• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.351-359
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• 2019

Neurocognitive testing commonly uses the MMSE (Mini-Mental State Examination) to evaluate the overall cognitive function of patients at outpatient clinics, but the MMSE has recently been extensively used in the SNSB II (Seoul Neuropsychological Screening Battery II) for making diagnoses. We retrospectively investigated the results of routine neurocognitive tests and the results of the blood tests of 120 elderly patients who had been referred to a South Central Medical Center from 2017 to 2018 and who had been examined at a public health center. These subjects' space-time capability was high on the sub-region of the global deterioration scale (GDS). GDS showed a significant increase as the Na decreased on the electrolyte analysis. The subjects' concentration, their language-based orientation for space and time, their memory, and their scores for the frontal lobe function on GDS showed statistically significant reductions (P<0.001) For the normal and abnormal groups according to the ALT and creatinine levels, the frontal/execute function areas showed statistically significant differences (P<0.001) as well as negative correlation between GDS and ALT (P<0.01). In conclusion, this study provides basic information to develop test items that are important for patient screening and diagnosis, and several routine blood chemistry factors provide basic information for diagnosing and assessing the status and progress of cognitively impaired patients.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.195-202
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• 2019

At the department of prosthodontics, the elderly patients with severely atrophied alveolar ridge who have been wearing complete dentures for a long period frequently visit the clinic. In general, the open-mouth impression technique for manufacturing a mandibular complete denture to secure primary support on buccal shelf area has been prevalent. In addition, for securing retention and stability of mandibular denture, we should consider diagnosis, oral function, denture border, occlusal plane, teeth arrangement, and patient training, etc.. But in edentulous patients with severe alveolar bone atrophy, it may hardly secure retention and stability of mandibular complete denture. To promote these, some of clinicians are making an attempt manufacturing the mandibular complete dentures using closed-mouth impression technique based on several reports that compare various impression techniques including open-mouth and closed-mouth impression technique. This case report suggests closed-mouth impression technique may promote retention and stability of mandibular complete denture and compares between the two impression techniques clinically.

• Journal of Korean geriatric psychiatry
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 2017

Objective : This study aimed to investigate the effect of community-based Goal-Achieving program in geriatric depressive symptoms preliminarily. Methods : We obtained data from elderly Korean subjects with major depressive disorder (n=51) aged 60 years or older at baseline, taking case management from community mental health center. Subjects were randomly assigned to intervention group (n=24) and control group (n=27). We investigated depressive symptoms through Short Form Geriatric Depression Scale-Korean version (SGDS-K) at baseline and every month for 3 months to all subjects. We tested interaction between group and time in SGDS-K score to evaluate the effect of program. And post hoc test examined between group differences of SGDS-K at each time points. Results : In quadratic linear mixed effects model analysis, interaction between group and time was statistically significant (Total SGDS-K score : coefficient=0.29, p<0.001 ; SGDS-K dysphoria subscale : 0.18, p<0.001 ; SGDS-K hopelessness subscale : 0.05, p=0.089 ; SGDS-K cognitive impairment subscale : 0.06, p=0.003). And significant between group difference was shown in post hoc test at time points of third month (SGDS-K score of control group : SGDS-K score of intervention group=$10.74{\pm}3.482$ : $7.25{\pm}4.475$, p=0.0184). Conclusion : These results may suggest that 'Community-based the Goal-Achieving program' has efficacy in reducing geriatric depressive symptoms.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.389-399
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• 2020

Diverse official policies in community are available for caregivers to take care of the elderly in the US and the UK. This study aims to examine the recent changes in government supports based on The Recognize, Assist, Include Support and Engage (RAISE) in the US, and those by Carer Act 2014 in the UK, to take any good lessons for Korean policy. Caregivers will play a new role to develop innovative treatment for patient-centered care. The UK strengthens to provide various efforts for working carers while assuring economic efficiency in labor market with empirical evidence. The major four ways to support carers were developed agreed with the acknowledge of caregiving value and their human right; financial support, direct services for carers, flexible work time, and advocacy. Korean supports policies for carers in long-term care and social welfare will be more effective in community care system if more evidence based policies are prepared.

• Food Science and Industry
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.128-139
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• 2022

Although edible insects are attracting attention as future alternative food because of their nutritional, eco-friendly, and economic advantages and functionality, consumption is low, so measures to promote consumption are needed. The problems in edible insect consumption were identified as the aversion to the edible insects, lack of publicity for edible insects newly registered in the Food Code, and difficulties in continuously supplying high-quality edible insects and selling products. To solve these problems, it is necessary to establish effective public relations plans for new edible insects and develop processing methods for improving their taste and flavor, education content about edible insects, and products interesting to the target age. In addition, it is necessary to establish a one-stop cluster that can perform quality control of harmful substances and nutrients, purchase raw materials, sell products, educate, and publicize.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.1393-1404
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• 2021

The current study was conducted to understand the status of infection management through a survey on the status of awareness and performance of infection management and to improve efficient infection management and education programs of workers in long-term care institutions. The subjects of the study were 134 workers at 35 long-term care institutions in the C region, and data were collected from July 12 to 30, 2021. They agree to participate in research self reported structured questionnaire by SPSS program ver. 22.0. As a result of the study, the subject's awareness of infection management appeared to be a difference in accordance with occupation (F=3.181, p=.032) and education experience (F=6.372, p=.013). Also, factors influencing the subject's performance of infection management were occupation (F=3.972, p=.010) and education experience (F=4.403, p=.038). The relationship between awareness of infection management and performance resilience fined out a significantly positive correlation (r=.919, p<.001). As a result, for patient safety in long-term care institutions in the COVID-19 pandemic situation, it is very important for workers not only to recognize the importance of infection management but also to directly perform infection management activities. To this end, regardless of the size of the institution, it is necessary to prepare a systematic and continuous curriculum by occupation and educational topic, and to legally strengthen the evaluation system to improve the quality of the infection management system.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.234-241
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• 2004

Background : There has been a gradual increase in the number of newly diagnosed cases of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) pulmonary disease. However, the optimal therapeutic regimen for the disease has not yet established and there is no report about the treatment outcome of MAC pulmonary disease in Korea. This study examined the effect of clarithromycin-based regimen in patients with pulmonary MAC disease without a HIV infection. Materials and Methods : Fifty-six patients with pulmonary MAC disease were diagnosed according to the American Thoracic Society criteria from January 2000 to December 2003 at this hospital. Of these patients, 15 were treated with clarithromycin, rifampin, and ethambutol for more than 6 months, together with streptomycin initially (first 6 months) in 8 patients. Results : Six months after the treatment, the sputum cultures converted from positive to negative in 8 patients (53%) and the radiological findings improved in 10 (67%). At 12 months 4 patients (44%) achieved sputum negative conversion and 6 patients out of 9 patients (67%) who were treated for more than 12 months showed radiological improvement. Overall, the sputum findings converted to negative in nine patients (60%) who underwent medical treatment. A pulmonary resection was successfully performed in one patient. Only one patient discontinued the treatment due to side effects such as gastrointestinal intolerance and optic neuritis. Conclusion : A combined regimen containing clarithromycin is relatively safe and tolerable even in the elderly outpatients. However, the results of this combined chemotherapy were unsatisfactory and new companion drugs for MAC pulmonary disease are needed. A resection may be considered for localized disease.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.137-144
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify and assess the needs of the cancer patients and their families and provide basic data to meet with their needs. Methods: This is a descriptive study using questionnaire method. Questionnaire were collected by mail from 76 discharged patients from a hospice ward from May until the end of October, 2004, and data were analyzed by SPSS 10.0. Results: Admitted patients had needs of pain control (85.5%), non-pain symptoms (63.2%) such as vomiting, dyspnea, ascites, etc, and emotional and spiritual problem solving (28.9%, 14.5%). Interests of patients were health care of himself/herself (65.8%), concern for their spouses left alone (32.9%), and future of their children (15.8%). In families' needs of care of 5 areas, "information on patient's status and treatment/nursing care" was shown most high score ($3.48{\pm}0.62$). In detailed questions, they request most 'to inform the prognosis of patients' and the next is 'to inform the reasons that nursing care was required'. The next highest score was to 'inform family roles' ($3.39{\pm}0.64$), and next was spiritual support ($3.11{\pm}0.79$), and emotional support ($3.08{\pm}0.72$). Expectations of family on the treatment were comfortable dying (73.4%) scored the highest. Patients' families were satisfied with volunteer service most in service area (97.4%). The next was pain control (89.5%) and nursing service (77.6%). Conclusion: Health care staff should identify the actual needs of families caring cancer patients and they should operate realistic programme which can give continuous and assistance by reflecting individual needs and characteristics. With these srategies, the quality of life of patients and families can be improved. And then the intervention programme should be developed to measure subjective nursing care needs of terminally ill cancer patients and their families.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.129-135
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• 2017

Objectives : Little is known about the influence of urinary incontinence and depression on individual's QOL(Quality of life). We aimed to clarify how the interaction between urinary incontinence and depression influences one's QOL. Methods : A total of 1262 patients were enrolled in this study from April, 2011 to July, 2011. We estimated the severity of depressive symptoms and QOL, using SGDS-K, EQ-5D. We also investigated the morbidity of urinary incontinence for each patient in person or by questionnaire. Comparisons of QOL between groups with or without depression, with or without urinary incontinence were established using t-test, ANOVA and Scheffe's post hoc analysis. The interaction between urinary incontinence and depression was analyzed by each domain of QOL, using multiple regression analysis. Results : Patients with depression and urinary incontinence showed significantly higher EQ-5D scores on every domain of QOL than other patients, which means significantly lower QOL. Patients with depression, no urinary incontinence reported lower QOL, especially in the domain of 'usual activity', 'anxiety' and 'visual analogue scale(VAS)', whereas those with urinary incontinence, no depression showed lower QOL in 'motility', 'usual activities' and 'pain' domain. Statistically significant interaction effects of two diseases were observed in the domain of 'VAS', 'self care' and 'anxiety'. Conclusions : Comorbidity of urinary incontinence and depression showed significantly lower QOL of patients, compared with urinary incontinence or depression respectively, which implies additive interaction effects of the two diseases. Optimal diagnosis and treatment of depression should be emphasized for patients with urinary incontinence.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.213-223
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• 2013

Objectives Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common reason for people in Korea to visit Korean medical institutions. To assess actual amounts of use in the treatment of LBP in Korean medicine and to provide objective base line data for policy decision making, research regarding the current state of LBP patients' treatment in Korean medical institutions are in need. Methods The current study was designed as a retrospective chart review to investigate descriptive characteristics of LBP patients. The clinical records of 304 patients who were hospitalized for the treatment of LBP in Korean rehabilitation medicine inpatient clinics of five different Korean medicine hospitals were analyzed. The percentage of patient characteristics such as sex, age, average duration of admission, insurance type, diagnosed LBP related disease code, and rates of interventions applied were assessed. Results 1. The female sex was significantly predominant among patients with LBP : 105 patients (34.5%) were male and 199 patients (65.5%) were female. Percentage of the patients' age appeared as followed : 76 people (25.0%) were in their 50s, 64 people (21.1%) were in their 40s, 51 people (16.8%) were in their 30s, 37 people (12.2%) were in their 60s, and 33 people (10.9%) were in their 70s. Approximately half of the total LBP patients investigated were older than 50. 2. The average duration of admission was 16.2 days. Approximately one third (30.3%) of the patients were hospitalized for 8 to 14 days. 3. Female patients tended to stay admitted in hospitals slightly longer than male patients. Elderly (age 60~79) patients stayed in hospitals longer (17.8 days) compared to younger (age 20~39) patients (13.5 days). 4. More than half of the patients (171 cases, 56.3%) had their hospital bills covered with automobile insurance. 40.1% (122 cases) of the patients had medical insurance to cover their hospital bills. The average duration of admission of patients who had automobile insurance was 14.2 days, while that of the patients who had medical insurance was 18.4 days. 5. "Sprain and strain of the lumbar spine and pelvis" was the most commonly used (195 cases, 64.1%) disease code in patients with LBP. Patients diagnosed as "lumbar and other intervertebral disc disorders with radiculopathy" required the longest admission duration (22.1 days). 6. Herbal medication was applied to all of the patients during admission. Acupuncture was applied to all of the patients except one case diagnosed as spinal stenosis. Physical therapy, cupping therapy, moxibustion therapy, chuna therapy, and pharmacopuncture therapy were applied to 94.7, 92.8, 85.2, 83.9, and 49.7% of the patients, respectively. 7. There were certain differences among Korean medicine hospitals in terms of the LBP patients' duration of admission, type of insurance, frequency of the disease code use, type of intervention applied. Conclusions It is thought that the current study can be used as reference data in assessing the current state of LBP treatment in Korean rehabilitation medicine and a basis for future research. Provided improvements of certain limitations of the current study in future researches, such data would act as better base line data in policy decision making.