• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.10
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• pp.987-994
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• 2007

Purpose : This study investigated the clinical significance of AN in children and adolescents with obesity induced metabolic complications. Methods : Forty-nine patients who had obesity induced metabolic complications were participated in this cross-sectional study. Obesity induced metabolic complications are as follows: hypertension, dyslipidemia, impaired fasting glucose (IFG), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)>3.16. Clinical characteristics, such as, age, percentage-weight-for-height (PWH), pubertal status, blood pressure (BP), fasting plasma insulin level, fasting and post-oral glucose tolerance test 2-hour glucose levels, liver function test, lipid profile, HOMA-IR were compared according to the presence of AN. Results : Sixty-five percent of patients had AN, 57.1% NASH, 57.1% dyslipidemia, 55.1% hypertension, 46.9% IFG, 24.5% HOMA-IR>3.16 and 16.2% IGT. The patients who were moderately to severely obese with AN had higher incidence of IGT and HOMA-IR>3.16. The patients with AN had significantly higher diastolic BP ($79.4{\pm}6.9$ vs $75.4{\pm}5.6mmHg$), fasting levels of plasma insulin ($10.6{\pm}6.0$ vs $6.2{\pm}5.4{\mu}IU/mL$), HOMA-IR index ($2.6{\pm}1.4$ vs $1.4{\pm}1.3$) and PWH ($42.4{\pm}13.0$ vs $34.3{\pm}1.8%$). The increasing tendency for the presence of AN was significantly related to the cumulative number of obesity induced metabolic complications. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that the presence of AN was significantly associated with fasting plasma insulin level, PWH and IFG. Conclusion : AN could be useful as a clinical surrogate of obesity induced metabolic complications.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.144-153
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• 2000

Purpose : Effects to predict tile progression of chronic renal failure (CRF) in children, using mathematical models based on transformations of serum creatinine (Scr) concentration, have failed. Error may be introduced by age-related variations in creatinine production rate. Height (Ht) is a reliable reference for creatinine production in children. Thus, Scr, factored for Ht, could provide a more accurate predictive model. We examined this hypothesis. Methods : The progression of of was detected in 63 children who proceeded to end-stage renal disease. Derivatives of Scr, including 1/Scr, log Scr & Ht/Scr, were defined fir the period Scr was between 2 and 5 mg/dl. Regression equation were used to predict the time, in months, to Scr > 10 mg/dl. The prediction error (PE) was defined as the predicted time minus actual time for each Scr transformation. Result : The PE for Ht/Scr was lower than the PE for either 1/Scr or log Scr (median: -0.01, -2.0 & +10.6 mos respectively; P<0.0001). For children with congenital renal diseases, the PE for Ht/Scr was also lower than for the other two transformations (median: -1.2, -3.2 & +8.2 mos respectively; P<0.0001). However, the PEs for children with glomerular diseases was not as clearly different (median: +0.9, +0.5 & +9.9 respectively). In children < 13 yrs, PE for Ht/Scr was tile lowest, while in older children, 1/Scr provided the lowest PE but not significantly different from that for Ht/Scr. The logarithmic transformation tended to predict a slower progression of CRF than actually occurred. Conclusion : Scr, floored for Ht, appears to be a useful model to predict the rate of progression of CRF, particularly in the prepubertal child with congenital renal disease.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.177-185
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• 2006

Purpose: Purpose of this study is to synthesize $^{99m}Tc$-labeled transferrin for injection imaging and to compare it with $^{67}Ga$-titrate for the detection of infectious foci. Materials and methods: Succinimidyl 6-hydrazino-nicotinate hydrochloride-chitosan-transferrin (Transferrin) was synthesized and radiolabeled with $^{99m}Tc$. Labeling efficiencies of $^{99m}Tc$-Transferrin were determined at 10 min, 30 min, 1 hr, 2 hr, 4 hr and 8 hr. Biodistribution and imaging studies with $^{99m}Tc$-Transferrin and $^{67}Ga$-citrate were performed in a rat abscess model induced with approximately $2{\times}10^8$ colony forming unit of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923. Results: Successful synthesis of Transferrin was confirmed by mass spectrometry. Labeling efficiency of $^{99m}Tc$-Transferrin was $96.2{\pm}0.7%,\;96.4{\pm}0.5%,\;96.6{\pm}1.0%,\;96.9{\pm}0.5%,\;97.0{\pm}0.7%\;and\;95.5{\pm}0.7%$ at 10 min, 30 min, 1 hr, 2 hr, 4 hr and 8 hr, respectively. The injected dose per tissue gram of $^{99m}Tc$-Transferrin was $0.18{\pm}0.01\;and\;0.18{\pm}0.01$ in the lesion and $0.05{\pm}0.01\;and\;0.04{\pm}0.01$ in the normal muscle, and lesion-to-normal muscle uptake ratio was $3.7{\pm}0.6\;and\;4.7{\pm}0.4$ at 30 min and 3 hr, respectively. On image, lesion-to-background ratio of $^{99m}Tc$-Transferrin was $2.18{\pm}0.03,\;2.56{\pm}0.11,\;3.08{\pm}0.18,\;3.77{\pm}0.17,\;4.70{\pm}0.45\;and\;5.59{\pm}0.40$ at 10 min, 30 min, 1 hr, 2 hr, 4 hr and 10 hr and those of $^{67}Ga$-citrate was $3.06{\pm}0.84,\;4.12{\pm}0.54\;and\;4.55{\pm}0.74 $ at 2 hr, 24 hr and 48 hr, respectively. Conclusion: Transferrin is successfully labeled with $^{99m}Tc$, and its labeling efficiency was higher than 95% and stable for 8 hours. $^{99m}Tc$-Transferrin scintigraphy showed higher image quality in shorter time compared to $^{67}Ga$-citrate image. $^{99m}Tc$-transferrin is supposed to be useful in the detection of the infectious foci.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.188-198
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• 2016

This study examined the effects of a smoking cessation coaching program based on the motivation stage applying the Transtheoretical Model to stop the smoking of patients in terms of the amount of smoking, nicotine dependence, CO level, and urine cotinine. The study design was a multi-repeat multiple repeat intermittent time series study with one-group, a pre-post design. The participants were 47 smoking patients (44 males and 3 females), who were treated at a public hospital in N city. The participants were 4 (8.51%) subjects in the action stage and 43 subjects (91.49%) in the preparation stage of the motivation stage. The coaching program intervention was conducted at the first day, second week, and 6th week. The smoking cessation maintenance of the subjects was checked at the 12th week. A chi-square test and t-test were used to analyze the data. The subjects in the action stage were kept under the condition of no smoking and nicotine dependence. After the program of subjects in the preparation stage, the amount of smoking, nicotine dependence, and CO level were significantly lower compared to the pre-test (p<.001). The findings suggest that the coaching program based on the motivation stage was effective in improving the smoking cessation for patients who smoke. On the other hand, the patients in the smoking cessation program may require much more financial assistance than those of healthy people. A greater workforce and budget will be needed for patients to stop smoking.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.421-430
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• 2004

Clinically, it is almost impossible for a physician to distinguish subtle changes of frequency spectrum by using a stethoscope alone especially in the early stage of thrombus formation. Considering that reliability of mechanical valve is paramount because the failure might end up with patient death, early detection of valve thrombus using noninvasive technique is important. Thus the study was designed to provide a tool for early noninvasive detection of valve thrombus by observing shift of frequency spectrum of acoustic signals with computer aid diagnosis system. A thrombus model was constructed on commercialized mechanical valves using polyurethane or silicon. Polyurethane coating was made on the valve surface, and silicon coating on the sewing ring of the valve. To simulate pannus formation, which is fibrous tissue overgrowth obstructing the valve orifice, the degree of silicone coating on the sewing ring varied from 20％, 40％, 60％ of orifice obstruction. In experiment system, acoustic signals from the valve were measured using microphone and amplifier. The microphone was attached to a coupler to remove environmental noise. Acoustic signals were sampled by an AID converter, frequency spectrum was obtained by the algorithm of spectral analysis. To quantitatively distinguish the frequency peak of the normal valve from that of the thrombosed valves, analysis using a neural network was employed. A return map was applied to evaluate continuous monitoring of valve motion cycle. The in-vivo data also obtained from animals with mechanical valves in circulatory devices as well as patients with mechanical valve replacement for 1 year or longer before. Each spectrum wave showed a primary and secondary peak. The secondary peak showed changes according to the thrombus model. In the mock as well as the animal study, both spectral analysis and 3-layer neural network could differentiate the normal valves from thrombosed valves. In the human study, one of 10 patients showed shift of frequency spectrum, however the presence of valve thrombus was yet to be determined. Conclusively, acoustic signal measurement can be of suggestive as a noninvasive diagnostic tool in early detection of mechanical valve thrombosis.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.165-171
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• 2006

For several thousand years, Korean ginseng has been used as a medicinal herb in the oriental countries. Korea is the ginseng suzerain and, for that reason, the ginseng as a special crop in Korea has been exported to the world market since the era of the three Kingdoms. Hong Kong is the pivot of ginseng import from all of the world. In 1970s, Korea ginseng had a high market share (about 30%) in Hong Kong. However, recently, the market share of Korean ginseng in Hong Kong has been significantly reduced due to the mass production from China and Canada. Besides, America with aggressive marketing strategy takes the leadership in the international ginseng market in Hong Kong. Therefore, it is necessary for Korea to know and understand world ginseng market condition and situation in Hong Kong. The objective of this study is to identify the actual import situation at international ginseng market in Hong Kong. This study analyzed the ginseng import demand model which effected by several price variables from major importing countries at the international ginseng market in Hong Kong. The findings of this study show that the import price of Korean ginseng has an effect on the quantity of ginseng imported from other countries in Hong Kong. In addition, the quantity of ginseng imported from Korea in Hong Kong is influenced by the import price of ginseng from other countries. In conclusion, Korean ginseng plays an important role at the international ginseng market in Hong Kong.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.175-184
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• 2008

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate the fitness of adjustable dental impression trays on the Chinese and the Japanese. Material and methods: Initial design of the adjustable dental trays was developed from the results of the dental arch size of Korean adults. This design was applied to the CAD-CAM process in order to create tray model samples. Simple silicon-base molds were then replicated based on these sample models. Polyurethane injection into the silicon- base molds completed the process of creating a large number of test products. 60 Chinese dental students (male:30, female:30) from the Shanghai Second Medical University and 60 Japanese alumni from the Kumamoto high school (male:30, female:30) were selected for taking irreversible hydrocolloid impression with these trays. The width and length of the impression body were measured on several measuring points by Vernier caliper. The results were analyzed statistically to evaluate the fitness of the trays. Results: 1. Uniform impression material thickness was achieved on the Chinese and Japanese by controlling the width of the tray using stops and beveled guides. The material thickness was generally within the range of 3 mm to 6 mm. 2. In the maxillary tray of the Chinese, average thickness of the impression material of the labial vestibule of the incisal teeth was 6.2 mm, the canine was 5.9 mm and the midpalatal part 10.5 mm and the posterior palatal part 9.7 mm. These were relatively large values. 3. In the mandibular tray of the Chinese, average length of the impression material of the lingual vestibule of first, second premolar contact point was 8.9 mm, the incisal teeth was 7.8 mm and thickness of the labial part of canine was 6.8 mm and premolars 7.0 mm. These were relatively large values. 4. In the maxillary tray of the Japanese, average thickness of the impression material of the labial vestibule of the incisal teeth was 7.4 mm, the canine was 7.7 mm and the midpalatal part 9.1 mm. These were relatively large values. 5. In the mandibular tray of the Japanese, average thickness of the impression material of the labial vestibule of first, second premolar contact point was 8.4 mm, and thickness of the labial part of canine was 7.4 mm. These were relatively large values. Conclusion: This adjustable dental tray shows good accuracy to Korean because it was designed by the analysis of the dental arch size of Korean adult model. With this result, it can be applied to Chinese and Japanese, we can take more easy and accurate dental impressions.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Sensory Integration
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.26-45
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• 2019

Objective : The purpose of this study is to develop educational goals, training content, and training methods for the intervention course of the Korean Academy of Sensory Integration (KASI) and to conduct competency-based intervention courses based on the competency model for sensory integration intervention. Methods : This study was conducted on work therapists who participated in the 2019 intervention course of KASI. In the first phase, educational needs were analyzed to set goals for the interventional course. In the second phase, a meeting of researchers drafted the intervention course education program and the methods of education, and the intervention course was conducted. In the third phase, the changes in educational satisfaction and performance level pre- and post-intervention course for each competency index were investigated. Results : The educational goals of "learning and applying the clinical reasoning process of sensory integration intervention" and "intervention by applying the principle of sensory integration intervention" were set after reflecting on the results of the analysis of the educational requirements. The length of the competency-based intervention course was 42 hours. The average education satisfaction level of participants in the arbitration process was 4.48±0.73, and the average education satisfaction level of the supervisor was 3.92±0.71. In both groups, the most satisfying curriculums were the data-driven decision-making process and the intervention goal-setting lecture. But the satisfaction level of was the lowest. Before and after the intervention course, there were significant changes in the performance of the two behavioral indicators of the analytic skills in the expertise competency cluster of the competency model. Conclusion : This study is meaningful in that it conducted a survey of educational needs, the development and implementation of an educational curriculum, and an education satisfaction survey through systematic courses necessary for education development.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.174-180
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• 2002

Purpose: Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is known to decrease hepatic injury by promoting the biliary secretion of retained toxic endogenous bile acids in hepatobiliary diseases complicated by total parenteral nutrition (TPN). However, most studies have focused on treatment for complications after TPN. We investigated the preventive role of early administration of UDCA in TPN-induced hepatobiliary complications by a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Methods: Between May 2000 and May 2002, thirteen patients, who were given TPN more than 10 days in the hospital, were assigned randomly to two groups. One was the case group (7 patients) who were given UDCA simultaneously with TPN regimen, and the other, the control group (6 patients) who were given placebo. Their age ranged from 1 day to 13 years. They were affected with diseases impossible for enteral nutrition, such as prematurity, cerebral palsy, chronic diarrhea, anorexia nervosa, pancreatitis, and cyclic vomiting. The duration of TPN ranged from 10 to 70 days. Hematologic parameters including liver function test were measured at regular intervals, and the duration, composition, administration rate, total calorie of TPN were recorded. The serum levels of total bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase were compared between groups after cessation of the study. Results: The autoregressive coefficient of the control group was 0.4419 (p=0.0651) in bilirubin, -0.0431 (p=0.7923) in AST, 0.2398 (p=0.2416) in ALT, and 0.2459 (p=0.1922) in alkaline phosphatase by mixed procedure model when the parameters were referred to the case group. Conclusion: The serum level of total bilirubin did not increase in comparison with that of the control group, but statistically insignificant, when both TPN and UDCA were administered simultaneously from the beginning.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.28 no.4 s.51
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• pp.845-862
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• 1995

We followed prospectively some hospital-delivered mothers to identify characteristics of those not initiated breast-feeding and predictors of breast-feeding discontinuation in monthly telephone interviews. Recruits were composed of 482 mothers who delivered their babies at one university hospital and one OB/GYN clinic in September to November 1991. Breast-feeding discontinuation was defined as switch to 100% formula lasting more than one week regardless of solid foods. Average age of the study subjects was 27.3 years of age(standard deviation 3.2). Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated native place, occupation, method of delivery and method of feeding considered to be better for maternal health were statistically significant(p<0.1) between initiators and non-initiators of breast feeding. In starting cohort(N=242) of those initiated breast-feeding, that median of breast-feeding discontinuation were 5 months and 25th and 75th percentiles were 3 and 9 months respectively. In Cox's proportional hazard model, mothers with $10\sim13$ years of education were 2.63 times (95% confidence interval, CI $1.50\sim4.60$) more likely to discontinue than those with less than 9 years of education and those with more than 13 years of education were 3.55 time (95% CI $1.99\sim6.33$). Compared with house wife, mothers with part-time jobs were 1.99 times (95% CI $0.86\sim4.57$) more likely to discontinue and those with employed full-time were 1.55 times (95% CI $0.96\sim2.51$). These results suggest that the predictors of initiation and discontinuation of breast-feeding may be different and different target populations should be selected to promote initiation and to prevent discontinuation of breast-feeding according to the period after birth.