• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.49-53
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• 2020

Background Identifying patients who may be at high risk for wound complications postsarcoma resection and reconstruction is essential for improving functional outcomes and quality of life. Currently, the effect of timing on sarcoma reconstruction has been poorly investigated. The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes of delayed and immediate reconstruction in the setting of sarcoma resection requiring flap reconstruction in the lower extremity. Methods A retrospective review of the senior author's sarcoma reconstruction patients from January 2005 to July 2017 was completed. All patients undergoing flap reconstruction of the lower extremity were included. Complications in the early postoperative period were compared between delayed and immediate reconstructive procedures. Results A total of 32 patients (7 delayed, 25 immediate) were included in this study. There was a significantly increased rate of overall complications (100% vs. 28.0%, P=0.001) and rate of hematomas (28.6% vs. 0.0%, P=0.042) in the delayed reconstruction group. Other complications including dehiscence, seroma, infection, venous thrombosis, and total/partial flap loss were also increased in the delayed reconstruction group, but this was not considered to be significant. Conclusions This study suggests that delayed reconstruction following sarcoma resection of the lower extremity had a higher incidence of overall complications and hematoma formation. We emphasize the importance of early plastic and reconstructive surgeon referral and the necessity to closely monitor delayed reconstruction patients for complications.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.1290-1300
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• 2022

Objective: "Diagnostic yield," also referred to as the detection rate, is a parameter positioned between diagnostic accuracy and diagnosis-related patient outcomes in research studies that assess diagnostic tests. Unfamiliarity with the term may lead to incorrect usage and delivery of information. Herein, we evaluate the level of proper use of the term "diagnostic yield" and its related parameters in articles published in Radiology and Korean Journal of Radiology (KJR). Materials and Methods: Potentially relevant articles published since 2012 in these journals were identified using MEDLINE and PubMed Central databases. The initial search yielded 239 articles. We evaluated whether the correct definition and study setting of "diagnostic yield" or "detection rate" were used and whether the articles also reported companion parameters for false-positive results. We calculated the proportion of articles that correctly used these parameters and evaluated whether the proportion increased with time (2012-2016 vs. 2017-2022). Results: Among 39 eligible articles (19 from Radiology and 20 from KJR), 17 (43.6%; 11 from Radiology and 6 from KJR) correctly defined "diagnostic yield" or "detection rate." The remaining 22 articles used "diagnostic yield" or "detection rate" with incorrect meanings such as "diagnostic performance" or "sensitivity." The proportion of correctly used diagnostic terms was higher in the studies published in Radiology than in those published in KJR (57.9% vs. 30.0%). The proportion improved with time in Radiology (33.3% vs. 80.0%), whereas no improvement was observed in KJR over time (33.3% vs. 27.3%). The proportion of studies reporting companion parameters was similar between journals (72.7% vs. 66.7%), and no considerable improvement was observed over time. Conclusion: Overall, a minority of articles accurately used "diagnostic yield" or "detection rate." Incorrect usage of the terms was more frequent without improvement over time in KJR than in Radiology. Therefore, improvements are required in the use and reporting of these parameters.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.265-271
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• 2019

The prevalence of human taeniasis has decreased in Korea. The stool egg positive proportion decreased from 1.9% in 1971 to 0% in 2004 in nationwide surveys. The neurocysticercosis (NCC) is also presumed to decrease. However, detailed information regarding the recent status of NCC in Korea is lacking. We retrospectively reviewed NCC cases from 1990 to 2016 at Asan Medical Center, a 2700-bed tertiary referral hospital in Korea. We identified patients based on clinical symptoms, brain imaging, pathology and serological assay. The cases were classified as parenchymal, extraparenchymal, and mixed NCC. Eighty-one patients were included in the analysis. The mean age was 54.5 years, and 79.0% were male. The number of NCC cases was highest from 1995 to 1999, and continuously decreased thereafter. Forty (49.4%) patients had parenchymal NCC, while 25 (30.9%) patients had extraparenchymal NCC, and 16 (19.8%) patients had mixed NCC. The seizure and headache were most common symptom of parenchymal NCC and extraparenchymal NCC respectively. Hydrocephalus was more common in extraparenchymal NCC, and patients with extraparenchymal NCC were more likely to require a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Cases of NCC are decreasing accordingly with human taeniasis and lesion location was the most important determinant of clinical presentation and outcome of NCC in Korea.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.216-224
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate a community-based cancer patient management program (CBPCMP) which was collaborated between a hospice center and public health centers. Methods: The CBPCMP proceeded on four steps; 1) Signing agreements with three public health centers, 2) Enrolling the domiciliary terminal cancer patients, 3) Providing home hospice service, and 4) Inquiring patient's level of satisfaction. From February 1 to December 31 in 2009, 43 terminal cancer patients were referred and provided with home hospice service. The hospice team made a total of 605 visits. Medical records for each visit and data from satisfaction surveys were analyzed. Results: 76.7% of patients were older than 60 years, and 90.7% of the patients were alert. The level of functional status for 76.7% of patients rated as lower than ECOG grade 1. 62.8% of the patients or their caregivers signed hospice service agreements. On the initial evaluation, the most frequent reasons for referral were general weakness (86.0%), followed by anorexia (72.1%). Nurses visited the patients' most frequently (371 visits), followed by volunteers (216 visits). Nurses provided emotional support and health promotion counseling on 95.1% and 22.9% of visits, respectively. The mean satisfaction score rated by patients and their family was 4.45 out of 5. Conclusion: This study tested CBPCMP in collaboration with hospice centers and public health centers. CBPCMP showed a possibility to improve the quality of end of life care. To insure the quality care, however, the guidelines for home hospice service should be developed.

• Journal of Korean Medical Science
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• v.33 no.47
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• pp.292.1-292.10
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• 2018

Background: We investigated the incidence of active tuberculosis among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, with or without latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). Methods: The study was performed at a Korean tertiary referral center between January 2011 and June 2017. In total, 740 patients with IBD who underwent LTBI screening tests and were followed-up for ${\geq}1$ year after TNF inhibitor treatment initiation were enrolled. LTBI was detected on the basis of tuberculin skin test results, interferon-gamma release assay results, chest X-ray findings, and previous tuberculosis treatment history. The patients were classified into LTBI (n = 84) or non-LTBI (n = 656) group. The risk of developing tuberculosis in each group was assessed on the basis of standardized incidence ratio (SIR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for active tuberculosis. Results: Mean patient age was 33.1 years, and patients with Crohn's disease were predominant (80.7%). Within 1 year after the initiation of TNF inhibitor treatment, 1 patient in the LTBI group (1/84; 1.2%) and 7 patients in the non-LTBI group (7/656; 1.1%) developed active tuberculosis. The overall 1-year incidence of tuberculosis among the patients was significantly higher than that among the general population (SIR, 14.0; 95% CI, 7.0-28.0), and SIR was not affected by LTBI status (LTBI group: 14.5, 95% CI, 2.0-102.6; non-LTBI group: 14.0, 95% CI, 6.7-29.4). Conclusion: Patients with IBD undergoing TNF inhibitor treatment showed a higher 1-year incidence of tuberculosis than the general population irrespective of LTBI status.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.70 no.5
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• pp.416-422
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• 2011

Background: Inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) are the most essential medication for asthma control. Many reports suggest that the usage of ICSs improves not only the control of asthma symptoms but also prevents exacerbation. We investigated whether increases in ICS prescriptions are associated with decreases in asthma exacerbation in the clinical practice setting. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the database of adult asthma patients who had visited a tertiary referral hospital, the Asan Medical Center between January 2000 and December 2009. The number of emergency department (ED) visits, admissions, intensive care unit (ICU) care, deaths, and ICS prescriptions were analyzed to evaluate the time trend of asthma exacerbation as a function of the ICS prescription rate during the ten years. Results: The numbers of ED visits, admissions, and episodes of ICU care decreased during the ten years (p<0.001, p=0.033, p=0.001, respectively) while the number of ICS prescriptions increased (p<0.001). We found a correlation between the number of ICS prescriptions and the number of ED visits, admissions, or ICU care. For these outcomes, the correlation coefficients were r=-0.952, p<0.001; r=-0.673, p=0.033; r=-0.948, p<0.001, respectively. Conclusion: The number of ICS prescriptions increased during the past ten years while the number of asthma exacerbations decreased. Our results also showed a negative correlation between the ICS prescription rate and asthma exacerbation in the clinical practice setting. In other words, an increase in ICS prescription may be a major cause of a decrease in asthma exacerbations.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.259-268
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• 1984

The Korean government launched the medicaid program for the poor people as a wing of the social development and welfare programs beginning in 1977 when the fourth 5-year national economic development program started. The charts of the medicaid recipients who visited Jonglo-Gu Health Center for the period from 1981 to 1983 were reviewed and analysed. Major findings from the analysis are as follows. 1. The medicaid recipients occupied 5.19% in 1981, 2.90% in 1982 and 2.00% among the total residents of Jonglo district in 1983, respectively. 2. The mean number of physician visits per person year of medicaid recipients who visited the Jonglo-Gu Health Center was 4.73 in 1981, 4.90 in 1982 and 4.41 in 1983, respectively. 3. The consultation/referral rate at the Jonglo-Gu Health Center was 2.65% in 1981, 1.77% in 1982 and 2.18% in 1983 while the rate at the department of family practice, Seoul National University Hospital was 3.18% in 1983. 4. Classifying into 17 major categories, the pattern of diseases of the poor outpatients who visited the Hallym College Medical Center both in 1981 and 1982 showed a statistically similar pattern of the 5,169 medicaid patients who visited the Jonglo-Gu Health Center in 1981 and 401 patients in 1983. 5. Classifying into 17 major categories, the disease of outpatient visits at the department of family practice, Seoul National University Hospital from 1st May, 1983 to 31s1 Oct., 1983 revealed statistically significant similarity with both the 5,169 medicaid patients in 1981 and the 401 patients sampled in 1983. 6. Classifying into 17 major categories, the diseases of community diagnosis at the Ihwa Dong, Jonglo-Gu also showed a statistically significant similarity with the 5,169 medicaid patients who visited the Jonglo-Gu Health Center in 1981. 7. Classifying into 17 major categories, the diseases of 5,169 medicaid patients at Jonglo-Gu Health Center in 1981 showed a statistically significant similar distribution with that of the 401 sampled medicaid patients at this center in 1983. 8. Among the medicaid patients who utilized the Jonglo-Gu Health Center in 1983, 401 sampled patients who are practicable routine urinalysis composed of 131 indigent group and 270 low-income group. The sample composed of 127 males and 274 females. There were more old patients than the young ones among the 401 sampled patients. 9. Age-adjusted prevalence rate of the hypertension computed by the direct method using estimated of midyear population of 1980 year as the standard is the highest in the Yonsei area and the lowest in the Shindongmyun. Furthermore age-adjusted prevalence rate was higher for males than that of females. 10. The group of hypertension patients using routine urinalysis profile composed of pyuria, hematuria, proteinuria and glycosuria is the most statistical significant, the pyuria alone is very significant, hematuria is significant and proteinuria is also significant.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.855-866
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• 2002

The purpose of study is to develop a home nursing care project model suitable for Korea's heath care system and policy directions for expansion and establishment of home nursing care. Method: The first, status of home nursing care program in medical institution and public health center was evaluated respectively in view of structure, process and performance. And then, issues of the program were analyzed in view of accessibility, safety, and sufficient supply. The second, demand projection of home nursing care according to income level and technical level of service that is needed to the subject was tried. In addition, the level of supply for home nursing care at present was estimated. The third, home nursing care program in advanced countries (Japan and U.S.A.) was examined. Result and Conclusion: Community-based home nursing care program is developed into public-operation model and private-operation model from above the sub-subject result. Functional network for referral system among related institutions is built up to meet various needs, regardless of accessibility to distance and economy. And prior settlements and policy directions for expansion and establishment of home nursing care are suggested.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.536-552
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore how homeless shelter worker and public health nurses perceive health status and health care of homeless shelter residents (HSRs). Methods: Data collected through focus group interviews. In Focus group, in-depth discussions were between 150 to 160 minutes. Data analyzed using Krueger (1998) step analysis. Participants were seven experienced clinical social workers, nurses working homeless shelters, and public health center nurses for dosshouse people. Results: The results were 4 themes and 15 sub-themes: Characteristics of HSRs, perception of health and health problem of HSRs (alcohol related disease, hypertension Diabetics, gastro-intestinal disease, dental disease and infectios disease such as Tuberculosis, musculo-skeletal disease, prostate problem), health care status of HSRs(insufficient health care service, discrimination of medical staff, lack of health care management, low satisfaction community health care services), and the health care proposal of HSRs(nurse in homeless shelter, integrated health care system, understanding of homeless) Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, health care programs focusing on understanding of HSRs and chronic diseases of HSRs increasing steadily although the management system is limited. Therefore, more systemized health care plan and health referral system for homeless people.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.211-238
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• 2016

This study examines indicators and factors for identification of ASD(Autism Spectrum Disorder) characteristics of infants and toddlers and early screening of children with ASD by day care teachers. Focus group interviews were conducted with 11 teachers by a semi-structured questionnaire developed by the authors. The findings are: 1) key problems and indicators of behavioral characteristics of children with ASD included problems with social communication and interactions, restricted and unusual interests, outstanding ability in specific areas, insistence on sameness and ritualized patterns, problems with language development and communication, sensory abnormalities; 2) counseling with parents of children with ASD revealed a lack of recognition of parents, negative expressions of emotions and resistance, and difficulties in referral to and association with experts; 3) needs for ASD in the child care field included visiting by experts, provision of test scales, training of child care teachers and parents, and building cooperative systems; and 4) demands of development and execution of a Korean-style scale for early screening of children with ASD.