• 지역사회간호학회지
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.62-73
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to identify differences in BMI between early and late elderly people, and factors having influence of them. Methods: This study is an analysis of secondary data that used the raw materials from the KNHANES from 2008 to 2010. The subjects involved in the final analysis were 4,772 elders aged 65 or higher. Descriptive statistics, $x^2$-test and F-test, and CSGLM from the complex sample design were used for the data analysis with SPSS/WIN 19.0. Results: Significant differences were observed in the socio-demographic characteristics, health behaviors and diet habits between early and late elderly people. Adjusted for gender, location of residence, and living alone, the factors that affected BMI of the early elderly people included current smoking status, number of disease, difficulty in chewing, and number of meals per day while those that affected BMI of the late elderly people were current smoking status, number of disease, self-rated health, and difficulty in chewing. Conclusion: The study concludes that we should consider age-specific traits for monitoring the weight status of the elderly and providing appropriate weight management programs for the elderly.

• 대한치과의사협회지
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• 제49권3호
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• pp.136-145
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• 2011

Oral cavity cancer accounts for approximately 3-4% of all malignancies and is a significant worldwide health problem. The Korea Central Cancer Registry estimates that there will be approximately 1500 new cases of oral cancer in Korea. Oral cancer occurs most commonly in middle-aged and elderly individuals. The majority of oral malignancies occur as squamous cell carcinomas and despite remarkable advances in treatment modalities, the 5-year survival rate has not significantly improved over the past several decades, hovering at about 50% to 60%. The unfavorable 5-year survival rate may be attributable to several factors. First, oral cancer is often diagnosed at a late stage, with late stage 5-year survival rates as low as 22%. Additionally, the development of secondary primary tumors in patients with early stage disease has a major impact on survival. The early detection of oral cancer and premalignant lesions offers the promise to cure chance of oral cancer. The major diagnostics moddalities for oral cancer include oral cavity examination, supravital staining, oral cytology, and optical detection systems. But the clinical finding of oral mucosa is the most important key to confirm the oral cancer until now. The traditional clinical examination of oral cavity can be performed quickly, is without additional diagnostic expense to patients, and may be performed by health care professionals. Therefore, clinicians must be well-acquainted with clinical characteristics of oral cancer and practice routine screening for oral cancer in dental clinic to decrease the morbidity and mortality of disease.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제39권3호
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• pp.181-189
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• 2022

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive neurodegenerative condition characterized by loss of motor neurons, resulting in motor weakness of the limbs and/or bulbar muscles. Pain is a prevalent but neglected symptom of ALS, and it has a significant negative impact on the quality of life of patients and their caregivers. This review outlines the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, underlying mechanisms, and management strategies of pain in ALS to improve clinical practice and patient outcomes related to pain. Pain is a prevalent symptom among patients with ALS, with a variable reported prevalence. It may occur at any stage of the disease and can involve any part of the body without a specific pattern. Primary pain includes neuropathic pain and pain from spasticity or cramps, while secondary pain is mainly nociceptive, occurring with the progression of muscle weakness and atrophy, prolonged immobility causing degenerative changes in joints and connective tissue, and long-term home mechanical ventilation. Prior to treatment, the exact patterns and causes of pain must first be identified, and the treatment should be tailored to each patient. Treatment options can be classified into pharmacological treatments, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antiepileptic drugs, drugs for cramps or spasticity, and opioid; and nonpharmacological treatments, including positioning, splints, joint injections, and physical therapy. The development of standardized and specific assessment tools for pain-specific to ALS is required, as are further studies on treatments to reduce pain, diminish suffering, and improve the quality of life of patients with ALS.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• 제47권3호
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• pp.126-134
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to propose an efficient treatment approach for infection with different candida species. Methods: Fifty-three patients who presented with a chief complaint of oral mucosal pain and exhibited positive candida culture findings were divided into two groups (Candida albicans and non-albicans). Pain, mucosal manifestations, salivary flow rates, durations of disease and treatment, and responses to treatment (nystatin and clonazepam) were investigated in both groups. Results: Patients in the C. albicans group exhibited more prominent clinical characteristics (erythematous lesions, tongue coatings, and hyperalgesia) than those in the non-albicans group. In total, 70% of patients in the non-albicans group showed no abnormalities in the oral mucosa. Patients in the C. albicans group showed increased resistance to nystatin treatment compared to those in the non-albicans group, especially with longer disease durations. The patients resistant to nystatin treatment showed positive responses to clonazepam. Conclusions: Patients with oral mucosal pain should be tested for the presence of Candida, even in the absence of mucosal abnormalities, especially those infected with non-albicans species. If no response to antifungal therapy is observed, treatment with clonazepam should be initiated, especially in patients infected with C. albicans.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제40권3호
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• pp.188-200
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• 2023

Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) disease is a condition in which the stomach contents return to the larynx and pharynx via the esophagus, causing mucosal injury. While conventional treatments, such as proton pump inhibitors, have limitations, acupuncture has been shown to reduce LPR symptoms. However, its effectiveness has not been systematically assessed. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating LPR. We review 10 electronic databases with a consistent search strategy, and 2 independent reviewers screened the articles based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. This study selected and analyzed 7 randomized controlled trials after the screening to assess primary outcomes, including reflux symptom index and reflux finding score, and secondary outcomes, including upper and lower esophageal sphincter pressure. The results revealed the statistically significant effectiveness of acupuncture in combination with conventional treatment in reducing LPR symptoms compared with conventional treatment alone. The most commonly used acupuncture points were CV22, ST36, and LR3. However, the meta-analysis demonstrated low reliability, as assessed using the GRADE Tool. Further research is needed to improve the evidence and draw clear conclusions regarding the clinical use of acupuncture for treating LPR.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• 제39권2호
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• pp.181-190
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• 2023

The fungal pathogen Pseudocercospora fuligena, known to affect tomatoes in the tropics and subtropics, has been reported from temperate climates including the United States and Turkey in recent years. In this study, an isolate from fresh tomatoes and the disease it causes were characterized and infection mechanisms investigated. Macroscopically, both sides of tomato leaves show indistinct effuse patches but prolific production of fuliginous lesions is conspicuous on the abaxial side first but also on the adaxial side later on as infection progressed. Microscopically, fascicles of conidiophores (11-128 ㎛ × 3.5-9 ㎛) arising from stromata and conidia with up to 12 septations were observed. Molecular characterization of the isolate revealed high homology (99.8%) to other P. fuligena isolated from tomatoes in Turkey. Out of the 10 media tested, P. fuligena grew significantly well and sporulated better on unsealed tomato oatmeal agar and carrot leaf decoction agar, both supplemented with CaCO₃. Direct transfer of conidia from profusely sporulating lesions was the easiest and quickest method of isolation for in-vitro studies. Light and scanning electron microscopy on cleared and intact tomato leaves further confirmed stomatal penetration and egress as well as prevalence of primary and secondary infection hyphae. In situ, blocked stomatal aperture areas of 154, 401, and 2,043 ㎛² were recorded at 7, 12, and 17 days after inoculation, respectively. With the recent expanded horizon of the pathosystem and its consequential impact, such studies will be useful for a proper diagnosis, identification and management of the disease on tomato worldwide.

• BMB Reports
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• 제56권12호
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• pp.645-650
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• 2023

Numerous studies have investigated the cellular prion protein (PrP^C) since its discovery. These investigations have explained that its structure is predominantly composed of alpha helices and short beta sheet segments, and when its abnormal scrapie isoform (PrPSc) is infected, PrPSc transforms the PrP^C, leading to prion diseases, including Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans and bovine spongiform encephalopathy in cattle. Given its ubiquitous distribution across a variety of cellular types, the PrP^C manifests a diverse range of biological functions, including cell-cell adhesion, neuroprotection, signalings, and oxidative stress response. PrP^C is also expressed in immune tissues, and its functions in these tissues include the activation of immune cells and the formation of secondary lymphoid tissues, such as the spleen and lymph nodes. Moreover, high expression of PrP^C in immune cells plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of prion diseases. In addition, it affects inflammation and the development and progression of cancer via various mechanisms. In this review, we discuss the studies on the role of PrP^C from various immunological perspectives.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• 제40권2호
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• pp.225-232
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• 2024

The microbiomes of two important rice cultivars in Vietnam which differ by their susceptibility to the bacterial leaf blight (BLB) disease were analyzed through 16S rRNA amplicon technology. A higher number of operational taxonomic units and alpha-diversity indices were shown in the BLB-resistant LA cultivar than in the BLB-susceptible TB cultivar. The BLB pathogen Xanthomonas was scantly found (0.003%) in the LA cultivar, whereas was in a significantly higher ratio in the TB cultivar (1.82%), reflecting the susceptibility to BLB of these cultivars. Of special interest was the genus Acholeplasma presented in the BLB-resistant LA cultivar at a high relative abundance (22.32%), however, was minor in the BLB-sensitive TB cultivar (0.09%), raising a question about its roles in controlling the Xanthomonas low in the LA cultivar. It is proposed that Acholeplasma once entered the host plant would hamper other phytopathogens, i.e. Xanthomonas, by yet unknown mechanisms, of which the triggering of the host plants to produce secondary metabolites against pathogens could be a testable hypothesis.

• 대한영상의학회지
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• 제84권3호
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• pp.565-585
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• 2023

항문주위 샛길은 일반 인구에서 매우 흔하고 항문관 주변 부위에 영향을 미치는 염증성 질환이다. 대부분 양성이지만 심각한 이환율을 유발하고 재발 위험이 높아 외과적 치료가 필요하다. 자기공명(MR) 영상은 항문관의 해부학적 구조, 항문조임근 복합체와의 관계, 2차 경로 또는 농양의 정확한 식별에 대한 정확한 정보를 제공하고 관련 합병증을 보고하는 항문주위 샛길 평가를 위한 최적 표준 기술로 간주된다. MR 영상은 또한 치료 효과를 모니터링하고 치료 방법을 결정하기 위한 정확한 정보를 제공할 수 있다. 크론병 관련 샛길은 종종 질병을 완화하기 위해 외과적 치료보다는 내과적 치료가 필요하다. 영상의학과 의사는 샛길의 해부학적 구조와 MR 영상 소견을 알아야 하고 임상의사에게 정확한 진단을 제시할 수 있어야 한다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.67-71
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• 2017

부저병이란 Paenibacillus larvae감염에 의하여 꿀벌 유충의 괴사를 유도하는 질병이다. 우리나라에서는 2008년 봄, 국내에 처음으로 대량 발병 사례가 보고되었으며, 지속적인 2차 피해로 큰 후유증을 앓고 있다. 본 연구에서는 부저병을 효율적으로 관리할수 있는 진단방법을 조사하고자 하였다. 따라서 부저병의 원인균인 P. larvae에서 특이적으로 발현되고 있는 유전자들을 동정하고자 하였으며, 이 유전자들은 주로 부저병균의 독성을 유발하는 것으로 알려진 Toxin1, Toxin2A & 2B, SplA, CBP49, SevA&SevB 들이다. 이들은 1차 PCR 에서는 검출하기 어려웠지만, 2차 nested PCR방법을 이용하여 검출이 용이함을 알 수 있었다. 한편 여러가지 식물 추출물을 혼합한 배지에서 부저병균을 배양하였을 때, 부저병균의 성장저해와 일치하게 우리가 검증한 유전자들의 발현이 감소하는 것을 알 수 있었다. 이러한 결과들은 부저병 원인균의 특이 유전자들은 향후 PCR진단마커로서 활용 가능성이 있을 것으로 사료된다.