• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.1-15
• /
• 2020

This study was conducted to determine whether invasive muskrats settle in the natural ecosystem of Korea. The study also aimed to provide information on the selection of target areas, basic behavioral characteristics, and habitat use-related data, all of which are essential for effective management strategy establishment and site management. To this end, a trend in international muskrat management was identified to examine the management direction according to the settlement stage. We also secured the location of 72 domestic farmers and classified five regions in Gyeonggi-do, Chungcheongnam-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and Sejong Special Self-governing City into regions with high potential for natural leakage to raise the need for a quick survey. We determined that muskrats successfully settled in the natural ecosystem of Korea, based on the fact that we consistently identified a muskrat habitat at the same point for three years, from 2016 to 2018, the age of the captured population was estimated to be 1.2 years, and there had been no additional make-up factors near the habitat since 2012. The muskrats that settled in Korea showed a small home range of 0.0027 ㎢ (MCP 95%) and were estimated to show regular mobility before Spring and Autumn. Also, the areas where the muskrat habitat was observed had a high level of habitat environment disturbance and their ecological and food intake characteristics reflected that disturbance. Muskrat traces were high in hydrophyte vegetation, which can be used as a hideout in open waters and where the growth of both floating leaved plants and floating plants are prevalent. Since international invasive muskrats have already settled in the domestic ecosystem and there is concern about their proliferation in the future, the government must consider a preemptive response and scientific management.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.112-120
• /
• 2004

Purpose : Methicillin Resistant-Coagulase Negative Staphylococcus(MR-CNS) infection has become an increasingly important cause of morbidity in NICU infants. We investigated the c linical characteristics of MR-CNS sepsis. Methods : This study included 40 neonates with MR-CNS sepsis who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University from January 1998 to July 2002. MR-CNS sepsis was defined as MR-CNS recovery from blood with clinical symptoms and signs of infection. Retrospective analyses of the medical records of patients with MR-CNS sepsis were performed. The analyses included demographic findings, clinical features, hospital courses, risk factors for infection including invasive procedures and mortality. Results : From 1998 to 2002, there were 40 cases of MR-CNS sepsis, comprising 17.7% of late onset infections in NICU of Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital. The male/female ratio was 1.5 : 1. The mean gestational age of infected babies was $32.4{\pm}4.3$ weeks at birth. And the first positive MR-CNS culture was done in the day $10.6{\pm}9.3$ after birth. Clinical symptoms such as fever, dyspnea, cyanosis, grunting, bradycardia, vomiting and diarrhea were frequent in MR-CNS. Mechanical ventilation was applied in 12 cases and catheter was inserted in 11 cases. The mortality(12.5%) directly attributable to MR-CNS sepsis was similar to other late onset infections. Conclusion : MR-CNS is a pathogen responsible for most late onset and nosocomial infections. And it will be life-threatening in high-risk neonate. Awareness of increasing infections due to MR-CNS in NICU is important not only for infection control but also placing a great limit in use of antibiotics and invasive procedures, especially in premature infants.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.67-74
• /
• 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 radiological science and technology
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.293-299
• /
• 2005

In the present investigation, we analyzed the data of 1,318 patients (2,636 images) who underwent mammographic examinations and obtained the distribution of the patient age and compressed breast thickness. We measured also average glandular doses (AGD) as function of compressed breast thickness. In order to obtain the values of AGD, we measured half value layer (HVL) and tube output (mR/mAs) for each kVp and target/filter combination. Entrance surface air kerma (ESAK) was calculated from the tube output as measured for each voltage used under clinical conditions and from the tube loading (mAs). AGD per exposure were calculated by multiplying the ESAK values by the conversion factors tabulated by Dance. We obtained in this study the following conclusions. The mean value of compressed breast thickness for cranio-caudal (CC) view was 35.8mm and that for medio-lateral oblique (MLO) view was 43.3 mm. The mean value of AGD for CC view was 1.55 mGy and that for MLO view was 1.70 mGy. The AGD for MLO view was 0.15 mGy (10%) higher than that for CC view because the thickness for MLO view was on average 4.8 mm higher than that for CC view. The values of AGD increased with increasing compressed brest thickness. The increased AGD value was on average 0.34 mGy per 10 mm in the thickness ranges $10{\sim}80\;mm$, therefore differences between the AGD values of each thickness were relative large. Thus, it is considered to need limited doses for mammography with the upper end of exposure range at several different compressed brest thickness.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.15-20
• /
• 2003

Myasthenia gravis is a rare autoimmune disease involving acetylcholine receptor and its autoantibody on neuromuscular junction. The methods of treatment are medical treatment and surgical thymectomy. In this paper we analyzed the result of thymectomy and the factors affecting the postoperative symptom improvement. Material and method : This study obtained medical records of 37 patients who received the thymectomy for myasthenia gravis from March 1986 to December 1998. Result Out of 37 cases, 21 cases(57%) showed improvement, of which 8 cases (50%) in the group of thymoma(n=16), and 13 cases (62%) in the group of thymic hyperplasia(n=21) showed the improvement of symptoms. Postoperative complications were respiratory insufficiency due to aggravation of symptoms after operation, including tracheal intubation for ventilator support in 9 cases, pneumonia in 3 cases, pneumothorax in 2 cases and left vocal cord palsy in 1 case. There was one postoperative mortality. The relation between postoperative improvement and sex(P=0.3222), age(P=0.7642), thymic pathologic variants,(P=0.4335) and classification of thymoma(P=0.20) showed no statistically significant correlation. However, the lower grade of preoperative symptoms can predict the lower grade of postoperative symptoms significantly(P=0.0032). Follow up study to 36 postoperative survivors was performed in October 2002 based on the out-patient records and call with patients. Out of 36 cases, 33 cases(91.7%) could be investigated and 3 cases could not. Mean follow up period was 83.2 months. Out of 33 cases, 25 cases(75.8%) showed symptomatic improvement, of which 8 cases(53.3%) in the group of thymoma(n=15) and 17 cases(94.4%) in the group of thymic hyperplasia(n=18) showed the improvement of$\boxUl$ symptoms. Conclusion : In myasthenia gravis, thymectomy showed the good improvement, and more important factor affecting the improvement of symptoms was the grdae of preoperative symptoms. Also midterm and long term follow up results showed good symptomatic improvement.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.30 no.12
• /
• pp.1197-1204
• /
• 1997

Between April 1981 and June 1996, 65 patients had aortic root replacement at our institution. Disease entities were pure aortic annuloectasia in 31 patients(47.7%), Stanford type A aortic dissection with annuloectasia in 8(43.1%), atherosclerotic aneurysm with aortic regurgitation in 4(6.2%), and paravalvular leakage after aortic valve replacement in 2(3.1 %). 34 patients(52.3%) had the clinical stigmata of the Marfan syndrome. The operative procedures were Bentall operation in 61 patients(93.8%); 3 of conventional procedure and 58 of Cabrol's modification, aortic valve-sparing operation in 2(3.1 %), and root replacement with homograft in 2(3.1%). Hospital deaths occurred in 3 patients(4.8%) because of uncontrolled bleeding(1) and bypass weaning failure due to low cardiac output(2), and all had emergency operation with Cabrol's procedure. Postoperative complications developed in 19(29.2%) patients and most of them were transient. Surviving 62 patients have been followed up to cumulative total 315.0 patient-years(mean 60.2 $\pm$42.4 months). Late deaths occurred in 7 patients(11.3%), aneurysmal changes of remaining aorta were detected in 12 patients(19.4%). Actuarial survival rate at 10 years was 72.0 $\pm$ 9.7%, and the subsequent aortic operation-free rate at 10 years was 68.0$\pm$ 8.9% In a multivariate analysis, Marfan syndrome, emergency operation, preoperative dissection, combined arch replacement, and total circulatory arrest emerged as significant risk factors for hospital death or subsequent aortic operation. Over 60 years of age was the only risk factor for late death. Our 16 years'cummulative experience shows that aortic root replacement, mainly by means of Cabrol's procedure, can be applied successfully to variety of aortic root disease. However, long-term follow up will be needed to determine the late result of aortic valve-saving operation and root replacement with homograft. When dissection is present or the distal native aorta is diseased in'Marfan patients, close follow-up is necessary because of the subsequent aneurysmal change of remaining aorta.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.30 no.12
• /
• pp.1225-1231
• /
• 1997

Spontaneous pneumothorax is the sudden collapse of a lung usually caused by air leakage from a subvisceral pleural blob. Responses to closed thoracostomy,thoracentesls and simple observation are usually prompt and effective. But in some cases, these are unsucceful and open thoracotomy is indicated. A clinical evaluation was performed on 242 cases(236 patients) of open thoracotomy in spontaneous pneumoth rax who were admitted and treated at department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. Masan Samsung General Hospital during the past 9 years from January 1988 to December 1996. The results were as follows 1. The sex ratio was male predominance(M:F=11.7:1) 2. The most common age group were 2nd, 3rd decades(2nd=29.3%, 3rd=30.2%). 3. The most common chief complaints were chest pain and dyspnea(chest pain=41.7%. dryspnea= 36.8). 4. The etiologic factors of spontaneous pneumothorax were primary spontaneous pneumothorax(86.4%), tuberculosis(9.1%), COPD(3.7%) and pleuritis(0.8%). 5. The site of spontaneous pneumothorax was 52.1% in right, 45.4% in left and 2.5% in both. 6. The common indications of open thoracotomy were recurrence(44.2%), persistent air leakage(31.8%) and inadequate expansion(15.7%). 7. The operative procedures were bullectomy or mechanical pleurodesis through posterolateral thoracotomy or median sternotomy. 8. The most frequent location of bulla or blob were apical segme t oi RUL(35.1%) and apicoposterior segment of LUL(41.3 %). 9. The number of bulla or blob were mainly 1 to 5(88%), and there were no significant differences among operation indications. 10. The size of bulla or bleb were mainly below 5cm(81%)and small bulla($\leq$1cm) were predominant in recurrence group but large bulla(>5cm)were predominant in persistent air leakage and inadequate expansion group. 11. The pleural adhesion was seen in 54.5%.(Recurrence group 64.1%,Persistent air leakage group 51.9%,Inadequate expansion group 47.4%).

• 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.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.43 no.1
• /
• pp.39-46
• /
• 2010

Background: Preoperative chemotherapy has been adopted in our hospital as a standard treatment for non-small cell lung cancer patients with N2 disease. However, there have been cases of pathologic N2 disease that have been detected after curative-intent surgical resection. We retrospectively studied the outcomes of initial surgical treatment without neoadjuvant therapy in patients with unexpected N2 non-small cell lung cancer. Material and Method: Between January 1995 and June 2007, 225 patients were diagnosed with pathologic N2 disease after they underwent initial pulmonary resection without neoadjuvant therapy. Among them, 170 patients were preoperatively diagnosed with lymph node stage N0 or N1. We retrospectively reviewed their medical record and analyzed the outcomes. Result: The overall 5-year survival rate was 35.4%. The prognostic factors that were significantly associated with survival were no adjuvant therapy, histologic cell types other than adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma, a pathologic T stage more than T1, old age (${\geq}$70 years) and no mediastinoscopic biopsy. During the follow-up, 79 patients (46.5%) experienced tumor recurrence, including loco-regional recurrence in 20 patients (25.3%) and distant metastasis in 56 (70.9%). The 5-year recurrence-free survival rate was 33.7%. Conclusion: Based on our findings, the survival was good for patients with unexpected N2 non-small cell lung cancer and who underwent initial pulmonary resection without neoadjuvant therapy. A prospective comparative analysis is needed to obtain more conclusive and persuasive results.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
• /
• v.40 no.4
• /
• pp.205-210
• /
• 2006

Purpose: FDG uptake on positron omission tomography (PET) has been considered a prognostic indicator in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of this study was to assess the clinical significance of maximum value of SUV (maxSUV) in recurrence prediction in patients with surgically resected NSCLC. Materials & methods: NSCLC patients (n=42, F:M =14:28, age $62.3{\pm}12.3$ y) who underwent curative resection after FDG-PET were enrolled. Twenty-nine patients had pathologic stage 1, and 13 had pathologic stage II. Thirty-one patients were additionally treated with adjuvant oral chemotherapy. MaxSUVs of primary tumors were analyzed for correlation with tumor recurrence and compared with pathologic or clinical prognostic indicators. The median follow-up duration was 16 mo (range, 3-26 mo). Results: Ten (23.8%) of the 42 patients experienced recurrence during a median follow-up of 7.5 mo (range, 3-13 mo). Univariate analysis revealed that disease-free survival (DFS) was significantly correlated with maxSUV (<7 vs. $\geq7$, p=0.006), tumor size (<3 cm vs. $\geq3$ cm, p=0.024), and tumor tell differentiation (well/moderate vs. poor, p=0.044). However, multivariate Cox proportional analysis identified maxSUV as the single determinant for DFS (p=0.014). Patients with a maxSUV of $\geq7$(n=10) had a significantly lower 1-year DFS rate (50.0%) than those with a maxSUV of <7 (n=32, 87.5%). Conclusion: MaxSUV is a significant independent predictor for recurrence in surgically resected NSCLC. FDG uptake can be added to other well-known factors in prognosis prediction of NSCLC.