• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.699-708
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• 2008

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of tongue cleaner-equipped manual toothbrush on tooth cleanness, tongue cleanness and malodor index. Materials and methods: 504 subjects were included in this study. At 1st visit, basic information such as age, sex, smoking amount and alcohol consumption was recorded. Self assessment by individual subjects was performed regarding satisfaction to old toothbrush and toothbrushing habit. Tooth cleanness, tongue cleanness and malodor index was assessed by professional researcher. Tongue cleaner-equipped manual toothbrush was given to each subject with proper toothbrushing instruction. After 1 month passed, self assessment and researcher assessment regarding the same index were performed and analyzed statistically by chi-square test. Results: At 1st visit subjects seem to ignore tongue cleansing and showed poor tooth cleanness index, tongue cleanness index and malodor index, however the same subjects were motivated to clean their tongue and teeth and presented statistically improved distribution pattern in tooth cleanness index, tongue cleanness index and malodor index after using tongue cleaner-equipped manual toothbrush(p<0.01). Satisfaction to tongue cleaner-equipped manual toothbrush was 98%. Conclusion: Tongue cleaner-equipped manual toothbrush would be an effective tool for maintaining good oral hygiene through improving tooth and tongue cleanness and preventing malodor formation.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.57-68
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• 2014

Since the introduction of National Health Insurance(NHI) in 1977, it has grown rapidly and contributed to extend patient's access to the health care services. However, limited coverage for health care services of NHI has been ongoing challenge and private health insurance(PHI) has been rising as an alternative source of enhancing coverage and saving out-of-pocket(OOP) expenditure for patients. In this study, after controlling for socio-demographic, economic, health related variables, we identified the patients' healthcare utilization and subsequent OOP expenditure depending on their PHI enrollment and their enrollment types(fixed benefit, indemnity, fixed benefit plus indemnity). Data were collected from the 2010 Korean Health Panel. The unit of analysis was a member of household(n=13,324). Of the 13,324 cases, 70.7% of patients held PHI, in detail, fixed benefit(47.0%), indemnity(3.6%), fixed benefit plus indemnity(20.1%). Major findings showd that patients who enrolled in PHI used more outpatient services(outpatient visit, number of physician visit, number of examination) and spent more OOP expenditure than non-PHI patients. There were also differences of healthcare utilization and OOP expenditure among the types of PHI. In addition, PHI patients used more inpatient services(inpatient use, number of hospitalization, LOS), but there was no significant difference between PHI and non-PHI patients with regard to the OOP expenditure. Thus, we could not find any distinct relationship between the types of PHI and patients' tertiary hospital use. Policy-makers should need careful political deliberation for monitoring the effect of PHI on health care utilization and subsequent expenditure not only to improve patients' coverage but also to save their OOP expenditures.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.134-140
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• 2009

Adequate nutrient intake during pregnancy is important to fetal and maternal health. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors affecting birth weight and gestational age and to provide basic data to promote more favorable pregnancy outcomes. Data were collected from 234 pregnant women at two hospitals in Seoul. Demographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements and health related habits were obtained using a questionnaire at the hospital visit during the second trimester. Dietary intakes were estimated by 24 hour recall at the hospital visit during the second trimester. Data on pregnancy outcomes, including birth weights and gestational ages, were obtained from hospital records after delivery. Birth weights were divided into a low birth weight group (birth weight<3.1 kg), a normal birth weight group (3.1-3.6 kg) and a high birth weight group (>3.6 kg). Gestational ages were divided into tertiles according to the gestational age of the subjects: group 1 (<38.53 weeks), group 2 (38.53-40.00 weeks) and group 3 (>40.00 weeks). The number of family members was significantly lower in the low birth weight group than in the normal birth weight group (p<0.05). In the low birth weight group, pregnancy weight was significantly lower than in the high birth weight group (p<0.05) Health related habits were not significantly different among any of the groups. Intakes of fiber, phosphorous, iron, vitamin $B_6$ and folic acid were significantly higher in the high birth weight group than the low birth weight group (p<0.05). Gestational age was not significantly affected by nutrient intakes, but birth weight was affected by nutrient intake in the results of this study. Therefore, the adequacy of nutrient intake is important for the improvement of pregnancy outcomes.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.119-126
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• 2004

Objective : We used herbal medicine to treat various disease and also to keep good general condition of children. We aimed to evaluate the effect of herbal medicine on the growth of children treated with herbal medicine. Method: We studied 187 children who visited the department of Pediatrics, KyungHee Oriental Medical Hospital from March 2004 to August 2004. They meet condition as follows; they were treated for more than 6 months and they visited our clinic more than 3 times. Whenever patients visited our hospital, we measured their height, body weight and obesity degree using DS-102(dszenix, Seoul). We measured height percentile of first time visit, and that of last time visit. And we compared them using the Growth Statistics Curve made by the Korean Association of Pediatrics, 1998. Results : The mean growth of total children showed 4.04 percentile upwardly; the growth- up percentile of boys was 4.52 and that of girls was 3.26. Analysis according to disease resulted as follows; children with respiratory disease showed 10.29 percentile growth-up, digestive disease 4.21percentile, urinary disease 4 percentile, allergic disease 2.65 percentile, weak children 2.52 percentile and other disease 3.19 percentile. Conclusion : Herbal medical treatment helped growth not only in children who took medicine for growth retardation problem but children with various disease. Moreover herbal medical treatment applied to keep good general condition of children also gave positive effect on the growth of children.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.141-148
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• 2016

Recently computer-aided technology has been widely used in dentistry. DENTCA$^{TM}$ CAD/CAM denture system (DENTCA Inc.), one of CAD/CAM systems for fabricating complete denture, tries to collect and store all of a patient's information at the first visit. This system aims to deliver denture at the second visit through utilizing the CAD/CAM software to access the stored data for designing the 3D denture model. The 3 dimensional (3D) denture will then be fabricated with 3D printer. Many case reports have evaluated clinical application of CAD/CAM system for fabricating complete dentures. This case report is about fabricating of complete dentures using DENTCA system and conventional method in same patient. With two cases, usefulness and limitation of DENTCA system could be evaluated.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.4.1-4.6
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• 2020

Although numerous studies have been conducted on apexification using mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), direct observation of extracted human teeth after the procedure has been rarely reported. This case report describes a mandibular premolar treated 2.5 years ago and extracted recently for orthodontic treatment. The tubercle of the right mandibular premolar of a 12-year-old boy with dens evaginatus was fractured and the pulp was exposed. The tooth was diagnosed with pulp necrosis and asymptomatic periapical abscess. During the first visit, copious irrigation was performed with 2.5% sodium hypochlorite. Calcium hydroxide paste was placed as an intracanal medicament. The sinus tract had disappeared at the second visit after 3 weeks. MTA was applied on to the bleeding point as a 4-mm-thick layer, followed by a 3-mm-thick gutta-percha filling and resin core build-up. After 2.5 years, the tooth and three other premolars were extracted for orthodontic treatment. The right and left mandibular premolars were scanned with micro-computed tomography to determine the root shape and canal anatomy. Irregular root growth was observed and the root outline of the right mandibular premolar differed from that of the contralateral tooth. Apexification with MTA leads to the formation of roots with irregular morphology, without any pulpal space.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.322-333
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• 2013

This study aimed at analyzing and understanding medical tourism patients' pattern of different countries. For this purpose it followed up the international patients who visited W hospitals for spine treatment for last 3 years. In additon, it proposed key marketing strategies for attraction of more patients in the future. Satisfaction survey for 91 foreigner hospitalized patients were conducted from year 2010 to 2011. Each country of the patients showed slightly different motivations of visiting, consumer pattern and satisfaction of medical and non medical services. The current study analyzed factors, socio-demographic characteristics, purposes of visit, duration of stay in Korea, total number of visits to Korea, companions, plan of care, reasons for choice of W Hospital, expenses for medical care, total cost of staying in Korea. The results of this study showed that patients visited Korea more frequently were more satisfied with the medical care. Patients who planned to use medical care prior to visit Korea were more satisfied. Patients who thought he/she paid reasonable medical cost were more satisfied. Invitation to familiarization tour, clarification of medical cost, and provision of high quality medical care were recommended for the higher satisfaction of foreign patients. Fostering of specialized hospitals were recommended.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2023

This report presents the case of a 14-year-old male with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in both temporomandibular joints (TMJs), in whom a bone scan and laboratory tests were used to confirm the diagnosis. The patient visited the Department of Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine at the affiliation hospital with a complaint of a 1-year history of bilateral TMJ pain and sound. Clinical examination revealed bilateral TMJ and masseter muscle pain during mouth opening and palpation. Radiological examination revealed no significant morphological changes in either TMJ. The patient was prescribed medications at the first visit to address the pain, inflammation, and stiffness. A bone scan and laboratory tests were planned/scheduled for differential diagnosis between simple arthralgia and osteoarthritis. The bone scan revealed increased radiotracer uptake in both TMJs. The laboratory tests revealed a RA factor of 82.4 IU/mL, which is more than four times the normal range. The final diagnoses were bilateral TMJ early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis. We created a stabilization splint and referred the patient to the Department of Rheumatology for further evaluation of the ERA. After fitting of the stabilization splint and giving instructions regarding its use, the patient has been receiving monthly follow-up checks for symptoms and undergoes follow-up blood tests every 3 months. About 14 months after the initial visit, the pain had significantly decreased from a Visual Analog Scale score of 5 to 1, and the RA factor decreased to 66.6 IU/mL. A regular follow-up check will continue until the end of growth.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.128-134
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• 2023

Purpose: The Prescott nomogram has been utilized to forecast hepatotoxicity from acute acetaminophen poisoning. In developing countries, emergency medical centers lack the resources to report acetaminophen concentrations; thus, the commencement and cessation of treatment are based on the reported dose. This study investigated risk factors that can predict acetaminophen detection after 15 hours for safe treatment termination. Methods: Data were collected from an urban emergency medical center from 2010 to 2020. The study included patients ≥14 years of age with acute acetaminophen poisoning within 15 hours. The correlation between risk factors and detection of acetaminophen 15 hours after ingestion was evaluated using logistic regression, and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated. Results: In total, 181 patients were included in the primary analysis; the median dose was 150.9 mg/kg and 35 patients (19.3%) had acetaminophen detected 15 hours after ingestion. The dose per weight and the time to visit were significant predictors for acetaminophen detection after 15 hours (odds ratio, 1.020 and 1.030, respectively). The AUCs were 0.628 for a 135 mg/kg cut-off value and 0.658 for a cut-off 450 minutes, and that of the combined model was 0.714 (sensitivity: 45.7%, specificity: 91.8%). Conclusion: Where acetaminophen concentrations are not reported during treatment following the UK guidelines, it is safe to start N-acetylcysteine immediately for patients who are ≥14 years old, visit within 15 hours after acute poisoning, and report having ingested ≥135 mg/kg. Additional N-acetylcysteine doses should be considered for patients visiting after 8 hours.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.428-437
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• 2013

Objectives : The aim of this study was to examine if there is a significant correlation between the changes of Fire- and Heat- related symptoms and motor function recovery in acute cerebral infarction patients. Methods : We studied inpatients within a month after the onset of cerebral infarction who were admitted at Kyunghee University Medical Center from May 2011 to January 2013. We executed correlation analysis between Fire-heat pattern score and motricity index score at visit 1 and visit 2, and checked if there was a significant correlation between the changes of Fire-heat pattern score and changes of motricity index score. Also, we compared the changes of both scores in patients taking Fire-heat and non Fire-heat pattern prescriptions. Results : There was a significant correlation between the Fire-heat pattern score and Motricity index score at visit 1 and visit 2, and changes of Fire-heat pattern score showed significant correlation with changes of motricity index score. Patients taking Fire-heat pattern prescriptions showed significant change in Fire-heat pattern score after herb-medication treatment while patients taking non-Fire-heat prescriptions showed insignificant change in Fire-heat pattern score. Conclusions : This study provides evidence that taking a Fire-heat pattern prescription could be considered as a first line herb-medication treatment in acute cerebral infarction patients.