• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.421-427
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• 2005

Although the incidence of mediastinal wound infection in patient undergoing median sternotomy for cardiovascular surgery is relatively low(less than 1%), it is not only a devastating and potentially life-threatening complication but also associated morbidity, mortality and cost are unacceptably high. During the past few decades various methods had been applied for the treatment of postoperative mediastinitis. Currently, chest wall reconstruction by using muscle flaps-especially pectoralis major muscle and rectus abdominis muscle are commonly selected for the reconstruction after wide debridement has become widely accepted. We performed bilateral pectoralis major-rectus abdominis muscles in-continuity bipedicle flap to overcome the limit of each flap for reconstruction of sternal defects in 17 patients. We analyzed the results of the surgery. Recurrent infection developed in 17.6% of cases and abdominal herniation was observed in one patient. There was no postoperative hematoma or death. We conclude that this flap is very valuable in reconstruction of the anterior chest wall defect caused by post-sternotomy infection because it provides sufficient volume to fill the entire mediastinum, and the complication rate compares favorably to that of other methods.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.415-425
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• 2000

It is well known that the lifetime incidence of low back pain is extraordinarily high, but those who incur the majority of the cost, both personally and financially, are the chronic pain. Stabilization programmers attracted our interest, with their aims of using the muscle system to protect spinal joint structures from further repetitive microtrauma, recurrent pain and degerative change. In overviewing the stabilizing role of the trunk and back mucles our attention became focused on muscles which controlled the lumbar and lumbosacral joints rather than on muscles which span the spine from the thorax to pelvis. It was considered that muscles such as the lumbar multifidus, transversus abdominis, and possibly also parts of the obliquus internus abdominis, would most likely function to stabilize the segments of the lumbar spine. In order to check if these muscles were functioning in low back pain patients, it was necessary to devise specific muscle tests. The new concept involves exercises using only relatively low activity levels in the muscles. More emphasis is placed on a motor skill which has to be relearned, practised and then gradully incorporated back into functional movement.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.80-87
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• 1999

We propose the various Telemedicine applications using collaborative PACS environment. Traditionally, almost all medical images have been printed on radiological films. These films are expensive to produce and easy to misplace and usually only one copy exists, thus limiting the number of persons who have simultaneous access to the images. But the merit of this system including PACS(Picture Archiving and Communications System ) is very many which are small depository, low maintenance expense, good efficience(storage, speed) and good flexibility but the development costs is higher. This research has been done creating multimedia-based Telemedicine system for home PCs in network environment. Most of Telemedicine used hardware and exclusive line of high cost as CATV broadcasting technique. But this system will contribute to change the Home-PC for better use of collaborations among doctor and patients through various modes of interactions in cyberspace.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.5-18
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• 2015

This descriptive study investigates the need for, satisfaction with, and availability of local healthcare services for elderly individuals. The subjects included 210 individuals aged 65 years over, and data were analyzed using SPSS. The subjects reported the limited availability of local healthcare services but a high level of satisfaction with and a strong need for these services. The subjects used these services mainly for their vaccination and perceived cost-effectiveness as the most important factor motivating their decision to use these services and a lack of publicity as the most important factor discouraging their use. Spouses, jobs, and health conditions showed significant differences in the level of satisfaction and availability, and diseases showed significant differences only in the need. These results suggest that local healthcare centers should provide services that many elderly patients can use through outreach services, connections to local communities, and active publicity instead of expanding service types.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.78-83
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• 2016

Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) disease is an extraoesophageal variant of gastro-esophageal reflux disease that can affect the larynx and pharynx. LPR is associated with symptoms of laryngeal irritation such as throat clearing, coughing, and hoarseness. The main diagnostic methods currently used are laryngoscopy and pH monitoring. The most common laryngoscopic signs are redness and swelling of the throat. However, these findings are not specific of LPR and may be related to other causes or can even be found in healthy individuals. Furthermore, the role of pH monitoring in the diagnosis of LPR is controversial. A therapeutic trial with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) has been suggested to be cost-effective and useful for the diagnosis of LPR. However, the recommendations of PPI therapy for patients with a suspicion of LPR are based on the results of uncontrolled studies, and high placebo response rates suggest a much more complex and multifactorial pathophysiology of LPR than simple acid reflux. Laryngoscopy and pH monitoring have failed as reliable tests for the diagnosis of LPR. Empirical therapy with PPIs is widely accepted as a diagnostic test and for the treatment of LPR. However, further research is needed to develop a definitive diagnostic test for LPR.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.143-148
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• 2020

Objective: This study aimed to investigate pharmaceutical care for critically ill neonates and suggest targeted strategies compatible with the Korean health-system pharmacy. Methods: Articles that reported pharmacy practices for critically ill neonates were reviewed. Pharmaceutical care practices and roles of neonatal pharmacists were identified, and criteria were developed for neonates in need of specialized care by clinical pharmacists. Results: Neonatal pharmacists play many roles in the overall medication management pathway. For clinical decision support, multidisciplinary ward rounds, clinical pharmacokinetic services, and consultation for pharmacotherapy and nutrition support were conducted. Prevention and resolution of drug-related problems through review of medication charts contributed to medication safety. Pharmaceutical optimization of intravenous medication played an important role in safe and effective therapy. Information on the use of off-label medicine, recommended dosage and dosing schedules, and stability of intravenous medicine was provided to other health professionals. Most clinical practices for neonates in Korea included therapeutic drug monitoring and nutrition support services. Reduction in medication errors and adverse drug reactions, shortening the duration of weaning medicines, decreasing the use and cost of antimicrobials, and improvement in nutrition status were reported as the outcomes of pharmacist-led interventions. The essential criteria of pharmaceutical care, including for patients with potential high-risk factors for drug-related problems, was developed. Conclusion: Pharmaceutical care for critically ill neonates varies widely. Development and provision of standardized pharmaceutical care for Korean neonates and a stepwise strategy for the expansion of clinical pharmacy services are required.

• Journal of Computing Science and Engineering
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.67-78
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• 2012

People are willing to spend more for their health. Traditional medical services are hospital-centric and patients obtain their treatments mainly at the clinics or hospitals. As people age, more medical services are needed to exceed the potentials of this hospital-centric service model. In this paper, we present the design and implementation of CardioSentinal, a 24-hour heart care and monitoring system. CardioSentinal is designed for in-home and daily medical services. It mainly focuses on the outpatients and elderly. CardioSentinal is an interdisciplinary system that integrates recent advances in many fields such as bio-sensors, small-range wireless communications, pervasive computing, cellular networks and modern data centers. We conducted numerous clinic trials for CardioSentinal. Experimental results show that the sensitivity and accuracy are quite high. It is not as good as the professional measurements in hospital due to harsh environments but the system provides valuable information for heart diseases with low-cost and extreme convenience. Some early experiences and lessons in the work will also be reported.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.303-313
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• 2013

During last 65 years, Korea has achieved very rapid economic growth and social reformation including healthcare system. Many foreigners have praised that Korea healthcare system is very good in the respect of ease accessibility to healthcare under the lowest cost among the industrialized countries. Whole population are covered by the National Health Insurance. Also utilizations of healthcare among different income classes are even. However Korea healthcare system faced with several challenges, in terms of the an aging population and a rise in chronic disease problem, new threats of communicable disease due to globalization, the rapid increase of healthcare expenditure and high financial burden of patients even though they are insured. To cope with these challenges, we need reconsider the healthcare system as followings; to set up ideology of healthcare as normative public goods, to rebuild paradigm of healthcare for 21 century, to reform public health for strengthening health promotion, to develop new method for healthcare management including quality improvement and consumer responsiveness, to build new governance for health and to view new perspective on healthcare as a kind of industry.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2008

Patients with impaired ability to eat require nutritional support enterally or parenterally. Gastrostomy is a preferred method because total parenteral nutrition has many complications and high cost. Surgical gastrostomy has been a traditional and well-established method prior to the development of percutaneous gastrostomy. Since then, percutaneous gastrostomy has been established as an effective, safe, easy technique with a low morbidity and mortality rate. Consequently, percutaneous gastrostomy has been the first method for long-term enteral nutrition. The purpose of this review is to describe the techniques, indications, complications of percutaneous radiologic gastrostomy/gastrojejunostomy and to compare with endoscopic method.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.99-102
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• 2000

Central diabetes insipidus(CDI) results from deficient vasopressin(antidiuretic hormone) secretion and causes polydipsia and polyuria. Its etiologic diagnosis is confirmed with an increase of urine osmolality by administering desmopressin(DDAVP) after water restriction. Because cm is caused by deficiency of vasopressin, up to now, desmopressin, a synthetic analog of vasopressin, has been the drug of choice in the treatment of CDI. However, under such treatment, CDI patients suffer from the continual administration of DDAVP throughout one's life and high cost of the treatment We administrated oriental herb medicine on a cm patient in a state of discontinuance of DDAVP. Prior to the study, brain sella MRI was scanned to exclude germinoma. In addition, urine analysis, serum and urinary osmolality, daily urinary volume, serum electrolyte levels were measured. Chungsimyunjatang was administered for 15 days, and urine analysis, urine osmolality, daily urinary volume, serum Na were measured several times again during the therapy, As a result, urinary frequency increased, serum Na slightly elevated, but specific gravity of urine, urinary osmolality severely decreased and daily urinary volume substantially increased. However, the frequency of DDAVP treatment was reduced from four times per day to once or twice a day with the continual administration of the Chungsimyunja-tang for two months after the discharge.