• Korean Circulation Journal
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• 제52권2호
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• pp.110-122
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• 2022

Pulmonary hypertension is a rare and progressive illness with a devastating prognosis. Promising research efforts have advanced the understanding and recognition of the pathobiology of pulmonary hypertension. Despite remarkable achievements in terms of improving the survival rate, reducing disease progression, and enhancing quality of life, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is not completely curable. Therefore, an effective treatment strategy is still needed. Recently, many studies of the underlying molecular mechanisms and technological developments have led to new approaches and paradigms for PAH treatment. Management based on stem cells and related paracrine effects, epigenetic drugs and gene therapies has yielded prospective results for PAH treatment in preclinical research. Further trials are ongoing to optimize these important insights into clinical circumstances.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제28권6호
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• pp.93-105
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• 2011

Objectives : This study aims to evaluate currently available clinical evidence for the use of acupuncture in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis in the context of Republic of Korea. Methods : Five Korean databases were searched for all clinical studies employing acupuncture for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. The exceptions were case reports and series involving less than 10 patients from their inception to September 2011. Only studies reported in Korean databases were searched. Results : Five retrospective audits among 22 initially identified studies were eligible for analysis in this review. There was no randomized controlled trial for this topic. The number of patients varied between 15 and 119 in each audit, and all the patients analyzed were inpatients. In all the included studies, acupuncture was conducted in combination with other concomitant treatments, including moxibustion, cupping, herbal remedies, acupoint injection, Chuna, and various physical therapies. All the included audits reported symptomatic and/or functional improvements compared to baseline. None of the included audits indicated whether any adverse events were reported. Conclusions : Current evidence for the use of acupuncture in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis in the context of South Korea is based solely on five retrospective audits that are very likely prone to a high risk of bias. Thus, further prospective and methodologically sound clinical trials to overcome this huge gap between clinical practice and the available evidence for the use of acupuncture in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis are needed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권11호
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• pp.4691-4698
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• 2015

Background: The tumor suppressor phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) is an important negative regulator of cell-survival signaling. However, available results for the prognostic value of PTEN expression in patients with cancer remain controversial. Therefore, a meta-analysis of published studies investigating this issue was performed. Materials and Methods: A literature search via PubMed and EMBASE databases was conducted. Statistical analysis was performed by using the STATA 12.0 (STATA Corp., College, TX). Data from eligible studies were extracted and included into the meta-analysis using a random effects model. Results: A total of 3,810 patients from 27 studies were included in the meta-analysis, 22 investigating the relationship between PTEN expression and overall survival (OS) using univariate analysis, and nine with multivariate analysis. The pooled hazard ratio (HR) for OS was 1.64 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.32-2.05) by univariate analysis and 1.56 (95% CI: 1.20-2.03) by multivariate analysis. In addition, eight papers including two disease-free-survival analyses (DFSs), four relapse-free-survival analyses (RFSs), three progression-free-survival analyses (PFSs) and one metastasis-free-survival analysis (MFS) reported the effect of PTEN on survival. The results showed that loss of PTEN expression was significant correlated with poor prognosis, with a combined HR of 1.74 (95% CI: 1.24-2.44). Furthermore, in the stratified analysis by the year of publication, ethnicity, cancer type, method, cut-off value, median follow-up time and neoadjuvant therapy in which the study was conducted, we found that the ethnicity, cancer type, method, median follow-up time and neoadjuvant therapy are associated with prognosis. Conclusions: Our study shows that negative or loss of expression of PTEN is associated with worse prognosis in patients with cancer. However, adequately designed prospective studies need to be performed for confirmation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권17호
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• pp.7187-7193
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• 2014

Background: The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare sensitivities and specificities of fine needle aspiration (FNA) and core needle biopsy (CNB) in the diagnosis of thyroid cancer. Materials and Methods: Articles were screened in Medline, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE and Google Scholar, and subsequently included and excluded based on the patient/problem-intervention-comparison-outcome (PICO) principle. Primary outcome was defined in terms of diagnostic values (sensitivity and specificity) of FNA and CNB for thyroid cancer. Secondary outcome was defined as the accuracy of diagnosis. Compiled FNA and CNB results from the final studies selected as appropriate for meta-analysis were compared with cases for which final pathology diagnoses were available. Statistical analyses were performed for FNA and CNB for all of the selected studies together, and for individual studies using the leave-one-out approach. Results: Article selection and screening yielded five studies for meta-analysis, two of which were prospective and the other three retrospective, for a total of 1,264 patients. Pooled diagnostic sensitivities of FNA and CNB methods were 0.68 and 0.83, respectively, with specificities of 0.93 and 0.94. The areas under the summary ROC curves were 0.905 (${\pm}0.030$) for FNA and 0.745 (${\pm}0.095$) for CNB, with no significant difference between the two. No one study had greater influence than any other on the pooled estimates for diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. Conclusions: FNA and CNB do not differ significantly in sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of thyroid cancer.

• 생태와환경
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• 제33권2호통권90호
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• pp.69-79
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• 2000

Fractal geometry has become one of prospective research approaches as the complex structure of natural entities is not easily characterized by traditional Euclidean geometry. With the fractal geometry, we can better decipher the complex structure and identify natural and anthropogenic agents of landscape patterns occurring at different spatial scales. The usefulness of fractal, however, has not been fully appreciated among Korean academic societies, especially in ecological and limnological fields. We attempt to address three points in this study. First, we introduce the concept and dimension of fractal and review relevant research approaches, especially with respect to ecological and limnological phenomena. Second, we explore possible applications of fractal to some aspects of geography and land use characteristics in South Korea. For the analyses of fractal dimensions, we used data published in other studies previously and collected for this study. Data were analyzed by a perimeter/area method of fractal dimension for the spatial distribution of global solar radiation and leaf area index, and the movement of wild boars in forested landscapes of mid-eastern Korea. The same approach was also applied to the water channel of a hypothetical river and the shape of reservoirs in Yongin, Kyunggi Province. Finally, we discuss the results and key issues to consider when a fractal approach is employed in ecology and limnology.

• 한국융합학회논문지
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• 제10권7호
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• pp.115-120
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• 2019

본 연구는 국내 이커머스 시장의 신선식품 배송 패키지 디자인이 발전해야 할 방향성을 제시하는 데 그 목적이 있다. 1차로 문헌연구를 통해 이커머스 식료품과 관련된 소비 트렌드, 콜드체인 시스템, 제로 웨이스트 캠페인에 관하여 이론을 정리하였다. 그리고 국내외 신선식품 배송 패키지에 대해 분석하여 현황을 파악하고 관련 선행연구를 통해 앞으로의 방향성에 대해 알아보았다. 연구 결과, 신선식품을 위한 배송 패키지 디자인은 신선도 유지뿐만 아니라 포장재의 유용성, 편리성과 환경보호 측면을 다각도로 고려하여야 한다. 이커머스 기업은 상품과 함께 패키지를 통해 '신선함'이라는 경험을 전달할 때, 소비자는 오프라인보다 높은 구매율과 충성도를 보여줄 것으로 기대한다.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.22-36
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• 2019

Purpose: Even though advanced heart failure (HF) severely affects the patient's health-related quality of life (HRQoL), there is little information regarding this issue. This review is aimed to describe the relevant clinical characteristics of patient with advanced HF and identify factors influencing HRQoL in these patients. Methods: Empirical articles were searched from electronic databases issued from January 2000 to June 2018 with using the key terms 'heart failure' and 'quality of life'. There were a total of 22 articles that met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed for this study. Results: First, nine studies among 22 studies clearly stated that their participants were samples of patients with advanced HF. Most reviewed studies showed the New York Heart Association (NYHA) class as the criteria for identifying advanced HF. Second, the level of HRQoL varied depending on the measurement tools utilized by the researchers. Third, the NYHA class, gender, and symptoms were mainly associated with HRQoL in patients with advanced HF. Also, nurse- or physician-led intervention, exercise, spiritual-focused intervention, and palliative care improved the HRQoL of the patients with advanced HF. Conclusion: This study found that the clear application of criteria for advanced HF and the development of advanced HF-specific HRQoL measurement was needed. Prospective studies should be considered for identifying differences in the levels and factors influencing HRQoL in patients with early stage or advanced HF to design patient-centered care.

• 치위생과학회지
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.111-118
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• 2021

Background: This study was conducted to identify the level of gender sensitivity and gender equality consciousness among dental hygiene students and to confirm the necessity of gender equality programs in the curriculum. Methods: A self-report questionnaire was conducted with some dental hygiene students using the Gender Sensitivity tool and Korean Gender Egalitarianism Scale for Adolescents (KGES-A). Results: First, the gender equality consciousness of the students who took women's studies was high in the areas of educational life and socio-cultural life, and that of the subjects of grandparent families and Catholic was found to be high in the domestic life area. Second, the gender sensitivity of the subjects who took women's studies was found to be high in all sub-areas. In addition, the gender sensitivity of females was higher in the areas of sexual identity, non-violence, and self-reflection than that of males. That of 4-year college students was higher in the areas of sexual identity, openness to gender roles, and non-violence than that of 3-year college students. In addition, the gender sensitivity of Catholic students was high in the areas of sexual identity and openness to gender roles. Third, gender equality consciousness was found to have an effect depending on whether subjects took women's studies, family type, family type, and religion, and gender sensitivity was found to have an effect depending on whether subjects took women's studies or gender. Conclusion: Since dental hygienist is a profession that targets humans, education that can instill equal awareness and values of humans is important. To inspire gender sensitivity and gender equality consciousness in a prospective professional, it is necessary to conduct programs and education related to gender intelligence within dental hygiene curriculum.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제49권2호
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• pp.184-194
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• 2022

The face and the external nose define an individual's physical appearance. Nasal deformities can cause facial disfigurement along with unwanted psychological repercussions. Nasal deformities range in severity, with the most severe cases being indications for a rhinectomy, due to the complexity of the nasal defect. According to published literature, there is no consensus among otolaryngologists and plastic surgeons on which technique or flap use is preferred in terms of complications, aesthetic outcome, or patient satisfaction. The goal of this study is to provide a comprehensive analysis of published studies on nasal reconstruction following rhinectomy. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols guidelines for writing systematic reviews, a systematic review was conducted. Four databases were searched using a search strategy. These articles were then imported into the COVIDENCE software and went screening and thorough article review. After screening 2,237 articles, 23 studies were then extracted for data collection analysis. We collected data from 12 case series, 4 case studies, 1 prospective case series, and 4 retrospective chart review studies. The most commonly reported flaps were forehead flaps, superior extended nasal myocutaneous island, forearm free flaps, anterolateral thigh (ALT) free flap, medial femoral condyle free flap (n = 8), and zygomaticus implants (n = 6), and retained nasal prosthesis. Although not specifically indicated by a certain number, the most common indication for the rhinectomy was malignancy, followed by traumas, postsurgical complications, radionecrosis, and congenital nasal malformations.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제61권3호
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• pp.363-375
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• 2018

Intraoperative monitoring (IOM) utilizes electrophysiological techniques as a surrogate test and evaluation of nervous function while a patient is under general anesthesia. They are increasingly used for procedures, both surgical and endovascular, to avoid injury during an operation, examine neurological tissue to guide the surgery, or to test electrophysiological function to allow for more complete resection or corrections. The application of IOM during pediatric brain tumor resections encompasses a unique set of technical issues. First, obtaining stable and reliable responses in children of different ages requires detailed understanding of normal age-adjusted brain-spine development. Neurophysiology, anatomy, and anthropometry of children are different from those of adults. Second, monitoring of the brain may include risk to eloquent functions and cranial nerve functions that are difficult with the usual neurophysiological techniques. Third, interpretation of signal change requires unique sets of normative values specific for children of that age. Fourth, tumor resection involves multiple considerations including defining tumor type, size, location, pathophysiology that might require maximal removal of lesion or minimal intervention. IOM techniques can be divided into monitoring and mapping. Mapping involves identification of specific neural structures to avoid or minimize injury. Monitoring is continuous acquisition of neural signals to determine the integrity of the full longitudinal path of the neural system of interest. Motor evoked potentials and somatosensory evoked potentials are representative methodologies for monitoring. Free-running electromyography is also used to monitor irritation or damage to the motor nerves in the lower motor neuron level : cranial nerves, roots, and peripheral nerves. For the surgery of infratentorial tumors, in addition to free-running electromyography of the bulbar muscles, brainstem auditory evoked potentials or corticobulbar motor evoked potentials could be combined to prevent injury of the cranial nerves or nucleus. IOM for cerebral tumors can adopt direct cortical stimulation or direct subcortical stimulation to map the corticospinal pathways in the vicinity of lesion. IOM is a diagnostic as well as interventional tool for neurosurgery. To prove clinical evidence of it is not simple. Randomized controlled prospective studies may not be possible due to ethical reasons. However, prospective longitudinal studies confirming prognostic value of IOM are available. Furthermore, oncological outcome has also been shown to be superior in some brain tumors, with IOM. New methodologies of IOM are being developed and clinically applied. This review establishes a composite view of techniques used today, noting differences between adult and pediatric monitoring.