• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.86-92
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• 1999

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to know the epidemiology and clinical characteristics in patients with M. pneumoniae pneumonia during study period retrospectively. Methods : We had reviewed 500 patients with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia who were hospitalized at the pediatric ward of Seoul Adventist Hospital from July 1986 through June 1996. we had analysed clinical and laboratory problems of pulmonary and extrapulmonary manifestations including demographics and epidemiological characteristics. Results : Peak occurrence of the disease was 3 years interval and seasonal occurrence of the disease had no difference. 43.4% of patients was below 4 years old and male to female ratio was nearly 1:1. The most common site of infiltration on chest PA was right lower lobe and the most common type of pneumonia was interstitial pneumonia(43%). Pulmonary complications were atelectasis(11cases), emphysema(5cases), pleural effusion(27cases) and sinusitis(13cases) and extrapulmonary manifestations were hepatitis(109cases), skin rash(29cases), proteinuria(20cases) and hematuria(16cases). cold agglutinin test was carried out in 500cases and mycoplasma antibody test was carried out in 448cases. sensitivity of mycoplasma antibody test was 53.3%. Conclusion : Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia showed epidemics at intervals of 3 year in its major occurrence. it exhibits a tendency that occurs at younger age group not in school age group. diagnosis of the disease need more accurate method due to low sensitivity of mycoplasma antibody test. also we need to carried out other laboratory test(for example, LFT, U/A).

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.66 no.4
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• pp.280-287
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• 2009

Background: The epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs), became an attractive therapeutic option for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Several studies suggested that there might be some different efficacy or response predictors between gefitinib and erlotinib. We compared the efficacy and toxicity of gefitinib and erlotinib in Korean patients with advanced NSCLC and evaluated specific predictors of response for both gefitinib and erlotinib. Methods: We collected the clinical information on patients with advanced NSCLC, who were treated with gefitinib or erlotinib at the Ewha Womans University Hospital, between July 2003 and February 2009. Median survival times were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Eighty-six patients (52 gefitinib vs. 34 erlotinib) were enrolled. Patient median age was 64 years; 53 (62%) subjects were male. Out of the 86 patients treated, 83 received response evaluation. Of the 83 patients, 35 achieved a response and 12 experienced stable disease while 36 experienced progressive disease, resulting in a response rate of 42% and a disease control rate of 57%. After a median follow-up of 502 days, the median progression-free and overall survival time was 129 and 259 days, respectively. Comparing patients by treatment (gefitinib vs erlotinib), there were no significant differences in the overall response rate (44% vs. 39%, p=0.678), median survival time (301 days vs. 202 days, p=0.151), or time to progression (136 days vs. 92 days, p=0.672). Both EGFR-TKIs showed similar toxicity. In a multivariate analysis using Cox regression model, adenocarcinoma was an independent predictor of survival (p=0.006; hazard ratio [HR], 0.487; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.292-0.811). Analyses of subgroups did not show any difference in response predictors between gefitinib and erlotinib. Conclusion: Comparing gefitinib to erlotinib, there were no differences in the response rate, overall survival, progression-free survival, or toxicity. No specific predictor of response to each EGFR-TKI was identified.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.84-95
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• 2012

Background: In Korea, private health insurance has neglected to induce externality on national health insurance by moral hazard. Therefore, we conducted this study in order to explore the influence of private health insurance on unnecessary medical utilization among patients with cervical or lumbar sprain. Method: The study examined a population of 449 patients (admission, 384; out-patient; 85) diagnosed with simple cervical or lumbar sprain without neurological symptoms at 20 small hospitals or clinics in Gwangju and Jeollanam provinces from Jul. 1 to Aug. 31 2008. The data were collected using structured, self-administrated questionnaire which collected information such as whether or not the patient was admitted (as a dependent variable), whether or not they had private health insurance (as a independent variable), and covariates such as socio-demographic characteristics, the factors related to the sprain, and characteristics of the insurance provider. Results: From hierarchical multiple logistic regression analysis, it was found that the admission rate of patient with private health insurance was higher than that those without it (Odds ratio=3.31, 95% Confidence interval; 1.14-9.58), meaning that private health insurance was an independent factor influencing the admission of patients with these conditions. Other determinants of admission were patient age and physician referral. Conclusions: This study is the first empirical study to explore the influence of private health insurance on inducing moral hazard in admission services, specifically among patients with cervical or lumbar sprain. Regulation of benefits provided by private health insurance may be necessary, as the effect of this moral hazard may mean existence of externality.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.3075-3078
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• 2013

Background: KLK3 gene products, like human prostate-specific antigen (PSA), are important biomarkers in the clinical diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa). G protein-coupled receptor RFX6, C2orf43 and FOXP4 signaling plays important roles in the development of PCa. However, associations of these genes with PCa in northern Chinese men remain to be detailed. This study aimed to investigate their impact on occurrence and level of malignancy. Methods: All subjects were from Beijing and Tianjin, including 266 cases with prostate cancer and 288 normal individuals as controls. We evaluated associations between clinical covariates (age at diagnosis, prostate specific antigen, Gleason score, tumor stage and aggressive) and 6 candidate PCa risk loci, genotyped by PCR- high resolution melting curve and sequencing methods. Results: Case-control analysis of allelic frequency of PCa associated with PCa showed that one of the 6 candidate risk loci, rs339331 in the RFX6 gene, was associated with reduced risk of prostate cancer (odds ratio (OR) = 0.73, 95% confidence interval (CI) =0.57-0.94, P = 0.013) in northern Chinese men. In addition, subjects with CX (CC+TC) genotypes had a decreased risk for prostrate cancer compared to those carrying the TT homozygote (OR =0.64, 95% CI = 0.45- 0.90, P = 0.008). The TT genotype of 13q22 (rs9600079, T) was associated with tumor stage (P=0.044, OR=2.34, 95% CI=0.94-5.87). Other SNPs were not significantly associated with clinical covariates in prostate cancer (P > 0.05). Conclusions. rs339331 in the RFX6 gene may be associated with prostate cancer as a susceptibility locus in northern Chinese men.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.416-427
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• 2011

This study investigated the association among parental socioeconomic level, overweight, and eating habits with diet quality in Korean sixth grade school children. A 3-day dietary survey was conducted, and a questionnaire and anthropometric data were collected from the Korean child obesity cohort (320 boys and 345 girls). The children were classified into two groups (low or high level) based on monthly household income and paternal and maternal education status. Lower maternal education status was associated with a higher risk for overweight in girls (odd ratio, 1.91; 95% confidence interval 1.07-3.44), whereas belonging to a higher socioeconomic group in terms of parental income or parental education level resulted in the consumption of significantly more fruit. Boys did not show significant differences in the intake of most nutrients or diet quality regardless of socioeconomic status. However, girls in the lower socioeconomic group had a lower food habit score (higher frequency of breakfast skipping and ramen noodle consumption), diet quality, and intake of nutrients (carbohydrate, vitamin C, potassium, and fiber) than those in the higher socioeconomic group. Therefore future nutrition policies and interventions should support parents and children with lower socioeconomic status to develop health-related behaviors that may prevent childhood overweight.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.264-273
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• 2012

This cross-sectional study was investigated musculoskeletal discomfort symptoms and related factors on some middle high school teachers. Self-questionnaire of KOSHA CODE H-30-2003 was done with 250 teachers from 1st to 15th October, 2010, the data from 231 teachers (68 male, 163 female) was statistically analyzed to search the factors related to musculoskeletal discomfort symptoms. According to NIOSH rate of musculoskeletal discomfort symptoms by body parts was 36.8%. Musculoskeletal discomfort symptoms related to age, school types, subjective health status, housekeeping time, VDT work time and regular rest. After adjusting for related variables, odds ratio (OR) of musculoskeletal discomfort symptoms was correlation significantly to subjective health status unhealthy (OR 11.75, 95% Confidence Interval, CI, 3.56-378.78). In addition, ORs (95% CI) of age (40-49) and housekeeping time (${\geq}3$) were 4.63 (1.82-26.18) and 4.33 (1.97-19.34). Analysis of the factors influencing the musculoskeletal discomfort symptoms vary in different parts of the body. The most discomfort symptoms by parts was neck (26.0%) and shoulder (30.0%). In the neck region was related to subjective health status and regular rest. In the shoulder and waist region was subjective health status and sex. Age was wrist/finger, leg/foot was related to subjective health status, sex and VDT work time. Age, school types, subjective health status, housekeeping time, VDT work time and regular rest related to musculoskeletal discomfort symptoms and the most discomfort symptoms by parts was neck and shoulder.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.148-153
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• 2005

Purpose : The aim of this study was to determine the reference ranges of serum albumin levels depending on the gestational ages of preterm infants. We also intended to compare the mean serum albumin levels between groups of preterm infants that did not develop clinical disorders later, and groups that did develop clinical disorders such as respiratory distress syndrome, intraventricular hemorrhage, retinopathy of prematurity, apnea and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. We also examined the significance of serum albumin as a predictor for the development of clinical disorders. Methods : The records of 208 neonates with gestational ages from 23 weeks to 41 weeks were reviewed retrospectively. The mean albumin concentrations with reference ranges by gestational ages were determined. Statistics for each two of group were compared. Logistic regression analysis was used to model odd ratio, and 95 percent confidence interval as a mean of the association between predictors and outcome. Results : Serum albumin levels were at 23-24 weeks gestation was 2.36 g/dL, rising to 3.43 g/dL in full term babies. There were significant mean differences between the clinical groups and control groups for each clinical disorder such as respiratory distress syndrome, intraventricular hemorrhage, retinopathy of prematurity and apnea in premature babies of 30-36 weeks of gestation. Low serum albumin appeared to be associated with increased risks of clinical disorders. Conclusion : The normal serum albumin levels in preterm infants should be defined according to the gestational ages. Lower albumin levels increase the risks of the later development of clinical disorders, which are common in premature infants.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.537-546
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• 2005

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of supplementation of chlortetracycline (CTC,110ppm), copper sulfate(Cu, 125ppm) and two levels of probiotics(Prob I, 0.04%, Prob II, 0.1%), Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and manure characteristics in growing pigs. A total of 50 pigs that averaged 20.78$\pm$0.35kg BW and 50$\pm$2.3d age were allocated in a randomized block design with two pigs per pen and 5 pens per treatment. Pigs and feeders were weighed 10-days interval for the 40-d trials to determine ADG, ADFI and feed:gain ratio(F:G). Average daily gain, feed intake, feed/gain and nutrient digestibility were not improved(P>0.10) by the supplementation of CTC, Cu and two levels of probiotics. There were significant(P<0.05) Cu effects on digestibility of crude protein, and probiotics effects on digestibilities on organic matter, crude protein and energy between first 20 days and subsequent 20 days. Fecal concentrations of copper were highly increased(P<0.001) by the copper supplementation. Total bacteria and coliform counts were not altered by the supplementation of CTC, Cu and two levels of probiotics. Ammonia emission from slurry, measured during first 3 weeks, was reduced (P<0.001) in pigs fed diet with 125 ppm copper from copper sulfate. Results indicate that CTC, Cu and Probiotics supplementation had a little or not positive effect on grower pig performance under sound environmental conditions. Further studies may be warranted to investigate the effects of dietary copper-either reduced or in combination with dietary ammonia control agents-on the ammonia emission characteristics of swine manure.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.565-572
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• 2005

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of supplementation of insoluble dietary fiber (Vitacel®) on growth performance and nutrient digestibility in weanling pigs. A total of 96 pigs that averaged 6.49$\pm$0.52kg BW and 23$\pm$2.1d age were allocated in a randomized block design with two pigs per pen and 12 pens per treatment. Pigs and feeders were weighed 10-days interval for the 40-d trials to determine ADG, ADFI and feed:gain ratio(F:G). Pigs were fed one of four diets:1) Control diet (C) 2) C+0.3% insoluble dietary fiber(IDF) 3) C+0.6% IDF and 4) c+0.9% IDF. For the determination of fecal nutrients digestibility, pigs were fed diets(diet 2) with 1% Celite-545(Fluka) as a marker and feces were collected on $9^{th}$ day and $18^{th}$ day after feeding diet 2. During the whole experimental period, pigs fed diet with 0.3% IDF have significantly higher ADG than other dietary treatment groups(P<0.05). ADG of pigs fed diet with 0.6% IDF was higher than that of pigs fed control diet(P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in ADG between control group and 0.9% IDF group(P>0.05). ADFI of pigs fed diet with 0.3% IDF was significantly higher than any other dietary treatment groups(P<0.05). There was no significant difference in ADFI among control group, 0.6% and 0.9% IDF supplementation groups (P>0.05). Digestibilities of organic matter, crude protein, crude fiber and energy were significantly higher in 0.3% IDF supplementation group than any other dietary groups. However, there was no difference in over all nutrient digestibilities between 0.6% and 0.9% IDF group. Feeding diets more than 0.6% IDF did not affect the rest of the nutrients digestibilities except for ADF digestibility compared to control diet. Dietary supplementation level of IDF showed a significant quadratic effect on performance improvement of piglets. This response of growth performance to IDF supplementation is, as expected, in agreement with that of nutrient digestibility. Our results showed that IDF supplementation to diet for weaned piglets might be beneficial in terms of growth and nutrient digestibility. However, there should be more study on the relationship between level of IDF supplementation and piglet response as well as the exact mode of action of IDF in weaned piglets.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.667-678
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• 2005

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of addition of functional material(T1; pine needle powder, 0.4%, T2; perilla leaves powder, 0.4%, T3; green tea powder, 0.4%) on the quality characteristics of emulsion-type sausages. The samples were stored at $9{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ for 40 days and analyzed with an interval of 10 days. The pH of all emulsion-type sausages increased as storage period increased. Water holding capacity(WHC) of all treatments were slightly increased as storage period increased and rapidly decreased on 40 days of storage. In texture analysis, hardness, chewiness, gumminess and brittleness were increased with storage in all treatments group. TBARS values of T3 was lower than those of other treatments at 1 days of storage, while that was the slightly higher in T4 at 40 day of storage. The L* values was decreased as storage period increased. The a* values was highest in C, while it was the lowest in T2 and T3. The residual nitrite content of all samples were in very safe range during the whole storage period. During the storage period 40 days, the Lactobacilli spp. of C were higher($10^7$CFU/g) than those of 3 treatments. In sensory evaluation, the score of overall acceptability were higher in the order of C(5.5-6.5)>T1(4.8-6.0)>T2(4.8-5.8)>T3(4.3-4.8). In the manufacture of functional sausage containing pine needle, perilla leaves and green tea powder, further studied are needs on addition type/ratio of functional materials and the use of added spices.