• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제22권6호
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• pp.959-969
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• 2021

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the role of preoperative two-dimensional (2D) shear wave elastography (SWE) in assessing the stages of liver fibrosis in patients with suspected biliary atresia (BA) and compared its diagnostic performance with those of serum fibrosis biomarkers. Materials and Methods: This study was approved by the ethical committee, and written informed parental consent was obtained. Two hundred and sixteen patients were prospectively enrolled between January 2012 and October 2018. The 2D SWE measurements of 69 patients have been previously reported. 2D SWE measurements, serum fibrosis biomarkers, including fibrotic markers and biochemical test results, and liver histology parameters were obtained. 2D SWE values, serum biomarkers including, aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRi), and other serum fibrotic markers were correlated with the stages of liver fibrosis by METAVIR. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and area under the ROC (AUROC) curve analyses were used. Results: The correlation coefficient of 2D SWE value in correlation with the stages of liver fibrosis was 0.789 (p < 0.001). The cut-off values of 2D SWE were calculated as 9.1 kPa for F1, 11.6 kPa for F2, 13.0 kPa for F3, and 15.7 kPa for F4. The AUROCs of 2D SWE in the determination of the stages of liver fibrosis ranged from 0.869 to 0.941. The sensitivity and negative predictive value of 2D SWE in the diagnosis of ≥ F3 was 93.4% and 96.0%, respectively. The diagnostic performance of 2D SWE was superior to that of APRi and other serum fibrotic markers in predicting severe fibrosis and cirrhosis (all p < 0.005) and other serum biomarkers. Multivariate analysis showed that the 2D SWE value was the only statistically significant parameter for predicting liver fibrosis. Conclusion: 2D SWE is a more effective non-invasive tool for predicting the stage of liver fibrosis in patients with suspected BA, compared with serum fibrosis biomarkers.

• 핵의학기술
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.113-116
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• 2011

아세틸콜린 수용체는 아세틸콜린에 대한 신경근 접합부의 수용체로 중증 근무력증에서는 이 수용체에 대한 자가항체인 아세틸콜린 수용체 항체가 생산되어 수용체 단백질과의 사이에 항원항체 결합체를 형성하기 때문에 신경흥분의 전달장애를 가져오는 것으로 알려져 있어 아세틸콜린 수용체 항체의 측정은 중증 근무력증의 진단에 중요하다. 중증 근무력증(Myasthenia Gravis)은 근육의 힘이 비정상적으로 약해지거나 피로해지는 병으로 안검하수, 복시, 근력약화 등을 나타내는 자가 면역성 질환이다. 모든 근무력증 환자에서 이 자가항체가 존재하는 것은 아니고, 전신성 근무력증 환자의 80~90% 가량이 발견되며 안근육에 국한된 근무력증의 71%가 검출된다. 그러나 선천성 근무력증에서는 검출되지 않는다. 아세틸콜린수용체 항체 농도와 임상적 중증도와의 상관관계는 없는 것으로 알려져 있다. 본 연구에서는 아세틸콜린 수용체 항체의 검사법을 소개함으로서 중증 근무력증의 진단에 유용한 정보를 제공하고자 하였다. 대상은 본원에 내원한 환자들 중 2010년 8월부터 9월까지 총 19명의 아세틸콜린 수용체 항체 검사가 의뢰된 검체를 대상으로 검사를 시행하였고, 측정키트는 R사의 키트로 면역침강법(immuno-precipitation)을 이용한 비경쟁반응법이다. cut off 값은 0.2 nmol/L로 결과값 중 음성값(negative)은 0.2 nmol/L미만이며, 양성값(positive)은 0.2 nmol/L 이상으로 판정한다. 검사를 시행한 19명의 환자 중 7명이 양성으로 보고되었으며(36.8%), 7명 중 6명이 근무력증(MG)으로 진단되었다. 중증 근무력증의 확진에는 이 검사법뿐만 아니라 다른 여러 가지 추가 검사들이 필요하다. 희귀병을 진단하는 검사법이라 많이 보편화된 검사는 아니지만 중증 근무력증은 아세틸콜린 수용체에 대한 항체가 생겨서 기능장애를 초래하는 질병이기 때문에 이 항체의 측정은 그의 진단에 유용할 것이라고 사료된다.

• 대한영상의학회지
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• 제81권2호
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• pp.365-378
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• 2020

목적 본 연구는 gadoxetic acid 조영증강 간 자기공명영상에서 T1 이완시간이 만성간질환을 가진 환자에서 간섬유화의 발견과 병기설정에 유용한지 알아보고자 한다. 대상과 방법 국소간병변이 의심되는 103명 환자들이 간 자기공명영상과 Fibroscan을 시행하였다. Fibroscan은 간섬유화의 정도를 분류하는 참조표준검사로 사용되었다. T1 이완시간은 조영제 주입 전(preT1)과 주입 20분 후(postT1), 그리고 이들 간의 T1 이완시간 감소율(rrT1)을 3 테슬라 자기공명영상의 횡단 3D VIBE 시퀀스 하에 측정하였다. Receiver operating characteristic (이하 ROC) 분석을 통해 간섬유화 병기설정을 위한 최적의 cut-off 값이 결정되었다. 결과 METAVIR score (F0-F4)에 따른 간섬유화 병기가 증가함에 따라, preT1과 postT1은 증가하였고, rrT1은 감소하였다. PreT1의 F2와 F3 사이(F2, 836.0 ± 74.7 ms; F3, 888.6 ± 77.5 ms, p < 0.05), postT1의 F3와 F4 사이(F3, 309.0 ± 80.2 ms; F4, 406.6 ± 147.7 ms, p < 0.05), 그리고 rrT1의 F3와 F4사이(F3, 65.4 ± 7.7%; F4 57.3 ± 11.4%, p < 0.05)에서 통계적 유의미한 차이를 보였다. ROC 분석은 preT1과 postT1의 병용검사가 간섬유화 병기설정에 있어 가장 유용한 검사라는 것을 보여준다. 결론 preT1과 postT1은 간섬유화 병기가 증가함에 따라 증가하며, T1 mapping이 gadoxetic acid 조영증강 간 자기공명영상에서 간섬유화 병기설정에 있어 유용한 보조적 시퀀스로 사용될 수 있다.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.215-223
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• 2013

목적: 간 섬유화를 평가하기 위한 MR elastography (MRE)의 경직도 (stiffness value)에 미치는 gadoxetic acid의 영향을 평가하고자 하였다. 대상과 방법: 임상적으로 만성 간 질환이 의심되어 자기공명영상을 촬영한 환자 중 조영제 (gadoxetic acid) 주입전과 후에 MRE를 촬영한 32명의 환자를 대상으로 하였다. 두 명의 영상의학과 의사가 간 실질의 경직도를 개별적으로 측정 하였다. 조영 전과 후의 평균 간경직도를 paired t-test를 사용하여 비교하였으며, 평가자내 및 평가자간 상관 관계는 intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC)를 사용하여 분석 하였다. MRE의 F2 이상의 간섬유화 진단의 판별수치로 3.1 kPa을 이용하여 진단의 정확도, 민감도, 특이도를 구하였다. 결과: 조영 전과 후에 측정된 간 경직도의 평균값은 유의한 차이가 없었으며 (p > 0.05), 조영 전 후 모두에서 평가자 내 및 평가자간 우수한 상관 관계가 관찰되었다 (ICC = 0.988 for pre-contrast and ICC = 0.993 for post-contrast, ICC = 0.998 for rater 1 and ICC = 0.996 for rater 2). 간섬유화정도 F2 이상을 진단하는 MRE 의 정확도, 민감도, 특이도는 조영 전후 모두에서 각각 71%, 60%, 그리고 100%로 같은 값을 보였다. 결론: MRE를 이용한 gadoxetic acid 조영 전과 후에 측정된 간경직도는 유의한 차이를 보이지 않았기에 조영 후 MRE 영상도 간 섬유화 평가에 이용될 수 있다.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.321-328
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• 2020

Background: This study aimed to investigate the incidences of and risk factors for perioperative events following anticoagulant discontinuation in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) undergoing non-cardiac surgery. Methods: A total of 216 consecutive patients who underwent cardiac consultation for suspending perioperative anticoagulants were enrolled. A perioperative event was defined as a composite of thromboembolism and major bleeding. Results: The mean anticoagulant discontinuation duration was 5.7 (±4.2) days and was significantly longer in the warfarin group (p<0.001). Four perioperative thromboembolic (1.9%; three strokes and one systemic embolization) and three major bleeding events (1.4%) were observed. The high CHA₂DS₂-VASc and HAS-BLED scores and a prolonged preoperative anticoagulant discontinuation duration (4.4±2.1 vs. 2.9±1.8 days; p=0.028) were associated with perioperative events, whereas the anticoagulant type (non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants or warfarin) was not. The best cut-off levels of the HAS-BLED and CHA₂DS₂-VASc scores were 3.5 and 2.5, respectively, and the preoperative anticoagulant discontinuation duration for predicting perioperative events was 2.5 days. Significant differences in the perioperative event rates were observed among the four risk groups categorized according to the sum of these values: risk 0, 0%; risk 1, 0%; risk 2, 5.9%; and risk 3, 50.0% (p<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the HAS-BLED score was an independent predictor for perioperative events. Conclusion: Thromboembolic events and major bleeding are not uncommon during perioperative anticoagulant discontinuation in patients with NVAF, and interrupted anticoagulation strategies are needed to minimize these.

• 대한족부족관절학회지
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.62-67
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• 2018

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical significance and usefulness of a bone scan in accessory navicular bone. Materials and Methods: Eighty-five patients with foot pain and accessory navicular bone on radiography, who underwent bone scan from 2012 to 2015, were analyzed retrospectively. The subjects was divided into a symptomatic and asymptomatic group according to the presence of navicular bone tenderness. The grade of bone scan uptake was divided into 3 grades. Age, gender, grade of bone scan and size of the accessory navicular bone were analyzed. The symptomatic group were divided into a low (grade 0, 1) and high uptake (grade 2) group to determine the appropriate treatment. The low uptake group was treated conservatively for 3 months. The high uptake group was initially treated conservatively for 3 months and surgery was performed if pain persisted. For the clinical evaluation, the visual analogue scale, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society midfoot scale were evaluated in the first examination and last follow-up date. The patient's satisfaction grade was also evaluated at the last follow-up. Results: The asymptomatic group mostly showed no uptake in the bone scan. On the other hand, some patients in the asymptomatic group showed an increase in uptake. In these patients, the size of accessory navicular bone was related to the grade of bone scan uptake, showing that the bone scan uptake grade can be predicted when applying different cut off values for the bone size. The symptomatic group mostly showed uptake in the bone scan and the grade of uptake had a positive correlation with the size of the accessory navicular bone (p<0.05). Age and gender were not related to the bone scan uptake. In the clinical evaluation, conservative and surgical treatment showed a good outcome. Conclusion: The bone scan uptake grade alone cannot be used to completely predict the symptoms. On the other hand, the size of the accessory bone can increase the bone scan uptake. Therefore, the size of the accessory bone, and patient symptoms should be considered in patients with a high uptake when deciding treatment.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제72권3호
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• pp.293-301
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• 2012

Background: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) requires prompt and appropriate treatment. Since methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a frequent pathogen in VAP, rapid identification of it, is pivotal. Our aim was to evaluate the utility of quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) as a useful method for etiologic diagnoses of MRSA pneumonia. Methods: We performed qPCR for mecA, S. aureus-specific femA-SA, and S. epidermidis-specific femA-SE genes from bronchoalveolar lavage or bronchial washing samples obtained from clinically-suspected VAP. Molecular identification of MRSA was based on the presence of the mecA and femA-SA gene, with the absence of the femA-SE gene. To compensate for the experimental and clinical conditions, we spiked an internal control in the course of DNA extraction. We estimated number of colony-forming units per mL (CFU/mL) of MRSA samples through a standard curve of a serially-diluted reference MRSA strain. We compared the threshold cycle (Ct) value with the microbiologic results of MRSA. Results: We obtained the mecA gene standard curve, which showed the detection limit of the mecA gene to be 100 fg, which corresponds to a copy number of 30. We chose cut-off Ct values of 27.94 (equivalent to $1{\times}10^4$ CFU/mL) and 21.78 (equivalent to $1{\times}10^5$ CFU/mL). The sensitivity and specificity of our assay were 88.9% and 88.9% respectively, when compared with quantitative cultures. Conclusion: Our results were valuable for diagnosing and identifying pathogens involved in VAP. We believe our modified qPCR is an appropriate tool for the rapid diagnosis of clinical pathogens regarding patients in the intensive care unit.

• 한국식품조리과학회지
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.195-201
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• 2000

대학 급식 시설의 미생물적 위생상태를 평가하기 위해서 도마, 칼, 식판 그리고 행주에 대하여 ATP bioluminescence와 표준평판 균수를 측정 비교하여 분석, 평가한 결과는 다음과 같다. 1) 도마, 칼, 식판 그리고 행주에 대한 표준평판 균수의 허용기준으로 1 $\textrm{cm}^2$당 40을 기준으로 하고 ATP bioluminescence는 800 RLU을 허용기준으로 하여 만족 할만한 수준과 시정할 수준으로 구분하여 위생상태를 평가하였을 때 ATP bioluminescence 측정값과 표준평판 균수 측정값은 84.7%의 일치도를 보였다. 2) 사용 전 도마, 칼, 식판, 및 행주의 ATP bioluminescence 측정값과 표준평판 균수 측정값의 일치도는 91.7%, 사용 중 두 값의 일치도는 75%. 그리고 세척ㆍ소독 후의 두값의 일치도는 87.5%로 사용 전의 일치도가 가장 높았고 사용 중의 일치도가 가장 낮았다. 3) ATP bioluminescence 측정과 표준 평판 균수 측정으로 얻어진 결과에서 사용 전 도마, 칼, 식판, 및 행주의 87.5%가 허용기준 이하이고, 사용 중 도마, 칼, 식판, 및 행주의 29.2%만이 허용기준 이하이며, 세척ㆍ소독 후 도마, 칼, 식판, 및 행주의 42.7%가 허용기준 이하로 사용전의 위생상태가 가장 양호하며 사용 중인 경우 위생상태가 가장 불량하여 즉각적인 조치가 필요하다. 4) 사용 전 도마, 칼, 식판, 행주 4종류의 표준평판 균수가 허용기준 이하 검출된 대학 급식 시설은 3곳이며, 사용 중 4종류의 표준평판 균수가 허용기준 이하 검출된 곳은 없었고 세척ㆍ소독 후 4종류의 표준평판 균수가 허용기준 이하 검출된 곳도 없었다. 5) 도마, 칼, 식판, 및 행주의 용도별 분리사용은 거의 이루어지고 있지 않고 있다. 특히 칼과 도마는 교차오염의 가능성이 크므로 용도에 따라 구분하여 분리 사용이 필요하며 소독방법 및 횟수에서 행주의 소독이 가장 잘 이루어지고 있으며 도마의 소독이 가장 미흡하게 나타나고 있다. 사용 중 도마, 칼, 행주에 대한 즉각적인 조치와 분리 사용이 필요하며 칼, 도마, 행주에 대한 적절한 소독 방법이 강구되어야 한다고 사려된다. 결론적으로 ATP bioluminescence 측정값은 표준평판균수 측정값과 높은 일치도를 보여 급식 분야의 미생물 품질관리 평가에 ATP bioluminescence 측정의 이용 가능성이 높게 나타나고 있으며 실제로 HACCP system에 적용하기 위하여 보다 지속적인 연구가 필요하다고 사려된다.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.53-61
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• 1982

As an attempt to reduce the consumption of petroleum resources and to improve the performance of a kerosene engine, a series of experiments was conducted using several kinds of ethanol-kerosene blends under the various compression ratios. The engine used in this study was a single-cylinder, four-cycle kerosene engine having a compression ratio of 4.5. To investigate the feasibility of ethanol-kerosene blends in the original engine, kerosene and blends of 5-percent, 10-percent, and 20-percent-ethanol, by volume, with kerosene were used. And to investigate the feasibility of improving the performance of the kerosene engine, a portion of the cylinder head was cut off to increase the compression ratio up to 5.0 by reducing the combustion chamber volume. Kerosene and blends of 30-percent and 40-percent-ethanol, by volume, with kerosene were used for the modified engine with an increased compression ratio. Variable speed tests at wide-open throttle were also conducted at five speed levels in the range of 1000 to 2200 rpm for each compression ratio and fuel type. Volumetric efficiency, engine torque, and brake specific fuel consumption were determined, and brake thermal efficiency based on the lower heating values of kerosene and ethanol was calculated. The results obtained in the study are summarized as follows: A. Test with the original engine: (1) No abnormal conditions were found when burning ethanol-kerosene blends in the original engine. (2) Volumetric efficiency increased with ethanol concentration in blends. When burning blends of 5-percent, 10-percent, and 20-percent ethanol, by volume, with kerosene, average volumetric efficiency increased 1.6 percent, 2.6 percent, and 4.1 percent respectively, than when burning kerosene. (3) Mean engine torque increased 5.2 percent for 5-percent-ethanol blend, 9.3 percent for 10-percent-ethanol blend, and 11.5 percent for 20-percent-ethanol blend than for kerosene. Increase in engine torque when using ethanol-kerosene blends was due to the improved combustion characteristics of ethanol as well as an increase in volumetric efficiency. (4) Up to ethanol concentration of 20 percent, mean brake specific fuel consumption was nearly constant inspite of the difference in heating value between ethanol and kerosene. (5) Brake thermal efficiency increased 0.3 percent for 5-percent-ethanol blend, 3.8 percent for 10-percent-ethanol blend, and 6.8 percent for 20-percent-ethanol blend than for kerosene. B. Test with the modified engine with an increased compression ratio: (1) When burning kerosene, mean volumetric efficiency, engine torque, and brake thermal efficiency were somewhat lower than for the original engine. (2) Engine torque increased 15.1 percent for 30-percent-ethanol blend and 18.4 percent for 40-percent-ethanol blend than for kerosene. (3) There was no significant difference in brake specific fuel consumption regardless of ethanol concentration in blends. (4) Brake thermal efficiency increased 15.0 percent for 30-percent-ethanol blend and 19. 5 percent for 40-percent-ethanol blend than for kerosene.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제36권3호
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• pp.248-254
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• 2003

Objective : This study was conducted in order to investigate predictors of smoking cessation in outpatients. Method : Subjects were 40f adult smoking patients who saw their doctors in the outpatient setting at a university hospital, regardless of their willingness of otherwise in smoking cessation. Physicians delivered a brief, stop smoking prompt to all patients who smoked one or more cigarettes a day. Then they referred to on-site counselors who provided a brief, nurse assisted intervention with a survey to a randomly assigned intervention group (200 smoking patients), whom the counselors telephoned later to prevent relapse or promote the motivation to quit, or gave only a survey to a control group (201 smoking patients). After at least 5 months, self-reported current smoking cessation was confirmed later using cut-off values of 7 ppm or less in expired alveolar air after breath holding portable CO analyzer. Results : After 5 months, subjects in the intervention group were 1.56 times (95% C.I. 0.89-2.73) more likely to quit smoking than those in the non-intervention group (14.0% vs. 9.0%). Willingness to quit smoking in a month, scheduled admission in a month, self efficacy score and FTND (Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence) score were all significantly related with smoking cessation. In stepwise multiple logistic regression, previous attempts to quit smoking were significant instead of self efficacy score. In the intervention group who had willingness to quit smoking in a month (132 smoking patients), FTND score, whether quit date was today, and whether quit promise paper was submitting were all significantly related with smoking cessation. In stepwise multiple logistic regression, scheduled admission in a month and whether quit date was today were significant predictor variables, Smoking cessation treatment should be tailored to individual smoking patients considering these predictors.