• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.60 no.3
• /
• pp.285-289
• /
• 2006

Background : North Korea's economic and public health problems began in the early 1990s as a result of the gradual loss of economic support from its communist allies, combined with an inordinate number of natural disasters. The decline in public health has increased the incidence of tuberculosis in North Koreans and refugees. This study investigated tuberculosis situation in North Korean refugees in order to prepare for the future impact of tuberculosis control in Korea. Material and Methods : From 2001 to 2005, tuberculosis patients among North Korean refugees who were diagnosed before or after arriving in South Korea, based on the official records of OO hospital, were enrolled in this study. The demographic and clinical data of the cases were evaluated retrospectively. Results : A total of 42 TB cases were reviewed during the study period. Of these, 37 (88.1%) cases were pulmonary TB. based on the cases identified among the number of North Korean refugees' arriving each year, the annual incidence of pulmonary TB were 900 per 100,000 in 2004, 700 in 2003, The number of smear-positive patients was 20 (47.6%) and the number of culture-positive patients was 18 (42.9%). Of the M. tuberculosis isolates, 2 cases were found to be susceptible to all anti-TB drugs available, 4 were resistant to isoniazid, and 3 were multi-drug resistant. Conclusion : The prevalence of pulmonary TB in North Korean Refugees is high. In addition, North Korean refugees suffer from more severe tuberculosis in bacteriological and radiological aspects.

• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.286-293
• /
• 2015

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the set up accuracy using stereotactic body frame and frameless immobilizer for lung stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). For total 40 lung cancer patients treated by SBRT, 20 patients using stereotactic body frame and other 20 patients using frameless immobilizer were separately enrolled in each group. The setup errors of each group depending on the immobilization methods were compared and analyzed. All patients received the dose of 48~60 Gy for 4 or 5 fractions. Before each treatment, a patient was first localized to the treatment isocenter using room lasers, and further aligned with a series of image guidance procedures; orthogonal kV radiographs, cone-beam CT, orthogonal fluoroscopy. The couch shifts during these procedures were recorded and analyzed for systematic and random errors of each group. Student t-test was performed to evaluate significant difference depending on the immobilization methods. The setup reproducibility was further analyzed using F-test with the random errors excluding the systematic setup errors. In addition, the ITV-PTV margin for each group was calculated. The setup errors for SBF were $0.05{\pm}0.25cm$ in vertical direction, $0.20{\pm}0.38cm$ in longitudinal direction, and $0.02{\pm}0.30cm$ in lateral direction, respectively. However the setup errors for frameless immobilizer showed a significant increase of $-0.24{\pm}0.25cm$ in vertical direction while similar results of $0.06{\pm}0.34cm$, $-0.02{\pm}0.25cm$ in longitudinal and lateral directions. ITV-PTV margins for SBF were 0.67 cm (vertical), 0.99 cm (longitudinal), and 0.83 cm (lateral), respectively. On the other hand, ITV-PTV margins for Frameless immobilizer were 0.75 cm (vertical), 0.96 cm (longitudinal), and 0.72 cm (lateral), indicating less than 1 mm difference for all directions. In conclusion, stereotactic body frame improves reproducibility of patient setup, resulted in 0.1~0.2 cm in both vertical and longitudinal directions. However the improvements are not substantial in clinic considering the effort and time consumption required for SBF setup.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.57-68
• /
• 1974

These experiments were performed in order to study histologically and histochemically on the epithelial cells of gall bladder in Carassius carassius, Bufo bufo gargarizans, Natrix tigrina lateralis, Urloncha striata var. domesticus and Bos taurus var. domesticus. The results of the observation were as follows: 1. There were different cell types in the epithelium of gall bladder in each animal and it could not be supported histochemically that the epithelia cells of gall bladder were divided into two cell types of the rod-shaped and barrel-shaped ones. 2. The epithelium of gall bladder in Carassius carassius, Bufo bufo gargarizans, Natrix tigrina lateralis, Urloncha striata var. domesticus and Bos taurus var. domesticus was simple columnar epithelium. 3. The eosinophilities of cytoplasm in the epithelial cells of gall bladder were in uniform stronger in the upper portion of nucleus in Carassius carassius, Bufo bufo gargarizans and Natrix tigrina lateralis than its other portions, and in Urloncha striata var. domesticus and Lepus cuniculus var. domesticus existed uniformly in all portions, but there were many non-eosinophilic cells in Bufo bufo gargarizans and many cells that weakly eosinophilic around nucleus in Bos taurus var. domesticus. 4. The periodic acid Schiff's reactivities in the epithelial cells of gall bladder were different in each other and the epithelial cells in PAS reaction were divided into two cell types of the dark and light ones. There presented the light cells of 6.4%, 4.3% and 3.7% of epithelial cell of gall bladder in Carassius carassius, Bufo bufo gargarizans and Urloncha striata var. domesticus for each other, but were not presented in Natrix tigrina lateralis and Bos taurus var. domesticus. 5. The ninhydrin-Schiff-active proteins were much in the epithelial cells of gall bladder in Bos taurus var. domesticus, Carassius carassius, Urloncha striata var. domesticus and Natrix tigrina lateralis in order and were much in epithelial cells in the upper portion of mucosal folds in Carassius carassius, Urloncha striata var. domesticus and Natrix tigrina lateralis, and the ninhydrin-Schiff-active protein of the epithelium of gall bladder in Bufo bufo gargarizans was uniformly distributed. 6. The epithelial cells of gall bladder in Carassius carassius, Natrix tigrina lateralis, Urloncha striata var. domesticus and Bos taurus var. domesticus had no stain reactivity or weak stain reactivity to neutral fat and all epithelial cells in Bufo bufo gargarizans had strong stain reactivity, though they were different in quantity of epithelial cell portion. 7. The stain reactivities to RNA and DNA were stronger in the epithelial cells of the upper portion of mucosal fold than in those of other portions.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.31-55
• /
• 2005

Dangsan forests and Rural Community Forests(RCF) have been historical assets for the rural communities of more than 40,000 in Korea and they have provided an identity through the cultural heritage. The Dangsan forests and the RCF are parts of a unique cultural landscape in the rural areas as components of stream landscape. In many cases, the Dangsan forests and the RCF are located close to stream corridors. The objective of this study was to understand the function of the Dangsan forests and the RCF on stream water quality and to evaluate its ecological landscape values. Through the consideration of international concensus and domestic government policy for close-to-nature stream, we could find out that Dangsan forests and RCF's have close relationship with the close-to-nature streams. The water quality of the streams close to the Dangsan forests and the RCF are maintained with local culture. It is also compared to the streams located where Dangsan forests and the RCF are absent. Eight study sites were selected. Water samples were collected at three different locations at each study site. Water samples were analyzed for temperature, pH, total P, total N, dissolved oxygen, EC, BOD, COD and SS. Aquatic invertebrates were observed as water quality indicator species. The results showed that the number of aquatic invertebrate species, GPI, DO, EC, BOD, and SS were significantly improved in stream water due to the presence of the Dangsan forests and the RCF. The role of Dangsan forests and the RCF was evident in the conservation of stream landscape and rural culture as well as in maintaining stream water quality. The management schemes of the streams with Dangsan forests and the RCF's are also suggested.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.473-479
• /
• 2002

This study investigated associations between calcium intake, exercise behaviors, lumbar bona mineral density (BMD), and bone mineral content (BMC) among 79 premenopausal women (mean age = 41yr). The BMD and BMC of the lumbar spine (L$_2$-L$_4$) were measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Nutrient intake was estimated by the convenient method and a quantitative food frequency questionnaire was designed for this study that included the most commonly consumed floods sources of Ca. Participants were asked to identify all activities of exercise they had participated in including estimation of number of years of participation, number of weeks per year, number of times per week, and the number of hours per session. Participants were then categorized into the exercise group or nonexercise group (control). To meet the criteria for inclusion in the exercise group, the subjects participated more than 3 sessions per week and more than 30 minutes per session and the length of the exercise participation was at least more then 6 months. The participants were also grouped by calcium intake. The total calcium intake of all participants was estimated by dietary calcium intake and then the subjects were divided into quartiles to assess the lumbar BMD and BMC of the upper 25% (average calcium intake = 910 mg) and the lower 25% (average calcium intake = 414 mg). Results indicated that there were no significant differences in energy and calcium intake, and that there were no significant differences in lumbar BMD and BMC between participants in exercise group and the nonexercising control group. However, the exercise group had significantly lower ALP concentration than the nonexercise group. The upper 25% calcium intake group had significantly greater lumbar bone mineral density and bone mineral content than the lower 25% calcium intake group. Also the upper 25% calcium intake group had significantly lower ALP concentration than the lower 25% calcium intake group. Correlation analysis revealed that the spinal BMB was positively associated with body weight, while calcium intake was negatively associated with ALP concentration in nonexercising women. However, neither body weight nor dietary calcium intake were associated with both spinal BMD or ALP concentration in exercising women. These results suggest that calcium intake positively influence bone mineral density and bone mineral content in nonexercisulg premenopausal women. Exercise group did not affected by body weight and dietary calcium, but decreased ALP concentration than nonexercising group. Both exercise and calcium intake positively influence bone mineral density and bone mineral content in premenopausal women.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.232-243
• /
• 2014

Purpose : To evaluate the incidence of secondary contiguous or non-contiguous subchondral bone impactions (SBI) in subaxial cervical spinal injury and associated primary injury patterns. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and medical records was carried out for 47 patients who had sustained a subaxial cervical spinal injury. Presence, number, level, and sites of secondary contiguous or non-contiguous SBI were recorded. To evaluate primary injury patterns, the level and number of primary injury sites of subaxial cervical spine injury, injury morphology, anterior/posterior discoligamentous complex (ADC/PDC) injury, posterior ligamentous complex (PLC) injury, spinal cord injury, and mechanism of injury (MOI) were analyzed. Differences in primary injury pattern of subaxial cervical spine injury and MOI between patients with and without SBI, and between contiguous or non-contiguous SBI were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test, Pearson's chi square test and Fisher's exact test. Results: Eighteen patients (18/47, 38.29%) had developed contiguous (n=9) or non-contiguous (n=9) SBI, most commonly involving T3 (15/47, 31.91%) and 3 levels (6/18, 33.33%). All SBIs had developed near the anterosuperior region of the body and the superior endplate and were the result of a high-impact MOI. SBIs were statistically significant in association with injury morphology and PLC injury (P=0.001, P=0.009, respectively) at the primary injury site. Non-contiguous SBI was more frequently accompanied by upper cervical spinal injuries in association with PDC injuries, as opposed to contiguous SBI, with statistical significance (P=0.009), while no other statistically significant differences were found. Conclusion: Secondary SBIs are common and probably associated with subaxial cervical spinal injuries with high energy compressive flexion forces.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.21 no.11
• /
• pp.1612-1618
• /
• 2011

The present study was undertaken to analyze the effects of different types of treatment on excess post exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC), flexibility, free radical and antioxidants in women using a horseback riding therapeutic device. Subjects were trained in regular horseback riding exercises for 12 weeks (3 times/wk). The effects of this exercise were examined by means of a single session of horseback riding that lasted for 30 min. 21 women were recruited from a public health center and divided into 3 groups (passive recovery group, passive+massage recovery group, and dynamic recovery group). 3 types of recovery patterns were determined after a single trial of horseback riding exercise. Their flexibility were determined pre-and post-training by Paired T test, and ANOVA were used to analyze the data. The results were as follows: Among the 3 groups, the dynamic recovery group showed the highest levels of EPOC compared to the other groups, and also showed higher levels of anti-oxidants, as did the passive+massage recovery group compared to the passive recovery group. Moreover, horseback riding exercise greatly increased flexibility in the women. In conclusion, regular horseback riding training is recommended to enhance the flexibility of women and dynamic recovery is recommended to enhance EPOC and anti-oxidants after a single bout of exercise. Further study is needed in this area.

• The Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Ultrasound Society
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.54-58
• /
• 2010

Purpose: In patients with chronic cervical pain, the facet joint is the source of the majority. Due to the difficulty of identifying the exact location of the joint that causes these symptoms, the possibility of complications and the placebo effect brings clinical application into question. In this study, we assessed the prevalence of patients with chronic cervical pain and report the diagnostic and therapeutic usefulness of ultrasonography - guided facet joint block therapy. Materials and Methods: Patients with nonspecific chronic cervical pain for more than 6 months were selected. Patients with disc herniation, sciatica-related pain were excluded from the study and 160 patients who failed in conservative treatment (physical therapy, chiropractic therapy, medication) were included in the study. Diagnostic Ultrasonography-guided facet joint block was performed with 1% lidocaine, and after two weeks, Bupivacaine 0.25% was used in patients who tested positive for lidocaine. Patients with more than 75% pain reduction during movement after facet joint block were considered positive. Results: Among the 160 patients with chronic cervical pain, 96 patients(60%) had a positive reaction after facet block using lidocaine. Among the 64 patients with a negative reaction to lidocaine, 48 patients(75%) had a positive reaction to bupivacaine. There were 48 false positive patients(50%) who showed a positive reaction to lidocaine but a negative reaction to bupivacaine. The mean VAS of the total 160 patients before blocks was 8.5, after 2 weeks follow up it decreased to 2.7 (p = 0.001) and after 4weeks 3.6 (p = 0.001). The 8 patients as an initial improvement of symptoms are not satisfied with the procedure and the 3 patients had been worsened during observation, were showed pain relief after additional ultrasonography-guided facet joint block at 4th week. Conclusion: A single ultrasonography-guided block to chronic cervical pain patients has relatively low diagnostic value since high false positive rate. The twice facet joint blocks is thought to be a useful method for interventional pain management of patients with chronic cervical pain.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.325-330
• /
• 2022

While swimming is a very popular competitive sports activity, swimming injuries are unique due to the repetitive nature of the swimming stroke and demanding training programs that can result in upper limb overuse. Therefore, the primary objective of this review was to analyze swimmers' injury areas, injury types by stroke type, and swimming rehabilitation, as well as to discuss safety management for improving swimming performance. In this study, the injuries incurred in swimming events were discussed in the order of upper limb injuries (neck, shoulder, arm, and wrist), lower limb injuries (knee and ankle), and waist injuries. An analysis by stroke type found that shoulder injuries occurred most often with freestyle, backstroke, and butterfly strokes, followed by rotator cuff injury, impingement syndrome, and SLAP (superior labral tear from anterior to posterior) lesions. Knee injuries were associated with the breaststroke, whereas spinal cord injuries occurred with the breaststroke and butterfly stroke. Finally, back injuries were associated with the butterfly stroke. During the freestyle stroke, the shoulder undergoes repetitive overhead movement; hence, shoulder and musculoskeletal pain are the most common and well-documented complaints of swimmers. For safety management, coaches and instructors must ensure that athletes do sufficient warm-up and cool-down exercises to avoid injuries. In case of an injury, they should be familiar with first aid measures so that secondary damage can be prevented with its quick application. In addition, coaches and instructors need to be trained in injury prevention and treatment so that they can provide appropriate rehabilitation treatment for athletes. Although swimming-related injuries cannot be completely eliminated, to reduce them to a minimum, leaders need the knowledge to apply scientific and systematic training principles and methods individualized for each athlete.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.104-114
• /
• 2023

As plastic usage increases globally, the amount of plastic waste entering the marine environment is steadily rising. Microplastics, in particular, can be ingested by marine organisms and accumulated in their digestive tracts, causing harmful effects on their growth and reproduction. Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes are known to metabolize various environmental pollutants as detoxification enzymes, but their role in crustaceans is not well understood. In this study, sequences of nine CYP genes (CYP370A4, CYP370C5 from clan 2; CYP350A1, CYP350C5, CYP361A1 from clan 3; CYP4AN-like, CYP4AP2, CYP4AP3, CYP4C33-like1 from clan 4) were analyzed using conserved domains in the brackish water flea Diaphanosoma celebensis. Additionally, after exposure to three different sizes of polystyrene beads (0.05-, 0.5-, 6-㎛ PS beads; 0.1, 1, and 10 mg/L) for 48 hours, the expression of these nine CYP genes were investigated using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The results showed that all CYP genes possessed conserved motifs, indicating that D. celebensis CYP has evolutionarily conserved functions. Among these CYP genes, the expression of CYP370C5, CYP360A1, and CYP4C122 showed a significant increase after exposure to 0.05-㎛ PS beads, suggesting their involvement in PS metabolism. This research will contribute to understanding the molecular mode of actions of microplastics on marine invertebrates.