• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2004.10a
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• pp.90-92
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• 2004

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.75 no.6
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• pp.244-249
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• 2013

Background: Conventional biomarkers cannot always establish the cause of pleural effusions; thus, alternative tests permitting rapid and accurate diagnosis are required. The primary aim of this study is to assess the ability of pentraxin-3 (PTX3) in order to diagnose the cause of pleural effusion and compare its efficacy to that of other previously identified biomarkers. Methods: We studied 118 patients with pleural effusion, classified as transudates and exudates including malignant, tuberculous, and parapneumonic effusions (MPE, TPE, and PPE). The levels of PTX3, C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT) and lactate in the pleural fluid were assessed. Results: The levels of pleural fluid PTX3 were significantly higher in patients with PPE than in those with MPE or TPE. PTX3 yielded the most favorable discriminating ability to predict PPE from MPE or TPE by providing the following: area under the curve, 0.74 (95% confidence interval, 0.63-0.84), sensitivity, 62.07%; and specificity, 81.08% with a cut-off point of 25.00 ng/mL. Conclusion: Our data suggests that PTX3 may allow improved differentiation of PPE from MPE or TPE compared to the previously identified biomarkers CRP and PCT.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.95-102
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• 2010

Purpose : To evaluate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinicopathological features of triple negative breast cancer, and compare them with those of non-triple negative breast cancer. Materials and Methods : This study included 231 pathologically confirmed breast cancers from January 2007 to May 2008. We retrospectively reviewed the MRI findings according to the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) lexicon: mass or non-mass type, mass shape, mass margin, non-mass distribution, and enhancement pattern. Histologic type, histologic grade, and the results for epidermal growth factor receptor, p53, and Ki 67 were reviewed. Results : Of 231 patients, 43(18.6%) were triple negative breast cancer. Forty triple negative breast cancers (93.0%) were mass-type lesion on MRI. A round or oval or lobular shape (p=0.006) and rim enhancement (p=0.004) were significantly more in triple negative breast cancer than non- triple negative breast cancer. In contrast, irregular shape (p=0.006) and spiculated margins (p=0.032) were significantly more in non-triple negative breast cancer. Old age (p=0.019), high histologic grade (p<0.0001), EGFR positivity (p<0.0001), p53 overexpression (p=0.038), and Ki 67 expression (<0.0001) were significantly associated with the triple negative breast cancer. Conclusion : MRI finding may be helpful for differentiation between triple negative and non-triple negative breast cancer.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.942-949
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• 2006

Purpose: This study was to investigate the knowledge and learning needs of chemotherapy in gynecological cancer patients. Method: The subjects consisted of 103 gynecological cancer patients receiving chemotherapy from April 2005 to August 2005. Data was collected using a questionnaire about knowledge and learning needs of chemotherapy. The data was analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe test, and Pearson's correlation coefficient using SAS. Result: Average scores of knowledge and learning needs of general treatment and care were 2.74, and 3.30 respectively. Average score of knowledge and learning needs of chemotherapy were 2.54 and 3.23 respectively. Learning needs of general treatment and care and of chemotherapy were significantly different in relation to marital status, educational level, family support, the operation, and the amount of chemotherapy received. Items with the highest level of learning needs were the symptoms of recurring illness of general treatment, and minimizing side effects of chemotherapy. There were a negative correlation between knowledge and learning needs on general treatment and a positive correlation between knowledge and learning needs on chemothearpy but there were not significant statistically. Conclusion: The level of learning needs related to cancer treatment was high, whereas, that of knowledge was low. Therefore, when designing an educational program for gynecological cancer patients, understanding of learning needs is necessary. Also, consideration of a patient's characteristics, and a systematic and detailed educational program should be provided.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.161-169
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to survey on the pharmacists' medication teaching service for topical steroids in regions without separation of dispensary from medical practice. The questionnaire was sent to 199 pharmacists who work inregions without separation of dispensary from medical practice via mail, e-mail or fax. 112 out of 199 pharmacists requested have answered the survey (response rate 56.28%). The questionnaire was composed of 4 categories with demographic characteristics, generally explained contents, adverse effects and precaution in pregnancy, breastfeeding and children. We analyzed the questionnaire by the 6 items with reference to the practical guidelines for medication teaching service. The medication teaching service for topical steroids in terms of generic name, physical characteristics, efficacy, usage and dosage, warning and precaution has been well provided by pharmacists in regions without separation of dispensary except for means and duration of optimal storage. The majority of pharmacists provided their patients with 4 and more kinds of items (69.64%), but the generally recommended 4 kinds of items such as generic name, efficacy, usage and dosage, warning and precaution were provided in as low as 48.22% of the respondents. These results show that the medication teaching service for topical steroids in terms of means and duration of optimal storage (45.54%) and the generally recommended 4 kinds of items have not been enough provided by pharmacists in regions without separation of dispensary. Taken together pharmacists in these regions should make a proper guideline for medication teaching service that can prevent the adverse effects of topical steroids.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.39-44
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• 2014

Purpose: To investigate adverse drug reactions (ADR) and causative drugs in the elderly 65 years of age or older, using Korean spontaneous reporting adverse events reporting database from June 2009 to December 2010. Methods: We estimated the association between ADRs and implicated medications by calculating a proportional reporting ratio (PRR), reporting odds ratio (ROR), and information component (IC). We reexamined the most frequently implicated medications and ADRs, and the seriousness of ADRs. Then, we assessed reports and concordant rate of ADRs due to medications designated as "high-risk" in elderly by 2012 healthcare effectiveness data and information set (HEDIS) or "potentially inappropriate" by 2012 American Geriatrics Society updated Beers criteria for potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs). Results: Among 15,484 elderly reports, data-mining analysis by PRR, ROR and IC showed that 421 drug-ADR pairs were detected as signals (3,189). The most frequently reported ADR and causative drug were urticaria (470) and contrast media agents (647), respectively. One hundred eighty nine ADR cases were graded as serious. Twenty-two kinds of high-risk medications were shown to be implicated in only 0.9% of ADRs. Only thirty-nine cases were consistent with 2012 Beers criteria or HEDIS. Conclusion: These results suggest that management of the other medications including contrast media agents as well as close monitoring of PIMs are necessary for reducing ADRs in the elderly.