• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.58 no.5
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• pp.328-336
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• 2014

Anticholinergic drugs are included in the efficacy group of various antidepressants, antihistamines, antispasmodics like skeletal muscle relaxants. Elderly patients are often taking anticholinergic drugs due to various diseases such as sleep disorders and dysuria. But the use of anticholinergic drugs is restricted in guidelines such as Beers Criteria or STOPP due to the anticholinergic adverse effects including dry mouth, constipation, difficult urination, delirium, hallucinations and especially cognitive impairment. In this study, we investigated the usage of anticholinergic drugs in out-of-hospital prescription of 4,442 elderly patients. Results of the study were obtained that 32% (n=1,421) of overall patients were prescribed with 1~6 products (average 1.37) of anticholinergic drugs. 70.9% of the 1,421 patients (n=1,007) were prescribed with one drug, 22.7% (n=323) were two drugs and 4.9% (n=70) were three drugs. 27.1% of the 1,421 patients (n=430) were 70~74 years old patients who were the most commonly prescribed with anticholinergic drugs. Amitriptyline, chlorpheniramine, dimenhydrinate and quetiapine were most frequent component of ACB Score 3 drugs and amantadine, baclofen, carbamazepine, cyproheptadine and oxcarbazepine were most frequent of ACB Score 2 drugs. Anticholinergic Drug Scale (ADS) of individual patients presented one point (48.5%, n=689), 2 points (15.4%, n=219), more than 3 points (36.1%, n=513), and up to maximum 12 point (n=1). More than 2 points were more than half (51.5%, n=732). Therefore, additional prospective study in the use and adverse effects of anticholinergic drugs for elderly patients will be required. And national management such as DUR program will be required for elderly drug administration from now on.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.63 no.3
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• pp.21.1-21.6
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• 2023

The increasing prevalence of toxic substance-exposure in pets in South Korea endangers the health and safety of numerous companion animals, and has become a cause for concern. Notably, the annual incidence of forensic analysis in pets has increased by more than 150% in South Korea, mainly in populous regions such as Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi. In response to this growing issue, veterinary forensic examinations were conducted on 549 dogs and cats from 2019 to 2022. This study revealed the presence of various toxic substances, including pesticides, insecticides, and drugs such as analgesics, anesthetics, antidepressants, and muscle relaxants, in pets. Among the 38 different toxins identified in pets, coumatetralyl, methomyl, terbufos, and buprofezin were the most frequently detected. In this study, toxic substances for pets were identified based on the "toxic agent list for humans," developed by the National Forensic Services, because no list of toxic agents for animals currently exists and data regarding potentially toxic substances for dogs and cats is limited. This is one of the limitations of this study, and necessitates the establishment of a toxic agent list for animals. Continued monitoring and research is also recommended to reveal the incidence, causes, and solutions of toxicity in animals.

• Journal of Internet of Things and Convergence
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.21-32
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• 2017

This study is a descriptive investigation for understanding factors influencing the length of stay in the postanesthesia care unit of elderly patients. Retrospective investigation was conducted on 300 patients aged 65 or older among those who had received an operation under general anesthesia and treated in postanesthesia care unit of hospital C located in Gyeonggi-do, from January 1 to December 31, 2014. The patients' average postanesthesia care unit stay was found to be 48.4 minutes and the 30-59 minute section accounted for the highest part with 58.0%. The postanesthesia care unit stay time according to intra-operative factors showed significant differences depending upon muscle relaxants, transfusion, ABGA, body temperature and total hours under anesthesia. Concerning the post anesthesia care unit stay length according to post-operative factors, significant differences were observed depending upon complications, PCA device, and circulatory drug use. In order to find out factors influencing the post anesthesia care unit stay length, the multiple regression analysis was conducted. As a result, the circulatory drug use and intra-operative lower body temperature were found to have an effect on the post anesthesia care unit stay length with the total explanatory power of 13%. Based on these findings above, it is deemed helpful to carefully monitor factors related to the post anesthesia care unit stay length and provide swift response accordingly for shorter post anesthesia care unit stay time of elderly general anesthesia patients.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.175-181
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• 2002

Intermaxillary fixation and occusal splint are routine procedure for maxillofacial fracture and orthognathic surgery. When these methods could obstruct oral airway the patients who kept intermaxillary fixation and occusal splint in their mouth, are very difficult to breath after surgery. Nasal bleeding and pharyngeal edema due to nasotracheal intubation, residual effect of muscle relaxants, and anesthetic agent could be contributing factor of airway obstruction. In this study, pulmonary function test was evaluated before and after intermaxillary fixation, and intermaxillary fixation with occusal splint in 22 volunteers. The results were as follows 1. FVC, %FVC, $FEV_1$, $FEV_1%$, PEF, $PEF_{50}$, MVV without intermaxillary fixtion were 4.45L, 88%, 4.03L, 90.9%, 10.26L/s, 5.53L/s, and 136.14L/min, and with intermaxillary fixation were 3.51L, 68.67%, 3.06L, 69.39L, 6.52L/s, 3.94L/s, and 69.39L/min. The results with intermaxillary fixation and occusal splint were 2.15L, 42.41%, 1.71L, 38.81%, 2.83L/s, 1.74L/s, and 37.14L/min. 2. Compared with before and after intermaxillary fixation, all values of pulmonary function test were decreased and after intermaxillary fixation and intermaixillary fixation with occulasal splint, the results were decreased. 3. MVV and PEF were decreased significantly with interaxillary fixtion and occusal splint, and FVC was less decreased. It meant that intermaxillary fixation and occluasal splint induced reduction of respiratory flow significantly, but less reduction of respiratory volume. 4. Intermaxillary fixation and occulsal splint induced increase of airway resistance, decrease of expiratory volume and air flow. So severe respiratory difficulty could be seen to all volunteers who kept intermaxillary fixtion and occusal splint. 5. In classification of respiratory difficulty, intermaxillary fixation with occulsal splint induced complex respiratory difficulty more than intermaxillary fixation only did. From the above results, doctors who care patients kept intermaxillary fixation and occusal splint should be aware of respiratory depression caused by these treatment.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.63-79
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• 2009

While previous epidemiological studies on temporomandibular disorders (TMD) have been based on a given health center or population sample, no study has been performed on general population of Korea, especially concerning about treatment pattern such as clinician’s specialty involved in TMD treatment, types and amount of prescription medication and cost. This study aimed to investigate magnitude of health visits and treatment patterns for Korean patients with TMD through the computerized database of Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRAS). Inclusion criteria were all patients registered on the HIRAS database over 3 years' period from 2003 to 2005 and the medical records of patients with TMD as a main diagnosis were extracted. Information collected was as follows; distribution related to gender, age and region and type of hospital the patients visited, treatment duration, clinicians' specialty involved in treatment, cost, types of prescription medication and surgical treatment. The results of this study indicated that 0.15% of the population yearly sought TMD treatment, presenting with increase of incidence over the three years. Most of TMD patients were women (99.8%) and the biggest age group was second and third decades and decreased with age. Seoul and Kyeonggi province presented with higher incidence of TMD compared to the other regions of Korea, which seems to be related with magnitude of population. 56% of TMD patients visited primary care sector and the numbers of treatment visits was the highest in dental clinic (38.4%), followed by orthopedics (28%) and ENT (13.6%) clinics in order. Duration of prescription medication was the longest for anti-inflammatory analgesics, followed by antipsychotic drugs and muscle relaxants. Inpatient care related to TMD was primarily performed in dental hospital compared to medical hospital. Medical database of HIRAS provided comprehensive and vast information on epidemiologic characteristics and treatment patterns for patients seeking TMD treatment, which can be more reliable data to expect medical demand for TMD in condition that accurate diagnosis and standardized treatment is delivered in clinical settings.