• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.39-50
• /
• 2008

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to inquire clinical meaning and characteristic of Eight extra meridians(奇經八脈) by researching building and progression of Eight extra meridians theory. Results : As a result of research of building and progression of Eight extra meridians(奇經八脈) theory, we can regard that the origin of Eight extra meridians was based on lower Danjeon(丹田) which was the root of Primordial energy and the origin of the Twelve meridians and collaterals(十二經脈) was based on Middle energizer which was the root of Acquired energy. On this, we could know that Eight extra meridians and the Twelve meridians and collaterals are based on Primordial energy and Acquired energy and function of Eight extra meridians and the Twelve meridians and collaterals are complement each other. So, we can say that considering the Twelve meridians and collaterals means that is valued on Acquired energy clinically, and considering Eight extra meridians means that is valued on Primordial energy in health preserving method (養生).

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.97-101
• /
• 2016

In the field of clinical medicine, diagnostic accuracy studies refer to the degree of agreement between the index test and the reference standard for the discriminatory ability to identify a target disorder of interest in a patient. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve offers a graphical display the trade-off between sensitivity and specificity at each cutoff for a diagnostic test and is useful in assigning the best cutoff for clinical use. In this end, the ROC curve analysis is a useful tool for estimating and comparing the accuracy of competing diagnostic tests. This paper reviews briefly the measures of diagnostic accuracy such as sensitivity, specificity, and area under the ROC curve (AUC) that is a summary measure for diagnostic accuracy across the spectrum of test results. In addition, the methods of creating an ROC curve in single diagnostic test with five-category discrete scale for disease classification from healthy individuals, meaningful interpretation of the AUC, and the applications of ROC methodology in clinical medicine to determine the optimal cutoff values have been discussed using a hypothetical example as an illustration.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.97-102
• /
• 2010

The two new female cases of Angelman syndrome (AS) were described, which diagnosed on the basis of clinical features (dysmorphic facial features, severe mental retardation with absent speech, peculiar jerky movements, ataxic gait and paroxysms of inappropriate laughter) and neurophysiological findings. Failure to detect the deletion of the long arm of chromosome 15 or the absence of epileptic seizure were not considered sufficient to exclude a diagnosis of AS. Feeding problems, developmental delay and early signs of ataxia, especially tremor on handling objects and unstable posture when seated, proved effective as the clinical markers for early diagnosis of AS. Most of the authors agreed about the existence of three main EEG patterns in AS which may appear in isolation or in various combinations in the same patient. The most frequently observed pattern in children has prolonged runs of high amplitude rhythmic 2-3 Hz activity predominantly over the frontal region with superimposed interictal epileptiform discharges. High amplitude rhythmic 4-6 Hz activity, prominent in the occipital regions, with spikes, which can be facilitated by eye closure, is often seen in children under the age of 12 years. The EEG findings are characteristic of AS when seen in the appropriate clinical context and can be helpful to identify AS patients at an early age when genetic counselling may be particularly important.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.33 no.5
• /
• pp.574-581
• /
• 2023

Nocardiosis is an uncommon opportunistic bacterial infection which becomes a significant health problem due to its increasing incidence and high mortality rate. However, many nocardiosis patients are underdiagnosed by physicians. To summarize the clinical characteristics and management of nocardiosis would help with better diagnosis and prognosis of nocardiosis. This retrospective study was conducted based on the medical records of nocardiosis patients between January 2015 and December 2021 in a tertiary hospital in China. Overall, 44 nocardiosis patients with 54 specimens were included. The patients consisted of 26 males and 18 females with a mean age of 50.4 ± 13.2 years. Among 44 patients, 26 (59.1%) were previously given immunosuppressive therapy. Connective tissue diseases (CTDs) were the most common underlying disease (16/44). The most frequent infection sites were the lungs (17/44) and skin or soft tissues (8/44). Common symptoms included cough (23/44), expectoration (18/44), fever (15/44), and subcutaneous abscesses (15/44). Forty-five out of 54 specimens (83.3%) required over 48 hours of culture time for nocardiosis detection. Thirty-six patients were cured or improved, 5 patients were discharged from the hospital due to poor prognosis, and 1 patient died. The average diagnosis time of poor prognosis cases was 19.7 days, which was significantly longer than those of improved or cured patients (7.3 days). Immunosuppressed patients comprise a large part of nocardiosis cases, which is worth attention in clinical practice. Early diagnosis, specifically through prolonged cultivation time of specimen, could help achieve better prognosis of nocardiosis patients.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Health Science
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.320-327
• /
• 2015

Purpose. This study was conducted to provide basic data for decrease campus life stress investigated survey on the socio-demographic characteristic and campus life stress of the dental hygiene students. Methods. The research subjects are the total 220 and it was analyzed with structured questionnaires. The collected data was analyzed by IBM SPSS ver. 20.0, a statistical program (IBM Co., Armonk, NY, USA) for the frequency and percentage, ANOVA, Regression. The result is as following Results. The campus life stress was statistically significant differences by in case of poor family reason (${\beta}$=0.287), the fourth grader(${\beta}$=0.151), pocket money a month(${\beta}$=-0.136). Conclusions. As the results of the reasearch, it is necessary support and expansion plan with systemized cooperation between the government and school to state scholarship, living expenses and worker's scholarship for decrease the campus life stress.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.44 no.2
• /
• pp.63-66
• /
• 2008

Objective : The purpose of this study is to investigate the correlation between various transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasonography parameters and clinical vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Methods : This study enrolled 40 patients presented with aneurysmal SAH between September 2006 and August 2007. We measured differences of mean blood flow velocity (BFVm), highest systolic blood flow velocity (BFVh), and Lindegaard ratio (LR) in the middle cerebral artery on TCD examination. These parameters were evaluated for correlation with clinical vasospasm by univariate analysis and the receiver operating characteristic analysis. Results : Twelve patients (30%) developed clinical vasospasm. The best TCD parameters for the detection of clinical vasospasm were revealed to be differences of BFVm, BFVh, and LR values between $1^{st}$ TCD test and $3^{rd}$ TCD (7 cm/s. 11.5 cm/s, 0.45 respectively). The positive predictive value of anyone of three parameters was 60% and the negative predictive value was 100%. Conclusion : TCD is still considered a useful tool for screening clinical vasospasm. To confirm the predictive value of the above parameters. further prospective study will be needed.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.1-13
• /
• 2004

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects motor neurons. The characteristic features of this devastating disorder are the simultaneous presence of upper and lower motor neuron (LMN) signs with progression from one region of the neuraxis to the next and eventual death, typically from respiratory compromise. Electrophysiological studies are an indispensible part of the ALS evaluation, especially serving as an extension of the clinical examination, and most useful in identifying LMN dysfunction. Not only may electrodiagnostic studies reveal characteristic changes in those regions clinically manifesting signs, but it also serves to disclose asymptomatic areas of involvement.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.23-29
• /
• 2010

Purpose : This study is to offer clinical primary data that examines the change of imaging structure and the quantitative evaluation of muscle activity on myofascial trigger points. This study examines neuromuscular physiological characteristic by comparing the differences in physical findings, pressure pain threshold, imaging, and electrophysiological characteristics in latent and active myofascial trigger points muscle and normal muscle through the following experimental procedures. Methods : The participants for the study were thirty-three adults in their twenties. We divided three groups into normal, latent and active myofascial trigger points groups by physical findings. We analyzed the results of measured pressure pain, threshold for pain, ultrasound imaging perform for structure characteristic of muscle, surface EMG according to type of muscle contraction for function of muscle contraction. Results : Significant differences were indicated in pressure pain threshold (p<0.05). Significant differences were discovered in the ultrasound imaging analysis. There were increases in muscle Echogenicity white area index (p<0.001). There were significant differences that decrease in %MVIC (p<0.05), increase in MDF (p<0.05). Conclusion : From these results, active rnyotascial trigger points muscle showed quality deterioration on ultrasound imaging and decreased function of muscle contraction, increased motor unit action potential of II type fiber, and electrophysiologically. Imaging structure and neuromuscular physiological characteristic can be diagnostic and quantitative analytical techniques for myofascial pain syndrome and a primary factor that reflected in physical therapy intervention.

• Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.11-21
• /
• 2024

Background and Purpose: Although dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is the second most common cause of neurodegenerative dementia, its clinical prevalence is low. We developed a short and easy-to-complete DLB screening questionnaire (DLBSQ) to raise diagnostic sensitivity in routine clinical settings. Methods: A total of 501 participants were retrospectively enrolled, including 71 controls, 184 patients without DLB, and 246 patients with probable DLB. All patients underwent clinical evaluation, including core features of DLB, the DLBSQ, brain magnetic resonance imaging, and detailed neuropsychological assessments. The diagnostic performance of the DLBSQ for probable DLB was investigated using a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Results: Total DLBSQ score was associated with visuospatial and frontal/executive dysfunction and the diagnosis of probable DLB. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for total DLBSQ score was 0.727. Youden's method revealed an optimal cutoff value of 3. The sensitivity and specificity of the DLBSQ were 68.7% and 62.4%, respectively. Its discriminating performance improved when cognitive test profiles were additionally considered (area under the curve: 0.822, sensitivity: 80.6%, and specificity: 70.4%). Conclusions: The DLBSQ might be a useful screening tool for DLB in routine clinical practice with good sensitivity and specificity.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.55-63
• /
• 2018

Clinical and genetic heterogeneity in association with overlapping spectrum is characteristic in pediatric neuromuscular disorders, which makes confirmative diagnosis difficult and time consuming. Considering evolution of molecular genetic diagnosis and resultant upcoming genetically modifiable therapeutic options, rapid and cost-effective genetic testing should be applied in conjunction with existing diagnostic methods of clinical examinations, laboratory tests, electrophysiologic studies and pathologic studies. Earlier correct diagnosis would enable better clinical management for these patients in addition to new genetic drug options and genetic counseling.