• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.4655-4659
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• 2016

Background and Aim: Breast cancer is a major healthcare problem in women. There are many reports about up-regulation of Hsp27 in cancer tissues but less is known about the potential relationship between Hsp27 antibody levels and breast cancer complications. We here investigated concentrations of serum Hsp27 antigen and antibodies in subjects with and without breast cancer and assessed potential associations with two-year disease-free survival, histological grade and number of lymph nodes. Materials and Methods: Specifically, serum Hsp27 antigen and antibody levels from 97 patients with breast cancer, and 65 healthy controls were determined by enzyme-linkedimmunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Results: Serum Hsp27 and antibody levels were significantly (p<0.001) higher in patients with breast cancer compared to the control group, but no relationship were found with two-year disease free survival, histological grade or number of lymph nodes (p> 0.6, 0.2 and 0.9 respectively). Conclusions: Elevated levels of Hsp27 antibody occur with women with breast cancer but do not appear to be associated with the presence of disease clinical complications.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.677-684
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• 2006

Morphine has been used widely on the treatment of many types of chronic pain. However the development of tolerance to and dependence on morphine by repeat application is a major problem in pain therapy. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether combined administration of nalbuphine with morphine affects the development of tolerance to and dependence on morphine. We hypothesize that the use of nalbuphine, ${\kappa}-agonist$ may prove to be useful adjunct therapy to prevent morphine-induced undesirable effects in the management of some forms of chronic pain. Morphine (10 mg/kg) was injected to rats intraperitoneally for 5 day. The variable dose of nalbuphine (0.1, 1.0 and 5.0 mg/kg) was administered (i.p.) in combination with morphine injection. The development of morphine tolerance was assessed by measuring the antinociceptive effect with the Randall-Selitto apparatus. The development of dependence on morphine was determined by the scoring the precipitated withdrawal signs for 30 min after injection of naloxone (10 mg/kg, i.p.). Nalbuphine did not attenuate antinociceptive effect of morphine in rats. Interestingly, combined administration of morphine with nalbuphine (10:1) significantly attenuated the development of dependence on morphine. The elevation of $[^3H]MK-801$ binding in frontal cortex, dentate gyrus, and cerebellum after chronic morphine infusion was suppressed by the coadministration of nalbuphine. In addition, the elevation of NR1 expression by morphine was decreased by the coadministration of nalbuphine in rat cortex. These results suggest that the coadministration of nalbuphine with morphine in chronic pain treatment can be one of therapies to reduce the development of tolerance to and dependence on morphine.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.569-576
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• 1993

A feeding trial was conducted to determine the effectivity of microbial treatment on eliminating the toxicity of weevil-infested sweet potato roots, and to assess intake level and performance of broilers fed microbiologically-treated, weevil-infested sweet potato meal. Weevil-infested sweet potato meal was treated with Aspergillus awamori (terpene-degrading fungus), dried, and mixed with other ingredients. One hundred twenty (120) broiler chicks were randomly distributed to treatment diets containing 3 types of sweet potato meal (healthy, weevil-infested, and microbiologically-treated, weevil-infested) incorporated at 2 levels (12% and 24%) in the ration, following the $2{\times}3$ factorial in CRD with 4 replicates per treatment. Voluntary intake was high with healthy sweet potato meal, even at 24% in the ration, especially at later stage of broiler development. Weevil infestation of sweet potato meal, even at 24% in the ration, especially at later stage of broiler development. Weevil infestation of sweet potato roots significantly reduced voluntary intake and broiler performance even at 12% level in the diet, much more at 24% level (p<0.01). Microbial treatment, however, was found to alleviate such problem, especially at 24% level of incorporation (p<0.01). "Toxicity" of weevil infestation, in terms of enlargement of liver and spleen, in the absence of mortality, was only apparent at 24% level of incorporation in the ration. Again, this was minimized by microbial treatment (p<0.01), and is therefore recommended at high levels of incorporating weevil-infested sweet potato meal in broiler diets. Microbial treatment constitutes an added cost, so that economic analyses should be done to find out whether increases in broiler performance, or reduction in the toxic effects of terpenoid compounds, outweigh the cost of treatment before a definite recommendation can be made for its commercial application.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.39-47
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was done to determine whether a parenting education program using responsive teaching strategies is effective for parenting stress, maternal interactional behavior and behavioral problems in children at risk for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Methods: Participants in this study were 17 elementary school children and their parents. The ADHD risk group was determined by scores on the Korean-ADHD Rating Scale. The parenting education program was developed based on Dr. Mahoney's responsive teaching curriculum. Mothers participated in the program once a week for 8 sessions. Treatment outcome was evaluated using the Korean version of the Child Behavior CheckList (K-CBCL), parenting stress, maternal interactional behavior, and child pivotal developmental behavior. Data were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed rank test, Mann-Whitney test, and regression analysis. Results: After the parenting education program, no significant difference in parenting stress (Z=-1.00, p=.320) was found, but there was a significant decrease in the child's internal behavior problems (Z=-2.05, p=.040), and also a significant improvement in maternal interactional behavior and a significant difference in child pivotal developmental behavior (Z=-2.67, p=.008). Conclusion: The results indicate that parenting education programs based on responsive teaching strategies are effective and that application of a program is recommended to prevent behavioral problems and improve maternal child interaction for children at risk for ADHD.

• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.219-229
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• 2019

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the difference between primary caregivers' self-efficacy and coping strategy according to the communication styles of home care nurses. Methods: Data were collected from 123 primary caregivers of patients who were registered at a home care nursing center in D city and who had been receiving home care for more than 3 months from January 1 to February 27, 2018. The questionnaire included items on communication style, self-efficacy, and stress coping strategy. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, and ANOVA. Results: Regarding primary caregivers' self-efficacy in terms of communication style, the caregivers showed higher efficacy in providing informative and friendly communication (F=14.07, p=.001). Regarding home care nurses' communication style and the stress coping strategy of the primary caregivers, the informative-friendly communication style was adopted the most for the problem-solving coping strategy (F=7.17, p=.001). Regarding the social support-seeking coping, home care nurses' friendly communication style was the most adopted (F=4.40, p=.014). Conclusion: This study suggests that home care nurses will plan to provide informative and friendly communication-oriented nursing care, and to improve self-efficacy and positively influence the coping method by using the communication styles appropriate to the state of the primary caregiver.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.125-134
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• 2024

Objective: Vitamin D deficiency is a major problem for human health worldwide. The mechanisms of vitamin D in the male reproductive system are unknown. After coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines were developed, doubts were raised about their possible effects on male fertility. Based on vitamin D's function in the immune system, its potential role as an adjuvant for COVID-19 vaccines is intriguing. The aims of this study were to assess the effects of vitamin D first on sperm parameters and sex hormones, and then as an immune adjuvant on sperm parameters and sex hormones after study participants had received their second doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Methods: Phase 1 (before the COVID-19 pandemic) included 72 men with idiopathic infertility, and phase 2 had 64 participants who received two doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Both groups were instructed to take 50,000 IU of vitamin D twice monthly for 3 months. Sperm parameters and sex hormones were assessed pre-and post-supplementation. Results: Regular vitamin D intake for 3 months significantly increased the participants' vitamin D levels (p=0.0001). Both phases showed a positive correlation between vitamin D intake and sperm parameters. Vaccination had no negative effects on sperm parameters and sex hormones. Vitamin D was associated with follicle-stimulating hormone (p=0.02) and testosterone (p=0.0001) in phase 2 after treatment. Conclusion: Our results support vitamin D supplementation as an immune adjunct to COVID-19 vaccination for improving sperm parameters and hormone levels. COVID-19 vaccination is not harmful for male fertility potential, and vitamin D is an effective factor for male fertility.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 2002

The aim of this study Is to develop a simple and fast method which computes in-vivo doses from transmission doses measured doting patient treatment using an ionization chamber. Energy fluence and the dose that reach the chamber positioned behind the patient is modified by three factors: patient attenuation, inverse square attenuation. and scattering. We adopted a straightforward empirical approach using a phantom transmission factor (PTF) which accounts for the contribution from all three factors. It was done as follows. First of all, the phantom transmission factor was measured as a simple ratio of the chamber reading measured with and without a homogeneous phantom in the radiation beam according to various field sizes($r_p$), phantom to chamber distance($d_g$) and phantom thickness($T_p$). Secondly, we used the concept of effective field to the cases with inhomogeneous phantom (patients) and irregular fields. The effective field size is calculated by finding the field size that produces the same value of PTF to that for the irregular field and/or inhomogeneous phantom. The hypothesis is that the presence of inhomogeneity and irregular field can be accommodated to a certain extent by altering the field size. Thirdly, the center dose at the prescription depth can be computed using the new TMR($r_{p,eff}$) and Sp($r_{p,eff}$) from the effective field size. After that, when TMR(d, $r_{p,eff}$) and SP($r_{p,eff}$) are acquired. the tumor dose is as follows. $$D_{center}=D_t/PTF(d_g,\;T_p){\times}(\frac{SCD}{SAD})^2{\times}BSF(r_o){\times}S_p(r_{p,eff}){\times}TMR(d,\;r_{p,eff})$$ To make certain the accuracy of this method, we checked the accuracy for the following four cases; in cases of regular or irregular field size, inhomogeneous material included, any errors made and clinical situation. The errors were within 2.3% for regular field size, 3.0% irregular field size, 2.4% when inhomogeneous material was included in the phantom, 3.8% for 6 MV when the error was made purposely, 4.7% for 10 MV and 1.8% for the measurement of a patient in clinic. It is considered that this methode can make the quality control for dose at the time of radiation therapy because it is non-invasive that makes possible to measure the doses whenever a patient is given a therapy as well as eliminates the problem for entrance or exit dose measurement.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2023

With the widespread use of broad-spectrum antibiotics in clinical practice, the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) gram-negative bacteria has become a global problem. The MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection is especially difficult to treat and increases mortality in critically ill patients. Ceftolozane-tazobactam (Zerbaxa^TM) is a fifth-generation cephalosporin and beta-lactamase inhibitor that has proved to be effective for treating complicated urinary tract infections and complicated intra-abdominal infections caused by MDR P. aeruginosa. Herein, we report the first case of pediatric hematologic cancer in Korea that was successfully treated for MDR P. aeruginosa bacteremia with Ceftolozane-tazobactam.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.28-41
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• 2003

Background : Because unplanned readmissions to intensive care unit(ICU)might be related with undesirable patient outcomes, we investigated the pattern of and reason for unplanned ICU readmission to provide baseline data for reducing unplanned returns to ICU. Methods : The subjects included all patients who readmitted to ICU during the same hospitalization at a tertiary referral hospital between January 1st and June 30th 2002. Quality improvement(QI) nurse collected the data through medical records and a medical director reviewed the data collected. Results : 1) The average unplanned ICU readmission rate was 5.6%(gastroenterology 14.6%, pediatrics 12.7%, pulmonology 11.9%, neurosurgery 6.3%, general surgery 5.3%, chest surgery 3.9%, and cardiology 3.3%). 2) Among the unplanned readmissions, more than 50% of cases were from patients older than 60 years, and the main categories of diagnose at hospital admission were neurologic disease(29.9%) and cardiovascular disease(27.6%). 3) Of unplanned ICU readmissions, 41.8% had recurrence of the initial problems, 44.8% had occurrence of new problems. And 9.7% required post-operative care after unplanned operations. 4) The most common cause responsible for unplanned ICU readmission were respiratory problem(38.3%) and cardiovascular problem(14.3%). 5) About 40% of unplanned ICU readmission occurred within 3 days after ICU discharge. 6) Average length of stay of the readmitted patients to ICUs were much longer than that of non-readmitted patients. 7) Hospital mortality rate was much higher for unplanned ICU readmitted patients(23.6%) than for non-readmitted patients(1.5%) (P<0.001). Conclusions : This study showed that the unplanned ICU readmitted patients had poor outcomes(high morality and increased length of stay). In addition study results suggest that more attention should be paid to patients in ICU with poor respiratory function or elderly patients, and careful clinical decisions are required at discharged from ICU to general ward.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.58-67
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• 2004

Behavioral symptoms are frequent and problematic components of dementia. The aim of this study was to detect behavioral problem of the 25 item of dementia problem behaviour(DPB)assesment scale for demented older adults. Seventy-three patients with dementia staying in the day care center, group home, dementia hospital, nursing home were recruited data on problematic behavior obtained through interviews with their caregiver during 2 months from March to May 2004. Results shows that problematic behaviors common occurring in 95% of subjects. The most frequently exhibited problematic behaviors were repetitive movement(1.05), repetitive questions(1.03), restlessness(1.0). indifference(0.97). shouting/screaming(0.92). Problematic Behaviors of the demented older adults were closely associated to the distress for caregiver. Most distressful ones for caregivers were repetitive questions(1.46), repetitive movement(1.42), shouting/screaming (1.42), indifference(1.41). restlessness(1.41). Problematic Behaviors of the demented older adults were divided into six subdivisions, among those restless behavior was positively correlated with aggressive behavior, nervous symptom and psychotic symptom. and then nervous symptom was interrelated to psychotic symptom(P<0.01). This study has limitation that field study data were derived from various primary caregivers.