• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.87-92
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• 1986

The present surveys were conducted in attempts to investigate the health situation of horses in Korea through mass-screening the samples serologically, bacteriologically and clinically. A total of 575 horses were sampled randomly, comprising 126 from the Korean Horse Affairs Association, 288 from the Korean Equestrian Federation and 161 from the Jeju ponies. Each of the samples taken was tested for diagnoses of 18 horse diseases including African horse sickness. Summarised below are the results obtained from this surveys. 1. From results of the serological survey it is evident that Korea is currently free from African horse sickness, dourine, glanders, vesicular stomatits, equine piroplasmosis, equine viral arteritis, Venezuelan encephalomyelitis and contagious equine metritis. Constant vigilence with strengthened quarantine measures is thus vital for maintaining freedom of any those diseases in Korea. 2. No clinical case was observed with any of signs or symptoms of infectious lymphangitis, anthrax and infestations with ringworm, mange or scab. However, continuous follow-up is required for establishing the evidence of no occurrence of the diseases in Korea. 3. One case of seropositive to equine infectious anemia may fully justify systematic and regular testings for the whole population of horse in Korea. 4. It is manifested that equine rhinopneumonitis, Japanese encephalitis and Getah virus infection are well established in Korea, together with the presence of equine infectious abortion(Salmonella abortus equi). This strongly entails preventive precautions before entry into Korea for the horses participating in the 1986 Asian Games and the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8107-8112
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• 2016

Background and Aims: Colorectal cancer is the second most frequent cancer in Malaysia. We aimed to assess the validity and reliability of the Malaysian Chinese version of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire core (QLQ-C30) in patients with colorectal cancer. Materials and Methods: Translated versions of the QLQ-C30 were obtained from the EORTC. A cross sectional study design was used to obtain data from patients receiving treatment at two teaching hospitals in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Malaysian Chinese version of QLQ-C30 was self-administered in 96 patients while the Karnofsky Performance Scales (KPS) was generated by attending surgeons. Statistical analysis included reliability, convergent, discriminate validity, and known-groups comparisons. Statistical significance was based on p value ${\leq}0.05$. Results: The internal consistencies of the Malaysian Chinese version were acceptable [Cronbach's alpha (${\alpha}{\geq}0.70$)] in the global health status/overall quality of life (GHS/QOL), functioning scales except cognitive scale (${\alpha}{\leq}0.32$) in all levels of analysis, and social/family functioning scale (${\alpha}=0.63$) in patients without a stoma. All questionnaire items fulfilled the criteria for convergent and discriminant validity except question number 5, with correlation with role (r = 0.62) and social/family (r = 0.41) functioning higher than with physical functioning scales (r = 0.34). The test-retest coefficients in the GHS/QOL, functioning scales and in most of the symptoms scales were moderate to high (r = 0.58 to 1.00). Patients with a stoma reported statistically significant lower physical functioning (p=0.015), social/family functioning (p=0.013), and higher constipation (p=0.010) and financial difficulty (p=0.037) compared to patients without stoma. There was no significant difference between patients with high and low KPS scores. Conclusions: Malaysian Chinese version of the QLQ-C30 is a valid and reliable measure of HRQOL in patients with colorectal cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8281-8285
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• 2016

Background: Helicobacter pylori is a cause of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and gastric malignancy, infection being a serious health problem in Thailand. Recently, clarithromycin resistant H. pylori strains represent the main cause of treatment failure. Therefore this study aimed to determine the prevalence and pattern of H. pylori resistance to clarithromycin in Suranaree University of Technology Hospital, Suranree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Northeastern Thailand, Nakhon Ratchasima province, northeast of Thailand. Materials and Methods: This hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out between June 2014 and February 2015 with 300 infected patients interviewed and from whom gastric mucosa specimens were collected and proven positive by histology. The gastric mucosa specimens were tested for H. pylori and clarithromycin resistance by 23S ribosomal RNA point mutations analysis using real-time polymerase chain reactions. Correlation of eradication rates with patterns of mutation were analyzed by chi-square test. Results: Of 300 infected patients, the majority were aged between 47-61 years (31.6%), female (52.3%), with monthly income between 10,000-15,000 Baht (57%), and had a history of alcohol drinking (59.3%). Patient symptoms were abdominal pain (48.6%), followed by iron deficiency anemia (35.3%). Papaya salad consumption (40.3%) was a possible risk factor for H. pylori infection. The prevalence of H. pylori strains resistant to clarithromycin was 76.2%. Among clarithromycin-resistant strains tested, all were due to the A2144G point mutation in the 23S rRNA gene. Among mutations group, wild type genotype, mutant strain mixed wild type and mutant genotype were 23.8%, 35.7% and 40.5% respectively. With the clarithromycin-based triple therapy regimen, the efficacy decreased by 70% for H. pylori eradication (P<0.01). Conclusions: Recent results indicate a high rate of H. pylori resistance to clarithromycin. Mixed of wild type and mutant genotype is the most common mutant genotype in Nakhon Ratchasima province, therefore the use of clarithromycin-based triple therapy an not advisable as an empiric first-line regimen for H. pylori eradication in northeast region of Thailand.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.154-160
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate clinical characteristics of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) using methylphenidate (MPH). Methods : Retrospective review of the charts of 79 children and adolescents with ASDs, who visited the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry of Seoul National Hospital, from July 2010 to July 2011, was conducted. Changes in illness severity and improvement were measured using the Clinical Global Impression-Severity of illness (CGI-S) and Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) Scales. Results : We found that MPH was prescribed in 23 (29.1%) children and adolescents. Of the 23 patients on MPH, 4 patients (17.4%) were on MPH monotherapy and 18 patients (78.3%) were using risperidone concomitantly. MPH was prescribed primarily for symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity in ASDs patients. The mean dosage of MPH was $26.2{\pm}11.1$mg/day and mean duration of treatment was $31.9{\pm}28.7$ months. Mean CGI-S score improved significantly from baseline to endpoint (from $5.4{\pm}0.6$ to $4.1{\pm}0.9$ ; p<.01). MPH was reported to be effective in 17 patients (17/23, 73.9%), and 10 patients (10/23, 43.5%) reported side effects. Side effects included decreased appetite (4/23, 17.4%), tic (2/23, 8.6%), sleep disturbances (2/23, 8.6%), headache (1/23, 4.3%) and irritability (1/23, 4.3%). Conclusion : The results of this study demonstrate that MPH may be used effectively and safely in children and adolescents with ASDs with hyperactivity and impulsivity. Future controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.67-84
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• 2011

Purpose: The aim of this study is to present the basic data for qualitative improvement of emergency care for emergency patient by paramedic in fire station by understanding the level of awareness and practice in prehospital and transfer step, and understanding the level of emergency care and improvement of clinical knowledge through hospital clinical training. Methods: The researchers explained the objective for 143 persons who completed hospital clinical training from June 2nd, 2006 to October 23rd, 2009 among paramedic in fire station. The questionnaire in this research consisted of 80 questions. In the reliability for the awareness of emergency patient assessment, cronbach's $\alpha$ was 0.95, and in the reliability for emergency care fulfillment, cronbach's $\alpha$ was 0.93. reliability for clinical knowledge improvement is cronbach's $\alpha=.95$, and reliability for emergency care fulfillment is cronbach's $\alpha=.82$. Collected data was analyzed through SPSS 18.0 statistics program for frequency, percentage, average, standard deviation, Paired t-test, t-test, Correlation Coefficient, and internal consistency reliability was analyzed by cronbach's $\alpha$. Results: 1) The paramedic awareness and practice difference for emergency patient is statistically signification for general patient assessment(t=14.159, p=.000), trauma patient assessment(t=11.288, p=.000), internal medicine patient assessment(t=10.898, p=.000), and it shows the level of practice is lower than the level of awareness. 2) The paramedic difference between the level of awareness and practice according to whether or not they have clinical career is not signification on awareness(t=3.119, p=.125), and is high on practice(t=3.119, p=.002). 3) The correlation between paramedic awareness and the level of practice shows positive correlation(r=.61, p=.000). The higher the awareness of emergency patient assessment is, the higher the level of practice is. 4) The difference between paramedic clinical knowledge improvement and the level of emergency care practice is statistically significant(t=3.351, p=.001). 5) 89.6%(128 persons) of paramedic replied hospital clinical training experiences are helpful for field activity. 92.3%(133 persons) replied they apply well for clinical knowledge learned during hospital clinical training and emergency care skills in the field. Conclusion: Paramedic in fire station must evaluate the patient's initial assessment and activate the transfer system to the emergency department. It is necessary to develop and implement the effective education program continuously. The education program should systemize currently operated hospital clinical training. emergency disease and symptoms emergency care method, and practice mainly skill education should be progressed. In the prehospital and transfer management, high quality of medical assessment is required to the emergency medical service system. Medical direction from the doctors can feedback the paramedic continuously and continuing education must be provided to the paramedic in fire station.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.9
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• pp.1431-1438
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• 2014

This study assessed the risk and prevalence of anorexia as well as associated factors among home-dwelling elderly adults. The subjects were 419 elderly men (116) and women (303) aged 65 years and older ($76{\pm}5.6yr$) living in Korea. Data were collected by personal interviews using questionnaires. The collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and Pearson's correlation. The prevalence of anorexia was 35.1% among participants. Male elders (74.1%) had higher proportions of anorexia than female elders (20.1%) (P<0.001). Significant differences in the appetite were observed according to type of disease, depression, and activities of daily living (ADL) index. In the poor appetite group, central nervous system diseases were the primary illness in male elders (P<0.01), whereas endocrine diseases were the primary illness in female elders (P<0.01). Elders with good appetites had less symptoms of depression (P<0.001) and greater independence in ADL (P<0.001). These results explored the high prevalence of anorexia in geriatric populations in Korea and its impact on elderly nutritional status and health. Further research should be performed to identify the causes of anorexia and establish an intervention protocol allowing the early diagnosis of anorexia.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.62 no.4
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• pp.331-335
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• 2007

A thymoma commonly occurs in the superior mediastinum or the upper part of the anterior mediastinum but can be located in other places in rare cases. Cystic degeneration in a thymoma is a relatively common but focal event. In rare cases, the process proceeds to the extent that most if not all of the lesion becomes cystic. We report a case of a patient with a paracardial cystic thymoma in the lower aspect of the anterior mediastinum. A 49-year-old woman was referred to our hospital because of a mass discovered incidentally on a chest X-ray. She showed no symptoms or signs. Contrast-enhanced chest CT scan revealed a $5{\times}5cm$ sized, well-marginated, right paracardial cystic mass with a curvilinear and oval enhancing solid portion. A Surgical resection was performed. The mass was discontinuous with normal thymic tissue. Microscopy revealed a type B1 thymoma with prominent foci of medullary differentiation according to the WHO classification. There was no capsular or local invasion. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged in good health.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.628-638
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to explore the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the Recovery Assessment Scale in psychiatric patients. The original RAS was translated into Korean and the content was verified through back-translation procedures. This study included 142 patients who had chronic mental illness and were aged 18 or older. The subjects were assessed by using RAS-K, the 12-item Dispositional Hope Scale(DHS), the 28-item Mental Health Recovery Measure(MHRM), the 32-item Behavior and Symptom Identification Scale (BASIS-32). In the reliability test, Crobach's a coefficient and test-retest reliabilities were 0.92 and 0.79, respectively, indicating that the RAS-K has good internal consistency. In the analysis of the concurrent validity of the RAS-K, there were significant correlations between the RAS-K and DHS(r=.675, p<0.01), and between the RAS-K and MHRM(r=.816, p<0.01), but lower correlations with symptoms and clinician-related measures of psychiatric functioning. Factor analysis resulted in a five factor solution accounting for 62.476% of the common variance. Our study indicates that the RAS-K is an appropriate instrument to assess recovery in Korean psychiatric patients.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.550-554
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to screen the testosterone-like activities of eight oriental medicines with an in vitro testosterone compound detection (TCD) system. Distilled water and 80% ethanol, both at 80℃, were used to obtain extracts from Cervus nippon temminck (Nokgaksang), Cynanchum wilfordii (Baeksuo), Lespedeza cuneata (Yagwanmun), Panax ginseng (Hongsam), Smilax china (Toryeong), Taraxacum platycarpum (Mindlre), Tribulus terresteis (Namgase), and Trigonella foenum-graecum (Horopa), and extracts at concentrations of 5, 50, and 500 ㎍/ml were assessed using the TCD system. The testosterone-like activities of the 80% ethanol extracts were seen to increase with concentration and ranged from 0.9 to 5.0 times higher than those of the negative control; Horopa and Yagwanmun exhibited superior testosterone-like activities, followed by Mindlre and Hongsam at the same concentration. Toryeong and Namgase, on the other hand, showed low activity with Nokgaksang and Baeksuo exhibiting very low levels. Compared with the activities of the positive control (5α-DHT), the 80% ethanol extracts of Horopa and Yagwanmun at a concentration of 500 ㎍/ml showed higher testosterone-like activities than 10^-8 M 5α-DHT. The water extracts showed lower activity levels than the ethanol samples, and the change of activity with concentration was also lower. It was confirmed that the 80% ethanol extracts of Horopa, Yagwanmun, and Mindlre etc. enhance the transcription efficiency of testosterone-related genes and may therefore be useful in developing health food or medicinal treatments for the improvement of male menopausal symptoms.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.138-145
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• 2008

Purpose : Acute gastroenteritis is a frequent childhood disease. The purpose of this study is to determine if certain pathogens are related to more severe clinical disease in children with acute gastroenteritis. Methods : Two hundred seventy one stool samples were obtained from pediatric patients with acute gastroenteritis that was associated with virus, bacteria and protozoa infection between January 2006 and December 2006. The clinical severity was assessed by using the 24 point scale Clark score. We evaluate the Clark score according to the pathogens. Results : One hundred thirty seven children were noted to have virus, bacteria or protozoal infection. Rotavirus was the most common pathogen found in the children with gastroenteritis (20.6%). Other frequent pathogens were norovirus (10.7%) and E. coli (12.9%). Vomiting (P=0.049) and diarrhea (P=0.003) symptoms were more frequent in the rotavirus group than that in the rotavirus negative group. There were no statistical differences in the Clark score between the virus positive group and the virus negative group. Conclusion : We concluded that rotavirus was the most common pathogen in children with gastroenteritis, yet the clinical severity was not dependent on the presence of viral or bacterial pathogens.