• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.7
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• pp.542-547
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• 2002

Background: Postpneumonectomy empyema(PPE) is an infrequent but potentially life-threatening complication. To date, various surgical efforts have been made to manage this complication. We reviewed our 20-year surgical experience of PPE and long-term follow-up data. Material and Method: Total of 37 patients who were treated for PPE between fan, 1980 and Jun, 2000 were included. Various clinical factors such as micro-organism, operative method and timing, presence of bronchopleural fistula(BPF), underlying disease and fate of empyema cavity were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. Result: Majority of patients(34) underwent Eloesser operation for effective drainage. There was only one operative mortality. The causative organisms were Staphylococcus species and Pseudomonas species in 46% BPF was found in 20 cases, among which spontaneous closures took place in 4 cases. The chest wall was closed in 40%(8/20) of patients with BPF, compared to 59%(10/17) without BPF. The closure rate was statistically better in patients without BPF(p=0.006). Even though the patients with benign disease showed higher closure rate(50%) than those with lung cancer (31%), the difference was not significant(p=0.25). Conclusion: Eloesser procedure was an effective method for initial drainage of PPE cavity with low operative mortality. Given the findings of low spontaneous closure rate of BPF, aggressive approach to close the BPF is mandatory to achieve the final goal of chest wall closure. It was found that majority of patients still left their chest cavity opened, even after controlling the active inflammation of the empyema cavity. More aggnessive approach for chest wall closure is recommended in all patents with benign disease and in selective patients with lung cancer if there is no evidence of recurrence at several years after the initial operation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.378-382
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• 1997

To evaulate the effectiveness and risk factors for shunt failure of the Blalock-Taussig shunt in neonates, we analyzed the 21 neonates who were undergone Blalok-Taussig shunt operation at Dong-A University Hospital from December 1991 to Feburary 1996. We evaluated operative mortality, patency of the shunt. and distortion of pulmonary artery. We also determined the risk factors for the shunt failure. Age at operation was from 1 day to 30 days(mean 11.7 days). We ghts were 2.4 to 4.5kg(mean 3.1 kg). The underlying lesions included severe tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary stenosls or atresia(N=11) and single ventricle varieties with. pulmonary stenosis or atresia(N=10). Prostaglandin El was given in 13 neonates prior to operation. The mean preoperative(prior to prostaglandin El therapy) and postoperative arterial oxygen tension were 30.1 mmHg and 46.3 mmHg respectively(P(0.01). The shunt was performed through a left thoracotomy in 11 patients and through a right thoracotomy In 10. A 5 mm graft was used in 15 patients and a 4 mm graft in 6 patients. The incidence of early shunt occlusion was 9.5%(2 patients). The hospital mortality was 9.5%(2 patients with early shunt occlusion). Univariate analysis revealed that body weight of 2.6 kg or less(p=0.021), pulmonary artery size of 3mm or less(p=0.008), and 4 mm graft (p=0.021) were risk factors predictive of early shunt failure. The patency rate of the shunt in hospital survivors was 100% at mean ollow-up of ll.3 months(There was not death or reoperation related to shunt failure). 10 patients were catheterized during postoperative follow-up. There was no significant distorsion of pulmonary artery. So we concluded that the modified Blalock-Taussig shunt in neonates was excellent in the hospital survivors.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 1996

This experiment was conducted to find out an effective propagation method for reed(Phragmites communis Trin.), ensuring a continuous herbicide screening for reed control. Reed propagation methods were compared under a greenhouse condition using tour different materials; seeds, rhizomes, depressed stolons of P. japonica Steud., and stem cuttings. Although reed seeds were easy to harvest and store, their germination rate(${\leq}$5%) was very low and seedling growth from the seeds was slow. Rhizomes were difficult to harvest and their harvest time was limited from November to March. Furthermore, reed propagation using rhizomes had problems of a relatively low germination rate(46%), no uniformity in size and shape, individual differences at the early stage of growth, and difficulties in material storage. Rate of reed growth from rhizomes was higher in commercial soil mix(Boo Nong soil) than in sand or in sand+upland soil(1:1). Depressed stolons of P. japonica had a moderate germination rate(65%) and were relatively easy to harvest. However, their harvest time was limited only from August to September. Propagation method using stem cuttings had several advantages over the above methods using other materials. Reed plants could uniformly be propagated from the stem cuttings with a relatively high germination rate(75%). Stem cuttings of central nodes showed a higher germination rate compared to those of upper or lower nodes. Stem cuttings from the field should be used immediately after harvest, since their germination rate decreased rapidly when they were stored under a wet- or a dry-refrigerated condition. Furthermore, the germination of stem cuttings tended to decrease when they were collected from the field after August. This indicates that there is a limitation of harvest time for stem cuttings. However, a year-round propagation of reed using stem cuttings is possible if parent plants are grown in a greenhouse, and thus herbicide screening for reed control could continuously be performed.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.149-158
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• 2018

Agriculture is strongly influenced by climate change such as increased temperature and carbon dioxide ($CO_2$). This study describes the effects of climate change elevated $CO_2$, temperature, and relative drought on growth responses and yield in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). The assessment was conducted for spring seasons in Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Research (SPAR) chamber at National Institute of Crop Science (NICS). Potatoes exhibit a positive response to $CO_2$ enrichment but water stress primarily reduces potato canopy and tuber yield. Elevated $CO_2$ and temperature increased both dry weight and tuber yield. Elevated $CO_2$ and temperature influenced SPAR 2 plants to a larger, and tuber increased yield up to 28% of than in SPAR 1(30-year average temperature at 450 ppm of $CO_2$). Our study findings indicate that tuber yield increase in potato under high $CO_2$ concentration was due to an increase in the size of individual tubers rather than in the number of the tubers per plant. On other hand, SPAR 3(30-year average temperature $+2.8^{\circ}C$ at 700 ppm of $CO_2$ under water stress) was lower than SPAR 2(30-year average temperature $+2.8^{\circ}C$ at 700 ppm of $CO_2$) nearly 56% of tuber yield due to drought. The results confirm potato drought sensitivity in terms of yield response. The experiment also showed that, in the conditions of climate change, climate change scenarios that improve cropping systems with potato.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.111-119
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• 2009

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical efficacy of clomiphene citrate (CC) and letrozole combined with gonadotropins for controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) in patients with CC-induced thin endometrium Methods: Fifty-one intrauterine insemination cycles performed in patients who previously had a thin endometrium (<8 mm) to ovulation induction using CC were included in this study. A CC 100 mg/day (CC+gonadotropin group, n=26) or letrozole 2.5 or 5 mg/day (letrozole+gonadotropin group, n=25) was administered on day 3~7 of the menstrual cycle, combined with gonadotropins at dose 75~150 IU every other day starting on day 5~7. We compared total dose of gonadotropin used, endometrial thickness, endometrial pattern, number of follicles ${\geq}14\;mm$ on hCG day, pregnancy rate and multiple pregnancy rate between the two groups, which were statistically analyzed using Mann-Whitney U test or Fisher's exact test, where appropriate. Results: There were no significant differences in clinical characteristics such as age, duration of infertility, number of previous IUI cycles, basal serum hormone levels and cause of infertility between the two groups. In both groups, the endometrium was significantly thicker than that of previous ovulation induction cycles using CC. No significant differences were found in the total dose of gonadotropin used, day of hCG administration, the rate of triple endometrium and pregnancy rate. The number of follicles ${\geq}14\;mm$ was significantly lower ($3.7{\pm}1.7$ vs. $2.8{\pm}1.7$, p=0.03) and the endometrium on hCG day was significantly thicker ($7.7{\pm}1.5$ vs. $9.1{\pm}1.7$, p=0.001) in letrozole+gonadotropin group compared to CC+gonadotropin group. Conclusion: The clomiphene citrate and letrozole combined with gonadotropins appear to avoid the undesirable effects on the endometrium frequently seen with CC for ovulation induction. However, in terms of adequate endometrial development or optimal follicular growth, letrozole may be more beneficial than CC for gonadotropin-combined COS in patients with CC-induced thin endometrium. Further prospective randomized controlled studies in a larger scale will be necessary to confirm our findings.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.531-540
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• 2000

Baclgrpimd; Recent studies have suggested that the cardioprotective effect of ischemic preconditioning(IP) is closely related to glycogen depletion and attenuation of intracellular acidosis. In the present study, the authors tested this hypothesis by perfusion isolated rabbit hearts with glucose(G) is closely related to glycogen depletion and attenuation of intracellular acidosis. In the present study, the authors tested this hypothesis by perfusion isolated rabbit hearts with glucose(G)-free perfusate. Material and Method; Hearts isolated from New Zealand white rabbits(1.5~2.0 kg body weight) were perfused with Tyrode solution by Langendorff technique. After stabilization of baseline hemodynamics, the hearts were subjected to 45 min global ischemia followed by 120 min reperfusion with IP(IP group, n=13) or without IP(ischemic control group, n=10). IP was induced by single episode of 5 min global ischemia and 10 min reperfusion. In the G-free preconditioned group(n=12), G depletion was induced by perfusionwith G-free Tyrode solution for 5 min and then perfused with G-containing Tyrode solution for 10 min; and 45 min ischemia and 120 min reperfusion. Left ventricular functionincluding developed pressure(LVDP), dP/dt, heart rate, left ventricular end-distolic pressure(LVEDP) and coronary flow (CF) were measured. Myocardial cytosolic and membrane PKC activities were measured by 32P-${\gamma}$-ATP incorporation into PKC-specific peptide and PKC isozymes were analyzed by Western blot with monoclonal antibodies. Infarct size was determined by staining with TTC(tetrazolium salt) and planimetry. Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Turkey's post-hoc test. Result ; In comparison with the ischemic control group, IP significantly enhanced functional recovery of the left ventricle; in contrast, functional significantly enhanced functional recovery of the left ventricle; in contrast, functional recovery were not significantly different between the G-free preconditioned and the ischemic control groups. However, the infarct size was significantly reduced by IP or G-free preconditioning(39$\pm$2.7% in the ischemic control, 19$\pm$1.2% in the IP, and 15$\pm$3.9% in the G-free preconditioned, p<0.05). Membrane PKC activities were increased significantly after IP (119%), IP and 45 min ischemia(145%), G-free [recpmdotopmomg (150%), and G-free preconditioning and 45 min ischemia(127%); expression of membrane PKC isozymes, $\alpha$ and $\varepsilon$, tended to be increased after IP or G-free preconditioning. Conclusion; These results suggest that in isolated Langendorff-perfused rabbit heart model, G-free preconditioning (induced by single episode of 5 min G depletion and 10 min repletion) colud not improve post-ischemic contractile dysfunction(after 45-minute global ischemia); however, it has an infarct size-limiting effect.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.227-237
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• 2008

Arsenic has recently become of the most serious environmental concerns, and the worldwide regulation of arsenic fur drinking water has been reinforced. Arsenic contaminated groundwater and soil have been frequently revealed as well, and arsenic contamination and its treatment and measures have been domestically raised as one of the most important environmental issues. Arsenic behavior in geo-environment is principally affected by oxides and clay minerals, and particularly iron (oxy)hydroxides have been well known to be most effective in controlling arsenic. Among a number of iron (oxy)hydroxides, for this reason, 2-line ferrihydrite was selected in this study to investigate its effect on arsenic behavior. Adsorption of 2-line ferrihydrite was characterized and compared between As(III) and As(V) which are known to be the most ubiquitous species among arsenic forms in natural environment. Two-line ferrihydrite synthesized in the lab as the adsorbent of arsenic had $10\sim200$ nm for diameter, $247m^{2}/g$ for specific surface area, and 8.2 for pH of zero charge, and those representative properties of 2-line ferrihydrite appeared to be greatly suitable to be used as adsorbent of arsenic. The experimental results on equilibrium adsorption indicate that As(III) showed much stronger adsorption affinity onto 2-line ferrihydrite than As(V). In addition, the maximum adsorptions of As(III) and As(V) were observed at pH 7.0 and 2.0, respectively. In particular, the adsorption of As(III) did not show any difference between pH conditions, except for pH 12.2. On the contrary, the As(V) adsorption was remarkably decreased with increase in pH. The results obtained from the detailed experiments investigating pH effect on arsenic adsorption show that As(III) adsorption increased up to pH 8.0 and dramatically decreased above pH 9.2. In case of As(V), its adsorption steadily decreased with increase in pH. The reason the adsorption characteristics became totally different depending on arsenic species is attributed to the fact that chemical speciation of arsenic and surface charge of 2-line ferrihydrite are significantly affected by pH, and it is speculated that those composite phenomena cause the difference in adsorption between As(III) and As(V). From the view point of adsorption kinetics, adsorption of arsenic species onto 2-line ferrihydrite was investigated to be mostly completed within the duration of 2 hours. Among the kinetic models proposed so for, power function and elovich model were evaluated to be the most suitable ones which can simulate adsorption kinetics of two kinds of arsenic species onto 2-line ferrihydrite.