• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• 제59권3호
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• pp.127-134
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• 2015

The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation among age, symptoms and initial medication (IM), and the tolerance duration of IM in Korean people with Parkinson's disease (PD). We studied 60 patients with untreated early PD who were initially diagnosed in our hospital between Jun 2006 and Sep 2014. We collected data on sex, age at diagnosis, symptom duration until diagnosis, main motor symptoms, frequency and duration of IM through electronic medical records. We divided patients into groups depending on the number of drugs (MONO/COMBI) and whether to contain dopaminergic property (DOPA/NDOPA). We analyzed the correlation between age and symptoms in each two groups and calculated the mean tolerance duration of IM in each of the groups. The mean symptom duration until diagnosis was 12.2 months. The most frequent drug was levodopa formulations (80%) compared to dopamine agonists (58.3%). The number of patients in the COMBI group (63.3%) was more than that in the MONO group (36.7%). Half of the patients in the COMBI group were taking LDF+DA (50%). Except for tremor, no other symptom showed a significant correlation between with IM. The mean tolerance duration of IM was within 200 days. The mean duration for COMBI group (342.7 days) was longer than that for MONO group (209.8 days). Among regimens, the mean tolerance duration of DOPA group (293.3 days) was longer than for NDOPA group (251.4 days). There was no difference in survival curves between any of the two groups. We found that patients experienced symptoms for over a year in Korea. This indicates that diagnosis time is faster than reported in other previous studies. The longest tolerance duration among IM was for dopaminergic combination therapy. More research is needed to design the most appropriate treatment for PD in Korean patients.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제63권4호
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• pp.463-469
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• 2020

Objective : This study aimed to investigate the changes and significance of microRNA155 levels in serum of patients with cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). Methods : Thirty patients with CSVD who met the inclusion criteria were selected and divided into eight patients with lacunar infarction (LI) group and 22 patients with multiple lacunar infarction (MLI) combined with white matter lesions (WML) group according to the results of head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Thirty samples from healthy volunteers without abnormalities after head MRI examination were selected as the control group. The levels of serum microRNA155 in each group were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction, and the correlation between microRNA155 in the serum of patients with CSVD and the increase of imaging lesions was analyzed by Spearman correlation analysis. Results : Compared with the control group, the serum microRNA155 level in the LI group, MLI combined with WML group increased, the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05); serum microRNA155 level was positively correlated with the increase of imaging lesions (p<0.05). Conclusion : The change of serum microRNA155 level in patients with CSVD may be one of its self-protection mechanisms, and the intensity of this self-protection mechanism is positively correlated with the number of CSVD lesions.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제61권5호
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• pp.167-173
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• 2018

Purpose: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a hyperinflammatory syndrome with many causes, including Kawasaki disease (KD). The purpose of this study was to identify the laboratory tests needed to easily differentiate KD with HLH from incomplete KD alone. Methods: We performed a retrospective study on patients diagnosed with incomplete KD and incomplete KD with HLH (HLH-KD) between January 2012 and March 2015. We compared 8 secondary HLH patients who were first diagnosed with incomplete KD with all 247 incomplete KD diagnosed patients during the study period. The complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, platelet count, and serum total protein, albumin, triglyceride, C-reactive protein, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and ferritin levels were compared. Clinical characteristics and echocardiography findings were also compared between the 2 groups. Results: The total duration of fever was longer in the HLH-KD group than in the KD group. White blood cell and platelet counts were higher in the KD group. Alanine aminotransferase, ferritin, and coronary artery diameter were increased in the HLH-KD group compared with those in the KD group. The median of NT-proBNP was significantly higher in the HLH-KD group than in the KD group at 889.0 (interquartile range [IQR], 384.5-1792.0) pg/mL vs. 233.0 (IQR, 107.0-544.0) pg/mL. Conclusion: The NT-proBNP level may be helpful in distinguishing incomplete KD from KD with HLH. The NT-proBNP level should be determined in KD patients with prolonged fever, in addition to the white blood cell count, platelet count, and ferritin level, to evaluate secondary HLH.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.274-286
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• 2018

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of preoperative low body mass index (BMI) on both the short- and long-term outcomes in patients with gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: A total of 510 patients with gastric cancer were divided into the following 3 groups: low BMI group (${\leq}18.5kg/m^2$, n=51), normal BMI group ($18.6-24.9kg/m^2$, n=308), and high BMI group (${\geq}25.0kg/m^2$, n=151). Results: There were significantly more stage III/IV patients in the low BMI group than in the other groups (P=0.001). Severe postoperative complications were more frequent (P=0.010) and the survival was worse (P<0.001) in the low BMI group. The subgroup analysis indicated that survival was worse in the low BMI group of the stage I/II subgroup (P=0.008). The severe postoperative complication rate was higher in the low BMI group of the stage III/IV subgroup (P=0.001), although the recurrence rate and survival did not differ in the stage III/IV subgroup among all the BMI groups. Low BMI was an independent poor prognostic factor in the stage I/II subgroup (disease-free survival: hazard ratio [HR], 13.521; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.186-154.197; P=0.036 and overall survival: HR, 5.130; 95% CI, 1.644-16.010; P=0.005), whereas low BMI was an independent risk factor for severe postoperative complications in the stage III/IV subgroup (HR, 17.158; 95% CI, 1.383-212.940; P=0.027). Conclusions: Preoperative low BMI in patients with gastric cancer adversely affects survival among those with stage I/II disease and increases the severe postoperative complication rate among those with stage III/IV disease.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제56권9호
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• pp.389-395
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• 2013

Purpose: This single-center study was conducted to assess the changes in epidemiological and clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) over the past 7 years. Methods: This retrospective study included 135 children with KD, admitted to Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, between 2004 and 2005 (group A, n=53) and between 2011 and 2012 (group B, n=82). Medical records were reviewed to obtain information regarding the presenting signs and symptoms, demographic characteristics, and laboratory and echocardiographic findings associated with KD. Results: The hospital admission date after onset was significantly earlier in group B than in group A (P=0.008). The proportion of patients with incomplete KD was 45.3% and 65.9% in group A and B, respectively (P=0.018). The number of pretreatment coronary artery lesions (CALs) were significantly lesser in group B than in group A. (10/53 vs. 5/82, P=0.021). No significant differences was observed in the incidence of CALs at discharge, febrile phase duration, hospital stay duration, incidence of retreatment, and intravenous immunoglobulin dose between 2 groups. The total febrile phase was shorter in patients with incomplete KD than in those with complete KD in both groups. Conclusion: The proportion of incomplete KD has become higher. Furthermore, early admission and management of patients with KD may be related to increased incomplete KD and decreased CALs. Therefore, we believe that a diagnostic strategy for incomplete KD should be established regardless of the presence of coronary lesions.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• 제34권4호
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• pp.11-21
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• 2020

Objectives This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of Ephedra sinica (E. sinica), Panax ginseng (P. ginseng), and Alisma orientale (A. orientale) Extract (MIT) on insulin resistance induced by Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods C57BL /6 male mice (8-week-old, 20 g) were divided into four groups: control group (Ctrl), high-fat diet group (HFDF), high fat diet with metformin administration group (METT), and high fat diet with MIT administration group (MITT). Each 10 mice were allocated to each group (a total of 40 mice). All mice were allowed to eat fat-rich diet freely throughout the experiment. To examine the effect of MIT, we observed Cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1), Cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2), G protein-coupled receptor 55 (GPR55), and Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). Results In the MITT group, positive reactions of the CB1, CB2, and GPR55 were significantly was significantly suppressed compared to the HFDF group. The positive reactions of the CD36 and TGF-β in the liver tissue were significantly suppressed in MITT. Conclusions MIT has the effect of improving NAFLD induced insulin resistance through the regulation of the lipid metabolism.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.168-174
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• 2015

Purpose: Recent studies have suggested that decreased serum potassium level may contribute to various metabolic disorders in adult patients including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We aimed to study the correlation between serum potassium levels and the histologic severity of NAFLD in children. Methods: Pediatric patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD were included in this study. Demographic, clinical, and histopathological data were obtained. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess whether potassium levels are associated with the presence of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) or fibrosis after adjusting for possible confounders. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Among 125 biopsies, 49.6% (62) had evidence of NASH while 66.4% (83) had some degree of fibrosis (stage 1-3). Mean serum potassium was significantly lower in NASH group as compared to non-NASH group ($4.4{\pm}0.42mmoL/L$ vs. $4.8{\pm}0.21$, p<0.001). Higher potassium level had negative correlation with presence of steatosis, ballooning, lobular inflammation, fibrosis and NAFLD activity score (p<0.05). On multivariable analysis and after adjusting for the metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance, higher potassium level was significantly associated with lower likelihood of having a histological diagnosis of NASH on biopsy (odds ratio [OR], 0.12; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.05-0.28; p<0.001). Similarly, the likelihood of having fibrosis decreases by 76% for every 0.5 mmoL/L increase in potassium (OR, 0.24; 95% CI, 0.11-0.54; p<0.001). Conclusion: Our study shows an inverse relationship between serum potassium levels and the presence of aggressive disease (NASH and fibrosis) in children with NAFLD.

• Allergy, Asthma & Respiratory Disease
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• 제6권6호
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• pp.284-289
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• 2018

Purpose: Vitamin D plays an important role in calcium homeostasis and bone metabolism. It is associated with various diseases such as cardiovascular, immune, allergic and infectious disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the difference in clinical manifestations according to the concentration of vitamin D in mild bronchiolitis. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of medical records of patients with mild bronchiolitis from November 2016 to April 2017 in Daegu Fatima Hospital. Mild bronchiolitis was classified by the modified Tal's score method. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to a 25-hydroxyvitamin D level of 20 ng/mL. We analyzed the clinical characteristics and laboratory data from the 2 groups. Results: Of the 64 patients, 19 were included in the deficiency group and 45 in the normal group. Vitamin D levels were $11.7{\pm}4.9ng/mL$ in the deficiency group and $28.8{\pm}5.0ng/mL$ in the normal group. There were no differences in clinical features between both groups. However, the vitamin D deficiency group had significantly longer hospitalization than the normal group ($6.78{\pm}2.74$ days vs. $5.3{\pm}1.7$ days, P=0.045). In the deficiency group, the incidence of previous respiratory diseases was significantly higher (P=0.001). No significant difference in blood and respiratory virus tests was observed. Conclusion: Low vitamin D levels in mild bronchiolitis were associated with longer hospitalization and prior respiratory disease. Vitamin D may affect the course of mild bronchiolitis.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• 제12권11호
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• pp.5063-5070
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• 2011

Foot-and-mouth disease occurs in cattle or wild animal with two hooves such as cow, pig, sheep, goat, and deer. In this study, survey on knowledge, awareness, and lifestyle about foot-and-mouth disease was performed on 398 elementary school in 5 regions in Gyeonggi-do. 49 people (92.5%) from the group who have been educated about the foot-and-mouth disease replied that they have heard of foot-and-mouth disease and 139 people (68.5%) from the group who have not been educated about the disease replied that they have not heard of the disease. About the knowledge regarding "Foot-and-mouth disease virus is destroyed at temperatures above $50^{\circ}C$, so cooked food is free from the virus", only 26 people (49.1%) from the educated group and 82 people (40.4%) have correct knowledge. When asked about when education on disease such as foot-and-mouth disease, both groups replied that the education should be done in elementary school. The FMD includes in Korea and is a disease where the infection occurrence is happening continuously from the various nation. Must prepare with a recognition and the knowledge where the people are proper.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.601-608
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• 1989

We sought the relationship between the pulmonary artery development and cardiac performance from the analysis of the 36 cyanotic congenital heart disease patients [mainly TOF] who were operated and indwelled the pulmonary artery and left atrial pressure monitoring catheters for the postoperative care at the department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery SNUH in 1988. They were pre-evaluated of the pulmonary artery index from the cineangiographic films and post-operatively, calculated the cardiac index from the arterial and mixed venous blood gas and also measured the mean left atrial pressure and total inotropic supporting amount after operation. The post-operative cardiac indices were 3.46 * 1.03 1/min/M2 [immediate postoperative], 3.31 [ 1.08 [postoperative 6 hrs], 3.29 [ 1.01 [12 hrs], 3.54 * 1.02 [24 hrs], 3.92 * 1.14 [48 hrs], respectively. We divided the patients the group A and group B from the size of the pulmonary artery index, that is, group A was below 200 mm2/M2 and group B above 200 mm2/M2 of the pulmonary artery index. The cardiac indices and left atrial pressure between the group A and B were not different in the view of the statistical significance but the total post-operative inotropic amount of group A was more than group B and it was significant statistically. We concluded that the smaller the pulmonary artery index is, the more postoperative supportive treatment [for example, inotropics] for the enhancement of cardiac performance is needed, and indirectly, which means that the pulmonary artery index was correlated with the postoperative cardiac performance in cyanotic congenital heart disease.