• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.81-90
• /
• 1994

Purpose : The aim of this study is to analyze the clinical results of thermo-irradiation treatment for surgically unresectable advanced hepatoma with or without hepatic arterial chemo-embolization (HACE), chemotherapy (CT) and interferon (IFN) therapy. Materials and Methods : Between February 1990 and December 1992, 45 Patients with surgically unresectable advanced hepatomas were treated by thermo-irradiation with or without hepatic arterial chemo-embolization and other treatment modalities. Among them, We analyzed retrospectively 25 patients who received more than three times of hyperthermias. Mean age was 50 years (range : 18-71 years) and male to female ratio was 20 : 5. In the study, treatment was administered as follows : 3 patients received radiation therapy(RT) and hyperthermia (HT). 3 received RT+HT+CT. 3 received RT+HT+HACE. 1 received RT+HT+CT+HACE. 2 received RT+HT+CT+IFN. 10 received RT+HT+HACE+IFN. 3 received RT+HT+CT+HACE+IFN. Radiation therapy was done by a 6 MV linear accelerator Patients were treated with daily fractions of 180 cGy to doses of 11Gy-50Gy (median 30Gy). Local hyperthermia was done by HEH-500C(Omron Co. Japan), 30-45 min/session, 2 sessions/wk and the number of HT sessions ranged from 3 to 17 (median 7 times). 15 patients of 25 were followed by abdominal CT scan or abdominal ultra-sonogram. The following factors were analyzed :Age, histologic grade, sex. number of hyperthermia, total RT dose, hepatic arterial chemo-embolization. Results : Of 25 patients. there were observed tumor regression (partial response and minimal response) in 6 (24$ \% $), no response in 8 (32$ \% $), progression in 1 (4$ \% $) and not evaluable ones in 10 (40$ \% $) radiographically. The over all 1-year survival was 25$ \% $, with a mean survival of 33 weeks. The treatment modes of partial and minimal responsive patients (PR+MR)were as follows : Two were treated with RT+HT+HACE, 2 were done with RT+HT+HACE+IFN Remaining 2 were treated with RT+HT+CT+HACE+IFN. The significant factor affecting the survival rate were RT dose (more than 25 Gy), HACE, number of HT (above 6 times), responsiveness after treatment (PR + MR). Age, sex, histologic differentiation, chemotherapy, interferon therapy were not statistically significant factors affecting the survival rate. Conclusion : Although follow-up duration was short, the thermo-irr3diBtion with/without hepatic arterial chemo-embolization was well tolerated and there were no serious complicatons. In future, it is considered the longer follow up and prospective, well controlled trials should be followed to evaluate the efficacies of survival advantage.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2008

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of postoperative radiotherapy on loco-regional failure in patients with vulvar carcinoma and to determine the treatment strategy for inguinal lymph nodes. Materials and Methods: Sixty-six patients who received treatment for primary vulvar carcinoma at Seoul National University Hospital, from October 1979 through June 2004, were retrospectively analyzed. Sixteen patients were excluded from the analysis due to the following reasons: distant metastases in two patients; palliative intent for six patients; previous radiotherapy given to the pelvis in three patients; follow-up loss after surgery for four patient; insufficient medical records for one patient. Of 50 eligible patients, 35 were treated with surgery alone(S), ten were treated with surgery followed by radiotherapy(S+RT), and five were treated with radiotherapy alone. Results: The 5-year overall survival(OS) and disease-free survival(DFS) rates of all patients were 91% and 78%, respectively. Twelve patients(26%) experienced treatment failures and the sites of initial failure were as follows: a primary site in eight patients; regional lymph nodes in three patients; the lung in one patient. Although risk factors for failure were more common in the S+RT group than the S group of patients(p<0.05), the DFS rates were similar for the two groups(5-year DFS rates, 78% vs. 83%, p=0.66). The incidences of occult lymph node metastases was 10%. Ten of 31 patients with clinically negative lymph nodes did not received inguinal lymph node dissection, but no patient experienced regional failure. Conclusion: Postoperative radiotherapy may have a potential benefit for patients with risk factors for failure. The omission of inguinal dissection or elective radiotherapy to the inguinal lymph nodes may be considered in low-risk patients with clinically negative lymph nodes.

• 한국해양학회지
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.320-331
• /
• 1995

The closely spaced cores were analyzed to find detailed reconstruction of paleoenvironments and sealable changes along the Delaware Bay coast. Three areas, Kitts Hummock Beach mars, the St. Jones River marsh, and Bowers marsh near the St. Jones River's mouth, were chosen because these areas are compose of their own geomorphic characteristics and sea-level history. since significance of the stratigraphic correlations was to determine sedimentary fancies and paleoenvironments, multidisciplinary methods such as lithological description, grain-size analysis, organic/inorganic content, water content, mineral composition, botanical analysis, micropaleontological analysis, and /SUP 14/C datings were performed. Five major divisions of marsh environments were recognized in the stratigraphic sections: freshwater marsh, initialfreshwater marsh, slightly brackish marsh, brackish marsh, and salt marsh. Most of the lower part in the stratigraphic sections show freshwater marsh. On the top of this, either brackish marsh or tidal flat/tidal stream was recorded. The pro-Holocene sediments consist of sand, mud, and sandy mud, The pre-Holocene configuration played an important role for developing the Holocene Paleoenvironmental changes. The irregular configuration of the pre-Holocene sediments consist of sand, mud, and sandy mud. The pre-Holocene configuration played an important role for developing the Holocene Paleoenvironmental changes. The irregular configuration of the pre-Holocene surface within short distances permitted the concurrent development of variable environments such as freshwater marsh, brackish marsh or salt marsh at similar elevations. The freshwater marsh in this case was formed in the areas of isolation, so saline-water cannot encroach upon these areas. This complex development of paleoenvironments leads to a difficulty in stratigraphic correlation and interpretation of local relative sea-level changes. The deposition of subsurface sediments was affected by sediment supply, compaction, fluvial activity, biological competition, local tectonics and isostacy, climate and local relative sea-level changes. It was interpreted that the positions in the changes from freshwater environments to brackish environments or ice versa are the turning points of transgressions and regressions. Therefore, multiple transgressions and regressions were identified in the stratigraphic sections of the study area.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.69-78
• /
• 1998

Purpose : The risk of severe tuberculous disease such as meningitis or miliary tuberculosis increases as younger is the child at the time of infection. Therefore, the early diagnosis and prompt treatment is mandatory for infants with tuberculosis. This study was undertaken to describe the epidemiology, clinical and radiographic manifestations, and response to therapy in infants with tuberculous disease. Methods : Medical records of 29 infants with tuberculosis diagnosed at the Seoul National University Children's Hospital from July, 1985, to April, 1997, were reviewed, retrospectively. A case of tuberculosis was confirmed if M. tuberculosis was isolated from any body site or if there was histologic proof of tuberculosis. Otherwise, the diagnoses were individualized considering history of contact with contagious adult case, clinical manifestations, chest X-ray findings, result of a Mantoux test reaction with 5 tuberculin unit of PPD, and the response to therapy. Results : The mean age at diagnosis was $7.00{\pm}2.65$ months (range, 3 to 12 months). Twelve cases had isolated pulmonary diseases, and the rest had pulmonary disease and meningitis, 5 cases; pulmonary disease and cervical lymphadenitis, 3; isolated meningitis, 3; and miliary tuberculosis, 6. Source case was identified in 19 cases, 7 of which were detected with retrograde manner. Twenty seven of 29 were symptomatic at their initial visit. The presenting symptoms were mainly respiratory or neurologic, and respiratory difficulty was accompanied in 7 cases. Physical examination revealed wheezing in 7 cases and decreased breath sounds in 9. Hepatomegaly or hepatosplenomegaly were frequent. Chest radiographs showed lung parenchymal disease with hilar lymphadenopathy in 18 cases, and focal or generalized emphysematous change in 7 cases. Conclusion : Most of the infants with tuberculosis are symptomatic at diagnosis, and many of infants with intrathoracic tuberculosis presented with symptoms of bronchial obstruction. When tuberculosis is suspected in an infant, the adult source case should be vigorously investigated to aid in diagnosis and for the prevention of further transmission of tuberculous disease. Almost half of infant tuberculosis are preventable if prophylaxis were given when adult cases were diagnosed.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.37 no.11
• /
• pp.897-902
• /
• 2004

Background: Although great concerns have been raised regarding the suitability of the use of the radial artery as a bypass conduit after transradial catheterization, there has been no studies that examined this issue in Korea. The purpose of this study was to compare clinical and angiographic results of radial artery grafting between patients with and without previous transradial catheterization. Material and Method: From January 2000 to February 2004, a total of 93 patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting using the radial artery: 49 patients received preoperative transradial catheterization for coronary angiography (group I) and 44 patients did not (group II). These patients were retrospectively reviewed. Result: There was no significant difference in sex ratio, age, clinical diagnosis, risk factors, ejection fraction and early clinical outcomes between two groups. The graft patency rates in groups I and II were both 100% in the internal thoracic artery and in the radial artery, and 85% and 86% in the saphenous vein. respectively. The stenosis-free graft patency in groups I and II were 93% and 81% in the radial artery respectively but no statistical significance was shown. Conclusion: There was no significant difference in graft patency at postoperative coronary angiography between two groups. Radial artery graft after transradial catherization seems to be suitable for bypass conduit in short-term analysis.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.104-113
• /
• 1993

The experiment was conducted in 1992 to find out the approach to the development of prediction model of weed population in paddy fields. The weed seeds of 88% over were separated from the soil by using $K_2CO_3$ 50% solution with specific gravity 1.34. The weed seeds which were floated on the solution due to the difference of specific gravity between soil particles and the seeds were effectively withdrawn by using a vaccum pump attached with an aspirator. The seeds withdrawn together with solution were taken by filtering with a nylon net of $0.31{\times}0.16mm$ mesh. The pressing method was more efficient and practical for the viability test of weed seeds separated from the soil compared with the germination test and the TTC test. For the prediction of weed population by the number of weed seedlings emerged at the sampled soil, the sampling method of 0-10cm deep at 5-6 sites per field was applicable. At the prediction method by the number of seedlings emerged, the smaller the seed sizes, the lower the prediction coefficients of weed species. It was considered that the prediction method by the number of seedlings emerged was more practical than the prediction method by the number of seeds separated from sampled soil, in relation to similarities to weed population, time and expenses required for examining, technical difficulties and applicability of weed species.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.99-108
• /
• 2004

Purpose: The ability to noninvasively track the migration of neural progenitor cells would have significant clinical and research implications. We generated stably transfected F3 human neural progenitor cells with human sodium/iodide symporter (hNIS) for noninvasively tracking F3. In this study, the expression patterns of hNIS gene in F3-NIS were examined according to the cultured time and the epigenetic modulation. Materials and Methods: F3 human neural stem cells had been obtained from Dr. Seung U. Kim (Ajou University, Suwon, Korea). hNIS and hygromycin resistance gene were linked with IRES (Internal Ribosome Entry Site) under control of CMV promoter. This construct was transfected to F3 with Liposome. To investigate the restoration of hNIS gene expression in F3-NIS, cells were treated with demethylating agent (5-Azacytidine) and Histone deacetylase inhibitor (Trichostatin A: TSA). The expression of hNIS was measured by I-125 uptake assay and RT-PCR analysis. Results: The iodide uptake of the F3-NIS was higher 12.86 times than F3 cell line. According to the cell passage number, hNIS expression in F3-NIS gradually diminished. After treatment of 5-Azacytidine and TSA with serial doses (up to $20{\mu}M$, up to 62.5nM, respectively) for 24 hours, I-125 uptake and mRNA of hNIS in F3-NIS were increased. Conclusion: These results suggest that hNIS transfected F3 might undergo a change in its biological characters by cell passage. Therefore, the gene ex[ressopm of exogenous gene transferred human stem cell might be affected to the epigenetic modulation such as promoter methylation and Histone deacetylation and to the cell culture conditions.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.113-116
• /
• 2011

Purpose: Acetylcholine receptor antibodies cause acetylcholine receptor loss, which is responsible for failure of the neuromuscular junction in the acetylcholine receptor autoantibody. The disease characterized by muscle weakness and fatigue, myasthenia gravis(MG) occurs when the body inappropriately produces antibodies against acetylcholine receptors, and thus inhibits proper acetylcholine signal transmission. And this reason, the measurement of acetylcholine receptor antibodies can be of considerable value in disease diagnosis. Methods: From 2010. August to September, we tested orderd AchRAb 19 samples to get the results. 1. Pipette $5{\mu}{\ell}$ undiluted patient sera and kit control and add 125I AChR $50{\mu}{\ell}$ and incubate at R.T for 2 hours. 2. Pipette $50{\mu}{\ell}$ of anti-human IgG into each tube, and incubate at $2{\sim}8^{\circ}C$ for 2 hours. 3. Pipette $25{\mu}{\ell}$ precipitation enhancer into each tube and add 1mL washing solution into all tubes. 4. Centrifuge each tube for 20minutes at $2{\sim}8^{\circ}C$ at 1500g. 5. Aspirate or decant the supernatant. 6. Pipette 1 mL washing solution into all tubes and resuspend the pellet and repeat centrifugation. 7. Aspirate or decant the supernatant and count all tubes on a gamma counter. Results: Cut off value is 0.2 nmol/L and the results taken below 0.2 nmol/L are negative, the results above that identified as being positive values. We assayed the 19 patients samples and got 7 positive results. Of which, 6 patients were diagnosed as MG.(85.7%). Conclusions: Acetylcholine Receptor autoantibody test is intended for use by persons only for the quantitative determination of it in human serum. Even if measurement of the antibodies is not a routine test, it can be of considerable value in disease diagnosis.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.132-138
• /
• 2009

Proper education of hospice professionals is essential for ensuring quality of end-of-life care. In 2005, 'End-of-life Care Task Force Team' by Ministry of Health and Welfare established '60 hours of hospice education' as basic requirement for hospice professionals. This study is aimed to determine how many of the hospice professionals meet with the criteria and whether there are significant regional variations. Methods: We analyzed the data from 46 hospice organizations, which submitted the application to the 2008 designation program of Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Family Affairs. Data included details of the educational records of each hospice professionals. Results: Total 673 hospice professionals were included in the analysis. Overall, only 41.5% (279/673) met the requirement. Nurses (46.8%; 177/378) were more likely to meet the requirement than doctors (35.8%; 38/106), social workers (32.0%; 24/75) and clergies (35.1%; 40/114). Hospice professionals of the organizations in metropolitan area received more education than those in small cities or rural area (52.4% vs. 25.0% for doctors, 50.6% vs. 43.9% for nurses, 42.9% vs. 25.5% for social workers). By geographic areas, hospice professionals in southeast regions received less education than other part of Korea (28.1% vs. 43.0${\sim}$48.8%, respectively). Conclusion: Less than half of the Korean hospice professionals has received proper amount of hospice education, and significant regional variations existed. National programs to promote the education of hospice professionals and eliminate its disparities are greatly warranted. Implementation of the 60-hour currirulum for hospice professionals, based on the train-the-trainer model, would be regarded as one potential solution.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.291-298
• /
• 2009

This study was carried out to evaluate the consumer recognition with regard to the safety management for imported foods. In order to evaluate the effect of the prgram on consumer education, the program was practiced for 89 female college students in Seoul, Korea. The participants were given an instruction with materials on imported food safety, including the safety management of imported foods and their distribution. The results showed that the participants achieved a greater understanding of imported foods. In particular, they had firmly grasped the importance of expiration date in selecting imported foods. Before the instruction, 50.6% of total participants blamed the Korean government for the problems arising from imported foods; only 18.0% placed the blame on individuals or businesses importing from foreign countries. After the instruction, 39.3% had blamed the individuals or businesses importing from foreign countries. Furthermore, 36.0% had disapproved of the foods that are imported from China before the instruction, while 32.6% found objectionable the views on the illegally distributed foods; 29.2% criticized the junk foods that target children (after the instruction). In addition, the level of participant satisfaction via-a-vis imported foods safety supervision had improved from $2.76{\pm}1.59$(before the instruction) to $3.37{\pm}1.58$(after the instruction). The results indicate that consumers are concerned with the imported foods that contain adulterated or forbidden substances and the illegally distributed foods from foreign countries. Thus, consistent and informative educational programs on imported food safety could help consumers in choosing safer products, resulting in an improvement in the consumer confidence with respect to imported foods.