• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.42-52
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• 2010

Purpose: This report aims to administer methodologic issues around recently conducted multicenter study for evaluating the effects of acupuncture on menopusal hot flashes and discuss practical issues for further implementation of acupuncture clinical trial for hot flashes. Methods: Study process were mentioned, and issues related to avoiding risk of bias, designing appropriate control group, optimal outcome measurement, potential different effects of menopausal status on study outcomes, and suggestions for developing future clinical trials are discussed. Results: Shortcomings of our multicenter study include lack of allocation concealment and assessor blinding, subjective outcome measurement, short-term follow-up, and fixed acupuncture regimen despite pragmatic purpose of this study. Improving trial design, using objective or validated outcomes, assessing long-term effects of acupuncture, and individualizing acupuncture regimen are needed in future clinical trials. Conclusion: We expect these practical discussions to enable researchers to plan and develop future well-designed clinical trials for evaluating the effects of acupuncture on hot flashes or other women's health issues.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.1-18
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• 2022

This study aimed to investigate the association between plant protein intake and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Korean individuals aged 50 years or older. Using the 2016-2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, 7,956 participants (3,434 men and 4,522 women) were included in the study. HRQoL was measured using the Euro-quality of life five-dimension (EQ5D), composed of physical function, self-care, daily activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression problems. The EQ5D estimates were converted into an EQ5D index score. The association between daily intake of plant proteins and HRQoL was evaluated using regression analysis. The intake of total plant protein, legume nut seed (LNS), and fermented bean (FERMB) proteins were all positively associated with HRQoL in both men and women (p < 0.01). Of EQ5D's five dimensions, physical function and daily activities were most commonly associated with plant protein intake. Compared to LNS protein or FERMB protein intake, total plant protein intake showed a better association with HRQoL. In conclusion, a significant association was observed between plant protein intake and HRQoL. It suggests that adequate intake of plant protein might be helpful for the maintenance or improvement of HRQoL in Korean adults.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.22-31
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• 2012

Objectives : We investigated the prevalence and functional impairment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and premenstrual syndrome(PMS) in young women. Methods : A total of 1063 female college students were recruited from two urban areas(Seoul and Suwon) of Korea. Questionnaires for sociodemographic data and risk factors of PMDD, attitude about menstruation, and the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool(PSST) were applied. Results : The prevalence of severe moderate to severe PMS and PMDD were 16.9% and 11.7%, respectively. There were differences in the alcohol and coffee consumption, severity of menstrual cramp, and family history of PMS among the moderate to severe PMS, PMDD, and no/mild PMS groups. Although some participants did not fulfill diagnostic criteria for PMDD, they showed significant functional impairment. Participants with negative attitude about menstruation reported premenstrual symptoms more frequently than those with positive or ambivalent attitude about menstruation. Conclusion : These results suggest that PMS and PMDD were prevalent and associated with functional impairment in young females. Some participants reported significant functional impairments although they did not meet the full DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for PMDD. Negative attitude about menstruation was associated with more premenstrual symptoms experiences.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.142-148
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was done to evaluate the effectiveness of EMLA cream on pain related to venipuncture among children. Methods: In this study, 48 children were evaluated using a sequential measurement for level of pain by Skin Conductance Level (SCL) based on Galvanic Skin Response (GSR), heart rate, and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at four times. Results: The maximum and mean of the SCL were each significantly different between the experimental and control groups and furthermore, the two were also significantly different among observed times. In addition there was a significant interaction between group and time. The children's perceived pain using VAS was not significantly different between the experimental and control groups. There was no significant difference in the heart rate between the experimental and control groups; however, the interaction between group and time was significant. Conclusion: In conclusion, applying topical anesthetic cream to the venipuncture site to reduce pain was effective among the children and therefore it is highly recommended that topical anesthetic cream be applied at the venipuncture site as a nursing intervention to reduce pain when a child has to undergo a venipuncture.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.71-79
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• 1989

Complex formation of water-soluble polyparacyclophanes bearing two diphenylmethane or two diphenyl ether skeletons with l-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonate (ANS) and 2-p-toluidinylnaphthalene-6-sulfonate (TNS) was investigated quantitatively to develop useful host compounds comparing with ${\alpha}\;-\;and\;{\beta}-cyc1odextrins$$({\alpha}-\;and\;{\beta}-CyDs$) in aqueous solution. Benesi-Hildebrand type analysis of the fluorescent intensity showed that the dissociation constants (Kd) of paracyclophane-ANS complexes were $1.55\;{\times}\;10^{-4}M$ for 1,6,20,25-tetraaza[6.1.6.1]paracyclophane(CPM 44) and $1.23\;{\times}\;10^{-4}M$ for 1,7,21,27-tetraaza[7.1.7.1]paracyclophane (CPM 55), and those of paracyclophane-TNS complexes were $6.99\;{\times}\;10^{-6}M$ for CPM 44 and $6.23\;{\times}\;10^{-5}M$ for CPM 55, in 1:1 molar ratio. On the other hand, the Kd values of 1,7,21,27-tetraaza-14,34-dioxa[7.1.7.1]paracyclophane (CPE 55)-ANS, 1,8,22,29-tetraaza-15,36-dioxa[8.1.8.1]paracyclophane (CPE 66)-ANS, CPE 55-TNS, CPE 66-TNS complexes were $1.75\;{\times}\;10^{-3}M$, $3.07\;{\times}\;10^{-3}M$, $3.75\;{\times}\;10^{-3}M$ and $2.15\;{\times}\;10^{-3}M$, respectively. On the contrary, the Kd values of ${\alpha}-CyD-ANS$, ${\beta}-CyD-ANS$, ${\alpha}-CyD-TNS$ and ${\beta}-CyD-TNS$ complexes were found to be $3.98\;{\times}\;10^{-2}M$, $1.05\;{\times}\;10^{-2}M$, $1.38\;{\times}\;10^{-2}M$ and $3.52\;{\times}\;10^{-4}M$, respectively. These results mean that the complexation of CPMs with ANS or TNS is by 5.6-1,975 fold stronger than that for ${\alpha}-or\;{\beta}-CyDs$, and the complex formation of CPEs with ANS or TNS is nearly same as or somewhat stronger than that for ${\alpha}-or\;{\beta}-CyDs$. From the Kd values determined at different temperatures, thermodynamic parameters were calculated and the complexation was found to be a spontaneous exothermic reaction. The effects of pH on Kd values of CPM 44-ANS, and CPM 55-ANS complexes were negligible in the range of pH 1.2-1.8. However, the Kd values of these complexes increased significantly with increasing ionic strength.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.706-715
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• 2004

The objective of this study was to compare early child care center teachers' attitudes for meal and snack guidance between Sweden and Korea. Participants were 251 early child care center teachers (Sweden: 134, Korea: 117) working in Goetebory, Sweden, and Seoul, Korea. The survey was conducted from December in 2003 to February in 2004. SPSS programme was used for statistical analysis. Sixty five point eight percent of the Korean early child care center teachers provided a certain amount of foods for children. But $20.9\%$ of Swedish provided a certain amount of foods for children, $79.1\%$ of them provided the amount a child wanted. Sixty one point seven percent of Korean teachers allowed a child leave foods on the plate, but $95.5\%$ of Swedish teachers asked a child eat all food on the plate. When a child didn't want to eat, $61.1\%$ of the Korean teachers fed him/her, but $11.0\%$ of the Swedish teachers did. Only $42.4\%$ of the Swedish teachers allowed a children eat sweets, but $92.9\%$ of Korean did. The Swedish teachers' perception for food guidance were eating by child himself/herself > washing hands before eating > having appropriate table manner > eating as talking with friends > not playing during the meal time, while the Korean teachers' was taking various food > having appropriate table manner > eating by child himself/herself, not playing during the meal time > washing hands before eating. The Swedish teachers thought 'eating as talking with friends' and 'eating by child himself/herself' is important, where as the Korean's did 'eating without making noise', 'not playing during the mealtime' in the eating behavior. For 'brushing teeth after meal' the Swedish teachers' score (1.5) was lower than the Korean (4.2). The results is necessary to improve meal and snack guidance for Korean early child care center teachers' education.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.187-195
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• 1987

Two kinds of heat treatment method for the selective isolation of soil fungi to eliminate the commonest fungi and also to examine the vertical and seasonal distributions of the fungal population were applied to soil samples from two plots around Seoul area. The incubation method at $42^{\circ}C$ and heat treatment at $70^{\circ}C$ were used in this experiment. In the incubation method, the almost all the fungi isolated from two plots were mesophile, while the thermotolerant fungi was Aspergillus fumigatus and thermophilic fungi were Sporotrichum thermophile and Malbranchea pulchella var. sulfrea. The most dominant species isolated by this method was A. fumigatus. Nine genera and fourteen species were isolated from the two plots, and S. thermophile, Talaromyces ucrainicus,Malbranchea pulchella var. sulfrea were new to Korea. From the selection method by heat treatment at $70^{\circ}C$, ten genera and twenty species were isolated. Among these, the most fungi were also mesophile and thermotolerant fungus was A. fumigatus. The most dominant species isolated by this method was T. stipitatus, Talaromyces helicus var. major, Emericella nidulans var. nidulans, Chaetomium subspirale and Neosartorya fisheri var. fisheri were new to Korea. From the two isolation methods, it was found that the total number of soil fungi and frequency of species appeared including dominant ones were the highest at the soils of upper layer while the lowest at the soils of lower layer in its vertical distribution.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.170-181
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• 2011

Purpose: There is considerable variability in rates of hospitalization for patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in part because of physicians' uncertainty in assessing the severity of illness at presentation. The purpose of the study was to examine the current treatment patterns and factors influencing the Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI) and clinical outcomes in the patient with CAP. Method: The retrospective data collection of the patients with CAP was conducted and the data were reviewed. The collected data included demographic, clinical, laboratory and microbiological medical information. All patients were stratified into three risk groups according to PSI: low risk (PSI score I-II), moderate risk (III) and high risk (IV-V) groups. The examined treatment patterns were the appropriateness of admissions, category of antibiotics used. The prognostic factors associated with PSI and clinical outcomes were examined. Results: One hundred and six patients' medical data were reviewed. The overall appropriateness of admissions was low presenting many of patients were admitted or intensely treated in the hospital despite of lower risk of prognosis and treated with intravenous antibiotics instead of oral fluoroquinolones. Primary pneumonia pathogens were Klebsiella pneumoniae (27%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (21.6%). Mean LOS was 8.5 days and was significantly longer (10.0days) (p<0.001) in high risk group. The patients with age >65 (p<0.001), diabetes mellitus (p<0.001), mental alteration (p<0.001), and/or $PaO_2$ <60 mmHg (p<0.001) had a tendency to have higher PSI. The prognostic factors associated with longer LOS were age >65 years (p=0.008), mental status alteration (p<0.001), dyspnea (p=0.002) and PSI score (p=0.001). The prognostic factors associated with mortality were congestive heart failure (p=0.038), systolic blood pressure <90 mmHg (p=0.002) and arterial pH <7.35 (p=0.013). Conclusion: Most of patients were found to over-utilize medical service according to appropriateness of admissions. The elderly, mentally altered patients with low $PaO_2$ had higher PSI score with increased risk of LOS. The mortality could be increased in the patient with disease state of congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, and/or acidosis.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.329-335
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• 2013

Objective : Brain metastases in primary breast cancer patients are considerable sources of morbidity and mortality. Gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) has gained popularity as an up-front therapy in treating such metastases over traditional radiation therapy due to better neurocognitive function preservation. The aim of this study was to clarify the prognostic factors for local tumor control and survival in radiosurgery for brain metastases from primary breast cancer. Methods : From March 2001 to May 2011, 124 women with metastatic brain lesions originating from a primary breast cancer underwent GKRS at a tertiary medical center in Seoul, Korea. All patients had radiosurgery as a primary treatment or salvage therapy. We retrospectively reviewed their clinical outcomes and radiological responses. The end point of this study was the date of patient's death or the last follow-up examination. Results : In total, 106 patients (268 lesions) were available for follow-up imaging. The median follow-up time was 7.5 months. The mean treated tumor volume at the time of GKRS was 6273 $mm^3$ (range, 4.5-27745 mm3) and the median dose delivered to the tumor margin was 22 Gy (range, 20-25 Gy). Local recurrence was assessed in 86 patients (216 lesions) and found to have occurred in 36 patients (83 lesions, 38.6%) with a median time of 6 months (range, 4-16 months). A treated tumor volume >5000 $mm^3$ was significantly correlated with poor local tumor control through a multivariate analysis (hazard risk=7.091, p=0.01). Overall survival was 79.9%, 48.3%, and 15.3% at 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively. The median overall survival was 11 months after GKRS (range, 6 days-113 months). Multivariate analysis showed that the pre-GKRS Karnofsky performance status, leptomeningeal seeding prior to initial GKRS, and multiple metastatic lesions were significant prognostic factors for reduced overall survival (hazard risk=1.94, p=0.001, hazard risk=7.13, p<0.001, and hazard risk=1.46, p=0.046, respectively). Conclusion : GKRS has shown to be an effective and safe treatment modality for treating brain metastases of primary breast cancer. Most metastatic brain lesions initially respond to GKRS, though, many patients have further CNS progression in subsequent periods. Patients with poor Karnofsky performance status and multiple metastatic lesions are at risk of CNS progression and poor survival, and a more frequent and strict surveillance protocol is suggested in such high-risk groups.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.207-216
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• 1998

Certain types of somatic cells, as well as follicular cumulus cells associating with mammalian oocytes, are known to produce beneficial effects on in vitro fertilization and pre implantation development of mammalian eggs when they are present in oocyte culture medium. To investigate the nature of the effects of somatic cells, the resistance of mouse oocytes against chymotrypsin treatment was examined after culture within various cell conditioned media. When mouse oocytes matured for 17-18 hr in the presence of cumulus cells were treated with 1 % chymotrypsin, half of them remained still alive even after 240 min $(t_{50}>240.0)$. In contrast half of mouse oocytes cultured without cumulus cells underwent degeneration within 65.0 min $(t_{50}=65.0{\pm}13.2min)$ of the same treatment. To see if the effects were duc to the secretory products of cumulus cells, mouse cumulus cells were cultured for 20 hr in medium containing 0.4% BSA and the supernatant of culture medium (conditioned medium) was taken. After maturation in the cumulus cell conditioned medium, mouse oocytes exhibited $t_{50}=190.0{\pm}10.8$ min upon chymotrypsin treatment whereas half of oocytes cultured without conditioned medium degenerated within 25.5 min. Human granulosa cell conditioned medium gave similar effects such that oocytes matured in conditioned medium exhibited $t_{50}=183.3{\pm}19.1$ min while $t_50$ of control group oocytes was $60.0{\pm}6.8$ min, Oocytes matured in vero cell conditioned medium exhibited $t_{50}=196.7{\pm}8.8$ min. On the other hand, amniotic cell conditioned medium resulted in the chymotrypsin resistance of $t_{50}=80.0{\pm}8.4$ min which was not statistically different from the control value of $t_{50}=48.0{\pm}13.2$ min. Based upon these results, it is suggested that certain somatic cell types including cumulus cells might change the biochemical properties of mouse oocyte membrane during meiotic maturation as revealed by the enhanced resistance against chymotrypsin treatment. Such effects of somatic cells appear to be mediated via the secretory products rather than direct communication between somatic cells and oocytes.