• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.9-21
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• 2014

Purpose: To determine the clinical significance of voriconazole therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) in the pediatric population. Methods: Twenty-eight patients with invasive fungal infections administered with voriconazole from July 2010 to June 2012 were investigated retrospectively. Fourteen received TDM, and 143 trough concentrations were analyzed. All 28 patients were assessed for adverse events and treatment response six weeks into treatment, and at the end. Results: Out of 143 samples, 53.1% were within therapeutic range (1.0-5.5 mg/L). Patients administered with the same loading (6 mg/kg/dose) and maintenance (4 mg/kg/dose) dosages prior to initial TDM showed highly variable drug levels. Adverse events occurred in 9 of 14 patients (64.3%) in both the TDM and non-TDM group. In the TDM group, voriconazole-related encephalopathy (n=2, 14.3%) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevation (n=8, 57.1 %) occurred with serum levels in the toxic range (>5.5 mg/L), whereas blurred-vision (n=2, 14.3%) occurred within the therapeutic range (1.18 mg/L and 3.9 mg/L). The frequency of voriconazole discontinuation due to adverse events was lower in the TDM group (0.0% vs. 18.2%, P =0.481). Overall, 57.2% of the patients in the TDM group versus 14.3% in the non-TDM group showed clinical response after 6 weeks (P =0.055), whereas 21.4% in the TDM group versus 14.3% in the non-TDM group showed response at final outcome (P =0.664). In the TDM group, >67.0% of the serum levels were within therapeutic range for the first 6 weeks; however 45.5% were within therapeutic range for the entire duration. Conclusion: Routine TDM is recommended for optimizing the therapeutic effects of voriconazole.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.84-94
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• 1997

This study was done to examine changes of plasma homovanillic acid(HVA), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid(5-HIAA), and HVA/5-HIAA ratio during an 8-week clozapine trial and to investigate the relationship between the plasma monoamine metabolites and treatment responses. Twenty-seven chronic schizophrenic patiens were treated for 8 weeks with clozapine. The psychopathology was assessed at baseline just clozapine trial and then every 2 weeks until the end of 8-week clozapine treatment using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS) and the Clinical Global Impression scale(CGI). The plasma HVA and 5-HIAA levels were measured also biweekly using high preformance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection method. Plasma HVA and 5-HIAA levels were significantly decreased during a 8-week clozapine treatment, although plasma HVA/5-HIAA ratio showed no significant change. The changes of plasma HVA levels were in significant correlations with the changes of PANSS positive scores, of general psychophathology scores, and changes of total socres. The changes of plasma 5-HIAA levels were in signfificant correlations with the changes of PANSS negative scores. But the changes of plasma HVA/5-HIAA ratio had no significant correlation with any PANSS subscale score changes. 48% of the patients treated with clozapine was categorized as responders, who showed at least a 20% decrease in PANSS total socre and a CGI severity score of mildly ill or less(${\leq}3$) at the end pint of the study. The baseline plasma HVA levels and HVA/5-HIAA ratio were significantly higher in responders(N=13) than in nonresponders (N=14). But no significant difference in baseline levels of plasma 5-HIAA was found between responders and nonresponders. At the end point of the study, there was significant difference in the change of plasma HVA between responders(40.3% decrement) and nonresponders(3.1% increment). But no signficant differences in the change of plasma 5-HIAA and the change of plasma HVA/5-HIAA ratio between responders and nonresponders were observed. These results suggest that the antipsychotic effect of clozapine on positive symptoms may be associated with dopaminergic blocking activity, and that on negative symptoms may be associated with serotonergic blocking activity. The baseline plasma HVA levels and the change of HVA levels from baseline may be useful predictors of treatment response with clozapine.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.119-128
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• 2010

항암치료는 현재 암환자의 주요한 치료임에도 불구하고 항암제내성과 같은 문제점을 가지고 있다. 약물내성은 다양한 기전에 의해 발생하는데 수송단백질의 과발현, 비독성화발현, 손상유전자의 복구, 세포사멸신호의 변화, STAT-3와 NF-${\kappa}B$의 발현 등이 포함된다. 암세포는 저산소환경에서 발생하며 일반세포에 비해 무산소해당에 상대적 의존도가 높고 이는 암세포의 성장과 전이를 촉진하는 인자가 된다. 항암제가 효과를 내기 위해서는 산소가 필요한데 저산소환경은 이를 방해하며 또한 유전자의 불안정화로 인해 약물내성이 유도된다. NF-${\kappa}B$는 주요 전사인자 중 하나로서 각종 염증과 암에서 지속적으로 활성화되며 암세포의 변화, 증식, 침윤, 전이에 관여한다. 환경적 스트레스 등과 대부분의 항암약제들이 NF-${\kappa}B$를 활성화시키며 임상적으로도 암환자의 생존과 연관된 중요한 예후인자이다. NF-${\kappa}B$의 발현은 항암제로 인한 암세포의 자멸을 회피하게 만들고 수송단백질을 활성화시켜 항암제내성을 유도한다. 강황, 적포도, 고추, 건칠 등 다양한 천연물에서 NF-${\kappa}B$를 억제시키는 효능이 발견되었으며 이는 항암제내성을 억제시키고 항암제의 효과를 증대시킨다. 저산소환경의 개선과 NF-${\kappa}B$의 억제는 상호연관성을 가지고 있으며 항암제내성의 개선뿐만 아니라 암치료제 개발의 새로운 연구목표가 될 수 있다.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.83-91
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• 2012

The obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent. It may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and increased health problems such as lifestyle disease, hypertension, and diabetes. Furthermore, it may cause the mental illness such as depression, bipolar disorder, anorexia, hyperphagia, and so on by shrinking psychologically. So, it is regarded as the serious worldwide social problem. Recently, although there are many general obesity care methods with various approaches, these can't be the radical obesity care because of the side effects such as surgery aftereffect, drug addiction, and so on. For these reasons, a methodical approach with a consideration of individual obesity pattern is strongly demanded. In this study, complex obesity care and management system which is overcome the weakness of non-surgical obesity treatment is proposed. And the individually adapted obesity treatment system with the far-infrared therapy module, oxygen therapy module, color therapy module, and microwave therapy module was developed. The complex obesity treatment system which is proposed in this study, could improve the efficiency of treatment by suggesting the various treatment protocols. And proposed system could be the foundation of the high quality obesity treatment system.

• Journal of Science and Technology Studies
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.87-116
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• 2014

This article focuses on synthetic hormone consumption that illegal act of heterogeneous forms of pharmaceuticalization. Athletes are not unfamiliar with the use of synthetic hormones that contain anabolic steroids. Synthetic hormones are used to increase muscle mass and strength. This drug use practice cannot simply be viewed as illegal. Athletes accumulate knowledge on these hormones that conflicts with the knowledge proffered by physicians and they consume drugs responsibly. Physicians' knowledge of these hormones is limited to their use in the treatment of abnormalities. Athletes, however, are expanding the role of these hormones to include their potential for enhancement. Thereby, a new value is assigned to synthetic hormones, and an informal market is formed. Previous studies in the fields of biopolitics and biomedicalization have mainly focused on the formal connection between biomedical science and the institutional network. This article, therefore, analyzes the informal and the various aspects of biomedicalization.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.147-154
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• 2018

Currently, to overcome low therapeutic efficiencies and side effects of anticancer agents, the study of drug carrier based on polymers have been consistently investigated. Although the traditional drug carrier based on polymers displayed an excellent result and significant progress, there has been a problem with the side effect and low therapeutic efficiency because of the premature drug release before reached to the targeted region by the low stability in blood stream and sustained drug release. In this review article, to improve the problem of inefficient drug release, methods were suggested, which can maximize the therapeutic efficiency by increasing the stability in the blood stream and triggering drug release at the target site by introducing a stimuli-responsive substance to the non-toxic and biocompatible natural polymer chitosan.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.117-122
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• 2007

Practice parameters for non-pharmacological treatment of children and adolescents with pervasive developmental disorders are based on the scientific literature for evidence-based practices. Appropriate educational and behavioral interventions are important in improving the long-term outcome in pervasive developmental disorders. Early and sustained intervention appears to be particularly important. The goal for interventions is to gain pragmatic skills for verbal communication, playing with peers, daily living routines, self-management, and social adaptation. Appropriate involvement and collaboration with parents and family are essential for well-functioning intervention programs. The life-long nature of autism implies that the clinician should maintain an active role in long-term treatment planning and family support. Vocational training and training for more independent living are important for adolescents with autism. Professionals should be knowledgeable about local and national resources and opportunities for family support as well as support of the individual.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.8
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• pp.752-756
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• 2007

Purpose : The aim of this study was to compare 2 laxatives, namely, polyethylene glycol 4000 without electrolytes and lactulose, evaluating the efficacy and safety for the treatment of constipation in children. Methods : Fifty-six children with chronic functional constipation were randomly assigned to receive polyethylene glycol 4000 (24 patients) or lactulose (32 patients). Patients or their parents reported defecation frequency, stool consistency, abdominal pain, stool incontinence and side effects after 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of treatment. Percentage of recovered patients were compared with each group. Results : Defecation frequency, abdominal pain and stool incontinence were improved in each group. At 12 months of follow up, 60% of patients treated with polyethylene glycol and 57.7% of patients treated with lactulose were considered as recovered. Conclusion : In this study, both polyethylene glycol and lactulose were equally effective and safe in the long-term treatment of constipation in children. There were no significant differences in recovery rates between 2 groups.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.680-690
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• 2002

Implantable biodegradable wafers were prepared with pamidronate -loaded poly (L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA, 75 : 25 mole ratio by lactide to glycolide, molecular weight : 20000 and 90000 g/mole) by direct compression method for the sustained release of pamidronate to investigate the possibility for the treatment of bone resorption. Pamidronate-loaded PLGA powders were prepared by means of physical mixing and spray drying with the control of formulation factors and characterized by scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffractometer. The pamidronate-loaded PLGA powders fabricated into wafers by direct compression under the constant pressure and time at room temperature. These wafers were also observed for their structural characteristic, release pattern, and degradation pattern. The release rate of pamidronate increased with increasing their initial loading ratio as well as increasing wafer thickness. The molecular weight of PLGA affects the release pattern : the higher molecular weight of PLGA, the faster release rate. It can be explained that the higher viscosity of high molecular PLGA solution at same concentration tends to aggregate PLGA and pamidronate resulting in unstable pharmaceutical dosage form. This system had advantages in terms of simplicity in design and obviousness of drug release rate and nay be useful as an implantable dosage form for the treatment of aural cholesteatoma.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.341-348
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• 2007

We dentists perform many of routine dental procedures and must deal with much of the population's dental anxiety and fear. Dentists have used many non-pharmacological modalities initially to overcome anxiety and fear, including distraction, empathy, desensitization, and so on. However, certain patients need pharmacological backup of anxiety and fear to conquer dental treatment. This article presents four cases to introduce the methods from nitrous oxide and oxygen inhalation to general anesthesia for difficult adult dental phobic patients to deal with.