• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.8-16
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• 2021

Purpose: This study was conducted to analyze the social factors influencing the 'authenticity of suicidal ideation' based post-suicidal care programs in emergency departments (EDs). Methods: This retrospective study was an analysis using the data of patients who had attempted suicide and visited the ED in tertiary urban hospitals from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2018. The variables examined included gender, age, history of previous psychiatric disease, suicide method, and the number of previous attempts. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors influencing the registration rate for the community-based post-suicide care program. Results: Overall,1,460 suicides were analyzed, 177 (1.16%) showed a high authenticity of suicide. The social factors influencing the authenticity of suicide intent were the unmarried status of men and women, joblessness, history of mental illnesses, more than two previous suicide attempts, the influence of alcohol, and an attempt to commit suicide after midnight more specifically between 24:00 to 6:00 hours in the morning (p<.05). The factors influencing the severity of the condition of high authenticity suicide patients were low Glasgow coma scores (12 points or less), lactate levels, and oxygen saturation observed in the patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit for treatment and died (p<.05). Conclusion: The need for evidence-based preventive measures and early assessment tools at the emergency medicine level is emphasized to reduce the rate of suicide attempts. If the results of this study are used in the management of suicide prevention, the evaluation of the authenticity of suicide intent will be more likely to be made at the emergency medicine level, allowing the severity to be assessed earlier.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.523-532
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• 2022

Vitamin C is an important physiological antioxidant which neutralizes reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reduces the oxidative stress in the body. Although it has been associated with various diseases, few studies have reported the dose-response relationship between vitamin C intake, storage and functions in the body, including its antioxidant function. The criteria to establish the Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans (KDRIs) for vitamin C were based on the changes in plasma concentrations and saturation of leukocytes according to intake levels and the effects on antioxidant capacity and risk of metabolic diseases. When establishing the 2020 vitamin C KDRI, while there was no change in the criteria from those of 2015, the reference values were recalculated and revised to reflect changes such as the new standard weight by age. As the number of people consuming dietary supplements has increased over the last decade, only about 10% of adults consume less than the average total vitamin C, but the proportion of adolescents and elderly who consume less than the average is high. On the other hand, as the intake of vitamin C supplements increases, the proportion of people consuming excessive vitamin C is also increasing. There is a body of opinion that it is necessary to establish a vitamin C KDRI for smokers or people with chronic diseases such as the metabolic syndrome, but these standards have not been established due to the lack of supporting scientific evidence. As a result, studies to establish vitamin C KDRI for Korean smokers and patients with the metabolic syndrome, as well as studies on the excessive intake of vitamin C due to supplementation and interactions with other nutrients, are needed.

• Korean Journal of Health Psychology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.557-575
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• 2011

This study tried to examine the characteristics of attention deficits in patients with Obstructive Sleep Apenea(OSA) with different age levels, and to examine which indices of polysomnograms might be related to the indices of attention deficits in OSAs. Two age-level groups and a normal control group were subjected to two computerized attention tests, including a continuous performance test(CPT) and a change blindness task(CBT). In addition, the three groups were subjected to a Polysomnography to extract several sub-indicators of polysomnogram, and an Epworth Sleepiness Scale which measures subjective sleepiness. As results, the OSAs showed significantly more omission and commission errors in CPT, and they showed lower accuracy in CBT compared to the normal group. The results of a correlational analysis showed that attention deficits in OSA are significantly correlated with arterial oxygen saturation among sub-indicators of polysomnograms. In conclusion, OSAs seems to be less attentive, having difficulties in response inhibition, and having deficiencies in noticing important environmental changes. Age seems to make these deficiencies even worse. Especially, the relationship between attention deficiency and hypoxia which could cause irreversible cerebrum damage has an implication in cognitive impairment prevention through early treatment.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.19-35
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• 2024

Background: This study investigated a safe and effective bolus dose and lockout time for patient-controlled sedation (PCS) with dexmedetomidine for dental treatments. The depth of sedation, vital signs, and patient satisfaction were investigated to demonstrate safety. Methods: Thirty patients requiring dental scaling were enrolled and randomly divided into three groups based on bolus doses and lockout times: group 1 (low dose group, bolus dose 0.05 ㎍/kg, 1-minute lockout time), group 2 (middle dose group, 0.1 ㎍/kg, 1-minute), and group 3 (high dose group, 0.2 ㎍/kg, 3-minute) (n = 10 each). ECG, pulse, oxygen saturation, blood pressure, end-tidal CO₂, respiratory rate, and bispectral index scores (BIS) were measured and recorded. The study was conducted in two stages: the first involved sedation without dental treatment and the second included sedation with dental scaling. Patients were instructed to press the drug demand button every 10 s, and the process of falling asleep and waking up was repeated 1-5 times. In the second stage, during dental scaling, patients were instructed to press the drug demand button. Loss of responsiveness (LOR) was defined as failure to respond to auditory stimuli six times, determining sleep onset. Patient and dentist satisfaction were assessed before and after experimentation. Results: Thirty patients (22 males) participated in the study. Scaling was performed in 29 patients after excluding one who experienced dizziness during the first stage. The average number of drug administrations until first LOR was significantly lower in group 3 (2.8 times) than groups 1 and 2 (8.0 and 6.5 times, respectively). The time taken to reach the LOR showed no difference between groups. During the second stage, the average time required to reach the LOR during scaling was 583.4 seconds. The effect site concentrations (Ce) was significantly lower in group 1 than groups 2 and 3. In the participant survey on PCS, 8/10 in group 3 reported partial memory loss, whereas 17/20 in groups 1 and 2 recalled the procedure fully or partially. Conclusion: PCS with dexmedetomidine can provide a rapid onset of sedation, safe vital sign management, and minimal side effects, thus facilitating smooth dental sedation.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.52 no.8
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• pp.606-620
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• 2022

Background and Objectives: Protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) is a devastating complication after the Fontan operation. This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics, treatment response, and outcomes of Fontan-associated PLE. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 38 patients with Fontan-associated PLE from 1992 to 2018 in 2 institutions in Korea. Results: PLE occurred in 4.6% of the total 832 patients after the Fontan operation. After a mean period of 7.7 years after Fontan operation, PLE was diagnosed at a mean age of 11.6 years. The mean follow-up period was 8.9 years. The survival rates were 81.6% at 5 years and 76.5% at 10 years. In the multivariate analysis, New York Heart Association Functional classification III or IV (p=0.002), low aortic oxygen saturation (<90%) (p=0.003), and ventricular dysfunction (p=0.032) at the time of PLE diagnosis were found as predictors of mortality. PLE was resolved in 10 of the 38 patients after treatment. Among medical managements, an initial heparin response was associated with survival (p=0.043). Heparin treatment resulted in resolution in 4 patients. We found no evidence on pulmonary vasodilator therapy alone. PLE was also resolved after surgical Fontan fenestration (2/6), aortopulmonary collateral ligation (1/1), and transplantation (1/1). Conclusions: The survival rate of patients with Fontan-associated PLE has improved with the advancement of conservative care. Although there is no definitive method, some treatments led to the resolution of PLE in one-fourth of the patients. Further investigations are needed to develop the best prevention and therapeutic strategies for PLE.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.62 no.5
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• pp.382-388
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• 2007

Background: The cognitive function is impaired in patients with hypoxemic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, there are conflicting results regarding the cognitive function in patients with non-hypoxemic COPD. COPD patients also have sleep disorders. This study examined the cognitive function in non-hypoxemic COPD patients, and nocturnal sleep was assessed in COPD patients with a cognitive dysfunction. Methods: Twenty-eight COPD patients (mean age, 70.7 years) with an oxygen saturation > 90%, and 33 healthy control subjects (mean age, 69.5 years) who had visited for a routine check-up were selected. The neurocognitive tests were performed using the Korean version of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD-K) Neuropsychological Battery. Results: The scores of the word list recall test (p=0.03) and the word list recognition test (p=0.006) in the COPD group were significantly lower than those in the control group. Nine patients showed a significantly impaired cognitive function. Seven of these underwent polysomnography, which revealed apnea-hypopnea indices ${\geq}$ five per hour in five patients. The median oxygen desaturation index and median limb movement index were 3.6/h and 38.6/h, respectively. Conclusion: These results suggest that the verbal memory function is impaired in non-hypoxemic COPD patients. Six out of seven COPD patients with an impaired cognitive function had sleep disorders of sleep apnea and/or periodic limb movements during sleep.

• 아동간호학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1997.11a
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• pp.61-74
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• 1997

Endotracheal suctioning is a routine procedure used for clearing secretions from the airway of the intubated infant. This procedure is not without complications. Endotracheal suctioning has been associated with decreases in $PaO_2$, decreases in systemic venous oxygenation, alterations in mean arterial Pressure, disturbances in cardiac rhythm and development of nosocomial pneumonia. So several endotracheal suctioning techniques have been developed to prevent these blown complications. Another method of Endotracheal suctioning eliminates the risk associated with disconnecting the infant from the ventilatior to perform the suctioning procedure. Studies examining closed endotracheal suctioning methods reported that the closed method results in less arterial oxygen saturation, and less systemic venous oxygen desaturation. However those studies have focused on adult patients, and there have been no published studies for newborn infants. The specific purpose of this study is to investigate the two methods and to make a comparison in terms of (1)variations in $SaO_2$, heart rate, and respiration rate appeared before and after the endotracheal suctioning; (2)difference in occurrence of nosocomial infection; (3)difference in recovery time to arrive at pre-suction baseline after suctioning and in nursing time taken for the suctioning. The present study is based on the data obtained from two groups of newborn infants : one group comprises 8 infants with closed suctioning (a total of 304 suctions) among 17 infants treated with ventilator and the other group 9 infants with open method (a total of 629 suctions). The data were analyzed using the SPSS statistical program package. As the distribution test on dependent variables with the Skewnesser Shapiro Wilk test showed an asymmetric distribution, the Wilcoxon Matched-pairs Singled- Ranks test was used for the test of variations in $SaO_2$, heart rate, and respiration rate appeared before and after the endotracheal suctioning. The difference in $SaO_2$ recovery time and nursing time was analyzed with the Mann-Whitney U-Test. The difference in physiologic consequences and occurrence of nosocomial infection between the two groups was analyzed with the Fisher's Exact Test. The results of the study are summarized as follows. For the hypothesis 1 (There would be a difference in $SaO_2$, heart rate, and respiration rate before and after suctioning between the two suctioning methods), the difference in $SaO_2$ turns out to be statistically significant (P=0.015), but heart rate and respiration rate do not procedure a notable difference (P=0.630). The hypothesis 2 (There would be a difference in rates at which a complication arises after suctioning between the two groups) does not prove to be statistically valid (P=0.246). For the hypothesis 3(There would be a difference in $SaO_2$ recovery time and nursing time between the two groups), the average $SaO_2$ recovery time after suctioning turned out to have somewhat significant difference (P=0.064), however the difference in nursing time taken for the suctioning was not statistically significant (P=0.610). The analyses indicate that the closed endotracheal suctioning is more efficient as compared with the open method, in maintaining pre-suction baseline $SaO_2$ and a rapid recovery of newborn infants. Based on these results we suggust to apply the closed method to newborn infants in the ventilation treatment. We also suggest to extend the investigation to include the comparison of suction cost taking into account the case in which a complication arises after endotracheal suctioning between the two groups.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.95-100
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• 2012

This study was determined to analysis marine environmental and phytoplankton monitoring in Wando coastal waters in August during the period of 2009-2010 and provided the basic environmental data against Southwest Sea of Korea. In August, 2009, the distribution of water temperature and salinity showed an unique characteristics for all of stations, which was associated with a long duration of rainfall after July, 2009 and a lack of sunshine. In the lower of August, 2010, the stratification of water temperature and salinity was shown, which was caused by an intensive sunshine after the middle of August, 2010. Gangjin Bay and Gogeundo waters showed a highly different water temperature and transparency. It is thought that two regions have a distinct water mass and characteristics. In dissolved oxygen and oxygen saturation were higher according to higher water depth regardless of stations. In August, 2009, different dominant species occurred that Gangjin Bay showed a higher cell density of diatom, but Gonyaulax polygramma played an important role in dominant species in Gogeundo waters. It is associated with the introduction red tide water of G. polygramma occurring to southern coastal water in August, 2009. In August, 2010, diatom was extremely higher cell density compared with that of dinoflagellate that regarded as adaptive microrganism against higher quantity of suspended solid in Wando waters. Although Wando has a record of Cochlodinium red tide, this species may be difficult to grow and persist. Dominant species, diatom, play an important role in food organism for shellfish and forming a ecological lineage.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.206-217
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• 1995

Background: In patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome(OSAS), there are several factors increasing upper airway resistance and there is a predisposition to compromised respiratory function during waking and sleep related to constitutional factors including a tendency to obesity. Several recent studies have suggested a possible relationship between sleep apnea(SA) and systemic hypertension. But the possible pathophysiologic link between SA and hypertension is still unclear. In this study, we have examined the relationship among age, body mass index(BMI), pulmonary function parameters and polysomnographic data in patients with OSAS. And also we tried to know the difference among these parameters between hypertensive OSAS and normotensive OSAS patients. Methods: Patients underwent a full night of polysomnography and measured pulmonary function during waking. OSAS was diagnosed if patients had more than 5 apneas per hour(apnea index, AI). A careful history of previously known or present hypertension was obtained from each patient, and patients with systolic blood pressure $\geq$ 160mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure $\geq$ 95mmHg were classified as hypertensives. Results: The noctural nadir of arterial oxygen saturation($SaO_2$ nadir) was negatively related to AI and respiratory disturbance index(RDI), and the degree of noctural oxygen desaturation(DOD) was positively related to AI and RDI. BMI contributed to AI, RDI, $SaO_2$ nadir and DOD values. And also BMI contributed to $FEV_1,\;FEV_1/FVC$ and DLco values. There was a correlation between airway resistance(Raw) and AI, and there was a inverse correlation between DLco and DOD. But there was no difference among these parameters between hypertensive OSAS and normotensive OSAS patients. Conclusion: The obesity contributed to the compromised respiratory function and the severity of OSAS. AI and RDI were important factors in the severity of hypoxia during sleep. The measurement of pulmonary function parameters including Raw and DLco may be helpful in the prediction and assessment of OSAS patients. But we could not find clear difference between hypertensive and normotensive OSAS patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Groundwater Environment
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.103-115
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• 2000

The formation of brown-colored precipitates is one of the serious problems frequently encountered in the development and supply of groundwater in Korea, because by it the water exceeds the drinking water standard in terms of color. taste. turbidity and dissolved iron concentration and of often results in scaling problem within the water supplying system. In groundwaters from the Pajoo area, brown precipitates are typically formed in a few hours after pumping-out. In this paper we examine the process of the brown precipitates' formation using the equilibrium thermodynamic and kinetic approaches, in order to understand the origin and geochemical pathway of the generation of turbidity in groundwater. The results of this study are used to suggest not only the proper pumping technique to minimize the formation of precipitates but also the optimal design of water treatment methods to improve the water quality. The bed-rock groundwater in the Pajoo area belongs to the Ca-$HCO_3$type that was evolved through water/rock (gneiss) interaction. Based on SEM-EDS and XRD analyses, the precipitates are identified as an amorphous, Fe-bearing oxides or hydroxides. By the use of multi-step filtration with pore sizes of 6, 4, 1, 0.45 and 0.2 $\mu\textrm{m}$, the precipitates mostly fall in the colloidal size (1 to 0.45 $\mu\textrm{m}$) but are concentrated (about 81%) in the range of 1 to 6 $\mu\textrm{m}$in teams of mass (weight) distribution. Large amounts of dissolved iron were possibly originated from dissolution of clinochlore in cataclasite which contains high amounts of Fe (up to 3 wt.%). The calculation of saturation index (using a computer code PHREEQC), as well as the examination of pH-Eh stability relations, also indicate that the final precipitates are Fe-oxy-hydroxide that is formed by the change of water chemistry (mainly, oxidation) due to the exposure to oxygen during the pumping-out of Fe(II)-bearing, reduced groundwater. After pumping-out, the groundwater shows the progressive decreases of pH, DO and alkalinity with elapsed time. However, turbidity increases and then decreases with time. The decrease of dissolved Fe concentration as a function of elapsed time after pumping-out is expressed as a regression equation Fe(II)=10.l exp(-0.0009t). The oxidation reaction due to the influx of free oxygen during the pumping and storage of groundwater results in the formation of brown precipitates, which is dependent on time, $Po_2$and pH. In order to obtain drinkable water quality, therefore, the precipitates should be removed by filtering after the stepwise storage and aeration in tanks with sufficient volume for sufficient time. Particle size distribution data also suggest that step-wise filtration would be cost-effective. To minimize the scaling within wells, the continued (if possible) pumping within the optimum pumping rate is recommended because this technique will be most effective for minimizing the mixing between deep Fe(II)-rich water and shallow $O_2$-rich water. The simultaneous pumping of shallow $O_2$-rich water in different wells is also recommended.