• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.119-135
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• 1999

The object of this study is 196 patients who had been treated in the Oriental Medical Hospital at Dong Eui Medical Center during 33 months from January 1996,3 to June 1998,11. We proceeded the judgment of Sasang Constitution by 'Questionnaire of Sasang Constitution Classification(I)' and 'Questionnaire of Sasang Constitution Classification II(QSCCII)'. The following conclusion were made in comparison with Sasang Constitution and Questionnaire about disease and style of symptoms. 1. The subject of "increase of the weight of a body(gain weight), sweatier, the body swelled out, a lame pain, more like fat food, more like salty food", has significant differences in sasang constitution classification. The frequency of Taeeum group is more than that of Soeum group and Soyang group. 2. The subject of "the complextion is bas, uncomfortable feeling in the throat, insomnia, loss of appetite, apt to be fatigued easily, gastralgia what is not connected with food, diarrhea, headache, menorrhalgia, less like fat food, more like fresh food", has significant differences in sasang constitution classification. The frequency of Soeum group is more than that of Taeeum group and Soyang group. 3. It has not significant differences, but the frequency of Soyang group is more than that of Taeeum group and Soeum group in the subject of "the cough in the disease of the respiratory organs, hypomotility of the joint in the disease of the musculo-skeletal systems, menoxenia like menorrhagia and menostaxia and itching sensation of genitals in the disease of the gynecological organs, itching or boil in the dermatological disease", and fewer in the cardio-vascular disease, urinary disease and hematic disease. The frequency of Soeum group is more than that of Taeeum group and Soyang group in the subject of "the general disease of the digestive organs, uncomfortable feeling or pain of the throat in the disease of the respiratory organs, the general hematic disease, numbness or pain of the musculo-skeletal disease, psychical disease in the psychoneurotical disease, menorrhalgia, a lump of the breasts, leukorrhea in the gynecological disease, eruption or urticaria in the dermatological disease, the general visual and auditory disease". The frequency of Taeeum group is more than that of Soyang group and Soeum group in the subject of "a hoarseness in the disease of the respiratory organs, A lame pain of the musculo-skeletal disease, neurotical disease in the psychoneurotical disease, eruption or urticaria in the dermatological disease", and fewer in the the gynecological disease.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.257-267
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• 2008

The mentophysical disease causes diseases in digestive, respiratory, circulating systems, including chronic pain, through combined reactions from different individual characteristics, mental stress and temperamental factors. The most common symptom related to orofacial area is pain and the contributive factors include biological, behavioral, environmental, social, emotional, recognitive factors. These factors affect the course of the symptom according to individual's character and human nature. In pain, sleep acts as a contributive factor, and pain could bring about sleep disturbance and vice versa. Deterioration of sleep quality would act as a factor that aggravates mental stress. Therefore, relatively accurate and simple mental examinations and sleep quality test should be carried out for the patients with symptoms related to orofacial area. This study evaluated the mental state in relation to the sleep quality which could affect orofacial pain. The number of poor sleeper was 18 in male subjects, and 1 in female subjects and PSQI global index was higher in male($6.11{\pm}2.38$) than female($4.67{\pm}2.18$). SCL-90-R index showed no sex difference. Poor sleeper showed significantly high value in SOM, O-C, I-S, ANX, PHOB, PSY, GSI, PST. When SCL-90-R T scores were compared according to sleep quality, higher the subjective sleep quality score, O-C and I-S showed significant increase. As sleep disturbances score increased, PAR, PSY, PST showed statistically significant increase. In comparison of SCL-90-R T score according to daytime dysfunction, statistically significant increase in DEP, ANX, HOS, PHOB, PAR, GSI was observed. Therefore, the quality of sleep and psychological status have a high correlation. This is likely to influence chronic pain in the orofacial field. As a result, clinicians treating orofacial pain should evaluate the sleep quality and psychological status of the patient. Further studies of larger sample sizes including various age, occupation, and pain groups are necessary in order to apply the results to clinical practice.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.146-153
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• 2010

Purpose: Recent studies have reported an increase in the incidence of community-acquired Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CA-CDAD) among children. There is an overall lack of information on CA-CDAD in the pediatric population. The aim of our study was to compare the epidemiologic and clinical features between CA-CDAD and hospital-acquired C. difficile-associated disease (HA-CDAD) in children. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all patients who were diagnosed with C. difficile-associated disease (CDAD) at Gil Hospital between April 2008 and March 2009. The diagnosis of CDAD was made when patients with gastrointestinal symptoms had positive results for C. difficile toxins A and B assay or stool culture. Results: Sixty-one (male, 32 and female, 29) patients were included. The mean age was 3.79${\pm}$4.54 years. Of the 61 patients, 22 (36.1%) were <1 year of age. Twenty-three patients (37.7%) had a history of antibiotic exposure in the previous 3 months. Forty-one patients (67.2%) were diagnosed with CA-CDAD. There were no significant differences in age, gender, symptoms, laboratory findings, recovery period, complications, and recurrence between the CA-CDAD and HA-CDAD groups. On the other hand, exposure to antibiotics was significantly more frequent among patients in the HA-CDAD group (p=0.005). Conclusion: This study suggests that the occurrence of CA-CDAD is increasing in the pediatric population, especially in younger children with no history of exposure to antibiotics and in outpatients. Awareness of the increasing incidence of CA-CDAD and prompt investigation of C. difficile in susceptible patients is needed to avoid misdiagnosis and for appropriate therapy.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.538-543
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• 2009

Purpose : To report the clinical experience with amitriptyline for managing children with cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS). Methods : Totally, eleven children (eight males) were diagnosed with CVS. Of these, medical records were reviewed for eight children treated with amitriptyline; three children were not treated because one was not followed up and two were kept under observation to study the natural course without medication, because the frequency of vomiting had recently decreased to less than one episode per year. The eight amitriptyline-treated children were divided into three groups by the therapeutic response: (1) complete remission (CR), with no recurrence of symptoms after treatment; 2) partial remission (PR), in which the frequency of symptoms decreased by almost 50% after treatment; and (3) no response. Results : For the eight amitriptyline-treated children, the mean age of symptom onset was 4.7 (0.3-7) yr and mean age at diagnosis was 8.9 (6.0-11.3) yr. The mean number of vomiting episodes was 8.8 (2-25) per year, and the duration of vomiting in each episode ranged from 3 hours to 5 days. CR was achieved in five (62.5%) of the eight amitriptyline-treated children (0.2-0.8 mg/kg/day orally, at night) and PR was achieved in three children (37.5%). Two children relapsed on discontinuation of amitriptyline by their parents decision but showed improvement on remedication. No adverse effects were noted throughout the study period. Conclusion : Amitriptyline can be used in long-term prophylaxis for the management of children with CVS aged over 6 yr. However, a large-scale study is needed to ascertain its effects.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.224-239
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• 1994

In this study we examined several subjective symptoms in an exposed group and an unexposed group to perchloroethylene. The exposed group consists to 30 workers employed in 23 dry-cleaning establishments located in Chung Cheung Do, whereas the unexposed group consists of 42 officers employed in a certain university. This study was conducted from October, 1993 to March, 1994. Also we investigated personal exposure levels and area concentration of PCE, and performed hematological and biochemical examination in blood and urine samples from the exposed group. The results are : 1. The exposed group highly complains several subjective symptoms, particularly in neuropsychiatry, eye, respiratory system and digestive system, compared with the unexposed group. But complaint rates in the exposed group are not related with PCE exposure levels. 2. PCE exposure levels for all dry-cleaning establishment varied widely, from 0.18 to 37.58ppm. The mean exposure level for centers of chain was 16.85ppm, and for local laundries was 8.83ppm, while for self-service establishment it was 3.07ppm. Eighty three percent of the workers were exposed less than the half-level(25.0ppm) of the Korea 50.0ppm standard for eight-hour PCE exposure. Seventeen percent of them exceeded the half-level of the Korea TLV. 3. Statistical correlation exists between the work load(number of operation cycles of equipment and the mass of processed textiles) and the personal exposure levels to be observed. 4. In hematological examination the values of WBC, RBC, Hgb, Hct, MCV, MCH, MCHC and PLT in the exposed group were within normal ranges. In biochemical examination(GOT, GPT, ALP, U-A and LDH) most of the items were within normal ranges. From this surveys conducted on 23 dry-cleaning establishments, the complaint rates of the exposed group to PCE in several subjective symptoms were higher than those of the unexposed group, and PCE exposure levels in all dry-cleaning establishment were below the Koera standard 50.0ppm. In hematological and biochemical examination the significant abnormalities by occupational exposure to PCE were not observed. However, the workers employed in dry-cleaning establishments are always faced with risk, becauses they are also exposed to several organic solvents used to remove stains. Therefore, various measures to improve occupational environment in dry-cleaning establishment should be considered.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.253-263
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• 1997

농촌지역은 도시지역에 비하여 의료자원의 부족으로 보건의료자원의 이용 접근성이 낮다고 할 수 있다. 따라서 일부 농촌지역주민의 질병이환과 이환시 보건의료자원의 이용양상을 분석하는 것은 매우 의의가 있다고 하겠다. 본 연구방법은 포천군 주민의 보건의료자원의 이용과 치료원의 이용 양상을 분석할 목적으로 1995년 8월 4일~20일까지 1,200가구를 대상으로 가구 면접조사를 실시하였다. 분석대상 가구수는 1,019가구였으며 훈련받은 조사원에 의하여 조사되었으며 경기도 포천군 지역은 연세대학교 보건대학원 및 간호대학의 연구사업지역으로 본 분석 자료는 연세대학교 연구자료의 일부를 사용하였다. 연구 결과는 다음과 같다. 성별인구분포는 남자가 49.9%, 여자가 50.1%이고 연령별 분포는 60세 이상이 16.5%로써 전국의 노인인구 비율보다 높았다. 교육상태는 13년 이상 교육이수율이 남자가 여자보다 높았으나 전체 조사 대상 인구는 교육수준이 높았다. 가족 형태는 핵가족이 70.9%로써 농촌지역임에도 매우 높았다. 지난 15일간의 이환상태를 조사한 결과 급성이환율은 5.4%(54/1,000)이며 3개월 이상 만성이환율은 130/1,000으로 나타났다. 급성이환시 증상별 분포는 호흡기계질환이 36.4%, 소화기계가 20.9%, 여러 가지 복합 증상이 33.0%을 나타낸 반면 만성이환율은 관절염 및 류마티즘이 21.2%, 기타 골격계가 12.6%로서 높았다. 급성 이환시 의료이용양상은 포천군관내의 의료기관이용이 62.6%, 약국이용이 15.2%, 보건소 이용이 4.0%였으며 의료기관이 주요 이용자원이었다. 아무 조치를 취하지 않은 비율은 6.1%로서 높지 않았다. 즉 극성질환인 경우 전체이환자의 76.5%가 1회 방문으로 문제를 해결한 것으로 나타난 반면 나머지 23.5%가 2회 이상 의료자원을 이용한 것으로 나타났다. 3개월이상 만성이환자는 포천군관내 의료기관의 이용율이 56.3%, 관외의료관 이용이 19.3%인 반면 한방기관이용이 7.6%로서 급성이환시 한방이용비율인 4.0%보다 높았다. 1회 방문이 67.4%인 반면 2회 이상 보건의료자원을 이용한 비율이 33.6%로서 만성질환 이용시 보건의료자원의 이용 빈도가 높은 것으로 나타났다. 본 분석결과 포천군 주민의 주요 보건의료자원의 이용은 의료기관으로 나타났고 미치료율이 타농촌지역에 비하여 낮았으며 만성질환시 급성이환시보다 한방의료이용이 높았음을 나타났다.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.672-677
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• 2001

There was an outbreak of food poisoning due to eating well-cooked imported tropical fish, Stromateus stellatus on May, 2000, in Korea. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea ($92\%$), nausea ($77\%$), abdominal pain ($54\%$), vomiting ($46\%$) and headache ($23\%$) were experienced within $0.5\~2$ hours (median 1 hour) after eating, Any specific natural toxins were not confirmed concerned to those poisoning, but large amount of abnormal lipid ($23\%$) was found from the muscle such as 1-O-diacyl glyceryl ethers (DAGE), which was consisted of $61.8\%$ of total lipid. The 16:0 ($66.3\%$) and 18:1 ($15.8\%$) alkyl chains were dominant in all alkyl chains of DAGE which were presumed as the causative agent for the diarrheal food poisoning. O1eic acid (18:1) was found as a major fatty acid at the sn-2 or 3 in DAGEs. O-16:0-18:1-18:1 ($16.2\%$),O-16:0-18:1-22:1 ($14.7\%$) and O-18:0-18:1-22:1 ($11.0\%$) were contained as the major molecular species of DAGEs by RI-HPLC.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.25 no.1 s.37
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• pp.88-100
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• 1992

This study was conducted to assess the effects of implementation of the patient referral system started July 1st, 1989. A comparison on the pattern of outpatient services of the Departments of Internal Medicine, General Surgery, and Pediatrics at the Yeungnam University Hospital was conducted for each one year period before and after implementation of the patient referral system. The pre-implementation period was from July 1, 1988 to June 30, 1989 and the post-implementation period was from July 1, 1989 to June 30, 1990. The information used for this study was obtained from official forms, prepared by the Yeungnam University Hospital, and submitted to the Korean Medical Insurance Cooperatives. After implementation of the patient referral system, the number of outpatient cases in the Department of Internal Medicine decreased 36.1% from 9,669 cases to 6,181 cases a year. Cases in the Department of General Surgery decreased 23.7% from 1,864 cases to 1,422 cases a year. The number of cases in the Department of Pediatrics decreased 36.9% from 3,372 cases to 2,128 cases a year. After implementation of the patient referral system, the average age of cases in the Departments of Internal Medicine and General Surgery was 52.5 and 49.7 years old, respectively. This was a significant increase in comparison with the pre-implementation period. After implementation of patient referral system, the proportion of new outpatients in the Department of Internal Medicine decreased from 24.1% to 14.6%, the Department of General Surgery from 36.0% to 23.4%, and the Department of Pediatrics from 15.5% to 8.3%. The number of visits per case decreased significantly in the Department of Internal Medicine(from 1.74 to 1.61), but there was no significant change in the Departments of General Surgery and Pediatrics. The length of treatment per case increased significantly in all three departments(from 16.1 days to 19.3 days in the Department of Internal Medicine, from 12.0 days to 15.2 days in the Department General Surgery, and 8.9 days to 11.2 days in the Department of Pediatrics). The number of clinical tests per case increased significantly in the Department of Internal Medicine (from 2.2 to 2.5), in the Department of Pediatrics(from 0.8 to 1.1) and increased in the Department of General Surgery(from 6.4 to 6.6). The average medical cost per case decreased from 43,900 Won to 42,500 Won in the Department of Internal Medicine, while the cost increased from 75,900 Won to 78,500 Won in the Department of General Surgery and from 12,700 Won to 13,500 Won in the Department of Pediatrics. In case-mix, the chronic degenerative disease(i. e. hypertension, diabetes mellitus, angina pectoris, malignant neoplasm, and pulmonary tuberculosis) ranked higher and acute infectious diseases and simple cases(i. e. gastritis and duodenitis, haemorrhoids, anal fissure, carbuncle, acute URI, and bronchitis) ranked lower after implementation of the patient referral system compared to before implementation.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.194-198
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• 2009

Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea Purpose: Malignant bowel obstruction causes gastrointestinal symptoms and leads to diminished quality of life in patients with advanced cancer. Several studies have shown the efficacy of octreotide for the relief of malignant bowel obstruction-related symptoms. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of octreotide in patients with malignant bowel obstruction. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of twenty nine patients who had suffered from malignant bowel obstruction without clinical improvement of conservative care and subsequently, received octreotide treatment. Initial dosage of octreotide was 0.1 mg/day, and dose was escalated depending on the clinical effect. For each patient, we assessed visual analogue scale (VAS) of pain, number of vomiting episode, and amount of nasogastric tube drainage. Results: Median dosage of octreotide was 0.2 mg/day (range 0.1~0.6), and median duration from initial medication to death was 20 days (range 2~103). VAS before and after octreotide treatment were 5.6$\pm$1.24, and 2.7$\pm$0.96, respectively. The numbers of vomiting episode before and after octreotide treatment were 3.6/day$\pm$2.5, and 0.4/day$\pm$0.8, respectively. The mean amounts of nasogastric tube drainage before and after octreotide treatment were 975$\pm$1,083 cc/day and 115$\pm$196 cc/day, respectively. Statistically significant reduction in VAS, the number of vomiting episode and the amount of nasogastric tube drainage were observed after octreotide treatment (P<0.05). Conclusion: Administration of octreotide in patients with malignant bowel obstruction, which is uncontrolled by other medication, was effective and safe. In such clinical situations, physicians should consider to add of octreotide for symptomatic control.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.56-66
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• 2010

Purpose : Although oseltamivir is widely used for treatment of influenza, few clinical studies of its efficacy and resistance have been performed in Korea. We evaluated the safety, side effects, and efficacy of oseltamivir treatment in Korean pediatric patients. Methods : We analyzed 321 children diagnosed with influenza at Busan St. Mary's Medical Center, Korea, between January 2008 and June 2008 (first study period) and November 2008 and January 2009 (second study period). Patients were divided into two groups: those receiving oseltamivir treatment for 5 days and those receiving only symptomatic treatment. We investigated clinical symptoms, side effects, and resistance to oseltamivir. We also identified influenza strains and evaluated resistance to oseltamivir using an influenza virus culture. Results : One hundred eighty-six patients were assigned to the treatment group, and 135 were assigned to the control group. The treatment group showed shorter admission duration (4.4 days) compared with controls (5.0 days) (P =0.000) and had fewer lower respiratory tract complications compared with controls (P <0.05). No significant statistical difference in the virus antigenic type was observed between the groups. In the first study period, virus culture showed influenza B (41.7% vs. 49.6%), A/H3N2 (7.9% vs. 8.4%), and A/H1N1 (9.4% vs. 6.5%). In the second study period, only A/H1N1 (55.3% vs. 50.0%) was isolated, except for one case of A (H3N2) in the treatment group. No differences in short- and long-term side effects, including neuropsychologic side effects, were noted between groups. There was no resistance to oseltamivir before or after treatment in the first study period. Conclusion : Based on our results, we suggest that osetalmivir therapy in pediatric patients is effective.