• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.159-164
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• 2010

Radiofrequency ablation (RA) is being used to manage atrial fibrillation (AF) with patients failed at the $1^{st}$-line anti-arrhythmic medications. Patients undergoing this procedure are at increased risk of thromboembolism after ablation, and anticoagulation management surrounding the ablation remains controversial. Although no conclusive recommendations can be made, published guidelines and data support therapeutic anticoagulation with warfarin. The purpose of this study was to analyze effectiveness of current therapy and to find factors fluctuate International Normalized Ratio (INR) values in patients undergone RA followed by anticoagulation service (ACS). Retrospective review was conducted utilizing database in a hospital. Among 110 patients under warfarin around ablation between January 2006 to September 2007, 54 patients were selected and allocated into 2 groups: Group A included 47 who discontinued warfarin after ablation, while 7 in B continued the medication. Information on demographics, amount and length of warfarin dosing, INR values and measuring frequencies, and the causing factors on INR fluctuation were abstracted. Differences were analyzed using chi-squared test, Fisher's Exact test, and unpaired Student t-test. Mean amount of warfarin before and after surgery was 4.0 mg, 4.1 mg in Group A and was 5.1 mg, 4.6 mg in Group B, respectively. Average duration of warfarin doing before ablation was 73.7 days in Group A, 129.9 days in B with no significant difference (p = 0.312). The duration time of warfarin on groups after ablation lasted several months. The number of checking INRs was 4.1 and 7.6, respectively. Inter-individual variability of INR fluctuations were $2.1{\pm}0.6$ in Group A and $2.2{\pm}0.7$ in B which were not significantly different (p = 0.062). 164 cases of decreased INR were: 'omission in taking medication, stressfulness and headache, 'increased intake of high vitamin K foods', 'lifestyle change of increased physical activities', and 'increase of food-intakes'. To the contrary, 36 cases of increased INR were: 'reduce of food-intake', 'use of non-prescription drugs', 'reduction in physical activities', and 'excessive restriction on food-intake', consecutively. In conclusion, the study validated therapeutic outcomes of RA patients who we treated with standard guideline and demonstrated 9 factors of INR fluctuations in the patient. A well-trained, pharmacist-monitored anticoagulation service could reduce the risk of adverse effects and prevent complications in patients with AF around RA operation.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.193-200
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• 2013

There are many concerns about radiation exposure in Korea after Fukushima Nuclear Plant Accident on 2011 in Japan. As some isotope materials are detected in Korea, people get worried about the radioactive material. In addition, the mass media create an air of anxiety that jump on the people's fear instead of scientific approach. Therefore, for curbing this flow, health, medical institute from the world provide a variety of information about medical radiation safety and hold the campaign which can give people the image that medical radiation is safe. At this, the Korean Food and Drug Administration(KFDA) suggested that make the alliance of medical radiation safety and culture on August, 2011. Seven societies and institutions related medical radiation started to research and advertise the culture of medical radiation safety in Korea. In this report, mainly introduce the activities of the Korean Alliance for Radiation Safety and Culture in Medicine(KARSM) for spreading culture of medical radiation safety from 2011 to 2012.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.236-244
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• 2009

Dietary therapy is a basic and emphasized treatment for diabetes. Several clinical studies have shown that diet can play a major role in preventing and managing diabetes. The purposes of this study were to evaluate the dietary behavior and to find solutions to barriers of diabetes mellitus patients. From February to July in 2007, questionnaires were distributed to one hundred and ten patients who were diagnosed DM by physicians and excluded first coming out-patients. One hundred and three data were used for statistical analysis using SPSS/Win 12.0. The main results of this study included the following: To measure dietary behaviors and barriers, a five point scale was used with the following labels: 'strongly yes', 'yes', 'fair', 'no', 'strongly no'. Thirteen dietary behaviors related to diabetes were grouped into the following 4 factors using factor analysis; 'taste control factor', 'blood glucose influence factor', 'practice volition factor', and 'exercise factor'. The mean scores of 4 factors were 3.88, 3.48, 3.55, 3.21, respectively. The 'taste control behaviors' score of subjects who had practiced diet therapy(4.00) was higher than those who had not practiced diet therapy(P<0.05). The 'blood glucose influence behaviors' score of subjects who had nutrition education(3.59) was higher than those who had no nutrition education(P<0.05) and subjects who had practiced diet therapy showed higher score(3.59) than those who had not practiced diet therapy(P<0.05). 'Exercise behaviors score' of subjects who were over 60(3.59) was the lowest(P<0.05). Subjects who had nutrition education showed higher 'exercise behaviors' scores(3.38) than those who had no nutrition education(P<0.05). Subjects who had practiced diet therapy showed higher 'practice volition behaviors' scores(3.72) than those who had not practiced diet therapy(P<0.001). Subjects who were over weight showed the highest 'practice volition behaviors' scores(3.78) concerning BMI(P<0.05). In conclusion, this study expected that Nutrition educators(Dietitian) applied to patient effective nutrition education and counseling through evaluation of Dietary behaviors and barriers considered management types and ecological factors of diabetes patients. Also diabetic patients were easy to change dietary habits because they formed behaviors through education and counsel and there were positive effects in their blood glucose control through removing barriers related to dietary therapy.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.1045-1049
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• 1996

Purpose of this study was to investigate correlation between blood pressure(systolic and diastolic) and dietary Na, K intake pattern in the family members of normal and hypertension disease patients, besides patients themselves. Mean values of $systolic(126.6\pm18.0$ vs $119.3\pm17.2mmHg)$ and diastolic $(77.6\pm14.6$ vs $71.6\pm12.5mmHg)$ blood pressure in the family members of hypertension patients were significantly higher than those of normal subjects. Systolic blood pressure in normal subject group was positively correlated with age, body weight, sodium in soybean paste, and was negatively correlated with potassium in hotpepper paste, soybean paste and meats. Systolic blood pressure in the family member of hypertension patient was positively correlated with age, body weight, sodium in soybean Paste, and table salt intake, but urinary potassium excretion was negatively correlated. Diastolic blood pressure was positively correlated with age, body weight, and table salt intake, and was negatively correlated with potassium in hotpepper paste and soybean paste in normal subjects groups. In the family members of hypertension patients group, diastolic blood pressure was positively correlated with age, body weight, and table salt intake, and was negatively correlated with sodium in hotpepper Paste and soybean paste and urinary potassium excretion. In total, tendency of negative correlation between Na intake pattern and systolic blood pressure in normal subjects was much obvious than that in the family members of hypertension patients. Urinary potassium excretion in the family members of hypertension patients was also negatively correlated with both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.12
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• pp.1815-1819
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• 2009

Based on the soft and rigid extents, tissues are mainly divided into two groups in mammals, soft tissues including heart, lung, kidney and brain, and hard tissues including tendon, cartilage, teeth and bone. Among various tissues, bone, a dynamic rigid organ, is continuously remodeled by the opposing functional activity between bone formation by osteoblasts and bone destruction by osteoclasts. Bone protects the soft tissues and provides mineral reservoirs, which can supply the mineral needs of other soft tissues to normally maintain cellular function. While calcification in bone is an important action to fundamentally support the body and protect the soft tissues, calcification in soft tissues, including the heart, aorta, kidney, lung and spleen, results in severe organ damages, eventually causing sudden death. A growing body of evidence indicates that the osteoporotic patient who are aging, post-menopausal, diabetes and chronic kidney disease simultaneously represent a high clinical incidence of soft tissue calcification, illustrating a link between soft tissue calcification and bone decalcification (osteoporosis). This study will review what is currently known about the connection between bone decalcification and soft tissue calcification.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.3-6
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• 2013

Purpose: The treatment of thyroid cancer patients was continuously increased. According to the increment of thyroid cancer patients, the establishment of iodine therapy site was also increased in each hospital. This treatment involves the administration of radioactive iodine, which will be given in the form of a capsule. Therefore, protections and managements for radioactive source pollution and radiation exposure should be necessary for radiation safety. Among the many problems, the problem of disposing the radioactive wastes was occurred. In this study, The date for self-disposal for radioactive wastes, which were contaminated in clothes, bedclothes and trash, were calculated. Materials and Methods: The number of iodine therapy ward was 15 in Korea Institute of Radiological Medical and Sciences. Recently, 8 therapy wards were operated for iodine therapy patients and others were on standby for emergency treatment ward of any radiation accidents. Radioactive wastes, which were occurred in therapy ward, were clothes, bedclothes, bath cover for patients washing water and food and drink which was leftover by patients. Each sample was hold into the marinelli beaker (clothes, bedclothes, bath covers) and 90 ml beaker (food, drink, and washing water). The activities of collected samples were measured by HpGe MCA device (Multi Channel Analysis, CANBERRA, USA) Results: The storage period for the each kind of radioactive wastes was calculated by equation of storage periods based on the measurement outcomes. The average storage period was 60 days for the case of clothes, and the maximum storage period was 93 days for patient bottoms. The average storage period and the maximum storage period for the trash were 69 days and 97 days, respectively. The leftover foods and drinks had short storage period (the average storage period was 25 days and maximum storage period was 39 days), compared with other wastes. Conclusion: The proper storage period for disposing the radioactive waste (clothes, bedclothes and bath cover) was 100 days by the regulation on self-disposal of radioactive waste. In addition, the storage period for disposing the liquid radioactive waste was 120 days. The current regulation for radioactive waste self-disposing was not suitable for the circumstances of each radioactive therapy facility. Therefore, it was necessary to reduce the leftover food and drinks by adequate table setting for patients, and improve the process and regulation for disposing the short-half life radioactive wastes.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.141-152
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• 2016

The demand to develop more safe and efficient methods for treating allergic patient is now continuously growing due to the increasing prevalence of allergic diseases. Probiotics are endogenous microbial flora that gives health benefits within hosts. Probiotics are now considered as one of solutions to treat allergic patients since recent evidence shows that some of probiotics have immunomodulatory function. Also, the treatment of probiotics to patients is relatively safer than other anti-inflammatory agents. In this review, we summarized on immunomodulatory function of some probiotics which show preventive or therapeutic effects on major allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, asthma, or food allergy. Based on previous literature, the treatment of probiotics can alleviate the symptoms of allergic diseases via balancing $Th_1/Th_2$ response or increasing the number of regulatory T ($T_{reg}$) cells.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.69-77
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Metabolic risk factors should be managed effectively in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) to prevent or delay diabetic complications. This study aimed to compare the self-management levels of diet and metabolic risk factors in patients with T2DM, according to the duration of illness, and to examine the trends in self-management levels during the recent decades. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Data were collected from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANES, 1998-2014). In our analysis, 4,148 patients with T2DM, aged ${\geq}30years$, were categorized according to the duration of their illness (< 5 years, 5-9 years, and ${\geq}10years$). Demographic and lifestyle information was assessed through self-administered questionnaires, and biomarker levels (e.g., fasting glucose level, blood pressure, or lipid level) were obtained from a health examination. Dietary intake was assessed by a 24-recall, and adherence level to dietary guidelines (meal patterns and intake levels of calories, carbohydrates, vegetable/seaweed, sodium, and alcohol) were assessed. Multivariable generalized linear regression and unconditional logistic regression models were used to compare the prevalence rates of hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and hypertension according to the duration of patients' illness, accounting for the complex survey design of the KNHANES. RESULTS: In the multivariable adjusted models, patients with a longer duration (${\geq}10years$) of T2DM had a higher prevalence of hyperglycemia than those with a shorter duration of T2DM (< 5 years) (odds ratio 2.20, 95% confidence interval 1.61-3.01, P for trend < 0.001). We did not observe any associations of disease duration with the prevalence of hypertension and dyslipidemia. In addition, the adherence levels to dietary recommendations did not significantly differ according to disease duration, except adherence to moderate alcohol consumption. There were significant decreasing trends in the prevalence of hyperglycemia in patients with a duration of illness ${\geq}10years$ (P for trend = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Although the proportion of patients with adequate control of glucose levels has improved in recent decades, poorer self-management has been found in those with a longer disease duration. These findings suggest the need for well-planned and individualized patient education programs to improve self-management levels and quality of life by preventing or delaying diabetic complications.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.10 no.11
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• pp.3500-3505
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• 2009

Sixteen moderate atopic dermatitis patients were treated with applying toner and cream using estern medical herbs[Estern medical complex(Radix Glycyrrhizae, Radix Angelicae Dahuricae, Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong, Fructus ponciri Seu Aurantii Immaturus, Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata, Radix Puerariae, Rhizoma Corydalis), Cypress, Green tea, Radix Astragali, Red ginseng, Syrup ferment, Apple ferment filtrate] on the atopic area 2-3 times per day for 6 weeks. After 6 weeks of study, the result was a decrease in SCORAD index($26.9{\pm}11.8$ to $14.9{\pm}9.7$(p<0.05)), IgE($641.9{\pm}1294.6$ to $565.8{\pm}1076.8$), Eosinophil count($246.7{\pm}203.5$ to $203.3{\pm}130.7$(p<0.05)) and TEWL($16.7{\pm}5.1$ to $15.4{\pm}8.7$(p<0.05)). And skin hydration was increased($36.6{\pm}10.0$ to $44.0{\pm}10.3$(p<0.01)) maintaining skin pH level. The patient;s and physician's global assessment also improved. Therefore, estern medical herbs may play a role in treatment of atopic dermatitis.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate how open contacts impact the natural teeth and dental implant prostheses. Materials and Methods: Following criteria were used to select 20 implant crowns with open proximal contacts as the experimental group (Group A): the restorations were delivered in Chosun University Dental Hospital between 2008 and 2018, the restorations are in the posterior region, opposing teeth are fixed dental prostheses, neighboring teeth are sound natural teeth, the patient had been on the maintenance program for at least 3 years. Another 20 implant crowns with closed proximal contacts were selected as the control group (Group B) using the same criteria. Between the two groups, dental caries and food impaction of the neighboring natural teeth and marginal bone-loss of the implants were compared and evaluated. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between Group A and Group B in the occurrence rates of dental caries, food impaction, and marginal bone-loss. The amount of marginal bone-loss, however, revealed statistically significant differences between the two groups, with Group A showing 0.80 ± 0.39 mm loss and Group B showing 1.1 ± 0.43 mm loss. Conclusion: Implant prostheses with open contacts could be clinically considered in select cases as such restorations revealed no harmful effects on neighboring teeth and implant restorations within the perimeters of this study.