• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.646-652
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• 1993

Background: Lung cancer and chronic obstructive lung disease often coexist in the same person who are elderly and cigarette smoking. There are several reports that the presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease constitutes an independent risk factor for the development of lung cancer. Moreover, the association between mucus hypersecrtion and lung cacer has been reported. Method: In 72 cases with primary lung cancer which were confirmed histopathologically at Chonbuk University Hospital from August 1986 to July 1991, We evaluated the relationship between spirometry and lung cancer characteristics. Results: Six cases(8.3%) showed normal lung function, 16(22.2%) cases showed pure restrictive lung disease, 46(63.9%) cases showed moderated obstructive lung disease and 4(5.6%) cases showed severe obstructive lung disease. $FEV_1$(%) was lower in central type than in peripheral type, lower in advanced non-small cell cancer and lower in subjects with phlegm. $FEV_1$/FVC(%) was higher in small cell cancer than in squamous cell cancer and higher in patients without previous pulmonary disease than with previous pulmonary disease. But there was no statistically significant difference in lung function according to histologic types and smoking history. Lung cancers with $FEV_1$/FVC less than 75% consisted of 35 cases of squamous cell cancer, 7 of small cell cancer(14%), 5 of adenocarcinoma(10%), 2 of large-cell carcinoma and 1 of unclassified carcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma occured more in patients with $FEV_1$/FVC<75% than with $FEV_1$/FVC$\geq$75%(p<0.05). Conclusion: It was suggest that low $FEV_1$/FVC, as reflection of obstructive lung disease, may be at greater risk for squamous cell carcinoma in cigarette smoker.

• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.1135-1144
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• 2018

An electric wheelchair used to be utilized as a piece of equipment for the disabled and the elderly in the past, but the recent changes to its functions and forms have made it available across various fields and purposes. In this paper, we propose a continuous track type of electric wheelchair prototype to be used in various fields and environments and a monitoring system to control it. A frame stress design was applied to improve its stability during driving compared with the previous wheelchairs. In addition, we provide a convenience for free and easy operation of them using the App. based on android. A monitoring system based on C# was also added to control a large number of electric wheelchairs. As a result of the implementation and performance evaluation, the von Mises stress value was measured 4.401% within the normal range through five times of stress interpretations, and its accuracy of communication for system manipulation was recorded about 98.75%, which means that it has been proven to be safer than the previous wheelchairs.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.7414-7423
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• 2015

Subjective cognitive-linguistic complaints in older adults contribute to the diagnostic and prognostic investigation of MCI or dementia. However, the utility of subjective test for predicting cognitive-linguistic decline is controversial. Few domestic studies have included the correlation between subjective and objective tests systematically. The current study analyzed 26 studies published since 2000, and the effect sizes of their correlation coefficients between two tests were computed. The results of qualitative analysis indicated that the number of subjects ranged from 26 to 657. Subjective tests included the self-report 75.4% and the informant-report 24.6%. In objective tests, memory comprised the largest proportion, followed by global cognition, and language, etc. As a result of meta-analysis, self-report test had the predictive value for dementia, and informant-report test contributed to discriminate among 3 groups. In the elderly group, self-report test was correlated with reasoning, and informant-report test with memory and language. In MCIs, self-report test predicted several abilities including language, and informant-report test signaled the future decline of domains like global cognition. Two types of subjective tests in dementia also represented memory, language, and global cognition accurately. This study provides evidence-based information to support relationships between subjective and objective tests for cognitive-linguistic ability in 3 groups.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.46-52
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• 2016

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a highly prevalent disorder that affects millions of men and considered to be an early symptom of atherosclerosis and a precursor of various systemic vascular disorders. The aim of the present study was to prepare ginsenoside Re enriched fraction (GS-F3K1, ginsenoside Re 10%, w/w) from ginseng berries flesh and to investigate the enhanced activities of GS-F3K1 on alcohol-induced ED. GS-F3K1 was prepared by the continuous liquid and solid separating centrifugation and circulatory ultrafiltration from ginseng berries flesh. GS-F3K1 was administered for 5 weeks in ethanol-induced ED rat by oral administration of 20% ethanol. To investigate the effects of GS-F3K1 on ED model, the levels of nitrite expression, cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) and erectile response of the penile corpus cavernosum of rat were measured. The erectile response of the corpus cavernosum was restored after GS-F3K1 administration, to a level similar to the normal group. The level of nitrite and cGMP expression in the corpus cavernosum of GS-F3K1-administered male rats was increased significantly compared to positive control group. GS-F3K1 from ginseng berries should effectively restore ethanol-induced ED in male rats and could be developed as a new functional food for the elderly men.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.141-148
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• 2006

Objectives : We wanted to evaluate the medical underutilization for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) among Korean elderly men and we wanted to determine their associated factors. Methods : This study was conducted on 239 men with LUTS and 116 men with BPH who were compatible with the diagnostic criteria from a total of 641 participants. These participants were over 50 years old and they were randomly chosen in a community-based study for estimating the prevalence of BPH. Using a self-reported questionnaire, we surveyed the sociodemographics, health status, quality of life, lower urinary tract symptoms, medical utilization and reasons for not seeking treatment. Results : Only 27.6% of the men with LUTS and 31.0% of the men with BPH reported having visited a doctor for urinary symptoms. The reasons for not visiting a doctor were, in order of responses from the group with LUTS: 'considered the symptoms as a part of the normal ageing process', 'not enough time to visit a doctor', 'financial difficulty' and 'the symptoms were not severe or bothersome'. Regarding BPH, the responses were the same as those of the group with LUTS however, 'financial difficulty' placed second. Among the men with experience of visiting a doctor for urinary symptoms, 33.3% of those with LUTS and 28.1% of those with BPH were not treated. The most common reason in both groups was 'the symptoms were not severe to be treated'. On a multiple logistic regression analysis, the larger size household (odds ratio (OR) 3.03, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.40-6.54) and an unsatisfactory quality of life related with urinary symptoms (OR 2.98, 95% CI=1.23-7.21) were associated with medical utilization in the group of LUTS. For BPH, the current employment status was related with the medical utilization (OR 2.80, 95% CI=1.10-7.11), in addition to the larger size household (OR 3.24, 95% CI=1.14-9.21). Conclusions : Many men with urinary symptoms do not visit a doctor. This medical underutilization for people with LUTS and BPH may be associated with economic status in Korea.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.380-390
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• 2017

This study examined the relationship between social support, social participation and physical functioning among older adults in community senior centers. The subjects of this study were 194 persons aged 60 years or older who participated in the senior center in K province and D city, from June 16 to June 30, 2016. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, T-test, one way ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis, multiple regression analysis, and structural model analysis using IBM SPSS Statistics 23.0 and IBM AMOS 21.0. The result showed that the social support and physical functioning of the elderly in the community were above normal, and social participation was somewhat low. Interestingly, an analysis of the physical functioning between social support, social participation and depression revealed significant correlations. The factors affecting the physical health were 23.4% of the respondents who had a significant influence on social support and leisure activities. In addition, the result of structural model analysis showed that social support had a significant influence on the social participation, depression and physical functioning. Therefore, the results suggests that the development of educational programs and an age-friendly environment should be actively provided to older adults in the community by strengthening the physical function through social support for active ageing.

• 재활복지
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.141-161
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• 2016

This research is to anticipate problems of Ray's disabled experiment welfare vehicles for 17 drivers with disability, improving them. In addition it is to provide the criteria for ergonomic design based on perspective of drivers with disability by investigating 18 items of usability test. The results are as follows. First, satisfaction degree of Ray, disabled experiment welfare vehicle, was shown to be 3.88 which is higher than normal vehicles whose degree is 3.20. This showed that the disabled experiment welfare vehicle is the one with much improvement. Second, so as to develop a welfare vehicle it needs to take into account some factors including rear slope, wheelchair locker, seat belt, safety grip, and high roof. Third, in case of rear slope, high roof and width of manual or automatic wheel chairs should be considered and motor-operated device should also be taken into account for safety lockers, which make a wheelchair firmly fixed. Moreover, motor-operated seat and rear slope can be chosen for either of the disabled and the elderly.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.351-359
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• 2019

Neurocognitive testing commonly uses the MMSE (Mini-Mental State Examination) to evaluate the overall cognitive function of patients at outpatient clinics, but the MMSE has recently been extensively used in the SNSB II (Seoul Neuropsychological Screening Battery II) for making diagnoses. We retrospectively investigated the results of routine neurocognitive tests and the results of the blood tests of 120 elderly patients who had been referred to a South Central Medical Center from 2017 to 2018 and who had been examined at a public health center. These subjects' space-time capability was high on the sub-region of the global deterioration scale (GDS). GDS showed a significant increase as the Na decreased on the electrolyte analysis. The subjects' concentration, their language-based orientation for space and time, their memory, and their scores for the frontal lobe function on GDS showed statistically significant reductions (P<0.001) For the normal and abnormal groups according to the ALT and creatinine levels, the frontal/execute function areas showed statistically significant differences (P<0.001) as well as negative correlation between GDS and ALT (P<0.01). In conclusion, this study provides basic information to develop test items that are important for patient screening and diagnosis, and several routine blood chemistry factors provide basic information for diagnosing and assessing the status and progress of cognitively impaired patients.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.208-216
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• 2021

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This study aimed to investigate the status of renal function in patients with COVID-19. The study surveyed a total of 649 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 at a hospital located in southern Gyeonggi Province, South Korea over a one month period in January 2021. The parameters analyzed were blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, sodium, potassium, chloride, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). The BUN and creatinine of the COVID-19 patients were found to be higher than the normal reference range, specially in males, and in the elderly (60s and 80s or older). The serum electrolyte levels of the patients were observed to be within the reference intervals. Of the subjects, males over 80 years of age had a Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) of 60 mL/min/1.73 m² or less. Recent research suggests that some severe cases of COVID-19 are showing signs of kidney damage, even in those with no prior underlying kidney disease. Thus, assessment of kidney function using multiple indicators could help diagnose abnormal renal function in patients with COVID-19.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.164-171
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• 2021

Purpose: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a prodromal stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Brain atrophy in this disease spectrum begins in the medial temporal lobe structure, which can be recognized by magnetic resonance imaging. To overcome the unsatisfactory inter-observer reliability of visual evaluation, quantitative brain volumetry has been developed and widely investigated for the diagnosis of MCI and AD. The aim of this study was to assess the prediction accuracy of quantitative brain volumetry using a fully automated segmentation software package, NeuroQuant^®, for the diagnosis of MCI. Materials and Methods: A total of 418 subjects from the Korean Brain Aging Study for Early Diagnosis and Prediction of Alzheimer's Disease cohort were included in our study. Each participant was allocated to either a cognitively normal old group (n = 285) or an MCI group (n = 133). Brain volumetric data were obtained from T1-weighted images using the NeuroQuant software package. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to investigate relevant brain regions and their prediction accuracies. Results: Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that normative percentiles of the hippocampus (P < 0.001), amygdala (P = 0.003), frontal lobe (P = 0.049), medial parietal lobe (P = 0.023), and third ventricle (P = 0.012) were independent predictive factors for MCI. In ROC analysis, normative percentiles of the hippocampus and amygdala showed fair accuracies in the diagnosis of MCI (area under the curve: 0.739 and 0.727, respectively). Conclusion: Normative percentiles of the hippocampus and amygdala provided by the fully automated segmentation software could be used for screening MCI with a reasonable post-processing time. This information might help us interpret structural MRI in patients with cognitive impairment.