• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.28-38
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• 2004

This study presents the result of uncertainty and sensitivity analysis of a pharmacokinetic model which describes the distribution and removal of benzene at each organ when an indivisual inhales indoor contaminated air with benzene originated from groundwater. The pharmacokinetic model simulates the distribution of benzene deposited in organs of human body through inhalation of contaminated indoor air as well as degradation-metabolism in liver. This study focused on the uncertainty problem induced from the use of the single values for blood flow, partition coefficient, degradation constant, volume, etc. of each organ which was due to a lack of knowledge about these parameters or their measurements. To solve this problem, uncertainty analysis on the pharmacokinetic model was conducted simultaneously which would help understanding the risk assessment associated with VOCs.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.297-303
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• 1998

The sinus distal to the prosthetic heart valve influences the valve closure behavior and velocity field near the valve, therefore affects the hydrodynamic performance of the prosthetic heart valve. In order to study the effects of valve distal geometry on the hydrodynamic performance of the prosthetic valves, mechanical bileaflet valve(SJMV), monoleaflet polymer valve(MLPV) and trileaflet polymer valve(FTPV) are inserted in the test sections which have the straight and the sinus shape distal to the valve. Leakage volumes and systolic mean pressure drops are measured in the pulsatile mock circulation flow loop. Leakage volumes are slightly less and systolic mean pressure drops are higher in the sinus test section comparing to those in the straight test section, but the differences are statistically insignificant. Flow waveforms are analyzed in order to predict the valve closure behavior. The distal sinus does not affect the closure of the MLPV, but early valve closure of SJMV is observed in the sinus test section. This effect is more significant in FTPV, and the reverse flow peak of FTPV is reduced in the sinus test section. Therefore the sinus distal to the valve can reduce the reverse flow jet caused by sudden valve closure.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.861-866
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• 1996

Surgical angioplasty of isolated stenosis of the left main coronary artery(LMCA) restores a more physiologic flow to the myocardium, allows percutdneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) of distal coronary stenoses at a later stage, and is a less time consuming and convenient procedure than the conventional coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG) . Between Jul. 1994 and Dec. 1995, 7 surgical angioplasty had been performed. LMCA stenoses involved ostium in 2 patients, middle third in 3, and dis- tal third in 2. In 2 patients, the origin of left anterior descending coronary artery was involved in conjunction with LMCA. T e additional coronary artery stenoses were found in 2 cases. One patient was emergently operated after coronary angiography following his cardiac arrest. LMCA was approached anteriorly in all patients. The pulmonary artery was transected in 3 patients for a better exposure. The onlay patch consisted or autologous or bovine pericardium. There was no postoperative myocardial infarction or mortality. Left ventricular functions were well preserved in all patients. Postoperative coronary angiography revealed widely patent LMCA in 5 cases, and mild narrowing of distal anastomotic sites in 2 cases. Provided that well defined indications are followed correctly, surgical angioplasty can be a safe alternative to conventional CABG.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.93-104
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• 2001

Objective : To localize and compare the cerebral regions- activated by the the stimulation of traditional and burning acupunctures in right Hap-Kok (LI4) acupoints. Methods : Thirty-four healthy normal volunteers (19 males, 15 females, age 31${\pm}$11 years) were studies by rest/acupuncture Tc-99m HMPAO SPECT using same-dose sequential injection method using right Hap-Kok(LI4), traditional and burning acupunctures. All images were spatially normalized and the differences between rest and acupuncture activation state were statistically analyzed using SPM 96. Results : Statistical analysis of the effect by the stimulation using traditional acupuncture in right L14 showed regional cerebral perfusion increase in right inferior frontal lobe, right straight gyrus, left anterolateral frontal lobe, left anteroinferior temporal lobe, left posterior temporal lobe, and left cerebellum. In the stimulation using burning acupuncture in right LI4, regional cerebral perfusion increased in right posterior prefrontal lobe, right precental gyrus, right postcentral gyrus, right poteroinferior temporal lobe, left precentral gyrus, left Broca's area, left anterior parietal lobe, left posterior prefrontal lobe, and left cerebellum. In right LA, diffuse perfusion increase were noted in the both inferior frontal lobe by traditional acupuncture compared to burning acupuncture. Conclusion : The results localized the cerebral areas showed the effect of the acupuncture on cerebral blood flow. The effects of traditional and burning acupunctures on cerebral blood flow were similar in right Hap-Kok (LI4) acupoints. But the effects of traditional acupunctures on cerebral blood flow are stronger than those of burning acupunctures on cerebral blood flow.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.489-496
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• 2004

Insertion of cannulae into vessels may disturb the blood flow doing non-physiological load and stress on blood cells such that ADP may increase and result in hemolysis. Authors used the computational method to simulate the 3-dimensional blood flow inside of the cannula using numerical method. We limited the research to within the drainage cannulae with side holes inserted through the human vein. In this paper, 9 different cannulae with side holes categorized by the number of side holes of 4, 12, and 20, and also categorized by the array type of side holes of staggered array, in-line array, and alternative in-line array were studied and compared to the cannula with no side holes by using CFD analysis. We evaluated the flow rate, the wall shear stress, and the shear rate and compared them with one another to estimate the effect of the side holes. The flow rate is not proportional to the number of the side holes. However, larger number of side holes can reduce the mean shear rate. Both the number and the array type of side holes play an important role on the fluid dynamics of the blood flow in cannulae.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.2 s.271
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• pp.136-139
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• 2007

Bilateral popliteal artery entrapment syndrome is a rare vascular disease, which leads to ischemic claudication as a result of disturbance to the blood flow from the abnormal relationship of the popliteal artery to the gastrocnemius muscle, a fibrous band or the popliteus muscle in the young male population. A 58-years-old male patient, complaining of ischemic claudication, coldness and 3rd toe gangrene of left leg of 1 month's duration was admitted to our institution. His left ankle-brachial index was decreased; therefore, a femoral artery angiography was peformed, which revealed a total occlusion below the distal superficial femoral artery of the left leg. An EKG revealed atrial fibrillation, suggestive of a thromboembolism of the popliteal artery due to atrial fibrillation; therefore, Urokinase thrombolysis was attempted. After the Urokinase thrombolysis, popliteal artery entrapment syndrome was diagnosed, with MRI then performed for an anatomical diagnosis. The popliteal artery entrapment was type 1, where the popliteal artery was displaced medial to the Gastrocnemius head. After complete removal of the popliteal artery aneurysm, interposition was performed with a contra lateral greater saphenous vein graft. A mild right popliteal artery aneurysm still remained, but surgery was not performed. Currently, the patent is surviving, without complications. Herein, the good results obtained for the surgical treatment of a severely affected leg, and the conservative treatment of a mildly affected leg, are reported.