• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.68 no.3
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• pp.162-167
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• 2010

Background: To date, there are few data on the risk factors for severe cases and deaths associated with the 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza A. Here, we describe the clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of patients hospitalized for pneumonia and identify those factors associated with the development of major complications (MC). Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 41 cases of pneumonia admitted to a university-affiliated tertiary hospital between Aug 26 and Dec 10, 2009, and who had confirmed H1N1 influenza A based on real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase-chain-reaction assay. There were 7,962 patients that fit these criteria. We compared the clinical features and demographic characteristics of patients who developed MC to with those who did not develop MC. Results: During the study period, 10 patients developed MC (required admission to the intensive care unit, n=10; required ventilator therapy, n=6; death, n=4). Patients with MC were significantly older than those without MC and more frequently had underlying medical conditions (90.0% vs 41.9%, p-value <0.01). In the patients with developed MC, the median $PaO_2/FiO_2$ ratio of 230.0 (145.0~347.3) at admission and pneumonia severity index (PSI) score of 141.5 (88.3~158.5) were higher than patients without MC. However, no differences were observed in laboratory findings or in viral shedding between the 2 groups. Conclusion: In hospitalized pneumonia patients of 2009 H1N1 influenza, old age, a history of malignancy, initial hypoxemia, $PaO_2/FiO_2$ ratio, and PSI score appear to be risk factor significantly related to developing MC. These findings might be the basis to influence strategies for admitting patients to an intensive or intermediate care unit and for pre-emptive antiviral therapy.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.75-81
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• 2005

Community acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains a prevalent and potentially life threatening illness. American Thoracic Society and Infectious Disease Society America recommend combination therapies with ${\beta}-lactam$ plus a macrolide or a fluoroquinolone monotherapy for the empirical treatment of CAP. The aim of this study was to compare moxifloxacin monotherapy with cephalosporin plus azithromycin combination therapies. From January 2004 to March 2005, 18 patients in the moxifloxacin group(MG) and 21 patients in the cefuroxime or ceftriaxone plus azithromycin group(CAG) with CAP were retrospectively reviewed with regard to clinical, laboratory and microbiological data. Each patient was stratified into mild (risk class I-II), moderate (risk class III) and severe (risk class VI, V) group according to and PSI (Pneumonia Severity Index) score. Each group was compared for microbiological eradication, clinical assessment, the length of hospital stay. As results, Total 39 patients with CAP were reviewed. The appropriateness of admission was 83.3% in MC vs. 76.2% in CAC. The mean length of the hospital day was for 8.31 days vs. 7.39 days, days switching parenteral to oral antibiotics in 5.19 days vs. 5.28 days, clinical improvement in 2.43 days vs. 2.61 days in MG vs. CAC. Radiological improvement required 3.75 days vs 3.63 days in MG vs. CAG and bacteriological eradication rate at discharge was the same in the both groups. Mortality rate was 11.1% (2 of 18) vs 14.3% (3 of 21) in MG vs. CAG (p=0.77). Drug cost of the mean 5 hospital days requiring parenteral antibiotics was the most inexpensive in moxifloxacin group for the 147,045 won, and ceftriaxone 1g-azithromycin group for the 170,285 won, cefuroxime bid-azithromycin group for the 207,800 won, ceftriaxone 2g-azithromycin group far the 220,570 won, cefuroxime tid-azithromycin group for the 251,700 won. There was no significant statistical difference in clinical, bacterial, radiological cure and hospital days, and switch to oral days. In conclusion, that i.v. moxifloxacin monotherapy was as effective as azithromycin plus cefuroxime or ceftriaxone combination therapies fur the treatment of CAP. In drug cost analysis, moxifloxacin is less expensive than CAG.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.136-145
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• 2010

Objectives: Electroacupuncture according to Voll (EAV) has been used to quantify the skin's electrical resistance and conductance over acupuncture points that, based on traditional Chinese medicine, represent the state of health or disease of the organ or tissue. However, it doesn't have enough objective data yet, so the purpose of this study was to aid in the use of EAV in analysis of cerebrovascular disease risk factors. Methods: This study researched the clinical statistics of 216 cases: cerebrovascular attack (CVA) group 43, control group 173. We measured control meridian points (CMP) on hands and feet and the cardio ankle vascular index (CAVI) which represents atherosclerosis severity, and sex, age, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and obesity. The data were then analyzed by t-test, chi-square test and logistic regression. Results: Between the CVA and control groups, there were not statistically significant differences in CMP. However, logistic regression analysis of the presence of CVA, mean of CMP heart and lung, sex, age, DBP (diastolic blood pressure), and HDL (high density lipoprotein) cholesterol showed that the risk of CVA was 1.1 times increased with CMP heart (p=0.002), in men was 4.12 times higher than in women (p=0.001), 1.09 times higher with age (p=0.000), 1.04 times higher with DBP (p=0.045), while was lower by 0.924 times with CMP lung (p=0.005) and 0.957 times with HDL cholesterol (p=0.006). Conclusion: Although there were not clear evidence or mechanisms about EAV, this study showed that if we study EAV further, we may be able to apply EAV as an objective instrument of oriental medicine in cerebrovascular disease.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.127-136
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• 2009

Purpose: It is known that aspiration pneumonitis is associated with high mortality and morbidity following overdose. However, until now, few domestic studies on this subject have been conducted. The main aim of this study is to investigate the risk factors associated with aspiration pneumonitis in intubated patients following overdose. Methods: Among 654 adult overdosed patients who visited our institution from Jan. 2006 to June 2008, we enrolled 70 intubated patients within 24 hours after their overdose, and we reviewed the medical records to collect the data. This data was processed by univariate analysis, followed by multiple logistic regression analysis. P values <0.05 were deemed statistically significant. Results: In our study, a high incidence of pneumonitis was seen in the patients with an older age, a lower GCS and a high poisoning severity score or a high comorbidity score (p<0.05). Compared with the non-pneumonitis group, the pneumonitis group had a higher incidence of intubation (6% vs 61.8%, respectively, p<0.05). The main cause of intubation was a decreased mentality (68.6%). Older age, a high comorbidity score, irrigation without airway protection, relative hypoxemia and hyperkalemia were the risk factors of aspiration pneumonitis in the intubated overdosed patients (p<0.05). Among these factors, age, a high potassium level and airway protection might be significant predictors of aspiration penumonitis (p<0.05). Conclusion: Older age, a high potassium level and irrigation without proper airway protection may be the significant factors that can predict aspiration pneumonitis in patients who are intubated within 24 hours after overdose, although the further investigations on this are needed.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.119-129
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• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate mental health problems in obese child and adolescent patients. We assess the frequency of mental health problems and their differences according to sex, school grade and severity of obesity. Methods: The sample consisted of 106 children and adolescents aged 8-16 years (61 boys with mean age $10.98{\pm}2.26$, 45 girls with mean age $9.74{\pm}1.96$, p=.004) who were diagnosed with obesity and recruited at the Department of Pediatrics of Jeju National University Hospital. The participants completed the Korean-Child Behavior Checklist (K-CBCL), Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), Korean version of the Eating Attitude Test-26 (KEAT-26), and somatotype drawings. Results: The percentage of participants having a T-score in clinical range on one or more CBCL subscale was 37.7%. The percentage of participants in the high risk group for depression (CDI score above 17) was 20.8% and that in the high risk group for eating disorder (EAT-26 score above 20) was 6%. The girls showed significantly lower CBCL T-scores in social competence ($48.39{\pm}15.66$ vs. $38.91{\pm}22.04$, p=.011), adjustment function ($49.51{\pm}17.35$ vs. $40.38{\pm}22.58$, p=.020) and school competence ($53.34{\pm}10.47$ vs. $48.22{\pm}15.11$, p=.042) than the boys, but the percentages of boys and girls in clinical range were not significantly different. The middle school students showed (significantly) higher CBCL T-scores in somatic symptoms ($60.86{\pm}9.44$ vs. $55.74{\pm}6.76$, p=.005), aggressive behavior ($58.81{\pm}6.74$ vs. $54.68{\pm}6.22$, p=.009), total problems ($59.86{\pm}9.91$ vs. $54.88{\pm}9.76$, p=.039) and externalizing problems ($57.90{\pm}10.57$ vs. $52.44{\pm}9.38$, p=.022) than the elementary school students. The severe obesity group showed significantly higher CBCL T-scores in attention problems ($59.18{\pm}9.45$ vs. $54.15{\pm}5.34$, p=.001), social problems ($59.25{\pm}8.59$ vs. $55.96{\pm}6.50$, p=.038), delinquent behavior ($58.07{\pm}6.97$ vs. $54.73{\pm}6.00$, p=.017) and total problems ($59.21{\pm}11.65$ vs. $54.67{\pm}9.03$, p=.037) than the mild to moderate obesity group. Conclusion: Significant proportions of obese children and adolescents suffer from mental health problems. Clinicians need to pay attention to the mental health risk, especially in obese adolescents and severely obese children and adolescents.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.73 no.1
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• pp.38-47
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• 2012

Background: The prevalence rate of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is steadily decreasing in South Korea. However, PTB is a disease with relatively high mortality and morbidity rates throughout Korea. Although there are many studies and statistics about the risk factors of PTB mortality in many countries, there are only a limited number of domestic papers on this topic. The aim of this study is to determine predictive factors for mortality among in-hospital patients associated with PTB. Methods: From December 2006 to January 2011, we reviewed medical records of 2,122 adult patients diagnosed with tuberculosis at a single tertiary hospital in a suburban area. In this study period, 960 patients were diagnosed with PTB by positive Acid fast bacilli smear and/or mycobacterial culture of the respiratory specimen. We compared the groups of patients deceased and patients discharged alive with PTB. The number of dead patients was 82 (47 males, 35 females). Results: Mortality was significantly associated with increased values of white blood cells (WBC), blood urine nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, C-reactive protein (CRP), numbers of involved lung field, and length of hospitalization. Also, it was associated with the decreased values of hemoglobin, lymphocyte, sodium, albumin, and cholesterol. Furthermore, admission through the emergency department, initial intensive care unit admission, and drug resistant PTB affected mortality in PTB patients. Independent predictors associated with PTB mortality are BUN, initial intensive care unit care, and admission during treatment of tuberculosis. Conclusion: In our study, mortality of pulmonary tuberculosis was related with parameters associated with nutritional status, disease severity at the time of admission, and drug resistance.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.118-124
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• 2018

Objectives Although impulsivity has long been thought as an important factor influencing suicidal behaviors, it is unknown whether impulsivity increases the risk of dying from suicidal behaviors and what specific component among constructs of impulsivity contributes to the risk of dying among suicide attempters. Methods To elucidate the association between impulsivity and medical lethality of suicide attempt among suicide attempters, we consecutively recruited 46 suicide attempters who visited an emergency room of a general hospital located in a metropolitan area, Seoul, Republic of Korea, due to suicide attempts and consented to participate in this study. Then we assessed medical lethality with the Beck Lethality Scale (LS) and impulsivity with the Korean version of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11-Revised (BIS). Demographic variables were obtained from medical records and structured social work reports for suicide attempters. Results Although total scores of the BIS did not correlate with LS scores, only the scores of self-control, that is one of the Barrett's six theoretical constructs of impulsivity in which the higher score indicates less self-control and more impulsivity, had a significant positive correlation with scores of LS (p = 0.003). The association remained significant after adjusting for variables known to affect suicide lethality such as job status, recent alcohol consumption, diagnosis of depressive disorders, and having a plan for suicide (${\beta}=0.429$, p = 0.009). Conclusions Not impulsivity in general, but poor self-control, in particular, predicts lethal suicidal behaviors among suicide attempters. The degree of self-control should be evaluated when assessing patients with elevated suicide risk, and proper measures should be installed to prevent possible future lethal suicide attempts.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.49-70
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• 2021

Objectives : This study was conducted to approve the effectiveness and safety of herbal medicine on presbycusis with kidney deficiency. Methods : We searched randomized controlled trials(RCTs) on presbycusis patients diagnosed with kidney deficiency through 10 electronic databases from the start to Sep 7, 2021. Study collection and data extraction, and evaluation of risk of bias were conducted by two independent collaborator. The evaluation of the risk of bias in included RCTs was carried out by using Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. And the data synthesis was conducted by using Review Manager(RevMan, ver.5.4). Results : 1. The treatment group which used herbal medicine(HM) alone was more effective than the control group which used only western medicine(WM) on effective rate of hearing loss. 2. In 3 studies comparing the HM-WM combination treatment group with the control groups using the same WM treatment, the effective rate was statistically significantly higher in the HM-WM combination treatment group. 3. Of the 5 studies that reported adverse reactions, one study reported mild nausea and dizziness, but the difference between the HM treatment group and the WM control group was not statistically significant, and no side effects occurred in other 3 studies. 4. In studies comparing HM and WM, the HM treatment group improved hearing loss, whole blood viscosity, serum TNF-𝛼, IL-1𝛽, IL-6, and oxidative stress indicators better than the WM control group, and there was no significant difference. 5. In studies comparing the HM-WM treatment group with the WM control group, the severity of tinnitus, quality of life, and feelings of anxiety and depression were better in the treatment group than the control group. Conclusions : This study shows that the herbal medicine can improve symptoms of presbycusis with kidney deficiency.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.546-558
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• 2020

While industrialization has provided in abundance, the pollution it creates has caused untold damage to the environment, increasing the frequency and severity of natural disasters through changes in global climate patterns. The World Risk Forum's (WEF) World Risk Report presented the results of a survey of experts from around the world detailing the most influential risk factors over the next decade. Notably, the failure to respond to climate change ranked first and the global water crisis third. The extreme drought in the western Chungnam province was unexpected in 2016. At the time, the water level of Boryeong Dam was drastically decreased due to receiving less than half the average recorded rainfall in the region that year. The Boryeong Dam diversion pipeline has the capacity to solve the water shortage problem between these two regions by providing water from Geumgang to the western part of Chungnam, including Boryeong City. Current weather trends suggest drought is likely to continue in western Chungnam, which uses the Boryeong Dam as an intake source. This makes it necessary to operate Boryeong Dam diversion pipeline in an efficient and effective manner. SWAT is a watershed scale model developed to predict the impact of land management practices on water. The SWAT model was used in this study to evaluate the adequacy of the Boryeong Dam diversion pipeline operational plan by comparing it to present Boryeong Dam diversion pipeline operation. By investigating the number of days required to reach each reservoir stage, we determined that the number of days required to reach the boundary stage was less than that of the current operation. This determination accounts for the caveats that the Boryeong Dam waterway was not operated and only one pump will be operated from October to May of next year. As our results suggest, the most stable operation scenario is to operate two pumps at all times. This can be accomplished by operating two pumps from the caution stage to increase the number of pumps whenever the stage is raised. In addition to the stable operation of the Boryeong Dam pipeline, policy considerations are required with regard to imposing a water use charge on users of the Boryeong Dam region.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.192-204
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• 2023

This study aimed to determine the criteria for quantifying developmental defects of enamel in primary teeth in premature babies and to investigate the severity of developmental defects according to the gestational age, birth weight, systemic complications, and treatments received after preterm birth. Birth information, a history of complications, the duration of parenteral nutrition, and endotracheal intubation were investigated by retrospectively reviewing the admission and discharge records of premature babies in the neonatal intensive care unit. The Preterm Developmental Defects of Enamel (PDDE) index was designed by modifying the existing developmental defects of enamel index. Based on PDDE index, the evaluator scored developmental defects of enamel by classifying them as enamel hypomineralization and hypoplasia. The PDDE scores in the extremely preterm and extremely low birth weight groups were significantly higher than those in other groups. Furthermore, PDDE scores of premature babies with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, rickets, intraventricular hemorrhage, or necrotizing colitis were significantly higher than those in the control group. In addition, more than 50 days of endotracheal intubation and more than 20 days of parenteral nutrition were associated with significantly higher PDDE scores than those in the control group and were risk factors for developmental defects of enamel. This study provides basic information for identifying risk factors for developmental defects of enamel in premature babies.