• Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.193-208
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• 2022

Purpose: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine is the key to getting out of the pandemic. However, acceptance of the vaccine has been affected by false information and rumors, which have kept people from getting the shot since it was rolled out. Materials and Methods: This study aimed to investigate the various misconceptions surfaced about the COVID-19 vaccines in Africa. We performed an online survey using an anonymous questionnaire to reach out to African respondents by social media and all possible online platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and so forth. The web-based questionnaires about the myths surrounding the vaccines were extracted from nonscientific information, unproven statements, social media posts, news reports, and people's concerns about the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines. Participants indicated their level of agreement with each statement. Results: A total of 2,500 people responded to the online survey in Africa. The two common myths that respondents agreed with were that "since vaccines for COVID-19 have been developed, we can make vaccines for the common cold, human immunodeficiency viruses, and other diseases" (n=892, 35.7%) and that "researchers rushed the development of the COVID-19 vaccines; therefore, it is not very effective, safe and cannot be trusted" (n=595, 23.8%). The range of respondents who neither agreed nor disagreed with these myths was 12.4%-33.0%. The majority (1,931, 77.2%) indicated disagreement with the statement "after getting the COVID-19 vaccine, one can stop wearing a mask as well as taking safety precautions." Conclusion: Myths surrounding the COVID-19 vaccines have impact on acceptance. Exploring them helps public health authorities in Africa dispel them and provide accurate information to promote vaccination campaigns, education, and acceptance.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 2013

Purpose: Antidotes for toxicological emergencies can be life-saving. However, there is no nationwide stocking and delivery system for emergency antidotes in Korea. We report on a two-year experience of a nationwide stocking and delivery trial for emergency antidotes at emergency departments in Korea. Methods: An expert panel of clinical toxicologists reviewed and made a list of 15 stocked antidote. These antidotes were purchased or imported from other countries and delivered from 14 antidote stocking hospitals nationwide 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Results: From August 1, 2011 to April 30, 2013, 177 patients with acute poisoning, with a median age of 48.5 years, were administered emergency antidotes. The causes of poisoning were intentional in 52.0% and 88.0% were intentional as a suicide attempt. Regarding clinical severity, using the poisoning severity score, 40.7% of patients had severe to fatal poisoning and 39.0% had moderate poisoning according to clinical severity. The most frequent presenting symptom was neurologic deficit, such as altered mentality (62.7%). alerted mentality (62.7%). Emergency antidotes were administered as follows: methylene blue (49 cases), flumazenil (31), N-acetylcysteine (25), glucagon (17), 100% ethanol (15), cyanide antidote kit (12), anti-venin immunoglobulin (5), pyridoxine (4), hydroxocobalamine (2), and deferoxamine (1). The median time interval from antidote request to delivery at the patient's bedside was 95 minutes (interquartile range 58.8-125.8). Conclusion: Findings of this study demonstrated the possibility of successful operation of the nationwide system of emergency antidotes stocking and delivery in Korea.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.71-79
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• 2015

With the growth of aging population in Korea, a better care of chronic and other degenerative illnesses is urgently needed. Evidences suggest that this can be achieved through incorporating a wide range of care options, expanding beyond medical interventions. The aim of this study is to analyze the distribution of publically funded research to understand if the Korean research and development funding system matches various approaches and purposes to successfully tackle the chronic care needs of an aging society. We complied the list of funded projects to be analyzed by searching the National Technical Information Service database with key words such as aging society/senescence, chronic diseases, disability, and health promotion. Most projects were based on the biomedical approach with the purpose of establishing the etiology and clinical (treatment) interventions. Health promotion projects showed a distinctive distribution with more percentage of projects based on psycho-behavioral approaches while research on chronic diseases predominantly biomedical. It would be necessary to diversify publically-funded research projects to develop effective and efficient care technologies for the future.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.170-181
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• 2011

Purpose: There is considerable variability in rates of hospitalization for patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in part because of physicians' uncertainty in assessing the severity of illness at presentation. The purpose of the study was to examine the current treatment patterns and factors influencing the Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI) and clinical outcomes in the patient with CAP. Method: The retrospective data collection of the patients with CAP was conducted and the data were reviewed. The collected data included demographic, clinical, laboratory and microbiological medical information. All patients were stratified into three risk groups according to PSI: low risk (PSI score I-II), moderate risk (III) and high risk (IV-V) groups. The examined treatment patterns were the appropriateness of admissions, category of antibiotics used. The prognostic factors associated with PSI and clinical outcomes were examined. Results: One hundred and six patients' medical data were reviewed. The overall appropriateness of admissions was low presenting many of patients were admitted or intensely treated in the hospital despite of lower risk of prognosis and treated with intravenous antibiotics instead of oral fluoroquinolones. Primary pneumonia pathogens were Klebsiella pneumoniae (27%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (21.6%). Mean LOS was 8.5 days and was significantly longer (10.0days) (p<0.001) in high risk group. The patients with age >65 (p<0.001), diabetes mellitus (p<0.001), mental alteration (p<0.001), and/or $PaO_2$ <60 mmHg (p<0.001) had a tendency to have higher PSI. The prognostic factors associated with longer LOS were age >65 years (p=0.008), mental status alteration (p<0.001), dyspnea (p=0.002) and PSI score (p=0.001). The prognostic factors associated with mortality were congestive heart failure (p=0.038), systolic blood pressure <90 mmHg (p=0.002) and arterial pH <7.35 (p=0.013). Conclusion: Most of patients were found to over-utilize medical service according to appropriateness of admissions. The elderly, mentally altered patients with low $PaO_2$ had higher PSI score with increased risk of LOS. The mortality could be increased in the patient with disease state of congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, and/or acidosis.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.83-96
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• 2020

Purpose: The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical benefit of additional toothbrushing accompanying non-surgical periodontal treatment on oral and general health in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: We conducted a doubled-blind randomized controlled trial in 60 T2DM patients between June 2013 and June 2014. The patients were randomly assigned to the scaling and root planing (SRP) group; the scaling and root planing with additional toothbrushing (SRPAT) group, in which additional toothbrushing was performed by toothpick methods; or the control group. Microbiological and oral examinations were performed for up to 12 weeks following treatment. Non-surgical treatment was conducted in the experimental groups. The SRP group received scaling and root planing and the SRPAT group received additional toothbrushing with the Watanabe method once a week from the first visit through the fifth visit. The primary outcomes were changes in haemoglobin A1c (or glycated haemoglobin; HbA1c) levels, serum endotoxin levels, and interleukin-1 beta levels. Periodontal health status was measured by periodontal pocket depth, the calculus index, and bleeding on probing (BOP). Results: Both the SRP and SRPAT groups showed improvements in periodontal health and HbA1c, but the SRPAT group showed significantly less BOP than the SRP group. Furthermore, only the SRPAT group showed a statistically significant decrease in serum endotoxin levels. Conclusions: Non-surgical periodontal treatment was effective in improving HbA1c and serum endotoxin levels in T2DM patients. Furthermore, non-surgical treatment with additional tooth brushing had a more favourable effect on gingival bleeding management. Trial RegistrationClinical Research Information Service Identifier: KCT000416.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.1-14
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• 2019

Objectives : To evaluate the effectiveness of Chuna Manual Therapy for adhesive capsulitis by a systematic review manner. Methods : Five foreign electronic databases (Pubmed, Ovid-medline, Embase, Cochrane library, Chinese Academic Journals (CAJ)) and two Korean medical electronic databases (Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS) and Research Information Sharing Service (RISS)) were searched to find all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using Chuna Manual Therapy as a treatment for adhesive capsulitis. The methodological quality of each RCT was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Results : Twenty-one RCTs met our inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis showed positive results on the use of Chuna Manual Therapy combined with acupuncture or exercise therapy in terms of the efficacy rate and pain using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), compared to acupuncture or exercise alone [SMD-1.81 (95% CI & -2.54, -1.08), P<0.001, RR 1.19 (95% CI 1.14, 1.23), P<0.001)]. Positive results in terms of efficacy rate were also obtained comparing Chuna Manual Therapy to acupuncture alone [RR 1.10 (95% CI 1.02, 1.18), P=0.01]. Conclusions : Our systematic review found favorable results on the effectiveness of Chuna Manual Therapy for pain and efficacy rate of adhesive capsulitis. However, evidence was limited due to the lack of well-designed RCTs. More qualified clinical trials are needed to obtain stronger evidence.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.65-82
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• 2018

Objectives : The purpose of this study is 1) to explore the general tendency of the herbs or herbal formula for acne treatment in clinical practice 2) and to provide a basis for explaining the principles of acne treatment in Korean Medicine in order to make patients understand more easily based on pharmacological mechanism by analyzing the herbs or herbal formula using for acne treatment in clinical practice. Methods : In the domestic databases (Oriental medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System-OASIS, Korean Traditional Knowledge Portal-KTKP, National Discovery for Science Leader-NDSL, Research Information Sharing Service-RISS), we selected among the papers published using search terms related to "acne". Reports related to sasang constitutional medicine were excluded and a total of 23 papers were finally selected. Results : 29 prescriptions were retrieved from 23 papers. Chungan-tang (淸顔湯) notified formulas ranked first by Cheongsangbangpung- tang (淸上防風湯), Hwangnyeonhaedok-tang (黃連解毒湯), Dangguijakyaksan (當歸芍藥散) and Bipachungpe-eum (枇杷淸肺飮). Commonly used herbs are Forsythiae Fructus (連翹), Scutellariae Radix (黃芩), Gardeniae Fructus (梔子), Ligustici Rhizoma (川芎), and Angelicae Gigantis Radix (當歸). In most patients with inflammatory lesions or excessive flushing, exterior-releasing medicinal (解表藥) and heat-clearing medicinal (淸熱藥) were mainly prescribed for acne treatment, while in patients with acne accompanied hyperkeratinization, Excess sebum secretion, Dysmenorrhea or indigestion, qi-tonifying medicinal (補氣藥) or blood-tonifying medicinal (補血藥) were mainly used. KAGS (Korean Acne Grading System) was the most commonly used method for acne severity assessment. Conclusions : These findings suggest that the herbs or herbal formula for acne treatment in Korean Medicine is prescribed differently according to the cause and symptoms of acne in a unique way for control the whole body balance. Also, our findings could provide a basis for explaining the principles of acne treatment in Korean Medicine in order to make patients understand more easily based on pharmacological mechanism in clinical practice.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.415-419
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• 2004

As the medical environment field has been facilitated by the rapid development of the information technologies and ubiquitous healthcare service based on network, the exchange of medical information between hospitals become more and more important. However, although most electrocardiograph vendors have provided digital modalities and their ECG data management systems, these were proprietary and not compatible with each other due to multiplicity of vendor specific formats and lack of open ECG data standards. Therefore, we aim to design and develop the ECG management system for archiving, saving, searching, viewing and transferring ECG data and the diagnostic reports. And the system is based on Clinical Document Architecture (CDA) developed by HL7 and DICOM Waveform Standard for the exchange of the structured diagnostic reports and the transfer of ECG data.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.153-159
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• 2019

In this paper, we propose a the effects of new chest compressions in the implementation of chest compressions during infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and to provide basic data for high-quality CPR. On March 12, 2019, the research target used the SPSS 22.0 Version as an experimental study using randomized cross-design of 30 emergency medical services students who completed BLS Health Care-provider. The study also showed significant differences in chest depth and average rate of pressure($34.61{\pm}1.29$, $39.40{\pm}1.08$, <0.001, $105.46{\pm}4.23$, $107{\pm}3.84$, <0.001) depending on chest compressions. There was also a significant difference in the convenience and degree of pain of chest compressions(<0.001). In addition, new chest compressions appeared close to vertical and showed statistically significant differences(p<.001). Based on the results of this study, we can see that the accuracy of the new chest compressions during infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation is increased, and the depth of chest compressions is improved, improving the quality index of chest compressions. However, it will be necessary to further study the use of the new chest compressions to identify the potential for clinical use.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.97-106
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• 2012

Management of biosignal data in mobile devices causes many problems in real-time transmission of large volume of multimedia data or storage devices. Therefore, this research paper intends to suggest an m-Health system, a clinical data processing system using mobile in order to provide quick medical service. This system deployed health system on IP network, compounded outputs from many bio sensing in remote sites and performed integrated data processing electronically on various bio sensors. The m-health system measures and monitors various biosignals and sends them to data servers of remote hospitals. It is an Android-based mobile application which patients and their family and medical staff can use anywhere anytime. Medical staff access patient data from hospital data servers and provide feedback on medical diagnosis and prescription to patients or users. Video stream for patient monitoring uses a scalable transcoding technique to decides data size appropriate for network traffic and sends video stream, remarkably reducing loads of mobile systems and networks.