• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.303-308
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of preoperative semen parameters on both seminal improvement and pregnancy rates following varicocelectomy. Methods: This survey was done in 278 patients who underwent microsurgical inguinal varicocelectomy from January 2001 until October 2006. By the total motile sperm counts (TMSC) before operation, the patients were stratified into three groups. Group A (mild oligoasthenospermia) was defined as above 20 million, group B (moderate oligoasthenospermia) was defined as between 5 and 20 million, and group C (severe oligoasthenospermia) was defined as below 5 million. Improvement rates of TMSC and pregnancy rates following varicocelectomy of each groups were compared. Results: The average TMSC of all the patients was 25.75 million before operation and after operation, it was 80.24 million, showing an average increase of 54.49 million (211.6%). To take a look at mean absolute increase (mean relative increase proportion), group A showed 67.90 million (131.2%), group B 62.20 million (482.5%) and group C 26.33 million (1841.2%). The patients with varicocele whose semen parameter is in bad condition show relatively a low mean absolute increase but high mean relative increase proportion. There was no significant difference in natural pregnancy rate among each groups (p=0.119, p=0.059). Conclusions: Even in the varicocele patient whose semen parameter was in bad condition before surgical operation. varicocelectomy could be chosen as the first treatment to male infertility.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.133-143
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• 1997

A population-based study of people aged above 20 years showed that 32% had emmetropia and 68% had ammetropia(myopia 56.6%. hyperopia 11.4%) city in Korea. The percentage of ammetropia in population based study is higher than that of clinic(O.P.D.) based. A 83.3% of the ammetropia had myopia. which is higher than 76.3% of 1968 and 76.9% of 1975 years. A 16.7% of the ammetropia had hyperopia. which is lower than 19.4% of 1968 and 17.3% of 1975 years. In the kind of refractive error. 32.1% of 985 eyes examined had compound myopic astigmatism. 18.2% had simple myopic astigmatism. 14.2% had simple myopia. 6.8% had simple hyperopic astigmatism, 5.0% had mixed astigmatism, 4.7% had compound hyperopic astigmatism and 3.6% had simple hyperopia. In the difference of binocular refractive error, 29% had 0.50~2.00 Dptr difference and 3.6% had difference above 2.00 Dptr. In age related myopic refractive error, 76.7% of people aged 20~29 years and 74.0% of 30~39 years had myopia. It is due to overstudy for entrance into a university that the percentage of myopia is higher than that of abroad. In age related hyperopic refractive error, 2.9% of people aged 20~29 years, 0.6% of 30~39 years. 6.3% of 40~49 years, 16.0% of 50~59 years and 63.9% of 60~69 years had hyperopia. It shows that the age related hyperopic refractive error was significantly increased at aged 40~49 years. The right eye had more myopic refractive error than left eye.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.87-92
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• 2006

Purpose : It is difficult to make a distinction between lower urinary tract infection(UTI) and acute pyelonephritis(APN) during the acute phase of febrile UTI due to nonspecific clinical symptoms and laboratory findings, especially among young children. We measured the serum procalcitonin(PCT) in children with UTI to distinguish between acute pyelonephritis and lower UTI, and to determine the accuracy of PCT measurement compared with other inflammatory markers. Methods : Serum samples were taken from children who admitted with unexplained fever or were suspected of having UTI. 51 children(mean $12.2{\pm}11.4$ months) were enrolled in this study. Leukocyte counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rates(ESR) and C-reactive protein(CRP) were also measured. Renal parenchymal involvement was assessed by $^{99m}Tc$ DMSA scintigraphy in the first 7 days after admission. PCT was measured by immunoluminometric assay. Results : PCT values were significantly correlated with the presence of renal defects in children with UTI(n=16)($5.06{\pm}12.97{\mu}g/L$, P<0.05). However, PCT values were not significantly different between children with UTI without renal damage(n=18) and children without UTI(n=17). Using a cutoff of $0.5{\mu}g/L$ for PCT and 20 mm/hr for ESR, 20 mg/L for CRP, sensitivity and specificity in distinguishing between UTI with and without renal involvement were 81.3 percent and 88.9 percent for PCT 87.5 percent and 72.2 percent for ESR, and 87.5 percent and 55.6 percent for CRP, respectively. Positive and negative predictive values were 86.7 percent and 84.2 percent for PCT and 60.9 percent and 81.8 percent for CRP, respectively. Conclusion : In febrile UTI, PCT values were more specific than CRP, ESR and leukocyte count for the identification of patients who might develop renal defects.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.351-357
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• 2003

Purpose : To raise awareness of the clinical importance of, and the need for proper management of acute focal bacterial nephritis(AFBN), we analyzed 22 AFBN patients and 22 other upper urinary tract infection patients by use of comparative studies. Methods : From January 2000 to May 2002, 22 AFBN patients aged from 1 month to 12 months were selected. As a control group, 22 UTI patients with no radiologic abnormalities were selected and matched by age and sex. Results : The incidence of AFBN was more common in boys than in girls. Since both groups had similar symptoms, it was difficult to diagnose AFBN by clinical presentations alone. ESR and CRP were significantly higher in AFBN patients. The most common causative organism was E. coli in both groups. On the sonographic findings, the most lesions were seen on the upper lobe of the kidney; more frequently, on left kidney. The lesions showed globular or wedge-shaped increased echogenecity. $^{99m}Tc-DMSA$ scan showed the complete coincidence of the location, size and shape in all cases compared to the findings of renal sonography. Conclusion : The roles of renal sonography and DMSA scan were very important, and ultrasonography was an excellent initial tool in diagnosing AFBN. Since the degree of infection in AFBN is more severe than other urinary tract infections and evollution into a renal abscess is possible, early diagnosis and appropriate antibiotics therapy is essential.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.25 no.5 s.52
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• pp.593-604
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• 1995

Mandibular incisor crowding is one of the most common features of malocclusion and is interesting characteristic in view of relapse and stability after orthodontic treatment. There are many potential factors in the etiology of lower anterior crowding. The tooth size variation is one of them, but biologic significance for the faciolingual width of the teeth has been overlooked. Peck and Peck reported that persons with ideal mandibular incisor alignment were shown to have incisor with smaller mesiodistal and larger faciolingual dimensions than persons with incisor crowding. On the basis of these findings they suggested MD/FL index as a clinical guideline for the assessment for lower incisor crowding. The present study was undertaken to examine the relationship between mandibular incisor crowding and mandibular incisor dimension, and determine their correlation with arch length discrepancy. 154 dental casts of people from 11 to 17 years of age were made, and were divided into normal group with irregularity index less than of 1, and crowding group with irregularity index greater than 1.The casts were measured and analyzed statistically. The results were as follows. 1. The mean mesiodistal width for mandibular incisor was larger in crowding group, and has significant difference in central inciosr measurement. There are no significant differences in the faciolingul width and MD/FL index. 2. Irregularity index has significant correlation coefficients with mesiodistal width and MD/FL index for mandibular incisor in crowding group, but no correlation with faciolingual width. It also has correlation with maxillary and mandibular arch length discrepancy, total tooth material, mandibular intercanine width, and mandibular inter first premolar width. 3. Upper and lower arch length discrepancy have significant correlation with mesiodistal width of mandibular incisor and overbite, but have no correlation with faciolingual width. Lower arch lenth discrepancy has significant correlation with MD/FL index for mandibular incisor and upper arch length discrepancy has correlation with MD/FL index for mandibular lateral incisor. 4. Significant differences were observed between normal and crowding group for the mandibular arch length discrepancy and overbite.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.25-29
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• 2015

Objectives: The pathophysiology of restless legs syndrome (RLS) has not been fully elucidated. Oxidative stress might play a role in the development of RLS and other antipsychotic-induced side effects such as tardive dyskinesia. In the present study, we investigated whether the glutathione S-transferase (GST) gene polymorphisms are associated with antipsychotic-induced RLS in schizophrenia. Methods: We assessed antipsychotic-induced RLS symptoms in 190 Korean schizophrenic patients using the diagnostic criteria of the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group. The GST-M1, GST-T1 and GST-P1 loci were analyzed using PCR-based methods. Results: We divided the subjects into 2 groups: those with RLS symptoms (n = 96) and those without RLS symptoms (n = 94). There were no significant differences in the distributions of the GST-M1 genotypes (${\chi}^2=3.56$, p = 0.059), GST-T1 (${\chi}^2=0.51$, p = 0.476) and GST-P1 (${\chi}^2=0.57$, p = 0.821) between the 2 groups. Comparison of the RLS score among genotypes of the GST-M1 (t = -1.54, p = 0.125), GST-T1 (t = -0.02, p = 0.985) and GST-P1 (F = 0.58, p = 0.560) revealed no significant difference. Conclusion: These data suggest that GST gene polymorphisms do not confer increased susceptibility to RLS symptoms in schizophrenic patients. Future studies are necessary to evaluate the possible influences of other candidate genes involved in the reactive oxygen species system.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.150-160
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• 1999

Background: The CREST syndrome is an indolent form of progressive systemic sclerosis. Although its clinical progress is indolent, pulmonary hypertension(PH) associated with CREST syndrome have grave prognosis with over 40 percent mortality rate at 2 year follow-up. But the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension in this disease is not known, and classified as either primary or secondary PH. Clonality of endothelial cell proliferation in plexiform lesion is a molecular marker which allows distinction between primary and secondary PH. We performed this study to know whether the PH associated with CREST syndrome is a variant of primary PH or is a secondary PH. Methods: We assessed the X-chromosome inactivation based on the methylation pattern of the human androgen-receptor gene by PCR(HUMARA). Endothelial cells in plexiform lesions from female patients(n=3) with PH associated with CREST syndrome were microdissected from paraffin blocks. Vascular smooth muscle cells and lung parenchyma were also microdissected for clonality studies. Results: The proliferating endothelial cells in 14 plexiform lesions were all polyclonal. Similarly proliferated smooth muscle cells from 5 vessels with medial hypertrophy were also polyclonal. Conclusion: These results suggest that the pulmonary hypertension associated with CREST syndrome has different pathogenesis from primary PH and to be classified as secondary PH.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.221-227
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• 2006

Background : Cough may be a consequence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness or inflammation. Empirical treatment is important in this context because it difficult to verify the obvious cause of cough using laboratory tests, Corticosteroid has a nonspecific anti-inflammatory effect, and can be used for cough management. However, its response rate has not yet been fully elucidated. This study investigated the short- term effects of inhaled corticosteroid on chronic cough Methods : Patients with chronic cough with a normal chest radiograph and a pulmonary function test were enrolled. Cases with a prior respiratory infection within 8 weeks, a history of bronchial asthma, objective wheezing on examination, subjective symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux or taking an ACE inhibitor were excluded. On the first visit, a methacholine bronchial provocation test, spontaneous sputum eosinophil count performed twice and a paranasal sinus radiograph were checked, and the patients were treated with budesonide turbuhaler $800{\mu}g/day$ for ten days. The primary outcome measure was a decrease in the cough score after treatment. Results : Sixty nine chronic coughers were finally analyzed. The final diagnoses by the routine tests were as follows: bronchial asthma 13.0%, eosinophilic bronchitis 18.8%, paranasal sinusitis 23.2% and non-diagnostic cases 53.6%. The following responses to the inhaled corticosteroid were observed: definite responders, 76.8%, possible responders, 2.9% and non-responders, 20.3%. The response rate was not affected by the final diagnosis even in the non-diagnostic cases. There were minimal adverse drug related effects during the empirical treatment. Conclusion : Routine objective tests such as methacholine provocation, sputum eosinophil count and simple radiographs were notare not suitable for diagnosing chronic cough Therefore, empirical treatment is important. Short term inhaled corticosteroid is effective and can guide a further treatment plan for chronic cough.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.219-224
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• 2004

Purpose: Through a survey on an Internet homepage, we conducted research concerning the need of patients and their families for information on gastric cancer. We also assessed their interest in gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: We analyzed 619 inquiries presented from June 2002 to September 2003 and 524 replies submitted to a questionnaire survey delivered by the Internet homepage (www.gastriccancer.co.kr) from August to October 2003 to gastric cancer patients and their families. Results: Analysis of Inquiries: The classified inquiries listed in order of frequency are as follows: treatment, prognosis, stages, symptoms, pathophysiology, diagnostic modalities, favorable food, etiology, follow-up, etc. Among the inquiries about treatment, the most frequent subgroup was about the scope of surgery or perioperative implications. Next came questions concerning chemotherapy. Among the questions from patients yet to be operated, on those about operability and the prognosis were most frequent. Among the patients who had undergone a resection, questions on complications and the corresponding prognosis were most frequent. The concern from patients with inoperable or recurrent cancers was related to terminal care and/or chemotherapy. Analysis of Questionnaires: The respondents acquired information on gastric cancer from the Internet ($40\%$), doctors ($32\%$), the mass media ($15\%$) and acquaintances ($13\%$). Only $6\%$ of the respondents were sufficiently satisfied with the information provided by doctors. Among the respondents, $89.9\%$ were interested in complementing treatment with folk remedies while only $5\%$ were not. Conclusion: Patients and their families were eager to get information about gastric cancer. However, many of them found the doctors' information to be insufficient. Our suggestion is that the public health, academic societies, medical institutions, and public organizations should endeavor to provide through an activated Internet network correct information on gastric cancer. (J Korean Gastric Cancer Assoc 2004;4:219-224)

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.375-401
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• 1995

Cause of skeletal Class III malocclusion in growing patients can be classified into maxillary deficiency, mandibular overgrowth, and combination of the two. Use of Protraction Head Gear(P.H.G.) has been recommended for treatment of growing Class III malocclusion patients, for it results in forward & downward movement of maxilla and backward & downward rotation of mandible. Numerous animal experiments were performed and clinical study data have been reported ; nevertheless, studies on soft tissue profile change and comparison of treatment effects among the patients who had undergone treatment are considered to be somewhat insufficient. The author selected 93 patients, who had been diagnosed as skeletal Class III malocclusion with maxillary deficiency and then treated with P.H.G. ; the sample group was divided according to sex, treatment beginning age, palatal suture opening(intraoral appliance), and facial growth pattern. For each group, changing patterns of hard and soft tissue profile observed, and comparision with 20 normal group(Angle's Class I) patients of statistical significance in amount of growth and treatment of hard and soft tissue was done. The following results were obtained. 1. Skeletal, dental, and soft tissue measurements indicated that more growth changes was induced in the sample group that used P.H.G. compared to the growth amount of normal group. 2. No statistical significance was observed in the amounts of maxillary forward movement and mandibular backward & downward rotation depending on treatment beginning age in both sex group. 3. R.P.E. showed more significant maxillary forward movement and less protrusion of upper incisor than La-Li. 4. There was no statistical significance in the amount of maxillary forward movement depending on facial growth pattern. On the other hand, measurements indicating mandibular downward & backward rotation indicated greater change in counterclockwise growth pattern group than the clockwise. 5. Changes in upper and lower lip thicknesses showed a close relationship with positional changes in underlying bone tissue and upper and lower teeth, and upper lip height and nasolabial angle increased and mentolabial angle decreased.