• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.164-173
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• 2001

Objectives : Fatigue is a common symptom in primary medical care and has nonspecific and highly subjective features. So it has been difficult to define and measure fatigue, especially those present without any organic diseases. This study was conducted to evaluate the validity of the Fatigue severity scale(FSS) in patients with persistent fatigue who were free of any organic diseases or psychiatric disorders of depression or anxiety. Methods : Subjects consisted of 45 controls, 44 fatigued patients and 43 psychiatric patients with depression or anxiety. They all completed the fatigue severity, modified Bepsi stress, and Hospital anxiety and depression scales. Chalder fatigue scale was administrated randomly in 30 of them. Data were analyzed for reliability and validity of the FSS. Results: Cronbach's a coeffient of FSS was 0.929, and the Pearson correlation coefficient for test-retest was 0.916(p<0.01). ANCOVA for discriminant validity revealed that there were significant differences in mean FSS values among the three groups. The fatigue group had significantly higher FSS value than the other two groups. The psychiatric group also had significantly higher FSS value than the control group. The Pearson correlation coefficient for convergent validity by comparing FSS with Chalder fatigue scale was 0.782(p<0.01). Using FSS index 3.22 as the cut-off point, sensitivity was 84.1% and specificity was 85.7% for the fatigue and control groups, respectively. Conclusion : Results suggested the clinical application of the FSS to be a useful measurement for distinguishing fatigue between patients with physiologic fatigue and psychiatric patients with depression or anxiety.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.21
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• pp.9301-9305
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• 2014

Background: Pain is one of the most terrifying symptoms for cancer patients. Although most patients with cancer pain need opioids, complete relief of pain is hard to achieve. This study investigated the factors influencing persistent pain-free survival (PPFS) and opioid efficiency. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 100 patients with cancer pain, hospitalized at the medical oncology clinic of Akdeniz University. Patient records were collected including patient demographics, the disease, treatment characteristics, and details of opioid usage. Pain intensity was measured using a patient self-reported visual analogue scale (VAS). The area under the curve (AUC) reflecting the pain load was calculated from daily VAS tables. PPFS, the primary measure of opioid efficacy, was described as the duration for which a patient reported a greater than or equal to two-point decline in their VAS for pain. Predictors of opioid efficacy were analysed using a multivariate analysis. Results: In the multivariate analysis, PPFS was associated with the AUC for pain (Exp (B)=0.39 (0.23-0.67), P=0.001), the cumulative opioid dosage used during hospitalisation (Exp (B)=1.00(0.99-1.00), P=0.003) and changes in the opioid dosage (Exp (B)=1.01 (1.00-1.01), P=0.016). The change in VAS score over the standard dosage of opioids was strongly associated with current cancer treatment (chemotherapy vs. others) (${\beta}=-0.31$, T=-2.81, P=0.007) and the VAS for pain at the time of hospitalisation (${\beta}=-0.34$, T=-3.07, P= 0.003). Conclusions: The pain load, opioid dosage, concurrent usage of chemotherapy and initial pain intensity correlate with the benefit received from opioids in cancer patients.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.36 no.3 s.104
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• pp.381-388
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• 2003

The fertility of stream water in major streams of the Lake Shihwa Watershed was compared using water analyses and algal growth potential test (AGPT) in typical drought seasons from December 2001 to April 2002, The water quality varied considerably depending on streams. These streams were very rich in inorganic nutrients that the nutrient levels and characteristics of each stream could be easily determined. Through AGPT, 63.6% of growth was observed in the average values of each stream, with non-growth accounting for 36.4%. AGPT results showed that 40.9% of the 22 stations were in hypertrophic condition and 54.5% in eutrophic condition. AGPT values were significantly correlated with TIN, $NH_4$, and SRP (p <0.001); compared to other nutrients, however, they were more related to SRP and $NH_4$. Moreover, the values increased with high concentration of N and P and low N/P ratios. Nonetheless, the values were more dependent on P concentration than N concentration. This suggests that the effect of P on the water quality of lake situated in downstream may serve as a potential indicator of phytoplankton development. Depending on the drainage pattern of streams, the wastewaters of wastewater treatment plant (WwTP) and untreated wastewater (UTW) were found to have 53.4% and 46.6%, respevtively, of TIN, 51.9% and 48.1% of $NH_4$, 62.9% and 37.1% of $NO_3$, 62.6% and 37.4% of SRP, and 44.1% and 55.9% of SRSi. The AGPT value was 51.1% in WwTP wastewater and 48.9% in UTW wastewater, the concentration of WwTP wastewater was slightly higher. For untreated wastewaters flowing into the constructed wetland and into the lake, TIN accounts for 43.0% and 57.0%, respectively, of nitrogen components, $NH_4$ 44.4% and 55.6%, $NO_3$ 39.6% and 60.4%, SRP 53.5% and 46.5%, and SRSi 52.3% and 47.7%, respectively. The AGPT value was 58.0% in the constructed wetland and 42.0% in Lake Shihwa; the concentration in streams flowing into the wetland was slightly higher. Therefore, Persistent and large development of phytoplankton in Lake Shihwa cannot be prevented unless a measure tophytoplankton control is implemented. This is because the concentration of nutrients in specific streams flowing into the lake is very high, even though the inflow of water is low.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.213-218
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• 1985

As a way of improving the texture and flavor of soybean cheese, whey-say cheeses were made by coprecipitation of various mixtures of whey, whey powder, soy milk and soy protein powder, and mixed culture of str. lactis, str. cremoris and rennet were added, then the cheeses were cured at $15^{\circ}C$ for up to 10 weeks. Physicochemical characteristics of the cheese were investigated by analyzing pH, titratable acidity(TA), water soluble nitrogen, 10% TCA soluble nitrogen, amino acid composition, beany flavor, color and hardness. The pH of whey-soy cheeses during ripening changed from 5.3 to 4.2 after 5 or 6 weeks and maintained that value while that of soybean cheese maintained a higher pH value. TA of whey-soy milk cheeses was gradually increased to the value of 0.4-0.45 after 8 weeks, but that of soybean cheese reached only 0.2 after the same period. Water soluble and 10% TCA soluble-nitrogen increased steadily during ripening. Hardness of the whey-soy milk cheeses reached maximum after three weeks of ripening and greatest at those made from 3 : 1 mixture of whey and soy milk and that from soymilk. Color of the whey-soy milk chesses was lighter than that of soybean cheese. The bean flavor of soybean cheese was strong and persistent for the whole ripening period. Acid flavor was dominant in the whey-so milk cheese and masked the beany flavor partially.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.221-229
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• 2002

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) persistence was established and maintained in Vero cell culture for over 1 year. Eleven clones of plaque morphology mutant JEV, with large and small plaque sizes, were obtained from the cell culture supernatant. Genomic RNA replication efficiency of the mutants in naive Vero cell appeared to correspond to their different plaque sizes. No significant changes in envelop protein ORF or in non-coding regions at both ends of the RNA genome suggested that there could be an unidentified factor(s) playing role in JEV attenuation. Unlike to the replication of wild-type JEV, the mutants did not induce severe degree of cytopathic effect in Vero cells upon infection. While obvious decrease of Bcl-2 and its mRNA expression and sharp increase of p53 in naive Vero cells infected with either wild-type JEV or the large plaque-forming mutant, those changes were not observed with the small plaque-forming one. Together with these observation, internucleosomal DNA fragmentation and chromosomal DNA profile in the Vero cells infected with the mutants suggest that an overall changes in cytopathic effect in the plaque morphology mutants-infected cells should be primarily due to the reduced genomic RNA replication and the compromised degree of p53-independent apoptosis by the virus infection at least in part.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.251-258
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• 2019

Objective: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) is characterized by persistent airflow limitations associated with chronic inflammatory response due to noxious particles or gases in the lung. Inflammation and oxidative stress are associated with COPD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship among inflammation, oxidative stress, and airflow limitation severity in retired miners with COPD. Methods: The levels of serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein(hsCRP) as a biomarker for inflammation, degree of reactive oxygen metabolites(dROMs) and biological antioxidants potential(BAP) in plasma as biomarkers for oxidative stress were measured in 211 male subjects with COPD. Degree of airflow limitation severity as determined by spirometry was divided into three grades grouped according to the classification of the Global Initiatives for Obstructive Lung Disease(GOLD)(1, mild; 2, moderate; $3{\leq}$, severe or more) using a fixed ratio, post- bronchodilator $FEV_1/FVC$ < 0.7. Results: Mean levels of dROMs significantly increased in relation to airflow limitation severity(GOLD 1, 317.8 U.CARR vs. GOLD 2, 320.3 U.CARR vs. GOLD $3{\leq}$, 350.9 U.CARR, p=0.047) and dROMs levels were correlated with serum hsCRP levels(r=0.514, p<0.001). Mean levels of hsCRP were higher in current smokers(non-smoker, 1.47 mg/L vs. smoker, 2.34 mg/L, p=0.006), and tended to increase with degree of airflow limitation severity(p=0.071). Mean levels of BAP were lower in current smokers(non-smoker, $1873{\mu}mol/L$ vs. smoker, $1754{\mu}mol/L$, p=0.006). Conclusions: These results suggest that inflammation and oxidative stress are related to airflow limitation severity in retired miners with COPD, and there was a correlation between inflammation and oxidative stress.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.167-174
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• 2009

Purpose : Pertussis was very common in the past, but reported cases have dramatically decreased. The improvement of vaccination programs and unreadiness of laboratory confirmation seems to have developed this situation. This study investigated the frequency of pertussis among infants with a paroxysmal cough and compared the clinical characteristics between infants with and without pertussis. Methods : Between June and November 2006, 27 infants admitted to the hospital that were 15-90 days old with a history of a cough for more than seven days were enrolled. The cough was described as: paroxysmal, whooping, and post-tussive vomiting. PCR and cultures for Bordetella pertussis with nasopharyngeal aspirates were obtained. The patients were divided into two groups: (1) the pertussis group that had positive results by PCR or culture; (2) the control group that had negative results by PCR and culture. Clinical and laboratory characteristics were compared between the two groups. Results : Among the 27 cases, five (18.5%) were finally diagnosed with pertussis. Only one out of the five pertussis cases was initially diagnosed with a pertussis-like syndrome on admission. Compared to the group without pertussis, the pertussis group had a significantly higher frequency of: no fever (P =0.043), a paroxysmal cough (P =0.040), cyanosis (P =0.001), non-immunized status for DTaP (P =0.047), normal auscultation (P =0.028), normal chest X-ray findings (P =0.027), high absolute lymphocyte count (P =0.039), and low CRP (P =0.046). The patients with the diagnosis of pertussis had a significantly longer duration of coughing (27.2${\pm}$10.6 vs. 12.6${\pm}$5.6 days, P =0.039). Conclusion : Pertussis should be suspected in any infant with typical symptoms of pertussis in addition to: a persistent cough without fever, accompanied by paroxysms or cyanosis prior to the age of DTaP immunization. Active laboratory confirmation should be carried out to confirm more cases with pertussis.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.273-281
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• 1999

Purpose: We investigated whether myocardial SPECT had additional usefulness to clinical, functional or surgical indices for the preoperative evaluation of cardiac risks in noncardiac surgery. Materials and Methods: 118 patients (M: F=66: 52, $62.7{\pm}10.5$ years) were studied retrospectively. Eighteen underwent vascular surgeries and 100 nonvascular surgeries. Rest T1-20l/ stress Tc-99m-MIBI SPECT was performed before operation and cardiac events (hard event: cardiac death and myocardial infarction; soft event: ischemic ECG change, congestive heart failure and unstable angina) were surveyed through perioperative periods ($14.6{\pm}5.6$ days). Clinical risk indices, functional capacity, surgery procedures and SPECT findings were tested for their predictive values of perioperative cardiac events. Results: Perioperative cardiac events occurred in 25 patients (3 hard events and 22 soft events). Clinical risk indices, surgical procedure risks and SPECT findings but functional capacity were predictive of cardiac events. Reversible perfusion decrease was a better predictor than persistent decrease, Multivariate analysis sorted out surgical procedure risk (p=0.0018) and SPECT findings (p=0.0001) as significant risk factors. SPECT could re-stratify perioperative cardiac risks in patients ranked with surgical procedures. Conclusion : We conclude that myocardial SPECT provides additional predictive value to surgical type risks as well as clinical indexes or functional capacity for the prediction of preoperative cardiac events in noncardiac surgery.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.115-120
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• 1984

To find clinical significance of routine "dipstick" urinalysis on admission, we analyzed the results of the "dipstick" urinalyses performed in 844 patients admitted to the pediatric department of Yeungnam University hospital from May 1, 1983 to October 31, 1984. Ketonuria, proteinuria, hematuria and glucosuria were found in 9.5%, 4.9%, 2.4% and 1.1% of the patients respectively. There were no significant differences by sex, age and presence of fever. However, proteinuria and ketonuria were found more frequently in the patients with dehydration (p<0.05). The degree of ketonuria showed a positive association w:th the severity of dehydration (p<0.005). All of the patients with proteinuria and ketonuria showed negative results on follow up. However, among 13 patients with hematura, 9 patients showed negative results and 4 patients had persistent hematuria on follow up. These 4 patients were found to have chronic pyelonephritis (2), asymptomatic urinary tract infection (1) and benign recurrent hematuria (1). This routine "dipstick" urinalysis on admission seems to be simple test which is useful in detecting unrecognized kidney and other urinary tract disease.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.81-86
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• 1985

To evaluate the significance of serum $beta_2-microglobulin$ in patients with various liver diseases, serum $\beta_2m$ levels were measured in 44 cases of normal controls, 32 cases of asymptomatic HBsAg carriers and 134 patients with various liver diseases, by radioimmunoassay using Phadebas $Beta_2-micro$ test kits. The following results were obtained: 1) The mean level of serum $\beta_2m$ was $1.39{\pm}0.25mg/l(Mean{\pm}S.D.)$ in normal controls ($1.39{\pm}0.23mg/l$ in 24 males, $1.38{\pm}0.27mg/l$ in 20 females). 2) The serum levels of $\beta_2m$ in patients with various liver diseases and asymptomatic HBsAg carriers were as follows; $1.40{\pm}0.27mg/l$ in asymptomatic HBsAg carriers, $2.42{\pm}0.37mg/l$ in 45 patients with acute viral hepatitis, $2.10{\pm}0.26mg/l$ in 46 patients with chronic persistent hepatitis, $2.60{\pm}0.34mg/l$ in 23 patients with chronic active hepatitis, and $2.60{\pm}0.49mg/l$ in 20 patients with liver cirrhosis. Serum $\beta_2m$ levels of each disease group were significantly higher than that of normal controls(p<0.001). 3) There was significant correlation between the levels of serum $\beta_2m$ and the degrees of lymphocytic infiltration in patients with chronic active hepatitis(p<0.001). 4) Significant correlations were observed between the levels of serum $beta_2-microglobulin$ and serum alanine aminotransferase(r=0.68, p<0.05) and bilirubin(r=0.63, p<0.05) in 15 patients with acute viral hepatitis. In conclusion, the serum $beta_2-microglobulin$ levels were increased in patients with various liver diseases, and it may serve as a new index of liver disease activity.