• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.219-227
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• 2006

Purpose : We aim to identify the clinical and demographic characteristics in children who underwent renal transplantation(RTx) and to evaluate the influence on growth of RTx in children. Methods : We reviewed 17 medical records of chronic renal failure patients who underwent RTx from April 1992 and June 2004 at Busan Paik Hospital. Age and sex distribution, cause of disease, donor analysis, patient and graft survival rate, and the status of growth after RTx were analysed by retrospective study. Results : Eighteen RTx were performed in 17 patients(8 boys, 9 girls). The mean age at the time of RTx was $15.8{\pm}3.5$ years and the mean duration of dialysis therapy before RTx was $22.4{\pm}18.0$ months. The 1 year and 5 year patient survival rate were each 100%, and the 1 year and 5 year graft survival rate were 88%, 36% respectively. The most common cause of graft failure was chronic rejection. The mean final height of male patients was $162.8{\pm}10.0$ cm(143.0-172.5 cm) and of female patients was $154.5{\pm}12.1$ cm(135.8-160.0 cm). The mean height standard deviation score(Ht SDS) increased after RTx from -1.95 to -1.53 but the increment rate was not statistically significant. Similar changes were noted in individual patient analysis. Also there was no significant difference between the living-related donors and cadaveric donors. Conclusion : Our data shows that even successful RTx rarely results in full growth rehabilitation. To overcome retarded growth in children with chronic renal failure, appropriate combined management of metabolic and nutritional problems, correction of anemia, proper use of recombinant growth hormone therapy, early renal transplantation and shortening of the duration of dialysis would be necessary.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.525-532
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• 2010

Dypepsia is the most common gastrointestinal disease and mainly occurs by stress or food. According to the cause of dyspepsia, the clinical characteristics and the curative process are different in patients. The purpose of this study is to compare acute dyspepsia patients depending on food factor and stress factor. For this study, we analyzed the cause, and the symptoms of 59 acute dyspepsia patients and divided them into two groups: one group is 27 acute dyspepsia patient group caused by stress factor (stress factor group). The other group is 32 acute dyspepsia patient group caused by food factor (food factor group). In addition, we carried out HRV test and compared HRV index between two groups. There was no significant difference in past illness involved in gastrointestinal tract diseases between two groups. There were big differences in the frequency of chest discomfort, thurst, lack of appetite, and exhaustion after meals between two groups. There were many changes of tongue fur in food factor group. But there were many changes of tongue body in stress factor group. The pulse pattern is mostly wiry in stress factor group. But, The pulse pattern is mostly slippery in food factor group. HF, TP were significantly lower than food factor group in stress factor group, it means autonomic nerve system was more suppressd in stress factor group than food factor group. Food factor group improved sooner than stress factor group. This study presented the clinically different characteristics (past medical history, symptoms, tongue diagnosis, pulse pattern, curative process) of acute dyspepsia depending on food factor and stress factor. Thus, it provides the necessity of oriental medical diagnosis and treatment called pattern identification for acute dyspepsia.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.705-711
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• 2019

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common urogenital disorder in men, benign tumor and is a typical disease deteriorating the quality of old men's lives, and its prevalence increases with age. Though the molecular pathogenesis of BPH has not yet been clearly revealed, it is known that the variation and aging of the endocrine including sex hormone may cause BPH. Especially the hypertrophy of the prostate cell by the formation of the excessive dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is estimated to cause BPH. If testosterone exists excessively in blood, a lot of DHT is produced in prostate by $5{\alpha}-reductase$. Thus, in this study we tried to analyze haematological change and histopathological change by using the model rat with BPH caused by hypodermic injection of testosterone to prove the effect of Houttuynia cordata extracts on BPH. Rats were divided into four experimental groups: no treatment group (N), the testosterone injection and D.W treatment group (DO), the testosterone injection and Houttuynia cordata treatment group (HO) and testosterone injection and finasteride treatment group (FO). Prostate weight, volume and weight ratio in the HO and FO groups were significantly lower than the DO group. Testosterone and DHT levels in the HO group were significantly lower than the DO group. The HO and FO groups showed trophic symptoms and were lined by flattened epithelial cells, thus, the stromal proliferation is relatively low as compared to the DO group. These results suggest that Houttuynia cordata may control benign prostatic hyperplasia.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.361-369
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• 2020

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common and multifactorial inflammatory skin disease that is characterized by skin barrier dysfunction, inflammation, and chronic pruritus. AD has a complex etiology that includes genetic, immunological, and environmental factors that cause skin barrier abnormalities and immune dysfunctions. Sophora flavescens (SF) has been used in traditional Chinese medicine, but little research has been conducted on its anti-AD efficacy. In this study, we evaluated the effect of SF extract (SFE) on improving skin barrier function and immune abnormalities, which are the main symptoms of AD. SFE has the capacity to enhance the formation of cornified envelope (CE) that plays an important role in the skin barrier function. In addition, it was confirmed that SFE increased the expression of hyaluronic acid related to skin moisture. The effect of SFE against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), which increases specifically in AD lesions, confirmed that SFE inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines induced by S. aureus. Furthermore, SFE was shown to inhibit the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines induced by substance P (SP), the cause of skin neurogenic inflammation. These results demonstrate that SFE could be one of potential candidate agent for the treatment of AD by improving the skin barrier function and immune responses.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.543-547
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• 2016

Acute stroke is a one of common disease that require fast diagnosis and treatment to save patients life. however, the acute stroke may cause lifelong disability due to brain damage with no prompt surgical procedure. In order to diagnose the Stroke, brain perfusion CT examination and possible rapid implementation of 3D angiography has been widely used. However, a low-dose technique should be applied for the examination since a lot of radiation exposure to the patient may cause secondary damage for the patients. Therefore, the degradation of the measured CT images may interferes with a clinical check in that blood vessel shapes on the CT image are significantly affected by gaussian noise. In this study, we employed the spatio-temporal technique to analyze dynamic (brain perfusion) CT data to improve an image quality for successful clinical diagnosis. As a results, proposed technique could remove gaussian noise successfully, demonstrated a possibility of new image segmentation technique for CT angiography. Qualitative evaluation was conducted by skilled radiological technologists, indicated significant quality improvement of dynamic CT images. the proposed technique will be useful tools as a clinical application for brain perfusion CT examination.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.40-45
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• 1998

Backgroud and Objectives: Major salivary gland tumor is a rare disease with a largely unknown origin. And also corresponding to the diversity of histopathologic characteristics is an equally wide distribution of clinical behavior that makes treatment decisions difficult. The aim of this study is to analysis the clinical experience of our major salivary gland tumor and to suggest a guidline of management. Materials and Methods : We studied clinical manifestations and treatment results of 104 patients who were diagnosed as major salivary gland tumors. Tumor site, patient age and sex of the patients were analysed. Histopathologic diagnosis, treatment modality, lymph nodes metastasis, recurrence rate and 5-year survival rate were studied on malignant tumors. Results: 1) 48 patients were male and 56 patients were female. 2) Benign tumors were 79 cases. They consisted of 57 cases(72%) of parotid tumor, 22 cases(27%) of submandibular tumor. And pleomorphic adenoma was the most common benign tumor. 3) Malignant tumors were 25 cases and were consisted of 19 cases(76%) of parotid tumor, 4 cases(l6%) of submandibular tumor and 2 cases(8%) of sublingual gland tumor with high-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma as the most common cause. 4) In the malignant tumors, the number of stage I, II tumors was 14 and that of stage III, IV tumors was 11. Neck node metastasis was noted in 8 cases. 5) 8 cases of malignant tumor were died and all of them had high-grade malignancy. And they were dead before 17 months from the time of diagnosis. 6) Mean survival duration in the malignant salivary gland tumor was 56 months. 7) High-grade malignancy had a 5-year survival rate of 57.9%. A 5-year survival rate of TI, T2 patients was 92.9% and that of T3, T4 patients was 36.4%. That of patients who had neck node metastasis was 37.5% and that of those who had tree neck was 82.4%. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the survival rate is dependent on the tumor size, lymph node matastasis and histologic grade. And also the early diagnosis and radical surgery result in the increased survival rate and are effective for prevention of the tumor recurrance.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.67 no.4
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• pp.325-330
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• 2009

Background: Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is still common disease among the elderly patients in Korea where the overall incidence of TB is decreasing. Adverse drug reactions (ADR) associated with anti-TB drugs occurs frequently. Especially the aged tends to have more frequent ADRs than younger ones. These ADRs can cause significant morbidity, compromise therapeutic effects of drugs and even induce drug resistance. Therefore we evaluated the effect of ADRs on the first-line anti-TB drugs in elderly patients with active pulmonary TB. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts and radiological findings of the patients with 65 and older who were bacteriologically confirmed as active TB and treated with standard anti-TB drugs for at least 6 months. Major ADR was defined with temporary or continuous stop of any first-line drugs intake. Results: An ADR was noted in 54% of all patients. The incidence of major ADR was 32% in all elderly patients. Dermatologic ADR (9%) was the most common among the major ADRs. GI trouble (8%), arthralgia (6%), visual change (6%), hepatotoxicity (4%), and fever (1%) were also noted. The drugs responsible for major ADR were ethambutol (62%), pyrazinamide (35%), rifampin (18%) and isoniazid (9%). Major ADRs were associated with higher ESR level at the initiation of anti-TB drugs. Conclusion: First-line anti-TB drugs in elderly patients frequently caused the major ADRs. Therefore the elderly patients receiving anti-TB drugs should be closely monitored and better tolerable therapy should be considered as part of a TB research agenda.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.71 no.5
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• pp.335-340
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• 2011

Background: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world in all age groups. Viral causes of CAP are less well characterized than bacterial causes. We analyzed the characteristics of hospitalized patients with CAP who had a viral pathogen detected by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Methods: Multiplex real-time PCR was performed for respiratory viruses in samples collected from 520 adults who developed CAP at Chungnam National University Hospital. Clinical, laboratory, and radiological features at presentation as well as other epidemiological data were analyzed. Results: Of 520 patients with CAP, a viral pathogen was detected in 60 (11.5%), and influenza A was the most common. The virus detection rate in patients with CAP was highest in November. Two or more pathogens were detected in 13 (21.7%) patients. Seven patients had severe disease and were administered in the intensive care unit. Most patients (49/60, 81.7%) had comorbidities. However, nine (15%) patients had no comorbidities, and their age was <60 years. The ground glass opacity pattern was the most common radiological feature. Seven (11.7%) patients died from CAP. Conclusion: Viral pathogens are commonly detected in patients with CAP, and a respiratory virus may be associated with the severity and outcome of pneumonia. Careful attention should be paid to the viral etiology in adult patients with CAP.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.36-45
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• 2008

Purpose: We conducted this retrospective epidemiological study to assess the incidence and severity of lower extremity injuries in Korea Methods: For this study, we retrospectively reviewed nationwide lower-extremity injury data compiled from 2001 to 2003 based on the National Injury Database, what included National Health Insurance Corporation (NHIC), Car Insurance, and Industry Insurance data. Data were standardized in terms of demographic characteristics, region, and socioeconomic status by using NHIC data. To assess the degree of the injuries, we used the Modified Abbreviated Injury Scale (MoAIS), what has been changed from the International Classification of Disease-10 (ICD-10) code. By using the Excess Mortality Ratio-adjusted Injury Severity Score (EMR-ISS), we classified the degree of severity into four categories: mild, moderate, severe and critical. Results: From 2001 to 2003, lower extremity injuries increased slightly, with a yearly average of 2,437,335. Insurance data should that lower-extremity injuries were the most common, followed by upper-extremity injuries. Significant difference were seen in the numbers of lower extremity injuries based on gender and age. As for provinces, Seoul and Gyeongi provinces had the highest numbers of cases. Junlabukdo had the highest rate of 55,282 cases per 1 million people for standardized gender and population. The annual incidence of the insured patients with lower extrimity injuries was higher than the employer's medical insurance contributions to the medical insurance program. Daily cases occur most often in May and June, with the lowest occurrences being in January and February. Conclusion: The result of this study shows that lower extremity injuries comprised common cause of all injuries. In addition, differences associated with gender, location and socioeconomic status were observed. Further studies are needed to find reasons and then this knowledge will allow strategies to prevent the lower extremity injuries.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.317-326
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• 1999

Background: Neural control of airway function is through parasympathetic, sympathetic and non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic mechanisms. The autonomic nervous system controls the airway smooth muscle tone, mucociliary system, permeability and blood flow in the bronchial circulation and release of mediators from the mast cells and other inflammatory cells. The cardiovascular and respiratory autonomic efferent fibers have a common central origin, so altered cardiovascular autonomic reflexes could reflect the altered respiratory autonomic status. Therefore, we performed this study to assess the autonomic abnormality and determine the correlating factors of severity of autonomic neuropathy in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) using easily reproducible cardiovascular autonomic reflex function test. Method: The study included 20 patients with COPD and 20 healthy persons obtained on Health Promotion Center in Yeungnam university hospital. All the patients had history and clinical features of COPD as defined by the American Thoracic Society. Any patients with myocardial ischemia, cardiac arrythmia, hypertension, central or peripheral nervous system disease, diabetes mellitus, or any other diseases known to produce autonomic neuropathy, has excluded. The autonomic nervous system function tests included three tests evaluating the parasympathetic system and two tests evaluating the sympathetic system. And also all subjects were subjected to pulmonary function test and arterial blood gas analysis. Results: Autonomic dysfunction was more commonly associated with patients with COPD than healthy person The parasympathetic dysfunction was frequent in patient with COPD, but sympathetic dysfunction seemed preserved. The severity of parasympathetic dysfunction in patients with COPD was correlated with the degree of duration of disease, smoking, reductions in the value of $FEV_1$ and FVC, and arterial hypoxemia but no such correlation existed for age, type of COPD, $FEV_1$/FVC, or $PaCO_s$. Conclusion: There is high frequency of parasympathetic dysfunction associated with COPD and the parasympathetic abnormality in COPD is increased in proportion to severity of airway disease. In COPD, parasympathetic dysfunction probably does not the cause of disease, but it may be an effect of disease progression.