• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.7
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• pp.745-752
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• 2010

Purpose: There is currently little evidence to support intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) therapy for pediatric myocarditis. The purpose of our retrospective study was to assess the effects of IVIG therapy in patients with presumed myocarditis on survival and recovery of ventricular function and to determine the factors associated with its poor outcome. Methods: We reviewed all consecutive cases of patients with myocarditis with left ventricular dysfunction verified by echocardiogram who had visited 3 university hospitals between January 2000 and September 2009. These patients were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 consisted of 23 patients (69.6%) who received IVIG alone or IVIG in combination with steroids, and group 2 consisted of 10 patients (30.3%) who received neither IVIG nor other immunosuppressive agents. Clinical manifestations, laboratory results, echocardiographic findings, and outcomes were compared between these 2 groups. Results: One year after the initial presentation, the difference in the probability of survival did not show statistical significance in IVIGtreated patients ($P$=0.607). Of the echocardiographic parameters on admission, a shortening fraction of less than 15% was associated with unremitting cardiac failure. Furthermore, anemic patients were more likely to have elevated N-terminal fragment levels of the B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in the progressed group ($P$=0.036). Conclusion: There was no difference between the IVIG-treated patients and the control patients in the degree of recovery of left ventricular function and survival. Prospective, randomized, clinical studies are needed to elucidate the effects of IVIG treatment during the acute stage of myocarditis on ultimate outcomes.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.258-266
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• 2017

Background: Welders are exposed to many known and suspected carcinogens. An excess lung cancer risk among welders is well established, but whether this is attributable to welding fumes is unclear. Excess risks of other cancers have been suggested, but not established. We investigated welding cancer risks in the population-based Canadian Census Health and Environmental Cohort. Methods: Among 1.1 million male workers, 12,845 welders were identified using Standard Occupational Classification codes and followed through retrospective linkage of 1991 Canadian Long Form Census and Canadian Cancer Registry (1992-2010) records. Hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated using Cox proportional hazards models based on estimated risks of lung cancer, mesothelioma, and nasal, brain, stomach, kidney, and bladder cancers, and ocular melanoma. Lung cancer histological subtypes and risks by industry group and for occasional welders were examined. Some analyses restricted comparisons to blue-collar workers to minimize effects of potential confounders. Results: Among welders, elevated risks were observed for lung cancer [HR: 1.16, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03-1.31], mesothelioma (HR: 1.78, 95% CI: 1.01-3.18), bladder cancer (HR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.15-1.70), and kidney cancer (HR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.01-1.67). When restricted to blue-collar workers, lung cancer and mesothelioma risks were attenuated, while bladder and kidney cancer risks increased. Conclusion: Excess risks of lung cancer and mesothelioma may be partly attributable to factors including smoking and asbestos. Welding-specific exposures may increase bladder and kidney cancer risks, and particular sources of exposure should be investigated. Studies that are able to disentangle welding effects from smoking and asbestos exposure are needed.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.49-55
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• 2002

Objective : The purpose of this study is to find out the effects of Dorsiflexion of foot & great toe of Dong-si acupuncture therapy for the patients with lumbago. Methods : A retrospective study has been carried out for 20 cases of lumbago patients who visited Cheongju Oriental Medical Hospital from January 1, 2002 to June 30, 2002. We have treated tem with acupuncture treatment of Dong-si acupuncture points(Yeong-gol and Dae-baek) and taken measurements with a Hand Grip Meter. Results : 1. There was no siginificance difference between the average values of the whole group and each groups divided by age before and after Dong-si acupuncture therapy. 2. The correlation of measured values before and after Dong-si acupuncture therapy was as much as 0.849, which suggests that the patients with higher value before the therapy also had higher value after the therapy. 3. The average value after Dong-si acupuncture therapy was higher than the average value before the therapy by $1.9625{\pm}.8440$, which suggests the therapeutic significance. Conclusion : The Dong-si acupuncture therapy is effective therapy of Dorsiflexion of foot & great toe.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.41-50
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• 2013

Objectives : This study was performed to compare the effects of Shinbaro pharmacopuncture therapy and bee venom pharmacopuncture therapy in lumbar disc herniation Methods : We compared treatment efficacy of 12 patients with Shinbaro pharmacopuncture therapy and 10 patients with bee venom pharmacopuncture therapy, all of whom were diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation using computed tomography(CT) or magnetic resonance imaging(MRI). We performed a retrospective comparison and analysis during the course of 21 days since admission. To evaluate the treatment efficacy, we recorded the temperatures of the opposite back, hip, and legs with visual analog scale(VAS, back and legs), pain rating scale(PRS), Oswestry disability index(ODI) and digital infrared thermal imaging(DITI) based on patients' medical records. Results : Both treatments were effective in reducing pain and improving functions for lumbar disc herniation patients in terms of VAS, PRS, ODI, DITI. Shinbaro pharmacopuncture group showed slightly better results than the bee venom pharmacopuncture group, but the difference was not significant. Conclusions : For the treatment of lumbar disc herniation, it is suggested that Shinbaro pharmacopuncture therapy is thought to be as effective as bee venom pharmacopuncture therapy without side effects, although further study would be necessary.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.444-450
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• 2020

Background Fingertip injuries are the most common type of traumatic injury treated at emergency departments and require prompt and adequate interventions for favorable wound survival outcomes. Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO₂) therapy is well known for its many positive effects on wound healing. We hypothesized that treatment with HBO₂ would improve the graft survival outcomes of amputated fingertip injuries treated with composite grafts. Methods This retrospective observational study included fingertip amputations that were treated between January 2013 and December 2017. A conventional group and an HBO₂ therapy group were statistically compared to evaluate the effect of HBO₂ treatment. Graft survival was categorized as either success or failure. Results Among 55 cases (digits), 34 digits were conventionally treated, while 21 digits were treated with HBO₂. No statistically significant differences were observed between the groups with regard to general characteristics. Among patients with guillotine-type injuries, the composite graft success rate was statistically significantly higher in the group that received HBO₂ therapy than in the conventional group (P=0.0337). Overall, the HBO₂ group also demonstrated a statistically significantly shorter healing time than the conventional group (P=0.0075). As such, HBO₂ treatment facilitates composite graft survival in cases of fingertip injury. Conclusions HBO₂ treatment was associated with an increased composite graft survival rate in guillotine-type fingertip injuries and reduced the time required for grafts to heal.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.69-75
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• 2016

Objectives : The aim of this study is to introduce the Korean medicine respiratory management program in public health center and to analyze the effects of that program. Methods : The respiratory management program was targeted on 22 soldiers during March 2016. The interventions of this program were herbal medicines (Gilgyung-tang and so on), aromatherapy, peppermint tea, fine dust mask, and health education. Data were collected by retrospective reviewing medical chart and analyzed using SPSS 18.0. Results : Total symptoms scores were measured by 4-point likert scale. Total score was $5.50{\pm}4.848$ at 1st week and $3.27{\pm}3.058$ at 4th week (p=0.008). The severity of respiratory discomfort reduced by $-1.14{\pm}2.46$ compared with last year. The satisfaction score was $7.82{\pm}4.16$. The most hoping program was muscular skeletal disease management program. Conclusions : This study suggests that Korean medical world should prepare countermeasures to cope with diseases caused by air pollution.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.434-444
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• 2020

Purpose: The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the characteristics of peripheral arterial ischemia and tissue necrosis in premature babies, as well as the effects of nitroglycerin. Methods: In total, 513 newborns were enrolled who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit with a gestational age of 34 weeks or younger. Data were collected on general personal and clinical information, peripheral arterial ischemia, and nitroglycerin patch application in the premature infants. The collected data were analyzed using the χ² test, t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, logistic regression. Results: Thirty-six (7.0%) infants had peripheral arterial ischemia, while 477 (93.0%) infants did not. Lower gestational age (χ²=35.97, p<.001), lower birth weight (χ²=29.40, p<.001), lower blood pressure (χ²=23.10, p<.001), and insertion of an umbilical artery catheter (p<.001) were significantly associated with the occurrence of peripheral arterial ischemia. Among the preterm infants in whom nitroglycerin patches were applied, 30 (83.3%) premature infants without necrosis improved without complications, 4 (11.1%) showed hypotension, and 2 (5.6%) showed skin damage. Conclusion: Based on a review of our experiences with nitroglycerin patches, we recommend closely observing skin color and using nitroglycerin patches on the skin to help improve flow in premature infants with peripheral arterial ischemia.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.128-142
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• 2004

To evaluate the effects of critical pathway on the length of hospital stay, the cost and quality of care provided to gastrectomy patients in a tertiary care academic medical center. The basic research design is a retrospective case-control comparative study. 470 patients of gastrectomy were included in the study; 180 before pathway development (control), 163 right after pathway implementation (path group I) and 127 one year after pathway implementation (path groupII). 476 patients of modified radical mastectomy were also analyzed to examine whether the reduction of the length of hospital stay is from the hospital-wide trend or due to the critical pathway. Death after operation, ICU stay, unplanned re-operation, readmission after discharge, the length of hospital stay and cost were analyzed. 2-test, one-way ANOVA, Bonferroni and Turkey's test were used for statistical analysis. (1) There were no significant differences in patient clinical conditions and no sign of deterioration of quality from critical pathway. (2) The length of hospital stay was 13.0 days in control group, 12.2 days in path group I and 10.0 days (p<0.01) in path groupII. (3) The total costs during the hospital stay were reduced. However the cost per day was significantly increased from reduction of hospital stay (358,488won in control, 366,017won in path group I and 413,220won (p<0.01) in path groupII). Critical pathway reduced the length of hospital stay, total hospital costs and resource utilization without harming quality of patient care.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.12
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• pp.503-510
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• 2019

This study aimed to analyze the effects of nursing students' learning motivation, learning attitude and academic self-efficacy on their application of reflective journal with teaching feedback. For this retrospective comparative study data from 190 undergraduate students in the health assessment skills course from 2018 to 2019. The collected data were analyzed by chi-square test, independent t-test, Ancova. After writing reflection journal with teaching feedback showed significant difference in learning motivation(t=2.10, p=.037) and learning attitude (t= 4.54, p=.034) compared to writing reflection journal without teaching feedback. However, no significant difference was found between reflection journal with teaching feedback and reflection journal without teaching feedback. These results suggest writing reflection with teaching feedback is an effective strategy for improving learning motivation and learning attitude.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.1-7
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• 2013

Objectives The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of ShinBaro pharmacopuncture and Jungsongouhyul pharmacopuncture on whiplash injury by traffic accident. Methods This study was carried out on 30 patients who received treatment in Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine. 30 patients were divided ShinBaro pharmacopuncture group and Jungsongouhyul pharmacopuncture group. Visual analog scale (VAS) and neck disability index (NDI) were compared after treatment. Results 1) Both the ShinBaro group and Jungsongouhyul group showed significant improvement in the visual analog scale (VAS) and neck disability index (NDI) after 3 weeks of treatment. 2) The VAS and NDI of the ShinBaro group decreased gradually with treatment. The VAS scores showed significant improvement up to week 2, but although week 3 showed further improvement compared to week 2, the difference did not reach statistical significance. The NDI scores showed significant improvement consistantly throughout the treatment period. 3) The VAS and NDI of the Jungsongouhyul group decreased with treatment also. The VAS scores significantly improved up to week 2, but though week 3 showed further improvement in comparison to week 2, the difference did not reach statistical significance. The NDI scores showed significant improvement consistantly throughout the treatment period. 4) Although the ShinBaro group showed a swifter decline than the Jungsongouhyul group in both VAS and NDI scores, the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions We found out that ShinBaro pharmacopuncture group and Jungsongouhyul pharmacopuncture group is effective and useful in whiplash injury by traffic accident. And, further studies will be needed.