• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.168-174
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• 2015

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease, which is mainly characterized by disease of joints affected with synovial hyperplasia, pathological immune response, and progressive destruction; all of which represent an important social health problem. These provide new insights in its pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis and disease progression in molecular changes. This review focuses on new serological and immunological markers which seem to be useful in early diagnosis and prognosis of rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, such tests are widely conducted for serological biomarkers and the developments with such immunological factors to identify patients who are at risk for disease progression. This evidence of the disease based on laboratory medicine could provide the best outcome for patients. Finally, data from recent studies will help to refine the ultimate usefulness of this novel approach for early diagnosis, treatment, and helping clinicians to optimize therapy by using this approach.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2010

목적 : 본 연구는 간접구의 안전성에 대한 기초 데이터를 확보하기 위하여 수행되었다. 연구설계 : 50명의 건강한 성인을 무작위 배정으로 두 그룹으로 나누어 4주간 (일주일에 3회) 신궐혈과 관원혈에 뜸을 시술하였다. 시험군에 비하여 대조군은 열이 전달되지 않도록 단열제로 처리한 뜸으로 동일한 부위에 시술하였다. 첫 시술 1시간 전과 마지막 시술 1시간 후에 공복상태에서 채혈을 하여 혈액학적 검사를 시행하였다. 결과 : 혈액학적 검사에서 적혈구와 총 백혈구 및 백혈구의 종류별 절대수치와 상대수치에서 두 그룹 간에 특별한 차이가 없었다. 또한 혈청학적 검사에서 총 단백질, 알부민, AST, ALT, ALP, GGT, LDH, 요소질소, 크레아티닌, 총콜레스테롤 및 중성지방의 비교에서도 그룹 간에 차이가 없었다. 결론 : 본 연구는 건강한 사람에서 간접구의 시행 후 혈액학적 안전성을 처음으로 보고하는 것으로서, 향후 뜸의 연구를 수행시 중요한 비교 자료로 사용될 수 있을 것이다.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.1-34
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• 2004

최근 한국사회에서는 출산율의 저하로 인한 사회경제적 영향을 우려하여 대책방안을 강구하여야 한다는 논의가 증대되고 있다. 그런데 국가정책을 개발${\cdot}$추진하기 이전에 반드시 요구되는 것은 저출산 현상의 올바른 인식과 철저한 원인규명이다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 출산율 변화의 원인을 다각적으로 살펴보고, 향후 변화방향을 전망해 보고자 한다. 먼저 자녀출산의 변화를 결혼상태 변화와 유배우부인의 출산율 변화 부분으로 나누어 살펴본 결과, 과거와는 달리 최근의 출산율 저하는 유배우 부인에 의해서가 아니라 미혼자의 결혼연장 또는 독신생활에서 기인되는 것으로 나타났다. 이들 두 요인에 영향을 주는 변수로는 경기침체 및 직장불안정, 결혼가치관의 변화와 초혼연령의 상승, 자녀양육 관심증대, 자녀양육비 부담, 가정과 직장의 양립을 위한 사회적 인프라 부족, 여성의 자아욕구 및 사회참여 증대, 자녀효용가치 감소, 이혼 등 가족해체의 증대, 그리고 불임부부의 증대 등인 것으로 판단된다. 향후 출산율 변화를 전망해 보면, 저출산을 일찍 경험한 서구 선진국의 경우와는 달리 정책의 추진에 한계가 있어 선진국보다 더 낮은 출산율을 회복하는 데는 많은 어려움이 있을 것이라는 판단이다. 더군다나 젊은 미혼남녀의 가치관이 개인주의화 되는 경향이 있다는 점을 감안한다면 출산율 회복정책을 추진한다 하더라도 한계가 있을 수밖에 없을 것이다. 수년간 실시된 각종 실태조사를 분석한 결과에 의하면 현재의 경기침체가 회복될 경우 약 20%의 출산율 상승 가능성이 있으며, 이 때의 합계출산율은 약 1.43명 수준이 될 수 있을 것으로 예견된다. 또한 종합적 체계적 출산회복정책을 효과적${\cdot}$효율적으로 추진한다면 약 10년 후에는 합계출산율이 약 1.6 수준으로 회복될 것이라는 낙관적 견해를 가져본다. 그렇지만 정책의 강도에 따라서 회복수준은 현저하게 상이할 것이다.를 진단, 치료함에 있어 진행성 신질환의 가능성을 시사하는 예후인자가 없다면 신생검보다는 지속적이고 정기적인 추적관찰만으로도 충분할 것으로 생각된다도 등은 양군 사이에 유의한 차이가 관찰되지 않았다. 발견 당시 혈청 $C_3$치의 감소는 모두 11명(61.1%)에서 관찰되었는데, 증상군에서는 7명(87.5%), 집단뇨검사군에서는 4명(40%)으로 증상군에서 혈청 $C_3$치의 감소가 보다 현저하였다. 그러나 추적관찰 기간 동안 증상군에서는 7명 중 4명, 집단뇨검사군에서는 4명 중 1명에서 혈청 $C_3$치는 정상범위로 증가하여 최종 관찰시점에서는 6명 (33.3%)에서만 혈청 $C_3$치의 감소가 지속되고 있다. 혈청 $C_3$치의 감소를 보인 경우를 다시 병리조직학적 분류에 의해 세분하여보면 발병당시에는 I형 8명(61.5%), II형에 1명(100%), III형 2명(50%)에서 관찰되었는데, 최종 시점에서는 I형 4명(30.8%), II형 1명(100%), III형 1명(33.3%)이었다. 또한 증상군에서 세포성 반월체형성과 세뇨관위축의 빈도가 높았으며, 사구체 혈관벽 비후와 사구체 간질의 증가의 정도가 집단뇨검사군에 비해 통계적으로 유의하게 높았다. 결론: 무증상성 요이상을 가진 환자에서 신장조직검사 실시 후 MPGN으로 진단되는 증례가 증가하고 있고, 오히려 증상을 동반하는 경우보다 빈도가 증가한다는 사실은 집단뇨 검사에서 소변의 이상소견이 발견되어 신장 조직검사를 실시할 경우 혈청 $C_3$치의 감소 여부에 관계없이 MPGN도 진단적 고려 대상이 되어야 한다고 생각한다.신장 조직검사를 시행한 결과 진행성 경과를 취할 수 있는 막 증식성 사구체 신염과 매우 희귀한 증례인 신유전분증 등으로 진단됨으로써 지속성 단백뇨의 경우 정확 진단적 접근이 필수적임을 알 수

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.29-33
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• 2005

Purpose: To determine the prognostic values of the hematologic parameters checked preoperatively in gastric cancer patients, we evaluated and compared the relationship between hematologic parameters and clinicopathologic factors of gastric cancer patient. Materials and Methods: The medical records of 357 consecutive patients who had undergone surgery for gastric cancer at the Department of Surgery, Hanyang University Hospital, between Dec. 2,000 and Dec. 2003 were reviewed. To exclude any adverse effect of invasive procedures to hematologic parameters, the samples taken immediately at outpatient department was used. The normal range of serum albumin was defined above 3.5 g/dl, serum hemoglobin above 12 g/dl, and serum platelet count under $400\times10^{3}{\mu}l$. Patients were defined as group 1 when any of these parameters was abnormal, and defined as group 2 when all parameters were normal. The relationships between hematologic parameters and survival rate were investigated. Results: The mean values of platelet count increased, but level of serum albumin and serum hemoglobin decreased significantly according to the advancement of the disease stage (P=0.000). The differences of depth of tumor invasion and lymph node metastasis between the group 1 and the group2 was statistically significant (P=0.001). Three-year survival difference between group 1 and group 2 was significant (P=0.037). Conclusion: The hematologic parameters checked preoperatively in patients of gastric cancer are simple and cheap, meanwhile reflect the general condition of the patients. Any presence of anemia, hypoalbuminemia, or thrombocytosis can predict the progression of the disease and poor survival rates.

• Journal of the korean veterinary medical association
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 1988

A lactating Holstein cow which did not have had responded to drug therapy during 2 months was clinically examined. Right atrial vegetative endocarditis was determined dy ultrasonographic diagnosis, and later it was confirmed at necropsy. An early systolic

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.219-222
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• 2010

In this study, we evaluated Vi-passive hemagglutination (Vi-PHA), SD Salmonella Typhi IgG/IgM ($SD^{(R)}$ kit) and Widal test for the rapid laboratory diagnosis of typhoid fever patients. A total of 36 serum samples from febrile patients in Korea from 2005 to 2006 were used. Among 36 patients, 27 were fever patients without typhoid, 9 were typhoid fever. Vi-PHA showed 8 positive results out of 9 typhoid fever patients (sensitivity 88.9%) and 1 positive and 26 negative results out of 27 febrile patients without typhoid (specificity 96.3%). The sensitivity and the specificity of $SD^{(R)}$ kit were 100% and 92.6%, respectively. However, the sensitivity and the specificity of Widal O & H tests were 88.9%, 100%, and 77.8%, 70.4%, respectively. Consequently, Widal H and $SD^{(R)}$ kit showed higher sensitivity and Vi-PHA showed higher specificity. To efficient diagnosis, Vi-PHA may be sufficient diagnosis method in acute cases and $SD^{(R)}$ kit and Widal test may be sufficient in sporadic area and high risk group.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.84 no.1
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• pp.253-262
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• 2023

Purpose To assess the clinicoradiological features of pulmonary cryptococcosis in immunocompetent patients. Materials and Methods This retrospective study included immunocompetent patients who had been diagnosed with pulmonary cryptococcosis on the histopathologic exam and underwent chest CT between January 2008 and November 2019. Imaging features were divided into major imaging patterns, distributions, and ancillary imaging findings. Univariable analysis was performed to evaluate clinicoradiological features according to the presence of serum cryptococcal antigen. Results Thirty-one patients were evaluated (mean age: 60 years, range: 19-78 years). A single nodular lesion confined to a single lobe was the most common imaging pattern (14/31, 45.2%). Serum cryptococcal antigen tests were performed in 19 patients (19/31, 61.3%). The presence of serum cryptococcal antigen was observed in six patients (6/19, 31.6%), all of whom showed a consolidation-dominant pattern. The presence of serum cryptococcal antigen was significantly associated with the consolidationdominant pattern compared to those associated with a nodule-dominant pattern (p = 0.011). Conclusion A combination of CT findings of consolidation and a positive serum cryptococcal antigen test may be helpful for diagnosing pulmonary cryptococcosis in immunocompetent patients.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.115-118
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• 2013

An 8-year-old spayed female domestic shorthair cat was presented with a chief complaint of chronic nasal discharge and dyspnea. Physical examination revealed pyohemorrhagic nasal discharge, inspiratory dyspnea and stertor, and an enlarged right mandibular lymph node. Abnormalities of blood works and serum chemistry included mildly increased hematocrit, and globulin concentration. Serologic tests for FeLV and FIV, and a panel of polymerase chain reaction tests for Chlamydophila felis, Feline Calicivirus, Herpesvirus, Bordetella, Mycoplasma felis, and H1N1 influenza was all negative. Only radiographic finding showed increasing soft tissue density in the right nasal cavity and computed tomography disclosed soft tissue/fluid opacification in the right nasal cavity, paranasal sinus, and pharyinx along with slight deviation to the right of the osseous nasal septum. Focal lysis of ventral nasal septum was also suspected in CT scan. Cytological evaluation of fine needle aspirate smears of the enlarged mandibular lymph nodes revealed numerous fungal yeasts having variably thick capsule both extracellularly and intracellularly with low numbers of macrophages. Some yeasts showed narrow based budding, which was a consistent finding with Cryptococcus organisms. Serum protein electrophoresis was a polyclonal consistent with chronic infection and serum was submitted for a fungal serology panel test. In serologic tests Cryptococcus antigen titer was 1 : 32,768. In vitro culture was unsuccessful. Treatment was initiated with administration of fluconazole, clindamycin, and tocopherol. Clinical signs resolved within 3 days after the initial treatment. The cat was discharged and scheduled for periodic evaluation and continued therapy, but was lost to follow-up thereafter.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.213-221
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• 2001

Propose : Tsutsugamushi fever is a acute febrile disease, which is caused by O. tsutsugamushi. Recently, this disease is increasingly reported in children. This study was undertaken to investigate clinical features of tsutsugamushi fever in children. Methods : This study involved 17 children with tsutsugamushi fever who were admitted to Masan Samsung hospital between September 1997 and December 2000. We investigated the age, sex ratio, clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, response of therapy and prognosis. Results : The age of patients was $6.9{\pm}3.6$ years, ranging from 6 months to 12 years and male predilection(58.8%) was noted and all cases of patients occured in October or November. The most common symptoms were fever in all cases and headache in 8(47.1%). The most common signs were skin rash in all cases, eschar in 14(82.4%) and lymphadenopathy 8(47.1%). Locations of the eschars were back and inguinal area in each 3 cases, neck and chest in each 2, popliteal area in 2, scalp and thigh in each 1. Laboratory findings included anemia in 1 case, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia in each 5, hematuria and proteinuria in each 1, ESR elevation in 2 and positive CRP in 12, AST elevation in 9 and ALT elevation in 7. Serologic diagnosis was made by passive hemagglutination assay(PHA) in 8 cases(47%) on admission, 4 cases in initial negative group were performed follow-up test at 2nd or 3rd weeks of illness and then all cases of 4 were converted to positive reaction. Clinical improvement was noticed in all cases after treatment to chloramhenicol or doxycycline. Mean duration for defervescence after treatment was $1.4{\pm}0.8$ days. Complications were interstitial pneumonia in 1 case and aseptic meningitis in 3, but all cases of patients were recovered without sequelae or recurrence. Conclusions : Tsutsugamushi fever in children was similiar to adult in the clinical features except male predilection. Early diagnosis and empirical treatment based on clinical manifestations such as fever, skin rash, eschar, lymphadenopathy is important and serologic diagnosis need to perform follow-up test at 2nd or 3rd weeks of illness.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.245-254
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• 1988

We studied the serological reaction between various antigenic components from Cysticercus cellulosae and IgG antibodies in sera of cysticercosis, sparganosis, hydatidosis patients and normal humans by ELISA and EITB. In serological tests by ELISA, we recognized cross reaction of Cysticercus antigenic components with IgG antibodies in heterologous sera such as sparganosis and hydatidosis patients or normal humans. The crude antigenic components of Cysticercus showed lower ELISA sensitivity in homologous sera from cysticercosis patients than heterologous sera from hydatidosis patients. A total of 31 polypeptide bands with 260 KDa~22 KDa molecular weights were detected by SDS-PAGE, and 11 of them showed strong intensity. Total 22 components of them were recognized by IgG antibodies in cysticercosis patients sera. However, 12 of them were recognized also by normal human sera, 11 were by sparganosis sera, and-21 were by hydatidosis patients sera. The crude antigenic components of 104 KDa, 82 KDa, 72 KDa, 59 KDa and 34 KDa molecular weights were nonspecific ones, which cross-reacted with sera of either cysticerco, =is, sparganosis, hydatidosis patients or normal humans.