• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.304-314
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• 2021

Background: The study investigated virtual reality (VR) immersion in alleviating procedure-related pain in patients with chronic pain undergoing fluoroscopy-guided minimally-invasive intervention in a prone position at an outpatient clinic. Methods: In this prospective randomized controlled study, 38 patients undergoing lumbar sympathetic ganglion block were randomized into either the VR or the control group. In the VR group, procedure-related pain was controlled via infiltration of local anesthetics while watching a 30-minute VR hypnotic program. In the control group, the skin infiltration alone was used, with the VR device switched off. The primary endpoint was an 11-point score on the numerical rating scale, indicating procedure-related pain. Patients' satisfaction with pain control, anxiety levels, the need for additional local anesthetics during the procedure, hemodynamic stability, and any adverse events were assessed. Results: Procedure-related pain was significantly lower in the VR group (3.7 ± 1.4) than in the control group (5.5 ± 1.7; P = 0.002). Post-procedural anxiety was lower in the VR group than in the control group (P = 0.025), with a significant reduction from pre-procedural anxiety (P < 0.001). Although patients' satisfaction did not differ significantly (P = 0.158) between the groups, a higher number of patients required additional local anesthetics in the control group (n = 13) than in the VR group (n = 4; P = 0.001). No severe adverse events occurred in either group during the study. Conclusions: VR immersion can be safely used as a novel adjunct to reduce procedural pain and anxiety during fluoroscopic pain intervention.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.113-121
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• 2023

Background: Globally, the number of patients with aspergillosis is increasing, and the mortality rate remains high. This study aimed to investigate prescribing patterns of antifungal drugs for patients with aspergillosis in South Korea using real-world data. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was performed using National Patient Sample (NPS) data collected by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) during 2011-2020. The use of antifungal drugs in patients with aspergillosis was investigated. Results:A total of 1374 patients were identified: 333 patients with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) (24.2%), 436 patients with other PA (31.7%), 73 patients with other forms of aspergillosis (5.3%), and 532 patients with unspecified aspergillosis (38.7%). The odds of receiving an antifungal prescription were higher for IPA than for other PA (aOR, 0.233; p<0.001), and higher for hematologic malignancies than for respiratory disorders other than cancer or infections (aOR, 10.018; p<0.001). During each hospitalization period, 56.1% (97/173) and 6.4% (11/173) of IPA hospitalizations received voriconazole and itraconazole monotherapy, respectively, whereas 44.3% (27/61) and 27.9% (17/61) of other PA hospitalizations received itraconazole and voriconazole monotherapy, respectively. Among outpatients with IPA, 67.5% (85/126) and 26.2% (33/126) received voriconazole and itraconazole alone, respectively, whereas among outpatients with other PA, 86.1% (68/79) and 12.7% (10/79) received itraconazole and voriconazole alone, respectively, during the year. Conclusion: In Korea, voriconazole monotherapy was preferred in IPA inpatients, and itraconazole monotherapy was preferred in other PA inpatients. In the ambulatory care settings for IPA and other PA, itraconazole monotherapy was preferred.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.101-105
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• 2006

Purpose: We aimed to investigate the efficacy and side effects of $Ultracet^{(R)}$ in relieving cancer pain in setting. Methods: Sixty-one cancer patients over 18 years old, who had cancer pain with or without medication, were enrolled. Pain and other variables were evaluated before and after treatment with $Ultracet^{(R)}$ for 2 weeks, using Korean version of Brief Pain Inventory. Results: Of 61 patients with assessable efficacy data, the maximum pain intensity(PI) experienced in a day were $5.18{\pm}1.41\;and\;4.82{\pm}1.94$, before and after treatment with$Ultracet^{(R)}$ respectively (P=0.113). The minimum PI experienced in a day were $1.2{\pm}1.05\;and\;0.87{\pm}1.35$, before and after treatment with $Ultracet^{(R)}$, respectively (P=0.038). The average PI experienced in a day were $3.61{\pm}1.01\;and\;3.15{\pm}1.73$, before and after treatment with $Ultracet^{(R)}$, respectively (P=0.022). The current PI were $3.63{\pm}1.25\;and\;2.85{\pm}1.94$, before and after treatment with $Ultracet^{(R)}$, respectively (P=0.003). Regarding the quality of life, only mood changed for the better in 49 patients who were treated with $Ultracet^{(R)}$ alone ($1.98{\pm}1.73\;and\;1.35{\pm}1.15$, before and after treatment respectively; P=0.046). There were five (8.2%) adverse events associated with $Ultracet^{(R)}$ treatment. Conclusion: $Ultracet^{(R)}$ seems effective and safe in ambulatory patients with cancer pain.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.68-80
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• 1996

Long-term hemodialysis(HD) patients manifest various signs of protein and caloric malutrition due to poor intake of nutrients and other causes. Poor nutritional status increases the mortality and morbidity rates in HD patients. Thus, mataintnance of adequate nutritional status has been a major task in taking care of patients receiving HD. This study was to evaluate the nutritional status of HD patients and to clarify the degree of nutritional deficit based on usual dietary intake, anthropometric and biochemical indicators. Sixty HD patients comprised a HD group, while the control group consisted of 60 healthy adults whose age and sex matched those of the HD group. Nutritional status was evaluated by dietrary intake using instant nutritional scale, anthropometric measures, serum protein concentrations and the number of lymphocytes. The data were analyzed by using Chi-square test and unpaired t-test. The results are as follows. 1. Regarding usual dietary intake of HD group. 1) Estimated caloric intake was significantly lower than the recommended daily allowance(RDA) and among them, 35% were taking calories less than 85% of the RDA. 2) Estimated protein intake was significantly higher than the RDA and among them 40% were taking protein more than 115% of the RDA. 3) Estimated fat intake was lower than the RDA. 4) Vitamin A, B, $B_1,\;B_2$, C and niacin in take was lower than the RDA respectively. 5) Estimated ferrous intake was within the normal limit the RDA while estimated calcium intake was higher than the RDA. 6) Both calorie and protein intake were higher for the 10 patients who had been under continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis than for the patients under HD from the beginning. 2. Regarding anthropometric measures : 1) Body mass index(BMI), midarm circumference(MAC), and triceps skinfold thickness(TSF) were lower in the HD group than in the control group. 2) Among HD group, 47.1% were within the normal limit of BMI, while 86.7% were within the same limit in the control group. 3) Among HD group, 35.0% were within the normal limit of MAC, while 83.3% were within the same limit in the control group. 4) Among HD group, only 8.3% were normal, 30.3% were mild deficit status of TSF, while 50% were normal and 48.3% were mild deficit status in the control group. 3. Regarding biochemical laboratory tests 1) Albumin, transferrin concentrations and the number of lymphocytes were lower in HD group than in the control group. 2) Among HD group, 98.3% were within the normal limit of albumin concentration and all were within the same limit in the control group. 3) Among HD group, only 11.7% were within the normal limit of transferrin concentration, while 81.7% were within the same limit in the control group. 4) Among HD group, 25% were within the normal limit, while 93.3% were within the same limit in the control group. The above findings suggest that HD patients were in nutritional deficit status. Adequate diet therapy and periodical evaluation of the nutritional status in HD patients are needed. Accordingly, it turned out that anthropometric measures were very reliable parameters and easy to use to evaluate nutritional status. So nurses are encouraged to adopt anthropometric measures to examine nutritional deficit status of HD patients.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.822-826
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• 2006

Objectives : Essential hyperhidrosis is a socially and occupationally disabling disorder. There are many suggestions that hyperhidrosis is associated with the autonomic nervous system, especiallythe sympathetic system. This study was designed to investigate the autonomic nerve system in patients with essential hyperhidrosis and healthy controls by the frequency domain analysis of heart rate variability (HRV). Methods : 17 head-hyperhidrosis patients in the ambulatory care were investigated. All were inspected at the first medical examination. using the PSA of HRV. HRV was measured for minutes after 5 minutes bed rest. We checked the frequency domain analysis of HRV (i.e. TP, VLF, LF, HF) which were transformed into natural logarithm of patients against the standard measures of the HRV components. Then we compared the values of patients with means of normal Korean subjects. Results : The values of natural logarithmic measure of HRV (LnTP, LnHF, LnLF, LnVLF) of patients With head-hyperhidrosis we examined were $6.85{\pm}1.61$, $4.93{\pm}$2.00, $5.40{\pm}1.83$, and $6.13{\pm}1.37$, respectively. None of these values were higher than means of normal subjects. Conclusions : This study suggests that the function of the autonomic nervous system does not increase in patients with head-hyperhidrosis.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2008

Objectives : Essential hyperhidrosis is a socially and occupationally disabling disorder. There are many suggestions that hyperhidrosis is associated with the autonomic nervous system. This study was designed to investigate the autonomic nerve system the patients with hyperhidrosis. Methods : 348 palmar and plantar hyperhidrosis patients and 20 systemic hyperhidrosis patients in the ambulatory care were investigated. All patients were inspected at the first medical examination, using the PSA of HRV. HRV was measured for 5 minutes after 5 minutes' bed rest. We checked the frequency domain analysis of HRV (i.e. TP, VLF, LF, HF and LF/HF) which were transformed into natural logarithm of patients against the standard measures of the HRV components. Then, we compared the means of patients with means and highest values of in the normal range of Koreans 1) between the patients with palmar and plantar hyperhidrosis and the healthy controls and 2) between the patients with the systemic hyperhidrosis and healthy controls, by the frequency domain analysis of heart rate variability (HRV), respectively. We then compared the results between 1) and 2). Results : The values of natural logarithmic measures of LF/HF ratio in the patients with palmar and plantar hyperhidrosis we examined were significantly higher than the values of healthy controls, but those in the patients with systemic hyperhidrosis were not higher. Conclusion : This study suggests that the autonomic nervous function did not simply increase but that the balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous function did matter in patients with palmar and plantar hyperhidrosis. This balance included that the sympathetic nervous function aggravated comparatively with parasympathetic nervous function. On the other hand, we couldn't find any significance of the patients with the systemic hyperhidrosis as for the autonomic nervous function.

• Journal of Oriental Medical Thermology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2006

Objectives : This study was designed to analyze basic data for cold hypersensitivity patients with a questionnaire and investigate correlation between cold hypersensitivity and Heart Rate Variability(HRV). Methods : 49 patients who complain of cold hypersensitivity on hands and feet in ambulatory care were investigated in Oriental Gynecology, Kyunghee Oriental Medical Center and Women medical center, Kangnam Koreana hospital from May 1, 2006 to October 20, 2006. All patients were asked to answer a questionnaire. After careful I examination to rule out other disease which may affect Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging(DITI) and HRV data, patients were taken thermography for the diagnosis of cold hypersensitivity Based on the result of thermography, the patients were divided into two groups(Objective cold hypersensitivity and Subjective cold hypersensitivity). Then, these two groups were compared using HRV data which was measured in the supine position for 5 minutes. Results: 1. For most patients, cold hypersensitivity first developed during puberty. 2. The parts of the body that felt cold first time were hands and feet. 3. The cold sensation was increased in winter or at bedtime Showing that the sensation can be changed according to the level of coldness. 4. Among women who sufferfrom cold hypersensitivity, very few of them were treated. 5. More than half of cold hypersensitivity patients's family member also had a cold hypersensitivity. 6. The decrease in mean values of LF/HF ratio was observed in objective cold hypersensitivity group than subjective cold hypersensitivity group and the decrease was significant(P=0.014) when examined by Student t-test. Conclusions : It is necessary that the cold hypersensitivity patients should be treated carefully considering the facts mentioned above. And it can be suggested that dysautinomia be related with cold hypersensitivity and be evaluated by HRV.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.546-554
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• 2021

Background: Diabetes mellitus and hypertension often occur together, amplifying cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and emphasizing the need for a multitargeted treatment approach. American ginseng (AG) and Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) species could improve glycemic control via complementary mechanisms. Additionally, a KRG-inherent component, ginsenoside Rg3, may moderate blood pressure (BP). Our objective was to investigate the therapeutic potential of coadministration of Rg3-enriched Korean Red Ginseng (Rg3-KRG) and AG, added to standard of care therapy, in the management of hypertension and cardiometabolic risk factors in type-2 diabetes. Methods: Within a randomized controlled, parallel design of 80 participants with type-2 diabetes (HbA1c: 6.5-8%) and hypertension (systolic BP: 140-160 mmHg or treated), supplementation with either 2.25 g/day of combined Rg3-KRG + AG or wheat-bran control was assessed over a 12-wk intervention period. The primary endpoint was ambulatory 24-h systolic BP. Additional endpoints included further hemodynamic assessment, glycemic control, plasma lipids and safety monitoring. Results: Combined ginseng intervention generated a mean ± SE decrease in primary endpoint of 24-h systolic BP (-3.98 ± 2.0 mmHg, p = 0.04). Additionally, there was a greater reduction in HbA1c (-0.35 ± 0.1% [-3.8 ± 1.1 mmol/mol], p = 0.02), and change in blood lipids: total cholesterol (-0.50 ± 0.2 mmol/l, p = 0.01), non-HDL-C (-0.54 ± 0.2 mmol/l, p = 0.01), triglycerides (-0.40 ± 0.2 mmol/l, p = 0.02) and LDL-C (-0.35 ± 0.2 mmol/l, p = 0.06) at 12 wks, relative to control. No adverse safety outcomes were observed. Conclusion: Coadministration of Rg3-KRG + AG is an effective addon for improving BP along with attaining favorable cardiometabolic outcomes in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Ginseng derivatives may offer clinical utility when included in the polypharmacy and lifestyle treatment of diabetes. Clinical trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov identifier, NCT01578837;

• Hip & pelvis
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.25-34
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• 2022

Purpose: Mortality rates following hip fracture surgery have been well-studied. This study was conducted to examine mortality rates in asymptomatic patients presenting for treatment of acute hip fractures with concurrent positive COVID-19(+) tests compared to those with negative COVID-19(-) tests. Materials and Methods: A total of 149 consecutive patients undergoing hip fracture surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic at two academic medical centers were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were divided into two groups for comparative analysis: one group included asymptomatic patients with COVID-19+ tests versus COVID-19- tests. The primary outcome was mortality at 30-days and 90-days. Results: COVID-19+ patients had a higher mortality rate than COVID-19- patients at 30-days (26.7% vs 6.0%, P=0.005) and 90-days (41.7% vs 17.2%, P=0.046) and trended towards an increased length of hospital stay (10.1±6.2 vs 6.8±3.8 days, P=0.06). COVID-19+ patients had more pre-existing respiratory disease (46.7% vs 11.2%, P=0.0002). Results of a Cox regression analysis showed an increased risk of mortality at 30-days and 90-days from COVID-19+ status alone without an increased risk of death in patients with pre-existing chronic respiratory disease. Conclusion: Factors including time to surgery, age, preexisting comorbidities, and postoperative ambulatory status have been proven to affect mortality and complications in hip fracture patients; however, a positive COVID-19 test result adds another variable to this process. Implementation of protocols that will promote prompt orthogeriatric assessments, expedite patient transfer, limit operating room traffic, and optimize anesthesia time can preserve the standard of care in this unique patient population.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.334-350
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• 2003

The purpose of this descriptive study was to evaluate the clinical validity of QSCCII (Questionnaire for the Sasang Constitution Classification), whose high accuracy as a constitutional diagnostic tool has been recognized by medical professionals. The subjects of this study were 568 clients from an A university hospital in Suwon. Of the subjects, 259 were health center visitors and 292 were ambulatory clinic visitors. Data were collected using self-reported questionnaire and were analyzed by $X^2$-test and one-way ANOVA. The results of this study as follows: 1. In 4 types of constitution, Soeumin type was found in 41.5% of the subjects. Taeumin type in 39.2%.,and Soyangin type in 19.2%, respectively. There was no Tayangin type found in this study. There were no significant differences on types of constitution by demographic characteristics such as age, sex, marital status, education, religion, and economic status. 2. As for 15 item-selective questionnaire, there were statistically significant differences on the response rate of the 12 items, except items such as A4, A11 and A14, by the types of constitution. When the subjects' own criteria on their constitution were compared to the given constitutional criteria on each item, 4 items such as A6, A11, A13 and A14 were advisable to be excluded from the questionnaire or to be reunited to the other criteria. In the meanwhile, 3 items such as A7, A18 and A15 were desirable to be re-categorized to the other constitutional types and reconstructed to the QSCC II questionnaire. 3. In terms of 106 true-false questionnaire, there were statistically significant differences on the response rate of 46 items by the types of constitution. The 46 items include 15 items (32.6%) of the domain of 'handling something/strength and weakness', 4 items (8.7%) of the domain of 'interpersonal relationship', 9 items (19.6%) of the domain of 'state of mind at ordinary times', 2 items (4.3%) of the domain of 'distinctive emotional characteristics' area, 11 items (23.9%) of the domain of 'specific behavioral trait' and 5 items (10.9%) of the domain of 'physical characteristics'. Therefore, the areas of 'handling something/strength and weakness' and' specific behavioral trait' mainly contributed to the classification of constitutional type. 4. When the 106 true-false items were simplified to the 46 items, statistically significant differences were found on the rate of items allocated to the 3 types of constitution. The rate of selection assigned to the 3 constitutional types of the simplified 46-item questionnaire was higher than that of the original 106-item questionnaire. Conclusions; It was concluded that the rate of selection of each lay person about his own constitutional type would be still higher even though the simplified items of QSCC II questionnaire were applied. If more replicated studies are conducted on the diverse population using the simplifying QSCC II questionnaire in the future, a more simplified standardized Sasang Constitution Questionnaire that is available to the public rather than to medical staffs in the clinical settings could be developed. Moreover, the simplified scale will help nurses deliver more efficient nursing care by providing a more rapid way of health assessment.