• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.16-25
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• 2010

Objectives: Compliance of herbal medicine is extremely important in Korean oriental medicine, since herbal medicine is main approach to the most of outpatients in Korean pediatrics. The more compliant to the medication, the more effective care is given to children. Thus, we conducted this research to evaluate the compliance of herbal medicine, and factors associated with compliance in children. Methods: 61 children (men 28, women 33) were participated who visited the Korean Oriental Medicine Department in university hospital for two weeks. We used Morisky's self-reported questionnaire which is consisted of four questions. Also, we checked medical records and researched respondent to acquire more factors. We defined as a "full compliant" if answers were 'No' to all of the questions. We analyzed the compliance and associated factors with Pearson's $x^2$-test and Fisher's exact test, and Spearman correlation coefficient. Compliance and associated factors were analyzed with linear regression. Results: Compliance of herbal medicine was not related to respondent, and 34 children (55.7%) were non-compliant. The best compliant type of herbal medicine was granule medication (p=0.046). However, there was no relationship between compliance and age, sex, sibling, purpose of medication, period of disease, frequency of medication, and medication duration. The age, frequency of medication, medication duration, and purpose of medications(period of disease) had correlation(p<0.01). Also, older children tended to forget to take herbal medicine(p=0.004). Conclusions: Over an half of the total subjects (55.7%) were non-compliant, so we should improve compliance of herbal medicine. Since granule form of medication was shown to have the best compliance, we should try to use granule form of medication instead of liquid medications. Also, we can also improve compliance with giving attention to the patients, especially older children in order to improve their compliance.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.499-505
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• 2011

In this paper, we proposed an adaptive fuzzy sliding mode control for nonlinear systems without parameter projection method. By modifying the controller structure, the parameters of the estimated input gain function are guaranteed not being identically zero and it is shown that the control scheme will not cause any implementation problem even if the estimated value of input gain function is zero at any moment during on-line operations. Except for the input gain function which an approximate estimate for its lower bound is needed, the proposed control scheme does not assume a priori the exact values of the bounding parameters. Based on Lyapunov synthesis methods, the overall control system guarantees that the tracking error asymptotically converges to zero and that all signals involved in controller are uniformly bounded. This can be illustrated by the simulation results for an inverted pendulum system.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.476-483
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• 2007

One of the main function of Ieodo Ocean Research Station is to service the information about the weather and fishing grounds condition which are collected through calibrating convection flow and ocean current around the station. However, due to the influence of the station's structure below sea level, it is difficult to obtain the exact flow data. Therefore, it is required to research on the effect of the structure and the method to evaluate and revise the observed data. In this paper, as a basic study, it deals with the algorithm that simulate the interaction between ocean current and the station structure, followed by discussions about the way to applicate the algorithm. Through 3-dimensional computational fluid dynamics analyses (using Navier-Stokes equations with K-turbulence model), the influence of the station and submerged rocks are quantitatively evaluated, and we would suggest methods how to obtain accurate flow information from the measured rough data.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.88-97
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• 2015

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of auricular acupressure therapy on decreasing smoking rates, desire for smoking, and exhaled carbon monoxide in male college students. Methods: The quasi-experimental, nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used in this study. The participants (n=56) were assigned to the experimental group (n=29) that received auricular acupressure therapy or the control group (n=27) that received placebo therapy. The therapy was applied for 5 days followed by 1 or 2 days of rest. The therapy was repeated 2 times. To identify the effect of the experimental treatments, assessments of smoking rates, desire for smoking and exhaled carbon monoxide were measured. Data were analyzed using $x^2$ test, Fisher's exact test, t-test and Repeated measure ANOVA with the SPSS version 21.0 program. Results: The experimental group showed significantly lower smoking rates (t=6.60, p<.001), desire for smoking (t=3.37, p=.002) and exhaled carbon monoxide levels (t=6.22, p<.001) after application of the therapy. Significant group${\times}$time interaction effect was found in exhaled carbon monoxide levels between the experimental group and the control group (F=8.73, p=.001). Conclusion: Auricular acupressure therapy was considered to likely be useful as a therapeutic intervention for smoking cessation in male young adults.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.545-557
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was to investigate the use of mouth-guards and maxillofacial injuries and to examined the relationship among variables in athletes group. Methods : The subjects were 459(86.5%), who were 18 years or older with mean age of 20.7 years. Data was collected using a self administrated questionnaire from May 25 to June 15, 2009. We surveyed maxillofacial injuries(temporo-mandibular disorders contained) and mouth-guards usage and confidence concerning mouth-guards in athletes. The data were analysed with chi-square analysis, fisher's exact test and logistic regression using the SPSS 15.0 windows. Results : Prevalence of body or maxillofacial injuries experiences was 54.5% for athletes and 47.1% for non-athletes groups(p>0.05). The other hand, the incidence temporo-mandibular disorders was 67.0% for athletes and 49.8% for non-athletes groups(p<0.05). The experience of the use of mouth-guards was 83.3% for athletes and 78.8% for non-athletes, there were not significant differences between athletes and non-athletes groups (p>0.05). Risk factors found to be significantly related to the occurrence of maxillofacial injury were: unused mouth-guards(OR=2.83), no rules for use of mouth-guards(OR=2.46). Conclusions : Based on the findings, maxillofacial injuries experience is highly associated with mouth-guards usage, not only athletes also general people should be educated on the use of mouth-guard in order to reduce the incidence of maxillofacial injuries.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 2015

Purpose: A system to measure the visibility of agricultural tractor operators was designed and evaluated according to ISO standards, and a blind area diagram around the tested tractor was created based on the manual method recommended by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Methods: A visibility measurement system was designed and evaluated based on the ISO 5006 and ISO 5721-1 standards. Two bulbs used to simulate the operator's eyes were mounted on a bar with a supporting frame. A wooden frame was used to determine the seat index point position. The 12-m visibility test circle was divided into six sectors of vision, and the test tractor was placed at the center of the circle. Artificial light was supplied in the darkened environment, and shadow or masking effects were measured manually around the 12-m circle. Results: When the bulbs were placed at the operator's eye level, front visibility was good; no masking was found in the "A" vision sector, but larger masking widths were found in the "B" and "C" vision sectors. Since the masking width exceeded 700 mm, additional tests, such as movement of the light sources to both sides of the operator's eye level, were performed. Less than six masking effects were found in the semi-circle of vision to the front, and more than one masking was found in the "B" and "C" visual fields. The minimum distance between the centers of two masking effects exceeded 2500 mm when measured as a chord on the semi-circle of vision. A blind area diagram was created to define the exact nature of the blind spots and mirror visibility. Conclusions: Visibility evaluation is an effective way to enable proper and safe operation for agricultural tractor operators. Inclusion of this visibility evaluation test in the general testing process might aid tractor manufacturers.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.58 no.11
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• pp.446-450
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• 2015

Purpose: Meningitis is among the most common infections affecting the central nervous system. It can be difficult to determine the exact pathogen responsible for the infection and patients are often treated with empiric antibiotics. This study was conducted to identify the most common clinical characteristics of enteroviral meningitis in children and evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for early detection of an enterovirus. Methods: We analyzed the medical records of children admitted to Korea University Medical Center and diagnosed with meningitis on the basis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis and RT-PCR from CSF and other samples from January 2010 to August 2013. Results: A total of 333 patients were enrolled and classified into four groups based on diagnosis: enteroviral meningitis (n=110), bacterial meningitis (n=23), other viral meningitis (n=36), and unknown etiology (n=164). Patients with bacterial meningitis were younger than those in the other groups (P<0.001). Pleocytosis in CSF was similar across all groups. Of patients in the enteroviral meningitis group, 92.7% were diagnosed based on RT-PCR findings. Mean length of hospital stay for patients with enteroviral meningitis was 6.08 days, which was significantly shorter than that for patients with meningitis of bacterial etiology (19.73 days, P<0.001). Conclusion: Diagnosis of enteroviral meningitis before viral culture results are available is possible using RT-PCR. Accurate diagnosis reduces the length of hospital stay and helps to avoid unnecessary empiric antibiotic treatment.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.716-720
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• 2015

Background This study has been conducted with the aim of evaluating modified T-plate interpositional arthroplasty. Methods A prospective comparative study in patients admitted with temporomandibular joint ankylosis. Ankylotic temporomandibular joint arthroplasty included condylectomy gap arthroplasty in 7, temporalis muscle flap interpositional arthroplasty in 8, and modified T-plate interpositional arthroplasty in 13 cases. The patients were followed for three years. Collected data were tabulated and subjected to Fisher's exact test, chi-square test and probability estimation. Results A significant increase in interincisal distance of 32 mm was seen in 12 (92.31%) patients in the T-plate interposition group, in 2 (25%) cases of the temporalis muscle flap interposition group, and in 1 case (14.28%) of the condylectomy group at 12, 24, and 36 months. Re-ankylosis was observed in 1 case (9.69%) of the T-plate interposition group, while as it was observed in 4 (50%) cases in the temporalis muscle flap interposition group and 4 (57.14%) cases in the condylectomy group, and these differences were statistically significant. Conclusions Our clinical experience with the use of the T-plate over the past 5 years has been encouraging, and our physiotherapy technique is quite simple. Even illiterate parents can assess it easily. Hence, we recommend this easy technique that does not damage the temporalis muscle for the management of temporomandibular joint ankylosis.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.62-73
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• 2015

We developed an evans blue-indocyanine green-$^{99m}Tc$-human serum albumin conjugate for sentinel lymph node mapping and we describe its unique potential usage for clinical implications. This conjugate has combined the strengths of visible blue dye, near-infrared fluorescence and radioisotope into one single conjugate without any additional weakness/disadvantage. All the components of evans blue-indocyanine green-$^{99m}Tc$-human serum albumin are safe and of low cost, and they have already been clinically used. This conjugate was stable in the serum, it showed a long retention time in the lymphatic system and the lymph nodes showed a much higher signal-to-noise ratio after the conjugate was injected intradermally into the paw of mice. Both the single-photon emission computed tomography and near-infrared fluorescent images of the mice were successfully obtained at the same time as the excised sentinel lymph nodes showed blue color. The visual color, near-infrared fluorescence and gamma ray from this agent could be complementary for each other in all the steps of sentinel lymph node sampling: exploring and planning sentinel lymph node before excision with visualization of the exact sentinel lymph node location during an operation. Therefore, the triple modal agent will possibly be very ideal for sentinel lymph node mapping because of the high signal-to-noise ratio for non-invasive imaging and its complementary multimodal nature, easy preparation and safety. It is promising for clinical applications and it may have great advantages over the traditional single modal methods.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.252-259
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• 2004

Objectives : Halitosis is a common human condition, exact pathophysiological mechanisms of which are unclear. This study, which investigates halitosis patients' characteristics and their related factors, was done with intent to establish a foundation for the Oriental Medical treatment of halitosis. Methods : 329 patients were surveyed by reviewing medical charts and questionnaires from the East-West Halitosis Clinic of Kyunghee Medical Center from May 1, 2001 to December 31, 2002. Sex, age, illness duration, coating on the tongue, postnasal drip, globus pharyngeus, indigestion, condition of feces, halimeter measurements and results of the salivary scans were analyzed. Results : The thick and yellowish coating on the tongue was not a major cause of halitosis in the patients studied. Among the halitosis patients, 21.6% complained of postnasal drip, 15.6% of globus pharyngeus, 37.4% of indigestion, and 23.8% of diarrhea or constipation, suggesting the possibility of extra-oral origin in oral malodor. Conclusions : This study suggests that, when treating halitosis patients, intra-oral causes of halitosis aside, Oriental Medical treatments such as solving qi-stasis(氣鬱), augmenting deficiency of the spleen qi(碑氣虛) and treating gastric fever(胃熱) constitute effective management for oral malodor patients.