• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.56 no.10
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• pp.439-445
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• 2013

Purpose: Previous studies suggest that the concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] in cord blood may show an inverse association with respiratory tract infections (RTI) during childhood. The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of 25(OH)D concentrations in cord blood on infant RTI in a Korean birth cohort. Methods: The levels of 25(OH)D in cord blood obtained from 525 Korean newborns in the prospective COhort for Childhood Origin of Asthma and allergic diseases were examined. The primary outcome variable of interest was the prevalence of RTI at 6-month follow-up, as diagnosed by pediatricians and pediatric allergy and pulmonology specialists. RTI included acute nasopharyngitis, rhinosinusitis, otitis media, croup, tracheobronchitis, bronchiolitis, and pneumonia. Results: The median concentration of 25(OH)D in cord blood was 32.0 nmol/L (interquartile range, 21.4 to 53.2). One hundred and eighty neonates (34.3%) showed 25(OH)D concentrations less than 25.0 nmol/L, 292 (55.6%) showed 25(OH)D concentrations of 25.0-74.9 nmol/L, and 53 (10.1%) showed concentrations of ${\geq}75.0$ nmol/L. Adjusting for the season of birth, multivitamin intake during pregnancy, and exposure to passive smoking during pregnancy, 25(OH)D concentrations showed an inverse association with the risk of acquiring acute nasopharyngitis by 6 months of age (P for trend=0.0004). Conclusion: The results show that 89.9% of healthy newborns in Korea are born with vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency (55.6% and 34.3%, respectively). Cord blood vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency in healthy neonates is associated with an increased risk of acute nasopharyngitis by 6 months of age. More time spent outdoors and more intensified vitamin D supplementation for pregnant women may be needed to prevent the onset of acute nasopharyngitis in infants.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.961-977
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• 2016

Objectives: This study was designed to analyze the treatment effects of Eunhwayeongyo-tang through retrospective chart reviews. We also checked the correlation between each pair of variables of the symptoms and curative rates of patients with cough. Methods: Thirty-three patients with cough who had satisfied the selection criteria were retrospectively reviewed through their basic medical records, nasal endoscopy, and questionnaires about cough on their first and second visits. The questionnaires used were "The questionnaire on clinical symptoms of cough & sputum", Leicester Cough Questionnaire Korean Version (LCQ-K), Total Nasal Symptom Scores (TNSS), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and "Cold-heat patterns". The improvement rate, calculated by "The questionnaire on clinical symptoms of cough & sputum" was considered to be clinically effective if reduction of symptoms scored more than 30%. The state of nasopharyngeal mucosa was assessed to categorize the cold-heat patterns of the upper respiratory tract and for diagnosis. Results: According to this study, cough and sputum improved by $57.22{\pm}37.76%$. Most patients (76%) improved significantly after $12.18{\pm}6.59days$ of taking Eunhwayeongyo-tang. The cure rates of 26 patients among the 33 patients were judged as effective. All the mean scores of the questionnaires and the anterior nasal cavity states were significantly improved on the patients' second visits. After $18.39{\pm}15.68days$, 30 patients were completely cured and ended treatment. The nasopharyngeal mucosa states of all patients were categorized as heat patterns. Conclusions: The conditions of the patients with nasopharyngitis significantly improved after taking Eunhwayeongyo-tang. All of the patients had pharyngitis or rhinitis. The cold-heat pattern of nasopharyngeal mucosa was a significant indicator of upper respiratory inflammation diagnosis.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.23 no.3 s.31
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• pp.345-357
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• 1990

Accumulated data on medical care utilization among the insured in Korea Medical Insurance Corporation can explain the health status of the population. The purpose of this study was to analyze a change of the disease-mix and utilization pattern by controlling the size of the population enrollment. Major findings of the study are as follows : 1. The changes of inpatient disease-mix a. Utilization rate was 139.2% in 1988 against 1980. b. Disease groups higher than the average utilization rate included neoplasms, endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases and immunity disorders, mental disorders etc. Meanwhile, disease groups seen less often were infections and parasistic diseases, diseases of blood and bloodforming, diseases of the digestive system etc. c. Utilization rate was up 106.3% in 1988 compared to 1985, and diseases above that average level were ill-defined intestinal infections, chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, diabetes mellitus, essential hypertension, etc. d. The disease-mix by institution in 1988 compared to 1985 shows that chronic disorders rank high in general hospitals whereas opthalmologic, obstetric, and orthopedic diseases rank high in private clinics. 2. The changes of outpatient disease-mix a. Utilization rate was up 175.2% in 1988 compared to 1980. b. Disease groups higher than the average utilization rate included neoplasms, endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases and immunity disorders, mental disorders etc. And disease groups seen less often were infections and parasistic diseases, diseases of the respiratory system, diseases of the genitourinary system. etc. c. Utilization rate was up 104.0% in 1988 compared to 1985, and diseases above that average level were gastric ulcer, diseases of hard tissues of teeth, etc. And diseases seen below that average level were acute nasopharyngitis(common cold). acute upper respiratory infections of multiple or unspecified sites, etc. It was concluded that medical care utilization level was increased, and that, from 1980 to 1988, disease-mix shifted to the chronic disorders. Chronic disorders accounted for more medical care utilization in general hospitals.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.2341-2345
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• 2015

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between prognosis and protein and mRNA expression of an apoptotic inhibitor gene, survivin, in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Furthermore, functions of the survivin gene in the CNE2 nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line were assessed. Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization were used in detecting the survivin protein and mRNA in 44 nasopharyngeal carcinoma specimens, and 30 chronic nasopharyngitis samples as controls. Survivin gene expression in CNE2 cell line was suppressed with an shRNA (short hairpin RNA). The positive ratios of expression for survivin protein and mRNA in nasopharyngeal carcinoma were 79.5% and 75.0% respectively, obviously higher than in the control group (p<0.01), and there is very good consistency between the two methods. The mean survival time of patients with higher survivin protein or mRNA expression was shorter than in patients with lower levelsv(p<0.01). Proliferation of the CNE2 cell line was distinctly inhibited by the shRNA. The results indicate that overexpression of the survivin gene plays an important role in onset and development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and it may be helpful for prognostic appraisal.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.71-78
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• 2019

Objective: This study aimed to provide efficacy and safety information on the use of erenumab for prevention of episodic and chronic migraines. Methods: The keywords "Erenumab and migraine" were used to search the PubMed database to then compile efficacy and safety data for erenumab. Data from relevant Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical trials were analyzed, using RevMan for statistical analysis. Results: Three clinical trials (one Phase 2 and two Phase 3 studies) were retrieved. All three trials used the same primary endpoint (change from baseline in monthly migraine days (CBMD)) to evaluate efficacy and safety of erenumab use for prevention of episodic and chronic migraines. Subcutaneous doses of erenumab (70 or 140 mg) were administered monthly in each trial, for 3 months (Studies 2, and 3) or 6 months (Study 1). The mean differences in CBMD in the 70 mg and 140 mg erenumab arms were -1.36 and -1.98, respectively, compared to that in the placebo arm. Some adverse events, such as nasopharyngitis and upper respiratory tract infection, were reported, but no differences in safety between erenumab and placebo were found to be significant. Conclusions: Erenumab showed superior efficacy in prevention of migraines compared to placebo. However, additional information regarding the long-term safety of erenumab should be collected. Therefore, post-marketing surveillance for adverse events is needed.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.1-12
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• 2022

Objectives We analyzed visiting patterns to medical institutions and cost per visit according to the common cold patients aged 0-19 years. We analyzed Korean medical treatment for common cold. Methods Using the Pediatric Patient Sample data of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA-PPS), we analyzed the data on health insurance claims of approximately 1 million people from 2017 to 2019. The data included the number of patients who visited the hospital due to common cold for the first and second time, the ratio of second visits by type of medical institution, and the status of prescriptions in Korean medical institutions. Results The number of patients visiting healthcare providers for common cold was higher in Western medical institutions than in Korean medical institutions. However, the number of second visits was higher in Korean medical institutions. Acupuncture is the most commonly used medical treatment in Korean medical institutions for common cold. Herbal medicine for common cold was usually prescribed for 2-3 days for children and adolescents. Conclusions Although the average medical cost of Korean medical institutions was higher than that of Western medical institutions, the rate of second visits to Korean medical institutions was higher because of the demand for Korean medical treatment

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.8
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• pp.839-844
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• 2006

Purpose : We studied clinical patterns of the febrile infants and children presenting to the Pediatric Emergency Department(ED) in the general pediatric population. Method : We analyzed 1,764 infants and children who had a history of measured body temperature of $38.3^{\circ}C$ or higher, before or after arrival at Pediatric ED of Ilsan Paik Hospital from September 2004 to August 2005. We analyzed their clinical patterns, such as the frequency of febrile illness, age distribution, monthly distribution, diagnosis. Result : The frequency of the febrile illness at Pediatirc ED was 19.9 percent (1,764/8,881 cases). The percentage of admission into hospital was 26.4 percent. The most common age group presenting to Pediatric ED with febrile illness was the 12-23 months group(22.8 percent) followed by the 4-11 months group and the 2 years group. In May, the most numerous patients presented to the Pediatric ED with febrile illness. The frequency of febrile illness was significant higher in the 'Spring & Summer group' compared to the 'Autumn & Winter group'. The ratio of male to femal was 1.4:1. The most common diagnosis was acute pharyngitis(42.5 percent), followed by acute gastroenteritis (15.3 percent), pneumonia(7.0 percent). Conclusion : The frequency of the febrile illness at Pediatirc ED was 19.9 percent. The most numerous patients visited Pediatric ED in May. And, the most common age group was 12-23 months. The proportion of non-urgent disease, such as acute pharyngitis, acute gastroenteritis, acute nasopharyngitis and acute bronchitis, was high. There is a need to educate parents and improve the medical system in Korea.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.624-630
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• 2016

Objective: This study was designed to analyze the symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients who attended a Korean medicine hospital and treatment effects through retrospective chart reviews.Methods: The medical records of 192 outpatients who had been diagnosed with COPD and visited the Allergy, Immune, and Respiratory System Department of Kyung Hee Korean Medicine Hospital from 1 February 2006 to 1 February, 2016 were retrospectively reviewed.Results: The study group consisted of 112 and 80 females. The median age of the patients was 59.80±15.46 y. Fifty of the patients had been diagnosed with chronic upper respiratory diseases, such as chronic rhinitis, nasopharyngitis, or sinusitis. The chief complaints were cough (n=136), sputum (n=124), and dyspnea (n=82). Other frequent symptoms were fatigue (n=11), hyperhidrosis (n=8), and a bad taste in the mouth (n=7). All the patients were prescribed Korean herbal medicine. In the study, 61 (31.77%) patients were treated with acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping therapy, or herbal steam therapy. Symptoms improved in 126 (65.63%) patients 141±272.82 d after the first treatment.Conclusions: Some of the COPD patients had chronic upper respiratory disease. The chief complains were cough, sputum, and dyspnea. Oher frequent symptoms related to body malfunction and pain. The symptoms improved in 126 (65.63%) patients 141.00±272.82 d post-treatment.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.10
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• pp.1061-1067
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• 2005

Purpose : We studied a clinical analysis of pediatric patients who visited the emergency medical center of Yeungnam University Hospital to compare the characteristics of pediatric emergency patients after year 2000 with the previous studies. Methods : We reviewed 7,034 children under the age of 15 years who visited the emergency medical center of Yeungnam University Hospital during the 2 year period from January 2001 to December 2002, and then we performed a clinical and statistical analysis. We analyzed the pediatric patients according to gender, age, season, day of the week, time of the visit, the disease classification and the final disposition of the patients. Results : Among the patients who visited the emergency room, 15.6% of the total emergency patients were under the age of 15. The male to female ratio was 1.6 : 1. Among the 7,034 pediatric patients, the most common age group was between 1 year and under 3 years of age(26.9%). The peak seasonal incidence was early summer and spring, especially during June(11.2%) and May(10.6 %). The peak incidence day of the week was Sunday(24.8%) and the peak time when the emergency pediatric patients visited the emergency room was between 20 and 24 o'clock(28.8%). The distribution of diseases, according to ICD-10 system, were injury and poisoning(30.4%), diseases of the respiratory system(22.8%), and diseases of the digestive system(14.6%). 30% of total pediatric patients were admitted to the hospital. Conclusion : After year 2000, as compared with the previous studies, the proportions of emergency pediatric patients has decreased. The distribution of diseases was not much different from the previous studies and the proportions of non-urgent diseases, such as acute nasopharyngitis or acute gastroenteritis, were still high. These result have come about due to the declining birth rate and changes of the medical system in Korea.