• Communications for Statistical Applications and Methods
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.689-696
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• 2010

Interval-censored data are commonly found in studies of diseases that progress without symptoms, which require clinical evaluation for detection. Several techniques have been suggested with independent assumption. However, the assumption will not be valid if observations come from clusters. Furthermore, when the cluster size relates to response variables, commonly used methods can bring biased results. For example, in a study on lymphatic filariasis, a parasitic disease where worms make several nests in the infected person's lymphatic vessels and reside until adulthood, the response variable of interest is the nest-extinction times. Since the extinction times of nests are checked by repeated ultrasound examinations, exact extinction times are not observed. Instead, data are composed of two examination points: the last examination time with living worms and the first examination time with dead worms. Furthermore, as Williamson et al. (2008) pointed out, larger nests show a tendency for low clearance rates. This association has been denoted as an informative cluster size. To analyze the relationship between the numbers of nests and interval-censored nest-extinction times, this study proposes a joint model for the relationship between cluster size and clustered interval-censored failure data.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.203-207
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• 2009

Present study was conducted to investigate potential effects of epichlorohydrin on testicular and epididymal function in male rats. The test chemical was administered to adult male rats by gavage at dose levels of 0, 3.125, 12.5, and 50 mg/kg/day for 7 days. Testicular and epididymal function were assessed by measurement of reproductive organ weight, testicular spermatid count, epididymal sperm count, motility and morphology, and histopathology in rats. At 50 mg/kg, a decrease in the sperm motility and an increase in the incidence of sperm abnormalities were observed. Histopathological examinations revealed an increase in the incidence of histopathological changes including cell debris in the ducts, vacuolization of the epithelial cells, oligospermia, and epithelial disruption in the proximal caput epididymidis. At 12.5 mg/kg, an increase in the incidence of histopathological changes of the epididymidis was found. There were no treatment-related effects at 3.125 mg/kg. These results show that 7-day repeated oral administration of epichlorohydrin to male rats results in adverse effects on sperm motility, sperm morphology, and epididymal histology at $\geq$ 12.5 mg/kg/day.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.150-161
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• 2004

The importance of screening or repeat screening for cervical and breast cancer is well known to decrease the chance of death from cancer. Few data is avaliable regarding factors associated with participation in cervical and breast cancer screening and repeat screening examinations. This study was to investigate the associations of demographic factors, health status and cancer risk recognition, attitude to cancer screening, health behaviors, and inhibiting or facilitating factors to cervical and breast cancer screening with participation in the screening tests. Data was collected with self-administrated questionnaires from 342 women, aged 40 to 69 years. The cancer screenings were classified into have had or never groups and repeat or not repeated groups. In the case of cervical and breast cancer screening, the have had group was 90 (26.3%), and 82 (24.0%) and the repeat group was 17 (5.0%), and 13 (3.8%) respectively. According to logistic regression analysis, age (<60 vs ${\geq}60$ : OR=3.25, 95% CI=1.27-8.26), breast cancer screening (Do vs Don't : OR=14.49, 95% CI=7.46-27.78) and other person's cancer (Yes vs No : OR=4.27, 95% CI=1.01-18.05) were statistically significantly associated with participation in screening for cervical cancer. Regular exercise (Do vs Don't : OR=2.76, 95% CI=1.30-5.88) and cervical cancer screening (Do vs Don't : OR=13.70, 95% CI=7.09-26.32) were statistically significantly related to participation in screening for breast cancer.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.17 no.1_2
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• pp.41-52
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of continuous passive motion(CPM) and continuous active motion(CAM) on proprioception of the knee after total knee replacement(TKR). Methods: Twenty patients with TKR were randomly allocated into two groups, the CPM group(n=10) and the CAM group(n=10). All subjects were evaluated for levels of pain, passive range of motion and angle reproduction of the knee. An angle reproduction test was used to assess the proprioceptive deficit. Two types of angle reproduction test were used: a passive angle reproduction(PAR) test and an active angle reproduction(AAR) test. The relevant examinations were performed before and after intervention(on the 5th day and the 10th day). The statistical significance were calculated using a t-test and a one-way repeated ANOVA. Results: A pre-intervention significant difference was not found between the two groups. Significantly better results were before and after the intervention at 10 days, for the PAR(flexion direction) test; however, only in the CAM group. There were no significant difference, either before or after the intervention, for the AAR test(flexion and extension direction) in both group. Both groups experienced similar levels of pain and passive range of knee motion before and after the intervention. Conclusion: This study revealed that CAM was a better effect to restore position sense of the knee joint after TKR.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.58 no.10
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• pp.369-373
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• 2015

Purpose: In 2004, the American Heart Association (AHA) had published an algorithm for the diagnosis of incomplete Kawasaki disease (KD). The aim of the present study was to investigate characteristics of supplemental laboratory criteria in this algorithm. Methods: We retrospectively examined the medical records of 355 patients with KD who were treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) during the acute phase of the disease. Laboratory data were obtained before the initial IVIG administration and up to 10 days after fever onset. In 106 patients, laboratory testing was performed more than twice. Results: The AHA supplemental laboratory criteria were fulfilled in 90 patients (25.4%), and the frequency of laboratory examination (odds ratio [OR], 1.981; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.391-2.821; P<0.001) was a significant predictor of it. The fulfillment of AHA supplemental laboratory criteria was significantly associated with refractoriness to the initial IVIG administration (OR, 2.388; 95% CI, 1.182-4.826; P=0.013) and dilatation of coronary arteries (OR, 2.776; 95% CI, 1.519-5.074; P=0.001). Conclusion: Repeated laboratory testing increased the rate of fulfillment of the AHA supplemental laboratory criteria in children with KD.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.277-287
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of enhancing deficient interdental papilla with hyaluronic acid gel injection by assessing the radiographic anatomical factors affecting the reconstruction of the interdental papilla. Methods: Fifty-seven treated sites from 13 patients (6 males and 7 females) were included. Patients had papillary deficiency in the upper anterior area. Prior to treatment, photographic and periapical radiographic standardization devices were designed for each patient. A 30-gauge needle was used with an injection-assistance device to inject a hyaluronic acid gel to the involved papilla. This treatment was repeated up to 5 times every 3 weeks. Patients were followed up for 6 months after the initial gel application. Clinical photographic measurements of the black triangle area (BTA), height (BTH), and width (BTW) and periapical radiographic measurements of the contact point and the bone crest (CP-BC) and the interproximal distance between roots (IDR) were undertaken using computer software. The interdental papilla reconstruction rate (IPRR) was calculated to determine the percentage change of BTA between the initial and final examination and the association between radiographic factors and the reconstruction of the interdental papilla by means of injectable hyaluronic acid gel were evaluated. Results: All sites showed improvement between treatment examinations. Thirty-six sites had complete interdental papilla reconstruction and 21 sites showed improvement ranging from 19% to 96%. The CP-BC correlated with the IPRR. More specifically, when the CP-BC reached 6 mm, virtually complete interdental papilla reconstruction via injectable hyaluronic acid gel was achieved. Conclusions: These results suggest that the CP-BC is closely related to the efficacy of hyaluronic acid gel injection for interdental papilla reconstruction.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.110-117
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• 2020

Background: The aim of this pilot study was to assess the safety and dosing of scolopendrid pharmacopuncture (SPP). Methods: A total of 40 healthy Sprague-Dawley rats (males and 20 females 20) were selected following a 7-day inspection and acclimation period. SPP was administered via intramuscular injection, over a 2-week period using 3 doses including a high-dose [0.84 mg of scolopendrid per kg of body weight (BW)], a med-dose (0.42 mg/kg BW), and a low-dose (0.21 mg/kg BW). The control group was injected with sterile water into the muscles. Unusual changes caused by administration of the test substance were observed. Weight, feed intake, organ weight, and hematological examinations were compared among the groups. Using the SPSS statistical program, Levene's test was performed to evaluate the homogeneity of variances, and a one-way ANOVA test was subsequently performed to assess the significance between each test group. Results: During the experiment no animals died. Weight change, food consumption, organ weight, hematological test, and blood biochemical tests showed no significant differences in the treatment groups compared to controls. Conclusion: No toxicological changes related to the administration of test substances were observed. Therefore, the LD₅₀ (lethal-dose that kills 50%) of scolopendrid pharmacoupuncture in rats was greater than 0.84 mg/kg.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.53-63
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• 2005

Number of fixtures supporting prosthesis for rehabilitation of partial edentulism in distal area is an important factor in distal area to the bone tissue response around dental implant. Optimal number and optimal positioning of dental implant has leaded to the stable condition of bone tissue and successful long-term treatment outcome. This clinical and radiographic study was performed to document and evaluate the short-term result of occlusal rehabilitation by means of implant-supported fixed prostheses (ISPs) especially for partial edentulism in distal area in patients treated for advanced periodontal disease and to verify the number of fixture affecting the bone tissue response. A total of 30 consecutive patients referred because of advanced periodontal disease were included. Before the implant therapy was initiated, periodontal treatment was performed and the outcome evaluated during at least a 6-month period. An individual maintenance care program was designed for each patient. All 75 implants were placed using a 2-stage surgical approach. The patients were divided into 2 groups, in one of which two fixtures were placed and in the other of which three fixtures were placed with tripodal geometry. Following installation of the ISPs, all patients underwent a baseline examination including evaluation of i) oral hygiene, and ii) periodontal/ peri-implant conditions, and iii) radiographs. These examinations were repeated annually during the 1 or 2-year observation period. The results were as follows: 1.No single implant was lost during the observation follow-up period. 1.The percentage of plaque harboring surfaces and bleeding units upon probing were found to be low (<10%), and no soft tissue complications were recorded. 1.Two-fixture group showed bone destruction ranged from 0.0mm to 1.5mm and the mean was 0.31mm. Three-fixture group showed more bone destruction of 0.51mm. There was no statistically difference between two groups. These results suggested that the factor for success is not the number of fixture but the strict maintenance of peri-implant tissue health and initial stability of fixture.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.56-59
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• 2011

Inflammatory pseudotumor is characterized by the presence of a mass that may mimic malignancy and is composed of spindle cells mixed with variable amounts of extracellular collagen, lymphocytes, and plasma cells It is benign tumor commonly involves lung and orbit and rarely that occurs in the head and neck The cause and pathogenesis of inflammatory pseudotumor still remain controversial. Some bacterial infection or chronic irritation may have prompted some speculation that an initially reactive process can change into an overt neoplastic disease. It tends to affect children and young adults than old ages. We present a case of inflammatory pseudotumor involving the tongue base, in a 73-year-old patient with repeated oral bleeding that aggravated over a few days. Clinical examination showed angiomatous polyp like findings in oropharynx that easy bleeding tendency. CT images showed well defined soft tissue mass with focal enhancement. After surgery, tumor was finally diagnosed inflammatory pseudotumor by histopathologic examinations showed plasma cells and inflammatory cells in variable fibrotic tissues.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.61 no.5
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• pp.160-166
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• 2018

Purpose: This study aimed to analyse laboratory values according to fever duration, and evaluate the relationship across these values during the acute phase of Kawasaki disease (KD) to aid in the early diagnosis for early-presenting KD and incomplete KD patients. Methods: Clinical and laboratory data of patients with KD (n=615) were evaluated according to duration of fever at presentation, and were compared between patients with and without coronary artery lesions (CALs). For evaluation of the relationships across laboratory indices, patients with a fever duration of 5 days or 6 days were used (n=204). Results: The mean fever duration was $6.6{\pm}2.3days$, and the proportions of patients with CALs was 19.3% (n=114). C-reactive proteins (CRPs) and neutrophil differential values were highest and hemoglobin, albumin, and lymphocyte differential values were lowest in the 6-day group. Patients with CALs had longer total fever duration, higher CRP and neutrophil differential values and lower hemoglobin and albumin values compared to patients without CALs. CRP, albumin, neutrophil differential, and hemoglobin values at the peak inflammation stage of KD showed positive or negative correlations each other. Conclusion: The severity of systemic inflammation in KD was reflected in the laboratory values including CRP, neutrophil differential, albumin, and hemoglobin. Observing changes in these laboratory parameters by repeated examinations prior to the peak of inflammation in acute KD may aid in diagnosis of early-presenting KD patients.