• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.65 no.5
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• pp.230-238
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• 2022

Myocarditis was previously attributed to an epidemic viral infection. Additional harmful reagents, in addition to viruses, play a role in its etiology. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine-induced myocarditis has recently been described, drawing attention to vaccine-induced myocarditis in children and adolescents. Its pathology is based on a series of complex immune responses, including initial innate immune responses in response to viral entry, adaptive immune responses leading to the development of antigen-specific antibodies, and autoimmune responses to cellular injury caused by cardiomyocyte rupture that releases antigens. Chronic inflammation and fibrosis in the myocardium eventually result in cardiac failure. Recent advancements in molecular biology have remarkably increased our understanding of myocarditis. In particular, microRNAs (miRNAs) are a hot topic in terms of the role of new biomarkers and the pathophysiology of myocarditis. Myocarditis has been linked with microRNA-221/222 (miR-221/222), miR-155, miR-10a^*, and miR-590. Despite the lack of clinical trials of miRNA intervention in myocarditis yet, multiple clinical trials of miRNAs in other cardiac diseases have been aggressively conducted to help pave the way for future research, which is bolstered by the success of recently U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved small-RNA medications. This review presents basic information and recent research that focuses on myocarditis and related miRNAs as a potential novel biomarker and the therapeutics.

• The Journal of the Institute of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.73-78
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• 2023

Diabetes is chronic disease that is rapidly increasing in prevalence around the world, and mortality from complications continues to rise. This has made blood glucose management a critical challenge for modern society. The main methods used to manage blood glucose are diet, exercise, and medication. Among these, diet is one of the fundamental foundations of blood glucose management, avoiding foods that cause high blood glucose and minimizing blood glucose fluctuations, and is more accessible to people with diabetes as well as the general population. Currently, several platforms, both domestic and international, offer meal planning services, but this is mainly done by users or professional coaches. Accordingly, this paper implements an accurate Kcal calculation model based on DNN and presents a series of dietary algorithms for blood glucose management based on this.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.47-56
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• 2022

Background: In modern society, the number of households raising companion animals increases, and the market for veterinary medicines is expanding even more. This study aims to investigate the perception of companion animal lovers' veterinary medicines, the necessity of specific guidance by pharmacists for veterinary medicines, the role of pharmacists at veterinary pharmacies, and ways to fulfill that role. Methods: This study evaluated veterinary medicines and medication guidance through Google online questionnaire targeting pet-lovers from December 20, 2021, until January 19, 2022. The questions consist of 1) characteristics of petlovers, 2) purchase history and drug recognition of veterinary drugs, 3) use of veterinary vaccines, 4) use of diagnostic kits, and 5) guidance of veterinary medicines by local pharmacists. Results: The respondents' experience purchasing veterinary drugs was as high as 94.4%. The most purchased drug was heartworm-preventing products, and vaccination was performed mainly at veterinary clinics (veterinarians). The respondents primarily purchased veterinary medicines for companion animals at veterinary hospitals and did not know the name of the drugs which they bought. In addition, respondents expected to receive specific information on veterinary medicines from pharmacists. Conclusion: As the number of veterinary pharmacies in the community will increase with the expansion of the companion animal market, pharmacists should play their role as experts in veterinary medicines through systematic and continuous professional education.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.272-278
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• 2023

Background: Some working conditions may pose a higher physical or psychological demand to pregnant women leading to increased risks of pregnancy complications. Objectives: We assessed the association of woman's employment status and the industrial classification with obstetric complications. Methods: We conducted a national population study using the National Health Information Service database of Republic of Korea. Our analysis encompassed 1,316,310 women who experienced first-order live births in 2010-2019. We collected data on the employment status and the industrial classification of women, as well as their diagnoses of preeclampsia (PE) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) classified as A1 (well controlled by diet) or A2 (requiring medication). We calculated odds ratios (aORs) of complications per employment, and each industrial classification was adjusted for individual risk factors. Results: Most (64.7%) were in employment during pregnancy. Manufacturing (16.4%) and the health and social (16.2%) work represented the most prevalent industries. The health and social work exhibited a higher risk of PE (aOR = 1.11, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-1.21), while the manufacturing industry demonstrated a higher risk of class A2 GDM (1.20, 95% CI: 1.03-1.41) than financial intermediation. When analyzing both classes of GDM, women who worked in public administration and defense/social security showed higher risk of class A1 GDM (1.04, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.07). When comparing high-risk industries with nonemployment, the health and social work showed a comparable risk of PE (1.02, 95% CI: 0.97, 1.07). Conclusion: Employment was associated with overall lower risks of obstetric complications. Health and social service work can counteract the healthy worker effect in relation to PE. This highlights the importance of further elucidating specific occupational risk factors within the high-risk industries.

• Journal of Korean Dental Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.192-203
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• 2023

Purpose: This study is to investigate the distribution of natural tooth shades in the Korean elderly population to quantify the correlation and changes of tooth color with age and gender. In addition, the possible effects of habits on tooth color were assessed. Materials and Methods: The tooth color of one of the maxillary central incisors of 200 Korean individuals aged 50 to 89 years, males and female, was measured using the portable intraoral spectrophotometer (VITA Easyshade V). CIELab and CIELCh color coordinates were recorded. We conducted the survey about the tobacco smoking, chronic disease, medication, eating habits, oral health behaviors and satisfaction with tooth color. Experimental data were statistically analyzed by using the t-test (P<0.05), two-way analysis of variance and Pearson's correlation test. Result: The most frequent color in the Korean elderly population was 3M3 & A3.5 shade. L^* and h^* values decreased, whereas C^*, a^* and b^* values increased progressively with age. There was a significant interaction between age and color coordinates for b^* values (r=0.245, P<0.05). Males generally have significantly higher C^*, a^*, b^* values and lower L^*, h^* value compared to females. Individuals who consumed alcohol had a higher L^* value (P<0.05). Conclusion: Within the limitation of this study, the central incisors were getting darker, more reddish, and yellowish with age. Information on the chromatic range of natural teeth by age and gender could help to select colors for esthetic dental restorations.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.709-728
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• 1995

The job related activities of sixty nine nurses, working in the emergency rooms of three university hospitals, were analyzed for six days according to preestablished checklist of nursing activities ; the frequency of these activities and the amount of time spent in each specific nursing activity. The established checklist was monitored every five minutes for the duration of the duty autu, thus producing 414 items of data. The data were not gathered on consecutive days but over the period of one month from May 6, 1994 to June 5, 1994. The following conclusions are derived from analysis of the data : 1. Twelve categories of nursing activities were obtained : The primary activity was communication related to the patient and all information pertaining to the patient. Other activities included maintaining the patient's record, observation and assessment of the patient, cooperation with other medical personnel, management of equipment and drugs, procedure and treatment, specimen collection, consultation and education for the patient, including drug management and personal hygiene and any other relevant education to the patient's condition. 2. The average frequency of categorized nursing activity can be classified as follows : communication related to patient was the highest at 17.6 times. The next was maintaining the patient's record at 17.3 times. The observation and assessment occurred 16.9 times. Consultation and education for patients and family, 8 times, medication, 5.7 times, and procedures and treatments, 6 times. 3. The average time required for each activity was as follows : 230.1 minutes (or maintaining the patient's record, 204.9 minutes for communication related to the patient, 199.2 minutes for observation and assessment, 71.2 minutes for medication, 66 minutes for consultation and education of the patient and family, and 51.8 minutes for procedures and treatment. 4. The most demanding nursing activity in the emergency room for the nurse was answering questions from the patient's family, maintaining communication between the medical staff, maintaining and reviewing the patient's charts, writing prescriptions and monitoring 1. V. infusion rates. 5. The most time consuming nursing activities for the emergency room nurse include maintaining and following the patient's charts, communication between the medical staff, answering questions from the patient's family, observation of the patient and relaying all of the appropriate patient information to the incoming nurses during a shift change. 6. The F-test was administered to measure the required time for the categorized nursing activities according to day, evening, and night-shift nurses. There were significant differences (p<.05) in specimen collection, observation and assessment, cooperation between medical staffs, personal hygiene, communication related to patient, education and re-search. Posterior multiple comparison test showed that specimen collection, cooperation between medical staffs and personal hygiene were mostly done by the evening-shift nurses. Also most observations and assessments were done by the night-shift nurses. Education and communication to patients were done by day-shift nurses. Thus there were significant difference between shifts for the main nursing activities. So there should considev a reallocation of the duty of nurses on each shift. 7. The F-test also indicated that there wes a similarity in time duration for procedures and treatments and for cooperation between medical staff and nurses in all three hospitals. However, the remaining categories of nursing activities also showed a significant difference between the three hospitals. This indicated that there were differences in each emergency room that influence time for each categorized nursing activities and this should be given more consideration. Recommendations : 1. A seasonal difference should be considered in the activities of nurses in the emergency room and a comparative analysis should be carried out to deter-mine seasonal differentiation. 2. A study on more objectively measurable nursing activities should be administered as well as one determining the subjective responds towards nursing activities in the emergency room.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.118-129
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• 2002

Nutrition is important in the management of diabetes mellitus, however, there are few little education materials specifically designed for older adults. The objective of this study was to develop nutrition education materials for prevention and management of diabetes moll for older adults. Materials developed were a booklet and four leaflets. The contents of materials were based on lesson plans. After several revisions of the draft of materials, illustrations and icons appropriate to the contents were designed using illustrator 9.0 and Photoshop 6.0. The booklet was composed of five chapters and 40 pages. The first chapter began with an introduction about diabetes and diabetes management by diet, exercise and medication. The second chapter dealt with ideal body weight, calculation of adequate caloric intake and food exchange list. The third chapter provided information for meal planning and sample menus. The fourth chapter focused on practical tips on nutritional care of diabetes, by providing tips on reducing sugars, fat and salt, and suggestions on eating for special occasions. The fifth chapter dealt with information in case of low blood sugars, exercise and foot care. The topics of the four leaflets were “Diabetes, what is it and care”, “Food exchange list and meal planning”, “Healthy eating for diabetes”, “Special care for diabetes low blood sugars, exercise and foot care” Each leaflet was composed of six sections and was printed in large paper (B4 size) for older adults. The draft of educational materials were re-viewed by four nutrition professionals and finally pilot-tested with ten adults aged 50 and older. The characteristics of the developed materials are as follows, i) messages are delivered using simple, specific information, ⅱ) messages focused on practical applicable tips, ⅲ) various pictures, illustrations and artwork were created and inserted to enhance understanding and interest, ⅳ) sections including risk factor assessment, calculation of ideal body weight and meal planning were designed to induce the user's participation, ⅴ) sample menus and food pictures were inserted in the booklet, vi) characteristics of older adults and transformed characteristics are diversely used to help the user feel familiarity. These materials are self-explanatory and can be used by older adults. These materials also can be used widely in nutrition education at public health centers or senior centers.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.90-99
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• 2011

Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA) claims database has a high potential to detect signals of new drug interactions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of information component (IC) and relative risk (RR) as a tool for signal detection, and to analyze the possible drug interactions caused by clopidogrel using HIRA claims database. This study was performed in elderly patients over 65 years of age who administered clopidogrel from January 2005 to June 2006 in South Korea. Serious Adverse Events (SAEs) as drug interactions of clopidogrel were defined as any ambulatory hospitalization for ischemic diseases within comcomitant medication period of clopidogrel. Information Component (IC) and Relative Risk (RR) were calculated to compare the proportion of drug-SAE pairs in order to select drug specific SAEs. IC and RR signals of clopidogrel drug interaction were screened when IC's 95% confidence interval was greater than 0 and RR's 95% confidence interval was greater than 1 respectively. All detected signals were compared to references such as $Micromedex^{(R)}$ and 2010 Drug Interaction $Facts^{TM}$. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predicted value and negative predicted value were used to evaluate usefulness of this method. Among 13,252,930 cases of elderly patients who co-administered clopidogrel and other drugs, 47,485 cases were detected as SAE. Of these, one-hundred nine cases were detected by the IC-based data-mining approach and ninety one cases were detected by the RR-based data-mining approach. Total One-hundred sixty three unrecognized signals were detected by IC or RR. Twelve signals from IC-based data-mining (57.1%) were corresponded with drug interactions from references and eight signals from RR-based data-mining (38.1%) were corresponded with drug interactions from references. These signals include proton pump inhibitors, calcium channel blockers and HMG CoA reductase Inhibitors, which were known to affect CYP450 metabolism. Further studies using HIRA claims database are necessary to develop appropriate data-mining measure.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.116-135
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• 2019

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to analyze how purpura and vasculitis have been treated with Korean medicine and potentially to present with future direction of research and treatment. Methods : We searched clinical studies from the Korean databases including Oriental medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System(OASIS), Korean Traditional Knowledge Portal(KTKP), National Discovery for Science Leader(NDSL), Research Information Sharing Service(RISS), using keywords related to "Purpura" and "Vasculitis" from January 2000 to May 2019. Results : A total of 20 studies were selected for analysis. More than half of the patients provided with detailed information were under 19 year-olds, and upper respiratory infection, stress and fatigue, seasonal factor were among the most frequently stated as predisposing factors. Among many treatment modalities, herbal medicine was the most frequently used, followed by acupuncture and herbal acupuncture. 23 basic herbal medicine formulas were retrieved from 20 articles, most frequently used being Guibi-tang(歸脾湯加味), Samul-tang(四物湯加味) and Yukmijihwang-tang(六味地黃湯加味). In total, 122 Korean medicine herbs were used, most frequently used herbs being Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma(甘草), Angelicae Gigantis Radix(當歸), Poria Sclerotium(茯?) and Paeoniae Radix(芍藥). By its category, herbs were mostly classified into Tonyfying and replenishing medicinal(補益藥), Heat-clearing medicinal(淸熱藥) and Exterior-releasing medicinal(解表藥). Patients with total treatment period of 3 months or under were 2/3 of all cases provided with detailed information. Follow up periods were short in general with only 6 cases of over 6 months. The primary motive of patients to receive Korean medicine treatments was unresponsiveness or adverse effects of western medication. Conclusion : Through this literature review, we could find out tendencies of Korean medicine treatments of purpura and vasculitis up to date and some points that may have clinical significance.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.775-785
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• 1999

Background : Though surgery plays an important role in the management of patients with Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, there is little information regarding the timing of resection. We tried to find out the ideal timing of operation. Method: A retrospective review was performed in 69 patients underwent pulmonary resection for pulmonary tuberculosis between January 1993 and December 1997. They were categorized into various groups according to the length of preoperative specific drug therapy. The rates of treatment failure, realpse and complication in each group were compared statistically by $x^2$-test. Results: Eighty one point two percent were men and 18.8 % women with a median age of 33 years(range, 16 to 63 years). The mean number of resistant drugs was 3.l(range, 0 to 9). Patients were treated preoperatively with multidrug regimens, which mean number of preoperative specific drugs was 4.6, in an effort to reduce the mycobacterial burden with the mean length of preoperative drug therapy, 5.0 months. Postoperative treatment was conducted for a mean period of 13.0 months with a mean number of postoperative specific drugs, 4.4. Postoperative treatment failures were confirmed in 8 among 69 patients(11.6%). 2 of these 8 patients were showed up in the preoperative 3 to 4 months medication group and each of the rest was occurred in the preoperative 2 to 3, 5 to 6, 6 to 7, 12 to 13, 17 to 18 months, less than one month medication group, respectively. 59 of 69 patients were available for evaluation of the relapse rate with the mean duration of the postoperative follow-up, 19.8 months. In 4 patients bacterial relapse was confirmed(6.8%). Each of these 4 was in the preoperative 1 to 2, 2 to 3, 3 to 4, 5 to 6 months medication group. Categorized into various groups according to the length of preoperative specific therapy, there were no statistical significances of the treatment failure rate, relapse rate and complication rate in the groups. There were seven treatment failures of 28 who were AFB culture positive until the time of operation(25%, p<0.01). Categorized the preoperative AFB culture positive group into various groups according to the length of preoperative drug therapy, there were no statistical significances, either. Conclusion: We believe that operation plays an important ancillary role in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. Our results indicate that the timing of resection according to the length of preoperative drug therapy may not cause trouble.