• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.59-69
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• 2019

Objectives: Case report is a description of medical experience that contains a patient's information and treatments. It has been used to determine the effectiveness and side effect of the treatments. Case report can be used for medical, scientific, or educational purposes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of case reports published in Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry from 2013 to 2017 using CARE and CARES guideline. Methods: Case reports were selected from Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry and their quality assessed using CARE guideline and CARES guideline. The items of CARE and CARES guideline were assessed as 'Sufficient', 'Not sufficient', 'Not reported', 'Not applicable'. The outcome was analyzed using case reports and items. Results: 26 case reports were selected. For CARE guideline, 'Sufficient' percentage was min at 22.2%, max at 46.4% with a median of 39.3%. Sum of 'Sufficient', 'Not sufficient' percentage was min at 59.3%, max at 85.7% with a median of 75.0%. Items 'Timeline', 'Diagnostic assessment', 'Follow up and outcomes', 'Informed consent' were not reported in more than 50% of all case reports. Items 'Keywords', 'Abstract', 'Introduction', 'patient information', 'Diagnostic assessment', 'Therapeutic interventions', 'Follow up and outcomes' were not sufficiently reported in more than 50% of all case reports. For CARES guideline, 'Sufficient' percentage was min at 0%, max at 50% with a median of 0%. Sum of 'Sufficient', 'Not sufficient' percentage was min at 33.3%, max at 100% with a median of 92.9%. Items of herbal prescription 'herb', 'decoction', 'use', items of acupuncture treatment 'materials', 'techniques', items of moxibustion treatment 'materials', 'techniques' were not sufficiently reported in more than 50% of all case reports. Conclusions: The reporting rate of items was good. But the quality of reporting was low. Also, particular items were not reported frequently. Therefore, there is a need to improve the quality of case reports in Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.129-136
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• 2021

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of 1 year of training on imaging diagnosis, using static ultrasonography (US) salivary gland images of Sjögren syndrome patients. Materials and Methods: This study involved 3 inexperienced radiologists with different levels of experience, who received training 1 or 2 days a week under the supervision of experienced radiologists. The training program included collecting patient histories and performing physical and imaging examinations for various maxillofacial diseases. The 3 radiologists (observers A, B, and C) evaluated 400 static US images of salivary glands twice at a 1-year interval. To compare their performance, 2 experienced radiologists evaluated the same images. Diagnostic performance was compared between the 2 evaluations using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results: Observer A, who was participating in the training program for the second year, exhibited no significant difference in AUC between the first and second evaluations, with results consistently comparable to those of experienced radiologists. After 1 year of training, observer B showed significantly higher AUCs than before training. The diagnostic performance of observer B reached the level of experienced radiologists for parotid gland assessment, but differed for submandibular gland assessment. For observer C, who did not complete the training, there was no significant difference in the AUC between the first and second evaluations, both of which showed significant differences from those of the experienced radiologists. Conclusion: These preliminary results suggest that the training program effectively helped inexperienced radiologists reach the level of experienced radiologists for US examinations.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.31-41
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• 2023

Purpose : This study was conducted to identify the common characteristics of older persons with sarcopenia and to explore the relationship between gait, balance, and stress using an integrated assessment tool. Methods : In this study, 95 people aged 65 years or older were screened using the sarcopenia diagnostic evaluation algorithm presented by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia in 2019. Skeletal muscle index, grip strength, and short physical performance battery were used as sarcopenia evaluation measurements. Based on the results of this evaluation, participants were grouped into the 'non-sarcopenia group' (41 participants) or the 'sarcopenia group' (54 participants). Participants underwent further assessment using an integrated evaluation tool capable of measuring gait, balance, and stress. Gait ability was evaluated using the timed up and go test, and balance ability was evaluated using the berg balance scale. And the stress of the last month was measured by modifying the stress index developed by a Korean researcher. Collected data were statistically analyzed using the independent t-test and Mann Whitney-U test. Results : The sarcopenia group and the non-sarcopenia group showed significant differences in all elements of the sarcopenia diagnostic evaluation. There were significant differences in all three integrated evaluation tools. For the evaluation of walking ability, the time measured in the timed up and go test was longer in the sarcopenia group, the berg balance scale score for the evaluation of balance ability was lower in the sarcopenia group, and the stress index was higher in the sarcopenia group. Conclusion : Through sarcopenia analysis using an integrated evaluation tool, it was confirmed that sarcopenia is closely related to decreased walking ability, poor balance, and increased stress. We recommend using this tool to reduce the risk of sarcopenia progression and stress exposure through the planning and implementation of an exercise program for sarcopenia prevention.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2024

Radiographic left atrial dimension (RLAD) is a valuable metric for assessing left atrial enlargement in dogs. While there have been studies on the use of RLAD and the increase in C-reactive protein (CRP) levels based on heart disease stages, there has been no prior research on the correlation between RLAD and CRP. In this study, the objective was to investigate the relationship between the rise in RLAD as myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) stages advance and the increase in CRP levels with MMVD stage progression. In this study, a total of 30 small-breed dogs were included as subjects. These dogs were diagnosed with MMVD at the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) stage B1 or B2, or stage C, based on a comprehensive assessment including physical examination, thoracic radiography, and echocardiography. Measurements of VHS and RLAD were compared to assess any significant differences. There were significant differences in RLAD between dogs with MMVD ACVIM stage B1 and those with stage C. The monocytes and CRP levels showed significant differences between ACVIM stage B1, B2 and ACVIM C. Additionally, a significant correlation was observed between the RLAD and VHS measurements. This underscores the notable association between MMVD stage advancement and elevated monocyte and CRP levels. The RLAD scores exhibited a significant difference among dogs with ACVIM stages B1, B2, and C, and significant variations were also observed in monocyte and CRP levels. These results suggest that monocyte and CRP levels may be a valuable diagnostic indicator for heart disease in dogs during the diagnostic evaluation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.81-88
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• 2014

In diagnostic radiology, each part is examined through serial radiography in most cases of general radiography. However, the reality is that, as for diagnostic reference level, measured values have been set up only for AP projection of each part and lateral projection. In the clinical setting, cumulative dose is incurred by serial radiography of patients, and this can make comparison of diagnostic reference level and cumulative exposure dose impossible or can lead to underestimation of diagnostic reference level. In this study, measurement of cumulative dose of serial radiography of each part revealed that when converting entrance surface dose to effective dose in case it is included in the exposure field, cumulative dose measured from a maximum of 38.06% to a minimum of 0.23% of individual dose limitation of the public. Also, when converting entrance surface dose of each part that is not included in the exposure field into effective dose, it measured from a maximum of 5% to a minimum of 0.04% of individual dose limitation of the public. Results of this study show entrance surface dose substantially increases in serial radiography of each part. Therefore, it is deemed that hospitals need to establish diagnostic reference level specifically, and subdivision of radiography orders for patients is also required in order to reduce unnecessary inspections. Moreover, the need of accurate exposure field is emphasized in case of inspection of several parts.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.49-56
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• 2012

Purpose: For determining the prognosis of critically injured patients, transporting patients to medical facilities capable of providing proper assessment and management, running rapid assessment and making rapid decisions, and providing aggressive resuscitation is vital. Considering the high mortality and morbidity rates in critically injured patients, various studies have been conducted in efforts to reduce those rates. However, studies related to diagnostic factors for predicting severity in critically injured patients are still lacking. Furthermore, patients showing stable vital signs and alert mental status, who are injured via a severe trauma mechanism, may be at a risk of not receiving rapid assessment and management. Thus, this study investigates diagnostic factors, including physical examination and laboratory results, that may help predict severity in trauma patients injured via a severe trauma mechanism, but showing stable vital signs. Methods: From March 2010 to December 2011, all trauma patients who fit into a diagnostic category that activated a major trauma team in CHA Bundang Medical Center were analyzed retrospectively. The retrospective analysis was based on prospective medical records completed at the time of arrival in the emergency department and on sequential laboratory test results. PASW statistics 18(SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) was used for the statistical analysis. Patients with relatively stable vital signs and alert mental status were selected based on a revised trauma score of more than 7 points. The final diagnosis of major trauma was made based on an injury severity score of greater than 16 points. Diagnostic variables include systolic blood pressure and respiratory rate, glasgow coma scale, initial result from focused abdominal sonography for trauma, and laboratory results from blood tests and urine analyses. To confirm the true significance of the measured values, we applied the Kolmogorov-Smirnov one sample test and the Shapiro-Wilk test. When significance was confirmed, the Student's t-test was used for comparison; when significance was not confirmed, the Mann-Whitney u-test was used. The results of focused abdominal sonography for trauma (FAST) and factors of urine analysis were analyzed using the Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. Variables with statistical significance were selected as prognostics factors, and they were analyzed using a multivariate logistics regression model. Results: A total of 269 patients activated the major trauma team. Excluding 91 patients who scored a revised trauma score of less than 7 points, 178 patients were subdivided by injury severity score to determine the final major trauma patients. Twenty-one(21) patients from 106 major trauma patients and 9 patients from 72 minor trauma patients were also excluded due to missing medical records or untested blood and urine analysis. The investigated variables with p-values less than 0.05 include the glasgow coma scale, respiratory rate, white blood cell count (WBC), serum AST and ALT, serum creatinine, blood in spot urine, and protein in spot urine. These variables could, thus, be prognostic factors in major trauma patients. A multivariate logistics regression analysis on those 8 variables showed the respiratory rate (p=0.034), WBC (p=0.005) and blood in spot urine (p=0.041) to be independent prognostic factors for predicting the clinical course of major trauma patients. Conclusion: In trauma patients injured via a severe trauma mechanism, but showing stable vital signs and alert mental status, the respiratory rate, WBC count and blood in the urine can be used as predictable factors for severity. Using those laboratory results, rapid assessment of major trauma patients may shorten the time to diagnosis and the time for management.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.251-260
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• 2018

Purpose: The aim of this retrospective cross-sectional study was to evaluate whether salivary findings of active matrix-metalloproteinase 8 (aMMP-8) chairside (point of care; POC) tests were associated with periodontal risk assessment parameters in patients receiving supportive periodontal therapy (SPT). Methods: A total of 125 patients receiving regular SPT were included, and their records were examined. The following inclusion criteria were used: a diagnosis of chronic periodontitis, at least 1 non-surgical periodontal treatment (scaling and root planning) with following regular SPT (minimum once a year), at least 6 remaining teeth, and clinical and aMMP-8 findings that were obtained at the same appointment. In addition to anamnestic factors (e.g., smoking and diabetes), oral hygiene indices (modified sulcus bleeding index [mSBI] and approximal plaque index), periodontal probing depth simultaneously with bleeding on probing, and dental findings (number of decayed, missing, and filled teeth) were recorded. Salivary aMMP-8 levels were tested using a commercial POC test system (Periomarker, Hager & Werken, Duisburg, Germany). Statistical analysis was performed using the t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, Fisher's exact test, and ${\chi}^2$ test, as appropriate (P<0.05). Results: Only the mSBI was significantly associated with positive salivary aMMP-8 findings (aMMP-8 positive: $27.8%{\pm}20.9%$ vs. aMMP-8 negative: $18.0%{\pm}14.5%$; P=0.017). No significant associations were found between aMMP-8 and smoking, diabetes, periodontal parameters, or parameters related to the maintenance interval (P>0.05). Conclusions: Salivary aMMP-8 chairside findings were not associated with common parameters used for periodontal risk assessment in patients receiving SPT. The diagnostic benefit of POC salivary aMMP-8 testing in risk assessment and maintenance interval adjustment during SPT remains unclear.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.107-116
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• 2013

Objjectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the correlation between surface electromyography(SEMG) and assessment scales for facial palsy. Methods : The subjects for this study were 21 patients who had peripheral facial nerve palsy. We analyzed about the correlation between the results of SEMG and facial nerve assessment scales that were carried out at the same time. The assessment scales used in this study were House-Brackmann scale, Yanagihara grading system, Sunnybrook facial grading system. Results : There are considerable correlation between the results of SEMG and the results of three kinds of assessment scales for facial nerve palsy. Conclusions : SEMG may be an objective examination for facial nerve palsy. Some research aimed at development of SEMG examination guideline for facial nerve palsy will be needed after this. And we expect that many researches for development of diagnostic equipments or treatment equipments that utilize SEMG will proceed.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.276-282
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• 2004

Marginal Zn deficiency is prevalent through the world and yet human zinc status has not been properly assessed due to the lack of a reliable diagnostic indicator. One potential possibility for zinc status assessment using Zn-binding protein, metallothionein (MT)-mRNA, has been proposed. The purpose of the present study was aimed to show whether measurement of mononuclear cell (MNC) MT mRNA, using a competitive-reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (competitive-RT-PCR) assay, could indicate zinc status in human subjects. In this study, MNC MT-mRNA expression was measured using a competitive-RT-PCR to compare before and after 14 days of zinc supplementation (50 mg Zn/das zinc gluconate). RT-PCR oligonucleotide primers which were designed to amplify both a 278 bp segment of the human MT-2A cDNA and a 198 bp mutant competitor cDNA template from MNCs, were prepared. MT-2A mRNA was normalized by reference to the housekeeping gene, $\beta$-actin, mRNA for which was also measured by competitive-RT-PCR. There was considerable inter-individual variation in MT-mRNA concentration and yet, the mean MT-2A mRNA level increased 4.7-fold after Zn supplementation, as compared to before Zn supplementation. This MT-2A mRNA level was shown as the same pattern and, even more sensitive assay, compared to the conventional plasma and red blood cells (RBCs) Zn assessment in which plasma and RBCs zinc levels increased 2.3- and 1.2-fold, respectively (p<0.05). We suggest that MT competitive-RT-PCR can be a useful assessment tool for evaluating human zinc status.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.39 no.5_1
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• pp.621-635
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• 2023

The assessment of structural condition is a crucial process for evaluating its usability and determining the diagnostic cycle. The currently employed manpower-based methods suffer from issues related to safety, efficiency, and objectivity. To address these concerns, research based on deep learning using images is being conducted. However, acquiring structural damage data is challenging, making it difficult to construct a substantial amount of training data, thus limiting the effectiveness of deep learning-based condition assessment. In this study, we propose a foundation model-based 2-step structural damage analysis to overcome the lack of training data in image-based structural condition assessments. We subdivided the elements of structural condition assessment into instantiation and quantification. In the quantification step, we applied a foundation model for image segmentation. Our method demonstrated a 10%-point increase in mean intersection over union compared to conventional image segmentation techniques, with a notable 40%-point improvement in the case of rebar exposure. We anticipate that our proposed approach will enhance performance in domains where acquiring training data is challenging.