• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.346-350
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• 2010

Purpose: Diagnosis of diabetic foot infection is sometimes difficult, since the classical inflammatory signs and leukocytosis may be absent due to the decreased host immune response in diabetics. Therefore inflammatory blood markers, such as white blood cell (WBC) count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) have been commonly needed to confirm the diagnosis of infection. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of WBC, ESR and CRP for detection of diabetic foot infection. Methods: Peripheral blood samples were taken from 113 patients with diabetic foot ulcers admitted from June 2007 to April 2009. Diabetic foot infection was diagnosed according to the microbiological culture from soft tissue and bone specimens. Reference values of tests were 4500-11000 /${\mu}L$ for WBC count, 0-20 mm/hr for ESR, and 0-5 mg/L for $CRP^{13,14}$. Sensitivities, specificities, positive and negative predictive values of laboratory tests were calculated and analysed. Receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curve was also created. Results: There was a significant difference in WBC, ESR, and CRP between infectious group and noninfectious group (p<0.05). The sensitivity of WBC>11,000 /${\mu}L$ ESR > 20 mm/hr, and CRP > 5 mg/L was 30%, 96%, and 84%. The specificity was 86%, 14%, and 50% for WBC, ESR, and CRP, respectively. Positive predictive value was 88%, 78%, and 84%, and negative predictive value was 28%, 50%, and 50% respectively. The areas under the ROC curve for WBC, ESR and CRP were 0.72, 0.75, and 0.78 respectively. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, we conclude that CRP is more useful method in predicting and diagnosing infection than WBC, ESR in diabetic foot ulcer patients.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.42-51
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• 2018

Objectives : This study was aimed to evaluate the correlation between changes in disease severity and serum total IgE or eosinophil count in individual patients of atopic dermatitis depending on the change of severity. Methods : We performed a retrospective chart review of 8 cases of atopic dermatitis who underwent blood tests more than five times. Disease severity was assessed by objective SCORing of Atopic Dermatitis index (OSI). Blood tests include serum total IgE, eosinophil counts, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (SCr). In each subject, on the day that the blood test was performed, OSI was also assesed by a same physician. Correlation between OSI and total IgE or eosinophil count was analysed by nonparametric correlation analysis. Results : There was a statistically significant positive correlation between OSI and total IgE in three cases and a positive correlation between OSI and eosinophil count in two cases. In other three cases, there were no significant correlation. There were no cases that OSI correlated with total IgE and eosinophil count at the same time. In all cases, AST, ALT, BUN and SCr were stable. Conclusions : We suggest that total IgE and eosinophil count may reflect the severity of atopic dermatitis differently in individual patients. We also suggest that total IgE and eosinophil counts may be used as biomarkers to predict the severity of atopic dermatitis in some patients depending on the underlying pathology.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.170-177
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• 2018

Purpose: Preterm infants frequently require red blood cell (RBC) transfusions in neonatal intensive care units (NICU). Storage RBCs undergo many changes during storage periods. We aimed to compare the hemoglobin (Hb) correction effect according to the period of RBC storage and investigate the factors influencing Hb correction. Methods: This retrospective study reviewed the medical records of 289 patients who received RBC transfusion more than once in the NICU of Kosin University Gospel Hospital between February 2006 and March 2016. The subjects were classified into two storage groups: short-term (${\leq}7days$, n=88) and long-term (>7 days, n=201), according to the period of RBC storage. We checked Hb levels by complete blood cell count tests conducted within 2 days before and 5 to 9 days after the first transfusion. We compared the Hb difference between the two groups and analyzed the factors influencing Hb correction. Results: Excluding the use of an invasive ventilator, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of clinical characteristics. There was no significant difference in the Hb correction effect between the two groups (P=0.537). Birth weight greater than 1,500 g, higher weight at transfusion, and larger volume of transfusion were significant prognostic factors affecting greater changes in Hb. In addition, surgery experience, higher Hb level at transfusion, and additional blood tests were found to be significantly associated with less changes in Hb. Conclusion: The RBC storage period did not affect the Hb correction effect. The Hb correction effect may be diminished in infants with lower birth weight and lower weight at transfusion under unstable clinical conditions.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.57-64
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• 2022

Background: There are various conservative treatment options for lateral epicondylitis (LE). The aim is to evaluate pain, daily functioning, and complications after ultrasound-standardized autologous blood injections in patients with LE. Methods: For this prospective cohort study, consecutive patients (>18 years) diagnosed with LE were included. Autologous blood was injected using a medical device containing an injection disposable with 12 small needles (Instant Tennis Elbow Cure [ITEC]) device. Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE), subjective elbow score (SES), palpation and provocation pain, satisfaction, and complications of treatment were measured at baseline and two months after treatment. Paired t-tests and Fisher's exact tests were used for calculating the difference between pre- and post-treatment outcomes. Results: Fifty-five elbows were analyzed. Mean time between pre- and post-treatment was 11.1 weeks (standard deviation [SD], 8.9 weeks). The mean PRTEE score decreased from 68.2 (SD, 15.7) before surgery to 53.2 (SD, 25.9; p<0.001) after. The mean SES improved from 36.9 (SD, 20.8) to 51.7 (SD, 27.4; p<0.001). Despite this improvement, only 44.7% of patients showed relevant clinical improvement in PRTEE, and 37.3% showed significant clinical improvement based on SES. Four patients reported a complication and the injection disposable failed three times. Conclusions: Ultrasound-standardized autologous blood injection using the ITEC device is not an effective tool in reducing symptoms related to LE. This study showed that only half of all patients experienced a positive effect. In this heterogeneous cohort of patients, we showed no added value of ultrasound standardization.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.75-81
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• 2023

This study was conducted to verify the effectiveness of a combined exercise program to improve the health of the elderly. For this purpose, 10 people in the exercise group and 10 in the control group were selected among seniors aged 65 years or older. The subject of this study was a 12-week combined exercise program in which aerobic and anaerobic exercise were performed three times a week for 60 minutes. Before participating in exercise, blood lipid and inflammatory index tests were conducted, and blood lipid and inflammatory index tests were conducted upon completion of the combined exercise program. The test results were verified with basic statistics and treatment effects between groups using the SPSS statistical program. Based on this, the following conclusions were obtained. First, the combined exercise program for elderly health promotion showed significant differences in TC, LDL, and TG in blood lipids between the exercise group and the control group, and there was an interaction effect on the treatment program. Second, the combined exercise program for improving the health of the elderly showed significant differences in inflammatory indicators IL-6 and TNF-a between the exercise group and the control group, and there was an interaction effect with the treatment program.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.71 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2011

Background: Pneumonia is commonly seen in outpatient clinics. it is widely known as the most common cause of death from infectious disease. Pneumonia has been diagnosed by its typical symptoms, chest X-ray and blood tests. However, both chest X-rays and blood tests have limitations in diagnosis. Thus primary care clinicians usually have been constrained due to a lack of adequate diagnostic tools. Vibration response imaging (VRI) is a newly emerging diagnostic modality, and its procedure is non-invasive, radiation-free, and easy to handle. This study was designed to evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of the VRI test among pneumonia patients and to consider its correlation with other conventional tests such as Chest X-ray, laboratory tests and clinical symptoms. Methods: VRI was performed in 46 patients diagnosed with pneumonia in Konkuk University Medical Center. VRI was assessed in a private and quiet room twice: before and after the treatment. Sensors for VRI were placed on a patient's back at regular intervals; they detected pulmonary vibration energy produced when respiration occurred and presented as specific images. Any modifications either in chest X-ray, C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell count (WBC) or body temperature were compared with changes in VRI image during a given time course. Results: VRI, chest X-ray and CRP scores were significantly improved after treatment. Correlation between VRI and other tests was not clearly indicated among all patients. But relatively severe pneumonia patients showed correlations between VRI and chest X-ray, as well as between VRI and CRP. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that VRI can be safely applied to patients with pneumonia.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.21 no.1 s.23
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• pp.195-206
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• 1988

Two major issues of the blood bank management are quality assurance and inventory control. Recently, in Korea blood donation has gained popularity increasingly to allow considerable improvement of the quality assurance with respect to blood collection, transportation, storage, component preparation skills and hematological tests. Nevertheless the inventory control, the other issue of blood bank management, has been neglected so far. For the supply of blood by donation barely meets the demand, the blood bank policy on the inventory control has been 'the more the better.' The shortage itself by no means unnecessitate inventory control. In fact, in spite of shortage, no small amount of blood is outdated. The efficient blood inventory control makes it possible to economize the blood usage in the practice of state-of-the-art medical care. For the efficient blood inventory control in Korean hospitals, this tudy is to develop formulae forecasting the standard blood inventory level and suggest a set of policies improving the blood inventory control. For this study informations of $A^+$ whole bloods and packed cells inventory control were collected from a University Hospital and the Central Blood Bank of the Korean Red Cross. Using this informations, 1,461 daily blood inventory records were formulated.48 varieties of blood inventory control environment were identified on the basis of selected combinations of 4 inventory control variables-crossmatch, transfusion, inhospital donation and age of bloods from external supply. In order to decide the optimal blood inventory level for each environment, simulation models were designed to calculate the measures of performance of each environment. After the decision of 48 optimal blood inventory levels, stepwise multiple regression analysis was started where the independent variables were 4 inventory control variables and the dependent variable was optimal inventory level of each environment. Finally the standard blood inventory level decision rule was developed using the backward elimination procedure to select the best regression equation. And the effective alternatives of the issuing policy and crossmatch release period were suggested according to the measures of performance under the condition of the standard blood inventory level. The results of this study' were as follows ; 1. The formulae to calculate the standard blood inventory level($S^*$)was $S^*=2.8617X(d)^{0.9342}$ where d is the mean daily crossmatch(demand) for a blood type. 2. The measures of performace - outdate rate, average period of storage, mean age of transfused bloods, and mean daily available inventory level - were improved after maintenance of the standard inventory level in comparison with the present system. 3. Issuing policy of First In-First Out(FIFO) decreased the outdate rate, while Last In-First Out(LIFO) decreased the mean age of transfused bloods. The decrease of the crossmatch release period reduced the outdate rate and the mean age of transfused bloods.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.99-103
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• 2010

Malaria is endemic in the Cukurova region while it is sporadic in other regions of Turkey. Therefore, the laboratory and clinical diagnosis of malaria is important for the treatment of malaria. In this study, 92 blood samples that were taken from the suspected malaria patients for routine diagnosis in a period of 10 years between 1999 and 2009 were analyzed. All of these blood samples were examined by microscopic examinations using Giemsa-stained thick blood films, nested PCR, and real-time PCR. The sensitivity-specificity and positive-negative predictive values for these diagnostic tests were then calculated. It was found that the positive predictive values of microscopic examination of thick blood films, nested PCR, and real-time PCR were 47.8%, 56.5%, and 60.9% for malaria, respectively. The real-time PCR was found to have a specificity of 75% and sensitivity of 100%, while specificity and sensitivity of nested PCR was found 81.2% and 97.7% according to the microscopic examination of thick blood films, respectively.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.31-42
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• 2004

Purpose: This study was undertaken to investigate bio-medical and behavioral risk factor of stroke according to the level of blood pressure among the prospective tele-health users. Method: A descriptive study was conducted using interviews with a structured questionnaire. Of the households in the village, 24 households were selected for inclusion in the study. Among all of the residents from these households, a total of 48 residents who completed all the blood tests as well as the questionnaire. Results: Among bio-medical risk factors including demographic characteristics, physiologic variables, and health history, only triglyceride(TG) was significantly different among normal, prehypertension, and hypertension groups(F=3.78, p<.05). However, regarding behavioral variables, those who were classified as prehypertension and hypertension group reported more frequent drinking, those who were in prehypertension group reported highest scores of stress and lowest frequency of exercise, and those who were in normal and hypertension group showed higher scores of interest on health and lower scores of perceived seriousness of disease and health knowledge than those who were in prehypertension group. Conclusion: Identification and implementation of modifiable risk factors of stroke according to the level of blood pressure are crucial for health care utilizing tele-medicine.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.172-182
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• 2020

In the present study, we determined the degree of hydrolysis (DH) of porcine blood plasma proteins, albumin, and globulin hydrolyzed by six proteases (alcalase, neutrase, flavourzyme, protamex, trypsin, and papain) for various reaction times. Moreover, antimicrobial activities of hydrolysates against five pathogenic microorganisms (Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella Typhimurium, Escherichia coli, and Shigella flexneri) were investigated. Alcalase, trypsin, and papain hydrolysates of the three porcine blood proteins showed higher DH values than hydrolysates produced by the other three proteases. DH of the three porcine blood proteins hydrolyzed by the six proteases failed to increase after 2 h of hydrolysis. In antimicrobial tests, hydrolysates (hydrolysis time of 2 h) showed antibacterial activity only against B. cereus. Albumin hydrolysates showed higher antimicrobial activity than globulin and plasma hydrolysates. Albumin hydrolysates obtained with flavourzyme, protamex, and trypsin showed higher antimicrobial activity than those obtained with the other three proteases.