• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.135-142
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• 2006

Purpose: We planned to determine the diagnostic capability of focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) in cases of blunt abdominal injury (BAI). Methods: A retrospective analysis of FAST sheets was performed from April 2002 to December 2004. During the study period, 135 BAI patients were evaluated with FAST at the Emergency Department of Bundang CHA Hospital. Of this group, twenty-eight patients were excluded, leaving 107 patients for analysis. Abdomen CT (computerized tomography) or exploratory laparotomy confirmed the presence of hemoperitoneum. At the secondary survey, patients underwent a three-view FAST examination (LogicQ; General Electric, Waukesha, USA) by an emergency physician, followed within 2 hours by an abdomen CT or exploratory laparotomy. The FAST examination was considered positive if it demonstrated evidence of free intra-abdominal fluid. Results: There were 45 true-positive FAST examination, 57 true-negatives, 1 false-positive, and 4 false negatives (sensitivity 91.8%, specificity 98.3%, positive predictive value 97.8%, negative predictive value 93.4%). The area under the ROC curve was 0.951 for the FAST examination. Conclusion: FAST is a highly reliable method for screening patients suspected of having BAI for the presence or absence of hemoperitoneum.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.31-39
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• 2015

Background: The purpose of this study is comparison of the results between regression and multi-level analysis to find out factors influencing outcome indicators (in-hospital death, length of stay, and medical charges) of stroke patients. Methods: By using patient sample data of Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service, patients admitted with stroke were selected as survey target and 15,864 patients and 762 hospitals were surveyed. Results: For the results of existing regression analysis and multi-level analysis, models were assessed through model suitability index value and as a result, the value of results of multi-level analysis decreased compared to the results of regression, showing it is a better model. Conclusion: Factors influencing in-hospital death of stroke patients were analyzed and as a result, intra-class correlation (ICC) was 13.6%. In factors influencing length of stay, ICC was 11.4%, and medical charges, ICC was 17.7%. It was found that factors influencing the outcome indicators of stroke patients may vary in every hospital. This study could carry out more accurate analysis than existing research findings through analysis of reflecting structure at patient level and hospital level factors and analysis on random effect.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.301-304
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• 2002

Is a multiple number of sputum specimens necessary for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis? To answer this question, 6844 respiratory specimens obtained from previously untreated patients suspected of having pulmonary tuberculosis between 1998 and 2001 were evaluated retrospectively. All of the specimens were evaluated by acid fast bacilli smear and BACTEC 460 TB culture system. A total of 785 (11%) specimens from 353 patients were positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. For 76% (270/353) of these patients the organism was detected from sputum specimens collected sequentially for daily basis. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was isolated in the first, second and third samples of the majority (98%,195/199) of patients who had three or more sputum samples sent to the laboratory. Our results indicate that, we could carry out Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolation in the first, second and third sputum samples of the overwhelming majority of the patients and the diagnostic value of four or more sputum specimens submitted to the laboratory was very low (2%). We recommend that, for definitive and cost-effective diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis at least three sequential sputum specimens be collected for all patients suspected pulmonary tuberculosis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.22
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• pp.9891-9898
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• 2014

Background: This study was planned in an attempt to develop scales for the assessment of fatigue in pediatric oncology patients aged 13-18 and also for their parents. Materials and Methods: In collecting the study data, we used the Child and Parent Information Form, Visual Fatigue Scale, Scale for the Assessment of Fatigue in Pediatric Oncology Patients Aged 13-18 and the Scale for the Assessment of Fatigue in Pediatric Oncology Patients Aged 13-18 for Parents. We also used Pearson correlation analysis, Cronbach alpha coefficient, factor analysis and ROC analysis for the study data. Results: In this study, the total Cronbach alpha value of the parent form was 0.99, the total factor load was 0.72-0.94 with 95% the total variance being explained. The cutoff point of the parent form is 73 points. The total Cronbach alpha value of the child form was 0.99, the total factor load was 0.82-0.95, with 89.4% of the total variance being explained. The cutoff point of the child form was 75.5 points. Conclusions: This study suggests that the Scale for the Assessment of Fatigue in Pediatric Oncology Patients Aged 13-18 and the Scale for the Assessment of Fatigue in Pediatric Oncology Patients Aged 13-18 for Parents are valid and reliable instruments in assessing the fatigue symptoms of children in Turkey.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.sup3
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• pp.175-177
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• 2016

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among the population as a whole and among females, yet it is highly curable if diagnosed at an early stage. Different methods are used to diagnose breast cancer. One of these methods features immunological tests using flow cytometry to determine T-lymphocyte (CD4/CD8) ratios in peripheral blood. One hundred patients with breast cancer (50 from Basra, Iraq, and 50 from Baku, Azerbaijan) confirmed to have breast cancer by histopathology were studied. Blood samples were collected from all patients before initiation of treatment and were used for analysis. The mean age of women from Basra was $51.2{\pm}10.7years$ and that of women from Baku was slightly higher at $54.8{\pm}12.2$. The mean CD4/CD8 ratio in Basra was 1.4 and in Baku was 1.8 with P value < 0.05. The percentage of Basra patients who have CD4/CD8 value less than 1 was 50%, while the percentage for Baku patients was 24 % (p < 0.05). While the CD4/CD8 T-lymphocyte ratio might be useful for early diagnosis in patients with breast cancer parallel with other confirmed tests factors involved in explaining variation between countries such as that observed here need to be taken into account.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.466-471
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• 2012

Objective : The aim of this study was to devise an objective clustering method for magnetoencephalography (MEG) interictal spike sources, and to identify the prognostic value of the new clustering method in adult epilepsy patients with cortical dysplasia (CD). Methods : We retrospectively analyzed 25 adult patients with histologically proven CD, who underwent MEG examination and surgical resection for intractable epilepsy. The mean postoperative follow-up period was 3.1 years. A hierarchical clustering method was adopted for MEG interictal spike source clustering. Clustered sources were then tested for their prognostic value toward surgical outcome. Results : Postoperative seizure outcome was Engel class I in 6 (24%), class II in 3 (12%), class III in 12 (48%), and class IV in 4 (16%) patients. With respect to MEG spike clustering, 12 of 25 (48%) patients showed 1 cluster, 2 (8%) showed 2 or more clusters within the same lobe, 10 (40%) showed 2 or more clusters in a different lobe, and 1 (4%) patient had only scattered spikes with no clustering. Patients who showed focal clustering achieved better surgical outcome than distributed cases (p=0.017). Conclusion : This is the first study that introduces an objective method to classify the distribution of MEG interictal spike sources. By using a hierarchical clustering method, we found that the presence of focal clustered spikes predicts a better postoperative outcome in epilepsy patients with CD.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.95-98
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• 1993

Salpingoscopy may be helpful in the diagnosis of subclinical epithelial, vascular damage and stricture formation, which may playa significant role in infertility, or predispose women to tubal pregnancy, despite of clear demonstration of tubal patency on hysterosalpingogram. We explored the fallopian tube from the fimbriae to the ampullary-isthmic junction with small rigid flexible endoscope during laparoscopy in sixteen patients from July 1991 to Jan. 1992. All patients have been observed following salpingoscopy for several months. Three pregnancies were achieved in seven patients with bilaterally normal or minimally damaged tubal mucosa. In another five patients with moderate to severe tubal damage, we noted one tubal pregnancy. The other remaining patients are being followed up now. As conclusions, salpingoscopy seems to be an useful tool in the diagnosis of tubal lesions which are not identified by H.S.G., give much help to refine the indications for tubal microsurgery and the selection of patients for GIFT or IVF-ET and to determine the prognostic value in terms of risk for ectopic pregnancy.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.840-845
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to propose a standard for differentiation between normal dogs and patients with hyperadrenocorticism (HAC) by measuring skin thickness via ultrasonography in small breed dogs. Significant changes in skin thickness of patients treated with prednisolone (PDS) or patients with HAC treated with trilostane were evaluated. Skin thickness was retrospectively measured on three abdominal digital images obtained from small breed dogs weighing < 15 kg that underwent abdominal ultrasonography. Mean skin thickness of normal dogs was $1.03{\pm}0.25mm$ (mean ${\pm}$ SD). Both the HAC and PDS groups showed significantly thinner skin than that in the normal group. Seven of the 10 HAC patients treated with trilostane had increased skin thickness. The area under the curve value of 0.807 was based on the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve for differentiating normal dogs from HAC patients. Sensitivity was 76% and specificity was 73% when skin thickness was less than the 0.83 mm cutoff value. In conclusion, measurement of skin thickness in small breed dogs by using ultrasonography is likely to provide clinical information useful in differentiating HAC patients from normal dogs. However, exposure to PDS, trilostane, and other conditions may have a significant effect on skin thickness.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.12-28
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• 2023

Introduction This study reports case series of Soyangin patients with coldness in hands and feet using Sasang constitutional medicine approach. This study suggests a value of using constitutional medicine indicators as both prognostic and diagnostic tools. Methods Among patients who visited an outpatient clinic, 7 patients were selected based on the criteria. These selected patients were exclusively treated with herbal medicine and monitored every 2 to 4 weeks retrospectively. Results The average treatment period was 8 weeks. Patients with a favorable pattern showed the improvement within 8 weeks, while those with an unfavorable pattern required more time. Discussion This study confirms the significance of Sasang constitutional medicine approach in Soyangin exterior cold syndrome with coldness in hands and feet. It also validates the current coldness in hands and feet as meaningful diagnostic indicator of Soyangin exterior cold syndrome. Furthermore, it highlights the value of original symptoms as prognostic tools.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Telematics and Electronics
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 1988

To provide a quantitative parameter of evaluating diagnosis of the liver diseases accurately, the ultrasonic attenuation coefficient was estimated from liver phantoms, 15 normal human livers and 30 liver disease patients. Two kind of phantoms(No.1: 1552m/s, No.2: 1562m/s) which have velocity (1560m/s) similar to that in human liver were constructed and their ultrasonic attenuation coefficients were determined. In this paper the spectral-shift approach and spectral-difference approach were used for estimating ultrasonic attenuation coefficient, \ulcornerdB/Cm.MHz). These two approaches were utilized to esitmate for 15 normal humans without any liver disease and 30 liver disease patients. The results indicate that the two types of phantoms produce the value of near the suggested value of 0.5 and the attenuation coefficients of hepatoma, normal liver, corrhosis, fatty liver and hepatitis show decreasing value in order named, suggesting that the present study can be of clinical value incorrelating the estimated attenuation coefficidents with the liver diseases.