• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.271-276
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• 2006

Objective : Despite the recent progress that has been made in intracerebral monitoring, it is still difficult to quantify the exact extent of primary brain damage after severe head injury. In this work, we investigate the role of S-100B protein as a serum marker of brain damage after severe head injury. Methods : 21 patients with severe head injury [GCS score <9] were selected for this prospective study. A venous blood sample was taken as soon as possible after head injury and the serum concentration of S-100B protein was measured daily for five consecutive days. The serum level of S-100B protein was compared with the patients' outcome. The outcome was measured twice, at hospital discharge and after 6 months of follow-up using the Glasgow Outcome Scale[GOS]. Results : Those patients who died within two weeks [after head injury] had a significantly higher serum S-100B value than those who survived [median, 9.64ug/L versus 2.91ug/L]. Seven [78%] of the nine patients who died had a maximum S-100B value of 2ug/L or higher, while three [25%] of the twelve surviving patients showed a maximum S-100B protein value of more than 2ug/L [P<005]. Conclusion : These results indicate that S-100B protein appears to be the most reliable index for estimating the extent of brain damage.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.692-697
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• 2016

This study was aimed to develop a gruel using rice extrudates and to evaluate physicochemical properties of Tarakjuk (milk porridge; MP) prepared with milk (M) and rice powder (RP, control), rice extrudate (RE), or enzyme treated rice extrudates (ETR). Pasting property of ETR was significantly different from those of RP or RE with significantly low peak viscosity, breakdown and setback values in the ETR sample. Viscosity of MP prepared with ETR was also significantly low, as compared to that of control (> 900 cP). The total solids and spreadability of MP with ETR was higher than those with RP or RE. Hunter color values varied significantly depending on enzyme treatment levels in ETR samples with enzyme dose-dependent increase in b-value. Average starch digestibility of ETR sample was higher by 10.2% than that of control sample. DPPH radical scavenging activities of ETR samples were greater than those of RE or RP. These results indicated that ETR could be beneficial for preparing easy-drink and diet food with higher starch digestibility and fluidity, especially for gastric tube-fed patients.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.114-124
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the level of uncertainty, physiological risk factors, self-efficacy, and self-management among stroke patients and to identify factors influencing their self-management. Methods: A descriptive correlational design was used for this study. A convenience sample of 149 patients with stroke were enrolled at C national university hospital from February to April in 2016. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and electronic medical record. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlations, and multiple regression analysis with the SPSS/WIN 21.0 program. Results: There were significant negative correlations between uncertainty and self-efficacy (r=-.56, p<.001); between uncertainty and self-management (r=-.56, p<.001); and between total cholesterol and self-management (r=-.23, p=.005). There were significant positive correlations between self-efficacy and self-management (r=.78, p<.001); between uncertainty and total cholesterol (r=.24, p=.003). The significant factors influencing self-management were uncertainty and self-efficacy. Theses variables explained 62.7% of the variance in self-management. Conclusion: The results suggest that intervention programs to reduce the level of uncertainty and to increase the level of self-efficacy among patients would improve the self-management of stroke patients.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.575-584
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• 2004

Purpose: To describe the performance in the health-promoting lifestyle and to identify the major factors affecting the health-promoting relationships between self care behaviors and health promoting lifestyle profile in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. Method: A convenience sample for this study was 172 pulmonary tuberculosis patients who have taken TB medications in urban city. The HPLP-II was selected to measure the concept of health-promoting lifestyle because of the number of research studies conducted using both the original HPLP and the revised HPLP-II. The statistical methods used in this study were t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlations, and multiple regression. Result: The differences of the HPLP-II were found to have a significance of age, marital status, education level, and health service center. The level of self care behaviors was related positively to the level of health promoting lifestyle and their subcategories. Based on stepwise multiple regression analysis, the model that predicted factors included self care behaviors, age, health service center and education. Conclusion: After decades of decreasing rates, TB has reemerged as a serious national problem in Korea. The careful clinical management and more national concern of TB may help to improve the outcomes of many patients. The findings of this study suggest that TB patients who are more fulfilled in health-promoting lifestyles and self-care behaviors may be able to make better decisions regarding positive health-promoting behaviors.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.399-408
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• 2020

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of the regional characteristics on the accessibility of emergency care and the impact of emergency medical accessibility on the patients' prognosis and the emergency medical expenditure. Methods: This study used the 13th beta version 1.6 annual data of Korea Health Panel and the statistics from the Korean Statistical Information Service. The sample included 8,119 patients who visited the emergency centers between year 2013 and 2017. The arrival time, which indicated medical access, was used as dependent variable for multi-level analysis. For ordinal logistic regression and multiple regression, the arrival time was used as independent variable while patients' prognosis and emergency medical expenditure were used as dependent variables. Results: The results for the multi-level analysis in both the individual and regional variables showed that as the number of emergency medical institutions per 100 km² area increased, the time required to reach emergency centers significantly decreased. Ordinal logistic regression and multiple regression results showed that as the arrival time increased, the patients' prognosis significantly worsened and the emergency medical expenses significantly increased. Conclusion: In conclusion, the access to emergency care was affected by regional characteristics and affected patient outcomes and emergency medical expenditure.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.77-83
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was designed to describe outcomes of pain management, to identify pain intensity, pain management and barriers to pain management, and to test correlation among the variables in cancer patients who are registered in public health centers. Methods: By using a descriptive survey design, 3 instruments were used to collect data: the Numeric Rating Scale for pain, the Barriers Questionnaire-Korean version, and a one-item self-report tool about patient satisfaction. A sample of 190 patients with cancer was recruited from a public health center. Results: The mean rating for pain during the past 24 hours was mild and the mean score of barriers to pain management was 3.20. Patients were satisfied with pain management but they also had concerns it. A negative correlation was found among pain severity, pain relief and satisfaction of pain management. However, there was not significant correlation between the patient-related barriers to pain management and other variables. Conclusion: These results suggest that the intervention for cancer patients should focus not only on patient-related barriers to pain management, but also address health-care system related barriers.

• Clinical Nutrition Research
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.106-114
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• 2014

It is generally accepted that diet modification provides beneficial effects on the management of diabetes. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of diet modification on nutrient intake and quality of life in a large sample of diabetic patients. This study was conducted using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey IV and V (2007-2010). A total of 2,484 of diabetic patients were included in the analysis. Then, we compared the overall quality of dietary intake between diabetic patients with diet modification and those without dietary modification. The result showed that subjects on diabetic diet (DDG) showed lower levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, and AST before and after the adjustment for covariates (all p < 0.05). The results of nutrient assessment showed that DDG had lower intakes of total energy, fat, and carbohydrate (all p < 0.05), but higher intakes of energy from protein, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, niacin and vitamin C than NDG. (all p < 0.05). In addition, nutritional adequacy ratio of calcium and vitamin B2 were significantly higher in DDG than those in normal diet group (NDG) (p < 0.05). However, we observed no significant differences in quality of life between two groups. In conclusion, diet modification in diabetic patients seemed to be effective to improve blood lipid profile and the adequacy of nutrient intake without sacrificing the quality of life.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.59-70
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• 2000

The propose of this study was to identify fatigue, pain and coping of pain and to compare the variables between fibromyalgia and chronic arthritis. The sample consisted of 133 patients who visited H university hospital. Data were collected by questionnaire from May 1 to September 30, 1999. Data was analyzed by descriptive statistics, $x^2$-test, pearson correlation coefficient, and ANOVA. As a results, most of all patients felt fatigue and the mean score of the fatigue was above average. The mean score of rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia patients on pain was higher than Osteoarthritis patients, and there was the statistically significant difference among three groups on pain(F=10.63, p=0.00). There was also the statistical difference among three groups on coping of pain(F=4.74, p=0.01). The mean score of rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia patients on coping of pain was higher than Osteoarthritis patients. Fatigue showed positive relationship with pain(r=.262, p=.002), and pain showed positive relationship with coping of pain(r=.319, p=.000). According to this finding, fibromyalgia patients and rheumatoid arthritis patients felt high fatigue and pain, therefore the development of nursing intervention for relieving fatigue and pain would be needed.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.246-253
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• 2015

Background & Object: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes ankylosis and deformation of axial joints. Since current medicine cannot cure the disease yet, alleviating pain and preventing deformation with medications are the main therapy for patients with AS. The key medications for these purposes include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$) inhibitors. This study aims to analyze prescribing patterns of AS patients in South Korea. Method: National Patients Sample data compiled by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service from 2013 was analyzed. Patients with AS were identified with Korean Standard Classification of Diseases code-6, which was M45. The rates of prescription, discontinuation, and switching ingredients were calculated for each medication during 2013. Results: Total number of patients was 655, and most of them were male (n = 514, 78.5%). Of all age groups, the proportion of 30-40 year old patients was the greatest (35.1%). The most utilized drug class was NSAIDs (82.4%). Less than half of patients were prescribed $TNF-{\alpha}$ inhibitors (n = 212, 32.4%). Meloxicam, aceclofenac, and celecoxib were the most frequently prescribed NSAIDs. In case of $TNF-{\alpha}$ inhibitors, adalimumab, etanercept and infliximab were the top three most prescribed drugs. Although not recommended by the current practice guideline, significant proportions of patients were identified using disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Conclusion: Considering the current practice guideline and previous studies about the efficacy, the use of DMARDs should be reduced and medical insurance term in South Korea should be re-examined.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.8-21
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• 2023

Background: Gastrointestinal (GI) drugs are often co-prescribed with other medications to prevent GI complications. This study aimed to evaluate the prescribing pattern of potentially unnecessary GI drugs in patients with acute cystitis who were prescribed oral antibiotics and investigate the influencing factors affecting this. Methods: We identified female patients ≥20 years with acute cystitis who visited the outpatient clinic and were prescribed oral antibiotics between July and December by analyzing Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA)-National Patients Sample (NPS)-2019 data. Patients with no prior history of GI disorders within 180 days prior to acute cystitis, excluding or including the date of diagnosis of acute cystitis, were selected (Group A and B). Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the factors affecting the prescription of potentially unnecessary GI drugs. Results: A total of 1,544 in Group A and 552 patients in Group B were included for the final analysis. Potentially unnecessary GI drugs were prescribed in 1,176 patients in Group A (76.2%) and 231 patients in Group B (41.8%). Third generation cephalosporines and sulfonamides showed the lower odds ratio for prescribing GI drugs than penicillins. Prescribers from Urology clinics showed more than twice odds ratio for the prescription of GI drugs compared to prescribers from internal medicine clinics. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that potentially unnecessary GI drug prescriptions for patients with acute cystitis were high in South Korea. The positive risk factors affecting the prescription of unnecessary GIs were not patient-related factor but healthcare facility and prescriber-related factors.