• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.189-194
• /
• 1992

As people's income and intake of animal fat rapidly increase, so does choresterol concentration in blood. Thus diseases such as non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus(NIDDM)myocardial infraction, high blood pressure, cerebral stroke resulting from atherosclerosis rapidly increase recently. It is very difficult to diagnose atherosclerosis early since its progress is so slow and there is no sypmtoms in the beginning of the disease. In this study a mechanical characteristic, compliance, of the lower leg arteries was measured noninvasively. Changes of blood volume and pressure were measured using impedance plethysmgraphy and mercury sphygmomanometer, respectively. The compliance was calculated by dividing the change of blood volume by the change of pulse pressure ( systolic-diastolic pressure ) . Subjects were 24 asymptomatic persons ranging (rom 30 Ic 58yeras and 14 diabetics from 41 to 59years. The compliances, mean, and systolic pressures were statistically analyzed using a t-test be- tween the healthy and diabetic groups. The average compliance of the healthy and diabetic group was measured 2.79 and 1.82U1/mmHg/cm, respectively and these were significantly different(p<0.01). It was also found that the compliance is a better parameter in differentiating the vascular disease than mean or systolic blood pressure.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.91-100
• /
• 2014

Partial-thickness rotator cuff tear (PTRCT) is not single disease entity but one phase of disease spectrum. Symptoms of PTRCT vary from being asymptomatic to severe pain leading to deterioration in quality of life. Pathogenesis of degenerative PTRCT is multifactorial. Whereas articular sided PTRCT is usually caused by internal causes, both internal and external causes have important role in bursal sided PTRCT. A detailed history, clinical examination and magnetic resonance angiography are used in the diagnosis of PTRCT. Treatment of PTRCT is chosen based on age, demands of patients, causes and depth of tear. In most patients, non-operative treatment should be initiated. Whereas debridement can be done for less than 6 mm of articular sided PTRCT and in less than 3 mm of bursal sided PTRCT, repair techniques should be considered for higher grade PTRCT than that. Although the effect of acromioplasty is not clear, acromioplasty may be performed when the extrinsic causes appear to be the cause of tear. Either transtendon repair technique or repair after tear completion provided satisfactory clinical outcomes in treatment of articular sided PTRCT.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.66-68
• /
• 2021

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak to be a pandemic on March 12, 2020. In Korea, there have been 24,027 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 420 deaths as of October 3, 2020. The clinical spectrum of COVID-19 ranges from asymptomatic infection to death. Cancer care in this pandemic has radically changed. The literature was reviewed. The COVID-19 pandemic has made it urgently necessary to profoundly re-organize cancer patients' care without compromising cancer outcomes. Several important questions in regard to COVID-19 infection in cancer patients have emerged. Are patients with cancer at a higher risk of COVID-19 infection? Are they at an increased risk of mortality and severe illness when infected with COVID-19? Does anticancer treatment affect the course of COVID-19? Based on the existing research, cancer patients with immunosuppression are vulnerable to COVID-19 infection, and cancer patients are more likely to experience severe COVID-19. However, chemotherapy and major surgery do not seem to be predictors of hospitalization or severe disease. Korean background data on patients with cancer and COVID-19 are lacking. Prospective multicenter studies on the outcomes of patients with cancer and COVID-19 should be conducted.

• Journal of applied mathematics & informatics
• /
• v.40 no.3_4
• /
• pp.633-656
• /
• 2022

Many regions of the world are now facing the second wave of boomed cases of COVID-19. This time, the second wave of this highly infectious disease (COVID-19) is becoming more devastating. To control the existing situation, more mass testing, and tracing of COVID-19 positive individuals are required. Furthermore, practicing to wear a face mask and maintenance of physical distancing are strongly recommended for everyone. Taking all these into consideration, an optimal control problem has been reformulated in terms of nonlinear ordinary differential equations in this paper. The aim of this study is to explore the control strategy of coronavirus-2 disease (COVID-19) and thus, minimize the number of symptomatic, asymptomatic and infected individuals as well as cost of the controls measures. The optimal control model has been analyzed analytically with the help of the necessary conditions of very well-known Pontryagin's maximum principle. Numerical simulations of the optimal control problem are also performed to illustrate the results.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.12.1-12.17
• /
• 2021

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Since the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in the human population in late 2019, it has spread on an unprecedented scale worldwide leading to the first coronavirus pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 infection results in a wide range of clinical manifestations from asymptomatic to fatal cases. Although intensive research has been undertaken to increase understanding of the complex biology of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the detailed mechanisms underpinning the severe pathogenesis and interactions between the virus and the host immune response are not well understood. Thus, the development of appropriate animal models that recapitulate human clinical manifestations and immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 is crucial. Although many animal models are currently available for the study of SARS-CoV-2 infection, each has distinct advantages and disadvantages, and some models show variable results between and within species. Thus, we aim to discuss the different animal models, including mice, hamsters, ferrets, and non-human primates, employed for SARS-CoV-2 infection studies and outline their individual strengths and limitations for use in studies aimed at increasing understanding of coronavirus pathogenesis. Moreover, a significant advantage of these animal models is that they can be tailored, providing unique options specific to the scientific goals of each researcher.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.60-67
• /
• 2021

Tumors of the small intestine are rare and generally asymptomatic or with nonspecific symptoms. The small intestine is difficult to approach using conventional endoscopy, and early diagnosis of the small intestinal tumors is difficult. Therefore, many of the small intestinal tumors are diagnosed at an advanced stage, which makes the prognosis poor. Premalignant lesions of the small intestine or known risk factors of small bowel cancer are sporadic adenoma, adenoma associated with familial adenomatous polyposis, hamartomatous polyp associated with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, Crohn's disease, and celiac disease. Therefore, it is necessary to recognize that the small bowel cancer can occur in these patients with premalignant lesions or risk factors of small bowel cancer. To reduce the possibility of small bowel cancer or to detect at an earlier stage, attention should be paid to screening and surveillance of these patients with premalignant lesions or risk factors of the small bowel cancer.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.121-127
• /
• 2015

Purpose: To evaluate clinical and laboratory profile of Wilson's disease (WD) in children. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital. Bangladesh, over a period of 3 years. One hundred consecutive children of WD between 3 to 18 years of age were evaluated. Results: Mean age was $8.5{\pm}1.5years$. Male female ratio was 2:1. Ninety-one percent of patients were Muslim and 9% Hindu. A total of 53% cases of hepatic WD presented between 5 to 10 years of age and most of the neurologic WD manifested in 10-15 years age group. Sixty-nine children presented only with hepatic manifestations, 6 only with neurological manifestations, 14 with both hepatic and neurological manifestation, 10 children was asymptomatic and 1 patient presented with psychiatric features. WD presented as chronic liver disease (CLD) in 42%, CLD with portal hypertension in 34%, acute hepatitis in 20% and fulminant hepatic failure in 4% cases. Stigmata of CLD were found in 18% patients. Keiser-Fleischser ring was found in 76% total patients. Elevated serum transaminase was found in 85% cases, prolonged prothrombin time in 59% cases and hypoalbuminaemia in 53% cases. A total of 73% patients had low serum ceruloplasmin, basal urinary copper of >$100{\mu}g/day$ was found in 81% cases and urinary copper following penicillamine challenge of >$1,200{\mu}g/day$ was found in 92% cases. Conclusion: Majority of studied WD children presented with hepatic manifestation of which 76% presented with CLD. Any child presented with jaundice after the age of 3 years should be investigated for WD.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.58 no.1
• /
• pp.54-59
• /
• 2015

Objective : The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the efficacy of bone cement-augmented percutaneous short segment fixation for treating Kummell's disease accompanied by severe osteoporosis. Methods : From 2009 to 2013, ten patients with single-level Kummell's disease accompanied by severe osteoporosis were enrolled in this study. After postural reduction for 1-2 days, bone cement-augmented percutaneous short segment fixation was performed at one level above, one level below, and at the collapsed vertebra. Clinical results, radiological parameters, and related complications were assessed preoperatively and at 1 month and 12 months after surgery. Results : Prior to surgery, the mean pain score on the visual analogue scale was $8.5{\pm}1.5$. One month after the procedure, this score improved to $2.2{\pm}2.0$ and the improvement was maintained at 12 months after surgery. The mean preoperative vertebral height loss was $48.2{\pm}10.5%$, and the surgical procedure reduced this loss to $22.5{\pm}12.4%$. In spite of some recurrent height loss, significant improvement was achieved at 12 months after surgery compared to preoperative values. The kyphotic angle improved significantly from $22.4{\pm}4.9^{\circ}$ before the procedure to $10.1{\pm}3.8^{\circ}$ after surgery and the improved angle was maintained at 12 months after surgery despite a slight correction loss. No patient sustained adjacent fractures after bone cement-augmented percutaneous short segment fixation during the follow-up period. Asymptomatic cement leakage into the paravertebral area was observed in one patient, but no major complications were seen. Conclusion : Bone cement-augmented percutaneous short segment fixation can be an effective and safe procedure for Kummell's disease.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.23-29
• /
• 2015

Purpose: To describe the clinical characteristics of celiac disease (CD) among Saudi children and to determine the adherence rate to gluten free diet (GFD) and its determinant factors among them. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, in which all the families registered in the Saudi Celiac Patients Support Group were sent an online survey. Only families with children 18 years of age and younger with biopsy-confirmed CD were included. Results: The median age of the 113 included children was 9.9 years, the median age at symptom onset was 5.5 years and the median age at diagnosis was 7 years, the median time between the presentation and the final diagnosis was 1 year. Sixty two of the involved children were females. Ninety two percent of the patients were symptomatic at the diagnosis while eight percent were asymptomatic. The commonest presenting symptoms included: chronic abdominal pain (59.3%), poor weight gain (54%), abdominal distention, gases, bloating (46.1%) and chronic diarrhea (41.6%). Sixty percent of the involved children were reported to be strictly adherent to GFD. Younger age at diagnosis and shorter duration since the diagnosis were associated with a better adherence rate. Conclusion: CD has similar clinical presentations among Saudi children compared to other parts of the ward; however, the adherence to GFD is relatively poor. Younger age at diagnosis and shorter duration since the diagnosis were associated with a better adherence rate.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.135-140
• /
• 2005

Although the pathogenesis of cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM) is unknown, a familial predisposition has been recognized, with up to $55\%$ of patients having an affected relatives. Genetic linkage studies have recently mapped a gene causing CCM to a segment of the long arm of chromosome 7 (7q). We report herein a genetic linkage analysis conducted on a Korean three generation family with CCM. It's first report in Korean family. A Korean family in which one member had undergone surgery for ubtracerebrak hematoma (ICH) and confirmed the CCM, was evaluated. They were examined clinically (n=18) and by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging (n=10). Polymorphic markers (D7S1813, D7S1789) spanning the CCM1 locus on 7q were genotyped by the polymerase chain reaction and analysis of linkage was performed in this family (n=17). Six had multiple lesions on brain MR image, one of them being symptomatic, and five were asymptomatic. Seven remaining members were asymptomatic and refused MR image study. One had died of ICH from presumed CCM. Analysis of the pedigree was consistent with an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance. All affected patients were linked to CCM1. Linkage to CCM1 can account for inheritance of CCM in this family. They had some striking features with a low clinical penetrance and the presence of multiple lesions. These findings have implications for genetic testing of this disorder and represent an important step toward identification of the gene responsible for the pathogenesis of this disease.