• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.18-25
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• 2018

Purpose: To investigate the various imaging factors associated with aggravation of lumbar disc herniation (LDH) and develop a scoring system for prediction of LDH aggravation. Materials and Methods: From 2015 to 2017, we retrospectively reviewed the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of 60 patients (30 patients with aggravated LDH and 30 patients without any altered LDH). Imaging factors for MRI evaluation included the level of LDH, disc degeneration, back muscle atrophy, facet joint degeneration, ligamentum flavum thickness and interspinous ligament degeneration. Flexion-extension difference was measured with simple radiography. The scoring system was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results: The aggravated group manifested a higher grade of disc degeneration, back muscle atrophy and facet degeneration than the control group. The ligamentum flavum thickness in the aggravated group was thicker than in the group with unaltered LDH. The summation score was defined as the sum of the grade of disc degeneration, back muscle atrophy and facet joint degeneration. The area under the ROC curve showing the threshold value of the summation score for prediction of aggravation of LDH was 0.832 and the threshold value corresponded to 6.5. Conclusion: Disc degeneration, facet degeneration, back muscle atrophy and ligamentum flavum thickness are important factors in predicting aggravation of LDH and may facilitate the determination of treatment strategy in patients with LDH. The summation score is available as supplemental data.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.425-437
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• 2001

This study is based on the uses meta-analysis methodology to examine the statistical consistency and importance of random variation among results of epidemiologic studies between air pollutants exposure and childhood asthma. Studies for this meta-analysis were conducted by reviewing previous results and by asking researcher active in this field for recommendations. Overall, 10 cases of air pollutants exposures and childhood asthma were reviewed. A variety of statistical methods for meta-analysis have been used to assess the combined effects, to identify heterogeneity, and to provide a single summary risk estimate based on a set of simiar epidemiologic studies. In this study, classification of exposure metircs on air environmental epidemiologic studies are reported for (1) aggravation of childhood asthma by a 50 ppb increase SO$_2$(6 individual studies); (2) aggravation of childhood asthma by a 50 ppb increase NO$_2$(5 individual studies); (3) aggravation of childhood asthma by a 50 ppb increase $O_3$(7 individual studies); (4) aggravation of childhood asthma by a 10$\mu\textrm{g}$/m$^3$increase PM$_{10}$ (4 individual studies); (5) aggravation of childhood asthma by a 1 ppm increase CO (2 individual studies); and (6) comparison of results between a Korean study results and this meta-analytic study. Results of this study indicated that an inverse-variance weighted pooling of the hospital admission risk at a 1ppm increment of CO levels was 1.12% (95% CI : 1.01 ~ 1.24). The hospital admission risk was estimated to increase 5% (95% CI : 1.02~1.08), 6%(95% CI : 1.04~1.09), and 5% (95% CI : 1.02~1.09) with each 50ppb increase of SO$_2$, NO$_2$, and $O_3$, respectively. In addition, our results lead to a small but significant elevation in risk of 2% (RR = 1.02, 95% CI = 1.01~1.04) with each 10$\mu\textrm{g}$/m$^3$increase of PM$_{10}$ among 4 individual studies. We found a small elevation in risk of childhood asthma, and pooled results of 10 epidemiologic studies of childhood asthma using increase a cut-off-point levels of air pollutants showed a few pieces of evidence. The results of this meta-analysis suggested that air pollution associated with an increased incidence of childhood asthma. According to this study, relationship between exposure to air pollutants and childhood asthma in Korea seem to be high than results of this meta-analysis.sis.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.113-120
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• 2008

Objective : The purpose of this study was to explore the correlation between efficacy and various factors of the acne patients. Method : We reviewed 30 acne patients who visited Allergy/Derma-cosmetic Clinic at Kyung Hee Neo Medical Center from June, 2006 to December, 2007 and were treated with herbal medicine and acupuncture for 4 weeks. We investigated premenstrual aggravation of acne, facial burning sensation, constipation, Heart Rate Variability(HRV) results and regional distribution of acne. And we evaluated inflammatory acnes according to the Korean Acne Grading System(KAGS). Results & Conclusions : 1. The average age of total patients was 23.0 years old. The most frequent age group was 21-25 years old. Patients evaluated as KAGS Grade 2 were most common. 2. In total patients, inflammatory acne were reduced significantly after 4 weeks of treatment. 3. The result of analysis on premenstrual aggravation of acne, facial burning sensation and constipation, there weren't any difference of treatment results on statistical meaning. 4. The results show that there were significant correlations between the Low Frequency at HRV and the rate of acne reduction. (Pearson correlation = -0.565) 5. If the distribution of acne did not involve the T-zone of the face, chest, or back of the body, inflammatory acne were significantly decreased after 4 weeks of treatment.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.51-60
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• 1993

In order to study on the cause of visibility aggravation, we have selected the days of low-visibility observed in Seoul with haziness that was below 6km from 12 to 15 LST. According to the examinations, the number of low-visibility days satisfying the criteria is 30 days in 1989, 39 days in 1990, and 35 days in 1991, respectively. The annual number of low visibility days appears to increase mainly due to an increase in emission of air pollutants and in anthropogenic water vapor in the biosphere. The relationship between visibility and air pollutants(TSP, $NO_2, SO_2, O_3$) of selected days is also studied. Air pollution concentrations of selected days are much higher than those of other days. It is observed that the cause of visibility aggravation in Seoul is mainly smog and air pollutants. In particular, the visibility reduction and high $SO_2$ concentrations at Seoul in winter are similar phenomena that occurring with London smog, while the visibility reduction and high $O_3$ concentrations at Seoul in summer are also similar to the type of Los Angeles smog.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.340-343
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• 2013

Intracerebral schwannomas are rare and there have been none reported in Korea. We present the case of a 25-year-old man with newly developed right-side weakness and recent seizure aggravation. His seizures started approximately 9 years prior to admission. At that time, a 1 cm diameter intra-axial enhancing mass at the left precentral gyrus was found on magnetic resonance image (MRI). After 9 years of observation and treatment with antiepileptic medication, an MRI taken due to symptom aggravation revealed peri-tumoral cyst formation with tumor enlargement. The tumor was surgically removed. Subsequently, right-side weakness diminished and there was good seizure control. Pathologic diagnosis was schwannoma. Schwannoma is a very rare tumor and there are no pathognomonic findings on radiologic images; thus, it is challenging to make a correct diagnosis. However, considering the natural course and excellent prognosis after surgical treatment of this kind of intra-axial mass with benign features, early surgery for diagnosis and proper treatment is highly recommended.

• Perinatology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.175-179
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• 2018

Pneumatocele (PC) is a thin-walled cyst of the lung that can occur at all ages and with various etiologies. However, there is no fully accepted consensus for the management of PC in a neonatal intensive care unit. Although the management of PC is generally expectant, it is difficult to decide how long conservative management should be maintained, especially under Korea's medical care environment and the parents' worry and anxiety. We report a male neonate, born at $27^{+5}weeks$ gestation, weighing 1,000 g, who had a post infectious PC caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus sepsis. We treated conservatively for about 100 days (roughly 14 weeks), but unfortunately after a few days of chest retraction, acute exacerbation occurred, video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) was deemed necessary and performed. The purpose of this publication is to describe the clinical course, aggravation and relief after VATS management with a review of the literature.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.1669-1680
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• 2019

Seismic safety is considered to be one of the key design objectives of AP1000 nuclear power plant (NPP) in strong earthquakes. Dynamic behavior, damage development and aggravation effect are studied in this study for the three main components of AP1000 NPP, namely reinforced concrete shield building (RCSB), steel vessel containment (SVC) and reinforced concrete auxiliary building (RCAB). Characteristics including nonlinear concrete tension and compressive constitutions with plastic damage are employed to establish the numerical model, which is further validated by existing studies. The author investigates three earthquakes and eight input levels with the maximum magnitude of 2.4 g and the results show that the concrete material of both RCSB and RCAB have suffered serious damage in intense earthquakes. Considering RCAB in the whole NPP, significant damage aggravation effect can be detected, which is mainly concentrated at the upper intersection between RCSB and RCAB. SVC and reinforcing bar demonstrate excellent seismic performance with no obvious damage.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.71-85
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• 2007

This study investigates differences by type of caregiving using data on three groups of caregivers, 177 from home stay situations, 189 from day care centers, and 138 from nursing homes. First, the result shows that characteristics of both caregivers and elders differ by type of caregiving. Second, caregivers in the home stay situation have the highest caregiving burden of the three groups. Third, from examination of the related variables, the caregiving burden of home stay caregivers is affected by family income, caregivers' health, type of job, and whether or not the elder has symptoms of dementia. Also, the study reveals that emotional services for elders reduce the aggravation of family relations and economic burden, but that instrumental services highly increase economic burden. It reveals that caregivers of elders in day care centers, especially those who are in bad health, are more likely to experience feelings of constriction, aggravation of family relations and economic burden. On the other hand, caregivers who receive more emotional services have better experiences in family relations, including relations with the elder. In case of the elders of nursing homes, if the main caregiver is a daughter-in-law, aggravation of family relations is higher than if the main caregiver is a spouse. Finally, the caregiver's burden is affected by their own health and income, and by whether the elder has symptoms of dementia or stroke.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.30 no.3 s.109
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• pp.227-233
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• 2006

As North-east Chinese parts including Shanghai port grow rapidly, competition among the Far-East parts to be a hub port is getting higher, somebody has even raised a crisis of Busan port. However there are same constraints an the North-east parts such as weather aggravation and long distance from main truck routes. When we consider the competitiveness of port, weather aggravation should be considered as one of the significant factors. But previous studies have rarely examined these kinds of external factors of port operation Therefore, this study analyze constraints an the North-east Chinese parts through a survey of same national flag shipping companies and agencies of foreign shipping companies. The result shows that the mast significant constraint in the North-east ports is weather aggravation which causes problems for regular schedules of shipping, operation cast and customer service qualities etc.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.75-81
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• 2012

Objectives : According to previous reports, heating-conduction acupuncture treatment is very effective for sprain and strain of ligament. But there was no report about pain aggravation by heating-conduction acupuncture and relief from bee venom injection. In this article, we report two cases of pain aggravation by heating-conduction acupuncture treatment and relief from bee venom injection. Methods : We used heating-conduction acupuncture treatment on possible sprain of sacroiliac ligament diagnosed by physical examination. Outcomes were measured by Visual Analogue Scale(VAS), Range of Motion(ROM) and Belt test, Goldthwait test. Results : The patient has shown an aggravation on pain and ROM. And after we use subcutaneous bee venom injection, pain has relieved and ROM improved. Belt test, Goldthwait test also changed from positive to negative. Conclusions : In this report, we assured the effect of Bee venom injection. Further well-designed, controlled studies and more cases are needed to differentiate the indication of heating-conduction acupuncture and bee venom injection.