• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.198-207
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• 2015

ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and chronic total occlusion (CTO) of coronary artery are well-known atherosclerotic vascular diseases. However, the difference of intima-media thickness and plaque characteristics of carotid arteries between STEMI and CTO patients were not directly compared in previous studies. Medical records of a total of 158 (101 STEMI, 57 CTO) patients, who underwent carotid artery ultrasonography, were selected for the analysis. The baseline characteristics, ultrasonography findings, and clinical outcomes of the two groups were compared. The prevalence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia was significantly higher in CTO patients. Carotid intima-media thickness ($0.97{\pm}0.13$ vs. $0.78{\pm}0.17cm$, P < 0.0001) and number of plaques ($2.2{\pm}1.0$ vs. $1.7{\pm}1.2$, P < 0.0001) were greater in CTO than STEMI patients. Multiple (${\geq}3$) or echogenic plaques were more frequently observed in CTO patients. During the median follow-up duration of 27 months, major adverse cardiovascular events occurred in 31% of CTO and 14% of STEMI patients (P = 0.008). We found that, compared with STEMI, CTO patients have higher burden of carotid artery atherosclerosis associated with more comorbid diseases and poor clinical outcomes.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.82 no.2
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• pp.151-157
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• 2019

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is the most important disease screened for upon patient history review during preimmigration medical examinations as performed in South Korea in prospective immigrants to certain Western countries. In 2007, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) changed the TB screening protocol from a smear-based test to the complete Culture and Directly Observed Therapy Tuberculosis Technical Instructions (CDOT TB TI) for reducing the incidence of TB in foreign-born immigrants. Methods: This study evaluated the effect of the revised (as compared with the old) protocol in South Korea. Results: Of the 40,558 visa applicants, 365 exhibited chest radiographic results suggestive of active or inactive TB, and 351 underwent sputum tests (acid-fast bacilli smear and Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture). To this end, using the CDOT TB TI, 36 subjects (88.8 per $10^5$ of the population) were found to have TB, compared with only seven using the older U.S. CDC technical instruction (TI) (p<0.001). In addition, there were six drug-resistant cases which were identified (16.7 per $10^5$ of the population), two of whom had multidrug-resistance (5.6 per $10^5$ of the population). Conclusion: The culture-based 2007 TI identified a great deal of TB cases current to the individuals tested, as compared to older U.S. CDC TI.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.4671-4673
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• 2013

Objectives: To study variation in T lymphocyte subgoups and its clinical significance in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: Levels of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+/CD8+, NK and Treg cells in peripheral blood of NSCLC cases and healthy adults were determined by flow cytometry. Results: CD3+, CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ ratio and NK cells in NSCLCs were decreased significantly in comparison with the control group (P < 0.01), and decreased with increase in the clinical stage of NSCLC, while CD8+ cells demonstrated no significant change (P > 0.05). Treg cells were significantly more frequent than in the control group (P < 0.01), and increased with the clinical stage of NSCLC. Conclusion: The cellular immune function of the NSCLC patients is lowered. It is important to detect change of T lymphocyte subgroups by flow cytometry for the diagnosis, treatment and prognostic assessment of NSCLC patients.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.578-591
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to identify the health behaviors, health status, and utilization patterns of health care institutions for homeless shelter residents as well as to compare these research outcomes between younger and older male homeless shelter residents. Methods: The subjects in this study were 357 homeless shelter residents that were recruited by simple random sampling. Data were collected from August to September 2009. Health behaviors, health status, and utilization patterns of health care institutions were measured using structured questionnaires. Data were analyzed using the Chi square test and Fisher's exact test using SPSS 14.0. Results: Both younger and older male subjects showed unhealthy behaviors, and their health status was lower than that of the Health & Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in 2009. Subjects preferred to utilize national or municipal hospitals as well as pharmacies as opposed to general hospitals, clinics, and public health centers. Conclusion: Differentiated comprehensive health care services and monitoring should be provided to homeless shelter residents based on the needs of each group in order to improve their health status as well as to prevent communicable diseases and complications of chronic diseases.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.12 no.3_4
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• pp.61-66
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• 1997

Recently, incidences of pulmonary-related diseases are increasing and natural ecosystem is destroyed year by year owing to air pollutions by industrial noxious gases such as sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide, etc. Sulfur dioxide produced by oxidation of sulfur compounds is water soluble and causes several kinds of pulmonary diseases, damaging on plants and animals. This study was undertaken to investigate effects of acute exposure of rats to sulfur dioxide using biochemical parameters. The sAST (aspartate transaminase) activity was not significantly affected but sALT (alanine transaminase), sLDH (lactate dehydrogenase) and sALP (alkaline phosphatase) activities were significantly increased by acute sulfur dioxide gas exposure. Also sulfur dioxide gas treatment significantly diminished serum cholinesterase activity. The total lipid, triglyceride, total-, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol contents were significantly increased by sulfur dioxide gas exposures. But the body and liver weight were generally diminished in comparison with control group. Our results' showed increased enzyme activities and lipid contents, but body and liver weight were all diminished by sulfur dioxide gas treatment.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.1646-1654
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• 2007

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of several herbal prescriptions in patients with allergy or atopic disease, such as atopic dermatitis, asthma and allergy rhinitis and others, on the blood immunological parameters and to verify the safety of long-term use of herbal medicine. Eighty one patients with allergy or atopy disease who taken herbal medicine at least for 2 months were compared with patients who taken same medicine with no allergy & atopy disease (n=14) and normal healthy subjects (n=22). According to the comparison of immunological parameters change, the data showed that herbal medicine decreased IgE (P=0.003), Eosinophil ratio (P<0.001) and count (P<0.001) of White Blood Cell (WBC) and did not affect to the liver cell enzymes in blood. This results indicated that herbal medicine decreased immune hypersensitivity and improved chronic inflammation related to blood immunological parameters of allergy or atopy diseases. In addition, herbal medicine seemed to be safe to the liver function for long-term use.

• Current Optics and Photonics
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 2017

Mechanical property of tissue is closely related to diseases such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, cirrhosis of the liver, and atherosclerosis. Therefore measurement of tissue mechanical property is important for a better diagnosis. Ultrasound elastography has been developed as a diagnostic modality for a number of diseases that maps mechanical property of tissue. Optical coherence elastography (OCE) has a higher spatial resolution than ultrasound elastography. OCE, therefore, could be a great help for early diagnosis. In this study, we made tissue phantoms and measured their compressive moduli with a rheometer measuring the response to applied force. Uniaxial strain of the tissue phantom was also measured with OCE by using cross-correlation of speckles and compared with the results from the rheometer. In order to compare stiffness of tissue phantoms by OCE, the applied force should be measured in addition to the strain. We, however, did not use a load cell that directly measures the applied force for each sample. Instead, we utilized one silicone film (called as reference phantom) for all OCE measurements that indirectly indicated the amount of the applied force by deformation. Therefore, all measurements were based on displacement, which was natural and effective for image-based elastography such as OCE.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.123-142
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• 2018

Objectives : This paper aims to study the I-Ching perspective in Shanghansuyuanji. Methods : Key words associated with I-Ching was searched in Shanghansuyuanji and analyzed its meaning and categorized thematically. Results & Conclusions : 1. Qianhuang symbolized Shaoyang, The Power of the Great hexagrams, Jueyin Peace hexagrams, Taiyin Gen Earth, Yangming Kun Earth, Shaoyin Return hexagrams, but didn't symbolize Taiyang, making it not uniform. 2. Qianhuang explained physiology focusing the change of YangQi with I-Ching perspective. This is possible because Shanghanlun thought that much of YangQi and I-Ching set a high value on Yang. 3. Qianhuang explained pathology such as insomnia, epigastric fullness, splenic constipation syndrome, Taiyinbing syndrome, somnolence, thirst, YinYang exchange with I-Ching perspective, it is meaningful because it enriches medical YinYanglun. 4. Qianhuang explained prescriptions such as Daqinglongtang, Zhenwutang, Shizaotang, Fuzixiexintang, Dachaihutang, Baihutang, a comparison between Daqinglongtang and Xiaoqinglongtang with I-Ching perspective. This is helpful to grasp the image of prescriptions. 5. Qianhuang explained nature of drugs such as Guizhi, Fuling, Fuzi, Qiandan, Rougui with I-Ching perspective, and it combines well with the features of I-Ching with drugs efficacy. 6. Qianhuang explained diseases of the six Meridians curing time with I-Ching perspective. This shows diseases of the six Meridians recover when Corresponding Qi is vigorous or Conflict Qi appears, and it is persuasive. For reasons mentioned above; Shanghansuyuanji is meaningful as Shanghanlun commentary.

• Journal of health informatics and statistics
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.318-328
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• 2018

Objectives: People are living longer, but often with diseases or chronic conditions. As a consequence, interest in resolving insurance blind spots is growing. This study provides substandard risk-relevant statistics to help substandard risks who are likely to fall in insurance blind spots obtain insurance coverage, such as the reimbursement of medical costs, as well as to stimulate insurance product development. Methods: This study uses National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) cohort data to determine the relevant statistics. The incidence rates of severe diseases are derived and compared against standard risks to establish a set of relative risk factors. These incidence rates of standard and substandard risks are then compared. Results: Currently, an individual's cancer history is used in the underwriting process for simplified issue insurance. However, underwriting focusing on hospitalization and procedures related to serious illnesses could lower premiums for substandard risks. Moreover, the statistical results could be used to expand the coverage of health insurance products. Conclusions: This study's relative risk factors can be used to derive simplified issue premium rates for substandard risks. They can also be used to implement discount and loading schemes for medical reimbursement insurance and help insurance companies implement proactive risk management.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.93-103
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• 2016

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the factors that increase fall risk in the residential environment and the perceived fall risk among community-dwelling elderly through comparisons between fallers and non-fallers. Methods: The subjects were 95 community-dwelling elderly aged 65 years and over residing in the metropolitan city of Ulsan. A structured questionnaire consisting of items on sociodemographics and health- and fall-related characteristics was used and data were collected from July to August 2015. The data were analyzed with the SPSS/WIN program. Results: Among recent fallers, 38.9% had diagnosed diseases when the fall occurred, 56.87% were fearful of a recurrent fall, and 86.5% stated that they were increasing their carefulness but that had led to a decrease in activity. There were significant differences between elders who had fallen at least once and elders who had no falls in age, health status, depression, the experience of falling, fear of falling, diseases, and medications. Conclusion: The results indicate a need to assess risk factors to identify older adults with a high risk for falling and the need to develop multifactorial intervention programs that consider both environmental and perceived risk factors as well as physical risk factors to reduce and prevent falls among the elderly.