• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.327-335
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• 2022

Background: The pathophysiology of fibromyalgia (FM) involves many mechanisms including central nervous system sensitization theory, autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction, and recently small fiber neuropathy. While the small fiber neuropathy itself can cause ANS dysfunction and neuropathic pain (NP), it is still unknown whether ANS problems have an association with severity of disease and NP in patients with FM. The aim of this study was to evaluate ANS dysfunction in FM patients and to explore possible associations of ANS dysfunction with disease severity and NP. Methods: Twenty-nine FM patients and 20 healthy controls were included in this cross-sectional study. Participants were tested using sympathetic skin responses (SSR) and R-R interval variation analyses for sympathetic and parasympathetic ANS dysfunction, respectively. Disease severity and somatic symptoms of patients with FM were evaluated using the ACR-2010 scales and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, and NP symptoms were evaluated using the Pain Detect Questionnaire and Douleur Neuropathique questionnaire. Results: FM patients were found to have ANS dysfunction characterized by increased sympathetic response and decreased parasympathetic response. SSR amplitudes were found to be correlated with a more severe disease. Although nonsignificant, NP severity tended to be associated with a decrease in sympathetic and parasympathetic activities. Conclusions: ANS dysfunction may play a role in the pathophysiology of FM. The trend of decreased ANS functions in FM patients exhibiting NP contradicts the notion that FM is a sympathetically maintained NP and may be explained with small fiber involvement.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.60-67
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the disease-related knowledge, stress and quality of life for the patients with varicose veins. Methods: Data were collected via questionnaire from 138 patients with varicose veins in C University Hospital in Korea from November in Korea 2012 to August 2013. Results: Knowledge of the symptoms and diagnosis was the lowest. The scores from patients with disease-related knowledge tended to be low for both subjects over the age of 60 and subjects with low education (less than high school). The score for stress over complications was the highest. The level of stress is higher for women, subjects without spouses, subjects with higher severity of disease and patients who had been taking hormones in the past or are still taking hormones. The disease-related quality of life tended to be lower for women and subjects without spouses. 21% of the variance in quality of life was explained by the level of disease-related stress, disease severity and knowledge. Conclusion: Education and the management of nurses to improve disease-related knowledge for patients with varicose veins is highly recommended. Intervention, by reducing stress, is necessary to improve the quality of life for women, subjects without spouses, and subjects with higher severity of the disease.

• Korean Parent-Child Health Journal
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2016

Purpose: The disease specific self-efficacy of mothers caring children with atopic dermatitis is a crucial factor for adherence to recommended treatments. This study investigated factors associated with disease specific self-efficacy of mothers of atopic dermatitis children. Methods: A cross-sectional study was used. One hundred twenty five mothers recruited from the out-patient clinic of three hospitals completed self-administrative questionnaires, including the disease specific self-efficacy, general parenting efficacy, and severity of atopic dermatitis. Descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and multiple regression analysis were performed. Results: The degree of disease specific self-efficacy of mothers was significantly different according to the disease severity, and parenting efficacy. 26.0% of the variance of disease specific self-efficacy was explained by the severity of disease and parenting efficacy. Conclusions: Future studies need to focus on the development of educational programs that will help to improve mothers' disease specific self-efficacy as well as parenting efficacy.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.239-244
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• 1998

Susceptibility of soybean cultivars to Calonectria illicicola was evaluated in a greenhouse by inoculating seedlings with mycelium in agar discs placed on the stems at the soil line. A range of responses was detected among cultivars following inoculation with a virulent isolate of C.ilicicola. Rankings of cultivars between greenhouse tests 1 and 2 were similar for disease severity and areas under the disease progress curves (AUDPC). In addition, rankings of cultivars for Final disease severity were highly correlated with AUDPC in test 1 ($r_s$ =0.88, t =5.48, p<0.001), test 2 ($r_s$ =0.99, t =22.10, p<0.001), and when tests were combined ($r_s$=0.89, t=5.82, p<0. 001). Final disease severity and AUDPC consistently identified Asgrow 7986, Braxton, Cajun, and Forrest as soybean cultivars least susceptible to red crown rot. In 1993 and 1994 field tests, a range in disease susceptibility was observed for tested cultivars but none was completely resistant. Soybean cultivars Braxton, Cajun, and Forrest, which were least susceptible to red crown rot in greenhouse tests, also ranked among cultivars with the lowest disease incidence and AUDPC in field tests. Comparisons .between rankings of the eight cultivars common to greenhouse and field tests showed a correlation between final disease severity from combined greenhouse tests and both final disease incidence ($r_s$=0.63, t =1.99, p<0.1) and AUDPC ($r_s$=0.60, t =1.82, p < 0.2) from the combined field tests. However, AUDPC from greenhouse tests did not correlate with either final disease incidence or AUDPC from field tests. The green-house screening method provided consistent results between greenhouse and field tests and successfully identified the least susceptible cultivars Braxton, Cajun, and Forrest.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.172-182
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• 2023

Purpose: This study investigated the differences in physical function, self-efficacy (SE), and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) categorized by disease severity in community-dwelling patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: This cross-sectional study included 182 patients with COPD selected from the pulmonology outpatient department of a tertiary hospital. Disease severity was measured using forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1). Physical function, SE, and HRQoL were measured with the six-minute walking distance, Pulmonary Rehabilitation Adapted Index of Self-Efficacy (PRAISE), and St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). Disease duration, FEV1, and 12-month history of exacerbations were obtained from medical records. Patients were categorized by Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) category. Data were analyzed using the χ² test, and one-way ANOVA. Results: Most of the participants were male and nonsmokers. The disease duration was 10.76 ± 10.03 years, the mean FEV1% was 62.13 ± 22.80, and 70.3% of the participants were in GOLD category 2 (moderate) or milder. Half of the participants reported modified Medical Research Council scores ≥ 2. Patients in GOLD categories 1 and 3 (mild and severe) exhibited significantly higher PRAISE scores than those in the other groups (F = 8.23, p < .001). The total SGRQ scores were highest in GOLD 4 (very severe), indicating the lowest HRQoL. Significant differences were identified among GOLD 1, GOLD 2 and 3, and GOLD 4 (F = 9.92, p < .001). Conclusion: We identified potentially useful variables to comprehensively assess disease severity and tailor management strategies, including airflow limitation, and to determine the consequences of COPD from patients' perspectives.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.99-101
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• 1983

Black root rot caused by Cylindrocladium crotalariae is one of the most serious soilborne disease in soybean. Plant height reduction of Hwangkeum Kong was 38% by the rotting of the whole main root and 9% by rotting of the half of the main root as compared with partial discoloration in the main root. Pod number per plant and seed weight were significantly reduced by the increase of the disease severity. Important yield components such as number of pods per plant and seed weight were negatively correlated with the soybean black root rot severity.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.201-207
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• 2021

The 2019 coronavirus outbreak poses a threat to scientific, societal, financial, and health resources. The complex pathogenesis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus centers on the unpredictable clinical progression of the disease, which may evolve abruptly and result in critical and life-threatening clinical complications. Effective clinical laboratory biomarkers that can classify patients according to risk are essential for ensuring timely treatment, and an analysis of recently published studies found cytokine storm and coagulation disorders were leading factors of severe COVID-19 complications. The following inflammatory, biochemical, and hematology biomarkers markers have been identified in COVID-19 patients; neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, c-reactive protein, procalcitonin, urea, liver enzymes, lactate dehydrogenase, serum amyloid A, cytokines, d-dimer, fibrinogen, ferritin, troponin, creatinine kinase, and lymphocyte, leukocyte, and platelet counts. These factors are predictors of disease severity and some are involved in the pathogenesis of COVID-19. CRP is an acute-phase, non-specific serological biomarker of inflammation and infection and is related to disease severities and outcomes. In the present study, CRP levels were found to rise dramatically among COVID-19 patients, and our findings suggest CRP could be utilized clinically to predict COVID-19 prognosis and severity even before disease progression and the manifestation of clinical symptoms.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.439-446
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• 2020

Purpose: The evidence for an association between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and obesity is conflicting. Therefore, we set out to review the body mass index (BMI) at presentation of IBD to understand if the rise of the obesity rate in the general population, lead to an increase of obesity in patients with IBD at the time of diagnosis. Methods: Retrospective review of all patients with IBD seen at Children's Hospital and Medical Center from January 1st 2010 to December 31st 2014. From the initial visit and endoscopy, we obtained: age; sex; BMI; disease phenotype; disease severity. Results: We had a total of 95 patients, 35 patients were excluded due to incomplete data or referral being made after diagnosis was made. 28 were males and 32 were females, Age range was 2-17 years. A 37 had Crohn's disease, 19 ulcerative colitis, and 4 indeterminate colitis. Disease severity in 19 cases was mild, 29 moderate and 12 severe. BMI distribution was as follows-obese (5.0%), overweight (6.7%), normal weight (65.0%), mild malnutrition (8.3%), moderate malnutrition (15.0%), severe malnutrition (1.7%). Conclusion: Our data is consistent with other series. Showing most children had a normal BMI, regardless of disease severity or phenotypes. One confounding factor is the possibility of delay in referral to GI. This could mean some obese children may fall in the normal BMI range at the time of diagnosis due to ongoing weight loss. Future studies should include prospective cohort studies, comparing incidence of IBD in obese and non-obese patients, severity at presentation, duration of symptoms, and clinical outcomes.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2672-2679
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• 2012

The study was done to provide basic data of medical quality evaluation after developing the comorbidity disease mortality measurement modeled on the severity-adjustment method of AMI. This study analyzed 699,701 cases of Hospital Discharge Injury Data of 2005 and 2008, provided by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We used logistic regression to compare the risk-adjustment model of the Charlson Comorbidity Index with the predictability and compatibility of our severity score model that is newly developed for calibration. The models severity method included age, sex, hospitalization path, PCI presence, CABG, and 12 variables of the comorbidity disease. Predictability of the newly developed severity models, which has statistical C level of 0.796(95%CI=0.771-0.821) is higher than Charlson Comorbidity Index. This proves that there are differences of mortality, prevalence rate by method of mortality model calibration. In the future, this study outcome should be utilized more to achieve an improvement of medical quality evaluation, and also models will be developed that are considered for clinical significance and statistical compatibility.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.2627-2642
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• 2023

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a typical, chronic neurodegenerative disease involving the concentration of dopamine, which can disrupt motor activity and cause different degrees of gait disturbance relevant to PD severity in patients. As current clinical PD diagnosis is a complex, time-consuming, and challenging task that relays on physicians' subjective evaluation of visual observations, gait disturbance has been extensively explored to make automatic detection of PD diagnosis and severity rating and provides auxiliary information for physicians' decisions using gait data from various acquisition devices. Among them, wearable sensors have the advantage of flexibility since they do not limit the wearers' activity sphere in this application scenario. In this paper, an attention-based temporal network (ATN) is designed for the time series structure of gait data (vertical ground reaction force signals) from foot sensor systems, to learn the discriminative differences related to PD severity levels hidden in sequential data. The structure of the proposed method is illuminated by Transformer Network for its success in excavating temporal information, containing three modules: a preprocessing module to map intra-moment features, a feature extractor computing complicated gait characteristic of the whole signal sequence in the temporal dimension, and a classifier for the final decision-making about PD severity assessment. The experiment is conducted on the public dataset PDgait of VGRF signals to verify the proposed model's validity and show promising classification performance compared with several existing methods.