• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.295-298
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• 2002

This study was conducted to develope noninvasive fecal PCR assay for detecting the Helicobacter species in dogs. From the DNA isolated from fecal samples, and a region of the 16S rRNA gene conserved among Helicobacter spp. was amplified In comparison with gastric biopsy test, the fecal PCR assay showed high specificity(100%) and sensitivity(96%). The prevalence of Helicobacter spp. infection in privately owned pet dogs in Korea detemined by the fecal PCR assay was 72.1%. the fecal PCR assay determined in this study can a new noninvasive test detecting Helicobacter spp. infection in dogs.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.268-272
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• 2006

Purpose : The reinfection rate of H. pylori reported before $^{13}C$-urea breath test($^{13}C$-UBT) era was higher than that of the post $^{13}C$-UBT era. Children are usually reluctant to receive invasive endoscopic evaluation for the reinfection of H. pylori, particularly when they are asymptomatic. The aim of the study is to discover the reinfection rate by different diagnostic tests, and to find out what causes the difference. Methods : Children confirmed to be eradicated from H. pylori were included in the study. Reinfection was evaluated by endoscopic biopsy based tests(n=34, mean age $11.5{\pm}3.7$ years) and/or a $^{13}C$-UBT(n=38, mean age $10.0{\pm}3.6$ years) at the time of 18 months after eradication. At first visit, H. pylori infection had been diagnosed by positive results from a rapid urease test, Giemsa stain and Warthin-Starry stain and/or a positive culture. Eradication was defined as negative results from all above tests 1-3 months after eradication therapy. Results : Reinfection rate by endoscopic biopsy based tests was 35.3 percent(12/34). All patients had abdominal symptoms(P=0.000). Reinfection rate was 13.2 percent(5/38) by a $^{13}C$-UBT. Reinfection rate was higher in children with abdominal symptoms(P=0.008). There was no evidence that reinfection rate depended on the sex(P=0.694), age(P=0.827), diseases(peptic ulcers vs gastritis, P=0.730) and eradication regimen(P=0.087). Conclusion : Helocibacter pylori reinfection rate in Korean children was 13.2 percent per 18 months by a non-invasive test or $^{13}C$-UBT. Accurate determinations of the reinfection rate in children is affected by the compliance of the diagnostic tests. Non-invasive tests should be considered to investigate the reinfection rate in children.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.28-34
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• 2021

The main cause of cervical cancer is a persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV). Cervical cancer is reported as a preventable cancer in more than 80% of cases with early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Papanicolaou test (Pap test) has been a global strategy to prevent cervical cancer, and recently, HPV test has been reported to be effective against cervical cancer and precancerous lesions. However, pelvic examinations give patients anxiety, discomfort, pain, distress, and psychological stress. HPV test via a urine sample caused less physical and psychological stress and more advantage than the Pap test. Therefore, it is necessary to study the usefulness of the HPV test for easy-to-collect urine samples. A total of 220 samples were collected from a pair of cervical and urine samples from 110 women and only 108 pairs of samples out of 110 were used because 2 cases were not amplified by β-globin. Among 108 pairs of cervical and urine samples, the prevalence of HPV was 37.0% (40/108) in cervical samples, 34.3% (37/108) in urine samples and HR-HPV was 22.2% (24/108) in cervical samples, 18.5% (20/108) in urine samples. In this study, urine samples showed a lower positive rate of HPV than cervical samples. There were many variables that could affect the condition of the urine sample. However, the HR-HPV agreement rate of the cervix and urine samples was 94.44% and the Kappa value was 0.823, which was "almost perfect". Through these results showed the significance of cervical cancer screening using a urine sample. Cervical screening is crucial, as cervical cancer can be prevented in more than 90% of cases. Urine samples collected by non-invasive methods may have the potential advantage of increasing acceptance of cervical cancer screening. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a new cervical cancer screening strategy using urine samples through further study based on the results of this study.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.333-343
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• 2004

Impression cytology refers to application of cellulose acetate filter material to the ocular surface to remove the superficial layers of the conjunctival epithelium. The technique is non-invasive, is easy to perform, causes minimal discomfort to the patient, and can be used to follow changes in the conjunctival ocular surface over time. With this method, the morphology of the conjunctival ocular surface can be studied and the degree of squmaous metaplasia assessed. This study was performed to evaluate the conjunctival surface by impression cytology in dry eye patients. A total of 70 students with no contact lens wearing history were recruited. Subjects were required to fill in a McMonnies dry eye symptom questionnaire. The non-invasive tear thinning time(TIT) test of each subject was measured, followed by Schirmer tear test(STI), tear film break-up time(TBUT) tests and Rose-bengal staining were performed as a baseline. Conjunctival epithelial cells from the inferior bulbar conjunctiva were harvested by the impression cytology technique. The specimens collected were labelled and stained with PAS(Periodic Acid Schift)-haematoxylin. The goblet cells and conjunctival epithelial cells were observed under a light microscope of 400x magnification. The specimens were classified according to the Nelson Grading scale which was based on the degree of squamous metaplasia such as changes of goblet cells density, size/form, N:C(nucleus : cytoplasm) ratio. Dry eye patients were observed morphological changes of the epithelial cells, different nuclear alterations, decrease of the goblet cells density. The degree of cytological changes was related to severity of dry eye conditions. When the epithelial cell morphology was graded according to the system described by Nelson, specimens from the control group revealed 91.43% of the eyes to be grade 0 and 8.57% to be grade 1, whereas of the dry eye patients, 20% were grade 0, 42.86% grade 1, 34.29% grade 2 and 2,86% grade 3. Impression cytology represents a non- or minimally invasive biopsy of the ocular surface epithelium with no side effects or contraindications. It has demonstrated to be a useful diagnostic aid for a wide variety of processes involving the ocular surface. This technique is a safe, simple method and may help increase understanding of various ocular surface alterations in dry eye patients.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.308-315
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• 2017

Carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) test is a standardized ultrasound procedure that screens for and monitors atherosclerosis in a safe and non-invasive manner, even in individuals with no symptoms of heart disease. The purpose of this study was to research the relationship between CIMT, as measured by ultrasonography, and the degree of individual perceived stress. There was a total of 168 (male: 46, female: 122) university students in Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea, without other diseases. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants. CIMT was measured in the right and left common carotid arteries 1 cm below the bifurcation, and internal carotid artery, using non-invasive high-resolution Medison Accuvix V20 prestige ultrasound equipment and perceived stress, was measured with the 10-item PSS (Perceived Stress Scale) questionnaire. This study indicates that PSS may be appropriate to estimate perceived stress levels and weight. Failure to control stress anxiety could lead to weight and CIMT soaring to dangerous levels, resulting in a myocardial infarction or cerebrovascular accident. There was a statistically significant difference between left CIMT (p<0.05) and weight (p<0.05) according to each stress classification. The results of this study suggest that the weight measurement is influenced in part by one's generalized stress levels. Future continuous studies should be conducted to test the influences of perceived stress and generalized anxiety on CIMT when these are many continuous variables.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.648-659
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of Hand Acupressure Therapy on lower back pain, hip joint range of motion, and depression in postpartum women. Methods: Data was collected from March 21 to May 1, 2022 from 40 postpartum women. 𝛘²-test, independent t-test, repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Scheffe's test were performed using SPSS/WIN 21.0. Results: Compared with the control group, the lower back pain score of the experimental group that performed Hand Acupressure therapy was lower, and the angle of joint range of motion was increased. Postpartum depression scores were also shown to decrease, and all of these results were statistically significant. Conclusions: Based on this study, it was confirmed that Hand Acupressure therapy can be used as an effective non-invasive intervention for back pain, joint range of motion, and postpartum depression, and suggested the implications and direction of further research.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.595-606
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• 2016

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the influencing factors on self care, respiratory difficulty, sleep impediment, anxiety and depression among patients with neuromuscular disease who are dependent on Home Mechanical Ventilator (HMV). Methods: 157 patients were recruited through hospital based home nursing care departments and HMV rental centers. Data were collected by questionnaires. The analytic methods were n(%)/$M{\pm}SD$, $x^2$/t-test or ANOVA and multiple linear regression. Results: Patients with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis were more likely to utilize HMV, had shorter periods of morbidity and the most extended daily use of HMV. As for medical equipment, they had ambu-bag (87.2%) and oxygenator (15.4%). Reports of respiratory difficulty and sleep impediment were low. There were no significant difference. In contrast, reported anxiety and depression were high and showed significant difference between non invasive HMV and invasive HMV. Anxiety contributes to respiratory difficulty (t=3.62, p=.002), sleep impediment (t=2.06, p=.042), and depression (t=7.24, p<.001). However, home nursing care exerts a positive influence in reducing anxiety (t=-2.73, p=.008). Conclusion: Anxiety contributes to respiratory difficulty, sleep impediment, and depression. However, those who use home nursing care reported less anxiety. Home nursing care positively impacts patients dependent on HMV as a practical service and available resource.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.291-302
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• 2002

In most of the previous studies, invasive and discrete techniques have been used to monitor the healing process of the gingival graft. However, Laser Doppler Flowmetry(LDF, floLAB(R), Moor Instruments Ltd., England) is a non-invasive technique for measurement of blood flow in the tissue and also allows continuous monitoring. Thus, we tested the usefulness of LDF in monitoring the healing process of free gingival graft at gingival recession. Eleven gingival graft site of 7 patients, including 5 males and 2 females, aged between 21 and 41 years (mean age 28.5) were monitored for the blood flow. The blood flow in gingival graft at coronal site, central site, apical site, mesial site and distal site was measured using LDF. Blood flow was measured at 1- week, 2- week, 3- week and 4- week after gingival graft surgery from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Time-course of the healing process was evaluated by statistical analysis using repeated ANOVA and Duncan test. The results were as follows : (1) Blood flow stayed increased for 2 weeks, and then, it was a tendency to decrease. (2) The blood flow at distal site had always higher than mesial site during the measuring periods. (3) The blood flow was high orderly after 1 week ; most coronal site, most apical site, central site. But that was high orderly after 2 week, 3 week, 4 week ; most coronal site, central site, most apical site. In conclusion, LDF was a useful and clinically adaptable method to monitor wound healing process. Our study suggested that it was important to protect surgical site to promote initial wound healing.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.417-430
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• 2019

The policies developed for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection in adults may not be the most suitable ones to treat children and adolescents. Methods used to treat children and adolescents in Europe and North America may not be appropriate for treating children and adolescents in Korea due to differences in epidemiological characteristics of H. pylori between regions. Moreover, the agreed standard guidelines for the treatment of H. pylori infection in children and adolescents in Korea have not been established yet. In this study, the optimal treatment strategy for H. pylori infection control in children and adolescents in Korea is discussed based on these guidelines, and recent progress on the use and misuse of antimicrobial agents is elaborated. Non-invasive as well as invasive diagnostic test and treatment strategy for H. pylori infection are not recommendable in children aged less than ten years or children with body weight under 35 kg, except in cases of clinically suspected or endoscopically identified peptic ulcers. The uncertainty, whether enough antimicrobial concentrations to eradicate H. pylori can be maintained when administered according to body weight-based dosing, and the costs and adverse effects outweighing the anticipated benefits of treatment make it difficult to decide to eradicate H. pylori in a positive noninvasive diagnostic test in this age group. However, adolescents over ten years of age or with a bodyweight of more than 35 kg can be managed aggressively as adults, because they can tolerate the adult doses of anti-H. pylori therapy. In adolescents, the prevention of future peptic ulcers and gastric cancers is expected after the eradication of H. pylori. Bismuth-based quadruple therapy (bismuth-proton pump inhibitor-amoxicillin/tetracycline-metronidazole) with maximal tolerable doses and optimal dose intervals of 14 days is recommended, because in Korea, the antibiotic susceptibility test for H. pylori is not performed at the initial diagnostic evaluation. If the first-line treatment fails, concomitant therapy plus bismuth can be attempted for 14 days as an empirical rescue therapy. Finally, the salvage therapy, if needed, must be administered after the H. pylori antibiotic susceptibility test.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.4357-4361
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• 2012

Objective: The guidelines on indications for prophylactic use of Bacille Calmette-Gu$\acute{e}$rin (BCG) against non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) have changed over the years. In order to assess the impact on outcome, the present retrospective comparison of BCG efficacy by time period with Japanese patients was conducted. Patients and Methods: A total of 146 cases of NMIBC treated with BCG since February 1985 were retrospectively evaluated. All patients received 80 mg of BCG (Tokyo 172 strain) six to eight times a week for prophylactic use. Comparison was made among three historical groups (Group A: 1980's, 39 cases; Group B: 1990's, 61 cases; Group C: 2000's, 46 cases). Results: In total, recurrence was seen in 55 of the 146 cases (37.7%), and progression in 14 (9.6%), 1 patient dying of cancer. These overall results were similar to those outlined in previous reports. However, the outcomes of this time-period-based analysis indicated a tendency for a shorter time to recurrence in patients after 2000, although a log-rank test showed no significance (P=0.229). Seven of the cases featuring progression (i.e., half of all such cases) were among the 46 Group C patients (15.2%). Excluding these progressive cases, there was no significant difference among the remaining 132 patients in the three groups. Conclusion: This study results revealed a tendency for a lower non-recurrence rate after 2000 in our series. This could stem from a number of factors, including changes in BCG indication criteria and the evolution of histopathological diagnostic criteria.