• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.284-295
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• 2020

In December 2019, the first coronavirus disease- 2019 (COVID-19) patient was reported in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Since then, the number of patients who suffered severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by the novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 or 2019-nCoV) has increased dramatically in Korea. This new variant virus induces pulmonary diseases, including cough, sore throat, rhinorrhea, dyspnea, and pneumonia. Because SARS-CoV-2 is an RNA virus, real-time reverse-transcriptase PCR has been used widely to diagnose COVID-19. As the Korea Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (KCDC) and Ministry of Food & Drug Safety (MFDS) approved emergency use authorization, clinical specimens collected from COVID-19 patients and even healthy people have been clinically diagnosed by laboratory medicine. Based on a literature search, this paper reviews the epidemiology, symptoms, molecular diagnostics approved by KCDC, a current diagnosis of COVID-19 in the laboratories, the difference between molecular and serological diagnosis, and guidelines for clinical specimens. In addition, the Korean guidelines of biosafety for clinical laboratory scientists are evaluated to prevent healthcare-associated infection. The author's experience and lessons as clinical laboratory scientists will provide valuable insights to protect the domestic and international health community in this COVID-19 pandemic around the world.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.929-939
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to identify knowledge of universal precautions and its performance in practice. The research was conducted from November 2 to 30, 1998. A total 515 student nurses ; 249 from a baccalaureate nursing college and 266 from second and third year of a 3-year community nursing college were surveyed. The results are as following : 1. The average score for universal precautions knowledge was 270.41$\pm$19.43/300(range 150-300). The results showed that 99.2% of students avoid injury from used needles, 98.6% answered that they always wash their hands if they had contact with the patient's blood and they always dispose of used needles in special collectors (97.7%) for needles. But, 39.2% responsed that they dispose of used needles after recapping them. 2. The average score for universal precautions knowledge of the senior students in the 4-year college was the highest (277.65$\pm$13.99). 3. The average score for the performance of universal precautions knowledge was 53.18 $\pm$5.91(range 14-70). The items : ‘I cautiously avoid injury from the used needles’(4.92$\pm$0.33), ‘I always wash my hands if there has been contact with the patient's blood’(4.91$\pm$0.34), and ‘I always disposed of used needles in the appropriate collector’(4.89$\pm$0.42) showed the highest performance. However ‘I always dispose of used needles after recapping them’(2.19$\pm$1.39) and ‘I always use protection goggles when in danger of contamination’(2.19$\pm$1.20) showed low performance level. 4. The highest average score for universal precautions performance was shown among the second year students in 3-year nursing college (54.19$\pm$6.92) between the groups. It showed that the level of the universal precautions performance was higher for those who had education on university precautions prior to performance of the universal precautions than for those without any prior education. 5. The percentage of students who reported the experience of direct contact with patients' blood and/or body fluids was 42.30%. The experience of direct contact with blood and/or body fluids of the educational group was significantly higher than those were not educated. 6. The most frequent cause of the direct contact was ‘needle pricking and/or skin cut’(63.04%). The most frequent substance with which the students contact was ‘blood’(59.85%). The majority of the sample had answered that the mode of contamination was ‘unknown’(63.54%). The majority of the sample answered that strategies used after contamination included ‘washing with soap’(33.61%). Reviewing the chart of patients or asking other health professionals(28.85%). 7. The number of students who had the experience of a needle stick and/or skin cut was 145(28.16%). The clinical practice places where the incidents occurred were mainly in the internal medicine unit (45.07%) and the surgical unit (31.92%) followed by the intensive care unit and the emergency unit in order. The experience of a needle stick and/or skin cut happened during on intra-muscular injection 47.34% and intravenous injection 21.81%. The causes of the needle stick and/or skin cut were ‘putting the needle cap back on 77(35.81%)’. The number of students who took an appropriate post management blood test and/or vaccination was 27(18.62%). 8. The Pearson Correlation Coefficient between the knowledge of universal precautions and performance of universal precautions in practice showed a positive correlation.

• Journal of Internet Computing and Services
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.109-115
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• 2015

The new medical device technologies for bio-signal information and medical information which developed in various forms have been increasing. Information gathering techniques and the increasing of the bio-signal information device are being used as the main information of the medical service in everyday life. Hence, there is increasing in utilization of the various bio-signals, but it has a problem that does not account for security reasons. Furthermore, the medical image information and bio-signal of the patient in medical field is generated by the individual device, that make the situation cannot be managed and integrated. In order to solve that problem, in this paper we integrated the QR code signal associated with the medial image information including the finding of the doctor and the bio-signal information. bio-signal. System implementation environment for medical imaging devices and bio-signal acquisition was configured through bio-signal measurement, smart device and PC. For the ROI extraction of bio-signal and the receiving of image information that transfer from the medical equipment or bio-signal measurement, .NET Framework was used to operate the QR server module on Window Server 2008 operating system. The main function of the QR server module is to parse the DICOM file generated from the medical imaging device and extract the identified ROI information to store and manage in the database. Additionally, EMR, patient health information such as OCS, extracted ROI information needed for basic information and emergency situation is managed by QR code. QR code and ROI management and the bio-signal information file also store and manage depending on the size of receiving the bio-singnal information case with a PID (patient identification) to be used by the bio-signal device. If the receiving of information is not less than the maximum size to be converted into a QR code, the QR code and the URL information can access the bio-signal information through the server. Likewise, .Net Framework is installed to provide the information in the form of the QR code, so the client can check and find the relevant information through PC and android-based smart device. Finally, the existing medical imaging information, bio-signal information and the health information of the patient are integrated over the result of executing the application service in order to provide a medical information service which is suitable in medical field.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.393-399
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• 1994

Spinal cord compression, an oncologic emergency, is a rare complication of hematologic malignancy Our experience was obtained with a series 32 Patients following retrospective analysis for assessing the role of radiation therapy and identifying the prognostic factors affecting on treatment outcome. Diagnosis was usually made by means of radiologic study such as myelography or computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and neurologic examination. Five cases were diagnosed by subjective symptom only with high index of suspicion. In 31 cases, the treatment consisted in radiation therapy alone and the remained one patient had laminectomy before radiation therapy because of diagnostic doubts. Total treatment doses ranged from 800 cGy to 4000 cGy with median of 2000 cGy. Initially large fraction size more than 250 cGy were used in 13 patients with rapidly progressed neurologic deficit. The clinical parameters considered in evaluating the response to treatment were backache, motor-sensory performance and sphincter function. Half of all patients showed good response. Partial response and no response were noted in $37.5\%$ and $12.5\%$, respectively. Our results showed higher response rate than those of other solid tumor series. The degree of neurologic deficit at that time of diagnosis was the most important predictor of treatment outcome. The elapsed time from development of symptoms to start of treatment was significantly affected on the outcome. But histology of primary tumor total dose and use of initial large fraction size were not significantly affect on the outcome. These results confirmed the value of early diagnosis and treatment especially in radiosensitive hematologic malignancy.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.686-693
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• 2014

Restricted supply of nutrients may affect genes at the molecular level as well as physiological functions. Understanding the cellular responses during starvation is necessary for developing strategies to reduce damage caused by starvation stress. After 1 h of starvation, Got1 gene expression was increased but its expression returned to the normal state after 24 h. Mat1 gene expression continuously increased with starvation from 1 h until 24 hr. Rats starved for 1-3 days showed significant changes in expression of the Got1 and Mat1 genes, which were significantly reduced in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum. In the lung, gene expression was increased by starvation for 1-2 days but decreased on the third day. No differences were observed in gene expression in the heart. Strong Got1 lung gene expression was seen in the starvation group one day after restoration of the food supply. Muscle mass was significantly reduced at the start of starvation and remained the same after two days of starvation and one day after the food supply was restored. The Mat1 gene expression did not change. The Got1 was induced by NaCl and showed strong expression in the lung and the thymus, but the apparent decrease of the remaining changes were not observed in male rats. The Mat1 gene was not as sensitive as the Got1 gene to induction by NaCl. However, differences in gene induction by NaCl were evident between males and females, indicating that diet control of gene expression is associated with hormones.

• The Korean Nurse
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.45-62
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• 1998

The study was conducted from November 1995 to May 1996 at the one general hospital in Seoul. The total subjects of this study were 412 patients who have the experience of fall accident, among them 31 was who have fallen during hospitalization and 381 was who visited emergency room and out patient clinic. The purposes of this study were to determine the characteristics, risk factors and results of fall accident and to suggest the nursing strategies for prevention of fall. Data were collected by reviewing the medical records and interviewing with the fallers and their family members. For data analysis, spss/pc+ program was utilized for descriptive statistics, adjusted standardized $X^2$-test. The results of this study were as follows: 1) Total subjects were 412 fallers, of which 245(59.5%) were men and 167(40.5%) were women. Age were 0-14 years 79(19.2%), 15-44 years 125(30.4%), 45-64 years 104(25.2%), over 65 years 104(25.2%). 2) There was significant association between age and the sexes ($X^2$=39.17, P=0.00). 3) There was significant association between age and history of falls ($X^2$=44.41. P= .00). And history of falls in the elderly was significantly associated with falls. 4) There was significant association with age and medical diagnosis ($X^2$=140.66, P= .00), chief medical diagnosis were hypertension(34), diabetis mellitus(22), arthritis(11), stroke(8), fracture(7), pulmonary tuberculosis(6), dementia(5) and cataract(5), 5) There was significant association between age and intrinsic factors: cognitive impairment, mobility impairment, insomnia, emotional problems, urinary difficulty, visual impairments, hearing impairments, use of drugs (sedatives , antihypertensive drugs, diuretics, antidepressants) (P < 0.05). But there was no significant association between age and dizziness ($X^2$=2.87, P=.41). 6) 15.3% of total fallers were drunken state when they were fallen. 7) Environmental factors of fall accident were unusual posture (50.9%), slips(35.2%), trips (9.5%) and collision(4.4%). 8) Most of falls occurred during the day time, peak frequencies of falls occurred from 1pm to 6pm and 7am to 12am. 9) The places of fall accident were roads(22.6%), house-stairs 06.7%), rooms, floors, kitchen (11.2%), the roof-top, veranda, windows(10.9%), hospital(7.5%), ice or snowy ways(5.8%), bathroom(4.9%), playground, park(4.9%), subway-stairs(4.4%) and public-bathrooms (2.2%). 10) Activities at the time of fall accident were walking(37.6%), turning around or reaching for something(20.9%), going up or down stairs09.2%), exereise, working07.4%), up or down from a bed(2.7%), using wheelchair or walking aids, standing up or down from a chair(2.2%) and standing still(2.2%). 11) Anatomical locations of injuries by falls were head, face, neck(31.3%), lower extremities (29.9%). upper extremities(20.6%), spine, thorax, abdomen or pelvic contents(l1.4%) and unspecified(2.9%). 12) Types of injures were fracture(47.6%), bruises03.8%), laceration (13.3%), sprains(9.0%), headache(6.6%), abrasions(2.9%), intracranial hemorrage(2.4%) and burns(0.5%). 13) 41.5% of the fallers were hospitalized and average of hospitalization was 22.3 days. 14) The six fallers(1.46%) died from fall injuries. The two fallers died from intracranial hemorrage and the four fallers died of secondary infection; pneumonia(2), sepsis(1) and cell lulitis(1). It is suggested that 1) Further study is needed with larger sample size to identify the fall risk factors. 2) After the fall accident, comprehensive nursing care and regular physical exercise should be emphasized for the elderly person. 3) Safety education and safety facilities of the public place and home is necessary for fall prevention.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.965-973
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• 2021

Since radiation therapy is irradiated with high-energy X-rays in a variety of at least 20 Gy to 80 Gy, a high dose is administered to the local area where the tumor is located, and various side effects of some normal tissues are expected. Currently, in clinical practice, lead, a representative material, is used as an effort to shield normal tissues, but lead is classified as a heavy metal harmful to the human body, and a large amount of skin contact can cause poisoning. Therefore, this study intends to manufacture a measurement sheet that can compensate for the limitations of lead using the materials Tungsten, Brass, and Copper of the 3D printer of the FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) method and to investigate the penetration performance. Tungsten mixed filament transmission measurement sheet size was 70 × 70 mm and thickness 1, 2, 4 mm using a 3D printer, and a linear accelerator (TrueBeam STx, S/N: 1187) was measured by irradiating 100 MU at SSD 100 cm and 5 cm in water using a water phantom, an ion chamber (FC-65G), and an elcetrometer (PTW UNIDOSE), and the permeability was evaluated. As a result of increasing the measurement sheet of each material by 1 mm, in the case of Tungsten sheet at 3.8 to 3.9 cm in 6 MV, the thickness of the lead shielding body was thinner than 6.5 cm, and in case of Tungsten sheet at 4.5 to 4.6 cm in 15 MV. The sheet was thinner than the existing lead shielding body thickness of 7 cm, and equivalent performance was confirmed. Through this study, the transmittance measurement sheet produced using Tungsten alloy filaments confirmed the possibility of transmission shielding in the high energy region. It has been confirmed that the usability as a substitute is also excellent. It is thought that it can be provided as basic data for the production of shielding agents with 3D printing technology in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.383-396
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• 2020

Purpose: This study compared the injury mechanism, site, type, initial management approach of orthopedic injury, and outcomes according to the injury severity in moderate-to-severe injured patients. Materials and Methods: During 57-month, excluding the period when the authors' emergency/trauma center was not operating, from 2014 to 2019, a retrospective study was conducted on 778 patients with orthopedic injuries among patients with an Injury Severity Score (ISS)>9 scored. The patients were classified into moderate-injured group (group-1, 679) and severe-injured group (group-2, 99) according to the injury severity based on the ISS and physiologic parameters. The injury mechanism and non-orthopedic injury were evaluated. Orthopedic injuries were assessed according to the injury pattern and the number of anatomical regions and bone sites involved. The management approach for the orthopedic injuries in two groups was compared. Outcomes (hospital stay, systemic complications, and in-hospital mortality) were evaluated, and the risk factors for mortality were analyzed. Results: In group-2, the incidence of younger males, high-energy mechanisms, and accompanying injuries was significantly higher than in group-1. The number of anatomical regions and bone sites involved increased in group-2. The involvement of the pelvis, spine, and upper extremity was significantly higher in group-2, whereas group-1 was involved mainly by the lower extremities. Depending on the patient's condition, definitive or staged management for orthopedic injuries may be used. Group-1 was treated mainly with definite fixation after the physiological stabilization process, and group-2 was treated with staged management using temporary external fixation. The hospital stay was significantly longer in group-2. The overall systematic complications and in-hospital mortality was approximately 4.9% and 4.5%. A higher injury severity was associated with higher in-hospital mortality (2.9%, 15.2%; p<0.0001). Increasing age and high ISS are independent risk factors for mortality. Conclusion: A higher severity of injury was associated with a higher incidence of high-energy mechanism, younger, male, accompanying injuries, and the frequency and severity of orthopedic injuries. Severe polytrauma patients were treated mainly with a staged approach, such as external fixation. The hospital stay, systematic complications, and in-hospital mortality were significantly higher in severe-injured patients. Age and ISS are strong predictors of in-hospital mortality in polytrauma.