• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.135-144
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• 2018

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to identify the differences of demographic and clinical characteristics between child-adolescents who received medical inpatient care and non-hospitalized adolescents after suicide attempts. Methods : The study included 35 child-adolescents who were hospitalized (Admission group) and 114 child-adolescents who were not hospitalized (Non-Admission group) as a result of a suicide attempt from 2009 to 2015. We compared sociodemographic, clinical, and suicide attempt-related characteristics through a chi-square test and logistic regression analysis to evaluate the differences between the two groups. Results : Child-adolescents of this study most commonly attempted suicide by poisoning, and for motivation of interpersonal problems. Admission group had significantly fewer attempts through injury by sharp objects (${\chi}^2=4.374$, p=0.037) and attempted suicide with a higher chance of actually dying when compared to Risk-Rescue Rating Scale (t=1.981, p=0.049). In addition, Admission group had relatively common motivation for academic problems (${\chi}^2=12.082$, p=0.001) and less motivation for interpersonal difficulties. (${\chi}^2=9.869$, p=0.002) Psychiatric diagnosis at the time of visiting the emergency department showed higher rates of depression in the admission group than Non-Admission group (${\chi}^2=8.649$, p=0.003). The results of logistic regression showed that depression affects hospitalization (OR=2.783, 95% CI 1.092-7.089, p=0.032). Conclusions : This study is meaningful in that it revealed the social and clinical characteristics of all child-adolescents who were hospitalized at a university hospital after attempting suicide. This study identified differences in motivation, methods, and psychiatric diagnosis of hospitalized adolescents and those who were not. Therefore, the results may help adolescent suicide attempters to get a discriminatory approach based on their admission.

• 한국노년학
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.21-30
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• 2010

Obese people experience dissatisfaction of body, depression, anxiety, and emotional disturbance by social prejudice and discrimination, further they represent decline of health-related quality of life. Exercise therapy is recommended as one of the positive treatments to improve the emotional pain of obese people. This study is to provide guideline of exercise prescription for obese people by investigating the effects of qigong exercise on psychological factors such as health-related quality of life (SF-36), self-efficiency, depression, anxiety, and fatigue in obese people. The subjects of this study were 50~60s adults participated in Golden-Wellbeing program at S university in G gu of S city and were devided into exercise (N=17) and control (N=16) group. Qigong exercise was performed twice per week for 12 weeks and SF-36, self-efficiency, depression, anxiety, and fatigue were measured before and after 12 weeks of exercise. In the 8 items of SF-36 before and after 12 weeks of qi-gong exercise, there was no significance in role limitation-emotional (F=0.187, p=0.668), mental health (F=2.043, p=0.163) between groups, but there was significance in physical functioning (F=15.151, p<0.001), role limitation-physical (F=18.278, p<0.001), social functioning (F=4.957, p=0.033), vitality (F=11.485, p=0.002), bodily pain (F=6.623, p=0.015), and general health (F=4.498, p=0.042) between groups. Also, anxiety (F=0.631, p=0.433) was not significant, whereas self-efficiency (F=6.124, p=0.019), depression (F=5.109, p=0.031), fatigue (F=7.998, p=0.008) was significant between groups. Even though qigong is slow motion and low intensity of exercise, it was found that qi-gong has exercise effect which induces mental and psychological improvement through this study.

• 한국노년학
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.525-540
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate what kind of experiences the deaf elderly would have in the course of life. It also aimed to promote the understanding of their living difficulties and culture among people with normal hearing and provide basic data to help them live with others as members of the community. Phenomenological qualitative research was conducted as part of the methodology. The subjects include seven deaf old people. Based on the results of in-depth interview and analysis, the life experiences of the deaf elderly were categorized into "unforgettable wounds," "life in the community," "life with the family," "marriage of the deaf elderly", and "living by adjusting to reality." First, the subcategories of "unforgettable wounds" include "receiving no treatment for fever," "damage by the Korean War," "alienation from the family," and "people's cold eyes." It turned out that the deaf elderly had led a life, suffering from the heart wounds that they could not forget. Second, the subcategories of "life in the community" include "inconvenience in life," "disadvantages in life," and "severed life." The deaf elderly were not only subjected to inconvenience and disadvantages in life, but also suffered loneliness, being cut off from the community. Third, the subcategories of "life with the family" include "not communicating with children," "being abandoned again," "being used by the family," "being lonely even with the family," and "wishing to live independently from the family." The deaf elderly were not supported by their families and were abandoned or used by them, leading a solitary life. Fourth, the subcategories of "marriage of the deaf elderly" include"send as a surrogate mother," "frequent remarriage and divorce," "lean on as a married couple." Deaf elderly form their own culture of the marriage and lean on each other. Finally, the subcategories of "living by adjusting to reality" include "getting help from neighbors," "behaving oneself right in life," "learning Hangul," "living by working," "living freely," "living by missing," and "controlling the impulse to end life," "resorting to religion." The deaf elderly made the most alienated and vulnerable group with no access to benefits due to their limitations as a linguistic and social minority, but they made efforts to form their own culture and adjust to reality for themselves. Based on those findings, the study made the following proposals: first, there is a need for practical approaches to heal the ineffaceable wounds in the hearts of deaf elderly. Second, there is a need for policies to help them experience no inconvenience and disadvantages as members of community and communicate with people with normal hearing. Third, there should be practical approaches to enable them to get recognition and support from their families and share love with them. Finally, there should be practical policy approaches to help people with normal hearing understand the culture of deaf elderly and assist the deaf elderly to receive supports from the community and live with others within the community.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.303-310
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• 2019

The purpose of the study was to compare the effect of either moderate or high intensity aerobic exercise on inflammasome, M1, M2 macrophage infiltration and brown adipocyte markers in subcutaneous adipose tissue of the high fat diet-induced obese mice. The 4 weeks male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to four groups: normal diet control (NC; n=10), high-fat diet control (HC; n=10), high fat diet with moderate intensity exercise (HME; n=10), or high fat diet with high intensity exercise (HIE; n=10) groups. The high fat diet was given 60% calories from fat whereas normal diet was given 18% calories from fat. The moderate intensity exercise group (HME) was set at 10m/min in the first 2 weeks, 12m/min in 3-5 weeks and 14m/min in 6-16 weeks and the high intensity exercise group (HIE) was set at 14m/min in the first 2 weeks, 17m/min in 3-5 weeks and 18m/min in 6-16 weeks. The semi quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR) was used to analyze the gene expression. The moderate intensity exercise significantly reduced the expression of NLRP3, F480, CD11c and CD86. Further, the moderate intensity exercise significantly increased CD206 and $PGC1{\alpha}$, BMP7 and PRDM. The high intensity exercise significantly reduced NLRP3, CD11c and CD86. Further, the high intensity exercise significantly increased $PGC1{\alpha}$ and BMP7. In conclusion, moderate intensity exercise has more positive effects on inflammasome, M1, M2 macrophage infiltration and brown adipocyte maskers compared to high intensity exercise in high fat diet induced obese mice.

• The Korean Journal of Vision Science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.497-504
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• 2018

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the temperature changes of the ocular surface before and after cataract surgery using thermography of a thermal imaging camera. Methods : The study included 75 patients (75 eyes) aged from 50 to 79 years who underwent cataract surgery. In the past, those who underwent corneal-related surgery, wearing contact lens, disorder of tear secretion and taking medication for systemic disease were excluded from this study. The temperature changes of the eyeball surface were measured using a thermal imager (Cox CX series, Answer, Korea) following Tear Break Up Time (TBUT) test, Mcmonnies questionnaire and Schirmer's Test in real time, Results : While the temperature of preoperative ocular surface was $35.20{\pm}0.54^{\circ}C$ and that of postoperative temperature was $35.30{\pm}0.53^{\circ}C$, the difference was not significant. The temperature changes in the ocular surface were statistically significant at $-0.12{\pm}0.08{\Delta}$ ($^{\circ}C/sec$) before the surgery and $-0.18{\pm}0.07{\Delta}$ ($^{\circ}C/sec$) after the surgery. In comparison of the age groups, it was shown that the changes in the surface temperature before the surgery were from $-0.19{\pm}0.05{\Delta}$ ($^{\circ}C/sec$) to $-0.14{\pm}0.09{\Delta}$ ($^{\circ}C/sec$) in the 50s group, and from $-0.12{\pm}0.08{\Delta}$ ($^{\circ}C/sec$) to $-0.15{\pm}0.07{\Delta}$ ($^{\circ}C/sec$) in 60s group, and $-0.18{\pm}0.07{\Delta}$ ($^{\circ}C$) to $-0.12{\pm}0.08{\Delta}/sec$) in the 70s group, showing significant changes in the ocular surface temperature at all ages. Conclusion : Following the cataract surgery, all the indicators of dry eye syndrome were decreased, and eye surface temperature changes were significant. The thermography technique of the ocular surface would be expected to be useful for the evaluation of various dry eye syndromes because it is easy to evaluate dry eye syndrome noninvasively and can be quantified.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.540-546
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to suggest a multimodal diagnostic approach to determine the cause of the disease in patients diagnosed with synovitis of the wrist and who underwent synovectomy. Materials and Methods: Twenty-nine patients, who underwent contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) preoperatively and synovectomy from January 2000 to December 2013, were reviewed retrospectively. Among them, 17 patients underwent a $Tc^{99m}$ white blood cell (WBC) scan preoperatively. In patients who met the diagnostic criteria of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the diagnosis was confirmed as RA if the MRI finding or histology was compatible with RA. If the MRI finding and histology were disparate, the final diagnosis was made based on the histologic finding. Results: Of the nine patients who met the diagnostic criteria of RA, seven patients were finally diagnosed as RA and two patients as tuberculous arthritis. Of the 20 patients who did not meet the diagnostic criteria of RA, the MRI findings and histology were consistent with the same disease in 12 patients. In the remaining eight patients, five were diagnosed with nonspecific chronic synovitis, one with RA, and two with tuberculous arthritis based on the clinical findings, MRI, and histology findings. Conclusion: MRI and a WBC scan are very useful imaging modalities for diagnosing the causative condition of the wrist synovitis. A histology evaluation after synovectomy can also be useful in cases with a difficult diagnosis or are refractory to medications.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.522-529
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• 2018

Purpose: To compare the clinical outcomes of ultrasound-guided percutaneous repair (USPR) and open repair in a ruptured Achilles tendon. Materials and Methods: The outcomes of 12 patients with USPR (group A) and 18 patients with open repair (group B) from January 2015 to February 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. The postoperative clinical evaluations were performed using the Arner-Lindholm scale, American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score, Achilles tendon total rupture score (ATRS), and visual analogue scale for the overall satisfaction and cosmetic satisfaction with the scar, and the starting time of single heel raises. The complications were also evaluated. Results: The Arner-Lindholm scale, AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score, ATRS, starting time of single heel raises were similar in both groups (all p>0.05). Group A showed a significantly higher overall patient's satisfaction and cosmetic satisfaction in than group B (all p<0.05). Two cases of Achilles tendon elongation were encountered in group A, and 1 case of re-rupture with deep infection and 1 case of superficial infection were experienced in group B. Conclusion: USPR showed good clinical outcomes and high satisfaction as well as a low rate of complications, such as sural nerve injury. Therefore, USPR can be considered as an effective surgical treatment option for Achilles tendon ruptures.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.39-47
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• 2019

Purpose: This study was performed to investigate the current status of pediatric palliative care provision and how it is perceived by the palliative care experts. Methods: A descriptive study was conducted with 61 hospice institutions. From September through October 2017, a questionnaire was completed by experts from the participating institutions. Data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0. Results: Among 61 institutions, palliative care is currently provided for pediatric cancer patients by 11 institutions (18.0%), all of which are concentrated in Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi and Gyengsang provinces; 85.2% of all do not plan to provide specialized pediatric palliative care in the future. According to the experts, the main barriers in providing pediatric palliative care were the insufficient number of trained specialists regardless of the delivery type. Experts said that it was appropriate to intervene when children were diagnosed with cancer that was less likely to be cured (33.7%) and to move to palliative care institutions when their conditions worsened (38.2%); and it was necessary to establish a specialized pediatric palliative care system, independent from the existing institutions for adult patients (73.8%). Conclusion: It is necessary to develop an education program to establish a nationwide pediatric palliative care centers. Pediatric palliative care intervention should be provided upon diagnosis rather than at the point of death. Patients should be transferred to palliative care institutions after intervention by their existing pediatric palliative care team at the hospital is started.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1062-1070
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• 2019

A components of garlic (Allium sativum) have anti-proliferative effects against various types of cancer. We aimed to investigate the capacity of garlic compounds to anti-tumor on a various cancer cell lines. Fractionation of garlic extract, guided by antiproliferative activity against human gastric cancer (AGS) cells, has resulted in the isolation of N-benzyl-N-methyldecan-1-amine (NBNMA). We investigated the effect of newly isolated NBNMA from garlic cloves on the inhibition of the growth of CT-26, AGS, HepG2, HCT-116, MCF7, B16F10, and Sarcoma-180 cells for in vitro and CT-26 colon carcinoma cells in vivo. NBNMA exhibited an antiproliferative effect in CT-26 cells by apoptotic cell death. NBNMA exhibited down-regulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins and up-regulation of apoptotic Bad protein expression in western blot analyses. In addition, NBNMA meagre activated caspase 3 and caspase 9, initiator caspases of the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways of apoptosis. NBNMA treatment at a dose of 10 mg/kg for 21 days in experimental mice implanted with tumors resulted in significant reduction of the tumor weight (43%). NBNMA exhibited both in vitro and in vivo anticancer activity. These results indicate that NBNMA has promising potential to become a novel anticancer agent from garlic cloves for the treatment of colon carcinoma cancer.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.158-170
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• 2020

Purpose: We evaluated the incidence and characteristics of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in Korean children. Methods: Medical records of patients aged 2-18 years and diagnosed with CDI at a tertiary hospital between 2009 and 2018 were analyzed. The patients were classified into three CDI groups: community-acquired (CA), community onset-health care facility-associated (CO-HCFA), and healthcare facility onset (HO). Results: The incidence of CDI increased from 1.00 to 10.01 cases per 10,000 admissions from 2009 to 2018 (P<0.001). As compared to the CA group, the HO group had a higher frequency of operation and malignancy as predisposing factors (40.4% vs. 0.0%, P=0.001; and 27.7% vs. 0.0%, P=0.027, respectively), frequency and number of previous antibiotic use (97.9% vs. 31.3%, P<0.001; and 2 vs. 0, P<0.001, respectively), and median postdiagnosis hospital stay (13 vs. 5 days, P=0.008). The CO-HCFA group had a lower median age and higher frequency of malignancy than the CA group (5 vs. 13 years, P=0.012; and 30.8% vs. 0.0%, P=0.030, respectively). As compared to the HO group, the CA group had a higher frequency of abdominal pain and hematochezia (56.3% vs. 10.6%, P=0.001; and 50.0% vs. 10.6%, P=0.002, respectively), inflammatory bowel disease (68.8% vs. 2.1%, P=0.001), and intravenous metronidazole treatment (37.5% vs. 2.1%, P=0.001). Conclusions: With the increasing incidence of pediatric CDI, awareness regarding its epidemiology and clinical characteristics is important to manage nosocomial infections.