• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.126-132
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• 1999

Objectives: The purposes of this study were to investigate 1) the incidence of insomnia, 2) the clinical characteristics of the insomniacs, 3) the correlation of severity of insomnia with somatic complaints and psychological distresses, and 4) the beliefs and attitudes about sleep in patients with chronic renal failure on hemodialysis. Methods: The author evaluated 153 patients, receiving hemodialysis therapy at the four outpatients hemodialysis units in Pusan, Korea. The patients had completed a self-administered questionnaire package, which consisted of basic demographic findings, questions characterizing insomnia, Beck Depression Inventory(BDI), Spielburger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI), and visual analogue scales measuring quantitatively the severity of the self-perceived psychological and somatic symptoms. And several laboratory data were collected. Diagnosis of insomnia was made in the base of insomnia criteria of DSM-IV and international classification of sleep disorders. Subjects were dichotomized into those who reported any characteristics of insomnia or those who had no insomnia during the preceding two weeks. Results: Insomnia was found in 100(65.4%) of 153 patients. No statistical differences were found between the patients with and without insomnia in terms of age, gender, education, marital status, mean duration of hemodialysis and all considered laboratory findings except serum albumin. The patients with insomnia had significantly higher BDI score and predialysis systolic blood pressure, and lower serum albumin as compared to non-insomnia group. Significant differences were found between two groups in terms of self-perceived distress such as sadness, anxiety, worry, pruritus, and dysfunction of daily life. The data showed statistically significant correlation between insomnia severity and some variables such as physical dysfunction, pruritus, bone pain, sadness, anxiety, worry, dysfunction of daily life and excessive daytime sleepiness. The patients with insomnia had significantly several dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep than those without insomnia. Conclusion: These results indicate that insomnia is very common in hemodialysis patients and likely contribute to the impaired quality of life experienced by many these patients. The author suggests that physical and psychological distresses would be reduced and the quality of life could be improved if their sleep disturbances are properly ameliorated in patients on hemodialysis.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.224-239
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• 1994

In this study we examined several subjective symptoms in an exposed group and an unexposed group to perchloroethylene. The exposed group consists to 30 workers employed in 23 dry-cleaning establishments located in Chung Cheung Do, whereas the unexposed group consists of 42 officers employed in a certain university. This study was conducted from October, 1993 to March, 1994. Also we investigated personal exposure levels and area concentration of PCE, and performed hematological and biochemical examination in blood and urine samples from the exposed group. The results are : 1. The exposed group highly complains several subjective symptoms, particularly in neuropsychiatry, eye, respiratory system and digestive system, compared with the unexposed group. But complaint rates in the exposed group are not related with PCE exposure levels. 2. PCE exposure levels for all dry-cleaning establishment varied widely, from 0.18 to 37.58ppm. The mean exposure level for centers of chain was 16.85ppm, and for local laundries was 8.83ppm, while for self-service establishment it was 3.07ppm. Eighty three percent of the workers were exposed less than the half-level(25.0ppm) of the Korea 50.0ppm standard for eight-hour PCE exposure. Seventeen percent of them exceeded the half-level of the Korea TLV. 3. Statistical correlation exists between the work load(number of operation cycles of equipment and the mass of processed textiles) and the personal exposure levels to be observed. 4. In hematological examination the values of WBC, RBC, Hgb, Hct, MCV, MCH, MCHC and PLT in the exposed group were within normal ranges. In biochemical examination(GOT, GPT, ALP, U-A and LDH) most of the items were within normal ranges. From this surveys conducted on 23 dry-cleaning establishments, the complaint rates of the exposed group to PCE in several subjective symptoms were higher than those of the unexposed group, and PCE exposure levels in all dry-cleaning establishment were below the Koera standard 50.0ppm. In hematological and biochemical examination the significant abnormalities by occupational exposure to PCE were not observed. However, the workers employed in dry-cleaning establishments are always faced with risk, becauses they are also exposed to several organic solvents used to remove stains. Therefore, various measures to improve occupational environment in dry-cleaning establishment should be considered.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was done to identify effects of oral care protocol on oral mucositis and oral care performance in hematologic malignancy patients receiving chemotherapy. Methods: The design of this study was a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Both groups were patients diagnosed with hematologic malignancies who were receiving chemotherapy-each group had 20 patients. In the experimental group, patients were given intensive education on oral care based on the oral care protocol, whereas in the controlled group, each patient was given an educational brochure. Before chemotherapy, and 3 days, 7 days, and 14 days after chemotherapy, oral mucositis status of two groups were assessed using the guide to physical assessment of the oral cavity. Oral care performance was examined before chemotherapy and 14 days later. Results: The experimental group with the oral care protocol showed a significant difference (F=18.15, p<.001) in the oral mucositis status, and also in oral care performance (t=-10.33, p<.001). Conclusion: Findings indicate that the application of the oral care protocol is an effective tool for lowering the occurrence of oral mucositis and enhancing oral care performance in hematologic malignancy patients receiving chemotherapy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.539-546
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• 2001

Background: Pulmonary complications in immunocompromised patients are often fatal. Empirical treatment is usually applied based on the clinical and radiological findings because of the risk of the aggressive diagnostic procedures such as open lung biopsy. However, recent advancements in operative procedures and perioperative management has decreased the procedure-related risks. We have prospectively analyzed the risks and benefits of the early application of open lung biopsy in such patients. Material and Method: Forty-two consecutive immunocompromised patients with critical pulmonary complications were included from June, 1996 to December, 1999. The definition of the immunocompromised is as those with chemotherapy and/or other modality for hematologic disorders, with usage of immunosuppressive drug after transplantation, with usage of steroid for more than 1 month, and with primary immunodeficiency disorders. The indication of open lung biopsy was those with no significant improvement after a week of aggressive application of empirical treatment or with rapidly aggressive process. The underlying disease included hematologic disorder(31 patients), post-transplantation(3 patients), chemotherapy for solid tumor(2 patients), and others(6 patients). Operations were done through thoracotomy(conventional or mini-) or VATS.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.44-52
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• 1997

Nephrolithiasis is the most common disorder of the urinary tract in hospitalized patients, more frequently increased in 30~50 years of age, more common in males than in females, prior right stone to left side, and than upper ureteral stone is found in cultural country, while lower ureteral stone is increased in uncultural country. Stone components are classified as calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate, magnesium ammonium phosphate, uric acid, cystine, and their mixed stone, respectively. According to the pathophysiology of urinary stones, supersaturation/crystalization of inorganic salt concentration in urine, organic matrix, inhibitor deficiency, and epitaxy theory could be based on the stone formation. Not only hypercalciuria, hyperparathyroidism, hyperoxaluria, hyperuricosuria, and cystinuria, but also renal tubular acidosis, hypervitaminosis D, and peptic ulcer, are significantly associated with nephrolithiasis. In this study upper ureteral stone component were analyzed with chemical analysis, infrared spectrum, and image analyzer from K43 patient wit erosive gastritis. As the results, mixed stone of calcium oxalate dihydrate and calcium phosphate apatite was identified, the values of clinical test in blood and urine maintained normal revels. The relapsing urinary stone from K43 have no correlation between factors for stone formation reported early, also have no evidence for risk from erosive gastritis.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.127-132
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• 2003

We have developed a direct polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and electrophoresis method for the diagnosis of bovine theileriosis from whole blood DNA analysis without DNA extraction. The technique empolyed a FoLT (formamide, low temp.) technique and was utilized in the diagnosis of bovine theileriosis. Formamide solubilize the blood cells, and the lowered incubation temperatures reduced protein coagulation. 100-200 nL of whole blood and PCR reagents were introduced directly into a PCR tube. After the amplification, the PCR product (816-bp DNA) was introduced into the electrophoresis system. The results of this analysis were consist with those obtained using purified DNA.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.84 no.2
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• pp.454-459
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• 2023

Hematologic malignancy of the breast is very rare. Here, we report a case of relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) presenting as multiple breast masses. A 77-year-old female visited an outpatient clinic reporting palpable masses in both breasts. She had a medical history of AML, which showed complete remission after nine cycles of chemotherapy. On mammography and ultrasonography, there were multiple masses correlated with her palpable symptoms accompanied by enlarged lymph nodes. Core needle biopsy immunohistochemistry (IHC) results indicated AML and blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm. AML was confirmed using bone marrow biopsy. Although very rare, when a patient with a history of hematologic malignancy presents a palpable mass in the breast, clinicians should conduct proper tissue analysis, including IHC stating for leukemic markers, to guide appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.219-224
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• 2011

The health status of three groups of Hanwoo steers (n=157) aged 2-3 years, raised at three different altitudes (600 m, n=50; 200-400 m, n=58; plane land, n=49) and environment with more or less similar management have been evaluated through hematological, biochemical and globulin examinations in order to determine the optimum environment suitable for raising cattle while at the same time minimizing the risk of disease. Five mL of blood samples from each animal were collected by jugular veinipuncture and 2 mL was transferred to a tube containing EDTA for complete blood count (CBC) and 3 mL in lithium heparin for chemistry screening (CS) and immunoassay. Among the CBC parameters a significantly higher white blood cell count (tWBC), total red blood cell count (tRBC), hemoglobin (Hb) and packed cell volume (PCV) were noticed in the high altitude groups, whereas those were lower in the plane land group. In the CS parameters higher levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatinine, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and total bilirubin (TBL) were found in the plane land group, whereas those were lower in the high altitude groups. The total protein (significantly) and globulins were higher in the 600 m group. The results of this study revealed that the overall health status of the Hanwoo cattle based on the hemato-biochemical indices was superior in the highest altitude and inferior in the plane land group but all the parameters were within the reference range in all the groups. Therefore, for recommendation of a suitable environment at an appropriate altitude for raising cattle there need to be further studied along with the hemato-biochemical parameters; considering, breeding, feeding, management, marketing, waste disposal and other factors.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.391-396
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• 2002

cows, in order to suggest a means for the improvement of milk production. A total of 30 Holstein cows (3rd to 5th of parity) were used and assigned to two groups according This study investigated blood biochemical values between high and low yielding dairy to milk production levels at 15, 30, 60 and 90 days postpartum. Milk production of group A was less than an average of 27 kg/day and that of group B was an average of 30 kg/day. Blood samples were collected by jugular venipuncture from each cow six times at 15 days before the anticipated calving date, within 12 hours postpartum (0 days) and at 15, 30, 60 and 90 days after calving. In serum mineral concentrations, group B was consistently higher than group A in both Mg and Ca. Inorganic phosphorus concentrations showed a little fluctuation between the groups at antepartum and at postpartum, but group B was significantly higher than group A at 15 and 30 days after calving (p < 0.05). In serum biochemical values cholesterol concentrations were consistently higher in group B except at 0 days. BUN and glucose concentrations did not differ between the groups. The concentration of vitamin A of group B was significantly higher than group A at 15 days before the anticipated calving date and at 15 days postpartum (p < 0.01), but at 30, 60 and 90 days postpartum vitamin A concentration of both groups were similar. Vitamin E concentration did not differ between the groups during the experimental period. Results of this study suggest that raising the levels of Mg, Ca, Pi and vitamin A in serum would be effective in increasing milk production of low producing cows.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.397-403
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• 2017

The number of patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease is increasing year after year and almost approaching 15% of the total elderly population. Although it is critical to detect the early stage of Alzheimer's disease, which is a serious illness causing cognitive deficits, various existing diagnosis methods such as MRI, PET and CSF analysis could be the burdens for patients due to their high costs and long time to diagnosis. In order to tackle some of challenging issues for such existing diagnosis methods, extensive efforts have been made on developing fast and convenient biochip sensing methodologies for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease with a droplet of patient biofluids (e.g., blood). In this mini-review, we highlight some of the latest biochip sensing technologies that could qualitatively and quantitatively analyze blood biomarkers used for Alzheimer's disease diagnostics and discuss briefly related research trends and future aspects.