• Journal of mucopolysaccharidosis and rare diseases
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.19-22
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• 2015

In Growth Hormone (GH) therapy, suboptimal adherence is a common problem, reaching up to 82%, and there is a need for interventions to improve adherence and to maximize patients' growth potential eventually. Current studies have demonstrated the association between the rate of non-adherence and reduced height velocity. In order to maximize patients' potential to grow, an auto-injecting/recording device, such as $easypod^{TM}$, may help improve adherence and optimize the treatment effects of GH therapy. The use of $easypod^{TM}$ has contributed to high adherence rates: 87.5% and 93% in Bozzola et al.'s study and the $Easypod^{TM}$ Connect Observational study (ECOS), respectively. Improvement of adherence by $easypod^{TM}$ may lead to higher growth rates of patients receiving GH therapy. Additionally, patients' positive acceptability of $easypod^{TM}$ suggests $easypod^{TM}$ is a preferred device by patients for better adherence.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.30-35
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• 2017

Background: Tapered grafts, which have a smaller diameter on the arterial side, have been increasingly used for arteriovenous fistula (AVF) formation. We compared the outcomes of 4-6-mm tapered and 6-mm straight forearm loop arteriovenous grafts. Methods: A total of 103 patients receiving forearm loop arteriovenous grafts between March 2005 and March 2015 were retrospectively analyzed and separated into 2 groups (group A, 4- to 6-mm tapered grafts, n=78; group B, 6-mm straight grafts, n=25). In each group, complications and patency rates after surgery were assessed. Results: Clinical characteristics and laboratory results, except for cerebrovascular disease history (group A, 7.7%; group B, 28.0%; p=0.014), were similar between the groups. No significant differences were found for individual complications. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed no significant differences in 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year patency rates between groups (61.8%, 44.9%, and 38.5% vs. 62.7%, 41.1%, and 35.3%, respectively). Conclusion: We found no significant differences in complication and patency rates between the tapered and straight graft groups. If there are no differences in complication and patency between the two graft types, tapered grafts may be a valuable option for AVF formation in light of their other advantages.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.196-205
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• 2010

Purpose: We did a retrospective study to understand the prognostic effects of preoperative blood transfusions in stomach cancer surgery. Materials and Methods: Data for 1,360 patients who underwent gastrectomy for stomach cancer between 2001 and 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. We analyzed factors that affect preoperative transfusion and clinicopathologic features. We also analyzed 5-year and overall survival rates of the transfusion and non transfusion subgroups. Results: Sixty patients (4.4%) required blood transfusion within the preoperative period. The transfused group included patients who took aspirin or clopidogrel (P<0.001), with more advanced T stages (P<0.001), with more advanced nodal metastasis (P=0.00), and with more advanced stages (P=0.00) than the non transfusion group. On multivariate analysis, preoperative transfusion was a statistically significant negative influence on 5-year survival and overall survival rates (58.2% vs 79.9% (P=0.00), 58.2% vs 76.8% (P=0.00)). Applying Cox-regression analyses, blood transfusion did appear to have an effect on prognosis and on 5-year and overall survival rates. Conclusions: We found a direct negative relation between preoperative transfusion and long term prognosis in patients receiving gastric cancer surgery.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.77-82
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• 2019

Purpose: With the popularity of implant therapy, clinicians need to know about treating the dental implant in patients with gingival involvement of oral lichen planus (OLP). The aim of this study is to evaluate the survival and success rates of dental implant and propose of clinical guidelines for implant treatment in OLP patient with gingival involvement. Methods: A literature search was performed in PubMed/Medline, and Cochrane database. Papers in English language published between 1990 and 2019 were evaluated. The focused questions were following; 1) Dose gingival OLP affect the survival and success rates of dental implants? 2) The management of OLP patients with gingival involvement receiving dental implant. Results: There was no study about the evaluation of dental implant only in gingival OLP patient. Five studies evaluating dental implants in OLP patients were included in this review. Implant survival rate was 100.0% in well-controlled OLP patients in all included studies. The use of topical/systemic corticosteroid in OLP patients was performed before and/or after implant placement in all included studies. Conclusions: The implant survival and success rates in well-controlled OLP patients did not different from that of non-OLP healthy subjects. The gingival OLP is associated with higher rate of peri-implant mucositis. Adequate management of gingival OLP lesions before and after implant insertion is required to reduce inflammation and associated bone loss.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.469-473
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• 2013

Background: The purpose of this study is to examine the risk of uncontrolled chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) among patients receiving low emetogenic chemotherapy (LEC) with and without granisetron injection as the primary prophylaxis in addition to dexamethasone and metochlopramide. Materials and Methods: This was a single-centre, prospective cohort study. A total of 96 patients receiving LEC (52 with and 42 without granisetron) were randomly selected from the full patient list generated using the e-Hospital Information System (e-His). The rates of complete control (no CINV from days 1 to 5) and complete response (no nausea or vomiting in both acute and delayed phases) were identified through patient diaries which were adapted from the MASCC Antiemesis Tool (MAT). Selected covariates including gender, age, active alcohol consumption, morning sickness and previous chemotherapy history were controlled using the multiple logistic regression analyses. Results: Both groups showed significant difference with LEC regimens (p<0.001). No differences were found in age, gender, ethnic group and other baseline characteristics. The granisetron group indicated a higher complete response rate in acute emesis (adjusted OR: 0.1; 95%CI 0.02-0.85; p=0.034) than did the non-granisetron group. Both groups showed similar complete control and complete response rates for acute nausea, delayed nausea and delayed emesis. Conclusions: Granisetron injection used as the primary prophylaxis in LEC demonstrated limited roles in CINV control. Optimization of the guideline-recommended antiemetic regimens may serve as a less costly alternative to protect patients from uncontrolled acute emesis.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.186-193
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• 2020

Background: Non-tunneled catheters (NTCs) are used for hemodialysis (HD) in many centers in which fluoroscopy is not easily accessed despite high complication rates and conditions requiring long-term HD. Therefore, here we aimed to evaluate the superiority of catheter-related outcomes after the application of tunneled cuffed catheter (TCC) without fluoroscopy versus unconditioned NTC insertion. Methods: We divided the participants into two phases: those receiving NTCs between March 2010 and February 2011 (phase I), and those receiving TCCs or NTCs between March 2011 and February 2012 (phase II). Catheter survival, nurse satisfaction, and reasons for catheter removal were analyzed. Results: Two hundred and sixty patients in phase I and 300 patients in phase II were enrolled in this study. The success rate of TCC insertion was 99.2%. The catheter survival rate in phase I was 65.5% at 1 month, while that in phase II was 74.9% at 1 month (p=0.023). We compared catheter survival between TCCs and NTCs for all periods regardless of phase. The TCC survival rate was higher than the NTC survival rate (p<0.001). Catheter-associated problems led to catheter removal in 97 patients (26.6%) in phase I and 68 patients (18.5%) in phase II (p=0.009). Among 14 HD nurses, all reported being satisfied with manipulation during pre-/post-HD, manupulation during HD, and overall. Eleven HD nurses (78.6%) reported being satisfied with the workload. Conclusion: Compared with unconditional NTC insertion for HD, TCC insertion without fluoroscopy improved the overall catheter survival and nurse satisfaction rates.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.275-294
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to develop an evidence-based extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) nursing protocol for critically ill patients receiving ECMO treatment by using an adaptation process, and to verify the effects of the protocol. Methods: The protocol was developed according to the adaptation guidelines. A non-randomized controlled trial was conducted to test the protocol's effects. Data were collected between April 2019 and March 2021. The differences in physiological indicators and complication rates between the two groups were investigated using a chart review to evaluate patient outcomes. The nurses' outcome variables were evaluated using a questionnaire. Results: First, after reviewing 11 guidelines by appraisal of the guidelines for research and evaluation collaboration II, 5 guidelines with a standardization grade of over 50 points were selected. An ECMO nursing protocol was developed based on these guidelines. Second, there were no statistically significant differences in physiological indicators between the two groups of patients. However, the experimental group showed a statistically significant decrease in the infection rate (p = .026) and pressure injury rates (p = .041). The levels of satisfaction with ECMO nursing care, and empowerment and performance of the nurses who used the ECMO nursing protocol were higher than those of nurses who did not (p < .001). Conclusion: This protocol may help prevent infections and pressure injuries in patients, and improve nurses' satisfaction and empowerment. The nursing protocol developed for critically ill patients receiving ECMO treatment can be utilized in evidence-based nursing practice.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.184-194
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• 2024

Background: Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are widely employed as a therapeutic option for end-stage heart failure. We evaluated the outcomes associated with centrifugal-flow LVAD implantation, comparing 2 device models: the Heartmate 3 (HM3) and the Heartware Ventricular Assist Device (HVAD). Methods: Data were collected from patients who underwent LVAD implantation between June 1, 2015 and December 31, 2022. We analyzed overall survival, first rehospitalization, and early, late, and LVAD-related complications. Results: In total, 74 patients underwent LVAD implantation, with 42 receiving the HM3 and 32 the HVAD. A mild Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support score was more common among HM3 than HVAD recipients (p=0.006), and patients receiving the HM3 exhibited lower rates of preoperative ventilator use (p=0.010) and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (p=0.039). The overall early mortality rate was 5.4% (4 of 74 patients), with no significant difference between groups. Regarding early right ventricular (RV) failure, HM3 implantation was associated with a lower rate (13 of 42 [31.0%]) than HVAD implantation (18 of 32 [56.2%], p=0.051). The median rehospitalization-free period was longer for HM3 recipients (16.9 months) than HVAD recipients (5.3 months, p=0.013). Furthermore, HM3 recipients displayed a lower incidence of late hemorrhagic stroke (p=0.016). In the multivariable analysis, preoperative use of continuous renal replacement therapy (odds ratio, 22.31; p=0.002) was the only significant predictor of postoperative RV failure. Conclusion: The LVAD models (HM3 and HVAD) demonstrated comparable overall survival rates. However, the HM3 was associated with a lower risk of late hemorrhagic stroke.

• KIPS Transactions on Computer and Communication Systems
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.99-102
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• 2012

The performance of P2P application services may be improved by reducing unnecessary inter-network traffic through intelligent peer selection. However, since a logical link between peers in a P2P overlay network is composed of a set of physical links in an underlay network, the traffic pattern determined by the sending rates of selected peers imposes loads on each underlay links. Thus, if the sending rates are not determined carefully, the loads between underlay links may not be balanced, which means some links are underloaded while the other links are congested. In this paper, we take an optimization approach to determine the sending rates of peers strategically to avoid the inefficient use of underlay links. The proposed scheme also guarantee the minimum receiving rates of peers while minimizing the maximum link utilization of underlay links, which is beneficial both to P2P applications and an underlay network.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.115-129
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• 2021

Purpose - This study aimed to clarify the effects of tax investigation probability on accounting transparency in KOSDAQ firms by using financial statement. In particular, it was analyzed whether the characteristics of a firm's listed market have a discriminatory effect on the relationship between the tax investigation selection rate (or detection rate) and earnings management. Design/methodology/approach - This paper examines analyzed the effect of tax investigation of the National Tax Service on the earnings management. The sample includes 9,603 firms listed on KOSPI and KOSDAQ from 2011 to 2018, all of which are manufacturing firms. This study conducted correlation and multiple regression analyses to verify the relationship between tax investigation probability and earnings management. The possibility of a tax investigation is the selection rate and the detection rate, and the profit adjustment was estimated at discretionary amount. Findings - As a result of empirical analysis, both firms listed on KOSPI and KOSDAQ markets showed that the higher the tax investigation rates, the more significant the possibility of reducing the earnings management of discretionary accruals. Additionally it was found that in KOSDAQ markets firms, the tax investigation detection rates had a signigicant nagative effect on discretionary accruals. Research implications or Originality - It can be interpreted that firms with a high rates of receiving a tax investigation decrease earnings management consideration of expenses such as additional tax amount due to the tax audit or a decline in corporate image.