• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.665-673
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• 2011

In order to estimate the hydrocarbon reserves, the porosity of the reservoir must be determined. The porosity of the area without a well is generally calculated by extrapolating the porosity logs measured at wells. However, if not only well logs but also seismic data exist on the same site, the more accurate pseudo porosity log can be obtained through artificial neural network technique by extracting the relations between the seismic data and well logs at the site. In this study, we have developed a module which creates pseudo porosity logs by using the polynomial neural network method. In order to obtain more accurate pseudo porosity logs, we selected the seismic attributes which have high correlation values in the correlation analysis between the seismic attributes and the porosity logs. Through the training procedure between selected seismic attributes and well logs, our module produces the correlation weights which can be used to generate the pseudo porosity log in the well free area. To verify the reliability and the applicability of the developed module, we have applied the module to the field data acquired from F3 Block in the North Sea and compared the results to those from the probabilistic neural network method in a commercial program. We could confirm the reliability of our module because both results showed similar trend. Moreover, since the pseudo porosity logs from polynomial neural network method are closer to the true porosity logs at the wells than those from probabilistic method, we concluded that the polynomial neural network method is effective for the data sets with insufficient wells such as F3 Block in the North Sea.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.141-147
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• 2008

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the short-term operative outcomes of laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy (LATG) with those of open total gastrectomy (OTG) for patients suffering with advanced upper gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: Of the 47 patients who underwent LATG with $D1+{\beta}$ or D2 lymphadenectomy from July 2004 to March 2008, 29 patients with pathologically proven advanced gastric cancer were compared with 35 patients who underwent conventional OTG during the same time period. The comparison was based on the clinicopathological characteristics, the surgical outcome, the follow-up survival and tumor recurrence. Results: The patients' age, gender and body mass index were similar between the two groups. However, there were statistically differences in tumor size ($9.2{\pm}3.9$ vs $6.1{\pm}3.6cm$, P=0.002) and the proximal resected margin ($2.1{\pm}2.0$ vs $3.6{\pm}2.1cm$ P=0.004). There was no significant difference in most of the peri- and post-operative courses such as the time to first flatus, the time to starting a solid diet and the length of the hospital stay, except for a longer operating time (289.0 vs. 361.3 minutes, P<0.001) in the LATG group. The complication rate was higher in the LATG group (13.8%) than that in the OTG group (5.7%). The mean overall survival and disease free survival times were 32 and 31 months, and 24 and 28 months, respectively, with an average 18.8 months follow-up duration. The main recurrent sites were peritoneum and lymph node in both groups. Conclusion: The early results of the current study suggest that LATG for AGC is technically feasible and it does not show any inferiorities of the postoperative outcomes as compared to those of conventional open total gastrectomy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.490-498
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• 2010

Background: A hybrid procedure using an open surgical extra-anatomic bypass of aortic arch vessels and thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is less invasive than open surgery, and provides a suitable proximal landing zone. Here we report our experience with a hybrid TEVAR procedure at a single center. Material and Method: We retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients with thoracic aortic disease who received a hybrid TEVAR procedure between August 2008 and January 2010. Patients' data were prospectively collected and mean follow-up was $10.8{\pm}5.5$ months (range 3~20). Result: Nine patients (7 males and 2 females) with a mean age of $63.8{\pm}15.8$ years (range 38~84) underwent a hybrid procedure. Five patients had an arch or a proximal descending aortic aneurysm, two had a dissecting aneurysm of the descending aorta, and two had an aneurysm of the ascending arch and descending aorta. Mean expected mortality calculated by logistic EuroSCORE was 21%. Six patients underwent debranching and rerouting from ascending aorta to arch vessels, 2 had carotid-carotid bypass grafting, and 1 underwent carotid-axillary bypass grafting. Mean operation time was $221.4{\pm}84.0$ min (range 94~364). Deployment success of endovascular stent grafting was 100% with no endoleak on completion angiography. There was no mortality, and a small embolism in the branch of the right opthalmic artery in one patient. During follow-up, one intervention was required for the endoleak. Actuarial survival at 20 months was 100%. Conclusion: Early and mid-term results are encouraging and suggest that hybrid TEVAR procedures are less invasive and safer and represent an effective technique for treating thoracic aortic disease.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.513-517
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• 2010

Background: Diaphragmatic plication through a thoracoscopic approach has been an effective modality to treat diaphragmatic enventration. However, the conventional technique for thoracoscopic plication has some disadvantages. We have developed an improved and simplified technique with utilizing the head up position, $CO_2$ insufflation and figure-of-eight sutures. Material and Method: Between October 2005 and September 2009, 9 patients with diaphragmatic paralysis underwent repair using our modified technique. The mean patient age was $38.5{\pm}53.0$ years (range: 2~76 years). Result: The mean operation time was $46.7{\pm}15.9$ min (range: 30~85 min). None of the patients died due to this procedure, but there was one case of prolonged air leakage, and a case of re-expansion pulmonary edema, which required 3 days of ventilator support after the procedure. The mean hospital stay was $6.22{\pm}2.04$ days (range: 4~11 days). The mean follow-up duration was $27.2{\pm}11.6$ months (range: 2~43 months). All the patients had their symptoms relieved and there was no recurrence of eventration except for one patient who developed more than 2 cm elevation of the diaphragm compared to the immediate post-operation status. Conclusion: With our technique, thoracoscopic diaphragmatic plication was feasible via using only three 5 mm ports and without a working window and the midterm results were favorable. Therefore, we advocate thoracoscopic diaphragmatic plication as a preferred technique to the conventional open plication technique.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.529-538
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• 2002

Background : Many clinicians are reluctant to prescribe systemic corticosteroids to manage an asthmatic attack because of many complications such as osteoporosis, cushing's syndrome, diabetes, hypertension and bleeding tendency. The use of nebulized budesonide may be of value in some infants, old men, and in particular adult asthmatic patients who complain of severe dyspnea. A clinical validation and steroid-sparing effect of nebulized budesonide in asthmatic adults and COPD were evaluated, and the short-term effects of budesonide use on the HPA axis were assessed. Materials and Methods : Study A was prospectively done with 41 patients diagnosed with pure asthma and 30 patients diagnosed with COPD (including asthmatic component) in Soonchunhyang Hospital, Chunan from June. 2000 to Sep. 2001. They were treated with nebulized budesonide including systemic steroids (Group 1), a budesonide tubuhaler including a systemic steroid (Group 2), or only the systemic steroid(Group 3). The peak flow rate, arterial blood gas in room air, pulmonary function test, symptom scoring, steroid amount and hospital stay were analyzed. Study B was conducted with 19 patients to evaluate the short-term effects on the HPA axis of treatment with nebulized budesonide 1mg twice daily and a budesonide turbuhaler 5 puffs twice daily. The adrenal function was assessed prior to budesonide inhalation and after 7 days of budesonide inhalation. Results : In the pure asthmatic patients, the mean value of the symptoms (dyspnea, wheezing, cough, night asthma) or the arterial BGAs, total amounts of steroid or hospital stay and the difference in the results of the pulmonary function tests or peak expiratory flow rate were similar in the three groups. In COPD with an asthmatic component, there were no significant differences among the three groups. Although nebulized budesonide suppressed HPA function,(p=0.006) the HPA responses from the nebulized budesonide and turbuhaler budesonide were similar (p=0.288) Conclusion : This result suggests that systemic steroid should only be made available for acute asthmatic patients irrespective of the inhaled budesonides. Nebulized budesonide at the therapeutic dose has similar effects on the HPA axis compared to that of turbuhaler budesonide.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.8
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• pp.879-885
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• 2008

Purpose : The human lung fibroblast may act as an immunomodulatory cell by providing pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, which are important in airway remodeling. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induces mucosal edema and angiogenesis. Thymus and activation regulated chemokine (TARC) induces selective migration of T helper 2 cells. We investigated whether human lung fibroblasts produced VEGF and TARC, and the effects were augmented with the co-culture of fibroblasts and human bronchial smooth muscle cells (HBSMC), and whether dexamethasone can inhibit the proliferation and the release of VEGF in lung fibroblasts. Methods : Human lung fibroblasts were cultured with and without HBSMC, growth-arrested in serum-deprived medium, and pretreated with dexamethasone for 16 hours. After 24-hour stimulation with platelet derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) and/or transforming growth factor-${\beta}$ (TGF-${\beta}$), culture supernatant was harvested for assays of VEGF and TARC. Cell proliferation was assayed using BrdU cell proliferation ELISA kit. Results : 1) The release of VEGF was significantly increased after stimulation with TGF-${\beta}$, and its release was augmented when co-stimulated with PDGF and TGF-${\beta}$. 2) VEGF release induced by PDGF or TGF-${\beta}$ was inhibited by dexamethasone. 3) There was no synergistic effect on the release of VEGF when human lung fibroblasts were co-cultured with HBSMC. 4) Dexamethasone did not suppress human lung fibroblasts proliferations. 5) Neither TGF-${\beta}$ nor PDGF induced TARC release from lung fibroblasts. Conclusion : Human lung fibroblasts may modulate airway remodeling by release of VEGF, but they have no synergistic effects when co-cultured with HBSMC. Dexamethasone suppresses VEGF release, not proliferation of lung fibroblast.

• Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.110-114
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• 2007

Purpose: This study evaluate clinical findings & management of rhabdomyolysis after strenuous activities in military police recruit. Materials and Methods: This study was carried out from June $1^{st}$, 2004 and May $23^{nd}$, 2005. The study subjects were 13 military police recruit patients who were admitted to our hospital with intractable muscle pain and swelling, and had suspicions of Rhabdomyolysis. The patients were given various blood tests (CPK, CK-MB, AST, BUN/Cr, and Electrolyte) and clinically observed. The patients were all males, and their average age was 20 $(19\sim21)$ years. Seven cases were due to push-up exercises, 5 was due to a soccer game, and 1 was due to riot control activities. The patients complained of swelling and tenderness in various parts of the extremities. Four complained of swelling and tenderness in forearm, 3 in upper arm, 1 in shoulder, and 5 in lower extremity. The diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis was made if the patient complained clinical symptom and had a blood CPK level of above 1,000 IU/L at the time of admission. Patients who took medication or had medical problem were excluded from this study. Bone scans were taken of all patients 4 hours after giving 99mTc-MDP 20mCi intravenously. Treatment was bed rest and fluid therapy. Patients who complained of excessive pain were given splint immobilization. Results: The average hospitalization day for the 13 patients was 20 days ($14\sim42$ days). Excluding one patient who exhibited ARF at time of admission, all patients showed a decrease of blood CPK below 1000 IU/L at an average hospitalization time of 8 days ($2\sim11$ days). The patient with ARF recovered after hemodialysis and fluid therapy. Conclusion: Patients complaining of swelling and severe muscle pain after excessive exercise or training should be suspicious of exercise induced rhabdomyolysis, and should be given blood tests and fluid therapy immediately.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.2 s.259
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• pp.134-139
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• 2006

Background: Complications after surgery for esophageal cancer are various and not rare. Among them, pulmonary complication is well known as one of the most important insults which has negative influence on the postoperative course and results in mortality. So we attempted to analyze the factors which may have relation to postoperative pulmonary complication. Material and Method: The retrospective study was undertaken in 87 patients who underwent curative surgery for esophageal cancer from Jan. 1996 to Aug. 2005. We divided them into two groups, patients with pulmonary complication (group A, n=28), without pulmonary complication (group B, n=59). Statistical analysis was performed with Fisher's exact test. Result: The postoperative pulmonary complication developed in 28 patients ($32\%$). There was no difference between two groups in past medical history, preoperative pulmonary function, surgery time, anastomosis method, pathologic stage, and trial of neoadjuvant therapy. Age and incidence of cervical anastomosis were significantly higher in group A (p=0.001, p=0.023). The rate of routine postoperative ventilator care was significantly higher in group S (p=0.007). Chest tube indwelling time and hospital stay were significantly longer in group A (p=0.011, p=0.001). There were 6 postoperative deaths ($6.8\%$) and 5 deaths were related to pulmonary complication. Pneumonia was the most common cause of death and MRSA (methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus) was the most common organism in sputum culture. Conclusion: Pulmonary complication after esophageal cancer surgery was the most important cause of death. Pulmonary complication was closely related to patient's age and cervical anastomosis. We think postoperative routine ventilator care is helpful for prevention of pulmonary complications, especially MRSA pneumonia, and reducing mortality.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2010

Background: The use of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) to perform major pulmonary resection with systematic node dissection (SND) for lung cancer by is commonly used in clinics. However, the feasibility of SND by VATS remains controversial. Video-assisted mediastinal lymphadenectomy (VAMLA) increases the quality of mediastinal lymph node staging in lung cancer. The video-mediastinoscope allows systematic lymphadenectomy by bimanual preparation. This study was conducted to assess safety and usefulness and clinical feasibility of VAMLA expanding Linder-Dahan mediastinoscope with VATS lobectomy for left sided lung cancer. Material and Method: Between February 2004 to April 2008, a total 50 patients who underwent VATS lobectomy for left sided lung cancer were analyzed retrospectively. Thirty patients (group A) underwent VAMLA followed by VATS lymphadenectomy and 20 patients (group B) underwent VATS lymphadenectomy for SND. Result: There were no statistical differences in operation times, chest tube indwelling times, or hospital days between the 2 groups. The number of dissected total nodes (p=0.001) and N2 nodes (p=0.013) were higher in group A than in group B, but there was no difference in N1 nodes. Postoperative complications included 2 prolonged air leakages (${\geq}$10 days) in each group, one pneumonia in group A, and one vocal cord palsy in group B. There were no early operative mortalities. Conclusion: Mediastinal staging of resectable lung cancer is performed by VAMLA. This new technique is the basis for VATS lobectomy particularly for left-sided lung cancer, because a higher percentage of mediastinal lymph nodes undergo complete resection using VAMLA.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.1114-1119
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• 2012

Bacteria are frequently contaminated during the collection and processing procedures of boar semen. Of the contaminants, Stenotrophomonas (S.) maltophilia is a Gram-negative bacterium that is widely distributed in a variety of habitats. Although PCR assays have been developed for the detection of S. maltophilia, they cross-react with some species of Xanthomonas. In this study, we designed a primer set for the detection of S. maltophilia in order to target the chiA (GenBank accession no. NC_010943) gene. The specific PCR products were amplified from S. maltophilia only, not from other tested strains that are frequently found in semen. The detection limit of the PCR was $1.5{\times}10^3$ CFU/ml with pure-cultured S. maltophilia and $1.5{\times}10^4$ CFU/ml with S. maltophilia spiked in semen. Twenty-six (5.9%) S. maltophilia were isolated from 440 semen samples. The PCR results exhibited 98.9% agreement with a comparison of S. maltophilia isolation. Also, the sensitivity and specificity of the PCR were 100% and 98.7%, respectively. In the antimicrobial susceptibility test, S. maltophilia isolates were highly susceptible to enrofloxacin and florfenicol, while the majority of them were resistant to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, apramycin, ceftiofur, penicillin, and spectinomycin. These results indicated that the PCR using the chiA gene was proven to be reliable and effective for the detection of S. maltophilia with high levels of sensitivity and specificity.