No abstract available.
Anti-Bacterial Agents* ; Phagocytosis*

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the level of chewing and swallowing function (CSF) and the factors related to CSF among elderly vendors in a conventional market. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted between August 10 through September 8, 2020, using a self-reporting questionnaire to collect data. The study sample comprised 61 elderly vendors aged 65 years and over, from a conventional market at Jeju-si. CSF was measured using the Questionnaire for Chewing and Swallowing Function of the elderly, and depression was assessed by applying the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Results: Chewing and swallowing dysfunctions were reported by 34.4% of elderly vendors. CSF was significantly associated with the current smoking status (β=0.39, P=0.001) and depression (β=0.33, P=0.006). Conclusion These results indicate that current smoker and depression are significant factors affecting CSF. The factors determined in this study may be used in community health programs for preventing and managing chewing and swallowing dysfunction among the elderly vendors in a conventional market.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the level of chewing and swallowing function (CSF) and the factors related to CSF among elderly vendors in a conventional market. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted between August 10 through September 8, 2020, using a self-reporting questionnaire to collect data. The study sample comprised 61 elderly vendors aged 65 years and over, from a conventional market at Jeju-si. CSF was measured using the Questionnaire for Chewing and Swallowing Function of the elderly, and depression was assessed by applying the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Results: Chewing and swallowing dysfunctions were reported by 34.4% of elderly vendors. CSF was significantly associated with the current smoking status (β=0.39, P=0.001) and depression (β=0.33, P=0.006). Conclusion These results indicate that current smoker and depression are significant factors affecting CSF. The factors determined in this study may be used in community health programs for preventing and managing chewing and swallowing dysfunction among the elderly vendors in a conventional market.

OBJECTIVES: New methods for obtaining appropriate information for users have been attempted with the development of information technology and the Internet. Among such methods, the demand for systems and services that can improve patient satisfaction has increased in hospital care environments. METHODS: In this paper, we proposed the Hospital Exam Reservation System (HERS), which uses the data mining method. First, we focused on carrying clinical exam data and finding the optimal schedule for generating rules using the multi-examination pattern-mining algorithm. Then, HERS was applied by a rule master and recommending system with an exam log. Finally, HERS was designed as a user-friendly interface. RESULTS: HERS has been applied at the National Cancer Center in Korea since June 2014. As the number of scheduled exams increased, the time required to schedule more than a single condition decreased (from 398.67% to 168.67% and from 448.49% to 188.49%; p < 0.0001). As the number of tests increased, the difference between HERS and non-HERS increased (from 0.18 days to 0.81 days). CONCLUSIONS: It was possible to expand the efficiency of HERS studies using mining technology in not only exam reservations, but also the medical environment. The proposed system based on doctor prescription removes exams that were not executed in order to improve recommendation accuracy. In addition, we expect HERS to become an effective system in various medical environments.
Appointments and Schedules ; Data Mining* ; Diagnosis ; Electronic Health Records ; Hospital Information Systems ; Internet ; Korea ; Mining ; Patient Satisfaction ; Prescriptions ; Systems Integration

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of preemptive swallowing stimulation on the recovery of swallowing function in long-term intubated patients. METHOD: Patients in the intensive care unit intubated for at least 48 hours due to respiratory distress from March to August 2003 were randomly assigned to two groups. Fifteen patients were stimulated (experimental group), and 18 patients were not stimulated (control group). The duration of intubation was 15.5+/-6.7 days in the experimental group and 15.7+/-6.5 days in the control group. Duration of stimulation in the experimental group was 7.3+/-3.6 days. After extubation, we compared the severity of dysphagia via video-fluoroscopic swallowing study. RESULTS: There was no difference in percentage of aspiration and swallowed volume between two groups. Oral transit time of the experimental group (0.37+/-0.07 sec) was significantly shorter than that of the control group (0.83+/-0.10 sec), and the oropharyngeal swallowing efficiency of the experimental group (73.3+/-17.4%/sec) was significantly higher than that of the control group (50.1+/-13.0%/sec). CONCLUSION: Preemptive swallowing stimulation in long term intubated patients may facilitate recovery of dysphagia.
Deglutition Disorders ; Deglutition* ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Intubation

PURPOSE: To determine the enhancing patterns of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) and the difference of enhancing patterns according to the tumor size, using spiral CT. MATERIALS & METHODS: We reviewed 213 lesions in 76patients who had been clinically or histopathologically diagnosed as HCC sufferer. The tumors were divided into three groups, according to size(&3 cm, 3-5cm and >5 cm). The enhancing patterns of tumor and capsule in the earlyand delayed phase were analysed. The enhancing patterns of the tumor were divided into five types(high, peripheralhigh, mixed, iso and low attenuation) in the early phase and four types(central high, mixed, iso, and low attenuation) in the delayed phase. The enhancing patterns of the capsule were divided into three types such asiso, low and high attenuation. RESULTS: High attenuating lesions in the early phase were as follows : below 3cm 72% ; 3-5cm., 60% ; above 5cm., 49%. Mixed attenuating lesions in the early phase were as follows : below 3cm., 1%; 3-5cm., 22% ; above 5cm., 36%. Thus, most HCCs were high attenuation type in the early phase, but as the tumorbecame larger, less high attenuation and more mixed attenuation was demonstrated(p<0.01). There was no difference of enhancing patterns according to the tumor size in peripheral high, iso and low-attenuating lesions. In the delayed phase most of the hepatomas appeared as totally hypodense lesions. For capsules, the results were as follows : below 3cm., 20% ; 3-5cm.,58% ; above 5cm., 73%. As the tumors became larger, more capsules were demonstrated(p <0.01). The capsules were visualized as iso or low attenuating rim in the early phase and high attenuating rim in the delayed phase. CONCLUSIONS: To determine the enhancing patterns of HCC using spiral CT is considered to be helpful in the diagnosis of HCC.
Capsules ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Diagnosis ; Tomography, Spiral Computed*

BACKGROUND: A number of reports have been published regarding the use of imiquimod for the treatment of melanoma in situ and metastatic melanoma. Essential steps in the process of melanoma invasion and metastasis include degradation of basement membranes and remodeling of the extracellular matrix by proteolytic enzymes, including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the antiinvasive effect of imiquimod in human malignant melanoma cell lines, SK-MEL-2 and SK-MEL-24, in vitro, and to investigate imiquimod-induced changes in the expression of MMPs and TIMPs. METHODS: Invasiveness of melanoma cell lines following imiquimod treatment was evaluated by invasion assays. In order to investigate the mechanism of the anti-invasive effect of imiquimod, mRNA and protein levels of MMP-2, -9, membrane type 1 (MT1)-MMP, TIMP-1, and -2 were assessed by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, gelatin zymography, and western blotting. RESULTS: Imiquimod treatment decreased in vitro viability of melanoma cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Imiquimod also elicited a concentration-dependent suppression of invasion in both melanoma cell lines. A concentration-dependent decrease in MMP-2 and MT1-MMP protein levels and a concentration-dependent increase in TIMP-1 and -2 protein levels by imiquimod was observed in both melanoma cell lines. However, expression of MMP-9 protein was increased in SK-MEL-2 but decreased in SK-MEL-24 with increasing imiquimod concentrations. Imiquimod elicited alterations in MMPs and TIMPs mRNA levels that parallel the observed changes in protein levels. CONCLUSION: Imiquimod may elicit an anti-invasive effect on human melanoma cells by regulating MMPs and TIMPs.
Basement Membrane ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line ; Extracellular Matrix ; Gelatin ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 14 ; Matrix Metalloproteinases* ; Melanoma* ; Membranes ; Metalloproteases* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Peptide Hydrolases ; RNA, Messenger ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1

OBJECTIVE: To translate the English version of the Pain Disability Questionnaire (PDQ) into Korean and to investigate the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the PDQ (K-PDQ) in patients suffering chronic disabling musculoskeletal disorders (CDMDs). METHODS: The English version of the PDQ was translated into Korean. Ten patients with CDMDs were randomly selected for a pilot study to assess the comprehensibility of the pre-final version. One hundred and thirty-nine patients suffering from CDMDs for more than 3 months were enrolled in this study. Follow-up questionnaires were obtained to examine the test-retest reliability. Concurrent validity was evaluated by comparing the K-PDQ with the visual analogue scale (VAS). Construct validity was evaluated by comparing the K-PDQ with the brief form of the World Health Organization quality of life assessment instrument (WHOQOL-BREF) using Pearson correlation coefficient. Reliability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and internal consistency was determined by Cronbach's alpha. RESULTS: Test-retest reliability was assessed in 70 patients, with an average time interval of 12 days. The ICC was 0.958 (p<0.001). Internal consistency reached Cronbach's alpha of 0.933 for the functional component and 0.870 for the psychosocial component. The correlation coefficient for the K-PDQ when compared with the VAS was 0.834 in the first assessment and 0.831 in the second assessment. All domains of the WHOQOL-BREF showed a significant negative correlation with the K-PDQ. CONCLUSION: The K-PDQ is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring disability and can be used to assess disability and treatment outcomes in Korean patients with CDMD.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Pilot Projects ; Quality of Life ; Reproducibility of Results* ; Treatment Outcome ; World Health Organization ; Surveys and Questionnaires