• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.55-68
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• 2017

In recent years, medical practice has seen a drastic change due to the rapid, exponential expansion of scientific and medical technologies. Specially, the role of medical technologists (also known as medical laboratory scientists and/or clinical laboratory scientists) are increasing in the development of science of medical technology. As such, their responsibility has also been increasing. Therefore, given their highly specialized knowledge and skills, they are not regarded solely as doctor's assistants. Their independence and deeper specialization have been increasing, as they perform medial practices under the guidance of doctors or dentists pursuant to the "Act on Medical Service Technologists." From a legal point of view, medical guidance and scope of work were examined. As a conclusion, the definition of doctor's superintendency on the "Act on Medical Service Technologists" is required, and the qualification for the Korean license examination and their roles should be stated clearly. Moreover, communications among health professions regarding the roles of medical technologists are necessary to further facilitate clarification of their role. There is a need for independent legislation to expand the field of medical technologists and to strengthen their professionalism.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.5325-5329
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• 2013

Objectives: Although there are many reports about the risk of breast cancer, few have reported clinical factors including history of breast-related or other diseases that affect the prevalence of breast cancer. This study explores these risk factors for breast cancer cases reported in Beijing in 2009. Materials and Methods: Data were derived from a Beijing breast cancer screening performed in 2009, of 568,000 women, from 16 districts of Beijing, all aged between 40 and 60 years. In this study, multilevel statistical modeling was used to identify clinical factors that affect the prevalence of breast cancer and to provide more reliable evidence for clinical diagnostics by using screening data. Results and Conclusion: Those women who had organ transplants, compared with those with none, were associated with breast cancer with an odds ratio (OR)=65.352 [95% confidence interval (CI): 8.488-503.165] and those with solid breast mass compared with none had OR=1.384 (95% CI: 1.022-1.873). Malignant tendency was strongly associated with increased risk of breast cancer, OR=207.999(95% CI: 151.950-284.721). The risk of breast cancer increased with age, $OR_1$=2.759 (95% CI: 1.837-4.144, 56-60 vs. 40-45), $OR_2$=2.047 (95% CI: 1.394-3.077, 51-55 vs. 40-45), $OR_3$=1.668 (95% CI: 1.145-2.431). Normal results of B ultrasonic examination show a lower risk among participants, OR= 0.136 (95% CI: 0.085-0.218). Those women with ductal papilloma compared with none were associated with breast cancer, OR=6.524 (95% CI: 1.871-22.746). Therefore, this study suggests that clinical doctors should pay attention to these high-risk factors.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.165-171
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• 2018

In this study, to analyze the detection of limit for sensitivity of the influenza rapid antigen test kit, the positive detection of limits were analyzed by serial dilution of influenza virus A and B type for five influenza rapid antigen test kits in Korea. As a result of analysis, visual measurement of type A were up to 1:8192 for the Wellsbio product and up to 1:4096 for the II product, up to 1:512 for the I and III products, and only 1:128 for the IV product, and type B were positive for up to 1:8192 for the Wellsbio product, up to 1: 4096 for the II product and up to 1:1024 for the I, III and IV products. For instrument readings with the same specimen, both A and B types were found to be positive for up to 1:8192 for the Wellsbio product, up to 1: 4096 for the II product, and up to 1:2048 for the I product. The sensitivity of the rapid antigen test for influenza differs greatly depending on the sampling area of the patient, infection period, specimen volume, etc. Therefore, it is necessary to observe exactly the collection timing and method of the specimen. And it is necessary further study to improve the sensitivity for influenza rapid antigen test.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.745-750
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• 2005

Statement of problem. Resonance frequency analysis has been increasingly served as a non-invasive and objective method for clinical monitoring of implant stability. Many clinical studies must be required for standardized data using RFA. Purpose. This study was performed to evaluate RFA value changes in two anodized implant groups. Material and method. Among a total of 24 implants, twelve screw shaped implants as a test group (H2-R8.5) were manufactured, which had a pitch-height of 0.4 mm, an outer diameter of 4.3 mm, a length of 8.5 mm, and external hexa-headed, were turned from 5 mm rods of commercially pure titanium (ASTM Grade IV, Warantec Co., Seoul, Korea), and another twelve implants as a control group were $Br{\aa}nemark$ Ti-Unite MK4 (diameter 4.0 mm, length 8.5 mm). Each group was installed in tibia of rabbit. Two implants were placed in each tibia (four implants per rabbit). Test two implants were inserted in right side and control two in left side. ISQ values were measured using $Osstell^{TM}$ (Integration Diagnostics Ltd. Sweden) during fixture installation, and 12 weeks later and evaluated the RFA changes. Results. Mean and SD of baseline ISQ values of test group were $75.0{\pm}3.4$ and $68.7{\pm}8.1$ for control group. Mean and SO of ISQ values 12 weeks after implant insertion were $73.2{\pm}4.7$ for test group and $72.6{\pm}3.9$ for control group. There were no statistically significant differences between groups in ISQ values after 3 months (P>0.05). From the data, RFA gains after 3 months were calculated, and there was statistically significant difference between groups (P<0.05). Conclusion. Although there were RFA changes between groups, implant stability after experimental period shows alike tendency and good bone responses.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.40-47
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• 2017

Granulosa cells, which surround the oocyte within the ovarian follicle, play an essential role in creating conditions required for the development of oocytes and follicles. The solute carrier family (SLC) is comprised of influx transporters of steroidal hormones, various drugs, and several other substrates. The differential expression of selected DEGs was confirmed using in situ hybridization analysis. SLC23A3 and SLC39A10 were highly expressed in the ovary. The SLC39A10 gene was expressed in the primordial follicle stage, but SLC23A3 was expressed in the growing follicle stage. Contrastingly, the expression of SLC23A3 was increased in granulosa cells at the growing follicle stage. The differential expressions of SLC23A3 and SLC39A10 between the primordial and primary follicles were additionally confirmed by using follicle isolations. The gene expression profile from the present study may provide insight for future studies on the mechanism(s) involved in primordial-primary follicular transition and suggestions to promote follicular development in ovarian dysfunction.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.48-54
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to provide fundamental data for the plans to reduce occupational stress by analyzing occupational stress of medical technologist. The experimental group comprised of 193 medical technologists working in Gyeonggi province. Occupational stress was 49.74 out of 100. In detail, job insecurity showed a high value of 64.42, followed by organizational system, lack of reward, physical environment, job demand, insufficient job control, interpersonal conflict, and occupational climate with respective values of 52.46, 52.30, 51.18, 49.57, 48.43, 39.78 and 39.77. It is recommended that those in high-stress job group increase physical activity and reduce job insecurity to improve health. The development of programs to reduce occupational stress are necessary, and this study can provide objective information using biological indicators.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.123-130
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• 2012

In this study, we evaluated the human papillomavirus (HPV) genotyping test called MolecuTech REBA HPV-$ID^{(R)}$ (YD Diagnostics, Seoul, Korea) for 704 women who also had cervical cytological evaluations by Thin Prep. The infection rate of high-risk HPV genotypes was 56.6% in patients with normal cytology, 59.8% in those with benign, low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, 51.4% in those with atypical squamous cells of uncertain significance, 92.3% in those with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, and 94.1% in those with squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma. HPV 16 was the most common genotype detected in any lesion, followed by HPV 53, 58, 33, 52, 45, 31, and 35, in order. The HPV DNA test with PCR-REBA is a very highly sensitive, but less specific, method. The infection rates and HPV genotype distribution of non-Korean people versus people from South Korea showed regional differences.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.312-317
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• 2016

Objective: Midazolam is mainly metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A. Inhibition or induction of CYP3A can affect the pharmacological activity of midazolam. The aims of this study were to develop a population pharmacokinetic (PK) model and evaluate the effect of CYP3A-mediated interactions among ketoconazole, rifampicin, and midazolam. Methods: Three-treatment, three-period, crossover study was conducted in 24 healthy male subjects. Each subject received 1 mg midazolam (control), 1 mg midazolam after pretreatment with 400 mg ketoconazole once daily for 4 days (CYP3A inhibition phase), and 2.5 mg midazolam after pretreatment with 600 mg rifampicin once daily for 10 days (CYP3A induction phase). The population PK analysis was performed using a nonlinear mixed effect model ($NONMEM^{(R)}$ 7.2) based on plasma midazolam concentrations. The PK model was developed, and the first-order conditional estimation with interaction was applied for the model run. A three-compartment model with first-order elimination described the PK. The influence of ketoconazole and rifampicin, CYP3A5 genotype, and demographic characteristics on PK parameters was examined. Goodness-of-fit (GOF) diagnostics and visual predictive checks, as well as bootstrap were used to evaluate the adequacy of the model fit and predictions. Results: Twenty-four subjects contributed to 900 midazolam concentrations. The final parameter estimates (% relative standard error, RSE) were as follows; clearance (CL), 31.8 L/h (6.0%); inter-compartmental clearance (Q) 2, 36.4 L/h (9.7%); Q3, 7.37 L/h (12.0%), volume of distribution (V) 1, 70.7 L (3.6%), V2, 32.9 L (8.8%); and V3, 44.4 L (6.7%). The midazolam CL decreased and increased to 32.5 and 199.9% in the inhibition and induction phases, respectively, compared to that in control phase. Conclusion: A PK model for midazolam co-treatment with ketoconazole and rifampicin was developed using data of healthy volunteers, and the subject's CYP3A status influenced the midazolam PK parameters. Therefore, a population PK model with enzyme-mediated drug interactions may be useful for quantitatively predicting PK alterations.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.35-48
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• 2020

Objectives : This study was conducted to evaluate the therapeutic effects of Chuna Craniosacral therapy on headaches. Methods : 1. A combination of keywords, such as headache and Chuna Craniosacral therapy, were searched based on studies published in 11 databases (Pubmed, CAJ, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, KMBASE, KISS, KISTI, NDSL, RISS and DBPIA) up to October 31st, 2019. 2. The subjects were randomized controlled clinical studies using Chuna Craniosacral therapy. 3. We used the Cochrane perverse assessment tools for quality assessment. Results : 1. Six randomized controlled clinical studies were selected, and all 404 patients were evaluated. 2. As a result of the meta-analysis, Chuna Craniosacral therapy and scalp acupuncture showed no difference in treatment effect. 3. Chuna Craniosacral therapy showed a significant difference in treatment effect compared to Maitlands mobilization. 4. Chuna Craniosacral therapy showed a partial difference in treatment effect compared to low intensity magnetotherapy. 5. Chuna Craniosacral therapy group showed a significant effect on pain reduction compared to the untreated group. 6. All six papers showed a high degree of bias risk, with no mention of side effects or adverse events. Conclusion : This study provided only a limited assessment of the curative effects of Chuna Craniosacral therapy's headache treatment. However, there was no mention of side effects, and given the therapeutic effects analyzed in individual papers, it is believed that Craniosacral therapy can be used safely to treat headaches.

• Journal of mucopolysaccharidosis and rare diseases
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.14-20
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• 2018

Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPSs) are a group of rare inherited metabolic disorders caused by specific lysosomal enzyme deficiencies leading to the sequential degradation of glycosaminoglycans, causing substrate accumulation in various cells and tissues and progressive multiple organ dysfunction. The rare disease medical care team at Mackay Memorial Hospital in Taiwan has been dedicated to the study of MPSs for more than 20 years. Since 1999, more than 50 academic papers focusing on MPSs have been published in international medical journals. Topics of research include the following items regarding MPSs: incidence, natural history, clinical manifestations, gene mutation characteristics, cardiac function, bone mineral density, sleep studies, pulmonary function tests, hearing assessments, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, anesthetic experience, imaging analysis, special biochemical tests, laboratory diagnostics, global expert consensus conferences, prenatal diagnosis, new drug clinical trials, newborn screening, and treatment outcomes. Of these published academic research papers, more than half were cross-domain, cross-industry, and international studies with results in cooperation with experts from European, American and other Asian countries. A cross-specialty collaboration platform was established based on high-risk population screening criteria with the acronym "BECARE" (Bone and joints, Eyes, Cardiac and central nervous system, Abdomen and appearance, Respiratory system, and Ear, nose, and throat involvement). Through this platform, orthopedic surgeons, rheumatologists, ophthalmologists, cardiologists, rehabilitation physicians, gastroenterologists, otorhinolaryngologists, and medical geneticists have been educated with regards to awareness of suspected cases of MPSs patients to allow for a further confirmative diagnosis of MPSs. Because of the progressive nature of the disease, an early diagnosis and early multidisciplinary therapeutic interventions including surgery, rehabilitation programs, symptom-based treatments, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and enzyme replacement therapy, are very important.