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Korean Society (korean + society)
Selected AbstractsObserver variability in the sonographic evaluation of thyroid nodulesJOURNAL OF CLINICAL ULTRASOUND, Issue 6 2010Chang Suk Park MD Abstract Objective. Inter- and intraobserver variabilities in the description and diagnostic categorization of sonographic (US) features of thyroid nodules were evaluated. Methods. The current study was conducted on 72 malignant nodules and 61 benign nodules. The US findings for each thyroid nodule were analyzed twice at a 6-week interval by five radiologists. The analyses were in accordance with the guidelines proposed bythe Thyroid Study Group of the Korean Society of Neuroradiology and Head and Neck Radiology (TSGKSNRHNR). Inter- and intraobserver variabilities were calculated using Cohen's kappa statistics. The sensitivity, specificity, positive-predictive value, and negative-predictive value in the assessment of the diagnostic accuracy using these guidelines were calculated. Result. The interobserver agreement was fair to substantial for US features and categorization. Of the US features of the thyroid nodules, internal content (solid versus cystic) showed substantial agreement (k= 0.64). There was moderate agreement with regard to shape, echogenicity, calcification, and diagnostic categories (k = 0.42, 0.57, 0.55, and 0.55, respectively). There was fair agreement for margin, echotexture, and capsule invasion (k = 0.34, 0.26, and 0.32, respectively). With regard to intraobserver agreement, there was moderate to substantial agreement for all US features except for echotexture and capsule invasion, which showed fair agreement. In particular, there was moderate to almost perfect agreement for the diagnostic category. The sensitivity, specificity, positive-predictive value, and negative-predictive value were 65.3%,81.9%, 60.7%,68.9%, 69.7%,73.8%, and 66.6%,75.5%, respectively. Conclusion. There were high degrees of inter- and intraobserver agreement using the "Guidelines for diagnostic thyroid ultrasonography," of the TSGKSNRHNR in the description and categorization of thyroid nodules. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2010 [source] Current status of dialytic therapy in KoreaNEPHROLOGY, Issue 2003Suk Young KIM SUMMARY: The status of dialytic therapy in Korea at the end of 2001 was reported by the end-stage renal disease (ESRD) registry committee of Korean Society of Nephrology, where data were collected through an internet on-line registry program. The number of dialysis centres was 335 and the number of haemodialysis machines was 5529. The total number of patients with dialysis was 23 057 (haemodialysis 17 568, peritoneal dialysis 5489). Prevalence and incidence of dialysis patients were 477.5 and 96.4 patients per million population. The most common primary cause of end-stage renal diseases was diabetic nephropathy (41.5%), hypertensive nephrosclerosis (15.4%), and chronic glomerulonephritis (13.6%). Eighty-six percent of haemodialysis patients were on dialysis therapy three times a week, the mean urea reduction ratio was 66.7 ± 8.68% and mean Kt/V was 1.250 ± 0.292 in male patients; 1.526 ± 0.361 in female patients. The technical survival of haemodialysis in 5 years was 30.2% and peritoneal dialysis was 13.8%. The common complication of haemodialysis patients was hypertension (43.3%), gastrointestinal disease other than peptic ulcer (8.0%), congestive heart failure (7.6%), and of peritoneal dialysis patients were also hypertension (28.8%), congestive heart failure (5.0%), and peritonitis (4.8%). The most common causes of death were cardiac diseases (26.9%), vascular diseases, including cerebrovascular accidents (22.7%), and infection (17.8%). [source] The ,New Woman' and the Politics of Love, Marriage and Divorce in Colonial KoreaGENDER & HISTORY, Issue 2 2005Theodore Jun Yoo This study seeks to explore the changing discursive forces that competed to define Korean women's identity and roles within the context of the new spaces created by colonialism and modernity. It argues that a small coterie of literate women seized the initiative to enhance their education, define the politics of physical aesthetics and con-tribute to the debate about the changing gender roles and expectations in Korean society all under the guise of 'Westernisation' and progress. The emergence of these 'new women' challenged traditional notions of Korean womanhood and brought the 'woman question' to the forefront of public discourse. [source] The nature of touch therapy related to Ki: Practitioners' perspectiveNURSING & HEALTH SCIENCES, Issue 2 2003Sung Ok Chang PhD Abstract Touch therapy related to Ki, a type of healing touch, has been regarded as one of the distinct therapeutic modalities in traditional oriental medicine. The present study attempted to develop a substantive theory about helping patients using touch therapy related to Ki, by exploring the views of practitioners who are using this therapeutic modality within the context of the Korean society. A grounded theory approach was applied during the collection and analyses of data. The core category, main categories and trajectory of helping patients during the use of touch therapy related to Ki was delineated. Helping patients while using touch therapy related to Ki was found to be a dynamic process with each participant actively engaged in increasing the activating, potential power of the human being. These findings have value in understanding the embedded meaning of the healing process through touch therapy within the context of Ki. [source] Time to Keep Going: The Role and Structure of U.S. Forces in a Unified KoreaPACIFIC FOCUS, Issue 1 2003Il-Young Kim This year Korea and the U.S. celebrate 50 years of their alliance, which has seen many ups and downs since it came into existence. Today a very intense debate is going on in the USA and Korea about the future role of the U.S. in both the re-unification process and a post-unified Korea. Anti-Americanism is on the rise in South Korea, and demand for withdrawal of American forces is gaining ground in Korean society. An American withdrawal from Korea, however, would be very destabilizing for Korea and the whole of the East Asian region. Since the Korean war, the factors that have made it possible for South Korea, and other countries in the region, to economically prosper are the combination of sound economic polices and hard work by the peoples of these countries, and of the U.S. policies of reopening international markets to the countries of the region. While the presence of the U.S. forces in a post-unified Korea would be a positive factor, the actual structure of these forces would depend on the ground realities and threat perceptions at that time. It would be determined by complex issues of peace and stability inside Korea, its economic situation, and the external situation outside Korea's borders, including Korea's threat perceptions from China. Despite great improvements in technology in the Naval and Air forces, almost all military contingencies still require the use of ground forces to fight or to deter wars. Thus even if U.S. air and naval forces remained stationed in Korea, the absence of the U.S. ground forces would seriously undermine the deterrent and fighting power of the United States in the country and the region as whole. Given the terrain of the Korean peninsula, any possible future military conflict involving Korea would almost certainly be won or lost on land. Accordingly, infantrymen and tanks must remain an essential component of the American forces in Korea. What is more, dependence on air and naval forces for the protection of Korea would weaken traditional alliances and deterrence as well as American support for the very values and political principles that make other countries respect and trust the United States. [source] Ageing Society Issues in Korea,ASIAN SOCIAL WORK AND POLICY REVIEW, Issue 1 2009Sung-Jae Choi Korean society is facing unprecedentedly higher population ageing, particularly in the first half of the 21st century. The implications of population ageing have a much wider effect than the welfare of the elderly. From a broader and long-term perspective, understanding population ageing may require a new paradigm. Korea has attempted to model its policies for ageing society on those of advanced welfare states, but as these no longer seem viable, Korean policy-makers are searching for more effective and efficient measures to deal with its rapid ageing population. Reflecting a broader and long-term perspective, the Korean government recently produced a comprehensive national policy plan to deal with the consequences of rapid population ageing. This article outlines the phenomenon of population ageing in Korea and the recent development of national policies for population ageing, describing the Korean comprehensive national policy plan for responding to it and examining major issues and problems related to developing and implementing the plan. This article finally suggests a new, age-integrated social system approach to an ageing society. [source] | |||||||||||||