• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.245-254
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• 2002

Objective : To test if the intake of $H_2$ receptor antagonists ($H_2$-RAs) increases the risk of gastric cancer in the elderly. Methods : The source population for this study was drawn from the responders to a questionnaire survey administered to the Korea Elderly Pharmacoepidemiological Cohort (KEPEC), who were beneficiaries of the Korean Medical Insurance Corporation, were at least 65 years old, and residing in Busan in 1999. The information on $H_2$-RAs exposure was obtained from a drug prescription database compiled between inn. 1993 and Dec. 1994. The cases consisted of 76 gastric cancer patients, as confirmed from the KMIC claims data, the National Cancer Registry and the Busan Cancer Registry. The follow-up period was from Jan. 1993 to Dec. 1998. Cancer free controls were randomly selected by 1:4 individual matching, which took in to consideration the year of birth and gender. Information on confounders was collected by a mail questionnaire survey. The odds ratios, and their 95% confidence intervals, were calculated using a conditional logistic regression model. Results : After adjusting for a history of gastric ulcer symptoms, medication history, and body mass index, the adjusted OR (aOR) was 4.6 (95% CI=1.72-12.49). The odds ratio of long term use (more than 7 days) was 2.3 (95% CI=1.07-4.82). The odds ratio of short term use was 4.6 (95% CI=1.26-16.50). The odds ratio of parenteral use was 4.4 195% CI=1.16-17.05) and combination use between the oral and parenteral routes (aOR, 16.8; 95% CI=1.21-233.24) had the high risk of gastric cancer. The aOR of cimetidine was 1.7 (95% CI=1.04-2.95). The aOR of ranitidine was 2.0 (95% CI=1.21-3.40). The aOR of famotidine was 1.7 (95% CI=0.98-2.80). Conclusion : The intake of $H_2$-RAs might increase the risk of gastric cancer through achlorhydria in the elderly.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.52-58
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• 2008

Objectives : Antidepressants are prescribed by not only psychiatrists but also general practitioners. However, patients' negative attitude and stigma against antidepressants are major obstacles to prescribe antidepressants in nonpsychiatric outpatient departments. We, therefore, examined patients' attitude toward antidepressant in medical and surgical group outpatient in Korea. Methods : Short item questionnaire was applied to medical group and surgical group outpatients who consented to this survey in a Korean university hospital. 100 medical and 100 surgical outpatients were surveyed. The questionnaire contained sociodemographic information, previous recognition of antidepressant, and general attitude toward attidepressants. Results : Of the 212 recipients, exclusive of erroneous and missing ones, we analyzed 200 recipients. 1) We found negative attitude toward antidepressants among both medical and surgical outpatients. 2) Medical group outpatients are answered more' antidepressants cause physically ill. 3) The persons who didn't take previously antidepressants showed more negative attitudes. 4) The most reason why they refuse to take antidepressants is concerns of side effects of antidepressants. Conclusion : There are highly negative attitude toward antidepressants between medical and surgical group outpatients. Study findings suggest the need for an active education on antidepressants to nonpsychiatric outpatients to maximize their therapeutic effect and compliance.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2022.05a
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• pp.273-275
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• 2022

The use of drugs by pregnant women poses a potential risk to the fetus. Therefore, it is essential to classify drugs that pregnant women should prohibit. However, the fetal toxicity of most drugs has not been identified. This takes a lot of time and cost. In silico approaches, such as virtual screening, can identify compounds that may present a high risk to the fetus for a wide range of compounds at the low cost and time. We collected class information of each drug from the hazard classification lists for prescribing drugs in pregnancy by the government of Korea and Australia. Using the structural and chemical features of each drug, various machine learning models were constructed to predict fetal toxicity of drugs. For all models, the quantitative performance evaluation was performed. Based on the attention algorithm, important molecular substructures of compounds were identified in the process of predicting the fetal toxicity of the drug by the proposed model. From the results, we confirmed that drugs with a high risk of fetal toxicity can be predicted for a wide range of compounds by machine learning. This study can be used as a pre-screening tool for fetal toxicity predictions, as it provides key molecular substructures associated with the fetal toxicity of compounds.

• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.611-617
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• 2013

Although tuberculosis can be recovered if patients take medicine consistently, Korea shows significantly high rate in terms of incident rate and death rate of the tuberculosis patients. Considering such a situation, this paper has developed a smart pillbox that facilitates for patients requiring a long-term administration to take medicine in a regular and consistent manner. The developed smart pillbox is equipped with a load cell that can measure the weight in unit of 0.1g so that it can determine whether or not the medicine is dispensed out of itself. In addition, a software has been developed to determine the status of patient's taking medicine based on the measurement result.

• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.989-998
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• 2023

As diseases are already increasing due to aging population and changes in eating habits, interest in digital healthcare is increasing. According to the 2020 Elderly Status Survey, 84% of South Koreans aged 65 and older suffer from at least one chronic disease, and the number and duration of drugs taken by the elderly are also increasing. Effective management that enhances compliance of chronic disease patients can prevent the onset of complications, thereby averting progression to severe illnesses. Thus, a proper medication-taking habit is crucial. This paper proposes a medication information retrieval system using OCR technology. By leveraging Google Cloud Vision API, the system detects and recognizes the names of medicines. Once recognized, the medication name is searched in a database to provide users with medication information and medication schedule management services. By providing accurate medication information through the search, it is possible to induce changes in medication methods and habits. By eliminating the inconvenience of direct input through OCR technology, we anticipate enhancing user convenience by promptly delivering information.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.111-118
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• 2019

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of antipsychotic medication prescription for the symptom control in patients with delirium. Methods : One hundred and eighty-five patients referred to consultation-liaison psychiatric services for delirium due to general medical condition were included in this study. All subjects were divided into two groups (antipsychotics users vs. antipsychotics nonusers), and comparison analyses on their clinical characteristics were performed. Results : One hundred and twenty nine patients (66.5%) used antipsychotics for their delirium, and 56 patients (30.3%) did not use antipsychotics. The history of psychotropic medication was more frequently observed in antipsychotic users (5.4% vs. 18.6%, χ²=5.498, p=0.022). Especially, the history of benzodiazepine use was significantly high in antipsychotics users. The total score and sub-items of delirium rating scale-severity items except for the psychomotor retardation item showed higher scores in antipsychotic users than in nonusers (all p<0.05). The total score of the delirium rating scale-diagnosis items was higher in antipsychotic users than in the nonusers (p=0.010). Conclusions : Delirium patients with more severe delirium symptoms and with more history of benzodiazepine use were treated with antipsychotics more frequently than those without. These findings imply that benzodiazepine may not only exacerbate delirium but be associated with aggression or psychomotor agitation that need immediate intervention. Clinicians may need to pay attention not only these external symptoms but also to hypoactive symptoms that may lead to misdiagnosis and undertreatment.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.189-193
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• 2012

Oral pigmentation has numerous etiologies. It can be associated with congenital diseases and syndromes, certain acquired diseases, and systemic medications. Pigmented lesions caused by serious disease such as melanoma should be diagnosed correctly, because it would be fatal. For appropriate differential diagnosis, clinicians should know about the etiologies causing oral pigmentation and take patients history carefully. Biopsies would be necessary for histopathological findings. Close follow up for clinical symptoms are also necessary. In this case report, we presented a case of oral hyperpigmentation in Asian patient who was receiving pegylated interferon and ribavirin combination therapy for hepatitis C virus infection.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.649-656
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• 2016

This study was a retrospective examination to identify the association of postoperative delirium of the prognosis on following femur fracture surgery in elderly patients. Data was collected from the medical records of elderly patients (aged 65 years or older), who underwent femur fracture surgery from July 2010 to January 2014, following on 3-years in one university hospital. A total of 68 patients were involved. There were 31 cases (45.6%) with delirium and 37 cases (54.4%) without delirium. The participant's average age was 80.8 (patients with delirium), and 81.8 (delirium without patients) years of age, respectively, and most of them were female. There was no significant difference between the two groups. Taking five or more medications, serum creatinine level, and the total medical costs were significantly different in the delirium group and non-delirium group. In addition, the proportional hazard model of Cox to determine the predictors for the major clinical outcome occurring after surgery revealed delirium, five or more multi-drug use, and an experience of transfusion to be significant predictors. In conclusion, postoperative delirium in the elderly undergoing femur fracture surgery can have a negative clinical outcome in patients and caregivers. Therefore, a preoperative evaluation and management of the risk factors will be necessary.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.76-93
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• 1998

Three hundred sixty-two(male 131, female 231) elderly aged over 65 in Chungb- uk area were interviewed to determine the disease states and drug usage patterns. The prebalence of disease was 78% and women reported more chronic diseases(83%) than men(71%). Elderly who live with spouse and have an occupation have a lower rate of disease. Average number of diseases of the elderly was $1.8\pm{1.1}$, and women$(2.1\pm{1.3)}$ have significantly higher average number of diseases than that of men$(1.4\pm{0.7)}$. Also the elderly in urban areas$(2.1\pm{1.4)}$ have significantly higher number of diseases than that of the elderly in rural areas$(1.6\pm{0.9)}$. Arthritis, hypertension, cardiovascular and gastric diseases were the most frequently listed chronic diseases in order for both men and women. Anemia and fracture of bone were relatively higher in women than in men. Particularly, the arthritis of the urban elderly have a rate of 1.5 times higher than that of the rural elderly. Fifty-two percent of the elderly were currently using drugs ; among drug users 71.2% used prescription drugs and 20.5% used nonprescription drugs. The average number taken per person was 2.1$\pm$1.4 and there was no sex or age difference. However, the elderly in rural areas $(2.7\pm{1.7)}$ consumed a significantly higher number of drugs than those in urban areas$(1.7\pm{0.7)}$. The average number of prescripti- on drugs taken was 2.0$\pm$1.4 while the average of nonprescription drugs taken was $(1.3\pm{0.6)}$. Analgesics and antihypertensive drugs were most commonly used. Vitamin and analgesics were the most frequently used self-prescribed drugs. It was noted that potential adverse drug interaction by concominant drug consumption for arthritis and antihypensive drug, abuse of digestants and antiacid without treatment of the underlying disease, and misuse of quick-acting bowel medications were problematic for the elderly. In addition drugs used for the elderly have some adverse effect on the digestive system. The types and composition of drugs used by the elderly were identified and presented. Medication compliance was poor and 13.5% reported adverse reactions such as edema, heartburn, nausea, and difficulty with eating. Seventeen percent of the elderly obtained drugs arranged by those other than medical staff. Also, even among those elderly who obtained drugs prescribed by a doctor, 69.1% of subjects had not receive instruction about potential adverse reactions. These results suggest that nutritional problems related to drug usage might exist and so dietitians, either individually or as members of health teams, need to have a better understanding of drug-nutrient interaction and closer supervision, and drug information/education service should therefore be provided to prevent or minimize adverse drug reaction in elderly users of medication.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.310-319
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• 1997

This study investigated regional blood flow changes of frontal, temporal, and basal ganglia in eleven schizophrenic patients on DSM-IV criteria to examine the relationship between rCBF and clinical improvement of symptoms. Single-photon emission computed tomography imaging with $^{99m}Tc$-HMPAO was peformed in baseline and sixth weeks after the treatment, and concurrently psychopathology was assessed by PANSS. Antipsychotics wash-out period was more than 2 weeks, and three patient were drug naive. All patients were finally divided into two groups, the improved or not improved. We examined the difference of the amount of rCBF changes between two groups. Finally, frontal activity shows no significant difference between two groups but both groups show decreased frontal blood flow after antipsychotic treatment. However, the change of right temporal rCBF had positive correlation with the change of the total PANSS score, and the change of left temporal lobe activity was greater in the improved group than in the not improved group. Our results suggest that the temporal lobe activity has relation to the underlying schizophrenic symptoms.