• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.367-375
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• 2014

Objectives: The main purpose of this study is to produce background data which can be compared with several large-scale industrial complex regions. Methods: The framework of this study was designed to evaluate and monitor health effects associated with low-level and long-term exposure to environmental pollutants. In this study, 1,009 local residents were recruited in the city of Chungju using personal questionnaires, medical check-ups, and allergen skin-prick tests for 12 common allergens. The prevalence rate of skin allergens was reviewed together with that from large-scale industrial areas. Results: The diagnosis prevalence and medical treatment prevalence of asthma was 5.6% and 1.7%, respectively. Allergic rhinitis was 25.4% and 16.7%, allergic dermatitis was 16.6% and 9.9% and allergic conjunctivitis was 18.7% and 7.9%, respectively. These results were similar with those of industrial complexes. The prevalence of allergen skin-prick test was 16.4% and the most common allergen was dust mites (27.9-31.6%). This result was lower than those of the industrial complexes (22.5-39.9%) and Gangneung (18.2-24.7%). Conclusion: Further study is required to find the cause of the regional differences in skin prick prevalence.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.118-125
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• 2016

Purpose: The aims of this study were to evaluate the clinical characteristics of patients with altered sensation and/or pain, and to determine outcome predictors affecting persistent neuropathy. Methods: Patients who complained an altered sensation or pain following trigeminal nerve trauma were involved in this study. To determine outcome predictors affecting persistent neuropathy, the patients were divided into two groups; transient vs. persistent, and the clinical phenotypes are compared between groups. Data were analyzed with t-tests, chi-square, and multiple regression analyses with 95% confidence interval and p<0.05 significance level. Results: A total of 111 patients were included: 23 with transient and 88 persistent groups. The panoramic result and pin-prick test score were statistically different between the groups. Radiating symptoms after blunt and pinprick stimuli were also significantly different between groups. The results revealed that the presence of a neurologic lesion in the panoramic view result, reduced sensation in the pinprick test, and radiation in the pinprick test could affect the persistent group. Conclusions: The presence of a neurologic lesion in panoramic view result and reduced sensation and radiating symptoms in the pin prick test would be defining features of one of the main clinical features of persistent neuropathy. These features could serve as outcome predictors diagnosing the permanent nerve injury in trigeminal nerve.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.35-42
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• 2003

Nitric Oxide(NO) is produced in many organs of the body, including the lung and airways, and it is detectable in the exhaled air. The measurement of exhaled NO(eNO) provides a simple non-invasive means for measuring airway inflammation, such as asthma. We measured eNO among adult male workers to examine the distribution of eNO in healthy people and to find factors affecting eNO. We measured eNO in a sample of 921 adult workers who also performed lung function test and skin prick test. Exhaled NO was measured in a sitting posture without using a nose clip and NO free gas. NO was measured at three expiratory rates(l8; 42; 71 $m\ell$/sec) and the flow rate of 71 $m\ell$/sec was used in analysis. The average eNO concentration was 5.29 $\pm$ 2.98 ppb. The level increased with age but not significantly(P=0.0529). Exhaled NO showed positive relations to the height(P=0.0001), pollen 1 (P=0.0124), asthma history(P=0.0212), allergic rhinitis symptom(P=0.0302). Exhaled NO Concentration of smokers( 4.62 ppb) was significantly lower than that of nonsmokers(5.99 ppb; P<0.0001).

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.239-243
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• 2007

Many allergists are currently focusing on the development of new diagnostic tools, and are attempting to improve both the sensitivity and specificity. A multiple allergen simultaneous test-chemiluminescent assay (MAST-CLA) is one of the most popular diagnostic tools used in the Republic of Korea. However, there remains controversy among allergists with regard to the cut-off point for a positive result. The present study was conducted in order to determine the validity of MAST-CLA as compared with that of the skin prick test, with particular emphasis on arthropod allergens, on the basis of percentage agreement rates and k-values, and also to suggest the optimal positive cutoff points using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The study was conducted with 97 subjects (54 men, 43 women). Optimal individual cut-off points were calculated as follows; class II for Dermatophagoides farinae, class I for Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, and trace for a cockroach mix. These findings suggest that attempting to apply optimal individual cut-off points will be a good way of improving diagnostic tests, particularly MAST-CLA.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.133-140
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• 2003

Objectives : Kochiae Fructus (dried fruits of Kochia scoparia L. Schrad,) is used in the treatment of skin diseases as internal or external medicine in Oriental Medicine, but there has not been experimental study of Kochiae Fructus as an external medicine. The purpose of this study was to investigate if it has certain effects on the skin or not. Methods : By a skin prick test method, we evaluated the effects of wet dressing with Kochiae Fructus decoction in different concentrations on histamine-induced itch, erythema and wheal responses, and compared them with the effects of calamine lotion and distilled water in 8 healthy volunteers aged 26-32. Results : The mean intensity and duration of itch were most decreased after wet dressing with a Kochiae Fructus decoction of 100mg/150ml. The time required for erythema to reach the maximal size was around 5 minutes in all groups, and the size of erythema was smallest on the skin taking wet dressing with the Kochiae Fructus decoction of highest concentration. The size of wheal was also smallest after wet dressing with the highest concentration Kochiae Fructus decoction. The effects of wet dressing with Kochiae Fructus decoction on skin were dependent on their concentrations. Conclusions : Kochiae Fructus suppressed the histamine-induced skin responses, which supports the ancient herbal literatures which describe that Kochiae Fructus has a certain effectiveness on some skin diseases.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.356-364
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• 2005

Purpose: This study is to assess and compare the analgegic effects of $25\%$ sucrose coating pacifier and pacifier. Method: The participants are 75 healthy infants of neonatal age 1-7 days and randomized to receive heel prick before 2 minutes to blood sampling and physiological test in Nursery of A Medical Center from 24. January to 28, February, 2003. The experimental group assigned to one of three treatment groups: no treatment, a pacifier, $25\%$ sucrose coating pacifier. Collected data were analyzed with the SPSS 11.0 program using $x^2$-test, one-way ANOVA and Scheffe, repeated mesured ANOVA. Results: The pain score of $25\%$ sucrose coating pacifier is lower than no treatment group and pacifier group. In heart rate, there were statistical significant differences between three groups. In repiratory rate, there were no statistical significant differences between three groups. In $SaO_2$, there were statistical significant difference between three groups. Conclusion: The $25\%$ sucrose coating pacifier showed pain relief effect in behavior responses and heart rate and $SaO_2$. Accordingly, the sucrose coating pacifier should be applied nursing intervention for simple pain management as heel prick.

• Infection and chemotherapy
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.319-327
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• 2018

Background: Lancet-related needlestick injuries (NSIs) occur steadily in clinical practices. Safety-engineered devices (SEDs) can systematically reduce NSIs. However, the use of SEDs is not active and no study to guide the implementation of SEDs was known in South Korea. The lancet-related NSIs may be eliminated to zero incidence using a SED lancet with effective sharp injury protection and reuse prevention features. Materials and Methods: We implemented a SED lancet by replacing a conventional prick lancet in a tertiary hospital in a sequential approach. A spot test of the new SED was conducted for 1 month to check the acceptability in practice and a questionnaire survey was obtained from the healthcare workers (HCWs). A pilot implementation of the SED lancet in 2 wards was made for 1 year. Based on these preliminary interventions, a hospital-wide full implementation of the SED lancet was launched. The incidence of NSIs and cost expenditure before and after the intervention were compared. Results: There were 29 cases of conventional prick lancet-related NSIs for 3 years before the full implementation of SED lancet. The proportion of prick lancet-related NSIs among yearly all kinds of NSIs during two years before the pilot study was average 11.7% (22/188). Pre-interventional baseline incidence of all kinds of NSIs was 7.01 per 100 HCW-years. After the full implementation of SED lancet, the lancet-related NSIs became zero in the 2nd year (P = 0.001). The average direct cost of 18,393 US dollars (USD) per year from device and post-exposure medical care before the intervention rose to 20,701 USD in the 2nd year of the intervention. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was 210 USD per injury avoided. Conclusion: The implementation of a SED lancet could eliminate the lancet-related NSIs to zero incidence. The cost increase incurred by the use of SED lancet was tolerable.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.37-40
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of study was to compare blood glucose in capillary finger-prick blood and gingival crevice blood using a self-monitoring blood glucose device among patients with gingivitis or periodontitis. Methods: Thirty patients with gingivitis or periodontitis and bleeding on probing (BOP) were chosen. The following clinical periodontal parameters were noted: probing depth, BOP, gingival bleeding index, and periodontal disease index. Blood samples were collected from gingival crevicular blood (GCB) and capillary finger-prick blood (CFB). These samples were analyzed using a glucose self-monitoring device. Results: Descriptive statistical analysis has been carried out in the present study. Data were analyzed using a Pearson's correlation coefficient and Student's t-test. A r-value of 0.97 shows very strong correlation between CFB and GCB, which was statistically highly significant (P<0.0001). Conclusions: The authors conclude that GCB may serve as potential source of screening blood glucose during routine periodontal examination in populations with an unknown history of diabetes mellitus.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.117-123
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• 2008

Allergic diseases have been dramarically increased over recent years, especially in industrialized countries. Oxidative stress has been believed to playa significant role in the occurrence of the allergic inflammatory responses. Although previous studies concerning oxidative stress and systemic inflammation have been reported, few data is available, and other allergic diseases, except for asthma, are hardly studied about the association with oxidative stress. This study evaluated the relationship between allergic disease and Malondialdehyde (MDA) as an indicator of oxidative stress. The study population was 197 male adults living in an industrial area. The ISAAC questionnaire was used to confirm wheezing and rhinitis, and atopy was evaluated by skin prick test. MDA was analyzed by spectrophotometer. To examine bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR), methacholine test was performed, and the index of bronchial responsiveness (BR index) was calculated. We used multivariate logistic regression model and general linear model with SAS program. We found significant associations of MDA with brindex (p=0.023), rhinitis (p=0.016), atopy (p=0.03), adjusted by age, smoking, and body mass index (BMI). On the contrary, there was no significant difference of MDA with the status of asthma. Our result suggests that oxidative stress may playa major role in the occurrence of allergic response in male adults.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.26
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• pp.11.1-11.6
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• 2011

Objects: The prevalence of asthma has increased in recent decades globally. The objective of the present study is to elucidate whether hospitalization for bronchiolitis in infancy and low socioeconomic status interact for bronchial hyperreactivity during teenage years. Method: We studied 522 children age 13-14 years attending schools in rural and urban areas to investigate the risk factors for bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR), defined as a provocation concentration of methacholine that causes a decrease of 20% ($PC_{20}$) in forced expiratory volume within 1 second. Clinical examination, skin prick test, spirometry, and methacholine challenge were performed on all study subjects, who provided written consent. We used multivariate logistic regression to investigate the risk factors for BHR, and analyze the interaction between hospitalization for bronchiolitis in infancy and low socioeconomic status. Results: Forty-six (10.3%) positive BHR cases were identified. In the multivariate logistic analysis, as independent predictors of BHR, adjusted odds ratio of bronchiolitis diagnosed before 2 years of age in low income families was 13.7 (95% confidence interval, 1.4 to 135.0), compared to reference group, controlling for age, gender, parental allergy history, skin prick test, and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure. Interaction was observed between bronchiolitis before 2 years old and low socioeconomic status on children's bronchial hyperreactivity (p-interaction=0.025). Conclusions: This study showed that bronchiolitis diagnosed before 2 years of age and low socioeconomic status interacted on children's bronchial hyperreactivity. Prevention of acute respiratory infection in early childhood in low socioeconomic status is important to prevent BHR as a precursor of asthma.