• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.26-40
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• 2014

Objectives: This study investigated the effect of electroacupuncture on swallow function in stroke patients with dysphagia. The purpose was to determine whether electroacupuncture could improve swallow function and quality of life for patients with dysphagia caused by stroke. A pilot double-blind, randomized controlled trial design was used Methods: A total of 17 stroke patients with dysphagia were recruited to this study, 8 assigned to the swallowing electroacupuncture (SE) group and 9 to the control group. Swallowing electroacupuncture was assessed for 5 Hz electrical or sham stimulation for 20 min duration 3 times a week. Outcome measurements were DOSS, 14-item questionnaire from the SWAL-QOL, NIHSS and MBI. Assessment was carried out for baseline, 2 weeks and 4 weeks Results: In the 2 weeks follow up data, the study group showed significant difference in DOSS and SWAL-QOL compared with the baseline. The study group also showed significant difference in DOSS and SWAL-QOL compared with the control group. Similarly in the 4 weeks follow up data, the study group showed improvement tendency in DOSS and SWAL-QOL compared with baseline and also with the control. The NIHSS and MBI scores returned no significant differences. The swallowing electroacupuncture was well tolerated in all cases with no serious adverse effects. Conclusions: The findings from the pilot study indicated that electroacupuncture has significant effects on improvement in swallowing function and quality of life. With both inpatients and outpatients, further larger and longer-term follow-up study is needed to confirm this suggestion.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.62 no.12
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• pp.450-455
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• 2019

Background: Lipid accumulation product (LAP) is associated with the presence and severity of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in adults. Purpose: Here we evaluated the ability of LAP to predict NAFLD in obese children. Methods: Eighty obese children (38 girls; age 6-18 years) were included. Anthropometric measurements and biochemical values were obtained from the patients' medical records. LAP was calculated as [waist circumference (WC) (cm) - 58]×triglycerides (mmol/L) in girls; [WC (cm) - 65]×triglycerides (mmol/L) in boys. The minLAP and adjLAP were described (3% and 50% of WC values, respectively) and the total/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol index (TC/HDL-C) was calculated. NAFLD was observed on ultrasound, and patients were divided into 3 groups by steatosis grade (normal, grade 0; mild, grade 1; moderate-severe, grade 2-3). The area under the curve (AUC) and appropriate index cutoff points were calculated by receiver operator characteristic analysis. Results: LAP was positively correlated with puberty stage (rho=0.409; P<0.001), fasting insulin (rho= 0.507; P<0.001), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (rho=0.470; P<0.001), uric acid (rho=0.522; P<0.001), and TC/HDL-C (rho=0.494; P<0.001) and negatively correlated with HDL-C (rho=-3.833; P<0.001). LAP values could be used to diagnose hepatosteatosis (AUC=0.698; P=0.002). The LAP, adjLAP, and minLAP cutoff values were 42.7 (P=0.002), 40.05 (P=0.003), and 53.47 (P= 0.08), respectively. For LAP, the differences between the normal and mild groups (P=0.035) and the normal and moderate-severe groups were statistically significant (P=0.037), whereas the difference between the mild and moderate-severe groups was not (P>0.005). There was a statistically significant difference between the normal and mild groups for adjLAP (P=0.043) but not between the other groups (P>0.005). There was no significant intergroup difference in minLAP (P>0.005). Conclusion: LAP is a powerful and easy tool to predict NAFLD in childhood. If LAP is ≥42.7, NAFLD should be suspected. This is the first study to assess LAP diagnostic accuracy for childhood obesity.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.45-52
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• 2018

Objectives The objective of this study was to investigate the differences in sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, temperaments, and quality of life between panic disorder (PD) patients with and without major depressive disorder (PD+MDD and PD-MDD patients, respectively). Methods We compared 411 PD-MDD and 219 PD+MDD patients. All patients who were drug-free for at least 1 month were assessed at initial outpatient visits before the administration of medication. The following instruments were used for assessment: the NEO Personality Inventory-Neuroticism (NEO-N) ; the Temperament and Character Inventory-Harm Avoidance (TCI-HA) ; the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) ; the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale-Short (IUS); the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-Revised (ASI-R); the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) ; the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI); the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) ; the Generalized Anxiety Disorder for 7 item (GAD-7) ; the Albany Panic and Phobia Questionnaire (APPQ) ; the Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS) ; the Early Trauma Inventory Self Report-Short Form (ETISR-SF) ; the Scale for Suicidal Ideation (SSI) ; the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Abbreviated Version (WHOQOL-BREF) ; the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) ; and the Short Form health survey (SF-36). Results Compared to the PD-MDD patients, the PD+MDD patients were younger and more likely to be unmarried. They showed higher rates of unemployment, lower levels of education and income, younger age of onset, more previous suicide attempts, a greater incidence of agoraphobia, and more previous treatments. The PD+MDD patients showed significantly higher scores on the NEO-N, the TCI-HA, the STAI, the IUS, the ASI-R, the BDI, the BAI, the PSWQ, the GAD-7, the APPQ, the PDSS, the ETISR-SF, and the SSI. In addition, the PD+MDD patients showed significantly lower quality of life than did the PD-MDD patients. In contrast with previous studies, we observed no significant differences between the two groups in terms of gender, duration until treatment, and psychiatric comorbidities. Conclusions This study showed that the PD+MDD patients have more early trauma experiences, higher levels of anxiety-related temperaments, more severe panic and depressive symptoms, and lower quality of life than the PD-MDD patients.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.447-454
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• 2013

A model-based method is proposed to diagnose the gear crack in the gearbox under variable loading condition with the objective to apply it to the wind turbine CMS(Condition Monitoring System). A simple test bed is installed to illustrate the approach, which consists of motors and a pair of spur gears. A crack is imbedded at the tooth root of a gear. Tachometer-based order analysis, being independent on the shaft speed, is employed as a signal processing technique to identify the crack through the impulsive change and the kurtosis. Lumped parameter dynamic model is used to simulate the operation of the test bed. In the model, the parameter related with the crack is inversely estimated by minimizing the difference between the simulated and measured features. In order to illustrate the validation of the method, a simulated signal with a specified parameter is virtually generated from the model, assuming it as the measured signal. Then the parameter is inversely estimated based on the proposed method. The result agrees with the previously specified parameter value, which verifies that the algorithm works successfully. Application to the real crack in the test bed will be addressed in the next study.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2016

Objectives: Frey's syndrome is an infrequent complication after parotidectomy and its incidence varies from 23.5% to 50.8% in the literature. The objective of this study was to evaluate the actual incidence and clinical characteristics of Frey's syndrome. Methods: We analyzed 31 patients who underwent parotidectomy and serial Minor's starch-iodine test. The mean follow-up period was $66{\pm}26.1$ months (range, 24-118 months). The Frey's syndrome was analyzed using a questionnaire for the assessment of the subjective symptom and Minor's starch-iodine test for the objective measurement at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after the surgery and then every 6 or 12 months. Minor's starch-iodine test was graded from 0 to 3 according to the area of discolorization. Results: Frey's syndrome occurred in 11 patients (35.5%) on the Minor's starch-iodine test. The mean onset of Frey's syndrome on the starch-iodine test was $13.6{\pm}10.4$ months after parotidectomy. Sixteen patients (51.6%) complained about gustatory sweating and flushing. The onset of the subjective symptom was $11.27{\pm}6.96$ months after the surgery. There was a significant correlation between the grade of the starch-iodine test and the severity of subjective symptoms (P <0.001). Various factors including size and location of tumor, incision method, and extent of parotidectomy did not correlate with the Frey's syndrome. Conclusion: The incidence of Frey's syndrome was 35.5% on the Starch-Iodine test, and the onset was about postoperative 13.6 months.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.270-277
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• 2014

Purpose: This is a retrospective study that investigated cancer patients' complaints of moderate or severe pain to analyze pain characteristics, pain relief interventions and their effects. Methods: The participants of this study were 363 patients who were hospitalized in the cancer ward for three to 30 days and scored 4 points or higher on the pain severity assessment. Results: The most frequent region of pain was the abdomen. The most frequent factor that exacerbated pain was movement. The most frequent pain alleviating factor was administration of analgesics. The most frequent pain type was breakthrough pain, and the most frequent non-pharmaceutical intervention for pain control was heat therapy. Among all, analgesics were routinely prescribed for 52.2% of the participants. Morphine sulfate was the most frequently used analgesic while Gabapentin was the most frequently used non-narcotic analgesic. At the time of discharge, 82.5% of the participants marked their pain intensity as 3 points or lower. Conclusion: For cancer patients complaining of moderate or severe pain, it is important to actively control pain from the beginning of admission. Thus, it is necessary to educate not only cancer patients using narcotic analgesic for pain control and their families but nurses about the effects and side-effects of drugs. Moreover, patients and their families need to learn how to assess and record pain at home to collect data that can be referred for future treatment.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.81-92
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• 2017

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by persistent airflow limitation that is usually progressive. It is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, leading to substantial and increasing economic and social burden. Palliative care for COPD patients aims to reduce symptoms and exacerbations and improve exercise tolerance and quality of life. It is difficult to make a prognosis for COPD patients due to the variable illness trajectory and advanced care of patients. However, severity of breathlessness, assessment of lung function impairment, and frequency of exacerbations can help to identify palliative care needs and determine effective methods to mitigate symptoms, which is discussed in this paper. In these patients, it is recommended to provide individualized palliative care along with curative/restorative care at the onset of COPD symptoms. Before launching a palliative care system in Korea, it is necessary to prepare pulmonary rehabilitation resources, patient-centered communication, timely palliative responsiveness, and a program for effective advanced care planning. A multidisciplinary approach involving collaboration with not only the respiratory and palliative care teams but also primary care offers a new model of care for these patients and should be considered with a priority.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.75-81
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• 2005

Community acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains a prevalent and potentially life threatening illness. American Thoracic Society and Infectious Disease Society America recommend combination therapies with ${\beta}-lactam$ plus a macrolide or a fluoroquinolone monotherapy for the empirical treatment of CAP. The aim of this study was to compare moxifloxacin monotherapy with cephalosporin plus azithromycin combination therapies. From January 2004 to March 2005, 18 patients in the moxifloxacin group(MG) and 21 patients in the cefuroxime or ceftriaxone plus azithromycin group(CAG) with CAP were retrospectively reviewed with regard to clinical, laboratory and microbiological data. Each patient was stratified into mild (risk class I-II), moderate (risk class III) and severe (risk class VI, V) group according to and PSI (Pneumonia Severity Index) score. Each group was compared for microbiological eradication, clinical assessment, the length of hospital stay. As results, Total 39 patients with CAP were reviewed. The appropriateness of admission was 83.3% in MC vs. 76.2% in CAC. The mean length of the hospital day was for 8.31 days vs. 7.39 days, days switching parenteral to oral antibiotics in 5.19 days vs. 5.28 days, clinical improvement in 2.43 days vs. 2.61 days in MG vs. CAC. Radiological improvement required 3.75 days vs 3.63 days in MG vs. CAG and bacteriological eradication rate at discharge was the same in the both groups. Mortality rate was 11.1% (2 of 18) vs 14.3% (3 of 21) in MG vs. CAG (p=0.77). Drug cost of the mean 5 hospital days requiring parenteral antibiotics was the most inexpensive in moxifloxacin group for the 147,045 won, and ceftriaxone 1g-azithromycin group for the 170,285 won, cefuroxime bid-azithromycin group for the 207,800 won, ceftriaxone 2g-azithromycin group far the 220,570 won, cefuroxime tid-azithromycin group for the 251,700 won. There was no significant statistical difference in clinical, bacterial, radiological cure and hospital days, and switch to oral days. In conclusion, that i.v. moxifloxacin monotherapy was as effective as azithromycin plus cefuroxime or ceftriaxone combination therapies fur the treatment of CAP. In drug cost analysis, moxifloxacin is less expensive than CAG.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.177-191
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• 2000

The purpose of this study to conform the effect of the aseptic dressing method to prevent infusion phlebitis. One quaxi-experimental, nonequvalent control group post-test design was used to evaluate prevention of phlebitis between a control group and an experimental group. The data for the control group were collected from 100 hospitalized patients from July 1 to November 30, 1999. The data for the experimental group were collected from 100 hospitalized patients from December 1, 1999 to March 5, 2000. The control group used paper tape on the IV site and the experimental group used a sterile gauze dressing which was changed every 24 hours. Two sets of instruments were used for this study. First, instrument developed Weinstein(1993) and modified by the researcher was used for judging phlebitis. The second, instrument developed Park(1996) was used for assessment records concerning the phlebitis which developed. Catheter sites were inspected on a daily basis by unit nurses and development of phlebitis was grade and documented. Data were analyzed using $x^2-test$ and stepwise regression The results are summarized as follows : 1. The incidence of phlebitis according to the duration of catheter insertion decreased in the experimental group($x^2=3.56$, p<.05). 2. The incidence of phlebitis according to the duration of catheter insertion decreased in the experimental group($x^2=28.79$, P<.0001). 3. No significant difference was found between the experimental and control groups in the severity of phlebitis. 4. A statistically significant difference between the two groups was found in the incidence of phlebitis according to the location of the insertion site. 5. No statistically significant difference between two groups was found in the incidence of phlebitis by age 6. A statistically significant difference between two groups was found in the incidence of phlebitis by sex($x^2=3.88$, p<.05) 7. Further study revealed that the duration of catheter and sex were predictors of occurrence of the phlebitis, explaining 38.2%, 14.2% of the total variance respectively. In conclusion, the aseptic dressing method is recommended to be prevent infusion phlebitis.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.28-28
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• 2011

치수는 고대국가로부터 현재의 국가에 이르기까지 중차대한 국가사업이다. 근대를 지나면서 산업화가 가속화되었고 수자원의 사용과 관리는 더욱 세분화 되었다. 또한 수자원의 사용과 관리에 앞서 기후와 밀접한 관계가 있는 수자원의 물리적 특성을 분석하는 연구가 활발히 이루어지고 있다. 최근 우리나라도 급격한 산업화로 인한 환경파괴와 지구온난화로 인한 강수의 편중이 더욱 심해지고 있다. 즉, 한반도도 전 세계가 직면한 기후변화로 인한 자연재해로 부터 안전하지 않다는 것을 의미한다. 특히 수자원을 관리함에 있어 가뭄의 경우에는 장기적으로 진행되는 경우가 많고 피해 규모와 복구 등도 가뭄의 진행 기간과 밀접한 관계를 가지므로 적극적인 대비가 필요하다. 따라서 가뭄을 연구함에 앞서 과거 한반도의 가뭄의 경향성 및 주기성 같은 특성을 분석할 수 있는 연구가 수반되어야 할 것으로 사료된다. 이에 따라 본 논문에서는 과거 한반도 가뭄 사상의 특성분석을 위해 대표 가뭄지수로 SPI(Standardized Precipitation Index)와 PDSI(Palmer Drought Severity Index)를 선정하여 우리나라 전역에 위치한 총 59개 기상관측소의 1980년~2009년까지의 기상자료를 수집하여 유역별 월평균 가뭄지수를 산정하였다. 또한 이를 이용하여 가뭄발생의 경향성 및 주기성을 중심으로 과거한반도 가뭄의 통계학적 특성분석을 실시하였다. 각 지수의 경향성을 분석한 결과, SPI3와 SPI6는 봄과 겨울에는 가뭄이 심화되는 경향을 보였고 여름철에는 가뭄이 완화되는 경향을 보였다. 반면 SPI12의 경우는 섬진강과 영산강은 유의하지는 않으나 전 기간에 걸쳐 가뭄이 심화되는 경향을 보였고 한강, 낙동강, 금강유역은 가뭄이 완화되는 것으로 나타났다. PDSI의 경우에는 SPI와는 반대로 섬진강과 영산강은 전 기간에 걸쳐 가뭄이 완화되는 경향을 보였고 한강, 낙동강, 금강유역은 유의한 수준에서 가뭄이 심화되는 경향을 보임으로써, SPI와 PDSI에 의한 가뭄평가 경향성이 유역별로 다소 다르게 나타나는 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 한편, 각 유역의 주기성을 분석한 결과로는 모든 유역에서 1년~3년 또는 6년 이하의 주기성을 나타냈으며, SPI의 경우 지속기간이 길어질수록 6년 이상의 저빈도 주기성을 나타냈고, SPI3는 짧게는 1년 미만의 고빈도 주기를 보이는 경우도 있었으며, SPI6와 SPI12는 4년~6년 주기를 나타냈다. 또한 PDSI도 마찬가지로 6년 내외의 장주기를 보였다. 특히 유역별로 분석할 경우 남부지역의 가뭄발생 주기가 중부지역보다 길게 나타나는 성향을 보였다. 그리고 SPI와 PDSI, 두 가뭄지수의 공통주기를 분석한 결과에서는 상관관계가 적은 것으로 확인 되었다.