an oval shape. The catheter for endovascular treatment has to be flexible and accommodate at least 0.027 inches of inner diameter. The 6-Fr Navien™ Intracranial Support Catheter (formerly the ReFlex Intracranial Catheter; Covidien Vascular Therapies, Mansfield, MA, USA) provides 0.072 inches of inner diameter. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 61 cases for 56 cases of endovascular treatment with a Navien catheter. A triaxial system was used for all procedures with femoral arterial access. The Navien catheter was placed in the petrous segment of the internal carotid artery or third segment of the vertebral artery. The patients had various shapes of intracranial arteries, including tortuous vessels. RESULTS: The Navien catheter was used for 61 cases of endovascular treatment. We had 59 cases of coil embolization at unruptured and ruptured aneurysms and two cases of stent insertion into the middle cerebral artery. All the cases were successful without any catheter-related complications. CONCLUSION: The Navien catheter is a recently developed catheter that has several strengths compared with previously developed catheters. It provides a more stable environment for endovascular treatment. It provides a cavity sufficient for endovascular treatment devices. Additionally, it is sufficiently flexible to approach tortuous vessels.
Aneurysm, Ruptured ; Arteries ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Catheters* ; Craniotomy ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Endovascular Procedures ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Reflex ; Stents ; Vascular Access Devices ; Vertebral Artery

OBJECTIVE: Researchers and clinicians have been unable to fully elucidate the natural course of and proper treatment for unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) smaller than or equal to 5 mm, particularly with regard to whether close observation or surgery is more appropriate. In this retrospective study, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of endovascular coil embolization of small (≤ 5 mm) asymptomatic UIAs by analyzing outcomes and complications associated with the procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed data from 150 patients with small asymptomatic UIAs (≤ 5 mm) treated with coil embolization between January 2011 and December 2015. Three-dimensional angiography was used to measure aneurysm size. We evaluated procedure-related morbidity and mortality, immediate post-operative angiographic results, brain computed thomography follow-up results on post-operative day one, and clinical progress. RESULTS: UIAs occurred primarily in the anterior circulation area (142 cases, 94.67%), though eight patients exhibited UIAs of the posterior circulation. Following coil embolization, aneurysms with complete occlusion were observed in 137 cases (91.3%). Partial occlusion occurred in five cases (3.33%), while the procedure had failed in eight cases (5.33%). Procedure-related morbidity and mortality were five cases (3.33%) and zero cases, respectively. CONCLUSION: The endovascular treatment of small asymptomatic UIAs is associated with good short-term outcomes without permanent neurologic complications as well as low overall complication and morbidity rates. Thus, the procedure should be considered for patients with smaller asymptomatic UIAs.
Aneurysm ; Angiography ; Brain ; Embolization, Therapeutic* ; Endovascular Procedures ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Mortality ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVES: According to previous studies, the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CNR1) gene could be an important candidate gene for schizophrenia. Some studies have linked the (AAT)n trinucleotide repeat polymorphism in CNR1 gene with the risk of schizophrenia. Meanwhile, smooth pursuit eye movement (SPEM) has been regarded as one of the most consistent endophenotypes of schizophrenia. In this study, we investigated the association between the (AAT)n trinucleotide repeats in CNR1 gene and SPEM abnormality in Korean patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: We measured SPEM function in 167 Korean patients with schizophrenia (84 male, 83 female) and they were divided according to SPEM function into two groups, good and poor SPEM function groups. We also investigated allele frequencies of (AAT)n repeat polymorphisms on CNR1 gene in each group. A logistic regression analysis was performed to find the association between SPEM abnormality and the number of (AAT)n trinucleotide repeats. RESULTS: The natural logarithm value of signal/noise ratio (Ln S/N ratio) of the good SPEM function group was 4.34 ± 0.29 and that of the poor SPEM function group was 3.21 ± 0.70. In total, 7 types of trinucleotide repeats were identified, each containing 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 repeats, respectively. In the patients with (AAT)₇ allele, the distributions of the good and poor SPEM function groups were 18 (11.1%) and 19 (11.0%) respectively. In the patients with (AAT)₁₀ allele, (AAT)₁₁ allele, (AAT)₁₂ allele, (AAT)₁₃ allele, (AAT)₁₄ allele and (AAT)₁₅ allele, the distributions of good and poor SPEM function groups were 13 (8.0%) and 12 (7.0%), 4 (2.5%) and 6 (3.5%), 31 (19.8%) and 35 (20.3%), 51 (31.5%) and 51 (29.7%), 36 (22.2%) and 45 (26.2%), 9 (5.6%) and 4 (2.3%) respectively. As the number of (AAT) n repeat increased, there was no aggravation of abnormality of SPEM function. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant aggravation of SPEM abnormality along with the increase of number of (AAT)n trinucleotide repeats in the CNR1 gene in Korean patients with schizophrenia.
Alleles ; Endophenotypes ; Eye Movements* ; Gene Frequency ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Pursuit, Smooth* ; Receptors, Cannabinoid* ; Schizophrenia* ; Trinucleotide Repeats

PURPOSE: We aimed to discover clinical and angiographic predictors of microvascular dysfunction using the index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 113 patients with STEMI (age, 56+/-11 years; 95 men) who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The IMR was measured with a pressure sensor/thermistor-tipped guidewire after primary PCI. The patients were divided into three groups based on IMR values: Low IMR [<18 U (12.9+/-2.6 U), n=38], Mid IMR [18-31 U (23.9+/-4.0 U), n=38], and High IMR [>31 U (48.1+/-17.1 U), n=37]. RESULTS: The age of the Low IMR group was significantly lower than that of the Mid and High IMR groups. The door-to-balloon time was <90 minutes in all patients, and it was not significantly different between groups. Meanwhile, the symptom-onset-to-balloon time was significantly longer in the High IMR group, compared to the Mid and Low IMR groups (p<0.001). In the high IMR group, the culprit lesion was found in a proximal location significantly more often than in a non-proximal location (p=0.008). In multivariate regression analysis, age and symptom-onset-to-balloon time were independent determinants of a high IMR (p=0.013 and p=0.003, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that age and symptom-onset-to-balloon time might be the major predictors of microvascular dysfunction in STEMI patients with a door-to-balloon time of <90 minutes.
Aged ; Angiography/*methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microcirculation ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction/physiopathology/*surgery ; Operative Time ; *Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Regression Analysis

Coronary artery aneurysms are detected rarely during coronary angiography, and are associated with injury to the mechanical vessel wall during percutaneous coronary intervention. Potential causes also include atherosclerosis, congenital defects, connective tissue disorders, vasculitis, infection, drug-related injury, and trauma; it can also be idiopathic. The complications of coronary artery aneurysms vary, but they rupture only rarely. However, there is no consensus treatment strategy for coronary artery aneurysm after coronary intervention. We report a case of a 55-year-old male who developed a coronary artery aneurysm and in-stent restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention with a drug-eluting stent. The aneurysm was treated successfully with the implantation of a graft stent.
Aneurysm* ; Atherosclerosis ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Connective Tissue ; Consensus ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessels* ; Drug-Eluting Stents* ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Rupture ; Stents ; Transplants ; Vasculitis

Genetic studies on facial morphology targeting healthy populations are fundamental in understanding the specific genetic influences involved; yet, most studies to date, if not all, have been focused on congenital diseases accompanied by facial anomalies. To study the specific genetic cues determining facial morphology, we estimated familial correlations and heritabilities of 14 facial measurements and 3 latent factors inferred from a factor analysis in a subset of the Korean population. The study included a total of 229 individuals from 38 families. We evaluated a total of 14 facial measurements using 2D digital photographs. We performed factor analysis to infer common latent variables. The heritabilities of 13 facial measurements were statistically significant (p < 0.05) and ranged from 0.25 to 0.61. Of these, the heritability of intercanthal width in the orbital region was found to be the highest (h2 = 0.61, SE = 0.14). Three factors (lower face portion, orbital region, and vertical length) were obtained through factor analysis, where the heritability values ranged from 0.45 to 0.55. The heritability values for each factor were higher than the mean heritability value of individual original measurements. We have confirmed the genetic influence on facial anthropometric traits and suggest a potential way to categorize and analyze the facial portions into different groups.
Cues ; Facial Bones ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Genetic Research ; Humans ; Orbit

OBJECTIVETo investigate the treatment time dependence of electroacupuncture (EA) on Neiguan (PC6) for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV).

METHODSOne hundred and seventy-eight patients, who had received intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) with Fentanyl, were assigned randomly to three groups using random numbers: a pre-operative EA group (PrEA), a post-operative EA group (PoEA), and a non-acupuncture control group (NC). An anesthetist evaluated the incidence and severity of nausea and vomiting for 48 h after surgery blindly. The main outcomes were severity and freguency of PONV, which were measured with a self-reported questionnaire and a confirmation from the anesthetist. The data were analyzed with ANOVA and Z-test.

RESULTSThe incidence of nausea and vomiting was significantly lower in the PrEA group than the NC group during 48 h after surgery (P<0.01, P<0.05). The incidence of vomiting was also significantly lower in the PrEA group than the PoEA group (P<0.05). The PoEA subjects evidenced no significant differences compared with the NC subjects in terms of the incidence of nausea and vomiting (P<0.05). The severity of nausea was significantly lower in the PrEA group than in the NC and PoEA groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSEA on PC6 is effective in the prevention of PONV, and pre-operative acupuncture is more effective than post-operative acupuncture.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Analgesics, Opioid ; adverse effects ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Laparoscopy ; adverse effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting ; epidemiology ; etiology ; prevention & control