• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.82-91
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• 2021

Carotid duplex ultrasound is commonly used to diagnose various carotid artery diseases due to it being noninvasive and easy to perform. Carotid atherosclerosis is a major indicator for the need to perform carotid duplex ultrasound, which can determine the degree of stenosis, plaque characteristics, and intima-media thickness. It can also be used to screen and follow-up after carotid revascularization. Here we discuss the standard techniques, interpretations, and clinical indicators for carotid duplex ultrasounds.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.517-525
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• 1993

Glutathione(GSH),a tripeptide thiol, found in virtually all cells, functions in metabolism tranasport and cellular protection. It protects cells against the destructive effects of reactive oxygen intermediates and free radicals. Also ${\gamma}-Glutamyl$ transpeptidase(${\gamma}-GTT$), an enzyme of major importance in GSH metabolism, initiates GSH degradation. In order to explore the $GSH-{\gamma}-GTT$ system as periodontal disease activity indicator, we observed the ${\gamma}-GTT$ and arachidonic acid metabolits according to clinical groups(Control, Adult periodontitis, Rapidly progressive Periodontitis). From the experiments, the following results were obtained. 1. When compared with normal, ${\gamma}-GTT$ of A. P. and R. P. P. were increased, and only the change of ${\gamma}-GTT$ of R. P. P. was statistically significant(P<0. 05). 2. The amounts of arachidonic acid metabolites were not different with statistical significance among the clinical groups. 3. ${\gamma}-GTT$ may by useful adjuncts as new cytoprotective indicator and periodontal disease activity indicator in accordance with positive corelation pocket depth, attachment level and ${\gamma}-GTT$.

• Clinical Nutrition Research
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.172-179
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• 2016

Acid food indicators can be used as pH indicators for evaluating the quality and freshness of fermented products during the full course of distribution. Iron oxide particles are hardly suspended in water, but partially or completely agglomerated. The agglomeration degree of the iron oxide particles depends on the pH. The pH-dependent particle agglomeration or dispersion can be useful for monitoring the acidity of food. The zeta potential of iron oxide showed a decreasing trend as the pH increased from 2 to 8, while the point of zero charge (PZC) was observed around at pH 6.0-7.0. These results suggested that the size of the iron oxide particles was affected by the change in pH levels. As a result, the particle sizes of iron oxide were smaller at lower pH than at neutral pH. In addition, agglomeration of the iron oxide particles increased as the pH increased from 2 to 7. In the time-dependent aggregation test, the average particle size was 730.4 nm and 1,340.3 nm at pH 2 and 7, respectively. These properties of iron oxide particles can be used to develop an ideal acid indicator for food pH and to monitor food quality, besides a colorant or nutrient for nutrition enhancement and sensory promotion in food industry.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.114-120
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• 2017

The hospital standardized mortality ratio (HSMR) is a widely used generic measure for assessing quality of hospital care in many countries. However, the validity of HSMR as a quality indicator is still controversial. We critically reviewed characteristics of HSMR and suggested how to use HSMR as a quality indicator in the Korean setting. The association between HSMR and other quality measures of hospital care is inconclusive. In addition current HSMR model has shortcomings in risk adjustment because of the lack of clinical data, accuracy of disease coding, coding variation among hospitals, end-of-life care issues, and so on. Therefore, HSMR should be used as an indicator for improvement, not for judgement such as public reporting and pay-for-performance. More efforts will be needed to tackle practical and methodological weaknesses of HSMR in the Korean setting.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.157-163
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• 2016

Objective: The decision to use in vitro fertilization (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), or split insemination (IVF-ICSI) in the first cycle is based on the number of motile sperm. Hence, total fertilization failure (TFF) often occurs during IVF cycles, despite normozoospermia. To investigate whether the cumulative motile swim-up spermatozoa percentage at 22 hours post-insemination (MSPPI) is an indicator for ICSI, we analyzed TFF, fertilization, blastocyst development, chemical pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, and live birth rates. Methods: This prospective study was performed using data obtained from 260 IVF cycles. At 22 hours after insemination, the remaining swim-up spermatozoa were observed and divided into six groups according to MSPPI (<10%, 10% to <30%, 30% to <50%, 50% to <70%, 70% to <90%, and 90% to 100%). Results: Regardless of the ejaculated motile sperm concentration ($0.6-280{\times}10^6/mL$ motile spermatozoa), the incidence of TFF significantly increased when MSPPI was <10%, and the fertilization rate significantly decreased when MSPPI was <30%. We found that cumulative MSPPI correlated with the cumulative fertilization rate (Spearman correlation, 0.508, p<0.001). Regarding embryo development, we observed no significant differences in the rates of blastocyst development, chemical pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, or live birth among all groups. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that MSPPI is a viable indicator for split IVF-ICSI and ICSI. Taken together, by employing the MSPPI test in advance before IVF, ICSI, or split IVF-ICSI cycles, unnecessary split IVF-ICSI and ICSI may be avoided.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.65-85
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• 2020

Objectives The aim of study was to suggest diagnostic indicator according to Exterior-Interior disease for the Sasang Constitution based on original symptom. Methods We investigated the literature(『Dongeuisusebowon sinchukbon』) and another study(Clinical Practice Guideline for Disease of Sasang Constitutional Medicine: Diagnosis and Algorithm). As a result, we developed diagnostic indicator of original symptom for Exterior-Interior disease in Sasang Constitutional Medicine. Results and Conclusions Diagnosis of Exterior-Interior disease in Sasang Constitution was decided by heat and cold of original symptom. Detailed indicators of diagnosis in Exterior-Interior disease were heat/cold sensitivity, the degree of sweating, the amount of drinking water, thirst, face color and somatalgia.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.11-26
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• 2015

Objectives The purpose of this study is to assess the quality of spinal disease focusing on Korean medical hospital admission patients. Methods The disease code related to spinal disease was selected based on the contents of development of clinical quality indicators for spinal disease. The assessment analysis of feasibility was conducted through medical history analysis that targets spinal disease patients, current development of clinical quality indicators for spinal disease, and relevant literature. Results The indicator items of structure, process, and results were classified and selected, and so were the detailed indicator entries. After that, the appropriate reference value was chosen. The final selected quality indicators were 3 items from structure, 9 items from process, 4 items from results, including 3 monitoring items, total 16 items was chosen. Conclusions Clinical research for the adequacy assessment should be conducted and the index entry and indicators should be reassessed through an expert group discussion. Training for the evaluation indicators and association with relevant society will motivate hospitals to voluntarily improve their quality.

• International Journal of Quality Innovation
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.77-87
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• 2009

The main aim of the paper is to provide an empirical analysis on patient satisfaction as an indicator of service quality in Malaysian public hospitals. Self-administered questionnaires were administered to patients by convenience sampling. Two sets of questionnaires were used, one for inpatient and another one set for outpatient. Selection of hospitals was made according to states in Peninsular Malaysia. 23 hospitals covering all state level hospitals, the National Referral Centre and selected district hospitals were chosen as respondent hospitals. Two dimensions of service quality emerged, namely clinical and physical dimension of service. Both outpatient and inpatient were found to be more satisfied with clinical dimension of service than physical dimension. For outpatient satisfaction, there was positive correlation between waiting time and patient satisfaction. Patient satisfaction was also found to be higher in the smaller district hospitals than in the larger state hospitals. For clinical dimension of service, patients were satisfied with the services of doctors and nurses, while for physical dimension of service, patients were satisfied with the cleanliness of the facilities. The ability of the research to be conducted by random sampling was inhibited by the reluctance of patients to cooperate, which led to the use of convenience sampling. Studies have also shown that patients are reluctant to express their feelings on services provided by their caregivers. The study provides primary data for a nationwide study on patient satisfaction in Malaysian public hospitals, for both inpatient and outpatient.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.42-47
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• 2013

Background: Diffusion-weighted image (DWI) might be useful to predict the prognosis of acute hypoxic encephalopathy. The aim of our study was to test whether the early change and extent of DWI abnormalities can be an indicator of the clinical outcome of hypoxic encephalopathy. Methods: Forty-four patients who were diagnosed as hypoxic encephalopathy due to the cardiorespiratory arrest were retrospectively identified. Clinical variables were determined, and the DWI abnormalities were counted by four areas: cortex, subcortical white matter, cerebellum and deep grey matter, and were divided into three groups by the extent of lesions. Prognosis was classified as 'poor' (Glasgow coma scale (GSC) at 30 days after arrest <9 or death) and 'good' (GSC at 30 days after arrest ${\geq}9$). Results: GCS at day 3 (p<0.001), presence of seizure (p=0.01), and presence of lesion (p<0.001) were significantly different in prognosis, but statistically there is no association with the extent of lesions and prognosis (p=0.26). Conclusions: Presence of early DWI changes could predict the clinical outcome of hypoxic encephalopathy after cardiorespiratory arrest.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.12
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• pp.1257-1262
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• 2006

The age of puberty represents a very critical time in the life history of every young woman. The menarche stands as primary indicator of the onset of sexual maturation in females. By late adolescence, 75% of girls experience some problem associated with menstruation. Delayed, irregular, painful, and heavy menstrual bleeding are leading reasons for physician office visits by adolescents, and dysmenorrhea is the leading reason for school absenteeism among girls. This article discusses normal menstrual function during adolescence, then reviews the clinical presentation, evaluation, and management of adolescent dysmenorrhea, dysfunctional uterine bleeding, amenorrhea, and polycystic ovary syndrome.