• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.175-181
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• 1989

Visual assessment of regional wall motion abnormality (RWMA) by gated blood pol scan (GBPS) serves as an useful parameter in the diagnosis, functional evaluation, and follow up in various clinical settings, but are still subject to some inherent limitations. On important problem may be the interobserver as well as intraobsever variation that may well be present due to the subjective nature of the interpretations. This study was carried out to determine the reliability and reproducibility of visual assessments made in GBPSs, and to observe the degree to which the results would be influenced by observer variation. Fifty two patients with coronary heart disease had resting GBPS and contrast ventriculography within 4 days appall. Contrast ventriculography-showed normal wall motion in 6 patients and the remaining 46 had RWMA in one or more segments. The anterior and left anterolateral views of all 52 GBPSs were analyzed by three independent observers, who selected from 5 scales, their level of confidence that there was RWMA in that segment. Reciever operating characteristic (ROC) curves for each analysis was plotted and the area under the curve $(\theta)$ was used as a parameter representing each observer's performance in his interpretations. The findings of contrast ventriculographies were used as the standard for RWMA. The apical and inferoapical segments showed the best correlation with contrast ventriculography ($\theta=0.90-0.94$, 0.81-0.94, respectively), and the inferior wall showed the poorest correlation $(\theta=0.70-0.74)$. The interpretations of the inferior, septal, apical, and posteroinferior, segments showed no difference between the observers, but there was significantly better performance in assessment by observer A compared to that by B or C for the anterolateral segments ($\theta=0.87$, 0.78, 0.76, respectively. p<0.01 for A vs B, p<0.05 for A vs C), as well as when all segments were considered altogether ($\theta=0.88$, 0.83, 0.82, respectively. both p<0.05). This was also true for the infero-apical segment between A and C ($\theta=0.09$, 0.81, p<0.05). The intraobserver variation, however, did not appear significant, with only the inferior segment for observer B showing any significant difference when observer A and B repeated the analysis 10 days latter. There was no difference in assessing dyskinesia, with all observers showing a high performance ($\theta=0.98$, 0.87, 0.97, respectively). The visual assessment of left ventricular ejection fraction by all three observers correlated well with the calculated value from a semiautomated method (Spearman's r = 0.91, 0.83, 0.83. p<0.01, p<0.05, p < 0.05). The assessment of LV and RV size also correlated well between the three observers (Kendall's w = 0.80, 0.51, p<0.01 for both left and right ventricles). The above findings suggest that RWMA visually assessed by GBPS correlates well with that done by contrast ventriculography. And although the observer's experience or skill may influence the results in certain segments, visual analysis of GBPS may serve as a reliable and reproducible means for evaluating ventricular function.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.299-306
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• 1992

Gastic emptying scan in diabetic patients is widely used to assess the degree of motility disturbance and the symtoms such as nausea, vomiting, bloating, abdominal pain and early gastric fullness which we can't find anatomic lesion by fiberoscopic or barium study In order to determine the relationship among diabetic gastropathy, neropathy, retinopathy and disease duration, gastric emptying scan using $^{99m}Tc-tin$ colloid labeled scramble egg in hamburger was performed in 10 healty male controls and 50 diabetic patients which were subdivided to no neuropathy, peripheral neuropathy and autonomic neuropathy groups according to the degree of diabetic neuropathy and no retinopathy, background retinopathy and proliferative retinopathy groups according to the degree of diabetic retinopathy. After medication of cisapride for 2 weeks, we observed the presence of improvement of gastric motility in diabetics. The results were as following: 1) In controls, gastric emptying time (GET1/2) was $75{\pm}13.6$ min and 2 hour gastric retension rate (GRR2) was $32{\pm}11.1%$. 2) In diabetics, GET/2 was prolonged more than 2 hours and GRR2 was $58{\pm}23.1%$. According to degree of neuropathy, GET1/2 was prolonged more than 2 hours in all three groups and GRR2 was $54{\pm}24.1%$ in no neuropathy group, $57{\pm}24.3%$ in peripheral neuropathy group and $69{\pm}24.6%$ in autonomic neuropathy group. According to degree of retinopathy, GET1/2 was $110{\pm}23.4$ min in no retinopathy group and prolonged more than 2 hours in other two groups and GRR2 was $45{\pm}21.6%$ in no retinopathy group, $71{\pm}19.7%$ in background retinopathy group and $73{\pm}21.5%$ in proliferative retinopathy group. 3) After cisapride medication for 2 weeks, GET1/2 and GRR2 were improved as $90{\pm}14.6$ min and $40{\pm}13.8%$ (initial GET1/2 and GRR2 were above 2 hours and $61{\pm}15.4%$). We can conclude from above findings that gastropathy in diabetic neuropathy suggesting main underlying factor in motility disorder The degree of retinopathy and disease duration were correlated with severity of gastropathy in diabetics. From the results of gastric emptying scan, we can conclude that cisapride was useful drug for improving diabetic gastropathy and gastric emptying scan was valuable for assessing severity of diabetic gastropathy as non-invasive method.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.41-51
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• 2004

PURPOSE: Tourette's disorder (TD), which is characterized by multiple waxing and waning motor tics and one or more vocal tics, is known to be associated with abnormalities in the dopaminergic system. To testify our hypothesis that risperidone would improve tic symptoms of TD patients through the change of the dopaminergic system, we measured the dopamine transporter (DAT) densities between drug-naive children with TD and normal children, and investigated the DAT density before and after treatment with risperidone in drug-naive children with TD, using iodine-123 labelled $N-(3-iodopropen-2-yl)-2{\beta}-carbomethoxy-3beta-(4-chlorophenyl)tropane$ ($[^{123}I]IPT$) single photon omission computed tomography (SPECT). MATERIALS and METHODS: $[^{123}I]IPT$ SPECT Imaging and Yale Global Tic Severity Scale-Korean version (YGTSS-K) for assessing the tic symptom severity were carried out before and after treatment with risperidone for 8 weeks in nine drug-naive children with TD. Eleven normal children also underwent SPECT imaging 2 hours after an intravenous administration of $[^{123}I]IPT$. RESULTS: Drug-naive children with TD had a significantly greater increase in the specific/nonspecific DAT binding ratio of both basal ganglia compared with the normal children. However, no significant difference in the specific/nonspecific DAT binding ratio of the basal ganglia before and after treatment with risperidone in children with TD was found, although tic symptoms were significantly improved with risperidone. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that DAT densities are directly associated with the pathophysiology of TD, however, that the effect of risperidone on tic symptoms in children with TD is not attributed to the change of dopaminergic system.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.44-50
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• 2007

Purpose: The role of plain, abdominal radiography in childhood constipation has not been fully evaluated. The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy and reliability of scoring systems assessing a fecal load on plain, abdominal radiographs in children with functional constipation. Methods: Plain, abdominal radiographs from 38 constipated children and 39 control children were examined by four independent inspectors, pediatric residents. Four inspectors independently scored the radiographs according to three different scoring systems Barr, Blethyn, and Leech. No clinical information about the patients was available to the inspectors. Each abdominal radiograph was evaluated on two separate occasions, one week apart. Kappa coefficients were calculated as indicators of inter-and intra-inspector variability, coefficients <0.20, 0.21~0.40, 0.40~0.60, 0.61~0.80 and 0.81~1.00 were considered to indicate poor, fair, moderate, good, and very good agreement, respectively. Results: The Leech score showed the highest reproducibility: the inter-inspector agreement was uniformly very good on two separate occasions (${\kappa}$ values of 0.88, 0.91, 0.92, 0.86 in the first time and 0.81, 0.88, 0.89, 0.84 in the second time). Agreement using the Barr score was good (${\kappa}$ values of 0.66, 0.67, 0.69, 0.66 in the first time and 0.68, 0.65, 0.71, 0.68 in the second time). However, agreement for the Blethyn score was the lowest of the three scoring systems. The Leech scoring system had the highest sensitivity and specificity compared to the Barr scoring system for the diagnosis of functional constipation by plain, abdominal radiographs. Conclusion: The Leech score appeared to be a more accurate and reliable method because of its high sensitivity and specificity for evaluating the fecal load on plain, abdominal radiographs in children with functional constipation. Therefore, the Leech scoring system was found to be the most useful for assessment for the degree of constipation on plain, abdominal radiographs in children.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.103-109
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• 2009

Soils originated from limestone, located at the southern part of Kangwon province and Jecheon, Danyang of Chungbuk province are mainly composed of fine texture, and have different properties from soils originated from granite and granite gneiss, especially for water movement. This study was conducted for classification of hydrologic soil group (HSG) of soils originated from limestone by measuring the infiltration rate of surface soils and percolation rate of sub soils. Soils used for the experiment were 6 soils in total : Gwarim, Mosan, Jangseong, Maji, Anmi and Pyongan series. Infiltration and percolation rate were measured by a disc tension infiltrometer and a Guelph permeameter, respectively. Particle size distribution and organic matter content of the soils were analyzed. HSG, which was made by USDA NRCS(National Resources Conservation Service) for hydrology, of Gwarim series with O horizon of accumulated organic matter was classified as type A which show the properties of low runoff potential, rapid infiltration and percolation rate. HSG of Mosan series, which has high gravel content and very rapid permeability, was classified as type B/D because of the impermaeble base rock layer under 50cm from surface. HSG of Jangseong series with shallow soil depth was classified as type C/D owing to the impermaeble base rock layer under 50cm from surface. HSG of Maji series was type B, and HSG of Anmi series used as paddy land was type D because of slow infiltration and percolation rate caused by the disturbance of surface soil by puddling. HSG of Pyeongan series having a sudden change of layer in soil texture was type D because of the slow percolation rate caused a the layer.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.295-302
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• 2002

Purpose : The Purpose of this study was to establish general guidelines for the treatment of patients with early glottic carcinoma (T1-2N0M0), by assessing the role of primary radiotherapy and by analyzing the tumor-related and treatment-related factors that have an influence on the treatment results. Materials and Methods : This retrospective study was composed of 80 patients who suffered from early glottic carcinoma and were treated by primary radiotherapy at Pusan National University Hospital, between August 1987 and December 1996. The distribution of patients according to T-stage was 66 for stage T1 and 14 for stage T2. All of the patients were treated with conventional radical radiotherapy using a 6MV photon beams, a total tumor dose of $60\~75.6\;Gy$ (median 68.4 Gy), administered in 5 weekly fractions of $1.8\~2.0\;Gy$. The overall radiation treatment time was from 40 to 87 days, median 51 days. All patients were followed up for at least 3 years. Univariate and multivariate analysis was done to identify the prognostic factors affecting the treatment results. Results : The five-years survival rate was $89.2\%$ for all patients, $90.2\%$ for T1 and $82.5\%$ for T2. The local control rate was $81.3\%$ for all patients, $83.3\%$ for T1 and $71.4\%$ for T2. However, when salvage operations were taken into account, the ultimate local control rate was $91.3\%,\;T1\;94.5\%,\;T2\;79.4\%$, reprosenting an increase of $8\~12\%$ in the local control rate. The voice preservation rate was $89.2\%,\;T1\;94.7\%,\;T2\;81.3\%$. Fifteen patients suffered a relapse after radiotherapy, among whom 12 patients underwent salvage surgery. We included T-stage, tumor location, total radiation dose, fraction size, field size and overall radiation treatment time as potential prognostic factors. T-stage and overall treatment time were found to be statistically significant in the univariate analysis, but in the multivariate analysis, only the over-all treatment time was found to be significant. Conclusion : The high cure and voice preservation rates obtained when using a procedure, comprising a combination of radical radiotherapy and salvage surgery, may make this the treatment of choice for patients with early glottic carcinoma. However, the prognostic factors affecting the treatment results must be kept in mind, and more accurate treatment planning and further optimization of the radiation dose are necessary.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.171-176
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• 2002

Background: Blood-foreign interaction cause activation of coagulation and inflammatory process that may lead to multiorgan dysfunction and determine the surgical outcomes. Of the methods for assessing the biocompatibility, the platelet adhesion study is considered as the most valuable evaluation step in blood-foreign interaction. As the most studies have used in-vitro or ex-vivo conditions, we have developed a technique of quantification for platelet adhesion on the blood contact surface by using in-vivo injection of radioactive platelets. Material and Method: A coupled bypass circuit was designed to connect the proximal and descending thoracic aorta in 6 piglets(20∼25 Kg). One side of the circuit tube was consisted of a heparin coated PVC tube(10mm in ID, n=6, Experimental group), and the other, a non-heparin coated PVC tube(10mm in ID, n=6, Control group). After cannulation, the blood was circulated through the circuit for 2 hours. Platelet concentrate was prepared from homologous pig blood 24 hours before the experiment. The platelet concentrate was incubated with Tc-99m-HMPAO for 30 min and then centrifuged for 10 min. The supernatant was discarded and the radio-labeling efficacy was measured. The radio-labeled platelet concentrate was mixed with the autologous plasma to make the volume 5 ml, and the mixture was injected intravenously into the experimental animal. After 2 hour circulation, 5 pieces of the specimen(10mm in length each) were obtained from each PVC tube. The radioisotopes were counted with a gamma counter(Cobra ll, Packard, USA), and the ratio of radioisotope count was compared between the control and experimental group. Result: The radioisotope count number was 537.3221.1 Ci/min in the control group and 311.1 184.5 Ci/min in the experimental group(p=0.0104). The ratio between the groups was 1 to 0.58 (p=0.004). Conclusion: In vivo quantification using technetium-99m-HMPAO labeled platelets is simple and reproducible in evaluating platelet adhesion on a foreign surface. We suggest this technique to be a useful tool for blood compatibility test.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.65-76
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• 1996

In order to evaluate the significance of thyrotropin-binding inhibiting immunoglobulin (TBII) in the patients with autoimmune thyroid diseases, the authors investigated 402 cases of Graves' disease and 230 cases of Hashimoto's thyroiditis comparing 30 cases of normal healthy adult at Kyung Pook University Hospital from February 1993 to August 1994. The TBII was tested by radioimmunoassay and assesed on the dynamic change with the disease course, thyroid functional parameters, and other thyroid autoantibodies : antithyroglobulin antibody (ATAb) and antimicrosomal antibody (AMAb) including thyroglobulin. The serum level of TBII was $40.82{\pm}21.651(mean{\pm}SD)%$ in hyperthyroid Graves' disease and $8.89{\pm}14.522%$ in Hashimoto's thyroiditis and both were significant different from normal control of which was $3.21{\pm}2.571%$. The frequency of abnormally increased TBII level was 92.2% in hyperthyroid Graves' disease, 46.7% in euthyroid Graves' disease or remission state of hyperthyroidism, and 23.9% in Hashimoto's thyroiditis. The serum levels of increased TBII in Graves' disease were positively correlated with RAIU, serum T3, T4, and FT4, but negatively correlated with serum TSH(each P<0.001). The TBII in Graves' disease had significant positive correlation with serum thyroglobulin and AMAb, but no significant correlation with ATAb. In the Hashimoto's thyroiditis, the serum levels of TBII were positively correlated with RAIU, serum T3, TSH and AMAb, but not significantly correlated with serum T4, FT4, thyroglobulin and ATAb. Therefore serum level of TBII seemed to be a useful mean of assessing the degree of hyperthyroidism in Graves' disease and correlated well with thyroidal stimulation. The serum level of TBII in Hashimoto's thyroiditis is meaningful for the degree of both functional abnormality reflecting either hyperfunction or hypofunction and the immune logic abnormality.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.89-93
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• 2014

Purpose: We investigated the quantitative evaluation of PET/CT images for evaluation after treatment in the treatment of liver metastasis of cancer with $^{90}YSIR$-Sphere. Materials and Methods: Confirmed the correlation between the measured counts was expressed by setting a region of interest from the image and a measure of the dose calibrator to see a correlation diagram of an image in a PET of $^{90}Y$. A portion uptake coefficients between PET images were acquired for 20 minutes LIST mode in 15 patients treated for liver metastasis of cancer using $^{90}Y$ SIR-Spheres high, intermediate portion, a lower portion, three measuring the coefficient of the region of interest is divided into parts, we studied the conditions for proper image acquisition. Results: Coefficient of sites that set the region of interest of the PET image and the measured counts of $^{90}Yappears$ that there is a correlation diagram statistically, ($R^2=0.956$), correlation diagram from the PET image of $^{90}Yis$, PET coefficient the coefficients of all regions of interest were increased in proportion to the image acquisition time, partial ROI coefficients of the PET image is higher about 10 minutes on average, about 14 minutes on average, the central portion is lower part 19 minute average in, confirmed the equilibrium of the standard deviation. Conclusion: Using the isotope $^{90}Y$, it is suitable to obtain a PET image, to obtain the time of proper image, the evaluation of PET/CT images, using the $^{90}Y$ SIR-Spheres and that in the treatment of liver metastases of cancer, it is useful for assessing treatment.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.49-58
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• 2001

This study aims to compare and analyze the environment of natural parks and Ulleung island using the plant taxa classified by five degrees based on their distributional ranges. The scores differentially given based on the importance of each degree; taxa belonging to the fifth degree are given to 20 scores each, fourth 10, third 5, second 3.3, and first 2.5, respectively. The total assessed scores were ranked as Mt. Halla, Seorak, Jiri, Deokyu, Is. Ulleung, Mt. Sobaek, Odae, Palgong, Chink, Taebaek, Songni, Juwang, Gaya, Duryun, Gaeryong, Bukhan, Naebyeon, Worak, Naejang, Cheongryang, Naeyeon, Myeongii, Jokye, Mudeung, Wolchul, Geumo, Juheul, Biseul, Hwangmae, Jangan, Seonun, Moak, Seonam, Chilgap, and Gibaek, in order, respectively. It is suggested that the natural environments assessing more than 1,000 of total scores such as Mt. Halla and Mt. Deokyu are regarded as the most excellent ones, and those between 700 to 1,000 of total scores such as Is. Ulleung and Mt. Odae are regarded as relatively excellent ones. Natural parks scored between 500 to 700 such as Mt. Palgong and Mt. Gaya are regarded as good ones and parks scored between 300 to 500 such as Mt. Duryun and Mt. Mudeung are regarded as normal ones. The area assessed less than 300 of total scores such as Mt. Wolchul and Mt. Gibaek are regarded as the most inferior ones. The total scores of the national parks are generally higher than those of the provincial and county parks. In addition, Ulleung island has a total of 882.9 scores. Therefore, according to the IUCN the Ulleung island should be included in the criterion of the preservative model of natural ecosystem, suggested by Ministry of Environment. At the same time, Ulleung island should be included to the superior model of natural scenery resources by its uniqueness of topography, geography and natural environments. Ulleung island is assessed as having relatively excellent natural environments as compared with other national parks, suggesting that the island should be designated as a new national park.