• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.500-504
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• 2014

Background Skin cancer is the most prevalent cancer by organ type and referral accuracy is vital for diagnosis and management. The British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) and literature highlight the importance of accurate skin lesion examination, diagnosis and educationally-relevant studies. Methods We undertook a review of the relevant literature, a national audit of skin lesion description standards and a study of speciality training influences on these descriptions. Questionnaires (n=200), with pictures of a circular and an oval lesion, were distributed to UK dermatology/plastic surgery consultants and speciality trainees (ST), general practitioners (GP), and medical students (MS). The following variables were analysed against a pre-defined 95% inclusion accuracy standard: site, shape, size, skin/colour, and presence of associated scars. Results There were 250 lesion descriptions provided by 125 consultants, STs, GPs, and MSs. Inclusion accuracy was greatest for consultants over STs (80% vs. 68%; P<0.001), GPs (57%) and MSs (46%) (P<0.0001), for STs over GPs (P<0.010) and MSs (P<0.0001) and for GPs over MSs (P<0.010), all falling below audit standard. Size description accuracy sub-analysis according to circular/oval dimensions was as follows: consultants (94%), GPs (80%), STs (73%), MSs (37%), with the most common error implying a quadrilateral shape (66%). Addressing BAD guidelines and published requirements for more empirical performance data to improve teaching methods, we performed a national audit and studied skin lesion descriptions. To improve diagnostic and referral accuracy for patients, healthcare professionals must strive towards accuracy (a circle is not a square). Conclusions We provide supportive evidence that increased speciality training improves this process and propose that greater focus is placed on such training early on during medical training, and maintained throughout clinical practice.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.40
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• pp.3.1-3.8
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• 2018

Background: In this research article, we evaluate the use of sub-periosteal tunneling (tunnel technique) combined with alloplastic in situ hardening biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP, a compound of β-tricalcium phosphate and hydroxyapatite) bone graft for lateral augmentation of a deficient alveolar ridge. Methods: A total of 9 patients with deficient mandibular alveolar ridges were included in the present pilot study. Ten lateral ridge augmentation were carried out using the sub-periosteal tunneling technique, including a bilateral procedure in one patient. The increase in ridge width was assessed using CBCT evaluation of the ridge preoperatively and at 4 months postoperatively. Histological assessment of the quality of bone formation was also carried out with bone cores obtained at the implant placement re-entry in one patient. Results: The mean bucco-lingual ridge width increased in average from 4.17 ± 0.99 mm to 8.56 ± 1.93 mm after lateral bone augmentation with easy-graft CRYSTAL using the tunneling technique. The gain in ridge width was statistically highly significant (p = 0.0019). Histomorphometric assessment of two bone cores obtained at the time of implant placement from one patient revealed 27.6% new bone and an overall mineralized fraction of 72.3% in the grafted area 4 months after the bone grafting was carried out. Conclusions: Within the limits of this pilot study, it can be concluded that sub-periosteal tunneling technique using in situ hardening biphasic calcium phosphate is a valuable option for lateral ridge augmentation to allow implant placement in deficient alveolar ridges. Further prospective randomized clinical trials will be necessary to assess its performance in comparison to conventional ridge augmentation procedures.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.176-191
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• 2011

Purpose: This methodological study translated, adapted, and validated the evidence based guideline of RNAO (Registered Nurses Association of Ontario) in Canada, for acute stroke care to domestic circumstances. Methods: Quality of the RNAO guideline was evaluated using AGREE tool. Then the guideline was translated into Korean and a preliminary guideline was established After checking content validation by an expert group, the Korean version of the guideline was applied to clinical settings to see its applicability. Results: The RNAO guideline in Korea was deemed appropriate. The Korean version of the guideline was drawn up with 56 items in 3 areas in stroke system related nursing, nursing of acute stroke inpatients, and stroke nursing assessment. A questionnaire survey was performed on appropriateness, enforceability, and applicability of those recommendations. A total of 54 recommendations were finalized after deleting 2 items below CVI 0.7 and correcting 3 items by taking professional advices. After trial application of the guideline to 40 stroke patients hospitalized at a ward of a hospital in Seoul, its performance was improved but was not statistically significant. Conclusion: This guideline is expected to contribute to improving nursing quality by offering it as a guide to evidence based practices for acute stroke care in Korea.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.958-968
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• 2024

In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the important role that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play in the immunological process of hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC). An increasing number of studies have shown that certain lncRNAs hold great potential as viable options for diagnosis and treatment in clinical practice. The primary objective of our investigation was to devise an immune lncRNA profile to explore the significance of immune-associated lncRNAs in the accurate diagnosis and prognosis of LIHC. Gene expression profiles of LIHC samples obtained from TCGA database were screened for immune-related genes. The optimal immune-related lncRNA signature was built via correlational analysis, univariate and multivariate Cox analysis. Then, the Kaplan-Meier plot, ROC curve, clinical analysis, gene set enrichment analysis, and principal component analysis were performed to evaluate the capability of the immune lncRNA signature as a prognostic indicator. Six long non-coding RNAs were identified via correlation analysis and Cox regression analysis considering their interactions with immune genes. Subsequently, tumor samples were categorized into two distinct risk groups based on different clinical outcomes. Stratification analysis indicated that the prognostic ability of this signature acted as an independent factor. The Kaplan-Meier method was employed to conduct survival analysis, results showed a significant difference between the two risk groups. The predictive performance of this signature was validated by principal component analysis (PCA). Additionally, data obtained from gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) revealed several potential biological processes in which these biomarkers may be involved. To summarize, this study demonstrated that this six-lncRNA signature could be identified as a potential factor that can independently predict the prognosis of LIHC patients.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.476-485
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• 2024

Background/Aims: Sedation has become a standard practice for patients undergoing gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy. However, considering the serious cardiopulmonary adverse events associated with sedatives, it is important to identify patients at high risk. Machine learning can generate reasonable prediction for a wide range of medical conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors associated with sedation during GI endoscopy and develop a predictive model for hypoxia during endoscopy under sedation. Methods: This prospective observational study enrolled 446 patients who underwent sedative endoscopy at the Korea University Ansan Hospital. Clinical data were used as predictor variables to construct predictive models using the random forest method that is a machine learning algorithm. Results: Seventy-two of the 446 patients (16.1%) experienced life-threatening hypoxia requiring immediate medical intervention. Patients who developed hypoxia had higher body weight, body mass index (BMI), neck circumference, and Mallampati scores. Propofol alone and higher initial and total dose of propofol were significantly associated with hypoxia during sedative endoscopy. Among these variables, high BMI, neck circumference, and Mallampati score were independent risk factors for hypoxia. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the random forest-based predictive model for hypoxia during sedative endoscopy was 0.82 (95% confidence interval, 0.79-0.86) and displayed a moderate discriminatory power. Conclusions: High BMI, neck circumference, and Mallampati score were independently associated with hypoxia during sedative endoscopy. We constructed a model with acceptable performance for predicting hypoxia during sedative endoscopy.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.16-26
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• 2016

Background: Deficiencies in the ability to maintain balance are common in elderly. Augmented feedback such as knowledge of results (KR) can accelerate learning and mastering a motor skill in older people. Objects: We designed this study to examine whether one session of Wii-Fit game with self-regulated KR is effective for elderly people, and to compare the effect of two different timings of self-regulated KR conditions. Methods: Thirty-nine community-dwelling elders, not living in hospice care or a nursing home, participated in this study. During acquisition, two groups of volunteers were trained in 10 blocks of a dynamic balancing task under the following 2 conditions, respectively: (a) a pre-trial self-regulated KR ($n_1=18$), or (b) a post-trial self-regulated KR ($n_2=21$). Immediate retention tests and delayed retention tests of balancing performance were administered in 15 minutes and 24 hours following acquisition period, respectively. Results: In both groups, significant improvements of balancing performances scores were observed during the acquisition period. Regardless of the group, mean of balancing performance scores on retention tests were well-maintained from the final session. There were no significant differences between groups in balancing performance scores during the acquisition period (p>.05); however, the post-trial self-regulated KR group exhibited significantly higher balancing performance scores in both the immediate retention test and delayed retention test than that of the pre-trial self-regulated KR group (p<.05). Conclusion: Therefore, subjects who regulated their feedback after a dynamic balancing task, during the acquisition period, experienced more efficient motor learning during the retention period than did subjects who regulated their feedback before a dynamic balancing task. Accordingly, in case of presenting the KR of motor learning in clinical settings to elders who reduced dynamic balance abilities, the requesting time of KR is imperative according to self-estimation processes as well as types of KR and practice.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was done to identify effects of oral care protocol on oral mucositis and oral care performance in hematologic malignancy patients receiving chemotherapy. Methods: The design of this study was a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Both groups were patients diagnosed with hematologic malignancies who were receiving chemotherapy-each group had 20 patients. In the experimental group, patients were given intensive education on oral care based on the oral care protocol, whereas in the controlled group, each patient was given an educational brochure. Before chemotherapy, and 3 days, 7 days, and 14 days after chemotherapy, oral mucositis status of two groups were assessed using the guide to physical assessment of the oral cavity. Oral care performance was examined before chemotherapy and 14 days later. Results: The experimental group with the oral care protocol showed a significant difference (F=18.15, p<.001) in the oral mucositis status, and also in oral care performance (t=-10.33, p<.001). Conclusion: Findings indicate that the application of the oral care protocol is an effective tool for lowering the occurrence of oral mucositis and enhancing oral care performance in hematologic malignancy patients receiving chemotherapy.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.5714-5722
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• 2013

This study was done to investigate characteristics, knowledge, attitude, and performance on hand washing by nursing students who are prone to have clinical practice. Data were collected from 418 students in 3 nursing colleges from September to October, 2011 using questionnaire. The mean frequency and duration of hand washing were 7.2 times a day and 19.1 sec. The mean scores of knowledge, attitude, and performance on hand washing were 11.34(range 0~15), 3.42(range 1~5), 3.6(range 1~5), respectively. Above a half of students don't know about appropriate duration for hand washing and precautions after washing hands. Washing hands after rubbing nose, coughing, sneezing and handling the money and removing watch before hand washing were little performed. These results should be useful in development of education program for improving hand washing performance of nursing students.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.86-98
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• 2012

Purpose: The present study was conducted with the aim of developing a training manual for operation room nurses through an examination of nursing actions in terms of the frequency of performance, importance, and the levels of difficulty. The participants were recruited from the five university-affiliated hospitals according to one's career ladders, resulting in getting 181 OR nurses enrolled. Methods: Researchers developed a questionnaire using a 5-point Likert scale which measuring OR nurses' actions, importance, and the levels of difficulty. The frequencies of performance, importance and the levels of difficulty of nursing action were compared according to their career ladders using one-way ANOVA. Results: The frequencies of performance showed significant differences in 26 items according to the participants' career ladders; the importance in 6 items; and the levels of difficulty in 19 items among the OR nurses' actions. Conclusion: Given the fact that the significant differences were shown in the frequencies of performance, importance, and the levels of difficulty in nursing action across differing work experience, continuous development and application of job training based on one's work experience seem crucial in practice.

• Korean Medical Education Review
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.150-154
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• 2019

When standardized patients (SPs) are used for educational purposes, the authenticity of role play and the quality of feedback are essential requirements of SPs. This study was conducted to investigate medical students' assessment of SPs and to identify the components of SPs' performance that were most strongly correlated with patient-physician interaction score. One hundred and forty-two fourth-year medical students were asked to complete the Maastricht Assessment of Simulated Patients (MaSP) at the end of a clinical performance examination. SPs evaluated the patient-physician interactions using a 4-point Likert scale (1=poor to 4=excellent). Medical students' assessment of SPs using the MaSP was positively correlated with patient-physician interactions (r=0.325, p<0.01). Items addressing the authenticity of role play (e.g., "SPs appear authentic," "SPs might be real patients," and "SPs answer questions in a natural manner") were closely correlated with patient-physician interactions (p<0.001, p=0.027, and p=0.017, respectively). These results showed that the MaSP appears to be a useful instrument for evaluating SPs' performance and that the authenticity of SPs' performance was positively correlated with medical students' interactions. In order to improve patient-physician interactions, medical students should be given opportunities to practice their skills with SPs who have been trained to portray patients with a specific condition in a realistic way.