• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.120-129
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• 2011

The purposes of this study were to measure health related quality of life (HRQOL) of persons disabled by stroke dwelling in Gyeongju-si using EQ-5D and to estimate total QALYs loss of persons disabled by stroke in Korea. The eligible subjects were 982 persons with stroke aged 50 and over in Gyeongju-si disabled registry, as of March, 2008. Interviewers measured HRQOL of study subjects using EQ-5D. EQ-5D index, utility weight, was derived from the Korean valuation set. In order to compare the results of this study, we selected two comparison groups representing Korean healthy population and general population of Korean using the 4th Korean National Health & Nutrition Examination Survey. Finally, after age and gender standardization, we estimated the total QALYs losses of persons disabled by stroke in Korea. Of 982 eligible subjects, 566 persons participated in the survey (response rate: 57.6%). In both of female and male, utility weights in the 70s or 80s were lower than those of the 50s or 60s. Utility weights differences among persons with disability, general population, and healthy population in male were larger than those differences in female. Total estimated QALY losses of persons disabled by stroke were 67,011.6 QALYs lower than healthy control group and 54,167.1 QALYs lower than general population, respectively.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.161-166
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was intended to perform a cephalometric comparison between the patients with and without obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The factors influencing the OSA in the lateral cephalogram were also investigated. Methods: Fifty patients who had visited the Sleep Disorder Clinic at the Ajou University Hospital and evaluated with the polysomnograph (PSG) and cephalogram, were included in the study. The patients had the apnea-hypopnea episode over 5 times per hour (apnea-hypopnea index $[AHI]{\geq}5$) were diagnosed as OSA after the overnight PSG. To evaluate the hard and soft tissue profiles, the cephalometric radiograms were taken at the maximal intercuspation. The correlation between the patient's age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI) and AHI was inspected in the OSA and control group. The difference between the OSA and control group was evaluated (Mann-Whitney U Test). The cephalometric influencing factors to OSA were analyzed (Pearson's correlation coefficient) statistically using SPSS statistics. Results: The OSA Group had a significantly higher BMI than the control group. The mean lower facial height (ANS-Me) was longer in the OSA group; however, statistically significant difference was not detected in the anteroposterior craniofacial measurements. The distance between mandibular plane and hyoid bone of the OSA group was significantly longer than that of the control group. The hyoid position (MP-Hyoid) had a positive correlation between AHI (P<0.001). However, the measurements of oropharyngeal airway were not different between the two groups. The hypothesis, that the antero-posteriorly narrow oropharyngeal airway may aggravate the airway resistance and give rise to a higher AHI, was rejected in the study. Conclusion: We suggest that the lateral cephalogram may be utilized as a useful method to evaluate OSA. The patients with a lower hyoid position can be expected to have higher risks of OSA. However, a comprehensive intraoral inspection, including the soft palate and tonsilar hypertrophy, is emphasized, as the lateral cepahlogram cannot visualize the oropharyngeal status completely.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.746-755
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• 2020

Objective: To identify predictors of pulmonary fibrosis development by combining follow-up thin-section CT findings and clinical features in patients discharged after treatment for COVID-19. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study involved 32 confirmed COVID-19 patients who were divided into two groups according to the evidence of fibrosis on their latest follow-up CT imaging. Clinical data and CT imaging features of all the patients in different stages were collected and analyzed for comparison. Results: The latest follow-up CT imaging showed fibrosis in 14 patients (male, 12; female, 2) and no fibrosis in 18 patients (male, 10; female, 8). Compared with the non-fibrosis group, the fibrosis group was older (median age: 54.0 years vs. 37.0 years, p = 0.008), and the median levels of C-reactive protein (53.4 mg/L vs. 10.0 mg/L, p = 0.002) and interleukin-6 (79.7 pg/L vs. 11.2 pg/L, p = 0.04) were also higher. The fibrosis group had a longer-term of hospitalization (19.5 days vs. 10.0 days, p = 0.001), pulsed steroid therapy (11.0 days vs. 5.0 days, p < 0.001), and antiviral therapy (12.0 days vs. 6.5 days, p = 0.012). More patients on the worst-state CT scan had an irregular interface (59.4% vs. 34.4%, p = 0.045) and a parenchymal band (71.9% vs. 28.1%, p < 0.001). On initial CT imaging, the irregular interface (57.1%) and parenchymal band (50.0%) were more common in the fibrosis group. On the worst-state CT imaging, interstitial thickening (78.6%), air bronchogram (57.1%), irregular interface (85.7%), coarse reticular pattern (28.6%), parenchymal band (92.9%), and pleural effusion (42.9%) were more common in the fibrosis group. Conclusion: Fibrosis was more likely to develop in patients with severe clinical conditions, especially in patients with high inflammatory indicators. Interstitial thickening, irregular interface, coarse reticular pattern, and parenchymal band manifested in the process of the disease may be predictors of pulmonary fibrosis. Irregular interface and parenchymal band could predict the formation of pulmonary fibrosis early.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.474-485
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• 2009

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the characteristics of nutrient intakes of adults aged 20-64 years in Daegu and Gyeongbuk areas in comparison with Seoul and the whole nation. Data from the 1st (1998) to 3rd (2005) Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) were used. Total numbers of subjects were 296-369 from Daegu and 307-447 from Gyeongbuk while 1076-1244 from Seoul and 5436-6852 from the whole nation. Average energy intakes (men; 2,386, 2,581, 2,305 Kcal, women; 1,937, 1,981, 1,804 Kcal in 1998, 2001, 2005, respectively) of the subjects from Daegu were higher than those from Gyeongbuk (men; 2309, 2267, 2487 Kcal, women; 1,851, 1,845, 1,901 Kcal) and those from Seoul in 1998 and 2001 but not different from those in 2005. Energy from carbohydrate was consistently higher in the subjects from Daegu and Gyeongbuk than in those from Seoul from 1998 to 2005, when the subjects whose carbohydrate energy was over 70% comprised 34 to 58% of the total in the two regions. In 2005, the average intakes of calcium of women and men from Daegu were 512 and 573 mg, iron, 12.8 and 16.6 mg, sodium, 4,650 and 5,951 mg, potassium, 2,585 and 3,152 mg, vitamin A, 823 and 1,038 ${\mu}$gRE, thiamin, 1.10 and 1.43 mg, riboflavin, 1.08 and 1.33 mg, and niacin. 15.4 and 19.3 mg, and vitamin C, 94 and 105 mg and these intakes were not very different from those from Gyeongbuk except higher sodium intake of the Gyeongbuk subjects. Nutrients of which the intakes were over 50% lower than EAR were calcium and riboflavin and those about 30% lower than EAR were iron in women, vitamins A and C in men and women from Daegu and Gyeongbuk. From the present results, it is concluded that high dependence on carbohydrate as energy source and low calcium intake in adults of Daegu and Gyeongbuk are serious and that low intakes of riboflavin, iron and vitamins A and C need to be improved. But changes in the intakes of total energy and other micronutrients from 1998 to 2005 were not reliable enough to judge the regional nutrition due to large variations during this period. The present study also provides the adults' nutrient intakes separated by sex and age groups in the three regions which could be readily used for setting up the nutrition policy for the adults in the regions.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.469-475
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• 2007

Purpose : This study was performed to compare the safety, efficacy and clinical results of the Amplatzer septal occluder (ASO) for closure of secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) with surgery. Methods : One hundred fifteen patients diagnosed as isolated secundum ASD in Gil Medical Center, Gachon University of Medicine from January 2000 to July 2006 were included. Seventy patients underwent surgical repair of ostium secundum ASD. Forty-five consecutive patients were treated with percutaneous closure using ASO. We compared the mortality, morbidity, hospital stay, and efficacy between two groups. Results : Male to female ratio was 1:2.4. The mean age and the size of defects were not statistically different. No mortality occurred in either group. The success rate was 97.8% in the device group and 100% in the surgical group. The overall rate of complications was higher in the surgical group than in the device group (64.0 vs. 15.6%, P<0.05). Hospital stay was shorter in the device group than in the surgical group ($4.2{\pm}1.2$ vs. $12.4{\pm}4.7days$, P<0.0001). Residual shunt rates were more frequent in the device group (8.9%) than in the surgical group (4.3%) at discharge. All residual shunts disappeared at 3 months follow-up. Conclusion : Percutaneous closure of ASD using ASO is a safe and effective alternative to surgical repair. The indications of percutaneous ASD closure with ASO would be expanded by accumulation of experiences and evolutions of device.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.140-144
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• 2017

Purpose: The optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) measured by ultrasonography is among the indicators of intracranial pressure (ICP) elevation. However, whether ONSD measurement is useful for initial treatment remains controversial. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between ONSD measured by computed tomography (CT) and ICP in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods: A total of 246 patients with severe trauma from January 1, 2015 until December 31, 2015 were included in the study. A total of 179 patients with brain damage with potential for ICP elevation were included in the TBI group. The remaining 67 patients comprised the non-TBI group. A comparison was made between the two groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to determine the accuracy of ONSD when used as a screening test for the TBI group including those with TBI with midline shift (with elevated ICP). Results: The mean injury severity score (ISS) and glasgow coma scale (GCS) of all patients were $24.2{\pm}6.1$ and $5.4{\pm}0.8$, respectively. The mean ONSD of the TBI group ($5.5{\pm}1.0mm$) was higher than that of the non-TBI group ($4.7{\pm}0.6mm$). Some significant differences in age ($55.3{\pm}18.1$ vs. $49.0{\pm}14.8$, p<0.001), GCS ($11.7{\pm}4.1$ versus $13.3{\pm}3.0$, p<0.001), and ONSD ($5.5{\pm}1.0$ vs. $4.7{\pm}0.6$, p<0.001) were observed between the TBI and the non-TBI group. An ROC analysis was used to assess the correlation between TBI and ONSD. Results showed an area under the ROC curve (AUC) value of 0.752. The same analysis was used in the TBI with midline shift group, which showed an AUC of 0.912. Conclusions: An ONSD of >5.5 mm, measured on CT, is a good indicator of ICP elevation. However, since an ONSD is not sensitive enough to detect an increased ICP, it should only be used as one of the parameters in detecting ICP along with other screening tests.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.741-749
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• 2000

This study was performed to investigate the relationship between reversed circadian blood pressure and risk factors of peripheral vascular disease in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) subjects. The subjects in this study were 18 NIDDM patients who were hospitalized in a medical unit of an university medical center located in Incheon, Korea, between November, 1998 and March, 1999. Blood pressure was measured with a mercury sphygmomanometer by 2 trained examiners every 2 hours during 24 hours. NIDDM subjects were divided into a dipper group and non-dipper group. Dippers are defined as those who show a mean nighttime blood pressure(BP) drop of more than 10% compared with daytime BP. Non-dippers are defined as those who show a mean nighttime BP drop of less than 10%, or an elevation in BP compared with daytime BP. Daytime BP included values obtained between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Night time BP included values obtained between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Data was analyzed by SPSS/PC package. Chi-square( $^2$) test was used for the comparison of sex between The dipper group and non-dipper group. Mann-Whitney test was used for comparisons of values of the risk factors of peripheral vascular disease and the frequency of complications of diabetes between the dipper group and non-dipper group. The results are as follows. There were no significant differences in daytime systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressures between the dipper group and non-dipper group. However, night time systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressures in the non-dipper group were significantly nigher than those in the dipper group (p=.021). There were no differences in sex, age, body, weight, duration of diabetes, serum lipid levels, BUN and HbA1c between the two groups. On the contrary, 87.5% of non-dipper group subjects showed having hypertension, 30% of dipper group subjects showed having hypertension and this difference was statistically significant (p=.018). All of the non-dipper group subjects (N=8) showed having at least one diabetic complication. However, 40% of the dipper group subjects (N=10) showed having no diabetic complication at all and this difference was also statistically significant (p=.049). There were no significant differences in frequency of nephropathy, neuropathy and retinopathy between the dipper group and non-dipper group.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.231-237
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• 2017

Background: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) are conditions with significant morbidity and mortality. Proximal DVT has a significant association with PE and possible fatal outcomes. Traditionally, PE is subdivided into symptomatic PE and asymptomatic PE, which have different treatments, preventions and prognoses. The growing utilization of computed tomography pulmonary angiography has led to increased detection of PE in DVT patients. This study examined the clinical characteristics and compared symptomatic PE and asymptomatic PE following proximal DVT. Methods: The medical records of 258 DVT inpatients from July, 2012 to June, 2015 were reviewed retrospectively. After excluding the patients who did not performed PE evaluation and were not diagnosed with PE, 95 patients diagnosed with PE following proximal DVT were enrolled in this study. They were divided into the symptomatic PE group and asymptomatic PE group. Results: The body weight, body mass index, thrombus size, thrombus length and location were similar in the two groups. The symptomatic PE following proximal DVT group showed an older age, higher incidence of emergency department access (85.0% vs. 38.7%, p<0.001) and preceding infection (25.0% vs. 1.3%, p<0.001) as well as a higher incidence of immobilization (45.0% vs 13.3%, p=0.016). In the multivariate logistic regression study, preceding infection and emergency department access showed significant association with symptomatic PE. Conclusion: In proximal DVT inpatients, symptomatic PE was associated with emergency department access and preceding infection. The possibility of a symptomatic PE event should be considered in proximal DVT patients, especially those who were admitted through the emergency department and had preceding infection.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.143-150
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• 2011

Purpose: The object of this study is to compare the patient satisfaction in the view of scarring, cost, and hospital stay between the conventional suture method and a method using Histoacryl$^{(R)}$ (2-N-butylcyanoacrylate) adhesive for treating facial lacerations in the emergency department. Method: This study is a randomized prospective trial, which was conducted from December 2009 to January 2010. The participants include 109 patients who visited the emergency room in Deajon Eulji Medical Center. The ages ranged from 1 to 59 (mean age of 18.7), and all had facial lacerations of less than 3 cm. In order to treat the facial lacerations, an emergency medicine doctor used tissue adhesive (2-N-butylcyanoacrylate, Histoacryl$^{(R)}$) for 41 patients in the experimental group, and a plastic surgeon performed conventional suturing for 68 patients in the control group. The ER-stay and the primary treatment fee were compared in the two groups, and the scarring was evaluated 10 to 11 months from suturing by using the Modified Hollander Method and the 10-cm scaled VAS (visual analogue scale: score 0=no scar, score 10=very severe scar) Result: The ER stay was 76 minutes for the experimental group and 107 minutes for the control group, showing that statistically significantly less time of 31 minutes was taken in the experimental group. The cost of the experimental group was 40000 won (50.1%) more expensive than the control group, with an average cost of 121900 won for the experimental group and 81200 won for the control group. As for scar evaluation, 10.56 months after suturing, the experimental group showed a better result with a score of 2.6 compared to a score of 3.4 in the control group; however, this difference was not statistically significant ($p$ <0.05). As to a detailed evaluation of scar characteristics, the experimental group had a statistically significantly better result in scar elevation, with a score of 0.6 compared to a score of 1.65 for the control group. Conclusion: If appropriate patients are selected, the method using tissue adhesive directly applied by an EM doctor not only decreases ER stay but also creates similar patients satisfaction, with statistically better result in scar elevation, compared to the conventional suture method; thus, ultimately general patient satisfaction is increased.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2019

Purpose: The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of how the trauma care system applied on the management of trauma patient within the region. Methods: We divided the patients in a pre-trauma system group and a post-trauma system group according to the time when we began to apply the trauma care system in the Halla Hospital after designation of a trauma center. We compared annual general characteristics, injury severity score, the average numbers of the major trauma patients, clinical outcomes of the emergency department, and mortality rates between the two groups. Results: No significant differences were found in the annual patients' average age ($54.1{\pm}20.0$ vs. $52.8{\pm}18.2$, p=0.201), transportation pathways (p=0.462), injury mechanism (p=0.486), injury severity score (22.93 vs. 23.96, p=0.877), emergency room (ER) stay in minutes (199.17 vs. 194.29, p=0.935), time to operation or procedure in minutes (154.07 vs. 142.1, p=0.767), time interval to intensive care unit (ICU) in minutes (219.54 vs. 237.13, p=0.662). The W score and Z score indicated better outcomes in post-trauma system group than in pre-trauma system group (W scores, 2.186 vs. 2.027; Z scores, 2.189 vs. 1.928). However, when analyzing survival rates for each department, in the neurosurgery department, in comparison with W score and Z score, both W score were positive and Z core was higher than +1.96. (pre-trauma group: 3.426, 2.335 vs. post-trauma group: 4.17, 1.967). In other than the neurosurgery department, W score was positive after selection, but Z score was less than +1.96, which is not a meaningful outcome of treatment (pre-trauma group: -0.358, -0.271 vs. post-trauma group: 1.071, 0.958). Conclusions: There were significant increases in patient numbers and improvement in survival rate after the introduction of the trauma system. However, there were no remarkable change in ER stay, time to ICU admission, time interval to emergent procedure or operation, and survival rates except neurosurgery. To achieve meaningful survival rates and the result of the rise of the trauma index, we will need to secure sufficient manpower, including specialists in various surgical area as well as rapid establishment of the trauma center.