• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Computer Information Conference
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• 2016.07a
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• pp.295-296
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• 2016

본 연구에서는 LED 광 자극이 뇌의 어느 영역을 자극하여 신경신호를 전달하는지에 관해서 관찰하고자 연구를 진행하였다. 광 자극에 의한 뇌 영역의 활성변화를 관찰하기 위하여 실험용 소동물과 영상장비인 9.4T MRI를 이용하여 연구를 수행 하였다. 실험용 소동물은 Balb/c 마우스를 이용하였으며 기능적 자기공명영상 획득 방법 중 하나인 에코평면영상 기법을 이용하여 뇌 영상을 획득 하였다. 획득한 영상을 바탕으로 뇌 영역의 자극 정도를 확인해보기 위해 영상처리기법인 재편성(realignment), 일치(co-registration), 표준화(normalization), 평활화(smoothing) 방법으로 영상을 전처리 하고, statistical parametric map (SPM12)을 사용하여 분석하였다. 본 연구에서는 광자극이 소동물 뇌 영역 중 하나인 상구(Superior colliculus)영역과 대뇌의 시각피질 (visual cortex, V1) 영역에서 자극을 일으키는 것을 확인할 수 있었다.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.7
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• pp.298-302
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• 2016

Purpose: Recent reports showed that plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) could be a useful biomarker of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) unresponsiveness and coronary artery lesion (CAL) development in Kawasaki disease (KD). The levels of these peptides are critically influenced by age; hence, the normal range and upper limits for infants and children are different. We performed an age-adjusted analysis of plasma NT-proBNP level to validate its clinical use in the diagnosis of KD. Methods: The data of 131 patients with KD were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into 2 groups-group I (high NT-proBNP group) and group II (normal NT-proBNP group)-comprising patients with NT-proBNP concentrations higher and lower than the 95th percentile of the reference value, respectively. We compared the laboratory data, responsiveness to IVIG, and the risk of CAL in both groups. Results: Group I showed significantly higher white blood cell count, absolute neutrophil count, C-reactive protein level, aspartate aminotransferase level, and troponin-I level than group II (P<0.05). The risk of CAL was also significantly higher in group I (odds ratio, 5.78; P=0.012). IVIG unresponsiveness in group I was three times that in group II (odds ratio, 3.35; P= 0.005). Conclusion: Age-adjusted analysis of plasma NT-proBNP level could be helpful in predicting IVIG unresponsiveness and risk of CAL development in patients with KD.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.2-9
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical and radiographic features of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthritis (OA) between adolescents and middle-old aged patients. Methods: The subjects were chosen among the patients who presented to the Department of Oral Medicine of Pusan National University Hospital and were diagnosed with TMJ OA by clinical exam, X-ray and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) from 2010 to 2011. We investigated 93 adolescent patients (12-19 years) and 53 middle-old aged (>45 years) patients who observed the erosive bony changes in TMJ. CBCT scans were retaken at intervals at an average of 8 months. Results: The adolescent patients showed unilateral degenerative changes more often, and the middle-old aged patients showed degenerative changes more frequently on both sides. The transition of bone changes to the improved group occurred most commonly in both the adolescent and middle-old aged patients. The adolescent patients were more likely to improve than middle-old aged patients. In the adolescent patients, loss of erosion and subjective symptoms occurred in shorter periods than in the middle-old aged patients. In the adolescent patients, the transition of erosion was distributed into proliferative, normal, and shortening in order. In the middle-old aged patients, the transition of erosion was distributed into shortening, proliferative, and normal in order. Conclusions: The clinical and radiographic features of TMJ OA are a significantly different between the adolescent and middle-old aged patients. Moreover, the difference by age of the adaptive and regenerative capacity of TMJ affects the prognosis of TMJ OA and adolescent patients have a better prognosis after treatment.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.89-94
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• 2013

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of increased aminotransferase levels and to identify associated factors in children admitted to hospital with urinary tract infections (UTIs). Methods: The study included children with a diagnosis of UTI who were admitted to the Konyang University Hospital from January 2007 to May 2011. The total number of patients was 249 and the mean age was $15.88{\pm}28.21$ months. UTI was defined as a positive urine culture (> $10^5$/colony forming unit [CFU]) with pyrexia. Patients were treated by intravenous antibiotics, such as ampicillin/sulbactam, aminoglycoside, cephalosporins or vancomycin. Patients with neonatal jaundice or other liver disease were excluded. We investigated the relationship of aminotransferase levels with the type of antibiotic, degree of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), and causative organisms. Results: Children with increased aminotransferase levels were younger than those with normal levels (p=0.001), but white blood cell count, platelet count, causative organisms, type of antibiotics and presence of VUR were not associated with aminotransferase levels. Aminotransferase levels became normal within 1 month after discharge without special measures, except in 1 case. Conclusion: We found that many children with UTI have abnormal aminotransferase levels. In most cases, this change is mild and self-limiting. We conclude that increased aminotransferase level increase during UTI do not require unnecessary tests and excessive treatment.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.232-242
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• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to develop the Korean standard pattern identifications for stroke-III (KSPIS-III). KSPIS-III includes 4 major pattern identifications (PIs) and clinical indicators for each. Methods : To extract the indicators for 4 major PIs, we analyzed 1548 clinical data from 15 traditional Korean medicine hospitals. Patients got acute stroke within 30 days from onset. Two physicians independently checked 65 indicators and performed pattern diagnosis. If the PI were diagnosed the same, PI would be confirmed. First we built an assumption model that set up the relationship among pattern identifications. Second, we extracted the indicators for fire-heat pattern and qi deficiency pattern by comparison between excessive and deficiency group, heat and non-heat group. By comparing yin deficiency pattern and 3 other patterns respectively, we extracted the indicators for yin deficiency pattern. Dampness-phlegm pattern indicators were extracted by the same method. Results : After cross tabulation with 65 indicators on the basis of our assumption model, we finally extracted 19 indicators for fire-heat pattern, 11 for qi deficiency pattern, 7 for yin deficiency pattern, and 7 for dampness-phlegm pattern. Conclusions : KSPIS-III was more improved than KSPIS-II because it was based on more clinical data. Further study to establish the PI diagnostic model would be required for practical use in the clinical field.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.77-83
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to develop a new preparation process of ginseng extracts having high concentrations of ginsenoside $Rg_3$, $Rg_5$ and $Rk_1$, a special component of Red ginseng. Chemical transformation from ginseng saponin glycosides to prosapogenin was analyzed by the HPLC. Extracts of White ginseng (Panax ginseng) and Fine White ginseng were processed under several treatment conditions including microwave and vinegar (about 14% acidity) treatments. Results of those treatments showed that the quantity of ginsenoside $Rg_3$ increased by over 0.6% at 4 minutes of pH 2~4 vinegar and microwave treatments. The results of processing with MWG-4 indicate that the Microwave and vinegar processed white ginseng extracts (about 14% acidity) that had gone through 4-minute treatments were found to contain the largest amount of ginsenoside $Rg_3$ (0.626%), $Rg_5$ (0.514%) and $Rk_1$ (0.220%). Results of treatments with MFWG-5 showed that the Fine White ginseng extracts that had been processed with microwave and vinegar (about 14% acidity) for 5 minutes were found to contain the largest amount of ginsenoside $Rg_3$ (4.484%), $Rg_5$ (3.192%) and $Rk_1$ (1.684%). It is thought that such results provide basic information in preparing White ginseng and Fine White ginseng extracts with functionality enhanced.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.238-256
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• 1998

Background : There have been many studies and efforts about quality management in health services, but these were not focused on the thinking ability of the personnel. In this study, We planned to define the relationship between Quality Management(QM) and thinking skill, and analyzed critical thinking skill and problem solving ability of the nurses for QM in healthcare. Methods : We surveyed 260 nurses in 3 hospitals by using questionnaires about thinking skills and QM from November 18 to 28, 1998. The response rate was 76.9%. We described and analyzed the data by descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and non-parametric Friedman test using SPSS Win 7.5. Results : This study revealed that 1) understanding level of QM concepts was very low and insufficient, 2) willingness to practice QM in healthcare was relatively high and affirmative, but the positive attitude taking part in the program of QM is very low(4.5%), 3) even though the necessity of QM was recognized, actual application of critical thinking skills and problem solving abilities is lacking, 4) the production of idea for QM was the most insufficient, and so the next of the problem solving process(QA cycle) was the same. Conclusion : Based on the above results, we can conclude that understanding the concepts of QM is very important to solve problems about QM in healthcare. For development of thinking skill to promote critical problem solving ability for QM in healthcare, it is necessary to improve curriculum of nursing education and teaching-learning methods of QM strategy and technique.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.54-62
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• 2014

Background: The recently known analgesic action mechanisms of nefopam (NFP) are similar to those of anticonvulsants and antidepressants in neuropathic pain treatment. It is difficult to prescribe high doses of oral neuropathic drugs without titration due to adverse effects. Unfortunately, there are few available intravenous analgesics for the immediate management of acute flare-ups of the chronic neuropathic pain. The aim of this study was to determine the additional analgesic effects for neuropathic pain of NFP and its adverse effects during the titration of oral medications for neuropathic pain among inpatients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Methods: Eighty inpatients with PHN were randomly divided into either the NFP or normal saline (NS) groups. Each patient received a 3-day intravenous continuous infusion of either NFP with a consecutive dose reduction of 60, 40, and 20 mg/d, or NS simultaneously while dose titrations of oral medications for neuropathic pain gradually increased every 3 days. The efficacy of additional NFP was evaluated by using the neuropathic pain symptom inventory (NPSI) score for 12 days. Adverse effects were also recorded. Results: The median NPSI score was significantly lower in the NFP group from days 1 to 6 of hospitalization. The representative alleviating symptoms of pain after using NFP were both spontaneous and evoked neuropathic pain. Reported common adverse effects were nausea, dizziness, and somnolence, in order of frequency. Conclusions: An intravenous continuous infusion of NFP reduces spontaneous and evoked neuropathic pain with tolerable adverse effects during the titration of oral medications in inpatients with PHN.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.107-112
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to develop a new preparation process of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium) extract featuring high concentration of ginsenoside $Rg_3$, $Rg_5$, and $Rk_1$, Red ginseng special components. Chemical transformation from ginseng saponin glycosides to prosapogenin was analyzed by the HPLC. Extracts of American ginseng were processed under several treatment conditions of microwave and vinegar (about 14% acidity). The results showed that the quantity of ginsenoside $Rg_3$ increased by over 0.9% at the 20 minutes of the pH 2~4 vinegar and microwave American ginseng ethanol extract compared with other process times. The result of MAG-20 indicates that the American ginseng microwave and vinegar-processed American ginseng extracts (about 14% acidity) treated for 20 minutes produced the highest amount of ginsenoside $Rg_3$ (0.969%), $Rg_5$ (1.071%), and $Rk_1$ (0.247%). Besides, MAG-15 indicates that the microwave - and vinegar-processed American ginseng extracts (about 14% acidity) treated for 15 minutes produced the highest amount of ginsenoside $Rg_3$ (0.772%), $Rg_5$ (1.330%), and $Rk_1$ (0.386%). This indicates that American ginseng treated with microwave and vinegar had the quantity of the ginsenoside $Rg_3$ over 32 times the amount of the ginsenoside $Rg_3$ (which was not found in raw and American ginsengs) in the average commercial Red ginseng.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.11 no.10
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• pp.286-292
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• 2011

This study investigated the degree of fracture healing using cathode stimulation of microcurrent, cathode and anode stimulation of High Voltage Pulsed Galvanic Current (HVPGC). Measures were performed by X-ray test and Hematoxylin-Eosin stain and Masson's trichrome stain and osteocalcin-positive immunoreactivity. In the measure of X-ray, microcurrent stimulation group revealed more rapid recovery than the groups of HVPGC's cathode and anode stimulation in bone union degrees. Microcurrent group showed significant difference statistically (p<0.05). However, the groups of HVPGC's cathode and anode stimulation didn't show significant difference statistically(p>0.05). In the histologic examination with Hematoxylin-Eosin and Masson's trichrome, microcurrent stimulation group was observed more proliferation of irregular woven bones than the groups of HVPGC's cathode and anode stimulation. Osteocalcin-positive immunoreactivity was observed more osteoblast, osteocyte, osteoclast, bone matrix than the groups of HVPGC's cathode and anode stimulation. Microcurrent stimulation can be considered an effective way during healing of fresh fracture and it can show more effective method than HVPGC's cathode and anode stimulation in the fracture healing.