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Purpose: To understand medical students' perceptions and needs for e-learning to provide e-learning tailored to the needs of the generation Z students., Methods: A focus group interview was conducted of 30 students in various years of study from five medical schools in South Korea. Subsequently, participants were also surveyed on their perceived importance of and satisfaction with e-learning. Finally, log data from the e-learning portal were analyzed to investigate medical students' actual use of e-learning., Results: Participants favored multimedia learning resources and found them useful for studying subjects that could not be easily grasped by reading textbooks alone. Participants preferred video resources, and the most popular resources at the portal were also videos, where the most frequent search or browsing were on those that demonstrated physical examinations and clinical procedures. Participants particularly preferred resources recommended or created by medical faculty as credible sources of information. Participants favored short video clips and preferred them to be segmented into detailed topics. Participants also suggested more detailed categorization of resources for easier access to the contents that are highly relevant to their learning needs., Conclusion: This study highlights the needs for an e-learning environment closely aligned with the practices and preferences of today's students and the importance of medical teachers' role as resource developers. Suggestions for the design and development of e-learning for more convenient browsing and searching of resources highly relevant to student's learning needs are discussed.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of student e-learning on the development of clinical competencies. The study participants were 3rd year students (n = 43) at a private mid-sized medical school located in a South Korean suburb on a four-year medical program. Educational intervention was implemented to enhance student clinical performance. Students engaged in learning activities that intended to promote their self-directed learning abilities and clinical performances using e-learning resources. Intervention was conducted for the duration of six months during the 3rd year and its effectiveness was investigated by comparing student performances in OSCEs in a pre- and post- comparison format and also by comparing them with national scores. In addition, student perceptions of the impact of e-learning on their OSCE performances were assessed using a questionnaire, which included 36 items that elicited student perceptions of their experiences of e-learning and readiness for e-learning. Student OSCE scores improved significantly after educational intervention in all domains of clinical competencies assessed and for total scores (p < 0.001). Furthermore, students achieved higher OSCE scores than national average scores in the post-test, whereas they had performed lower than national average scores in the pre-test. Students showed neutral or slightly positive responses to the effectiveness of e-learning, and their perceptions of e-learning were not associated with their e-learning readiness scores. The study shows student OSCE performance improved significantly after educational intervention, which indicate the effectiveness of e-learning to support student learning of clinical performance. Despite significant improvements in student OSCE scores after e-learning, their perceptions of its effectiveness were neutral. Furthermore, student perceptions of e-learning were not associated with their readiness for it. Suggestions are made to help students use e-learning more effectively to enhance their clinical competencies., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Background: This study aimed to validate the Korean version of the Toronto Empathy Questionnaire (TEQ) and to determine its suitability for the measurement of empathy in medical students., Methods: The study sample was Year 1 and 2 medical students at two medical schools on six-year undergraduate medical programs in South Korea. The study participants completed the Korean TEQ, which has a single factor structure and consists of 16 items; responses are scored using a 5-point Likert scale, giving a maximum possible score of 64. Psychometric validation of the questionnaire was performed by exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and the goodness of fit test. Average variance extracted was calculated to establish convergent validity, and associations between factors and construct reliability were analyzed to establish discriminant validity. Cronbach's alpha values were utilized for reliability analysis., Results: A total of 279 students completed and returned the questionnaire (a 96.2% response rate). Participant empathy scores ranged from 20 to 60 (M = 44.6, SD = 7.36). Empathy scores were higher for females than males (p < .05). The cumulative variance of the Korean TEQ was 32%, indicating that its explanatory power was rather weak. Consequently, goodness-of-fit testing was performed on four hypothetical models, among which a three-factorial structure consisting of 14 items demonstrated satisfactory fit indices and explained 55% of the variance. Reliability estimates of the three subscales were also satisfactory (Cronbach's α = .71-.81). This three-factorial model was validated by confirmatory factor analysis and demonstrated adequate convergent and discriminant validity., Conclusions: This study demonstrated psychometric validation of the Korean TEQ for measuring medical students' empathy. We suggest a modified 14-item model with a three-factorial structure, which demonstrated better psychometric properties than the original scale.

The demand of consumers from around the world for natural, nutritional and palatable pork meat is increasing with time. This study analyzed macro (Ca, K, Mg, Na, P), micro (Fe, Zn, Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Se, Sr, Cs), trace (Li, Be, V, Co, Ga, Ba, U), and toxic trace (As, Cd, TI, and Pb) elements of pork meat from conventional and animal welfare farms in South Korea. Among the elements analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission, and mass spectrometric (ICP-OES, ICP-MS) techniques, K, Fe, Mn, and Ni content were higher in animal welfare pork meat. The trace and toxic trace elements content were lower than the standard values. The principal component and linear discriminant analyses (PCA, LDA) explained the highest variance (99.82%, 99.00%) of the group based on toxic elements. These findings can thus be used to evaluate animal welfare and conventional farms pork meat quality in South Korea as well as worldwide., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Purpose: We sought to determine the impact of medical students' prior experience of assessing peers in the objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) on their clinical performance., Methods: Forty-two year 4 medical students participated in an OSCE comprised of three 10-minute stations (syncope, hemoptysis, and back pain). Each student took part in two iterations of the three-station OSCE as either the examiner or examinee, and student performance was assessed using a checklist by a medical faculty member and a student simultaneously. Students were randomly assigned to two groups and their OSCE scores were compared. Students in the control group were tested at a station first and then participated at the same station as a peer examiner, and those in the intervention group participated as a peer examiner first and then as an examinee. Moreover, student OSCE scores rated by peer examiners were compared with those awarded by faculty to evaluate the accuracy of peer assessment. Following the test, students completed surveys on their perceptions of the usefulness of this formative OSCE., Results: Student overall OSCE scores did not differ between groups. Students in the study group performed better at the hemoptysis station (p&lt;0.001), but poorer at the syncope station (p&lt;0.01). Student performances at the back-pain station were similar in these two groups (p=0.48). OSCE scores rated by faculty and peer examiners were moderately negatively associated at the hemoptysis station (p&lt;0.05), but no such association was observed at the other two stations. This trend was similar in peer examiners who were high-achievers and low-achievers in OSCEs. Students showed positive perceptions of their experience with this OSCE., Conclusion: Student experience as peer assessor offers a feasible means of providing them greater access to OSCEs without consuming more resources, although its impact on enhancing performance in the OSCE is likely to differ across stations.

In this study, we aimed to investigate the meat quality characteristics, bioactive compound content, and antioxidant activity during refrigerated storage of breast meat of Arbor Acres broilers (carcass weight: 1.1 kg, raised for 35 D) obtained from a conventional farm (BCF, n = 30) and an animal welfare farm (BAF, n = 30) in Korea. The BCF and BAF did not differ in their proximate composition, color, water-holding capacity, creatine, creatinine, and carnosine contents. However, the shear force value was significantly higher in BAF than in BCF (P < 0.05). The 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels in BCF on days 7 and 9 were significantly higher than those in BAF (P < 0.001). During storage, the total volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) content of BAF was significantly lower, except on day 1. The fatty acid composition of samples was not affected by the storage period, however, saturated fatty acid and unsaturated fatty acid contents did differ among the types of farm systems (P < 0.05). Although the creatine, creatinine, and carnosine contents in BAF and BCF did not differ significantly, the carnosine and creatinine contents decreased with the increase in storage period (P < 0.05). The anserine content of BAF was significantly higher than that of BCF throughout storage. Superoxide dismutase activity was not affected by the type of farm system but was affected by storage period. Overall, BAF showed lower pH, microorganism, TBARS, and VBN values, and higher anserine contents than BCF. These findings can serve as reference data for the evaluation of chicken meat quality of broilers raised in animal welfare farm and conventional farm., (Copyright © 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Eight Constitution Medicine (ECM) is a Korean constitutional medicine system that classifies people into 8 types: Pulmotonia (PUL), Colonotonia (COL), Renotonia (REN), Vesicotonia (VES), Pancreotonia (PAN), Gastrotonia (GAS), Hepatonia (HEP), and Cholecystonia (CHO). Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a major public health problem worldwide. We assessed the prevalence of and associations between ECM and MS. Cross-sectional convenience sample of 245 adults was used at a medical check-up center in Seoul, South Korea, from 2010 to 2015. Adults were classified into 1 of 8 constitutions by an ECM specialist. MS was diagnosed on the basis of National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III and Asian Pacific Criteria for abdominal obesity. We also computed the prevalence by percentage and calculated odds ratios (ORs) for MS among 6 constitutions with PUL as the reference.Among 245 adults, 20 (8.2%) were diagnosed with PUL, 43 (17.6%) with COL, 35(14.3%) with REN, 4 (1.6%) with VES, 71 (29.0%) with PAN, 0 (0.0%) with GAS, 54 (22.0%) with HEP, and 18 (7.3%) with CHO. The prevalence of MS in the constitutions was significantly different: CHO, 38.9%; HEP, 35.2%; PAN, 18.3%; COL, 11.6%; PUL, 5.0%; REN, 2.9% (P = .001). We observed higher ORs for HEP and CHO (OR = 13.03, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.61-105.70; and OR = 13.19, 95% CI = 1.39-125.46, respectively) than for the other constitutions.People with HEP and CHO constitutions could be at higher risk for MS. Therefore, ECM-based diagnosis may be useful for preventing and managing MS.

Background: Analysis of the change pattern of a user's physiological signals collected over a long time and user health information prediction technology based on personal history data can provide the user with accurate health information., Objective: In this study, we analyzed the change pattern of health information that was altered by performing personal training (PT) at the beginning of the study and subsequently quitting exercise and only performing activities of daily living (ADL)., Methods: The subject performed PT for 75 days, and then consistently performed relatively simple ADL, such as standing, sitting, and walking, for 325 days that followed. After 400 days, the health information was analyzed through the change patterns of various physiological signals. Personal exercise information and heart rate data were collected through a smart watch (Apple watch Nike+, Apple Inc.) and the obesity parameters (i.e. information on the weight, body fat fate, and body muscle rate) were measured using a smart scale (PICOOC S1 Pro, EasySolar)., Results: We found that the weight and body fat rate linearly decreased and the body muscle rate increased for the first 75 days when hard training was performed whereas they repeatedly increased or decreased when only ADL were performed. As the daily exercise distance increased, weight and body fat rate tended to decrease while body muscle rate tended to increase. There was no significant change in the weight, body fat rate, and body muscle rate while daily activities were performed, but continuous exercise is expected to improve cardiac function by increasing the cardiac output of the heart., Conclusion: We expected that the simple physiological data measured with smart watches and smart scales can be used for the health management of the elderly living in rural areas in the future.

Background: With the improvement in the standard of living, there has been increasing interest in facial skin care. In particular, it has been observed that people pay extra attention to eye-skin when they visit skin care parlors for special treatment and care., Objective: There is a need for skin care devices that would enable convenient skin care anywhere, including at home and on the move. In this research, we developed a prototype of a glasses-type skin care device with a LED (Light-Emitting Diode) irradiation function and performed injection molding analysis of the skin care device model for mass production., Methods: First, the product was designed using a universal design to improve the wearability of the glasses-type skin care device. The first prototype of the skin care device was produced using an integrated LED optical module capable of irradiating at three LED wavelengths to investigate the structural function of the product. The prototype was classified into three mechanisms and injection molding analysis was performed. The fill time, temperature at flow front, injection pressure, clamp force, and deflection values were analyzed according to the appropriate number and location of gates into which the PC + PBT (Polycarbonate + Polybutylene terephthalate) resin was introduced., Results: We found that all the other parts except the temple section of the device were inferior in moldability., Conclusion: In further studies, the 3D prototype will be modified to enhance moldability, and injection molding analysis with other materials as well as with PC + PBT resin will be performed.

Background: Kimchi, a Korean food, is now produced and consumed in many other countries. In this study, the macro, trace, and toxic element content in varieties of kimchi from Korea and China was evaluated. A health-risk assessment, involving the calculation of estimated dietary intake values, was undertaken. To discriminate among samples with different origins, linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were applied., Results: The analytical methods used for analyses were successfully validated. In the quantification of elements, no significant differences were detected in the concentrations of the elements that were analyzed. Based on the fresh weight of kimchi, among the macro elements, the concentrations of Na and K were relatively high, with values of 4181.9-9919.8 mg kg -1 and 1661.8-6623.5 mg kg -1 , respectively. Among the trace elements that were analyzed, zinc in Korean samples, and strontium in Chinese samples showed the highest concentrations, at 2.67 and 2.98 mg kg -1 , respectively. Concentration levels of the toxic trace elements were within permissible limits. The amount of daily intake and provisional daily intake of each element calculated based on kimchi intake confirmed its safety for consumption. Linear discriminant analysis and PCA successfully discriminated among the samples of Chinese and Korean origin., Conclusion: The provisional daily intake of the toxic elements was within provisional tolerable daily intake values. The normal intake of kimchi could not pose a threat upon consumption. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Purpose: We aimed to explore medical students' online learning patterns and needs by analyzing data obtained from an e-learning portal of Korean medical schools., Methods: Data were obtained from learning resources and registered users of the e-learning portal by the consortium of 36 Korean medical schools, e-MedEdu (www.mededu.or.kr) over a period of 10 years. Data analytics were performed of its contents and usage patterns using descriptive statistics., Results: The website currently has over 1,600 resources, which have almost tripled over the past decade, and 28,000 registered users. Two hundred and twenty medical faculty have contributed the resources; a majority of them were clinical cases and video clips, which accounted for 30% and 27% of all resources, respectively. The website has received increasing hits over the past decade; annual website hits increased from 80,000 in 2009 to over 300,000 in 2018. The number of hits on resources varied across resource types and subjects; 90% of all website hits were on online videos, and 28% of them originated from mobile devices. Among the online videos, those on procedural skills received more hits than those on patient encounters and video lectures., Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate the increasing use of e-learning in medical education in Korea over the past decade. Our study also shows a wide disparity in the frequency of use in learning resources across resource types and subjects, which have implications for improvements in the design and development of learning resources to better meet medical students' curricular needs and their learning styles.

Purpose: In previous studies, there were debates on the association between handgrip strength (HGS) and prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Since body weight is associated with both HGS and prevalence of metabolic syndrome, whether HGS is corrected with body weight (relative HGS) or not (absolute HGS) can directly influence outcome of the study. Therefore, this study analyzed the relationship between HGS and prevalence of metabolic syndrome using both relative and absolute HGS. Methods: A total of 1009 Korean adults (488 men and 521 women) were analyzed. Participants were categorized into three groups according to HGS levels. Logistic regression analysis was used to calculate odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of metabolic syndrome associated with both relative and absolute HGS. Results: Lower absolute HGS was associated with lower prevalence of having abnormal blood pressure (OR: 0.60, 95% CI: 0.37-0.97) and glucose levels (OR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.34-0.88) in men. However, no association was found between absolute HGS and prevalence of metabolic syndrome. However, a significant inverse association was found between relative HGS and prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Compared with participants in the highest tertile, those in the lowest tertile of relative HGS had 2.52 times (95% CI: 1.43-4.46) and 5.01 times (95% CI: 1.66-15.08) higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome in men and women, respectively. Conclusion: Lower relative HGS but not absolute HGS was associated with higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Our study showed that there are evident discrepancies in the association between HGS and prevalence of metabolic syndrome whether HGS is corrected by body weight or not.

Background: Positive attitudes for end-of-life (EOL) care along with adequate education are key factors for the provision of quality EOL care. This national study was conducted to identify the factors that influence attitudes toward EOL care on medical students., Method: An anonymous survey was designed and administered to fourth-year medical students at all 41 medical schools in Korea. Topics related to EOL care were assessed in classroom teaching, bedside teaching, and feedback experiences during clinical clerkships. Seven questions for self-rated attitudes and affecting factors were analyzed toward EOL care., Results: With a response rate of 49.2%, the median number of topics recognized by the students as having been delivered was 5 of 11 topics in classroom lectures and 1 of 8 topics in clinical experience. Although few (21.2%) participants indicated that they felt ready for EOL care practice, nevertheless, most felt that they should have adequate knowledge of and preparation for clinical competency in EOL care. Several parameters including respondent's demographics and exposure to EOL care topics in classroom and in bedside teaching influenced the responses to all 7 attitude questions. However, having more than 1 bedside experience was the only factor positively affecting all attitudinal measures., Conclusions: Clinical experience related to EOL care seems to be the utmost priory in fostering positive attitudes and competency among medical students.

This study verified the origin of 346 defatted Korean and non-Korean pork samples via trace elements profiling, and C and N stable isotope ratios analysis. The analyzed elements were 6 Li, 7 Li, 10 B, 11 B, 51 V , 50 Cr, 52 Cr, 53 Cr, 55 Mn, 58 Ni, 60 Ni, 59 Co, 63 Cu, 65 Cu, 64 Zn, 66 Zn, 69 Ga, 71 Ga, 75 As, 82 Se, 84 Sr, 86 Sr, 87 Sr, 88 Sr, 85 Rb, 94 Mo, 95 Mo, 97 Mo, 107 Ag, 109 Ag, 110 Cd, 111 Cd, 113 Cd, 112 Cd, 114 Cd, 116 Cd, 133 Cs, 206 Pb, 207 Pb, and 208 Pb. Content (mg/kg) of 51 V (0.012), 50 Cr (0.882), 75 As (0.017), 85 Rb (57.7), and 87 Sr (46.3) were high in Korean pork samples whereas 6 Li, 7 Li, 59 Co, 55 Mn, 58 Ni, 84 Sr, 86 Sr, 88 Sr, 111 Cd, and 133 Cs were found higher in non-Korean samples. The results of discriminant analysis showed that the trace elements content and stable isotope ratios were significant for the discrimination of geographical origins with a perfect discrimination rate of 100%., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: This paper aims to introduce the design of multiple mini-interviews (MMIs) as a tool to assess medical school applicants' attributes in alignment with the school's educational goals and to evaluate its utility., Methods: In this MMI, candidates rotated through six stations (10 minutes per station), in which specific interview topics were drawn by mapping the school's educational goals with the core competencies for entering medical students. We conducted post-MMI surveys of all of the interviewers and candidates to investigate their experiences of MMIs. The G-coefficient and interclass correlation were analyzed to investigate the reliability of this test. Additionally, the candidates' MMI scores were compared across different backgrounds and a univariate analysis was used to estimate correlations between their MMI scores and prior academic achievements., Results: A total of 164 candidates (a 98.8% response rate) and 19 interviewers (a 100% response rate) completed the surveys in the years 2014 and 2015. Both candidates and assessors showed positive responses to MMIs. The G-coefficient of MMI scores was 0.88 and the interclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.58 to 0.75. The participants' total MMI scores did not differ across genders or undergraduate backgrounds and were not associated with age, undergraduate graduate point averages, nor the Korean medical school admission test (Medical Education Eligibility Test) scores., Conclusion: Our study illustrates the utility of MMIs that utilize the institution's educational goals to identify attributes to be pursued in the admission interviews in alignment with the institution's core values. Future research is warranted of the predictive validity of this MMI.

Objective: To investigate medical students' career choice motivation and its relationship with their academic interest and performance., Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in a sample (n=207) of medical students at a private medical school in Korea, stratified by year of medical course. Data about participant demographics, career choice motivation and academic interest were collected using a self-report questionnaire. The item on career choice motivation enquired about the respondents' main reason for applying for medical school among 8 possible response options, which comprised two components of career choice motivation: intrinsic and extrinsic. The participants' levels of academic interest were measured in a Likert-type question. Participants' academic interest and Grade Point Averages (GPAs) were compared across the groups of different career motivations along with analyses of their admission scores for baseline comparisons., Results: A total of 195 students completed the questionnaire (94%response rate). Seventy-four percent, (n=145; the intrinsic group) of the participants chose reasons related to intrinsic motivation, 22% (n=42; the extrinsic group) chose reasons pertaining to extrinsic motivation, and 4% (n = 8) chose other reasons for applying to medical school. The intrinsic group outperformed the extrinsic group in their GPAs, although their prior academic achievements did not differ significantly. The intrinsic group showed significantly higher levels of academic interest and also performed better in the admission interviews., Conclusions: Our study illustrates differences in medical students' academic interest and performance across career choice motivations. Further research is warranted to establish the predictive power of medical students' career choice motivation and academic interest on their academic performance.

Background: Multimedia learning has been shown effective in clinical skills training. Yet, use of technology presents both opportunities and challenges to learners. The present study investigated student use and perceptions of online clinical videos for learning clinical skills and in preparing for OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination). This study aims to inform us how to make more effective us of these resources., Methods: A mixed-methods study was conducted for this study. A 30-items questionnaire was administered to investigate student use and perceptions of OSCE videos. Year 3 and 4 students from 34 Korean medical schools who had access to OSCE videos participated in the online survey. Additionally, a semi-structured interview of a group of Year 3 medical students was conducted for an in-depth understanding of student experience with OSCE videos., Results: 411 students from 31 medical schools returned the questionnaires; a majority of them found OSCE videos effective for their learning of clinical skills and in preparing for OSCE. The number of OSCE videos that the students viewed was moderately associated with their self-efficacy and preparedness for OSCE (p < 0.05). One-thirds of those surveyed accessed the video clips using mobile devices; they agreed more with the statement that it was convenient to access the video clips than their peers who accessed the videos using computers (p < 0.05). Still, students reported lack of integration into the curriculum and lack of interaction as barriers to more effective use of OSCE videos., Conclusions: The present study confirms the overall positive impact of OSCE videos on student learning of clinical skills. Having faculty integrate these learning resources into their teaching, integrating interactive tools into this e-learning environment to foster interactions, and using mobile devices for convenient access are recommended to help students make more effective use of these resources.

This study aimed at analysing the content of 22 minor and trace elements in milk and yogurts from South Korea, using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), after digestion using heating block. The analytical method was validated by detection limits, precision, accuracy and recovery experiments, obtaining satisfactory results in all cases. Results of both minor and trace elements were found mostly similar in all varieties of milk and yogurts studied. Copper and manganese were comparatively high in fruit mixed yogurts, while selenium was high in milk samples. The overall concentrations of minor elements were found to have good nutritional values in accordance to RDA. Zn showed the highest concentration, followed by Rb, Se, Sr and Cr. The level of toxic trace elements, including As, Cd and Pb were very low and did not pose any threat to consumers., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study aimed at analysing concentrations of heavy metals including arsenic, lead, cadmium, aluminium and mercury in commonly consumed seafood species belonging to Echinodermata (Anthocidaris crassispina and Stichopus japonicus) and Chordata (Halocynthia roretzi and Styela plicata). The samples were digested by a microwave system and analysed for As, Cd and Pb by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer, for Al by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometer and Hg by Direct Mercury Analyser. The analytical method was validated by determining sensitivity, linearity, precision, spiking recoveries and analysis of the Standard Reference Material (SRM) NIST 1566-b, an Oyster Tissue. Results showed considerably higher accumulation of Al and As in analysed samples, compared to Pb and Cd, while Hg had the lowest contamination. On comparison, the obtained results with the recommended standards by the Food and Agriculture Organization, European Commission and Ministry of Food and Drug Safety of Korea, it was concluded that the analysed seafoods were safe and thus would not pose a threat to consumers.

This study aimed to validate the analytical method for simultaneous determination of chromium (Cr), molybdenum (Mo), and selenium (Se) in infant formulas available in South Korea. Various digestion methods of dry-ashing, wet-digestion and microwave were evaluated for samples preparation and both inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) were compared for analysis. The analytical techniques were validated by detection limits, precision, accuracy and recovery experiments. Results showed that wet-digestion and microwave methods were giving satisfactory results for sample preparation, while ICP-MS was found more sensitive and effective technique than ICP-OES. The recovery (%) of Se, Mo and Cr by ICP-OES were 40.9, 109.4 and 0, compared to 99.1, 98.7 and 98.4, respectively by ICP-MS. The contents of Cr, Mo and Se in infant formulas by ICP-MS were found in good nutritional values in accordance to nutrient standards for infant formulas CODEX values., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: The proportion of medical school graduates who pursue careers other than full-time clinical practice has increased in some countries as the physician's role has evolved and diversified with the changing landscape of clinical practice and the advancement of biomedicine. Still, past studies of medical students' career choices have focused on clinical specialties and little is known about their choice of non-clinical careers. The present study examined backgrounds, motivation and perceptions of medical students who intended non-clinical careers., Methods: A questionnaire was administered to students at six Korean medical schools distributed across all provinces in the nation. The questionnaire comprised 40 items on respondents' backgrounds, their motivation for and interest in the study of medicine, their perceptions of medical professions, and their career intentions. Data was analyzed using various descriptive and inferential statistics., Results: In total, 1,388 students returned the questionnaire (60% response rate), 12.3% of whom intended non-clinical careers (i.e., basic sciences, non-clinical medical fields, and non-medical fields). Those who planned non-clinical careers were comparable with their peers in their motivation for studying medicine and in their views of medical professions, but they were less interested in the study of medicine (P < 0.01). The two groups also differed significantly on their perceptions of what was uninteresting about the study of medicine (P < 0.01). The two groups were comparable in gender and entry-level ratios but their distributions across ages and years of study differed significantly (P < 0.01). A majority of respondents agreed with the statements that "it is necessary for medical school graduates to pursue non-clinical careers" and that "medical schools need to offer programs that provide information on such careers." Still, our finding indicates that medical school curricula do not address such needs sufficiently., Conclusions: Our study found some differences in backgrounds and perceptions of the study of medicine in medical students interested in non-clinical careers from their peers. Future studies are suggested to enhance our understanding of medical students" choice of non-clinical careers.

Aim: Medical educators should promote the development of student clinical reasoning toward independence in clinical settings. The objective of this study was to evaluate an online problem-based learning (e-PBL) model designed to promote student individual reasoning in supplement to traditional PBL., Methods: Twelve e-PBL modules were added to the fully problem-based curriculum for Year 2 at Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine (SKKUSOM). In this e-PBL, students worked on the problems individually in an online setting, followed by face-to-face discussions in a colloquium. The cases were presented using interactive multimedia to enhance the authenticity of the case and stimulate student interest in learning. A formative evaluation study was conducted to determine student satisfaction with e-PBL and its effectiveness as perceived by the students using both quantitative and qualitative methods. A cohort of Year 2 students at SKKUSOM (n = 38) took part in this study., Results: Students perceived e-PBL significantly more positively after they had taken a module in terms of its ability to foster problem-solving skills and its ability to allow them to learn in ways suited to individual learning styles. Additionally, student survey and interview revealed that a vast majority of students were satisfied with the overall learning process in e-PBL and perceived it positively in fostering knowledge acquisition and clinical reasoning. Moreover, students found the cases realistic and engaging., Conclusions: The results show the potential of e-PBL to enhance traditional PBL by promoting the development of individual reasoning in a flexible online-learning environment and offering cases in an interactive multimedia format, which warrants further investigation into its impact on student learning outcomes.

Unlabelled: Thermoluminescence (TL) analysis was applied to identify gamma-irradiated garlic powder in Korean barbeque sauce before and after pasteurization (85 °C, 30 min), when blended in different ratios (1%, 3%, and 5%). The sauce sample with nonirradiated garlic powder gave a background glow curve. However, the sample blended with irradiated ingredient (1 and 10 kGy) showed typical TL glow curves at temperatures of 150 to 200 °C. The identification properties of sauce samples were more influenced by blending ratios than by irradiation doses, showing that 3% and 5% added samples produced glow curves at 150 to 250 °C. After pasteurization of the samples containing the irradiated ingredient, TL glow intensity decreased but did not change its shape or temperature range. As a result, the pasteurization of Barbeque sauces containing irradiated ingredients had reduced TL glow intensity, but the shape and temperature range of glow curve were still able to provide information required for confirming irradiation treatment., Practical Application: To monitor the irradiated food in international market, thermoluminescence (TL) analysis is considered most promising identification technique because of its sensitivity and long-term stability. In this study the applicability of TL analysis to detect an irradiated ingredient (garlic powder) added in low quantity to a food matrix (sauce) was investigated. The effect of processing (pasteurization) on TL results was also evaluated., (© 2012 Institute of Food Technologists®)

Objectives/hypothesis: The study group for sinonasal tumors at the Korean Rhinologic Society analyzed the results of the Korean multicenter experience for sinonasal inverted papilloma (IP) surgeries., Study Design: Multicenter cohort study and retrospective analysis., Methods: In total, 939 patients diagnosed with sinonasal IP treated between 1998 and 2007 at 17 university hospitals were enrolled. Demographic data and information about previous surgeries, the origin and involved site of the tumor, the surgical approach, follow-up duration, recurrence, and the presence of malignancy were collected. There were 361 patients whose follow-up was <12 months who were excluded, and 578 patients were included for recurrence analysis., Results: The mean follow-up duration for recurrence analysis was 41.0 months, and 15.7% (91/578) had recurrences, with a mean time to recurrence of 32.6 months. However, the group whose follow-up was longer than 3 years had a higher chance of tumor recurrence. Patients whose IPs involved the frontal sinus or the medial wall of the maxillary sinus had higher recurrence rates. There was no significant difference in recurrence rates according to stage or surgical approach. In the T3 stage of Krouse, the T3-A stage of Furuta, and group B of the Citardi staging system, the endoscopic approach alone resulted in higher recurrence rates., Conclusions: Generally, there were no significant differences in recurrence rates according to clinical stage or surgical approach. Given the rate of delayed recurrence, follow-up of >3 years is required. Moreover, surgeons should always consider combined approaches to reduce the chances of recurrence., (Copyright © 2012 The American Laryngological, Rhinological, and Otological Society, Inc.)

Background: The present study examines the performance of academically talented students (i.e., those who received awards in Olympiads, the international competitions for gifted students in science or mathematics) in medical school., Purpose: The goal is to investigate whether students exceptionally talented in science and mathematics excel in medical school., Methods: A retrospective analysis of 13 cohorts of medical students (N = 475) was conducted to compare learning outcomes of academically talented students (ATS) with their peers in terms of their grade point averages (GPAs) and national licensing exam (KMLE) scores., Results: ATS outperformed their peers in total GPAs (p < .001); yet there was a statistical trend of gradually diminishing performance gap between the groups as they progressed into the later years of the program. KMLE scores were comparable between the groups (p = .89). In addition, there was no significant difference in GPAs and KLME scores among ATS regardless of their areas of excellence., Conclusions: Academic merit alone is not a strong predictor of success in medical school, even among those with exceptional talent. Better understanding of nonacademic factors associated with medical school performance is warranted to improve our selection processes and to better help academically talented students succeed in medical school.

Purpose: The traditional belief that obesity is protective against osteoporosis has been questioned. Recent epidemiologic studies show that body fat itself may be a risk factor for osteoporosis and bone fractures. Accumulating evidence suggests that metabolic syndrome and the individual components of metabolic syndrome such as hypertension, increased triglycerides, and reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol are also risk factors for low bone mineral density. Using a cross sectional study design, we evaluated the associations between obesity or metabolic syndrome and bone mineral density (BMD) or vertebral fracture., Materials and Methods: A total of 907 postmenopausal healthy female subjects, aged 60-79 years, were recruited from woman hospitals in Seoul, South Korea. BMD, vetebral fracture, bone markers, and body composition including body weight, body mass index (BMI), percentage body fat, and waist circumference were measured., Results: After adjusting for age, smoking status, alcohol consumption, total calcium intake, and total energy intake, waist circumference was negatively related to BMD of all sites (lumbar BMD p = 0.037, all sites of femur BMD p < 0.001) whereas body weight was still positively related to BMD of all sites (p < 0.001). Percentage body fat and waist circumference were much higher in the fracture group than the non-fracture group (p = 0.0383, 0.082 respectively). Serum glucose levels were positively correlated to lumbar BMD (p = 0.016), femoral neck BMD (p = 0.0335), and femoral trochanter BMD (p = 0.0082). Serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) was positively related to femoral trochanter BMD (p = 0.0366) and was lower in the control group than the fracture group (p = 0.011)., Conclusion: In contrast to the effect favorable body weight on bone mineral density, high percentage body fat and waist circumference are related to low BMD and a vertebral fracture. Some components of metabolic syndrome were related to BMD and a vertebral fracture.

This article reports the latest development in e-learning in Korean medical education. The Korean Consortium for e-Learning in Medical Education was formed for collaboration in providing quality online learning resources for medical schools around the nation. This e-learning strategy is aimed at improving the quality of medical education at the national level by providing students with equal access to quality learning resources and fostering students' self-directed learning and, in doing so, enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of developing online learning resources by sharing necessary resources among the medical schools. The consortium also plans to share e-learning content with medical schools in other countries by engaging more medical schools in the consortium and also by sharing e-learning content developed by other institutions or consortiums. The consortium is also dedicated to the research and development of effective online learning strategies for medical education, including interactive virtual patient cases and other innovative pedagogies using Web 2.0 technologies.