• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.128-135
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• 2015

Purpose: As the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) began to cover home oxygen therapy (HOT) services from 2006, it is expected that the new services have contributed to overall positive outcome of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We examined whether the usage of HOT has helped slow down the progression of COPD. Methods: We examined hospital claim data (N=10,798) of COPD inpatients who were treated in 2007~2012. We performed ${\chi}^2$ tests to analyze the differences in the changes to respiratory impairment grades. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors that are associated with the use of HOT. Finally, a generalized linear mixed model was used to examine association between the HOT treatment and changes to respiratory impairment grades. Results: A total of 2,490 patients had grade 1 respiratory impairment, and patients with grades 2 or 3 totaled 8,308. The OR for use of HOT was lower in grade 3 patients than others (OR: 0.33, 95% CI: 0.30~0.37). The maintenance/mitigation in all grades, those who used HOT had a higher OR than non-users (OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.23~1.61). Conclusion: HOT was effective in maintaining or mitigating the respiratory impairment in COPD patients.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.518-524
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• 2015

The objective of this research was to investigate the influence of various depths of expanded rice hull (ERH) medium and fixation dates of runner plantlets of 'Seolhyang' strawberry on the growths in nursery field and in plastic house soil after transplanting. The five treatments in medium depths (30, 50, 70, 90, and 110 mm) and four treatments in fixation dates (1st and 15th July and 1st and 15th August) were tested. The growths of runner plantlets were investigated before transplanting to plastic house soil. The early growth and inflorescence rates of crops after transplant to plastic house soil were also investigated. The plant height and fresh weight of runner plantlets were the highest in the medium depths of 50, 70, and 90 mm. The medium depth of 30 mm had higher numbers of first roots, but lower root fresh weight compared to those of 70, 90, and 110 mm. The treatment of 30 mm in medium depth showed poorer growth in all indexes except root length and root weight compared to those of 70, 90, and 110 mm. The runner plantlets fixed on July 1 and July 15 showed good root growth and the weights of ERH adhered to form root balls were 18.3 g and 13.9 g, respectively. The detached amount of ERH was less than 40% in the two treatments when root balls were shaken by a vibratory sieve shaker. The plant growth at 45 days after transplanting to plastic house soil were not significantly different when the runner plantlets were fixed in the period from July 1 to Aug. 1. The inflorescence rates of the first cluster were 93 to 100% when runner plantlets were fixed in the period from July 1 to Aug. 1. By contrast the runner plantlets fixed on the Aug. 15 had a 67% in florescence rate for the first cluster. These results indicate that optimum depth of ERH medium was 7 cm and the ranges of optimum fixation dates are from July 20 to 25.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.63-67
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• 2007

This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of sodium carboxymethylcellulose (SCMC) for the prevention of postoperative uterus and ovary adhesion formation in the Korean black goats. Twenty adult female Korean black goats randomly were divided into five groups with four animals in each group. After the routine laparotomy, catheter for injection was inserted into the abdomen. Before abdominal closure, saline, 1% SCMC, 2% SCMC or 0.4% HA solution (50ml/10kg of body weight/head) were injected in the abdominal cavity in each group. Three weeks after surgery, second laparotomy was performed and the adhesions were scored on a scale of 0 to 10 according to their vascularity and adhesion size in uterus and ovary. This trial was repeated the four times with the interval of three weeks. In the first and second trial, the group treated with 2% SCMC significantly reduced the adhesion formation than other treatment groups (P<0.05). In the third trial, the adhesion formation was significantly reduced in 2% SCMC and 1% SCMC (P<0.05). In the fourth trial, 2% SCMC reduced the adhesion formation. However, there was no significant difference among other groups. This study showed that the 2% SCMC administered at the end of the surgery reduced the adhesion formation in the Korean black goats.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.116-122
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• 2014

Total of fifty accessions of Brassica rapa with various morphological characteristics were used for production of double haploid plants though microspore culture in Brassica rapa. Among them, only 30 accessions induced embryos from microspores. The highest efficiency of embryo induction of 1.194 per bud was obtained from IT135449 of turnip type, while 3 accessions of sarson (winter oil) type did not generate embryo. The effect of heat shock periods for embryogenesis was also investigated with 4 accessions (IT135449; Turnip type, IT199710; Chinese cabbage type, IT212886; Pak choi type, IT218043; Summer oil type). The high productions of embryos were observed in IT135449, IT199710 and IT212886 when microspores were pre-cultured to $32^{\circ}C$ for 2 days. In IT218043, high embryogenesis was observed at the 3 days of heat shock treatment. The optimal condition of shoot regeneration for IT199710 was observed in MS medium supplemented with NAA $0.5mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ and BAP $1mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$. In contrast, the IT135449 and IT212886 were observed high regeneration frequency in MS medium without plant growth regulators. All the plantlets regenerated from microspore-derived embryos have been successfully transplanted to soil, and bud self-pollinated seeds were produced from doubled haploid plants. This indicated that double-haploid genotype was likely generated naturally during embryogenesis process.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.110-115
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• 2008

Purpose: Intussusceptions are one of the most common causes of intestinal obstruction in infants and young children. Although it is easily treated by non-operative reduction using barium, water or air, this treatment is very stressful for young patients and may cause bowel perforation, peritonitis and shock. In this study, we identified the risk factors associated with the failure of non-operative reduction, to identify a group of children that would benefit from the procedure and those who would not. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of patients with intussusception who were treated at the Korea University Medical Center Ansan hospital from March 1998 to July 2006. Three hundred fourteen children with intussusception were identified. Among them, non-operative reductions were performed in three hundred. Clinical and radiological variables were compared according to the failure or success of the non-operative reduction. Results: Non-operative reductions were successful in 243 (81%) and failed in 57 (19%). The group that had failed procedures had a younger age (12.3${\pm}$17.2 months vs. 18.0${\pm}$15.8 months, p=0.03), longer symptom duration before reduction (33.6${\pm}$29.0 hr vs. 21.5${\pm}$20.3 hr, p<0.01), more vomiting and lethargy (p<0.01), but less abdominal pain and irritability (p<0.01), compared with the group that had a successful procedure. Logistic regression analysis showed that the factors associated with the failure of non-operative reductions were a younger age, less than 6 months of age (odds ratio: 2.5, 95% confidence interval: 1.2~5.2, p=0.01), duration of symptoms, longer than 24 hrs before reduction (odds ratio: 2.1, 95% confidence interval: 1.2~4.2, p=0.03), bloody stool (odds ratio: 4.8, 95% confidence interval: 1.9~12.2, p<0.01), lethargy (odds ratio: 3.4, 95% confidence interval: 1.1~10.4, p=0.04), and abdominal pain or irritability (odds ratio: 0.2, 95% confidence interval: 0.1~0.4, p<0.01). Conclusion: For children with intussusception, an age younger than 6 months, and duration of symptoms more than 24 hrs before reduction, as well as the presence of bloody stools, lethargy and abdominal pain or irritability were variables associated with failure of a non-operative reduction. Knowledge of these variables should be considered in making clinical decisions for therapeutic interventions.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.107-115
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• 1999

Purpose : Enterobiasis is probably one of the most common parasitic infection world-wide. Human is the only known host of Enterobius vermicularis. Children are more commonly infected with Enterobius vermicularis than adults and infections are commonly recurred. In Korea, there is a high prevalence. So, we performed this study to evaluate the present status of Enterobius vermicularis infection among children in the Masan, Changwon areas and to determine the efficacy of flubendazole against this parasitic nematode. Methods : From November to December, 1997, urban and rural elementary school children and urban preschool children were examined for the presence of Enterobius vermicularis egg. All the children were examined once by an adhesive cellotape anal swab technique in the early morning at home by their parents guided by specific instructions for the technique. Results : 1) A total of 644 adhesive cellotape anal swab specimens was collected from 205 urban elementary school children, 290 rural elementary school children and 145 urban preschool children. Among them, 114(17.7%) were positive for Enterobius vermicularis eggs. There was no significant differences in the rate with regard to sex. 2) In the preschool children, the egg detection rate was 42(29.0%) out of 145 children. This rate was significantly higher compared with 72(14.4%) of 499 school children. 3) The egg detection rates in the rural and urban school children were 15.2, 13.7% respectively. There was no significant difference in both groups. In the 3rd grade and below in elementary school children, there was a higher rate compared with above 4th grade group. 4) In day care center where egg detection rate was high as 41%, the children were given two doses of 100mg flubendazole every 3 weeks, including staffs and family members. After treatment, egg detection rate fatted as 6%. Conclusion : Our data demonstrated that there was high prevalence of Enterobius vermicularis infection. In the light of these results, it is necessary to examine and treat children as soon as possible.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.65-72
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• 2006

Objective of this research was to remove the accumulated salts in the plastic film house soils by installing the perforated PVC (${\phi}10cm$) underdrainage pipes at 50 cm depth of soils with cultivating vegetables. Efficiency of the underdrainage pipes was assessed based on the changes of soil chemical properties such as pH, EC, and cations, and growth and yield parameters of the vegetables between the two treatments; the control and the underdrainage pipe treatments. The EC of the underdrainage pipes installed soils after two growing seasons were in the ranges of $1.42-2.88dS\;m^{-1}$ but those of the control were in the ranges of $3.86-4.53dS\;m^{-1}$, indication the underdrainage pipes effectively removed the accumulated salts in soils. The pHs of the control soils and the underdrainage pipe installed soil were in the ranges of 7.2-7.5 and 6.9-7.3, respectively. There was a significant correlation between pH and cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the soils ($CEC=17.107{\times}pH-106.2$, $r^2=0.759$, P < 0.05). The ECs of the soils at different depths were compared between the two treatments after cultivating vegetables with lettuce-lettuce-garland chrysanthemum rotation systems. The ECs of the control soils at depths of 0-10, 10-20, 20-30, 30-40, and 40-50 cm were 3.45, 3.47, 3.03, 2.03, and $2.28dS\;m^{-1}$, respectively, with decreasing with soil depths. On the other hand, the respective ECs of the underdrainage pipes installed soils were 2.43, 2.52, 2.28, 4.00, and $4.23dS\;m^{-1}$ with increasing with soil depths. This might be derived from the salts moved downward with the draining water into the subsoil. The order of cations moved downward was Mg > Ca > K, based on the ratios of cations at specific depth over those at the surface soil. The survival rates of lettuce after 15 days of transplanting in the underdrainage pipe installed soils were 98.2% as compared to 86.6% of the control. The underdrainage pipe treatment also increased the diameter of the lettuce stalk from 12.9mm of the control to 13.7mm. Overall results demonstrated that the installment of the underdrainage pipes in the subsoils of the salt accumulated plastic film house soil effectively removed the salts by leaching downward,resulting in lowering soil EC and enhancing the growth and yield of vegetables.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.155-169
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• 2003

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to provide data for the improvement of hypertension management of community health practitioner posts through the study on hypertension management in community health practitioner posts. Methods: A questionnaire was mailed to 700 community health practitioners and 205 of them responded during the period from March 13, 2003 to May 13. The survey results were analyzed using SPSS program, version 11. Results: The results are as follows; 1. There are two major activities in a hypertension prevention project for community: health education and early detection. About 57% of community health care practitioners perform a health education for community people four times a year. The 64.5% of them used the materials for health education provided from a community health center and 22.1% of them performed a post-evaluation. The main method of early detection of hypertension was measurement of blood pressure of person to visit, which was 96.1%. Other methods included home visiting(89.3%), a referral from community hospitals and other resources(49.1%), health promotion events(39.5%), and a review of medical records(35.7%). 2. For the registration and management of patients with hypertension, about 36% of community health centers used a special form and more than 50% of them have registered patients who were managed by other health care institutions in the community. A computerized program was used for the management of patients with hypertension in 68.5% of them. More than 60% of them responded that it was used for report, treatment, and follow-up of patients with hypertension.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.87-105
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• 2003

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the health care utilization pattern and its related factors of low-income population with abnormal results through health examination. Methods: Analysed data were collected through a questionnaire survey, which was given to 263 persons who 30 years or over with abnormal results through health examination at Health Center. This survey was conducted in March, 2003. This study employed Andersen's prediction model as most well known medical demand mode and data were analysed through 2-test, and multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: The proportion of medical utilization for thorough examination or treatment among study subjects was 51.0%. In multiple logistic regression analysis as dependent variable with medical utilization, the variables affecting the medical utilization were 'feeling about abnormal result(anxiety versus no anxiety: odds ratio 2.25, 95% confidence intervals 1.07-4.75)', 'type of health security(medicaid type I versus health insurance: odds ratio 2.82, 95% confidence intervals 1.04-7.66; medicaid type II versus health insurance: odds ratio 3.22, 95% confidence intervals 1.37-7.53)', 'experience of health examination during past 2 years(odds ratio 2.39, 95% confidence intervals 1.09-5.21)' and 'family member's response for abnormal result(recommendation for medical utilization versus no response: odds ratio 4.90, 95% confidence intervals 1.75-13.75; family member recommended to utilize medical facilities with him/her versus no response: odds ratio 19.47, 95% confidence intervals 5.01-75.73)'. The time of medical utilization was 8-15 days after they received the result(29.9%), 16-30 days after they receive the result(27.6%), 2-7 days after they received the result(20.9%) in order. The most important reason why they didn't take a medical utilization was that it seemed insignificant to them(32.4%). Conclusions: In order to promote medical utilization of low-income population, health education for abnormal result and its management would be necessary to family member as well as person with abnormal result. And follow-up management program for person with abnormal result through health examination such as home-visit health care would be necessary.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.37-41
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• 2003

Purpose : Although air enema reduction has been known as a good method of diagnosis and treatment of intussusception, it could develop colon perforation. However, there have been few studies about this complication. So we analyzed the risk factors of colon perforation during air enema reduction in patients with intussusception. Methods : We reviewed the charts of 12 colon perforation patients during air enema reduction of intussusception, who were admitted to Gil Medical Center from Jan. 1990 to Dec. 2001. Their age, sex, major symptoms, length of time till hospital visit, types of intussusception, operative findings and pathologic reports were reviewed. Results : Among 657 cases, 596 patients(90.7%) were successfully treated, but 12 patients(1.83%) failed in air enema reduction and had colon perforation. In patients with colon perforation the male to female ratio was 11 : 1, and average age was 5.3 months. The most common symptom at the time of hospital visit was vomiting(91.7%). Cyclic irritability(75.0%), bloody stool(75.0%) and abdominal mass(41.7%) were also noted. The average length of time between symptom onset and hospital visit was 44.7 hours. Types of intussusception were predominantly ileocolic, ileocecal, and ileoileocolic. The site of perforation was most commonly found at the proximal part of intussusception including ascending colon(50%) and transverse colon(50%). Most cases were uncomplicated, and had a single perforation. Pathologic reports showed hemorrhagic necrosis and mesenteric laceration at the site of colon perforation. Complications of colon perforation were tension pneumoperitonium(58.3%), requiring immediate decompression. Conclusion : The chance of colon perforation during air enema reduction increases in cases with small bowel obstruction on simple abdominal x-ray of a patient younger than 6 months, delay in time till hospital visit and higher air pressure during reduction. Therefore more careful investigation is needed in these cases.