• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2024

Purpose: This study develops a health literacy instrument for Alzheimer's disease. Methods: Items were drawn from The Korean version of the Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS) and the Korean version of European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q47 & HLS-EU-Q16). Content validity was tested by experts. To further refine the questionnaires and test their reliability and validity, data were collected from 324 older adults in the community. Results: Five significant items in the two subscales were derived from the factor analysis. The subscales were named access and understanding. Reliability was good at Cronbach's ⍺ .79, and validity through exploratory factor analysis was KMO .897, p<.001, which was found to be high and significant. Conclusion: The instrument demonstrated high reliability and validity. Therefore, this instrument can contribute to the evaluation of health literacy for Alzheimer's Disease in older adults and to any subsequent intervention, as well as to develop a theory for health literacy for Alzheimer's Disease.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.47-68
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• 2013

Objectives : This research aimed to develop a new etiologic classification for traditional Korean Medicine in order to respond to the social and environmental change. Methods : We reviewed the existing theories on etiological classification for East Asian Medicine thoroughly and discussed the problems and limitations. Based on the experts' consensus, we abstracted disease factors and etiologic items. Results : The disease factors are classified into three parts: the human body, the environment, and the interaction between the human body and the environment. We defined them as the inner factor, the external factor, and the interaction between the inner and the external factors. The inner factor is free from the influence of the environment, and it causes diseases solely from the components of the human body. It is divided into genetic factors. The external factor is defined as a case when a disease occurs due to a factor outside the human body and includes external injuries, environmental pollution, and natural disasters. The interaction between the inner and the external factors is a disease factor that causes diseases by the interaction of the human body and the environment and includes emotions, habits, and social environment. As a result of the analysis, it was possible to see the meanings at a single glance as the scattered and fractional meanings were integrated with focus on medicinal herbs, but the increasing number of analyzed medicinal herbs tended to more and more complicate their relationships, thus, requiring additional work like filtering. Conclusions : The new etiologic classification of Korean Medicine fully reflects the perspectives on life in Korean Medicine while embracing the changes in modem society. Also, by avoiding the usage of ambivalent terms and wrong classification methods, the new classification system constructs intuitive and concise etiology and improves usability in clinical medicine.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.617-629
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• 2021

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the self-efficacy for managing chronic disease 6-item scale (SECD-6-K). Methods: The English version of the Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Disease 6-item Scale first underwent forward and backward translation procedures. The SECD-6-K was then used to collect data from 350 adults diagnosed with chronic diseases. Content, construct, convergent, discriminant, and criterion validity were all evaluated. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach's α. SPSS 25.0 and the data were analyzed using AMOS 26.0 software. Results: The SECD-6-K consists of six items in two domains: disease management and health behavior. The results for construct, convergent, and discriminant validity were good. Exploratory factor analysis produced eigen values between 2.27 and 3.28, with factors total explained cumulative variance of 91.1%. Confirmatory factor analysis supported goodness of fit and reliability for the modified SECD-6-K model. The criterion validity also showed significant correlation with both the Patient Health Questionnaire and 12-item Short-Form Health Survey version 2. Finally, reliability was found to be excellent. Conclusion: This study identified the high reliability and validity of SECD-6-K. The SECD-6-K is an appropriate tool for determining Korean patients' self-efficacy in managing their chronic conditions. Therefore, this scale may be used in clinical settings as well as in educational and research settings.

• Journal of mucopolysaccharidosis and rare diseases
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.46-49
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• 2016

Achondroplasia is autosomal dominant genetic disease and fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) is currently known to be the only gene that causes achondroplasia. Gain-of function mutation in fibroblast-growth-factor-receptor 3 (FGFR3) causes the disease and C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) antagonizes FGFR3 downstream signaling by inhibiting the pathway of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). As FGFR3-related skeletal dysplasias are caused by growth attenuation of the cartilage, chondrocytes appear to be unique in their response to FGFR3 activation. However, the full spectrum of molecular events by which FGFR3 mediates its signaling is just beginning to emerge. This article summaries the mechanisms of FGFR3 function in skeletal dysplasias, the extraordinary cellular manifestations of FGFR3 signaling in chondrocytes, and finally, the progress toward therapy for ACH.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.357-361
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• 2013

Several epidemiological surveys have reported the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in stray cats in Korea, but little information is available on T. gondii infection in household cats. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors of T. gondii infection among household cats reared in Seoul, Korea. A total of 474 blood samples were collected from clinically healthy household cats. All samples were tested using ELISA and PCR. The risk factor analysis was based on a questionnaire filled out by the owners. The overall positive rate for ELISA and PCR assays was 2.2% (10/437) and 2.1% (10/474), respectively. With regard to the origin of cats, the positive rates among cats adopted from the animal shelter and veterinary clinic for stray cats were significantly different (P<0.05). Our study demonstrated that the positive rate of T. gondii infection in household cats was low and that this low prevalence was assumed to be associated with keeping the cats indoors and restriction of eating raw food and uncooked meat. Therefore, we suggest that the owners check the origin of the cats prior to adoption to prevent infection of other animals, including humans.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.131-140
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• 2019

Background: The purposes of this study were to evaluate the appropriateness of the stage migration of stage IIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the seventh edition of the tumor, node, and metastasis classification for lung cancer to stage IIB lung cancer in the eighth edition, and to identify prognostic factors in patients with eighth-edition stage IIB disease. Methods: Patients with eighth-edition stage IIB disease were subclassified into those with seventh-edition stage IIA disease and those with seventh-edition stage IIB disease, and their recurrence-free survival and disease-specific survival rates were compared. Risk factors for recurrence after curative resection were identified in all included patients. Results: Of 122 patients with eighth-edition stage IIB NSCLC, 101 (82.8%) had seventh-edition stage IIA disease and 21 (17.2%) had seventh-edition stage IIB disease. Nonsignificant differences were observed in the 5-year recurrence-free survival rate and the 5-year disease-specific survival rate between the patients with seventh-edition stage IIA disease and those with seventh-edition stage IIB disease. Visceral pleural invasion was a significant risk factor for recurrence in patients with eighth-edition stage IIB NSCLC. Conclusion: The stage migration from seventh-edition stage IIA NSCLC to eighth-edition stage IIB NSCLC was appropriate in terms of oncological outcomes. Visceral pleural invasion was the only prognostic factor in patients with eighth-edition stage IIB NSCLC.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.82-88
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• 2023

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) causes numerous changes that destabilize homeostasis, of which anemia is one of its important complications. Anemia significantly reduces the quality of life in children with CKD and plays a crucial role in the progression of cardiovascular disease such as left ventricular hypertrophy, a major cause of mortality in those with advanced CKD. The treatment of anemia is a pivotal factor in reducing morbidity and mortality rates in children with CKD, representing one of the methods for enhancing patients' quality of life.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.75-83
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• 2008

Purpose: Currently lung cancer ranks second in cancer for incidence rate and is a disease that ranks first for a death rate by cancerous growth because it is already advanced at the time of diagnosis. The purpose of this paper was to analyze the factors that affect the effectiveness of and rash occurrence by Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor (EGFR TKI) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Methods: A retrospective chart review of 100 patients, who took EGFR TKI (erlotinib, gefitinib) among patients who were diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer in a Hospital in Korea between May 2005 and February 2008, was conducted. The drug effectiveness was evaluated by Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumor. Results: EGFR mutation was the only factor associated with drug response (complete response and partial response). When stable disease was added to drug response as the evaluation parameter, ECOG and rash as well as EGFR mutation were found to be important factors. Survival, however, was not affected by EGFR mutation. The factors influenced on survival were older age (${\geq}65$), low ECOG ($1{\sim}2$), adenocarcinoma and rash. In the case of rash, group with EGFR mutation or low ECOG showed significantly higher chance of occurrence. There was no significant difference in rash occurrence between gefitinib and erlotinib groups. Conclusions: Based on the results, EGFR mutation positive and low ECOG ($1{\sim}2$) were significantly important factors for both effectiveness of EGFR TKI and rash occurrence. Also, rash itself was found to be an independently significant factor for the disease control and survival. Therefore, while administering EGFR TKI, patients who have the factors associated with rash occurrence should be closely monitored for effective and safe drug therapy.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.95-111
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• 2022

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an important healthcare problem worldwide. Often, glucocorticoid (GC) resistance develops during COPD treatment. As a classic hypoglycemic drug, metformin (MET) can be used as a treatment strategy for COPD due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, but its specific mechanism of action is not known. We aimed to clarify the role of MET on COPD and cigarette smoke extract (CSE)-induced GC resistance. Through establishment of a COPD model in rats, we found that MET could improve lung function, reduce pathological injury, as well as reduce the level of inflammation and oxidative stress in COPD, and upregulate expression of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1), and histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2). By establishing a model of GC resistance in human bronchial epithelial cells stimulated by CSE, we found that MET reduced secretion of interleukin-8, and could upregulate expression of Nrf2, HO-1, MRP1, and HDAC2. MET could also increase the inhibition of MRP1 efflux by MK571 significantly, and increase expression of HDAC2 mRNA and protein. In conclusion, MET may upregulate MRP1 expression by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway, and then regulate expression of HDAC2 protein to reduce GC resistance.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.153-165
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop and test a structural model on cardiovascular disease risk factors among male manufacturing workers. Methods: Data were collected through questionnaires and health exams from 201 workers in a local electronic company during September 2004. Data analysis was done with SAS 9.1 for descriptive statistics and PC-LISREL 8.54 for covariance structural analysis Results: The overall fit of the hypothetical model to the data was moderate, it was modified by deleting five paths. The modified model had a better fit to the data($x^2=504.23$(p<001, df: 180), $x^2/df=2.80$, GFI=.95, RMR=.07, NFI=.90, PGFI=.64). Health behaviors and psychosocial distress were found to have significant direct effects on the cardiovascular disease risk factors. Self-concept had direct effect on psychosocial distress or health behaviors. Self-concept, work environment, and work condition had direct effect on social support. Work environment had indirect effect on psychosocial distress. Social support had indirect effect on health behaviors. But work environment and work condition were found to have little direct effect on health behaviors, psychosocial distress or cardiovascular disease risk factors. Conclusion: A cardiovascular health promotion program should therefore include psycho-social factors as well as health behavioral determinants in worksites.