• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.46-54
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• 2012

We propose a continuously varying contact pressure(CVCP)-adaptive feature extraction algorithm for pulse diagnostic analysis. The CVCP method measures the pulse waveform with continuously increasing contact pressure(CP). This method offer a high resolution signal of the pulse waveform amplitude(PWA) as a function of the contact pressure. Therefore it enables us to overcome the limitation of commercially available pulse-taking devices whose analysis rely on a few number of PWA-CP pairs. We show that an efficient feature extraction algorithm which covers the features of the CVCP-method can be developed by sequentially applying Fast Fourier Transform, peak detection by center-to-edges method, baseline drift removal, detection of the percussion wave upstroke by intersecting tangent method and detection of the analysis region. Finally, by a clinical study with 30 subjects, we show that our CVCP-adaptive feature extraction algorithm detected the upstroke with accuracy of 99.46% and sensitivity of 99.51%, which were about 4.82% and 2.46% increases respectively, compared to a conventional feature extraction method. The proposed CVCP method and the CVCP-adaptive feature extraction algorithm are expected to improve the accuracy in the pulse diagnostic algorithms such as floating/sunken pulse qualities and deficient/excess pulse qualities.

• Journal of KIISE:Software and Applications
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.612-624
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• 2005

In this paper, we propose a surface-based registration using a gaussian weighted distance map for PET-CT brain image fusion. Our method is composed of three main steps: the extraction of feature points, the generation of gaussian weighted distance map, and the measure of similarities based on weight. First, we segment head using the inverse region growing and remove noise segmented with head using region growing-based labeling in PET and CT images, respectively. And then, we extract the feature points of the head using sharpening filter. Second, a gaussian weighted distance map is generated from the feature points in CT images. Thus it leads feature points to robustly converge on the optimal location in a large geometrical displacement. Third, weight-based cross-correlation searches for the optimal location using a gaussian weighted distance map of CT images corresponding to the feature points extracted from PET images. In our experiment, we generate software phantom dataset for evaluating accuracy and robustness of our method, and use clinical dataset for computation time and visual inspection. The accuracy test is performed by evaluating root-mean-square-error using arbitrary transformed software phantom dataset. The robustness test is evaluated whether weight-based cross-correlation achieves maximum at optimal location in software phantom dataset with a large geometrical displacement and noise. Experimental results showed that our method gives more accuracy and robust convergence than the conventional surface-based registration.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.239-249
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• 2016

Tumor hypoxia, a common feature occurring in nearly all human solid tumors is a major contributing factor for failures of anticancer therapies. Because ionizing radiation depends heavily on the presence of molecular oxygen to produce cytotoxic effect, the negative impact of tumor hypoxia had long been recognized. In this review, we will highlight some of the past attempts to overcome tumor hypoxia including hypoxic radiosensitizers and hypoxia-selective cytotoxin. Although they were (still are) a very clever idea, they lacked clinical efficacy largely because of 'reoxygenation' phenomenon occurring in the conventional low dose hyperfractionation radiotherapy prevented proper activation of these compounds. Recent meta-analysis and imaging studies do however indicate that there may be a significant clinical benefit in lowering the locoregional failures by using these compounds. Latest technological advancement in radiotherapy has allowed to deliver high doses of radiation conformally to the tumor volume. Although this technology has brought superb clinical responses for many types of cancer, recent modeling studies have predicted that tumor hypoxia is even more serious because 'reoxygenation' is low thereby leaving a large portion of hypoxic tumor cells behind. Wouldn't it be then reasonable to combine hypoxic radiosensitizers and/or hypoxia-selective cytotoxin with the latest radiotherapy? We will provide some preclinical and clinical evidence to support this idea hoping to revamp an enthusiasm for hypoxic radiosensitizers or hypoxia-selective cytotoxins as an adjunct therapy for radiotherapy.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.162-166
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• 2005

Purpose: To analyze the clinical and radiological feature of Os subfibulare and to evaluate the results after anatomical reduction and internal fixation with bone graft for Os subfibulare. Materials and Methods: Forty-two cases, which underwent anatomic reduction and bone graft for Os subfibulare from October 1998 to September 2004 were reviewed. We analysed preopertive symptoms and onset of symptoms and radiologically measured the size and amounts of displacement of Os subfibulare under the inversion stress. Postoperatively we evaluated the clinical results measured by Hasegawa method and evidence of union. Results: Preoperatively there were only pain around the lateral malleolus in 16 cases, only instability of ankle joint in 3 cases, and pain and instability in 23 cases. The age of symptom onset averaged 23 years(range, 13-38 years). Radiographically Os sufibulare anteriorly located from lateral malleolus were in 40 cases, posteriorly situated in 2 cases. The size of Os subfibulare ranged from $1{\times}4\;mm$ to $8{\times}17\;mm$. In 22 cases of inversion stress view, displacement of the Os sbufibulare averaged $1.5{\pm}1.1\;mm$ (0 to 5 mm). The postoperative clinical results were excellent in 41 cases, poor in 1 case. There were complications of 1 case of irritation of sural nerve, 1 case of nonunion. Conclusion: Anatomic reduction and bone graft is effective treatment method for symptomatic Os subfibulare.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.61-68
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• 2017

Purpose: To investigate differences in clinical features, blood/urinary findings, and prognosis in different age groups of patients with Henoch-$Sch{\ddot{o}}nlein$ purpura (HSP). Methods: A total of 469 patients with HSP were analyzed retrospectively from June 2003 to February 2016. We classified patients into child or adult groups based on their age. Results: The adult group had more patients with anemia (child vs. adult; 7.5% vs. 16.4%), and higher immunoglobulin A (IgA) (30.0% vs. 50.0%) levels, C-reactive protein (34.2% vs. 54.0%) and uric acid (3.1% vs. 12.1%) levels than the child group. The child group was highly positive for Mycoplasma pneumoniae immunoglobulin M (IgM) (34.4%). More patients in the child group presented with high levels of antistreptolysin O (24.7% vs. 2.9%) and high C4 (11.5% vs. 4.2%). Low C3 (1.1% vs. 10.2%) levels, and renal involvement with gross hematuria (8.6% vs. 21.5 %), nonnephrotic proteinuria (1.1% vs. 11.2%), and nephrotic syndrome (1.1% vs. 6.0%) were common in the adult group. Adults also had poorer renal outcomes [persistent hematuria/proteinuria (10.5% vs. 32.8%), and chronic kidney disease (0% vs. 11.2%)] than the child group. Risk factors for renal involvement such as older age and higher level of uric acid were only found in the child group. The risk factors for poor renal outcome were nephrotic syndrome in the child group and gross hematuria in the adult group. Conclusion: In this study, child and adult groups presented with different clinical manifestations of HSP. We found that risk factors for renal involvement included age and high uric acid level in the child group. Moreover, nephrotic syndrome in the child group and gross hematuria in the adult group increased the risk of poor renal outcome.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.95-100
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• 2013

Background: This study was performed to investigate the epidemiologic and clinical features of acute respiratory viral infection in hospitalized children. Methods: From 2010 to 2012, we tested nasopharyngeal swab specimen in 1,584 hospitalized children with multiple real-time polymerase chain reactions to identify 10 kinds of respiratory viruses (including influenza virus A, B (FluA, FluB), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human metapneumovirus (MPV), adenovirus (AdV), human coronavirus (CoronaV), human enterovirus (HEV), human bocavirus (HBoV), parainfluenza virus (PIV), and human rhinovirus (Rhinovirus)). We analyzed the positive rate, annual and seasonal variations, and clinical features (respiratory tract and non-respiratory tract) according to the retrospective review of medical records. Results: Respiratory viruses were detected from 678 (42.8%) of 1,584 patients. The most common detected virus was RSV (35.0%), and then AdV (19.0%), HEV (18.1%). The critical period of the respiratory viral infection was during the first 12 months of a child's life. PIV increased by 8.4%, 12.1%, and 21.1% annually. Bronchiolitis was most frequently caused by RSV, and croup was frequently caused by PIV. The most common cause of meningitis was HEV. Hepatitis-associated respiratory virus was developed 111 in 678 cases. Conclusion: Although this study was confined to a single medical center for three years, we identified the epidemiology and clinical feature of respiratory viruses in Daegu from 2010 to 2012. Future surveillance will be necessary for annual and seasonal variations.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 2008

Colorectal carcinoma is occurred frequently to Korean and so ranked the fourth from various cancers. Due to western dietary life, this cancer has been increased continually. Therefore, the study will be needed to find a candidate gene involved in the development and progression of colorectal carcinoma and to diagnose and treatment helpfully. The striking feature from cancer suppressor genes is known for LOH (loss of heterozygosity), which is the method to find allele genetic loss or mutation of cancer cell. The purpose of this study was designed to find a carcinogenic gene from colon cancer using microsatellite marker on 17th and 18th chromosome from 30 subjects. The LOH was investigated in order of D18S59 57% (17/30), TP53CA 50% (15/30), D18S68 47% (14/30), D18S69 43% (13/30). The genetic mutation depends on loci of colorectal carcinoma was shown higher with 2.44 from colon cancer than with 1.25 from right colorectal carcinoma (p<0.032). The genetic mutation with lymph nodes was investigated higher with 2.69 at mutated group than with 1.14 at non-mutated group (p<0.003). At genetic mutated pattern depends on disease stage, there was higher significant difference at III-IV stage 2.50 than that of I-II stage 1.17, respectively (p=0.015). There was no difference at comparison between histological classification and serological CEA increase. The loss on 18q21 found in this study is highly recurrence loci and was observed 43% for Korean with high recurrence. Therefore, LOH is a very useful tool to detect 18q21 loci in clinical application, prior to the treatment of colorectal carcinoma. After the operation of colorectol carcinoma, the efficient application using LOH at operated part tissue which is designed to protect the recurrence as well as its cure will be needed.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.118-122
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• 1997

We experienced a case of 51-year-old female patient who showed symptoms of persecutory delusion, auditory hallucination and hallucinatory behavior, severe insomnia, psychomotor retardation and social withdrawal, along with some clinical signs of the deficiency of various hormones those gradually progressed after massive postpartum vaginal bleeding 13 years ago. She was admitted to a psychiatric ward under the impression of psychotic depression. However careful history taking and evaluation of clinical feature gave rise to the possibility of underlying medical condition. Laboratory work-up revealed panhypopituitarism, hypoglycemia and hyponatremia. After replacement of thyroid hormone and cortisol for 1 week, her clinical symptoms including psychiatric symptoms were improved. Taken together, these findings were compatible with the diagnosis of Sheehan's syndrome. On reporting this case, we would like to emphasize again the importance of differential diagnosis of medical problems causing psychiatric symptoms those are easily neglected in the clinical approach toward psychiatric patients.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.360-364
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• 2021

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiographic characteristics of idiopathic bone cavity (IBC) to determine the effect of surgical intervention on the process of healing. Materials and Methods: All cases diagnosed with IBC during the period of 2011 to 2020 at our Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery were searched. Ninety cases were retrieved. The features evaluated were sex, age, contour of the lesion, number of teeth involved, site, history of trauma, and postoperative healing pattern. The significance of differences was assessed by Mann-Whitney U test and chi-square test. Results: The female:male ratio showed no predilection toward either sex (0.9:0.8). The mean age of the collected sample was 22.05±14.38 years, and the age ranged from 10 to 58 years. All cases presented in the mandible and showed well-circumscribed radiolucency. Margins were either scalloped or round in shape, and the size varied from one tooth to six teeth involvement. Seventy cases involved three or fewer roots. Three cases showed bilateral lesion. Four cases had a history of trauma at the area of the lesion. Fifty-one cases were followed for six months after surgery, and all showed increased bone density at the lesion. Conclusion: There is no definitive radiological or clinical feature of IBC. Considering the diversity of clinical and radiological features, such a diagnosis relies primarily on surgical findings of an empty bone cavity with no epithelial lining. Our data suggest that surgical intervention be the first choice of treatment as opposed to observation.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.135-144
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• 2021

Purpose: Although ultrasonography is the gold standard of diagnosing intussusception, plain abdomen radiograph (AXR) is often used to make differential diagnosis for pediatric patients with abdominal pain. In intussusception patients, we aimed to analyze the AXR and clinical data to determine the characteristics of early AXR findings associated with diagnosis of intussusception and recurrence after reduction. Methods: Between January 2011 and June 2018, 446 patients diagnosed with intussusception based on International Classification of Diseases-10 code of K56.1 were admitted. We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 398 patients who received air reduction; 51 of them have recurred after initial reduction. We evaluated six AXR features including absent ascending colon gas, absent transverse colon gas, target sign, meniscus sign, mass, and ileus. Clinical data and AXR features were compared between single episode and recurrence groups. Results: Two groups did not show significant differences regarding clinical data. Mean time to recurrence from air reduction was 3.4±3.2 days. Absent ascending colon gas (63.9%) was the most common feature in intussusception, followed by mass (29.1%). All of six AXR features were observed more frequently in the recurrence group. Absent transverse colon gas was the most closely associated AXR finding for recurrence (odds ratio, 2.964; 95% confidence interval, 1.327-6.618; p=0.008). Conclusion: In our study, absence of ascending colon gas was the most frequently seen AXR factor in intussusception patients. Extended and careful observation after reduction may be beneficial if such finding on AXR is found in intussusception patients.