• Toxicological Research
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.285-292
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• 2013

Ginseng is a well-known traditional medicine used in Asian countries for several thousand years, and it is currently applied to medicine, cosmetics, and nutritional supplements due to its many healing and energygiving properties. It is well demonstrated that ginsenosides, the main ingredient of ginseng, produce a variety of pharmacological and therapeutic effects on central nerve system (CNS) disorders, cardiovascular disease, endocrine secretions, aging, and immune function. Korean red ginseng extract is a dietary supplement containing ginsenoside Rb1 and ginsenoside Rg1 extracted from Panax ginseng. While the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of the extract have been well established, its toxicological properties remain obscure. Thus, four-week oral toxicity studies in rats were conducted to investigate whether Korean red ginseng extract could have a potential toxicity to humans. The test article was administered once daily by oral gavage to four groups of male and female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats at dose levels of 0, 500, 1,000, and 2,000 mg/kg/day for four weeks. Neither deaths nor clinical symptoms were observed in any group during the experiment. Furthermore, no abnormalities in body weight, food consumption, ophthalmology, urinalysis, hematology, serum biochemistry, gross findings, organ weights, or histopathology were revealed related to the administration of the test article in either sex of any dosed group. Therefore, a target organ was not determined in this study, and the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of Korean red ginseng extract was established to be 2,000 mg/kg/day.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.69-75
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• 2000

Objectives : This study was conducted to evaluate the risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease. Methods : By the questionnaire, the informations of education level, monthly income, alcohol consumption and smoking habit were obtained. Height, weight and blood Pressure(BP) were measured by a trained nurse. The level of lasting blood sugar(FBS), total cholesterol, hight-density lipoprotein(HDL) cholesterol and triglyceride were tested by enzyne method about a group of 2888 males and 1696 females ages ever 20 who had never taken the medication for hypertension. Statistical analysis, ANOVA, stepwise multiple regression, correlation analysis were peformed using SAS package program. Results : There were significant differences among age groups in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body mass index(BMI), FBS, triglyceride and cholesterol except HDL-cholesterol. The risk factors associated with systolic and diastolic BP significantly in male were BMI, age, alcohol intake, but in female BMI, age. Smoking habit had a significant negative correlation with BP in both sex. In the group of mild hypertension ($\geq140\;mmHg\;or\geq90\;mmHg$ defined by JNC-VI) and hypertension ($\geq160\;mmHg\;or\;\geq95\;mmHg$ defined by WHO), the percent of diabetes $(FBS\geq140\;mg/dl)$, hypercholesterolemia $(\geq240mg/dl)$, and hypertriglyceridemia $(\geq200\;mg/dl)$ were significantly higher compared with normal group in male and female. BMI, and alcohol consumption had a positive correlation with FBS, total cholesterol and triglyceride. Smoking had a positive correlation with cholesterol and triglyceride but negative correlation with HDL-cholesterol in male. The educational attainment had a negative correlation with BMI, FBS, total cholesterol and triglyceride in female. Conclusions : This study suggested that drinking, smoking, and BMI and lower educational level were associated with hypertension, hyperlipidemia and diabetes, but further evaluation was needed by prospective intervention study.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제42권4호
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• pp.243-250
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• 2009

Objectives : The purposes of this study is to estimate the cost of cancer care after its diagnosis and to identify factors that can influence the cost of cancer care. Methods : The study subjects were patients with an initial diagnosis one of four selected tumors and had their first two-years of cancer care at a national cancer center. The data were obtained from medical records and patient surveys. We classified cancer care costs into medical and nonmedical costs, and each cost was analyzed for burden type, medical service, and cancer stage according to cancer types. Factors affecting cancer care costs for the initial phase included demographic variables, socioeconomic status and clinical variables. Results : Cancer care costs for the initial year following diagnosis were higher than the costs for the following successive year after diagnosis. Lung cancer (25,648,000 won) had higher costs than the other three cancer types. Of the total costs, patent burden was more than 50% and medical costs accounted for more than 60%. Inpatient costs accounted for more than 60% of the medical costs for stomach and liver cancer in the initial phase. Care for latestage cancer was more expensive than care for early-stage cancer. Nonmedical costs were estimated to be between 4,500,000 to 6,000,000 won with expenses for the caregiver being the highest. The factors affecting cancer care costs were treatment type and cancer stage. Conclusions : The cancer care costs after diagnosis are substantial and vary by cancer site, cancer stage and treatment type. It is useful for policy makers and researchers to identify tumor-specific medical and nonmedical costs. The effort to reduce cancer costs and early detection for cancer can reduce the burden to society and improve quality of life for the cancer patients.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제41권6호
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• pp.427-433
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• 2008

Objectives: This study was performed to assess the association between physical activity and the clustering of metabolic abnormalities among Korean children. The effect of substituting moderate to vigorous physical activity for the time spent in inactivity was examined as well. Methods: The study subjects were comprised of 692 (354 boys, 338 girls) 4th grade elementary school students. We used a modified form of the physical activity questionnaire that was developed in the Five-City Project. The subjects with clustering of metabolic abnormalities were defined as having two or more of the following five characteristics: waist circumference ${\geq}90\;%$, systolic or diastolic blood pressure ${\geq}90\;%$, fasting glucose ${\geq}110\;mg/dl$, triglycerides ${\geq}110\;mg/dl$ and HDL cholesterol ${\geq}40\;mg/dl$. We calculated the odds ratios to assess the effect of substituting moderate to vigorous physical activity for time spent in inactivity. Results: The risk of clustered metabolic abnormalities was inversely correlated with the increased time spent on moderate to vigorous physical activity, but the correlation was not significant. The odds ratio for clustering of metabolic abnormalities that represented the effect of substituting moderate to vigorous physical activity for 30minutes of sedentary activity was 0.87(95% Cl=0.76-1.01). Conclusions: These findings suggest that substituting moderate to vigorous physical activity for sedentary activity could decrease the risk of clustered metabolic abnormalities.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제25권12호
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• pp.1508-1515
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• 1992

Between 1975 and 1992, forty five patients with trachea stenosis received tracheoplasty for relief of obstruction. The causes of airway problem are brain contusion[19 cases, 40%], cerebrovascular disease[3 cases, 7%], drug intoxication[8 cases, 18%], psychotic problem[2 cases, 4%], trachea tumor[3 cases, 7%], adult respiratory distress syndrome[9 cases, 20%] and direct trauma[1 case, 2%]. Direct causes of trachea stenosis were complications of tracheostomy[36 cases, 80%], complications of nasotracheal intubation[5 cases, 11%], tumor[3 cases, 6%] and trauma[1 case, 2%]. Thirty one patients underwent the sleeve resection and end-to-end anastomosis. Five patients performed a wedge resection and end-to-end anastomosis. Forteen patients received the Montgomery T-tube for relief of airway obstruction. Four patients have done simple excision of granulation tissue. Two, subglottic stenosis patients were received Rethi procedure[anterior division of cricoid cartilage, wedge partial resection of lower thyroid cartilage and Montgomery T-tube molding] and the other subglottic stenosis patient underwent permanent trachea fenestration. Including cervical flexion in all patients postoperatively, additional surgical techniques for obtain tension-free anastomosis were hyoid bone release technique in two cases, and hilar mobilization, division of inferior pulmonary ligament and mobilization of pulmonary vessel at the pericardium were performed in one case. Cervical approach was used in 39 cases, cervicomediastinal in 12 cases and transthoracic in one case. Complications of tracheoplasty were formation of granulation tissue at the anastomosis site[3 cases], restenosis[9 cases], trachea-innominate artery fistula[2 cases], wound infection[2 cases], separation of anastomosis[2 cases], air leakage[3 cases], injury to a recurrent laryngeal nerve[temporary 8 cases, permanent 2 cases] and hypoxemia[1 case]. Surgical mortality for resection with primary reconstruction was 6.7%, with one death due to postoperative respiratory failure and two deaths due to tracheo-innominate artery fistula.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제25권12호
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• pp.1404-1415
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• 1992

To understand the factors influencing Atrial fibrillation and embolism in mitral valve surgery and prevent their risk, we have reviewed our 324 patients who underwent mitral valve surgery from Fev. 1982 to May 1992. Age, disease duration, lesion type, left ventricular function and left atrial dimension were chosen as preoperative factors influencing the incidence of atrial fibrillation and embolism and their postoperative course, The number and type of replaced valve, site of atriotmy, LA obliteration, ACT and use of Defibrillator were chaser. as operative factors influencing postoperative rhythm change and postop emb-olization. The results of analyses were as follows 1. The incidence of preoperative atrial fibrillation, systemic embolism and LA throbmus was 63. 6%, 10.56% and 19.8% relatively. 2. The preoperative factors of atrial fibrillation onset was old age, prolonged symptom duration, stenotic lesion, lager LAD and lower ejection fraction. In the preoperative systemic embolism preoperative factors were old age, female, stenotic lesion. The left atrial thrombus found more commonly in patients with atrial fibrillation, old age, prolonged symptom duration, stenotic lesion and low ejection fraction. 3. The preoperative atrial fibriation persisted postoperatively in 165[50.9%] and converted to normal sinus rhythm in 50[15.4%]. The preoperative normal sinus rhythm per-eisted in 100[31%] and atrial fibrillation was occured postoperatively in 9[2.7%]. The prolonged symptom duration was the preoperative factor of persist atrial fibrillation. 4. Among 95 long term follow-up patients, atiral fibrillation was continued in 59[60%]. Conversion to normal sinus rhythm was more common significantly in left atriotomy and bileaflet valve replacement. 5. There were 12 patients who had postoperative embolism. Female, persist atrial fibrillation, no LA olbiteration and tilting disc monocusp valve were considered as possible factors influencing postoperative embolism but was impossible to analyse their statistical significance due to small sample size. So we have concluded that the patients with above risk factors need anticoagulant and early surgical intervention. Left atriotomy with minimal atrial injury, left auricular obliteration and bileaflet valve replacement may be needed to reduce postoperative atrial fibrillation persist and embolism.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.256-264
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• 1989

Modified Blalock-Taussig operation remains the standard technique of systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunt in patients of congenital heart disease with decreased pulmonary blood flow. We reviewed the 41 patients who had been performed modified Blalock-Taussig operation from March 1985 to Feb. 1988, and angiographically measured pulmonary artery size before and after shunt, and calculated pulmonary artery index [PAI] and ratio of left and right pulmonary artery to descending aorta[[LPA+RPA]/dAo]. The mean duration of palliation after shunt operation was 624 days and mean age of the patient at shunt operation was 3.59 years. Mean PAI increased significantly from 131.15*67.11 mm2/M2 preoperatively to 232.70*84.46 mm2/M2 postoperatively. Mean ratio of right and left pulmonary artery to descending aorta also increased significantly from 1.48*0.40 preoperatively to 1.92*0.50 postoperatively. All patients manifested clinical improvement; there was mean decrease in hematocrit of 8.95%, mean increase in arterial oxygen saturation of 11.08%. Pulmonary arterial growth was not influenced by age at operation, initial pulmonary artery size, or graft size, but significantly influenced by antegrade flow. The patients who have some antegrade flow were in more increase of PAI. There were no linear correlation between change of PAI, change of [[LPA+RPA]/dAo], SaO2, and duration. But, according to Scatterplot between change of PAI and duration, some complex correlation was suggested and mean PAI was decreased after 2-year palliation. We concluded that modified Blalock-Taussig operation is excellent palliative surgery for pulmonary artery growth especially on the patient who have some antegrade flow, and the proper duration of palliation was about 2 years.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.15-25
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• 1991

From February 1988 to December 1990, 42 patients underwent so called REV operation for pulmonary stenosis or atresia with or without anomalies of ventriculoarterial connection and truncus arteriosus. The principles of operative technique are mobilization of pulmonary arterial tree beyond the pericardial reflection, transection of pulmonary trunk between the pulmonary ventricle and pulmonary artery, suture of distal pulmonary arterial stump to the upper margin of Pulmonary ventriculotomy site with absorbable suture, and anterior patch with 0.625% glutaraldehyde fixed autologous pericardium with monocusp inside it. Age at operation ranged 3-156months [mean 41.8 month] with twelve of whom infants. Operative indications were pulmonary atresia, with ventricular septal defect[16], and pulmonary stenosis with double outlet right ventricle[8], with ventricular septal defect[16], with double outlet right ventricle[8], with complete transposition of the great arteries[8], with corrected transposition of the great arteries[6], with Fallot`s tetralogy[3], and truncus arteriosus[1]. There were six hospital deaths[14%] and no late death. Twenty-four of 36 survivals were followed up more than 12 months with good clinical results. Postoperative angiocardiogram was performed in fifteen patients. Hemodynamically, two patents had residual pressure gradients along the pulmonary outflow tract, one patient showed severe pulmonary regurgitation; morphologically, there were six significant stenosis of left pulmonary arterial tree, two of whom showed significant pressure gradients. Our present experience with REV operation suggests that this technique make it possible to perform anatomic repair in a wide variety of congenital anomalies of abnormal ventriculoarterial connection associated with pulmonary outflow tract obstruction without using the prosthetic material, even in infants, with relatively low mortality and morbidity.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제27권12호
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• pp.989-994
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• 1994

Between January 1986 and August 1993, 11 patients underwent surgical repair of ventricular septal defect [VSD] complicated with myocardial infarction. The ages of patients were ranged from 22 years to 83 years with a mean of 64 years. There were 8 male and 3 female patients. The preoperative cineangiograms of all patients were reviewed to measure both ventricular function and to evaluate coronary artery disease. The mean time interval between occurance of VSD and operation was 13 days. The operations were performed as soon as possible if there were hemodynamic derangement. Postmyocardial infarction VSD were repaired simultaneuously with coronary artery bypass graft in 3 patients, repaired with left ventricular aneurysmectomy in 6 patients, with left ventricular thrombectomy in 1 patient and with mitral valve chordae repair in 1 patient. There was no early death [within 30 days]. There were 6 postoperative complications; one with perioperative myocardial infarction, two with recurred VSD on postoperative 1 and 6 days respectively, two with lower leg embolism associated with intraaortic balloon pump insertion, one with wound infection. Of the complicated patients, 1 patient with lower leg embolism performed left above ankle amputation. Among two patients with recurred ventricular septal defect, one patient is doing well without problem. On follow up echocardiogram, the residual VSD was occluded completely. However another patient was with recurred VSD died 3 months after the operation because of congestive heart failure. Of the long term survivors, all patients are in NEW YORK Heart Association functional Class I or II. Although number of patients were small, our results of surgical closure of postmyocardial infarction VSD were favored to the others. Moreover, seven patients with preoperative cardiogenic shock among 11 were performed early operation after diagnosis of ventricular septal rupture. All of the patients were survived and doing well during the follow up period. Therefore early diagnosis with aggressive preoperative care with intraaortic balloon pumping and early operation seems to be very important for prevention of deterioration of vital organ.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제36권1호
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• pp.51-54
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• 2003

환자는 53세 남자로 식도 정맥류 파열로 Sengstaken-Blaceore관을 삽관하였다. Sengstaken-Blaccore관 삽관 이틀 후 좌측에 혈흉이 생겨 본원으로 전원되었다. 식도내시경 소견상 길이 8cm에 이르는 거대 흉부 식도 파열이 관찰되었다. 반복되는 식도 정맥류 출혈과 전신 상태의 악화 등으로 좌측 개흉술을 식도 파열 후 33 일째에 실시하였다 좌측 농흉과 8cm크기의 위아래로 파열된 식도를 관찰할 수 있었다. 파열부위는 변연절제 후 단순 봉합하고, 파열된 식도 부위의 위 아래 경계부위에서 각각 2cm 거리를 두고 비흡수성 스테플러(TA stapler 60 H 4.8)를 이용하여 배제시킨 뒤 흉관을 위치시켰다. 흉부 식도 배제술 6일 후 실시한 식도 조영술에서 위쪽 스테플링한 부위와 연하여 누출이 관찰되었다. 경부식도 배제술을 같은 방법으로 실시하였다. 환자는 파열된 흉부 식도 배제술 137일 후, 이차적인 식도 재건술없이 경구로 음식의 섭취가 가능하였다.