• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.14-19
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• 2019

The present study aimed at evaluating serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) avidity to Porphyromonas gingivalis in elderly patients with mild and severe chronic periodontitis. The avidity of antibodies against P. gingivalis present in the sera of 18 patients with mild chronic periodontitis and 18 patients with severe chronic periodontitis was evaluated using an ammonium thiocyanate-dissociated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results showed that the mean absorbance value in serum IgG antibody titers was significantly higher in the severe chronic periodontitis group than in the mild chronic periodontitis group ($198{\pm}35ELISA$ unit [EU] vs. $142{\pm}32EU$, p < 0.01). However, there was no significant difference between the two groups in antibody avidity ($65{\pm}57EU$ vs. $54{\pm}27EU$). These findings suggest that humoral immune responses to P. gingivalis between mild and severe chronic periodontitis in elderly patients are characterized by the differences in the quantity rather than the quality of the antibodies.

• The Korean Journal of Medicine
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• v.99 no.3
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• pp.127-133
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• 2024

Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is characterized by elevated serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels and normal free thyroxine levels. The Korean Thyroid Association recently issued guidelines for managing SCH. Based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013-2015), a serum TSH level of 6.8 mIU/L is the reference value for SCH. SCH is classified as mild (TSH 6.8-10.0 mIU/L) or severe (TSH > 10.0 mIU/L), and patients are categorized as adult (age < 70 years) or elderly (age ≥ 70 years). Levothyroxine treatment (LT4-Tx) is not recommended for mild or even severe SCH in elderly patients. Immediate LT4-Tx can be given to adults in most cases, but not to women who are pregnant, patients with progressive disease, or patients with underlying coronary artery disease, heart failure, or dyslipidemia.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.41-47
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• 2014

Purpose : The aim was to compare the implant success rate according to membrane type through a clinical case of patients, who used bio-resorbable membrane and non-resorbable membrane. Methods : A survey was conducted targeting patients with the use of bio-resorbable membrane and non-resorbable membrane who visited H dental clinic in Busan for implant surgery and bone graft for 1 year from May 2010 to May 2011. A chart was made and surveyed for 100 people with non-resorbable membrane and for 75 people with bio-resorbable membrane. Results were compared. Results : 1. As for the measurement value of Periotest M${(R)}$, the value of -8~0 was measured with 92% in case of surgery by using non-resorbable membrane. The value of +1~+9 was measured with 8.0%. In case of surgery by using bio-resorbable membrane, Peiotest M(R) was measured with 78.7% as for the value of -8~0 and 16(21.3%) as for the value of +1~+9. In light of this, a case of using non-resorbable membrane was indicated to be higher(p=0.021) in success rate than a case of using bio-resorbable membrane. 2. As a result of periodontal conditions, namely, bleeding(p=0.914), swelling(p=0.500), inflammation(p=0.074), pain(p=0.571), and itch appearance(p=0.475) according to membrane type, all were insignificant. Conclusions : A case of using non-resorbable membrane is considered to be likely to be more effective than using bio-resorbable membrane during GBR(Guided Bone Regeneration) with the use of membrane in implant surgery.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.17
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• pp.7875-7882
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• 2015

Background: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the expression of brain and acute leukemia, cytoplasmic (BAALC) gene and erythroblast transformation-specific related gene (ERG) in de novo cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and identify roles in disease progression and outcome. Materials and Methods: This study included 50 newly diagnosed AML patients, along with 10 apparently healthy normal controls. BAALC and ERG expression was detected in the bone marrow of both patients and controls using real-time RT-PCR. Results: BAALC and ERG expression was detected in 52% of cases but not in any controls. There was a statistically significant correlation between BAALC and ERG gene expression and age (p-value=0.004 and 0.019, respectively). No statistical significance was noted for sex, lymphadenopathy, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, other hematological findings, immunophenotyping and FAB sub-classification except for ERG gene and FAB (p-value=0.058). A statistical significant correlation was found between response to treatment with ERG expression (p-value=0.028) and age (p-value=0.014). A statistically significant variation in overall survival was evident with patient age, BM blast cells, FAB subgroups, BAALC and ERG expression (p-value=<0.001, 0.045, 0.041, <0.008 and 0.025 respectively). Conclusions: Our results suggest that BAALC and ERG genes are specific significant molecular markers in AML disease progression, response to treatment and survival.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.1015-1021
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• 2014

This study aimed at summarizing published study findings on the diagnostic value of rectal bleeding (RB) and informing clinical practice, preventive interventions and future research areas. We searched Medline and Embase for studies published by September 13, 2013 examining the risk of colorectal cancer in patients with RB using highly inclusive algorithms. Data for sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio and positive predictive value (PPV) of RB were extracted by two researchers and analyzed applying Meta-Disc (version 1.4) and Stata (version 11.0). Methodological quality of studies was assessed according to QUADAS. A total of 38 studies containing 5,626 colorectal cancer patients and 73,174 participants with RB were included. The pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.47 (95% CI: 0.45-0.48) and 0.96 (95% CI: 0.96-0.96) respectively. The overall PPVs ranged from 0.01 to 0.21 with a pooled value of 0.06 (95% CI: 0.05-0.08). Being over the age of 60 years, change in bowel habit, weight loss, anaemia, colorectal cancer among first-degree relatives and feeling of incomplete evacuation of rectum appeared to increase the predictive value of RB. Although RB greatly increases the probability of diagnosing colorectal cancer, it alone may not be sufficient for proposing further sophisticated investigations. However, given the high specificity, subjects without RB may be ruled out of further investigations. Future studies should focus on strategies using RB as an "alarm" symptom and finding additional indications to justify whether there is a need for further investigations.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.46-51
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• 2022

Purpose: Delta neutrophil index (DNI) indicates immature granulocytes in peripheral blood and has been confirmed to be effective as a prognostic factor for neonatal sepsis. Also, it has been reported to have diagnostic value in acute pyelonephritis and in predicting vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in the infant. We conducted the study to verify whether DNI is also helpful in the entire pediatric age group with febrile urinary tract infection (UTI). Methods: Medical records of children hospitalized for febrile UTIs were analyzed retrospectively. All subjects underwent kidney ultrasound and voiding cystourethrography. In the group with and without VUR, we compared sex and age, and the following laboratory values: the white blood cell count, neutrophil, polymorphonuclear leucocyte, eosinophil, hemoglobin, platelet count, C-reactive protein, DNI value, and the finding of ultrasound. Results: A total of 315 patients (163 males and 152 females; range, 0-127 months) were eligible, and 41 patients (13%) had VUR. As a result of univariate analysis, the white blood cell count, neutrophil, DNI, and ultrasonic abnormalities were high in the reflux group, and the hemoglobin and lymphocyte fraction values were low. The value of DNI and the abnormal ultrasound were significantly higher in the reflux group on the multivariate analysis. The area under the curve value of the receiver operating curve was higher in DNI (0.640; 95% confidence interval, 0.536-0.744; P=0.004), and the DNI cutoff value for VUR prediction was 1.85%. Conclusions: We identified that ultrasound findings and DNI values were helpful predictors of VUR in pediatric febrile UTIs.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.169-180
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• 1994

The aim of this study was to compare pain descriptions in common dental patients with those in patients with Temporomandibular disorders(TMDs). The study sample consisted of 104 common dental patients and 74 patients with TMDs, and their chief complaint was pain, Subjects were classified common dental pain group and TMDs pain group, respectively. All the subjects completed Korean Pain Rating Scale(KPRS) on first visit. KPRS contains 90 pain terms, which divided into 20 subclasses in 3 dimensions. Each subclass contains 3-6 pain terms. each patient had chosen only one term from each subclass. If there was no proper term, subject could pass the subclass without completion. Words chosen were categorized into sensory, affective, miscellaneous and total dimension. Thereafter they were processed and analyzed by SPSS/PC+ statistical package program with respect to rank values, scale values, number of words chosen and frequency of each subclass. The obtained results of this study were as follows : 1. Total mean number of words chosen was 7.6. 2. Chronic patients groups with Temporomandibular disorders had chosen more freuently from the subclasses in affective dimension than the patients in acute common dental pain group. 3. Frequency of affective dimension was higher in chronic patients groups with Temporomandibular disorders than that of acute patients group with Temporomandibular disorders. 4. Chronic patients group with Temporomandibular disorders had higher frequency in constrictive pressure pain, traction pressure pain, dull pain and fatigue-related pain terms than acute common dental patients group. 5. Acute patients group with Temporomandibular disorders had higher frequency in traction pressure pain and dull pain terms but had lower frequency in chemical pain, peripheral nerve pain and cold pain terms than acute common dental patients groups. 6. There were high positive correlation between the scale- and rank-value in the pain rating index.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.300-308
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• 2022

Background: This study investigated the prognostic impact of spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma (MM). Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 214 patients who were newly diagnosed with MM between March 2015 and December 2019. The patients were classified into five different infiltration patterns based on spine MRI as follows: (1) normal appearance, (2) focal, (3) diffuse, (4) combined focal and diffuse infiltration, and (5) "salt-and-pepper." Results: Forty patients (18.7%) showed a normal appearance, whereas focal, diffuse, combined focal and diffuse infiltration, and "salt-and-pepper" patterns were identified in 68 (31.8%), 40 (18.7%), 52 (24.3%), and 14 patients (6.5%), respectively. The patients with normal and "salt-and-pepper" patterns were younger than patients with other patterns (median age, 61.6 vs. 66.8 years; p=0.001). Moreover, 63% and 59.3% of patients with normal and "salt-and-pepper" patterns were scored International Staging System (ISS) stage I and revised ISS (R-ISS) stage I, respectively, whereas only 12.5% of patients with other patterns were scored ISS stage I and R-ISS stage I. Patients with normal and "salt-and-pepper" patterns had a better prognosis than those with other patterns, whereas relapse and death rates were significantly higher in patients with focal, diffuse, and combined MRI patterns. Conclusion: Characteristic MRI findings have a significant prognostic value for long-term survival in patients newly diagnosed with MM. In particular, focal, diffuse, and combined focal and diffuse infiltration patterns are unfavorable prognostic factors.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.5 s.72
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• pp.763-766
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of regular exercise on ADL (activities of daily living) and lipid profiles (total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-C, LDL-C) in male patients with dementia. The subjects were consisted of 24 male patients with dementia, they were divided into two groups. the exercise group (EC, n=12) and the control group (CG, n=12). The exercise group participated in regular exercise program, and their ADL, lipid profiles levels were evaluated at baseline (pre, 0 mo), after 6 months (mid, 6 mo), and after 12 months (post, 12 mo). The subjects carried on exercising $30\∼60$ minutes a day, $2\∼3$ times per week for 12 months. Statistical techniques for data analysis was paired samples t-test. The level of statistical significance was $p\leq.0.5$. The results of this study were summarized as follows: In the case of EG, mid and post ADL values significantly higher than that of pre value, whereas there was no significant difference in the CG. Mid and post values of TC, TG, and LDL-C were significantly lower than that of pre value in the EG. However, mid and post HDL-C values were higher in the EG compared to pre value. In conclusion, these results suggest that regular exercise have an positive effect on ADL and lipid profiles in male patient with dementia. In addition, regular exercise may be helpful to reduce the incidence of heart disease and coronary sclerosis.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.126-131
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• 2016

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic value of the Vesikari Scoring System (VSS) as an early predictor of pathogens in children with acute gastroenteritis (AG). Methods: In this retrospective study, the VSS score, absolute neutrophil count (ANC), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were analyzed in 107 hospitalized children with AG, aged 6 months to 17 years. Patients were divided into nonspecific, viral, and bacterial groups according to the pathogens detected using a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Results: Patients in the bacterial group had significantly higher CRP values and VSS scores compared to those in the viral group and significantly higher VSS scores compared to those in the nonspecific group (P<0.05). Patients in the viral group had significantly higher VSS scores than those in the nonspecific group (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that VSS was the most effective diagnostic tool for predicting the type of pathogen (P<0.05). The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve of VSS was significantly greater than that for ANC and CRP (P<0.05). At a cutoff point of 10 in the VSS, an acceptable diagnostic accuracy could be achieved for distinguishing between bacterial and viral pathogens in AG. Conclusion: VSS can be considered a useful and reliable infectious marker for pediatric gastroenteritis. VSS may be a good early predictor of the type of pathogen, enabling development of a treatment plan before results from a stool culture or PCR test are available.