• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.428-439
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to define and clarify the concept of 'equilibrium' in community-dwelling elderly persons with chronic diseases. Methods: A hybrid model was used for development of the concept of equilibrium. The model included a field study conducted in Seoul, Korea. Participants in this study included 12 elderly persons with chronic diseases who were taking medicine regularly. Results: The concept of equilibrium was found to be a complex phenomenon having meaning in two dimensions: the family-friendly and social relation-oriented dimensions. Four attributes and nine indicators were defined. Conclusion: Equilibrium was defined as the state of having health recognition, will power, and motive power (family-friendly dimension) and having a feeling of participation (social relation-oriented). Therefore, nurses who work with elderly persons with chronic disease in the community should be aware of the attributes and indicators of equilibrium in order to enhance the equilibrium of their elderly clients with chronic diseases.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.76 no.4
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• pp.169-174
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• 2014

Background: The Korean Obstructive Lung Disease (KOLD) Cohort Study is a prospective longitudinal study of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, or other unclassified obstructive lung diseases. It was designed to develop new classification models and biomarkers that predict clinically relevant outcomes for patients with obstructive lung diseases. Methods: Patients over 18 years old who have chronic respiratory symptoms and airflow limitations or bronchial hyper-responsiveness were enrolled at 17 centers in South Korea. After a baseline visit, the subjects were followed up every 3 months for various assessments. Results: From June 2005 to October 2013, a total of 477 subjects (433 [91%] males; 381 [80%] diagnosed with COPD) were enrolled. Analyses of the KOLD Cohort Study identified distinct phenotypes in patients with COPD, and predictors of therapeutic responses and exacerbations as well as the factors related to pulmonary hypertension in COPD. In addition, several genotypes were associated with radiological phenotypes and therapeutic responses among Korean COPD patients. Conclusion: The KOLD Cohort Study is one of the leading long-term prospective longitudinal studies investigating heterogeneity of the COPD and is expected to provide new insights for pathogenesis and the long-term progression of COPD.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.55-71
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• 2009

Background : Traditional Korean medicine(TKM) has gained in popularity among chronic patients in recent years. The use of TKM among patients with chronic diseases is common, with about two thirds of patients using some form of TKM in Korea. Objectives : The purpose of this study is to analyze the use of TKM and determine what factors affect to use TKM among patients with chronic diseases. The study also aims to provide information on TKM therapies and assist therapy selection among various TKM therapies for patients with chronic diseases. Methods : The design of the study was descriptive cross-sectional, and data were collected using a 21-item questionnaire. This study was conducted with subjects with confirmed diagnosis of chronic diseases, who live in Jeju Province, Korea. Results : Among the participants, past or current TKM use was 66.7%, with a statistically significant difference in gender and level of health status groups(p<0.05), but no difference in age, marital status, education, occupation, and income groups. The most common therapies of TKM used by the patients included acupuncture(51.1%), physiotherapy(16.8%), cupping(13.5%), and herbal medicine(4.8%). The main benefits from TKM perceived by the patients were chronic diseases management and health promotion. In a logistic regression analysis, significant influencing factors related to TKM use were gender, family income level, the extent of recognition of efficacy, heath status, and health security program. Conclusions : In this study the socio-demographic and health status, recognition of TKM efficacy factors associated with TKM use among patients with chronic diseases were similar to those found in the general population. The findings suggest that due to the relatively high use of TKM among patients with chronic diseases in Korea, this topic should be taken into account in the development of a holistic approach for patients with chronic diseases and an efficient chronic disease management system. Additionally proactive and consistent management of TKM is necessary in the health care system in Korea.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.95-107
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• 2015

Objective : To use and its affecting factors of patients' outpatient treatment that have single and multiple chronic illnesses Method : We used the 2011 study by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, "Report on Usage and Consumption of Korean Medicine." This report was conducted on outpatients and inpatients that visited Korean traditional medicine, from August 25th, 2011, to September 30th, 2011. Our research was based on 1729 patients with chronic diseases aged 30 and over who received outpatient treatment during the last three months. Results : There were 1365 patients with non-complex chronic diseases, while there were 364 patients with complex chronis diseases. Patients had 1 - 8 chronic diseases, and the average number (standard deviation) was 1.26 (0.59). There were statistically significant differences by sex(P<0.0001), age(p=0.0045), marriage (p=0.0060), education level(p<0.0001), income level(P=0.0063), and types of health insurance(p=0.0023). The diseases most common among patients with non-complex chronic diseases were: low back pain, arthritis, gastrointestinal disorder, frozen shoulder, side effects from motor accidents, high blood pressure, fracture, stroke, diabetes, cancer, atopic dermatitis, and asthma. The diseases most common among patients with non-complex chronic diseases were: arthritis+low back pain, low back pain+gastrointestinal disorder, low back pain+side effects from motor accidents, low back pain+frozen shoulder, arthritis+gastrointestinal disease, gastrointestinal disease+frozen shoulder, arthritis+low back pain+gastrointestinal disease, high blood pressure+arthritis, arthritis+low back pain+frozen shoulder, arthritis+fracture, and arthritis+side effects from motor accidents. There were statistically significant differences among the usage of medical clinics by: frequently used clinic (p<0.0001), number of treatment (p<0.0001), the cost of outpatient treatment (p=0.0073), the satisfaction rate (p=0.0171), whether the clinic is the preferred clinic (p=0.0040). In model 1, men than women, people who had local benefits instead of type 1 medical aid, and patients with complex chronic diseases were more likely to use Korean medical clinics. In model 2, men than women, people who had local benefits than people with types 1 and 2 medical aids, people who went to pharmacies and Korean medicine pharmacies than people who went to hospitals, people who went to get treatment 1-10 times than people who visited 11-20 times and more than 41 times, and people who spent less than ten thousand Korean won than people who spent 1 to 2 million Korean won, and people without complex chronic diseases were more likely to use Korean medical treatment. Conclusion : There were differences in sociodemographic characteristics and the usage of medical clinics between patients with non-complex chronic diseases and patients with complex chronic diseases. Among patients with complex chronic diseases, women, patients with types 1 and 2 medical aid, patients who used Korean medical clinics, patients who were treated 11-20 times and more than 41 times, and patients who spent 1 million to 2 million Korean won on outpatient treatment used less treatment than patients with non-complex chronic diseases. However, patients with complex chronic diseases used pharmacies and Korean medicine pharmacies more.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.422-431
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• 2022

Purpose: At the beginning of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic, physicians paid close attention to children with chronic diseases to prevent transmission or a severe course of infection. We aimed to measure the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibody levels in children with chronic gastrointestinal and liver diseases to analyze the risk factors for infection and its interaction with their primary disease. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels in patients with gastrointestinal and liver diseases (n=141) and in healthy children (n=48) between January and February 2021. Results: During the pandemic, 10 patients (7%) and 1 child (2%) had confirmed COVID-19 infection (p=0.2). The SARS-CoV-2 antibody test was positive in 36 patients (25.5%) and 11 children (22.9%) (p=0.7). SARS-CoV-2 antibody positivity was found in 20.4%, 26.6%, 33.3%, and 33.3% of patients with chronic liver diseases, chronic gastrointestinal tract diseases, cystic fibrosis, and liver transplantation recipients, respectively (p>0.05, patients vs. healthy children). Risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 antibody positivity were COVID-19-related symptoms (47.2% vs. 14.2%, p=0.00004) and close contact with SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction-positive patients (69.4% vs. 9%, p<0.00001). The use, number, and type of immunosuppressants and primary diagnosis were not associated with SARS-CoV-2 antibody positivity. The frequency of disease activation/flare was not significant in patients with (8.3%) or without (14.2%) antibody positivity (p=0.35). Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in children with chronic gastrointestinal and liver diseases are similar to that in healthy children. Close follow-up is important to understand the long-term effects of past COVID-19 infection in these children.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.8-15
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• 2019

Connective tissue diseases (CTDs) can affect all compartments of the lungs, including airways, alveoli, interstitium, vessels, and pleura. CTD-associated lung diseases (CTD-LDs) may present as diffuse lung disease or as focal lesions, and there is significant heterogeneity between the individual CTDs in their clinical and pathological manifestations. CTD-LDs may presage the clinical diagnosis a primary CTD, or it may develop in the context of an established CTD diagnosis. CTD-LDs reveal acute, chronic or mixed pattern of lung and pleural manifestations. Histopathological findings of diverse morphological changes can be present in CTD-LDs airway lesions (chronic bronchitis/bronchiolitis, follicular bronchiolitis, etc.), interstitial lung diseases (nonspecific interstitial pneumonia/fibrosis, usual interstitial pneumonia, lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia, diffuse alveolar damage, and organizing pneumonia), pleural changes (acute fibrinous or chronic fibrous pleuritis), and vascular changes (vasculitis, capillaritis, pulmonary hemorrhage, etc.). CTD patients can be exposed to various infectious diseases when taking immunosuppressive drugs. Histopathological patterns of CTD-LDs are generally nonspecific, and other diseases that can cause similar lesions in the lungs must be considered before the diagnosis of CTD-LDs. A multidisciplinary team involving pathologists, clinicians, and radiologists can adequately make a proper diagnosis of CTD-LDs.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.11 no.8
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• pp.160-167
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• 2021

This study was conducted to empirically analyze the prevalence and risk of chronic diseases in the family history of chronic diseases using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2019. Based on 5,691 people, after controlling for socio-demographic variables that were related to family history of chronic diseases, logistic regression analysis was performed to verify the odds ratio, which was the risk of family history of chronic diseases for the prevalence of chronic diseases. The main results were founded that Odds ratio, which was the risk of chronic diseases in groups with a family history compared to those without a family history, was statistically significant at hypertension(2.623), dyslipidemia(1.868), diabetes(1.964), and arthritis(1.435) when gender, age, income status, education level and residence were controlled. These results suggest that it is not only necessary to develop a standardization tool for family history tests, but also a health and disease management system for members with a family history in terms of preventive medicine in health care. This study is significant in that it proposed a practical plan in terms of health care by controlling variables that affect the prevalence of chronic diseases and empirically identifying the risk of family history of chronic diseases.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.42 no.12
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• pp.906-918
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• 2019

MicroRNA-223-3p (miR-223-3p) is one of the potential microRNAs that have been shown to alleviate inflammatory responses in pre-clinical investigations and is highly encased in exosomes derived from bone mesenchymal stem cells (MSC-exosomes). MSC-exosomes are able to function as carriers to deliver microRNAs into cells. Autoimmune hepatitis is one of the challenging liver diseases with no effective treatment other than steroid hormones. Here, we examined whether MSC-exosomes can transfer miR-223-3p to treat autoimmune hepatitis in an experimental model. We found that MSC-exosomes were successfully incorporated with miR-223-3p and delivered miR-223-3p into macrophages. Moreover, there was no toxic effect of exosomes on the macrophages. Furthermore, treatments of either exosomes or exosomes with miR-223-3p successfully attenuated inflammatory responses in the liver of autoimmune hepatitis and inflammatory cytokine release in both the liver and macrophages. The mechanism may be related to the regulation of miR-223-3p level and STAT3 expression in the liver and macrophages. These results suggest that MSC-exosomes can be used to deliver miR-223-3p for the treatment of autoimmune hepatitis.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.27-37
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• 2014

Objectives: This study aims to identify the factors associated with regular medical services utilization of chronic disease patients. Methods: The research selected 4,489 adults aged over 30, diagnosed with hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, from the Korea health panel. We analyzed states of regular medical service utilization using descriptive statistics. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the main factors associated with regular medical services utilization in chronic disease patients. Results: In terms of socio-demographic factors, gender, age, marital status, education level, employment, household income and disability were significantly different between hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia and hypercholesterolemia. Among health status and behavioral factors, number of chronic diseases, subjective health status, smoking, high risk drinking, regular meals, physical activity, obesity were significantly different. From the multiple logistic regression analysis, age, number of chronic diseases, obesity, type of chronic diseases were associated with regular medical services utilization. Conclusions: It is necessary to develop effective health education programs and individualized approach to improve continuous management in chronic diseases patients.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.101-108
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• 2018

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the effects of the mother-medical staff partnership on mothers' condition management ability for children with chronic allergic diseases. Methods: A total of 109 Korean mothers caring for a child with a chronic allergic diseases, identified according to the allergic march, such as food allergy, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, and allergic asthma, were recruited from the pediatric department of a general hospital in Seoul through convenience sampling. Data were collected using structured self-reported questionnaires from August 1, 2017 to October 31, 2017. and analyzed by descriptive statistics and multiple regression using SPSS version 22.0. Results: The Mother-medical staff partnership had a statistically significant effect on mothers' condition management ability for children with chronic allergic diseases (p<.05). Among the general characteristics, satisfaction with nursing services had a statistically significant effect on mothers' condition management ability (p<.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, strategies to support children with chronic allergic diseases, as well as their caregivers, should consider the mother-medical staff partnership as part of a family-centered approach.