• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.329-336
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• 2023

Purpose: In this study, we aimed to compare the characteristics of patients with trauma by age group in a single center in Korea to identify the clinical characteristics and analyze the risk factors affecting mortality. Methods: Patients aged ≥18 years who visited the Chungbuk National University Hospital Regional Trauma Center between January 2016 and December 2022 were included. The accident mechanism, severity of the injury, and outcomes were compared by classifying the patients into group A (18-64 years), group B (65-79 years), and group C (≥80 years). In addition, logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors affecting death. Results: The most common injury mechanism was traffic accidents in group A (40.9%) and slipping in group B (37.0%) and group C (56.2%). Although group A had the highest intensive care unit admission rate (38.0%), group C had the highest mortality rate (9.5%). In the regression analysis, 3 to 8 points on the Glasgow Coma Scale had the highest odds ratio for mortality, and red blood cell transfusion within 24 hours, intensive care unit admission, age, and Injury Severity Score were the predictors of death. Conclusions: For patients with trauma, the mechanism, injured body region, and severity of injury differed among the age groups. The high mortality rate of elderly patients suggests the need for different treatment approaches for trauma patients according to age. Identifying factors affecting clinical patterns and mortality according to age groups can help improve the prognosis of trauma patients in the future.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.261-268
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• 2013

Purpose: To investigate the clinical characteristics and outcomes among infants and toddlers with failure to thrive (FTT). Methods: This retrospective study was done with 123 patients who had visited Pusan National University Children's Hospital during their first two years of life and had received an FTT diagnosis. We compared the clinical characteristics of the patients based on the causes of their FTT and their ages at the time of first hospital visit. We investigated triggering factors, feeding practices, and outcomes in 25 patients with nonorganic FTT (NOFTT). Results: Eighty cases (65.0%) were NOFTT. The gestational ages, birth weights, and weights at the first visits were significantly lower in patients with organic FTT (OFTT) (p<0.05). Infants who had first visited the clinic at age <6 months had the least z-score. The percentage of patients with severe weight decline was higher in OFTT than in NOFTT (60.0% vs. 17.3%). The z-scores at the follow-up visits were improved after treatment in both of the groups. Preceding infection was the most common triggering factor of NOFTT and persecutory feeding as abnormal behavior of caregiver was observed in 22 cases (88.0%). After treatment with feeding method modification, all patients with NOFTT showed normal growth. Conclusion: Weight decline is more severe in OFTT patients and in younger patients at the first visit. Infants with FTT can attain normal weight gain growth by treating organic diseases and supplying proper nutrition in OFTT, and by correcting abnormal dietary behavior of caregiver in NOFTT.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.62 no.5
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• pp.551-560
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• 2019

Objective : Intracranial aneurysms are not common in young age patients. We sought to find the characteristics of the intracranial aneurysms in patients under 20 years of age. Methods : We reviewed 23 consecutive patients ${\leq}20$ years of age treated for their intracranial aneurysms during the period from 1995 to 2017. From medical records and imaging studies, we gathered data on age, sex, presentation, associated medical condition, location and characteristics of aneurysms, treatment and clinical outcomes. Results : The patients' ages ranged from 13 months to 20 years (median, 14 years). There were 16 males and seven females (male to female ratio, 2.3 : 1) with 31 aneurysms. Clinical presentations included sudden severe headache in 61%, followed by altered mentality in 17% and seizure in 17%. More than one-fourth patients had specific medical conditions related to the development of the cerebral aneurysms. The majority of aneurysms occurred in the anterior circulation (71%), and were saccular (71%). There were each three patients with false aneurysms (13%) and giant aneurysms (13%), and only one patient with multiple aneurysms (4%). We treated 22 patients : 21 aneurysms with the endovascular methods, three with open surgery, and one with combined treatment. Good functional outcome could be achieved in 86% during the follow-up period. Conclusion : In this series, the young-age patients with intracranial aneurysms were characterized by male predominance, related specific medical conditions, low incidence of multiple aneurysms, high incidence of giant aneurysms and good functional outcome after treatment.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.58 no.12
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• pp.478-483
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• 2015

Purpose: Information on the clinical features of lung abscess, which is uncommon in children, at hospitalization is helpful to anticipate the disease course and management. There is no report concerning lung abscess in Korean children. We aimed to identify the clinical characteristics of pediatric lung abscess and compare the difference between primary and secondary abscess groups. Methods: The medical records of 11 lung abscess patients (7 males and 4 females) from March 1998 to August 2011 at two university hospitals were retrospectively reviewed. The clinical characteristics, symptoms, underlying disease, laboratory and radiologic findings, microbiological results, and treatments were examined. Results: Six patients had underlying structural-related problems (e.g., skeletal anomalies). No immunologic or hematologic problem was recorded. The mean ages of the primary and secondary groups were 2.4 and 5.3 years, respectively, but the difference was not statistically significant. The mean length of hospital stay was similar in both groups (22.8 days vs. 21.4 days). Immunologic studies were performed in 3 patients; the results were within the normal range. Most patients had prominent leukocytosis. Seven and 4 patients had right and left lung abscess, respectively. Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and antimycoplasma antibodies were detected in both groups. Two patients with primary lung abscess were administered antibiotics in the absence of other procedures, while 8 underwent interventional procedures, including 5 with secondary abscess. Conclusion: The most common symptoms were fever and cough. All patients in the primary group were younger than 3 years. Structural problems were dominant. Most patients required interventional procedures and antibiotics.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.112-129
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• 1996

Background : A small number of high cost patients usually spend a larger proportion of scarce health resources. Aged, long-term care and readmitted patients usually belong to these high cost patient group. Among others, long length of stay and readmission can be reduced by checking its cause, and these are the areas needed most of quality improvement activity. Characteristics of high cost medical users between health insurance program and medical assistance program were reviewed. Methods : The inpatient claims of health insurance and medical assistance program were analyzed. Patients were divided by 6 groups; long-term, mid-term, short-term, readmitted, cancer and aged. We defined high cost patients as those who had spent one and half million won and over per 6 months. Characteristics of high cost patients for each group were reviewed. Results : medical assistance patients used much more resources than the insured members in the average hospital cost per case but less in daily hospital cost. The former had a longer length of stay and had much heavier diseases. Major diseases of both group were cancer, diseases of circulatory system and chronic degenerative diseases. Gallstone and schizophrenia were more in the insured program. However, pulmonary tuberculosis, asthma were more common among the medical assistance patients. Early readmission before 2 weeks were 28-30% of the total readmission. Readmission rate in the malignat neoplasm and renal failure were 80% and more. Q.A program should be installed to prevent unnecessary readmissions. Conclusion : Almost 30% of early readmissions and admissions due to complications and long length of stay should be reviewed carefully to keep cost down and to enhance the quality of hospital care.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.213-220
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• 2005

Objective : Thyroid diseases are one of the most common endocrine disorders. However, the first chosen-treatments including anti-thyroidal and hormone-supplement therapy in western medicines, sometimes have failed to improve abnormal thyroid hormone secretions and clinical symptoms. Therefore, there has been a growing expectation for Oriental Medicine to take the role of alternative therapy. However, there has been little analysis of clinical characteristics. In this study, clinical characteristics of thyroidal disease patients who visited Kyung-Hee oriental hospital from January to July 2004 were analyzed. Methods : A total 86 patients diagnosed as hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism or thyroid nodule were selected. Clinical history, including sex, age, symptoms, disease duration and methods of previous therapy and thyroidal test, such as thyroid function test (TFT), thyroid scan and other thyroid examinations. Results : In distribution of onset age and sex, the patients who have visited oriental hospital with thyroidal diseases showed similar characteristics with typical patients. In clinical symptom, the most frequent clinical sign was fatigue in both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, which differs from the classical characteristics of those diseases. Most patients complained the unresolved symptoms, some of which are attributable to abnormal thyroid hormone secretions, in spite of western therapy with anti-thyroidal and hormone supplement agents. Conclusions : In oriental therapy, it will be necessary to consider the unique clinical features of thyroidal diseases different from classical patterns, and this study suggests that oriental therapy is a good alternative method for patients whose first treatment with western agents failed. Furthermore, more public information to these patients about oriental medicine would be helpful to increase cure rates, and give various choices to patients with thyroid diseases.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.65-70
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• 2009

Purpose: Many studies have addressed a psychiatric analysis of self-injury patients who have self-injurious behavior and who have attempted suicide. Few studies on the injury characteristics of self-injury related trauma patients have been conducted. We analyzed the injury characteristics of self-injury patients. Methods: A retrospective review of the medical records extracted from the injury surveillance system of Wonju Christian Hospital for the period from August 2006 to February 2008 was conducted. Of the 121 cases extracted, 103 were included in this study. We analyzed the sex ratio, age group, place of injury, injury mechanism, location of injury, management results, injury severity, and relation with drinking. Results: One hundred three cases were included (sex ratio: 1.06), and the mean age was $33.9{\pm}14.2$ years old. Fifty-six patients (54.4%) were discharged from the emergency department (ED) on the day of injury after primary care, and 9 patients (8.7%) were discharged, because they refused treatment. Seven patients (6.8%) died. Of these, 4 patients (3.9%) died after attempted cardio-pulmonary resuscitation in the ED, 1 patient (1%) was dead on arrival, and 2 patients (1.9%) died after admission. Sixteen patients (15.5%) were admitted to the hospital, including 2 patients (1.9%) needing emergency surgery. Sixteen patients (15.5%) were transferred to other hospitals. Sixty-one cases (59.2%) involved drinking, and 31 (30.1%) did not; for 11 cases (10.7%), the involvement of drinking was unknown. The mean revised trauma score (RTS) was $11.26{\pm}2.52$, and 88 cases (85.4%) hat a RTS of 12. The mean injury severity score (ISS) was $5.80{\pm}14.56$, and 9 (8.7%) severely injured patients had scores of more than 15. Conclusion: Most self-injuries were mild traumas related to drinking and occurred at a young age. Most cases were not so severe, and the patients were discharged from the ED, but some patients needed hospitalization. Other patients had injuries so severe that they died.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.122-136
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• 2022

Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate Heart Rate Variability (HRV) characteristics of patients with primary dysmenorrhea at the menstrual phase. Methods: 7 databases (Pubmed, Cochrane library, CNKI, RISS, KISS, OASIS, ScienceON) were searched for eligible studies published before 2021 December. The studies comparing HRV between patients with primary dysmenorrhea and controls were included. A random-effects model was used to evaluate differences of HRV parameters between patients with primary dysmenorrhea and controls. Results: 4 articles were included in this review based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. SDNN (Standard deviation of NN intervals), RMSSD (Square root of the mean squared difference of successive NN intervals), mean PR (Mean of pulse rate), LF (Low frequency), HF (High frequency), was the most frequently used as HRV parameters. RMSSD was significantly lower in patients with primary dysmenorrhea than controls. There was no statistically significant difference of other HRV parameters between patients with primary dysmenorrhea and controls. Conclusions: This study suggests that parasympathetic activity and overall functions of autonomic nervous system might be decreased in patients with primary dysmenorrhea at the menstrual phase. In the future, well-designed clinical studies using HRV and additional meta-analysis should be conducted to obtain a wealth of information about HRV characteristics of patients with primary dysmenorrhea.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.812-819
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to report the long-term efficacy of herbal medicine for treatment of patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). Methods: We reviewed the clinical records of 17 patients with RAS who visited the Oral Diseases Clinic of Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital from September 1st, 2014 to August 29th, 2017. The patients were treated with herbal medicine for more than 3 consecutive weeks, followed by a telephone survey. We evaluated the clinical characteristics of RAS, and compared the short-term and long-term efficacy of herbal medicine treatment. Results: After treatment with herbal medicine, the clinical characteristics improved in the 17 patients with RAS, especially in terms of the duration and interval of recurrence. Prolonged effects were reported upon the follow-up telephone survey. Conclusion: Herbal medicine treatment may have a long-term effect in patients with RAS.

• Journal of Korean Academic Society of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.14-21
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify relationships between HbA1c (Glycosylated Hemoglobin), WHR (Waist hip ratio), WTR (Waist thigh ratio) and compliance in elderly diabetes mellitus patients aged 65 years or over. Method: We conducted a survey and measured HbA1c, WHR, WTR in a total of 180 elderly patients with diabetes from 5 May 2014 to 30 May 2014. The data were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson's Correlation Coefficient using the SPSS program. Results: There were no significant differences in diabetes-related characteristics for HbA1c, WHR and WTR. However, patients with a family history had low compliance scores (p=.004). Furthermore, patients who visited the hospital regularly had higher compliance scores than patients who visited hospital when they were sick (p<.001). Patients with diabetic complications had low treatment compliance scores (p=.001). In addition, WHR and WTR (r=0.47, p<.001). and WHR and compliance (r=0.15, p=.045) showed positive correlation. Conclusion: For elderly diabetes mellitus patients, diabetes-related characteristics and compliance were highly related, so it is necessary to improve compliance for managing diabetes mellitus.