• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.24
• /
• pp.10565-10571
• /
• 2015

Gastric cancer incidence rates vary dramatically by world region with East Asia having the highest rate. The Asian population of the United States (US) is growing rapidly and over 17 million Americans are of Asian descent. A majority of Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese Americans are immigrants. Americans of East and Southeast Asian descent experience marked gastric cancer disparities and the incidence rate among Korean men in the US is over five times higher than the incidence rate among non-Hispanic white men. Randomized controlled trials have provided evidence for the effectiveness of helicobacter pylori identification and eradication in preventing gastric cancer. Additionally, Japan and South Korea have both experienced improvements in gastric cancer mortality following the implementation of programs to detect early stage gastric cancers. There are currently no clear US guidelines regarding the primary and secondary prevention of gastric cancer in high-risk immigrant populations. However, it is likely that a proportion of US physicians are already recommending gastric cancer screening for Asian patients and some Asian immigrants to the US may be completing screening for gastric cancer in their native countries. Surveys of US primary care physicians and Asian American communities should be conducted to assess current provider practices and patient uptake with respect to gastric cancer prevention and control. In the absence of clinical guidelines, US health care providers who serve high-risk Asian groups could consider a shared decision-making approach to helicobacter pylori identification and eradication, as well as gastric endoscopy.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.5-12
• /
• 2013

The purpose of this review is to address the flow of current neuroscientific researches and to provide for the clinicians with therapeutic evidences for schizophrenia which can help them clinical decision making. Since the very beginning, a lot of scientific studies about schizophrenia have been undertaken. In this review, I describes the evidences focused on development of schizophrenia including neurobiological dysfunction, neurodevelopmental model, Kalirin, and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor(BDNF) and neuroanatomic abnormalities based on neuroimaging studies. In conclusion, schizophrenia influencing on broad impairment of human function such as activities of daily life, occupations, and relationships has been studied underlying causes and treatments, but still remained uncertainty. However, there are plenty of useful evidences available for the clinicians to make a good therapeutic choice.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.243-250
• /
• 2007

Purpose : Shoulder subluxation is a very common problem in patients with hemiplegia with stroke. Prevention of the low tone subluxed shoulder has been an issue for physical therapists working with neurological patients for many years. Methods : This study reviewed the literature to definite the management and a cause of shoulder subluxation with hemiplegia patients after stroke. Various modalities have been suggested for realigning the glenohumeral joint, but their use is controversial. The purpose of this paper is to review critically the evidence base in order to inform the clinical decision-making process for physiotherapists working in neurology. Results : Literature has identified supports, strapping and functional electrical stimulation(FES) in the management of low tone shoulders. Following review of this evidence it is suggested that there is a lack of reliable and valid research evidence on which to base conclusions. The modalities with the best supporting evidence for realigning the low tone subluxed glenohumeral joint are the triangular sling, Harris hemi sling and the Rolyan humeral cuff used in a standing position and the lap board and arm trough while the patient is sitting. However, due to soft tissue adaptation with associated lack of movement, over-correction and the need for careful patient positioning these supports need to be evaluated for each patient and should be used only in appropriate situations. Conclusion : Similarly, there is a lack of evidence on the effects of long-term use to this equipment. Electrical stimulation is also thought to have potential in the treatment to subluxed low tone shoulders but additional research is required to clarify the parameters for use and the long-term effects of these forms of management.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.521-525
• /
• 2015

Bacteremia and sepsis are common causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with incorrect or delayed diagnoses being associated with increased mortality. New tests or markers that allow a more rapid and less costly detection of bacteremia and sepsis have been investigated. The aim of this study was to clarify the cutoff value of the neutrophillymphocyte ratio (NLR) according to procalcitonin (PCT) level in the decision-making processes for bacteremia and sepsis. In addition, other white blood cell subgroup parameters, which are assessed in all hospitals, for bacteremia and sepsis were explored. This retrospective study included 1,468 patients with suspected bacteremia and sepsis. Patients were grouped according to the following PCT criteria: levels <0.05 ng/ml (healthy group), 0.05-0.5 ng/ml (local infection group), 0.5-2 ng/ml (systemic infection group), 2-10 ng/ml (sepsis group), and >10 ng/ml (sepsis shock group). One important finding of this study, which will serve as a baseline to measure future progress, is the presence of many gaps in the information on pathogens that constitute a major health risk. In addition, clinical decisions are generally not coordinated, compromising the ability to assess and monitor a situation. This report represents the first study to determine the limits of the use of NLR in the diagnosis of infection or sepsis using a cutoff value of <5 when sufficient exclusion criteria are used.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.72-83
• /
• 1999

The purpose of this study was to classify, from collected home health care records data, nursing diagnoses according to the NANDA system and nursing interventions according to the NIC system, and to link nursing interventions to nursing diagnoses. For this study, 101 home health care records of clients seen between September, 1994 and November, 1996 at Yonsei Medical Center, Seoul, were analyzed. The results of this study are summarized as follows : 1. The most frequent nursing diagnoses were ‘Risk for infection’ and ‘Altered nutrition : Less than body requirements’, then ‘Impaired skin intergrity’ and ‘Ineffective airway clearance’ in the Exchange pattern of NANDA nine human response patterns. 2. The most frequent nursing interventions were the interventions in the Physiological : Complex domain, there were 690(50.7%) interventions among a total 1347 interventions. This results corresponds to Yom, Young Hee(1995)’s research, both Korean and U.S. nurses used the interventions in the Physiological : Complex do main most often on a daily basis. And respiratory nursing interventions were most frequent because 32.7% of the subjects were respiratory patients. 3. The next step was to link the nursing interventions to nursing diagnoses. The most frequent nursing diagnosis was ‘Risk for infection’ and 19 interventions for ‘Risk for infection’ were used 267 times. Then 14 interventions for ‘Impaired skin integrity’ were used 258 times, 12 interventions for ‘Ineffrective airway clearance’ were used 193 times, 12 interventions for ‘Altered nutrition : Less than body requirements’ were used 122 times, 10 interventions for ‘Activity intolerance’ were used 75 times, and 11 interventions for ‘Knowledge deficit’ were used 52 times. 4. The use of standardized classification in the areas of nursing diagnoses and nursing interventions facilitates clinical decision making and prompt nursing activity, and so enhances the effectiveness of nursing care.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.16-24
• /
• 2020

Background: Dental treatment has shifted to the center of the community, and the public policy of the country has expanded to support the vulnerable classes such as the disabled. The dental profession needs education regarding oral health services for persons with disabilities, and it is necessary to derive the competencies for this. Therefore, we conducted this study to derive the normative ability to understand the role of a dental hygienist in the oral health service for persons with disabilities and improvement plans for education. Methods: We conducted a qualitative analysis for deriving competencies by analyzing the data collected through in-depth interviews with experts in order to obtain abilities through practical experience. Based on the competency criterion, relevant competency in the interview response was derived using the priori method, and it was confirmed whether the derived ability matched the ability determined by the respondent. Results: The professional conduct competencies of dental hygienists, devised by the Korean Association of Dental Hygiene, consists of professional behavior, ethical decision-making, self-assessment skills, lifelong learning, and accumulated evidence. Also, core competencies of the American Dental Education Association competencies for dental hygienist classification such as ethics, responsibility for professional actions, and critical thinking skills were used as the criterion. The dental hygienist's abilities needed for oral health care for people with disabilities, especially in the detailed abilities to fulfill these social needs, were clarified. Conclusion: To activate oral health care for people with disabilities, it is necessary for dental hygienists to fulfill their appropriate roles, and for this purpose, competency-based curriculum restructuring is indispensable. A social safety net for improving the oral health of people with disabilities can be secured by improving the required skills-based education system of dental hygienists and strengthening the related infrastructure.

• Perspectives in Nursing Science
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.158-166
• /
• 2013

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate patient safety regulations and guidelines in order to understand their current status, and to examine support measures to improve patient safety in Korean hospitals. Methods: The participants were the safety officers from hospitals with 200 or more beds and 112 hospitals responded to the online survey. The questions covered patient safety regulations, the performance level of patient safety activities, patient safety incident reporting systems, the dedicated professional, training, support mechanisms, and expectations of reporting systems. Results: Among preventative measures, fall prevention and hand hygiene were reported to be most widely practiced (92% and 91%, respectively). Time-out for invasive procedures showed a relatively low practice rate at 70%. Among patient care activities, transfusion, surgery and sedation, medication, and infection management were performed by 84, 74, 93 and 93% of the hospitals, respectively. Patient safety activities included patient safety committee, patient safety cooperation between decision-making bodies, patient safety workshops, seminars, lectures, and training for employees. Conclusion: Patient safety regulations and guidelines have not yet been sufficiently prepared, and a public institution such as a certification authority is of crucial importance to enforce these guidelines.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.39 no.4
• /
• pp.256-259
• /
• 2006

Objective : Having a reliable and reproducible measurement technique to measure the sagittal contour in vertebral fractures is paramount to clinical decision making. This study is designed to determine the most reliable measurement technique in osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture. Methods : Fifteen lateral radiographs of thoracic and lumbar fractures were selected and measured on two separate occasions by three spine surgeons using six different measurement techniques [Centroid, Harrison Posterior Tangent Methods and 4 different types of modified Cobb method]. The radiograph quality was assessed and the center beam location was determined. Statistical analysis including ANOVA for repeated measures was carried out using the SAS software [v 8.0]. Results : The inter and intraobserver variance of the Cobb method 4 and Harrison posterior tangent method were significantly lower than the other four methods. The intraobserver correlation coefficients were the most consistent using the Cobb method 4 [0.982]. which was followed by the Harrison posterior tangent [0.953] and Cobb methods 1 [0.874]. The intraobserver agreement [% of repeated measures within 5 degrees of the original measurement] ranged from 42% to 98% for each technique for all three observers, with the Cobb method 4 showing the best agreement [97.8%] followed by the Harrison posterior tangent method [937%]. Conclusion : The Cobb method-4 and Harrison posterior tangent methods, when applied to measuring the kyphosis, are reliable and have a similar small error range. The Cobb method 4 shows the best overall reliability. However, the centroid method and Cobb method using a fractured endplate do not produce an accurate result due to inter and intraobserver differences in determining the baseline.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.45 no.6
• /
• pp.341-349
• /
• 2009

Objective : The purpose of this study was to identify independent predictors of mortality and functional recovery in patients with primary intracerebral hemorrhage (PICH) and to improve functional outcome in these patients. Methods : Data were collected retrospectively on 585 patients with supratentorial PICH admitted to the Stroke Unit at our hospital between 1st January 2004 and the 31st July 2008. Using multivariate logistic regression analysis, the associations between all selected variables and 30-day mortality and 90-day functional recoveries after PICH was evaluated. Results : Ninety-day functional recovery was achieved in 29.1% of the 585 patients and 30-day mortality in 15.9%. Age (OR=7.384, p=0.000), limb weakness (OR=6.927, p=0.000), and hematoma volume (OR=5.293, p=0.000) were found to be powerful predictors of 90-day functional recovery. Furthermore, initial consciousness (OR=3.013, p=0.014) hematoma location (lobar, OR=2.653, p=0.003), ventricular extension of blood (OR=2.077, p=0.013), leukocytosis (OR=2.048, p=0.008), alcohol intake (drinker, OR=1.927, p=0.023), and increased serum aminotransferase (OR=1.892, p=0.035) were found to be independent predictors of 90-day functional recovery after PICH. On the other hand, a pupillary abnormality (OR=4.532, p=0.000) and initial unconsciousness (OR=3.362, p=0.000) were found to be independent predictors of 30-day mortality after PICH. Conclusion : The predictors of mortality and functional recovery after PICH identified during this analysis may assist during clinical decision-making, when advising patients or family members about the prognosis of PICH and when planning intervention trials.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.60 no.4
• /
• pp.465-470
• /
• 2017

Objective : Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) grading systems using sagittal images are useful for evaluation of lumbar foraminal stenosis. We evaluated whether such a grading system is useful as a diagnostic tool for surgery. Methods : Between July 2014 and June 2015, 99 consecutive patients underwent unilateral lumbar foraminotomy for lumbar foraminal stenosis. Surgically confirmed foraminal stenosis and the contralateral, asymptomatic neuroforamen were assessed based on a 4-point MRI grading system. Two experienced researchers independently evaluated the MR sagittal images. Interobserver agreement and intraobserver agreement were analyzed using ${\kappa}$ statistics. Results : The mean age of patients (54 women, 45 men) was 62.5 years. A total of 101 levels (202 neuroforamens) were evaluated. MRI grades for operated neuroforamens were as follows : Grade 0 in 0.99%, Grade 1 in 5.28%, Grade 2 in 14.85%, and Grade 3 in 78.88%. Interobserver agreement was moderate for operated neuroforamens (${\kappa}=0.511$) and good for asymptomatic neuroforamens (${\kappa}=0.696$). Intraobserver agreement by reader 1 for operated neuroforamens was good (${\kappa}=0.776$) and that for asymptomatic neuroforamens was very good (${\kappa}=0.831$). In terms of lumbar level, interobserver agreement for L5-S1 (${\kappa}=0.313$, fair) was relatively lower than the other level (${\kappa}=0.804$, very good). Conclusion : MRI grading system for lumbar foraminal stenosis is thought to be useful as a diagnostic tool for surgery in the lumbar spine; however, it is less reliable for symptomatic L5-S1 foraminal stenosis than for other levels. Thus, various clinical factors as well as the MRI grading system are required for surgical decision-making.