• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제79권2호
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• pp.91-97
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• 2016

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is sometimes complicated with pneumonia, but little is known about the risk factors that promote the development of pneumonia in COPD. These risk factors were evaluated in the present study. Methods: The data of 324 patients with COPD from a prospective multi-center observational cohort with obstructive lung disease were evaluated retrospectively. To identify risk factors for the development of pneumonia in COPD, the clinical and radiological data at enrollment and the time to the first episode of pneumonia were analyzed by Cox proportional hazard analysis. Results: The median follow-up time was 1,099 days and 28 patients (8.6%) developed pneumonia. The Cox analysis showed that post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in one second ($FEV_1$, % of predicted) and the computed tomography (CT) emphysema extent (inspiratory V950) were independent risk factors for the development of pneumonia (post-bronchodilator $FEV_1$: hazard ratio [HR], 0.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.94-1.00; p=0.048 and inspiratory V950: HR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01-1.07; p=0.01). Conclusion: Emphysema severity measured by CT and post-bronchodilator $FEV_1$ are important risk factors for the development of pneumonia in COPD.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• 제36권6호
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• pp.465-476
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• 2011

최근의 근관치료학 분야에서 외과적 재치료는 수술현미경, 초음파기구, 미세수술기구 등의 도입으로 많은 변화가 있어 왔다. 본 논문에서는 기존의 전통적인 치근단 수술법과 비교하여 미세 치근단 수술의 주요 술식을 알아보고 이미 출간된 논문에 근거하여 미세 치근단 수술의 성공과 실패 그리고 성공과 실패에 영향을 미치는 요소들을 고찰하고자 하였다. 수술현미경은 수술부위를 밝게 확대해서 봄으로써 치근단 부위의 미세한 형태를 조명할 수 있게 되었으며 이는 술식의 성공을 위해서 필수적인 요소가 되었다. 초음파 기구 또한 치근단 역충전을 위한 정확한 와동형성을 가능하게 해 주었다. 따라서 미세 치근단 수술은 기존방식의 문제점이었던 많은 골삭제, 경사진 치근절제, 부정확한 역충전 와동 형성, 치근단 미세구조 관찰의 어려움 등을 극복함으로써 술식이 더욱 정확해지고, 성공가능성이 더 높아졌다고 볼 수 있다. 미세 치근단 수술에 영향을 미치는 요소에는 다양한 요인들이 존재할 수 있으나 전통방식의 치근단 수술보다 술식이 표준화 됨으로써 술식에 의한 영향을 줄일 수 있다. 환자와 치아에 관계되는 요소 중에서는 치주질환의 이환 여부와 치아위치(tooth position)가 예후에 영향을 미치는 것으로 알려져 있으나 이에 대한 연구는 아직까지 그 수가 부족한 상태로 앞으로 검증수준 (evidence level)이 높은 Randomized clinical trial 혹은 전향적 코호트 연구가 많이 이루어져야 할 것이다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제52권5호
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• pp.551-555
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• 2014

Trichomonas vaginalis, a causative agent of trichomoniasis, may trigger symptomatic or asymptomatic non-gonococcal urethritis and chronic prostatitis in men. Despite the availability of highly sensitive diagnostic tests, such as nucleic acid amplification tests, including PCR, few prospective studies present data on male T. vaginalis infection in South Korea. In the present study, the prevalence of T. vaginalis and associated clinical conditions were evaluated in 201 male patients from a primary care urology clinic in South Korea. The prevalence of T. vaginalis infection in our cohort was 4% (8/201) by PCR. T. vaginalis infection was common in men older than 40 years (median age, 52 years). Among the 8 Trichomonas-positive patients, 87.5% (7/8) had prostatic diseases, such as prostatitis and benign prostatic hyperplasia, and 25.0% (2/8) and 12.5% (1/8) were coinfected with Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium, respectively. Our results suggest that T. vaginalis infection is not rare in men attending primary care urology clinics in South Korea, especially in those older than 40 years, in whom it may explain the presence of prostatic disease. The possibility of T. vaginalis infection should be routinely considered in older male patients with prostatic diseases in South Korea.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권16호
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• pp.6805-6810
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• 2014

Background: Previous studies have suggested a link between obesity and breast cancer (BC). However, there is no universal consensus, especially in population based studies. Because only few studies have been conducted on African women, we aimed here to assess the relationship between BMI at time of diagnosis and the BC histopathological features among Tunisian patients according to menopausal status using a hospital-based prospective cohort study. Materials and Methods: Clinical and pathological data were collected from 262 patients stratified on four groups according to their BMI. The relationship between BMI and histopathological features at diagnosis was analysed using univariate and multivariate analysis. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the performance of BMI in predicting of high tumor grade, in comparison to ki-67 index of proliferation. Results: Obesity was correlated with larger tumors, advanced grade and with ER-PR-Her2+ BC subtype. An association of BMI with tumor size and tumor grade was observed in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Additionally, a significant association between BMI and ER+, ER+PR+Her2+ and ER-PR-Her2+ status was revealed for premenopausal patients, while only ER+PR+Her2+ was associated with BMI for postmenopausal women. Finally, our results showed that compared to Ki67 proliferation index, BMI is a useful prognostic marker of high grade BC tumors. Conclusions: These data are the first to show that in Tunisia obese women suffering from BC have significantly larger tumors and advanced tumor grade and that higher BMI might influence tumor characteristics and behavior.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제53권4호
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• pp.406-415
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• 2020

본 연구는 2013-2017년 국민건강영양조사 자료를 이용하여 만 19-64세 성인 남녀를 대상으로 채소·과일 섭취에 따른 일반적 사항과 식품 및 영양소 섭취 상태를 파악하고 채소·과일의 섭취와 천식 유병률의 관련성을 알아보고자 시행되었다. 전체 대상자의 천식 유병률은 2.6% 이었고, 채소·과일의 섭취량에 따라 1.8%-3.1%로 나타났다. 채소·과일 섭취량이 많을수록 평균 연령과 가구소득은 높았고 교육수준은 낮았으며, 흡연자의 비율과 알코올 섭취 빈도도 낮았다. 채소·과일의 섭취량이 많은 군이 우유 및 유제품을 제외한 모든 식품군의 섭취량이 많았고, 에너지를 포함한 영양소의 섭취량도 많았다. 열량영양소의 섭취비율의 경우, 채소·과일의 섭취량이 많은 군이 적은 군에 비해 탄수화물과 단백질의 섭취비율은 높고, 지방의 섭취비율은 낮았다. 채소와 과일 섭취량에 따른 3사분위군의 천식에 대한 위험도는 최하위 사분위군 대비 각각 35%, 40%까지 감소하였다. 그러나 최상위 사분위군의 경우, 최하위 사분위군과 비교하여 천식에 대한 위험도가 유의하게 감소하지 않았다. 이러한 결과를 통하여 권장량 수준의 적절한 채소·과일의 섭취가 천식을 예방 및 관리하는데 도움이 될 것이라 생각된다. 또한 채소·과일의 섭취가 천식의 발생과 치료효과에 미치는 영향을 파악하기 위해 장기간의 코호트 연구와 임상시험 연구가 필요할 것으로 생각된다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제66권5호
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• pp.349-357
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• 2009

Background: The treatment success rates in patients with tuberculosis are known to be lower in the private sector compared to the public sector. To improve treatment outcomes in the private sector we developed a public-private collaboration model for strengthening health education and case holding activities with public health nursing in the private sector. Methods: We performed a prospective cohort study in new smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients treated at private hospitals, selected by non-randomization, with an intervention consisting of health education and case holding activities by specially trained public health nurses (intervention group) results were compared with cases treated without the intervention (conventional group). Physicians were asked to treat both groups routinely. The treatment outcomes of patients under treatment by the National Tuberculosis Programme were also analyzed for comparison. Results: There were 172 cases each in the intervention and conventional groups. The mean age was 48.9${\pm}$19.0 and 48.2${\pm}$19.7 in the respective groups (p=0.66). The PHN interacted with the cases in the intervention group by initial face to face interview and telephone calls an average of 7.1${\pm}$9.2 times during the initial six months. The intervention group showed a significantly higher treatment success rate, 91.6%, (Rate Ratio [RR]; 1.23, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]; 1.12-1.36), lower default, 3.6%, (RR; 0.31, 95% CI; 0.13-0.75) and transfer-out rate, 3.0%, (RR; 0.32, 95% CI; 0.12-0.86) than the conventional group where they were: 75.0%, 11.6%, 9.3%, respectively. The success rate was even higher than the rate (80.5%) of 1,027 cases treated in health centers (RR; 1.11, 95% CI; 1.05-1.17). Of the completed cases in the intervention group, 82.2% regarded the role of the public health nurse as very helpful. Conclusion: The treatment success rate, of tuberculosis patients in the private sector, was significantly improved by an intervention using a public-private collaboration model.

• 대한임상독성학회지
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.93-101
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• 2018

Purpose: The Korean government has tried to decrease the suicide death rate over the last decade. Suicide attempts, particularly non-fatal attempts, are the most powerful known risk factor for a completed suicide. An analysis of suicide attempt methods will help establish the effective preventive action of suicide. Fit prevention according to the method of suicide attempt may decrease the incidence of suicide death. Self-poisoning is suggested as a major method of both suicide attempts and suicide death. The aim of this study was to determine if a self-poisoning patient is a suitable target for the prevention of the suicide. Methods: This was retrospective analysis of a prospective cohort, which included patients who presented to the emergency department (ED) after a self-harm or suicide attempt from Jan 2013 to Dec 2017. The proportion of methods in suicide attempts, psychological consultation, and fatality according to the suicide attempt method were analyzed. The types of poison were also analyzed. Results: Poisoning was the most common method of suicide attempts (52.1%). The rate of psychological consultations were 18.8% for all patients and 29.1% for poison patients (p<0.001). The rate of mortality in poisoning was 0.6%. Psychological consultation was performed more frequently in admission cases than discharged cases. The most common materials of poisons was psychological medicines and sedatives that had been prescribed at clinics or hospital. Conclusion: Self-poisoning is a major method of suicide attempt with a high rate of psychiatric consultation, low mortality rate, versus others methods. The prevention of suicide death for suicide attempts may focus on self-poisoning, which is the major method of suicide attempts. A suitable aftercare program for self-poisoning may be an effective method for preventing suicide if an early diagnosis and management of psychiatric disorders through psychiatric consultation can be made, and early connection to social prevention program for non-fatal patients are possible.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제85권2호
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• pp.155-164
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• 2022

Background: The remarkable efficacy of osimertinib in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with acquired T790M mutation has been widely documented in clinical trials and real-world practice. However, some patients show primary resistance to this drug. Even patients who initially show a favorable response have inconsistent clinical outcomes later. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify additional clinical predictive factors for osimertinib efficacy. Methods: A prospective cohort of patients with acquired T790M positive stage IV lung adenocarcinoma treated with osimertinib salvage therapy in Hallym University Medical Center were analyzed. Results: Sixty-one eligible patients were analyzed, including 38 (62%) women and 39 (64%) who never smoked. Their mean age was 63.3 years. The median follow-up after treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) was 36.0 months (interquartile range, 24.7-50.2 months). The majority (n=45, 74%) of patients were deceased. Based on univariate analysis, low baseline neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios (NLR), age ≥50 years, never-smoking history, stage IVA at osimertinib initiation, and prolonged response to previous TKIs (≥10 months) were associated with a significantly longer progression-free survival (PFS). Multivariate analysis showed that never-smoking status (hazard ratio [HR], 0.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.30-0.98; p=0.041) and a baseline NLR less than or equal to 3.5 (HR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.12-0.45; p<0.001) were independently associated with a prolonged PFS with osimertinib. Conclusion: Smoking history and high NLR were independent negative predictors of osimertinib PFS in patients with advanced NSCLC developing EGFR T790M resistance after the initial EGFR-TKI treatment.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제23권10호
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• pp.939-948
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• 2022

Objective: Evidence supports the efficacy of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA)-based risk scores in cardiovascular risk stratification of patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). We aimed to compare two CCTA-based risk score algorithms, Leiden and Confirm scores, in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and suspected CAD. Materials and Methods: This single-center prospective cohort study consecutively included 1241 DM patients (54.1% male, 60.2 ± 10.4 years) referred for CCTA for suspected CAD in 2015-2017. Leiden and Confirm scores were calculated and stratified as < 5 (reference), 5-20, and > 20 for Leiden and < 14.3 (reference), 14.3-19.5, and > 19.5 for Confirm. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were defined as the composite outcomes of cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and unstable angina requiring hospitalization. The Cox model and Kaplan-Meier method were used to evaluate the effect size of the risk scores on MACE. The area under the curve (AUC) at the median follow-up time was also compared between score algorithms. Results: During a median follow-up of 31 months (interquartile range, 27.6-37.3 months), 131 of MACE were recorded, including 17 cardiovascular deaths, 28 nonfatal MIs, 64 unstable anginas requiring hospitalization, and 22 strokes. An incremental incidence of MACE was observed in both Leiden and Confirm scores, with an increase in the scores (log-rank p < 0.001). In the multivariable analysis, compared with Leiden score < 5, the hazard ratios for Leiden scores of 5-20 and > 20 were 2.37 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.53-3.69; p < 0.001) and 4.39 (95% CI: 2.40-8.01; p < 0.001), respectively, while the Confirm score did not demonstrate a statistically significant association with the risk of MACE. The Leiden score showed a greater AUC of 0.840 compared to 0.777 for the Confirm score (p < 0.001). Conclusion: CCTA-based risk score algorithms could be used as reliable cardiovascular risk predictors in patients with DM and suspected CAD, among which the Leiden score outperformed the Confirm score in predicting MACE.

• 대한임상독성학회지
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.69-80
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• 2023

Purpose: Suicide ranks among the top causes of death among youth in South Korea. This study aimed to identify the characteristics of suicidal individuals treated at emergency departments between 2011 and 2020. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using data from January 2011 to December 2020 in the Injury Surveillance Cohort, a prospective registry. Patients' sex, age, mortality, methods of self-harm, and previous suicide attempts were analyzed. The methods of self-harm were categorized into falls, asphyxiation, blunt injuries, penetrating injuries, poisoning, and others. Sub-groups with and without poisoning were compared. Results: The proportion of self-harm/suicide attempts increased from 2.3% (2011) to 5.0% (2020). The mortality rate decreased from 10.8% (2011) to 6.3% (2020). Poisoning was the most common method (61.7%). Mortality rates ranged from 42.0% for asphyxiation to 0.2% for blunt injuries. Individuals in their 20s showed a marked increase in suicide/self-harm attempts, especially in the last three years. A large proportion of decedents in their 70s or older (52.6%) used poisoning as a method of suicide. The percentage of individuals with two or more previous attempts rose from 7.1% (2011) to 19.7% (2020). The death rates by poisoning decreased from 7.7% (2011) to 2.5% (2020). Conclusion: Our findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions and suicide prevention policies. Managing and reducing suicide and self-harm in emergency settings will require a focus on poisoning, the 10-29 age group, and the elderly. This paper will be valuable for future policies aiming to reduce the societal burden of suicide and self-harm.