• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.242-254
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• 2023

Although upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are common diseases, there have been no studies of their relationship with the indices obtained from tongue image analyses. The purpose of this study was to identify a tongue index through an analysis of tongue images (TIs) showing significant changes before and after treatment in patients with URTIs. A computerized tongue image acquisition system was developed to acquire TIs from subjects in the same environment. An image was taken from each of 39 URTI patients and 39 healthy controls. For the patients, images were acquired before and after treatment to identify changes. The tongue area was classified into a tongue body and a tongue coating, and the coating ratio between the two areas, the average value of the colour of each area, and teeth marks were calculated. No significant difference was observed in age or sex between the URTI patients and control participants. Heart rates were slightly different. The analysis of TIs showed that the luminance of the tongue coating and the coating area ratio were decreased, while the reddish value of the tongue body at the centre area increased as the treatment progressed. Tongue coating and body in URTIs had different colour and shape from those in the normal. It is expected that this result will contribute not only to the objectification of traditional Chinese medicine but also to diagnostic methods that do not involve face-to-face physician visit during the pandemic.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.139-149
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effects of gradually increasing treadmill inclination on the electroencephalogram (EEG) of stroke patients during gait training. Methods: Three stroke patients who were diagnosed with stroke within six months and capable of walking on a treadmill were selected as subjects. EEG electrodes were attached at Fp1, Fp2, F3, F4, C3, C4, P3, and P4 positions of the cerebral hemispheres using the International 10-20 system. The intervention involved walking for 2 minutes each at 0 degrees, 15 degrees, and 30 degrees inclination on the treadmill while focusing on a target point located in front during the treadmill gait training. The EEG (Smartingmobi, Serbia) generated when the treadmill gradient gradually increased was measured. In addition, relative alpha and relative beta waves were visualized through the Brain mapping program in the TeleScan program to assess the changes in each brain region for the activity of the EEG. Results: The relative alpha wave value decreased as treadmill inclination increased, while the relative beta wave value increased. Conclusion: Gradually increasing the inclination during treadmill gait training appears to be a crucial parameter for increasing the brain activity levels of stroke patients.

• Hip & pelvis
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.177-184
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• 2022

This study aimed to analyse the initial results of five patients with symptomatic osteochondral lesions (OCL) and femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) who were treated successfully with osteochondral autologous transfer (OAT) and femoral neck osteochondroplasty (OCP) through surgical dislocation of the hip. Five patients with FAI and OCL of the femoral head who underwent surgery between 2015-2018 were studied retrospectively. All patients had a grade IV OCL, and the median defect size was 2 cm2 (interquartile range [IQR], 2-2). At the final follow-up, the modified Harris hip score showed a median value of 94 (IQR, 91-95) (P=0.04). Pain evaluation using the visual analogue scale showed a median value of 1 (IQR, 1-2) (P=0.04). Adequate graft union and healthy formation of the chondral surface were observed by magnetic resonance imaging. Although the procedure is demanding, the combination of OAT and femoral neck OCP appears to be an effective alternative in young patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.322-327
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• 2018

Background: This study evaluated the early and long-term outcomes of surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) in elderly patients in the era of transcatheter aortic valve implantation. Methods: Between 2001 and 2018, 94 patients aged ${\geq}75years$ underwent isolated AVR with stented bioprosthetic valves for aortic valve stenosis (AS). The main etiologies of AS were degenerative (n=63) and bicuspid (n=21). The median follow-up duration was 40.7 months (range, 0.6-174 months). Results: Operative mortality occurred in 2 patients (2.1%) and paravalvular leak occurred in 1 patient. No patients required permanent pacemaker insertion after surgery. Late death occurred in 11 patients. The overall survival rates at 5 and 10 years were 87.2% and 65.1%, respectively. The rates of freedom from valve-related events at 5 and 10 years were 94.5% and 88.6%, respectively. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) score (p=0.013) and chronic kidney disease (p=0.030) were significant factors affecting long-term survival. The minimal p-value approach demonstrated that an STS score of 3.5% was the most suitable cut-off value for predicting long-term survival. Conclusion: Surgical AVR for elderly AS patients may be feasible in terms of early mortality and postoperative complications, particularly paravalvular leak and permanent pacemaker insertion. The STS score and chronic kidney disease were associated with long-term outcomes after AVR in the elderly.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.765-774
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• 2011

Purpose: Many facial burn patients suffer from hyperpigmentation and its treatment has been challenging. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) has important physiologic effects on skin, including inhibition of melanogenesis, promotion of collagen biosynthesis, prevention of free radical formation, and acceleration on wound healing. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Vitamin C iontophoresis for the treatment of postburn hyperpigmentation. Methods: The authors performed a retrospective analysis of 93 patients who were admitted for the treatment of facial burn from February 2008 through February 2010. Among them, 51 patients were treated with Vitamin C iontophoresis to control postburn hyperpigmentation and 42 patients were not. Experimental group was chosen 20 of 51 patients who had been treated with Vitamin C iontophoresis and had normal facial skin on the comparable contralateral aesthetic unit. Control group was chosen 20 of 42 patients who were not treated with Vitamin C iontophoresis and had also contralateral normal aesthetic unit. The resulting color of 20 patients who were treated with Vitamin C iontophoresis was compared with the color of the contralateral normal facial skin using a digital scale color analysis. Results were analyzed with Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results: The analysis revealed significant improvement of hyperpigmentation in the experimental group compared to control group. The difference of intial value and the value in 6 months showed significant change. Mean (${\Delta}^{initial}$-${\Delta}^{6month}$) of experimental group was 11.61 and control group was 7.23. Thus, the difference between the experimental group and the control group was 4.38. Therefore, Vitamin C iontophoresis revealed significant improvement of hyperpigmentation in the experimental group compared with control group. Conclusion: Vitamin C iontophoresis is an effective treatment modality for postburn hyperpigmentation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.5-11
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• 2000

Background and Objectives : Tongue-tie, or partial ankyloglossia, is manifested by an abnormally short and thick lingual frenulum. Degree of tongue-tie varies from the mild to the rare, severe and its treatment of choice is frenulotomy. Theoretically tongue-tie can affect expression of alveolar sounds. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the degree of articulation problem and to evaluate the efficacy of frenulotomy itself on alveolar sounds in tongue-tie patients. Materials and Methods : Prospectively, the authors performed preoperative and postoperative speech evaluation using picture consonants test for tongue-tie patients. Percentage of consonants correct(PCC), mean value of each alveolar phoneme depends on articulation site were evaluated. for exclusion of other articulatory improving factors except of frenulotomy itself, postoperative picture consonants test was performed 1 month after surgery. Results : Preoperative speech evaluation was performed to 37(male 21, female 16) patients and postoperative speech evaluation was performed to 17(male 9, female 8) patients, the other 20 patients were follow-up loss. Low PCC was observed in tongue-tie patients and PCC of female was higher an at of male in 2-4 years old patients. Overall PCC was improved after frenulotomy. Preoperative mean value of liquids and fricatives was lower than the other alveolar phonemes(p＜0.05) and it was improved postoperatively(p＜0.05). Conclusion : Frenulotomy itself can improve the articulation of liquids and fricatives on short follow-up. Speech therapy would be needful for improvement of the other alveolar phonemes.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.1539-1544
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• 2014

Purpose: Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive fraction of AFP (AFP-L3), and Golgi protein 73 (GP73) levels have been widely used as tumor markers for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to investigate whether these tumor markers could be used to monitor short-term treatment response and recurrence of HCC in patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Methods: Between July 2012 and July 2013, 53 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed HCC were prospectively enrolled in this study. Among these, 32 patients underwent RFA, after which they were followed up prospectively at the First Hospital of Jilin University in China. Results: AFP, AFP-L3, and GP-73 values pre-RFA were not associated with tumor size, whereas AFP and GP-73 levels tended to be associated with tumor number, the presence of vascular invasion, deterioration of liver function, advanced-stage disease, and a poor performance status. GP-73 levels were dramatically elevated in the patients with hepatitis C-associated HCC. Neither pre-RFA nor 1-month post-RFA tumor marker values were associated with short-term outcome. The short-term recurrence rate of AFP-positive patients measured 1 month post-RFA was obviously higher than that of AFP-negative patients. Conclusions: AFP and GP-73 values were associated with clinical variables representing tumor growth and invasiveness, and the AFP value measured 1 month post-RFA was a strong predictor of short-term recurrence in patients with HCC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.4215-4221
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• 2013

Purposes: Lung cancer is prevalent worldwide and improvements in timely and effective diagnosis are need. Pentraxin-3 as a novel serum marker for lung cancer (LC) has not been validated in large cohort studies. The aim of the study was to assess its clinical value in diagnosis and prognosis. Methods: We analyzed serum PTX-3 levels in a total of 1,605 patients with LC, benign lung diseases and healthy controls, as well as 493 non-lung cancer patients including 12 different types of cancers. Preoperative and postoperative data were further assessed in patients undergoing LC resection. The diagnostic performance of PTX-3 for LC and early-stage LC was assessed using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) by comparing with serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cytokeratin 19 fragments (CYFRA 21-1). Results: Levels of PTX-3 in serum were significantly higher in patients with LC than all controls. ROC curves showed the optimum diagnostic cutoff was 8.03ng/mL (AUC 0.823, [95%CI 0.789-0.856], sensitivity 72.8%, and specificity 77.3% in the test cohort; 0.802, [95%CI 0.762-0.843], sensitivity 69.7%, and specificity 76.4% in the validate cohort). Similar diagnostic performance of PTX-3 was observed for early-stage LC. PTX-3 decreased following surgical resection of LC and increased with tumor recurrence. Significantly elevated PTX-3 levels were also seen in patients with non-lung cancers. Conclusions: The present data revealed that PTX-3 was significantly increased in both tissue and serum samples in LC patients. PTX-3 is a valuable biomarker for LC and improved identification of patients with LC and early-stage LC from those with non-malignant lung diseases.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.97-113
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• 1998

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to investigate disability of the patients after stroke, clinical applicability and usefulness of the FIM in evaluating the functional abilities and to assess the characteristics of the patients after stroke. And this study examined difference by predictive factors on the treatment outcome. METHOD The study was composed of 31 stroke patients who were within 1 week after stroke and had been treated in hospital more than 4 weeks. Improving rate was measured by using the Functional Independence Measure(FIM), and the correlation was analyzed between Motor FIM and Cognitive FIM. We analyzed significant meaning statistically in the mean value of FIM. RESULT 1. There was no significant meaning statistically in the mean value of FIM that was between both at admission and after 2 weeks. But there was proportional correlation between both at admission and after 4 weeks, and significant meaning statistically. 2. There was proportional correlation between both FIM and Motor FIM, and significant meaning statistically. But there was no significant meaning statistically between both FIM and Cognitive FIM. 3. There was no significant meaning statistically between both FIM and sex, age, side of weakness, stroke subtype, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, starting point of rehabilitation therapy and past history of cerebral vascular accident. While dysarthria affected functional recovery in stroke patients, and significant meaning statistically. CONCLUSION 1. FIM appeared to be a valid and reliable method to measure the functional abilities of the patients after stroke. 2. Only one thing between Motor FIM and score didn't influence FIM score. 3. Dysarthria affected functional recovery in stroke patients, and it is the statistically significant factor.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.15
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• pp.6443-6447
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• 2014

Background: To determine the predictive value of the baseline stimulated thyroglobulin (STg) level for ablation outcome in patients undergoing adjuvant remnant radioiodine ablation (RRA) for differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). Materials and Methods: This retrospective study accrued 64 patients (23 male and 41 female; mean age of $40{\pm}14$ years) who had total thyroidectomy followed by RRA for DTC from January 2012 till April 2014. Patients with positive anti-Tg antibodies and distant metastasis on post-ablative whole body iodine scans (TWBIS) were excluded. Baseline STg was used to predict successful ablation (follow-up STg <2 ng/ml, negative diagnostic WBIS and negative ultrasound neck) at 7-12 months follow-up. Results: Overall, successful ablation was noted in 37 (58%) patients while ablation failed in 27 (42%). Using the ROC curve, a cut-off level of baseline STg level of ${\leq}14.5ng/ml$ was found to be most sensitive and specific for predicting successful ablation. Successful ablation was thus noted in 25/28 (89%) of patients with baseline STg ${\leq}14.5ng/ml$ and 12/36 (33%) patients with baseline STg >14.5 ng/ml ((p value <0.05). Age >40 years, female gender, PTS >2 cm, papillary histopathology, positive cervical nodes and positive TWBIS were significant predictors of ablation failure. Conclusions: We conclude that in patients with total thyroidectomy followed by I-131 ablation for DTC, the baseline STg level is a good predictor of successful ablation based on a stringent triple negative criteria (i.e. follow-up STg < 2 ng/ml, a negative DWBIS and a negative US neck).