• 치위생과학회지
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.9-19
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• 2022

Background: The purpose of this study was to identify the differences in the importance of oral pathology learning objectives for instructors and clinical dental hygienists and provide basic data that can guide learning objectives for acquiring practically necessary basic knowledge in the clinical field. Methods: Through the first-stage expert meeting, 27 items with less than four points out of 129 learning objectives in 15 detailed areas were deleted, 12 additional opinions were reflected, 114 learning objectives were set, and a survey was conducted with 253 people. Results: There were statistically significant differences in 92 items after examining the difference between professors and clinical dental hygienists. Among the areas of inflammation and repair, "Can explain the five symptoms of inflammation" had the highest with a score at 4.76 in the case of the professors. Among the areas of tooth damage, "Can explain abrasion" had the highest with a score at 4.61 in the case of the clinical dental hygienists. Conclusion: I would like to propose the existing 15 detail areas and 129 learning objectives as 14 detail areas and 98 learning objectives and strengthen the job competency of dental hygienists in the future. First, you need to develop competencies that are highly relevant to your work. Second, it is necessary to develop related textbooks and educational materials based on revised learning objectives and competencies. Third, based on revised learning objectives, the dental hygienist national examination should be improved. Through these changes in education, the education of oral and maxillofacial disease subjects should strengthen job competencies among dental hygienists with learning objectives that can be applied to actual clinical practice based on basic knowledge rather than knowledge orientation. In addition, it is possible to improve the quality of dental hygiene studies.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제33권5호
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• pp.574-581
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• 2023

Nocardiosis is an uncommon opportunistic bacterial infection which becomes a significant health problem due to its increasing incidence and high mortality rate. However, many nocardiosis patients are underdiagnosed by physicians. To summarize the clinical characteristics and management of nocardiosis would help with better diagnosis and prognosis of nocardiosis. This retrospective study was conducted based on the medical records of nocardiosis patients between January 2015 and December 2021 in a tertiary hospital in China. Overall, 44 nocardiosis patients with 54 specimens were included. The patients consisted of 26 males and 18 females with a mean age of 50.4 ± 13.2 years. Among 44 patients, 26 (59.1%) were previously given immunosuppressive therapy. Connective tissue diseases (CTDs) were the most common underlying disease (16/44). The most frequent infection sites were the lungs (17/44) and skin or soft tissues (8/44). Common symptoms included cough (23/44), expectoration (18/44), fever (15/44), and subcutaneous abscesses (15/44). Forty-five out of 54 specimens (83.3%) required over 48 hours of culture time for nocardiosis detection. Thirty-six patients were cured or improved, 5 patients were discharged from the hospital due to poor prognosis, and 1 patient died. The average diagnosis time of poor prognosis cases was 19.7 days, which was significantly longer than those of improved or cured patients (7.3 days). Immunosuppressed patients comprise a large part of nocardiosis cases, which is worth attention in clinical practice. Early diagnosis, specifically through prolonged cultivation time of specimen, could help achieve better prognosis of nocardiosis patients.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제33권5호
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• pp.668-679
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• 2023

Edwardsiella tarda is one of the most significant fish pathogens, causes edwardsiellosis in a variety of freshwater fish species, and its antibiotic resistance against multiple drugs has made it a health risk worldwide. In this study, we aimed to investigate the antibiotic resistance (ABR) genes of E. tarda and establish its antibiotic susceptibility. Thus, 540 fish (299 Oreochromis niloticus, 138 O. mossambicus, and 103 O. aureus) were collected randomly from twelve fish farms in three districts of Punjab in Pakistan. E. tarda was recovered from 147 fish showing symptoms of exophthalmia, hemorrhages, skin depigmentation, ascites, and bacteria-filled nodules in enlarged liver and kidney. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing proved chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, and streptomycin effective, but amoxicillin, erythromycin, and flumequine ineffective in controlling edwardsiellosis. Maximum occurrence of qnrA, blaTEM, and sul3 genes of E. tarda was detected in 45% in the liver, 58%, and 42% respectively in the intestine; 46.5%, 67.2%, and 55.9% respectively in O. niloticus; 24%, 36%, and 23% respectively in summer with respect to fish organs, species, and season, respectively. Motility, H₂S, indole, methyl red, and glucose tests gave positive results. Overall, E. tarda infected 27.2% of fish, which ultimately caused 7.69% mortality. The Chi-squared test of independence showed a significant difference in the occurrence of ABR genes of E. tarda with respect to sampling sites. In conclusion, the misuse of antibacterial agents has led to the emergence of ABR genes in E. tarda, which in association with high temperatures cause multiple abnormalities in infected fish and ultimately resulting in massive mortality.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.34-39
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• 2023

Purpose: This article was to collect data on the safety of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines in children with underlying medical conditions. Methods: We constructed a prospective cohort of children and adolescents aged 5 to 19 years who had received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Patients diagnosed with and treated for chronic kidney disease, autoimmune disease, or other chronic conditions at the Seoul National University Children's Hospital were recruited from June to December 2022. A mobile survey questionnaire was sent to their guardians. The presence of adverse events on the day (day 0), 3 weeks (day 21), and 6 months (day 180) after the 1st dose of COVID-19 vaccine was recorded by the guardians. Results: A total of 73 children participated. The median age was 14 years, and 64.4% of the patients were male. On the day of immunization, 65.8% of the patients reported at least one adverse event. Pain at the injection site, fatigue, headache, arthralgia, and myalgia were the most common symptoms. The prevalence of adverse events decreased over time (65.8% on day 0, 27.4% between days 0 and 21, and 24.6% between days 21 and 180). Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection after the 1st dose occurred in 17 patients (23.3%) and one of the patients (5.88%) was hospitalized due to infection. Conclusions: Adverse events after COVID-19 vaccination were generally mild in children and adolescents with underlying medical conditions. Our findings provide evidence for the safety of COVID-19 vaccination in the vulnerable pediatric population.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제33권9호
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• pp.1149-1161
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• 2023

Changes in the gut microbiome cause recolonization by pathogens and inflammatory responses, leading to the development of intestinal disorders. Probiotics administration has been proposed for many years to reverse the intestinal dysbiosis and to enhance intestinal health. This study aimed to evaluate the inhibitory effects of two newly designed probiotic mixtures, Consti-Biome and Sensi-Biome, on two enteric pathogens Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli that may cause intestinal disorders. Additionally, the study was designed to evaluate whether Consti-Biome and Sensi-Biome could modulate the immune response, produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and reduce gas production. Consti-Biome and Sensi-Biome showed superior adhesion ratios to HT-29 cells and competitively suppressed pathogen adhesion. Moreover, the probiotic mixtures decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β. Cell-free supernatants (CFSs) were used to investigate the inhibitory effects of metabolites on growth and biofilms of pathogens. Consti-Biome and Sensi-Biome CFSs exhibited antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activity, where microscopic analysis confirmed an increase in the number of dead cells and the structural disruption of pathogens. Gas chromatographic analysis of the CFSs revealed their ability to produce SCFAs, including acetic, propionic, and butyric acid. SCFA secretion by probiotics may demonstrate their potential activities against pathogens and gut inflammation. In terms of intestinal symptoms regarding abdominal bloating and discomfort, Consti-Biome and Sensi-Biome also inhibited gas production. Thus, these two probiotic mixtures have great potential to be developed as dietary supplements to alleviate the intestinal disorders.

• 산업경영시스템학회지
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• 제46권4호
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• pp.32-38
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• 2023

This study investigates the influence of particulate matter concentrations on the incidence of asthma, focusing on the delayed onset of symptoms and subsequent medical consultations. Analysis incorporates a four-day lag from the initiation of fine dust exposure and compares asthma patterns before and after the World Health Organization's (WHO) classification of fine dust as a Group 1 carcinogen in November 2013. Utilizing daily PM10 data and asthma-related medical visit counts in Seoul from 2008 to 2016, the study additionally incorporates Google search frequencies and newspaper article counts on fine dust to assess public awareness. Results reveal a surge in search frequencies and article publications after WHO announcement, indicating heightened public interest. To standardize the long-term asthma occurrence trend, the daily asthma patient numbers are ratio-adjusted based on annual averages. The analysis uncovers an increase in asthma medical visits 2 to 3 days after fine dust events. Additionally, greater public awareness of fine dust hazards correlates with a significant reduction in asthma occurrence after such events, even within 'normal' fine dust concentrations. Notably, behavioral changes, like limiting outdoor activities, contribute to this decrease. This study highlights the importance of analyzing accumulated medical data over an extended period to identify general public behavioral patterns, deviating from conventional survey methods in social sciences. Future research aims to extend data collection beyond 2016, exploring recent trends and considering the potential impact of decreased fine dust awareness amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제63권4호
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• pp.35.1-35.10
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• 2023

Non-human primate (NHP) research faces challenges due to zoonosis risk and complex veterinary management yet lacks standardized guidelines for animal care. Therefore, we developed an advanced veterinary management protocol for NHP quarantine, anesthesia, and postoperative care. Three female 4 to 5-year-old cynomolgus monkeys were anesthetized and underwent various tests, including body weight, temperature, blood tests, urinalysis, microbiological monitoring, and physical and dental examinations. Ivermectin and medicated baths were administered to eradicate ectoparasites and endoparasites, and testing was repeated 30 days later. Following quarantine, we performed computed tomography and anesthesia maintenance for mastoidectomy. To relieve pain and maintain body weight, we administered tramadol intramuscularly 4 times/day for 3 days and meloxicam subcutaneously twice daily for 14 days. Feed replacements were provided. During the 33-day quarantine period, physical examinations revealed no abnormalities indicative of infectious diseases, and no specific clinical symptoms were observed. Through a preliminary test of anesthesia time, we selected ketamine 4 mg/kg + medetomidine 50 ㎍/kg for short experiments such as computed tomography, and ketamine 8 mg/kg + medetomidine 50 ㎍/kg for intubation. Ten days after mastoidectomy, NHPs consumed 100 kcal/kg and recovered their body weight. This study offers advanced veterinary management guideline for NHP research. Such protocols can lead to more standardized and ethical practices in NHP research, thereby enhancing the quality of studies on NHPs and the translation of findings to human health and disease.

• PNF and Movement
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.327-335
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• 2023

Purpose: Cerebellar injury can be caused by a variety of factors, including trauma, stroke, and tumor. Cerebellar injury can manifest in different clinical symptoms and signs depending on the size and location of the injury. The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the recovery patterns of each motor function by tracking the motor levels of patients with cerebellar injury. Methods: This study recruited 11 patients with quadriplegia resulting from cerebellar injury. The motricity index (MI), modified Brunnstrom classification (MBC), and functional ambulation category (FAC) methods were used to evaluate motor levels. The motor function evaluation was performed immediately after the onset of the condition and at intervals of one month, two months, and six months after onset. Results: The MI values of the upper and lower extremities and hand function (MBC) indicated severe paralysis in the early stages of onset. Compared to the onset time, significant motor function recovery was observed after 1, 2, and 6 months (p < 0.05). In contrast, there was no significant pattern of recovery between 1, 2, and 6 months after onset (p > 0.05). FAC indicated showed significant recovery at one month compared to onset (p<0.05), and there was also a significant difference between 1 and 2 months (p < 0.05). On the other hand, there was no significant difference in FAC between 2 and 6 months (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Patients with cerebellar injury showed significant recovery in functions related to muscle strength and voluntary muscle control one month after onset and gradually recovered further over the next six months. On the other hand, gait function, which is closely related to balance, showed a relatively slow recovery pattern from the beginning of the disease to the six month follow-up.

• 셀메드
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• 제13권14호
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• pp.18.1-18.13
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• 2023

Background and objectives: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is recognized as the most prevalent type of vaginal infection, impacting approximately 19-24% of women in their reproductive years. The recurrence rate of BV is significant, negatively impacting the well-being of affected women. This study aimed to compare the therapeutic effects of a polyherbal Unani formulation and metronidazole in treating bacterial vaginosis. Methodology: In this prospective patient blinded standard controlled trial, a total of 40 individuals with a clinical diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis were randomly assigned to receive either an active control treatment (n = 20) or a test drug (n = 20). In the test drug combination of Acacia catechu, Azadirachta indica and Quercus infectoria in tablet (1g) form in the dose of 2 tablets orally twice daily with water was administered for 3 weeks. In the active control standard drug, metronidazole 400 mg tablet, orally twice daily was given for one week. The primary outcome measure was clinical cure; H. negative Amsel's criteria and a reduction in subjective symptoms, while the secondary outcome measure was an improvement in SF-36 quality of life (QOL). Results and conclusion: Both the experimental treatment and the metronidazole demonstrated a significant clinical cure for bacterial vaginosis as well as an increase in health-related quality of life. Based on these findings, it appears that the test medication is a potent Unani formulation for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis. A well conducted trial with a bigger sample size is required to corroborate these findings.

• 대한물리의학회지
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.145-154
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• 2023

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of the sling exercise wearing a neck orthosis on the craniovertebral angle, muscle tension, and headaches in adults with a forward head posture and tension headache. METHODS: In this single-blinded, randomized, controlled, comparative study, a total of 22 adults with forward head postures and tension headaches were randomly assigned to the experimental group (sling exercise wearing a neck orthosis, n = 11) or the control group (sling exercise without a neck orthosis, n = 11). All participants undertook the sling exercise program (3×/week for 4 weeks). The craniovertebral angle, muscle tension, and headache were measured before and after the 4-week training. RESULTS: Significant improvements were observed in the craniovertebral angle, muscle tension, and headache in the experimental group (p < .05). This group also showed a larger decrease in the muscle tension and headache (upper trapezius, -4.97 Hz vs -1.70 Hz, p < .05; splenius capitis, -5.44 Hz vs -2.54 Hz, p < .05; headache, -19.73 score vs -14.64 score, p < .05, respectively). CONCLUSION: The sling exercise wearing a neck orthosis could be an effective way to relieve the symptoms caused by a forward head posture. It could also be a more effective way of decreasing muscle tension and headaches than the sling exercise without wearing a neck orthosis.