• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.193-212
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• 2010

The purpose of our study was to provide effective speech evaluation items examining the variables of speech that successfully predict the speech intelligibility in CP children. The subjects were 55 children with spastic type cerebral palsy. As for the speech evaluation, we performed a speech subsystem evaluation and a speech intelligibility test. The results of the study are as follows. The evaluation task for the speech subsystems consisted of 48 task items within an observational evaluation stage and three levels of severity. The levels showed correlations with gross motor functions, fine motor functions, and age. Second, the evaluation items for the speech subsystems were rearranged into seven factors. Third, 34 out of 48 task items that positively correlated with the syllable intelligibility rating were as follows. There were four items in the observational evaluation stage. Among the nonverbal articulatory function evaluation items, there were 11 items in level one. There were 12 items in level two. In level three there were eight items. Fourth, there were 23 items among the 48 evaluation tasks that correlated with the sentence intelligibility rating. There was one item in the observational evaluation stage which was in the articulatory structure evaluation task. In level one there were six items. In level two, there were eight items. In level three, there was a total number of eight items. Fifth, there was a total number of 14 items that influenced the syllable intelligibility rating. Sixth, there was a total number of 13 items that influenced the syllable intelligibility rating. According to the results above, the variables that influenced the speech intelligibility of CP children among the articulatory function tasks were in the respiratory function task, phonatory function task, and lip and chin related tasks. We did not find any correlation for the tongue function. The results of our study could be applied to speech evaluation, setting therapy goals, and evaluating the degree of progression in children with CP. We only studied children with the spastic type of cerebral palsy, and there were a small number of severe degree CP children compared to those with a moderate degree of CP. Therefore, when evaluating children with other degrees of severity, we may have to take their characteristics more into account. Further study on speech evaluation variables in relation to the severity of the speech intelligibility and different types of cerebral palsy may be necessary.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.11 no.9
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• pp.51-57
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a thoracic mobilization exercise using the Kaltenborn on the convergence lung function. The study was conducted on 20 university students in their 20s over a four-week period. The 20 subjects were randomly selective assigned to a Kaltenborn thoracic mobilization exercise group and diaphragm exercise control group. The experimental group performed a Kaltenborn thoracic mobilization exercise for 30 minutes. The control group performed a diaphragmatic breathing exercise for 30 minutes. Each exercise program was performed three times a week for four weeks. When comparing the breathing capacity of the experimental and controls before and after the experiment, the experimental group showed significant changes in TV, IRV. In testing the differences between the experimental and controls in their changes after the experiment, TV, IRV showed a significant change. Based on the results of this study, a thoracic mobilization exercise using the Kaltenborn thoracic mobilization exercise may have positively affected the extrementals lung function. Therefore, if a thoracic mobilization exercise using the Kaltenborn is combined with a respiratory exercise program in the future, it will likely become a more effective treatment technique.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.34-44
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• 2016

Purpose: A prospective phase II trial was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness and toxicity of regional hyperthermia and whole liver irradiation (WLI) for numerous chemorefractory liver metastases from colorectal cancer. Materials and Methods: Enrolled patients had numerous chemorefractory hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer. Five sessions of hyperthermia and seven fractions of 3-gray WLI were planned. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was determined using the Korean version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of life questionnaire C-30 and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Hepatobiliary version 4.0. Objective and pain response was evaluated. Results: A total of 12 patients consented to the study and the 10 who received WLI and hyperthermia were analyzed. WLI was completed as planned in nine patients and hyperthermia in eight. Pain response was partial in four patients and stable in four. Partial objective response was achieved in three patients (30.0%) and stable disease was seen in four patients at the 1-month follow-up. One patient died 1 month after treatment because of respiratory failure related to pleural metastasis progression. Other grade III or higher toxicities were detected in three patients; however, all severe toxicities were related to disease progression rather than treatment. No significant difference in HRQoL was noted at the time of assessment for patients who were available for questionnaires. Conclusion: Combined WLI and hyperthermia were well tolerated without severe treatment-related toxicity with a promising response from numerous chemorefractory hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.45-54
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• 2002

The study was carried out to characterize the pharmacokinetics after intravenous (iv, 20 mg/kg) and oral (p.o. 100 mg/kg) administration as oxytetracycline (OTC) and tiamulin (TIA) mixture in swine and to determine interaction between OTC and TIA against various pig pathogenic bacteria. The antibacterial effects of OTC in combination with TIA in vitro showed synergistic effect against Salmonella typhimurium 1925, Pasteurella multocida Type A, P. multocida Type D, Krebsiella Pneumoniae 2001, K. Pneumoniae 1560, K. Pneumoniae 2208, Haemophillus pleuropneumonia S 2, and H. pleuropneumonia S 5, but against additive effect E. coli K88ab and S. choleraesuis on the basis of fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) index. On the while, after i.v. and p.o. administration of OTC and TIA mixture, each OTC and TIA concentrations in plasma were fitted to an open two-compartment model. After i.v. administration of OTC-TIA mixture, the mean distribution half-life ($T_{1/2{\alpha}}$) of OTC and TIA in plasma showed 0.29 h and 0.17 h, and the mean elimination half-life ($T_{1/2{\beta}}$) of those was 4.36 h and 6.64 h, respectively. The mean volume of distribution at steady state ($Vd_{ss}$) of OTC and TIA was $0.85{\ell}/kg$ and $2.44{\ell}/kg$, respectively. After oral administration of OTC and TIA mixture, the mean maximal absorption concentrations ($C_{max}$) of OTC and TIA were $0.60{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ at 1.07 h ($T_{max}$) and $1.68{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ at 1.85 h ($T_{max}$), respectively. The mean elimination half-life ($T_{1/2{\beta}}$) of those showed 6.84 h and 6.36 h. In conclusion, we could suggest in this study that the combination of OTC and TIA may be recommended for the antibacterial therapy against polymicrobial infections, and both OTC and TIA showed large distribution to tissues and high $C_{max}$ after p.o. administration.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.309-316
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• 2021

Sepsis is a physiological response to a source of infection that triggers mechanisms that compromise organ function, leading to death if not treated early. Biomarkers with high sensitivity, specificity, speed, and accuracy that could differentiate sepsis from non-infectious systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) could bring about a revolution in sepsis treatment. Given the limitations and time required for microbial verification of pathogens, the accurate diagnosis of infection before employing antibiotic therapy is important and clinically necessary. Procalcitonin (PCT), lactate, C-reactive protein (CRP), cytokines, and proadrenomedullin (ProADM) are the common biomarkers used for diagnosis. The procalcitonin (PCT)-guided antibiotic treatment in patients with acute respiratory infections effectively reduces antibiotic exposure and side effects while improving survival rates. The evidence regarding sepsis screening in hospitalized patients is limited. Clinicians, researchers, and healthcare decision-makers should consider these findings and limitations when implementing screening tools, future research, or policy on sepsis recognition in hospitalized patients. The use of biomarkers in pediatric sepsis is promising, although such use should always be correlated with clinical evaluation. Biomarkers may also improve the prediction of mortality, especially in the early phase of sepsis, when the levels of certain pro-inflammatory cytokines and proteins are elevated.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.380-386
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• 2021

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has become a public health emergency of global concern. In China, traditional Chinese medicine has been widely administered to COVID-19 patients without sufficient evidence. To evaluate the efficacy of Shenhuang Granule (SHG) for treating critically ill patients with COVID-19, we included in this study 118 patients who were admitted to the ICU of Tongji Hospital between January 28, 2020 and March 28, 2020. Among these patients, 33 (27.9%) received standard care plus SHG (treatment group) and 85 (72.1%) received standard care alone (control group). Enrolled patients had a median (IQR) age of 68 (57-75) years, and most (79 [67.1%]) were men. At end point of this study, 83 (70.3%) had died in ICU, 29 (24.5%) had been discharged from ICU, and 6 patients (5.2%) were still in ICU. Compared with control group, mortality was significantly lower in treatment group (45.4% vs. 80%, p < .001). Patients in treatment group were less likely to develop acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (12 [36.3%] vs. 54 [63.5%], p = 0.012) and cardiac injury (5 [15.1%] vs. 32 [37.6%], p = 0.026), and less likely to receive mechanical ventilation (22 [66.7%] vs. 72 [84.7%], p = 0.028) than those in control group. The median time from ICU admission to discharge was shorter in treatment group (32 [20-73] days vs. 76 [63-79] days, p = 0.0074). These findings suggest that SHG treatment as a complementary therapy might be effective for critically ill adults with COVID-19 and warrant further clinical trials.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.421-425
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• 2018

Methanol is a clear, colorless, volatile, and poisonous liquid that is commonly used as an industrial solvent. Visual impairment is a common symptom of methanol poisoning; however, visual impairment rarely occurs after exposure through inhalation. Therefore, visual loss after methanol intoxication via respiration has rarely been reported. We report a case of visual damage associated with methanol poisoning via respiratory exposure in an industrial setting. In this case in South Korea, a 28-year-old woman who worked at a cell phone factory was admitted to the emergency department with mental changes. She had blurred vision that began two days prior, but she did not come to the hospital until she experienced mental changes. She ranked 9 on the Glasgow Coma Scale and presented with severe metabolic acidosis. So, she was admitted to intensive care, and continuous renal replacement therapy was performed. Finally, she was discharged after recovery of her mental state, but had to undergo rehabilitation for six months. Also, her visual impairment was permanent. Methanol intoxication can occur through inhalation, which is difficult to detect initially. However, treatment of methanol poisoning is time-critical. Therefore, doctors should always keep in mind that methanol intoxication may occur via respiration. If in doubt, treatment should be given as soon as possible.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.10
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• pp.67-74
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to determine whether changes of position might effect the convergence pulmonary function of the 20s men of mild intellectual disabilities with obesity. Ten subjects of mild intellectual disabilities with obesity(fat group) and ten contrary subjects without obesity(control group) were participated in the experiment. Subjects were assessed for their pulmonary function by using Fit mate according to the position changes(supine position, 45 lean sitting position, 90 sitting position). One-way repeated ANOVA analyzed each region data of pulmonary function of both the fat group and the control group according to their position changes. The result of the experiment showed that the 20s men of mild intellectual disabilities with obesity have lower pulmonary function than the contrary subjects in the each given posture. In comparison with three experimental positions, supine position was the lowest in the pulmonary function. This study showed the 20s men of mild intellectual disabilities with obesity have lower function of pulmonary volume than the control group, and thus, it suggests that the pulmonary functional data of 20s men of mild intellectual disabilities with obesity in this experiment can be used as a basic respiratory one for the various exercise programs in the area of the physical activities.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.45.1-45.22
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• 2023

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) involves persistent inflammation and fibrosis, leading to respiratory failure and even death. Adult tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) show potential in ILD therapeutics but obtaining an adequate quantity of cells for drug application is difficult. Daewoong Pharmaceutical's MSCs (DW-MSCs) derived from embryonic stem cells sustain a high proliferative capacity following long-term culture and expansion. The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic potential of DW-MSCs in experimental mouse models of ILD. DW-MSCs were expanded up to 12 passages for in vivo application in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis and collagen-induced connective tissue disease-ILD mouse models. We assessed lung inflammation and fibrosis, lung tissue immune cells, fibrosis-related gene/protein expression, apoptosis and mitochondrial function of alveolar epithelial cells, and mitochondrial transfer ability. Intravenous administration of DWMSCs consistently improved lung fibrosis and reduced inflammatory and fibrotic markers expression in both models across various disease stages. The therapeutic effect of DW-MSCs was comparable to that following daily oral administration of nintedanib or pirfenidone. Mechanistically, DW-MSCs exhibited immunomodulatory effects by reducing the number of B cells during the early phase and increasing the ratio of Tregs to Th17 cells during the late phase of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Furthermore, DW-MSCs exhibited anti-apoptotic effects, increased cell viability, and improved mitochondrial respiration in alveolar epithelial cells by transferring their mitochondria to alveolar epithelial cells. Our findings indicate the strong potential of DW-MSCs in the treatment of ILD owing to their high efficacy and immunomodulatory and anti-apoptotic effects.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.48.1-48.21
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• 2023

Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) possess immunoregulatory properties and their regulatory functions represent a potential therapy for acute lung injury (ALI). However, uncertainties remain with respect to defining MSCs-derived immunomodulatory pathways. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the mechanism underlying the enhanced effect of human recombinant bone morphogenic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) primed ES-MSCs (MSC^BMP2) in promoting Tregs in ALI mice. MSC were preconditioned with 100 ng/ml rhBMP-2 for 24 h, and then administrated to mice by intravenous injection after intratracheal injection of 1 mg/kg LPS. Treating MSCs with rhBMP-2 significantly increased cellular proliferation and migration, and cytokines array reveled that cytokines release by MSC^BMP2 were associated with migration and growth. MSC^BMP2 ameliorated LPS induced lung injury and reduced myeloperoxidase activity and permeability in mice exposed to LPS. Levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase were decreased while levels of total glutathione and superoxide dismutase activity were further increased via inhibition of phosphorylated STAT1 in ALI mice treated with MSC^BMP2. MSC^BMP2 treatment increased the protein level of IDO1, indicating an increase in Treg cells, and Foxp3⁺CD25⁺ Treg of CD4⁺ cells were further increased in ALI mice treated with MSC^BMP2. In co-culture assays with MSCs and RAW264.7 cells, the protein level of IDO1 was further induced in MSC^BMP2. Additionally, cytokine release of IL-10 was enhanced while both IL-6 and TNF-α were further inhibited. In conclusion, these findings suggest that MSC^BMP2 has therapeutic potential to reduce massive inflammation of respiratory diseases by promoting Treg cells.