• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.108-113
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• 2010

Purpose : The aim of this study was to identify clinical availability of serum procalcitonin (PCT) compared with C-reactive protein (CRP) in prediction of bacterial infection in children. Methods : A retrospective study was conducted with children who had been admitted to the Department of Pediatrics with bacterial and viral infection between April 2008 and March 2009 and children who were admitted with Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) between August 2007 and July 2009. Serum PCT levels were measured using an enzyme-linked fluorescent assay. Results : The study population included 10 patients with bacterial infection (group I), 69 with viral infection (group II), and 35 with JRA (group III). Mean PCT levels were significantly higher in group I than in group II or group III (P<0.05). Mean CRP levels were significantly higher in group I than in group II (P<0.05); however, mean CRP levels were not significantly higher in group I than in group III (P>0.05). Using a cutoff of 0.5 ng/mL for PCT and 8 mg/L for CRP, sensitivity and specificity in distinguishing between group I and the other groups were 60.0% and 92.3% for PCT and 60.0% and 40.1% for CRP, respectively. Positive and negative predictive values were 42.9% and 96.0% for PCT and 10.0% and 92.6% for CRP, respectively. Conclusion : Measurement of PCT concentrations appears to be more useful than CRP for distinguishing between bacterial infection and non-bacterial diseases in children.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 2000

To analyze the relationship between climatic factors (monthly temperatures and precipitations) and the radial growths or Pinus densiflora with different topographical settings in Worak National Park, Korea, 20 stands were chosen and 10 trees were selected from each stand. After crossdating, each ring-width series was double detrended (standardized) by fitting first a negative exponential or straight regression line and secondly a 60-year cubic spline. The growth patterns coud be categorized by four groups using cluster analysis. Cluster Ⅰ stand has north aspect, but others have south or southwest aspects. Cluster Ⅰ (one), cluster Ⅱ (ten), and cluster Ⅲ (two) stands are located in lower. elevation (305∼580 m), however, cluster Ⅳ (seven) stands are located in higher elevation, mostly in 560～870 m. Cluster Ⅱ and Ⅲ stands are located at similar elevation with the same aspect, however, cluster Ⅱ stands are located on more rocky and stiff slope with shallow soil depth. The response functions were used to examine the difference in the relationships between climatic factors and tree growths among the 4 cluster chronologies. The climatic factors are not limiting the growth in the cluster Ⅰ stand as highly as in other cluster plots because of rather mesic conditions in the north slope. The precipitation in the spring appears to be the main limiting factor in the cluster Ⅱ stands. The topographical characteristics of the sites of cluster Ⅱ, shallow soil depths on the rocky slope in the south aspect at lower elevation, may enhance the sensitivity of growth to moisture stress. In cluster Ⅲ and cluster Ⅳ, winter and spring temperature prior to the growth become more important than for cluster Ⅱ. This pattern is com-mon for Pinus densiflora trees growing in higher. elevation (equation omitted 800 m) in South Korea. It nay be re-lated with preconditioning effects of temperature as the temperature decreases with increasing elevation (cluster Ⅳ) or in the valley (cluster Ⅲ). The results obtained by tree-ring analysis were digitalized by GIS and spatio-temporal information on tree-ring data and topographic setting were analyzed and displayed simultaneously. The results of this study can be used to predict the future change of Pinus densiflora ecosystem to climate change expected in central Korea.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.179-187
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of heat applied to disintegrate cement on the removal torque value and fracture strength of titanium abutment and abutment screw. Materials and methods: Implants, titanium abutments and abutment screws were prepared for each 20 piece. Implant abutments and screws were classified as the control group in which no heat was applied and the experimental group was heated in a vacuum furnace to $450^{\circ}C$ for 8 minutes and cooled in air. The abutments and screws were connected to the implants with 30 Ncm tightening torque at interval 10 minutes and the removal torque value was measured 15 minutes later. And the fracture strength of abutment screw was measured using universal testing machine. Results: The mean removal torque value was $27.84{\pm}1.07Ncm$ in the control group and $26.55{\pm}1.56Ncm$ in the experimental group and showed statistically significant difference (P < .05). The mean fracture strength was $731.47{\pm}39.46N$ in the control group and $768.58{\pm}46.73N$ in the experimental group and showed statistically no significant difference (P > .05). Conclusion: The heat applied for cement disintegration significantly reduced the removal torque value of the abutment screw and did not significantly affect fracture strength of the abutment screw. Therefore, in the case of applying heat to disintegrate cement it is necessary to separate the abutment screw or pay attention to the reuse of the heated screw. However further studies are needed to evaluate the clinical reuse of the heated screw.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.134-139
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• 2012

Purpose: To report the treatment results of arthroscopic osteochondroplasty in osteochondral lesion of the talus. Materials and Methods: This study included 32 patients who had osteochondral lesion of the talus treated with arthroscopic osteochondroplasty and were able to be followed up over 3 years from 1999 to 2007. The mean follow up period was 48 (38-108) months, and 22 male patients and 10 female patients with a mean age of 34 (20-56) years were included. Locations of lesion were evaluated with simple X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and severities of lesions were classified by Berndt and Harty classification. All cases were treated by arthroscopic debridement or microfracture. The treatment results were assessed by American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot scale and subjective and functional score of Kailkkonen. The group treated by arthroscopic microfracture was compared with the group treated by arthroscopic debridement. Results: The mean AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scale was significantly improved 53 (${\pm}7$) points preoperatively to 84 (${\pm}8$) points postoperatively (P<0.001). The mean subjective and functional score was also improved 55 (${\pm}8$) points preoperatively to 88 (${\pm}8$) points postoperatively with statistical significant (P<0.001). There were no relations between the severity of lesions and the postoperative functional score of ankle (P>0.05). There were no significant differences in the clinical results between the group treated with arthroscopic microfracture and the group treated with arthroscopic debridement (P>0.05). Conclusion: Arthroscopic osteochondroplasty of osteochondral lesion of the talus shows excellent result in terms of patients' satisfaction. There were no significant differences in the clinical results between arthroscopic microfracture group and debridement group.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.147-175
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of store choice criteria on customer satisfaction and store loyalty, and the moderating effects of customer emotions on the causal relationship between store choice criteria and customer satisfaction. In this regard, this study tries to identify the effects of store choice criteria on customer satisfaction and store loyalty in case of mass merchandisers, and to analyze the moderating effects of customer emotions on the causal relationship between store choice criteria and customer satisfaction. For this purpose, 300 customers, who have ever shopped at mass merchandisers, were surveyed and 246 valid responses were finally used for the data analysis. The results of this study are as follows. First, out of six store choice criteria, product factors, store reputation and physical environment turn out to have statistically significant effects on customer satisfaction. This result confirms those of the previous studies. On the other hand, store accessibility, subsidiary facilities and store atmosphere are not found to have statistically significant effects on customer satisfaction. This result is somewhat different from those of previous studies, and so further research on the subject needs to be carried out. Secondly, it turns out that customer satisfaction has a statistically significant effect on store loyalty, which is in line with the results of previous studies that perceived emotions affect customers' store attitudes which in turn influence their revisit intentions. Thirdly, as for the moderating effects of customer emotions on the relationship between store choice criteria and customer satisfaction, pleasure moderates the effects of store accessibility, subsidiary facilities and store atmosphere on customer satisfaction, arousal moderates the effects of product factors, subsidiary facilities and store reputation on customer satisfaction, and finally dominance moderates the effects of product factors and subsidiary facilities on customer satisfaction. These findings partially support the results of previous studies that customers' in-store emotional experiences such as feeling good or bad enhance their store loyalty.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.313-320
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• 2013

Purpose: This study compared the quantity of phoria for distance by new method with that by existing methods. Methods: For this study, it was selected to two existing phoria measurements, von Graefe and Maddox rod. And new method named "3D polarizing phoria measurement" was designed to measure the quantity of phoria using polarizing glasses and 3D display. Unlike existing measurement using polarized lens, newly considered method measured the quantity of phoria in condition removed perfect binocular fusion using field stop on apparatus and polarized lens. For using new method for distance, it was developed a phoria test chart. It supports three kinds of phoria measurements. Subjects were 12 (male 6, female 6). They had three phoria tests (1 sets) including new method. It was considered the effect of experimental order, so we tested all cases about experimental order. The number of cases was 6 sets, and the sample size in this experiment was 72 sets. For removing binocular fusion, lighting of the laboratory that was below 10 lx and the background color of phoria test chart was dark, RGB=(20, 20, 20). Results: Subjects were sorted into three groups. Samples with exophoria and orthophoria were 30 sets each, and those with esophoria were 12 sets. The quantity of phoria measured three tests differ from each other like "newmethod < von Graefe < Maddox rod", and there were statistically significant difference each other. Conclusions: This study has great significance in the sense that new method was the measurement with naturally removing binocular fusion without dizziness during the tests.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.67-74
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• 2005

Purpose : The incidence of mortality associated with respiratory difficulties is decreasing nowadays contributed to the development of neonatology. However, complications associated with mechanical ventilator are increasing. This study is to determine clinical manifestations, diagnositc availability of the endotracheal tip culture in patients with Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia(VAP) in neonatal intensive care unit(NICU). Methods : A retrospective analysis of 50 neonates who were admitted to the NICU of Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital and had given mechanical ventilator from 1 January 2000 to 30 June 2003. VAP group defined as neonates who had pneumonia with mechanical ventilation longer than 48 hours. They were classified into VAP group(n=13) and control group (n=37) and the prevalence, microorganisms cultured from the endotracheal tube tip and risk factors were investigated. Results : The prevalence of VAP was 26.0%(n=13) and the most dominant microorganism cultured in our NICU was methicillin-resistant coagulase negative staphylococcus(MR-CNS) in 4 cases. Other microorganisms were Pseudomonas, Enterobacter, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) and Klebsiella. Gestational age, birth weight, Apgar score, respiratory distress syndrome, retinopathy of prematurity, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, sepsis, renal failure, pulmonary hemorrhage, pneumothorax were not different significantly between two groups except intraventricular hemorrhage(P<0.001) and patent ductus arteriosus(P<0.05). Duration of hospital stay and mortality rate were also not different significantly. Conclusion : VAP occurred at a significant rate among mechanically ventilated NICU patients. Despite of limitation of encotracheal tip culture, the most common microorganism was MR-CNS. We should be aware of occurrence of VAP in NICU neonate who were with mechanical ventilator and should treat with great care.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.393-401
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• 2015

Radiation therapy for lung cancer is an effective treatment during monotherapy or combination therapy. Studies have reported that the optimum utilization rate of radiation therapy is estimated at 61% to 74%. Radiation therapy in Korea has been investigated to be low; further studies are needed. This study was intended to assess the appropriateness of the use of radiation and to reveal the use of radiation therapy-related factors by examining radiation therapy in lung cancer patients of Busan and South Gyeongnam Province. This study was aimed at the population diagnosed with lung cancer in Busan and South Gyeongnam Province. To conduct the study, 1036 patients enrolled in two hospitals were collected and 897 appropriate as subjects were selected. We compared the optimum utilization rate and actual rate of radiation therapy, and revealed the adequacy and related factors for use of radiotherapy. Of 897 patients, 503 (56%) were treated with medical therapy and 394 (44%) were given radiotherapy. The radiotherapy utilization rate of all lung cancer patients was 42%. The proportion of non-small cell lung cancer by histologic type was 33% and that of small cell lung cancer was 90%. Factors related to radiation therapy used in cancer were age, histological type, clinical stage, doctor refereed to, and clinical examination. Compared to radiation utilization by region (site), curative chest therapy was 42%; palliative treatment was 26%. In the comparison of histologic types, utilization of small-cell lung cancer is lower; the lowest especially in the stage III. Utilization of radiation therapy in Busan and South Gyeongnam Province was lower than the reasonable one. Utilization difference could be explained by patient factors, tumor factors, and health service factors. To improve utilization,development ofoutreach service programs and activation of the multidisciplinary team are required.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.199-207
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• 1996

Ischemic myocardial damage is inevitable to cardiac surgery. Myocardial damage after initiation of reperfusion through the coronary arteries is one of the most important determinants of a successful surgery. Adenosine is a potent vasodilator, and is also known to induce rapid cardioplegic arrest by its property of antagonizing cardiac calcium channels and activating the potassium channel. Thus, we initiated this study with adenosine to improve postischemic recovery in the isolated rat heart. We tested the hypothesis that adenosine could be more effective than potassium in inducing rapid cardiac arrest and enhancing postischemlc hemodynamic recovery. Isolated rat hearts, connected to the Langendorff appratus, were perfused with Krebs-Henseleit buffer and all hearts were subjected to arrest for 60 minutes. Three groups of hearts were studied according to the composition of cardioplegic solutions : Group A (n=10), adenosine 10mmo1/L+potassium free modified St. Thomas cardioplegia : Group B (n=10), adenosine 400mo1/L+S1. Thomas cardioplegia:Group C(control, n=10), St. Thomas cardioplegia. Adenosine-treated groups (group A & B) resulted in more rapid cardiac arrest than control group (C) (p< 0.01). There was greater improvement in recovery of coronary blood flow at 20 and 30 minutes of reperfusion in group A and at 20 minutes in group B when compared with control group(p<0.01). Recovery of systolic blood pressure at 10 minutes after reperfusion in group A and B was significantly superior to that in group C (p<0.01). Recovery of dp/dt at 10 minute after reperfusion in group A was also significantly superior to group C (p<0.05). Group A and B showed better recovery rates than control group in aortic blood flow, cardiac output, and heart rate, but there were no statistical differences. CPK levels of coronary flow in group A were significantly low (p< 0.01). We concluded that adenosine-enriched cardioplegic solutions have better effects on rapid cardiac arrest and postischemic recovery when compared with potassium cardioplegia.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.146-153
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• 2009

Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the current use of dexamethasone rescue therapy (DRT) for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Methods: This is a retrospective study of 251 BPD patients managed in the neonatal intensive care units at Seoul National University Childrens Hospital and Seoul National University Bundang Hospital between March 2004 and August 2008. The demographic data and clinical characteristics of the mothers and infants were analyzed. The infants were compared based on DRT responsiveness. The DRT complications were investigated. Results: Ninety-three patients (37.1%) were classified with severe BPD, DRT was only given to patients with severe BPD. Dexamethasone was administered to 24 patients (9.6%) whose respiratory status had precluded extubation, which indicated that conventional BPD management had failed. Fourteen patients (58.3%) who received DRT were responsive. DRT non-responders required more oxygenation and more complicated with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Responder had shorter length's of hospitalization and lower mortality rates. High dose dexamethasone was no more effective in weaning neonates from the ventilatior than low dose dexamethasone. Sepsis was the most common complication of DRT. Conclusion: DRT is a valuable treatment for severe BPD ahead of PAH development. DRT should not be performed in BPD patients with PAH due to the possibility of complications.