• Korean Journal of Cleft Lip And Palate
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.85-92
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• 2006

Korean Cleft Lip and Palate Association (KCLPA) was founded in 1996. The first overseas charity operation was in Karachi, Pakistan, 2002 and our association has visited fourteen times in six countries for the free cleft surgery: Pakistan, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Jordan and Vietnam. The cumulated number of operated patients reaches to 280. Before our association, many Korean oral and maxillofacial surgeons have performed charity operations individually since 1964. It was started from Vietnam but the activity is now carried on in Africa, middle-east Asia, south-east Asia, China, and Korea as an official team. LG electronics, a Korean company helped to propagate our team's activity to middle-east Asia to Africa. This paper is a report concerning about the results of our association's charity activities especially in Kenya, east Africa. We provided free cleft surgery for 30 patients in 2004 and 27 patients in 2005, in Nairobi. As the blood test for HIV of the cleft patients was not allowed before and during surgery, our surgeons and nurses were cautious about every movement during the surgeries. Thus the operation time for each patient was longer than any other time. The attitude of the local hospital and the doctors seemed to be accustomed to this situation. They helped us in case of needle injuries. Safety of medical staff and patients is more important than the number of the patients operated in charity operation. This belief should be approached being parallel and multidisciplinary as an international cooperation, focusing on international funding for medical support and continuous education for local doctors who are willing to devote to their people.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.231-237
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• 2010

Purpose: We investigated the effect of location changes in the inferior border of the belly board (BB) aperture by adding a bladder compression device (BCD). Materials and Methods: We respectively reviewed data from 10 rectal cancer patients with a median age 64 years (range, 45~75) and who underwent computed tomography (CT) simulation with the use of BB to receive pelvic radiotherapy between May and September 2010. A CT simulation was again performed with the addition of BCD since small bowel (SB) within the irradiated volume limited boost irradiation of 5.4 Gy using the cone down technique after 45 Gy. The addition of BCD made the inferior border of BB move from symphysis pubis to the lumbosacral junction (LSJ). Results: Following the addition of BCD, the irradiated volumes of SB and the abdominopelvic cavity (APC) significantly decreased ($174.3{\pm}89.5mL$ vs. $373.3{\pm}145.0mL$, p=0.001, $1282.6{\pm}218.7mL$ vs. $1,571.9{\pm}158mL$, p<0.001, respectively). Bladder volume within the treated volume increased with BCD ($222.9{\pm}117.9mL$ vs. $153.7{\pm}95.5mL$, p<0.001). The ratio of irradiated bladder volume to APC volume with BCD ($33.5{\pm}14.7%$) increased considerably compared to patients without a BCD ($27.5{\pm}13.1%$) (p<0.001), and the ratio of irradiated SB to APC volume decreased significantly with BCD ($13.9{\pm}7.6%$ vs. $24.2{\pm}10.2%$, p<0.001). The ratios of the irradiated SB volume and irradiated bladder volume to APC volume negatively correlated (p=0.001). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the addition of BCD, which made the inferior border of BB move up to the LSJ, increased the ratio of the bladder to APC volume and as a result, decreased the irradiated volume of SB.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.509-514
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• 2011

Maloactic fermentation (MLF) occurs after completion of alcoholic fermentation and is mediated by lactic acid bacteria (LAB), mainly Oenococcus oeni. Kiwi wine more than commercial grape wine has the problem of high acidity. Therefore, we investigated the optimal MLF conditions for regulating strong acidity and improving the quality properties of wine fermented with Kiwi fruit cultivated in Korea. For alcohol fermentation, industrial wine yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae KCCM 12650 strains and LAB, known as MLF strains, were used to alleviate wine acidity. First, the various experimental conditions of Kiwi fruit, initial pH (2.5, 3.5, 4.5), fermenting temperature (20, 25, $30^{\circ}C$), and sugar contents (24 $^{\circ}Brix$), were adjusted, and after the fermentation period, we measured the acidity, pH, and the change in organic acid content by the AOAC method and HPLC analysis. The alcohol content of fermented Kiwi wine was 12.75%. Further, total acidity and pH of Kiwi wine were 0.78% and 3.5, respectively. Total sugar and total polyphenol contents of Kiwi wine were 38.72 mg/ml and 60.18 mg/ml, respectively. With regard to organic acid content, the control contained 0.63 mg/ml of oxalic acid, 2.99 mg/ml of malic acid, and 0.71 mg/ml of lactic acid, whereas MLF wine contained 0.69 mg/ml of oxalic acid, 0.06 mg/ml of malic acid, and 3.12 mg/ml of lactic acid. Kiwi wine had lower malic acid values and total acidity than control after MLF processing. In MLF, the optimum initial pH value and fermentation temperature were 3.5 and $25^{\circ}C$, respectively. Therefore, these studies suggest that establishment of optimal MLF conditions could improve the properties of Kiwi wine manufactured in Korea.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.442-450
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• 1999

Background : Isoniazid(INH) and rifampicin(RFP) are the most effective anti-tuberculosis drugs which make the short-course chemotherapy possible. Although prescribed dosages of INH and RFP in Korea are different from those recommended by American Thoracic Society, there has been few study about pharmacokinetic profiles of INH and RFP in Korean patients who receive INH, RFP, ethambutol(EMB) and pyrazinamide(PZA) simultaneously. Methods : Among the patients with active tuberculosis from Dec. 1997 to July 1998, we selected 17 patients. After an overnight fast, patients were given INH 300mg, RFP 450mg, EMB 800mg and PZA 1500mg daily. Blood samples for the measurement of plasma INH(n=15) and RFP(n=17) level were drawn each at 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12hrs, and urine was also collected. INH and RFP level in the plasma and the urine were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). Pharmacokinetic parameters such as peak serum concentration(Cmax), time to reach to peak serum concentration(Tmax), half-life, elimination rate constant(Ke), total body clearance(CLtot), nonrenal clearance(CLnr), and renal clearance(CLr) were calculated. Results : 1) Pharmacokinetic parameters of INH were as follows: Cmax; $7.63{\pm}3.20{\mu}g/ml$, Tmax; $0.73{\pm}0.22hr$, half-life; $2.12{\pm}0.84hrs$, Ke; $0.83{\pm}0.15hrs^{-1}$, CLtot; $17.54{\pm}8.89L/hr$, CLnr; $14.74{\pm}8.35L/hr$, CLr; $2.79{\pm}1.31L/hr$. 2) Pharmacokinetic parameters of RFP were as follows: Cmax; $8.93{\pm}3.98{\mu}g/ml$, Tmax; $1.76{\pm}1.13hrs$, half-life; $2.27{\pm}0.54hrs$, Ke; $0.32{\pm}0.08hrs^{-1}$, CLtot; $14.63{\pm}6.60L/hr$, CLr; $1.04{\pm}0.55L/hr$, CLnr; $13.59{\pm}6.21L/hr$. 3) While the correlation between body weight and Cmax of INH was not statistically significant (r=-0.514, p value>0.05), Cmax of RFP was significantly affected by body weight of the patients(r=-0.662, p value<0.01). Conclusion : In Korean patients with tuberculosis, 300mg of INH will be sufficient to reach the ideal peak blood level even in the patients over 50kg of body weight However, 450mg of RFP will not be the adequate dose in the patients who weigh over 50~60kg.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.149-161
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• 2000

Background : Residual pleural thickening (RPT) develops in about 50% of tuberculous pleurisy ($PL_{TB}$). Some reports have suggested that elevated TNF-$\alpha$ and impaired fibrinolysis could be the cause of RPT, but until now, the mechanism and predictors of RPT have not been well known. TGF-$\beta$ has been known to promote fibrogenesis and is increased in tuberculous pleural fluid (PF). $PL_{TB}$ and malignant pleurisy ($PL_{MAL}$) manifest lymphocyte-dominant exudative pleural effusion, and it has clinical implications in the differentiation of the two diseases based on the findings of pleural effusion. We performed this study to compare pleural fluid TNF-$\alpha$ TGF-$\beta$, and fibrinolytic parameters between $PL_{TB}$ and $PL_{MAL}$, and to find the predictors of RPT in $PL_{TB}$. Methods : Thirty-five $PL_{TB}$ and 14 $PL_{MAL}$ patients who were admitted to the Asan Medical Center from February 1997 to August 1999 were enrolled. All $PL_{TB}$ patients were prescribed a primary, short-course, anti-tuberculosis regimen. INF-$\alpha$ tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1), plasminogen, $\alpha$2-antiplasmin, and D-dimer were measured in both PF and PB. TGF-$\beta$was measured only in PF. Clinical characteristics, TNF-$\alpha$ TGF-$\beta$ and fibrinolytic parameters were compared between patients with RPT less than 2 mm and patients with more than 2 mm of the thirty patients who completed the anti-tuberculosis treatment. Results : The levels of TNF-$\alpha$ tPA, PAI-1, plasminogen, $\alpha$2-antiplasmin, and D-dimer in PF were higher than those in peripheral blood (PB) in $PL_{TB}$, whereas only plasminogen, $\alpha$2-antiplasmin, and D-dimer were higher in PF than in PB in $PL_{MAL}$. Pleural fluid TNF-$\alpha$ TGF-$\beta$, PAI-1, plasminogen, $\alpha$2-antiplasmin were increased in $PL_{TB}$ compared with $PL_{MAL}$, but these factors did not show any further advantages over ADA in differentiation between $PL_{TB}$ and $PL_{MAL}$. TNF-$\alpha$ TGF-$\beta$ and fibrinolytic parameters did not show any differences between patients with RPT less than 2 mm and patients with RPT more than 2 mm. Conclusion : Our data suggest that TNF-$\alpha$, TGF-$\beta$ and fibrinolytic parameters may play some role for the development of RPT in $PL_{TB}$, but they failed to predict the occurrence of RPT in $PL_{TB}$. Also these parameters did not seem to have any advantages over ADA in differentiating between two diseases.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.1199-1213
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• 1998

Background : The number of immunocompromised hosts has been increasing steadily and a new pulmonary infiltrate in these patients is a potentially lethal condition which needs rapid diagnosis and treatment. In this study we sought to examine the clinical manifestations, radiologic findings, and therapeutic outcomes of pulmonary mycoses presenting as a new pulmonary infiltrate in immunocompromised hosts. Method : All cases presenting as a new pulmonary infiltrate in immunocompromised hosts and confirmed to be pulmonary mycoses by pathologic examination or by positive culture from a sterile site between October of 1996 and April of 1998 were included in the study and their chart and radiologic findings were retrospectively reviewed. Results : In all, 14 cases of pulmonary mycoses from 13 patients(male : female ratio = 8 : 5, median age 47 yr) were found. Twelve cases were diagnosed as aspergillosis while two were diagnosed as mucormycosis. Major risk factors for fungal infections were chemotherapy for hematologic malignancy(10 cases) and organ transplant recipients(4 cases). Three cases were receiving empirical amphotericin B at the time of appearance of new lung infiltrates. Cases in the hematologic malignancy group had more prominent symptoms : fever(9/10), cough(6/10), sputum(5/10), dyspnea(4/10), chest pain(5/10). Patients in the organ transplant group had minimal symptoms(p<0.05). On simple chest films, all of the cases presented as single or multiple nodules(6/14) or consolidations(8/14). High resolution computed tomograph showed peri-lesional ground glass opacities(14/14), pleural effusions(5/14), and cavitary changes(7/14). Definitive diagnostic methods were as follows : 10 cases underwent minithoracotomy, 2 underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, 1 underwent percutaneous needle aspiration and 1 case was diagnosed by culture of abscess fluid. All cases received treatment with amphotericin B with 1 case each being treated with liposomal amphotericin B and itraconazole due to renal toxicity. Lung lesion improved in 12 of 14 patient but 4 patients died before completing therapy. Conclusion : When a new lung infiltrate develops presenting either as a nodule or consolidation in a neutropenic patient with hematologic malignancy or in a transplant recipient, you should always consider pulmonary mycoses as one of the differential diagnosis. By performing aggressive work up and early treatment, we may improve prognosis of these patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.63 no.5
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• pp.423-429
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• 2007

Background: Alveolar recruitment (RM) is one of the primary goals of respiratory care for an acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The purposes of alveolar recruitment are an improvement in pulmonary gas exchange and the protection of atelectrauma. This study examined the effect and safety of the alveolar RM using pressure control ventilation (PCV) in early ALI and ARDS patients. Methods: Sixteen patients with early ALI and ARDS who underwent alveolar RM using PCV were enrolled in this study. The patients data were recorded at the baseline, and 20 minutes, and 60 minutes after alveolar RM, and on the next day after the maneuver. Alveolar RM was performed with an inspiratory pressure of $30cmH_2O$ and a PEEP of $20cmH_2O$ in a 2-minute PCV mode. The venous $O_2$ saturation, central venous pressure, blood pressure, pulse rate, $PaO_2/FiO_2$ ratio, PEEP, and chest X-ray findings were obtained before and after alveolar RM. Results: Of the 16 patients, 3 had extra-pulmonary ALI/ARDS and the remaining 13 had pulmonary ALI/ARDS. The mean PEEP was 11.3 mmHg, and the mean $PaO_2/FiO_2$ ratio was 130.3 before RM. The $PaO_2/FiO_2$ ratio increased by 45% after alveolar RM. The $PaO_2/FiO_2$ ratio reached a peak 60 minutes after alveolar RM. The Pa$CO_2$ increased by 51.9 mmHg after alveolar RM. The mean blood pressure was not affected by alveolar RM. There were no complications due to pressure injuries such as a pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, and subcutaneous emphysema. Conclusion: In this study, alveolar RM using PCV improved the level of oxygenation in patients with an acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Moreover, there were no significant complications due to hemodynamic changes and pressure injuries. Therefore, alveolar RM using PCV can be applied easily and safely in clinical practice with lung protective strategy in early ALI and ARDS patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.724-732
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• 2000

Background : In patients with severe chronic lung diseases even a small pneumothorax can result in life-threatening respiratory distress. It is important to treat the attack by chest tube drainage until the lung expands. Pneumothorax with a persistent air leak that does not resolve under prolonged tube thoracostomy suction is usually treated by open operation to excise or oversew a bulla or cluster of blebs to stop the air leak. Pleurodesis by the instillation of chemical agents is used for the patient who has persistent air leak and is not good candidate for surgical treatment. When the primary trial of pleurodesis with common agent fails, it is uncertain which agent should be used f or stopping the air leak by pleurodesis. It is well known that inappropriate drainage of hemothorax results in severe pleural adhesion and thickening. Based on this idea, some reports described a successful treatment with autologous blood instillation for pneumothorax patients with or without residual pleural space. We tried pleurodesis with autologous bood for pneumothorax with persistent air leak and then we evaluated the efficacy and safety. Methods : Fifteen patients who had persistent air leak in the pneumothorax complicated from the severe chronic lung disease were enrolled. They were not good candidates for surgical treatment and doxycycline pleurodesis failed to stop up their air leaks. We used a mixture of autologous blood and 50% dextrose for pleurodesis. Effect and complications were assessed by clinical out∞me, chest radiography and pulmonary function tests. Results : The mean duration of air leak was 18.4${\pm}$6.16 days before ABP (autologous blood and dextrose pleurodesis) and $5.2{\pm}1.68$ days after ABP. The mean severity of pain was $2.3{\pm}0.70$ for DP(doxycycline pleurodesis) and $1.7{\pm}0.59$ for ABDP (p<0.05). There was no other complication except mild fever. Pleural adhesion grade was a mean of $0.6{\pm}0.63$. The mean dyspnea scale was $1.7{\pm}0.46$ before pneumothrax and $2.0{\pm}0.59$ after ABDP (p>0.05). The mean $FEV_1$ was $1.47{\pm}1.01$ before pneumothorax and $1.44{\pm}1.00$ after ABDP (p>0.05). Except in 1 patient, 14 patients had no recurrent pneumothorax. Conclusion : Autologous blood pleurodesis (ABP) was successful for treatment of persistent air leak in the pneumothorax. It was easy and inexpensive and involved less pain than doxycycline pleurodesis. It did not cause complications and severe pleural adhesion. We report that ABP can be considered as a useful treatment for persistent air leak in the pneumothorax complicated from the severe chronic lung disease.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.141-146
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• 2002

Objectives : This study was peformed in order to assess the incidence of hypertension based on two-years follow-up of a rural hypertension-free cohort in Korea. Methods : The study cohen comprised 2,580 subjects aged above 20 (1,107 men and 1,473 women) of Chung-Song County in Kyungpook Province judged to be hypertensive-free at the baseline examination in 1996. For each of two examinations in the two-year follow-up, those subjects free of hypertension were followed for the development of hypertension to the next examination one year (1997) and two years later (1998). The drop-out rate was 24.7% in men and 19.6% in women. Hypertension was defined as follows 1) above mild hypertension as a SBP above 140 mmHg or a DBP above 90 mmMg,2) above moderate hypertension as a SBP above 160 mmHg or a DBP above 100 mmHg or when the participant reported having used antihypertensive medication after beginning this survey. Results : The age-standardized incidence of above mild hypertension was 6 per 100 person years (PYS) in men and that of above moderate hypertension was 1.2. In women, the age-standardized rate for above mild hypertension was 5.7 and 1.5 for above mild and moderate hypertension, respectively. However, the rates of incidence as calculated by the risk method were 4.8% and 1.0% in men and 4.6%, 1.2% in women, respectively. In both genders, incidence was significantly associated with advancing age(p<0.01), In men, the incidences of above moderate hypertension by age group were 0.5 per 100 PYS aged 20-39, 0.7 aged 40-49, 1.7 aged 50-59, 3.6 aged 60-69, and 5.8 aged above 70(p<0.01). In women, those the incidence measured 0.6 per 100 PYS aged 20-39, 1.8 aged 40-49, 1.3 aged 50-59, 3.3 aged 60-69, and 5.6 aged above 70(p<0.01). After age 60, the incidence of hypertension increased rapidly. Conclusions : The incidence data of hypertension reported in this study may serve as a reference data for evaluating the impact of future public efforts in the primary prevention of hypertension in Korea.

• FLOWER RESEARCH JOURNAL
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.186-192
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• 2010

An infrared heating system, installed in a small venlo-type glasshouse ($280m^2$) in Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea, was used to investigate its heating effect with potted Phalaenopsis, Schefflera arboricola 'Hongkong', Ficus elastica 'Variegata', and Rosa hybrida 'Yellow King' as the test plants. Temperature changes in test plants with the system turned 'On' and 'Off' were measured by using an infrared camera and the consumption of electricity by this infrared heating system was measured and analyzed. In potted Phalaenopsis, when the set air temperature of the greenhouse was $18^{\circ}C$, temperature of leaves and the growing medium were $22.8{\sim}27^{\circ}C$ and $21.3{\sim}24.3^{\circ}C$, respectively. In such tall plants as Schefflera arboricola 'Hongkong' and Ficus elastica 'Variegata', the upper part showed the highest temperature of 24.0 and $26.9^{\circ}C$, respectively. From the results of temperature change measurements, the plant temperatures were near or above the set point temperatures with some fluctuations depending on the position or distance from the infrared heating system. When air temperature between night and dawn dropped sharply, plant temperatures were maintained close to the set temperature ($18^{\circ}C$). There was a significant difference between 'On' and 'Off' states of the infrared heating system in average temperatures of root zone and leaf: 21.8 and $17.8^{\circ}C$ with the system 'On' and 20.4 and $15.5^{\circ}C$ with the system 'Off', respectively, in a cut rose Rosa hybrida 'Yellow King'. The heating load was about $24,850{\sim}35,830kcal{\cdot}h^{-1}$, which comes to about 27,000~40,000 won in Korean currency when calculated in terms of the cost of heating by a hot water heating system heated by petroleum. The cost for heating by the infrared heating system was about 35% of that of a hot water heating system. With the infrared heating system, the air temperature during the night was maintained slightly lower than the set point air temperature, probably due to the lack of air tightness of the glasshouse. Therefore, glasshouses with an infrared heating system requires further investigation including the installation space of the heat-emitting units, temperature sensor positions, and convection.