Gut microbiota and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease / 고신대학교의과대학학술지

The gut microbiota has been reported to exert a significant influence on various physiological responses of hosts. Extensive evidence has recently emerged linking metabolic and cardiovascular disorders to the gut microbiota. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common underlying metabolic disorder, and its prevalence is increasing worldwide. In this study, we aim to review the relationship between the gut microbiota and NAFLD, and explore the potential of the gut microbiota as a novel target for NAFLD treatment.

Education needs for clinical nursing practice using an Importance-Performance Analysis and Borich needs assessment model: Focused on nurses in the general wards of a tertiary hospital / 한국간호교육학회지

Purpose@#This study’s aim was to confirm the importance and performance of the clinical practice of nurses working in the general wards of a tertiary hospital and to analyze their educational needs. @*Methods@#The study employed a descriptive research design, and a self-reported questionnaire was developed and used for nurses in a tertiary hospital. Data were collected from July 22 to July 29, 2022, analyzed by an independent t-test, paired t-test, and one-way ANOVA for the importance and performance of each clinical nursing practice according to general characteristics, and then a post hoc verification was performed by Scheffé’s test. An Importance-Performance Analysis and Borich needs assessment model were used to analyze clinical nursing education needs. @*Results@#Clinical nursing practice performance showed a significant difference according to length of total clinical career, time working in current department, and preceptor experience. According to the results of the Importance-Performance Analysis, neurological evaluation, and nursing intervention, artificial respirator and high-flow oxygen inhalation nursing, chemotherapy, emergency nursing, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation were identified as belonging to the “concentrate here” quadrant. All these items ranked in the top 10 in the Borich needs assessment model. @*Conclusion@#Based on these results, the current education system should be reviewed, and short and long term education strategies based on educational needs should be established to strengthen the competence of nurses.

Anti-PP₁P(k) (Tj(a)) Antibody in a Korean Female Patient with p Phenotype Confirmed by Genotyping

Detection of Intestinal Protozoa in Korean Patients Using BD MAX Enteric Parasite Panel and Seegene Allplex Gastrointestinal Parasite Assay

Background@#Intestinal protozoan infection is one of the main causes of gastrointestinal diseases. Protozoa are usually detected by direct smear microscopy, concentration techniques, or special stains; however, these techniques are labor-intensive and require well-trained technicians. Therefore, molecular techniques involving polymerase chain reaction (PCR) have been developed to satisfy the need for unbiased and rapid analytical methods with high sensitivity and specificity. In this study, the BD MAXTM Enteric Parasite Panel (EPP) (Becton, Dickinson and Company, USA), designed to detect Cryptosporidium parvum and/or hominis, Giardia lamblia, and Entamoeba histolytica, and the AllplexTM Gastrointestinal Parasite Assays (AGPA) (Seegene Inc., Korea), designed to detect Cryptosporidium species, G. lamblia, E. histolytica, Blastocystis hominis, Dientamoeba fragilis, and Cyclospora cayetanensis were compared to determine whether any of these assays could become a useful tool for detecting intestinal protozoan infections in Korea. @*Methods@#We investigated 295 fecal samples using EPP and AGPA. Then we confirmed the positive results with the conventional and nested PCR. Consistent detection by conventional PCR, nested PCR, and one of the multiplex panels was considered “true positive.” @*Results@#Out of 295 samples, 17 were true positives for B. hominis and 2 were true positives for E. histolytica. EPP detected parasites in only two samples owing to its design; however, its true positive detection rate was 100% (2/2). AGPA detected parasites in 24 samples with 79.2% (19/24) true positives. @*Conclusions@#The incidence of protozoan, especially B. hominis, infection may be more prevalent than expected. AGPA could be an effective tool for screening protozoan infections.

Establishment of Reference Intervals for Serum Insulin-Like Growth Factor I in Korean Adult Population

Appropriate reference intervals of serum insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is important for diagnosing and monitoring patients with growth hormone-related diseases. To establish reference intervals, adult individuals (n=1,334, 680 men and 654 women) were divided into six age groups (20–29, 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, 60–69, ≥70). Serum IGF-I was measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay (Liaison). Concordance of patient classification based on reference intervals, manufacturer’s intervals, and standard deviation score (SDS) was evaluated. New reference intervals had higher upper and lower limits than those specified by the manufacturer. The agreement between classification using new reference interval and the manufacturer’s reference interval, and that using new reference interval and SDS was 75.0% (weighted kappa, 0.17), 91.9% (weighted kappa, 0.51) in men and 91.0% (weighted kappa, 0.41), 92.5% (weighted kappa, 0.53) in women, respectively. Reference intervals should be established not only based on age and sex, but also on ethnicity and assay method.

Establishment of Reference Intervals for Serum Insulin-Like Growth Factor I in Korean Adult Population

Appropriate reference intervals of serum insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is important for diagnosing and monitoring patients with growth hormone-related diseases. To establish reference intervals, adult individuals (n=1,334, 680 men and 654 women) were divided into six age groups (20–29, 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, 60–69, ≥70). Serum IGF-I was measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay (Liaison). Concordance of patient classification based on reference intervals, manufacturer’s intervals, and standard deviation score (SDS) was evaluated. New reference intervals had higher upper and lower limits than those specified by the manufacturer. The agreement between classification using new reference interval and the manufacturer’s reference interval, and that using new reference interval and SDS was 75.0% (weighted kappa, 0.17), 91.9% (weighted kappa, 0.51) in men and 91.0% (weighted kappa, 0.41), 92.5% (weighted kappa, 0.53) in women, respectively. Reference intervals should be established not only based on age and sex, but also on ethnicity and assay method.

Clinical evaluation of cetylpyridinium chloride-containing mouthwash in halitosis

Halitosis is a very common disease that affects the majority of the population and is characterized by unpleasant odor during expiration. Anaerobic bacteria produce a range of malodorous substances including volatile sulfur compounds. To reduce oral malodor, the amount of oral microorganisms should be managed through brushing, scraping, and use of antibacterial agents. In this study, a mouthwash containing 0.05% cetylpyridinium chloride was tested on 22 candidates with oral malodor for two weeks to confirm oral malodor reduction through the use of antibacterial mouthwashes. Volatile sulfur compound measurements were significantly lower after using the mouthwash than before using it; thus, the mouthwash effectively reduced oral malodor.

A Survey on the Medium and Long-term Developmental Direction and Task for Private Psychiatric Practitioners / 신경정신의학

The purpose of this study was to survey opinions and to gather data of private psychiatric practitioners in Korea about their quality of life, business environment, and government policy of interest. The questionnaire was composed of 14 categories and 53 questions were administered to approximately 150 private psychiatric practitioners by E-mail and post mail concerning the present state, critique and prediction about their practice, business, and government policy. A total of 47 practitioners responded and we could gather meaningful data. Their responses regarding quality of life and satisfaction as a specialist were "a little" and they had many complaints of lack of income, stress of practice, anxieties of government control, and too much work. They had various adaptation skills to these "bad" situations and asked active plan to Korean Psychiatric Practitioners Association and government for present and future development of practice environment. These results provide meaningful data for understanding private psychiatric practitioners' opinions and behavioral patterns to adapt to their business area, and also suggest present and future direction for development of a medium and long-term plan against government policy and market change. This study will provide the basis for further investigation and projects in the near future.

A Web-Based Pulse Wave Information Management System / 대한의료정보학회지

This paper describes a web-based pulse wave information management system that applies the web solution to the pulse wave extraction and management of the patient's bio-signals. In the oriental medicine, the abnormal arterial pulse wave signals generated from the specific point of body are thought to be related to certain disease conditions of specific internal organs. Therefore, evaluating the pulse wave signals has long been used a major diagnostic means. Numerous studies have been carried out on the development of the pulse wave measuring instruments that c an simply check the one's pulse waves on the radial artery, however, fewer researches have been performed to analyze pulse waves and manage the information in association with the oriental medical information system. Recently, as the usage of instrumental pulse wave analysis is increasing in the practice of the oriental medicine, needs of the pulse wave information management system that can be interfaced with the oriental medical information system are also inc reasing. The web-based pulse wave information management system provides ea sy acc ess, analysis and management of the pulse waves at anywhere one just connects the pulse wave analyser and web browser with the server system and it can also provide the high availability of the pulse wave data. All pulse wave data were easily managed with XML based communication for interchange of the pulse wave data among the existing oriental medicine information systems.