• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.7
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• pp.643-648
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• 2007

Purpose : Sepsis is a common complication in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU), seen especially in low birth weight (LBW) infants. A recent study showed that fungal or gram-negative sepsis is associated with a greater degree of thrombocytopenia than is seen with gram-positive sepsis. So, this study was undertaken to examine the platelet counts and platelet indices in LBW infants during episodes of sepsis. Methods : We analyzed 36 cases with culture-proven sepsis on chart review in LBW infants admitted to the NICU at Wonkwang University Hospital from January 2001 to June 2006. Results : Patients were grouped by organism type: gram-positive bacteria ($1,521{\pm}309g$, $31.3{\pm}2.9wk$, 15/36), gram-negative bacteria ($1,467{\pm}290g,\;30.6{\pm}3.6wk$, 17/36), and fungi ($1,287{\pm}205g,\;30.0{\pm}3.9wk$, 4/36). The most common organism was Staphylococcus epidermis and the incidence of thrombocytopenia was 88.9%. When compared with infants with gram-positive sepsis, those with gram-negative sepsis had significantly higher incidences of thrombocytopenia, lower initial platelet count, lower platelet nadir, and greater mean percentage decrease in platelet count from before the onset of sepsis. Those with fungal infections were similar to gram-negative sepsis, but they were not significant because of the small number of patients. And mean platelet volume (MPV) in sepsis was increased more significantly in time of platelet nadir than before the onset of sepsis. Conclusion : We conclude that decrease in platelet count was significantly greater in gram-negative sepsis than gram-positive sepsis, and also greater than fungal sepsis-which was insignificant because of the small number of patients-in LBW infants. And elevation in MPV will be helpful in the diagnosis and treatment of sepsis in LBW infants.

• Cartoon and Animation Studies
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• s.49
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• pp.25-52
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• 2017

As the expansion of the cultural industry expands, various competitive structures are formed and the methodologies for producing commercial success are being discussed. Among them, Hollywood studios use political relationships and apply ideologies that can produce the best interests. Also, they use a structure that can convey this ideology, which is a mythology. The myth has satisfied the public for a ling time. Campbell suggested that strategies come from the myth, and the ideology emerged as a result of what mythology has to do with existing powers. Disney and Dream Works use the mythology and combine their own values into ideology. Disney and Dream Works choose conflicting ideologies in a different growth background. If Disney is recognized as an educational animation by the ruling class, Dream Works are supported by the public for their actions against Disney. Disney has conservative and patriotic personality, Dream Works is more liberal and progressive. Disney's structure came out first, and Dream Works parodied it. So we can compare Disney and Dream Works with similar myths to create a storytelling structure that embodies ideology. As a result, Disney and Dream Works have been choosing the 9 stages the key of Ideology form the 17 stages of the mythology and reduced them to the introduction, growth and completion. In the first units of the introduction, Disney dealt with the subject of social leaders who sacrificed to the ruling class and Dream Works hinted at the overthrow of the ruling class through the irony. If Disney had deployed colored races in the main characters, Dream Works used a variety of races from the main characters to others. In the second units of growth, Disney organized the process of accepting the value of the ruling class, and Dream Works showed the individual values, not the values of society. In the third units completion, Disney showed the main character who live in the world of the ruling class rebuilded, and Dream Works removed the ruling class and went back to the Individual life. Through the structure of Disney and DreamWorks, we learned how to utilize the mythical structures that transform according to ideologies. The right way to organize works will require the strategic approach to storytelling.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.7
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• pp.649-654
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• 2007

Purpose : The objective of this study was to clarify the presentation, associated preceding illness, pathologic organisms, treatment and outcome of deep neck abscess in children according to age and location. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the in-patient charts of children treated at our hospital for deep neck abscess. Thirty-five such patients were identified as having been treated from March 1990 to December 2005. Results : A total of 35 were enrolled in our study: 25 boys and 10 girls. Their ages ranged from 11 months to 15 years. Presenting symptoms included mass, fever, irritability, trismus and dysphagia. The most commonly known associated preceding illness was viral upper respiratory infection (53%). The most common site of infection was the submandibular space (37%). Bacteria was identified in 16 patients. The most common pathogen was Staphylococcus aureus. Thirteen (37%) children recovered from the infection with conservative treatment and twenty-four (68%) children received surgical drainage. The duration of hospitalization was longer in the group who underwent surgery than in the group who were managed with conservative treatment. No complication occurred. Conclusion : Unexplained torticollis, trismus or irritability in children were suggestive of deep neck abscess. Our results demonstrate that deep neck abscesses in children is respond well to conservative treatment if diagnosed early.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.120-126
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• 2000

Purpose : Tumor hypoxia can be overcome with hypoxic cytotoxin. In mouse tumor, tirapazamine's efficacy of the potentiating radiation effect was tested by the tumor oxygenation status combined with hype facti on ated rad iotherapy .:The control and hypoxic mouse tumors we established by inoculation of RIF-1 tumor cells into the normal or previously irradiated back and thigh of C3H mice. When the tumors reached a proper size, both the control and hypoxic tumors were given hypefractionated treatments (8fractions/4 days) with saline (0.02 ml/g), tirapazamin (0.08 mM/0.02 ml/kg), irradiation (2.5 Gy), irradiation combined with tirapazamine given 30 minutes prior to each irradiation. The response was evaluated by the growth delay assay by measuring tumor size from day 0 (12 hrs prior to the first fractionation) to the day when the volume had 4-fold increase or cross sectional area had 2-fold increase. Results : Overall growth pattern showed that tirapazamine Potentiated radiation effect in back and thigh tumors grew in the normal and preirradiated tumor bed. With growth delay assay using reference point of initial tumor volume or cross sectional area, tirapazamine potentiated radiation effect 1.9 times for the control and 2.4 times for the hypoxic tumors in back, and 1.85 times for the control and 1.6 times for the hypoxic tumors. With reference of 4-fold increase of the initial volume or 2-fold increase of the cross sectional area, tirapazamine potentiated radiation effect 1.48 times for the control and 2.02 times for the hypxic tumors in back, and 1.85 times for the control and 1.6 times for the hypoxic tumors. Conclusions : Present result indicated that radiation response of hypoxic tumors was potentiated by tirapazamine in the back or thigh tumors grew in the control or preirradiated tumor bed, and potentiation of the hypoxic tumors was eDual to or greater than that of the control tumors in the back or thigh.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.335-373
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• 2014

According to one Medicare report, in the US, total federal spending on health care expends almost 18 percent of the nation's GDP, about double what most industrialized nations spend on health care. And in 2011, Medicare spending reached close to $554 billion, which amounted to 21 percent of the total spent on U.S. health care in that year. Of that $554 billion, Medicare spent 28 percent, or about $170 billion, on patients' last six months of life. So what are the reasons of this high cost in EOL care and its possible solutions? Much spendings of Medicare on End-of-Life care for the terminally ill/chronically ill in the US has led health economics experts to assess the characteristics of the care. Decades of study shows that EOL care is usually supply-sensitive and poor in cost-effectiveness. The volume of care is sensitively depending on the supply of resources, rather than the severity of illness or preferences of patients. This means at the End-of-Life care, the medical resources are being overused. On the other hand, opposed to the common assumption, "The more care the better utility", the study shows that the outcome is very poor. Actually the patient preference and concerns are quite the opposite from what intense EOL care would bring about. This study analyzes the reasons for the supply-sensitiveness of EOL care. It can be resulted from the common misconception about the intense care and the outcome, physicians' mission for patients, lack of End-of-Life Care Decision which helps the patients choose their own preferred treatment intensity. It also could be resulted from physicians' fear of legal liabilities, and the management strategy since the hospitals are also seeking for financial benefits. This study suggests the possible solutions for over-treatment at the End-of-Life resulting from supply-sensitiveness. Solutions can be sought in two aspects, legal implementation and management strategy. In order to implement advance directive properly, active ethics education for physicians to change their attitude toward EOL care and more conversations about end-of-life care between physicians and patients is crucial, and incentive system for the physicians who actively have the conversations with patients will also help. Also, the general education towards the public is also important in the long run, and easy and official advance directive registry system-such as online registry-has to be built and utilized more widely. Alternative strategies in management are also needed. For example, the new strategic cost management and management education, such as cutting unnecessary costs and resetting values as medical providers have to be considered. In order to effectively resolve the problem in EOL care for the terminally ill/chronically ill and provide better experience to the patients, first of all, the misconception and the wrong conventional wisdom among doctors, patients, and the government have to be overcome. And then there should be improvements in systems and cultures of the EOL care.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.101-106
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• 2001

Purpose : The outbreaks of measles in infants and school children have been reported recently, but there are no specific treatment of these patients except symptomatic therapy. This study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of intravenous gammaglobulin(IVGG) therapy in acute febrile phase of measles. Methods : The 68 cases in measles were treated with single dose of IVGG(400~500 mg/kg), and 44 cases were treated with only symptomatic treatment during the periods of 14 months from Jan. 2000 to Feb. 2001. They were compared to duration of fever, rash, the levels of CRP and days of admission on both groups after treatment. Results : The results obtained follows. The average of age was $7.9{\pm}3.6$ year old, and male to female was 1.0 : 1.6. The duration of fever after admission was $2.4{\pm}1.2$ days in treated group and $5.7{\pm}2.4$ days in control group. The period of disappearance of systemic erythematous maculopapular rash was $4.5{\pm}1.3$ days in treated group, and $6.9{\pm}2.4$ days in control group. The durations of admission day were also shown significantly shorter duration of period in treated group(P<0.05). The levels of CRP were no significant difference between two groups before treatment. However, treated group was significantly shown by improved within 5 days after IVGG therapy(P<0.05). Conclusions : The single dose of IVGG(400~500 mg/kg) therapy is one of rapid and effective therapy for clinical symptoms and signs in acute high febrile phase of measles.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.363-372
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• 1997

One hundred forty-four patients underwent operation for coarctation of the aorta at Seoul National University Children's Hospital between June 1986 and Decembsr 1995. Age ranged 0.1 to 191 months. Of these 78.5%(113) were infants. We classified the patients in terms of the anatomic location of coarctatiln and the associatCd anomalies(I[401= primary coarctation, 11(741=isthmic hypoplasia, lIIf30)=tubular hypoplasia involving transverse arch, Ar63 =with ventricular septal defect, B(28)=with other major cardiac defects). Subcalvian flap coarctoplasty(60), resection & anastomosis(44), extended aortoplasty(26), and onlay patch(14) were used as surgical methods. Overall operative mortality was 16.0(23/144)%. The hospital mortality was signific'antly higher in patheints with type 111, subtype B, younger age(under 3 months), extended aortoplasty(p(0.01). However, one-stage total repair in patients with subtype A or B were not found to be a predictor of hospital death. Restenosis had occured in 18 patients among 121 survivals(14. 9%). The mean follow-up period was 29.1 $\pm$28.8(0~129.2) months. Preoperative, immediate postoperative(within 3 months after operation) and postoperative(later than 6 months after operation) echocardiographic data on the dimensions of ascending aorta(AA), transverse arch(TA), an4 aortic isthmus(Al) were available in 77 patients(I=20, ll=42, 111= 15). Preoperative and postoperative aortic isthmus(All) and tra sverse arch indices(TAI), defined as TAIAA & AIIAA respectively, were compared. Immediate postoperative All in type 1, II and TAI in type 111 were significantly smaller in stenotic than non-stenotic group suggesting incomplete relieves of stenotic segment Younger age, subclavian coarctoplasty in patient under 3 months of age were round to be the risk factors for restenosis in this series. In conclusion, We found that aortic arch index and transverse arch index can be a useful tool to figure out the anatomic and clinical characteristics of the patients with aortic coarctation, and that anatomy, associated anomalies, age, and surgical methods may influence the surgical outcome of the coarctation repair.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.184-189
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• 2007

Purpose: This study was to explore barriers to effective pain management in general population. Methods: Total 163 Participants completed the Barrier Questionnaire-II (BQ-II), a 27-item on a six point scale, from May to June in 2007. BQ-II consisted of four subscales which were 1) physical effects (PE) addressing beliefs that side effects of analgesics are inevitable and concerns about tolerance, fatalism (Fa) addressing fatalistic beliefs about cancer pain and its management, Communication (Co) addressing the beliefs of 'good patient' and concerns of distracting physician from underlying disease, and harmful effects (HE) addressing fear of addiction and harmful effect to immune system of pain medicine. Results: The BQ-II total had an internal consistency of 0.877 in this study. HE was the biggest barrier (3.03) followed by PE (2.73), Fa (2.15), and Co (1.71). Items appeared as great concerns were 'there is a danger of becoming addicted to pain medication'(3.58), 'using pain medicine blocks your ability to know if you have any new pain' (3.18), 'pain medicine is very addictive' (3.09), 'when you use pain medicine your body becomes used to its effects and pretty soon it won't work any more' (3.09), and 'drowsiness from pain medicine is difficult to control' (3.09). Only 12 respondents (7.4%) reported that they took any type of pain education, however, those who took pain education represented significantly lower barriers to pain management than who did not (P=.029). Conclusion: This result suggests the strategies for public education to surmount cancer pain.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.33 no.2 s.90
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• pp.109-118
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• 2000

The dynamics of inorganic nutrients and phytoplankton population were examined at eight stations of Shihwa Reservoir, which situated near the cities newly constructed and the industrial complex of West-sea in Korea, from January to December 1999. Among environmental factors, average concentration of $NH_4$, SRP and SRSi were $522.7\;{\mu}g\;N/l$, $9.8\;{\mu}g\;N/l$ and $0.26\;{\mu}g\;Si/l$, respectively. Water quality was extremely deteriorated by a great amount of pollutants load into inner reservoir after the event of rainfall. Nutrients concentration was suddenly decreased toward the lower part. While $NO_3$ concentration did not much varied among stations, but it was relatively high in winter season. Chlorophyll-a concentration was high at the upper part of the reservoir, with average of $37.2\;{\mu}/l$, and closely related to the fluctuation of $NH_4$, SRP and SRSi concentrations. The phytoplankton development in the water column was dominated by diatom (autumn), prasinoid (winter) and dinoflagellate (summer). Dominant phytoplankton were composed to Skeletonema costatum of diatom, Prorocentrum minimum of dinoflagellate, Chroomonas spp. of cryptomonad, Eutreptiella gymnastica of euglenoid and Pyramimonas spp. of prasinoid. The large bloom of phytoplankton at the upper zone of the Shihwa Reservoir after inflow of a seawater were consistently observed. In consequence, water quality management of the inlet stream was assessed to be very important and urgent.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.344-350
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• 2004

This study was conducted to develop and assess the applicability of mixed-bed ion exchange resin capsules for water quality monitoring in small agricultural watershed. Recoveries of resin capsules for inorganic N and P ranged from 96 to 102%. The net activation energies and pseudo-thermodynamic parameters, such as ${\Delta}G^{o\ddag},\;{\Delta}H^{o\ddag},\;and\;{\Delta}S^{o\ddag}$ for ion adsorption by resin capsules, exhibited relatively low values, indicating the process might be governed by chemical reactions such as diffusion. However, those values increased with temperature coinciding with the theory. The reaction reached pseudo-equilibrium within 24 hours for $NH_4-N\;and\;NO_3-N$, and only 8 hours for $PO_4-P$, respectively. The selectivity of resin capsules were in the order of $NO_3\;^-\;>\;NH_4\;^+\;>\;PO_4\;^{3-}$, coinciding with that of encapsulated Amberlite IRN-150 resin. At the initial state of equilibrium, the resin adsorption quantity was linearly proportional to the mass of ions in the streams, but the rate of movement leveled off, following Langmuir-type sorption isotherm. The overall results demonstrated that the resin capsule system was suitable for water quality monitoring in small agricultural watershed, judging from the reaction mechanism(s) of the resin capsule and the significance of model in field calibration.