• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.9.1-9.5
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• 2020

Ulcerative colitis is a form of inflammatory bowel disease characterized by chronic inflammation of the colon and rectum. The abnormal lesions in the digestive system caused by ulcerative colitis and intermittent colitis are of major clinical importance. MDM2 is a phospho-protein that functions as a ubiquitin ligase for p53. Recently, a T>G substitution in the promoter of the MDM2 gene (rs309) has been identified. In this case-control study, 174 ulcerative colitis biopsy samples and 82 control samples were collected from colonoscopy centers, hospitals, and clinics in Mazandaran and Gilan Provinces in Iran from October 2014 to May 2015. This MDM2 polymorphism was investigated in DNA samples (extracted from biopsy samples) by amplification-refractory mutation system polymerase chain reaction. The mean age of patients with ulcerative colitis was 46.5 years (range, 28 to 69 years) and that of control individuals was 45.3 years (range, 26 to 71 years). Seventy-eight patients (44.82%) were men and 96 (55.18%) were women. The distribution of the TT, TG, and GG genotypes was 17.93%, 27.59%, and 34.48%, respectively, in the ulcerative colitis patients and 31.70%, 24.40%, and 43.90%, respectively, in the control individuals (odds ratio of GG for ulcerative colitis, 7.142; 95% confidence interval, 2.400 to 9.542; p = 0.001). It was found that a single-nucleotide polymorphism at rs309 in the MDM2 gene was associated with ulcerative colitis. A direct relationship was found between age and ulcerative colitis, while no relationship was found with sex. This finding is of note because the occurrence of intestinal inflammation and subsequent ulcers can precede the development of cancer.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2020

Background: This study aimed to compare the pain levels during anesthesia and the efficacy of the QuickSleeper intraosseous (IO) injection system and conventional inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) in impacted mandibular third molar surgery. Methods: This prospective randomized clinical trial included 30 patients (16 women, 14 men) with bilateral symmetrical impacted mandibular third molars. Thirty subjects randomly received either the IO injection or conventional IANB at two successive appointments. A split-mouth design was used in which each patient underwent treatment of a tooth with one of the techniques and treatment of the homologous contralateral tooth with the other technique. The subjects received 1.8 mL of 2% articaine. Subjects' demographic data, pain levels during anesthesia induction, tooth extractions, and mouth opening on postoperative first, third, and seventh days were recorded. Pain assessment ratings were recorded using the 100-mm visual analog scale. The latency and duration of the anesthetic effect, complications, and operation duration were also analyzed in this study. The duration of anesthetic effect was considered using an electric pulp test and by probing the soft tissue with an explorer. Results: Thirty patients aged between 18 and 47 years (mean age, 25 years) were included in this study. The IO injection was significantly less painful with lesser soft tissue numbness and quicker onset of anesthesia and lingual mucosa anesthesia with single needle penetration than conventional IANB. Moreover, 19 out of 30 patients (63%) preferred transcortical anesthesia. Mouth opening on postoperative first day was significantly better with intraosseous injection than with conventional IANB (P = 0.013). Conclusion: The IO anesthetic system is a good alternative to IANB for extraction of the third molar with less pain during anesthesia induction and sufficient depth of anesthesia for the surgical procedure.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.339-342
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• 2010

Phongsaly Province, located in the northernmost area of Lao PDR, was previously suggested to be endemic for the liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrini infection. To confirm, or rule out, this suggestion, the Phonxay village in the Khoua District, Phongsaly Province, was selected for a survey. Ten volunteers (8 men and 2 women aged 31-57 years) who consumed raw freshwater fish and had gastrointestinal troubles were treated with a single dose of praziquantel (40 mg/kg) and pyrantel pamoate (10 mglkg) and purged with magnesium sulfate to recover any worm parasites. Eight of the 10 volunteers expelled 1 or more species of trematodes, nematodes, or cestodes (worm positive rate; 80%). The worms were morphologically identified as H. taichui (861 worms from 8 people), H. yokogawai (59 from 6 people), Phaneropsolus bonnei (1 from 1 person), Trichostrongylus sp. (2 from 2 people), Ascaris lumbricoides (2 from 1 person), Enterobius vermicularis (11 from 3 people), and Taenia saginata (1 strobila with scolex from 1 person). The results indicate that the mountainous area of Phongsaly Province, Lao PDR, is not endemic for the liver fluke but endemic for intestinal flukes, in particular, Haplorchis taichuiand H. yokogawai.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.302-313
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• 2001

Purpose: To identify characteristics of chronic fatigue, difference between the duration of fatigue and characteristics of chronic fatigue, and association between chronic fatigue and related factors in adults. Method: The subjects for this study were 180 adults who had experienced fatigue for over one month The measurement tools were the Revised Fatigue Scale by Chalder et al. (1993), the Visual Analogue Scale-energy developed by Lee et al. (1991), the BEPSI (Brief Encounter Psychosocial Instrument) by Frank & Zyzanski (1988), Zung's self rating depression scale (1965) and life style items including exercise sleep, drinking smoking and diet as developed by the researchers. Results : Those who complained of fatigue over six months experienced higher disturbances in their daily life compared to those who had suffered from fatigue less than six months. There were a significant correlation between severity of fatigue and depression (r=.46, p<.001), stress (r=.41, p<.001), and sleep (r=.20, p<.01) Statistically significant relationships were found between severity of fatigue and amount of exercise per week (F=3.79. p<.05) disturbed sleep (t=-2.66, p<.01), number of times awakened during the night (F=3.48, p<.05) types of drinking (F=2.65, p<.05), and diet regularity (F=5.83, p<.01). The construction of a multiple regression model revealed an adjusted $R^2$ of .27 with the depression score serving the major predictor variables for severity of fatigue. Men and people in the younger age group were more energetic than women and those in other age groups. Also married people experienced more fatigue than people who were single. divorced or separated. Conclusion: In nursing interventions for fatigue, medical personnel should consider sociodemographic characteristics of the clients, ways to reduce of stress and counter disturbances in daily life and develop strategies for a health promoting life style.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.167-173
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• 2023

Background: Mandibular split fractures, in which the fracture occurs exclusively in the posterior wall, are uncommon. This study aimed to enhance clinicians' understanding of mandibular split fractures and offer insights for future research. Methods: This study included six patients who visited our hospital between January 2020 and June 2023 and were diagnosed with mandibular split fractures. We retrospectively collected data from patients' medical records on their age, sex, symptoms, mechanism, impact site, associated injuries, and treatment method, as well as the location, pattern, and number of fractures observed on computed tomography (CT) and panoramic images. The frequency of split fractures among all mandibular fractures was calculated. Results: The six patients included three men (50%) and three women (50%), ranging in age from 20 to 71 years (mean age, 49.8 years). The split fractures were located in the symphysis in one patient (16.7%), symphysis to parasymphysis in two patients (33.3%), parasymphysis in one patient (16.7%), and parasymphysis to the body in two patients (33.3%). Four patients (66.7%) had condylar head fractures, while two patients (33.3%) had single split fractures. The mechanism of trauma was a slip-down incident in four cases (66.7%), while two cases (33.3%) were caused by motorcycle traffic accidents. Four patients (67%) underwent intermaxillary fixation, while two patients (33%) improved with conservative treatment. Split fractures were diagnosed in all six patients on CT, whereas the fracture line was not clearly visible on panoramic images. Mandibular split fractures accounted for 5.6% of all mandibular fractures. Conclusion: This study provides insights into the clinical characteristics of rare mandibular split fractures and the diagnostic imaging findings. Furthermore, CT scans and three-dimensional image synthesis-instead of panoramic images-may be essential for accurately diagnosing mandibular fractures, including mandibular split fractures, in the future.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.729-738
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• 2019

Objective: To assess the effects of iterative model reconstruction (IMR) on image quality for demonstrating non-calcific high-risk plaque characteristics of coronary arteries. Materials and Methods: This study included 66 patients (53 men and 13 women; aged 39-76 years; mean age, 55 ± 13 years) having single-vessel disease with predominantly non-calcified plaques evaluated using prospective electrocardiogram-gated 256-slice CT angiography. Paired image sets were created using two types of reconstruction: hybrid iterative reconstruction (HIR) and IMR. Plaque characteristics were compared using the two algorithms. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of the images and the CNR between the plaque and adjacent adipose tissue were also compared between the two reformatted methods. Results: Seventy-seven predominantly non-calcified plaques were detected. Forty plaques showed napkin-ring sign with the IMR reformatted method, while nineteen plaques demonstrated napkin-ring sign with HIR. There was no statistically significant difference in the presentation of positive remodeling, low attenuation plaque, and spotty calcification between the HIR and IMR reconstructed methods (all p > 0.5); however, there was a statistically significant difference in the ability to discern the napkin-ring sign between the two algorithms (χ² = 12.12, p < 0.001). The image noise of IMR was lower than that of HIR (10 ± 2 HU versus 12 ± 2 HU; p < 0.01), and the SNR and CNR of the images and the CNR between plaques and surrounding adipose tissues on IMR were better than those on HIR (p < 0.01). Conclusion: IMR can significantly improve image quality compared with HIR for the demonstration of coronary artery and atherosclerotic plaques using a 256-slice CT.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.255-266
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• 2018

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of Pattern Identifications Tool for Cognitive Disorders (PIT-C) and verify the correlation with other related scales. Methods: The study in this protocol is a single group, prospective, observational one. The subjects of the study were men and women between the ages of 45 and 85, diagnosed with neurocognitive disorders by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder (fifth Edition) criteria (n=60, Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR)=0.5, Korean Version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment $(MoCA-K){\leq}22$). The reliability of PIT-C was evaluated as test-retest and inter-rater reliability. And correlation between PIT-C and other related scales was also assessed. Results: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Dunsan Korean Medicine Hospital of Daejeon University and registered in the Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS), and was made public in advance to ensure transparency of the research process and conduct ethical clinical trials. Conclusions: The results of this study can be used to classify neurocognitive disorders as Korean medicine and PIT-C will be helpful tool for primary health care.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.15-23
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• 2020

[Purpose] Lactate is a principal energy substrate for the brain during exercise. A single bout of high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) can increase the blood lactate level, brain lactate uptake, and executive function (EF). However, repeated HIIE can attenuate exercise-induced increases in lactate level and EF. The lactate levels in the brain and blood are reported to be correlated with exercise-enhanced EF. However, research is yet to explain the cause-and-effect relationship between lactate and EF. This study examined whether lactate consumption improves the attenuated exercise-enhanced EF caused by repeated HIIE. [Methods] Eleven healthy men performed two sets of HIIE, and after each set, 30 min were given for rest and examination. In the 2^nd set, the subjects consumed experimental beverages containing (n = 6) and not containing (n = 5) lactate. Blood, cardiovascular, and psychological variables were measured, and EF was evaluated by the computerized color-word Stroop test. [Results] The lactate group had a higher EF (P < 0.05) and tended to have a higher blood lactate level (P = 0.082) than the control group in the 2^nd set of HIIE. Moreover, blood lactate concentration was correlated with the interference score (i.e., reverse score of EF) (r = -0.394; P < 0.05). [Conclusion] Our results suggest that the attenuated exercise-enhanced EF after repeated HIIE can be improved through lactate consumption. However, the role of lactate needs to be elucidated in future studies, as it can be used for improving athletes' performance and also in cognitive decline-related clinical studies.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.93-98
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• 2017

PURPOSE. The purpose of this study was to compare the width ratio of maxillary anterior teeth according to age in the Korean population and to evaluate the maxillary central incisor width-to-length (W/L) ratio, given differences in age and gender. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Ninety-three Korean adults were divided into 3 groups (n = 31) by age. Group I was 20 - 39 years old, Group II was 40 - 59 years old, and Group III was over 60 years of age. After taking an impression and a cast model of the maxillary arch, the anterior teeth width ratio and central incisor W/L ratio were calculated from standard digital images of the cast models using a graph paper with a digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera. The calculated ratios were compared among all groups and central incisor W/L ratio were analyzed according to age and gender. All comparative data were statistically analyzed with one-sample t-tests, one-way ANOVAs with Tukey tests, and independent t-tests. RESULTS. No significant differences in maxillary anterior teeth ratios were found among the age groups. The maxillary central incisor W/L ratios in Group III were the greatest and were significantly higher than those in the other groups. The central incisor W/L ratio of men was higher than that of women in Group II. CONCLUSION. Maxillary anterior teeth width ratios were similar in all age groups in the Korean population. The maxillary central incisor was observed as worn teeth in the group over 60 years of age, and a significant difference between genders was found in 40 to 50 year olds.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.108-120
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• 2016

Objectives The purpose of this study is to investigate Korean clinical studies on treatment of childhood obesity and to propose for better treatment options for childhood obesity. Methods Based on RISS, KISS, OASIS, KMbase with the keyword 'childhood obesity', 'child obesity', 'obese child', 'overweight child', total of 21 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), 11 single clinical studies, 3 chart reviews and 3 case reports have been found, and were analyzed. Results and Conclusion 1. Some study subjects were classified based on their sex - only men or women in a group or sometimes both. Another way of classify the study subjects were based on their age - preschooler, primary school students, middle school students, and high school students. The diagnostic criteria of the subjects were BMI (body mass index), Body fat percentage, Obesity index, Weight and unknown criteria. 2. The treatments used in 38 studies were exercise alone, education alone, both exercise and education or herbal therapy. The 7 studies that used herbal therapy as part of their study intervention had a study group with herbal intervention only and the other 2 study group with herbal treatment in addition to exercise and education. 3. 9 studies included herb medicines, electroacupuncture, auricular acupuncture, cupping, aroma massage, infrared light, and abdomen pad. Herb medications used in 5 studies included Chegameuiin-tang 2 kinds, Sobieum, Biman-tnag, and I-razin. 4. The methods of assessment used in 38 studies were classified by 7 categories and anthropometry parameters which is the basic methods are used in all studies 5. Almost studies (29 studies in all 38 studies) were using anthropometric parameters results on significantly effectiveness of childhood obesity. 6. More studies are needed to prove true effectives from various treatments, especially herbal therapy for childhood obesity.