• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to find a optimal beam spoiler condition on the dose distribution near the surface, when treating a squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck and a lymphatic region with 10 MV photon beam. The use of a optimal spoiler allows elivering high dose to a superficial tumor volume, while maintaining the skin-sparing effect in the area between the surface to the depth of 0.4 cm. Materials and Methods: The lucite beam spoiler, which were a tissue equivalent, were made and placed between the surface and the photon collimators of linear accelerator. The surface-dose, the dose at the depth of 0.4 cm, and the maximum dose at the dmax were measured with a parallel-plate ionization chamber for $5{\times}5cm\;to\;30{\times}30cm^2$ field sizes using lucite spoilers with different thicknesses at varying skin-to-spoiler separation (SSS). In the same condition, the dose was measured with bolus and compared with beam spoiler. Results: The spoiler increased the surface and build-up dose and shifted the depth of maximum dose toward the surface. With a 10 MV x-ray beam and a optimal beam spoiler when treating a patient, a similer build-up dose with a 6 MV photon beam could be achieved, while maintaining a certain amount of skin spring. But it was provided higher surface dose under SSS of less than 5 cm, the spoiler thickness of more than 1.8 cm or more, and larger field size than $20{\times}20cm^2$ provided higher surface dose like bolus and obliterated the spin-sparing effect. the effects of the beam spoiler on beam profile was reduced with increasing depths. Conclusion: The lucite spoiler allowed using of a 10 MV photon beam for the radiation treatment of head and neck caner by yielding secondary scattered electron on the surface. The dose at superficial depth was increased and the depth of maximum dose was moved to near the skin surface. Spoiling the 10 MV x-ray beam resulted in treatment plans that maintained dose homogeneity without the consequence of increased skin reaction or treat volume underdose for regions near the skin surface. In this, the optimal spoiler thickeness of 1.2 cm and 1.8 cm were found at SSS of 7 cm for $10{\times}10cm^2$ field. The surface doses were measured 60% and 64% respectively. In addition, It showed so optimal that 94% and 94% at the depth of 0.4 cm and dmax respectively.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.87-92
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• 2015

The gated RapidArc may produce a dosimetric error due to the stop-and-go motion of heavy gantry which can misalign the gantry restart position and reduce the accuracy of important factors in RapidArc delivery such as MLC movement and gantry speed. In this study, the effect of stop-and-go motion in gated RapidArc was analyzed with varying gating window time, which determines the total number of stop-and-go motions. Total 10 RapidArc plans for treatment of liver cancer were prepared. The RPM gating system and the moving phantom were used to set up the accurate gating window time. Two different delivery quality assurance (DQA) plans were created for each RapidArc plan. One is the portal dosimetry plan and the other is MapCHECK2 plan. The respiratory cycle was set to 4 sec and DQA plans were delivered with three different gating conditions: no gating, 1-sec gating window, and 2-sec gating window. The error between calculated dose and measured dose was evaluated based on the pass rate calculated using the gamma evaluation method with 3%/3 mm criteria. The average pass rates in the portal dosimetry plans were $98.72{\pm}0.82%$, $94.91{\pm}1.64%$, and $98.23{\pm}0.97%$ for no gating, 1-sec gating, and 2-sec gating, respectively. The average pass rates in MapCHECK2 plans were $97.80{\pm}0.91%$, $95.38{\pm}1.31%$, and $97.50{\pm}0.96%$ for no gating, 1-sec gating, and 2-sec gating, respectively. We verified that the dosimetric accuracy of gated RapidArc increases as gating window time increases and efforts should be made to increase gating window time during the RapidArc treatment process.

• The Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Ultrasound Society
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2014

Purpose: To determine the therapeutic effectiveness of ultrasound-guided medial branch block (MBB) for the herniated lumbar disc patients who did not relieve their symptoms after percutaneous epidural neuroplasty (PEN). Materials and Methods: From August 2011 to February 2013, 559 patients with herniated lumbar disc have undergone PEN. Among them, ultrasound-guided MBBs were performed for the patients who had sustained low back pain and refered pain to lower extremities. Eighty eight patients were followed at 1 month and 39 patients could be followed at 6 month. All procedures have been performed by the one operator, and 23 G, 10 cm needle was placed and 0.5% lidocaine was injected under ultrasound guide. To target medial branches from L1 to L5, the groove at the root of transverse process and the base of superior articular process has been identified on transverse scan. Patients were evaluated by Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) at each follow-up. Significant pain relief was described as a 50% or more reduction in VAS and significant improvement in function was described as at least a 40% reduction in ODI. Results: VAS showed that preprocedure pain ($7.35{\pm}1.68$; $mean{\pm}SD$) significantly decreased 1 month after block ($3.36{\pm}2.98$) and 6 month ($3.05{\pm}2.27$) (p<0.05). ODI also showed that preprocedure score ($32.82{\pm}8.77$) significantly decreased at 1 month ($15.14{\pm}14.01$) and 6 month ($12.97{\pm}8.82$) (p<0.05). Significant pain relief was observed in 64.49% at 1 month and 64.10% at 6 month. Significant functional improvement in 59.81% at 1 month and 61.54% at 6 month. Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided medial branch block may sufficiently treat the facet problems secondary from disc disease.

• Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 2008

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical results of the patients who underwent radiofrequency thermal shrinkage (RFTS) for treatment of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) laxity after ACL reconstruction. Material and Methods: From October 1999 to March 2006, we performed 133 cases of ACL reconstruction. Among them we experienced 16 patients who had the laxity of reconstructed ACL in second look arthroscopy. Mean follow-up was 20.4 months. Mean age was 33.5 years. 12 cases were male and 4 cases were female. The elongated ACL were treated by bipolar radiofrequency energy with an output of grade II. Subjective and objective parameters were utilized in analyses, such as: the mean range of motion, Lysholm knee score, Tegner activity score, Lachman test, IKDC score. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to perform the data analysis. P<0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: Postoperative mean Lysholm knee score (preop: $82.2{\pm}5.2(77{\sim}85))$ (P=0.04), postop: $85.2{\pm}4.8$(82-90)) and anterior displacement by the Telos stress test (preop: $5.4{\pm}4.6(3{\sim}10)mm$, postop: $2.1{\pm}1.9(0{\sim}4)mm)$ (P=0.02), Lachman's test, and IKDC scores (P=0.04) demonstrated significant differences statistically compared to the preoperative. There were no statistical differences in mean range of motion, Tegner activity scale. Conclusions: Arthroscopic shrinkage for the ACL laxity after ACL reconstruction with radiofrequency device showed good clinical results and was applicable operative technique.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.180-186
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• 1999

Purpose : It has been well known that urinary tract infection(UTI) in infants and children is frequently associated with vesicoureteral reflux(VUR). However, the publishied papers dealing with congenital anomalies associated with UTI emphasized the importance of VUR only. The aim of our study was to evaluate the type, incidence and spectrum of urologic anomalies associated with UTI. Methods : Medical records of clinical, bacteriologic and radiologic study were assessed retrospectively in 65 infants or children with documented UTI who were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics, Samsung Seoul Hospital from March 1996 to February 1998. Results : Spectrum of anomalies were associated with UTI as follows: VUR(n=23), both ectopic kidney(n=1), ureterovesical junction(UVJ) obstruction(n=1), multicystic dysplastic kidney(n=1), ureteropelvic junction(UPJ) obstruction with hydronephrosis(n=1), hutch diverticulum(n=1), UPJ stenosis(n=1), posterior urethral valve(n=1), urachal remnant(n=1) and bladder diverticula(n=1). Congenital urinary anomalies other than VUR were detected in 9 children among 65 patients with UTI(13.8%). 4 children among 9 congenital urinary anomalies other than VUR were combined with VUR. Sex distribution with congenital urinary anomalies other than VUR was more prevalent in male than female (7 males : 2 females). Age distribution at the time of UTI was less than 5 years in most patient (under 1 year in 1 patient, 1-2 year in 5 patients, 3-5 year in 1 patient, and above 5 year in 2 patients). And age distribution at the time of UTl associated with VUR was less than 5 years in most patient (under 1 year in 6 patients, 1-2 year in 8 patients, 3-5 year in 5 patients, and above 5 year in 4 patients), too Conclusion : Because congenital urinary anomalies other than VUR are seen in as high as 13.8% of patients, more careful evaluation of all possible congenital urinary anomalies as well as VUR is mandatory in pediatric patient with UTI.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.674-679
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• 2009

Purpose : The authors aimed to analyze the long-term effects of treatments, especially external beam radiotherapy (EBRT), in bilateral retinoblastoma patients. Methods : This retrospective study analyzed the medical records of 22 bilateral retinoblastoma patients who were registered between October, 1987 and October, 1998 and followed-up for more than 10 years. They were treated by enucleation, EBRT, and systemic chemotherapy. Age at diagnosis, sex, delay prior to treatment, Reese-Ellsworth (RE) classification, and the local treatment modalities were analyzed in relation to recurrence-free survival (RFS) and complications. Results : Median age at diagnosis was 7.0 months (range 1.7-31.6 months). Leukocoria was the most common presenting feature. Two patients had a familial history. The RE classifications of the 44 eyes were group II in 4, III in 14, IV in 4, and V in 22. At the end of a median follow-up period of 141 months (range 55-218 months), 20 patients were alive. The 10-year ocular survival rate of the 44 eyes was $56.8{\pm}7.5%$. The 10-year RFS and ocular survival rate of the 29 eyes treated by combined EBRT and chemotherapy were 75.9% and 86.2%, respectively. Treatment delay (>3 months) was found to be related to higher risk of recurrence. Complications after EBRT were cataract, retinal detachment, phthisis bulbi, and facial asymmetry. No patient developed a second malignancy during the follow-up period. Conclusion : Early detection and prompt treatment can increase ocular survival rates. In addition, careful attention should be paid to possible long-term sequelae in these patients.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.201-207
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• 2015

The new function of 3DVH software for dose calculation inside the patient undergoing TomoTherapy treatment by applying the measured data obtained by ArcCHECK was recently released. In this study, the dosimetric accuracy of 3DVH for the TomoTherapy DQA process was evaluated by the comparison of measured dose distribution with the dose calculated using 3DVH. The 2D diode detector array MapCHECK phantom was used for the TomoTherapy planning of virtual patient and for the measurement of the compared dose. The average pass rate of gamma evaluation between the measured dose in the MapCHECK phantom and the recalculated dose in 3DVH was $92.6{\pm}3.5%$, and the error was greater than the average pass rate, $99.0{\pm}1.2%$, in the gamma evaluation results with the dose calculated in TomoTherapy planning system. The error was also greater than that in the gamma evaluation results in the RapidArc analysis, which showed the average pass rate of $99.3{\pm}0.9%$. The evaluated accuracy of 3DVH software for TomoTherapy DQA process in this study seemed to have some uncertainty for the clinical use. It is recommended to perform a proper analysis before using the 3DVH software for dose recalculation of the patient in the TomoTherapy DQA process considering the initial application stage in clinical use.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.174-179
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• 2008

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical features of adolescent TB. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of the adolescents aged 12 to 18 years and who are hospitalized with the diagnosis of TB at Dong Kang General Hospital between January 2003 and December 2007. Results : Of the 29 patients who were identified, 65.5% were male. The median age at diagnosis was 16.9 years (range: 12.1-18.9 years). A tuberculin skin test (TST) was performed for 6 patients (20.7%). Among them, 5 (5 of 8[62.5%]) in the 12-15 years age group (Group A) and 1 (1 of 21[4.8%]) in the 16-18 years of age group (Group B) were TST positive, which showed that the TST performing rate decreased with age (P<0.01). Twenty-five patients (86.2%) were detected by evaluating the clinical symptoms that suggested TB and 4 patients (13.8%) were detected by screening, but no cases were detected by contact tracing. Twenty patients (69.0%) had isolated pulmonary disease. Seven patients (24.1%) had pulmonary and extrapulmonary disease and 2 patients (6.9%) had exclusively extrapulmonary disease. Most patients presented with multiple symptoms, and the most common were cough (79.3%), fever (75.9%), sputum (65.8%) and chest pain (34.5%). M. tuberculosis was isolated from the sputum of 20 patients (69.0%). The culture-positive rate increased with age (range: 62.5% in Group A to 71.4% in Group B), but the difference between the groups was not significant. Cavitary lesions were found 13 patients (44.8%). The cavitary lesion rate increased with age (range: 25.0% in Group A to 52.4% in Group B), but the difference between the groups was not significant. Four patients (13.8%) were lost during follow-up. One patient (6.9%) relapsed. Conclusion : Clinicians need to be aware of the unique features of adolescent TB, and they also need awareness of the importance of TST and contact investigation for an adult suspected of having TB for making the diagnosis of TB.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.128-134
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• 2010

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in bone density and reduction of time consumed for osteogenesis by $PostPlant^{TM}$ Calcium and to find out efficacy of $PostPlant^{TM}$ Calcium by comparing the group prescribed with $PostPlant^{TM}$ Calcium with the group without $PostPlant^{TM}$ Calcium prescription. Material and methods: The experimental group of 18 patients with 25 dental implant placement and the control group of 7 patients with 9 dental implant placement were randomly selected from the patients who visited prosthetic department of Dankook University Dental Hospital since July, 2006 (IRB Number ; 20060710). The experimental group was instructed to take $PostPlant^{TM}$ Calcium for 6 months after the implant surgery while the control group was instructed not to. Both experimental and control group were assigned for measurement using $Osstell^{TM}$ Mentor and $Periotest^{(R)}$ and radiographic examination was performed using specifically manufactured Aluminum Step Wedge. The results were compared and analyzed. Results: 1. According to the $Osstell^{TM}$ Mentor measurement, both the experimental and control group showed increase in values as time elapses and the experimental group showed significantly higher rate of increase (P < .05). 2. According to the $Periotest^{(R)}$ measurement, both the experimental and control group showed decrease in values as time elapses. In addition, greater decrease can be seen in the experimental group but no statistical significance was found. 3. By examining the radiographic images, both the experimental and control group showed tendency of increase in bone density. In addition, greater increase can be seen in the experimental group but no statistical significance was found. Conclusion: Clinically, taking $PostPlant^{TM}$ Calcium medicine for a long period of time after implant placement is expected for a better prognosis.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.87-92
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• 2007

A thermal neutron beam facility utilizing a typical tangential beam port for Neutron Capture Therapy was installed at the HANARO, 30 MW multi-purpose research reactor. Mixed beams with different physical characteristics and relative biological effectiveness would be emitted from the BNCT irradiation facility, so a quantitative analysis of each component of the mixed beams should be performed to determine the accurate delivered dose. Thus, various techniques were applied including the use of activation foils, TLDs and ionization chambers. All the dose measurements were perform ed with the water phantom filled with distilled water. The results of the measurement were compared with MCNP4B calculation. The thermal neutron fluxes were $1.02E9n/cm^2{\cdot}s\;and\;6.07E8n/cm^2{\cdot}s$ at 10 and 20 mm depth respectively, and the fast neutron dose rate was insignificant as 0.11 Gy/hr at 10 mm depth in water The gamma-ray dose rate was 5.10 Gy/hr at 20 mm depth in water Good agreement within 5%, has been obtained between the measured dose and the calculated dose using MCNP for neutron and gamma component and discrepancy with 14% for fast neutron flux Considering the difficulty of neutron detection, the current study support the reliability of these results and confirmed the suitability of the thermal neutron beam as a dosimetric data for BNCT clinical trials.