• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.175-184
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• 2023

Objective: To evaluate and compare a series of volume changes in the nasal cavity (NC), nasopharynx, oropharynx, and maxillary sinuses (MS) in growing Class III patients after either rapid palatal expansion (RPE) or alternate rapid maxillary expansion and constriction (Alt-RAMEC) followed by facemask (FM) therapy, by using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods: Forty growing Class III patients were retrospectively selected and divided into two matched groups: RPE/FM (14 females, 6 males; mean age, 9.66 ± 1.23 years) and Alt-RAMEC/FM groups (14 females, 6 males; mean age, 10.28 ± 1.45 years). The anteroposterior and vertical displacements of Point A, the volumes of the NC, nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, and MS were measured at different time points: pretreatment (T1), postexpansion (T2), and postprotraction (T3). Results: Both groups demonstrated significant maxilla advancement (by 1.3 mm) during expansion, with a statistically significant intergroup difference during protraction (RPE/FM, 1.1 mm; Alt-RAMEC/FM, 2.4 mm; p < 0.05) and throughout the treatment (RPE/FM, 2.4 mm; Alt-RAMEC/FM, 3.7 mm; p < 0.05). NC and nasopharyngeal airway volumes increased significantly in both groups after expansion, protraction, and treatment. The oropharyngeal and MS volumes increased in both groups after protraction and post-treatment. However, no volumetric differences were observed between the two groups. Conclusions: There was no significant difference in airway volume changes, including NC, nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal airway, and MS, between RPE/FM and Alt-RAMEC/FM groups at different time points. Although there was significantly more forward movement after protraction in the Alt-RAMEC/FM group, the difference was deemed too small to be clinically relevant.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.803-810
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• 2022

Objective: To investigate the clinical application of differential subsampling with Cartesian ordering (DISCO) contrast-enhanced (CE) magnetic resonance angiography for anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap transplantation, using operative findings as a reference. Materials and Methods: Thirty patients (21 males and nine females; mean age ± standard deviation, 45.5 ± 15.6 years) who were scheduled to undergo reconstruction with ALT flaps between June 2020 and June 2021 were included in the prospective study. Before ALT flap transplantation, patients were scanned using CE-DISCO imaging. All acquired DISCO images of the 60 lower limbs (both sides from each patient) were analyzed using maximum intensity projection and volume rendering methods. Two experienced radiologists were employed to examine the patterns of the lateral circumflex femoral artery (LCFA), its branches, and perforators and their skin termini, which were compared with the operative findings. Results: Using CE-DISCO, the patterns of the LCFA and its branches were clearly identified in all patients. Four different origins of the LCFA were found among the 60 blood vessels: type I (44/60, 73.3%), type II (6/60, 10.0%), type III (8/60, 13.3%), and type IV (2/60, 3.3%). Owing to a lack of perforators entering the skin, two patients did not undergo ALT flap transplantation. For the remaining 28 patients, the ALT flaps in 26 patients were successfully operated without flap reselection during the operation, while the remaining two patients underwent other surgical procedures due to the thin diameter of the perforator or injury of the perforator during the operation. The success rate of flap transplantation was 92.8% (26/28). All transplanted flaps exhibited good blood supply and achieved primary healing without infection or delayed healing. Conclusion: CE-DISCO imaging can be an effective method for preoperative perforator imaging before ALT flap transplantation.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.242-248
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• 2006

Purpose: Neonatal hepatitis is the major cause of neonatal cholestasis and may be divided into infectious, metabolic, genetic, and idiopathic neonatal hepatitis. Non-familial, non-metabolic, and non-A, B, C viral neonatal hepatitis is known to have made satisfactory progress, but little is known about its chronic clinical features. Methods: Clinical and histological assessments were carried out in 34 cases with chronic neonatal hepatitis [elevated serum alanine aminotrasferase (ALT) level for more than 6 months] except for A, B, C viral hepatitis, metabolic, or genetic neonatal hepatitis, who were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics, Pusan National University Hospital, from January 1998 to January 2004. Results: Males were more common (70%). Jaundice (100%) and hepatomegaly (44%) were frequent manifestations. Peak serum ALT levels were most commonly below 300 IU/L in 41.2% of patients and peak serum direct bilirubin levels were most commonly between 1.0~5.0 mg/dL in 50% of patients. Ten cases (34%) of 29 patients had positive serum cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgM or urine CMV polymerase chain reaction. Serum ALT level was normalized within 1 year in 11 (37.9%) of 29 cases, and within 2 years in 9 (69.2%) of 13 cases. Serum ALT level was elevated persistently over 2 years in four (30.7%) of 13 cases. Histologic findings such as portal or periportal activity, lobular necrosis, portal or periportal fibrosis were more severe in patients with persistent ALT elevation over 2 years than in those showing normalization of ALT within 2 years (p>0.05). Conclusion: When the elevation of ALT level sustains over 1 year in non-familiar, non-metabolic, non-A, B, C viral neonatal hepatitis, an assessment of the severity of liver injury and a careful monitoring about chronic liver disease may be required.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.500-504
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• 2003

Purpose : To assess the clinical features and laboratory findings in Kawasaki patients with nonresponsibility to the acute antiinflammatory treatment, and identify the risk factors for the nonresponsibility, we reviewed the medical records of patients with Kawasaki disease. Methods : A retrospective study of 177 patients with Kawasaki disease at Wonkwang University Medical Center from June, 1997 to June, 2002, was performed. High dose intravenous immune globulin(IVIG) and aspirin were all used for the initial acute antiinflammatory treatment. Two groups, group A(n=19) of initial nonresponders and group B(n=158) of initial responders were compared clinically and laboratorically. Results : Nineteen(10.7%) of 177 patients hardly responded to the initial antiinflammatory treatment. Patients with failure to respond to initial treatment(group A) did not differ from the control group in terms of age, sex, WBC count, coronary abnormalities, and evidence of pyuria. Compared with initial responders(group B), the patients who were retreated(group A) had a significantly shorter feveradmission interval(P=0.041), and a higher level of both AST/ALT(P=0.011) and ASO titier(P=0.000). Conclusion : Among Kawasaki disease patients studied, retreatment group with initial nonresponders had significantly shorter fever-admission interval, and higher both AST/ALT level and ASO titer, than the initial response group.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.94-103
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• 2016

This study was conducted to investigate the association of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) with all-cause mortality among populations. The data used were from a Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES) based on health examinations and questionnaires. The subjects consisted of 10,110 persons aged 40 and over. Hazard ratio was analyzed using Cox's proportional hazard model. The hazard ratio of AST (${\geq}50.0\;IU/L$) was 2.198 (95% CI: 1.217-3.971) after being adjusted for age, sex, education, regular exercise, smoking, drinking, WHR, and TG. In conclusion, AST was an independent significant risk factor of all-cause mortality, and ALT showed a tendency to increase. Overall, these findings indicate that AST and ALT may be useful tools for predicting mortality.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.386-393
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• 2006

The effects of Curcuma extract Solomon's seal (Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum), and maltodextrose on acute hepatotoxicity in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were investigated. Acute hepatotoxicity was induced by 0.5 mL of carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$) per kg of SD rats, which was injected to them before administration of Curcuma extract or both Solomon's seal (Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum) and maltodextrose mixtures. SD rats dose with Curcuma extract of 4 mg or 40 mg per kg per day significantly (p<0.05) reduced the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALKP) after 7 days compared to the controls dose with water. Treatments of Curcuma extract with 4 mg per kg per day in SD rats significantly (p<0.05) reduced aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALKP) to 78.0%, 82.6%, and 76.3% after 7 days compared to the controls, respectively. The levels of AST and ALT in SD rats dose with both Solomon's seal (Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum) and maltodextrose mixtures or either alone had no significantly different (p>0.05) compared to the controls. Treatments of Curcuma extract combined with Solomon's seal (Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum) and maltodextrose mixtures was 'liked more' to the sensory scores for odor and flayer compared to the controls. It was considered that Curcuma extract combined with both Solomon's seal (Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum) and maltodextrose mixtures could be used to functional food for enhancement of health and consumer acceptance.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.192-200
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• 2022

The association between heavy metals in the blood and obesity has been examined in many studies. However, inconsistencies have been observed in the results from these studies. The present study was conducted using data from 119,181 participants of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) for 11 years in 2005 and between 2008 and 2017. The subjects with missing heavy metal blood tests, health interview data, and health examination data were excluded from the study. The study population comprised 1,844 individuals (972 men, 872 women) who were eligible for inclusion. It was found that obesity and abdominal obesity were associated with an increase in both blood mercury (P<0.001) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (P<0.001). After adjusting the confounding factors, those with concurrent high levels of ALT and the highest tertile of mercury showed an increased risk of obesity (odds ratio 4.46, 95%, confidence interval 2.23~8.90, P<0.001) as well as abdominal obesity (odds ratio 5.36, 95%, confidence interval 2.57~11.17, P<0.001). The interrelationship of mercury and ALT with the parameters of body mass index (P for interaction=0.009) and waist circumference (P for interaction=0.012), respectively, have been observed to be significant, suggesting that the reciprocal relationship could contribute to obesity and abdominal obesity.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.40-48
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• 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate safety of postpartum herbal medicine by assessing the effect of taking herbal medicine of postpartum period on liver function. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on 167 mothers who underwent liver function tests (LFT) within 3 months before and after childbirth among mothers who gave birth at ○○ Hospital between January 1, 2016 and May 31, 2018. Mothers with abnormally elevated LFT during pregnancy were excluded. Among 167 women, 6 women are herbal-medicine-group took herbal medicine for 5-6 weeks during postpartum period, and 161 patients are general -group who did not take herbal medicine. LFT Variation of Subjects before and after childbirth were compared between the two groups. And subjects who had elevated liver levels above the normal range after delivery were classified separately, the characteristics and causes of changes in liver levels were analyzed, and the presence or absence of drug-induced liver damage was confirmed. Results: Among a total of 167 subjects, there were 5 women in the herbal-medicine-group and 150 women in the general-group who had changes in liver values within the normal range after childbirth. Aspartate transaminase (AST) change before and after childbirth in the herbal-medicine-group was 3.40±1.82, and AST change in the general-group was 2.92±8.59, showing no significant difference between the two groups (p=0.901). Increase of Alanine transaminase (ALT) before and after childbirth in the herbal-medicine-group was 5.60±3.65, and ALT change in the general-group was 8.01±11.81, showing no significant difference between the two groups (p=0.651). There were 12 subjects who had elevated AST, ALT above the normal range after delivery, including 1 in the herbal-medicine-group and 11 in the normal mothers group. Valuation of 1 Subject of the herbal-medicine-group before and after delivery was 17 IU/L of AST and 52 IU/L of ALT. Because results of AST, ALT is under the standard to diagnose to liver damage, she was observed without any treatment. However the cause of AST, ALT elevation was not found in the chart, she was receiving treatment for diabetes and hyperlipidemia. The general-group had an average increase of AST 35.64±22.67 IU/L and ALT 53.00±26.80 IU/L. As a result of analyzing the cause, there were direct causes such as autoimmune hepatitis, chronic hepatitis B, and acute pyelonephritis. Abnormal elevations in liver levels were also found in mothers with hypothyroidism, diabetes, and fever of unknown cause, although they were not direct causes. Conclusions: To investigate the safety of taking herbal medicines, we assess the variation in AST and ALT within 3 months before and after delivery in the herbal-medicine-group and general-group. There was no significant difference between two groups.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.169-177
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• 1999

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of interferon alpha therapy with or without prednisolone in children with chronic hepatitis B. Methods: Twenty-eight children (22 boys, 6 girls, mean age 130 months) had seropositive results for HBsAg, HBeAg and HBV DNA; 11 had chronic persistent hepatitis and 17 had chronic active hepatitis. The patients were divided into two groups depending upon their inflammatory activity on liver biopsy, pretreatment serum ALT levels and HBV DNA levels. Fourteen children (group 1: chronic active hepatitis, ALT ${\geq}$ 100 IU/L and HBV DNA ${\leq}$ 100 pg/$300\;{\mu}L$) received interferon alpha 2a 5 $MU/m^2$ of body surface three times weekly for 6 months. Fourteen children (group 2: chronic persistent hepatitis or chronic active hepatitis with ALT < 100 IU/L or HBV DNA > 100 pg/$300\;{\mu}L$) received prednisolone in decreasing daily doses of 60 mg/$m^2$, 40 mg/$m^2$, and 20 mg/$m^2$, each for 2 weeks, followed after 2 weeks by interferon alpha 2a on the same schedule. At the end of therapy, 3 end points were analyzed: HBeAg seroconversion, serum ALT normalization rate and clearance of serum HBV DNA. Results: At the end of treatment, HBe antigen-to antibody seroconversion was higher but not more significant in group 1 than group 2 (71.4% vs. 50.0%). Only one patient in group 2 who lost HBeAg, also cleared HBsAg. ALT normalization was similar in both groups (64.3% in group 1 vs. 55.6% in group 2). Clearance of serum HBV DNA was observed in 78.6% of patients in group 1 and 64.3% in group 2, but no significant differences. Complete response was similarly achieved in both groups (57.1% in group 1 vs. 50.0% in group 2). Interferon alpha therapy with prednisolone priming was well tolerated and all children finished therapy. Conclusion: The combined therapy with prednisolone followed by interferon alpha may be safe and effective in inducing a serological and biochemical remission of the disease in approximately 50% of children with chronic hepatitis B and with a high level of viral replication and less active disease. However, a controlled study should be performed to confirm these results.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.156-185
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• 2012

In order to investigate vertical plant distribution on Osaek valley of Mt. Seorak by temperature change, vascular plants of fourteen areas with 100-meter-high difference were surveyed from the Osaekgyo(345m alt.) to the Daecheongbong(1708m alt.). A total of 449 taxa belonging to 94 families, 279 genera, 397 species, 5 subspecies, 45 varieties, and 2 forma were vegetated on survey areas. Around 500 m high did species diversity of vascular plants decrease rapidly. The Detrended correspondence analysis(DCA) divided distribution of vascular plants into five groups; areas below 500m alt., 500~900m alt., 900~1400m alt., 1,400~1,600m alt., and areas above 1,600m alt.. These results showed that vegetation of vascular plants on investigated areas has high correlation with climate elements of temperature. Vascular plants should be crowded within their own optimal ranges of vegetation. Climate change would result in shift of these distribution ranges, and thus vegetation shift will be happened accordingly.