• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.584-598
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• 2011

Objectives : Functional dyspepsia is a type of disease characterized by bothersome postprandial fullness, early satiation, epigastric pain and burning without structural gastrointestinal disease. The aim of this study was to analyze the characteristics of functional dyspepsia patients and evaluate changes in symptoms, quality of life, and electrogastrography parameters before and after oriental medical interventions. Methods : We recruited forty-six functional dyspepsia patients who visited gastroenterology clinic in the oriental medicine hospital of Kyung Hee University between November 2009 and February 2011. Patients were assessed for their frequency of dyspepsia (based on short form-Leeds Dyspepsia Questionnaire: SF-LDQ), quality of life (based on functional dyspepsia-related quality of life questionnaire: FD-QoL), gastric motility (based on electrogastrography: EGG) on the first visit. Then, the effect of oriental medical interventions was evaluated using EGG on the second visit. Results : The majority of patients had symptoms of nausea and indigestion. The largest decrease in EGG parameters was found in the indigestion group. The frequency of regurgitation and postprandial EGG power % bradygastria showed a significant correlation. Also, significant correlations were found between some items of FD-QoL and some EGG parameters. Compared to the EGG parameters before oriental medical interventions, some parameters after treatment had positive results, implying the improvement of gastric motility disorder. We also found improvement of EGG parameters in both digestant medicinal group and digestant combined with qi-tonifying medicinal group. Conclusions : The results of this study suggest that clinical application of EGG can be an objective diagnostic tool in functional dyspepsia patients visiting oriental medical hospital.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of provider and consumer characteristics, and patient trust on relational commitment among healthcare customers of an university hospital, and to suggest some implications for improving customer relation management of hospitals. Data were collected from 250 patients of an university hospital located in Ulsan using structured self-administered questionnaire. Major result of the analysis is as follows: First, study variables are significantly varied by age and income among socio-economic factors. Second, assurance, and empathy among provider characteristics and customer satisfaction and reputation among consumer characteristics are found to be significant affecting factors on patient trust. Third, trust affects significantly both on re-visit and recommendation among relationship commitment, while reputation affects on re-visit and customer satisfaction and reputation affect on recommendation. Above results imply that relationship management strategy for enhancing patient trust is crucial to improve competitiveness of hospitals in turbulent competition environment.

• Medical Lasers
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.45-48
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• 2021

Background and Objectives Among the numerous available therapies, the usefulness of laser treatment has been proven in melasma, especially for refractory to topical agents or chemical peels. This study evaluated the effectiveness of 694-nm wavelength fractional toning ruby laser in melasma presenting on the malar area. Materials and Methods This was a retrospective study of 40 melasma patients treated with 694-nm wavelength ruby fractional toning laser for a total of 8 cycles at intervals of 2 to 3 weeks. Two independent investigators assessed the photographic findings and evaluated the severity of melasma by applying the Melasma Severity Scale (MSS). Subject satisfaction score was also surveyed at every visit. Results After the 4th treatment, subjects were continuously satisfied with their results. At the 8th visit and 1-month after the last treatment, MSS was determined to be significantly improved as compared to the first visit. One case of minor hypopigmentation was reported, but was resolved after one month. Conclusion Application of 694-nm wavelength fractional toning ruby laser for treating melasma on the malar area showed significant improvement in the MSS. Moreover, the treatment could be repeatedly applied, with low complication rate and significant patient satisfaction.

• Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.398-406
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• 2018

Objective: Hospitalization of patients with delirium after visiting the emergency department (ED) is often required. However, the readmission risk after discharge from the ED should also be considered. This study aimed to explore whether (i) immediate hospitalization influences the readmission risk of patients with delirium; (ii) the readmission risk is affected by various risk factors; and (iii) the healthcare cost differs between groups within 28 days of the first ED visit. Methods: Using the National Health Insurance Research Database, the data of 2,780 subjects presenting with delirium at an ED visit from 2000 to 2008 were examined. The readmission risks of the groups of patients (i.e., patients who were and were not admitted within 24 hours of an ED visit) within 28 days were compared, and the effects of the severities of different comorbidities (using Charlson's comorbidity index, CCI), age, gender, diagnosis and differences in medical healthcare cost were analyzed. Results: Patients without immediate hospitalization had a higher risk of readmission within 3, 7, 14, or 28 days of discharge from the ED, especially subjects with more severe comorbidities ($CCI{\geq}3$) or older patients (${\geq}65years$). Subjects with more severe comorbidities or older subjects who were not admitted immediately also incurred a greater healthcare cost for re-hospitalization within the 28-day follow-up period. Conclusion: Patients with delirium with a higher CCI or of a greater age should be carefully considered for immediate hospitalization from ED for further examination in order to reduce the risk of re-hospitalization and cost of healthcare.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.43-48
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• 2013

Objectives: The current study was performed to compare the bee venom pharmacopuncture skin test reactions among groups with different sexes and Sasang constitutions. Methods: Between July 2012 and June 2013, all 76 patients who underwent bee venom pharmacopuncture skin tests and Sasang constitution diagnoses at Oriental Medicine Hospital of Sangji University were included in this study. The skin test was performed on the patient's forearm intracutaneously with 0.05 ml of sweet bee venom (SBV) on their first visit. If the patients showed a positive response, the test was discontinued. On the other hand, if the patient showed a negative response, the test was performed on the opposite forearm intracutaneously with 0.05 ml of bee venom pharmacopuncture 25% on the next day or the next visit. Three groups were made to compare the differences in the bee venom pharmacopuncture skin tests according to sexual difference and Sasang constitution: group A showed a positive response to SBV, group B showed a positive response to bee venom pharmacopuncture 25%, and group C showed a negative response on all bee venom pharmacopuncture skin tests. Fisher's exact test was performed to evaluate the differences statistically. Results: The results of the bee venom pharmacopuncture skin tests showed no significant differences according to Sasang constitution (P = 0.300) or sexual difference (P = 0.163). Conclusion: No significant differences on the results of bee venom pharmacopuncture skin tests were observed according to two factors, Sasang constitution and the sexual difference.

• Korean Journal of Audiology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.235-240
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• 2021

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is a common disorder; however, sequential, bilateral presentation of the disease is rarer than unilateral presentation. Clinical otologists usually focus on treating the side with impaired hearing when patients first present with unilateral SSNHL, and therefore, may not warn patients of the possibility of subsequent hearing impairment in the contralateral ear. Furthermore, it is professionally discouraging when a patient presents with profound, sequential SSNHL after initial treatment. This may adversely impact the doctor-patient relationship, even if the patient is offered the best possible care from their first visit. Herein, we report the case of a patient with profound, idiopathic, bilateral SSNHL with a time interval of 37 days between involvement of both ears. Even though high-dose steroids were administered intraorally and intratympanically, the patient's hearing was not restored, and the patient eventually required bilateral cochlear implant surgery. Our report demonstrates that sequential, profound, bilateral SSNHL may manifest without any specific signs.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.235-240
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• 2021

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is a common disorder; however, sequential, bilateral presentation of the disease is rarer than unilateral presentation. Clinical otologists usually focus on treating the side with impaired hearing when patients first present with unilateral SSNHL, and therefore, may not warn patients of the possibility of subsequent hearing impairment in the contralateral ear. Furthermore, it is professionally discouraging when a patient presents with profound, sequential SSNHL after initial treatment. This may adversely impact the doctor-patient relationship, even if the patient is offered the best possible care from their first visit. Herein, we report the case of a patient with profound, idiopathic, bilateral SSNHL with a time interval of 37 days between involvement of both ears. Even though high-dose steroids were administered intraorally and intratympanically, the patient's hearing was not restored, and the patient eventually required bilateral cochlear implant surgery. Our report demonstrates that sequential, profound, bilateral SSNHL may manifest without any specific signs.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.83-96
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• 2020

Purpose: The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical benefit of additional toothbrushing accompanying non-surgical periodontal treatment on oral and general health in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: We conducted a doubled-blind randomized controlled trial in 60 T2DM patients between June 2013 and June 2014. The patients were randomly assigned to the scaling and root planing (SRP) group; the scaling and root planing with additional toothbrushing (SRPAT) group, in which additional toothbrushing was performed by toothpick methods; or the control group. Microbiological and oral examinations were performed for up to 12 weeks following treatment. Non-surgical treatment was conducted in the experimental groups. The SRP group received scaling and root planing and the SRPAT group received additional toothbrushing with the Watanabe method once a week from the first visit through the fifth visit. The primary outcomes were changes in haemoglobin A1c (or glycated haemoglobin; HbA1c) levels, serum endotoxin levels, and interleukin-1 beta levels. Periodontal health status was measured by periodontal pocket depth, the calculus index, and bleeding on probing (BOP). Results: Both the SRP and SRPAT groups showed improvements in periodontal health and HbA1c, but the SRPAT group showed significantly less BOP than the SRP group. Furthermore, only the SRPAT group showed a statistically significant decrease in serum endotoxin levels. Conclusions: Non-surgical periodontal treatment was effective in improving HbA1c and serum endotoxin levels in T2DM patients. Furthermore, non-surgical treatment with additional tooth brushing had a more favourable effect on gingival bleeding management. Trial RegistrationClinical Research Information Service Identifier: KCT000416.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.40.1-40.12
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• 2020

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of endodontic treatment on levels of substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the saliva of patients with symptomatic apical periodontitis. Materials and Methods: Twelve patients with mandibular molars with symptomatic apical periodontitis were enrolled in this study. An initial saliva sample was collected just before administration of anesthesia for root canal treatment, which was performed at the first visit. A second saliva sample was collected at a control visit 1 week after treatment. Salivary SP and CGRP levels were evaluated quantitatively using biochemical assays. The data were analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis, the paired samples t-test, and the Mann-Whitney U test (p = 0.05). Results: The postoperative salivary level of SP was significantly lower than the preoperative level (p = 0.005). However, the postoperative salivary level of CGRP was similar to the preoperative level (p = 0.932). Visual analog scale (VAS) scores of patients' subjective pain were found to be positively correlated with salivary levels of SP (r = 0.421; p = 0.040). No statistically significant correlations were observed between salivary levels of CGRP and VAS scores for patients' subjective percussion tenderness (p = 0.533) or VAS scores for patients' subjective pain (p = 0.459). Conclusions: According to the results of the present study, salivary SP levels may be used as an objective indicator in the diagnosis and assessment of the degree of pain in endodontic diseases.

• Clinical Pain
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.105-121
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• 2021

Objective: Physiologically, the vastus medialis muscle is the first muscle to undergo muscle atrophy, and it was thought that pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis could be reduced if this muscle could be strengthened and stabilized. The purpose of this study was to prove the effectiveness in knee osteoarthritis using polydioxanone sutures that have been tried in other musculoskeletal areas. Method: Forty knee osteoarthritis patients voluntarily participated in the study, and divided into 30 polydioxanone suture needle (MEST-B2375 produced by Ovmedi Co.) and 10 sham needle (without suture). And the needles were inserted into the vastus medialis muscle. In all patients, safety evaluation including blood tests and ultrasonography as well as efficacy evaluation including isometric maximal contractile strength of quadriceps muscle, weight bearing pain, impression of change, quadriceps angle, rescue drug intake were evaluated up to 30 weeks after the procedure. Results: Isometric maximal contractile strength showed a significant improvement at 4 weeks after the procedure in the polydioxanone suture group, and the weight-bearing pain showed a significant improvement at every visit in the polydioxanone suture group compared with baseline values. Patient global impression of change score showed significant improvement at 20 and 30 weeks, and clinical score showed improvement at every visit. Conclusion: Insertion of polydioxanone sutures showed improvement in muscle strength and knee pain by supporting and fixation of the vastus medialis muscle in patients with degenerative knee osteoarthritis. Insertion of polydioxanone sutures is considered to have a therapeutic effect in knee osteoarthritis patients.