• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.79-86
• /
• 2017

Purpose: This study was aimed at analyzing the serotypes of group B streptococcus (GBS) isolated from Korean infants with invasive disease and evaluating their association with disease manifestation. Methods: Data were retrospectively collected from invasive GBS infections at Gachon University Gil Medical Center from January 2006 to June 2012 and at Samsung Medical Center from April 2010 to November 2012. Serotypes were determined by slide agglutination test. Results: A total of 37 cases were identified, which included 22 full-term infants and 15 preterm infants. Fifteen cases (40.5%) were early-onset, 19 (51.4%) was late-onset, and three (8.1%) was very late-onset. Early-onset diseases among preterm infants were higher than those among full-term infants (60.0% [9/15] vs. 27.3% [6/22], P=0.17). The most common manifestation was bacteremia (70.3%), followed by meningitis and septic arthritis. Among 24 isolates retrievable for serotyping, serotype III (41.7%) was most common, followed by V (16.7%), Ia, Ib, and II (12.5%, respectively), and non-typeable (4.2%). Serotype III was more common in isolates from full-term infants (10/22) than from preterm infants (0/15), whereas serotype V was more common in isolates from preterm infants (4/15) than from full-term infants (0/22) (P=0.002). No penicillin-resistant strain was detected, and resistance to erythromycin and clindamycin were both 64.9%. Conclusions: GBS is an important pathogen in both preterm and full-term infants, and serotype distribution of GBS causing invasive diseases can differ between preterm and full-term infants. It is necessary to monitor the nationwide epidemiology of GBS diseases, including in preterm infants, in order to prepare preventive measures without underestimating early-onset diseases.

• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.184-189
• /
• 2011

The purpose of this study was to compare the image between DSA and MDCT Angiography and to examine whether MDCT Angiography could be useful as a screening test for the diagnosis of cerebral aneurysm in patients who were diagnosed with cerebral aneurysm on DSA. Of patients who were diagnosed with cerebral aneurysm DSA at University Hospital, 194 patients who concomitantly underwent MDCT Angiography were enrolled in the current retrospective study. The methods for analyzing cerebral aneurysm were to analyze the presence of cerebral aneurysm on DSA and MDCT Angiography. In cases in which it exceeded 1, the corresponding cases were classified as narrow-neck aneurysms. In otherwise cases, they were classified as wide-neck aneurysms. Thus, a comparative analysis could be performed to ascertain if cases were narrow-neck or wide-neck aneurysms. As compared with DSA, the sensitivity of MDCT Angiography for cerebral aneurysm was measured to be 97.4%. The degree of consistency between narrow-neck and wide-neck aneurysms was 90.2% and the proportion of undetectable an at MDCT Angiography was 2.54%. mean size was 2.4 mm. It is expected that a non-invasive diagnostic modality for a screening test for cerebral aneurysm, MDCT Angiography might be a very useful regimen as compared with an invasive one, DSA.

• Journal of Korean Medical Ki-Gong Academy
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.10-29
• /
• 2024

Objective : The purpose of this study is to determine whether An's breathing meditation qigong therapy (ABMQT) delivers bioenergy to the frontal lobe, prefrontal lobe, the olfactory tract in the mesolimbic pathway, olfactory bulb, CV22, CV21, olfactory area and vocal-related areas in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients to help improve olfactory disorders (anosmia) and vocal functions. Methods : The subjects of this study were 4 patients with idiopathic PD (3 males/1 female, 65.0±NA/68.7±10.2 years old). ABMQT was applied once a week, 120 minutes per session for 12 weeks in a non-invasive and noncontact manner, and the test before and after ABMQT application included olfactory impairment test the Korean version of Sniffin' stick test (KVSS), voice acoustic test, aerodynamic test, vocal handicap index (VHI-30), and auditory perception scale test tools. The results before and after the experiment were analyzed assuming a normal distribution, and a chi-square test was performed using a continuity correction, and the significance level was set to p<0.05. And the medical diagnosis and findings of the examiner (doctor in charge) before and after the experiment were described. Results : KVSS was significant as 0.2±0.5 and 9.0±0.0 before and after the experiment. There was no significant difference between the voice acoustic test FO and Jitter, the vocal aerodynamic test MPT, SP, AE, the vocal disorder index test, and the auditory perception test. However, the medical diagnosis findings of four study subjects showed that olfactory disorders, voice disorders, and laryngeal function were improved before and after the application of ABMQT. Conclusions : The breathing meditation qigong program showed significant effects on improving the olfactory disorders (anosmia) and speech function of each study subject. However, to produce meaningful results, it is thought that experiments involving a larger number of research participants are necessary, and additional blood and FMRI tests are conducted to verify metabolic activities and the olfactory neuron signal transmission system.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.75-81
• /
• 2018

Diplophonia is generally defined as the perception of more than one fundamental frequency component in a voice. Its perceptual aspect has traditionally been used to evaluate diplophonia because the perceptions can be easily evaluated, but there are limitations in the validity of the reliability of the intra- and inter-raters, examination situation, and variation of voice sample. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to confirm the reliability and accuracy of auditory perceptual evaluation by comparing non-invasive indirect assessment methods (sound waveform and EGG analysis), and to identify their usefulness with diplophonia. A total of 28 diplophonic voices and 39 non-periodic voices were assessed. Three raters assessed the diplophonia by performing an auditory perception evaluation and identifying the quasi-periodic perturbations of the acoustic waveform and EGG. Among the three discrimination methods, intra- and inter-rater reliability, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio were examined, and the McNemar test was performed to compare the discriminant agreement. The accuracy of the auditory perceptual evaluation (86.57%) was not significantly different from that of sound waveform acoustic (88.06%), but it was significantly different from that of EGG (83.33%). The reading time (6.02 s) for the auditory perceptual evaluation was significantly different from that for sound waveform analysis (30.15 s) and EGG analysis (16.41 s). In the discrimination of diplophonia, auditory perceptual evaluation has sufficient reliability and accuracy as compared to sound waveform and EGG. Since immediate feedback is possible, auditory perceptual evaluation is more convenient. Therefore, it can continue to be used as a tool to discriminate diplophonia in clinical practice.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.10
• /
• pp.4973-4977
• /
• 2012

Introduction: Tobacco use is a global health care problem. Repetitive exposure to nicotine produces neuroadaptation resulting in nicotine dependence. Smoking is associated with a range of diseases, causing high levels of morbidity and mortality and is one of the leading causes of preventable deaths, with more than 4.6 million smokers worldwide dying each year from smoking related illnesses. Stopping smoking has major health benefits. Quitting at any age provides both short and long term benefits. Materials and methods: 45 patients attending the outpatient department at the Oxford Dental College, Bangalore, were randomly allocated to three groups of interventions namely placebo, counseling and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). Initially each one was assessed for carbon monoxide levels using a breath analyser (pico smokerlyser bedfont UK). They were followed up for six months and the carbon monoxide levels were again assessed using the same instrument. The paired t test was used to compare the results before and after the intervention. Results: The scores before the initiation of intervention and after treatment were compared and all three interventions were found to be statistically significant after six months. It was noticed that patients with very low or low dependence followed by high dependence had good response in the placebo group (68% and 47.6% respectively), in the counseling group maximum response was seen in the medium followed by the very low group (61% and 59% respectively), and maximum response was seen in very high followed by the very low group with NRT (78.7% and 60.5% respectively). Conclusion: The inference that can be drawn from the present study is that non-invasive, non pharmacological methods like placebo and counseling are effective in low to medium groups, and NRT is effective with higher nicotine dependence.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.141-147
• /
• 2005

The most fundamental and important medical treatment is science of acupuncture and moxibution, which is based on twelve channels theory. Meridian is a pathway that conveys material and energy in a human body. Twelve channels are divided into channels of hand & foot, channels of yin & yang. Yang channels are divided into taiyang, yangming, shaoyang, yin channels are divided into taiyin, shaoyin, jueyin. These are referred to twelve channels, and this theory is being used for diagnosis and test in oriental medicine. Meridian-doin-tajiquan is born, combining taijiquan which is recently handed down from China and Korean traditional method for health protection and treatment in ancient times and twelve channels, three yin & yang theory. I report this because meridian-doin-tajiquan which is non-medical and non-invasive way can be used in the treatment of disease, just like three yin & yang theory, the heart of the meridian theory, and Gehapchu theory are adjusted in the clinical science of acupuncture and moxibution. And I report this because I could mater the appropriateness of the traditional theory and I believed this corresponded with it, training myself by meridian-din-tajiquan. It is considered that this will be used in the treatment of pain disease of muscles and joints system and the diabetes, hypertension, obesity caused by stress in the near future.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
• /
• v.61 no.12
• /
• pp.1932-1938
• /
• 2012

The impedance cardiogram has been proposed as a non-invasive, continuous, operator independent, and cost-effective method for cardiac output monitoring. However, it can not be completely considered as non-restrictive method because of attached spot and band type electrodes. Therefore, we developed a improved convenient hand-held typed measurement system for cardiac output by electrical impedance technique. 80 subjects from Yonsei University and the surrounding areas, participated. All subjects measured stroke volume and cardiac output through Physioflow and developed system. To verify the developed system, statistical methods such as correlation, Wilcoxon signed ranks test, and the Bland-Altman analysis were used. The proposed system showed significant correlation in both male and female stroke volume(r=0.715, r=0.704) and cardiac output(r=0.826; r=0.804). From these results, it can be concluded that stroke volume and cardiac output could be improved convenient measurement using the both hands without the help of a specialist.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.42 no.5
• /
• pp.211-224
• /
• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to present a way to alleviate motion sickness(MS) by stimulating acupoint through PEMFs, and to assess the effectiveness of PEMFs against stimulation previously used to stimulate acupoint using biosignal evaluations and surveys. Materials and Methods: Thirteen healthy men participated in the experiment. MS was induced in the participants, and MS relief stimulation was applied for 30 minutes. There were 4 types of MS relief stimulation, and Sham, Reliefband, Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation(TENS), and Pulsed electromagnetic fields stimulation(PEMFs) were used. The biosignals were measured during 30 minutes of applying MS relief stimulation, and the symptoms of MS were evaluated through a questionnaire survey. The measured biosignals are Electrocardiogram(ECG), Electrodermal activity(EDA), Respiration, Skin temperature(SKT), and Electrogastrogram(EGG). A one-way ANOVA test was performed for the rate of change by stimulation for MS relief over time. Results: Participants who were stimulated had a sharp decrease in MS symptoms. Biosignals were analyzed to evaluate autonomic nervous system activity, and the parasympathetic nervous system could be activated through stimulation. Conclusion: TENS and PEMFs were more effective in relieving MS symptoms than Reliefband. It is believed that PEMFs will be effective in consideration of the comfort of participants to be applied to actual vehicles, and studies to further verify the effects of PEMFs on MS should be conducted.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.711-716
• /
• 2001

Objectives : Three-dimensional computed tomographic angiography(3D-CTA) is recently developed diagnostic imaging modality. We have studied this noninvasive method for possible role in replacing conventional angiography( CA) in the detection of aneurysms of the circle of Willis in patients with subarachnoid hemorrahge(SAH). Methods : We studied retrospectively, the 100 patients with SAH or unruptured aneurysms admitted to our hospital from October 1997 to December 1998. Among there, 85 patients underwent CTA, 82 patients underwent CA and 67 patients underwent both of CTA and CA. 3D-CTA was obtained using maximum intensity projection(MIP) and shaded-surface display(SSD) reconstruction. Results : Total 107 aneurysms were detected in 92 patients, and 64 aneurysms were detected in 67 patients underwent both CTA and CA. In five cases of those 67 cases, aneurysms were detected by CA but not by 3D-CTA. The detection rate of aneurysms(91.8%) and the detection rate of parent artery in cases of anterior communicating artery aneurysms(86.9%) with total 3D-CTA were relatively compatible with that of CA. But 3D-CTA was not enough in detection of posterior communicating artery aneurysms, internal carotid artery aneurysms as well as small sized aneurysm(<3mm). Conclusion : We consider CTA is valuable in as a screening test for cerebral aneurysm and follow-up test. And it is also valuable in early surgery for patients with aneurysmal rebleeding because of simple, quick, non-invasive method.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.142-146
• /
• 2007

Objectives and Backgrounds : After parotidectomy, some of patients complain gustatory sweating, facial flushing and discomfort in the same area. A series of these symptoms are supposed to be caused by the aberrant regeneration of the secretory parasympathetic fibers to sweat glands and blood vessels of the skin following parotidectomy. In this study, we want to compare the efficacy of thermography to the Minor's starch-iodine test for determining the presence of Frey's syndrome. Materials and Methods : 48 patients who underwent total or superficial parotidectomy from March 2002 to December 2004 were selected for this study. A subjective clinical questionnaire and the objective Minor's starchiodine test were performed to evaluate the incidence of this syndrome. Total 21 patients were confirmed as positive Frey's syndrome and infrared thermography was performed for them. Result : Frey's syndrome occurred in 21 patients(43.8%). The average temperature of parotidectomy site and normal opposite area were $27.65^{\circ}C\;and\;26.41^{\circ}C$ respectively. Thermography showed temperature difference in 20 patient(95.2%) and the difference of temperature was statistically significant above $1.0^{\circ}C$(p<0.001). The severity of symptoms were related with the difference of temperature(p<0.05). Conclusion : Thermography is useful, non-invasive, simple and quantifying method to diagnose Frey's syndrome. Additionally, this geographic diagnosis is available to show the accurate area for botulinum toxin injection.