• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.23 no.3 s.31
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• pp.296-308
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• 1990

The relationship between copper and mercury contents in the scalp hair and chronic schizophrenia was investigated. The samples of scalp hair were collected from 80 male chronic schizophrenic patients at the age from 20 to 29, who were hospitalized in the National Psychiatric Hospital in Seoul. As the control group, 69 males were collected from general population. Hair samples were taken from the napes and the Minnesota Multiple Personality Inventory (MMPI) was performed also. The copper and mercury contents were determined by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Significantly higher T-score of MMPI was seen in patients group for Hypochondriasis Scale (Hs), Depression Scale (D), Psychopathic Deviate Scale (Pd), Paranoia Scale (Pa), Psychasthenia Scale (Pt), Schizophrenia Scale (Sc) subscales than control group, and the frequency distribution by T-score was also significantly different between the patient and the control group for above scales. The content of copper in the hair of patient group was significantly lower than the control group. In the case of mercury, the mean value of patient group was significantly higher than control group. Between the value of copper and mercury, statistically significant negative correlation (r=-0.25) was found. When grouped by the T-score of MMPI, there was no difference of copper contents between T-score subgroup at all MMPI scale. But the mercury contents showed significant difference between T-score subgroup at Pt, Sc scale. When compared between the group of above 70 T-score and the group of less than 70, the mercury contents of Pa, Pt, Sc scale of above 70 T-score group were significantly higher than the group of less than 70. In other scales, the mercury content of the above 70 group were higher than the group of less than 70 except Mf scale, although there were no statistscally significances. In D, Pa, Sc scales, as the T-score of MMPI increased, the contents of mercury also increased. When divided into the patient group and the control group, the copper contents of the patient groups were significantly lower than the control group at each T-score scale in most MMPI scales. In the case of mercury, the value of patient group were significantly higher than the control group in the less than 44 scale of D, in the $60{\sim}69$ scale of Pd, in the $45{\sim}59$ scale of Mf, in the $60{\sim}69$ scale of Ma, in the less than 44 of Si. These results suggest that the effects of the deficiency of copper or high intake of mecury on schizophrenia and personality may be of possible value. Thus further studies are necessary to determine whether schizophrenia and personality formation would be attributed to copper deficiency or mercury intake.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.330-338
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• 2006

Background: The main factors associated with weight loss in patients with COPD are not well known. Since chronic inflammation and oxidative stress play a major pathogenic role in COPD, these factors may be responsible for the patients' weight loss. Therefore, this study measured the body mass index (BMI) in COPD patients and evaluated the variables, such as systemic inflammatory marker, oxidative stress and lung function, that correlate with the BMI. Method: The stable COPD patients (M:F=49:4, mean age=$68.25{\pm}6.32$) were divided into the lower (<18.5), normal (18.5-25) and higher (>25) BMI group. The severity of the airway obstruction was evaluated by measuring the $FEV_1$. The serum IL-6 and TNF-$\alpha$ levels were measured to determine the degree of systemic inflammation, and the carbonyl protein and 8-iso-prostaglandin $F_2{\alpha}$ level was measured to determine the level of oxidative stress. Each value in the COPD patients and normal control was compared with the BMI. Results: 1) Serum 8-iso-prostaglandin $F_2{\alpha}$ in COPD patients was significantly higher ($456.08{\pm}574.12pg/ml$) than that in normal control ($264.74{\pm}143.15pg/ml$) (p<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in the serum IL-6, TNF-$\alpha$, carbonyl protein between the COPD patients and normal controls. 2). In the COPD patients, the $FEV_1$ of the lower BMI group was significantly lower ($0.93{\pm}0.25L$) than that of the normal BMI ($1.34{\pm}0.52L$) and higher BMI groups ($1.72{\pm}0.41L$) (p<0.05). The lower $FEV_1$ was significantly associated with a lower BMI in COPD patients (p=0.002, r=0.42). The BMI of very severe COPD patients was significantly lower ($19.8{\pm}2.57$) than that of the patients with moderate COPD ($22.6{\pm}3.14$) (p<0.05). 3). There were no significant differences in the serum IL-6, TNF-$\alpha$, carbonyl protein and 8-iso-prostaglandin $F_2{\alpha}$ according to the BMI in the COPD patients. Conclusion: The severity of the airway obstruction, not the systemic inflammatory markers and oxidative stress, might be associated with the BMI in stable COPD patients. Further study will be needed to determine the factors associated with the decrease in the BMI of COPD patients.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.77-82
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• 2010

Purpose: As PET/CT come into wide use, it caused increasing of expose in clinical use. Therefore, Korea Food and Drug Administration issued Patient DRL (Diagnostic Reference Level) in CT scan. In this study, to build the basis of patient dose reduction, we analyzed effective dose in transmission scan with CT scan. Materials and Methods: From February, 2010 to March 180 patients (age: $55{\pm}16$, weight: $61.0{\pm}10.4$ kg) who examined $^{18}F$-FDG PET/CT in Asan Medical Center. Biograph Truepoint 40 (SIEMENS, GERMANY), Biograph Sensation 16 (SIEMENS, GERMANY) and Discovery STe8 (GE healthcare, USA) were used in this study. Per each male and female average of 30 patients doses were analyzed by one. Automatic exposure control system for controlling the dose can affect the largest by a patient's body weight less than 50 kg, 50-60 kg less, 60 kg more than the average of the three groups were divided doses. We compared that measured value of CT-expo v1.7 and ImPACT v1.0. The relationship between body weight and the effective dose were analyzed. Results: When using CT-Expo V1.7, effective dose with BIO40, BIO16 and DSTe8 respectably were $6.46{\pm}1.18$ mSv, $9.36{\pm}1.96 $mSv and $9.36{\pm}1.96$ mSv for 30 male patients respectably $6.29{\pm}0.97$ mSv, $10.02{\pm}2.42$ mSv and $9.05{\pm}2.27$ mSv for 30 female patients respectably. When using ImPACT v1.0, effective dose with BIO40, BIO16 and DSTe8 respectably were $6.54{\pm}1.21$ mSv, $8.36{\pm}1.69$ mSv and $9.74{\pm}2.55$Sv for 30 male patients respectably $5.87{\pm}1.09$ mSv, $8.43{\pm}1.89$ mSv and $9.19{\pm}2.29$ mSv for female patients respectably. When divided three groups which were under 50 kg, 50~60 kg and over 60 kg respectably were 6.27 mSv, 7.67 mSv and 9.33 mSv respectably using CT-Expo V1.7, 5.62 mSv, 7.22 mSv and 8.91 mSv respectably using ImPACT v1.0. Weight and the effective dose coefficient analysis showed a very strong positive correlation(r=743, r=0.693). Conclusion: Using such a dose evaluation programs, easier to predict and evaluate the effective dose possible without performing phantom study and such dose evaluation programs could be used to collect basic data for CT dose management.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.9
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• pp.651-658
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• 2003

Since the first implanted in September 1997, the use of On-X prosthetic heart valve has been increasing around in the world. This study was designed to assess the feasibility, safety, and the postoperative hemodynamics with this new valve in clinical setting. Material and Method: The current study was carried out on 52 patients undergoing aortic valve replacement with this prosthesis between April 1999 to August 2002 at Chonnam National University Hospital to evaluate the surgical results. 52％ of the patients were male and the average age at implant was 50$\pm$13 years. The study followed the guidelines of the AATS/STS. Preoperatively, 32(61.5％) patients were in NYHA functional class III or IV and 2 patients had previous aortic valve surgery. Concomitant cardiac surgery was performed in 71.1％. The implanted valve sizes were 19 mm in 13 patients, 21 mm in 26, 23 mm in 10 and 25 mm in 3, respectively. Mean follow-up was 16.6$\pm$10.5 months (1∼39 months). Echocardiographic assessment was performed pre- and immediate postoperatively, as well as 3, 6, 12 months after surgery, evaluating pressure loss and regression of left ventricular hypertrophy. Result: Mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 191$\pm$94.7 minutes with an aortic cross-clamp time of 142$\pm$51.7 minutes. There was no early and late mortality, Freedom from adverse events at 1 year in the study were as follows: thromboembolism, 95.6$\pm$6％; bleeding events, 90.2$\pm$4％; paravalvular leakage 92.3$\pm$4％; and overall valve-related morbidity at 1 year was 76.6$\pm$3％. There were no cases of valve thrombosis, prosthetic valve endocarditis and structural or non-structural failure. Left ventricular function at 12 months after surgery (EF=62.7$\pm$9.8％) revealed a statistically significant improvement compared to preoperative investigation (EF=55.8$\pm$15.9％, p=0.006). Left ventricular mass index was 247.3$\pm$122.3 g/$m^2$ on preoperative echocardiographic study, but regressed to 155.5$\pm$58.2 g/$m^2$ at postoperative 1 year (p=0.002). Over the follow-up period a further decrease of peak transvalvular gradients was observed in all patients: 62.5$\pm$38.0 mmHg on preoperative assessment, 18.2$\pm$6.8 mmHg at immediate postoperative period (p < 0.0001), 7.6$\pm$5.09 mmHg (p<0.0001) at 6 month, 18.0$\pm$10.8 mmHg (p<0.0001) at 1 year. Conclusion: The On-X prosthetic heart valve performs satisfactorily in the first 1 year period. Clinical outcome by examining NYHA functional classification revealed especially good results. Effective regression of left ventricular hypertrophy and statistically significant decrease of transvalvular gradient were observed over the first year, but longer-term follow-up of this patient group is needed to establish the expected rates for late valve-related events as well as the long-term clinical efficacy of this valve.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.490-496
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• 1998

Purpose: We evaluated brain perfusion SPECT findings of MELAS syndrome and mitochondrial myopathy in correlation with MR imaging in search of specific imaging features. Materials and Methods: Subjects were five patients (four females and one male; age range, 1 to 25 year) who presented with repeated stroke-like episodes, seizures or developmental delay or asymptomatic but had elevated lactic acid in CSF and serum. Conventional non-contrast MR imaging and Tc-99m-ethyl cysteinate dimer (ECD) brain perfusion SPECT were Performed and imaging features were analyzed. Results: MRI demonstrated increased T2 signal intensities in the affected areas of gray and white matters mainly in the parietal (4/5) and occipital lobes (4/5) and in the basal ganglia (1/5), which were not restricted to a specific vascular territory. SPECT demonstrated decreased perfusion in the corresponding regions of MRI lesions. In addition, there were perfusion defects in parietal (1 patient), temporal (2), and frontal (1) lobes and basal ganglia (1) and thalami (2). In a patient with mitochondrial myopathy who had normal MRI, decreased perfusion was noted in left parietal area and bilateral thalami. Conclusion: Tc-99m ECD SPECT imaging in patients with MELAS syndrome and mitochondrial myopathy showed hypoperfusion of parieto-occipital cortex, basal ganglia, thalamus and temporal cortex, which were not restricted to a specific vascular territory. There were no specific imaging features on SPECT. The significance of abnormal perfusion on SPECT without corresponding MR abnormalities needs to be evaluated further in larger number of patients.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.181-188
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• 2009

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of postoperative radiotherapy in a case of perihilar cholagiocarcinoma by analyzing overall survival rate, patterns of failure, prognostic factors for overall survival, and toxicity. Materials and Methods: Between January 1998 and March 2008, 38 patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma underwent a surgical resection and adjuvant radiotherapy. The median patient age was 59 years (range, 28 to 72 years), which included 23 men and 15 women. The extent of surgery was complete resection in 9 patients, microscopically positive margins in 25 patients, and a subtotal resection in 4 patients. The tumor bed and regional lymphatics initially received 45 Gy or 50 Gy, but was subsequently boosted to a total dose of 59.4 Gy or 60 Gy in incompletely resected patients. The median radiotherapy dose was 59.4 Gy. Concurrent chemotherapy was administered in 30 patients. The median follow-up period was 14 months (range, 6 to 45 months). Results: The 3-year overall survival and 3-year progression free survival rates were 30% and 8%, respectively. The median survival time was 28 months. A multivariate analysis showed that differentiation was the only significant factor for overall survival. The 3-year overall survival was 34% in R0 patients and 20% in R1 patients. No statistically significant differences in survival were found between the 2 groups (p=0.3067). The first site of failure was local in 18 patients (47%). No patient experienced grade 3 or higher acute toxicity and duodenal bleeding developed in 2 patients. Conclusion: Our results suggest that adjuvant RT might be a significant factor in patients with a positive margin following a radical resection. However, there was still a high locoregional recurrence rate following surgery and postoperative radiotherapy. Further study is necessary to enhance the effect of the adjuvant radiotherapy.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.222-228
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• 2008

Purpose: The objectives of this study were to compare the left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) from gated cardiac blood pool scan (GCBP) for analysis auto-drawing region of interest mode (AROI) and manual-drawing region of interest mode (MROI), respectively. To evaluation the relationships between values produced by both ROI modes. Materials and Methods: Gated cardiac blood pool scan using in vivo method Tc-99m Red Blood Cell were performed for 33 patients (mean age: $53.2{\pm}13.2\;y$) with objective of chemotherapy using single head gamma camera (ADAC Laboratories, Milpitas, CA). Left ventricular ejection fraction was automatically and manually measured, respectively. Results: There was significant difference statistically between AROI and MROI ($LVEF^{AROI}$: $71.4{\pm}12.4%$ vs. $LVEF^{MROI}$: $65.8{\pm}5.9%$, p=0.003). Intra-observer agreements in AROI was higher than MROI ($\gamma^{AROI}=0.964$, Cronbach's $\alpha^{AROI}=0.986$ vs. $\gamma^{MROI}=0.793$, Cronbach's $\alpha^{MROI}=0.911$), either. Additionally, there was no significant difference statistically at best septal view (${\Delta}LVEF^{BSV}=0.7{\pm}2.3%$, p=0.233), however statistically significant difference was found at badly separated septal view (${\Delta}LVEF=10.9{\pm}11.4%$, p=0.001). Moreover, Intra-observer agreements in best septal view was higher than badly separated septal view ($\gamma^{BSV}=0.939$, Cronbach's $\alpha^{BSV}=0.978$; $\gamma=0.948$, Cronbach's $\alpha=0.981$ at AROI, $\gamma^{BSV}=0.836$, Cronbach's $\alpha^{BSV}=0.936$; $\gamma=0.748$, Cronbach's $\alpha=0.888$ at MROI). Conclusion: When best septal view was acquired, LVEF by AROI and MROI indicated not different. Comparing Intra-observer agreements with AROI and MROI, the AROI tended to show higher. Therefore, it is considered that the AROI than MROI is valuable in reproducibility and objective when ROI analysis by acquire left ventricular of best septal view.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.426-436
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• 2001

Background : Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) is one of the major contributors to morbidity and mortality among the adult population. Cigarette smoking(CS) is undoubtedly the single most important factor in the pathogenesis of COPD. However, its mechanism is unclear. The current hypothesis regarding the pathogenesis of COPD postulates that an imbalance between proteases and antiproteases leads to the destructive changes in the lung parenchyma. This study had two aims. First, to evaluate the effect of CS exposure on histologic changes of the lung parenchyme, and second, to evaluate the effect of CS exposure on the expression of the gelatinolytic enzymes in BAL fluid cells in guinea pigs. Methods : Two groups of five guinea pigs were exposed to the whole smoke of 20 commercial cigarettes per day, 5 hours/day, 5 days/week, for 6weeks, and 12 weeks, respectively, using a smoking apparatus. Five age-matched guinea pigs exposed to room air were used as controls. Five or more sections were microscopically extamined(${\times}400$) and the number of cellular infiltration of the alveolar wall was measured in order to evaluate the effect of CS exposure on the histologic changes of lung parenchyme. The statistical significance was analyzed by a linear regression method. To evaluate the expression of the gelatinolytic enzymes in intraalveolar cells, BAL fluid was obtained and the intraalveolar cells were separated by centrifugation (500 g for 10 min at $4^{\circ}C$). Two sets of culture plates were loaded with $1{\times}10^6$ intraalveolar cells. One plate, contained O.1mM EDTA, a inhibitor of matrix metalloproteases(MMPs), and the other plate had no EDTA. Both plates were incubated for 48 hours at $37^{\circ}C$. After incubation, gelatinolytic protease expression in the supernatants was analyzed by gelatin zymography. Results : At the end of CS exposure, the level of blood carboxy Hb had increased significantly(4.1g/dl in control group, 24g/dl immediately after CS exposure, 18g/dl 30 min after CS exposure, 15g/dl 1 hour after CS exposure). Alveolar inflammatory cells were identified in the CS exposed guinea pigs. The number of alveolar cellular cells observed in a microscopic field ($400{\times}$) was $121.4{\pm}7.2$, $158.0{\pm}20.2$, $196.8{\pm}32.8$, in the control, the 6 weeks, and the 12 weeks group, respectively. The increased extent of inflammatory cellular infiltration of the lung parenchema showed a statistically significant linear relationship with the duration of CS exposure(p=0.001, $r^2=0.675$). Several types of gelatinolytic enzymes in the intraalveolar cells of CS exposed guinea pigs were expressed, of which some were inhibited by EDT A. However, the gelatinolytic enzymes were not expressed in the control groups. Conclusion : CS exposure increases inflammatory cellular infiltration of the alveolar wall and the expression of gelatinolytic proteases in guinea pigs. EDTA inhibits some of the gelatinolytic proteases. These findings suggest a possibility that CS exposure may increase MMP expression in the lungs of guinea pigs.