• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.161-165
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• 2007

Objective : Percutaneous approach to the middle thoracic vertebra through the transpedicular route for the patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures is difficult due to the small size of the pedicle and parasagittally oriented vertebra body anatomy. The percutaneous vertebral body access [PVBA] technique utilizing the posterolateral extrapedicular approach avoids the pedicle and provides direct access to the vertebral body. The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the vertebroplasty utilizing PVBA technique for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures in the middle thoracic vertebrae. Methods : A retrospective review was done on 20 patients who underwent vertebroplasty utilizing PVBA technique performed for painful osteoporotic compression fracture in the middle thoracic vertebrae at 22 levels from May 2003 to June 2006. The average amount of the injected cement was 1.5-2.5ml. The postprocedural outcome was assessed using a visual analogue scale [VAS]. Results : The treated vertebrae were T5 [1 level], T6 [5 levels], 17 [7 levels], and T8 [9 levels]. The compression rate and kyphotic angle were improved after procedure from $18%{\pm}13.4$ to $16%{\pm}13.8$ [p > 0.05] and from $6.9^{\circ}{\pm}6.7$ to $6.6^{\circ}{\pm}6.2$ [p>005], respectively. Preprocedural VAS was $8.2{\pm}0.70$ and was decreased to $2.1{\pm}1.02$ [p < 0.01] after treatment. Postprocedural cement leakage was noted in 3 levels [13.7%]. There were no cases of leakage to epidural space or neural foramen, segmental artery injury, and pneumothorax. Conclusion : These results suggest that the complication rates are low and good results can be achieved with vertebroplasty utilizing PVBA technique for the osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures especially in the middle thoracic vertebrae.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.261-266
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• 2019

In order to cope with various issues about access to public health system of Korean medicine and reformation of college curriculum and argument of pseudoscience on Korean medicine etc., a new definition of Korean medicine was devised. Two ways of approach were tried through analysis of precedent cases of definition on traditional medicine firstly and analysis on concept and logic of Korean medicine secondly. As a result, Korean medicine can be defined as a science of theories and application techniques for maintaining health and diagnosing, treating and preventing conditions、causes、prognosis of diseases or damages based on the correlative and complicated understanding about the structure and function of mind and body out of human lives under the environment and society. This definition can be used as a basis to derive legal rights or scope in area of research and education policies and social institutions of the Korean medicine and to confront scientification criticism hereafter.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 2012

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical and rhythm outcomes of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation through a port access approach compared with sternotomy in patients with AF associated with mitral valve diseases. Materials and Methods: From February 2006 through December 2009, 135 patients underwent biatrial AF ablation with a mitral operation via either a port-access approach (n=78, minimally invasive cardiac surgery [MICS] group) or a conventional sternotomy (n=57, sternotomy group). To adjust for the differences in the two groups' baseline characteristics, a propensity score analysis was performed. Results: After adjustment, there were no significant differences in the two groups' baseline profiles. The cardiopulmonary bypass time was significantly longer (p=0.045) in the MICS group ($176.0{\pm}49.5$ minutes) than the sternotomy group ($150.0{\pm}51.9$ minutes). There were no significant differences (p=0.31) in the two groups' rate of reoperation for bleeding (MICS=6 vs. sternotomy=2, p=0.47) or the requirement for permanent pacing (MICS=1 vs. sternotomy=3). The major event-free survival rates at two years were $87.4{\pm}8.1%$ in the MICS group and $89.6{\pm}5.8%$ in the sternotomy group (p=0.92). Freedom from late AF at 2 years was $86.8{\pm}6.2%$ in the MICS group and $85.0{\pm}6.9%$ in the sternotomy group (p=0.86). Conclusion: Both the port-access approach and sternotomy showed tolerable clinical outcomes following biatrial AF ablation with mitral valve surgery.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.3125-3130
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• 2015

Background: Breast cancer is a common cancer affecting women in Malaysia and the use of complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) has been associated with delays in getting treatment. The aim of the study was to explore the use of CAM and the influencing factors in the Northern region of Peninsular Malaysia. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study on a convenience sample of 100 Malaysian breast cancer survivors. Findings: The reported use of CAM among the breast cancer survivors was lower than in other studies but the types of CAM used had a similar pattern with nutrition supplements/vitamins being the most common. The factors that positively influenced the use of complimentary/traditional therapy were income and getting information from television or radio. Survivors with access to internet/blogs appear to have lower odds of using complimentary/traditional therapy compared to the respondents who reported no such access. Conclusions: Information transmitted via television and radio appears to have a positive influence on CAM use by breast cancer patients compared to other information sources and it is important to ensure that such information is accurate and impartial.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2024

Objective : This study aims to assess the potential of utilizing large language models in pattern identification education by developing a simulated patient with fatigue and dual deficiency of the heart-spleen pattern. Methods : A simulated patient dataset was constructed using the clinical practice examination module provided by the National Institute for Korean Medicine Development. The dataset was divided into patient characteristics, sample questions, and responses, and utilized to design the system, assistant, and user prompts, respectively. A web-based interface was developed using the Django framework and WebSocket. Results : We developed a simulated fatigue patient representing dual deficiency of the heart-spleen pattern through prompt engineering. To make practical tools, we further implemented web-based interfaces for the examinee's and evaluator's roles. The interface for examinees allows one to examine the simulated patient and provides access to a personalized number for future access. In addition, the interface for evaluators included a page that provided an overview of each examinees' chat history and evaluation criteria in real-time. Conclusion : This study is the first development of an educational tool integrated with a large language model for pattern identification education, which is expected to be widely applied to Korean medicine education.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.28.1-28.6
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• 2018

Due to the increasing interest in synonymous codons, several codon bias-related terms were introduced. As one measure of them, the tRNA adaptation index (tAI) was invented about a decade ago. The tAI is a measure of translational efficiency for a gene and is calculated based on the abundance of intracellular tRNA and the binding strength between a codon and a tRNA. The index has been widely used in various fields of molecular evolution, genetics, and pharmacology. Afterwards, an improved version of the index, named specific tRNA adaptation index (stAI), was developed by adapting tRNA copy numbers in species. Although a subsequently developed webserver (stAIcalc) provided tools that calculated stAI values, it was not available to access pre-calculated values. In addition to about 100 species in stAIcalc, we calculated stAI values for whole coding sequences in 148 species. To enable easy access to this index, we constructed a novel web database, named STADIUM (Species-specific tRNA adaptive index compendium). STADIUM provides not only the stAI value of each gene but also statistics based on pathway-based classification. The database is expected to help researchers who have interests in codon optimality and the role of synonymous codons. STADIUM is freely available at http://stadium.pmrc.re.kr.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2015

Background: Treatment of skull base tumors is challenging due to limited access and presence of important neurovascular structures nearby. The success of a complete tumor resection depends on the extent of tumor exposure and secure field of view. While these tumors are often removed by transcranial endoscopic access, transfacial approach is sometimes required depending on the location and size of the tumor. This study describes various transfacial approaches in patients undergoing skull base tumor resection. Methods: From March to November 2013, 15 patients underwent skull base tumor resection via transfacial accesses at a tertiary institution. Data were reviewed for patient demographics, type of access used, completeness of tumor resection, surgical outcome, and postoperative complications. Results: Two clivus tumor patients underwent transmaxillary approach; three tuberculum-sellae and suprasellar-hypothalamus tumor patients underwent transbasal approach; three clinoid and retrobulbar intraconal orbital tumor patients underwent orbitozygomatic approach; and seven petroclival-area, pons, cavernous sinus, and lateral-sphenoid-wing tumor patients underwent zygomatic approach. In all cases, the upper and lower margins of the tumor were visible. Complete tumor removal consisted of 10 cases, and partial tumor removal in 5. There were no immediate major complications observed for the transfacial portion of the operations. The overall cosmetic results were satisfactory. Conclusion: Plastic surgeons can use various transfacial approaches according to the location and size of skull base tumors to secure a sufficient field of view for neurosurgeons.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.20-28
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• 2016

Internet addiction (IA) has become a widespread and problematic phenomenon as smart devices pervade society. Moreover, internet gaming disorder leads to increases in social expenditures for both individuals and nations alike. Although the prevention and treatment of IA are getting more important, the diagnosis of IA remains problematic. Understanding the neurobiological mechanism of behavioral addictions is essential for the development of specific and effective treatments. Although there are many databases related to other addictions, a database for IA has not been developed yet. In addition, bioinformatics databases, especially genetic databases, require a high level of security and should be designed based on medical information standards. In this respect, our study proposes the OAuth standard protocol for database access authorization. The proposed IA Bioinformatics (IABio) database system is based on internet user authentication, which is a guideline for medical information standards, and uses OAuth 2.0 for access control technology. This study designed and developed the system requirements and configuration. The OAuth 2.0 protocol is expected to establish the security of personal medical information and be applied to genomic research on IA.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.85 no.1
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• pp.161-170
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• 2024

Purpose To assess the safety and feasibility of intentionally positioning the catheter tip in the right atrium (RA) without an abutment during implantation of a totally implantable venous access port (TIVAP). Materials and Methods We enrolled 330 patients who had undergone TIVAP implantation between January and December 2016 and postoperative chest CT. The TIVAP was placed using the single-incision technique to access the axillary vein directly from the incision line. To position the catheter tip in the RA without abutment, blood return was checked before cutting. Catheter length and complications were evaluated by retrospectively reviewing medical images and records. Results All patients achieved successful catheter tip positioning without abutment or dysfunction. The median tip position was 15.3 mm distal to the cavoatrial junction (CAJ) on fluoroscopy and 6 mm distal to the CAJ on CT. Catheter tips migrated a median of 10.4 mm cephalically on CT compared to fluoroscopy. Thromboses were detected in the RA and superior vena cava in one patient each. Conclusion Intentional catheter tip positioning in the RA without abutment is a safe and feasible technique with a low incidence of thrombosis and no observed dysfunction.

• Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.373-391
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• 2011

To understand the characteristics of open access journals in Korea, this research examined the 1,438 KCI journals in the fields of humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, medicine, agriculture & oceanography, art & sports, and interdisciplinary. 21% of the KCI journals are freely available at the publisher's websites or open access DBs(OA). 34% are available only in the commercial fulltext DBs(TA) and 34% combined TA and OA. 48% of the OA journals can be found on the free fulltext DBs and 52% are accessed on the publisher's websites. OA journals in humanities and social science are available mainly on the publisher's websites. As compare with this, OA journals of STM fields are available via the free fulltext DBs. Medicine(30%) and social sciences(25%) have the highest overall share of OA. There are field differences in the rate of OA journals. In the fields of social sciences and humanities, 15% of the journal are open access. In case of medicine field, 60% are open access journals. OA journals in natural science and engineering are each 33% and 24%.