• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.163-170
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• 2022

Background: Personal mobility devices (PMDs) have become an increasingly popular transport modality globally. With increasing social interest in and demand for PMDs, the number of individuals visiting emergency departments with PMD-related injuries has also increased annually. This study aimed to evaluate injury patterns and treatment costs for patients treated in the department of plastic surgery in a trauma center. Methods: In this retrospective study, data concerning patients with PMD-related injuries from January 2017 to December 2021 were reviewed. The data retrieved included age, sex, alcohol consumption, helmet use, the type of impact, onset of injury, place of first visit, type of injury, admission status, operation status, and treatment cost. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to determine the effects of various factors on cost. Results: Data were collected from 93 patients. Until 2019, the annual number of PMD-related accidents was less than 10; however, this number increased sharply in 2020. The average cost of hospitalization was USD 7,698 whereas the average cost of non-hospitalization was USD 631. Only fractures had a significant association with total cost in linear regression analysis (p< 0.001). Conclusion: The prevalence of PMD use and related injuries requiring plastic surgery during the study period showed significant health and financial costs both to the patients involved and to society. This cost could be reduced through stricter regulations concerning PMD use, advocating the use of protective gear, and promoting greater awareness of safety measures and of the consequences of PMD-related accidents.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.67-82
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• 2022

The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 led to inconsistent public health policies that resulted in COVID-19 containment failure. These factors resulted in increased hospitalization and death. To prevent viral spread and achieve herd immunity, the only safe and effective measure is to provide to vaccinates. Ever since the release of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleotide sequence in January of 2020, research centers and pharmaceutical companies from many countries have developed different types of vaccines including mRNA, recombinant protein, and viral vector vaccines. Prior to initiating vaccinations, phase 3 clinical trials are necessary. However, no vaccine has yet to complete a phase 3 clinical trial. Many products obtained "emergency use authorization" from governmental agencies such as WHO, FDA etc. The Korean government authorized the use of five different vaccines. The viral vector vaccine of Oxford/AstraZeneca and the Janssen showed effectiveness of 76% and 66.9%, respectively. The mRNA vaccine of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna showed effectiveness of 95% and 94.1%, respectively. The protein recombinant vaccine of Novavax showed an effectiveness of 90.4%. In this review, we compared the characteristics, production platform, synthesis principles, authorization, protective effects, immune responses, clinical trials and adverse effects of five different vaccines currently used in Korea. Through this review, we conceptualize the importance of selecting the optimal vaccine to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.14
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• pp.5709-5714
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• 2014

Background: An association between alcohol/tobacco use and risk of metastasis in breast cancer has been clearly shown. Materials and Methods: The present study explored, in 48 samples of tissue from mammary ductal carcinoma (taken from Mexican women with an average age of $58.2{\pm}10.9$ years), the association of risk of metastasis with the status of hormonal receptors and the c-erbB2 protein (by immunohistochemistry) as well as clinical, histopathological and sociodemographic factors. Results: Of 48 patients, 41.6% (20/48) presented with metastasis, 43.8% were positive for the estrogen receptor (RE+), 31.3% for the progesterone receptor (RP+) and 47.7% for c-erbB2 (c-erbB2+). The following combinations were found: RE+/RP+/c-erbB2+ 8.3%, RE+/RP+ 22.9%, RE+/RP- 20.8%, RE-/RP+ 8.3%, RE-/RP-/c-erbB2- 22.9% and RE-/RP- 47.8%. There were 12 patients who used alcohol/tobacco, of which 91.6% did not present metastasis and 81.9% were RE-/RP-. Compared to the RE-/RP-/c-erbB2+, the RE+/RP+/c-erbB2+ group had a 15-fold greater risk for metastasis (95%CI, 0.9-228.8, p=0.05). The carriers of the double negative hormonal receptors had a 4.7 fold greater probability of being (or having been) smokers or drinkers (95%CI, 1.0-20.4, p = 0.03). Conclusions: There was a clear protective effect of using alcohol and/or tobacco, in the cases included in the present study of mammary ductal carcinoma, associated with double negative hormonal receptors. However, this association could be due to a protective factor not measured (Neyman bias) or to a bias inherent in the rate of hospitalization (Berkson fallacy). This question should be explored in a broad prospective longitudinal study.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.9
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• pp.123-126
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• 2017

Mumps, which are also known as epidemic parotitis,lead to viral infectious diseases that can cause complication such as pancreatitis, orchitis, hearing impairments, oophoritis, parotitis and meningitis. Central nervous system involvement has been reported in up to 65% of mumps patients, with most of these including meningitis. Meningoencephalitis is a rare central nervous system (CNS) complication of the mumps. Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccination has been reported protective effect against clinical complications and hospitalization. Here, we describe acute mumps meningoencephalitis in a 24-year-old female without parotitis who had received the MMR vaccination by age related schedule. She initially visited our hospital with aggravated cognition and confusion. After conservative viral treatment, she recovered cognitive function rapidly and complication was not remained. We report here a case of a patient with good recovery of mumps meningoencephalitis without parotitis after secondary vaccination for MMR.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.209-215
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• 2009

1. Objects: This case study reports a liver injury in treatment of constipation with Yeoldahanso-tang plus Rheum rhabarbarum. 2. Methods: The patient's subjective symptoms and the laboratory data including aspartate transaminase(AST), alanine transaminase(ALT), alkaline phosphatase(ALP), and gamma($\gamma$)-glutamyl transpeptidase(GGT) were observed before and after liver injury. We used the Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method(RUCAM) scale in order to find out whether if Yeoldahanso-tang plus Rheum rhabarbarum was related with the liver injury. 3. Results: The patient's AST and ALT were elevated more than twice after a 3week administration period of herbal medicine. After discontinuation of the herbal medicine and administration of hepatic protective medication, AST and ALT decreased. The patient's general condition improved during hospitalization. The RUCAM score was estimated at 8. 4. Conclusions: This case is presented to bring more attention to the toxicity of herbal medicine.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.33.1-33.13
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• 2023

Vaccination against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been acknowledged as an effective mean of preventing infection and hospitalization. However, the emergence of highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) has led to substantial increase in infections among children and adolescents. Vaccine-induced immunity and longevity have not been well defined in this population. Therefore, we aimed to analyze humoral and cellular immune responses against ancestral and SARS-CoV-2 variants after two shots of the BNT162b2 vaccine in healthy adolescents. Although vaccination induced a robust increase of spike-specific binding Abs and neutralizing Abs against the ancestral and SARS-CoV-2 variants, the neutralizing activity against the Omicron variant was significantly low. On the contrary, vaccine-induced memory CD4⁺ T cells exhibited substantial responses against both ancestral and Omicron spike proteins. Notably, CD4⁺ T cell responses against both ancestral and Omicron strains were preserved at 3 months after two shots of the BNT162b2 vaccine without waning. Polyfunctionality of vaccine-induced memory T cells was also preserved in response to Omicron spike protein. The present findings characterize the protective immunity of vaccination for adolescents in the era of continuous emergence of variants/subvariants.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.297-341
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• 2017

We searched out court rulings on medical affairs through court library search sites and specialized articles on medically relevant judgments sentenced in 2016. And we selected and analyzed the judgements of the court we considered important as follows. In relation to the medical civil judgements, (1) In the case of applying surgery for female infertility during cesarean section operation but it has not been done, we expressed the regret for the lack of judgment in the process of entering the medical contract, introducing the rights infringed and the scope of compensation, (2) We pointed out that the ruling on the medical malpractice estimation goes out of limit of negligence estimation doctrine, and that the court asked very high degree duty of the traditional Korean medicine doctors to cooperate with Western medicine doctors. (3) In the case of admitting hospital's 100% responsibility, we pointed out the court overlooked the uncertainty and good intention of the medical practice. (4) Additionally, We introduced the cases admitted the hospital's responsibility in the accident related to the psychiatric patients in closed ward. Relating to a medical criminal ruling, we analyzed the supreme court decision about whether the dentist's Botox injection on the patient's face is a medical practice within the scope of the license from the viewpoint whether it is within the possible range of the word. And, concerning decisions on healthcare administration, (1) we analyzed the case about when medical personnel operate multiple medical institutions, whether it is possible to get back medical care costs under the National Health Insurance Law, (2) We commented on the ruling regarding explanation obligation in terms of object, degree, subject of explanation as a prerequisite for permissible arbitrary uninsured benefits. Finally, we reviewed the decision of the Constitutional Court about the Article 24 of the Mental Health Law, which it had allowed for a mental patient to be hospitalized forcibly by the consent of two guardians and a diagnosis of a psychiatrist. Also we indicated the problems of the revised Mental Health Law.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.94-101
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• 2018

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the change pattern and the leading factors of delirium in the palliative ward from 2 weeks before to the end of life. Methods : From October 2015 to August 2017, a retrospective chart review was conducted on the final 180 patients of 207 patients with terminal cancer patients at the Inha University Hospital. Clinical records were collected during palliative care hospitalization. Patients were diagnosed with three subtypes of delirium through the Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale and the Nursing Delirium Screening Scale, which were evaluated daily. Results : The prevalence of delirium 13 days before death was 46%, of which 18.3% were hyperactive subtypes, 13.8% were hypoactive subtypes, and mixed subtypes were 13.8%. And hyperactive delirium gradually decreased with the approach to the end of the day, and the mixed subtype gradually increased until 4 days before the end of life. Of the patients, the day before death, 86.9% were diagnosed with delirium. In multivariate analysis, hematologic malignancy was associated with a lower rate of delirium at the end of life than gastrointestinal cancer. Overweight was associated with hyperactive, mixed, and hypoactive delirium. Conclusions : Most palliative care patients experienced delirium at the end of life. Overweight was considered as a protective factor that reduced the all subtypes of delirium at the end of life. Further prospective studies are needed to reveal the prevalence of terminal delirium, and their risk factors.