• Title/Summary/Keyword: 정상인

Search Result 24,158, Processing Time 0.058 seconds

Circulating Cytokine Levels and Changes During the Treatment in Patients with Active Tuberculosis in Korea (결핵 환자의 치료경과 중 혈청 내 Cytokine 분비와 변화)

  • Ryu, Yon-Ju;Kim, Yun-Jung;Kwon, Jung-Mi;Na, Youn-Ju;Jung, Yu-Jin;Seoh, Ju Young;Cheon, Seon Hee
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
    • /
    • v.55 no.2
    • /
    • pp.140-153
    • /
    • 2003
  • Background : The cell-mediated immune reaction to tuberculosis infection involves a complex network of cytokines. The extent of inflammation, tissue damage and severity of the disease suggested to be determined by the balance between extent and duration of the proinflammatory cytokine response versus those of the suppressive cytokines. The systemic cytokine response in pathogenesis of tuberculosis can be assessed by measuring serum cytokine levels. Method : Serum interleukin-1 beta(IL-$1{\beta}$), IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12(p40), tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-${\alpha}$), interferon-gamma(IFN-${\gamma}$) and transforming growth factor-beta(TGF-${\beta}$) levels were measured in 83 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, 10 patients with endobronchial tuberculosis before treatment and 20 healthy subjects by using a sandwich ELISA. In patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, they were divided into mild, moderate and far advanced group according to the severity by ATS guidelines. To compare with those of pretreatment levels, we measured serum IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12(p40), TNF-${\alpha}$, IFN-${\gamma}$ and TGF-${\beta}$ levels in 45 of 83 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis after 2 and 6 months of treatment. Results : 1) In sera of patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis(n=83), IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6(p<0.05), TNF-${\alpha}$, and IFN-${\gamma}$ were elevated and TGF-${\beta}$ was decreased comparing to control. IL-2, Il-12(p40), IL-4 and IL-10 were similar between the patients with tuberculosis and control. 2) In endobronchial tuberculosis, IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ were elevated and TGF-${\beta}$ was decreased comparing to control. IL-12(p40) seemed to be elevated comparing to pulmonary tuberculosis. 3) Far advanced tuberculosis showed markedly elevated IL-6 and IFN-${\gamma}$ level(p<0.05). 4) The significant correlations were noted between IL-1, IL-6 AND TNF-${\alpha}$ and between IL-12, Il-2 and IL-4(p<0.01). 5) After 2 and 6 months of standard treatment, the level of IL-6 and IFN-${\gamma}$ was significantly decreased(p<0.05). Conclusion : These results showed that an altered balance between cytokines is likely to be involved in the extent of inflammation, tissue damage and severity of the disease tuberculosis. But, it should be considered diversities of cytokine response according to type of tuberculosis and immunity in clinical application and interpreting future studies.

INDIVIDUALIZED RECONSTRUCTION OF THE LOWER OCCLUSAL PLANE ACCORDING TO SKELETAL PATTERN (안면 골격 형태에 따른 하악 교합평면의 재구성)

  • Hyun, Seong-Wook
    • The korean journal of orthodontics
    • /
    • v.25 no.4
    • /
    • pp.465-485
    • /
    • 1995
  • The purpose of this study is to locate the proper position of the lower occlusal plane according to individual skeletal pattern. Cephalometric films of 234 subjects of the control group, 358 of the pretreatment group and 358 of the treated group were analyzed to study proper relationships between vertical dimension ratio(VDR) and lower occlusomandibular plane angle(LOM). The control group was divided into two subgroups by the age. The first subgroup consisted of 113 subjects of the age 14 years and under and with the mean age of 10.82 years. The other subgroup consisted of 113 subjects of the age 18 years and above with the mean age of 23.76 years. The pretreatment group was divided into three subgroups by the age. The first subgroup consisted of 274 subjects of the age 14 years and under with the mean age of 11.36 years. The second subgroup consisted of 54 subjects of the age 14 through 18 years with the mean age of 15.4 years. The last subgroup consisted of 30 subjects of the age 18 years and above with the mean age of 21.35 years. The treated group was also divided into three subgroups by the age. The first subgroup consisted of 145 subjects of the age 14 years and under with the mean age of 12.91 years. The second subgroup consisted of 166 subjects of the age 14 through 18 years with the mean age of 15.64 years. The last subgroup consisted of 47 subjects of the age 18 years and above with the mean age of 21.61 years. Cephalometric films of the sample were traced. Measurements were made to a hundredth using a program specifically prepared for this study, and the results were entered into a 486DX PC. Means and Standard deviations of all the veriables were calculated for each group. Correlation coefficients between pertinent variables were calculated. Significance tests on those coefficients, one-way ANOVA and t-tests between variables or groups were performed. On the basis of the results studied above, certain subjects were selected from the control and the treated groups to locate the proper position of the occlusal plane, and designated as the optimal occluaion group. The subjects of this optimal occlusion group had 1-3 mm overbite, 1-3 mm of overjet and less than 1.75 mm of curve of Spee. A total subjects of 187 in this group consisted 104 treated subjects and 83 control group. Regression analysis was carried out between VDR and LOM, and regression equations were tabulated for this optimal occlusion group. The results were as follows : 1. Highly significant correlations were observed between various variables useful for identifying vertical component of skeletal frame, but any one particular variable did not accurately indicate the magnitude of anterior vertical overbite. 2. Of the variables useful identifying vertical component of skeletal frame, The VDR showed the highest correlation to the LOM. 3. Of the total sample, 80 percent had overbite within the normal range, irrespective of VDR. 4. The optimal occlusion group was divided into 9 subgroups by the age and the anteroposterior skeletal pattern, and correlation coefficient and determination coefficient between VDR and LOM of each group were calculated. Correlation coefficients and determination coefficients were found to be significantly high in all groups. 5. Regression equation was induced for each of the optimal occlusion group to find proper LOM according to the VDR. 6. It was found that the mean value of the cant of occlusal plane itself is not enough for a diagnosis and a treatment plan. Rather, It is very important to locate the proper occlusal plane for an Individual skeletal pattern.

  • PDF

Training, Working State and Ways of Improving Work of Sex Education Counselors in Health Centers (대구·경북지역 보건소 성교육 담당자의 훈련 및 업무현황과 개선방안)

  • Yeom, Seok-Hun;Kim, Chang-Yoon;Lee, Kyeong-Soo
    • Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
    • /
    • v.27 no.2
    • /
    • pp.159-175
    • /
    • 2002
  • This present study was conducted to reduce problems by analyzing training and work of sex education counselors and to come up with ways of improving sex education counseling. A survey was performed in 57 subjects at health centers who finished training on sex education counseling in Taegu Metropolitan City and cities, kuns, and gus of Kyongsangbuk Province from December, 1999 to February, 2000 on general characteristics, items relating to the work of sex education, and ways of improving work. The results are as follows. Out of the sex education counselors, there were 55 females, taking 99% out of the total counselors, and the average age of these counselors was 42 years. There were 26 nurses, and their government grade was level 7 in 36 and level 6 in 14. The members who had finished sex education counseling at each public health center was 2.1 counselors at an average. Among those had finished sex education training, 30 was not in sex counseling. When analyzed the answers given by 27 sex counselors who were counseling at the time and the results are as follows. As for the amount of work, 15 answered to have too much work and 1 little; as for having pride on being a sex education counselor, 18 answered to felt pride and 7 so-so; as for materials for sex education and counseling, 25 answered to use videos, 23 books, 10 pictures, 8 beam projectors, and 7 slides. All of the subjects answered to have other responsibilities besides sex education and counseling, and the satisfaction felt on having other responsibilities was 6 satisfied, 12 average, and 2 dissatisfied. The proportion of work load in sex education counselors was other work besides sex education 76.2%, sex education at schools 7.6%. collecting sex education materials 5.7%, counseling of adolescents 4.9%. development of sex education materials 3.5%, and administrative work related to sex education 3.1%. The biggest problem of their work was over-load in 9 respondents, lack of sex education materials in 8, lack of training in 6, and shortage of professionals in 2. As for the answer on the ways of improving matters related to work of sex education counselors, the most frequent answer was that the organizations responsible for sex education needs to be more professional and systematic, followed by dividing the work load so that they could concentrate on developing education materials and sex education and counseling. Thus, the results of the present study indicated that in order to utilize human resources efficiently, the speciality of counselors needs to be considered when making personnel transfers among health centers, and continued activity as a sex education counselor needs to promoted by reducing other overloading tasks. And systematic re-training of the counselors needs to be done, and education manuals that are diverse and realistic to applicable to the children, who are to be the subjects of sex education, need to be developed and distributed.

  • PDF

A Study on Farmer's Syndrome and Its Risk Factors of Vinyl House Worker and Farmer in a Rural Area (일부 농촌지역 비닐하우스 재배자들의 농부증 실태와 관련요인)

  • Lee, In-Bae;Lee, Yeon-Kyeong;Chang, Sung-Sil;Lee, Sok-Goo;Cho, Young-Che;Lee, Dong-Bae;Lee, Tae-Yong
    • Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
    • /
    • v.24 no.1
    • /
    • pp.13-33
    • /
    • 1999
  • The aim of this study was to investigate fatigue scores, physical complaints, farmer's syndrome and to find out its risk factors among farmers. The questionnaire survey was conducted to 177 vinyl house workers and 213 farmers who lived in Chongyang gun of Chungnam province from February 24 to March 15, 1998. The obtained main results were followings; 1. The fatigue scores were not significantly different between vinyl house workers and farmers. The fatigue scores were higher in female group, lower education group, shorter sleep hours group(under 8 hours), nonsmoker, nondrinker group than otherwise groups. There was not statistically significant difference between the mean fatigue scores and age, eating habit and body mass index. Duration of farming years in vinyl house and farming area and number of farming workers in farmers family showed a slight relationship with the fatigue score. 2. Health scores were not different between vinyl house workers and farmers. The health states was poorer in female group, lower education group, shorter sleep hours group(under 8 hours), nonsmoker group, and nondrinker group than otherwise groups by health scores. Health scores were not related with age, eating habit and body mass index. 3. The proportion of farmer's syndrome was 49.1% in vinyl house workers and 52.1% in farmers. That was higher in female than in male and the higher proportion was found in the lower education group of vinyl house workers and farmers. The proportion of farmer's syndrome was higher in the group of smoker, alcohol drinkers and over or under weight in vinyl house workers, but did not differ in those of farmers. 4. By multiple logistic regression, sex and sleep hours were risk factors affecting to farmer's syndrome. Odds ration for female group was 2.53 (reference group was male) and that for over 8 sleep hours group was 0.74 (reference group was under 8 sleep hours group). 5. The chief complaints by CMI were "I am difficult to work due to aching the back and the limbs", "I feel prickle pain in the limbs", "I sometimes have a twinge in the limbs", "I am not quite well as having a pain in the limbs", "I feel weaker grasping power than before" in both of vinyl house workers and farmers. Vinyl house workers more frequently pointed out skin darkening, skin disease and hemorrhoids than farmers. 6. According to correspondence analysis, skin disease of vinyl house workers was related to vinyl house farmers and digestive and general symptom was associated with male and endocrinological and muscular symptom was associated with female in vinyl house workers. And it revealed that farmer's syndrome was highly related with female and farmers relatively. By the above results, the fatigue scores, perceive health and farmer's syndrome did not much differ in two groups, but aged female farmers should be considered as female farmers represented higher fatigue score, farmers syndrome and poorer perceive health than male farmers in addition to farmer's syndrome was increased with ageing process. Also feeble but distinguished symptoms which might be due to working environment were observed especially in vinyl house workers and that should be considered and investigated continuously.

  • PDF

Effect of Experimental Muscle Fatigue on Muscle Pain and Occlusal Pattern (실험적으로 유발되는 근피로가 근통증 및 교합양상에 미치는 영향)

  • Kim, Jae-Chang;Lim, Hyun-Dae;Kang, Jin-Kyu;Lee, You-Mee
    • Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
    • /
    • v.33 no.3
    • /
    • pp.279-294
    • /
    • 2008
  • This study aimed to make an analysis of the occlusion in the state of muscle fatigue produced by excessive mouth opening and clenching during the dental treatment to control the dental pain and to evaluate the sensory nerve in the muscle pain state. Most of the reasons why patients visit the dental office result in pain-either conceivably the dental origin pain or the non-dental origin pain. The dental offices have many therapeutic actions to produce the masticatory muscle fatigue for the treatment. Dental treatment with long minutes of mouth opening can cause some headaches, masticatory muscle pain and mouth opening difficulties. Patients with mastication problems who visits a dental office to alleviate pain run against another unexpected pain with other aspects. This study uses T-scan II system(Tekscan Co., USA) for the evaluation on the occlusal pattern in the experimental muscle fatigue after clenching, opening the mouth excessively and chewing gum. The occlusal contact pattern is analyzed by the contact timing, namely first, intercuspal, maximum and end point of contact. This inspection was performed at frequencies of 2000Hz, 250 Hz and 5 Hz before and after each experimental muscle pain was produced to 24 subjects who had normal occlusion without the orthodontic treatment or a wide range of the prosthesis by using $neurometer^{\circledR}$ CPT/C(Neurotron, Inc. Baltimore, Maryland, USA). The measuring sites were mandibular nerve experimental muscle fatigue respectively. This study could obtain the following results after the assessment of occlusion and sensory nerve of the experimental muscle fatigue. 1. There were the fastest expression after the excessive mouth opening in muscle fatigue and after tooth clenching in muscle pain. In the visual analog scale that records the subjective level, there was the highest scale after the clenching in the muscle fatigue in jumping off the point of pain. 2. Tooth contact time, contact force, relative contact force on the point of the first contact had no difference, and there were decreases in the contact force after the excessive mouth opening on intercuspal position point, after the excessive mouth opening and the gum chewing on the point of the maximum, and in the contact time after all the experimental muscle fatigue state on the point of the end contact. 3. There was no statistic significance in the current perception threshold before and after the experimental muscle fatigue. 4. There was no significant difference in the contact number, the maximal contact number on the point of the first contact, and the contact number after the mouth opening and gum chewing on the point of the intercuspal position and the contact number after the experimental muscle fatigue on the maximum point, and showed significant decreases. In conclusion, it was found that the occlusal pattern can cause the changes on the case of the clinical muscle weakness by intra-external oral events. It was important that the sedulous attention to details is required during dental treatment in case of excessive mouth opening, mastication and clenching.

THE EFFECT OF TRANSFORMING GROWTH $FACTOR-B_1$ ON THE PROLIFERATION RATE OF HUMAN PERIODONTAL LIGAMENT CELLS AND HUMAN GINGIVAL FIBROBLASTS. (변형성장인자-${\beta}_1$이 치주인대세포와 치은섬유아세포의 증식에 미치는 영향)

  • Cho, Eun-Kyeung;Lee, Jae-Mok;Suh, Jo-Young
    • Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
    • /
    • v.25 no.3
    • /
    • pp.720-732
    • /
    • 1995
  • The use of transforming growth $factor-{\beta}1$ which functions as a potent biologic mediator regulating numerous activities of wound healing has been suggested for the promotion of periodontal regeneration. The mitogenic effects of transforming growth $factor-{\beta}1$ on human periodontal ligament cells and human gingival fibroblasts were evaluated by determining the incorporation of $[^3H]-thymidine$ into DNA of the cells dose-dependently. Cells were prepared with primary cultured fibroblasts and periodontal ligament cells from humans, and used in experiments were the fourth or sixth subpassage. Cells were seeded with serum free Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium containing 0.1% bovine serum albumine. The added concentrations of transforming growth $factor-{\beta}1$ were 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2.5, 5ng/ml and transforming growth $factor-{\beta}1$ were added to the quiescent cells for 24hours, 48hours, 72hours. They were labeled with lnCi/ml $[^3H]$ thymidine for the last 24hour of the each culture. The results were presented as the mean counts per minute (CPM) per well and S.D. of four determinations. The results were as follows. : The DNA synthetic activity of human gingival fibroblasts was increased dose-dependently by transforming growth $factor-{\beta}1$ at 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours. The maximum mitogenic effects were at the 48 hour application of transforming growth $factor-{\beta}1$. The DNA synthetic activity was generally more decreased at the 72 hour application than at the 48 hour the application of transforming growth $factor-{\beta}1$. The DNA synthetic activity of human periodontal ligament cells was increased dose-dependently by transforming growth $factor-{\beta}1$ at 24 hours and 48 hours. But the DNA synthetic activity was decreased at 5ng/ml of the 72 hour application. The maximum mitogenic effects were also at the 48 hour application of transforming growth $factor-{\beta}1$. The DNA synthetic activity of human periodontal ligament cells was generally more decreased at the 72 hour application than at the 48 hour application of transforming growth $factor-{\beta}1$. In the comparision of DNA synthetic activity between the human gingival fibroblasts and human periodontal ligament cells, the human gingival fibroblasts had more activity than the human periodontal ligament cells at all time application with the concentration of transforming growth $factor-{\beta}1$. In conclusion, transforming growth $factor-{\beta}1$ has an important roles in the stimulation of DNA synthesis in human periodontal ligament cells and human gingival fibroblasts, which means an increase in collagen synthesizing cells and thus, may be useful for clinical application in periodontal regenerative procedures.

  • PDF

Effect of $H_2O_2$ on Alveolar Epithelial Barrier Properties (폐상피세포 장벽에 대한 $H_2O_2$의 영향)

  • Suh, Duk-Joon;Cho, Se-Heon;Kang, Chang-Woon
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
    • /
    • v.40 no.3
    • /
    • pp.236-249
    • /
    • 1993
  • Background: Among the injurious agents to which the lung airspaces are constantly exposed are reactive species of oxygen. It has been widely believed that reactive oxygen species may be implicated in the etiology of lung injuries. In order to elucidated how this oxidant causes lung cell injury, we investigated the effects of exogenous $H_2O_2$ on alveolar epithelial barrier characteristics. Methods: Rat type II alveolar epithelial cells were plated onto tissue culture-treated polycarbonate membrane filters. The resulting confluent monolayers on days 3 and 4 were mounted in a modified Ussing chamber and bathed on both sides with HEPES-buffered Ringer solution. The changes in short-circuit current (Isc) and monolayer resistance (R) in response to the exogenous hydroperoxide were measured. To determine the degree of cellular catalase participation in protection against $H_2O_2$ injury to the barrier, experiments were repeated in the presence of 20 mM aminotriazole (ATAZ, an inhibitor of catalase) in the same bathing fluid as the hydroperoxide. Results: These monolayers have a high transepithelial resistance (>2000 ohm-$cm^2$) and actively transport $Na^+$ from apical fluid. $H_2O_2$(0-100 mM) was then delivered to either apical or basolateral fluid. Resulting indicated that $H_2O_2$ decreased Isc and R gradually in dose-dependent manner. The effective concentration of apical $H_2O_2$ at which Isc (or R) was decreased by 50% at one hour ($ED_{50}$) was about 4 mM. However, basolateral $H_2O_2$ exposure led to $ED_{50}$ for Isc (and R) of about 0.04 mM. Inhibition of cellular catalase yielded $ED_{50}$ for Isc (and R) of about 0.4 mM when $H_2O_2$ was given apically, while $ED_{50}$ for basolateral exposure to $H_2O_2$ did not change in the presence of ATAZ. The rate of $H_2O_2$ consumption in apical and basolateral bathing fluids was the same, while cellualr catalase activity rose gradually with time in culture. Conclusion: Our data suggest that basolateral $H_2O_2$ may affect directly membrane component (e.g., $Na^+,\;K^+$-ATPase) located on the basolateral cell surface. Apical $H_2O_2$, on the other hand, may be largely degraded by catalase as it passes through the cells before reaching these membrane components. We conclude that alveolar epithelial barrier integrity as measured by Isc and R are compromised by $H_2O_2$ being relatively sensitive to basolateral (and insensitive to apical) $H_2O_2$.

  • PDF

The Usefulness of Dyspnea Rating in Evaluation for Pulmonary Impairment/Disability in Patients with Chronic Pulmonary Disease (만성폐질환자의 폐기능손상 및 장애 평가에 있어서 호흡곤란정도의 유용성)

  • Park, Jae-Min;Lee, Jun-Gu;Kim, Young-Sam;Chang, Yoon-Soo;Ahn, Kang-Hyun;Cho, Hyun-Myung;Kim, Se-Kyu;Chang, Joon;Kim, Sung-Kyu;Lee, Won-Young
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
    • /
    • v.46 no.2
    • /
    • pp.204-214
    • /
    • 1999
  • Background: Resting pulmonary function tests(PFTs) are routinely used in the evaluation of pulmonary impairment/disability. But the significance of the cardiopulmonary exercise test(CPX) in the evaluation of pulmonary impairment is controvertible. Many experts believe that dyspnea, though a necessary part of the assessment, is not a reliable predictor of impairment. Nevertheless, oxygen requirements of an organism at rest are different from at activity or exercising, and a clear relationship between resting PFTs and exercise tolerance has not been established in patients with chronic pulmonary disease. As well, the relationship between resting PFTs and dyspnea is complex. To investigate the relationship of dyspnea, resting PFTs, and CPX, we evaluated the patients of stabilized chronic pulmonary disease with clinical dyspnea rating(baseline dyspnea index, BDI), resting PFTs, and CPX. Method: The 50 patients were divided into two groups: non-severe and severe group on basis of results of resting PFTs(by criteria of ATS), CPX(by criteria of ATS or Ortega), and dyspnea rating(by focal score of BDI). Groups were compared with respect to pulmonary function, indices of CPX, and dyspnea rating. Results: 1. According to the criteria of pulmonary impairment with resting PFTs, $VO_2$max, and focal score of BDI were significantly low in the severe group(p<0.01). According to the criteria of $VO_2$max(ml/kg/min) and $VO_2$max(%), the parameters of resting PFTs, except $FEV_1$ were not significantly different between non-severe and severe(p>0.05). According to focal score($FEV_1$(%), FVC(%), MW(%), $FEV_1/FVC$, and $VO_2$max were significantly lower in the severe group(p<0.01). However, in the more severe dyspneic group(focal score<5), only $VO_2$max(ml/kg/min) and $VO_2$max(%) were low(p<0.01). $FEV_1$(%) was correlated with $VO_2$max(%)(r=0.52;p<0.01), but not predictive of exercise performance. The focal score had the correlation with max WR(%) (r=0.55;p<0.01). Sensitivity and specificity analysis were utilized to compare the different criteria used to evaluate the severity of pulmonary impairment, revealed that the classification would be different according to the criteria used. And focal score for dyspnea showed similar sensitivity and specificity. Conclusion : According to these result, resting PFTs were not superior to rating of dyspnea in prediction of exercise performance in patients with chronic pulmonary diseases and less correlative with focal score for dyspnea than $VO_2$max and max WR. Therefore, if not contraindicated, CPX would be considered to evaluate the severity of pulmonary impairment in patients with chronic pulmonary diseases, including with severe resting PFTs. Current criteria used to evaluate the severity of impairment were insufficient in considering the degree of dyspnea, so new criteria, including the severity of dyspnea, may be necessary.

  • PDF

The Usefulness of B-type Natriuretic Peptide test in Critically Ill, Noncardiac Patients (심질환 병력이 없었던 중환자에서 B-type Natriuretic Peptide 검사의 유용성)

  • Kim, Kang Ho;Park, Hong-Hoon;Kim, Esther;Cheon, Seok-Cheol;Lee, Ji Hyun;Lee, Stephen YongGu;Lee, Ji-Hyun;Kim, In Jai;Cha, Dong-Hoon;Kim, Sehyun;Choi, Jeongeun;Hong, Sang-Bum
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
    • /
    • v.54 no.3
    • /
    • pp.311-319
    • /
    • 2003
  • Background : Previous studies have suggested that a B-type natriuretic peptide(BNP) test can provide important information on diagnosis, as well as predicting the severity and prognosis of heart failure. Myocardial dysfunction is often observed in critically ill noncardiac patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, and the prognosis of the myocardial dysfunction needs to be determined. This study evaluated the predictability of BNP on the prognosis of critically ill noncardiac patients. Methods : 32 ICU patients, who were hospitalized from June to October 2002 and in whom the BNP test was evaluated, were enrolled in this study. The exclusion criteria included the conditions that could increase the BNP levels irrespective of the severity, such as congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, ischemic heart disease, and renal insufficiencies. A triage B-Type Natriuretic Peptide test with a RIA-kit was used for the fluorescence immunoassay of BNP test. In addition, the acute physiology and the chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II score and mortality were recorded. Results : There were 16 males and 16 females enrolled in this study. The mean age was 59 years old. The mean BNP levels between the ICU patients and control were significantly different ($186.7{\pm}274.1$ pg/mL vs. $19.9{\pm}21.3$ pg/mL, p=0.033). Among the ICU patients, there were 14(44----) patients with BNP levels above 100 pg/mL. The APACHE II score was $16.5{\pm}7.6$. In addition, there were 11 mortalities reported. The correlation between the BNP and APACHE II score, between the BNP and mortality were significant (r=0.443, p=0.011 & r=0.530, p=0.002). The mean BNP levels between the dead and alive groups were significantly different ($384.1{\pm}401.7$ pg/mL vs. $83.2{\pm}55.8$ pg/mL p=0.033). However, the $PaO_2/FiO_2$ did not significantly correlate with the BNP level. Conclusion : This study evaluated the BNP level was elevated in critically ill, noncardiac patients. The BNP level could be a useful, noninvasive tool for predicting the prognosis of the critically ill, noncardiac patients.

Efficacy and Accuracy of Patient Specific Customize Bolus Using a 3-Dimensional Printer for Electron Beam Therapy (전자선 빔 치료 시 삼차원프린터를 이용하여 제작한 환자맞춤형 볼루스의 유용성 및 선량 정확도 평가)

  • Choi, Woo Keun;Chun, Jun Chul;Ju, Sang Gyu;Min, Byung Jun;Park, Su Yeon;Nam, Hee Rim;Hong, Chae-Seon;Kim, MinKyu;Koo, Bum Yong;Lim, Do Hoon
    • Progress in Medical Physics
    • /
    • v.27 no.2
    • /
    • pp.64-71
    • /
    • 2016
  • We develop a manufacture procedure for the production of a patient specific customized bolus (PSCB) using a 3D printer (3DP). The dosimetric accuracy of the 3D-PSCB is evaluated for electron beam therapy. In order to cover the required planning target volume (PTV), we select the proper electron beam energy and the field size through initial dose calculation using a treatment planning system. The PSCB is delineated based on the initial dose distribution. The dose calculation is repeated after applying the PSCB. We iteratively fine-tune the PSCB shape until the plan quality is sufficient to meet the required clinical criteria. Then the contour data of the PSCB is transferred to an in-house conversion software through the DICOMRT protocol. This contour data is converted into the 3DP data format, STereoLithography data format and then printed using a 3DP. Two virtual patients, having concave and convex shapes, were generated with a virtual PTV and an organ at risk (OAR). Then, two corresponding electron treatment plans with and without a PSCB were generated to evaluate the dosimetric effect of the PSCB. The dosimetric characteristics and dose volume histograms for the PTV and OAR are compared in both plans. Film dosimetry is performed to verify the dosimetric accuracy of the 3D-PSCB. The calculated planar dose distribution is compared to that measured using film dosimetry taken from the beam central axis. We compare the percent depth dose curve and gamma analysis (the dose difference is 3%, and the distance to agreement is 3 mm) results. No significant difference in the PTV dose is observed in the plan with the PSCB compared to that without the PSCB. The maximum, minimum, and mean doses of the OAR in the plan with the PSCB were significantly reduced by 9.7%, 36.6%, and 28.3%, respectively, compared to those in the plan without the PSCB. By applying the PSCB, the OAR volumes receiving 90% and 80% of the prescribed dose were reduced from $14.40cm^3$ to $0.1cm^3$ and from $42.6cm^3$ to $3.7cm^3$, respectively, in comparison to that without using the PSCB. The gamma pass rates of the concave and convex plans were 95% and 98%, respectively. A new procedure of the fabrication of a PSCB is developed using a 3DP. We confirm the usefulness and dosimetric accuracy of the 3D-PSCB for the clinical use. Thus, rapidly advancing 3DP technology is able to ease and expand clinical implementation of the PSCB.