• Title/Summary/Keyword: drug users

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hpvPDB: An Online Proteome Reserve for Human Papillomavirus

  • Kumar, Satish;Jena, Lingaraja;Daf, Sangeeta;Mohod, Kanchan;Goyal, Peyush;Varma, Ashok K.
    • Genomics & Informatics
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    • v.11 no.4
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    • pp.289-291
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    • 2013
  • Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the leading cause of cancer mortality among women worldwide. The molecular understanding of HPV proteins has significant connotation for understanding their intrusion in the host and designing novel protein vaccines and anti-viral agents, etc. Genomic, proteomic, structural, and disease-related information on HPV is available on the web; yet, with trivial annotations and more so, it is not well customized for data analysis, host-pathogen interaction, strain-disease association, drug designing, and sequence analysis, etc. We attempted to design an online reserve with comprehensive information on HPV for the end users desiring the same. The Human Papillomavirus Proteome Database (hpvPDB) domiciles proteomic and genomic information on 150 HPV strains sequenced to date. Simultaneous easy expandability and retrieval of the strain-specific data, with a provision for sequence analysis and exploration potential of predicted structures, and easy access for curation and annotation through a range of search options at one platform are a few of its important features. Affluent information in this reserve could be of help for researchers involved in structural virology, cancer research, drug discovery, and vaccine design.

Practical Use and Risk of Modafinil, a Novel Waking Drug

  • Kim, Dong-Soo
    • Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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    • v.27
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    • pp.7.1-7.7
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    • 2012
  • Objectives: Modafinil is a waking drug prescribed to narcolepsy patients, but its usage among healthy individuals is increasing to enhance their alertness or to mitigate fatigue. This study was conducted to investigate practical use and toxic effects on neuro-immune interaction of modafinil. Methods: This study reviewed the significance of psychoactive drugs, and discussed the benefits and risks of the application of modafinil, which seems to be ideal as an anti-psychotic or anti-fatigue agent. Results: Modafinil is known to have less or no adverse effects than those found in traditional psychostimulants such as amphetamine, methylphenidate or cocaine. It can be applied as an anti-psychotic or anti-fatigue agent. However, the waking mechanism of modafinil is yet to be fully revealed. Recent studies reported that modafinil may be subject to abuse and addiction. In addition prolonged sleeplessness induces stress responses and impairs immune function. Conclusions: Modafinil can be used by anyone, who wishes to work late, stay awake, enhance their cognitive reactions, or brighten their moods. Users may already be under a great level of stress, i.e. cancer patients or soldiers in a battle field. A psychoneuroimmunological approach is thus needed to investigate the multi-functional effects of modafinil.

Prevalence of Human Papillomavirus and Co-Existent Sexually Transmitted Infections among Female Sex Workers, Men having Sex with Men and Injectable Drug abusers from Eastern India

  • Ghosh, Ishita;Ghosh, Pramit;Bharti, Alok Chandra;Mandal, Ranajit;Biswas, Jaydip;Basu, Partha
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.13 no.3
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    • pp.799-802
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    • 2012
  • Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a very common sexually transmitted disease affecting both men and women and is responsible for different ano-genital cancers in either sex. Co-existing sexually transmitted infections (STI) including HIV have been considered as important co-factors for carcinogenesis induced by HPV. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of any HPV, HPV 16 and HPV 18 and also concomitant STIs among female sex workers (FSW), men having sex with men (MSM) and injectable drug users (IDU). Material and Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 45 FSWs, 26 MSMs and 58 IDUs who attended the STI or de-addiction clinics. Genital scrape samples collected from glans penis and coronal sulcus in males and cervical squamo-columnar junction in females were tested for HPV DNA by PCR using HPV L1 consensus primer. Type specific PCR to detect HPV 16 and 18 was done on the samples positive on consensus PCR. All participants were tested for associated STIs including HIV and hepatitis B and cervical cytology was done on all females. Results: Among the FSWs, HPV was detected in 73.3% and HPV 16 and 18 was detected in 25.7%. Though the HPV prevalence was similarly high among MSMs (69.2%) and IDUs (72.4%), the prevalence of HPV 16 and 18 was much lower in these groups compared to the FSWs. Prevalence of cervico-vaginal infection with Trichomonas vaginalis and syphilis was significantly higher in the HPV positive women compared to the HPV negative women. There was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of other STIs among HPV positive and negative women and men. Conclusion: HPV infection is highly prevalent among FSW, MSM and IDUs. Trichomonas vaginalis infection is more frequent in HPV positive women.

Availability of urine toxicologic screening tests in the emergency department: focused on illegal drugs (응급실에서 시행한 소변 독성 검사의 유용성: 마약을 중심으로)

  • Lee, Se Kyu;Choi, Sangchun
    • Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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    • v.19 no.1
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    • pp.24-30
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    • 2021
  • Purpose: In Korea, it is predicted that the proportion of drug abusers among patients visiting the emergency room will soon increase. Several emergency medical institutions in Korea are conducting field urine screening tests for poisoning. In this study, we investigated the characteristics and usefulness of urine toxicology screening tests. Methods: The medical records of patients with positive results for tetrahydrocannabinol and methamphetamine from urine toxicology screening tests at a tertiary university hospital from August 2016 to August 2019 were reviewed retrospectively. The subjects were classified into positive and false-positive groups, and their clinical characteristics were compared and analyzed. Results: Of the 2,026 patients surveyed, 823 patients (40.6%) tested positive for one or more drugs. Among them, 12 cases (0.6%) were positive for methamphetamine and 40 cases (2.0%) were positive for tetrahydrocannabinol. The positive and the false-positive rates for methamphetamine were 66.7% and 33.3%, respectively. The positive and the false-positive rates for tetrahydrocannabinol were 2.5% and 97.5%, respectively. Conclusion: Methamphetamine showed a relatively low false-positive rate in our study. Therefore, this test seemed to assist in diagnosing methamphetamine poisoning when considered together with the present illness and physical examination results. On the other hand, the high false-positive rate for tetrahydrocannabinol tests indicates that this test was unlikely to assist in diagnosing tetrahydrocannabinol poisoning. However, considering the growing trend of illegal drug abusers in Korea, it may still be useful as a diagnostic tool for identifying drug users.

Seven-Day Continuous Abstinence Rate from Smoking at 1, 2, or 3 Years after the Use of Varenicline

  • Kim, Jin Se;Jang, Ju Young;Park, Eun Hye;Lee, Joo Young;Gu, Kang Mo;Jung, Jae Woo;Choi, Jae Chol;Shin, Jong Wook;Park, In Won;Choi, Byoung Whui;Kim, Jae Yeol
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.78 no.2
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    • pp.92-98
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    • 2015
  • Background: Varenicline, a selective partial agonist/antagonist of the ${\alpha}4{\beta}2$ nicotinic receptor, has proven effectiveness for smoking cessation by several randomized, controlled trials. Because few studies have evaluated the long-term efficacy of varenicline, we tried to evaluate the smoking status of varenicline users up to 3 years after the initial prescription of the drug. Methods: We interviewed varenicline users who were prescribed the drug from June 2007 to May 2010 by telephone, from June 2010 to May 2011. Results: One-hundred and thirty-three of 250 varenicline users (53.2%) were available for the survey. Seven-day continuous abstinence from smoking was adhered to by 17 of 39 respondents (43.6%) at 1 year, and 11 of 36 (30.6%) and 19 of 58 (32.8%) at 2 and 3 years since the first use of varenicline, respectively. Compared to current smokers, successful quitters were older (55.0 years vs. 49.9 years, p=0.01), had better compliance to the 12-week course (27.7 vs. 9.3%, p=0.01), and had taken varenicline longer (10.1 vs. 5.9 weeks, p=0.01). Fifty-four of 71 current smokers (76.1%) were willing to stop smoking in the near future. The preferred ways to cease smoking were will-power (48.1%), varenicline (25.9%), nicotine replacement therapy (11.1%), and others (14.9%). Conclusion: Smokers should be encouraged to stick to the proven way for recommended period of time for successful cessation of smoking.

The Use of Nutritional Supplements in Korean Elite Soccer Players (한국 프로축구 선수들의 영양보충제 섭취 실태)

  • Lee Hyun-Sook
    • Journal of Nutrition and Health
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    • v.39 no.3
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    • pp.299-306
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    • 2006
  • This study was done to investigate the use of nutritional supplements (NS) in Korean elite soccer players using an anonymous questionnaire. NS were classified into health supplements, manufactured health food supplements, chinese medicines & tonic foods, and nutrient supplements. Information was sought on the type of NS and factors that might influence supplement use including selected demographic parameters and health related variables. The data were collected from 241 athletes (aged $24.6{\pm}3.8$ years) in 9 professional soccer club. The prevalence of NS use among the subjects was 81.3%. Health supplements were used most frequently and nutrient supplement drug was the second one. Among the health supplements, weight/muscle gainer and calorie replacement product were most frequently used. Vitamin supplements were most frequently used among all nutrient supplement drugs. Users of NS were higher age (p<0.05) duration of exercise (p<0.05), and income (p<0.05) than non-users. The married (p<0.05) and a member of K-league (p<0.01) tended to have higher prevalence of NS use. The main adviser of NS were family (55.3%) and oneself (39%) instead of coach or sports nutritionist. Although NS use, only 26.2% certainly check up nutritional information on their used NS. Among the subjects, 84.5% of them felt that NS use were improved athletic performance, and 86.5% of them will to keep on taking supplement. These data suggest that a large number of elite soccer players use NS and these players may require education about healthy nutritional supplement practice and on the proper use of nutritional supplements.

Food Composition Database in Korea

  • Chun, Hye-Kyung;Park, Hong-Ju;Lee, Sung-Hyeon
    • Nutritional Sciences
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    • v.7 no.1
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    • pp.47-52
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    • 2004
  • The food composition database is used to evaluate the nutritional value of foods in Korea. It is used as a source for basic data in many fields, not only for the establishment of the National Food Supply Plan but also for nutritional research, to aid in the drafting of the National Food Policy, and in clinical and epidemiological research. The database is also used by institutional and commercial food services and by the food processing industry among others. In 1970, the Rural Development Administration(RDA) published the "Korean Food Composition Table" for the first time and it has since become the established authority on food composition for the entire nation. The latest published food composition table (the 6th edition, published by the National Rural Living Science Institute, KDA) covers 2,337 kinds of foods and consists of two volumes. The National Rural Living Science Institute, the Korea Food and Drug Administration, and the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute have continuously improved production of food composition data in Korea. As consumers have grown more interested in the quality and safety of foods and raw agricultural products, we can expect even further development of food composition data through improvements in quality and increases in quantity. We need to develop more comprehensive food composition data by diversifying the kinds of foods that are included, unifying analytical methods, and increasing the number of nutrients covered. Moreover, food composition data must be modified in other ways to make for a better food composition database for the convenience of users. of users.

A Study on Sickness and Utilization of Medical Care in a Rural Area of Kyunggido (일부(一部) 농어촌주민(農漁村住民)의 상병(傷病) 및 의료이용도(醫療利用度)에 관(關)한 조사연구(調査硏究))

  • Chang, Yong-Tae
    • Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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    • v.9 no.1
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    • pp.139-146
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    • 1976
  • This survey attempted to determine the overall health situation in Kyunggido in terms of sickness prevalence, sickness distribution, demand for medical care by type, and utilization of medical care. The survey was conducted on 766 households, or 4,065 people, from July 1-31, 1975. The findings from the survey are as follows: 1) In terms of age distribution, 28.7% of the sample was from 10-19, the 40-49 age group was the next largest group, and those over 60 made up 7% of the sample. 2. The education distribution is as follows, 30.4% completed primary school, 22.4% had no formal education, 20.6% attended but did not onplete primary school, and 1.8% attended unversities or higher. 3) In terms of occupation, 55.9% were unemployed or family employees, which represents a large dependent population, 30.4% of the workers were employed in farming or fisheries. 4. The marital status is as follows, 58.8% of the women were married, 32.3% unmarried, and 7.5% divorced. 5) The prevalence rate of mouthy illness was 19.7% of 100 infant, 42.8% became fatally ill within the first year of life. This is a very high percentage compared with more developed nations. 6) Of those reportion on illness, 54.6% sought treatment. The rate of treatment was highest in infants at 77.7%. Us age increased, demand for treatment decreased to 43.1% for those in the aldest age group. The oldest age group also had the highest rate of non treatment at 56.8%. 7) The demand for medical care showed that 65.6% utilized drug stores, 20.2% utilized hospitals and clinics, 5.4% used herbdrug-stores and herb clinices, and 3.9% relied upon folk medicine and withch craft. 8) The utilization of medical facilties by sex is as follows, 65.1% of the men and 66.0% of the women used drug stores, and 19.2% of the men and 20.2% of the women used hospitals and clinics. However, more men (3.5%) were hospitalized than women (1.8%) 9) In terms of out-patient care, the largest age group of males was 10-19 (28.2%), and the largest age group of females was 0-9 (30.8%). There was no sex difference in the use of western pharmacies. Menaged 30-39 and women aged 50-59 were the most frequent users of herb clinics. 10) The rate of receiving treatment at drugstore hospitals went towards declining level in the second case of what While increaing much more at herb clinics and folk medicines in the second case than the first one. 11) After primary utilization of hospitals, 32.7%. of the adults aged 20-59 used drug-stores as a secondary source of care, and 12.8% of children and youth under age 20 continued receiving care at hospitals. 12) After primary utilization of drug-stores, 32.5 % of the adults continued to seek care at drug stores and 1.8% used hospitals. 4.2% of those over age 60 utilized folk medcine and witch craft.

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Evaluation on Utilization of the Health Care Service in One Urban Area in Korea (일개지역의 보건의료서비스 이용 평가;Y지역의 대학병원과 보건소 데이터베이스를 통하여)

  • Lee, Byung-Wha;Ahn, Sung-Hee
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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    • v.11 no.4
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    • pp.401-414
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    • 2005
  • Purpose: This study was to evaluate the utilization of health care service and to provide supportive data for health care policy making in one urban area in Korea. Method: This study tested the significance of public health service using the database of an university hospital and public health center from Feb. 2000 to Dec. 2004. Data were analyzed by multidimensional analysis and data mining technique and produced the information on the classification of utilization characteristics by main disease and the total cost of use and disease association with the users of the public health center. Results: The Results were as follows: 1) Top 10 diseases in the area accounted for 22.4% of total frequency for the most recent 5 years in university hospital, while 59.0% in public health center. 2) There were significant correlations between university hospital and public health center user's insurance type and place of residence: It showed higher use of public health center for free service beneficiaries residing in Seoul than residents in nearby or local area. The medical insurance types for hospital users were more various than those for public health center users. 3) The use of hospital for patients of hypertension, diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia was tended to concentrate in mostly autumn and winter since August 2000, while the cost of using public health center for those patients has been steadily reduced since July 2000. 4) As a result of cluster analysis, there were classified into three homogeneous groups according to the total cost of using public health service, age, and the frequency of use. 5) The association analysis on patients with chronic disease in public health center produced a detailed information on accompanying diseases related to the incidence rate of disease of high frequency due to aging, information on drug abuse and immune disease. Conclusion: The health care policy for local community should be evaluated continuously. And the policy to build an integrated data warehousing by public health indicator system and to enhance the faithfulness of data is required.

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Bone graft materials and its intended use (임상가를 위한 특집 1 - 뼈이식재 족보 바로 알고 사용하기)

  • Lee, Jeong-Keun
    • The Journal of the Korean dental association
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    • v.48 no.4
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    • pp.256-262
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    • 2010
  • bone grafting is indicated in the case of bony defects and is classified into autograft, allograft, and xenograft. Synthetic bone graft is contrasted with these three categories in that it has a different donor source. Autograft is most prominent as it is known as a gold standard of all grafting procedures. Its principles and practices are well established via accumulated informations and clinical experiences, which imposes no regulations or restrictions in its clinical use. On the other hand, other bone graft procedures are under tight control for the safety and effectiveness of each product. Food and Drug Administration of the United States has a system in which the information on the approvals and clearances of bone graft materials on their internet homepage. All the bone graft materials that are under the regulations of the United States are classified into the category of medical devices, which includes allogenic bone, xenogenic bone, and synthetic bone graft materials. Each bone graft material has its own indication and the FDA approvals and clearances of medical devices contain the item of "intended use" to specify the indications of each bone graft materials. US dentists, as users of the specific bone graft materials, are provided with adequate information on the approved materials they are to utilize. As an user of these materials, Korean dentists are less provided with the information on the bone graft materials they want to use. Medical providers of the bone graft materials have to be able to provide their users with the essential information such as the intended use of the regulatory approval. Dentists must also be active in gathering informations on the material of their interest, and the system must be built in which both of the medical providers and users of bone graft materials can be satisfied in providing and getting the information, respectively.